Reviews: Dark Tide, Love Redeemed, & Her Whole Self

Three more books to review this week -- a little something for everyone. A romantic suspense. An Amish romance. And a contemporary romance.

Blurb:

Gina Evans knows her brother was murdered—even if the police won't believe her. After catching a quick glimpse of the evidence her brother had gathered, the same criminals are after her and her baby niece. And Gina's only hope is the man she left behind. Despite the painful memories, private investigator Derrick Justice won't fail Gina and her baby. Yet now, the woman he never stopped loving and the baby he's come to adore are in a killer's crosshairs. But can Derrick trap the cold-blooded murderer before he strikes again? 

The Justice Agency: Family and law enforcement go hand in hand.

My review:

I've read every single one of The Justice Agency Series books and have loved every one. Dark Tide is no different. Derrick and Gina's story touched my heart -- making it beat faster during those inevitable scary times and making it slow in awe as they worked out their feelings for one another.

I love happily-ever-afters, and this is one series I will miss. I have come to "know" the Justice brothers and sisters, and each story has touched me in a unique way.

5 roses

Available at Amazon and other fine retailers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blurb:

In the second book of the New Hope Amish series, acclaimed author Kelly Irvin spins a tale of romance, grief, and redemption deep in Amish country.

Phoebe Christner is thrilled when the families of her close-knit Amish community decide to spend a week at the lake. She feels she's earned a break...and it doesn't hurt that Michael Daugherty will be coming along. They'll find ways to spend time together--she's certain of it--and their romance will have time to blossom.

But when tragedy strikes, Phoebe and Michael are torn apart by their pain and the knowledge of their guilt. As they both cope with the loss of a loved one, they will come to discover that they are worthy not only of each other's love, but God's love.

A tender novel of faith and family set in the heart of Amish country.

My review:

This was a profoundly moving story about how to move on after tragedy. It made me cry, but it also made me smile. It was so real and emotional. I enjoyed it immensely.

4 roses

Available at Amazon and other fine retailers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Blurb:

Abandoned by the two most important people in her life - her fiance and best friend - Jen flounders as she picks up the pieces of her life. Desperation prompts her to reach out to an old classmate, who regrettably is a Christian. Is a night of free entertainment worth the cost of spending it with a group of hypocrites? The answer to that question surprises her almost as the next several upheavals in her life.

My review:

This story is a beautiful reminder that despite the bad things that we do, or that happen to us, God loves us unconditionally. Sometimes bad things happen for the good of others, sometimes due to another's sin, but either way God promises us in his word that it will all work out for our good.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Jen's story and highly recommend this book.

4 roses

Available at Amazon and other fine retailers.



Blessings,
Ginger

Wednesday Review: Romantic Suspense, Amish Romance, and Romance...

Three books today for your reading pleasure. Thread of Suspicion by Susan Sleeman, Love Stands Still by Kelly Irvin, and Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter. Also I've added a new feature--well, an old one that I'm re-instituting. Under my rating is a link to Amazon to make it easier for you to grab the book without having to search. Enjoy.

This is the fourth book in The Justice Agency series, but reads as a stand-alone. I encourage you to read Double Exposure, Dead Wrong, and No Way Out as well because they are all wonderful books.

Dani's story touched me. As a woman, I like to think I can tackle any job I set my mind to, but we all need help sometimes. In Thread of Suspicion, Dani has to learn to accept help and it's hard for her. Her story is both touching and exciting as we see how she became a part of the Justice family.

Back cover:

FALSELY ACCUSED! 

When someone sabotages former navy SEAL Luke Baldwin's "unhackable" software, there's more than his reputation at stake. Faced with treason charges, Luke turns to Dani Justice, a computer expert and skilled investigator. She's eager to dive into the challenging case…until she uncovers a devastating connection. The hacker framing Luke has a personal, deadly history with Dani. Luke's code of honor and his growing feelings make him resolved to protect the sweet, strong woman he knows is more vulnerable than she'd admit. But what good is his training or determination against an enemy who can hack into any system and find them wherever they hide?  

The Justice Agency: Family and law enforcement go hand in hand.

Roses: 5.0
Thread of Suspicion
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I connected with Bethel immediately--a long car trip stuck between two car-seats equals discomfort for even the most able-bodied. From there on, it was easy to see and feel everything through her eyes.

Kelly Irvin made reading Love Still Stands so enjoyable, I just didn't want to put it down. I went so far as to get up more than an hour before my normal wake-up time because I couldn't get the story out of my head. :)

Bethel's struggle in a new place came to life on the pages, as did the other characters'.

To be honest, before reading this story, I was reluctant to read "another" Amish novel, but this one was so different and refreshing, it has encouraged me to continue reading in this genre.

Back cover:

Readers of Kelly Irvin's Bliss Creek Amish novels will be overjoyed to discover her new series for lovers of Amish fiction: The New Hope Amish. In the first installment, Love Still Stands, a group of dedicated families leaves Bliss Creek to establish a new community in Missouri. Among them is Bethel Graber, a beautiful young woman with a passion for teaching. But after being disabled in a terrible accident, overseeing a classroom is out of the question...and romance seems a long-lost dream.

Bethel begins physical therapy, determined to make a fresh start. But that won't be easy in the town of New Hope, where the locals seem anything but eager to welcome their new Amish neighbors. Amid growing intimidation from the community, Bethel must find the strength to face her many challenges and the faith to believe that God still has a plan--and a love--for her life. 

Roses: 5.0
Love Still Stands


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The loss of a loved one is a life changing experience. Denise Hunter has taken that experience and given us a glimpse of how hard it is to "just get over it". An underlying theme is how easily a misunderstanding can happen when secrets are kept.

Barefoot Summer was well-written and kept me interested enough to keep coming back when I had to step away for other things. I didn't connect with Madison and Beckett as well as I would have liked, but their stories drew me in, and I loved Ms. Hunter's descriptions of being on the water--I could almost feel it, though it's been years.

Back cover:

Madison’s heart closed the day her twin brother died.

Since losing her twin, Michael, in a drowning incident, Madison has rejected the faith he lived by. Instead, she’s devoted her life to fulfilling Michael’s dream—winning the River Sail Regatta in their small Indiana town, Chapel Springs.

As she trains for the regatta, Beckett O’Reilly is teaching Madison to swim. But he’s keeping a painful secret from her—and as they grow closer, that secret threatens to upend their lives . . . and the lives of both their families.

Roses: 4.5
Barefoot Summer

~~~~~~~

I hope you found something to enjoy today.

Blessings,
Ginger

Review: No Way Out by Susan Sleeman

No Way Out by Susan Sleeman...in one word, riveting. This is the third book in The Justice Agency Series and lives up to its predecessors: Double Exposure and Dead Wrong (click the titles for my review, scroll down on the second one).

I was hooked from page one. I found it hard to set aside once I started and I expect you'll have the same trouble. Even though it's the third in the series, reading the first two are not necessary to understand the story line. I just love series' like that.

Back cover:

Who can she trust?Alyssa Wells has uncovered evidence that her police officer husband was murdered by his partner—a dangerous claim in a small town. After two tours in Iraq, protecting Alyssa and her children shouldn't be a problem for private investigator Cole Justice. Alyssa feels drawn to him, but how can she trust anyone after everything she's been through? Cole's sure his heart is closed off to love, but Alyssa and her children seem to have found a way in. As the killer draws closer, Alyssa realizes she's trusting Cole with more than her safety.

 5 roses



Blessings,
Ginger

Two reviews...

A Heart Made New by Kelly Irvin

Beautifully written story. It started a little slow, but overall I enjoyed the Annie and David's tale. While this is the second book in the series, I have not read the first and did not feel as though I'd missed something vital.

Back cover:

In the second novel of Kelly Irvin's Bliss Creek Amish series, readers will be delighted to return to a town and a family they've already come to love.

Annie Shirack is trying to fight her feelings for David Plank, a young Amish man who's struggling with an aggressive case of Hodgkin's lymphoma. David loves Annie too much to let her into his life, only, he fears, to leave her.

When a homeless young woman named Charisma and her two-year-old daughter, Gracie, show up in Bliss Creek, Annie welcomes them into the Shirack household and tries to help them establish a new life. But all the good deeds in the world can't change the ache in Annie's heart...or help her forget the man she loves.

Rating: 4 stars

Dead Wrong by Susan Sleeman

I do love a good suspense, and Susan has come through for me once again. Dead Wrong is the second book in The Justice Agency series, but you don't need to read Double Exposure to enjoy this book, though I suggest you do simply because it's good.

It has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, and enough romantic tension to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Back cover:

When her client and old college friend is murdered, P.I. Kat Justice knows the killer will come for her next. Her survival depends on finding her unknown enemy first…and working with homicide detective Mitch Elliot, her onetime crush. It'll take all her professional skills to ignore the sparks between them, but Kat can't allow the handsome cop to get close. She's seen too many people she loves die, so she vows just to do her job without getting emotionally involved. Yet keeping her distance may not be the best way to protect her heart—or their lives.

Rating: 5 stars

If you are interested in purchasing either of these books, please click the links below and help support this blog.

A Heart Made New

Dead Wrong

Blessings,

Ginger

Review: "Double Exposure" by Susan Sleeman

Romantic suspense at its finest. Susan Sleeman's "Double Exposure" met and exceeded my expectations. Lots of intrigue, and romance. Ms. Sleeman has done an excellent job of pulling us into the story from the very first sentence. 

The past that Jennie wants to keep hidden from Ethan defines who she is and the things she cares about, but holding onto the secret prevents her from living life to its fullest. You have to read the book to find out if she overcomes this obstacle and finds what she’s been searching for.

Another wonderful romantic suspense. I look forward to her next installment in The Justice Agency series.

Blurb:

Photographer Jennie Buchanan unknowingly captures a drug-cartel meeting on film. And now she has become a killer’s next target. Even worse, her only protection from the danger that threatens her life is the man who threatens her heart. Dodging bullets almost seems safer than facing the feelings stirred up by seeing former FBI agent and ex-boyfriend Ethan Justice again.

Ethan vows to safeguard Jennie from the deadly men on her trail. And for a second chance at Jennie’s love, he’s willing to risk anything to expose the truth—about the drug smugglers, the past and the future together he still wants.

For other books by Susan Sleeman, visit her webpage.

To purchase this book visit Amazon.com. By clicking on this link you help support this blog.

Blessings,
Ginger