Beast of Stratton by Renee Blare

Book Description:

He appears the beast, But she sees His heart... 

Architect Aimee Hart, determined to locate her father, infiltrates Miles Stratton’s engineering firm as a secretary. Her presence wrenches the shaggy, wounded man from his penthouse, and the quest begins. 

Betrayed by his best friend, Miles would rather hide than help, especially from the man's daughter. But something's not right. Someone’s trying to destroy Stratton Industrial. A decorated war veteran, he's defended his own before and the Beast of Stratton can do it again. 

Even with the enemy at his side.

Review:

Miles Stratton: War hero; Suffers from PTSD; CEO of an engineering firm; Suffers physical scars from his military experience; Reclusive; Close friend of Stephen Hart who is currently missing

Aimee Hart: Architect; Searching for her father, Stephen Hart, who has gone missing; Secretary in Miles’ engineering firm with the ulterior motive of finding clues that will lead to her father

So, what do Miles and Aimee have in common? Stephen Hart is Miles’ good friend and Aimee’s father. The problem is that Stephen has gone missing. Aimee and Miles join forces to solve the mystery of Stephen’s disappearance and to find who is trying to destroy Stratton Industrial.

Renee Blare has masterfully intertwined these characters in “Beauty and the Beast” fashion. The result is a fast paced, action packed story with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. At the same time, you will smile and sigh with the romantic thread that is woven into the suspense, all in all making the Beast of Stratton an awesome story that you won’t want to miss.

*****I received a copy of this book from Bookfun.org in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and viewpoints are my own.

Why?

The reason I named my blog This and That is precisely because I write about this and that. Most of my blogs center around book reviews.  However, I periodically throw in something else. Today is a something else. Today's This and That is the review I just posted on the Vaseline website regarding Vaseline's product "Lip Therapy." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ok, I've been using Vaseline for years.  I have extremely sensitive skin and it's the only thing that doesn't make me break out or get hives.  Due to a few new issues, my dermatologist suggested that I only use Vaseline on my lips instead of chapstick and to even avoid those with all natural ingredients. Sooooo, I marched myself to the store and purchased a few small containers of Vaseline Lip Therapy, Original formula.  (a few because I keep one in my purse, desk, etc.)  When I got home, I took a closer look at the package and to my surprise and shock, what did I find? The ingredients in the Lip Therapy are petroleum & Yellow 5 Lake.  Why? Why? Why? Why?  If Vaseline's only ingredient is petroleum, why pray tell does the lip therapy include the yellow 5 lake? Some may say it's my fault for not reading the ingredients at the store, and you're probably right? But why would I?  Vaseline is a product I've trusted and used for years.  Also, the Lip Therapy looks EXACTLY like the Vaseline and is labeled Vaseline Original.  Why would I even question that there would be a difference?  So why am I so worked up?  

Here are some facts about Yellow 5 Lake according to the website Chemical of the Day: http://chemicaloftheday.squarespace.com/todays-chemical/2009/7/7/fdc-yellow-5-aluminum-lake.html  
http://chemicaloftheday.squarespace.com/todays-chemical/2009/7/7/fdc-yellow-5-aluminum-lake.html

FD&C Yellow Aluminum Lake:

What is it?
This is an artificial color derived from coal tar.

Why is it a risk?
FD& C Yellow Aluminum Lake is known to be a reproductive toxin and hazardous to the nervous system. Also known as tartrazine, it's a suspected cause of asthma, dermatitis, and other allergic and inflammatory responses.

What type of products is it found in?
Eye shadow, blush, nail polish, mascara, lip balm, facial powder, lipstick, lip liner, sunscreens

I don't understand why this product, which goes on a very sensitive part of the face, should include Yellow 5 Lake.  I am very disappointed that Vaseline has chosen to include this ingredient in Vaseline's Lip Therapy.
I'll be looking for another product to replace it. 

Murder Freshly Baked (An Amish Village Mystery Book 3) by Vannetta Chapman

Book Description:

When delicious baked goods become lethal, a trail of poetry leads to a sweet-toothed killer.

Don’t taste it / Don’t share it /Just throw it away / If you try my bakery pie / You won’t live to see another day.

The Amish Artisan Village of Middlebury, Indiana, might be the last place you would ever expect to find a murderer. But Amber has been managing the Village for decades and there’s nothing she hasn’t seen. Or so she thought.

When poetic notes begin appearing around the bakery, warning that some of the pies have been poisoned, Amber is as confused as she is concerned. Who poisons pies? And more to the point, who leaves poems of warning after they’ve done it? When Amber decides to help the police track down the sweet-toothed saboteur, she enlists Hannah Troyer for another round of Amish-style detective work.

Can Amber and Hannah help the police before the Poison Poet strikes? Both women will need to draw on their faith to preserve the peaceful community they’ve built in Middlebury . . . and to protect the girls who work in the Amish Artisan Village.

Review:

Let me just say that there are many things I enjoy about Vannetta Chapman’s writing.  But, one of the things I enjoy most is that her books in a series can be read as standalones.  And yet, each book in the series gives you just enough background information without overshadowing the current story.  As always, Ms. Chapman has done her homework and it shows in the details of the story.  She does a wonderful job describing the Amish ways.  She also does a wonderful job describing the setting, so much so, that the reader can easily visualize everything.  However, there was one thing that the author changed up in Murder Freshly Baked . Unlike the rest of the series, the story begins with the end and then flashes back to the events leading up to that point.  And it’s no surprise that this formula hooks you right off the bat and keeps you on the edge of your seat, turning pages as fast as you can to find out “whodunnit.”

However, do not be fooled by the fact that Murder Simply Brewed is a mystery.  It is so much more than that.  It is also a story of redemption, forgiveness, faith, acceptance, and love.  The author weaves all of these elements together in such a way that they all blend beautifully with the main theme of the story.   As in true Chapman style, expect the unexpected where you will find yourself saying, “Didn’t see that coming.”  And best of all, you will be kept guessing “whodunnit” up to the very end.   

Vannetta Chapman has once again done a flawless job of tying everything together as she brings this series to a close making Murder Freshly Baked a great finale to a great series.   

*****I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions and viewpoints are my own.

Shelf Full of Books: Book Review: Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chap...

Shelf Full of Books: Book Review: Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chap...: Murder Freshly Baked (An Amish Village Mystery Book 3) By Vannetta Chapman Publisher: Zondervan Published: June 9, 2015 ASIN: B00...

Rhonda's Doings !: 5-Star Review of "Murder Freshly Baked"

Rhonda's Doings !: 5-Star Review of "Murder Freshly Baked": Review of Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman When delicious baked goods become lethal, it's time to find a killer.  K...

Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman, New on the Mystery Bookshelf during June 2015

Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman, New on the Mystery Bookshelf during June 2015

Laughing With Lizzie: Interview with Sarah Price, author of Amish variat...

Laughing With Lizzie: Interview with Sarah Price, author of Amish variat...: Today I am pleased to welcome Sarah Price to my blog. I have asked her a few questions about her latest novel, Second Chances. "...

Amish Wisdom Interview with Vannetta Chapman - Murder Freshly Baked

http://amishwisdom.com/interview-with-vanetta-chapman-murder-freshly-baked

Fresh Pick for June 15, 2015 is Murder Freshly Baked

Fresh Pick for June 15, 2015 is Murder Freshly Baked

Author Vannetta Chapman biography and book list

Author Vannetta Chapman biography and book list

Amish and Englisch Baking More than Pies – Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman

Amish and Englisch Baking More than Pies – Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman

The Avid Reader: Murder Freshly Baked

The Avid Reader: Murder Freshly Baked: Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman is the third book in the Amish Village Mystery series.   Amber Bowman is the manager of Th...

Reading, Writing, and the Stuff In-Between: Laura Hilton and Free Books!

Reading, Writing, and the Stuff In-Between: Laura Hilton and Free Books!: Sometimes the courage to face your greatest fears comes only when you’ve run out of ways to escape. Before we visit today's author, I ...

Sunnie Reviews: Lorie's Heart by Amy Lillard

Sunnie Reviews: Lorie's Heart by Amy Lillard: I think it's a well known fact that I really enjoy Amish fiction.  This book was Amish fiction and I loved it.  Lorie's Heart tota...

Protected (Jacobs Family Series Book 2) by Vannetta Chapman

Book Description:

ERIN JACOBS doesn’t hesitate when she receives a desperate call in the middle of the night. As owner of the Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter, it’s her job to rescue animals. But from the start, this case is different. 

The woman’s frantic plea. 
Directions to a deserted hunter’s cabin. 
Insistence that she come alone. 
Then she’s looking down into a washtub at an infant child. 

Erin’s life changes irrevocably when she becomes involved with a mother who has lost all hope, an orphaned child, millions of dollars and a father who might do anything to get his hands on the money. Social worker TRAVIS WILLIAMS is assigned to her case. Travis sees more in Erin than someone who rescues strays. She’s unconventional, strong-willed, and caring. It could be that she would make the perfect parent for Josh. 

Before he can work through his feelings and file his report, the situation takes another dangerous turn. Can Erin and Travis guarantee Josh’s safety? To do so, they’ll need to rely on one another, their families, and the faith of their childhood. 


Review:

Erin Jacobs enjoys her job as animal rescuer.  She also enjoys running Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter.  It’s a good fit because she has always felt more at ease with animals than with people.  All in all, she’s pretty content, until that night when she gets a mysterious phone call that totally turns her world upside down.  

Travis Williams enjoys his job as a social worker, and he takes his job very seriously.  Everything is by the book.  No gray areas to be found if Travis is on the case.  All in all, he’s pretty content, until the day when he gets a special assignment which totally turns his world upside down.

Vannetta Chapman has once again captured the true essence of a romantic suspense.  In Protected, there are equal parts romance and suspense.  Neither one overshadows the other giving the story a perfect balance.  On the surface Erin and Travis are worlds apart, but as the story unfolds, they are drawn to each other romantically and by a common cause.  The author also blends in a lovely spiritual message of faith and new beginnings.  Again, this component flows perfectly throughout the story without overshadowing.  Vannetta also does an awesome job of doing her homework on the topics she writes about, which in this case is the subject of child and family welfare.  Although the story is fiction, the information and facts in the story help the reader gain some background knowledge and gives more credence to the story.  The results are a lovely story of faith, new beginnings, romance, suspense, and humor which will capture the reader’s attention from beginning to end. Once you pick it up, you won’t want to put it down until you’ve read every word.  It’s just that good!  

*****I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and objective review. All opinions and viewpoints are my own. 

Suzanne D Williams: A World Of Flaws

Suzanne D Williams: A World Of Flaws: We live in a world where people have flaws, where mistakes are made and feelings are hurt. The hardest part of our day is learning to pa...

Laura_V_Hilton's storyboard for The Amish of Jamesport series.

Visit @Laura_V_Hilton's storyboard for The Amish of Jamesport series. Get 1st peek at the cover for The Birdhouse 

Amy's Amish Adventures, author Amy Lillard

ENTER TO WIN either an ARC of Lorie’s Heart (book 3 of my Wells Landing series) or an autographed copy of Courting Emily (book 2). Winner’s choice. Read my latest blog post about my trip to visit the Amish in Chouteau and then email me at amylillard918@gmail.com telling me what you enjoyed about the post. Winner will be announced June 4th. If you don’t want to miss future Amish posts, sign up to follow my blog while you are there! https://amysamishadventures.wordpress.com/blog

Griperang's Bookmarks: Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman

Griperang's Bookmarks: Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman: I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman An Amish V...

Sunnie Reviews: Protected by Vannetta Chapman

Sunnie Reviews: Protected by Vannetta Chapman: Protected is book 2 in the Jacob's family Series. Erin Jacobs is a young woman that lives alone and takes calls to rescue animals in...