Review: Stranded by Dani Pettrey

My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

When her friend vanishes from a cruise ship, reporter Darcy St. James isn't satisfied with their explanation that she simply left her job of her own accord. Something isn't lining up, and Darcy believes the only way to find the truth is to put herself in Abby's position. Within days, Darcy learns her friend wasn't the only person to disappear mysteriously. Last summer, a woman vanished under almost identical circumstances.
 
Gage McKenna has taken a summer-long stint leading adventure excursions for the passengers of various cruise lines that dock for a few days of sightseeing. He's surprised to find Darcy working aboard one of the ships, investigating a troubling report. Something sinister is going on and the deeper they dig the more Gage fears they've only discovered the tip of the iceberg.

My Review

This is the third book in the Alaskan Courage series and continues providing a strong plot and plenty of suspense. It can be read as a stand-alone novel, however I highly recommend reading them in order from a romance standpoint, since the relationship of the main characters of books two and three begin in the previous book as a subplot. Darcy and Gage don't really expect to see each other again, but are thrown together in a high adventure undercover investigation. The pacing slowed for me while Darcy was trying unsuccessfully to figure out the reason for the disappearances. The progress in her case wasn't consistent- it seemed like she did a lot of floundering for clues and questioned anyone and everyone, but suspected nobody. Once Gage's family and friends (whom you get to know in the first two books) got more involved in aiding her investigation, things started moving along swiftly. 

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review) 

Alaskan Courage Series

Book One - 5 stars!

Book Two - 5 stars!

Balanced Challenge Day One: Family Priorities

I'm currently reading Balanced: Finding Center as a Work-at-Home Mom by Tricia Goyer and will be participating in the blog tour when I review the book. In the meantime, I'm taking part in her Balanced eleven-day challenge! 

Family Priorities (Chapter One)
Determine what your priorities as a family are. Ask yourself a few questions: What do we want to achieve as a family? What will matter five years from now—ten years from now? What will mold our children into God-serving adults? What will bring peace—not stress—to our home?

In ten years our oldest daughter will be seventeen! It's hard to comprehend that fact. Of course the first thing I think is that I want to be in our own house by then :) I know we'd love to adopt another couple of children in that time. My husband will be continuing with his teaching career, perhaps moving into administration. I imagine that as we add more children to our family I'll phase out the infant daycare, but I'm sure I'll still be photographing families on the side.

Our spiritual goals for our family are based on consistent family dinners and weekly family home evening lessons together, as well as daily scripture study and involvement in our church, especially through service. These are the years that are so dynamic and exciting, and making sure the most important things are top priority will help provide a solid foundation for our children and shape our family.

This post is part of the Balanced challenge with Tricia Goyer—and you can join, too!

Download the e-book at Amazon for only $2.99 

Get Balanced!

Review: Gunpowder Tea by Margaret Brownley

My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

In a case that could change her career, Miranda uncovers a love that will change her life.

When Miranda Hunt sees the classified ad for an heiress to the legendary Last Chance Ranch, she knows assuming the identity of Annie Beckman is the perfect cover. As one of the finest agents for the Pinkerton Detective Agency, Miranda has been tasked with apprehending the Phantom – an elusive and notorious train robber thought to be hiding on the sprawling ranch.

But she isn’t the only one there with something to hide. Wells Fargo detective Jeremy Taggert is working the scene undercover as well. And although their true identities are a secret, it is impossible for Jeremy and Miranda to hide the spark that flares between them.

But neither is about to let romance interfere with such a huge case. Besides, Miranda hasn’t removed Jeremy from her list of suspects yet. The closer they come to uncovering the identity of the Phantom, the more dangerous he gets – and no one on the ranch is safe.

But neither are their hearts – the longer Miranda and Jeremy spends working together, the harder it becomes to keep their feelings in check. Their careers – and their lives – depend on solving this case. Love will have to wait.

My Review

This was a fun book to read! It is hilarious how Miranda and Jeremy suspect each other as accomplices to the criminal and eventually discover each other's undercover status. There are many subtle details incorporated into the story that enhance the setting rather than detract from the action. I admit that I don't like trying to predict the outcome to the mysteries I read since I like being surprised, but there really aren't many hints given about the identity of the Phantom throughout the novel, so I enjoyed the ending and the reveal.

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)

Review: The Guest Book by Marybeth Whalen

My rating: 3 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

When Macy Dillon was five years old her father encouraged her to draw a picture in the guestbook of a Carolina beach house. The next year, Macy returned to discover a drawing by an unidentified little boy on the facing page. Over the next eleven years the children continue to exchange drawings ... until tragedy ends visits to the beach house altogether. During her final trip to Sunset, Macy asks her anonymous friend to draw her one last picture and tells him where to hide the guest book in hopes that one day she will return to find it---and him. Twenty-five years after that first picture, Macy is back at Sunset Beach---this time toting a broken family and a hurting heart. One night, alone by the ocean, Macy asks God to help her find the boy she never forgot, the one whose beautiful pictures touched something deep inside of her. Will she ever find him? And if she does, will the guestbook unite them or merely be the relic of a lost childhood?

My Review

This was a bit of a messy all-over-the-place book for me. Macy was dealing with (or avoiding dealing with) several issues, including grief over her father's death, her relationship with her mother, disapproval over her mother's way of dealing with grief, her brother's partying, being a single mother, dealing with her ex who had abandoned her with a newborn coming back to town after five years... and that's just the first few chapters. As the novel progresses, add on four men who are pursuing her each of which she is strongly attracted to in some way. The scenes jump from one guy to the next, and each help her move on in an important way, including turning back to God. The ending was just as messy, however all the chaos, lack of communication, and uncertainty felt very realistic and eventually it all came together.

 (ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)