Blind Trust by Natalie Walters

Lyla Fox knows she has a reputation at the SNAP Agency for impulsivity, but when she receives a threatening letter from a man she helped put in prison, she can’t stop herself from going all in to find out why he’s coming after her. Unfortunately, she’s going to need the help of the one person who questions her reckless choices more than anyone else.

Explosives and weapons specialist Nicolas Garcia agrees to help Lyla in order to keep her safe, but her recklessness continues to be a major concern, especially when her investigation into a conspiracy puts a target on her back. Dealing with bombs is dangerous. Working with Lyla is proving to be just as treacherous–to both the mission and his heart. – from author’s website

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This was an excellent series-ender. There were twists and turns and the storyline kept getting more and more complicated it seemed before it all came together in the end. The pacing of the revelation of the storyline was well done and brought you into the story and wanting to keep reading to find out what other detail there was or how it all worked together. I loved how contrasting the two protagonists were and how they had to come to grips with things in their past but also their contrasting personalities to see if they could be together. It gave off the feeling of authenticity in the romance part of the story.

Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin

Liliana Vela hates the term victim. She’s not a victim, she’s a fighter. Stubborn and strong with a quiet elegance, she’s determined to take back her life after escaping the clutches of human traffickers in her poor Mexican village. But she can’t stay safely over the border in America–unless the man who aided in her rescue is serious about his unconventional proposal to marry her.

Meric Toledan was just stopping at a service station for a bottle of water. Assessing the situation, he steps in to rescue Liliana from traffickers. If he can keep his secrets at bay, his wealth and position afford him many resources to help her. But the mysterious buyer who funded her capture will not sit idly by while his prize is stolen from him. – from author’s website

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It took me a little while to get into the book as it took me a while to warm up to the characters’ personalities. I had a little bit of disbelief that Liliana would give herself fully to marrying a stranger after having her family murdered and kidnapped to be trafficked. Also, with how understanding Meric seemed to be at the beginning, I couldn’t quite understand how Meric never thought of how the various people coming to the apartment while Liliana is there by herself would make her uncomfortable and potentially lead to panic. However, the further I got into the story, I could suspend my disbelief in their reactions enough to enjoy watching how it would play out and was invested in things as they slowly get revealed.

Active Defense by Lynette Eason

When former field surgeon Heather Fontaine returns from a party to find that someone has broken into her house–and threatened her friends–she assumes it is the stalker who has been creeping her out. She hopes to find safety and peace of mind by leaving the city and hiding out in a small town. But trouble follows her even there.

Luckily, a stalker isn’t the only one observing Heather. Travis Walker has been secretly watching out for her for weeks. As owner of his own security agency, it’s what he does. Together, Travis and Heather must figure out who wants her dead–and why–before it’s too late. – from author’s website

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This book will keep you on your toes. It is fast-paced and suspenseful and makes it hard to put down. I could feel along with Heather in doing everything by herself instead of relying on other people but was also glad that she had friends that wouldn’t let her take on her stalker by herself once they find out. The romance between Travis and Heather also adds another dimension to the story and the supporting characters are delightful. This book is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.

The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs YOU to BE YOU by Holley Gerth

Introverts make up half the population, yet most people still don’t truly understand what it means to be one. In this eye-opening book, Holley Gerth shares everything you need to know, from brain science to the psychological, relational, and spiritual aspects of being an introvert. She also reveals exactly what will help you beat your struggles and maximize your strengths so you can live with clarity, courage, and confidence in a world that needs what only you can give.

If you’ve ever questioned who you are as an introvert, or if you love, lead, or share life with an introvert, you need this empowering, insightful book. – from publisher’s website

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This book was an excellent overview of what it means to be an introvert and talks about the strengths of being one. Gerth includes the science about how introverts are different than extroverts. I like that Gerth doesn’t just talk about the strengths but also brings up some negatives that introverts can get into without putting shame on them like culture sometimes does. There are also some exercises and quizzes included in most chapters to help readers understand more about themselves. I kept a highlighter and pencil nearby while reading this book.

At Love’s Command by Karen Witemeyer

Haunted by the horrors of war, ex-cavalry officer Matthew Hanger leads a band of mercenaries known as Hanger’s Horsemen who have become legends in 1890s Texas. They defend the innocent and obtain justice for the oppressed. But when a rustler’s bullet leaves one of them at death’s door, they’re the ones in need of saving.

Dr. Josephine Burkett is used to men taking one look at her skirts and discounting her medical skills. What she’s not used to is having a man change his mind in a heartbeat and offer to assist her in surgery. Matthew Hanger’s dedication to his friend during recovery earns Josephine’s respect, and when she hears of her brother’s abduction, he becomes her only hope for rescue.

Matt has stared down ruthless outlaws, betrayal, and injury, but when a bossy lady doctor crawls under his skin, his heart is tempted to surrender. And when she is caught in the crossfire, he may have to sacrifice everything–even his team–to save her. – from author’s website

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I often enjoy Karen Witemeyer’s books for their combination of romance, wit, a little bit of suspense, and lovable characters. This book all of these elements and more. It contains a heroine who is in a male dominated profession and has had to fight for where she is and doesn’t lose that spirit when she meets the hero and they fall in love. She will do anything for her family even though her brother doesn’t deserve it. I also liked how faith was interwoven through the book. Most times when books include a faith aspect and quote verses, it feels forced, but in this book, it felt more authentic and there were more than one or two scenes that included it. Another thing in this book that I appreciated was that it didn’t take the two main characters the whole book to realize they loved each other, as sometimes that can really frustrating. I fell in love with all of the Hangar’s Horsemen and I’m looking forward to reading the others stories as well.

Hidden Peril by Irene Hannon

As teenagers, Kristin Dane and her two best friends took a vow to make the world a better place. Twenty years later, she’s fulfilling that pledge through her fair trade shop that features products from around the world. All is well until, one by one, people connected to the shop begin dying. Detective Luke Carter, new to the St. Louis PD, wants to know why. Before he can answer that question, however, the FBI weighs in and Kristin suddenly finds herself in the middle of international intrigue—and in the sights of the ruthless mastermind behind an ingenious and deadly scheme. Can this cold-blooded killer be stopped before more people die…including Kristin? – from author’s website

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I often like Irene Hannon’s books and this one was a pretty decent one, although it wouldn’t be my favorite. There was a lot of foreshadowing and I knew almost from the beginning what the real name (or at least the one he was using in his day to day life) of the antagonist was. I like it better when I can’t tell who it is or there are a couple of options that it can be so I don’t know who it is right away and it keeps me guessing. Nevertheless, the suspense kept me in the book and how the author was going to wrap up the plot. I found that the book had more innuendo than is normally found in Christian fiction but still would be considered clean. It is a decent Christian romantic suspense novel for people who enjoy reading in that genre.

The Best of Intentions by Susan Anne Mason

She Swore to Protect Her Nephew at Any Cost.

But What if That Cost is a Chance at Love?

In the aftermath of WWI, Grace Abernathy is determined to reunite her family, crossing an ocean to do so. Yet faced with more tragedy in Canada, what lengths will Grace go to in order to ensure her nephew’s well-being? And when she finds herself falling for the boy’s guardian, will she able to keep her promise without losing her heart? – from author’s website

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I enjoyed reading a book that was based in Canada. I read a lot of historical fiction but hardly ever one that takes place in the country I live in. I found it an intriguing plot in that a woman goes undercover with her nephew’s father’s family and it made me think about what I would do if I was in the same situations that Andrew and Grace found themselves in. Would I consider marrying someone I didn’t particularly like simply because my parents wanted me to? Would I deceive everyone around me into thinking I was a nanny when the child was actually my nephew because my brother-in-law’s family had guardianship of him and they were rich and powerful and my sister didn’t have nice things to say about them? I could empathize with the main characters as their made decisions with the best of intentions but didn’t always make the right decisions.

“Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.”

More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer

Many consider Evangeline Hamilton cursed. Orphaned at a young age and possessing a pair of mismatched eyes–one bright blue, the other dark brown–Eva has fought to find her way in a world that constantly rejects her. Yet the support of even one person can help overcome the world’s judgments, and Eva has two–Seth and Zach, two former orphans she now counts as brothers.

Seeking justice against the man who stole his birthright and destroyed his family, Logan Fowler arrives in 1880s Pecan Gap, Texas, to confront Zach Hamilton, the hardened criminal responsible for his father’s death. Only instead of finding a solitary ruthless gambler, he discovers a man not much older than himself with an unusual family. When Zach’s sister, Evangeline, insists on dousing Logan with sunshine every time their paths cross, Logan finds his quest completely derailed. Who is truly responsible for his lost legacy, and will restoring the past satisfy if it means forfeiting a future with Evangeline? – from author’s website

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I enjoyed this book. I loved the story of the siblings and how they chose to be a family and stuck together despite not being blood and being really young when they got together. I also think that a lot of people could relate to Evie in that even though most people don’t have two different color eyes, almost everyone has something about their body that they’re ashamed of. I would have liked to see how Logan reacted to the siblings not being blood but it was still good nonetheless. I also think Logan’s forgiveness of what Zach did to his family seemed a little fabricated and quick but nevertheless, I enjoyed the book and I’m looking forward to Zach’s story and seeing more interaction between Zach, Evie, and Seth.

The View from Rainshadow Bay by Colleen Coble

After her husband, Jack, dies in a climbing incident, Shauna has only her five-year-old son and her helicopter charter business to live for. Every day is a struggle to make ends meet and she lives in constant fear of losing even more than she already has.

When her business partner is murdered, his final words convince Shauna that she’s in danger too. But where can she turn? Zach Bannister was her husband’s best friend and is the person she blames for his death. She’s barely spoken to him since. But right now he seems her only hope for protecting her son.

Zach is only too happy to assuage his guilt over Jack’s death by helping Shauna any way he can. But there are secrets involved dating back to Shauna’s childhood that more than one person would prefer to stay hidden. – from author’s website

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As with most of her books, I found Coble focuses on the character’s stories and wraps the plot around the characters. At points, the storyline was less believable and it was easy to forget that Shauna was ex-navy, although I can understand how grief changes a person. Maybe I wasn’t paying as much attention as I normally did, but when it was revealed who the antagonist was, I had completely forgotten who he was and where he had been introduced before in the book. I liked Zach’s character and how he wanted to make up for his guilt at the death of his best friend by looking out for Shauna and Alex. Overall, it was a decent book that pulled in several murders, although the motivation seemed a little far-fetched.

Hurt Road by Mark Lee

Third Day guitarist Mark Lee is no stranger to heartache and hopes deferred; the road to success is never traveled without missteps along the way. Life is messy and uncertain and full of surprises. And one of the best things he’s ever done is let go of his expectations about how life should be in order to embrace life as it is: a moment-by-moment walk with God.

Hurt Road is the engaging true story of a man who, as a teen, found in music a refuge from the uncertainties of life. Who set out to discover a better way to live than constantly struggling to make sure life turned out the way he planned it. Who stopped substituting what’s next for what’s now and learned the truth–that coming or going, God’s got us.

Poignant, funny, and thoughtful, Hurt Road dares anyone feeling knocked down or run over by their circumstances to give up control to the One who already has the road all mapped out. Includes black and white photos. – from Amazon.ca

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This book was a quick read with short chapters containing stories of Mark Lee’s life but also life lessons he learned and wants to impart with us. It focused not only on the positive points in his life but also negative ones. He wrote it in such a way that he was stating this was what happened and how he interpreted it. He turned the negatives into learning opportunities. The book didn’t focus as much on the Third Day (Christian band) aspect of his life as I thought it would since that is what he is known for. Instead, it was a balanced retelling of his life from when he was a kid till now. It was an enjoyable read of Mark Lee’s life that blended lighthearted and less lighthearted moments, his music career and that of Third Day, as well as God’s hand through all of it.