Pursued by Lisa Harris - A Book Review

     I was so excited to receive the third book in The Nikki Boyd Files. Formerly a classroom teacher, Nikki is now a special agent in the missing persons division of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, spurred on to make the career change in the aftermath of her younger sister’s kidnapping. In Pursued Nikki stumbles into a case after her seatmate, Erika Hamilton, goes missing following their airplane’s crash at the Nashville airport. After first having her offer of assistance declined by the FBI, Nikki is asked to join the case to locate Erika, a key witness in an upcoming grand jury trial. Has Erika been kidnapped or is she on the run? Why is there an abundance of dead bodies being left in her wake? These are just a couple of questions that Nikki and her team must answer, along with finding out who is the mole in the FBI.

     Nikki had been looking forward to reconnecting with her longtime friend, Tyler, following his three months in Liberia. They still needed to find out if there was something more than a friendship developing between them, and if so, what their future would hold. A future that may be complicated by some unexpected medical results waiting for Nikki upon her return to Nashville. A complicated case like Erika’s, that quickly became personal, was not what Nikki wanted or needed at this time, but it drew her in because that’s who she was, someone who did her best to find those who were missing before it was too late.

     Pursued, met my expectations and provided me with an enjoyable read. While having some background provided in the first two books of the series gave me insight I would not have had otherwise, I do believe Pursued would work well as a stand-alone read. Harris has provided adequate information as to not leave new readers in the dark, while not boring those who are reading the series in sequence. I thank Lisa Harris and Revell Publishing for providing Pursued in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review. 

Treasured Grace by Tracie Peterson

    

     With over one hundred books to her credit, Tracie Peterson is a prolific writer. While Treasured Grace falls among her historical fiction novels, Tracie writes contemporary fiction as well. Her fans will be very pleased with this first book in her latest series. 

     Treasured Grace is set in Oregon Country in the mid-1800s, leading up to Oregon’s recognition as a territory of the United States of America. Peterson’s fictional characters survive the trials of life on the Oregon trail, only to live through the real life horrors of the Whitman Mission massacre. Readers of Jane Kirkpatrick’s The Memory Weaver, which told the story of Eliza Spaulding, an actual Whitman Mission survivor, and her family, may also be interested in reading the story of the Flanigan sisters: Grace, Hope and Mercy.

     Following the death of their widowed mother, the sisters embark upon a journey to Oregon Country in order to locate their uncle. Unable to make the trip as a single woman, Grace, the eldest, enters a marriage of convenience. The Right Reverend T.S. Martindale, meeting the Mission Board’s requirement of having a wife, agrees to take on the responsibility of Grace and her sisters, while also taking most of their resources. However, during the trip to Oregon City, the Right Reverent succumbs to illness, and Grace becomes a widow whose marriage was never consummated. She finds that she must place herself and her sisters at the mercy of Dr. and Mrs. Whitman, who graciously allow the sisters to winter over while they build up their strength, and determine their next course of action. Any thoughts they had about their future were abruptly changed as the Cayuse attack the mission killing the older boys, men, and Mrs. Whitman, and keep the women and children hostage.

     Themes presented through this story deal with forgiveness, prejudice, healing, and faith in the face of the most difficult of times. I recommend this book to fans of well-researched historical fiction as well as fans of Christian romance novels. I thank the publisher for making this book available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for this review.  

The Returning by Rachelle Dekker - A Book Review

     I have to admit I read Rachelle Dekker’s first book, The Choosing, because I was quite curious about her storytelling in light of her growing up as Ted Dekker’s daughter. However, it is her skill as a storyteller that brought me to read The Calling and The Returning. Rachelle definitely does not need to ride on her father’s coattails; she is an author with an eloquent voice of her own.

     The Returning is the third novel in Rachelle Dekker’s Seer series, and it leaves her reader longing for more, not because the tale is lacking, but because the reader will want to follow the characters and their future generations.  The Seer series is a tale of forgetting and remembering, remembering who one is in the Father. It is a tale of letting go, surrendering, in order to gain that which is of the greatest value. It is a tale of great power, power that comes only with being filled with the Spirit of the Father, a Spirit we know comes through the Son. It reminds us that Light can always overcome darkness; it is never too late.

     The Returning is best read within the proper sequence of the Seer series. The story’s impact would likely be minimized as a stand-alone read. I would encourage you to take this journey. You will find it time well spent. 

Murder Is No Accident by A. H. Barnhart - A Book Review

 

      I enjoyed my first visit to Hidden Springs as much as I enjoyed visiting Hollyhill and Rosey Corner, each a small town springing from A. H. Gabhart's creative mind, complete with a cast of memorable characters. While Murder Is No Accident is the third book in The Hidden Springs Mysteries series, it worked well as a stand-alone read, revealing just enough from the first two books to entice readers to read the previous books in the series. (I already have Murder at the Courthouse loaded on my Kindle.)
   Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane has roots that grow deep in Hidden Springs as His ancestors were founding fathers in Keane County. Alexandria Sheridan's family never remained anywhere long enough to put down roots, but childhood visits to her aunt and uncle's made Hidden Springs feel like home. While undeniably drawn to one another, Michael and Alex had never been able to figure out how to match Michael's small town roots and Alex's big city career. Something not being made any easier by the demands suddenly placed on Michael's time to solve one or maybe two murders while protecting a key witness and her family. Solving the current mystery might depend on his being able to put other ghosts to rest in the old Victorian mansion known as the Chandler house.
     While this may be Gabhart's first mystery series, her expertise as a storyteller stands her in good stead, and I believe her fans, as well as those new to her writing, will not be disappointed. I thank Revell Publishing and the Christian Blog Alliance for providing me with a copy of Murder Is No Accident in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no compensation for this review.

When Tides Turn by Sarah Sundin - A Book Review

     The United States is fully engaged in World War II as Lieutenant Daniel Avery’s and Quintessa Beaumont’s story gets underway in the third installment of the Waves of Freedom series. Their story is driven by the strength of their character as well as their character flaws. A major theme in the book alerts readers to the danger of judging people by outward appearances and using those judgments to predict their motivations and desires. The lesson here goes far beyond the old adage of not judging a book by its cover, and touches tender places within the heart. We are reminded as well of the value of leaving vengeance to the Lord, choosing rather to take the high road, surrendering to God’s sovereignty. While all of this may make this book sound preachy; far from it, Sundin offers her readers action on land and at sea, mystery, spies, and romance. Fully entertaining, but not mindless entertainment.

     Daniel Avery is brother to Jim and Lillian from previous books in this series. Quintessa is best friend to Mary, the Nancy Drew of book one. Readers will enjoy encountering these and other friends and family members again. They will also appreciate Sarah Sundin’s continued portrayal of actual historic events within the context of the story. Her attention to accurate detail makes her books come alive. When Tides Turn places the reader alongside Daniel during battles at sea and celebrates the 1942 establishment and success of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service) as Quintessa, now known as Tess, finds a sense of purpose in serving her country.

     I thank the publisher for making When Tides Turn available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for this review. 

Moving Target by Lynette Eason - A Book Review

     

     Moving Target is the third book in Lynette Eason’s Elite Guardians series. Each book in this series is better than the last. Eason is hard for other mystery/suspense writers to top, so it is amazing that she continues to top herself. Her writing is fast paced, believable, and engaging.

     I had lots of things that needed to be accomplished over the last two days, but very few of them were as I was totally engrossed in Quinn and Maddy’s story. Over the past few years, Quinn, a police detective, and Maddy, a former FBI agent turned body guard, have found themselves working cases together. A friendship developed in spite of Quinn’s prickly personality, with Maddy realizing that she has fallen in love with him. Quinn is much slower to embrace the turn in their relationship as he is holding onto a complicated past. While he may have eventually come around, having his world rocked by their becoming the targets of a serial killer certainly worked as a catalyst. Even so, Maddy comes to the realization that both she and Quinn have family issues that are best rectified before they take their relationship any further, not to mention Quinn’s tenuous relationship with his heavenly Father.

     Quinn had hoped to convince Maddy to join the task force searching for a serial killer. Maddy, while interested in once again working with Quinn, was reluctant to use the skills to get inside a murderer’s mind; getting back out was not easy. The decision of Maddy’s involvement was made for them when both she and Quinn were targeted by the madman, or was it madmen? Who exactly was it who had whisked them off to an island of terror? What connection did they have to the previous victims? Even when it appeared that answers were in hand, more questions were just around the corner.

     I highly recommend Moving Target to mystery and suspense fans. Fans of romantic fiction will also delight in this most recent offering by Lynette Eason. I thank the publisher for making a copy available to me in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for my review.