Book Reviews

There’s only one word for “Shadows of Hope” by Georgiana Daniels……Wow!   This was a book that I couldn’t put down.   I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen with Colin, Marissa and Katelyn.   The ending was different than what I expected, but it showed the reality of this book. Even though this book was fiction, it really portrayed the importance of marriage.   Marriage is so fragile.   We, as wives, need to guard our marriages and keep them from getting complacent.   I love when fiction authors write a book that has tidbits we can learn from it.   This author delivered! This is the first book I’ve read by Georgiana Daniels, but it definitely won’t be my last.   I can’t wait to read more by her. I received this book from Net Galley for my honest opinion.

“An Imperfect Woman” by Kim Hyland is just that book I needed to read.   I have always suffered from perfectionism and am always comparing myself to others.   Kim offered so many good words of advice on this subject and reminded me of things I already knew but forgot!   Kim shows us how there is a difference between perfection and perfectionism.   Perfectionism is our attempt to achieve perfection on our own strength.   She shows us how to achieve perfection through God’s grace.   I love how she uses the Garden of Eden, and how it all started with Eve not being satisfied to be in the beautiful Garden of Eden.   I never thought of it like that. I would definitely recommend this book to any woman struggling with perfectionism, which is probably most of us!   This book really puts things in prospective and frees us of perfectionism, which is really paralyzing!   I received this book from Baker Books for my honest opinio...

Do you ever feel like it’s impossible to fulfill your dreams?   Maybe it’s too much work.   Sarah Beth Marr in “Dreaming with God” shows us that there is a better way.   In this book, Sarah shows us how God knows all the desires of our heart.   He wants us to trust him, even with our dreams.   Sarah is a ballerina, and in this book she compares our dreams to being a ballerina.   Sarah reminds us how God wants to walk with us every step of the way with our dreams.   This book was an encouragement to fulfill my dreams. I received this book from Baker Books for my honest opinion.

I absolutely loved “Imperfect Justice” by Cara Putman. This book had me hooked from the first page, and I couldn’t put it down!   It has suspense and a little romance throughout. The book centers around Emilie, an attorney that specializes in helping women needing help.   When Emilie isn’t able to help one of her client’s and there is a mystery surrounding her death, Emilie teams up with her clients’ brother to find out the truth.   Along with that, Emilie is dealing with a stalker, and she is trying to find out who this could be.   This book had some twists and turns along the way.   I thoroughly enjoyed it.   I definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys good, clean romantic suspense books.   This is an author who I will continue to read. I received this book from Net Galley for my honest opinion.

Lynn Blackburn’s book “Beneath the Surface” will have you hooked from the first page!  I know it did me.  I had a hard time putting this book down.  It really seemed to draw me in. This book starts out with the dive team finding a body.  This starts a string of murders they are investigating.  There were a few twists and turns throughout the novel and also a little romance thrown in. This is the first book I’ve read by Lynn Blackburn, but it won’t be my last.  I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, and I’m hoping I can find some more books by her.  I highly recommend this book, if you like good, clean romantic suspense novels.  You won’t be disappointed! I received this from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

“Across the Blue” by Carrie Turansky was an interesting read.   Although this book is not in the genre I normally read, I did enjoy it.   This book is set back in the 1900s and is around the time before anyone has flown across the English Channel.   This book has a lot of history, a good bit of a romantic triangle and a little bit of suspense thrown in.   Honestly, I didn’t think I would enjoy it at first, but it drew me in the more I read.   I would recommend this book to anyone that likes historical and romantic fiction.   This book had a good amount of the history of aviation in it, so if you enjoy learning more about this, this book is for you! I received this book from WaterBrook Multnomah for my honest opinion.

I loved “Oath of Honor” by Lynette Eason!   This is the first book in the series, and she started it off with a bang!   There were lots of twists and turns along the way with a dab of romance thrown in.   This story is about a very close-knit, mostly law enforcement family.   It has the feel of the television show, Blue Bloods.   There were a lot of characters in this book, but I had no problem keeping up with all the characters.   I have loved every one of Lynette Eason’s books, and this one was no different.   Lynette does such a great job of providing lots of suspense throughout her books.   This was a book that I had a very hard time putting down.   If you enjoy good, clean, romantic suspense novels, I highly recommend this one to you! I received this book from Net Galley for my honest opinion.

“Kill Shot” by Susan Sleeman was an action-packed romantic suspense-filled novel.   This was the 2 nd book in the White Knight series, but you don’t have to read the 1 st book to understand what is happening.   I haven’t read the 1 st book yet.   I was amazed at how knowledgeable Susan Sleeman was with all the details in this FBI novel.   When a client of Dr. Dodds is murdered by a sniper, the FBI gets called in on the case.   Dr. Dodds ends up being a victim and suspect at the same time.   It was very difficult to figure out who the murderer was.   There are a few twists and turns along the way with a little bit of romance thrown in. If you enjoy a good, clean romantic suspense book, then this book is for you.   I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Everyone needs to read “No One Ever Asked”, by Katie Ganshert.   All of Katie’s books are excellent, but this one went over the top.   I don’t know how she does it, but she makes you feel like you are actually living in her books.   I felt like one of the characters!   In this novel, three women’s lives, all from different worlds, collide.   These women are all facing different real life issues, including adoption, racial, and marital issues.   Katie handles all the issues so well.   I found myself cheering on some characters and disappointed in others.   I also found myself in tears near the end.   This novel is definitely Katie’s deepest book yet.   I definitely recommend this book.   But beware, once you start this book, it’s hard to put down! Katie Ganshert is one of my all time favorite authors.   I have read all her books to date, and I’ve never been disappointed!   I received this book from the author ...

“If I Live” by Terri Blackstock is one of the best books I’ve ever read.   I couldn’t put this book down.   Therefore, I finished it in a couple days!   I couldn’t wait to see how life turned out for Casey and Dylan.   I was left hanging from the book right before this one, and I am so glad to finally have closure!    There is adventure, lots of twists and turns everywhere you turn and a little romance thrown in!   If you love good, clean romantic suspense books, you will love this one!   I have read all of Terri Blackstock’s books, and I’ve never been disappointed.   Terri writes in a way that makes you feel like you are actually a character in her book.   I highly recommend this book and all of Terri Blackstock’s books.   I received this book from Net Galley for my honest opinion.

“The House on Foster Hill” by Jaime Jo Wright was an extremely interesting read.  I had a hard time putting this book down.  I couldn’t wait to find out how everything tied together.  The story starts with Kaine Prescott.  Kaine’s husband died a couple years ago.  She believes he was murdered, but the detective in charge has closed the case and ruled it an accident.  Kaine feels she needs to get away.  So she decides to honor her husband’s memory, by purchasing a “fixer-upper”.  This “fixer-upper” happens to be in the hometown of where her grandfather grew up and needs more work than she thought possible.  A century ago, this house held very painful memories for a woman named Ivy Thorpe.  This book goes back and forth between Ivy’s and Kaine’s life.  I love how the author tied Ivy’s and Kaine’s life together.  There were plenty of twists and turns along the way.  This is the first book I’ve read by Jaime J...

“Free of Me” by Shannon Hodde Miller was an eye opener!   I have read many books about taking the focus off “me”, but I’ve never read any like this.   I loved how Shannon approached this subject and showed us how to take the focus off “me”.   She approaches the topic of self-esteem and how our focus is so much on “us”.   This book was so full of useful tidbits.   I have highlighted so many parts of this book.   I plan on keeping this book and referring to it often.   This book has truly changed the way I look at my life.   I could quote so many things from Shannon, but I don’t want to give it away!   If I could give this book 10 stars, I would!   I definitely recommend it to everyone.   We all need to take some focus off ourselves (myself included). I received this book from Baker Books for my honest opinion.

“She is Free” by Andi Andrews is a wonderful book about being free from all the lies that hold us captive.   Andi talks about unforgiveness, fear, anger, shame, control and isolation.   She uses real life examples from her own life and shows us how to be rid of all the lies that we hold on to.   This isn’t a light read book.   You must take your time and really let her words sink in.   At the end of each chapter are questions and suggestions to help more in these topics.   I received this book from Baker Books for my honest opinion.

“Reading People” by Anne Bogel was one of the most life changing books I’ve ever read.   If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would!   I have learned so much from this book, and I intend to go back and review it some more.   I have read multiple books on personality, but this is by far, the best one yet.   The author explains many different factors for figuring out our personality type, i.e., The Five Love Languages, Myers-Briggs, Cognitive Functions, The Clifton StrengthsFinder and The Enneagram.   I was already familiar with The Five Love Languages and the Myers-Briggs, but the other ones were new to me and very insightful.   This book was extremely interesting and I had so many “aha” moments!   I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in personality types and trying to understand others. I received this book from Baker Books for my honest opinion.

Dani Pettrey has done it again!   I have read every one of Dani’s books, and I have loved them all!   Dani writes in such a way that she hooks you from the first to the last page!   Her writing is intriguing and edgy, yet it is always clean.   Dani has become one of my favorite inspirational romantic suspense writers, and I can’t wait for her next book to be written! “Blind Spot” didn’t fail me.   It kept my attention from the first to the last page.   Even though there were two cases going on at once, it all worked!   This is Book 3 of the Chesapeake Valor series.     This book mainly focuses on the lives of Declan and Tanner, although the other characters are included.   Declan and Tanner are thrown together in a case involving a closed immigrant community.   The case takes many twists and turns.   There is a lot of suspense and mystery with some romance thrown in!   This book ended on a slight cliff hanger, wh...

I absolutely loved this book!   This was the first book I’ve read by Rachel Dylan, but it definitely won’t be my last.   Rachel Dylan’s writing reminds me a lot of a John Grisham novel.   It captured my attention from the first page, and it even had a major twist near the end!   Kate Sullivan ends up becoming the lead counsel in a lawsuit against Mason Pharmaceutical.   Kate is trying to get justice for some victims who were severely affected by Mason Pharmaceutical.   This case could make or break her career.   But it doesn’t end up being a cut and dry case.   Landon James is a former army ranger who Kate has hired to handle security for Kate.   He will do anything he can to protect Kate!   This book has a lot of suspense and a little romance in it.   If you enjoy clean, romantic suspense fiction, then this book is for you.   I can’t wait to read more of Rachel Dylan’s novels! I received this book from Bethany Hou...

Alana Terry has done it again!   “Before the Dawn” was another one of Alana Terry’s novels that I couldn’t put down.   This is the second book of the Orchard Grove series.   All the stories are set in Orchard Grove, yet they all are their own story so you can read them out of order. This novel is written in the first person point of view (which I love, by the way).   Alana has written this book in such a way that I couldn’t put it down because I wanted to see what was going to happen next!   This story centers around a young married woman who is suffering through depression along with some abuse in and outside her marriage.   I was so impressed with how Alana was able to make this story really come alive.   This story stayed with me long after I finished the book. I would definitely recommend this book, along with every other book Alana Terry wrote.   "I was given the book by Book Fun (The Book Club Network) and here is my honest...

“Loving My Actual Christmas” by Alexandra Kuykendall is a book that will make you fall back in love with Christmas again.   Sometimes the holiday season can be way too many “to do lists”, and we sometimes forget to relax and enjoy the season.   Alexandra shows us how to enjoy the season again.   She has her book broken up into four different subjects:   Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace.   Then she ends the book with Practical Tips.   Each subject has a detailed description of what she did each day to enjoy the season.   This book was very easy to read and had a lot of practical tips for enjoying the season.   I would definitely recommend this book. Disclosure: I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers www.bakerbooks.com/bakerbooksbloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR...

“Fatal Trust” by Todd M. Johnson was one of those novels you can’t put down.   I was hooked from the first page.   This book follows Ian Wells, a young and ambitious attorney.   Ian is trying to build up his law office, while also dealing with his mom who has Alzheimer’s.   While dealing with all of this, Ian gets a new case.   All he has to do is find out whether three men actually qualify for nine million dollars of trust funds.   Ian’s fee would be $200,000!   While he is busy doing this job, Ian finds out more things about his family than he thought possible.   There were so many twists and turns that I never saw coming!   I couldn’t wait to get to the end to find out how it was going to end. This is the first novel I’ve read by Todd M. Johnson, but it won’t be the last.   I thoroughly enjoyed this book.   This book reminded me of a John Grisham novel.   I definitely recommend this book. I received this book fr...

“Beauty from Ashes” by Alana Terry was a fantastic read!  This was a different type of genre than what I’ve read from Alana, but this book was just as good as all her others.  I couldn’t put this one down.  I felt like I was actually in the story! This is part of the Orchard Grove Christian Women’s Fiction Novel.  This book follows Tiffany and Jake and their newborn baby, Natalie.  Natalie is in critical condition in NICU.  Tiffany and Jake are a young couple struggling to make sense of what is going on with their baby daughter.  I was engrossed in their story from the firs page! I love how Alana slowly weaves the Christian faith into this story.  She does such a great job explaining it in laymen terms.  Her books stay with me even when I’m finished with the last page!  I highly recommend all of Alana Terry’s books.  She is one of my favorite fiction authors. I received this book from bookfun for my honest o...

"Every Piece of Me" by Jerusha Clark explores the topic of discovering the real you.  We, as women, are usually defined as "wife, mother, sister, friends, etc.  Clark shows that are identity is not wrapped up in those titles.  She also explores other issues that may haunt us, such as fear, bitterness, busyness and toxic thoughts. I appreciated Clark's honesty about the issues she deals with.  She tells true stories of her own life.  There are some good tidbits to learn in these pages, however, it got a little wordy and became a little confusing for me, at times. I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers www.bakerbooks.com/bakerbooksbloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

“Dark Deception” by Nancy Mehl was excellent!  This is definitely her best book to date.  It kept my attention from the first to the last page.  The only negative thing I could say is that it kept me up at night, therefore, resulting in a couple sleepless nights!  This story centers around Kate O’Brien.  Four years ago, Kate and her twin sister were attacked by a serial killer.  She survived.  Her sister did not.  Now, 4 years later, Kate is in witness protection.  There is new evidence that has surfaced about this serial killer, and Kate is asked to come back and testify again.  However, there is way more in this story than just that.  There are twists and turns you don’t see coming.  I kept wondering who the serial killer was?  There is a lot of suspense and mystery in this novel but also a little romance tucked away.  You will not be disappointed by this novel especially if you are a lover of inspirational suspen...