The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin Destined to Be Bestseller

...from the publisher...
In 1943, Private Clay Paxton trains hard with the US Army Rangers at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, determined to do his best in the upcoming Allied invasion of France. With his future stolen by his brothers' betrayal, Clay has only one thing to live for--fulfilling the recurring dream of his death.

Leah Jones works as a librarian at Camp Forrest, longing to rise above her orphanage upbringing and belong to the community, even as she uses her spare time to search for her real family--the baby sisters she was separated from so long ago.
After Clay saves Leah's life from a brutal attack, he saves her virtue with a marriage of convenience. When he ships out to train in England for D-day, their letters bind them together over the distance. But can a love strong enough to overcome death grow between them before Clay's recurring dream comes true?


...my thoughts...

The Land Beneath Us is the third book in Sarah Sundin's Sunrise at Normandy series.  Each book in the series follows  a Paxton brother and their lives after a fateful night where life in a warm, loving family changed for good. Angry words, feelings of revenge and unthinkable behavior.  Each young man was a time bomb full of anger and, remorse.

Sarah Sundin is a renowned author in the Christian fiction world.  Her research on the complex theater of World War II is amazing.  Her characters come alive amid battles the reader may have seen distant descriptions of yet in reading Sarah's books find themselves in the midst of the story.  I have long been a fan of her work.  It makes me appreciate all the more, the brave men and women who served our country in dark times.

Clay and Leah's story is one beautiful love story.  Both have baggage that could upset the perennial apple cart. They are both courageous beyond their young ages.  I believe that could be said of many young people faced with the challenges of a war that caused so much uncertainty in the world.  Their faith yielded a strength of character that kept them going.  From Leah's upbringing in an orphanage to Clay's bitter feelings toward his brothers, this book came alive and has a strong message of forgiveness and difficult choices. This is a book that historical fiction readers will enjoy.  It is engaging, entertaining and full of compassion.  Yes, even a few tears showed up.  I am sad to see this series end, but I am confident that Sarah Sundin has more stories to write.

The Everything Mediterranean Instant Pot Cookbook Deliscious and Simple

...from the publisher...
The Mediterranean diet is celebrated all over the world for its fresh and healthy ingredients, vibrant flavors, and complex recipes. Following this diet can help you reduce inflammation, avoid disease, and lose weight, making it popular for anyone looking to live a healthier lifestyle.

The Everything Mediterranean Instant Pot Cookbook shows you how to recreate classic Mediterranean meals in under an hour using the much-loved multi-cooker, the Instant Pot. With more than 300 recipes for delicious meals, snacks, and even desserts, you’ll have everything you need to create healthy, fresh, and fast meals every day of the week.

...my thoughts...

Up until I purchased my first Instant Pot, my experience with pressure cooking was confined to canning fruits and vegetables.  My daughters were enjoying a whole new approach to feeding their families with the Instant Pot.  We got to experience that excitement while our kitchen was being remodeled and they each treated us to home cooked dinners.  It was amazing to see how this amazing appliance became an integral part of their kitchens.  Needless to say, we purchased an Instant Pot too. 

The Everything Mediterranean Instant Pot Cookbook by Kelly Jaggers is chock full of recipes that will please anyone who is striving to live the Mediterranean way, employing this game changing appliance.  The recipes we have cooked using  this cookbook have been easy to put together quickly, and resulted in tasty meals we're planning to fix again. Our favorites so far include Stuffed Acorn Squash, Almond Date Oatmeal, Creamy Thyme Polenta and Chicken Breasts stuffed with Feta and Spinach. 

I am impressed with this cookbook.  Like most cooks who are learning to cook with a a new appliance I was searching online for recipes and tips to make the most of my Instant Pot. This cookbook is good for beginners as it includes very good how-to information to start cooking right away. Within a few months of getting our 6 quart pot I ordered a 3 quart (mini) Instant Pot. I have used both pot sizes in preparing the recipes, sometimes simultaneously.  This is a book I will use again and again because I like it that much.

I received an advance copy of this cookbook for review from Netgalley.com.  The opinions expressed are solely mine. 

Two Steps Forward

from the the publisher...
Back and broke in Stoney Ridge, Jimmy Fisher has coasted as long as he could through life on charm, good looks, and deep-set dimples. They always worked just fine for him--until they didn't. His smile has no effect on the violet-eyed beauty he met at the Bent N' Dent, the one with that stunning horse. She's offered him a job, but nothing else.

The last thing Sylvie Schrock King needs around Rising Star Farm is a grown boy working for her, especially her neighbor Edith's son. The woman holds a serious grudge against Sylvie and her son, and hiring Jimmy Fisher will only fan the flames of Edith's rancor. But Sylvie is desperate for help on the farm, and Jimmy understands horses like no one else.

While Jimmy's lazy smile and teasing ways steal Sylvie's heart, Edith is working on a way to claim her land. Has Sylvie made another terrible mistake? Or is it too late to outfox the fox? More importantly . . . just who is the fox?

Writing with both wit and warmth, Fisher delivers a supremely satisfying conclusion to the popular Deacon's Family series.

my thoughts...
Two Steps Forward is one of those books that will keep my thoughts captive for many days and when I reread it I will enjoy it just as much.  All of the characters in Stoney Ridge are like old friends.  You see them again from book to book as another member of the community's story unfolds.  So it is with Two Steps Forward Jimmy Fisher returns from being an Amish Cowboy in Colorado.  He was an incorrigible lad when he was introduced in The Keeper, book one of the Stoney Ridge Series.  What he didn't think of for mischief, nobody else could imagine.  Now he was home and life would never be the same. His dogged determination to prove what he can do is just the opposite of what anyone expected.
 Suzanne Woods Fisher is a master story teller.  She has a way of hooking you into a story from the moment you turn the first page.  Her characters, like Jimmy Fisher, are entertaining but have a lot of lessons to give us all. In Suzanne's books a lot of difficult topics are intertwined into the story.  While reading Stitches In Time Suzanne introduced the topic of foster care in Amish homes.  Luke Schrock, newly appointed deacon wished to fulfill beloved Amos Lapp's wish to empty the system by finding homes for those children.  Knowing the impact of that system on his own wife, Luke has been diligent in keeping his promise.  While Two Steps Forward is focusing on Jimmy and Sylvie, there is a larger issue at hand.  Luke and his wife Izzy are championing the cause of unwanted babies.  Recent issues out in the English world seem remote yet closer than one would suspect.  Rather than sitting back and being passive about the issue of unwanted babies, the community is united in finding ways to help one baby at a time.

This book is funny, it is entertaining and it leaves the reader something to think about before the book is closed.  Things are never what they seem and people will surprise you when you least expect it.  I could wax on about this book for a long time, but then, why give the story away when you can enjoy it yourself?  It will put your mind on things that are happening in the world today that impact all of us, no matter where we live.

5 stars for this book and the entire Deacon's Family series by Suzanne Woods Fisher!  Many thanks to Netgalley.com and Revell for the opportunity to review this book.  The opinions offered regarding this book are mine alone.

Seconds To Live by Susan Sleeman - Fast Paced and Heart Pounding Suspense`

...from the publisher... 

When cybercriminals hack into the US Marshals' Witness Protection database and auction off witnesses' personal details to the highest bidders, the RED Team led by FBI Agent Sean Nichols begins a high-stakes chase to find the hacker. But before he can even get started, the first witness is targeted and barely escapes with her life. Sean believes Phantom, an obsessed hacker who previously outwitted the top minds in the field, is behind the attack, and Sean needs this witness's help, as she's the person who has come closest to discovering Phantom's identity.

Trouble is, she's a witness under the care of US Marshal Taylor Mills, and Sean is reluctant to work with the captivating marshal who knows his deepest secrets. But Phantom claims he knows where the witness is hiding and will kill her, so to stop the hacker, Sean and Taylor must work through their personal pain and learn to trust each other. . . . The seconds are ticking down before someone dies.
 
...my thoughts...
From the moment I opened Seconds To Live I was hooked.  I haven't read anything by Susan Sleeman before and believe me when I say that I was pleased to find this author.

Cybercrime hits the  U.S. Marshal's Witness Protection Database in a big way. It is a race against time to capture a high profile hacker who is out for revenge.  There are no second chances for his victims and he seems to see anyone who has had the slightest encounter with the RED team of experts assigned to bring him in. These are the things I enjoy about suspense novels.  It is edgy and keeps the reader coming back for just a few more pages.  A few more leads to another chapter and pretty soon it is after 1:00 in the morning!

The main characters are pretty closed off at first and as the story unfolds, so too does the character development of Sean and Taylor.  I liked this book for the story and the team who worked so hard together, under difficult circumstances.  It gave me an even greater respect for those members of law enforcement who are honest, hard working and dedicated to their jobs. 

I was given a copy of this book  for an honest review from Bethany House Publishers but the opinions expressed here are mine.  Seconds To Live is Book One in the Homeland Heroes series.  I am already looking forward to Book Two.