Top Ten Tuesday: Books I've Read So Far in 2015

Hosted weekly by The Broke and the Bookish.

Center of Gravity by Laura McNeill

★★★★★

The truth could cost her everything. 

Her whole life, Ava Carson has been sure of one thing: she doesn’t measure up to her mother’s expectations. So when Mitchell Carson sweeps into her life with his adorable son, the ready-made family seems like a dream come true. In the blink of an eye, she’s married, has a new baby, and life is grand.

Or is it?

When her picture-perfect marriage begins unraveling at the seams, Ava convinces herself she can fix it. It's temporary. It’s the stress. It’s Mitchell’s tragic history of loss.

If only Ava could believe her own excuses.

Mitchell is no longer the charming, thoughtful man she married. He grows more controlling by the day, revealing a violent jealous streak. His behavior is recklessly erratic, and the unanswered questions about his past now hint at something far more sinister than Ava can stomach. Before she can fit the pieces together, Mitchell files for divorce and demands full custody of their boys.

Fueled by fierce love for her children and aided by Graham Thomas, a new attorney in town – Ava takes matters into her own hands, digging deep into the past. But will finding the truth be enough to beat Mitchell at his own game? Center of Gravity weaves a chilling tale, revealing the unfailing and dangerous truth that things – and people – are not always what they seem.

Laura McNeill’s Center of Gravity had me hooked from the very start. As Ava Carson’s ostensibly perfect life quickly and unexpectedly crumbles around her, she must fight against the false yet convincing accusations and manipulations of her once charming, but now controlling husband. The unfolding drama, told through shifting perspectives among the key characters, is well-paced and action-filled, and McNeill proves entirely capable of weaving a thrillingly creepy and captivating tale. I couldn’t put this book down, as my heart broke for Ava in her desperation and hoped for a satisfying outcome - and I especially enjoyed eight-year-old Jack’s narrations as he incorporated a variety of superheroes into his experiences. Fans of thrillers won’t be disappointed by Center of Gravity - I recommend it and look forward to reading more from Laura McNeill in the future.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers, I received a copy of Center of Gravity and the opportunity to honestly review it. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. (I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

About the Author

Laura McNeill is a writer, web geek, travel enthusiast, and coffee drinker. In her former life, she was a television news anchor for CBS News affiliates in New York and Alabama. Laura holds a master’s degree in journalism from The Ohio State University and is completing a graduate program in interactive technology at the University of Alabama. When she’s not writing and doing homework, she enjoys running, yoga, and spending time at the beach. She lives in Mobile, AL with her family.

Dead Dog Like Me by Max Davis

★★★★★

Nick Gregory regains consciousness after a horrific car accident to find he’s been transported back in time and that he has become Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son and King Saul’s grandson. Aware that he’s experiencing another man’s life, he has to learn fast.

When mega-church pastor, Nick Gregory, regains consciousness after a horrific car accident, he’s on the ground in agonizing pain. Nick realizes he is in a bizarre place – a foreign, parched, ancient land, having been transported back in time to 800 B.C. Unbelievably, he is in the body of a prince named Mephibosheth, a son of Jonathan and King Saul’s grandson. Nick is fully aware of who he is and that he’s now living in Mephibosheth’s body, strangely able to speak and understand Hebrew. This experience helps him see that he, like Mephibosheth, is a broken man desperate for God’s outrageous grace and healing (2 Samuel 9:8). Returning to present day, Nick’s experience motivates a changed life.

From the very start, Dead Dog Like Me by Max Davis had me addictively turning pages, as my heart broke for the main character. Nick Gregory’s life quickly spirals out of his control and leads him desperately to the brink of death. In moments of unconsciousness, Nick finds himself inhabiting the body of the biblical Mephibosheth, an experience that allows him to reflect on his present-day circumstances. While Nick’s experience as Mephibosheth is not as extensive as I expected after reading the summary, the glimpses of the biblical account weave easily with Nick’s experience and highlight the overall message of forgiveness and grace. Dead Dog Like Me provides an emotional and touching read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it (despite the abundant use of exclamation points). I recommend it.

Thanks to Worthy’s First Look, I received a copy of Dead Dog Like Me and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Love Arrives in Pieces by Betsy St. Amant

About the Book

★★★★★

For so long, Stella was known for her beauty. Now, with her heart stripped bare, she must discover who she really is.

Former pageant queen Stella Varland doesn't trust beauty anymore after her divorce. Her appearance betrayed her and led to brokenness, so instead of being beautiful, now she tries to make beautiful things, but she always falls short. So she keeps her passion for art to herself and focuses on her interior design work. But if she doesn't get another job soon, she'll be stuck living with her parents.

Contractor Chase Taylor is determined to live a life of no regrets after losing his fiancée. Now he lives life at full speed, striving to see how much he can accomplish. He knows if he slows down, he'll fall apart. So he returns home to Bayou Bend to renovate the town's old theater and is shocked to discover that the designer for the project is his old flame, Stella.

Forced to work together, Chase and Stella battle their chemistry and past as they struggle to compromise and work together on a vision for the theater. Their wills clash as they attempt to hide their brokenness – and their unresolved feelings for each other – until Chase discovers the hidden parts of Stella, while losing her trust in the process.

A near catastrophe, a fire, and a small-town gossip mill finally force Stella and Chase to realize that they have a choice – to hold on to the shards of their pasts, or surrender their fragmented pieces to the One who makes a beautiful masterpiece from their brokenness.

Betsy St. Amant delivers another fabulous contemporary romance as a follow-up to All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes. Love Arrives in Pieces revisits the town of Bayou Bend, focusing on Stella Varland as she tries to manage among the pieces of her broken life. When she unexpectedly runs into Chase Taylor, an ex-boyfriend, Stella must begin to truly face her past and learn how to move forward. With a combination of heartbreaking, heartwarming and humorous moments, Love Arrives in Pieces is a well-written story of beauty, brokenness and God’s healing within a second-chance romance and I thoroughly enjoyed it from cover to cover. Looking forward to reading more from Betsy St. Amant, I certainly recommend this novel to fans of contemporary romance in the meantime. It’s a delightful read.

Thanks to LitFuse Publicity Group, I received a copy of Love Arrives in Pieces and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. To read other opinions, be sure to check out what other reviewers think here, and purchase a copy of the book here.

About the Author

Betsy St. Amant lives in Louisiana with her young daughter and has a heart for sharing the amazing news of God's grace through her novels. A freelance journalist, Betsy is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. When she's not reading, writing, or singing along to a Disney soundtrack with her daughter, Betsy enjoys inspirational speaking and teaching on the craft of writing.

Find Betsy online at her website and Facebook.

Two Roads Home by Deborah Raney

About the Book

★★★★★

What if it's too late for dreams to come true?

Minor – but nagging – setbacks continue to sour Grant and Audrey Whitman's initiation into the world of innkeeping, but larger challenges brew when an innocent flirtation leads to big trouble for the Whitmans' son-in-law, Jesse. Jesse Pennington's friendly, outgoing personality has always served him well, especially in a career that has earned him and his wife Corinne a very comfortable lifestyle. But Corinne and Jesse are both restless – and for similar reasons, if only they could share those with each other. Instead, too many business trips and trumped-up charges of harassment from a disgruntled coworker threaten their marriage and possibly put their three precious daughters at risk.

With their life in disarray, God is tugging at their hearts to pursue other dreams. Can Corinne and Jesse pick up the pieces of what was once a wonderful life before it all crumbles beneath them?

The second book of Deborah Raney’s Chicory Inn series, Two Roads Home tells another Whitman-family-focused story just as delightful as Home to Chicory Inn. This one focuses on the eldest Whitman daughter, Corinne Pennington, and her husband, Jesse, as they learned to trust God with their dreams. Together they face a series of unexpected challenges, and though at times their communication (or lack thereof) frustrated me, the relationship seems depicted realistically through it all. I thoroughly enjoyed this second Chicory Inn novel, recommend it to fans of contemporary family fiction, and now eagerly look forward to reading the third one.

Thanks to LitFuse Publicity Group, I received a copy of Two Roads Home and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. To read other opinions, be sure to check out what other reviewers think here, and purchase a copy of the book here.

About the Author

Deborah Raney's books have won numerous awards, including the RITA, National Readers Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, and the Carol Award, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. She and her husband, Ken, recently traded small-town life in Kansas – the setting of many of Deborah's novels – for life in the (relatively) big city of Wichita, where they enjoy gardening, antiquing, movies, and traveling to visit four children and a growing brood of grandchildren who all live much too far away.

Find Deborah online at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

Her Brother's Keeper by Beth Wiseman

★★★★★

Charlotte's heart has been hardened by personal tragedy, but now she has the chance to find peace in a place she didn't expect.

Charlotte Dolinsky arrives in Lancaster County with brand new Amish digs and a renewed purpose. It doesn't take her long to fit into the close Amish community. She might not know how to cook, sew, tend a garden, or milk a cow, but she knows how to lie. And she is a woman on a mission – to wreak havoc on the Plain people and seek revenge for the death of her only brother. But a quiet stranger throws a kink in her plan not long after she arrives. As she delves deeper and deeper into what makes this handsome Amish man tick, she begins to wonder about her intentions and the direction her life is taking.

At twenty-four, Isaac Miller is still unmarried and doesn't see his status changing anytime soon. The Lord has blessed him with above-average physical attributes, but his awkward shyness keeps him from pursuing a relationship with anyone. When Charlotte – or "Charlie" as she calls herself – arrives in Paradise, she steals his heart, and he longs to be a different man.

Can Charlie get past the resentment she feels and open her heart? What happens when Isaac comes out of his shell, drawing attention from all the available women in the area? Will Charlie be able to hold onto him? And will he still want her when he learns the truth?

Beth Wiseman sets up her newest novel, Her Brother’s Keeper, with an interesting premise: in order to discover the truth behind her brother’s death, Charlotte Dolinsky visits Lancaster County, pretending to be Amish. Yet, in the process of hiding her identity, she discovers faith, family and friendship that will leave her changed. With the addition of intriguing mystery and sweet, believable romance to these encouraging discoveries, Her Brother’s Keeper offers a great read for fans of Amish fiction. I certainly enjoyed it and now look forward to Wiseman’s next book in her Amish Secrets series.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers, I received a copy of Her Brother’s Keeper and the opportunity to honestly review it. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. (I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

About the Author

Award-winning, bestselling author Beth Wiseman is best known for her Amish novels, but she has also written several successful contemporary novels, set primarily in her beloved Texas, including Need You Now and The House that Love Built. Both have received glowing reviews. Beth's The Promise is inspired by a true story. 

Find her online at her website, Facebook and Twitter. 

Waiting on Wednesday: A Bride at Last & Among the Fair Magnolias

Hosted weekly by Breaking the Spine 
to spotlight eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases.

Title: A Bride at Last

Author: Melissa Jagears

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Expected Publication Date: 7 July 2015

Silas Jonesey's life in Salt Flatts, Kansas, has not followed the course he imagined. After his mail-order bride, Lucinda, abandoned him, it was an uphill battle to recover from a pattern of poor choices and sour moods. Now his prayers for reconciliation have finally come true; his estranged wife has contacted him after ten years of silence to tell him of her whereabouts.

Kate Dawson was supposed to be a mail-order bride, but after realizing she had been deceived about her intended groom she never went through with the marriage. Settling into life as a schoolteacher, she's spent her spare time the past few years helping her student, Anthony, and his sick mother. When Lucinda passes away, Kate is ready to fulfill the woman's wish that she take care of nine-year-old Anthony – until a man shows up in town asking about Lucinda and claiming he was married to the woman ten years ago. 

Silas and Kate disagree over who should raise young Anthony, who has opinions of his own about his future. After being forced to come together for the good of Anthony, Silas and Kate begin to see another side to each other and the possibility of a united future despite all that stands between them. When Kate's past comes to light, Silas's feelings about women who abandon their grooms immediately throw the walls right back up between them. Can Silas, Kate, and Anthony's wounded souls bind them together as a family, or will past hurts and new resentments leave them lonely forever?

Title: Among the Fair Magnolias

Authors: Tamera Alexander, Shelley Gray, Dorothy Love & Elizabeth Musser

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Expected Publication Date: 14 July 2015

Four Southern women stand at a turning point in history… and in their own hearts.

“To Mend a Dream” by Tamera Alexander: Savannah Darby would do almost anything to revisit her family home. So when new owner, Aidan Bedford, a Boston attorney and former Union soldier, seeks to redecorate the house for his fiancée, Savannah jumps at the opportunity. But the clock is ticking. Can she find the box her father supposedly hid there during the war before her assignment is completed? And before she sees yet another battle lost on the home front. This time, one of the heart.

“An Outlaw's Heart” by Shelley Gray: When Russell Stark returns to Fort Worth, he's determined to begin a new life. But when he arrives at his mother's homestead, he discovers she's very ill, and the woman he loved is still as beautiful and sweet as he remembered. With time running out, Russell must come to terms with both his future and his past.

“A Heart So True” by Dorothy Love: Abigail knows all too well what is expected of her: to marry her distant cousin Charles and take her place in society. But her heart belongs to another. A terrible incident forces Abby to choose between love and duty.

“Love Beyond Limits” by Elizabeth Musser: Emily has a secret: She's in love with one of the freedmen on her family's plantation. Meanwhile, another man declares his love for her. Emily realizes some things are not as they seem and secrets must be kept in order to keep those she loves safe.

Shaken by Kariss Lynch

★★★★★

When her world is shaken, will her foundation survive?

Idealistic and sheltered with a passion to change the world, Kaylan Richards leaves her comfortable life in Alabama to serve in poverty-stricken Haiti. Despite her inexperience and the opposition of a voodoo priest, Kaylan develops a love for the country and the Haitian people. But something deadly is about to strike.

It is the worst earthquake the country has ever seen, and in its aftermath bodies, buildings, and broken lives litter the streets. People she cares about are dead, and Kaylan is caught in the middle of the destruction, questioning a God who said He was good.

Navy SEAL Nick Carmichael never planned to find a girl he loved more than his country. Now she is a world away, trapped in a deadly situation nothing could have prepared her for. Can Nick’s love help Kaylan heal and show her the God who never abandoned her, or will tragedy shake even the most rooted faith?

Kariss Lynch’s first Heart of a Warrior novel, Shaken, offers a powerful and emotional story of adventure and romance. Kaylan Richards heads to Haiti after graduating college - and just before the earthquake that shook up the country. Learning to trust God and follow His plan, Kaylan strives to make an impact on the Haitian people in the face of the challenges and disaster and simultaneously navigate her complex relationship with Nick Carmichael. Overall, I enjoyed this well-written, interesting and hopeful novel that left me wishing for the second novel in the series, Shadowed. I would certainly recommend it to fans of contemporary inspirational fiction.

Thanks to Booketeria, I received a copy of Shaken and the opportunity to review it honestly. I was not required to provide a positive review, and all the opinions expressed are my own.

In Our Backyard: Human Trafficking in America and What We Can Do to Stop It by Nita Belles

★★★★★

In recent years, Americans have woken up to the reality that human trafficking is not just something that happens in other countries. But what most still do not understand is that neither is it something that just happens to "other people" such as runaways or the disenfranchised. The sex trafficker is no respecter of faith, education, or socioeconomic status, and even kids who are raised in solid families in middle and upper class suburbs can fall victim. Likewise, labor trafficking happens in our cities, neighborhoods and rural areas.

Through true stories and years of boots-on-the-ground experience, including at the Super Bowl, anti-trafficking expert Nita Belles teaches readers everything they need to know about human trafficking in the United States and what they can do to join the fight against it. She helps concerned parents, friends, teachers, law enforcement, government officials, and other leaders understand all forms of trafficking, identify risk factors, and take practical steps to keep their loved ones and neighbors safe from predators.

Nita Belles’ book, In Our Backyard: Human Trafficking in America and What We Can Do to Stop It, addresses, as the title suggests, the prominent issue of human trafficking. Belles writes stories of how human trafficking happens in the United States and includes important information for anyone to know. Often, I found what she shared to be surprising and heartbreaking, and as a whole, her book is powerful and educational with notable ways to help. I would definitely recommend In Our Backyard as a worthwhile read for any reader looking to learn more about the issue of human trafficking.

Thanks to Baker Book Bloggers, I received a copy of In Our Backyard and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

About the Author

Nita Belles is an author, speaker, and anti-human trafficking crusader. She has worked in a broad scope of venues with law enforcement, government officials, social services, and the medical and faith communities to combat human trafficking. She is the managing director of In Our Backyard (www.InOurBackyard365.org) and regional director for Oregonians Against Trafficking Humans (www.cooath.org).

Desperate Measures by Sandra Orchard

About the Book

★★★★★

Kate won't be safe until all of Port Aster's secrets are revealed.

Researcher Kate Adams has finally pinpointed the supposed "miracle plant" that tore apart her family years ago. She's certain that discovering its secrets is her only hope of solving the mystery surrounding her father's disappearance. She's willing to risk anything to find the truth, including her relationship with Detective Tom Parker. But with so many people in pursuit of the plant, going it alone might be a fatal mistake.

Award-winning author Sandra Orchard pulls out all the stops in this breakneck and breathtaking conclusion to the Port Aster Secrets series.

Sandra Orchard’s concluding Port Aster Secrets novel, Desperate Measures, definitely takes its readers on quite a ride. With nearly non-stop, dangerous action, I never knew what would happen next for Kate, Tom and the surrounding cast of suspicious character. Though I haven’t read the previous two novel, Deadly Devotion and Blind Trust, this novel’s story still captured my interest from the very start and kept me turning pages until the end. Thankfully, Orchard sprinkled her plot with enough explanatory details for me to satisfactorily understand the book’s events - but for any interested readers, I would still highly recommend starting the series at the beginning. If Deadly Devotion and Blind Trust are as suspensefully gripping as Desperate Measures, they’re definitely worth the read and won’t disappoint.

Thanks to Revell Reads, I received a copy of Desperate Measures and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

About the Author

Sandra Orchard is the award-winning author of several books including Deadly Devotion, winner of the 2014 The Word Award for suspense, and Blind Trust. Her Love Inspired Suspense titles have garnered two Canadian Christian Writing Awards and a Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award. Sandra has also received a Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She lives in Ontario, Canada. Learn more at her website.

Summer's List by Anita Higman

About the Book

★★★★★

A dying wish alters the course of a young woman’s life.

Life hadn’t been easy for Summer Snow. In acts of selflessness – caring for her ailing parents and running her grandmother’s bookstore – she had forfeited her youth and dreams for the needs of others. And the only tries she had at love… didn’t turn out. She had the bookstore, she had her beloved granny, but she was missing something – or someone.

Opportunity strikes when Granny sends Summer on an unexpected adventure with one Martin Langtree, a kind but gangly young man from Summer’s past. A childhood friendship is rekindled, a romance is sparked, and mysteries are solved in one magical Texas summer. Will Summer strike out on love again, or will things finally go her way?

Anita Higman’s newest novel, Summer’s List, is quite a delight to read. When Summer Snow receives the news that her beloved grandmother is dying and wishes her to complete a list of activities, she hesitantly embarks on the adventure set before her - beginning with a reunion with a long-lost friend, Martin Langtree. The adventure continues from there with plenty of friendship, family, faith and naturally, romance. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of Summer’s List - it’s an all-around cute and heartwarming read. Fans of contemporary romance should consider picking up this novel by Anita Higman when looking for a new book to read.

Thanks to LitFuse Publicity Group, I received a copy of Summer's List and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. To read other opinions, be sure to check out what other reviewers think here, and purchase a copy of the book here.

About the Author

Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has over thirty books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She's been a Barnes & Noble "Author of the Month" for Houston and has a BA in the combined fields of speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.

Find Anita online at her website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Wonder of You by Susan May Warren

★★★★★

Mortified after her semester abroad is cut short, Amelia Christiansen returns to Deep Haven, certain she isn’t brave enough for the adventures she’s dreamed of. The last thing she expects is for the man who broke her heart to cross the Atlantic and beg forgiveness.

Heir to a European hotel dynasty, Roark St. John has trekked from one exotic locale to another, haunted by tragedy and the expectations that accompany his last name. Amelia is the first woman to give him a reason to stop running. He’ll do anything for a second chance – even contend with Amelia’s old flame, who is intent on sending Roark packing.

While one surprise after another leaves Amelia reeling, Roark’s continued presence only highlights the questions pursuing her. Like him, is she running from the life God has called her to? Could finding her new place mean leaving home behind?

Each novel about Susan May Warren’s Christiansen family has me falling more and more in love with this fictional family, and I absolutely love it. The most recent addition to the series, The Wonder of You, gives Amelia Christiansen, the baby of the family, her chance break free from her family’s hovering and experience her own Deep Haven romance. After suddenly returning from her time abroad, Amelia quickly becomes the center of a love triangle and must determine what God plans for her future in order to decide which man deserves her heart. Warren writes the love-triangle scenario well, with two quality male characters, and doesn’t make the choice easy for Amelia by showing one man to be an obviously bad choice. I was so glad to see Amelia make the decision on her own in the end, relying on God to guide her, and within her decision-making process, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to understand her as a character more fully. Overall, The Wonder of You is a wonderful read, and any fan of the Christiansen family will not want to miss this delightful romance - I highly, highly recommend it.

Thanks to Tyndale BlogNetwork, I received a copy of The Wonder of You and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

A Heart's Betrayal by Colleen Coble

Emmie finds shelter in the arms of a soldier in Fort Laramie, Wyoming, but will her big secret drive them apart? Find out in book four, A Heart's Betrayal, of Colleen Coble's A Journey of the Heart series. Suddenly displaced, powerless, and ashamed, Emmie can’t stay in Wabash, Indiana. She makes a hopeful start for Fort Laramie to find her friend Sarah Montgomery and a new beginning. But when she arrives, she discovers she’s pregnant—and without a husband. The new start she’d hoped for slips from her fingers.

Melt into summer with a new giveaway from Colleen: four books (books one–four in Colleen's A Journey of the Heart series) and a box of chocolates to pair with your new books!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of A Heart's Betrayal
• A box of Colleen's favorite chocolate truffles from DeBrand Fine Chocolates
• A copy of A Heart's Disguise
• A copy of A Heart's Obsession
• A copy of A Heart's Danger

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 30th. Winner will be announced July 1st on Colleen's website.

About the Book

★★★★★

Emmie finds shelter in the arms of a soldier, but her secret could drive them apart.

When Emmie Croftner answered the door to her late husband’s home, she discovered a terrible truth. A woman she's never met reveals that she and Emmie shared the same husband and that the bigamist had never divorced his first wife. The home and farm are not Emmie’s property after all.

Suddenly displaced and powerless, Emmie realizes she can’t stay in Wabash, Indiana, any longer. She makes for Fort Laramie, Wyoming, where her friend Sarah Montgomery and a new beginning await her. But when she arrives, she discovers she’s carrying a child, conceived before her husband's death. Was the new start she’d hoped for only a mirage?

At Fort Laramie, a soldier named Isaac Liddle begins to court Emmie, prompting her to wonder whether she could ever really be his – and whether she dares to tell him she is carrying another man’s baby.

The fourth installment of A Journey of the Heart, A Heart’s Betrayal, introduces a new romantic heroine, Emmie Croftner, to the storyline. Emmie joins the characters of the series’ previous novellas out at Fort Laramie, escaping her misfortunes in love and hoping to start over. Though the summary once again gives away most of this novella’s events, fans of the series will surely be pleased with A Heart’s Betrayal - it’s an enjoyable historical read that has me excited for another potential romance between the heartbroken Emmie and the genuine, likeable Isaac. Now, I can’t wait to read the next novella, A Heart’s Promise.

Thanks to LitFuse Publicity Group, I received a copy of A Heart’s Betrayal and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. To read other opinions, be sure to check out what other reviewers think here, and purchase a copy of the book here.

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide. Her romantic suspense novels including Tidewater Inn, Rosemary Cottage and the Mercy Falls, Lonestar and Rock Harbor series.

Connect with Colleen at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

The Last Con by Zachary Bartels

★★★★★

When a con man trying to redeem himself gets pulled back into his old ways, determining which version of himself is the real one may prove his most difficult job yet.

Former con man Fletcher Doyle is finally home after six years in prison. He's working hard to restore his relationship with his wife and twelve-year-old daughter, but it's slow going. He hopes that the upcoming mission trip into Detroit will allow him to demonstrate his newfound faith and honorable intentions – that is, if he can keep himself from murdering Brad, the uptight and condescending church leader who also happens to be his landlord.

But within hours of arriving in the city, Fletcher can feel the pull of the life he thought he'd left behind. And when he runs into his old partner, he finds himself blackmailed into doing another job for a mysterious criminal who calls himself the Alchemist.

Between trying to hide his reawakened criminal life from his wife and the ever-present Brad, and trying to keep the Alchemist from bringing it all crashing down, Fletcher is in over his head. When the unthinkable happens, Fletcher will have to call on his years in the game and his fledgling faith to find an ancient treasure – and restore his family.

After reading Playing Saint last year, I knew I had to read more from Zachary Bartels, so I picked up The Last Con. The story of Fletcher Doyle, a reformed con man recently returned home from prison and drawn back to his old ways, The Last Con has all the qualities I loved in Playing Saint placed within a new and unique storyline. With plenty of suspense, mystery, intrigue and a cast of interesting characters (many easy to like in one moment and then dislike in the next), the stakes become bigger and bigger as the pages pass and Fletcher struggles to understand his true identity. This book kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next, and I really enjoyed seeing how it all played out in the end. Fans of mystery and suspense will not want to miss this latest novel from Zachary Bartels. I recommend it.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers, I received a copy of The Last Con and the opportunity to honestly review it. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. (I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

About the Author

Zachary Bartels is the author of Playing Saint. An award-winning preacher and Bible teacher, he serves as pastor of Judson Baptist Church in Lansing, MI, where he lives with his wife Erin and their son. You can find him online at his website, Facebook and Twitter.

A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer

★★★★★

Stone Hammond is the best tracker in Texas. He never comes home empty-handed. So when a wealthy railroad investor hires him to find his abducted granddaughter, Stone eagerly accepts.

Charlotte Atherton, former headmistress of Sullivan’s Academy for Exceptional Youths, will do anything to keep her charges safe, especially the little girl entrusted to her care after her mother’s death. Charlotte promised Lily’s mother she’d keep the girl away from her unscrupulous grandfather, and nothing will stop Charlotte from fulfilling that pledge. Not even the handsome bounty hunter with surprisingly honest eyes who comes looking for them.

When the teacher he’s after produces documentation that shows she’s the little girl’s legal guardian, Stone must reevaluate everything he’s been led to believe. Is Miss Atherton villain or victim? She acts more like a loving mother than an abductress, and the children in her care clearly adore her. Should Stone break his perfect record?

Then a new danger threatens, and Charlotte is forced to trust the man sent to destroy her. Stone becomes determined to protect what he once sought to tear apart. Besides, he’s ready to start a new pursuit: winning Charlotte’s heart.

Once again, Karen Witemeyer’s newest book did not disappoint. A Worthy Pursuit begins with the premise of a schoolteacher determined to protect a young girl and a tracker paid to bring her home. From there, the story takes many exciting (and at times, nail-biting) twists and turns. Charlotte Atherton and Stone Hammond make great set of protagonists, working together well despite their opposing roles in the drama and developing a surprising yet heartwarming romance. Any fan of Karen Witemeyer will be pleased with this delightful novel and I heartily recommend it. I enjoyed it immensely and can’t wait to read more from Witemeyer in the future.

Thanks to Bethany House, I received a copy of A Worthy Pursuit and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Wonder of You

Hosted weekly by Breaking the Spine 
to spotlight eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases.

Title: The Wonder of You

Author: Susan May Warren

Publisher: Tyndale House

Expected Publication Date: 1 July 2015

Mortified after her semester abroad is cut short, Amelia Christiansen returns to Deep Haven, certain she isn’t brave enough for the adventures she’s dreamed of. The last thing she expects is for the man who broke her heart to cross the Atlantic and beg forgiveness.

Heir to a European hotel dynasty, Roark St. John has trekked from one exotic locale to another, haunted by tragedy and the expectations that accompany his last name. Amelia is the first woman to give him a reason to stop running. He’ll do anything for a second chance - even contend with Amelia’s old flame, who is intent on sending Roark packing.

While one surprise after another leaves Amelia reeling, Roark’s continued presence only highlights the questions pursuing her. Like him, is she running from the life God has called her to? Could finding her new place mean leaving home behind?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Summer TBR List

Hosted weekly by The Broke and the Bookish.

Whisper Beach by Shelley Noble

About the Book

★★★★★

When a group of friends reunite in the idyllic beach town where they grew up, they must reevaluate their loyalty to one another or lose their friendship forever.

Twelve years ago, Vanessa “Van” Moran fell in love and lost her virginity – but not to the same boy. She fled Whisper Beach desperate and pregnant, never telling a soul about her secret. Now a professional Manhattan organizer, she must return home for the first time to attend the funeral of her best friend’s husband. Van intends to only stay for a weekend, but her plans fall by the wayside as the troubles of this coastal town draw her in.

Dorie, the owner of the pier’s infamous Blue Crab Restaurant where Van and her friends worked as teenagers, enlists Van’s help to save the nearly bankrupt eatery. While Van throws herself into this new task, the man she once loved reenters her life, willing to pick up where they left off.

As the restaurant begins to thrive and Van reconnects with old friends, trouble comes from an unexpected source and she realizes she must face the decisions of her past or sacrifice this new life she has so carefully built.

For Van, this summer will test the meaning of friendship and trust – and how far love can bend before it breaks.

Shelley Noble’s latest novel, Whisper Beach, offers its readers an enjoyable and entertaining summer read. To the quaint beach town of Whisper Beach, Vanessa “Van” Moran returns for a funeral and surprisingly ends up sticking around a bit longer than planned. In the time that follows, a quirky small-town cast of characters surrounds Van and their interactions involving friendship and moving forward from the unforgettable past highlight the well-paced storyline. As Noble drew me into the world of Whisper Beach, I found it to be a delightful and light read and would easily say it is a perfect choice for readers of contemporary fiction looking for a good book. I recommend it.

Thanks to TLC Book Tours, I received a copy of Whisper Beach and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. To read other opinions of the novel, click here.

About the Author

Shelley Noble is a former professional dancer and choreographer and has worked on a number of films. She lives at the Jersey shore where she loves to visit lighthouses and vintage carousels. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Romance Writers of America.

Find out more about Shelley at her website, Facebook and Twitter.