Wednesday, April 2, 2025

My Thoughts and More on Intentional Fires by Rebecca McLafferty

About the Book

Book: Intentional Fires (Book Two in the Sunrise Crik Series)

Author: Rebecca McLafferty

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release date: June 10, 2024

A widowed Christmas tree farm owner and her fiancé, a forest service special agent, deal with fires, thefts, and a 90-year family feud—stretching them to the snapping point.

After experiencing an attack, theft, and arson on the family Christmas tree farm, newly engaged Toni Stevens searches for those responsible, including disputed historic records. With two boys and a mother to support, the pressure is on her to increase profitability of the tree farm. Who is trying to ruin her? Can she put a stop to the generational feud?

Toni’s fiancé, U.S. Forest Service Special Agent Sam Duncan is hunting down a potential arsonist turned murderer. His rugged paths uncover Montana drug runners, feudal secrets—and a host of emotions that were buried alive.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Fire, murder, and an old neighbor feud fuel this story with plenty of suspense. In Montana widowed Toni Stevens still takes care of her family's Christmas tree farm along wither her mother and two sons. Her fiancé, Sam Duncan is a US Forest ranger that keeps an eye on the lay of the land, especially when fires rear their ugly heads.

All too soon their lives start to get a bit active when fires start popping up, a body is discovered, and people are intentionally getting hurt. Not only that, but a huge theft is taking place as well.

I found this story very interesting since I don't know a whole lot about tree farms. Being on the land and seeing through Toni's eyes her love and hard work that went into her land. The feud was also interesting. We get to see how it all started from the very start, as hints of the continuing saga are put into the story.

Will Sam be able to uncover all that is going on, or is the danger going to wipe out all he and Toni loves? An interesting thriller.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Wisconsin resident Rebecca McLafferty began her writing career by co-creating a writers’ group and hosting writing conferences on her alpaca farm. Married for 51 years, mother of two, grandmother to five, and an Aussiedoodle mom, Rebecca cherishes writing, reading, and fellowshipping. Author of Intentional Fires, Intentional Heirs, and Devotions for Country Living: Prayer-Enriched Fields, she loves getting to know readers

More from Rebecca

There is a saying, “Home is where the heart is.” Rebecca McLafferty totally agrees!

Rebecca is the author of the Sunrise Crik Series, which consists of action-packed romantic suspense novels set in current-day Montana. She and her husband have vacationed and explored the Livingston to Bozeman area where this series takes place. The town of Woodridge is fictious, but a number of area establishments mentioned within her stories are real.

The phrase “The Big Sky” was coined by Pulitzer Prize-winning author A.B. Guthrie in his 1947 novel of that name. In addition to the obvious vision of unobstructed sky, Big Sky Country—to Rebecca—represents big dreams and big faith. It symbolizes the backbone of Montana!

Are you wondering how Rebecca can authentically write about growing Christmas trees? It’s because she and her husband owned Country Memories Farm in Wisconsin where they raised alpacas, and planted and grew Christmas trees! She also operated Country Memories Mercantile (now downsized to an online store). Their love of educating others evolved into an operation that hosted school, family, and community events. That’s why she loves to interact personally with people from all walks of life!

And are you wondering how Rebecca knows about police department operations—even drug smugglers? She worked for a tourist-town’s police department—a fascinating place to get ideas!

Rebecca admits to having worked dozens of unusual jobs (great discussion material for another time). She wondered why she experienced such diverse occupations before God revealed to her that she needed authenticity for her novel writing. What she hasn’t experienced herself, she has visited or thoroughly researched.

The title, Intentional Fires implies forest fires. That’s obvious. But there are other types of fires that burn intentionally. Internal fires can sustain a 90-year feud and lifetimes of unforgiveness, resentment, and broken dreams. Do you suffer from an internal fire?

Whether you live in Montana or dream of visiting the west . . .
Whether you have an entrepreneurial spirit that wants you to succeed . . .
Whether you want to fall in love, rekindle your faith, or root for an underdog . . .

Come and experience the heartfelt struggles that Montanans fight with all their might to protect.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 22

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 23

Stories By Gina, March 24 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 24

Blossoms and Blessings, March 25 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, March 26

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, March 27 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 28

A Reader’s Brain, March 29 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 30

Guild Master, March 31

For Him and My Family, April 1

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 2 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, April 2

Holly’s Book Corner, April 3

Vicky Sluiter, April 4 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rebecca is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54181

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

My Thoughts and More on Forgotten Identity by Penny Zeller

About the Book

Book: Forgotten Identity

Author: Penny Zeller

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release date: January 14, 2024

Who is he really? And why is someone after him?

Mariah Holzman never imagined a whiteout blizzard would sever all communication from the outside world—communication desperately needed for the injured man Mariah finds near her home. Nor did she imagine helping nurse the man back to health would lead to threats and intimidation. As danger escalates and questions rise, Mariah is left to wonder what kind of person she has allowed into her home.

Grant MacGuire never imagined he would wake up one day in a strange cabin, surrounded by strange people, with no memory of who he is or how he was injured. Nor did he imagine his presence would put the lives of those who saved him in danger. As Grant struggles with distorted memories, he wonders if his life is worth the price the Holzman family is paying.

The growing attraction between Mariah and Grant is hindered by Grant’s unknown identity. Is Grant, as the family’s neighbor assumes, a criminal on the run from the law? Or is there more to his identity—and the reason he was attacked—than they realize?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This is a suspense, thriller that is downright creepy to me. Mainly because it just happens to an ordinary family just living their life. Living in the mountains with only one close set of neighbors, Mariah, her mother, and her two children are ready to ride out the blizzard that is barreling down on them. She knows this is going to cut off communication with the outside world for a while. Nevertheless, they have prepared as much as possible. That is, she thought so.

When her dog gets out and leads her to a very beaten man on the verge of death, Mariah just cannot leave him there. Nursing him at their home, during the blizzard, Mariah and her mother hope that when he wakes from his severe injuries that he can answer who he is and what happened to him. Unfortunately, when George awakes, (the name the children lovingly call him), he does not remember anything. Now what?

However, there are some rather rough looking people who keep knocking on their door looking for an injured man, for various reasons. Something out of a horror novel for me. I would have seriously been barricading my home and fortifying it. Anyway, the suspense amps up as every chapter ends. This is not a high chase one, this is a suspense with a family just living their everyday life and I think that is why it was so intense for me. Great read.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith-filled happily ever afters and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. Her books feature tender romance, steady doses of humor, and memorable characters that stay with you long after the last page.

While she has had a love for writing since childhood, Penny began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics. Today Penny is a multi-published author of over two dozen books and is also a fitness instructor, loves the outdoors, and is a flower gardening addict. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, hiking, kayaking, biking, birdwatching, reading, running, and playing volleyball.

Penny resides with her husband and two daughters in small-town America and loves to connect with her readers.

More from Penny

Hello, Reader!

Thank you so much for joining us for the Forgotten Identity blog tour. Enjoy the sneak peek into the book below.

Blessings,

Penny

Mariah bit back a sigh as they neared. While grateful Nosy stopped when he did, couldn’t the dog have chosen another place to investigate besides the ravine that could be deadly if someone mis-stepped and fell into it? At least the handful of boulders near its edge warned of the ravine’s proximity.

Nosy’s barking turned to a whine as he pawed at the snow.

No, not just the snow.

The snow covering a shoe protruding from behind a large boulder.

She reached for her son, Jordan, and slowed both of their paces even as her pulse quickened. Maybe the object just looked like a gray tennis shoe. Or maybe it was a shoe, but a discarded shoe Nosy found somewhere, brought home, and forgot about until now.

Still…

“Jordan, stay where you are, please.”

“Aww, Mom.” Despite his protest, Jordan did as she requested.

Mariah advanced. Better be safe than sorry, and on the one percent chance this wasn’t a shoe found, forgotten, and rediscovered by Nosy, Jordan did not need to see whatever, or whomever, was attached to the shoe.

“Mom?”

“Just a minute, Jordan.”

A few seconds later, she saw an image she’d not soon forget.

Partially obstructed by the boulders and surrounding dormant foliage, a man’s body lay face up in the snow, dangerously close to falling over the side of the ravine.