"Deadly Proof" Book Review

The workings of the justice system are so far outside my area of understanding that when I read a legal-mystery-romance style novel, I often think - But how would that happen? How would they come up with that line of thinking?  Part of me wonders if it's because often authors go from point A to point C and skip point B all together because in real life, legal work can be tedious and doesn't make for good drama. "Deadly Proof" was the first novel of this genre, that I can remember reading, that showed the painfully long hours put into investigative work. (all the while maintaining a quick flow to the story line)

Now granted, at the core, "Deadly Proof" is a romance so most everything is going to have a neat and tidy ending - perhaps a bit too neat and tidy - but overall it was a good story. While there was action, it wasn't scary. There was conflict but nothing so distressing that you thought the heroine was ever in danger of not getting her happy ever after. 

Anyone who has followed my blog knows that my biggest pet peeve in Christian fiction is the continual pattern of  authors pairing one believer and one non-believer romantically only for the non-believer to convert. Grrr! Dangerous message that is rarely reflected in real life. "Deadly Proof" almost made the same error but thankfully, didn't quite go down the same stinkin' path. For that I applaud author Rachel Dylan. For once I didn't have to give my daughter the same old spiel about being unequally yoked before handing her the book.

For the sake of honesty, I can't say that "Deadly Proof" had me gripped to the edge of my seat or keep me reading well past bedtime. However it was a delightful book that is perfect for anyone not looking to have to think too much.

 "Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

"Fault Lines" Book Review

If you are going to start "Fault Lines" by Thomas Locke, be prepared to read the series otherwise this book will leave you hanging. The plot is good enough that you'll want to pick up book number 2. (I just wanted you to be fair warned)

It took me about a third of the way through the book to figure out what in the world was going on. Well, at least I think I figured out what was going on. I still have a lot of questions. Perhaps book 2 will do a hefty job of clarifying it all for me. As I read "Fault Lines" my brain alternated. Confused, entertained, confused, entertained. But maybe that's because when science and fantasy marry, my brain doesn't get an invitation to the wedding.

I enjoyed Mr. Locke's writing. It flowed. Plus, the fighting/actions scenes were described well enough for me to make a visual picture. Maybe others don't struggle with this but I can easily picture novels in my mind's eye. Right up until there's a battle and then whoosh. Gone. Not this time. I could see the action unfolding like a movie behind my eyes. For that I give the author a well deserved round of applause.

"Fault Lines" does have violent scenes but nothing gory. There's no descriptions of blood squirting out of severed limbs. (ew, I just grossed myself out) All the glory without the guts. Ha! Literally.

Don't chose this book if you're looking for light reading. I had to pay attention and reread a few paragraphs to catch what was going on. But I still recommend it.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

"On Love's Gentle Shore" Book Review

"On Love's Gentle Shore" was a lovely tale of a woman forced to return to her childhood haunts because her fiance surprised her with wedding plans in the town of her youth. Little does he know this town seems to hold nothing but bad memories. Fortunately, along with way, truth is revealed. The dark secrets seem darker but the bright spots are brighter. Plus, she now needs to decide whether to marry her safe fiance or recommit to the beau of her youth. One she left on very bad terms I might add.

Okay, admittedly there are a number of parts of this book that are hardly believable - like a fiance being dense enough to not see that he's essentially handing over his girl to a better man.  Or that a town would hold a grudge towards a young girl for over a decade. But all in all, I enjoyed reading this book.  Maybe it's because I too was born and raised in the Maritimes but I could easily relate to the heroine soaking in the healing salty air.

There was nothing about this book that a reader would need to be wary of, no smut, profanity etc.  Just a good old fashioned romance story about two young loves who parted ways over a misunderstanding. Oh and who also find themselves in the process.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

"A Name Unknown" Book Review

Christian writers, editors, and publishers I beg you please stop!  How many Christian romances have  the most godly person around fall in love with a non-believer? Someone that dedicated to following the Lord would not, or at least should not, be getting involved with someone who doesn't share their faith. Yet over and over 'missionary dating' all works out in these novels. Occasionally it does in real life too but I've seen enough heartache to know that it's not the normal outcome of such relationships.  Unfortunately "A Name Unknown" by Roseanna M. White followed the same outline. Godly man + ungodly woman = happily ever after.

Now to be fair, the woman in this book, Rosemary, has had a brutal life and wants to believe. Plus the godly man, Peter, writes her many letters explaining God's love before getting involved romantically. However, the issue remains.

As for the book itself, it took me a couple of chapters to care about any of the characters and even decide whether it was worthwhile to finish it. I'm glad I did though. I didn't see the ending coming. Well, parts of it. And the further along the book went, the better it got. Although to be truthful, it almost seemed like the author only had so many pages and used up too many at the beginning. All the action was jammed into the last few pages. It felt like the climax could have been expanded and the beginning condensed. I wouldn't let this shy you away from reading "A Name Unknown". It was enjoyable and the ending left me satisfied.

One aspect about this book that I loved was how the author used it as a platform to help the reader see the world through the eyes of the destitute. How do people end up on the streets or working as pickpockets at an early age? I have often said, "No one hopes to be a prostitute when they are 5. Something happens." and we should all try to find a little more compassion and understanding in our hearts towards those who have had a far harder go of it than ourselves. I applaud you Ms. White for using your public platform to make a difference.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

"Under the Summer Sky" Book Review

It's going to be hard to write a review on "Under a Summer Sky" without almost giving away the ending. I'll try my best but if you really don't want to know anything other than whether I liked it, I'll give you the short answer here so that you can stop reading.  I liked it. 4 out of 5 stars.

Oh man! The villian in this book had me on edge! Every time author Melody Carlson brought antagonist Amyra into the story, I could feel my own stress levels rise. I could also feel myself getting far more emotionally involved than I normally do when I read a novel and that's likely because the characters were so well written. I cared about their well-being. (kind of silly when you stop and think about it)  Over and over it seems like Amyra is going to destroy everything our heroine, Nicole, has worked for. And yet over and over, (warning - potential spoiler alert) nothing bad happens. It's like everything Nicole touches turns to gold. It certainly played with my emotions to repeatedly come to the precipice only to have it dissolve into a happy world of blessings.

I appreciated how the author didn't let any of the character's poor behavior pass without further exploration of the 'why' behind the 'what'. There's always something motivating mean or erratic people. Understanding why they do what they do makes for an interesting read.

I was left with a number of questions: Why was Nicole given so much responsibility in the first place? What happened after her boss's return? Did the brother she didn't chose find love?

"Under the Summer Sky" was a fun read. It should be noted that while there is no ghosts or supernatural occurrences in the story, because the setting is Savannah, Georgia, ghosts and haunted houses are frequently mentioned.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

"High as the Heavens" Book Review

Oh I barely got out of the starting blocks with this one. The first few pages were filled with such overly poetic writing that it almost turned me away. Glad I stuck with it though because shortly after, it seemed like the author, Kate Breslin, stopped trying to be dramatic and got on with writing a good story. And that she did. The plot was a good one. This is a story of a nurse forced to live in enemy occupied Belgium during WW1.

The main character, Eve Marche, not only works as a spy for the resistance, she also goes to great lengths to save the life of a downed British pilot. In addition, Eve has to work through trauma and guilt she's been carrying due to horrific events that occurred near the start of the war. Some parts of the book seemed slightly implausible but not so much that it made me roll my eyes or anything. I thoroughly enjoyed reading how our heroine was going to implement the next part of her daring plan.

I thought the author did a good job of painting a picture of how hard it would have been to live under those conditions. My own grandmother was an Italian immigrant who lived through WW2. Decades later my sister had two young German men come to visit and my grandmother could barely be in the same room with them or hear them speak. All she said was, "It brings back too many memories." What horrors did she live through that would affect her 50 years later like that?  The same as many others.

My only criticism of "High as the Heavens" was that I felt like I was reading the same words over and over again on a number of pages. Eve couldn't leave because of her family and her spy work and the pilot couldn't stay because of danger. The plot kept moving forward but it just felt like the author was telling us what the characters were thinking and they were thinking the same thing all the time. Having said that, while I knew everything was going to be fine in the end because this is a romance novel, the author did lead us on quite an adventure.  I also loved that the love between the two main characters was not based on her looks or some lusty passionate feelings. I wanted to clap as I read of people choosing to do the hard thing for the sake of the other.

A good read.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

"Heart On the Line" Book Review

Even though "Heart on the Line" could be a stand alone book, it should be called Book #2 in the "A Ladies of Harper's Station Novel" series because there are numerous references to "No Other Will Do". (another book by Karen Witemeyer) I was glad to have read that one first. I think I would have felt slightly out of the loop without that background information.

But don't let that deter you. "Heart on the Line" was a charming tale of a telegraph operator who is facing grave danger at the same time as finding love. And while the plot was, shall we say, predictable, the writing was smooth and enjoyable. Plus the plot kept moving forward.

One thing I loved about this book were the characters. The bad guy was so bad and the good guys so good. The supporting characters were the perfect blend of quirkiness and depth. I am always a tad hesitant to support books that cast men in a bad light and on the surface it might seem like "Ladies of Harper's Station" novels might do that. A whole town where men are not allowed?  (Can you imagine the uproar if women weren't allowed in an all male town!)  But I appreciate that the author did show the heroic men in a good light. Yes, many women have been tragically harmed by men, but that doesn't mean we should teach our daughters to despise them. Quite the opposite! God made us to live together with them.

And while I know it's a run-of-the-mill staple among romance novels, it did irk me ever so slightly that the author felt it necessary to state repeatedly how beautiful the heroine was. The way it's written makes it sound like her beauty was why the hero was willing to risk all to save her. Would she not be worth saving if she was plain or overweight? I know this is a reflection of our societal values but it's within our ability to fight against it. Even if the heroine's waist wasn't tiny, she would still be worth the effort and worth loving.

Over all I enjoyed this book. It was a fun fluffy read - perfect for an afternoon lying in the hammock on a breezy summer day.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."