Thursday, March 28, 2013

Congo Dawn by Jeanette Windle

Congo DawnBook Description:
While former Marine lieutenant Robin Duncan is no stranger to corruption or conspiracy, she has always been able to tell the good guys from the bad, and the Congo jungle at first seems no different. But as her security team tries to track down an insurgent killer, Robin has to face a man who broke her trust years ago, and she discovers the gray areas extend farther in this jungle wilderness than she anticipated.A ruthless global conspiracy begins to surface, run by powerful men who can't afford to leave any witnesses. Her life at stake, Robin doesn't know who to trust and wonders how she can help protect innocent people. Why is God silent amid all the pain and injustice? And how do these people of faith continue to rejoice in their suffering?

My Thoughts:
This was a pretty good book.  Robin Duncan is a former Marine who has signed up to do a job in the Congo as a translator.  The whole job has a rocky start and it includes seeing a man she blames for the death of her brother.  Now deep in the Congo, she isn't sure who the good guys are and who the bad guys are.  There isn't a black and white answer and her life is on the line if she chooses wrong!
I liked the storyline flowed so smoothly.  The author researched the area in detail and made it seem so real.  The struggles each character faced, even if their assumptions were wrong, were their own and you understood how/why the person felt that way.  I enjoyed the mystery, politics and romance that was all woven through this book.  The author also did a good job with the faith aspect in weaving it in without being too direct, it was a natural thing.
I rate it a 4/5.  The author definitely did her research on this one!

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Ring Around the Rosy by Jackie Fullerton

Book Description:

Law student and amateur sleuth Anne Marshall and her attorney fiance Jason Perry leave their Midwestern town for a Florida vacation at the home of Jason’s parents. When they land in Florida, they find that Jason’s father has discovered the murdered body of his wife’s best friend, Maude. The only clue left behind is a note pinned to her that is the second verse of the nursery rhyme Ring Around the Rosy. Unable to pass up the opportunity to investigate a juicy murder, Anne soon discovers that Maude’s brother was killed in a hit-and run accident several months before. The first verse of Ring Around the Rosy was pinned to his chest. Anne thinks the perp is a serial killer who will strike again. When Maude’s son, Ron, is brutally attacked and left for dead, Anne knows his work is just beginning. Racing against the clock, Anne soon finds herself in a serial killer’s crosshairs while battling an untimely attraction to homicide detective Don Reynolds. Ring Around the Rosy takes you on an adventure from present to past and back again as Anne and her crime-solving partners shift in to high gear to stop a killer before he strikes again!

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book.  Anne and her fiance Jason are going to Florida for Thanksgiving to spend it with his parents.  Before leaving, her father's ghost comes to visit and warns her.  Upon arriving in Florida, they find Jason's mother's best friend has been murdered.  Anne cannot resist a mystery and is soon doing a little snooping of her own.  As this is not the first time she has gotten involved in an investigation, everyone is warning her to leave it to the police.  
I was happy to have another story with Anne and her crew in it!  She and Jason are set to be married and the mother's are more into it than they are but so it goes.  Jason irritated me in this one with his disbelief in Anne and his attitude toward the whole thing.  The hot detective, Don was a nice wrench to throw into the mix.  I loved the storyline and it was really a good book.
I rate this a 4/5.  It was great to continue with Anne's story.

Thank you to the Candace Group for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Avenger by Heather Burch

Avenger (Halflings, #3)Description:
Sometimes the Truth Comes with a Price
Nikki knew Damon Vessler would not let his prized creation go easily---she simply never imagined the lengths he'd go to get her back into his clutches, and turn Nikki's heart toward darkness.
A Seeker at her heels, trained on her blood, Nikki flees with Raven alongside her for protection, while Mace and the other Halflings fight the battle that has erupted on earth. But even as the two boys she loves fight for her, she knows the battle will be hers to win. Determined to uncover the secrets of her past, and exactly how she fits into Vessler's twisted plans, Nikki sets off on her own, and soon discovers facing hellacious beasts is nothing compared to the decision she will need to make. One that could change not only the war, and her relationship with Mace and Raven, but her future with the Throne.


My Thoughts:
I loved this book.  I eagerly anticipated this book and it did not disappoint!  Nikki is back and different.  With all she has been through with Vessler, Mace and Raven, she doesn't feel like the same person she once was.  She has chosen Mace, or at least that is what she thinks until Raven shows up and whisks her away.  Both of them love her, Vessler needs her and the Throne has plans for her.
I like the changes in Nikki.  She is strong and sure of herself.  Mace is still protective and the leader of the halfling group.  Raven is still a loose cannon and in love with Nikki.  I loved all the new characters and seeing all the old ones.  I still have questions and I hope the author is going to continue some with these characters!
This is a solid 5/5.  Great book in this series!

Many thanks to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via NetGalley).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

'Til Death by Sharon Sala



Description

He left in handcuffs. Now it’s time to set himself free.

Nearly twenty years after he was wrongly convicted of setting the fire that killed his father, Lincoln Fox returns to Rebel Ridge, Kentucky. There, deep in the Appalachians, the truth of that terrible night lies buried—and he’s sworn to uncover it.

His plans take an unexpected turn when, in the midst of a blizzard, he rescues Meg Walker from her wrecked car. Suddenly Linc discovers another reason to clear his name. Meg, his high school sweetheart, had always believed in his innocence, and if he wants a future with her, he has to show the world proof that she was right.

As the community chooses sides, those who once let a teenage boy take the fall for their crime are forced to raise the stakes. They kidnap Meg, leaving her to the mercy of the mountain. And a second rescue may be more than even Linc can manage….

My Thoughts:
This was a great book.  Lincoln has returned home after serving a sentence for a crime he didn't commit.  He is determined to prove he wasn't the one who killed his father.  Meg is his high school sweetheart and always believed him.  He rescues her when she is trapped in a blizzard and all kinds of strange things begin to happen around her.  While he wants a future with her, he may be putting her in danger from the people who so desperately want him to never uncover the truth.
Meg was a great character.  She had moved on with her life after Linc went to jail.  She married a no-good man whom she divorced after he went to jail for murder.  Linc is a strong, determined man.  His search for the truth takes on more than he expected it to.  I loved the twists and turns this book took.  Just when I thought I knew what was happening, there was something new!
This one is a sure 5/5.  Great story!

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via Netgalley).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Love in a Broken Vessel by Mesu Andrews

Love in a Broken VesselBook Desciption:
Hosea has been charged by God with a difficult task--marry a prostitute in order to show God's people the nature and depth of his love for Israel. When Hosea goes to Israel to proclaim God's message, the prostitute God tells him to marry turns out to be his childhood friend Gomer. He finds her broken and abused, unwilling to trust Hosea or his God. But when marrying Hosea becomes her only choice, Gomer does what she's good at--she survives. Can Hosea's love for God and God's love for Israel heal Gomer's broken spirit?
With her potent combination of in-depth research and masterful storytelling, Mesu Andrews brings to life a complex and fascinating biblical story of the power of love and forgiveness in the face of utter betrayal.


My Thoughts:
This was a good biblical fiction book.  It is the story of Gomer and Hosea.  Gomer is a prostitute and Hosea is a prophet of God.  Their union and relationship is a lesson to God's people.
I loved how real the characters were.  The back story of friendship and reasoning for marriage was good.  The love that this portrays that God has for His people is refreshing and deep.  Plenty of historical detail to make it authentic and the story flowed quite well.  The author did a good job with telling this story.
I rate this one a 4/5.  It was a really good telling of this story.
Thank you to Revell for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Maria's Mate--Excerpt!!!

Maria's Match (Salin's Salvation, #3)Book Description:
It was love at first sight...
Silvius fell head over boots in love with the feisty Latina nurse the first time he saw her, helping keep a battered woman alive... Having lost everyone he loves to the terrible disease that nearly left their planet extinct, he thinks he has found his mate.
She was instantly attracted to the alien, and that scared her to death...
Maria shared a blissful and life-changing night with Silvius, losing her heart and gaining the baby now growing within her womb. Old hurts won't let her stay and accept that Silvius loves her...so she runs, like she always does.
Little does Maria know that she has met her match...


Excerpt:
Maria pushed the eggs and chorizo around on her plate. She was hungry, but she didn’t
want this to come back up like most mornings. She was tired of vomiting. She couldn’t even go to the doctor and get an antiemetic for it because she feared the repercussions. “Oh, hi doctor.  Yes, I’m pregnant. Oh no, it’s an alien.”
She laughed at the direction of her thoughts. She had well and truly lost it.
“Mija, you need to eat the food, not play with it.”
“I know, abuela, but I don’t want to vomit again.”
“Aye, mija. Just go to the doctor.”
Maria dropped her fork, its clatter echoing the kitchen causing her abuela to jump. Her
emotions were too close to the edge lately. She didn’t have control. Not anymore. The tears fell down her cheeks and she swiped at them angrily. Before she didn’t cry at all, but now she cried about anything.
“I can’t, abuelita. I’m not sure what they will do to me. What if something is wrong with the baby? I can’t even get the pre natal care because I’m scared I’ll go to prison.”
“Well you know that you can’t do without prenatal care, especially since the father is an alien.”
“I know abuela. But how am I supposed to get that care without going to prison.”
Maria rested her head in her hands and the smell of chorizo and eggs hit her like a slap in the face. Placing a hand over her mouth, she jumped from the table and ran for the bathroom.
Silvius stepped into the kitchen and caught her by the shoulders.
“What’s wrong, Maria?”
She tried to move around him, but he wouldn’t release her. He wouldn’t let her go to the sink or trash can. Then it was too late and Maria could only look up at him in horror after she painted his shirt with her vomit. She burst into tears at the mess that covered him, sure, that he would hate her now. Wasn’t that what I was going for? The thought only made her cry harder.
Silvius removed his shirt and wiped her mouth with a clean spot before pulling her into his arms. Maria rested her tear stained cheek against his firm crimson chest.
“Are you okay?”
His whispered question only made the tears start again. He didn’t push her away. He didn’t press her for more information. He simply held her as she bathed his chest in her tears. Finally, the crying stopped and she was relieved that she could finally see his face without the sheen oftears to blur her vision. He regarded her with furrowed brows.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For vomiting on you.”
“No worries about that. Are you okay?”
“I don’t know. I can’t quit vomiting. I was just telling...”
“Yes. I heard. You need a doctor, but you haven’t gone to one.”
“Hey! I can’t help that! I’m carrying an alien’s baby!”
He released her as though she were a hot coal, his nostrils flaring. She wished she could take it back, take her words back. She placed a hand over her stomach and rubbed soothing circles over where a baby resided. Her baby. His baby. She sighed. Sometimes she forgot that
it wasn’t just her involved in this fiasco. He was here, which was more than she could say for some men.
“I’m sorry. I just don’t know what to do. I don’t know if it’s a crime. I mean they’ll never believe that I don’t know anything since I slept with you. Hell, they’ll think I’m just a whore if I didn’t do it for information.”
Maria gasped when Silvius pinned her against the counter. He grasped her hair and brought her face to his. She was awed at the anger she seen reflected in his blue eyes.
“Is that why?”
“Calm yourself, mijo.”
Maria looked to the side to see her abuela just watching with interest. Silvius had never
been anything but patient with her, but his body didn’t scream patience right now.
“Answer me, Maria!”
She flinched.
“Why what?”
“Is that why you let me make love to you? For information?”
Maria struggled to get loose from his hold, but he was stronger than she imagined. How could he think so little of her? She couldn’t take it anymore. Maria brought her knee up, kicking him in the thigh beside his groin. Sure, she could’ve been a bitch and kick him in the family jewels, but she just wanted him to release her. She hated the feeling of being held so firmly, his face merely inches from hers. It reminded her too much of the way he would kiss her, his tongue snaking into her mouth to duel with her own. He didn’t seem to feel her kick to his inner thigh, instead his grip got tighter.
“No!”
He stared into her eyes and Maria squirmed under his intense scrutiny. He relinquished his almost bruising hold and held her close, his breaths coming in almost pants. What was this all about?
“The point is I need to see a doctor. I need prenatal care, Silvius, and I don’t want to
become an experiment since this is your baby, too.”
He pulled back and nodded before leaving her with her abuela. Maria collapsed in the chair.
“Are you okay, mija?”
“Si.”
Have you tried to get to know him, mija? I know you don’t put much faith into my visions, but I have a good feeling about you two. All you have to do is trust him.”
“I can’t Abuela. He’s leaving.”
“Do you really think he’ll leave his baby?”
Wasn’t that what scared her the most? That he would take her baby and leave her behind.

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Pros and Cons by Jenna Black

Pros and Cons (Nikki Glass, #2.5)Book Description:
An original eNovella in the acclaimed Nikki Glass urban fantasy series, taking place between the events of the novels Deadly Descendant and Rogue Descendant.As a living descendant of Artemis the Huntress, private investigator Nikki Glass knows how to track someone down—but this time, her latest case leads to unexpected revelations of lies and betrayal...

My Thoughts:
I liked reading more about Nikki Glass!  She is trying to avoid the leader of her lebri group, because she doesn't want to tell him no.  She knows more than the rest about who he is and doesn't know what he will do when told no.  Taking on a new PI case seems like just the ticket to stay away from the house.  Now she just had to figure out how twisted the new case is.
Nikki was her normal spunky, if petite self.  Her client wasn't anywhere close to honest with her nor was the person she investigated after that.  Her housemate, Jack was his usual jokster self.  Overall, an entertaining story.
I rate this one a 5/5.  Enjoyed it completely and am ready for the next in the series.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinons stated above are 100% mine.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn

Secrets (Glenbrooke, #1)
Book Description:



Jessica ran from her past...but can she hide from love?
Jessica Morgan wants desperately to forget the past and begin a new life. She chooses a small, peaceful town tucked away in Oregon’s Willamette Valley as the place to start over—Glenbrooke. Once there, Jessica conceals her identity from the intriguing personalities she meets—including the compassionate paramedic who desires to protect her and the jealous woman who wants nothing more than to destroy her. 
Will Jessica’s deceit ruin all hope for the future? Or will she find a deeper peace that allows her to stop hiding the truth from those who love her most of all? 
This heartwarming bestseller, book one in the Glenbrooke series, introduces the fascinating people of Glenbrooke in a compelling tale of romance and spiritual truth.

My Thoughts:
This was a good book.  Jessica is leaving the past behind her and moving on.  She goes to Glenbrooke to be a high school teacher and keep her secrets safe and hidden.  Her life there starts out a bit rocky with a car accident and especially when the principal at the school dislikes her.  She has a good friend in one of the other teachers in the school and in Kyle who helped save her at the accident and is determined to protect her.
I liked Jessica.  She was a strong and loving person.  God's message is all through this book from the youth group to the friendships.  Kyle is the 'knight in shining armor' type and you can't help but love him. The principal was mean and you just disliked her and her motives.  Making Jessica trust is going to be difficult for anyone trying to get very close to her but with God's help, anything is possible.
I rate this a 4/5.  I will definitely check out the next in this series.

Thank you to Waterbrook for the review copy of the book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Friday, March 1, 2013

The Marriage Mistake by Jennifer Probst

Book Description:

Carina Conte has had a crush on her brother Michael’s best friend, Max Gray, since she was a teenager. Now she’s earned her MBA and come to work at Michael’s new venture, America’s fastest-growing bakery empire. But some things never change: her family still treats her like a

child. With three drop-dead gorgeous siblings, she’s still the ugly duckling of the bunch. And Max, the company’s new CEO, still barely notices her.
Max knows Carina Conte is strictly off limits. But hot-blooded lust wins out at a conference when the two share a scorching one-night stand—and are busted by her mother! Now, forced by old-world Italian tradition into a marriage he’s not ready for, Max is miserable—and Carina is furious. Her new husband is about to realize that hell hath no fury like a woman transformed….
 
My Thoughts:
This was an entertaining read.  Carina has always been in love with Max.  Growing up he was her big brother's best friend and always treated her like a sister.  Now that they are all grown up and he is to be her mentor in the family business no matter how much the attraction between them zings!
I liked Max.  He was strong, sexy and has issues!  He never admits to how much his father's abandonment effects him.  Carina is tired of being in the shadows of her siblings.  She doesn't believe she is as pretty, smart or capable as any of them but she just doesn't realize her talents are different than any of theirs.  The twist in marriage is good and I like the family interaction throughout the book.
I rate it a 4/5.  It was a pretty good romance read!
 
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via netgalley).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.