Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Fatal Frost by Nancy Mehl

As the storm worsens and the forces of nature combine with a deadly enemy... Can they survive long enough for help to arrive - If help is coming at all?



Hey Readers,
I am sitting here looking out my window wondering when winter will arrive here in Virginia. It is almost 70 degrees and raining, it truly feels more like a late summer shower then the last day of November. So what do you do when you want to feel the chill of winter but it is still not cold outside?  How about reading my next "Must Read" Fatal Frost by Nancy Mehl. It is a frosty, story about what happens when the forces of nature ( snow, lots and lots of snow) combine with a deadly enemy to present an incredible challenge for the characters in the book. Really there is enough snow in the book to freeze the Sahara Desert.


So Fatal Frost is the story of U.S Marshal Mercy Brennan.  The book starts with Mercy getting shot in the shoulder by a gang member as they were raiding the house of a known gang leader. But as Mercy is recovering from being shot, she is surprised by her dad showing  up to reconnect with her.  Her dad had abandoned her family when she was ten years old ,  Because of that Mercy has hardened herself so that she could never be hurt again so she is not eager to forgive her father but she does agree to meet with him.  During their lunch meeting, she noticed that he seemed agitated and the way he was speaking to seemed like he was saying goodbye... So she was not surprised to find out that later that evening her dad was murdered by a gang in the middle of St Louis.  But she is surprised when someone breaks into her house during the funeral.
 Lieutenant Tally Williams of the St Louis Police Department, Mercy’s best friend and U.S Marshall Mark St. Laurent, Mercy’s ex-boyfriend/Partner are worried about Mercy’s safety.  It appears that she is the next target of the gang because they believe her dad gave her a USB with video evidence of something that could ruin their plans for their city. So knowing that she would never leave St Louis without a reason, Their Supervisor’s set up a simple case to send the three of them on. Mercy finds it strange that she was to check on a situation that she has not been told anything about and but stranger then that was having Tally and Mark as her partners but had learned to do as she was told. While they were on route to their destination, suddenly a horrible, violent snow storm approaches their location, leaving slick streets and blinding snow which causes them to veer off the road and crash into a tree. Now instead of keeping Mercy safe, they are stranded in the middle of a snowstorm and no one knows where they are.   When they finally get to their destination, something seems off to Mercy, She quickly discovers that the person they were checking on is not who he appears to be. Later in the evening, it appears that someone told the gang Mercy’s location.  What will Mercy do when she discovers the real reason that Tally and Mark brought her there? What will they do when they discover they are stuck in the middle of nowhere with a snowstorm that gets worse by the minute and their backup does not even know where they are?  Can they survive long enough to get help or will their mission to keep Mercy safe end up costing them all their lives?

You will have to read this book to find out!

What did I think about the book?
So this is book 1 of the Defenders of Justice series and I cannot wait for the rest of the series!
The book was full of nail biting moments and the plot grabs you from the beginning and does not let go until the end. There is a slight lag in the middle but it quickly picks right back up. The  characters were good, I loved how strong Mercy was, That she was not the "damsel in distress" type. I loved the way Mark showed his faith in a way that made it real to Mercy and Tally. He did not mention it every few minutes but they could tell by his actions and his faith was contagious. The only thing that I did not like in the story was that the ending seemed rushed. I know that if it really happened it would have probably seemed that fast but I had to read it about 3 times because I was sure that I had missed something.  The book had led up to an epic ending which it was, but I just thought that seemed rushed, cut off a bit. It may be that it will continue in the next book which would make the ending a "sort of, cliff hanger" but I guess we will have to wait and see. There are guns and some small amounts of violence but nothing graphic or descriptive. I would recommend this book to someone who wants to read an exciting criminal fiction book that has just a small bit of romance. Overall I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars. *****


Hey, Don't forget to check out her other books, Here is the link!
http://nancymehl.com/books/


Happy Reading :)




I would like to thank Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy. I was not asked to write a favorable review, Just a honest one.


Saturday, November 26, 2016

Another Day, Another Dali by Sandra Orchard



The World of Art Theft can be a deadly game -
                   One that Serena Jones understands all too well. 






Hey Readers,
I cannot believe that Thanksgiving was this past Thursday.
When I think about how much God has blessed me and those around me I cannot help but think that we have so much to be thankful for:
We live in an amazing country where we are free to speak and think,
We have homes, families and jobs.
 We have been saved by Grace through the blood of Jesus
And, we have wonderful, fantastic christian books to read!
Books like my next "Must Read" by Sandra Orchard!

Another Day, Another Dali by Sandra Orchard is the story of FBI agent Serena Jones who is a magnet for trouble.
Serena's Grandmother ( Nana) approaches her one day after work with an "unofficial" case, Nana's best friend Gladys had a painting (a painting by Salvador Dali, worth more then a million dollars) that was stolen and replaced with a very good forgery. Gladys does not want anyone to know about her stolen painting which is why it has to be "unofficial".  Serena decides to take the case hoping to get on her Nana's good side because she feels like Nana blames her for her Grandfather's murder. So Serena decides to look into Gladys adult children first because they all have motive, and the opportunity to commit the crime. But the deeper Serena gets into Gladys's case , the more confusing it gets, Everyone may have had the means or the opportunity to have commit the crime but their records are spotless and they all seem to have solid alibis. Serena still believes it had to be an inside job because there were no signs of forced entry or anything out of the ordinary.
 Serena is determined to solve Gladys case but she also has to focus on her job, which has her working undercover trying to locate a stolen Renoir. They found a very nice forgery of the Renoir at a drug dealers house but now she has to locate the original . And as if those two cases were not enough, She was helping one of her best friends and co-workers, Tanner on a surveillance mission and is now being targeted by the Russian mob. They saw her with Tanner and now they believe that she is his girlfriend. They figure that if they threaten her, they can get to Tanner. Serena tries to juggle the two cases and watch her back but it seems like she is not getting anywhere on either case!  She is starting to wonder if somehow, the two cases may be linked but she has no idea how.
Serena must rely on her skills and her friends to escape the danger that lurks within every shadow,
But will she be able to solve the case or will it be another masterpiece that is lost forever?

This is one epic showdown you do not want to miss!


What did I think about the book?
Another Day, Another Dali is the second book in the Serena Jones Mystery series. I have read the first book ( A Fool and his Monet) but this book could definitely be read as a standalone. I love the main character Serena. I love her knack for getting in trouble, her witty responses and her courage.  I also love the relationships between Serena, Tanner and Nate. It is so funny to read about how both of the boys are in love with Serena and she is completely unaware. I also like Serena's cat, Harold.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a quirky, fun, humorous Mystery novel with a slight pinch of romance . Overall I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars! *****


Hey, Don't forget to check out Sandra's other books, She has some that look Awesome! 
Here is the link to all of her books: 
http://sandraorchard.com/my-books/


Happy Reading :) 


I would like to thank Revell , A division of Baker Publishing Group for allowing me to review this book in exchange for a free copy, I was not required to write a favorable review, just an honest one.






Friday, November 18, 2016

Where Two Hearts Meet by Liz Johnson



And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[ have been called according to his purpose.     Romans 8:28



Hey Readers,
It is almost the start of the Holiday season and the perfect time to start a new book if you can find the time to squeeze in a cute romance story with some twists and turns, especially if you have ever felt like you weren’t good enough.  You know what I mean, like you always do everything to the best of your ability but you never seem to be able to do it as good as you want to do it or someone else does it better.  Well in my latest “Must Read” Where Two Hearts Meet by Liz Johnson, the main character Caden Holt deals with these same issues and a few more... so on to the story.

When Two Hearts Meet is the story of Caden Holt, the executive chief at the beautiful Red Door Inn located near the shores of Prince Edward Island, Canada.  Caden is happiest when she is in the kitchen making delicious creations like her amazing mouthwatering cinnamon rolls. It is her “happy place”.  But she was not happy at all when a handsome stranger comes through the back door into her kitchen.  Later she learns from her boss Marie Sloan that the stranger was actually a guest named Adam Jacobs.  Marie is convinced that Adam is a journalist for a prestigious Travel magazine who was sending someone secretly to review the Inn, So Marie assigns Caden with the task of showing Adam around the Island so that he could see the natural beauty of the shores , he could meet some of the locals and hopefully fall in love with the island and give them an amazing review.
Adam Jacobs is a journalist for America Today and was on a forced vacation. He was sent there to relax and rest because he was taking it hard that an article he wrote had been a fatal mistake and he could not seem to write anymore.  He also found out that his editor put him at the Red Door Inn specifically because it was connected to a bigger story in Boston. A story of course his editor wanted him to write even though he was not writing anymore. When he inquired as to what the connection between the Inn and the article he was supposed to write was, all his editor would say was that in involved the Inn’s owner Marie.  When he arrives at the Inn,  He enters through the back door (accidentally) and is immediately struck by the heavenly smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls .  He also finds himself intrigued by the light heart-ed chief at the Inn.  At first Caden is hesitant about showing the Island to Adam but slowly she finds herself warming up to him a bit. Though she loves the Island, she always explored it by herself so showing Adam around took a lot of courage but as they starting spending more time together she found that talking to Adam was not as hard as she thought, in fact she started to look forward to it... Until she realized that Adam is not who they thought he was and the article he is writing, is not what they thought.  Caden now sees the reality of the situation that she may not only lose the job she loves but also the man who stole her heart.
You will have to read the book to find out what happens! 


What did I think about the book?
So this is book 2 of the Prince Edward Island Dreams Series by Liz Johnson and though I have read book one, you could definitely read this book as a standalone. The Characters are so likeable especially Caden. You see how even though she did not think she was good enough (in more areas then one) that she kept her faith In God and kept doing what she was doing. One thing that I love is the fact that Adam was not attracted to her because of her looks but because of her serving and joyful heart.  I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a book with a fantastic storyline and a bit of romance.  I would say it is like watching a really good Hallmark Movie.  Overall I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars *****



If you would like to check out more of Liz Johnson's books, Here is the Link! 


Happy Reading :) 



 I would like to thank Revell , A division of Baker Publishing Group for allowing me to review this book in exchange for a free copy, I was not required to write a favorable review, just an honest one.
                                        

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Tangled Webs by Irene Hannon



Finn has packed away his combat instincts-
But he may need them again when danger begins
to stalk his quiet hidaway



Hey Readers,
Christmas is coming so quick and so is winter which means that I can start sitting in front of my fire place, cuddling with my cat while reading a book that I cannot seem to put down. My newest "Must Read" is one of the those books that grab you from the first page and you don't want to put the book down until the very last page.  It is a great choice for any winter reading list.
So here is my lastest "Must Read" Tangled Webs by Irene Hannon.


 In Irene Hannon's book, Tangled Webs - Finn McGregor a retiring Army Ranger, has found himself renting a cabin in the middle of the woods in  Beaumont, Mo to get some breathing room away from his very overprotective brothers. He has decided to take a month off to relax and to recover both physically and mentally after a tramatic experience that he had in the Middle East. But his tranquil retreat is interrupted by a loud piercing scream in the middle of the night. He knows that he only has one neighbor so he runs over to her house to save her... from a nightmare.
Dana Lewis a romance novel editor, is staying at her Grandparents cabin in the woods. She is staying at the cabin because it is isolated and it will give her the time to heal from a tramatic experience of her own that has left her injured . She is even more suprised when she wakes up one night to discover her neighbor had broken in to her house... to save her?
Finn is not sure why but he feels drawn to this beautiful neighbor. but it is obvious that they both feel the same sort of attraction. Both of them are starting to look forward to Finn's month of relaxation because of the time they will spend together but unfortunatly it appears some one wants Dana to leave. Finn's military training seems to kick in and he is detirmined to help her find out who is trying to scare her off her property. First her dock is vandalized, then her boat and then her shed is set on fire!  Finn is worried that the person who is trying to get Dana to leave will take more extreme measures because she has not left yet and has no current plans to. Finn decides to watch her house each night so that he can make sure that she is safe. While he was watching one night , he noticed someone getting out of Dana's lake. When Dana and Finn go to investigate, they find a buckle for scuba diving...
Dana wonders why anyone would would want or need to go diving in her lake,  Especially in the middle of the night. What were they looking for?  Was something buried in her lake?
The more Dana and Finn research these strange occurances, the more questions they seem to have.
Will they be able to untangle these strange circumstances or will they leave in order to stay safe.
The danger is inevitable but will they survive tangled web they have fallen in?

You will have to read the book to find out!

What did I think?
So this is the third and final book in the Men of Valor series.  I have read book 2 but this book could definitely be read as a standalone. I love all of the characters in the book, especially Finns brothers. I almost died laughing when I read the part when they meet Dana. It reminded me of what my siblings would do if I introduced them to a special "friend". I like that she gave you a back story for the person responsible for some of the trouble that Dana is facing. You almost feel sorry for him even though he is one of the "bad guys". Overall this book is incredibly well written and I would recommend them to anyone who likes a suspense novel with a side of romance.  Overall I rate the book 5 out of 5 Stars! *****


Irene Hannon writes some amazing suspense novels, You need to check them out by clicking on the link below.
http://www.irenehannon.com/books.html

Happy Reading :) 


I would like to thank Revell , A division of Baker Publishing Group for allowing me to review this book in exchange for a free copy, I was not required to write a favorable review, just an honest one.



Sunday, November 6, 2016

The Devoted by Suzanne Woods Fisher


The Amish life is all she's ever known- But will it satisfy the longing her in her soul? 










Hey Readers,
Have you ever felt like life is spinning out of control?
Like you have come to a fork in the road and you do not know which way to go ?
So I just finished reading my newest "Must Read" called  The Devoted by Suzanne Woods Fisher and
in the book the main character faces questions just like those. She question if she should continue the life she grew up with or should she go a different path, one that is uncertain, but may have the adventure she is looking for?

In The Devoted, Ruthie Stoltzfus is right on the edge of leaving the Amish life that she has always known. She has secretly earned her GED and has a plan to get on with her life outside of the Amish but she can't seem to go forward with her plan, she feels like she is missing something. All she wants is to feel like what she does matters, That she can help someone or help somewhere and it would make a difference...
Patrick Kelly is on a journey of his own. He has come to Stoney Ridge to become Amish, To completely immerse himself in the Amish culture and traditions. When he first arrives in Stoney Ridge, he stays at Ruthie and her family's home because her father is the Bishop and he did not want him to have nowhere to sleep since the Inn was temporarily unable to give him a room.  Patrick wants to learn the Amish ways but he only has 30 days to do so. He has Ruthie give him lessons in Pennsylvania Dutch, Has buggy lessons and talks to the Bishop regularly about the Amish faith. Time is of the essence for Patrick and he cannot waste any of it.
Ruthie is intrigued by this Englisher who is determined to become Amish. She agrees to become Patricks teacher in Penn-Dutch not only because she is sure that he will quit but because she is curious about this strange outsider who wants to join the world that she is so determined to leave.
As Ruthie gets to know Patrick more and they grow closer together, her neighbor ( and ex-boyfriend) Luke Schrock starts to take notice of Patrick as well. (Luke is the town trouble maker. He is a defiant, rebel who drinks too much and loves to see what kind of trouble he can get into.)
 and Luke does not like this outsider getting near his girl. He decides that he needs to teach Patrick  a thing or two about how the Amish people live because he cannot allow Patrick to get in his way. He will win Ruthie back, no matter the cost.
As Luke gets back at Patrick for getting to close to Ruthie, he is shocked when Patrick did not react! He just turned the other cheek!
Ruthie is confused about what she should do. Should she continue with her plan to leave the Amish just like her Aunt did? Or should stay with her people? What does Patrick see in this simple lifestyle that would make him give up everything that he loved so that he could join her world?
As Ruthie choice starts to become clear, Patrick and Luke have a horrible "contest" to see who is braver and it sends someone to the emergency room. The diagnosis could potentially be fatal... Will they be able to overcome this injury? Will Ruthie decide to leave the world she has known for an unknown world full of possibilities or will she discover that all she ever needed was right in front of her. That God has blessed us with so much but sometimes we overlook the simple things, the plain things...

Guess you will have to read it to find out!!!


What did I think ? 
So this is the Third book in The Bishops Family Series by Suzanne Woods Fisher. I have read book two, The Quieting but I have not read the first book in the series. Having read the second book, I was able to have a bit more background  on several Characters but the book was also written so that you could read the book as a standalone without becoming confused or lost within the storyline. The Characters are amazing! There are so many layers to each one, They each have their issues and their faults but they all grow some much by the end of the story. I love the relationship between Patrick and Ruthie. The conversations they have are wonderful. There are some very good questions that get answered or at least asked in the book . One of the questions that I liked was why we should cherish every moment... because we do not know how much time any of us have left. I would recommend the book to anyone who likes Amish fiction or anyone who likes a good story with drama and a touch of romance. Overall I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars.  *****

I you liked this book or would like to check out other books that she has written, Here is the link!
http://suzannewoodsfisher.com/books/



Happy Reading :) 

I would like to thank Revell , A division of Baker Publishing Group for allowing me to review this book in exchange for a free copy, I was not required to write a favorable review, just an honest one.