Enjoyable Debut! 'High Exposure' - Jagged Edges 1 - by Kelly Borjas

 

About the book:

The riveting start to an adventure-driven romantic suspense series from a debut author

Determined travel blogger Julia Stevens is on her final assignment in snowy Silverberg, Colorado. She's running from her past-and God-but the charm of small-town life brings little comfort when she's face-to-face with the winter sport that killed her sister, skiing. Upon her arrival in town, she discovers a dead body and is compelled to research the situation, give justice to the man's story, and kick off her new career in journalism.


Cade Haskins is back home after a failed mission and his subsequent retirement from the DEA. His father's declining health has pushed Cade to prioritize family, and he helps at the historic Silverberg Hotel on his dad's behalf. When Julia shows up at the hotel, Cade becomes her local contact. He quickly realizes she has a knack for sniffing around where she shouldn't, and he attaches himself to her side.


With the local death connected to a meth ring, Julia's investigation has unknowingly put a target on her back. As the danger increases and she begins to learn more about Cade and his family, she finds herself trusting the God she was running from. And Cade? He doesn't want to get dragged back into DEA work, but it seems like he may not have a choice if he wants to protect Julia . . . and his growing attraction to her.

My review:

I enjoyed this suspenseful start to a new series by a debut author!  The book starts almost right away with a mysterious death and dangerous incidents keep happening to Julia, ratcheting up the suspense.  I thought she was a little naive to write about the dead man when she didn't know what had happened to him and to keep writing about events; I also thought Cade could have warned her somehow without revealing too much or putting her in more danger but then again, she was trying to be a reporter so that could have made it worse.  She also had a stubborn streak and felt like she could take care of things on her own.  She and Cade had that in common.  While Cade was a strong believer, he struggled with letting go of control and felt like he had to handle everything himself.  Julia had turned away from God after her sister's death and, through talks with Cade and situations they found themselves in, had started to reach out to Him again.  I liked the moments of attraction and banter sprinkled in and that we got to read what they were both thinking.  The small town community felt cozy, especially nestled in the mountains and made me want to visit.  I liked that we got to know Cade's family and I look forward to reading about his sister more in the next book.  I recommend this story if you like romantic suspense!

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

Another Winner! 'Twilight Tactics' - Soldiers in Shadows 1 - by Lynette Eason

 

About the book:

FBI agent Collin "Sully" Sullivan arrives at Broken Chains Ranch with Ollie Callahan--a foster teen and sole witness to a mob hit. The ranch, started by Collin's cousin to provide a trauma recovery facility for veterans, should be a place he can keep Ollie safe until the trial. But what was meant as a peaceful haven becomes a battleground when armed attackers surround the property.

Survival expert Elena Thompson teaches wilderness skills at the ranch and coaches Ollie in self-defense, but soon the series of attacks on the ranch escalates into a full siege. The question is, Who are the attackers after? Ollie, the young witness? Or Elena, with her mysterious past? Cut off from help by tech skills superior to their own, Collin and Elena fight to keep everyone alive as secrets and danger close in.

USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason presents an action-packed start to a new series with twists and turns readers will never see coming.

My review:

This was a great start to a new series by one of my favorite authors!  I loved all of the action but that there was also a bit of a mystery, namely, who's the real target?  It felt like there were two situations escalating, which ratcheted up the tension.  I was surprised to learn about Elena's secrets; I wasn't expecting that.  I liked Sully and his determination to protect Ollie, no matter what, but felt sorry for a past bad experience he blamed himself for.  He prayed and had faith in God but also took too much on himself.  Ollie didn't know if she believed after all she'd been through but Elena had a strong faith.  There were some sweet romantic moments.  I liked the setting of the ranch and that they did horse therapy for vets.  I did question how they didn't figure out something sooner.  I also thought Elena, Sully and Ollie all made dumb decisions at different points.  Overall, I enjoyed it and am looking forward to book two!

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

Great Wrap-up to the Series! 'Fatal Finale' - The Erin Delaney Mysteries 3 - by Nancy Mehl

 

About the book:

When bestselling author Erin Delaney's novel gets picked up for a movie deal, she eagerly awaits her friend Kaely Quinn-Hunter's arrival in Tennessee before they head to California to observe the film's production. However, when Kaely does not arrive at the scheduled time and Erin can't reach her by phone, her concern grows.

A cryptic phone call from Kaely's kidnapper confirms her worst fears--Erin has exactly six days to save her friend's life by solving his twisted clues. The man's message comes with a Contact the police or FBI and Kaely dies. But Erin works for the Sanctuary Police Department and Kaely's husband is with the FBI, putting her in an impossible situation. As Erin races against time, she's forced to crack the kidnapper's chilling puzzle before it's too late.

My review:

This was a great wrap-up to the series and while you could read this as a stand-alone, it's so much richer having read the first two and knowing how far Erin's come and what Kaely and Erin have been through together.  It's also great catching up with Kaely after reading her wonderful trilogy and seeing her story continue through this series.  This was another hard one to put down and I almost read it in one sitting but I had to get to bed!  The book starts off with a bang and the suspense doesn't let up as we see what Kaely goes through and then back to Erin trying to figure out the clues with some help.  The profiling is fascinating as you see them both trying to understand what's going on plus you get the kidnapper's point of view as well, which adds an extra layer of suspense.  The spiritual aspect was really well done for the whole series as Erin isn't a Christian and actually somewhat hostile in the beginning and her and Kaely have some great discussions about faith.  I liked that the gospel was clearly presented and even in this book where Erin is in a much different place, faith was still a very important part as she needs to lean on God to get through the stress and pressure as she races to save Kaely.  There's a hint of romance and also some action.  There were also some great discussion questions for your book club with questions that really make you think.  I highly recommend this book and the whole series and can't wait for her new one, which you get a sneak peak of as well!

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

Enjoyable Suspense! 'When the Silence Breaks' - Mercy Ridge 1 - by Elizabeth Goddard

 

About the book:

When intelligence analyst Sarah Ellison learns of a deathbed confession connected to her brother's murder, she's determined to protect her remaining family. Under further investigation, she discovers the disclosed information points to a decades-old government secret buried deep in the Cascade Mountains. With this knowledge, she heads to the Pacific Northwest looking for a guide who knows the mountains like the back of their hand.

Ryder Goodwin, a wilderness guide and former Navy SEAL, quit guiding for the family business after his father's death in a tragic mountain accident. At first, Ryder refuses to help Sarah, but he sees the trouble chasing her, and he can't stand by while someone brings danger to this small-town mountain community.

Ryder and Sarah gear up to climb the mountain in a race against time and a looming winter storm. With her brother's killer closing in, their search for answers now shifts to a survival mission. Their only chance to make it out involves trusting each other and confronting the truth no one wants them to find.

My review:

This was an enjoyable start to a new series full of plenty of action and suspense and some romance, too!  Ryder was pretty impressive as he seemed to always have a plan and was good at thinking on his feet when the plan suddenly changed.  He was handsome, fit and had survival skills yet was also caring, considerate and optimistic.  He seemed pretty perfect except for some baggage where his dad's death was concerned.  Sarah seemed over her head with what she had gotten herself into.  I would have thought she would have had more skills with her background but maybe I misunderstood what her experience actually was.  She was gorgeous, fit and caring, though, yet with baggage of her own.  There were some twists in the story.  I enjoyed the mystery of what they were trying to find and it's connection to history.  There was some mentions of faith as it seemed like Ryder had a steady faith; Sarah had been struggling with hers.  There was a little bit of romance.  I'm looking forward to the next one.  If you enjoy romantic suspense check it out! 

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

A Delight! 'Bookmarked for Love' - Checking Out Love 3 - by Sarah Monzon

 

About the book:

When children's librarian Martha Aldridge learns about budget cuts that will not only put her out of a job but also shut down the library's children's programs, she's determined to raise the funds needed to save both. The good news is, she knows just who to ask for a large donation on the library's behalf. The bad news? She swore she'd never step foot in his office again. 
  
Julien King has been groomed to one day run his family's publishing empire, and now he must prove he's ready to take the helm by turning around the company's languishing children's imprint. That wouldn't be a problem, except he doesn't know the first thing about children's literature. But when Martha waltzes into his office, he sees an opportunity and makes her an offer she can't refuse. He'll give her the money she needs for the library in exchange for her help in acquiring a best-selling manuscript that will resurrect the dying imprint. The longer they're forced to work together, however, the more they come to realize their jobs may not be the only thing on the line. 

In her charming rom-com style, Sarah Monzon presents a story that will delight fans of bookish-themed reads and forced-proximity romance.

My review:

This was such a delightful story.  I loved that Martha was a plus-size woman who was confident in who she was and that she was just fine without a man.  I also loved her positive attitude, her love of books and her witty comebacks.  It was refreshing that they were a little older and not in their twenties as it seems like so many books focus on young love.   It was fun when books or shows were mentioned, especially some of my favorites or ones I now want to look into.  There was mention of prayer and Julien's grandmother's faith and it seemed to be something they were both leaning into.  Martha also had to decide if she was willing to forgive.  There were also some crazy, funny moments that made me laugh.  I loved how thoughtful Julian tried to be with her and that he was a man of integrity.  He worked too much but was also trying to get his dad to retire so it felt like he didn't have much of a choice.  There were some very sweet romantic moments.  This worked well as a stand-alone and I can't wait to read the first two.  I have the first one already.  I highly recommend it!

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

Wonderful! 'The Light of Stars' - by Jenelle Hovde

 

About the book:

An arranged marriage. A powerful company tainted with corruption. Two souls caught between obligation and a longing to find their true calling in this Regency romance set in both glittering London ballrooms and Calcutta street markets.

When Kitty Grenville’s grandfather announces her engagement to Sebastian Sinclair, she’s appalled. She barely remembers the boy she met once as a child—and now he’s a man tied to the East India Company, the very organization that tore her and her brother from their mother and home in Hyderabad years ago. Unwilling to relinquish her dream of a love match or her passion for astronomy, Kitty is determined to refuse the marriage and find freedom in her own way.

Sebastian Sinclair carries the weight of duty and regret. To atone for past sins, he complies with his grandfather’s orders to return to England, fulfill a long-standing betrothal, and defend the maligned East India Company before Parliament. Though Kitty makes her disinterest clear, Sebastian is drawn to her intellect and spirit.

As Kitty navigates her first London season, her opinion of Sebastian begins to shift—especially when he shields her from scandal. When he’s abruptly called back to India, Kitty stuns everyone by marrying him and going with him, hoping to escape her grandfather’s control—and to find her mother.

But the challenges that await in India are greater than imagined. Together, Kitty and Sebastian must confront the legacy of family and empire—and decide if a marriage born of obligation can grow into a love strong enough to endure.

Sweet historical romance filled with hope, faith, and an arranged marriage dynamic. Perfect for fans of Julie Klassen, Sarah Ladd, or Abigail Wilson. Includes discussion questions for book clubs.

My review:

I really enjoyed this story with a little different take on the Regency period than I've read before.  I loved that India was brought into the equation, not only because the heroine was half Indian, half English, but because her intended grew up in India and he and his family were very involved in the East India Company.  There were rumors and accusations flying around about corruption and Sebastian was determined to get to the bottom of it.  He and Kitty both struggled with feeling like not enough because of how their grandfathers treated them but for different reasons.  Kitty was a firecracker who loved astronomy and her grandfather disapproved of both; she was fun to watch as you never knew what she would say next!  It was also fun to watch her and Sebastian banter.  I did feel like she could be too impulsive at times and brought more problems on herself because of it.  She also struggled with forgiving her grandfather for how she was treated and for past wrongs.  There were some good spiritual conversations and sweet romance.  I appreciated that real people were brought into the story, William Carey and William Wilberforce, one a missionary and the other an abolitionist who was instrumental in getting England to abolish their slave trade.  I liked seeing more of what was going on with the spiritual and social issues of the time.  This is my first book by Jenelle Hovde and it won't be my last!  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.

'The Eyes of River: An Appalachian Novel' - by Cindy K. Sproles

 

About the book:

In the shadowed hollers of the early-twentieth-century Appalachian Mountains, Lizzy Haney is on the run.

She's been falsely accused of murder and is desperate to reunite with her brother, River, whose unforgettable green eyes haunt her. The secret in her past is a stinging wound, but it motivates her toward her freedom.

But nine-year-old River, sent through the United States Post Office to his late mother's friend in Knoxville, never arrived. Lizzy's dream of finding him and starting a new life away from their alcoholic and abusive father is ripped away.

Her hope rekindles as she finds an unexpected confidant to help her dodge the law and save the missing youngin'. As she finds herself trusting Alton, she discovers the truth of the old adage her momma often repeated: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

My review:

This was an interesting, albeit disturbing, story about secrets and lies and some truths you don't want to face.  I liked the mystery aspect as first she's trying to find out what happened to River and then trying to learn the truth about her family.  It got darker than I expected and there was mention of some pretty terrible things so I'd say this was a gritty story.  We do see Lizzy grow and learn to wait and think sometimes instead of just react but she still made some epically dumb decisions.  While she was trying to understand the truth of her family and memories she'd buried long ago, she was also learning she could be loved and could accept help and that maybe God did exist and care after all.  There was action and danger but also introspection and some romance.  Alton had a strong faith and was very logical and level-headed.  I liked that Lizzy had to look past her preconceived notions of who he was.  My favorite people were the husband and wife team of Joe and Jerelene.  They had such love for everyone and put themselves to work helping people in need.  This story ended up not really being what I expected but it was interesting and you might like it if you like gritty historical fiction.

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