All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes transports readers to Venice, Italy.  The author’s vivid language and descriptions make readers feel like they are a part of the unfolding mystery of the story. Set in two time periods, the story follows Sebastien Trovato, the legendary baby that was rescued from the river. But years later, Daniel Goodman travels to Venice to complete the story. He discovered a book, partially written, of Sebastien and seeks to unlock the mystery.

I am a fan of the author, and Whose Waves These Are is one of my favorites.  All the Lost Places brings the scenery and characters to life on the pages. Readers will fall in love with Daniel and his quest, especially when he meets the alluring yet quirky Vittoria, who joins Daniel to search for the missing book. My only issue was that I did find it hard to switch between time periods while reading, which usually doesn’t bother me. But the author’s characters and settings make me want to pack my bags and head to Venice.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Sunburst by Susan May Warren moves from the wilds of Alaska to the grit and heat of Nigeria. Picking up from where Sunrise ended, Ranger discovers his brother, Colt, has been taken captive in Nigeria and goes after him. But he finds himself in trouble – Noemi Sutton, a love from his past, has also been captured. He and Noemi wind up stranded, and in order to get out of the country, they have to pose as husband and wife.

This is now my new favorite Susan May Warren novel! I love the scenery of Nigeria, and the book is filled with so much culture and visual images that it made me feel like I’ve been there. But Warren’s storytelling is always all about the characters. Range and Noemi’s chemistry is tangible, and the drama of their plight to get out of the country had me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next installment of the Kingston brothers.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through Revell and NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Yours is the Night by Amanda Dykes puts readers right on the front lines of WWI. The story is told with four main points of view. Matthew Petticrew faces the harsh realities of war when he’s assigned to the front lines for his unique ability to hear enemy fire before it hits. George Piccadilly tried to avoid the war by enrolling in school to become a chaplain, but somehow finds his way to the heart of the fighting. Journalist Henry Mueller sends updates back to America from the front lines, but finds himself teamed up with Matthew and George. They discover a mysterious woman in the forest of France and she needs their help. They trudge through the battle-scarred land to ensure her safety.

I love Amanda’s unique voice in story-telling. The story is rich and vibrant. She writes characters that come to life on the page. The plot is fast-paced, yet seeped with emotions. I loved every minute of the adventures this unlikely team faced and the camaraderie that was forged with the most unlikely people. The themes of hope and honor resonated with me, and I loved how each of the characters came into their own in the backdrop of an ugly and violent war.

Despite being more of a romance novel than suspense, there’s so much packed into this story about the war and survival that I found myself hooked! It’s not sappy or overdone with the romance, the story focuses more on individual growth and the unlikely relationships that form in this difficult time.

I highly suggest the audio book. I’m not usually one to like multiple narrators, but there were four or five in this version, and I thought they all did an outstanding job giving voice to each of the characters.

Definitely check out this novel. It might bring you to tears, but it’s an outstanding literary work that will have me thinking about it long after I put the book down.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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 “The wounds of the past carry a lot of weight when it comes to walking into one’s future, and if anything can rob you of now, it’s yesterday.”

The Letter Keeper is the follow-up to The Water Keeper. You definitely need to read these in order.  While The Water Keeper brought the action, The Letter Keeper focusses in on the repercussions of the life Murphy Shepherd has chosen. He’s given up his life to rescue people from human trafficking, but the toll is high. He doesn’t know how to handle new relationships, and an injury forces him to let others take care of him for a while. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of action in the story as Murphy faces many life and death situations, because he always leaves the ninety-nine to go after the one. Nothing can keep that man down.

The name of Freetown says it all: what is freedom worth? The story dives into the dark spots of humanity but Charles Martin weaves a message of hope through every page. The rescued women struggle with love and understanding that everyone is worth being rescued, but Murphy shares a similar struggle. He needs to let go of the past and so he can find hope and love in the future. Such great themes in this story make the characters come alive on the pages.

This story captured my heart on such an emotional and insightful level, and it will be one of those novels that I think about long after I put the book down. I am excited that there’s a third in the series – this does end on a bit of a cliff hanger, so I’m ready for book three!

Overall Rating:
5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)

Suspense Rating:
5 stars (Non-stop edge-of-your-seat suspense from start to finish)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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 Never Miss starts off with an intriguing premise. Ex-CIA sniper Kadence Tolle lives her life on the run. She saves Lyndon Vaile’s life, and then becomes embroiled in a dangerous conspiracy. Kadence and Lyndon team up to stop a bioterrorism plot and find their lives are instantly intertwined. Lyndon is a scientist, and his research has made him a target while Kadence’s past comes back to haunt her.

I thought this story would be more of a CIA spy thriller based on the back cover blurb, but the romance takes center stage. The two main characters spend much of the novel reacting to their feelings of attraction. Both have struggles in their past that make it hard to have a relationship. The plot seemed to focus more on the internal ramifications of Kadence’s life as a sniper/assassin and how she struggles to come to terms with things she did in the past.

I wished the action and suspense had a better balance with the romance and emotional scenes. Even with some great action scenes in place, the internal and external dialogue of the characters slowed down the pace a bit too much for me.

Overall Rating:
3 stars (good story, maybe not my favorite but an enjoyable read)

Suspense Rating:
3 stars (some suspenseful moments)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through Revell and NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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The Thief of Blackfriars Lane gives readers a trip to Victorian London with a twisted mystery to solve. Jackson Forge’s training to be a constable is hanging by a thread. He gets one last chance prove himself by solving the crime of the missing cab driver. He teams up with Kit Turner, whose streetwise attitude is the opposite of Jackson’s law-and-order stance.

The characters in this story are charming and witty, and the pairing of the cop and the con artist works well as they con the bad guys so Jackson can close the case. The story wasn’t action-packed, but read more like a cozy mystery. The author added lots of details that makes readers feel like they’re running around the streets of London helping Forge and Turner track down clues, meeting lots of shady characters along the way. It’s a fun and quirky mystery story.

Overall Rating:
4 stars (I liked it a lot and would definitely recommend)

Suspense Rating:
4 stars (lots of action and suspense to keep me intrigued)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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For fans of epic storytelling, split time periods, and a magical setting

Set the Stars Alight transports readers into an unbelievable setting, with incredible characters and an enchanting story.  Lucy Clairmont searches for a long-lost ship which disappeared centuries ago.  But she stumbles on so much more as she follows a trail of breadcrumbs her father left her in the form of fairy-tale-like stories.

Set in two time periods, the story weaves the tale of the past with Lucy’s modern day search. She winds up being led by Dashel, her long lost childhood love, to Stone’s Throw Farm to search for proof of the infamous shipwreck. Amanda Dykes has a powerful writing style that creates deep and meaningful characters. I loved Lucy’s struggle to find herself as she connects with a town and people seeped in mystery. I fell in love with Dash, his quirkiness and genius bringing out the best in Lucy. The stories, both past and present, are seeped in imagery and themes of love and sacrifice.

The combination of Dash and Lucy makes the story rich. She is a maritime archaeologist, and he is a forensic astronomer. Together they take their childhood stories and piece them together to understand the legend behind the missing ship, the Jubilee. Their connection is deep as the waters and sky they search.

I will add that this story isn’t a quick read. I love to read as I fall asleep at night, but I had to stay awake and pay attention to absorb every word for the story to come together in my mind. I’ll probably be re-reading this one someday as there’s so much meaning and imagery in every word. I 100% recommend this to fiction lovers who want to be immersed in a beautiful and intriguing tale.

Overall: 5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)
Suspense: 4 stars (lots of action and suspense to keep me intrigued)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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For fans of drama, triumph over tragedy and lovably flawed characters

The Fifth Avenue Story Society gives readers everything you’d expect from a Rachel Hauck novel. While not adrenaline-pumping suspense, the story has plenty of intrigue. The author brings several characters to life as they each receive a mysterious invitation to join the Fifth Avenue Story Society.

Jett Wilder carries the burden of his brother’s death and his recent divorce into the Society. Lexa Wilder, Jett’s ex, doesn’t know how to cope with a demanding job and lingering feelings from the divorce. Chuck Mays is rough around the edges and just wants to see his kids. Coral Winthrop brings a broken engagement under mysterious circumstances to the table. Ed Marshall wants to write a love story to tell the world about his late wife.  The group decides to continue meeting even though they have no idea how they were brought together.

This story brings out all of the emotion and drama a reader can handle. I enjoyed these characters and their complex problems. I enjoy a large cast of characters told from multiple viewpoints, and not all authors could make this work.  But the way the members of the Society interact is heart-warming. Rachel Hauck peels back the layers of the characters as they come to grip with their own inner demons while relying on the help of a group of strangers.

If you are looking for a heart-warming and inspiring read with complex characters and a story line that will linger long after you put down the book, look no further than The Fifth Avenue Story Society.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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For fans of historical fiction, heart-warming tales and small town secrets

I’ll admit that I initially passed this book by due to my love of suspense, but I’ve seen so many great reviews that I decided to check it out.

Now it’s one of my favorite books that I’ve recommended to countless people.

The story revolves around several generations of the Bliss family. Two twin brothers, one gets called to war in WWII, and the other stays home. Annie Bliss, two generations later, heads back to her roots and tries to unravel the mystery of her great-uncle and the small town behind him.

“There’s light. Right there in the dark. Because of the dark.”

Whose Waves These Are

I’ve read that this is Amanda Dykes debut novel, but the story and writing are so phenomenal you’d think she’s been writing for decades. The author has an amazing way with words that draw you into the story and overwhelm all of your senses. Set in a small coastal town of Maine, the scenery and small-town characters creates a world I want to live in.

For true suspense fans, this might be a slower-paced novel, but lots of mystery surrounds Ansel-by-the-Sea which kept me intrigued. Years of secrets give readers plenty of mystery to unravel. Definitely check out Whose Waves These Are for a heart-warming, delightful read.

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