Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

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A cliffhanger of a story: Review of Silenced by Dani Pettrey {plus a giveaway!}

If you’re a reader and happen to think inspirational fiction is limited to cozy, feel-good G-rated romance, can I introduce you to Dani Pettrey and her Alaskan Courage series?

I will confess that until I read Pettrey’s books and fell in love with the McKenna family, I hadn’t a clue about inspirational romantic suspense novels. Hers are among the best! Each novel focuses on one of the five siblings, a relationship and a criminal investigation. (To read my reviews of two of her previous novels, click here and here.)

silenced3dThe fourth book in the series (there are five total), Silenced, releases this month and follows rock-climber Kayden and Jake, whose past, until recently, was a mystery to the McKenna family. (Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from the author in exchange for my review.) When Kayden discovers a body while rock-climbing, she and Jake set out to investigate while uncovering a new side to their relationship. Kayden has always held Jake at arm’s length, suspicious of his motives and his virtual anonymity. She’s also closed herself off to any possibility of love. Jake has harbored feelings for Kayden but knows she’ll run if he makes a move. As the search for a killer intensifies, Jake’s past collides with the future he hopes to have with Kayden.

Pettrey never fails to keep me reading. The mystery and suspense hold up throughout the novel, and I’m never quite sure how it’s all going to end. While not much of an extreme sports/risk-taker type myself, it’s fun to live vicariously through the McKenna family’s hobbies, professions and rescue efforts. If you’re new to this author and series, I think you’ll appreciate it more if you start at the beginning with Submerged. The story continues with Shattered, Stranded and Silenced. (Care to take a guess at book five’s title? It follows the pattern of the others! The title and cover for that one will be revealed on May 23 during a Facebook party on the Bethany House Publishers events page.)

Although it wasn’t my favorite of the four books thus far, I enjoyed Silenced for its plot twists and themes, one of which is about letting our past experiences and hurts control and limit our futures. Not just fun, suspenseful reads, Pettrey’s books are stuffed with spiritual truths that encourage readers to live an adventurous spiritual life and fiercely love those around us.

And if reading her books wasn’t enough of a treat, Pettrey’s also hosting a fun giveaway in honor of Silenced! Between now and May 21, head over to Pettrey’s website and enter to win one of three great prize packages, including an air travel gift certificate, Alaskan art and a romantic picnic pack.

 

Enter the RUGGED ROMANCE Sweepstakes from Author Dani Pettrey!

 

I can’t wait for book five and just might go back and re-read the other books to immerse myself in the McKenna family’s world. (It’s not healthy, but I want to hang out with them!)

Here’s more about the author:

Dani PettreyDani Pettrey is a wife, home-schooling mom, and the acclaimed author of the romantic suspense series Alaskan Courage, which includes her bestselling novels Submerged, Shattered, Stranded, and her latest release, Silenced. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nail biting suspense, the deepening of her characters’ faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland, where they enjoy time with their daughters, son-in-law, and super adorable grandson.

Connect with her on her website, through Facebook, on Twitter and Pinterest. (Warning: her stories and pictures will make you want to travel!)

When the mission seems impossible: Review of The Queen's Handmaid by Tracy L. Higley

Whenever I pick up a Tracy Higley book, I feel smarter after I’ve read it, and it was no different with her latest, The Queen’s Handmaid. As a non-student of ancient history, I had never considered that Cleopatra lived only decades before Jesus was born. Shows what I know. (Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book through Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my review.) queen's handmaid

So, with that new knowledge, I was eager to read this story of Lydia, who is handmaid to Cleopatra in Alexandria at the time of Herod’s visit to the queen of Egypt. During his visit, Lydia is given a seemingly impossible mission by her aging mentor who is murdered not long after he reveals a secret to her. Lydia then embarks on a journey that eventually takes her to Jerusalem as lady’s maid to Herod’s wife, with the mission burdening her at every turn. What she carries with her is the hope of the Jewish people in a Messianic King, a hope Lydia, herself, will struggle with.

In typical Higley fashion, this is a suspenseful and entertaining read. But it’s also hard to follow at times, which is not necessarily the fault of the author but the scope of the story and timeframe. The book covers a lot of years, though the story is not bogged down by irrelevant events. And because the historical characters play a part in the plot, I often found myself confused by which Herod was which and who was connected and related to whom. Again, that’s information for a history book, not necessarily a novel, and I appreciate the way Higley is able to write a story using the historical context without it feeling like a textbook. I wish I knew the history of this time period better so I didn’t have to keep flipping back to the family tree at the beginning of the book.

But let me be clear: those are not reasons to not read this book. By the end, all of the connections and relationships made sense and I was excited about the possibility of another book to come that follows up the events in this one.

Higley is one of those rare authors who makes history lifelike to me, and I can see the events as they happen. Her stories enrich my understanding of Bible stories and events. For those reasons, her books are a must-read for me.

If you want to know more about the author, read the back cover synopsis or see what other people have to say, click here.

And if you want a chance to win a prize as part of the book’s release, keep reading!

Tracy L. Higley is celebrating the release of The Queen’s Handmaid with a fun giveaway.



Retailers + Resources gave it this glowing review: “Rich in historic detail, Higley’s vivid writing brings to life the plots and intrigues that swirled through the ancient world as alliances were built and broken on the calculated schemes of power-mad monarchs.” 

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  • A Kindle Fire HDX
  • The Queen’s Handmaid by Tracy L. Higley

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 19th. Winner will be announced April 21st on Tracy’s blog.

Don’t miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Tracy’s blog on April 21st to see if you won.