Gone Without a Trace by Patricia Bradley

Overview: The past is repeating itself–and time is running out.

It’s been more than two years since homicide detective Livy Reynolds’s cousin disappeared from Logan Point. Unlike most people in her hometown, Livy has never believed that Robyn left voluntarily. When Dallas private investigator Alex Jennings contacts her concerning a senator’s missing granddaughter who was last seen in Logan Point, Livy notices eerie similarities between the two disappearances. With self-doubt plaguing her and an almost instant dislike of the self-assured PI, she’s finding this investigation an uphill battle. But with the prospect of finding her cousin on the horizon, she’ll have to find a way to work with Alex–before it’s too late.

ISBN-13: 9780800722821 | Publisher: Baker Publishing Group 

Publication date: 07/07/2015 | Series:Logan Point Series, #3

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My Review: This is one of the best suspense books I've read in a long time. Patricia Bradley writes a gripping story, that had me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails until the very end. I was kept guessing right along with the characters, and I really loved that about the story. It was fast paced and exciting from beginning to end.

I loved the characters. The depth and emotional development of each character was expertly woven throughout the story. I was deeply involved in Livy and Alex's relationship with each other and their fathers. I could relate to having a rocky relationship with your parent. Robyn's story tugged at my heart strings and I longed to just give her a hug. The romance between Livy and Alex was underplayed, but I liked that. The focus of the story was on the investigation, as it should have been.

The message of the story, to me, was about fear. Livy, Alex, and Robyn let fear rule their lives, each to a different degree. Overcoming our fears can be very difficult, but rewarding in the end. Each character overcomes their fears, and even though I began to doubt it for a minute, the ending was rewarding.

Overall, I'm glad I got to visit Logan Point again and look forward to more by this awesome author.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the Revell Reads blogging program in exchange for my honest review*

About the Author: Honoring God through my writing is top priority for this Mississippi Writer.

I am a Romantic Suspense writer living in the Deep South. My short-stories have been published inWoman’s World, and I am releasing my fourth book this summer. Gone Without a Trace is book three in the Logan Point Series which is set in Memphis and the surrounding area. Click here to find out more about the Logan Point Series.

Book one in the Logan Point Series, Shadows from the Past, has won several awards…the 2008 Maggie (Inspirational Category)…1st Place in the 2012 Touched By Love and Daphne du Maurier contests…finaled in the 2012 Genesis…bronzed in the Frasier.

I’ve also done the unthinkable–written a straight romance–who would’ve thought it’d be such fun? You can read more about it here.

I’m also an abstinence/healthy relationship speaker and have spoken to many students…and adults. I would love to have the opportunity to speak to your group. If you are would like to invite me to speak, feel free to contact me here.

When I’m not writing or speaking, I throw mud on a wheel and try to make something beautiful.

Connect with Patricia: Twitter | Facebook | Website

A July Bride by Beth Wiseman

Overview: Can she forgive the man who left her at the altar? 

Alyssa Pennington dated Brendan Myers for three years before she accepted his proposal. For almost a year, Alyssa's friends and family helped her plan a lovely wedding to take place in the church she'd grown up in. It was the happiest day of her life when she walked down the aisle to be united with the man of her dreams. But when Brendan left her at the altar, Alyssa was consumed by humiliation, embarrassment, and a broken heart that wouldn't allow her to trust anyone. Especially Brendan.

Brendan Myers knows he will spend the rest of his life regretting what he did to Alyssa, the only woman he's ever loved. Without her, his life is empty. In one fateful moment, he'd panicked, destroyed their future, and ruined everything. Now he plans to win her back. But winning back his bride might prove much more difficult than he can imagine. And even if he does get her to the altar again, will she think turnabout is fair play?

ISBN-13: 9780310339205 | Publisher: Zondervan

Publication date: 06/24/2014 | Series: A Year of Weddings Novellas, #7

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My Review: The only stories I've read by Beth Wiseman were in the form of Amish novellas, so this was a very different experience for me.There was a little I liked, and a lot I didn't like. t was heartfelt and sweet. I loved Brendan's pursuit of Alyssa. He knew he messed up, he confessed, and he did all he could to win her back. Sometimes his antics were hilarious. Alyssa was a borderline character for me. There were moments in the story that I really liked her and related, and there were moments I wanted to shake her! I DID NOT like her involvement with Dalton at all. It was obvious from the beginning that she shouldn't be with him, but she persisted anyway. For a Christian Fiction novella, this story references sexual thoughts quite a bit. One part of me liked the open and honestness of that because it made it more life like, and another part of me didn't like it. Overall, I did like the story, but it's not my favorite of the series.

About the Author: Award-winning, best-selling author Beth Wiseman is best known for her Amish novels, but her most recent novels, Need You Now and The House that Love Built, are contemporaries set in small Texas towns. Both have received glowing reviews. Beth's highly-anticipated novel, The Promise, is inspired by a true story. Website: www.bethwiseman.com Twitter: @bethwiseman Facebook: Fans-of-Beth-Wiseman

Weekend Wrap Up (June 26-July 3) - Month in Review

This is the Weekend Wrap-Up, inspired by Melanie at Christian Bookshelf Review. This is where I will tell you what I've read in the past week, what I'm currently reading, and what I plan to read in the week ahead. I might also share some interesting events from the past week!

Hello everyone! I'm back from the beach. I had a great, relaxing vacation and I made it back without getting bit by a shark (although there was a man attacked Friday morning about 50 yards down the beach from where we were sitting.. SCARY! Read the article. We spoke with the man's family after he was rushed to the hospital. Praise the LORD the children in the water weren't injured.) I didn't get to read as much as I would have liked because I was playing with my sweet nephews. I've spent the last week recovering from my vacation!

What I've Read: 

Reviews Posted: 

Desperate Measures by Sandra Orchard

Murder Tightly Knit by Vannetta Chapman

It Had to be You by Susan May Warren

Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman

A Heart's Betrayal by Colleen Coble

Married 'til Monday by Denise Hunter

A June Bride by Marybeth Whalen

What I'm Currently Reading: 

What I'm Planning to Read in July:

Challenge Updates: 

3 book toward my goal of 10 series - Finish The Series Reading Challenge - 4 Series Completed

June Wrap Up: 

A June Bride by Marybeth Whalen

Overview: The reality show ended with an engagement, so why doesn’t this feel like the fairy tale she thought it would be?

The Rejection Connection hardly sounds like the place to fall in love, but Wynne Hardy walked off the reality-TV set with an engagement ring. And in the whirlwind of publicity and preparation that follows a TV-bride-to-be in her fifteen minutes of fame, Wynne barely has time to consider how she really feels about her new fiancé . . . to say nothing of how she still feels about her ex.

As the wedding plans develop, so too do Wynne’s doubts: Is she in love with Andy? Or is this really about Callum—the ex-boyfriend who sent her onto Rejection Connection in the first place? A nationally televised snub might be the best revenge . . . but is it a good reason to get married?

When Callum resurfaces at the worst possible moment, Wynne can’t help wondering if she’s made a huge mistake. Is her marriage a publicity stunt? And what happens when the cameras stop rolling, and she has a husband she barely knows?

ISBN-13: 9780310339137 | Publisher: Zondervan

Publication date: 05/27/2014 | Series: A Year of Weddings Novella , #6

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My Review: I will admit that while I enjoyed this novella, it's not my favorite of the series. The plot was interesting. I liked the conflicting emotions that Wynne had to deal with, but I found her particularly stubborn and kind of whiney at times. Callum's reappearance was well-timed, all three times. I didn't like Adam from the moment he was introduced. The message of the story was about trusting God instead of pushing Him away when you get hurt. Wynne has to learn to lean on the Lord for her future and her plans, rather than stubbornly sticking to what she thinks is expected of her. Overall, it was a nice story, but not my favorite.

About the Author: Marybeth Whalen and her husband Curt have been married for 22 years and are the parents of six children, ranging in age from college to elementary school. The family lives in North Carolina. Marybeth is a speaker and the author of five novels. Her newest novel, The Bridge Tender, releases June, 2014. She is the co-founder of the popular women's fiction site, She Reads www.shereads.org and is the Writer in Residence at a local private school. Marybeth spends most of her time in the grocery store but occasionally escapes long enough to scribble some words. She is always at work on her next novel. You can find her at www.marybethwhalen.com.

Married 'til Monday by Denise Hunter

Overview: With a big anniversary party in the works for her parents, Ryan will pretend to be Abby's husband for just one last weekend.

Ryan McKinley has tried to move on from his ex-wife, Abby. He's sulked, he's gotten angry, and ultimately he bought her dream house. Big mistake. Living alone in the massive 2-story has only made him miss her more. When her parents call him out of the blue about their anniversary party in Summer Harbor, Maine, Ryan believes God has dropped a golden opportunity straight in his lap.

Abby McKinley never exactly told her parents about the divorce. A strained relationship with her dad has culminated in a distant relationship with her parents, but she's finally succumbed to her mom's pressure to make the drive for their 35th-anniversary party.

Then Ryan shows up on her doorstep, looking as devastatingly handsome as ever. When he insists he's going to Seabrook, with or without her, Abby knows she can't say no. Her parents still think they're married and now Ryan knows it too. Besides, he only wants to check in with his best friend from college-her cousin Beau, who just lost his dad. It's just a one-week road-trip with the man who broke her heart. What could possibly go wrong?

ISBN-13: 9781401687069 | Publisher: Nelson, Thomas, Inc.

Publication date: 6/9/2015 | Series: Chapel Springs Romance Series, #4

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Read an Excerpt.

My Review: It's been a while since I've read a book by Denise Hunter. I forgot this author has a knack for tugging at my heart strings. Married 'til Monday is an emotional roller coaster from beginning to end and I loved every minute of it! The story was well laid out. At times it was serious and other times I was laughing at Ryan and Abby's antics. The plot was engaging and I was laughing, crying, angry, and sometimes frustrated right along with the characters. I loved this book from start to finish. Period.

I can relate so well to Abby. Growing up in a dysfunctional household has a long lasting effect on a person if it's not recognized and dealt with. It can affect everything and color everything in your life without you even realizing it. Abby's attitude, determination, and fear resonated deeply with me. Ryan, oh Ryan. I loved him from the first page of the book. He is handsome, kind, determined, and confident. He's also humble and flawed, and he recognizes those traits. His pursuit of Abby is endearing. He takes everything in stride, even when it's hard for him to swallow. Their relationship attracted me from start to finish. I loved every minute of their bickering, playful banter, and sweet, tender moments.

This book focuses a lot on marriage, the "ins" and "outs" if you will, of what a married couple endures. The spiritual, sexual, and emotional. The good, the bad, and the ugly. These two characters went through it all. The message of the book, beside it's focus on marriage, is about relying on God to see you through rather than running away and getting angry. When we allow anger to fester, or we don't deal with issues as they arise, we become bitter and contention and strife invades our relationship with God and everyone else. Recognizing, letting go, and letting God is something each character had to deal with, especially Abby. This book also touches on some tough subjects like abuse, miscarriage, and divorce.

Overall, I loved this book. I think it's my favorite of the series (although I haven't read the first one yet). I can't wait to read more by this phenomenal author.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the BookLook blogging program in exchange for my honest review.*

About the Author: Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 20 books, including Dancing with Fireflies and The Convenient Groom. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader's Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist.

Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories. Her readers enjoy the experience of falling in love vicariously through her characters and can expect a happily-ever-after sigh as they close the pages of her books.

In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

When Denise isn't orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking coffee, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are raising three boys.

Connect with Denise: Facebook | Twitter | Website

Colleen Coble’s Melt into Summer Giveaway and ‘A Heart’s Betrayal’ Blog Tour

Emmie finds shelter in the arms of a soldier in Fort Laramie, Wyoming, but will her big secret drive them apart? Find out in book four, A Heart's Betrayal, of Colleen Coble's A Journey of the Heart series. Suddenly displaced, powerless, and ashamed, Emmie can’t stay in Wabash, Indiana. She makes a hopeful start for Fort Laramie to find her friend Sarah Montgomery and a new beginning. But when she arrives, she discovers she’s pregnant—and without a husband. The new start she’d hoped for slips from her fingers.

My Review: Welcome to, what I'm terming as, part two of the Journey of the Heart series. This book introduces us to Emmie Croftner, Ben Croftner's sister and reintroduces us to Isaac Liddle. We also get a glimpse into Rand and Sarah's life after A Heart's Danger.

In true Coble style, this book plays with our emotions. Emmie Croftner is thrown for a loop several times throughout the book and I can't help but sympathize with her. Can Isaac Liddle figure out how to cure the haunted look he sees in Emmie's eyes? Will she let him? I can't wait to find out!

Overall, I loved this short story. It is the perfect addition to an amazing series.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Litfuse Blogging program.*

Landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/ccoble

Melt into summer with a new giveaway from Colleen: four books (books one–four in Colleen's A Journey of the Heart series) and a box of chocolates to pair with your new books!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of A Heart's Betrayal
• A box of Colleen's favorite chocolate truffles from DeBrand Fine Chocolates
• A copy of A Heart's Disguise
• A copy of A Heart's Obsession
• A copy of A Heart's Danger

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 30th. Winner will be announced July 1st on Colleen's website.

About the book:
A Heart's Betrayal (Thomas Nelson, June 2015)

Emmie finds shelter in the arms of a soldier, but her secret could drive them apart.

When Emmie Croftner answered the door to her late husband's home, she discovered an awful truth: her deceased husband was a bigamist. And what's more, the home she thought she inherited never belonged to her at all.
Suddenly displaced, powerless, and ashamed, Emmie can't stay in Wabash, Indiana. She makes a hopeful start for Fort Laramie, Wyoming, to find her friend Sarah Montgomery and a new beginning. But when she arrives, she discovers she's pregnant---and without a husband. The new start she'd hoped for slips from her fingers.

But then she meets Isaac Liddle, a handsome soldier with a kind heart. When he begins to court her, Emmie wonders whether she could ever really be his---and whether she dares to tell him she is carrying another man's baby.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1B65ZsM

About the author:

Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide.Seagrass Pier, the third installment in her acclaimed Hope Beach series, marks a new highpoint for emotion and complexity in Coble's addictive brand of romantic suspense.

Find Colleen online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Murder Freshly Baked by Vannetta Chapman

Overview: When delicious baked goods become lethal, a trail of poetry leads to a sweet-toothed killer.

Don’t taste it. Don’t share it.
Just throw it away.
If you try my bakery pie,
You won’t live to see another day.

The Amish Artisan Village of Middlebury, Indiana, might be the last place you would ever expect to find a murderer. But Amber has been managing the Village for decades and there’s nothing she hasn’t seen. Or so she thought.

When poetic notes begin appearing around the bakery, warning that some of the pies have been poisoned, Amber is as confused as she is concerned. Who poisons pies? And more to the point, who leaves poems of warning after they’ve done it? When Amber decides to help the police track down the sweet-toothed saboteur, she enlists Hannah Troyer for another round of Amish-style detective work.

Can Amber and Hannah help the police before the Poison Poet strikes? Both women will need to draw on their faith to preserve the peaceful community they’ve built in Middlebury . . . and to protect the girls who work in the Amish Artisan Village.

ISBN-13: 9780310322177 | Publisher: Zondervan | Publication date: 6/9/2015

Series: An Amish Village Mystery Series

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My Review: I absolutely devoured this book. From the very beginning, I was hooked and I had a hard time putting it down. I think this is my favorite of the three books in the Amish Village Mystery Series because it has it all. Heartfelt romance, simple and sweet friendships, honest and humble faith, and loads of intrigue and mystery. I was guessing right along with Hannah, Amber, Preston, and Pam until the very end. 

I especially loved getting a bigger glimpse into the friendship that Hannah and Amber share. It's interesting to me to see how the Amish and English interact, but I love how Vannetta Chapman writes her characters lives and friendships. Though each woman is different in dress, their faith, love, and loyalty are the same. Hannah and Jesse are the cutest couple. I'm so glad we got a glimpse into their future lives. I also loved hearing more from Hannah and Tate. Preston had me from his role in the second book, Murder Tightly Knit. I have a soft spot in my heart for soldiers. His suffering and the work the ICAN and other VA organizations was accurately portrayed, in my opinion. 

Most of all, I loved the faith based message of the story. Hannah and Amber both worry about their friends and family. God is trying to teach them not to worry, but instead to cast their cares upon Him and worry no more. Simple in words, difficult in action. Vannetta Chapman has a way of writing in the message of the book, making it a part of the story, and fitting in the perfect ending.

Overall, I was highly satisfied with the conclusion of the Amish Village Mystery series. I really cannot wait to read more from the amazing author. If you're looking for simple faith, heartwarming romance, and appetizing mystery, pick up this book today!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the BookLook blogging program in exchange for my honest review.*

About the Author: Vannetta Chapman holds a BA and MA degree in English and has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving over two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace in Albion, Pennsylvania. She published a novel with Abingdon Press called A Simple Amish Christmas in October of 2010. Her first Quilt Shop Murder Mystery, Falling to Pieces (Zondervan) was released in September of 2011 and received the 2012 Carol Award for best mystery. She currently lives in the Texas hill country.

Connect with Vannetta: Facebook | Twitter | Website