NetGalley

Have you read STRANDED by Dani Pettrey?

/ Dora Hiers / 4 Comments

About the book~
When her friend vanishes from a cruise ship, reporter Darcy St. James isn’t satisfied with their explanation that she simply left her job of her own accord. Something isn’t lining up, and Darcy believes the only way to find the truth is to put herself in Abby’s position. Within days, Darcy learns her friend wasn’t the only person to disappear mysteriously. Last summer, a woman vanished under almost identical circumstances.

Gage McKenna has taken a summer-long stint leading adventure excursions for the passengers of various cruise lines that dock for a few days of sightseeing. He’s surprised to find Darcy working aboard one of the ships, investigating a troubling report. Something sinister is going on and the deeper they dig the more Gage fears they’ve only discovered the tip of the iceberg.


My summary~
Darcy St. James gave up investigative reporting years ago, but she still loves the thrill of tracking down leads. So when her friend, Abby, terribly frightened and distraught about her current story, contacts her, Darcy determines to help her friend uncover the truth. When Darcy arrives on the cruise ship, Abby has vanished. Restless and hoping to squash five month old memories of Darcy, Gage McKenna accepts the excursions gig on the cruise ship. The last person he expects to run into on the cruise ship is Darcy St. James.

What I liked…


I really liked that the author had set up Gage and Darcy’s story at the end of her last book, Shattered. Even so, while it’s not necessary to read Shattered before Stranded, you probably should because once you read this one, you’ll want to go back and read the first two. Trust me.

Loved the characters. I’ve gotten to know Gage over the last two books, and he’s definitely a favorite of mine. Masculine and manly, yet wounded and vulnerable. How could Darcy not fall for him? Especially when she sees the two little feet tucked close to his heart. But then, he’d stolen her heart long before then. 

Darcy’s not a wimpy heroine. Sure, she’s frightened once she learns what they’re facing, but she’s not willing to give up on finding her friend, especially since Abby doesn’t know the Lord. This book made me think about my loved ones who don’t know the Lord. Would I be as willing to face the same frightening situations for my loved ones? The faith element is woven into the plot, so beautifully and intrinsically, and it doesn’t come off forced or trite.

and not so much…

I can’t think of one element I didn’t like about this book, except that it had to end. 

Overall…


Stranded is worthy of highest praise. It’s a book that’ll make you forget about everything except flipping the page. Definitely a keeper, and Pettrey is now on my “must read” list!

Purchase Link

Disclaimer: Sending a big thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of Stranded. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.

Have you read Stranded? 
Do you agree with my review?
What about you? Would you face frightening situations to track down a friend in danger? 
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Have You Read NORTH COUNTRY HERO by Lois Richer?

/ Dora Hiers
North Country Hero
by Lois Richer

About the book~
Back home to heal, army veteran Kyle Loness can’t wait to leave the town that holds such sad memories. He never expects beautiful newcomer Sara Kane to enlist his help with the town’s new youth center. What does he know about helping kids? But the more time he spends with the troubled teens—and Sara—the more the jaded soldier feels his defenses crumbling. It might take Sara—and the kids—to open his guarded heart to love again. 

My summary~
Reeling from an injury and angry at God, Kyle Loness is only in Churchill, Canada, to settle things after his father’s death. He plans to get the house ready to sell, and get out. Sara Kane heads to Churchill to cook for Lives Under Construction, a youth center for boys. A former foster child, she has plenty of love to go around. Determined to find her biological family, she seeks out computer savvy Kyle for help.

What I liked…
I really liked Sara. Although she suffered a rough childhood, she still managed to find the good in everything and everybody. Instead of being weak and wimpy, her experience made her strong and determined. Sara showed kindness to the wounded soldier, and although Kyle tries to distance himself, her sweet, generous spirit draws him in.

At a crucial point in the book, Sara couldn’t discern God’s voice or the path He wanted her to take. It took being alone, really alone, for her to recognize His will. I could relate to that. When my world clamors with noise, I need that “alone” time with Him.

and not so much…
I felt the faith element tended to be a bit on the heavy side. That said, the author tackled a couple tough topics with this book, feelings of unworthiness and struggling with why bad things happen, and I thought she handled them well. 

Overall…
I enjoyed North Country Hero and how the characters overcame their feelings of unworthiness and worked through their faith issues realistically. North Country Hero is definitely worth picking up for a nice, leisurely read. 

Disclaimer: Sending a huge thanks to Harlequin  and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.

What about you? Do you sometimes worry that you can’t hear God’s voice or that you missed His direction? Does it take getting alone with Him for you to discern His will?
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Have you read FIRED UP by Mary Connealy?

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments
Fired Up
Purchase Link

About the book~Fired Up, Trouble in Texas Book 2

Dare Riker is a doctor who saves lives, but someone seems determined to end his. It may have something to do with the traitors he dealt with during the Civil War, or it might be related to the recent incident with Flint Greer and the ranch. Whoever the culprit is, he or she seems really fired up, and Dare can’t let his guard down for a moment, which is a challenge, since right now he’s trying to win the heart of the recently widowed Glynna.

Glynna Greer came west as a mail-order bride and ended up in a bad situation. Now her husband, Flint, is dead, and she’s determined to care for her son and daughter on her own. She wants to believe Dare Riker is as decent as he seems, but she’s terrified to lock herself into another marriage. She plans to support her small family by opening a diner–never mind that cooking is not her greatest talent. The men in Broken Wheel, Texas, are so desperate for home cooking that they seem willing to overlook dried-out beef and blackened biscuits.

Glynna can’t help but notice that danger follows Dare wherever he goes. There’s the avalanche. And then the fire. But things really get out of hand when someone plunges a knife from Glynna’s diner into Dare’s back. Are Flint’s cronies still plotting revenge? Is Glynna’s son engaged in a misguided attempt to protect his mother? Is a shadowy outsider still enraged over past injustices? And can Dare survive long enough to convince Glynna to take another chance on love?


My summary~
Feeling like a fraud because of his lack of schooling, Dare Riker isn’t convinced he’s supposed to be a doctor. Glynna and the rest of the town know that he’s the closest thing to a doctor Broken Wheel will ever have. Dare saved Glynna from the rough treatment of her deceased husband, and his heart’s set on marrying her, but Glynna promised her son she’d not marry again without his blessing. When danger strikes Dare more than once, he can only hope it’s not Glynna’s son intent on killing him.

My opinion…

Glynna wasn’t the typical Connealy heroine: headstrong, gun-toting, and a ‘save the hero from himself’ kinda gal, but she wasn’t weak, either. After surviving her second husband’s abuse, she was determined not to marry again and to make it on her own. She opened a diner, but couldn’t cook, and I enjoyed a twist from the normal stereotype.

I also loved how the author set up the chemistry between Vince and Tina, secondary characters. I’m hoping that’s because Vince and Tina’s story is up next in the Trouble in Texas series. 🙂

Sparks always fly in a Connealy novel, and you’re guaranteed a few laughs. This one was no different. A theme of forgiveness weaves throughout the book so naturally, it’s seamless and as essential to the plot as the romance. I enjoyed a few hours reconnecting with Glynna and Dare, and I can’t wait to read Connealy’s next Romantic Comedy with Cowboys. Will it feature Vince and Tina?


Purchase Link

Disclaimer: Sending a big thank you to Bethany House Publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy of Fired Up. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.

Have you read Fired Up? 
Do you agree with my review? What were your thoughts?
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