Review: Conspirancy of Silence by Ronie Kendig

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Four years after a tragic mission decimated his career and his team, Cole “Tox” Russell is persona non grata to the United States. And that’s fine—he just wants to be left alone. But when a dormant, centuries-old disease is unleashed at an archaeological dig where three Bronze-era censers are found, Tox is lured back into action. Partnered with an archaeologist and an FBI agent who’s an expert in deception, Tox and his team are pitted against a secret society, a plague dubbed the New Black Death, and a revered codex—which may hold the key to stopping the deadly outbreak.

My Review

Oh my! Conspiracy of Silence is full of intense, thrilling action with a suspenseful plot. The team members are loyal and have each other's backs, even with a harsh history of being caught in the middle of politics and lies. Mistrust and misinformation brings a tension to the scenes as Tox must work with agency contacts and intel that is being fed to him piecemeal and objectives are changed mid-mission. Tox is a strong and determined character with highly skilled training, but he also has his share of flaws and emotional vulnerabilities- which made him more easy to relate to. I loved Kasey's role as the deception expert, and her history of having an unrequited crush on Tox. She sees him differently than most, and has an innate sense for his real self under all the defenses (except when it comes to how he feels about her). Another great character in Tox's life is Chiji, a member Tox added to his team after spending time with his family while exiled in Nigeria. His calming influence was needed several times throughout the story as Tox's rage escalates. It's interesting how he can keep his cool in all sorts of crazy dangerous scenarios but when his loved ones are harmed, he comes a bit unglued. The Biblical history of the artifacts, Codex, and secret societies are fascinating, especially as they tie in to the present-day war for power. I definitely recommend reading the free e-book of the prequel novella, The Warrior's Seal, since it introduces the characters and gives details of the mission that is referred to several times in Conspiracy of Silence. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in The Tox Files and learning more about the team members!

Highly recommend to fans of H.B. Moore's Omar Zagouri series and Julie Coulter Bellon's Griffin Force series!

(I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher; all opinions in this review are my own)

Be sure to check out the FREE prequel novella in the Tox Files series, The Warrior's Seal

Synopsis

A Special Forces team is thrust into a war with the past to save the president after an artifact unleashes a deadly toxin.

Special Forces operative Cole "Tox" Russell and his team are tasked in a search-and-rescue--the U.S. president has been kidnapped during a goodwill tour. The mission nosedives when an ancient biblical artifact and a deadly toxin wipe out villages. Tox must stop the terrorists and the toxin to save the president.

Review: Paper Love by Aubrey Wynne

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Growing up in a Papua New Guinea mission, Joss Palmateer is a gentle soul with a unique view of life. Still adjusting to a new home in the U.S and the sudden loss of her mother, love is the last thing on her mind.

Sexy physical therapist, Ben Montgomery, meets his sister’s friend and the sparks fly. He takes it as a silent challenge when she ignores his advances, but it’s her extraordinary inner beauty that captures his heart.
With the help of a stray homing pigeon and an old origami legend, Ben sets an unwavering course of romance to win her love.

My Review

I found this story to be sweet and cute. I loved that it is based on a real-life couple and their relationship. Ben's popularity makes him come off as a flirt and a player, (which isn't my favorite) but when he finds what he's looking for in Joss, he is single-minded and determined to build a friendship and more with her. She is wary of men since her last boyfriend cheated on her, and really puts Ben in his place without being mean- just lets him know she's not interested in someone with his reputation. His sister is Joss's best friend and brings humor to the dialogue as she does her best to not get caught in the middle while still being loyal to both. She plays an important role in helping both Ben and Joss realize important things about each other and themselves. I liked the message of not letting a bad experience prevent you from living life, but to learn from it and give love another chance.

(I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher; all opinions in this review are my own)

Freebie Alert! Prejudice Meets Pride by Rachael Anderson

  Don't miss this fabulous freebie! Grab your copy of Prejudice Meets Pride by Rachael Anderson today!!

   
Prejudice Meets Pride by Rachael Anderson

After years of pinching pennies and struggling to get through art school, Emma Makie’s hard work finally pays off with the offer of a dream job. But when tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to make a cross-country move to Colorado Springs to take temporary custody of her two nieces. She has no money, no job prospects, and no idea how to be a mother to two little girls, but she isn’t about to let that stop her. Nor is she about to accept the help of Kevin Grantham, her handsome neighbor, who seems to think she’s incapable of doing anything on her own. Prejudice Meets Pride is the story of a guy who thinks he has it all figured out and a girl who isn't afraid to show him that he doesn't. It’s about learning what it means to trust, figuring out how to give and to take, and realizing that not everyone gets to pick the person they fall in love with. Sometimes, love picks them.  

Review: To Move the World by Regina Sirois

My rating: 5 stars/ It was amazing

Synopsis

Eve Brannon never had to bother planning out her future. In the Yorkshire dales where life is harder, it is also simpler. Next in line to inherit her family's farm, she will raise another generation of children and sheep high in the uplands of England. Waiting until next year when she is 19 to marry her father's handsome hired hand, Alan, is the detail she added herself.

But in 1939 even the most stalwart corners of the world are vibrating with the tremors of change. Eve's long-anticipated proposal comes on the wings of losing Alan to the Royal Army and at the brink of the farm's profitable war years the sheep herd is decimated by a mysterious illness. With her steady future suddenly in the clutches of a capricious fate, Eve is introduced to Jonathon Doran, a land manager anxious to prove himself in a crisis, and she discovers that the solid earth beneath her feet is moving after all.

My Review

The writing in this book is so lyrical and has a magical way of describing Eve's thoughts and feelings. It is a time of uncertainty not just in the world, but also in Eve's heart and mind, and the author perfectly captured the conflict and pulling of her heart in different directions as she is on the brink of stepping into adulthood. The setting of her English sheep farm and the details of her work there were vivid in my mind. I loved the outlet she had in her typewriter and the freedom of expression it brought her and enriched her life. Eve is full of contrasts, it's not surprising she finds herself wondering about the possibilities of her future. She is devoted to her father's farm, but regrets her missed opportunity to go to college. She is grounded and a dreamer, naive yet sassy, happy but grieving. Her emotions often burst off the page. It was quite an experience to read the beautiful and touching words and experiences and I felt myself relating to many of her thoughts and way of looking at the changing world.

(I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher; all opinions in this review are my own)