A Beautiful Disguise by Roseanna M. White - A Book Review

    

To date, this is my favorite Roseanna M. White novel. I can only describe it as a delightful romp, one that Jen Turano fans will be happy to discover. What's not to love about a story with private investigators who were raised alongside circus performers, and who now have the retired performers and their menagerie living with them on their estate? You will want to read to discover why they call themselves The Impostors, and to learn who it is among the cast of characters who finds them out.

The characters in A Beautiful Disguise are delightful, well except for the bad guys. The mystery being investigated is truly intriguing. The story has a good balance of comedy and tragedy. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Letters From My Sister by Valerie Fraser Luesse - A Book Review

  

Set in Alabama in the early 1900s, Letters From My Sister tells the story of the strong relationship between a prominent farming family and the family who had served them in so many ways over the decades. It also tells the story of two closely knit sisters who were quite different one from the other, and whose faith and love never wavered. Then nearing the halfway point of the story it morphs into a mystery whose solution appears to be unthinkable. It is also at this point that I became so captivated that I was unable to walk away from the book for any longer than absolutely necessary. The one thing that absolutely stands out in the book is Luesse's character development. She creates characters that readers feel like they truly have come to know on a deeply personal level. I am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Letters From My Sister from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

To Free the Stars by J'Nell Ciesielski - A Book Review

  

To Free the Stars is the second of J'Nell Ciesielski's Jack and Ivy novels. To be enjoyed and understood, having read The Brilliance of Stars is essential. The series denies categorization. There are historical storylines, secret agents, intense action, sizzling romance, betrayal, world travel, secret organizations (both good and evil), and antagonists who border on fantasy style villains, but definitely not the Disney kind. There is also forgiveness, redemption, and restoration among characters that readers are not likely to ever forget. If you have found yourself in a reading rut, reading the same type of stories over and over, the Jack and Ivy novels will jump start you on a whole new path, one filled with extremes of many varieties. I highly recommend these novels and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of To Free the Stars from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Finding Us by Tracie Peterson - A Book Review

 

Finding Us is about Alaska without being set in Alaska. Eleanor Bennett works as a Camera Girl at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle. A botany enthusiast, she loves photographing the wide variety of plants used in the landscaping at the expo as much as taking souvenir pictures of those attending. That's how Bill Reed came to find her in a precarious position photographing floating plants in a small lake. A botanist by profession, Bill was working giving tours in the Alaska building at the expo. As usually happens in historical romance books, Eleanor and Bill's friendship quickly grows but faces unusual obstacles. In this book, the obstacles stem from Bill's brother, Wallace, having lost his wife and unborn child in a shipwreck on their way to Seattle from Alaska, an event which negatively impacted his faith in God. Further complications arise from the vengeful attitude of a man whose brother was hanged after Wallace testified against him.

I really enjoyed the plot of this book. The author paced it well and transitions between storylines were smooth. The dialogue occasionally felt off, but not often enough to impact my enjoyment. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Finding Us from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Starlet Spy by Rachel Scott McDaniel - A Book Review

  

I am always impressed with Rachel Scott McDaniel's research and the way she weaves her stories around true historical events. The Starlet Spy is no exception, so make sure you read the Author's Notes at the end of the book. Amelie Blake, not her real name, is a Swedish born, Hollywood actress of some renown. She had been typecast as a less-than-intelligent, blond bombshell. That, along with her actual intellect and her Swedish background, made her the perfect person to go undercover for the Office of Strategic Services. McDaniel takes Amelie on the adventure of a lifetime as she aids the Allies, and possibly discovers true love.

McDaniel's writing style is crisp, flows smoothly, and is highly engaging. She creates vivid mental images, incorporating all of her readers' senses and a wide range of emotions, all made more intense by how closely the fictional events align with the true ones. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Starlet Spy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Countdown by Lynette Eason - A Book Review

  

It was a pleasure once again joining the emergency medical team in Asheville, North Carolina and their law enforcement friends in Eason's fourth book in her Extreme Measures series. In this book we learn more of Raina's story and observe her budding relationship with US Marshal Vincent Covelli as they repeatedly place themselves in danger in order to protect a thirteen year old, future Olympian from a man he has never met, his father. Emotions run high in this story that deals with the topic of domestic violence. As usual Eason shines a spotlight on a social issue of concern while providing romantic suspense fans a wonderful reading experience. This book in particular feels authentic, like a story one might see on the evening news. Fortunately, she provides plenty of positive moments to leave the reader feeling encouraged.

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