BLUE RIDGE SUNRISE By Denise Hunter

Part of her Blue Ridge Romance series, Blue Ridge Sunrise is a lovely story by Denise Hunter. We meet in cameos some characters from her previous stories as the setting is the same town. The story opens with Zoe Collins returning to attend the funeral of her beloved grandmother. She has not been back since leaving with boyfriend Kyle in 5 years. But at the funeral, just as she fretted, she runs into former first love, Cruz Huntley. Unable to make eye contact, Zoe is not her former assertive self. Cruz still has feelings for her and is concerned with the changes in her personality and her appearance, having been a true redhead, she is now a blond.

Zoe's intention, especially because of Kyle's insistence, is just to remain long enough for the reading of the will; however, her grandmother leaves her Peach Orchard and small business to Zoe. Kyle insists she has to return to singing with his band and sell her inheritance. To enforce his demands, he begins his usually MO of beating her in the parking lot but Cruz comes to her rescue.

Zoe's longtime friend and her brother help her to understand she doesn't need Kyle and his baggage and she should stay and make a go of it. To complicate matters, Zoe is not along but has her little girl. A little girl whose father doesn't know about his paternity.

This is a good novel but one of those I consider kind of stressing to read because of the angst between the main characters and the complicated issues they must overcome and relationship that needs repairing. But this does have a dramatic climax and very satisfying ending. I recommend it is worth your time to read. I received this book from netgalley for my honest review.

BLIND SPOT By Dani Pettrey

Dani Pettrey is a master author of suspense with a dash of romance. The third book in her Chesapeake Valor Series is a page burner. It can stand alone but makes more sense when read in sequence and especially as it ends with a cliff hangar ending.

Declan Grey, is an FBI agent hot on the hills of a terrorist cell bent on doing harm to the United States; in the midst of his case he manages to realize he has fallen in love with his temporary partner, Tanner Shaw. Tanner has surprise expertise and a background that she hasn't shared with Declan until she saves his life in the middle of a gunfight.

Declan and Tanner also are members of a tight knit group of friends, all with specialties of their own. Enter Luke, a former member of the group and special friend, who has been missing for seven years and presumed dead. Dead that is to all but Kate who still loves him with all her heart. Luke, apparently, is deeply embedded as an agent for an unnamed organization and has had to do unspeakable things that have affected the person he used to be deeply. He saves Declan and Tanner and then saves Declan a second time; but he asks them to keep knowledge of seeing him secret.

The story is a race against time to discover and diffuse the target of the terrorists with many twists and turns in the plot.

I enjoyed the mystery very much, the banter among the characters, and the romantic interludes. I would recommend this series to anyone who loves suspense and espionage with a little romance thrown in. I received this book from Bethany House for my honest review.

DEADLY PROOF By Rachel Dylan

This one is a text in legal process. If you work in the legal world you will especially enjoy it as the lawyer moves are detailed. Those of us who aren't experts at law can still follow the story. It is a great mystery and suspense. 

Kate Sullivan is a Prosecuting attorney representing her clients who, allegedly, have been harmed by big Pharma. It feels more like she is a public defender as her goal in life is to defend the downtrodden without thought for the big bucks. Her counter part on the other hand, who is a former classmate and supposed friend, Ethan Black is the exact opposite. Career and more money is his goal that's why he has sought out Mason Industries as a client to defend.

Right off the bat, you are caught in the web of the mystery as Kate is contacted by a whistleblower named Ellie Proctor who then shows up dead. Now her new PI, Landon James, a former Army Ranger, must add extra duties of arranging and participating in added security for Kate.

As things progress, things heat up between Kate and Landon, Ethan digs himself in deeper, the attacks against Kate escalate, and the suspense deepens as more acts of sabotage occur and a mysterious package arrives in the mail.

Rachel Dylan is a new author to me but her novel is well worth the read. I highly recommend it. I received this novel through Bethany House Blogger Review program for my honest opinion.