More Than Words an Say by Karen Witemeyer

After fulfilling a pledge to a dying friend, Zacharias Hamilton is finally free. No family entanglements. No disappointing those around him. Just the quiet bachelor existence he's always craved. Until fate snatches his freedom away when the baker of his favorite breakfast bun is railroaded by the city council. Despite not wanting to get involved, he can't turn a blind eye to her predicament . . . or her adorable dimples.

Abigail Kemp needs a man's name on her bakery's deed. A marriage of convenience seems the best solution . . . if it involves a man she can control. That person definitely isn't the stoic lumberman who oozes silent confidence whenever he enters her shop. Control Zacharias Hamilton? She can't even control her pulse when she's around him.

When vows are spoken, Abigail's troubles should be over. Yet threats to the bakery worsen, and darker dangers hound her sister. Can she put ever more trust in Zach without losing her dreams of independence?

This is a continuation of the Hamilton family.  Zach feels he doesn't deserve to be happy because of what he did years ago.  Abigail doesn't think anyone will want her because she sees herself as plain.  The only thing she has going for her is she owns and operates a successful bakery.  The city council makes it impossible to stay in business unless she turns ownership over to a man.  This is where the fun starts.  I was pleased how Zach's story turned out.  I hope in the next book we hear Rosalind's story. 

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

Living Lies by Natalie Walters

In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name--but no one knows your secret. At least that's what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.

Lane must work with Walton's newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she'll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.

Debut novelist Natalie Walters pulls you to the edge of your seat on the first page and keeps you there until the last in this riveting story that will have you believing no one is defined by their past.

This was a very good book.  Not only is it an excellent mystery, it addresses the problem of depression.  Many people have it to varying degrees.  Natalie has it bad.  She is afraid of how people will react to her if they find out.  She judges that opinion on how her family, especially her father, reacts to it.   By the end of the story Natalie decides to speak out about depression and help the man who saved her life.  A man suffering from PTDS from the war.

The mystery wasn't edge of your seat.  The culprits were pretty easy to figure out.  But how they were caught was a good story.  This is the first book for Ms. Waters.  I will be looking forward to reading more by her.

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

Over the Lines by Kelly Irvin

Gabriella has never forgiven her former fiancé, homicide detective Eli Cavazos, for breaking her heart. Then a man she’s never met shows up at her restaurant, a bullet in his chest and her brother’s name on his lips. Gabby soon realizes this man is connected to a powerful ring of criminals who know far too much about her.

Against her better judgment, Gabby turns to Eli for help in finding her brother. When she receives a cryptic text from her brother’s cell phone, she realizes she is in deep and may be dragging Eli down with her. With her brother nowhere to be found and pain from her past threatening to overwhelm her, Gabby wonders how she will make it through this unexpected quest unscathed—or alive.

This an action packed book.  Everywhere Gabby turns there are people chasing her and trying to kill her.  Her sister and her sisters children are in danger as well.  All Gabby wants to do is find her brother alive and get Eli out of her life.  Eli is not proud of the life he has lived.  His goal is to win Gabby back.  It's hard to do when she doesn't even want to be near him.  With Eli helping, Gabby starts tracking down her brother.  This is where the action starts. 

I recommend this book for those who like a good mystery. 

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

Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter

When her grandmother goes missing from the family beach house, Maddy and her estranged sisters converge in Sea Haven, North Carolina. Being with uptight Nora and free-spirited Emma in the home where their family broke apart is a struggle Maddy is not in the mood to face, especially since she’s recovering from her ex-boyfriend’s betrayal.

As the sisters wait for word of their grandmother, they begin to pack up the family belongings—and unpack memories of the idyllic summers of their childhood. But with those memories come long-buried secrets, and Maddy discovers that all was not as it appeared that last summer in Sea Haven. Meanwhile, Gram’s neighbor, Connor Sullivan, seems overly interested in Gram’s whereabouts. Maddy is drawn in by his quick smile and steady gaze in spite of herself.

Undercurrents of jealousy and resentment threaten to pull the family under again, maybe for good this time. As tensions rise, the sisters must find a way to accept each other for the women they’ve become—and Maddy must decide if falling in love again is worth the potential heartbreak.

Maddy has trust issues when it comes to men.  All the men in her life has betrayed her in one way or another.  Her most recent boyfriend was using her to get the job that she was promised.  Her sisters fiance betrayed her sister by marrying their other sister.  Then she meets Connor when she finds out her dad had a secret life. 

This was a good book.  In a way I found it kind of sad that all the heart ache of the sisters was caused by people not honoring their commitments to each other.  Unfortunately that happens a lot.  But over all I enjoyed the book and recommend it.

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

Verity by Lisa T. Bergren

After leaving England behind for a new life in the West Indies with her sisters, Verity Banning wants something to call her own. Her affinity for animals inspires her to set up a business importing horses, as well as other goods in demand by the island residents. But when she arrives in the Colonies to purchase her goods, unexpected news of Captain Duncan McKintrick awaits her--as does the captain's handsome brother, Ian--whose sympathies lie with the fledgling Patriot cause.

As the great-granddaughter of a British general and friend to many Loyalists, Verity believed all she wanted was a peaceful resolution. But both the Patriots and the impassioned Ian McKintrick are steadily laying claim to her heart. When faced with the decision of what--and for whom--she will fight, can she set her feet on a new path despite the danger that awaits?

This is the second book in The Sugar Baron's Daughters.  It is not necessary to read the first book in order to know what is going on.  Although, it would probably be helpful in understanding the sisters' history on how they came to the island.

Verity sets sail to the colonies to purchase supplies for her new mercantile store.  She is also wanting to find out what has happened to Captain Duncan McKintrick. The news is quite a shock to her.  Captain Ian McKintrick, Duncan's brother,  helps her secure her supplies as well as agrees  to transport for her.  Ian is focused on revenge against the pirate who killed Duncan and the English who took over Duncan's ship.  As the book unfolds, Verity has some decisions to make.  Does she stay loyal to the English or does she support the Rebels.  Either way she is in for a hard time.  There is also trouble back on the island.  Supplies are getting low now that the English have set up blockades into the colonies ports so that no ships can enter or leave. 

I recommend this book for those who like adventure.  We were given a glimpse into what the next book will be about.  Looking forward to reading it.

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