Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. Freda is taking a hiatus right now, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over in the meantime.

This week I'm featuring The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Can you believe this was my first time reading this book? I absolutely loved it! Wish I had read it sooner.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. 

Friday 56

And now of course you want to know what had happened to Edmund.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Lake Shore Awakening (Redemption Shores #4) by Jennifer Rodewald

About the Book

Will love endure even through these challenges?

Hazel loves Bennett and wants to be happy with him, but she doesn’t believe in marriage. Bennett wants the promise, or he can’t see a future for them. If they can’t resolve their differences in worldview, their relationship will die, and Hazel might lose all hope for a life beyond her isolated existence.

There doesn’t seem to be a solution either can accept.

Meanwhile, Hunter and Janie are euphoric, planning their wedding and looking forward to their life together at the Splendor Lodge. But when a stranger wanders into Janie’s Café with a life-altering claim, Janie isn’t sure she can navigate through the truth.

Will Hazel become the bitter, lonely woman she sees in her future? Or can she and Bennett overcome all that threatens the unexpected love that they’ve found? And will Hunter and Janie work through the sideways shift in their world?

Come back to the majestic beauty of Elk Canyon Lake, a remote and breathtaking wonder hidden in the stunning Montana Mountains. There you'll find unexpected romance, the redemption of broken pasts, and hope dawning anew.

Amazon / Goodreads

Available in Kindle Unlimited at time of posting

MY THOUGHTS

Oh my goodness, what a soul-stirring addition to this series! I'm having a hard time putting into words just how much I loved it. I’ve enjoyed every book in the series, but this is my favorite. I absolutely loved the spiritual message. I felt God's presence woven into every single page. I’m in awe and almost in tears.

I’ve truly enjoyed getting to know these characters. They’re realistically flawed, but I love how authentic they are. It’s been refreshing to read about characters who aren’t perfect. I’ve enjoyed watching them grow and experience new things, as well as seeing their mistakes and triumphs. This book brings a lot of change to the characters’ lives. They’re stretched and tested in new ways. I’ve loved watching their transformations and seeing them discover God’s love. It’s truly inspiring. I’ve been cheering them on from the beginning, and it’s been awesome to witness their growth.

I can’t say enough good things about this book or this series. It’s been such an inspiring experience. I highly, highly recommend it. This is not a standalone, so be sure to start with book one. You won't be disappointed.

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS

Can't Wait Wednesday: Loyally, Luke by Pepper Basham

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Loyally, Luke by Pepper Basham releasing May 14.

About the Book

Sometimes love means embracing the good, the bad . . . and even the impossible.

Dear Reader,

My name is Luke Edgewood, and there are few things in life that I require. Mainly black coffee. And flannel. And lots of solitude. And my dogs, Chewy and Indie. What I don’t need is romance, so I have no plans to change my thirty-year-old bachelor status anytime soon.

But my youngest sister thinks that by accepting a short-term construction job in the small European country of Skymar, I’m going to follow along in her footsteps and discover my own romantic adventure. Nope. Bah humbug. The End. This time, her rom-com-movie senses are totally wrong.

Or maybe not. Because I’ve met a Grace Kelly look-alike who is annoying . . . until she isn’t. But she is impossible. As in, nothing can happen between us because she is a literal princess. Even though that’s easy to forget when we’re working together to restore a castle-like orphanage in a secluded mountain town and “forced proximity” includes a small closet, a secret one-hundred-year-old journal, and the tactile memory of an off-limits royal in my arms.

Basically, the whole situation has turned into an ooey gooey magical snow globe of romantic tropes complete with cute kids and an actual ball. Now, even my sentences are starting to sound like mush. Ugh. Send high levels of testosterone my way—I’m going to need it.

Loyally,

Luke

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: My Lucky Charm (Holidays With Hart) by Courtney Walsh

About the Book

A humiliating break-up leads to an impulsive New Year’s Kiss with a complete stranger.
What could possibly go wrong?

It’s no secret that I love life. And Dr Pepper. But also, I love a challenge. . .

So when the coach of the Chicago Comets gives me the opportunity to help their star player, newly traded to their team, acclimate to life in Chicago, I'm all in.

I have to be. After my last job went up in flames, I have something to prove.

It turns out that the player, Grayson Hawke, is the rudest, most off-putting, reclusive guy I’ve ever met.It also turns out that he is the beautiful stranger I kissed on New Year’s Eve.

I can do this job. I can do this job. I can do this job.

And I can. Really well.

I can make Gray’s life easier, show him all the reasons to fall in love with this city, and in the process, hopefully completely forget that the amazing kiss ever happened.

How hard can it be? We’re total opposites anyway.

I love people . . . and all their stories. Gray loves hockey . . . and nothing else.

I love to talk. Gray only stares.

I’m happy-go-lucky. Gray’s all work and no play.

There’s just one problem. The more time I spend with Grayson Hawke, the more I start to see that underneath his bristly, standoffish exterior, he’s nothing like the man everyone thinks he is.

And suddenly, all the reasons for keeping my distance, staying professional, and not falling for someone again. . .are impossible to remember.

My Lucky Charm is a grumpy/sunshine, sweet hockey romance with all of the sizzle but none of the steam. It's the second in the Holidays with Hart series, but My Lucky Charm can be read as a stand alone.

Amazon / Goodreads

Available in Kindle Unlimited at time of posting

MY THOUGHTS

This was such a fun and sweet story! I was in the mood for a happy book, and this fit the bill perfectly. I had a smile on my face for the majority of the book. The grumpy/sunshine trope is my favorite, and it was done so well here.

I loved both Gray and Eloise. Gray sure was crabby, but, I’ve gotta say, he’s the swooniest grump I’ve ever read about. There was more to him than first met the eye, and I loved getting to know him better and seeing different sides of him. Eloise was sunshine personified. She always saw the good in everybody and every situation. Sometimes to her own detriment, but her kindness, joy, and positive attitude were part of what made her such a special person.

This was a joy to read. I highly recommend it to fans of Emma St. Clair, Becky Wade, and Melissa Tagg. I can't wait for the next book in this series!

FOUR STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: One Last Shot (Alaska Air One Rescue #1) by Susan May Warren

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. Freda is taking a hiatus right now, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over in the meantime.

This week I'm featuring One Last Shot (Alaska Air One Rescue #1)  by Susan May Warren.

About the Book

When country music star Oaken Fox joins survivalist Mike Grizz's new adventure show in the Alaskan wilderness, he just wants to boost his fan base. But when tragedy strikes, and Air One Rescue must save them, Oaken just wants to quit. Too bad his producer has other plans—signing him on with Air One Rescue as a recruit and making a reality show...

EMT Boo Kingston did not join Air One Rescue to train a celebrity. But she's a rookie to the team, so yes, she'll train Oaken and keep him alive and not for a minute pay attention to his charm...

And then five women go missing from a resort during a bachelorette weekend gone south. Now, Air One and the rescue team will have to use all their skills--and manpower, including Oaken--to find them before a blizzard settles in. But can they work together before tragedy strikes?

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

Boo couldn't think of a worse way to die.

Friday 56

"When you row a boat, you're in charge of everything - the work, the direction, going against the waves... You gotta learn to sail, bud. The sailor rigs the sails and puts them up, has to know how to use them, but he depends on God for the wind. You show up for your part, but God is in charge of the power, and the direction of the wind."

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Nobody's Hero: The Superhero Publicist 1 by Janeen Ippolito

About the Book

She’ll change his image—if they can both stay alive.

Cassie Robinson, junior representative of Power-Up Publicity, is just trying to keep her head down and her career moving. Not easy when she’s required to work with supervillains for the first year of her contract...or else.

But when a new villain client, Mick, announces he’s switching sides, maybe things are looking up. Even if she has to leave her job a bit earlier than the contract and trust a thieving speedster.

Then the heroes find Mick—including the relentless Snailman. And her bosses seem absurdly focused on getting Cassie back.

Caught between the hovering heroes and her menacing company, Cassie must team up with the villain who literally swept her off her feet and whisked her away to his secret lair.

Speaking of which, that lair could use some redecorating…

A fast-paced superhero story with banter, action, a pinch of slow-burn romance, and yes, the infamous Snailman.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This was so much fun! It’s fast-paced, exciting, and unpredictable. I haven’t read many superhero books, but this one makes me want to devour them all.

The characters were great. Cassie had to deal with a lot as a publicist for supervillains. She was cautious, but I admired how calm she was in some pretty intense situations. I know I would’ve been freaking out. I liked Mick a lot. He was a complex character, a supervillain with a conscience who's ready to turn over a new leaf.

I was also very intrigued by Power-Up Publicity. It was obvious from the beginning that something fishy was going on, and I was so eager to figure out what exactly it was.

I didn’t want this book to end! I’m so glad it’s the start of a series. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FOUR STARS

Can't Wait Wednesday: Love in Tandem by Becca Kinzer

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Love in Tandem by Becca Kinzer releasing April 2.

About the Book

She’s perfectly content leading a quiet life in her small hometown. He’s an adventurer with unquenchable wanderlust. The two couldn’t be any more opposite if they tried. But a tandem bicycle and a 500-mile road trip just might change all that.

After a failed engagement and her mother’s battle with cancer, Charlotte Carter’s life is finally turning around now that she’s landed a dream job teaching music. What she didn’t see coming was the imminent closure of the school’s music program. She’s determined to save it, even if it means getting creative. There’s no way she’s chalking this up as just another failure in her book of recent embarrassments.

Zach Bryant is back in town just long enough to see his brother Ben get married and then he’s off traveling the world again. He never imagined he’d run into Charlotte Carter, his brother’s ex-fiancé, or that everyone would believe he and Charlotte are an item. He certainly didn’t dream he’d end up riding a tandem bicycle hundreds of miles with her in an attempt to raise funds for a defunct music program, but how can he say no when the prize money would help him out of his financial predicament too?

Charlotte is sure she can set aside her differences with Zach long enough to cross the finish line and win the giant cash prize . . . can’t she? A few hundred miles in, she’s questioning her deeply held assumptions about Zach and wondering if maybe tandem biking is only the start of their biggest adventure yet.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: Water Horse (The Nightmare Saga #1) by Katie Hanna

About the Book

A girl on the run. A rancher with a shadowed past. An immortal bent on magical domination.

Meg O’Shea just wants to escape the nightmares that have chased her across the Atlantic. After breaking out of the Colorado State Lunatic Asylum, Meg finds refuge in marrying a local landowner… but her new husband has his own ranch-load of problems.

George Calhoun is a rancher, not a detective. When one of his cowboys is murdered, he’s thrust into an unfamiliar world of danger and deception. Throw in a failed first marriage and a new wife with plenty of secrets of her own, and George is in way over his head.

Sigurd Mahres has one goal: to rule the world through nightmares. But his key source of power has just run off to the Wild West…and gotten married. To hunt her down, Sigurd calls on a reluctant ally: a band of Irish water horses freshly arrived in the Colorado mountains.

In this deadly chess game, the winner must unlock the secrets of the new magic seeping into the Wild West… before that magic consumes them all. If you love ancient Irish legends and rip-roaring Western adventures, you won’t want to miss Water Horse.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

I absolutely loved this book! It’s one of the best I’ve read this year. The prologue instantly hooked me, and I was engrossed in this fascinating story until the very last word. I enjoyed the writing style. I was pulled right into the story, and the real world faded away. The worldbuilding was superb. Familiar, but so much more. Magical and terrifying and exciting.

I’ve never read anything like this. It’s an excellent mix of fantasy and western combined with Irish legend. I’m not usually a big fan of westerns, but I loved this one. It’s such a unique take on one, and I enjoyed every second of it.

The characters were intriguing and three-dimensional. The good guys were easy to like and root for, and the bad ones fit the role of villain to perfection. I liked the fact that there were three different POVs. And I loved that they were each so distinct. When I had to stop in the middle of a chapter to tend to real life, I was able to identify the narrator almost instantly, which isn’t usually the case, especially when they’re written in first-person POV.

I can’t say enough good things about this book. If you’re looking for a unique historical fantasy that will keep you glued to the pages, you’ll love this story. I highly recommend it!

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: My Lucky Charm (Holidays With Hart) by Courtney Walsh

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. Freda is taking a hiatus right now, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over in the meantime.

This week I'm featuring My Lucky Charm (Holidays With Hart) by Courtney Walsh. This was such a fun and sweet romance! I really enjoyed it. 

About the Book

A humiliating break-up leads to an impulsive New Year’s Kiss with a complete stranger.
What could possibly go wrong?

It’s no secret that I love life. And Dr Pepper. But also, I love a challenge. . .

So when the coach of the Chicago Comets gives me the opportunity to help their star player, newly traded to their team, acclimate to life in Chicago, I'm all in.

I have to be. After my last job went up in flames, I have something to prove.

It turns out that the player, Grayson Hawke, is the rudest, most off-putting, reclusive guy I’ve ever met.It also turns out that he is the beautiful stranger I kissed on New Year’s Eve.

I can do this job. I can do this job. I can do this job.

And I can. Really well.

I can make Gray’s life easier, show him all the reasons to fall in love with this city, and in the process, hopefully completely forget that the amazing kiss ever happened.

How hard can it be? We’re total opposites anyway.

I love people . . . and all their stories. Gray loves hockey . . . and nothing else.

I love to talk. Gray only stares.

I’m happy-go-lucky. Gray’s all work and no play.

There’s just one problem. The more time I spend with Grayson Hawke, the more I start to see that underneath his bristly, standoffish exterior, he’s nothing like the man everyone thinks he is.

And suddenly, all the reasons for keeping my distance, staying professional, and not falling for someone again. . .are impossible to remember.

My Lucky Charm is a grumpy/sunshine, sweet hockey romance with all of the sizzle but none of the steam. It's the second in the Holidays with Hart series, but My Lucky Charm can be read as a stand alone.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

I've never kissed a stranger in my life.

Friday 56

"Okay. So. Story time." She's over-gesturing, which reads as nervous, and I wonder what Eloise has really gotten me into.

What have you been reading lately?

Can't Wait Wednesday: Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright releasing April 9.

About the Book

In 1910, Effie James is living a dream for two. Her younger sister is harboring a secret that has left timid Effie determined to fulfill her daring sister's grand plan of seeking out adventure in their small Iowa town. When a British gentleman arrives, disrupting their peace with efforts to find the wife many claim lived her final days at the now abandoned house at 322 Predicament Avenue, Effie is thrust into intrigue she couldn't have prepared for. But what she finds inside will forever link her to the scandal staining the house's walls and to a woman whose secrets promise a curse.

A century later, Norah Richman is living out her late-twin's dream of running their great aunt's bed-and-breakfast on Predicament Avenue--a place Norah believes nothing good can come out of after her sister's abduction and murder thirteen years ago. Her first guest is a crime historian and podcaster, and Norah resolves to stay far away from the charming and enigmatic man--until another guest is found dead. As they dig deeper, something sinister unfurls that will reveal an ominous unknown far greater than the possibility of death itself.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: The Gorgon Agenda (SPI Files #8) by Lisa Shearin

About the Book

A planet-killing weapon, sinister sisters, and immortal monsters.
All in a day’s work for the agents of SPI.

I’m Makenna Fraser, seer for SPI (Supernatural Protection & Investigations). I knew SPI protected some of the world’s most dangerous relics, but I didn’t know our draconic founder, Vivienne Sagadraco, kept them in a vault deep below Manhattan.

Until the most lethal relic of all was stolen.

The Aegis is the shield once wielded by Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war. The center of the Aegis contains the head of Medusa, making it the ultimate weapon. All who look on it or its reflection are instantly turned to stone.

Old enemies and new adversaries have descended on New York—and one of them now has the Aegis:
Tiamat—Babylonian goddess of chaos, and Vivienne Sagadraco’s sister
Stheno and Euryale—Eight-foot-tall, snake-haired gorgons, granddaughters of the Titans, and Medusa’s sisters
The Sisterhood of Medusa—An ancient gorgon military order
The Cabal—A supernatural terrorist organization

Those behind the theft have declared war on humanity, with a hatred that was millennia in the making, and a heist that was centuries in the planning.

Our mission is simple yet impossible: Retrieve the Aegis and save the world. But we can’t do it alone. We’ll need our friends, family, and some unexpected new allies if we’re to stop this ancient evil once and for all

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

Fairy tales are fairy fact.
Magic exists. Monsters are real. Fighting the forces of evil is a full-time job.

What a wild ride! This was intense right from the get-go. Danger seemed to be coming from every direction. An old enemy returned with some seriously powerful and scary backup. The final clash had the potential for world-ending consequences.

I was so nervous for these characters. The odds were stacked against them, and I didn’t see a solution where they’d come out unscathed. I was turning the pages as fast as possible, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.

I don’t want to say too much because of spoilers, but wow! This was an excellent addition to the series! I’m so eager for the next one. If you’re an urban fantasy fan, you’ll love this series. Be sure to start with book one, and you’ll be hooked.

FOUR STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: The Gorgon Agenda (SPI Files #8) by Lisa Shearin

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. Freda is taking a hiatus right now, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over in the meantime.

This week I'm featuring The Gorgon Agenda (SPI Files #8) by Lisa Shearin. This is a really fun urban fantasy series. 

About the Book

A planet-killing weapon, sinister sisters, and immortal monsters.
All in a day’s work for the agents of SPI.

I’m Makenna Fraser, seer for SPI (Supernatural Protection & Investigations). I knew SPI protected some of the world’s most dangerous relics, but I didn’t know our draconic founder, Vivienne Sagadraco, kept them in a vault deep below Manhattan.

Until the most lethal relic of all was stolen.

The Aegis is the shield once wielded by Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war. The center of the Aegis contains the head of Medusa, making it the ultimate weapon. All who look on it or its reflection are instantly turned to stone.

Old enemies and new adversaries have descended on New York—and one of them now has the Aegis:
Tiamat—Babylonian goddess of chaos, and Vivienne Sagadraco’s sister
Stheno and Euryale—Eight-foot-tall, snake-haired gorgons, granddaughters of the Titans, and Medusa’s sisters
The Sisterhood of Medusa—An ancient gorgon military order
The Cabal—A supernatural terrorist organization

Those behind the theft have declared war on humanity, with a hatred that was millennia in the making, and a heist that was centuries in the planning.

Our mission is simple yet impossible: Retrieve the Aegis and save the world. But we can’t do it alone. We’ll need our friends, family, and some unexpected new allies if we’re to stop this ancient evil once and for all.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

Did you ever get the feeling you were being watched?

Friday 56

Knowledge was the ultimate weapon. Always had been, always would be. You could have the biggest army and the best weapons, but without accurate knowledge of your enemy, they'd only do you so much good.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Leave the Lights On (True Crime Junkies #5) by Christy Barritt

About the Book

First the lights go out . . . then they die.

The body count is rising. Six murder victims. The only connection? An X carved into the dead person’s chest. When the family of one of the victims asks the Artic Circle Murder Club to investigate, the team dives into their toughest case yet.

Stopping the murders isn’t the team’s only challenge. When Duke McAllister sees his teammate Andi Slade dodging the cops, he knows she must be in deep trouble. But Andi isn’t the only one on her team on thin ice. Trouble seems to be following them all.

With more murders making the headlines, the threat level reaches an all-time high. The end game has begun. The clock is ticking, and disaster looms near. Will they stop the killer before the deadly grand finale? Or will the lights go out one final time?

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This was another exciting and hard-to-put down book by Christy Barritt. This whole series has been great, but this is the most suspense-filled and fast-paced one of the bunch. At one point, I could hardly catch my breath; the danger was imminent, and I didn’t know how they were going to get out of the situation unscathed.

The Arctic Circle Murder Club is called in to help solve a perplexing case in Anchorage. Seven people have been murdered in the past twelve days. One of the only things they have to go on is the fact that the killer cuts the power to the victim’s house before killing them. The victims don’t seem to have anything in common. They’re all from different social standings. They're of different ages and ethnicities. What’s the connection? What’s driving the killer to commit these murders? The Lights Out Killer had the whole town on edge and living in fear, and that fear seeped through the pages and kept my anxiety high.

This series is perfect for anyone who enjoys a fast-paced, character-driven thriller. While this book could technically be a standalone, I’d still recommend starting with book one. There’s a lot of history between these characters, and some ongoing mysteries from the beginning play a big part here. There’s quite a bit of development in one of those mysteries. There’s still some questions, but I was happy about the progress. And while I wouldn’t classify the ending as a cliffhanger per se, I’m very eager to see where things go with the Arctic Circle Murder Club next.

FOUR STARS

Can't Wait Wednesday: Never Fall Again (Gossamer Falls #1) by Lynn H. Blackburn

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Never Fall Again (Gossamer Falls #1) by Lynn H. Blackburn releasing March 12. 

About the Book

Landry Hutton has spent three years rebuilding her life behind the secure gates of The Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. As the artist-in-residence, and with her pottery prized by The Haven's guests, Landry is finally ready to settle in permanently. She wants to give her daughter, Eliza, a safe home to grow up in and hires former Marine Callum Shaw to handle the construction.

Cal grew up in Gossamer Falls and always knew he would someday join his family's business. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. Landry is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. Landry has a daughter and a past. Cal has been down that road before and barely survived when the woman he loved left, taking her two sons with her. He can't bear to lose like that again.

Before construction on the house can begin, Landry's pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire. It soon becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger--but because of whom? But, after losing one relationship, he is hesitant to try again.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting? 

Review: Conflicting Loyalties: My Life as a Mob Enforcer Turned DOJ Informant by Aiden Gabor

About the Book

A memoir of a double life as a Mafia enforcer and a DOJ informant taking down corrupt cops and politicians.

Aiden Gabor was still a teenager when Department of Justice agents approached him with an ultimatum: spend his life in prison for racketeering, embezzlement, extortion, and conspiracy to commit murder, or become an undercover agent.

Conflicting Loyalties is a sharp, honest memoir in three parts: the bloody life of a mob soldier from outside la famiglia; the death-defying, paranoid existence of an informant bringing down corrupt politicians and police departments from the inside; and unexpectedly finding peace late in life through the Baha’i faith while coping with an ALS diagnosis.

Conflicting Loyalties is a visceral tale of a man who gambles with his own life in order to save it, dodging his fate while searching for an identity, a father, and a family. It is for readers of Gianni Russo’s Hollywood Godfather, Joe Pistone’s classic Donnie Brasco, and anyone interested in mob life, police and political corruption, and finding peace after a life of violence.

Amazon / Goodreads / Hoopla

MY THOUGHTS

This was an incredibly fascinating story! It’s not something I’d normally pick up, but I’m so glad I did! It was a gripping read. I enjoyed the engaging and snappy writing style. There was something very conversational about it that pulled me right in. I didn’t want to put it down.

I was completely engrossed in this memoir by Aiden Gabor. I enjoyed reading about how he went from working for the mob to being an informant for the DOJ. It was very interesting to read about his time as a police officer and how he brought down corrupt cops. The things Gabor went through and the things he did! And to come out on the other side of it the way he has! Wow! Inspiring!

This was an enlightening read that I highly recommend. To say it was compelling is an understatement! 

NOTE: This book contains strong language.

FIVE STARS