Standoff (Natchez Trace Park Rangers, Book #1) by Patricia Bradley
Sarah Grace's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

Patricia Bradley is one of those authors that is a bit hit-or-miss for me, but I greatly enjoyed her Memphis Cold Case series, so I decided to give her newest release a shot. And I'm glad I did! Standoff is one wild ride from chapter one.

Summary:

The Natchez Trace National Parkway stretches 444 miles from Nashville to Natchez, the oldest town on the Mississippi River. It's the perfect road for a relaxed pleasure drive. Unfortunately for Luke Fereday, it's also perfect for moving drugs.
Sent to Natchez to infiltrate the organization at the center of the drug ring, Luke arrives too late to a stakeout and discovers the body of his friend, park ranger John Danvers. John's daughter Brooke is determined to investigate her father's murder but soon finds herself the target of a killer who will do anything to silence her.
Luke will have his hands full keeping her safe. But who's going to keep him safe when he realizes he's falling--hard--for the daughter of the man he failed to save?

Brooke Danvers is a very convincing lead character, and I enjoyed following her story. I did find it hard to relate to her at times--whether this was because her character wasn't fleshed out well enough or because we're so dissimilar, I'm not sure. I did find myself empathizing with her, especially as she dealt with the grief over losing her dad. Luke Fereday, Brooke's counterpart, was a great character, and for some reason I found myself liking him as a main character more than I did Brooke. The details of his job were fascinating and I could feel his struggle as he tried to balance his job and his personal life and relationships.

As I said, from chapter one, the story doesn't stop! With dramatic suspense and a plethora of action scenes, I couldn't put this one down until I finished it. Bradley is a veteran writer, and that shows in Standoff. I love her laid-back, yet still engaging writing style. I enjoyed Brooke and Luke's romance, although at times I wanted to slap both characters upside their heads. Honestly, the ex-boyfriend-who-never-stopped-loving-her trope can bug me most times, but I didn't mind it too much in this book. It just worked.

Overall, Standoff is in engaging and suspenseful read that you won't be able to put down! If you love romantic suspense, this one definitely needs to be on your to-read list!




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

The Traitor's Pawn by Lisa Harris
Sarah Grace's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

The Traitor's Pawn is Lisa Harris's newest release from Revell. Harris has long ago established herself as one of my favorite suspense authors, so I was excited to get my hands on this one and dive deep!

Book Synopsis:

When FBI agent Jack Shannon arrives in Corpus Christi, Texas, he is focused on one thing: find the man who has been selling encrypted government secrets to the Chinese. But when a senator is shot during a hunting trip and the woman he was with is abducted, Jack agrees to join the search--especially when he discovers that the kidnapping victim is Aubrey Grayson, a woman he was once in love with.
As the search continues, it becomes clear the senator may not have been the intended victim--and Aubrey may be connected to the other case Jack is supposed to be working on. Can Jack untangle the knots before it's too late? And when he learns the truth, will it be too painful to get past?

The story starts out very action-packed and from there, you can't put it down. Aubrey Grayson is a very compelling character and easy to relate to. Her motivation is clear and the reader can't help but root for her. I enjoyed the romance between her and Jack, and appreciated that it took more of a backseat to the other events of the story. It made it so much more realistic. The ending wrapped up her character arc perfectly, but in a very authentic way.

Lisa Harris

Speaking of Jack, I really liked his character as well, although I just wish there was more of him. In most books like this one, the role of main character is equally shared between the male and female lead characters. However, Jack's point-of-view scenes were few and far between compared to Aubrey's. And as much as I appreciated the message the author was trying to get across with Aubrey's story, I would have loved to delve into Jack and his story more. As it was, he seemed more of a device to get Aubrey and the story where they needed to go. It left me wanting a sequel just to be able to learn more about Jack and get into his head more.

The story goes deep into the investigative side of things, which I enjoyed, although a little more action may have moved the story along faster. This was almost in the style of a Dee Henderson novel; heavy on the actual investigation and solving of the crime and light on the more action-packed scenes. I also appreciated the themes of forgiveness and redemption Harris included in the story; they were woven in very realistically.

All in all, I greatly enjoyed this release from Lisa Harris! If you are a fan of Dee Henderson and Lynette Eason, you'll definitely want to check out The Traitor's Pawn!




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters (Harbored Secrets Book #2)
Sarah Grace's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

When Natalie Walters published her debut novel, Living Lies, in May 2019, right away I knew she was an author to watch! (See my review of Book 1 here.) And Book Two in the Harbored Secrets series only confirms that I was right. Deadly Deceit was published in November 2019 by Revell Books.

One of the things that makes Walters' books stand out is the setting. The fictional town of Walton, GA, has the perfect cozy, southern, small-town vibes. The tagline for the series is "Walton, Georgia: everybody knows your name--but no one knows your secret." And that couldn't fit any better. The author does such a fabulous job of describing the small town and its citizens in a vibrant way that instantly draws the reader in. The "small-town setting" trope can be a bit overused, but Walters re-imagines it in a way that makes it stand out and does away with the stereotype.

As vibrant as the town is, the characters are even more so! Vivian DeMarco and Ryan Frost are our main characters. Ryan is a deputy with the sheriff's department and a total-nerd-turned-town-poster-boy. He's a bit on the arrogant side, but in an endearing way instead of irritating. I loved his protectiveness toward his family and those he cares about, and his backstory was very realistic and did a great job of explaining some of his personality and thought processes.

Natalie Walters Photo Credit: Emilie Hendryx Haney

Vivian is a reporter, and only in town long enough to do her job and get out. I love how her mindset about the town changes as she gets to know its people. I didn't expect to like Vivian at all, but her story instantly grabbed me and I found myself really connecting with her. Both of these characters are really great counterparts to each other, and there are a lot of scenes of hilarious banter between the two, as well as some more heart-touching scenes as together they work through the past and fears.

I could go on about the rest of the cast of fabulous characters, but I'll let you pick up the book and get to know them yourself!

The suspense side of the story is, as expected, very intense and keeps you turning pages. I had my suspicions as to what was going on, but there's so much happening I was constantly guessing!

All in all, Deadly Deceit is an action-packed story full of humor and epic dialogue, heartwarming scenes, sweet romance, and more. Walters is an incredibly talented author and her beautiful writing style quickly and easily draws you into the story. I highly recommend this to all romantic-suspense lovers! I am very much looking forward to the release of the series finale, Silent Shadows, in March 2020!

Content Advisory: Walters includes some pretty heavy topics in this story; including murder, blackmail, rape, and forced prostitution. The author does a great job of not dwelling on these topics too heavily, which I greatly appreciated, but nonetheless, I would recommend the reader be aware of these issues to be able to make an informed decision regarding this book.

Download a free book except here.




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

Dark Ambitions by Irene Hannon (Code of Honor Book #3)
Sarah Grace's Rating: 4.5 out of 5 bookmarks

Editor's Note: Our reviews of Book #1 and Book #2

I have read nearly all of Hannon's romantic suspense books, but I think Dark Ambitions might just be my favorite!

Synopsis:

Danger lurks when ambitions turn deadly . . .
Former Army Night Stalker Rick Jordan usually has his camp for foster children to himself during the winter months. But someone has visited recently--leaving a trail of blood. One of the two clues left behind tips Rick off to the identity of his visitor, who soon turns up dead. The police deem it an accident, but Rick isn't convinced.
With the help of private investigator Heather Shields, he sets out to decipher the remaining clue. Except someone doesn't want them to succeed--and will stop at nothing to keep them from finding the truth.

From the start, I really liked both of our main characters. Heather Shields, former homicide detective turned private eye, and Rick Jordan, former Night Stalker turned youth ministries worker. Both of these characters were very unique and had a lot of depth and chemistry that made them great together and individually. I was so excited for the return of the Phoenix, Inc. crew, featured in Hannon's Private Justice series, which I also highly recommend.

Irene Hannon Photo Credit: © DeWeesePhotography.com

The romance got to be a bit much for my tastes, but I enjoyed the story so much I was able to ignore that for the most part. I also loved Heather's father and the sweet relationship he and his daughter shared. Their relationship helped to further the plot in a unique that shall go unmentioned for spoiler's sake.

The story starts out with Rick trying to find an old army friend he believes to be in trouble, and hiring Heather to help him. From there, the plot quickly turns deadly. Many twists and turns keep Heather and Rick—and the reader—on their toes. Hannon also includes her trademark action and suspense liberally throughout, as well as some witty banter from the Phoenix, Inc. guys that lightens the story a bit. With so many leads and so many potential "bad guys," you are kept guessing until the end.

All in all, I greatly enjoyed this newest release from veteran author, Irene Hannon! Full of everything you expect to find in a romantic suspense novel combined with Hannon's experienced writing style, I highly recommend this book to all fans of romantic suspense!




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

Over the Line by Kelly Irvin
Sarah Grace's Rating: 3 out of 5 bookmarks

Kelly Irvin is the author of numerous Amish fiction books, but Over the Line marks her fourth foray into the romantic suspense genre. Released June 11, 2019, by Thomas Nelson, this book is a wild ride into the border town of Loredo, Texas. Irvin uses her experience as a reporter on the Texas-Mexico border as the inspiration for her suspense fiction.

Gabriella Benoit finds herself drawn into a dangerous scenario involving cartels, gun smuggling, corrupt law enforcement officers, and a kidnapped ATF agent who also happens to be her brother. And her ex-boyfriend, homicide detective Eli Cavazos, is not going to let her face the danger alone. As Gabriella and Eli travel to Loredo to find her brother, Gabby's sister, two children, and a friend find themselves sucked into the danger. I loved the family element Irvin includes with these two sisters; the relationship was very sweet and realistic, and Gabby's interactions with her niece and nephew were adorable as well. Deacon Alder is a friend of Gabby's, and with her sister, Natalie, in danger, he couldn't help but get involved. I loved watching Deacon and Natalie's relationship evolve over the course of the book. I honestly wouldn't have minded if Deacon and Natalie were the main characters.

Kelly Irvin Courtesy of kellyirvin.com

On that note, I have to admit I struggled greatly with understanding and liking our main characters throughout 80% of the book. Understandably so, Gabby carries a heavy load of bitterness toward Eli for past grievances. I could understand her angst, but when it saturated every single moment between the two characters--coupled with the awkward physical attraction--it just became too much and I grew frustrated with the both of them. Eli apparently has a past that haunts him, but no matter how much he tries to convince Gabby he loves her, he absolutely refuses to discuss his past or really anything personal at all. A relationship can't be built on that kind of silence, and I don't blame Gabby for trying to avoid Eli. But in the few years since they broke up, Eli practically stalks Gabby; regularly following her home, sitting in his car outside her restaurant, etc. As a side character told Eli: "If you weren't a cop, you would be considered a stalker." Eli also frequently treats Gabby like a child, telling her what she can and can't do, stealing her car keys to stop her from leaving town without him, and more. His actions and domineering attitude were more harassment than "love," although Eli claims he only wants to protect her. Sorry, that's inexcusable, and if I were Gabby, I'd be running the other way as fast as possible.

Granted, these are flawed characters, as we all are. But if I completely despise the main character...I think it might have been taken too far. Characters are everything to me in a story, so if I don't even like or am not able to relate to them, the book is not going to be a favorite of mine.

Story-wise, this one is a wild ride! Drama, suspense, mystery, and action combine throughout the book and kept me on the edge of my seat! I had no inkling of the conclusion until the end. The ending did surprise me in that the characters' arcs were wrapped up differently than I expected--but in a good way. Forgiveness and redemption are the main themes the author uses very realistically to wrap up the story. I enjoyed Irvin's vibrant writing style that describes the scene in a unique and colorful manner. One other issue I struggled with: throughout the book, there is minor swearing, abbreviations for crude language or swear words, and other rather crude phrases. These were all completely unnecessary in the context and only drew me out of the story.

All in all, if you are looking for a suspense-y read with lots of drama, give this one a shot!




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

Protecting Tanner Hollow by Lynette Eason
Sarah Grace's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

A few years ago, Lynette Eason self-published a trio of novellas set in the fictional small town of Tanner Hollow. Recently, the rights were purchased by Revell and the books have now been republished into a collection and a fourth novella featuring tie-ins to Eason's Blue Justice series has been added.

Book Summary:

Four nail-biting novellas in one!
Lethal Homecoming
Nolan Tanner never got over Kallie Ainsworth's sudden, unexplained departure. Now when he comes to her rescue after an attempt on her life, all the old feelings come rushing back.
Lethal Conspiracy
When professional fundraiser Lillian Maloney sees her father's campaign manager commit murder, she goes on the run from the men he hires to kill her. A close call brings firefighter Jason Tanner to the rescue, but the killer is closing in . . .
Lethal Secrets
Someone wants Honor McBride dead. When Eli Murphy helps her change a flat tire and discovers the danger Honor is in, he longs to help--but Eli has secrets of his own that could get them all killed.
Lethal Agenda
When Detective Derek St. John rescues a woman he's met only once before--and has never been able to forget--he finds himself falling for her. But he'll have to keep Claire Montgomery alive if they're to have a future together.

Lethal Homecoming

This novella is the first and the shortest. So short, there is barely enough time for the story to happen. I had that feeling the first time I read it when it was self-published, and I had hoped that some editing would have fleshed out the story a little better for its republication. Unfortunately, it still seems largely unedited. Nolan and Kallie are intriguing characters, but due to the length of the story, the reader never gets a chance to connect with them. Similarly, the plot felt very rushed. There were a few action scenes, then you snap your fingers, and the story is over. In that respect, this novella was a bit disappointing, and my least favorite.

Lethal Conspiracy

Thankfully, the pacing issues seem to have resolved after that first novella. While still short—these are novellas, after all—the story and characters were fleshed out more thoroughly, making for a more enjoyable read. I enjoyed seeing Nolan's brother, Jason, as the lead in this story. It was also a nice deviation from the norm in having a firefighter for the hero versus a law enforcement officer. Lillian is a tough character who has been through a lot and is hesitant to accept help. But I enjoyed seeing her and Jason's relationship progress through the story.

I do have one complaint with this story though, and that's with the inaccuracies portrayed in the opening scene. This situation is one of my biggest pet peeves, so it really stuck out to me, but an editor or the author could have done a bit of research on the protocol for this situation and corrected these issues. Jason responds to a house fire, and an unresponsive woman is found in her car in the garage as they work to put out the fire. Jason immediately pulls her out, suspects carbon monoxide poisoning (a fair conclusion) and starts mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Now, in giving first aid to someone who is not breathing, mouth-to-mouth is NOT the first step. Chest compressions are always the first step. Also, as a first responder, they would have PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) such as a face mask/shield on hand (which it is clear Jason didn't use) for doing mouth-to-mouth.

Aside from those minor issues, this novella was a major step up from the first one, and I greatly enjoyed it!

Lethal Secrets

The plot in this third novella is the most complex yet, and I was kept guessing throughout. Honor's five children each had such character and made the story more enjoyable. Eli fell a bit flat to me, but generally, I did enjoy these characters. The small-town aspect of the series really shines in this book as the entire town rallies around Honor to help her family. Eason also touches lightly on some difficult topics, which also adds some depth to the story. Overall, this one wasn't my favorite but was still an enjoyable read.

Lethal Agenda

And now onto the final novella and my favorite. This one features Detective Derek St. John, one of the three brothers in Eason's Blue Justice series. I was very disappointed that Derek didn't get his own full-length novel like the rest of his siblings did, but this novella worked well in this collection and shared his story perhaps just as effectively as a novel would. Claire Montgomery is a crime scene investigator and Derek's counterpart for this story. (Fun fact: Claire appears in Lethal Conspiracy as well.) Our detective is just in town for a little R&R, but after an attempt is made on Claire's life, he gets pulled in to help an old friend out. Derek and Claire had a lot of chemistry and were great characters together and individually. The backstory of how they initially met made a lot of sense and made the romance so much more plausible. The story keeps you on your toes throughout with a good dose of mystery and, of course, Eason's trademark action-packed scenes.

All in all, this collection of action-packed romantic suspense stories was an enjoyable, quick read that I recommend to new and old Lynette Eason readers!




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock
Sarah Grace's Rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks

Terri Blackstock has been writing Christian fiction and suspense novels for a number of years and has had over 30 titles published. Smoke Screen is her most recent release and my first Blackstock book. And it won't be my last!

Blackstock writes like the veteran she is. Her writing style is polished, yet simple and engaging. I found myself very easily drawn into the story within a page or two. The plot and pacing are flawless; while not especially action-packed, there's never a moment that drags. The complexity of the multiple storylines kept me on my toes without ever becoming confusing. Throughout the course of the book, the author tackles some very difficult topics such as divorce, a custody battle, alcoholism, murder, and more. And she does so with much grace, grit, and honesty.

Smokejumper Nate Beckett returns to his small Colorado hometown after an injury sidelines him from his job. Years ago, his father was convicted—perhaps falsely—of murder, and upon his release from prison and Nate's subsequent return to town, rumors about the family run rife. Nate just wants to heal physically, and maybe find some restoration in his family. Brenna Hertzog is fighting a vicious custody battle against her ex-husband—and his influential father—and finds herself turning to alcohol to cope. The reunion between these characters couldn't have come at a worse time in their lives, but they are able to find healing as their relationship blossoms once more. The faith themes Blackstock weaves throughout the story were very beautiful and well done, and I loved seeing how the characters pointed each other back to God in the end. The romance between the characters was void of the extreme physical attraction that I find so tiresome in most romances, which was a breath of fresh air!

In summary, I think Terri Blackstock may have a new bestseller with Smoke Screen! Due to the aforementioned themes, I would recommend this book to older teens and adults. If you love a good contemporary fiction/suspense, you're not going to want to miss this one.




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

You Belong With Me by Tari Faris
Sarah Grace's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

Tari Faris has been writing fiction for over twelve years, but You Belong With Me, from Revell, marks her publishing debut. And I have to say, all in all, it's a pretty solid debut!

You Belong With Me is book one in the Restoring Heritage series, and is a contemporary romance set in the small fictional town of Heritage, Michigan. Honestly, as a native Michigander, that is the main reason I chose to read this book. A small town on the shores of Lake Michigan? I'm in! From the details Faris uses to describe the town and area, you can tell the author has spent a fair amount of time in the Great Lakes state, and I loved the authentic portrayal of my home state.

Amidst the small-town backdrop, Faris writes relatable characters who are far from perfect. I loved the small-town vibes the whole book portrayed with its relatively large cast of characters. Hannah and Luke were well-rounded main characters, and I greatly enjoyed the inclusion of a secondary couple, Janie and Thomas's story, although that makes this book a bit different than your standard romance.

Speaking of romance, that's where this book loses a star for me. The physical attraction and love triangles between the characters got to be a bit much for my tastes, and I found myself rolling my eyes and skimming in some areas.

Tari Faris Photo Credit: Tari Faris

However, one thing I really love about Faris's writing is that she always includes strong Christian themes in her stories. Often, that subject gets lost in the romance of most books in this genre, even though they may be touted as Christian romance. But in Faris's stories, no matter what the struggles are, the characters always point each other back to God in the end.

All in all, Faris's incredibly relatable and readable writing style was very enjoyable and I loved delving deep into these characters' stories. It is clear this author has spent years honing her craft before jumping into the publishing world, for which I give her kudos. This book is well-rounded and polished to a shine! If you love a sweet contemporary romance with strong themes, definitely check this one out!




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

The Spice King (Hope and Glory Book #1) by Elizabeth Camden
Sarah Grace's Rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks

Camden is my new favorite historical fiction author! No matter how many I read, I just can't find one book by this talented author that I don't like! Camden is a master of the historical fiction genre. The Spice King, book one in the upcoming Hope and Glory series, is a jam-packed and well-rounded novel full of rich historical detail and wonderful characters.

Annabelle Larkin is an adorably naive and innocent character, but that's not to say she doesn't have a backbone. She is passionate, tender-hearted, and nearly always optimistic, as well as patriotic with strong morals. I quickly fell in love with her sweet character. Gray Delacroix is quite the opposite. Embittered against the government for having wronged his family in the past, he is reclusive and sarcastic, yet he, too, has a strong moral code and is incredibly loyal to his family, a trait I am always drawn to.

The story starts out with a series of (rather humorous) letters that quickly draw the reader in. I was a bit surprised by how quickly the romance took place in the course of the book, but it definitely made sense plot-wise and was still very realistic and sweet. (No insta-love either, thankfully.) But the story is certainly not all about romance. There is suspense, treason, betrayal, politics, intrigue, sabotage and more. This is a chock-full story that is sure to keep your interest! And, of course, the book is well-laced with Camden's trademark humor and witty banter that never takes the story over to a comedy but lightens up the somewhat serious themes of the story just enough. I found myself laughing out loud at times.

All in all, The Spice King is an epic opening to Camden's newest series, and I am greatly looking forward to more! If you are a lover of historical fiction, I highly recommend checking this one out. Now, excuse me while I go dive deep into another Camden novel.




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.



Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

Deadly Intentions by Lisa Harris
Sarah Grace's Rating: 4.5 out of 5 bookmarks

Lisa Harris has quickly been climbing her way up my top favorite suspense authors list, and with the 300-plus page Deadly Intentions, I think she has made it to my top five!

Summary:

Research scientist Caitlyn Lindsey is convinced that someone is taking out her team one by one. First, a friend and research partner was killed in a home invasion. Three months ago, her boss died in a suspicious car accident. Four days ago, another partner supposedly committed suicide. And now Caitlyn herself has miraculously survived a hit-and-run. Afraid for her life with nowhere to turn, she reaches out to one of the victims' husbands, Detective Josh Solomon.
Though initially skeptical about Caitlyn's theory, Josh soon realizes the attack that took his wife's life was anything but random. Now the two of them must discover the truth about who is after Caitlyn's team--and what their end game is--before it's too late.

Harris tackles some very difficult topics in her newest release from Revell, including the loss of a spouse and loved one, abuse, betrayal, and more. I applaud her not only for attempting to take on these topics, but for doing it so well. From the prologue, the reader can't help but be sucked into the emotions of the story. I think a lot of books in this genre can forget to include the emotional and psychological impact of the hard events the story touches upon, and the emotional aspect gets lost. But this book ends up being very emotive as Harris dives deep into some tough situations. Detective Josh Solomon and research scientist Caitlyn Lindsey are both very real characters who are dealing with some real-life issues, which instantly makes them so relatable.

Any good suspense novel has many twists and turns, but Harris takes it to a new level with Deadly Intentions. My expectations were turned on their head about a quarter of the way through, and the book continues in that vein with smaller twists throughout the remainder of the story. This one definitely keeps you on your toes!

All in all, this story is a wild ride from page one! If you are a fan of romantic suspense (lighter on the romance than suspense) with lots of twists and emotion, I highly recommend checking out Deadly Intentions!





Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

Yours Truly, Thomas by Rachel Fordham
Sarah Grace's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

Rachel Fordham's sophomore novel, Yours Truly, Thomas, is as delightful as her debut, The Hope of Azure Springs! From cover to interior formatting to the story itself, this historical fiction novel is a beautiful journey. This is not a sequel to The Hope of Azure Springs although the setting is the same and some characters overlap.

Penny and Thomas are wonderfully realistic and charming characters. I must admit, I struggled to get into the story in the beginning, but just a few chapters in and I was hooked. Penny is a bit naive, but I think that only adds to the attractiveness of her character. Thomas is running from his painful past and is finally ready to put it behind him when he reaches the small town of Azure Springs. These characters are quite the opposites, which brings about an engaging story.

Fordham's writing style is very simplistic and perhaps a bit unsophisticated, which is not usually my favorite style to read, but I think it lends a great deal of charm to the historical setting of her novels. And her descriptions are nonetheless beautiful and enjoyable. The small town of Azure Springs and its people that she has created (which is also featured prominently in her debut novel) are so darling and enchanting, I wish it were a real town I could visit. The supporting cast of characters from Margaret, Abraham, the twin girls, Dinah, and even Jeb and Eliza is unique and colorful, lending diversity to the story.

There is a bit of a mystery thread to the story that had me very intrigued, and the action towards the end wrapped up the story well. I won't lie, I'm a sucker for a sweet romantic storyline, and while it was not the main feature, the romance was incredibly sweet, pure, and realistic. I think that romantic storylines may be Fordham's greatest strength. I also enjoyed the inside look into the United States Postal Service's Dead Letter Office. That is a subject that has always fascinated me, and in this historical setting, even more so.

All in all, I highly enjoyed Yours Truly, Thomas and recommend it to all lovers of historical fiction and sweet romance. This book is appropriate for any age.




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. This post contains affiliate links.

The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay
Sarah Grace's Rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks

I fell in love with Reay's writing style when I read A Portrait of Emily Price (see my review here) a while ago, so I was excited when I first saw The Printed Letter Bookshop. Also, that cover is so whimsical, I was instantly intrigued! And I was not disappointed.

The Printed Letter has a somewhat slow and even meandering plot at times, but I would not say that is a bad thing in this case. (Although it certainly didn't help my reading slump) It was, in fact, a delightfully fresh breath of air after several dud reads and fast-paced suspense books. I fell in love with this fictional bookshop, its people, and its city. Reay creates a beautiful location to set her story.

Our main characters are three women--all in different walks of life. Madeline, a young attorney; Claire, a forty-something mom and wife; and Janet, a divorced, middle-aged woman who is trying to find her place in this life. They all are, in fact, trying to find their place. And that alone makes each of these characters incredibly relatable, I believe. While the point of view jumps were confusing at times for me, I think Reay does a fabulous job keeping each of these characters unique and individual, all the way down to switching up the points of view, having both third-person and first-person points of view--something you don't see a lot, and some may find unenjoyable, but I personally liked that decision. They each had their own beautiful and complete storyline, yet the three were interwoven perfectly to form a cohesive whole.

Reay tackles some difficult and serious issues in The Printed Letter, not the least of which are adultery, divorce, and teen issues. Yet she does so with incredible tact and authenticity, weaving lines of grace, forgiveness, and mercy throughout the pages of this lovely story.

Overall, I highly recommend The Printed Letter Bookshop! Katherine Reay is an incredible author and I look forward to reading more.




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. This post contains affiliate links.

Living Lies by Natalie Walters
Sarah Grace's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

Living Lies, book one in the Harbored Secrets series by debut author, Natalie Walters, instantly grabs your attention and, like a good suspense book, doesn’t let go. I became so attached to these characters that even after the story was over I still wanted to keep reading.

In her debut novel, Walters tackles subjects that I haven’t seen many fiction authors take on: depression and suicide. And she does so with great diplomacy and eye-opening realisticity. Lane Kent is just struggling for a ray of hope after her husband’s traumatic death, but instead, she finds herself tangled up in a web of deadly deceit. The “new guy in town,” former Marine-turned-sheriff’s-deputy Charlie Lynch is tasked with discovering the truth behind the murder that has rocked the small town of Walton, Georgia. Both of these characters are struggling with their own demons, and are so real you can’t help but relate to them. The addition of 5-year-old Noah, Lane’s son, was very sweet, and I loved seeing his interactions with Charlie, as he and Lane find themselves drawn to each other.

There isn’t boatloads of action throughout most of this story, but the twisty plot definitely keeps your attention. I had a few guesses as to how the story would play out, but for the most part, I was surprised. I greatly enjoyed Walters’ writing style; it’s not overly wordy, but it smoothly draws you into the story, and you can’t stop reading.

All in all, I think Natalie Walters is an author to watch. I look forward to reading book two of the Harbored Secrets series in November! I highly recommend this novel to fans of suspense with a touch of romance.




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. This post contains affiliate links.

Convergence by Ginny L. Yttrup
Sarah Grace's Rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks

Ginny Yttrup is the award-winning author of several women’s fiction novels, but her newest release, Convergence, published in March of 2019, marks her debut into the suspense genre. I had never even heard of this author until I found Convergence, but wow, I think I’ve been missing out. I was completely floored by this book. This is one of the most complex stories I've read in a really long time.

Book Synopsis:

A psychologist paralyzed by fear.

A mother propelled by love.

A stalker bent on destruction.

Psychology professor Dr. Denilyn Rossi contends that the past is either a shadow that haunts us or a force that propels us. The choice is ours, she tells her students. What she doesn’t tell them is that her own past is a shadow she can’t seem to shake. Fear has immobilized her and is taking a costly toll.
Adelia Sanchez, however, has embraced Dr. Rossi’s teaching. She is ready to confront fear and render it powerless—using the trauma of her past to propel her to entrap the man who stalked and brutally attacked her.
As Denilyn’s past and Adelia’s present converge at the Kaweah River, a dangerous man bent on destruction threatens them both. Will he uncover the secret Deni and Adelia have fought so hard to protect?

Dr. Denilyn Rossi is a psychology professor, but she still deals with debilitating fear and PTSD over events that happened eight years ago. This character is so incredibly multi-faceted, it takes the length of the entire book to unravel all her complexities. And there are loads of plot twists along the way. Despite how intricate her character was, I was still able to relate and empathize with her on many levels throughout the book. I feel that in suspense novels, characters and their development can tend to get lost in the plot and action of the story—which is always disappointing for this character-driven reader—but not so in Convergence.

Regarding the plot, I don't even know where to start, or what I can say without giving too much away because, as I mentioned above, this novel is so complex. However you think this story is going to go, you’ll probably be wrong. There will be a multitude of twists and turns before you reach the end, and the suspense keeps you turning pages. From page one, it grabbed my attention and I did not want to put it down until the end.

As I mentioned, I have not read any of Yttrup's previous books, but I greatly enjoyed her writing style and will definitely be checking out more of her work. The themes of fear and faith she weaves throughout this story were masterfully done, touched my heart in so many ways, and really makes the reader think.

Overall, Yttrup pens a complex and unique novel of suspense and faith and knocks it out of the ballpark. I highly recommend Convergence to lovers of suspense novels filled with faith and solid characters.




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. This post contains affiliate links.

Driftwood Bay by Irene Hannon
Sarah Grace's Rating: 4.5 out of 5 bookmarks

Editor's Note: Driftwood Bay is part of the Hope harbor series. Click here to see more books in this series.

Irene Hannon is an incredibly talented author and knows how to weave together a cohesive plot with realistic and loveable characters. It is no wonder she is a seven-time RITA Award finalist and three-time winner. But I will be honest and say that I tend to be skeptical of her works—particularly her romances—as they just aren’t always my cup of tea. But when I saw Driftwood Bay, the synopsis really grabbed my attention, so I thought I’d give another a try. And I am very glad I did!

Book Synopsis, courtesy of Revell:

After tragedy upends her world, Jeannette Mason retreats to the tiny Oregon seaside town of Hope Harbor to create a new life. Vowing to avoid emotional attachments, she focuses on running her lavender farm and tea-room--until a new neighbor with a destructive dog and a forlorn little girl invades her turf. But she needn't worry. Dr. Logan West is too busy coping with an unexpected family, a radical lifestyle change, and an unruly pup to have any interest in his aloof and disagreeable neighbor.
Yet when both Jeanette and Logan find themselves pulled into the life of a tattered Christian family fleeing persecution in war-torn Syria, might they discover that love sometimes comes calling when it's least expected?

From chapter one, I fell in love with Logan West’s character. He’s kind and caring and doing his level best to connect with his grieving five-year-old niece, of whom he now has custody. But he’s also insecure and very real in his struggles to care for a little girl, and that just makes him such a relatable character. His niece, Molly, is also a very sweet character, and while the reader only enters her point of view once or twice, you nonetheless quickly fall in love with her as well. Jeannette Mason is also a very solid character, and very relatable, but I didn’t click with her as much as I did the other characters.

While Logan and Jeannette are our main characters, we also enter the point of view of a Christian Syrian family fleeing persecution. I think that subject is a very relevant one right now, and Hannon did a fabulous job weaving that topic into the story. I loved getting into Mariam’s and Thomma’s heads and seeing firsthand some of the tragedies they went through.

The plot maintains a nice pace that keeps you engaged from beginning to end, and these characters will quickly find a place in your heart. As I mentioned briefly above, I didn’t particularly care for the romance, and that’s the reason I docked half a star from my rating, but that is only my personal preference. I did appreciate how the romantic thread played a more backseat role compared to the other storylines.

All in all, I greatly enjoyed this release from Irene Hannon! If you are looking for a romantic, cozy, beachy read, definitely check out Driftwood Bay!




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. This post contains affiliate links.

Never Let Go by Elizabeth Goddard
Sarah Grace's Rating: 3 out of 5 bookmarks

Elizabeth Goddard is the author of numerous titles for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line, as well as several titles for Barbour Books, including the 2011 Carol Award-winning The Camera Never Lies. Never Let Go is the first in her new Uncommon Justice series, published by Revell.

Book Synopsis, courtesy of Revell:

Forensic genealogist Willow Anderson is following in her late grandfather's footsteps in her quest for answers about a baby abducted from a hospital more than twenty years ago. When someone makes an attempt on Willow's life to keep her from discovering the truth, help will come from an unexpected source.
Ex-FBI agent--and Willow's ex-flame--Austin McKade readily offers to protect the woman he never should have let get away. Together they'll follow where the clues lead them, even if it means Austin must face the past he's spent much of his life trying to forget--and put Willow's tender heart at risk.

Both the description and the cover immediately grabbed me when I first saw this book. Forensic genealogy and a cold case? I’m in. Our main characters, Willow Anderson and Austin McKade, both have emotion-packed backgrounds, and when they find themselves thrown together once again, they are forced to face their pasts. While I personally struggled to relate to the characters and understand their decisions, they are nonetheless soundly developed characters. Frankly, I enjoyed the secondary cast of characters more than the main ones. Heath McKade, Charlie Clemmons, and even John Houser are incredibly complex characters that I greatly enjoyed reading about.

Alternate Cover for Large Print Edition

Goddard certainly knows how to develop a plot that keeps you on your toes! With numerous twists and turns, and loads of action and suspense, Never Let Go will keep you reading late into the night to reach the final outcome. Just when I thought things were starting to resolve, they only got worse. I lost count of the number of plot twists.

Goddard’s writing style is very laid back and casual, and while I can’t say I enjoyed it overmuch, I think others would. I was also somewhat confused as to the villain's motive. I feel like that was revealed too quickly at the end, and therefore wasn't thoroughly fleshed out. My other main complaint would be the romance and the amount of romantic tension. Unfortunately, I found myself more annoyed with it instead of rooting for the characters, but that’s just based on my personal preference for romance.

Overall, if you are looking for a book with loads of action, suspense, and romance, this is definitely one to check out! I am looking forward to reading Heath’s story in Always Look Twice come October 2019!