Author: Lori Benton

Publisher: Tyndale

Release Date: September 1, 2020

Rating

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Rich historical setting combined with flawed characters seeking redemption make this a can’t miss for genre lovers!

Ian Cameron never planned to set foot again on his uncle’s plantation in North Carolina.  But in 1793 after his cabinet making apprenticeship doesn’t go as planned, he makes the journey back again.  He feels he must put his past behind him and become the man to take over the plantation after his uncle passes.  Upon his arrival, he quickly learns that he doesn’t fit the preferences of his new aunt and her daughters.  Then he meets Seona, a light skinned young lady who is very artistic.  He’s very taken by her, but there is a small problem.  She is enslaved to his uncle.

Seona remembers the last time Mister Ian was at the planation.  She has never forgotten his pale flax hair color and he was one of the first pictures that she drew.  She has continued to draw but keeps it a secret to keep her and her family safe.  When Ian discovers her talent, he encourages it and even offers her the use of his cabinet making shop to continue to develop her drawing.  Can Seona put her trust in Ian?  Somebody who might own her one day?

This is the first novel that I’ve read by Lori Benton and I find it hard to believe that I haven’t come across her works before.  She has tremendous talent for developing rich historical scenery that pulls the reader into the story so that they are walking in the setting rather than reading about it.  She also develops deeply flawed characters that easily give readers the ability to connect with many of them.  Even the supporting characters quickly find a way into the reader’s mind so that they are often left wondering about them. 

This book is written during a difficult time in our country’s history that continues to make the forefront of today’s headlines.  The historical accuracy needs to be read by people so that it’s not sugarcoated into a feel-good story.  This book also deals with the poor treatment of people during the time, even concerning rape.  It will undoubtedly be difficult for some to read, but it is worth it.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: Rachelle Dekker

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: September 1, 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

This is the book I have been waiting for Rachelle Dekker to write: her own voice, her own story and one readers will not want to miss!

For the past several years, Zoe Johnson has done her best to stay in the shadows and not draw attention to herself. She has stayed to herself and not let anyone get close to her for fear of what it might mean. While working at a diner to support herself on the edge of a small town, a strange teenager makes her way in and has no memory of her past or anything other than she needs to find a woman in Corpus Christi. From that moment on, Zoe’s world changes and she finds herself on an adventure to steer clear of her past while helping this girl known as Lucy discover what has happened to her and stay one step ahead of those out to find Lucy and keep her secrets from the rest of the world.

Ever since I heard Rachelle Dekker was going to be writing like her father, Ted Dekker, I was super excited to see how her writing would compare to his. With her first few books, I noticed the writing style and voice were very much influenced by Ted, so much so that I thought I was reading one of his books, just not quite as good.  I felt the one they wrote together was just a Ted Dekker book, there was no distinction as to who wrote what part. In each of her books I haven’t heard a solid voice from Rachelle Dekker until now. This book is 100% hers!  I love the story, the style and everything about it. The one thing I didn’t love was not having enough time to sit and read it all at once.

Each character is perfectly crafted and has a beautiful arc throughout the story. Zoe grows up quickly taking on Lucy and helping her on her mission. At the beginning, readers don’t have a clear idea of how old Zoe is but I would say mid-twenties, not old enough to be the mother of a teenager but she quickly fills that roll and has to come to terms with her own issues as she is trying to help Lucy with hers. Seeley is the character we see change the most. It could be said that his change was too abrupt, but Dekker did a really great job of showing why he changed and giving readers a trail to follow to believe in this character. The way she wrote Lucy and Zoe and their relationship pulled me into the story and kept me glued to my seat wanting to know if they would come out okay and how they would get to that point. I felt such a deep connection to these characters and loved the way I was so absorbed into the story.

Again, this is the book I have been waiting for from Rachelle Dekker! She has finally found her voice and I hope she keeps it and continues to churn out amazing stories. I recommend this to readers that enjoy a great suspense thriller that will keep them guessing and give them a solid connection to the characters.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: Maxine Mei-Fung Chung

Publisher: William Morrow

Release Date: March 17, 2020

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A book with some many personalities it will make your head spin!

Alexa Wu suffers from dissociated identity disorder (DID); but she is self-aware of the multiple personalities that she has living insider of her head. She believes her true self to the be the host. Her other identities represent certain aspects of her personality. Dolly is a young girl and has stayed the same age since she showed up. Runner stays in a constant angry and aggressive state. The fouls torment her regularly. Only a handful of people know about her other personalities. Her stepmother Anna, her best friend Ella, and her new psychiatrist Daniel.

Alexa relies mostly on Ella for emotional support. When Ella chooses to take a job at a lower class gentleman’s club, Alexa fears the worst. Ella’s life and that of her little sister are quickly placed in danger and Alexa gets drug into a web of deceit that she and her personalities must band together to save Ella.

So, I knew that going into a novel with the main character having DID that some of the secondary characters were going to be part of the personality. What I didn’t expect were how many of them were going to be part of it or who they would be. If that doesn’t pique your interest to read this book, then I’m not sure what will. The story line was a little slow to take off, but it quickly did and was fast paced with a very dark setting in London’s underworld. It wasn’t too difficult to follow which personality took control of Ella or when they were talking back and forth as the author did a great job identifying each voice. If you enjoy fast paced, twisted tales, this is your story for the year.

There is a lot of content including drinking, recreation drug use, explicit sex, and language that will make some readers uncomfortable.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: Rob Currie

Publisher: Tyndale House

Release Date: March 3, 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Educational YA story of the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II.

Thirteen-year-old Dirk has been charged with taking care of his younger sister Anna since his papa left to aid the Dutch resistance against the German Occupation. His mother died one night shortly after his father left and now his older sister Els has been captured by the Gestapo and likely tortured to learn the whereabouts of their father. When their neighbor comes in the night to warn Dirk about Els capture, he takes his younger sister and sets off to make it to their Aunts house in a nearby town. Along the way, Dirk and Anna face many uncertain challenges including informers, work camps, and deserting German officers. Dirk must rely on everything he learned from his father about staying alive as well as his wits if he is going to keep Anna safe.

I love getting new material that educates readers on lesser known areas about World War II. Sadly, I must admit that the most knowledge I have of the Netherlands during this time period comes from The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. So, I was pleased to learn more about the occupation and the meaning behind Hunger Winter. I’m very happy that there are becoming more young adult novels that are educating our young about the past so that maybe we can avoid repeating it in the future!

Dirk was a protagonist that I enjoyed watch come of age. He had a lot thrust upon him at only thirteen years old and took up that challenge without complaining. He become well educated about what was going on around him but still managed to maintain some adolescent innocence. Els was a very strong spirited character and someone that I continually wanted to see escape. She was also very smart to catch her captors trying to trick her into revealing information.

I’ve started to build up quite a collection of YA novels from this time period and my nine-year-old son has begun to really become interested in them. This will definitely be added to the shelf!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: Kimberly Gabriel

Publisher: Blink YA Books

Release Date: November 5, 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

An intense, electrifying YA novel that will leave readers holding their breath until the very last page!

The Swarm, a mob that leaves no trace, no evidence and no way to know when they will strike next, has left everyone in the city scared to go out in public. Lia Finch lost her father to the swarm two years ago and they haven’t attacked since. Since her father’s death, Lia has been working to uncover the truth behind the swarm and stop anyone else from being beaten to death. What she is trying to do is no easy task as she is still suffering from PTSD from her father’s murder and the asthma she has lived with all her life can cripple her at any moment. She learns the date of the next attack and puts her life in danger with the swarm when a stranger comes to her rescue. He knows the swarm better than anyone because he is a part of it. They must work together to find out what the swarm is planning and stop it from happening without getting either of them killed.

If you are a fan of Young Adult books that read quickly, have an intriguing plot (that is partly based on a true story,) and characters that pull you in from the very beginning, you are not going to want to miss this one. I loved Every Stolen Breath. This was such an amazing book to start the year with. Lia and her search for the truth behind the murder of her father makes for such a solid protagonist. I loved her flaws and her troubles that made her such a relatable character. All she wanted was to be able to bring down the swarm and find out who is truly behind the death of father, but by doing so she puts herself in danger. She isn’t afraid of the danger but is afraid of more of her loved ones getting hurt because of what she is looking into. The more she digs into things, the more those around her are targeted and this is where the story really got good for me, seeing how she is affected by those around her being targeted had me so much more invested in the story and the characters. When I, as a reader, am more invested in the characters the story is taken to a whole new level, which happened with Every Stolen Breath. It is hard to find a YA book today that is clean, has a good story line, and characters that will draw you in. Thankfully this is a book that has all of that and more. I recommend this book to readers, young and old that enjoy a great read that will keep them reading way past their bedtime.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Can readers ever really narrow down a list?  This has been a year filled with great stories by great authors.  We look forward to what the new year will bring and hope that you have a chance to read what we thought were the best books of 2019!

 

All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner

This story really struck a chord with everyone who read it.  It made us yearn for simpler times and reminded us of the importance of family.

Read the full review here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Line Between by Tosca Lee

This was on our watch list for the year as soon as we heard about it.  Lee’s ability to bind suspense and tension into a story full of unforgettable characters is why she keeps appearing on this list year after year.

Read the full review here.

 

 

 

 

 

A Single Light by Tosca Lee

We didn’t think any other thriller was going to top A Line Between, but Lee managed to do just that with her follow-up in A Single Light.

Read the full review here.

 

 

 

 

 

How the Light Gets In by Jolina Petersheim

Petersheim’s display of raw emotion throughout the pages coupled with her storytelling ability made this modern version of the story of Ruth a shoe-in for a top spot.

Read the full review here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synapse by Steven James

James has a masters degree in story telling and he puts it to good use in this supernatural thriller.  If you’ve never picked up one of his books, grab one today.  You’ll be in for an awesome treat.

Read the full review here.

 

 

 

 

 

Recursion by Blake Crouch

Crouch has the ability to bring the future to his readers.  His stories are mind blowing and may cause you to put the book down to actually think about what was just read.  This story is no exception.

Read the full review here.

 

 

 

 

 

The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright

This story drew us in from the beginning.  Wright has the ability to unearth her character’s secrets and bring along her readers for a ride.

Read the full review here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vow of Justice by Lynette Eason

Stories with strong empathy always resonate with us.  The fact that a supporting character connected so strongly to us as well made us choose this for a top spot.

Read the full review here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Eighth Sister by Robert Dugoni

Dugoni’s style of writing always impresses us, which is why he continually shows up for the top of the year picks.  This new series gives us something to look forward to in the coming years.

Read the full review here.

 

 

 

 

 

The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais

This may be a young adult novel, but the message can be applied to everyone!

Read the full review here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sins of the Father by Vincent B. Davis II

It’s been a while since a new series that we weren’t expecting captivate our attention.  Such a rare treat deserves to be included in our top picks.

Read the full review here.

This category always has a different feel to it.  It’s a little bit futuristic, yet a little bit modern.  Sometimes it is even historical.  In any setting, it is always supernatural.  Here are this year’s selections.

 

1. Recursion by Blake Crouch

Crouch continues to amaze us with his ability to bring futuristic science fiction and blend it into today’s world as though it is completely attainable.  Recursion left our minds spinning for weeks after we finished it and we’re still not sure we’ve completely grasped it.  It’s like Groundhog Day on steroids.

Read the full review here.

 

 

 

 

2. The Pages of Her Life by James L. Rubart

Readers need to go into this book with an open mind for what they will find within the pages. It is not your normal feel good read; this will require readers to go deeper and examine their faith and aspects of their own life.

Read the full review here.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Synapse by Steven James

Synapse is Steven James at his best! In his first futuristic thriller, he shows readers what an absolutely outstanding writer he truly is and why his books are a must read!

Read the full review here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel by James Markert

A very good story with a very interesting back story  If you like Greek mythology, this will be the story for you.

Read the full review here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Summer Frost by Blake Crouch

Another amazing futuristic story. We know is not a full length novel, but this will draw readers in during the opening pages and keep them there in one sitting.  The AI displayed in the book is both incredibly amazing and creepy.

Read the full review here.

Author: Lisa Harris

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: August 6, 2019

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

With suspicious murders and random deaths that don’t seem random once the pieces are put together, Lisa Harris has crafted a great thriller that readers will enjoy from beginning to end.

Caitlyn Lindsey has seen her team members dying off one by one. What seemed as random accidents or murders at first are now turning into a pattern that is anything but random. As a research scientist, she knows that the work they do is very sensitive and if it falls into the wrong hands the outcome could be disastrous. Once she starts connecting the dots, she reaches out to one of the first victim’s husbands, Josh Solomon. Josh thought the men responsible for the death of his wife were behind bars but when Caitlyn comes to him with her concerns, he wonders if justice has really been served. Together they must try to find out who is after her and what their end game really is before it is too late.

I have read a lot of Lisa Harris’s books, as well as a lot of romantic suspense in general, and one of the nicest things about Deadly Intentions was the connection I felt between the characters. There is a true connection between Caitlyn and Josh; the way they have a history back when Josh’s wife was alive helped me to believe she would actually come to him and not make it seem a random connection. There is a great pace to the novel that keeps the story moving and readers will easily be able to follow. I read this in two days and thought it was the best one of Harris’s books I have read yet. There was lots of great suspense to go along with the romantic aspect of the story, especially towards the end. Caitlyn was a great protagonist, strong with plenty of weaknesses, able to ask for help but also help others along the way. My only negative issue would be the tie up at the end, which seemed a little rushed and I would have liked a little more backstory on one of our bad guys as to how he actually fit into the role he was playing. I do recommend this to readers that love romantic suspense novels and are looking for a great fast paced read.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Happy New Years Eve!  As this year draws to a close, we are anxiously anticipating several new titles coming out over the next year!  We hope you’ve enjoyed our reviews over the year and will be dying to read some of theses future releases.

1. The Line Between by Tosca Lee.  We’ve been salivating to get our hands on this new title that comes out January 29th!  Lee’s thrillers are often top ranking and this new dystopian release will be no less than fantastic!  Find out more here.
2. The Eighth Sister by Robert Dugoni.  Set to release on April 9th, another Tracy Crosswhite novel always helps make our year complete.  These suspense thrillers never cease to amaze us.  Find out more here.
3. Last Summer by Kerry Lonsdale. Set to release on July 9th.  We so enjoyed that Everything We Keep series that when we found out Lonsdale had a story pending we immediately added it to our calendar.  Find out more here.
4. How the Light Gets In by Jolina Petersheim. Set to release on March 5th.  We’ve gone almost two years without a new release by Jolina Petersheim and we are super excited to finally have another of her amazing books.  Find out more here.
5. The Pages of Her Life by James Rubart.  Set to release on May 21st.  Rubart is a master at supernatural stories and this is likely to be no exception.  Find out more here.
6. The Persian Gamble by Joel C. Rosenberg. Set to release on March 12th.  On the heels of the success of The Kremlin Conspiracy, this sequel will be just as suspenseful, entertaining, and potential prophetic.  Find out more here.
7. All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner. Set to release on June 4th.  Finkbeiner’s historical fiction is extremely well written.  We can’t wait to see what is in store this year.  Find out more here.
8. The Triumphant by Lesley Livingston. Set to release on February 12th.  This series kicks some serious butt.  Can’t wait to see the series continue. Find out more here.
9. Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron. Set to release on February 5th.  The Lost Castle series has already impressed us by weaving multiple storylines a single castle.  This next installment will have more of Cambron’s signature prose.  Find out more here.
10. No Place Like Here by Christina June. Set to release on May 21st.  June does an excellent job putting new spins on old fairy tales.  Next up is Hansel and Gretel!  Find out more here.
11. Forget You Know Me by Jessica Strawser. Set to release on February 5th.  Another great series with a new installment that needs to be told!  Find out more here.
12. Have You Seen Luis Velez? by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Set to release on May 21st.  Hyde’s fiction is always a welcome addition to our reading list.  Hopefully she’ll put out another book too!  Find out more here.

Of course, this is not a complete list.  We’ve been tracking several authors that we hope to see releases this year including Steven James, Ted Dekker, Rachelle Dekker, Terri Blackstock, Susan Spann, Billy Coffey, and Janice Cantore.  Who are some authors you’re looking forward to in 2019?