The Way of Love by Tracie Peterson

The Way of Love by Tracie Peterson ISBN-13: 9780764232282 Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Bethany House Publishers Released: June 2nd 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Faith Kenner is pursuing her dream to become a doctor at Willamette University's medical college so she can use her gift for healing to help those in need, especially the native populations forced onto reservations and then neglected. When she meets Andrew Gratton, a handsome riverboat captain who has been injured on his ship, she uses her skills to tend his wound, and a friendship grows between them. Andrew admires her strength and willingness to stand her ground, and Faith appreciates his intelligence and compassion. But Faith holds a secret that means their friendship can never become anything more, so she must bury her feelings for Andrew as best she can.

When her fellow students put together lectures to speak out against Oregon's racist laws and policies, Faith is eager to participate. But some powerful men have other plans for their state, and soon Faith is caught in the middle of a plot to push the local Indian tribes to rebel. As she and Andrew fight for the rights of others, their love for each other grows. But will her secret stand in the way of their one chance for true happiness?


My Review:
The Way of Love is a romance set in 1880 in Oregon. This is the second book in a series, and it continues the story of Nancy and Seth in addition to Faith and Andrew's story. You can read the story as a standalone, but it'll spoil some parts of the first book. The author wove historical details about a very bad storm, women in medical colleges, and racist issues into the story. Faith is part Native American but passes for white. She's also studying to be a doctor when very few medical colleges allowed women to attend. This sets up the conflict. Faith is almost done with her studies when she attracts the attention of two donors to the college. They're powerful men trying to prevent Blacks from settling in Oregon and trying to get rid of the Indians in Oregon.

While I liked Faith and Andrew, I found stubborn, idealist Faith a little exasperating. Faith is repeatedly warned by family and friends to not anger these men just yet. They're powerful and will retaliate if she publicly stands against their views. She ignores their advice to wait a few months...with predictable results. Then she asks these family members to fix things for her. She's also committed to staying single and is comfortable with this idea, but then suddenly she's dressing up pretty and completely besotted with Andrew. While he's a nice, honorable fellow that shares some interests with her, they really don't spend much time together before she's trusting him with other people's secrets.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this story to fans of historical fiction.


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.

The Heart of a Hero by Susan May Warren

The Heart of a Hero by Susan May Warren ISBN-13: 9780800735852 Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Revell Released: June 2nd 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Jake Silver may not be able to put the memories of his time as a sniper and Navy SEAL behind him, but at least he can put his skills to use as a part of the Jones Inc. rescue team. Saving the life of pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Aria Sinclair on Denali helped too. Now he can't get her out of his head, and when he hears she is in the path of a hurricane down in Key West he can't help but jump on a plane to rescue her.

Aria has dedicated her life to helping children born with defective hearts. After all, she was one of those children. Now driven to succeed, she lives a lonely, stressful life. One she would have lost on Denali if it hadn't been for Jake. Jake is exciting and handsome, but he's also dangerous, and she's already lost one person she loves. She can't bear it again.

It's not until she finds herself trapped in the middle of a category 4 hurricane that she can admit she needs Jake desperately. With their very survival in the balance, can they hope for a second chance at life . . . and love?


My Review:
The Heart of a Hero is a Christian romantic suspense novel. This is the second book in the series, and Jake and Aria's romance really started in the previous book. I'd recommend that you read that book first if you want to fully understand their complicated romance. My main problem was that Ham and Signe's romance was a part of this book, especially as this information will have to be repeated in Ham's novel, anyway. (Plus I didn't find their past "romance" very romantic since Ham insisted on finding and trying to rescue Signe when she kept telling him not to. Stalker?)

Rescuer Jake dashes off after Aria when he realizes she's facing a hurricane. They're trapped with the hurricane hitting... Then suddenly we're following Ham as he thinks about the mission he was supposed to complete that didn't go as planned, how he wasn't able to talk to the guy he wanted to talk to, and about his painful past with Signe. He thinks, he talks, but there is no suspense. Ham's scene's broke the built up suspense for me. The suspense from all of the physical danger was built up again, only to be broken again due to a Ham scene.

I also discovered that I can accept pushing the limits of what is humanly possible when it comes to a talented team working together to rescue people. However, Jake was usually acting as a one man army...er, Navy. He pushed the limit of what I could accept, then pushed it again, and again, and again. Superhero! There were some very suspenseful scenes, but Jake's ultimate success was never in doubt. While the romance moved forward as they came to accept that it was okay to be happy, Jake and Aria still had some major issues to work through. I assume this will continue to develop in the next book.

Really, the story wasn't a romance so much as Jake coming to terms with how he felt that he had hurt people due to poor on-the-spot decisions and how Aria felt guilty over having her sister's heart. Their growth and healing was well done as was the Christian content. A lady that Aria rescued kept explaining to Jake (and Aria) that God's forgiveness doesn't have to be earned, just accepted. There was no sex or no bad language.


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.

Secrets Resurfaced by Dana Mentink

Secrets Resurfaced by Dana Mentink ISBN-13: 9781335402868 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Released: June 2nd 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When new evidence surfaces about a tragic boating accident that put her ex-boyfriend’s father in prison, private investigator Dory Winslow’s determined to look into it. But now someone’s dead set on silencing her. And working with Chad Jaggert—the father of her secret child—may be the only way to survive the treacherous truth about the tragedy that once tore them apart.


My Review:
Secrets Resurfaced is a Christian romantic suspense novel. It's the fourth in a series, but it works as a standalone. The author tells us at the beginning how clever Dory is to be able to track down Blaze, who was presumed dead in a boating accident. However, Dory took many foolish risks during the story (mainly provoked by Chad's behavior) so she's repeatedly, melodramatically rescued by the strong, oh-I-love-being-in-his-arms-but-I-must-resist-because-he-doesn't-love-me Chad. She spent more time involved in her relationship troubles and trying to survive than in using her investigative skills to solve the mystery. The suspense came from repeated attacks on her and Chad.

Chad blamed Dory for his dad being put in prison for manslaughter even though he ought to be blaming his father's behavior. Chad told her that he never wanted to see her again. Five years later, he accidentally showed up as she's tracking Blaze, which put her in danger. He took his anger out on her and generally treated her like she's too stupid to come up with a good solution and kept trying to take charge of her operations and promptly messing them up, putting everyone in danger. What a catch! But he's the father of Dory's daughter, he's a little bit more talkative than he used to be, and she still loves him. I had a hard time seeing this as a positive relationship, though.

Chad had to get over his anger with Dory and come to appreciate the more mature woman that she's grown into. Dory practiced forgiveness because she's a Christian. There was no sex or bad language.


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.

Dead Silence by Robin Caroll

Dead Silence by Robin Caroll ISBN-13: 9781643523316 Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Shiloh Run Press Released: June 1st 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Elise Carmichael is a court sign language interpreter who reads lips all the time. As a widow with a young son who is deaf, lip reading is simply second nature, until the day she reads the lips of someone on the phone discussing an attempt to be made on a senator’s life—a senator who just happens to be her mother-in-law. Before she can decide what she needs to do, she receives the information that her son is rushed to the ER and she must leave. Then she later sees the news report that her mother-in-law has been shot and killed. But when she comes forward, her life, as well as her son’s life, may now be in the crosshairs of the assassin.


My Review:
Dead Silence is a Christian suspense novel. There was no romance. When Elsie realized that the FBI had no leads except for the ones that she gave them, she and her sister-in-law and a female reporter and a female lawyer worked together to find the clues and solve the case. Granted, they did get a little help from two men, but the women were the ones actively solving the case. The FBI were portrayed as hampered by having to follow protocol and sometimes as downright incompetent. This created some suspense as the bad guys could leave threatening messages with little fear of being caught.

Unfortunately, I didn't really like Elise. She tended to forget important things whenever her son was threatened, so it was easy to throw her off her game. When one of the FBI agents pointed out that the senator died because Elise forgot to warn her or the police about the plot, Elise kicked the agents out and refused to provide them with the information they requested that would help catch the bad guy who murdered her mother-in-law and was threatening her. She did show courage by continuing to investigate the case even when threatened. But when she and one of the FBI agents were talking in the house, something happened outside that they equally should have noticed but she publicly blamed the FBI for not seeing it. She promised to do certain things that would prevent a sympathetic FBI agent from getting in trouble for helping her, but then she didn't do them and made his life very difficult. She used her deep love for her son to justify her behavior, but one can love their child without also blaming everyone else for their own mistakes.

A major clue was dropped at the beginning, allowing the reader to know all along who the bad guy was. It was understandable that the main characters didn't immediately see the significance, but it still took them a frustratingly long time to make the connections. Elise was angry at God for allowing her son to be born deaf, his father and grandmother killed, etc. Her sister-in-law encouraged her to talk to God and trust him. There was no sex or bad language.


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.

Solving Sophronia by Jennifer Moore

Solving Sophronia by Jennifer Moore ISBN-13: 9781524412357 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Covenant Communications Released: May 1st 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When a stuffy ballroom at yet another Season proves to be nothing more than the usual rumor mill, Lady Sophronia Bremerton seeks respite in the library and encounters four other young women. As the conversation turns to their secret ambitions, the women form a sisterhood and a bold plan: they will make their dreams a reality, no matter the obstacles. Thus begins the Blue Orchid Society.

Lady Sophronia Bremerton is a society columnist for the London Illustrated News, and the gentry loves seeing their exploits printed in the gossip pages. But Sophie aspires to be an investigative reporter. Hearing of a murder in a London rookery, Sophie seizes the opportunity to prove her skills. Detective Jonathan Graham doesn't believe a civilian, a noblewoman at that, should be anywhere near a murder investigation, but Sophie insists on helping bring the killer to justice. Her investigative prowess doesn't go unnoticed by the police, especially Jonathan. But as the case grows more complicated and dangerous, their very lives - and their hearts - may be at risk.


My Review:
Solving Sophronia is a romance (with a mystery) set in 1873 in England. This romance series is about women who are smart, educated, and want to do things outside the norm for a female at that time. Sophie already is a journalist, but she wants to be an investigative reporter rather than a society columnist. One night as she's roaming, looking for a story, she happens upon a crime scene: a woman has been murdered and dumped in a slum area. She pushes her way into the investigation, and her ability to track down the woman's identity convinces the detective to let her help with the interviews and investigation.

It hurts Detective Graham's pride to allow a woman to help. However, he's impressed by Sophie's intelligence, artistic skill, and beauty. As her own family only sees her lack of beauty rather than her skills, Sophie appreciates that the detective appreciates what she can contribute to the investigation.

They worked well together as a team and built each other up, so I'm willing to accept that they will have a good marriage even though the mystery was solved in a week (so they didn't actually know each other very well). The mystery was clue-based, but the critical clues didn't come until nearly the end and whodunit was not obvious. The historical details were woven into the story without slowing the pacing, and it's clear the author has done research into the time period. However, it seemed odd that a titled lady was allowed to basically do whatever she liked (including go off by herself with lower-class men) even though her parents disapproved. There also was little mention about any problems involved in marriage between her and a poor detective. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to fans of 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.

The Princess Game by Melanie Cellier

The Princess Game: A Reimagining of Sleeping Beauty by Melanie Cellier ISBN-13: 9780648080183 Paperback: 316 pages Publisher: Luminant Publications Released: March 6th 2019

Source: Amazon Unlimited.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
They call her the Sleeping Princess, but Celeste is far from asleep… Celeste has been cursed since her sixteenth birthday--just not in the way the rest of the kingdom thinks. All they see is her breath-taking beauty, marred by her foolishness. Only she knows that she retains her brilliant mind. And it’s a secret she must keep at all costs.

Over the years she’s grown accustomed to the necessary deception. After all, her life depends on it. And she’s even found a way to protect her kingdom, working from the shadows. But now a dangerous new threat has emerged, one that Celeste can’t defeat alone. She needs the help of a newly-arrived prince. One who’s altogether too handsome and too charming. Somehow she needs to keep her secret, save her kingdom and find a way to free herself from the curse. The last thing she has time to do is sleep.

In this reimagining of the classic fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty, it’s only the princess’ mind that is asleep. And sometimes appearances can be deceiving.


My Review:
The Princess Game is a young adult fantasy novel with a romance. Though the fourth in the series, this works as a standalone novel. Due to a curse, Celeste can't outwardly let people know that she's intelligent and runs the kingdom's spy network. Everyone assumes that she is beautiful but empty-headed. However, when her identity is hidden, she can work as the spymaster and show her true interests and personality. But how can the curse be lifted with true love's kiss when no one knows what she's really like?

The author did a good job of showing how Celeste used her cleverness to intrigue the Prince and how she uncovered a plot against the kingdom. The Prince helped her save the day (rather than being the one to save the kingdom). The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. The world-building was light, mainly a medieval feel but with curses and godmother magic items. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this fantasy to fans of fairytales and heroic fantasy.


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.

Castle Skull by John Dickson Carr

Castle Skull by John Dickson Carr ISBN-13: 9781464212819 Paperback: 256 pages Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press Released: May 5th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
A dark shadow looms over the Rhineland where Inspector Henri Bencolin and his accomplice Jeff Marle have arrived from Paris. Entreated by the Belgian financier DAunay to investigate the gruesome and grimly theatrical death of actor Myron Alison, the pair find themselves at the imposing hilltop fortress in which a small group of suspects are still assembled. As thunder rolls in the distance, Bencolin and Marle enter a world steeped in macabre legends of murder and magic to catch the killer still walking the maze-like passages and towers of the keep. This new edition of John Dickson Carrs spirited and deeply atmospheric early novel also features the rare Inspector Bencolin short story 'The Fourth Suspect'.


My Review:
Castle Skull is a mystery that was originally published in 1931 and is set along the Rhine River. The author apparently intended to create an atmospheric, Gothic horror feel to the story through descriptions of the dark weather and odd furnishings. Modern readers probably won't find it very creepy. There were two competing detectives trying to solve the mystery. They asked questions and snooped about without being terribly clear about what they had discovered because they're trying to hide it from others. I strongly suspected whodunit (and some of the reason why) due to the known clues. Of course, there's the dramatic reveal at the end about what had happened and who the murderer was.

In the included short story, we're quickly told the setup and then the solution. Bencolin had a very different personality than the competent, clever, assured detective that he's portrayed as in the main story. In both stories, Bencolin is the only one who correctly identifies whodunit and yet that person is not brought to justice. Someone else dies in their place. There were no sex scenes. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this 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.

Standoff by Patricia Bradley

Standoff by Patricia Bradley ISBN-13: 9780800735739 Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: Revell Released: May 5th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
The Natchez Trace National Parkway stretches 444 miles from Nashville to Natchez, the oldest town on the Mississippi River. Unfortunately, it's being used to move drugs. Undercover park ranger Luke Fereday is sent to Natchez to infiltrate the organization at the center of the drug ring. Then Luke arrives late to meet his friend, park ranger John Danvers, and discovers his body.

John's daughter, law enforcement ranger Brooke, is determined to investigate her father's murder, but things are more complicated than they first appear. Brooke soon finds herself the target of a killer who will do anything to silence her. Luke will have his hands full keeping her safe. But who's going to keep him safe when he realizes he's falling--hard--for the daughter of the man he failed to save?


My Review:
Standoff is a romantic suspense novel. Luke has a dangerous job as an undercover park ranger trying to take down drug rings. Though he loves Brooke, he kept pushing her away toward a safer choice romantically. At the end, he suddenly asked her to marry him. It just seemed too fast to go from "this will never work because..." to "who cares; let's get married." I liked the main characters and could easily see them working together as undercover rangers as they worked very well together. He also supported her desire to investigate her father's murder and kept rescuing her from bad guys. But she went from frustrated that he didn't think she could take care of herself, angry at all the secrets, and swearing to never let him break her heart again to "yes, let's get married." I don't like romances where "insurmountable" problems aren't really worked through but suddenly don't seem to matter at the end.

However, the suspense was really good with this mystery. The author provided a number of suspects who might have motives and who could've done the murders so it was difficult to know which one it was or who could be trusted. The murderer attacked Brooke, Luke, and anyone else whom he thought might have a clue as to who he was. There were a few, brief references to God and going to church. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to suspense and 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.

Life Support by Candace Calvert

Life Support by Candace Calvert ISBN-13: 9781414361130 Paperback: 380 pages Publisher: Tyndale House Released: March 1st 2014

Source: Rented through Amazon Unlimited.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Nurse Lauren Barclay put her life on hold to keep a watchful eye on her troubled sister. It's why she's back in Houston. But that means confronting the brooding physician assistant who caused painful turmoil in her family--and left Lauren with memories her heart can't forget.

PA and single parent Elijah Landry is no stranger to stormy relationships, including one with his father, who is threatening him with a restraining order. It won't stop Eli from protecting his disabled brother--or from making peace with Lauren. He wants that and so much more.But as Lauren and Eli draw closer, a hurricane roars toward Houston. Can hope weather the storm?


My Review:
Life Support is a Christian romantic suspense novel. While this book can be read as a stand-alone novel, Lauren and Eli are main characters in the previous book (Rescue Team) in this series. You can understand what's going on without reading the previous book as there are some references to things that happened in it. The romance really started in that book.

All of the character were complex and acted in realistic ways. Both Lauren and Eli feel obligated (out of love) to keep a close eye on siblings who are struggling. Lauren's sister is bipolar but has not been diagnosed. Lauren's parents pressure Lauren keep a close eye on the sister to make sure she keeps her job and goes to school. Eli's brother is disabled due to an accident when they were children. He and his father battle over whether every effort ought to be made to keep this much loved brother alive (even if it means he suffers). The suspense comes from family conflict, the knowledge that their families won't approve of their romance, and an incoming bad storm.

The Christian element was releasing control of certain situations to God. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable 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.

Storing Up Trouble by Jen Turano

Storing Up Trouble by Jen Turano ISBN-13: 9780764231698 Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Bethany House Released: May 5th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
When Miss Beatrix Waterbury's Chicago-bound train ride is interrupted by a heist, Mr. Norman Nesbit, a man of science who believes his research was the target of the heist, comes to her aid. Despite the fact that they immediately butt heads, they join forces to make a quick escape.

Upon her arrival in Chicago, Beatrix is surprised to discover her supposedly querulous Aunt Gladys shares her own suffragette passions. Encouraged by Gladys to leave her sheltered world, Beatrix begins working as a salesclerk at the Marshall Field and Company department store. When she again encounters Norman on a shopping expedition, he ends up causing her trouble even though he intended to help her.

But when another attempt is made to part Norman from his research papers, and it becomes clear Beatrix's safety is also at risk, they soon discover the curious way feelings can grow between two very different people in the midst of chaos.


My Review:
Storing Up Trouble is a romantic comedy set in 1886 in Chicago. Beatrix is rich, so her aunt decides that she cannot adequately understand the working conditions of the common woman without trying such a position. Since she's new in Chicago, no one else knows that she's an heiress. Norman is a brilliant scientist who's been allowed to be absent-minded and rude by his family. He makes some insulting assumptions about Beatrix when he first meets her, but he also listens when she points out when he's being arrogant or unkind. Once brought to his attention, he starts to change – much to the astonishment of his family and friends.

The characters got into silly situations, mainly involving Beatrix learning how to be a working girl and Norman making social mistakes while trying to help Beatrix and win her affections. Norman became a better person after meeting Beatrix, and they both supported each other (and others) when facing injustice or danger. They spent a lot of time together and got along well, though Norman did annoy Beatrix frequently. Both characters believed in God. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this humorous 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.

This Wandering Heart by Janine Rosche

This Wandering Heart by Janine Rosche ISBN-13: 9780593100509 Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Berkley Books Released: May 5th 2020

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
No one in the quaint town of West Yellowstone, Montana knows that unassuming geography teacher Keira Knudsen moonlights as sensational travel blogger Kat Wanderfull. No one, that is, except for her first love, Robbie Matthews, who has just discovered the woman he is falling for online is the same one that broke his heart five years ago.

But Robbie has another problem: the mother of his daughter, Anabelle, has resurfaced after a three-year absence determined to rip Anabelle away from him. Robbie needs a steady paycheck for a chance at custody, and now, on the eve of a grand adventure that could give Keira a chance to flee her old, troubled life once and for all, she is in need of assistance.

But the more time they spend together, exploring majestic places and sharing new experiences, the closer they get--until their secrets and dreams threaten to cost them everything.


My Review:
This Wandering Heart is a romance novel. The characters were complex and reacted realistically to events. Robbie and Keira were likable, and I cared about what happened to them. Keira came from a controlling, abusive home and, in high school and college, Robbie helped her to break free of that and pursue her dreams. She helped him with his learning disability and never made him feel stupid, like many others around him. Despite their loving, supportive relationship, a misunderstanding and insecurities caused Keira to suddenly join a missionary trip. Robbie married another woman while she was gone. At the start of this book, they started seeing more of each other again and ended up working together while traveling all over as Keira worked as a social influencer. They slowly worked through the misunderstanding, but can they work as a couple when various stressors threaten to pull them back apart?

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel to fans of contemporary, clean romances.


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.

By Your Side by Candace Calvert

By Your Side by Candace Calvert ISBN-13: 9781414390321 Paperback: 384 pages Publisher: Tyndale House Released: March 1st 2015

Source: Rented through Amazon Unlimited.

Book Description from Goodreads:
ER nurse Macy Wynn learned essential, gritty lessons in the California foster care system: land on your feet and trust no one. She’s finally located the fellow foster child she loves like a sister, but the girl’s in deep trouble. Macy’s determined to help, no matter what it takes. Her motto is to “make it happen” in any situation life throws at her—even when she butts heads with an idealistic cop.

Deputy Fletcher Holt believes in a higher plan, the fair outcome—and his ability to handle that by himself if necessary. Now he’s been yanked from Houston, his mother is battling cancer, and he’s attracted to a strong-willed nurse who could be the target of a brutal sniper.

When everything goes wrong, where do they put their trust?


My Review:
By Your Side is a Christian romantic suspense novel. While this book can be read as a stand-alone novel, Fletcher is a main character in "Life Support." You can understand what's going on without reading that book, though.

All of the character were complex and acted in realistic ways. Macy grew up in the foster care system and has learned to trust no one to look out for her but herself. However, she secretly longs for security and a loving family, so she's determined to help out one of her foster care "sisters" who's in trouble. Fletcher is determined to somehow save his mother, who is struggling with cancer – yet again. Both Macy and Fletcher like saving others and feeling in control. They quickly came to admire each other as they kept encountering each other under stressful circumstances. A sniper is randomly firing at people. Or is he? Macy and Fletcher are usually on the scene.

I liked the story, but I was surprised by how easily Fletcher believed a jerk that he knew was trying to keep him away from Macy and wasn't really willing to listen to her side. The Christian element was Macy coming to trust that God loves and cares for her and Fletcher releasing his expectations of how God will fix certain circumstances. There was no sex or bad language. There was an attempted rape scene, but it was only briefly and not very graphically described. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable 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.

Witness Protection Unraveled by Maggie K. Black

Witness Protection Unraveled by Maggie K. Black ISBN-13: 9781335402790 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Released: May 5th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Living in witness protection won't stop Travis Stone from shielding two orphaned children whose grandmother was just attacked. But when his former partner, Detective Jessica Eddington, asks him to help bring down the group that sent him into hiding, agreeing could put them all at risk. Can he watch Jessica's back and protect the children?


My Review:
Witness Protection Unraveled is a Christian romantic suspense novel. I believe it's the third in a series, but it works as a stand-alone. Travis was once an undercover detective, but now he's in witness protection and has built a life which includes helping care for two orphaned children. His former partner arrives to tell him that she's going undercover to stop the man who put a price on his head so that Travis can leave witness protection. Will he help her? He doesn't want to leave the life he's built for himself, but someone attacks the children's grandmother and targets the children. Travis and Jess work together to solve the case while trying to not blow their cover.

Travis and Jess respected each other, and they worked well together. Jess had to get used to the idea that he's not going to be a detective in the future even if she nabs the bad guy. They've loved each other for a long time, but they don't see how a relationship can work out. The suspense came from the bad guys targeting the children and attacking Travis and Jess. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting 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.

Murder on Pleasant Avenue by Victoria Thompson

Murder on Pleasant Avenue by Victoria Thompson ISBN-13: 9781984805744 Hardcover: 336 pages Publisher: Berkley Released: April 28th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
An Italian gang leader is found brutally murdered, and the police are certain they've caught the killer. Their only suspect: Gino Donatelli. Frank and Sarah know Gino is innocent but the police aren't interested in investigating further because someone set Gino up to look like the obvious murderer. Sarah and Frank will try to unravel the truth behind the kidnappings and murder before the Italian gang decides to take justice into their own hands and kill Gino in revenge for the gang leader's death.


My Review:
Murder on Pleasant Avenue is a historical mystery set in New York City in 1900. This is the 23nd book in the series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this one didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous mysteries.

This was a clue-based puzzle mystery. Frank, Gino, Sarah, and Maeve all helped with the investigation and used their unique skill sets. Since so many people were collecting information, the problem for the characters was that they didn't always correctly convey to the others what happened during their interviews and investigations. Due to certain assumptions, they missed some obvious clues until nearly the end. Whodunit was a strong suspect for me from the beginning, but I understood why they weren't guessing that person. What happened became clearer and clearer as they collected clues.

Interesting historical details were woven into the story. The main characters were nice, engaging people and had realistic reactions to events. There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical 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.