Silent Shadows by Natalie Walters

Silent Shadows by Natalie Walters ISBN-13: 9780800735340 Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Revell Released: March 31st 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Pecca Gallegos moved to the tiny town of Walton, Georgia, to protect her son and escape the dangerous lifestyle that once defined her. When a series of strange circumstances evolve into threats, Pecca finds herself confiding in an unlikely ally--her stubborn patient.

Army veteran Colton Crawford is desperate to recover from the undiagnosed disorder that is ruining his life, and his instincts are on high alert when threats against his nurse and her son force him to take action. But Colton's involvement only ramps up the danger when he uncovers a family secret revealing that whoever is after Pecca is closer--and more deadly--than they realized.


My Review:
Silent Shadows is a Christian romantic suspense novel. This is the third book in a series. You don't need to read the previous book to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the previous book.

Colton felt useless due to his movement disorder, so he struggled to accept that God cared about him or that he brought anything worthwhile to a relationship. Pecca didn't trust her judgment about picking good men, and she couldn't date a patient, could she? Colton reached out to her disable son to help him to see himself as more than a missing leg, and he's determined to feel useful by helping to protect her when someone starts shooting at her. Their relationship grew as they spent time together.

The characters acted realistically to events and came across as real people with genuine struggles. The suspense came from someone threatening Pecca and even trying to kill her, but they're not certain why. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Copycat Killer by Laura Scott

Copycat Killer by Laura Scott ISBN-13: 9781335402721 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Released: April 7th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When a double homicide is strikingly familiar to a twenty-year-old cold case, Detective Nate Slater is rattled by the parallels. With a child as the only witness, he and his K-9 partner must protect little Lucy and her aunt, Willow Emery. Nate’s rough past means he always keeps an emotional distance…but in this case getting closer is the only way they’ll all survive.


My Review:
Copycat Killer is a Christian romantic suspense novel. I enjoyed the characters and cared about what happened to them. Nate fears that he'll be abusive like his father, so he's sworn off relationships. Willow helped him to realize that he's not his father. The romance went very fast--after knowing each other for a few days under intense circumstances, Nate switched from "no relationships" to "marry me?" The suspense came from the repeated attacks on Willow. Nate and his K9 partner (with his team) worked to track down the bad guy attacking Willow while also working the double-murder (which was a separate case that wasn't solved). There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Gambit by Rex Stout

Gambit by Rex Stout ISBN: 5530877512 Paperback: 155 pages Publisher: Bantam Books Released: 1962; August 1973

Source: Borrowed from the library.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Jerin was a mental freak—one of those eerily brilliant geniuses who could play a dozen games of chess at once and win every one of them. Blount was a millionaire fanatic with a fiendishly ingenious plan for beating Jerin at his favorite pastime. It was up to Nero Wolfe and Archie to prove that Blount’s plan hadn’t included murder


My Review:
Gambit is a mystery set in 1962 in New York. This is a clue-based puzzle mystery, and Archie actually puts the puzzle together before Wolfe. I figured whodunit and how out at the same time as Archie (and he doesn't reveal the name until he and Wolfe discuss the latest clue). Then it's up to Wolfe to devise a clever trap as there's no way to legally prove whodunit. As always, Archie's humorous view of events is fun to read.

There was no sex. These was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this fun mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Where the Stars Meet the Sea by Heidi Kimball

Where the Stars Meet the Sea by Heidi Kimball ISBN-13: 9781524410414 Paperback: 256 pages Publisher: Covenant Communications Released: March 2nd 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Juliet Graham fervently counts the days until her twenty-first birthday, when she can claim the inheritance that will grant her the freedom she has always craved and the guardianship of her younger brother. Until then, she is trapped under her aunt Agnes’s domineering will. When forced to accompany the family to a house party at Shaldorn Castle, Juliet hopes to keep to herself. That is, until a chance encounter with a boorish stranger throws Juliet off-balance, and she does the unthinkable: loses her temper and insults the man—who turns out to be her unwilling host, the Duke of Halstead. Fully expecting to be sent away, Juliet is surprised when the brusque duke instead takes an interest in her.

Drawn to the duke in unguarded moments, Juliet finds herself more and more intrigued by the man who shuns Society’s rules as completely as she does, and over the next few weeks, their unlikely friendship deepens into a connection neither expected. But even as Juliet comes to recognize her true feelings, her scheming aunt issues an ultimatum that threatens the future she was just beginning to hope for. Juliet must choose: either break the promise she made to herself years ago, or lose the man who has captured her heart and soul.


My Review:
Where the Stars Meet the Sea is a romance set in 1819 in England. Juliet's outspoken and has a bit of a temper, but she has learned to suppress this around her domineering aunt. At a duke's house party, she's surprised to discover that she was not alone in the library and let her temper free. She unknowingly insulted the duke. The duke is depressed due to a bad injury from a riding accident plus he isn't used to having non-family be unpleasant around him or deny him anything.

Although they had to overcome multiple misunderstandings due to strained circumstances, they drew each other out and supported each other through painful moments. Juliet had to decide between potentially marrying her loyal, considerate best friend (whom she viewed as a brother) or the often arrogant Duke who desired to really know her, not just have an ideal wife.

The characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. The story was not heavily historical, only giving a nod towards social conventions of the time. Everyone preferred to speak bluntly, Juliet was often alone with men who were romantically interested in her (though only in secret with the Duke), and so on. I was worried that this would be a "romance" where the main characters lusted after each other even though they're constantly in conflict, but the characters didn't really intend to insult the other. They would apologize when they saw that their words or actions hurt the other, and often it was plain speaking that needed to be heard (especially to clear up misunderstandings) but wasn't easy to hear. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical romance.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin

A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin ISBN-13: 9780800734220 Paperback: 432 pages Publisher: Revell Books Released: September 1st 2010

Source: Borrowed from the library.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Major Jack Novak has never failed to meet a challenge--until he meets army nurse Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. When Jack lands in the army hospital with a flak injury, he makes winning Ruth's heart a top priority mission. But he has his work cut out for him. Not only is Ruth focused on her work in order to support her orphaned siblings back home, she carries a shameful secret that keeps her from giving her heart to any man. Can Jack break down her defenses? Or are they destined to go their separate ways?

A Memory Between Us is the second book in the WINGS OF GLORY series, which follows the three Novak brothers, B-17 bomber pilots with the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World War II.


My Review:
A Memory Between Us is a Christian historical romance set from March 1943 to June 1944, mostly in England. This book is the second in a series but it can be read as a stand alone.

As usual, an amazing level of historical detail was woven into the story without slowing the pacing. There was a great deal of suspense from the physical danger and emotional conflict. I didn't put the book down for the last 200 pages. The main characters were complex, grew as people, and reacted realistically to events. Jack was a nice person, but he increasingly became a jerk and had to realize how his pride affected how he treated others. Ruth had been so beaten down in her life that she accepted poor treatment as her due. She struggled to accept God's full forgiveness and wasn't willing to confront suspected wrongs even though it meant staying in a dangerous, stressful situation. She had to come to the point that she trusted God enough to stand for what was right.

The problem for me came with how the two characters dealt with their many relationship misunderstandings. Even at the end, they struggled with clear communication, which would make for a difficult relationship in the future. There was a fairly detailed attempted rape scene and references to a past rape. There was no bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful, historical WWII novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie

Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie ISBN-13: 9780007120680 Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: HarperCollins Released: 1969; September 3, 2001

Source: Borrowed from my local library.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Hercule Poirot aids mystery writer Ariadne Oliver in an investigation into the murder of a young girl who may have witnessed a murder herself. There are few physical clues and many suspects because she was killed at a Hallowe'en party. Finding the murder may be a challenge.


My Review:
Hallowe'en Party is a mystery novel set in 1969 in England with Poirot as the private detective. Most of the clues are from people sitting around talking or thinking about events in the past which tie in to the present. It was clever how the clues were worked in and tied everything together. Yet this was also one of the few Agatha Christie's where I had "whodunit" solved relatively early on and with much of the motive and order of events also worked out. It was fun to fit the pieces of the puzzle together as the clues were revealed, though.

The characters were interesting and varied, but the focus was more on the past than the present so we didn't get to know any of them very well. There was some suspense at the end from physical danger to a character.

There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this mystery to those who enjoy solving puzzle-mysteries.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Lavender Blue Murder by Laura Childs

Lavender Blue Murder by Laura Childs ISBN-13: 9780451489661 Hardcover: 336 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: March 3rd 2020

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Tea maven Theodosia Browning and her tea sommelier Drayton Conneley are guests at a bird hunt styled in the precise manner of an English shooting party. But as gunshots explode like a riff of Black Cat firecrackers, another shot sounds too close for comfort to Theodosia and Drayton. Intrigued but worried, Theodosia wanders into the neighbor's lavender field where she discovers their host, Reginald Doyle, bleeding to death.

His wife, Meredith, is beside herself with grief and begs Theodosia and Drayton to stay the night. But Theodosia awakens at 2:00A.M. to find smoke in her room and the house on fire. As the fire department screams in and the investigating sheriff returns, Meredith again pleads with Theodosia for help.

As Theodosia investigates, fingers are pointed, secrets are uncovered, Reginald's daughter-in-law goes missing presumed drowned, and Meredith is determined to find answers via a seance. All the while Theodosia worries if she's made a mistake in inviting a suspect to her upscale Lavender Lady Tea.


My Review:
Lavender Blue Murder is a cozy mystery. It's the 21th book in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this story, and this book didn't spoil the previous ones.

The main characters acted fairly mature and respectable in this book, though Theodosia went all James Bond at the end. She asked good questions about the murder and found a number of people who had motives and opportunity. There weren't a lot of clues (beyond possible motives), so whodunit was not obvious (but was guessable). I was baffled as to why Theodosia didn't tell her boyfriend where she was rather than saying she was on the tail of a suspect and then hanging up. But I much prefer a save-the-day heroine to a perpetual victim, so I'm not really complaining.

There was a couple uses of "mild" bad language and no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable story.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Selah by Lisa T. Bergren

Selah by Lisa T. Bergren ISBN-13: 9780764230264 Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Bethany House Publishers Released: March 3rd 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Selah Banning has come of age on the West Indies island of Nevis, shaped by experiences far beyond the typical upbringing of a young British lady in 1776. She never anticipated that the most tumultuous time of her life might await her in the year ahead.

Jedediah Reed, a young Methodist preacher with a call to serve the slaves of Nevis, has settled at Selah's family's plantation, the Double T. As Selah's heart is drawn to the same people, their shared purpose brings them together--despite her guardians' concern with a romance that promises little security for the future.

As Jedediah's faith and Selah's abolitionist leanings lead to changes on the plantation, the Revolutionary War continues to build in the States. With the threat of starvation and the conflict with island mogul Angus Shubert growing ever stronger, the future of the Double T and its people hangs in the balance.


My Review:
Selah is a Christian romance set in 1776 in Nevis, West Indies. This is the third book in a series, and it continues the story of all three sisters. It focused on Selah's romance and could be read as a standalone, but you'll probably get more out of the story if you read the series in order. This book did spoil critical events in the previous books.

Selah was caring, courageous, and willing to sacrifice for others. Selah and Jedediah shared interests and cared about how the slaves were treated. Jedediah was concerned that he had no real way to provide for and protect Selah since he was a wandering preacher to slaves. As two evil enemies threatened the sisters and the survival of their plantation, they all had to learn to trust God for protection and provision.

The characters reacted realistically to events, and I cared about what happened to them. The historical details were woven into the story and included how the beginnings of the American Revolution affected trade to the West Indies. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I recommend this suspenseful novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Homicide Trinity by Rex Stout

Homicide Trinity by Rex Stout ISBN-13: 9780553234466 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Crimeline Released: July 1, 1993

Source: Borrowed from my local library.

Book Description from Goodreads:
A deadly trio of Nero Wolfe classics. It's a wily killer who dares to strike on Nero Wolfe's hallowed turf. It's a gun-toting wife who serves up a confession of homicidal intent--only to become the suspect when the corpse is found. And it's murder a la carte when a cop-hating landlady brings Wolfe counterfeit cash that leads to genuine murder.


My Review:
Homicide Trinity is a collection of three historical mystery short stories: "Eeeny Meeny Murder Mo," "Death of a Demon," and "Counterfeit Murder." They're set in New York City in the 1960's.

Since these were short stories, there wasn't much time for clue-gathering, but they could be solved by the clues. Wolfe's genius was in setting up a test or asking a question that didn't seem directly related to whodunit but which revealed strong clues. I didn't guess whodunit in the second one, but I got it right in the other two. Archie's personality and interactions with the other characters was fun and is what draws me back to reading more Wolfe stories.

There was no sex. These was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this book to mystery fans.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

One Little Lie by Colleen Coble

One Little Lie by Colleen Coble ISBN-13: 9780785228448 Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson Released: March 3rd 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Shortly after Jane Hardy is appointed police chief in Pelican Harbor, Alabama, her father is arrested by the FBI for theft and then implicated in a recent murder. Jane believes that someone is out to destroy her father. They escaped from a cult fifteen years ago, but Jane still longs for her mother—who refused to leave—ever since. Could someone from that horrible past have found them?

Reid Bechtol is a well-known journalist who makes documentaries, and his sights are currently set on covering Jane's career. Jane doesn't want the attention, but the committee who appointed her loves the publicity. Jane finds herself depending on Reid's calm manner as he follows her around taping his documentary, and they begin working together to clear her father. But Reid has his own secrets from the past, and the gulf between them may be impossible to cross. It started with one little lie. But Jane Hardy will do everything in her power to uncover the truth.


My Review:
One Little Lie is a Christian romantic suspense novel. This is the first in a trilogy about Jane Hardy. The mystery was wrapped up by the end, but the relationship tensions still need to be resolved. Jane was raised in a cult, and that still affects her present.

Despite making little progress on the case, Jane did come across as competent as a police chief. Perhaps because she made sure to do the investigative parts right. So many murderers and clues were thrown at her that it became a mess that was difficult figure out. I found the mystery a bit confusing, though it wasn't too difficult to figure out who to suspect. In the end, it's really her father that solves the mystery, but at least she's critical to saving the day and arresting the bad guys.

The suspense stayed high since people kept turning up murdered and her father was accused of crimes he swore he didn't do. Jane believed him, but doubts were planted when others close to him keep saying that he's hiding things from her. Reid and his son initially showed up to tape her at work to use in a documentary, but soon they are helping her. Though initially at odds, Reid tried to be understanding and supportive and so gained her friendship. The characters reacted realistically to events and were likable. However, Jane felt distant and I never really engaged with her.

Jane had trouble trusting God because she still viewed Him as she was taught in the cult. There was no bad language or sex. Overall, I'd recommend this complex suspense novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Out of the Embers by Amanda Cabot

Out of the Embers by Amanda Cabot ISBN-13: 9780800735357 Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Revell Released: March 3rd 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Ten years after her parents were killed, Evelyn Radcliffe is once more homeless. The orphanage that was her refuge and later her workplace has burned to the ground, and only she and a young orphan girl have escaped. Convinced this must be related to her parents' murders, Evelyn flees with the girl to Mesquite Springs in the Texas Hill Country and finds refuge in the home of Wyatt Clark, a talented horse rancher whose plans don't include a family of his own.

At first, Evelyn is a distraction. But when it becomes clear that trouble has followed her to Mesquite Springs, she becomes a full-blown disruption. Can Wyatt keep her safe from the man who wants her dead? And will his own plans become collateral damage?


My Review:
Out of the Embers is a Christian historical romance set in 1856 in Texas. Only an unexpected mishap saves Evelyn and the young girl accompanying her from burning to death when their orphanage is set on fire by a unknown man. Evelyn believes that they were the actual targets, so she flees with the girl until they come to Mesquite Springs. There she meets Wyatt and his family, who treat the two orphans like a part of their family. As Wyatt and Evelyn spend time together, they start to fall in love. But Wyatt is convinced that he can't find contentment at home, and he doesn't plan on dragging a wife around with him all over the country.

The characters acted realistically, had depth, and I cared about what happened to them. Suspense was added because we know that someone is after one of the orphans and intends to kill her. But much of the story was about the different men courting Evelyn and how Wyatt slowly realized that his restlessness didn't necessarily mean that he needed to travel the country. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable story.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

There is a Tide by Agatha Christie

There is a Tide by Agatha Christie ISBN: 0-553-35066-8 Hardcover: 216 pages Publisher: Bantam Books Released: 1948; 1987

Source: Checked out from the local library.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Shortly after marrying a young widow, Gordon Cloade is killed in the London blitz and the former Mrs Underhay inherits the Cloade family fortune. The Cloade family depends upon support from that fortune which is now denied them. The dead man's sister-in-law tells Poirot that she believes the widow's first husband is still alive. When a man whom may be that first husband turns up dead at a local inn, Poirot decides to investigate.


My Review:
There is a Tide (also titled "Taken at the Flood") is a mystery set in 1948 in England. Since it's a short book and there are a lot of secrets, I didn't feel like I got to know the characters very well and didn't really like them enough to care what happened to them. This was a clue-based puzzle mystery, and I could see at least four different scenarios for who was doing what and why.

I did finally settle on the correct person and motive for the murderer and guessed much of who was doing the rest of the sneaky stuff. The mystery aspect keep me engaged in finding scenarios, which was fun. However, I was a bit surprised that I could get whodunit and why right and yet still be wrong about some critical aspects of the underlying story (which were only revealed at the end).

There was no sex. There was occasional use of bad language. I'd recommend this convoluted but interesting mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Falsely Accused by Shirlee McCoy

Falsely Accused by Shirlee McCoy ISBN-13: 9781335402677 Paperback: 244 pages Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Released: March 3rd 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Framed for her foster brother's murder, FBI special agent Wren Santino must clear her name--but someone's dead set on stopping her from finding the truth. Her estranged childhood friend, Titus Anderson, comes to her aid...but standing by her puts him in the killer's crosshairs, too. And unraveling a conspiracy may be the only way for either of them to survive.


My Review:
Falsely Accused is a Christian romantic suspense novel. The characters were nice people who struggled with realistic fears. Wren's a capable FBI agent, but she's injured and has been set up for murder. She was very close to Titus when they were young, and he's happy to help her now. He once worked as a police officer, so he's also very capable in dangerous situations. They're very supportive of each other and build each other up. I enjoyed the characters and cared about what happened to them. The suspense came from the attacks on them and murders of others, along with a fire and the fact that the police think she's the prime suspect in the murderer of her brother. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.