Early Review: Across the Blue by Carrie Turansky

Blurb (from Amazon):

Set in Edwardian England and ideal for readers who enjoy Julie Klassen novels, this romance about an English aviation pioneer and the girl who falls in love with him is filled with adventure and faith.
Isabella Grayson, the eldest daughter of a wealthy, English newspaper magnate, longs to become a journalist, but her parents don't approve. They want her to marry well and help them gain a higher standing in society. After she writes an anonymous letter to the editor that impresses her father, her parents reluctantly agree she can write a series of articles about aviation and the race to fly across the English Channel, but only if she promises to accept a marriage proposal within the year. When James Drake, an aspiring aviator, crashes his flying machine at the Grayson's new estate, Bella is intrigued. James is determined to be the first to fly across the Channel and win the prize Mr. Grayson's newspaper is offering. He hopes it will help him secure a government contract to build airplanes and redeem a terrible family secret. James wants to win Bella's heart, but his background and lack of social standing make it unlikely her parents would approve. If he fails to achieve his dream, how will he win the love and respect he is seeking? Will Bella's faith and support help him find the strength and courage he needs when unexpected events turn their world upside down

My Review:

Across the Blue is a fabulous upcoming release by Carrie Turansky. I enjoyed this Edwardian England era novel. I loved the historical details. The author obviously did her research. Isabella Grayson is a wonderful, strong, and admirable character. I felt like I was right with her throughout the story. And ahhhh, James Grant. Love love love the scenes with Bella and James together.

A great, clean and sweet historical. I would highly recommend this book. Definitely a well deserved 5 stars.

I received this book from Blogging for Books. This book is 100% my own honest opinion.



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Blog Tour: Blurb Blitz: The Accident by Glen Ebisch

The Accident

by Glen Ebisch

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GENRE:   Mystery

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BLURB:

Karen Walker is an ex-homicide detective slowly recovering from the trauma of an automobile accident in which she was injured and her husband was killed when a drunk driver struck the car she was operating. After a year of surgeries and attempts to come to terms with her feelings of guilt, she finds herself living the narrow life of a semi-recluse.

Her seclusion comes to an end when an old friend from college, Clarissa Hammett, asks Karen to help in the search for her missing sister, Justine.  Karen agrees, and she goes to live alone in the family’s summer home on the coast of southern Maine, which Justine was occupying at the time of her disappearance.  Karen even goes one step further and takes on Justine’s job as hostess in a local restaurant, hoping to learn more about the missing woman’s life from her co-workers.

Conversations with the sister’s estranged husband, her present boyfriend, and a mentally disturbed young girl on the beach, lead Karen to believe that Justine’s disappearance was not voluntary and that, if still alive, she may desperately need help.

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EXCERPT:

“I heard about what you did to Sam,” she said.

“I didn’t do anything to Sam.”

“You got him involved in your half-assed investigation into Justine’s disappearance and got him hurt. You didn’t think I’d find out so soon, but you forget, I have contacts everywhere in town. Anything that happens, I know about.”

“Sam offered to help me. I didn’t force him to do it.”

“No, you didn’t force him, but you acted nice to him, knowing that Sam was the kind of guy who would always help a woman in distress. He got involved with you the same way he hooked up with Justine because you both needed help. You knew that and took advantage of him.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I have been a professor of philosophy for over thirty years. Most recently I retired from teaching at a small university in western Massachusetts.  For much of that time I have also written mystery and suspense fiction, starting with books for young adults and moving on to writing for adults.  I have had twenty-eight books published, fifteen of them in the last fifteen years as time has allowed me to write more. All are cozy in nature and suitable for any reader.

I live in western Massachusetts with my wife.  My hobbies include reading (of course) and going to the gym.  We also look forward to traveling to Maine and Cape May, New Jersey for our needed dose of the beach.

 

Buy links:

https://www.amazon.com/Accident-Glen-Ebisch-ebook/dp/B073PF388W/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1500643090&sr=8-5&keywords=glen+ebisch

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-accident-glen-ebisch/1126686544?ean=9781911266617

Web site:

www.glenebisch.com

https://www.facebook.com/glen.ebisch

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1001656.Glen_Ebisch

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GIVEAWAY:

Glen Ebisch will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better chances of winning!

October 16: It's Raining BooksOctober 17: Must Read FasterOctober 18: The Reading AddictOctober 19: Drink Coffee and read booksOctober 20: Laurie's Thoughts and ReviewsOctober 23: The Avid ReaderOctober 24: Stormy Nights Reviewing and Bloggin'October 25: Locks, Hooks and BooksOctober 26: Fabulous and BrunetteOctober 27: Long and Short Reviews

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Book Blast: 7th Grade Revolution by Liana Gardner

   

  7th Grade Revolution by Liana Gardner 

WHEN UNEARTHING A NATIONAL TREASURE BECOMES A NATIONAL INCIDENT   Dennis Alexander: Washington Academy Middle School promises to be another in the long line of boring schools he has been expelled from.   Rhonda Snodgrass: Although trained from childhood in survival tactics, she tries to stay off the radar of the “cool” kids who think she’s weird.   7th grade turns out to be anything but normal when teachers announce the students’ bloodless revolution succeeded and they are now in charge. After conducting a secret-ballot vote on policy, the 7th graders emerge to find the school evacuated and the FBI lurking outside with the task of unearthing a treasure of national importance.   The students’ mission is clear—discover the treasure before the FBI locks down the building. Dennis and Rhonda lead the revolt and must work together to follow century-old clues left by a crazy Revolutionary War buff.   To stay one step ahead of the FBI, they must delve into history and amass an arsenal to defend their school … because this is WAR!

   

Praise for 7th Grade Revolution “… a thrilling and engrossing ride through past and present based on real events in North Carolina. Trust me, you won’t want to put it down.” ~Tracy Riva, Midwest Book Review “… a stunning new Middle Grade novel that is part historical fiction, part action adventure mystery, and all around fun. Featuring a cast of wacky, interesting kids I was hooked on page one and enjoyed every twist and turn of the creative plot. Gardner is a writer to watch.” ~Dan Elish, Award-Winning Author of BORN TOO SHORT: The Confessions of an Eighth-Grade Basket Case “… an exciting, smartly written book filled with adventure, intrigue, and history in a modern school setting. Luke Spooner’s accompanying art is simply spot on.” ~Mercedes M. Yardley, Bram Stoker Award-Winning Author of Little Dead Red “… the book held me captive from beginning to end. You captured the middle school mind perfectly, showing their insecurities as well as the amazing strength that is just below the surface. Bravo!” ~ Karen Rectanus, Exploris Middle School

   

Excerpt 

As the FBI took their first steps toward the school, Dennis held his arm out. “Steady.” After about five steps, he lit a rag hanging out of the first cocktail, let the flame grow and lobbed it over the rail, away from the FBI agents, but close enough to catch their attention. He raised his head over the banister and watched as the bottle exploded into a fireball. The FBI agents jumped and rolled away from the bomb. Dennis didn’t see them being thrown, but following his cocktail, a handful of garbage bombs sailed through the air, exploding in flight. The garbage spewed, and a banana peel and what looked like eggshells splattered the biggest bureau member and the goop slid down his face. Dennis snickered. Banana-peel-head reached for his radio. “We’re under attack. Request revised orders stat.” So the big guy was Gravel-man. One of the pumpkins blew, adding pumpkin seeds and the rest of the pumpkin brains to the garbage already covering him. The stem and part of the pumpkin top twirled through the air toward Gravel-man’s head. He ducked to keep it from hitting him. Dennis’s crew waited for his signal. The plan involved waiting to see how the FBI handled the first strike. Their crews had ammo, but not for long. If the FBI started to move in again, Rhonda would pelt out a few more garbage bombs, and if they kept coming his crew would launch more firebombs. The FBI backed off, waiting on orders, and he ducked when an agent pulled out binoculars to scan the building. * * * Rhonda flattened against the wall to hide from the binoculars. That—was—awesome. What was the penalty for sliming an FBI agent? She pressed a hand over her mouth to keep a giggle from coming out. The surprise on Gravel-man’s face when the garbage had hit him followed by the pumpkin exploding—priceless. The agents had retreated out of bomb range to get additional orders.

   

  Author Liana Gardner Liana Gardner is the two-time teen choice award-winning author of the Misfit McCabe series. Daughter of a rocket scientist and an artist, Liana Gardner combines the traits of both into a quirky yet pragmatic writer and in everything sees the story lurking beneath the surface. Born in Seattle, WA and raised in southern California, Liana is definitely a west coast girl, but loves to travel. She fostered her love of writing after reading Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women and discovering she had a great deal in common with the character Jo. The making up of stories, dramatic feelings, and a quick temper were enough for her to know she and Jo would have been kindred spirits. Liana volunteers with high school students through the International Trade Education Programs (ITEP). ITEP unites business people and educators to prepare students for a meaningful place in the world of tomorrow. Working in partnership with industry and educators, ITEP helps young people “think globally and earn locally.”

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    $100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway Ends 11/12/17 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blast and Giveaway: Mine for a Day (Finding Love #8) by Delaney Cameron

   

  Mine for a Day by Delaney Cameron 

 Growing up in the shadow of three beautiful sisters isn’t easy when you’re average. Not that anyone in Violet’s family ever mentions it, but it’s pointed out to her again and again by everyone else. Guys don’t mind talking to her or hanging out with her, but she doesn’t make the cut as girlfriend material. She compensates for her lack of social life by staying busy. Holding down two jobs and working on her master’s degree is a decent enough smokescreen. What most people don’t realize is that her sensible, no-nonsense exterior hides the heart of a hopeless romantic. More than anything, Violet wants to love and to be loved. There was a time when Jackson looked forward to getting married and having a family, but all that ended his senior year of college. Because of the selfish actions of others, he had to walk away from someone he cared deeply about. Disillusioned and heartbroken, he resolved never to risk falling in love again. This means keeping his relationships short in length and light on commitment. As such, they never come close to touching his heart. This system works flawlessly until he meets Violet; someone who reminds him of what he used to be, and who makes him question whether he really is better off without love.

   

  Praise for the Book A "chance" meeting between Jackson and Violet leads them to a relationship that frees them from their hurting hearts and to a love that makes for a life worth living. Loved the line "The seemingly insignificant things are never unimportant, and chance meetings have little to do with chance." A most enjoyable romance from Delaney Cameron! Easily one of my favorite authors. I especially like how she shows the development of the relationship for our hero & heroine. A sweet, sweet romance. A beautiful story of unexpected love.

Excerpt

One minute Violet was listening to her newest audiobook; the next she was staring in horror at the busted grille and sagging bumper of a pearly-white Land Rover.

“I’m so sorry,” she said to the serious-looking man walking toward her. “I can’t think how it happened.”

“Can’t you?” his deep voice drawled. “Maybe I can help you figure it out. Were you texting your boyfriend?”

She couldn’t help smiling at his question. The fact that she didn’t have a boyfriend had been a popular topic over the Memorial Day weekend. If she hadn’t been aware of the direness of this situation before, she had no doubts about it now. “No, I wasn’t. Would you like to check my phone?”

He ignored her attempt at humor, choosing instead to inspect the damage to their respective vehicles. The situation reminded her of a show she’d seen recently where a dating expert illustrated different ways to meet men. Running into their car had been one of the more humorous examples. Violet couldn’t have executed this plan any better if she tried, nor could she complain about the result.

The man crouching next to her ten-year-old Fiat was tall enough to make even her feel short. That didn’t happen often when you were five-eleven. His striped polo shirt and jeans fit his wide shoulders and narrow hips like a glove. Costa sunglasses rested in his light brown hair, and his eyes were the color of polished steel. In the words of her Aunt Anita, he was the cat’s meow.

He rose to his feet, dusting off his hands. “This isn’t your first rodeo, is it?”

“Actually, it is. With the exception of today, the rest of those scratches and dents were there when I inherited Leonie.”

For the first time since he stepped out of his vehicle something close to humor entered his handsome face. “In other words, you probably won’t bother to have it, I mean Leonie, repaired.”

Her lips twitched at the correction. “That’s right. Shouldn’t we be calling the police?”

“I don’t think that’s necessary. I’ve got a friend who owns a body shop.”

She reached into her purse. “Let me give you my insurance information.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said, turning to walk away.

“But it’s my fault. I should have been paying attention.”

He stopped and glanced over his shoulder, an attractive grin forming on his lips. “I agree, but there’s no point in raising your insurance rates over what amounts to a fender bender. Just watch where you’re going from now on. The owner of the next car you back into might not be so distracted by that pretty smile of yours.”

Distracted by her pretty smile? Where had that come from? He’d gone from ice cold to oozing charm in ten seconds. Some people just couldn’t make up their minds.

After giving him a decent head start, Violet left the rest area. Her clean accident record was still intact, but only because of Mr. Wonderful’s kindness. If she hadn’t been so tired from three days of nonstop activity, she might not have done such a stupid thing.

From the moment she arrived at Millicent’s house in Chattanooga on Friday afternoon, she’d been swept up in all the activities of a reunion weekend with a few of her college friends. This included several late-night sessions where everyone provided details about the current man in their life. Violet’s contribution had been sadly lacking.

A quick glance at her phone confirmed that she wouldn’t roll into Columbus until almost ten. She would have been further along if she hadn’t stopped in Dalton. The sight of a Carter’s outlet store had been too much of atemptation to pass up. She’d spent a happy hour browsing the racks and shelves buying baby clothes for her nephew Micah and her friend Holly’s daughter Rebecca.

Hopefully Rachel remembered to feed Bluebell. Her best friend and roommate had become increasingly absentminded since she met Pierre, an exchange student from France. Not that Violet could blame her. If she hada guy whispering sweet nothings in French into her ear, she’d walk around with her head in the clouds, too.

A sigh escaped her lips. Her own Prince Charming didn’t seem to be in any hurry to make an appearance. Her dating life had gone from a dribble to a dry creek bed. She hadn’t given up on finding love, but she was starting to wonder if love had given up on her.

 

Author Delaney Cameron I'm a Georgia girl at heart if not by birth. I love to read, watch college football, and spend time with my husband. I'm a hopeless romantic so there will always be a happily ever after in my stories. I also like to write about second chances because love doesn't always work out the first time. My books are sweet romances set in both contemporary and regency settings featuring stories about the journey to love, from that first meeting to the point where two people know their hearts are no longer their own. My characters aren't perfect. They make mistakes and have faults like the rest of us. They learn the sometimes painful truth that the path to love isn't always smooth, but it's a road worth traveling.

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  $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway Ends 11/19/17 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Guest Post, Reivew and Giveaway: Devil in the Dust: The Wind Carries More Than One Kind of Evil by Cara Luecht

About the Book

Name of book: Devil in the Dust  
Author: Cara Luecht  
Genre: Historical Fiction  
Release Date: April 3, 2017

June 1933

Their small Oklahoma town is dying. Lillian remembers how acres and acres of wheat once waved under jewel-blue skies. Now the dirt stretches across the flat land as far as she can see. Emma’s husband is missing. She keeps house, keeps her five children fed as best as she can, and keeps smiling as her hope fades. But when the days stretch to weeks, she faces the possibility that he will never come home. Left with the likelihood of losing their farm, and the ever-present pangs of hunger, she is forced to consider opportunities that, under normal circumstances, she would never contemplated. Jessie, Emma’s oldest daughter, completes her tasks as if numb. Forced to wear her mother’s shoes to avoid the humiliation of bare feet, she watches the dead, dirt road for signs of life. And then he comes. His new car and shiny shoes and generous way with gifts and money catch Jessie’s eye, much to the dismay of her mother … and much to the concern of the minister’s wife, Lillian. He’s too smooth, too willing to help, and much too eager to spend time with a girl less than half his age. But who is to say he is not the miracle they all prayed for?

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

Award winning author, Cara Luecht, lives in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin with her husband, David, and their children. In addition to freelance writing and marketing, Cara works as an English Instructor for a local college. Cara graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Wisconsin and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Currently, Cara is studying for a Masters of Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Guest Post from Cara Luecht

Why I wrote Devil in the Dust. One Sunday after church, we decided to go to lunch with another family. We hadn’t had the opportunity to get to know this couple well, but the conversation was amazing, we laughed until we almost cried, and I’m pretty sure the restaurant manager was glad to see us go. On the way out, the topic grew more serious, and I mentioned something that worried me. It was maybe a sentence—I was not baring my soul—but the woman with whom we had spent the last couple of delightful hours stopped, blinked, and put up her wall-of-a-Christian-smile. In an instant, I knew I had been judged as negative. You see, for many Christians, the mantras of “the battle is already won,” “faith will get you through,” and the largely American “pick yourself up by your bootstraps” have drowned out the quieter mandate to care. I went home chased by the feeling that, somehow, I didn’t measure up. And for a time, I dredged that place of overthinking, attempting to float a reason out of that murky pond where insecurity hides. Of course, I came up with nothing, and decided to put my efforts into deciding what my next novel would be. Unfortunately (or fortunately), at this stage, every little life experience has potential for use. While I had been undecided on theme, I knew I wanted the setting for the novel to be in the dustbowl in the 1930s. I began researching, and I realized the scope and human impact of this disaster was much larger than I had remembered from history class. More importantly, it lasted an entire decade. For a decade, people dealt with hunger and drought and death from breathing in the ultra-fine soot. Children were lost. Families abandoned their farms. People survived on rations of canned government meat…and that’s when they were lucky. Many felt cursed. Life was hard. I imagine that smiles were rare, even in the church. I started thinking about what it would take for a community to survive devastation on this scale. I considered the kind of people who make up a town: merchants, teachers, police, farmers, and ministers. And while merchants and teachers, along with everyone else, would feel the change brought on by the slow death of a drought, for a minister it would be different. A minister’s purpose is to bring people the good news of the gospel. Technically, their job would stay exactly the same, except every phrase they spoke would shift in meaning because the context—the lives of those sitting in the pews—had changed so dramatically. Growing up as the child of a pastor, I have some knowledge about how a minister’s home works. And in all my research I was left with one question: How could a minister preach every Sunday to a congregation of people who had lost everything with no hope for improvement anytime soon? I moved my research to the Bible, and when I did, I came across the story of Lazarus. I have heard and read this story countless times, but in the light of trying to puzzle out what a pastor might do in a situation where it looks like all has been lost, I realized something about the story that I had never considered. Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he cried with Lazarus’ sisters. He shared in their grief even though he knew it would end. He stayed there with them in that moment of sorrow. I came to the conclusion that during times of suffering, our responsibility to others should look nothing like that drought-of-a-Christian-smile that I met outside that restaurant. Rather, it should emulate Jesus’ example. When we make Christianity only about victory, and turn faith into a wish book, we strip it of its most powerful message: hope. Not eternal hope, but the hope of not being alone. More often than not, we lack the ability to change someone’s circumstances. What we can do is come up alongside someone and help carry their burden even if only for a few minutes. Christianity is not a way to avoid suffering, it’s about finding meaning through the suffering. I wrote Devil in the Dust as an exploration of what it means to be a Christian while standing in the midst of a desert. Told through the voices of three women who endure the quiet shame of poverty, Devil in the Dust is a story about what happens to faith when everything goes wrong.

Blog Stops

Zerina Blossom’s Books, October 10

Reading Is My SuperPower, October 11

Connie’s History Classroom, October 11

The Fizzy Pop Collection, October 12

Genesis 5020, October 12

A Reader’s Brain, October 13

Blogging With Carol, October 14

Bukwurmzzz, October 15

A Baker’s Perspective, October 16

Books n Baubles, October 17

Inklings and notions, October 18

Mary Hake, October 19

Pause for Tales, October 20

Bigreadersite, October 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 21

Karen Sue Hadley, October 21

Daysong Reflections, October 22

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Cara is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card and signed copy of Devil in the Dust!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://promosimple.com/ps/c201

My Review

Devil in the Dust: The Wind Carries More Than One Kind of Evil is a great read. I enjoyed everything about this story, including the historical part involving the Dust Bowl. It is obvious that the author, Cara Luecht did her research to write this well written story. I am not aware of this time in history and found it quite interesting. She did a great job bringing a reader back in time to experience what it was like back then, living in 1930s Oklahoma. I felt like I was right there within those pages and feeling the turmoil and emotions the characters were going through.

Devil in the Dust is a beautiful and touching story of learning how to survive and moving on, keeping faith and inspiration. I look forward to reading more books by Cara Luecht in the future. I would give this book 4 stars and recommend it.

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Showing Off Saturday #5

Hello Everyone!

For my followers who are interested in my Locker Hooking projects, I'm starting a new series called "Showing Off Saturday" to share what I have been working on. 

So here goes

Showing Off Saturday #5.

Rainbow Rug / Table Cover

Check Out my Etsy shop! Click HERE!

Come back next Saturday to see what I will be sharing then. 

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Review: Blind Spot Chesapeake Valor #3) by Dani Pettrey

Blurb (from Amazon):

FBI agent Declan Grey is in the chase of his life--but isn't sure exactly what he's chasing after. Threatened by a terrorist that "the wrath is coming," Grey fears something horrible is about to be unleashed on American soil. When his investigation leads him to a closed immigrant community, he turns to Tanner Shaw to help him. She's sought justice for refugees and the hurting around the world, and if there's anyone who can help him, it's Tanner.

Tanner Shaw has joined the FBI as a crisis counselor . . . meaning she now has more opportunity to butt heads with Declan. But that tension also includes a spark she can't deny, and she's pretty sure Declan feels the same. But before anything can develop between them, they discover evidence of a terror cell--and soon are in a race against the clock to stop the coming "wrath" that could cost thousands their lives.

My Review:

Blind Spot is book three from Dani Pettrey's Chesapeake Valor series. I enjoyed Declan and Tanner's story. It is full of adventure, action and danger. The mystery and suspense kept me from wanting to put the book down.
I am so excited to find out they will be a book four in the Chesapeake Valor series. I cannot wait to find out what will happen next.
I most definitely highly recommend this book, as well as, the others in the series.
A well-deserved 5+ stars.
I received this book from the author. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

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