If You Liked . . . Between The Sound And Sea

28 Nov

Between The Sound And Sea by Amanda Cox was a big hit with my book club. I especially liked how the author explored past regrets and the actions we take to make things right. The Outer Banks setting and the WWII connection were also big pluses. So if you liked this book too, here are a few more books to read.

All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner

When Annie Jacobson’s brother Mike enlists as a medic in the Army in 1967, he hands her a piece of paper with the address of their long-estranged father. If anything should happen to him in Vietnam, Mike says, Annie must let their father know. 

In Mike’s absence, their father returns to face tragedy at home, adding an extra measure of complication to an already tense time. As they work toward healing and pray fervently for Mike’s safety overseas, letter by letter the Jacobsons must find a way to pull together as a family, regardless of past hurts. In the tumult of this time, Annie and her family grapple with the tension of holding both hope and grief in the same hand, even as they learn to turn to the One who binds the wounds of the brokenhearted.

Author Susie Finkbeiner invites you into the Jacobson family’s home and hearts during a time in which the chaos of the outside world touched their small community in ways they never imagined.

By Way of The Moonlight by Elizabeth Musser

Two courageous young women, tied together by blood and shared passion, will risk everything to save what they love most.

For as long as she can remember, Allie Massey, a gifted physical therapist, has dreamed of making her grandparents’ ten-acre estate into a trauma recovery center using equine therapy–a dream her grandmother, Nana Dale, embraced wholeheartedly. But when her grandmother’s will is read, Allie is shocked to learn the property has been sold to a developer.

Decades earlier, headstrong Dale Butler’s driving passion is to bring home the prized filly her family lost to the Great Depression, but with World War II looming, she’s called upon in ways she never could have imagined. And while her world expands to include new friends and new love, tragedy strikes close to home one fateful night during the Battle of the Atlantic, changing her life forever.

As Nana Dale’s past comes to light in Allie’s search for answers, Dale’s courage and persistence may be just what Allie needs to carry on her grandmother’s legacy and keep her own dreams alive.

The Discovery by Dan Walsh

He inherits the house of a legend—and the secrets that lived inside.
In an old wooden box in a Charleston estate lies the story of a lifetime.
Was the greatest story his grandfather ever told one he kept to himself?


When Michael Warner inherits his grandfather’s historic Charleston home, he steps into more than just a beautiful house—he steps into the shadow of a legend. Gerard Warner was a literary icon, known for his brilliance on the page and his silence off it. He rarely gave interviews, avoided the spotlight, and took his private life to the grave.

Or so everyone thought.

While settling into the home where Gerard penned his greatest works, Michael stumbles upon something unexpected: a forgotten manuscript—one that doesn’t read like any of the others. It’s a love story set in wartime, full of passion, secrets, and sacrifice. But as Michael keeps reading, he begins to suspect there’s more at stake than a lost novel. What he discovers will challenge everything he thought he knew—about his grandfather, his family, and even himself.

The Discovery is a rich, emotionally layered novel about the cost of secrets, the unexpected ways the past can reach into the present, and the sacrifices made to forge a love that lasts a lifetime.

Some secrets don’t fade with time—they are just waiting to be discovered.

Mini-Book Review — Target Acquired

26 Nov

Target Acquired is the second book in Lynette Eason‘s Lake City Heroes series. While it can be read as a standalone novel, I think it’s best to read the books in order. The series features an ensemble cast allowing readers to have early introductions to upcoming main characters and getting a glimpse into the HEA lives of others. In this novel, the Lake City SWAT team is front and center, especially Kenzie, the only woman on the squad. The work is tough and made even tougher by opposition from her own team members. But as outside threats multiply, most of the team pull together to protect their own. I liked the inside look at the specialized and highly trained team. Just like a military company the members become a family of sorts. Of course this is romantic suspense, so two of the members become very close. 😉 Fans of the genre will like the fast-paced plot with echoes from the past, the twists that keep you guessing, and the growing relationship of the mains. The book is a solid addition to any romantic suspense library.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

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

She’s finally exactly where she wants to be. 
Unfortunately, she’s also in the crosshairs of a killer.


After years of training, tough-as-nails Kenzie King has earned her place as a tactical medic on a SWAT team. But not everyone on the all-male team accepts her. Rumor is, she got the position not because of what she could do but because of who she knew. Which means she has to work harder and longer than anyone else to prove herself.
  
Cole Garrison is a man with deep faith who is finally ready to settle down and build a family of his own–if he can find the right person, that is. Kenzie sure has set off his interest meter, but trouble seems to follow in her wake. Since she joined the team, someone has begun to ambush and pick off team members one by one.
  
It’s all hands on deck to discover the culprit and end the killing. Can Kenzie and Cole put aside their differences and work together as a team? Or will their budding attraction be snuffed out by a sniper’s bullet?


Award-winning, best-selling author, Lynette Eason writes for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line and for Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Her books have hit the Publisher’s Weekly, CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won numerous awards such as the prestigious Carol Award, the Selah, the Daphne, the IRCC award and more. Lynette is married, has two children, and lives in Greenville, SC.

Top 10 Tuesday — Thanksgiving Freebie

25 Nov

Happy Tuesday! This week TTT bloggers are posting about Thanksgiving and thankfulness. I have done a lot of these posts through the year and just couldn’t seem to come up with anything fresh. So . . . I am spelling out THANKGIVING with titles from books I am thankful for. The authors created books that made me smile, laugh out loud, and cry. They made me think and examine and ponder. They entertained and educated. So a big thanks to all on my list!

Top Book Titles That Spell Thanksgiving

T — Truth Be Told by Patricia Raybon

H The Heart of Bennet Hollow by Joanne Bischof DeWitt

A — The All American by Susie Finkbeiner

N — The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner

K — The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan

S — The Stories We Carry by Robin Pearson

G — Guilty Until Innocent by Robert Whitlow

I — The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz

V The Vanished by Cara Putman

I Indigo Isle by T. I. Lowe

N — Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright

G Gardins of Edin by Rosey Lee

Mini-Book Review — The Crown Conspiracy

24 Nov

The Crown Conspiracy by Connie Mann was a finalist for the mystery/suspense/thriller category of the Christy Awards this year. As a fan of the genre, I knew I wanted to read it. What I got was an international suspense with ties to history and the art world, an action-packed political intrigue, and a unique plot that included an all female shadow organization that fought for endangered women. Oh, and there’s great chemistry between the two main characters that left me wanting more, as in, more adventures for the two. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The race through the streets and palatial homes of European cities made me feel I was right in the midst of all the action. This one was a true page-turner! And highly recommended!

Highly recommended.

Audience: Adults.

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

She’s a master at spotting a forgery . . . and knowing how to create one. But can she solve a decades-old mystery?

The media spotlight is the last thing art thief and forger Sophie Williams needs. But when one of three long-missing royal portraits turns up in Germany at her best friend’s art gallery, the spotlight is exactly what she gets. Since the tragic deaths of Princess Johanna of Neuhansberg and her two children forty years ago, the whereabouts of these portraits have been unknown . . . and the timing of their reappearance—just days before a new prince’s coronation—reignites questions surrounding the infamous accident.

Then Sophie’s best friend vanishes, and a rumor about hidden treasure connected to the paintings surfaces, seemingly confirmed by a cryptic message on the back of the first canvas. Convinced that finding the other two portraits will lead to her friend, Sophie begins a twisty investigation that pits her against other ruthless treasure hunters, a handsome investigator who seems to dog her trail at every turn, and a mysterious group that offers help, wearing an emblem identical to one on the painting.

From Germany’s grand castles and soaring cathedrals through the Alps to the canals of Venice, Sophie must choose her allies carefully if she hopes to find the portraits, rescue her best friend—and perhaps save a throne—before time runs out.

Connie Mann is a licensed boat captain and loves writing romantic suspense stories set in Florida’s small towns and unspoiled wilderness. She is the author of the Florida Wildlife Warriors series (Beyond Risk, Beyond Power, and Beyond Fear), the Safe Harbor series (Tangled Lies, Hidden Threat, Deadly Melody), as well as Angel Falls and Trapped! She has lived in seven different states but this self-proclaimed weather wimp has happily called Florida home for more than twenty years.

When she’s not dreaming up plotlines, you’ll find “Captain Connie” exploring the beaches along the Florida coast and captaining eco tours on the Indian River Lagoon in New Smyrna Beach.  She is also passionate about helping women and children in developing countries break the poverty cycle and build a better future for themselves and their families.

She and her husband love hanging out with family and friends and heading off to explore new places. If those days include boating, so much the better.

Visit Connie online at: http://www.conniemann.com.

First Line Friday — Specters in The Glass House

21 Nov

Happy Friday! I reviewed Specters in The Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright last week, but failed to post the first line in a timely fashion. So here it is — the first line of an atmospheric dual timeline novel with all the spookiness you could love. It’s a great line of an equally great book!

Death had always been fashionable.

AN OMINOUS BUTTERFLY HOUSE. A SINISTER LEGACY. AN UNTRACEABLE KILLER.

In 1921, Marian Arnold, the heiress to a brewing baron’s empire, seeks solace in the glass butterfly house on her family’s Wisconsin estate as Prohibition and the deaths of her parents cast a long shadow over her shrinking world. When Marian’s sanctuary is invaded by nightmarish visions, she grapples with the line between hallucinations of things to come and malevolent forces at play in the present. 

With dead butterflies as the killer’s ominous signature, murders unfold at a steady pace. Marian, fearful she might be next, enlists the help of her childhood friend Felix, a war veteran with his own haunted past.

In the present day, researcher Remy Shaw becomes entangled in an elderly biographer’s quest to uncover the truth behind Marian Arnold’s mysterious life and the unsolved murders linked to an infamous serial killer. Joined by Marian’s great-great-grandson, can Remy expose the evil that lurks beneath broken wings? 

Or will the dark legacy surrounding the manor and its glass house destroy yet another generation?

Jaime Jo Wright, multi award-winning author–including the Christy and Daphne du Maurier awards–is a coffee-fueled and cat-fancier extraordinaire. She has entwined her life with the legendary Captain Hook, residing serenely in Wisconsin’s rural woodlands. Her literary vocation involves penning chilling Gothic tales, a baffling change from that of Austenites, with a strong preference to the master of dark, Edgar Allan Poe. Two mischievous urchins adorn their family, who keep their mother on her toes – providing an exhilarating amount chaos.

Visit her at: http://www.jaimewrightbooks.com and listen to her podcast MadLit Musings on your favorite podcast player or at http://www.madlitmusings.com.

Book Review — The Heart of Bennet Hollow

20 Nov

When I learned that Joanne Bischof DeWitt had written a retelling of Pride And Prejudice, I was all in! There are some difference between the classic Jane Austen novel and The Heart of Bennet Hollow, but the essence of the story is there. DeWitt’s version is fresh and faith-filled, and I absolutely loved it!

New River, Virginia. 1904. Lizbeth Bennet longs to preserve her family’s farm, securing a future for her and her sisters, a difficult task in their Appalachian coal mining town. Money is scarce, and Lizbeth is determined to find a way without giving up treasured pieces of her family’s legacy. But when the mine is put up for sale, it’s clear change is approaching. A contingent of coal barons descends on the town to investigate whether the mine is worth their investment, among them a young man rumored to be a very rich, eligible bachelor.

William Drake arrives focused on business and keeping his distance from the townspeople, especially those living on land entangled with the mine, including a farmer by the name of Bennet. As William digs through legal issues, his struggle to weigh the potential financial gain against what is right for the community grows more complicated when he meets one of the Bennet daughters.

Despite an awkward first meeting, Lizbeth and William continue to cross paths, and soon Lizbeth questions her first impression of the man she believed to be proud and indifferent. But just as their friendship begins to evolve, a revelation shakes Lizbeth’s tenuous trust, and she learns all may not be as it seems. To determine what is true, and step toward a love she’s barely dared dream of, Lizbeth must confront her own prejudices . . . and decide whether the future she’s always imagined is the one her heart truly wants most after all.

A Christy and Carol Award winner, Joanne Bischof DeWitt writes deeply layered fiction that tugs at the reader’s heartstrings. She lives in California with her new husband and their six children making her a big fan of conversations, laughter, and large dinner tables.

My Impressions:

I am a sucker for a Jane Austen knock-off or, in proper literary terms, a variation. I fell in love with Austen’s books 30ish years ago, and wanted more. So I turned to the many, many adaptations that are available. The Heart of Bennet Hollow is a new acquisition. Joanne Bischof DeWitt’s fresh take on Pride and Prejudice is a great mix of the classic story and the very American setting of Appalachia. The author matches the characters and plot of P&P with her own style of storytelling. I loved that the characters were a bit more balanced in this novel. No extreme embarrassments or interference in others’ love lives. The two main characters are instantly likable, and this reader appreciated how their relationship grew from grudging admiration to respect to love over the course of the novel. The Appalachian coal country setting of the early 1900s was very interesting. My own grandfather was a coal miner in Virginia, so the glimpse into what my family’s life may have looked like was a real treat. DeWitt includes a strong faith-thread into the narrative. The characters’ actions were informed by their faith in God — concern for the lives of others was at the forefront of their decisions. And the romance! DeWitt does justice to the love story all Austen fans love.

I highly recommend The Heart of Bennet Hollow, even if you are not an Austenphile. It’s a great historical romance that stands on its own.

Highly recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Book Review — To Outwit Them All

19 Nov

There is something about the month of November that makes me want to read books set during the early years of our nation. To Outwit Them All by Peggy Wirgau is just such a book. Set during the years of the American Revolution, it presents the intriguing story of the spies who helped win the war.

Betty Floyd’s uncle risked his life when he signed the Declaration of Independence, yet she is the epitome of British loyalty and social grace in 1779. Attempting to ignore the war, she attends New York’s balls and soirees with the Crown’s officers, but the city is a dangerous place for someone with Patriot ties. When a soldier she has befriended is murdered at a British prison, Betty is driven to choose sides and join General Washington’s covert spy group, the Culper Ring.

Her social calendar provides the perfect backdrop to dance with the enemy, and she catches the eye of the charming Major John André, Britain’s Director of Intelligence. Garnering timely information for the Patriots becomes a never-ending balancing act, amid heightened collision between duty to her country and deepening feelings for André. When the slightest misstep could expose her and the entire Ring, a traitorous plot conducted by Benedict Arnold unfolds, and Betty is led to the very brink of death. Will she outwit the enemy, or will her flirtations with danger cost her everything?

Peggy Wirgau loves true stories from the past and writes through the eyes of history’s unsung heroines. Her first novel, The Stars in April, is based on the true story of a twelve-year-old Titanic survivor. The book is the recipient of several awards and honors, including a Starred Review from School Library Journal and the Pageturner Award Longlist. Her newest novel, To Outwit Them All, is inspired by the true story of the only female member of George Washington’s spy ring during the American Revolution. To Outwit Them All is also a Pageturner Book Award Finalist.

Peggy and her husband are Michigan natives and now make their home in Colorado. They have two children and three small grandchildren. Peggy is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Historical Novel Society, and Colorado Authors League. When she isn’t writing, baking, or gardening, she enjoys speaking to book clubs and anywhere readers gather.

My Impressions:

To Outwit Them All, a historical novel rich in detail, explores the puzzle of who the still unidentified lady member of George Washington’s Culper Spy Ring really was. Nothing is really known about the only female member, Agent 355, of the ring that helped turn the tide of the Revolutionary War, though many have their theories. Wirgau presents a fictional case for Elizabeth “Betty” Floyd who was a cousin of Culper, Jr., Robert Townsend. It is interesting that the members of the spy ring kept their identities secret even after the war was concluded. But that may be the nature of spies! The author does a good job of bringing the times to life for the modern reader. (Although some of the phrasing seemed a little too modern — Betty’s cousin getting on her last nerve, for instance.) New York City is the setting, complete with all that surrounded the occupation of the British Army — entertainments for the officers and the horrific conditions of captured rebels. I really liked the history displayed in this novel. The theory of Betty Floyd’s part in spying on the British and her relationship with spymaster British John Andre is well-developed and plausible. I didn’t really like Betty all that much for most of the book. She seemed very naive and generally clueless as to the real dangers associated with her activities, even as she is warned repeatedly that her impulsiveness could prove fatal not only to herself. But she certainly grows in maturity when confronted with the stark realities of her work within the spy ring. Her story certainly kept the pages turning! (Please note: this book is marketed to the general public, however, it does reflect a Christian worldview. There are a couple of instances of profanity.)

While historians may never discover Agent 355’s identity, To Outwit Them All is an intriguing what if. If you like historical fiction set during the early years of America, then you should definitely check out this book.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I read this book through the KU subscription program. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Top 10 Tuesday — Books Based on Classics

18 Nov

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is modern day classics — contemporary books that will one day be recognized as classic pieces of literature. Honestly, I am just not feeling this topic so I am going in another direction. Shocking, I know. I am going with books that are based on or inspired by classics, ones I have read (denoted with an asterisk) and those that I’d like to. Let me know if you would read any of these. Sorry/not sorry for all the Jane Austen-inpired books.

For more on-topic posts, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Books Based On/Inspired By Classics

Dear Mr. Knightley (Daddy Long Legs) by Katherine Reay*

The Heart of Bennet Hollow (Pride And Prejudice) by Joanne Bischof DeWitt*

Jane Fairfax (Emma) by Joan Aiken*

The Lady’s Guide to Death And Deception (Pride And Prejudice) by Katherine Cowley*

Longbourne (Pride And Prejudice) by Jo Baker*

March (Little Women) by Geraldine Brooks

Mrs. Elton in America (Emma) by Diana Birchall*

The Murder of Mr. Wickham (various Austen novels) by Claudia Gray*

Unmarriageable (Pride And Prejudice) by Soniah Kamal

Wide Sargasso Sea (Jane Eyre) by Jean Rhys

Mini-Book Review — Shattered Sanctuary

17 Nov

In my opinion no one writes serial killer novels better than Nancy Mehl! Shattered Sanctuary, the first book featuring former policewoman-turned-author Erin Delaney has all the creep-factor you could want. Set in the atmospheric Smoky Mountains, this mystery/suspense is very twisty. I suspected everyone in the small tourist town! Erin has a lot to deal with — grief and guilt — when she heads to a vacation retreat with friend Kaely Quinn-Hunter (yes, that Kaely!) to help put the past to rest. But a murderer stalks them both. Mehl’s characters are often damaged and/or flawed making their faith journeys complex. I loved Erin and was intrigued how her PTSD impacted her life and work and struggle with God. I also loved how Kaely reached out to her on God’s prompting. There are very strong faith themes in this book and God’s sovereignty is front and center. You really get a lot in this book!

So if you are looking for a thought-provoking novel with lots of great mystery and suspense, then check out Shattered Sanctuary.

Highly recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I bought this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Grappling with the aftermath of a tragic incident that altered her life, ex-police officer and bestselling mystery author Erin Delaney finds solace in the tranquility of a cabin nestled deep in the Smoky Mountains. But her restful stay is shattered when cries pierce the night, hinting at a lurking presence haunting the woods. When local police chief Adrian Nightengale seeks her help with a carefully arranged murder scene, she is thrust back into the world of crime solving. As they delve into the investigation, Erin’s intuition reveals chilling truths about the killer’s motives and strategically perfected methods.

Joined by the enigmatic Kaely Quinn-Hunter, a former FBI behavioral analyst, Erin not only embarks on a quest to stop the merciless serial killer, but also confronts the revived ghosts of her past. In a race against time, Erin must defeat her own demons while outmaneuvering a cunning killer or risk becoming the next victim in this deadly game of cat and mouse.

Nancy Mehl lives in Missouri, with her husband Norman, and her puggle, Watson. She’s authored over fifty books and is currently at work on a new FBI suspense series for Bethany House Publishing.

All of Nancy’s novels have an added touch – something for your spirit as well as your soul. “I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing,” Nancy says. “It’s a part of me and of everything I think or do. God is number one in my life. I wouldn’t be writing at all if I didn’t believe that this is what He’s called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan especially for your life, and there is nothing you can’t overcome with His help.”

You can find out more about Nancy by visiting her Web site at: http://www.nancymehl.com. She also is active on the Suspense Sisters: http://www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com and on FaceBook!

First Line Friday — The Vanished

14 Nov

Happy Friday! Today I am featuring The Vanished by Cara Putman, a mystery/suspense involving stolen art with roots in the past. If you liked Monuments Men or Woman in Gold, then check this one out.

Here’s the first line:

What have I done?

Janae Simmons left the small town of Kedgewick, Virginia, ten years ago to pursue her legal career and never looked back–until a professional mistake leads her to her grandmother’s historic carriage house and to the town where her past threatens to find her. The quiet streets echo with her grandfather’s sterling reputation, one that conflicts with fresh questions that claw at Janae, launching her on a reluctant journey to unearth his secrets. When her new job at a local law firm doesn’t live up to expectations, she wonders if coming home was the right decision.

Carter Montgomery starts his art preservation career with the only job he can get–director at the Elliott Museum of Art. At least Kedgewick is a nice enough town to provide him and his nephew with a safe place to grieve the loss of Carter’s sister. But Carter’s calm days disappear when an elderly woman claims two paintings in the museum’s collection were stolen from her family during World War II.

Carter enlists Janae’s help to unravel the legal labyrinth of art ownership, and the peaceful facade of Kedgewick morphs into a hot bed of secrets. When an attorney turns up dead and Janae uncovers another painting, what began as a simple legal issue spirals into a race against time. As the web of intrigue tightens, the duo must confront a looming question: What dark truths lie beneath the surface, waiting to be exposed?

The award-winning, best-selling author of more than 35 books, Cara Putman graduated college at 20 and completed her law degree at 27. FIRST for Women magazine called Shadowed by Grace “captivating” and a “novel with ‘the works.’” Cara is active at her church and a full-time Clinical Associate Professor on business and ethics to undergraduate and graduate students at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. Putman also practices law and was a second-generation homeschooling mom for twelve years. Putman obtained her Master’s in Business Administration from Krannert and her J.D. from George Mason University Antonin Scalia School of Law. She serves on the executive board of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization she has served in various roles since 2007. She lives with her husband and four children in Indiana. You can connect with her online at: caraputman.com.