Ambushed in Yosemite by Kellie VanHorn – Suspense, Mystery, Intrigue, and a Little Romance

 

After reading the description of Kellie VanHorn’s new novel, Ambushed in Yosemite, I wanted to read it. 

 

Skylar (Sky) Jansen invested nearly four years of her life with Chris and thought they would soon marry.  She was hoping for a proposal, but instead Chris announced that he wanted to end their relationship.  On the heels of their break-up Skylar wanted to get out of New York City, reset and figure out what she wanted to do with her life.

 

For the time being, Sky decided to work as a seasonal interpretive ranger in Yosemite over the summer, something her father had done during her childhood.  Eighteen years ago, her dad Andy Jansen disappeared and was never seen or heard from again.  It devastated his family, but in Yosemite Skylar had good memories of her father.  Perhaps, it was a good place to start over. 

 

Before starting her morning shift, Sky decided to take a walk on a trail, the last place her father was seen.  As she got further off the beaten path, she saw something strange.  A man in dark clothing with a shovel.  As a park ranger, she decided to let the man know that people are not allowed to dig in the national park.  But there was something about his response that seemed really off.  Sky decided it was time get out of there.  Right now, leave, go, run!  Sky hightailed it out of there with the man is in pursuit.  As she finally got to safety she slammed right into a climber.  Not just any climber, but Special Agent Bode Tucker, the right man, at the right place, at the right time. 

 

Ambushed in Yosemite by Kellie VanHorn is filled with suspense, mystery, and intrigue starting on page one.  The characters are very likeable, decent, kind, and caring.  The kind of people who will do what it takes protect the innocent, get answers, and seek justice.  The setting in Yosemite is beautiful.

 

What I especially appreciated about the story and characters is their faith.  In their daily life and when their lives are in peril, they turn to God in faith, pray, and trust God.  Knowing that their salvation is secure no matter how the circumstances turn out.  I enjoyed the growing relationship between Sky and Bode, and his little girl Harper and his family.  I appreciated that the story was clean. 

 

If you like mystery, intrigue, suspense with a little romance, read Ambushed in Yosemite by Kellie VanHorn. 

 

I would like to thank the publisher Harlequin – Romance and NetGalley for an opportunity to read Ambushed in Yosemite by Kellie VanHorn.  I received a complimentary copy of this book and was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

 

Five Minute Friday – What’s in a Name?

I’m participating in this week’s Five Minute Friday writing challenge.  If you like to write or need some inspiration and encouragement be sure to check it out. 

Today word prompt:  Name

For the first 3 months of my life I didn’t have a name because I was given up for adoption at birth.  On my original birth certificate, it only recorded my birth mother’s last name.  Legal paperwork recorded my name as Baby Girl Dawson.

Three months later, my parents Frank and Gayle Bunts adopted me and I was given the name Susan Harriett Bunts.  From that day on, I was someone’s daughter and sister to my brothers Michael and Patrick. 

My first name was given by my brother Michael.  He had a girlfriend named Susan and later he had a cow that he named Suzy.  The name Susan means lily and is of Hebrew origins.  When I think of a lily, I think of Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The name Harriett was the name of my father’s mother whom he loved greatly.  Harriett is French and means home ruler which is kind of appropriate because I love being home.  “There’s no place like home.”   

At the age of 49, I was given a new last name when I married Christopher Wachtel and I was welcomed into the Wachtel family.  I wish I had the opportunity to meet my in-law Leo and Ruth Wachtel.  I look forward to meeting them in heaven.  In the mean time I am blessed to know the rest of the Wachtel family. 

Even though I’ve lived with those names for many years, the name I value most is Christian.  At the age of 32, I finally recognized that I was a sinner and repented of my sin.  I recognized that there is a God to whom I will give an account and that He is the God of the Bible.  He made a way for me to be forgiven through His Son Jesus Christ and His sacrificial atoning death on the cross.  Christ’s death paid the penalty for my sin and for all who repent believe in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sin. 

God assures believers that He has called us by name.

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name; you are Mine!”

Isaiah 43:1 c-d

Everyone who is called by My name,
And whom I have created for My glory,
Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”

Isaiah 43:7

Though I didn’t have a name for the first three months of my life, God knew me and He called me by name.

¹³ For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
¹⁶ Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.

Psalm 139:13-16

Before God laid the foundations of the world, He knew and called me.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love ⁵ He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 

Ephesians 1:3-6

²⁸ And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; ³⁰ and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

Romans 8:28-30

Though I did not have a name for the first three months of my life, God knew me, He knew my name and He called me to salvation through Jesus Christ. 

Though I may have been considered an accident by my birth mother, God planned my life before He laid the foundations of the world. 

When I think about who I am, first and foremost I think of myself as a Christian and that truth overshadows everything else in my life. 

Five Minute Friday – Identity Found

When I think how I would describe myself to someone, the first word that comes to mind is Christian.  Before I even think of myself as a woman, wife, daughter, sister and friend…I think of myself as a Christian.

My identity as a Christian impacts all the other roles and relationships that I have. 

Yesterday, as was I was driving home from work I was listening to a pastor talking about being a Christian.  He said the more we love the Lord and know Him through God’s Word and through prayer, the more we hate sin.  We see sin more from God’s perspective.  We know how destructive it is, not just in this life, but for eternity. 

I think that the devil likes to lull believers into complacency in our culture.  We end up blending in by watching the same movie, TV shows, reading the same books and listening to the same music, which is often profane.  Yet…we fail to see it because we are immersed in our culture.  Before long we start living like the world does and compromising our faith because of what we are filling our minds with.  The name I given it is “Lotish Christians”.  

Lord, may I be immersed in Your Word, draw me close to You through prayer and may I not forsake the fellowship of other believers.  May my identity in Christ triumph everything else. 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. – Romans 12:1-2

This post is linked with The Gypsy Mama’s Five Minute Friday challenge.  I encourage you to go on over and read some of the wonderful posts from others who join in.  You will be encouraged.