Blind Spot ~ Review

Blind Spot 
Chesapeake Valor #3
By Dani Pettrey

Declan Gray is determined to track down and stop the terrorist threat that he knows is here. There's just one problem, someone is seemingly a step ahead of him thwarting his efforts. When he is partnered with Tanner Shaw his investigation is about to get a whole lot more interesting and dangerous.

Going back to the beginning seems to be their best chance at discovering when and where the attack is going to occur. Soon the two find themselves investigating Steven Burke's murder and his unauthorized investigation.

Meanwhile, Parker, Avery, Griffin, Finley, and Kate are helping out an old friend who is in need of their special skills. But soon their investigation takes a drastic change when murder comes into play.  This is one annual weekend retreat that they'll wish had been canceled.

When Declan's case becomes even more dangerous he needs to call on his friends, especially when the past comes calling. With time against them, and his heart caught up in this case, Declan needs to rely on those he trusts and the levelheadedness he is known for if he hopes to protect those he is sworn to protect.

Blind Spot is the third book in the Chesapeake Valor series, and for fans of Dani Pettrey, not the last. The action is almost none stop in this race against a growing terrorist threat. And for those who have been following the Luke thread that has been through the series, we are given a little more Luke story. And if you like a dramatic ending this one offers it in a big way.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review ~ All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:

The Wrath is Coming. 

But They Don't Know Where--

Or When.

"The wrath is coming" were the final words that FBI agent Declan Grey heard the suicide bomber say. Now Declan is in the chase of his life--but isn't sure exactly what he's chasing after or when the threat will be unleashed on American soil. When his investigation's best clue leads him to a closed immigrant community, he turns to Tanner Shaw for assistance. She's sought justice for refugees and the displaced around the world, and if there's anyone who can help him, it's Tanner.

Tanner Shaw has joined the FBI as a crisis counselor . . . meaning she now has more opportunity to butt heads with Declan. As they work together to uncover the mounting threat, the tension between them also includes a spark she can't deny--and she's pretty sure Declan feels the same. But before anything more can develop, they find themselves in a race against time to stop the coming "wrath" that could cost thousands their lives.

The Space Between Words ~ Review

The Space Between Words
By Michele Phoenix

This book can be summed up in a single word ~ WOW. But a single word does not do this book justice. I've read Michele Phoenix's work in the past and, though it was well-written and the story good, it did not grab me the way this book did. This book, this story, is very moving.

The Space Between Words is a convergence of two stories, of two times, of two women, caught up in pain of hate and loss.

Adeline Baillard is living for her faith though it came at great cost ~ as a Huguenot Adeline is living a life persecuted by the French government. But her faith is the backbone of her life and for this she is willing to give her life.

Jessica is living in the present day, visiting France with her friends Patrick and Vonda. But when an attack occurs shattering Jessica's world and her sense of safety with it. Pushed to continue the trip that had been planned before the attack Jess finds an antique sewing box that holds a long-hidden secret that reveals part of Adeline's story.

Connecting to this young woman of conviction sets Jess on a journey to discover the fate of the Baillard family. But this journey may be just what Jess needs as she searches for the truth of the past and confronts the recent pain of her present.

This is a story not to be missed - just be sure to have a box of tissues nearby there are some especially moving scenes. (Yes, I admit it a couple of times I was moved to tears which does not happen often). I really liked the way the stories were told together. They were woven in such a way that it didn't feel forced. 

If you are looking for something different to read or are just a fan of fiction give The Space Between Words a try. It has a freshness to it that is interesting to explore and it doesn't shy away from the topics it is exploring. This would be an excellent book club selection if you are looking for a suggestion.

I was provided a complimentary review copy of this book by the Fiction Guild, a positive review was not expected, all opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:

"There were seconds, when I woke, when the world felt unshrouded. 

Then memory returned."

When Jessica regains consciousness in a French hospital on the day after the Paris attacks, all she can think of is fleeing the site of the horror she survived. But Patrick, the steadfast friend who hasn’t left her side, urges her to reconsider her decision. Worn down by his insistence, she reluctantly agrees to follow through with the trip they’d planned before the tragedy.

“The pages found you,” Patrick whispered.  

“Now you need to figure out what they’re trying to say.”

During a stop at a country flea market, Jessica finds a faded document concealed in an antique. As new friends help her to translate the archaic French, they uncover the story of Adeline Baillard, a young woman who lived centuries before—her faith condemned, her life endangered, her community decimated by the Huguenot persecution.

“I write for our descendants, for those who will 

not understand the cost of our survival.”

Determined to learn the Baillard family’s fate, Jessica retraces their flight from France to England, spurred on by a need she doesn’t understand.

Could this stranger who lived three hundred years 

before hold the key to Jessica’s survival?

The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey ~ Review

The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey
Regency Brides: A Legacy of Grace #3
By Carolyn Miller

Clara DeLancey has had enough of the scandal and whisperings about her. But with her well-known pursuit of the Earl of Hawkesbury and the unfortunate state of her dowry, Miss DeLancey is the least desired woman of the Season. And when offered a friendship Clara accepts though it is hardly the thing to do and if her mother finds out what a-to-do that will follow.

But the friendship of the Kemsley sisters Mattie and Tessa is just the thing to help Clara get over her disappointments. And when she meets their brother Benjamin she is startled to discover that the two have met on a previous occasion, one that Clara can't but hope that he will be unaware of. But there is something about Ben that touches a part of Clara's heart that she had thought forever broken.

But Ben is just a lowly former captain and not the match her parents expect. Can Clara marry for love rather than fortune or will the dictates of society decide the future for her? With the friendship of Mattie and Tessa, Clara soon realizes just how shallow her past life was. Friendship just for the purpose of friendship and not social climbing is something Clara has never before had. And despite her parents' misgivings, Clara is determined to make decisions, not for society, but rather for the purpose of a true friendship and the good of her soul.

But the past isn't ready to let Clara go and the future of all whom she holds dear depend upon the decisions she is forced to make.

This is the third and final book in the Legacy of Grace series and it is interesting to see the characters from the two previous books and how they interact (or don't) with Clara and the DeLancey family. Reading the first two books isn't absolutely necessary to enjoy this book but it does provide some background to referenced past events so you will want to go back later to read them. This is a delightful book and series and one that one will want to revisit. The characters are ones you will want to share a cup of tea with so brew up a pot and have a shortbread cookie or two and sit back for an enjoyable afternoon reading.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher Kregel with no expectations of a positive review ~ All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:
Will a damaged reputation and desire for society's approval thwart the legacy of grace?

Tainted by scandal and forced to leave London for the quieter Brighton countryside, the Honorable Miss Clara DeLancey is a shadow of her former society self. She's lost the man she loved to another and, in a culture that has no patience for self-pity, is struggling with depression. A chance encounter brings her a healing friendship with the sisters of an injured naval captain. But Clara's society mama is appalled at the new company she's keeping.

Captain Benjamin Kemsley is not looking for a wife. But his gallant spirit won't let him ignore the penniless viscount's daughter--not when she so obviously needs assistance to keep moving forward from day to day. Can he protect his heart and still keep her safe?

When they're pushed into the highest echelons of society at the Prince Regent's Brighton Pavilion, this mismatched couple must decide if family honor is more important than their hopes. Can they right the wrongs of the past and find future happiness together--without finances, family support, or royal favor?

The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey is full of the captivating, flawed characters, fascinating historical details, and masterful writing that Carolyn Miller's fans have come to know in The Elusive MissEllison and The Captivating Lady Charlotte. If you love Lori Wick, Georgette Heyer, and other clean, wholesome Regency romance, you'll love this third book in the Regency Brides: A Legacy of Grace series.

12 Days at Bleakly Manor ~ Review

12 Days at Bleakly Manor
Once Upon a Dickens Christmas #1
By Michelle Griep

What could be better than a Christmas story? Maybe a Victorian Christmas story? Even better is a Victorian Christmas mystery.

12 Days at Bleakly Manor takes the reader back to 1850 London where Clara Chapman is living on the charity of her Aunt Mitchell since Benjamin Lane left her waiting at the altar with no word of apology or explanation. For nine months Clara has been angry at Ben for his betrayal and the ruin he brought to her and her family.

For the last nine months, Benjamin Lane has been calling a dank cell within Millbank Prison home. Without warning his life as he knew it ended on the day he was to wed. Ben knew that he had been betrayed the only question in his mind was why and whom?

When both Clara and Ben receive mysterious invitations to attend the Twelve Days of Christmas at Bleakly Manor it seems someone has a cruel streak taunting them both with what could have been. But these two are not the only guests and their host remains anonymous and absent. Each guest is offered a special gift if they make it through the entirety of the twelve days. But when strange things begin happening the surety of completing the entire twelve days is soon in doubt. Could this be just random occurrences or is something more sinister at work?

One thing is certain if they live through this visit it will be a Christmas none will soon forget...
   
This is a fun read and very much a holiday mystery. If you want something a little different to read that is easy to get into this would be an excellent choice. Even more fun would be reading this book aloud, enjoying it with friends and family as you attempt to determine who did or didn't do what. This book promises to be the first in a delightful series that makes a definite nod to Charles Dickens that Dickens fans will love!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:
A mysterious invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home may bring danger...and love?

England, 1850: When Clara Chapman receives an intriguing invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home, she is hesitant yet feels compelled to attend—for if she remains the duration of the twelve-day celebration, she is promised a sum of five hundred pounds. That's enough money to bring her brother back from America and reinstate their stolen family fortune. But is she walking into danger? It appears so, especially when she comes face to face with one of the other guests—her former fiancé, Benjamin Lane.

Imprisoned unjustly, Ben wants revenge on the unknown person who stole his honor. When he’s given the chance to gain his freedom, he jumps at it—and is blindsided by the anger of the woman he left at the altar. 

Brought together under mysterious circumstances for the 12 Days of Christmas, Clara and Ben discover that what they’ve been striving for isn’t what ultimately matters. What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.

The Delusion ~ Review

The Delusion
Delusion #1
By Laura Gallier

We all have our demons...

Owen Edmonds and his mother have come back to the home that belonged to the grandparents he never knew. Not the best thing when you are in the second half of your senior year of high school. And to make it even worse Masonville High has had an uncommonly high number of student suicides - 8 since September and the school year has several more months to go.

Like everyone else, Owen is confused and concerned and his girlfriend Jess with her up-and-down moods has him especially worried. But when a trip into the woods and an encounter with a strange older man turns into a quest for answers Owen is about to learn more than he ever wanted to know. And the proof of the demise of Masonville High is before his very eyes.

Unfortunately, Owen can't unsee what is before him and it is totally messing with his mind. Worse whenever he tries to describe what he is seeing other think he is losing it. Everyone he sees is altered - shackled and being attacked by hideous beings.

But time is running out as the school year counts down and the student toll rises. Can Owen's new sight offer any hope? Or will the entire student population fall to these beings?

Fans of Frank Peretti, Billy Coffey, and Chuck Black will enjoy this book which promises at the conclusion to be the first in a series. This is a battle between good and evil that takes place in the spiritual realm just outside of our perceivable visual range. Owen has no belief in such things but for reasons unknown to him he can see into the spiritual. This book is most definitely one for the older teen/YA and adult reader just because of some of the situations are not appropriate for younger readers. 

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations of a positive review ~ All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:
By March of Owen Edmonds’s senior year, eleven students at Masonville High School have committed suicide. Amid the media frenzy and chaos, Owen tries to remain levelheaded—until he endures his own near-death experience and wakes to a distressing new reality.

The people around him suddenly appear to be shackled and enslaved.

Owen frantically seeks a cure for what he thinks are crazed hallucinations, but his delusions become even more sinister. An army of hideous, towering beings, unseen by anyone but Owen, are preying on his girlfriend and classmates, provoking them to self-destruction.

Owen eventually arrives at a mind-bending conclusion: he’s not imagining the evil—everyone else is blind to its reality. He must warn and rescue those he loves . . . but this proves to be no simple mission. Will he be able to convince anyone to believe him before it’s too late?

Owen’s heart-pounding journey through truth and delusion will force him to reconsider everything he believes. He both longs for and fears the answers to questions that are quickly becoming too dangerous to ignore.

Justice Buried ~ Review

Justice Buried
A Memphis Cold Case Novel #2
By Patricia Bradley

Kelsey Allen has found the perfect career for her unique skills and she's determined to get her security consulting business started. The sooner she becomes legitimate the sooner the media and police will know that she isn't the thief she appears to be.

When a new opportunity arises at the Pink Palace Museum to test their security and fill-in as the new conservator Kelsey takes the job. But there are ghosts from her past that this job will force her to have to deal with. Her father's disappearance nearly 30 years ago is tied to the Pink Palace. And when her high-school crush Detective Brad Hollister catches her in the midst of security duties (off the record) she has to do some quick explaining if she plans to keep her cover.

But someone may think Kelsey knows more than she does and they are determined to keep her quiet and they aren't thinking of a big financial payoff. With her life on the line, Brad Hollister and the Memphis police force just might be the only thing between her and a most untimely demise.

Justice Buried is another fast-paced suspense novel from Patricia Bradley that will keep readers turning the pages. And the way the past and present come together adds an interesting twist to the cases for both the Cold Case and Homicide units. Kelsey is an interesting character with whom one can empathize with as she struggles to come to terms with her long absent, criminal father. This is the second book in the Memphis Cold Case series but can be easily read as a standalone if you haven't read Justice Delayed. Get ready to sit back and enjoy a long afternoon of suspense and a second chance at romance.

About the Book:
In an effort to get her security consulting business off the ground, Kelsey Allen has been spending a lot of time up in the air, rappelling down buildings and climbing through windows to show business owners their vulnerabilities to thieves. When she is hired to pose as a conservator at the Pink Palace Museum in order to test their security weaknesses after some artifacts go missing, she's ecstatic. But when her investigative focus turns from theft to murder, Kelsey knows she's out of her league--and possibly in the crosshairs. When blast-from-the-past Detective Brad Hollister is called in to investigate, Kelsey may find that he's the biggest security threat yet . . . to her heart.

Crackling with romantic tension and laced with intrigue, this suspenseful story from award-winning author Patricia Bradley will keep you guessing--and looking over your shoulder.

Christmas at Carnton ~ Review

Christmas at Carnton
Carnton #0.5
By Tamera Alexander

Aletta Prescott is struggling to survive the cost the war with the North has cost her - her husband and now her job. But Aletta is determined to make the best life possible for her son and her expected baby even if she is soon to lose her home to the bank. But in the faltering South employment of any type is nearly impossible. When she learns of a job at Carnton she hopes and prays that this is the answer to her prayers.

The Women's Relief Society is planning a Christmas auction to raise funds to support the Confederate troops and Aletta hopes to secure the position. But with the position she hoped to fill already taken, Aletta's hopes falter but another opportunity presents itself if she can find the help she needs.

When Captain Jake Winston is ordered to assist the Women's Relief Society in its charitable endeavor he feels it is a waste of time. But orders are orders and with his recent injury preventing him from being able to complete his duty and not endanger himself and his fellow troops he is off to Carnton. With no outward sign of injury, Jake is soon put to work assisting the ladies in pulling it all together. And when asked by Aletta to help her he feels sure he will soon be doing her "job", but Aletta is full of surprises and soon impresses the skeptical Captain Winston with her skills.

Set in 1863 Franklin, Tennessee, this is a heart-warming Christmas story. There are unexpected blessings and heartbreak that are to be expected as this is a world that is deep in the trenches of war. Those who are fans of the Civil War era will enjoy this newest offering from Tamera Alexander. And if you just love reading a story with a strong Christmas theme this one is for you. Fans of the Belle Meade Plantation series may find a familiar name in this book that sets the stage for the author's newest series. Altogether this an enjoyable book that is perfect for a long dreary afternoon or a lazy weekend on the couch.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher through BookLook Bloggers with no expectations of a positive review ~ All opinions expressed are my own. 


About the Book:

Amid war and the fading dream of the Confederacy, a wounded soldier and a destitute widow discover the true meaning of Christmas—and sacrificial love.

Recently widowed, Aletta Prescott struggles to hold life together for herself and her six-year-old son. With the bank threatening to evict them, she discovers an advertisement for the Women’s Relief Society auction and applies for a position—only to discover it’s been filled. Then a chance meeting with a wounded soldier offers another opportunity—and friendship. But can Aletta trust this man?

Captain Jake Winston, a revered Confederate sharpshooter, suffered a head wound at the Battle of Chickamauga. When doctors deliver their diagnosis, Jake fears losing not only his greatest skill but his very identity. As he heals, Jake is ordered to assist with a local Women’s Relief Society auction. He respectfully objects. Kowtowing to a bunch of “crinolines” isn’t his idea of soldiering. But orders are orders, and he soon discovers this group of ladies—one, in particular—is far more than he bargained for.

Set against the backdrop and history of the Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Tennessee, Christmas at Carnton is a story of hope renewed and faith restored at Christmas.