Tag: Book Review

Where Secrets Lie by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker//Christian Suspense Review

Eliza Noel3 Comments

Where Secrets Lie by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker was a great Christian suspense novel. In some ways, it gave me National Treasure and Night at the Museum vibes because of the treasure smuggling ring. Of course, it was much more serious and heavy than those family movies.  Unfortunately, I somehow missed the fact that it was book #2 in the Tupelo Grove series, so I felt like I spent the first bit of the book trying to catch up on the storyline. I loved the book, “I Think I Was Murdered”, by the same duo of Christian suspense authors, so when I saw this one available on Netgalley I immediately requested it (with little research obviously, haha).

Audience

Older Teens & Adults

Genre

Christian Suspense

Author

Colleen Coble and Rick Acker

Savannah Webster and her ex-husband, Hez, have been through a lot together. They lost their daughter and were almost murdered by a smuggling ring, just to name a few things. Now it seems they’re finally able to process their grief together and maybe even remarry. But then things start going wrong. Something’s off at the university Savannah was recently chosen to be president of. On top of that, someone planted a wine bottle in Hez’s trash can and now Savannah’s afraid he has relapsed into alcoholism.

Read this Christian suspense novel to see what happens next!

A few of my favorite things…

  • The main couple learning to process grief together.
  • A suspenseful ending that demands another book in the series.
  • Unexpected plot twists and turns.
  • An adorable little British boy named Simon.
  • Southern culture and scenery.
  • Fun dog side characters.
  • Complex family history.

Know that…

  • There are heavy topics. Adultery is mentioned in someone’s family history, a couple who divorced but is trying to get back together, smuggling, murder, alcoholism, grief…definitely for an older crowd.

Perfect for…

Someone looking for a Christian suspense series.

Amazon

Notes: I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I’m also an Amazon Affiliate, so I receive a commission on anything purchased through links I share.

First Love, Second Draft by Becca Kinzer//Christian Contemporary Romance Review

Eliza NoelLeave a comment

First Love, Second Draft by Becca Kinzer was a sweet Christian Contemporary Romance novel. It’s about a couple, Gracie and Noah, who got divorced 5 years previously, but neither has quite moved on. There’s a sweet side romance between Gracie’s nephew and the girl who was his best friend all through high school. It had me laughing and crying. Also, I absolutely love the clever title!

Audience

Older Teen Girls & Women

Genre

Christian Contemporary Romance, Closed-door Romance, Rom-com

Author

Becca Kinzer

Noah and Gracie never learned how to grieve the fact that they weren’t able to have children. Gracie’s dream had always been to be a mom, and she was absolutely crushed. When she saw Noah continuing on with his professional baseball career, she could only assume he wasn’t affected by it all. So the two of them gave up.

Five years later, Gracie is dealing with a hip injury and a tight writing deadline. Her nephew, Matt, arranges behind her back for her ex-husband to come and take care of her. Saying Gracie is furious would maybe even be an underestimate. How could she possibly focus on her writing deadline with that handsome (and infuriating) face around? The only face she ever kissed?

As Gracie and Noah bicker, Matt is reconnecting with Rachel, his high school best friend he’s always been in love with, but feels friend-zoned by.

A few of my favorite things…

  • The friends-to-lovers story
  • Characters learning to grieve
  • Noah and Gracie are still learning new things about each other after many years of marriage
  • The humor
  • References to classic old movies

Know that…

  • There’s a part where Noah helps Gracie take a bath because she can’t do it on her own. At this point, they’re divorced…so ya, that’s a bit messy…

Perfect for…

Any woman looking for a humorous and Christian contemporary romance novel filled with bickering and processing grief.

Amazon

Notes: I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I’m also an Amazon Affiliate, so I receive a commission on anything purchased through links I share.

Some Like It Scot by Pepper Basham//Christian Contemporary Romance Review

Eliza Noel3 Comments

Some Like it Scot by Pepper Basham is one of my new favorite Christian romance novels. I listened to it on audiobook while doing house work and meal prep. It had me laughing out loud and thoroughly entertained! The voices narrating did a great job with the Scottish accents. It definitely gave me Leap Year ( a cute rom-com if you skip a few scenes) vibes.

Audience

Some Like it Scot would be perfect for older teens and women looking for funny Christian romance novels.

Genre

Christian Romance Novel, Clean Rom-Com, Christian Contemporary Fiction, Closed-door Romance

Author

Pepper Basham

Katie Campbell is a 28-year-old well-known writer. While she’d love to be known for her children’s books, that’s not the case. She’s actually known for her travel writing. Or maybe more known for her clumsiness and mishaps while globe-trotting. In fact, people call her, “Miss Adventure”. Katie finds herself on a small Scottish Island where Campbells are disliked because of an ancient feud. As she gets to know the village and the culture Katy feels drawn to it because of her Scottish grandparents. It may be one of the first places that truly feels like home. Ruggedly handsome, Graeme MacKerrow and his sweet loving family definitely contribute to that as well.  Things start to go wrong when a competing writer spreads vicious rumors about Katy across the internet.

A few of my favorite things…

  • That it was a very light-hearted Christian romance novel
  • Downton Abbey, Lord of the Rings, Pride and Prejudice and Jaime Jo Wright references
  • This quote, “It’s not about your hold on God, it’s about His hold on you.”
  • Characters working through grief
  • A 6’ tall female lead character
  • A very protective rough around the edges male lead who is also a loving father figure
  • An adorable little boy with a love for fishing and a crush on Katy
  • A Downton Abbey travel experience where people have to dress and act like that era
  • Katy’s longing for a loving family
  • Nosy older ladies
  • A very lovable sheep dog
  • Family dinners with witty banter
  • The romance was so sweet and made me tear up a few times thinking about my own sweet love story the Lord wrote for me

I didn’t care for…

  • One scene I’ll describe below in the content warning section.

Know that…

  • There’s a pretty lengthy and steamy make-out scene where a character is very focused on the man’s attractiveness without a shirt. To her credit she asks the Lord for help not to have sinful thoughts, but it was still a scene I could do without.

Perfect for…

Any woman looking for a closed-door Christian Romance novel that will make them laugh and give them wanderlust!

Amazon

Notes:

I was given a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I’m also an Amazon Affiliate so I receive a commission off anything purchased through links I share.

Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright//Christian Suspense Review

Eliza Noel2 Comments

Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright is another Contemporary Christian Suspense fiction new release I’ve enjoyed. Because of its elements of gothic suspense, murders, and mental health struggles, it’s a bit heavier than what I typically review, but still so good. Whenever I need a book I can’t put down, I reach for whatever Jaime Jo Wright’s newest release is.

Audience

Older Teens and Adults

Genre

Contemporary Christian Suspense Fiction, Dual-timeline Historical Fiction, Gothic Suspense, Mystery, Romance

Author

Jaime Jo Wright

Marian Arnold is a young woman facing unique challenges during the Prohibition era. Her family was once wealthy because of their brewery in Milwaukee, but now, with both of her parents gone and the brewery shut down, she’s struggling to survive. She looks to her older cousin as the one who can help her and protect her. But when a dead body turns up on the property, piles of dead butterflies are left as threats, and her cousin brings a bunch of rowdy friends and alcohol into the family manor, things just continue to go downhill.

100 years later, in the same manor, former foster kid Remy is hired as a research assistant to an eccentric old man. The old man is writing a book about the manor’s owner and the unsolved murders of the “Butterfly Butcher”. Things get a little shaken up when a relative, a very handsome one, of Marian’s shows up and doesn’t want the book written. And once again, dead bodies and butterflies start appearing. Could the Butterfly Butcher be back?

Specters in the Glass House is a suspenseful story full of family secrets and broken people helping each other heal.

A few of my favorite things…

  • The characters are going through hard things, but circling back to their hope in God
  • Remy’s coffee obsession
  • A portrayal of a character working through PTSD
  • Seeing a foster child craving familial connections
  • The Midwest setting
  • There’s the suspense and thrill of something possibly paranormal (Spoiler, though: it isn’t paranormal)
  • A sweet old man character

I didn’t care for…

  • One of the murderers was creepy, twisted, and thought of him or herself as a savior of sorts
  • Content mentioned below…

Know that…

  • A female character ends up sleeping in the same room as a male character because she’s trying to help him through his PTSD. They kiss, but nothing more.
  • Some of the murders are pretty violent and descriptive
  • There are several characters with varying mental illnesses

Overall, Jaime’s books are better for older audiences, and if you read one, go in knowing it will be heavy and dark, but have glimpses of hope.

Perfect for…

Someone looking for a Christian suspense novel with a bit of romance, history, and faith.

Amazon

Notes:

I was given a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Also, I’m an Amazon Affiliate, so I receive a commission on anything purchased through links I share at no extra cost to you.

The Cul-de-Sac War by Melissa Ferguson//Christian Contemporary Romance Review

Eliza Noel2 Comments

The Cul-de-Sac War by Melissa Ferguson was such a sweet and clean Christian contemporary romance novel. Like The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley, it made me laugh out loud several times. I just found this one on a shelf at the library, but I’ll definitely be reading more of Melissa Fergusons books in the future!

Audience

Women. I’d say it’s appropriate for older teenagers and up. Nothing inappropriate, just the fact that it is a romance would make me lean towards older.

Genre

Christian Contemporary Romance

Author

Melissa Ferguson

Bree Leake has spent her adult life jumping from job to job. When one doesn’t work, she just tries a new one. Her latest venture is being an actress in one of the oldest theaters. One of the few steady things in her life has been her Nana’s house and all the memories it holds. Her dream is to own it one day. Over dinner one night, her parents offer it to her, with one condition. One very big condition. She has to hold down the same job for a full year. This is complicated by the fact that the theater she works at has decided to switch to musicals (Bree can’t dance) and they’re going to have to cut back on the amount of actors they employ. To make matters worse, Bree has a new neighbor with a ferocious dog. Handsome Chip Mcbride has been on her nerves since the moment he moved in next door. What would any mature young woman do in a situation like this? Declare a prank war of course!

A few of my favorite things…

  • The pranks. Hilarious! Kept me laughing all throughout. My favorite was when Bree put up trees to block Chip’s view of the Appalachian mountains.
  • Russel, the dog who appears ferocious to Bree, but is really quite sweet.
  • Seeing Chip’s deep side come out as he talks about grief and points towards an eternal perspective to help deal with hard things now.

I didn’t care for…

  • The fact that Bree and Chip were each seeing other people as they fell for each other. In real life, I don’t think this would turn out so well and it definitely wouldn’t be kind for them to treat the people they’re dating this way.

Know that…

  • There’s a brief mention of a man (not Chip) touching Bree inappropriately.
  • A child in the book has cancer.
  • It is a romance so there’s attraction (Bree noticing Chip’s muscles) and kissing, but nothing inappropriate.

Perfect for…

Any woman looking for a light, happy, cute and clean Christian contemporary romance!

Amazon

Note: I’m an Amazon Affiliate so I receive a commission off anything purchased through links I share.