Heidi Reads...: October 2024

Monday, October 28, 2024

Review: Meddling with Mistletoe by Liz Johnson

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

About the Book

Whitney Garrett is preparing to enter culinary school in the spring, but first she has to sell enough homemade pies at the local Christmas markets to pay her tuition. When her oven breaks, Whitney asks Marie Sloan, proprietor of the Red Door Inn, if she can use the inn's kitchen to keep up with her orders. Marie agrees, with a Whitney has to watch the three Sloan children and cook breakfasts for the Red Door in return.

The inn is busy with holiday guests--including Aretha Franklin Sloan's perpetually single nephew Daniel and Ruby, a businesswoman in town to purchase Aretha's antiques store. Intent on making a Christmas match for the two, Aretha enlists Whitney's help in her schemes. But the deeper Whitney gets, the more she realizes that Ruby is definitely not the right woman for Daniel--and the more she thinks that she just might be his perfect match.

Cuddle up for some warm holiday cheer as New York Times bestselling author Liz Johnson explores the unforeseen consequences of meddling with mistletoe when love is on the line.

My Review

I loved the stories set at the Red Door Inn, so it was such a pleasure to return there for Whitney's story! She is at a crossroads in her life, feeling forced to choose a career that she can stick with, or let her parents down again, and no more safety net. I could sense how on edge she felt, working toward an end goal with things falling apart around her. Despite her circumstances, she is the sunshine providing contrast to Daniel's grumpiness. His character put off vibes of flatness and unhappiness, going through the motions, but still caring about his aunt enough to travel and help her sell her business. There are plenty of funny mishaps, but the best part of this book is the way Daniel blossomed around Whitney's light. They both gently challenged each other, and as Daniel learns to open his heart again, Whitney gains the courage to find and follow the dream authentic to her. A sweet holiday read with great romantic chemistry!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Don't miss the other books in the Prince Edward Island Dreams series . . .

Blog Tour, Author Interview & Giveaway: Terminal Danger by Jerusha Agen

Terminal Danger JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Terminal Danger by Jerusha Agen, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Terminal Danger
Series: Guardians Unleashed #5
Author: Jerusha Agen
Publisher: SDG Words, LLC
Release Date: October 24, 2024
Genre: Christian romantic suspense

This woman and her K-9 are being hunted.

Exactly as she planned.

When a busload of schoolchildren disappears, Phoenix Gray knows the kidnapper is the unidentified serial killer she’s spent her life trying to catch. This time, she’ll find the killer and bring him to justice no matter what it takes. She and her Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency join the search for the hostages, but they aren’t the only ones who want the criminal captured.

Callum Ross, an FBI agent who specializes in catching serial criminals, is about to resign. But not until he finds one last culprit, the killer behind a famous twenty-year-old crime Callum vowed to solve.

Despite the FBI agent’s uncanny understanding of her psyche, Phoenix refuses to be distracted from her goal. When the serial killer turns into the cat instead of the mouse, Phoenix thinks she’s ready. But will she need the God she rejected to achieve the justice she’s given her life to obtain?

Interview with Author Jerusha Agen

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’ve been writing and enjoying stories as a reader since I was a little girl, so I’m in my dream job as an author of Christian fiction. I’m a lifelong animal lover and am thankful to share my life with two very big, furry dogs and two little cats.

What do you do besides writing?

Writing is my full-time job, but when I’m not working (or engaged in pet care), I enjoy watching lots of movies, baking and eating delicious desserts, and longing for snowy winters.

What was your favorite part of researching for this book?

Since the bulk of Terminal Danger takes place in a U.S. National Park, I got to research national parks extensively. That was particularly fun because I encountered many gorgeous photos of the beautiful nature God created for us to enjoy. Nature is full of wonders and jaw-dropping beauty beyond my imagination!

I also learned facts I didn’t know before about the geological formations in some local national parks. A couple of these unique formations show up in Terminal Danger.

How do you find visual inspiration for your characters? Do you have images you can share that come close to how you picture your characters?

Sometimes, I write characters without any visual inspiration. But that can pose a challenge when I want a photo later to share with readers. Then, I have to try to find a photo of a real person who matches my visual image of the fictional character!

Phoenix Gray, the heroine of Terminal Danger, was particularly challenging to find a photo for. I actually spent years searching, off and on, for an image that could capture her with any accuracy. I’d nearly given up, but then this year, since the publication of Terminal Danger was at hand, I tried one last time.

At last, I finally found the image I had been looking for, the photo that came the closest to how I had envisioned Phoenix and described her in previous books. God provided the visual just when I needed it to share with readers!

Here’s the visual representation of the mysterious Phoenix Gray (which she would not want me sharing in public!):

What are some songs that you listened to or inspired you while writing your book?

I love to listen to movie soundtracks while I write. Nothing fuels my imagination as well as an appropriate film score. I often gravitate repeatedly toward one for each particular book because that score best gets me into the creative headspace I need to access for that story.

While writing Terminal Danger, I listened to the soundtrack of Inception by Hans Zimmer. I needed maximum intensity, suspense, twistiness, and emotional depth for this book, so the Inception score worked perfectly.

What message would you like readers to ultimately take away from the book?

I trust that God will meet readers in this book with the message He wants them to hear. But the message that I found most helpful from this story is God’s answer to the evil in this world.

I get overwhelmed by the suffering in this world, especially the suffering of children and other helpless victims. There’s so much of that in our own country right now. It’s hard to see why God allows such things to happen.

It often feels like evil is winning, like the bad guys are winning.

But God has a plan, and it includes His justice and His purpose being brought about, now and in the future.

Evil is not winning. In fact, God has already won! He is in complete control of ALL that happens. And He promises that He will bring about full and complete justice in the end.

There is so much encouragement in understanding and holding fast to that truth!

What can we look forward to coming from you in the future?

I am launching a new series in 2025! The Windy City Westons Series will begin in March with Waylaid, the first installment in a Christian romantic suspense series that follows the five Weston siblings in Chicago, where they encounter danger, love, and God.

Here’s the Waylaid teaser: Someone wants to kill her. She wants the killer to finish the job.

Waylaid is available for preorder now! https://amzn.to/3C3x324

More Books in This Series

About the Author

Jerusha Agen

Jerusha Agen imagines danger around every corner but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes romantic suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats, often while reading or watching movies.

Connect with Jerusha by visiting jerushaagen.com to find more of her thrilling, fear-fighting stories, follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback of Terminal Danger, a Terminal Danger mug, $25 Barnes and Noble gift card, Terminal Danger magnet, plus more swag!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 28, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 4, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Review: Sincerely Yours by Jane Kirkpatrick, Laurie Alice Eakes, Amanda Cabot, Ann Shorey

My rating: 2 stars / It was okay

About the Book

Four unexpected letters. Four intrepid women. Four lives changed forever.

In this collection of brand-new historical novellas from four outstanding storytellers, four young women find their lives altered after each receives a letter that sets her on a new path toward a changed life--and perhaps lifelong love. From a Hudson River steamboat to a lush drawing room, from a carousel carver's workshop to a remote and controversial hospital, readers will love being swept into the lives of four young women who are making their way in the world and finding love where they least expect it.

Moonlight Promise by Laurie Alice Eakes
Camilla Renfrew is a highborn English lady fleeing false accusations when she runs smack into love on a steamboat bound for the new Erie Canal. But can this unexpected attraction survive the treacherous journey?

Lessons in Love by Ann Shorey
Marigold Montgomery Bentley writes marriage advice for Kipler's Home Weekly even though she is single. Everyone assumes from the initials that "M. M." is a man. When the editor asks to meet Mr. Bentley, can Merrie come up with a ruse to keep her writing job?

One Little Word by Amanda Cabot
Lorraine Caldwell will lose her family fortune to a reckless cousin if she doesn't marry quickly. When she learns her long-lost brother is alive, she hopes she's found the answer to her problems. What she finds instead is a mysterious carousel carver who turns her life upside down.

A Saving Grace by Jane Kirkpatrick
Grace Hathaway must rescue a dear friend from a remote and notorious clinic that promises healing but delivers only heartache. In a place laced with deceit, where lives hang in the balance, whom can she trust to help her?

My Review

These gentle novellas were not quite my cup of tea. I normally enjoy historical romance, but I struggled connecting with the characters and finding interest in the stories. For some it was the deception or secrets, and others it was the odd or senseless choices they made, but overall it was difficult to relate to the characters and plot. I appreciated the historical accuracy and details that were woven into each story, and they covered a variety of settings and personalities.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Friday, October 25, 2024