Trading Secrets by Melody Carlson (Review)

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Revell (October 21, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-0800722272

The truth may set you free--but it might also land you in some uncomfortably hot water.

Over the years, Micah Knight has exchanged many letters--and many secrets--with her longtime Amish pen pal, Zach. But Micah's kept quiet on the biggest secret of all--the fact that despite her name, she's a girl.

Now Micah finally has the chance to meet her pen pal face-to-face. She wants nothing more than to experience life on Zach's Amish farm, but she's more than a little anxious. Will he be angry at her for deceiving him all these years? And will she risk losing his friendship to find something more?

My Review:

I thought this was a light book with an interesting concept. It is an young adult book with an Amish twist. Micah is English and her pen pal Zach is Amish. They have exchanged letters for years. She never came out and told him she was a girl. Now they are teenagers and Zach invites her to come to the farm. He did not know she deceived him until she got there. He did not react in a good way. Things did not get any better either for a while. I thought his actions went on for too long and were unbelievable. His Amish family also did not behave like the ones I am used too in this kind of book.One of his sisters helped her when she could. In the whole book his parents never warmed up to her.  Micah was the best developed character in the book. I was a little surprised at the ending but happy. Recommended for fans of the genre.






Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than two hundred books, including the Dating Games series, the Life at Kingston High series, Double Take, A Simple Song, and My Amish Boyfriend. She has received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. Melody and her husband live in Oregon. Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

At Bluebonnet Lake by Amanda Cabot (Review)

• Series: Texas Crossroads (Book 1)
• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Revell (October 21, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-0800734343

Marketing maven Kate Sherwood's world is fast-paced, challenging, and always changing. The last thing she wants to do is slow down to a crawl at Rainbow's End, a dilapidated resort in the Texas Hill Country. But she cannot deny her ailing grandmother's request to visit the place where she and her deceased husband spent one glorious week (albeit fifty years ago). There Kate meets Greg Vange, the resort's handyman. But there's more to Greg than meets the eye--billions more, in fact, as he recently sold his successful software company and is at the resort in search of what's next for his life.

Kate isn't looking for romance, but she can't deny the sparks of attraction that fly every time she and Greg are together. She even starts to see potential in the rundown resort. Could there be a future there? Or will Kate's long-sought promotion take her back to the big city?

 My Review:

This was an okay Contemporary Christian romance book. I was doubtful in the beginning that I would like it because the plot is predictable and done before. The characters were well developed though. I enjoyed the relationship between Kate and Greg. There was a secondary romance between Kate's grandmother, Sally, and Roy, a local. Rainbow's End was an interesting location. It reminded me of camp movies. I wanted to see more done with it in the book. This is the first book in the series so hopefully the next book in the series will start a revitalization of it. I look forward to reading the next book.





Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of the Texas Dreams series, the Westward Winds series, and Christmas Roses. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards and the Booksellers' Best. She lives in Wyoming. Learn more at www.amandacabot.com

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A Promise to Protect by Patricia Bradley (Review)

• Series: Logan Point (Book 2)
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Revell (October 7, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-0800722814

Acting Sheriff Ben Logan hasn't heard from Leigh Somerall in a very long time, but it doesn't mean he can get her--or their whirlwind romance of ten years ago--out of his head. When she calls out of the blue, it is with a strange request to protect her brother, Tony. When Tony dies just days later, Ben is charged with a different task--protecting Leigh and her nine-year-old son, TJ, from the killers. But how can Ben keep an eye on Leigh if she's doing everything in her power to avoid him? And could the secret that Leigh is keeping change Ben's life forever?

Suspense, intrigue, and a touch of romance make A Promise to Protect perfect for readers who like their stories with a hearty dose of mystery.

 My Review:

This was a good Christian romantic suspense book. It is second in the Point Logan series and can stand alone. The characters and plot were well developed and interesting.  I felt like I was experiencing the events with them.The sparks flew between Ben and Leigh. It kept my attention from beginning to end. My mind felt blown away at the end. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.  Recommended especially to fans of Dee Henderson, Irene Hannon, etc.





 Patricia Bradley's manuscript for Shadows of the Past was a finalist for the 2012 Genesis Award, winner of a 2012 Daphne du Maurier award (1st place, Inspirational), and winner of a 2012 Touched by Love award (1st place, Contemporary). She is a published short story writer and is cofounder of Aiming for Healthy Families, Inc. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America and makes her home in Mississippi. Learn more at www.ptbradley.com

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Available September 2014 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Murder at the Mikado by Julianna Deering (Review)

• Series: A Drew Farthering Mystery
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (July 1, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-0764210976

When a celebrated ACTOR IS FOUND MURDERED IN HIS DRESSING ROOM, all signs point to Drew's old flame. But behind the curtains nothing is what it seems and this quickly becomes his MOST puzzling case YET.
Just as Drew Farthering thinks his life has calmed down some, Fleur Landis, a former girlfriend, reappears, in dire need of his help. She's married now, no longer an actress--but the lead actor in her former troupe's production of The Mikado has been murdered, and Fleur is the police's number one suspect.

Drew would rather focus on his fiancée, Madeline Parker, and their upcoming wedding, but he can't leave Fleur and her family in the lurch--even if she did break his heart once. As Drew, Nick, and Madeline begin investigating, they discover more going on behind the scenes of the theater troupe than could ever have been imagined. It seems nearly everyone had a motive, and alibis are few and far between.

Both the murder case and the presence of the beautiful, exotic Fleur put a heavy strain on Drew and Madeline's relationship. Will their still-young romance survive the pressure?


 My Review:

I did not enjoy this book as much as the previous books in the series. This book can stand alone but reading the first two adds background history to the characters. The pace for this book was really slow. The plot definitely meandered along. There was more dialogue than mystery/suspense. The ending was explosive though. The author did a good job creating the feel of England. The faith element was a little awkward and seemed like it was an afterthought. Overall it was nice to revisit Drew, Madeline, and Nick. I hope there is another book in the series.




Julianna Deering is the creator of the acclaimed Drew Farthering Mystery series. She has always loved British history and is a particular fan of the writings of Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie. She graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in business administration and spent several years as a certified public accountant. She lives outside Dallas, Texas. Learn more at www.juliannadeering.com

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Deceived by Irene Hannon (Review)

• Series: Private Justice (Book 3)
• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Revell (October 7, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-0800721251

 A grieving mother. A mysterious child. And a dedicated PI who's determined to solve the puzzle.
For three years, Kate Marshall has been mourning the loss of her husband and four-year-old son in a boating accident. But when she spots a familiar-looking child on a mall escalator, she's convinced it's her son. With police skeptical of her story, she turns to private investigator Connor Sullivan for help. As the former Secret Service agent digs into the case, the boating "accident" begins to look increasingly suspicious. But if Kate's son is alive, someone is intent on keeping him hidden--and may go to lethal lengths to protect a sinister secret.

 My Review:

I enjoyed reading this Christian suspense/mystery book. It is book three in the Private Justice series but can stand alone. It also  had a touch of romance in it between Kate and Connor.  The bad guy did not seem really bad though. Greg Sanders and his son Todd just moved to St. Louis. He is a widower and seems like a very devoted dad. But his son Todd is very similar to Kate's dead son. Kate goes to Connor and asks him to investigate after seeing them together at the mall. The plot and characters were well written and interesting. It held my attention from start to finish. This is one of my favorite authors in this genre. Recommended.




 Irene Hannon is the author of more than forty-five novels, including Vanished, Trapped, and the bestselling Heroes of Quantico and Guardians of Justice series. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, a Carol Award, two HOLT Medallions, a Daphne du Maurier Award, two Reviewers' Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine, a Retailers' Choice Award, and a National Readers' Choice Award. In addition, she is a Christy Award finalist, and Booklist included one of her novels in its "Top 10 Inspirational Fiction" list for 2011. She lives in Missouri. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com

Review copy provided by Revell in exchange for an honest review.

Where Treetops Glisten by Tricia Goyer, Sarah Sundin, and Cara Putman (Review)

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (September 16, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601426488
• ISBN-13: 978-1601426482

The crunch of newly fallen snow, the weight of wartime

Three siblings forging new paths and finding love in three stories, filled with the wonder of Christmas

Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America’s involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana.

In White Christmas by Cara Putman, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee at a one-of-a-kind candy shop. Loss of a beau to the war has Abigail skittish about romantic entanglements—until a hard-working young man with a serious problem needs her help.

Abigail’s brother Pete is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theatre in Sarah Sundin’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas, trying to recapture the hope and peace his time at war has eroded. But when he encounters a precocious little girl in need of Pete’s friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he’s no longer the bully she once knew?

In Tricia Goyer’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner, “Merry” to those who know her best, is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to face her deepest betrayal head on, but that’s precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart.

The Turner family believes in God’s providence during such a tumultuous time. Can they absorb the miracle of Christ’s birth and God’s plan for a future?


My Review:

I enjoyed reading this book of three Christmas novellas. They are all about the Turner family. Each story focuses on a different sibling during WWII. They flow seamlessly between stories. The rest of the family is in the background but I especially liked Grandma. The book begins with her while she is trying to get some Christmas spirit back for everyone. The authors did a good job with the characters. You cannot tell three different authors wrote the novellas. The characters and plot are consistent and well written. I felt a range of emotions while reading these books. They covered sad, funny, and sweet. Highly Recommended.


Review copy provided by Litfuse in exchange for an honest review.

Joyful by Shelley Shepard Gray (Review)

• Series: Return to Sugarcreek
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Avon Inspire; Original edition (September 2, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062204505
• ISBN-13: 978-0062204509

A young Amish couple gets a second chance at love in New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray’s final book in her Return to Sugarcreek series.

Randall Beiler is doing his best to put his family and the farm’s needs first, even forsaking love. But though he tries, Randall knows he needs help caring for his younger siblings and keeping the house together.

When his brother offers pretty Elizabeth Nolt a job taking care of the house and cooking for the family, Randall is furious—and guilty about the way he once broke Elizabeth’s heart. But when he learns that Elizabeth and her grandmother are struggling to make ends meet, he knows the offer, no matter how painful, is the right thing for everyone.

Elizabeth wants to refuse—to stay far away from the man who hurt her—but she needs the money. Though she vows to protect her heart, spending time in the Beiler household makes Elizabeth realize that, while she’s older and wiser, her love for Randall still burns strong.

Randal, too, seems to want something more. But does he want Elizabeth because he truly loves her—or because he needs a housekeeper? If Randall sincerely wants something more, he must find a way to show Elizabeth—or risk losing his chance at love forever.

Joyful includes a P.S. section with a letter from the author, discussion questions, and a teaser from her next book.

 My Review:

I enjoyed reading this latest book in the Return to Sugarcreek series.The main focus in this book is the relationship between Elizabeth and Randall. Two other couples have stories featured along side. Judith and Ben Graeber are still struggling with childlessness. They have their foster baby boy,James, but they might be losing him back to his real family. Pippa Reyes from the Amish restaurant is asked out by ex husband's friend and is exploring a relationship with him. Elizabeth and Randall were courting then he broke up with her unexpectedly because he thought he needed too in order to take care of his younger siblings. His brother Levi decides to hire Elizabeth to come cook and clean for them because Randall stinks at it. They all love Elizabeth and are waiting for Randall to get his act together. I liked Elizabeth but never liked Randall. Overall this was a good conclusion to the Sugarcreek series.






Shelley Shepard Gray lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. A busy wife and mother of two, she spends her days writing and keeping track of her two teenagers. Her two dogs keep her company when she writes in her basement.

Shelley enjoys writing about the Amish and visits Amish communities in Adams and Holmes counties several times a year. When not spending time with her family or writing, she serves on several committees in her church.

She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.

Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please visit her website, www.shelleyshepardgray.com to find out her latest news...or become her friend on FaceBook.

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.