Review: One Final Breath

One Final Breath

"When investigator Gabriel Chavez had his cover blown by an aggressive reporter, the silver lining was being able to rejoin the dive team. The downside? Dive team captain Anissa Bell--a woman who both fascinates and frustrates him.

Anissa grew up as a missionary kid on the Micronesian island of Yap and always planned to return after college. But she remained stateside, determined to solve the case that haunts her--the murder of her best friend and the disappearance of a three-year-old child.

When Anissa's fractured past collides with Gabe's investigation into the tragic shooting death of a teenage boy in Lake Porter, they'll have to put their complicated history with each other aside in order to uncover the identity of a killer. What they'll discover is that revenge has no statute of limitations."

Author: Lynn H. Blackburn

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Series: Dive Team Investigators (book 3)

"A nail-biting story that will have you wondering 

how long you can hold your breath."

I loved this book.

I loved this team.

I loved this couple. 

That is all.

Lynn is amazing at keeping you guessing. The suspense keeps you at the edge of your seat, while the romance keeps you sighing. 😍😍

Gabe and Anissa really jive together. Neither think they're worthy of love because of past mistakes, but they're both loving people. (In their own way)

They put people before themselves, and God before other people.

We get to know them throughout the series, but it was nice to get their story! I loved seeing everything from their perspectives.  I was so excited when I heard they were getting their own story.

They're chemistry and snark was EVERYTHING! 😍 

There were quite a few plot lines, but each intertwined and wrapped up beautifully. 

I really loved this book! I'm sad to say goodbye to these characters, but I'm excited to see where this author goes next. (Plus rereads are ALWAYS an option)

I rated it 5/5 stars.

*I received this book from the publisher**All opinions are my own*

Quotes:

"Sometimes God calls his children to sacrifice everything and serve him in the up-close spaces. In the hospitals, the courtroom, the classroom, the sheriff's office. Staying put and doing the hard work right where you are takes the same obedience, the same passion for the Lord, as any other calling."

Review: Serving Up Love

Serving Up Love

"Bestselling novelist Tracie Peterson joins Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, and Jen Turano in this collection of four novellas, each featuring a Harvey Girl heroine. From Kansas to Texas, the Grand Canyon to New Mexico, the stories cross the country with tales of sweet romance and entertaining history.

In Karen Witemeyer's "More Than a Pretty Face," a young woman works her hardest to escape poor choices from her youth. Tracie Peterson offers "A Flood of Love," where reuniting with an old flame after more than a decade offers unexpected results. Regina Jennings's "Intrigue a la Mode" delights with a tale of a young woman determined to help support her family, despite warnings of danger nearby. And Jen Turano's "Grand Encounters" heads to the Grand Canyon with a tale of a society belle intent on finding a new life for herself."

Author(s): Tracie Peterson, Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, Jen Turano

Genre: Historical Romance

Y'ALL.

Y'ALL.

Y'ALL.

Every one of my dreams has come true with this novella collection! LOOK. AT. THIS. LINEUP. 

😍😍😍

And they brought it with this collection. Each story was so good. I loved them so much. 

***

A Flood of Love (Tracie Peterson)

"Returning home to New Mexico for the first time in years to fill in at the Harvey House, Gretchen Gottsacker is sure the past is behind her. But nothing can be that simple. When the man she loved long ago steps back into her life--with a daughter, no less--will she ever be the same?"

This story was so cute! I loved the character arcs. There was a lot of growth even in the short length of the story.

I love when the "childhood/teenage sweetheart" troupe is used. There was already so much history, but Tracie did a great job giving us the inside scoop, without having information overload. 

The little girl was the BEST! She was a doll, and I loved her!

4/5 stars.

***

More Than a Pretty Face (Karen Witemeyer)

"Rosalind Kemp becomes a Harvey Girl, clinging to the promise of one day transferring even farther west, someplace her youthful indiscretion won't catch up to her. But the past is hard to escape, and when the worst occurs, will anyone stand up for her?"

I feel like I've been waiting forever and a day for this story, even though its only been a few months. 😜

I don't know what all I can say other than "I loved it!" I loved the characters, and I loved the chemistry between them all, main and side characters a like. 😍😍

I loved being able to get to know Rosalind a little better, and I loved how strong she was. 

The romance pairing was perfect, they really worked well together. 

5/5 stars.

***

Intrigue a la Mode (Regina Jennings)

"When Willow Kentworth is warned that strange things are happening in the railyard after dark, she never intends to get involved. That is, until a handsome new employee at the Harvey House--who has secrets of his own--needs her assistance."

Regina just writes the best novellas! She always sucks you in and gives this perfectly constructed story in less than 150 pages. 😍 This one was no different. It honestly might've been my favorite of the collection.

This story had a very "undercover boss" feel to it, but like amped up 92.8%. AND I LOVED IT! The mystery, intrigue plot was so well done! I loved the "secret Pinkerton", and I really hope she get her own story one day! 

The characters in this story were great, and I just really really loved it.

5/5 stars.

***

A Grand Encounter (Jen Turano)

"After her fiancé abandons her, Miss Myrtle Schermerhorn flees New York's pity for a position at the El Tovar Hotel on the rim of the Grand Canyon. She's determined to hold fast to her life of independence--but a rugged, frequent guest of the hotel makes that vow difficult to uphold."

 

This was a really cute story! I loved the troupe that was used, and I loved Myrtle's attitude throughout the book. She grew a backbone when she left society, and she wasn't about to lose it ever again.

I enjoyed the characters a lot, and really felt that the side characters kept the story moving.

4/5 stars.

***

Overall, I loved this collection! I had so many wo derful expectations and they were all pretty much met!

Though each story was a standalone, different years and states, there was a common thread of redemption and forgiveness that ran through each story. 

I rated the whole collection a 4.5/5 stars!

*I received this book from the publisher**All opinions are my own*

Review: Aiming for Love

Aiming for Love

"Josephine Nordegren is one of three sisters who grew up nearly wild in southwestern Colorado. She has the archery skills of Robin Hood and the curiosity of the Little Mermaid, fascinated by but locked away from the forbidden outside world--a world she's been raised to believe killed her parents. When David Warden, a rancher, brings in a herd much too close to the girls' secret home, her older sister especially is frightened, but Jo is too interested to stay away.

David's parents follow soon on his heels, escaping bandits at their ranch. David's father is wounded and needs shelter. Josephine and her sisters have the only cabin on the mountain. Do they risk stepping into the world to help those in need? Or do they remain separated but safe in the peaks of Hope Mountain?"

Author: Mary Connealy

Genre: Historical Romance

Series: Brides of Hope Mountain (book 1)

Their world will never be the same...

It breaks my heart when I don't love a book by one of my favorite authors! I'll be honest, the reviews are hard to write. 

This was one of those times for me. 
I didn't connect with any of the characters. They didn't feel fully flushed out, they felt really two dimensional to me. 

I felt like there were a few plot lines that were started and never touched on or wrapped up. I'm hoping to see them highlighted as the series goes on.

The romance was really, really quick. For how little they actually interacted with each other, and how little Jo knew about men or people, it just felt really rushed.  They weren't even in the same area for a portion of the book. 

I did really enjoy the family aspect of the book! Each family was close, even through the hard times. They held on to God, and each other. And THAT'S what got them through the valleys.

The story as a whole felt rushed and a bit incomplete. 
I LOVE Mary, and I am interested to read Isla & Mitch's story. This story just didn't hit the spot for me.
I rated it a 2.5/5 stars. 

*I received this book from the publisher**All opinions are my own*

Review: Diamond in the Rough

Diamond in the Rough

"To save her family from financial ruin, Miss Poppy Garrison accepts an unusual proposition to participate in the New York social season in exchange for her grandmother settling a family loan that has unexpectedly come due. Ill-equipped to handle the intricacies of mingling within the New York Four Hundred, Poppy becomes embroiled in one hilarious fiasco after another, doomed to suffer a grand societal failure instead of being deemed the diamond of the first water her grandmother longs for her to become.

Reginald Blackburn, second son of a duke, has been forced to travel to America to help his cousin, Charles Wynn, Earl of Lonsdale, find an American heiress to wed in order to shore up his family estate that is in desperate need of funds. Reginald himself has no interest in finding an heiress to marry, but when Poppy's grandmother asks him to give etiquette lessons to Poppy, he swiftly discovers he may be in for much more than he bargained for."

Author: Jen Turano

Genre: Historical Romance 

Series: American Heiresses (book 2)

"Your imperfections are what make you perfect!"

Let me start off by freaking out over this cover!!! If someone would like to send me a huge poster of this cover I would not be mad! 😍😍😍😍

Now on to the gorgeousness that is INSIDE this cover. 

***

ALL OF THE SWOONY HEART EYES FOR THIS BOOK!!!

I LOVE when "no nonsense" heroes are thrust into the lives of crazy, unpredictable heroines. Wacky things always go down. 

Jen Turano is QUEEN of all wacky, and hilarious situations! (And no nonsense heroes)

Reginald was great! 😍 

WAY under his brooding nature was a caring, wonderful man! He really had a heart of gold, and I loved watching it grow the more he was around Poppy.

Poppy was a BLAST! How that woman found herself in all those predicaments is beyond me, but I LOVED her attitude about it. She handled everything with a smile, and quick wit. She was just Poppy. No matter what life, or society, threw at her.

Jen always writes great side characters! This time was no different. I loved Murray! I really enjoyed the relationship between him & Poppy. Also, watching him grow a backbone was fun too. 

The "intrigue" part of the story seemed a little rushed, but since it was a sub plot it wasn't a deal breaker for me. I did enjoy the added element to the story. 

I really did love this book, and I cannot wait for book 3! Beatrix is going to be a HOOT, I can already tell.

I rated it 5/5 stars. 

*I received this book from the publisher**All opinions are my own*

Review: Deadly Deceit

Deadly Deceit

"Independent and tenacious journalist Vivian DeMarco is back in Walton, Georgia, for one reason--to do her job and get out. When her boss suddenly dies under suspicious circumstances, Vivian's only hope for finding the truth--and the next big story--is small-town law enforcement's lanky poster boy, Deputy Ryan Frost. But the deeper they dig, the more twisted the truth becomes, and Vivian finds herself fighting for not only answers but also her life. False leads, incriminating emails, and someone called The Watcher force Vivian to confront the secret of her past and decide: How much is she willing to risk for the sake of a headline?"


Author: Natalie Walters
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: Harbored Secrets (book 2)

Welcome back to Walton, Georgia.

Where everyone knows your name--but no one knows your secret.

AH! I'm back! FINALLY!
Life has gotten away from me, but I'm working hard to finish this year strong. Thank you for sticking with me! I love you big!

I read quite a few books during my "posting hiatus" and Natalie's book was one of them! So today I'm gonna give all the thoughts to you.

***

I knew I was going to love this book when I found out who it was going to be about!
I really wanted to see how the author was going to write Vivian's redemption arc, since she was a piece of work in book 1.

I loved the chemistry between Vivian and Ryan. The more geeky they got, the more I loved them. (YES to all the superhero references!)
Their romance was on the quicker side, but they fit so well together it worked. They opened up to each other quickly, and they became friends. They just worked well together.

Both characters were dealing with problems that held them back from their own dreams.
Ryan felt he couldn't chase his dreams because he needed to be their for his family.
Vivian felt she couldn't chase her dreams because she trying to live up to expectations she put on herself.
Their connection helped them see the other person holding back, and they became each other's greatest confidant & supporter.

Ryan was...😍 YES! Natalie can write a man in uniform. 😍 LOVED HIM!
I really liked seeing his character development, while still keeping his "shy, nerdy, quirky" characteristics.

Vivian was a huge turnaround character from book 1, and I was HERE FOR IT! I loved watching the "small town magic" suck her in and break her walls down.

There were actually a few different suspense plot lines running throughout the story, and I really enjoyed that. Amped it up. 😉 It was relatively action packed, since Vivian was always getting into scrapes.

I do wish the "motive" for the whole scheme had been explained a little more. It felt a little rushed and unfinished, but I think it was because there were so many players.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story! I rated it a 4/5 stars.

*I received this book from the publisher**All opinions are my own*