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Not Dead Yet by Traci Hunter Abramson

About the Book

Title: Not Dead Yet
Series: Guardians #6
Author: Traci Hunter Abramson
Genre: Suspense
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: June 13, 2022

Cassidy Edgemont has been dead for four years. At least, that is what the world has been led to believe. After becoming unwittingly entangled in a group called the Coalition, known for using fake news to generate political unrest in the United States, Cas was offered a devastating choice: stage her own death and join her rescuers, the guardians, or risk the wrath of the organization she betrayed. She chose death.

As an invisible government operative, Cas has been living in Paris with no complications—until her family pays an unexpected visit to the European city, changing everything. They think Cas is dead, and she has to keep it that way. But when a bomb is detonated nearby and fake news incites riots in the city, Cas recognizes the mark of the Coalition.

Donovan, a fellow guardian, is summoned to join her in Paris to attempt to untangle the intricate web linking Cas’s past with the recent bombings. But as the threat level escalates, Cas must again make an impossible decision: face possible exposure to her family in her race to uncover the truth or risk the loss of innocent lives.

Grab your copy here!


About the Author

Photo of Traci Hunter Abramson

Traci Hunter Abramson was born in Arizona, where she lived until moving to Venezuela for a study-abroad program. After graduating from Brigham Young University, she worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for several years, eventually resigning in order to raise her family. She credits the CIA with giving her a wealth of ideas for suspense novels as well as the skills needed to survive her children’s teenage years. She has gone on to write a number of bestselling suspense novels that have consistently been nominated as Whitney Award finalists. She considers shoes an optional accessory which became evident when she won her first three Whitney Awards in 2013 (Code Word), 2014 (Deep Cover), and 2016 (Failsafe.) Safe House won Whitney Awards for both the mystery/suspense category as well as 2017 Adult Novel of the Year. She added two additional awards in 2019 (Mistaken Reality – best mystery/suspense and Sanctuary – Adult Novel of the Year.) She currently lives in Virginia with her family where she enjoys sports, travel, writing, and coaching high school swimming.

Connect with Traci: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Bookbub


My Review

Not Dead Yet
by Traci Hunter Abramson
Book 6 in the Guardian series
Rating: 4/5

The author continues to deliver high impact, romantic thrillers that the reader cannot put down. As a fan of the author, I was excited to get my hands on an ARC and read what came next. Each book can be read as a standalone which I can verify since this is only the first book from the series that I’ve had the privilege of reading and I was not confused. However, I plan on reading the rest when time allows.

First, I was immediately drawn to the cover. I loved seeing a woman of color on the cover, which made me even more excited to delve into the story.
Second, the European setting of the story was well written and dropped me right into life in France and Belgium. I loved reading about Cass’ love for Paris and am impatiently waiting till I can go myself. 
Third, the romance between the main characters was sweet and intense at the same time. I liked how they could relate to each other’s situations but still had to face the realities of what a relationship between them would look like.
Fourth, the action is jam-packed and this thriller is sure to get your heart racing as you try to solve the mystery along with the main characters.

Highly recommend this clean, contemporary romantic suspense with intrigue and a lot of heart.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.


Also Available


More from Traci

Paris anyone? After years of restricted travel and various COVID-related challenges, I needed to spend some time back in a city I love, even if it was only as part of my fictional world. Add in my years working with the CIA, and Not Dead Yet was born.

While Not Dead Yet is technically the sixth book in the guardian series, all of these books are written as stand-alone novels, which simply visit some characters from previous novels and sometimes introduce characters that will be featured in the stories to come.

Not Dead Yet was particularly enjoyable to write, not only because it gave me an excuse to revisit my photos and memories from my most recent trips to Paris, but also because of the parallels that naturally occurred with my own life.

Cas, the main character, is the first female guardian in my fictional top-secret program of government operatives who strive to serve and protect U.S. intelligence and military personnel. When I worked for the Central Intelligence Agency, I often attended meetings in which I was the only woman in the room. Respect and loyalty had to be earned regardless of gender, and I was fortunate to work with some amazing individuals over the years. Some of those treasured work relationships come through within the pages of this book.

Another similarity to my own background is Cas’s family dynamics. She has her parents and a younger sister, which mirrors my own early childhood. Her family is often in the public eye because of their association with the media industry. While I didn’t come from the extreme wealth and fame as my character did, I do remember well what it was like to have a mom on television (The Home Hunter in Phoenix, AZ) and to have a sister working in the entertainment industry. While my sister (Tiffany Hunter) has taken over The Home Hunter in recent years, a few of her earlier positions included serving as the backstage coordinator for the Grammys as well as working as Bill Murray’s personal assistant.

Not Dead Yet blends many experiences from my past with the events of the present and the ever-present question of What if? I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.


Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 4
Inklings and notions, August 5
EmpowerMoms, August 5
For Him and My Family, August 6
Cathe Swanson, August 6
Texas Book-aholic, August 7
Blogging With Carol, August 8
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 8
Betti Mace, August 9
Wishful Endings, August 9
deb’s Book Review, August 10
Inside the Wong Mind, August 10
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 11
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 12
Holly’s Book Corner, August 12
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 13
Mary Hake, August 13
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 14
The Book Club Network, August 14
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, August 15 (Author Interview)
Dee S. White, August 15
CarpeDiem, August 16
Reading with Emily, August 16
Pause for Tales, August 17
Melissa’s Bookshelf, August 17


Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Traci is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon Gift Card, Signed Book, Matching bookmark, Matching pin, and Matching stickers!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/2070b/not-dead-yet-celebration-tour-giveaway

Shadow of Honor by Ronie Kendig

About the Book

Title: Shadow of Honor
Series: The Droseran Saga #3
Author: Ronie Kendig
Publisher: Enclave Publishing
Genre: Space Opera, Sci-Fi Fantasy
Release Date: June 14, 2022

The war he fears may be the very one he’s been called to start. 

Held captive, tortured by monsters of a nightmarish alien race, Marco Dusan clings to a final goal: keep these beasts from the Quadrants, even if it means orchestrating his own death. But his dreams betray that singular design. In them his bonded calls to him across lightyears. Does he leave her to fight Symmachia alone, or risk bringing an unwinnable war to every planet in the Quadrants? 

On board the alien dreadnought, Eija Zacdari flounders, torn amidst military machinations, prophecies, and an inexplicable bond with one of the fearsome creatures who have imprisoned her friends. Only by uncovering the truth about an ancient conflict now shrouded in deception will she find her place.

Faced with her true identity, Eija sees her purpose snap into focus, and she realizes the war Marco fears may be the very one he has been called to start.

Grab your copy here!


About the Author

Ronie Kendig is a bestselling, award-winning author of over thirty books. She grew up an Army brat, and now she and her Army-veteran husband have returned to their beloved Texas after a ten-year stint in the Northeast. They survive on Sonic & Starbucks runs, barbecue, and peach cobbler that they share—sometimes—with Benning the Stealth Golden. Ronie’s degree in psychology has helped her pen novels of intense, raw characters.

Connect with Ronie: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter


My Review

Shadow of Honor
by Ronie Kendig
Book 3 in the Droseran Saga
Rating: 4/5

The space opera continues with this epic story that keeps getting better and better. If you are a fan of love stories that transcend space, mystical guardians that may or may not grant wishes and the threat of war across the galaxy, you will definitely enjoy this book. I highly recommend reading the first two books in the series or else you may be lost.

First, the book cover is ridiculously gorgeous.
Second, the story is epic in all things and has many different perspectives. So many things happenings at once which makes for fast pacing and no lags in the story.
Third, the reveals in this story just keep getting better and better. And that’s all I’ll say for now 😉
Fourth, the love between a man and his pregnant wife was so beautifully portrayed. Nothing too steamy but very much a love for the ages.

Highly recommend this amazing book with action, adventure, intrigue, mystery and romance!

PG rating.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.


Also Available

Read my review of Brand of Light here.
Read my review of Dawn of Vengeance here.

Accomplished by Amanda Quain

About the Book

Title: Accomplished: A Georgie Darcy Novel
Author: Amanda Quain
Genre: YA Fiction
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: July 26, 2022

Georgiana Darcy gets the Pride & Prejudice retelling she deserves in Amanda Quain’s Accomplished, a sparkling contemporary YA featuring a healthy dose of marching band romance, endless banter, and Charles Bingley as a ripped frat boy.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Georgiana Darcy should have been expelled after The Incident with Wickham Foster last year – at least if you ask any of her Pemberley Academy classmates. She may have escaped expulsion because of her family name, but she didn’t escape the disappointment of her big brother Fitz, the scorn of the entire school, or, it turns out, Wickham’s influence.

But she’s back for her junior year, and she needs to prove to everyone – Fitz, Wickham, her former friends, and maybe even herself – that she’s more than just an embarrassment to the family name. How hard can it be to become the Perfect Darcy? All she has to do is:

– Rebuild her reputation with the marching band (even if it kills her)
– Forget about Wickham and his lies (no matter how tempting they still are), and
– Distract Fitz Darcy — helicopter-sibling extraordinaire — by getting him to fall in love with his classmate, Lizzie Bennet (this one might be difficult…)

Sure, it’s a complicated plan, but so is being a Darcy. With the help of her fellow bandmate, Avery, matchmaking ideas lifted straight from her favorite fanfics, and a whole lot of pancakes, Georgie is going to see every one of her plans through. But when the weight of being the Perfect Darcy comes crashing down, Georgie will have to find her own way before she loses everything permanently—including the one guy who sees her for who she really is.

Purchase your copy here!


About the Author

Storyteller.
Adventurer.
Enthusiasm Enthusiast.
Collector of too many mugs.

Born in Orlando, Florida, Amanda Quain has spent most of her life figuring out the best way to tell stories. Whether it’s best suited for the page or the stage, she’ll follow the thread of a story wherever it takes her. In addition to her work writing both YA novels and plays, Amanda is a bookseller at One More Page Books in Arlington, VA. She is represented by Moe Ferrara at Bookends Literary Agency. She lives outside of Washington, D.C. with her husband and her cat.


My Review

Accomplished: A Georgie Darcy Novel
by Amanda Quain
Rating: 4/5

As someone who loves Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice, I was super excited to read a contemporary retelling but from Georgiana Darcy’s perspective. Due to the YA setting, I expected there to be teenage angst but the character development was a nice touch too.

Georgie was a typical teenager with a lot of privilege who trusted in the wrong person, Wickham, and is now trying to navigate her junior year of high school. Her struggles are real but got a little annoying and unsympathetic after she kept bringing up her woes. The immaturity and naiveté was relatable though and the author relates her obsession with her crush in a very realistic way. (I’m so glad I don’t do that anymore ;)) The story is a bit heavier with the situations Georgie ends up in – I thought her schoolmates were super mean and elitist bullies. There is a sweet love interest for her though which the original story did not have so that was nice. I loved Lizzie’s character and the advice she had for Georgie. Fitz’s character development was also a nice aspect of the story – his relationship with Georgie had its own progression that was very touching.

P.S. I also loved Charlie’s character so much! 😉

Highly recommend if you enjoy a modern, YA take on Pride and Prejudice from Georgiana Darcy’s perspective.

Content: 23 “f” bombs and some other swearing but not overwhelmingly so. No sex scenes.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.