In My Mailbox

These books were all waiting for me when we got home from vacation! I almost couldn't wait to get home to jump in! I've started with CRESS even though ROSEMARY COTTAGE and WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S STAR WARS are for review and CRESS is not! I couldn't wait to get into this book! I'm really just starting it, but so far it is good. I also still have a few books on my Kindle that are for review. I feel like I am slipping farther and farther behind on those. On vacation I read 6 books. Yes, I had a lot of time to read! I need to go on vacation more often as since we have been home I have only been able to sit down and read for a few minutes at a time. I'm just slightly overwhelmed! Does this make me not go looking for more books to read? Of course not! I've been to a book store, I have looked through NetGalley and currently have several books on Pre-Order from Amazon. How does a person not have time to read yet have time to go looking for books? I manage it quite well, thank you very much!

Yes, today is my birthday! I have no problems announcing to the world that I am now 48 years old! Woohoo! It does scare me a bit to realize that I will be 50 in 2 years! My oldest daughter is making dinner for me tonight and we will all be together so I call that a perfect birthday! How do you like to celebrate your birthday? Do you like a huge party or just a family gathering?

When the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason

Alexia Allen has returned to her hometown after 10 years.  She can never forget the day her mother told her to leave. Now her mother is in the hospital and it is time for Alexia to return home to confront her past. From the moment Alexia gets into town her life is in danger. Surprising a masked murderer in her childhood home begins Alexia’s welcome to town. 

Hunter and his partner Katie are one of the first investigators on the scene. Hunter remembers Alexia from high school and knows that she would never be involved in murdering someone, but when evidence begins to pile up against her, Hunter’s partner Katie can’t help but believe that Alexia has something to do with the brutal murder. 

Coming from an abusive home Alexia struggles with the idea that God could care for her. It seems that everywhere she turns though God is there to meet her. Her mother, her friend Serena and even Hunter all express their faith in a God who loves her. Slowly Alexia begins to see that love for herself.

Desperate to keep anyone else from being murdered because of her Alexia helps investigate who could be behind the killings. Could it be her abusive father who still blames her for his injuries sustained in a fire? Or does it have something to do with her old friend Jillian Carter who disappeared the night of their graduation? 

Having read the last book When A Secret Kills first I was anxious to go back and read the first book in the series. It definitely did not disappoint! Lynette Eason manages to write a fast-paced suspense that keeps the reader turning the pages to the very end. I have to admit that I did figure out “who-done-it” before the end of the book, but there were still a couple of times I questioned whether I had the right suspect or not. Now I need to go buy the next book in the series When A Heart Stops. 

Narrow Escape by Camy Tang

Arissa and her niece Charity are kidnapped in broad daylight. When Arissa awakens she is able to get herself and Charity away from the kidnappers. Hearing one of the kidnappers mention her brother’s name Arissa knows there is only one person she can turn to for help. 

Nathan is Arissa’s brother Mark’s former partner. Nathan was wounded during the same gun fight that Mark was killed. Nathan can no longer work in his former job which has left him bitter and angry at God. He also believes that Mark is guilty of being a mole for the gang that killed him. After hearing her brother’s name from the kidnappers Arissa starts to doubt her brother’s innocence. 

When Arissa and Charity show up at Nathan’s front door Nathan struggles between his old attraction to Arissa and his bitterness and anger at her brother and God. But he is determined to protect them the best way he can while trying to figure out what the gang wants. Will he be able to keep both Arissa and Charity at arm’s length and also still hang on to his anger at God? 

Camy Tang definitely knows how to write a romantic suspense story. Narrow Escape did not disappoint in the heart pounding action from the very first page. This is the 2^nd Love Inspired book that I have read of Camy’s and I have to say that so far I am a fan. If you haven’t read any of Camy’s books they are a must. Try the Sushi for One series which is a hoot! And then try the Protection for Hire series which is another suspense/romance series. Both great series! Camy has become one of my favorite authors and I look forward to reading more books from her.

If The Shoe Fits by Sandra D. Bricker

Julianne and Will have been best friends since they were children.  They went through school together, then through law school and now they have opened a law office together. But what happens when the feelings of one changes to love instead of friendship? 

Will has loved Julianne for twenty years, but Julianne is clueless to his love. To Julianne Will is her best friend and nothing more. But what is that pricking of her heart every time another woman becomes involved with Will? 

Julianne believes she has met her Prince Charming in the form of a hunky carpenter but when things don’t work out for them Julianne becomes desperate. Nominated for a prestigious award Julianne desires to prove to everyone that she can show up with a man other than Will. She offers to pay her hunky carpenter to attend the gala with her. With disastrous results Cinderella ends up running from the ball in disgrace. Can Julianne ever see Will’s true feelings for her or must he give up his love in order to save his own heart? 

My Thoughts:

Cute! Cute! Cute! I loved this story. Just as with the Emma Rae creates series(Always the Baker Never the Bride etc.) If The Shoe Fits is filled with humorous dialogue and loveable characters. I’m a sucker for best friends falling in love and Julianne and Will’s story does not disappoint in the romance department. 

Songstone by Lena Goldfinch

Kita was found when she was very young. She doesn’t look like the other tribe members. She has red hair and green eyes. Obviously she is a Huwi which causes great resentment and fear among the tribe she lives in. It doesn’t help that when Kita turned 8 the tribal medicine man took her away from the only family she ever knew and made her his servant. Kita suffers unbearably under Matiko’s cruelty. Nightly blood draws from the back of her neck have left Kita’s skin feeling rough and sore. Matiko spends each day in his back room working up potions and spells to try to become all powerful. The tribe does not see the cruelty of Matiko because he has cast a spell on them. Kita wishes for escape. She tries every way possible to stay out of Matiko’s way and to avoid the other tribe members. When Pono arrives from another tribe she hopes to finally escape Matiko’s abuse. Pono seems to be the only person that has ever been able to see through Matiko’s spell to the cruel man that he is. When Pono helps Kita escape she vows to never return to Matiko or her tribe. But always in the back of Kita’s mind is the thought that somehow she will be the one to bring Matiko down and that scares her to death!

MY THOUGHTS:

Songstone reminds me of what I imagine a Hawaiian legend to be like. With beautiful island landscapes and tribal villages along with magical birds, evil witch doctors and of course the romantic love between two young people. Lena Goldfinch paints vivid pictures of not just the surroundings of Kita and her tribe, but also about the characters themselves. They come alive and the reader is able to feel their emotions. I found Songstone to be beautifully written even though Kita is treated cruelly which causes the story to be a bit dark. Songstone is one of those stories that just may haunt me for a while!

To purchase Songstone:

~ Amazon (Kindle)

~ Barnes & Noble (Nook)

~ Kobo

~ Smashwords

For links to all of the blog stops on the tour check out Amber's blog here: : http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/p/songstone-blog-tour.htm

Giveaway Information

We’re doing a sweet summer giveaway in conjunction with the blog tour! The giveaway is open internationally, and one winner (randomly drawn) will receive:

·         A signed copy of Songstone (Paperback)

·         A sea glass necklace with turtle charm (Picture will be included on the blog tour home page and in the introduction post)

·         A $10 Dairy Queen gift card (U.S.) or a $10 Amazon.com gift card (international)

Enter the giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway