In Honor's Defense by Karen Witemeyer

Luke Davenport has been fighting all his life--for respect, for country, and for those unable to fight for themselves. But now that his Horsemen brothers are domesticated, he's left alone to battle the wildness within. When an opportunity arises to take a job on his own, tracking down a group of rustlers, he jumps at the chance.

Damaris Baxter has mastered the art of invisibility. Plain and quiet, she hides in books and needlework, content to be overlooked. Until her brother dies suddenly, leaving her custody of her nephew. She moves to Texas to care for Nathaniel, determined to create the family for herself that she never thought she'd have and to give him the family he desperately needs.

When Nate finds himself knee-deep in trouble, Luke's attempt to protect him leaves Damaris feeling indebted to the Horseman. But suspicions grow regarding the mysterious death of Damaris's brother. And the more questions they ask, the more danger appears, threatening the family Luke may be unable to live without.

My review:  This is another great book by Ms. Witemeyer as she continues Hanger's Horsemen saga.  This is Luke's story.  Luke is restless after the Horsemen have retired.  So he takes off to track down some rustlers.  He meets up with Damaris who has very little self confidence.  She has come to Texas to care for her nephew Nate after her brother has been killed.  Luke is struggling with his own demons of self worth.  As the story progresses, he is beat up and left for dead.  Damaris takes care of him and nurses him back to health.  Along the way Luke discovers that Damaris' brother was murdered for his land.  Now they are after Damaris to sell the land or she will be killed along with her nephew.  With the help of Luke and the rest of the Horsemen the truth comes out.

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

I'll Be Seeing You by Robin Lee Hatcher

Generations of secrets unfold as a young college student learns the truth about her great-grandmother’s World War II heartbreak and love. For fans of Francine Rivers and Karen Kingsbury.

Brianna Hastings’s life seems dull and full of disappointment until a handsome young man visits her church. She’s instantly smitten by the charming Greg, who leads an exciting, independent life—the kind of life she longs for. But when a college history assignment forces Brianna to interview her great-grandmother about life during World War II, she can’t believe it when Daisy presses her with questions about Greg’s character. “What sort of man is he? Who is he at his core?”

What could her great-grandmother possibly know about love at first sight?

The questions take both women back to Boise, Idaho, in the early 1940s, when war emphasized how fragile life could be. Daisy and her older sister pine for the same handsome bomber pilot—until one night of terrible judgment reveals their true characters and drives them apart. Trying to protect the people she loves the most, Daisy condemns herself to live a lie.

In the years that follow, as Daisy grapples with the consequences, she receives unexpected grace from a man she’s known her whole life but never looked at twice. Could what she learned about love save Brianna from heartache three generations later?

My review:  I had a little trouble getting into this book.  It was actually two stories in one.  Daisy's and her great granddaughters stories.  I don't mind books that go back and forth in time.  It just seemed to drag.  I've read other books by Ms. Hatcher and thoroughly enjoyed them.  Brianna seems to be a really shallow person until the end of the book.  Daisy had to learn some very tough life lessons the hard way also.  Maybe I saw the book as a repeat of each others life.  I found myself skimming parts of the book just to finish 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. 

Fatal Code by Natalie Walters

In 1964, a group of scientists called the Los Alamos Five came close to finishing a nuclear energy project for the United States government when they were abruptly disbanded. Now the granddaughter of one of those five scientists, aerospace engineer Elinor Mitchell, discovers that she has highly sensitive information on the project in her possession--and a target on her back.

SNAP agent and former Navy cryptologist Kekoa Young is tasked with monitoring Elinor. This is both convenient since she's his neighbor in Washington, DC, and decidedly inconvenient because . . . well, he kind of likes her.

As Elinor follows the clues her grandfather left behind to a top-secret nuclear project, Kekoa has no choice but to step in. When Elinor learns he has been spying on her, she's crushed. But with danger closing in on all sides, she'll have to trust him to ensure her discoveries stay out of enemy hands.

This is second book in the SNAP Agency series.  I recommend reading the first book before you read this book.  It will help with following who's who in this book.  Kekoa can crack any computer that is put in front of him.  He is ask to spy on  his neighbor Elinor as part of his job.  The problem is he has started to have feelings for her.  He also has struggles with guilt about his brothers death.  He has a lot of issues he has to resolve.  Does he put his feelings behind him and do what he is told and try to find evidence against Elinor.  Elinor is trying to find clues that her grandfather left for her to find following his death.  Who does she trust?  She discovers things about her grandfather that she never knew.  Then she finds out Kekoa has been spying on her.  She's devastated.  This book is their journey to trust.

I recommend this book to all who enjoy a good mystery.  I'm looking forward to the next book in the SNAP series.

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

Sunburst by Susan May Warren

When former Navy SEAL and lifelong bachelor Ranger Kingston is called upon to take part in a rescue mission to save his brother Colt, who has been kidnapped by terrorists in Nigeria, he is shocked to find among the hostages a woman he knows and could never forget.

Noemi Sutton was attempting to return a young girl to her family in Boko Haram territory when she and the girl found themselves taken hostage, along with several others.

And while Ranger Kingston may be able to get the hostages away from their captors, he'll need Noemi's help if he ever hopes to get out of Nigeria alive.
Her solution? Pose as husband and wife. But when her uncle discovers the union, he insists on a traditional Nigerian wedding--binding Noemi to a man destined to break her heart. Worse, she's discovered the real reason she was kidnapped, and anyone around her is bound to be caught in the cross fire. Including her so-called new husband.

She'll need to figure out a way to leave the man she loves if she wants to save his life. 

My review: This is the second book in the Sky King Ranch series.  It's not necessary to read the first book in the series to read this book.  It would be helpful as it will fill in some of the pieces in this book.  Ranger is one of triplets.  An incident that happened years ago sent him to enlist in the Navy and become a SEAL.  He is a committed bachelor and has previously hurt Noemi.  He discovers his brother Colt and Noemi are being held captive by a terrorist group in Nigeria.  With the help of Colts employer and associates they are able to rescue Colt and Noemi.  The only problem is that they were separated and weren't able to get out of the country.  Noemi has an uncle in Nigeria and they go to him for  help. Ranger and Noemi have to get beyond old hurts in order to trust each other and stay alive.  

This a book well worth taking the time to read.  It kept me up way past my bedtime.  I'm anxious to read the next installment in this series.

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

Mulberry Hollow by Denise Hunter

When a handsome handyman faces a medical emergency on the Appalachian trail, his sudden appearance in town challenges an ambitious doctor’s plan to remain single for life.

Avery Robinson decided to be a physician after helplessly watching her mother lose a battle with a terrible disease. Now at risk of developing the same illness, Avery guards her heart from love. She’s driven to protect her loved ones as a workaholic doctor in the tiny mountain town of Riverbend Gap, North Carolina.

Contractor Wes Garrett is hiking the Appalachian trail, in memory of the man who died saving his life, when an illness racks his body. After an agonizing fifteen-mile hike to Avery’s clinic, he collapses on her doorstep. He recovers to find himself in debt again—but this time to a beautiful doctor.

When he decides to help her renovate a rundown carriage house, the obstacles to their attraction sprout like weeds—starting with the woman waiting for Wes at the end of the trail. Will he be able to relinquish the debt he owes his best friend? And will Avery find the courage to risk everything for love?

My review:  Avery has a mission in life.  That is to be a dr. and help as many people as she can along the way.  She will never marry as she doesn't want to take the chance of her spouse/children suffer the way she saw her mother suffer.  She can take a test to see if she is a carrier.  But she is afraid.  Then she meets Wes. He became her patient when he became sick on the hiking trail outside her town.  Wes hiking to complete the wish of his friend who died while saving his life.  Wes will do just about anything to stay out of debt.  So when he finds himself in debt to the dr., he does contract work to pay off his debt.  Along the way the two find themselves falling in love.  But Wes thinks he needs to marry his friends sister out of gratitude.  So what are two people supposed to do who love each other but don't think they can?  Read the story and find the answer.  It is a good clean read.

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

Sea Glass Cottage by Irene Hannon

Christi Reece is desperate. The one-time golden girl's life has tarnished, and a cascade of setbacks has left her reeling. She needs help, and she's certain Jack Colby is in a position to provide it.

When she shows up in Hope Harbor, however, Jack wants nothing to do with the woman who betrayed him. He's built a new life on the Oregon coast--and there's no room in it for Christi, even after she takes refuge in a charming but mysterious cottage nearby. Yet it soon becomes apparent his opinion of her may need revising, especially when he ends up needing her help.

My review: I enjoyed another visit to Hope Harbor and reconnecting with previous characters.  This book had two stories rolled into one.  Christi and Jack and Beth and Steve.  Christi was a spoiled rich brat when Jack first met her. But he still fell in love with her.  When she broke his heart, he went as far away from her and made something of himself.  He became a police officer and a famous writer.  Christi became destitute and in need of money.  Which Jack has.  Jack has to learn forgive Christi and also see if he can trust her with his heart again.  Jack has a surprise dropped on his doorstep and then he needs Christi's help.

Beth and Steve have to overcome a tragic experience in their lives.  Beth has to forgive Steve.  Steve has to forgive himself.  

Forgiveness is the main theme in this book.  I recommend this book to all.

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

Classic & Colorful Patchwork and Applique Quilts by Jim & Jan Shore

This book first caught my attention because it was a book by Jim & Jan Shore.  Their figurines are amazing.  When I realized it was a quilt book, I had to check it out.  The patterns have full sized templates and good instructions on how to make the quilts.  There's also a little story that goes along with each pattern.  I was given this book to preview by the publisher that I downloaded to my Kindle. I liked it so well I showed it to my boss, (I work at a quilting store) and she immediately ordered some.  I will be getting the paper version of this.  

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