Briar Coats and the Tunnel of Styx By K. J. Long

 

Briar is a wild boy. Living in a mangrove-tree city, he has been assigned the job of builder, but he is desperate to become an explorer.

At least he can swim in the lake for solace—that is, until he realizes that he can breathe underwater!

There he meets Verity, a person who looks like him, but she has a long flowing tail and a green glow. Verity helps Briar learn the truth about his father’s disappearance, and helps him change the underwater world of Naraka for the better.

Pick up your copy here...

https://www.amazon.com/Briar-Coats-Tunnel-Styx-K-J-ebook/dp/B08F6L8ZTR/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Briar+Coats+by+K.+Long&qid=1602210940&sr=8-1

The K.J. Long author name is a reflection of spouses Kelly Long and Jay Long.

Dr. Kelly Long has been writing fiction since 2010, alongside non-fiction research articles that appear in peer-reviewed journals. Kelly works by day as a college administrator and professor, writing fiction novels by night.

Jay Long is an attorney and professor by day, has long had a passion for writing fiction, and has non-fiction scholarly publications as well.

When they first met, the pair spent the days they couldn’t see each other co-authoring a romance novel, ironically while they lived their own romance story. Now they spend nights weaving fantasy fiction in the middle-grade genre. As an interracial LGBTQ+ couple, Kelly and Jay know what it’s like to be on the outside of the mainstream, and they have a passion for serving black and LGBTQ+ communities. They live in Michigan with their hound dog, Smuggler.

Visit www.kjlongauthor.com to learn more or connect.

My Thoughts...

This is such a fun read for the kiddos I would say 8-12 year old's would be the age group for this book or 3rd-6th graders.

Its a chapter book that will hold their attention and it is very well written.

It was a real page tuner, Grab a copy for your children to enjoy.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Mainly Power By Matt Cost

 

Was Harold Dumphy killed to cover up something at the nuclear power plant where he was the head of security?

This is what Harold's widow asks Goff Langdon, private detective, to find out. Langdon is a laid back, slacker detective, happy with his work, friends, and way of life in the town of Brunswick, Maine. To compliment his income in small town Maine's scarce private detective market, Langdon also owns and operates a mystery bookstore named after his trusted companion, Coffee Dog.

Does Langdon stand a chance against corrupt cops, crooked politicians, greedy millionaires, radical environmentalists, and a deadly assassin named Shakespeare?

With the help of Bart, the bear of a cop; Jimmy 4 by Four, the hippie lawyer; the immigrants Jewell and Richam; and his true desire and employee, Chabal-Langdon sets out to do just that. And then he is framed for not one, but two murders, and events become very complicated.

Follow Langdon and his band of friends as they attempt to untangle the web of intrigue and return Brunswick to "the way life should be."

Pick up your copy here...

https://www.amazon.com/Mainely-Power-Goff-Langdon-Mystery/dp/1645990931/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2WNIBKE5EN9NE&dchild=1&keywords=mainely+power&qid=1601659160&sprefix=Mainely+%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-1

Matthew Langdon Cost has wanted to be a writer since age eight. "I Am Cuba" is his first traditionally published novel. He has also self-published another work of historical fiction, "Joshua Chamberlain and the Civil War: At Every Hazard". Encircle Publications will be publishing his Mainely Mystery trilogy over the course of the next year: "Mainely Power" is due out in September, "Mainely Fear" in December, and "Mainely Blackmail" in May of 2021. Over the years, Cost has owned a video store, a mystery bookstore, and a gym. He has also taught history and coached just about every sport imaginable. He now lives in Brunswick, Maine, with his wife, Harper. There are four grown children: Brittany, Pearson, Miranda, and Ryan. A chocolate lab and a basset hound round out the mix. He now spends his days at the computer, writing. You can keep up with Matt by visiting facebook.com/matt.cost.3, www.mattcost.net, and on Twitter, @MattCost8.

My Thoughts..

I read this but I want to let you know up front it is self published and has not been through the editing process of that from a traditional publisher. So before you come back and yell a me for not telling you it was a self published book keep in mind as you read on I am commenting my opinion of the story itself. I was told by the author that I was given an uncorrected copy. I can not say if it has been edited after the fact. You might find it a story you would like to read. The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own. 

The Burden of Better By Heather Creekmore

 Tired of chasing better?

Why is it so easy to compare yourself to others yet so difficult to stop? In an era of carefully curated social media images, nonstop selfies, and TV shows devoted to perfection, comparison can consume you. Chasing something better quickly becomes a burden, weighing down your soul and preventing you from experiencing the freedom, contentment, and rest that God generously offers.

With wit and honesty, drawing from her own struggles, Heather will encourage you to look in the mirror and see the many ways that you compare yourself with others. But more than that, she will show you the true joy living a comparison-free life. While other books on comparison call readers to embrace their own uniqueness, The Burden of Better reveals that only a deep understanding of God's grace, and a personal reliance on that grace, can cure the epidemic of comparison flooding your mind. Heather's humor, personal stories, and empathetic approach offers a gospel-centered guide to kicking your comparison habit.

Pick up your copy here...

https://www.amazon.com/Burden-Better-Comparison-Free-Leads-Peace/dp/1684264707/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3P4Z1T5GZRE72&dchild=1&keywords=the+burden+of+better+heather+creekmore&qid=1601657431&sprefix=The+Burdan+of+Better%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-1

Speaker, blogger, author, and television failed baker, Heather Creekmore will charm you with her humor and touch you with her heart for reaching women with the breath-taking truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Heather feels the pulse of women who wrestle with their body image and comparison. She's tried the diets, exercise gizmos, and expensive weight loss pills. She's battled the brownies, felt shame over pant's size, and fought that same sense of insecurity that plagues so many women. Heather has been featured on a variety of news outlets including: Fox News, Huff Post, Church Leaders, Moms Struggling Well, and Good Morning Texas. But Heather is most recognized from her appearance on the Netflix show, "Nailed It" (S1, Ep1).

Heather and her fighter-pilot-turned pastor husband live outside of Austin, Texas with their four children. When's she's not destroying baked goods, Heather homeschools her brood of four children, shops clearance racks, and travels. Learn more about Heather and follow her blog at www.Comparedtowho.me or listen to her podcast also called Compared to Who?

My Thoughts...

Who do you compare yourself to the most? Ceekmore tells you its okay who you are. You are loved just as you are. 

There is no need to compare yourself to anyone else. You are your best YOU.

Creekmore writes a heartfelt book that speaks right to your heart.

I gave this book 4 stars.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own. 

I had a Secret for Seventeen Years By Tori Shaw

 

I Had A Secret for Seventeen Years is the redemptive life story of Tori Shaw, centered around her abortion as a teenager. She spent years covered by guilt and shame while enduring continual abandonment and rejection. Childhood experiences taught her to hide hardship, so she silently dealt with depression, fear, anxiety, self-loathing, and addictions. After hiding her dark secret for seventeen years, Tori shares her story with the world. A woman who once walked in fear and self-doubt is now willing to go wherever God wants her to go. Through Tori’s story, God builds a ministry that helps abortion-minded women choose life for their babies and shares God’s forgiveness and love with post-abortive women. I Had a Secret for Seventeen Years enables the reader to see a post-abortive woman come full circle and embrace the world of possibilities God makes available to those who are willing.

Pick up your copy here...

https://www.amazon.com/Had-Secret-Seventeen-Years-Redemption/dp/1725271400/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1601656360&sr=8-1-spons

Tori married her high school sweetheart and homeschools her four beautiful children. She walks in complete freedom after her abortion because of the mercy and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Tori desires the same for others who have had a similar journey.

My Thoughts...

Shaw's testimony is one that is sure to touch you and have you flipping pages as fast as you can read them.

I am so happy that she has written this book so it can help others and it will touch many others. 

I gave this book 4 stars.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own. 

The Silent Conspiracy By L.C. Shaw

 

It’s been almost two years since investigative reporter Jack Logan and television producer Taylor Parks brought down the Institute—the secret facility responsible for indoctrinating a generation of America’s political and media power players. Their lives are just getting back to normal, and Jack and Taylor have settled into married life with their young son, Evan.

But soon a series of bizarre, seemingly random murder/suicides captures Jack’s attention as a disturbing pattern emerges. Could someone be intentionally causing people to become homicidal? At the same time, Taylor is producing a story about a class action suit against a national insurance company that has reached the Supreme Court.

As Jack and Taylor start to suspect that their stories are connected, they realize there is something far more insidious at play that could not only directly threaten them—but the very future of the country…

Pick up your copy here...

https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Conspiracy-Novel-L-Shaw/dp/0062950940/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HRAP860OP4GS&dchild=1&keywords=the+silent+conspiracy+by+l.+c.+shaw&qid=1601654305&sprefix=The+Silent+Con%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-1

L.C. .Shaw is the pen name of internationally bestselling author Lynne Constantine who also writes with her sister as Liv Constantine. Their debut thriller, THE LAST MRS. PARRISH, was a Reese Witherspoon book club selection and their critically acclaimed books have been praised by USA Today, The Sunday Times, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others. Lynne has a Master's Degree from Johns Hopkins University. Her work has been translated into 27 languages, is available in 32 countries, and has been optioned for both television and film.

My Thoughts...

Are you all ready for this new Conspiracy thriller? If you read The Network  you are going to fall right back into that same thriller, heart racing, and thrills  with this book.
Shaw is one of the best thriller authors of 2020 and I cant wait to see if there is going to be a third book in the series by her.
This is a must read 4 star book. I highly recommend it.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own. 

From Rome With Love By Kate Lloyd Have you pre-ordered your copy yet?

 

Lucy Goff's new job caring for the quirky daughter of a wealthy Seattle couple comes with an unexpected perk: being whisked off to Rome the week before Christmas. Putting up with fifteen-year-old Tabatha's mood swings, not to mention Lucy's own fear of flying, is worth the opportunity to explore The Eternal City.

But Lucy's dreams of a relaxing European vacation are upended almost as soon as they arrive. Tabatha's parents disappear, and Tabatha herself turns out to be more than a handful. The only person Lucy can turn to is Mario, the smooth and handsome Italian who volunteers to be their personal tour guide. Can she trust him? And what about Brad, the old boyfriend who wants to pick up where they left off?

When a mysterious painting opens up painful family secrets, it seems as though Lucy's romantic holiday is over for good. Instead, she must confront not only her employers, but also her own feelings about love and loyalty. Is she ready to see that Christmas is just the beginning?

Preorder your copy here...

https://www.amazon.com/Rome-Love-Kate-Lloyd-ebook/dp/B08K2VDYKC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2LEZ6XMXI4K60&dchild=1&keywords=from+rome+with+love%2C+kate+lloyd&qid=1601609718&sprefix=From+Rome+With+Love%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1

Bestselling author Kate Lloyd is a passionate observer of human relationships. A native of Baltimore, Kate spends time with family and friends in Lancaster County, PA, the inspiration for her novels Leaving Lancaster, Pennsylvania Patchwork, and Forever Amish, the third book in the Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy, and also A Letter from Lancaster County and Starting from Scratch. Her Kindle novella An Unexpected Christmas Gift is available for preorder. Kate and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest, the setting for Kate's first novel, A Portrait of Marguerite. Kate studied art, art history, and Italian in college. She's worked a variety of jobs, including restaurateur and car salesman. Kate enjoys travel and walking with her camera in hand.

Website: www.katelloyd.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/katelloydbooks
Instagram:@katelloydauthor
Giveaways on her Blog: http://katelloyd.com/blog/
Pinterest: @KateLloydAuthor

Be sure to preorder your copy now. From Rome With Love will be released On October 13, 2020. You are not going to want to miss this Christmas book!

Turning Home By Janice Kay Johnson

In this tender Amish romance, an Amish man who is returning to his community and faith is drawn to a young woman who is still reeling from past wounds.

When Luke Bowman returns to the Amish faith after years of being away from home, he does so with absolute conviction. Those feelings are shaken when he meets Julia Durant, a non-Amish woman who works at his family's furniture-making business. Despite his instincts, Luke is drawn to Julia, and although Julia is still recovering from a brutal assault when she was a college student, she is drawn to Luke as well.

As Luke and Julia grow closer, and their fragile friendship grows stronger, Luke wants to be with Julia, but the reason he came home--his faith--is now the thing keeping them apart. Luke and Julia will have to decide whether their relationship can survive this divide, and whether the home Luke has made in the Amish faith is one that's fit for two.

Pick up your copy here...

https://www.amazon.com/Turning-Home-Tompkins-Mill-Novel/dp/0593197968/ref=tmm_mmp_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1600462444&sr=1-1

Janice Kay Johnson is the author of sixty-plus books for children and adults. Her first four published romance novels were coauthored with her mother Norma Tadlock Johnson, also a writer who has since published mysteries and children's books on her own. These were "sweet" romance novels, the author hastens to add; she isn't sure they'd have felt comfortable coauthoring passionate love scenes!

Janice graduated from Whitman College with a B.A. in history and then received a master's degree in library science from the University of Washington. She was a branch librarian for a public library system until she began selling her own writing.

She has written six novels for young adults and one picture book for the read-aloud crowd. ROSAMUND was the outgrowth of all those hours spent reading to her own daughters, and of her passion for growing old roses. Two more of her favorite books were historical novels WINTER OF THE RAVEN and THE ISLAND SNATCHERS which she wrote for Tor/Forge. The research was pure indulgence for someone who set out intending to be a historian!

Janice is divorced and has raised her two daughters in a small, rural town north of Seattle, Washington. She's an active volunteer and board member for Purrfect Pals, a no-kill cat shelter, and foster kittens often enliven a household that already includes a few more cats than she wants to admit to!

Janice loves writing books about both love and family -- about the way generations connect and the power our earliest experiences have on us throughout life.

In addition to her real name, she has also written under several pseudonyms through the years, including Janice Stevens, Janice Bartlett, Kay Bartlett and Kay Kirby.

Her Superromance novels are frequent finalists for Romance Writers of America RITA awards, and she won the 2008 RITA for Best Contemporary Series Romance for SNOWBOUND.

Visit her online at: www.janicekayjohnson.com.

My Thoughts...

This is a book for Amish fiction fans. it is your typical Amish read furniture making, cute slow romance blooming on the horizon.

It is surely for those who enjoy Amish romances.

I gave this book 4 stars and hope you enjoy it.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.