Dark Justice by Brandilyn Collins

Hannah and her mother have just spent a wonderful couple of days away and are now headed back to their home. Hannah decides to take a different way home. When they come upon an accident they pull over and try to help the old gentleman laying beside his car. He tries to tell them something before the ambulance arrives but all they understand is "don't tell anyone" and "Raleigh".

Hannah's mother is suffering from dementia and in her confused state has decided that the gentleman wants them to find his daughter in Raleigh. When Hannah and her mother arrive home Hannah finds a computer flash drive in her coat pocket that was not there earlier in the day. She decides to see what is on it. While looking at the images the doorbell rings. Two FBI men are there wanting to ask her questions. They make her very uncomfortable and she demands that they leave. When the local law enforcement asks her to come in to make a statement about the accident Hannah becomes paranoid finding that the FBI agents were not legitimate. Hannah doesn't know who to trust with a secret she barely knows anything about but that is so important someone would kill for it. Being pursued by people that will stop at nothing to find out what she knows Hannah takes her mother and tries to disappear in order to find anyone that she can trust.

Brandilyn Collins has written a scary tale of domestic terrorism that in reality can too easily be accomplished. DARK JUSTICE kept me on the edge of my seat and I believe I read it in one day! Hannah's quandary in whom she could trust along with her desire to keep her mother and daughter safe added to the tension of what was going on behind the scenes with the terrorists. I really liked that Hannah was strong enough to take care of "bad guys" and take care of her ailing mother who would have episodes of screaming fits that had me cringing even though I couldn't technically "hear" them. If you are a fan of suspense then I highly recommend DARK JUSTICE.

I received my copy of DARK JUSTICE from the publisher B&H through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of the book.

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.

Cover Reveal-Love's Refuge by Sandra Leesmith

Love’s Refuge will be released November 2013. Visit Seasons of Humility that month for more information about the book’s release and the blog tour.

What do you think of the cover design? I think Lena Goldfinch does a marvelous job on her covers. They capture the story and they are so pretty. I loved Sandra Leesmith's book Love's Miracles and am looking forward to reading Love's Refuge.

About the Book

Skye Larsen loves her peaceful life on Leeza Island in Puget Sound – the tranquility, the friendly neighbors, and especially the safety from big-city dangers. So when cruel pranks start to escalate and changes threaten to overtake the island, Skye is determined to fight for her haven. The presence of a handsome vacationer and the unexpected feelings he awakens can’t distract her from her goal.

Danny Fraser doesn’t realize how desperately he needs a rest until he meets Skye. By allowing him to glimpse her simple way of life, she helps him reorient his priorities – and steals his heart in the process. But his work and home in Seattle keep Skye at bay. 

An isolated island girl with painful memories. A dedicated city boy with a wild past. What will it cost for them both to find a refuge from their storms? 

About the Author

Sandra Leesmith loves to travel in her RV and explore all of nature’s beauty, discover America’s history, and fellowship with the wonderful people she meets while on the road. She enjoys reading, writing, hiking, swimming, and pickleball. Learn more about Sandra and her books at www.sandraleesmith.com.

 

About the Cover Designer

Lena lives in a scenic small town in Massachusetts with her husband, two kids, and a very spoiled Black Lab. She writes fiction for young adults, mostly light fantasy with a healthy dose of "sigh-worthy" romance. You can visit her online at www.lenagoldfinch.blogspot.com.  

 

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Freebie Offer

Love’s Miracles – Sandra’s May 2013 release – is FREE for Kindle today (September 20^th) only, in honor of the Love’s Refuge cover reveal. Click HERE to download your copy!

Go HERE for my review of Love's Miracles and download it for free on Amazon today!