"The Long Awakening," by Lindsey O'Connor

"The Long Awakening," by Lindsey O'Connor

The riveting true story of a life-threatening coma, a miraculous awakening, and the long quest to regain what was lost.
The day our baby came into the world was the day I left. A day that began all smiles and excitement and anticipation and joy ended with running and panic and blood and tears. And then coma.

I lay suspended in the deep, my newborn unknown. Nothingness. Layers where dark pulled from below, light called from above, and me, trapped in between, longing to break the surface.

To live.

Forty-seven days later when I first saw my husband's face leaning close to me, I knew where, and who, I was. But other things took much longer to know. Learning to restitch life--and love--when everything's changed, and finding who we are afterward, can be the longest journey of all.

I'm Lindsey O'Connor, and this is the story of my long awakening.

This is an interesting real life story, something that you will probably never hear of again.  It is well worth the read; though I do question some of the statements made.  Also was this a miracle?  I am not fully sure of that.  Though the question why God saved this lady and did not save others is a very valid question.

Stars out of 5 : 3.5  I would try and read this book in big chunks as it will make more sense, than picking it up and reading a few pages here and there.  It's well worth the read and I'm glad I read this 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 Bride for Keeps," by Melissa Jagears

"A Bride for Keeps," by Melissa Jagears

Everett Cline will never humiliate himself by seeking a mail-order bride. Not again. He's already been jilted by three mail-order brides and figures a wife just isn't in his future. However, a well-meaning neighbor hasn't given up on seeing him settled, so she goes behind his back to bring yet another woman to town for him.

Julia Lockwood has never been anything more than a pretty pawn for her father or a business acquisition for her former fiance. A mail-order marriage in faraway Kansas is a last resort, but she'll do anything to leave her life in Massachusetts and the heartbreak she's experienced there.

Although Everett doesn't see how a beautiful, cultured woman like Julia could be happy sharing his simple life, he could really use a helpmate on his homestead. Determined to prove she's more than just a pretty face, Julia agrees to a marriage in name only. Faced with the harsh realities of life on the prairie and hesitant to explore the tentative feelings growing between them, can Everett and Julia ever let each other in long enough to fall in love?

You can't help love Everett and Julia in this book, even though you just want to knock their heads together at the way they act towards one another.  Julia's determination and Everett's stubbornness makes them perfect for one another in every way.  Just takes a while and a lot of adventures along the way for them to realize that.

You will be cheering for them along the sidelines hoping one of them sees sense at some point!!

Stars out of 5: 5 I read this book in a day, as I couldn't put it down and needed to know what happened next. This is Melissa's first book and I loved it.  Look forward to reading many more of her books over the years.

"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".

"An Untamed Heart," by Lauraine Snelling

"An Untamed Heart," by Lauraine Snelling

The Long-Awaited Prequel to the Red River of the North Series

Twenty-year-old Ingeborg Strand is certain she is destined to be an old maid. It's not that she's lacked suitors, but now she no longer can have the one she loved.

With the future looking bleak, her mother suggests that she leave Norway and start afresh in America, as so many others have done before her. But how will she accomplish that with little money and no one to accompany her?

Roald Bjorklund is a widower who has been planning to go to America, lured by the promise of free land. He's a good man, a hard-working man--with a young son who desperately needs a mother. Ingeborg can tell Roald is interested in her, but what about love? This isn't how she's always imagined it.

Ingeborg Strand has a heartrending decision to make...

I really enjoyed this book, but was very confused.  I read the back cover of the book and couldn't understand what that description had to do with the actual book I was reading.  It wasn't until closer to the end that it all began to make sense.  If you have read Lauraine's Red River of the North Series this book may be even more interesting.  However if you haven't, like me; it will encourage you to read the Red River of the North Series to see what happens to Ingeborg next.

I read this over two days as I really enjoyed it and it was interesting to read about the history of Norway back in the late 1800's.

Stars out of 5 : 4 Enjoyed the book but the story and the description on the back cover made it confusing at times.  Big fab of Lauraine's though and do love her writing.

"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 Promise," by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley

"The Promise," by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley

One home, two hearts, and the power of a promise kept . . .
For the last five months, Tom Anderson has been without a job, a fact he's been hiding from his wife Jean--and everyone else. He leaves each morning, pretending nothing has changed, and spends his disheartening day rotating through coffee shops and the library, using their wifi to search job listings online. The stress of keeping this secret is beginning to put serious strain on his marriage.

But Tom's not the only one hiding something. Jean Anderson has a secret of her own--one that will seriously complicate their situation. Will the promises they made on their wedding day hold firm?

This is the second book in The Restoration Series, and while I didn't love it, I didn't hate it either.  I felt as though it dragged in places.  It didn't help that I read this book in snippets rather than in long reading sessions.  However the story was easy enough to keep up with, which is a good thing.  For some reason I preferred the first book in the series over this one.

I could actually see what Tom did happening in real life; which is really sad.

Stars out of 5 : 3  I will read the next book in the series as it was an okay book to read.

"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".

"Trapped," by Irene Hannon

A runaway teen, a desperate sister, and an intrepid PI determined to discover the truth
When Laura Griffith's sixteen-year-old sister disappears on a frigid February day, leaving only a brief note behind, Laura resolves to do whatever it takes to track down the runaway teen. That includes recruiting ATF agent turned private investigator James Devlin to help. Dev knows time is of the essence with runaways--just forty-eight hours can mean the difference between recovery and ruin.

But the deeper he and Laura dig, the more Dev begins to suspect that something sinister is at work in the girl's disappearance. And in the icy winter weather, the trail is going cold . . .

In her latest thrilling read, queen of romantic suspense Irene Hannon outdoes herself with a fast-paced tale of fear, deception, and just the right dose of romance.

Another great book by Irene Hannon that you get sucked into this book right away, and need to know what happens next.  I found the story about Darcy (Laura's sister) more interesting than the Laura side of the story.  The whole story though was well told and very believable.  It also brings up the point that appearances can be very deceiving; people are not always what they seem.

Stars out of 5 : 5 Loved this book, had a bit of everything thing in it, murder, mystery, weather and you will learn something about private investigators.  A must read for everyone.

"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".

"Into the Whirlwind," by Elizabeth Camden

"Into the Whirlwind," by Elizabeth Camden

As owner of the 57th Illinois Watch Company, Mollie Knox's future looks bright until the night the legendary Great Chicago Fire destroys her beloved city. With her world crumbling around her, Mollie will do whatever it takes to rebuild in the aftermath of the devastating fire.

Zack Kazmarek, an influential attorney for one of Chicago's finest department stores, is a force to be reckoned with among the city's most powerful citizens. Bold and shrewd, he's accustomed to getting exactly what he wants--until he meets Mollie Knox, the beguiling businesswoman just beyond his reach.

In the tumult as the people of Chicago race to rebuild a bigger and better city, Mollie comes face-to-face with the full force of Zack's character and influence. Zack believes this may finally be his chance to win her, but can Mollie ever accept this man and his whirlwind effect on her life, especially with her treasured company on the line?

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially with Mollie as the lead character.  The strength and courage she displays throughout the book is extraordinary; and very believable.  The choices that she makes, make her wise beyond her years.

Zack's personality is the exact opposite to Mollie's, but they do say the opposites attract and in this case they do, but not without a lot of twists and turns along the way.

Stars out of 5 : 4.5  Didn't get hooked right away but soon after.  Well worth the read and you'll want to know what happens next the further you get into the book.  I also found it interesting from the historical aspect as well.  There is an interesting historical note at the end of the book.

"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".

"Dangerous Passages," by Lisa Harris

"Dangerous Passages," by Lisa Harris

She's dedicated her life to ending violence. But has she moved too deep into a treacherous world?
When two Jane Does are killed on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, detective and behavioral specialist Avery North discovers they share something in common--a magnolia tattoo on their shoulders. Suspecting a serial killer, Avery joins forces with medical examiner Jackson Bryant to solve the crimes and prevent another murder. As they venture deep into a sinister criminal world, Avery and Jackson are taken to the very edge of their abilities--and their hearts.

Dangerous Passage exposes a fully realized and frightening world where every layer peeled back reveals more challenges ahead. You'll be hooked from the start.

Loved this book.  When it says you'll be hooked from the start, you truly are.  It's an easy book to get immersed with and you will want to know what happens next.  Most women will be able to relate with Avery, as she is a mother, a daughter, and a working woman and trying to juggle everything in her life and still make time for herself is a challenge.  The budding romance between Avery and Jackson is well written.

The murder, mystery part of the book is also well written and delves into a subject I know little about.  It also makes you appreciate how hard and long these law enforcement professionals work.  This book is the first in the "Southern Crimes," series, the next book in the series, "Fatal Exchange," is to be released in the Summer of 2014.

Stars out of 5 : 5 Loved the book, I had to know what happened next.  The story had enough twists and turns to make it interesting.  Where the book finished was good and there was still some unfinished business in the book that  you hope will be picked up in the next book.  Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

"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".