A Killing on the Hill

Author: Robert Dugoni

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: April 9, 2024

A very different book by Dugoni, but still an outstanding thriller that will find a whole new audience for this fabulous author.

In Seattle in 1933, it is the middle of the Great Depression and Prohibition when William “Shoe” Shumacher is working as a reporter trying to make enough to get by and maybe send some money home to help his family. One night he gets a call about a murder up on Profanity Hill and when he arrives, he finds himself the first reporter on scene of what will be the story to change his career. Killed at the club is Frankie Ray and the owner of the club is the one on trial for murder. Shoe now works with the detectives to help uncover the truth of what happened, but the more clues he finds, the more danger he finds himself in as well in a case that is anything but ordinary.

Robert Dugoni is a master thriller writer; he is one of my absolute favorite authors and I will pick up anything he has written without thinking about it, I’m that sure I will enjoy it. While a historical read is not usually a type of book I enjoy very much, this one is written well and flows quickly keeping the reader engaged. I can’t say this is my favorite book by him, but it was an enjoyable read. I don’t think any other writer could have written a historical novel like this and made me enjoy it to the level I did. William is a great protagonist and the way he goes up against those trying to bring him down is great and inspiring. One of the things Dugoni does best is make you fall in love with characters and want to see them succeed. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a great thriller.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

That’s Not My Name

Author: Megan Lally

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: December 26, 2023

Not at all what I expected in the very best way. A fun mystery with just the right twists and turns.

When a teen wakes up on the side of the road with no memory of who she is or how she got there, a passing officer finds her and takes her to the station where a man shows up and says she is his daughter. He has documentation and everything, he tells the officer her name is Mary and wants to take her home. A few hours away, Drew is searching for his missing girlfriend, Lola; she left in the night and no one has seen her sense. Drew has been the prime suspect and finding her is the only way of proving his innocence. When he gets a tip about this girl possibly being Lola, he feels it is his only choice; little does he know they are both about to end up in more danger they could have imagined.

I picked up That’s Not My Name on a whim and have left it on the shelf for a long time. Now that I picked it up and read it, I am kicking myself for waiting so long. This was a fun, faced-paced thriller with the perfect twists and turns all the way throughout the story. I loved the way it played out with the back and forth between Mary and Drew. There is a little bit of language which I don’t like in a young adult novel but for a more mature readers it isn’t a problem. The story flows at a fast pace and is a great fun read for anyone who loves suspense and mystery.

Fatal Domain

Author: Steven James

Series: Travis Brock Thriller #2

Publisher: Tyndale House

Release Date: April 9, 2024

Another fabulous thriller by Steven James that is full of intertwined moments making for a complex and amazing story.

Travis Brock works as a redactor at the Pentagon and with his eidetic memory he is able to remember everything he reads which makes him very valuable to the wrong people. Travis is still working on getting over the pain of his wife dying in the fire at their house that left him with burns on his body. When evidence surfaces that his wife might actually be alive and be the one behind the fire, Travis and his team are pulled into a bigger plot that could mean trouble for the whole country.

Steven James has been called a “Master Storyteller” for a reason. He has a way of crafting amazing stories that are twisted and full of puzzle pieces that all fit together nicely at the end for an amazing story. His stories are not the kind you can read haphazardly and not pay attention to every detail; you will definitely miss key details needed for the rest of the story. I love the way he drops crumbs throughout that may not make sense until you get to the end and when they fit together puts a smile on my face. James is the kind of author that as soon as I know he has a book coming out I am waiting by the mailbox for it to come in and start devouring the pages. I would recommend reading the first book in this series before starting this one for sure. Fans of Steven James and anyone who loves a good suspense book will not want to miss this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Chaos

Authors: Ronie Kendig and Steffani Webb

Series: A Breed Apart #2

Publisher: Sunrise Publishing

Release Date: January 9, 2024

Chaos is one fast paced, nail-biting thriller that fans of Kendig and her amazing writing will not want to miss.

Rio Silva has wanted to work with her father’s retired military dog for a long time and she is finally getting her chance when her aunt and uncle go missing in the Philippine rainforest. Chaos won’t let just anyone work with him and can be plenty stubborn, just like Rio at times. In order to find her family, she must work with a former Army Ranger, Cathal McGowan and the two immediately butt heads as they try to work together. Not only do they have to find a way to work together, but they also have to navigate dangerous terrain and stay out of the way of those looking to stop them from achieving their mission.

Chaos is the second book in the Breed Apart series and in this one Ronie Kendig writes with Steffani Webb and creates a story that is full of heart and lots of tension between characters that pulled me into the story. If readers aren’t careful, they could see Rio as a bit of an annoying character; I didn’t see her that way but could see her as that if not careful. She has so much passion for what she is trying to do that it can be hard for her to slow down and take a second, which for others can seem annoying or impulsive, exactly as Cathal saw her. This was a very fast read with the tension between these characters and the animal action.

These Tangled Threads

Author: Sarah Loudin Thomas

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: April 2, 2024

A historical fiction read with heart and a tale of friendship that will touch the heart.

Lorna Blankenship is a weaver for Biltmore Industries and is asked to create an original design for Cornelia Vanderbilt’s upcoming wedding. Lorna worries she will not be able to come up with a worthy design in time. She has heard of an artist in the Blue Ridge Mountains that might be able to help but being able to track down this weaver is going to be harder than expected. Years earlier, Lorna and several of her friends had a falling out and now she must try and put those friendships back together in order to accomplish the task in front of her.

Any book that is set in such an area such as the Blue Ridge Mountains is easy to pull me in. I loved the setting in this book so much that I was able to look past any moments that didn’t feel right for the story, which were few and far between. The dynamics between these characters was intriguing and engaging. This story was a fun one to fly through, I enjoyed all aspects of it and felt satisfied with the way it all played out. This is a book that fans of historical fiction will not want to miss.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

A Season of Harvest

Author: Lauraine Snelling

Series: Leah’s Garden #4

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: January 30, 2024

Oh I love a sweet budding romance type novel and this one hit the target with a perfect bullseye!

Larkspur Nielsen runs a homestead with her sisters and even though they have been struggling she is determined to stay strong and keep at it. With the troubles at the homestead she hasn’t had time to worry about her heart. That is until Isaac McTavish comes to town and tries to convince her to let him help. It doesn’t take long for feelings to develop between the two and even more trouble for her at the homestead.

A Season of Harvest is a sweet romance that readers of historical romance will quickly fall in love with. The story played out in such a sweet way that I found myself smiling as I turned the pages. The story has a picture painted so clearly that I felt like I was standing in the places along with these characters. This is the fourth book in the series and while it could possibly be read as a standalone ,I would recommend reading the series in order to get the most out of each and every book. This book has a high faith element and readers will feel that connection as they read and hopefully get something out of it more than just a good story. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy historical romance in the best sense.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Up From Dust

Author: Heather Kaufman

Series: Women of the Way #1

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: January 23, 2024

A biblical story that will hit the heart strings hard and leave the reader so incredibly satisfied.

Martha of Bethany has the responsibility of raising her siblings after the sudden death of her mother. Raising two young kids while trying to find herself is a struggle in and of itself. Her first love isn’t turning out to be what she expected and all she has worked for is falling apart. Years later Martha and her friends ask Jesus to help heal her husband and when Martha remembers who he is she watches him closely. Miracles or not she is unsure how to proceed and what is the right thing to do.

I have read several books over the last few years dealing with characters from the bible in some form or fashion and this one ends up pretty high on the list. In this we see the difficult times Martha faces not only with her family but also her interactions with Jesus. These interactions are well done and engaging. I loved the way the story played out and kept me invested. Readers that are interested in biblical fiction will not want to put this one aside. It is a great read that has a lot to offer.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple

Author: Joanna Davidson Politano

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: April 9, 2024

A bit of a slow start but an overall enjoyable historical fiction read.

Peter Driscoll is an investigator of the wealthy and when he meets Lily Temple a film actress who he is instantly attracted to. Peter is in charge of finding the Briarwood Teardrop, a sapphire that Lily happens to have with her. Even though he is now investigating, her feelings are hard to deny and the more they investigate the more danger they both end up in.

While I went into this one skeptical that it was going to be a very slow read, I did find myself enjoying the story once it got going and quickly became intrigued with Peter and Lily There were a lot of different levels to this story and I loved the way the author brought everything together. Each of the characters had a very natural feel to them and I found myself along for the ride, one that I enjoyed very much. This is probably my favorite Joanna Davidson Politano novel I have read yet and will be looking forward to the next by her.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

A Noble Scheme

Author: Roseanna M. White

Series: The Imposters #2

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: March 19, 2024

A very clever and fun historical romance with more to it than meets the eye at first glance.

Gemma Parks broke Graham Wharton’s heart and working as a columnist in London, she works to help the Imposters. She uses her skills as an investigator to help them gather intel, but Graham is in the way of her investigation and her heart healing. When the Imposters take on a bigger job of helping in the investigation of a kidnapping Graham uses the time to not only find the missing boy but also try to get back with the woman he still loves.

A Noble Scheme is a great addition to the historical romance bookshelves. I enjoyed the investigation that Gemma and Graham investigated and how it was able to bring them back together. It was played out well in a back and forth between the two in a slow steady way that never felt rushed. Gemma was a tough cookie, but Graham was patient and determined to get back what he lost. There was a great aspect to the love story and the suspense of all they were looking into was top notch. I recommend this book to those that enjoy clean historical romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Just for the Summer

Author: Melody Carlson

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: March 19, 2024

A sweet contemporary romance that will put a smile on readers’ faces.

Ginny Masters lives in Seattle and works at one of the hotel boutiques. It is a good job but hard and a boss that demands a bit much at times. Jacqueline Potter has trouble finding a job with her hospitality degree, so she works at her grandfather’s Idaho fishing lodge. The two get together and decide that for the summer they should switch things up and see if it helps their lives on every front including their love lives.

Melody Carlson is becoming a go-to for me when I want a good contemporary romance read. This was a fun read about switching places and finding something when you least expect it. Ginny and Jacqueline were so fun to read and see what they were going through and how it changed when they switched places. This is the kind of book that readers can sit down and fly through the pages in one sitting, an easy-breazy kind of book that all can enjoy. I recommend this to those that love contemporary romance reads and if you have read Melody Carlson you know you will love this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.