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Book Review — Guilty Until Innocent

26 Jun

This month my book club is reading Guilty Until Innocent by Robert Whitlow. We are big fans of his, although the last couple of books we read by him were not our favorites. I think that might change after we read this one. Whitlow goes back to his legal drama roots in this thoughtful offering. Find out more about it and my thoughts below.

Justice has been served . . . unless the accused is innocent. In this gripping legal drama, Whitlow expertly weaves themes of grace, faith, and the law with a plot that is sure to keep you guessing until the end.

Life in prison is often a nightmare, but Joe Moore believes he is just where God intends him to be. Twenty-five years ago, while high on meth, he makes one terrible mistake after another, culminating in the brutal murder of a young, influential couple. Today, Joe is a radically different person, thriving in his role as a ministry leader and role model to his fellow inmates.

After being fired from two previous law firms, young lawyer Ryan Clark and his wife, Paige, have settled into a small North Carolina town. Hired by a distant relative, Ryan is committed to connecting with the right clients and handling the mundane tasks while his cousin Tom takes on the high-profile cases.

But when critical health issues land Tom in the hospital, Ryan is forced to take the helm at the law firm–just in time for the town’s biggest case in history to be reopened. Joe Moore’s niece has been doing some digging and, convinced that her incarcerated uncle is innocent, insists that Ryan relaunch the investigation immediately.

After Ryan meets with Joe, both men receive threats that put their own lives–as well as the lives of those around them–in danger. It appears that together they’ve pulled back a dark curtain that hides a deeper evil than anyone in town suspects exists. Now they must determine if continuing with the case is worth the risk–and if the cost of proving one man’s innocence is too great when the lives of so many others would be placed in mortal danger.

Dive into a world where faith meets the law in this heart-pounding legal drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Pick up Guilty Until Innocent and find out if the cost of justice is worth risking everything. You won’t want to miss out on this thrilling story of grace, redemption, and the relentless pursuit of truth.

Robert Whitlow grew up in north Georgia. He graduated magna cum laude from Furman University with a BA in history in 1976 and received his JD with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1979. A practicing attorney, he is a partner in a Charlotte, NC law firm. He and his wife Kathy have four children and nine grandchildren.

Robert began writing in 1996. His novels are set in the South and include both legal suspense and interesting characterization. It is his desire to write stories that reveal some of the ways God interacts with people in realistic scenarios.

My Impressions:

Robert Whitlow has long been a favorite of mine. I like that he blends legal drama (a great genre) with strong spiritual themes. His novel, Guilty Until Innocent did not disappoint. The novel features a young lawyer on his third chance to make it in his profession. Sound familiar? This scenario is a favorite of John Grisham’s, and Whitlow is often compared to him. But the difference between the two authors is the faith element that Whitlow skillfully inserts. The case that Ryan Clark is drawn into concerns a man imprisoned for murder over 20 years before. No one is disputing Joe Moore’s guilt, but there may be some extenuating circumstances that could impact his sentence. It is interesting that of the three POVs in this novel — Ryan, his wife Paige, and Joe — only Joe is a Christian. Fully content with his life, Joe seeks to bring the light of God in the very dark world in which he lives. The case is intriguing and the danger escalates the more Ryan digs into the evidence. There is mystery and suspense, twists and turns, and a surprising ending. The themes of the effectiveness of prayer, guilt and forgiveness, and trusting God’s plan are very strong and will definitely create great conversation with my book club group.

Guitly Until Innocent is a good choice if you like legal drama with a good bit of suspense. Grab some friends and read this one!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased the ebook from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Mini-Book Review — Under The Magnolias

16 Jun

Lots of people have recommended T. I. Lowe‘s books to me. I read Indigo Isle for book club last January, and it was excellent! All of my group loved it. So, it was a no-brainer to pick up Under The Magnolias. My goodness what a great read! This coming-of-age novel set in the 1980s is filled with heart and heartbreak, love and longing, and a faith message that was subtle yet strong. The story follows Austen Foster and her family through her growing up years on a tobacco farm in South Carolina. From the beginning, Austen is faced with almost impossible expectations placed on her by family obligations. A father with mental health issues, newborn twins in need of care, and the younger siblings to shelter and encourage take up a lot of Austen’s time and energy. The secondary characters that enter the Foster’s lives are wonderful in their quirky and broken selves as well. The story really is about how God takes the broken and makes it beautiful in His own time — emphasis on His timing. I laughed and cried during this book, but the HEA (healing ever after last chapter) was a testament to faith, perseverance, and the wisdom of leaning on the people of God. I cannot recommend this novel enough!

Highly recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

This night not only marked the end to the drought, but also the end to the long-held secret we’d kept hidden under the magnolias.

Magnolia, South Carolina, 1980
Austin Foster is barely a teenager when her mama dies giving birth to twins, leaving her to pick up the pieces while holding her six siblings together and doing her best to stop her daddy from retreating into his personal darkness.

Scratching out a living on the family’s tobacco farm is as tough as it gets. When a few random acts of kindness help to ease the Fosters’ hardships, Austin finds herself relying upon some of Magnolia’s most colorful citizens for friendship and more. But it’s next to impossible to hide the truth about the goings-on at Nolia Farms, and Austin’s desperate attempts to save face all but break her.

Just when it seems she might have something more waiting for her―with the son of a wealthy local family who she’s crushed on for years―her father makes a choice that will crack wide-open the family’s secrets and lead to a public reckoning. There are consequences for loving a boy like Vance Cumberland, but there is also freedom in the truth.

Weaving together themes of hope, grief, mental health, and faith into a beautiful and moving novel, Under the Magnolias, T. I. Lowe’s gritty yet tender and uplifting coming-of-age tale reminds us that a great story can break your heart . . . then heal it in the best possible way.

T. I. Lowe is an ordinary country girl who loves to tell extraordinary stories. She is the author of 21 novels, including the #1 international bestseller and critically acclaimed Under the Magnolias and her debut breakout Lulu’s Café. Her novel Indigo Isle won the prestigious Christy Award in the contemporary romance category and was subsequently named Christy Award Book of the Year. She lives in coastal South Carolina with her husband and family.

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Mini-Book Review — The Summer Guests

12 Jun

In my quest to read books in anticipation of a trip to Maine, I read books set in . . . Maine. 😉 My husband and I really enjoyed The Summer Guests, the second book in Tess Gerritsen‘s Martini Club series. This mystery features retired CIA agents happily living out their golden years in small town Maine. But true to form, they can’t help getting involved in local police investigations. Their roles were not as large in this second book, but their knowledge, intuition, and nosiness played a big part in discovering whodunit. Long held secrets, decades old scandals, and a modern day abduction are the focus of the story. The book kept my husband and I guessing as we listened to the audiobook on a weekend road trip. There are a lot of suspects and a lot of motives to sort through. The characters are great and are a big plus in the enjoyment of the book. Young acting police chief Jo is coming into her own, and I loved how the seasoned seniors encourage and support her. This is not a cozy mystery, though. There is plenty of nefarious goings on and dark elements. And while there is adult language, this book is a recommended read. I can’t wait to read what these characters are up to in book 3, The Shadow Friends. If only I didn’t have to wait until November 2026!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

From New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen comes a chilling follow-up to The Spy Coast, plunging the Martini Club into the search for a missing teen—with a startling connection to their own pasts.

When former spy Maggie Bird retired to the seaside hamlet of Purity, Maine, she settled in for a quiet life with breathtaking views. But enemies from her past soon threatened to destroy everything.

Maggie survived, thanks to her wits and the collective intelligence of the Martini Club, the circle of ex-CIA friends in her cocktail-sipping book club. Their handiwork, however, caught the attention of young police chief Jo Thibodeau. Now Jo and her neighborhood ex-spies have an uneasy alliance.

After a teenager vanishes—and Maggie’s neighbor becomes the prime suspect—she joins the investigation, determined to prove her friend’s innocence. But the girl’s wealthy family pushes for an arrest. And when authorities discover a long-dead corpse in a nearby pond, the case becomes doubly complicated, with unthinkable ties to long-buried secrets.

As Jo grapples with two unexplained mysteries, the Martini Club races to uncover the truth behind shadowy secrets…before more lives are lost.

Internationally bestselling author Tess Gerritsen took an unusual route to a writing career. A graduate of Stanford University, Tess went on to medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, where she was awarded her M.D.

While on maternity leave from her work as a physician, she began to write fiction. In 1987, her first novel was published. Call After Midnight, a romantic thriller, was followed by eight more romantic suspense novels. She also wrote a screenplay, “Adrift”, which aired as a 1993 CBS Movie of the Week starring Kate Jackson.

Tess’s first medical thriller, Harvest, was released in hardcover in 1996, and it marked her debut on the New York Times bestseller list. Her suspense novels since then have been: Life Support (1997), Bloodstream (1998), Gravity (1999), The Surgeon (2001), The Apprentice (2002), The Sinner (2003), Body Double (2004), Vanish (2005), The Mephisto Club (2006), and The Bone Garden (2007). Her books have been translated into 31 languages, and more than 15 million copies have been sold around the world.

As well as being a New York Times bestselling author, she has also been a #1 bestseller in both Germany and the UK. She has won both the Nero Wolfe Award (for Vanish) and the Rita Award (for The Surgeon.) Critics around the world have praised her novels as “Pulse-pounding fun” (Philadelphia Inquirer), “Scary and brilliant” (Toronto Globe and Mail), and “Polished, riveting prose” (Chicago Tribune). Publisher Weekly has dubbed her the “medical suspense queen”.

Now retired from medicine, she writes full time. She lives in Maine.

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Book Review — Midnight on The Scottish Shore

21 May

My book club members are big fans of Sarah Sundin. As soon as she releases a new historical novel, we know we have to read it! This month we read Midnight on The Scottish Shore. I love that the book’s setting is on the homefront during WWII. Plus, there are spies! Find out more below.

In a time of war, danger lurks beneath the water–and in the depths of the human heart

As the German war machine devours the Netherlands, the only way Cilla van der Zee can survive the occupation is to do the unthinkable–train to become a spy for the Nazis. Once dispatched to Britain, she plans to abandon her mission and instead aid the Allies. But her scheme is thwarted when naval officer Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie finds her along the Scottish shore and turns her in to be executed.

Yet perhaps she is more useful alive than dead. British intelligence employs her to radio misleading messages to Germany from the lighthouse at Dunnet Head in Scotland–messages filled with naval intelligence Lachlan must provide. If the war is to be won, Lachlan and Cilla must work together. But how can he trust a woman who arrived on his shores as a tool of the enemy–a woman certain to betray both him and the Allied cause?

Sarah Sundin enjoys writing about the drama and romance of the World War II era. She is the bestselling and Christy Award-winning author of Midnight on the Scottish Shore(February 2025), Embers in the London Sky(2024), The Sound of Light (2023), Until Leaves Fall in Paris (2022), When Twilight Breaks(2021), and several World War II series.

A mother of three, Sundin lives in Southern California and enjoys speaking to community, church, and writers’ groups. Sarah serves as program director for the West Coast Christian Writers Conference.

My Impressions:

I don’t know how she does it, but Sarah Sundin continues to write fresh novels set during WWII. Her latest historical romance set in Scotland showcases the military operations that kept the homefront safe. There are also spies! What a great combination for a page turning reading experience. Main character Cilla van der Zee is an earnest Dutch woman intent on resisting the occupying Nazis. But when things become dangerous in the Netherlands, she comes up with a scheme to get out of the country by pretending to be a spy for Germany. Her plan may be daring, but she never anticipates that getting caught in the UK will entail being seen as the enemy. I loved Cilla’s character — she’s honest (except for the lies she tells 😉 ) and brave, but also impulsive and hardheaded. She’s flawed and entirely relatable. She’s given two choices: become a double agent or risk execution. Since she has never wavered in her allegiance to the Allied cause, she takes on the role. Cilla struggles with being seen as the enemy. I can only imagine no one believing me. But, in a time of war, it’s to be expected. The very serious Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie is one of those who doesn’t trust Cilla, but he knows how it feels. Accused of cheating in college, he serves in the Navy with the shame of his past following him. Both are viewed with distrust and must prove themselves over and over. Themes of forgiveness and reconciliation also run throughout the narrative. The historical details are interesting — there was a lot I was not aware of, and the romance is sweet as the two go from enemies to friends to more. There’s plenty of action in the novel too. Spies on both sides are actively working for their causes.

If you like historical romance set during WWII, then Midnight on The Scottish Shore is a perfect choice. There is a bit of loose thread, so I anticipate seeing more of Cilla and Lachlan in the next great book by Sundin.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I was provided a complimentary copy by NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review — The Bounty Hunter’s Surrender

19 May

Do you like historical romance set in the old West? If you do, you need to check out The Bounty Hunter’s Surrender by KyLee Woodley. Find out more below.

An expecting widow, a rugged bounty hunter, and a set of secrets that might shatter her fragile heart.

The death of Aubrey Willot’s wealthy but abusive husband left her with an unborn child, an empty chateau, and the last name of a criminal. When she learns he double-crossed a ruthless business associate, she’s forced to accept the protection of the handsome and daring bounty hunter tasked with finding her late husband’s fortune. Though Aubrey swore never to trust another man, she can’t help but be drawn to the bounty hunter’s rugged charm.

After a tragic mistake cost him everything, Nathan Reed spent years running from his past. Now, he needs funds to care for his orphaned niece, and quickly. The chance to retrieve a set of stolen documents offers an opportunity he can’t resist. He’ll find those papers and claim the reward, even if it means deceiving the alluring young widow.

As danger rises, Audrey’s strength, honesty, and compassion break down Nathan’s defenses, daring him to embrace a future he never imagined-a loving wife and a family of his own. But when his secrets are exposed, will his chance at redemption and Aubrey’s heart slip through his fingers?

KyLee Woodley is a cheery romantic who loves to write about bygone days and heartwarming romance with a pinch of adventure. She teaches preschool at a lab school in Texas, where she lives with her husband and their three teenage children. On weekends, KyLee cohosts and produces the Historical Bookworm Show, a steadily growing author interview podcast for history lovers and readers of historical fiction.

​In her spare time, she cares for a rescue dog—Lucky Dog—a feisty feline named Hazel, and two adorable Boston Terrier puppies. She listens to Cricket Country and K-Love radio, reads classic books with her children, and watches Marvel movies with her husband, who might resemble Superman.

My Impressions:

KyLee Woodley transports her readers to the old West in her novel The Bounty Hunter’s Surrender. With a strong faith message with themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and finding purpose, this historical romance has everything to keep you engaged from the beginning. Aubrey Willot is in need of a protector and finds one in Nathan Reed. As Aubrey struggles with trust and Nathan struggles with forgiving himself for choices made in the past, they are drawn to each other immediately. I liked these two main characters. They are flawed and struggle with overcoming past mistakes and failures, but they are determined to do what is right and just. I loved how they complimented each other in many ways. The setting is old California, specifically San Francisco. While the town prospers and leads the way, there are still swindlers and bank robbers and kidnappers galore — plenty of excitement! And you are going to love the twists and turns of this story as the two fight for freedom and independence. The faith message is very strong, and Aubrey and Nathan build and grow on their early foundations. While The Bounty Hunter’s Surrender can be read as a standalone novel, you may want to read book one in the Outlaw Hearts series, The Bandit’s Redemption. Characters from that book make an appearance in this one.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Mini-Book Review — The Grand Design

15 May

My book club is reading The Grand Design by Joy Callaway this month. This historical novel features trendsetting interior designer Dorothy Draper. It is a fictionalized account of Ms Draper’s debutante days and her renovation of the legendary Greenbrier following WWII. I was disappointed in this book. It was heavy on romance, and light on her design theories and inspirations. I also didn’t much like any of the characters. And it is heavily fictionalized. While I don’t mind that in a novel in which little is known about the main character’s personal life, Draper is famous, and many of the things in the novel are just plain made up. It just seemed like a fluff piece to me. As I state in other reviews of books I don’t particularly like, opinions on books are subjective. There are a lot of glowing reviews of this book. Use your judgment on whether it may be the book for you. Joy Callaway is a gifted writer, so this book will not keep me from trying more by her.

Audience: Adults.

(I borrowed this book through the Kindle Unlimited program. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Dorothy Draper has one last chance to prove she chose the right course for her life. With the restoration of The Greenbrier resort at her fingertips, Dorothy aspires to give new life to a place that’s sentimental to her, and to bring a new spark to interior design.

In 1908, young Dorothy Tuckerman chafes under the bland, beige traditions of her socialite circles. Only the aristocracy’s annual summer trips to The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia spark her imagination. In this naturally beautiful place, an unexpected romance with an Italian racecar driver gives Dorothy a taste of the passion and adventure she wants. But her family intervenes, sentencing Dorothy to the life she hopes to escape.

Thirty-eight years later, as World War II draws to a close, Dorothy has done everything a woman in the early twentieth century should not: she has divorced her husband—scandalous—and established America’s first interior design firm—shocking. Now, Dorothy returns to The Greenbrier with the assignment to restore it to something even greater than its original glory. With her beloved company’s future hanging in the balance and brimming with daring, unconventional ideas, Dorothy has one more chance to give her dreams wings or succumb to her what society tells her is her inescapable fate.

Based on the true story of famed designer Dorothy Draper, The Grand Design is a moving tale of one woman’s quest to transform the walls that hold her captive.

Joy Callaway is the international bestselling author of The Grand Design, The Fifth Avenue Artists Society, and Secret Sisters. She lives in Charlotte, NC with her family.

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Book Review — Stealing Magnolias

14 May

You are going to love the debut novel Stealing Magnolias by Leslie Kirby DeVooght! It has so much to adore — great characters with sparking chemistry, sweetness and sass, fabulous southern small town vibes, and a spot on faith message that will speak to your heart. It releases 5/20/25, so don’t delay. Pre-order now!

When Wren Frazier heads south to honor her grandmother’s final wish, she finds five unexpected challenges, one grumpy (but handsome) neighbor, and maybe—herself.

Although an artist, Wren packed away her brushes and paints and sought a practical career as an interior designer in Chicago. She’s always put herself last, happy to please everyone around her. But with a team of dedicated co-workers and a small town of quirky characters supporting her, she’s forced to give herself a little attention. As her artistic heart starts to awaken, Wren finds herself rediscovering the joy of creation and living authentically.

But while she’s exploring the enchanting Georgia Low Country, creating beautiful paintings, and taking a chance on love, she uncovers a secret that shakes the foundation of her newfound happiness. With the revelation threatening to ruin the delicate balance Wren has only begun to realize, will she give up her fairytale and return to her reality?

Book 1 in the Magnolia Bluff series. Love is always blooming at Magnolia Bluff!

Leslie Kirby DeVooght writes women’s fiction inspired by romcoms, coastal Georgia, and fried okra! While Leslie and her family live in Jacksonville, Florida, they often visit her hometown of St. Simons Island, Georgia, where she loves to go for long walks on the beach. A graduate of Florida Southern College and Mercer Law School, Leslie is always revising her life from prosecutor to judge to PTA president to author of happily-ever-afters.

My Impressions:

Debut novel? I can hardly believe it. Stealing Magnolias is a fabulous first offering from Leslie Kirby DeVooght. I’m afraid this review is going to be gushing, because I loved everything about this book. Main character Wren Frazier is a people-pleaser with serious doubts that her interests and gifts are anything but frivolous. I loved that the grandmother who knew her and loved her so well, challenges her to fly. A talented artist and interior designer, Wren finds herself in her dream location — a small southern town complete with welcoming, and to be honest, a bit quirky residents, that just so happens to be the home of the man of her dreams. What else could Wren want or need? Well, grandma knows best, and DeVooght has crafted a lovely story full of heart. You get sweet and sassy with this book, the perfect combination for a contemporary romance. Plus there’s a strong faith thread that challenged the characters, and this reader) to examine just what God intends for their lives. Along the way there’s fun references to all things southern, which pleased this southern gal’s heart. Among the fun quotes, the sips of sweet tea, and all the cheese straws and fried okra consumed, the reader gets a story that is framed in faith and grace. Did I say I loved it?! 😉

I can’t recommend Stealing Magnolias enough and am looking forward to more adventures in love and laughter in Magnolia Bluff.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to the author for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Mini-Book Review — Clammed Up

8 May

In my quest to read books set in travel destinations, I chose Clammed Up, a cozy mystery by Maine resident Barbara Ross, for my upcoming trip to Maine. Maine has long been on my bucket list, and I am thrilled finally to be going there! Clammed Up, set in a small Maine coastal town whetted my appetite for the sights and sounds of the area and the culinary delicacies awaiting me. The first in the Maine Clambake Mysteries series, this novel introduces the reader to the Snowden family and their hugely popular clambakes. But with their business in trouble they desperately need a successful season. That seems unattainable as they become embroiled in murder and mayhem. The first person point of view of main character Julia suits the book as she is involved in not only the family business, but the investigation. There are lots of twists and turns, family drama, and a hint of a romance to come. I did not figure out whodunit, a plus in my book. If you are looking for a cozy mystery with regional flavor, then Clammed Up is a good choice. Please note: there is a bit of mild profanity.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Summer has come to Busman’s Harbor, Maine, and tourists are lining up for a taste of authentic New England seafood, courtesy of the Snowden Family Clambake Company. But there’s something sinister on the boil this season. A killer has crashed a wedding party, adding mystery to the menu at the worst possible moment. . .

Julia Snowden returned to her hometown to rescue her family’s struggling clambake business–not to solve crimes. But that was before a catered wedding on picturesque Morrow Island turned into a reception for murder. When the best man’s corpse is found hanging from the grand staircase in the Snowden family mansion, Julia must put the chowder pot on the back burner and join the search for the killer. And with suspicion falling on her old crush, Chris Durand, the recipe for saving her business and salvaging her love life might be one and the same. . .

Barbara Ross is the author of the Maine Clambake Mysteries and the Jane Darrowfield Mysteries. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at http://www.barbararossauthor.com.

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Mini-Book Review — Cold Dead Night

28 Apr

My book club chose Cold Dead Night by Lisa Phillips as our April selection. Phillips was a new-to-us author for many in the group. We love suspense, but got a bit more than we wanted in this dark and twisting thriller. Many thought the images were disturbing and chose to read only in daylight hours. 😉 This aside, we found a lot of the storyline hard to believe, so that hindered our reading experience. While this book was a no for us, not every book is for everybody. We obviously, were not the target audience. But we did all finish it — we really wanted to know who was behind all the mayhem. I urge you to check it out for yourself. Phillips is a very popular author (one in our group has read numerous books by her and loved them), and Cold Dead Night has overall positive reviews.

Audience: Adults.

(I borrowed the ebook through Kindle Unlimited. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

The FBI betrayed her. Now they need her.

Private Investigator Kenna Banbury lost everything two years ago at the hands of a serial killer. From the ashes of that encounter, she’s built a life she believes in, searching for the lost and forgotten all over the western US.

Bringing her own brand of justice.

When a series of murders drags her into an FBI investigation, Kenna finds herself back in the place where it all went wrong. Struggling to make sense of the case, Kenna’s past and present collide in a deadly plot that risks another betrayal and threatens to shatter everything she’s built.

Kenna faces the darkest part of her past in this first book of a brand-new series from Lisa Phillips.

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Book Review — The Other Sister

24 Apr

The Other Sister JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

The Other Sister

Title: The Other Sister
Author: Jessica R. Patch
Publisher: Love Inspired Trade
Release Date: April 22, 2025
Genre: Thriller, Domestic Thriller, Psychological Thriller

She thought she was the only one lying about her identity. Until she stepped into her sister’s life.

Charlotte Kane has always dreamed of a different life, one where she isn’t living paycheck to paycheck. An existence worlds away from the chaos of her own. Then her estranged mother dies, and Charlotte makes a stunning discovery—she has an identical twin who was given up for adoption.

Acelynn Benedict is polished, successful and seems to have everything Charlotte yearns for—a wealthy, doting family in Savannah, a handsome boyfriend, a great career. She’s just as surprised as Charlotte to learn she has a sister. But when tragedy hits and Charlotte is forced to assume Acelynn’s identity in a desperate moment, she uncovers something altogether darker…

No one in her sister’s life is quite who they seem to be. And every discovery leads Charlotte deeper into a web of deadly secrets. Charlotte may have wanted Acelynn’s life, yet now that she’s living it, she wants out. But if she reveals the truth about herself, it will mean returning to her old life—and she’s already a dead woman there.

Excerpt

“One last thing before I go.” He steps onto my porch, then turns, and his dark eyes are dancing again. “I really like that paint you picked for me. Got a guy coming out this weekend to strip the old wallpaper off. Thanks.”

He doesn’t trust me. He knows I’ve been in his office, and he thinks I’m lying in regard to this case, yet his compliment is genuine. His eyes, sincere. I have no idea what to make of this man. Why didn’t he throw out the samples? Why show up on my doorstep like this? Other than to shake me up. I know what he thinks about me. Liar. And he’s not wrong. I am a liar. A deceiver. And many other things.

I feel guilty simply by being in his presence, and I haven’t done anything sinister in regard to Dru. Okay, the snooping was wrong, and I’m genuinely remorseful for that.

I’m not who he thinks I am, except part of me wonders if he knows I am an imposter. He’s just doing his job, but his job happens to threaten me and my future.

“You did? You do? You know you can paint over wallpaper. Saves time.”

“I could.” He eyes me in that weird way again. “But when you paint over another layer like that, it eventually peels, and what’s underneath is revealed. A real eyesore that you wanted covered up in the first place. I find stripping away the old, even if it appears pretty, is the right way to go about it. It’s so much easier to work with a completely bare source. It’s fresh and clean and ready for color. I don’t mind the time it takes. I’ll be happier with the results.” He shrugs one shoulder.

My heart pinches. “Are you actually talking about paint?”

He rubs his chin. “Do you think I’m talking about paint?”

Always a question with a question. “I don’t know.”

He reaches out and takes my cross necklace in his hand. I don’t flinch at his move into my personal space—not like I would with any other man. As quickly as he holds it, he drops it and steps back. “Or maybe you do.”


My Impressions:

What a twisting ride Jessica R. Patch takes readers on in the suspense thriller, The Other Sister! This is my first book by Patch, but it won’t be my last because this book really kept me on my toes. The novel follows Charlotte Kane, a product of a horrible mother and a foster system that failed her. Charlotte has desperately tried to find her place, trying to fit in as best as she can. When presented with the ultimate new life — trading places with a twin sister she never knew of — Charlotte convinces herself she is doing what she has to do. I found Charlotte to be a really interesting character. I wanted so much to like her, and for the most part I did, but she fools herself while fooling others. Her character grows a lot, but in the end she is forced to make the right decisions. If things had gone differently, would she have made the same choices? The novel presents a lot to ponder. As to the events surrounding Charlotte’s story, things aren’t all they seem in genteel Savannah, Georgia. Charlotte’s story is juxtaposed with another point of view from an unnamed character that gets creepier and creepier. Honestly, I knew I was missing something important, but I never guessed until the end just what that was. How perfect is that for someone who figures out whodunit more often than not. If you like creepy and thought-provoking, then The Other Sister is the book for you.

Recommended.

Audience: Adult.

(Thanks to Just Read Publicity Tours for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Harlequin | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available

Her Darkest Secret The Garden Girls

About The Author

Jessica R. Patch

Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author, Jessica R. Patch has penned over 27 novels and is known for her dry wit and signature twists whether she’s penned a romantic suspense or a dark, twisty thriller. When she’s not getting into fictional mischief with her characters, you can find her cozy on the couch in her mid-south home reading books by some of her favorite authors, down the street at the Mexican restaurant, or collecting recipes to amazing dishes she’ll probably never cook.

Connect with Jessica by visiting jessicarpatch.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to her email newsletter “Patched In” updates and receive a FREE short thriller.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback of The Garden Girls & a $20 Amazon gift card!

The Other Sister giveaway JustRead Tours

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 22, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 29, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

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