Acceptable Risk by Lynette Eason

Sarah Denning is in the army, a journalist, working to help the oppressed in the Middle East. She is captured for a time and then finally rescued.

She is returned to the States and because her father is a powerful general, she falsely receives a psychiatric discharged due to PTSD. He has always been controlling, and Sarah knows she will never forgive him for this.

While she is in the hospital recovering from her physical wounds, she sees and hears some things that are not quite right. Then she learns that her brother has committed suicide.

Can she trust her own judgment right now? Is the medication messing with her head? Does she really have psychiatric issues or is something not quite adding up.

Lynette always delivers This is a fast-paced thrill that will keep you guessing.

*I received a free copy of this book from Revell Reads in exchange for this review – my fair and honest opinion.

These Nameless Things by Shawn Smucker

This was a very intriguing book. When I started it, I thought, “This is definitely going to end badly, leaving me hanging forever…”

I was proven wrong. However, this book was a different style than I am used to reading. I’m definitely a novice when it comes to fantasy! It was very eerie at times, but also hopeful. The words were beautifully written and the author definitely has a gift for imagery.

All in all, this is a story of choices, letting go of guilt, and feeling hope for the future. I did not particularly enjoy this book, but I appreciated it, and I recognize the great skill taken to write it. If you like fantasy, you would enjoy it.

*I received a free copy of this book from Revell Reads in exchange for this review – my fair and honest opinion.

A Dream Within a Dream by Mike Nappa & Melissa Kosci

This was a very intriguing suspense that was a bit difficult to follow. It took about 4 or 5 chapters for me to understand what was going on. After that, I was hooked! It was a great read – lots of action, lots of surprises.

Trudi Coffey is a private investigator. She has been divorced from Samuel Hill for quite some time, but suddenly everyone is asking her where he is, including his boss, the police chief. Trudi figures he is working undercover for the CIA again, and that he has gotten himself into some kind of trouble.

A special agent with the FBI who is fixated on a 1990 museum heist mysteriously becomes interested in Trudi’s whereabouts, and Trudi begins to feel she may be in some kind of danger. After Samuel shows up, they both find themselves deeper than before. Their enemies keep referring to someone as “Dream.” Who is he? What does the heist have to do with any of this?

GREAT book!

*I received a free copy of this book from Revell Reads in exchange for this review – my fair and honest opinion.

What Momma Left Behind by Cindy K. Sproles

What a sweet story, set in the backwoods of the Appalachian Mountains. Life was hard in the late 1800s. Disease was rampant. The mountain communities were poor. This is the engaging story of 17 year-old Worie Dressar. After her momma dies, she struggles to carry on with what her momma had done secretly for many years – feed orphan children.

Worie finds herself fighting for children she has never met, gardening to raise enough to feed them, and uncovering secrets that threaten to turn her world upside down. But throughout this journey, she finds out the meaning of God’s love and forgiveness, and  makes some new friends along the way.

This is a precious book, and you will be glad if you read it. The characters are well-developed. The setting is so vivid! It makes you feel like you’re truly in the mountains!

*I received a free copy of this book from Revell Reads in exchange for this review – my fair and honest opinion.

Stories That Bind Us by Susie Finkbeiner

Oh what a sweet book! I would sum it up as a “heartwarming tragedy.”

It is very simply written, following Betty Sweet through a few difficult months of her life. Being just 40 years old, she shockingly becomes a widow. Betty married into the Sweet family, owners of their own bakery.

There are some flashbacks in the story, letting us know how Betty had come to meet her husband Norman. There are lots of stories of her sister Clara, and how they grew up. These scenes tell us of their mother’s mental illness, and how they all suffered because of it.

Betty has been estranged from her sister Clara for several years and did not know how to inform her of her husband’s passing. But a few weeks after the funeral, Clara shows up, with her son in tow. Clara is not well, so Betty takes care of her little boy Hugo. As the book title tells us, Clara tells precious tales to her nephew as he watches his mother suffer through depression of her own. These stories come alive and give Hugo courage and hope.

The ups and downs of this book are very emotional. Through this story, you see the sweetness of family, and the precious moments that really matter in life.

*I received a free copy of this book from Revell Reads in exchange for this review – my fair and honest opinion.

Standoff by Patricia Bradley

I greatly enjoyed this book. Set in Natchez, Mississippi, park rangers provide a very intriguing plot and background.

Brooke is one day away from becoming a full-fledged park ranger. Wishing to follow in her dad’s footsteps, she is disappointed that she can’t ride along with him the night before her swearing in. What she doesn’t realize, is that he has learned something that has put him in danger. He loses his life that night.

As soon as Brooke is sworn in, she is ready to investigate her father’s murder. A long-lost friend, Luke, comes to town, and is suspiciously turning up everywhere Brooke investigates. Brooke has been dating a wealthy widower, who is also a politician. Luke is immediately jealous of Jeremy, and begins to act over-protective although he has no right to. Of course, this love triangle draws you in, and you don’t know who Brooke will choose.

The book moves pretty quickly, and draws you into the story. One thing that was confusing, was the amount of characters. There are other rangers, police officers, friends, and it was difficult for me to keep them straight. But it only slightly affected my enjoyment of it.

I always enjoy Patricia Bradley’s books and look forward to the next in this series.

*I received a free copy of this book from Revell Reads in exchange for this review – my fair and honest opinion.

 

Silent Shadows by Natalie Walters

Pecca loves her small-town life in Walton. Since she escaped her dangerous life in Texas, she continues to desperately hide those secrets from her favorite person: her son Maceo. She is a nurse at a rehabilitation center for veterans. She loves her job, and her friends.

A new resident comes to the Home, apparently keeping secrets himself. Captain Colton suffers from a disorder that makes him believe his life is over. He struggles to picture any future that is worth anything.

But when it becomes clear that Pecca and Maceo are in danger, Captain Colton begins to overcome his self-pity and find a new purpose: to protect them. Will his disorder allow him to work as he once did?

This is a great story with a surprise ending. Great characters. Sweet setting.

*I received a free copy of this book from Revell Reads in exchange for this review – my fair and honest opinion.

The Happy Camper by Melody Carlson

I was drawn in simply by the cover of this book. And since my family is actually renovating an old camper, I just had to read this book. And it did not disappoint!

Dillon finally realizes her love life is going nowhere, and also quits her big city tech job… all in one night. She rushes back home, knowing she will be welcome by her recently widowed grandpa, even if her “flaky” mom is less than happy.

Dillon quickly settles into life on the farm with her grandpa, and even sees a new side of her mom. For her birthday, Grandpa gives her this camper and Dillon quickly makes it “home”, pouring her time and energy into fabrics and color pallets that will provide a cozy refuge.

She gets some unexpected help from the town’s hardware store owner, a confirmed bachelor.

As Jordan helps Dillon with her project, they quickly become friends. But will Dillon’s ex-boyfriend’s unexpected appearance push Jordan away? Should Dillon give him another chance?

This is a charming book. And if you love the camping life, you will relate and smile as each new touch is added to Dillon’s vintage trailer!

*I received a free copy of this book from Revell Reads in exchange for this review – my fair and honest opinion.

 

Out of the Embers by Amanda Cabot

What a charming story! You will feel all the feels of “home” as you read this story!

Evelyn is an orphan and due to a tragic fire, once again finds herself without a place to call home. But this time, she has young Polly, only the two of them have been spared.

But due to her past parents’ suspicious deaths, Evelyn constantly feels she is being followed by the Watcher and takes Polly on the move. They finally settle in Mesquite Springs and begin to build a new life together. 

As new friends become like family, Evelyn’s past begins to find her again. She wants to trust in her new friend Wyatt and his family, but struggles to try to keep everyone safe.

It’s a classic love story, and had an unexpected twist at the end. Great characters, even greater setting. Beautiful story!

*I received a free copy of this book from Revell Reads in exchange for this review – my fair and honest opinion.

Chasing the White Lion by James R. Hannibal

I read the prequel to this book a few months ago and LOVED it, so I was thrilled to sit down with this nail-biter! Mr. Hannibal has a very intriguing style. In his books, I feel as if I am in a high-tech suspense movie.

The plot is very rich. At times, I got a little lost in the technical jargon, and got confused with a few names. But overall, the storyline is easy to keep pace with. Talia Inger continues her career with the CIA, but continues to suspect an insider is assisting in some international crime. The “team” is still assembled and since Talia is required to take some vacation days after an injury, she joins back up and the team goes on their next heist.

I was hoping the main characters would resolve a little differently, but the plot did resolve in a really cool way. There is a lot of action and adventure. Once I started this book, I neglected my life until I finished!

*I received a free copy of this book from Revell Reads in exchange for this review – my fair and honest opinion.