Flirtation Walk by Siri Mitchell

                              Flirtation Walk by Siri Mitchell

                                                        

Lucinda Pennyworth, the daughter of a con man, is trying her best to leave her father's sordid past behind her. When he dies unexpectedly, she takes the opportunity to move to West Point to live with her aunt, ready to take on a new life and determined to marry a respectable man, a West Point cadet, to impress her relatives.
                                                                                                              
Seth Westcott, a cadet at the academy, is proud to be at the top of his senior class. But when his mother dies and his sister loses their inheritance to a swindler, Seth wants nothing more than to head west to track down the con man. But the army will only send the cadets at the bottom of the class to the frontier . . . which leaves Seth with some tough choices.

When a woman trying her best to be good meets a man determined to be anything but, can there be hope for love, or will two lonely hearts be condemned to casual flirtation?

I found this book to be rather slow.  I had a lot of trouble getting into it.  Lucinda finally finds out how it feels to be swindled when she finds out she isn’t even a Pennyworth.  Seth tries his best to get to the bottom of his class at West Point.  I guess I didn’t really understand why he was doing that.  I guess it would have ruined the story for him to just go and explain his situation to his superiors.  They both learned that keeping secrets is never a good idea.

I am more of a suspense/thriller type of reader.  Would I recommend this book?  I can’t really answer that question.  It was not my cup of tea but then someone else might thoroughly enjoy it.

I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

Burning Proof by Janice Cantore

Burning Proof by Janice Cantore

After months of investigating the brutal homicide of a young girl, Detective Abby Hart finally has the evidence she needs. But when the arrest goes terribly wrong, Abby begins to doubt her future as a police officer. As she wrestles with conflicting emotions, old questions about the fire that took her parents’ lives come back to haunt her.

“There is proof.” PI Luke Murphy can’t stop thinking about what Abby’s former partner, Asa Foster, mumbled just before he died. When he uncovers a clue to the murder of Abby’s parents and his uncle, he’s reluctant to tell Abby, despite his growing feelings for the beautiful detective.

A decade-old abduction case brings Luke and Abby together, but will his secret tear them apart?

This is the second book in the Cold Case Justice series.  I would recommend reading the first book in the series “Drawing Fire”.  I read it and it still took me awhile to catch up to what was going on. 

This book started out a little slow.  There seemed to be a lot of different stories going on at once that didn’t make any sense to the book.  As the book progressed, the different stories started to merge into one.  So don’t give up.  It does all make sense in the end.  More information comes to light in the deaths of Abby’s parents and Luke’s uncle.  Abby and Luke continue to struggle with their attraction to each other. 

Abby is involved in a fatal shooting and has to come to terms with what God wants her to do.  Her commitment to God is tested throughout this time.  She also has to decide if staying engaged to Ethan is what is best. 

I would recommend this book.  But definitely read the first in the series.  I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

Q and A with author: http://mediacenter.tyndale.com/downloads/press_kits/BurningProofAuthorQ&A.pdf

On Lone Star Trail by Amanda Cabot

If there's one thing Gillian Hodge never wants to see again, it's a man on a motorcycle. Her last encounter with one left her right hand crushed, ending her promising career as a concert pianist. Unsure about the next phase in her life, she heads to Rainbow's End Resort for some R&R when a sudden thunderstorm causes a motorcycle to crash right in front of her.

When TJ Benjamin's wife died, he lost more than his best friend; he lost his faith. He has spent the past year wandering the country on his motorcycle, trying not to think about the future. When he finds himself stranded with a busted bike and a reluctant rescuer, he has to wonder about God's sense of humor.

As these broken people collide, they find that a bright future is still ahead--it just might not be the one they imagined for themselves.

Book Three of the Texas Crossroads series once again finds us at Rainbow's End.  Gillian goes there to recuperate from a life altering injury to her hand.  Kate, her best friend, along with Kate's husband own Rainbow's End Resort.  Kate is where she has always gone when she needs time away from the world.  Gillian has to decide what her future holds for her.  Her dad thinks getting married and producing grandchildren is the answer.  But she has to marry the right kind of man. 

TJ is running from the loss of his wife and from God.  He ends up hydroplaning on a rainy road right in front of Gillian.  It was a motorcycle that caused her hand injury.  So understandably she never wants to see a motorcycle again.  She offers him a ride to Rainbow's End.  There the story begins with them both trying to find the direction in life they are going to take.  Gillian with God's help and TJ trying to outrun God. 

I found the book entertaining.  A nice cozy read would be how I would describe it.  Although this was the third book in the series,  it is not necessary to read the other two to read this book.  I would suggest reading them just because they are good books.

I was given this book by the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

Always Watching by Lynette Eason

When it becomes clear that popular psychiatrist and radio personality Wade Savage has a stalker, his father secretly hires Elite Guardians to protect his son. But when Wade's bodyguard is attacked and nearly killed, agency owner Olivia Edwards must step in and fill the gap.

Olivia's skills are about to be tested to the limit as Wade's stalker moves from leaving innocent gifts at his door to threatening those closest to him--including Olivia. But in her mind, even more dangerous than the threats to her life is the hold her handsome client has on her heart.

Olivia has a very strong personality and doesn’t just let anyone into her life.  She has developed this from being in foster homes from an early age.  This makes for an excellent bodyguard.  She will do whatever it takes to keep Wade and his daughter Amy safe.  Olivia also has a long distance relationship with God.

Wade also has a strong personality.  He wasn’t even aware that his father had hired bodyguards until Maddie was attacked and almost killed.  His father convinces him to continue with the bodyguards since it seems his “watcher” has escalated things beyond just sending gifts. 

I wouldn’t say this was an intense thriller.  But it did keep me guessing right up to the end of the book as to who the stalker was. There were several things mentioned in the book that made me think I knew who it was.  But I was wrong. There was even another twist at the end of the book that I didn’t see at all. 

I love all of Lynette Eason books and this was no exception.  I am looking forward to the next installment of the Elite Guardian series.

I was given this book by the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

If I Run by Terri Blackstock

Casey Cox’s DNA is all over the crime scene. There’s no use talking to police; they’ve failed her abysmally before. She has to flee before she’s arrested . . . or worse. The truth doesn’t matter anymore.

But what is the truth? That’s the question haunting Dylan Roberts, the war-weary veteran hired to find Casey. PTSD has marked him damaged goods, but bringing Casey back can redeem him. Though the crime scene seems to tell the whole story, details of the murder aren’t adding up.

Casey Cox doesn’t fit the profile of a killer. But are Dylan’s skewed perceptions keeping him from being objective? If she isn’t guilty, why did she run?

Unraveling her past and the evidence that condemns her will take more time than he has, but as Dylan’s damaged soul intersects with hers, he is faced with two choices: the girl who occupies his every thought is a psychopathic killer . . . or a selfless hero. And the truth could be the most deadly weapon yet.

What can I say but I loved this book.  I kept reading even when I should have gone to bed.  This was entirely different from any book I have ever read.  Without giving away any of the plot Dylan and Casey don’t meet until the very end of the book.  It alternates between Casey and Dylan telling the story.  The farther along into the story the more Dylan begins to suspect that Casey is innocent of the murder.  But why is she running?  Casey is good at giving the police and Dylan the slip and arranging for a new name.  She just can’t seem to stop helping people.  

If you like suspense, you will love this book and I recommend it.  The only thing I didn’t care for is there was no real ending to the story. That's why I will give it four stars instead of five. I will be sure to read books two and three as I love all the book Terri Blackstock has written.

I was given this book by the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

Interview with Terri Blackstock:  http://g.christianbook.com/netstorage/pdf/interview/332431.pdf 

Keeper of the Stars by Robin Lee Hatcher

When her mother died from pneumonia, Penny Cartwright was heartbroken. But now, after burying her younger brother just 12 years later, she is devastated. Anger, guilt, and sorrow cloud Penny’s mind, and the last thing she wants is to be reminded of her pain—but that’s exactly what happens when a stranger comes to town.
Trevor Reynolds has been chasing fame for more than a dozen years, but his musical career can’t get off the ground. While on the road, an accident kills his young drummer, Brad Cartwright. Trevor wasn’t behind the wheel, but he still blames himself . . . and so does Brad’s sister, Penny. Now Trevor finds himself in Kings Meadow, determined to follow through on his final promise to his friend.
Still feeling the pain of Brad’s death, Penny and Trevor must learn that forgiveness is the only thing that can heal their hearts. And if they do forgive, something beautiful may rise from the ashes of heartbreak.
Penny has to learn to forgive Trevor for what she perceives as his fault her brother Brad is dead.  Trevor has to forgive himself for feeling responsible for Brad's death.  Even though he isn't.  It was just a tragic accident.  Penny has a very, I hate to say controlling but I'll say it anyway, attitude about how things should be done.  She had her brother Brads life all planned out without him having any say in the matter.  He was going to be an engineer and live close to home and help on the family ranch.  Brad wanted to be a drummer and she believes Trevor enticed Brad away.  Penny has to learn to give up control and let God take control.  Trevor has to learn to forgive himself and accept God and then let him tell him what he wants with his life.
I found this book to be entertaining and would recommend it to anyone.
I was given this book by the publisher for an honest review and was not compensated in any way.