Weekend Briefing by Jes Drew

Weekend Briefing

Welcome back, agents. Today everyone with level one clearance is being briefed on the cover for the action/adventure YA romance of the Castaways Trilogy Book Three: Targets, as well as its publication date.

Castaways Book One: Castaways

A struggle to survive on a deserted island that might not be so deserted after all…

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Castaways Book Two: Fugitives

An unplanned trip through Europe… in a flight for their lives.  

To Purchase

And finally… Castaways Book Three: Targets

(warning level one agents- synopsis contains spoilers)

Emily Rogers has had enough excitement for one summer. But even with the Masters behind bars, the drama isn’t over. Now there’s a court case to look forward to, as well as unwanted fame, and a hostile reporter.

Then the ‘accidents’ begin. One by one, mysterious attacks begin affecting her, her family, and her friends. With Christopher by her side, she endeavors to find out whoever is behind the incidents. But will she be able to save those she loves most in time?

Coming June 1 to all major online booksellers!

Join us next week, agents, for the new cover reveal of The Ninja and Hunter Series, Book Three: The Time I Saved the World. And also check out our new headquarters at https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/580430-club-drewniverse. Until then, try not to do anything that might get you brain-wiped. Ciao!

Review: In Places Hidden by Tracie Peterson

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About:

In the early 1900s, Camri Coulter’s search for her missing brother, Caleb, leads her deep into the political corruption of San Francisco—and into the acquaintance of Irishman Patrick Murdock, who her brother helped clear of murder charges. As the two try to find Caleb, the stakes rise and threats loom. Will Patrick be able to protect Camri from danger?

My Thoughts:

It has been quite a while since I have read a Tracie Peterson book. In Places Hidden I was transported to 1900’s San Francisco where prejudice is alive and well and very corrupt men seem to have all the control. We are introduced to all three heroines of this series, Golden Gates Secrets, and at first I felt there was too much information given along with the book being a little slow in the beginning with what I would call mundane details. However, as the story progressed I was taken deeper into these character’s lives and the action and danger picked up along with the romance.

This is mainly the story of Camri, who has come to San Francisco to locate her missing brother. She lives with the unknown and unthinkable every day and it was painful for her. She was a bit prideful in her opinions of women, their education, and their lot in life. When she meets her companions Judith and Kenzie, she realizes they both have very differing views than she. Camri many times had to swallow her pride and apologized a lot after sticking her foot in her mouth without thinking, but I am glad that she did learn her lessons and her character growth in the story was for the better.

The love interest is poor Irishman Patrick, who was previously on trial for a murder that he did not commit and was helped by Camri’s brother and then they became good friends. Patrick has a bit of a stubborn streak and definitely does not care much for Camri’s opinion, but he does have a soft spot for her which begins to turn into deeper feelings. As he and Camri investigate the disappearance of her brother, neither know just how dangerous and how many lives will be affected.

This was a good novel that showed the rather seedy side of San Francisco when it seemed injustice ruled the city. What really stood out to me was the characters willingness to admit when they were wrong and to see all sides of the situation. I look forward to Judith and Kenzie’s stories as this series progresses.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this novel. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.  

Weekend Briefing by Jes Drew

Weekend Briefing

Welcome back, agents. Today we’re having a bit of a party, and Agent Doyle is joining us to tell us what we’re celebrating, how, and why.

Me: Agent Doyle, what are we celebrating today?

Agent Doyle (her face completely deadpan): Cinco de Mayo.

Me: Beyond that- what are we as an agency celebrating?

Agent Doyle (her face still completely deadpan): The re-release of The Ninja and Hunter Series Book Two: The Time I Saved a Damsel in Distress.

Me: Yes, and how are we celebrating?

Agent Doyle: Other than eating Mexican food- Chrissie’s favorite-

Me: Don’t let Agent Ninja hear you call her that.

Agent Doyle: I’m a certified genius. I’m not going to let that happen.

Me: Right…

Agent Doyle: Anyway, as I was saying, the agency is celebrating by offering The Ninja and Hunter Series Book One: The Time I Saved the Day free on Kindle for the weekend. I heartily recommend it- it’s like reading Chrissie’s diary, which is ironic considering how tight-lipped she is about herself when she’s wearing a mask.

Me: Yes, well, all agents should be careful about their secrets. And the agency’s. Most especially the agency’s… Anyway, can you tell us why we’re celebrating?

Agent Doyle: Yes. The re-release of the recovered Ninja and Hunter Series and the first time release of the Castaways Trilogy is part of a buildup that will bring us to big team-up of the Dystopian Takeover Trilogy, to be released serially starting in July.

Me: I understand you appear in that series?

Agent Doyle: Yes.

Me: Anything you can tell us about it?

Agent Doyle. Yes.

Me:…

Agent Doyle (realizing I expect her to elaborate): Well, it will be told from alternating first-person POVs of Emily and Chrissie, along with several third-person POVs, including yours truly. It will take all of us just to figure out such a comprehensive villainous plot.

Me (wondering why I didn’t invite someone more talkative, like Agent Tanner): Well, thank you for joining us, Agent Doyle.

See more Olivia Doyle in The Time I Saved the Day:

High school sophomore, Charisa O’Dell, has enough to do between homework, karate, and an upcoming school dance. However, when she is accidentally endowed with superhuman powers, she adds one more thing to the list: crime fighting. Crime is a lot more complicated than her comics make it seem, and she finds herself relying on the mysterious Villain Hunter, who somehow shares several of her superhuman powers. Even so, the more she infiltrates the world of crime, the more she attracts the attention of the criminals. Will she survive her attempt to save the day?

Download your free copy today!

Free to Download

And also The Time I Saved a Damsel in Distress:

When Charisa O’Dell goes to Washington D.C. on a field trip, she is reunited with her old crime fighting partner and is hired by a senator to rescue his kidnapped daughter. The kidnappers are professionals, and Charisa herself is a little out of practice (a lazy week can do that to you); however, Charisa knows what it’s like being kidnapped, so she’s willing to do whatever it takes to rescue the girl. But will it be enough to rescue a damsel in distress?

Now Available!

To Purchase

Join us next week, agents, for the cover reveal and publication date announcement of Castaways Book Three: Targets! Or join us at our new headquarters on Goodreads, Club Drewniverse at https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/580430-club-drewniverse. Until next time, don’t do anything that might get you brain-wiped. Ciao!

Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: Presumption and Partiality by Rebekah Jones

About the Book

Title: Presumption and Partiality

Author: Rebekah Jones

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction

Release Date: November 27, 2017

Among the cotton fields and farmland of Gilbert, Arizona in the early years of the Great Depression, Mr. and Mrs. Bailey live a simple, but happy life with their five daughters on a cotton farm. When the wealthy Richard Buchanan moves to town, bringing his family, a friend, and a desire to learn about cotton, Matilda Bailey is convinced that he is the perfect candidate to marry her eldest daughter, Alice.

Richard is cheerful, friendly, and likable. His friend Sidney Dennison doesn’t make such a good impression. Eloise Bailey decides he’s arrogant and self-conceited, but when Raymond Wolfe comes to town, accusing Sidney of dishonorable and treacherous conduct, Eloise is angered at the injustice of the situation.

When the Buchanan household leaves town, Alice must turn to the Lord and face, perhaps, her most difficult test in trust, while Eloise takes a trip to visit her friend and may well discover a web of deceit that she doesn’t really want to believe exists.

Click here to purchase your copy.

My Thoughts:

What an interesting twist to the well beloved story of Pride and Prejudice. In Presumption and Partiality we have a retelling that takes place in depression era Arizona. I found the locale and the time period to both be an exotic change to this already masterful story. I enjoyed reading this novel and picking out the Austen scenes and characters. The characters do have different names, and for just for a little awhile they threw me off.

My biggest surprise is that she made the Darcy character, Sidney Dennison to be part Native American. That just sealed the deal on my wanting to read this retelling. Christianity plays a big part in this story and faith is played out in the actions of the two older sisters as they help those less fortunate then themselves.

This is the fifth story in the Vintage Jane Austen series, and they are all by different authors. It was nice to revisit some beloved characters even if their times and names have changed. If you like Austen retellings this was a very unique one.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Why is he a Navajo?

I’ve had more than one person ask me why I chose to make Sidney Dennison, the “Mr. Darcy” of my novel Presumption and Partiality, a Navajo Indian.

When I commenced planning and research for placing a retelling of Pride and Prejudice in the 1930’s United States, I found myself drawn to the desert of Arizona rather early on. Specifically, the tiny farm town of Gilbert. I knew, however, that few rich people lived in that area; certainly not enough to create social rifts large enough to recreate the social differences of the original novel.

I experimented in my head with a few different ideas, but the idea of Sidney as a Native American came to me one day and just clicked. I knew that I couldn’t fully pull off a Navajo who lived on the reservations. As much as I researched, I couldn’t quite get the feel. Yet, a man whose ancestry included a white man as a grandfather, who lived outside the reservations, though with relatives who clung to some of the old traditions, I thought I could do.

I used to wish I were an Indian, in part because I wanted to have great tracking skills, live in a tee-pee, possess superb bow and arrow abilities, and I wanted to ride a horse. True, most of that did not enter a 1930’s novel, despite my Navajo cowboy, because the eras are different. Though, Sidney did get a horse. Or technically, several.

Further, something about the silent, good-looking Indian appealed to me, much as I tend to shy away from writing about handsome and beautiful people, since they feel so common in fiction. The minute I began imagining the man with his Navajo ancestry, he just felt perfect.

By the end, Sidney turned out to be one of my favorite characters. (I can’t ever pick just one in my novels.) I think I made a good choice and I hope my readers will agree!

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, April 24

red headed book lady, April 24

Reading Is My SuperPower, April 25

Seasons of Opportunities, April 25

Karen Sue Hadley, April 25

Just the Write Escape, April 26

Remembrancy, April 26

Two Points of Interest, April 27

Views from the Window Friend, April 27

margaret kazmierczak, April 27

Bibliophile Reviews, April 28

Inklings and notions, April 28

History, Mystery & Faith, April 29

Mary Hake, April 29

proud to be an autism mom, April 30

A Greater Yes, April 30

Fiction Aficionado, April 30

Among the Reads, May 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 1

Janices book reviews, May 2

Jeanette’s Thoughts, May 2

Carpe Diem, May 3

A Baker’s Perspective, May 3

Kaylee’s Kind Of Writes, May 4

With a Joyful Noise, May 4

Have A Wonderful Day, May 4

Pause for Tales, May 5

Simple Harvest Reads, May 5 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)

Artistic Nobody, May 6 (Spotlight)

Bigreadersite, May 6

Faery Tales Are Real, May 7

By The Book, May 7

Reader’s Cozy Corner, May 7

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rebekah is giving away a grand prize of the complete set of the Vintage Jane Austen Collection!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/cc8f

Review: My Heart Belongs in Glenwood Springs, Colorado: Millie's Resolve by Rebecca Jepson

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About the Book:

The serenity of Millie Cooper’s mountain hideaway in a town with healing springs is disrupted when her past collides with her present. In the wrenching aftermath, she faces caring for the expectant wife of the man she’d once loved—at the request of the man who’d kept them apart.

My Thoughts:

I have read all of the My Heart Belongs series, all written by different authors, so I was very interested in Millie’s Resolve, written by Rebecca Jepson- a new to me author. I was pleasantly surprised by this author’s ability to tell a rather riveting tale of lost love, new love, past and present colliding. I enjoyed it immensely. All the other stories were good, but something about this one made it my favorite. It may have simply been the storyline: affluent family does not want second son to marry poor girl. Big brother breaks them up. And now six years later everything comes to a head when the world becomes a bit smaller and everybody is reunited again. I will simply say that I really enjoyed the romance in this one; it carried me away from my everyday routine. I look forward to more of this new favorite author’s work.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. All views and opinions are my own.

Review and Giveaway: She Who Knows No Fear by Barbara Bras

About the Book

Title: She Who Knows No Fear

Author: Barbara Bras

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction

Release Date: December 8, 2017

Cassie’s dream is about to come true. She’s marrying her best friend, the love of her life.

She will never be alone again.

But when Zack fails to return from surfing, Cassie’s safe world comes crashing down around her and she begins her struggle anew.

Haunted by her conviction that her late grandmother left her something that will help her, Cassie discovers hidden “treasures” in the house she inherited.

With the help of her stepmother, Cassie unlocks the secrets of her grandmother’s journey and along the way finds the ultimate answer for her own life.

Click here to purchase your copy.

My Thoughts:

She Who Knows No Fear is the continuing story of Cassie and her family. Cassie is now an adult and a newlywed and she and her husband, Zack, are learning to make their lives together. Set in the beautiful Hawaii and taking place in the 1960’s, the author shows how Cassie is still grappling with fears of her future along with the secrets of the past she is unlocking. Cassie is a worrier, and her fears sometimes show up in her dreams and what she would call visions. There are incidents that happen that seem to almost push her worrying overboard, but I am glad that this grown-up Cassie is beginning to let go and trust.

I enjoyed seeing Cassie and Zack in their married life. I don’t believe Cassie’s fears were all that unusual, as I was reading I thought back to the time when I was a newlywed and had similar fears. I did feel for her as I thought others were being too overprotective of her, and if not careful could smother her dreams and do more harm. This is an overall interesting series.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

In 2015, Barbara Bras left her career to pursue her dream of serving God. She believed that her first step was to share the amazing story of God’s blessings in her life. Wrapped in God’s Grace, A Life Rediscovered does so through a trio of narratives. It begins with the story of her son’s miraculous adoption and the challenging years that followed, her grandparents’ remarkable survival in Armenia, and her own quest for purpose and love. Once written, Barbara realized her life’s new purpose. Captured by St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, she views her writing as a tribute to the God who comforts and strengthens us in hardships and trials, and as her mission to encourage others. Her first novel, She Who Knows, A Tale of the Heart, seeks to inspire and encourage. The sequel, She Who Knows No Fear: Another Tale of the Heart, released in December 2017. Solo Deo Gloria, To God Alone Be the Glory

Blog Spots

All-of-a-kind Mom, April 26

proud to be an autism mom, April 26

Reflections From My Bookshelves, April 27

Inklings and notions, April 28

Blogging With Carol, April 28

Bibliophile Reviews, April 29

A Greater Yes, April 29

Josephine’s Thoughts, April 30

Among the Reads, April 30

Maureen’s Musings, May 1

Texas Book-aholic, May 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 2

Janices book reviews, May 2

Jeanette’s Thoughts, May 3

Reading is my Super Power, May 3 (Interview)

Reader’s Cozy Corner, May 4

Pause for Tales, May 4

Kaylee’s Kind Of Writes, May 5

Carpe Diem, May 5

A Baker’s Perspective, May 6

margaret kazmierczak, May 6 (Interview)

Mary Hake, May 7

Simple Harvest Reads, May 7 (Guest Post from Mindy Houng)

Two Points of Interest, May 8

Bigreadersite, May 8

For the love of books, May 9

Artistic Nobody, May 9 (Spotlight)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Barbara is giving away a grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card plus a signed copy of She Who Knows and She Who Knows No Fear!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/ca74

Review: If I Live by Terri Blackstock

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About:

THE HUNT IS ALMOST OVER.

Casey Cox is still on the run after being indicted for murder. The hunt that began with her bloody footprints escalates, and she’s running out of places to hide. Her face is all over the news, and her disguises are no longer enough. It’s only a matter of time before someone recognizes her.

Dylan Roberts, the investigator who once hunted her, is now her only hope. Terrifying attempts on Dylan’s life could force Casey out of hiding. The clock is ticking on both their lives, but exposing the real killers is more complicated than they knew. 

Amassing the evidence to convict their enemies draws Dylan and Casey together, but their relationship has consequences. Will one life have to be sacrificed to protect the other?

With If I Live, Terri Blackstock takes us on one more heart-stopping chase in the sensational conclusion to the If I Run series.

My Thoughts:

WOW! This book was one adrenaline rush after another. It was intense, way more intense than the first two, if you can even believe that. It was a wonderful final installment. Gut wrenching and heart pounding. I was left on the edge of my seat, wondering if certain characters would make it out of these situations alive or... well, not alive.

The characters were all great. Except for the ones who weren't (*cough* Keegan), but I think that's how it was supposed to be.

I loved Dex, too, just felt I should say that because I loved him just too darn much.

My only problem I would say was that the romance felt just a little insta-lovey. Cause Dylan and Casey had barely any contact in the first two books and then suddenly they are in love with each other. But after waiting two books for them to get together, I didn't really care so that is a very minor issue, nothing at all to detract from the enjoyment of the story.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.