Driving Force

Authors: Lynette Eason & Kate Angelo

Series: Elite Guardians

Publisher: Sunrise Publishing

Release Date: March 22, 2022

The start of a new collection adding to the Elite Guardians series with a fresh author brings a fresh look at an already fantastic series!

The Elite Guardian’s newest member, Christina Sherman is in for a surprise with her newest client she is assigned to protect. Her client is bossy, headstrong, and to top it off, he is a highly trained military working dog called Boss. Special Forces Air Commando Grey Parker is his handler and has been training him to help find explosive materials that no other dog can track. That has made him and especially his dog a target. When Grey is scheduled to undergo a surgery to try and help him to walk again, he needs someone with the right clearance level to handle Boss while he is out of commission. Christina is supposed to keep Boss alive and well but ends up having to protect both he and Grey when they come under attack. What seems at a first to be a normal assignment ends up being more than Christina bargained for, and with more than their lives on the line, The Guardians are going to have to pull all their resources to get the job done.

I have enjoyed the Elite Guardians series by Lynette Eason and when I learned there would be a new set of authors exploring these characters and adding to the series, I was excited. While I was excited, I was also a little bit nervous, Eason has become one of my favorite romantic suspense authors and it is hard to fill those shoes. With Eason as her mentor, Kate Angelo has proven herself with Driving Force. The characters of Christina and Grey are engaging and charismatic in a way that shows the influence of Eason and that made Angelo a great author for this novel. Christina is a great protagonist; strong and full of passion no matter what obstacle she encounters she is going to give it her all. Even with all that said, she isn’t above showing fear in the face of great danger and still letting it work for her. The feelings she develops for Grey and the feelings he develops for her drive the story full speed ahead. I recommend this novel to fans of the Elite Guardians series and even if you haven’t read any of the series you could read this one and enjoy.

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

Along the Rio Grande

Author: Tracie Peterson

Series: Love on the Santa Fe #1

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: March 1, 2022

Great start to a new series set in the aridness of New Mexico!

Susanna Jenkins recently lost her husband to the Spanish Flu, but she has no need to worry about financial means. Meanwhile, her father has made some bad investments that left he and her mother financially ruined and even lost the estate that they have lived in for many years. When her uncle refuses to just bail them out and instead gives them an opportunity to learn from their mistakes as managers of a new hotel in New Mexico, Susanna decides to accompany them at the request of her uncle. Unfortunately, her parents can’t grasp the concept that everything shouldn’t just be given to them and much of the hotel’s operations fall to her. Will her parents and younger brother ever be able to understand the lesson they are trying to be taught?

Owen Turner is a boilermaker for the Santa Fe railroad. You might say that the railroad is in his blood since his father was an engineer on the line until he died. Owen tries to live his life right and walk with God, but he still has a lot of skeletons in the closet. When he meets the new hotel managers, he is quickly drawn to Susanna, especially when he learns that she is now widowed. When her brother comes to work at the railroad, he has a lot of trouble learning the craft and falls in with a group of friends that don’t help his behavior. Can Owen open his hear to Susanna and help her brother at the same time?

Tracie Peterson writes such fun stories and for those of us who love steam trains as well, what could be better than a historical romance set amid the beginnings of the Santa Fe rail line? I loved the setting (especially since I only live about 5 hours away) and the talk of local cuisine would always make me hungry. Both Owen and Susanna were such lovable characters that you couldn’t help but hope that would end up together and not have a stumbling block. Susanna’s parents, however, were nothing short of loathsome characters for most of the book. With their attitudes throughout, I couldn’t believe that Susanna came from the same family. But things have a way of working out in the end, especially when God is in charge. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next installment.

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

Girl In Ice

Author: Erica Ferencik

Publisher: Scout Press

Release Date: March 1, 2022

A chilling, thrilling and original story that wasn’t what I expected it to be but also a satisfying read!

Valerie Chesterfield has been studying as a linguist for years and is skilled in many languages, including several “dead” ones. She doesn’t get out much, especially after her twin brother died while stationed on a remote island off Greenland. When she gets a call from Wyatt, a researcher who worked with her brother asking for her help, she packs up and goes to try and help with a scientific impossibility. Wyatt has found a young girl frozen in the ice who thaws out alive, but he can’t understand her language and calls Val to try and help him understand this girl and what he has discovered. The girl doesn’t speak any language Val knows but is also sick and getting worse by the day. Their time to figure out what is wrong is running out and on top of that Val is looking for more answers about her brother’s death. With the artic temps and freezing wind, their time to save the girl and possibly themselves is running out.

To say this book was unlike any book I have ever read would be an understatement. This book was full of all kinds of twists and turns with cunning characters and an imaginative and innovative plot. At times I did find myself scratching my head wondering if what was happening could really occur, it was out in left field from what I normally read but kept my attention. With the setting being what it was and the story matter being so deep, it did get dark at times. One of the things the author did particularly well was description, not only of the desolate setting but also the sights, smells and other senses to make the readers feel as if they were in in the freezing cold with Val and the other characters. While the story flowed well and was interesting, I would have liked more information on the girl found in the ice, readers learn a little bit, but I would have enjoyed more. Several of the scenes were more for mature audiences along with language throughout the book. With that said, I believe this is a good book that readers looking for a unique mystery that is a quick read.

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

The Silent Sisters

Author: Robert Dugoni

Series: Charles Jenkins #3

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: February 22, 2022

Another fantastic addition to the Charles Jenkins series full of all the fun, espionage action we have come to love from Dugoni!

After his last mission where he barely escaped Russia alive, Charles Jenkins thinks he can finally settle down with his family and put the spy game behind him. When the final two of the seven sisters, assets who have been deep undercover, have cut off communication and Charles is tasked with finding out if they have been turned, or in hiding. A job that becomes harder as he has been placed on the Russian kill list. Immediately after he arrives, his plans fall apart when he gets involved in the death of the son of one of Russia’s most powerful crime leaders. Now, he must watch every move he makes even more carefully and try to accomplish his assignment without getting caught and killed. All he wants is to make it back home to his family in one piece before his luck runs out.

Every time I pick up a new Robert Dugoni book, I know I am going to be in for a fantastic read. The Charles Jenkins books would normally not be ones I pick up being set in Russia, not what pulls me in usually, but when Robert Dugoni writes it all bets are off and I’m in for the duration of the story. Charles is a character that is full of strength, determination, and will to live and return to his family. He is written in a way that readers will be able to relate to him and want to cheer him on to achieve his mission and return to his family. Each character in this book has a place and purpose; even with several different storylines and many characters it was easy to follow with Dugoni’s smooth writing.

The world of espionage is fun to read about with different settings and people the characters encounter, but it can also be confusing depending on how well it is written. If you pick up a Robert Dugoni novel, doesn’t matter if it is one of the Charles Jenkins novels or one of his Tracy Crosswhite novels, you know you are going to be in for a story that is well written with characters that will pull you in and keep you intrigued by what they are going through and sucked into a really great story. There are some mature themes throughout this book, but it is written so well it never bothered me or took away from the story. I recommend this to those that enjoy thrillers and mysteries, but you will need to have read the first two in the series to get the most out of this one.

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

Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts

Author: Erika Lewis

Publisher: Starscape

Release Date: March 1, 2022

A fun and engaging read for young readers looking for tales of magic, mystery and so much more.

Kelcie Murphy has always felt unwanted going from foster home to foster home and never knowing who her parents are or where she is from. While on a field trip with her school, she is attacked and ends up being transported to another world, a world at war. The Academy for Unbreakable Arts is the kind of place Kelcie has only dreamed of but never thought existed. She is now training with warriors and finding her hidden powers that will hopefully help her find her parents and her past. Kelcie learns that she is a Saiga, one of the most ancient beings in the Otherworld and one of the most powerful. Together with her new friends she will have to fight to save herself and her new school before it’s too late.

Kelcie Murphy starts out fast and doesn’t let up; this is the exact right kind of book I look forward to recommending to young readers looking for fantasy, magic, adventure and a great story. I loved the way Kelcie used all the hardships she went through to bring out the strength she needed to prove to herself and others she belonged. This is a story similar to Harry Potter; it is her 12^th birthday when she finds out about a world beyond her own with magic, friends and her past she knew nothing about. There is a lot of world building throughout the entire book which sets things up for what I am hoping is many more books to come. The plot is fast paced and very interesting, I found myself breezing through the pages to find out how it would all end up. The relationships that Kelcie has with her friends and classmates add to the tension of the story with some not liking her from the beginning and some, like Niall, taking a liking to her and being a good companion. It is hard for her to believe she could have friends after being on her own most of her life, this new concept makes her everyday life so different than what she is used to. All these different dynamics made the story realistic in terms of how different kids act and treat others and moved the story along at a great speed. I highly enjoyed this story and recommend it to young readers looking for books on magic and full of adventure.

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

Never Give Up

Author: Bear Grylls

Publisher: National Geographic

Release Date: March 1, 2022

Fans of Man vs Wild will not want to miss this book!

Bear Grylls is known by many for his adventures in the hit television show Man vs. Wild. His grit, tenacity, and ability to get out of a sticky situation resonated with many while others were just shocked at what he was willing to put his body through. In his previous book, Bear told his life story and mostly omitted the many adventures he had on the small screen because he wanted people to know who he was as a person. After popular demand, he has documented the best of the best (and worst) of these adventures into another book to share with the world. Focused largely on the television series, viewers and readers alike will continue to be awestruck and shocked at what all he went through to bring his world into your living room.

I’ll admit, I never really got caught up in the hype of the show Man vs. Wild, but I have watched a few episodes and heard Bear Grylls talk about some of his adventures, so I had some background before diving into this book. But even if I hadn’t, this would have been such a fun read! It goes through many of the most extreme things that he had to do and it’s amazing that he lived through all of it. It is also interesting to read about how the show was filmed and what they had to do to make it work, especially when the crew were dropping like flies. He sprinkles in a lot of great life lessons through this and breaks it up with several chapters so that it is not a daunting read. Probably going to be one of my favorite biographies for the year. There is some language as well as some pretty gross things, so take caution before you jump in!

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

Malicious Intent

Author: Lynn H. Blackburn

Series: Defend and Protect #2

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: March 1, 2022

The second book in the Defend and Protect series is even better than the first! Readers are going to absolutely love the story of Gil and Ivy!

It has been years since Ivy Collins has seen Gil Dixon, the first boy she fell in love with. Ivy is now the founder and CEO of Hedera, Inc, designing prosthetics for those in need, which became her passion after her dad lost his arm in a work accident. Gil now works as a U.S. Secret Service Agent who not only protects those in the government, but also works to uncover other crimes. When a case dealing with counterfeit money lands on his desk and takes him to the home of Ivy, who he hasn’t seen in years, they end up in a bigger mess than either of them could have seen coming. Secrets from the past will be brought to light and Gil will have to use all his resources to try and keep Ivy safe and alive while dealing with feelings that never went away.

Lynn Blackburn is getting better with every novel she writes. I’m loving the Defend and Protect series and think Gil and Ivy are my favorite. This story was all I wanted it to be and more. The way Gil and Ivy reconnected after so long and still had feelings for each other that were put to the test with the trouble Ivy found herself in and Gil working to keep her safe while working out the feelings he had for her. Ivy is not only smart but capable, she held her own before Gil came to her rescue and even after that she had moments of protecting him as well. It is a relationship that spans decades and lots of drama that keeps things interesting. The tension was high from the very beginning and kept the pace throughout which made for a great and fun read. It will be hard for the next book to top this one, but I am not going to say impossible, I have learned not to underestimate Blackburn and her ability to surprise me with a story. This is the second in the series and I would recommend reading the first to understand all the characters and how they work together so well. I would also recommend reading the Dive Team series as a few characters from that series show up here as well which was so much fun. I recommend this to readers that love romantic suspense with lots of heart.

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

In Search of a Prince

Author: Toni Shiloh

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: February 1, 2022

A surprisingly fun and entertaining read that was far more enjoyable than I expected!

Brielle Adebayo has a good life; she works as a middle school teacher in New York City where her mother works as a surgeon. She has never known her dad, who died before she was born. One day her mother takes her to lunch and tells her a secret she had been keeping all her life, Brielle is a princess in a kingdom off the coast of Africa. Her grandfather, the king, is sick and wants her to come meet him and prepare to assume her position to become Queen when he passes. Even with the shock of finding out she is a princess, Brielle decides to go and visit her grandfather and see the kingdom she is set to one day rule. Not everyone is happy Bri is going to be Queen; the Royal Council lets her know that she can’t become queen without a husband. First, she finds out she is a princess and now she learns she must find a husband quickly. With everyone judging her every move Bri must be careful she doesn’t make the wrong decision in life and love.

I must admit, I have never read a Toni Shiloh book before and am kind of kicking myself for it now. In Search of a Prince was a fun read that reminded me of The Princess Diaries which I have always loved. The way the story was written with Bri coming into a new country with many against her and the way she relied on her faith and friend to help her through the difficult transition helped move the story along. The tropical setting was beautiful and left me longing to put my toes in the sand and warm up in this warm and inviting country. Brielle isn’t written as someone that is perfect and comes in thinking she can do no wrong, she is nervous and really has a longing to prove she can learn and do what is needed to make sure she is the right person to lead the country. If you go into reading this as a fun rom-com you will get exactly what you want and enjoy a delightful read. It was a very inspiring story that readers will enjoy and leave wanting more from this tropical paradise.

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

Base Notes

Author: Lara Elena Donnelly

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: February 1, 2022

A very different take on the usual mystery genre books; Base Notes is unique and intriguing.

Vic Fowler lives in New York City and has been working as a perfumer trying to make it in the big city for years. During her time there, she has figured out how to use scents to bring about memories, strong memories that some would even kill for. Living in the city cost a lot and her day job isn’t always enough to pay the bills. Vic is approached by one of her former clients, Joseph Eisner, who gives her an opportunity to make the kind of money that is too good to turn down. But it might also be too dangerous to go about by herself. With the help of fellow artists, Vic tries to keep her plans from coming apart and worse things happening, all because of greed.

Base Notes was a completely unique take and not what I expected at all. The beginning started a little slow, but once I got past that it was a quick read with a good female protagonist and storyline. There was a lot of terms and moments dealing with the perfume industry that went over my head and could have been toned down for readers like me. This is not the kind of book you can just breeze through; more time is going to be needed to make it through the pages to get the most out of this one. This is definitely the right book for the right kind of audience, but not for everyone. The writing was very technical at times which lost me, and the tension of the story didn’t pick up quick enough for my liking. Overall, it was a good read but not one I will be racing to read again.

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

The Lady of Galway Manor

Author: Jennifer Deibel

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: February 1, 2022

When Irish eyes are smiling, you’ll find a book by Jennifer Deibel.

When Annabeth De Lacy’s father is appointed to a Parish, she quickly bores of the trappings that come with the British Court. So, she devises a plan to get her father to arrange an apprenticeship for her. While at the apprenticeship, the war for Irish Independence begins to strengthen and those with British ties become very unpopular. Will the lessons that Annabeth has learned be tested or true?

One thing is for certain, Deibel does a masterful job of bringing Irish history and lore to her readers. I love picking up a book by her because I’m always sent on a journey to the Emerald Isle, home of my ancestors. Maybe that’s why I love her books so much. Overall, this was an easy read that was fun as well. Not as much tension as I like, but that’s not really the base here either. I recommend this to readers who enjoy stories of Irish history.

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