In The Paths of Righteousness by Debbie Viguie

Hoping to give Cindy and her friends a much needed vacation Kyle, Cindy's brother, invites them to go on a cattle drive with him. What he  neglects to tell them is that this cattle drive will be filmed as part of one of Kyle's adventure episodes. The drive seems to be doomed from the beginning with the death of one of the crew, but Kyle insists the show must go on and so everyone saddles up no matter how reluctant they are.

Jeremiah is determined that the footage from the filming never gets put on TV. He has secrets to keep. Neither Cindy or Jeremiah can define their relationship yet, but those around them seem to assume that they are in love. Jeremiah knows that in order to protect his secrets that eventually he must leave, but his attraction to Cindy and desire to keep her safe keeps him from doing that.

Miles away from any town or law enforcement Cindy, Jeremiah, Mark and Traci realize that there is a killer among them and that Kyle is the person's target. Will they be able to figure out who it is before anyone else is killed?

Loved the setting of this one! I really enjoyed the "gang" being all together to solve this case as well. I also liked that we got to see Cindy and Kyle together. After so many books with hints of the jealousy that Cindy has for Kyle, and her parents obvious favoritism for him, it was fun to read about what makes him tick. We are still in the dark as to Jeremiah's past and also what happened to Cindy and Kyle's sister many years before, but with each installment we learn just a little more of both. I really like the dynamics between the 4 friends. Cindy and Traci get along well together even though Traci keeps pushing Cindy to talk about her relationship with Jeremiah. Jeremiah and Mark have a healthy respect for each other. Mark knows that Jeremiah has secrets from his past and he is okay with letting those secrets lay. Mark's search into his former partner Paul's past has hit a roadblock, but at the end of the book a new clue surfaces and he enlists Jeremiah and Cindy in helping him to hunt it down. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series to see what happens there! Mystery and series fans I have not been disappointed in any of the Psalm 23 Mysteries, so if you are looking for something exciting to read check these out!!

Reviews of previous books in the series:

The Lord is my Shepherd
I Shall Not Want
Lie Down in Green Pastures
Beside Still Waters
Restoreth My Soul

Explosive Alliance by Susan Sleeman

While at a soccer game with her ailing grandfather Krista Curry finds it odd when a young man leaves a backpack in his seat. When she points it out to the young man he brushes quickly past her with an evil stare in his eyes. After waiting 15 minutes for the man to return Krista decides to check the bag. Inside she finds a bomb. Hoping to not rouse a panic Krista heads back to the security guard on duty who had flirted with her earlier.

Cash Dixon is on the First Responders unit. When Krista approaches him about a bomb in a backpack he knows exactly what to do to dismantle it. Now if he only knew what to do about his growing feelings towards Krista.

Krista is keeping secrets, but for some reason Cash feels that he can believe she has nothing to do with the bomb. His co-workers have no such belief though. Krista has no intention of ever trusting another man in her life. But there is something about Cash that draws her. When the media finds that Krista can identify the bomber Cash is determined to keep her safe.

Both Cash and Krista must battle past and current demons before they even begin to explore their feelings for each other. Will Cash be able to keep Krista and her Opa safe and will he continue to believe in Krista's innocence after he finds out about her past? And can Cash open up to Krista about his own painful past and once and for all find peace?

I love the way that the First Responders books start out with so much action and excitement. They draw you in from the very beginning. Filled with suspense both in danger and in romance, Explosive Alliance keeps the reader turning pages quickly to find out what happens. There are also enough twists and turns to keep you wondering "who done it?" I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment of the First Responders series.

**Thanks to the publisher Harlequin through NetGalley for my copy for review purposes. All opinions are my own.**

 

Andi Under Pressure by Amanda Flower

While at a Science camp Andi and Colin encounter another mystery. Someone is sabotaging the camp and putting the blame on the janitor. Andi and Colin hide around corners to listen in on mysterious conversations trying to find out who is behind the incidents that keep occurring.

I enjoyed ANDI UNDER PRESSURE. I would say this is a cozy elementary age mystery. There were a few twists and turns, family angst and even some humor mixed in that made this a fun and entertaining read. This is the 2nd book in the Andi Boggs series and I look forward to reading more in the future.

A Plain Malice by Amanda Flower

 

When the people from a tour bus are visiting the Troyer's farm two people drop dead after drinking the fresh milk. Chloe is once again in the middle of a murder investigation. Coerced by Chief Rose to join the group as their new tour guide in order to keep all of the suspects in one place, Chloe must endure the cranky bus driver and disgruntled passengers in order to find out who the murderer is. 

I enjoyed the mystery of A PLAIN MALICE. There were several twists and turns as well as many misleads before the actual killer is found out. Chloe and Timothy's relationship has grown closer, but still has a few bumps to iron out. Chloe is an independent young woman and Timothy, being raised Amish, finds Chloe constantly fighting against his desire to protect her. Curt and his nasty friend also make an appearance in this book. Curt says he has turned over a new leaf, but his caring for Chloe and her inability to return the feelings may cause him to spiral once again. Hopefully we will see next book. So for a return to characters that I am fond of and an exciting mystery to go with those characters I enjoyed A PLAIN MALICE and look forward to the next installment of the Appleseed Creek mysteries.

Unfortunately I do have to mention that I think that the author lost her publisher for this book and so it didn't go through the editing process that a more traditional publishing route may have gone. A PLAIN MALICE reminded me of an unedited ARC copy which is something I am used to reading, but may be extremely distracting to others that are expecting a more polished book. 

Feral by Holly Schindler

 About the Book:

Claire Cain has just survived a brutal trauma. Her father decides to take a sabbatical from his job and move he and Claire to a new city for a while. Claire is only there a couple of days when she finds the dead body of one of the local girls that has been missing for over a week.  

The town of Peculiar seems to be overrun by stray cats. Serena, the dead girl, used to feed them. Especially a calico she named Sweet Pea. It isn’t long before Claire sees that Serena has taken over Sweet Pea’s body and is calling to Claire to find out what really happened to her. At least at first that is what Claire believes, but soon things change and it seems that Serena may have other more sinister ideas for Claire. 

My Thoughts:

This was such a creepy story! Sometimes I found myself thinking, whoa, this is way over the top for me! But I kept on reading because the more I read the more I wanted to find out what happened to Serena. I thought it was interesting how the reader is able to see through Serena’s eyes and read her thoughts after she is dead and being hidden away. The shroud of fog that would come over Claire whenever Sweet Pea/Serena came into the picture lent an air of creepiness to the story as well. Towards the ending of the book I got an idea of where the story was going, but was quite surprised by the “who done it.”  This is a young adult book so if you like that genre along with mysteries and ghosts, then I think you will enjoy this story.

**WARNING**

There is some offensive language and violence in this book that may offend some readers. 

Note: I received a free e-copy of the book for the purpose of this review. This is my honest review.

 

A Deadly Business by Lis Wiehl with April Henry

This is the second book in the Mia Quinn Mysteries. I enjoyed it very much. We learn more about how Mia's husband died and what he was up to before he died.

Charlie Carlson suggests to Mia that her husbands death was not an accident. Trying to balance her job and her home Mia now must also help Charlie investigate her husbands murder.

Mia is also feeling pressure from her boss who is running for re-election. When 3 teens dump a grocery cart off a bridge onto a woman's head Mia must decide whether they should be tried as juveniles or as adults. Her decision could ultimately lose the race for her boss.

Mia is under so much pressure with all of the situations going on that I found myself wondering how she didn't just break down.

The pace of the book moved along quickly. I was invested in the characters. I did find myself a little irritated at Mia's son Gabe. He has a bit of a rant at one point and I wanted to reach through the pages and shake him, but then had to realize that he too is going through a lot of stuff since his father died. I loved the suspense leading up to the conclusion of the book, I was definitely on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens. There is a bit of attraction going on between Charlie and Mia and another lawyer and Mia. I'm hoping that those will develop in future books. My vote is for Charlie even though he has been married 3 times before!

Check out my review of the first book A MATTER OF TRUST.

Thanks to the publisher Thomas Nelson for my copy of the book for review. All opinions are my own.

Distortion by Terri Blackstock

Juliet's life is plunged into a nightmare the night her husband is murdered. Juliet soon discovers the secret life her husband has been leading and it puts her and her two sons in danger.

 Juliet and her sisters put to use the skills that Michael has taught them in his private detective business while following leads to Juliet's husband's murder.

This is the second book in the Moonlighters series and continues with some of the characters in the first book Truth-Stained Lies. In Distortion Michael and Cathy are still trying to find the man who got away with murdering Joe, Michael's brother and Cathy's fiance. With all that they discover about Juliet's husband could it be possible that he had something to do with Joe's death?

If you love suspense as much as I do then you definitely need to pick up Terri Blackstock's books! From the opening pages to the very end Distortion had me captivated. I do recommend that you read Truth-Stained Lies first to get the introduction of all of the characters. Not only am I a fan of the suspense, but I also love how the author weaves in the faith aspect of her characters.

Snapshot by Lis Wiehl

In 1965 Lisa Waldren's father, an FBI agent, takes his daughter to a Civil Rights rally. While there she meets another little girl her age. Her father takes a snapshot of the two little girls enjoying each others company. Then the unthinkable happens and all chaos breaks out.

Jump ahead several decades and Lisa is now a successful Federal Prosecutor estranged from her father who is now retired. When he contacts her to help him solve a murder that he has never been able to forget, Lisa at first is unwilling. But eventually she goes to Ft. Worth, TX to help her father and maybe try to understand why he distanced himself from her all those years ago.

James Waldren is now trying to help the man convicted of murdering the Civil Rights activist before he is put to death for the crime he didn't commit. Government as well as local authority cover-ups, and threats to his family caused James Waldren to stop investigating many years before, but now he is determined to right a wrong. But as with all secrets, some people would prefer they be left alone. 

I really enjoyed this story. I loved the step-by-step search for the killer and all of the twists and turns to get there. We as the reader know exactly who the killer is, but the "why" is slowly revealed throughout the story. Loved that the two little girls, now grown up, were able to get back together and help each other in the investigation. When I think about the Civil Rights movements for some reason I always think farther in the past than what they really are. I was born in 1965 when the event of the story happened. I honestly can't imagine that time period actually being in my lifetime. The author touches on a bit of the hatred that surrounded the times and some of the events: JFK assassination, Martin Luther King Jr., Viet Nam war etc. Such major events in history while I was just a little girl. Lis Wiehl has written a page-turning snapshot of history, the legal system, and human greed and hatred all wrapped up into an entertaining mystery. If you have never read any of her books before I would highly recommend them.

Life Support by Candace Calvert

The third book in the Grace Medical series jumps right in with action. Lauren Barclay has moved back to Houston to keep an eye on her younger sister Jessica. Lauren has always been the responsible sister and even has taken to covering for Jessica when she is late for work. The story opens with Elijah Landry's disabled brother Drew being brought into the ER at Grace Medical because he is having difficulty breathing. Eli is a PA(Physician Assistant) at Grace Medical. Lauren doesn't have kind thoughts towards Eli because he was involved with Jessica. Lauren and her parents have blamed him for Jessica's current decline in health.

Both Eli and Lauren are dealing with severe family issues along with the stress of working in the ER of Grace Medical. Lauren is in denial that Jessica has a problem and Eli is battling his father for more rights in caring for his brother. Add to that someone breaking into the staff lockers, someone stealing patients medications, a patient attempting suicide,  a head nurse who's personality has gone from congenial to unreasonable, and a possible hurricane heading directly for the area, LIFE SUPPORT manages to keep the reader's attention riveted to the very end of the book.

I really enjoyed this story and would recommend it to the reader that enjoys a good medical drama along with family angst, romantic entanglements, mystery and faith. Eli's love for his brother and daughter was heart-warming and I could feel his pain and frustration with his father. Lauren's constant defense of her sister was believable and understandable, yet frustrating as I think in real life being a person on the outside looking in would feel. There was a little bit of confusion for me of what Eli and Lauren's past relationship was, but eventually we did get the story and that helped clear things up.

Thank you to the publisher Tyndale House through NetGalley for my copy for review. All opinions are my own.

No One To Trust by Lynette Eason

  

Summer and her husband have been married for about a year. Before they were married Summer told her husband that the only thing she could never forgive was if he lied to her. When Summer is awakened with a gun to her head she soon finds that not only has her husband lied to her, but he has also plunged her and those she loves the most into mortal danger.

From the very first pages I was hooked! Seriously, my heart was pounding several times while reading this book. Not only was I on the edge of my seat from the suspense of the events happening, but also from all of the emotions that each character was feeling. Throughout I was often wondering if Summer would ever be able to forgive her husband. Then just as the emotional turmoil would subside a bit then another suspenseful scene would take it's place! I'm a definite fan of mystery/suspense and NO ONE TO TRUST did not disappoint in either category. Oh, and I can't even mention the snakes...*shiver*

W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton

Another addition to the Kinsey Millhone collection. This time we learn a bit more about Kinsey's family that she never knew existed. She gets to meet some cousins that she wishes she didn't have which makes for some funny/tense moments in the book. She gets to solve a couple of murders and have an old love interest turn up. It was fun to once again visit the 80's where Kinsey has been since the debut of A is for Alibi. Reading about her having to grab handfuls of change to make calls from a phone booth, having to leave her door open so she could hear the ringing of her telephone while she was outside, and a description of a Walkman all had me reminiscing about "the good old days"! With the way Kinsey likes to keep her life uncluttered I could not imagine her living in 2013. Being attached to all of our electronic gadgets would send her over the edge! Three more books to go in the alphabet and the series will be over. Considering that it takes Sue Grafton a couple of years to finish each book, by my calculation we have about 6 more years to wait for the end of the series. While I am impatient for each book to come out I have to admit that because the author is not churning out a book every 6 months the series is well researched and she manages to keep the character fresh while still keeping her in the 80's. W is for Wasted was a solid addition to the series but yeah, I'm looking forward to Z!

I borrowed this book from my local library and was not required to write a review for it.

Andi Unexpected by Amanda Flower

Andora "Andi" Boggs and her older sister Bethany have come to live with their Aunt after the death of their parents. Both girls are still going through the grieving process and Bethany is less than happy that she and Andi are sharing a room. When Andi finds out that her father's room used to be the attic she asks her Aunt if she can move up there. The neighbor boy, Colin, comes to help Andi clean out the attic. When they discover a hidden trunk with Andora's name on it they find themselves in the middle of a mystery that they both want to find answers to. Who was the first Andora? And why won't anyone talk about her?

My Review:

 I am an absolute sucker for mysteries! From the time I started seriously reading on my own when I was 10, mysteries were my favorite genre. After having read The Appleseed Creek series by the same author I knew that I had to read Andi Unexpected and that I would not be disappointed. As a children's book Andi Unexpected was a quick read but not without great content. I found myself transported to childhood again as I followed Andi and Colin on their quest to find the answers to the original Andora. I would recommend this book to any 5th through 8th grader(even younger if they are mature readers and older if they don't mind reading about younger characters). Andi did find herself in a couple of tricky/dangerous situations that had me a little tense while reading, but that just added to the fun of the mystery. A great beginning to a new series by Amanda Flower!

A couple of scenes I liked in the book:

Andi's attire for church and Bethany's objection to it reminded me so much of my daughters. My youngest daughter would wear the exact same type outfit that Andi wore and my oldest daughter would comment pretty much the same way Bethany did. Made me laugh!

A scene I especially cracked up at was when Andi and Colin were talking to Miss Addy about the name Andora. Miss Addy commented,

"I miss names like Ruth or Mary or Rebecca. It's all Apple, Mango, and Pear these days. What, do people think they are making a fruit salad instead of naming a child?"

That had me laughing out loud as I am always on the lookout for those odd and unusual names that people tend to name their children nowadays. I share with a friend and we have a good laugh along with shaking of our heads in wonder. Miss Addy put it perfectly!

The Appleseed Creek Mysteries by Amanda Flower:

A Plain Death(not read yet)
A Plain Scandal
A Plain Disappearance

Amanda Flower has another series out, The India Hayes Mysteries, that I have not read yet.

I received my copy of Andi Unexpected from the publisher Zonderkidz through NetGalley. This review is my honest opinion.

A Plain Disappearance by Amanda Flower

Another murder in Appleseed Creek has been discovered. This time the body of a young Amish girl is found by Chloe and Timothy. Knowing that the Amish will not speak openly to her the Police Chief asks Chloe to once again help her in investigating the murder.

When they learn that the Amish girl had suffered previous injuries from what appears to be abuse, Chloe knows she must tread lightly with the Amish families in order to get answers to the girls' death.

It looks suspicious when Billy, one of Timothy's friends, disappears. Several other people are on the list of suspects including Curt and Brock, Chloe's old nemeses that continue to taunt and stalk her.

Not all of Chloe's energy is put into finding a murderer. As Christmas approaches she finds herself in the midst of helping Becky prepare for a Christmas party that seems to be growing by leaps and bounds. Chloe also must decide what her feelings are for Timothy and deal with the fall-out of Becky deciding not to return to the Amish way of life. Along with all of that Chloe also must face her relationship with her father and step-mother.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed returning to Appleseed Creek! Continuing on with Chloe and Timothy's lives was like visiting with old friends. As their relationship develops we learn more about their strengths and weaknesses. Even though the Amish are hesitant to let the Englishers into their lives Timothy's family has opened up their home to Chloe. The Police Chief cracks me up by calling Chloe the "Amish Whisperer" which she then proceeds to use to her advantage by having Chloe question the less forthcoming of the Amish. Like Chloe I found myself distrustful of both Curt and Brock's behavior. They seem to be up to their old tricks again, but one of them appears to want to turn over a new leaf. Chloe's struggle with forgiveness is apparent throughout the story and dates back to when her mother died and her father re-married. I'm looking forward to the next installment of The Appleseed Creek novels to find out if Chloe and her father can forge ahead with a relationship. I'm also looking forward to seeing who dies next in Appleseed Creek! How many murders can one Amish settlement handle? A PLAIN DISAPPEARANCE was a solid mystery with many suspects that kept me guessing about "who done it" throughout the entire story. I will be looking forward to coming back to Appleseed Creek in the future!

My review copy was from the publisher B&H Books through NetGalley. Publication date is set for September 1, 2013. This review is my honest opinion.

Check out my review of A PLAIN SCANDAL book 2 in the Appleseed Creek series. Also check out my interview with author Amanda Flower HERE.

Rosemary Cottage by Colleen Coble

Amy Lange comes to Hope Island hoping to find healing and answers to her brother Ben's death. Convinced that his death was not an accident but foul play Amy is desperate to find out what really happened to Ben.

Curtis Ireland has also lost a loved one. His sister Gina died in a boating accident. Now he is raising her daughter. Even though the boat and driver were never found, Curtis never suspected foul play in Gina's death.

When Amy begins asking questions about Ben's death she soon finds that He and Gina's lives were intertwined. Curtis and Amy are attracted to each other but what they find about their respective siblings leaves them at odds with each other and both Ben and Gina's deaths no longer considered accidents.

Becoming more involved with the people and surroundings of Hope Island Amy decides to move to the Island to be close to Curtis and his young niece Raine. Both Amy and Curtis are keeping secrets from each other that could cause heart-ache for both. When their own lives are threatened they are left even more confused about the events leading to Ben and Gina's death. Will the truth be able to set them free or will it tear them apart?

I really enjoyed ROSEMARY COTTAGE. The characters were well developed and believable. The mystery was suspenseful and kept me up to the wee hours of the morning to finish the book. I love the setting of the book as the ocean is one of my favorite places to be. The cozy small-town feel of the island added to the appeal of this mystery/suspense story. I haven't read TIDEWATER INN the first book in the Hope Beach series, but I think that they can be stand-alone reads. My favorite character of the book was Curtis. He was the perfect "hero" and I found his love for his niece and his willingness to overlook some of Amy's more aggressive behavior to be admirable. Amy did get on my nerves a couple of times in her unwillingness to believe that Ben could have been less than the perfect brother she thought of him. Her parents were definitely my least favorite characters of the book. Really, I found them rather loathsome and would have booted them out the door on more than one occasion! If you're a mystery fan I think that you would like this book.

The Shadow Man by Mark Murphy

About the Author:

During Dr. Mark Murphy's residency days at the University of north Carolina in Chapel Hill, he treated a sitcom star, a televangelist, a politician, and even a serial killer. Using their stories as inspiration, he poured himself into his first novel, to critical acclaim.

In The Shadow Man Murphy draws on his own life experiences to shape main character Malcolm King: a regular guy with a loving daughter and a thriving career as a doctor. The result is an utterly believable, likeable family. But unlike Murphy's real life, Malcolm and his family undergo severe psychological duress when Malcolm becomes the target of a serial killer framing him for a rash of murders.

Yet Malcolm almost plays second fiddle in comparison to Murphy's other main character: a living, breathing setting of Savannah, Georgia. In fact, a well-known landmark serves as the novel's cover: an atomospheric, black and white shot of the Forsyth Park fountain at night.

Murphy's creative writing career began in 2004 with the publication of the short story "The Funeral" in a collection of works entitled "O! Georgia!" Shortly after, he attended the Iowa Summer Writing Festival, where his creative spark and passion for short stories was re-ignited. Two years ago, the Savannah Morning News brought him on as a regular family columnist, where he shares reflective thoughts and gentle observations on life and family each week.

Murphy's distinguished medical career started at the University of Georgia, where he earned a B.S. in Zoology before going on to the Medical College of Georgia to receive his M. D. with honors. He has since founded a medical practice and served on the boards of several prominent medical associations, including the Georgia Medical Association.

In addition to a burgeoning writing career, he continues to practice medicine as a gastroenterologist and serves on the board for the Savannah Book Festival, where he lives with his family.

Learn more about Mark Murphy at: www.mark-e-murphy.com

My Thoughts:

The Shadow Man kept me turning pages late into the evening! It started out with a grisly murder and ended with heart-stopping drama. Throughout the story I was constantly trying to figure out what was up with The Shadow Man. Why was he bent on ruining Malcolm and his family? It was a quite twisted and entertaining story. While I liked the character of Billy, I wasn't a fan of the way the author tried to weave in some Indian legend supernatural stuff through Billy and some birds, but I'll let you read it and be the judge rather than give away anything else. For the most part The Shadow Man kept me on the edge of my seat, the author very adeptly portrayed the evilness that was The Shadow Man.

Warning:

For the most part I review Christian novels on my blog. This is in NO WAY a Christian novel. There is violence, there is cursing(including the f-word), and evil is portrayed very prominently. The characters were portrayed true-to-life, Malcolm and his family were not dysfunctional, and evil does not have victory, and that is how I was able to read this book...besides the fact I love a good scare-the-pants-off-of-you read!

Countdown City: The Last Policeman book 2 by Ben H. Winters

In book two of The Last Policeman trilogy COUNTDOWN CITY, the earth has only 77 more days before a giant asteroid destroys it. Once again Hank Palace is on a mission to solve a mystery. An old family friend has asked him to find her husband who has gone missing. As Hank searches for Brett Cavatone his investigation leads him through many twists and turns. Was Brett the devoted husband that his wife led Hank to believe or has he embarked on a crusade that will put him and anyone looking for him in danger? 

I really enjoyed COUNTDOWN CITY. I found Hank’s desire to help a family friend and his tenacious ability to not give up until he completes his mission admirable. In a setting that has turned into “every man for himself” it is refreshing to see Hank’s character caring for his fellow human beings. Hank is an unwitting hero with a desire to fulfill a promise that he has made. I’m looking forward to the last book in the trilogy with the hopes that somehow the earth will be saved and for Hank’s sake set to rights once more. I have a feeling that his sister will be very much involved in that endeavor! An entertaining sequel to THE LAST POLICEMAN. 

For more information about COUNTDOWN CITY visit the publishers site: Quirk Books. There is also a very SHORT bio on the author Ben H. Winters! 

Read my review of the first book in the series The Last Policeman.

I received my copy of COUNTDOWN CITY from the publishers Quirk Books for my honest opinion. The book will be released July 16, 2013.