Review of Life After by Katie Ganshert

Nutshell: Main character, Autumn Manning boarded a train heading home when minutes in to the ride, an explosion changed the course of her life forever. Being the only survivor of the purposeful blast, Autumn finds herself floundering through life, engrossed in the lives of those who died and spinning into a downward cycle that gets darker day after day. This is a story about a woman's survival and how one little motherless girl reaches out to Autumn and changes the trajectory they both are on.

Pro's: What an impactful, powerful story of seeing life beyond one's own nose and misery. How other's are affected in spite of tragedy. How tragedy can grow something beautiful. How stories can impact one person's life. A beautiful heart wrenching, agonizing story that blossoms in to hope. The words. The story line. Feeling like you are standing on the sidelines a part of these characters. Well written and one of the best books I have read.

Con's: Not really any! It was slightly difficult to grasp all of Autumn's family members. But other than that, a fantastic read!

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a bit of a heavier read. It is not light and fluffy, but a pretty emotionally full book.

Blogging for Books sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Sandpiper Cove by Irene Hannon

This is the 3rd book in the Hope Harbor Series by Irene Hannon. She has sculpted another soft, quaint, sea-side novel that is filled with hope. You can feel the sea breezes as you read about Lexie Graham and Adam Stone and the events that tie them together. Each helping the other, walls being broken down, pasts brought to the forefront with forgiveness as the tie that binds it together.

Mix in previous characters from other books, a taco truck vendor who bestows wisdom and has an uncanny look in to each person's trials and strengths, and a kid headed down the wrong path who becomes attached to the felon and you have the daily going-ons in this small, Oregon town.

I enjoyed how the author ties in previous characters, but they feel new to the reader. Her descriptive words and storytelling keep the reader engaged throughout the entire book. If you are looking for a story that keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat, this is not it. If you are looking for a book that is not too heavy and has a feel-good flow, you will enjoy this one.

There wasn't really anything I didn't enjoy about this book. If you need to know the stories of the secondary characters, then you'll enjoy her previous two books, which are constructed along the same lines as this one.

Reveal Books sent me a complimentary copy to review for them. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Still Life by Dani Pettrey

This is book 2 in the Chesapeake Valor Series by Dani Pettrey. A suspense mystery novel that will keep you wondering what will happen next. Book two is about photographer, Avery Tate, and her quest to find out about her missing friend who posed in an art gallery photo where she appeared to be dead. Avery and her new friends are on a mission to find the photographer behind the chilling photo.

This book was suspenseful and kept you hanging with each turn of the page. A fast-paced action storyline where a few different plots kept you wondering how each one would turn out. I enjoyed the fact that there were a few smaller spotlights on other characters throughout the book. This helped peak the readers interest in the next book that may be coming in the series. These sub-plots were of a different nature than the main plot which kept the book moving along until the end.

I started reading this book and realized I had no idea who any of the characters were, but was reading it as if they had already been introduced elsewhere. I ended up purchasing and reading the first book, Cold Shot, then jumped in to the 2nd book. That helped an immense amount in understanding the characters and more of their backstory and how they all related to each other.

If you enjoy suspense mystery fiction, you will enjoy this book. Read the first book in the series though....it'll make the second book more enjoyable and understandable to read!

Bethany House Publishers sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Murder Is No Accident by A.H. Gabhart

Sheriff Michael Keane find himself in the midst of another murder. How does the quaint little town he grew up in yet again become the news of murder? Travel with him through his findings to discovery who the culprit is!

A.H. Gabhart does it once again with her talent of spinning a murder tale entwined with a sleepy, cozy town to produce a story that keeps you reading along. Not suspenseful like other novels, Gabhart crafts a sweet story with a splash of mystery, throws in a bit of love and you have Murder is No Accident.

If you enjoy a not-so-heavy murder mystery full of suspense and violence, you will enjoy this book. My recommendation would be to read the first two books in this series. Not only because they are good, but it will help place the characters and their relationships that are already formed.

Revell Books sent me this complimentary book to review for them. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Moving Target by Lynette Eason

What I enjoyed: This books is the third book in the Elite Guardian's series. This book is focused on the characters of Maddy and Quinn. What a great book! Right from the opening, it was filled with fast, action packed suspense and makes the reader wonder how they will find the killer who is after them. With so many well written back stories about these two main characters, it was a great way to tell this story of Maddy and Quinn. Twists and turns have you guessing what is going to happen next and the plot is thick with suspense. This was a book I stayed up late to read as it sucked me right in and took me for quite the ride!

Feedback views: The romance was a bit heavy at times, but knowing these two characters did not just meet, but had been friends for years didn't make it stomach curdling. It was very gory in some areas (for those who are visual readers....it may be a bit much).

Overall recommendation: if you enjoy suspense mysteries, you will love this book! To have a full understanding of this book, read books one and two as that will help (and because the first two books are just as good!!). I'm looking forward to book 4 (the first chapter was amazing and set up what sounds to be another great book)!

Revell Books sent me this copy to review for them. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Justice Delayed by Patricia Bradley

What I enjoyed: Patricia Bradley has done it again with another gripping tale of mystery and suspense. A gripping book from start to finish, this story will have you up until the wee hours of the night just to find out what happens. With a bit of romance mixed in, Patricia's story is an overall thumbs up. With action, suspense, a fast-paced plot, this is one book you will enjoy having on your shelf.

Feedback views: it seemed as though this was a second book in a way as there were characters that were hinted at, but the reader knew nothing about. The personal struggle at the end seemed to resolve too quickly vs how it may happen in real life (can't say much more without revealing the end!)

I recommend this book to those who:
enjoy thriller suspense
want a Christian emphasis
look for fast paced story lines

I would hesitate recommending this book to those who:
have a queazy stomach
read only before going to bed (it's a bit graphic at times)

Revell Books sent me a copy of this to review for them. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review of The Returning by Rachelle Dekker

Nutshell: Twenty years ago two outlaws had to leave their baby girl in the city that they couldn't enter or they would die. Twenty years of heartache. Wondering. Guilt. Prayer. Shame. Thankfulness. Hope. In this breathtaking suspenseful final book of the the Seer Series, travel with Elise Carrington: the long lost daughter who thinks her parents abandoned her. Feel her fear, hurt and pain as she struggles with who she is, why she's still alive and if she even has a purpose in life other than to feel abandoned. With her made up dreams that seem almost real, a battle is being raged between dark and light, good and evil and Elise finds herself the missing puzzle piece to a puzzle that will either finish torn apart, or put perfectly together.

Pro's: Rachelle has done it again. I couldn't wait for this book to come out and I devoured it from beginning to end. What a masterful storyteller she is. You feel like you are walking along side all of the characters. The way she paints and tells her story is like a song that ebbs and flows. So well put together and keeps you moving along until the very end.

Con's: You can't read this book on its own. But you will want to read the other two anyway, so it's actually a good thing!

Recommendation: Read this series!!! It's futuristic, but the struggles are real, no matter the time period. You will not be disappointed!

Tyndale House Publishers sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. Opinions expressed are my own.

Q & A from the author:

What themes are explored in this book?

Identity is something I am always exploring, so that’s no different in The Returning. But in this novel I took a really hard look at forgiveness and how that relates to our journey of discovering who we really are. 

How do you hope this book will resonate with your readers?
I hope, as with both of the other books, that the reader sees themselves in the characters and that the story causes them to look inward. To ask hard questions like, Who am I? What am I capable of? Do I see myself the way the Father does? Can I? I hope it challenges their idea of identity and then gives them hope to see themselves and others more clearly. Because that’s how these stories have impacted me, and we are all really just the same. 

About the Author

The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle Dekker was inspired early on to discover truth through the avenue of storytelling. She graduated with a degree in communications and spent several years in marketing and corporate recruiting before making the transition to write full-time. She lives in Nashville with her husband, Daniel, and their diva cat, Blair. 

You can find more about Rachelle Dekker and her books at http://rachelledekker.com

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