Ever Constant by Tracie Peterson & Kimberley Woodhouse

Ever Constant
by Tracie Peterson
Kimberley Woodhouse

ISBN-13: 9780764232534
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: January 18th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
On the surface, Whitney Powell is happy working with her sled dogs and welcoming the new additions to her family through her sisters' marriages and an upcoming birth. But her life is full of complications, including an estranged father, that have her on the edge of losing control. Growing up, she was the strong sister, and she can't give that up now.

When some villagers in outlying areas come down with a horrible sickness, Dr. Peter Cameron turns to Whitney and her dogs for help navigating the deep snow, and they become close traveling to minister to the sick together. Peter quickly recognizes her finer qualities but also notices her troubling way of coping with her struggles. He does what he can to help but questions if she is more of a risk than his heart can take.

As sickness spreads throughout Nome and another man courts Whitney, she and Peter will discover that sometimes it is only in weakness that you can find strength.


My Review:
Ever Constant is a Christian romance set in 1905 in Alaska. It's the third book in the series, but you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one. However, it does continue the story of the entire family. The family was full of grief, turmoil, and change. Whitney was always the "strong one" that took care of everyone else, but she's struggling. After being attacked in the last book, she started taking an alcohol-based medicine. Though she despised her father for being a drunk during their childhood, she can't see that she's gone beyond just medicinal use of alcohol. Peter struggled with how he'd failed to save those he loved in the past and tried to get Whitney to stop pretending everything's fine.

The characters were well-developed and reacted realistically to events. I cared about what happened to them. Whitney and Peter supported each other and were better people for having known each other. They admired how each cared for others. As they worked together to help the sick, they grew from friendship into love. Peter also came to realize that he wasn't God and had to trust God with who ultimately lived and died. Whitney returned to looking to God for help and guidance rather than trying to do life on her own. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I 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.

Following the Trail by Lynette Eason

Following the Trail
by Lynette Eason

ISBN-13: 9781335554796
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: January 25th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Lacey Jefferson’s search for her missing sister quickly turns into a murder investigation—thrusting Lacey and her search-and-rescue K-9, Scarlett, into a killer’s sights. Now teaming up with her ex-boyfriend, Sheriff Creed Payne, is the only way to discover the murderer’s identity. But can they survive long enough to dig up the truth?


My Review:
Following the Trail is a romantic suspense. I enjoyed that the tracking K9 got to do her thing several times as often K9s turn into pet dogs after their initial job in the story. However, what's the point of having a tracking K9 if you stop tracking the scent of the bad guy the moment he disappears from sight...when tracking would be really useful? (The trail goes through a building, but they know what door was used to exit the building and no effort was made to pick up the trail in the Advanced Reader Copy of this book.)

Anyway, Lacey's father scammed a bunch of people in town, who took out their anger on his family. Lacey was determined to leave her hometown while her boyfriend wanted to stay near his family and friends. They still care for each other, and they discover that they like the more mature versions of each other, too. Creed's more willing to listen to her feelings, and Lacey realizes that the people of the town have largely stopped being angry at her.

The main characters reacted realistically to events, and I cared about what happened to them. Lacey and Creed worked well together and supported each other. The suspense came from someone repeatedly attacking them in an effort to prevent them from discovering the truth behind the murder. 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.

Where There's a Will by Sulari Gentill

Where There's a Will
by Sulari Gentill

ISBN-13: 9781464214905
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Released: January 18th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
American millionaire Daniel Cartwright has been shot dead: three times in the chest, and once in the head. His body is found in Harvard Yard, dressed in evening attire. No one knows who he planned to meet there, or why the staunch Oxford man would be caught dead at Harvard--literally.

Australian Rowland Sinclair, his mate from Oxford and longtime friend, is named executor of the will, to his great surprise--and that of Danny's family. Events turn downright ugly when the will all but disinherits Danny's siblings in favor of one Otis Norcross, whom no one knows or is able to locate. Amidst assault, kidnapping, and threats of slander, Rowly struggles to understand Danny's motives, find the missing heir, and identify his friend's killer before the clock--and his luck--run out.


My Review:
Where There's a Will is a mystery set in 1935 in New York. This is the tenth novel in a series. This story referred back to events that happened in previous books, but it can be read as a standalone novel. This book did not spoil the whodunits of the previous mysteries. The main characters were interesting, caring people. Interesting historical details were woven into the the story.

Rowland and his friends searched for clues as to who murdered their friend and for the unknown man who inherited most of the estate. Suspense came from threats and actual physical harm from those who wanted the money for themselves. Rowland passed on the information they found to the lawyer and detective. I strongly suspected whodunit, though it could have easily been one of several people.

There was a fair amount of bad language. There was a brief, not graphic (as in, no descriptions of body parts) sex scene. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting, 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.

Servant Mage by Kate Elliott

Servant Mage
by Kate Elliott

ISBN-13: 9780593197882
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Tor/Forge
Released: January 18th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Fellion is a Lamplighter, able to provide illumination through magic. A group of rebel Monarchists free her from indentured servitude and take her on a journey to rescue trapped compatriots from an underground complex of mines. Along the way they get caught up in a conspiracy to kill the latest royal child and wipe out the Monarchist movement for good. But Fellion has more than just her Lamplighting skills up her sleeve…


My Review:
Servant Mage is an epic fantasy novella. Though a stand-alone, it reads like a prequel to a series. The author certainly spent a lot of time on complex world-building if it was only a setting for this story. Among the Monarchists, your birth defines your worth, though mages are allowed full training so they can work for the monarch's benefit. The group that defeated them says virtue defines your status. Mages are largely made into indentured servants with minimal training because they lack virtue. Indentured servant Fellion is offered a decent life among the Monarchist rebels in return for her service, but she's looked down on by both sides for things she had no control over (lowly birth or fire mage ability). She's upset with how the lower class is treated by both sides, but should she accept her chance to improve her status or choose the path her parents died following?

More time was spent on developing the culture and magic system than the individual characters. Still, the main characters were interesting, and I cared about what happened to them. Fellion cared about what happened to those who were helpless or had little power to protect themselves. She valued life to the point that she was willing to risk her own to help save others. There was suspense due to danger since they were on the run and fighting against a greater force. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable fantasy novella.


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.

To Treasure an Heiress by Roseanna M. White

To Treasure an Heiress
by Roseanna M. White

ISBN-13: 9780764237195
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: January 18th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Beth Tremayne has always been drawn to adventure. During her childhood, she fed that desire by exploring every inch of the Isles of Scilly. As an adolescent, she dreamed of love in London's ballrooms. Now, stumbling across an old map on her family's property, she's found more adventure than she ever craved in the hunt for pirate treasure. Unfortunately, Beth can't escape the attentions of her family's guest, Lord Sheridan.

Sheridan has spent years pursuing whatever archaeological interests caught his imagination. And when he discovers that Beth's search connects with one of his favorite pirates of history, he can't help getting involved. Plus, he finds her irresistible, even though she insists he stole a prized possession of hers.

As they work together following different clues and drawing closer to danger, they start to piece together a story of tragic love and piratical adventure. But the true surprise is the treasure they discover in each other.


My Review:
To Treasure an Heiress is a Christian romance set in 1906 in England. Beth and Lord Sheridan shared an interest in finding hidden history. Beth was searching for pirate treasure based on local and family lore. Sheridan wanted to be a part of the search due to a distant relation connected with the treasure. Initially, Beth resented Sheridan even though they made a great team. Sheridan's the only one to fully back Beth's search, and she discovered that she also enjoyed his sense of humor. Sheridan respected her and enjoyed her sense of adventure, intelligence, many talents, and courage. All of the characters were complex, realistic people, and I cared about what happened them.

Neither Beth nor Sheridan had a strong faith in God but they realized through various events that they needed to make it more central to their lives. Another viewpoint character came to realize that God really would forgive her past sins. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical romance with a 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.

Buried Cold Case Secrets by Sami A. Abrams

Buried Cold Case Secrets
by Sami A. Abrams

ISBN-13: 9781335722867
LP Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Larger Print
Released: December 28th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Searching for her best friend’s remains could help forensic anthropologist Melanie Hutton regain her memories of when they were both kidnapped—unless the killer gets to Melanie first. For her safety, Melanie must rely on Detective Jason Cooper, who still blames her for his sister’s death. Can Jason set the past aside to solve the cold-case murder…and shield Melanie from the same fate?


My Review:
Buried Cold Case Secrets is a Christian romantic suspense. Melanie and her best friend were kidnapped as teenagers. She escaped and went for help, but her friend was gone when they returned and was presumed dead. Melanie can't remember whodunit or many details about the kidnapping but has returned to work her friend's cold case. Someone's determined to kill her before she remembers or uncovers the truth. Jason blamed her for abandoning his sister to die but he still cares for Melanie. As he protects her, he soon realizes he jumped to conclusions and never gave her a chance to explain.

The main characters reacted realistically to events, and I cared about what happened to them. Melanie and Jason worked well together and supported each other. The suspense came from someone repeatedly attacking them (and others) in an effort to prevent them from discovering the truth. There was some prayer for God's help and Melanie and Jason forgave each other. 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.

To Disguise the Truth by Jen Turano

To Disguise the Truth
by Jen Turano

ISBN-13: 9780764235337
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: January 18th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When Arthur Livingston arrives out of the blue at the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, anxious to hire the agency to seek out a missing heiress, Eunice Holbrooke realizes her past has finally caught up with her.

Having fled from the scene of her grandfather's murder seven years before, Eunice is a lady with secrets--the most important that she is the missing heiress Arthur is seeking. She has no intention of allowing him to learn she's been disguising herself, especially when she has reason to believe Arthur could hold her responsible for her grandfather's death.

In order to avoid Arthur and conceal her real identity, Eunice takes on another case that requires her to go deep undercover. With secrets from the past--and Arthur--appearing wherever she looks, she wonders how she will ever uncover the truth behind her grandfather's murder. Will what she discovers set Eunice free or place her in peril's way?


My Review:
To Disguise the Truth is a Christian romance set in 1887 in New York. The humor was mainly from verbal banter and unusual situations (like the heroine using boxing to protect herself). To avoid Arthur, Eunice infiltrated an insane asylum to find a woman who was wrongly committed. When Arthur finally realized who she was, he convinced her to return home to claim her inheritance and uncover whodunit. They asked questions and used a clever ploy to uncover what was going on and whodunit. Some historical details (mainly about clothing and the insane asylum) were woven into the story, but this author doesn't write highly historical novels.

The romance was a hard sell for me. Granted, they intentionally provoked each other in the past because they didn't want to marry, but Arthur seemed clueless about how he was insulting the women at the agency. Over time, though, he did get better and did a good job of working with Eunice and helping her overcome her fears. He wanted good things for her future when he could have just used the situation for his benefit.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this humorous mystery and 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.

Twilight at Moorington Cross by Abigail Wilson

Twilight at Moorington Cross
by Abigail Wilson

ISBN-13: 9780785253273
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: January 11th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Hospitalized by her new husband months before his death, Amelia Pembroke's transient sleeping spells are only getting worse. Still, Cluett’s Mesmeric Hospital has been something of a refuge for Amelia over the past year, even if it didn’t exactly improve her condition. When her doctor is murdered and her name surprisingly turns up in his will, her options take a drastic turn. She has thirty days to marry one of two named gentlemen—strangers to her—and she will inherit everything from her friend and doctor, Mr. Cluett. One simple decision and all her financial troubles are at an end. The only problem is it’s not a simple decision anymore. Not when she’s falling in love with another man.

Ewan Hawkins has received his first assignment as an apprenticed solicitor: to update a man’s will. Finally, a chance to prove to society that possessing a disfigured hand won’t hold him back. Of course, he never could have anticipated a murder, nor the strange clause added to the will—nor, most importantly, the charming widow who has found a way to capture his heart.


My Review:
Twilight at Moorington Cross is a romance set in 1819 in England. The author used a lot of incorrect words (like a woman referred to herself as a 'widower' instead of a 'widow'), odd phrases ("her voice a sickly gray"), and description errors (Amelia entered the library but left the drawing room). Some descriptions didn't clearly convey the scene. For example, three people read the discovery of the murder scene and we couldn't agree if only the head was underwater (with the man leaning over the edge of the bathtub) or his whole body. These many errors were distracting from the story. I'm hoping some of this was fixed in the final copy.

Further, some scenes didn't even make sense: They unlocked the doors to the unused, about-to-collapse east wing, entered, and then got locked into that wing. It didn't even occur to them to use their own key to get out (as the key was last in Ewan's hand). Trapped, they decided to abandon searching for the critical document in favor of chatting and making out. In the morning, they heard Amelia's maid's footsteps below them on the lower floor doing her normal routine...even though no maids go into the abandoned, dusty east wing. Hm.

The main characters were interesting enough but weren't very well developed. The mystery could have been solved rather quickly if they'd demanded answers from the people they knew had the answers. Which they finally do, after repeatedly abandoning their searches for clues in favor of chatting. The romantic bit was their falling in love as they learned to trust and respect each other. The forced marriage choice was much commented on but Amelia hardly spent any time with those men and didn't care for either. I'd guessed several of the twists, but there were so many at the end that it was nearly impossible to keep everything straight. 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.

Sunrise by Susan May Warren

Sunrise
by Susan May Warren

ISBN-13: 9780800739829
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: January 4th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Pilot Dodge Kingston has always been the heir to Sky King Ranch. But after a terrible family fight, he joined the military as a helicopter pilot. A decade later, he's headed home when he hears that his father has been in an accident.

His childhood best friend and former flame, Echo Yazzie, is a true Alaskan--a homesteader, dogsledder, and research guide for the DNR. One of these days she's going to get lost in the woods again, and he won't be there to find her. When one of Echo's fellow researchers goes missing, Echo sets out to find her, despite a blizzard, a rogue grizzly haunting the woods, and the biting cold. Plus, there's more than just the regular dangers of the Alaskan forests stalking her.

Will Dodge be able to find her in time?


My Review:
Sunrise is a Christian romantic suspense. Dodge proposed marriage to his best friend and love, Echo, and she immediately said no...and soon after choose to kiss his brother. He left for ten years, feeling betrayed and rejected by family as well as the woman he loved. Unknown to him, Echo only said no because she was afraid. Her own mother left her and her father behind to live her dreams even though she claimed she loved them. What if love isn't enough and the same happened in marriage for Echo? Dodge and Echo had to work through forgiving family and each other.

Dodge was an excellent pilot who basically did search-and-rescue while also holding down his father's air mail routine until he recovered from an accident. Echo also went out doing search and rescue when a rogue bear started causing trouble and a friend went out of contact while checking her wildlife cameras. Worse, some poachers were in the same area and didn't want any witnesses to their illegal deeds. Between storms, missing people, medical emergencies, and attacks, the suspense stayed high throughout the story. The characters were complex, realistic people, and I cared about what happened to them.

Dodge and Echo learned to trust God with the future and that forgiveness brings freedom. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd 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.

Life Flight by Lynette Eason

Life Flight
by Lynette Eason

ISBN-13: 9780800737337
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: January 4th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
EMS helicopter pilot Penny Carlton is used to high stress situations, but being forced to land on a mountain in a raging storm with a critical patient--and a serial killer on the loose--tests her skills and her nerve to the limit. She survives with FBI Special Agent Holt Satterfield's help. But she's not out of the woods yet.

In the ensuing days, Penny finds herself under attack. And when news reaches Holt that he may not have gotten his man after all, it will take all he and Penny have to catch a killer--before he catches one of them.


My Review:
Life Flight is a romantic suspense. It seemed like there was some backstory to Penny and Holt's relationship, what seemed like references to scenes in a previous novel. However this was the first novel in the series. Still, I could follow the story from what we're told in this book. The high suspense came from danger to and repeated attacks on various people. The suspense was more intense because they knew that the serial killer terrorized his women victims before killing them and Penny was soon his next target. Penny and Holt needed to figure out where the bad guy was and who was helping him. The main characters were capable, likable people who reacted realistically to events. Penny and Holt worked well together. 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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

A Stranger's Game by Colleen Coble

A Stranger's Game
by Colleen Coble

ISBN-13: 9780785228578
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: January 4th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Torie Bergstrom, a wealthy hotel heiress, hasn’t been back to Georgia since she was ten, but she’s happy to arrange a job for her best friend at one of the family properties on Jekyll Island. When Torie learns that her best friend has drowned, she knows this is more than a tragic accident: Lisbeth was terrified of water and wouldn’t have gone swimming by choice.

Torie goes to the hotel under an alias, trying to find answers. When she meets Joe Abbott and his daughter rescuing baby turtles, she finds a tentative ally. But the more they dig, the more ties they find to Torie’s mother’s death twenty years before. Someone will risk anything—even more murder—to hide the truth.


My Review:
A Stranger's Game is a Christian romantic suspense. Unfortunately, there were a lot of unexplained plot holes in this story. The clues about means, motive, and opportunity (implied rather than actually asked about) implied certain skills and levels of access that at least one suspect needed. At the end, the main bad person was uncovered, and I wasn't surprised due to previous hints. But while the main things were explained (who killed Torie's mother, who were those divers, and the goal of the bad people), so many incidences along the way to the end were left unexplained. Like why kill one person for uncovering a planned crime, kill another person who helped cover up the first murder, then voluntarily leave a clue to the plot on Torie's doorstep?

Anyway, the main characters were likable, and I cared about what happened to them. There was some suspense from the slowly escalating attempts to frighten Torie and attempts to kill Joe. Torie and Joe grew to admire and then care for each other as they spent time together. The Christian element was trying to explain to a child why we trust God even after He lets bad things happen. 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.