The House on Foster Hill

Kaine Prescott is no stranger to death. When her husband died two years ago, her pleas for further investigation into his suspicious death fell on deaf ears. In desperate need of a fresh start, Kaine purchases an old house sight unseen in her grandfather's Wisconsin hometown. But one look at the eerie, abandoned house immediately leaves her questioning her rash decision. And when the house's dark history comes back with a vengeance, Kaine is forced to face the terrifying realization she has nowhere left to hide.
A century earlier, the house on Foster Hill holds nothing but painful memories for Ivy Thorpe. When an unidentified woman is found dead on the property, Ivy is compelled to discover her identity. Ivy's search leads her into dangerous waters and, even as she works together with a man from her past, can she unravel the mystery before any other lives--
including her own--are lost?

My thoughts: I picked this book up on a whim, and was sucked into the story immediately! It was so hard to put down, since it was the perfect blend of suspense and mystery, with an interesting combination of past and present. While parts of it are creepy, since neither Ivy or Kaine know what they are up against at Foster Hill House.
This book has some great quotes, and I especially appreciated the thought provoking dialogs on where we put our hope and where it should be. I highly recommend this one!
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Crisis Shot

Tess O'Rourke dreams of becoming the first female chief of police in Long Beach, California. As commander of the East Division, she is well on her way . . . until the night she responds to an officer-needs-assistance call and fatally shoots an unarmed teenager. Despite being cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury, Tess is so hounded by the public that she takes a job in Oregon to escape the bad press.

Winning over the residents of Rogue's Hollow might be more difficult than adjusting to her new role as police chief in the small, backwater town. Especially when her closest friend, the pastor's wife, goes missing and the woman's cousin is found shot. Tess finds an ally in sheriff's deputy Steve Logan, but as they track down Rogue's Hollow's first murderer, she worries that she's breaking one of her rules and getting too close to him.

My thoughts: I haven't read any of Janice's previous stories, but my sister has raved about them, so I picked this one up. It was excellent! I love how the story tackles social issues, like the recent problems with attacks on police officers. I was a bit horrified by how much of a mess one blogger made in this story, but I think I was even more horrified that things like this story actually happen.
The mystery and suspense of the story are driving, which makes it hard to put down! I love how we get glimpses into other sides of the story. Two thumbs up! I look forward to reading more of Janice's books!
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

A Name Unknown

Edwardian Romance and History Gains a Twist of Suspense

Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond the band of former urchins that helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they concentrate on stealing high-value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. But when Rosemary must determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany, she is in for the challenge of a lifetime. How does one steal a family's history, their very name?

Peter Holstein, given his family's German blood, writes his popular series of adventure novels under a pen name. With European politics boiling and his own neighbors suspicious of him, Peter debates whether it might be best to change his name for good. When Rosemary shows up at his door pretending to be a historian and offering to help him trace his family history, his question might be answered.

But as the two work together and Rosemary sees his gracious reaction to his neighbors' scornful attacks, she wonders if her assignment is going down the wrong path. Is it too late to help him prove that he's more than his name?

My thoughts: I have enjoyed each of Roseanne's books immensely, so I was thrilled to get a hold of a copy of this book! This series is off to a wonderful start, I enjoyed the characters and the intrigue surrounding the time of their story, which is set in 1914 when England was on the cusp of World War I. This book revealed some interesting history about the king of the time and how anyone with a German surname was under suspicion. This is an excellent story to pick up! I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series, as Roseanne's characters are very realistic and go through a lot of growth through the course of the story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book.

Baggage Claim review and giveaway

Book: Baggage Claim

 



Author: Cathe Swanson

 



Genre: Christian Suspense/Romance

 



Release Date: February 14, 2017

 



There had to be at least one healthy branch on his family tree…



Who can he trust?



Ben Taylor, widower and father of four lively children, enjoys his easy, uncomplicated life. He likes his work and has a competent nanny to manage his household. Everything is good until he decides to seek out his biological parents and discovers a family tree with tangled roots and broken branches.



His comfortable life crumbles when he gets caught up in a criminal network of fraud and conspiracy at his new job. When Ben is forced into a dangerous alliance, he scrambles to find a safe situation and protection for his children before setting out to clear his name—all without getting himself killed in the process.



A nanny with a past…



Becoming a nanny was the perfect solution when Teresa Cooper needed a place to hide ten years ago, but now that she’s no longer in danger, she’s ready to move on and make a new life for herself. When Ben asks her to take the children to an unknown relative in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, she finds herself in hiding again, this time with four children in tow.



As the children explore the wilderness of the Upper Peninsula, Teresa begins to wonder about God’s plan for her future. Who is this stranger Ben trusts with his children? Why here? Can a city-bred nanny find joy in this wild corner of God’s creation?

My thoughts: This book is interesting and well written. I enjoyed getting to know the characters from the beginning and like that there is a lot going on with the their stories. I look forward to reading more by Cathe!
I received this book from Celebrate Lit in exchange for my honest review.

About the Author

Cathe Swanson lives in Wisconsin with her husband of 32 years. They enjoy spending time with their family and being outdoors, kayaking, hiking, birdwatching and fishing, but summer is short in Wisconsin, so it’s important to have indoor hobbies, too. Cathe has been a quilter and teacher of quiltmaking for over 25 years, and she enjoys just about any kind of creative work, especially those involving fiber or paper. She enjoys writing stories with eccentric characters of all ages. Her books will make you laugh and make you cry – and then make you laugh again.

Guest Post from Cathe Swanson

When I was in high school, I thought I might like to become an occupational therapist. Instead, I got married, had babies, raised the children and launched them into the world. I took a few years to regroup, and then I started thinking about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.



Shortly after that, my dad had a stroke, and when he came home from the hospital, I was fascinated by the work of the visiting therapists. I did some research and learned that physical and occupational therapy assistants make pretty good money and are able to do the best part of the job – the therapy. Therapists are often bogged down in paperwork and periodic assessments. The assistant has all the fun, and it’s just a 5-semester program.



So I trotted on down to the local community college and asked what I had to do to get signed up. The counsellor talked for a while about prerequisites, petitions, waiting lists, internships, and other such things. Eventually I realized she was trying to tell me that I was too old to embark on this career. Too taken-aback to be offended, I went home and wrote a book about it instead. After all, I’d invested a lot of time in research.



I’d been writing stories for years, and already had the bones of Baggage Claim. Once I gave my young hero a job as a physical therapy assistant, the story took on life. My mother’s interest in genealogy had sparked a question: What if a nice, normal person wanted to track down their biological family and it blew up in their face? So that’s where I sent my hero, and as one of my reviewers said, “It was not a Hallmark moment.”



I’m very happy as an author and have no real interest in becoming an occupational therapist. Indeed, that rejection was a turning point for me. I could have pushed forward and got that degree, but instead I went home and wrote. I have no regrets.

Blog Stops

March 28:
March 28: Book Reviews From an Avid Reader

March 29: Chas Ray’ s Book Nerd Corner

March 29: A Greater Yes

March 30: Genesis 5020

March 31: Reading Is My SuperPower

April 1: Quiet Quilter

April 2: autism mom

April 2: Avid Reader Book Reviews

April 3: Moments Dipped in Ink

April 3: Faithfully Bookish

April 4: Inklings and notions

April 5: Blossoms and Blessings

April 6: Blogging With Carol

April 7: Carpe Diem

April 7: A Baker’s Perspective

April 8: Christian Bookaholic

April 8: Karen Sue Hadley

April 9: History, Mystery and Faith

April 9: Bigreadersite

April 10: His Grace is Sufficient

April 10: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

Giveaway

[Insert Giveaway Picture Here]

To celebrate her tour, Cathe is giving away Grand prize themed gift box that will include:
A decorative suitcase box
Earl Grey Tea
A handmade mug rug
A pretty mug
14 handmade all-occasion cards
And a paperback copy of Baggage Claim!! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

Her Secret

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray begins a new series—The Amish of Hart County—with this suspenseful tale of a young Amish woman who is forced to move to a new town to escape a threatening stalker.

After a stalker went too far, Hannah Hilty and her family had no choice but to leave the bustling Amish community where she grew up. Now she’s getting a fresh start in Hart County, Kentucky…if only she wasn’t too scared to take it. Hannah has become afraid to trust anyone—even Isaac, the friendly Amish man who lives next door. She wonders if she'll ever return to the trusting, easy-going woman she once was.

For Isaac Troyer, the beautiful girl he teasingly called “The Recluse” confuses him like no other. When he learns of her past, he knows he's misjudged her. However, he also understands the importance of being grateful for God’s gifts, and wonders if they will ever have anything in common. But as Hannah and Isaac slowly grow closer, they realize that there’s always more to someone than meets the eye.

Just as Hannah is finally settling into her new life, and perhaps finding a new love, more secrets are revealed and tragedy strikes. Now Hannah must decide if she should run again or dare to fight for the future she has found in Hart County.

My thoughts: Amish fiction has kind of exploded in recent years, so it's easy to over look this one and think that it is just another story along the same lines. But it's not, since it deals with a young Amish woman who's family had to relocate due to a stalker going to far. The suspense and character development keeps the story going and makes one look forward to the next book in this series! The secrets and mysteries in this story make the reader long for the next book to already be out, as you finish the last page!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Reclamation

When Jace Vega wakes up three years after the eruption of Mount Hood, her life is in turmoil. The future seems to match the images on the tablet, but Corey is missing, and nothing about her relationship with Damien feels right.

As Victor Trent continues to amass power, using information terrorism to make the world dependent on Omnibus technology and his private military force, Omnibus Global Security, Jace knows she doesn’t have much time if she’s going to stop him.

Jace’s reawakening begins a race to the place where it all began: the Point of Origin. If she can only remember where it is.

My thoughts: I feel like I should of gone back to the first book and read it again before starting this one.;) I think they would be best read back to back, though I still enjoyed the story immensely! What's not to like about time travel and wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff.;) (thank you, tenth Doctor!) I love how the story worked out, since you start the book wondering how things could of gone so upside down for Jace. She lost her memory with the eruption and seems to have made all the wrong choices. As she races against Victor to set things right, it works out just perfectly. If you are looking for a spell binging, suspenseful tale, then I highly recommend this set! It will keep you reading late into the night.;)
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Sister Dear

All Allie Marshall wants is a fresh start. But when dark secrets refuse to stay buried, will her chance at a new life be shattered forever?

Convicted of a crime she didn t commit, Allie watched a decade of her life vanish time that can never be recovered. Now, out on parole, Allie is determined to clear her name, rebuild her life, and reconnect with the daughter she barely knows.

But Allie s return home shatters the quaint, coastal community of Brunswick, Georgia. Even her own daughter Caroline, now a teenager, bristles at Allie s claims of innocence. Refusing defeat, a stronger, smarter Allie launches a battle for the truth, digging deeply into the past even if it threatens her parole status, personal safety, and the already-fragile bond with family.

As her commitment to finding the truth intensifies, what Allie ultimately uncovers is far worse than she imagined. Her own sister has been hiding a dark secret one that holds the key to Allie s freedom.

My thoughts: This is the first book I have read by Laura. While I thought that the story does a wonderful job of being suspenseful and moving along, with bits of the story coming out from each of their points of view over the course of the book, I did get tired of one of the characters and the games they played. I also felt like the story could have had a bit more development with some of the relationships, and less details on one of the the relationships (which probably doesn't make sense, but I don't want to give away any of the details! Let's just say it would of been fine with me if the author had just let the reader know the way the relationship was without any scenes). I would still give it a 4 out of 5 stars though, since it is an engaging story with an important theme and some suspenseful twists. I will say that I am glad that I am not in the place of the main character.;)
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Annabel Lee

Fourteen miles east of Peachtree, Alabama, a secret is hidden. That secret's name is Annabel Lee Truckson, and even she doesn't know why her mysterious uncle has stowed her deep underground in a military-style bunker. He's left her with a few German words, a barely-controlled guard dog, and a single command: "Don't open that door for anybody, you got it? Not even me."

Above ground, a former Army sniper called The Mute and an enigmatic "Dr. Smith" know about the girl. As the race begins to find her, the tension builds. Who wants to set her free? Why does the other want to keep her captive forever? Who will reach her first?

Private investigators Trudi Coffey and Samuel Hill need to piece together the clues and stay alive long enough to retrieve the girl--before it's too late.

My thoughts: I find it intriguing that the titles for the titles in this series are taken from things that Edgar Allan Poe wrote, while not being a mirror of those stories. This one was interesting. While I liked the suspense and a lot of the story, I wasn't a huge fan of the PI Coffey, and I'm not sure why. I am glad that I read to the end though, since it is an interesting mystery!
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

The Columbus Code

The Columbus Code is just that the true, historical puzzle few could comprehend until today. Consistent with great historical fiction of our time, New York Times best-sell author Mike Evans pens a story replete with intrigue, adventure, and brutal persecution. The story begins with John Winters, an American Secret Service agent, who unravels centuries old truths about Christopher Columbus and the real drama that lay behind those famous voyages to the Americas.

My thoughts: This book had my attention from the get go! John Winters is a Secret Service agent on leave after going through a traumatic experience on the field, the whole story coming out over the course of the book. When he returns to his childhood home for his mother's funeral, he finds genealogy records that she left behind to try and prove that they were descendants Christopher Columbus. Thinking it is a harmless hobby that will keep him from getting bored on his time off, Winters soon sets off on an incredible journey.
Fans of Dan Brown and suspense stories should check this one out, since it is a fun story! It's easy to read and get caught up in. I like that there are a lot of players in the story and that the reader doesn't have the luxury of figuring out this mystery to fast.;)
I received this book from Worthy in exchange for my honest review.

Centralia

Peter Ryan wakes up on a typical morning only to find his house empty, his wife and daughter nowhere to be found. His world is shattered after a phone call to a friend confirms the impossible: his wife and daughter died in a car accident he does not remember. Haunted by faint memories and flashes of details, Peter becomes convinced that something isn’t right and begins to question reality. When he discovers a note in his daughter’s handwriting, strange memories begin to surface that cause him to second-guess nearly everything he once believed. Suddenly armed men show up at Peter’s home, turning the mysterious puzzle of his past into a dangerous game of cat and mouse. On the run and unsure whom to trust, Peter has to discover what’s real and what isn’t . . . before he loses everything.

My thoughts: This one had my full attention from the get go! Just like his other books, this one is a suspenseful ride as you try to figure out what in the world is going on with Peter Ryan's memories. He does a wonderful job of keeping the pace up and leaving readers guessing up to the end. My only warning is that the book does have a lot of dead bodies, which was a bit much for me at times. Otherwise, though, it is an interesting read that will have you looking over your shoulder!
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.