MOVED - NEW JOB - BOOK REVIEW of Counterfeit Love

 I am sorely behind on reading books and writing reviews BECAUSE so many life changes have happened! I had the intense drama of looking for a new home after 9 years because the homeowners wanted to sell and for reasons they would not disclose, refused to sell to me. The housing market in So Cal is brutal, but we finally found a home to rent that meets our needs.  But, with so many changes, I retired from my daycare business when the Lord gifted me a brand new job in the world of financial investments.  This was truly a God thing, because I was merely "thinking" of trying something new when we got a call from a friend that she knew of a job opening where the Branch Office Administrator was retiring and would I or my sister be interested.  I quickly looked for old letters of recommendation, and updated my resume on that Wednesday and had a 2-hour interview on Friday.  It went great, but then came the daunting pressure of many steps through corporate with an intense background check WHILE looking for housing and eventually moving. They were super accommodating and allowed me to wait a few weeks to start while I got settled. I have been there a month and am learning so much, getting a little more comfortable each day, while getting settled into a new home.  The commute can be "a lot" at around an hour each way; particularly after doing very little driving these many years other than school drop-off and pickup. Anyway, I am praising the Lord for His many blessings and testifying that He is still the God of miracles!

Please join me in welcoming a debut author to my page, Crystal Caudill.  She is SO kind and sweet and loves praying for her readers upon request. She also was very patient with me as I needed extra time to read her book and post reviews. 

Counterfeit Love – Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age, Book 1 – by Crystal Caudill (3/15/2022)

*** Dangerously Good Historical Romance,

is how she describes her writing and she knocked it out of the park on her debut novel! This book was an exciting diversion to escape into. With secret service agents, battling brothers, rich pasts to explore, counterfeit engraving plates, danger and lost love, plus a hefty dose of faith set in the late 1800s, I found this book to be rich and captivating.  

“He’d learned to rely on God’s prompting Spirit over the years.  More than once, it had saved his life.

“Father’s Bible filled the small space. When was the last time she’d nestled in her favorite chair and cherished quiet time with God?” I loved the special quote written by Theresa’s mother in father’s Bible. It was beautiful, but read that for yourself and be blessed.

Broderick and Theresa’s story is not to be missed.

I was gifted this book for my honest opinion without expectation or compensation.

Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age Series: Counterfeit Love, Counterfeit Hope, Counterfeit Faith

Excellent - 5 Stars

Kregel Publications Description: Can this undercover agent save the woman he loves--or is her heart as counterfeit as the money he's been sent to track down?

After all that Grandfather has sacrificed to raise her, Theresa Plane owes it to him to save the family name--and that means clearing their debt with creditors before she marries Edward Greystone. But when one of the creditors' threats leads her to stumble across a midnight meeting, she discovers that the money he owes isn't all Grandfather was hiding. And the secrets he kept have now trapped Theresa in a life-threatening fight for her home--and the truth.

After months of undercover work, Secret Service operative Broderick Cosgrove is finally about to uncover the identity of the leader of a notorious counterfeiting ring. That moment of triumph turns to horror, however, when he finds undeniable proof that his former fiancée is connected. Can he really believe the woman he loved is a willing participant? Protecting Theresa and proving her innocence may destroy his career--but that's better than failing her twice in one lifetime.

They must form a partnership, tentative though it is. But there's no question they're both still keeping secrets--and that lack of trust, along with the dangerous criminals out for their blood, threatens their hearts, their faith, and their very survival.

Combining rich history, danger, suspense, and romance, Crystal Caudill's debut novel launches this new historical series with a bang. Fans of Elizabeth Camden, Michelle Griep, and Joanna Davidson Politano will be thrilled to find another author to follow! 

Crystal Caudill is the author of “dangerously good historical romance,” with her work garnering awards from Romance Writers of America and ACFW. She is a stay-at-home mom and caregiver, and when she isn’t writing, Crystal can be found playing board games with her family, drinking hot tea, or reading other great books at her home outside Cincinnati, Ohio. Find out more at crystalcaudill.com.

I pray each of you has a wonderful and blessed Holy week!