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Author: Lynette Eason
Genre: Mystery/Suspense

A murdered partner. A missing brother. Will Isabelle's silence protect those she loves . . . or delay justice?

Police officer Isabelle St. John loves her crazy, loud, law-enforcement family. She knows they'll be there for her when things get tough. Like when her partner is murdered and she barely escapes with her own life.
Izzy is determined to discover exactly what happened, and her investigation sends her headfirst into a criminal organization, possibly with cops on the payroll--including someone from her own family. With her dead partner's brother Ryan, a handsome homicide detective, shadowing her every move, Izzy's head is spinning. How can she secure justice for her partner when doing so could mean sending someone she loves to prison? And how will she guard her heart when the man she's had a secret crush on for years won't leave her side?
Reviewer:

​Wow! This was so suspenseful. It had so many twist and turns. Full of drama, suspense but with having faith and trusting the person who loves you most, God.

Book provide courtesy of Baker Publishing.
Reviewer:

��'I can't explain everything right now. I really need you to keep quiet about anything you think you might have seen." 

This cryptic text message does nothing to assuage police officer Isabelle St. John's conscience as she faces the aftermath of her partner's unexpected murder during a stake-out gone bad. Determined to use every resource at her disposal to solve the case, Izzy is surrounded by clues that mange to evaporate quickly; in spite of her undivided attention, the help of her law enforcement infused family and the detective skills of the victim's brother ; long-time friend Ryan Marshall, whose handsome aura might provide a welcome distraction. 

When the stakes are raised and Izzy's life is violently compromised, it becomes quite clear that someone has betrayed their "oath of honor". 

What a memorable beginning to a new series; heralding the author's well respected skills at writing adrenaline laced suspense, while also managing to dig a little deeper into character development, making "Oath of Honor" a unique blend of character and story! Very nicely done!

My thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy. The opinions stated are entirely my own.

Book provide courtesy of Baker Publishing. Reviewer:

As part of a large law-enforcement family, Izzy St.John is somewhat used to an unpredictable life. But when her dear friend and partner in the force is killed right in front of her, everything begins to unravel. As she investigates the murder alongside the deceased's brother, a complex plot is exposed involving hitmen, family members, a new mayor, and unexpectedly—romance. A little tricky to keep all the characters straight in the beginning, but the plot moves along at a good pace, and I thoroughly enjoyed the family dynamics and drama in this book.

Book provide courtesy of Baker Publishing.

Author: Melody Delgado
Genre: Children

Who wants to be stuck wearing a shaggy dog outfit or a chicken suit on television? Twelve-year-old aspiring singer, actress, Daisy De la Cruz, that’s who. She’ll do and wear just about anything to get ahead in the entertainment industry. But will all her embarrassing moments pay off and land her a spot in her arts magnet school’s coveted master class where she’ll be rubbing shoulders with top professionals in the entertainment industry? Or will 
she be doomed to play the role of an animal, vegetable or mineral forever? And along the way, will she have some important lessons to learn about her priorities? �� Reviewer:

I really enjoyed this story. About friendship that when you go through a rocky period how you work through it. Working through the negative. Great for middle students grade levels. 

Author: Jaime Jo Wright
Genre: Historical Fiction/Suspense 

​Kaine Prescott is no stranger to death. When her husband died two years ago, her pleas for further investigation into his suspicious demise fell on deaf ears. In desperate need of a fresh start, Kaine purchases an old house sight unseen in her grandfather's Wisconsin hometown. But one look at the eerie, abandoned house immediately leaves her questioning her rash decision. And  when the house's dark history comes back with a vengeance, Kaine is forced to face the terrifying realization she has nowhere left to hide.

A century earlier, the house on Foster Hill holds nothing but painful memories for Ivy Thorpe. When an unidentified woman is found dead on the property, Ivy is compelled to discover her identity. Ivy's search leads her into dangerous waters, resurrecting painful memories and forcing a reunion with the man who broke her heart. Can Ivy unravel the mystery and find a renewed hope before any other lives--including her own--are lost? Reviewer:

This is a fantastic read that interweaves the stories of Kaine (present day) and her ancestor Ivy (1906). The transition between eras was seamless. Their individual plights were suspenseful. Both Kaine and Ivy find faith, hope and comfort in the least likely place - in the words written by a murdered girl from 1906. Both women use their individual skills to help those in need. Ivy searches for clues to a murder and keeps a journal to give meaning, in words, to those who have died. Kaine helps abused women escape the clutches of evil. I look forward to reading more from Jaime Jo Wright.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Reviewer:

When I saw the cover of The House on Foster Hill I was intrigued. When I read what it was about I knew I had to read it. I was not disappointed. This book was incredibly hard to put down. It was a rollercoaster of emotion, danger and intrigue right from the get go. Where it finally led left me gobsmacked. I was not expecting what happened and I can't tell you because that would spoil the whole book. 

If you like mysteries, this is definitely a book you want to put on your list. It is a combination of historical and contemporary fiction because both major characters, Ivy and Kaine, are working centuries apart to solve the same mystery. Both women are strong characters. One (Ivy) is trapped in the past, by the death of her brother. Her compassion for the lost and the dead gets her into a lot of trouble. Kaine, has great compassion as well, for hurting and abused women. But rather than going out to look for trouble, it seems to follow her. Both women are separated by a hundred years yet their lives are remarkably entwined. 

The author has done a marvelous job of keeping me guessing and keeping me up late at night too! Like I said, it was hard to put down. If you like mysteries and suspense (with a little bit of romance here and there) you will love this book!

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Reviewer: Kandace Perry

The cover - I was intrigued by the cover. The shadows and the winding staircase drew me and left me wondering what mystery was beyond the top step.

The House on Foster Hill is hauntingly beautiful. It is filled with heart-wrenching pain, dreams waiting to be fulfilled, broken spirits trying to be set free and through it all God was there in the midst of the darkness and the discovery of betrayal and brutality. Wright reminds us that God is with us when we think no one else is. He sends people into our lives at times we need it the most. God is present in the heartache and redeems us victoriously 

The House on Foster Hill is filled with secrets and stalkers, mystery and murder, darkness and despair and light and love. It holds you in suspense page after page until the final word is breathed.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Author: Valerie Fraser Luesse
Genre: Historical Fiction/Coming of Age

Isaac believed in luck. But from Pete's point of view, Isaac's luck had all run out.

When Pete McLean loses his father in the summer of 1962, his friend Isaac is one of the few people he can lean on. Though their worlds are as different as black and white, friendship knows no color. So when Isaac suddenly goes missing, Pete is  determined to find out what happened--no matter what it costs him. His quest will lead him into parts of town that he knows only through rumors and introduce him to a girl who will change his life. What they discover together will change the small Southern town of Glory, Alabama--forever.

With vivid descriptions, palpable atmosphere, and unforgettable characters, debut novelist Valerie Fraser Luesse breathes life into the rural South of the 1960s--a place where ordinary people struggle to find their footing in a social landscape that is shifting beneath their feet. Reviewer:

Grief is no respecter of person. Has a way of being more a pest then a warm reminder when closure has not been met. Pete had to learn this the hard way.

​We can be so cruel to one another based on our individually held beliefs.In the grand scheme of things beliefs are not 101% truth, however they give us power to act when we hold tight to them. The sad belief of another human beings complexion created differently,a dark chocolate versus a white chocolate perse is enough to stir up hate and evil. Isaac and the community he loved and work in faced this evil head on. Evil and hate can only be conquered one act of kindness at a time. 

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing.
Reviewer:

With a style of writing that brings to life a Southern town of glory, this author achieved many emotions in one book. Most of all was the laughter I experienced while watching Pete and Dovey grow close to one another, and Lila and John explore their different relationship. Then there was Geneva who literally had me choking back bursts of laughter. Talk about a woman who knows how to get her own way!! The beginning of the book pulled me in, especially the interaction with Pete and Isaac. There was some great dialogue between them on their fishing trip.

In some ways this book deserves a higher rating because the setting was well written, and I could picture everything so well. But sadly, I found the storyline somewhat disjointed. Time passed, but the way it was written, it was like you saw all that time passing when you really didn't. There also were quite a number of characters and it took me until the end to really distinguish between some of them. This may be my fault entirely because most of the characters were extremely unique.

The part with Isaac missing was different than I imagined. That initially wasn't a problem. It was more how the title gave the impression that him missing changed the story completely, when for a good chunk of the middle there was only a few passing conversations about his disappearance, and Pete missing him. Something didn't quite seemed tied together, although the ending of the book achieved more of what the title shows.

This is the sort of book that I believe many will enjoy despite my rating. It deals with segregation, Christianity, and emotions. There weren't deep Bible conversations, but a soft underlay of many of the characters attending church and serving in their church.

I can say that I definitely will look more by this author in the future, because she is an extremely talented writer.   
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Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing.

Did Jesus say you have to ask Him into your heart to be saved? Do I have to say the “sinner’s prayer��? Do I have to ask Jesus to take control of my life and accept Him as my Saviour? What does that even mean? What does it mean to “commit�� myself to the Lord? What are the steps involved to “being saved��? The church says you must first believe that Jesus is Lord. Then you must confess your sins and repent of them. Finally, you must ask Jesus into your heart or life to receive His Holy Spi...

In John 3:1-21, Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council (the Sanhedrin) came to Jesus at night. He didn’t approach him during the day when crowds of people surrounded him. He went at night, when people were sleeping and when it would be unlikely that anyone else on the council would know what he was doing.

This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him�� (John 3:2, N...

When reading the Bible do you ever notice certain word choices that make you say, “Why would they phrase it like that?�� I do. All the time. It sends me on Greek/Hebrew word searches for the actual meaning of the word. It forces me to read various translations, and I always end up reading commentaries to find out the “why�� behind my questions. The phrase that piqued my interest this month is found in Mark 1:23 and Luke 4:33.

Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit (Mark 1:...

Have you ever wondered why the people in Jesus�� hometown of Nazareth got so angry with him over a few little words?  He had just finished reading the following to them:

“The spirit of the L-rd GOD is upon me; because HaShem hath anointed me to bring good tidings unto the humble; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the eyes to them that are bound; To proclaim the year of HaShem’s good pleasure�� (Isaiah 61:1, 2, JPS).

Now here is t...

For the next few weeks I will be taking a step back from my computer and enjoying some vacation time. Monday Meditations will return soon! Have a blessed time with your family this summer!

Photo Credit: Susan Helmuth, Creation SwapI want to take you on a journey today of how events might have transpired after Jesus�� time in the wilderness. One of the things I like to do when reading the Gospels is to open them all up on