Twilight at Blueberry Barrens

I received a copy of Twilight at Blueberry Barrens by Collen Coble from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Kate has devoted herself to keeping her family's blueberry barrens thriving. But when blossom blight devastates her blueberry fields, she's forced to come up with alternative ways to replace that income. Fixing up the small cottage on her property as a rental seems an obvious choice, but it won't be enough. When Drake Carver drives by with his two nieces in tow, looking not only for a place to rent for the summer but also for a nanny for the girls, it's almost too good to be true.
Drake is a judge whose brother and sister-in-law died in an accident shortly after he received a threat that his family would suffer if he didn't drop a high profile case. Is there a connection? This remote area of Maine seems like the perfect place for him to keep his nieces safe until he determines if they're in danger.
Drake and Kate constantly lock horns; having never been a parent before, he gives his nieces free reign. Kate won't stand for their disrespect and keeps challenging Drake to set a higher standard. Even though Kate has given up on having children because of the chemo she had to take, she finds herself oddly drawn to this improvised family. But Drake begins to fear that he's putting Kate in danger as well.
Meanwhile, Kate learns that her uncle—in prison for murder—has escaped. Add to that a stalker whose sights are set on her, and Kate is looking over her shoulder at every turn.
With danger swirling from multiple directions, it may be a question of who gets to her first.
This was a really good book, but I love all of the Colleen Coble books I've read.  Kate has done everything that she feels is expected of her.  Tending to the Blueberry Barrens her family has owned for years and fixing up the small cottage on the property to rent.  Can she believe in her self enough to follow her dreams?

Restoring Love

I received a copy of Restoring Love by Jennifer Slattery from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Mitch, a contractor and house-flipper, is restoring a beautiful old house in an idyllic Midwestern neighborhood. Angela, a woman filled with regrets and recently transplanted to his area, is anything but idyllic . She's almost his worst nightmare, and she’s also working on restoring something—herself. As he struggles to keep his business afloat and she works to overcome mistakes of her past, these two unlikely friends soon discover they have something unexpected in common—a young mom who is fighting to give her children a better life after her husband's incarceration. While both Mitch and Angela are drawn to help this young mother survive, they also find themselves drawn to each other. Will a lifetime of regrets hold them back or unite them and bring redemption along with true love?

This book took me a little while to get into.  It seemed really negative at first.  I think it was because the book started out with Bianca's story.  She's a single mother trying to keep her family afloat without the help of her husband.  He can't seem to keep himself out of jail and when he is he seems to have trouble following him home.  As we get to find out about Angela we find that she's doing her best to get her life on track.  She's a new believer with the help of her daughter and son-in-law.  Mitch is a contractor working on the house across the street from Angela.  Can they help Bianca and her family while also work on a relationship?

Death of a Pumkin Carver

I received a copy of Death of a Pumpkin Carver by Lee Hollis from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This Halloween, Hayley can't imagine a worse trick than her ex-husband Danny returning to Bar Harbor. Her kids may be happy to see their dad, but Hayley's determined not to be taken in by his charms, and suspects he's in financial trouble—again.
Still, the haunted holiday is about to get a whole lot scarier after Danny's moonshine-making uncle is found lying dead next to a tombstone in a cemetery—and Danny quickly becomes the prime suspect. To prove her ex is innocent, Hayley will have to dig deep into her own bag of tricks to unmask the real culprit . . . before anyone else—including her—ends up in the graveyard...

A good book that kept me guessing until the end.  The added recipes were a nice extra.  Hayley's ex-husband Danny has come back to town un-expectantly.  He's nothing but trouble as far as Hayley's concerned but her kids are very happy to see their dad.  When Danny's uncle is found dead Danny becomes the prime suspect.  Hayley doesn't like her ex but she does know that he's not a killer.  Will they be able to work together to find the murderer before they're next?

A Catered Tea Party

I received a copy of A Catered Tea Party by Isis Crawford from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Everyone in Longely is talking about Blue House, an art complex that will bring the town a theater, an art gallery, and even a restaurant and coffee bar. But they're less than enthusiastic about Ludvoc “Zeb” Zalinsky, the self-made billionaire who's funding the complex—and rubbing everyone the wrong way. Bernie and Libby reluctantly agree to cater the Alice in Wonderland themed tea party he's planned, but it quickly becomes clear that Zeb is madder than the hatter he'll be dressed as . . .
 
 The night of the benefit arrives and Westchester's finest show up in droves, having paid $500 apiece to attend Zeb's meticulously-orchestrated tea party. But just when it seems the production is going according to plan, Zeb lifts an electric tea kettle, clutches his chest, and falls to the floor in fittingly dramatic fashion. The kettle shorted out and his pacemaker malfunctioned—but it doesn't take long for police to decide that this seemingly random accident was actually cold-blooded murder . . .
 
 As Bernie and Libby set out to find the culprit, they realize Zeb might have had more enemies than money. With so many possible culprits to sort through, only one thing is clear: Zeb was poured a steaming cup of revenge—and a second serving may be on the menu…

This was a different book with an English vibe.  Ludvoc Zalinsky is a pain to everyone in town.  He opens Blue House an art complex that will have a theater, art gallery and restaurant.  Twins Bernie and Libby agree to cater the first play in Blue House, Alice in Wonderland, a tea party.  Things go from bad to worse when Zalinsky turns up dead.  The main suspect is the producer of Alice in Wonderland but can Bernie and Libby find the real killer in time?

Fixing Perfect

I received a copy of Fixing Perfect by Theresa M. Travis from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In the community of Avalon on Catalina Island, a psychopath is kidnapping children and perfectly posing and painting the bodies of adult victims to resemble disabled artist, Robin Ingram. Robin struggles with feelings of imperfection, and knowing some madman has a macabre agenda—which includes fixing her—is unsettling. She's relieved when paramedic Sam Albrecht steps up to help. Sam believes he knows the identity of the killer, and he wants nothing more than to prove it in order to keep Robin out of danger. Then Sam is arrested as a suspect for the crimes, and Robin's life is thrown into a fresh whirlwind. She may not know who the real killer is, but she does know Sam is innocent--and she will find the proof to set him free, or she'll die trying.

This was a really good book.  Robin Ingram is disabled but that doesn't stop her from living life to the fullest.  Each Saturday she plays softball with a group of other disabled people from the community of Avalon on Catalina Island.  When a madman starts kidnapping children and posing them to resemble her she and everyone in the community is on edge.  A good friend, and Robin's crush, Sam Albrecht helps in the search of the killer.  When Sam finds one of the children in a building that had already been searched he becomes the prime suspect.  Can Robin help the police find the real killer before it's too late?

Wedding Bell Blues

I received a copy of Wedding Bell Blues by Ruth Moose from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Beth McKenzie, owner of the Dixie Dew Bed and Breakfast, is enjoying an exciting affair with her new love, Scott. Meanwhile, the town of Littleboro, North Carolina is abuzz with gossip about Crazy Reba's upcoming nuptials. Most brides go crazy at some point, but Littleboro's resident homeless lady has had a head start: she's beloved, indulged, and most of all, eccentric. But at almost 60—or thereabouts—her marriage seems a little peculiar. Sure, she's sporting a diamond big enough to choke a horse, but no one can tell if it's real, or just a Cracker Jack prize she pilfered from a yard sale.
Crazy Reba's wedding plans go confirmedly awry when the bride-to-be is arrested for her fiancé's murder. Beth, determined to clear Reba's name, gets in over her head when a lady wrestler who threatened to kill her books a room at the Dixie Dew, and Robert Redford, her neighbor's white rabbit, disappears.
This was a hard book for me to get into.  Beth owns the Dixie Dew a bed and breakfast in Littleboro North Carolina.  The police chief in town sees Beth as always in the wrong place at the wrong time.  There has already been one death in the Dixie Dew and Beth is going to do her best to make sure there aren't any more.  Crazy Reba is the towns resident homeless lady that everyone keeps an eye on.  When she starts talking about getting married to God the women in town do everything to make the day one Reba won't ever forget.  Will there be a wedding in June?

Curious Minds

I received a copy of Curious Minds by Janet Evanovich and Phoef Sutton from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Emerson Knight is introverted, eccentric, and has little to no sense of social etiquette. Good thing he's also brilliant, rich, and (some people might say) handsome, or he'd probably be homeless. Riley Moon has just graduated from Harvard Business and Harvard Law. Her aggressive Texas spitfire attitude has helped her land her dream job as a junior analyst with mega-bank Blane-Grunwald. At least Riley Moon thought it was her dream job, until she is given her first assignment: babysitting Emerson Knight.
 
 What starts off as an inquiry about missing bank funds in the Knight account leads to inquiries about a missing man, missing gold, and a life-and-death race across the country. Through the streets of Washington, D.C., and down into the underground vault of the Federal Reserve in New York City, an evil plan is exposed. A plan so sinister that only a megalomaniac could think it up, and only the unlikely duo of the irrepressibly charming Emerson Knight and the tenacious Riley Moon can stop it.

What a great book!  I hadn't read any of Janet Evanovich's books until now.  I really want to read more of them.  Emerson and Riley are total opposites but that doesn't stop them from working together to get to the bottom of the missing man and gold.  Using Emerson's family money and influence to travel across the country tracking fake gold and doing their best to stay alive.  Riley goes from thinking she's babysitting Emerson to seeing his true talents.  Will it be enough?

The Crepes of Wrath

I received a copy of The Crepes of Wrath by Sarah Fox from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Marley McKinney's aging cousin, Jimmy, is hospitalized with pneumonia, she agrees to help run his pancake house while he recovers. With its rustic interior and syrupy scent, the Flip Side Pancake House is just as she pictured it—and the surly chef is a wizard with crêpes. Marley expects to spend a leisurely week or two in Wildwood Cove, the quaint, coastal community where she used to spend her summers, but then Cousin Jimmy is found murdered, sprawled on the rocks beneath a nearby cliff.
 After she stumbles across evidence of stolen goods in Jimmy's workshop, Marley is determined to find out what's really going on in the not-so-quiet town of Wildwood Cove. With help from her childhood crush and her adopted cat, Flapjack, Marley sinks her teeth into the investigation. But if she's not careful, she's going to get burned by a killer who's only interested in serving up trouble.
A good book that draws you in from the beginning.  Marley has come back to Wildwood Cove to run her cousin's pancake house while he's in the hospital.  She's welcomed into the small community as one of their own.  When her cousin is found dead she and everyone at the pancake house are so shocked.  Will the police be able to find out what happened before something happens to Marley?

Buried Treasures

I received a copy of Buried Treasures by Mary Manenrs from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Caroline flees Chicago following the brutal murder of her husband, the last thing she expects—or wants—is to fall for Matt Carlson, a builder with strong roots in the small town of Mountainview, Tennessee. She needs to focus on raising her six-year-old daughter and protecting both their hearts from ever being shattered again.
 Matt is struggling with issues of his own…guilt over the death of his wife and the responsibility of raising a cynical teenaged nephew who is dropped on his doorstep, abandoned by Matt's alcoholic sister. He doesn't have time to fall in love, yet he can't help being drawn to the woman who is ready to defend her home—and her daughter—with nothing more than a feisty attitude and a broom handle.
Can Matt's help and friendship convince Caroline to trust again…and when Caroline's daughter goes missing, will Matt be able to find the girl before it's too late and he loses everything he loves…again?
A good fast read that pulls you in from the beginning.  Caroline and her daughter, Callie, leave the big city to start over in Mountainview Tennessee.  Her Aunt Nora has left Caroline her house and flees to the country after her husband is murdered.  Nora's neighbor, Matt, has promised to fix up the house before her niece moves in.  When Caroline and Callie arrive a week early Matt meets Caroline welding a broom handle at him.  After the surprise meeting they begin to rely on each other and find ways to move on after great losses.

The Year without a Purchase

I received a copy of The Year without a Purchase by Scott Dannemiller from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Year without a Purchase is the story of one family's quest to stop shopping and start connecting. Scott Dannemiller and his wife, Gabby, are former missionaries who served in Guatemala. Ten years removed from their vow of simple living, they found themselves on a never-ending treadmill of consumption where each purchase created a desire for more and never led to true satisfaction. The difference between needs and wants had grown very fuzzy, and making that distinction clear again would require drastic action: no nonessential purchases for a whole year. No clothes, no books, no new toys for the kids. If they couldn't eat it or use it up within a year (toilet paper and shampoo, for example), they wouldn't buy it.
Filled with humorous wit, curious statistics, and poignant conclusions, the book examines modern America's spending habits and chronicles the highs and lows of dropping out of our consumer culture. As the family bypasses the checkout line to wrestle with the challenges of gift giving, child rearing, and keeping up with the Joneses, they discover important truths about human nature and the secret to finding true joy. The Year without a Purchase offers valuable food for thought for anyone who has ever wanted to reduce stress by shopping less and living more.
I really admire the Dannemiller family.  Scott and Gabby have a great relationship with each other and have an undying faith.  When they were first married they spent a year serving in Guatemala.  After coming back to the states they began to realize they were falling back into the American way of life of getting things because they wanted them more than needed them.  While trying to find a way to get back to their family motto they decide to not buy anything for a year.  They do set a few rules that become challenging as the year goes on.  Scott is funny and is great at laughing at himself.

The Valley of The Dry Bones

I received a copy of The Valley of The Dry Bones by Jery B. Jenkins from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jerry B. Jenkins’ books have sold more than 70 million copies, including the phenomenal Left Behind series, minting him as one of the best-selling novelists of all time. In his latest release, The Valley of the Dry Bones, Jenkins tells a thrilling tale of intrigue.
His futuristic portrayal of a dystopian California is set 17 years into the present drought, earthquakes and wildfires having left the state desolate. The President of the United States declares the state uninhabitable and orders California’s 39 million citizens to relocate. While from the air the state appears abandoned, fewer than 1% of the population refuse to leave – staying at their own risk.
In this inventive page-turner, a clash of cultures, ethnicities, religions, and politics triggers violence, pitting friend against friend with the future of the country at stake. Steeped in bravado, bloodshed, and deep devotion, this can’t-put-it-down thriller leaves readers wanting more.
A good book that really makes you think about our country's future.  In The Valley of The Dry Bones  California is now considered uninhabitable by the President of the United States.  Zeke and his group of hold outs do their best to stay alive, help others and keep their faith.  They've build an underground compound that gives each family a space, a common place to gather and a way to help others. So far they've been able to help other tribes in the state and stay under the radar.  Will they be able to continue when they have a member who's fighting for her life and a member who's betrayed them all?

Framed to Death

I received a copy of Framed to Death by Christina Freeburn from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Eden has turned into a hotspot of crime, and Faith finds herself smack dab in the middle of the flare-up. When a favor for a friend links Faith to the synthetic marijuana problem invading her town, no good deed goes unpunished becomes the title of her life. The town accuses the police of favoritism toward her, putting a strain between Faith and Ted, and a new officer is determined to prove Faith’s guilt.
When the criminal is outed, Faith’s relief is short-lived. A fire takes out the store—along with the suspected dealer—and she’s now number one on an officer’s suspect list. Faith sets out to prove her own innocence, and her digging sparks the truth to life. Instead of the truth setting the town free, Faith finds out it might destroy Eden, the friends she holds dear, and smother out her own life.
A good read.  Faith has become a magnet for trouble.  In Eden there seems to be a synthetic marijuana problem and Faith finds herself right in the middle of it all.  Can she keep herself out of trouble long enough to figure out who's setting all the businesses on fire before her Grandmother's business is next?

Genesis: A Harte's Peak Prequel

I received a copy of Genesis: A Harte's Peak Prequel by Maria Michaels from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What happens when you move three thousand miles away but still can’t outrun the nightmare?

Fleeing from haunting memories, former U.S. Marshal Jack Butler winds up next door to his biggest nightmare: an attractive widow and her troubled daughter—a teen who reminds him of a past he’s yet to make peace with.
Maggie Bradshaw is struggling to raise a rebellious teen and to forgive in-laws who betrayed her in her time of greatest need…but her new neighbor is a godsend. Her daughter Lexi needs a positive influence in her life, and a law enforcement officer is the perfect choice.
Unfortunately, Jack isn’t interested in helping...until a stray dog walks into all their lives.
Can God use a grieving daughter and a stray dog with an ulterior motive to bring healing to all?

A great book!  Jack Butler has moved next to Maggie to get over his past.  Maggie and her teenage daughter are on their own after her husband is killed in an accident.  Maggie has put her love life on hold to focus on raising her troubled daughter.  Will Maggie and Jack be what her daughter needs to get over her dad's death?

More Than a Promise

I received a copy of More Than a Promise by Ruth Logan Herne from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Widower Matt Wilmot is an excavator by trade, but with his three rambunctious young sons making trouble all over town, he may not have what it takes to dig them out on his own.
 The boys' antics have earned them a riotous reputation in their small town of Cedar Mills. When Matt's former mother-in-law, a powerful lawyer and judge, threatens to sue for custody, Matt's sure she means it.
 Enter Matt's new neighbor, Elle Drake. She's made a successful career for herself as an artist and potter, but after a disastrously public break-up with her NFL-player ex-husband, she's back in Cedar Mills to lick her wounds and set her roughed-up self-image to rights.
 After Matt's oldest son causes damage in Elle's yard, her common-sense approach forces the boy to take responsibility for his actions—and gives Matt the wake-up call he desperately needs.
 Initially adversarial, attraction grows between Matt and Elle as they get to know one another. Matt appreciates Elle's effect on his sons, and when he gets cornered into having a Sunday breakfast with Elle and the boys, he has fun for the first time in...well, he can't remember when.
 Everything changes when Elle hears the boys' grandmother berating Matt in public and threatening to take the boys. She defuses the situation by pretending to be Matt's fiancée and the boys' future stepmother. When Matt decides it's a brilliant plan and kisses her to seal the deal, Elle knows he's crazy. But he's also sweet, funny, engaging, sexy and strong, which isn't exactly a bad thing!

I really enjoyed this book.  Matt has his hands full with 3 young boys he's now raising on his own.  He's also trying to keep his family business afloat while his Dad is recovering from a heart attach.  As his boys get into more and more trouble around town and in school he has a harder and harder time finding someone to babysit.  To top it all off his in laws are always watching and bringing up how bad a father he is.  When Matt's mother in law threatens to file for custody of his boys Elle, Matt's new neighbor, steps up and puts her in her place.  Elle isn't sure if stepping in is the best thing for everyone, but only time will tell.

Double Play

I received a copy of Double Play by Ranee Clark from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sophie Pope is devastated when she hears the news: her former boyfriend, college football star Anthony “Rocket” Rogers, is engaged to be married. Determined to win him back before he says “I do,” Sophie hatches a foolproof plan to stop the wedding. But when Rocket’s best man, aspiring baseball player David Savage, thwarts her plot, she realizes the game is up. For David, though, it’s just beginning . . .

David knows that Sophie is just another pretty face, and he’s more than happy to save his best friend from her shallow advances. She’s not his type at all, so he’s baffled by his response to an awkward encounter with Donovan, another of Sophie’s former flames. Despite himself, David feels driven by an inexplicable need to protect her. Pretending to be Sophie’s new fiancé leads to unexpected sparks between the pair, and soon they’re searching for excuses to spend time together. But when a curveball threatens to send them in opposite directions, will Sophie and David step up to the plate for the possibility of true love?

This was a really good book.  I had a hard time relating to Sophie in the beginning.  She acted like she was so better than all of her friends that it made it hard to get past.  As she helps plan her ex-boyfriend Anthony's wedding and gets to know his fiancé Ty she realizes that high price clothing isn't all that matters.  Will Anthony's best friend David be able to help her see that being yourself is not a bad thing?

Medical Judgment

I received a copy of Medical Judgment by Richard L. Mabry, MD from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Heart-thumping suspense and intrigue—just what the doctor ordered.
Someone is after Dr. Sarah Gordon. They’ve stalked her and set a fire at her home. Trying to recover from the traumatic deaths of her husband and infant daughter is tough enough, but she has no idea what will come next. Her late husband’s best friend and a recovering alcoholic detective are trying to solve the mystery before it’s too late, but both appear to be vying for her affection as well. Sarah finds herself in constant fear as the process plays out.
As the threats on her life continue to escalate, so do the questions: Who is doing this? Why are they after her? And with her only help being unreliable suitors in competition with each other, whom can she really trust?
This kept me guessing until the last page.  Sarah Gordon has lost her husband and daughter and is struggling to keep it all together.  About the time she thinks things are getting better someone starts stalking her.  Each day she's continually looking over her shoulder wondering what will happen next.  Will she make it to find out who's behind all this and why?

Breaking Free

I received a copy of Breaking Free by Jennifer Slattery from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes it takes losing everything to grab hold of what really matters.

Women’s ministry leader and Seattle housewife, Alice Goddard and her successful graphic-designer husband appear to have it all together. Until their Visa and debit cards are denied, launching Alice into an investigation that only leads to the discovery of secrets. Meanwhile, her husband is trapped in a downward spiral of lies, shame, and self-destruction. Can they break free from their deception and turn to the only One who can save them? And will it be in time to save their marriage?

Breaking Free, part of NHP contemporary fiction line, is a great reminder that God can take any broken life and redeem it for His plan and purpose. Readers will fall in love with the realistic characters and enjoy the combination of depth, heart-felt emotion, and humor that makes Jennifer's novels so appealing. Readers will be inspired to break free and find God in the complexities of their own lives!

This book is a great resource for a book club, discussion group in women’s Bible studies, or as a ministry resource to spark conversation about practical ministry needs.
A really good book that makes you think about your life.  Are you playing a part that you think you should or are you really being yourself?  Alice and her husband have the 'perfect life' according to her friends and family.  As their debt hits an all time high and her husband drinks more and more their 'perfect' life falls apart.  Can they each find themselves in time to keep them together?

Calculated Risk

I received a copy of Calculated Risk by Zoe M. McCarthy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Whoever said opposites attract was right, of course...but no one ever said what they attract. Jilted by the latest of her father's choices of 'real men,' Cisney Baldwin rashly accepts an invitation to spend Thanksgiving weekend with a sympathetic colleague and his family. Nick LeCrone is a man too much her opposite to interest her and too mild-mannered to make her overbearing father's 'list.' Now, Cisney fears Nick wants to take advantage of her vulnerable state over the holiday. Boy, is she wrong. Nick wants little to do with Cisney. She drives him crazy with all her sticky notes and quirks. He extended an invitation because he felt sorry for her. Now he's stuck, and to make matters worse, his family thinks she's his perfect match. He'll do what he can to keep his distance, but there's just one problem'he's starting to believe Cisney's magnetism is stronger than he can resist.
A good book that makes you think about what you do to please other people.  Cisney has dated men that meet her dad's definition of her perfect husband.  When her last boyfriend breaks up with her just before the holidays she falls apart in front of her coworker Nick.  Feeling sorry for her Nick invites her to spend Thanksgiving with him and his family.  Will the two opposites make it through the holiday?

The Stronghold

 
 
I received a copy of The Stronghold by Lisa Carter from NetGally in exchange for an honest review.
A serial killer with cartel ties stalks his prey by the light of the super moon.

Drug violence, revenge killings, and kidnapping are nothing new along the U.S.-Mexican border. But now teenage girls are disappearing from the Apache reservations of Arizona and New Mexico.
Apache tribal cop Pilar To-Clanny and FBI Special Agent Alex Torres have a long and tumultuous history. When someone close to them disappears, Pilar and Alex must risk everything to rescue the child, including facing the unresolved issues of the past, and venture into the no-man’s land of the drug cartels.
Can Pilar and Alex work together to stop a sadistic killer before he strikes again? On a quest to rescue those they love, who will rescue them?
What a great book!  A serial killer is on the lose and is taking Apache girls in the US and Mexico.  FBI Special Agent Alex Torres has vowed to bring him down.  Apache tribal cop Pilar To-Clanny was abducted by the serial killer over 15 years ago.  She's the only girl to be able to escape and has tracked down by the killer once again.  Can she and Alex put their past behind them long enough to stop the serial killer before they become his next victims?

Weep in the Night

I received a copy of Weep In The Night by Valerie Massey Goree from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
After three years in the witness protection program, Sadie Malone's life in Texas is bland and humdrum—until she meets a new co-worker. Bowen Boudine ignites a flame in Sadie's long-dormant heart, but when she discovers he knows her true identity, she attempts to flee. He thwarts her escape and reveals the reason he's been sent to locate her. Bowen, a seasoned operative with International Retrieval Organization takes his job escorting Sadie safely back to California seriously, but quickly finds he's falling for her. Can he maintain a professional relationship while he protects her from the crime boss her testimony helped to convict?
A great book that keeps you guessing to the very end.  Sadie Malone is in the witness protection program and once again has moved to a new city with a new name.  A new coworker, Bowen Boudine, finds out her true identity and brings all of her fears to life again.  Can he convince her he's trying to help her?  Will the crime boss that she helped testify against find her again? 

Londonderry Dreaming

I received a copy of Londonderry Dreaming by Christine Lindsay from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Acclaimed New York artist, Naomi Boyd, and music therapist, Keith Wilson, loved one another five years ago, until her grandfather separated them.
That root of bitterness keeps them apart until a letter from Keith’s grandmother, Ruth, draws Naomi to Londonderry to find she’s too late. Ruth has passed on. After the death of his beloved grandmother, Keith has also come to Londonderry only to open the door to his past . . .Naomi...beautiful as ever, the girl who broke his heart.
A mysterious painting in Ruth’s attic brings up questions about their grandparents’ entwined past and their own broken romance. More comfortable with the unspoken languages of art and music, Naomi and Keith find it difficult to share their old hurts and true feelings.
Will the majestic coastline of Northern Ireland inspire them to speak the words to bring peace to their grandparents’ memory and to rekindle love?
This took me a little while to get into but once I did it was hard to put down.  Keith Wilson goes back to Londonderry to help clean out his grandmothers house.  Naomi Boyd goes back to Londonderry because Ruth, Keith's grandmother, sent her a letter asking her to come see her.  What Naomi doesn't know is she's too late to talk to Ruth, who recently passed away.  Naomi offers to help Keith go through Ruth's house.  Can they work together and find a new way back together?

The Promise of Home

I received a copy of The Promise of Home by Natasha Deen from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Agreeing to renovate a church in a remote northern Alberta town is an act of panic for a man anxious for a break from God, but ex-pastor Luke Parks needs escape from the girl who crushed his heart. He’s hoping to outrun his crisis of faith, but his doubts quickly find him. To make matters worse, he’s stuck with a snarky church secretary and saddled with an inexperienced assistant.
Through a chance encounter Luke discovers not just a lost kitten, but a deeper, richer side of the congregation. Just as he’s becoming comfortable in his new routine, life takes another swing. His ex-fiancée shows up begging for forgiveness, and in the process, turns his new friends against him.
As Luke struggles to figure out the line between accountability and forgiveness, he can’t help but wonder if he’ll ever find a place to call home.
Great book about forgiveness.  Luke is looking for a new beginning after being dumped by is fiancé.  He thought is calling was as a pastor but his fist two churches let him go because of differences that Luke is having a hard time getting past.  His dad talks him into helping out as a handyman for a church in Home.  What he finds is a pastor who's ready to retire and a congregation looking for someone to step in.  Luke doesn't want all the niceness that the town is showering him with because he's to angry to realize that they truly care for him.  When he finds a lost kitten his eyes are opened to what his heart wasn't.

Not So Far Away

I received a copy of Not So Far Away by Deborah Pierson Dill from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Laurel Kerr lives each day fearing it could be her last. Years of pleading with God for deliverance from her husband’s deadly temper have convinced her that she’s beneath the Lord’s notice. Still, she perseveres, hoping that a redeemed husband and a Christ-centered marriage might one day be possible. Dr. Boyd Wendall has a soft spot for Laurel. Although she’s not his to take care of, she stirs his protective instincts. Time and again he finds himself in the midst of her trouble, and he can’t help but believe there’s a reason for it. When Laurel’s deliverance comes suddenly and unexpectedly, it raises questions about Boyd’s integrity, reopens wounds from his past, and leads to a trial the two cannot escape. Apart, they are just one man and one woman facing tribulation. Together, they’ll discover that God is not so far away.
This book was hard to read at times, but ended great.  Laurel is in an abusive marriage with two sons.  She protects her boys as best she can.  Many times this has put her in the hospital.  The last time was the last straw for her and her boys.  Do they have the strength to make a better life for themselves when every and everyone is against them?

Homeschooling Can Be Murder

I received a copy of Homeschooling Can Be Murder by Susan Lyttek from NetGalley in exchange for an honest request. 

Army wife and homeschooling mom, Jeanine Talbott has a busy week scheduled, so when her husband’s transfer orders come through, she decides to let him pick out the new house and move their goods while she and the kids slowly wrap up the life they've grown to love.

As she pulls up to their new residence, she discovers her darling bought a charming fixer-upper complete with rather unexpected neighbors—a graveyard full of Civil War veterans.

As the family, gets settled in Gentle Springs, Jeanine hears strange noises coming from next door. Then, James goes TDY and while he's gone, their dog escapes the yard and finds a fresh body in the cemetery. Suddenly, the Talbotts have two mysteries on their hands: who killed the treasure hunter the dog unearths, and what secret was he trying to uncover at the tomb of town hero, Captain Cooperton?

This was a really good book.  Many times I find it hard to relate to Army families situation, but this book made it very easy.  Jeanine Talbott is an Army wife who has to pack up and move her family every 2 - 4 years.  She's finding it very hard to move from the town her and her children called home for 4 years.  She's pulling what can be called just shy of a 2 year olds temper tantrum when it comes to the move.  Her husband finds and buys their next house without her even laying eyes on it.  What can be wrong with that?  The first is that the house is next door to a graveyard.  The next is when she and her children get to the new house one day before her husband leaves for training in California.  Can the situation get any crazier?

Tender Mercies

I received a copy of Tender Mercies by Mary Manners from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Lexi Taylor resorts to hosting an online auction to raise money for her fledgling youth center, the last thing she expects is to be matched for a date with Cooper Jackson. Lured by the promise of a lucrative NFL career, the hometown hero and former University of Tennessee quarterback, broke off their engagement without so much as a backward glance. Now, six years later, he's come home to nurse an injured knee and his wounded pride—and he wants Lexi back.
But, a heartbreaking secret stands between them, and Lexi plans to keep it that way.
Can Cooper's gentleness and renewed faith coax the secret to the surface? And if he does, will forgiveness draw them close...or will their love be shattered forever?
This book pulled me in from the very beginning.  Lexi Taylor is doing what she loves - starting and running a youth center.  She's also taken in her nephew because his mother is trying to find herself and continually leaves him alone.  Lexi is the stable family member that he needs.  Cooper Jackson left town and Lexi for an NFL career and never looked back or so Lexi thinks.  Will an online auction to raise money for Lexi's youth center be what it takes to get Cooper back to town and into Lexi's life?

A Corporation of Angels

I received a copy of A Corporation of Angels by James H Barrett Jr. from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Directly behind the tallest skyscraper in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a building that houses a family-run business devoid of political, greed, and power struggles. Teamwork, kindness, and compassion for others are prerequisites for employment at C.O.A. Inc., for it is not a typical company: it is the Corporation of Angels and its CEO is God.
Angels, who are allowed to choose their own names while working for C.O.A., work discreetly alongside walking souls while attempting to keep Lucifer and his company, Hostile Takeover Enterprises, at bay. Gabriel and his partner, Sarah, are two angels working on Project Lost Faith, a special assignment to help reinstate faith in God. As the pair attempts to outsmart Lucifer’s cronies, everyone is watching, especially the CEO of C.O.A. But Gabriel and Sarah are not the only angels on important missions battling those who prey on the weak and hopeless.
In this inspirational tale filled with suspense and humor, a corporation of angels diligently works to engage Christians about their faith while doing their best to keep Lucifer from carrying out his own mission.
This was an interesting book.  It tells about the Corporation of Angels (COA) run by God and Hostile Takeover Enterprises (HT) run by Lucifer.  COA is always watching out for walking souls and does all they can to keep them safe.  HT is always trying to cause danger to walking souls.  The teamwork of COA's Angels makes me wish all businesses were run like that.

Brush of Wings

I received a copy of Brush of Wings by Karen Kingsbury from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Despite needing a heart transplant and against the advice of her doctor, Mary Catherine moves to Uganda to work at a new orphanage. Whatever time she has left, Mary Catherine wants to spend it helping children—especially since there will be no children of her own. The only problem is Major League Baseball player Marcus Dillinger, the man she never meant to fall in love with. Neither Marcus nor Mary Catherine’s other friends—Tyler Ames and Sami Dawson—know just how serious her heart condition is.
Still, Marcus is sure in the depths of his soul that something isn’t right. Ultimately his correspondence with Mary Catherine leads him on a desperate life-or-death mission to rescue her and get her to a US hospital before time runs out. Meanwhile, Sami and Tyler struggle with issues of their own. In a season when Tyler plans to ask Sami to marry him, the very core of their relationship is in jeopardy.
The team of angels walking is busier than ever in this epic battle between life and death. Brush of Wings is a poignant tale of love, sacrifice, and the power of faith.
This was such a good book.  The only thing I didn't like is it's the final book in the Angels Walking series.  Karen Kingsbury has a way with telling a fiction story that makes you think.  Mary Catherine needs a heart transplant but doesn't tell any of her friends or family - until it's too late.  Can Marcus, Sami and Tyler get her home and to the doctor in time to save her life?

From Scratch

I received a copy of From Scratch by C.E. Hilbert from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Maggie McKitrick loves everything about her new life in Gibson's Run, Ohio—her charming bakery, her quirky customers, her distance from the past. Yes, she loves everything…except her new landlord. Police Chief Sean Taylor is like a piece of sand in an oyster—irritating, but with the promise of something beautiful. Despite Maggie's self-imposed man-fast, she wonders what kind of treasure she and the lawman could create together. Sean Taylor likes to keep the peace, but his new tenant is making it nearly impossible to keep anything on an even keel—including his heart. Despite her sassy attitude, Sean is drawn to the beautiful pastry chef and has an overwhelming need to serve and protect her. As Maggie and Sean draw closer together, her long buried dreams about her life are reawakened into a hopeful prayer…until a threat from her past promises to destroy their future. Will Maggie be forced to run—again—starting fresh? Or will God answer her prayer and give her the happily-ever-after she's started from scratch?

This was a really good book that hooked me from the beginning.  Maggie is a new baker in Gibson's Run.  Her landlord Sean Taylor, who also is the Chief of  Police, and her haven't started out on the best of terms.  The only time they speak is when she's telling him how many things her bakery needs fixed.  Can they get to know each other enough to become friends or maybe something more?

Marked Masters

I received a copy of Marked Masters by Ritter Ames from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Laurel Beacham made working solo a personal success story and is known for her nerve, instincts, and ability to do whatever necessary to return each priceless masterpiece safely intact. As the world’s leading art recovery expert, she’s thwarted more heists than the average law enforcement professional. Museums applaud her skills. Thieves admire the cunning way she operates.
Her last job landed her the head position over the London branch of Beacham Foundation, but bringing one case to a close only opened a bigger one. More importantly, the new case inextricably ties her to Jack Hawkes, a man smart enough to be her equal but who keeps her trust meter firmly in the red zone. Trying to stop a rumored heist of the century, the pair leap headlong into a plot that gets more dangerous and illusive by the minute. The clock counts down as the bodies and forgeries stack up.
This is the second book in A Bodies of Art Mystery series.  While this was a good book I hated the ending.  Laurel and Jack have been globe hopping to find who's behind counterfeit ring that seems to be every where.  They successfully bring one player down but we never get to find out who is top dog in the counterfeit ring.

Counterfeit Conspiracies

I received a copy of Counterfeit Conspiracies by Ritter Ames from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Laurel Beacham may have been born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but she has long since lost it digging herself out of trouble. Her father gambled and womanized his way through the family fortune before skiing off an Alp, leaving her with more tarnish than trust fund. Quick wits and connections have gained her a reputation as one of the world’s premier art recovery experts. The police may catch the thief, but she reclaims the missing masterpieces.
The latest assignment, however, may be her undoing. Using every ounce of luck and larceny she possesses, Laurel must locate a priceless art icon and rescue a co-worker (and ex-lover) from a master criminal, all the while matching wits with a charming new nemesis. Unfortunately, he seems to know where the bodies are buried—and she prefers hers isn’t next.
This is the first in A Bodies of Art Mystery series.  I'm not an art buff but globe hopping with Laurel and her friends was fun.  She travels the world recovering stolen art pieces and is one of the best in her business.  Can she keep one step ahead of the thieves?

Mermaid Moon

I received a copy of Mermaid Moon by Colleen Coble from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Mallory's mother died fifteen years ago. But her father's last words on the phone were unmistakable: “Find . . . mother.”
Shame and confusion have kept Mallory Davis from her home for the last fifteen years, but when her dad mysteriously dies on his mail boat route, she doesn't have any choice but to go back to Mermaid Point.
Mallory believes her father was murdered and childhood sweetheart Kevin O'Connor, game warden in Downeast Maine, confirms her suspicions. But Kevin is wary of helping Mallory in her search. She broke his heart—and left—without a word, years ago.
When Mallory begins receiving threats on her own life—and her beloved teenage daughter, Haylie—their search intensifies. There's a tangled web within the supposed murder, and it involves much more than what meets the eye.
As answers begin to fall into place, Mallory realizes her search is about more than finding her father's killer—it is also about finding herself again . . . and possibly about healing what was broken so long ago with Kevin. She just has to stay alive long enough to put all the pieces together.

I love Colleen Coble's books.  They have mystery, romance and always keep me guessing until the end.  When Mallory gets a call from her dad as he's dying she knows she has to go home for the first time in over 15 years.  When back in her hometown she runs into her high school flame, Kevin.  They haven't talked in 15 years and have too much history that they are not able to be around each other.  When Mallory finds out that her dads death was not as it seemed she has to rely on Kevin to help her find out who killed her dad.  Can they overcome their past in order to find her dad's killer?

Murder on Wheels

I received a copy of Murder on Wheels by Lynn Cahoon from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The food truck craze has reached the charming coastal town of South Cove, California, but before Jill Gardner—owner of Coffee, Books, and More—can sample the eats, she has to shift gears and put the brakes on a killer . . .

Now that Kacey Austin has got her new gluten-free dessert truck up and running, there’s no curbing her enthusiasm—not even when someone vandalizes the vehicle and steals her recipes. But when Kacey turns up dead on the beach and Jill’s best friend Sadie becomes the prime suspect, Jill needs to step on it to serve the real killer some just desserts.

Really enjoyed this book and plan on reading the others in the series.  Jill is dating
Greg, the head detective in South Cove California.  When her new friend, Kacey Austin, is found dead on the beach and her best friend is the prime suspect Jill can't help herself try to find the killer.  Will finding the killer be worth losing her best friend or worse her life?

Trial & Tribulations

I received a copy of Trial & Tribulations by Rachel Dylan from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
High-powered attorney Olivia Murray faces the biggest test of her career when she is assigned to represent Astral Tech, a New Age tech company, in a lawsuit filed by its biggest competitor. While Olivia is accustomed to hard fights in the courtroom, she arrives in Windy Ridge and discovers there is much more to this case than the legal claims—forces of darkness are at work.

Windy Ridge quickly turns from quiet Chicago suburb to spiritual battleground, and Olivia must rely on her faith to defend against legal and spiritual attacks. Although they are enemies in the courtroom, Olivia finds a friend and unlikely ally in opposing counsel, Grant Baxter. Once a skeptic about faith, he ultimately comes to her aid when she needs it most.

The battle between evil forces heats up in and out of the courtroom, pushing Olivia to the breaking point. Will she be able to help good triumph over evil, or will the town of Windy Ridge be torn apart?

I really enjoyed this book but didn't like the ending.  I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.  Olivia and Grant become fast friends even though they're each defending New Age tech companies in an active lawsuit.  Neither are prepared for the fight of their lives that the lawsuit is going to put them into.  Is their bond enough to keep them alive?

Santa Fe Sunrise

I received a copy of Santa Fe Sunrise by Tanya Stowe
from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Brett Fraser has quit his job, loaded his earthly possessions into his black sports car and headed out to find himself in the great Southwest. Somewhere on his successful climb up the corporate ladder, he lost sight of the man God intended him to be. But Brett intends to find himself again.
Rafaela De Silva has an art gallery to run, a sprawling piece of family property with back taxes due, and a younger sister to care for who suffers from anorexia. She doesn't have time for broken shoe laces, sprained ankles or tumbling into the arms of a handsome stranger, especially one whose past involves scandal.
Brett's determined to help the beautiful runner he rescues from a fall. After examining the smooth edges of her broken shoelace, he's convinced her accident wasn't accidental. But if he's going to help her, he'll have to convince her to trust him'a difficult task given his past.
Under the sun-kissed skies of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Brett must rediscover his purpose in life before he loses Rafaela forever. Who is trying to harm Rafaela? Will she live long enough for Brett to win her heart?

Great book that got me hooked at the very beginning.  Brett has load himself and is trying to find himself.  Rafaela is doing her best to keep her family afloat.  She owns and runs an art gallery, keeps her family property up and does her best to keep her sister well.  When she falls while running and finds herself in the arms of Brett she struggles to accept help.  Can she do it all without falling for Brett?

Deadlock

I received a copy of Deadlock by DiAnn Mills from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Two murders have rocked the city of Houston. Are they the work of a serial killer, or is a copycat trying to get away with murder?

That is the question facing Special Agent Bethany Sanchez, who is eager for her new assignment in violent crimes but anxious about meeting her new partner. Special Agent Thatcher Graves once arrested her brother, and he has a reputation for being a maverick. Plus, their investigative styles couldn’t be more opposite: he operates on instinct, while she goes by the book.

When hot leads soon fizzle out, their differences threaten to leave them deadlocked. But an attempt on their lives turns up the heat and brings them closer together, and a third victim might yield the clue that will help them zero in on a killer. This could be the case of their careers . . . if they can survive long enough to solve it.

Another great book by DiAnn Mills.  She does a great job of making her characters relatable and so real.  I had a very hard time putting down the book.  This was another case where I didn't see most of the twists coming and couldn't guess who Scorpion was until the very last. 

Strong and Kind

I received a copy of Strong and Kind by Korie Robertson from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It has never been more important to teach your children well.
Many parents want to see positive character traits in their children but wonder how to instill them. As stars of the hit reality show "Duck Dynasty", Korie and Willie Robertson receive loads of letters and messages from fans asking how did they raise such good kids. As Korie will tell you, it wasn't easy, but it is possible.
A straightforward approach to parenting, Strong and Kind helps parents identify the character traits they want to see in their children along with the tools for putting them in place. For instance, strong means “resilient” and “sturdy.” In the same way that muscles can be resilient and sturdy, our inner confidence can and should be too. Kindness to others always requires good manners, sharing, patience, forgiveness, and joyfulness, which are also character traits we want our children to possess. Then there's treating others with respect and love, which is the second greatest command.

"Strong and Kind also covers the ways parents can implement these positive traits. Korie identifies nine specific character traits that parents will want to focus in on with their kids. Besides strong and kind they include: self-control, honesty, loyalty, humility, compassion, patience, and being joyful. And by modeling the best behavior, parents will increase the chances of their kids catching on. Ultimately, the stars of "Duck Dynasty" recommend you do what they do at the end of every episode: hand your children over to God's loving arms in prayer every day.

This was a different book that I expected.  Korie went into great detail of how parents can train their children to become the adults that God intended them to be.  She admits many time how our culture is heading in the wrong direction when it comes to raising children.  I totally agree that raising a child is hard but very rewarding work.  Many people want to take the easy way out and pay for it in the end.

The Dog That Saved Steward Coolidge

I received a copy of The Dog That Saved Steward Coolidge by Jim Kraus from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A light-hearted love story about a young couple brought together by a four-legged bandit.
When a stray dog helps himself to a bone from a display in the supermarket, he doesn't know his actions will brand him a criminal and spark a romance between two humans. Stewart Coolidge works as a bag boy at the store, and his outraged boss offers a reward and demands Stewart catch the thieving animal. He fails at that, but now he finally has the perfect excuse to talk to his cute neighbor, Lisa.

Lisa has always dreamed of being a journalist and asks Stewart if she can interview him for the local paper. As she gets to know Stewart, she likes him more and more, and she's delighted to learn he shares her Christian faith. Stewart can't bring himself to tell her she's mistaken, that he's not religious at all. And that's not Stewart's only deception. When the dog shows up on the doorstep of their building, Stewart decides to harbor the furry fugitive. But this is no ordinary dog, he has a divine sense of how things should be--and recognizing how much Stewart needs Lisa, he decides to do all he can to bring them together.

This was a slow book.  If it wasn't for Hubert the dog I'm not sure I would have made it through to the end.  Stewart is an average Joe who is working as a bag boy at the local grocery store.  Hubert is a stray who steals raw hide bones from the store and becomes the talk of the town.  Lisa lives in the same building as Stewart and Hubert brings them together.  Can they see that the three make a team that can't be broken?

Love in the Details

I received a copy of Love in the Details by Becky Wade from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Josh returns to his hometown of Martinsburg, Texas, to help his best friend get married, he didn’t intend to run into church wedding coordinator—and ex-girlfriend—Holly. He can’t help but pine after the girl he never got over.

Holly broke up with Josh years ago in an attempt to ensure his future success. But she loved him then and still loves him now. As she helps him plan his best friend’s wedding, she can’t help but feel horrible for the pain she caused him. And even though she longs to be with Josh, she doesn’t feel worthy of his big-time lifestyle when she is more comfortable in her small town world. Will Josh and Holly be able to keep things as they are when their true feelings threaten to surface at every turn?

Another great book b Becky Wade.  Can seeing each other after so long be a good thing?  Holly and Josh were high school sweet hearts that still love each other after all this time.  Josh comes back to town for his best friends wedding.   Holly is the church wedding coordinator for the wedding of the century.  Can they work together without letting their feelings show?