Book Review: Her Kind of Sheriff by Ellen Knightley

This is a pleasant historical western romance.

Her Kind of Sheriff
by Ellen Knightley

150 pages
Publisher: Ellen Knightley
Genre: Clean, Historical Romance, Sweet
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0.

Life in Black Shaw is a constant struggle for Eve Stanton, between helping her mother with her six siblings and working as a seamstress. When her father approves a marriage proposal she has no interest in without even asking her, Eve is horrified. Barely eighteen, she’s not ready to commit to a life without romance. Making matters worse, a false accusation made against her suddenly turns her into an outcast. In the midst of her despair, she finds an unlikely ally in the handsome new sheriff. She can’t allow herself to hope he could ever be interested in her, but she also can’t seem to stay away from him. With her life in turmoil and her would-be husband looming, will Eve be brave enough to go after what she truly wants?
Logan Andrews has always dreamt of being a sheriff, so when an opportunity opens up in a small town of Texas, he jumps at the chance. Being a man with a strong sense of justice, he has a burning desire to put away all the criminals that have been terrorizing the town of Black Shaw. However, when he locks up a man who has everyone convinced he’s a hero, Logan becomes the town’s number one enemy. His only support comes from a beautiful and captivating young seamstress, with dazzling blue eyes he can’t stop thinking about. While he doggedly works to prove his worth and change people’s minds, will he also allow himself to give in to a love that could change his life forever?
Logan and Eve find common ground when their place in town is threatened and their integrity is questioned. Having each other to rely on, they struggle to regain everything they’ve lost while their feelings intensify beyond measure. With everything against them and their feelings intensifying, will their tender love survive the trials coming their way? Will they manage to stand up for what they believe in without losing each other in the process?

Review:
Eve is a sweet young woman who has had the burden of helping her mother raise her six siblings. Their father is out drinking his sorrows most of the time. Now that Eve is eighteen, her father decides that she should marry, and he has approved her marry the wealthy banker in town. Eve isn’t ready to marry anyone, much less a man she doesn’t love. It isn’t fair her father thinks she should marry to get a wealthy relative. When Eve turns down the offer of marriage to the banker, she sees a touch of anger. She has no idea how the rejection will impact her reputation in town.

Logan is a new sheriff in town. He was pleased to move up from a deputy position at another town but he has an extra reason for coming to Black Shaw. Logan has studied the patterns of robberies over the past six months, and he suspects that there is an outlaw ring leader in Black Shaw or its neighboring towns.

Logan has occasion to ‘rescue’ Eve from an aggressive discussion with the town banker. The banker is well liked in town and has developed a large group of favors from other town members. When Logan spots the man meeting two other strangers late at night and in stealthy circumstance, Logan begins to suspect the man is not as upstanding as everyone thinks.

After Logan arrests the banker he faces hostility from the townsfolk. Meanwhile, Eve has lost her job over accusations of theft and she is struggling to get another job in light of the false accusations. Logan and Eve become friends in their outcast situation. Their interaction leads to a developing friendship. When the banker escapes jail, can Logan keep Eve safe from the angry man?

I liked the personalities of Eve and Logan and the slow development of their relationship. The plot of the story, although not new, is one that is plausible. My biggest struggle with this book is the writing which was choppy, totally predictable, and seemed unskilled. I still liked the story and characters but hope that the author works on her writing skills to make for a smoother read with a little more intrigue and build up. Readers who like sweet, clean, historical romance should enjoy this story.

Source: November 2022 Bookfunnel download from Newsletter This qualifies for 2023TBR and 2023eBook goals.

Book Review: Jingled (A Charlie Cooper Christmas Short Story) by Deany Ray

This is a short, fun Christmas disaster turned to joy story.

Jingled (A Charlie Cooper Christmas Short Story)
By Deany Ray
Charlie Cooper Mystery #4.5

File Size ‏ : ‎ 2462 KB
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 15, 2018
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07K1LWD2Y
Genre: Christmas, Two-Hour Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Short Reads
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

This is a holiday SHORT story, but long enough for you to enjoy it with a glass of eggnog...or two glasses...*wink*
The holiday season has arrived in Springston…and at the Coopers’ house. Soft snow outside, creamy eggnog inside – it’s the perfect Christmas Eve for Charlie Cooper, the town’s most clumsy undercover detective.
Not to mention the yummy turkey, ham, sweet potato casserole, thick gravy and all the other delicious dishes made by Charlie’s mom for the whole family and Charlie’s two best friends and crime fighting partners, Marge and Celeste.
With such a perfect Christmastime in sight, nothing could really go wrong. Or could it? Well, there’s nothing like being held at gunpoint on Christmas Eve to bring joy into your heart.
When the food gets mysteriously ruined, the Christmas tree almost wrecked and apparently having a nice holiday feast just isn’t about to happen, Charlie wonders about that so-called Christmas spirit.
One thing is for Charlie will always remember this year’s holiday as “barely surviving Christmas at the Coopers’ house”.

Review:
Charlie Cooper is an undercover detective with her business partners and friends, Marge and Celeste. Charlie is looking forward to her friends joining her family for Christmas dinner. Charlie, whose cooking skills are minimal, has made a pie for dessert. Her mother, who is a wizard at food, has made a smorgasbord of dishes. The house is decorated, and everyone is ready.

The Cooper men, father and sons, are outside cooking chestnuts on the grill when things start popping. Next thing they all know, there appears to be an intrusion and attack on the festivities. Before the family and friends can sit down to the wonderful spread of food, one misstep after another takes the food to the floor.

Can Charlie figure out who is the culprit? And how will the family save Christmas dinner?

The story is full of quirky characters and humor from the outset. I realized that this is book #4.5 of the series but I was still able to enjoy the characters and the fun. The writing is straightforward and makes for an easy read. I was pleased that the disastrous dinner turned into a joyful event shared with more than expected. I expect that I will read more by this author and I recommend the story as a light, fun mystery that shares the joy of Christmas shared.

Source: I received this from the author newsletter sign up in June 2021. This qualifies for 2023TBR and 2023ebook goals.

Book Review: Con Crazy by Addison J. Chapple, Danny Kravitz, Eliza Marsh

This is entertaining with a twist at the end.
Con Crazy
by Addison J. Chapple, Danny Kravitz, Eliza Marsh

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08ZRG731W
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Level 4 Press, Inc. (August 29, 2023)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 29, 2023
Genre: Crime, Humor, International Mystery
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

The con is on.
Prewitt Patry is an expert in European art and antiquities, and he used to be the best con artist in New York City. But fate has left him divorced and broke, with his glory days behind him.
Then a golden opportunity falls into his lap.
Ranger du Courtemanche is the aging patriarch of the centuries-old French aristocratic Courtemanche family. The family resides in their ancestral chateau and they haven’t been outside the property in years. Enter Prewitt, who cozies up to the reclusive family—Ranger and his two sisters—and warns them that their chateau and wealth have been targeted by an obscure secret society. Panicked and desperate, Ranger enlists Prewitt in the fight to defend his family’s honor and fortune. Et voilà! The trap is set.
With his team of eccentric Parisian con artists, Prewitt gets to work. But the closer he gets, the more the con unravels. Ancient betrayals, priceless jewels, and forbidden loves . . . the Courtemanches turn out to be a lot more than Prewitt bargained for.
Inspired by the outrageous true story of a wildly audacious con.

Review:
Prewitt Patry studied art before he realized he could earn money easier through cons. He was managing behind the scenes, enjoying a middle-class life with a wife above his station and a wonderful son. Prewitt feels his work is acceptable since he goes after bullies and bad guys. Then Prewitt tried to expose a superior for the con the man was doing. Instead, the man framed Prewitt for the con ruining his marriage as his wife took their son and returned to her wealthy father.

Now Prewitt struggles to pay the rent, much less the exorbitant alimony and support to his wife. As his son turns 18, he announces he has been accepted into Harvard. How can Prewitt obtain funds to pay tuition? He needs to find a big con!

Prewitt and his ‘bank’, Mace discover there are historically connected jewels with a family in France. Prewitt heads to France to con a man in his castle. There is a crew of characters to help Prewitt but he soon finds himself warming up to the mark and his two sisters.

The story is written in third person present tense which I had to get used to. I enjoyed the descriptions and the connection to history that is revealed. The story is engaging and has a good twist at the end. Although entertained, I have to admit that I wasn’t totally comfortable with the main character as I do not believe in theft and lies. I recommend this to fans of a good heist.

Source: August 2023 Received two ebooks from Alyssia Gonzalez at Publicist. This qualifies for 2023Review goal.

Book Review: The Marksman by Robin G. Mercier, Danny Kravitz, Chris Charles

I was glad to keep coming back to this Cartel horror of a story.
The Marksman
By Robin G. Mercier, Danny Kravitz, Chris Charles

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BZB6FR3F
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 29, 2023
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Level 4 Press, Inc.
Genres: Crime, Thriller
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

Jim Hanson, an ex-Marine sniper, was getting by in life as a rancher on the Arizona-Mexico border until his wife’s recent battle with cancer wiped him out financially and hollowed him out emotionally. Then he encounters a young Mexican boy, Miguel, and his mother as they are fleeing from a vicious drug cartel. Jim calls the Border Patrol but is soon confronted by cartel soldiers who demand he turn over the mother and son. Jim refuses and is drawn into a shootout, narrowly escaping with Miguel and his mother, who has been fatally shot. She begs Jim to take her son to the safety of his relatives in Chicago just before dying.
Now being pursued by the cartel’s relentless lead assassin, as well as Border Patrol Agents intent on sending Miguel back to Mexico (which is certain death), Jim finds himself as the boy’s protector in a desperate race from Arizona to Chicago. Jim and Miguel fight for their lives during this deadly road trip, becoming the most unlikely pair of fugitives and helping each other heal from deep loss along the way.

Review:
Jim Hanson is an ex-Marine sniper who has fallen emotionally after losing his wife to cancer. Months later, he is struggling to keep his ranch on the Arizona-Mexico border fighting his own destructive behaviors as well as the harsh land that isn’t easy for raising cattle.

One morning Jim is near the border when a woman and child run from through the fence, followed by men in a black SUV. The brutish cartel men demand that he turn over the mother and child and when Jim refuses gunfire is exchanged. Jim kills one of the men while they kill the mother. Before she dies, the mother insists that Jim take her son, 11-year-old Miguel, to relatives in Chicago. She claims if the boy returns to Mexico he will be killed for the actions of others. Initially Jim turns the boy over to Border Patrol but something makes him go to the station the next morning where he is alarmed to see the black SUV and men coming to pick up the boy. Jim manages to sneak Miguel out and he goes on the run.

Jim is traveling with a quiet, scared boy and wondering why he is doing this. The cartel men are on his trail and the border patrol, where his stepdaughter works, are out to get him to return the boy to Mexico. It takes Jim a day or two to realize how the cartel SUV is using corrupt contacts to find him and he increases the anger of the leader by leaving a trail of death each time they get too close.

Finally, as Jim and Miguel develop a strange friendship, Jim decides that he will deliver Miguel to Chicago. But the cartel leader has contacts in Chicago and is prepared to call in favors, unknown to his boss. Can Jim get Miguel safely to his aunt in Chicago? And what will Jim do once the mission is completed?

I was horrified by the extent of the cartel violence and corruption with contacts throughout the States. Sadly, it is very believable. Jim is a flawed hero, and I can imagine Liam Neeson playing the brooding man. I was impressed with the writing that flowed well and kept me coming back to read more. I am glad I was offered this book to read. I expect I will watch the movie sometime in the future. I recommend this book to fans of crime thriller action.

Source: August 2023 Received two ebooks from Alyssia Gonzalez at Publicist, Level 4 Press. This qualifies for 2023Author and 2023eBook goals.

Book Review: The Rapture: 23 Biblical Answers To The Question: When Is It? by Joshua J. Watson

I like to study End Times and appreciated reading these arguments in support of Pre-Tribulational Rapture.

The Rapture: 23 Biblical Answers To The Question: When Is It?
by Joshua J. Watson

Publication date‏ : ‎ October 30, 2022
Genre: Eschatology, Christian Prophesy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.

Long debated is the timing of the Rapture. Will it occur before the Tribulation? After it's started? Or will the Church only be Raptured at its end? Most Christians believe the Bible is largely silent on the issue. However, as this book seeks to unveil, many overlooked passages let us know something very different - ie, that we can know when to expect it, and with confidence.

Review:
This treatise reads easily and quickly. There are 23 specific chapters all of which present strong, persuasive arguments that speak against a Post-Tribulational Rapture, and particularly favor a Pre-Tribulational Rapture. There are several sections I particularly liked. I don’t recall having seen the description of The 7 Feasts in other works and the chapter on The Departure presents another good argument. Also, I liked the discussion on the source of the word “Rapture”.

I do agree that the catching away or Rapture of the Church occurs as a separate event before the Return of Christ to set up His kingdom on earth, which occurs after the Tribulation events. I am still undecided as to whether the Rapture occurs Pre-Tribulation but I do believe it is, at the latest, Pre-Wrath. I totally like the reassurance of the arguments wrapped up in Mr. Watson’s Conclusion which give hope to all believers.

The book is not flashy in format and I felt there was a little bit of repetition. But these issues really didn't distract considering the shortness of the book and the very clear explanation of the arguments in each chapter. I recommend this book to anyone interested in discussions of the Church (believers) Rapture.

Source: March 2023 Author supplied PDF. This qualifies for 2023Author Review goal.