Review of The Escape by Lisa Harris

Madison James is doing the job she loves as a US Marshall. It has also been five years since her husband was murdered with no closure on the killer. With feeling the need for a change, her thoughts are of moving out of the city to start somewhere fresh. But before that can happen, she needs to focus on her job of which a new assignment is given to her, along with a new partner, Jonas Quinn. A quick flight transporting two prisoners should have them back home later that day. Things do not go as planned as their plane crashes and one of their prisoners escapes in a remote area. The man hunt begins as they search for their escaped prisoner who is also hunting them as well. Every second and move counts as the manhunt begins.

Lisa Harris has created a new series that keeps the reader quickly turning each page. The suspense is thick, the story writing is top-notch and the plot grips the reader all the way to the end. Harris does a great job of making the story come to life and keeps the reader well engaged with the twists and turns of the two main characters who you feel like you know. If you enjoy a good suspense filled book, pick up this book in Harris' new series US Marshalls. 

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

The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano

Willa Duvall loves medicine. Matters of the heart aren't as important to her, hence why suitors continue to scratch their heads in disbelief when she turns down their marriage proposals. But between a love note hidden in her desk and an ultimatum by her father, Willa is determined to get employment at a home she visited with her father during her growing up years. With letter in hand and employment secured, Willa begins a journey of which she did not expect. 

Politano has written a masterful story in The Love Note. I love how she takes one object, a letter, and twists a whole story around it. How the same words mean different things to those who read it and how the story takes a life of it's own based on one letter. What a great, unique story that takes the reader on a journey through the ups and downs of romance and misinterpretation, the reader is glued to the pages just wondering how everything will work out. 

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

Review of Point of Danger by Irene Hannon

Eve Reilly loves her job. Talking about controversial subjects on her early morning radio show. Others, however, want to silence her.  Detective Brent Lange is new on the job and his first case involves finding out who is making the threats against Eve. What the two don't expect is the feelings that spark the moment they meet. Will they find the culprit who is threatening Eve's life before it's too late? 

This is Irene Hannon's first book in her new Triple Threat Series. With suspense showing up on every page and characters intertwining with each other, this book keeps the reader flipping the pages trying to figure out how it's all going to come together. Throw in sparks of romance and you have the signature romantic suspense Hannon is known for. A good book that keeps the reader engaged right up to the end and looking forward to the second book in the series. You won't be disappointed if you pick up this book, or any of her other romantic suspense books.

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

Review of The Key to Love by Betsy St. Amant

In this stand-alone novel, Bri Duval is hoping her romantic man in shining armor shows up someday. To have a marriage as good as her parents' was. To be able to put her lock on the Love Lock gate out in the back of the bakery she works at. What she doesn't expect is travel writer Gerard Fortier to waltz in to her bakery, tell her the coffee is horrible and pop her romance bubble. In this charming story, Bri and Gerard find more out about themselves than expected and realize that maybe expectations of romance can change.

This novel was a charming read, set in a mom and pop town that is easy to picture. A book to cozy up next to the fire with on a cold, rainy day that will keep your heart warm. Betsy has a whimsical way of writing with a dose of humor and a tender thread woven through the entire story. She does a great job keeping the reader engaged all the way to the end. With laughter and tears mingled along the way, the reader can feel like they are walking with the characters on their journey of learning a bit more of who they are.

Revell Reads sent me this complimentary copy to review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Review of The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox

Ivy Rose has a lot of questions about her past. When her grandmother dies, she receives a letter post-funeral explaining that there is a lot Ivy Rose doesn't know. Ivy Rose then begins a journey like she has never been on before. A journey not only about her past, but about who she really is. 

Amanda Cox does a brilliant job toggling between the past and the present throughout the story of this book. Such heartache jumps off the pages. Sweet, tender love is woven through the storyline as well, bringing the reader in to the heart of Ivy Rose and the other characters in her life. So many issues are brought to the surface throughout this book that the reader has the opportunity to explore their emotions with each one. What a great book to bring to light so many different aspects of family and how we treat others (just to name a few). A well rounded, well written, wonderfully expressive story.

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

Review of Nine by Rachelle Dekker

Two young ladies brought together by unforeseen circumstances. One not wanting to remember her past. The other can't remember her past. Zoe and Lacy go on the run from the authorities in search of a needle in a haystack that could bring them safety or destruction. 

Rachelle Dekker has yet again delivered a heart-stopping story that grabs you right from the beginning. You come in to the story knowing you are missing some very key components. But you also know that these components will be revealed to you along the way. And along that way, this novel grips you until you almost just want to read the end to see what happens (but you don't because that would just ruin it!). Rachelle has a unique way of story-telling that hooks her audience in and doesn't let go until the end. 

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

Review of A Dazzle of Diamonds by Liz Johnson

Penelope Hunter its trying to pave a new path for herself after her life fell apart with a botched wedding. Now an event planner, she seems to be making a way for herself. Until her ex-fiance and his new soon-to-be-wife walk in and want her to plan the venue for the wedding. To add on to that, she receives a call from one of her top clients that they are going to pull their reservation because of rumors circling about herbest friend, who is running for sheriff, and his family's loyalty to their great city of Savannah. While Penelope and Tucker, her best friend, try to clear his name and she tries to save her job, something else may be sparkling underneath that may catch them both by surprise.   

Liz Johnson crafts a fun, loving story about friendship and what friends do for each other no matter what. This was a great reminder to stand by those you love. Liz did a great job weaving a multi-leveled story line that kept the reader intrigued enough to keep flipping the pages and whimsical enough to keep it light-hearted. With pulling in very minor characters from previous books, I liked how she threw nuggets to the reader about her previous stories and had those characters pop up in this book. You don't need to read the other books to understand this one, but you will gain a bit of backstory from the other characters who are minor in this book (but major in the other books). This is a fun, delightful read!

Revell Books sent me this copy to review in exchange for my opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review of These Nameless Things by Shawn Smucker

Dan has escaped the mountain. But his brother is still trapped there and Dan waits. He waits in the village that was created for those who have escaped the mountain. The village where only 8 are left as everyone else has moved on to the East. The day to day living becomes normal routine. Until a woman shows up and shakes Dan to his core. All of a sudden he is faced with memories of life before the mountain and has to figure out if he should go back and get his brother. But that means going back in to the mountain. And is his brother's life worth giving his own life for?

This book was baffling and amazing all rolled in to one. I could not figure out what was going on in the first chapters of this book. And I believe it was intended that way. What an intriguing, gripping, head spinning story that has so many layers of depth to it! This story kept me thinking well after being finished. Not just the story itself, but the deeper meanings of life, guilt, forgiveness, living life and the bigger picture of God's story. Shawn wove yet another book that brings the reader in from a completely different angle than expected and throws twists in along the way. It's like the carrot dangling ahead of the donkey. You just keep turning the pages to see if you can grasp what is going on and what is going to happen.

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

Review of A Dream Within a Dream by Mike Nappa and Melissa Kosci

This is the 3rd book in the Coffee and Hill Series. Samuel Hill seems to be in a bit of trouble and it's up to Trudi Coffee, his ex-wife, to figure out what's going on, to find him, and see how she can keep him out of being killed. Put the Irish mob, someone looking for lost art, a kidnapped victim turned loose, a killer looking for Sam, and not knowing who to trust, in a boat and you have the nutshell of this book.

Nappa and Kosci did not disappoint in this book. It is helpful to read the previous two books in this series to fully understand the entire scope of the book and the underlying stories taking place. It was a hard one to put down as the plot twists almost every chapter, even the ending keeps the reader in suspense. With a creative plot, characters coming to life and wanting the story to continue even after the last page, the authors did a great job keeping the reader engaged and produced a product that every suspense reader should enjoy. Waiting the four years since Nappa's last books came out was worth the wait!

If you enjoy suspense with a splash of mystery and clever writing, you will not be disappointed in this book. If you haven't read the first two in the series, start there...they are equally as good!

Revell Books sent me a complimentary copy for my review. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Stories That Bind Us by Susie Finkbeiner

The 1960's brings Betty Sweet living the life she wasn't expecting. At 40 she finds herself a widow with not knowing what to do next. Her sister shows up on her doorstep after not seeing her for years needing a place to stay. As is the little boy, her nephew, who she didn't know. Through the use of stories of her past, she bonds with her nephew as well as brings to light glimpses of her childhood that she forgot about.

Susie does a spectacular job weaving history, family bonds, sisterhood and what a little dark-skinned boy growing up in a white world in the 1960's looks like. How family protects, walks along side and stands next to each other during the most difficult times. She shows how important stories are in not only sharing with others, but how passing them along to the next generation preserves the history of family. How stories bind people together. What a fantastic story that brings warmth to the heart and yet aches because of the world we live in. It was hard to put this book down as it draws you in to the characters who feel like the neighbors down the street who you want to sit and have a cup of tea with.

Revell Books sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Standoff by Patricia Bradley

Brooke Danvers is following in her father's footsteps in the law enforcement field. What makes her even more determined to make him proud is figuring out who killed him. Luke Fereday is back in town as an undercover cop who is deep in the trenches of a drug ring. What was once a budding relationship years before is reignited as Brooke and Luke try to solve a murder and bring down a drug ring. But will their friendship stand the test of time and will they stay alive long enough for that to even happen?

This is book one in a new series by Patricia Bradley. A story that is laced with several characters, a fast moving plot line and the all-time favorite of whodunnit. Bradley delivers a good solid plot line that keeps the reader interested. With up front action in the first couple of chapters, the reader is trying to figure out who the mysterious character is. The book takes you on a journey right up until the very quick ending that leaves you ready for the next book to come out. It did take a bit to sort out all the characters who were introduced, but they all fell in to place and kept the readers mind moving throughout the story.

Revell Reads sent me this complimentary copy to review. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Hadley Beckett's Next Dish by Bethany Turner

Hadley Beckett is a no nonsense chef who loves to cook, use lots of butter and sweet talks her southern charm in to her audience's homes. After a cooking competition she and another top rated chef went head to head on, she discovered Chef Maxwell Cavanagh, who she looked up to, actually grates on her nerves and sours her stomach at the mention of his name. After Max's fall from chef stardom, he and Hadley find themselves with an opportunity of a lifetime. One of which could boost Hadley in to the top spotlight and get Max back on the cooking show map. But will these two chef's from different worlds end up singeing each other's opportunities or will a friendship bubble up that stands the test of the kitchen...and time?

Bethany Turner dishes out another fun story that had me reading this book in record time. A great read for a rainy day that transports you to the mainstay throughout the entire book: the kitchen. Where tempers are lost, apologies are given, conversations are deepened and friendships are born. This novel was all of those and more. A light-hearted read with a bit of depth that can be taken to heart. Even though this was fiction, the important concept that food brings people together is truth through and through. Bethany does a stellar job weaving the importance of food throughout the story and does a fantastic job with the characters development and plot. A witty, fun, great read that just is a make-you-feel-good book when you're done with it.

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

Review of Collision of Lies by Tom Threadgill

Small crimes police officer Amara Alvarez finds herself in the midst of an investigation that was a closed case three years prior. But one conversation throws her in to second guessing if the bus that was hit by a train actually killed all the children inside of it. Did something more sinister take place that even the FBI missed?

This book was amazing!! This was my first book by Tom Threadgill and it did not disappoint. What a web of a plot that has you thinking the book is going to go one way and it takes a hard left and goes a completely different direction! The intricacy of details and how they piece together is so specific and the scientific explanations behind the plot activate a part of the brain that forces you to slow down and try and understand what you are reading because you don't want to miss a single detail. The characters are easy to follow as they are added to throughout the book instead of all at once. The story builds upon itself and gains steam with each passing page right up until the very end.

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