End Game by Rachel Dylan

FBI Special Agent Bailey Ryan is teamed up with NCIS Special Agent Marco Agostini to get to the bottom of some high profile murders around Washington, DC. The deeper they get into the investigation, the more dangerous it becomes and the deeper they have to dig into the secrets of the rogue government employees at the bottom of this international scheme.


This is a fast paced story that I enjoyed thoroughly. I am always intrigued by the work of the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. This book does not disappoint. I highly recommend it. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Catch Me If You Can by Donna Kauffman

This had the potential to be a great story. Tag, an anthropologist, has returned to his estranged father's home after his father's death and learns that he had inherited not only the family holdings but also a new property his father had purchased in Scotland -- the old ancestral castle. Out of curiosity, he decides to extend his leave before he returns to the dig he is working on in the Amazon, and go take a look at the property in Scotland. In Scotland, Tag meets Maura, the caretaker and last descendant of the clan that has had the castle in their family for hundreds of years. Tag and Maura hit it off immediately and both their plans for the future are rocked.


I would have really enjoyed this story if the author had stuck to the story and followed it to its logical (or even surprising) ending. However I would hazard a guess that less than 25% of this book is the story as described above, and the rest is a long drawn out, too much information, version of their libidos and all the tiny details of that process. It was disappointing because I had to skip multiple pages each time to get to the continuation of the actual story.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this books which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

The Rebel Bride by Shannon McNear

This is an interesting historical novel set during the Civil War. Pearl is a Tennessean and keeps house for her widowed father an younger brother. Her cousin, who is a confederate officer, brings wounded Union soldiers from a nearby battle to recover under Pearl's care because he is unable to get them to the prison in the condition they are in. One of the Union soldiers is Josh, who has lost a hand in the recent battle. Pearl's father, while suffering from some dementia, has taught his family and continues to preach about being kinds to and taking care of enemies, so Pearl works at it diligently. Over time, Pearl and Josh form a relationship and the war becomes a side issue to both of them. Neither change their views but their regard for each other continues to grow.


I like the depth of the research the author has done and her handling of the whole situation. I have soldiers from both sides of the conflict in my family tree and all were solid Christian husbands and fathers but also loyal to their homeland. I enjoyed this little view into their life and times.



I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this books which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

If I Had Two Lives by A. B. Whelan

Vicky has a good job as an FBI agent and a successful Real Estate mogul boyfriend. She had a normal childhood and thought she knew who she was until everything went topsy turvy in her life. She soon realized that her parents hadn't told her everything about her life and strangely, the new information she was recovering was woven somehow into the case she was working on -- trying to track down a serial killer.


This book has a lot of things happening and comes to a surprise conclusion. I enjoyed reading it but felt that in some places there could have been more to the story and in other places there was a little too much information. I would like to continue reading books by this author and see how she advances her craft in later writings.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this books which I received from BookSirens. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Seconds to Live by Susan Sleeman

FBI Agent Sean Nichols is appointed to head a team investigating a hacker who goes by the name of Phantom, who has hacked into US Marshals' Witness Protection database. He needs to go to where a witness has already been pursued by the hacker with the intention to kill her. That witness is being protected by US Marshal Taylor Mills, who happens to be a friend of Agent Nichols even though their friendship has always been online and not in person.

As they chase the Phantom the stakes keep getting higher and the danger keeps getting more frightening. It takes everyone on the team to crack the case. This one is a nail biter and it didn’t take me long to read because I traded sleep time for reading time. Highly recommend!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this books which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Stitches in Time by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Luke and Sam Shrock are brothers who are part of an old order Amish community. They have had a rough time since growing up since their father had done something that upset the community when they were boys and they felt the weight of the community’s disapproval. Luke is nominated for deacon by some unknown person. Luke isn’t worried because he does not feel qualified and is sure one of the other candidates will be the new deacon. However, it doesn’t go that way and suddenly Luke is fielding all kinds of problems in the community. He makes some of his own when he makes the proclamation that the community is interested in foster care. No one seems too up on the idea except Mollie Graber, the new schoolteacher. Sam has his eye on Mollie since the farm where he trains horses is next to the schoolhouse where Mollie lives. Meanwhile, Luke’s wife Izzy is having trouble with the whole deacon’s wife thing and the fact that she was a foster child herself and wants no part of raising another one.

This is just a fun story with some interesting twists and turns and for anyone who likes to read this genre, this will prove to be a really well written, interesting and entertaining offering.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this books which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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The Major's Daughter by Regina Jennings

This book is the third of a series. This story takes place at the time of the Oklahoma land run. Caroline, the oldest daughter of the Major in charge of the local cavalry post, returns from an extended visit with her grandmother and soon after comes in contact with Frisco Smith, a man she had contact with when she lived at the post before. Frisco is preparing to run in the land run and Caroline decides she will run too. She wants to try her hand at homesteading. She borrows her mount from the stables and goes to participate without her father’s knowledge. None of the folks that see her on the starting line believe she will be able to keep up, but not only is she an excellent horsewoman, but she also knows the land well enough to know a shortcut. She beats Frisco to the spot he had his heart set on and since they are both stubborn, they both dig in their heels. It is funny and also gives insight into a historical event.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this books which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

A Crafter Quilts a Crime by Holly Quinn

This book was a fun read and had the added bonus of being set at Christmas. It is about Sammy, who runs a craft shop / quilt shop in a small town, and her sister and cousin who team with her to solve a mystery. It all starts when someone is murdered and it all takes place in Sammy's shop during the busiest night of the year. Sammy and her team try to solve the mystery themselves which leads to hilarous capers and also some dangerous circumstances. This one is too much fun to put down so don't plan on getting too much accomplished except reading once you start it.


I like this author and I enjoy reading about the quilters and crafters that frequent the shop.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this books which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

The Bright Unknown Elizabeth Byler Younts

This is a story that needed to be told. It gives the reader an up close and personal look at what went on in mental hospitals in the last century, and also the traveling freak shows that exploited people that were different in that time period. This story starts back in t940s. The author has her own way of spinning a tale and it is beautiful.

The story is about Brighton, a young girl born and raised in the asylum that her mother was admitted to when she was pregnant, and raised in the asylum until she was able to get out as an adult. It is also about her two friends, Angel, an albino who was in the home simply because his parents were embarrassed by him; and Grace, a teenager who was placed in the home by her father because he disapproved of her boyfriend.

I had trouble putting this book down so I finished it fairly quickly. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a good story and is interested in US history around the time of WWII. You will not be disappointed.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.