To Steal a Heart (The Bleaker Street Inquiry Agency #1) by Jen Turano

 

Gabriella Goodhue works for a dressmaker and lives in a boarding house.  When she was a child she and her housemates at the time were street thieves managed by a man who gave a home to them. When she decides to help out a friend at the boarding house who is being framed, she uses her street knowledge to do some investigative work.  In the process, she comes across Nicholas Quinn, one of her former accomplices.  He seems to have done alright for himself but now is engaged in much the same pursuit that she is and they are instantly suspicious of each other.  This is the story of how they solved the case, resolved some issues from their childhood and helped many people in the process.  This is a fun story.

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

The Price of Valor (Global Search and Rescue #3)

 

Hamilton Jones is a former Navy SEAL who now does special missions for the US government. His wife was pressed into service by the CIA years earlier when he was deployed.  He thought she had been killed until his daughter is dropped off by his wife who then disappears. Now he is determined to find her and rescue her and she is determined to protect him by not being found. This story takes them all over the globe facing mortal danger and internal government intrigue that seem impossible to avoid or sort through.  

This is a very intricate story  that kept me enthralled throughout.  I highly recommend this author and this series.  

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

The Escape (US Marshals #1) by Lisa Harris

 

US Marshal Madison James and her partner Jonas Quinn are sent to bring a prisoner back via plane.  The plane crashes in a remote area and the only survivors are the marshalls and the prisoner. It becomes a nightmare full of injuries, cat and mouse with the prisoner as they try to recapture him and complete their mission, and finding their way out of the wilderness on foot. 

This story was a nail biter and I think I plowed through it in record time.  I couldn't put it down.  I really enjoyed this story and will continue to look for books 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.

The Mockingbird's Song (Amish Greenhouse Mystery #2) by Wanda E. Brunstetter

 

Sylvia's husband, her older brother and her father were all killed in an accident when a car hit their buggy almost a year earlier.  Sylvia and her two children have moved back into her mother's house and shares it with her grieving mother, sister and younger brother.  The family business, a greenhouse, has been struggling since her father died.  Someone is trying to sabotage the business and things keep happening.  Meanwhile, Sylvia has developed an interest in her younger's brothers favorite hobby -- bird watching.   As they prepare for her sister's wedding, a lot of situations arise that require them to move past their grief and deal with family and neighborhood issues.  This was a good read.  It kind of left me hanging so I'm guessing theres another book in the series on the way, but I am disappointed that I didn't get a few more answers in this book.  Patience is not one of my higher virtues. 

 

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

Forever by Your Side (Willamette Brides, #3) by Tracie Peterson

 

This story has everything: mystery, intrigue, old flames, you name it.  Constance Browning returns to Oregon Territory to do a job for the Bureau of Ethnoloogy.  She grew up on the Indian reservation there where her parents are missionaries.  This is an interesting 1880s frontier story and another well researched book by Tracie Peterson.

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

Burden of Proof by Davis Bunn

 

Ethan is an old spent man who is rapidly dying of cancer. His sister in law suddenly arrives to visit him.  They don't have a good relationship.  Ever since his brother was murdered years ago they have avoided each other.  His sister in law is a brilliant scientist.  She has been working on time and quantum physics experiments for years. She wants Ethan to be her human guinea pig and be sent back to before her husband was murdered to see if he can change things.  He will die eventually but he will be able to live for a certain period of time after he gets there and try to change things.  I'm not going to expand further on the story.  That's just the kick off.  It is actually a very good story.  It sounds bizarre and science fiction-like, but trust me its a very plausible story.  I was pleasantly surprised when I got all caught up in it and couldn't put it down.  I highly recommend this book.  The character studies alone are worth the read. However, it is much more interesting than that.  

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

 

An Ivy Hill Christmas (Tales from Ivy Hill) by Julie Klassen

 

Richard Brockwell is the spoiled youngest son of his family.  His brother is the head of the family and lives with his family and his mother in the family mansion back in the small village of Ivy Hill where they are the local gentry.  Richard has been living in their London townhouse and is living the bachelor dandy lifestyle.  Richard's mama is tired of him staying away at the holidays and has summoned him home for Christmas.  They are hosting a houseparty.  Reluctantly, Richard travels there, bringing his lap dog and his best friend and his valet to liven it up for him.  His reputation proceeds him to Ivy Hill.  People there know of his escapades in London but they also remember him from his childhood. 

I love this story.  It's a perfect picture of the holiday season in an English village 100+ years ago. And the picture of their faith and values is heartwarming. I can't wait to read more about Ivy Hill.  

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

Unveiling the Past by Kim Vogel Sawyer

 

Kim Vogel Sawyer has been a favorite author of mine for years. She is the queen of historical romance in my opinion but I just developed a new fascination with her. This book is set in the modern day and is about two detectives with the cold case unit. This is my 2nd favorite type of fiction / stories. It's like finding a new author. I find myself daydreaming about this book having a sequel or two. I fell in love with these characters and want to know more about them. What happened after this?

This is the story of Meghan and her husband, Seth, who are Cold Case detectives. Meghan was raised by a single mother and never knew her father. But then we learn the story of Meghan's mother Diane and Kevin, Meghan's birthfather. And thrown in there is the story of Seth's childhood and Kevin's childhood and Diane's mother, Hazel and her sister, and Kevin's life thus far including his adopted son. In addition, we have the history behind the two cold cases the detectives are working on and even the lives of the other detectives and their chief. It sound like a lot but it is all part of a wonderous story! I want to give it more than 5 stars. I want to give it five stars and five exclamation points. I might even reread it, which is something I rarely do because there are so many new books to read. Kudos, Kim Vogel Sawyer. You hit this one out of the ballpark. Please write a few more of this genre.

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