In Too Deep by Lynn H. Blackburn

When the dive team is called in to recover a body from a submerged car, they aren't prepared to find an encrypted laptop--or an unsettling connection between investigator Adam Campbell and the dead accountant.

Adam turns to his friend Dr. Sabrina Fleming--a professor at the local university with unparalleled computer security and forensics skills--to recover the files from the laptop. But the deeper they dig, the deadlier the investigation becomes. When evidence uncovers a human trafficking ring and implicates members of Adam's own family, he and Sabrina will have to risk everything to solve the case.

This is another winner for Ms. Blackburn.  It was well worth the wait.  The mystery was great as well as the romance.  I did find it hard to believe that Sabrina and Adam could work after almost getting blown up.  But like a movie, anything is possible.  This is a great book and I had trouble putting it down.  I am looking forward to the next book in the series. 

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in anyway.

Mind Games by Nancy Mehl

Kaely Quinn's talents as an FBI behavior analyst are impossible to ignore, no matter how unorthodox her methods. But when a reporter outs her as the daughter of an infamous serial killer, she's demoted to field agent and transferred to St. Louis.

When the same reporter who ruined her career claims to have received an anonymous poem predicting a string of murders, ending with Kaely's, the reporter's ulterior motives bring his claim into question. But when a body is found that fits the poem's predictions, the threat is undeniable, and the FBI sends Special Agent Noah Hunter to St. Louis.

Initially resentful of the assignment, Noah is surprised at how quickly his respect for Kaely grows, despite her oddities. But with a brazen serial killer who breaks all the normal patterns on the loose, Noah and Kaely are tested to their limits to catch the murderer before anyone else--including Kaely herself--is killed.

What a good book.  You don't know who the bad guy is til the very end.  Kaely is a unique individual who has some big emotional issues from her childhood.  She doesn't make friends because she doesn't trust anyone.  People she has trusted before have turned out to be untrustworthy.  The story has an ending but it leaves it wide open for the next book.  I am looking forward to the next book with anticipation.

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

The Lieutenant's Bargain by Regina Jennings

Hattie Walker dreams of becoming a painter, while her parents want her to settle down. As a compromise, they give her two months to head to Denver and place her works in an exhibition or give up the dream forever. Her journey is derailed when a gunman attacks her stagecoach, leaving her to be rescued by a group of Arapaho . . . but she's too terrified to recognize them as friendly.

Confirmed bachelor Lieutenant Jack Hennessey has long worked with the tribe and is tasked with trying to convince them that the mission school at Fort Reno can help their children. When a message arrives about a recovered survivor, Jack heads out to take her home--and plead his case once more.

He's stunned to run into Hattie Walker, the girl who shattered his heart--but quickly realizes he has a chance to impress her. When his plan gets tangled through translation, Jack and Hattie end up in a mess that puts her dreams in peril--and tests Jack's resolve to remain single.

I have enjoyed all the books by Regina Jennings that I have read and this one is no exception.  This book is full of fun between Jack and Hattie.  They have known each other since they were children.  But a lot has happened since they were kids.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books about Fort Reno.

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

The Memory House by Rachel Hauck

When Beck Holiday lost her father in the North Tower on 9/11, she also lost her memories of him. Eighteen years later, she’s a tough New York City cop burdened with a damaging secret, suspended for misconduct, and struggling to get her life in order. Meanwhile a mysterious lHeetter arrives informing her she’s inherited a house along Florida’s northern coast, and what she discovers there will change her life forever. Matters of the heart only become more complicated when she runs into handsome Bruno Endicott, a driven sports agent who fondly recalls the connection they shared as teenagers. But Beck doesn’t remember that, either.

Decades earlier, widow Everleigh Applegate lives a steady, uneventful life with her widowed mother after a tornado ripped through Waco, Texas, and destroyed her new, young married life. When she runs into old high school friend Don Callahan, she begins to yearn for change. Yet no matter how much she longs to love again, she is hindered by a secret she can never share.

 Beck can't remember her childhood after 9/11.  She can't even remember her father.  Her personal life is in shambles as well.  She inherits Memory House from Everleigh Applegate and decides to go there after being suspended from her job.  There she meets Bruno Endicott.   He was her best friend as a child when she visited Florida.  She can't remember him either.   This book is Beck's journey back to her father and God.

I recommend this book to everyone. 

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

In the Shadow of Croft Towers by Abigail Wilson

When Sybil Delafield’s coach to Croft Towers was robbed by highwaymen, she should have realized that her new position as companion to old Mrs. Chalcroft would be no ordinary job. Upon Sybil’s arrival, Mrs. Chalcroft sneaks into her room in the dark of night, imploring her to relay messages to town that are to stay hidden from the rest of the family. Who exactly is she working for and what do the messages contain?

When fellow passengers of the robbed coach are later murdered, Sybil’s hunt for the truth takes on a new urgency. The only person she can rely on is Mr. Sinclair, Mrs. Chalcroft’s godson, but under all his charms he too leads a double life. Sybil must decide if he is the one honest voice she can trust, or if he is simply using her for his own advances.

I found this book to be intriguing.  Sybil doesn't know who she can trust.  Her coach is stopped and robbed on her way to Croft Towers.  Then when she gets there she discovers one of the house guests is one of the highwaymen.  What is she supposed to do?  He asks her to trust him.  Then there's Mrs.Chalcroft.  She seems to have totally lost it.  But she creeps into her room in the middle of the night to ask special favors.  Is she sane or not?

A great read that I would recommend to every one.  This isn't an edge of your seat suspense.  But is has lots of mystery.

I was given this book by Thomas Nelson via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.  

The Liberty Bride by Marylu Tyndall

A trip home from England to Maryland in 1812 finds Emeline Baratt a captive on a British warship and forced to declare her allegiance between the British and Americans. Remaining somewhat politically neutral on a ship where her nursing skills are desperately needed is fairly easy—until she starts to have feelings for the first lieutenant who becomes her protector. However, when the captain sends her and Lieutenant Owen Masters on land to spy, she must choose between her love for him and her love for her country.

Emeline has preconceived notions about what a proper Christian lady should act like.  She feels like she has fallen short all her life in acting the proper lady.  When her dad calls her home from England he sends his privateer ship after her.  On the way back they are attacked by the British and she is taken captive. 

I enjoyed reading this book.  I can't say there was a lot of suspense but there is lots of actions.  I don't remember reading any books by Ms. Tyndall but I will looks for her other books from now on.

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

Secrets at Cedar Cabin by Colleen Coble

Running for her life in the wake of her mother’s murder, Bailey Fleming escapes to the only place she can think of—a remote, dilapidated cabin in Lavender Tides. Intending to finally get to the truth behind the lies of her past, Bailey only finds more questions when bodies are discovered near her cabin hideout along with traces of a dangerous human trafficking ring. In an unlikely partnership with FBI agent Lance Phoenix, Bailey races to understand the mystery surrounding her life and circumstances before the murderer tracks her down.

Meanwhile, Lance is determined to rescue his sister, Ava, who was abducted after running away from home as a teenager. An unexpected lead brings him to the remote cabin, and he wonders if Bailey—with her suspicious past and strange connections to his sister’s case—is really who she claims to be and if she can somehow lead him to Ava.

This is the third book in the A Lavender Tides series.  It's not necessary to read the first two books to read this book.  But they are great books and tell the background for this story.   This is a great conclusion to the series.  In great Ms. Coble style there is lots of suspense clear to the end of the book.  I highly recommend that you read all three books in this series.

I was given this book by Thomas Nelson via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

Who I Am With You by Robin Lee Hatcher

Jessica Mason isn’t looking for love when she meets Ridley Chesterfield. Instead she is still reeling from the tragic, unexpected loss of her husband and daughter—and awaiting the arrival of her unborn child. Harboring the secret of her husband’s betrayal, her pain is deeper than anyone knows.
Ridley Chesterfield is hiding out in Hope Springs, Idaho, avoiding a political scandal and the barrage of false media headlines that have tarnished his good name. The last thing Ridley wants is a relationship—but when fate leads Ridley to form a friendship with his reclusive and pregnant neighbor, he wonders if this small-town hideout might be more of a long-term destination.
When Jessica begins to read her great-grandfather’s Bible, she finds a connection with a man she never knew. Somehow the verses he marked and the words he wrote in the margins open her heart to healing. And as Ridley and Jessica help each other forgive the people who have wronged them, they must decide if the past will define them or if they will choose to love again.

To me this book is about forgiveness.  Jessica has to forgive her husband for his deceit and herself for per perceived fault in the car accident that claimed her husband and daughters lives.  Ridley has to forgive those who should have stood up for him and those who wronged him and ruined his reputation.  Then you go back to the 1930's and visit Jessica's great grandparents.  Her great grandfather had a lot of things to forgive.  I can't say I'm a fan of books that skip back and forth between periods.  I did enjoy reading the book and seeing how Jessica and Ridley worked things out.

I was give this book by Thomas Nelson Publishing by way of NetGalley for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd

Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. But with her father’s passing and her uncle’s decline into dementia, the family business is at risk. In the Victorian era, unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone.

The death of a longtime client, Baron Lydney, offers an unexpected complication when Eleanor is appointed the temporary trustee of the baron’s legendary collection. She must choose whether to donate the priceless treasures to a museum or allow them to pass to the baron’s only living son, Harry—the man who broke Eleanor’s heart.

Eleanor distrusts the baron’s motives and her own ability to be unbiased regarding Harry’s future. Harry claims to still love her and Eleanor yearns to believe him, but his mysterious comments and actions fuel her doubts. When she learns an Italian beauty accompanied him on his return to England, her lingering hope for a future with Harry dims.

With the threat of debtor’s prison closing in, Eleanor knows that donating the baron’s collection would win her favor among potential clients, saving Sheffield Brothers. But the more time she spends with Harry, the more her faith in him grows. Might Harry be worthy of his inheritance, and her heart, after all? As pressures mount and time runs out, Eleanor must decide whom she can trust—who in her life is false or true, brass or gold—and what is meant to be treasured.

I had trouble getting into this book. I have read other books by Ms Byrd that were better.  It seemed to drag in a lot of sports.  I found myself skimming in a lot of places.   It did have a happy ending.  But it seemed to take a long time to get there. I did have the bad guy figured out before we were told who it was.

I was given this book by Tyndale Publishing by way of NetGalley for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way. 

At Home in Wishing Bridge by Ruth Logan Herne

After surviving the streets of South Philly, Thea Anastas never thought she’d wind up working in rural New York. But a call from a friend in need convinced the nurse practitioner to make the trip. Now her temporary position is making a difference in Wishing Bridge—though Thea can’t afford to make a difference, to fill a gaping hole in the sweet, small town. After all, the current medical practice is being dissolved in three months, and bigger opportunities are luring her away…
Her partner, Dr. Ethan Brandenburg, has his own struggles: caring for his orphaned niece and nephew and holding firm to his decision to leave Wishing Bridge for a prestigious job in Chicago. Though Thea’s no-nonsense advice in the office has been good for business, her compassion in Ethan’s personal life has been good for his heart. But how can he offer a commitment to a woman when they’re both about to say goodbye?
Wishing Bridge may be surrounded by forests and farms, but Thea is starting to realize that friendships and family form its heart—and that what she wants in life and love may be right in front of her eyes.

This is the second book in the series.  I didn't read the first book and it probably would have helped me understand some of the references made and some of the situations.  I also thought that Mara's age was wrong.  I have a seven year old granddaughter and there's no way she could have some of the conversations that Mara had.  I'm thinking more like a 10 or 11 year old.  Overall this was a good book.  I'm looking forward to Jazz's story.

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

Tell Her No Lies by Kelly Irvin

Nina Fischer carries a camera wherever she goes—so she can view life through a filter. Safely. After her mother abandoned her to the streets, Nina has kept people at a distance, including her uncle, who adopted Nina and her sister. Wealthy and proud, he is a good man, a fair judge, and someone many in San Antonio admire.
But when he is murdered, and the detective assigned to the case accuses Nina of the crime, she knows she must act. She’s determined to use her journalism background to find the real killer. The two men in her life want to help, but can she trust them?  She’s known Rick since they were children, but now he’s an attorney whose political aspirations seem more important than Nina’s tragic loss. And then there’s Aaron, a news videographer; using their friendship could break the biggest story of his career.
Following the evidence leads Nina on a journey of discovery into her father’s shocking masquerade as a law-abiding, family-loving Christian. Unlocking these secrets could prove fatal, but it’s the only way Nina will ever be able to trust love again.

Nina is a complex person.  She has trouble trusting anyone and you better not lie to her.  There is a lot of twists and turns in this book that I didn't see coming.  Who killed the judge was a real surprise.  I will say I didn't care for Rick from the beginning of  the book.  I did like Aaron.  He seemed more concerned about Nina than about anyone else.  If you like a good mystery, this is it.

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

A Christmas by the Sea by Melody Carlson

When Wendy Harper inherits her family's beachside cottage in Seaside, Maine, she sees it as a way to finally pay off the debts that have mounted since her husband died. But before it can be sold, the neglected property must be renovated. She and her 12-year-old son Jackson move in--temporarily, she reminds him--in order to do the work themselves, even though Christmas is coming. The charming town, along with local craftsman Caleb Colton, pulls on both Wendy and Jackson, who even registers himself for school in a bid to get his mom to move them there permanently. Wendy knows that the most responsible thing to do is to sell the cottage and return to Ohio, but the lure of the sea is hard to resist.

This is a very heartwarming story about a single mother, Wendy, trying to survive the aftermath of her husbands death.  All she wants to do is whats best for her son.  She thinks its fixing up the cottage and selling it.  Jackson, her son, has other ideas.  He wants to stay and does everything in his power to make it happen.  Then there's Caleb.  He also wants Wendy to stay. 

I could see this as a Hallmark Christmas movie.  It's a feel good book with a happy ending.

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

A Sparkle of Silver by Liz Johnson

Ninety years ago, Millie Sullivan's great-grandmother was a guest at oil tycoon Howard Dawkins' palatial estate on the shore of St. Simons Island, Georgia. Now, Millie plays a 1920s-era guest during tours of the same manor. But when her grandmother suggests that there is a lost diary containing the location of a hidden treasure on the estate, along with the true identity of Millie's great-grandfather, Millie sets out to find the truth of her heritage--and the fortune that might be hers. When security guard Ben Thornton discovers her snooping in the estate's private library, he threatens to have her fired. But her story seems almost too ludicrous to be fiction, and her offer to split the treasure is too tempting to pass up . . .

This is Millie's search for her ancestors and in the process she learns there is a treasure involved.  Ben discovers her trying to find a journal that was her great grandmothers.  Millie convinces him to help her find the treasure for half  of it.  It appears that Millie and Ben are both obsessed with money.  But as you read further, you discover the reasons they want it so badly.

I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more mystery involved with the story.  That's not to say I didn't enjoy the book.  It was a good light read romance story.  I would recommend this book.

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

Lethal Target by Janice Cantore

Police Chief Tess O’Rourke thought she’d taken care of her small town’s drug problem last year. But now Rogue’s Hollow residents are up in arms over a contentious vote on legalizing the sale of marijuana within city limits. And when an eighteen-year-old is found dead of a possible overdose, Tess wonders if the local pot farms might be involved and begins to fear that a new, deadlier drug supply chain has cropped up. As tempers flare and emotions boil over, Tess faces the possibility of losing the town’s support.

With her relationship to Sergeant Steve Logan on shaky ground, Tess could really use a friend, and she feels drawn to Pastor Oliver Macpherson’s quiet presence. But the anger she holds over her father’s death prevents her from embracing his faith and finding peace.

Battling storms within and without, Tess is shocked when a familiar face from her past shows up in town to stir up more trouble. And his threats against Tess may prove lethal.

This is the second in the Line of Duty Series.  This can be a stand alone book.  But I recommend reading the first book so you can understand the references made about Tess's life in Long Beach. 

Tess thought she had the drug problem in her small town under control.  But with the death of a teenage boy due to a drug overdose, things heat up again.  Her past is brought up by those who want her out of office and they are stirring up trouble to get her removed a Chief of Police.  Oliver, one of the Pastor's in town, keeps showing up to help her.  As things heat up with a murdered man found on her doorstep, his presence seems to calm her fraying nerves.  Tess is struggling with why a loving God would allow her father to be gunned down. 

This is a fast paced mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed.  I recommend this to anyone who like a good mystery. 

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

http://www.janicecantore.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Janice-Cantore/e/B005O35IBE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1539553937&sr=8-1

The Reluctant Warrior by Mary Connealy

Union army officer Cameron Scott is used to being obeyed, but nothing about this journey to Lake Tahoe has gone as expected. He's come to fetch his daughter and nephew, and seek revenge on the people who killed his brother. Instead he finds himself trapped by a blizzard with two children who are terrified of him and stubborn but beautiful Gwen Harkness, who he worries may be trying to keep the children.

When danger descends on the cabin where they're huddled, Cam is hurt trying to protect everyone and now finds Gwen caring for him too. He soon realizes why the kids love her so much and wonders if it might be best for him to move on without them. When she sees his broken heart, Gwen decides to help him win back their affection--and in the process he might just win her heart as well.

This is the second book in the High Sierra Series.  It can be a stand alone book but some of the details from the first book help fill in the gaps in this book. The Reluctant Warrior starts off several months after The Accidental Guardian ends.  They have been trapped in the mountains all winter by snow.  Snow so high it covers the doors and windows.  We see the first attempt on their lives in the opening pages where someone plugs the chimney's in hopes they will die from the smoke. 

Gwen does not like Cam.  The reason being that he is there for the sole purpose of taking his daughter and nephew back with him when the snow melts.  There's a problem with that.  The kids don't like Cam.  They don't know him and he's loud and gives orders.  Against her better judgement, Gwen helps  Cam learn how to soften up so the kids will like him.  During all this time they are being drawn together.  As well as someone is trying to kill everyone.

This is a typical Mary Connealy book. That said I loved it and can't wait for Penny's story.

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

Hidden Peril by Irene Hannon

As teenagers, Kristin Dane and her two best friends took a vow to make the world a better place. Twenty years later, she's fulfilling that pledge through her fair trade shop that features products from around the world. All is well until, one by one, people connected to the shop begin dying.

Detective Luke Carter, new to the St. Louis PD, wants to know why. Before he can answer that question, however, the FBI weighs in and Kristin suddenly finds herself in the middle of international intrigue--and in the sights of the ruthless mastermind behind an ingenious and deadly, scheme. Can this cold-blooded killer be stopped before more people die . . . including Kristin?

Another good book by Ms. Hannon.  I can't class this as an edge of your seat suspense book but it did have a good mystery.  I will admit that I had figured out who was the bad guy as least half way through the book.  I won't say more about that because I don't want to add any spoilers.

I really liked how her best friends were two guys.  When the story opens she is best woman at one of their weddings.  The guys are the family she never had as a child.  When she is in trouble they are there for her immediately looking out for her.  They also are ready to give Luke the "talk" about not hurting Kristin.  Luke is still getting over his wife's death three years ago to have any interest in another woman.  Then he meets Kristin at the wedding.  He can't quit thinking about her.  Then he is assigned the case of the murder in her shop.  As the story unfolds, their feelings for each other evolve into something besides case related. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who like mystery and romance.

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

The Best of Intentions by Susan Anne Mason

In the aftermath of WWI, Grace Abernathy is determined to reunite with her family, crossing an ocean to convince her widowed sister to return home to England. Yet Toronto holds more tragedy and her nephew Christian is now in the custody of his paternal relatives, the formidable Easton family, who rejected Grace's sister because of her low social status.

Unconvinced the Eastons can be fitting caretakers, Grace jumps at the chance to be Christian's nanny and observe the family up close under an assumed name. In the course of her new position, she is shocked to discover herself falling for Andrew Easton, the boy's guardian. Unfortunately, Andrew is promised to a spoiled socialite who will make a terrible stepmother for Christian. Will Grace be able to protect her nephew . . . and her heart?

This is the first book I've read by Ms Mason.  If her other books are like this one, I will be reading more of them.

Grace is full of guilt for how she has disappointed everyone in her life.  Andrew wants to please everybody especially his father.  He believes he has been second best and now that Frank is gone he can now have his father's love.  Grace and Andrew have one thing in common.  Their love for Christian.  When Grace takes the nanny position she doesn't mention the fact that she is his aunt.  That in itself creates problems when she is found out.   As the story progresses,  we of course see Andrew and Grace fall in love.  How they end up together is a good read.  I recommend this book to those who enjoy a good romance.

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

A Secret to Die for by Lisa Harris

Psychologist Grace Callahan has no idea that she has a secret--one worth killing for. But when she finds out one of her clients has been murdered, she quickly realizes that the computer security specialist wasn't simply suffering from paranoia.

Detective Nate Quinn has just been cleared for active duty after a bombing killed eighteen people, including his partner, and left him dealing with PTSD. His first case back on the job involves the murder of Stephen Shaw, and his only lead turns out to be an old friend, Grace Callahan--and her life is in grave danger. Someone believes Shaw gave his psychologist information before he died. Information they are willing to kill for.

With her signature pulse-pounding suspense, Lisa Harris takes readers deep into the heart of fear in this race against the clock.

Right from the beginning this book grabs you.  Grace is at a vulnerable time as the story unfolds.  Nate is also recovering from a very traumatic time in his life. Grace has come to terms with God after her tragedy.  Nate is struggling with answers.    The reconnect after years and its like they have never parted.  The problem is neither one think they are ready to let anybody else into their lives.   All that will have to go on hold as Nate tries to protect Grace from the people trying to kill her.  This is an edge of your seat mystery.  Ms. Harris does it again.  I highly recommend this book.

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

Wait for Me by Susan May Warren

Pete Brooks can't believe he's waited an entire year for Jess Tagg to return to Montana, only to have her break his heart by getting engaged to her ex-fiancé. Worse, a series of mistakes on the job have cost lives, and Pete isn't sure he wants to continue to work in Search and Rescue. Maybe if he can just get over Jess, he can figure out how to move forward.

EMT Jess Tagg has returned to Montana to finally give her heart to Pete, but it seems he's no longer interested. When a terrible fight between them sparks an impulsive decision, she finds herself crashed on the side of a highway along with Esme Shaw. And just when she thinks things couldn't get any worse, she and Esme are taken captive and into the untamed Montana wilderness--with murderous intent.

Now Pete and the other PEAK Rescue Team members are in a race against time, the elements, and the actions of a vengeful man. Pete will have to use everything he's learned to find Jess and Esme--and pray that his past mistakes don't cost him the life of the woman he can't stop loving.

What a great ending to the Montana Rescue series.  Pete and Jess finally find their happy ending.  Of course we knew they would.  But the journey was great.  This book started with a bang with Pete in a rescue that about cost him his life.  From there the story just keeps getting better.  At first I wasn't sure about Jess.  She came off as kind of whinny.  A lot was explained along the way that helped me understand her situation.  Pete was just trying to get over his love for Jess when he hears she's engaged to her former fiancee.  There's a lot of action to get Jess and Pete together to show them God's love.  A great book and I highly recommend it.  I can't wait for the next series.  I wouldn't mind reading books about Ned's family.

I received this book as a complimentary copy from the author for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

The Cost of Betrayal by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, and Lynette Eason

In Dee Henderson's novella "Betrayed," Janelle Roberts is freed--thanks to people she doesn't know--after serving six years of a twenty-year sentence for a murder she did not commit. But a murderer is still at large, and Janelle needs to be somewhere safe with someone she can trust. She may not survive another betrayal.

In Dani Pettrey's "Deadly Isle," Tennyson Kent is trapped on the isolated island of her childhood by a storm surge, and she is shocked when the typically idyllic community turns into the hunting grounds of a murderer. Cut off from any help from the mainland, will she and first love Callen Frost be able to identify and stop a killer bent on betrayal before they become the next victims?

In Lynette Eason's "Code of Ethics," trauma surgeon Ruthie St. John saves the life of Detective Isaac Martinez. After a betrayal leads to him getting shot and then attacked while in recovery, Isaac is now a key witness determined to testify. But someone is intent on silencing him--and those around him--forever. Together, Ruthie and Isaac go on the run, desperate to escape the killers hunting him. 

Betrayed was a procedural book which told the story of how Janelle was sent to prison and how she was freed and her life after imprisonment.  There was no edge of your seat suspense.  Good, but not very suspenseful.

Deadly Isle was very good.  Suspense and reconnecting with and old love is throughout the entire story.  I really enjoyed reading it.

Code of Ethics was the most suspenseful of all three books.  Ruthie and Isaac are on the run to save their lives.  The killers don't seem to realize they are messing with the St. John family when they mess with one of them.  Very book.

All three books were good and I would recommend all of them.

I was give a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

The Christmas Heirloom

In Kristi Ann Hunter's "Legacy of Love," Sarah Gooding never suspected returning a brooch to an elderly woman would lead to a job . . . and introduce her to the woman's grandson, a man far above her station.

In Karen Witemeyer's "Gift of the Heart," widow Ruth Albright uses the family brooch as collateral for a loan from the local banker. But the more she comes to know the man behind the stern businessman, the more she hopes for a second chance at love.

In Sarah Loudin Thomas's "A Shot at Love," Fleeta Brady's rough-and-tumble childhood means she prefers hunting to more feminine activities. She never expected her family's brooch might be how a fellow hunter turns her attention from competition to romance.

In Becky Wade's "Because of You," Maddie Winslow has spent years in love with a man whose heart was already spoken for. When a church Christmas project brings them together and she stumbles upon an old family brooch, might it finally be her turn for love?

I loved following the story of the brooch throughout the years.  Heartwarming stories of love and hope.  It would be hard to pick a favorite novella out of these.  They were all good.  I would recommend this book to anyone.

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

Delayed Justice by Cara Putman

Jaime Nichols went to law school to find the voice she never had as a child, and her determination to protect girls and women in the path of harm drives her in ways both spoken and unspoken. As Jaime, now a criminal defense attorney, prepares to press charges against someone who wronged her long ago, she must face not only her demons but also the unimaginable forces that protect the powerful man who tore her childhood apart.
Chandler Bolton, a retired veteran, is tasked with helping a young victim who must testify in court—and along with his therapy dog, Aslan, he’s up for the task. When he first meets Jaime, all brains, beauty, and brashness, he can’t help but be intrigued. As Chandler works to break through the wall Jaime has built around herself, the two of them discover that they may have more to offer one another than they ever could have guessed—and that together, they may be able to help this endangered child.
This thrilling installment of the Hidden Justice series explores the healing power of resolution and the weight of words given voice. And as Jaime pursues delayed justice of her own, she unearths eternal truths that will change the course of her life.

This was quite an eye opener book for me.  The story reveals the trauma experienced by children who have been molested in childhood and how it affects them into adulthood.  Jamie was a victim of sexual molestation by her uncle.  As an adult, she now feels she is strong enough to press charges against him.  This is the story of Jamie's journey.  I recommend this book to everyone.  It is the third in the series.  But can be read as a stand alone book.

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

Cowboy Charm School by Margaret Brownley

When Texas Ranger Brett Tucker accidentally derails a wedding,
he's determined to bring the estranged couple back together...
but he never dreamed he'd start falling for the bride!

Texas Ranger Brett Tucker hates to break up a wedding, but the groom―notorious criminal Frank Foster―is a danger to any woman. So he busts into the church, guns blazing...only to find he has the wrong man.

STOP THAT WEDDING!

Bride-to-be Kate Denver is appalled by her fiancé's over-the-top reaction to the innocent mistake and calls off the wedding―for good. Guilt-ridden, Brett's desperate to get them back on track. But the more time he spends with Kate, the harder he falls...and the more he yearns to prove that he's her true match in every way.

This was a very good story.  But it would have been much better without the implied swearing throughout the book.  I was very disappointed in that aspect.  I have read other books by this author and this was not in the book. I feel as Christians we should not "swear like a trooper" as was stated in the last of the book.  For this reason I will lower my rating.

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

Stratagem by Robin Caroll

A High-Stakes Simulation Adventure Leaves Grayson Thibodeaux the Prime Suspect. . .for Murder

Deep in the gritty underbelly of New Orleans, psychologist Grayson Thibodeaux loses everything when his wife leaves him to climb her company’s corporate ladder. He buries himself in his job of creating mind-bending adventure games for businesses as team-building explorations. When his ex-wife’s company hires Grayson’s to create an elaborate game, he doesn’t see how things can get worse. Until she dies during the course of the game he created…making him the prime suspect for murder.

I'm assuming such things exist as grown up games like was in the book.  I can safely say I would never want to participate in one. This was still an interesting book.  I never knew where it was going to take me.  It took me awhile to figure out who did it.   The characters were well developed real.  The female detective had a chip on her shoulder that I didn't think she was ever going to let go of.  If you like mystery you will love this.

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

My Heart Belongs in Gettysburg by Murray Pura

When War Reaches Clarissa’s Back Door, the Trustworthy Become Even Fewer.
Journey into Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, of 1863 where Clarissa Avery Ross lives a full life. By day she is the daughter of a respectable shoemaker being courted by seminary student Kyle Forrester. But by night she is a conductor on the Underground Railroad, working with a mysterious man called Liberty. She would like to share her work with Kyle, but he refuses to enlist when the war breaks out. How can she remain true to a man being labeled a coward? When the war comes to her back door in an epic battle, the greatest challenges to her faith and love are yet to come.

I just finished reading this book and have mixed emotions about it.  I was excited to read about the battle at Gettysburg since I had recently visited there.  It seemed to me the book could have used less about the characters inner thoughts.  They seemed to go on and on sometimes.  To be it was more a filler.  Once you've stated your opinion go on.  I found myself skimming some of these parts. That said I did enjoy the action parts about the Underground Railroad.  I must confess I had Liberty's identity figured out before it was revealed in the book.  All this being said, it was a good book. 

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

Freedom's Light by Colleen Coble

A young lighthouse keeper must navigate the dangerous waters of revolution and one man’s obsession with her to find safe harbor with the sea captain she loves.
Hannah Thomas believes she’s escaped Galen Wright’s evil intentions by marrying an older lighthouse keeper. Seemingly safe in faraway Massachusetts, her world is upended when John is killed in one of the first battles of the Revolutionary War. Hannah is allowed to continue the difficult task of tending the twin lighthouses in John’s place, though she faces daily disapproval from John’s family. She thinks her loneliness will subside when her younger sister arrives, but she finds Lydia’s obsession with Galen only escalates the dangerous tides swirling around her.

A stormy night brings a shipwrecked sea captain to Hannah’s door, and though he is a Tory, her heart is as traitorous as the dark-eyed captain. Even though she discovers Birch Meredith isn’t the enemy he seemed at first, Hannah isn’t sure their love will ever see the light of freedom.

A very interesting story about the Revolutionary War era.  It also depicts the narrow mindedness of some of the church leaders of the time.   Overall it was a very good story.  There was no great mystery, but there was times when I had to continue reading to find out what happened next.

 I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock

As a first-year law associate, Sydney Batson knows she will be updating her resume by New Year’s if she loses her current court case. So when her grandmother gets inexplicably ill while she’s in court, Sydney arranges for a cab to get her to the clinic.

The last thing cab driver Finn Parrish wants is to be saddled with a wheelchair-bound old lady with dementia. But because Miss Callie reminds him of his own mother, whom he failed miserably in her last days, he can’t say no when she keeps calling him for rides. Once a successful gourmet chef, Finn’s biggest concern now is making his rent, but half the time Callie doesn’t remember to pay him. And as she starts to feel better, she leads him on wild goose chases to find a Christmas date for her granddaughter.

When Finn meets Sydney, he’s quite sure that she’s never needed help finding a date. Does Miss Callie have an ulterior motive, or is this just a mission driven by delusions? He’s willing to do whatever he can to help fulfill Callie’s Christmas wish. He just never expected to be a vital part of it.

What a good "feel good" book.  Finn and Sydney are both in a struggle about finding themselves.  Finn has a failed restaurant and Sydney is trying to win an unwinnable case in court.  Her bosses don't see the need for her to take time off the take care of her ailing grandmother.  Finn keeps telling everyone he's just the cab driver.  As the story unfolds, they both find what's the most important.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a feel good book.

 I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano

Tressa Harlowe's father did not trust banks, but neither did he trust his greedy extended family. He kept his vast fortune hidden somewhere on his estate in the south of England and died suddenly, without telling anyone where he had concealed it. Tressa and her ailing mother are left with a mansion and an immense vineyard and no money to run it. It doesn't take long for a bevy of opportunists to flock to the estate under the guise of offering condolences. Tressa knows what they're really up to. She'll have to work with the rough and rusticated vineyard manager to keep the laborers content without pay and discover the key to finding her father's fortune--before someone else finds it first.

This book is about greed and what it can do to people.  Tressa has to find her fathers fortune so they can pay their bills so they don't get kicked off their estate.  Her mother thinks Tressa can just produce the money.  Her ex fiance shows up all contrite for breaking off their engagement.  Her cousin and his wife show up to offer their support.  All the while, all they are doing is searching for the fortune with no intentions of sharing.  Then there's the new estate manager.  Tress doesn't know what to think about him.  Is he after the fortune or does he really want to help.

Parts of the book were good.  Other parts were kind of slow.  Overall, it was an enjoyable book with some twists and turns. 

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

Burden of Proof by DiAnn Mills

Reeling from a negotiation gone wrong, FBI Special Agent April Ramos is caught off guard when a frazzled young woman shoves a crying baby into her arms, then disappears. Worry for the child’s safety quickly turns to fear when a man claiming to be the girl’s father abducts them at gunpoint. April puts her hostage negotiation skills to use to learn more about who she’s dealing with: Jason Snyder, a fugitive accused of murder.

As Jason spins a tall tale about being framed for the killing of his business partner, April must sort through his claims to find the truth. A truth that becomes all the more evident after April overhears a conversation between Jason and the local sheriff and realizes something more sinister may be happening in their small town of Sweet Briar, Texas. But aligning herself with a known fugitive to uncover the burden of proof could cost April her job . . . or worse, her life and the lives of other innocent people.

An edge of your seat story that kept me up late reading.  April is caught in the middle of a baby kidnapping.  Then she gets kidnapped herself.  Her faith and Jason's faith is tested all along the way.  She doesn't know who to believe.  Jason or the law authorities that say he is a murderer. Then to top it all off, she is starting to have feelings for Jason. I really enjoy reading Ms Mills books and this was no exception.  I recommend book to anyone who loves suspense with a little romance thrown in.

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

On Magnolia Lane by Denise Hunter

Pastor Jack McReady has secretly carried a torch for Daisy for two long years. She’s a member of his congregation, after all, and she’ll never see him as more than a trusted counselor. Jack’s best friend Noah has taken every opportunity to encourage his lovesick friend, but when Noah catches wind that Daisy has joined an online dating site, he takes matters into his own hands and orchestrates a meet-cute of the most unconventional kind.
Owner of the local flower shop, Daisy Pendleton is content with her small-town life, but she’d sure like someone to share it with. After several disastrous first dates, she’s about to give up—and then she finds a seemingly wonderful man online. Daisy gets to know TJ through a series of messages but finds herself spending more time with Pastor Jack outside of the church at the same time. What she doesn’t know is that her online prospect and Jack are one and the same.
Just as Daisy’s love life starts to look promising, a mysterious woman appears in town. Daisy is faced with a revelation about her family that turns her world upside down, and she looks to both TJ and Jack for help.
Jack must find a way to reveal himself as her online suitor without breaking her heart and losing her trust. As Daisy faces Jack’s betrayal, she’ll have to learn to extend grace to herself, her family, and the man she’s grown to love.
Jack and Daisy are both looking for love.  Jack knows who he loves Daisy.  But doesn't know how to express himself.  He thinks he's too old for her and besides he's her pastor.  What would people think? Daisy wants to find love.   But where to look?  An interesting read about Jack and Daisy as they come to find love.
On a side note.  I am a pastor's wife and I could relate to how Jack felt about living in a fish bowl.  Pastor's are human beings and have feelings just like everyone else. 
I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

Called to Protect by Lynette Eason

For the past year, Chloe St. John has been working as a K-9 cop with her German shepherd partner, Hank. After being dumped by her fiancé for another woman, Chloe has decided that Hank is just about the only male she likes. She's over the whole romance thing and focuses her attention on doing her job. Because a serious case of human trafficking with connections to her missing cousin just landed in her lap.

When US Marshall Blake MacCallum's daughter goes missing, he's ordered to kill the judge he's protecting and tell no one about his daughter's disappearance or she will die. Blake races against the clock to rescue his daughter while Chloe and Hank are asked to be a part of the task force assembled to bring down the traffickers. Chloe finds herself attracted to the silent, suffering man, but thanks to her previous bad judgment, she wonders if she can trust him. And can Blake trust himself around this firecracker of a woman?

Bestselling author Lynette Eason warns readers to buckle in for a fast and furious ride that will have their hearts pumping from the very start.

Lynette Eason has done it again.  There is suspense everywhere you turn.  Chloe gets into all kinds of situations where her life is put in danger.  Blake is put in a terrible situation.  Does he kill or does his inaction get his daughter killed.  This is a fast paced story with a little romance thrown in.  I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next installment of this series.

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

A Rebel Heart by Beth White

Five years after the final shot was fired in the War Between the States, Selah Daughtry can barely manage to keep herself, her two younger sisters, and their spinster cousin fed and clothed. With their family's Mississippi plantation swamped by debt and the Big House falling down around them, the only option seems to be giving up their ancestral land.

Pinkerton agent and former Union cavalryman Levi Riggins is investigating a series of robberies and sabotage linked to the impoverished Daughtry plantation. Posing as a hotel management agent for the railroad, he tells Selah he'll help her save her home, but only if it is converted into a hotel. With Selah otherwise engaged with renovations, Levi moves onto the property to "supervise" while he actually attends to his real assignment right under her nose.

Selah isn't sure she entirely trusts the handsome Yankee, but she'd do almost anything to save her home. What she never expected to encounter was his assault on her heart.

An interesting book about the reconstruction in the South after the Civil War.  The animosity between the North and South is alive and well in Mississippi.  The only way for Selah to save her families plantation is to take and bold step.  Even bolder will be people she employs to help her.  I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone.  I have never read any books by Beth White.  I will be looking for other books by her.

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

A Vast and Gracious Tide by Lisa Carter

Caden Wallis has suffered several devastating blows that have left him reeling. He’s lost friends and now his girlfriend to the ravages of war. He arrives on the Outer Banks for one final mission—to thank the woman who sent him a quilt while he was recuperating from his wounds at Walter Reed Army Hospital.

McKenna Dockery knows all about loss. She lost her mother at a young age, and her father has never been the same since he came home from his own war. She juggles the family business, her ailing father, and an aging grandmother. Much to Caden’s surprise, she is the quilter—not sTome elderly lady. The quilt was something she’d begun for her future husband but shipped to the military hospital after the tragic death of her fiancé.

When a man is found snared in a net and murdered on McKenna’s property, she and Caden must work together to bring the killer to justice. Each must learn to trust the other, or no one will be safe in the tangled web of conspiracy, greed, and deceit lurking in the tidal marshlands of the Outer Banks. A nor’easter, a sea turtle named Cecil, and a surf-crazy hound named Ginger conspire to bring these two searching hearts together through the vast and gracious tide of God’s love.

McKenna and Caden are both struggling with loss.  McKenna the loss of her fiance and Caden the loss of his leg and his fiances rejection.  Cade's solution will be very final.  McKenna is just living one day at a time.  The book was very enlightening about the effects of life altering changes and how the public react and how that effects the person it happened to.  This was a very good story about love and redemption.  I highly recommend it.  I have never read a book by Lisa Carter.  I look forward to reading her next one.

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

The Road to Magnolia Glen by Pam Hillman

1792, Natchez Trace, MS
Bitter since his eldest brother abandoned their family in Ireland, Quinn O’Shea travels to Natchez, Mississippi, ready to shuck the weight of his duty and set off on an adventure of his own. It’s time Connor, as head of the family, took responsibility for their younger siblings. While aboard ship, a run-in with three Irish sisters lands Quinn in the role of reluctant savior. Though it may delay his plans, he cannot abandon the Young sisters, especially the tenacious yet kind Kiera.

Upon arriving in the colonies, Kiera Young prepares to meet her intended and begin her new life. But she soon discovers the marriage her brother-in-law arranged was never meant to be, and a far more sinister deal was negotiated for her and her sisters.

Quinn offers to escort his charges safely to Breeze Hill Plantation and his brother’s care, fully intending to seek his freedom elsewhere. But the longer he remains, the greater his feelings toward Kiera grow and the more he comes to realize true freedom might be found in sacrifice.

This is the second book in the series.  I didn't read the first book but I was able to follow the story without reading the first book.  I would class this as a clean book.  But I don't think I would want a young teen girl reading it.  I would recommend it more for late teens on up.  I liked Quinn and Kiera.  Quinn couldn't wait to leave his brothers with Connor and go exploring and Kiera wants nothing but to be able to take care of her sisters.  This story is their path to finding out God's plans for their lives.

This books is a good clean read and I recommend it.

Tyndale House Publishers provided me a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.  Hi was not compensated in any way.

http://www.pamhillman.com/

Justice Betrayed by Patricia Bradley

It's Elvis Week in Rachel Memphis, and homicide Detective Rachel Sloan isn't sure her day could get any stranger when aging Elvis impersonator Vic Vegas asks to see her. But when he produces a photo of her murdered mother with four Elvis impersonators--one of whom had also been murdered soon after the photo was taken--she's forced to reevaluate. Is there some connection between the two unsolved cases? And could the recent break-in at Vic's home be tied to his obsession with finding his friend's killer?

When yet another person in the photo is murdered, Rachel suddenly has her hands full investigating three cases. Lieutenant Boone Callahan offers his help, but their checkered romantic past threatens to get in the way. Can they solve the cases before the murderer makes Rachel victim number four?

Another great book by Patricia Bradley.   Rachel would really like to know what happened to her mother many years ago.  When Rachel is confronted by "Elvis" who says he has information for her her mothers death she jumps at the chance to investigate.  She is reluctant to tell Boone about what she finds because she doesn't what to be taken off the case. 

I really enjoyed the book and would recommend to anyone who likes a good mystery.

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

Formula of Decption by Carrie Stuart Parks

After the murder of her twin sister, Murphy Anderson changed her name and appearance and moved to Kodiak, Alaska, to avoid the press and publicity. But when local authorities discover she’s an artist and request her help in drawing a dying man’s memories, she unintentionally ends up in the limelight again—and back in the killer’s crosshairs.

The deathbed confessions of an Alaskan hunter have Murphy drawing the five bodies he discovered on remote Ruuwaq Island ten years ago. But what investigators find has them mystified. Evidence suggests that the bodies were deliberately destroyed, and what they uncover in an abandoned Quonset hut from World War II only brings more questions.

As one by one the investigators who were at the hut die, Murphy knows there is something much darker at stake. What happened on this island during the war? And who is willing to kill to keep its secrets buried?

This book was very interesting and kept me guessing clear up to the end.  The trauma of the murder of her twin sister, sent Murphy into a tail spin.  As Murphy helps the police solve the murders of five people, she is confronted with reliving the death of her sister.  I would never have guessed the ending in a million years.  I'm not usually this surprised.

I have never read any books by this author before but I will be reading more her of books from now on.  I recommend this book to anyone who likes a great mystery.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter

When Katherine "Kit" FitzGilbert turned her back on London society more than a decade ago, she determined never to set foot in a ballroom again. But when business takes her to London and she's forced to run for her life, she stumbles upon not only a glamorous ballroom but also Graham, Lord Wharton. What should have been a chance encounter becomes much more as Graham embarks on a search for his friend's missing sister and is convinced Kit knows more about the girl than she's telling.

After meeting Graham, Kit finds herself wishing things could have been different for the first time in her life, but what she wants can't matter. Long ago, she dedicated herself to helping women escape the same scorn that drove her from London and raising the innocent children caught in the crossfire. And as much as she desperately wishes to tell Graham everything, revealing the truth isn't worth putting him and everyone she loves in danger.

I'm not sure how to describe this book.  It showed the plight of fallen women in London society.  Their life and that of their child was worthless.  The father's went on as if nothing had happened.  It was quite an eye opener.  This book was a romance with just a tad of mystery.

I wouldn't consider this a light read.  But it was good.

I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Falling for You by Becky Wade

Famously beautiful model Willow Bradford is taking a temporary break from her hectic schedule to work as the innkeeper at her family's small-town bed-and-breakfast. She was enjoying the peace of her hometown, Merryweather, Washington, right up until she came face-to-face with Corbin Stewart, the man she loves to hate. A thoughtful rule-follower by nature, Willow threw caution to the wind four years ago when she entrusted her heart to Corbin--and suffered the consequences when it all fell apart.

Former NFL quarterback Corbin is forceful, charming, and accustomed to getting what he wants . . . except where Willow Bradford is concerned. Unable to forget her, he's never stopped regretting what happened between them. When their paths unexpectedly cross again, he's determined to make her give him a second chance.

When a decades-old missing persons case finds Corbin and Willow working together, they're forced to confront their past and who they've become--and whether they can risk falling for one another all over again.

This shows the consequences of following the flesh rather than what God has ordained.  Willow has never been able to forgive herself so therefore she has never been able to forgive Corbin.  This is their struggle to receive forgiveness from each other and from God.  

This was an ok book.  It was not a book that kept in on the edge of the seat.  I'll admit that is more to my taste in books.  

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

DarkWater Secrets by Robin Caroll

The Darkwater Inn stands tall and proud in the French Quarter, the hub of New Orleans. Bourbon Street is bustling, and general manager Adelaide Fountaine has her hands full with a hotel at capacity. But she is shocked when a body is found: a hotel guest stabbed with a kitchen knife.

Detective Beau Savoie, Adelaide's childhood friend, is on the case. As Beau digs into the victim's past, he unearths a shocking connection between Adelaide and the murdered guest. Beau is hurt that his friend--the woman he's quietly loved for years--kept the truth from him. To make matters worse, the stress of the investigation has sent Adelaide right into the comforting arms of her coworker Dimitri. But Beau can't press Adelaide too hard . . . because he's keeping secrets of his own.

I found this book quite interesting.  As well as a great story, it showed how entwined voodoo and hoodoo are with everyday life in New Orleans.  And yes it is real.  

Beau and Dimitri both are in love with Adelaide and will do whatever they can to clear her name.  She is hiding a secret from the past that has a direct effect on the murder victim.  She does not want the secret to come out.  But of course it does and now she looks guiltier than ever.  Dimitri loves to cook but is afraid to stand up to his father and tell him he doesn't want to be CEO of Darkwater Inn.  At the end there is a surprise that is thrown into the mix that really shakes things up.  

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to the next book in the series.

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

The Lone Witness by Rachel Dylan

Prosecutor Sophie Dawson's first job in the White Collar division of the Fulton County D.A.'s office is to build a case against a local bank employee who may be cheating clients. But when circumstances beyond her control leave her as the only witness to a double homicide involving a vengeful gang, her world is turned upside down.

Former Atlanta police officer turned private security guard Cooper Knight is hired to ensure that Sophie is kept safe. But as threats escalate, they don't know who they can trust.

Sophie is determined not to back down, but her bank case gets more complicated by the day, and the gang will stop at nothing to keep her from testifying. Sophie wants to take a stand for what's right--but can Cooper, who is determined not to be distracted by their growing attraction, keep her safe so that she can finish her pursuit for justice?

I really enjoyed the book.  Sophie is tough as nails when it comes to wanting to persecute those who  break the law.   Cooper will do all he can to protect those he'd hired to protect.  It gets personal with Sophie and he doesn't like that at all.  He has vowed never to get married.  This isn't an edge of your seat thriller.  But still a good mystery.  I had some of it figured out before the end. But still a good book.

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

The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble

Ellie Blackmore is making a name for herself as a house flipper. But when her sister Mackenzie disappears, Ellie can’t focus on anything but uncovering what happened. Her only clue is the bloodstain on the deck of Mackenzie’s boat. Ellie knows her sister isn’t on the best of terms with her ex-husband, Jason, but he wouldn’t kill her—would he?

Coast Guard intelligence officer Grayson Bradshaw believes Mackenzie faked her own death after stealing a seized cocaine shipment. The problem is convincing Ellie, who seems to view him as the true enemy.

Both Ellie and Grayson want truth, but truth—and family—is often more complex than it first appears. From international terrorism to the peaceful lavender fields of Puget Sound, The House at Saltwater Point is a thrilling race to uncover the truth before it’s too late.

Another great book by Ms. Coble.  A lot of twist and turns that I didn't expect.  I wouldn't say this was an edge of your seat book.  But it sure kept me interested. 

Ellie carries around guilt from her sisters death that she just can't seem to let go of.  This colors her life if about every way.  Grayson finds out he's adopted and this throws him for a loop.  His familiy dynamics starts to make since to him now.  So them dealing with these issues and then throw in terrorism it make for a great read.  I would highly recommend this book.

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

More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer

Many consider Evangeline Hamilton cursed. Orphaned at a young age and possessing a pair of mismatched eyes--one bright blue, the other dark brown--Eva has fought to find her way in a world that constantly rejects her. Yet the support of even one person can help overcome the world's judgments, and Eva has two--Seth and Zach, two former orphans she now counts as brothers.

Seeking justice against the man who stole his birthright and destroyed his family, Logan Fowler arrives in 1880s Pecan Gap, Texas, to confront Zach Hamilton, the hardened criminal responsible for his father's death. Only instead of finding a solitary ruthless gambler, he discovers a man not much older than himself with an unusual family. When Zach's sister, Evangeline, insists on dousing Logan with sunshine every time their paths cross, Logan finds his quest completely derailed. Who is truly responsible for his lost legacy, and will restoring the past satisfy if it means forfeiting a future with Evangeline?

This is a good story about orphaned children pulling together to protect each other no matter what it takes and becoming a family.  It's also depicts the superstitions that people have and their abusive behavior can affect children.  Also, the affects of gambling. The main characters are Eva and Zach.  But the other siblings have their fair amount of time also.    I enjoyed reading this book.  It was a nice read.  Had some mystery as well as romance.  I would recommend this book to anyone.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange fore an honest review.  I was not compensated in any.

Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey

Burning debris littering the ground . . . smoke pluming in the acrid air . . . this is just the beginning if he fails.

Seven years ago, operative Luke Gallagher vanished to become part of an elite team set on capturing a deadly terrorist. When Luke returns to face those he left behind, their help becomes his only hope of stopping his target's latest threat of an attack that would shake America to its core.

Private investigator Kate Maxwell never stopped loving or looking for Luke after he disappeared. But she also never imagined he left her or his life by choice. Now he's back, and together they must unravel a twisting thread of secrets, lies, and betrayal, all while on the brink of a biological disaster.

Will they and their love survive, or will Luke and Kate become the terrorist's next mark?

How would you feel if the love of your life suddenly appears after being gone seven long years?  That is what Kate is facing.   That's not her biggest challenge though.  He needs help finding a terrorists before he releases a terror attack on the United States bigger than anyone can imagine.

This is the fourth and final book in the Chesapeake Valor series. I highly recommend you start with the first one and read them straight through. Without reading the other books you will be lost in this one. The only negative thing I have to say about the series is that each book was pretty much a cliff hanger for the next book.  I like books to have an ending.  There was an ending to this book.  That being said I loved the books and Ms.Pettrey kept me on the edge of my seat.  I will admit to staying up late at night reading. 

I was given and ARC copy of this book for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

Pelican Point by Irene Hannon

A crumbling lighthouse is not part of the inheritance Army doctor Ben Garrison expects to claim when he journeys to Hope Harbor. Fresh out of the service, he wants only to unload the tower of bricks, decompress from years of treating battlefield trauma, and prepare to launch his civilian career.

Hope Harbor Herald editor Marci Weber has other ideas. She may not be a Hope Harbor native, but the small Oregon seaside town has become home--and she's determined to save the Pelican Point landmark.

Sparks fly as the two go head to head over the fate of the lighthouse. But when they start to cooperate, a different kind of fire ignites. And as they work together, might Hope Harbor heal the hearts of these two romance-wary souls?

What a good book.  Ben is ready to retire from the Army and move on with his life.  Then he finds out he has inherited an fund draining lighthouse from his grandfather.  What to do but see if he an sell it and get rid of it.  In come Marci.  She is determined to save the lighthouse.  There's really no mystery involved.  Just a real good book to read on a rainy afternoon.  I highly recommend this book.

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

The Accidental Guardian by Mary Connealy

When Trace Riley finds the smoldering ruins of a small wagon train, he recognizes the hand behind the attack as the same group who left him as sole survivor years ago. Living off the wilderness since then, he'd finally carved out a home and started a herd--while serving as a self-appointed guardian of the trail, driving off dangerous men. He'd
hoped those days were over, but the latest attack shows he was wrong.

Deborah Harkness saved her younger sister and two toddlers during the attack, and now finds herself at the mercy of her rescuer. Trace offers the only shelter for miles around, and agrees to take them in until she can safely continue. His simple bachelor existence never anticipated kids and women in the picture and their arrival is unsettling--yet enticing.

Working to survive the winter and finally bring justice to the trail, Trace and Deborah find themselves drawn together--yet every day approaches the moment she'll leave forever.

Another good book by Ms. Connealy.  Lighthearted humor with enough mystery to keep it interesting.  Deborah takes her responsibility of protecting her younger sister and the two young children in her care seriously.  She will do anything to keep them safe.  Trace is trying to find the men who murdered his pa and others along the wagon train trail.  He does what is necessary to keep them safe.    He comes upon Deborah and takes them to his ranch.  Then the fun begins. 

I highly recommend this book for everyone.

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

The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck

Romance has never been actress Chloe Daschle’s forte—in life or on screen. But everyone knows who to call for a convincing death scene . . . and it might be killing her career.
When Chloe is given a peek at the script for an epic love story, she decides to take her destiny into her own hands and request an audition for the lead female role, Esther Kingsley. The compelling tale, inspired by family lore and a one-page letter from the colonial ancestor of scriptwriter Jesse Gates, just might break her out of this career-crippling rut. Jesse would rather write about romance than live through it after his past relationship ended in disaster. But once on-set together, the chemistry between Jesse and his leading lady is hard to deny.
Centuries earlier, in the heart of the Revolutionary War, Hamilton Lightfoot and Esther Longfellow wrote their saga off the silver screen. Esther’s Loyalist father opposes any relationship with Hamilton, but Esther must face her beloved father’s disapproval and the dangers of war in order to convince Hamilton of their future together. Hamilton has loved Esther for years, and on the eve of battle pens the love letter she’s always wanted—something straight from the heart. 
Set in stunning upcountry South Carolina, The Love Letter is a beautifully-crafted story of the courage it takes to face down fear and chase after love, even in the darkest of times. And just maybe, all these generations later, love can come home in a way not even Hollywood could imagine.

There was really two stories in one in this book.   Chloe and Jesse and Hamilton and Esther.  At first it was a little confusing.  Chloe reads the script for the play that Jesse wrote and immediately sees herself as playing the lead.  She also sees it as a way to break the mold Hollywood has her in as the one who always dies in the end.  Chloe is no saint and is a new Christian.  She has to overcome some of her bad choices she has previously made.  Hamilton and Esther are caught on different sides of the Revolutionary War.  Overall it was a real enjoyable book and I would recommend it to everyone.

I was given this book by the NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Storm Front by Susan May Warren

A tornado has destroyed a small Minnesota community and among the missing are not only a group of students but PEAK Rescue team leader Chet King. Ty Remington will stop at nothing to rescue his mentor, not even when the girl he loved--and lost--walks back into his life. But Brette needs his help more than he knows, despite her stubborn determination to push him away. And when he gets a second chance, loving her just might cost him more than he can imagine.

A blogger for Vortex Storm Chasers, Brette Arnold didn't expect her adventures to land her in the same place as Ty, the guy who she walked--no, ran--from over a year ago. She had her reasons--good ones. The kind that tell her that falling for him again would only lead to heartache. But Ty isn't the kind of man to give up--not on the missing students, or on her.

Life and love hang in the balance in Susan May Warren's breathless story of holding on to hope during a deadly summer of storms.

As always, Susan May Warren didn't disappoint.  This story focuses on Ty and Brette.  Brette disappears from Ty's life and he never found out.  Now that they meet up again Ty means to find out.  Ty is still struggling with the issues that led up to him crashing the helicopter and left him with busted knees and his mentors injuries. Ty also has to control issues.  Brette doesn't want anyone controlling her life.  She is doing just fine on her own.  All of this is taking place while they are searching for Chet and several teenagers missing from a massive tornado that went through town.

I loved this book and recommend it to everyone.  Anxious to read Pete's story next.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York, Adele's Jounney by Amanda Barratt

Outwardly, Adele Linley’s trip to visit her American cousins is nothing more than a summer vacation. In reality, she’s the daughter of an English aristocrat with barely a penny to her name seeking a rich American husband.

Having grown up in an overcrowded orphanage, Drew Dawson is determined to make a name for himself. He’ll take any honest job to provide for his sister—even crossing Niagara Falls by tightrope.

On a sightseeing trip to the Falls, Adele meets several eligible suitors. Incredibly wealthy and pompous, Franklin Conway takes an immediate fancy to her. But Adele would truly like to marry for love.  When she encounters the mysterious Drew in the garden, Adele is confused by her feelings for someone who is everything she is NOT looking for. Will they both stay the course they have chosen for themselves?

I don't like giving negative reviews.  But that what I'm going to do.  I just couldn't seem to get into the book.  I'd read it for a little bit, then pick up something else. I've read several of the "My Heart Books" and have enjoyed them.  But I had trouble finishing this book. For this reason I wouldn't recommend it to friends to read.

Adele keeps crossing paths with Drew, who keeps taking terrible risks.  I understand his reasoning better that Adele's.  To me she seemed rather snobbish.

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

A Borrowed Dream by Amanda Cabot

Catherine Whitfield is sure that she will never again be able to trust anyone in the medical profession after the town doctor's excessive bleeding treatments killed her mother. Despite her loneliness and her broken heart, she carries bravely on as Cimarron Creek's dutiful schoolteacher, resigned to a life without love or family, a life where dreams rarely come true.

Austin Goddard is a newcomer to Cimarron Creek. Posing as a rancher, he fled to Texas to protect his daughter from a dangerous criminal. He's managed to keep his past as a surgeon a secret. But when Catherine Whitfield captures his heart, he wonders how long he will be able to keep up the charade.

With a deft hand, Amanda Cabot teases out the strands of love, deception, and redemption in this charming tale of dreams deferred and hopes becoming reality.

I enjoyed reading this book.  I didn't realize that plastic surgery had been around that long.  We take our modern medicine for granted not realizing what was acceptable 100 years ago could kill you. 

Catherine did have a legitimate reason for distrusting doctors.   So I can see why Austin would hesitate to tell her he was a doctor.  Let alone that if it got out him and his daughter would be killed.

I enjoyed reading this book.  It wasn't an edge of your seat book.  But still had mystery to it.  I would recommend this book.

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