Sandpiper Cove by Irene Hannon

Hope Harbor police chief Lexie Graham has plenty on her plate raising her son alone and dealing with a sudden rash of petty theft and vandalism in her coastal Oregon hometown. As a result, she has zero time for extracurricular activities--including romance. Ex-con Adam Stone isn't looking for love either--but how ironic is it that the first woman to catch his eye is a police chief? Yet wishing for things that can never be is foolish.

Nevertheless, when Lexie enlists Adam's help to keep a young man from falling into a life of crime, sparks begin to fly. And as they work together, it soon becomes apparent that God may have a different--and better--future planned for them than either could imagine.

This is an unusual romance in that a police chief falls in love with an ex-con.  The pitfalls and public opinion are against them.  There's also the crime spree that has hit town.  As Lexie tries to solve the crimes she enlists Adams help in mentoring a young teen.  Along the way Adam helps Lexie find her lost faith.

I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone.

Behind the Scenes by Jen Turano

Miss Permilia Griswold may have been given the opportunity of a debut into New York high society, but no one warned her she wasn't guaranteed to "take." After spending the last six years banished to the wallflower section of the ballroom, she's finally putting her status on the fringes of society to good use by penning anonymous society gossip columns under the pseudonym "Miss Quill."

Mr. Asher Rutherford has managed to maintain his status as a reputable gentleman of society despite opening his own department store. While pretending it's simply a lark to fill his time, he has quite legitimate reasons for needing to make his store the most successful in the country.
When Permilia overhears a threat against the estimable Mr. Rutherford, she's determined to find and warn the man. Disgruntled at a first meeting that goes quite poorly and results in Asher not believing her, she decides to take matters into her own hands, never realizing she'll end up at risk as well.

As Asher and Permilia are forced to work together and spend time away from the spotlight of society, perhaps there's more going on behind the scenes than they ever could have anticipated. . . .

I never knew what a snobbish bunch of people "Society" people could be.  Wallflowers weren't even considered to have feelings.  They were shunned and if someone had anything to do with them they were too. 

I found the story to be delightful.  Asher and Permilia don't want to admit they have feelings for each other as they work to solve the mystery of who wants to do away with Asher.  I highly recommend this book.

Beneath Copper Falls by Collee Coble

Dana has already learned that love isn’t safe . . . but could it be different in Rock Harbor?


As a 911 dispatcher, Dana Newell takes pride in being calm in tough circumstances. In addition to her emotionally-charged career, she’s faced enough emergencies in her own life. She recently escaped her abusive fiancé to move to tranquil Rock Harbor where she hopes life will be more peaceful.


But the idyllic town hides more danger and secrets than it first appeared. Dana is continually drawn to her new friend Boone, who has scars inside and out. Then she answers a call at her job only to hear a friend’s desperate screams on the other end. Soon the pain in her past collides with the mysteries of her new home—and threatens to keep her from the future she’s always wanted.

Dana is afraid of making the same mistakes as before and Boone can't trust his own judgement when it comes to women.  They are drawn to each other as they try to find out who murdered Boone's sister and other women by the serial killer the press has named the Groom Killer.

I enjoyed visiting Rock Harbor again and seeing how Bree and Kade were doing.  I thought I had it figured out several times who the Groom Killer was.  But I was wrong.  I found myself reading when I should have been doing other things.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery.

Dark Deception by Nancy Mehl

Kate O'Brien has been leading a quiet life in small-town Shelter Cove, Arkansas, for the past four years when her past suddenly comes roaring back to life. Four years ago, she and her twin sister were attacked by an elusive serial killer. Only Kate survived, and it was her drawing of the attacker--along with some last-minute evidence--that convicted the suspect.

She's been in witness protection ever since, but new evidence suggests the convicted man isn't the murderer and she's been subpoenaed to testify in the new trial. Nervous about the risk, she'll only agree if the same Marshal who protected her during the original trial escorts her to St. Louis.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Tony DeLuca accepts the assignment to bring Kate to the trial, remembering how her strength impressed him. While in Shelter Cove, however, he gets a call from his chief, advising them to stay in Shelter Cove until a new development in the case can be straightened out. But when Kate's safety is threatened, Tony must race against the clock to keep her alive and put this ugly case to rest before anyone else gets killed.

Kate is in the Witness Protection program after having witnessed her twin sister being murdered.  Upon learning that the man responsible for her murder has been released because his conviction has been overturned.  Tony is the Marshall responsible for bringing Kate back to St. Louis so she can testify again.  While trying to bring her back both of their lives are in danger.  Kate and Tony have to rely on each other and God to see them through the dangers that await them.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery.  There are twists and turn.

You'll Think of Me by Robin Lee Hatcher

Her mother abandoned her, her father disowned her, and her husband left her. Can Brooklyn be convinced that it is possible to forgive the greatest of betrayals?

Brooklyn Myers escaped her broken home and her embittered, unloving father by eloping to Reno at the age of 17. But when she was pregnant with their first child, her husband abandoned her as well. Not welcome back home in Thunder Creek, Brooklyn stayed in Reno and raised her daughter Alycia on her own, doing her best to make sure Alycia never knew the heartache and rejection Brooklyn herself had known.

When her estranged husband Chad Hallston dies, he leaves the family home in Thunder Creek to his daughter. Believing it is the best way to give her daughter a stable home, Brooklyn does what she thought she would never do. She goes home to the orchard and wine country of Southwest Idaho. There, she encounters Chad’s best friend, Derek Johnson, a part time sheriff's deputy who also owns an organic produce farm next door. Derek was never a fan of former bad girl Brooklyn Myers, but he made a promise to his dying friend that he would be the father to Alycia that Chad had never been.

Although Derek and Brooklyn get off to a bumpy start, he and Alycia quickly form a bond. And soon, Derek realizes that he wants Brooklyn to trust him too . . .  even knowing that her trust won’t come easily. And then he realizes he wants even more than her trust. He wants to win her love.

While Brooklyn may be tempted to give her heart to Derek, risking her daughter’s happiness is another story. Will Brooklyn hold onto her self-reliance for dear life, or will she come to understand that the greatest gift she can give her daughter is showing her how to love and trust others?

This book deals with trust.  Brooklyn has no reason to trust anyone.  Life experiences has taught her she cant' trust anyone.  The only one she can rely on is herself.  Derek blames Brooklyn for the change in Chad when they started dating.  So when she moves back to town, he doesn't want anything to do with her.  The problem is she has inherited the property he was hoped to buy for his organic farm.  Brooklyn and Derek have to establish trust before they can move on with any type of friendship.

I recommend this book to everyone.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.