Chasing the Wind by Pamela Binnings Ewen

Amalise is just coming back to work after the nightmare of her husband dying and the events that happened before that(see my review of Dancing on Glass). As a second year lawyer she is put on a real estate case that will take all of her time and energy.

When Amalise finds that the plan is to destroy a section of the city in order to put in a future casino and resort she has qualms about the morality of the decision. Sworn to secrecy Amalise makes the mistake of meeting a family that lives in the section slated to be destroyed. Meeting the family that has taken in foster children, Amalise falls in love with a little boy named Luke. Nobody knows where Luke is from, he hasn't spoken since arriving. Luke and Amalise seem to bond instantly which pushes Amalise to execute a daring plan that may compromise her future as a lawyer. 

In the meantime Jude has discovered that he is in love with his lifelong friend Amalise. But she thinks that he is in love with her co-worker Rebecca. When Amalise explores her own feelings she realizes that there has always been only one man for her, Jude. One misunderstanding after another keeps them from discovering their true feelings for each other for a time.

I enjoyed the continuation of Amalise's story and to see how she has healed. I thought that the story read like a John Grisham book with all of the technical lawyer speak which I enjoyed very much. I also enjoyed the flashbacks to how Luke came to the United States. Even though I liked the story very well I didn't feel like it affected me as much as Dancing on Glass did. Pamela Binnings Ewen is a very good story teller that knows how to keep the reader turning the pages.

Gone to Ground by Brandilyn Collins

A serial killer is on the loose in Amaryllis and 3 women think they know who that killer is; the only problem is that each one thinks it is a different person. Five women have been killed by the person the papers have named “The Closet Killer.” There is no motive for the killings until the most recent, which is the one that causes Cherry Mae, Deena, and Tully all to suspect different men.

Cherry Mae has cleaned houses in Amaryllis for years. This is the first time that she has ever snooped, and what she finds sends terror through her old bones.

Everyone knows that Deena’s brother isn’t right in his head and has a problem with his temper. When the police arrest him Deena is determined to find out what actually happened even though she is afraid that what they claim is true.

Tully married her husband Mike right out of high school much to her parent’s disappointment. Now pregnant and facing the fact that Mike may have been having an affair Tully doesn’t know where to turn when Mike comes home with a different uniform on and blood is left on the doorknob of their home. 

The three women band together to compare notes and hopefully find which one of their 3 suspects is the Closet Killer.

Gone To Ground was a great suspense that kept me turning the pages until the very end. I didn’t know “whodunit” until the very end and found the wrap-up extremely satisfying. I also liked how each of the women had a "voice" in the story. Chapters alternated between each one of their point of views. 

Beyond Hopes Valley by Tricia Goyer

Marianna is headed back to Indiana to be with her brother and his future wife, and to marry Aaron. She has convinced herself that he is the man she is supposed to marry. He is a good man and follows the ways of their Amish community; he has built her a home and promises her love and affection.

Marianna has changed though since she has lived among the Amish in Montana. She has learned more about a personal relationship with Jesus and how freeing that is. She has also learned how to live among the Englisch. When she returns to Indiana she once again feels the burden of being watched by her neighbors. She wants to be a good wife to Aaron, but she also cannot deny her growing relationship with the Lord. Another thing she cannot deny is her longing for Montana and one particular person-Ben.

Ben has gone on tour with his music. He’s not happy about once again being thrust into stardom with all of its temptations. He also is longing for Marianna, the girl that he wrote his number one song about. All over the country people are hearing his song to her; it is the highlight of each concert he performs. 

As Ben and Marianna are separated by many miles they both must learn to trust in the Lord more than they ever have before. Both must make life-changing decisions in order to follow what the Lord has revealed to each. 

I really enjoyed this last installment of the Big Sky series. Marianna has such a sweet spirit. She desires only to follow the Lord and do His will, which sometimes goes against all of the rules of the Amish community she was brought up in. I admired her ability to be sweet and stand firm in her convictions. 

Always the Designer Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker

Audrey has been designing wedding gowns since she was a young girl. She and her best friend Carly would then stage Ken and Barbie’s wedding. Now Audrey is an adult, she has moved to New York City hoping to build a name for her wedding gowns. Even though Carly has married the man of her dreams, due to his being deployed they didn’t have the wedding of Carly’s dreams. So now Carly is ready to have that beautiful dream wedding. She and her husband are renewing their vows at the Tanglewood Hotel and of course she has asked Audrey to design her dress.

When Audrey arrives at the Tanglewood her life dreams seem to be slipping away. She knows that when she returns to New York she will have to close her shop and search for work elsewhere. Audrey isn’t afraid of moving, after all she really doesn’t like New York, but she is afraid of what the future holds for her. When Audrey meets JR, brother to the groom, she is intrigued. He sports a tattoo and rides a Harley. JR can’t seem to keep his eyes off of Audrey.

When Audrey is asked to design a wedding gown for a plus-sized bride she sees it as her opportunity to once again make a name for herself. All of the sudden Audrey has more options than she ever thought possible. And where does that leave Audrey and JR? JR is a wanderer, never stays in one place very long, will Audrey be able to capture his heart and keep him with her?

I enjoyed Always the Designer Never the Bride very much. From grown up girl slumber parties, witty dialogue between Audrey and JR, heartache and happiness, romance and Harley’s, Always the Designer Never the Bride is a fun ride! And as in each of the other Emma Rae Creation books each chapter has a helpful hint with fashion tips and a couple of yummy recipes thrown in. And did I mention that JR rides a Harley *swoon*! 

I received my copy for review from Abingdon Press through NetGalley. Always the Designer Never the Bride will be released April 2, 2012.

Firethorn by Ronie Kendig

 

Things start to go terribly wrong for the Nightshade team. Griffin(Legend) is wrongly accused of murdering a high up official. He is in prison, depressed, wondering where he went wrong in life. He doesn't know how he will survive the rest of his life in prison, but he is determined to do it with honor and pride like the Marine that he is.

The Nightshade team are just back from a mission when their headquarters are attacked. They are separated and taken to different locations around the world. Two manage to escape before the others are whisked away. Their families are taken to a hidden location and given no information about where their men are.

Kazi has been hired to find the Nightshade team and get them back together. Nobody knows who is behind the setup to break up the team. Kazi's first mission is to break Legend out of prison. Kazi has hardened her heart to everyone around her because life has not been kind to her. She is afraid to allow her heart to care for anyone because that would make her weak in her goal. She is determined to earn enough money to allow her to buy herself back from the man that her brother sold her too years before. An attraction between Legend and Kazi could be dangerous to both their hearts.

One thing I like about the Nightshade books is that from the beginning of each book a person is in for a roller coaster ride of excitement! And then of course there is the romance in each one, I don't know that I could read a military style book if there wasn't a bit of attraction between the main characters! Firethorn is the last book in the Nightshade series. I don't know that a person has to read the books in order, but I think that it would definitely help if you did. I unfortunately have read them all out of order. I read Digitalis first, then Firethorn and I have Nightshade waiting for me to read and then I have to get Wolfsbane. While each book is about a different man on the Nightshade team I think it would have helped me to connect with the characters more if I would have started at the beginning. But still, I have enjoyed the ones that I have read!

Thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for my review copy.

A Tale of Two Proms by Cara Lockwood

Miranda is in her Senior year at the Bard Academy. Her boyfriend Heathcliff(yes Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights) has just asked her to marry him. Miranda is torn, does she marry Heathcliff the love of her life and have to stay on the Island forever or does she leave all of Bard Academy behind and go to Penn State University where she has been accepted?

Before Miranda can make a decision though strange things begin to happen. After all, it is Bard Academy, where strange is normal. Catherine shows up from Wuthering Heights, she is Heathcliff's true love. She also happens to look just like Miranda. Then Heathcliff begins to act strangely, when did Heathcliff begin to drink Miranda wonders. 

Miranda and her sister Lindsay are called away from the Island for a family emergency. Upon their return they find the Island empty. All of the faculty and students have disappeared. Heathcliff and Catherine are nowhere to be found either. Knowing that somehow Catherine is behind the disappearance of everyone Miranda and Lindsay must travel into other novels in order to find all of their friends before it is too late and the classics as we know them are altered forever.

I have totally enjoyed Cara Lockwoods Bard Academy series! Going to a school where the teachers are characters and authors from famous classics would be totally interesting. There's always a bit of danger in each one also, and of course the romance between Heathcliff and Miranda keeps the pages turning. I believe this may be the last book in the series. If so it was the perfect ending!

This is an advanced copy courtesy of Cara Lockwood through NetGalley.

The Forgiven Duke by Jamie Carie

Beginning where The Guardian Duke left off The Forgiven Duke begins with Alexandria sailing for Iceland with her now fiance' John. Alexandria is still following the trail of her parents. She is convinced that they are still alive and in need of her help.

Gabriel watched her sail away just moments too late to catch her. He is devastated to have missed her and is determined to get the next ship to Iceland to follow her. The crown regent has other ideas for him though and has soldiers bring Gabriel back to England. It is revealed to him what treasure the Featherstones are after. It is now a race to see which country can find the missing manuscript first. Gabriel is kidnapped by the same Spaniards that are after Alexandria. He is forced into service for them in order to save Alexandria.

Alex is having second thoughts about marrying John. She knows that she is in love with Gabriel. Unfortunately John has fallen in love with Alex, plus he needs her money to get himself out of debt. Determined to keep her for himself John resorts to underhanded deeds that compromise Alex's innocence.

Once Alex is returned to England and under Gabriel's guardianship she finds herself confused. Why won't Gabriel talk with her? Why does he avoid her at all costs. Gabriel too is frustrated. He fears that if he reveals his affliction to her that she will never be able to care for him.

The Forgiven Duke takes us on a fast-paced treasure hunt, full of adventure and romance. There were a few things that had me cringing but will probably not bother most people.  I can't wait for the last book in the series A Duke's Promise. Just like in  The Guardian Duke, The Forgiven Duke has a terrific cliff-hanger that had me screaming for the next one NOW!

This is an Advanced Copy that I read on my Kindle from NetGalley. B&H Publishing Group are the publishers.