Book Review: Trapped

 

ISBN# 978 0 8007 2124 2

"The queen of inspirational romantic suspense hits a home run with this compelling follow-up to Vanished. Hannon's many fans and readers who enjoy Travis Thasher will want this one."--Library Journal
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 . . .

My Reflections:  

Irene Hannon has produced another fabulous Romantic suspense with "Trapped". I am on a suspense kick and I can say there has been some great books published this month. Trapped is the second book in the "Private Justice" series, and it is every bit as brilliant as her first book Vanished. We get to meet Cal's colleague, James Devlin (Dev) in this second book and the story quickly propels the reader into a world of deceit, fear, love and suspense.


Laura Griffith's life has taken a turn for the worse when her sixteen year old sister comes to live with her. Laura is ill equipped to handle this wild teen resulting in a all out rebellion. Armed with little more than a runaway's note and a referral to Phoenix Inc, Laura is determined to find her sister and quickly. Things turn sinister and time is of the essence.

This book had me a bit creeped out I must admit, it was a bit unnerving to be in the head of the villain, and I am a bit of a wimp when faced with this kind of terrifying behavior. That said you have to hand it to Hannon for her writing skills, she masterfully wrote a book that really had me locking my doors and tossing the book on the floor (I picked it right up, I had to know what happened) So all in all this book held ME captive page after terrifying page. I loved the end and can't wait for book three!

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fast paced Romantic Suspense. Irene Hannon is one of my favorite authors and she has penned another winner with 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".

About the Author:
 

Irene Hannon

Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the bestselling Heroes of Quantico and Guardians of Justice series. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, a Carol Award, a HOLT Medallion, a Daphne du Maurier Award, and two Reviewers' Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. Booklist also included one of her novels in its "Top 10 Inspirational Fiction" list for 2011. She lives in Missouri.

For more information about her and her books, Irene invites you to visit her website at www.irenehannon.com.

Book Review: Fired Up

 ISBN#978 0 7642 0915 4

From the Back:

When a doctor who attracts danger falls for a cook determined to make it on her own, there's going to be trouble in Texas!

Glynna Greer came west as a mail-order bride and ended up in a bad situation. Now her husband, Flint, is dead, and she's determined to make a go of it on her own. In a town full of men, Glynna decides she can support her two children by opening a diner--never mind that cooking is not her greatest talent.

Dare Riker is a doctor who saves lives, but someone seems determined to end his. It may have something to do with the traitors he dealt with during the Civil War, or it might be related to the recent incident with Flint Greer and the ranch. Whoever the culprit is, he or she seems really fired up, and Dare can't let his guard down for a moment--which is a challenge, since right now he's trying to win the heart of the recently widowed Glynna.

Though his doctoring business is booming due to Glynna's questionable cooking, Dare seems to encounter unexpected dangers wherever he goes. There's the avalanche. And the fire. And then the shadowy figure with a knife. Can Dare survive it all long enough to convince Glynna to take another chance on love?

My Reflections: 

Fired up is the second book in the Trouble In Texas series. I first became antiquated with the characters in Connealy's first book Swept Away.

The peril I often face when reading a series is either I have not read the earlier book or I have and just can't seem to get enough, wishing for the next book to be published. This was the problem I experienced with this series. I so enjoyed the story of Swept Away that I could not wait until Fired up was published. Imagine my delight at cracking the new crisp pages of this book..pure joy!

I was not disappointed in the least. Fired up is a fast paced heart tugging novel filled with love, loss, heartache, and danger.

Dare Riker is the town's "Doctor" having never had formal educating, he feel unworthy of the title. The town however needs him and he does his utmost to care for the people of Broken Wheel. But is someone out to get him? Will he live to save the lives of others? I must say I found his character to be, how do I say this... manly, rugged, respectful, and just the type of guy you would dream up to be the in the "hero" slot.

Glynna Greer is the battered wife of two failed marriages, she is certainly bent not to go down that path any time soon. Having no way to support her children or herself for that matter, she decides  to open a dinner for the town folk, one problem..she can't cook! The men don't seem to be bothered by this fact, and they keep her busy even though they become ill from her hometown fare. The are fed by her sheer beauty and spunk!

Though the plot is a teeny bit predictable, the story makes up for it ten fold. I would certainly recommend this book to a variety of audiences, without hesitation!

This book had all the elements for a best seller, and I would certainly be in line to consider it one, great job Mary Connealy, I can't wait for book three!

"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".

About the Author:
 

Mary Connealy

Mary Connealy is an award-winning, bestselling author known for her fun and lively historical romances. An author, teacher, and journalist, Mary lives on an eastern Nebraska ranch with her cowboy husband and has four daughters and two grandchildren. Learn more at www.maryconnealy.com.

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Book Review: Parenting Your Powerful Child

 
ISBN# 978 0 8007 2316 3

Don't let those cherublike faces fool you.
Your smart kids have an agenda--and they're workin' ya.Powerful kids don't just happen. They're created, and their power comes in different packages. Whether loud and temperamental, quiet and sensitive, or stubborn and manipulative, powerful children can make living with them a challenge. But it doesn't have to be that way.

In Parenting Your Powerful Child, New York Times bestselling author Dr. Kevin Leman offers a practical action plan to redirect your child's power surges into positive traits that will prepare your child for a successful, happy, and productive adult life. With these simple but effective techniques, you can transform your home from a daily battle zone to a safe and peaceful place. All it takes is a little determination--and some small changes on your part--to make a huge difference in your family life.

Ready for the power struggle to end?

My Reflections: 

Oh how I have been needing this book! God is good, every time I think I am going to go loonie with the antics of my children I receive a life changing book. I must be a slow learner as I have read a ton of parenting books :-)

Dr. Kevin Leman is a well known and respected psychologist and humorist, who has just published his newest book titled: Parenting your powerful child.
This book covers a multitude of subjects for example:

The Anatomy of a powerful child,

The loud, aggressive, temperamental, curveball manipulator.

The quiet, shy, sensitive, walk on eggshells manipulator

The stubborn, procrastinating manipulator

Why Kids misbehave

What kind of kid do you want?

Grace based parenting.

And this is just a snapshot of the subjects this book covers.

I think my favorite thing about this book was that it was littered with common sense and easy to apply strategies. I felt that I could implement a lot of the behavioral techniques, but mostly I feel it gave me an insight into my children's lives. I particularly enjoyed  chapter 16, Redirecting the Power Surge. This chapter energized and encouraged me.

This book is chock full of encouraging and easy to apply strategies. The power points at the end of each chapter are though provoking and a great way for busy parents to take away tidbits of information they have read and digest it.

I would certainly recommend this book to all parents, no one is perfect (shocking I know!) but with this book and others like it we can take baby steps to become better equipped for the challenges and joys of raising our children.

"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".

 About the Author:

Dr. Kevin Leman

Dr. Kevin Leman is an internationally known psychologist, radio and television personality, and speaker who has taught and entertained audiences worldwide with his wit and commonsense psychology. He has made house calls for hundreds of radio and television programs, such as Fox & Friends, The View, Fox's The Morning Show, Today, Dr. Bill Bennett's America in the Morning, 700 Club, CBS's The Early Show, James Robison's Life Today, Janet Parshall, CNN's American Morning, and Focus on the Family, and has served as a contributing family psychologist to Good Morning America.

A bestselling and award-winning author, Dr. Leman has written more than 40 books about marriage and family issues, including The Birth Order Book, Sheet Music, Making Children Mind without Losing Yours, and Have a New Kid by Friday. He is coauthor, with his son Kevin Leman II, of a series of illustrated children's books for each child in the family. He is also featured on 6 video series on marriage, parenting, blended families, and single parenting.

Dr. Leman and his wife, Sande, live in Tucson, Arizona. They have five children and two grandchildren.

Book review: Stranded

 
ISBN# 978 0 7642 0984 0

From the Back:

When Her Friend Goes Missing,
Every Minute Counts

Darcy St. James returns to Alaska to join a journalist friend undercover on the trail of a big story. But when Darcy arrives, she finds her friend has disappeared. Troubled by the cruise ship's vague explanation, Darcy uses her cover as a travel reporter to investigate further.

The last person Gage McKenna expects to see during his summer aboard a cruise ship leading adventure excursions is Darcy. And in typical Darcy fashion, she's digging up more trouble.

He'd love to just forget her--but something won't let him. And he can't help but worry about her as they are heading into more remote regions of Alaska and eventually into foreign waters. Something sinister is going on, and the deeper they push, the more Gage fears they've only discovered the tip of the iceberg.

My Reflections:

Mrs. Pettrey, you are one talented writer!
This is the third book in the Alaskan Courage series, and although I have not read the first two I am definitely going to be purchasing them in the near future. I didn't have any problems reading this book as a stand alone story, but feel I would have had better insight in Gage's extended family and the somewhat sudden romance between Gage and Darcy.

I must say going into this book I was like, yep another suspense book (I have read a few this month) But seriously this book was fabulous from chapter one! I loved the characters in this book they were very real to life personalities.

Darcy St. James was not the usual faint of heart lady in distress, sure she was scared at times when faced with peril, but she was determined, loyal and courageous. I found her character to be intricate and engaging, spunky and sweet. Although I didn't like the fact that you catch her telling lies to cover her identity, I am sure that any undercover agent has to tell untruths to protect their families and themselves.

Gage is the manly, outdoorsy guy in this story. He has many trust issues, basically you could say he is complicated and has a lack of self esteem, rightly so after the losses he has endured. His character was so maddeningly real that you just had to see everything turn out right. How many of us hold onto pain and loss, and just can't allow God's healing hand?

So in short I think this book is a must read, but please start from the first book in the series Submerged, then move onto the second Shattered then you will be ready and waiting for this third book Stranded. I know you will not be disappointed!


"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".  Thank you!

About the Authour:
Dani Pettrey

 

Dani Pettrey is a wife, homeschooling mom, and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves--the thrill of adventure, nail biting suspense, the deepening of her characters' faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters. Visit her website at www.danipettrey.com.

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Book Review: The Letters

 

ISBN# 9780800720933


From The Back:

Welcome to a place of unconditional love and unexpected blessings

When widow Rose Schrock turns her Amish farmhouse into a bed and breakfast, she expects there might be problems. The reaction of her cantankerous mother-in-law for one. Disapproval from the church for another. But what she doesn't expect is that the guests at the Inn at Eagle Hill will spill their problems into her life and into her heart. She also never expects the kind of help and support she gets from Galen King, the quiet and rugged horse trainer next door. Love, Rose discovers, can bloom in the most unexpected ways.

With inspiration from a true story and her signature plot twists, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Stoney Ridge for a fresh story of simple pleasures and strong faith in a complex world.


My Reflections:

I was anticipating the arrival of this book for weeks, and was ecstatic when it finally arrived in the mail. This book definitely did not disappoint in any way.

The characters wrapped themselves around my heart and I was smitten from the first page onward. Woods Fisher’s writing style was mesmerizing, engaging and simply beautiful. The way she portrays the Eagle Inn in Stony Ridge made me want to jump in my truck and go on vacation. This is a place where the simple life basks in homemade goodies and hand sewn quilts.

There is even Rose’s blueberry Cornbread recipe in the back of the book, I am going to try that out in a gluten free version.

Woods Fisher’s book also held real human truths to the Amish life as well, just because you live the “simple” life doesn’t always make it …well.. simple..It is the way you live that makes the difference. How you choose to react to those challenges and who you choose to lean onto get you through.

I think the sweet message of faith and trust really came through in this novel, better than any that I have read in quite some time. I love how the author was able to weave the story line around such a powerful message and also thread in some great twists that left you yearning for the sequel.

I give this book a 5 star rating. (Something I rarely do) I will definitely be sharing this one with my good friends! A must 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". 

THE AUTHOR

1. 

   Suzanne Woods Fisher

   Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Letters, the Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of an Amish...

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Book Review: Dangerous Passage

ISBN# 978 0 8007 2190 9

From The Back:

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.


My Reflections:

Lisa Harris has taken a very raw and ugly subject matter and developed a very intriguing story line that entwines faith, love, mystery, and family.

Her characters are real, vibrant and struggle with modern every day issues. It was so refreshing to see that Avery questioned her abilities as a detective and was not the "model" detective. This lent to a true to life character. Jackson is also struggling to overcome issues from the past, so the duo make a likable combo.

I enjoyed the opportunity to review this novel and found it to be a very thought provoking topic. I did however experience a few flat spots in the story line that were challenging to persevere through but the story did revive itself at the end. Because of this I am only giving this novel a 3 star rating.

There are many things that readers will enjoy in this book, Cleaver detectives, well researched subject matter, blossoming romance and some spine tingling suspense. Overall This book was well written and well planned, but for me just lacked the momentum to give it a better overall rating.

"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". 

THE AUTHOR

1. 

   © Mariah Harris

   Lisa Harris

   Lisa Harris is an award-winning author with more than 400,000 copies of her works in print. She was a 2011 Christy Award finalist for Blood Ransom and lives in Mozambique together with her husband, Scott, and their three children. Visit her website at...

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