Deadly Commitment - Deadly Secrets 1 - by Kathy Harris

About the book:

When Danielle Kemp walks out of her downtown Nashville condominium, she gets the eerie feeling someone is watching her. As days go by, she becomes convinced the homeless man outside her building is stalking her. But after learning the real identity of the intimidating stranger, she faces something even more threatening--the truth about her fiancé. Deadly Secrets is a new fiction series with southern charm and big-city twists. Set in the author's hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, it is filled not only with intrigue and suspense but subtle glimpses into how God is at work in the lives of ordinary people doing ordinary jobs . . . or maybe they aren't so ordinary after all.

My review:

This was a suspenseful story with some unexpected exciting moments! I had a hard time connecting with Danielle as she was dating a guy she couldn't seem to make up her mind about.  One minute she was going to break up with him, the next she's making a lifelong commitment.  There were so many red flags about him, yet she kept making excuses.  She didn't really know if he was a believer but then she seemed like she'd strayed far from her faith, too.  I did enjoy seeing her making her way back with the help of her best friend, Jaycee, who I really liked.  She was a strong Christian and spunky.  Both Danielle and Caleb had baggage they were dealing with, which affected their relationships.  Caleb, especially, had a hard time forgiving himself for something terrible he'd allowed to happen years ago and couldn't quite believe God would forgive him.  I also felt like Danielle made some dumb decisions about her safety.  There was a little bit of romance.  If you like suspense, you might want to check it out!

I received this ebook from JustRead Tours.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Non-Stop Thrill Ride! 'A Cross to Kill' - Shepherd Suspense Novel 1 - by Andrew Huff

About the book:

A gripping debut thriller pits a man of God against terrorists—and his own deadly past 

John Cross is a small-town pastor, bent on leading his flock to follow God's calling. He's not the sort of man one would expect to have a checkered past.

But the truth is that the man behind the pulpit preaching to his sheep was once a wolf—an assassin for the CIA. When John decided to follow Christ, he put that work behind him, determined to pay penance for all the lives he took. He vowed never to kill again.

Now someone wants the peaceful pastor to pay for his sins with his own life. And when a terrorist out for revenge walks into the church, John's secrets are laid bare. Confronted with his past, he must face his demons and discover whether a man can truly change. Can he keep his vow—even when the people he loves are in mortal danger? Will his congregation and the brave woman he's learning to care for be caught in the cross fire? In the end, his death may be the only sacrifice he has left to offer . . .

Andrew Huff's thrilling debut is not only a riveting story of suspense, it's also a deep exploration of the moral quandaries that face those who choose to follow the Prince of Peace in a violent world.

My review:

This story took off like a shot and didn't let up!  I loved all of the action and the fight scenes were incredible!  I could see everything playing like a movie in my head.  I liked both John and Christine as they're strong people, determined to stop the bad guys.  It was fun to see how Christine handled herself in tough situations as she wasn't trained the way John was and didn't have his experience.  I admired how John shared his faith  with others and was committed to not killing again, even when it was hard to keep that vow.  I liked that the gospel message was clear.  There was a hint of romance as John and Christine are drawn to each other but she doesn't share his faith so he's determined to not let it lead anywhere, which I also admired him for.  I would highly recommend this book if you like suspense!

I received this book from Kregel Publications.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

The Horse of My Dreams - Edited by Callie Smith Grant

About the book:

Truly the horse is one of the finest creatures on earth. In it we find embodied all of our own hopes and dreams. Our longing to live noble lives. Our need for companionship. Our desire to do good and helpful work. Our yearning to feel truly free.

With contributions from both well-known and up-and-coming writers, this heartwarming collection of true stories is the perfect way for you to decompress from the day's stresses and remember God's good gift to us in the majestic, calming, inspiring, and even silly horses he created. Here you'll meet a stubborn Shetland pony who teaches her girl the importance of hanging on. You'll see how a young woman learned to trust again after a serious riding accident. You'll fall in love with a stray donkey who finds a home--and a friend. And so much more.

So make yourself a cup of tea, open up this book, and claim a few refreshing moments on a busy day for yourself . . . and the horse of your dreams.

My review:

This collection of true stories made me smile, cry and think about my own fond memories of horses when I went riding on vacation or at my friend's house or even remembering wonderful books I'd read about horses.  Different authors share their stories of how a horse helped them through a tough time, befriended them when they were down or connected them to people they would be friends with for years.  Many learned the power of perseverance while saving for a horse or training one they bought.  Some passed on their love of horses to a sibling or child while others saw a parent pass it on to them.  There were all different ages portrayed here.  Some interesting side bars talked about the history of sidesaddles or why we measure horses in hands.  There were even a couple about Civil War generals and their attachment to their horses.  There's a few references to God and prayer.  I would recommend this book if you love horses!

I received this book from Revell.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Unscripted - by Davis Bunn

About the book:

Line producer Danny Byrd is well known in Hollywood for being someone who gets things done on time and under budget. But when his reputation takes a beating after his partner--and former best friend--makes off with their investors' money, Danny has but one chance to redeem himself and restore his ruined career.

LA lawyer Megan Pierce has sacrificed years of her life proving herself to impossible bosses, only to find herself disgusted at their snobbery and their specious business practices. When an opportunity to actually make a difference comes her way, she knows she has to grab it--even though she's not entirely clear what "it" is.

Danny and Megan are each other's best hope for redemption. What they never could have imagined was that they might also be each other's best hope for love.

My review:

This was an interesting story about second chances and a behind-the-scenes look at how movies are made.  I liked Danny and Megan but felt I didn't get to know them very well.  We're told a little about their pasts and what kind of people they are and I did root for them, especially as the stakes got higher as the story continued.  There wasn't really much to the romance and just a couple of references to God and the Bible.  Most of the story was about discovering a young teen's star quality and helping her channel her grief over the loss of her father into acting while figuring out a plot and writing a story that audiences would resonate with all on a limited budget and time frame!  It got a little stressful and made me wonder how any movie gets made and also made me understand how they can fall apart before they get very far.  If you like seeing behind the curtain, you might like this story.

I received this book from Revell.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

           The Author

1. 

   © Paul Wheeler

   Davis Bunn

   Davis Bunn (www.davisbunn.com) is the award-winning author of numerous national bestsellers with sales totaling more than seven million copies worldwide. His work has been published in twenty languages, and his critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for...
   

   Continue reading about Davis Bunn 

Sweet Amish/Englisch Romance! 'Summer's Promise' - Harvest of Hope 3 - by Barbara Cameron

About the book:

Can she leave everything she knows for love?

Summer Carson has lived near the Amish community in Paradise, Pennsylvania, all her life. Now she's following in her father's footsteps and earning her degree in agricultural science so she can continue his work helping local farmers.

In her job at the county extension office, Summer moves between the Englisch and the Amish worlds. While she sometimes finds herself speaking—and even thinking—in Pennsylvania Deitsch, the transition isn't always easy. But what has come naturally to Summer is her attraction to one of the farmers: Abram Yoder is handsome, steady, and hardworking. He's everything so many of the Englisch men she knows are not. And Summer quickly realizes that she's caught his eye as well.

Can Summer give up the comforts she's always known for a life with this Amish man? And is Abram willing to let her try?

My review:

This was a sweet story about two people from different worlds.  I enjoyed getting to know both of them and seeing their attraction grow.  Summer really had a lot on her plate as she was going to school, working two jobs and worried about her mother's health problems.  It was interesting to try to figure out with them what was going on with her mother.  I admired Summer's strong work ethic and also that she had taken time off to help take care of her dad when he was sick.  She had her priorities in order.  By contrast, Abram had a very peaceful life, able to work at his own pace and his parents were actually on an extended vacation in Florida.  She was struggling some with her faith as she was angry at God for letting her dad get cancer and die while Abram's faith seemed to be strong.  It didn't really seem like she addressed those feelings other than being glad she visited church again.  I liked that Summer and Abram became friends first and got to know each other and that their romance developed slowly from there.  Even though this was book three, it worked fine as a stand-alone.  I had read the first book and it was nice to catch up on the characters from it.  There was a little glossary at the back of Amish words and a few recipes.  I would recommend this book if you like Amish stories!

I received this book from Kregel Publications.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Another Winner! 'Wyatt' - Montana Marshalls 4 - by Susan May Warren

About the book:

He’s lost her twice…he’s not going to lose her again...

NHL Hockey Goalie Wyatt Marshall has everything--fame, money and a thriving career. But he’s hiding the two things that matter most...a career-ending injury, and his broken heart. He’s been in love with Coco Stanley since she walked into his life at age fourteen, a foster child for the Marshall family. She stole his heart years later, when, after a secret tryst, she returned to her home country of Russia. But she won’t let him back into her life—and he can’t figure out why.

She’s harboring a secret that could cost lives...

Coco Stanley is tired of living her life undercover. Or at least, with an assumed name, always pretending to be someone she’s not. And that’s not the only secret she’s harboring. If Wyatt discovers the real reason she left him, it might just destroy him. She’s resigned herself to loving him from afar...

But when he discovers she’s in danger...

Wyatt is horrified when he learns Coco has been shot and left in Russia, her fate unknown. There is nothing—nothing—that will stop him from finding her. So what if he’s not one of his super-heroic brothers, not a Ranger, not a SEAL...Wyatt is a hockey goalie, a special kind of crazy brave. Except, is he brave enough to face the secret Coco is keeping, or will it destroy everything he’s hoped for?

What will it cost them to save her?

What Wyatt and Coco don’t know is that revenge is stalking her and bringing her home just might cost them their long-awaited happy ending.

Continue the breath-taking Montana Marshalls series!

My review:

This was another story that was hard to put down but that's pretty much how I feel about all of Susan May Warren's books!  I've been loving the Montana Marshalls series and this one did not disappoint.  I loved how Wyatt was tough but also more emotional than his brothers.  He felt more alone and separated from his family and always felt like he couldn't live up to his incredible siblings.  He felt like a disappointment to his dad and that colored his perceptions and influenced his choices.  He looked to his status as a great hockey player to make him feel good enough but it was never enough.  He needed to realize that God loved him just because and he couldn't earn it.  He was incredibly brave to go after Coco, both emotionally and physically as she kept running away from him and she was in danger.  The romance was wonderful, of course, and there was some great action, too.  I liked Coco a lot, too, but was a little frustrated with her withholding the truth for so long.  She struggled with feeling unwanted and unloved.  It was great that the Marshall matriarch was more involved in this story and that she was so tough and also wise.  She had some great advice on turning to God.  I also loved that a character popped in from the Christiansen family series.  I can't wait to continue Ruby Jane's story in the next book as she's been through the wringer since the last one and we'll finally see how her and York's story ends!  I really liked how there were multiple stories going on.  I highly recommend this book!

I received this ebook from JustRead Tours.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.