Edge of Truth by Janice Cantore - A Book Review

  

Janice Cantore is a convincing author of police suspense fiction, likely due to having served on the Long Beach, California police force for twenty-two years. In Edge of Truth, Officer Laine Jenson, also of the Long Beach force, experiences a failure in how the system functions, the loss of a loved one to violence, being targeted by organized crime, and a chance at romance. Saying the story is like a roller coaster may sound cliché, but phrases become clichés for a reason. Very few times while reading have I repeatedly felt like the solution was apparent only to discover how wrong I was. Nothing remains the way it seems. This story has many moving parts.

I highly recommend Edge of Truth, and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Tyndale House Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Deadly Currents by Elizabeth Goddard - A Book Review

  

When I began reading Deadly Currents, I just couldn't get into it. It wasn't bad, I just didn't connect, but then, around the halfway point, something happened. Everything began to fall in place. The characters became someone I could care about. The mystery became intriguing, and I couldn't put the book down. If my to-be-read pile wasn't growing at such an alarming rate, I would reread Deadly Currents right away with a new lens for the first half of the book.

Cressida's story of being betrayed by her mother, dealing with the death of her father, and trying to rescue her writing career and honor her father by completing the book he was writing at the time of his death becomes quite complicated while researching the final chapter of her father's book. Suddenly she is under attack and is becoming aware that her father's death might not have been an accident. She has no idea whom she can trust. Her story includes a ghost ship, pirates, murder, and just a touch of romance. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Deadly Currents from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Hidden Agenda by Lisa Harris - A Book Review Update

  

When I logged into Amazon to post a review on Hidden Agenda, I was surprised to discover I had already reviewed it eleven years earlier. My review still stands. It is a great read. 

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Whiteout by Lynette Eason and Dani Pettrey - A Book Review

   

Whiteout is made up of two romantic suspense novellas: Buried in Shadows by Dani Pettrey and Snowbound Secrets by Lynette Eason. Both settings are at a ski resort impacted by an avalanche, cutting the protagonists off from outside help.

Buried in Shadows had me engrossed from the first page. Waking up to the possibility of an intruder in one's home is many women's worst nightmare. Knowing it may signal the return of one's stalker compounds the terror. The story continues with many more hooks to hold readers captive: a lost love, adrenaline pumping adventure, an avalanche, dangerous wild animals, an abandoned lodge with secret passages, and a killer on the loose. The only thing missing from this story is more of it. When the ending abruptly arrives, the readers just aren't ready to let the characters go.

Snowbound Secrets begins with three friends who had lost touch after high school and joining the military unexpectedly finding themselves all back at a ski resort they had enjoyed together in their youth. Stranded with other guests following an avalanche, Dr. Maya Sullivan is unable to put any distance between herself and the unknown person who seems intent on killing her. This story also holds readers' attention immediately and consistently with its second chance on love trope, secrets revealed, murder attempted, and old tunnels discovered. This story has a bit more real estate in the book and comes to a satisfying ending.

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

Swindoll's Living Insights New Testament Commentary on John - A Brief Comment

 

This is the seventh book in the Living Insights New Testament Commentary that I have read. I continue to be amazed at Dr. Swindoll's ability to deepen the understanding of long-familiar passages through his knowledge of Hebrew and Greek as well as the culture of the times. I highly recommend this book and series.   

The Bird of Bedford Manor by Michelle Griep - A Book Review

 

Set in 1820 Bedfordshire, England, The Bird of Bedford Manor is a Regency era, Gothic, romantic suspense tale. Henry Russell is struggling to fill his father's shoes as head of the manor and in his business affairs. Being very hard on himself as he works to prove himself to his father, things are complicated by an unknown someone who is seeking to frighten, and maybe harm, his sister. Seeing to her protection and solving the mystery of her tormentor's identity, Henry feels God is providing a helper in his efforts in the form of Juliet finch, a poacher who was apprehended on his property, and one possessing skills he requires.

Michelle Griep once again rewards her readers for patiently waiting for her next novel. Her passion for this time and place, and for exposing the darkness to light, is on full display in The Bird of Bedford Manor. Obvious evil will be exposed and brought out into the open, and the darkness of one's soul will be expelled. I highly recommend this book and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The Caregiver at Wounded Knee by Debby Lee - A Book Review

  

The Caregiver at Wounded Knee follows Rose Rushing Water, a member of the Lakota tribe who had been educated in Boston to be a nurse. While in Boston, Rose's experiences included the pains of prejudice against her people as well as the joys of learning nursing, discovering new authors, and making a best friend. Rose was ready to liver her dream of returning home to her brothers and serving the Indians and settlers residing there. She also was excited to reconnect with her language and traditions, something that was far more difficult than she had ever anticipated. The story of Rose's life leads to her presence at the Wounded Knee Creek on the day of the infamous massacre.

The theme of understanding how an all-powerful and loving God allows people to do horrible things to one another, sometimes in the name of Christianity, and that of justice unrealized are at the center of The Caregiver at Wounded Knee and are well-developed. There is a particular analogy the author uses that goes a long way in explaining why we should not give up on God when people do terrible things.

For the most part, I truly enjoyed this novel. There were a few places where the dialogue or the descriptive prose seemed to be that of a less mature writer, but that certainly wasn't a consistent feature. I enjoyed the story and may seek out others based on this time period in the American West. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Caregiver at Wounded Knee from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Christmas in the Crosshairs Presented by Lynette Eason - A Brief Comment

  

Christmas in the Crosshairs is a collection of three novellas by three different authors that did Lynette Eason's Elite Guardian characters proud. It would be difficult to select a favorite from the three as they all were highly engaging, God-honoring, well-written stories with natural, easy-flowing dialogue. The final story did a great job of tying the stories together in its final pages.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Christmas in the Crosshairs through an Advent book giveaway. While the stories are set in the Christmas season,they would be a great read any time of year. 

Fatal Exchange by Lisa Harris - A Book Review

  

After being gifted and reading the first book in Lisa Harris' Southern Crimes series, I was able to access book two via the Libby app. Emily's story was as intriguing as was her sister Avery's. Unlike Avery, their father, and their brother, Emily is not in law enforcement; rather, she is a high school history teacher. Until the day one of her students pulled a handgun out and held her class hostage, Emily had been able to avoid the dangers her family members so often faced.

Harris skillfully intertwines a slow-burn romance into Emily's situation. Mason, her late brother's former partner, and her sister's lead suspect in that case, becomes the hostage negotiator throwing he and Emily together in an intensely emotional situation as they both care very much for the young man they had both mentored who is very uncharacteristically holding his class at gunpoint.

While this is an older series, I highly recommend it and am looking forward to reading book number three. 

The Belle of Chatham by Laura Frantz - A Book Review

  

While not a military family, we have lived, worked, worshiped, and volunteered among military families our entire marriage. We have seen the sacrifices the duty members and their family members have made. The Belle of Chatham, more than any other novel set during the American Revolution that I have read, has given me a glimpse of how these same sacrifices manifested themselves as our country fought for its independence. It also brings to the forefront that even though we were at war with another country, families that had resided here their entire lives were divided in their loyalties, much as were Civil War families, experiencing heart-wrenching sacrifices.

The Belle of Chatham is a lovely story in its ability to portray this era in the history of our nation and to remind us of what motivated not only our forefathers, but also average Americans, to commit their lives to securing freedom. As often is the case lovely endings are preceded by ugly circumstances and hard truths. Laura Frantz has excelled in using fiction to bring forth truth. She has developed characters whose shoes we can step into, characters we can walk alongside and empathize with, characters who model lives of faith and perseverance.

I most highly recommend The Belle of Chatham which I have rated five stars, not something I often do. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The Lies We Trade by Kristine Delano - A Book Review

  

I tried, I really tried, but I just could not get into this story. It wasn't because the structure and dialogue weren't well-written, they were. I think it was because I was unable to relate to the main character's life on any level. I enjoy a wide variety of genres, and can usually empathize even when the characters live much different lives than I do. For whatever reason, this time, I could not. It is likely that others will be able to do so. This was just not a good match for me.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy and the opportunity to read The Lies We Trade from Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Sisterchicks on the Loose! by Robin Jones Gunn - A Book Review

   

I had read and really enjoyed Robin Jones Gunn's Sisterchicks series in the early 2000s as the books were released. Recently after reading two books from Gunn's newest series, Suitcase Sisters, I was inspired to reread the Sisterchicks series that has much the same feel to it. I realized that I was missing my copy of the first book in the series, which was no longer printed in the original cover to match the other books in my collection. I mentioned it to a friend, and she surprised me with a copy found at a used book store while on vacation in Florida. What a special gift!

Today I finished reading Sisterchicks on the Loose!. We all read through the filter of our knowledge and experiences, and I found that I enjoyed the book even more 23 years later. I also found myself underlining special pearls of wisdom like, “I guess we don't really choose the things we're good at doing,...But we choose whether or not to do something lasting with it...One thing I know is true about what you are gifted to do: Satan divides. God multiplies.” As you might imagine of a book about two best friends on an overseas trip, Sisterchicks on the Loose! is filled with both laughter and tears. Throughout the trip both friends discover new things about each other and about themselves. Readers who are along for the ride are likely to learn a thing or two about themselves as well. So, even though the book was published a couple of decades back as a contemporary read, and no one has a cell phone to call home or to use Google Maps, I highly recommend women ages 40 plus take a little step back in time and enjoy this delightful story.