Beach Rental by Grace Greene - A Book Review

     

I had read eleven of Grace Greene's books, but never her first, Beach Rental. I am so glad to have now had the privilege and pleasure. Juli Cooke's life had been difficult from an early age. Now in her twenties working minimum wage jobs, trying to keep her head above water, with no high school diploma or GED, Juli doesn't expect that to change any time soon. Little did she know the amazing changes that were headed her way when she met Ben Bradshaw. Ben was only too aware of the changes that had entered his life, changes brought on with his cancer diagnosis. Now he wishes to have companionship with someone who hasn't already gone into mourning for him.

Grace Green was already a master storyteller even in this first of her books. Character development comes naturally to her as she draws readers into relationships with her characters. Her plots gently deliver messages of hope, and will be enjoyed by fans of clean secular fiction as well as fans of Christian fiction. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Beach Rental from the author without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Lineage of Corruption by Robin Patchen - A Book Review

   

While Lineage of Corruption is book 7 in Robin Patchen's Coventry Saga series, it will work as a stand-alone read. I always enjoy Patchen's writing, and I especially love her long series that allow one to know her characters well, and to feel at home in her small town settings. Patchen does a wonderful job of balancing the romance and suspense elements of her stories.

In Lineage of Corruption Josie Smith is working incognito as a coffee shop owner. Trying to stay under the radar has made making friends difficult. Few people from her former life as a D.C. mover and shaker know of her new name or whereabouts. Thomas Windham spends more of his time volunteering with search and rescue, the fire department, and as a paramedic than he does running his insurance business. Now, he has been asked to run for mayor. Circumstances, much to Thomas' pleasure and Josie's frustration, have thrown the two together and shown them that they need one another's skills. The action becomes intense as Thomas' campaign heats up and Josie becomes a target as a pawn in her own father's political career.

I highly recommend this book and series along with Robin Patchen's previous series. I am grateful to have been provided a complimentary copy without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

 

Edge of Dusk by Colleen Coble - A Book Review

   

I have been a huge fan of Colleen Coble's romantic suspense novels for a very long time. I have completed five of her series and several of her stand-alone novels. Edge of Dusk, her latest release, is my least favorite of her books that I have read thus far. In my opinions the writing is amateurish and not typical of her writing. The story's premise was good,but the dialogue was simple and lacked consistency. The same is true for the character development. I am grateful, however, to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron - A Book Review

  

This well-researched split time novel is filled with information on events surrounding the clearing of the ghetto in Rome, Italy of which I was previously unaware. The fictional story that showcases the real-life heroism of Dr. Giovanni Borromeo and members of his staff at the Fatebenefratelli Hospital at Tiber Island is amazing. The heroics of the fictional characters are both heart-warming and heart-wrenching. Kristy Cambron has once again woven a tale that brings the generations together and demonstrates the impact the past has on the future, and that one life can have on the lives of so many others. The theme of both extending and receiving mercy is also well developed in this beautiful story.

I highly recommend The Italian Ballerina along with Cambron's other works. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Elysium Tide by James R. Hannibal - A Book Review

  

I totally enjoyed this suspense novel by author James R. Hannibal. While it began with a rather gruesome scene in an operating theater in London, England, the story quickly moved to the beautiful island of Maui. This is where neurosurgeon Dr. Peter Chesterfield meets Detective Lisa Kealoha, head of the Maui Investigative Service Bureau's Criminal Investigative Division's Gang Task Force. Together they work to solve a case of murder in which Lisa's long-time friend, Kelly Alana, is the victim. Additional cases spring up from this one, adding to the danger and to the suspense. k

This book is fast-paced with lots of unexpected twists. It keeps the reader on his or her toes and glued to the book. The theme of needing to make a choice now of where one plans to spend eternity is an important one, as is the importance of sharing one's faith while there is still time. I am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Elysium Tide from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Record Keeper by Charles Martin - A Book Review

  

The Record Keeper is the third book in Charles Martin's Murphy Shepherd series. The books are best read in sequence in order to aid comprehension and to increase the reading's impact and pleasure. The series addresses the themes of leaving the ninety-nine to find the one, human trafficking, and restoration. This book also addresses the theme of being a light in the darkness. Each book in the series is filled with heroic rescues complete with gun battles and hand-to-hand combat, but also with deep love and compassion. It is a series that I enjoy recommending to both men and women. It was my introduction to Charles Martin's work; his books are now among those I won't pass up.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Record Keeper from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold - A Book Review

  

2022 has already yielded several true literary gems of which The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip shines among the brightest. I typically avoid books about cancer, that being a topic that seeks to foil my attempt to read to escape the darkness of the times in which we live. By acquiescing to the nudge I felt to read this book, I experienced a breath of life in Mrs. Kip's story, a life lived by loving deeply, by the giving of one's self over to many tiny deaths. This book is potentially life changing, and I pray that I will allow it to change mine a little more each and every single day.

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip is extremely well-written. Brunsvold does not shy away from the physical realities of the final days of our earthly life, but she does bathe them in spiritual loveliness, with the great anticipation for what awaits us as believers, while also inspiring us to finish well, doing the Lord's work until our final breaths. This is a story that is not to be missed.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The Deadly Shallows by Dani Pettrey - A Book Review

  

It was difficult to decide which drove this story, the romance or the suspense. There was a lot of both. In this book two new couples are formed as they each collaborate on their own case. I am a big fan of Dani Pettrey, but I must say that this is not in my top three favorites of her books, although I enjoyed it enough to feel comfortable recommending it to others. It's just a personal preference for me to have the scales tip a bit more to the suspense storyline than to the romance one.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Deadly Shallows from Bethany House without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The Heart of the Mountains by Pepper Basham - A Book Review

   

Pepper Basham's books set in Appalachia are always a treat. She very respectfully portrays an historical Appalachian lifestyle without shying away from the difficulties inherent in that lifestyle. She shines a light on the good and loving hearts while acknowledging the hearts that are hardened by adversity. Basham's characters are frequently quirky and easy to love; the characters in this book are no exception. The only thing that troubled me a bit about this book was the timeline. It wasn't the speed with which relationships were built, but the unrealistic speed with which furniture was built! I know, that won't make sense until you read the book, and you will want to read this book. As in her other books the characters have a great deal of wisdom to share.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Heart of the Mountain from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.