Review: By Hook or by Rook by Rebecca Connolly

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

The most dangerous journeys...

Jeremy Pratt is a spy for the Crown, and one of the best. He had been in more dangerous situations than he can admit, and has always come out unscathed. But escorting his colleague's cousin home to her family, even in disguise, just might be beyond his skills, and the temptation beyond his ability to withstand.

May be ones of the heart...

Helen Dalton is convinced there is more to this man escorting her than meets the eye, and something familiar about him, as well. There is only one man in the world who looks at her so intensely, banters with her so easily, and makes her blush so furiously. And when he manages a daring and heroic rescue, she wonders if she ever knew him at all.

My Review

I loved the dynamic between Helen and Jeremy! It's a bit complicated and being caught up in the middle of a dangerous mission doesn't exactly help iron things out. Helen and Jeremy both have a deeper personality than they portray to each other during the Season, and while they shared a mutual attraction and pleasant rapport, it isn't until they discover new aspects of each other on their journey that they truly fall in love. The banter is oh-so-fun to read and the pace of the plot is kept steady with the action and adventure. Another fabulous addition to the London League series!

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

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Don't miss the previous books in the London League series . . .

Review: You Belong With Me by Tari Faris

My rating: 2 stars / It was okay

Synopsis

Realtor Hannah Thornton has many talents. Unfortunately, selling houses in the town where her family name is practically poison isn't one of them. When a business tycoon determines to raze historic homes in the small town of Heritage, Michigan, and replace them with a strip mall, Hannah resolves to stop him. She sets about helping Heritage win a restoration grant that will put the town back on the map--and hopefully finally repay the financial debt Hannah's mother caused the town. But at first no one supports her efforts--not even her best friend, Luke.

Luke Johnson may have grown up in Heritage, but as a foster kid he never truly felt as if he belonged. Now he has a chance to score a job as assistant fire chief and earn his place in the town. But when the interview process and Hannah's restoration project start unearthing things from his past, Luke must decide if belonging is worth the pain of being honest about who he is--and who he was.

My Review

I normally enjoy stories like this, but I was stressed out reading this one. I think the situations the four main characters were in seemed hopeless and they were unhappy, full of angst, and didn't have a sense of humor. Hannah and Luke's stalled romance was blamed on each other, and I was confused for much of the book why their dynamic was the way it was. Thomas and Janie were the same way- there is tons of past history alluded to but the reader is kept in the dark for much of it and I was just frustrated with them all. I wanted to sit them all down and tell them to just open their eyes and communicate. Although, that wouldn't make for much of a story then. I just think they were all wound too tightly for me to truly enjoy. A good dose of humor would have gone a long way for me in balancing the vibe of the book.

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

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Don't miss the prequel novella in the Restoring Heritage series- the e-book is only 99 cents!

Synopsis

What if a woman who’s all about the goals and plans falls in love with man who no longer believes his life has a purpose? A novice life coach needs to cement her reputation with one great success story. When a wounded former Special Forces operator walks back into her life looking for a job, she decides to work with him—a win-win for them both.

​If Caroline Williams had her way, she’d help everyone in town find their purpose in life—unfortunately, no one seems to want her help. But she refuses to give up, and her new status as a certified life coach should provide her with some badly needed credibility. All she needs is her first client. When Grant Quinn walks in looking for a job, Caroline knows he needs more than that—he needs a new plan for his life. But when Grant refuses to be honest about his dreams and his struggles, Caroline’s business might come crashing down before it starts.

Wounded former Special Forces operator Grant Quinn understood the cost when he enlisted and served his country with pride. The scars on his face are reminders of what he lost, but he is moving on—now if he could just convince his family that he’s fine. When Caroline steps back into his life and offers to help find him a job in exchange for being her Guinea pig in her new life coaching business, he agrees. After all, what better way to show his family he’s okay than with a new, stable job? But when the anxiety he’s been running from ruins his one interview, his plans come crashing down. Can he trust Caroline enough to be honest about everything?

Review: The Words Between Us by Erin Bartels

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Robin Windsor has spent most of her life under an assumed name, running from her family's ignominious past. She thought she'd finally found sanctuary in her rather unremarkable used bookstore just up the street from the marina in River City, Michigan. But the store is struggling and the past is hot on her heels.

When she receives an eerily familiar book in the mail on the morning of her father's scheduled execution, Robin is thrown back to the long-lost summer she met Peter Flynt, the perfect boy who ruined everything. That book--a first edition Catcher in the Rye--is soon followed by the other books she shared with Peter nearly twenty years ago, with one arriving in the mail each day. But why would Peter be making contact after all these years? And why does she have a sinking feeling that she's about to be exposed all over again?

With evocative prose that recalls the classic novels we love, Erin Bartels pens a story that shows that words--the ones we say, the ones we read, and the ones we write--have more power than we imagine.

My Review

Wow. This book is so well-written. I was captivated from the beginning and didn't put it down until I finished it- the blessing of having half a Saturday free! It was fascinating to see Robin's point of view as a 14 year old and present day adult, her misguided perceptions and the fallout over years from the traumatic events that changed and shaped her life. I appreciated that the alternating then and now format didn't feel like flashbacks, but rather two very connected stories told simultaneously. The details unfold and are revealed throughout the story and feel natural rather than strategic. The relationships in Robin's life are few, but each are valuable and significant. I loved discovering what came next for Robin, her indomitable spirit in the midst of her well-founded fears, and the way she comes to recognize her own growth and experience the sweetness of forgiveness. Highly recommend!!!

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

Review: Ford by Susan May Warren

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Family…country…or the woman he loves…

Navy Seal Ford Marshall isn’t the kind to stand by and let a woman get hurt—especially when it involves his twin sister, RJ. So, when she makes the news, accused of sparking an international incident, he doesn’t care what it takes—he’s going to find her and bring her home.

But he might need a little help, so he calls on the woman who has had his back during the last three years—Petty Officer Scarlett Hathaway, former communications expert-turned Rescue Swimmer candidate. She’ll help him get into the country, watch his back, and…well, they might be able to have one last mission together before she leaves for a new life, a life he very much wants to be a part of now that she is off his team. Maybe he can convince her to give them a chance to kindle the spark that’s simmered between them for years.

Scarlett Hathaway isn’t sure what future she wants—not when she suddenly has to care for her little brother. Maybe she should quit the Navy and start a life with the man she can’t seem to get out of her heart. So yes, she’ll help Ford find his sister. And maybe, along the way, figure out if they have a future.

But finding RJ somewhere in the vastness of Russia with the FSB chasing them will push Scarlett beyond even her courage and make her question everything she thought she wanted…including Ford. What will it cost her to love a man who saves the world?

And when Ford is asked to choose between saving his sister, saving the world from a war, and rescuing the woman he loves…can he live with his decision?

My Review

This series just keeps getting better!!! Ford is a complex character and I appreciated seeing more layers of his personality, strengths, and struggles revealed as he undertakes a personal mission to rescue his twin sister in Russia. We got to know the dynamic between him and Scarlett in the previous book, Tate, so I recommend reading the series in order for full enjoyment and understanding. They have amazing chemistry that just increases in this book. I love how they support each other and bring out the emotion in each other. They both have some internal issues to work out and as they develop their faith in God they grow closer together. The plot is non-stop and full of action and suspense as many factors come together and the characters barely stay one step ahead of the danger. A total nail-biter and I'm so excited for the next book, Wyatt!

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

Review & Giveaway: Deborah: Prophetess of God by H.B. Moore

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

From 4-time Whitney Award winning author, H.B. Moore, comes the new biblical novel about Deborah the Judge, a woman who rises from oppression and leads her entire nation to victory.

After years of mistreatment, the Israelites prepare to defend themselves against the oppressive Canaanites. Readying for war not only takes secret military training but also an Israelite leader who is willing to both stand against generations of oppression and follow God.

Deborah, a young Israelite woman, lives a quiet and isolated life with her father and brothers. As a shepherdess in the hills near her home, she knows well the perils of her work. But when faced with incredible danger, she witnesses a series of remarkable events that preserve her life. The hand of the Lord is apparent, and it is clear that hers will be no ordinary life.                

Years later, Deborah is a faithful wife and mother when she learns that the Third Judge of Israel has died--and she has been called to take his place. It is a tumultuous time in history, and soon, Deborah--prophetess, judge, and military leader--faces a seemingly insurmountable task: alongside the commander of the Israelite army, Deborah must lead ten thousand soldiers in their final campaign against their Canaanite oppressors with only her faith in God to guide her.

My Review

I loved everything about this book! We get to know Deborah on a personal level- her daily life and responsibilities, her family, the political climate of the Israelites and Canaanites and how it affects her. The pace of the story is anything but slow though- she is active in defense and her spiritual insights protect her and her family. It was interesting to see her spiritual gift progress as she exercises her strong faith and deepens her relationship with God. I loved the coming of age she experiences as she falls in love, marries, and embraces her role as a spiritual leader. I appreciated that Lapi and the other men in her life deeply respected and protected her not only as wife, daughter, and sister, but recognized how special and important her gift is. It's heartbreaking to learn of the abuses the Israelites suffered at the hands of the Canaanites for so many years, and I was glad to see how the Lord prepared them to finally overcome their oppressors. This Biblical story was brought to life with vivid characters and settings and I was immersed in the book the whole way through!

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

More Biblical Novels by H.B. Moore:

Esther the Queen

Ruth

Eve: In the Beginning

Anna the Prophetess

The Moses Chronicles

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Review: The Lady and the Highwayman by Sarah M. Eden

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Elizabeth Black is the headmistress of a girls’ school and a well-respected author of “silver-fork” novels, stories written both for and about the upper-class ladies of Victorian society. But by night, she writes very different kinds of stories—the Penny Dreadfuls that are all the rage among the working-class men. Under the pseudonym Mr. King, Elizabeth has written about dashing heroes fighting supernatural threats and dangerous outlaws romancing helpless women. They contain all the adventure and mystery that her real life lacks.

Fletcher Walker began life as a street urchin, but is now the most successful author in the Penny Dreadful market, that is until Mr. King started taking all of his readers--and his profits. No one knows who King is, including Fletcher’s fellow members of the Dread Penny Society, a fraternity of authors dedicated to secretly fighting for the rights of the less-fortunate.

Determined to find the elusive Mr. King, Fletcher approaches Miss Black. As a fellow-author, she is well-known among the high-class writers; perhaps she could be persuaded to make some inquiries as to Mr. King’s whereabouts? Elizabeth agrees to help Fletcher, if only to insure her secret identity is never discovered.

For the first time, Elizabeth experiences the thrill of a cat-and-mouse adventure reminiscent of one of her own novels as she tries to throw Fletcher off her scent. But the more time they spend together, the more she loses her heart. Its upper-class against working-class, author against author where readers, reputations, and romance are all on the line.

My Review

I should know better than to start a Sarah Eden book at bedtime! By the time 3:30 am rolled around I finished the book with a happy sigh :) This one is unputdownable. (That should totally be a word). Sometimes I find novels set in Victorian times to be a bit stuffy, but this book is the exact opposite of that- the characters find liberation and freedom in their unconventional work and their vibrant personalities jump off the page. I loved that we got to know Fletcher first- he is so compelling with his confidence despite his tragic childhood circumstances. He's the best sort of person- using the pain of his experiences to improve the lives of others. He's a bit sassy and flirty which is tempered by his depth of compassion and willingness to sacrifice. Elizabeth has those same qualities, but because of her position as a headmistress, must be above reproach and begins to resent that she must stifle herself so much. The secrets and hidden identities are a fun plot device and the pace of the book is steady as Fletcher and Elizabeth get to know each other and grow in affection, all while rescuing the children of London's slums one at a time. Their banter and chemistry is entertaining and I loved their dynamic! Highly recommend!

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