When Rembrandt goes back to stop the untimely death of his partner, he finds himself wrapped up in the disappearance of two missing children in the middle of an epic Minneapolis blizzard. But, can he save the children in time--and if he does, will he also be able to save his partner?
The continuing adventures of Rembrandt Stone from the creative minds of James L. Rubart, Susan May Warren and newcomer David Curtis Warren, writing as DAVID JAMES WARREN.
Writing collectively as David James Warren, USA Today bestselling author Susan May Warren, award-winning author James L. Rubart, and new voice, David C. Warren, are the creators of THE TRUE LIES OF REMBRANDT STONE.
Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling, Christy and RITA award–winning author of more than eighty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. The mother of four grown children, and married to her real-life hero for over 30 years, she loves travelling and telling stories about life, adventure and faith.
For exciting updates on her new releases, previous books, and more, visit her website at www.susanmaywarren.com.
James L. Rubart is 28 years old, but lives trapped inside an older man’s body. He’s the best-selling, Christy Hall of Fame author of ten novels and loves to send readers on mind-bending journeys they’ll remember months after they finish one of his stories. He’s dad to the two most outstanding sons on the planet and lives with his amazing wife on a small lake in eastern Washington. More at http://jameslrubart.com/
David Curtis Warren is making his literary debut in these novels, and he’s never been more excited. He looks forward to creating more riveting stories with Susie and Jim, as well as on his own. He’s grateful for his co-writers, family, and faith, buoying him during the pandemic of 2020, and this writing and publishing process.
This is a lifetime I haven't lived, and although the pieces are starting to form, I'm going to need a lot more coffee.
Just when I think the authors can’t turn Rembrandt’s life more upside down, they throw in a major TWIST!
I loved this. It was thrilling, suspenseful and I gave up sleep to finish it. At when I closed the last pages I wanted to cry, because the teaser for book 4 is just mean and now I have to wait!
Really, it's not that hard to change history when you know the time and place history is going to happen.
I love the inner battle in Rembrandt to not change the past but also not accept things as is. He is a hero at heart and it is so difficult for him to stand back and let events play out. I love Eve. She is just the perfect partner for Rem and she had me holding my breath a few times. I wish I could see more of John Booker and the role he played in Rem’s life.
I'm not trying to be a hero. I just wanted to be a good guy for a change.
I’m loving this series and if you like thrilling suspense, go read this series. You need to read it in order though.
Maybe the only way I don't completely screw anything up in the future is to...well, listen to my regrets today.
Looking forward to the next book, but also scared for what else poor Rem will have to endure. Come on August 1st!
*I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.*
So good the second time around! My favorite one in the series so far! That may be because I have become so invested in this story line and these characters. I adore Rem, I love the deep perspective we get with his POV. With the cliffhanger that book two left me with I was desperate for the next book. And I was not disappointed! You get the multilayered mysteries that are going on and the clues to interconnected one that has yet to be solved.....or has it? We get another piece of the story, but just enough of a hook to leave you eager for the next book! I love the perspective that we get from Eve's point of view. We get the action, we get the character development, all the things I love about this series!
Just when you think something can't get any better and worse at the same time, they throw another monkey wrench into the situation... and then another one. And then... Well, that's in the next book which I started listening to just minutes after this one. Yeah. That good.
Also, my earlier frustrations with the audiobook narration on a couple of characters seems to be gone. I think Rubart changed his mind on it or something. Whatever he's doing differently, it's working well. YAY!
Great story, love how messed up and human Stone is WHILE still being an interesting character.
And can I just ask how it is that with our main protagonist confused half the time, and the timelines changing left and right, why am I not lost and incapable of following along? I should be. And yet it all flows well and I stay on track easily. That's some great writing there.
Goodness. I feel like Rembrandt Stone is ruining me for other books. Like, nothing compares to Rem ::que Sinead O'Conner's rendition from the early 90's:: Seriously, nothing compares.
I am just blown away by this series and book three, Sticks and Stones may just be my favorite yet. Susan May's voice is by far my favorite to read in the Christian fiction genre, and she has outdone herself with this series. The twists and turns of the plot leave me with nerves frazzled, but somehow desperate for more. The characters - oh the characters! I couldn't love Rembrandt and Eve more if I tried. I am rooting so hard for those two it hurts. I love the slow build toward faith in Rem's life. I love how natural it has been introduced. A phenomenal installment that left me desperate for book four. Need. More. Rem.
“Rembrandt, your life isn’t written in the past. Yes, your past makes you who you are, but when you get here, you have the choice of who you want to be. Your life is written in the right now. Your choices are the only thing you can control. You have to let go of the rest. And occasionally, ask for help.”
This third book in the series takes us back in time to 1997 or somewhere thereabouts, a few months after Rem’s last trip back in time. His present timeline is completely messed up but it allows him room to think, process, and mature. Rem is definitely more introspective in this book and allows the reader to see and feel his emotions, thought processes, and maturation though it’s quite painful at times. His voice is more funny, self-deprecating, honest, raw, real than in the previous books and definitely less cocky and self-absorbed. I loved that he’s more conversational with the reader here and works his charm quite effectively to suck the reader into his world. This is also a more poignant and nostalgic Rem than we’ve encountered before and I absolutely loved seeing this side of him. His devotion to his wife Eve and his friend Burke is truly touching and his romance with Eve in the past is totally swoon-worthy. And, yes, there is plenty of action and adrenaline...for how could this book be a Rembrandt Stone book without the chills-racing-down-the-spine suspense?
But the ending?!?! I’m biting my nails already in anticipation of the next book! August can’t come soon enough.
I received the book from the publisher and via JustRead Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.
No matter where his time travels takes him, Rembrandt is determined to do right by Eve—to express the fullness of his love for her and to make amends. I can't wait to find out how their story unfolds.
I'm enjoying this series, so much so that I've been reading them back to back. Definitely binge worthy reading.
I like the writing style and find it easy to follow. The characters have been engaging and likable. The different scenarios that Rembrandt has been finding himself in the past and present have been a constant rollercoaster. There is suspense, romance, humor, and sincere moments. I'm still a big fan of Rembrandt and Eve's relationship (mostly the 1997 one, but with the Rem from present-day).
4/2/2022: I realize I didn't write about the actual story. Let's see, there is a house fire, explosion, a time frame where Eve is married to someone else, Rem is dating someone he's surprised to find out he's dating, friendships are not as tight as they were in another life, and of course more shoot outs.
Rating: PG-13 -gun violence, some intense make-out sessions (but nothing crazy), alcohol consumption, some implied swearing Language: I don't recall any foul language Recommend: yes
What a great story that also has surprises and action. Remington goes back in time to solve another cold case. Although he vows not to mess with anything more in the timeline, he has a hard time keeping that promise. He's finding out what he does or didn't do has ramifications. Fantastic read.
Okay, the ending of this episode (yes, I'm thinking of them as episodes) is kinda a stunner. I can't say what happened, but somehow this mess has to get fixed, because we've got 3 more books to go.
If I ever time travel, Rembrandt Stone has provided several lessons on how changing the past affects the future (and I’m sure there will be more lessons to come).
One of the great things about this series is seeing Rembrandt’s personality shaped by his circumstances. He’s still the same guy we met in the first book with his somewhat self-deprecating humor, his honesty and bluntness but he’s also mellowed out. He’s paying more attention to the other people in his life and is less focused on himself.
Somehow the powerhouse that is David James Warren brings a new level with each now book in the series. And we’re only halfway done. The twists, the turns, the characters, the outcomes, the throwbacks, all of it combines for a wild ride that you both want to rush through and savor because the next book is two months away!
And oh my, does this one leave you ready for book four.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
It keeps getting better. This whirlpool we seem to have thrust ourselves into that won't let us quit. Going on this journey with Rem, it's fun to see how he has matured through his previous experiences or has he 😏 and the repercussions that come with changing a thing or two. He vows to just change a little thing but it sets the ball rolling again. It's fun and frustrating at the same time because you just have to know what happens next. Looking forward to Rem's new adventure. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are solely mine
The third installment of The True Lies of Rembrant Stone is just as good, if not better, than the first two. The worst thing about this series is finishing one book and having to wait for the next! Such a fantastic fun series that I can’t get enough of! Don’t miss this epic adventure!
If there is one thing Rembrant Stone has learned, it’s this: messing with time is not easy and has a ripple effect no one could see coming. This is the third time he has used the watch given to him by his mentor to go back in time and try and change the past to correct the future, his future. Now, his closest friendship is no more, Andrew Burke is not the man he once knew, and he goes back to try and save him without messing anything else up. As he arrives in the past, he is not only trying to save his best friend, he is also trying to stop a serial killer and save two children that have gone missing in the middle of a Minneapolis blizzard. With lives at stake and a future he can live with and be happy in, Stone races time to do the impossible once more.
With the third installment of the Rembrandt Stone series at my fingertips I have found myself more and more enthralled with these characters and their stories. A perfect length, I finished in a day and found myself craving more, just as I have with the finish of each in the series. The combination of Susan May Warren, James Rubart and David Warren is, without a doubt, one of the best groupings I have ever read. They have a way of crafting a story that is unputdownable, engaging, intense, exciting, and so much more. All the characters have me invested in their lives and if they are going to end up with their happily ever after. Everything I have ever read by Warren and Rubart has left me so satisfied and in that happy book hangover. Such great writing brought together to make a fantastic story and series.
Each book has a cliffhanger ending that leaves you thirsting for more and Sticks and Stone is no different. I loved the softer side of Rembrandt in this one along with the deeper look into some of the secondary characters. I have no clue what is going to happen with the rest of the series, but I know for certain I will be along for the ride. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy time travel and suspense thrillers and don’t mind staying up way too late to read.
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
Once again, I am sitting here, a bit at loss for words. This incredible, crazy, absolutely outstanding, thriller of a series...it continues!
Rembrandt Stone and his time travel is about enough to drive me insane. IN a good way. ;) I love this series, but I hate how it attaches itself to me, how the story won't leave. Rembrandt continues to try to make his life better, and it just seemingly gets increasingly worse each time. Sigh. One thing I appreciated about this story...I think this book shows a definite progression in the thought and maturing process of Rembrandt Stone. I like seeing him trying to analzye things, do what he can to make his 'present day' reality better. I did feel like maybe the action wasn't quite as intense in this one as the earlier books. But, saying all of that, it still has plenty of action! And it always blows my mind how these authors looked at things from every angle, trying to best show how one small change in any direction can have mindboggling consequences in future years. This is definitely another exciting tale you won't want to miss!! Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
“Your life isn’t written in the past. Yes, your past makes you who you are, but when you get here, you have the choice of who you want to be.”
“Here I am, trying to save lives, change the course of history, make things better in the future…”
Another twisty, suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat time traveling thriller from a great Christian author trio. This has definitely been one of the best Christian series in a long while. The thing I love best about this series is:
1. You never know what will happen next; and what happens next is often crazy 2. The inner struggle of Rembrandt Stone; I love how he feels so real and at times is the hero and other times he is the jerk. It’s a great battle between good and evil within. 3. The characters in this book; I am definitely invested in their lives and their future 4. All of the classic rock song references! 5. The cliffhangers! Again, you never know what will happen next but you know the ending will make you want to read the next book.
Boy finally the plot slows down for me to catch my breath.... jeez it's still a roller coaster and jeez fate is a fickle B**** All in all this series is ruining all future time travelling novels, not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing, all i know is that i wanna know what is gonna happen next.
Stick and Stones by David James Warren returns to Rem Stone's world as he time travels through time to try to solve another one of his Cold cases. The Jackson Killer is still on the loose. If readers are fans of procedural detective stories, then this is the right book for them. However, this story also features returning to moments in time that had a different outcome. This time around Rem tries to solve another case featuring dead children. The story is suspenseful and has enough of moments where Rem tries to change the outcome to where he ends up with his wife. Just like in the previous two novels. What events do people actually do that can throw a ripple affect into the future? What if everyone could time travel? I know one big regret in my past that I would love to change. Rem gets this unique experience, but overall, it affects how the "future" turns out. God has given everyone a path to follow, and we are not allowed to have a do over. Our decision have consequences, which is why it is important to think on things before jumping head first into anything. The novel kept me glued to the pages, and I can't wait to see what happens in the next three novels. The story is only half way over. I really like the structure of the novels. They are not complete in each novel. They are left in a cliff hanger for the readers. Definitely something I enjoy. With each installment, Warren has crafted a unique story with a truly rememberable hero who is a delight to spend time with.
I received a complimentary copy of Sticks and Stones by David James Warren through JustRead Tours, but the opinions stated are all my own.
This series is best read in order, as each book continues where the previous finished.
In this book Rembrandt is trying figure out who's behind the death of the mother of two young children and try to stop the death of someone close to him. He also is trying to decide whether or not he should try to change his personal life, to get it back to what it was before he received the watch and drastically (and accidentally) changed his life. In this timeline, Eve seems happy, unlike the last one, and he worries he may make things worse for her. His life is completely different, So many changes, it makes the head spin! The ending was really good and I'm hoping to read the next book very soon.
STICKS AND STONE is another suspenseful story in this series where there are always twists as Rembrandt Stone tries to repair the past. An engaging protagonist and a thrilling story will continue to entrance fans of the series. Definitely one to check out if you like cold-case fiction or suspense with a sci-fi twist.
Rembrandt Stone's voice is still fully engaging in this third book. He's easy to cheer on through all the cringe-worthy, awkward moments as well as the stellar ones. I felt a bit more frustrated in this story. I think because I'm now really invested, but things are just so complicated and messed up. I literally have no idea what will happen and what the repercussions will be and that is a bit scary when you really want things to work out. This whole series is cold-case suspense with the whole sci-fi aspect that literally keeps you on edge from beginning to end. You don't know what you'll find at any point, in the past or the future, as things keep changing based on what Rembrandt does or doesn't do.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This was another thrilling ride with a great character to get behind and an ever evolving story. I'm very much looking forward to reading book number four!
Content: Some violence and innuendo, but clean. Source: I received a complimentary copy through JustRead Publicity Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
What next? What will change, for better or worse? Remington and Eve and the other characters in this series won't let me go. Off to read book #4 in the series.
Robin’s Ratings 5🌟 = Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite. 4🌟 = Excellent read. Couldn’t put it down. Will recommend to others. 3🌟 = It kept me engaged/entertained. Glad I read it. 2🌟 = The book was fine but not a favorite. Just a matter of personal taste. 1🌟 = For whatever reason, this book didn’t engage me.
I've been waiting for this book since first starting The True Lies Of Rembrandt Stone series. I wanted to see Rem's conscience start to wake up and needle him about the choices he's made during his time travels. Finally, Sticks And Stones delivered just that.
Time Travel is not a genre that I usually go to but this series from the super talented combination of James Rubart, Susan May Warren, and David Warren intrigued me and has held my attention through three books. I've been enjoying the suspense/thriller plots as well as trying to guess what new disastrous results of Rem's meddling with history will hit him next. And they will nail him harder each time than the last.
David James Warren brings up some great questions in Sticks And Stone, and the entire series for that matter, from man's mortality to free will versus fate, and whether the things that make up the past happened the way they were supposed to the first time. This book is also a great reminder of how easily even our tiniest choices can affect the people around, for good or for bad. Definitely a lot to ponder...which is not bad for a quick reading time travel story...
(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Sticks and Stone The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone #3 By David James Warren
Rembrandt Stone has a problem, one of his own making though it began accidentally. First he isn't the man he knows and thought himself to be. No he isn't delusional, though that would be preferable to the reality he now finds himself living. His wife is not his wife and she never was. His daughter has never existed though he has another daughter he never knew. And his best friend/ex-partner is married to his wife who was never his wife. If you think you are confused you have just a small understanding of what Rem's week is like. And this doesn't even touch the serial killer who he somehow enabled with his major blundering through the past!
Rem doesn't want to keep messing up and he doesn't want to ruin Eve's life more than he has, but he keeps being drawn to the past and the killer whose killings are all on him. Can he figure out what he messed up without totally destroying his future? Or will he forever be changing who he is?
This is one series where reading the books out of order will seriously mess with your mind. This is the third book and you have to read them in order! This newest book finds Rem once again totally clueless when it starts and how do you carry on a conversation with anyone when everything you thought you knew yesterday has changed overnight and you've lost years of memories in the process. You have memories but they are the wrong ones for the life you are now living. I have to say I really feel Rem - he has a life that he is satisfied with, a wife and daughter he loves, and then everything is gone with a simple windup of a watch. With three books to go in the series, one has to wonder if it is possible to restore what he has lost and what the ultimate cost will be to him and those around him.
This series reminds me of a Star Trek Voyager episode (The Year of Hell) when a scientist in an attempt to help his people inadvertently affects the universe around him and deletes his wife from existence he then spends decades trying to restore what he has lost. What means the most to him is the one thing he can't restore.
If you are looking for a read that takes you from your every day and demands that you suspend your disbelief you absolutely have to read Sticks and Stone, after reading the two previous titles - Cast the First Stone and No Unturned Stone.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion ~ All thoughts expressed are my own.
So, the directions: Use the watch. Travel back in time. Solve the cold case in the folder you've just skimmed through.
But do not, under any circumstances, try to change anything else.
Do you think that Rembrandt Stone can follow those directions? No, I didn't either. Rem was warned that he could change everything, the entire future, if he did. But he just can't resist. He is sure that he can solve or prevent the cold case crime...and all the other problems he's created!
Because he has created more problems. He's already been back and forth in time. And the extra changes that he made in the past have drastically affected his future; his work, his personal relationships...and the crimes and criminals he'd ostensibly been trying to prevent or capture.
In Sticks and Stone: A Time Travel Thriller, Rem is in a world of hurt. He just knows that if he can fix the mistakes he's made, he can return to his own future, the one that he's supposed to be living in, rather than this crazy one that has spun out of his other efforts. But by trying to fix those mistakes, he's violating the very rule he was told to follow: to only solve the cold case.
This time, he may not recover from the choices he's made.
Jump in for another incredible read, in the latest book in David James Warren's series, "The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone." Sticks and Stone is fascinating and compelling. I cannot wait for the next installment. Read the first three books in this series...and I'm sure you'll agree with me!
I received a digital copy of this book from the authors. All opinions are my own.
How bad is Rem going to mess up the timeline this time? 😨 After two trips to the past, Inspector Rembrandt Stone has learned that some cold cases can be solved, but the ramifications in the present may be more than he can live with.
My thoughts: These books read very much like a TV show that you can't stop binge watching. Also like a TV show, sometimes it seems like the characters behave in ways that you don't quite recognize due to multiple writers, and I feel like that was going on here. What's up with Daphne? That needed to be explored much more than it was. It didn't ring true.
I'm disappointed this was written for the general market and includes content I do not appreciate, and therefore cannot fully recommend.
Sticks and Stone, the third installment in the True Lies of Rembrandt Stone, continues the saga of time-traveling, former detective Rembrandt Stone. Once again, Stone is thrust back in time to solve a cold case. And as in the previous books, the trip is filled with intrigue, action, and a sometimes-confused Stone. Time-traveling has a few drawbacks because each time his reality has changed, and it’s hard to keep up when you don’t know what’s just happened in your new reality. This aspect of the series makes for a little levity in what is otherwise an intense story. Stone is evolving with each novel and becoming more self-aware. He’s not only seeing he has been a jerk, but he’s trying desperately not to be one in whatever reality he finds himself. Inside, the watch that affords him the time-traveling capability, are the words Be Stalwart. And, with each new adventure, he is proving those words describe the person he’s becoming. In addition, his faith is reawakening. While the details of his life change, dramatically, with each trip back, one thing doesn’t change – his love for is wife Eve. And no matter what reality Eve is living, there is always a spark between her and Rembrandt. Sticks and Stone, like its predecessors, keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next, and there are a few heart-dropping moments where you can imagine all kinds of bad happening. It’s witty, funny, poignant, and a great mystery yet to be solved. Sticks and Stone is another excellent novel you don’t want to miss.
4.5 stars I'm loving this series! I think this installment is my favorite one yet.
Rem's going back to the past again to solve one more of his old cold cases. He vows not to screw up the timeline like he did the previous times he went back. He's just gonna solve a crime and catch a bad guy or two. Simple, right? Not so much.
This one had more romance than the previous books, but there was still a lot of action and suspense. And that ending has me so curious to find out what happens next. I can't wait!
This was another wonderful time travel novel about Rembrandt trying to fix the new messes he caused when he was fixing the last ones! I loved how he kept trying to learn from his mistakes, not just in time travel but in life. He had regrets about his original timeline and he decided he's going to be a better man and put Eve first. It's wonderful to see him grow and change as his story continues. There were some great romantic moments. I loved the cop stuff, though there wasn't as much investigation in this story, which I missed. I loved the classic rock references. There was some great advice about choices and what-ifs. Apparently Rembrandt had faith at one time but is a little unsure now what he believes. There's some suspense and action. I would recommend reading the first two books in the series first and I highly recommend this one! I can't wait for the next!
I received a kindle copy of this book from JustRead Tours. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
Sticks and Stone was another great and entertaining read in this series. I read it right after finishing book two and flew through it.
I'm not a time travel reader, usually, but something about this series had my attention. It seems like Rem just keeps messing things up and he'll never fix it.
All in all, this book had some twists and intense moments.
I somehow didn't like this one as much. A lot of time was spent catching us back up and I had a little trouble figuring out which timeline we were in now.
A brief recap was given in the first chapter about time travel , how Stone got the watch, how the time travel works and the purpose behind it; which is really helpful since these books come out every couple months and sometimes I forget specifics.
I definitely liked book 3 better than book 2 because it was less traumatic for Stone in regards to his wife and daughter. It’s interesting how Stone continues to use his time travel to try to help others and to solve cold cases, while still trying not to change too much that it alters his future.
Typically I don’t read time travel books, but this series has been incredible to read and once I start reading the book I don’t put it down until I finish. The characters are great, and the flow of the book is intriguing and easy to read.
I really like the conversation that Stone had with his dad during one section of the book- about “ wishes and what if‘s don’t change things. The only thing that matters is right now.”
I can’t wait to read book 4- Set in Stone!
I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.