Shine Global Network

Happy Tuesday! This week’s topic is Authors I Read for the First Time in 2018 … and there were a lot of them! I’m focusing on the ones whose books I enjoyed … because I also discovered some new authors I didn’t like, but there’s no need to rehash that here 😉Many of these authors are independently publishing their work—something I used to turn up my nose at, but I’m discovering that many indie writers are very talented! (However, there’s plenty of drivel out there; Kindle Unlimited is a great way to wade through and find the gems, as you can stop reading a book without feeling guilty about paying for…

I remember hearing about At First Glance when it released last year, but I didn’t give it much thought—after all, my TBR list was already super long! But I had a lull between review book over Christmas break, and I stumbled across it on Kindle Unlimited, so I decided to give it a shot!Estate planner Penny Thornton loves dusting off items others gloss over, especially since she relates to feeling tossed aside for the “bright and shiny . When her younger sister’s approaching wedding launches Penny back into the throes of her dysfunctional family, she decides to use the festivities to close the gap in their relationships even if it means…

Wright has crafted an emotion packed character driven mystery that combines a contemporary story with one over a century ago. In the contemporary story, Heidi visits her older sister and institutionalized mother in Pleasant Valley after receiving a letter from her mother. She is shocked to see an old photo of a woman who looks just like her. Relationships are strained as Heidi tries to find out who that woman was and why there is an uncanny resemblance.In the historical story, Thea visits Pleasant Valley to find information about her unknown parents. Left at an orphanage as a child, she has a few clues that lead her to an insane…

About the BookTitle: The Lost Art of Relationship  Author: Dan Chrystal  Genre: Christian non-fiction, Christian living  Release date: October 15, 2018Relationship is a journey of discovery—a lost art. In this generation, it has become challenging to deepen and grow personal relationships with each other. Our technology-flooded environment has left many with limited relational experience and a fear of face-to-face connection and meeting new people. The church has done a decent job of helping people understand the need and importance of a relationship with God, but what about with each other? At the heart of every man, woman, and child is the need for connection—for relationships with people who love them…

This is the third full length novel in The Lavender Tides series but reads well on its own. I enjoyed it. Coble has done a great job of combining mystery, romance, and suspense. And what could be better than the location, the north coast of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.Readers of the series will be familiar with some of the major characters from previous Lavender Tides novels but the main character is a transplant from the Midwest. How Bailey ends up in the town is a bit convoluted, involving the murder of her mother and the bigamist she thought was her husband giving her the deed to a cabin…

I generally enjoyed this historical Christian romance. I am not a fan of romance novels but this one had enough interesting aspects to it that it kept my interest. It was an era in England when young women could dream of marrying for love. Sometimes they were required by parents to marry for financial security or to ensure a family lineage. That’s what happened to Josie. Her father had arranged a marriage to help alleviate his debts. When her older sister refused the arranged marriage, Josie agreed to do it. But Charles, the wealthy man she has agreed to marry, is a deeply wounded man. We wonder if Josie will…

About the Book:For these two broken hearts, the first step toward love will be a huge leap of faith.Jessica Mason isn’t looking for love when she meets Ridley Chesterfield. Instead she is still reeling from the tragic, unexpected loss of her husband and daughter—and awaiting the arrival of her unborn child. Harboring the secret of her husband’s betrayal, her pain is deeper than anyone knows. Ridley Chesterfield is hiding out in Hope Springs, Idaho, avoiding a political scandal and the barrage of false media headlines that have tarnished his good name. The last thing Ridley wants is a relationship—but when fate leads Ridley to form a friendship with his reclusive…