Review: If I Run by Terri Blackstock

5 Stars!!!

Ahhhh, this was such a good book! I read all but the first 15 pages in one day because once I got into the story I couldn't put it down! It's hard to believe that this is only the second of Ms. Blackstock's books that I've read, but I really enjoyed the first one that I read a few years ago (Downfall) and have been looking forward to reading more of her work ever since, so needles to say I jumped at the chance to review this book! The premise of this book is so totally unique, I loved it! The characters were great, I loved all the things Casey did for others, I also loved how she was a very relatable character, while I personally did not think her choice to run was a very smart thing to do it was completely understandable why she did what she did given her history with the police. I really liked Dylan, though I really feel like we've just begun to scratch the surface of who he is as a character, I can't wait to learn more about him, I liked that he was willing to entertain the possibility that Casey may be innocent. I'm glad that I had read some reviews of this book before I read it so I knew that it ended in a major cliffhanger, if I hadn't know that then the ending and probable year long wait for the next book would most likely have rendered me speechless, as it is I still want the next book right now, please! But I did like the ending, I just can't wait to see what happens next! 

Overall I loved If I Run, while it is a bit different from the typical suspense read, it is most definitely a fast read (The pages really fly!) but one that will stay with long after you turn the final page, I know it will for me! Highly recommended and I can't wait for the next one! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the BookLook bloggers review program in exchange for my honest review, which I have done. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.

Review: Protecting Her Daughter by Lynette Eason

5 Stars!!!

Yet another spectacular book from Lynette Eason! This book makes twenty-one of this author's books that I have read and I have not once been disappointed! I loved this book! Zoe and Aaron were such great main characters, I admired Zoe's tenacity in overcoming her demons as well as her ability to keep her head and remain calm in a crisis. And I loved Aaron, he totally made me swoon, I admit I totally have a thing for the protective guys in books and Aaron totally fits that profile, and I mean come on, a hero that sees you the way God sees you? Seriously what's not to love about Aaron!!! I really liked that this book gave updates on the characters from the first two books, it was neat to see how their lives are going now! The suspense in this book was SOOOOO good, I was literally on the edge of my seat from page one, wondering what would happen next. And I will say that usually I am able to figure out the villain(s) identity(ies) fairly early on in a book like this but I will say that with this one I didn't figure it out until just before the main characters did! Overall this was a really awesome book! I LOVED it and highly recommend it! I can't wait for the next installment in the Wrangler's Corner series, which I believe will be about Amber, I'm so looking forward to finding out what her story is and who her true love will be, I have two thoughts as to who he might possibly be and I can't wait to see if I'm right! 

I received a complimentary eARC of this book from the author and publisher in exchange for my honest review which I have done. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.

Review: Cold Shot by Dani Pettrey

5 Stars!!!

If you know me at all then you probably know that I am a HUGE fan of Dani Pettrey's books! I adored her Alaskan Courage series from page one of Submerged all the way through the epilogue of Sabotaged! So I was incredibly excited to read her newest release, Cold Shot was one of my most anticipated books of 2016 and I can say that I was not disappointed in the slightest, I absolutely LOVED Cold Shot! 

Griffin and Finley were such awesome main characters, Griffin's intense protectiveness of the people he cared about totally made me melt! I loved how Finley never stopped fighting for the truth even when it technically wasn't a part of her job any longer, she was a true inspiration! The suspense in this book was SO good, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, never knowing what would happen next! Dani Pettrey writes a mean mystery, for most of Cold Shot I had no clue who was behind it all and what their motivation was, it completely kept me guessing and I loved that! 

I also really liked Griffin's friends Declan and Parker, I can't wait to read their stories as the series progresses. 

One of the things I love about fiction is how it lets me live vicariously through the characters' adventures and experience things and places that I would probably never get to do or see in real life, such was the case with Cold Shot. I don't think I've ever read a book that was set in the Chesapeake Bay Area before, I loved learning about that area of the country, Ms. Pettrey detailed the surroundings beautifully (I felt like I was really there!) it was obvious how much she loves the area she calls home, and I can't wait to learn even more about it in the future books of the series! 

And last but most definitely not least, I always feel like Ms. Pettrey's books draw me closer to God and Cold Shot was no exception. I could feel God speaking to me through Dani's writing, telling me exactly what I needed to hear right now. Every time I read one of Dani's books it feels like God is smiling at me. 

I don't want to risk spoiling anything so I will finish by saying that I  absolutely and completely adored Cold Shot, it has a permanent spot on my keeper shelf, and it is an absolute MUST read! I can't wait for the next book in the Chesapeake Valor series and I am so beyond excited for Dani's contribution to the Sins of the Past novella collection which releases in May 2016!

A big thank you to Dani Pettrey and Bethany House publishers for sending me influencer and review copies of this book in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own

Review: Always Watching by Lynette Eason

5 Stars!!!

I am a huge fan of Lynette Eason's books, so needless to say I was thrilled to get an influencer copy of her brand new release! Obviously I had some very high expectations for this book and I was most definitely not disappointed! I really liked both Olivia and Wade as well as Wade's daughter Amy, but I think my favorite character was Katie, I can't wait to read her story in Without Warning when it releases later this year! The suspense in this book was amazing, Lynette Eason's tagline is "Welcome...to the edge of your seat!" for a very good reason, whenever I read one of her books I know I'm in for a non-stop, action filled ride in which the pages fly by and this one was no exception, I read it in less than half a day, it's that good! This new series is great, I found it very interesting to read about an all female bodyguard agency, such a unique storyline for a series! I highly recommend Always Watching, if you enjoy non-stop, thrilling and chilling suspense combined with sweet romance and wonderful faith stories you NEED to read Lynette Eason! You won't be sorry. 

A big thank you to Lynette Eason and Revell publishers for sending me an influencer copy of this book in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own

Monthly Reflections #31 December 2015 and January 2016

I ended up totally forgetting to post my Monthly Reflections for December so I'm posting both December and January together in one post now! My goals for both months were to simply read as many books as I could!

The books I read were...

December

1. The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere

2. The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson

3. Three Can Keep a Secret by Archer Mayor

4. The Final Warning by James Patterson

5. Season of Fire by Lisa T. Bergren

6. One Enchanted Christmas by Melissa Tagg

7. As You Wish by Cary Elwes

8. If I Should Die by Amy Plum

9. Tremors by Bonnie Calhoun

Favorite read of December was definitely One Enchanted Christmas

January

1. Every Crooked Path by Steven James

2. With This Ring? By Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, Mary Connealy and Melissa Jagears

3. The Christmas Joy Ride by Melody Carlson

4. Thin Ice by Irene Hannon

5. By Your Side by Candace Calvert

6. Step by Step by Candace Calvert

7. The Favorite by Kiera Cass

8. You're The One That I Want by Susan May Warren

9. Narrow Escape by Camy Tang

10. Always Watching by Lynette Eason

11. Mermaid Moon by Colleen Coble

I loved all of these books but my favorite was probably You're The One That I Want

My goal for February is to hopefully read at least 10 books!

Review: Mermaid Moon by Colleen Coble

5 Stars!!!

While I've read and enjoyed a couple of Colleen Coble's books in the past, this was my first time reading one of her romantic suspenses. But I was offered it to review so I figured I'd give it a try and boy am I glad I did! This book was SO good, the suspense was absolutely non-stop and I had no idea who the villains were or what their motivation was, with as many romantic suspense book as I read it's hard to keep me guessing but Ms. Coble did it with this one, kudos to her! Where do I even begin to start describing all the things I loved about this book?! I loved the setting, the small ocean side town on the coast of Maine was beautifully written, I found myself feeling that I was really there and I loved how Ms. Coble was able to describe it so perfectly and still have time for all the crazy suspense. I loved both the main characters, Mallory and Kevin, they made such a great couple, it was great that even though there was pain they had to get past, they had been in a relationship years earlier so the romance never felt rushed in the slightest. I also loved Kevin's daughter Sadie, she was such a delightful ray of sunshine, I loved how she didn't let the difficulties she was facing get her down, I was greatly inspired by her.

If you are a fan of Denise Hunter's books you will be just as thrilled as I was to know that her character Abby McKinley as well as Sheriff Danny Colton and the Town of Summer Harbor, Maine make cameo appearances in this book and likewise if you are a fan of Carrie Stuart Parks' books you will be delighted to see her main character Gwen Marcey make a cameo in this book as well. I loved that Colleen Coble brought those characters into this story, as a fan of both of those authors I thought it was simply the coolest! 

Oh, and even though Mermaid Moon is the second book in the Sunset Cove series they can be read as standalones, I have not read the first book and that did not affect my understanding or enjoyment of this story at all. I look forward to reading book one in the series as well as more of Ms. Coble's work in the future!

Overall, I adored Mermaid Moon from start to finish, my only complaint is that by the end I was really mad...because the last thing I needed was to add another name to my overflowing list of favorite romantic suspense authors! LOL! :)

But nevertheless I am delighted to say that after reading this book Colleen Coble now has a permanent spot on my list of favorite authors! I can't wait to read many more of her books in the future!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the BookLook bloggers review program in exchange for my honest review, which I have done. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.