The Confession - by Robert Whitlow

About the book:

In Holt Douglas's line of work, there's nothing sweeter than a confession of guilt.

Assistant D.A. Holt Douglas makes his living exposing lies and sending criminals to jail in Ashley County, Georgia. His job is always easier when defendants, instead of remaining silent, blame someone else or try to excuse their actions. With a confession in his hand, Holt knows a guilty plea will soon follow.

But lurking in Holt's past is a dark secret that could end his successful career and possibly his relationship with Angelina, his hoped for fiancé.

When Holt reopens a cold case involving the death of the town's wealthiest businessman-allegedly killed by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest-Holt doesn't believe it was suicide. Instead, he suspects murder.


As he investigates, Holt's own guilt threatens to destroy him and the cause of justice he's sworn to serve. While he knows his own confession could absolve him of his sin, it could cost him his future. Will he survive long enough to uncover the true crime that this small southern town has been hiding?

My review:

I enjoyed this story about Holt's journey as he uncovers the truth about the cold case and about himself. This focused more on his daily work and life and weaved details about the cold case throughout until Holt really started to look into it.  There was also a lot of time spent on Trish Carmichael, a deputy who tracks down deadbeat dads who aren't paying child support.  Her life was a little more interesting, with her determination to see justice for these families and to help Holt with his investigation.  She's still grieving the death of her father and her mother's injury by a drunk driver and torn between the guy she's dating and her interest in Holt.  The characters were realistic and I liked both of them a lot, but I felt frustrated with some choices Trish made later in the book.  Trish's mother was also well done and it was interesting to see how she dealt with being a paraplegic after being very active.  I appreciated seeing someone with a disability figure so prominently in the story, especially someone with such a great attitude.  I really enjoyed seeing the process of Holt coming to faith and the roles Trish and an Apostolic bishop played in that.  The gospel message was laid out clearly, but also unique to Holt's experience as a prosecutor.  I also liked that even though Trish was a Christian, she's shown as flawed and has her own issues to deal with.  Forgiveness, justice and mercy were important themes in the story and I found it to be more of a relaxing read than a suspenseful one.  I would recommend it for fans of legal fiction!

I received this book free from Booklook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Check out the book on the publisher's site: http://www.thomasnelson.com/the-confession

A July Bride - A Year of Weddings Novella - by Beth Wiseman

About the book:

Can she forgive the man who left her at the altar?

Alyssa Pennington dated Brendan Myers for three years before she accepted his proposal. For almost a year, Alyssa's friends and family helped her plan a lovely wedding to take place in the church she'd grown up in. It was the happiest day of her life when she walked down the aisle to be united with the man of her dreams. But when Brendan left her at the altar, Alyssa was consumed by humiliation, embarrassment, and a broken heart that wouldn't allow her to trust anyone. Especially Brendan.

Brendan Myers knows he will spend the rest of his life regretting what he did to Alyssa, the only woman he's ever loved. Without her, his life is empty. In one fateful moment, he'd panicked, destroyed their future, and ruined everything. Now he plans to win her back.


But winning back his bride might prove much more difficult than he can imagine. And even if he does get her to the altar again, will she think turnabout is fair play?

My review:

I found this story interesting and the author did a good job of keeping my interest by not revealing why Brendan left Alyssa at the altar until near the end.  There's also another guy who enters the picture and at first it's unclear which one Alyssa should be with and even when I thought it was clear who she should choose, I still didn't know who she would end up with until it happened.  I felt incredibly sorry for Alyssa, to be stood up in front of the whole town and then have to endure Brendan trying to win her back with huge gestures everyone can see and comment on.  I also felt empathy for Brendan since it seemed like he really loved her and regretted what he did.  Finding out more about his home life growing up, it was understandable why he would be nervous about marriage.

I found the faith element lacking in the story. There's talk of going to church and Alyssa prays for a sign, but there's no depth.  At one point Alyssa prays for some people she found out had died during a storm, so I wondered if she was Catholic, though it's unclear.  There's no mention of going to mass or anything else Catholic related.  I did like her friend Sherry a lot and the wisdom she shared about marriage and forgiveness.  One thing I really couldn't understand is how her brother didn't share some very important information with her about his best friend, the guy she started seeing after Brendan.  I don't care if this guy gave her brother a kidney, which he didn't, he should have told his sister this very important information because it affects the rest of her life and she should be more important to him than his buddy.  I also couldn't believe Brendan didn't tell her or have someone else tell her when he found out.  That was probably the hardest thing for me to get over.  I also didn't like when the decision of who she'll marry isn't really made by her, but by a guy.  Overall, the story was okay and if you like romance, you might like it.

I received a kindle copy free from Booklook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

This is only available as an e-book or audio right now.

Check out the book on Christianbook's site: Christianbook

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Through the Deep Waters - by Kim Vogel Sawyer

This was an interesting story about two lonely people who find each other.  Dinah grew up in a brothel, trying to stay out of the way.  She never really felt loved by anyone and dreams of another life where she's not rejected by everyone.  When men start to notice her, she know she has to leave or end up a prostitute like her mother.  She tries to find a job doing anything else so she can take care of her mother, who is now dying, and to pay her way to another town to become a Harvey Girl, where she can earn the respect she wants as a server in a fancy hotel.  No one will hire her because of her association with the brothel.  In one desperate act, she agrees to do something that will haunt her.

In her interview to be a Harvey Girl, she discovers she's not old enough, but they offer her a job as a chambermaid until she can train as a server.  There she meets Ruthie, a preacher's daughter and her roommate, who tries to befriend her and invites her to church.  She also meets Amos, a handsome chicken farmer with a disability who knows what it's like to not fit in.  She's so used to protecting herself from rejection that she holds herself aloof from everyone, but the kindness in Amos and Ruthie draws her in.  She senses something different about them, but feels too full of shame to attend church.  Will Ruthie and Amos get through to her with Christ's love?  Will she realize she can be free from her past and have hope for her future?

I enjoyed this story overall, but it was pretty slow.  The spiritual message was done very well, with each of the main characters learning an important lesson.  One learns the importance of putting God first, another to trust God no matter what and forgive and the last discovers for the first time how much Jesus loves them and that He won't ever leave.  The salvation scene was especially touching and the gospel message very clear.  The romance was sweet and a little different.  The story was told from three perspectives and both Dinah and Amos were very isolated from others.  I liked seeing their different viewpoints and thoughts.  I really admired Dinah's willingness to tell the truth, even to her own detriment.  All three had wonderful qualities mixed with a few bad ones, which made them very real to life.  I would recommend this book if you like historical fiction with a great spiritual message!

I received this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

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A Bouquet of Love - Weddings by Design 4 - by Janice Thompson

About the book:

She didn't expect to fall in love--but roses aren't the only thing blooming on Galveston Island
Cassia Pappas has found herself in a nearly impossible situation. She wants to spend her time immersed in her new job at a Galveston Island floral shop, arranging blooms and brightening occasions with her lovely creations. But her boisterous Greek family--especially her father--has other ideas. They've all relocated to Galveston to open up a new family restaurant located on the Strand--directly across the street from iconic pizza place Parma John's--and they want Cassia's full participation.

To make matters worse, as Cassia is trying to develop a strong professional relationship with Galveston's premier wedding coordinator, Bella Neeley, her own father is intent on stealing all of the Rossi family's faithful customers. Not exactly the best way to get into this former Rossi's good graces!

Still, at least Alex, that hot delivery guy from the nursery, is always hanging around the flower shop . . .

My review:

This was another enjoyable and zany story in the series, this time about a loud Greek family very similar to the loud Italian Rossi family.  I really liked seeing a unique culture that I don't see stories about too often; this totally reminded me of the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which I love!  The new characters were fun and it was nice to see all of the familiar ones from the previous books and series show up to get to know the Pappas'.  This book works as a stand-alone, but knowing many of the characters from previous books is a plus.  I could relate to Cassia's struggle to decide between doing what she loves and doing what she feels she should.  Her father drove me crazy with his dictator-like ways; I don't know how any of them took it for as long as they did.  I loved the Judy Garland theme and how each chapter title was a film she was in or a song she sang.  I also really loved the fun "You might be Greek if" sayings at the beginning of each chapter!  There was a bit of romance that was sweet, but I wished for more.  Faith has a quiet presence with church attendance and prayer mentioned multiple times and with the main characters talking about their faith, but there weren't any big issues to sort through.  Beware there was a lot of talk of Greek food, especially gyros and baklava, and also pizza, so I am now craving all of the above and am going to go eat gyros in a couple of days!  I recommend this book if you like humorous, slighty crazy stories with some romance!

I received this book free from Revell in exchange for an honest review.

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A Plain Man - by Mary Ellis

About the book:

Bestselling author Mary Ellis offers an engaging new standalone Amish romance about a prodigal seeking to find his way home.

Though Caleb Beachy lived in the Englisch world for some years, he is a Plain man at heart. When he decides to return to the Amish lifestyle, he moves back home and goes to work for his father. Soon these two strong-willed men find themselves at odds. Caleb discovers there’s more to embracing his faith and reconnecting with the community than merely driving a horse and buggy and giving up Levis.

Josie Yoder was just a girl when he left. All grown up now, she gives Caleb hope for the future. She soothes his frayed temper and is determined to remind him that while his faith may have wavered, God never left his side. Caleb is tempted to return Josie’s feelings, but the choices he made while away are a heavy burden on his conscience. Will past mistakes end up destroying their fledgling romance? Or will she be able to break through the wall around his heart?


A Plain Man is more than just a sweet romance centered in Amish beliefs. It’s the ever-fresh story of a wounded heart finding joy, health, and healing in God’s infinite grace.

My review:

I really enjoyed this refreshing Amish story with a strong male point of view.  I haven't often seen stories about Amish people who leave for quite a few years and then return and it was interesting how Caleb had to adjust back to the Amish way of doing things after living as an Englishman for so long.  He had really strayed from the straight and narrow while away, so seeing how all of his baggage affected his choices and relationships was tough.  It's a good reminder that we may be forgiven, but there are always consequences.  The romance was cute and I really liked the banter Caleb and Josie had with each other.  Josie was such a fun, spunky character!  I enjoyed both her and his sister, Sarah's, viewpoints, too.  I thought what Caleb decided to do was unique when he was struggling with all of the sins of his past, but wondered how it could really fit with his Amish faith.  I was pretty frustrated with his father and how stubborn and almost mean he could be when his children disagreed with him, especially since he was the bishop.  Caleb's other sister was a piece of work, too!  I liked most of the characters, though, and would definitely recommend this story to Amish fiction lovers!

I received this book free from Harvest House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

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Review of In Perfect Time by @SarahSundin | Enter to win a Kindle HDX and a set of books!

About the book: Bold, sophisticated, and flirtatious, Army Air Force flight nurse Lt. Kay Jobson collects hearts wherever she flies, leaving men pining in airfields all across Europe. So how can ruggedly handsome C-47 pilot Lt. Roger Cooper be all but immune to her considerable charms? In fact, he seems to do everything he can to avoid her.

Still, as they cross the skies between Italy and southern France, evacuating the wounded and delivering paratroopers and supplies, every beat of their hearts draws them closer to where they don't want to go.

Can they confront the fears and misunderstandings in their pasts?

My review:  This was a very enjoyable, well-written story!  I've been looking forward to it ever since the first book in the series, when we were introduced to Kay and Roger and I could sense they had interesting pasts and would have a wonderful story.  They both had families that rejected them and made them feel unworthy and I liked how they had to fight against those negative words they'd been told all of their lives.  Even though Roger was a Christian, he still struggled to believe God's Word over years of abuse.  This book really showed how important it is to trust the Bible and what God says about us rather than listening to the lies.  It was wonderful to watch Kay's transformation and Roger's part in it, but I also felt for her as she was rejected and tempted to do things her own way.  I did get a little tired of Roger's constantly putting himself down.  The war aspects were a fine addition that added to the story, but didn't take over, and definitely added some excitement! I wished for a little more romance, too.  I would recommend reading all of the books in this series because the characters in each figure prominently in all of the books.  Overall, this was a wonderful story you won't want to miss!

I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

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Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/zt6iH 

About the author: Sarah Sundin is the author of With Every Letter and the Wings of Glory series. In 2011, A Memory Between Us was a finalist in the Inspirational Reader's Choice Awards, and Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist's mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children.

Find Sarah online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Don't miss Sarah Sundin's hot-off-the-press novel, In Perfect Time. Publishers Weekly gives it an enthusiastic thumbs up: “Sundin excels at well-researched historical detail . . . with such accurate depictions of culture and setting that we are fully immersed in the times as well as in the story. The strength of relationships forged in war and the apprehension of God in times of trouble infuse this well-crafted novel with substance and light.”

Sarah is celebrating the release of her book with a fun giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle HDX
• The Wings of the Nightingale Series (With Every Letter, On Distant Shores, and In Perfect Time)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 24th. Winner will be announced August 25th at Sarah's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Sarah's blog on the 25th to see if you won! (Or better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

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In Perfect Time - Wings of the Nightingale 3 - by Sarah Sundin

About the book:

Two hearts are about to learn the rhythm of love
Bold, sophisticated, and coy, Army Air Force flight nurse Lt. Kay Jobson collects hearts wherever she flies, leaving men pining in airfields all across Europe. So how can ruggedly handsome C-47 pilot Lt. Roger Cooper be all but immune to her considerable charms? In fact, he seems to do everything he can to avoid her.

Still, as they cross the skies between Italy and southern France, evacuating the wounded and delivering paratroopers and supplies, every beat of their hearts draws them closer. Can they overcome the fears and misunderstandings of the past in order to take hold of the future?

Sarah Sundin seamlessly weaves together emotion, action, and sweet romance into a tale that transcends time and calls us to believe in the power of love.

My review:

This was a very enjoyable, well-written story.  I've been looking forward to it ever since the first book in the series, when we were introduced to Kay and Roger and I could sense they had interesting pasts and would have a wonderful story.  They both had families that rejected them and made them feel unworthy and I liked how they had to fight against those negative words they'd been told all of their lives.  Even though Roger was a Christian, he still struggled to believe God's Word over years of abuse.  This book really showed how important it is to trust the Bible and what God says about us rather than listening to the lies.  It was wonderful to watch Kay's transformation and Roger's part in it, but I also felt for her as she was rejected and tempted to do things her own way.  I did get a little tired of Roger's constantly putting himself down.  The war aspects were a fine addition that added to the story, but didn't take over, and definitely added some excitement! I wished for a little more romance, too.  I would recommend reading all of the books in this series because the characters in each figure prominently in all of the books.  Overall, this was a wonderful story you won't want to miss!

I received this book free from Revell in exchange for an honest review.

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A Match of Wits - Ladies of Distinction 4 - by Jen Turano

About the book:

After his departure from New York two years ago to meet up with his almost-fiancée, Zayne Beckett is the last person Agatha Watson wanted to stumble upon in her travels as a reporter with the New York Tribune. Quite pathetically bedraggled, he clearly needs to be taken in hand and sent back East to his family. Although she no longer has feelings for him, Agatha realizes, by hook or by crook, she'll have to be the one to get the obstinate man home.

Zayne has no desire to be taken anywhere and is prepared to drag his heels all the way home... until he finds himself slipping back into the familiar banter of his former friendship with Agatha. Once they arrive in New York, Zayne realizes Agatha's determined nose for news has earned her a few enemies, and he hopes to repay her help with some help of his own. When she rebuffs all his attempts to prove himself a knight in shining armor, the lengths to which they'll go to win this battle of wills lead to some memorable antics.

Everyone else may think them a match, but nothing could be further from the truth--until Agatha finds herself in real trouble. Have these two stubborn, too-smart-for-their-own-good people been meant for each other all along?

My review:

What a crazy, amusing story!  I enjoyed independent Agatha, who always seemed to have an answer for everything, and obtuse Zayne, who didn't really understand women all that well.  I also liked Agatha's companion and bodyguard, along with the other interesting characters who made up her world, including one pig who can spell!  It's one adventure after another as Agatha bounces from one bad situation to the next.  While I found the story and banter amusing, sometimes it felt a little too crazy.  I like a little more relaxation in the novels I read.  There's a little bit of a spiritual message, with Zayne feeling bitter about an accident he'd had that he thought ruined his life, but he realized he was mistaken.  That seemed to get resolved too easily.  There's also a hint of romance and I wished for more.  Many characters were in Turano's other three novels and some events are mentioned that occurred in previous books, though you can read it on its own.  If you like amusing historical fiction, you should check it out!

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

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