Amelia McNeilly

Pink Patriot - My desire is to share with you the journey God has me on. Whether in joy hardship, I hope that my blog offers a place of respite, and bring joy to your heart!

Articles, Books, Reading

Her One and Only Book Review

About the Book:

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Her One and Only (Bethany House, May 2016)

After ten years in the NFL, super star Gray Fowler is accustomed to obsessive fans.

But when Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, his team hires an executive protection agency to guard him until the culprit is caught. Dealing with bodyguards 24/7 is a headache, especially when one of them is a young, beautiful woman. How can a female half his size possibly protect him better than he can protect himself?

Dru Porter is a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt—none of which saved her from disaster on her last assignment. In order to rebuild her tarnished reputation, she’s determined to find Gray’s stalker and, since relationships between agents and clients are forbidden, avoid a romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past.

Yet every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they’ll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives—and their hearts—to one another. 

My Thoughts:

Wade’s fourth and final book in the Porter Family Series does not disappoint. It includes all the qualities Becky’s novels are known for – drama, humor, mystery, romance, and faith. I loved the back and forth banter of Dru and Gray, and enjoyed watching the progression of their relationship. Their relationship started out professional but turned personal, and I enjoyed learning each of their stories along the way. In my opinion this book was better than the last one, and it was a perfect way to close out the series. I am eagerly awaiting Wade’s next book. If her next one comes close to this one, it will not disappoint.
I was given this book by Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my review.
Purchase a copy: https://bit.ly/1NrA4cO

 To see what other reviewers are saying visit https://litfusegroup.com/author/bwade

About the Author:

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Becky Wade is a native of California who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and now lives in Dallas. A favorite among readers of Christian contemporary romance, Becky has won a Carol Award, an Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, and an INSPY Award.

 

Becky Wade’s ‘Her One and Only’ Porter Prize Pack and $100 Cash Card Giveaway

Meet Dru Porter, former Marine, expert markswoman, and black belt—who also happens to be assigned as a bodyguard to star NFL tight end Gray Fowler. Don’t miss the final Porter family novel by Becky Wade, Her One and Only. Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, and Dru is determined to find his stalker. Every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they’ll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives—and their hearts—to one another.

Join Becky in celebrating the release of Her One and Only by entering to win her Porter prize pack and $100 cash card giveaway!

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One grand prize winner will receive:

  • A copy of Her One and Only
  • A $100 cash card
  • Follow Your Heart tote bag
  • 24 oz Tervis Wonder Woman Tumbler
  • The Blind Side DVD
  • Necklace with star charm
  • Porter Family navy jersey
her one and only - prize collage 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on May 31st. The winner will be announced June 1st on the Litfuse blog.

her-one-and-only-enter

Articles, Books, Reading, Uncategorized

Traces of Guilt Book Review

218866About the Book:

She’s turning up the heat on Carin County’s cold cases . . .
Evie Blackwell loves her life as an Illinois State Police detective . . . mostly. She’s very skilled at investigations and has steadily moved up through the ranks. She would like to find Mr. Right, but she has a hard time imagining how marriage could work, considering the demands of her job.

Gabriel Thane grew up in Carin County and is now its sheriff, a job he loves. Gabe is committed to upholding the law and cares deeply for the residents he’s sworn to protect. He too would like to find a lifetime companion, a marriage like his parents have. . . .

When Evie arrives in Carin, Illinois, it’s to help launch a new task force focused on unsolved crimes across the state. She will work with the sheriff’s department on a couple of its most troubling missing-persons cases. As she studies old evidence to pull out a few tenuous new leads, she unearths surprising connections. One way or another, she knows Gabriel Thane and his family will be key to the answers she seeks.

My Thoughts:

Dee Henderson has been one of my favorite authors for years. While I don’t enjoy her newer books like I did some of her earlier ones, I still loved this new release. Traces of Guilt contained very intricate storylines  and it was very interesting to see how all the stories related throughout the book. Henderson definitely keeps the reader in suspense until the end which I appreciate. One quality that I like about all of her books is her ability to keep you intrigued. There were a large cast of characters in the story and a few of my favorite characters from her previous books made appearances and it was neat to see how all of their individual stories worked together. Gabriel and Evie had a nice connection as they worked together to solve cases, and I look forward to learning even more about them in future books. I am already excited for her next book. If you are a fan of a good mystery and of Dee Henderson, this book is a must read for you.

I was given this book by Netgalley and Bethany House Publishers in exchange for a review.

To purchase the book visit here.

About the Author:

Dee Henderson is the author of numerous novels, including Taken, Undetected, Unspoken, Full Disclosure, and the acclaimed O’Malley and Uncommon Heroes series. Her books have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards, such as the RITA Award, the Christy Award, and the ECPA Gold Medallion. Dee is a lifelong resident of Illinois. Learn more at www.deehenderson.com.

Articles, Books, Reading

Fading Starlight Book Review

About the Book:

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A Tale of Unexpected Friendship and Old Hollywood Glamour

Lauren Summers is hiding. Her fashion house internship should have launched her career, but a red carpet accident has left her blackballed. The only job she finds is unpaid, but comes with free lodging–a run-down cottage in the shadow of a cliff-side mansion. Unsure of what comes next, she’s surprised to be contacted by a reporter researching a reclusive former Hollywood ingénue who lives in the nearby mansion.

Kendall Joiner wants Lauren’s help uncovering the old woman’s secrets. In return, she’ll prove the red carpet accident was a publicity stunt so Lauren can regain her former job. With all her dreams in front of her, Lauren’s tempted by the offer, but as she and the old woman get to know each other, Lauren realizes nothing is quite as it seems.

 

My Thoughts:

This book is a delightful read by Kathryn Cushman. At the beginning you meet a fashion designer named Lauren whose internship with a major designer goes bad after a dress disaster at the VMAs. Following that, Lauren takes a position as costume designer for a school play, and moves into a rundown mansion while its being remodeled. In doing this she begins an unexpected journey with a reporter uncovering the mysterious past of Hollywood Starlet Charlotte Montgomery. In the process she learns more about herself and forms some unlikely friendships. The characters in this story were amusing, and the Hollywood history and the hint of romance kept me turning the pages. This will not be my last book by Cushman, and I am already looking forward to reading the next one she releases.

I was given this book by Netgalley and Bethany House in exchange for my review.

Purchase a copy of the book here: https://goo.gl/rk6tNc

About the Author:

Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy. She is the acclaimed author of over a half-dozen novels including Leaving Yesterday and A Promise to Remember, which were both finalists for the Carol Award in Women’s Fiction. Kathryn and her family make their home in California.

Learn more about Kathryn by visiting her website here.

 

Articles, Blog Series, Books, Reading

The Inheritance Book Review

About the book: 

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The Inheritance (Bethany House, April 2016)

The death of the clan patriarch has thrown the tiny Shetland Islands community of Whale’s Reef into turmoil.

Everyone assumed MacGregor Tulloch’s heir to be his grand-nephew David, a local favorite, but when it is discovered that MacGregor left no will, David’s grasping cousin Hardy submits his own claim to the inheritance, an estate that controls most of the island’s land. And while Hardy doesn’t enjoy much popular support, he has the backing of a shadowy group of North Sea oil investors. The courts have frozen the estate’s assets while the competing claims are investigated, leaving many of the residents in financial limbo. The future of the island-and its traditional way of life-hangs in the balance.

Loni Ford is enjoying her rising career in a large investment firm in Washington, DC. Yet in spite of her outward success, she is privately plagued by questions of identity. Orphaned as a young child, she was raised by her paternal grandparents, and while she loves them dearly, she feels completely detached from her roots. That is until a mysterious letter arrives from a Scottish solicitor. . . .

Past and present collide in master storyteller Phillips’s dramatic new saga of loss and discovery, of grasping and grace, and of the dreams of men and women everywhere.

My Thoughts:
Michael Phillips latest release “The Inheritance,” takes a reader on a journey to the Shetland Islands. Filled with a deep story and mystery this book will be a success. However, I was not as impressed with this read as I have been with his others. This was a very slow story to get into but the historical accuracy was great, and I look forward to the second book. If you are a fan of Michael Phillips and his style this book is for you. Not a fast read but an intriguing story line that will keep you turning the page. Be sure to add this one to your summer reading list, and I am interested to read the next installment.
I was given this book by Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my review.
Purchase a copy of the book:https://bit.ly/1QpMpIN

See what other reviewers are saying here:  https://litfusegroup.com/author/mphillips
About the author: 
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Michael Phillips is a bestselling author with more than 70 of his own titles. In addition, he has served as editor/redactor of nearly 30 more books. He is known as the man responsible for the reawakened interest in George MacDonald of the last 30 years. In addition to the MacDonald titles adapted/edited for today’s reader, his publishing efforts in bringing back full-length quality facsimile editions also spawned renewed interest in MacDonald’s original work. Michael and his wife, Judy, spend time each year in Scotland but make their home near Sacramento, California.

Articles, Books, Reading

Book Review of Hunting Hope by Nika Maples

About the book: 

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Hunting Hope: Dig Through the Darkness to Find the Light(April 2016, Worthy Inspired)

Hope is not an accident. Sometimes it has to be hunted, and hunting it takes courage.

Hope hunters know how to excavate hope from hardship. There is dirt underneath their fingernails and sweat on their shirts. They rake through the rubble of an unwanted situation, digging into difficult circumstances because they have come to expect that adversity will produce good. They believe that light always triumphs over darkness. They have learned to walk through winter with their eyes on spring.

Nika Maples became a hope hunter after suffering a massive brainstem stroke that left her quadriplegic in her twenties. Doctors warned that she had as little as 48 hours to live, and—if she lived at all—she would never walk or talk again. There was no hope on the horizon. So Nika started to hunt for it. Today, she not only walks, but she speaks to audiences everywhere about the power of hunting hope when a situation appears hopeless. She says hope remains camouflaged in the daily mundane. If we are not looking for it, we will miss it, though it is right before our eyes.

Whether you or someone you know is going through a situation that feels hopeless, you will find encouragement in Hunting Hope. Whether you are experiencing a medical trauma, a financial hardship, or a relational crisis, you will find empowerment in Hunting Hope. As you read, you will cling to 20 truths about God’s character and practice 5 daily disciplines that will develop your own character in crisis.

You will become a hope hunter.

Maybe it doesn’t matter what causes suffering in our lives as much as it matters what suffering causes in our lives. Maybe we were all meant to be hope hunters.

My Thoughts:
Hope shines through in this beautiful book by Nika Maples. Throughout Nika’s book, she shares her story of how she found Hope during the difficult circumstances of her life — of becoming a quadriplegic at the age of 20. However, Nika has not allowed the difficulties in life define her. Instead she has recognized the great hope God has given her and fought for life, and God has used her testimony for His glory.
Thankfully, Nika learned to walk again and she shares her story throughout the world encouraging others to have the same hope that gets her through each day. Nika defines the hard circumstances of life as winter. Everyone of us experiences winter seasons in our life, and this book shares that no matter how dark our circumstances may become, there is always hope. The message of this book is one that I have always practiced in my own life, and one that I needed to be reminded of. I am currently dealing with a winter season due to my disability of Cerebral Palsy and some complications from that. In a couple of weeks I will be having a major surgery, but this book has been a balm to my soul and I thank God for bringing it my way. One of my favorite quotes from this book states, “Do not let yourself be defined by one suffering season for the rest of your life. … Your identity is bigger than the facts of your life. You don’t have to act like winter takes all. You are not winter. And winter is not your only season. Joy will give you the strength to walk out of it.” I think everyone should read this book and apply its message of hope to their life. It is such a gift to know that joy can always be found no matter what we face in life, and I pray that everyone reading this finds that same joy.
I was given a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my review.
Purchase a copy of the book here: https://bit.ly/1WbwJ4P
To read what other reviewers are saying visit here: https://litfusegroup.com/author/nmaples

‘Hunting Hope’ by Nika Maples (Plus a Giveaway and Live Webcast)

Celebrate the release of Hunting Hope with a $200 Getaway Giveaway (details below) and a live webcast with Nika on May 26!

About the Author: 
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Nika Maples is the author of Twelve Clean Pages, the memoir of her survival of lupus and a stroke that left her quadriplegic at age 20. After learning to walk and talk again, she became a public school teacher, winning 2007 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year. She holds an MA in English Education from Columbia University and currently is pursuing an MDIV from The King’s University. When she is not traveling to speak, she lives, writes, and laughs as much as possible in Fort Worth, Texas.

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