SABOTAGED by Dani Pettrey

Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey is the final installment of her Alaskan Courage Series about the McKenna siblings. I loved the way Dani brought all the siblings in on this mystery and displayed all their unique talents. A whole family of Extreme Sports enthusiasts great at search and rescue, Landon and Jake with their law enforcement backgrounds, Darcy with her newspaper sleuthing abilities, Kayden, capable of flying airplanes, and Bailey, the Russian History artifacts expert, just to name a few, aid in making this a page turning, nail biting action packed novel. Add the tender romance between the main characters Reef McKenna and Kirra Jacobs and you have another one for your keeper shelf.

In addition, Kirra struggles with a secret in her past that makes it difficult for her to trust men. She finds herself teamed together with the charming and sexy Reef McKenna with a reputation as a carouser. Can she trust him? Has he changed? The lives of her uncle and her cousin depend on her.

The stakes become even higher when the whole state of Alaska maybe under an environmental threat of nuclear proportions. Ms. Pettrey handles espionage, romance, and a controversial yet personal subject with aplomb. I highly recommend this whole series which is better read in order but entertaining as stand alones.

THE BRACELET by Dorothy Love

A true historical novel built around a mystery involving family secrets, Dorothy Love's "The Bracelet" makes an enthralling read. The setting is pre-civil war south in Savannah, Georgia. Her descriptions of the era and culture are enlightening and the discussions surrounding the looming possibility of Civil War fascinate especially given the inevitable.

She slowly reveals the relationship between her characters so that you aren't sure how invested in each other they are until you are deeply involved in their stories. Celia and Sutton who have known each other for years and whose engagement seems inevitable, Celia’s cousin, Ivy whose snide comments and sneakiness make her untrustworthy, and then there is the journalist bent on digging up family tragedies. And so the notes and clues begin and finally "The Bracelet" is introduced. After the novel seems to climax, you are then led on another series of twists and turns in the narrative.

 I found the language of the jewels to be very intriguing. Ms. Love author's notes at the end add a lot to this enjoyable read. If you like history and mystery, then this is your book.

LOVE WITHOUT END by Robin Lee Hatcher

Love without End, a story of second chances, is told from the perspectives of both the hero and heroine as well as through the eyes of the elderly adoptive aunt, Anna. Past histories and blended family troubles  are something many of us have experienced or know someone who has.

We all struggle with whether to love or love again and that becomes much harder when there are children involved. We all have fears and regrets and many of us love animals especially horses and the cowboys who ride them.

I don't usually care for romances about those who are middle aged or older and having almost grown children; but this book was special and written very well. Kudos to Ms. Robin Lee Hatcher for drawing you into the lives of her characters and making you care about them and want to see Idaho for yourself. I highly recommend this book which I received from Netgalley for an honest review.

FOUR WEDDINGS AND A KISS By Margaret Brownley, Debra Clopton, Mary Connealy, and Robin Lee Hatcher

Four Weddings and a Kiss gives the reader the bonus of reading 4 great authors. Sometimes you find that only one or two are worth the book; but, in this case, every story keeps you turning the pages. What makes it most unique is that the stories are stories within a story. It opens with a young preacher involved in a conundrum and four experienced Pastors one up each other to share the best story to provide him with a solution.

 All the authors: Mary Connealy, Robin Lee Hatcher, Debra Clopton, and Margaret Brownley have been in my arsenal of favorite and reliable authors for romantic and entertaining reads. You can't go wrong with Four Weddings and a Kiss--well worth your time and investment.

THE WISHING SEASON by Denise Hunter



The Wishing Season By Denise Hunter is a very entertaining read that opens like a thriller. A sweet romance that sparks with the reality of human struggles of faith and love. P. J. McKinley and Cole Evans find themselves with the dilemma of having to compete for the same prize under the same roof with the added complication of their mutual attraction.

Both P. J. and Cole live with trauma and sorrow from their pasts. This comes back to haunt their budding relationship. Whom do they trust? What do they trust--their heart or their assumptions about each other? P. J. dreams of owning her own Restaurant with her own chef masterpieces while Cole yearns to have a foster home for young people to transition into adult life. They both want the same Ancestral Home offered up by its elderly owner to the person with the best plan for its restoration and use. Her solution for two great plans is for them to share the house for a year and show which plan would be the best.

As both accept the challenge, they succeed in getting much more than they bargain for...I highly recommend you accept the challenge this inspiring romance that should be bound for your keeper shelf.

JADE'S COWBOY CRUSH By Kimberly Krey

 

Every once in a while you come across a book that is just a gem of a find by an author you haven't read before.

 

This story, part of a series, is such a book. Though not a Christian romance, it is albeit, a very clean read; but with spice. It is deliciously romantic.

 

Jade's Cowboy Crush opens with a hint that the hero and heroine may have a brief history together. It immediately jumps forward into a suspenseful conundrum for Jade. She witnesses a murder and needs to enter Witness Protection with her son.

 

Enter Gavin, her protector--a hard as nails cowboy, moonlighting as a construction contractor, with a history of his own. Home is not a place Gavin wants to return to; but home is where he's agreed to take mother and son and pretend to be happily married.

 

Of course this is a recipe for trouble. Ms. Krey writes the best kissing scenes. Just as in real life, the characters must choose the high ground and just when you think you can't turn the page, they make the right choice.

 

This one has you hanging on the edge of your seat at the end. Gavin's past collide's with the future he hope's to have with his little family. Will the bad guy find them and will Gavin be able to save them and his heart? You have to read to find out.

 

An excellent, clean, romantic, suspense for your keeper shelf. I plan to read the whole series. Ms. Krey, you've made my list of favorite authors!



A MOST INCONVENIENT MARRIAGE By Regina Jennings

 

A most unusual treatise for a story. I wasn't sure how the author was going to carry it off. In fact, I wasn't sure that I would  enjoy a story where the person had married someone and then discovered that the person wasn't who they married at all.

But Ms. Jennings uses the culture of that time, integrity, beliefs, and loyalties to make you understand and root for her characters. As you discover the reasons for the misunderstandings and see how the characters deal with what life has thrown their way you find yourself turning the pages because you are so invested in the story.

 

War wounds, not only those physically involved, but those left behind. An Inconvenient Marriage is thought provoking from several directions. Complicated relationships, life and death issues, and the after effects of war and it's effects on daily living make this story worth your time and investment.  This is one I will want to read again just to see what I missed. 

The romantic encounters were that--romantic. At the climax, the tension was palpable  but things naturally evolved into a very humorous outcome to a serious situation. You have to read to find out.

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.