Twilight at Blueberry Barrens... a book review

by: Colleen Coble
Series: Sunset Cove #3

Thomas Nelson Publisher

ISBN: 9781401690304
Available September 20, 2016: print, e-book, audiobook

Fiction / Christian / Mystery / Romance

Publisher's Description:

Kate Mason has devoted herself to caring for her family's blueberry barrens. But after her fields stop producing fruit, she's forced to come up with alternative ways to make a living. Renting out the small cottage on her property seems an obvious choice, but it won't be enough.

When entrepreneur Drake Newham shows up looking not only for a place to rent but also for a nanny for his two nieces, it's almost too good to be true. And maybe it is because Drake brings with him dangerous questions about who might be out to kill his family.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Twilight at Blueberry Barrens invites you back to Folly Shoals - a small town nestled on the shore of northeast Maine.  We are able to renew our "literary friendships with Claire, Kate, Luke and many others.  As Kate and her sister Claire are looking for the Puffin's nesting ground on the cliffs of Folly Shoals, Kate notices not one, but two lifeless bodies higher on the cliffs.  Who can they be? What happened? 

Since taking charge of his brother's two daughters, Drake believes he is being followed.  When his home is broken into, he decides to investigate the murders on his own.  After the sheriff determined the cause of his brother and sister-in-law's deaths as a murder/suicide, Drake arrives in Folly Shoals to spur the investigation of his half-brother and sister-in-law as murder, not a murder/suicide. 

Colleen Coble has once again created a story so real and intriguing that I read it in one sitting! Not only do you have the murder to solve, but two other "odd" happenings in Folly Shoals.  As the story lines intertwine and the attraction between Kate and Drake heats up, the pages cannot be read fast enough!

My rating:   A       4.5 out of 5 stars

I received a complimentary digital copy of Twilight at Blueberry Barrens from Thomas Nelson Publisher and NetGalley for my honest review.

Happy Reading,

     Ellen

Unlucky in Love... a book review

Unlucky in Love

by Maggie McGinnis

ISBN: 9781101967775

Series: Whisper Creek #4

Available: October 11, 2016

Publisher: Loveswept

Sold by: Random House

Genre: Romance

Publisher's Description:

After Alexis Maguire's wedding day comes and goes without a groom, she decides that it's time for a change. Tired of being the dependable, steady—and apparently boring—one, Alexis hopes that a cross-country road trip will help her loosen up and find her inner sparkle. Her first stop is the Whisper Creek Ranch, where the hot wranglers are sure to bring out her inner party girl. The trouble is, she can't stand pretending to be someone she's not—especially around the cowboy who tempts her to stay put.

Gunnar Peterson has spent six months working at Whisper Creek, and he's never been happier. Having grown up an army brat, he's ready to put down roots, and the only thing missing is a woman to share his life with. When Alexis blows into town, Gunnar thinks he may have met his match, despite the wild-child facade he sees right through. But Alexis swears she won't settle down anytime soon—so it's up to Gunnar to convince her that what she's looking for . . . is right here.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

From the first book Accidental Cowgirl, I enjoyed meeting the "ranch hands" and their way with the ranch's guests.  Each book invited me back to a place of family, warmth, and charm - a step back in time to overflowing hospitality.  Unlucky in Love is no different.  I was able to meet up with old "literary" friends and meet a few new ones along the way. 

This book focuses on Alexis and her determination to live life fully and to the brink.  What she learns along the way is a lesson to which many of us can relate!  Throw in a hot, down-to-earth cowboy, and the sparks are surely going to fly!

My rating:  A     /    4.5 out of 5 stars

I received a complimentary digital copy of Unlucky in Love from NetGalley and Random House Publishing for my honest review.

Happy reading,

     Ellen

Defender by Diana Palmer ... a book review

Defender

Series: Long, Tall Texans

ISBN-13: 978-0373789733
Publisher: HQN Books

Available: June 28, 2016

Publisher's Description:

The man who shattered her trust is back to protect her… New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer delivers a breathtaking story of second-chance love.

When Paul Fiore disappeared from Isabel Grayling's life, he told himself it was for all the right reasons. She was young and innocent, and he was her millionaire father's lowly employee.

Three years on, Paul is the FBI agent assigned to Isabel's case. Too late, he realizes what life in her Texas mansion was really like back then—and how much damage he did when he left.
Once love-struck and sheltered, Isabel has become an assistant district attorney committed to serving the law, no matter how risky it gets. But right now, the man she can't forgive is the one thing standing between her and a deadly stalker. She knows Paul won't hesitate to protect her life with his own. But if she can't trust herself to resist him, how can she trust him not to break her heart all over again?

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Oh my... once I began this book, I did not want to put it down!  Unfortunately, I did have to go to work and cook and clean..... my apologies, I digress!

Isabel and Merrie appear to have it all... a wealthy family, a doting father, personal bodyguards, and a loving housekeeper, Mandy Swilling.  As the story develops, we are drawn into the tension between Paul and Isabel, the girls and their father, and too many unanswered questions regarding the father and his business dealings.

As I neared the end of the book, I was enjoying how Diana Palmer was tying up all the different story lines.  Then, when I went to turn the page to the next chapter, I realized I was at the end of the book!  Since this ended with a cliffhanger, I look forward to the next book and continuing the story of Isabel, Merrie, Paul, and Mandy!

I received a complimentary digital copy of Defender from HQN Books and NetGalley for my honest review.

Happy reading,

   Ellen

Silent Sentry... a book review

Silent Sentry

by Theresa Rizzo

Available: April 3, 2016

ISBN: 9780989045

Rizzo Publishing

Suspense / Mystery thriller / Romance

Age range: 18 +

Publisher's Description:

Dr. Joe Scarfili runs. He’s a runner. It’s how he copes with emotional pain.

When his wife was murdered, he ran from violent Detroit to insular Grosse Pointe. He ran from his smothering, caring family to long hours in the operating room. But when he falls for Gianna, another run could cost him everything.

Nurse and entrepreneur Gianna Donnatelli is on the verge of making her dreams come true. Her company is poised to go public with a product guaranteed to revolutionize medical care and at the same time help revitalize Detroit, only she’s attacked, stalked, and flattened by an explosion. Then the danger escalates.

With Gianna’s life at stake, Joe can’t run. Despite the fact that he has no police or tech experience… Despite the fact that Gianna’s penchant for aiding Detroit’s underprivileged is the same kind of altruism that got his wife killed… Despite the fact that Gianna pushes all his insecurity buttons… This time, Joe will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

And Gianna protects those she loves just as fiercely. Together they’ll fight to save each other and their love... Or die trying.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

How does a young woman, raised in the affluent neighborhood of Grosse Point, end up living in one of Detroit's highest crime neighborhoods?  One that has a mind of her own to live among those who need a hand-up.

I loved this book... from the opening paragraph to the closing scene!  Theresa Rizzo has created characters so real that you feel you truly know them.  Add the well-researched information regarding the Mafia and the strong bonds of Italian families, and you have an award-winning combination.  Every time I thought I had the plot figured out, Theresa threw in more twists and turns in the story line which kept me guessing to the very end!

Silent Sentry is one of the best books I have read in a long time!  Thank you, Theresa, for pouring your creative talent into this wonderful story!

I received a complimentary digital copy of Silent Sentry from author Theresa Rizzo for my honest review.

Happy Reading,

    Ellen

Stars Over Sunset Boulevard... a book review

Stars Over Sunset Boulevard

by Susan Meissner

Penguin Random House LLC

January 5, 2016

ISBN 9780451475992

Women’s Fiction / Historical Fiction

Publisher’s Description:

“In this new novel from the acclaimed author of Secrets of a Charmed Life, two women working in Hollywood during its Golden Age discover the joy and heartbreak of true friendship.

Los Angeles, Present Day. When an iconic hat worn by Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind ends up in Christine McAllister's vintage clothing boutique by mistake, her efforts to return it to its owner take her on a journey more enchanting than any classic movie...

Los Angeles, 1938. Violet Mayfield sets out to reinvent herself in Hollywood after her dream of becoming a wife and mother falls apart, and lands a job on the film-set of Gone With the Wind. There, she meets enigmatic Audrey Duvall, a once-rising film star who is now a fellow secretary. Audrey's zest for life and their adventures together among Hollywood's glitterati enthrall Violet…until each woman's deepest desires collide. What Audrey and Violet are willing to risk, for themselves and for each other, to ensure their own happy endings will shape their friendship, and their lives, far into the future.”

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

I love reading Susan Meissner’s novels!  Her style of writing draws the reader into the lives of the characters as they share their story.  I find myself cheering them on in good times and walking alongside them in bad times.  I found myself relating to both the main female characters: Audrey and her desire to fulfill her dream, and Violet wanting a good man and family.  Each woman overcomes many obstacles on their way to happiness.

I enjoyed the storyline setting during the filming of Gone With the Wind.  I am not up on the history of the making of the film, but Susan Meissner seamlessly weaved the girls’ story in and around the set, filming, and the “behind the scenes” work.  I easily pictured the secretary pool and the trolley rides to and from work.

So, grab a copy of Stars Over Sunset Boulevard and get lost in glamorous times past!

I received a complimentary digital copy of Stars Over Sunset Boulevard for my honest review from Penguin Random House LLC and NetGalley.

Happy reading,

     Ellen

All Is Bright... a book review

All Is Bright

by Colleen Coble

A Hope Beach Christmas Novella

Publisher:Thomas Nelson 

Available October 2015

Christian fiction / Mystery / Suspense / Romance

Publisher's Description:

A romantic Christmas wedding at Tidewater Inn gives Delilah's unique gifts a chance to shine. But will her light be snuffed out before the bride and groom say 'I do'? A romantic, Christmas wedding at her seaside hotel gives Delilah a chance to shine with her unique gifts. But will her light be snuffed out before the bride and groom say “I do”?

As manager of the Tidewater Inn, Delilah Carter has been planning a spectacular Christmas wedding for her friends at the grand hotel overlooking the ocean. While picking up still more twinkly lights and some last-minute groceries for the reception dinner, a huge truck runs her off the freezing, wet roads into the dark night. Her car stops just short of an enormous tree and the truck speeds off into the night. Delilah escapes with her life and has almost convinced herself the whole thing was an accident, but then she begins to receive threatening phone calls. With the wedding just hours away, she’s distracted and anxious. Then Sheriff Tom Bourne stops by the inn and volunteers to help.

Tom has always had a soft spot for Delilah, and he’s determined to protect her. But he is pulled away by a bizarre Christmas stunt that has the neighborhood reeling, and Delilah is attacked again.  Will Delilah have to cancel the Christmas wedding at Tidewater Inn? And will Tom’s protection be enough to save Delilah from the shadowy figure looming in the background?

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

All Is Bright is another keeper for my bookshelf to revisit over the years!  I have enjoyed many of Colleen Coble's novels and this one did not disappoint.  Novellas concern me that the author is only able to scratch the surface of the story line, but that is not the case with All Is Bright.  Colleen Coble seamlessly develops the characters and the story line in a way that makes the reader feel as it you are reading a full novel.  I enjoy vising Tidewater Inn and those that reside there.

So, grab All Is Bright, your favorite warm beverage, and curl up with a heart-warming read that will give you a break from your own hectic life!

I received a complimentary digital copy of All Is Bright from Thomas Nelson and BookLook Blogger program for my honest review.

Happy Reading,

     Ellen

The Lost Codex... a book review

The Lost Codex

An OPSIG Team Black Novel

By Alan Jacobson

Available: November 3, 2015

Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media

Mystery / Thriller / Suspense/ Spies and Politics

ISBN-13: 978-1504003636

 

Publisher’s Description:

In a novel Jeffery Deaver has called “brilliant,” two ancient biblical documents reveal long-buried secrets that could change the world as we know it.

n 930 CE, a revered group of scholars pen the first sanctioned Bible, planting the seed from which other major religions will grow. But in 1953, half the manuscript goes missing while being transported from Syria. Around the same time, in the foothills of the Dead Sea, an ancient scroll is discovered—and promptly stolen. Six decades later, both parchments stand at the heart of a geopolitical battle between foreign governments and radical extremists, threatening the lives of millions. With the American homeland under siege, the president turns to a team of uniquely trained covert operatives including FBI profiler Karen Vail, Special Forces veteran Hector DeSantos, and FBI terrorism expert Aaron Uziel. Their mission: Find the stolen documents and capture—or kill—those responsible for unleashing a coordinated and unprecedented attack on US soil.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

I first met Karen Vail in Alan Jacobson’s novel Spectrum, published in 2014.  She works as an FBI profiler; and in this new book, she has teamed up with other FBI agents known as OPSIG operators (Operations support Intelligence Group) to carry out covert, deniable missions around the world.

This novel begins in Washington, DC and travels the globe in search of two ancient Biblical documents which could change the world.  It is fast-paced with many twists and turns along the way.  Once I was hooked on the prologue, I did not want to put it down! 

Fantastic, action packed novel with well-developed characters… live life on the edge with FBI profiler Karen Vail, Special Forces veteran Hector DeSantos, FBI terrorism expert Aaron Uziel, and many more!  I look forward to many more great books from Alan Jacobson.

I received this e-book from Open Road Media and NetGalley for my honest review.

Happy Reading,

         Ellen

Awake... a book review

Awake

by Natasha Preston

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Teens & YA, Mystery, Thriller

Available: August 4, 2015

ISBN 9781492618522

Publisher's Description:
Scarlett doesn’t remember anything before the age of five. Her parents say it’s from the trauma of seeing her house burn down, and she accepts the life they’ve created for her without question—until a car accident causes Scarlett to start remembering pieces of an unfamiliar past.

When a new guy moves into town, Scarlett feels an instant spark. But Noah knows the truth of Scarlett’s past, and he’s determined to shield her from it...because Scarlett grew up in a cult called Eternal Light, controlled by her biological parents.

And they want her back.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

At first, I did not know what to expect from this book.  I usually do not enjoy books in which the chapters are written from each character's point of view.  Yet, this technique did not leave me scratching my head or wondering what is going on. 

The idea of have no memories of the first four year of your life does not seem strange.  I do not have clear memories from my early years.  But when peculiar flash backs begin occurring after the car accident, Scarlett pushes her parents to reveal the truth of her early years.

Natasha Preston has penned  "a coming of age" story with a twist - boy meets girl with frightening, repressed memories.  This book has it all... suspense, mystery, and a bit of romance!  The storyline had me hooked from page one and did not end until I finished the last page!

I received a complimentary digital copy of Awake from NetGalley.com and Sourcebooks Fire for my honest review.

Happy Reading,

     Ellen

Once Upon a Cowboy... a book review

Once Upon a Cowboy

A Whisper Creek Novel, #3

by Maggie McGinnis

Random House Publishing Group

Available: June 30, 2015

ISBN: 9781101884966

Contemporary Romance

Publisher's Description:

 
Yoga instructor Jessalyn Alcott radiates peace, calm, and serenity—on the outside. Inside, she still feels like the broken, desperate girl from the trailer park. She's got dark secrets she can't share, which is why she never lets her relationships go beyond the third date. But when she travels to the Whisper Creek dude ranch for a friend's wedding, Jess is enchanted by a cowboy whose deep blue eyes, dimpled smile, and rock-hard body make it tough to remember why she keeps running scared.

Cole Driscoll has struggled to find his place on a family ranch where he's always played second fiddle. His future might be uncertain, but he's sure of one thing: He wants Jess by his side. Easier said than done. When it comes to getting close, she's full of excuses, and he longs to fix the hurt he sees in her eyes. Now that she's at Whisper Creek, there's nothing he wants more than to break down the walls around her heart and heal her pain with the power of love.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * *  *  *  *  *

Maggie McGinnis has outdone herself in Once Upon a Cowboy.  In this third book of the Whisper Creek series, we come alongside Jess, the last of the three college friends who are slowly marrying off to Whisper Creek men.  We meet all three in Accidental Cowgirl; but Jess' story in Once Upon a Cowboy brings home what many women survive: abuse from the ones who should be protecting them. 

Maggie has penned a heart-felt story of how the past not only affects your past, but also your present and future.  As Jess' story unfolds, she realizes she must face her demons from the past if she is ever going to move forward.  Unfortunately, I could relate to the emotions Jess was reliving.  I laughed with my character "friends," felt my heartbreak as Jess' story slowly unfolded, and cheered her on as she began trusting others.

Thank you, Maggie McGinnis, for bring these characters to life in your Whisper Creek series!

I received a complimentary e-copy of Once Upon a Cowboy from Random House Publishing and NetGalley for my honest review.

Happy reading,

     Ellen

Inside the O'Briens... a book review

An amazing and heart-rending read....

an insider's look showing how to live well, and die honorably, with Huntington's Disease.

by Lisa Genova

Publisher: Gallery Books

Available April 2015

ISBN 9781476717777

Medical Fiction

Publisher's Description:


Joe O’Brien is a forty-four-year-old police officer from the Irish Catholic neighborhood of Charlestown, Massachusetts. A devoted husband, proud father of four children in their twenties, and respected officer, Joe begins experiencing bouts of disorganized thinking, uncharacteristic temper outbursts, and strange, involuntary movements. He initially attributes these episodes to the stress of his job, but as these symptoms worsen, he agrees to see a neurologist and is handed a diagnosis that will change his and his family’s lives forever: Huntington’s Disease.


Huntington’s is a lethal neurodegenerative disease with no treatment and no cure. Each of Joe’s four children has a 50 percent chance of inheriting their father’s disease, and a simple blood test can reveal their genetic fate. While watching her potential future in her father’s escalating symptoms, twenty-one-year-old daughter Katie struggles with the questions this test imposes on her young adult life. Does she want to know? What if she’s gene positive? Can she live with the constant anxiety of not knowing?


As Joe’s symptoms worsen and he’s eventually stripped of his badge and more, Joe struggles to maintain hope and a sense of purpose, while Katie and her siblings must find the courage to either live a life “at risk” or learn their fate.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Never having read any of Lisa Genova's previous books, I was totally unprepared for the open and honest portrayal of a family living with Huntington's Disease... the ups, the downs, the anger, the fear.  We have been given a gift to not only learn about the disease itself, but also the challenges and unknowns for families living with this horrendous diagnosis.


Lisa Genova graduated valedictorian, summa cum laude from Bate College with a degree in Biopsychology and has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University.  With her training in the neurosciences and her wonderful storytelling, she has crafted a story with characters who could very well be our neighbors.  We are given an "insider's" look into the devastating physical and emotional challenges of families living with Huntington's Disease.


I look forward to reading Still Alice about a Harvard professor who suffers early onset Alzheimer's Disease.  Then, just maybe, I will see the motion picture created from the book.


I received a complimentary e-copy of Inside the O'Briens from NetGalley and Gallery Books for my honest review.


Happy reading,


    Ellen

Out of the Storm... a novella review

by Jody Hedlund

Beacons of Hope series

Bethany House Publishing

141 pages

Available Now!  FREE!

Publisher's Description:
Having grown up in a lighthouse, loneliness is all Isabelle Thornton has ever known--and all, she assumes, she ever will know. But when her lightkeeper father rescues a young man from the lake, her sheltered world is turned upside down.

Presque Isle Lighthouse, Michigan, 1854

"'Everyone's dead.' 
Isabelle Thornton shuddered at her father's words......Flotsam littered the beach around them, the remains of a steamer that had been ripped apart by the thrashing squall" (Chapter 1, page 2).


The novella introduces us to the Beacons of Hope series.
From the opening paragraph to the closing chapter, Jody Hedlund captured the harsh reality of living on the shores of the Great Lakes in Michigan.  The dangers, both natural and human, are woven into the story allowing the reader to gain a glimpse into the life of an 1850's lighthouse keeper.
 
Overall, I enjoyed the novella's setting, characters, and plot.  I was disappointed in the few romantic scenes that did not seem as believable as the rest of the story.

Enjoy Out of the Storm for free!  

Free Nook Book     Free Kindle Book

I look forward to reading more about the life and times of the Great Lakes' lighthouse keepers and their families in the series first book Love Unexpected in December 2014.

Happy reading!
     Ellen

Spectrum... a book review

Spectrum

by Alan Jacobson

The Karen Vail Series #6

ISBN: 9781497641938

Available: October 7, 2014

Publisher: Open Road Media

Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Publisher's Description:

New York City: home to world-renowned museums, theater, restaurants, iconic sports franchises. Central Park. Wall Street. And an infamous serial killer who’s terrorized the Big Apple for decades.

The year is 1995 and the NYPD has just graduated a promising new patrol officer named Karen Vail. The rookie’s first day on the job is anything but easy when she finds herself at the crime scene of a young woman murdered in an unusual manner. Vail is unsure of what she’s looking at or what it means—but it’s a case that will weigh on her mind for nearly twenty years.

As the years pass, Vail’s career takes unexpected twists and turns—as does the case that’s come to be known as Hades. Now a skilled FBI profiler, will Vail be in a better position to catch the killer? Or will Hades prove to be Karen Vail’s hell on earth?

The character who has captivated readers worldwide—and who won the praise of literary giants Michael Connelly, James Patterson, and Nelson DeMille—returns in a story that captures the experiences that shaped the revered profiler and made her the top cop she is today.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

This is the first Karen Vail Series that I have read.  I was not disappointed!  Since the storyline followed her law enforcement career from rookie cop to FBI profiler, I did not feel lost at all.  Having never lived in NYC, Alan Jacobson has written this book so realistically that I feel as though I am a local New Yorker.  His research into not only the setting and characters, but also the crimes and police work shine through in this terrific novel.

The multiple storylines, which at first seem odd, are woven together so well.  I can't say enough about this book.  I will be reading the first 5 books in the Karen Vail series very soon!

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A+ all the way!

I received a complimentary e-copy of Spectrum from NetGalley and Open Road Media Publisher for my honest review.

Blessings,

    Ellen

Miracle in a Dry Season... a book review

Miracle in a Dry Season

ISBN: 9780764212253

Bethany House Publishers

Available: July 29, 2014

Genre: Fiction / Christian / Romance

Publisher's Description:
In a Drought, It's the Darkest Cloud That Brings Hope
It's 1954 and Perla Long's arrival in the sleepy town of Wise, West Virginia, was supposed to go unnoticed. She just wants a quiet, safe place for her and her daughter, Sadie, where the mistakes of her past can stay hidden. But then drought comes to Wise, and Perla is pulled into the turmoil of a town desperately in need of a miracle.

Casewell Phillips has resigned himself to life as a bachelor...until he meets Perla. She's everything he's sought in a woman, but he can't get past the sense that she's hiding something. As the drought worsens, Perla's unique gift divides the town in two, bringing both gratitude and condemnation, and placing the pair in the middle of a storm of anger and forgiveness, fear and faith.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

1954 - - - an unwed mother - - - -  a mysterious gift

I enjoyed the first novella, Appalachian Serenade, by Sarah Loudin Thomas.  This novella introduced some of the characters found in Miracle in a Dry Season.  As we get reacquainted with the original characters, Sarah Loudin Thomas introduces us to more of the townspeople of Wise, West Virginia.  The characters are well-developed and their behavior gave a true sense of the life and times of the Appalachian people.  The story made me miss the simpler times when people spent time together – square dances and community suppers.

As much as I enjoyed Perla’s “gift,” it did not fit with the rest of the story.  Overall, I look forward to reading more of Sarah Loudin Thomas’ novels in the future.

My rating:  A-

4 out of 5 stars

I received a complimentary e-copy of Miracle in a Dry Season from Bethany House Publishing and NetGalley for my honest review. 

Blessings,

    Ellen

A Cowboy's Christmas Promise... a book review

A Cowboy’s Christmas Promise

ISBN: 9780553394566

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group Loveswept

Available: November 18, 2014

 

Publisher’s Description:

Boston veterinarian Hayley Scampini tends the city’s pampered pets but dreams of the rural life of a country vet. She’s single and determined to stay that way, convinced that love isn’t permanent enough to trust. Then a vacation to the Whisper Creek dude ranch introduces her to Daniel McKee, a sexy single dad who runs the kind of veterinary practice she aspires to—and rattles her conviction to keep men at a distance.

Managing a thriving practice, coping with the loss of his wife, and fighting a custody battle with his in-laws over his twin daughters, Daniel couldn’t be more overwhelmed. Hayley is a godsend, accompanying him in the field and winning over his girls. It doesn’t take Daniel long to realize he’s falling for this woman, hard and fast. So before Hayley returns to Boston, he extracts a promise: that she will return to Whisper Creek for Christmas. It’s the perfect time and place to show Hayley that the promise of a beautiful life together is something she can believe in.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

I was so excited to realize this was a continuation from Maggie McGinnis’ book Accidental Cowgirl published April 30, 2014.  I enjoyed returning to Whisper Creek Ranch for Kyla’s wedding.   This book focuses on Hayley and her determination to remain single… and happy.  I curled up with the book and laughed and smiled and welcomed home some great friends!  Okay, okay… I know they are just my literary character friends, but I do so enjoy getting lost in their stories.

My rating:           A             4.5 out of 5 stars

I received a complimentary e-copy of a Cowboy’s Christmas Promise from NetGalley for my honest review. 

Blessings,

 

    Ellen

Seagrass Pier... a book review

Seagrass Pier

Available: July 1, 2014

ISBN: 9781401690083

Fiction / Christian / Suspense / Romance

Series: Hope Beach Series, #3

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

 

Publisher’s  Description:

In a secluded corner of Hope Beach, one woman must decipher a stranger’s memories . . . before they cost her everything.

Elin Summerall was one of the lucky ones. Not only did she get a heart transplant, but the donor was a perfect fit. A miraculously perfect fit.

But when Elin begins having violent flashbacks—and vivid dreams of being strangled—she realizes that she has been the recipient of more than just a new heart . . . Elin is remembering her donor’s murder.

Her strange affliction has attracted some unwanted attention: from the press, from the authorities . . . and from the killer himself. Now, living alone with her young daughter and aging mother, Elin is being stalked—by a man she’s only met in her nightmares.

The police are dubious of her story, but one off-duty FBI agent agrees to help her: Agent Marc Everton.

Now, in a remote cottage on Hope Island, Elin and Marc must probe the secrets buried in her borrowed heart. And there’s no time to waste. One man is desperate to silence her—before she remembers too much.

 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

The transplant brought her life ---- and the donor’s memories may bring her death.

 

In the third book in the Hope Beach Series, we meet Elin, the central character, as she learns to walk a difficult path in her life.  She is a widow who has recently undergone a heart transplant – the blessing is turning into a curse.   Why is Elin having vivid nightmares of her donor’s murder?  And why, if the police don’t believe her, does the murderer set his sights on Erin?

She moves to Hope Island to begin anew with her 4 year old daughter.  The 100-year old home is filled with treasures of days gone by including an old diary from the original owner’s widow.  Add Elin’s mother who is suffering front dementia and you have rich storylines apart from the murder / stalker mystery! 

 

My rating: 6 out of 5 stars

Can I do that?  YES!  I just did… this book is that good!

I received a complimentary e-copy of Seagrass Pier from Thomas Nelson Publishing for my honest review.

 

Blessings,

   Ellen

 

“Contentment is found in your heart, Elin.  It’s not in a profession or in a relationship.  Your roles don’t define who you are.  You define your roles.” - Elin's mother (Ch. 9 – Seagrass Pier)

 

Maverick Sheriff... a book review

ISBN: 9780373697823 

Available August 19, 2014

Harlequin Intrigue

Romance / Intrigue / Mystery / Suspense

 

Publisher’s Description:

Delores Fossen kicks off her new series, Sweetwater Ranch, with a Texas lawman, a beautiful district attorney…and the child they'll risk everything to protect.

 

Saving a little boy's life reopens painful wounds for Texas sheriff Cooper McKinnon. This could be his son, whose loss has haunted him for two years. But Cooper has a formidable adversary in Jessa Wells. She's the adoptive mother—and she'll do anything to hold on to Liam. 

 

It's cruel justice that the man who shares Liam's rare blood type has an unsolved murder in his own family. And the danger's far from over. Fighting her desire for Cooper, Jessa has no choice but to join forces with the maverick cowboy. Jessa knows working together is their best shot at keeping the child safe. But it's the possibility of a future alone that breaks Jessa's heart.

 

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I have always enjoyed the Harlequin Intrigue books.  What could be better than a mystery filled with suspense and romance!  This fast-paced novel has more than one mystery to solve, but only one is resolved in book 1 of this new series, Sweetwater Ranch, by Delores Fossen.  I look forward to reading more about the McKinnon family and its other mysteries hinted at in Maverick Sheriff.  This series will have 8 books total.  Book 2, Cowboy Behind the Badge, is expected to be released October 2013.  I know what I’ll be reading in October!  What about you?

 

Read part of chapter one HERE!

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

 

I received a complimentary e-copy of Maverick Sheriff for my honest review from NetGalley and Harlequin Intrigue.

 

Blessings,

  Ellen