A House Divided by Robert Whitlow

★★★★★

A father's mistakes nearly cost his children everything. Now his children must unite to take on the most important case of their respective careers.

Corbin Gage is slowly drinking himself into the grave while running a small law practice in a small Georgia town. The assistant DA in the same community is his son Ray, poised for a professional breakthrough based on a job offer to work for the best law firm in the area. Roxy is Corbin's daughter, a rising star associate in Atlanta for an international law firm that specializes in high stakes, multi-million-dollar litigation.

Against the advice of everyone in his life, Corbin Gage takes on a toxic tort case on behalf of three boys who have contracted non-Hodgkin's lymphoma due to an alleged chemical exposure. The defendant, an herbicide/pesticide/fertilizer company, is the largest employer in the area. Because of the lawsuit, Ray's job offer evaporates, forcing him to go to work with his father. Roxy's expertise in complex litigation draws her into the drama.

As their investigation uncovers an audacious conspiracy to conceal dangers to their community, Corbin, Ray, and Roxy come to a personal treaty in their pursuit of justice. But they soon discover that burying a problem can have explosive results.

Every time I read a legal novel, I have to wonder why I don’t read the genre more often - it always manages to keep me fascinated with drama from start to finish and I’m not usually disappointed. This certainly applies to Robert Whitlow’s intriguing new novel, A House Divided. After burying its matriarch, a dysfunctional family of lawyers embarks on a much-needed time of healing, faith and forgiveness. Each main character has clearly established flaws and interacts with the legal profession differently than the others, yet they all go about their daily lives and one major case sparks changes - in the individuals and the family as a whole. A House Divided is an interesting and engaging story that offers plenty of surprises within its pages and I couldn't help but root for the Gage family. Overall, I highly enjoyed this novel and I think it’s definitely worth a read.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers, I received a copy of A House Divided 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.”)

Drawing Fire by Janice Cantore

★★★★★

One case from her past defines homicide detective Abby Hart.

With a possible serial killer stalking elderly women in Long Beach, California, Abby's best lead is Luke Murphy, an irritating private investigator who saw a suspect flee the scene of the latest homicide. When Abby discovers that the most recent victim is related to the governor, she's anxious to talk to him about a cold case that's personal to her – one Luke is interested in as well.

As she learns more about the restaurant fire that took her parents' lives years ago, Abby discovers why Luke is so invested in finding the ones responsible. The more they uncover, though, the more questions they have. Can Abby find peace without having all the answers?

Janice Cantore’s Drawing Fire certainly drew me into its story of interconnecting cases from the start and I just had to keep reading to discover its resolution. Homicide detective Abby Hart and private investigator Luke Murphy both do very well in their individual professions, driven by passion, faith and the same haunting cold case. As they cross paths in the pursuit of justice, they complement each other well with an undeniable chemistry and I enjoyed following both of these characters throughout the action-packed plotline. A thrilling and suspenseful novel with nearly satisfying resolution, Drawing Fire does not disappoint - though it will definitely leave readers hoping to see Abby and Luke again in a future novel. Still, I would not hesitate to recommend Cantore’s newest novel to fans of suspense.

Thanks to Tyndale BlogNetwork, I received a copy of Drawing Fire 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.

Stealing Jake by Pam Hillman

★★★★★

When Livy O’Brien spies a young boy jostling a man walking along the boardwalk, she recognizes the act for what it is. After all, she used to be known as Light-Fingered Livy. But that was before she put her past behind her and moved to the growing town of Chestnut, Illinois, where she’s helping to run an orphanage. Now she’ll do almost anything to protect the street kids like herself. 

Sheriff’s deputy Jake Russell had no idea what he was in for when he ran into Livy – literally –while chasing down a pickpocket. With a rash of robberies and a growing number of street kids in town – as well as a loan on the family farm that needs to be paid off – Jake doesn’t have time to pursue a girl. Still, he can't seem to get Livy out of his mind. He wants to get to know her better… but Livy isn’t willing to trust any man, especially not a lawman.

As a consistent fan of historical fiction, I can easily say I just loved Pam Hillman’s Stealing Jake. It’s an all-around charming historical read with a touch of suspense, adventure and romance, and I would not hesitate to recommend it. Within the growing town of Chestnut, Illinois, Livy O’Brien and Jake Russell act as wonderfully dynamic main characters, each dealing with certain issues presented by the street children of the day. As these two set to overcome both external and internal challenges, Hillman masterfully tells their story with captivatingly easy storytelling and kept me turning pages from start to finish. Quite the delight to read, Stealing Jake would be a great book for any readers looking for inspirational historical fiction. It’s an entertaining read that cannot be put down easily - and certainly has me interested in reading more from Pam Hillman in the future.

Thanks to Tyndale BlogNetwork, I received a copy of Stealing Jake 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 Capture Her Heart by Rebecca DeMarino

About the Book

★★★★✩

In an uncertain time, she faces a choice that will change her life forever.

It is 1653 and Heather Flower, a princess of the Montaukett tribe, is celebrating her wedding feast when a rival tribe attacks, killing the groom and kidnapping her. Though her ransom is paid by an Englishman, she is bound by her captors and left to die – until she finds herself rescued by handsome Dutch Lieutenant Dirk Van Buren.

Still tender from her loss, Heather Flower begins to heal in the home of the Hortons, English friends of her people. Torn between her affection for Dirk and her longtime friendship with Ben Horton, Heather Flower must make a difficult choice – stay true to her friend or follow her heart.

Exploring a unique slice of history, Rebecca DeMarino transports you to the wild land that would eventually become Long Island, New York.

I wanted to like Rebecca DeMarino’s To Capture Her Heart so much more than I actually did. Now, I did enjoy it for the most part, and the historical detail and suspense fascinated me. Yet, it still fell a bit short of my expectations in terms of the romantic elements. As the novel progresses, the narrative passes times rather quickly, jumping weeks and months in certain parts. I felt like this detracted from some of the character development and didn’t allow for adequate evidence and explanation of feelings - within the love triangle, the characters seem to have certain feelings all of a sudden, out of the blue. Also, much more of the story focused on the daily lives of the Horton family than I expected based on the back-of-the-book summary. Still, To Capture Her Heart is a pleasant read and I’m sure fans of A Place in His Heart, the first Southold Chronicles novel, will enjoy it. (Interested readers, be sure to read A Place in His Heart before To Capture His Heart.)

Thanks to Revell Reads, I received a copy of To Capture Her Heart 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

Rebecca DeMarino is the author of A Place in His Heart, book one of the Southold Chronicles, a series inspired by her ninth great-grandparents, Barnabas and Mary Horton.She inherited her love of baking and gardening from her mother; a love of horses, reading, and writing from her dad; and the wanderlust gene from both parents. Rebecca lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Tom. Learn more at her website.

Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor by Melanie Dobson

About the Book

★★★★★

When Heather Toulson returns to her parents' cottage in the English countryside, she uncovers long-hidden secrets about her family history and stumbles onto the truth about a sixty-year-old murder.

Libby, a free spirit who can't be tamed by her parents, finds solace with her neighbor Oliver, the son of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor. Libby finds herself pregnant and alone when her father kicks her out and Oliver mysteriously drowns in a nearby river. Though theories spread across the English countryside, no one is ever held responsible for Oliver's death.

Sixty years later, Heather Toulson, returning to her family's cottage in the shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, is filled with mixed emotions. She's mourning her father's passing but can't let go of the anger and resentment over their strained relationship. Adding to her confusion, Heather has an uneasy reunion with her first love, all while sorting through her family's belongings left behind in the cottage. What she uncovers will change everything she thought she knew about her family's history.

Award-winning author Melanie Dobson seamlessly weaves the past and present together, fluidly unraveling the decades-old mystery and reveals how the characters are connected in shocking ways.

Set in a charming world of thatched cottages, lush gardens, and lovely summer evenings, this romantic and historical mystery brings to light the secrets and heartaches that have divided a family for generations.

Melanie Dobson’s Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor tells a touching multi-generational story, spanning from the mid-1950s to the present day against a picturesque English country backdrop. Dobson enchanted me with her intriguing combination of mystery and romance, as well as a well-rounded cast of flawed yet deeply caring characters, and I just couldn’t put this novel down. The characters make tragic mistakes and keep heartbreaking secrets, yet the discovery of long-hidden truths brings about hopeful healing and reconciliation as pieces of the familial puzzle come together. An emotionally rich read that momentarily brought tears to my eyes a few times, Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor certainly won’t be the last Melanie Dobson novel I read. I highly, highly recommend this novel - it’s well-worth a read.

Thanks to LitFuse Publicity Group, I received a copy of Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor 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

Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of thirteen historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels. Two of her novels won Carol Awards in 2011, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana in 2010. Melanie lives with her husband Jon and two daughters near Portland, Oregon.

Find Melanie online at her website, Facebook and Twitter.