Bookish Thoughts: Sundown

 

Description:

Former Delta Operative Colt Kingston knows when someone is lying. He may not know the truth, but he sure doesn't trust Tae, the woman who is caring for his ailing father at Sky King Ranch. Behind those beautiful blue eyes, he can tell there is a troubled--and smart--woman.

A few of her stories prove true--he's found the crashed plane and the dead body inside. Still, her story of survival seems too incredible to believe . . . until the thugs she claims to be hunting her show up and threaten Sky King Ranch. Now Tae must disappear, along with her secrets.

But Colt's not about to let her go it alone. And when they discover that her secrets include the antidote to a plague that threatens the world, it'll take all three Kingston brothers to save the country they've vowed to protect.

Susan May Warren brings her Sky King Ranch series to a climactic close with this high-stakes race against the clock.

About the Author:

Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling author of nearly 90 novels with more than 1.5 million books sold, including the Global Search and Rescue and the Montana Rescue series, as well as Sunrise and Sunburst. Winner of a RITA Award and multiple Christy and Carol Awards, as well as the HOLT Medallion and numerous Readers' Choice Awards, Susan makes her home in Minnesota. Find her online at www.susanmaywarren.com, on Facebook @SusanMayWarrenFiction, and on Twitter @SusanMayWarren.

My Thoughts:

This is the third book in the Sky King Ranch series and I keep debating if this one or the second book is my favorite . . . still undecided.  It might be a tie . . . .  For this book, I would definitely recommend reading the first two before diving in.  It picks up right where the former one left off and seldom lets up on the suspense.  I’ve been excited for this book and eagerly awaiting the conclusion to the series. 

This is Tae and Colt’s story and I so enjoyed the build up to this one.  If you haven’t read the other ones, they meet in book 2, so the romance here moves pretty quickly.  As does the action.  Though it’s labeled “romance” there was definitely plenty of suspense to keep me reading well past bedtime and secretly hoping my munchkins would nap “just a few more minutes.”  

As much as I loved Tae and Colt’s story, I also really enjoyed getting to continue to follow Ranger and Noemi’s relationship, as they navigate his vision problems and her fear of losing him.  I so appreciated the messages woven throughout the pages.  Messages of redemption, forgiveness, closure, and learning to lean into who God has made you to be.  

I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy romantic suspense!  This one definitely has both.

*My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book!  I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I'm just a couple blog posts away from 300!!! I believe I shall have to do something to celebrate the occasion - any thoughts or suggestions (requests)?

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Bookish Thoughts: Body of Evidence

 

Description:

Forensic pathologist Grace Reilly has seen her share of unusual deaths in rural Missouri. But when she begins to notice a curious pattern in autopsies of elderly residents whose demise appears to be natural, she takes her concerns to Sheriff Nate Cox.

Nate is skeptical about the link Grace is seeing between the deaths--and her suspicions of foul play. But her persistence is compelling. Once she finally convinces him her theory is credible and they join forces to investigate, danger follows. Because exposing the truth could destroy several lives--including Grace's.

About the Author:
Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than 60 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. In addition to her many other honors, she is a three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of RWA's elite Hall of Fame and has received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.

My Thoughts:

As many other reviews point out, this book is the third in a series.  But it can definitely be read as a stand-alone.  I greatly enjoyed the first two books, so I was excited to start this one.  As much as I wanted to love this story, it fell more into the “eh” category and I’ll probably donate my copy to our local library that already has the rest of the series. 

I read some other reviews before writing mine and this book has great ratings.  So maybe the disconnect is just with me, but I struggled to get into the story.  After a couple chapters, I found the rhythm though and began anticipating my next chance to read it.  Then somewhere in the middle, it just started dragging.  The suspense was minimal to me, more threats from the villain than actual action.  Sure, the heroine was supposed to be in danger, but nothing really even happened except some vandalism until right at the end. I actually ended up putting the book aside and reading and finishing two other books before I finished this one.  And I very seldom read more than one novel at a time.  Okay, and I do have to say that I found part of the epilogue very unrealistic.   

I will say that the author did a great job of keeping who the villain was a surprise!  I figured it out a couple chapters before the characters, the clues started adding up, but it did keep my curiosity until close to the end.  

Overall, I suppose I would recommend this book if you read the other two and are looking for closure to Grace’s story.  

*My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book!  I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for my review in any way.  All opinions expressed are my own.

While this wasn't the book for me, I believe there is a book for every reader and a reader for every book (mostly. I also know there are some truly terrible books out there, but I don't believe this is one of them), so please don't just take my word for it. Reading and purchase links are below so you can see other opinions and decide for yourself if this is the book for you.

Have a lovely day!

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Bookish Thoughts: Word of Honor

 

Description

FBI Special Agent Lynda Culter is investigating an ecoterrorist organization in the Alaskan wilderness when her partner is taken captive and murdered before her very eyes. The only person who can identify the key players, Lynda gets assigned to take part in a joint operation in Istanbul to take the organization down.

As a woman in a Muslim country, she'll find it much easier to move around undetected with a fake husband. Unfortunately for her, the man assigned to play the role is none other than US Army weapons specialist Bill Sanders--the man who crushed her heart into a million pieces back in college.

With a cargo bay's worth of hurt and baggage between them, these two consummate professionals must play their parts perfectly if they hope to stop those responsible for bombing oil pipelines, killing innocent civilians, and threatening to destabilize the oil markets. But love long buried has a way of resurfacing at the most inopportune times--and protecting Lynda has become Bill's primary focus.

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About the Author:
Hallee Bridgeman is the USA Today bestselling author of several action-packed romantic suspense books and series. An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee and her husband finally settled in central Kentucky, where they have raised their three children. When she's not writing, Hallee pursues her passion for cooking, coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. An accomplished speaker and active member of several writing organizations, Hallee can be found online at www.halleebridgeman.com.

My Thoughts:

This is the second book in the series and it picks up right where the first one left off, though you don’t have to read the first to keep up with the story.  I really enjoyed the first book and was very excited when this one arrived in the mail.  My reading time is getting more and more limited, it seems, so I wasn’t able to rush through it as I usually do.  That said, it was really nice to take my time and savor the story a little more.  Though I was more than a bit impatient when the suspense picked up and I had to keep putting it down when life demanded. 

I read the back cover description and was under the impression that Bill and Lynda’s “marriage” would be a larger part of the story.  I’m always a sucker for the “forced proximity” or “marriage of convenience” tropes, so I was very intrigued.  In all actuality, it didn’t have as large of a role as I had anticipated.  I did really enjoy how their relationship changed more gradually.  Though the timeline for most of the story is fairly short, the romance didn’t feel rushed or unrealistic.  I loved how natural it felt, amidst the suspense and mystery happening around them. 

I so enjoyed getting to know Bill and Lynda, as well as revisiting some other characters from the first book.  I’ve also seldom read a book set in Turkey, so I found the cultural things fascinating, especially the things Bill and Lynda learned for their undercover roles.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to Ozzy’s book next month!

Bookish Thoughts: Dangerous Beauty

 

Description:

What is the price for freedom?

Liliana Vela hates the term victim. She's not a victim, she's a fighter. Stubborn and strong with a quiet elegance, she's determined to take back her life after escaping the clutches of human traffickers in her poor Mexican village. But she can't stay safely over the border in America--unless the man who aided in her rescue is serious about his unconventional proposal to marry her.

Meric Toledan was just stopping at a service station for a bottle of water. Assessing the situation, he steps in to rescue Liliana from traffickers. If he can keep his secrets at bay, his wealth and position afford him many resources to help her. But the mysterious buyer who funded her capture will not sit idly by while his prize is stolen from him.

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About the Author:
Melissa Koslin is a fourth-degree black belt in and certified instructor of Songahm Taekwondo. In her day job as a commercial property manager, she secretly notes personal quirks and funny situations, ready to tweak them into colorful additions for her books. The author of Never Miss, Melissa lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with her husband, Corey. Find more information on her books at www.MelissaKoslin.com

My Thoughts:

I’m honestly not entirely sure how to rate this book.  I loved the suspense!  I raced through the story in around 2 days, which is quick for me.  It started off abruptly and seldom let up.

I loved Liliana’s character and quickly settled in to learn her story.  I found Meric much harder to like/know.  I understand that’s part of his character - he’s severe, controlled, private.  But for most of the book I really struggled to like him, beyond how he cared for Liliana.  Seeing him through her eyes made him slightly more human, but I ended the book very conflicted over their relationship.  I think the fact that the story is primarily told from Liliana's perspective also added to the disparity in how well I felt I knew him.   

Also, looking back, I was super engrossed as I was reading, but the story itself didn't actually have that much action. It was well dispersed, but somehow the author kept the suspense building to the end. Though I do have to admit, the ending seemed rather anticlimactic after everything that had been said and done. It was a bit unsatisfying for me. 

So I enjoyed it, but I'm not sure I'd rush to read it again.

I will add, I was very curious about the "marriage of convenience" trope. What is your favorite trope?

Bookish Thoughts: Honor Bound

 

Description:

It may seem odd to seek peace by moving to a war-torn African country, but for medical missionary Dr. Cynthia Myers, it provided a way to escape a shallow life of unearned wealth, a philandering fiancé, and a father now square in the public eye as vice president of the United States. At least here she knows her work and life have meaning. But all that is thrown into chaos when she fails to save the life of a local warlord's mortally wounded son.

As part of the Army Special Forces "A-Team" on a mission to capture and subdue the warlord, Captain Rick Norton is compelled to use deadly force to save Cynthia's life. Enraged at the violence she witnessed and riddled with guilt that men died because of her, Cynthia tries to hold on to her anger--but an unwanted attraction is taking hold.

With two members of his team badly injured and rebels in hot pursuit, Rick will have to draw upon all his strength and cunning to get her out alive . . . because he's beginning to think they just might overcome their differences and be able to make a life together.

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About the Author:

Hallee Bridgeman is the USA Today bestselling author of several action-packed romantic suspense books and series. An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee and her husband finally settled in central Kentucky, where they have raised their three children. When she's not writing, Hallee pursues her passion for cooking, coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. An accomplished speaker and active member of several writing organizations, Hallee can be found online at www.halleebridgeman.com.

My Thoughts:

I’ve long been a fan of Ms. Bridgeman’s work and was super excited to learn she has a whole new series releasing!  This one is the first in a new series about an Army Green Beret special forces team and I couldn’t wait to dive in.  First, I had to free the book from my toddler’s curious hands, as she loved the cover. 

I honestly wasn’t sure what to think when I first started the story.  I liked Rick from the beginning.  With Cynthia, it took a little more time for me to warm up to her character, though I did really like her by the end!  I really enjoyed the suspense and getting to know the entire team.  I found the number of characters, names, and their team call-signs a little overwhelming at the beginning, but quickly settled into the rhythm.  The pacing and “feel” of the story is a little different from the author’s other novels, so that took a little adjustment for me, but I found that while I greatly enjoyed her other books, I liked this slightly different style as well.  

One of the things that I found very interesting is Cynthia’s perspective on war.  She’s a pacifist put in the middle of combat with a group of special forces soldiers.  So while she disagreed with their methods, she was forced to assist them to help her village.  I enjoyed learning about her opinions and beliefs on the subject, as well as how Rick perceives his role in warfare.  I appreciated how the author handled the conversations on the subject.  

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am excitedly awaiting the opportunity to read the next one!

Question to ponder:

Do you tend towards agreeing more with Cynthia in her pacifist beliefs, or with Rick being a military SF soldier? Have you ever taken time to consider the other side?

Bookish Thoughts: Crossfire

 

Description:

FBI special agent Julianna Jameson is a top-notch negotiator who has never lost a hostage. Surely she can manage to take care of her much younger sister, Dottie, who showed up unannounced to live with Julianna while she finished her senior year of high school.

A former sniper with the 75th Ranger Regiment, Clay Fox left the army after a tragic incident that he can't get past. Now he's working as a high school resource officer until he can figure out what to do with the rest of his life.

Their paths cross when Julianna is called in to negotiate a courtroom hostage situation involving Clay's sister. Impressed and a bit intimidated by the calm, capable woman with the dark hair and blue eyes, Clay invites her to speak at his school. Dottie's school.

But as the anniversary of a school shooting from Julianna's past approaches, it becomes clear that her perfect record is about to be tested and that Dottie is at risk. If Julianna and Clay can't figure out who's behind the attacks, more innocent people will die--and Dottie is next in line.

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About the Author:

Lynette Eason is the USA Today bestselling author of Life Flight and Crossfire, as well as the Danger Never Sleeps, Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master's degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.

My Thoughts:

When I saw this book was offered for a review opportunity, I jumped at it!  Lynette Eason has long been an auto-read name for me, so I didn’t even think about it.  Then I remembered . . . I never finished the first book in the series.  The villain was just too vivid for me.  So then I was a little trepidatious going into this one, because what if I didn’t like it?  What if I couldn’t finish it?  I love this author.  I didn’t want to write a negative review for any of her books.  But (thankfully, there’s a “but”), I loved it!  And I’m excited to talk about it!

So much to say!  But no spoilers!  Those are dreadful.  I loathe reading a review and finding out a plot twist that ruins the book for me.  And there was a twist that I definitely did not see coming!  Kudos to Ms. Eason!  She’s one of the few authors who can surprise me on a pretty regular basis.  I loved Julianna and Clay, obviously, along with their siblings, Reese and Dottie.  The suspense kept me up reading far too late one night, which I should know better by now, right?  The munchkins always wake up early when I stay up late.  But it totally felt worth it at the time.

 I really appreciated the focus on redemption, forgiveness, and the dangers of allowing bitterness to take root.  There was one perspective that really drove these points  home.  Though I do confess that I didn’t understand why she was involved for the longest time.  Once I figured that out, I really enjoyed the focus on healing and forgiveness, a light amidst the darkness of the villain’s perspective.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of suspense!

What about you? Have you ever picked up a book by a favorite author and panicked that you might not enjoy it as much?

Bookish Thoughts: Worthy of Legend

 

Description:

1906

After a summer of successful pirate-treasure hunting, Lady Emily Scofield and her friends must hide the unprecedented discoveries they've made, thanks to the betrayal of her own family. Horrified by her brother, who will stop at nothing to prove himself to their greedy father, Emily is forced to take a stand against her family--even if it means being cut off entirely.

Bram Sinclair, Earl of Telford, is fascinated with tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table--an interest he's kept mostly hidden for the last decade. But when a diary is unearthed on the islands that could lead to a secret artifact, Bram is the only one able to piece the legends together.

As Bram and Emily seek out the whereabouts of the hidden artifact, they must dodge her family and a team of archaeologists. In a race against time, it is up to them to decide what makes a hero worthy of legend. Is it fighting valiantly to claim the treasure . . . or sacrificing everything in the name of selfless love?

About the Author:

Roseanna M. White (www.roseannamwhite.com) is a bestselling, Christy Award-nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. She pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of numerous novels, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to Edwardian British series. Roseanna lives with her family in West Virginia. Learn more at www.roseannamwhite.com

My Thoughts:

So, I’m just kind of waiting for Ms. White to finally write a book that I don’t absolutely adore.  I’m also really hoping that never happens.  I love picking up one of her books and diving into an excellent story that I know from the start is going to touch my heart and have characters that become dear friends by “the end.”  Obviously, this book is not “the one” that just makes me turn my nose up and wish for a former story.  I finished it thinking “no!  I can’t be at the end so soon!  Just a few more pages!”  Which I suppose there technically were, if you read the author’s note (something I occasionally do).

So, where to begin?  With Bram?  Or Emily?  Or Sir Tristan, a fictional dog I might actually be okay with having as a pet?  *Sigh*  I had been so hoping that this would be Bram and Emily’s story and was super excited when it was announced!  The romance is by far my favorite part of the story.  I loved getting to know both of them better and seeing Bram seek to build up what Emily’s family so often delighted to tear down.  I so enjoyed the deep conversations and thought-provoking questions they raised.  I also very much appreciated how Ms. White chose to answer those questions.

"Where did mercy and justice meet? With pain and sacrifice. And beauty beyond anything he'd ever seen."

What else?  Oh, I knew so little about King Arthur.  But like Bram, I really enjoyed the stories of honor and integrity woven into the treasure hunt.  And knowing nothing about it, I enjoyed the author’s note, clearing up a little of what is fact and fiction.  I also seriously loathed Nigel.  Can I say that after talking about honor and integrity?  Neither of which Nigel seemed to possess.  Though I surprisingly liked Vandermeer and the creative verbal sparring with Bram.

Overall, I found this book to be the perfect finale to this series!  I would highly recommend it, as well as the previous ones!

*My thanks to the author and publisher for my copy of this book!  I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way.  All opinions expressed are my own.  

Does anyone else have a hard time spelling "legend"? My fingers keep wanting to add an extra "d" to it. Haha!

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