The Chisholm Trail Bride by Kathleen Y'Barbo

Stubborn Hearts Clash on a Cattle Drive  Eliza Gentry’s pursuit of marriage to the son of her family’s sworn enemy has cost her greatly. Furious at his daughter’s choices, her father sends her off with the cattle drive heading toward Fort Worth and the Barnhart ranch, but under the watchful eye of Wyatt Creed, a Pinkerton man he has hired to see to her safety. With danger at every turn—not the least of which to his heart—can Wyatt Creed keep his focus with Eliza Gentry around? Is the Chisholm Trail a place for falling in love or a place to die at the hands of cattle thieves?

This book begins when Eliza is twelve.  What happens on the Chisholm Trail when she's 12 affects the rest of her life.  Wyatt has been in love with Eliza all his life.  Eliza is very strong willed and determines that she is going to marry someone her dad disapproves of.  Her dad sends her away from the ranch and hires a private security firm to keep her safe and her boyfriend away.  This is the adventures of Eliza as she discovers what true love is.  Also, the dangers that she encounters along the way.

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

When I Meet you by Olivia Newport

A trunk abandoned at Denver’s Union Station more than a century ago leads Jillian and Nolan to untangle the mystery of its contents—including correspondence with the head of Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency Denver office. While Nolan digs into the legalities of the findings, Jillian searches for the descendants of a stolen identity who might not be who they think they are on Colorado ranch land. When Drew seems anxious to hear what Jillian has to say but his Great Aunt Min slams the subject closed—twice—Jillian is all the more determined to find out what happened to the woman who never claimed her luggage, why Min doesn’t want to talk about it, and what will happen for Drew if he gets the answers he seeks.

This is the third book in The Tree of Life Series.  It's not necessary to read the first two books to read this book.  In this book Jillian is still hard at work with her genealogy work.  Her dad is contacted by a museum about an old truck that was left at the railroad station years ago.  Inside is paper work hinting that a Pinkerton investigation is involved.  Jillian jumps right in and starts tracking down leads to see if she can find out who the trunk belongs to.  This book kept me reading to discover the mystery.

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

Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter

Rising Hollywood star Mia Emerson is looking for a safe place to land in the wake of a public breakup and celebrity scandal, and she finds it in the lake town of Bluebell, North Carolina—the location of her canceled honeymoon. She wants nothing more than to hide and wait for the tabloids to die down.

Soon after her arrival at the Bluebell Inn, Mia meets Levi Bennett, who runs the inn along with his two younger sisters. Drawn to one another from the start, Mia trusts Levi to keep her location from the press, and Levi confides in Mia about the precarious financial state of the inn—a secret he’s been keeping from his sisters.

When Mia and Levi discover an old journal that hints at a rare diamond necklace hidden in the inn, they set off on a treasure hunt to find the long-lost heirloom. What they don’t expect to surface are feelings they thought were safely locked away. Mia and Levi must decide if falling in love again is too big a risk—or if it will uncover a treasure of its own instead.

This is the story about a Hollywood star, Mia Emerson, who has been jilted a few months before her wedding.  Needing to get away she chooses to go to the Bluebell Inn.  The place she was supposed to go on her honeymoon.  The reason she wanted to go there is because her grandparents had owned the inn and she wanted to find out about them.  While she is there a scandal breaks out about a supposed affair between her and her last leading man.  Then her ex-fiancée shows up.  But she's also seen out with Levi. The hunky innkeeper.  The press go wild.  Levi, the hunky innkeeper, is trying to keep the inn afloat without letting his sisters know they are about to lose it.  He is trying to keep the inn afloat while looking after his sisters as he promised his father on his death bed.  In reading a journal left by Mia's grandmother Mia & Levi discover there might be a valuable blue diamond in the inn somewhere.

This is a cozy beach/fireplace read.  The romance isn't over the top nor is there really a mystery.  But a good clean read that kept me reading.

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

Standoff by Patricia Bradley

The Natchez Trace National Parkway stretches 444 miles from Nashville to Natchez, the oldest town on the Mississippi River. It's the perfect road for a relaxed pleasure drive. Unfortunately for park ranger Luke Fereday, lately it's being used to move drugs. Sent to Natchez to infiltrate the organization at the center of the drug ring, Luke arrives too late to a stakeout and discovers the body of his friend, park ranger John Danvers.

John's daughter Brooke is determined to investigate her father's murder, but things are more complicated than they first appear, and Brooke soon finds herself the target of a killer who will do anything to silence her. Luke will have his hands full keeping her safe. But who's going to keep him safe when he realizes he's falling--hard--for the daughter of the man he failed to save?


Brooke is excited to finally become a Park Ranger.  Days before her swearing in her father is murdered.  His death is ruled a suicide.  But she knows he would never take his own life.  Luke and Brooke are friends from childhood.  Luke left and never contacted Brooke and hurt her terribly.  She doesn't know he is there under cover to investigate drug running in the park.  In the end they have to work together to discover who killed Brooke's father.

Another good book by Patricia Bradley.  I recommend to everyone who likes a good mystery.  Everyone is a suspect clear to the end of the book.

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

Starfish Pier by Irene Hannon

A year ago, ex-Delta Force operator Steven Roark left the rigors of combat behind to run fishing charters in Hope Harbor, decompress, and talk some sense into his kid brother. Business is good--but making peace with his past is more challenging than he expected.

First-grade teacher Holly Miller leads a quiet, low-profile existence--until she's recruited to advocate for a cause that's dear to her heart. When she solicits Steven's assistance, sparks fly--especially after they find themselves on opposite sides of an issue that disrupts their placid seaside community.

Another good Hope Harbor book.  Holly is trying to establish her independence from over protective parents.  She has health issues that makes her parents want to hover.  She throws herself into the community and those around her.  Steven wants to be left alone.  He is trying to reconnect to his brother without the conflict that has been there before.  Steven is carrying around baggage from his Army days as well as from his previous marriage.  Holly and Steven seem to disagree on a lot of things.  This is their story on how God can restore.

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

The House at the End of the Moor by Michelle Griep

Opera star Maggie Lee escapes her opulent lifestyle when threatened by a powerful politician who aims to ruin her life. She runs off to the wilds of the moors to live in anonymity. All that changes the day she discovers a half-dead man near her house. Escaped convict Oliver Ward is on the run to prove his innocence, until he gets hurt and is taken in by Maggie. He discovers some jewels in her possession—the very same jewels that got him convicted. Together they hatch a plan to return the jewels, clearing Oliver’s name and hopefully maintaining Maggie’s anonymity.

Another good book by Ms. Griep.  This is the story of Maggie who is a famous opera singer who has run away from a man who has threatened her.  Then there is Oliver.  He has escaped prison where he has been sentenced for stealing a necklace he didn't take.  He is shot while escaping ends up at Maggies.  This is their journey to freedom.  I recommend this book for all mystery buffs.  

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

In the Cradle Lies by Olivia Newport

On a solo ski vacation in Canyon Mines, Colorado, Tucker has a love-hate relationship with his wealth, spending indiscriminately while skiing fearlessly and preparing to conquer the overgrown slope of Hidden Run, a dangerous run not attempted in decades. As genealogist Jillian tries to uncover enough of Tucker’s family tree to understand his charming nature but reckless resolve, Jillian’s equally charming father, Nolan, cajoles Tucker into giving him ski lessons to get him talking about the suspicious circumstances surrounding his grandfather’s life in St. Louis in the 1930s. 
 
On the surface, Tucker’s family’s history seems too perfect. The secret may lie in the sealed envelope Tucker carries with him at all times—even on the ski slope. When no one can find Tucker to tell him the fiancée he never mentioned turned up in Canyon Mines, they realize he must be off attempting to ski Hidden Run alone in a snowstorm. And they may be too late. 

I enjoyed this book better than the first book in the series.  The book kept my interest throughout.  Jillian is still a genealogist looking into family trees.  Tucker seems to be looking for every dangerous sky slope he can find.  Nolan, Jillian's father, is on a mission to find out more information about Tucker.  Jillian then starts looking into Tuckers family tree to find out what is behind his behavior.

I recommend this book for anyone who likes a light read.  I was given this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Inn at Hidden Run by Olivia Newport

Meri’s family has been producing doctors for so many generations that no one remembers why, so when she flunks out of medical school, she runs as far from her parents as she can get. In the small mountain town of Canyon Mines, Colorado, she takes a job at the Inn at Hidden Run B&B. And waits. It’s only a matter of time.
 
What she doesn’t count on is genealogist Jillian Parisi-Duffy and her father, Nolan, having her back when it takes everything she has not to bolt again but to stay and face the truth that only unfolding her family’s history will reveal. While Nolan works on keeping Meri calm—and in town—Jillian pulls out of her gems of information she doesn’t know she has and arranges the puzzle pieces.
 
But none of that changes the fact that Meri’s family is closing in to haul her back to her “real” life. When their arrival inflames tensions and Meri finally does bolt, Nolan and Jillian may be out of time.

This book was slow in spots.  But then it would pick up and I didn't want to put it down.  Jillian is really driven to find peoples roots.  She can't seem to help but get involved when people are searching for their family.  I do recommend this book as a light read.

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

Silent Shadows by Natalie Walters

Pecca Gallegos moved to the tiny town of Walton, Georgia, to protect her son and escape the dangerous lifestyle that once defined her. When a series of strange circumstances evolve into threats, Pecca finds herself confiding in an unlikely ally--her stubborn patient.

Army veteran Colton Crawford is desperate to recover from the undiagnosed disorder that is ruining his life, and his instincts are on high alert when threats against his nurse and her son force him to take action. But Colton's involvement only ramps up the danger when he uncovers a family secret revealing that whoever is after Pecca is closer--and more deadly--than they realized.

Pecca is hiding from her past.  She was involved with a gang member when she was a teenager.  The result was her son.  She would do anything to protect him.  Now it seems her past is catching up to her.  Someone is trying to kill her.  She thinks it is because her ex boyfriend is up for parole.  Pecca works at Hope for Hero's as a nurse.  There she meets Colton, a former special ops officer.  He is trying to learn to live his undiagnosed problem that leaves him with a shaking hand that leads to excruciating and debilitating  pain.

I enjoyed this book.  It was fast paced with a great mystery.  It also highlighted the problem soldiers face when they have disabilities.  This is the third book in the series.  It is not necessary to read the first two books to follow this one.  The characters from the first two are mentioned in this book.  The first two books were good so I recommend you read all three if  you enjoy a good mystery.

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

Dead End by Nancy Mehl

When a body is discovered in a field in Iowa, the police uncover fourteen additional corpses ranging from 20 years old to recent. The remains point to a serial killer with an MO the authorities have seen before--Ed Oliphant, a man who has been in prison for over 20 years . . . and is Special Agent Kaely Quinn's father. After several failed interview attempts to discover if Ed has been training someone to be a copycat killer, the police turn to Kaely in St. Louis.

Kaely promised herself she would never step foot in her hometown or set eyes on her father again. She's always refused to confront her past, but if she wants to prevent any more deaths, she must come face-to-face with the man she's hated for years.
As more bodies are discovered, Kaely races against time and her own personal turmoil to uncover the killer. Will this most personal case yet cost Kaely her identity and perhaps even her life?

A great conclusion to this series.  Kaley is still fighting her demons.  And yes the author does show us that they are demons she is fighting.  In this book Kaley has to face her father.  The serial killer who killed over 20 women.  Can she do it and retain her sanity.  She still carries hate for her father for what he did to her and her family.  Noah is Kaely's partner in the FBI.  Against his better judgement, he has fallen in love her.  Noah is mad at God for allowing his wife to die.  There are twists and turns that made me keep reading.

This is the third book in the Kaely Quinn Profiler Series.  I recommend that you read the first two books in the series before reading this one.

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