Silence In The Dark By: Patricia Bradley

Back of the Book

Two years ago, Bailey Adams broke off her engagement to Danny Maxwell and fled Logan Point for the mission field in Chihuahua, Mexico. Now she's about to return home to the States, but there's just one problem. After Bailey meets with the uncle of one of the mission children in the city, she barely escapes a sudden danger. Now she's on the run--she just doesn't know from whom. To make matters worse, people who help her along the way find themselves in danger too--including Danny. Who is after her? Will they ever let up? And in the midst of the chaos, can Bailey keep herself from falling in love with her rescuer all over again?

With lean, fast-paced prose that keeps readers turning the pages, Patricia Bradley pens a superb story of suspense and second chances.

My Thoughts

Once again Patricia Bradley has written a novel that, when reading, you think you have it all figured out, but in the end you learn you never had a clue.

Silence in the Dark has all of the tension, twist, and turns I have come to expect from the Logan Point series but with enough new characters and locations involved I almost forgot what series I was reading.  Danny is a great solid character that takes command of situations and just says it how it is.  Bailey seems so lost, and while I know that is how the author wanted her to be, it kinda turned me off to her character.  While only one or two characters from past Logan Point novels made appearances in the book, many new characters helped make this story come to life.

I was given this book free from Revell Publishing for my honest review.

   

Anchor In The Storm By: Sarah Sundin

Back of the Book

One Plucky Female Pharmacist + One High-Society Naval Officer = Romance--and Danger
For plucky Lillian Avery, America's entry into World War II means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. The challenges of her new job energize her. But society boy Ensign Archer Vandenberg's attentions only annoy--even if he is her brother's best friend.

During the darkest days of the war, Arch's destroyer hunts German U-boats in vain as the submarines sink dozens of merchant ships along the East Coast. Still shaken by battles at sea, Arch notices his men also struggle with their nerves--and with drowsiness. Could there be a link to the large prescriptions for sedatives Lillian has filled? The two work together to answer that question, but can Arch ever earn Lillian's trust and affection?

Sarah Sundin brings World War II to life, offering readers an intense experience they won't soon forget.

My Thoughts

 Sarah Sundin has given me a history lesson I won't soon forget, and can't wait to start again.   With her vast knowledge of WW II she has developed a story so full of intrigue and mystery I could not put it down. Lillian is such a lovable, spunky and passionate person but with a broken heart not easily repaired and Arch has returned with scars of his own.  Lillian and Arch's personalities are polar opposites, but opposites do attract.  Being the second book in the Waves of Freedom series there are many return characters that add another layer of depth to the plot so you will want to read it first to truly enjoy this book.  

I was given this book free from Revell publishing for my honest review.

The Reluctant Duchess By: Roseanna M. White

Back of the Book

Lady Rowena Kinnaird may be the heiress to a Highland earldom, but she has never felt good enough--not for her father, not for the man she thought she'd marry, not for God. But after a shocking attack, she's willing to be forever an outcast if it means escaping Loch Morar.

Brice Myerston, the Duke of Nottingham, has found himself in possession of a rare treasure his enemies are prepared to kill for. While Brice has never been one to shy away from manor-born ladies, the last thing he needs is the distraction of Lady Rowena, who finds herself in a desperate situation. But when Rowena's father tries to trap Brice into marrying his daughter, Brice makes a surprising decision.

Rowena wanted to escape the Highlands, but she's reluctant to marry a notorious flirt. And when she learns that Brice is mixed up in questionable business with a stolen treasure, she fears she's about to end up directly in the path of everything she was trying to avoid.

My thoughts

Perfection!  I was worried that after LOVING 'The Lost Heiress' I would be let down by the second book, boy was I wrong.  The Reluctant Duchess is not only a brilliant fresh story, it's interlaced with many of our favorite and not so favorite characters from the first book.  Rowena is the perfect addition to the already vibrant area personalities.  Rowena has an Irish burr that takes a few chapters to get used to, but soon becomes an added layer to her, and not a hindrance to the story.

I must mention that it is the second book in the series, so if you want to really understand the story you need to read The Lost Heiress, which trust me, is not a hardship at all.

I was given this book free from Bethany House Publishing for my honest review.

A Treasure Concealed By: Tracie Peterson

Back of the book

Bestselling Author Tracie Peterson Launches Exciting New Series Set in 1890s Montana
Emily Carver wants a home where she can put down roots instead of following her gold-hungry father from one mining camp to another. She also longs for tenderness and love, both of which are missing in her life. Yet when she realizes she's losing her heart to the intriguing new man in camp, she fiercely fights her feelings, afraid that love will only result in disappointment and heartache.

Caeden Thibault, a young geologist, comes to Montana to catalog minerals indigenous to the state. He's a serious and guarded young man trying to escape the pain of his past. He has avoided all romantic entanglements, fearing he might become like his abusive father. But something about Emily Carver has caught his attention, something he never expected. . . .

Will these two broken souls allow God to bring healing and hope to their hurting hearts?

My Thoughts

Tracie Peterson's smooth writing style and descriptive details make A Treasure Concealed a must read.  While the introduction is a little slow and the plot takes a few chapters to really build, you will really gain an understanding for the area and some of the side characters that help propel the book, and, I feel, the series.  Emily is hardworking and determined, making the most out of a life she would have never chosen for herself, Caeden is kind to those around him, but has a harsh disdain for the life he lived.  Peterson is an author you don't want to pass up, and this is one of her finest books.

I was given this book free from Bethany House Publishing for my honest review.

On Lone Star Trail By: Amanda Cabot

Back of the Book

If there's one thing Gillian Hodge never wants to see again, it's a man on a motorcycle. Her last encounter with one left her right hand crushed, ending her promising career as a concert pianist. But as she heads to Rainbow's End Resort, a sudden thunderstorm causes a motorcycle to crash in front of her.

When TJ Benjamin's wife died, he lost more than his best friend; he lost his faith. He's spent the past year wandering the country on a motorcycle, trying not to think about his future. When he finds himself stranded with a busted bike and a reluctant rescuer, he has to wonder about God's sense of humor.

Can this woman without a future and this man running from his past find romance in the present? Or are they too tied to the way life used to be?

My thoughts

On Lone Star Trail has a smooth flow and while it has some ups and downs none of that feels dramatic enough to change the feel of the novel.  Gilliam and T.J. are both likable characters with difficult pasts that are written so they are easy to relate to, and draw you into their story.  Being the 3rd book in the Texas Cross Roads series there are also return characters that add dimension to the book.  This book was enjoyable, even though it lacked suspense and drama, it kept me entertained.  I would suggest reading the first books in the series to get a feel for the characters.

I was given this book free from Revell Publishing for my honest review.

Her One and Only By: Becky Wade

Back of the book

Gray Fowler, star NFL tight end, is being pursued by a stalker, so his team hires a protection agency to keep Gray under the watch of a bodyguard at all times. When Gray meets Dru Porter, an agent assigned to him, he's indignant. How can an attractive young female half his size possibly protect him?

But Dru's a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt. She's also ferociously determined to uncover the identity of Gray's stalker. And she's just as determined to avoid any kind of romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past. But the closer they get to finding the stalker, the closer they grow to each other. As the danger rises, can Dru and Gray entrust their hearts--and their lives--to one another?

My thoughts

Her One and Only starts of with a bang, and in just a few short pages all of the characteristics you have learned to hate about Dru have changed.  Dru's character has developed and molded into a loving and strong willed woman that just keeps drawing you in as the book progresses.  While Gray is selfish and a player, only glimpses of that lifestyle are talked about in the book.  The entire Porter family bends and twists thru the pages as you get a glimpse of how the family dynamics have changed as they have grown.  While tensions are high throughout the book, you will still feel the sweet romance we all enjoy in a Becky Wade novel.

I was given this book free from Netgalley for my honest review.

Change of Heart By: Courtney Walsh

Back of the book

A Colorado senator’s wife, Evelyn Brandt seems to have it all. But her carefully constructed life comes toppling down when the FBI crashes her society brunch with news that her husband has been arrested for embezzlement, and he’s far from repentant. It turns out this was only the start of his indiscretions—for which he has little regret.

As the weeks following the scandal turn into months, Evelyn withdraws, even shirking her duties with the philanthropic Valentine Volunteers. The inquisitive women of the group are determined not to let Evelyn’s divorce destroy her. They have big plans for her to use her long-forgotten artistic talent to reimagine the city’s iconic lamppost hearts. But doing so will force Evelyn to work closely with Trevor Whitney, her ex-husband’s former best friend. Though she and Trevor used to be close—and he’s been letting her hide in his guesthouse—his gruffness conveys his unease with the situation.

Amid the beauty of Trevor’s farm and the comfort of a paintbrush, Evelyn starts to reclaim the dreams she sacrificed to become the perfect politician’s wife. And as creativity inspires them both, Whit begins to see the girl he fell in love with before his friend—and his own mistakes—stole his chance. Possibilities for a new beginning emerge, but long-kept secrets threaten to ruin everything. After so much time, is a change of heart too much to hope for?

For more on Courtney Walsh visit her website or facebook page

My thoughts

Skip the Hallmark movie and open this book!  Change of Heart is everything you have come to love and expect from a Courtney Walsh novel and then some.  Eveleyn is such a wounded character, left with so much to deal with that you just want to give her a hug.  While Trevor will make you crazy, his quiet demeanor makes you want to kick him in the shins.  These two alone make the book entertaining and thought provoking, but then you add the witty and blunt comments from the Valentine Volunteers and you might as well put life on hold to finish this book. This book is as clean as a whistle while dealing with lies, betrayal, and deception.  

I was given this book free from Tyndale Publishing for my honest review.