Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts

Monday, October 8, 2018

Review: Storm Front by Susan May Warren


Book Five in the Montana Rescue series
Heidi Reads... Storm Front by Susan May Warren

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

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Synopsis

A tornado has destroyed a small Minnesota community and among the missing are not only a group of students but PEAK Rescue team leader Chet King. Ty Remington will stop at nothing to rescue his mentor, not even when the girl he loved--and lost--walks back into his life. But Brette needs his help more than he knows, despite her stubborn determination to push him away. And when he gets a second chance, loving her just might cost him more than he can imagine.

A blogger for Vortex Storm Chasers, Brette Arnold didn't expect her adventures to land her in the same place as Ty, the guy who she walked--no, ran--from over a year ago. She had her reasons--good ones. The kind that tell her that falling for him again would only lead to heartache. But Ty isn't the kind of man to give up--not on the missing students, or on her.

Life and love hang in the balance in Susan May Warren's breathless story of holding on to hope during a deadly summer of storms.

My Review

I love this series, but Storm Front began a little slow for me. It picked up the brief relationship between Ty and Brette from two books ago (A Matter of Trust), and there wasn't a strong foundation there to begin with. The first part of the book is definitely plot-centered, but it also begins to show the inner struggles of Ty and Brette that they have faced during their time apart, and are still struggling with. A secondary story line is the faltering relationship of Ben and Kacey from the first book, Wild Montana Skies, and their angst over Ben's career keeping them apart. As much as I enjoyed the mountain setting of the first three books, the storm-filled plains of Minnesota was a nice change of pace while still maintaining that small-town feeling of community.

The pace of the book picked up as the emergencies hit, bringing Ty and the rescue team to intersect with Brette and her tornado-chasing team, and they work together to search for missing townspeople. It was fascinating to see the mystery unravel as the team pulled together resources and information to solve where the missing were when the tornado hit, and follow Ty's "hunches" to where they would take cover and end up. Emotions ran high at times and as Brette and Ty open up to each other, their friendship is reestablished and they are able to provide reassurance, encouragement, and support. By the end of the book I was fully invested in the story and was happy to see how everything worked out.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)




Don't miss the other books in the Montana Rescue series . . .

Book One
Heidi Reads... Wild Montana Skies by Susan May Warren


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Synopsis

Search and rescue pilot Kacey Fairing is home on leave in Mercy Falls, Montana, twelve years after she joined the military to escape the mistakes of her past. With a job waiting for her as the new lead pilot of Peak Rescue in Glacier National Park, Kacey hopes to reconnect with the now-teenage daughter she sees only between deployments. What she doesn't realize is that someone else is also back in town.
 
Ben King has been building his country music career since the day Kacey shut him out of her life. Now all of that's on hold when his injured father calls him home to help run Peak Rescue until he's fully recovered. It doesn't take long, though, to discover his father's ulterior motives as Kacey Fairing walks into the house and back into his heart.
 
With Mercy Falls in a state of emergency due to flash floods, Kacey and Ben are forced to work together to save lives. But when floodwaters turn personal, can they put aside the past to save their future?

Book Two
Heidi Reads... Rescue Me by Susan May Warren


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Synopsis

When Deputy Sam Brooks commits to something, nothing can sway him--not just on the job as liaison between the Mercy Falls sheriff's department and PEAK Rescue, but in his private life. He's the one who stuck around to take care of his mother after his father's accidental death. And he's the one--perhaps the only one--who believes Sierra Rose is the perfect girl for him. Safe, practical, and organized, she's nothing like her hippie, impulsive, bleeding heart sister, Willow.

Willow, however, has been in love with Sam Brooks for as long as she can remember. But she wants her sister to have a happy ending. Besides, Willow has other things to focus on--namely, nabbing the job as youth pastor for her small-town church. Best thing for her to do is to purge Sam from her heart.

Neither can predict the events that will bring them together in a fight for their lives in the forbidding wilderness of Glacier National Park. Stranded, injured, and with the winter weather closing in, Sam and Willow will have to work together to save a crew of terrified teenagers. As they fight to survive, they might just discover a new hope for love.

Book Three
Heidi Reads... A Matter of Trust by Susan May Warren


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Synopsis

Champion backcountry snowboarder Gage Watson has left the limelight behind after the death of one of his fans. After being sued for negligence and stripped of his sponsorships, he's remade his life as a ski patrol in Montana's rugged mountains, as well as serving on the PEAK Rescue team. But he can't seem to find his footing--or forget the woman he loved, who betrayed him.

Senator and former attorney Ella Blair spends much of her time in the limelight as the second-youngest senator in the country. But she has a secret--one that cost Gage his career. More than anything, she wants to atone for her betrayal of him in the courtroom and find a way to help him put his career back on track.

When Ella's brother goes missing on one of Glacier National Park's most dangerous peaks, Gage and his team are called in for the rescue. But Gage isn't so sure he wants to help the woman who destroyed his life. More, when she insists on joining the search, he'll have to keep her safe while finding her reckless brother, a recipe for disaster when a snowstorm hits the mountain.

But old sparks relight as they search for the missing snowboarder--and suddenly, they are faced with emotions neither can deny. But when Ella's secret is revealed, can they learn to trust each other--even when disaster happens again?


Book Four
Heidi Reads... Troubled Waters by Susan May Warren


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Synopsis

Billionaire Ian Shaw can have everything he wants--except a happy ending. Or at least that's what it feels like with his fortune recently liquidated, his niece, Esme, still missing, and the woman he loves refusing to speak to him. In fact, he doubts she would date him even if they were stranded on a deserted island.

Despite her love for Ian, Sierra Rose knows he has no room in his life for her as long as the mystery of his missing niece goes unsolved. The only problem is, Sierra has solved it, but a promise to Esme to keep her whereabouts secret has made it impossible to be around Ian.

When the PEAK chopper is damaged and Sierra lacks the funds to repair it, Ian offers a fundraising junket for large donors on his yacht in the Caribbean. But the three-day excursion turns into a nightmare when a rogue wave cripples the yacht and sends the passengers overboard. Shaken up and soaked to the bone, Ian finally has a chance to test his theory when he and Sierra do indeed find themselves washed up on a strange, empty shore.

It will take guts and gumption for the PEAK team to rescue the duo. But it will take a miracle to rescue Ian and Sierra's relationship.


 Book Six

Releases November 6, 2018

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Synopsis

Pete Brooks can't believe he's waited an entire year for Jess Tagg to return to Montana, only to have her break his heart by getting engaged to her ex-fiancé. Worse, a series of mistakes on the job have cost lives, and Pete isn't sure he wants to continue to work in Search and Rescue. Maybe if he can just get over Jess, he can figure out how to move forward.

EMT Jess Tagg has returned to Montana to finally give her heart to Pete, but it seems he's no longer interested. When a terrible fight between them sparks an impulsive decision, she finds herself crashed on the side of a highway along with Esme Shaw. And just when she thinks things couldn't get any worse, she and Esme are taken captive and into the untamed Montana wilderness—with murderous intent.

Now Pete and the other PEAK Rescue Team members are in a race against time, the elements, and the actions of a vengeful man. Pete will have to use everything he's learned to find Jess and Esme—and pray that his past mistakes don't cost him the life of the woman he can't stop loving.


Sunday, September 23, 2018

Review: The Cost of Betrayal by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason


Heidi Reads... The Cost of Betrayal by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

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Synopsis

In Dee Henderson's novella "Betrayal," Janelle Roberts is freed--thanks to people she doesn't know--after serving six years of a twenty-year sentence for a murder she did not commit. But a murderer is still at large, and Janelle needs to be somewhere safe with someone she can trust. She may not survive another betrayal.

In Dani Pettrey's "Deadly Isle," Tennyson Kent is trapped on the isolated island of her childhood by a storm surge, and she is shocked when the typically idyllic community turns into the hunting grounds of a murderer. Cut off from any help from the mainland, will she and first love Callen Frost be able to identify and stop a killer bent on betrayal before they become the next victims?

In Lynette Eason's "Code of Ethics," trauma surgeon Ruthie St. John saves the life of Detective Isaac Martinez. After a betrayal leads to him getting shot and then attacked while in recovery, Isaac is now a key witness determined to testify. But someone is intent on silencing him--and those around him--forever. Together, Ruthie and Isaac go on the run, desperate to escape the killers hunting him.


My Review

Wow! Each of these stories is amazing, yet so different from each other. I enjoyed them all equally and felt they complemented each other so well. The first story "Betrayal" from Dee Henderson is so fascinating, I loved seeing the process of a cold case break wide open at the hands of a couple of FBI agents who were in the right time at the right place. I thought it was interesting how it switched perspectives to show a broader view of the story. I appreciated that the conclusion was so realistic and didn't take the conventional approach that I expected.

"Deadly Isle" by Dani Pettrey was intense and had great romantic tension! The pace was swift yet the characters felt fully developed as they work to investigate and solve the mystery so tragically close to home. Teni and Callen have a history and the memories that surfaced while they helped each other during the raging storm brought a sense of belonging and relief.

"Code of Ethics" by Lynette Eason also had a fast pace and the sense of working against the clock. I liked that Ruthie was comfortable with law enforcement and their procedures because of her family, even though she is a doctor. There are twists and turns as she and Isaac dodge the killers while searching for the evidence that will prove his suspicions correct. I loved the attraction and bits of romance that were slipped in as Ruthie and Isaac got to know each other while also depending on each other for their lives.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)


Saturday, September 22, 2018

Review & Sweepstakes: The Daily Question for You and Your Child: A Three-Year Spiritual Journal #PRHpartner



Heidi Reads... The Daily Question for You and Your Child: A Three-Year Spiritual Journal

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

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Synopsis

A fun, thought-provoking 365-question guided journal and keepsake that sparks daily interaction with your child to create a memory book capturing your child's life, personality, and faith journey.

This interactive prompted journal allows a parent to create a keepsake of three years of their child's life. By answering each of the 365 questions together on the same date each year, readers will get a unique and precious picture into their child's feelings, development, and personality. Some of the questions focus on spirituality and the child's heart, while some are meant to capture their creativity, spirit, and sense of humor. All questions spark conversations and memories that span well beyond the pages of this book.



My Review

What a fun idea to ask your child the same question but with one year spanning each of the responses! And to have a full year of questions to ask- this is a priceless resource for bonding and really getting to know the creative mind of your child. I loved the array of themes for the questions, and can't wait to get started with my daughters. While some questions seem geared towards older kids, with a little explanation or adaptation they would work for younger kids as well. The majority are perfect for all ages. The quality of the book is great, it's a nice hardback with a slot for putting a family photo in the cover, and the pages are a good weight. This is an awesome activity keepsake that would make a thoughtful gift!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)



SWEEPSTAKES

The Daily Question for You and Your Child Sweepstakes!

https://waterbrookmultnomah.com/the-daily-question-for-you-and-your-child-sweepstakes/

Don’t have the journal yet? Here’s a few questions you can choose from!
  • Name someone who makes you smile, and explain why.
  • When do you like to pray?
  • One a five-year mission to colonize Mars, you can bring two things from your room. What are they?
  • Why do you like your friends?
  • Would you rather have the ability to fly or have a pet dinosaur?
  • What age feels really old to you?
  • Are you afraid of bugs, or do you think they’re cool?
HOW TO ENTER: 
  1. Posting a video of your child going through 1-2 questions from the book The Daily Question for You and Your Child on @WaterBrookMultnomah’s Facebook Page as required in the applicable Sweepstakes announcement using the hashtag #DailyQuestionSweepstakes; or
  2. Posting a video to your Twitter account of your child going through 1-2 questions from the book The Daily Question for You and Your Child as required in the applicable Sweepstakes announcement using the hashtag #DailyQuestionSweepstakes; or
  3. Posting a video to your Instagram account of your child going through 1-2 questions from the book The Daily Question for You and Your Child as required in the applicable Sweepstakes announcement using the hashtag #DailyQuestionSweepstakes.
Video posts must be no longer than one minute.

PRIZE PACK:

One (1) Grand Prize Winner(s) will receive the following:
Winner will be chosen at random. See official rules here.






Friday, September 21, 2018

Review & Giveaway: Creating Your Forever Family: How to Incorporate Family Proclamation Principles in Your Home by Rachel A. Sullivan




Heidi Reads... Creating Your Forever Family: How to Incorporate Family Proclamation Principles in Your Home by Rachel A. Sullivan

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttps://deseretbook.com/p/creating-your-forever-family?ref=Grid%20%7C%20Search-1&variant_id=169586-paperbackhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

It has been decades since the family proclamation was first presented to members of the Church by President Gordon B. Hinckley. But despite the passage of time, the counsel provided in the family proclamation is ever more vital in these tumultuous last days. Creating Your Forever Family is an indispensable resource, providing practical application of the nine principles outlined in the family proclamation. Featuring counsel from Church leaders and stories of these principles in action, this book offers ways to incorporate these values into everyday life, from interview questions designed to help kids open up to the game night ideas to fun family dinner conversation starters. Families will be strengthened as each member gets involved in the discussions and applications. Now is the time to fortify families and truly embrace the principles of this great proclamation.

My Review

This book came at just the right time for me, when I had been thinking about how I would like our family to grow and stretch a little, get out of our routine and rut. It's an easy read full of inspiration, encouragement, and ideas. I definitely feel more equipped and motivated to strengthen myself and my family. The chapters cover the following topics: Faith: Daily and Weekly Choices, Faith: Creating a Family Culture, Prayer, Repentance, Forgiveness, Respect, Love, Compassion, Work, Wholesome Recreational Activities. After each chapter there is a list of application ideas for implementing the principle discussed. There are also three appendixes with more specific ideas such as dinner conversation started questions. I've always loved the Family Proclamation and it's wise words and counsel, and believe it is inspired from the Lord specifically for our day. I am thankful for this book to use as a resource in following the words of our prophet!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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