Cold Shot By Dani Pettrey

Back of the Book

In college, Griffin McCray and his four best friends had their lives planned out. Griffin and Luke Gallagher would join the Baltimore PD. Declan Gray would head to the FBI and Parker Mitchell would go on to graduate school as a crime scene analyst. But then Luke vanished before graduation and their world--and friendships--crumbled.

Now Griffin is a park ranger at Gettysburg, having left life as a SWAT-team sniper when a case went bad. The job is mostly quiet--until the day he captures two relic hunters uncovering skeletal remains near Little Round Top. Griffin just wants the case to go away, but charming forensic anthropologist Finley Scott determines that the body is modern--a young social justice lawyer missing since spring--and all evidence points to the work of an expert sniper. When FBI agent Declan Gray takes over the case, past and present collide. Griffin soon realizes he'll need to confront some of the darkest days of his life if he--and those he cares about--are going to escape a downward spiral of murder that crosses continents.

My thoughts

Dani Pettrey is back!  If you are a fan of the Alaskan courage series, you will quickly become enthralled in Cold Shot.  This book starts off running and never slows down, even while introducing a LOT of new characters, and a new town, and tons of back story, it all comes together nicely.  Finley and Griffin are the perfect starters for this book series, her spunky personality and his quiet presence make this a story everyone will love.

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

Where She Belongs By: Johnnie Alexander

Back of the Book

Can love redeem a broken past?
Shelby Kincaid is ready to move forward after the death of her husband left her devastated. With high hopes for the future, she longs to purchase her family's homestead, Misty Willow, so she can raise her young daughters in the only place she ever truly belonged. She plans to transform the abandoned house into the perfect home of her memories. But she has her work cut out for her.

AJ Sullivan never wanted Shelby's family homestead in the first place. His grandfather left it to him as punishment for not following his wishes, and he's let it fall into ruin. AJ's more than happy to unload it to this spitfire of a woman. But even after angry exchanges over the state of the house, he can't get her off his mind.

With writing that evokes a strong sense of place and family history, Johnnie Alexander deftly explores the ties that bind us to home--and the irresistible forces that draw us to each other.


Johnnie Alexander is the award-winning author of Where Treasure Hides. Johnnie is an accomplished essayist and poet whose work has appeared in the Guideposts anthology A Cup of Christmas Cheer. In addition to writing, she enjoys reading, spending time with her grandchildren, and taking road trips. She lives near Memphis, Tennessee.

My Thoughts

If you are looking for a sweet Christian romance or Hallmark type book, this is not the book for you.  Where She Belongs is clean, but, some characters use women and relationships for personal gain, the book is blunt and honest about the manipulative world that we live in.  With that said, once I realized it wasn't a Hallmark movie in a book, and got in a different mindset, I found it really enjoyable. 

With an underlined theme of finding your place, this story will pull at your heart strings as Shelby works to find peace and strength after great tragedy.  AJ is a kind, loving person, who is trying to prove he is nothing like his family.  Great scenes and wonderful dialog keep this book moving, and kept me entertained to the very last page.

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

You're the One That I Want by: Susan May Warren

Back of the book

Owen Christiansen has been in a downward spiral since an injury ended his NHL career. But a job on an Alaskan crabbing boat offers a fresh start . . . maybe even a shot at romance with Elise “Scotty” McFlynn, the captain’s daughter.

Used to being one of the guys, to never relying on anyone, Scotty doesn’t believe in happily ever after—especially with someone like Owen. Her instinct is confirmed when Casper Christiansen arrives to drag his prodigal brother home, bringing with him a truckload of family drama—and even worse, the news that Casper is wanted for questioning in connection to a crime back in Minnesota.

But Owen is more than the sum of his mistakes, a truth both he and Scotty discover when she escorts both brothers to Deep Haven as part of her new job on the Anchorage police force. Thrust into an unfamiliar world of family, faith, and fresh starts, Scotty begins to see potential for a happy ending . . . if she’s brave enough to embrace it.

My thoughts

If you have been impatiently waiting for the final novel in the Christiansen series, and eager to see what happened to Owen the wait is over!  This is, by far, the best Susan may Warren novel I have read.  With so much hanging in the balance I was expecting a large novel and was somewhat worried when I noticed the book size.  I will assure you that nothing is left unfinished, things all wrap up, and you will just go wow, that was a good book and start the series again,  

Scotty is a hard around the edges person, but has so much love inside with no direction and she just fits Owen perfectly.  With the entire Christiansen clan in and out of this book you can expect loud family dinners with lots of dialog and DRAMA!  Don't pass this book up, sit back and enjoy!

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

Step by Step By: Candace Calvert

Back of the Book

Three years after a tragic accident left her a widow, ER nurse Taylor Cabot is determined to move on, checking off one item after another on her survival list. Her relationship with a handsome plastic surgeon even gives her hope for the last point—“fall in love again.” At least until crisis chaplain Seth Donovan steps back into her life, reawakening unanswered questions about her husband’s death.

While in San Diego to train community volunteers, Seth hopes to learn why Taylor is backing away from the crisis team and from their friendship. But nothing prepares him for the feelings that arise when he sees Taylor again . . . and sees her moving on with another man.

When a community crisis hits home and puts lives at risk, emotions run high and buried truths are unearthed. Will hope make the survival list?

My Thoughts

Step by step moves just like the title, Step by step.  I have always found Calvert novels to have a great blend of tension and entertainment, but this lacked the tension I was expecting.  That being said, I enjoyed the story and liked that Calvert wrote a book about Taylor and Seth.  Basing the novel in San Diego was a new twist but a good one to move the book, and series, along.  I would emphasize that if you have not read Candace Calvert's past books, you will be totally lost and most likely will not like this book.  If you do take the time to read her past novels, you will not only like this book, but will find a great author and a bunch of clean suspenseful novels to keep you entertained for hours.

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

With This Ring? By: Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings & Milissa Jagears

Back of the Book

Humorous Historical Romance Novella
Collection Offers Love and Laughs
Four top historical romance novelists team up in this new collection to offer stories of love and romance with a twist of humor. In Karen Witemeyer's "The Husband Maneuver," Marietta Hawkins decides to grab the reins when the ranch foreman she loves seems to be leaving forever. Regina Jennings offers "Her Dearly Unintended," where friends stranded by a rising river pretend to be newlyweds when a dangerous stranger arrives. 

Mary Connealy's "Runaway Bride" finds a Texas ranger getting more than he expected when he rescues a young woman fleeing a dangerous arranged marriage. And Melissa Jagears' "Engaging the Competition" finds a young woman forced to assist the man she's often sparred with after an accident leaves him helpless. Each tale is a fun blend of history and romance that will delight readers.

My Thoughts

This book is a must read, four wonderful short stories written by great historical fiction authors.  Even if historical fiction is not your usual genre, you will enjoy this book, and maybe find a new author to read.  Each story is clean, romantic and entertaining.  "The Husband Maneuver" has a unique writing style that is fresh and compliments the story.  "Her Dearly Unintended" has parts that I had to read twice because I enjoyed them so much.  "Runaway Bride" is wonderfully sweet and fast paced.  "Engaging the Competition" is a perfect example of misunderstood love.  Now I need to go read it again.

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

Thin Ice (Men of Valor) By Irene Hannon

Back of the Book

After losing her parents in a car accident and her sister to a house fire, Christy Reed has been mired in grief. Life is finally starting to feel normal again when an envelope arrives in the mail--addressed in her sister's handwriting. And the note inside claims she is still alive.

FBI Special Agent Lance McGregor, a former Delta Force operator, is assigned to reopen the case, but he's coming up with more questions than answers. If Ginny Reed is still alive--who is the woman buried in her grave? Where is Ginny? And is Christy a pawn in a twisted cat-and-mouse game--or the target of a sinister plot? As he digs deeper, one thing becomes clear: whoever is behind the bizarre ruse has a deadly agenda.

Bestselling author and two-time Christy Award finalist Irene Hannon warms readers' hearts as they root for a romance between Lance and Christy, but she pulls out all the stops as this high-stakes thriller chills to the bone in a race to the finish.

My thoughts

Just when I think Hannon could not come up with anything more suspenseful and intriguing, her next novel comes out.  Thin Ice has an amazing balance of the Hannon predictability I love, and originality that leaves you .....just wow.  Christy is a great, rounded lovable person and while the book never seemed to focus on her personality she was just likable.  Lance is strong and trying to learn the ropes of a new job and new life. With a few return characters from Eye for an Eye (you might want to go back a read that, I sure did) and the McGregor family you can't go wrong.   

Looking for a clean 'edge of your seat' suspense, look no further then Thin Ice.

I received Thin Ice free from Revell Publishing for my honest review.