Crossfire (Extreme Measures book #2) by Lynette Eason

 

Crossfire is the newest book by one of the queens of suspense, Lynette Eason. Crossfire is a fantastic suspense-filled novel with a bit of romance, a few plot twists, and wonderful, well-developed characters. the plot is engaging and the setting is realistic. This is book 2 of the series but can be read as a stand-alone. I would add that there are some scenes that occur in a school setting that could cause discomfort to some readers. I really enjoyed the way Lynette wove the character's faith into the plot. She made their faith or lack of faith, a natural part of their character.

So grab your beverage of choice and settle in to read Crossfire. Caution, don't start late at night unless you don't have to get up early. You won't want to set this book down until you finish it!

#NetGalley gave me a copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

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.

This intense story of revenge and redemption from bestselling author and master of suspense Lynette Eason will have you up all night as you race toward the explosive finish

About the author:

Award-winning, best-selling author, Lynette Eason writes for Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense line and for Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Her books have hit the Publisher's Weekly, CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won numerous awards such as the prestigious Carol Award, the Selah, the Daphne, the IRCC award and more. Lynette is married, has two children, and lives in Greenville, SC.

The Heart Of The Mountains by Pepper Basham

 

"But prayin' is where we admit we ain't lords of our own lives, nor of any lives, to be true. And, as I study on it, God uses prayin' to change my heart into what He's wantin' it to be in sun or rain, 'cause I'm trustin' in His love and His plan." ~Mama McAdams

Pepper Basham returns us to the Blue Ridge mountains and the families we met in Laural's Dream. In The Heart Of The Mountains. I really enjoyed visiting with the McAdams family. Pepper has a way of bringing her characters to life, giving them challenges and joys that keep one reading well past their bedtime. I think Jeb and Cora are two of my favorite mountain characters followed closely by Jeb's mama Caroline McAdams.  So brew up a pitcher of sun tea and a stack of molasses cookies to enjoy while reading The Heart Of The Mountains.

I was given a copy of The Heart Of The Mountains by the publisher with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

Can their hearts overcome the darkness of the mountains?
 
To escape a forced marriage, Cora Taylor travels from England to the Blue Ridge Mountains in search of her brother, who is working as a teacher in a mission school. She hopes to find a place where her nursing skills and independent ideas will be accepted and appreciated, but nothing prepares her for the wild mixture of isolation, community, brokenness, and hope within these mountains…or in the person of Jeb McAdams.
 
Returning from the devastation of World War 1 emotionally damaged, Jeb McAdams struggles against the rampant mountain alcoholism to soothe his nightmares. It’s easy to hide within the mountains, or it was, before Cora Taylor arrived. Now, she seems to show up at every turn, bringing her modern ideas, curiosity, and beautiful eyes with her.
 
Bound by their shared war history, the pair develop an unlikely friendship, which unexpectedly hints to something more. But when Cora’s desire to help the women of the mountains crosses an unspoken line, will Jeb be able to protect this feisty flatlander from the wrath of the mountain men or will he end up losing much more than his heart? 

About the author:

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with a southern Appalachian flair. Her books have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inpsys, and the ACFW Carol Awards, with The Thorn Healer, selected as a 2018 finalist in the RT awards. Both her contemporary and historical romance novels consistently receive high ratings from Romantic Times, with Just the Way You Are as a Top Pick. Most recently she’s introduced readers to Bath, UK through her novellas, Second Impressions and Jane by the Book, and taken readers into the exciting world of WW2 espionage in her novella, Façade. The second novel in The Pleasant Gap series, When You Look at Me, arrives in October and her contribution to Barbour’s wonderful My Heart Belongs series hits the shelves in January 2019 with My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge. Her books are seasoned with her Appalachian heritage and love for family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

You can get to know Pepper on her website, www.pepperdbasham.com, on Facebook, Instagram, or over at her group blog, The Writer's Alley

Enriched (Knights Of The Brethren book 4) by Jody Hedlund

 

Enriched by Jody Hedlund is one of those books that I sat down with and read straight through. I love all things medieval then ad in the search for the Holy Grail,  that makes for a fabulous afternoon read.

Sir Torvald and Lady Karina are an unlikely pair marrying for convenience with no hope of love. So when Torvald is tasked by the King to find the Holy Grail he willingly parts from his bride. I loved the characters and the setting. This is book 4 of 6 and so far each story is better than the last. 

I would suggest you block off an afternoon and grab some treats to enjoy while you read this book.

I was given a copy of Enriched by the publisher with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

During a time when legends were born . . .

ENRICHED

A wealthy noblewoman with a heart of gold, a wounded knight closed off to love, and the sacrifices for a chalice that can bring healing.

Lady Karina lives in a convent and expects to become a nun someday. When her wealthy father asks her to help his textile business become more successful by marrying one of the popular Knights of Brethren, Karina complies, ever the dutiful daughter.

During a royal quest to find the sacred chalice, Torvald is called home to save his family’s estate through an arranged marriage to a wealthy maiden. Although willing to do his duty, he’s vowed never to give his heart to anyone after watching his father suffer heartbreak over a woman.

As Torvald weds the kind and lovely Karina, he resists the pull of attraction to his bride. Even though Karina feels the sting of Torvald’s rejection, she chooses to love him unconditionally. As he resumes his search for the chalice and puts his life in jeopardy, Karina makes the ultimate sacrifice for him. Will he have the chance to love her in return before it’s too late?

The real story of the Holy Grail continues . . .

Knights of Brethren
Book 1: Enamored
Book 2: Entwined
Book 3: Ensnared
Book 4: Enriched
Book 5: Enflamed (coming soon)
Book 6: Entrusted (coming soon)

Other YA books by Jody Hedlund:

The Fairest Maidens
Book 1: Beholden
Book 2: Beguiled
Book 3: Besotted

The Lost Princesses
Prequel Novella: Always
Book 1: Evermore
Book 2: Foremost
Book 3: Hereafter

The Noble Knights
Prequel Novella: The Vow
Book 1: An Uncertain Choice
Book 2: A Daring Sacrifice
Book 3: For Love and Honor
Book 4: A Loyal Heart
Book 5: A Worthy Rebel

For a complete list of Jody's novels, visit her Amazon page or website - jodyhedlund.com

About the author:

Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over forty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes clean, sweet romances with plenty of sizzle. Find out more at jodyhedlund.com.

KNIGHTS OF BRETHREN SERIES:

Enamored

Entwined

Ensnared

Enriched (Coming July, 2022)

Enflamed (Coming August, 2022)

Entrusted (Coming September, 2022)

To Tame A Cowboy (Colorado Cowboys book #3) by Jody Hedlund

 

Jody Hedlund is one of the most prolific and diverse authors of Christian fiction. I love all of her books from historical fiction to the old west to medieval tales. To tame a Cowboy is her latest book in the Colorado Cowboy series which is projected to have five books total. I loved Savannah for her loving heart and also for her spunk in becoming a veterinarian in a man's world. Brody is a wonderful cowboy with a heart as big as the west. I loved how he overcomes his brokenness. I think this is my favorite cowboy book so far. I am definitely looking forward to Falling For The Cowgirl releasing on October 11th.

So grab a cup of joe and prepare for a great tale from the old west.

I was given a copy of To Tame A Cowboy by the publisher with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

They share a passion to heal what is broken, but it's their own hearts that need to be made whole. 

Brody McQuaid is a broken man, and he knows it. While his body survived the war, his soul did not. Besides loving his little niece, his only sense of purpose comes from saving the wild horses that roam South Park. Ranchers in the area have taken to killing the horses, which are competing with their cattle to feed on the open grass.

Savannah Marshall is a veterinarian on her family's Colorado ranch. She longs to keep her father happy following the tragic death of her older brother, including marrying a man of his choosing. But days before her wedding, she gets cold feet and disappears to South Park. As she learns more about the destruction of the horses, she joins Brody in an attempt to save the wild creatures. But when Savannah's family and the resentments of the area cattlemen catch up with them both, Brody and Savannah will have to tame their fears if they've any hope to let love run free.

About the author:

Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over forty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes clean, sweet romances with plenty of sizzle. Find out more at jodyhedlund.com.

KNIGHTS OF BRETHREN SERIES:

Enamored

Entwined

Ensnared

Enriched (Coming July, 2022)

Enflamed (Coming August, 2022)

Entrusted (Coming September, 2022)

FAIREST MAIDENS SERIES:

Beholden

Beguiled

Besotted

LOST PRINCESSES SERIES:

Always: Prequel Novella

Evermore

Foremost

Hereafter

NOBLE KNIGHTS SERIES:

The Vow: Prequel Novella

An Uncertain Choice

A Daring Sacrifice

For Love & Honor

A Loyal Heart

A Worthy Rebel

WATERS OF TIME SERIES:

Come Back to Me

Never Leave Me

Stay With Me (December, 2022)

COLORADO COWBOYS SERIES:

A Cowboy for Keeps

The Heart of a Cowboy

To Tame a Cowboy

Falling for the Cowgirl (Coming October, 2022)

The Last Chance Cowboy (Coming February, 2023)

BRIDE SHIP SERIES:

A Reluctant Bride

The Runaway Bride

A Bride of Convenience

Almost a Bride

ORPHAN TRAIN SERIES:

An Awakened Heart: A Novella

With You Always

Together Forever

Searching for You

BEACONS OF HOPE SERIES:

Out of the Storm: A Novella

Love Unexpected

Hearts Made Whole

Undaunted Hope

Forever Safe

Never Forget

HEARTS OF FAITH COLLECTION:

The Preacher’s Bride

The Doctor’s Lady

Rebellious Heart

MICHIGAN BRIDES COLLECTION:

Unending Devotion

A Noble Groom

Captured by Love

BIO FICTION:

Luther and Katharina

Newton & Polly

Sunburst (Sky King Ranch book #2) by Susan May Warren

 

Isn't this a gorgeous cover? 

Susan May Warren is well known for her family sagas. Sunburst continues her tradition of creating fabulous stories following the lives of family members. Each book usually focuses on one member of the family's story. Sunburst was a fantastic read covering Ranger Kingston's adventure as he rescues his brother, Colt. He finds more than expected in Nigeria. I loved the humor that comes out even in the most challenging situations. Noemi is a delightful surprise. I have fallen in love with the Kingston family and am anxiously awaiting book 3, Sundown which releases a lifetime from now...November 1, 2022.

So grab some ice tea and curl up in your favorite reading place for a fabulous adventure from Nigeria to Alaska!

I was given a copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

When former Navy SEAL and lifelong bachelor Ranger Kingston is called upon to take part in a rescue mission to save his brother Colt, who has been kidnapped by terrorists in Nigeria, he is shocked to find among the hostages a woman he knows and could never forget.

Noemi Sutton was attempting to return a young girl to her family in Boko Haram territory when she and the girl found themselves taken hostage, along with several others.

And while Ranger Kingston may be able to get the hostages away from their captors, he'll need Noemi's help if he ever hopes to get out of Nigeria alive.

Her solution? Pose as husband and wife. But when her uncle discovers the union, he insists on a traditional Nigerian wedding--binding Noemi to a man destined to break her heart. Worse, she's discovered the real reason she was kidnapped, and anyone around her is bound to be caught in the cross fire. Including her so-called new husband.

She'll need to figure out a way to leave the man she loves if she wants to save his life.

USA Today bestselling author Susan May Warren throws you into the thick of the action in this high-stakes, globe-trotting romance.

About the author:

Growing up in Minneapolis and attending the U of MN, I learned to love city life, although I'm a woodsy girl at heart. Or maybe I'm an adventurer -- having lived and traveled all over the world, including Siberia Russia as a missionary for eight years. Probably that's why my characters can't sit still, and seem to get into one scrape after another -- they're too much like me! I love God, my family, my country, my church, and feel privileged every day to be able to write stories.

Here's my "Official" Bio.

With over 1 million books sold, critically acclaimed novelist Susan May Warren is the Christy, RITA, and Carol award-winning author of over seventy-five novels with Revell, Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill, and Summerside Press. Known for her compelling plots and unforgettable characters, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic suspense, thrillers, rom-com, and Christmas novellas.

With books translated into eight languages, many of her novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award.

Of her books, Publisher’s Weekly has written, “Warren lays bare her characters’ human frailties, including fear, grief, and resentment, as openly as she details their virtues of love, devotion, and resiliency. She has crafted an engaging tale of romance, rivalry, and the power of forgiveness.”

And Library Journal adds, “Warren's characters are well-developed and she knows how to create a first-rate contemporary romance…”

Susan is also a nationally acclaimed writing coach, teaching at conferences around the nation, and winner of the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Mentor of the Year award. She loves to help people launch their writing careers and is the founder of Novel. Academy and www.LearnHowtoWriteaNovel.com, a writing website that helps authors get published and stay published. She’s also the author of the popular writing method, The Story Equation.

Where The Road Bends by Rachel Fordham, audio read by Coleen Marlo

 

This is a double review as I have read the story and listened to the audio. I loved Quincy and ora's story. Both were broken people who stepped up to care for others. It is a story of forgiveness and redemption. I love the gentle storytelling of Rachel Fordham. She tells wonderful stories in a way that keeps you engaged and wanting to spend more time in her world.

As to the audible version, Coleen Marlo does a fantastic job reading the story. She reads the book in such a way that I could easily tell who was speaking, each character had a distinctive "voice".

I highly recommend both versions of Where the Road Bends.

Brew up a pitcher of tea and settle in for a great read whether you prefer printed books or audiobooks.

I was given a copy of both versions by the publisher with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

As Norah King surveys her family land in Iowa in 1880, she is acutely aware that it is all she has left, and she will do everything in her power to save it--even if that means marrying a man she hardly knows. Days before her wedding, Norah discovers an injured man on her property. Her sense of duty compels her to take him in and nurse him back to health. Little does she realize just how much this act of kindness will complicate her life and threaten the future she's planned.

Norah's care does more than aid Quincy Barnes's recovery--it awakens his heart to possibilities. Penniless and homeless, he knows the most honorable thing he can do is head on down the road and leave Norah to marry her intended. But walking away from the first person to believe in him proves much harder than he imagined.

Rachel Fordham invites you to experience the strength and beauty of love forged in the crucible of hardship in this heartwarming story.

About the author:

Rachel Fordham has long been fascinated by all things historical or in the words of her children “old stuff”. Often the historical trivia she discovers is woven into her children's bedtime tales. Despite her love for good stories she didn’t attempt writing a novel until her husband challenged her to do so (and now she’s so glad he did). Since that time she’s often been found typing or researching while her youngest child naps or frantically writes plot twists while she waits in the school pick-up line. In addition to her passion for storytelling, she enjoys reading, being outdoors, and seeing new places. Rachel lives with her husband and children on an island in Washington state.

Learn more about current projects at rachelfordham.com

About Coleen Marlo:

From AudioFile magazine:

"I've always felt a desire to be able to express the beauty of the world in all of its complexities, and audiobooks give me a chance to do that," says Coleen Marlo, winner of the 2011 Audie Award for Fiction for her reading of Robert Helenga's novel SNAKEWOMAN OF LITTLE EGYPT . "Winning that award was a true fulfillment as well as a wonderful acknowledgment of this craft."

Marlo's life as an audiobook narrator began with her acting training. First and foremost, she credits the consummate actor and teacher Salome Jens with being her mentor and her friend. As a member of the Actors Studio, Marlo has been privileged to work with such master moderators and close colleagues as Mark Rydell and legends such as Martin Landau, Shelley Winters, Harvey Keitel, and Al Pacino.

"After many years of training and theater work, I auditioned for Dan Musselman at Books on Tape." Eventually, she was asked to record her first audiobook. Each narrator has her own method of preparing for recording. Marlo reads the manuscript before she records. "I approach each book as I would any other acting job, the difference being that I'm now playing all the characters." She keeps her mind open to all the possibilities. "I allow myself to feel the material rather than intellectualize it. I jot down comments on all the characters, noting anything that gives me insight into their souls. Then, by the time I get to the studio, I can just let it sail, allowing it to unfold, moment by moment, yet still remaining open to the discoveries and surprises that come along."

Marlo's AudioFile Earphones-winning recording of NO BIKING IN THE HOUSE WITHOUT A HELMET by Melissa Fay Greene led to some fascinating dinners at Ethiopian restaurants and chats with owners and waiters as she did research on the Ethiopian accent. Recording SOURLAND by Joyce Carol Oates proved a different kind of challenge for the talented narrator. With 16 short stories and some 200

Free Fall (Quantico Files #3) by Nancy Mehl

 

Free Fall by Nancy Mehl is a very suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat novel. The Quantico Files follow a team of FBI profilers. Nancy has obviously well researched the methods used by profilers and has written a thrilling series of books. While the books could be read as stand-alone, they are best read in order. Alex and Logan are an interesting couple and I really cared about what happened to them. I enjoyed the faith element. I can't wait to read more books by Ms. Mehl.

I would suggest you brew a pitcher of tea and settle in under a tree for a fantastic read.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

The closer she comes to the truth, the deadlier her chase gets.

FBI behavioral analyst Alex Donovan and her colleague Logan Hart have been called upon to write a profile for a missing woman, but a little digging quickly turns up more disappearances in Virginia with the same physical description.

Alex is in a race against the clock to rescue the missing victims, so when the UNSUB makes demands of her in exchange for information, Alex takes the bait. But when her life is put in jeopardy, Logan must do whatever it takes to track them down before time runs out.

Alex works to think one step ahead of the suspect, but the more Logan and the BAU learn about the serial kidnapper, the more they fear Alex may not make it out alive.

"The relentless pace will keep readers glued to their seats . . . This pulse-pounding romantic thriller is a wild ride."--Publishers Weekly

about the author:

Nancy Mehl lives in Missouri, with her husband Norman, and her very active puggle, Watson. She's authored thirty books and is currently at work on a new FBI suspense series for Bethany House Publishing.

All of Nancy's novels have an added touch - something for your spirit as well as your soul. "I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing," Nancy says. "It's a part of me and of everything I think or do. God is number one in my life. I wouldn't be writing at all if I didn't believe that this is what He's called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan, especially for your life, and there is nothing you can't overcome with His help."

You can find out more about Nancy by visiting her Web site at: www.nancymehl.com. She also is active on the Suspense Sisters: www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com and on FaceBook!