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Mini-Book Review — Fragile Designs

2 Jan

Fragile Designs is a standalone novel by Colleen Coble. It combines history and mystery for a twisty romantic suspense that fans of this genre will love. Messy family dynamics are front and center, as the main character negotiates her present circumstances and past secrets. After her husband is killed, Carly moves back to her home town and her grandmother’s house. Danger follows her as mysterious break-ins occur. It’s providential that her next door neighbor is a policeman, who soon becomes as interested in her as the case. I liked the relationship that went from cautious friends to more. The mystery involves a lot of digging into the history surrounding Faberge eggs, and the two soon uncover more than they bargained for, including more family for Carly. Everyone was a suspect as I tried to figure out whodunit. Coble does a good job of keeping her characters and readers on their toes!

If you like fast-paced suspense, strong romantic elements, and a cleverly plotted novel, then put Fragile Designs on your wishlist.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Since her police-officer husband Eric’s mysterious murder, Carly Harris has been struggling to support herself and their infant son. Her career as an antique dealer isn’t sustainable, nor is her dream of becoming a novelist. So, when her grandmother proposes she and her two sisters restore the family’s large Beaufort home and turn it into a bed-and-breakfast, she immediately gets to work clearing out the house. In the process, she uncovers a family secret that Eric kept hidden. And an heirloom that the wrong person wouldn’t hesitate to kill for.

Homicide detective Lucas Bennett isn’t his neighbor’s biggest fan, not since she broke his brother’s heart years ago. But when Carly turns to Lucas for help, believing she’s found a lost Fabergé egg that would be worth millions and could put her family’s lives in danger, he can’t help but get involved. Soon, they’re entangled in a mystery with threads that lead all the way to the Russian mafia. Lucas has gotten in deep, and while he trusts his ability to keep Carly and her family safe, he begins to realize he’s vulnerable to an unexpected kind of danger–and helpless to stop the freefall. As they continue working closely together, Carly and Lucas realize they may have found something more precious than gold. Yet it’s only a matter of time before Carly–or, worse, someone she loves–gets hurt.

Colleen Coble’s Fragile Designs is gripping suspense with closed-door romance and includes an intriguing mystery surrounding an extremely valuable Fabergé egg, second-chance romance, home renovation, and found family.

Best-selling author Colleen Coble‘s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has over 5 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana. Visit her website at http://colleencoble.com.

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Mini-Book Review: Free Fall

30 Dec

In my year end pleasure reading binge I have concentrated on the romantic suspense on my TBR list, especially those that will finish up a series. Free Fall, the final book in Nancy Mehl‘s Quantico Files series, was a good choice. Mehl is a must-read author for me. Her books featuring serial killers are intriguing, yet never overly graphic. I can get the chills and thrills I want without the ensuing nightmares. 😉 In this novel main characters Alex and Logan are negotiating their relationship. Neither wants to upset the strong friendship they have developed while partnering in their work as profilers with the FBI. A case involving a missing woman sets them up on professional and personal roller coasters. While circumstances separate the pair, their feelings for each other grow stronger. The case is puzzling for the two, as well as the reader. You will be turning the pages trying to figure out just what is going on. The strong faith message shows a God who is intimately involved in His children’s lives. I liked that Mehl included a variety of ways He communicates, including scripture, other believers, angelic messengers, and dreams.

The books in the Quantico Files build on each other, with the emphasis on the two main characters throughout the series. Begin at the beginning for great reading.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

The closer she comes to the truth, the deadlier her chase gets.

FBI behavioral analyst Alex Donovan and her colleague Logan Hart have been called upon to write a profile for a missing woman, but a little digging quickly turns up more disappearances in Virginia with the same physical description. 

Alex is in a race against the clock to rescue the missing victims, so when the UNSUB makes demands of her in exchange for information, Alex takes the bait. But when her life is put in jeopardy, Logan must do whatever it takes to track them down before time runs out.

Alex works to think one step ahead of the suspect, but the more Logan and the BAU learn about the serial kidnapper, the more they fear Alex may not make it out alive.

Nancy Mehl lives in Missouri, with her husband Norman, and her puggle, Watson. She’s authored over fifty books and is currently at work on a new FBI suspense series for Bethany House Publishing.

All of Nancy’s novels have an added touch – something for your spirit as well as your soul. “I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing,” Nancy says. “It’s a part of me and of everything I think or do. God is number one in my life. I wouldn’t be writing at all if I didn’t believe that this is what He’s called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan especially for your life, and there is nothing you can’t overcome with His help.”

You can find out more about Nancy by visiting her Web site at: http://www.nancymehl.com. She also is active on the Suspense Sisters: http://www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com and on FaceBook!

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Mini-Book Review: Man of Shadow And Mist

26 Dec

Michelle Griep is fabulous at melding mystery and history together. Her novel Man of Shadow And Mist was a wonderful gothic-delight! Inspired by the Dracula legend, this historical mystery set in Victorian-era England was an intriguing and well-researched exploration of finding one’s place in the world, in spite of prejudice. Main character Rosa Edwards works for her father in his subscription library (an interesting bit of history) but dreams of more than the place she seems destined for — a married woman with children. When the mysterious Sir James Morgan returns to his home, rumors of vampires swirl around him. Mystery, intrigue, and double-dealing abound in the small town. Gossip and innuendo, rumors and violence are whipped up by misinformation, ignorance, prejudice, and good-old fashioned evil intentions. Rosa and James join forces to counteract the misplaced fears that threaten their relationship and James’s life. I really, really loved this book. I fell in love with Rosa and James and rooted on their growing romance. I found the medical information behind vampirism to be intriguing and eye-opening. The addition of Bram Stoker to the cast of characters added a unique historical detail to the story. And the journeys of the two main characters to find their place in the world and in God’s kingdom was inspiring.

If you love history, mystery, and intrigue I highly recommend reading Man of Shadow And Mist.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased the ebook from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

England, 1890
 
Vampires are alive and well in North Yorkshire, leastwise in the minds of the uneducated. Librarian Rosa Edwards intends to drive a stake through the heart of such superstitions. But gossip flies when the mysterious Sir James Morgan returns to his shadowy manor. The townsfolk say he is cursed.
 
James hates everything about England. The weather. The rumours. The scorn. Yet he must stay. His mother is dying of a disease for which he’s desperately trying to find a cure—an illness that will eventually take his own life.
 
When Rosa sets out to prove the dark gossip about James is wrong, she discovers more questions than answers. How can she accept what she can’t explain—especially the strong allure of the enigmatic man? James must battle a town steeped in fear as well as the unsettling attraction he feels for the no-nonsense librarian.
 
Can love prevail in a town filled with fear and doubt?

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Mini-Book Reviews — Cold Pursuit/Cold Threat

23 Dec

Nancy Mehl writes great serial killers! If you love books with creepy, yet intriguing bad guys, then her books are waiting on you. Her Ryland And St. Clair series features ex-FBI profilers turned private investigators River Ryland and Tony St. Clair who use their specialized skills to tackle cold cases in the St. Louis area and beyond.

In Cold Pursuit the partners and friends are just starting their business and are tasked with finding a missing son. Their investigation stirs up a hornets nest and they are soon in the thick of danger. I liked the exploration of River and Tony’s friendship. It was very natural and realistic. The cold case was intriguing and I found the way these two did research into the background of the missing man and his associates interesting. There is also the threat from a serial killer who they put in jail prior to their retirement from the FBI. Is he behind the current threats to River? This thread runs throughout the 3 books of the series, and adds a good deal of tension. The reader also gets glimpses of the diabolical workings of the bad guy’s mind.

In Cold Threat, River and Tony travel to Tony’s family home. A solved case from his father’s days as a policeman is the subject of their newest investigation. Is this a copycat murderer/arsonist or did they have the wrong man all along? There is lots of action with elements of danger to the characters. I enjoyed how River and Tony worked together to find out whodunit. Again, the bad guy’s POV is presented with chilling insight. River and Tony’s relationship continues to develop naturally.

Both are excellent choices for fans of suspense with an element of romance. And they are perfect for wintertime reading — you really get the cold factor in this series. Book 2 builds on book 1, so be sure to start from the beginning of this series.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to NetGalley for complimentary copies. All opinions are mine alone.)

Ex-FBI profiler River Ryland still suffers from PTSD after a case went horribly wrong. Needing a fresh start, she moves to St. Louis to be near her ailing mother and opens a private investigation firm with her friend and former FBI partner, Tony St. Clair. They’re soon approached by a grieving mother who wants them to find out what happened to her teenaged son, who disappeared four years ago. River knows there’s almost no hope the boy is still alive, but his mother needs closure, and River and Tony need a case, no matter how cold it might be.

But as they follow the boy’s trail, which gets more complicated at every turn, they find themselves in the path of a murderer determined to punish anyone who gets in his way. As River and Tony race to stop him before he kills again, an even more dangerous threat emerges, stirring up the past that haunts River and plotting an end to her future.

Twenty years ago, several people were murdered in Des Moines, and the only evidence left behind was a snowman ornament hanging ominously on a tree in the victims’ front lawns. With a suspect behind bars, the killings have come to an end–or so everyone thought. But now crimes with a similar MO are happening in a small Iowa town, and a local detective believes the killer is back and ready to strike again.

With little time left on the clock before they have another murder on their hands, private investigators River Ryland and Tony St. Clair must work alongside Tony’s detective father to find evidence that will uncover an evil that has survived far too long. As the danger mounts and the suspect closes in, it will take all they have to catch a killer–before he catches one of them.

Nancy Mehl lives in Missouri, with her husband Norman, and her puggle, Watson. She’s authored over fifty books and is currently at work on a new FBI suspense series for Bethany House Publishing.

All of Nancy’s novels have an added touch – something for your spirit as well as your soul. “I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing,” Nancy says. “It’s a part of me and of everything I think or do. God is number one in my life. I wouldn’t be writing at all if I didn’t believe that this is what He’s called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan especially for your life, and there is nothing you can’t overcome with His help.”

You can find out more about Nancy by visiting her Web site at: http://www.nancymehl.com.

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Mini-Book Review — Blind Trust

19 Dec

I am a big Natalie Walters fan. Her series are great for fans of romantic suspense — sizzle and non-stop action! Blind Trust is the final book in Walters’ SNAP Agency series, set in the NOVA area. While I did enjoy it, I have to admit it is not my favorite of the trilogy. Not sure what it was about the book — I liked the main characters and the plot was intriguing. I just had a very hard time getting into the story. Towards the end I was turning the pages fast and furiously to find out just what in the world was going on! Maybe that’s what I had trouble with — a lot of random-feeling threads I didn’t think would ever come together. But they did, and I am glad I have a conclusion of the gang at SNAP. The series taken as a whole is excellent and certainly binge-worthy. So start with book 1 and keep going. You’re welcome! 😉

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Lyla Fox knows she has a reputation at the SNAP Agency for impulsivity, but when she receives a threatening letter from a man she helped put in prison, she can’t stop herself from going all in to find out why he’s coming after her. Unfortunately, she’s going to need the help of the one person who questions her reckless choices more than anyone else.

Explosives and weapons specialist Nicolás Garcia agrees to help Lyla in order to keep her safe, but her recklessness continues to be a major concern, especially when her investigation into a conspiracy puts a target on her back. Dealing with bombs is dangerous. Working with Lyla is proving to be just as treacherous–to both the mission and his heart.

Natalie Walters closes out her SNAP Agency series with a bang with this nail-biting story of a deadly government conspiracy, an unlikely couple, and an ending that will leave you breathless.

Natalie Walters is a best selling author who loves writing romantic suspense with dynamic plots, memorable characters, humor, heart, and adventure.

As an Army wife, she fills her stories with the right balance of romantic and suspenseful tension to get the heart-racing and a cast of witty characters–all of which, may or may not be inspired by true people and/or events.

When she’s not writing, she’s dreaming of her next vacation, spending time with her family, or chasing after her sock-eating Goldendoodle, Scout. Annnd binging CourtTv.

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Mini-Book Review — Body of Evidence

18 Dec

I have no reading deadlines until the end of the year, so I am trying to clear off my shelves and read some great books I have put off for too long. One of those is Body of Evidence by Irene Hannon. I usually fly through her romantic suspense series, but it has been a while since I visited with the Reilly sisters in the Triple Threat series. This novel focuses on forensic pathologist Grace Reilly and new sheriff in town Nate Cox. There is instant chemistry between the two, but of course there are some obstacles to overcome — previous relationships and a few unexplained deaths stacking up across a couple of counties in rural southern Missouri. 😉 Unexplained as far as Grace is concerned even if the coroner is eager to close the cases. Grace and Nate agree on more than their interest in each other; they sense that not all is as it seems in the elderly deaths. I really liked the puzzle presented in this book. There’s a lot of investigating for both main characters. And while the reader does have a glimpse into just whodunit, Hannon does a great job of keeping the solution just out of reach. Both Grace and Nate are christians and endeavor to live upright lives, though neither is perfect. But it is a secondary character who has the most intriguing faith journey. True repentance and heartfelt forgiveness are explored in most satisfying ways. Body of Evidence is the concluding book of the series, and a HEA is celebrated. I listened to the audiobook on a trip back and forth to visit family. I was shy about 45 minutes of finishing as I pulled into my garage — I made sure to get this book done before bedtime! It is unputdownable or unturnoffable, as the case may be!

You can read Body of Evidence as a standalone novel, but I recommend starting with book 1. It is a fabulous binge-worthy series.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I bought the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Forensic pathologist Grace Reilly has seen her share of unusual deaths in rural Missouri. But when she begins to notice a curious pattern in autopsies of older residents whose demise appears to be natural, she takes her concerns to Sheriff Nate Cox.

Nate is skeptical about the link Grace is seeing between the deaths–and her suspicions of foul play. But her persistence is compelling. Once she finally convinces him her theory is credible and they join forces to investigate, danger follows. Because exposing the truth could destroy several lives–including Grace’s.

Queen of inspirational romantic suspense Irene Hannon closes out her bestselling Triple Threat series with this gripping tale of secrets revealed and romance sparked.

Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than 65 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. In addition to her many other honors, she is a three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of RWA’s elite Hall of Fame and has received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Millions of her books have been sold worldwide, and her novels have been translated into multiple languages.

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Book Review: The Christmas Tree Farm

9 Dec

I like to include at least one Christmas novella leading into the holiday season. This year my book club chose to read The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson. If you are looking for a feel-good story with serious Hallmark vibes, then this one is for you.

When Madison McDowell returns from several years teaching overseas, she has high hopes of picking up where she left off at her family’s Christmas tree farm in Oregon. But between damage from a recent wildfire and the neglect due to her sister Addie’s unwillingness to invest, the farm is in sad shape. In fact, Addie is intent on selling the property. And to top it off, her former high school flame, the now-widowed Gavin Thompson, has plans to break Madison’s heart again by turning his neighboring property into a dusty, noisy dirt bike track for his daughter.

With the odds stacked against her, Madison decides there’s only one thing to do: double down on her dreams. It will take a ton of hard work–and some help from an unlikely ally–to save the farm she so dearly loves. But it may take a miracle to restore her relationship with her sister.

Bestselling and award-winning author Melody Carlson charms and delights with this uplifting Christmas story full of old memories and new beginnings.

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller.” Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including Romantic Time’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/

My Impressions:

Sometimes you want an uncomplicated, feel-good story with a Christmas-y setting. You will get that with Melody Carlson’s novella The Christmas Tree Farm. With serious Hallmark vibes, this holiday romance is set in the most Christmas location — a Christmas tree farm. The main character, Madison, returns to the place of her cherished childhood memories ready to begin a new life. She faces obstacles of a depressed economy and a manipulative younger sister, but puts in the work to bring the tree farm back to its former glory. She also has a second chance at love which is always a favorite trope. Add in a hunky leading man and an adorable kid sidekick and you have the elements for a fun Christmas read. Is it predictable? You bet! But sometimes that’s just what you want or need.

The Christmas Tree Farm isn’t my favorite of Carlson’s novellas, but it was a quick read that I found enjoyable. If you are looking for a light read with all the holiday trimmings, then give this one a try.

Audience: Adults

(I received a complimentary ebook from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Mini-Review: The Divine Proverb of Streusel

27 Nov

Sometimes I need a quiet book — a book that I can sink into for warmth and wisdom. That’s what I got with The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold. This general fiction novel traces the healing journey of Nikki Werner as she runs away from hurt and doubt to a sense of hope and connection with her past. Nikki’s parents have just divorced, and everything she thought was true about their marriage and her childhood comes crashing down. Faced with decisions about her own future, she runs to her family’s farm where she once felt peace and safety. I loved that Nikki embraced her family’s past in order to make sense of her present and ultimately find a way towards a future. Her uncle Wes and Joyce, a family friend, assist on that journey, as they too struggle with moving forward. One of my favorite parts of this book was the precious notebook Nikki finds filled with old German recipes and wise advice for building a life. It not only fed the hungry at her table, it brought new perspective to Nikki’s life. The book was not written for Nikki, but she found it was indeed a guide to be treasured. There is a lot to like about this novel — endearing characters, a great sense of place, and strong spiritual themes to make the reader ponder. I definitely recommend you read this one.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Shaken by her parents’ divorce and discouraged by the growing chasm between herself and her serious boyfriend, Nikki Werner seeks solace at her uncle’s farm in a small Missouri hamlet. She’ll spend the summer there, picking up the pieces of her shattered present so she can plan a better future. But what awaits her at the ancestral farm is a past she barely knows.

Among her late grandmother’s belongings, Nikki finds an old notebook filled with handwritten German recipes and wise sayings pulled from the book of Proverbs. With each recipe she makes, she invites locals to the family table to hear their stories about the town’s history, her ancestors–and her estranged father. 

What started as a cathartic way to connect to her heritage soon becomes the means through which she learns how the women before her endured–with the help of their cooking prowess. Nikki realizes how delicious streusel with a healthy dollop of faith can serve as a guide to heal wounds of the past.

Sara Brunsvold creates stories that speak hope, truth, and life. Influenced by humble women of God who find his fingerprints in the everyday, she does the same in her life and her storytelling. Sara’s recognitions include the 2020 ACFW Genesis Award for Contemporary Fiction. She lives with her family near Kansas City, Missouri, where she can often be spotted writing at a park or library. Learn more at http://www.sarabrunsvold.com

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Book Review: Cornered

18 Nov

Sometimes I am just in the mood for a quick-paced, suspense-filled story to escape to. Cornered, the 3-author novella collection checked all my boxes! I can’t recommend enough this book authored by Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Natalie Walters. Find out more about the book and my thoughts below.

Prepare for three times the thrills with these nail-biting page-turners from your favorite romantic suspense authors!

In In the Dark by Lynette Eason, accountant Steph Cross is cleaning out a coworker’s desk after her untimely death when she finds cryptic notes that lead her to believe her friend’s car accident was no accident at all. Detective Tate Cooper is determined to help her crack the case before someone else gets hurt. But can he protect the woman who has so quickly laid claim to his heart?

In Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn, chef Cassie Quinn gets an offer she can’t refuse: to fill in as chef at an exclusive mountain resort. But when the kitchen is destroyed and it becomes clear Cassie is in danger, she’s forced to accept the help of her ex-boyfriend, Detective Donovan Bledsoe, to find the culprit and keep her safe.

In Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters, teacher Lahela Young becomes the target of someone with a twisted obsession of righting a wrong. The first person she turns to is her good friend Briggs Turner. Briggs may have left his career as a police officer, but he still has the instinct to protect–especially for Lahela.

Award-winning, best-selling author, Lynette Eason writes for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line and for Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Her books have hit the Publisher’s Weekly, CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won numerous awards such as the prestigious Carol Award, the Selah, the Daphne, the IRCC award and more. Lynette is married, has two children, and lives in Greenville, SC.

Lynn H. Blackburn loves writing romantic suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she’s a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters and loves putting them into all kinds of terrifying situations while she’s sitting at home safe and sound in her pajamas!

Lynn lives in South Carolina with her family. You can stay up-to-date by signing up for her newsletter at her website and following her on social media @LynnHBlackburn.

Natalie Walters is a best selling author who loves writing romantic suspense with dynamic plots, memorable characters, humor, heart, and adventure.

As an Army wife, she fills her stories with the right balance of romantic and suspenseful tension to get the heart-racing and a cast of witty characters–all of which, may or may not be inspired by true people and/or events.

When she’s not writing, she’s dreaming of her next vacation, spending time with her family, or chasing after her sock-eating Goldendoodle, Scout. Annnd binging CourtTv.

My Impressions:

In busy times of my life (like right now) I crave fast-paced suspense. Cornered, a 3-novella collection from Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Natalie Walters checked all my boxes! With stories inspired from my favorite series by these authors, this collection combined intriguing plots, characters to love, and inspirational themes. If you are a fan of any of these authors, you are in for a treat! Each novella contains a twisting/turning plot that keeps the characters and readers on their toes. I never knew just where the next threat would come from or just whodunit. I love when I can’t quite figure out just what is going on. In addition to the puzzles, the characters are realistically drawn and relatable. Finding a place and purpose in which to fit is a universal theme. These stories are clean too, but there’s plenty of sizzle between the main characters. Romance fans will find much to love. I really didn’t have a favorite among these novellas — each was supremely satisfying. The bad guys always get caught and the main characters have a HEA.

So if you are looking for a fun book that you can read this holiday season, then I recommend Cornered. Be careful though, once you start each novella you are not going to want to put them down. 😉

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: Of Gold And Shadows

11 Nov

Michelle Griep does it again! Her newest novel, Of Gold And Shadows, is the perfect choice for fans of historical romance with a good dose of the mysterious. I loved the Victorian-era setting with a nod towards Charles Dickens. Find out more below.

The shadows hold secrets darker than they ever imagined. . . .

In 1888 Victorian England, Ami Dalton navigates a clandestine dual life. By day, she strives to establish herself as a respected Egyptologist, overcoming the gender biases that permeate academia. But with a heart for saving black-market artifacts from falling into the wrong hands, she is most often disguised as her alter ego, the Shadow Broker.

After eight years in India, Oxford’s most eligible bachelor, Edmund Price, has come out of the shadows to run for Parliament and is in search of an Egyptologist to value a newly acquired collection. Expecting a renowned Oxford professor, Edmund instead finds himself entangled with Ami, the professor’s determined daughter. As they delve into the treasures, their connection deepens, but trouble emerges when a golden griffin–rumored to bear the curse of Amentuk–surfaces, and they’re left to wonder if the curse really is at play, or if something more nefarious is hiding among the shadows . . . .

Michelle Griep has been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She seeks to glorify God in all that she writes–except for that graffiti phase she went through as a teenager. She resides in the frozen tundra of Minnesota, where she teaches history and writing classes for a local high school co-op. An Anglophile at heart, she runs away to England every chance she gets, under the guise of research. Really, though, she’s eating excessive amounts of scones while rambling around a castle. Michelle is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and MCWG (Minnesota Christian Writers Guild).

My Impressions:

Of Gold And Shadows was the perfect choice for the longer nights of Autumn. Atmospheric in its setting, this novel’s nod to Victorian England includes the fascination with all things Egyptian and Charles Dickens. Ami Dalton is an aspiring Egyptologist set on proving that women can have expertise in the area of archeology. She teams up with the much sought after Edmund Price as she values his large haul of antiquities. Ancient curses, political machinations, scheming partners, and a thoroughly despicable villain combine to make this an intriguing and fun read. But it is Ami and Edmund’s immediate chemistry that made me love this book. The opposites attract trope was skillfully handled with these two quirky and lovable characters. The book has a twistingly good mystery as well — I thought I knew what was going on, but boy was I surprised. I liked that a lot!

So if you love a historical novel that immerses you in a long gone time and place, gives you a fun reading romp, and satisfies your desire for an HEA, then Of Gold And Shadows is for you. An added bonus is this is just the first installment in Griep’s Time’s Lost Treasure series. More great reading to come!

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to Bethany House for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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