Madeline's Search ~ Review

My Heart Belongs in Galveston, Texas
Madeline's Search
By Kathleen Y'Barbo

Madeline Latour has taken employment with an older lady - Mrs. Smith, working as her assistant while at the same time working as an investigative reporter for the Picayune out of New Orleans. Mrs. Smith has decided that the time has come to find her long-lost granddaughter and to that end she has hired a Pinkerton agent to help her with this search. To Madeline's delight, she will be accompanying Mrs. Smith to Galveston in her search. Not so great Mrs. Smith expects Madeline to work with the Pinkerton agent who turns out to be none other than Jonah Cahill the man Madeline expected to marry before she put her career ahead of her heart.

Mrs. Smith is convinced that her granddaughter is in Galveston though Jonah and Madeline find no evidence to support this. And worse someone seems determined to stop their investigation. Why anyone would be determined to keep the whereabouts of a young woman a mystery is creating questions of its own.

Meanwhile, Jonah is dealing with a situation of his own that has his mother and sister in potential harm. Legends and rumors of a long ago hidden pirate treasure have once again targeted his family's home. And knowing what he does about Madeline he wouldn't put such activity beyond her if she thought she'd get a story out of it.

As Madeline and Jonah team up on this case, they work through the issues that stand between them, but neither is quite willing to risk their heart again. But will their hearts agree to such a plan?

This is an enjoyable book set in 1880 Galveston, Texas, with a couple of mysteries at play within its pages. This isn't a nail-biting mystery but rather a search for family and identity. The conclusion has a few surprises but there are a few clues that allow the reader to have a small inkling of a few possible outcomes. This overall is a Historical Romance fiction that those looking for clean reading will enjoy. This is a perfect weekend read and another great addition to the My Heart Belongs In series.

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

About the Book:
Journey now to Galveston, Texas, of 1880...

Where is Mrs. Smith’s granddaughter?  

Who is the mysterious Mrs. Smith?

 
Pinkerton agent Jonah Cahill is hired by the mysterious widow to find her lost granddaughter, rumored to be living in Galveston, Texas. Though Jonah prefers to travel alone, Mrs. Smith insists that she and her companion accompany him. Madeline Latour, investigative reporter, has been acting as Mrs. Smith’s assistant for several months, and Madeline will not allow anyone—even a Pinkerton agent—to ruin the story of a lifetime. The pair forges an uneasy truce as the investigation grows dangerous.

Is there a bigger story beyond a missing girl to be revealed?

Where Hope Begins ~ Review

Where Hope Begins
By Catherine West

Savannah Barrington's world has just come apart - her husband Kevin is leaving her after 20 years of marriage. Worse is the toll this situation is having on their children Adam and Zoe. But Kevin's betrayal wasn't the first sign of the unraveling rather it was just the latest and final straw. For 10 years Savannah and Kevin had been drifting apart each suffering in their own way from a tragedy that they could not move past.

But the time has come when they are faced with a decision - allow the pain to defeat them or move past it. But when something slowly takes over one's life it is hard to untangle the threads of despair, doubt, and guilt that have taken one prisoner.

Savannah has sought to escape the pain of her failing marriage by going to her parents' summer home on Lake Garfield in the Berkshires. But this refuge has memories of its own - Kevin's proposal, summer's spent with their children. But the comfort she has always found is worth the possible pain of the memories.

But returning to the Berkshires offers her so much more including a friendship with her only neighbors on the lake. Clarice Chandler has had her own share of pain throughout her 80+ plus years and reaches out to Savannah through her great-nephew Brock and his young daughter Maysie. Brock is working through his own issues and pain but his friendship with Savannah may be what they both need.

Where Hope Begins is an exploration of family and marriage. Life can seemingly go wrong and we're left wondering how it happened. But a single decision can set us on a path we never intended. There is no right or wrong choice but rather how we react to it. We often view grief in the personal effect it has on us not seeing how it affects others. Like the ripples in a pond what affects a marriage flows out to the family and close friends.

I really enjoyed the various quotes that headed each chapter - each in some way provided a synopsis insight into the thread running through that chapter. There were also passages that just stood out to me as I read. "The moment you stop trusting is the moment you give up. Do you want to give up?" I also noted this one "God doesn't give up, dear. People do." 

Anything worth having should be noted by the effort you put into it - don't allow fears and past pains to keep you from putting your whole effort into your relationships with family and guard your heart against any temptation that could destroy it.

I would recommend this book to adult readers and older teens. It would make an excellent book club selection as there is much that could be discussed and delved into. Loss and grief are the driving force so if you want a book that is a little deeper while still providing a fictional element give this one a try.

I was provided an Advance Reader's Copy of this book by the publisher through TLC Book Tours with no expectations of a positive review ~ All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Sometimes we’re allowed to glimpse the beauty within the brokenness . . .

Savannah Barrington has always found solace at her parents’ lake house in the Berkshires, and it’s the place that she runs to when her husband of over twenty years leaves her. Though her world is shaken, and the future uncertain, she finds hope through an old woman’s wisdom, a little girl’s laughter, and a man who’s willing to risk his own heart to prove to Savannah that she is worthy of love.

But soon Savannah is given a challenge she can’t run away from: Forgiving the unforgivable. Amidst the ancient gardens and musty bookstores of the small town she’s sought refuge in, she must reconcile with the grief that haunts her, the God pursuing her, and the wounds of the past that might be healed after all.

Where Hope Begins is the story of grace in the midst of brokenness, pointing us to the miracles that await when we look beyond our own expectations.

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Out of North Korea ~ Review

Out of North Korea
By Alana Terry

Ian McCallister is in trouble and he's not exactly sure how he got into it. Working as an independent photojournalist he was in China interviewing refugees who had escaped from North Korea. Somehow his actions got him arrested and sitting in a Chinese prison. If only he still had it so good. Yes, compared to the situation he now finds himself in a Chinese imprisonment is looking pretty good because somehow he has been taken across the border to North Korea.

With demands that he confess to his crimes and explain why he is in North Korea, Ian is stymied. His explanation that he was drugged and taken from China to North Korea is falling on deaf ears. And Ian is left wondering if the psychological torment of uncertainty and solitary confinement is worse than physical torture.

When the reason for his arrest is revealed the reader like Ian is surprised.

This book is told from Ian's point of view - very first person almost as if he were recording his thoughts and events in a journal. This has a decidedly different feel to it than previous works by Alana Terry. Her previous books about North Korea were told from the perspective of those who were from this country while this is told from that of an outsider.

I really enjoyed this book and for those who have read the Kennedy Stern series you will have a familiarity with Ian and Granma Lucy. If you never read her works before this is a good place to start because you don't need to read any of them to get into this book. Ian has issues and this just might be the wake-up call Granma Lucy has been praying for him to get. This is a timely book that features a location that is currently a news-making headline.

I was provided an advanced review copy of this book with no expectations of a review positive or otherwise. All opinions expressed are my own.

Lone Witness ~ Review

Lone Witness
Atlanta Justice #2
By Rachel Dylan

Working as a prosecutor for the Fulton County District Attorney's office is Sophie Dawson's passion. She is determined to get justice for those who need it. And her current case seems relatively straightforward - a local bank employee has been cheating his customers and pocketing the extras into his own pocket. The bank's CEO wants a quick settlement to cap any unwanted negative PR but Sophie wants to work through her case before she agrees to a pretrial settlement/plea bargain.

When Sophie is the lone witness to a brutal double homicide she's just found herself in a whole new world, so to speak. She's on the other side of the table as a witness to the prosecution. Worse the person she identified as the killer is the younger brother to the head of Atlanta's biggest gang. So not only is she the key witness she is now target number one to a man not known for his warm cuddly side.

Determined to keep his only daughter safe Randall Dawson hires Cooper Knight of K&R Security to keep Sophie safe. But as the danger to Sophie increases Cooper has to use all of his skills as well as those of his partners to keep her alive. And he needs to keep his emotions in check because for some reason Sophie manages to get past the wall he's erected around his heart - one due to his own pain-filled past.

I liked Lone Witness, which is the second book in the Atlanta Justice series, especially as it got into the book just a touch. Having not read the first book I had no problem getting this one as it appears that a different pair of characters takes center stage in Deadly Proof. While Sophie and Cooper are the main characters we are also introduced to several other characters who play key roles. There is Ashley Murphy a defense lawyer who seems to have no qualms about representing the worst of the worst as long as they have the money. Patrick Hunt a Deputy Chief ADA from Dekalb County is called in to prosecute to avoid any conflict of interest charges. Then there is Whitney Bowman CEO of SIB whose bank has come under Sophie's scrutiny in her investigation. And finally Juan Wade the protective big brother who is willing to do whatever it takes to keep his brother out of prison. The various interactions between these and other key characters keeps the reader in suspense as to the outcome of both cases and the longevity of various persons.

This book deals with the legal system but won't bog the reader down in a lot of confusing legalese jargon. There a definite suspense element and a few unexpected surprises that will keep the reader turning the pages. Those who like an element of romance in their reading there is definitely romance to keep you happy. Overall the book is a well-blended work that an enjoyable escape from the summer extremes.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher Bethany House through their blogger program with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:

She's the Only Witness to a Brutal Crime. 

Now She Can't Outrun the Target on Her Back.

Prosecutor Sophie Dawson has taken a new role at the Fulton County DA's office, and her first case involves a local bank employee who may be cheating customers. She's determined to bring justice to those who've lost their savings . . . but her life is turned upside down when she becomes the only witness to a double homicide involving a vengeful gang.

With her life at risk, friends and family convince her that she needs protection, and private security guard Cooper Knight is hired as a bodyguard. But as threats escalate, neither Cooper nor Sophie knows whom they can trust.

Unwilling to back down on either case, Sophie pursues the truth at any cost. But her bank litigation gets more complicated by the day, and the gang will stop at nothing to keep her from taking the stand. With all sides closing in, steadfast Cooper is the only man she can lean on. But drawing close may be the distraction that costs both of their lives.

Unbreakable ~ Review

Unbreakable
Unblemished #3
By Sara Ella

Eliyana Ember is queen of the Second Reflection and she finds herself far from where she should be. But it is more than distance that separates from those she rules. The separation is also one of time and broken memories. The Threshold that sent her to Italy has drained and those who would follow and rescue her can no longer enter it.

But with Eliyana, as the vessel of the Verity, absent the Void within Ky is growing stronger. Worse than the darkness within him is the secret that his brother Joshua is harboring - one that could keep Eliyana from stopping Isabeau and whatever she has planned.

But what is isn't and what's not is. Can the truth of what is true be discovered before it is too late? With El trapped in the Third Reflection and unable to access the Thresholds, unable to Mirrorwalk, and unable to call forth her Song she is truly lost. Can she find her way and recover her memories?

Unbreakable finds all at a crossroad with choices before them. Could the key to restoring what has been broken be the restoration of the reunion of Verity and Void?  Ky believes this is the key to restoring all as it should be - before the heartbreak. But nothing is ever without a cost and the cost must be paid. And the one who loves greatest may be the key to everything.

This is the third book in the series and believe me you must read the first two books or you will be as lost as Eliyana is in the Third Reflection. I think the following quote taken from the book sums it up quite well - "Time is a circle. The beginning is the end, and the end is the beginning."

This is a fantasy that will appeal to a wide age range of readers. The story takes place in the sort of present and the past with an added dash of literary places and themes.  There are a few unexpected surprises that I will admit I was not expecting and neither were the characters. This is well worth the time spent reading and if it has been a while since you read the first two books give them a quick read-through to refresh your memory.

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:
Sara Ella masterfully takes readers to new worlds in the jaw-dropping finale to the Unblemished trilogy. With the fate of the Reflections at stake, Eliyana must destroy the Void . . . but at what cost?

Eliyana Ember is a reluctant queen. As vessel of the Verity—the purest of souls—only she can lead the fight against the wicked magnetism of the Void. If she fails, the paths between Reflections will cease to exist, and those she loves will remain plagued by darkness.

After falling through a draining Threshold and suffering near-death, Eliyana awakens to a Shadowalker-ridden Venice, Italy. From there, she must learn to navigate mysteries of time and space. Traveling across the seven Reflections, Eliyana seeks one thing: the demise of the Void.

But something else is at stake—the fate of her heart. Kyaphus Rhyen and Joshua David, brothers in arms, duel to win her hand. Ky remains ensnared and tortured by the Void. Joshua, though well-meaning, harbors dark secrets. Meanwhile, Eliyana finds herself torn, her mind and memories leading her in one direction, but her heart pulling her toward a man she knows she shouldn’t trust.

How can she discern whom to believe when she cannot even depend on her own fragmented memories?

Traversing the realms of fantasy and reality through a labyrinth of plot twists, Unbreakable delivers a thrilling conclusion to Sara Ella’s Unblemished Trilogy.

Justice Betrayed ~ Review

Justice Betrayed
A Memphis Cold Case Novel #3
By Patricia Bradley

Detective Rachel Sloan is coming up on the 17 year anniversary of her mother's murder which was ruled a burglary gone wrong. But the perpetrator was never apprehended. And now she has an Elvis impersonator who knew her mother claiming that he has evidence that her mother's murder is linked to the death of another Elvis impersonator. A photo of her and her mother with four Elvis impersonators is only one piece of evidence that Vic Vegas claims to have gathered. And when the other people in the photo start being targeted this cold case has just become a lot hotter.

But to get the answers she's seeking Rachel has to figure out a way to stay on the case which she's sure her supervisor Lieutenant Boone Callahan will pull her from if he learns about the possible connection to her mother. But solving this case may be the only way she can work past the guilt she's felt all these years. And even worse is the blame she knows her dad has placed on her shoulders.

But as the case starts gaining traction those with a link to the case start being targeted - is the killer still out there? Or is it just a coincidence that Elvis Week is again being hit with murder. And when Rachel becomes a target is it because of her investigation or her familial ties to her father Judge Lucien Winslow?

Justice Betrayed is a suspense as one knows what the murderer/criminal is doing but their identity is hidden away. There are several potential suspects that one is like hmm is this the one but then another scene unfolds and one is swayed in another direction. I love when the outcome isn't given away early on in the book and each successive page draws the reader further into the story.  And the cover illustration is the key to the whole thing.

This is the third book in the Memphis Cold Case series but it can easily be read on its own. The series is progressive in the timeline but not so that if read out of order the reader would get lost. By the way, the other two books Justice Delayed and Justice Buried are well worth the time spent reading. Perfect weekend reading!


About the Book:

Two unsolved murders seventeen years apart are about to get personal . . .

It's Elvis Week in Memphis, and homicide detective Rachel Sloan isn't sure her day could get any stranger when aging Elvis impersonator Vic Vegas asks to see her. But when he produces a photo of her murdered mother with four Elvis impersonators--one of whom had also been murdered soon after the photo was taken--she's forced to reevaluate. Is there some connection between the two unsolved cases? And could the recent break-in at Vic's home be tied to his obsession with finding his friend's killer?

When yet another person in the photo is murdered, Rachel suddenly has her hands full investigating three cases. Lieutenant Boone Callahan offers his help, but their checkered romantic past threatens to get in the way. Can they solve the cases before the murderer makes Rachel victim number four?

Honeysuckle Dreams ~ Review

Honeysuckle Dreams
A Blue Ridge Romance #2
By Denise Hunter

Brady Collins' life is not what he expected it to be. He's divorced with a son and he's now a single parent following the death of his ex-wife. Relying on the help of his friends he's managing. But when Audrey's parents decide to sue for custody of 9 month-old Sam he feels as if his life is about to be ripped away - worse they're are challenging his every tie to Sam claiming he isn't even Sam's true father.

But Brady is determined to keep the son that he has been raising - knowing that Audrey's parents would crush his spirit if they raised him as they did their own children. But being a single dad is a factor working against Brady's chances of keeping Sam. With Hope Daniels offering to be a regular caregiver for Sam Brady hopes to convince the judge that he can offer a stable loving home.

When a mishap occurs and Brady's lawyer assumes that Brady and Hope are engaged, he informs Brady that this has just improved his chances of retaining custody of his son. Willing to help Brady, Hope agrees to be his fiance and marry him before the final hearing. But marriage built on such an arrangement was never in either Brady or Hope's plans.

And when Hope's dream job as a radio host in a major market is offered she has a choice before her - marriage and a family or the career opportunity of a lifetime. Can she have the best of both or will she lose it all? And what about Brady and Sam? Can their marriage, based on such a foundation, ever become something more? Or will the past with its pains and betrayals keep Hope and Brady from having a true marriage?

I really liked Brady in the first book of the Blue Ridge Romance series Blue Ridge Sunrise. It was interesting to get to know him better through this book. And Hope is a character one can truly empathize with as she deals with her fears and insecurities while trying to help a friend. With the cast of characters that call the pages of Copper Creek home one can find a friend or two one would enjoy spending a few hours with. If you haven't read the first book no problems as this book can be easily followed and could be read as a stand-alone the way the story unfolds. This would make an interesting book club selection as there is much that be discussed and examined.

I was provided a review (ARC) copy of this book by the publisher through TLC Book Tours with no expectations of a positive review - all opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:

After Brady Collins’ ex-wife dies, he receives devastating news—his nine-month-old son Sam isn’t his son at all. And Sam’s wealthy maternal grandparents want custody of the child. Brady knows he’s in for the fight of his life. But regardless of what any blood test says, Sam is his son, and Brady will go to any lengths to keep him.

Brady’s attorney tips him off that one major life change would virtually assure him of winning guardianship of baby Sam at the final hearing: an impending marriage. And his friend Hope is willing to step in as the loving and devoted fiance.

Local radio celebrity Hope Daniels has been driven by a solitary goal her entire life, and she’s finally offered her dream job. But if the truth comes out about her arrangement with Brady, she may miss the chance of a lifetime and stand in the way of a dear friend’s dreams.

As Brady and Hope make sacrifices to help each other in their times of need, they risk uncovering a truth neither of them expects to find.

Purchase Links

Amazon | iBooks | Books-A-Million | Barnes and Noble

About the Author:

Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than twenty-five books, including A December Bride and The Convenient Groom, which have been adapted into original Hallmark Channel movies. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Carol Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking green tea, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are rapidly approaching an empty nest.

Connect with Denise online Website | Facebook | Twitter

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