Woman Of Sunlight

Woman Of Sunlight by Mary Connealy is the second book in the Brides of Hope Mountain Series.  I had been waiting rather impatiently for this book ever since I finished Aiming For Love, the first book in the series.  Now that I have finished this one I am already counting down the days until the third book releases!  I love this series so much.

Ilsa and her sisters have been raised in isolation in the mountains of Colorado.  They were raised by their grandparents and were taught to fear people and that going to town would bring sickness and possibly death.  With both of their grandparents gone the girls have been living alone and are extremely self sufficient.  When the Warden family comes to the mountain in need, the sisters help them out.  

Mitch has left his life in New York City and is now living on the mountain with his family.  Ilsa and Mitch are drawn to each other, but it seems that the thing they do best is fight.  When Mitch's past catches up with him, he realizes that he has put everyone's life in danger.  He is determined to resolve the problem, but that means a trip to town and Ilsa insists on going with him.  Once in town they embark on a very surprising adventure!

This book was so entertaining!  It had me laughing out loud on several occasions and it had a sort of  "Tarzan and Jane" feel with the roles reversed.  I have to admit that I was very surprised with the twists and turns of this book.  It was a lot different than I expected it to be and I loved the suspense.  I don't want to include any spoilers, so I'll just say that I didn't see that coming! 

I enjoyed getting to catch up with Dave and Jo from the first book and the ground work has been set for the third book which will be Ursula's story.  It's going to be good!  I can't wait to see how this series wraps up.  

Thanks to Bethany House Publishing for providing me with this book.  

Two Steps Forward

The Deacon's Family Series comes to an end with Two Steps Forward.  You could probably read this book as a stand alone, but I would not recommend it.  There are many repeat characters and as you read through the series you become quite connected to them.  When you see their story continuing to unfold in each book it's like visiting an old friend.  You want to hear about all that's been going on in their life and how they are doing. In this series it is Luke and Izzy.  I loved revisiting them!

Two Steps Forward is about Jimmy and Sylvie.  Jimmy has been away from the Amish community for four years working in Colorado with horses.  He is used to getting by on his good looks and his charm...until Sylvie.  Sylvie is a widow and she hires Jimmy to work on her farm because of his knowledge of horses, but it seems that is all she's interested in.  However, it's not long before he manages to steal her heart. 

Jimmy's mom Edith believes that Sylvie's farm belongs to her and she is working on a way to claim back the land.  Has Sylvie made a terrible mistake in falling for Jimmy?  Has he been using his charm just to get her land? 

Suzanne Woods Fisher is an amazing Amish fiction author.  Her series wraps up perfectly.  What I like best about her books is that they are, what I call, easy reads.  They are enjoyable, and steady paced.  Not a lot of surprises, but such well developed characters that you can connect with.  This is the kind of book I like to snuggle up under a cover with and read while drinking coffee. 

***Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Collision of Lies - A Book Review

Collision Of Lies by Tom Threadgill is a book you are not going to want to put down until the last page is read.  It has page turning suspense and if you are like me and like to read at night, be prepared for lack of sleep!

Several years ago there was a tragic accident between a freight train and a school bus. All the children on the school bus were killed.  There is one mom who refuses to believe her child perished and after a strange phone call she seeks the help of law enforcement.  Amara agrees to look into it even though she believes all the children died in the crash.  It doesn't take long that she starts to think otherwise, but how is she going to convince everyone else that the boy is still alive when all evidence points to the opposite.  Could it be that the whole collision was based on lies?  Are the other children alive as well? Amara is determined to find the answers.  No matter the cost.

This book was the first I've read by author Tom Threadgill and he made me a fan!  It has everything I like in a good suspense novel.  The element of surprise with plenty of twists and turns, well developed characters and suspense that keeps you guessing.  I can usually tell if I will like a suspense novel if the first chapter captivates me.  That's exactly what this book did.  If you love suspense novels, I encourage you to read this one.  You're sure to love it! 

***Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin

The Land Beneath Us is the third book in the Sunrise at Normandy series by Sarah Sundin.  It makes a great stand alone book as I did not read the other two books in the series before this one, but trust me, if you love this book as much as I did you are going to want to read the other two as soon as you finish so you might as well start from the beginning!

It is a historical Christian Romance set in England during 1943/44.  The historical aspect shows the training of the U.S. Army Rangers up to D-day and their invasion.

Clay Paxton has been betrayed by his brothers in the worst way and he struggles with forgiveness.  Due to a recurring dream he has about his death, he now has purpose.  He must fulfill God's will for his life, by seeing the dream come to pass.

Leah Jones works as a Librarian at Camp Forest.  During her spare time she searches for clues to her family.  When she was four years old her and her twin sisters became orphans when their parents suddenly died in a horrible accident.  She longs to be reunited with her sisters, but her life is turned upside down when she is brutally attacked.  Clay saves her life and marries her to save her virtue.  When he is shipped out to train for D-day him and Leah keep in touch through letters.  As time passes their relationship strengthens and love blossoms, but neither of them can ignore Clay's dream. They know what his future holds due to his recurring dream.  Will their love be strong enough to save Clay from impending death?

I could not put this book down.  When I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it.  It was one of the best books I have read in a long time.  Leah's outlook on life is so uplifting despite the tragedies that always seem to follow her.  She is definitely an overcomer and her faith in God is inspiring.  Clay is so kind-hearted and driven by his love for God and pursing God's will.  As you read the book you can see both Clay and Leah grow in their relationship with each other and God.  The self sacrificing love portrayed in this book is one of my favorite things about it.

I can't recommend this book enough.  You're sure to love it!

***Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Smoke Screen

When I picked up Smoke Screen and started reading I had high expectations and as usual Terri Blackstock met them!  From the very first chapter I was hooked.  There was not as much suspense as I thought there would be, but the characters are so well developed I was completely enthralled in their story.

Fourteen years ago Nate was in love with the preacher's daughter.  When Brenna sneaked out to be with Nate the preacher confronts Nate's drunk dad, a fight ensues and later that night the preacher is found murdered.  Everyone blames Nate's dad and he is convicted and sent to prison.  Not long after his conviction a church burns to the ground and everyone thinks Nate did it.  Nate decides to let rumors fly and leaves town.

Nate is now working as a fireman and after being injured he heads back to his home town.  His dad has just been pardoned and his mom insists that he has changed, but Nate and his dad are still not getting along.  Nate decides to give him the benefit of the doubt and begins looking into what really happened the night the preacher was killed.

Brenna is going through an ugly divorce and her life is in shambles.  She turns to alcohol to help her cope, but it's just making things worse.  Nate walking back into her life was the last thing she expected, but she needs him now more than ever.  No one is happy that they are seeing each other again and Brenna is not sure she's ready to let him back into her life.  As secrets begin to be revealed will time heal all wounds, or are some scars just too deep?

As I read this my heart just broke for Brenna.  Her helplessness over what is going on with her children is just heart wrenching.  She wants to be a good mom, but her situation is so out of control she begins to make bad decisions.  Nate's love for her is so pure and noble.  He truly wants to help her, but she has to want to help herself too.  There is a lot of family fractures that need to be healed in this story and perseverance and love always wins!

Unveiling The Past - A Book Review

Kim Vogel Sawyer is one of my all time favorite authors.  When she comes out with a new book I count down the days until I have it in my hands.  She has a unique writing style that I always connect with.  But, if I'm completely honest, I really struggled with Unveiling The Past.  It's not that it was a bad book by any means, but it didn't reach my usual expectations. 

First, I will say that I am not a big fan of modern day novels, so I'm sure that was a big factor.  It seemed to have too much going on.  Too many story lines going in different directions and I thought the relationship between Meghan's mom and this man who abandoned her while she was pregnant seemed a little too far fetched and a little inconsiderate to Meghan's feelings.  What I did like was the faith aspect.  Kim Vogel Sawyer's books always are rich in faith and have a deeper meaning that speak to the reader's heart.  I really love that about her writing.  I did connect with Meghan and wished the story would of focused on her  relationships a little more, instead of veering off to the job she was working on.  With all that being said, Kim Vogel Sawyer is still one of my all time favorite authors.  One book that I don't connect with isn't going to change that!

Newlyweds and cold case detectives Sean and Meghan  have been given the task of investigation the twenty year past disappearance of a husband and a father.  A judge ruled that the missing man chose to leave the country and abandon his family, but his wife wouldn't concede that he left his family nor declare him dead.  Now that their mother is gone, the children want answers.

Sean is reading for children Meghan is not.  She decides that trying to locate her biological father my bring the closure she needs and help her desire to start a family.  She is struggling with everything going on and feels like she is falling short and failing everyone.

Meghan's mom, Diane decides to take action and reconnects with Meghan's father.  God begins to work in Meghan's heart like never before and she is learning to trust Him in a way that she never has.

This is book two in the Bringing Home Maggie series.  I really enjoyed the first book!  I say give them both a chance! 

Deadly Deceit - A Book Review

In the last couple years I have become a big fan of christian suspense books and I'm always thrilled to come across an Author that I like in that genre.  Natalie Walters has just made my list!

Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters is the second book in the Harbored Secrets series.  It makes a great stand alone book, but I think it is more enjoyable to have read the first book in the series.  You'll have a deeper connection with the characters and feel more invested in the story.

Vivian DeMarco is a journalist and when her boss Harold calls and wants to meet with her to give her the details of a big story she heads to see him, but when Harold dies unexpectedly the only thing Vivian has is the name he gave her in his dying words.  She knows that she needs to figure out what he was trying to tell her.

Ryan Frost has returned to the town of Walton after training in Quantico, he now works as a deputy.  He responds to the death of Harold where he reconnects with Vivi.  They begin to work together, but the more they uncover the more they see that there is a whole lot more going on than meets the eye...deceit, blackmail, murder..  He is determined to protect Vivi no matter the cost.

What a fun romance between Ryan and Vivi.  Their playful banter and connection was so enjoyable.  The thing I loved most though is the mystery.  I love a story that keeps me guessing and this one did just that.  Every time I thought I had it figured out, there would be a new twist that left me guessing.

I'm looking forward to the next book in this series!

***Thanks to Revell Reads for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Echoes Among the Stones - A Book Review

Echoes Among the Stones is the second book I've read by author Jamie Jo Wright and she is quickly making her way on to my favorite suspense author list. Her books are always very unique and tell the story from two perspectives being both past and future characters.

Aggie has just lost her job and is grieving the loss of her mother. She finds herself on her way to Wisconsin to be with her grandmother and work as a secretary for a cemetery. Her main responsibility is to restore the flooded part of the historic cemetery. She never expected to stumble on an unsolved mystery and it seems that even though it happened years ago someone is determined to keep it a mystery and will do whatever it takes to silence Aggie.

In 1946 Imogene comes home to find her sister Hazel murdered in the attic bedroom. As time goes on the case grows cold, but Imogene is determined to bring justice no matter how long it takes. She vows to never forget the details of her sisters life, but is her sister who she really thought she was?

This book was so good not only for the mystery and suspense aspect, but it speaks so much about grief and how it affects those left behind. There were several places that I found myself reading twice and thinking on the words. I'll share one such passage below:

"Greif made its own indelible mark on a person's soul, and only those who toiled through its muck could understand the exhaustion that came with it. Of the final never seeming final."

Most everyone has been touched by grief in someway and if you haven't, you will. Dieing is part of living and learning to grieve and not let it consume your life is so important.

Thanks to Bethany House Publishing for providing me with this complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Stitches in Time - A Book Review

When it comes to Amish fiction Suzanne Woods Fisher is one of my favorite authors. I have not read a book of hers that I have not loved. The current series, The Deacon's Family is one of the best yet!

In Stitches in Time, book two of the series, we get to revisit some of the well loved characters from the first book. Even though this story focuses more on the relationship between Mollie and Sam, we also get a continuation of the story of Luke and Izzy which I really loved. You wouldn't necessarily have to read the first book in the series to enjoy this novel, but I would definitely recommend it.

More about the book:

Detachment had worked well as a life strategy for horse trainer Sam Schrock. Until he met Mollie Graber..

New to Stoney Ridge, schoolteacher Mollie has come to town for a fresh start. Aware of how fleeting and fragile life is, she wants to live it boldly and bravely. When Luke, new to his role as deacon, asks the church to take in foster girls from a group home, she's the first to raise her hand. The power of love, she believes, can pick up the dropped stitches in a child's heart and knit them back together.

Mollie envisions sleepovers and pillow fights. What the eleven year old twins bring to her home is anything but. Visits from the sheriff at midnight. Phone calls from the school truancy officer and the most humiliating moment of all:  the girls accuse Mollie of drug addiction.

There's only one thing that breaks through the girls hard shell... An interest in horses. Reluctantly, Sam gets drawn into Mollie's chaotic life. What he didn't expect was for love to knit together the dropped stitches of his own heart... Just in time.

I highly recommend this book for Christian fiction fans. It's such a heartwarming story that you are sure to love!

Thank you to Revell Reads for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Seconds To Live - A Book Review

Do you know what I love?  I love to pick up a book and from the very first page be so captivated that I don't want to put it down.  That is exactly what happened with Seconds to Live.   From page one I was hooked.  It begins at a fast pace and keeps up to the very last page.  I'm also excited that this is a "new to me" author.  It was the first book I have read by Susan Sleeman and I will definitely be checking into her other books.  In fact, Seconds To Live is the first of a series called Homeland Heroes and I cant wait for the next book!


When Cybercriminals hack into the US Marshals' Witness Protection database and auction off witnesses' personal details to the highest bidders the RED Team led by FBI Agent Sean Nichols begins a high-stake chase to find the hacker, but before he cn even get started, the first witness is targeted and barely escapes with her life.  Sean believes Phantom, an obsessed hacker who previously outwitted the top minds in the field, is behind the attack, and Sean needs this witness's help, as she's the person who has come closes to discovering Phantom's identity.

Trouble is, she's a witness under the care of US Marshal Taylor Mills, and Sean is reluctant to work with the captivating marshal who knows his deepest secrets.  But Phantom claims he knows where the witness is hiding and will kill her, so to stop the hacker, Sean and Taylor must work through their personal pain and learn to trust each other....but the seconds are ticking down before someone dies.

If you are a fan of Christian Suspense books I would highly recommend this one.  It has well developed characters, fast paced suspense and a little romance.  Trust me, you won't want to put it down!

***Thanks to Bethany House Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.