- Jen 10 Comments

First Line Friday | Living Lies by Natalie Walters

Happy Friday! Today I’m so excited to share a great new book by a debut author, and to join in on First Line Friday hosted by Hoarding Books! Keep reading for a sneak peek at the first line (and my review) of Living Lies by Natalie Walters.

Living Lies by Natalie Walters | Book Review on Grace to Grow Blog
Living Lies by Natalie Walters | Book Review on Grace to Grow Blog

The Basics

Title: Living Lies by Natalie Walters

Series: Harbored Secrets (Book 1)

Genre: Christian romantic suspense

My Rating: 5/5 stars

From the Back Cover: In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name–but no one knows your secret. At least that’s what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.

Lane must work with Walton’s newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she’ll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.

First Line

“Just let go.

The breeze lifted Lane Kent’s auburn hair from the back of her neck. Her heels edged closer to the side of the bridge, sending loose dust and rocks spiraling into the Ogeechee River below.”

Living Lies by Natalie Walters
First Line Friday & Review - Living Lies by Natalie Walters | Grace to Grow Blog
First Line Friday & Review – Living Lies by Natalie Walters | Grace to Grow Blog

My Thoughts

I knew from the first chapter that this would be one of the best suspense books I’ve read in awhile! The suspense and intrigue drew me in right away and held my attention throughout the book. I thought the plot was really unique, and I loved the charming Southern small town setting.

One thing that’s really important to me in this genre is a good balance of action/suspense and character development. This book is the best of both worlds, with edge-of-your-seat suspense and relatable, engaging characters! Charlie is everything you want in a hero – kind, committed, protective, and smart, but not without his own struggles. Lane is struggling with depression and the death of her husband, and I thought the author handled those tough topics in a thoughtful and gracious way. I appreciated the emphasis on veterans – with Charlie having just left the military and another character being a Vietnam veteran – and seeing how their experiences played a part in this story.

This was a fantastic debut novel, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series! Watch for the second book, Deadly Deceit, to come out in November!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review. Thank you, Revell!

- Jen 1 Comment

Wooing Cadie McCaffrey by Bethany Turner | Book Review

If you’re looking for a fun, light-hearted read, Bethany Turner is your girl! Her newest book will be the perfect addition to your summer reading list.

Wooing Cadie McCaffrey by Bethany Turner | Book Review on Grace to Grow Blog

The Basics

Title: Wooing Cadie McCaffrey by Bethany Turner

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance, Romantic Comedy

My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

From the Back Cover: After four years with her boyfriend, Cadie McCaffrey is thinking of ending things. Convinced Will doesn’t love her in the “forever” way she loves him, Cadie believes it’s time for her to let him go before life passes her by. When a misunderstanding leads to a mistake, leaving her hurt, disappointed, and full of regret, she finally sends him packing.

But for Will, the end of their relationship is only the beginning of his quest to figure out how to be the man Cadie wanted him to be. With the dubious guidance of his former pro-athlete work friends and tactics drawn from Cadie’s favorite romantic comedies, Will attempts to win her back. It’s a foolproof plan. What could possibly go wrong?

Bethany Turner is back with more of the heart and humor readers love. Anyone who enjoys a good romance or binges romantic comedies on Netflix will devour this delightful story.

My Thoughts

This was such a fun book to read! The witty dialogue, hilarious supporting characters, and plethora of pop culture references are perfect for romantic comedy fans. It’s like a Hallmark movie, but with substance and faith – the best of both worlds!

The plot is different from typical romance novels, since the main characters are already together at the beginning but end up breaking up. I appreciated the unique twist, and it opened up a whole new world of possibilities when it comes to storytelling! I was a little disappointed that we didn’t learn much about Will’s life before he met Cadie, although we did learn a little about her background. That didn’t take away from the story, though – they were both great characters.

Although this is a fun, funny book, it does deal with some sensitive subjects. I appreciated how Turner handled them realistically but with grace and tact. I probably wouldn’t recommend this book to young teenagers, but anyone who’s a young adult or older would enjoy it. Some of the main themes are facing our mistakes and turning to God for forgiveness, and those are ideas we can all relate to. If you are a fan of Kristin Billerbeck, Jenny B. Jones, or Melissa Tagg, I think you’ll really enjoy this book!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. I was not required to write a positive review; all opinions are my own. Thank you, Revell!