Braced For Love

Left with little back in Kansas, Kevin Hunt takes his younger siblings on a journey to Wyoming when he receives news that he's inheriting part of a ranch. The catch is that the ranch is also being given to a half brother he never knew existed. Turns out, Kevin's supposedly dead father led a secret and scandalous life.

But danger seems to track Kevin along the way, and he wonders if his half brother, Wyatt, is behind the attacks. Finally arriving at the ranch, everyone is at each other's throats and the only one willing to stand in between is Winona Hawkins, a nearby schoolmarm.

Despite being a long-time friend to Wyatt, Winona can't help but be drawn to the earnest, kind Kevin--and that puts her in the cross hairs of somebody's dangerous plot. Will they all be able to put aside their differences long enough to keep anyone from getting truly hurt?

 My Rating: 5 Stars

This my new favorite Mary Connealy book. What a fantastic start to her new series! It starts off with a bang(literally!) and it keeps an intriguing story line through out. It has a great cast of characters, lots of Mary's trademark humor and an exciting ending. Do not miss this one! I can not wait for the rest of this series!! It can't come soon enough for me.

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

The Prince Of Spies

 

Luke Delacroix has the reputation of a charming man-about-town in Gilded Age Washington, D.C. In reality, he is secretly carrying out an ambitious agenda in Congress. His current mission is to thwart the reelection of Congressman Clyde Magruder, his only real enemy in the world.

But trouble begins when Luke meets Marianne Magruder, the congressman's only daughter, whose job as a government photographer gives her unprecedented access to sites throughout the city. Luke is captivated by Marianne's quick wit and alluring charm, leading them both into a dangerous gamble to reconcile their feelings for each other with Luke's driving passion for vital reforms in Congress.

Can their newfound love survive a political firestorm, or will three generations of family rivalry drive them apart forever?

My Rating: 4 Stars

What a satisfying conclusion to the Hope and Glory series! Luke has been a character who's story I have been looking forward to for quite awhile and it did not disappoint. I really liked Marianne and thought she was perfect for Luke. The story was interesting and moved really well. I enjoyed the look into the fight to make our food safe. What a battle that was! All in all, a great ending to the Delacroix sibling's series.

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

Shadows Of The White Ciity

The one thing Sylvie Townsend wants most is what she feared she was destined never to have--a family of her own. But taking in Polish immigrant Rose Dabrowski to raise and love quells those fears--until seventeen-year-old Rose goes missing at the World's Fair, and Sylvie's world unravels.

Brushed off by the authorities, Sylvie turns to her boarder, Kristof Bartok, for help. He is Rose's violin instructor and the concertmaster for the Columbian Exposition Orchestra, and his language skills are vital to helping Sylvie navigate the immigrant communities where their search leads.

From the glittering architecture of the fair to the dark houses of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods, they're taken on a search that points to Rose's long-lost family. Is Sylvie willing to let the girl go? And as Kristof and Sylvie grow closer, can she reconcile her craving for control with her yearning to belong?

 

My Rating: 3 Stars

This as an interesting read that's for sure! It's book two in the Windy City Saga but can be read as a standalone as this one takes place 20 years after Veiled In Smoke and has a completely separate storyline. I really liked the character of Kristoff in this story. He was a very likable character and he made the story for me. The mystery was interesting and definitely had a few surprises along the way. The story line was a bit unusual but I liked the book overall, Good read.

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

Shatter The Silence

 

The hidden wounds bleed the worst...

Tia Jordan almost died at the hands of an abusive, cruel husband and carries the scars, both inside and out. She is using those experiences to help other women and children find solace. Right now, her abused women’s shelter is bursting at the seams. When she learns she’s heir to a huge two-story house outside of town, she thanks God for unexpected blessings, until a grandson shows up with another will, threatening to contest hers.

For the past several months, Jason Sloan has kept his nose to the grindstone, watching his mother’s cancer treatments dwindle away his savings. When he learns the inheritance he counted on has been left to Tia and her shelter, he’s torn. With his mother and him having been forced to flee an abusive situation themselves, Tia’s cause hits too close to home. All disagreements take a back seat, though, when he and Tia find themselves working together to fight an unseen foe. But which one of them is the target?

My Rating: 5 Stars

Excellent read! This story was just so so good. It had such a compelling story line and characters, I could NOT put this book down! This is definitely one of Carol's best books. I just loved this story, it pulled me in from the opening chapter and it did not let go once. Fantastic!! I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Abducted in Alaska & Flee The Darkness

Protecting a child…

could cost them their lives.

Saving a boy who has escaped his captors puts Canadian border patrol officer Hannah Morgan right into the path of a ruthless child-smuggling ring. Now with help from police constable Layke Jackson, she must keep the child safe. But can they rescue the other abducted children and bring down the gang…all while protecting a little boy and keeping themselves alive?

From Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

My Rating: 4 Stars

This is one of the most exciting LIS titles I have read in quite awhile. The story line pulled me in right away and I really liked Layke and Hannah and Gabe stole heart completely. The story moved really well and the ending had a few surprises. Fantastic read! I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Where do you run when there's nowhere to hide?

Melissa Langston flees Georgia to escape a relentless stalker, but soon anonymous notes and a menacing figure lurking in the shadows shatter the fragile sense of security she has found in her small Florida hometown. The only one who takes the danger seriously is the cop who broke her heart years ago. She doesn’t want his protection. He let her down at the time when she needed him most, and she doesn’t do second chances.

When Memphis Police Officer Chris Jamison returns to Florida to deal with his father’s sudden death, the last thing he wants is to reconnect with his first love. No way is he ready to jump back into the vicious cycle of trying and failing to meet her expectations. But how can he turn his back on a woman who needs his protection, especially one who still holds such a grip on his heart? 

My Rating: 4 Stars

The Love Inspired version of this story was my first Carol Post book 8 years ago. I became a fan of Carol’s from that first story and that has not changed over the years. I really enjoyed rereading this story. It had been long enough I didn’t remember who the villain was, in fact I had the wrong suspect during the reread! I liked Melissa and Chris and rooting for them to overcome their history. The story is exciting and moved quickly. Carol’s books never disappoint! I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

 

Unknown Threat

 

US Secret Service Special Agent Luke Powell is lucky to be alive. Three of his fellow agents have died in unusual circumstances in the past ten weeks. Luke is devastated by the loss of his friends and colleagues, and his inability to locate the killer feels like a personal failure. He's an expert at shielding others, but now the protectors are in need of protection.

FBI Special Agent Faith Malone is driven to succeed and confident in her ability to solve every case she's assigned. She's been put in charge of the investigation into the unprecedented attacks, and with Luke's life in danger, the stakes have never been higher. But it's hard to know how to fight back when you don't know who the enemy is.

As more agents are targeted, Luke and Faith will have to work together to bring a killer to justice and prevent any more names from joining their fallen brothers and sisters on the Secret Service Wall of Honor.

My Rating: 5 Stars(plus ALL the other stars!!)

Wowza! This book was fantastic! I have read and loved all of Lynn Blackburn's books to date. She is without a doubt my favorite Christian Fiction Suspense author. This book however was to put it simply, incredible. I loved the humor and the banter in the book especially between Luke and Faith. That was probably my favorite element of the book. Faith is awesome especially because she shares my love of Cherry Coke! That was a fun connection for me. And Luke....I think he is going to become a book boyfriend for me! He was definitely swoon worthy, all protective and superheroey. I really liked the rest of the new team in this series too and I look forward to getting to know all of them better in the coming books in the series. The mystery and plot of the book is so so good. It had me guessing and caring about these characters as they worked to solve the case. All in all, I absolutely loved this book and now I am sad because I have to wait months for book # 2 in the series. It can't come soon enough for me!! I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

The Vanishing At Loxby Manor

 Disappearances, strange activities in the night, and secret organizations abound in this mysterious Regency romance.

Haunted by the assault she’s kept hidden over the past four years, Charity Halliwell finally has a chance to return home to the quaint village she left more than five years before and the happy life she wants so badly to reclaim. All she needs is good conversation with her old friend and an opportunity to find a governess position, and she can leave the fear and guilt behind. But the family who agrees to her yearlong visit turns out to be a far cry from the one she thought she knew, particularly when her friend disappears and the one man she made certain would not be at the house is forced to return. How can she possibly heal and claim her independence when day in, day out she must face the only gentleman who ever held a piece of her heart?

Piers Cavanagh was branded a coward when he failed to show up for a duel he arranged. He had his reasons, of course, but disclosing them would hurt far more than continuing life as an outcast. And worse, with the mysterious departure of his sister, the strange nightly occurrences in the ruins of an old abbey, and the uncomfortable whispers of a secret organization, Piers must overcome his aversion to society and work with the last person he ever thought he would get the chance to speak to again—the girl whose heart he had no choice but to break. 

My Rating: 4 Stars

What a captivating story! I very much enjoyed this regency novel with romance and a heathy dose of mystery. Charity and Piers were great characters and the supporting cast left no small pool for suspects. The mystery was great, it kept me turning pages to find out what had happened. This is a great read with mystery, romance, humor and danger made for a quite enjoyable read. 

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