Review: Deceived (Private Justice Book #3): A Novel

Deceived (Private Justice Book #3): A Novel by Irene Hannon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



For three years, Kate Marshall has been grieving the loss of her husband and their four-year-old son in a boating accident. But when she spots a familiar-looking child on an escalator in the mall, she is convinced it is the son she thought was dead.

And so begins the thrilling third book in Irene Hannon's Private Justice series. And she doesn't disappoint. This lady knows how to write a good book!

After contacting the police and getting nowhere, Kate hires private investigator Connor Sullivan. She knows that if she doesn't try to find out if it was her son she will always wonder and regret it the rest of her life. Conner is a little skeptical but agrees to do an initial search to try to identify the boy. As the investigation proceeds and the story unfolds, there are twists and turns you won't want to miss.

*Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-book copy in exchange for my honest opinion & review.*



View all my reviews

Review: An October Bride

An October Bride by Katie Ganshert

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I enjoyed this short novella in the Year of Weddings series. It's a fun, sweet, small hometown story with fun and quirky family and friends as supporting characters.

Emma Tate has a problem - she's seen her Dad's bucket list and it includes walking her down the aisle. The problem is her dad has cancer and doesn't have much time to make that happen AND Emma isn't engaged or even seeing someone!

When she runs into her lifelong friend Jake Sawyer they hatch a plan to become engaged and get married in order to make her Dad's wish come true. The problem is the more time they spend together planning this wedding the more they struggle with their deception and with their true feelings for each other.

*Thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-book copy in exchange for my honest opinion & review.*



View all my reviews

Review: Where Treetops Glisten: Three Stories of Heartwarming Courage and Christmas Romance During World War II

Where Treetops Glisten: Three Stories of Heartwarming Courage and Christmas Romance During World War II by Tricia Goyer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This is the story of three siblings forging new paths and finding love in three short novellas filled with the wonder of Christmas. Turn back the clock to a different time as the realities of America’s involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana.

The first book is White Christmas by Cara Putman. Abigail Turner is a college student and part-time employee at a candy shop. The loss of a beau to the war has Abigail vowing to not fall in love until after the war. Can a hard-working young man with a serious problem who needs her help change her mind?

The second book is I'll Be Home for Christmas by Sarah Sundin. Pete Turner (Abigail's brother) is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theatre. His time at war has left him drained and empty of all grief, all anger, and all joy. All Pete wants is something to make him feel again. His pastor has told him that when you feel empty inside the best thing you can do is give. When he encounters a precocious little girl in need of his friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he's no longer the bully she once knew?

The third book is Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Tricia Goyer. Meredith Turner ("Merry" to those who know her best and the youngest of the Turner siblings) is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to come face to face with the German man who betrayed and abandoned her three years ago, but that’s precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart.

I enjoyed this book for the most part. I couldn't get into the first book and ended up skipping through it to get to the second book. I really enjoyed the second book. The story of a single widowed mother with a little girl missing her daddy really tugs at your heartstrings. The story was well written and I liked how Pete was able to redeem himself of his bully past with Grace. Very heartwarming story. The last book was pretty good also but I think I've decided that reading about nursing and WWII is not one of my favorite genres. I did like the fact that Merry and David got a second chance at love. And I liked that this book had an Epilogue that brought the stories of the three siblings together. All in all a good book with the continuity of the stories of three siblings.

*Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah and the Blogging for Books program for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review*



View all my reviews

Review: Righting a Wrong

Righting a Wrong by Rachael Anderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Seven years ago, Cambri Blaine fled her small hometown of Bridger, Colorado after her senior year of high school ended in a fiasco. But now her father has had a heart attack and needs help, and Cambri has no choice but to return home. So with trepidation, she takes a leave of absence from the landscape architecture firm where she works and heads home, hoping against hope that Jace Sutton is no longer around and that the past can stay where it belongs—in the past. If only life worked that way.

I liked this short novella by Rachel Anderson. It's a clean sweet story about a boy and girl who were best friends in high school until they kiss. With everything else going on in her life, the kiss scares Cambri into fleeing town without saying goodbye or ever contacting Jace again. Now she's back in town to take care of her father and she has to deal with the consequences of her actions.

Jace has never left town and has been quite content to take over his dad's hardware store. When the two meet again, feelings are rekindled but amends have to be made first and trust has to be built again. I liked that Cambri was willing to apologize to Jace and explain what happened and that Jace was willing to listen.

Cambri's relationship with her dad is pretty rough. He's really gruff with her and he doesn't show her much love or encouragement. He's never been able to figure out how to handle his feelings after the death of his wife (Cambri's mother). But they do seem make some headway on their relationship by the end of the book.

*Thanks to eBooksForReview for providing me with a free e-book copy in exchange for my honest opinion & review.*



View all my reviews

Review: Sister Eve, Private Eye

Sister Eve, Private Eye by Lynne Hinton

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



Two decades into her calling at a New Mexico monastery, Sister Evangeline Divine (pronounced “Deveen” - cue eye roll) breaks her daily routine when a police officer appears, carrying a message from her father. Sister Eve is no stranger to the law, having grown up with a police captain turned private detective. She's seen her fair share of crime--and knows a thing or two about solving mysteries. But when Captain Jackson Divine needs her to return home and help him recover from surgery, Sister Eve finds herself taking on his latest case.

I didn't enjoy this book. The story seemed to move slowly and there wasn't a lot of suspense or action. And for having been in a monastery for twenty years, Eve still fights a temper and feels rebellious enough to "need" to ride a Harley to calm her spirit. Not that there is anything wrong with riding a Harley...lol. I think Harley's are cool. It's just the spirit of the reason she rides. I would have thought she would have matured a little better than that. I do admire that she took time off to take care of her dad after his surgery.

I was also surprised with the fact that there was an element of the plot that involved a homosexual relationship. Not something I was expecting to find in a book that I assumed would have a more Christian viewpoint since it is was published through Thomas Nelson.

*Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-book copy in exchange for my honest opinion & review.*




View all my reviews

Review: Nowhere to Turn (Hidden Identity Book #2): A Novel

Nowhere to Turn (Hidden Identity Book #2): A Novel by Lynette Eason

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The day Danielle Harding takes her 11-year-old son, Simon, and flees from her abusive husband, is the same day he, Kurt Harding, dies. A relieved Dani believes she and her son are finally safe--but in reality, the danger has just begun. When Kurt was alive, he took something that was important to a mysterious person. That person wants the item back and believes Dani now has it. As she and her son run for their lives, they have nowhere to turn, until she hires Adam Buchanan of Operation Refuge and goes into hiding. Unfortunately, she won't be able to hide for long . . .

I like all three of the main characters and thought they were very well developed in the book. Dani has made the mistake of staying in an abusive relationship for 12 years and finally makes the decision to leave. Then, after thinking she's safe when her husband is killed, she ends up on the run again after someone tries to kill her. For the most part she manages to stay strong for her deaf son. She also has to learn to let herself trust a man again. Adam is still overcoming the mistakes from his past and has to make difficult personal decisions to try to help keep Dani and her son safe. And Simon, Dani's son, is deaf and has lived with the abuse of his father for years. He also has to learn to trust again.

This book keeps you on the edge of your seat! Adam and his team are trying their best to keep Dani and her son safe but they are being tracked somehow. I just cringed every time they were found until they figured out how they were being discovered. The fact that the main villains were badge carrying FBI agents made it harder for them to hide. There is plenty of action and lots of suspense to keep your attention! There were also some twists to the story that I definitely didn't see coming. All in all, a very good book!

*Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-book copy in exchange for my honest opinion & review.



View all my reviews

Review: No One to Trust

No One to Trust by Lynette Eason

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Wow! This book starts off with a bang and doesn't let up on the tension! It was great! :D

Summer Abernathy wakes up one morning to find her husband missing, three men in her home intent on finding him, and the life she's been living based on a lie. Which Kyle Abernathy did she marry? The computer programmer she met in line at the bank? Or the one who was apparently using that image as a cover story?

Summer is on the run with the man she married but doesn't really know. Her new-found faith is put to the test and she has to learn to trust God and her husband all over again.

This is a great book with edge of your seat suspense and plenty of emotion to keep you engaged all the way to the end.



View all my reviews

Review: A Brush with Love: A January Wedding Story

A Brush with Love: A January Wedding Story by Rachel Hauck

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Ginger is a very talented and accomplished hair dresser who has worked for the stars. She's moved back to her home and is successfully running a beauty shop in town. But Ginger was scarred by a fire when she was a young girl and sees herself as ugly. She covers her scars with long sleeves and scarfs and secretly longs to be normal.

She's hired to style a wedding party and finds out that the best man is none other than the guy who stood her up when his family mysteriously left town 12 years ago. Ginger should have put it past her, but she couldn't get over the hurt and rejection of the only guy who has ever paid her any attention.

Tom is back in his hometown to start a church. Due to the way they left he must work to overcome town bias against his family. He must also work to overcome the walls surrounding Ginger’s heart. Tom sees Ginger’s inner and outer beauty but will he be able to convince her of his love and that both he and God find her beautiful?

This story pulled me in and kept me engaged all the way through. I hurt with Ginger over the pain of her scars and the struggle she had to feel beautiful and wanted. I got so mad at the way she was treated by the wedding party at one point. And was so proud of the way Tom stood up for her! No doubts that this story will keep your attention. The author did a good job on this short novella! :)

*Thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-book copy in exchange for my honest opinion & review.*



View all my reviews