C Jane Read : January 2018

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

A Table Before Me by Debbie Viguie

Series: Psalm 23 Mysteries # 14
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Publisher: Big Pink Bow
Released: Jan. 29, 2018
196 pages

About the Book:

Cindy is dreading Mother’s Day and the arrival of her family to celebrate the holiday while getting to know Jeremiah. The last thing she needs with company coming is another mystery to solve. However, when an acquaintance is accused of murder and begs for her help, how can she refuse? She won’t be any good to anyone, though, if she ends up dead.
Someone is killing off witnesses to a crime she helped solve, and she and Mark realize they are at the top of someone’s hit list. Jeremiah struggles to keep them both safe despite the fact that a mysterious figure is also stalking him. This is shaping up to be a family reunion to remember!

Goodreads / Amazon

My Rating & Thoughts: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 (5 stars)

This is book 14 of the series and picks up right where book 13 ended. I should have known better but I was hoping for things to quiet down in Pine Springs and for Jeremiah and Cindy to be able to start focusing planning their wedding and for Mark to be able to focus on the Paul case. Instead when the last case seems to be wrapped up another one begins, but is it really another case or is it just a continuation of the same case? There were so many twists and turns throughout trying to figure out who really was behind what is going on. Mark ends up enlisting Joseph to help him try to catch the killer, but has he ended up putting Joseph in harm’s way instead? Will they be able to stop the evil before it is too late? I especially felt for Cindy, in addition to being dragged into the case by an acquaintance, being shot at, and her home wrecked she has to deal with the horrible way her mom and brother treat her. Thankfully she has Jeremiah, her wonderful friends and her dad. Just when you think all is over though more twists come and we are left with a cliff hanger. How long must we wait for the next one. Maybe I need to read it again to see if I missed any clues to what might happen next.

(I purchased my copy of this book; opinions expressed in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

Other Books in the Series:

Comfort Me Review

Goodreads / Amazon

Monday, January 29, 2018

Monday's RSU: January 29th

Welcome to Monday's RSU. Every Monday I share an update of my reading status - what book (or books) I finished since last Monday, what book I am currently reading and what I am planning on reading next.

Just Finished:

This is so much more than just a romance story. It is a story about community and family, learning to trust God, letting go of your fears and examples of how to share God's love. I loved that this story picked up right where the previous book left off and had all the previous characters carried over. One of my favourite quotes from this is: "God can get into places no one else can." My full will be up on Feb. 14th.

Currently Reading:

I took a little break from reading last week, so I have only just started this one. I am approx. 25% in and already sucked into the suspense.

Reading Next:

I was drawn in by the cover of the book (even though I hate winter), I am participating in a blog tour for this in a couple weeks, so I need to get reading it.

What are you books are you currently reading or have recently enjoyed?

If you wish to join in on this feature, please let me know.

Sunday, January 28, 2018

C Reviews: Love Story by Karen Kingsbury

Series: The Baxter Family # 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Howard Books
Released: June 6, 2017
368 pages

About the Book:

From the day they met, John and Elizabeth were destined to fall in love. Their whirlwind romance started when they were young college students and lasted nearly thirty years.

So when John Baxter is asked to relive his long-ago love story with Elizabeth for his grandson Cole’s heritage project, he’s not sure he can do it. The sadness might simply be too great. But he agrees and allows his heart and soul to go places they haven’t gone in decades. Back to the breathless first moments, but also to the secret heartbreak that brought John and Elizabeth together.

At the same time, Baxter family friend Cody Coleman is working through the breakup of his complicated relationship with Andi Ellison. He is determined to move on when a chance sighting changes his plans—and heart. Can Cody convince Andi to give their love another try, or is it time for them to say goodbye for good?

As school comes to an end, Cole presents his report on the love story between his grandparents John and Elizabeth Baxter. It is a tale that touches the hearts of the entire family, and one that causes Cole to better understand his own beginning.

Whether you’re meeting the Baxter family for the first time or finding them all over again, Love Story will stir your heart and remind you of the generational impact of love and the eternal bond of family.

Goodreads / Amazon / Christianbook

Karen Kingsbury's Website

My Rating & Thoughts: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 (5 stars)

The love story of John and Elizabeth Baxter is a long awaited story time and it certainly did not disappoint. It was fun to return to the Baxter family and see how their story began. I liked how open John was in his story with the mistakes of his youth and I loved learning the story of how he met God. It was a nice getting to see Cole starting to grow up and I am looking forward to the stories of the next generation of the Baxters.

Catching up with the continuing story of Cody and Andi was wonderful also. The forgiveness in their story was touching as they each moved past their struggles and finally open up to each other and are turning to God for answers about their lives.

Other books in the Series:

Goodreads / Amazon / Christianbook

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Son of Promise by Caryl McAdoo (Celebrate Lit Blog Tour) & Giveaway

About the Book:

Genre: Women's Fiction
Released: January 15, 2018
311 pages

Be it known, your sins will find you out, but God’s mercy endureth forever!

Can a wife find the grace to forgive when her husband’s withheld the truth?

Travis Buckmeyer has a secret son, and the morning’s come to tell his sweet wife. He hates breaking Emma Lee’s heart. She promised him one ten years ago, but hasn’t been blessed to carry a baby to term. Every miscarriage made the telling harder, but now his clock’s run out. He’s going for his son, praying he won’t lose her.

Goodreads / Amazon
Caryl McAdoo's Website

My Rating & Thoughts: 🌟 🌟 🌟 (3 stars)

To start I want to say the message of forgiveness, love and reconciliation was strong and presented well in this story. Emma was an impressive character, the way she supported Travis, showered Cody with love, and cared for Winnie was a wonderful representation of how we are to share God’s love in all circumstances. I enjoyed witnessing Cody go from a troubled teen to learning about God and becoming thankful for the love Travis and Emma were giving him. As much as I enjoyed the message of the story I found the story move pretty slow and at times I found it hard to follow. One part that really bothered me were the scenes that came from the point of view of the coyote, this just felt so strange to me that it really put me off. I think this affected my experience the rest of the way through.

(I received a copy of this book from CelebrateLit; opinions expressed

in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

Guest Post from Caryl McAdoo

SON OF PROMISE—a companion story to my Texas Romance Family Saga’s book ten CHIEF OF SINNERS—features Travis and Emma Lee Buckmeyer, who readers first meet in CHIEF. She’s the sister of its heroine Sandy Harris, and he is a friend of its hero Buddy Nightingale; he’s also the son of Crockett Buckmeyer (from book eight COVERING LOVE) and grandson of Patrick Henry Buckmeyer (hero of book one VOW UNBROKEN).

A standalone, it isn’t necessary for readers to know all these ancestors to enjoy SON OF PROMISE, but those who do will surely love it all the more. What I know is that this couple won a chunk of my heart. Their faith is outstanding and their love inspiring. In the ’40s, Emma Lee didn’t have the fertility options young women do today, and miscarriage after miscarriage left her hurting. That’s why he hadn’t told her.

He didn’t want to hurt her, but circumstances had changed, and time was up. She had to be told that morning he already had a son born from a one night liaison thirteen years before because he was leaving to claim his Cody from a reform school and bring him home.

The boy had never known real love, but I loved him from the first. Forced to grow up way too fast—lying, stealing, and participating in most any other rebellious act—he’s missed so much. He’s overwhelmed with Travis and Emma Lee—their home, their partnership and love for each other, and their generosity toward him.

He planned to light out from the start, but days piled on top each other, and he never pulled the trigger.

In VOW UNBROKEN, there was an awesome canine named Blue Dog, and I went into his POV (Point Of View—got into his head) a couple of times. My Simon & Schuster editor ‘requested’ that I lose those segments, and so I did. But in this novel, I get into a canine’s head again . . . I’m hoping readers will find that fun.

In years past, I owned, managed, and milked a herd of eighty-plus dwarf goats and loved their Great Pyrenees guardians, so it was fun to include them in the story. I love how Emma Lee was able to sell her paintings for exorbitant prices, but remained so humble and unassuming. And that she and Travis opened their home (they’re so much like my husband and me) to total strangers. We’ve had so many people live with us over the years, to help them, be blessings—the hands and feet of God in the earth.

I pray my story gives God glory and that its readers will be drawn closer to Him through it. He blesses me and highly favors me daily. I can’t thank or praise Him enough!