Inside the Wong Mind

Sunflowers and Suspicions by Karen Malley

About the Book

Book: Sunflowers and Suspicions
Author: Karen Malley
Genre: Christian Fiction
Release date: October, 2021

A Deception Revealed…

When Julie Wagner’s identical twin Jade goes missing, Julie travels to New York intent on pretending to be her sister so she can unravel the truth. There, she meets the the only person who has ever been able to tell them apart. Together, can she and her sister’s neighbor unravel a shady restaurant owner’s mysteries and find Jade?

A Fractured Family Healed…

Matt Callahan has lived across the hall from Jade Wagner for a year, but never understood the pain behind her eyes. When her sister appears in his apartment building, he is amazed at the differences he sees in the twins. As he helps Julie find her twin, he discovers that she just might be the answer to helping his own fractured family.

Click here to get your copy! Also available on Kindle Unlimited.

Also Available

About the Author

Karen Malley lives in Southeastern Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. She works full-time as a scientist but fits writing in her spare time whenever possible. This usually means writing in her pajamas on weekend mornings while the rest of the family is asleep. When not writing, she enjoys camping, hiking, playing board games, and especially reading! She loves reading faith-based stories because we can all use a happy ending.

Karen loves to hear from her readers. You can connect with her on her website: www.KarenMalley.com.

My Review

Sunflowers and Suspicions
by Karen Malley
Book 3 in the Pine Springs series
Rating: 4.5/5

It’s always so fun being introduced to new authors especially when they can easily incorporate their faith into their stories. Karen Malley has written a beautiful story of redemption and healing with this third installment from Pine Springs. Although I have not read the first two books in the series yet (I just purchased them), I did not feel like I had trouble following along. It can definitely be read as a standalone novel.

First, the cover is gorgeous! As someone who is always looking for clean reads, I was pleasantly surprised to find one with two Asians on the cover – and not just Asians but twins too! As an Asian American, I’ve noticed more and more the lack of Asian characters and I’m always looking to support books written by and about Asians. Thank you for this.

Second, the story picks up right away and the mystery begins. Julie’s devotion and dedication to finding her twin, Jade, is admirable and relatable. Though the story can get a bit darker, the author is careful to balance that with humor and sweet romance. I enjoyed the detective antics of Julie and Matt a lot.

Third, the chemistry between Julie and Matt was so swoonworthy. They were so well matched, and I loved how Matt could tell the twins apart. Julie’s crush is relatable and so cute.

Fourth, I loved how the author was not afraid to talk about faith and the hard issues. Julie works as an ultrasound tech at a crisis pregnancy center, so there are serious discussions regarding those issues. The author is able to use Julie as a conduit to speak of God’s love and forgiveness that can combat any and all shame and guilt. Julie speaks into Matt’s mother’s life as Matt is able to speak into Jade’s life. This book is definitely heavier and not as subtle about faith but the author communicates a beautiful message about God’s love for us that is unconditional.

P.S. I want to try Sol’s #5 with the works.

Highly recommend if you’re looking for a clean, Christian romance with mystery and some adorable humor.

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.

More from Karen

Sunflowers and Suspicions is the third full book in the Pine Springs series. While you may discover some spoilers from the previous books, this book can be read as a standalone. I wrote Sunflowers in Suspicions because I loved the characters so much, I wanted their stories to continue!

This was a fun book to write. Julie was a minor character in the previous books in the series, and her story needed to be told. Living in the shadow of a glamorous twin sister hasn’t dampened her enthusiasm for life, but her self-esteem suffered a hit, making it difficult to believe a guy could be interested in her instead of her sister. Most of us have been there! God promises He’s given gifts to all His children, but if our gifts don’t seem to measure up to those we perceive others have, we lose our joy.

Granted, Julie has a lot more than that to deal with – her twin sister goes missing, and her former boss may know more than he’s letting on. Couple that with feelings of inadequacy since all her friends have special guys and the fact the guy Julie starts to fall for seems more interested in her sister, and it’s easy for her to feel second rate. God never wants that for us. While Sunflowers and Suspicions is a tale of suspense and romance, it also taught me a thing or two about accepting myself for who God made me to be. I hope it does the same for you!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 14
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 15
Inklings and notions, March 16
Texas Book-aholic, March 17
For Him and My Family, March 18
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, March 19 (Author Interview)
deb’s Book Review, March 19
Inside the Wong Mind, March 20
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 21
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 22
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 23
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 24
Splashes of Joy, March 25 (Author Interview)
By the Book, March 25
Blogging With Carol, March 26
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize package of e-copy of Sunflowers and Suspicions, an 11 x 14 canvas print of a sunflower, and some jewelry: two beaded bracelets, one bangle bracelet, a heart necklace, and a keychain!!

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/1b8bb/sunflowers-and-suspicion-celebration-tour-giveaway

March 20, 2022 by Kim Book Reviews Giveaway

A Stolen Heart by Clarissa Kae

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

About the Book

Title: A Stolen Heart
Series: Victorian Retellings #3
Author: Clarissa Kae
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Carpe Vitam Press
Release Date: January 29, 2022

Book cover of A Stole Heart by Clarissa Kae

A Victorian twist on Robin Hood.

The Earl of Rochelle, Nikolas Whitworth, is handsome, charming. And a traitor.

He can outwit and outcon any Englishman—and any Englishwoman. When his debts are called in a savior appears, the criminal mastermind known only as the Tailor.

Nikolas is bought and sold, his future no longer his. But when a beguiling thief picks his pocket, Rosalyn Devereaux steals more than his coin. Orphaned as a child, Rosalyn trusts no one. She picks the pockets of lords and ladies alike, donating her spoils to the poor. The Tailor notices her skills and demands Rosalyn enlist in his cause.

With every moment beside Rosalyn, Nikolas changes from a life of lies to a man with a conviction. She occupies his every thought but can Nikolas outcon the Tailor and secure Rosalyn’s heart before the Tailor steal’s his love?

Purchase your copy here!

About the Author

Clarissa Kae is a preeminent voice whose professional career began as a freelance editor in 2007. She’s the former president of her local California Writers Club after spending several years as the Critique Director.

Since her first novel, she’s explored different writing genres and created a loyal group of fans who eagerly await her upcoming release. With numerous awards to her name, Clarissa continues to honor the role of storyteller.

Aside from the writing community, she and her daughters founded Kind Girls Make Strong Women to help undervalued nonprofit organizations—from reuniting children with families to giving Junior Olympic athletes their shot at success.

She lives in the agricultural belly of California with her family and farm of horses, chickens, dogs and kittens aplenty.

My Review

A Stolen Heart
by Clarissa Kae
Book 3 in the Victorian Retellings series
Rating: 4/5

The author’s writing keeps getting better and better. I am a huge fan of retelling classics and this Robin Hood retelling does not disappoint. There’s nods to the original story but it has its own mystery and story to tell (that’s connected to the previous books). I definitely recommend reading the other books in this series. All three books are now available on Kindle Unlimited.

First, I love the cover of this book. (And who doesn’t enjoy a good bow and arrow and want to be Katniss Everdeen at some point?) The cover is stunning and eye-catching.

Second, I loved the main characters. We’ve been introduced to Nikolas and Rosalyn in the previous book and I was eager to read their story. Their chemistry, their authenticity and their sacrifices were so relatable making it easy to root for them.

Third, I loved including the other characters from the previous book which made it fun to revisit friends.

Fourth, the mystery is great and keeps you guessing.

Highly recommend if you’d enjoy a clean reimagining of Robin Hood that has a fantastic mystery woven throughout.

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

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Tour Giveaway

Three winners will receive a $25 Amazon gift card (US only)
Ends March 23, 2022

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March 15, 2022 by Kim Book Reviews Giveaway

Shadows of Secrets and Lies by Dawn Brazil

About the Book

Title: Shadows of Secrets and Lies: Young Adult Dystopian Thriller
Author: Dawn Brazil
Series: Shadow #1
Genre: YA Dystopian
Release Date: March 11, 2022

In the year 2175, the world will end, maybe, but not for everyone…

Eighteen-year-old Mandalyn Johnson’s mother tried to kill her. She knows because her father told her.
The one thing she knows about her father – he’s a master manipulator.

On the cusp of adulthood, Mandalyn is ready to shed all thoughts of her mentally unstable mother and take her rightful place among the greatest minds her society possesses.

Mandalyn manipulates her aerial pod, ChaWanda, into interacting like a feisty older sister rather than the computerized aerial device it should be, but she can’t figure out how she’s able to identify someone’s character by a random number thrust into her head. When she learns the character level of her rival for top-in-class – someone she’s known most of her life – crests at ten, she knows she must confront him. She’s never met anyone over a four. Tens are the most dangerous, immoral level imaginable. When he confesses that her character level is also a ten, her dreams of family redemption are shattered.

With the help of two other students with deadly character levels, they struggle to piece together what they know while they start to exhibit extraordinary abilities. With their newfound abilities, they’re able to see the future. In one potential future, they die and in the other, they kill everyone.

They must untangle the lies perpetrated by the people they love to determine which future will belong to them. And find out why the organizations tasked with bringing order to the world don’t want them to exist in the perfect world they’re trying to create.

Purchase your copy here!

About the Author

Dawn Brazil wants to live in a world inhabited by fictional characters. She thinks fictional characters are cooler than real people most of the time. But since the world is not comprised of dreamy book boyfriends, she creates them for everyone to fawn over.

When she is not writing, she can be found with her nose in a book – swooning over another book boyfriend, drying up tears from a recent heartbreak, or shouldering a wound she received in battle. She also loves to create magic in the kitchen with an array of inspiring dishes she pulls from Pinterest. Dawn lives in South Texas with her sports-obsessed husband, three technology infatuated kids, and her great, big, colossal imagination.

And she is passionate about superheroes – especially Wonder Woman!

Connect with Dawn: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

My Review

Shadows of Secrets and Lies
by Dawn Brazil
Book 1 in the Shadow series
Rating: 4/5

Wow. Some authors have such amazing imaginations. I am always so impressed with the world-building that goes into writing YA dystopian thrillers. Having never read anything from the author before, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed her story and characters. She provided an escape to another world that was interesting and unique yet still relatable.

The story hooks you from the beginning and dives straight into this unknown world. The ending sets up the next book so I will be excitedly anticipating the next installment that comes out in a month. The characters are also very fun and relatable. I loved seeing how much Mandalyn grew as a character and in her relationships. And let me just say the chemistry she had with a certain someone was palpable. I also loved how relatable she was with all her insecurities and feelings of isolation. I liked how the author had her confront every relationship in her life and am excited to read more.

My favorite quote from the book (there were many that I highlighted):

Hugs are a way of wrapping a person up and holding them together when they are falling apart. I’ve hugged and been hugged quite a bit in the past few weeks. It feels right to allow someone else control over your body for a few seconds, to allow yourself to crumble. Sometimes in falling apart, we find that we fit back together even better.

PG-13 content with some swearing and steamy makeout sessions. Highly recommend if you enjoy high stakes (the author goes there) YA dystopian thrillers with action and romance.

My thanks to the author 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.

March 11, 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.