Inside the Wong Mind

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.

August 8, 2022 by Kim Book Reviews

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.

July 19, 2022 by Kim Book Reviews

Sunburst by Susan May Warren

About the Book

Title: Sunburst
Series: Sky King Ranch #2
Author: Susan May Warren
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: June 7, 2022

When former Navy SEAL and lifelong bachelor Ranger Kingston is called upon to take part in a rescue mission to save his brother Colt, who has been kidnapped by terrorists in Nigeria, he is shocked to find among the hostages a woman he knows and could never forget.

Noemi Sutton was attempting to return a young girl to her family in Boko Haram territory when she and the girl found themselves taken hostage, along with several others.

And while Ranger Kingston may be able to get the hostages away from their captors, he’ll need Noemi’s help if he ever hopes to get out of Nigeria alive.

Her solution? Pose as husband and wife. But when her uncle discovers the union, he insists on a traditional Nigerian wedding–binding Noemi to a man destined to break her heart. Worse, she’s discovered the real reason she was kidnapped, and anyone around her is bound to be caught in the cross fire. Including her so-called new husband.

She’ll need to figure out a way to leave the man she loves if she wants to save his life.

USA Today bestselling author Susan May Warren throws you into the thick of the action in this high-stakes, globe-trotting romance.

Grab your copy here.

About the Author

Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling, Christy and RITA award–winning author of more than eighty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. The mother of four grown children, and married to her real-life hero for over 30 years, she loves traveling and telling stories about life, adventure, and faith.

For exciting updates on her new releases, previous books, and more, visit her website at www.susanmaywarren.com.

CONNECT WITH SUSAN: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

My Review

Sunburst
by Susan May Warren
Book 2 in the Sky King Ranch series
Rating: 4.5/5

I just finished reading this amazing book and I’m in awe. The author has done an amazing job of capturing the reader’s attention from the very beginning and making you fall in love with Ranger and Noemi. I highly recommend reading the first book in the series, Sunrise, before reading this one so you don’t get confused about the characters. You could probably be ok reading it as a standalone but I don’t think it will be as enjoyable. The author also brings back some other characters from her other series which was fun to read.

First, I didn’t think that they could match the beauty of the first book cover, but I was wrong. This cover is absolutely stunning.
Second, the dedication at the beginning of the book to the author’s daughter-in-law was beautiful and provides an even more authentic Nigerian setting to the story. I was swept away to Africa and though there was a lot of intense action, the traditional Nigerian wedding scene was so much fun. I love that the author was able to really delve into the Nigerian culture since I am not as familiar with it as a reader.
Third, the main characters are so good for each other. The author does some flashbacks about how they met and what happened but who doesn’t love a story about second chances. Their chemistry was so good and I loved how strong Noemi was – not a typical damsel-in-distress.
Fourth, the author is always really good at incorporating her faith into her stories. The spiritual journey that Noemi goes through is very relatable while Ranger’s insecurities regarding identity feel very familiar.

Highly recommend this action-packed, suspense-filled adventure to Nigeria and the Alaskan Bush with romance, intrigue and 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

Read my review of Sunrise here.

June 22, 2022 by Kim Book Reviews

Inside the Wong Mind: Reading is my therapy

Hello. This blog is all mine and I will do my best to post what interests me and what books I read with honest reviews. I am a lover of good Christian fiction with a touch of romance, mystery, intrigue, humor, fun, etc. I invite you to join me as I read my way through books and life. I am currently pursuing my residency training as a family medicine physician!!! I have to carefully choose what I want to read for fun. My name is Kim and you are entering the Wong Mind.