FLOWERS FROM AFGHANISTAN by SUZY PARISH

FLOWERS FROM AFGHANISTAN by SUZY PARISH is the poignant story of a marriage that is taking strain from grief at the loss of a child, and a father's guilt at having caused the accident that killed him.
Mac McCann literally runs away to a year's deployment as a police trainer in Afghanistan, hoping his secret never comes out. Unlike his wife Sophie, who finds solace in her Christian faith, he has no interest in a God who let his son die.
I like to see how this separation causes them both to grow. I also like to see the camaraderie between the members of Mac's team and how, as he listens to their stories, and becomes friendly with Gul the barber and his son Bashir, he becomes more understanding of the problems of others.
I like to see Sophie branching out with her own baking business and her prayer support for Mac and his friends.
It is altogether a lovely read and one I highly recommend. The characters are very real and there is a strong Christian message underlying the story.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from The Pelican Book Group. The opinions in this review are completely my own.





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THE MISTLETOE COUNTESS by PEPPER BASHAM

Publication date 1/9/21
THE MISTLETOE COUNTESS by PEPPER BASHAM is a delightful romantic, historical, suspense novel with wonderful characters, some "laugh out loud" moments and a deep Christian message underlying the story.
Grace and Lillias Ferguson are very different. Grace is intelligent, genuine and selfless. She is full of joy and innocent, an avid reader of fiction, an amateur sleuth, and says of herself "at times my feelings are so large they must burst out into words". She is prepared to give up her dreams to help her family by marrying Frederick Percy, Earl of Astbury, in Lillias' place, in order to avoid a nasty situation. She does not feel she is suitable with her flaming red hair and unladylike behaviour, but she is prepared to do her best. Lillias, on the other hand, is selfish and deceitful. She says of marriage "Love isn't necessary. Money is."
Frederick never received love from his parents and his mother is always reminding him of his failures. Grace encourages him and builds him up. She says to him, "God has given you a life and you're the only one who can decide how to write it."
It is a story about love and second chances, and I like to see the development of the characters as they move into the plans God has for them.
Add to all this murder and attempted murder, a ghost hunt, betrayal and deception, and you will not be able to put the book down.
I cannot recommend The Mistletoe Countess highly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.






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BETRAYAL OF GENIUS by ROBIN PATCHEN

Publication date 12/7/21
BETRAYAL OF GENIUS is the third novel in the Covenant Saga series by ROBIN PATCHEN but, although it can easily be read as a stand alone, it is great to come across characters that we have met before such as Reid Cote and his six year old daughter Ella.
Jacqueline Beal, who has produced an artificial neuron and is deciding on the best company to market it, is devastated when her laboratory with all its equipment is destroyed by her ex partner in the venture, Don Burgess, and moves from Boston to Coventry, fearing for her life.
Reid, who is in constant fear that he will lose his precious daughter, meets up with Jacqui at the ice cream parlour where she is working, and offers to help her in the administrative side of her business that Don used to do, namely writing sales copy. When things hot up he is now also in fear for her life.
We are taken on a roller coaster ride with them which is very exciting and full of twists and turns, and in which we see what true faith in God really means.
I really enjoy this author's books for the wonderful characters, thrilling stories and the strong Christian message on which they are based.
I cannot recommend Betrayal of Genius highly enough to anyone who enjoys good romantic suspense.








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UNDERCURRENT OF SECRETS by RACHEL SCOTT McDANIEL

Publication date 1/9/21
UNDERCURRENT OF SECRETS by RACHEL SCOTT McDANIEL is a most enjoyable historical romance novel which takes place over two time frames, linked in quite an amazing way and with an unforgettable love story in
each timeline.The book is based on scriptures such as "Perfect love casts out all fear", and it is good to see the main characters holding on to the Lord and His unfailing love. A quotation that I especially like is "Love is bold. It takes a good deal of courage and a trusting heart."
In present time, Devyn Asbury is getting over being dumped by her fiance Travis Leeman on the social media site, Space Station, which they developed together, where he put their relationship on display and manipulated her shamelessly. It took her a while to realise that "Her security came from God, not what the world said about her." She is now working as a wedding coordinator on the one hundred year old steamboat "The Belle of Louisville", where her love of history combines with a love of romantic old movies to provide a setting for marriages that she hopes will last.
She meets Chase Jones, an artist who is going to help her get ready for a benefit ball for the Once Upon A Wedding competition, on condition that she helps him find out about Hattie, a young girl whose picture his grandfather had.
In 1926 we are taken aboard the "Idlewild" (the original name of the Belle) and meet Hattie Louis, the young woman in question, Duffy, the captain who took her in as a baby and Jack Asbury, the first mate. We see her story unfold parallel to that of Devyn and Chase and gradually all their secrets come to light.
I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling things for you. It is a beautifully written novel, with unforgettable characters and a plot twist that I certainly was not expecting! I cannot recommend Undercurrent of Secrets highly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.



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ALL THAT IS SECRET by PATRICIA RAYBON

Publication date 5/10/21
ALL THAT IS SECRET by PATRICIA RAYBON is a very well written historical thriller that takes place in Denver in 1923 during the height of KKK activity in the area. The story is based on this verse in Luke 8:17, "For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and be made known to all."
Annalee Spain, a young coloured professor of theology, returns to her home town of Denver to find out the truth about her father's death. Eddie Brown junior, a grubby white boy, who is also looking for the truth about his father and who saved her life on the train from Chicago, makes up one part of her detective team, the other one being the handsome Reverend Jack Blake.
I really like this author's writing style, her references to Sherlock Holmes, and the depth of the Christian message on which the story is based. One of my favourite quotations in the book is "So prayer is where God meets us - If we stay strong in it. On purpose", and another is "solving a murder is not about crime, its about finding fear and greed and, well, about lust."
As Annalee bravely faces all that is stacked against her in this world of power hungry, wealthy and unscrupulous men and women, she uncovers racism and class distinction at its worst.
The story is fast paced, the plot is exciting and the characters are unforgettable. It is altogether a great read and one I highly recommend.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Tyndale House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.




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THE BARRISTER AND THE LETTER OF MARQUE by TODD M JOHNSON

Publication date 3/8/21
THE BARRISTER AND THE LETTER OF MARQUE by TODD M JOHNSON is an intriguing historical romance novel which takes us into the legal world in England in the early 1800's. I love the descriptions of London in all her vibrancy, with the underlying elements of corruption and crime.
In 1797, at the age of eighteen, William Snopes leaves his privileged life behind and sets off to fulfill his dream of becoming a barrister. He becomes acquainted with Father Thomas Neal who plays an important role in his life and in the lives of William's two assistants, Edmund Shaw and Obadiah Cummings, orphans who William rescued. I like this Christian element running through the book. i also like William's love of music that helps sustain him through the pressures of life, and his determination to help those others would see as undesirables rather than seeking to ingratiate himself with the aristocracy.
Lady Madeleine Jameson's cousin, Harold Tuttle, is arrested on his arrival home on his ship Padget and faces the gallows, due to the disappearance of the Letter of Marque he was given before he set out.
Madeleine, who borrowed money to help fund the Padget's journey, approaches William to take on Harold's case.
That is all I am going to tell you as I do not want to spoil things for you.
It is an interesting, inspirational and exciting read, full of intrigue and twists and turns, and one I cannot recommend highly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.




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FREEDOM'S SONG by KIM VOGEL SAWYER

Publication date 19/10/21
FREEDOM'S SONG by KIM VOGEL SAWYER is a really lovely historical romance novel with a strong Christian message based on John 8:36 "if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
We meet Fanny Beck singing for the guests on the River Peacock as Sloan Kirkpatrick's prisoner and money maker. This lonely life comes to an abrupt end when she falls overboard. She makes it to shore and seizes this chance to escape, joining up with runaway slaves, Enoch and his family, who become her first friends in seven lonely years. I like to see her interaction with these people who teach her about true freedom, and also her compassion towards Anneliese, who she finds alone and crying in Walter Kuhn's cabin. In all this we see how God works to bring about His purpose in a person's life.
Walter has suffered from fear since he was bullied at school and he feels guilty that he did not save his wife Grete when she ran into their burning barn.
I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling things for you.
I highly recommend Freedom's Song as a most enjoyable and inspirational read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from WaterBrook & Multnomah. The opinions in this review are completely my own.





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