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.