More Than Meets The Eye By Karen Witemeyer

Back of the Book

Many consider Evangeline Hamilton cursed. Orphaned at a young age and possessing a pair of mismatched eyes--one bright blue, the other dark brown--Eva has fought to find her way in a world that constantly rejects her. Yet the support of even one person can help overcome the world's judgments, and Eva has two--Seth and Zach, two former orphans she now counts as brothers. 

Seeking justice against the man who stole his birthright and destroyed his family, Logan Fowler arrives in 1880s Pecan Gap, Texas, to confront Zach Hamilton, the hardened criminal responsible for his father's death. Only instead of finding a solitary ruthless gambler, he discovers a man not much older than himself with an unusual family. When Zach's sister, Evangeline, insists on dousing Logan with sunshine every time their paths cross, Logan finds his quest completely derailed. Who is truly responsible for his lost legacy, and will restoring the past satisfy if it means forfeiting a future with Evangeline?

My Thoughts

Every once in a while you need a Hallmark movie type book, with nothing to crazy to keep you guessing.  Karen Witemeyer is the author I turn to for this and More Than Meets The Eye is a perfect example of why.  Evangeline and Logan are both great characters and even though Logan has built his life around vengeance against Zach, you never get that vibe.  All in all I would suggest this as a perfect smooth novel when you aren't in the mood for anything intense.

Called To Protect By: Lynette Eason

Back of the Book

For the past year, Chloe St. John has been working as a K-9 cop with her German shepherd partner, Hank. After being dumped by her fiancé for another woman, Chloe has decided that Hank is just about the only male she likes. She's over the whole romance thing and focuses her attention on doing her job. Because a serious case of human trafficking with connections to her missing cousin just landed in her lap.

When US Marshall Blake MacCallum's daughter goes missing, he's ordered to kill the judge he's protecting and tell no one about his daughter's disappearance or she will die. Blake races against the clock to rescue his daughter while Chloe and Hank are asked to be a part of the task force assembled to bring down the traffickers. Chloe finds herself attracted to the silent, suffering man, but thanks to her previous bad judgment, she wonders if she can trust him. And can Blake trust himself around this firecracker of a woman?

Bestselling author Lynette Eason warns readers to buckle in for a fast and furious ride that will have their hearts pumping from the very start.

My Thoughts

 Lynette Eason has such a talent for writing books with enough detail to give you the chills.  If you read the description you may think (as I did), not another novel about human trafficking.  I suggest you put that thought out of your mind as Eason has once again written a novel like no other.  While what happens to the girls that are sold is mentioned, it isn't dwelt upon in a way that would drag the novel down.  I was enthralled at the effort that goes into finding girls that have gone missing and Called To Protect will not only give you insight into that effort, it will show you a different side of human trafficking no other book does.

Dead Drift By: Dani Pettrey

Back of the Book

Burning debris littering the ground . . . smoke pluming in the acrid air . . . this is just the beginning if he fails.

Seven years ago, operative Luke Gallagher vanished to become part of an elite team set on capturing a deadly terrorist. When Luke returns to face those he left behind, their help becomes his only hope of stopping his target's latest threat of an attack that would shake America to its core.

Private investigator Kate Maxwell never stopped loving or looking for Luke after he disappeared. But she also never imagined he left her or his life by choice. Now he's back, and together they must unravel a twisting thread of secrets, lies, and betrayal, all while on the brink of a biological disaster. 

Will they and their love survive, or will Luke and Kate become the terrorist's next mark?

My Thoughts

If after reading the final paragraph in Blind Spot and you are debating reading the final book of the Chesapeake Valor series you need to read it again.  Pettrey has such a talent for writing fascinating plots, quality characters and sweet romance.  She writes the best 'final chapter' or final novel in a series better than any other author I have read.  Dead Drift is a prime example of that, with so many things to wrap up and smooth out this novel never felt rushed, and as the end approached nothing was left unfinished.  

With the final novel available now is a great time to read the entire series again.

The Wounded Shadow By: Patrick W. Carr

Back of the book

The kings and queens of the northern continent lay siege to the Darkwater Forest, desperate to contain its evil. But rumors of gold and aurium have lured deserters and the desperate into its shadow, creating a growing army held in its sway. Desperate after the death and dissolution of their greatest ally, Willet and the Vigil seek the truth of what lies at the heart of the evil they face. They delve the mind of an old enemy and find an answer far worse than they could have imagined. 

Danger stalks the cities of the north, striking at the rulers of the kingdoms. As Willet and the rest of the Vigil seek to find answers, the group is scattered with an ever-growing darkness around them. Will they discover a path to keep their land safe, or will an ancient evil reclaim the world it once called its own?

My Thoughts

Have you ever had someone "suggest" a book, author, or theme that you have never thought of reading but you found yourself purchasing.  Or, you thought you ordered one book yet ended up with something entirely different?  When The Wounded Shadow showed up in my mail box I realized that is exactly what happened to me, but if I get a book I read it.  Never mind it is the 3rd and final novel in a series or that it is a genre I have never read.  While finding myself in this predicament the stars aligned that Patrick Carr was the author of my misorder.  

The Wounded Shadow is an entertaining novel. It took me a few chapters to figure things out but I soon found myself engulfed in the plot.  Carr writes fantastic dialog I felt like I was journeying with Willet and the Vigil through the entire book.  If you are looking to try a new author and maybe branching out and reading a new genre then Patrcik Carr should be your author of choice and The Darkwater Saga should be where you start. 

Justice Betrayed By: Patricia Bradley

Back of the book

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?

My Thoughts

 Patricia Bradley has written some amazing plots over the years, but the plot in Justice Betrayed is one of the best.  I loved having the Elvis Impersonators involved and learning about their groupies, plus the culture behind Elvis week.  It truly took this novel to the next level.  Rachel Sloan was a hard character for me to get behind, because she always had a hidden plan and ideas.  On the other hand I loved Boone Callahan, and his straight forward, justice for all attitude.  

Justice Betrayed is an interesting, entertaining, and fun novel to read.  I cant wait to read it again.

Just Let Go By: Courtney Walsh

Back of the book

For Quinn Collins, buying the flower shop in downtown Harbor Pointe fulfills a childhood dream, but also gives her the chance to stick it to her mom, who owned the store before skipping town twenty years ago and never looking back. Completing much-needed renovations, however, while also competing for a prestigious flower competition with her mother as the head judge, soon has Quinn in over her head. Not that she’d ever ask for help.

Luckily, she may not need to. Quinn’s father and his meddling friends find the perfect solution in notorious Olympic skier Grady Benson, who had only planned on passing through the old-fashioned lakeside town. But when a heated confrontation leads to property damage, helping Quinn as a community-service sentence seems like the quickest way out—and the best way to avoid more negative press.

Quinn finds Grady reckless and entitled; he thinks she’s uptight and too regimented. Yet as the two begin to hammer and saw, Quinn sees glimpses of the vulnerability behind the bravado, and Grady learns from her passion and determination, qualities he seems to have lost along the way. But when a well-intentioned omission has devastating consequences, Grady finds himself cast out of town—and Quinn’s life—possibly forever. Forced to face the hurt holding her back, Quinn must finally let go or risk missing out on the adventure of a lifetime.

My Thoughts

An absolute must read!!  Grady is passionate and self absorbed, yet Walsh has written him in such amazing fashion that I found myself rooting for him to succeed.  Quinn seems so simple on the surface but has layers of self doubt that she must deal with.  True to Courtney Walsh form, Just Let Go is entertaining with amazing dialog and wonderful side characters.  Walsh finds a way to entertain and make you evaluate your life.  As I turned the last page on Quinn and Grady's story I thought of ways to improve my own life and Just Let Go.  

Storm Front By: Susan May Warren

Back of the Book

A tornado has destroyed a small Minnesota community and among the missing are not only a group of students but PEAK Rescue team leader Chet King. Ty Remington will stop at nothing to rescue his mentor, not even when the girl he loved--and lost--walks back into his life. But Brette needs his help more than he knows, despite her stubborn determination to push him away. And when he gets a second chance, loving her just might cost him more than he can imagine.

A blogger for Vortex Storm Chasers, Brette Arnold didn't expect her adventures to land her in the same place as Ty, the guy who she walked--no, ran--from over a year ago. She had her reasons--good ones. The kind that tell her that falling for him again would only lead to heartache. But Ty isn't the kind of man to give up--not on the missing students, or on her.

Life and love hang in the balance in Susan May Warren's breathless story of holding on to hope during a deadly summer of storms.

My Thoughts

To say Susan May Warren has written the perfect novel might seem a bit too much, but this was as close to perfection as I think you can get!  Ty has always been such a thought out, kind and easy to relate to character so to have him in the lime light made this book flow.  Brette was the perfect opposite with deep physical and emotional wounds she hasn't dealt with.  This is the 5th novel in the Montana Rescue series and is NOT a stand alone.  Do yourself, and this book, a favor and go back and at least refresh yourself on what has been happening with the PEAK Rescue  team.  It will not only make the novel more enjoyable but you will not be confused as characters weave in and out through the novel.