A Cowboy for Keeps - A Review

Series: Colorado Cowboys Book 1

Author: Jody Hedlund

Title: A Cowboy for Keeps

Published: Bethany House, January 2021

Format: ebook, paper

About the book:

Greta Nilsson agreed to be a mail-order bride in the west in order to save her ailing sister’s life. Well her trip couldn’t have gone more wrong. First, the stage is held up by bandits. Then once she arrives in Fairplay, Colorado, she learns that her betrothed is dead. Now homeless, penniless, and jobless, Greta’s worse off then when she started. Wyatt McQuaid is a rancher struggling to get his spread up and running. He’s in town only for the purchase of some cattle. When the mayor of Fairplay agrees to invest in his ranch if he’ll marry Greta, Wyatt’s mind is torn. But seeing that she’s a woman alone in a rough town, Wyatt agrees. But will this marriage of convenience become something lasting?

My Thoughts:

I don’t know of another author as versatile as Jody Hedlund! She’s got several historical fiction novels, some true historicals, young adult fantasy novels, and soon a time-travel series. And she ventures into the westerns with this new series. True, this is much shorter than some of her others, but I found it to be delightful. I started it late one night, and then much to my chagrin, finished it a few hours later, in the early morning, no less. I loved Wyatt and Greta, Astrid, and Wyatt’s hired hand Judd. I am really looking forward to the next in the series.  

I received a copy of this book from the publisher to help promote while providing my thoughts and opinions. I was not required to like the book, only to share my opinions.

Recommended to fans of: Jody Hedlund, Mary Connealy, Karen Whitmeyer, cowboys

Rating: 5 stars

Tidewater Bride - A Review

 Author: Laura Frantz

Title: Tidewater Bride

Published: January 2021, Revell Books

Format: ebook, paper

About the book:

Selah Hopewell has no wish to marry. That’s a little unusual in the Virginia colony where men outnumber women 10-1. Yet, she’s content working in her father’s shop and assisting her mother. Her nearest neighbor, Xander Renick, is a successful tobacco farmer in the settlement. Xander has been a friend of Selah’s family for years. To everyone around, he’s still grieving the loss of his Powhatan wife. Yet his heart holds Selah in high affection. Can these two figure out a way to find happiness together?

My Thoughts:

Anytime I am able to pick up a Laura Frantz book, I know I’m in for a book that is rich in history, has well-developed characters, and will take me a while to read. That was certainly the case with this book! It’s so rich in history that I found myself reading a little bit here, and a little there in order to truly savor the book. It’s interesting to see a book delve into the early, early days of Virginia’s colonization. This one was set after Roanoke was lost while Jamestown was still new. I kept having songs from Disney’s Pocahontas in my mind as the backdrop for this beautiful novel. This was truly a delight to read and a history lesson at the same time.

I think that this would be a good book for a book club.

I received a copy from the publisher in order to share my thoughts and opinions. I was not required to like the book, but only to be honest with my thoughts.

Recommended for fans of: early American history, Laura Frantz, Jody Hedlund, Lori Benton

Rating: 5 stars

Active Defense - A Review

 

Series: Danger Never Sleeps Book 3

Author: Lynette Eason

Title: Active Defense

Published: Revell Books, January 2021

Format: ebook, paper, audio

About the book:

Dr. Heather Fontaine is a surgeon who is used to life-or-death situations having been a field surgeon in Afghanistan. She expected to settle back into her life after her enlistment is over. Yet there’s a stalker after her. Travis Walker has been watching Heather’s back for weeks. When he learns she’s in danger, he will do anything to see she’s safe. Working together and in a race against time, they seek to learn who is after Heather and who wants her dead.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced and actually fit the mood I was in while reading it. It’s been a while since I read one of Ms. Eason’s books, and I wasn’t disappointed in this one. This book was a page-turner from start to finish. I had an idea as to who wanted Heather dead, and I wasn’t wrong. What was interesting though was the why behind it. I also enjoyed catching up with some of the other characters.

I received an advanced e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in order to share my opinion of the book. I was not required to like the book, only share my honest opinion of it.

Recommended to fans of: Irene Hannon, Lynette Eason, Dani Pettery, romantic suspense

Rating: 4 stars

The Land Beneath Us - A Review

Published: February 2020, Revell

Series: Sunrise at Normandy Book 3

Author: Sarah Sundin

Title: The Land Beneath Us

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About the book:

The Paxton brothers haven’t spoken to each other in years. In 1943, Private Clay Paxton is training with the Army Rangers in Tennessee. He’s determined to do his part to assist the Allied forces in France. Clay feels he has only one thing left to live for – fulfilling the dream of his death – especially since he blames his brothers for his future having been stolen. Civilian Leah Jones is working as a librarian at Camp Forrest when she meets Clay. She longs to rise above her upbringing as an orphan and belong to a community. When she’s brutally attacked, Clay saves her life and then marries her to save her reputation. When he ships out to Europe, the pair write each other and soon find themselves bound together over the distance. But is love between them possible?

My thoughts:

Oh how I loved this book! I literally read it in 2 and a half hours! It’s a great conclusion to the Normandy series. I loved how Clay and Leah both grew through the book. I also loved being able to catch up with the other Paxton brothers. This book had a story of hope in it. And a story of love overcoming. Every book I’ve read by this author has been a delight. They are well researched and full of complex characters. I look forward to seeing where the author takes us next with her next book.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to share my honest opinion of it. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of WWII, Sarah Sundin, Laura Frantz, Jody Hedlund

Rating: 5 stars

Collision of Lies - A Review

Published: February 2020, Revell

Author: Tom Threadgill

Title: Collision of Lies

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About the book:

An accident between a school bus and a fast moving train left a community reeling for years. Now a fresh clue causes San Antonio police detective Amara Alvarez to question all that happened in the accident. One of the children from the accident may be alive. Now Amara must convince others that despite everything the case needs to be looked into again and hopefully bring the child home alive.

My thoughts:

This book was a page turner. There are so many layers to it that I did get a little lost, but it was well worth the ride the author took me on. I kept trying to figure out who was involved and what would happen. I can’t wait to read the next book that this author has in store.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in order to share my honest opinion of it. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Robert Whitlow, Tom Clancy

Rating: 4 stars

End Game - A Review

Published: January 2020, Bethany House

Series: Capital Intrigue Book 1

Author: Rachel Dylan

Title: End Game

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About the book:

One murder is one thing. A second with the same MO is something else. Especially when the second murder is of a Navy SEAL. Now both NCIS and the FBI are working together to catch a killer before the body count rises. FBI Special Agent Bailey Ryan and NCIS Special Agent Marco Agostini must follow the evidence even though they feel that the accused isn’t guilty. As they untangle the evidence and connect the victims, they discover a conspiracy and a cover up leading to top areas of government. When they get too close, will they make it out alive?

My thoughts:

I’m a huge fan of NCIS. This was a cross between NCIS and FBI Most Wanted. I was kept turning pages all the way through the end. I’m looking forward to the other books in this series.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to assist in promoting this book. I was not required to like the book, only give my honest opinion of it. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of NCIS, FBI Most Wanted, Dee Henderson, Irene Hannon, Lisa Harris

Rating: 4 stars

Words Between Us - A Review

Published - September 2019, Revell Books
Author - Erin Bartels
Title - The Words Between Us
Format - ebook, paper
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About the book:
Robin Windsor has spent most of her life under an assumed name, running from her family's ignominious past. She thought she'd finally found sanctuary in her rather unremarkable used bookstore just up the street from the marina in River City, Michigan. But the store is struggling and the past is hot on her heels.

When she receives an eerily familiar book in the mail on the morning of her father's scheduled execution, Robin is thrown back to the long-lost summer she met Peter Flynt, the perfect boy who ruined everything. That book--a first edition Catcher in the Rye--is soon followed by the other books she shared with Peter nearly twenty years ago, with one arriving in the mail each day. But why would Peter be making contact after all these years? And why does she have a sinking feeling that she's about to be exposed all over again?

My Thoughts:
I was excited to hear about Bartels's newest book after loving her debut. This one did not disappoint. Well, ok, maybe a little. 

Seriously though, this one was still a pretty awesome read. I love dual timeline books and this one had one. I love how the main character is trying to connect the pieces of the past with the novels she's getting. Sure, it's a little slow-moving. But it didn't really feel that way. I agree with what others have said - the ending was rushed. I felt that the author had spent all this time developing the plot only to rush the ending. Maybe she had to hit a certain word count or was on a deadline. To be honest, I felt cheated. Cheated because there wasn't the development to the end that I was hoping for. 

I received a copy of this book from Revell for the purpose of sharing my honest opinion. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of women's fiction, Rachel Hauck

Rating - 4 stars