One Wrong Move by Dani Pettrey

 

Christian O'Brady does security for his family business. When a string of art thefts calls their business into question Christian is determined to find out who is behind the thefts. Andi Forester is an insurance investigator called in to determine who is behind the heists. Both Andi and Christian have questionable pasts that they would prefer to leave in the past but it seems that others are bent on discrediting them. 

I really enjoyed this first in the Jeopardy Falls series by Dani Pettrey. The suspense kept me turning the pages, my heart racing to find out how it all would turn out. I loved both Andy and Christian's characters. Andi was a strong woman accused of doing something she didn't do. Christian was a polite man with demons of his own to fight, but it didn't stop him from helping others, being kind and serving the Lord. I loved both of them together. They worked well together and bounced ideas off of each other well. The romance between the two was sweet and passionate! The secondary characters were also well-developed and I'm hoping will all get their own stories. A great start to the series and I am looking forward to the next installments.

Cold Silence by Susan Sleeman

 

Captain Travis Chapman is assigned to investigate the theft of a top secret project that Dr. Claire Reed and her team are working on. It looks like it was an inside job and Travis must go and find out who is responsible. The problem is that Travis and Claire used to be an item. But Claire threw him over for her job. Can he stand to be around her once more without allowing his feelings for her to resurface?

This is a prequel to the Cold Harbor series. As always the suspense and romance are signature Susan Sleeman. Meaning they were both intense and satisfying! Not only is Travis sent to investigate who could have stolen the project, but he also is to provide protection for Claire. They work well together and I enjoyed their characters. I enjoyed seeing the Veritas Center and Blackwell Tactical in their early years. On my TBR I would love to re-read all of the series that started right here. I love the spiritual lessons each character learns in each book and I definitely love the romance along with the suspense that keeps me on the edge of my seat. I definitely recommend Cold Silence as well as the books that come after if you are a romantic suspense fan. 

Double Take by Lynette Eason

 

Over a year ago Lainie Jackson's fiance' tried to kill her. Lainie knows that that night he died. Now Lainie and others are seeing him! And it seems he is bent on finishing what he started!

James Cross has come back to his hometown and is working with the local police department. When he gets shot Lainie is the one to help him when he gets to the hospital. Lainie has always had a crush on James. Being the brother of one of her best friends nothing ever came of that crush. But now James is determined to protect Lainie from whoever is trying to kill her. 

Seriously, from the first page Double Take grabs you and throws you into a suspense that literally makes you want to keep reading until the end. I didn't want to put it down, it had me from the get-go. I loved both James and Lainie. I love their struggle with their faith that keeps them hanging on to the Lord even though both of their family lives seem to be gripped with issues. James and his father have been estranged for years and Lainie's parents have their issues that keep her tied up in knots. But both of them help each other to strengthen their faith even though they struggle in those relationships. The suspense was excellent and as I've already said it kept me turning the pages to find out exactly what was going on! I can't wait for the next book in this new series because I am definitely a fan of book one! 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

 

So I challenged myself for 2024 to read all of the books that were represented on this puzzle that I put together in January:

Gone Girl was the first one that I chose to read.

My Review

Well, at first this had me interested and engaged. By the end I was just thinking can we wrap this thing up already? I found it a cross between Rebecca and that old movie War of the Roses. Could two people destroy each other any more awfully? Ugh! Because I kept reading I gave it a 4, but honestly it just leaves a totally bad taste in my mouth and regret that I hung in there for the whole thing!

Sorry that this is less than a rave review, but it is how I felt when I finished it. Disappointing for sure. 

Holmes Marple & Poe by James Patterson and Brian Sitts

 

Three previously unknown private investigators open their business in an old bread factory. They manage to solve crimes that the police are unable to solve. With their link to their namesakes they are the perfect crime-solving trio. 

Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple and Auguste Poe. Of course I was interested in this read when I saw the names! I found the book to be interesting. Three investigators with unique abilities in solving crimes. They also have connections that have others wondering where this trio has come from. I love their mysterious backgrounds. While they seem to be a Wonder Trio they are also a flawed trio. Especially the men. It seems that Marple is kind of the glue that holds them all together. The negatives of the story for me were the drugs, sex and language. But there's help to be had for the drugs, the sex is not graphic and the language is sparse. I'm not sure if this is going to be a series, but I kind of hope it is because I'd read the next book to see if we learn anymore about Holmes, Marple and Poe's pasts. 

Shadow of Truth by Susan Sleeman

 

When Megan Cash sees the man that she helped put behind bars for robbing the bank that she worked in she is terrified that he has come to get even with her. Now Megan is not just afraid for herself, but she is also afraid for her daughter who is fighting cancer. Norman Fowler threatened to get even with Megan and now it looks as if he has come to follow through on that threat. 

When Megan sees Fowler outside of her daughter's hospital room all she can do is scream. Reid Maddox hears her scream. He's at the hospital with his support dog and his daughter. He comes to see what is going on and goes after the man that the woman has screamed about. Reid had helped convince Megan to testify against Fowler years ago. Can he protect her now that it seems Fowler is wanting revenge? As Megan and Reid play cat and mouse with Fowler they once again become close. But can Megan count on Reid? After all her daughter's father didn't hang around and Reid has already bailed on her once. As a killer gets closer and closer will Reid be able to protect Megan and her daughter?

I love the Maddox brothers and their desire to protect the women in their lives. I also love that they have each other's backs. I love the tough questions that the author always tackles. In Shadow of Truth Megan wonders if God has turned His back on her. Circumstances that she knows He could change but didn't has her questioning if He even listened to her. A question that I am sure we have all asked at one time or another. Answers and outcomes are never easy but Megan finds out that God always does show up and He truly does care. The romance and suspense also keep the reader turning the pages until the exciting conclusion. I definitely recommend that you start reading The Shadow Lake Survival series, you'll love it just as I do!

I Heard A Fly Buzz When I Died by Amanda Flower

 

Emily Dickinson's brother and new wife are home from their honeymoon and now they are getting ready to host some very prestigious company. Ralph Waldo Emerson is coming to give lectures at the college so everyone is excited. When Mr. Emerson's secretary is found dead in the garden Willa and Emily are on the case! 

This is the second book in the Emily Dickinson Mystery series. I really enjoyed it. I always find myself getting upset when female characters are treated like sub-humans, but that was the times. Women were there to produce heirs and take care of the household. They were to be petted and taken out to show off when the need arose.  They were told they were incapable of understanding the workings of the world. They were protected and sheltered. So there were some things that I definitely didn't like about the male characters in the story. The secretary was definitely one of those characters! I actually think he got what he deserved! I loved Emily's spunkiness with her father. I've not read enough about Emily Dickinson's life to know how she really was, but I found her character to be very interesting. A bit headstrong and flighty, yet actually one of the only ones that treated everyone kindly. Her maid Willa is still trying to decide what she feels for officer Matthew. I like how her character developed a little bit more in this book. She knows her place, yet she is brave enough to help Emily in their pursuit of finding the killer before someone innocent is charged. An entertaining read for sure. And definitely one I'd recommend.

Here is my review of the first book in the series:

http://myfavoritepastime.blogspot.com/2022/10/because-i-could-not-stop-for-death-by.html