Silent Shadows

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.

With this suspenseful new story, Natalie Walters welcomes you once more to Walton, Georgia, where everyone knows your name--but no one knows your secret.

My Rating: 5 Stars

What a finale! I have read and loved the earlier books in the Harbored Secrets Trilogy, and this one was a perfect ending. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and it kept me guessing. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out who exactly was after Pecca and why. When all was revealed it made for a super interesting conclusion. Another of my favorite aspects of the story was the humor. Natalie weaves that in flawlessly. I loved meeting all the gentlemen at Home For Heroes, the older fellows were a hoot and don't even get me started on Colton. He was quite the hero. If you love great Christian Suspense-don't miss this set! It's truly been fantastic and a favorite set for me.

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Something To Believe In (Katie Parker Productions)

Sometimes the hardest part of loving someone is knowing when to let go.

Katie Parker never dreamed she’d make it to college, but here she is, a freshman, ready to take on cafeteria food, quizzes, and pretending she’s read that ancient novel for English Lit. Already filled with angst over saying goodbye to her family, Katie is so not okay to learn an unexpected housing change lands her in the honors dorm. Especially when one of Katie’s nerdy new roommates decides to major in making Katie’s life completely miserable.

To escape the dorm room drama, Katie needs her boyfriend Tate more than ever. But when he gives all his attention to his fraternity, their relationship begins to quickly unravel. She wonders if they’re going to survive this first year of college. Or if she even wants them to.

As tragedy rocks her family, Katie finds herself drowning in grief and losing her grip on academic life. When ex-boyfriend, Charlie Benson, unexpectedly calls, Katie will cling to an old trusted friendship…that might become something more. Why does Charlie still get her like no one else? As Tate pushes her away, will Katie walk away from college and step back into the arms of the one who got away?

My Rating: 5 Stars

What a fantastic read. Sigh, I am sorry its over. This book had so much heart and humor in it. I have come to expect a certain level of humor in Jenny's books and this one has it in spades. There were times I laughed till my sides hurt(chapters 21 and 28, I am looking at you!) and many more humorous lines I loved as well. I enjoyed Katie's roommates in the story, they made for great secondary characters and I adored having more of Maxine, she is one of my all-time favorite characters, mainly because she is a hoot and a half. The drama of the story tugged at my heart, and made the book HARD to put down. This story was simply wonderful. If you like tons of humor or have read Katie's earlier adventures, then don't miss this one! It's a treasure! I will be purchasing a hard copy for my keeper shelf as soon as possible.

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my honest opinion. However I loved this early copy enough that I purchased my own copy as soon as it released. 

Before I Called You Mine

Lauren Bailey may be a romantic at heart, but after a decade of matchmaking schemes gone wrong, there's only one match she's committed to now--the one that will make her a mother. Lauren is a dedicated first grade teacher in Idaho, and her love for children has led her to the path of international adoption. To satisfy her adoption agency's requirements, she gladly agreed to remain single for the foreseeable future; however, just as her long wait comes to an end, Lauren is blindsided by a complication she never saw coming: Joshua Avery.

Joshua may be a substitute teacher by day, but Lauren finds his passion for creating educational technology as fascinating as his antics in the classroom. Though she does her best to downplay the undeniable connection between them, his relentless pursuit of her heart puts her commitment to stay unattached to the test and causes her once-firm conviction to waver.

With an impossible decision looming, Lauren might very well find herself choosing between the two deepest desires of her heart . . . even if saying yes to one means letting go of the other.


My Rating: 5 Stars
This was my first Nicole Deese read. It WON'T be my last! This book was fantabulous! This story captured my heart from the first page. I loved the way Nicole wove the story threads together. I really felt invested and part of the story. It's a quick, easy read that packs so much into just shy of 350 pages. I cheered and cried with Lauren as I read and I adored Joshua(I will be adding him to my list of book boyfriends!). I was sorry to see the story end. I need more with Lauren, Aria and Joshua. I would be thrilled if Nicole continues their story...I am hoping for that!!

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

The Joy Of Falling

Eva and Angela must learn to live again. One step at a time.

It has been fifteen months since Eva and Angela lost their thrill-seeking husbands in a scuba diving accident. Both women are trying to navigate their way through the grief, but neither one is making much progress. Angela is barely making ends meet, angry at her husband for leaving her to raise three children on her own. Meanwhile, Eva is stuck, unable to move forward after losing the love of her life and her source of inspiration.

But then Eva gets a life-changing phone call. Before Brent and Wes died, they had signed up for a race of a lifetime—an ultra-marathon in beautiful New Zealand. Eva begs Angela to run the race with her in their husbands’ place, and Angela finally agrees, hoping to finally understand her husband's choices.

Training is exhausting, and the race is even more demanding. Their journey grows more complicated by the presence of two men—Marc is Brent’s best friend who is running the race with Eva and Angela, and Simon King is a writer who is covering their inspiring story. With every step, Eva and Angela must ask themselves questions that they haven’t had the courage to ask before. As the women literally put one foot in front of the other, they wonder: Is it possible to find their way forward in hope?



My Rating: 5 Stars
What a beautiful story! Lindsay weaves stories that are full of emotion and heart and this one is chock full of both. I very much enjoyed the premise of the book, and my "trip" to New Zealand. The descriptions in the book made me feel as if I was there, not sitting at my house currently going nowhere. I really felt for Eva and Angela as they struggled with their losses and trying to figure out how to live again after losing their husbands. Lindsay's stories just reach another level that is hard to describe. I quite simply love her books. Can't wait for more of her stories.

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

The Brightest Of Dreams

Quinten Aspinall is determined to fulfill a promise he made to his deceased father to keep his family together. To do so, he must travel to Canada to find his younger siblings, who were sent there as indentured workers while Quinn was away at war. He is also solicited by his employer to look for the man's niece who ran off with a Canadian soldier. If Quinn can bring Julia back, he will receive his own tenant farm, enabling him to provide a home for his ailing mother and siblings.

Julia Holloway's decision to come to Toronto has been met with disaster. When her uncle's employee rescues her from a bad situation, she fears she can never repay Quinn's kindness. So when he asks her to help find his sister, she agrees. Soon after, however, Julia receives some devastating news that changes everything.

Torn between reuniting his family and protecting Julia, will Quinn have to sacrifice his chance at happiness to finally keep his promise? 

My Rating: 5 Stars
This is a fantastic finale to the Canadian Crossings series and my favorite of the set. The story line was so engrossing, it kept me reading to find out what was going to happen to these characters and how they would get their happy ending. Quinten and Julia were very likable characters and I loved seeing Mrs. C again and learning more of her story. Really enjoyed this book!

I received this book from NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Starfish Pier

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.

As these two seemingly incompatible souls search for common ground, might they discover a deeper connection--and find that love can banish darkness and light the way to a future filled with promise?

Bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon invites you back to Hope Harbor--where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.

My Rating: 5 Stars

The Hope Harbor series is truly my favorite series and each time a new book in the series is released, I am reminded why. Irene crafts flawless stories of redemption, mercy and hope in each and every story. Starfish Pier is the latest story to capture my heart within its pages. I loved the character of Holly, she had overcome so much and she was such a sweet person and Steven was a perfect match for her. The secondary stories of Pete and Patrick were a perfect compliment to Holly's story and the redemptive powers of God that took place in each of their situations made for a compelling read. I loved this book, plain and simple. I look forward to many more trips to Hope Harbor, and never have I wished so much for a fictional town to be real!

I received this book courtesy of Baker Publishing Group/Revell through Interviews & Reviews.

The Traitor's Pawn

When FBI agent Jack Shannon arrives in Corpus Christi, Texas, he is focused on one thing: find the man who has been selling encrypted government secrets to the Chinese through online birding chat rooms. But when a senator is shot during a hunting trip and the woman he was with is abducted, Jack agrees to join the search--especially when he discovers that the kidnapping victim is Aubrey Grayson, a woman he was once in love with.

As the search continues, it becomes clear the senator may not have been the intended victim--and Aubrey may be connected to the other case Jack is supposed to be working on. Can Jack untangle the knots before it's too late? And when he learns the truth, will it be too painful to get past?

Join the hunt for the truth--and a traitor--in this tension-laden story of secrets, betrayal, and second chances.

My Rating: 5 Stars

Let me start by saying I devoured this book! It starts off with a bang and the action is nonstop throughout the book. It read quickly and easily and kept me involved until the very end. With all the pieces it was so much fun trying to figure out how they fit and who were the bad guys. The ending was satisfying and I loved the characters. This was an awesome suspense read. Looking forward to reading more of Lisa's books. 

I received this book courtesy of Baker Publishing Group/Revell through Interviews & Reviews.

Dead End

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?

My Rating: 4 Stars
What a fantastic ending to the Kaley Quinn series. I devoured this book in an evening because I couldn't put it down. I stayed up late to finish because I had to know the ending. The mystery in this one that involved Kaley's dad and his crimes which made the mystery super interesting to me. The ending had a couple twists that took me by surprise and made the book that much better. This was truly a great finale to a fantastic set. My hubby and I have both enjoyed reading about Kaley and her adventures. In fact as soon as I finished Dead End, he grabbed it to read. So he is definitely a fan as well. Enjoyable way to spend an evening.

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.