Fall From Trace by Rebecca Connolly {Blog Tour Review and Giveaway}

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for
Fall From Trace by Rebecca Connolly hosted by SLB Tours!

About the Book

Series: London League
Genre: Adult, Historical, Regency, Romance
Publisher: Phase Publishing
Publication date: February 1, 2020

Gone, but not forgotten...

Alex Sommerville should have been dead. To the world, he had been dead for almost five years, and with him, the secrets he had carried as Trace, the most elusive member of the London League. When a chance to escape finally comes, Alex finds just enough life left in him to take it, and races off to return to the woman he loves.

...Back, but at what cost?

The last person Poppy Edgewood ever expected to see suddenly falls into her life again - literally. Alex is a shell of the man he once was, and on the brink of the death she thought him already lost to. What answers will he have for her when he recovers, and can she even bear to hear them?

GOODREADS | AMAZON

About the Author

Rebecca Connolly writes romances, both period and contemporary, because she absolutely loves a good love story. She has been creating stories since childhood, and there are home videos to prove it! She started writing them down in elementary school and has never looked back. She currently lives in the Midwest, spends every spare moment away from her day job absorbed in her writing, and is a hot cocoa addict.

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Snippet

Loneliness is a creeping creature, and its pangs were deep and ravaging. In the evenings, when work was completed and she had so much to tell, there was no one to listen. When she missed her sister or her brothers, her parents, or her life, there was no one to commiserate with. When she cried in the night because Alex was gone and no one cared but her, there was no relief. When she felt more alone than anyone ought to feel, there was no one to take away the darkness.

No one to share her burdens with.

The only person she had in her life with any sort of regularity was Stanton, and he would not take kindly at all to her sharing such personal and emotional thoughts with him. It would have made him uncomfortable and gruff, and he probably would have told her to focus on her work and the farm and forget everything else. He had once told her emotions were a nuisance, after all, and that the past was only good for lessons.

Not for visiting and staying for a time.

Poppy was only too prone to spend an extended period of time in her past these days, though she knew it wouldn’t do her any good.

The trouble was that it was too easy.

She scrubbed at the pot harder, her brow furrowing with the effort, and when she stopped, she looked at her hands. Once these hands had been delicate and soft, protected by gloves more often than not, fair and without blemish but for the occasional pricking of an embroidery needle. Her nails had been clean and manicured, the perfect embodiment of a fine lady. Every now and again, there might be a scratch on the skin from getting into mischief with Alex by climbing a tree or racing across their properties, but her hands had been fairly perfect.

Now, they were rough and worn, weathered by hard work and aggressive labor. She had callouses on her palm, on every fingertip, and along the edges of each finger. Her knuckles were often inflamed, and her skin cracked and peeled regularly. Lines and scars and dry patches dotted every surface of her hands, and her nails were almost brutally short, uneven, and usually had something under them, be it dirt or food or feed for the animals.

These hands were not those of a young lady.

Then again, Poppy could hardly be considered young anymore. Twenty-seven was not particularly old, but in those twenty-seven years, she had lived a lifetime, and she was decades older than anyone of her age. Her life did not even remotely resemble what she had thought out for herself, what she had planned, or anything like it once had.

She closed her eyes and set the pot aside, knowing it was far cleaner now than it had ever been with her excessive scrubbing.

This was what her life amounted to now. Scrubbing the pots and plates from her own meals, feeding the chickens and pigs, currying the horses, farming with whatever help she could afford to pay, even grinding her own flour to make her own bread, at times.

Oh, how far she had fallen.

Lonely and cast out, working for every morsel of bread, sweating her days away in the sun, and mourning a man who had never promised her anything.

Poppy’s hands curled into fists and hot tears filled her eyes. It was wrong to resent a dead man, she knew, but resent him she did. If he hadn’t have died, if that was what had truly happened, she would not be in this situation. He could have just broken off their impending engagement, and she would have been with her family now. She should have been wiser, not giving her heart so freely without the official connection between them.

Never mind that they had been in love since she was fourteen and he sixteen. Never mind that they had been planning to marry for years. Never mind that she was so utterly and completely his that she hadn’t been whole in almost five years.

She should have been wiser.

And it was his fault she was so destitute, despairing, and dismal.

It was his fault she had grown so attached.

It was his fault she still felt the ache within her at the thought of him.

It was his fault that when she looked out of her kitchen window and could see the shadows of Parkerton Lodge in the distance, she still looked for a light in any window.

As she did now.

But there were no lights within, and no lights without, and the crumbling estate looked as foreboding and desolate as it had the day the servants had departed it.

Poppy exhaled slowly, wiping her hands on dry toweling. She couldn’t do this anymore. Couldn’t watch for him, wait for him, ache for him. He wasn’t coming back, and this was the life she had chosen for herself. This was her future, and looking back would not make it any brighter.

She was done.

She had to be.

A knock on her door brought her head around, and she waited for Stanton to enter. When he didn’t, and the knock came again, more firmly, she rolled her eyes as she moved to the door.

"Honestly, Stanton," she moaned loudly. "It’s not so cold that you had to fill your arms to the brim with wood."

She reached for the door handle and pulled the door open, fixing her expression into one of mocking amusement.

The man who stood there stared at her with his dark, sunken eyes, leaning both forearms against the doorframe, his chest heaving wildly, and her amusement faded at once.

She knew that face. She knew the line of that jaw, the dark eyes that were endless in their depths, the nose with a slight crook in the bridge from where her brother had walloped him with a tree branch ten years ago. He was thinner, terrifyingly so, and his face was hollow and gaunt, sickly in color despite being tanned, and covered with a sheen of perspiration. His dark hair was cut brutally short, but it, and the scruff on the lower half of his face, were as dark as his eyes, if not darker still.

All changes aside, she knew that man better than any person on this earth.

"Alex…" she breathed, her voice catching on his name.

His corded throat worked on a swallow. "Poppy."

Her hand lashed out and struck him hard across the face, a weak yet harsh cry ripping from her throat. He stumbled sideways, surprising her with his unsteadiness, and a tremor ran across his once broad shoulders and down to his legs. Slowly, he looked back at her, pressing his left arm against the doorframe again and almost sagging against the wood.

"Please," he whispered, his voice fading with shocking rapidity as his eyes widened.

Then they rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground at her feet.

Review

4 Stars

While I completely enjoyed this story, I feel like I sneaked a peak at my Christmas present sitting under the tree and the surprise of unwrapping it on that joyous holiday was taken away from me. I haven't read this series yet and didn't realize how important reading these books in order is for the reader to get the maximum enjoyment out of them. I've heard so many great things about this series and when this one came up on a blog tour, I jumped at my chance to dive in. So, if you haven't read this set yet, stop now, because there are inadvertent spoilers.

Trace is alive--and I had no idea he was supposed to be dead, which is no one's fault but my own. That said, my heart broke at the things he endured before finally finding his freedom. Can you imagine seeing your lost love suddenly reappear again, years later? My heart also broke for Poppy and the feelings she had to work through in this tough, heart wrenching situation. Being reunited causes for rediscovering connections and feelings. I loved this couple and their resiliency, and I adored the camaraderie with this group of men-turned-spies.

The tensions and action-paced story really propelled the plot of this adventuresome tale and the romance was the icing on the cake (surprise, surprise). I really need to go back and read the rest of this series, as I just know I'll be left feeling extremely satisfied and entertained.

Content: mild romance; mild language; mild-moderate talk/flashbacks of violence (abuse, torture, etc)

*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*  

Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $15 Amazon GC + an ecopy of Falling for Trace.

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Link to full tour schedule below. Giveaway will begin at midnight February 10, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on February 23, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Giveaway open internationally. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE

Tour Schedule

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

The Burned Billionaire by Jennifer Griffith {Review}

The Burned Billionaire by Jennifer Griffith

Kindle Edition, 210 pages

Publication: June 28th 2019

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.

 

    

 

He’s a burned spy with one last chance in the field to recover his life and fortune. She’s a divorced teacher on a mission to rediscover her lost self.

Understated billionaire and intelligence operative, Birch Cardon is searching to know who burned him and destroyed his career at the CIA. Another agency, the shady Entity, has offered him a second chance. If he fulfills a series of missions for them, they’ll not only unlock his accounts, they’ll give him his life back.

Or so they say.

Spies never know whom to trust.

With one last mission to fulfill, Birch jumps at the chance to head back to his college town of Getaway Bay to prevent the kidnapping of a diplomat’s daughter. Working undercover at a bakery, he’s going to save the girl and himself in one fell swoop.

High school English teacher and former cheerleader at Birch’s university, Arden Pike is fresh off a bad divorce after her dead marriage finally buried itself. Because her counselor friend encouraged her to head to a place where she remembers being the Real Arden, she returns to Getaway Bay.

However, her choice of old friends to reconnect with is a huge mistake. Her party-gal pal leaves Arden high and dry—with no phone, no ID, and no access to her hotel room. Arden is stranded.

Then, Arden shows up in Birch’s bake shop desperately hoping to meet her missing flaky friend. He can’t believe his eyes. Could the girl of his college-years dreams who dumped him hardcore possibly be his contact for this mission?

When he signed up for this job, what this burned billionaire didn’t know was that his second chance wouldn’t be just at salvaging his career—but at reclaiming love with the girl who got away. 

 

My Review: 4 Stars

 

I love Jennifer Griffith's books and this one was no exception. Birch and Arden have a slightly different story, as there is an element of suspense that flavors the swoony romance with a hint of danger. 

 

Birch and Arden reconnect in a surprising way and I love a second chance romance, especially with "the one who got away." Birch has sacrificed much in his life to save the world and it comes at a high cost. Arden is trying to find herself again after her divorce and their immediate connection is spontaneously rekindled in a bakery. Birch and Arden had a deep connection based on intellect, Shakespeare, Donne, and other poetry and words and they are able to pick right up where they left off. I was intrigued with their association and ability to finish each other's quotes. They are each quirky, yet complementary to one another's character, and I enjoyed watching their connection deepen as they spent time trying to figure out a solution to their sticky situation.

I love Hawaii and really appreciated the unique aspect to the setting. While the plot is sticky and slightly suspenseful, it's not intense. Being trapped in a situation with someone attractive definitely made their predicament entertaining and bearable and I loved the swoon.

 

Content: mild romance (some innuendo, kissing); mild peril/danger

Marrying a Spy by Anne-Marie Meyer {Review}

Marrying a Spy by Anne-Marie Meyer

Kindle Edition, 181 pages

Publication: October 23, 2018 

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.

 

  

 

She's protecting her heart. He's protecting her. Their old feelings weren't supposed reignite.

Sophia feels as if she's finally been able to put her past behind her. Her father left, Noah left, and her mother and brother passed away from a suspicious car accident ten years ago. Even though she is an orphan, she has her town and her perfectly predictable life as a dentist to keep her company. That is, until Noah shows up with secrets of his own.

Noah's back after leaving Sophia and the suffocating small town. Even though he joined the military, became a pararescueman, and was recruited by the CIA, nothing seemed to blot out the memory of the only woman he's ever loved, Sophia. When his boss proposes the plan of a fake marriage to snuff out Sophia's father, he jumps at the opportunity. After all, he would only trust the job of her safety to himself—even if he is pretty sure his heart is in jeopardy of breaking.

Old feelings bubble to the surface and Sophia and Noah struggle to interpret each others actions as the lines between acting and truth become blurred. Just when they decide to be honest with each other, Sophia's father shows up and informs them, they've been compromised. Now both must decide if loving each other is worth the risks.

 

My Review: 4 Stars

I loved how Noah came back into Sophia's life. That first meeting after all those years was hilarious and I could almost feel the drop of her stomach and my heart went out for her--especially when she discovered the reason for his return and had to deal with the throwback to her past, the one she's tried to desperately forget.

I'm a big fan of fake marriage romances and this one was intriguing because these characters share a complicated past, full of regrets, fears, and disappointments. There is a definite danger lurking in the shadows and at times, the suspense and perilous events were just perfect, but at other times, they come off as incomplete, needing just a bit of something more.

One thing that I thought was spot on was the chemistry. The sparks are undeniable, even though their communications skills could use some work. But I enjoyed the way they gradually let go of the past and learned to trust, love, and talk, especially through the peak of the danger.

Content: mild+ romance (swoony kissing, some passionate, but nothing graphic); mild+ violence and dangerous moments; mild language

To Love a Spy (The Beckett Files #3) by Laura Beers {Review}

To Love a Spy (The Beckett Files #3) by Laura Beers

Kindle Edition, 300 pages

Published April 2nd 2018 by Phase Publishing 

Source: I received a complimentary copy. This did not influence my opinions in any way

 

   

 

Freed from the clutches of her cruel, traitorous mother and impostor husband, Lady Camden wants to rebuild her fractured life. But the years of terror and pain she endured at their hands continue to grip her heart in an iron vice. Refusing to stray from the refuge of her country estate, Kate tentatively agrees to an unusual alliance with the new Lord Camden, being mindful to keep her trust, and her heart, firmly safeguarded.

Adrien, the Earl of Camden, had lost everything he held dear while working undercover in France as an agent of the Crown, known only as Hawk. Now an earl, he wants only to repair his tattered, lonely life. His efforts are interrupted, however, when he is called to accept another assignment: Stop French spies from passing a bill in Parliament that will eliminate British aid in the war against Napoleon.

When Kate's past pulls her into a web of treachery and deceit, a life she is wholly unprepared for, Adrien must use any means necessary to stop the French spies from succeeding in their evil designs and keep her safe. When the truth is finally revealed, will Lady Camden be strong enough to seize her own future and happiness, or will her heart be too shattered to ever love a spy?

 

My Review: 4 Stars

 

This is an interesting story, full of spies, romance, and intrigue. Each story in the series continues to build upon each other and delivers a great tale.

 

I've been curious about Kate's full story and was treating to the details in this book. She's had a very hard life, full of hatred and abuse and is now free. Kate is definitely a strong and brave woman and I loved watching her move on with her life. Adrien has also had a hard life--is being a spy ever easy? 

 

I enjoyed the connection that Aiden and Kate shared, especially the tender romantic moments, but I felt like it moved a little fast, given the traumatic abuse that Kate endured in her farce of a marriage. There were also certain societal expectations at the time, which seemed to be ignored. I guess you can't deny those feelings, but I wish more caution had been used.

 

This is a fairly fast-paced and intense spy novel, with great characters.

 

Content: mild romance; moderate violence 

Scarlet by Jen Geigle Johnson {Blog Tour Review and Giveaway}

Scarlet by Jen Geigle Johnson

Paperback, 256 pages

Published May 1st 2018 by Covenant Communications Inc.
Source: I received a copy from the publisher, which did not influence my opinion.

 

The roads in and out of Paris are heavily guarded, but the dead have easy passage out of the city. A ragged old woman transports the coffins of the most recent victims of the guillotine and is waved on unimpeded. Later, the same crone watches five French aristocrats step out of their coffins unscathed. Not beheaded but spirited away to safety by that most elusive of spies: the Pimpernel. Or, as she's known in polite society, Lady Scarlet Cavendish.
When not assuming her secret identity as a hero of the French Revolution, Scarlet presents herself as a fashionable, featherbrained young widow flitting about London. In truth, this façade is merely a diversion designed to conceal her clandestine work in France. Among members of the doomed French aristocracy, the Pimpernel is renowned for her bravery and cunning. But when tasked with rescuing handsome Comte Matteo Durand, she faces an unprecedented challenge: she is falling in love with the man. If ever there were a time to keep her head, it is now— because in a world brimming with intrigue, she is not the only one harboring secrets. And if Scarlet doesn't take care, Madame la Guillotine may finally catch up with the Pimpernel.

My Review: 5 Stars

It takes talent to take a beloved classic and twist it enough to make it a new and exciting story, while staying true to the tale. Johnson is able to do so and had me captivated, terrified, and entertained throughout.



By swapping genders, the story seemed more dangerous at times. And doesn't it always seem that when the heart becomes involved, the danger rises? That's what seemed to happen with this book. I loved the characters and the plot, and I loved the way Johnson was able to take such a rough part of history and portray possibly realistic emotions, while maintaining a clean story.

This really is a captivating book and will be enjoyable to those who love history.

Content:  mild violence; mild+ romance

Giveaway: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Tour Schedule:

*May 7^th: http://mybookaday.com/ , http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/, http://iamareader.com/

*May 8^th: https://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/adults, https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/, http://www.wishfulendings.com/

*May 9^th: https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/, http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/

*May 10^th: https://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/

*May 11^th: https://brightlystreet.com/, http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/, http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/, http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/  

A Peculiar Courtship (The Beckett Files #2) by Laura Beers {Review}

A Peculiar Courtship (The Beckett Files #2)
by Laura Beers

Kindle Edition, 284 pages

Published December 1st 2017 by Phase Publishing 

 

 

Lord Jonathon Beckett's mission is simple: retrieve Lady Hannah and place her under the protection of the Crown. But he isn't prepared for the havoc she inflicts on his world, making him question whether his duty as an agent of the Crown should always come before his heart.

Lady Hannah's father has uncovered evidence exposing a French traitor to the Crown. Willing to do anything to silence him, the traitor's primary target has become Lady Hannah. Keeping her safe means locking her away from Society, but she refuses to stand idly by, letting others put their lives on the line to protect her. Instead, she will stop at nothing to learn to defend herself, even at the risk of losing Lord Jonathon's protection, or his affections.

With a sinister scheme in play to collapse the English government from within, Lord Jonathon must protect Lady Hannah from the French spies intending to use her as a pawn in their game of treachery. But can he protect her from herself?

 

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My Review: 4 Stars

 

I really like that this isn't your typical Regency romance. Instead of balls, social engagements, and dressing to impress the Ton, the reader is immersed in the world of spies and danger. Hannah isn't learning needlepoint--she's learning how to use weapons so that she can protect herself. 

 

Lord Jonathon is a dashing man ordered to protect Hannah and he's also the brother of Eliza, the heroine of Book 1, Saving Shadow. I enjoyed watching how his protective nature battled with his heart, resulting in some fun romance. 

 

Once again, as true to this series, this story has a more modern feel to it, in both dialogue and actions, but it is a fun twist on Regency times. As for me, I think I'll stick to the sharp tongues in the ballroom, rather than the sharp daggers of the secret spy world (remember, I'm a chicken).

 

Content: mild language; mild+ romance (talk of affairs/sleeping around, kissing); mild-moderate violence (abuse, fights, think spies)

 

*I received a copy, which had no affect on my thoughts and opinions, which are my own*

 

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Buy Link:

 

Saving Shadow (The Beckett Files #1) by Laura Beers {Review}

Saving Shadow (A Regency Spy Romance)
by Laura Beers

ebook

Published September 1st 2017 by Phase Publishing

Born with a perfect memory, Lady Elizabeth Beckett has become one of the world's most notorious spies, despite being the daughter of a duke. She is shielded only by her code name: Shadow. When young ladies of High Society begin disappearing from London, Eliza has no doubt who is orchestrating these crimes; a heinous man she has been investigating for years. Vowing to save them before they are sold to the highest bidder, she must risk everything to stop him.

Lord Sinclair was perfectly content being the second son of a marquess, but when his brother is murdered, he is thrust into a position he has not been prepared for and does not desire. As an agent for the Crown, he is expected to retire now that he is the heir, but he's been granted special permission for one more mission... to obtain justice for his murdered brother.

Used to keeping secrets, Lady Eliza and Lord Sinclair must learn to open up to each other when they are assigned as partners to bring down the same ruthless man and his brutal empire of abduction and slavery. As Eliza's tainted past becomes too much for her to bear alone, can she learn to trust her new partner with her secrets, her life, and possibly her heart?

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My Review: 4 Stars

I don't know that I've ever read a Regency book with an upper crust spy who is a woman. Elizabeth, or Eliza (or even Shadow) is a spy for the Crown. I assumed that those types of spies served in foreign affairs or in wartime capacities, but that's not the case in this novel. This group of spies is trying to stop human trafficking, which I thought was interesting for the time period. I honestly can't imagine how it would be have to do the things that Eliza did and like always.

Although this story's dialogue and observations have a more modern feel to them, it is a fun tale that's full of danger and attraction. I found myself stuck on that gold dress that was embellished with crushed rubies and would love to see something like that in person. I loved getting to know the characters, and especially their roles played in the book.

I found it to be a fascinating dilemma--would you rather be titled or a spy? Lord Sinclair doesn't seem to have a choice and I would be happy to leave the stress behind, but that's not quite the case with him. On that note, why wouldn't Eliza want to give up a life of danger for a marriage? These characters are obviously more daring than I am, but it was sure fun to like vicariously through them for a time.

Content: mild romance;  mild violence

*I received a copy, which had no influence on my thoughts and opinions*

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Buy Link:

Laura Beers spent most of her childhood with a nose stuck in a book, dreaming of becoming an author. She attended Brigham Young University, eventually earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management.

Many years later, and with loving encouragement from her family, Laura decided to start writing again. Besides being a full-time homemaker to her three kids, she loves waterskiing, hiking, and drinking Dr. Pepper. Currently, Laura Beers resides in South Carolina.

Mormon Girl Incognito by Kari Iroz {Blog Tour Review + Giveaway}

Mormon Girl Incognito by Kari Iroz

Kindle Edition, 288 pages

Published June 1st 2017 by Covenant Communications 

Hilarious heroine Jacklyn Wyatt is back—this time in a dicey Vegas adventure! Jacklyn “Jack” Wyatt is just your average Mormon girl—other than her brief stint with the FBI, her subsequent brush with death, and her dreamy boyfriend, Special Agent Damon Wade. But in the eight months since she helped save a kidnapping victim, Jack’s life has returned to its mostly stagnant state. She’s still trapped in a dead-end job, and even her relationship seems to be stuck in a rut. These days, adventures are few and far between. So when Damon heads to Las Vegas on assignment, Jack sees the perfect opportunity to surprise her boyfriend and rekindle the spark in their relationship. But the surprise is on her: she has just landed herself in the middle of a high-stakes operation involving Russian criminals. Unwittingly drawn undercover once more, Jack is all too aware that the survival of Damon and his associates depends on the success of her charade. In the unfamiliar world of luxurious limos, exclusive nightclubs, and gambling, Jack must convince the high-rolling hustlers that she is a terrifying international arms dealer. If only she knew anything about poker. Or guns . . .

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My Review: 5 Stars 

It's no secret that I'm a chicken and the adventure and danger in this book had my heart pounding. I even found myself holding my breath at times, especially since Jack is your every day girl next door. She's so naive and her sometimes bumbling and hilarious ways endeared her to me because she could be anyone--she's no super hero spy. Jack has the grit to dig right into a situation, after a few tears, because that's who she is and she really flies by the seat of her pants, more often than not. It's easy to like Jack and to relate to her.

The setting, Vegas, wasn't my favorite because I'm not into all the gambling and "stuff" that happens there, but I was completely fascinated by the underground world that opened up before my eyes. Does this stuff really happen??! Combine that with the characters, even the creepy ones, and it's an entertaining read for sure. 

I'm so glad to have read A DATE WITH DANGER, since the backstory to the character relationships is given there. I recommend reading that one first. Damon and Jack have a great and unique relationship and I loved watching it progress even further, even as it's put in jeopardy. The romance...*sigh*...so sweet and fresh, although there are some issues to work through and the circumstances aren't ideal by any means.

Throughout all the danger and edginess to the book, the character growth is heartwarming, especially their spirituality. Those moments lead to a respite from the fast pace, which gave me a breather. I hope there is more to this story, because I'm loving it.

Content: mild romance (kissing, some implied past intimacies); moderate religious elements (LDS); mild violence. It's Vegas, so gambling, drinking, etc.

*I received a copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.*

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Buy Links:

   

  

Giveaway:

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Schedule: 

*June 19th: http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/

*June 20th: http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/

*June 21st: http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/, http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/, http://rockinbookreviews.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/, http://empowermoms.net/

*June 22nd: https://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://sweetlymadejustforyou.com/, http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, http://www.wishfulendings.com/

*June 23rd: http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/, http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/, http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/, http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/  

Uneven Exchange by S.K. Derban {Blog Tour Review and Giveaway}

Uneven Exchange by S.K. Derban

Kindle Edition, 269 pages

Published September 1st 2015 by Limitless Publishing LLC

Book Description for Uneven Exchange:

Like fire and ice, Alexandra Callet's life runs hot and cold. At the age of thirty-three, Alexandra owns a stunning home and a successful interior design company. But she is in love with her business partner, Jake Taylor, and he doesn't even seem to realize she's a woman. She should be on top of the world, but instead she feels dragged down by the void in her heart. Hoping for answers, she decides a trip to Mexico might soothe her soul.

Jake Taylor only pretends to be a confirmed bachelor. Jake has been entranced by Alexandra's determination and exotic beauty since the moment they met, but she has no idea how he feels. He considers confessing his love, but fears jeopardizing their friendship and business. He's caught in a web of pretending he doesn't care, and doesn't see a way out of it. Alexandra is recruited for a dangerous mission. Following her trip to Mexico, her resemblance to a member of an assassin's family leads Alexandra to be recruited by the DEA. Her training leaves her distracted, and her business begins to suffer. Jake notices her sudden change, and feels her slipping both personally and professionally beyond his reach.

Should he finally take the chance...before it's too late? After all, he has nothing to lose. However, when Alexandra returns to Mexico for her mission, things go terribly wrong. Will she be able find the strength to fight and escape the peaceful haven that has now become her prison?

Or will Jake lose Alexandra forever...

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My Review: 4 Stars

Uneven Exchange really takes a reader on an experience of suspense, romance, and adventure. I love reading books about people going undercover, but I know for sure that I wouldn't last in a situation where I had to do it. Alexandra is noticed in Mexico as a dead-ringer for Daniela, the sister of a wanted assassin. She is approached by the DEA to go undercover to help them catch this guy...and she agrees to help. 

The characters are written in a realistic way, but I wondered at times why Alex wasn't more scared or nervous. She did display those emotions, but I would be a complete wreck--she has more composure than I would, especially when she was caught in a very intense situation. I like how she immerses herself into everything she does--no halfway with her. I liked how normal Kevin, the DEA SAC, is. He's married with a family, but has struggled with an emotional connection in the past. He's not the perfect leader, husband, or father, but he strives to do his best. Jake, Alex's business partner, doesn't realize what he has until it's gone and I loved watching him do what it takes to find it again.

The suspense is really intense at times, but I felt a little disappointed with the climax of the story--it was a bit of a letdown after such a strong purpose. I liked the ending, but felt that a few strings were left unraveled--I'm not sure if it's open for a follow-up story or not. All in all, I really enjoyed it.

Content: mild religious elements (one character likes to pray and study scriptures, but it's not preachy); mild violence (an attempted rape, kidnapping, etc--not graphic); mild romance (kissing, vague talk of sex and a fade to black scene between a married couple).

*I received a copy through iReads Book Tours in exchange for an honest review*

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Author's Bio:

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, S.K. Derban moved to London within the first three months, and remained in England until the age of five. Her father, an American citizen, was a decorated veteran of the second world war. Derban's mother, born and raised in the United Kingdom, was involved with the London Royal Ballet Company, and a great fan of the arts. Even after returning to the United States, Derban's life was filled with a love of the theatre and a passion for British murder mysteries. S.K. Derban has always remained passionate about writing, and is thrilled to finally share her work with others.

Her personal travel and missionary adventures also help to transport readers virtually across the globe. When writing, S.K. Derban relies on all aspects of her life, from her faith in the Lord, to her love and knowledge of the arts. ​

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Fatal Exchange (A Christy Spy Novel, Book 3) by Cindy M. Hogan {Review}

Fatal Exchange (A Christy Spy Novel, Book 3) by Cindy M. Hogan

Kindle Edition, 209 pages

Published September 22nd 2015 by O'neal Publishing 

Source: I received a copy through eBooks for Review in exchange for an honest review

My Rating: 5 Stars

Description:

For 19-year-old Christy Hadden, it’s life as usual as a spy, only this time in Paris, France. Her mission: retrieve a flash drive containing evidence that a high public official is working to destroy Paris. Pretty standard, until someone steals the drive from her. Forced to abandon her position protecting the informant, she goes after the thief, but returns empty handed—only to find her informant dead.

Christy's failure taints her reputation at Division and the director has lost all faith in her. But Christy isn't one to slink into the shadows. Alone and disgraced, she decides to track down the drive and solve the murder, not only to redeem herself as a spy, but to give meaning to her informant’s sacrifice, and perhaps even save Paris.

Suspenseful, with the right amount of romance, and awash with action, Fatal Exchange will send you on a thrill ride that will be hard to forget.

My Review:

Fatal Exchange is a fast-paced spy thriller and I enjoyed every minute of it, even though it stressed me out. This is another addition in the Christy series and I don't think they necessarily need to be read in order, but the reader will enjoy them much more if they are. The Watched trilogy introduces us to Christy and how she becomes a spy and the Christy stories expound on her experiences. Each novel focuses on a mission.  

Christy finds herself in Paris in this book. I'm always amazed that she's only 19 and has more talents and skills in her little finger than I have. She's fearless, creative, a linguist, possesses a lot of ingenuity, and is a master of disguises. I would probably faint dead away at the first sign of trouble and she managed to take her intense situations and turn them around in her favor.  

Christy's mission is to find a flash drive with some incriminating evidence on it, but it's not that cut and dried. I couldn't help but wonder if this author has experience in being a spy or something. Events and transitions are so well done and the characters are phenomenal. I was amazed and stressed at the way things unfolded. I definitely wouldn't make a good spy, but I love reading these books.

Content:  one mild expletive; mild-moderate violence (it's a spy thriller--nothing gory or too graphic, but there are deaths, kidnappings, torture, etc); mild romantic elements (kissing); I would consider it clean.

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 About the Author:

Author Cindy M. Hogan Cindy M. Hogan graduated with a BA in education and is inspired by the unpredictable teenagers she teaches. More than anything she loves the time she has with her own teenage daughters and wishes she could freeze them at this fun age. If she's not reading or writing, you'll find her snuggled up with the love of her life watching a great movie or planning their next party. Most of all, she loves to laugh. She is the bestselling and award winning author of the Watched trilogy, a YA suspense series with a dash of romance. She has since branched off to write a mystery, Gravediggers, that won Best YA novel of 2013, a contemporary romance, Confessions of a 16-Year-Old Virgin Lips, and two in a spy series, Adrenaline Rush and Hotwire.

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Review: The Rules in Rome by A.L. Sowards with Giveaway

 

The Rules in Rome by A.L. Sowards

Paperback, 291 pages

Published February 2015 by Covenant Communications Inc. 

Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Description:

With Hitler’s forces firmly entrenched in Europe, countless heroes seek to end the madman’s reign. Bastien Ley is one of the best. Working in Italy for the Office of Strategic Services, he’s been tasked with sabotaging German convoys. When his team kills an officer headed for Rome, the man’s similarity to Bastien is undeniable, and seeing an opportunity to turn the tide of the war, Bastien makes a bold decision: he will assume the dead officer’s identity. He becomes Dietrich, an Iron Cross–wearing German officer—an ideal position from which to infiltrate the Nazi ranks in Rome. To help with his stressful assignment, his superiors send him a reinforcement in the form of the lovely Gracie Begni, an intelligent and eager radio operator with absolutely no undercover experience.

With a gulf of resentment between them, these two agents must find a way to portray a couple in love. Soon their reluctant alliance becomes much more as Bastien and Gracie find themselves getting lost in their feelings for each other. But as they engage in battle against the deadliest foe the world has ever known, the pair quickly realizes their love may be doomed. As the Rome Gestapo threatens to destroy all they’ve worked for, will Bastien and Gracie survive their charade? 

My Review:

I've loved reading this author's works set in this time period--WWII. This story takes the reader to a place that doesn't seem to be written about quite as much--Italy. I found it very interesting to read about some of the history and the effects that WWII had on this country, while being thoroughly entertained by the fictional characters and the events surrounding their lives as spies.

Gracie endured things that I didn't think she could. She is a normal American girl who is also deeply rooted in her religion. She's been trained to spy and operate a radio, yet when she actually arrives in the field, it's not as easy as she thought it would be. I was on edge in her behalf, many, many times. There's no way I could be a spy, yet I sure love reading about them!

Bastien is a tough, almost cold man, yet he has glimmers of warmth within him. His life and many others are on the line and depend on him staying in character. He's very good at what he does. I fell for him, right along with Gracie!

I'm a sucker for a good, clean romance and this one was exceptional! My socks were knocked off with that first kiss. I loved the way things naturally and gradually developed. As always, I'm looking forward to more of Ms. Sowards writing.

Content: Clean romance (kissing); no language; moderate violence (war violence, not graphic); mild religion (talk of religion, but it doesn't play a major role). See my content ratings info here.

 

About the Author:
I was born in Georgia but consider Moses Lake, Washington my hometown. I came to Utah to attend school (BYU) and ended up staying. Books have always been an important part of my life. I remember writing self-illustrated storybooks at my grandparent's house when I was in elementary school (none of those made it to publication for many good reasons) and attending my first writer's conference when I was in third grade.

Now I'm a busy mom with young chidren. I still love to read and I also love to write. I'm usually reading a couple books at once and working on multiple writing projects too. Other than that, my life is pretty ordinary. I'm grateful for that. I'll let the characters in my books have all the adventures.

About My Writing:
A little mystery, a little history, a little romance, and a lot of action, adventure, and suspense. Primarily, I write to entertain. I also hope my books will teach readers something new about history or about life. My books are usually set during wartime, so there is some violence, but I keep the language and romance family-friendly. My goal is for my writing to be thrilling, clean, and uplifting. 

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*February 9th: http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, http://www.iamareader.com/ (Cheryl's review), http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/

*February 10th: http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/ 

*February 11th: http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/ , http://www.wishfulendings.com/

*February 12th: http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/ , http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/ , http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/

*February 13th: http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/

*February 14th: http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/ , http://www.iamareader.com/ (Kathy's review), http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/wordpress/