Book Review: Lights Out by Natalie Walters

CIA analyst Brynn Taylor developed a new program to combat terrorism, and she invited members of foreign intelligence agencies to America to foster cooperation between countries. Now one of them, Egyptian spy Remon Riad, is missing.

Jack Hudson has been working for the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency (SNAP) for almost nine years and takes the lead in hunting down the missing spy. But he isn't at all pleased to find out Brynn is involved. It's hard to trust a woman who's already betrayed you.

Every lead they follow draws them dangerously deeper into an international plot. Kidnapping, murder, explosions, poisoning--the terrorists will do anything to accomplish their goal of causing a digital blackout that will blind a strategic US military communications center and throw the world into chaos.

Can Brynn surrender control to a man who doesn't trust her? And can Jack ever get over what she did to him? The fate of the world—and their hearts—hangs in the balance.

Series: The SNAP Agency, Book #1

My rating:

Mmkay. *deep breath* That was what I call a letdown.

I enjoyed Brynn! A lot! I loved her get-it-done attitude and the way she wasn't afraid to work at her goals. Though I may not be as driven as she is, I live around people that are, and I sooo understood her shock when everyone took a weekend break. (Was I a bit shocked too? Um, yes. Still not sure if I agreed with them, but Jack made a good point, so I couldn't exactly argue.)

I really liked Jack. His sense of responsibility. His struggle to overcome past feelings and move forward. I loved his happy-go-lucky attitude (though not nearly as happy-go-lucky as Kekoa) and the way he jumped into everything with a positive attitude.

The suspense was epiiiiic. Like, all of the bad dudes and how they tied in to the plot confused me a liiiiitle bit, but other than that, it kept me on my toes. (well...not literally. But ya get my drift.) I especially loved it when Brynn teamed up with Lyla; they made a formidable duo. And Lyla was one of those characters that amused me and annoyed me at the same time, but I adored her for it anyway.

And her + Garcia? Classic. Iconic. Poor dude got majorly friend zoned, but I loved his attitude. (Now that I think about it, there really wasn't anyone on the team that I didn't like.)

And shall I talk about the InjURiEs?? People got poisoned. Shot. Bones broke. Ended up in the hospital. It was great. (wow, Kate, love the priorities there)(also I feel like every time a book involves injuries, I have to make some sort of crack about my priorities)

So. What didn't I like? Um...well...y'all know I'm not a romance fan. If something is categorized as romantic suspense, I expect there to be romance, and I expect there to be suspense. I expect people to do their jobs, and then explore a relationship. What I don't expect is for people to be walking into a potential ambush, guns at the ready, unable to stop thinking about kissing the person next to them. And every moment in between. Really, y'all. It was just...too much. Sparks were flying every which way c o n s t a n t l y, and when one moment they refused to trust each other, the next moment it's "LeT mE KIsS YoU" (can you tell I'm not a fan of enemies to lovers?)

And then the spiritual aspect. Brynn and Jack are Christians. But, as often happens, they kinda walked out on God due to their jobs, past hurts, etc. and then realize that they need to fix that. Fine. I'm okay with that. But the fact that they just kinda mention it in passing and then there's never really any conclusion to that? Like...it would have been better not to mention it at all, I think, than to just gloss over it and give the impression that the mention of God and faith is only because the publisher is Christian.

Someone is going to love this book and learn from it and have it touch them. I just am not that person.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for promotional purposes. All thoughts are my own.

 What makes or breaks a book for you? If you've read Lights Out, what were your thoughts? Oh, and happy Thanksgiving!

Book Review: Unknown by Vanessa Hall

He knew there was a cost. He just didn’t know how great it’d be.

Gabriel Kelly returned to Russia for one reason—to bury his parents. After ten years in the United States, he hadn’t expected to return to his childhood home in the face of tragedy. However, after short days in Moscow, he begins to consider if the same call that cost his parents’ lives is now upon him.

Sofia Rykova’s dreams finally came true when she became a principal soloist with the Bolshoi Ballet. One night, though, an old crush walks back into her life, making her wonder if there is more to life than ballet. Gabe Kelly is just as she remembered, just as she longed for—yet religion stands between them.

Unknown to Gabe and Sofia, danger lurks closer than either would have guessed. The deaths of Gabe’s parents grow more suspicious by the day, and Gabe and Sofia are drawn into the midst of a plot neither can escape. Will obedience to God’s call—in spite of their fears and desires—result in a price too steep to bear? 

Series: Grace Sufficient, book #1

My rating:

So, I have conflicted feelings over this one. On one hand, it's well-written and I enjoyed the narration, it has an excellent message, and is super, super clean. On the other hand...I'm waffling between 3 and 4 stars for various reasons (yes, it was well-written, but it also seemed to kinda drag on a bit). (I'll decide after, I write up the review, haha) Prepare for a long review, y'all. *sheepish grin* Let's dive in, shall we?

We start with Gabe Kelly, an American that grew up in Russia with his missionary parents, moved back to America for school and to start his career, but then has to go back to Russia after his parents' sudden and tragic deaths. He wasn't your typical lost-his-parents-and-blamed-God-so-he-walked-away-from-his-faith kinda guy; actually, he admirably stuck to his faith, despite the tears and the days that he felt like he couldn't handle the heartbreak. Gabe was really, really sweet, and I really liked his character. But, he was also...perfect. Perfect characters are kinda my pet peeve, y'all *hesitant smile* and while I did like Gabe, he was just...ever the gentlemen but never flawed. And that just kinda bugged me a bit.

Enter stage right: Sophia Rykov, ballerina (Get it? Stage right? Ballerina? *cackles*). Not a christian, But an old friend of Gabe's that never quite got over her childhood crush. Cute, right? (It was cute.) I've never personally had any experience with ballet, but I actually loved reading about it and the pointe shoes (you know those tiny elements in books that you like reading about because they're just sooooo satisfying for absolutely no apparent reason? Pointe shoes, y'all). And I could practically feel the sweat glistening on my forehead as she pirouetted her way through Romeo and Juliet with Evgeny (I actually really liked that dude). Her ankle injury also just really added to it, as it was well done and wasn't glossed over like so many injuries in fiction.

Speaking of injuries, I can't say too much without giving spoilers away, buuuut there was also another major injury in the book that I feel, though I'm definitely no medical expert, was also well-done. A gunshot wound that immobilized the victim's arm, caused nerve damage, and essentially rendered the arm useless. I really, really, really appreciated the fact that the author didn't suddenly have him back to full health within a week, or having him use the arm with superhuman-like strength when danger lurked. The dude was mortal and couldn't a whole lot without needing a break and I just...yes. The injuries were superb (wow, look, my priorities are incredible).

As far as characters go, I'd say that Daniil was my favorite. I loved his protective heart and his addiction to exercise (I'm not as committed as he is, but I could still relate and appreciate it). Such an epic dude. I also loved Sergei and Ana, and, of course, who could forget Gregor? The grumpy old codger is lovable, what can we say?

Sophia and Gabe together made a sweet couple, but obviously, it couldn't work because she wasn't a christian. This is a point brought up several times by Gabe and while I appreciated his struggle with his attraction toward her while holding back because he knew that they could never be together as long as she wasn't a christian...I also felt like it maybe should've been done a little be differently. I'm not just saying this because of personal preference; Gabe was strongly attracted to Sophie, but as he wasn't at first sure whether or not she shared his faith, he held back. And then when he found out for sure that she didn't, he first was disappointed, but then it was later stated that he didn't just want her to convert so he could have a relationship with her, but more importantly because she was a sinner that needed Jesus. And while I know that it wasn't intended to be an afterthought, it kinda seemed presented as one, honestly.

So, anyway, shall we talk about the message? I did like how clearly and concisely the salvation message was put...but (there's always a 'but', isn't there?) the book was...kinda preachy. This isn't generally something I'd dock points for (don't get me wrong—I'm all for a strong message), but honestly, it was hard for me to get through some of it because, even though I've grown up around and am used to all the lingo used (hello, baptist here), it was...a lot. And it kinda made me feel disconnected to the story and characters. I felt like the message could've been mixed in better, and I think it's partly because of this that it took me two months to read it. (granted, this was definitely not the only reason it took me that long—I just didn't do a whole lot of reading over the past couple of months—buuuut it partially contributed.)

And, lastly, I'll talk about the suspense. It wasn't a mystery; as a reader, you'll know very quickly who the villain is. But I thought it was extremely well done in how oblivious the characters were; they weren't just ignorant of what was in front of their noses—there was genuinely just nothing to point to the culprit. He was very careful in his methods, and while there were a couple of things that could've clued in our protagonists, since they had no reason to believe he was the bad guy, there was no reason for them to think anything of it. So tthat was done really well. And y'all already know that I loved all the injuries. (That climax toward the end? Superb. Slightly drawn-out, but still superb. Definitely had me hooked.)

So. After typing all of that up (and editing it to make it shorter...sorry, guys, didn't work very well *cough*), I'll land on three stars. This book is perfect for people that love a super clean Christian romance with a good dose of suspense and a very strong message, just not totally my thing. I'm definitely planning to try more from this author in the future, though!

*I received an e-copy of this book from the author for promotional purposes. All thoughts are my own.

Will I ever learn to write short reviews? Maybe. Probably not.

Book Release Time!

Announcement time! October is Respect Life month, and in celebration of that, I'm here to tell you all about two new releases—one that released last Thursday, and one that will be releasing in a couple of weeks! So, without further ado...

Sustainer’s Smile by Erika Mathews is here! I’m so excited to share this new novel with you because life is an issue near and dear to my heart, and it’s the heart of this book. This post includes snippets and a GIVEAWAY!

Learn the Basics

• It’s Book Four of Truth from Taerna but it can easily be read as a standalone.

• It’s a prolife novel.

• It tells the story of Liliora Ellith, who makes peace with her past and discovers her future among the cradles of Taerna’s unwanted babies, born and unborn.

• It’s a kingdom adventure fiction novel.

• It’s clean and family-friendly, though it’s recommended for teens and up due to dealing with the issue of abortion. 

View or Buy Sustainer’s Smile on Amazon

Read the Snippets

Liliora shook her head. “If Adon Olam wants it, I will not listen to my fears.” Yet tears welled up even in the words, and she felt her heart failing her. 

“And then we played Hide and Find Me in the hay. And Kethin couldn’t find me forever! I hid in the very back corner, and Kelton helped pile hay on me so I looked like a haystack. And then Kethin laid down in the hay to hide, but I saw his boots peeking out.”

“That’s not fair, because I’m so much bigger than you.” Kethin’s grin flashed. “The hay doesn’t cover me as well. And it takes a good deal more to cover me.”

“You still have hay in your hair.” Liliora motioned to Kethin, then to Tae.

Kethin ran his hand through his hair. “Are you teasing me?”

“No! There’s some by your ear.” Liliora set down her spoon, not going to risk spilling a bite while shaking with laughter. 

Kethin’s fingers traveled up and down and at last landed on a miniscule fragment of straw behind his right ear. “Come now, that’s hardly hay. Not like Tae, at any rate.”

“My hair is a haystack,” Tae replied, rumpling it until it stood on end.“A very dark-colored one,” Liliora agreed

See the Blurb

Suffering suffocates her soul. 

How can she ever smile again?

A helpless newborn…that’s exactly how twenty-four-year-old Liliora Ellith feels in her efforts to speak up on behalf of the youngest members of Taerna’s pleasure-driven society. Her tender heart for the defenseless and deep aversion to conflict throw Liliora’s soul into turmoil when tragedy opens her eyes to the quiet yet heartrending war on Taerna’s babies—both born and unborn. Adon Olam’s Word coupled with a secret in her own past fuel her determination. All she wants is to make peace with her past and discover her future among the cradles of unwanted babies. However, the challenges ahead of her threaten to send her spiraling into hopeless depression time and again. Saving innocent lives from the crush of the destroyer and raising a generation in the ways of Adon Olam seem more impossible than ever. At the very end of herself, will the sufferings of her and her babies prove to be anything less than the catalyst for complete disaster?

Enter the Giveaway

Win a signed paperback of Promise’s Prayer (Truth from Taerna #1) and other fun prizes! Enter here.

Find the Rest

There’s a bookstagram/blog challenge, author interviews, character spotlights, and more!

Add to Goodreads

View or Buy Sustainer’s Smile on Amazon

See the Rest of the Prolife Tour

The second book that is releasing (it was supposed to release last week as well, but life happened and the author wasn't able to finish the book in time—because she's expecting a precious child of her own!) is To Save a Life, a pro-life novel whose cover I was honored to design!

Book 1 of Natty’s Warriors, this book tells the story of two young couples: one with big questions and one with the answers they need. When a baby is born alive after a botched abortion, the parents are faced with questions they have never considered. This story follows their journey to the Answers they need regarding Christ, the value of Life, and what they must do to turn their lives around.
Add on Goodreads

Five Fall Favorites: Top 5 of 2021

It's the last day of the party! *cries* And here, I was having so much fun, too. I got allllll of this week's posts up and scheduled LAST WEEK (wow I'm actually on top of things for once), so all I've had on my to-do list has been to add to my mountainous TBR and reply to y'all's comments. I feel like I'm on vacation or something.

Aaaaanywayyyyy. Seeing as how I'm a farm girl myself, I think it's rather fitting that my room today is in the barn. Those of you who didn't return your blankets the other day can sit on them, and everyone else can make yourselves comfortable here in the hay. We've got quite a pile here, so if you're feeling extra energetic today, you can jump down into it from the loft—just sign this waiver real quick before you do, thank you. *cackles*

Today I'm talking about my five favorite books that I've read so far this year. I read a lot of good books, y'all, but these are just the ones that stood out extra bright. The ones that I couldn't stop thinking about for a long time afterward. So while you animal lovers go pet the horses, I'll entertain the rest of you by handing out the books I have. There's quite a few of us, so we'll have to share.

(NOTE: every link that you click will open a new tab in your browser. I know how annoying it can be to leave the original post.)

Whose Waves These Are - Amanda Dykes

I know I just talked about this one in Thursday's post but guyyyyys I can't flail about this one enough. If you're looking for a whimsical novel that will absolutely SHRED your heart (I mean, who really wants their heart to be broken? Not me. But this book is incredible nonetheless.), slowly piece it back together, and make you absolutely fall in LOVE with the characters, then this one is definitely for you.

The Final Hour - Andrew Klavan

In stark contrast to Whose Waves These Are, we have The Final Hour, the last book in the Homelanders series. Charlie is quite possibly the most patriotic book character I've ever met, and the way he stuck to what he knew was truth despite being surrounded by lies...not only is the book suspenseful and a real page-turner, but it's also inspiring. Read my quick, 5-sentence review of the whole series here.

The String - Caleb Breakey

This book is honestly kinda creepy and I wouldn't recommend it for slightly sensitive readers. But it's also inspiring, epic, and suspenseful at the same time. Fighting for right when wrong is so strong. Despite the odds. Despite the risks.

Under the Bayou Moon - Valerie Fraser Luesse

Honestly loved this one wayyyyy more than I thought I would. I'm not a fan of water and boating and such (I'm not a huge fan of swimming to begin with, but being on water that could potentially kill me? *shudders*), but in this case, it added to the authenticity of the story and I just really adored this one. Read my review here.

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery - Amanda Cox

Is this story as whimsical as it looks? Yes. Yes, it is. The dual timeline wasn't too hard to get used to, and the characters were all frustrating and relatable and endearing all at the same time. If you want see me go on and on about what is probably the best side character EVER because of how he sacrificed himself, read my review here.

Aaaaaand just like that, Five Fall Favorites 2021 comes to a close. It's been fun, y'all. Don't forget to visit the Literary Lodge to find everyone else's top 5 reads of the year, a downloadable list of all of the books mentioned this week, and to see if you won the giveaway! (or maybe they were just gonna notify the winner...not sure *rubs chin*)

 

BUT WAIT - THERE'S MORE! As a grand finale to this spectacular week, a bunch of authors collaborated to put together a HUGE ebook sale, running TODAY ONLY! You'll have to visit the Literary Lodge to find all the info on that as well.

A HUGE thank you to Rebekah Morris and Erika Mathews for organizing this party, even amidst their busy schedules!! Let's give them a hand! *queue applause and fanfare*

What was your favorite genre this year? What book looked the most interesting?

Five Fall Favorites: Babies

Welcome back to day 5 of FFF!

I don't know about you, but after all that bike riding yesterday, I'm awfully sore. I'm sooo glad I got put in charge of holding down the benches today. *smirks* *pats seat next to me* C'mon, there's plenty of room. We've got several benches here, I think everyone should fit. Doesn't it feel so good to get off your feet for a bit? Anyway, while I've got your attention, let me show you the books I picked for today's genre! Today's picks all feature...you guessed it—babies! With October being Respect Life month, don't you think it's fitting? 

Am I the only one that adores children?? I personally have more fun with kids that can talk and run around, but babies are absolutely adorable. 

(NOTE: every link that you click will open a new tab in your browser. I know how annoying it can be to leave the original post.)

The Strange Case of Baby H - Kathryn Reiss

Who doesn't love a good mystery? Admittedly, it's been a loooong time since I've read this one. But I honestly really loved all the American Girl history mysteries and this one is no exception. A baby found on a doorstep with a note attached to it? That's a recipe for an epic story. *grins*

A Cry in the Dark - Beverly Lewis

Once again, it's been a long time since I've read this one (but not quite as long as Baby H). But this story is super cute. And the ending? *sniffs* soooo sweet. 

Never Say Goodbye - Sarah Grace Grzy

Is this book technically a romance? ...Yes. But it also has a single dad trope which plays a huge role in the story, and may I just say that Murrae is the most adorable little girl e v e r. Find my review here.

Martin Hospitality - Abigayle Claire

Unplanned pregnancy, forced out of her apartment, ends up living with a family on a farm in the middle of nowhere. It's just one of those books that kinda reminds you of Little House on the Prairie: it's not really about anything other that just plain ol' life. Read my review here, and also my review of the sequel here.

The Family Secret - Susan K. Marlow

Of course I had to mention the Circle C Adventures again. Baby Hannah is a brat. But she's also cute. And she teaches Andi patience. *cackles*

Loads more cuteness awaits at the literary lodge!

And if you haven't entered the giveaway by now you obviously don't follow orders very well. So let's try it this way: Don't enter the giveaway! (Pssst—this is the LAST DAY to enter!)

Tomorrow is the last day! *cries* Make sure you come back for the final hurrah!

Five Fall Favorites: Hope

Yippee ki-yay-ki-yay, today is a special day! (if you get that reference, LET'S BE FRIENDS.) (Who else here always copied Mr. Lunt's accent when they quoted "look, I made a frosting cow"??) Okay, I guess today isn't necessarily any more special than the rest of the days this week. I just wanted to say that. And I thought it would be clever. *cackles*

Welcome to the orchard! For some people, picking apples just screams FALL! For me...well...I did my apple picking about a month ago. BUT I love apples, and being in the orchard with everyone wearing their scarves and boots and flannel is giving me allll the fall vibes and it's so epic. Hey! Hey you, over by the green ladder! I love your outfit! Anyway, grab a bushel basket and have some fun! And psst *whispers* you might want to leave some room in there for some of these books. They're all about hope, and you won't want to miss any of them.

(NOTE: every link that you click will open a new tab in your browser. I know how annoying it can be to leave the original post.)

Freedom - Faith Potts

If you've been around for the last while, you know that this is a book that I'll scream about from the rooftops. It made me laugh, made me want to cry, and honestly just made me want to hug everyone in the book. The message is incredible, and while it's not a feel-good book...it made me so happy. Find my review here.

Stop the Rain - Kassie Angle

Ready for your heart to be shattered? For real, y'all...this one is incredible, but it's also one that will rip you to shreds. One of those books that I couldn't put down but also couldn't deal with all the emotions that came with it, haha! Read my full review here.

Whose Waves These Are - Amanda Dykes

What is this piece of beauty, you ask? Again, one that will rip you into a million tiny pieces. I mean, granted, all of the books that I recommend today will do that to you. But this one...*deep breath* The selflessness of a man that sees himself as selfish. Thinking through this book, y'all, and reliving all of the emotions...yeah okay I'm a mess now.

All Manner of Things - Susie Finkbeiner

I really, really adore this one. I pegged within the first couple of chapters who would die (priorities, don't ya know) but did that keep me from falling in love with said character? No. No, it did not. But the story just...*sigh* the title says it all—it's a line from a poem that says "All manner of things shall be well." It'll be okay. Maybe not now, but it will be. Find my short review here.

The Torch Keepers - Hosanna Emily

I was not prepared for how hard-hitting this book was. Knowing the author's propensity to write deep and meaningful blog posts, I should've expected it. But this book impacted me in ways I can't even explain. Let's just say that...I needed this one. Read my review here.

You know the drill—off with you to the Literary Lodge! Epicness awaits.

And, of course, the giveaway... (can you tell I'm running out of creative ways to announce all these things?)

C'mon, hit me with your best hope-filled recs. Might as well keep shredding my heart while I'm at it.

Five Fall Favorites: Go-To Favorites

Today I get to SCREAM to the WORLD about books that I'm ALWAYS going to recommend!  

Is anyone else feeling the chill in the air? I'm glad I got assigned to the blankets room today. I'd love to just burrow under the entire pile, but *sigh* I suppose I'll share with you. For now. Here, have some hot chocolate. Would you like marshmallows or whipped cream? Epic. While you're in here, getting warmed up, let me tell you about books that I don't think I'll ever get tired of reading. Speaking of which, I think it's time to go reread them all again...

(NOTE: every link that you click will open a new tab in your browser. I know how annoying it can be to leave the original post.)

The Blades of Acktar - Tricia Mingerink

C'mon, y'all HAD to know that this one was gonna be in here. I'm not a fantasy person but WHEN I SAY THAT THIS SERIES IS AN ALL-TIME FAVORITE...*chef's kiss* y'all. I just...no words. *flails* no words. Assassins with DAGGERS and INJURY and maybe I enjoyed the bit of torture *cough* and just...yeah. The covers make them look like some epic fantasy series when really, they're just medieval books that take place in a different world. And I love it. (okay maybe that 'no words' line was a bit of an exaggeration)

Circle C Adventures - Susan K. Marlow

I met Mrs. Marlow at a convention back before I'd even heard of these books. But she told me about them and my mom kinda had no choice but to get the entire series because IT'S A WESTERN SERIES about a girl that was my age (at the time) and I've reread them since then, and I adore the companion series, and these are just a must-read for anyone of any age that loves a good clean western.

Sgt. Major Eric Moyer series - Jeff Struecker & Alton Gansky

Y'all KNOW I'm gonna mention this one. Christian military thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat? Uh, yeah!! I absolutely adore the characters. I adore the plots. I adore the entire SERIES. And I think I need to go reread them again.

Questions of War - Jesseca Wheaton

This series, y'all. Will the books pull on your heartstrings? Yes. Will they make you stare at the wall for about 29310 hours after finishing? Yes. Were they written by a close friend of mine so I'm slightly biased? ...maybe. But honestly you HAVE to read them if you enjoy WWII fiction. Read my review of book 2 here.

Angels Walking - Karen Kingsbury

Confession: I haven't actually read this book more than once. But you know it's incredible if I'm still mentioning it as a favorite book. Honestly, I can't bring myself to read it again because I'm afraid that if I do, it won't be as special. But at the same time, I'm DYING to go reread it because of how special it is. Baseball player. Nursing home resident. The relationship between the two is the sweetest thing you'll ever see. And it's on my favorites list because, even though I read it three years ago, I'm still thinking about it.

Of course, don't forget to visit the literary lodge to explore all of the other rooms! 

And did I ever think for a minute that you forgot about the giveaway? No. No I did not. But if you did, go enter, dude!

I just realized that the party is half over! *cries* But hey, there's still three more days to go!