Inside the Wong Mind

Stone by Ronie Kendig

About the Book

Title: Stone
Series: The Metcalfes #1
Author: Ronie Kendig
Genre: Clean with faith elements, Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Task Force Press
Release Date: January 6, 2022

She cost him everything. Now, he’s forced to protect her.

Stone Metcalfe embodies the Metcalfe legacy—blue eyes, an unfair amount of good looks, and hardcore patriot-laced character. But a foolish lapse in judgment dismantles his name and career. Humiliated and furious, he retreats to his mountain lodge to hide from media hounds and eke out a new life. However, one phone call from an old Army buddy upends Stone’s best-laid plans.

Supermodel Brighton Buchanan had designers and men eating out of her hand until a terrible mistake trapped her in the soul-eating world of human trafficking. Years later, she is used by her captors to take down the best man she’s ever known. The man she loves. Hope lost, she’s unexpectedly freed—and thrown back into Stone’s life. Being forgiven is out of the question considering how much he hates her.

Believing danger and her trafficker are one wrong move away, Brighton will do anything to keep him from being ruined again—even if it means going back to that life. As everything is falling apart and threats mount against Brighton, Stone realizes forgiveness is the easy part. Protecting her—and his heart—is another story.

Purchase your copy here!

About the Author

Ronie Kendig is an 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 nearly ten-year stint in the Northeast. They survive on Sonic 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.

My Review

Stone
By Ronie Kendig
Book 1 in the Metcalfes series
Rating: 4.5/5

Wow. Way to knock it out of the park with such an incredible story! This new series from Ronie Kendig is already so good! As someone who is passionate about combating sex slavery, I was truly interested in this story and was so glad that the author ventured to go there. She has a warning page at the beginning due to possible triggers but she weaves a heartbreaking tale that deals with healing and redemption.

I loved the characters. I am now invested in the Metcalfe family (if I wasn’t already from her previous Nightshade series). Stone is such a raw character with so many emotions. Brighton is a strong survivor despite her crazy past. The chemistry between the two of them was palpable and I can’t wait to read more about the other characters.

Highly recommend this romantic thriller with some broken characters that need healing and redemption!

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.

Instagram Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a copy of the book and an O.U.R. tee. (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. Instagram is not affiliated with nor responsible for this giveaway. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on February 2, 2022.)

Head to my Instagram to enter the giveaway!

January 27, 2022 by Kim Book Reviews Giveaway

Shadow Angel by Leia Stone and Julie Hall

About the Book

Title: Shadow Angel
Series: Shadow Angel #1
Authors: Leia Stone and Julie Hall
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Release Date: January 21, 2022

From the moment I saw the shadows come to life, I knew my world would never be the same.

Yesterday I was a teenager waiting tables in Manhattan, and today, monsters exist and I can see them.

Overnight I’m thrown into the realm of the Watchers, a society of earthbound angels split into two factions: The Shades, whose powerful dark magic is given to them by the fallen angels, and the Lumens, whose abilities are bestowed on them by the archangels of Avalon.

They’re on opposite sides of a brutal war, and I only have a few days to pick which side I want to join. I’m ready to choose when the Shades force my hand by cursing someone I love.

The only hope I have of saving them rests on the broad shoulders of the prickliest Shade alive, Gage Alston. He’s cold, arrogant, and quite possibly the most attractive guy I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Do I trust him? No.
Do I need him? Yes.
Do I want to kiss him? Maybe.

Perhaps I’ll choose darkness after all.

Purchase here or read on Kindle Unlimited.

About the Authors

Leia Stone is the USA Today bestselling author of multiple bestselling series including Matefinder and Wolf Girl. She’s sold over two million books and her Fallen Academy series has been optioned for film. Her novels have been translated into five languages and she even dabbles in script writing. Leia writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance with sassy kick-butt heroines and irresistible love interests. She lives in Spokane, WA with her husband and two children. www.LeiaStone.com

Julie Hall is a USA Today bestselling, multiple award-winning author. She writes YA paranormal / fantasy novels, loves doodles, and drinks Red Bull, but not necessarily in that order. Julie’s daughter says that her superpower is sleeping all day and writing all night . . . and well, she wouldn’t be wrong. Julie currently lives in Colorado with her four favorite people – her husband, daughter, and two fur babies. www.JulieHallAuthor.com

My Review

Shadow Angel
by Leia Stone and Julie Hall
Book 1 in the Shadow Angel series
Rating: 4.5

When two of your favorite authors start a series together, you can’t help but squeal with glee and rush to read the ARC when available. I finished this book in a few hours. I could not and did not want to put the book down. It is a great start to a series and I cannot wait to read more.

First off, that cover is gorgeous and definitely makes a prospective reader go, “I need to read that!”. Second, the authors are great by themselves but they definitely play off of each other’s strengths. Third, the world building is well done but not overwhelming. There’s a 3D map of the Lumen Compound at the beginning and then an educational graphic from the school. I love any and all visuals that the authors wants to include. The world seems somewhat familiar but different so it’s still relatable and begs to be explored. Fourth, the main characters were memorable and made you, as the reader, want to root for them. Who hasn’t at some point in their life crushed on a bad boy? The supporting characters are also a blast and I would love to learn more about them and their stories. Fifth, the story is just beginning and deserves to be read.

Highly recommend if you enjoy YA urban fantasy with angel and demons, humor and romance!

PG-13.

My thanks to the authors 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.

January 21, 2022 by Kim Book Reviews

Sunrise by Susan May Warren

About the Book

Title: Sunrise
Series: Sky King Ranch #1
Author: Susan May Warren
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: January 4, 2022

Pilot Dodge Kingston has always been the heir to Sky King Ranch. But after a terrible family fight, he left to become a pararescue jumper. A decade later, he’s headed home to the destiny that awaits him.

That’s not all that’s waiting for Dodge. His childhood best friend and former flame, Echo Yazzie, is a true Alaskan–a homesteader, dogsledder, and research guide for the DNR. Most of all, she’s living a life Dodge knows could get her killed. One of these days she’s going to get lost in the woods again, and his worst fear is that he won’t be there to find her.

When one of Echo’s fellow researchers goes missing, Echo sets out to find her, despite a blizzard, a rogue grizzly haunting the woods, and the biting cold. Plus, there’s more than just the regular dangers of the Alaskan forests stalking her . . .

Will Dodge be able to find her in time? And if he does, is there still room for him in her heart?

Sunrise is the first explosive volume in a new nail-biting series from USA Today bestselling author Susan May Warren.

Purchase your copy here: Amazon

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

Sunrise
by Susan May Warren
Book 1 in the Sky King Ranch series
Rating: 4.5/5

As a huge fan of SMW, I was excited to start reading the first book in her new series! But first, can we talk about that amazing cover? It’s absolutely gorgeous and I need to visit Alaska some day. As for this new series, the setting is beautiful and I already love all the quirky characters. The details seem to have been thoroughly researched regarding dogsledding and piloting small aircraft. I definitely read this story quickly since it held my attention till the end.

“She was the only woman he would ever love. And she’d taken that from him, leaving only darkness behind.”

Dodge Kingston and Echo Yazzie were a such fun couple to get to know and root for. Their story had so many layers and so much history. Dodge’s relationships with his father and brothers was a focal point because I believe the other books are about the other two brothers. His sister was also a fun character to encounter. I found their chemistry to be believable and loved their development. Like she always does, the author wove a beautiful story about faith and love and forgiveness into the characters’ journey.

“Echo was softness and home and everything he’d longed for since the day he’d stupidly walked away from her.”

Highly recommend if you enjoy adrenaline-pumping adventure with swoonworthy heroes and daring suspense over an Alaskan sky.

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.

December 24, 2021 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.