Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

Years ago when the manuscript for this book was leaked I was able to read it. I was so disappointed at the time that Stephenie Meyer decided to not finish it. I understood her reasoning, but as a fan of the series it really made me mad. Now we finally have the completed manuscript. I was so excited to be able to finally read the entire story. I have mixed feelings about it. While I enjoyed reading about Edward's perspective on his and Bella's relationship I also found some things to be inconsistent with the original story. I thought the author was rather harsh with Rosalie's character. And I was definitely surprised with the idea that Edward couldn't hear Charlie's thoughts very well. But, since the original TWILIGHT was written from Bella's perspective and this is Edward's I guess things would be a bit different. It was interesting to see Jasper through Edward's eyes and very entertaining to see Emmett's thoughts. I think his character to me was the least different through Edward's eyes than the other characters. While the story pretty closely re-told TWILIGHT there were also inner dialogues that Edward had with himself and others that were interesting to this story. I did find that I got a bit bored with some of the story, but it was still enjoyable. While TWILIGHT will remain my favorite book of the series I am still happy that we were able to finally get Edward's complete perspective.

Acceptable Risk by Lynette Eason

Sarah Denning is an investigative journalist in the Army. She's been kidnapped in the middle east and Gavin Black has been asked to go in and rescue her. Now stateside Sarah is recuperating from her harrowing experience and thrown into more danger.

When Sarah starts investigating her brothers suicide and also a patient she met in the hospital she is once again thrown into danger. Her father has hired Gavin to protect her but there is no way she can know this. The General and Sarah are not on speaking terms, in fact Sarah has done everything she can to distance herself from him and his influence. What will she do when she finds out that Gavin has been hired by the man she despises?

Fast paced, exciting, suspenseful. I loved every bit of it! Sarah was strong-willed to the point of being too reckless, but Gavin was able to protect her without stepping too much on her toes and her will. I liked Gavin as the hero, he was strong but also smart enough to not be too dictatorial to Sarah as her father was. I liked that Sarah was able to mature by the end and see a different side of her father. A very satisfying read that had me sitting for a few minutes calming my heart by the end!

Minutes To Die by Susan Sleeman

When Agent Kiley Dawson is meeting with one of her CI's the girl is killed. Kiley is determined to find out who and why her informant was killed. Before her informant died she was able to tell Kiley that what was coming to the US was way more significant than 9/11 and millions of lives were in danger. Kiley requests to be lead on the case so that she can be the one that finds her informants killer.

ICE Agent Evan Bowers is looking into a suspicious container that has come into the port. What he finds is an elaborate set-up that harbors no good! When Agent Kiley and her team arrive they quickly realize that their cases are overlapping. Kiley and Evan used to work together until Evan allowed someone to kill their partner Olin. Kiley has never forgiven Evan and she isn't happy to be working with him now. But for the greater good they must put their past behind them and help each other before it is too late.

I love the RED team in this series. They respect each other and they are elite so they are good at what they do. And they are able to make things happen! I especially liked Kiley and Evan's relationship. It was rocky at first, but then they were able to work through some things and acknowledge the attraction they had for each other. As always the danger was nail-biting! The author always writes realistically and in this case she wrote about terrorism that truly would be more devastating than 9/11. My heart was racing and my stress level was definitely up there with the team as they raced against time to stop this devastating act of violence.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

No one has power over you unless you give it to them. You are in control of your life and your choices. Decide your own future.

I love the details that the author places in her stories. Here is one example:

The process is called phenotyping, Philips explained. Basically, DNA can now be used to provide physical characteristics that are compiled in a composite sketch. There have been great results in locating suspects this way.

Seriously, how cool is that? A sketch from DNA! Who knew?

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series where hopefully the team is able to wrap up the case of The Montgomery Three, a case that has haunted them for several years.

Bookish and the Beast by Ashley Poston

DESCRIPTION:(From Netgalley)

A tale as old as time is made new in Ashley Poston's fresh, geeky retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
 
Rosie Thorne is feeling stuck—on her college application essays, in her small town, and on that mysterious General Sond cosplayer she met at ExcelsiCon. Most of all, she’s stuck in her grief over her mother’s death. Her only solace was her late mother’s library of rare Starfield novels, but even that disappeared when they sold it to pay off hospital bills.
 
On the other hand, Vance Reigns has been Hollywood royalty for as long as he can remember—with all the privilege and scrutiny that entails. When a tabloid scandal catches up to him, he's forced to hide out somewhere the paparazzi would never expect to find him: Small Town USA. At least there’s a library in the house. Too bad he doesn’t read.
 
When Rosie and Vance’s paths collide and a rare book is accidentally destroyed, Rosie finds herself working to repay the debt. And while most Starfield superfans would jump at the chance to work in close proximity to the Vance Reigns, Rosie has discovered something about Vance: he’s a jerk, and she can’t stand him. The feeling is mutual. 
 
But as Vance and Rosie begrudgingly get to know each other, their careful masks come off—and they may just find that there’s more risk in shutting each other out than in opening their hearts.

WHAT I LIKED:

I enjoy a good fairytale retelling. I enjoyed that aspect of the book. I enjoyed how Rosie and Vance's relationship developed. How she tamed the beast and how they became friends.

 I also enjoyed Rosie's friends. They had her back when things got sticky. I loved the way they were willing to give up their own enjoyment in order to comfort and console their friend. 

Garrett, the Gaston nemesis was perfect! Such a jerk! 

And Rosie's dad was entertaining and kind of a fun guy. 

WHAT I DISLIKED:

It seemed like the author was quite bent on getting in all of the politically correct sexual orientations that are present. Rosie's dad is bi-sexual. Even Vance has dabbled in relationships with same sex partners. And then there is Rosie's friend Quinn. I have to admit this character confused me the most at first. The character was constantly referred to as "them, they, they're, etc. etc." and I couldn't figure out at first if there were two of them! At first I thought well maybe this is a "space" book where Quinn is an android of some kind and they have 2 heads, or 2 personalities. Then finally Quinn was referred to as "nonbinary" now, I had no clue what that meant at first. I lead a pretty sheltered life. But it finally dawned on me that Quinn has not chosen whether to be a male or a female or has chosen to be neither. Ooookkkkkaaaaayyyyy...and that's all I'm going to say about that. I also found a couple of times that both Rosie and Vance's "ah-ha" moments where they had inner dialogue in their heads was kind of boring and had me thinking to myself(inside my head!), "blah blah blah blah blah!" 

WRAP UP:

For the most part I enjoyed this book. Unfortunately it wasn't my favorite retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but it had interesting characters and an endearing ending. 

**Thanks to Netgalley for my copy of the book. All opinions are my own**

The Crushing Depths by Dani Pettrey

From helicopter crashes, break-ins, fires, murder and mayhem, THE CRUSHING DEPTHS keeps the reader turning the pages quickly to the very end. I enjoyed it very much and loved the characters! Mason and Rissi were destined for each other from the time they were in foster care together. They helped heal each others wounds and made a miserable experience more palatable. Now they have found each other after a 10 year separation. On the same team for the CGIS and partners on an investigation of a death on an oil rig. With suspects spanning the rig, an environmental group and on land I found myself bouncing from one person to the next in an attempt to figure out "who done it." I also loved the side story of their team leader Noah protecting a, I hope, soon-to-be love interest. The second book in the Coastal Guardians series was everything I expected and more...so much more!

Dead Even by Susan Sleeman

This is the last book in the Truth Seekers series. Maya Glass is the head of the Veritas Group, the one that has brought them all together. I was so happy to get to read her story! When Maya gets a call from her reclusive friend Fletch she goes to see him at his private island. What she finds is Fletch missing and his assistant murdered. But what Maya also finds is that she may potentially have been exposed to a dangerous form of botulism. The only person that Maya can think to call for help is Special Agent Hunter Lane, a man who couldn't commit to her years before, but a man that she is still in love with. Maya desperately hopes that Fletch is not dead, but knows that they are racing the clock to keep this fatal toxin from falling into the wrong hands.

While reading DEAD EVEN I felt like I was in a race against the clock! So much excitement, danger and suspense kept me turning the pages quickly to see what was going to happen next and also kept me holding my breath in anxiety for what would happen to the characters. I loved Maya and Hunter's characters and of course catching up with the rest of the Veritas Group is always fun.

FAVORITE QUOTES:

"God didn't have to explain anything to her. She didn't need to know His reasons. Just needed to know that He was all powerful, and He was in control." One of the things I love about author Susan Sleeman's books is that she always infuses a spiritual lesson for her characters. I loved this moment that Maya had in realizing that God is in control. It was a great reminder.

"She looked up, half expecting a change in Hunter right there. Like God might've flicked him on the head and said Get with the program, and that would be all it took. She knew that was wrong."This had me chuckling because I have so done this. I have prayed for someone and thought to myself alright that's a done deal! ha! God doesn't work in our timing and this was another instance that Maya grew in. 

DEAD EVEN was an exciting conclusion to the series and I am definitely looking forward to the spin off series NIGHTHAWK SECURITY featuring the Byrd brothers.

At Love's Command by Karen Witemeyer

This is the first book in the Hanger's Horsemen series. We are introduced to Matthew Hanger the leader of the group. After serving in the Calvary, Matthew and his men are on a mission to do some good with their skills. They hire out to people who are in need of help. Their goal is to bring justice to those that are trod upon. When one of the men is shot they bring him to Dr. Joe. Upon arrival they find that Dr. Joe is a woman not a man! Josephine has an established practice Purgatory Springs, Texas. It isn't easy being a woman doctor, but she has paved her way. While Matthew is surprised that the doctor is a woman he treats her with respect and accepts her abilities to help his friend.

Matthew and Josephine have an instant attraction for each other, but Matthew knows nothing could ever come of that attraction because he is destined to be on his own. After all, no wife could live with a man of war.

When Josephine needs to hire the horsemen, Matthew is willing to drop everything to help her in her mission.

I love love loved this story! A great start to the series and definitely has me excited about what is to come for Hanger's Horsemen. I loved that Dr. Josephine was not a shrinking violet. She was a strong woman. She needed to be strong in order to gain Matthew's attention! I loved that they fit together so well. Josephine was strong enough to handle his past and he was strong enough to protect her from a dangerous enemy and both were tender enough to see that God had brought them together and love can heal many wounds. I enjoyed the action of the story. There were good, old-fashioned shoot-outs, kidnappings and dire situations that grew the characters and gave them depth. I'm a fan of The Horsemen and looking forward to see what happens next for them!