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Search Results for: liz johnson

Let’s Go To Prince Edward Island With Liz Johnson’s On Love’s Gentle Shore

July 6, 2017 by Julie

Let's Go To Prince Edward Island With Liz Johnson's On Love's Gentle Shore

Let’s Go To Prince Edward Island With Liz Johnson’s On Love’s Gentle Shore

I was provided a free copy of this book for review! There are affiliate links in this post. 

I love to read. I don’t have a particular favorite genre. Just depends on my mood and what books I am into at the moment. There is, however, something about a love story that gets me. Whether it is a historical fiction about a lost love or a modern story about childhood friends who find each other again.

I wanted to tell you about a recent book release that I think you will enjoy. On Love’s Gentle Shore is the third book in Liz Johnson’s Prince Edward Island Dreams series. You can also read about The Red Door Inn and Where Two Hearts Meet.

These sweet books take us to Prince Edward Island in Canada while we walk alongside the main character as she tries to understand and figure out a current problem she is dealing with. I have never been to Prince Edward Island, but that place is definitely on my travel bucket list.

On Love’s Gentle Shore is about a woman named Natalie who has moved away from the island to start a new life in Nashville. She is now back on the island to marry her fiancé Russell, but everything is a lot more complicated now that she is back. For one thing, she sees her childhood best friend Justin after all this time and can’t seem to make sense of her feelings about him.

What I loved about this book is that Natalie isn’t perfect. She struggles with her past and even her future. She is trying to figure everything out. I also love that the main characters from the previous books are also interacting with Natalie. We get to see what they have been up to and since we already know their backstory, these secondary characters are a little more real to us than they would be otherwise.

Having read all three of these books, I think this one is my favorite.

Liz Johnson writes about love and such and is a New York Times bestselling author of Inspirational Romantic Suspense and Contemporary Romance. To learn more, visit her website. You can also read the other books I have reviewed of hers in the past.

You can purchase the On Love’s Gentle Shore on Amazon 🙂

Filed Under: Giveaways & Reviews, Sponsored Post Tagged With: Book Review, Good Books, Liz Johnson

Where Two Hearts Meet by Liz Johnson

November 10, 2016 by Julie 1 Comment

  • I was provided a free book for review and this post does contain affiliate links! 

Where Two Hearts Meet by Liz Johnson

I love reviewing Liz Johnson’s books. Her latest, Where Two Hearts Meet, came out in October of this year. This book is the 2nd book in her Prince Edward Island Dreams series and such a great read!

From Amazon:

In her kitchen at the Red Door Inn, executive chef Caden Holt is calm, collected, and competent. But when her boss asks her to show off their beautiful island to impress a visiting travel writer and save the inn, Caden is forced to face a world much bigger than her kitchen–and a man who makes her wish she was beautiful.

Journalist Adam Jacobs is on a forced sabbatical on Prince Edward Island. He’s also on assignment to uncover a story. Instead he’s falling in love with the island’s red shores and Caden’s sweets.

When Caden discovers Adam isn’t who she thought he was, she realizes that the article he’s writing could do more than ruin the inn’s chances for survival–it might also break her heart.

Readers will discover hope for the hurting, joy for the broken, and romance for the lonely at the enchanting Red Door Inn.

I loved Caden’s story! She is cute and you can watch as she and Adam fall for one another. Adam is a writer and was in Afghanistan. Caden is a baker and everything she makes sounds so yummy.

The book takes place back at Prince Edward Island with the Red Door Inn. You will recognize some of the characters from the first book in the series and it is great to hear what is going on with them since the last book.

I liked how Caden has to work through her insecurities that a lot of us might be able to relate to. Adam has some issues he is dealing with too. I am looking forward to more books in this series with the famous island as the backdrop.

Liz Johnson is the author of seven novels, a New York Times bestselling novella, and a handful of short stories. She has lived in Nashville and now calls Arizona home. To learn more, visit her website. You can also read the other books I have reviewed of hers in the past.

You can purchase Where Two Hearts Meet on Amazon!

What have you been reading this week???

Filed Under: Military Life Tagged With: Book Review, books

Navy Seal Noel Book Review by Liz Johnson

December 16, 2014 by Julie Leave a Comment

Navy Seal Noel

 

A few years ago I was able to read the book A Promise to Protect by Liz Johnson. I enjoyed that book and was excited to hear about her latest, Navy Seal Noel.

A LETHAL REUNION

Abducted by a drug cartel, scientist Jessalynn McCoy’s orders are simple—release a deadly toxin, or be killed. Trapped with no options, she’s desperate for help…she just never expected it from Will Gumble. The boy who let her down years ago is now a navy SEAL. She trusts his skills, his experience. Yet trusting him is a struggle. Will’s Christmas wish is to heal their damaged relationship and get them to safety. But time is running out and the danger is rising. Any mistake could mean the difference between spending the holidays together or apart forever.

Excerpt:

          “Jess, calm down. I won’t hurt you.” The words made no sense to her muddled brain, but they continued, quiet and assured. “Don’t scream. It’s all right. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

          It wasn’t the words that made her sink into him, but the voice that, even after all this time, she’d recognize anywhere. Her eyes hadn’t been playing tricks on her that afternoon. Will Gumble was in this compound. In her very room.

          “I thought I saw you—I thought that was you, but…” Her words were little more than a whisper despite his assurance that it was safe to speak. Her stomach pitched, fear and relief mingling with alarm and the echo of a remembered betrayal. But dealing with her emotions would have to wait until she felt steadier on her feet. Exhaustion and the ebbing of her fight-or-flight adrenaline rush had left her legs like jelly. She leaned into Will. He held out his arms, as though he knew just what she needed. As though he was still someone who cared about taking care of her, being there for her.

          But she didn’t want him holding her. She wanted answers. She wanted to understand what on earth was happening. Most of all, she wanted to silence the little voice in her head that kept saying Will’s appearance was simply a dream or hallucination.

          Yanking herself upright at the last possible moment, she shoved his chest with both hands. “You scared me to death! Why did you break into my room? What are you doing here?”

          His lopsided grin had always started with a little quirk to the left before spreading across his mouth. And that hadn’t changed, even as he looked down at the tiny black-and-white-checkered floor tiles.

          He scraped his fingers over the black whiskers covering his chin. “Your dad sent me.”

          “My dad?”

          “Well, I couldn’t say no to my new XO, could I?”

          “So you’re still in the navy?” Oh, she sounded bitter—so much more bitter than she wanted to. Why couldn’t her words be flippant and nonchalant, as if it didn’t really matter that she no longer knew even the most basic things about him? He’d popped back into her life, and she didn’t want it to matter.

          But it did.

          Maybe because of the extreme situation.

          Sure. She’d just keep telling herself that.

          His smile flickered for a moment before he nodded slowly. “I am.”

          Forcing a chuckle, she said, “I figured when my dad realized I was missing, he’d send a SEAL team to bring me home.”

          “Not a full team—he just sent one.”

My thoughts: I am a big fan of books that are in a series. Sometimes that means that each book is about the same people and other times it means that the book includes the same people but changes who the main story is about. This is the case with the Men of Valor series in which Navy Seal Noel is book three. In previous books we got to hear the stories of Ashley and Matt and then Staci and Tristan. This one is about Jess and Will whom we have seen bits of before. I loved the fact that Jess was a scientist and that they came from San Diego. I wasn’t sure how this story was going to turn out. I knew somehow Will would save Jess but it was exciting waiting to find out how that was going to happen. If you like romantic suspense, you will like this book.

About the author:

unnamed (1)By day Liz Johnson is a marketing manager for a Christian publisher. She finds time to write late at night and is a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. Liz makes her home in Nashville, TN, where she enjoys theater, exploring local music, and making frequent trips to Arizona to dote on her nieces and nephews. She loves stories of true love with happy endings and shares about her adventures in writing at Facebook.com/LizJohnsonBooks and Twitter.com/LizJohnsonBooks.

 

 

Links to retailers carrying the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

CBD

Book Depository

 

I was provided a free copy of the book for review.

Filed Under: Military Life Tagged With: Book Review, books

A Promise to Protect by Liz Johnson Book Review and Giveaway

December 27, 2012 by Julie 11 Comments

Promise to ProtectI was able to read the book A Promise to Protect by Liz Johnson for a review on my blog.  I just finished it last week!  I had done a review for Liz a while back and was excited about reading another one of her books.

Navy SEAL Matt Waterstone knows about keeping people safe. When his best friend’s sister is attacked, Matt promises no harm will come to Ashley Sawyer–not on his watch. But Matt’s not the only protective one. Ashley will do anything to safeguard the residents of the battered women’s shelter she runs. She’s sure she can handle the threats she gets in return. What she can’t handle is the way Matt scales the walls around her heart. Yet when she falls prey to a crime web more sinister than she’d realized, trusting Matt could be the only way to survive.

One of the things I liked about this book is that it takes place in California, which is where I am from.  I also liked the mystery that she puts into her books.  She makes you wonder and have to guess what is going on.  Another great thing about this book is that you really fall in love with the characters and you want good things to happen to them.  This was also a pretty quick read so perfect to take on vacation or read in a weekend.

About the Author:

Liz Johnson graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a degree in public relations and set out to work in Christian publishing. In 2006 she got her wish when she accepted a publicity position at a major trade book publisher. While working in the industry, she decided to pursue her other dream—becoming an author. She is now a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist, and A Promise to Protect is her fourth novel with Love Inspired Suspense. Liz makes her home in Nashville, TN, where she enjoys theater, exploring the local music scene, and making frequent trips to Arizona to dote on her two nephews and three nieces. She loves stories of true love with happy endings. Keep up with Liz’s adventures in writing at www.lizjohnsonbooks.com.

 

 

Author Interview:

What’s your new book, A Promise to Protect, about?

Ashley Sawyer has been the director of a battered women’s shelter for three years, so she’s no stranger to dealing with threats. But when she helps a young woman disappear, the threats become more intense than she’s ever experienced. Navy SEAL Matt Waterstone is happy to check on his best friend’s little sister, certain he can take care of the situation. But as Matt and Ashley search for the source of the threats, they uncover a plot more sinister than they ever imagined . . . and a love they never expected.

How did you get interested in writing about Navy SEALs?

When I was in college, I picked up a novel about a SEAL, and I was hooked. Who were these men unafraid of facing down the worst in this world? Who would go through such torturous training to be called the elite? I began watching documentaries on Special Forces units and reading everything I could about the men on the teams. Lately I’ve been reading biographies of SEALs including Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell and Fearless by Eric Blehm, fascinated by the type of personality it takes to become a SEAL.

It’s been said that good writers are good readers. What do you enjoy reading?

I’ll read just about anything that I can! And I read as often as I’m able. That translates into—whenever I’m not on deadline. My favorite books cross genres and years. As a kid, I read The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and I loved it! Still do. As an adult, I’ve really The Princess Bride and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Mostly I just enjoy a rich story with a happily ever after.

What have you enjoyed reading recently?

I’ve written three books this year—met three deadlines—so I haven’t had as much time to read as I’d like. But I did catch new books by some of my favorite historical authors—Julie Klassen and Karen Witemeyer. On a recent road trip I finally listened to the audio version of Susan Meissner’s The Shape of Mercy. It was wonderful!

Liz, what’s up next for you?

Right now I’m working on the follow up to A Promise to Protect, which is due out next year. It’s about Ashley’s brother and Matt’s best friend, Tristan. Then I’m scheduled to write a third book in my SEAL series. I’ve loved writing about the men of SEAL Team FIFTEEN and the women they fall in love with, so I’ll be sad when the series wraps up. I’m also working on a contemporary romance and bouncing at least a hundred and three other ideas around my mind.

 

Excerpt:

“Tristan is the closest thing I have to a brother. He’s worried about you, and so am I. Let me help.”

Fear flickered through Ashley’s eyes as she whispered, “Someone almost ran me over.”

“Tristan said something about a letter,” Matt pressed.

Ashley nodded. “When I got home that day, there was an anonymous note saying that someone wanted his property back.”

His gut clenched. What kind of jerk threatened a battered women’s shelter? “Listen, I’m in town for a few days. Let me look into things.”

She smiled up at him. “Thanks, but I got the note more than a week ago. If there was any danger, something else would have happened by now.”

As they reached her car, her smile died. He didn’t have to ask if she still thought the threat had passed as she took in the smashed windshield of her coupe. Tucked under a wiper blade, the person responsible for the mess had left a clear message.

            If I don’t get what’s mine, you’ll get what’s yours. 

 

You can win your owned signed copy of A Promise to Protect!  Just enter the Rafflecopter below 🙂

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Was provided a free copy of this book for review!

Filed Under: Giveaways & Reviews Tagged With: Book Review

Vanishing Act by Liz Johnson Book Review

August 18, 2010 by Julie 5 Comments

Vanishing Act by Liz Johnson

I was able to review the book Vanishing Act by Liz Johnson.

Eighteen months ago, Nora James watched as her father was shot in an alley-and then she fled. She changed her name, her appearance and her job, hoping to keep her father’s shooter at bay. For months, it worked…but now her luck has run out. A ruthless assassin is on her trail, and soon Nora, now known as Danielle, will be found. But this time, she has FBI agent Nate Andersen by her side-right? The handsome agent would give his life to protect Danielle, but he’s wary of giving his heart…until a deadly confrontation leaves him with both on the line.

I thought this book was a great read!  I like to read a lot of Christian fiction but some of it can be a little watered down for my taste.  Not this book!  It was a mystery and kept me wanting to read it.  I took it with me on my California trip and read most of it on the airplane.

For a lot of the book, you are not exactly sure what is going to happen to Nora and that keeps you drawn in and not wanting to put the book down.  Would love to even see another book about Nora in the future.

I would definitely read another book by Liz Johnson.

Here is her website 🙂  http://www.lizjohnsonbooks.com

Vanishing Act is $3.99 for the Kindle at this time.

affiliate link graphic

 

Filed Under: Giveaways & Reviews

A Super Long List of Fiction Books to Keep You Busy During a Deployment

January 12, 2018 by Julie

A Super Long List of Fiction Books to Keep You Busy During a Deployment

I love to read, I have as long as I can remember. My dad was a librarian when I was born and I guess it was just meant to be. I read about 40-70 books a year and wish it could be 100. Seriously. Books are amazing! I love how you can get truly lost in a story, learn more about something you didn’t, or connect with characters and hear their stories.

Getting lost in a book is a good way to handle those deployment days. Books can be so healing in this way, whether they simply take your mind off of your own situation or allow you to experience a story that touches your heart.

A Super Long List of Fiction Books to Keep You Busy During a Deployment

This post contains affiliate links! 

If you are looking for a book to read this deployment, here are some fiction books to add to your list. Enjoy!

Fiction with a Military theme

Up in Smoke by Hannah R. Conway

Don’t Mean a Thing by Renee Conoulty

Blue Stars by Emily Gray Tedrowe

Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros

Historical Fiction

Some Luck by Jane Smiley

As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner

The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner

Barkskins by Annie Proulx

The Girls by Emma Cline

A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

Fall of Giants by Ken Follett

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

A Super Long List of Fiction Books to Keep You Busy During a Deployment

Thriller/Suspense/Mystery

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Women’s Fiction

Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

The Secrets of Midwives by Sally Hepworth

The Red Door Inn by Liz Johnson

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty

The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

The Swimmer’s Assistant by Amber Myers

I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

A Super Long List of Fiction Books to Keep You Busy During a Deployment

Contemporary Fiction

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Perfect Little World by Kevin Wilson

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal

Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

The Girls from Corona del Mar by Rufi Thorpe

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

YA Fiction

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Paper Towns by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Science Fiction/Dystopia

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Matched by Ally Condie

11/22/63 by Stephen King

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn

Divergent by Veronica Roth

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

What are your favorite books???

Filed Under: Deployment Tagged With: books, Deployment, Fiction

The Red Door Inn Book Review

March 4, 2016 by Julie Leave a Comment

The Red Door Inn by Liz Johnson

The Red Door Inn Book Review

Have you heard of Liz Johnson? She is an author that writes inspirational romance and I have been able to review a few of her books in the past. A Promise to Protect and Vanishing Act. This past week she just came out with her latest book, The Red Door Inn.

From Amazon…

Marie Carrington is broke, desperate, and hoping to find sanctuary on Prince Edward Island while decorating a renovated bed-and-breakfast. Seth Sloane moved three thousand miles to help restore his uncle’s Victorian B and B–and to forget about the fiancée who broke his heart. He wasn’t expecting to have to babysit a woman with a taste for expensive antiques and a bewildering habit of jumping every time he brushes past her.

The only thing Marie and Seth agree on is that getting the Red Door Inn ready to open in just two months will take everything they’ve got–and they have to find a way to work together. In the process, they may find something infinitely sweeter than they ever imagined on this island of dreams.

I have always had a thing for Prince Edward Island. I loved the show Road to Avonlea and decided I needed to go there someday. So when I heard that Liz Johnson’s newest book was going to take place there, I knew I had to read it.

The book was a great story with a great setting. I could picture myself there on the island. Standing in front of the Red Door Inn. I enjoyed reading about Marie, Seth and Jack. They were each different and dealing with their own struggles.

The book was more than just a love story but a story about trusting others and finding hope after something bad has happened to you. If you are a fan of inspirational fiction or just love a good story, you will enjoy this book.

You can purchase the Red Door Inn on Amazon and enter to win a copy on Goodreads 🙂

  • I was provided a free book for review and this post does contain affiliate links! 

Filed Under: Military Life Tagged With: Book Review

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About Soldier’s Wife, Crazy Life

 

Welcome to Soldier’s Wife, Crazy Life! I am so glad you are here.

My name is Julie and I first became a military spouse in 2005 when my husband of 3 years re-joined the Army. Then, in 2014, he joined the National Guard. In January of 2024, he retired from the National Guard after 21 years of service.

During our time in the military, we got to spend 4 years in Germany as well as Tennessee where we now call home.

We have three boys and have been through four deployments together.

I hope that you can find support for your own deployments, PCS moves, or anything else military life brings you through my articles and social media posts.

 

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