Tag Archives: Contemporary fiction

#BookReview: Rule of Law by Randy Singer

14 Sep

Rule of Law is a compelling tale! The characters and plot grabbed my attention on page one, and I remained engrossed until the very end. I loved the legal intrigue and was fascinated by the political and military drama that unfolded. Expertly told, this legal thriller made me an instant Singer fan, and I can’t wait to read more from this talented author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

Singer 1
About the book:

What did the president know? And when did she know it?

For the members of SEAL Team Six, it was a rare mission ordered by the president, monitored in real time from the Situation Room. The Houthi rebels in Yemen had captured an American journalist and a member of the Saudi royal family. Their executions were scheduled for Easter Sunday. The SEAL team would break them out.

But when the mission results in spectacular failure, the finger-pointing goes all the way to the top.

Did the president play political games with the lives of U.S. service members?

Paige Chambers, a determined young lawyer, has a very personal reason for wanting to know the answer. The case she files will polarize the nation and test the resiliency of the Constitution. The stakes are huge, the alliances shaky, and she will be left to wonder if the saying on the Supreme Court building still holds true.

Equal justice under law.

It makes a nice motto. But will it work when one of the most powerful people on the planet is also a defendant?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Read what other bloggers are saying about Rule of Law. 

 

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#BookReview: Chasing Secrets by Lynette Eason

15 Aug

Chasing Secrets is an exciting suspense! Haley and Steven are complex characters, and their story is brimming with intrigue. The drama and danger unfold quickly, and the cleverly crafted plot kept me guessing until the end. With its thrilling twists and turns, Chasing Secrets is my favorite of the Elite Guardians, a series I recommend for suspense readers who enjoy strong characters and unique story elements.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Elite Guardians bodyguard Haley Callaghan may be in South Carolina, but when a photo leads investigators in West Ireland to open a twenty-five-year-old cold case, her life is suddenly in danger. Haley knows how to take care of herself; after all, she’s made a career out of taking care of others. But after an uncomfortably close call, Detective Steven Rothwell takes it upon himself to stay with her–and the young client she has taken under her wing. A protector at heart, he’s not about to let Haley fight this battle alone.

Learn more about the book and the author.

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Spotlight + #Giveaway: Season of Hope by Alexa Verde

10 Aug

Purchase a copy: http://amzn.to/2uKf5cy

Kelly Young wants to heal after losing her husband and to raise her little girl the best she can in her hometown. But her new neighbor, former wide receiver Brandon Carmichael, seems to intend to demolish his fixer-upper and her hopes for peace and quiet. When he helps her to repair her home, keeps her flower shop business afloat, and makes her hope and love again, could it be that Brandon is exactly what she needs?

After a forced retirement, Brandon Carmichael is angry and lost, one step away from the familiar path of self-destruction. Moving to a small town at his friend’s suggestion, Brandon surprises himself by getting involved in its community and starting to fall for his pretty neighbor, single mom Kelly Young. But when his past collides with his present, can he forgive, love, and live fully again?

 

Thanks to the generosity of Alexa Verde, one lucky commenter will win a Kindle copy of Season of Hope and a $5.00 Amazon gift card!  

Prizes will be gifted through Amazon, so commenters must have an Amazon account.

To enter the giveaway:
Leave a comment letting us know where you stand on fixer-upper projects.  The giveaway ends Thursday, August 17 at midnight CDT. The winner will be chosen and announced on Friday, August 18.

To earn additional entries:
Follow this blog and/or share the giveaway. Be sure to let me know what you’ve done to earn additional entries! This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

Contest Rules:
◦No purchase is necessary.
◦Odds of winning are based on the number of entries.

Are you a do-it-yourselfer or do you leave projects to the professionals?  Do you have a fixer-upper story to share?    

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#BookReview: The Hideaway by Lauren K. Denton

21 Jul

Lauren K. Denton’s debut novel embodies everything I enjoy about Southern fiction! From the charming setting of Sweet Bay, Alabama, to the quirky characters that inhabit The Hideaway, this story enchanted me from beginning to end. I loved the intertwining of past and present that led to an unexpected journey of self-discovery. A heartfelt tale of family and friendship, The Hideaway is sure to be one of my favorite summer reads!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

After her last remaining family member dies, Sara Jenkins goes home to The Hideaway, her grandmother Mags’s ramshackle B&B in Sweet Bay, Alabama. She intends to quickly tie up loose ends then return to her busy life and thriving antique shop in New Orleans. Instead, she learns Mags has willed her The Hideaway and charged her with renovating it—no small task considering Mags’s best friends, a motley crew of senior citizens, still live there.

Rather than hurrying back to New Orleans, Sara stays in Sweet Bay and begins the biggest house-rehabbing project of her career. Amid Sheetrock dust, old memories, and a charming contractor, she discovers that slipping back into life at The Hideaway is easier than she expected.

Then she discovers a box Mags left in the attic with clues to a life Sara never imagined for her grandmother. With help from Mags’s friends, Sara begins to piece together the mysterious life of bravery, passion, and choices that changed Mags’s destiny in both marvelous and devastating ways.

When an opportunistic land developer threatens to seize The Hideaway, Sara is forced to make a choice—stay in Sweet Bay and fight for the house and the people she’s grown to love or leave again and return to her successful but solitary life in New Orleans.

Learn more about the book and the author.  

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#BookReview: If I’m Found by Terri Blackstock

19 Jul

This exciting and much-anticipated sequel kept me on the edge of my seat! Since reading Book 1, If I Run, I’ve been anxious to continue Casey Cox’s story. Still running for her life, Casey finds herself in another precarious situation that is sure to jeopardize her cover. I loved the urgency and intensity of If I’m Found as evil lurks around every corner. Dylan Roberts’ pursuit of Casey and the truth heightens the complexity and emotion of the narrative, which I really enjoyed. Terri Blackstock continues to thrill me with her nail-biting suspense, and I can’t wait to see how she concludes this gripping series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Casey Cox is still on the run, fleeing prosecution for a murder she didn’t commit. Dylan Roberts—her most relentless pursuer—is still on her trail, but his secret emails insist that he knows the truth and wants to help her. He’s let her escape before when he had her in his grasp, but trust doesn’t come easily.

As Casey works to collect evidence about the real murderers, she stumbles on another unbearable injustice: an abused child and a suicidal man who’s also been falsely accused. Casey risks her own safety to right this wrong and protect the little girl from her tormenters. But doing so is risky and just may result in her capture—and if she’s captured, she has no doubt she’ll be murdered before she ever steps foot in a jail.

Learn more about the book and the author.

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#BookReview: Light of Dawn by Vannetta Chapman

18 Jul

Light of Dawn is an absorbing tale! This series has riveted me from the very beginning, and I quickly became invested in the characters and their journeys. Chapman enthralls readers with a chilling and conceivable story of survival, but even amid danger and despair, faith and hope shine. Light of Dawn is a thrilling conclusion to the Remnant trilogy, and I couldn’t put it down!

The Remnant Series is one I highly recommend reading in order. The prequel novella, Overshadowed, sets the stage for the catastrophic events that occur and subsequent novels continue the dramatic devastation that ensues.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

For nine months, since a devastating solar flare caused a complete failure of the electrical grid, Shelby Sparks and her diabetic son, Carter, have been living at the ranch of Shelby’s high school sweetheart, Max Berkman.

Mostly insulated from the chaos surrounding them, Shelby and Max discover that the Texas government has fled the capital and is barely maintaining control of the state. The governor needs volunteers to search for the new federal government, but no one knows exactly where it might be located—if it even still exists—or what perils await those brave enough to take on the mission.

Compelled by Carter’s desperate need for insulin and their God-given sense of duty, Shelby and Max answer the governor’s call and set out on a treacherous 600-mile journey, where they will experience the terrifying effects of unrestrained anarchy. If they have the faith and fortitude necessary to reach their destination, what will they find when they get there?

Learn more about the book and the author.

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#BookReview: A Matter of Trust by Susan May Warren

5 Jul

A Matter of Trust is an action-packed adventure! Susan May Warren sweeps readers away to Glacier National Park and shares the beauty and brutality that can be found atop its rugged mountain peaks. Gage Watson is a great hero, working hard to forge a new path for himself and his career. I really enjoyed Gage’s courage and determination and the central theme of trust that carries through his and Ella’s journey.

With dramatic stories of risk and romance, it is always a pleasure to revisit the PEAK Rescue team. Warren has brought to life a dynamic cast of characters whose camaraderie is tangible, and I eagerly await their next adventure!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Champion backcountry snowboarder Gage Watson has left the limelight behind after the death of one of his fans. After being sued for negligence and stripped of his sponsorships, he’s remade his life as a ski patrol in Montana’s rugged mountains, as well as serving on the PEAK Rescue team. But he can’t seem to find his footing–or forget the woman he loved, who betrayed him.

Senator and former attorney Ella Blair spends much of her time in the limelight as the second-youngest senator in the country. But she has a secret–one that cost Gage his career. More than anything, she wants to atone for her betrayal of him in the courtroom and find a way to help him put his career back on track.

When Ella’s brother goes missing on one of Glacier National Park’s most dangerous peaks, Gage and his team are called in for the rescue. But Gage isn’t so sure he wants to help the woman who destroyed his life. More, when she insists on joining the search, he’ll have to keep her safe while finding her reckless brother, a recipe for disaster when a snowstorm hits the mountain.

But old sparks relight as they search for the missing snowboarder–and suddenly, they are faced with emotions neither can deny. But when Ella’s secret is revealed, can they learn to trust each other–even when disaster happens again?

Learn more about the book and the author.

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#BookReview: Threads of Suspicion by Dee Henderson

17 Jun

I thoroughly enjoyed Threads of Suspicion! In this well-crafted procedural, Henderson takes readers straight to the heart of cold case investigations. Brimming with details and descriptions, I found the complexities of cold case files quite fascinating. I enjoyed the dynamic between Evie Blackwell and her task force partner, David Marshal, as they puzzled through the twists and turns of their investigations. In addition to their case work, I also delighted in the glimpses into their personal relationships. Threads of Suspicion is an intriguing and compelling tale that leaves me eager for more Evie Blackwell Cold Case Files!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Evie Blackwell’s reputation as a top investigator for the Illinois State Police has landed her an appointment to the governor’s new Missing Persons Task Force. This elite investigative team is launched with plenty of public fanfare. The governor has made this initiative a high priority, so they will have to produce results–and quickly.

Evie and her new partner, David Marshal, are assigned to a pair of unrelated cases in suburban Chicago, and while both involve persons now missing for several years, the cases couldn’t be more different. While Evie opens old wounds in a close-knit neighborhood to find a missing college student, David searches for a private investigator working for a high-powered client.

With a deep conviction that “justice for all” truly matters, Evie and David are unrelenting in their search for the truth. But Evie must also find answers to the questions that lie just beneath the surface in her personal life.

Learn more about the book and the author.

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#BookReview: Peace in the Valley by Ruth Logan Herne

5 Jun

Peace in the Valley is a great conclusion to the Double S Ranch series! I have enjoyed each of the Stafford stories, and Trey’s tale is my favorite of the bunch. I delighted in the pairing of a successful country crooner with an overwhelmed single mother. Their relationship is entertaining and romantic, and one that beautifully illustrates the importance of faith, love, and forgiveness. While Peace in the Valley can stand alone, I believe fans of cowboy romance will enjoy reading all three books in this heartwarming series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

In spite of their differences, Trey Walker Stafford knows he owes his life to cowboy and legendary rancher Sam Stafford—the uncle who rescued him after his parents’ death. Trey had left the Double S Ranch to pursue music against Sam’s wishes, but returns to central Washington when he learns he’s the best match for a procedure that could save Sam’s life. Although Trey’s found country music fame and success, he’s also endured the tragic loss of his wife. He croons about love, but struggles with a yawning emptiness he can’t explain.

Overwhelmed by a growing list of challenges, but mistrustful of Stafford men, single mother Lucy Carlton reluctantly accepts Trey’s help to revive her crumbling farm when Sam instructs him to repay the overdue debt to her family.

As the two grow closer, Trey slowly begins to open his heart to this beautiful woman and strives to let go of the grief he’s held for years. Lucy has a complicated history of her own. Can Trey accept her as she is, learn to forgive the past, and find the elusive peace he’s sought for so long?

Learn more about the book and the author.

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#BookReview: What Hope Remembers by Johnnie Alexander

18 May

It was such a pleasure to return to the community of Misty Willow! Having read the first two books in this series, I was eager to discover more about Amy Somers and delve deeper into her story. I enjoyed Amy’s rekindled relationship with Gabe Kendall and the navigation of their dramatic journey. I also enjoyed revisiting beloved characters from previous stories. Heartfelt and emotional, What Hope Remembers is a lovely addition to a charming series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

When Amy Somers loses her job as a lobbyist, she moves to Misty Willow, well aware that she’s crossing bridges she’d burned years before. With all the mistakes she’s made and the uncaring things she’s done–even to her own family–she can hardly believe that happiness will find her, especially when Gabe Kendall, her first crush and her first kiss, rides back into her life atop a buckskin mare.

A former Marine, Gabe is at loose ends after serving a prison sentence for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He sees beyond Amy’s hard exterior to the girl he once knew and loved, and he longs to see her open her heart. Yet with his vision clouded by shame for his past and fears about the future, he finds it difficult to see the path ahead.

But the memory of that long-ago kiss just may have the power to reignite a romance that brings out the best in both of them.

Purchase a copy of What Hope Remembers.

Visit Johnnie Alexander’s website.

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