Another Enjoyable Addition to the Series! 'Firestorm' - Chasing Fire: Montana 4 - by Lisa Phillips & Susan May Warren

About the book:

He thought his life was over…and then she walked back in. Charlie Benning has always been a rescuer—first with the Last Chance County Fire and Rescue team, and now as a firefighter with the Jude County Hotshots. But this summer isn’t about saving lives—it’s about hiding his own terrible secret. A secret he’s keeping from his estranged daughter, Alexis. But fate is about to intervene. Will their secrets destroy their second chance? 

Jayne Price raised her son, Orion, on her own just fine, thank you. And now, she runs Wildlands Academy, a summer camp that teaches kids how to fight forest fires and confront their own teenage angst—kids like Alexis Price, who clearly has a chip on her shoulder about her semi-estranged, firefighter father. And Jayne has her own issues, like not wanting her only son to join the elite smoke jumping corps. It’s enough that he’s risking his life as a hotshot on the Jude County team. Then the wildfire turns its force onto the camp and suddenly the hotshots show up to help her fight it. Only problem…the last person she expects is for her former flame, Charlie Benning—the man she can’t forget—to show up working alongside her son. Rather, his son. Who he doesn’t know exists. And then Charlie discovers the secret she’s been keeping, and he’s torn between anger and the long-simmering love that refuses to die. And Jayne isn’t about to let go of the man she loves a second time. 

But if the blazing wildfire isn't enough, a dangerous and relentless killer is on the prowl in the woods…Now, with the camp cut off from the outside world and the fire closing in, it’s a race against time as Charlie, Jayne, Orion, and a team of courageous smokejumpers join forces to protect the campers against a merciless inferno and a murderer. But the biggest threat of all might be Charlie’s devastating secret that could destroy the happy ending they’ve waited for for so long.

My review:

I've been enjoying this whole series and this one was another winner!  Jayne had a strong faith but also a strong fear about her son going into smokejumping.  She and Charlie both know what it's like to make mistakes and regret them but she tried to live in the present instead of dwelling on the past.  I admired the life she carved out for herself and her determination to get where she was today.  I was a little more frustrated with Charlie as he was so stubborn about a decision he made and was continuing to make.  He was blind to his own worth and importance to people, at least at first.  It was nice to see people from previous books on Charlie's team and catch up with them.  There were some cute romantic moments and I liked the strong sense of community, from Jayne's students to the firefighters.  There was plenty of excitement, too, as a plot that's been ongoing about a killer shared the page with a gigantic fire that threatened the camp and everything else!  I would recommend this book if you like romantic suspense!  

I received this ebook free from the authors.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Wonderfully Written Wartime Compilation! 'Something Borrowed' - by Rachel Scott McDaniel, Allison Pittman & Susie Finkbeiner

 

About the book:

In this brand-new novella collection, three renowned Christian historical fiction authors trace generations of wartime romances through a special wedding dress with love sewn into its seams.

"A Heart in Disguise" by Rachel Scott McDaniel

Clara Westlake loves her job as a seamstress in the US "Camouflage Corps," sewing suits for snipers and contributing to the war effort. But when she overhears a threat against her beloved New York City, the Great War comes too close to home--except no one believes her forewarning. She must recruit Marcus Reeves, a childhood friend searching for his purpose after suffering a devastating war injury. As they search for answers together, they may also uncover a love that lasts.

"A Letter to Eli" by Allison Pittman

Bette and Alice are lifelong friends, trying to make a good life for themselves in New York City while World War II rages. It's never far away from their thoughts--not with Alice's fiance serving at sea, in danger every minute. That's a worry Bette doesn't envy. Then a secret letter reunites her with her soldier ex-boyfriend, now wounded and back in the States. But can the innocent love these two had before the war be rekindled in the face of tragedy?

"A Daffodil in the Dress" by Susie Finkbeiner

Kate Becker and Ike Finch have worked together at his family's bookstore since Kate's husband died in the early days of the Vietnam War. She has her daughter, Eloise, to take care of and bills to pay, and this job was a godsend. A second love is not in the cards, especially not with the world still teetering on the edge of insanity. But when Ike brings little Eloise special flowers one spring day, Kate begins to look at him as more than an employer. Is falling in love again worth the risk?

My review:

This was a well-written trilogy of romances that had such sweet moments but were also balanced out with some serious ones as they dealt with three different wars and their effects on these women and their country.  Each story had such a sense of place and time and I found myself looking up some of the events and songs and details mentioned in each era to picture it better or understand it more.  I love learning while I read so it was fun to have those details to make the stories even richer.  The romances in all three stories were so sweet but there were other wonderful relationships that deserve a mention, such as two best friends and how they supported one another or a mother-daughter relationship where the mother's larger than life personality almost stole the show!  The other family members were also a lot of fun and really added to the story.  There was some intrigue in the first story as Clara and Marcus try to uncover clues to a threat Clara overhears.  There was also some fun banter in the stories and laugh-out-loud moments as well as some that brought tears to my eyes.  Different characters were on different faith journeys, some realizing they needed God's help and couldn't do it all on their own while others prayed for guidance and others received comfort in their grief and hope for tomorrow.  I liked the dress connection though I wished for more of an explanation of how each woman came to own the dress.  This was a very well done trilogy and I highly recommend it!

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

A Suspenseful Read! 'Hunted by a Killer' - by Laurie Winter

 

About the book:

Is she the pursuer…

Or the pursued?

When a body was found at the edge of the bayou, police detective Charlotte Reid knew the serial killer who murdered her sister was back. And if she didn’t stop him, he’d kill again. FBI special agent Austin Walsh insisted Charlotte couldn’t do it on her own. But then the murderer gave Charlotte a deadly challenge—catch him, or she’d be his next victim…

My review:

I really enjoyed this suspenseful read about a serial killer killing again and the detective and FBI agent who would stop at nothing to bring him to justice this time.  I can't imagine feeling like you'd failed your sister after not catching her killer and then being taunted by him when he decides to start up again.  Charlotte was an incredibly strong person and I admired her determination.  Austin, too, was pretty impressive as he focuses on cases like this all of the time and yet felt this case had haunted him since they weren't able to find the killer.  I found the investigation interesting but was surprised at what they had seemed to miss before.  I did like how the story kept me guessing!  I liked the hint at a romantic past between them and the possibility for more, even though they both struggled against it.  They both had a strong faith, too, but had to deal with their questions to God about why evil exists and what they can do to stop it.  I would recommend this book if you like romantic suspense!

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

Into the Starlight - Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing 3 - by Amanda Cabot

 

About the book:

Neither of their lives has turned out the way they planned--and they certainly never planned on each other

After more than a year in Europe, Joanna Vaughn returns to Sweetwater Crossing, her dreams of becoming a concert pianist shattered. As if that wasn't enough, her husband, whom she married after a whirlwind courtship, has died. The only thing sustaining her on the journey back to Texas is the thought of her childhood home. But to Joanna's dismay, the place she once loved no longer feels like home.
 
When personal and professional crises throw his entire future into question, Dr. Burke Finley believes it's time for a change. A quick trip to Sweetwater Crossing with his almost-aunt Della Samuels turns into an extended stay to discover what happened to his uncle and her would-be husband. But the beautiful and musical Joanna makes it more than bearable.
 
As the two join forces to help Della, there is no denying the attraction felt on both sides. But ghosts from the past are coming to call--and threatening to destroy any chance at happily-ever-after.

My review:

This was a sweet story about second chances when life doesn't turn out the way you planned.  Joanna was an inspiring woman, to have gone through so much tragedy and heartbreak and still be standing and persevering through it.  Burke, too, had made what he thought was a fatal mistake in his career and then had his heart broken so leaped at the chance to leave town to escort his almost-aunt.  I liked how they both put other people before themselves, even when they were having such a hard time with grief.  They both wanted to find purpose and they found part of that in their investigation into Burke's uncle, Clive's, disappearance.  I liked the mystery element and their investigation and it ended up getting pretty suspenseful!  They both had a strong faith and I liked the musical element to the story and learning about classical music.  The romance was sweet and this book worked well as a stand-alone even though it's book three.  I would recommend this book if you like historical romance!

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

           The Author

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   Photo by: Val Rothwell Photography

   Amanda Cabot

   Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of After the Shadows and Against the Wind, as well as several historical and contemporary romance series, including Mesquite Springs, Cimarron Creek Trilogy, Texas Crossroads, Texas...

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