"Along The Rio Grande," by Tracie Peterson

 "Along The Rio Grande," by Tracie Peterson

Is her compassion doing more harm than good?

Recently widowed Susanna Jenkins has decided to follow her family to the booming town of San Marcial, New Mexico, for a fresh start and to aid in her family's sudden change in fortune. They are tasked with managing her uncle's new Grand Hotel, and it takes all her patience to try to help her parents see the good of their circumstances and relinquish their sense of entitlement.

She's hopeful when her brother becomes determined to get a job and make his own way, and she feels drawn to his kind boss, Owen Turner, who works as a boilermaker for the Santa Fe's train shops in town. But the hard work only seems to fuel her brother's anger, and his rough new friends give her pause.

When misguided choices put Susanna's family in an even more precarious situation, she worries her help has only made things worse. Leaving her family to fend for themselves seems like the best option, but how can she walk away from the true friendships--and love--that she's found?

I am a big fan of Tracie's books and this was as good as ever.  She writes so well, that I too was very frustrated with the actions of Susanna's parents.  I was ready to step into the pages of the books and give the pair of them a good shake...LOL

I came away with the thoughts that patience is a must when dealing with family.  Susanna's family tried her patience time after time.  However believing in God throughout got her through the hard times.  This book had a few hard times, but many good ones also.  Add in a bit of mystery, some romance and stunning descriptions of an area I have never been too and all in all a jam packed very readable book.

Stars out of 5 : 5  No complaints from me.  An easy book to read.  The first in the "Love on the Santa Fe," series.  Looking forward to reading the rest.

"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".

"Until Leaves Fall in Paris," by Sarah Sundin

  "Until Leaves Fall in Paris," by Sarah Sundin

Paris, 1940

When the Nazis march toward Paris, American ballerina Lucie Girard buys her favorite English-language bookstore to allow the Jewish owners to escape. The Germans make it difficult for her to keep Green Leaf Books afloat. And she must keep the store open if she is to continue aiding the resistance by passing secret messages between the pages of her books.

Widower Paul Aubrey wants nothing more than to return to the States with his little girl, but the US Army convinces him to keep his factory running and obtain military information from his German customers. As the war rages on, Paul offers his own resistance by sabotaging his product and hiding British airmen in his factory. But in order to carry out his mission, he must appear to support the occupation--which does not win him any sympathy when he meets Lucie in the bookstore.

In a world turned upside down, will love or duty prevail?

I am not a big reader of WW II themed books, but will have to say I really enjoyed this one.  I think this is Sarah's best book so far.  It set off at a fast pace and didn't slow down throughout the book.  It was a very easy story to follow and it was a page turner of a story.  

The heroism of the people during that period of time was unbelievable.   Paul letting everyone believe he was aiding the German's when in truth he wasn't was a sacrifice that many people would have had to make.

His daughter brought a bright spark/light to the story, reflecting on how innocent she was.  I loved the "rock monsters," analogy.  Lucie and Paul made great leading characters in the book.  

Stars out of 5 : 5 I had to know what happened next; therefore I read it over a couple of days.  If I hadn't been busy with other things I would have read it in a full day it was that good of a book.  Well worth the read in my opinion.  Read the author's notes at the end of the book, they are always interesting.

"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".

"Shaped by the Waves, by Christina Suzann Nelson

 "Shaped by the Waves, by Christina Suzann Nelson

Cassie George is barely staying above water as she works to get her doctorate and raise her daughter. But she stubbornly keeps swimming to prove a few bad decisions haven't ruined her forever. Plus, it's all a great excuse to stay away from the small Oregon town she fled in shame years prior. But when she receives a call that the aunt who raised her has had a major health crisis, she knows it's time to return.

Cassie is surprised to be more welcomed by the quirky seaside community than she expected, even if there's still tension between her and her former classmate Nora Milford. But she still can't help feeling unsettled and is mystified by a mysterious package that appears, full of typed pages that tell the story of an anonymous woman's life. As her curiosity sends her on a journey toward truth, Cassie will discover that who she thought she was and what she wants for her life are both about to change.

This book had so many layers to it, that it felt as though you were peeling back one layer after another.  It's as though the author was drip feeding you clues to the next part of Cassie's story.  You had to keep on reading to know what happened next.

Then add in illness and a mystery and it would leave even the strongest of us feeling all out of sorts.  That's what Cassie's life is all about.  Despite it dealing with serious topics it wasn't an unhappy story to read, it did have it's bright moments.

I will say I couldn't decide what the point of Nora's character/story was in the scheme of things?  Maybe I missed something when reading the book.  I would love to know how the author came up with the idea for this book.  It was interesting, and not something I would have thought about before.

Stars out of 5 : 4.5  After I finished the book I felt there was a lot more stories to be told about the people living in Gull's Bay.  This book should be first in a series, too my mind. 

"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".

"In Search of a Prince," by Toni Shiloh

 "In Search of a Prince," by Toni Shiloh

Brielle Adebayo is fully content teaching at a New York City public school and taking annual summer vacations with her mother to Martha's Vineyard. But everything changes when her mom drops a bombshell--Brielle is really a princess in the island kingdom of Ọlọrọ Ilé, off the coast of Africa, and she must immediately assume her royal position, since the health of her grandfather, the king, is failing.

Distraught by all the secrets her mother kept, Brielle is further left spinning when the Ọlọrọ Ilé Royal Council brings up an old edict that states she must marry before her coronation, or the crown will pass to another. Brielle is uncertain if she even wants the throne, and with her world totally shaken, where will she find the courage to take a chance on love and brave the perils a wrong decision may bring?

This book was a readers version of a rom-com movie.  You know there will be a happy ending, you just have to work through some trials and tribulations until you get there.  The relationship with Brielle and her grandfather was a delight.  I loved the deep friendship she had with her BFF Iris.  Then of course her romance with Tomori.  It has something for everyone.

Her "Batchelor" type dates made me laugh.  All in all a fun, easy to read book.

Stars out of 5 : 4 A bit too "light hearted" for me.  Not as much substance as I would like.  The "who-dun-it" was interesting, but I did guess who it was.  This is the first book I have read by this author.

"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".

"Sunrise," by Susan May Warren

"Sunrise," by Susan May Warren

Coming home was never the plan

After a terrible family fight, pilot Dodge Kingston left home to join the Air Force. A decade later, he's headed back to the destiny that awaits him as heir to Sky King Ranch. But that's not all that's waiting for him at home.

Echo Yazzie is a true Alaskan woman--a homesteader, dogsledder, and research guide for the DNR. After her childhood best friend and former flame, Dodge, fled Denali, she settled into life on the Alaskan range. She's made her peace with being left behind--by her mother and by Dodge. And she's strong enough to live without them.

When one of Echo's fellow researchers goes missing, Echo sets out to find her, despite a blizzard, a rogue grizzly haunting the woods, and the biting cold. What she doesn't know is that there are more than just the regular dangers of the Alaskan forests stalking her . . .

As Dodge sets out to find Echo, he can't ignore the feelings he still has for her. But will he be able to find her in time? And if he does, is there still room for him in her heart?

This is the first book in Susan's new "Sky King Ranch," series.  Right from the very start you are sucked into this book.  It's action packed from the get go.  Dodge and Echo are made for one another they just have to forget past hurts and choices, and let go of a lot of anger.  

The author's description of the Alaskan wilderness is stunning.  You learn such a lot about the back country of Alaska.  Also I learned a lot about bears.   For example, "Black, fight back.  Brown, get down."  Never knew that, but I bet it's something I'll tuck back inside of my brain.  Never know when something like that could come in useful!!

What was "funny" with this book is that something happens in it and you are not told the outcome.  I had actually forgotten about the "something," as there is so much other stuff going on.  The "something" popped into my head a day or two after I read the book.  So I am guessing that will pop back up in another book; as where this book finished, it will lead you directly into the next book in the series.  And believe me, you will want to read the next one; I do, as I want to know what happens next.  The next one "Sunburst," is due out in June of 2022.

Stars out of 5 : 5 I couldn't fault anything is this book.  It captured my attention right from the start and it was a page turner right throughout.  Well worth 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".

"Lights Out," by Natalie Walters

"Lights Out," by Natalie Walters

CIA analyst Brynn Taylor developed a new program to combat terrorism, and she invited members of foreign intelligence agencies to America to foster cooperation between countries. Now one of them, Egyptian spy Remon Riad, is missing.

Jack Hudson has been working for the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency for almost nine years and takes the lead in hunting down the missing spy. But he isn't at all pleased to find out Brynn is involved. It's hard to trust a woman who's already betrayed you.

Every lead they follow draws them dangerously deeper into an international plot. Kidnapping, murder, explosions, poisoning--the terrorists will do anything to accomplish their goal of causing a digital blackout that will blind a strategic US military communications center and throw the world into chaos.

Can Brynn surrender control to a man who doesn't trust her? And can Jack ever get over what she did to him? The fate of the world--and their hearts--hangs in the balance.

Oh my, what a book.  This one is addictive, you HAVE to know what happens next.  The book is so fast paced, you are running to keep up with it.  Where does Natalie gets her ideas from........actually I know where she gets her ideas from as she says before chapter one:

"They always say be careful what you say around an author because it could be used in a story.

This book and series are dedicated to my friends in those three-letter agencies who were less than careful."

This is the first book in the "Snap Agency," series and what a start to the series.  There are twists and turns all along the way.  It is so realistic that you begin to question what is real and what is not real.  Could this happen in real life?  After reading this book, you begin looking at those everyday people you meet in the street.  Could they be terrorists?  Of course they could.

All the characters were well thought out.  You want to learn more about each and every one of them.

Stars out of 5 : 5 I couldn't find any fault with this book.  This is one of the best books I have read in a long time.  The next in the series is published in May of 2022.  I will be first in line for a copy of that book.

  "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".

"A Deep Divide," by Kimberley Woodhouse

 "A Deep Divide," by Kimberley Woodhouse

After being kidnapped as a child, heiress Emma Grace McMurray has seen firsthand the devastation that greed causes in the world, and she wants nothing to do with it. When she discovers her father has offered her up as a bargaining chip to expand his empire, she disappears into the night. Determined to stay hidden, even if it means always looking over her shoulder, she finds herself working as a Harvey Girl at the El Tovar Hotel.

When Ray Watkins arrives at the hotel on business, he is immediately captivated by the beauty of the Grand Canyon. Though his fame-seeking father aims to lure new investors to the Arizona Territory, Ray dreams of one day taking over the family business and doing good with the profits.

Ray immediately admires Emma Grace, and though an attraction begins to form, she can't let go of the deep-rooted fear that he's just like every other wealthy man she's known. When suspicious activity follows Emma Grace and Ray to the El Tovar, they are pulled into a mystery that stirs up their worst fears. And as shocking revelations come to light, they are left to question all they thought to be true.

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about this book is "never judge a book by it's cover."  The same goes for people, and this story is a prime example of that.  Due to past experiences in Emma Grace's life she thinks all men are the same; not to be trusted.  This story show's her that they are not all the same.  

I had never heard of "Harvey Girl's," and found that aspect of the story quite interesting.  Interesting enough, that I have looked up on the internet to find out more about them.  The author's notes at the end of the book were interesting and well worth reading.

The way the author describes the Grand Canyon is so life like you can visualize it exactly.  It's a place I have never been but would love to visit.  The El Tovar hotel is actually a real hotel, and looks lovely online.

Stars out of 5 : 4.5 Although I enjoyed the book, this book wasn't a page turner.  I read it over a few days.  It was easy enough to pick up where I had left off.  A lovely book but one I will forget about in time.

"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".