Expired Hope - Last Chance Fire & Rescue 2 - by Lisa Phillips and Megan Besing

 

About the book:

What will it cost him to save her from the flames?

Veteran and therapist Natalie Atkinson is all about facing fears and surviving. After all, she’s been there, done that, and she’s ready for a new future in Last Chance County. Even if it includes helping the incoming Fire Chief confront his own issues to lead his fractured team.

Fire Chief Macon James has finally come home to do the job he’s always longed for, and he doesn’t need a therapist interfering with the running of his crew. More, she’s put them in jeopardy by insisting she “train with them”—a liability that might just get them killed. The way he sees it, she’s just another counsellor, interfering in ways that destroy lives.

When an explosion destroys her car it seems Natalie is a magnet for trouble. Is she the target of a stalker? Macon has no choice but to stick around and find out. But getting close to Natalie means discovering her secrets…and risking the chance she’ll discover his.

But her so-called stalker isn’t giving up. And when his worst fears ignite, with Natalie right in the middle, Macon will have to become the leader the team so desperately needs if they hope to save her life.

The second breathtaking book in the Last Chance Fire and Rescue series!

My review:

I enjoyed this exciting story with a lot going on, from fires to a possible stalker to an explosion and kidnappings!  I liked how we got to know the characters at the fire station through a therapist's eyes as she tried to understand the dynamics between them and with Macon as the new chief.   She and Macon also felt very drawn to each other but both were running in the opposite direction at first.  Natalie really struggled with trying to help everyone, even people who weren't her clients and needed to realize she couldn't save everyone.  Macon had similar struggles as he felt immense guilt for past mistakes.  I enjoyed watching them realize that only God could be all they need while they also let themselves fall in love and imagine a happily ever after.  I enjoyed the action as we saw multiple fires but also some harrowing situations in Natalie's life!  I didn't feel lost with this being book two and not having read the first one.  I would recommend this book!

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

They Just Keep Getting Better! 'Holding On To Hope - Coastal Hearts 7 - by Janet W. Ferguson

 

About the book:

A fun road trip romance to the Grand Tetons!

Always the wedding planner, never the bride.

Hope Rodriguez loves planning weddings. There’s nothing more special than helping a bride become a princess for a day, but she’s not sure that’s her calling in life anymore.
If only she had her own special someone. Her only current prospect leaves her with more questions than answers about where she falls in his list of priorities.
Yet, when a lifelong friend asks her to plan a destination wedding across the country in only two weeks, she’ll have to figure out how to pull off the impossible…alone.

After being burned as a child and deserted by his family, Caleb Donnelly has an intimate relationship with pain. Despite all he’s endured, one ache refuses to leave him—the throbbing in his heart where Hope is concerned.
So when Hope needs help with their friend’s wedding, he can’t stop himself from volunteering to travel two thousand miles to Jackson, Wyoming.
As long as he keeps his feelings in check, he might not ruin their friendship. Because a beautiful woman like Hope could never love a scarred man like him. There’s no way their longtime friendship could ever become more.

When Hope and Caleb’s plans go up in flames, it’s their hearts that might never recover.

Grab your copy of Holding On to Hope...a Southern Contemporary Christian Romance novel from the Coastal Hearts Series.

My review:

This was my favorite story yet in this series!  I didn't want to put it down!  I just loved everything about the plot, from a good friend who's secretly in love to a rushed destination wedding Hope must plan to truly seeing her friend for the first time and realizing what a wonderful godly man he was.  It was great seeing Hope discover what a great guy Caleb was and how he was really there for her during all of this, especially as things kept going wrong.  He had the patience of a saint, was selfless, incredibly wise and really followed the Lord, plus he was cute!  I couldn't really understand why Hope was confused about another guy because there just seemed to be so many red flags with him.  I liked Hope, too, for her compassionate heart and giving nature but I also wondered how she could not have asked the guy she was dating what he thought about God or commitment after several months of dating.  There were some sweet romantic moments in the story but also adventure.  The scenery sounded incredible and almost felt like another character as it was so integral to the book.  I liked seeing other characters from the series show up, though this did work as a stand-alone.  I can't wait for the next one!  I highly recommend this book!

I received a free kindle copy from JustRead Tours.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

 

Wonderful Addition! 'Jonas' - Minnesota Marshalls 2 - by Susan May Warren

 

About the book:

Jonas Marshall is done storm-chasing, plagued with the memory of a terrible accident that paralyzed a fellow chaser, so the last thing he’s going to do is run into more danger. Now, he’s just a simple weatherman deploying dirigibles in an experiment to track weather patterns in Slovenia.

As far from danger as he can get.

But danger comes knocking in the form of hiker in need of rescue, and he can’t deny that her companion—beautiful Sibba Kovac—is a great distraction from the guilt that haunts him…until she paraglides right out of his life.

Probably for the best.

But danger still won’t leave him alone when a storm knocks his dirigibles out of the sky, and he happens upon one that looks tampered with…

It is. And worse, it’s carrying what could be radioactive waste. At least according to EOD expert Sibba…who finds herself face-to-face with the rescuer she can’t forget. But she’s not looking for him—her grandfather is missing, and she’ll stop at nothing to find him.

When her missing grandfather leads to the threat of a dirty bomb, she’s the only one who can stop it. And Jonas is the only man brave enough to run into danger with her. But she doesn’t have room in her heart to love him—not when she lives with death in her periphery. Can the right man, at the right time help her see beyond her fears to a future?

And if they have a chance to save the world, can Jonas let go of the woman he loves?

The thrilling second book in the epic romantic suspense of the Minnesota Marshalls!

My review:

I'm always excited to see a new book by Susan May Warren as she's one of my favorite authors and once again, I am not disappointed!  This story felt a little different to me because while Jonas loves adventure, he's not trained as a SEAL nor does he have a military background like her other recent characters.  However, that makes what he does in this book all the more exciting and slightly crazy as he runs into situations because he's trying to save someone and possibly also the world!  Both he and Sibba have some tragedy and regret in their respective pasts and they're both trying to figure out how to move on.  There's a lot of excitement and some danger plus romance!  I also liked the conversations Jonas and Sibba had about faith as she wasn't sure what she believed anymore but Jonas still had a strong faith in God but was struggling to trust Him.  It was fun to see old friends pop in and the various series intertwine.  You really can't go wrong with one of Susan's books!  I highly recommend it!

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

Another Wonderful Story! 'Under Fire' - Defend and Protect 3 - by Lynn H. Blackburn

 

About the book:

They'll protect the president at any cost--but who will protect their hearts?

USSS Special Agent Zane Thacker has landed his dream assignment protecting the president of the United States. When the president plans a fundraiser at the exclusive estate of a political supporter in Raleigh, Zane is thrilled to be working again with Special Agent Tessa Reed, his best friend--and the woman he desperately wishes could be more.

Though Tessa almost lost everything, she battled her demons and came out on the other side healthy and healed. But when her role as the liaison between the Raleigh office and the president's protective detail wrenches her past back into the present, her greatest failure threatens to come to light.

Zane refuses to let Tessa go through this alone. But can he stand by the woman he loves and protect the president from a mounting threat at the same time?

My review:

This was another wonderful addition to the series!  It was interesting following the agents as they tracked down threats to the president, all while Tessa seemed to be specifically targeted and you never knew when something was going to happen to threaten her life.  Meanwhile, it was cute watching Zane and Tessa flirt with each other and wonder if they would ever tell the other person how they felt!  I loved that they were best friends and loved and respected each other so much.  It was great seeing a healthy relationship where the other person was put first.  The romance was just wonderful.  The banter was a lot of fun and just the whole group of friends, from the guys she worked with to their wives, were amazing.  They listened, they had her back, they were just really there for her through it all.  Even more amazing, the group were Christians so prayed together before going on a call.  Both Tessa and Zane each prayed at different times for strength or wisdom and it was great to see Christians relying on each other and God.  I've really enjoyed all the books in the series and while this works as a stand-alone, you won't want to miss the others.  I highly recommend them all!

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

           The Author

1. 

   Mary Denman

   Lynn H. Blackburn

   Lynn H. Blackburn is the award-winning author of Unknown Threat and Malicious Intent, as well as the Dive Team Investigations series. She believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift...

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Sweeter With You - The Heart of Moreland Manor 2 - by Mary A. Felkins

 

About the book:

A spirited bakery shop owner.

A cupcake-baking pro ball player.

A game-winning play to find love ever after.

SERENITY LEWIS has a serious problem. After several successful years, her trendy French Quarter bakery is failing—no thanks to a national chain that’s luring patrons by way of lower prices and ease of parking. She’ll do anything to keep her bakery alive. Or so she thinks ...

Philanthropic defensive end, OWEN WALKER is one concussion away from a career-ending injury. With headaches that sideline the blue chip player, he just might need to consider life off the gridiron. But working at a bakery during off season? That wasn’t the side hustle he had in mind. But if it’ll help the beautiful girl he knew in college, he’s all in.

Owen’s baking prowess and presence is a PR magnet, but it stirs Serenity’s desire for the only guy she ever considered letting into her heart.

Too bad she can’t give Owen what he wants most. Working alongside Serenity emboldens Owen to consider retirement faster than he can crack an egg in his palm. And accounting records prove the two make a winning team.

But when Serenity reveals her secret, will it send Owen running? Will the uncertain outcome of Owen’s head injuries be a justified reason to reject him first? Or will they huddle together and let love win the day?

My review:

This was a sweet love story, pun intended!  I enjoyed the banter and cupcake-making but felt for Serenity as she tried to protect her heart from a guy who'd already rejected her once and who she didn't want to allow close again.  I loved that Owen was a redeemed rogue, trying to treat women right and also loving to bake and competing for best cupcake against Serenity.  I was frustrated about his stubbornness to keep playing football no matter the cost and also frustrated that Serenity didn't tell him the truth about something incredibly important.  They both had faith in God and were tested in the story to do God's will, even though it hurt.  There was also a good salvation message given.  I did feel the story was a bit slow and a bit wordy.  Overall, the romance was great and there was a good message!  I'd recommend it.

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

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Daughter of Eden - by Jill Eileen Smith

 

About the book:

When the greatest joys she has ever known are stripped away, the first woman must find the courage to face an unknown future

The first time she opens her eyes, Eve gazes on one whose beauty nearly blinds her, whose breath is in her lungs. Her Creator takes her hand and gives her to another like her and yet different. Together, she and Adam experience pure joy as they explore Eden. Her favorite moments are when the Creator comes to walk with them, day after day.

Then everything changes.

Through one act of disobedience, Eve finds that her world is no longer a friendly place. With remorse in her heart, she must face the unknown future--the births, the deaths, the sacrifices, the loss of the only home she has ever known. Perhaps worst of all is the loss of trust, not only with her Creator but also with the man who shares her life. How will they ever survive out of Eden?

Bestselling biblical fiction author Jill Eileen Smith imagines the life of the first woman to ever live, unspooling an epic story of love, loss, and the promise of redemption.

My review:

This was an interesting story that really showed the struggle Adam and Eve had after being kicked out of Eden, not only physically with the hard work and trying to figure out how to survive but spiritually now that they didn't walk with God as closely and also now that they were sinning.  They could remember how perfect the garden had been and that seemed to make the whole situation seem worse because of their deep regret.  We see many generations follow and see how the Cain and Abel situation happened, the Nephilim and Enoch all while some of their children followed God and others rebelled.  We see Adam and Eve's inner thoughts and struggles as they sometimes argued with each other and didn't treat each other how they should or struggled to raise their children right.  Adam, especially, struggled with forgiveness.  While this is fiction overall, they were human like us and I'm sure struggled with many or all of these emotions at different times just like we do.  I felt Ms. Smith portrayed what they could have felt very fittingly.  I especially liked the glimpses into Heaven where we see God's sorrow over sin and His love for His people.  Seeing the angels and the supernatural realm were very cool.  I'd recommend this book if you like Biblical fiction.

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

           The Author

1. 

   © J. Lynn Perry Photography

   Jill Eileen Smith

   Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the biblical fiction series The Wives of King David, Wives of the Patriarchs, and Daughters of the Promised Land, as well as The Heart of a King, Star of Persia: Esther's...

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