Falling for You by Becky Wade

“Famously beautiful model Willow Bradford is taking a temporary break from her hectic schedule to work as the innkeeper at her family’s small-town bed-and-breakfast. She was enjoying the peace of her hometown, Merryweather, Washington, right up until she came face-to-face with Corbin Stewart, the man she loves to hate. A thoughtful rule-follower by nature, Willow threw caution to the wind four years ago when she entrusted her heart to Corbin–and suffered the consequences when it all fell apart.

Former NFL quarterback Corbin is forceful, charming, and accustomed to getting what he wants . . . except where Willow Bradford is concerned. Unable to forget her, he’s never stopped regretting what happened between them. When their paths unexpectedly cross again, he’s determined to make her give him a second chance.

When a decades-old missing persons case finds Corbin and Willow working together, they’re forced to confront their past and who they’ve become–and whether they can risk falling for one another all over again.”

Becky Wade is becoming one of my favorite authors with her Bradford Sisters series! I loved the prequel novella (Then Came You – free on Kindle!) and the first book in the series, True to You (available on Kindle Unlimited).

One of the reasons I loved this book is that it goes deep – with the reconciliation between Corbin and Willow, the healing of Corbin’s relationship with his dad, and the relationships between the three Bradford sisters. It’s a fun, clean, sweet romance, but it’s not fluffy or shallow. The characters feel relatable, like real people with real issues to deal with, and Becky Wade does a great job of weaving their stories together! There’s also a little bit of suspense and mystery involved as Corbin and Willow help his niece investigate the disappearance of her grandmother’s sister. It’s fun to see how working together helps mend their relationship, and the added bonus is that they’re able to help bring answers to the family of the missing woman.

If you like Susan May Warren, Rachel Hauck, or Melissa Tagg, you will love the Bradford Sisters Romance series by Becky Wade. You can connect with her on her website or on her Facebook page.

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

Justice Betrayed by Patricia Bradley

Justice Betrayed is the third book in the Memphis Cold Case series. Even though the story references the previous book, this one reads like a stand-alone novel. It takes place during Elvis Week in Memphis, which is something I didn’t know existed! It was really interesting to get a glimpse of that world. All the Elvis “tribute artists” certainly made for some colorful characters, too! On top of that, the case included multiple murders to solve, including a cold case, without much evidence to go on.

In my opinion, this book was better than the previous one in the series, Justice Buried. I really enjoyed the growth in the relationship of the main characters, Rachel and Brad, and the intriguing storyline. When I was about halfway through the book, I thought I had figured out who the villain was, but I was wrong. I was definitely surprised at the end! If you like the mystery and suspense genres, this will be a great addition to your summer reading list!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review.

The Girls’ Guide to Conquering Life by Erica and Jonathan Catherman

When I first heard about this book, the subtitle really caught my eye: “How to Ace an Interview, Change a Tire, Talk to a Guy, and 97 Other Skills You Need to Thrive.” It sounded kind of like a reference book for “adulting,” and I was excited to read it! It ended up being a little different than I was expecting. Some of the chapters would be useful for college-age girls, especially the chapters on work, car maintenance, cooking, and “fix-it” jobs around the house. Other chapters seemed to be geared more towards younger teens, addressing topics like personal hygiene and basic social skills.

I did really like the format of the book! The different topics are broken up into chapters (like Work & Ethics, Clothes & Fashion, Food & Cooking, etc). Each chapter starts with a story about a woman who excels in that particular area of life. The chapters are then broken down into skills written in a list format, only a page or two long and easy to read. There are plenty of illustrations, quotes, and fun facts sprinkled throughout!

I think any teenage girl could benefit from reading this book. Older girls might not get as much out of it, but there’s still a lot of good information for college students or girls getting their first job or apartment. It would make a great gift for nieces, daughters, or even high school graduates as they head off to college.

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.

A lot of my favorite authors have new books coming out in 2018, and I’m exited to read them all! If you’re like me, you don’t want to miss a good new book release, so I thought I would share the ones on my pre-order list. So far, I only know of new releases into July, so stay tuned for a part 2 to this post later in the year!

Troubled Waters (Montana Rescue series #4) by Susan May Warren (January 2): This one came out already, and I read it early so I could write a review, but I still had to include it on my list! I have said many times before how much I love Susan May Warren, and this book was no exception. If you enjoy suspense, drama, and romance, you won’t be disappointed by her Montana Rescue series (or any of her books!).

Stone and Sunset (Raleigh Harmon Prequel Mysteries #4) by Sibella Giorello (February 2): Whenever I hear that Sibella Giorello is releasing a new Raleigh book, I preorder it as soon as I can! This newest one is part of the prequel series that takes place while Raleigh is in high school. It’s so fun to be able to see how her earlier years shaped her into the forensic geologist she is in the regular series!

The Sea Before Us (Sunrise at Normandy series #1) by Sarah Sundin (February 6): Sarah Sundin is another one of those authors whose books I always preorder. She is the best WWII author I’ve read, weaving in so many period details you feel like you’re there, but without being stuffy like some historical fiction can be. I’m so excited for this new series!

If I Live (If I Run series #3) by Terri Blackstock (March 6): The If I Run series is one of the most intriguing suspense series I think I’ve ever read. The main character, Casey, is on the run because she’s accused of a crime she didn’t commit, and she finds an unlikely ally in the investigator tasked with finding her. I can’t wait to see how her story ends in this third book!

No One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert (April 3): No one could ever accuse Katie Ganshert’s books of being shallow or surface-y. She dives into some tough topics but handles them with grace. Her characters capture your heart as you see some of yourself in them as they struggle and grow. This book sounds like it will be very timely, and I can’t wait to read it!

Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines (April 24): This one is a cookbook, but I think it still counts! Anything by Joanna Gaines has to be good, right? I loved The Magnolia Story by Chip and Jo, and of course I love their show (who doesn’t?), so I can only imagine this will be an awesome cookbook! If I can’t visit their bakery and restaurant, this will be the next best thing 🙂

Storm Front (Montana Rescue series #5) by Susan May Warren (May 1): Two new Susan May Warren books in one year… doesn’t get much better than that! This will be the second to last book in the Montana Rescue series. I love how all the books in the series tie in together, and while this book is mainly about Ty, we will still feel involved with the whole team.

Falling for You (A Bradford Sisters Romance #2) by Becky Wade (May 1): I read the first book in this series, True to You, when it came out last spring, and I loved it! The characters were very well-written and well-developed, and the story also had a little mystery that drew you in even more. The second book will follow the story of another one of the Bradford sisters (of course) and I can’t wait to read it!

The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck (June 12): If you’re looking for a faith-filled romance that really tugs on your heartstrings, you’ll find one in any of Rachel Hauck’s books! Her last several novels have been focused on main characters who live in different time periods but who have some kind of connection. This book will also have a split-time plot, which I love! It adds a layer of mystery, since you may not know right away how the characters are connected.

Dead Drift (Chesapeake Valor series #4) by Dani Pettrey (July 3): This book will be the conclusion to the Chesapeake Valor series, that follows a group of friends whose careers are all related to law enforcement. One of their friends, Luke, has been missing since college, but in this book they will finally find out what happened to him as they work to stop a terrorist threat. I’m sure this book will be full of action and suspense, just like the rest of the series!

Called to Protect (Blue Justice series #2) by Lynette Eason (July 31): The first book in the Blue Justice also just came out in January. I think it was the first book I’ve read by Lynette Eason, and I loved it! The whole family is involved in law enforcement in some form, and this second book tells the story of Chloe, one of the daughters in the family. If you like the TV show Blue Bloods, I bet you’ll love these books!

I’m glad that there’s at least one book on this list for each month from January to July! I love having a new book to look forward to every few weeks 🙂 Do you have any books you would add to this list?

Susan May Warren is one of my all-time favorite authors. I think I’ve read all but two or three of her books (and she’s written a lot!), and I always preorder her new releases so I’ll have them as soon as they come out. As you can imagine, I was so excited when I had the chance to read her newest book, Troubled Waters, before it came out on January 2nd!

Troubled Waters is the fourth book in the Montana Rescue series, and it follows the members of the PEAK Rescue team in Montana, near Glacier National Park. The main characters in this book are Ian Shaw, the billionaire who founded PEAK to search for his niece when she went missing, and Sierra Rose, Ian’s former assistant and current assistant to the team. We’ve been getting parts of their story all through the series, and we finally get some resolution in this book!

Susan May Warren’s books keep getting better the more she writes, and this one is no exception! She is a master at creating characters who seem authentic from the first page, and who really come to life, with real challenges, struggles, uncertainties, joys, and successes. Every detail serves to add to the story rather than distract, and there’s enough action to keep things interesting, but none of it seems unrealistic. Most of all, I just love the stories she weaves… they make me want to move to Montana and meet the team! The best part is, we will have two more chances to catch up with the team with the last two books in the series. The next one, Storm Front, releases on May 1, 2018. I can’t wait! 🙂

The publisher provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. I was not required to give a positive review; I just truly love Susan May Warren 🙂

Title: Vanishing Point

Series: Nikki Boyd Files

Author: Lisa Harris

Genre: Christian romantic suspense

My rating: 5/5

This was one of the best suspense books I’ve read in a long time! It’s technically part of the Nikki Boyd series, which I’ve never read, but this book can definitely be read as a stand-alone novel. It’s written as part of Nikki’s backstory, but she isn’t a main character, which I thought was a really cool way to tell the story from a different perspective.

The story starts out in 2003 with the murder of a teenage girl whose death is believed to be linked to a serial killer, and it follows the main characters through the years as more girls go missing. The way it jumped from case to case kept things interesting, but still easy to follow. It’s a really unique plot, and definitely keeps you guessing all the way through! The mystery was believable and suspenseful, the characters were relatable, and the writing really drew me in. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next!

This was the first book I’ve read by Lisa Harris, but it won’t be the last! The other three books in the Nikki Boyd series are now on my Amazon wishlist 🙂 If you are a fan of the mystery/suspense genre, I definitely recommend this book!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own; I was not required to give a positive review.

The genre of Christian suspense/thriller has been one of my favorites to read for a long time, so I was excited to read Justice Buried by Patricia Bradley. It’s the second book in her Memphis Cold Case series, but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone novel. In fact, I didn’t even know it was the second until after I read it!

This is a good, clean mystery with plenty of suspense and action. The plot isn’t farfetched like suspense can be sometimes; it’s something I could imagine actually happening, but at the same time it’s very unique, which makes it keep your attention! It isn’t an overly intense or complex plot, so it’s easy to follow the characters and keep track of what’s happening. The main characters, Kelsey and Brad, are real and relatable, with a good solid friendship. Although the book is technically romantic suspense, it’s definitely more suspense than romance. The faith aspect is also pretty subtle, although it fit well with the story and doesn’t feel preachy when it shows up. Overall, this is a really good book! I would recommend this book to fans of Irene Hannon or Terri Blackstock.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own; I was not required to give a positive review.