Where We Belong by Kim Vogel Sawyer Review

 

Where We Belong by Kim Vogel Sawyer is an awesome, amazing book!

Usually if I'm zinging through a book and needing to know what happens next it is a suspense or thriller. But I was so invested in these characters I could not put this book down. I finished it in a day! This is not my first book by this author, but it is now my favorite.

I was captivated from the very first page. I could feel Callum Holbrook's excitement and his desire to get to his children, two girls who he had no choice but to put in an orphanage when he was destitute and unable to care for them. However, now he was exhilarated, planning to pick them up because he had employment and housing. However, his hope was shattered when he learned that his children had been sent out west on an orphan train. 

And then we switch points of view to Hester Haak, a childless widow living in Kansas who desires the love and companionship of a little girl, a daughter, so she heads out to meet the orphan train. I mean, you can see where this is going, right? How can we not have compassion for both Callum and Hester?

And we also get the point of view of one of the girls, the teenager Evelyn, or Evvie. The reader can feel her determination and her confusion. Wondering why her and her sister Winnie have been sent out west, when she KNOWS her father is still alive and is supposed to be coming for them. So, when this strange woman wants to be her momma, she wants nothing to do with her. Yes, I admit I understand her attitude, but there were times I felt she went a little overboard. I loved seeing the way she changed throughout the story.

The other point of view is that of Scotty, an older man who had been a drifter, yet was now living in the storeroom of Hester's store and helping out with fixing and loading and such. Their relationship was close to that of father and daughter, and you could see that they cared about each other. 

I love the way this found family grew to love and care for each other. All the while wondering what would happen when the "real" father, Callum, found his children. 

I loved the way the town rallied around this family, welcoming the children, supporting them and Hester, caring for them in times of need. The younger children were wonderful characters. I loved Winnie and Guy and another little boy that found his way to them. I loved the way God placed people in their lives and in the life of Callum. I loved the spiritual truths that are shared in the book, and the faith that the majority of the characters had, while also seeing the way God was working to draw others to Himself, even through their anger and pain. And the reminder that God's will is not always what we think it's going to be. God answers prayer. God is there for us, even in our darkest times. But He is sovereign and He knows best, even if we can't see it at the time. 

Here is a quote that spoke to me:

"'Mr. Holbrook, I can't speak to this particular situation, but I can share my experiences. In the past when I felt as though God threw a barrier into my path, I eventually discovered He had something else - something better - in mind for me.' The man's solemn yet kind tone held Callum's attention. 'Maybe God is protecting you from something or is guiding you in a new direction.' He put his hand on Callum's shoulder. 'You see, God is always working on behalf of His children. I don't always understand His ways, but I've learned that I can always trust His heart.'"

Very inspiring, very emotional, very heartwarming. I can't really say anything else besides - I just loved this book and highly recommend it. 

My only disappointment is having to say goodbye to these characters. I wish their story could continue. Thankfully the author wrapped everything up perfectly. 

When the Silence Breaks by Elizabeth Goddard Review

 

When the Silence Breaks is the first book in Elizabeth Goddard's Mercy Ridge series. Sarah is an ex-intelligence analyst who has come to the small town of Mercy Ridge to uncover a secret that seems to have had something to do with the death of her brother. She is determined to get justice for him and keep her other family members safe. Ryder is the former Navy SEAL who she want to hire to take her up Blackspire Mountain in the Cascades to uncover this secret.

Ryder does not jump at the opportunity of taking this job. He has reasons he does not want to go up the mountain, but there are circumstances that help him change his mind. 

I did enjoy this book. Though I wish there was a bit more suspense. That said, when the suspense came, it was quite intense at times and brought quite a bit of danger. However, there were things that I just couldn't get to make sense. Though, yes, some of it was explained toward the end of the book, there are some things I'm thinking back on and just can't get them to make sense in my mind. And there were times when the characters seemed to contradict what was just said or done. 

I do tend to prefer my romantic suspense with more suspense and less romance, so this was perfect for that. Sarah and Ryder took a while to warm up to each other, but I loved the way their relationship developed. And I loved that they had a connection that neither of them realized. And of course, because of their backgrounds and circumstances they had to keep secrets from each other, so that made it hard for them to really trust each other for quite a bit of the story. 

And I love books that have twists I didn't see coming, and this one had a whopper. I had foreseen some of what was going to happen. But I was not prepared for one reveal. 

Additionally, not only do Sarah and Ryder have bad guys on their heals as they try to uncover this secret, they are also dealing with the mountain and the weather. So, quite a bit of tension and suspense in this race-against-time book.

I loved the idea that a crashed plane from way back during WWII would carry some sort of secret that some wanted found while others did not. But the question was, who was who in this situation. And it was intriguing to read the real-life event that inspired the author to write this story. 

And of course, I appreciated the faith content in the book. The characters were both Christians who trusted in and prayed to God. And there is the reminder to trust in God's timing.

Now, if next February would just hurry up and get here so we can read book 2!

I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley plus a physical ARC from the publisher and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Into a Golden Era by Gabrielle Meyer Review

 

I absolutely LOVE the Timeless series by Gabrielle Meyer. It has come to a point that I really can't pick a favorite book. They are all just awesome, including her most recent release, Into a Golden Era. I love the way she pairs up such appropriate eras for each of these books. In this story, Ally lives during the time of the Gold Rush and also the Golden Age of Hollywood. Perfection. 

We had already met some of the characters in this book, some briefly, some as main characters in their own books.  So, if you haven't read the previous books, I highly recommend not reading this review as their will be some spoilers from those books.

The main character in Into a Golden Era, Ally, is the daughter of Grace and Hope's mother from the third book, For a Lifetime, except she is the birth mother they never knew from their one path. So, yes, she is Grace and Hope's sister, sort of. Ally was briefly introduced, along with her two other sisters, toward the end of For a Lifetime, though I can't remember if they had names back then. I love that Tacy is an important character in this book, as we knew very little about her. I also love that Grace and her daughters, especially Kathryn who was the main character in book 5, Every Hour Until Then, are a part of this book. However, Into the Golden Era takes place before the events of Kathryn's book. 

Okay, yes, I admit, it sounds confusing. I find myself looking back at the other books and at the family tree just to keep everyone straight in my head. But, these books are so worth the read. I loved the concept as soon as I learned about it in the first book, When the Day Comes. And the author has expanded this world so awesomely. 

In Into a Golden Era I felt like Ally did. I couldn't decide which time period I wanted her to choose to live in after her 25th birthday. I loved both of her time periods. She has a loving father and sister in 1849, both of whom she is trying to support after her father becomes ill. They find themselves in a dangerous section of California after they travel there because of her plan to find gold to help her family. Here she meets Sam, who is supposed to be a notorious criminal, but there just might be more to his story. 

In her 1929 life time she is an actress working for her family's studio. A studio that is struggling due to the rise of the big studios. They have one last chance to try to save the studio with their upcoming production of Little Women. She suddenly finds herself in a contract which has her fake dating a famous actor who has been caught up in a scandal. The thing is, will she be able to help his reputation, or will her associating with him ruin her reputation?

The thing I found most intriguing about this story when I first learned about it, was knowing that events that she had read would happen suddenly change around her when she wakes up one morning. And she then learns that her future, along with someone else's, is in peril. But, she knows she will forfeit that path if she tries to change things. 

I was glued to the book, needing to know how the author would work everything out. She threw in awesome twists and, once again, I wasn't sure which time Ally would ultimately choose. I loved the historical details that were included, though the author does share specifics in her Author's Note at the end of the book, so the reader can see what was read and what was fictionalized. 

Yes, this book was wonderful and I loved it and the ending was just perfect. The only bummer is that she is now only releasing one Timeless book a year, instead of two. So, I have a year to wait to read the next book. 

I highly recommend this book and, yes, this series. Make sure to read them in order though.

The Spy Keeper of Marseille by Roseanna M. White Review

 

So, I absolutely LOVE both of Roseanna M. White's series that take place during WWI. Her Shadows Over England series made me a fan, and I was thrilled when I learned that her Codebreakers series included beloved characters while introducing new ones. I loved that the reader would go from the beginning of WWI through the end of WWI by reading both series. And then last year I read The Collector of Burned Books which takes place in Occupied France during WWII. So, yes, when I learned that she had a new book that takes place during WWII, I was excited. And I am so glad I had a chance to read it, because I loved it. 

The Spy Keeper of Marseille takes place mostly in Free France, though at the beginning of the book our FMC, Zelie Bellarose is crossing the Demarcation Line into Occupied France. It is here that she meets our MMC, Marcel Laurent who had just been freed from a POW camp. Marcel is a well known musician whose friend is introducing him to Zelie in hopes he can help with the Resistance. 

I love how the Youth Orchestra that Marcel heads is used to help the Resistance, and also how much the beauty of music played a part in this story. But there is so much more to this book and all the different things the Resistance is doing. There is quite the cast of characters coming and going. There is intrigue, and suspense, and betrayal, and sacrifices, and a blossoming love as our characters work toward freeing France and helping defeat Germany and the Axis powers. 

I loved how I learned more about WWII. And I was intrigued to learn that Zelie is based on a real life woman who led a spy ring during the war. I loved the relationship that grew between Zelie and Marcel. They had so many obstacles to overcome, but I was definitely rooting for them. Through all they were dealing with, Zelie also needed to learn to turn to the Lord who she'd long been ignoring. I loved seeing her faith growing. And I think I caught a little nod to the Codebreakers series, which is so cool.

Though the beginning of the book was a bit slower, from the middle through the end of the book I was zinging through the pages. It definitely got quite intense at times, which I love. 

This was another great book from an awesome author. I highly recommend it. 

I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts. 

Trapped by Jerusha Agen Review

 

I discovered Jerusha Agen's books a couple of years ago, starting by reading the last couple of books in her Guardians Unleashed series. Let me just say, I was hooked. I'm loving this new Security League series of hers. I think this newest book, Trapped, is my favorite so far.. More awesome suspense, a powerful faith thread, and blossoming romance. Plus she is tackling a serious subject, sex trafficking. Don't worry, there is nothing explicit or too intense. 

Kristen has escaped from a life of prostitution, bringing with her a teenage girl named Rosalia who she has taken in as her adopted daughter. Though they had been moving from place to place for a while to keep from getting captured, they are now living in Leben Falls, Iowa, a safe, small rural town where she'd hoped to stay under the radar. However, that safety is shattered during an armed robbery at her store, and she fears her secrets are going to be exposed, especially after her childhood friend shows up at the scene. 

Sean Kingston had recently arrived in Leben Falls to help his grandparents. He has a background in law enforcement, though is now a part of a private security firm. This firm is the Security League which connects the books in this series. After realizing the danger that Kristen, who he knew as Natasha, and her daughter are in, Sean takes it upon himself to help protect them. 

The danger keeps coming at them, keeping the suspense high. Will Sean be able to help keep his old friend and her daughter safe? Will Kristen's true past be revealed? This is something that is really disturbing her, because there is more than one secret she is hiding, and the truth coming out could destroy their lives. 

I loved that Sean shares his faith with Kristen/Nat, though she is not open to hearing about it for a majority of the book, because she doesn't see how someone who has sinned as bad as she has can ever be forgiven. I also love that Rosalia has friends who share Jesus with her. And though Sean is a Christian, he also has some issues he is working through when it comes to bitterness and unforgiveness. 

I also love that we get quick glimpses at the characters from the previous books in the series. Though, I admit, I would have loved it even more if they played a bigger role. I do wonder if a certain new character will be the main character in the next book of the series. If there is another book. There will be, right? Please. 

All in all, this is an awesome suspense book that grabbed my attention from the first line and just wouldn't let go. Just how I love my romantic suspense books. Highly recommended. 

I received an e-copy of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Survival in the Mountains by Carrie Stuart Parks Review

 

I discovered Carrie Stuart Parks' books several years ago, devouring her Gwen Marcey series and a couple of stand alone books in a month's time. Unfortunately I had completely missed the book she published with Love Inspired Suspense last fall, so I'm going to have to find some time to read that one. But when I realized that Survival in the Mountains was releasing a couple of months ago, I knew I had to read it. Let's just say, I am very glad I did, it's an awesome romantic suspense book. It was a quick read at just over 200 pages, and I was able to zing through it in a couple of days. 

The reader enters the story in the middle of peril. Bethany, our FMC is being pulled out of her blazing vehicle by Joshua, our MMC, after an "accident." We get to see the story from both of their points of view, so we know Joshua is a good guy, though Bethany has her doubts, for reasons I won't disclose. Bethany on the other hand? We don't really know much about her at first, because she has amnesia from her car accident. All we know is that someone ran her off the road and now she is running for her life, aided by Joshua. To make matters crazier, it's discovered that either she is being erased from existence, or the things she starts remembering about herself aren't the truth about her life. 

The danger keeps ramping up as they try to figure out who is trying to kill Bethany and why. Plus Joshua is dealing with his own dilemmas. This story definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and zinging through the pages to figure out what in the world was going on. I was quite intrigued when they started to figure things out.

Of course, it is a Love Inspired book, so there is going to be some romance. Bethany and Joshua really don't know each other, but the time they spend together trying to keep her safe, evade the bad guys, and find answers starts to draw them together. But they both have pasts that make it difficult to open up to the other and start a relationship. Part of me did wonder if it wasn't quite the right time or circumstances to be falling for each other, especially because she couldn't remember details about her life, and he was hiding things about his. But I liked the way their relationship, and that both of them were Christians and would pray to the Lord.

And of course, this is a Carrie Stuart Park book, so there is going to be a dog. And boy did I love Izzy. She was actually important to the plot, not just a pet that gets mentioned every now and then. 

I loved the way everything was wrapped up at the end with no loose ends, though I did think some things seemed a bit rushed.

All in all, this is an awesome romantic suspense book, and one I highly recommend.

I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Superstar by Cali Black Review

 

Superstar is the awesome first book in Cali Black's The Nashville Series. I absolutely loved it, though it did take me a while to read. For two reasons. I had some other books I had to get to first. Plus, this book is quite long. Don't get me wrong. I am NOT complaining. Just explaining why it took me a while to read it. That said, once the other books were out of the way and I hit the 50% mark, I could not put this book down. I sort of zinged through the last half of the book. 

There is romance, and it can get a bit sizzly, but don't worry, no inappropriate spice. I very much appreciated that Sierra was a Christian who stuck to her morals. And there is action and suspense. Yes, I love my suspense. This story has a stalker, one who keeps increasing the peril in the attacks. But there is also tension coming in the form of a contract that can't be broken. Causing our main characters, Jayce and Sierra to have to sneak around and avoid the paparazzi. And there is a possible conspiracy and intrigue. But there is also humor and friendship and music and family.

Jayce and Sierra are thrown together as judges on The Noise of Nashville, a country music competition show. Jayce, the bad boy of country music, is attracted to her right away, even though he is not supposed to be pursuing women. Sierra, an up-and-coming indie musician known as America's Sweetheart, on the other hand isn't fond of his attitude and does everything she can at first to discourage him. However, she has always admired him as a musician and she finds herself falling for him. 

I loved the close friendship circle Sierra had and the fun that they had, including the bets concerning Sierra and Jayce's relationship. And Jayce also had his friends. Plus there are the other two country artists who make up the other team on The Noise of Nashville, people who also become close friends. There is a lot of camaraderie and celebrating, plus coming together in times of need. 

I was rooting for Jayce and Sierra's relationship, hoping it could stand strong in the face of the many obstacles they were facing. There were definitely some tears shed, it was very emotional at times. But that just showed me that I was quite invested in these characters that Cali Black had brought to life.

While faith wasn't a huge part of this story, there are characters who are Christian and morals are stuck to. Forgiveness also plays an important role in this story. Though I do wish it was mentioned that we have forgiveness through Jesus. I was really hoping for that during a time of struggling. 

All in all, I love this book and can't wait for the next book in the series. I'm looking forward to visiting with these characters again.

A Heart's Hope by Penny Zeller Review

 

I've read quite a few of Penny Zeller's Christian historical romance books and I have to say, I think Montana Hearts is going to be my favorite series. I absolutely loved A Heart's Hope which is a marriage of convenience story featuring a mail order bride from a well-to-do family in Boston and a rancher in Montana territory. The majority of the story is told through the alternating points of view of McKenzie and Noah. Though we do also get to see McKenzie's sister's POV occasionally. 

Noah is looking for a wife and mother for his adopted son Davey. McKenzie is looking for a way to safely come out west so she can find her sister who is in dire circumstances. After McKenzie answers Noah's advertisement for a wife, they get to know each other a bit through writing letters back and forth. But McKenzie is in a hurry to find and hopefully save her sister, that she agrees to marriage quite quickly. However, she doesn't tell Noah her real reason for her decision, nor does she tell him she doesn't plan on staying out west once she finds her sister. 

I admit, I was not a huge fan of McKenzie at first because of her deception. But, I understood her desperation as her sister was in dire straits. At the same time, I felt bad for Noah and Davey because it wouldn't be fair to them for her to become a part of their family and then to up and leave. Noah was a godly man, one who prayed seeking God's will, and was in the Word. McKenzie grew up going to church, but she had a lot to learn about being a true Christian. And I loved the growth that I saw in her thanks to Noah's leading. I also appreciated the godly wisdom that they received from Asa and Rosemary, plus the way Rosemary took the spoiled rich girl and taught her how to become a homemaker.

I was curious how the author was going to work things out between them, and I also needed to know if McKenzie was going to find her sister before it was too late. I loved the way everything worked out and am greatly anticipating book two. 

I received an e-copy of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Conspiracy by Colleen Coble Review

 

I absolutely LOVED this final book in Colleen Coble's Sanctuary series. What a conclusion!! The author wrapped up the series that began with Ambush perfectly. Conspiracy continued the story of Blake and Paradise along with their family, friends, and enemies. The Sanctuary is the wildlife park that Blake's mother owns, the park were Paradise works as the veterinarian. We also get to see characters from the Tupelo Grove series that Colleen Coble co-authors with Rick Acker, plus her Pelican Grove series. So, if you are like me and you want to really get to know the characters in the order they are introduced, I would highly recommend reading the Pelican Grove series first. I would also recommend reading the Tupelo Grove books and the Sanctuary books in the order they were published, alternating between the two series. 

If knowing the relationship connections doesn't really bother you, I would still highly recommend reading the Sanctuary series in order as the main mystery has continued through the series. 

Also, if you haven't read the previous books, you may want to skip this review as there will be spoilers to the previous books.

You've been warned.

The story is told from the points of view of both Paradise and Blake, a couple who knew each other when they were younger and have now gotten back together when Paradise began working at the Sanctuary. They have gone through quite a bit already in this series, and the author wasn't done yet with all the danger she was going to put them through. A new character has also joined them in their quest to discover who killed her parents. She finally connected with her half brother Drew, who happens to be a police detective. 

While the story begins with a sweet scene with baby lemurs, the suspense quickly escalates as Paradise is warned off of digging into the cold case of her parents' murder. However, Blake, Paradise and Drew remain determined to bring the murderer to justice. Big cats play a big role in the danger that they are facing and bring some suspenseful scenes. But there are also wonderful moments with friends and family. I loved seeing Paradise and Blake's relationship continue to grow.

There were a whole lot of suspects and I have to admit, I was not sure who the culprit was. I definitely was surprised by one twist, though close to the actual big reveal, I was starting to suspect a certain person. The author definitely took me by surprise when everything was finally brought out into the open. 

Can I just ask, why in the world does the FMC always seem to do something stupid to get herself into a predicament in suspense books??? Okay, maybe not always, but I was a bit disappointed in Paradise for a certain scene. 

I appreciated that faith was important in the lives of the characters. This is a passage that really spoke to me: 

"'God always knew the plans he had for us, but we sure couldn't see them in the rough times.' 

Blake pulled her away from his chest so he could see her face. 'There will be more tough times, babe. Our whole lives those times will come. But let's hold on to this certainty that God has us, that his plan will work for our good because we love him and want his will.'"

I absolutely loved this book, loved this series, loved the connected series, and I am definitely sad that this book seems to be wrapping up our time with all of these awesome characters. I can't wait to see what the author has for us next. She is an awesome author of Christian suspense who always leaves me on the edge of my seat, zinging through the pages. 

I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

The Eyes of River by Cindy K. Sproles Review

 

The Eyes of River is the newest Appalachian novel by Cindy K. Sproles. I have read a couple of the author's other books, and I found this one to be my favorite so far. It drew me right in and kept me swiping through the pages to see what was going to happen. 

This story is told mainly through the eyes of Lizzy Haney, the teenage girl who has been taking care of her younger brother since their mother was killed. She loves him so much and wants to do what is best for him, which at the beginnning of the story seems to be mailing him to a friend to keep him safe from their drunkard of a father. However, she has second thoughts the moment he leaves on the train. Questioning whether she had just made a huge mistake. But suddenly, that isn't the only thing she has to worry about. She herself finds herself running for her life when her friend Alton tells her she has been accused of murder. 

We also get to see the story through Alton's POV at times. He is the son of the local sheriff and has learned a lot from a native friend named Meko. He offers Lizzy his help in keeping ahead of the posse and finding her brother. 

I really don't want to give too much away regarding where they find help, and what all is going on in this story. But I will say I sort of have mixed emotions about those who come to Lizzy's aid, including Alton. It's made out to be wrong that Lizzy cares so much about her brother and is focused on making sure he is safe. I'm not a fan of the way she is called selfish. Yeah, she has a hard attitude. She was raised by an abusive father and had to look out for both herself and her brother. And over the course of the story buried memories begin to surface, and we see just how much she has lived through. I wish those who were helping her had been more understanding of her plight. I love that they helped her. I agree that she needed to learn to trust. But I felt sorry for her because of the way she was treated. This is one of the things that lowered my rating. 

I had one other thing that bothered me a bit. Yes, faith was important in this story. We see the importance of learning to trust fully and be open to the truth. The importance of prayer and the Bible. Lizzy grows a lot in her spiritual walk. Going from someone who didn't really believe in God, to someone who trusts Him. And it was quite the journey in between. However, there is no mention of Jesus. No mention of the sacrifice He made for us and that we have eternal life through our belief in Him. I was waiting for one of the characters to bring Him up to Lizzy, but unfortunately, that didn't happen. Maybe there is something I don't understand about the Christian faith in Appalachia. But it seems to me, Jesus should have been introduced to Lizzy. 

I still loved this book. But I wanted to address my concerns. This book had some great action and twists. Once the truth started to be revealed, it got quite dark. There is violence and murder, the mention of marital rape and the selling of children. There were definitely some things that I didn't see coming. Things that really turned Lizzy's life upside down. 

The author really brought these characters and the setting to life for me. I loved that the author included real history into the story. One thing I knew about, the other took me by surprise. 

I loved this book and highly recommend it. 

I received an e-copyb of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Skeletons We Find by Chelsea Michelle Review

 

I'm absolutely loving the Watson Twins mystery series by Chelsea Michelle, both the mini mysteries and the full length mysteries. Skeletons We Find is the second full length novel, and I think it might be my favorite mystery so far. Each of these stories has a mystery that is introduced and solved in the course of the book. However, there is one mystery that has kept the reader guessing since the first book. And I have to tell you, I really want to know for sure what's going on. Plus, as the series has progressed we have seen character development and relationship development, so you will want to read this series in the recommended order. 

In Skeletons We Find the twins Chelsea and Michelle are helping with a remodel of a house that will become a home for single moms. There is some controversy about the use of this property, but that isn't the biggest issue. As the house is being worked on, a skeleton is unearthed, temporarily halting work on the home and opening up a decades old cold case.

The twins and their friends, now dubbed the Dinner Detectives, start sneakily investigating possible suspects, making themselves targets of some concerning threats, to the dismay of their friend Kyle, who happens to be a police officer. There are quite a few suspects and I have to say, this story kept me guessing right up to the big reveal. Quite the shock actually. Which is awesome.

Faith is very important in the lives of most of the main characters, and they pray and go to church.  However, there are also community members that are a part of a cult, which brings for some interesting suspicions and interactions. Additionally, legalism is an issue. I love that the importance of grace is discussed. Also, one of the twins is in a relationship that brings up the concern of a believer being involved with an unbeliever, so I am really wanting to see how the authors deal with that in the future. 

This is an awesome faith-filled, small town, cold case, cozy mystery. I love the way the authors brought everything together, except for that one mysterious conundrum. I really want to know what exactly is going on there. So yeah, I can't wait for the next book, which comes out this fall. 

I highly recommend this book and the series. 

I received an e-copy of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Shipwrecked Faith by Danielle Grandinetti Review

 

Shipwrecked Faith is the first book I've read by Danielle Grandinetti, and let's just say, I am now a fan and can't wait to read more of her books. This book is the first in her new Dawning Sisters historical romance series, and it is awesome. I definitely wished I didn't have to put it down, and would have finished it a lot sooner if it wasn't for it being graduation season.

We see this story from multiple points of view, but the main characters are Sadie Dawning and Kellan O'Roark, who meet when Kellan saves Sadie from two dangerous men in Chicago. Sadie is on her way home to her family after receiving a concerning telegram when these men attempt to kidnap her. Kellan is trying to disappear because he turned over incriminating evidence against the cousin who took him in after his parents died. Kellan puts his own dire circumstance in more jeopardy to save Sadie and help smuggle her aboard the ship he secured work on so he could leave Chicago.

We also see Sadie's sister Marjorie's point of view, who I have to say I was not a huge fan of at first because of her complaining attitude toward her sister. I'm happy to say my feelings changed as the story progressed and I got to know her more. Additionally, we get occasional glimpses of Tiernan's point of view. He is the cousin Kellan is running from. Knowing Tiernan's thoughts really does increase the suspense and tension, because the reader knows for sure that there is additional danger on the way.

I love that this story takes place at the very beginning of what comes to be known as the Great Depression and contains other real life events. We see how Black Tuesday is sort of overshadowed by the sinking of the S.S. Wisconsin in the area were this story takes place. The concern is there, but they seem far away while the characters are dealing with their own personal problems. 

Sadie and Kellan and the Dawning family are wonderful characters who I was quite invested in. I was really concerned for Sadie and Kellan's well-being, as well as the family's with all that they were dealing with. But I loved the strong faith that holds them up and encourages them. We are reminded how God is working in all circumstances. And though I am usually not a huge fan of quick romances, I do love Sadie and Kellan's relationship, and how they depend on and encourage each other, even though they only just met. 

This is an awesome beginning to a series and I can't wait to read the second book. I'm hoping we get to see more of Sadie and Kellan and an update on the family. I'm really curious to see who Marjorie ends up with. 

I received an e-copy of this book as a member of the review team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

The Liar's Treasure by Connie Mann Review

 

I was so excited when I learned that there was a second book in the Speranza Team series by Connie Mann. I loved the first book, The Crown Conspiracy, which released a couple of years ago. I had hoped the author was planning more books, and that we would get to see these characters again. I have to say, I loved The Liar's Treasure even more than the first book. 

Like the first book, there was tons of adventure, danger, and suspense, with a smattering of possible romance. We get to see the story through multiple protagonists' and antagonists' points of view. However, there are a couple of people that seem to be the "main" male and female characters who are kind of drawn to each other, just like the first book.

Camille and Lucien have known each other for years, but they don't really run in the same circles, and they don't get along. Camille isn't sure if she can trust him or not, both because of past and current circumstances. More of their past relationship is revealed as the story progresses. 

I love that this book begins in the prologue with pirates and the entire story is a hunt to find treasure connected to an object that was discovered by said pirates. I was intrigued that there was a centuries old belief that this treasure could cause almost instantaneous death if the finder wasn't pure of heart. I loved that the author linked it to the story of Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts in the New Testament. This was an action-packed race against time to find multiple parts of a treasure before the bad guys could get their hands on it. And the suspense ramps up after a couple of the characters are kidnapped. 

There is danger coming from multiple, unknown villains. Characters are being murdered and threatened. There are clues to discover and follow. Bad guys to avoid and defend against. And through all this we see the strength of the ladies on the Speranza Team. Let me tell you, these are no damsels in distress. Each of the ladies on the team brings her own expertise and talents and helps where needed. 

I appreciated that this book seemed to show the characters' faith in God more clearly than the first book. And there was no mention of the main good guys cussing, which one of the things I took issues with in the first book. No, the first book didn't have foul language in it, don't misunderstand me. I'm fine with Christian authors stating that characters cussed without using the actual words. What bothered me in the first book was it mentioning that the good guys, who I assumed were Christian, were cussing. So, yes, I was glad to not see that in this second book.

I loved seeing the characters praying to God and putting their trust in him. I loved two of the quotes that the characters used to press on:

The reminder that "Faith is easy when you're standing on familiar ground" and "We have to put feet to our faith."

If you love fast paced, un-put-downable books with tons of adventure and danger and treasure hunting and mystery and faith, you will want to read this book. And though both books can stand alone, I'd recommend reading book one first so you can get to know the ladies in the Speranza Team.

I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Blueprint for Love by Penny Zeller Review

 

Blueprint for Love by Penny Zeller is the third book in the Small Town Shenanigans series. And it might just be my favorite. I loved being able to revisit the small town of Cloverdale Falls and meet up with old friends while getting to know Jeanette and Cameron.

Jeanette, our FMC, is an interior designer who is in town to turn the attic of the bed and breakfast into a suite. She had fallen in love with the town when she had visited in the past. She is looking forward to the challenge of this job and excited for the step up it could give her in her career. However, she was not expecting to go head-to-head with the contractor, our MMC. They get off on the wrong foot when she first arrives in town, and things just get more tense from there. Her vision of how to renovate the attic keeps clashing with his ideas. They resort to betting on whose ideas will be preferred by the owner and then the winner choosing something the loser has to do. 

There are some hilarious consequences and some heartwarming moments as the pair realizes they may just not be completely annoyed with each other. Perhaps there are some feelings developing. Which isn't the greatest idea, seeing as she will be headed back to Florida after the jobs are complete. How will this relationship be able to develop? I really wanted to know how the author was going to make this work. I mean, it is a romance after all.

I loved the way that God was working in their lives as they leaned on him with their concerns. Jeanette with her career and Cameron is struggling because of the health of his father and the way it is impacting his family.  Prayer is an important part of their lives, not just in these circumstances, but you could tell they have a strong relationship with their Lord. I loved seeing a strong church family that came to the aid of those in need, in multiple circumstances.

And yes, I was thrilled to get to see Maeve and Beulah again, along with the newest member of the CFI (Cloverdale Falls Investigations), Nyla. In the midst of the home renovations, there are also small mysteries to solve, and our main characters may end up getting roped into things they would have preferred not to be doing. 

And oh my goodness, I just loved the way animals were included in this story. Especially Francesca, Jeanette's doggie, and Henrietta the chicken. Some fun and hilarious moments ensued.

If you are a fan of rivals to more rom-coms set in small communities, you will want to check out this book. In fact, you'll want to read the entire series. And yes, you will want to read them in order to avoid relationship spoilers as the main characters from the first two books are a part of the story.

I received an e-copy of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Silent Menace by Angela Carlisle Review

 

Silent Menace is another awesome, un-put-downable, Christian romantic suspense book from Angela Carlisle. I've loved all the books in this series. As with the other two, there is on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense, along with awesome twists, sweet romance, and lives being lived out for the Lord. 

As I like to do, I will warn you, if you are like me and don't like relationship spoilers, make sure to read the first two books before starting this book. And also, there will be some mentions in my review that could be spoilerish for the first two books, so you may want to wait to read my review until after you read those books.

You've been warned.

I loved revisiting the small town of Kincaid and getting reacquainted with old friends. Both of the main characters in this book were introduced previously. I admit I didn't realize that I'd met the MMC before, seeing as it has been a while since I read book one, Secondary Target. Let's just say, I was glad to meet up with Peter again and get to know him better. Plus we had met the FMC, Hailey, previously and she is related to some of the other characters. 

Poor Hailey has been dealing with a lot since her husband died, leaving her a single mother trying to make a living as a CPA in a town that she feels doesn't trust her or want her around anymore because of her husband's illegal dealings. She meets Peter, who is working as a security guard in the building where she works, after her car is vandalized and she goes to him for help. What neither of them realize is the connection that each of them have to people the other knows. Which I thought was sort of cool, and couldn't wait for the realization to hit.

Hailey ends up in charge of an important company's finances after the previous CPA passes away. She doesn't realize this prestigious account is going to cause her so much trouble. The danger gets more and more intense as the story progresses, making it clear to both Hailey and Peter that her life is in danger. And Hailey doesn't just have herself to worry about as she also fears that her daughter Jenna will end up in the line of fire. 

Will they be able to figure out exactly who has her in the crosshairs before it is too late? Will they realize why someone (or is it multiple "someones") is after her?

As the reader we have a bit of knowledge right from the prologue, though it isn't quite clear who exactly is attacking her because there are other suspects and I definitely had some suspicions about a certain co-worker. I will admit, when the truth came out, it wasn't quite what I was expecting. 

I absolutely loved getting caught up with Corina and Bryce, and Allye and Eric. Getting to see how there lives are going. I loved that they were a part of the story as opposed to just having a small mention. 

And I loved seeing the characters leaning on the Lord and being in prayer and seeking His will. Loved seeing them work through what they are dealing with with His help.

So, yes, I absolutely LOVED this story and highly recommend it. While the story itself is standalone as is each of the other books, and there are no cliffhangers or anything, knowing what happened in each of the previous books really does help you understand what is happening in this book and makes things more meaningful. 

I received an ARC of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

On the Fence About You by Emily Conrad Review

 

On the Fence About You by Emily Conrad is a great start to her Chimney Creek Romance series. We are introduced to Hale and Morgan when Hale's dog invades Morgan's yard by jumping the fence and getting tangled up on her grill. Hale had just moved in to town and we discover that he is looking for a place to find peace. Yet from the get-go he gets antagonism. Not only is Morgan judgmental of his ability to care for his dog Dax, Hale realizes that she doesn't recognize him, even though he realizes that she is his childhood best friend. 

I love that the book is centered around these two old friends who are now sort of enemies. I also love that they are both vets. Hale is a veteran and Morgan is a veterinarian. The main thing they have in common is that they both care about the future of the animal shelter. A future that is up in the air due to a lack of finances. Even though this is something that unites them, it also brings about more tension because Morgan doesn't like having her plans changed. Let me tell you, I could relate to Morgan in that. I loved seeing their relationship evolve as they worked together for a common goal. But they do have a lot they need to work through. 

I love how the town rallies in the face of disaster. I'm a huge fan of small towns and how close-knit they can be. Though we do also see the downfalls of small towns when we see how easy it is for one person to turn so many against another person. 

Faith is an important part of these characters' lives and we see them learn to rely on God and realize that their own understanding isn't something they should be leaning on. Psalm 23 plays an integral role as well. 

I also have to say that I absolutely loved the animal characters in this book. There are some hijinks and some serious scenes and I loved seeing Hale work with a dog that appeared to have been abused.  

I admit that there were a couple of things that I was hoping to see happen that didn't, but that didn't change how I feel about the book. And I have to say, that epilogue was perfection. 

I can't wait for more of this series. And now I have a bunch of the author's previous books to go read, especially because I learned that their was a cameo by a character from an earlier book. So, I have to go see if I can figure out who it was and learn that person's story. 

I highly recommend this book. 

I received an e-copy of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Rebuilder by Megan Schaulis Review

 

Rebuilder is another awesome book in the Susa Chronicles series by Megan Schaulis. I was so excited when I learned this book was going to be released, because I thought the Susa Chronicles had ended and I had wanted to continue in this world so bad. This sequel focuses on Hatch, the heartbroken (plus body and spirit broken) friend of Novalise from the original duology. If you haven't read Protector and Proclaimer you'll want to make sure to do that, but know that there will be some spoilers to those books in my review.

You've been warned.

Hatch was in love with Novalise, the woman who was also an Alphanite spy in the palace in Susa. However, he never had a chance to tell her, and she fell in love with King Zadien and became queen. In this sequel, Hatch is barely holding himself together. He is honored with the position of governor of the island of Evania which he gladly accepts so he can distance himself from Novalise and Zadien. 

However, when he arrives, he discovers that the island is in danger of sinking and there is an enemy that is threatening them. 

Myah is the former governor's daughter and is not at all pleased that a mainlander, one who comes from the king of Susa, has come to take on the role of governor. 

There is a lot that needs to be figured out to save this island paradise, and Hatch and Myah need to learn to work together, but more importantly they need to learn to trust in God, or Alpha as He is called in this series. 

I loved this island setting and being able to get a small update of the lives of Novalise and Zadien. However, this book focuses on Hatch and Myah and the people on the island. I loved seeing even more of the future-y tech that is present in this future, dystopian version of our world. 

Faith is such an important part of this series. From the original duology where the characters had to hide their true allegiance while still relying on God, to this book where they are free to live out their lives as Alphanites. Here we see characters needing God's help to work through their pain and learn to trust him with their whole heart, abiding in him, relying on Him, even beyond their own understanding. I loved seeing their faith grow as they humbled themselves. Learning to go forward in faith a step at a time. Especially because what I was reading went along so well with the two Bible studies I am reading. Sure seemed like God's timing for me to be reading this book.

I highly recommend this book. Just make sure to read Protector and Proclaimer first.

I received an e-copy of this book as a member of the review team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

The Escape Game by Gina Holder Review

 

The Escape Game by Gina Holder was an awesome, twisty, suspense story. This is the second book in The Game Masters series, but it can 100% be read as a stand alone. And you know I am very picky about making sure to not read series out of order, or even different series by the same author out of order that may connect somehow. So, yes, this is a series. The first book was The Puzzle Within, which was an awesome suspense book too. However, the only connections (that I was able to find) were that the books both focus on puzzle solving and mind games, plus faith and Christianity are important to the storyline. So, you are completely safe to read them out of order, but I do highly recommend the first book too.

Now, on to my review of The Escape Game. 

Demi is the FMC of this book. She is struggling with changes that are being forced into her life. She's on the cusp of losing her home and her best friend, plus she still has not come to terms with what others insist must have been her father's death twenty years earlier. She will not accept that he abandoned his family or that he is dead. She knows he has to be out there somewhere. 

Liam is the MMC, and he is only in their small town because he is searching for his twin sister who has come up missing after she insisted on time alone, even though they have spent the majority of their life together in missions. First with their parents, and then, after their parents' deaths, by themselves, sharing the gospel in dangerous countries.

Though the majority of the book is seen from these main characters' points of view, we also get to see some from Demi's best friend Maddie's POV and one other that I am not going to disclose.

In the pursuit of trying to figure out what happened to her father, Demi ends up in the Ives Mystery House with Liam. After some harrowing encounters, they realize that this isn't a simple escape room and they are in a race against the clock to solve the puzzles and escape, while also searching for their loved ones, who might just be in this house somewhere. And to make it worse, no one knows where Demi and Liam are.

Can they best the owner of this mystery house full of traps? What twists will they find along the way? Will they find their loved ones, and if so, will it be in time? So much is at stake. At the same time, all our characters have some truths about themselves that they need to admit. The gospel is shared and we see the importance of not just calling oneself a Christian, but truly having given oneself to the Lord and be living a life for Him. We also see the importance of accepting Jesus's forgiveness, and not clinging to the guilt and trying to work things out in our own merit. Plus, the importance of forgiving others. 

This is an awesome book and it gripped me from the first page and I was immersed in this story, needing to know what was going to happen. So many twists and turns. I loved all the different puzzles they needed to solve and the references to such things as ancient mythologies and Edgar Allan Poe. I love that the author does not shy away from making sure the characters know what it means to be a Christian. And yes, I enjoyed seeing the relationship that developed between Demi and Liam. 

I highly recommend this book.

I received an e-copy of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Chancing the Frontiersman's Heart by Andrea Byrd Review

 

Chancing the Frontiersman's Heart is a wonderful historical romance by Andrea Byrd. Set in the late 1700's, when our country was still brand new, this story shares a look at what life might have been like in the wilderness of Kentucky at the end of the War for Independence. The war is just about over, but there are still dangers from British forces and Indians. 

This story focuses on Dawn and Jacob and alternates between their points of view. They had been friends when they were younger, but they had lost track of each other. Dawn was living a life of hardship, treated no better than a slave by her stepfamily due to her disfigurement. She has also been trying to care for her younger stepsister and is traveling out west with the family so she can bring young Mary to her uncle. Someone she hopes will give the precious child the love and care she deserves. 

Jacob is on his way west with his family, his mother and brothers and sister. As much as he loves his family, he wants to be out from under their shadow and forge a life of his own. Meeting up with Dawn after all these years gives him the opportunity to do just that. 

As the story progresses they encounter their fair share of danger, but also we see growth in their relationship and they really start to bond as a family. Which of course can cause complications because they are supposed to be bringing Mary to her uncle. We also get to learn about a real battle and meet a real historical figure. I appreciated how this time was brought to life. And I love how much Dawn loves and knows about nature and is so excited to share what she knows. And faith plays an important part in their lives as Christians. 

I was so glad to learn that their will be more books in this series. I can't wait to read them.  

Shadowed Witness by Angela Carlisle Review

 

Shadowed Witness is the second book in the Secrets of Kincaid series by Angela Carlisle. I absolutely loved this book, just as much as, or more than, the first one. The suspense was great, not ultra intense, but it was definitely there and drew me into the book and held me there. There was danger and quite a bit of mystery. 

The book started out with Allye witnessing a brutal murder and being attacked herself. However, when she comes to, there are those who don't believe her testimony. And she starts to doubt her own memories. It doesn't help that she has been having health issues that make her brain foggy. If it wasn't for the fact that the reader is "along for the ride" when she witnesses said murder and is attacked, I would have been doubting her as well. It helps that there is physical evidence that she was attacked. 

However, then there are other events that did make me wonder how reliable of a narrator she was. She definitely had a hard time convincing the police that she was telling the truth and not losing her mind. And I think she started to doubt herself. She was struggling so hard with some mysterious health issues, and keeping things secret from her friends and family so as to not worry them, that she had no one to lean on. 

At the same time there were drug overdoses leading to deaths in the community that the police were dealing with. Plus a missing teen. Eric Thornton is the over worked, lone detective on all these cases, plus others. He believes Allye's testimony more than the officer who was originally called to the scene. However, even he isn't quite sure what to think when things become almost unbelievable. 

So many questions. How much were all the cases connected and who exactly WAS the killer? And who was the person who was in the shadows when the guy was being murdered? There was one person who seemed to be connected, but the question was, exactly how much? And was the missing teen involved at all? And what exactly was wrong with Allye?

There were some instances of calm and time for a relationship to develop between Allye and Eric, which I loved by the way, but these times were shattered by different kinds of peril. That's one of the things that keeps me on edge. Just WHEN is something going to happen next? 

So, yeah, this book was awesome. I enjoyed getting to know Allye better, as she was Corina's friend in the first book. And we got to get a peek at how life was going for other characters from the first book as well. So, yes, the books connect, but they are stand alone stories. As I tend to say in my reviews, if you don't want relationship spoilers, you will definitely want to read the books in order. 

And yes, faith and the importance of forgiveness are central to the story as well. 

I can't wait to read book three, which is releasing soon!