Thursday, February 20, 2014

"Shadow's of the Past," by Patricia Bradley

"Shadow's of the Past," by Patricia Bradley

While she's stalking the truth . . . someone is stalking her.
Psychology professor and criminal profiler Taylor Martin prides herself on being able to solve any crime, except the one she wants most desperately to solve--the disappearance of her father twenty years ago. When she finally has a lead on his whereabouts, Taylor returns home to Logan Point, Mississippi, to investigate. But as she works to uncover the truth, someone else will do almost anything to keep her from it.

Nick Sinclair pens mystery novels for a living, but the biggest mystery to him is how he can ever get over the death of his wife--a tragedy he believes he could have prevented. Now that his estranged brother is the only family he has left, Nick sets out to find him. But when he crosses paths with Taylor, all he seems to find is trouble.

Join the chase as Taylor and Nick search the murky shadows of the past for the keys to unlocking the present--and moving into a future they never imagined.


This was a great book, BUT it took me a few chapters to get me totally hooked.  I found the first little bit to be a bit confusing, but after a while everything made more sense.  I figured out "whodunit," reasonably early; well early for me, so you all will as well.  Enjoyed the two main characters Taylor and Nick.  This is a fast paced book and the story line does keep you interested.

Stars out of 5 : 4 After a bit of a slow start the book got better and better.  Well worth the read if you like a bit of mystery peppered with some romance.  Nothing overly gushy with the romance bit though.  This is the first in the Logan Point romantic suspense series.  The next book "A Promise to Protect," is due to be released in the Fall of 2014.

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

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

"Prepared for a Purpose," by Antoinette Tuff with Alex Tresniowski

"Prepared for a Purpose," by Antoinette Tuff with Alex Tresniowski
870 children waited in fear as their elementary school rushed into lock down mode. As the nation faced yet another Sandy Hook story of tragedy, one woman rewrote the ending.

Yet the story doesn't start with those first steps Michael Hill took into that Atlanta elementary school. It starts with Antoinette Tuff, a woman who faced her own pain, hurt, and rejection, yet held onto grace, faith, and hope. A hope that anchored her in the most high-stakes moments, a grace that allowed her to empathize with a hurting young man, and a faith that gave her the courage to love him back from the brink.

This is more than just the amazing account of tragedy averted. It's the evidence of what we can do when we allow ourselves to be used by God. And it's a story of how God uses all of our life experiences--the good and the bad--to prepare us for our own moment of divine purpose.


I am a big believer in things happen for a reason.  Everything in life is a learning experience, with some of the things happening to teach us things and some things to make us dig into our resources of what has happened in the past and put them to good use.

This book is all of that and more.  What Antoinette went through that day is not an everyday occurrence, but the way she handled the situation did make it seem that God had prepared her for this day and knew she could handle it.  However I am also a big believer in inner strength and we all have that hidden inside of us and sometimes we have to use it.  Luckily for the children and staff at the school, Antoinette has a huge bundle of inner strength inside of her.

Even her life story up to the point of the siege was quite remarkable.  She went through so many things in her life that would have weakened many of us; but in her case it only made her stronger.

Stars out of 5 : 5 A book well worth reading, as it makes you appreciate your own life and even question what would you do if this were to happen to you.  If you get chance to read this book snap it up, you won't regret it.

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

Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

"Wildwood Creek," by Lisa Wingate


Allie Kirkland has always heard the call of her father's unfinished destiny. When she's offered a production assistant's job on a docudrama filming in the hills near Moses Lake, Texas, the dream of following in her director-father's footsteps suddenly seems within reach. The reenactment of the legendary frontier settlement of Wildwood is a first step into the film industry. A summer on set in the wilderness is a small price to pay for a dream.

But in 1861, the real Wildwood held dangerous realities. Town founder Harland Delavan held helpless residents, including young Irish schoolteacher Bonnie Rose, in an iron grip. Mysterious disappearances led to myths and legends still retold in the region's folk songs. Eventually, the entire site was found abandoned.

When filming begins, strange connections surface between Allie and the teacher who disappeared over a century ago, and everyone in Wildwood--including Blake Fulton, Allie's handsome neighbor on the film set--seems to be hiding secrets. Allie doesn't know whom she can trust. If she can't find the answers in time, history may repeat itself...with the most unthinkable results.

What a super book.  It really is two stories in one and it keeps flipping back and forward between them.  Both are interesting and they want you to know what is going to happen next.  There is a twist near the end that you won't anticipate that's for sure.  Love both the main characters in the both stories and they add to the realness of the stories.  I think there is another book to be written about Bonnie Rose, if the author is reading this!!!

If you have read any of the other books in the Moses Lake series, you will recognize a couple of the characters in this book from the other books.

Stars out of 5 : 4.5  The only reason I didn't give it a five out of five was that it does take you a couple of chapters to get into the story and to figure out where this book is going.  It really is well worth reading and a book I would recommend.


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

Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Thursday, February 6, 2014

"No One To Trust," by Lynette Eason

"No One To Trust," by Lynette Eason

She doesn't know who she's running from--and the man she loves may be someone else entirely

Summer Abernathy wakes up one morning to find her husband missing, three men in her home intent on finding him, and the life she's been living based on a lie. Which Kyle Abernathy did she marry? The computer programmer she met in line at the bank? Or the one who was apparently using that image as a cover?

The search for her husband--and answers--takes Summer ever deeper into a world of organized crime where people are used one moment and discarded the next. And with her deepest relationship of trust already shattered, Summer doesn't know who to believe.

Always thrilling, bestselling author Lynette Eason outdoes herself in this taut, breakneck story of lies, loyalties, and love that will have you up all night to discover the truth hidden in the shadows.


I LOVED this book, I read it in one session during the afternoon and evening.  I could not put it down as it was that good, I HAD to know what was going to happen next.  It was so interesting and such a fast paced story, I was hooked right away.  Without giving the story away, you honestly don't know who is telling the truth half the time.  It makes for a great story and showed a different part of life that I was not familiar with.

Stars out of 5 : 5 It is a must read and so well worth your time.  I would give it more stars if I could as it was that good.  This is a book I would truly recommend you reading.

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

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".


"All Things Hidden," by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

"All Things Hidden," by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse
Gwyn Hillerman loves being a nurse at her father's clinic on the beautiful Alaskan frontier. But family life has been rough ever since her mother left them, disdaining the uncivilized country and taking Gwyn's younger sister with her.

In Chicago, Dr. Jeremiah Vaughan finds his life suddenly turned upside down when his medical license is stripped away after an affluent patient dies. In a snowball effect, his fiance breaks their engagement. In an attempt to bury the past, Jeremiah accepts Dr. Hillerman's invitation to join his growing practice in the ited Alaska Territory.

Gwyn and Jeremiah soon recognize a growing attraction to each other. But when rumors of Jeremiah's past begin to surface, they'll need more than love to face the threat of an uncertain future.


I found this book a bit slow but interesting all the same.  You were kept entertained but honestly there were no real surprises.  I did however learn something new as I had never heard of the Matanuska Project before, so that part of the book was really interesting.

Also make sure you read the author's notes at the end of the book, there are some interesting facts in there that were included in the book.

Stars out of 5 : 4 It wasn't a hard book to read and the story did keep going at a steady pace.  I just didn't find it gripping enough for me.  I would recommend reading the book though as it is an easy read.

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

Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

"The Hidden Palace," by Dinah Jefferies

 "The Hidden Palace," by Dinah Jefferies 1925.  Among the ancient honey-coloured walls of the tiny island of Malta, strangers slip...