The Hunted Heir by Jayna Breigh is this week’s Reader Friday. Here’s the first paragraph: ANOTHER NEW YEAR’S Eve, and Nona Taylor’s prayer remained unanswered. Still. The digital clock on the microwave read 6:20. Five hours and forty minutes until midnight. Five hours and forty minutes until she begged God—again—to grant her one, her only, request.
But first the photo and verse. Psalm 29:11 was in my Jesus Calling reading this week. When I came out of church last night and walked to my car, the stained glass windows in our sanctuary caught my eye. Then my gaze traveled upward to the steeple and seemed to be pointed right at the moon. In order to get the moon, I had to leave out the stained glass. Here’s a photo of the windows: I thought the verse fit well.
Now for The Hunted Heir by Jayna Breigh. Here’s the cover and back copy:
After a tragic loss, private investigator Nona Taylor swore off romantic entanglements and distanced herself from the world. Once a year, on New Year’s Eve, she attends church to beg God for forgiveness, haunted by the guilt of driving her twin sister to her death.
Attorney DeMarcus Johnson is determined to climb the ladder to partnership by winning high-profile cases at his Los Angeles law firm, harnessing his ADHD hyperfocus to excel. He’s everything Nona knows to steer clear of–an overconfident ex-jock willing to do anything for success.
Their worlds collide when Nona’s pastor receives a mysterious letter claiming he’s the sole heir to a substantial estate. Desperate for answers, Nona infiltrates a lavish charity ball, only to be found out by a suspicious stranger–so she latches onto DeMarcus and concocts a fib about being his fiancée.
Now bound by a false engagement, the pair reluctantly join forces to discover the truth about the inheritance. But when an unseen enemy strikes, they realize the stakes are higher than they thought. Can Nona and DeMarcus overcome their differences to keep the pastor safe, secure DeMarcus’s partnership, and preserve a future for themselves?
My take:
This book kept me up until one in the morning two nights in a row! I quickly connected with Nona, even though I didn’t know what her problem was. Jayna Breigh really knows how to draw the reader in. And I totally identified with DeMarcus with his ADHD mind. I don’t know if Breigh has ADHD, but she certainly knows how to weave it into the personality of her main character!
And Pastor Grant at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church almost stole the story along with G’Mama, DeMarcus’s grandmother. I’d love to see a story featuring the two of them. Back to Nona, who is a private investigator. I loved the way she kept digging into Pastor Grant’s case…and Zeke and Councilman Calloway got just what they deserved. I love it when the biter gets bit. Breigh knows how to weaver a story, for sure.
And she did a great job of weaving in scripture through G’Mama and Pastor Grant. So many times we believe Satan’s lies about ourselves, and Jayna Breigh skillfully shows this through Nona’s guilt over her sister. She also shows how to shut the devil down. This is a story that will stay with the reader for a while. I’m looking forward to more books by this author.
I had the opportunity to read The Hunted Heir courtesy of the publisher.
Okay, Readers, what are you reading this week? Leave your first line in the comments and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library!
January’s winner is…Dottie!
And now here’s a 60-piece puzzle for you to work…or you can work the 40-piece one below this one…
40-Piece
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Comments 37
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Author
Thanks, Diana. It’s one of the best books I’ve read.
Pat, you certainly have a good eye for photographic composition. I love that shot. The Lord does indeed give us strength, and I think your photo reflects that.
Interesting book concept Jayna Breigh has.
From the opening chapter of “Scent of Panic” by Laura Scott; the 2nd book in her Sullivan K-9 SAR: “She gasped when she saw Shana lying on the floor, blood staining her temple.”
Author
Laura Scott has a great opening line, Tim! And thanks for the compliment on having a good eye for composition. When I saw the steeple pointing to the moon, I knew I wanted to capture it. 🙂
This sounds like a really good book. The characters sound interesting.
Author
They were very interesting, Sharon!
The picture is so cool. Yes, it fits the verse!
Congratulations to Dottie!
Great review, Pat. I don’t ever remember reading about a character with ADHD, how intriguing!
I am reading The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton by Susan Tuttle. The first line is, “Fall erupted over Schonbrunn Palace, ushering in more than a simple change to the air.”
Author
What a fascinating first line, Priscilla! I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. And from the way Jayna Breigh described DeMarcus she must deal with ADHD in some form. lol
This sounds like my kind of book. Thanks for the review.
Author
I really enjoyed it, Judy.
Great photo & this sounds like a book I want to read.
Author
It is very good, Delores!
Oh my, this blog has so many interesting things going on. Love it! The photos of the church steeple, stained windows and moon are amazing. Wow seems too gentle for it. The Scripture is perfect in many ways!
Like Priscilla, I haven’t read a book with an ADHD character. I’m intrigued to read more. . .since I deal with this myself. GREAT REVIEW, Pat!
And then, two puzzles to work!
Oh, almost forgot, “The single candle stuck in Toby Miller’s oversized banana-nut muffin spoke volumes, but it didn’t say anything worth hearing.” This is the first line of The Heart’s Bidding by Kelly Irvin.
Author
Kelly is such a good writer, Barbara! I have to get that one. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos of my church and the puzzles. 😉
The smaller puzzle took me 9:46 and the second one 21: 23. Fun, but fried ADHD brain! But I did it! I still can’t believe I’m doing puzzles! Lol
Author
Your time is still better than mine, Barbara. lol And I know what the puzzle looks like!
Really cool photos, Pat! Thank you for the puzzles. Such fun.
“What had possessed her to agree to this crazy idea?”
Ambush by Colleen Coble
Author
I’m reading Ambush right now, Gloria! Glad you enjoyed the photos and puzzles.
“I need to talk to Joe. I’ve been hit.” I pleaded with my mother to get my husband to come to the phone.
The Gift of Love, one woman’s journey to save a life by Amy Clipston. The story of her donating a kidney to her husband.
Author
Oh, goodness, what an opening, Gail.
not reading anything
Author
I hate it when I don’t have time to read anything!
Love your photos of the steeple and stained glass windows – awesome!
Pat, The Hunted Heir sounds like a good read – thanks for your review.
I just finished The Partisan, book #3 in The Crimson Legacy series by Susan Warren.
Congratulations Dottie!
Author
Susan Warren is a fantastic writer, Mary G. I’m glad you enjoyed the photo and vers!
Beautiful picture! You certainly did well in capturing the steeple pointing at the moon. Such a good verse for a calm, peaceful picture.
My reading cycle has been off for a while. I just received a NetGalley copy of Ann Gabhard’s book which will release in early May. I tend to refrain from sharing from books that I receive this early. Maybe next week I’ll be back on track.
Author
Looking forward to what you’ll be reading next, Edward! I’m reading a couple of books that haven’t been released, too.
Well, I’m hoping somewhere along the way to be reading more books by Patricia Bradley.
Author
Awww… 🙂
The author’s name should be Ann H. Gabhart.
Weaving Roots by Heather Wood. Bertha studied the two story brick building before her, praying that this wasn’t yet another of Seamus’s bad ideas.
Author
Intriguing opening, Lucy!
I read The Hunted Heir and I highly recommend it! G’Mama was a favorite!
I am reading The Scarlet Ribbon by Naomi Stephens.
Author
G’Mama was my favorite, too, Paula!
Pat, Thank you for sharing your thoughts of The Hunted Heir.
Enjoy your weekend.
Author
It’s a really good story, Caryl!
How I love your photo shots of your church windows, love stained glass, and of the church steeple in the moonlight, and your verse! You always seem to capture the right moment to bring us smiles.
This book really sounds good and is going on my ever growing list. I love the name
G’Mama. My granddaughter has ADHD so hoping I can learn more about it.
I’m currently reading Before We Were Us, by Denise Hunter. It is a love story about a young couple, Jonah was fixing to propose when an accident and hit to the head, takes Lauren’s memory back five months earlier. Only it’s to the time when she despised him, and now Jonah has to try to win her all over again.
Thanks for my Congratulations! I’m going to dig into these puzzles, they look fun.
Author
Dottie, if you want to know about ADHD, just ask me…I’ve had it ever since I can remember. Took Ritalin once and the difference was amazing. My mind wasn’t firing in a hundred different directions. I remember thinking, so this is what it’s like being normal. Alas, ritalan shot my blood pressure sky high and I had to stop taking it. I’ve learned to harness it, much like DeMarcus, with my writing.