Into the Sunset

Author: Mary Connealy

Series: A Wester Light #3

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: October 15, 2024

A finale to a series that will take readers back to the western frontier and full of touching moments.

Ginny Rutledge’s worst fears come true when her controlling husband threatens to have her sent to an asylum. Her friends, Maeve and Dakota, come to her rescue and together the three try to get away from their own past. With secrets between all of them, they work to prove Ginny’s sanity but with every step they take they find more and more danger.

A Western Light is a whimsical romance with plenty of action and adventure. Connealy has crafted a fantastic series with a finale that readers will not want to miss. Having read books by Connealy that are both historical fiction and romantic suspense, I have a lot of experience with her writing and can tell she is becoming a better author with each book. I haven’t always loved her historical books but this one surprised me with how much I enjoyed the writing and storyline. Ginny was a protagonist that touched my heart and kept me glued to the pages, which I have been waiting a long time for in a story from Mary Connealy. I would recommend this book to readers that are fans of this series and historical fiction in general.

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

Beyond Reasonable Doubt

Author: Robert Dugoni

Series: Keera Duggan #2

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: October 22, 2024

Robert Dugoni has crafted a spectacular legal thriller that will keep fans on the edge of their seats.

Keera Duggan has had some hard cases in her time as a lawyer but none as hard as having to defend a childhood former friend accused of murder. She knows how manipulative Jenna Bernstein can be ever since they were young and had several run ins with Jenna that didn’t end well. This isn’t the first time Jenna has been accused of murder; the first time Keera’s dad got her off and now it’s Keera’s turn. Trouble follows Jenna wherever she goes and if Keera isn’t careful, she might just find herself caught up in the trouble with her.

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

This is the second book in the Keera Duggan series and by far better than the first. I enjoyed the first book, but it was only mediocre. This one was hands down better, better story, better character connection and much more tension to keep the story moving at a fast pace. The back and forth between Keera and Jenna was spot on, especially when Keera would go into memories of what happened between the two of them when they were younger. Robert Dugoni has a way with writing female protagonist in a way that all readers will relate to and want to route for and see succeed. He has done this with his Tracy Crosswhite series and now Keera Duggan. This story had a particularly good flow to it, regardless of if they are in the courtroom or researching things for the case. Robert Dugoni is a one of a kind author that seems to not be able to write a bad book. Fans looking for a fantastic legal thriller will not want to miss this one.

Specters in the Glass House

Author: Jaime Jo Wright

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: October 1, 2024

Jaime Jo Wright is back with her best yet! She continues to fascinate me with her ability to craft the most amazing and touching stories.

After both of her parents pass away, Marian Arnold returns to her childhood home and her mother’s butterfly house. In 1921, prohibition shut down her family’s brewing empire and left Marian with very little. Shortly after she returns home, Marian starts having nightmares and wonders if she is going crazy as dead butterflies appear along with a dead body in the butterfly house. Marian finds solace in her childhood friend Felix who is also dealing with ghosts from his past. Together they must work past the ghosts and butterflies to find a future.

In the present-day timeline, Remy Shaw is a researcher coming to help an elderly biographer looking into the murders and mystery behind Marian Arnold and all that happened at the manor. One of Marian’s decedents shows up at the manor wanting to make sure the story is told correctly. But mystery and danger haven’t strayed far from the manor and yet another generation might be in for more than can take.

Jaime Jo Wright gets better with each novel and this newest one is no exception. I have loved all of her books but this one was by far the best. When you think of butterflies, the next step is not serial killers and ghosts. The dual timeline is something Wright has just about perfected after so many books and she does it better than almost anyone else. It doesn’t matter if it is the past or present timeline, I found myself connected with the characters and the storyline. Usually, a story with a historical timeline is not my “cup of tea” but when Wright is creating the story I know I’m going to connect with the story and characters. If I can connect with characters, then I am hooked into the story till the end. This is the kind of story that is perfect timing coming out right around Halloween. I would recommend this story to readers that love a little spooky with their romantic suspense but also just a fantastic story with great characters.

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

The Last Orphan

Author: Gregg Hurwitz

Series: Orphan X #8

Publisher: Minotaur

Release Date: February 6, 2024

The next installment in the Orphan X series is full of action and the usual Orphan antics.

Evan Smoak is back as Orphan X, an orphan that was taken in and trained up to be an assassin for the government. He has left his life as an assassin and puppet for the government and now uses his skill set to help those in need as The Nowhere Man. As time has gone by though his ability to avoid those in the government wanting to find him has been harder and harder and now the higher-ups are wanting him for a job. The President wants Evan to eliminate a man she sees as a threat and uses his past to get him to do her bidding. Evan now must decide how far he is willing to go to stick to his principles and keep his life.

I have decently enjoyed the Orphan X series but with book 8 I found myself ready for the story to be over. I would have liked to see more between Evan and his sometimes love interest and her son, instead of a snippet here and there. For most of this story I found myself skimming the pages for what might be interesting and leaving the rest behind. As always, Evan’s interactions with Joey are some of the best moments and bring the story a breath of fresh air. Fans of the series might possibly enjoy this one, but it wasn’t one I can highly recommend.

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

Over The Edge

Author: Irene Hannon

Series: Undaunted Courage #2

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: October 1, 2024

A quick page-turner full of chills and thrills.

After a near fatal incident, Lindsey Barnes is trying to move on with her life and recover. Unfortunately, that isn’t as easy as she hoped; someone is trying to make her look unstable and not a reliable source after being the only witness in a murder case. Detective Jack Tucker gets called out after Lindsey needs his help after an enemy starts leaving behind evidence to make her look unreliable as the witness they need. It doesn’t take long for Jack to see someone is setting her up and maybe out for more than just making her look unstable.

Irene Hannon has written a real page-turner with Over the Edge. I loved the dynamic between Lindsey and Jack; she is witty and also neurotic at times with all she has gone through which made her relatable. The way the two characters were brought together was done well; I didn’t find myself having any eye rolling moments at the predictability. There were a few moments when the story fell flat and took a little longer to get thorough. Other than that, it was a very fast read and enjoyable that fans of romantic suspense will enjoy.

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

One Last Stand

Author: Susan May Warren

Series: Alaska Air One Rescue #4

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: October 8, 2024

A fantastic ending to a wonderful series by one of the very best in Christian Fiction.

London Brooks has been part of Air One Rescue as a way to rebuild the life she has left behind that was full of clandestine meetings as part of a team to take down a Russian terrorist. When her old life comes back to haunt her, she must disappear to hopefully keep all of those she cares about safe. When Shep Watson is taken hostage as a ploy to bring London out in the open, she has no choice but to jump back into the world she thought she had left behind.

The Alaska Air One Rescue series has been a fantastic series with lots of action, romance and more. Susan May Warren is a fantastic author that is full of so many great stories. This one was really good except for a few parts in the middle that fell flat. When London goes home to her parents, I just lost connection with her and the story for a good little bit. The other parts of the story were full of action and adventure that kept me glued to the page. This is the type of story that fans of romantic suspense will not want to pass up. You would read this one without having to have read the others in the series but it is best to read the whole series to get the most out of it.

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

The Blooming of Delphinium

Author: Holly Varni

Series: Moonberry Lake #2

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: September 24, 2024

A whimsical romance with much to offer readers.

Delphinium Hayes has a peculiar hidden talent. With one quick whiff she is able to tell a lot about a person. This helps her create the perfect bouquet for each individual when needed. She is able to use this to her advantage for all except one, and when she comes across Elliot Sturgis, she questions all she knows. Elliot is quickly enamored with Delphinium and finds out of her secrets and hope he is following God’s plan for his life by trying to help her.

I wish I could say this book was top-notch for me but unfortunately this one fell a little flat. I had trouble relating to the characters and there just wasn’t much to pull me into the story and keep me glued to the pages. The writing itself was well done just not enough to pull me in. The problem is I probably wasn’t the right audience for this book. The characters had great potential, and I think for the right audience it will be the perfect “feel good” book. I would recommend this one to those that love contemporary romance and characters that are full of life and so much more.

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

Of Gold and Shadows

Author: Michelle Griep

Series: Time’s Lost Treasures #1

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: September 24, 2024

A story of romance more than anything else. Fans of romance will enjoy this one.

In 1888 a female Egyptologist is not common, but Ami Dalton is just that during the day while using the cover of dark to help save black-market artifacts from the wrong hands, using her alter ego, The Shadow Broker. Edmund Price is planning to run for Parliament and needs an Egyptologist to tell him the value of his new collection. Edmund doesn’t expect Ami when he searches out help from Professor Dalton but soon finds she is just the person to help him.

It might be that I’ve read a few too many historical romances lately but this one fell flat for me. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the storyline just wasn’t interesting to me as I had hoped. This story was too familiar to some of the ones I had just read and had the “same ole, same ole,” feeling to me without anything new and exciting. It is hard writing these days because there are so many authors and books to battle with making it hard to find the new and exciting reads. The book was not bad by any means, it was just not exciting and what I was hoping for.

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

A Hope Unburied

Author: Kimberley Woodhouse

Series: Treasures of the Earth #3

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: September 24, 2024

A middle of the pack historical romance for me. Good but not great.

Becoming a paleontologist in the early 1900s is not something a woman does, but it is exactly what Eliza Mills does to follow her passion. In order to break into the field, she has had to publish papers under a false name until she is able to earn her place at Carnegie Museum. When she gets the chance to work at Dinosaur National Monument in Utah, she jumps at the chance and finds things aren’t what they seem. Devin Schmitt has been Eliza’s closest friend for years and would love to be more. When he has just about given up on being more than just friends, Eliza asks for him to visit her in Utah. Both Devin and Eliza quickly find themselves in danger and a web of lies and betrayal that may just be impossible to find their way out.

Kimberley Woodhouse is a great writer. I usually enjoy her books, and I did with this one but it was too much of a slow start. The ending made up for it with the high stakes and action. The relationship between Devin and Eliza played out well and once they found themselves in trouble I found myself invested in the story. The early parts of it where too much “woe is me” for the hardships she faced trying to break into the male dominated field. If the story could have focused more on their dynamic earlier on it would have been even more enjoyable. I do think this book is just right for the fans of historical romance and fans of Woodhouse’s writing.

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

The Color of Home

Author: Kit Tosello

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: September 24, 2024

An inspiring and emotional story that will touch the hearts of readers.

Audrey Needham is an interior designer working for the upper class and it is getting harder and harder by the day. When her aunt needs help caring for her uncle, she must decide if it is worth risking her career to go back to Charity Falls, Oregon, the small town she spent her summers growing up. She hasn’t been back since in thirteen years since her father was killed in a fire at the Sugar Pine Inn. As she arrives back at Charity Falls, she is met with sign after sign that she is in the right place.

I love when a contemporary fiction book gets it just right. Sometimes those are the very best books I read, they surprise me with how enjoyable they are and usually at just the right moment. The dynamic between the different characters hit home for me and the way the story slowly built made me eager to turn the pages and see how it would all turn out. Audrey was a fantastic protagonist and just what I was looking for with this contemporary fiction read. There was very little “fluff” and nonsense that took me out of the story, a great aspect in novels. The slow build up was great for me but it might be considered slow by some so that is something to keep in mind. I do recommend this to readers that enjoy contemporary fiction.

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