Author: C.F. Dunn

Series: The Secret of the Journal #4

Publisher: Kregel

Release Date: July 27, 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

The fourth book in The Secret of the Journal brings things to the brink as Emma is forced to face her past as never before!

Emma and Matthew have professed their love in front of family and friends and are now married. They still have Matthew’s secret to haunt them, a fact that Emma still has to get used to.  Trying to be fully honest in their relationship, she discloses the full extent of her relationship with Guy Hilliard.  This explains to Matthew why she has found it difficult to fully trust him or anyone else.  It comes at just the right time too; shortly after she tells Matthew of her past Guy shows up and interjects himself into their lives.  He is on the way to steal her job and has started dating Ellie, Matthew’s great granddaughter.  Emma has to decide what lengths she will go to protect those she loves and if she can live with what she will have to do.

As the fourth book in the series, I’m pleased with the direction this one went. By inserting the link from Emma’s past and playing on that aspect, it took the story in a much better direction.  The tension was tight and the characters were in sync with each other as the story progressed.  I think this is something that was missing in the last few books.  Having Guy and the relationship he had with Emma start the book and then transitioning to how he was brought back into the picture really helped the story.  He was a purely evil character and nothing about him said differently.  With this being the fourth book in the series, I was afraid I wasn’t going to like the direction and give up, but that turned out to not be the case.  I will be anxiously awaiting the fifth and final in the series to see what happens with Emma and Matthew and the rest of the Lynes family.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Kregel Publications for an honest and thorough review. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: C.F. Dunn

Series: The Secret of the Journal #3

Publisher: Kregel

Release Date: August 28, 2014

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Not quite as good as the first two in the series, but still an enjoyable read.

As Emma and Matthew continue their romance, the next step is for her to meet his family. She meets his seventy-year-old son, Henry, and learns of the many differences in his family compared to most everyone else.  She is spending Christmas at his family’s home and quickly realizes not everyone is happy she is in their lives.  Matthew’s great granddaughter, Maggie, is obvious in her dislike for Emma.  It isn’t until later when everyone realizes the implications of Maggie’s dislike and the means she is willing to go to keep her out of the family.  The one person she is most hesitant to meet is Ellen, Matthew’s wife.  They have both agreed that they will wait to be together until Ellen passes away, knowing it is just a matter of time.  As things progress, the need to keep the lies straight becomes harder, as does the danger of exposure of the ones she is starting to love and call family.

Overall I have enjoyed this series, but I have to say that since I have finished book three I feel that it could have been combined with book two easily. Both have a lot of scenes that felt like filler material.  Once the trial started things picked up.  The pace of the story from this point on was much better and enjoyable.  This series is labeled as Christian Fiction but does have some harsh language and sex talk, nothing graphic, but there nonetheless.  The sexual scenes are more talking of intent and does not go into much detail.  It is the language that bothers me, especially being labeled Christian Fiction.  While I think the writing is done well, I can’t help but compare once again to the Twilight series.  Fans of those will likely enjoy these even with the similarities.  I still recommend A Rope of Sand to readers that they pick this one up, but to work through the first half quickly to get to the best parts.

Author: C.F. Dunn

Series: The Secret of the Journal #2

Publisher: Kregel

Release Date: June 1, 2013

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

The second book picks up where the first left off and answers some questions, but also leaves many to be answered!

Emma D’Eresby has left Maine and Matthew Lynes behind after the vicious attack she suffered by a psychotic professor at the college where she was teaching. Matthew might have saved her during the attack, but she still doesn’t know what to make of him.  Back home with her family, she is more distraught than ever.  She knows she is falling in love with Matthew, she just isn’t sure exactly what he is.  All signs point to him not being “normal,” but she doesn’t know more.  As her physical and emotional state continues to deteriorate, her parents invite an old family friend to come evaluate her.  During their conversation, Emma realizes that this doctor has spoken to Matthew more than thirty years before, and his description matches the Matthew she knows now.  She goes into research mode and determines that Matthew has roots close to her home.  Using the journal, she is led to understanding Matthew’s secret.  Unexpectedly, Matthew arrives and professes his love for Emma.  She now must decide if she can trust him and he has to decide if he can share all of his deep secrets with her, things he has told no one before.

Once again I find myself comparing this second book in The Secret of the Journal to the second book in the Twilight series.  Not once is a vampire mentioned here, but I find the similarities between Emma and Bella striking.  They are both smitten by a tall dark man and taken with him before they realize what is happening.  They also know that he might not be the safest person for them to be with but they refuse to see the logic in that and follow their hearts regardless.  Emma uses her skills as a researcher to determine what Matthew has been hiding.  These attributes suited her well.  I’m not sure if it was intended, but Matthew came across as too mean and rough at times.  In the first book, the obvious love he had for her was seen with the care he took in tending to her needs, especially after her injuries.  I like the way Emma isn’t portrayed as totally dependent on someone and completely helpless.  She does rely on Matthew but at times you can see the fighter in her come out.  The negative reviews I’m seeing for this mostly go with having not read the first in the series making this less enjoyable.  I think it is important to read the first before diving head first into this one, mainly to understand the context of the relationships and how they might change throughout.  I did like the dynamic change between Emma and her father.  That relationship really developed the best of all of the characters, which probably shouldn’t have been the case since Emma and Matthew are the main characters.  Overall this was an enjoyable read and very quick.  I recommend romance lovers, especially those that enjoyed the Twilight series pick this up and give it a go.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Kregel Publications for an honest and thorough review. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: C.F. Dunn

Series: Secret of the Journal #1

Publisher: Kregel

Release Date: July 12, 2012

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

C.F. Dunn has written an interesting tale that fans of Twilight will enjoy.

Emma D’Eresby has come to the U.S. after teaching as a history professor at Cambridge. She may be young, but is one of the brightest in her field.  She is interested in a seventeenth century journal by an Englishman, a portion of which was left to her by her late grandfather.  She comes to a University in Maine to study the journal in full.  All she wants to do is focus on her research but that isn’t what happens.  She becomes friends with a Russian colleague, Elena, and is the subject of desire for more than one man.  She is shy to try a relationship, only coming for the journal and having had difficult relationships in the past.  When women are attacked on campus, Emma suspects an English professor, Kort Staahl is behind the incidents, he is also pursuing her and refuses to take no for an answer.  The biggest question she finds herself with is her own attraction to a handsome doctor who puzzles her and draws her closer every day.  With more questions than she came with, Emma is determined to get answers if it is the last thing she does.

I have read reviews that this is a Twilight for intellectuals. I could definitely see similarities between the two, but many more differences as well.  The story started slow, so much narrative slowed the progress.  Once I got a little over halfway things started to pick up quickly, (Chapter 14 in particular).  From this point on, I had trouble putting it down.  I’m hoping that is an indicator for the rest of the series moving just as fast.  The tension scenes were played out incredibly well.  I felt myself on the edge of my seat turning the pages to see what was coming next!  As I said, I can see several similarities with the Twilight series, not enough to be bothersome, but some obvious ways to compare.

The relationship between Emma and Matthew played out well. It wasn’t rushed, the tension between the two brought them together and made the relationship believable.  It could be said that Emma plays the damsel in distress, but I don’t see that.  She is a strong independent woman that knows what she wants and tries to stay that course no matter what obstacles she might encounter.  As long as the reader is patient, the payoff is well worth it!  I enjoyed this book and will recommend to others.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Kregel Publications for an honest and thorough review. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: James L. Rubart

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Release Date: August 9, 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A story so beautifully written it doesn’t need to be read, it needs to be absorbed into everything you have and believe.

Jake Palmer had everything going for him including a great wife and a promising career as a corporate trainer helping others to see deeper into themselves. After suffering a horrible injury, he is left a widow and doesn’t believe anything of what he teaches.  Every year he takes a vacation with his closest friends at a lake house.  This year he doesn’t want to go and be around those closest to him, but he reluctantly agrees.  His only term is that they go somewhere else for a change of scenery.  When he arrives, Jake hears the legend of Willow Lake.  Legend has it that Willow Lake has a lost corridor that leads to a place where one’s deepest longings will be fulfilled.  He knows it is ridiculous, but can’t help but hope that it is real for many reasons.  The more he looks into it, the more he hears of the legend and speculations of the corridor.  He wants to fix his crumbling life and find his deepest desires.  With each step he takes through the corridor, the more danger he encounters.

James Rubart has written an outstanding novel with Jake Palmer. The writing was crisp, clean and completely enthralling.  It wasn’t a thriller keeping you on the edge of your seat turning the page, but the pages turned faster than ever.  There was tension on every page.  The characters brought each situation to life.  It has been a long time since I felt so much vested interest into the life of the characters I am reading. There is a powerful message here of redemption and challenges that we can all relate to on some level.  We may not all face the same struggles that Jake does, but we all have struggles.  Watching Jake Palmer face his struggles and come out the way he did gives hope for redemption on so many levels.

Writing about the spiritual realm is a very difficult task. I’ve read many books that deal with this topic and this book has to go towards the top of the list of the very best.  If Rubart can continue to write stories equivalent to The Long Journey to Jake Palmer, he is going to be an author not to be missed.  Now I need to sit and let the message of this story resonate for a while before I can pick anything else up to read and hope it will be half as good.  Not likely.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins in exchange for an honest and thorough review.  The opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: Blake Crouch

Publisher: Crown Publishing

Release Date: July 26, 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

 If Pandora’s Box were created in this lifetime, I’m pretty sure this would be its story!  What a ride!

Jason Dessen lives a mediocre life with his wife Daniela and their son Charlie, but he is happy content with it. He had a chance to perform serious research to change the world fifteen years ago, but Daniela got pregnant and Charlie was premature, so he made the decision to give up his ambitions for his family.  Now he teaches at a small local college in Chicago.  One night is old college roommate receives a prestigious award for his research is having a reception at a local bar.  At Daniela’s urging, Jason decides to go, but on the way back is abducted by a man wearing a Geisha mask.  Jason gets knocked out and the next time he wakes up he is strapped to a gurney with a mass of people he doesn’t know telling him how excited they are that he made it back.  He finds that his family is no longer at home and his home doesn’t look like his home at all.  He then finds out that he isn’t employed by the college anymore.  He is the chief scientist for a research company and has apparently invented something incredible.  Only problem is he doesn’t remember any of it and he doesn’t believe it is true.  But to find the truth, it is going to take an incredible journey that Jason will never forget, no matter how hard he tries.

Ok. So this novel pretty much made me use parts of my brain that have either never been used or not used in a very long time.  It made me think so much through the course of the entire book.  Not just about the overall subject matter of string theory, which many people may know from The Big Bang Theory, but from the concepts that the author is introducing throughout this book.  I literally couldn’t put it down, even though my head hurt from thinking so much.  That’s just how good this book was!

This book reads very quickly. The pace is set incredibly fast and doesn’t let up.  Character development was awesome.  I cannot even begin to imagine if this were to happen in real life.  The emotions that Jason showed throughout the novel were very realistic and I found myself sympathizing with him.  As for the suspense, it kept getting changed up just when I thought I knew where it was going.  It isn’t that often that a book keeps me on my feet throughout, but Crouch sure knew how to do it.  You can tell that he is a master story teller and it is no surprise that he has written screenplays as well.  I’m going to be shocked if this is not picked up for a motion picture at some point in the very near future.  And when it does, you can bet I will be there to see it.

The only downside to the story was the occasional use of strong language. This occurs in several places throughout the book, but didn’t really take me away from the story in this case.  Just not a great idea for YA or under.  So, I would recommended this book to older teens and higher!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Penguin Random House blog program. The views and opinions expressed throughout are mine.

Author: Thomas Locke

Series: Fault Lines #2

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: August 2, 2016

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

New characters, past characters, and one awesome story make up the next installment in the Fault Lines series!

Lena Fennan is a junior analyst working like a slave at a Wall Street bank trying to make it to the next level. One day she hears a voice from her future self tell her how to obtain $3.1 million in order to set up a new financial institution in the State of Colorado in order to become the first financial institution in order to serve the legalized marijuana trade.  With the success of the acquisitions comes the accusations from her firm that she had no right within her contract to do so, but she still ends up with another project described from her future self.  But how can she keep this going?

Reese Clawson has suffered the worst fourteen months of her life being incarcerated. Then someone pulls some strings and she is suddenly back on the outside working for a group of unknown people.  She succeeds at every challenge they throw her way and eventually they pair her back up with her former partner Kevin Handley.  Can she figure out what is going on?  And if so, how will her new work collide with Lena’s project.

Flash Point rapidly throws you back into the action where Trial Run left off.  The story begins with a new character that readers will quickly identify with.  Shortly thereafter, Brett Rifkind is reintroduced in a new manner with a new mission.  Then Reese Clawson suddenly reappears and everything is back in business.  This series is so exciting and literally all over the map that it is hard to generate a synopsis for readers.  If you haven’t read the first one, I highly suggest that you do so that you can create the setting and gain an understanding for what is going on in this crazy world.

For a futuristic thriller, this is really different. It doesn’t deal with dystopia as several current YA novels are doing.  Instead it is set in present day with scientific advances in neuroscience.  There is quite a bit of jargon in the book, but it doesn’t take the reader away from the story.  It adds quite a bit of credibility to it overall.

If you are a fan of Thomas Locke (or Davis Bunn) check out this series. You’ll be glad you found a new read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Baker Publishing Group in exchange for a honest and thorough review. The views and opinions expressed herein are my own.

Author: Robert Whitlow

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Release Date: July 19, 2016

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A supernatural legal thriller that will leave you believing in the power of gifts.

Franz Haus has an incredible gift. He is able to see into the future.  As a captain in the Germany army during World War II, he has been a useful aid to a General for providing accurate information about the location of enemy soldiers as well as priceless artifacts.  However, he only sees a snapshot in time and cannot see future events beyond that particular scene.  When he witnesses the death of people that he help locate, Franz realizes that he can no longer serve the Germans.  He escapes across the River Rhine into Switzerland and ends up living with a fisherman and his grandson.  He learns the trade and eventually immigrates to America.

Now in present day New Bern, North Carolina, Frank House is retired, but still fishes during his free time. His grandson Parker is a young trial lawyer for a small firm in New Bern.  Parker is discovering that he has inherited his grandfather’s ability to witness future events.  A well-known trial lawyer in Wilmington has started to recognize his abilities too and wants to have his talents in his own firm.  But Parker’s love interest is also his daughter who wants nothing to do with her father.  As events unfold, Frank’s past begins to catch up with him and somehow Parker’s potential employer is involved.

I always love a good legal thriller and The Witnesses was no exception.  This is partly due to my love for the New Bern area.  My husband used to contract with an architectural firm on Pollock Street and I fell in love with the area when we would travel there.  In my mind’s eye I could see the churches, restaurants, courthouse, and even the rivers with their bridges.  Needless to say, it was very easy to set the scene.

Parker was a very interesting character to me. He was happy doing his job where he was, but was suddenly thrust in different directions.  He didn’t seem to be looking for a relationship, but still easily fell in love with Layla, proving that when it is your true love, it just happens (at least in books).  But he had a lot of obstacles to overcome.  First, Layla had a broken heart from a previous marriage to another lawyer.  Second, she believed that it was her father that ruined her previous marriage and now Parker is considering working for him.  There was probably more drama outside of the courtroom than inside.

Overall, this was a very good novel that didn’t overdo it on the trial jargon. It also combined Frank’s acceptance of Christianity and his instant connection with Layla.  Put it together with a great international mystery and you’ve got The Witnesses.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins in exchange for an honest and thorough review. The views and opinions expressed herein are my own.

Author: Ronie Kendig

Publisher: Shiloh Run Press

Release Date: July 1, 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Operation Zulu is a fast paced, military thriller with so many twists and turns you might not see them all till the very end!

It is a historic day when the first all-female special ops team gets their initial assignment. The only problem is they are set up to fail from the very beginning.  After the horrible incident that leaves them all fearing for their lives, they vanish with new identities.  However, they are not the only ones haunted by their past.  Their leader and handlers have to deal with the repercussions as well.  After five years of living safely with their new identities, everything starts to unravel.  They are being hunted and taken out one by one.  They must band together once more to sort out who is trying to kill them and what really happened to make their one and only mission go horribly wrong.

For a long time now, any Ronie Kendig book I have seen has resulted in me telling myself I should try it, I just never have. I’m kicking myself for that now.  I have been missing out on some great stories. Operation Zulu starts off with a bang and never lets up.  At times, it can get a little confusing because there are so many characters to follow.  Each chapter is broken down into different parts going back and forth between the different characters.  The Zulu team is comprised of six women, plus their handlers and their leader.  Throw in a few extra characters here and there and that is a lot to keep up with.  All that being said, Kendig did an excellent job differentiating between characters and what was going on with each individual.  Since this book started as a kindle special broken into parts, it might have been a little easier to follow. However, I prefer the full thing all at once.  Kind of like getting a full television season in one sitting.  There are lots of military thrillers out there, but what sets this apart is the female leads.  Kendig does an outstanding job of showcasing each operative’s talent and giving her a unique place in the group.  I don’t know if there is more planned for Zulu, but I sure hope so.  I highly recommend this book for all ages YA and up.

I received a complimentary copy of this of book from the author in exchange for a complete and honest review. The opinions and views expressed in this review are my own.

Author: Lynette Eason

Series: Elite Guardians #2

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: August 2, 2016

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A good clean read that will keep you guessing till the end!

The Elite Guardians Protection Agency has a new client. Daniel Matthews has a chain of restaurants and finds a body hanging in the basement late one night.  That same night, one of his other restaurants is set on fire.  It seems as if he has become a target for someone who will go to any length to shut his business down.  Katie Singleton knows Daniel from having his niece in her self-defense classes. When she sees police at his restaurant, she stops to see if he and his niece are okay.  As things escalate, she finds herself involved in his case trying to protect him and also falling for him.  Together they work to figure out who is trying to kill Daniel and why.

Several aspects of this book made it very enjoyable. The dialogue was clear, clean and to the point with each character.  I haven’t read the first in the series but didn’t feel that made a difference in enjoying this second installment.  Both Katie and Daniel were fun characters to follow, along with most of the minor characters.  There was a lot of tense action with the romance sprinkled throughout, just the way I like it.  Not much about the story I didn’t like.  I would have liked a little expansion on a few points of the mystery (how were the artifacts found and how much more is there to find).  I don’t want to give too much away so I won’t say any more about the artifacts relating to the mystery of the story.  Eason does a great job of writing a good clean mystery without making it boring, which happens all too often.  I enjoy books such as this that are entertaining without having to throw in a bunch of vulgar language and other such things that make it unsuitable to recommend to others.  I’m already looking forward to the next installment in the Elite Guardians series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Baker Publishing Group for a complete and honest review. That views and opinions expressed throughout are my own.