Dead Drift

Dead Drift Author: Dani Pettrey

Series: Chesapeake Valor #4

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: July 3, 2018

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

The final book in the Chesapeake Valor series gives fans what they have longed for with the story of Luke and Kate! The best in the series by far!

It’s been seven years since Luke Gallagher disappeared leaving all the people he cared about to wonder if they would ever see him again. He has been determined to stop a deadly terrorist before returning to the life he left behind. There is no way he can feel comfortable leaving the agency until the threat is neutralized. When the threat returns close to home, Luke knows he can’t do it alone anymore and turns to his friends to help stop what could be the deadliest terrorist attack in history. Kate Maxwell has been perfectly happy running her own private investigator firm, even if she has used it to help keep track of the one man she loved and lost, Luke. With Luke back in her life and working with her to track down a terrorist, they have more opportunities than she would have thought possible to be close again. It’s hard for her to forget the pain he caused her but they have bigger problems, like staying alive with the terrorist targeting them next.

I love when a series I’ve fallen in love with wraps up and leaves a smile on my face with the conclusion. I’m sure I’m like most fans of Dani Pettrey who have anxiously been awaiting the story of Luke and Katie. Each book in the series has had its own high points and this one brought everything full circle with all the characters we love. One of the best aspects of Dead Drift is finally finding out who killed Griffin’s sister! I loved the way that plotline played out, although I will say I wish the suspense would have gone just a little longer and not wrapped up so quickly. That’s just me though, I feel like our characters can always be in just a little more danger for just a little longer before things play out. It is hard to have so many characters and story lines and still be able to wrap things up without leaving loose ends, something Pettrey has become a pro at with her series. The Cheasapeake Valor series might have become one of my very favorites, not only for the characters but also for the way they connect with each other and bring the reader right into the story. I hate that this is the last book in the series but can’t wait to see what comes next for Pettrey. I recommend this book to fans of Romantic suspense and of authors like Dee Henderson, Lynette Eason and Susan May Warren.

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

Minding the Light

Minding the light Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Series: Nantucket Legacy

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: July 3, 2018

Reviewer: Jennifer S. Roman

Following the descendants of the Starbucks, Macys, and Coffin families as the first settlers of Nantucket, Minding the Light picks up a few generations after its predecessor, Phoebe’s Light. In this story, Daphne Coffin picks up the pieces of her sister Jane’s family after Jane’s unfortunate death. Leaving behind two children and a sea captain husband who has just returned after a six-year whaling voyage, Jane is estranged from her widowed mother who wants nothing to do with Jane. Jane eloped with her sea captain Reynolds “Ren” Macy years ago, and socialite Lillian is more worried than her reputation than her grandchildren. Daphne is expected to become betrothed to Ren’s cousin Tristram, one of the island’s most eligible bachelors, but something doesn’t feel right to Daphne. As the story progresses, readers see just what Daphne battles as she does her best to care for Jane’s family.

As with Phoebe’s Light, Minding the Light alternates between Daphne’s story and excerpts from her Great Mary’s journal, which was passed down to Jane before her father’s passing. Daphne finds it and starts reading it as she sits at Jane’s sick bed. Not only is she comforted by the clear connection to her past relatives, she is also shocked by some family secrets. She too takes a dip in the buried family treasure and adds her story to the legend. By the end of the book, Daphne makes some hard decisions and learns some painful truths about family and just how far people will go to have things their way.

Minding the Light is a quick and easy read, but is far from lighthearted. The Puritan ways of life are explored as the next generations settle Nantucket. Slavery is abolished on the island but is still an issue there. Secrets haunt families in ways that only buried secrets can. It’s intriguing and sad at the same time, as the characters quickly grab readers’ attention and draw them into their dramas. Nothing is over the top, yet it’s, in a way, nice to know that people back then had similar issues that we have today.

There is nothing in this book that should be offensive to readers, although some of the subject matter is for mature readers. I highly recommend this book, though, as I thoroughly enjoyed the history lesson wrapped up in a soap opera of sorts. Readers who enjoy historical fiction will enjoy keeping up with the Macys, Starbucks, and Coffins.

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

The Hope of Azure Springs

azure springs Author: Rachel Fordham

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: July 3, 2018

Reviewer: Jennifer S. Roman

When an injured, dirty, malnourished young woman arrives in Azure Springs, Iowa, in 1881, nobody knows who she is or how she got there. They just know that they have to take care of her and then figure out how to help her. The Howell family, owner of the local mercantile, volunteers to take her in and nurse her back to health. After suffering the loss of their sons to the fever, they have their own hurts to heal. Sheriff Caleb Reynolds is tasked with finding out who this young woman is and why she has mysteriously appeared in his town. As he gets to know the young woman, known as Em, he learns that her past is connected to some serious trouble. Em learns to trust again as she slowly lets the Howell family, and Caleb, into her heart. Out comes her horrible story of being shipped on an orphan train from New York to Iowa and of losing her sister along the way. Feeling unwanted and unworthy are the lesser pains of her previous life as she lived with an unsavory man in his barn. Despite being a plain girl with unremarkable features, Em is able to capture the heart of the town and of the town’s most eligible bachelor.

Written from a perspective of several people, The Hope of Azure Springs explores the past and how its fingers grab onto the present. Em is trying to deal with the horrible feelings of loss, guilt, and rejection from childhood as she loses both parents and then later her sister. She experiences additional hurt when all the other children on the orphan train are chosen and she is not; eventually, she is chosen last minute and is immediately sorry as the man who takes her in neglects her and leaves her to fend for herself. Caleb, one of several boys, feels rejection and inadequacy. It seems as though his parents don’t see him after his older brothers are killed in the war, and he is always living in their shadow. Not being expressive people to begin with, he doesn’t know how they feel about him and tries to earn their love and appreciation. Abigail Howell, the matriarch of the Howell family, has her own loss to deal with as she tries to move on after her sons die from the fever. She dotes on her older daughter Eliza to the point of creating a spoiled brat who has no empathy towards others. Thankfully, she realizes it before it is too late for Eliza and her younger girls. Throughout the story, all of the characters face their troubled pasts and look forward to the future with optimism and hope.

There is some violence in the book that is mild by today’s standards. Overall, however, The Hope of Azure Springs does not have much objectionable in it. Adults and mature teens should be fine reading it.

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

Honeysuckle Dreams

Honeysuckle dreams Author: Denise Hunter

Series: Blue Ridge Romance #2

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Release Date: May 1, 2018

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Can self-arranged marriages end in true love?

Brady Collins was on the fast track to becoming a custom car mechanic. But when his ex-wife suddenly dies, he finds himself a single dad to a nine month old boy. Even so, he has found joy being a dad and taking care of him, even if he has to rely on friends more to watch his son while he works. One day Brady gets devastating news: his ex-wife’s parents have filed for a paternity test of his son and the results indicate that he is not the father. Driven to stay the boy’s legal father, Brady’s attorney gives him advice that if he was in a stable engagement or marriage, it could sway the court’s opinion to keep the family unit as it currently is. But where would Brady find a willing woman to agree to be his wife?

Hope Daniels is a local radio celebrity who has been working part time at a station in Atlanta. When she is home, she helps out Brady with watching his son. When she hears the news that Brady could lose his son, she proposes that they get engaged to help the court’s opinion. After a temporary victory, Hope then learns that they would likely have to get married. Could she agree to a loveless marriage for her friend? And what could it do to her career?

This was a light romance read that was perfect for summer. It was an easy, predictable novel that had a storyline that kept the pages moving forward to see how it was going to play out. I can’t imagine having a child and then finding out you’re not the parent while having others trying to take the child away. Hunter quickly draws readers into becoming an ally for Brady and all that he has to deal with. Readers will also love Hope’s attitude and willingness to help out her friend’s needs ahead of her own. The idea of two people agreeing to a marriage for the good of a child that isn’t theirs was an interesting concept. I enjoyed how it started as a mutual friendship that escalated into a romance. Quite a good summer read.

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

The Orphan’s Wish

The Orphan's Wish Author: Melanie Dickerson

Series: Hagenheim #8

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Release Date: June 26, 2018

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A fun retelling of the beloved tale Aladdin with a daring rescue and a love story for all.

After being orphaned at a young age, Aladdin travels around trying to find his place to belong. When he ends up at an orphanage and meets Lady Kirstyn, the daughter of the Duke of Hageneim, they quickly form an unbreakable bond. Aladdin didn’t let being an orphan stop him from working hard and proving his worth. Every day he strived to prove he could be more than a poor orphan. He wants to show he can put his past of having to steal behind him and make amends for his wrongs. He wants to earn his fortune so he can be considered to marry Lady Kirstyn, but in order to do that he feels he must leave Hagenheim. Shortly after Aladdin leaves, Lady Kirstyn is kidnapped and used against both her father and Aladdin. Aladdin has to decide what is more important, his fortune he has worked for to prove he is worthy of Lady Kirstyn or saving the woman he loves.

At first I didn’t realize this was a retelling of Aladdin and was surprised with a few of the aspects of the book that made me chuckle. I enjoyed the way Aladdin worked hard despite all of the obstacles in his way. Lady Kirstyn was put in some difficult situations as well but never gave up hope in those she loved and her own abilities. This is one of the types of books I enjoy sitting down to read without having to think too much about, just enjoying the story while I’m in it and not worrying about anything else. The characters, with exception to one or two, were enjoyable to me in the story and I am happy to say the story played out well and didn’t leave me hanging or angry. There isn’t much negative I have to say about the story except for the fact that at times the story did feel a little slow but didn’t take long to pick up and keep me going. I haven’t read a lot of Melanie Dickerson but am sure to keep her on my list for upcoming reads. I recommend this book to those that enjoy a good historical romance with fun little tid-bits sprinkled in to make the story light hearted.

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

Where Hope Begins

Where Hope Begins Author: Catherine West

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Release Date: May 22, 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

An emotional roller coaster ride that some may find difficult to read but will find closure in the end.

Savannah Barrington has just lost the one person she never dreamed would betray her. Her husband, Kevin, has had an affair and has decided to leave her for his younger love. Now with Kevin gone, their daughter Zoe in college and son Adam at a boarding school, the house feels as empty as ever. Savannah decides to go stay at the lake house her mother owns up in the Berkshires for a change of scenery. While there, she is introduced to a young girl who is the spitting image of her first daughter who died in a bicycle accident several years ago. The girl’s father turns out to be a famous author that both she and Kevin always loved to read. They are staying with his aunt, who has been prepared to help Savannah heal through tending her late husband’s greenhouse. But healing won’t come easy, it will take faith and forgiveness. Can Savannah find the strength to forgive her husband and move on?

I have been wanting to read a book by Catherine West for a long time and I am glad that I finally did. This book was really hard for me to read because half way through my three year old son had a freak accident that could have easily resulted in death. It really shook my husband and I to the core and it was hard to pick up the book and continue reading when the main character was feeling the same emotions that were going through me at the time. Fortunately, he is ok and the book had a silver lining at the end.

I love getting to read a great story that is clean and relatable. I understood the emotions of the characters and have seen what they were going through first hand. There is a lot of family drama and struggle in this book and it makes it very real. West also did a great job of setting her scenes so that I could easily find my way into the characters world. I am going to go get a couple more of her books for future reading!

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

Justice Betrayed

Justice Betrayed Author: Patricia Bradley

Series: Memphis Cold Case #3

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: June 5, 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

With Elvis impersonators, unsolved murders, and an unstable murderer, Justice Betrayed is bound to leave readers all shook up!

Detective Rachel Sloan thinks she is ready for whatever comes her way until an Elvis impersonator comes asking for her help. Vic Vegas knew her before her mother died and wants Rachel to help look into a cold case that might even be related to what happened to her mother. When Vic’s house is broken into and trouble follows the case, Rachel starts to think there might be more to this case than she or anyone else originally thought. As things heat up in the case, so does the tension between Rachel and her Lieutenant, Boone Callahan. They had a small spark between them once but were not able to pursue the relationship being in the same unit at the department. Trying to solve the case will take them working together and putting aside any differences they might have in order to stop a potential serial killer from claiming any more victims.

Patricia Bradley has found a knock-out formula for romantic suspense with the Memphis cold case series. The characters are real and easy to relate to and the story itself is one that readers will enjoy to the end. I found Rachel a great lead, she was sure of herself but not cocky. She went after what she wanted even if others around her didn’t agree with her decisions and she followed her heart and stayed true to that. I didn’t want to like Boone at first but it didn’t take long at all for him to grow on me and find myself not only routing for him but also the relationship between the him and Rachel. It was a fun mystery with the cold cases and the relationship between that and the murder of Rachel’s mother. I’m sure there is an entire circuit of people devoted to that and cases within as well so I enjoyed seeing how Bradley brought the story to life. This is one of those books that fans of not only Patricia Bradley but fans of romantic suspense in general will enjoy and want to continue the series to see what happens with the characters and what other cold cases they can try and solve.

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

A Rebel Heart

A Rebel heart Author: Beth White

Series: Daughtry House #1

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: June 5, 2018

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

It is obvious through every page that Beth White has done her research and turned A Rebel Heart into a must read for lovers of historical fiction.

It’s been five years since the War Between the States ended and Selah Daughtry has worked day in and out to keep herself and her family safe, and fed. Their land is about to go under in debt and giving it up is the last thing she wants to do. When it seems like all hope is lost Levi Riggins, a former union cavalryman comes and starts to investigate some inconsistences and possible sabotage to the Daughtry family land. Selah doesn’t know if she can trust him when he tells her he can help save her land if she agrees to turn the family home into a hotel. Trusting Levi is the only option she has, what she didn’t expect was her heart to fall for him during this difficult time when love is the last thing she is looking for.

A Rebel Heart is the perfect book for lovers of historical fiction. With the setting in Mississippi and the family struggling to keep their land and each other together, the tension mounts quickly as the fight to keep what is theirs together. The connection between Levi and Selah is immediate and you know the tension between them is going to build to a romance they won’t be able to turn away from. I enjoyed the way Levi worked to keep his mission a secret and still do the work he was there to do. It was hard for him to keep his distance when he obviously wanted to be with Selah. The book kept a good pace throughout and I enjoyed the way it played out at the end leaving room for more to come but wrapping things up nicely.

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

Lone Witness

Lone Witness Author: Rachel Dylan

Series: Atlanta Justice #2

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: May 1, 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

An edge of your seat thriller in the world of white-collar crimes and gangs. Rachel Dylan has crafted a page-turner that must be read!

Sophie Dawson has recently been appointed to the White Collar division as a prosecutor and is intrigued at the idea of diving deeper into these crimes that affect so many. She is working on a case against a local bank employee who seemed to be cheating his clients out of money. In the middle of preparing for this case, she becomes the lone witness to a double murder with a member of a local gang leaving her far from the white-collar crimes she was working on. She needs security to stay safe, so her father hires former Atlanta police officer Cooper Knight, who is working in private security to be her protector. Sophie refuses to back down, even after her life is in danger more than once. Cooper works every angle he can think of to keep her safe while trying to avoid the growing feelings he can’t deny between the two of them.

Rachel Dylan’s background in law makes her work writing legal thrillers the perfect combination. At times, the legal jargon and courtroom scenes can slow the pace a bit but are necessary for the story and characters. Sophie may not want to admit it, but she is scared for what might happen as she pursues justice and tries to prove that she will not be walked over. There were several nice twists throughout, especially towards the end that caught me by surprise, not an easy thing to do either. I usually see the twists coming but this one did surprise me. The romance between Cooper and Sophie felt slightly forced at times but when put in a high stress situation it does make sense that feelings could escalate quickly. It is easy to think of crimes and exclude white-collar crimes because the physical damage isn’t seen, but it still affects many people and doesn’t need to be discounted for lack of visible carnage. Overall I really enjoyed Lone Witness and recommend it to fans of legal thrillers and romantic suspense.

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

Blind Betrayal

Blind Betrayal Author: Nancy Mehl

Series: Defenders of Justice #3

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: April 17, 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Nancy Mehl’s newest installment to the Defenders of Justice series gives readers their favorite characters in the most heart stopping adventure yet.

In what starts out as a routine day escorting a reporter to Washington to testify before a grand jury quickly turns into the most dangerous assignment U. S. Marshal Casey Sloane has had yet. The witness was reporting on an up and coming environmentalist with potential ties to terrorism. As she and her partner are getting ready to transport their witness, their office is bombed leaving them unsure of who they can trust and where to go to stay safe. They flee with their witness and together, with an old flame from her past Casey, is tasked with doing all she can to keep everyone alive and safe.

As the final book in the Defenders of Justice series, Nancy Mehl has crafted a story that wraps up the series successfully and with as much, if not more, tension than all of the previous books. Each book is unique in its own way and can be read together or individually with equal enjoyment. I enjoyed the way this story was crafted showing how technology can be harmful and helpful at times. With the use of social media, Casey and her team found their way out of a tough spot that otherwise might not have given the team the help they needed. I liked Casey. She was tough but not over the top or even stubborn. Being a leading lady and in law enforcement, authors have to show these characters are able to keep up with their male counterparts and are not to be messed with but are still human and not exempt from harm or other problems. It would have been easy for Mehl to put the romance element at the forefront, but she kept the suspense tight throughout keeping me glued to the page until the very end. I enjoyed the secondary characters more than I thought I would at times, they helped carry the story along when it could have started to drag. Overall I enjoyed this book and recommend to fans of Mehl and those that enjoy romantic suspense.

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