The Game She Hates By Ella Marie

The Game She Hates

by Ella Marie

Publisher: Independent

ISBN: 9798327659476

I was so thrilled that Ella Marie reached out to me on Instagram to see if I would be interested in reviewing her book! It sounded good to me so she sent me her book for review.

Summary:

Zane has had his fair share of a tumultuous childhood, and on the ice as the center of the Glaciers, he releases pent-up anger and frustrations from the relentless blows life has dealt him.

Off the ice, he avoids his teammates and dismisses anyone who tries to show him affection, especially women who are only drawn to his fame. But everything changes when he meets Pearl. Instantly captivated, he sets aside all his reservations and pursues her relentlessly, despite her clear rejections and disdain for hockey.

Pearl desperately wants marriage, commitment, and a man who shares her faith—definitely not a handsome, charming athlete like Zane who doesn’t believe in God and has women all over town swooning over him.

She is done using dating as a mission to convert guys to Christ, only to end up hurt.

As Zane persists in trying to maintain a 'just friends' relationship with her, he begins to question whether healing and grace can be his portion too?

Meanwhile, Pearl struggles to fully trust God and His will as she continues to grapple with past disappointments.

Will their “friendship” blossom into love? Or is the distance between them too vast to bridge?

The Game She Hates is a Christian hockey romance that intricately weaves an inspirational love story with strong themes of hope, healing, forgiveness, and the transformative power of grace.

My Review:

This was my introduction to this author and I'll be back for more!

That being said, it was so great to see an initial page that gives the reader an idea of what they're about to read with a little bit of a heads up on content.

We meet Zane who is a hockey player with a chip on his shoulder from a rough childhood. Thankfully, he's got people around him now who see his potential and are always trying to build him up. Then there's Pearl, who is a therapist for children in the foster care system.

Their initial meeting isn't quite the meet-cute, which makes everything even more awkward when they ARE brought together. Zane is all about Pearl, in an almost stalker-ish way, and Pearl doesn't have the time of day for him. She's been hurt before and she's determined to hold out for a man who is a believer and can lead them as a couple.

There was so much I appreciated about this story. Both characters had a passion for what they do for careers. They both have people around them who are incredibly supportive. While Zane's people are on his team and not really "friends" they do care. Pearl has Robyn and I've already made sure Robyn will be getting her own story! I need that to happen. lol We also see that even though Pearl has the best of intentions to only date a Christian man, it can be hard to keep that boundary when she's attracted to someone like Zane.

The thread of faith you guys!!!! This was SO awesome. The author does NOT hold back and I loved it! The story deals with healing, salvation, witness to unbelievers, and forgiveness.

About the Author:

Ella Marie is a pen name of a wife to the man of her dreams, and a mama to a cute little boy. Jesus is her Lord and personal Savior, guiding her in all aspects of life. After publishing her first clean and sweet romance series, God put it on her heart to share the greatest gift in her life—Jesus—in her love stories. 

All her future books will not only be heart-melting but will also point readers toward the love and grace of Jesus Christ. Expect to see broken characters finding healing, faith, hope, and of course, love in each of her Christ-centered love stories. 

Her greatest prayer is that her books will encourage readers to live out their faith boldly, deepen their relationship with Jesus, and remember that no other book is to be cherished like God’s letter to us— the Bible.

If you want to follow along with her journey, check out her author page on Instagram @ella_marie_author.

The Nightmare Virus By Nadine Brandes

The Nightmare Virus

by Nadine Brandes

Publisher: Enclave Escape

ISBN: 979-8886051308

First, I thought the cover was amazing, then I thought the idea of the story was fascinating, so when the author had a launch team, I signed up asap! I'm so glad I did! She sent me the ebook for review.

Summary:

Some viruses go after the body. But the Nightmare Virus goes after the mind.

When dream technology goes wrong, a virus spreads across the globe, trapping people in a universal dreamscape. They call it the Nightmare Virus.

Cain Cross is determined to find a cure . . . if he can decipher his brother’s chicken-scratch formula notes. But when he gets infected, he has only 22 days until he’s trapped in the mental prison forever. Now, every time he falls asleep, he must fight in a Nightmare Arena until he earns his freedom to live in the “new world” that exists only in the mind.

Then he finds a way to manipulate the Nightmare—to change it by mere thought.

Forced to navigate a world of nightbeasts, mistblades, and half-truths, Cain turns his focus to survival. When the Emperor offers him a LifeSuPod—and access to a cure—in exchange for a dangerous favor, Cain thinks he’s found a way out. But Cain’s new power threatens to take him on paths that jeopardize his very soul.

Will he continue searching for a cure, or will he swear allegiance to the Nightmare? And the bigger question might be . . . will he even have a choice?

My Review:

Ok, this story was... so original! So cool! So surprising! Yes, I had an idea of what the story was about, but you really can't grasp it all until you dive in. 

We meet Cain who is sucked into this dreamscape that his brother has been in! The nightmare they've been working to find a cure for. The thought of losing awake time day by day for 22 days until you no longer wake was such an interesting concept. With each passing day you lose time to do everything you need AND find a cure!

I really liked the character of Cain. Even at my age he seemed so relatable. I think young adults (who this is geared towards) will really connect with him in his thoughts and emotions. This was also an exercise in seeing how people react to different situations, and I felt like the author really showed that as Cain entered the Nightmare world the first time.

In this dreamscape, things happen so quickly and wildly, it's hard to know what's going on, how to react, and who to trust. It's a good reminder for us to be discerning, especially when we're in unfamiliar circumstances.

We meet so many characters throughout the story. Stranna is one of those characters. I'm not going to say much about her, other than I really liked her. I know, I'm totally vague booking, but if I say anything it'll spoil it for you! HA!

There's 100% parallel between darkness and light. How light shines in the darkness. That there is a great deceiver. And we all have a choice to make! Of course, that leads me to my next point and my favorite one, the author really didn't mince words. Our hope is in Jesus. There's nothing else. Everything else leads to eternal death. You can't do it on your own, but God can equip you. Man, the author just does it so amazingly in this story! Yes, it's sci-fi ya fantasy, etc, but God is still who He is! I loved it!

This is another one of those stories I just want to immediately talk to everyone about where we get to talk about all of the details and bring out all of the spoilers!

About the Author:

Nadine Brandes once spent four days as a sea cook in the name of book research. She is the Carol-Award winning author of Wishtress, Fawkes, Romanov, and the Out of Time Series. Her newest release is The Nightmare Virus and her inner fangirl perks up at the mention of soul-talk, Quidditch, bookstagram, and Oreos. When she’s not busy writing novels about bold living, she’s adventuring through Middle Earth or taste-testing a new chai. Nadine, her Auror husband, and their Halfling children are building a Tiny House on wheels. Current mission: paint the world in shalom.

Meeting Her Match By Jen Turano

Meeting Her Match

by Jen Turano

Publisher: Bethany House

Series: The Matchmakers

ISBN: 9780764240225

I've been a long-time, die hard Jen Turano fan! Her stories always leave me chuckling and the situations her characters get into will have you doubling over in laughter! Thanks to Jen and Bethany House for allowing me to be on her launch team and for sending me her book!

Summary:

Miss Camilla Pierpont, a renowned matchmaker and influential member of the New York Four Hundred, has vowed never to marry after suffering a devastating heartbreak during her debut years ago. However, when she is nearly abducted along the Hudson River, she finds herself rescued by an annoyingly outspoken, albeit fascinating, gentleman who challenges her in a manner she wasn't expecting.

After learning that Camilla Pierpont has enjoyed success with taking wayward young ladies in hand, Mr. Owen Chesterfield travels to the Hudson River Valley determined to convince Camilla to sponsor his sister, who is in desperate need of social rehabilitation.

Knowing her life is in danger, Camilla agrees to Owen's proposition and travels with him to West Virginia, finding herself charmed by the less-than-formal attitude of his small hometown, as well as by Owen himself. But danger waits in the shadows, disrupting what she knows would be the most spectacular match she's ever made--her own.

My Review:

I have loved Camilla in the previous stories and couldn't wait to see who she'd finally be paired with in Meeting Her Match! Owen... whoda thunk it?

Camilla has done well for herself as a matchmaker, but it was time for her to get her own love story, but being a proclaimed spinster makes that rather difficult. Bring in a cast of crazy characters and who's to say what could happen?

It would be hard to say that Camilla and Owen had a meet-cute. More like a meet-oh-my-word-what-is-happening-right-now, but funnier than all get out! Poor Owen didn't know his life was about to be turned upside down! That finding a renowned matchmaker for his sister might be more than he bargained for.

Circumstances bring Camilla to agreeing to head to West Virginia with her entourage of helpers, and watching them descend upon the unsuspecting inhabitants of Owen's little town is more than a little hilarious. You can't help but end up loving Owen's family who certainly have their hillbilly ways, but in a scary yet delightful manner, which is to be expected in the author's stories! You don't know whether to run and hide when certain characters show up or go in for a hug (just no kissing!).

To say that "love is in the air" with this story would be putting it mildly. Let's just say Camilla isn't the only person gifted with helping in the romance department! Owen's meemaw and aunt have their own ways of butting in where they're not invited. Just wait and see. hahahaha

There's a lot of shenanigans throughout the story, people being chased after to add some suspense, and good lessons taught to the well-intentioned people of Wheeling. As always, lots of funny scenes and one liners that will have you giggling throughout the story!

About the Author:

Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from RT Book Reviews, and praise from Library Journal. She's been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers' Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado. Readers can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and X, and at JenTurano.com.