BOOK REVIEW Coming Soon: THE SECRET SAUCE by Fay A. Klinger

 

Some days you just want "to be"

 

Some days you are tired, you just don't feel like embracing the day like a tornado....some days you feel quiet in your soul and you want to have a restful day. That is okay! For example, if you read a Bible verse during your daily routine (such as during the morning) and you don't feel like doing a study, digging deeper, spending a lot of time with it...that is okay! Pray, read, and go on with your day. Some days you just want "to be." 

The BLOOM Bible Study Method Gardening Framework

 

With the BLOOM method there are 

the GARDEN ELEMENT

the BLOOM PHASE 

the SPIRITUAL GROWTH ACTION. 

B: The GARDEN ELEMENT is the SEED = B - Breathe and Prayer: Quiet your mind and plant the Word of God into your heart with an open, receptive spirit. Scripture: "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life."  - Job 33:4. The GARDEN CONNECTION: This is the seed, just like a tiny seed resting quietly in the soil waiting for the breath of spring, this step is about slowing down, inhaling God's peace, and inviting the Holy Spirit to bring the text to life. 

L: The GARDEN ELEMENT is DIRT = L - Listen and Learn: Dig into the context, history, and track keywords to establish fertile ground for understanding. Scripture: "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out." -Proverbs 25:2. The GARDEN CONNECTION: This is your dirt or soil phase. Like searching for a wild root or preparing a fertile seedbed, you are digging deep beneath the surface level of the text to find the rich, historical, and cultural treasures tucked into the soil of scripture. 

O: The GARDEN ELEMENT is WATER = O - Observe the text: Washing over scripture to soften your soul, making your spirit pliable and receptive. Scripture: "And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." -Ezekiel 36:26. The GARDEN CONNECTION: This represents the life-giving water. Hard, compacted soil cannot absorb the seed, but water softens the earth. Opening your heart allows the living water of the Word to soften your soul, making it tender pliable, and ready to absorb the truth.

O: The GARDEN ELEMENT is SUNLIGHT = O - the Outpour and Thanksgiving: Letting in the Light of Christ for growing your faith, and lifting your spirit upward to live out the lessons learned. Scripture: "Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things." -Psalm 107:8-9. The GARDEN CONNECTION: This is the warm sunlight. When a flower receives sunlight, it opens wide and grows upward. Bursting with praise and thanksgiving lifts your eyes toward Jesus, filling your soul with life, causing your faith to visibly bloom like a vibrant wildflower. 

M: The GARDEN ELEMENT is TENDING = M -Meditate and Apply: Prune your thoughts, pull the weeds of distraction and stay rooted in the Word as you go about your day. Scripture: "He is like a tree planted by streams of living water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." -Psalm 1:3. The GARDEN CONNECTION: This is the continuous act of tending the garden. By thinking of God's goodness and carrying these truths with you through the day, you keep your roots tucked deep near the stream. It keeps your spiritual leaves green and protects your heart from weeds of daily worry. This is an important step. 

How the BLOOM Method Cultivates Growth: 

Begin with the Seed - Breathe and Prayer. Before you can grow, you must sit still. By taking a moment to breathe and pray, you clear away the noise of life. This creates the quiet, sacred space needed to plant the seed of God's Word into your heart. Every study starts with a single seed: the Word of God. By starting with prayer, you are choosing to plant the seed intentionally asking God to open your eyes to what He wants to grow in you today. 

Listen and Learn - Dirt or soil. Look and Listen for words and cultural context. To grow deep roots, a seed needs rich soil. When you look for key words and cultural context, you are digging beneath the surface. Understanding the environment of the text keeps your faith grounded so it won't easily wither. The dirt or soil provides the environment for the seed to take root. Without doing this, your understanding may remain shallow. 

Observe the Text - The Water. Open your heart to soften your soul. Water activates the seed and helps it break through the dry ground. By observing the text and intentionally opening your heart, you let the Word act like water, softening your soul with the truth. It breaks down barriers, melts away hardness, and prepares you to absorb God's truths. 

Outpour with Thanksgiving and Praise - The Sunlight. Be thankful for what you are learning. Sunlight is what causes a plant to reach upward and become visible to the world. Plants naturally lean toward the light to live. When you apply the Bible to your daily life, you are letting your light shine before others. Your growth becomes a visible testimony of God's work. Give God the praise of thanksgiving. 

Meditate and Maintain -The Tending. Meditate on the Truth of the Word as you go. A garden needs constant care throughout the day, or it will not survive. Meditation and maintenance mean you don't just walk away and forget what you read. You protect your heart from the weeds of daily distractions, doubts, fears, etc. By meditating on the truths as you go about your day, you are tending your spiritual garden and nurturing your faith. 

I hope this BLOOM method of reading and learning God's Words helps you in your daily life. Use as little or as much as you have time for. All of this was given to me by the Lord a few mornings ago as I did my daily reading. After all, God created me to enjoy the flora and fauna of the natural world and He planted in me the desire to read, learn, and write about it. 

I am recovering from Profound Grief Disorder because of the loss of my beloved daughter. I've been in a very deep, dark place, but God is healing me one day at a time. It wasn't until I SURRENDERED all of my self to Jesus that He lifted the spirit of grief off of me and I am learning that we are to lean on Him through all the seasons of our life. And when we experience God's Goodness, we are to go tell others about what He has done for us. 

Bless you and BLOOM where you are planted! Karen 

THE BLOOM Bible Study method Introduction

GROWING DEEP: Introducing the BLOOM Bible Study Method

 Find your quiet, personal space and let’s sit together for a spell. Lately, I’ve been thinking about how much our faith is like a garden. Some seasons we feel like we are bursting with life, and other seasons feel a bit like winter—chilly, quiet, and waiting. But no matter what the weather looks like outside, God is always working beneath the soil of our hearts. If you’ve been looking for a fun, beautiful way to dig into your alone time with the Lord, I am so excited to share something close to my heart. It’s my simple, down-home way to study scripture that I call the BLOOM Method. Just like a delicate blossom opening up to the morning sun, this five-step guide helps us slow down and savor the sweet aroma of God’s Word. 

Here is the guide: The BLOOM Method Breakdown: 

B – Breathe in the Spirit. Before you even turn a page, pause. Start with a humble prayer, inviting God to open your eyes to the beauty of His truth.

L – Look for the hidden gems. Examine the verses closely. Search for deep roots, cultural context, and key words that jump out at you.

O – Open your heart completely. Let the living Word soften your soul. Let it break up any hard soil in your heart so you can receive His grace.

O – Overflow with thanksgiving. Savor the sweet promises you just read. Take a moment to praise Him for how He is growing your faith today.

M – Meditate on His goodness. Don't just close your Bible and forget it. Turn those truths over in your mind throughout the day, letting them change how you live and love.

Tending to Your Heart's Garden: Try printing this little guide out to keep in your Bible, your journal or somewhere close. Remember, growing your beautiful faith takes time, digging in the seeds of God's Word, a little daily watering, and a lot of grace. You don't have to rush through words, verses, or chapters of the Bible to check a box. Just sit, study, and bloom right where God has planted you. I'm a wildflowers, blooming gardens, houseplants lady with a green thumb. 

My garden is not just a hobby, it is a living, breathing sanctuary where my love for God's creation and my spiritual growth intertwine perfectly. I think of my heart as the garden where I remember and nurture all the things God graciously gives me. I read/study/learn about our Creator and I tend to my loving flowers - a visual reminder that the Lord is alive. 

Tomorrow I'll post the BLOOM Bible Study Method Gardening Framework with scriptures. Have a blooming day, Karen

BOOK REVIEW: Wildflower Bride by Mary Connealy

 

About the Book

Book: Wildflower Bride

Author: Mary Connealy

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: August 11, 2026

From bestselling author Mary Connealy comes a thrilling Western romance about finding belonging in unexpected places—a tale of a fierce woman warrior caught between two worlds, a gentle-hearted rancher, and the faith that brings them together. Perfect for fans of historical romance and unconventional heroines.

Abby has lived with the Flathead tribe since they rescued her as a child, forgetting her white heritage. But when her village is massacred, and she’s saved by kind-hearted rancher Wade Sawyer, she’s forced to confront her past and future. Though drawn to Wade’s gentle strength, she refuses to be bound to the white world that once abandoned her.

Wade Sawyer has spent his life trying to please his tyrannical father while battling his own demons. When he finds Abby—fierce, independent, and unlike any woman he’s known—he sees a chance at real love. But winning the heart of a woman who trusts no man and bridging the gap between two worlds seems impossible.

As they face deadly rustlers, family conflicts, and their own fears, Wade and Abby must learn to trust in God’s plan for their lives. But can Abby let down her defenses and embrace a future with Wade? And can Wade prove that true strength lies in gentleness and faith?

A moving story of finding home, healing from the past, and discovering that love knows no boundaries in the untamed Montana Territory.

 Click here to get your copy!

 About the Author

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies with cowboys and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two-time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist. She is the bestselling author of over 80 books and novellas. She has over a 1.8 million books in print.

Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Visit her website or find her at Petticoats & Pistols!

 More from Mary

I try to write books I love, and I re-read my own books. I’m a big re-reader and if I find myself uninterested in a book I wrote, I take that as a bad sign.

I happen to LOVE Wildflower Bride as much as any book I’ve ever written.

I wrote for ten years before I got my first book published. On that fateful day when I earned my first contract, I had twenty finished books on my computer. And I didn’t just write them and move on. I’d go back (re-reading even then) and polish them. I took stand alone books and shortened them, lengthened them. Turned them into series, saved all versions in case an editor wanted a series or did NOT want a series.

Each book well, not ALL twenty of them, but a whole bunch, had about nine versions, all saved separately. Love Inspired length, trade fiction length, series, stand alone. I kept them all. But when I felt like I’d really improved one of them, I went back to the other versions and made those same improvements. I did a LOT of writing within those twenty books.

Wildflower Bride was the first book I wrote from scratch after I signed a contract for it. Maybe for this reason, I especially love it. I took everything I knew, everything I learned and put it into this book. I remember staring at that blank page…I had about six books published by this time…and holding my hand flat on the computer screen and praying, God help me to remember everything I’ve learned.

The hero is Wildflower Bride is the villain in Montana Rose. He is wretched. But to me, he was a broken man. My editor, when I told her Wade was the hero, said, “I can’t imagine it, but go for it.”

He is saved at the end of Montana Rose. A young Christian trying to do right in the face of enormous pressure from his powerful, abusive father, in The Husband Tree, and a sad, lonely, but strong man, still growing in his faith at the same time he’s very solid in it, in Wildflower Bride.

I just loved him.

I love the wild beginning of Wildflower Bride, the heroine is an adult woman taken in by an Indian tribe at the age of ten when they find her, alone in a cabin, with her family all dead from a fever. She loves the people who saved her.

Then people start trying to save her from the tribe and she is insulted and wants no part of this new world when her small band of native family is killed in a massacre. Again, she survives.

Abby, she only vaguely remembers her birth name, fits nowhere. And she’s so at home in the wilderness she’s planning to live on her own, somewhere.

Wade falls desperately in love with the strength he finds in her.

These two need each other so badly, but Abby is a hard one to convince she should spend her life with Wade.

Then Abby finds that one of her family, an older brother who didn’t come west with her family, is alive and living nearby.

The way they discover each other, well, I just love it. Wade is starting to look pretty good compared to the grouchy, quick to swing a fist, brother. Still, she begins to remember her big brother, and she remembers loving him. Abby is a confused woman.

Can Abby find her place anywhere in the world? Can Wade find enough backbone to stand up to his father…so far he’d just cut him out of his life. But Pa needs him even if he’s too awful to admit it. Wade’s pa needs God, too.

And those evil men who destroyed her village, haven’t gone away and they want more from Wade and Abby than anyone can imagine. They have to be stopped and Abby and Wade have to find a way to work together to stop them.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 18

Texas Book-aholic, August 19

Labor Not in Vain, August 20

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, August 21 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, August 21

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 23

Book Holds and Jello Molds, August 24

Guild Master, August 25 (Author Interview)

Books You Can Feel Good About, August 26

Simple Harvest Reads, August 27 (Guest Review from Donna)

Holly’s Book Corner, August 28

Cover Lover Book Review, August 29

Fiction Book Lover, August 30 (Author Interview)

The Vine and The Branch, August 31

Mary Hake, August 31

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/reBqi/wildflower-bride-celebration-tour-giveaway

MY THOUGHTS: Mary Connealy is a Queen of Western Historical Cowboy romance. Wildflower Bride has all the makings that a great novel needs: cowboys, Indians, shoot-outs, outlaws & criminals, and faith, hope, and romance. Abby is a strong, independent heroine who wants control of any situation she finds herself in. Sometimes as I read the story, I was a little annoyed because of her need for control, but it's because of her past life, so that makes it more forgiving. 

Readers will keep the pages turning on Wildflower Bride and the characters will stay with you long after you end the story. It's an entertaining read with the cast of characters giving readers plenty to smile and laugh about. 

I was provided a copy of this book by Celebration Lit for an honest review. This is my own opinion.  

BOOK REVIEW: A Guided Gratitude Journal by Donna Wyland

 

A Guided Gratitude Journal

About the Book

Book: A Guided Gratitude Journal

Author: Donna Wyland

Genre: Nonfiction/Christian Guided Journal

Release Date: September, 2025

What would you change in your life if you could? Scientific and faith-based research prove that gratitude is the key! 5 minutes a day/7 days a week/7 weeks. CHANGE YOUR MINDSET. CHANGE YOUR LIFE. Let today be the day your new life begins!

 

 

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

 

About the Author

Donna Wyland is an award-winning author of fiction, nonfiction, and picture books. Her most recent gift book, Last Best Year – A Short Guide to a Grateful Life – is a Golden Scroll Award Winner, and her picture books, ‘Twas the Night Before Jesus and Psalms in Rhyme for Little Hearts were both Readers’ Choice Award Finalists.‘Twas the Night Before Jesus also won the Illumination Award Silver Medal and Psalms in Rhyme for Little Hearts was the Christian Indie Award winner for picture books.

Though she began a career in financial planning, God interrupted those plans and called her to write more than twenty years ago. Donna responded, “Yes, Lord,” and today has numerous books, essays, and blogs attributed to her name.

In the future, Donna hopes to continue writing guided journals to encourage and inspire people’s faith and confidence in God and themselves. As a Certified Christian Life Coach, Donna learned the value of asking powerful questions. Through her guided journals she hopes to lead readers to greater clarity, peace, and purpose as they read, consider, and reply to the questions asked.

Donna is grateful for her husband, four grown daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren. She and her husband currently live in Southwest Florida, but her passion for travel frequently takes her to other states and countries around the world. Only God knows where she will live in five years. Thankfully she has a husband who says he will follow her wherever she goes.

More from Donna

What would you change in your life if you could? Scientific and faith-based research prove that gratitude is the key! 5 minutes a day/7 days a week for 7 weeks could change your life. Let today be the day your new life begins!

This journal was inspired by God and written as a result of many personal losses in my life. As I tried to move toward healing, I felt like I was still walking under a dark cloud each day, faking happiness and joy as I went about my responsibilities as a wife, mother, and grandmother. I was still hurting and desperately wanted to know why. That’s when I did a deep dive on the topic of gratitude and discovered its tremendous power to heal.

I pray that this journal becomes a legacy of readers’ journeys to joy, emotional and physical health, peace, and a thankful way of life. God knows you and sees you. He is excited to hear your praise and watch you grow into a gratitude-filled man or woman of God who lights the world on fire simply by being your wonderful, beautiful, joyful self.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 22

Texas Book-aholic, August 23

Simple Harvest Reads, August 24 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 26

Its Mama Safe, August 27

Guild Master, August 28 (Author Interview)

The Vine and The Branch, August 28

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 29

Fiction Book Lover, August 30 (Author Interview)

Book Looks by Lisa, August 31

Cover Lover Book Review, September 1

Devoted to Hope, September 2

Mary Hake, September 2

Artistic Nobody, September 3

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 4

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Donna is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/tkOYA/a-guided-gratitude-journal-celebration-tour-giveaway

MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BOOK:   This book is a lovely edition of 31 daily devotions that include ample space for the reader to record thoughts and answers from the questions that are provided from the author. 

Get to know the author as she shares pieces of her life; she is a survivor of emotional, spiritual, and psychological abuse. She gives her testimony and a peek into her life and writing in a few of the devotionals. She shares her vision and hope for tomorrow that fills her mind and heart and prayers each day and she invites readers to do the same.

This devotional journal is truly inspiring as I dove deeper into my copy, reading and then answering the questions that are provided. I give it a 5-star rating and I will consider buying more of Donna Wyland's books. 

If you are looking for ways to practice being grateful in your life, this book will help guide you to practical gratitude. 

I was provided with a free copy of the book to review by Celebrate Lit. This is my own opinion. 

Godwinks In Your Life

 Godwink: an event or a personal experience often identified as a coincidence that is so astonishing that it seems it is a sign of divine intervention, especially when it is perceived as the answer to prayers.

****

Godwink: an event or a coincidence of divine origin that it offers a sign of hope or serves as an answered prayer -- it describes both real-life moments of synchronicity and also of answered prayer. 

I have many Godwinks in my life...the Lord has been with me all of my life. And as I look back on my life I see all the blessings He has bestowed upon me and how He has brought me through the fires of life. One of those fires of life are the deaths of my beloved great-grandmother, my mother, my husband, and recently one of my daughters. 

I'm still healing from my daughter's death, but steadily I'm learning how to cope with the tragedy. And the good news? She was saved and baptized, so I will see her again in God's Kingdom. Amen! 

Do you have any Godwinks in your life? I imagine you do if you look close enough. 

BOOK REVIEW: THE BACHELOR SPY: A Freddie and Grace Mystery by Pepper Basham

 

The Bachelor Spy 

About the Book

Book: The Bachelor Spy (A Freddie and Grace Mystery Book 5)

Author: Pepper Basham

Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction

Release Date: July, 2026

Spies Infiltrate Havensbrooke Hall. . .and Another Mystery Adventure Begins

Stephen Blake’s life goal is to protect people, especially those closest to him, but war in 1914 England doesn’t follow any rules. When Blake is informed that a noted German spy may have taken up residence at Havensbrooke Hall—his cousin Lord Astley’s estate, which is being used as a convalescent war hospital—he’s sent there to uncover the plot.

Lady Grace Astley has become a force to be reckoned with while Frederick is out on the war front. With Havensbrooke as a hospital, she’s shocked by the devastation the war is bringing home; but ever hopeful, she is determined to help these weary soldiers find some relief. However, not everything is as it seems inside Havensbrooke. Precious items soon start disappearing. . .and not just the kind that are worth a lot of money.

Through a case of mistaken identity, a comedy of errors, a kidnapping, and a race for time within the crumbling subterranean passageways beneath Havensbrooke, can Blake and Gracie work together to root out the criminals, thieves, and spies before time runs out?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell’s Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

 

Excerpt

Prologue

May 7, 1915

Stephen Blake had been trailing the presumed spy most of the voyage—first to secure his target, and then. . .to strike. Every clue pointed to the fact that the gregarious businessman Donald Leaman was none other than Albert Stein, a German informant ferrying English war secrets straight to the fatherland.

Unfortunately, every opportunity Blake had found to confront the man had been thwarted: too many watchful eyes, too much pomp and luxury for a clean cornering. With the Lusitania’s transatlantic voyage ending in less than a day, his time to complete this mission was slipping away.

Worse, he couldn’t shake the feeling he was being followed himself. Only a limited few knew of his operation to uncover a ghostlike informant who’d used their “ordinary” position to gain extraordinary intelligence—from transfer stations, casualty clearing posts, even a general’s bunker at the Western Front. The spy had proven madden-ingly elusive, slipping through every trap British intelligence laid with almost theatrical flair.

But what did they know? Stein was the spy’s last contact. And Blake was tasked with finding out what he knew.

The Lusitania was hardly Blake’s first ship, but certainly it was the grandest. It felt as though Claridge’s, the famous hotel in London, had taken to the sea, complete with its extravagant marble floors and its crystal chandeliers, with champagne in the air and ease all around. Just after luncheon, Stein had excused himself early and started down the grand staircase toward the lower decks. An odd choice for a first-class passenger, especially so near the end of the trip and with his companions urging him to remain for cards.

So, of course, Blake followed.

Deck by deck, corridor by corridor, until the music and chatter faded into the deep measured thrum of the engines. Occasionally, Stein cast a look behind him but never appeared concerned enough to stop his descent. This was certainly a planned meeting.

The elegance of the upper floors gave way to simpler decor, narrower corridors. Second-class accommodations. Stein stopped before a cabin door. His knock held an unnatural rhythm—three quick raps, a pause, two more. After only a beat of silence, a murmur from within responded.

Stein’s immediate whispered answer? “Octavia.” A code word, no doubt.

The door opened. Stein slipped inside, but before the door could click shut, Blake rushed soundlessly forward and caught it with his fingertips.

Perfect.

He released a self-satisfied grin and then pressed himself against the corridor wall, listening through the crack over the hum of the ship’s engine.

The cabin was small—voices carried easily in the confined space—and the faint scent of cigarette smoke drifted through the opening. “You’re late.” A man’s voice, crisp and impatient. Something about the cadence nagged at Blake’s memory, but he couldn’t place. English, certainly. Kentish?

Blake frowned. He could overpower Stein easily—the man was more socialite than combatant, the sort who’d probably never thrown a proper punch in his life. But this unknown fellow, clearly in charge and confident enough to smoke a cigarette while conducting treason? That suggested either experience or exceptional stupidity. Blake hoped for the latter but suspected the former.

“It was difficult to get away without raising suspicion,” Stein replied, his accent thickening into full German. “Blake is on this ship.”

Blake’s pulse quickened. So Stein knew he was being followed. “I know.” The other man’s tone didn’t waver. A long exhale followed, as if he were breathing out smoke. “We’ve been watching him to ensure he didn’t wreck things.”

We? Who?

Blake’s mind raced through the passenger manifest, through his team members, through every face he’d seen on this voyage. That voice. . .

“But with that in mind, we need to move quickly,” the Englishman continued. “What do you have for me?”

A rustle of papers. “The Midnight Angel’s next assignment. She’s to embed herself in a convalescent hospital—but not in France this time. There is too much interest in her there.”

Blake’s breath caught. She was called the Midnight Angel? The informant they’d been hunting for months. And she was a woman.

“Italy, then?”

“Nein,” Stein answered simply. “A place much closer to your front door, mein Herr.”

England? A convalescent hospital in England?

“Perfect,” the Englishman murmured. “Wounded officers talk too freely around nurses they think are angels of mercy.”

“Clever, no?” Stein’s voice held a note of pride. “No one suspects the nurses. They’re invisible, really. Moving between stations, tending to generals and privates alike. She’s already proven invaluable.”

“This is excellent information, Stein.” A pause. “And you’ve given it so freely. Too freely, I’m afraid.”

Blake froze. He knew that tone—the shift from curiosity to finality. The Englishman was finished with Stein. The German had served his purpose, been found wanting, and now. . .had become a liability.

He couldn’t wait any longer. Stein had to be taken alive—had to be questioned, catalogued, and wrung dry of every detail about the Midnight Angel and her network before—

He drew his revolver and pushed through the door. The scene materialized in a horrifying instant.

Stein stood near a narrow desk, documents scattered before him. And holding a gun already drawn, already aimed at Stein’s head with casual confidence, stood Evan Montgomery.

Blake’s breath squeezed closed in his throat.

Montgomery? His colleague. His friend. The man he’d trained with in Scotland, shared terrible army rations with in the trenches, trusted with his life on half a dozen missions across the Channel. The man whose sister Blake had been half in love with for six months but was far too professional to mention. The man who was, apparently, a traitor.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, July 30

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 30

Melissa’s Bookshelf, July 30

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 31

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 31

Texas Book-aholic, August 1

Books You Can Feel Good About, August 1

For Him and My Family, August 2

Book Holds and Jello Molds, August 2

Sylvan Musings, August 3

Jodie Wolfe, August 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 3

Where Faith and Books Meet, August 4

Connie’s History Classroom , August 4

Simple Harvest Reads, August 5 (Guest Review from Donna)

The Vine and The Branch, August 5

Stories By Gina, August 6 (Author Interview)

Betti Mace, August 6

Mary Hake, August 6

Min Reads and Reviews, August 7

Wishful Endings, August 7

She Lives To Read, August 8

Blossoms and Blessings, August 8

Labor Not in Vain , August 9

Holly’s Book Corner, August 9

Lily’s Corner, August 10

Cover Lover Book Review, August 10

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 11

Pause for Tales, August 11

The Sacred Line, August 12

Devoted to Hope, August 12

Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews, August 12

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Pepper is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon e-Gift Card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/ovQ5J/the-bachelor-spy-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts: Once again Pepper Basham brings another Freddie and Grace mystery story to readers. Pepper's love for Christmas and the era in which she writes shines in the 5-book series. This ends the series and leaves readers happy for Freddie and Grace, their family, and their friends.        Frederick is away fighting in the Royal Engineers in 1915. He has left Grace to help run a convalescent hospital set up in their home at Havensbrook. The two youngsters, Zahra and Lily, are with Grace.      There is talk of the mysterious Midnight Angel who is passing along intelligence about troop movements, patterns, and locations - threats to the German operations. The Midnight Angel is building a kill list and people are out to find out who she or he is and end the game.     

Freddie's cousin, Stephen Blake shows up at the hospital wounded and discovers there are a lot of people coming and going in the hospital and people are not who they seem to be and moving about where they should not be with secrets they will not share.    I enjoyed Blake's new romance with the woman who is perfect for him. I cheered Blake and Evie on as they unravel their love for one another along with trying to catch the bad guys. I heartily give it a five-star review!       Pepper Basham writes great clean inspirational spy novels with fight scenes filled with action, humor, and intrigue. You won't want to miss the wonderful endearing surprise at the end of the story. It is the perfect Christmas gift for the Percy family! 

An eBook was provided through Celebrate Lit for an honest review. This is my opinion.

PAPER: WHAT WOULD LIFE BE WITHOUT IT?

Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

Have you ever stopped to imagine a world without paper? Take a moment and think about all the things that are made from paper.

Writing paper and books may be the first things that come to mind, but paper touches nearly every part of our lives. Food packaging, shipping boxes, school assignments, letters, workplace reports, official records, historical documents, birth/death certificates, legal papers--even the art world depends on paper in countless ways.

The first paper mill in America was established near Philadelphia in 1690. After centuries of innovation and improvement, paper evolved into one of the world's most valuable inventions.

Without paper, our would would be a very different place. Paper preserves our history, records, our memories, and helps us communicate. Even in today's digital age, many people still print important documents, proving that paper remains an essential part of everyday life.

Imagine our world without books or libraries. Libraries are more than places to borrow books--they are places to learn, reflect, gather, and connect with others. Printed books continue to have an important place in our communities.

Recycled paper also plays a valuable role. I save all of the scrap paper for jotting down story ideas and notes, giving it a second life before it heads to the recycling bin. If you've never explored the history of paper, I encourage you to do so. we've certainly come a long way from the stone age tables of ancient times!

One more discovery surprised me: there is no National Paper Appreciation Day. We celebrate newspapers, newspaper carriers, and even National Toilet Paper Day, but not paper itself. i think it's time someone recognized this remarkable invention by declaring a National Paper Appreciation Day.

Paper is the thread connecting our stories, history, education, creativity, and everyday lives. 

RESOURCES: 

https://lovepaper.org/where-would-we-be-without-paper/

https://poopoopaper.com/pages/history-of-paper#: https://hammermill.com/blogs/newsroom/where-would-we-be-without-paper

BOOK REVIEW: The Curator's Secret by Denise Weimer

I love books set in the American Gilded Age. Once again, Denise Weimer has written a lovely story set in Georgia's Jekyll Island. Denise has set several of her novels during the Gilded Age and she knows all of the elements to write a deep, fulfilling, character-driven novel. 

With this book, the characters, Lacey and Trent, are working at the golden Isles Christian Camp, and each have their past troubles to work through, especially when they are thrown together again to work closely on a new project. 

 Lacey is being harassed by someone who knows her from the past and the threats against her are piling up as creepy mysteries cause her to watch every step she takes. Who is out to "get her" and why do they want to cause her harm? Trent comes to her aid even though he denies his feelings for Lacey.

The personal secret that Lacey is hiding is a very real, very troublesome one and Trent is devastated when he learns about it. Can love and forgiveness overcome the issue that is still prevalent in today's world? 

In the end, will Lacey find out who is threatening her and will she be safe to stay in her new job as the museum curator? Can Lacey and Trent come to terms with their past and find the happily-ever-after they deserve? 

This is a fantastic page-turner with mysterious trouble and danger that may cause readers to not sleep because they need to find out who the perpetrator is! I received a copy of this book from the author to give an honest review and this is my opinion of the book. 

***GENRE: Christian mystery and suspense, Contemporary Christian Romance