Book Review: The Hunted Heir

23 Jan

Have you ever read a book that is just a pure delight? I just finished The Hunted Heir, a legal drama/suspense with romantic elements by Jayna Breigh. It was wonderful! Read all about it below.

After a tragic loss, private investigator Nona Taylor swore off romantic entanglements and distanced herself from the world. Once a year, on New Year’s Eve, she attends church to beg God for forgiveness, haunted by the guilt of driving her twin sister to her death.

Attorney DeMarcus Johnson is determined to climb the ladder to partnership by winning high-profile cases at his Los Angeles law firm, harnessing his ADHD hyperfocus to excel. He’s everything Nona knows to steer clear of–an overconfident ex-jock willing to do anything for success.

Their worlds collide when Nona’s pastor receives a mysterious letter claiming he’s the sole heir to a substantial estate. Desperate for answers, Nona infiltrates a lavish charity ball, only to be found out by a suspicious stranger–so she latches onto DeMarcus and concocts a fib about being his fiancée.

Now bound by a false engagement, the pair reluctantly join forces to discover the truth about the inheritance. But when an unseen enemy strikes, they realize the stakes are higher than they thought. Can Nona and DeMarcus overcome their differences to keep the pastor safe, secure DeMarcus’s partnership, and preserve a future for themselves?

Jayna Breigh is an award-winning writer of Romantic Legal Dramas – Suspenseful, Twist-Filled Mystery/Thrillers with Romance. She practiced “Big City Law” in Los Angeles for over a decade. Jayna loves funny, inspirational and painfully cute social media. The only real life drama allowed—British period pieces and games of Wordfeud.

My Impressions:

The Hunted Heir is Jayna Breigh‘s debut novel. This attorney turned author wins with this delightful, suspense-filled mystery. There is so much to love about this book — charming characters, a twisting mystery, and a faith-filled message. I immediately fell in love with main character Nona, a private investigator who has struggled for a decade with guilt and shame. Walled off to avoid relationships, she meets her match in the disarming DeMarcus, a Princeton alum attorney working his way to make a mark on the legal world. They are divinely thrown together, and their hilarious fake engagement takes off. These two characters are a hoot, and I hope they have more books ahead of them. The story revolves around a land deal, crooked politicians, and a laughing heir — someone who inherits from an unknown distant relative. You know, laughing all the way to the bank. But there is nothing funny about the way the bad guys try to thwart the rightful heir from collecting. Readers are given knowledge that Nona and DeMarcus do not possess, and it’s fun to see how they uncover all the clues. There is also a secondary plot that highlights Nona and DeMarcus’s skills as well. Fun, fun reading! Breigh also includes a very realistic faith thread that I never found preachy. It is profound and filled with thought-provoking moments.

The Hunted Heir is a complete read — enjoyable characters, a fun plot, and deep spiritual truths. I very highly recommend it. It will be going on my best of the best list for 2025.

Very Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

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

Mini-Book Review — Christmas at The Jekyll Island Club

22 Jan

It’s never too late — or too early — to read a Christmas book. I enjoyed reading Christmas at The Jekyll Island Club, part of the Romance at The Gilded Ages Resorts series, following a visit to the island in mid-December. The historic district and the clubhouse itself has been lovingly restored, and guests can experience a little of what it must have been like to live among the rich and powerful of the early 1900s. Author Blossom Turner does a good job of bringing those days to life in her novella-length book. The story contrasts the excessiveness of the rich with those who made their living in very different ways. The story revolves around a rich young heiress and a humble and earnest preacher tasked with delivering not-so-comfortable sermons to those on the island. There’s a salvation moment in which eyes and ears are opened to God’s truth. Christmas at The Jekyll Island Club will appeal to those who like to venture back in time through the pages of a historical romance.

Recommended.

Audience: older teens and adults.

(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

She was born into privilege yet yearns for freedom. Dare she risk it all for love?

Though spunky Savannah Ensworth was born into wealth and privilege, she longs for the freedom allotted to men. Marriage is the very last thing on her to-do list. As the sole heir to her father’s fortune, she’s in no hurry to turn the freedom that comes with wealth over to a husband.

Bored and restless, she arrives for yet another mind-numbing winter season at the Jekyll Island Millionaire’s Club. There is nothing new under the sun…or so she thinks until she meets Joseph Bennett, the visiting reverend.

As sparks fly, a forbidden attraction grows. But will their very different lives snuff out any hope of a future? And is she ready to give up the freedom she’s always desired for a love that could cost her everything?

Blossom Turner is an award-winning novelist who loves to jump out of planes, garden, and sing… all for fun.

She is published in Chicken Soup and Kernels of Hope anthologies, a former newspaper columnist on health and fitness and personal trainer. She writes a monthly inspirational newsletter and blog.

As a later-in-life career she is pursuing her dream to write and is gifted in bringing to life thought-provoking stories of love and relationship sprinkled with God’s hope. Check out the award-winning Shenandoah Bride Series about five sisters and their love stories all with an inspirational twist.

She and her husband, David, have two grown children and live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada, with their Shepherd/Bernese dog named Lacey.

Top 10 Tuesday — Most Recent Additions to My TBR Shelves

21 Jan

Have you added a lot of books to your TBR so far this year? My answer is, of course! While I have a seemingly unending reading list, I never shy away from adding just one, or two, or more books. Today TTT tasked bloggers with revealing the latest books that they have added to their shelves. I have focused specifically on my NetGalley shelf, since many of the books have not yet released. I hope my list piques your interest.

For more new books, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Most Recent Additions to My TBR Shelves

Before The King By Heather Kaufman

The Blooming of Delphinium by Holly Varni

Deadly Revenge by Patricia Bradley

Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz

Midnight on The Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin

Over The Edge by Irene Hannon

The Queen’s Cook by Tessa Afshar

Serial Burn by Lynette Eason

Specters in The Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright

Storm Warning by Elizabeth Goddard

Mini-Book Review — Hidden in The Night

20 Jan

I was on a suspense reading-binge in December. I took some time off from book tours and book festival business, and just read for pleasure. Mystery/suspense is my go-to genre choice, and I had a blast reading what I wanted! One of the books I read was Hidden in The Night, Elizabeth Goddard‘s final book in the Missing in Alaska series. It was great! I loved the characters — the chemistry between the two main characters happened before the action in this book and it developed as fast as the action. The plot — a missing manuscript and a missing woman — intertwined in intriguing ways. I loved that the author created a lost book written by Jack London, a fascinating figure in his own right. While the book and its accompanying curse were purely fictional, it ignited a lot of what-ifs in the real world. The setting brought back memories of two trips my husband and I took to Alaska. The scenery is breathtaking, and Goddard did a good job of making the reader feel they were right there. I admit I was surprised to look up after being immersed in the book and not finding the ground outside my windows covered in snow! 😉 As always, Goddard weaves a faith message naturally in the narrative. I appreciate the struggles the characters faced — they will resonate with many readers.

A very satisfying ending to a wonderful series, Hidden in The Night is a recommended read.

Recommended

Audience: Adults

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

At the behest of her ailing mother, former FBI special agent turned rare-book collector Ivy Elliott arrives in Alaska to secure an unpublished Jack London manuscript kept secreted away for decades. But when she arrives, she learns the manuscript is gone–taken by the granddaughter of the woman who possessed it. Ivy sets off in pursuit, not just to save the manuscript but to save the vulnerable girl, who was previously trafficked and has no idea what she’s getting herself into.

Joining forces with Alaska State Trooper Nolan Long, Ivy must battle a blizzard, sabotage, and the worst of an Alaskan winter as the search goes on. But every answer they find only raises more questions–and the danger to their lives and to the missing girl may only be the tip of the iceberg.

Elizabeth Goddard is the PW, ECPA, and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of over sixty novels, including the Missing in Alaska and Rocky Mountain Courage series. Her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies. She is a Christy Award, Carol Award and Reader’s Choice Award winner and a Daphne du Maurier Award and HOLT Medallion finalist. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book, and serving with her husband in ministry. For more information about her books, visit her website.

First Line Friday — Hidden

17 Jan

Happy Friday! Are you still caught in the midst of the winter’s cold? It’s a bit warmer here in the Sunny South, but I have a book with a snowstorm setting that you can snuggle in with. Hidden by Hope Welborn is a romantic suspense novella that you need to check out!

Here’s the first line:

Large, fluffy snowflakes swirled in the wind, adding to the mass of white blanketing the ground.

All she wants is a peaceful Christmas…

Young widow Alison Bailey-Curtis seeks the comfort and familiarity of her family’s North Georgia mountain cabin to escape for the holidays.

But someone is following her and a snowstorm has her trapped.

With an unknown threat tracking her every move, she must rely on the one man she swore never to trust again – Special Agent Noah Chandler.

Noah’s sole mission is to protect Alison without blowing his cover. But as danger closes in, protecting her means resurrecting a web of lies and facing their painful past.

With nowhere to run, Alison and Noah must confront their deepest fears and insecurities, relying on each other for survival.

Can they unravel the truth before the enemy strikes, or will the shattered trust between them be their downfall?

Hope Welborn writes spine-tingling suspense, sprinkled with romance, and saturated with faith. Her manuscripts have won the ACFW Genesis Contest and the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Foundations Awards in romantic suspense.

As a #writerwithadayjob, she spends her lunch hours creating small town characters who face big suspense with faith in a big God. By day, she masquerades as a digital content marketing technology specialist, and by night, she stays up too late putting words on the page.

Hope also serves as editor and web manager for Spark Flash Fiction and is a member of the Suspense Squad. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.

Mini-Book Review: 26 Below

16 Jan

I read Kimberly Woodhouse‘s Alaskan Cyber Hunters series all out of order! Don’t be like me. 😉 If you haven’t read this series yet, begin with the suspense-filled 26 Below. Each book in this series builds on the previous one, and 26 Below will whet your appetite for more. Engaging main characters are faced with life and death conditions and decisions as they tackle a cyber attack in the midst of a cold, cold winter in Alaska. The book alternates between the POV of the good guys and the very evil POV of an unknown bad guy. Very. Bad. Guy. I liked that the reader had insight into the machinations and derangement of the villain. Yes, I like thriller elements in my romantic suspense, so this book fit the bill. While the story seems to have a resolution, hold on to your hat for the next two books. All are available, so you have plenty to keep your cold, cold winter nights occupied. 😉

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I bought this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

In her new role as Emergency Operations Center director for Fairbanks, Alaska, Darcie Phillips prevents disasters. But none of her training can prepare her for the terror that’s coming. 

As a cybersecurity specialist, Jason Myers is determined to ferret out any threats to the town he now calls home–and that includes his reckless brother and his ecoterrorist friends.

When an old woman’s wild prediction–widespread destruction as soon as the Fairbanks temperature falls to 26 below–hits national headlines, neither Darcie nor Jason sees a real risk to anything but tourism.

Then the bodies start dropping.

Darcie is relying on her experience and intelligence to stop a killer; Jason is relying on God to guide the way. They’ll have to work together to find the truth and prevent their Alaskan town from becoming a city of nightmares. The first in a thrilling new suspense series from best-selling author Kimberley Woodhouse, 26 Below will delight fans of Lynnette Eason, Irene Hannon, and Lynn Blackburn.

Kimberley Woodhouse is the best-selling and award-winning author of more than two dozen books. She is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. A popular speaker, she’s shared at more than 2,000 venues across the country. Kimberley and her family’s story have garnered national media attention for many years including ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, Discovery Health channel’s Mystery ER, The Hour of Power, The Harvest Show, and over 1,000 other TV appearances and radio interviews. She lives and writes in the Poconos with her husband of thirty years. kimberleywoodhouse.com

Spotlight on Medieval Fantasy — Squire of Truth

15 Jan

Squire of Truth JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Squire of Truth by Jill Williamson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Squire of Truth

Title: Squire of Truth
Series: Blood of Kings: Legends #1
Author: Jill Williamson
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Release Date: January 7, 2025
Genre: Medieval Fantasy

Cole Tanniyn, squire to the soon-to-be king, has journeyed far from his days as a stray stable boy in a distant mountain village. Haunted by the echoes of past failures on the battlefield, he seeks solace in music, hoping to find belonging among fellow musicians. His quest leads him to Mistel Wepp, a spirited songstress determined to forge her own path on stage.

For too long, Mistel has been bound by a past of confinement and control. Now on her own, she toils tirelessly to make her mark, but the struggle to earn a living in a world that fails to appreciate her talents proves exhausting. When she connects Cole with the future king and discovers he’s a skilled lutist, she sees an opportunity to change her future.

When a heinous crime leaves Mistel’s roommate dead, she turns to Cole for help. Despite his inexperience as an investigator, Cole vows to uncover the truth. Together, they delve into the dark alleys of Armonguard, uncovering a sinister web of secrets and sorcery that threatens the kingdom. As their journey unfolds, their shared love of music catches the attention of the king, who commissions them to compose a song for his upcoming wedding, offering a glimpse of normalcy amid adversity. Can Cole and Mistel prevail against enemies wielding dark magic? Or will they become the next casualties in a deadly game of power?

Excerpt

“Mistel!”

She jerked at the bite in that voice. On her left, Osrik Nath pushed through the crowd.

Thunder and rats! That man would be the death of her. Which was exactly why she kept avoiding him. At least this time she saw no sign of Lander Gysel at his side.

She was about to run when a familiar young man stepped out from between a fruit vendor and someone selling spices. He wore plain clothes and held a lute under one arm, but there was no mistaking those freckles. They gave him a friendly demeanor, and his short brown hair seemed so overly average that it was completely endearing. He had an athletic build and stood only a few inches taller than her.

“Cole!” Mistel thrust her hand into the air, waving as if she knew him.

As she approached, his gaze settled on her. He had kind and expressive hazel eyes. A moment of recognition passed across his face, then confusion wrinkled his brow.

She linked her arm with his free one. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” Surely the squire to the Crown Prince of Er’Rets would help her. And if she played her cards right, he might even buy her dinner too.



Blood of Kings: Legends

Book 1: Squire of Truth
Book 2: Lord of Winter
Book 3: Lady of Shadows
Book:4: Heir of Light

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Sunrise Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

More Books in This Series


About The Author

Jill Williamson

Jill Williamson writes fantasy and science fiction for teens and adults. She grew up in Alaska, staying up and reading by the summer daylight that wouldn’t go away. This led to a love of books and writing, and her debut novel, By Darkness Hid, won several awards and was named a Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror novel of 2009 by VOYA magazine. She loves giving writing workshops and blogs for teen writers at http://www.GoTeenWriters.com, which has been named as one of Writer’s Digest’s “101 Best Websites for Writers.” She now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two children.

Connect with Jill by visiting jillwilliamson.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Squire of Truth & a $10 Gift Card to the Sunrise Shop!

Squire of Truth JustRead Tours blog tour giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 13, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 20, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

Book Review: Indigo Isle

15 Jan

Indigo Isle by T. I. Lowe won the 2024 Christy Award for Contemporary Romance and Book of The Year. Before beginning it, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. What I got blew my mind. This book is fabulous! Read it now! 😉 See all my gushing below.

Sonny Bates left South Carolina fifteen years ago and never looked back. Now she’s a successful Hollywood location scout who travels the world, finding perfect places for movie shoots. Home is wherever she lands, and between her busy schedule and dealing with her boss’s demands, she has little time to think about the past . . . until her latest gig lands her a stone’s throw from everything she left behind.

Searching off the coast of Charleston for a secluded site to film a key scene, Sonny wanders onto a private barrier island and encounters its reclusive owner, known by locals as the Monster of Indigo Isle. What she finds is a man much more complex than the myth.

Once a successful New York attorney, Hudson Renfrow’s grief has exiled him to his island for several years. He spends his days alone, tending his fields of indigo, then making indigo dye―and he has no interest in serving the intrusive needs of a film company or yielding to Sonny’s determined curiosity. But when a hurricane makes landfall on the Carolina coast, stranding them together, an unlikely friendship forms between the two damaged souls. Soon the gruff exterior Hudson has long hidden behind crumbles―exposing the tender part of him that’s desperate for forgiveness and a second chance.

A story of hanging on and letting go, of redemption and reconciliation, and of a love that heals the deepest wounds, from the author of the breakout Southern fiction bestseller Under the Magnolias.

T. I. Lowe is an ordinary country girl who loves to tell extraordinary stories. She is the author of nearly twenty published novels, including her recent bestselling and critically acclaimed novel, Under the Magnolias, and her debut breakout, Lulu’s Café. She lives with her husband and family in coastal South Carolina. Find her at tilowe.com or on Facebook (T.I.Lowe), Instagram (tilowe), and Twitter (@TiLowe).

My Impressions:

Wow! Indigo Isle by T. I. Lowe was not what I expected. Billed as a contemporary romance set in the lowcountry, I thought this novel would have the typical tropes and themes. It does not. Main character Sonny Bates has made a few, no, a lot of mistakes in her life. And she is paying for them. Of course, some of the problems that she deals with are those inflicted by others, namely an abusive boss. Coming back to her roots after 15 years adds its own level of stress and trauma. But Sonny has an awakening that changes the course of her life’s trajectory. With some nods to fairy tale elements — a motel-owning fairy godmother and a Beast with his own set of trauma — Indigo Isle is a novel of complex family relationships, a journey of missteps and wrong turns put straight, and the powerful message of God’s grace and mercy. I loved, loved, loved this book. Sonny is a flawed character that will resonate with any reader. I was in turn frustrated with her, enraged for her, and cheering her on as she made her way back to who she could be in the future. I do have a warning for readers though — Lowe does not gloss over the abusive nature (sexual and emotional) of the relationship between Sonny and her boss. (If you are sensitive to this topic, you may want to skip this book.) I did love that secondary characters came along side her to back her up. There’s also the ending. I don’t think Lowe could have written a better epilogue if she tried. You are going to love the HEA!

Indigo Isle has it all — compelling storyline, powerful themes, and characters to love. This is my first book by Lowe, but it will not be my last!

Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: Adults.

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

TTT — 2025 Bookish Goals

14 Jan

Happy Tuesday everyone! Today the bloggers of TTT are sharing their goals for 2025. My husband retires in 4 days, so any reading goals I may have entertained will be replaced by assisting in the projects he has planned for the coming months, upcoming trips, and general hanging out time. He will start doing a little relief work (he’s a veterinarian) in March, but only a few days on selected weeks. That will be the time I slip in all day reading. 😉

But in the meantime I do have a few bookish goals, though nothing taxing or restricting. I plan on, again, reading what I want to read, scaling back book tour obligations, resting up from the Book Festival I have been working on for the past year, and a new activity — crocheting a book blanket as a reminder of all the fabulous books I will read in 2025.

Here are some pictures of granny squares and books so far in 2025. They will be joined together to form an eclectic (like my reading choices) reminder of the year’s reading.

What are some of your bookish goals?

Mini-Book Review — One Wrong Move

13 Jan

Dani Pettrey is known for strong suspense-filled novels with great romantic chemistry. If that’s your thing, you are going to love the first book in the Jeopardy Falls series, One Wrong Move. This one has lots of action to keep the pages turning, plus two main characters to love! Andi Forester was once an FBI agent, but now investigates insurance fraud. She teams up with Christian O’Brady who installed the break-in proof security systems for art galleries that proved him wrong. Both Andi and Christian have big baggage, and this case is make or break on their second chance at proving themselves professionally. These two characters are great at their jobs, and great together. I also loved the southwestern setting of the novel — places I have only visited in books. With Pettrey’s descriptions I can now say I was right there. This book is quick-paced with plenty of twists to keep the reader on his/her toes. I loved it and am betting you will too. Book 2, Two Seconds Too Late, releases in April, so make sure you read this one now!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

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

Taunting riddles.
A deadly string of heists. 
Two broken hearts trapped in a killer’s game.

Christian O’Brady was pulled into a life of crime at a young age by his con artist parents. Now making amends for his corrupt past, he has become one of the country’s foremost security experts. When a string of Southwestern art heists targets one of the galleries Christian secured, he is paired up with a gifted insurance investigator who has her own checkered past.

Andi Forester was a brilliant FBI forensic analyst until her career was destroyed. She now puts those skills to work investigating insurance fraud, and this latest high-stakes case will test her gift to the limit. Drawn deep into a dangerous game with an opponent bent on revenge, Christian and Andi are in a race against the clock to catch him, but the perpetrator’s game is far from finished, and one wrong move could be the death of them both.

Publishers Weekly and #1 Amazon bestselling author, Dani Pettrey has sold nearly one million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance.

Her novels stand out for their “wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters” (Publishers Weekly), “gripping storyline[s],” (RT Book Reviews), and “sizzling undercurrent of romance” (USA Today).