The Marine's Mission by Deb Kastner

The Marine's Mission
by Deb Kastner

ISBN-13: 9781335758637
MM Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired
Released: June 29, 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Wounded ex-marine Aaron Jamison always follows orders—and the assignment to take on a service dog is just that. Trainer Ruby Winslow is definitely barking up the wrong tree when she insists a beauty-parlor poodle is his perfect match. But Ruby and her clever canine are determined to melt the heart of this battle-hardened marine. And they'll teach him an unforgettable new trick—love.


My Review:
The Marine's Mission is a romance. I thought the service dog aspect would be interesting, but I ended up feeling like I knew more about the training and use of service dogs than the author (and it's not like I've researched the topic). When Aaron comes to get his service dog, he has no idea of what one can do to help him and Ruby demands that he simply trust her judgement. Each listed his injuries several times in their thoughts, but there's no scene where Ruby explained how the dog could help with his various issues. She wanted him to discover how useful the dog could be from experience, which made the first weeks unnecessarily tense. It's several chapters in before we even learn that the dog is trained for mobility issues, and it's not until the end that we get a list of things the dog can help Aaron with. More time was spent on running the dog over the agility course than on the service dog skills.

The author also wasn't consistent about how Aaron was injured. In one place, it was tackling someone off a landmine. In other places, it's from an IED blast. The romance mainly took place in the last two weeks of training as they were frustrated with each other for the first week or two. Ruby was kind even when frustrated, and Aaron tried hard even though he couldn't see any need for a service dog. Working together quickly turned into admiration and attraction, though, and Ruby's family helped Aaron envision a future rather than dwell on what he could no longer do. 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.

The Paris Betrayal by James R. Hannibal

The Paris Betrayal
by James R. Hannibal

ISBN-13: 9780800738501
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: May 4th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After a rough mission in Rome involving the discovery of a devastating bioweapon, Company spy Ben Calix returns to Paris to find his perfectly ordered world has collapsed. A sniper attack. An ambush. An anonymous call that brings French SWAT forces down on his head. Ben is out. This is a severance--reserved for incompetents and traitors.

Searching for answers and anticipating a coming attack, Ben and a woman swept up in his misfortunes must travel across Europe to find the sniper who tried to kill him, the medic who saved his life, the schoolmaster who trained him, and an upstart hacker from his former team. More than that, Ben must come to grips with his own insignificance as the Company's plan to stop Leviathan from unleashing the bioweapon at any cost moves forward without him--and he struggles against the infection that is swiftly claiming territory within his own body.


My Review:
The Paris Betrayal is a suspense/thriller. It's published by Christian publisher, so I was confused that there were no references to God. The only mentions of faith involved faith in The Director, head of The Company that Ben works for, or in Jupiter, the bad guy leader. I couldn't understand how Ben's former teammates could be so naïve as to believe that a human (The Director) could never make a mistake. It wasn't until nearly the end that I realized that the story was based on Job from the Bible, so people were putting their faith in either God or Satan. Anyway, the desire to make this reflect the story of Job made the teammates reactions to Ben's situation seem odd or unrealistic when taken outside of that context.

The suspense was high as Ben was constantly on the move, trying to avoid arrest and survive attacks while also save the world. Both the good and bad guys had people harassing him. I liked that the female characters were competent and resourceful (even when not trained as spies). I wasn't at all surprised by the roles that Ben's girlfriend and Clara played, though I think it was meant to be a surprise. I appreciate that Ben treated the women respectfully. Ben was loyal and had a strong desire to help others, so he was easy to admire. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this thriller.


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.

Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin

Chasing Shadows
by Lynn Austin

ISBN-13: 9781496437341
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House
Released: June 8th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Lena is a wife and mother who farms alongside her husband in the tranquil countryside. Her faith has always been her compass, but can she remain steadfast when the questions grow increasingly complex and the answers could mean the difference between life and death?

Lena's daughter Ans has recently moved to the bustling city of Leiden, filled with romantic notions of a new job and a young Dutch police officer. But when she is drawn into Resistance work, her idealism collides with the dangerous reality that comes with fighting the enemy.

Miriam is a young Jewish violinist who immigrated for the safety she thought Holland would offer. She finds love in her new country, but as her family settles in Leiden, the events that follow will test them in ways she could never have imagined.

The Nazi invasion propels these women onto paths that cross in unexpected, sometimes-heartbreaking ways. Yet the story that unfolds illuminates the surprising endurance of the human spirit and the power of faith and love to carry us through.


My Review:
Chasing Shadows is a Christian historical set in June 1939 to Fall 1945 in Netherlands. This story had three point view characters and occurred over six years. Usually I have problems with many POV characters or years lapsing, but this was extremely well written. The author kept me completely engaged with all of the characters. Though I've read "The Hiding Place," I had no idea just how courageous the Dutch people were when faced with the Nazi invasion. This was both an interesting story and very educational as well.

Historical details were woven into the story without slowing the pacing, and things happen naturally (not forced so that the author could include some detail). The setting details brought the story alive in my imagination and immersed me in the story. All of the characters came across as real, complex people, and I understood why they acted the way they did. I cared about what happened to the main characters, so the ending became very suspenseful as their lives became increasingly endangered.

One couple was Jewish, but the other main characters were Christian. Their faith was why they risked their lives for others, and it was how they could reach out to help others even when faced with depressing and discouraging circumstances. The reader also sees how God is at work in and through His people. There was no bad language or sex scenes. Overall, I'd highly recommend this interesting, immersive 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.

Along a Storied Trail by Ann H. Gabhart

Along a Storied Trail
by Ann H. Gabhart

ISBN-13: 9780800737214
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: June 1st 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Kentucky packhorse librarian Tansy Calhoun doesn't mind the rough trails and long hours as she serves her Appalachian mountain community during the Great Depression. Yet she longs to find love like the heroines in her books. When a charming writer comes to town, she thinks she might have found it--or is the perfect man actually closer than she thinks?

Perdita Sweet has called these mountains home for so long she's nearly as rocky as the soil around her small cabin. Long ago she thought she could love, but when the object of her affection up and married someone else, she stopped giving too much of herself away to others.

As is so often the case, it's easier to see what's best for others than to see what's best for oneself, and Perdita knows who Tansy should choose. But why would anyone listen to the romantic advice of an old spinster?


My Review:
Along a Storied Trail is a Christian romance set in 1937 in the Appalachian mountains in Kentucky. The story followed Tansy, Caleb, and Perdita as they dealt with hardships. Perdita never married after the man she loved ended up marrying someone else. Now she's older and having trouble supporting herself as winter approaches. She prays to God for some help and maybe some family (as she only has distant kin left to help her), and God answers in a clear but unexpected way. Perdita figures she ought to be grateful and continues to wonder and grow as she sees how God provides for her above and beyond what she asked for (and in very unexpected ways). She's quite a character, and I wondered if she was based off of a real person.

Tansy loves sharing books through her job as a packhorse librarian and hopes for a romantic hero to come into her life. When a dashing city man comes to gather local stories, she's asked to show him around. He flirts with her...is he the one? But she's not comfortable around him like she is with a dependable neighbor man--who shares her interests, cares for others, and finally confesses that he's long wanted to marry her.

All of the characters seemed like real, complex people, and I cared about what happened to them. Historical and setting details were woven into the story and brought the story vividly alive in my imagination. There were several romances, and Tansy learned what to value in a life partner. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this enjoyable tale.


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.

Beyond by Mercedes Lackey

Beyond
by Mercedes Lackey

ISBN-13: 9780756417338
Hardcover: 384pages
Publisher: DAW Books
Released: June 15th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
Within the Eastern Empire, Duke Kordas Valdemar rules a tiny, bucolic Duchy that focuses mostly on horse breeding. Anticipating the day when the Empire’s exploitative and militant leaders would not be content to leave them alone, Korda’s father set out to gather magicians in the hopes of one day finding a way to escape and protect the people of the Duchy from tyranny.

Kordas has lived his life looking over his shoulder. The signs in the Empire are increasingly dire. Under the direction of the Emperor, mages have begun to harness the power of dark magics, including blood magic, the powers of the Abyssal Planes, and enslaving Elemental creatures.

But then one of the Duchy’s mages has a breakthrough. There is a way to place a Gate at a distance so far from the Empire that it is unlikely the Emperor can find or follow them after they evacuate everyone that is willing to leave. But time is running out, and Kordas has been summoned to the Emperor's Court.

Can his reputation as a country bumpkin and his acting skills buy him and his people the time they need to flee? Or will the Emperor lose patience, invade to strip Valdemar of everything of worth, and send its conscripted people into the front lines of the Imperial wars?


My Review:
Beyond is a fantasy novel. I've been reading the Valdemar novels since I was a teenager, and I felt like this was targeted at longtime fans (now adults) rather than teenagers. This also didn't follow the typical novel format and seemed more of a detailed explanation of how to escape an evil empire--which will interest longtime fans, but maybe is not the best story for people start off with.

Every time something seemed to go wrong, that just turned into an opportunity to more effectively escape rather than actually set back or threaten their escape plans. Add to that all of the details of how they made the Gate, the types of things they took, how they were going to survive on the other side in the wilderness, etc., and it wasn't very suspenseful until the very end. I was also disappointed that the author changed the air elementals. The "truth" is now simply a deeply held personal belief rather than a fact. In past books, they were used to determine if someone was telling the truth in a criminal case. Under the current definition, though, someone could deeply believe that putting poison in someone's food was not murder because the victim wasn't forced to eat that food. They could "truthfully" answer that they did not poison or murder someone as that person killed themselves. Anyway.

The world building was obviously very in-depth. The characters were engaging, and Kordas was determined to save as many people as possible even if it meant sacrificing himself. Happily, he was also willing to listen to advice and so came up with better plans than his own. Frankly, I found the enslaved air elementals to be the most interesting characters even though I also felt that this story was not consistent with what was previously told about them. There was no sex. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to long time fans of the series.


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.

End Game by Rachel Dylan

End Game
by Rachel Dylan

ISBN-13: 9781643855943
ebook: 313 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: January 7th 2020

Source: Rented through Kindle Unlimited.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When elite members of the military are murdered on the streets of Washington, DC, FBI Special Agent Bailey Ryan and NCIS Special Agent Marco Agostini must work together to bring the perpetrator to justice. Unfortunately, all evidence points to a Navy SEAL sniper whom Bailey refuses to believe is guilty.

When Bailey and Marco start to connect the dots between the victims, including a link to a powerful defense contractor, they wonder if there's a deeper cover-up at play. Then Bailey is targeted, and it becomes clear that someone is willing to kill to keep their dark secrets.


My Review:
End Game is a Christian romantic suspense. FBI Special Agent Bailey and NCIS Special Agent Marco, along with a couple other investigators, worked to solve the mystery of who was murdering special forces personnel. Their main suspect claimed he was set up for the murder, so they had to discover if he was truly innocent and, if so, who was responsible and why. They asked questions and followed up leads to determine what was going on and how the murdered men were connected.

Bailey and Marco were a good team and built a friendship that turned into romance. The main characters were engaging, interesting people that reacted realistically to events. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting 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.

Jewel of the Nile by Tessa Afshar

Jewel of the Nile
by Tessa Afshar

ISBN-13: 9781496428752
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House
Released: June 1st 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Raised as an orphan by her aunt, Chariline has only been told a few pieces of her parents' tragic love story. Her beautiful dark skin is proof that her father was Cushite, but she knows nothing else. While visiting her grandfather before his retirement as the Roman official in the queen's court, Chariline overhears that her father is still alive, and discovering his identity becomes her obsession. Both her grandfather and the queen have reasons for keeping this secret, however, and forbid her quest. So when her only clues lead to Rome, Chariline sneaks on the ship of a merchant trusted by friends.

Theo is shocked to discover a stowaway on board his vessel. But drawn in by Chariline's story, he feels honor-bound to see her safely to shore, especially when it appears someone may be willing to kill for the truth she seeks.


My Review:
Jewel of the Nile is a Christian romance mainly set in Cush, Rome, and on a ship in 56 AD. This continues the story of one of the characters in "Thief of Corinth," but you don't have the read that book to understand this one. Through the events of the story, Chariline grew as a person and learned from her mistakes, learning to consult God's will in her decision-making rather than simply justifying what she wanted to do. Both she and Theo share similarities in their pasts as well as a feeling of responsibility for their mothers' deaths shortly after their birth and of abandonment by their parents. While trying to help each other see their value and the misplaced guilt, they find emotional healing. They supported and built each other up.

The characters acted realistically, were likable, and grew as people. Historical and cultural details were woven into the story. Though a minor note: a ship in full sail would leave behind in seconds anything that fell overboard. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I 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.

Power Play by Rachel Dylan

Power Play
by Rachel Dylan

ISBN-13: 9780764234323
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: June 1st 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When State Department attorney Vivian Steele witnesses two ambassadors collapse as if poisoned at a diplomatic dinner in Washington, DC, she is recruited to be a member of a joint FBI task force assigned to investigate. She's partnered with Jacob Cruz, who doesn't trust attorneys and doesn't see how she could add anything to the investigation. As a special agent in the Diplomatic Security Service and former Navy SEAL, he was in charge of the event's security.

As Viv starts to work her diplomatic sources, her past as a State Department lawyer comes back to haunt her, and secrets held tightly by the government thrust her into a web of danger. Afraid, Viv turns to Jacob for protection and help.


My Review:
Power Play is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the third in a series, but it works as a stand alone. While the task force initially believed that the deaths of the two ambassadors were connected, soon the story split into two separate investigations. We followed events in both investigations, though the focus was more on Vivian. The FBI partners investigating the death of the American ambassador worked well together and had a mentor/mentee relationship. Vivian and Jacob investigated the death of the Egyptian ambassador because Viv had contacts with the Egyptian Embassy due to a past assignment. They soon discovered that she (and others) had become the target of terrorists due to that past assignment. While Jacob initially didn't trust Viv and resisted her slower, diplomatic approach, he soon came to admire her and found a way to pair their strengths and weaknesses to solve the case.

The main characters were likable, interesting people that reacted realistically to events. They supported and built each other up. The suspense came from the danger to Viv. I wondered why Jacob wasn't really suspicious of the Good Samaritan since he usually didn't trust people easily and the motives behind that attack weren't certain at that point. Anyway, Viv felt like her relationship with God was strengthened through the events she endured. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting 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.

Bridge of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse

Bridge of Gold
by Kimberley Woodhouse

ISBN-13: 9781643529578
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Barbour Books
Released: June 1st 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Underwater archaeologist Kayla Richardson is called to the Golden Gate Bridge where repairs to one of the towers uncovers two human remains from the late 1800s and the 1930s. The head of the bridge restoration is Steven Michaels, who dives with Kayla, and a friendship develops between them. But as the investigation heats up and gold is found that dates back to the gold rush, more complications come into play that threaten them both. Could clues leading to a Gold Rush era mystery that was first discovered during the building of the bridge still ignite an obsession worth killing for?


My Review:
Bridge of Gold is a Christian romantic suspense set in San Francisco in both 1933 and modern day. The main story happened in modern day when Steven, doing underwater renovation work on the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge, finds a Gold Rush-era ship with a gold nugget inside. Kayla is brought in as an underwater archaeologist, and she works with Steven's crew to bring up historical artifacts and look for more gold. But someone is trying to sabotage their efforts and get to the gold first. Two skeletons are found on the ship, and Kayla and Stephen search old records to discover who they are. In 1933, Luke is a diver doing the original construction work on the south tower. He accidentally finds the ship and the gold. He and a friend return to the ship several times in search of gold, but someone else feels that the gold is rightfully his and sabotages their efforts.

The suspense came from the dangers of diving in the turbulent waters near the ship, especially in the 1933 gear and with someone sabotaging equipment. The author did a good job of creating uncertainty about who those skeletons were and if Luke and his friends managed to survive. The historical details about the building of the bridge and underwater archaeological work were woven into the story and were very interesting. The main characters were engaging, complex, and reacted realistically to events. Kayla and Stephen shared similar interests and built each other up. Except for a brief time when someone tried to ruin Stephen's reputation and Kayla didn't know what to think. I liked how Steven trusted Kayla to drive him down a very twisty street shortly after they met and never doubted her.

Kayla struggled with not wanting close friendships after losing her parents and with letting go of her need to know who killed her mother in a car accident. (Both happened before the story began.) Her faith helped her to accept that she would probably never know all the answers. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I had recommend this interesting and enjoyable 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.

A Lady in Attendance by Rachel Fordham

A Lady in Attendance
by Rachel Fordham

ISBN-13: 9780800739737
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Fleming H. Revell
Released: June 1st 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Five years in a New York state reformatory have left a blemish on Hazel's real name. So when she takes a job as Doctor Gilbert Watts's lady in attendance in 1898, she does so under an alias. In the presence of her quiet and pious employer, Hazel finds more than an income. She finds a friend and a hope that if she can set her tarnished past in order, she might have a future after all.

As Gilbert becomes accustomed to the pleasant chatter of his new dental assistant, he can't help but sense something secretive about her. Perhaps there is more to this woman than meets the eye. Can the questions that loom between them ever be answered? Or will the deeds of days gone by forever rob the future of its possibilities?


My Review:
A Lady in Attendance is a Christian romance set in 1898 in New York. Hazel grew up a spoiled, flirtatious young woman who made enemies because of her behavior. But when accused of a theft she didn't commit and sent to a state reformatory, she decided to practice gratitude rather than choosing resentment and bitterness. When released, she's humble, thoughtful, and hard-working while retaining her teasing sense of humor. Though intending to keep things strictly professional, she and Gilbert quickly became close friends. However, her past prevented her from having the full future that she longed for. She needed help to clear her name so that the shame cast on her and family would be removed. The mystery didn't take long to solve but was harder to prove.

Hazel and Gilbert supported, trusted, and brought out the best in each other. I cared about what happened to them and their friends. The historical details were worked into the story without slowing the pacing and created some of the conflict that had to be resolved. Hazel discovered how God can bring about good despite bad choices in the past and the evil in this world. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this enjoyable 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.