"The Accidental Guardian" by Mary Connealy - High Sierra Sweethearts, book 1

Trace Riley has lived on his own in the High Sierras since his wagon train was attacked when he was fifteen. As the unofficial guardian of the trail, it riles his temper to come across another burned-out wagon train. But this time there's a surprise: a pair of grown sisters and the two children they were watching who managed to survive. Deborah Harkness hadn't been able to save anyone else when she crept back to the wagon train, but she got a good look at one bandit's face. As the lone witness to murder, she's in danger if the bandits ever find out. But Trace is willing to lay down his life to keep her (and her sister and their wards) safe.

When battling stress and busyness, sometimes it's nice to relax with an entertaining romantic comedy with cowboys.

As has been the same with I'm pretty sure every Mary Connealy book I've read (and at this point there are a great many of them), I spent a delightful afternoon devouring the story. I enjoyed the new setting--I don't think I've ever read a book set in Nevada before--and the historical tidbits that made their way into the story (like mention of the Donner Party). Maybe it isn't as funny as some of her books, but the adventure is there, and the voice is unquestionably the author's own.

I enjoyed that it's pretty easy to see where the series will go from here; it ramps up my anticipation level knowing who the characters are and some notion of the conflict to come. But on the other hand, because it ramps up my anticipation level, it's frustrating to know I have to wait until fall for the next book to come out.

Thank you Bethany House for the free book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

High Sierra Sweethearts
1. The Accidental Guardian
2. The Reluctant Warrior
3. The Unexpected Champion

Denise Hunter's "Honeysuckle Dreams"

In the wake of his ex-wife's death, Brady Collins discovers that his 9-month-old son may not be his, and the child's grandparents want to take custody. When his lawyer mistakes his best friend Hope Daniels for his fiancee and mentions that an impending marriage could sway the judge in his favor, he asks Hope to be his fiancee to help him keep his son. After consideration, Hope  agrees, even if it means possibly putting aside her dream job to help her friend in need. Of course, an engagement is no guarantee they'll win the case, nor a guarantee their hearts will be safe.

The author put serious thought into this book to keep the story believable, especially between two Christians of this day and age. I really appreciated the thought Brady and Hope put into getting married before they make the final decision; they act like intelligent adults!* And they're upfront and honest right away with the people who'd catch them out. What really makes it for me is that they go into it with the expectation that it will be for life, regardless of whether Brady actually wins the custody case or not. It isn't some grand deception that they're trying to pull over the judge; they are fully committing to a marriage. Which includes premarital counseling! Not just with some pastor they barely know, but a friend.

This is all not to say that things don't go wrong, but I feel a lot better about it when it isn't because they didn't use their heads to start start with.

Even in fiction, child custody cases are not for the faint of heart. I was reminded of a custody case a friend of mine was a witness for, and it was hard for me to read about the trial, simply because I had heard so much about the real-life case. But it is a well-written and emotional story.


*If you're going to do something that you worry might be incredibly stupid, you should at least do it with forethought and intelligence. This will impress the people you're trying to convince (including yourself), and you just might get away with it. Unless you live in fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Blue Ridge Romance
1. Blue Ridge Sunrise
2. Honeysuckle Dreams
3. On Magnolia Lane (Nov 2018)

Splickety HAVOK: Extraordinary Exploits

Ever don't have time for a full novel, but still want the joy of a story that can be read in a few minutes? Try flash fiction! Complete stories of 1,000 words or less make up each issue of Splickety (which includes the sci-fi Havok and romance Spark imprints), and always revolving around a particular theme. The latest issue: Extraordinary Exploits.

Speculative Fiction covers so many different types of genres that it’s hard to keep track of them all, but we can’t forget about a staple of the genre—contemporary action and adventure with a supernatural twist. From Indiana Jones to Warehouse 13, from Independence Day to Fringe, exploring the “what ifs” of our current age helps shape our understanding of the present and the possibilities for the future. This Extraordinary Exploits issues brings together some of the best themes of speculative fiction in a thrilling, action-packed ride, so grab your fedora and get ready for adventure!

Robert Liparulo is the featured author in this issue, known for his dark Christian fantasy, and I have a short story in the issue as well:"In the Bag," about a traveler who discovers that her aunt's purse holds a lot more than she bargained for.

Look it up on Splickety or Amazon!

Morgan L Busse's "Awakened"

After being rescued from the Tower, Kat Bloodmayne needs to find the doctor who can save her from the dark power growing inside her, but the only person who can find him is Stephen Grey--the man who betrayed her. Stephen cannot change the past, but he will do everything in his power to help Kat now. Traveling with sky pirates over war-torn Austrium, they search for the doctor, but if they can even find him, will he be able to cure Kat? Or will the monster take over and she lose her soul?

Given the way this book picks up immediately where book one leaves off, the two volumes could really constitute one stand-alone novel (it sufficiently concludes in the end, so I suspect there will be no more installments). I'm glad to see things I had noted in the previous book--sky pirates, the war, corruption--all have a larger role in this story!

I enjoyed that the story was meaningfully symbolic without diving deep into allegory (allegory just not being my thing). And I really liked that the author doesn't hold back--she could have gone an easier route, but the story definitely has a stronger impact for the climax as is. I guess it might be a little on the dark end for Christian fiction (though nothing compared to a lot of mainstream fantasy), but ultimately it points to light and God. An enjoyable conclusion.

The Soul Chronicles
1. Tainted
2. Awakened

Morgan L. Busse's "Tainted" - a steampunk Christian fantasy

Kat Bloodmayne is one of the first women chosen to attend the Tower Academy of Sciences, but she carries a secret: she can twist the natural laws of science. She has no idea where this ability came from, only that every time she loses control and unleashes this power, it kills a part of her soul. Afraid for her life, Kat turns to bounty hunter Stephen Grey for help finding a doctor who can cure her. But what they discover on the way goes beyond science and into the dark sphere of magic.

I think one of the hardest genres of Christian fiction to write is fantasy; sometimes you wouldn't know it's christian save for the story's clean, more conservative morals, whereas other times Christianity is squeezed into a fantastical setting (with varying degrees of success), while still other times the allegory is thick enough to cut with a knife (cough cough, CS Lewis). I wasn't sure what to expect from this steam-punk world, but I think the author did a good job finding a way to insert faith into her story. Science rules the day (not so unlike today), but Kat's condition makes her question science's stand that there is no spiritual side to life; when she uses her [admittedly dark] powers, she can feel the damage to her soul.

I enjoy the world-building; it's definitely steampunk, with an emphasis on clockwork and steam, mad scientists, and modified Victorian styles, but there is also a bit of a western feel (with his duster and twin pistols, Stephen strikes me as the perfect old west bounty hunter). We've got a touch of conspiracy and corruption, war in the background, hints at privateers in the sky--plenty for the author to expand on in future books!

Stephen does something that I never expected him to do (can't go into it further without spoilers). But after setting aside my emotional upheaval, my detached, story-evaluating side pointed out that it was a great plot twist that will have consequences in the book(s) to come.  It reminded me of my favorite aspect of the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon.

This is definitely book 1 of a series; I'm glad I have book 2 handy to start right away. Not that it ends on a cliff-hanger (don't worry, they make it into the airship!), but it is only the beginning of the story. I'm always one for enjoying long books, so I would have enjoyed it if the beginning (Kat's two years in school) had been expanded more, but on the other hand, all the action is post-school . . .  so maybe the author chose rightly.

In any case, I am definitely going to check out other books by the author!

The Soul Chronicles
1. Tainted
2. Awakened

"Then There Was You" by Kara Isaac

Upon seeing her dead-end relationship for what it is, cautious Paige McAllister throws caution to the wind and flies off to Australia for a year to build up her resume. The job she finds will look great and offer a challenge, but Paige's previous experience with the hypocrisy and corruption of a mega church mean she's keeping an eye out for more of the same. Josh Tyler, world-famous worship leader, has suffered from disastrous relationships before, and he has no intention of involving himself with the American working in the office. But when Josh and Paige are thrown together to organize his next tour, Josh discovers that she isn't what he thought--and Paige learns he may not be the arrogant jerk he seemed. But is it enough to build a relationship on, or are their differences too great?

I have to admit, it wasn't the description that convinced me to read this book. I read it on the strength of the author's other two novels, which, being themed on the Inklings, were more my thing than a mega church and famous worship band leader (I am a small-town girl, and I can recognize my prejudices). But I'm glad I did read it. I thought the author dealt with the mega church well, showing where such things can go wrong, but also demonstrating what good such an institution can do when their focus is where it needs to be--on Jesus. The struggles of the church were very real, and really, the same as any small church--just on a much grander and more public scale. It doesn't leave me wanting to trade in my small-town church, but it does give me a better understanding of how a mega church works.

And, as I anticipated (having experienced the author's other two novels), this one still captured her trademark humor--cute, romantic comedy-esque scenes, to make the reader smile--before hitting the reader upside the head with raw emotion and significant depth. Believe me, the story packs an emotional punch, and this coming from someone who has lived a relatively safe and sheltered life; I can only imagine how it would affect me if I'd been through anything like Paige.

I love how the author balances the story so that it's light yet deeply meaningful, uplifting yet impacting at the same time. It's a well-crafted story.


*Only complaint: I think pregnant Emily should have been compared to Violet Beauregarde rather than Veruca Salt (pg. 45), as Violet is the one who expands into a giant blueberry. Unless there is another Veruca Salt that I don't know about.

Nancy Mehl's "Blind Betrayal"

U.S. Marshal Casey Quinn and her partner are in charge of delivering an important witness to testify before Grand Jury in Washington DC--along with a Marshal from her past. When a bomb destroys the marshals' St Louis office, Casey and her colleagues are running blind, and it becomes dangerously clear that there is more to the witness's story than they realized . . .

I enjoyed getting to see the old Marshals crowd from previous books in the series. Given that the scope of the danger in this story was far more than Casey and EJ could have handled by themselves, I liked how the author kept it realistic and had the Marshals, FBI, and local Law Enforcement all working together against the threat. I also enjoyed that the author threw in a few red herrings that actually offered a few moments of relief from the intense action (just the calm before the storm, however . . .). It's an intense, complex, fast-paced suspense.

The witness herself proved more complex than I expected, and I appreciated that protecting her was always the first thing on the marshals' minds, even though they were battling personal relationship issues, not to mention not knowing the fate of their friends and coworkers at the bombed Marshals Office. She seemed very real in her reactions and feelings.

Thank you Bethany house and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Defenders of Justice
1. Fatal Frost
2. Dark Deception
3. Blind Betrayal