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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For fans of family drama and epic settings

Sunrise by Susan May Warren gives readers a thrilling ride through the Alaska wildlife. Dodge Kingston heads home after years of running from his past. He intends to stay long enough to help his dad with the business. But he can’t hide forever from Echo Yazzie, the woman that broke his heart years ago.

There’s plenty of emotional drama in this story as well as real dangers from the wilderness. Dodge and Echo each have to overcome their own past issues to be able to find love. Echo is a strong woman who knows her way around the Alaska wilderness. I fell in love with her tenacity and fearlessness. But what steals the stage in this story is the scenery and setting. Whether flying through the sky or trekking on a sled pulled by dogs, this story takes readers into the depths of Alaska. Dodge and Echo have to contend with bears, poachers, and freezing temperatures to name a few of the hazards of life in Alaska. The author captures the breathtaking scenery and paints a picture that makes me feel like I’m part of the story.

I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves epic family dramas and of course the scenery of Alaska! This story ends with a set-up for the second book in the series (Sunburst) and I can’t wait to read this. Talk about intense. Susan May Warren knows how to bring readers heart-warming characters with tons of drama and action. This is going to be an epic series!

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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For Fans of Historical Fiction, True Crimes, and Romance Novels

Another novel in the True Color series – this one tackles The Hillsville Courthouse Massacre of 1912. Pepper Basham sets readers right into the historical setting through her attention to the scenery, customs, and dialect of the times. The true crimes story spills all of the details about some feuding families in an Appalachian mountain town. A seemingly innocent kiss at a corn-shucking contests leads to a bloody massacre, with outlaws on the run and a small town thrown into the spotlight. Ava Burcham and Jeremiah Sutphin find all kinds of dangerous situations as they fall in love during tumultuous and strange times. Not everyone can be trusted, and the pair become eye-witnesses to a deadly shootout just days before their wedding.

I’ll admit that this story wasn’t my usual non-stop action and suspense kind of read. A lot of romance fans will love this one. But I did enjoy this story. The author has an amazing writing style that captures the essence of the time period. I’m a fan of the whole series, which takes little know crime stories in the history of the United States and brings them to life in the pages of a fiction novel. The Red Ribbon let me imagine the chaos of the scene of these feuding families who seem to take the law into their own hands at times. The real-life crime still isn’t resolved as it seems unclear as to who started the whole thing and whether or not some innocent people were held accountable for the crimes.

Definitely check out The Red Ribbon if you are a fan of historical fiction, true crimes, or romance novels when it releases.

Overall Rating:
4 stars (I liked it a lot and would definitely recommend)
Suspense Rating: 3 stars (some suspenseful moments)

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

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I’ve never read anything by Rachel Hauck, but several people have recommended her books. Best recommendation! The Memory House is a must for your TBR list.

Set in two time periods, and from four different perspectives, The Memory House follows Beck Holiday as she struggles with her job and her life, years after her father perished in 9/11. She discovers a strange inheritance from someone she doesn’t remember in Florida and along with it she finds long lost memories from her childhood.

The characters in The Memory House are so dynamic and real, you’ll want to hug them. Through trials, Everleigh and Beck both break down walls they’ve each spent years building. Beck realizes how to love after closing herself off after her father died. She discovers courage she didn’t know she had. And Everleigh makes a decision to live her life and risk her heart in the wake of losing everything. Both stories are interwoven to create a rich, satisfying story. Memory House is a heart-warming, well written story that you won’t want to put 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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