Montana Abduction Rescue by Jodie Bailey

Montana Abduction Rescue
by Jodie Bailey

ISBN-13: 9781335980014
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: July 23, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Following the death of a crime boss he put behind bars, Ian Carpenter leaves witness protection—and runs right into an ambush. To escape assailants bent on revenge, he turns to his former handler, US marshal Meadow Ames, and her K-9 partner. But the stakes grow higher when Ian’s cousin is abducted. With threats closing in, can they rescue a kidnapped teen…and stop the criminals for good?


My Review:
Montana Abduction Rescue is a Christian romantic suspense. The suspense was good, with even a crawl through a dark, tight, spider-infested pipe creating tension. Meadow and Ian knew each other and worked well together well in the past. Their friendship turned into a deeper caring, but they couldn't allow that turn turn into a romance in the past. Ian also felt unworthy of even God's love because his own family rejected him. He learned to accept that God (and Meadow) could genuinely love him even if he couldn't always be the hero he wanted to be.

I felt like the ending was a bit rushed, though. Ian did progressively learn to act under fire when needed even while fighting off a panic attack (due to PTSD). However, at the end, he basically said he thought he had the panic attacks under control and would go back into active law enforcement. It just seemed abrupt, along with the wrap-up regarding the bad guys. I also don't quite see how the police managed to find (let alone find anything left of) two teeth and a toe left behind in a building that exploded and burned, which was needed for the bad guys to fake their deaths Anyway. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable romantic suspense.


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 Choice Considered by Tracie Peterson

A Choice Considered
by Tracie Peterson

ISBN-13: 9780764241086
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: July 2, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Melody Doyle has spent years following her father across the country as the transcontinental railroad is built. When she announces her desire to settle down in Cheyenne, her father presents her with an unconventional He will allow her to stay if she finds a husband before his departure. As word spreads and the men in town vie for her hand, she wonders if she could ever be happy with a husband chosen in such a way.

Charles Decker, the heir to a banking dynasty, has been sent West to manage the bank started by his brother. His heart yearns for a simple life of teaching, but banking is the family business, and Charlie feels obligated to fall in line. When his friendship with Melody blossoms, he's drawn to this remarkable woman who defies conventions. Will he be able to come to terms with his growing feelings for her and confront the true desires of his own heart before it's too late?


My Review:
A Choice Considered is a romance set in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1868. It's very slow-paced, with many details about cooking or planting a garden (or watering it by bucket and ladle...she could have used a watering can as they did have them back then, but, no). Some details were questionable, like why she deliberately cooked a roast a day early and then thought it'd still be perfectly cooked after sitting in an oven as the oven cooled and then leaving it in there with no refrigeration. Or the way Melody and her father lived in a tent but regularly left the stove untended (which was somehow in the tent without causing smoke problems) and food was left out on the table, which should have been snatched in no time by animals. Or how one of the suitors pointed a shotgun at a friendly dog who was near Melody; he'd have known it was dangerous to shoot a rifle in her direction, and using shot was even worse as it'd likely hit her! Not the way to win a wife, but that wasn't what upset Melody.

Any conflict in the story was soon resolved (or good or bad) in a way that didn't create suspense. Things could have caused suspense, like Melody's father's health preventing him from working, but everything just works out, and usually pretty quickly. I still can't believe that Charlie somehow forgot to take back the keys when he fired an employee, even though the employee had just stated he regularly unlocked and locked up the bank and Charlie was about to lock up the bank himself. Anyway.

The story was basically Charlie spending time with Melody so that they could become friends (with the intent on his part to marry her) while she dealt with the marriage prospects and cared for her father. They got along well. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this to people looking for a sweet romance with minimal suspense.


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.

Into the Starlight by Amanda Cabot

Into the Starlight
by Amanda Cabot

ISBN-13: 9780800740665
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: July 16, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After more than a year in Europe, Joanna Vaughn returns to Sweetwater Crossing, her dreams of becoming a concert pianist shattered. As if that weren't enough, her husband, whom she married after a whirlwind courtship, has died. The thing sustaining her on the journey back to Texas was the thought of her childhood home. But to Joanna's dismay, everything has changed so much that the place she once loved no longer feels like home.

After his fiancée married his partner and both blamed him for a patient's death, Dr. Burke Finley believes it's time for a change. A quick trip with his almost-aunt Della Samuels to Sweetwater Crossing turns into an extended stay to discover what happened to his uncle and her would-be husband. But the beautiful and musical Joanna makes it more than bearable.


My Review:
Into the Starlight is a Christian romance set in 1883 in Texas. It's the 3rd novel in a series but can work as a standalone. Frankly, while the main characters were likable, everything seemed a little melodramatic. Joanna got seriously ill with pneumonia while in Europe, destroying her ability to endure a concert pianists' schedule. She married a widower while recovering, only he and her grandmother died soon after. She returned home, pregnant and a widow, only to find everything had changed. Then bad news arrived from her husband's sister, making her insist that she must tell everyone of her shame (though she did nothing wrong and didn't need to tell anyone). This made Burke feel like he need to rescue her by marrying her. Marriage wouldn't change the past, but both acted like it fixed the problem. But he can't both marry and follow his dream, Joanna doesn't want to stand in the way of his dream, so he must decide what is more important to him.

The mysteries were pretty guessable. After we're told what happened to cause Burke to leave his medical practice, I immediately knew what had really happened and wondered why no one else suspected it. Partway through the book (and partly based on scenes from a previous book), I thought, "we'll find out that this person killed and buried Clive Finley here." However, since nearly every single woman who met Clive was insanely infatuated with him, there were some clues that had to be sorted out that pointed to other people. Burke and Joanna spent a lot of time together trying to solve the mystery. They became close friends who admired each other, which deepened into love. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd 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.

Meeting Her Match by Jen Turano

Meeting Her Match
by Jen Turano

ISBN-13: 9780764240225
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: July 16, 2024

Source: ebook advanced review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Miss Camilla Pierpont, a renowned matchmaker and influential member of the New York Four Hundred, has vowed never to marry after suffering a devastating heartbreak during her debut years ago. However, when she is nearly abducted along the Hudson River, she finds herself rescued by an annoyingly outspoken, albeit fascinating, gentleman. After learning that Camilla Pierpont has enjoyed success with taking wayward young ladies in hand, Mr. Owen Chesterfield travels to the Hudson River Valley determined to convince Camilla to sponsor his sister, who is in desperate need of social rehabilitation. Knowing her life is in danger, Camilla agrees to Owen's proposition and travels with him to West Virginia, finding herself charmed by the less-than-formal attitude of his small hometown, as well as by Owen himself. But danger waits in the shadows...


My Review:
Meeting Her Match is a romance set in 1889 in Hudson River Valley. I find it odd that a matchmaker that tries to match people who share interests finds her match with a man that she has nothing in common with. Except they danced well together. For half the book, he constantly offended her, though it's from ignorance and he modified his behavior when he was told it's offensive. Then, suddenly, they liked each other. He did rescue her several times, so maybe that's it.

By the end, it felt like the author thought if she had the characters repeat enough times what a perfect match they were then the readers wouldn't question it. Owen's relative said that your perfect match will turn you on when you kiss (and so encouraged this test), and another relative said Camilla was fated to marry into the family if she touched a certain recipe card, which eventually happened. I understand Camilla liked the more relaxed society in his hometown and made friends there, but none of these things seem like a good reason to marry someone.

Anyway, this was a very bland story with a lot of talking. Most of the scenes were multiple characters talking about interesting things that happened in the past. I'd prefer to see the scenes where these things happened rather than getting sometimes confusing summaries of what happened. For example, Camilla painted a fence but put the paint on a fence post high enough that when it fell off it drenched her head to toe. Why would she do this as she'd need the paint where she could easily dip her brush in it even if she's foolish enough to think a tall fencepost is a stable place to put a bucket? We'll never know because we never got her viewpoint of the event.

The story wasn't about Camilla teaching Owen's sister refined manners and fashion. Half the book pasted before Camilla even met the sister. Then we skipped ahead by three weeks and were told that the last weeks were spent teaching her and she's fitting in now. 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 Lady Glass by Anneka R. Walker

The Lady Glass
by Anneka R. Walker

ISBN-13: 9781524425234
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Released: July 9, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Theresia Dvorak has nothing left of her parents save her dowry, a priceless crystal vase stolen and sold by her own stepmother. Theresia will do anything to secure what is rightfully hers, even break into a house to search for her vase and assume a false identity. When she gains entrance to a house party and has a memorable run-in with the handsome naval captain Rolland Reese, they agree to help each other. She swore never to trust an Englishman again, but she must work side by side with him if either of them is to achieve their goal.

Rolland's homecoming from the war to recover from an injury changes to trying to protect his father from a death threat. An old friend is hosting a house party and has invited all the suspects as well as Rolland's parents. With the stakes incredibly high, Rolland must root out the killer quickly. He's distracted by the mysterious Theresia, who holds a critical clue to the identity of the murderer.


My Review:
The Lady Glass is a romance set in 1814 in England. It's a Cinderella-based story. It wasn't very realistic as a historical beyond references to historical events. For example, Theresia's wearing a ball gown and slippers, walked a distance across a lawn, somehow climbed a trellis and fell through a window, had an adventure involving a struggle and falling on the floor again. And her dress and hair was still flawless except a small, unnoticeable tear in her dress hem. If only reality was so obliging!

I felt like we were just supposed to accept what we're told about the characters even if it didn't make sense. As someone told Theresia, the vase did her no good if she's dead, yet she's obsessed with getting her vase back because her father made it and it's her dowry. We're just supposed to accept that previously obedient and very proper Theresia repeatedly broke into rooms and recklessly risked her life and reputation in her pursuit of finding her vase. Then, when confronted with her stepmother (while Theresia was with supportive friends), she cowardly ran away with no effort to defend herself. Rolland was more consistent within the story, but his behavior sometimes didn't match what we're told about him.

There was a mystery, but it wasn't the focus of the story. I identified an important clue back when Theresia's stepmother sold the vase. Theresia didn't realize it was important until 95% into the book. I also didn't understand why Theresia didn't mention who the French-speaking man was speaking to or why the seasoned spies didn't ask since they otherwise investigated everyone's connections. Rolland professed concern about his father, but he spent most of his time doing house-party activities while jealously watching over Theresia. Another investigating friend spent all his time flirting. The friend hosting the event did the most investigating but was distracted by his duties as a host. On the other hand, Rolland and Theresia did get to spend a lot of time together trying to find the vase and to overhear and identify the bad guy speaking in French.

There was no sex or bad language. I'd recommend this romance to fans of fairytale retellings.


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 Kingdom to Claim by Sian Ann Bessey

A Kingdom to Claim
by Sian Ann Bessey

ISBN-13: 9781639932474
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Released: July 2, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
Wessex, AD 878. Aisley’s young life was changed forever when her father accompanied King Alfred into battle and lost his life in a deadly skirmish with the Vikings. Now, almost seven years later, the Vikings are once again rallying on Wessex’s borders, and Aisley fears that her older brother may have treacherous plans to betray the king by aligning himself with the invading Norsemen. But when Aisley encounters a handsome nobleman in the market, she feels the first stirrings of hope. Though they met only once when Aisley was little more than a child, she recognizes him immediately as one of King Alfred’s most trusted men.

It has been years since Brecc has seen Aisley, but when he spots her in the marketplace, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to the copper-haired young lady with a gift for healing. Before his fledgling feelings for her can develop into something more, however, a Viking attack tears them apart. King Alfred is forced into hiding, and in a matter of days, the Saxon nation is brought to its knees. Unwilling to forsake their people, the king and his men embark on secret raids of Viking encampments. But when Aisley joins the fight, Brecc must figure out how he can serve his king while ensuring her safty.


My Review:
A Kingdom to Claim is a romance set in 878 AD in Wessex. Aisley cares about other people and uses her skill with herbs to help Brecc's ill friend. As they spent time together during the Twelfth Night celebrations held by King Alfred, a friendship developed and they came to care for each other. They admired each other's character and personalities, and they got along well. But when a Viking attack sends King Alfred (and his loyal followers, like Brecc) into hiding, Aisley must find a way to warn them of a betrayal that could threaten their plans to retake areas lost to the Vikings.

Interesting historical details about King Alfred were woven into the story. The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. Aisley was resourceful and able to find friends to help her when needed. Brecc also had strong friendships and bravely faced danger. Aisley and Brecc supported each other, and I felt like they'd make a good team when facing the troubles of life (in addition to being attracted to each other). 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.

Until Our Time Comes by Nicole M Miller

Until Our Time Comes
by Nicole M Miller

ISBN-13: 9780800744700
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: July 2, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
American horse trainer Adia Kensington is living her dream of working at the famous Janów Podlaski stables in Poland, where they breed the best Arabian horses in the world. But her plans to bring the priceless stallion Lubor to the US are derailed when the German army storms into her adopted country in 1939. Little does she know this is just the beginning of six long years of occupation that will threaten her beloved horses at every turn.

Major Bret Conway is at Janów Podlaski under the guise of a news reporter, but his true mission is intelligence gathering for the British. That and keeping Adia safe, which is harder and harder to do as she insists they must evacuate 250 horses to save them from being stolen, sold, or eaten by the invading forces. What follows will test their physical, mental, and emotional strength.


My Review:
Until Our Time Comes is set in 1939 in Poland. While the story is set in a real place, the author admitted that she changed the timing of actual events and added fictional ones, so this is only loosely based on historical events. Unfortunately, the story didn't seem realistic in several ways. Adia's supposed to be a respected horse trainer, but she lets a colt get away with misbehavior in the one training scene in the story and later encouraged a full-grown stallion to nip her. A nip is a bite, and a trainer would never encourage a horse (and especially a stallion) to bite her! Also, Adia is so obsessed with these horses that she repeatedly put her life and other people's lives in danger over them. Rather than someone telling her, "Humans are more important that any horse" they just accept this obsession.

Adia also kept thinking her plans would work out exactly as she envisioned. She was depressed when they didn't but that never stopped her from charging ahead with whatever she thought best since Bret or another man who cared for her would always save her. I know some people are impulsive, but she just seemed oblivious to reality most of the time. Even Bret went from being deeply unwilling to shoot to kill even to save a friend from the enemy, then suddenly he's freely joining in combat and comfortable with killing the enemy. Only a brief 'he changed his mind' explanation was given.

I also had a hard time with the 'romance.' Adia initially refused to even allow Bret to explain why he missed their date and accused him of lying to her. But once Bret brought back her missing, favorite horse and the small child she felt responsible for, she decided she loved this man who repeatedly saved her life and her beloved horses. I guess Bret liked being her savior because they hardly spent time together, she rarely listened to his good advice, and he knew he came in at third place in her affections once she finally decided she loved him.

At the end, there's a brief thought that everything ended up working out exactly as needed for a good end, so God must have been behind it all. 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.

What We Hide by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker

What We Hide
by Colleen Coble
and Rick Acker

ISBN-13: 9780840711984
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: July 2, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
Savannah Webster is trying to find her way forward. She and her husband, Hez, have been separated since tragedy tore them apart and he began numbing his grief and guilt with alcohol. She returned to Tupelo Grove University, which her family helped found over a century ago, to teach history.

When Hez turns up in her classroom asking for a second chance, she rejects the idea immediately. But twenty-four hours later she’s under suspicion for murder, and since Hez is the best attorney she knows, she asks him for help. They suspect the murder is tied to someone selling off the university’s pre-Columbia artifacts, but the secrets go much deeper than they realize. They’re going to have to put their past behind them if they’re going to stay alive long enough to uncover all that’s hidden.


My Review:
What We Hide is a Christian mystery/suspense novel. Hez is a very good attorney who's used to doing some of the investigative work himself. However, he's always gotten so focused on his work that he doesn't pay enough attention to his wife and child. When his child died due to his inattention, his guilt drove him to alcohol, which destroyed his marriage. He's spent two years getting free of his alcoholism and hopes to win Savannah back. She still loves him, but she doesn't believe he's truly changed and so is determined to reject him. When they work together to prove whodunit, she's more comfortable wallowing in her doubts than asking him questions that would clear things up about the past and their present relationship.

Frankly, I'm not sure either of them changed that much by the end: he's still a workaholic and she resisted telling him how she feels even when God prompted her to do so. But at least they started toward trying to make things work.

The main characters didn't always make sensible choices, but a real person might act that way. Hez was likable. He made mistakes, but he took responsibility for his actions and truly wanted to change for the better. There were some courtroom scenes and some suspense from a killer taking out anyone who might expose the extent of the crime going on. We get some scenes from the boss criminal's viewpoint, so the reader can guess some of who and what's involved before Hez and Savannah. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting suspense even if Savannah's behavior frustrated me.


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.