Fun Romantic Adventure! 'The Hidden Key of Brooke Sumner' - Treasures of Halstead Manor 3 - by Susan L. Tuttle

 

About the book:

Will the key unlock more than a vault filled with treasure?

Brooke Sumner has been carefully avoiding Storm Whitlock ever since he betrayed her trust. When he joins Caspar's mysterious treasure-hunting group, she steps away to focus on her antique shop and keep herself busy.

Then Caspar invites her back for one final assignment, and Brooke is torn. Returning to Halstead Manor to help the team find the second half of a key is intriguing. It also means she'd be working with Storm. But she doesn't trust his motives, so she reluctantly rejoins to keep him in check.

As they dive into their expedition, Brooke finds her heart softening toward those she'd once held at arm's length. And is it possible she misunderstood Storm's betrayal of their friendship?

My review:

This was such a fun, romantic adventure story but it also had depth to it and a great message.  I was a little worried that I might feel lost, seeing as this is book three, but other than a few references to the past, it worked well as a stand-alone.  The treasure hunt aspect was fun, especially as they tried to decipher clues to figure out their next step.  There was also plenty of romantic tension as Storm and Brooke used to be best friends who secretly loved each other and now they're enemies, at least from her point of view.  You quickly find out something's up with Storm as he's trying to protect Brooke and maybe his betrayal isn't quite what it seems.  I loved the songs they would send back and forth as messages they were trying to convey, whether silly or serious.  I knew most but had to look up a couple to see what they were and it was fun to have a soundtrack for the book.  I also liked the references to different artwork and also looked up a couple to find out if what they were saying was true about it in real life and it was!  I liked the exciting action but also felt that the deep conversations were well done as both Gertie and Storm, especially, had a lot of wisdom for Brooke if she'd hear it on an emotional and spiritual level.  They had strong faith and Brooke struggled with her identity and worth as she felt abandoned over and over in foster care.  Gertie also pointed out that you need to go by the truth of who God is, not feelings which aren't always reliable.  One thing I still don't understand is why Storm couldn't tell Brooke the whole story sooner and instead had to let her feel betrayed for over a year.  There were some twists, one which I figured out but a bigger one I didn't see coming!  I'm looking forward to reading the first two and I highly recommend this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  I wasn't compensated for my review.  All opinions are my own.

Action-Packed Teen Read! 'Where Your Treasure Is' - by M. Liz Boyle

 

About the book:

Most people assume I’m reckless and have an adrenaline addict’s death wish. That’s not exactly how I see it.

Eighteen-year-old Ruby has grown up in her twin brothers’ shadow. The whole treasure diving community applauds her brothers and abuelo for finding a famous sunken Spanish galleon. Ruby and her best friend and diving buddy Tanner spent hours searching for another galleon with a massive treasure, Dos Hermanos.

Until Tanner died.

Ruby hasn’t searched for Dos Hermanos since Tanner’s tragic death, but when the family’s nemesis Marco tries to convince Ruby to tell him what she knows about where Dos Hermanos might lie, the race is on. Ruby’s competition has too much gall and not enough conscience, but she is ready to fight for the treasure.

When Marco abducts her brothers and abuelo, Ruby is determined to search on her own and beat Marco at his own game.

But the real question is, will Ruby find the sunken treasure or lose her soul?

My review:

I enjoyed this action-packed story about a pretty strong-willed girl who was sometimes frustrating but very brave.  I couldn't believe how stubborn she could be sometimes and I was amazed at some of her choices; she definitely kept you on your toes!  She obviously cared deeply about her family but there was some hurt from feeling abandoned after her boyfriend, Tanner, died.  She also put her dream on hold to find a certain shipwreck and had a hard time letting go of that.  She learned to depend on God more throughout the story and pray and knew she needed to do that in good times, too, not just in hard times.  The story dealt with grief, danger, priorities and purpose and made you think but was also entertaining because you didn't know what Ruby was going to do next.  Sometimes she could be very smart but was also impulsive so it was a wild ride!  I would recommend this if you like action or young adult stories!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  I was not compensated for my review.  All opinions are my own.

Another Winner! 'Claire Holloway is Winging it' - by Angela Ruth Strong

 

About the book:

A romance in the skies from an award-winning author and flight attendant

After Claire Holloway's dream of becoming a ballerina plummets, she's left with her boyfriend as her only support . . . until she decides to become a flight attendant for the free travel. Based out of state, she moves into a crash pad with a gaggle of other flight attendants, and her fear of losing Wyatt seems to become a reality.

First Officer Nathan Stuart—a bit cynical since he and his fiancée broke up—meets a somewhat frazzled Claire on her very first day in the Seattle airport. When they end up on the same crew, he takes her under his wing, and they quickly bond.

When Claire's once-supportive boyfriend's attitude sours into resentment, she's left wondering whether her newfound joy is the right way to go. Pulled between two men and her new career, Claire must learn to listen for God's direction the same way her flight crew follows air traffic control.

In this hilarious rom-com, readers will lift off into the turbulent skies of romantic adventures as Claire navigates God's plan for her life.

My review:

Angela Ruth Strong has done it again!  This was humorous and romantic; I enjoyed every minute of this young woman's journey to find a new career after her dream dies but on the way finds her faith and her purpose.  Claire was such a delight and I loved her quirkiness and the predicaments she found herself in sometimes; the friendship between her and Nathan was so cute.  I liked seeing Claire growing throughout the story as she tried to master this new career while mourning her old one.  It was fun to see behind the curtain, so to speak, of what being a flight attendant is really like.  She had some great spiritual conversations with her friends as she pondered her new-found faith and also came to realize what real love should look like.  I loved that she ultimately didn't find her value and worth in a man but in her Heavenly Father.   Nathan wasn't perfect and struggled with forgiving his ex-fiance but he was a good guy who tried to do the right thing and whose faith was very important to him. Nathan had a great mentor who encouraged him and always had great life and love advice and, along with his wonderful wife and Claire's roommates, really rounded out the story and brought such a wonderful sense of family.  Her roommates were a lot of fun and all so different from each other; Angel, especially, became a really good friend and they had some great conversations.  I can't say enough good things about this book; that's why you should go out and experience it yourselves!  I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  I wasn't compensated for my review.  All opinions are my own.

Enjoyable! 'An Arrival of Hope' - Home to Osceola 3 - by Alena Mentink

 

About the book:

She’s resigned herself to a quiet life. He buried his heart with his wife. Neither expects redemption to come calling.

Rosalind Durmond still harbors a heart made for storybook romance—she just knows such tales aren’t written for her. She thought she’d traded those dreams for duty when she agreed to care for her aging aunt. But when that aunt sets off for the Nebraska plains to right an old wrong, Rosalind finds herself knee-deep in family strife—and face-to-face with a widowed farmer whose quiet strength stirs hopes she thought long out of reach.

Zane Hoffman’s learned the hard way that happy endings exist only in fairy tales. Since his wife’s death, he’s sworn off risking his heart again. Yet when a red-haired woman with a knack for finding trouble crosses his path, his conscience won’t let him walk away.

As secrets from the past turn dangerous, Rosalind and Zane must fight for survival—and for the fragile love awakening between them.

My review:

I really enjoyed this story about a woman who longs for adventure and romance but thinks there's not much chance of either.  I liked going with her on the adventure of a new place, even though she had her hands full watching over her aunt, who seemed to not only be stubborn but have some kind of dementia.  There was also a suspenseful element as her aunt seemed to think the fire that killed her family was intentionally set and was trying to find out more.  That led to some action in the story later on as things came to a head.  There was a little bit of romance and an interesting twist as a selfish, conniving woman who had tried to catch a husband previously and repeatedly in this series finally met her match  I liked seeing her transformation as it was funny but also a faith journey.  I actually haven't read the first two books in the series yet but plan to.  It was also amusing seeing some of the situations Rosalind got into and what she tried to do to get out.  Zane had a more sober outlook as he was still grieving and blaming himself for his wife's death plus needing to be mother and father to his young children.  I liked that she was patient and tried to be a friend without expecting more.  There were also some good spiritual conversations about trust in hard things and praying for guidance.  If you like historical fiction you'll like this one!  I highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book from the author.  I was not compensated for my review.  All opinions are my own.

Very Enjoyable! 'An Appearance of Impropriety' - by Jayna Breigh

 

About the book:

As the youngest female judge in LA, Mahalia Jackson has her career goals carefully aligned. But when her mentor tells her she needs to break her shell of professionalism and show a little heart by volunteering for the Junior Jurors program, her plans begin to falter.


Attorney JD Cash heads up the Junior Jurors program, a project born out of his own troubled past. He leverages his position as an attorney to fulfill God's calling on his life, supporting the orphans and widows of society who have lost beloved husbands and fathers to TransNation's eighteen-wheeled time bombs roaming America's freeways.


Mahalia's rule—never date a lawyer—is a straitjacket that tightens when she presides over the case where JD serves as a young widow's attorney. But when an earthquake leaves JD and Mahalia in a vulnerable position, her resolve begins to waver and she finds herself opening up to the sad-eyed lawyer. But online, anonymous colleagues and adversaries attempt to destroy Mahalia’s reputation and career.


A legal drama threaded with romance, An Appearance of Impropriety will show readers that real love is worth the risk.

My review:

I really enjoyed this story set in the legal world of courtrooms and trials but that also showed who JD and Mahalia really were outside the courtroom.  JD had a very tough childhood and now helps widows and orphans as they fight the corporate giants against them.  He was such a great guy, from fighting for the underdog to mentoring teens so they know they can break the cycle of poverty.  He was an honorable man of faith but felt he needed to focus on his career and helping as many people as he could to make up for not being able to save his mom.  Mahalia was an incredibly strong woman who's excelled in her career but still hears the voices saying she's too dark or sees how she's treated differently even from within her own community.  I appreciated these glimpses into another community and culture from my own.  She had a certain idea of the man she was looking for and JD did not fit that plan.  She also had walked away from her faith and struggled to give control back over to God.  You also throw in the complication of her presiding over one of his cases and seeing each other in court and it seemed like they had some real obstacles.  

It was fun to see them get to know each other even while thinking there's no way this could ever work.  She really came out of her shell in the mentorship program and connecting with the teens and they brought an extra layer of drama.  There were some cryptic text exchanges between different parties throughout the book that lent an air of mystery because you were trying to figure out who was who and what they meant.  She was hoping to get a promotion but there were rumors and allegations swirling around so there was a sense of suspense.  There was some romance but mainly the buildup of attraction as they both felt the pull but were determined not to act on it.  I would definitely recommend this book from a new-to-me author but will be looking for more from her!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Another Winner! 'Echoes of a Silent Song' - Melodies and Memories 1 - by Amanda Wen

 

About the book:

A split-time romance from an award-winning author
When a choral composer and conductor falls victim to creative block, he resorts to his fallback plan of teaching high school choir. Callum Knight's goal at Peterson High is rediscover his muse, extract himself from teaching, and get back to Boston as quickly as possible.

As the long-suffering accompanist at the high school, Peterson-native Blair Emerson has watched the revolving door of choir directors and their negative impact on her choirs over the last few years. She is less than impressed when a disheveled Callum stumbles in on his first day.

But then they discover an unsigned, unfinished, and handwritten choral composition by a clear musical genius. Blair recalls rumors of Iris, a Peterson student from the 1970s who composed music but was found dead during her senior year. Blair and Callum work to determine if the piece is hers, and the truth they uncover shakes both of them to the core.

With rhythm and flair, Amanda Wen takes readers on an unexpected journey into the depths of a small town's history in this riveting first book in the Melodies and Memories duology.

My review:

This was another wonderful story by Amanda Wen!  This was a new world to me, that of choir directors and composers and it was interesting to see.  I especially liked the enemies to more trope as it was amusing to see Blair and Callum not get along at first before they started finding common ground and discovering an attraction to each other.  I love split time stories as we get two stories in one! We got to see what was happening in 1969-70 with a girl named Iris who supposedly committed suicide and Blair and Callum's investigation as they tried to figure out if the composition they discovered was hers and what really happened to her back then.  I really liked the mystery and suspense elements to the story.  I did suspect something early on but there was also a twist so I liked that unpredictability.  The romance was sweet and Blair and Callum were believers, though struggling with their respective faiths.  The story also dealt with the difficult topics of suicide and mental health as Callum's fiance had committed suicide and they believed Iris had as well.  Wen also mentioned in her author's note about a character displaying covert narcissism and I had recognized that in the story; it was difficult to see someone getting manipulated by them  I don't want to reveal any spoilers so won't say who it was.  Overall, while there were some sad and difficult things discussed, they weren't dwelt on and the story felt hopeful, not despairing.  I highly recommend this wonderful book!

I received a complimentary Kindle copy from the author.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own. 

Beautiful and Moving! 'Through Water and Stone' - A National Park Novel - by Karen Barnett

 

About the book:

In 1948, Zion National Park ranger Henry Eriksson and his wife, Alma, are less than one year removed from their infant son's sudden death in a flash flood, and the weight of the loss hasn't diminished with time. When Henry discovers an abandoned baby in a hatbox on his morning rounds, he's unsure how to react, but Alma is delighted, and she reignites with purpose at what seems to be a miracle from God.

Nearly eighty years later, Talia Eriksson leaves her job at an athleisure company in Palo Alto, California, in disgrace and returns to Zion National Park to reconnect with her grandfather and review her life goals. But when an at-home DNA test exposes family secrets, Talia and her newfound friend, law enforcement ranger Blake Mitchell, work together to search for answers.

Talia navigates the rocky path into her past with Blake by her side, what she discovers may alter everything she knew to be true about herself. With the uncertain future looming, Talia must learn that family is deeper than genetics and that trusting God can mean being still and clinging to the Rock.

My review:

This was a beautiful story and I'm not just talking about the plot.  The Zion National Park setting was gorgeous and the descriptions really made me feel like I was there.  It was truly a character of its own.  I loved both of the storylines as my heart broke for what Henry and Alma had endured, losing their child like that.  I can't even imagine the heartbreak.  Then to have this hope and renewed purpose as they find a baby who needs them, only to later be worried that he would be taken away.  They were a couple of strong faith who determined to do the right thing and it was incredibly admirable.  I admired Talia, too, as she stood up for what's right and lost her job because of it.  I admired her drive but she also needed to learn to slow down and listen for what God wanted her to do.  It was fun going along with her on her hikes as she rediscovered the park and got to know Blake.  I especially find genealogy fascinating so I loved when she got her results and started digging into that.  Blake was a man of faith who was a little scared of commitment because of his messy family and also trying to deal with some residual effects after being deployed.  He had that war experience in common with Henry.  There were some sweet romantic moments and some action.  I didn't want to put it down!  I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  I was not compensated for reviewing this book.  All opinions are my own.