A Deep Divide by Kimberley Woodhouse

A Deep Divide
by Kimberley Woodhouse

ISBN-13: 9780764238000
Paperback: 332 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: October 5th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After being kidnapped as a child, heiress Emma Grace McMurray has seen firsthand the devastation that greed causes in the world, and she wants nothing to do with it--including her father's offering her hand in a business deal. She sneaks away to be a Harvey Girl at the El Tovar Grand Canyon Hotel, planning to stay hidden even if it means always looking over her shoulder.

Ray Watkins arrives at the hotel wanting to impress his successful businessman father so he can take on more of the family business and do something good with the profits.

Ray immediately admires Emma Grace, and though a friendship forms, she's afraid he's just like every other wealthy man she's known. Then art and jewels go missing from El Tovar and the nearby Hopi House, a mystery that pulls them in and stirs up their worst fears. When shocking revelations come to light, they'll have to question all they thought to be true.


My Review:
A Deep Divide is a Christian romance set in 1905 at the Grand Canyon. Emma ran away when her father auctioned her off as a way to merge businesses. She later discovers he was murdered that very night. She's afraid that the murderer will force her to marry him and then kill her. Ray was a self-centered, rich young man until he nearly killed a boy due to reckless driving. God changed him, and now he wants to use his wealth to help others...but his father has no intention of giving money away.

Historical details about what the Grand Canyon and the Harvey Girls were like at that time were woven into the story and brought the story to life. The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. Ray's kindness and humility slowly won Emma over to agree to spend time getting to know him. This included a hike into the canyon and time at the Hopi house. Emma and Ray shared interests and values and were a good personality match. Emma's also dealing with indications that someone has nearly found her, adding suspense.

Emma's attracted to the grace-giving God that Ray and her new friends at El Tovar believe in. She learned Bible verses to help her deal with her fear. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I recommend this enjoyable historical romance.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Redemption by Traci Hunter Abramson

Redemption
by Traci Hunter Abramson

ISBN-13: 9781524417529
Paperback: 314 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Released: September 20th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Gage Stewart has spent five years trying to overcome his past. Once an abused and troubled teenager, he has worked tirelessly to move beyond the fateful day he was manipulated into holding a group of teenagers hostage. Now, with a new identity and a college degree in criminal psychology, he accepts an unlikely job teaching others what to do during mass shootings.

At the hotel where his class is held, Gage is immediately drawn to Skyler Prescott, the daughter of the wealthy hotel owner. Gage and Skyler quickly discover a shared desire for normalcy, and their easy friendship soon develops into something more. A night out ends in horror when a gunman opens fire in the crowded venue, and it seems like the real killer wanted to make Gage the scapegoat for the shooting. Little do they know that the attack was little more than a publicity stunt to draw out the real target: presidential candidate Senator James Whitmore. Gage must now work with the very men who ended his own life of crime before it began—the Saint Squad.


My Review:
Redemption is a romantic suspense novel. This is the 11th book in a series, and it referred back to events in a previous book (I assume "Lockdown"). It can be read as a standalone, though.

The first part of the novel mainly developed the friendship, which grew into romance. Gage and Skyler felt comfortable with each other and had shared interests. Each withheld some information about themselves that would potentially change the relationship. When this information came out, Skyler just avoided Gage rather than asking why the people who clearly knew his past didn't seem concerned by it. Plus he'd already risked his life to save people during a shooting, so I'd have thought she'd question rather than completely reject him. Poor guy. Gage just wanted to create a new, useful life and was very likable. But Skyler just kept holding Gage to unclear-to-him standards, like asking her to spend time with him didn't count as a date. Maybe realistic, but I didn't like her as much because of it.

I also thought the father acted out of character at the end, and his reason didn't even justify his actions. Anyway, the romance quickly wrapped up after Gage told her what she'd already heard before. Maybe Gage looked more appealing after her father's unreasonable actions.

The shootings were suspenseful and provided Gage a chance to prove himself a hero. Gage and Skyler went to church with the Saint Squad a few times. There was no sex or bad language. I liked most of the story, but the ending (after the suspense was wrapped up) just didn't work for me.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Labyrinth of Lies by Irene Hannon

Labyrinth of Lies
by Irene Hannon

ISBN-13: 9780800736187
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: October 5th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When the daughter of a high-profile businessman disappears from an exclusive girls' boarding school, police detective Cate Reilly is tapped for an undercover assignment. It doesn't take her long to realize that beneath the veneer of polish and wealth, things are not as they seem at Ivy Hill Academy. But the biggest surprise of all? The only man she ever loved is also working at the school.

Zeke Sloan has never forgotten Cate, but now isn't the best time for their paths to cross again. When their two seemingly disparate agendas begin to intertwine--and startling connections emerge among the players--the danger escalates significantly. But who is the mastermind behind the elaborate ruse? And how far will they go?


My Review:
Labyrinth of Lies is a Christian romantic suspense novel. It's the second book in a new series, but it works as a stand-alone novel. The main characters were engaging, complex people who reacted realistically to events. I cared about what happened to them. The suspense was created by the increasing level of physical danger to Cate and Zeke. They shared information that each found when investigating their different cases. They both still loved each other, but Zeke had to explain why he'd chosen undercover work over marriage to Cate in the past and rebuild her trust in him. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable, exciting novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Clever Cub Gives Thanks to God by Bob Hartman

Clever Cub Gives Thanks to God
by Bob Hartman,
Steve Brown (Illustrations)

ISBN-13: 9780830781553
Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: David C Cook
Released: September 1st 2021

Source: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Clever Cub is a curious little bear who LOVES to cuddle up with the Bible and learn about God. Clever Cub wants to give thanks to God but doesn’t know how. So Mama Bear tells the story of Peter and John healing a man—a man who then gave thanks to God in a wonderful way! This engaging picture book tells the story of God's healing in Acts 3 and teaches children ages 3-6 the joy of showing gratitude to God.


My Review:
Clever Cub Gives Thanks to God is a Christian children's book is aimed at ages 3-6. It started with the mother thanking God for something good and teaching her cub to think about what he'd thank God for. She then told him the story from Acts 3:1-10 where Peter heals a lame beggar. The cub asked things like if the "temple gate called Beautiful" was in rainbow colors, and the illustrations showed what he's imagining. Still, the illustrations (while cartoon style) were fairly accurate in giving an idea of what things would have looked like. It's a fun way to teach this important lesson, and my 5-year-old niece enjoyed it. It's a bit wordy for my 2-year-old niece, though.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Miss Kopp Investigates by Amy Stewart

Miss Kopp Investigates
by Amy Stewart

ISBN-13: 9780358093114
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Mariner Books
Released: September 7th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Winter 1919: Norma is summoned home from France, Constance is called back from Washington, and Fleurette puts her own plans on hold as the sisters rally around their recently widowed sister-in-law and her children. How are four women going to support themselves?

A chance encounter offers Fleurette a solution: clandestine legal work for a former colleague of Constance’s. She becomes a “professional co-respondent,” posing as the “other woman” in divorce cases so that photographs can be entered as evidence to procure a divorce. While her late-night assignments are both exciting and lucrative, they put her on a collision course with her own family, who would never approve of such disreputable work. One client’s suspicious behavior leads Fleurette to uncover a much larger crime, putting her in the unlikely position of amateur detective.


My Review:
Miss Kopp Investigates is a historical novel set in 1919 in America. It's the seventh book in a series, but it works as a stand-alone. The Kopp sisters were real people, and Constance Kopp was New Jersey's first female deputy sheriff. However, the events in this book were largely fictional, loosely based off of snippets of family gossip or moved earlier than the actual date that they happened.

The beginning felt kind of forced: All three sisters were now used to living their own lives rather than acting as a family unit. Norma was always bossy, but she's outright cruel in how she demanded that everyone give up their dreams and follow her orders. I was shocked that they (initially, at least) did so. So not only are they grieving their brother's sudden death but the loss of their dream employment. Happily, the story ended with them finally recognizing what the "family business" really was and with each using her unique skills.

The author worked interesting historical details into the story. The characters reacted realistically to events, were interesting, and I cared about what happened to them. Some suspense came from family relationship tensions as well as the women trying to discover how their brother could have been so badly in debt and how to pay the debt. There were no sex scenes. There was a couple uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable story.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Mountain Fugitive by Lynette Eason

Mountain Fugitive
by Lynette Eason

ISBN-13: 9781335554567
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: September 28th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Out horseback riding, Dr. Katherine Gilroy accidentally stumbles into a deadly shoot-out and comes to US marshal Dominic O’Ryan’s aid. Now with Dominic injured and under her care, she’s determined to help him find her brother—the fugitive he believes murdered his partner. While Katherine’s sure her brother isn’t guilty, someone’s dead set on killing her and Dominic.


My Review:
Mountain Fugitive is a Christian romantic suspense novel. The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. Even though Katherine and Dominic initially didn't agree about the guilt of her brother, they respected each other and Dominic was willing to listen to the evidence. This respect for each other's honorable actions and character grew into more romantic feelings. They worked well together, using their different areas of knowledge and skills to survive while uncovering the truth. The suspense came from repeated attacks on Katherine and Dominic and from their hurry to find and save her brother, who was also in danger.

Katherine came from a broken home and longed for her father's love. She learned to rely on only herself (though she will ask for help when needed). The Christian element was about her wondering if Dominic's love would fill that longing but remembering how a friend told her that only God would not abandon her and could fill that lack of a father's love. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady by Sharon J. Mondragon

The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady
by Sharon J. Mondragon

ISBN-13: 9780825447020
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Released: September 21st 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Margaret, Rose, Jane, and Fran had a good thing going: meet every week in the quiet of their peaceful chapel and knit prayer shawls. No muss, just ministry. That is, until their pastor boots them out of the church in his last-ditch effort to revive the dwindling congregation.

Uptight Margaret isn't having it. Knitting prayer shawls where people can watch is the most ridiculous idea she's ever heard of, and she's heard plenty. Prayer belongs in the church, not out among the heathen masses. How are they supposed to knit holiness into these shawls if they're constantly distracted by the public? But with no choice, the others embrace the challenge. They pack their knitting bags and drag Margaret--grumbling the whole way--to the mall with them. She can't wait to prove them all wrong when it fails miserably, and show the pastor that she always knows best.

Without the familiar mold the group has been stuck in, their own losses, pain, and struggles rise to the surface. And the people and situations they encounter every time they try to sit quietly and knit are taking them a lot further out of their comfort zone than they ever imagined. Can they find the courage to tackle the increasing number of knotty issues they learn about in the community--or will the tangle be too much to unravel?

Sharon Mondragon's debut is warm and delightful, full of real laughter, grief, and personality. It beautifully illustrates the power of women across generations to reach people for Christ.


My Review:
The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady is Christian women's fiction. There were a number of view point characters, but we mainly followed the lives of Margaret, Rose, Jane, and Fran. They knit prayer shawls in a peaceful chapel, but it's being painted. The pastor challenged them to knit in a public place and bring God's influence into those spaces. Only, that's loud, messy, and involves getting personally involved with non-church people. It's a big change for all of them, but it ultimately brings healing to their lives as well as those they pray for while knitting.

The main characters were complex, likable people that reacted realistically to events. I could relate to their struggles even though they're not things I've personally dealt with. Even the knitting dragon lady (who likes being in control of everything) was likable since we know her thoughts and struggles behind her actions. God was very much at work in people's lives and in bringing about emotional and relational healing. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this enjoyable novel.


Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.