Saying Goodye is so Hard

 

My husband peacefully and painlessly passed away yesterday

My heart is broken

#MacmillanAudio review of Lone Wolf by Gregg Hurwitz

Today I'm sharing my review of, Lone Wolf, book 9 in Gregg Hurwitz's Orphan X series. This is a series that I would have never picked for my self so here's a big shout out for Drew from #MacmillanAudio for introducing me to Evan Smoak and the rest of the Orphan X gang.
If you're looking for a non-stop action packed series look no farther than the Orphan X series.
Enjoy!

ASIN: B0C3P7LBJ7
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Release Date: 2-13-2024
Length: 13 hours & 13 minutes
Source: Publisher for Review
Buy It: Audible/ Chirpbooks

ADD TO: GOODREADS

Overview:

This program is read by multi-award-winning narrator Scott Brick.

"Brick employs perfect timing and emphasis to portray Evan and plays him with heart...Brick shines in long passages of exposition, setting up the stakes with deft talent, and quickly shifts into periodic high action."—AudioFile

Once a black ops government assassin known as Orphan X, Evan Smoak left the Program, went deep underground, and reinvented himself as someone who will go anywhere and risk everything to help the truly desperate who have nowhere else to turn. Since then, Evan has fought international crime syndicates and drug cartels, faced down the most powerful people in the world and even brought down a President. Now struggling with an unexpected personal crisis, Evan goes back to the very basics of his mission—and this time, the truly desperate is a little girl who wants him to find her missing dog.

Not his usual mission, and not one Evan embraces with enthusiasm, but this unlikely, tiny job quickly explodes into his biggest mission yet, one that finds him battered between twisted AI technocrat billionaires, a mysterious female assassin who seems a mirror of himself, and personal stakes so gut-wrenching he can scarcely make sense of them.

Evan's mission pushes him to his limit—he must find and take down the assassin known only as the Wolf, before she succeeds in completing her mission and killing the people who can identify her—a teenaged daughter of her last target, and Evan himself. Matched skill for skill, instinct for instinct, Evan must outwit an opponent who will literally stop at nothing if he is to survive.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.

Sophia Rose Reviews: Courting the Amish Bishop by Mindy Steele

Today Sophia Rose reviews an inspirational novel, Courting the Amish Bishop, by Mindy Steele #4 in her Heart in the Amish series.
Enjoy!

Courting the Amish Bishop by Mindy Steele

#4 Heart of the Amish

Inspirational Fiction

Publisher:  Barbour Fiction

Published: 4.1.24

Pages:  288

Rating: 4.5 stars

Format: eARC

Source:  NetGalley

Sellers:  Amazon

ADD TO: GoodReads

 

GoodReads Synopsis:

No One Is Ever Too Old to Love Again Full of faith, hope, and romance, this new series takes you into the Heart of Amish country. Simon Graber became a widower and a bishop early in life. His focus is solely on his very close-knit Old Order Amish community—not entertaining the idea of marriage, despite what many of the elders think. When sickness comes to Cherry Grove, Kentucky, Simon reaches out into the next community for help. But help is beginning to look a lot like a second chance when Stella Schmucker agrees to offer her vast herbal knowledge to the sick. Can it be that these two, who have been too busy serving others to entertain the idea of love, have met at just the perfect time for an unlikely courtship?

 

Sophia Rose Reviews: The Lisbon Affair by Cat Gardiner

 

Today Sophia Rose reviews, The Lisbon Affair,  a WWII novel, #1 in Cat Gardiner's Flying With the Swallows duology
Enjoy!

The Lisbon Affair – A WWII Novel: Flying With Swallows Volume One by Cat Gardiner

Historical Fiction

Publisher:  Unionport Hill Books

Published: 4.2.24

Pages:  335

Rating: 5 stars

Format: eARC

Source: author

Sellers:  Amazon

ADD TO: GoodReads

 

GoodReads Synopsis:

Volume One in the Flying with the Swallows duology

New York City, 1943: War widow and Best Society’s darling Mrs. Evelyn (Evie) Rousseau Somerset is five months into mourning her husband’s death when her family insists on an untenable plan for her future. Desolate and disenchanted with life, she’s determined to remake herself and prove she’s something more than a useless socialite—regardless of what her senator brother and domineering mother demand of her.

A previous clandestine job at a newspaper provides the escape she’s looking for: a trip to Lisbon, the spy capital of the world, to rescue a family of German Jews stranded in neutral Portugal. While crossing the Atlantic to Lisbon, she meets handsome and enigmatic Carl Wilson, the cocksure, ill-mannered American musician with an agenda and secrets of his own.

Armed only with sophistication and moxie, Evelyn reluctantly welcomes Carl’s invitation to a new world—one that ultimately lands her as a secret agent for His Majesty’s government.

Review: Back to You + Exclusive author interview with Richard Plourde

Today I have a double feature, my thoughts on a wonderful novel, Back to You and a Q&A with author Richard Plourde
Enjoy!

ISBN-13: 978-2924099865
Publisher: Editions des Merisiers
Release Date: 01-24-2024
Length: 256pp
Source: Author for review
Buy It: Amazon

ADD TO: GOODREADS

Overview:

John Fisher will risk everything to find the anonymous bone marrow donor who gave him another chance at life.

After thirteen years of unhappiness, self-absorbed millionaire John Fisher becomes convinced that the anonymous female bone marrow donor who saved his life could be the answer to all his woes - his true love, his soulmate.

There is a problem… Donor information is kept confidential under lock and key in a secured building thousands of miles away. John believes he has found a way to get to his file, but a slight mishap will certainly land him in jail and ruin his career.

Risking everything, John embarks on an epic journey in search of this mysterious woman.

What he uncovers along the way challenges everything he thought he knew about fate, love, and the true meaning of second chances.



ABOUT BACK TO YOU…

« You just have to read this book. » Rayo Reads

« A real gem! » Christine Michaud, Le Lundi

« I was captivated by this cleverly woven tale. The storytelling was brilliant. » DJ Sakata, Books & Bindings

« Wow, what a great discovery. I had difficulty putting my tablet down. » Books With Natasa

Sophia Rose Reviews Risky Attraction by Kendall Talbot Wolf Security #1

 

Today Sophia Rose is here sharing her thoughts on Risky Attraction by Kendall Talbot
Enjoy!

Risky Attraction by Kendall Talbot

#1 Wolf Security

Romantic Suspense

Publisher:  Kendall Talbot

Published:  3.15.24

Pages:  410

Rating: 5 stars

Format: eARC

Source:  author

Sellers:  Amazon

ADD TO: GoodReads

 

GoodReads Blurb:

Two grieving strangers are thrust into a deadly chase, now both their hearts and lives at risk.

Ryder Westwood is still reeling from the revelation that the love of his life had lied to him before her shocking death. Now all he craves is solitude. But when the grumpy Border Force Captain rushes to rescue a yacht that's sinking after colliding with a mysterious object, his pain and anger are tested by Piper Harrison, the yacht's feisty skipper.

Piper, a single mom and grieving widow, was sailing around Australia with her rebellious teenager. But as their yacht vanishes beneath the waves, a gruesome discovery catapults them into the crosshairs of a sinister underworld.

When Piper's daughter is kidnapped, Piper and Ryder are drawn into a whirlwind of desire and danger. Bullets fly, and with the body count rising, they enlist the help of the Alpha Tactical Ops heroes to rescue Piper's daughter from ruthless enemies.

Will they save all that Piper has left?
Or will their shattered hearts remain broken forever?

RISKY ATTRACTION is a standalone, grumpy/sunshine, fight for justice, romantic thriller featuring a tortured alpha hero who doesn’t believe in love, and a feisty single mom who doesn’t think she needs saving. This race against time, romantic thriller is book one in the Wolf Security Series, which is a series of standalone books featuring interconnecting characters and appearances from characters in the Alpha Tactical Ops series.

 Sophia Rose's Review:

Risky Attraction takes to the high seas, a labyrinth of an old wharf, and an enemy not unlike a hydra who grows with each deadly strike against them.  Kendall Talbot has a gift for writing adrenaline rush romantic suspense with fully developed characters and solid romance usually in an exotic locale or unusual situation. 

 

While I’ve read the original Alpha Tactical Ops series in order before diving into Risky Attraction, I could see how a new reader might pick it up and do just fine. 

 

Captain Ryder Westwood of the Border Force is on routine patrol off the Australian coast when he and his crew encounter a hostile craft firing on them.  A storm comes up and he has to break off contact without much fire power of his own plus there is a distress call nearby.  He was in a mood before all this due to the death of his wife and her lies and actions before her death, but now, he is distracted.  His grief and bitterness feel a little lighter to bear thanks to the quietly, strong woman he rescues from the sea and the mystery she has discovered when her sailboat went down.

 

Piper is was barely keeping her head above water while grieving her husband’s death and at a loss for handling her teenage daughter and that was before their sailboat struck something in the water during a storm.  Scout, her daughter, is prone to blame Piper for everything and lashes out at Piper, but they both get a jolt from their grief and anger when they are pulled into a dangerous investigation alongside Ryder.  Someone wants the investigation dead in the water and will come after them all to keep them from discovering who is behind it all and the connection to the past.

 

Risky Attraction was a sizzling hot opener to the series for both the high-octane suspense side and for the simmering of attraction for two grief-stricken widowed leads.  Kendall Talbot didn’t hesitate to explore their different situations and how that affected them both including a hurting and lost teenager who broke my heart the way she lashed her mother and couldn’t get her footing. 

I liked the hints of a connection of this current case to what came before, but also the revelation of a new shadowy, formidable baddie.  Ryder isn’t sure he can trust locally after the corruption was uncovered and is still coming out, but it was great seeing him tap into Aria and his other friends with Wolf Security to back him up. 

 

I can’t wait to see where it all goes next with a new romance pair introduced as new side characters in this one.  A no-risk recommendation to romantic suspense fans in Risky Attraction.

 

Author Bio:

Kendall Talbot is a thrill seeker, hopeless romantic, virtual killer, and award-winning author of stories that’ll have your heart thumping from the action-packed suspense in exotic locations and the swoon-worthy romance.

Kendall has sought thrills in all 46 countries she’s visited. She’s abseiled down freezing waterfalls, catapulted out of a white-water raft, jumped off a mountain with a man who spoke little English, and got way too close to a sixteen-foot shark. When she isn’t writing, she’s enjoying wine and cheese with her crazy friends, and planning her next thrilling international escape.

She lives in Brisbane, Australia with her very own hero and a fluffy little dog who specializes in hijacking her writing time. Meanwhile, Kendall’s two sons are off making their own adventures – look out world.

Kendall’s book, Lost in Kakadu won the acclaimed title of Romantic Book of the Year 2014, and her books have also been finalists for Best Romantic Suspense, Best Crime Novel, Best Continuing Series, and Best New Author.

I love to hear from my readers!
Find my books and chat with me via any of the contacts below:
Website: http://www.kendalltalbot.com.au/
Email: kendall@universe.com.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KendallTalbo...

Sophia’s Bio:

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments, restaurants and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance. Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiarose1816

GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose

 

A New Road

 

It's been a challenging winter for my family and I. Ever since developing Shingles in early February my husband's health has been declining. He was admitted to the hospital on March 17th and was put through a barrage of tests and studies, long story short after a 10 day stay it was determined that he had advanced Parkinson's dementia and he was sent home on Hospice care.

So now it's all about him

My Hospice team is wonderful and I get support from nurses, aides, social workers and even a Chaplain to help me understand and accept this new road I'm on. Letting go of my insistences of making him eat every meal, take every vitamin that may help symptoms etc...

But mostly it's been hard letting go, knowing that soon I'll be on my own without my partner in crime of 46 years.

My blogging took a hit because I just didn't have the energy and I spent all those days in the hospital at his side 24/7. But I'm ready to come back to me a bit and do the things that make me happy too.

I know some of you who are my friends on social media already know this but I also just wanted to touch those of you who aren't to let you know that no I did not drop off the face of the earth.

Prayers and thoughts for the kids and I are absolutely welcome.

I'll start blogging again come Monday

Love you all!