Stars and Stripes for Freedom ~ Reader Friday

Stars and Stripes for Freedom by Delores Topliff, Jennie Atkins, Elaine E. Withers, Shirley Gould, and Cindi Bonds is this week’s Reader Friday. I love the cover! It’s a novella collection, and here’s the first line of Remember the Alamo by Delores Topliff: Sick of the sight and smell of her buddy’s blood seeping into desert sand, US Army MP “Kacey” Collins gladly left Afghanistan forever.

But first the verse and photo. I thought a flag would be appropriate for this week’s post since I’m reviewing Stars and Stripes for Freedom. I took the photo at the sprawling Cemetery in Natchez, Mississippi, when I was researching the area for my Natchez Trace Park Rangers series. That is a beautiful, old cemetery that I spent hours in. And I thought the verse was one we need to hear often. It tells us how to please God.

Now for Stars and Stripes for Freedom, a novella collection, with the authors and a blurb from each author.

Here’s the cover and back copy:

Stars and Stripes for Freedom, a novella collection

Five women. Five branches of the military.

One flag they are eager to protect and defend at all costs.

With admiration for the women in our military, these high-action stories present five intelligent, seasoned warriors who risk everything to protect the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Remember the Alamo by Delores Topliff: “Kacey” Collins emancipated herself from foster care by adopting the Army as her career and family. She advances and thrives until the failed evacuation at Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan causes major PTSD. Now, to save others and herself, she must move outside of laws to survive and redefine who she is and where she belongs.

Show No Fear by Jennie Atkins:

Ex-Marine K-9 trainer Kit Evans returns to her hometown to investigate her father’s death. Aided by her loyal dog, she uncovers a vast conspiracy of murder, greed, and human trafficking that implicates the men her father once called brothers. To expose the truth, Kit must become a decoy in their deadly game.

Lifted Into Grace by Ellen E Withers:

When boat propeller blades nearly claimed the life of Chris Matthews, Hannah Grant and her crew with the U.S. Coast Guard carried him, by helicopter, to receive medical help. Hannah and her husband, Logan, work to bring light into Chris’s world. Together, do they have the skills to rescue an injured teenager’s body and spirit, lifting him into a life of Grace?

Anchors Aweigh by Shirley Gould:

Eva Lyons’ friend, Kat, was kidnapped by human traffickers. Leaving the Navy, Eva joins NCIS, to search for her friend. Agent Levi Hunter needs the research Eva has spent months compiling to catch the trafficker. Concerned about Levi’s motives Eva learns she must trust him to rescue Kat before she vanishes forever.

Fight or Flight by Cindy Bonds:

Libby McHale is surprised by a security breach at the Smokey Mountain Park where she works. Although retired from the Air Force, national security means she’s one of the few people cleared for the rescue. As she meets up with Airman Seth James, they fly into danger. But the crash is just the beginning.

My Take:

I thoroughly enjoyed each story in the collection. The stories are fast-paced and page-turners! I read a couple of hours each night, and I read these stories in two nights–that’s how good they were. I

love the concept of this novella–a book about women in the services, and there’s a story for all five branches. The heroines were gutsy, yet totally believable. In each story, I quickly rooted for the heroine and wanted to see her succeed in getting the bad guys. This is a collection that readers of romantic suspense will love.

Right now Stars and Stripes for Freedom is on sale on Amazon, but the sale will only last until August 2, so grab your copy now. Buy it here.

For the next few weeks, I’m featuring one of my earlier books. This week it’s A Promise to Protect. This is the 2nd book in the Logan Point Series. I featured Shadows of the Past, the first book here, down near the bottom of the page. Shadows of the Past has 8,648 4.2-star (out of 5) reviews.

In a steamy small town riddled with broken promises, one woman’s secret could change everything. Acting Sheriff Ben Logan hasn’t heard from Leigh Somerall in a very long time, but it doesn’t mean he can get her–or their whirlwind romance of ten years ago–out of his head.

When she calls out of the blue, it is with a strange request to protect her brother, Tony. But all too soon, Ben is charged with a different task–protecting Leigh from the people after her brother. With Leigh doing everything in her power to avoid Ben, it’s no easy task. And the secret she is keeping just may change their lives forever.

“A taut story of mistakes and betrayal, a mother’s fierce love, revenge and danger–and the redeeming wonders of faith and love.”–Lorena McCourtney, author of the Cate Kinkaid Files and the Ivy Malone

Mysteries “Old secrets, second chances at love, and a skillfully crafted small-town suspense. You will fall in love with Ben and Leigh and cheer them on as they fight for their happy ending. I’m making room on my shelf for all of Patricia Bradley’s novels!”–Susan May Warren, bestselling and award-winning author of When I Fall in Love A

Now here’s today’s song. I hope you enjoy!