Review: Warped on a Moon Trek: Time After Time (Sky Crimes and Mysteries #5) by Diane Vallere

About the Book

Tomorrow is yesterday and next week may never come...

Sylvia Stryker is the Moon Unit Corporation’s employee of the month. Impressive, since her side gig solving intergalactic mysteries takes up most of her time. But she is put to a new test after her mentor, Neptune, flies through a wormhole to meet with a reclusive scientist about the faulty chip powering their lunar module. The contact has been hiding from accusations of murder on another planet. Even more startling is the identity of the scientist: a family member Sylvia never thought she’d see again.

When Neptune’s space pod vanishes into a parallel timeline, Sylvia is quick to follow, but a face-to-face with her younger self threatens her reality. She is thrust into a time-bending journey where the unsolved murder becomes central to her mission. With a missing boss, a malfunctioning navigational system, and a family reunion hanging in the balance, Sylvia’s race against time just might save the world…or eradicate it from existence.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This was so much fun! I was excited for another addition to this series. It’s been awhile since the last book was released, and I’ve gotta say, I missed these characters and their shenanigans so much.

Sylvia finds herself in quite a mess this time, and the stakes are incredibly high. There’s malfunctioning tech, wormholes, and time travel, just to name a few of the problems. And oh my goodness, the time travel causes so much trouble! (That’s putting it mildly, lol!)

It took me just a little bit to get into the story, but once I did, I was fully invested and absolutely loving it.

I don't want to say too much more because I don’t want to spoil anything. If you’re a fan of this series, this is a must read! If you’re new to the series, I recommend starting with book one. It’s such a fun series!

FOUR STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Firestorm (Chasing Fire: Montana #4) by Lisa Phillips

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 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. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over for the time being.

This week I'm featuring Firestorm (Chasing Fire: Montana #4) by Lisa Phillips. I'm loving this series! 

About the Book

SECRETS. BETRAYAL. SACRIFICE.
THIS TIME, THEY'RE NOT JUST FIGHTING FIRE.

An original series created by bestselling authors Susan May Warren and Lisa Phillips.

He thought his life was over…and then she walked back in.

Charlie Benning has always been a rescuer—first with the Last Chance County Fire and Rescue team, and now as a firefighter with the Jude County Hotshots. But this summer isn’t about saving lives—it’s about hiding his own terrible secret. A secret he’s keeping from his estranged daughter, Alexis.

But fate is about to intervene.

Will their secrets destroy their second chance?

Jayne Price raised her son, Orion, on her own just fine, thank you. And now, she runs Wildlands Academy, a summer camp that teaches kids how to fight forest fires and confront their own teenage angst—kids like Alexis Benning, who clearly has a chip on her shoulder about her semi-estranged, firefighter father.

And Jayne has her own issues, like not wanting her only son to join the elite smokejumping corps. It’s enough that he’s risking his life as a hotshot on the Jude County team.

Then the wildfire turns its force onto the camp and suddenly the hotshots show up to help her fight it. Only problem…the last person she expects is for her former flame, Charlie Benning—the man she can’t forget—to show up working alongside her son.
Rather, his son.

Who he doesn’t know exists.

And then Charlie discovers the secret she’s been keeping, and he’s torn between anger and the long-simmering love that refuses to die. And Jayne isn’t about to let go of the man she loves a second time. But if the blazing wildfire isn't enough, a dangerous and relentless killer is on the prowl in the woods…

Now, with the camp cut off from the outside world and the fire closing in, it’s a race against time as Charlie, Jayne, Orion, and a team of courageous smokejumpers join forces to protect the campers against a merciless inferno and a murderer. But the biggest threat of all might be Charlie’s devastating secret that could destroy the happy ending they’ve waited for so long.

Prepare for an edge-of-your-seat journey that will leave you breathless until the very last page, in book four of the Chasing Fire: Montana series.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

Everything was going according to plan.

Kind of.

Friday 56

The sound of a small engine approached from down the dirt road. A second later, an ATV came into view. On top of it, a man in uniform. The local sheriff.

What have you been reading lately?

Can't Wait Wednesday: Running into Forever by Jennifer Rodewald

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 Running into Forever  by Jennifer Rodewald releasing October 9.

About the Book

Wanted: Horsewoman, skilled at driving. Must be willing to live on a remote island . . . and marry her boss. Both are non-negotiable.

Taylor Everest loves his home on Sanctuary Island and running his family’s carriage business for the historic Shoreline Palace. But his standoffish personality has the local resort questioning the renewal of his contract. Not to mention the contract also has an old, pesky clause Taylor had thus far ignored: He’s supposed to be married by age 30. He just turned 31.

Not willing to let go of his family’s legacy, Taylor puts out a bold advertisement.

Sonora Hillary is good with horses and even better with people. Unfortunately, her sunshine personality wasn’t enough for Donovan Arlington—the man she’s dated for two years. When Donovan announces his engagement after a mere two weeks of dating another woman, Sonora loses her level thinking. She answers a bizarre ad, agreeing to move and to marry the stiff and grumpy man she’s to work for. At least it’s only temporary. And surely living so far away—not to mention being married—will help her put away the ache of Donovan’s betrayal.

After the tourist season, Taylor and Sonora will both have what they wanted, and with a clean annulment, they’ll go their separate ways . . . unless God can change their hearts and minds.

*****

Welcome to the shores of Sanctuary Island, where six bestselling authors of Christian romance bring you stories of love and redemption. From tender romance to enduring faith, each standalone novel in this series promises unforgettable characters and heartwarming small town charm.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting? 

Review: Vacation Friends by Christy Barritt

About the Book

Explore the dark side of paradise, where sun-soaked beaches hide deadly secrets . . .

When Maddie Waters joins her fiancé, Josh Harding, in Hawaii for his company’s luxurious weeklong corporate retreat, Josh wants her to help him secure the prestigious role of CEO for the high-tech firm. However, someone with a dark secret has other plans, and everything changes when a series of deaths and near-fatal “accidents” plague the event.

With a determined detective circling and her relationship with Josh unraveling, Maddie finds refuge in a new group of friends. She soon forms an uneasy alliance with the handsome and mysterious Brody, hoping he can help her uncover the truth.

As secrets are exposed, tension mounts and relationships crumble. Maddie finds herself nearly drowning in a riptide of lies and deception. She must unravel a complex conspiracy and confront her own past—or risk becoming the next victim.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

“She’d felt lately as if death was stalking her.”

This was another fantastic thriller from Christy Barritt. I was completely hooked from the ominous beginning until the thrilling conclusion.

I was incredibly worried for main character Maddie as she faced danger after danger and incident after incident. Disaster seemed to follow her wherever she went. Was it all a coincidence, or was somebody out to get her?

There was a big cast of characters, but they were all distinct, and I had no trouble keeping them straight. I immediately liked Maddie’s new vacation friends, but a big part of me wondered if I should be suspicious of any, or all, of them considering everything that was going wrong. It was hard to trust anyone, as it seemed like everyone had a secret.

The mystery was really good. I had my suspicions, but wasn't 100 percent sure until right before the reveal. There was also a secondary story that had me intrigued yet wondering how it connected to everything. When I figured it out, my mind was blown! What a masterful twist!

This is one of Barritt’s best books to date. If you’re a fan of twisty thrillers, you’re sure to love it.

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

FIVE STARS

Goodreads TBR Cleanup #1

I saw this meme over on Dark Shelf of Wonders and thought it was such a neat idea, so I wanted to give it a try. 

How It Works:

• Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
• Ask Siri to pick a number between 1 and however many books are on the list.
• Go to that book and look at it and the 4 after it, for a total of 5.
• Read the synopses of the books.
• Decide: keep it or should it go?
• Discuss here.

Original Creator: Mega Bunny Reads

The number I got was 3140 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣 (I have a ridiculous amount of books on my TBR list. To be fair, there are a lot that I just put on there because I wanted to read them, not because I own them. And, also, there are a lot of Kindle Freebies.)

NUMBER 1

Mayor Kane: My Life in Wrestling and Politics by Glenn Jacobs

I'm a pro wrestling fan and have always liked Kane. His transition from wrestling into politics is very interesting.

VERDICT: Keep It

NUMBER 2

Now, Then, and Everywhen (Chronos Origins #1) by Rysa Walker

Time travel has always fascinated me, so, of course, I'm drawn to books featuring it. This one sounds really interesting, especially since it seems like one of the characters messes up the timeline which causes major trouble! I'm curious if things can be fixed.

VERDICT: Keep It

NUMBER 3

Deadly Deceit (Harbored Secrets #2) by Natalie Walters

Wait! I haven't read this one?! How did I completely miss it? I'm a big fan of this author and loved the first book and the series that came after this one. I guess I'm gonna have to try to remember to read this soon. 

VERDICT: Keep It

NUMBER 4

A Lovely Drop by Darynda Jones

I have no recollection of this one. It looks like it's one of those Kindle Freebies. It sounds interesting, but I don't think I'm keeping this one.

VERDICT: Toss it

NUMBER 5

Unidentified Funny Objects 7 by Various Authors

I usually enjoy these kinds of multiauthor collections. This one sounds like a lot of fun and it has a story by one of my favorite authors.

VERDICT: Keep It

I only tossed one, but every little bit helps. This was a lot of fun and I definitely want to do this again. Have you read any of these books? Would you keep them or toss them?

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Warped on a Moon Trek (Sky Crimes and Mysteries #5) by Diane Vallere

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 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. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over.

This week I'm featuring Warped on a Moon Trek (Sky Crimes and Mysteries #5) by Diane Vallere. I just started this one, so I haven't quite reached the quote for Friday 56, but I'm loving it so far. This is such a fun series.

About the Book

Tomorrow is yesterday and next week may never come...

Sylvia Stryker is the Moon Unit Corporation’s employee of the month. Impressive, since her side gig solving intergalactic mysteries takes up most of her time. But she is put to a new test after her mentor, Neptune, flies through a wormhole to meet with a reclusive scientist about the faulty chip powering their lunar module. The contact has been hiding from accusations of murder on another planet. Even more startling is the identity of the scientist: a family member Sylvia never thought she’d see again.

When Neptune’s space pod vanishes into a parallel timeline, Sylvia is quick to follow, but a face-to-face with her younger self threatens her reality. She is thrust into a time-bending journey where the unsolved murder becomes central to her mission. With a missing boss, a malfunctioning navigational system, and a family reunion hanging in the balance, Sylvia’s race against time just might save the world…or eradicate it from existence.

Can Sylvia repair the circuits of time, or will she stay lost in space with a killer?

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

In my duties as undercover security officer for the Moon Unit Corporation, it is my responsibility to write up case files and record the identities of everyone who played a role in the episode. This case has proven too difficult to record.

Friday 56

"Seems to me if you don't solve this chip problem, the passengers are gonna be in a lot more danger than if you stick around for movie night."

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Flashback (Chasing Fire: Montana #3) by Michelle Sass Aleckson

About the Book

SECRETS. BETRAYAL. SACRIFICE.
THIS TIME, THEY'RE NOT JUST FIGHTING FIRE.

An original series created by bestselling authors Susan May Warren and Lisa Phillips.

He’s the last person she wants to see…

Allie Monroe is desperate for a fresh start. Grieving the loss of her first SAR dog, she’s gone to Montana to train her new K9, Scout. And when two boys go missing during a wildfire, she’s brought on board to find them.

But the one person tasked to help her is the last person she wants to see—arrogant and dangerous Dakota Masterson.

It’ll take exactly this man to save everything she loves.

Former SWAT officer Dakota Masterson is a new man after confronting the demons of his past, including his first unfortunate meeting with Allie. But admittedly, she’s the last person he thought he’d see again…or have to work with. Still, maybe this is his chance to prove to her that he’s a different man—because she’s the one woman he can’t seem to forget.

However, with the flames closing in, finding the boys might mean confronting the painful memories of their short-lived relationship. Then, Allie’s dog goes missing, suddenly someone is shooting at them, and they find themselves in a race against a wildfire and a threat that wants them dead. More, when Allie goes missing, Dakota’s past—and his issues—come roaring back.

It’ll take the SWAT officer in him to save the day, but will it cost them a future they both long for?

Get ready to be swept away in a world where survival, redemption, and second chances collide in book three of the Chasing Fire: Montana series.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This was another exciting addition to the series. I was invested from the very beginning and did not want to put it down. The intensity and danger kept rising until the thrilling conclusion.

I liked Allie and Dakota. They both had some struggles and had made some mistakes in their respective pasts, but they were trying their best to overcome them.

I loved Scout, Allie’s new SAR dog. He was smart and so impressive with his skills. I could understand Allie’s reluctance to connect with another dog after the loss of her previous beloved canine, but I knew they’d make a great team if they could learn to trust each other.

This was the first book I’ve read by this author, and it certainly won’t be the last. I enjoyed it a great deal. This is the third book in the series, but I think it can be read as a standalone perfectly fine. The series has an overarching mystery, but it’s easy to jump right into.

FOUR STARS

Can't Wait Wednesday: Specters in the Glass House 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 Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright releasing October 1.

About the Book

In 1921, Marian Arnold, the heiress to a brewing baron's empire, seeks solace in the glass butterfly house on her family's Wisconsin estate as Prohibition and the deaths of her parents cast a long shadow over her shrinking world. When Marian's sanctuary is invaded by nightmarish visions, she grapples with the line between hallucinations of things to come and malevolent forces at play in the present. With dead butterflies as the killer's ominous signature, murders unfold at a steady pace. Marian, fearful she might be next, enlists the help of her childhood friend Felix, a war veteran with his own haunted past.

In the present day, researcher Remy Shaw becomes entangled in an elderly biographer's quest to uncover the truth behind Marian Arnold's mysterious life and the unsolved murders linked to an infamous serial killer. Joined by Marian's great-great-grandson, can Remy expose the evil that lurks beneath broken wings? Or will the dark legacy surrounding the manor and its glass house destroy yet another generation?

Renowned as a "trailblazer extraordinaire" (Booklist) of inspirational dual-time suspense, award-winning author Jaime Jo Wright weaves a haunting tale of mystery, legacy, and the relentless pursuit of truth across two distinct eras.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: Once Upon An Apple by Gabrielle Landi

About the Book
A lord’s son, a milkmaid, and seven mischievous goats.

After running from her past, Sophia built a new life for herself in the Northlands, taking a job as a milkmaid for the local nobility and creating her own family with the friends she meets at the Cozy Cat Café. She spends her days spoiling the goats and finally feels safe, but something is still missing. She wants more than just safety–she wants love and a real family of her own.

Lord Caspian Rendon has returned home to–in his Father’s words, get serious–and contemplate his life’s path. As a third son, he doesn’t have much other than his title–and while the past two years of training in the Royal Guard have set him up for a potential career, they haven’t done much in the way of finding him a wealthy wife, which had always seemed the more appealing option of the two.

When he runs into the beautiful, sweet, and always kind Sophia taking care of his little sister’s goats, he begins to realize there’s more to life than marrying into wealth. As the baby goats, a mischievous little sister, and Fall Festival planning keep bringing Caspian and Sophia together, he starts to fall for the goat girl. But when Sophia's mysterious past finally catches up with her, Caspian must make a hard choice ... Can he risk it all for love, or will he never see her again?

Once Upon An Apple is a Snow White fairytale retelling and the first book in the Galamere Chronicles. Each standalone book is a retelling of a beloved story or fairy tale, with the swoon-worthy sweet romance of a Hallmark movie, the wholesome and heartwarming feeling of cozy fantasy, and the comfort of a found family of friends, with a sprinkling of danger and a dash of magic.

Amazon / Goodreads / Author's Website

MY THOUGHTS

This was such a cute cozy fantasy and sweet retelling of Snow White. I loved all the nods to the original story. It’s a little slower-paced in the beginning, but things really started to pick up during the second half.

I liked Sophia. She had such a kind soul. I enjoyed seeing the special bond between her and the seven mischievous goats. They were adorable and reminded me of one of my own goats, Millie. She’s such a troublemaker, but you can’t help but love her.

Caspian was an upstanding and honorable guy who I enjoyed getting to know. His aversion to getting dirty was funny yet relatable. There was an instant spark between him and Sophia that had me rooting for them.

This story was a breath of fresh air that left a big smile on my face. I recommend it to fans of sweet and swoony fairytale retellings. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

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

FOUR STARS