The Protector: A Mifflin County Mystery (1) (Mifflin County Mysteries) by Wanda E. Brunstetter

The Protector: 

A Mifflin County Mystery (1) 

(Mifflin County Mysteries) 

 August 1, 2024

by Wanda E. Brunstetter (Author)

A Mysterious Disappearance Shakes an Amish Family's Faith

In book one of A Mifflin County Mystery series, after a night out with her boyfriend, Rosa Petersheim has disappeared from the Big Valley without a trace. Norman Petersheim always considered himself his sister's protector, and he can't believe she would have left home of her own accord. Clearly, he must have failed her. He throws all he has into helping the authorities search for Rosa, while trying to support his parents and siblings--who are struggling both mentally and physically. Salina Swarey loves Norman and hopes they are headed toward marriage, but his obsession with Rosa's whereabouts is driving them apart. Can Norman find peace and contentment, even if he never learns where Rosa has gone?

 

 Marilyn's thoughts:  Norman is a protector and blames himself for his sister’s disappearance,  while he’s questioning and searching for answers. The Protector is not the usual Amish story Brunstetter is known for. This one is filled with some depressing characters and continuous uneventful happenings. I wondered where there faith was as the Amish are to be known for? I was disappointed the twists and turns and tragic events did not bring a resolution but a cliff hanger.

 

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Barbour Publishing without any obligation to write a positive review. I have expressed my own thoughts.

Second Time Around: (Clean Childhood Crush Contemporary Romance Set in Oregon) by Melody Carlson

 

Second Time Around: 

(Clean Childhood Crush Contemporary Romance Set in Oregon) 

March 7, 2023

by Melody Carlson (Author)

Who doesn't love a second chance?

When empty nester Mallory Farrell inherits her grandmother's run-down tourist shop in Seaport, Oregon, it seems the only sensible thing to do is to sell it. But when her former secret crush, Grayson Matthews, wants to buy the property in order to complete his plans to redevelop the funky town's business district into a soulless, cookie-cutter outdoor mall, Mallory digs in her heels and decides to renovate the property herself.

With a lot of hard work and a little bit of help, Mallory makes incredible progress turning the store into an eclectic home décor shop called Romancing the Home--all while trying to ignore the depressing and decrepit apartment she's living in on the second floor. When the shop catches the eye of a popular renovation TV show producer, Mallory is thrilled--until it becomes clear that her apartment is to be part of the segment as well.

She's tempted to abandon her dreams and the town under a cloud of shame. But perhaps there's more to Grayson than meets the eye. Can he swallow his pride, change his plans, and help Mallory romance her own home--and possibly her life?

My thoughts: second time around is a cute romantic women's fiction/ROMANCE. The heroine is definitely a strong woman, a self-starter, and not afraid of the unknown. I have to admire her courage and gumption.  I also loved the second chance romance that evolved.  This was a really good story, and I really enjoyed it. I was given a copy free, and all opinions are my own.

Flashover (Chasing Fire: Montana) by Megan Besing, Susan May Warren, Lisa Phillips

 

Flashover 

(Chasing Fire: Montana) 

June 10, 2024

by Megan Besing (Author), Susan May Warren (Author), Lisa Phillips (Author)

SECRETS. BETRAYAL. SACRIFICE.
THIS TIME, THEY'RE NOT JUST FIGHTING FIRE.

An original series created by bestselling authors Susan May Warren and Lisa Phillips.

She never expected her second chance to show up…

When her special ops brother was killed, Sophie Lamb left everything—and everyone—behind to start over. Now the owner of a ranch that rescues neglected horses, they’ve become her entire life. And sure, she’s still haunted by the death of her brother, but she doesn’t have time to miss those she’s lost—including her high school crush, Houston James, who she absolutely never thinks about. Okay, almost never.

In the middle of a wildfire….

Houston James can’t catch a break. Sure, he survived a house fire, and became a youth pastor, but a recent false accusation in ministry has sent him into a summer fighting fires. The last thing he expects is to find the girl he can’t forget…

When the blazing Montana wildfire threatens her ranch, Sophie refuses to abandon her rescued animals. But the last person she expects to show up and demand her evacuation is of course, Houston James.

Then her prized stallion goes missing, and she and Houston must work together to track him down before the fire catches up to them. And when they stumble upon a shocking discovery, they are forced to work together, and confront their heartbreaking past, if they hope to survive.

In this relentless fight against external threats and the ghosts of their pasts, Houston and Sophie stand on the brink of a second chance. But the fight isn’t over when the threat she left behind finds her…now, what will her second chance at love cost her?

Don't miss out on this gripping tale of survival and redemption in the heart-pounding second installment of the Chasing Fire: Montana series.

Chasing Fire: Montana
Book 1: Flashpoint
Book 2: Flashover
Book 3: Flashback
Book 4: Firestorm
Book 5: Fireline
Book 6: Fireproof

My thoughts: Flashover is an action-packed story set in Montana and involving a lot of fire, drama, action, and romance.   Not to mention suspense. I enjoyed this story, and I am looking forward to the rest of the books in this series. I had to keep reading to find out who done it and why and who it was they found. My heart broke was a change for the teenagers and their guardians or parents. And I was rooting for both the hero and the heroine. You will definitely want to read this book. I bought a copy, and I was not required to write a review.

Most Likely to Die (True Crime Junkies) by Christy Barritt

Most Likely to Die 

(True Crime Junkies) 

June 25, 2024

by Christy Barritt (Author)

When a plane goes down in the Alaskan wilderness, so does the senator onboard . . .

With voting for the proposed oil drilling project only days away, former defense attorney Andi Slade knows what happened to the senator was no accident. It was a calculated and ruthless attack by Victor Goodman, the man who ruined Andi’s reputation and career.

As Andi and her friends, members of The Round Table podcast, join forces to put an end to Victor’s destruction once and for all, the stakes rise to a new level.

The team has had their share of differences in the past, but they can all agree on one thing: justice comes with a price. As they fight for their lives in a killer’s twisted game, one question remains . . . who will be the most likely to die?

My thoughts: Most Likely to Die is the final book in this series and all questions are answered. I am sad to see this series finished and hope that someday Ms Barritt will be inspired to write more with these characters, fascinating plot lines, and Alaskan setting.  In the meantime, I have books to read that I haven't finished in the series yet so I will be going back to catch up.  I was given a copy free, and all opinions are my own.

One Hit Blunder (The Worst Detective Ever) by Christy Barritt

 

One Hit Blunder 

(The Worst Detective Ever) 

December 21, 2023

by Christy Barritt (Author)

When the ending of Joey’s upcoming movie leaves her unsettled, she’s determined to rewrite the script.

Actress Joey Darling has a new role. She’s starring as one-hit wonder Emma Jean Gibbons in an upcoming biopic. But the more she learns about the singer, the more Joey suspects Emma Jean’s death wasn’t as accidental as everyone thinks.

Joey sets out to uncover the truth. As the evidence piles up, she’s more convinced than ever that her gut feeling is correct. But the deeper she digs, the more Joey realizes she’s one blunder away from also facing an “accidental” death.

Will Joey manage to rewrite the script? Or will danger derail her movie . . . and her life?

My thoughts: One Hit Blunder is the most recent book in this funny cozy mystery series.  This is my oldest daughter's favorite series by this author, and I like it too. An accidental detective who doesn't have a clue what she's doing other than she used to play one on TV.  It was laugh out loud funny at times and other times you just knew a bad thing was going to happen. There is some creepiness in this story but all in all it was really good. If you haven't read the rest of the books in this series, you will want to. I was given a copy free and all opinions on my own.

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall #devotional by Becky Van Vleet

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. James 1:23-24 NIV 

A few years ago, my extended family members walked through the white clapboard bungalow house in southern Indiana, for the last time, which belonged to my maternal grandparents. Although saddened, I knew this day would come. My grandparents had lived long and fruitful lives, raising nine children during the Great Depression. Their walk with the Lord spoke volumes of their faith and was not lost on any of us. 

After the treasured house was torn down so the property could be used for other purposes, my aunt blessed me with one of the items she had taken from her parents’ home—a tall black-framed mirror. Even though the mirror was splotchy and hazy with age, I was elated to hang this mirror in my own home. Fond memories floated through my mind as I recalled my childhood visits looking at this mirror which mounted regally by the front door. My aunt shared with me that in her growing up years, this mirror was the only one in the house for all eleven to use at any given time, sometimes necessitating lining up for turns.

When was the last time you looked in a mirror? Probably today, and maybe even multiple times. We must get that smeared jam wiped off our cheek and check our smile after we brush our teeth, not to mention we humans are known for vanity and focusing on the superficial anyway.

But do we see ourselves first and foremost as children of God when we look in our mirrors? Just as a mirror reflects what we look like on the outside, our spiritual mirrors, God’s Word, reflects what we look like on the inside. The Bible serves as a mirror into our souls.

Our physical mirrors may send us dashing back to the closet to change our clothes at the last minute. But God’s Word can also reflect something about our lives that we’re not wearing well. Something might be out of place, and we prayerfully need to take action to make a change. Are wearing just the right amount of forgiveness? What about our clothes of love and gratitude?

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the most spiritually mature of them all? Oh, Lord, help us to listen and be doers of your Word, never forgetting what we look like.

Becky Van Vleet is a retired teacher and principal and award-winning multi-genre author. She has been published in Guideposts, The Country Register, and Christian Devotions Ministry. Her children’s picture books are the recipients of the 2020 Excellence in Editing award as well as the Purple Dragonfly award in 2020 and 2021. She and her husband make their home close to Colorado Springs where she enjoys gardening, hiking, oil painting, power walking, and spending time with her family, especially reading books to her grandchildren.

Becky is the author of Unintended Hero, a true story about her father’s battles, experiences, and adventures in WWII aboard the USS Denver. She is passionate about sharing the values from the Greatest Generation and enjoys speaking to high school classes about patriotism.

A member of ACFW and Allauthor, Becky has devoted her website to creating and preserving family memories and sharing family stories for the next generations through her monthly blogs. 

You can find her at: https://beckyvanvleet.com. She would love to hear from you, especially if you have a family story to share!

 

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