Review of "Until I Met You" by Tari Faris

In the second book (or technically 2.5, because there is also a novella prequel btw) from the Restoring Heritage series, we continue with Luke's sister Libby Kingsley who has just moved to Heritage. She is looking for several things: to be closer to Luke, his wife Hannah, and their new baby, to take a job as the town's librarian, and to hopefully find some peace. When she meets "Mr. Mean Hot Neighbor" Austin, he is in the middle of a family crisis and is also dealing with some serious unforgiveness and resentment issues. Libby is navigating her fears from a major trauma and her propensity towards anxiety. Additionally, she's trying to figure out if Austin is worth the challenge, because he basically picks a fight with her at almost every opportunity. 

I found their dynamic very interesting. This is not your typical happily ever after story, and it illustrates some of the challenges one might find when beginning a relationship with people who have issues to work through. It was refreshing to see "real life stuff" not be sugarcoated, because it felt honest without being too dark.

I love the slightly wacky things that happen in this town....the way people care about and show up for others....the community that has been created in the town of Heritage. None of it feels forced or contrived - and it is always a great sign when I want to move there. :)

So here's my 27 cents: YES I recommend this book. FOR SURE, please start with the prequel....then Book 1....then, this great next step in the series. I can't wait to find out what happens next!!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "The Key to Love" by Betsy St. Amant

So full disclosure: I was completely pre-disposed to like this book. The topics are alllll of my faves: a bakery (check!), a rough around the edges but with redeeming qualities and challenging background boy (check!), plus a romantic-at-heart girl (check!)....but this did not completely come together for me, the way I thought it would.

Baker Bri Duval's parents died in a car crash and she has been both grieving and trying to honor them ever since. Almost all of her choices and actions are made through the lens of this traumatic life event, but she is not very self aware. Journalist Gerard Fortier had his own "life trajectory change" based on the combination of his formative years with a chance meeting with his idol, who gives him (clearly) terrible advice. Since then, he hasn't been able to truly connect with others (and won't even admit he is struggling). When Gerard is assigned to write a story about Bri's bakery, the sparks begin to fly.

I had several moments of frustration throughout this entire book: I found there to be way too many obvious misunderstandings with equally predictable upsets/outcomes. Too many 'I want to shake some sense into them' moments. And is no one savvy about other people's motives, even a tiny bit?! Could he not have returned the money sooner??? (You'll understand when you get there). Twice, I actually put it down for a minute and started another book to take a break, because I was too frustrated to continue.

Anyhoo....although it may sound like I wouldn't recommend it, in hindsight there were still enough redemptive qualities to sum up by saying that you are going to have to get this book for yourself and make your own big girl decisions. I can't tell you that I would read again OR that it made me think about anything deep or moving for long, but overall.....there you go.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "Autumn Skies" by Denise Hunter

The third and final book in the Bluebell Inn series; this one is set a few years after book two. Youngest sister Grace Bennett is now an adult with a growing business. When Wyatt Jennings enters the Inn looking for a place to stay, she is surprised by her almost instant attraction - and connection - to him. Wyatt is not there to simply visit the town - he is trying to solve a mystery that has plagued him since childhood. He is sure that uncovering the mystery surrounding this trauma will release the difficult emotions that are plaguing him now...but will they?

Grace is dealing with the memories of her own childhood trauma (which I struggled with; I did not feel this topic was fleshed out enough or even fully made sense to the character). I had trouble with the timeline and wish there was a way to make the character's progressions less noticeable. I did love seeing the transition of Grace as she gained confidence as an adult, focused on growing her business, coming into her own, etc.

I was slightly baffled why no one connected the dots on Wyatt's family...I know Jennings may be a relatively common name, but the siblings know so much about their house/the town and it's history, it seemed strange - like an obvious question that was never asked.

Overall, this was a great series. IMO these are not standalone books, so if you haven't read the first two you will be better off to start there. I am glad to recommend this entire series and author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "Vying for the Viscount" by Kristi Ann Hunter

Good start to a promising series!

Bianca is an older daughter with a difficult stepmother and a generous and kind father. She wants to marry for love and is also madly in love with horses, especially the ones at the estate next door. When she meets Hudson she unwittingly mistakes him for a horse thief and attacks him with her boot!

Hudson (the Viscount) has been in India his entire life, hiding from his dangerous uncle....simultaneously being educated and trained as a proper Englishman to eventually assume his role as the Viscount. With his parents deceased and his Grandfather recently passed, he arrives in England very naive about everything....but horses.

When Bianca and Hudson realize they both must marry well to live their best lives, they agree to assist each other in finding the best mate. But will they soon discover that what they've been looking for all along has been right in front of them??

Kristi Ann Hunter is one of my favorite authors that focuses on this time period. She always impresses me with painting a clear picture of the time while (IMO) providing a modern language feel that doesn't seem contrived. I am hoping there are more books to come!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "Whose Waves These Are" by Amanda Dykes

This was such an interesting book! Nothing cookie cutter or formulaic here. Set almost entirely on the coast of Maine, the book opens in the fall of 1944 with the Bliss Family.....the war is in progress and decisions must be made -  and when the unthinkable later occurs, no one is prepared for the fallout.

Ann Bliss returns to the place she spent the best summer of her life as a child with her Great Uncle Bob, and quickly finds out just how much has changed - but the core of her childhood touchpoints are still there. When she meets local Jeremiah Fletcher (Fletch) they begin to work together to help the ailing Bob - and they may just solve a long held family mystery.

Bouncing back and forth between 1944 and 2001, it took me a minute to sort out how everything connected, but when I did, things quickly began to make a great deal of sense. With a cast of interesting characters and beautiful prose, this is a thought provoking and richly descriptive book. The premise is unique, and the unveiling of just how it all does finally connect created a very happy and satisfying ending. I will gladly recommend this book by this first time author.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "Castle on the Rise" by Kristy Cambron

Kristy Cambron is one of my favorite authors; I devour her books and they are usually feel life changing. That being said, this book was an exception and I still haven't gotten a handle on what the issue was for me. I enjoyed the first book in the series, but had a difficult time getting going with this one - I think I read the first two chapters about six separate times before I finally pressed on to finish it. I struggled with bouncing around between three timelines and ultimately found it challenging to fully engage with any one of them. (Although I generally like books with split time....this one felt like I was always missing something; whether it was context or connection, I am not sure.)

It even took me forever to write this review because I couldn't figure out how to articulate all of this. I truly think she is an excellent writer. And, I didn't know a lot about the Irish War of Independence and really appreciated learning more about that time in history. I very much appreciated the tie in towards the end for all three timelines and found it to be quite clever.

My final word is that this book should be one that you read it and decide for yourself. The author is generally great, and you may not suffer from the same frame of mind that I did - so get it and make your own decision!

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "Relative Silence" by Carrie Stuart Parks

I always eagerly wait for a new CSP release and this one did not disappoint!

Piper Boone (short for Sandpiper - all the siblings in her family are named after birds) is one of the remaining members of the Boone family. They are wealthy, powerful, and politically connected; brother Tern is a Senator. What's left of the family has arrived on Curlew Island for their annual stockholders meeting and retreat.

Piper's toddler daughter died in an accident near the island 15 years ago and it has drastically changed her life's trajectory. Suffering from nightmares and likely depression, Piper is still trying to figure out what her next steps should be when the unthinkable happens - a mass shooting at a local café where she is having lunch.

Forensic artist Tucker Landry is just getting back on his emotional feet from his own tragedy when he saves Piper from the shooter. He is wounded in the process, but will recover. He and Piper connect over shared interests and a mutual attraction. They soon discover that the mass shooting was only the tip of the iceberg (or should we say island....?)

As Piper and Tucker navigate the dangerous mystery -people keep dying!- with the help of marine patrol Office Mandy Chou and teen Hannah Mueller, will they be able to solve who is behind it all before it's too late? And either way, will the hurricane kill them all first?

There are also numerous quirky and fun things that make this novel atypical. The movie quotes and how Piper uses them to self soothe and help solve the mystery; Four Paws Rescue; Nana the Newfoundlands (yes the plural is on purpose), and so much more. I totally did not figure out the antagonist before the truth was revealed, which I always appreciate. In hindsight there were enough clues to make it clever, but it was definitely not obvious. I will gladly recommend this book along with all other Carrie Stuart Parks novels.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review of "The Cul-de-Sac War" by Melissa Ferguson

Quickly becoming a favorite go-to author, this second offering from Melissa Ferguson hits all the right notes. With the perfect amount of quirk, humor, tension, witty character conversation, and some great multi-layered life revelations....everything comes together to create a fun and also meaningful story.

Bree Leake is a loving daughter/family member, budding actress (among many other things), and committed friend. Her beloved Nana's passing has changed her in different ways - and knowing she has inherited a portion of Nana's home with a chance to buy out the other family members is becoming a driving force in her life.

Chip McBride has recently struck out on his own from the family construction business, and purchased the house next door to Bree with plans to flip it. When they discover some of their mutual life goals may be at odds, the competition begins - and yes, hilarity ensues.

Pranks, friendship, romantic tension, laugh out loud events, and deep spiritual revelations all occur throughout Bree and Chip's journey. The author's previous book, "The Dating Charade" was awesome as well. (And, since Bree's best friend Cassie is the main character of that one, I definitely recommend reading it first.) I will gladly recommend both books.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "Stay With Me" by Becky Wade

Several things: I can't "see" this title without singing Sam Smith. Two, I avoided reading this book for the longest time, because I knew when I started that meant IT WOULD ALMOST BE OVER and I just couldn't take it.

I wasn't wrong.

This is one of those books that is surprising in the very best of ways. It also ends in the very best way....leaving you extremely hungry for the next one. A lovely setting, an interesting premise, a unique mystery, and multi-layered characters with atypical back stories....all elements that have come together to create a wonderful story.

The first book in the new Misty River Romance series, we are introduced to Genevieve Woodward and Sam Turner.

Not your typical couple - in fact they are not even a couple for the majority of the book - the meet cute occurs when Genevieve is discovered by Sam, passed out in his cottage (she says cottage, he says guesthouse....) When he wakes her up she barely knows where she is, which stems from a pill dependency - I promise this is not a serious spoiler as it's revealed quickly. To further complicate matters, Genevieve is a Christian author and speaker - and she is sincere and genuine to be sure, but the extra layers of pressure to recover and find redemption also add some serious "how will this be resolved" tension.

Sam is dealing with deep regrets from his past, and Genevieve's particular challenges are not a place he wishes to visit. Their chemistry is super valid and their verbal repartee game is strong. Meanwhile, as Genevieve is navigating her sobriety along with whatever this is with Sam, she is also trying to solve a mystery about her parents that has the potential to change everything she knows to be true.

This is not a traditional or typical romance book; the author often includes an element of mystery in her stories which I always appreciate. I especially enjoyed the peek back to the different members of 'The Miracle Five' sprinkled throughout the book and their clear setup I AM SO EXCITED for the next book in the series. I thought the resolution of both the mystery as well as Genevieve and Sam's relationship was unexpected....a pleasant surprise.

In case you did not feel it was clear....I strong recommend this book and all other books by this author.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "A Dazzle of Diamonds" by Liz Johnson

Book three in the Georgia Coast Romance series and DEFINITELY my favorite of the three.

Penelope Hunter is an event planner for a local and important venue. When her former fiancee (who left her at the altar for their wedding) arrives with his new fiancee to possibly book the location for their upcoming wedding, she is thrown for a little bit of a loop. Although Penelope has long believed she is healthy overall and has recovered from that major emotional blow, the surprise of it all just may lead her to take a route she wouldn't have usually chosen....you know, under normal circumstances.

Penelope's lifelong best friend Tucker Westbrook is a former Marine now running for County Sheriff. When his opponent starts a smear campaign (maligning the family name/heritage by accusing them of being traitors...this is apparently an extra big deal in the South), Tucker must follow the story and find the treasure. He is convinced this will clear his family name and the finder's fee will finance his campaign. We also soon learn he believes this will validate him in PJ's eyes.

This series is truly one of those where the books are standalone. I do still enjoy the small follow ups or nods to previous book's characters, so I definitely encourage people to read them in order when at all possible. That being said, you won't feel like you are always missing something with this one if you choose to skip around.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "Minutes to Die" by Susan Sleeman

The second book in the author's "Homeland Heroes" series, FBI Agent Kiley Dawson is devastated when her CI is shot right in front of her, just before being able to communicate the details of a major threat. Although Kiley has long spent her life behind a computer she decides this is her time to request lead on the investigation. She soon realizes just how many twists and turns this dangerous threat is going to take.

Meanwhile, ICE Agent Evan Bowers is on the opposite coast (Seattle) discovering a threat of his own. When it turns out his case connects with Kiley's, sparks of all kinds fly. Kiley and Evan actually know each other, and she holds him responsible for the death of her partner on a previous mission. She will agree to work with Evan for the good of the mission and the hope to prevent a catastrophe as they work together to identify the terrorists and determine exactly what they are planning.

There were plenty of twists and turns, and ultimately enough to like about this book. As this is a second book and it has been some time since I read the first one, I struggled to comprehend the depth of Kiley's bitterness, and it was a challenge to reconcile with their growing attraction. I honestly can't recall if she is referenced in the first book, and I especially think it may have been helpful to re-read it prior to starting this one. :) Overall, I am glad to recommend this book and series.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "Love and a Little White Lie" by Tammy L. Gray

This is the first book I have read by this author. I must say, I am SOLD.

After a major heartbreak, January moves to Texas to stay with her Aunt Doreen and Uncle Jim, who own and run a beautiful wedding venue, the Boots and Lace Ranch. January is desperate for a job, and Doreen refers her to her local (mega) church, even though January does not believe in God. She gets the job and the antics ensue....but they are not necessarily typical, and January's journey is moving and engaging.

Numerous laugh out loud moments...unexpected relational payoffs....realistic resolutions to long held belief struggles, even some that aren't fully resolved in the best way possible...the list goes on and on with reasons why I enjoyed this book. I am on the hunt for more Tammy Gray books -and I absolutely suggest you start with this one!


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "The Heart of a Hero" by Susan May Warren

Number two in the Global Search and Rescue Series...I think I liked this one even better than the first!

Jake Silver and his hero bros are off Denali and back home for some R&R. When their mutual friend (and object of Jake's not so secret affection) Dr. Aria Sinclair is at a family BBQ, he mentions she should snorkel while speaking at a conference in Key West and gives her his number so he can make recommendations. What neither of them know is that a) she will text him a message meant for someone else which causes him to hop a flight to help, and b) that a serious storm is coming...literally and figuratively. The danger level is high, from both people and the hurricane. The conversational banter, the camaraderie, and supporting characters/secondary stories are excellent. This is also a great set up for the next book. I can't wait!


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "Of Literature & Lattes" by Katherine Reay

Set in the smallish town of Winsome Illinois, semi-prodigal (or shall we say estranged) daughter of Janet has returned from California with her proverbial tail tucked between her legs. When the FBI opened an investigation on the company she works for in Silicon Valley, Alyssa lost her very important job. Although Alyssa truly believed what she was doing was not only legal but an invaluable service to the world, her greedy boss was likely selling personal data overseas and giving customers false and potentially damaging information about their health. Overextended, incredibly stressed, and broken emotionally, Alyssa drives home and finds that things have definitely changed in Winsome.

One of the changes is that Jeremy Mitchell is now in town. He has moved to be near his daughter from a marriage that lasted about 10 minutes. He is experiencing culture shock and may also be blinded by his own expectations of himself and others. As the layers of both Jeremy and Alyssa's stories are unraveled, we see that they have believed multiple things, important things, that are turning out to be profoundly wrong. And when they discover the truth, how will they cope, live, THRIVE in these new realities?

I love when authors do this: provide us with a 'follow up' or companion book (this is what I call them anyways...) I don't believe this book was listed as a sequel per se, but definitely a continuation story, if you will. It picks up where "The Printed Letter Bookshop" leaves off. Now, if you have ever read any of my other reviews you will know just how I feel about this, but it is ALWAYS BETTER if you read the first one. With that said....read them both!


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "Standoff" by Patricia Bradley

This is the first book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series set in Mississippi. Park Ranger (soon to be sworn in as a Law Enforcement Ranger!) Brooke Danvers is shocked when her father (the district ranger) is found dead. Luke Fereday may be an old family friend (and former crush of Brooke's), but she isn't sure she knows who he is now or if he can be counted on. Luke is working undercover on a huge drug bust, and many of the players in both of their lives may be connected.

The author provides a glimpse into the mind of our perpetrator in some alternating chapters, a technique I always enjoy. The possible "culprits" have different motives, and the conclusion is satisfying. I didn't totally understand or comprehend Brooke's grieving process, but know that everyone is different. Luke is an interesting and compelling character, and was patient as Brooke sorted things out.

With possibly political intrigue, mild romance, the beautiful but unpredictable setting of the Trace, DNA questions (I found this answer a little obvious and frankly it also felt extraneous and unnecessary), and much more - you'll want to read this book to find out how it all fits together. I am eager to read the next offering in the series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "The Crushing Depths" by Dani Pettrey

Book two in the Coastal Guardians series begins with a bang (literally) - an explosion that kicks off the need for our two heroes to enter the scene.

Rissi Dawson and Mason Rogers were in the same abusive foster home as teens. Although their time together was short, it bonded them deeply. When the trajectories of their lives re-intersect after a number of years, they discover that bond has not broken at all; in fact, they are adults who are deeply connected (and now, attracted to each other). Rissi and Mason are now agents working with the Coast Guard Investigative Services; when they are assigned to a case that has one tragic "accident" after another, agendas on both sides, and even "Henry's curse", they quickly find the only ones they can trust are each other.

Overall, I did enjoy this story. I have long enjoyed Dani Pettrey's books and was excited to read this one. The main disconnect I found was in the number of characters (I could not keep up OR keep track of who was connect to who, and when you are reading a mystery or suspense novel, you want to keep track of all the players to see if you can solve the mystery....this was a challenge.) But, the main characters are likeable and the mystery is fine. Check it out for yourself!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.