A visit to her widowed mother's new home upends Beth Lowell's life when she opens a box in her mother Jan's guest closet with her name on it and discoA visit to her widowed mother's new home upends Beth Lowell's life when she opens a box in her mother Jan's guest closet with her name on it and discovers her life is not what she had always thought. Her beloved late father was not her birth father. Jan had not wanted Beth to know until Jan died. The two women irritate each other because Jan has always wanted to stay at home in Tyler, Texas, while Beth's job takes her around the world.
As Beth tries to fit finding her birth father around her job, Jan realizes that home in Texas isn't everything she had hoped for. Then there's a handsome, wealthy, young Englishman that Beth meets and dislikes in Nairobi who keeps turning up.
Catherine Palmer is a new author to me but one I hope to read more of. I'm not usually a fan of character-driven novels, but Palmer keeps the characterization lively and the plot interesting. Both women grow, which is good, because I liked neither of them at first. The characters are unique and the situation intriguing. ...more
When the vice-president's daughter tries to commit suicide after verbally attacking her father on a popular TV talk show, Secret Service agent Meghan When the vice-president's daughter tries to commit suicide after verbally attacking her father on a popular TV talk show, Secret Service agent Meghan Connors is assigned to her detail under exacting Ash Zinders, known as A2Z. Because of Lindsay's drug addiction and wild lifestyle, the vice president sends her to the ranch of a longtime friend and associate, to detox and to protect her from a drug cartel targeting her. Ash makes it clear from the start he does not want Meghan as part of his team and that he does not think women should be in the Secret Service. As dangers to Lindsay and the team escalate, Meghan seems to be the only one who can reach Lindsay who is desperately hiding something. Then the president resigns because of his cancer and Lindsay's dad becomes the president, so the target on his back, on Lindsay's, and on the team's gets bigger.
This was an exciting story. Lindsay is a developing character. Ash, thankfully, develops because he's quite unlikeable at first. Mills shapes the plot so that the danger seems overwhelming. She deftly delivers a satisfying conclusion to the plot....more
Although I'm not a big fan of romance stories, this sweet romance was heavy on suspense too, so it held my interest. It was engrossing.Although I'm not a big fan of romance stories, this sweet romance was heavy on suspense too, so it held my interest. It was engrossing....more
Violet Griffin, an airlines employee, sees her superior allow someone she believes to be carrying drugs to bypass inspection before flying. When she cViolet Griffin, an airlines employee, sees her superior allow someone she believes to be carrying drugs to bypass inspection before flying. When she calls best friend and drug canine officer Zach Jameson, the drug transporter attacks her. Because she interferes, the drug transporter hunts her down. Only the protection of Zach and others on the canine unit can keep her safe. But for how long? Especially since they are mourning the death of their leader, Zach's oldest brother, Jordan.
Violet tries to be the tough girl who can keep up with her best friend and his cop buddies, but unbeknownst to Zach, she has loved him since was a girl.
Act of Valor is likeable and exciting with a great buildup to the climax. Eddie is an adorable police beagle who can't be trusted with furniture when he's upset. Mentink does a great job establishing the characters' backstories, even Eddie's. The romance is a friend-to-lover trope. It's a fun read.
As Scarlet Wells finishes the artistic rendition of the face of the Coastline Strangler described by the only survivor, he bursts into the hospital roAs Scarlet Wells finishes the artistic rendition of the face of the Coastline Strangler described by the only survivor, he bursts into the hospital room, shoots the two women, and destroys the drawing. His shot grazes Scarlet's head, giving her amnesia. Jace Allen, Scarlet's former college boyfriend and a constable on the local police force, insists that Scarlet, on loan to Vancouver from Yukon, stay on the police task force until the murderer is caught. The CLS escalates his attacks against women and against the task force. He seems to have some connection to the police as he remains one step ahead of them.
The fast-paced story keeps you turning pages. It's an easy read for an evening or two after a busy day. This format makes the character development rushed, but it's fun to try to pick out the bad guy and figure how he's getting the information, almost before the police do....more
Rachel Hartline's visit to her ex-husband's workplace to secure his signature on papers allowing her to sell their house precipitates attacks on her bRachel Hartline's visit to her ex-husband's workplace to secure his signature on papers allowing her to sell their house precipitates attacks on her by someone unknown. She sees her ex, Paul Hartline, removing a flash drive from his boss's computer. He then flees before the guard can reach them. Alarmed, Rachel tries to call him to return the flash drive or turn himself in. Following an attack on her, Rachel flees to Pennsylvania to the home of her Amish grandparents.
Detective Clint Morgan wants to believe that Rachel is a victim rather than a collaborator, but he has too many questions, and she seems still loyal to her ex. When he discovers attacks on Rachel, he tracks her down, but the attacks continue and Paul's responses are sparse and unhelpful.
This is another of Marta Perry's suspenseful Echo Falls stories. Rachel and Clint's characters develop well. The plot is fast-paced and interesting. Perry's characterizations of the Amish family members are distinctive and sympathetic. At times, I want to shake Rachel and suggest she slow down her interest in Clint as he has quite a temper. ...more
When veterinarian Amanda Curtis discovers that her recently killed mother, artist Juliet Curtis, never gave birth and that Juliet's brother may be ablWhen veterinarian Amanda Curtis discovers that her recently killed mother, artist Juliet Curtis, never gave birth and that Juliet's brother may be able to challenge Juliet's will, Amanda determines that she needs to find out who her mother was and where the adoption occurred. The only clue is that someone breaks into their den and breaks a picture frame of a waterfall, one of the few landscapes Juliet ever painted before Amanda's dog Barney chases him away. On the canvas Amanda finds a clue that leads her to Echo Falls, PA.
Amanda's friend and lawyer approaches a young lawyer, Trey Alter, in Echo Falls to help Amanda in what they hope will be an easy search. When the clue leads them to an obituary of a young woman from the town's most influential family, local town gossip mills build Amanda's search into a threat against the wealthy family's power. Then the harassment starts, and the danger builds, but Trey and a warm Amish family extend hands of friendship and more despite what it might mean to Trey's law firm or the family's safety.
Perry draws distinctive characters who are likeable or unlikeable. They are deep and well-developed. The plot line moved rapidly but did not feel rushed. There was no sex or bad language. I found it hard to put down and want to read the rest of the series....more
Private Investigator MacKenzie Love and her partner Samantha Majors found the accused killer of Eleanor Davis's alibi before the book opens. For that,Private Investigator MacKenzie Love and her partner Samantha Majors found the accused killer of Eleanor Davis's alibi before the book opens. For that, their hometown has largely turned against them. To win back the town, Mac and Sam decide they must find the real killer. Mac's former chemistry teacher, the formidable Miss P, joins them. They also embroil Sam's brother, Police Detective Jake Sanders, in their investigation. The closer they get, the more they are intimidated and attacked.
The Case of the Innocent Husband was a pleasant, light read. Mac and Sam are distinctive. There were a few small things that didn't make sense to me, such as Miss P's not giving a solid reason for joining the detective agency gratis out of the blue and how Jake knew Miss P, but Sam didn't. Otherwise, it was fun, and the killers fooled me....more
Best-selling historical fiction writer Carolyn McClelland, known to her friends as Carrie, is having trouble with her latest novel despite the researcBest-selling historical fiction writer Carolyn McClelland, known to her friends as Carrie, is having trouble with her latest novel despite the research she's done on the Jacobite uprising in 1708. However, when she visits her agent Jane in Scotland, she passes the ruins of a castle, Slains, that draws her to it. Jane suggests that she move to Scotland to complete her research and add a heroine as the viewpoint character. As she does, she finds that the story explodes from her. She writes names, dates and places that she cannot remember in her research, only to find out that the facts are accurate. But she cannot tell her friendly landlord's two handsome sons what is going on inside her head.
Carrie had chosen one of her forbears, Sophia Paterson, as the heroine. Sophia becomes the main character of the second strand of this split-time novel. Her life has been rough and she's grateful, as an orphan, to be taken in by her distant kinswoman, the Countess of Erroll of Slains Castle. When she accepted, she did not know that the countess and her son, the Count of Erroll, are involved in the effort to return King James to the Scottish throne. They receive many conspirators, including Captain Gordon and Mr. Moray, who has a princely price on his head. Both men are handsome, and both are interested in Sophia, but powerful men spy for Queen Anne of England and will do their best to thwart King James's return. Amidst the deadly threats, Sophia must choose sides, even as her heart is making its own choice.
Kearsley is a powerful and elegant writer who drew me into her story easily. Her description made me see Scotland. Her characterization was powerful. She took me between the two timelines smoothly. My only concerns were a little taking of the Lord's name in vain and implied sex outside marriage. I appreciated that it was not graphic. She slips in a couple of good twists at the end, one I didn't see coming. ...more
Once Charity Alden returns to Boston from Valley Forge with her younger brother's body, she tries to find doctors and supplies to help the struggling Once Charity Alden returns to Boston from Valley Forge with her younger brother's body, she tries to find doctors and supplies to help the struggling patriots. She has met Major Adam Winslow, his son Nathan and daughter-in-law Julie while at Valley Forge and turns to Adam's brother Charles for help for the soldiers. Instead, she finds that Charles Winslow is a devoted Tory. His son Paul is even worse, a debauched drunkard.
When Paul offers to help, Charity meets him at a tavern where Paul gets her alone and tries to assault her. Quick-thinking Charity grabs a candle snuffer and strikes him in the face with it, leaving a long wound. She escapes.
On a trip to New York, Paul is pressed into the British navy after a fight which leaves him with a head injury that causes amnesia. He is given the name of Hawke by those who nurse him back to health. He has no idea that his family thinks he's dead.
I picked this up for a reading challenge. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed The House of Winslow series as it came out years ago. Morris's fast-paced writing takes us into the saga of the Winslow family from the Mayflower to at least World War II. The Saintly Buccaneer is the fifth in the series.
Morris develops his characters well. Charity is the fearless, headstrong daughter raised on her father's ships. Dan Greene is the somewhat lapsed Quaker Charity meets at Valley Forge, and Paul Winslow is the debauched young rich man whom almost nobody can stand, quick to drink, fight, and chase women. All are developing characters.
This is a Christian book. Paul's attempted rape of Charity and the scar he receives from it figure into the plotline. The language is clean. One of the things I appreciate in the story is the Christian characters determining not to be "unequally yoked."
Our family read some of this series together when our sons were teenagers. A homeschooling friend required her kids to read the series as a supplement to their history books. ...more
The Wedding Dress Christmas by Rachel Hauck is a novella with a magic wedding dress that chooses its next bride. Over a century old, the dress fits evThe Wedding Dress Christmas by Rachel Hauck is a novella with a magic wedding dress that chooses its next bride. Over a century old, the dress fits every chosen bride, regardless of her height or weight, and always looks new, fashionable, and unique for every bride.
JoJo Castle loves life in her hometown of Hearts Bend, but part of her return home from Dallas is to escape the memories of an attack that has emotionally imprisoned her. She works in her cousin's wedding shop and volunteers around town, including the children's Christmas program.
When country superstar Buck Matthews returns home to Hearts Bend because of his mother's cancer, one of the first people he sees is JoJo, his high school best friend, driving her little car, wearing a veil that is caught outside the door. From that moment, Buck decides that seeing JoJo again is one of the best reasons for returning home.
This is a sweet, sometimes comical romance with a message of facing our fears. Good characters....more
This book contains four sweet Amish romances about four sisters. Because of her seasonal affective disorder, Leora Lambright believes no one in her AmThis book contains four sweet Amish romances about four sisters. Because of her seasonal affective disorder, Leora Lambright believes no one in her Amish order will love her. She moves to Sarasota, Florida. Francine's boyfriend breaks their relationship off to go into missions, so she goes to visit her Leora where she meets Lucas. When Alana's timidity irritates her boyfriend, she breaks off the relationship and seeks comfort with Leora. Violet, the youngest sister, is unsure that she wants to join the Amish church, so she visits Sarasota to think through her life.
Wanda Brunstetter and her co-writers do a great job distinguishing their characters. Leora accepts her seasonal affective disorder and commits herself to how she believes God wants her to live. She is the committed first daughter. Francine is a little disorganized, Alana timid and artistic, and Violet adventurous.
I gave the book 3 stars because I don't much care for romance stories. I was reading it to complete a reading challenge. The novellas were well written, but the girls didn't strike me as very Amish. They wore the plain dresses and the prayer coverings, but they were more Mennonite or even conservative Baptist in appearance and action to me....more
When Sergio Ross returns to his hometown to search for his sister's killer, the one person he has to see and doesn't want to is Helen Pike, his sisterWhen Sergio Ross returns to his hometown to search for his sister's killer, the one person he has to see and doesn't want to is Helen Pike, his sister's best friend. Fiona had come to the town three years earlier to see the killer of Helen's and her friend Trish fifteen years before. Whatever Fiona's lead was, she had told no one before someone ran her down, leaving her twin daughters orphans to be raised by Sergio.
Helen had found a note left in an old cabin by Fiona when she had visited. As Helen searches the cabin for more evidence before it is razed, someone attacks her and sets the cabin afire. Sergio rescues her, but finding that Helen blames herself for Fiona's death changes his attitude toward her. He wants justice for Fiona and for the two girls he's now raising, but increasingly it appears that he or Helen may be silenced by a desperate killer before they discover who he is.
I enjoyed the story. Metink left a couple of minor problems. One was a small wording problem, the other a time problem. The story was suspenseful, the characterization good. The enemies to lovers romance worked but did not overwhelm the suspense. Good Christian message on revenge without being overpowering. ...more
This is a sweet Christian Christmas romance of an older single woman looking for a painter to paint a miniature of her beloved niece and her soon-to-bThis is a sweet Christian Christmas romance of an older single woman looking for a painter to paint a miniature of her beloved niece and her soon-to-be husband for a Christmas star decoration. It's set in Cheyenne sometime after the Civil War in which her fiancé died and the painter lost his foot. ...more
When A. B. Stanhope dies suddenly, his will leaves the family business and much of the wealth to the closest male family member. His wife Sylvia, daugWhen A. B. Stanhope dies suddenly, his will leaves the family business and much of the wealth to the closest male family member. His wife Sylvia, daughter Adelaide, and mother Junietta have the family mansion, his yacht, and a small income. Junietta sees this as an opportunity for them to get out of the gilded lifestyle and for Adelaide to find a husband she loves and her own passions. However, Sylvia believes the only way to keep their huge mansion and lifestyle of the gilded society that they have enjoyed is for Adelaide to marry a wealthy man soon. Adelaide finds herself the rope in the tug-of-war between her mother and grandmother.
In trying to fight for the future, the three women must reveal secrets known to no one, secrets which could tear their family apart or bring them together.
This book would suggest that Lynn Austin's reputation for excellence is well deserved. The women are uniquely drawn. Although the two older women are often at odds about Adelaide's future, Austin paints each sympathetically. I was glad that Austin chose to have her characters tell their secrets rather than show it in a dual time plotline. The characters are well-developed, and the plot develops naturally. The Christian message of God's forgiveness is strong. The story brought me to tears several times. Although romance is a part of the book, the relationship between the three women is most central to the story. I highly recommend it....more
When Ivy Elliott goes to Alaska to purchase a rare Jack London manuscript, she finds instead a dead man. His niece is missing, perhaps being traffickeWhen Ivy Elliott goes to Alaska to purchase a rare Jack London manuscript, she finds instead a dead man. His niece is missing, perhaps being trafficked. The girl's picture looks so much like Ivy's sister who had been kidnapped and killed that, at the grandmother's request, Ivy must find her.
Alaska State Trooper Nolan Long, having met Ivy the year before, was about to leave for Florida to see her when a cabin with a large blood stain explodes with his friend, an Alaska Wildlife Trooper, inside. Intent on finding the missing girl and discovering who killed Carl, Nolan and Ivy join forces on a hunt that leads to assault, vandalism, and murder.
Hidden in the Night was a suspenseful read. Goddard's twist at the end of the book took the story in a direction I had never anticipated. She handled it skillfully and made it totally believable. This is a good addition to the series. I enjoyed it....more
Daniela Vargas did not want to take the assignment of trying to find out who has been breaking into Sam Kavanaugh's inn, but Kavanaugh's three-year-o Daniela Vargas did not want to take the assignment of trying to find out who has been breaking into Sam Kavanaugh's inn, but Kavanaugh's three-year-old son Oliver seems to be a target. Daniela takes her K-9 Zara with her as she poses as a nanny. The five guests of the inn and one of the workers are high on her list of suspects, but the reason for the attacks remain elusive. I enjoyed the story. It was high on suspense. Metink developed Daniela's, Sam's, and Oliver well. It was a quick read, a good choice for anyone who likes Christian romantic suspense. ...more
This was a light suspenseful romance. Dory Winslow inadvertently wronged her boyfriend's father five years before, and he ended up going to prison fo This was a light suspenseful romance. Dory Winslow inadvertently wronged her boyfriend's father five years before, and he ended up going to prison for causing the death of two people. Now a private eye working for her father, she sees one of those "dead" people alive and breathing on a police video, so she starts tracking him. The search lands her in the presence of her former boyfriend, the father of the child he doesn't know he has, who insists on working with her to find the man who helped frame his father. It was a pleasant, suspenseful read, but a few times I found the transition between actions unclear and needed to reread. It had a good twist at the end....more
Fraser Marshall, the oldest son of the Minnesota Marshalls, has been a doer, a protector, until now. His last assignment with Jones, Inc. left his rigFraser Marshall, the oldest son of the Minnesota Marshalls, has been a doer, a protector, until now. His last assignment with Jones, Inc. left his right hand severely weakened and with little feeling, making him a liability to the team until he recovers. He grumpily recuperates at his family's winery while his parents go to Europe to see his adopted brother Creed race. Then he receives a call from Creed that he is on the run with Imani, Princess of Lauchtenland, after she witnessed a murder in Geneva. Fraser sends them to where another brother is vacationing. When he can't reach the brother, he hops a plane to find Creed because that's what brothers do, even for ones they barely know.
Pippa Webster's year guarding the impulsive Imani has been anything but easy. As an American, she's been accustomed to her freedom and having Pippa for a bodyguard has sent Imani into rebellion and frequent escapes. When Pippa gets separated from Imani and Creed at a pub, she starts hunting the pair down, but she finds someone else ahead of her, Fraser. The two chase the young pair across Europe, but something is wrong when Imani identifies the murderer as Pippa's boss.
This was an exciting story with interesting characters who are struggling to find who they are when what they've known has been stripped from them. Relationships blossom, both romantic, fraternal, and friendly ones. They learn lessons about God's care when things go wrong.
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