Shadows of the Past By: Patricia Bradley

Back of the Book

Psychology professor and criminal profiler Taylor Martin prides herself on being able to solve any crime, except the one she wants most desperately to solve--the disappearance of her father twenty years ago. When she finally has a lead on his whereabouts, Taylor returns home to Logan Point, Mississippi, to investigate. But as she is stalking the truth about the past, someone is stalking her.

Nick Sinclair pens mystery novels for a living, but the biggest mystery to him is how he can ever get over the death of his wife--a tragedy he believes he could have prevented. With his estranged brother the only family he has left, Nick sets out to find him. But when he crosses paths with Taylor, all he seems to find is trouble.

Join the chase as this determined duo search the murky shadows of the past for the keys to unlocking the present and moving into a future filled with new hope and love. Readers will be swept into the sultry South in this debut novel from a promising and already award-winning writer.

My Thoughts

This was a thrilling novel with a deep plot.  I read this book twice!  The first time through I could not put the book down, needing to figure out who the killer was.  During the second go around I went a lot slower, this book has so many twist and turns, I wanted to slow down to get it all.  I was amazed that  while figuring things out, Nick and Taylor realize how much their lives crossed paths.  This is a Christian novel but does not push religion.  It was clean and I would recommend this to anyone.

Dancing with Fireflies

Back of the book

Jade returns home to Chapel Springs after years of protecting her fragile heart. Then along comes Daniel, making her long to dance again.

Creative and complicated, Jade McKinley felt like a weed in a rose garden growing up in Chapel Springs. When she left, she thought she'd never look back. But now, pregnant, alone, and broke, she has no other choice but to return.

The mayor of Chapel Springs, Daniel Dawson, has been an honorary member of the McKinley family for years. While his own home life was almost non-existent, Daniel fit right into the boisterous McKinley family. He's loved Jade for years, but she always saw him as a big brother. Now that she's back, his feelings are stronger than ever.

As Jade attempts to settle in, nothing feels right. God seems far away, she's hiding secrets from her family, and she's strangely attracted to the man who's always called her "squirt." Finding her way home may prove more difficult than she imagined.

My thoughts

What a wonderful story of love and strength!  Denise Hunter really hit the mark with this book about overcoming great challenges and always being there for the ones you love.  This is the second book in the Chapel Springs series, and while I have not read the first book I never felt lost.  This was a love you were able to watch grow, as both Jade and Daniel turned to each other for strength and guidance as they made tough life choices and worked to overcome large obstacles.  I enjoyed how much focus Denise Hunter puts on families and the strength they can be in our lives.

There is no swearing, and while you learn that Jade gets pregnant from a date rape, I would still say this is a clean novel.

Gathering Shadows By: Nancy Mehl

Back of the Book

Wynter Evans is a promising young reporter for a television station in St. Louis, but even a bright future doesn't take away her pain over the disappearance of her brother nine years ago. So when she stumbles across a photograph of a boy with an eerie resemblance to him, she can't pass up the chance to track him down. With research for work as her cover, she sets out with one of the station's photogs for the place where the picture was taken: the town of Sanctuary. 

Almost as soon as she arrives, she meets the town's handsome young mayor, Rueben King, and together they begin to uncover long held secrets that could tear the small town apart and change everything Wynter thought she knew about her life. As the truth of her family's past hides in the shadows, it's clear someone will stop at nothing to keep the answers she's searching for hidden forever--even if the cost is Wynter's very life.

My Thoughts

Wow!  Gathering Shadows has such a great plot I immediately recommended it to my sister, I could not wait for her to finish so we could talk about it.  The entire book has so many wonderfully rounded characters and is set in such a unique town, it kept you on the edge of your seat to the very end.   Nancy Mehl put together the perfect combination in the novel, that I am looking forward to her next book.

This was a clean suspense novel, I would recommend this to family and friends. Just don't plan on setting it down until you're done.

Along Came Jones By: Linda Windsor

Back of the Book

Framed for embezzlement and on the run from cops and crooks, Deanna Manetti is run off the road by a wild mustang and rescued by a rugged outfitter named Jones. If being stranded in a Montana ‘ghost town turned ranch’ with a guy who hangs dead animal heads on his wall can be considered rescue to the diehard Fifth Avenue ad exec. At least if she doesn’t know where she is, no one else does either.

Instinct tells ex-U.S. Marshall Shep Jones that this comely Duchess of Disaster to hearth and barn is on the run and that the sparks kindling between them are going to blow up in his face. He ought to turn her in before her past catches up with her, but Shep never shied from putting his life on the line before. The only difference this time is that his heart could go down with it.

My Thoughts

Yep, that is pretty much the book.  I was looking for a bit of a thriller, and judging by the back of the book you would assume that was what you would get, but that's not the case.  I really think the fact that I just read another book where the girl was ran off the road by an animal and rescued, made me think "been there, read that".  The book is a little long, but only spanned a few weeks.  I had to read the last chapter a few times because it had so much detail, and overwhelmed with new characters that I could not keep up with what was going on.

Until I Found You By: Victoria Bylin

Back of the Book

Finding each other was only the beginning . . . 

When Kate Darby swerves off a mountain road to avoid hitting a California condor, she ends up trapped in her car, teetering on the edge of a cliff. Terrified, she breathes a prayer that changes her life.

It's Nick Sheridan who comes to Kate's rescue. Nick is handsome and confident, and he seems to develop a habit of rescuing her, but Kate is in town only until her grandmother recuperates from a stroke. She's not planning to get involved with one of the locals.

Nick is a reformed veteran of life in the fast lane, a new Christian, and a travel writer. When he sees a car dangling on the edge of a cliff, the daredevil in him jumps into action. He doesn't expect to be swept off his feet by the car's occupant. He's made a vow--no dating for a year--but keeping that vow is going to be a lot more difficult now that he's met Kate Darby. . . .

My Thoughts

I had a hard time getting into this story, it never seemed to have a steady pace.  Some chapters seemed to speed by, while others had so much detail that I found myself skipping paragraphs to get through it.  The story revolves around the condor that Kate swerved to miss in the road, and while I got the symbolism of it in the story, it just never seemed to work for me.

Silenced By: Dani Pettrey

Back of the Book

A relaxing day of rock climbing takes a disturbing turn when Kayden McKenna's route leads her face to face with a dead climber. Is it a terrible accident or something sinister? When the case is handed to the overburdened sheriff, he turns to Jake Westin. With Jake's past now revealed, he's ready to use his talent for investigation again--but he could never prepare for where the case will take him.

Kayden and Jake soon realize that the death was no accident. And worse, it seems the killer is on to them. When strange things begin happening in Yancey, Jake is terrified that once again his world may put someone he loves in danger. But the truth is far worse than he could ever imagine.

My Thoughts

  I have really been enjoying the Alaskan Courage series and Silence did not disappoint.  I did go back and read Stranded before this came out so that I could remember what had been going on.  This book puts you right back into the McKenna family, and I enjoyed how you not only read about Jake and Kayden, but also the continuation of the romances from the past books.  It was true to Pettrey fashion with a few twists and a wonderful romance weaved through the story.

undetected By: Dee Henderson

Back of the Book

When asked what he does for a living, Commander Mark Bishop is deliberately low-key: "I'm in the navy."

But commanding the ballistic missile submarine USS Nevada, keeping its crew trained and focused during 90-day submerged patrols, and being prepared to launch weapons on valid presidential orders, carries a burden of command like few other jobs in the military. Mark Bishop is a man who accepts that responsibility, and carries it well. And at a time when tensions are escalating in the Pacific Rim, the navy is glad to have him.

Mark wants someone to come home to after sea patrols. The woman he has in mind is young, pretty, and very smart. She's a civilian, but she understands life in the navy. And he has a strong sense that life with her would never be boring. But she may be too deep in her work to see the potential in a relationship with him.

Gina Gray would love to be married. She has always envisioned her life that way. But a breakup she didn't see coming has her focusing all her attention on what she does best--ocean science research. She's on the cusp of a breakthrough, and she needs Mark Bishop's perspective and help. Because what she's told the navy she's figured out is only the beginning. If she's right, submarine warfare is about to enter a new and dangerous chapter...

My Thoughts

  This was another stellar novel by Dee Henderson.  This book contained depth, not only between Mark Bishop and Gina Gray, but also with other characters in the book.  Undetected had great insight into the importance of submarines in the military.  Plus thought provoking ideas on the burdens carried by those who develop military technology. 

Raptor 6 By: Ronie Kendig

On the Back

Captain Dean Watters keeps his mission and his team in the forefront of his laser-like focus. So when Dean s mission and team are threatened, his Special Forces training kicks into high gear. Failing to stop hackers from stealing national security secrets from the military s secure computers and networks isn't an option. Zahrah Zarrick is a missionary teacher to Afghan children in Mazar-e Sharif. And a target. When Zahrah is captured because of her expertise in quantum cryptology, compromising the US military, Dean is forced to crack the lock box around his heart a move that might come at the highest cost.

My Thoughts

 I was excited for another suspenseful novel by Ronie Kendig, and this book definitely had the suspenseful, military missions, and twists and turns as a Kendig novel. This novel seemed as well researched as her other books, although it was darker and more graphic than her past novels. And for that reason I felt no need to finish reading it.  If the rest of the series is as graphic, I will have to pass.

Here to Stay By: Melissa Tagg

Back of the Book

After playing nomad for five years, Blake Hunziker has finally had enough of adventure. Not sure what reception he'll get from everyone back in Whisper Shore, he's stunned at not only a warm welcome from his hometown but also a job offer. The job is his if he can successfully pull off the annual Christmas Festival. If only he knew the first thing about coordinating events...

If there's one thing Autumn Kingsley knows, it's Whisper Shore. For years, she's been stuck running her family's inn when all she wants is to see the world. Now she has a visit scheduled from a potential investor who could take over the inn, as well as a dream job offer in Paris. But with just two weeks to whip the inn into shape, her chance at escape is a long shot.

The Hunzikers and the Kingsleys may not get along, but Blake knows Autumn's the only one who can help him. She agrees to a trade--she'll help with the Festival and he'll help with inn repairs. But what was meant to be a simple deal quickly becomes much more than that when the guy who's done running away joins forces with the girl who can't wait to leave

My Thoughts

Here to stay is another entertaining and clean novel by Melissa Tagg. This is the second book in the series and I would highly recommend reading the first book, Made to Last, before diving into this book, or you will be lost in some of the conversations and people. Here to Stay dealt with some large issues and gave great perspective on what home is. This book had wonderful dialog and scenes that made me laugh out loud. I enjoyed how well the story progressed and it never seemed to stall in one place to long. Here to Stay was an entertaining weekend read.

*I was given this Book free from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review