Gone Without a Trace ~ Review

Gone Without a Trace
Logan Point # 3
By Patricia Bradley

When Livy Reynolds returns to Lone Point during a leave of absence from the Memphis PD, she never thought she'd get involved in a case.  A case that has similarities to her cousin's disappearance more than 2 years ago.  Could this new missing person case have ties to Robyn's disappearance?

Alex Jennings has just gotten his first big case as a PI and he's determined to find Samantha Jo Woodson and bring her home.  But first he has to get himself established in Logan Point, Mississippi, and not let the locals suspect he's an investigator.

As Livy and Alex join forces to work on these two missing person cases they unearth something bigger than either of them suspected.  As they work through what little evidence they have, they find one common thread tying these cases together and Logan Point seems to be at the center of it all.

With time working against them Livy and Alex are determined to stop the perpetrator before he escalates his attacks.  But how do you stop someone who doesn't betray his instability?

This is a real page turner, I literally could not tell who was committing these abductions,  There were clues sprinkled throughout the story that could have pointed to several individuals, but nothing that made me go So-and-so did it.  I love when a story doesn't give away the ending in the first few chapters and Gone Without a Trace does an excellent job of hiding the guilty party as well as the abductees.  If you love suspense and romance you will love this book.  

I was provided a copy of this book by Revell in exchange for my honest review.


The past is repeating itself--and time is running out

It's been more than two years since homicide detective Livy Reynolds's cousin disappeared from Logan Point. Unlike most people in her hometown, Livy has never believed that Robyn left voluntarily. When Dallas private investigator Alex Jennings contacts her concerning a senator's missing granddaughter who was last seen in Logan Point, Livy notices eerie similarities between the two disappearances. With self-doubt plaguing her and an almost instant dislike of the self-assured PI, she's finding this investigation an uphill battle. But with the prospect of finding her cousin on the horizon, she'll have to find a way to work with Alex--before it's too late.

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley keeps you on the edge of your seat with a case--and a relationship--that is anything but certain.

Patricia Bradley is the winner of a 2012 Daphne du Maurier Award and a 2012 Touched by Love Award and was also a finalist for the 2012 Genesis Award. The author of Shadows of the Past and A Promise to Protect, she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Bradley makes her home in Mississippi. Learn more at www.ptbradley.com.

The Innocent ~ Review

The Innocent
By Ann H. Gabhart

Carlyn Kearney is facing a choice she had hoped that she would never have to face.  Two years have passed since she last heard from her husband and she cannot make up the payments that have been missed.  With no family that she can turn to, she finds her hopes of safety live with the Shaker community of Harmony Hill.

But is Carlyn ready to embrace the Shaker life?  A life that she finds herself not completely prepared for.  A life that is so different from her own.

But when trouble finds its way to Harmony Hill, Carlyn has to question where safety can be found? And is she truly willing to commit to a life of celibacy as a Shaker?

I have read several of Ann's books in the past, but none were from her Shaker series.  I've heard of Shakers before, but it was more of a passing comment in a history book or in reference to Quakers. I have to say this was quite an eye opening reading experience.  First off I didn't know the Shaker stance on marriage and communal living.  I did know that they and the Quakers were pacifists.  I found their views about Mother Ann interesting.

But this was both an entertaining and an educational reading experience.  I have to admit being intrigued enough that I want to read the previous Shaker books that Ann has written.  And thanks to the easy access of the internet I did a little research on the histories of both the Quakers and the Shakers.  There are some interesting recordings of Shaker music that one can listen to clips of on CD Baby.

I really love when I read a book that sparks my interest in something I'm not familiar with.

And The Innocent definitely is one book that fulfilled all my expectations.  Fans of historical fiction, romance, and even mysteries will find something to love in this book.  And if you are a dog lover there is Asher.  Everyone should have a dog as loyal as Asher!

I was provided a copy of this book by Revell through their blogger program in exchange for my honest review.


About the Book:

She longs for peace

--for her land and her heart--

but can it truly be found at Harmony Hill?

Carlyn Kearney has spent two lonely years not knowing whether to mourn or to hope after she receives word from the Union Army that her husband is missing. When the war ends without further word, Carlyn finds herself penniless, in debt, and forced from her home. With nowhere else to go, she seeks refuge at the Shaker village of Harmony Hill.

The Shakers profess peace through simple living, but to Carlyn, the Shaker life seems anything but simple. When mysterious deaths disturb the peace of the village, Carlyn falls under intense scrutiny. Can a kind sheriff help her expose the true culprit?

Bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart invites fans back to Harmony Hill for a story laced with intrigue, romance, and heart.

About the Author:
Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several Shaker novels--The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker,The Blessed, and The Gifted--as well as Angel Sister,Small Town Girl, Love Comes Home, Words Spoken True, and The Heart of Hollyhill series. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Learn more at www.annhgabhart.com.

Siren's Fury ~ Review

Siren's Fury
The Storm Siren Trilogy 2
By Mary Weber

I have to admit I've been waiting eagerly for this book since I read Storm Siren.  The wait was worth it!  I devoured the book in an afternoon.

Siren's Fury picks up where Storm Siren left us.  The battle at the Keep has ended Draewulf's reign. Eogan has assumed his position as King Ezeoha of Bron. The Hidden Lands are finally safe from Draewulf, Lady Isobel, and the Dark Army.

Or are they?  Draewulf has revealed himself to Nym, having taken Eogan's body and his identity as his own.  Has the power that they just defeated retained his hold on the kingdom of Bron?

Draewulf is not easily defeated and he has been planning for years and in one awful moment Nym is about to discover just how much she has to lose.  And in the losing can Nym discover who she truly is or will she succumb to the temptations that are offered to her. Temptations that could turn her into what she most hates.

But who will Nym trust in a world that has once again betrayed her?  Can she trust Princess Rasha to help her or will Rasha  put Cashlin interests ahead of Nym's concerns and needs?  And when Myles presents her with an option will she trust the man who betrayed her before?  And can she stop Eogan/Draewulf or will her feelings for Eogan prevent her from stopping him?

Siren's Fury is as exciting as Storm Siren.  If it has been awhile since you read Storm Siren take the time to read it again before diving between the covers of Siren's Fury, it will be worth it and enhance your reading experience.  This is a worthy sequel as we see Nym struggle through the pain and loss she is experiencing while trying to rediscover who she is .

Well, I can now eagerly anticipate book 3!  And believe me when you reach the final line you will be too!

I was provided a digital copy of this book by the publisher through the BookLook blogger program in exchange for my honest review.


About the Book:

"I thrust my hand toward the sky as my voice begs the Elemental inside me to waken and rise. But it's no use. The curse I've spent my entire life abhorring-the thing I trained so hard to control-no longer exists."

Nym has saved Faelen only to discover that Draewulf stole everything she valued. Now he's destroyed her Elemental storm-summoning ability as well.

When Nym is taken with a host of delegates to Bron, Lord Myles offers her the chance for a new kind of power and the whispered hope that it may do more than simply defeat the monster she loathes. But the secrets the Bron people have kept concealed, along with the horrors Draewulf has developed, may require more than simply harnessing a darker ability.

They may require who she is.

Set against the stark metallic backdrop of the Bron kingdom, Nym is faced with the chance to change the future. Or was that Draewulf's plan for her all along?

About the Author

Mary Weber is a ridiculously uncoordinated girl plotting to take over make-believe worlds through books, handstands, and imaginary throwing knives. In her spare time, she feeds unicorns, sings 80's hairband songs to her three muggle children, and ogles her husband who looks strikingly like Wolverine. They live in California, which is perfect for stalking L.A. bands, Joss Whedon, and the ocean. Twitter: @mchristineweber Facebook: marychristineweber

The Wonder of You ~ Review

The Wonder of You
A Christiansen Family novel 5
By Susan May Warren

It's been a month since Roark St. John made his appearance in Deep Haven.  But Amelia's big brothers were there to send him packing before Amelia and Roark could speak.  Her heart was hurt by what Roark did, but crossing the ocean to see her must mean something.  The question is what.

Roark is determined to get a second chance with Amelia.  But her big brothers are presenting a problem.  And finding a way to stay in Deep Haven and not let the Christiansen clan know before he has a chance to talk to Amelia will take work and help. Fortunately Roark has an inside man who is willing to give him a chance.  And he needs a chance to win back the heart of the woman who makes him feel whole.  But can Amelia forgive him when she learns the truth of who he truly is?

The Wonder of You is Amelia's journey to becoming the woman she is meant to be.  The woman who doesn't rely on her family to make her way.  The woman who must determine who she trusts.  The woman who must decide to whom her heart belongs - Seth the man who has known her her whole life or Roark the man who sees her for what she could be.

But The Wonder of You is more than just Amelia and Roark's story.  This is also Grace and Max's as they work through the issues in their relationship and Max's future looming medical issues.  And then there is a young girl who is in need.  And the Christiansens being who they are, are determined to help this young hurting soul.

The Wonder of You is another exciting addition to the Christiansen family / Deep Haven world.  A world where family and friends are ready to help you and sometimes give you the shove you need to be the person you are meant to be.

If you've read the previous books in the series you will enjoy this latest offering starring the Christiansens.  And if you haven't read the previous books you can follow along fairly easily and catch up later - though reading them in order is ideal.  And as always the book ends giving you a teaser as to what the next book will be about.  And another possible Christiansen family crisis looks to be in the forecast.

What I like best is this series portrays people one can relate to.  And small town living in Deep Haven is realistically portrayed (small town resident here).  Everyone makes everyone else's life their concern and it is the talk of the town (though they occasionally forget to verify the facts with the main persons concerned in said events).  The caring is obvious and appreciated.  If you want to experience small town without making the move this is one way to do it.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.


About the Book:
Mortified after her semester abroad is cut short, Amelia Christiansen returns to Deep Haven, certain she isn’t brave enough for the adventures she’s dreamed of. The last thing she expects is for the man who broke her heart to cross the Atlantic and beg forgiveness.

Heir to a European hotel dynasty, Roark St. John has trekked from one exotic locale to another, haunted by tragedy and the expectations that accompany his last name. Amelia is the first woman to give him a reason to stop running. He’ll do anything for a second chance—even contend with Amelia’s old flame, who is intent on sending Roark packing.

While one surprise after another leaves Amelia reeling, Roark’s continued presence only highlights the questions pursuing her. Like him, is she running from the life God has called her to? Could finding her new place mean leaving home behind?

Connect with Susan May Warren online.

Hearts Made Whole ~ Review and Author Interview

Hearts Made Whole
Beacons of Hope 2
By Jody Hedlund

Hearts Made Whole is the second book in the Beacons of Hope series.  Set at the Windmill Point Lighthouse we are taken on trip to 1865's Michigan.  The country is recovering from years of war that have torn at its very foundations.

As the country rebuilds, two individuals struggle to rebuild their lives in Lake St. Clair.  Caroline Taylor is trying to retain her position as light-keeper, one that she assumed temporarily at her father's death.  But standing in her way is Ryan Chambers, a man haunted by the horrors of war and his wounds - physical and emotional.  Both need this position.  Caroline to care for her younger siblings and Ryan in an attempt to right the wrongs he feels burdened by.

But letting go of our guilt is often the only way to heal.  Can Ryan let go of his guilt?  Can he accept that sometimes we need a helping hand to make our hearts whole again.  And true freedom from the guilt that binds our hearts can only be found in the forgiveness offered to us by God.

But Hearts Made Whole is more than just an entertaining story, it is a step back in time.  And not that far a step back at that.  A time when inequities were being fought.  A simpler time, though not necessarily an easier time.  A time when rights were being fought for.  A time of unrest.  A time when healing was being sought.  Not all that different from the world in which we find ourselves today.

Jody has a talent for bringing a piece of history to life, introducing us to characters which we grow to care for and others which we loath more with each encounter.  Her story and the characters that populate it have a depth that can at time be lacking in other works.  Her characters add the extra dimension that a page needs to make it three dimensional.

I was provided a copy of this book through the generosity of both the publisher and the author in exchange for my honest review.

Jody's Bio:
Jody Hedlund is a best-selling and award-winning author who loves history and happily-ever-
afters. She makes her home in Midland, MI with her husband and five children. When she's not
writing another of her page-turning stories, you can usually find her sipping coffee, eating
chocolate, and reading.

Contact Jody:
I hang out on Facebook here: Author Jody Hedlund
I also love to chat on Twitter: @JodyHedlund
My home base is at my website: jodyhedlund.com
For lots of fun pictures, follow me on Pinterest: pinterest.com/jodyhedlund
I get personal on Instagram: instagram.com/JodyHedlund/
Or you're welcome to email me at: jodyhedlund@jodyhedlund.com

Interview with Jody Hedlund

1. How did you come up with the idea for Hearts Made Whole?

Historical textbooks are full of stories about men like George Washington, Thomas Edison, Andrew
Carnegie, and so many more.  And while such men are truly remarkable, all too often their stories
overshadow equally courageous and remarkable women. One of my goals as an author is to help bring forgotten women of the past to life.

In the Beacons of Hope series, I'm focusing on historical women light keepers who have often been kept in the dark by the more prominent stories of their male counterparts.

As I researched for writing a lighthouse series, I came across a fantastic book called, Ladies of the Lights: Michigan Women in the U.S. Lighthouse Service. The book is a tribute to the approximately 50 or so women who served either as primary or assistant keepers in Michigan Lighthouses.

I based the heroine in Hearts Made Whole on one of those women light keepers. It's my hope to bring her and the other women keepers out of the historical shadows and into the spotlight.

2. Is there anything about this second lighthouse book that ties it to the first one? Or are they both stand alone novels that can be read in any order?

All of the books in the Beacon of Hope series can stand alone. Readers don't need to read one book to understand the next. However, I do recommend starting with the novella, Out of the Storm (free in
ebook format) which lays the foundation for a common theme that stretches through each book in the
series.

The hero of Hearts Made Whole, Ryan Chambers, is the brother of the heroine from the first book (Love Unexpected). Readers will enjoy meeting the younger, more carefree Ryan in Love Unexpected. But they'll fall in love with him in Hearts Made Whole even if they haven't yet met him in book 1.

3. Many of the heroines in your books are inspired by real women. Is that true of the heroine in 
Hearts Made Whole? If so, what women provided inspiration?

The woman light keeper in Hearts Made Whole is inspired by Caroline Antaya. Caroline lived at the
Mamajuda Lighthouse on the Detroit River a short distance away from Windmill Point Lighthouse.

Caroline's husband served with honor in the Union army during the Civil War, losing several fingers on his hand at Gettysburg. Eventually after returning from the war, her husband was named as keeper of the Mamajuda Lighthouse, but he passed away of tuberculosis.

Part of what really impressed me about Caroline Antaya's situation was that she had been doing a
fantastic job as a light keeper. But the district lighthouse inspector trumped up charges against her
saying that she was in ill-health and incompetent. He took away her position simply because she was a woman and gave it to a man instead. Fortunately, her community rose to her defense and enlisted the help of a Michigan Senator to help her get her position back and she went on to serve as a light keeper for another three years.

In those days, when women were regularly discriminated against because of gender, Caroline's story is inspirational and an encouragement to persevere in the face of injustice. I admired Caroline's will to stand up for herself and to pave the way for women coming after her to use their God-given talents and abilities in roles and jobs that had previously been closed to women.

4. You also like to base your villains on real Michigan criminals. Who inspired the villain in Hearts Made Whole?

The villain in Hearts Made Whole is Stephen Simmons, a real rogue from the pages of Michigan history. While he lived in the early 1800's in the decades before the Civil War, I used this villain as the basis for Mr. Simmons in the book. He had a tavern outside of Detroit and was a Goliath-of-a-man. At first he gave the impression of being cultured and educated. But once people got to know him, they realized what a brute he really was.

The community where Simmons lived grew to fear him because when he was under the influence of
alcohol, he searched out his enemies, picked fights, and inflicted painful beatings. Eventually he killed his wife in a drunken rage.

5. Do you do a lot of research for your novels? Do you do it before, in the middle, or after you write your novel.

Since I write historicals, research is an integral part of my writing process. I usually spend anywhere
between 4-6 weeks on initial research, reading biographies, getting a feel for the time period, and
digging into the meat that will comprise the plot of my book.

Once I start writing the first draft, I have to stop from time to time to do a little more research,
particularly if I switch settings within the story. But usually, if I don’t know something, I’ll highlight it and then do more research during my editing phase.

6. What do you do to get away from it all?

READ!! I absolutely love reading! When I find a really good book, I have a hard time tearing myself away from it to get to sleep.

Unplanned ~ Review

Unplanned

Kennedy Stern Christian Suspense Novel Volume 1

By Alana Terry

Kennedy Stern is a first year pre-med student at Harvard.  In addition to juggling a busy class schedule she's learning to deal with life in the U.S.  Church services are a sharp contrast to what she experienced in China.

But when Pastor Carl, who knew Kennedy as a child, asks her to volunteer at the new pregnancy crisis center, Kennedy agrees to handle the calls for a week-end.  The center hasn't officially opened yet so there shouldn't be many, if any incoming calls.  But the first phone call she answers involves a young girl who shouldn't be old enough to have the worry of pregnancy.   With nothing to go on other than an age and a name, that may or may not to be the girl's real name, Kennedy is determined to find and to help "Rose".

But helping Rose is about to involve  Kennedy in something she wasn't ready to deal with.  Can she learn to trust God in all things, even when it seems hopeless?  Because all too soon trust in God is all she has.

Unplanned is a book that will leave you thinking.  When faced with having to personally confront difficult issues how will we react?  What role does our upbringing play in how we face issues and difficulties?  When do our beliefs become personal?  When do they become our choice and not just something we borrow from our parents?

Unplanned is a story wrapped in intrigue, politics, belief, decisions and family.

I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.  


About the Book:
When Kennedy Stern's childhood pastor asks her to volunteer at his new pregnancy center, she carves time out of her rigorous college schedule to promote the cause of the unborn.

After receiving a disturbing call from someone far too young to carry a child in the first place, Kennedy can no longer blindly hide behind the pro-life platitudes she grew up believing. She resolves to locate the unknown girl but winds up entrenched in a mystery that grows more convoluted as it unfolds.

Soon, Kennedy finds herself a pawn in a deadly game of intrigue, at the mercy of those who consider a few innocent lives a small ransom to pay in exchange for personal and political victory.

Unplanned was a finalist in the Deep River Books Writing Contest. The paperback contains discussion questions for book clubs or personal reflection.

A first year college student adjusting to life in the States.

A brand new pregnancy center desperate for new volunteers.

A mysterious phone call from a girl who's far too young to be pregnant.

UNPLANNED from award­-winning suspense novelist Alana Terry

After volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center, Kennedy Stern finds herself a pawn in a deadly game of intrigue, at the mercy of those who consider a few innocent lives a small ransom to pay for victory.

Did You Know? (Writing trivia from Alana Terry)

• I started writing Unplanned at 12:15 am on January 1, 2015. The neighbor’s fireworks helped keep me awake.

• The first draft of Unplanned was completed in three weeks.

• About fifteen percent of Unplanned was composed on my dictation program, where I spoke the words out loud and the computer transcribed them. It had more errors to correct but was easier on my eyes and wrists than typing.

• My research for Unplanned included interviews with an OB nurse, a crisis pregnancy center director, an EMT, and an FBI field agent.

• I went to college just outside of Boston, near where Kennedy studies.

• Like Kennedy, I was also a premed student. When I took the MCAT I scored higher on the writing section than on biology.

• In Unplanned, Kennedy is reading Crime and Punishment for her Russian lit class. It's a book I've read three times, once in high school, once in my own college Russian lit class, and once after I graduated.

• Kennedy's roommate is rehearsing for an adaptation of Twelfth Night, which is my favorite Shakespeare play.

• When I was a volunteer for our local pregnancy center, I received a call very similar to the one Kennedy receives from Rose. I never did figure out who the girl was.

• During one round of edits, I deleted the word just 93 times, even 103 times, and at least 23 times.

• Even though Unplanned is the first book in the Kennedy Stern Christian Suspense series, it shares characters with my other books. Kennedy’s parents are the missionaries in Slave Again and Torn Asunder.

• While I worked on Unplanned was the first time I’ve gotten choked up while writing.

Protagonist Kennedy Stern vs. Author Alana Terry
(a video interview)
It's always fun to learn how much of themselves authors put into their characters. For Alana Terry, it can be a whole lot! In her new Christian suspense series, the main character Kennedy Stern is a lot like Alana was in college. They both were in school in the Boston area, they both were pre- med students, and they both loved Russian literature. Watch the four­ minute video to learn about even more similarities.

Guy Erma and the Son of Empire: Exile ~ Review

Guy Erma and the Son of Empire
Exile Part 3
By Sally Ann Melia

EXILE is the third and final part of the exciting and entertaining Guy Erma and the Son of Empire series.  Guy and Teo have escaped, or at least they are in the process of escaping the Dome.

But if they in fact get away from the Battle Borgs and the Dome Elite where can they go that will be safe and whom can they trust?  But they are other forces at work that could threaten all that they know.  And life on Freyne 2 may be at an end, at least as they know it.

Karl Valvanchi may be the only hope for Freyne 2, Guy, and Teodor.  But why have these two young men garnered such interest?  And who is the true enemy who is determined to see one or both of them dead?

Exile is one you won't want to miss if you've read the first 2 books in this 3 part series.  This would be a perfect choice for any YA Summer Reading Challenge that tweens and teens are taking part in this summer.

Adventure. Betrayal. Romance. Political intrigue. Deception. Friendship. Alliances. This book has it all so it has a broad audience appeal.  Though geared towards the YA reader, others will enjoy this offering from the talented Sally Ann Melia.

I was provided a copy of this book through iRead Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:

Guy Erma and the Son of Empire is a new three-part action adventure, set a long time ago on a planet far far away.

" Someone somewhere had decided Sas Darona plague could be used as a weapon."

"They called them poison pills, and in some cases the glass eco-systems containing six venomous flies were displayed as part of contemporary interior decor.

Strange!" Karl Valvanchi mused, "When you consider the insects are practically unstoppable and breed exponentially into great clouds of death. These plague weapons went beyond deadly. They were planet-killers."

13-year-old Teodor has found a way to escape from kidnap, how long before he is safely home?

13-year-old Guy Erma has run away from everything he has even known and no longer knows what the future holds.

Their adventure has forged an unexpected friendship, but do they really trust each other? Dare they share their darkest, deepest secrets??

The paths of Teodor Freyne and Guy Erma have now become one, their fate becomes that of the Empire they were born to when they discover a hidden terror.

Author's Bio:

The author was born in Wallasey, England, in 1964, and moved to the South of France when she was eleven. She spent her teenage years living in the cosmopolitan city state of Monaco and became immersed in its many languages and cultures. An English girl in a French school, for three hours each week she would sit at the back of the class as her colleagues learnt English. To pass the time, she wrote stories. This led to a lifetime of writing novels, scripts, stories and articles.

In her working life, Sally writes marketing communications and manages large international websites.

In 2010, Sally joined the Hogs Back Writers, a club located on the outskirts of Guildford, and she set about turning an old manuscript into this novel: Guy Erma and the Son of Empire. Sally currently lives in Farnham, and she is married with two children.

Connect with Sally:  Website  ~  Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Pinterest

Available for Purchase at:

Amazon