VANISHED by Irene Hannon ~ My Review

About the book~

Reporter Moira Harrison is lost. In the dark. In a thunderstorm. When a lone figure suddenly appears in the beam of her headlights, Moira slams on her brakes--but it's too late. She feels the solid thump against the side of her car before crashing into a tree on the far side of the road. 

A man opens her door, tells her he saw everything, and promises to call 911. Then the world fades to black. When she comes to, she is alone. No man. No 911. No injured person. But she can't forget the look of terror she saw on that face in the instant before her headlights swung away. And she can't get anyone to believe her story--except maybe a handsome ex-homicide detective turned private eye, who reluctantly agrees to take on the case.

As clues begin to surface, it becomes obvious that someone doesn't want this mystery solved--and will stop at nothing to protect a shocking secret.

In my humble opinion~

The premise really pulled me in. Lost in a raging storm late at night, Moira Harrison slams into a female crossing the road. A hooded man stops to check on Moira, explains that help is on the way, but when she awakens an hour later, both the female and the "Good Samaritan" have vanished, leaving no trace. 

Haunted by the female's frightened eyes and disappointed by the lack of police support, Moira hires Phoenix Private Investigator, Cal Burke, to track what seem to be non-existent leads. Still grieving his wife after five years and wallowing in guilt, Cal left law enforcement and opened Phoenix with partners, Dev and Connor. He hasn't moved on and still wears his wedding band. Moira's lonely, and her social life is non-existent since she broke up with an ex-boyfriend after he cheated on her. Both Cal and Moira feel an immediate attraction to one another.

While I was drawn to Cal and the other team members of Phoenix, I didn't connect with Moira quite so easily. When I caught the occasional glimpse of her on the job, she was sitting at her desk typing a story or talking with her friend. As a Pulitzer Prize nominee for investigative reporting, I guess I expected to see her chasing down leads, showing some grit and adventurous spirit. Maybe I just had different expectations for this character than what the author intended.

Knowing who the bad guy is early in the book didn't detract from the suspense and the romance was just sweet enough to keep me flipping pages on my kindle. Not my favorite Irene Hannon book, but shoving my expectations aside, overall, Vanished makes for a very enjoyable read. I look forward to Dev's story coming next.

Purchase Link

Disclaimer: A huge thanks to NetGalley and Revell for providing me with a free copy in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.

Shattered by Dani Pettrey ~ My Review

About the book~

Piper McKenna couldn't be more thrilled that her prodigal brother, Reef, has returned to Yancey, Alaska, after five years. But her happiness is short-lived when Reef appears at her house covered in blood. A fellow snowboarder has been killed--but despite the evidence, Reef swears he's innocent. And Piper believes him.

Deputy Landon Grainger loves the McKennas like family, but he's also sworn to find the truth. Piper is frustrated with his need for facts over faith, but he knows those closest to you have the power to deceive you the most. With his sheriff pushing for a quick conviction, some unexpected leads complicate the investigation, and pursuing the truth may mean risking Landon's career.

With Piper waging her own search, the two head deep into Canada's rugged backcountry--and unexpected complications. Not only does their long friendship seem to be turning into something more, but this dangerous case is becoming deadlier with each step.

Sharing my take~

Piper McKenna would make a great friend: trusting, devoted to her family, sweet, dogged about her beliefs, and right now she believes in her brother's innocence. She strives for open communication in relationships, while Landon prefers not to lay all his cards on the table. It doesn't help his cause when he's forced to investigate Piper's brother for murder.

I have a feeling I missed a major event introducing Piper and Landon's story in the first book of Pettrey's Alaskan Courage series, Submerged, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of Shattered. Shattered picks up with Landon's realization that he's way past the friend stage with Piper, but she doesn't have a clue about her feelings, or his, yet. 

The author did a fabulous job with characterization. You either loved characters, like Piper, or you hated them, like Meredith. The dialog between Piper and Landon was fun and witty, and in some spots, laugh out loud. I loved getting to know the rest of the McKenna family, too. 

The first few pages required a second go-through to familiarize myself with everybody and what was happening, but then, WOW! It's been a long time since I enjoyed a book this much, a book that made me forget about watching my favorite television shows, cooking dinner, picking up the grandkids from school, you fill in the blank. The suspense, while not nail-biting, was enough to keep me turning the pages, and the romance satisfied my sweet spot.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series which I'm fairly sure will feature Gage and Darcy's romance. And YES, I liked this book so much, I already scooped up Submerged on Amazon.

Shattered releases with Bethany House Publisher on 2/1/13. You may pre-order Shattered here.

Your turn.

What was the last book you read that you enjoyed so much that it kept you from your normal routine?

Disclaimer: A huge thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House Publisher for providing me with a free advance copy in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.

Christmas Countdown by Vicki Hinze ~My Review

The back cover~

A simple trip home for the holidays is all former FBI profiler Maggie Mason wants. But a serial killer has other plans. Trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Maggie finds an ally in Lost, Inc. with private investigator Dr. Ian Crane. The handsome widower is reluctant to love again, and the last thing Maggie wants is to put Ian in the line of fire, too. Love could cost them everything…unless they can find their way to each other, in time for Christmas.

My take~
Intense, fast-paced suspense scenes left me holding my breath at times. I'm not a nail-biter, or I imagine mine would have been bitten to the quick. I read it through in two evenings ~while my hubby was home~ but I wouldn't recommend reading it late at night. 

The main characters, Maggie and Ian, had been friends while Ian's wife was alive. Since Ian's wife's death, Maggie has helped Ian through his grieving process, mostly over the phone. Their transition from friends to romance progressed naturally over the course of the book, and I enjoyed cheering them towards their happily-ever-after. Uncle Warny played a huge role in this book, and he was such a lovable extra! 

One aspect of this book caught me by surprise, and I don't mean that in a bad way. Typically, in Love Inspired Suspense books the hero and heroine meet early in the book. Maggie and Ian don't talk until the 6th page, and then only by phone call. They don't actually meet until Chapter 3. Because the action was so fast-paced and the opening scene so intense, I wasn't disappointed in the slightest, just surprised. 

Overall, I really enjoyed Hinze's writing style. How has this author escaped my reading radar? I'll definitely be looking for more of her books!

Disclaimer: I purchased a copy of this book for my reading enjoyment.

ACFW December 2012 New Releases

Be still my heart! Check out all the new romances!

A Wedding Date in Hot Springs, Arkansas by Annalisa Daughety — Violet and Jackson both need dates to special events, so they hire a matchmaker to find somebody. Horrified when they meet—they already know and dislike each other from college—but with no other recourse, they agree to “pretend.” After a planned kiss with unexpected chemistry, will this sham arrangement turn into love?. (Contemporary Romance from Barbour Publishing).

The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson — In this retelling of the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs fairy tale, Sophie has little choice but to trust her betrothed’s brother, Gabe, to help her escape the evil Duchess Ermengard. (Historical from Zondervan).

A Christmas Homecoming by MaryAnn Diorio — When Sonia Pettit’s teenage daughter suddenly disappears for seven long years, Sonia faces losing her mind, her husband, and her son as she struggles to forgive her wayward daughter and trust God for her return. (Contemporary from Harbourlight Books (Pelican).

A Promise to Protect by Liz Johnson — Navy SEAL Matt Waterstone knows about keeping people safe. When his best friend’s sister is attacked, Matt promises no harm will come to Ashley Sawyer-not on his watch. But Matt’s not the only protective one. Ashley will do anything to safeguard the residents of the battered women’s shelter she runs. She’s sure she can handle the threats she gets in return. What she can’t handle is the way Matt scales the walls around her heart. Yet when she falls prey to a crime web far more sinister than she’d realized, trusting Matt could be the only way to survive… (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense).

Sagebrush Knights by Erica Vetsch — Evelyn, Jane, Gwendolyn, and Emeline Gerhard arrive in Wyoming Territory in search of husbands. But when the men awaiting them are not the knights-in-shining-armor they hoped for, it will take a hearty dose of faith to see them through. Will love prevail or bring a not so happy ending? (Romantic Suspense from Barbour Publishing).

Counterfeit Cowboy by Lacy Williams — A con man with a conscience meets and falls in love with a girl way out of his league. (Historical Romance from Love Inspired).

More details for each books can be found at ACFW's Fiction Finder website.

WEDNESDAY'S CHILD by Clare Revell ~ My Review

About the book: Liam Page, school teacher and ex-missionary, is a man with a secret agenda. Revenge. But when he says it with flowers, and accidentally drenches a woman who just happens to be the school's landscape architect, he may have found a light in his darkness.

After an abusive relationship, Jacqui Dorne prefers work to men. It's safer. But Liam Page with his boyish charm and wounded soul, manages to change her preferences. Has God led her to Liam to help him heal?

When their growing relationship is marred by the reappearance of Jacqui's ex-boyfriend, they find themselves suddenly embroiled in a series of dangerous events which leads them to Africa and has them fighting for both love and life.

My review:
Liam wrestles with God over his wife's murder, and the theme "Why do bad things happen to good people?" permeates the book. He's bitter and wants revenge, and the heroine reminds him of the Truth he walked away from after his wife's death.

After reading both Monday's Child & Tuesday's Child by Clare Revell, I couldn't wait to dig into Wednesday's Child and wasn't disappointed. Wednesday's Child started with an emotionally intense scene like the other two books based on the popular nursery rhyme, but unlike the others, I feel this story veered mostly towards romance until midway through the book before the suspense really kicked in. That's OK with me because I enjoy both inspirational romance and romantic suspense. 

I enjoy this author's no nonsense writing style combined with a wry sense of humor and strong heroes/heroines. You don't have to read this book in order, although once you read Wednesday's Child, you'll want to go back and pick up the first two.

Purchase Link

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.

TUESDAY'S CHILD by Clare Revell ~ My Review

About the book:

Tuesday's Child tenders direction...

Deaf from the age of five, Adeline Munroe operates a hospital for injured dolls, but lately her quiet life is disturbed by violent, haunting visions. Perhaps it's just her unspoken fear--a serial killer has struck in Headley Cross. But Adeline soon realizes she's seeing each murder just before they happen and reluctantly contacts the police.

Detective Sergeant Nate Holmes has enough to deal with between caring for his orphaned niece and his current assignment--the Herbalist killings, so when a woman comes forward who claims to be "seeing" the crimes in dreams, he isn't hopeful she'll be of any help. But he knows her from church, and she inexplicably describes how each crime is committed. Is God answering his prayers through Adeline?

Adeline assists the police, yet more women die and she becomes the prime target of the killer. Will Nate crack the case before the Herbalist can complete his agenda--or will the next murder Adeline foresees be her own?

My Review: 

This is one of those books where you become so entrenched in the characters' lives, you'd like nothing better than to continue along with them after the book ends. Adeline Munroe would be a great friend to have in real life. Spunky, caring, and she fixes boo-boos. On dolls.
Don't you just love the unusual occupations the author chooses for her heroines? And Nate? Who wouldn't love a hero who takes in his niece to raise? There's a great cast of secondary characters as well, from Ben, Adeline's black and white Cavalier King Charles spaniel, to Vianne, Nate's niece who played integral roles in the story.

Being deaf doesn't impair Adeline in any way. She's actually blessed with an abundance of other gifts, like visions of the Herbalist killings before they happen. Nate doesn't see her as handicapped, but as the strong, independent, and beautiful heroine she is. If it weren't for the occasional reminder from Adeline to look at her so she could read lips, as a reader, you almost forget the fact that she is deaf.

Tuesday's Child is action-packed, and the suspense is quite intense. Just when you think the book's coming in for an ending, Ms. Revell slings another curve ball your way. Great job, Clare Revell! I'm looking forward to the next story in the series, Wednesday's Child.

Purchase link with White Rose Publishing

  

Disclosure: I received this book from the author for a fair and honest review.

ACFW September 2012 New Releases

Kids are back in school. Does that mean more time to dig into some great reads? Check out the newest ACFW releases. See any calling your name?
 
Love Reunited by Renee Andrews — A soldier returns home to find the love of his life is single again, but he also learns that she’s blind…and that his confession of love may have cost her a marriage and her sight. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired).

Avenir Eclectia, Volume 1 by Grace Bridges, Pauline Creeden, Kat Heckenbach, Keven Newsome, H.A. Titus, Fred Warren and more — A human colony in the constellation of the Whale struggles to survive on an aging orbital station peopled with bureaucrats, wizards, beggars and cyborgs, and a violently unstable planet overrun with giant bugs and telepathic sea creatures. (Speculative Fiction from Splashdown Books).

Christmas Roses by Amanda Cabot — Can an itinerant carpenter searching for his father and a young widow who seeks only her daughter’s well-being find happiness in a small Wyoming mining town in the fall of 1882? (Historical Romance from Revell).

To Write a Wrong by Robin Caroll — In Angola State Penitentiary, a man is serving time for a crime he didn’t commit. Riley Baxter is an eager reporter desperate for a story to make a name for herself. When she stumbles upon the daughter of the incarcerated man, Riley sees a little too much of herself in the teen, and vows to help prove her father’s innocence. At the same time, Hayden Simpson has his hands full with keeping his little sister in line, worrying about his job as Police Commissioner, and dealing with his past emotional baggage. The last thing he needs is someone blowing the lid off his emotional bucket. (Romantic Suspense from B & H Publishing).

Material Witness (A Shipshewana Amish Mystery) by Vannetta Chapman — Masked identities, antique quilts with hidden messages, an Amish boy whose handicap makes him stronger, one brave dog, and a possible hidden treasure. This time it’s nonstop action, danger, and a dash of romance. (Cozy Mystery from Zondervan).

A Mom’s New Start by Margaret Daley — Single mom, Maggie Sommerfield, is having trouble with her son and turns to Cody Weston, a counselor, but although he brings comfort and support to her, he has a few secrets of his own. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired).

A Cascade Christmas by Mary Davis, Mildred Colvin, Debby Lee, and Gina Welborn — While Artisan Sela Fox runs her gift shop, she creates rare and beautiful guitars from redwood burl just as her husband had until his death. When land developer Evan Black shows up on her doorstep, using his humor and good looks to try and persuade her to sell the small slice of heaven she owns, she refuses to give up the only reminder she has left of her husband. But Evan is even more stubborn than the lovely Sela, and he has plans of his own. When he shares his talent for classical guitar using one of Sela’s creations, he’d not intended to woo her, but she responds to his serenade. (Romance Novella from Barbour).

Mother of Pearl by Kellie Coates Gilbert — The football coach went too far with her daughter . . . now this mother will risk everything she holds dear to bring him to justice. (General Contemporary from Abingdon Press).

The Road to Mercy by Kathy Harris — Josh Harrison, a contemporary Christian singer, and his wife Bethany face a difficult decision that also tests their faith. A rupture in Beth’s carotid artery leaves her on the brink of death even as she’s pregnant with their first child. While Dr. Ben Abrams urges her to terminate the pregnancy to save her own life, she and Josh step out on faith and decide to carry the baby to full term. During the next few months, Josh struggles with his faith, Beth hides a secret that may destroy their marriage. She also discovers a decades-old connection to Dr. Abrams that could change his life forever. (General Contemporary from Abingdon Press).

Seeking Unseen by Kat Heckenbach — It may be Angel’s wish…but it’s Melinda’s journey. Angel’s foster brother Zack needs help, but on the way she runs into her old friend Melinda, who demands to go along for the return to Toch Island. Melinda is more of an outsider than ever. A secret world surrounds her where even the bugs have magic. So when ex-con Doran Ashe offers her powers of her own, Melinda follows him despite – or maybe because of – everyone’s warnings. (Speculative Contemporary Fantasy from Splashdown Books).

Healing Love by Laura V. Hilton — What happens when an Amish midwife falls in love with an Englisch vet? (Contemporary Romance from Whitaker House).

Survive the Night by Vicki Hinze — Veteran and now Private Investigator Della Jackson is mourning the loss of her child and subsequent breakup of her marriage and now a stalker is determined to kill her, but she teams up with Paul Mason, the head of Florida Vet Net, to reclaim her life and discovers redemption and forgiveness and finally love. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired).

Trinity: Military War Dog by Ronie Kendig — With his military war dog, a former Green Beret embarks on the greatest mission of his life-but will it also be his last? (Romantic Suspense from Barbour).

Cedar Creek Seasons by Eileen Key, Becky Melby, Rachael Phillips, and Cynthia Ruchti — Romantic in every season of the calendar, charming, touristy Cedarburg, Wisconsin, with its last standing original Wisconsin covered bridge, works its magic on everyone. . .From a driven young twenty-something to a recently retired woman, each finds love when she least expects it. (Romance Novella from Barbour).

Sandwich, with a Side of Romance by Krista Phillips — She moved to Sandwich, Illinois, in search of a new life, but ended up in a giant pickle. (General Contemporary from Abingdon Press).

Stealing Hearts by Amber Stockton — Grace Baxton struggles to forgive a thief who took precious family heirlooms, yet threatens to steal her heart. (Contemporary Romance from Barbour).

With Every Letter by Sarah Sundin — World War II flight nurse Lt. Mellie Blake begins an anonymous correspondence with Army engineer Lt. Tom MacGilliver – when they’re both transferred to North Africa, will their future be held hostage by the past, or will they reveal their identities? (Historical Romance from Revell).

The Reunion by Dan Walsh — The Reunion is an emotionally charged story about a forgotten war hero who discovers that the love he lost can be restored. (General Contemporary from Revell).

The Shadow on the Quilt by Stephanie Grace Whitson — Juliana Sutton’s life looks perfect-from the outside. Until her husband’s untimely death reveals a devastating truth. (Contemporary Romance from Barbour).

Find out more about these books here: ACFW Fiction Finder website.