Monday, July 31, 2017

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #266

Hosted by: The Book Date

Here is what I finished in the last two months:
Yeah it's been quite awhile since I've gotten one of these posts up! This summer has been crazy and busy and sadly blogging has fallen to the wayside. Thankfully I still have found time to read and I've read a lot of good ones! His Steadfast Love takes the cake with A Matter of Trust close behind! It's been a good summer!

What I am currently reading:
Haven't officially started this since but I'm looking forward to it!

What I hope to read this week:
CANNOT WAIT!!!!

Hope you have a great reading week, thanks for taking the time to check out mine!
Leave your link below and I'll be sure to stop by!

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Over Maya Dead Body by Sandra Orchard

About the Book
FBI Special Agent Serena Jones arrives on Martha's Vineyard with her family, ready for a little bit of R&R and a whole lot of reminiscing as they celebrate the engagement of an old family friend. But crime doesn't take a vacation, and she's soon entangled in an investigation of a suspicious death tied to an antiquities smuggling ring.
When her investigation propels her into danger, Serena must stay the course and solve this case before anyone else dies. But just how is she supposed to do that when the two men in her life arrive on the scene, bringing with them plenty of romantic complications--and even a secret or two?

Award-winning author Sandra Orchard keeps readers guessing with this fast-paced mystery laced with romance.

My Thoughts
I enjoyed book one of this series and while book two was still an entertaining read it fell a little flat for me. I was still interested in seeing how the story ended so I picked up the third (and final?) book. Sadly this one erred a little more on the book two end of things as to my opinion on it. I can't say there was really anything wrong with either book, they just weren't entirely my cup of tea, a little too Murder She Wrote-ish, rather than suspense and action.
Serena's character was fun and feisty and she refused to leave any stone unturned until she solved the mystery. And I again liked both of the love interests, Tanner and Nate, though my favorite of the two kept switching throughout the series. I won't spoil who she picks (but she does finally choose!) but it felt like it could go either way up until the very last second.
There were about a million twists and turns to keep you guessing as to who did what and there were a lot of intersecting bits and pieces that were a little hard to keep track of at times, but it all got worked out and tied up. There were a couple reveals and twists at the very end that seemed a bit abrupt and a smidge far-fetched, but it didn't ruin the story, and I'm not upset that I kept reading to figure out what happened.
Overall this was not a bad read and if you are a fan of Murder She Wrote, or amateur sleuth type stories this series may be just up your alley!

Meet the Author
Sandra Orchard is the award-winning author of several books, including A Fool and His Monet, Another Day, Another Dali, and the Port Aster Secrets series. The winner of six Canadian Christian Writing Awards and a Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, Sandra has also received a HOLT Medallion Award of Merit, a National Readers' Choice Award, and a Daphne du Maurier Award. She lives in Ontario, Canada. Learn more at www.sandraorchard.com.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

A Matter of Trust by Susan May Warren

About the Book
Champion backcountry snowboarder Gage Watson has left the limelight behind after the death of one of his fans. After being sued for negligence and stripped of his sponsorships, he's remade his life as a ski patrol in Montana's rugged mountains, as well as serving on the PEAK Rescue team. But he can't seem to find his footing--or forget the woman he loved, who betrayed him.
Senator and former attorney Ella Blair spends much of her time in the limelight as the second-youngest senator in the country. But she has a secret--one that cost Gage his career. More than anything, she wants to atone for her betrayal of him in the courtroom and find a way to help him put his career back on track.
When Ella's brother goes missing on one of Glacier National Park's most dangerous peaks, Gage and his team are called in for the rescue. But Gage isn't so sure he wants to help the woman who destroyed his life. More, when she insists on joining the search, he'll have to keep her safe while finding her reckless brother, a recipe for disaster when a snowstorm hits the mountain.
But old sparks relight as they search for the missing snowboarder--and suddenly, they are faced with emotions neither can deny. But when Ella's secret is revealed, can they learn to trust each other--even when disaster happens again?

My Thoughts
It's a no-brainer that I loved this book as Susan May Warren has yet to write a single thing I haven't loved (and I've read them all). The little bits of Gage we saw in the previous books definitely piqued my interest and I was quite ready to get his whole story. I can't imagine being on top of the world like he was and then have to watch it crumble around you knowing you couldn't do anything to stop it. And to make things worse it happened because he was trying to do the right thing. I admired how he didn't let it completely destroy him and still found a way to use his abilities to help people. He was the kind of guy who did whatever was necessary to keep those around him safe even if they didn't always deserve it. I loved how it pointed to the way that Jesus did what was necessary to save us when we did nothing to deserve it.
I liked Ella's character and while I didn't really agree with the choices she had made in the past, I could understand the reasons she did what she did. She was placed in a very difficult position and I appreciated how she tried to make up for her part of it, even if it might have been too little too late.
Gage and Ella had a lot of stuff to work through but you could just tell they were exactly what each other needed and I loved watching their love story.
The action in this book was pretty much non-stop! I love how Susan May Warren writes in such a way that you feel like your right there in each heart-stopping moment with the characters. I could barely put this book down and had it finished the day after I started it, staying up late into the night to see how it ended.
In addition to Gage and Ella's story we got a bits of the ongoing Ian and Sierra, and Jess and Pete stories as well as the new development of Ty and Ella's friend Brette! I can't wait to see how all of these will play out!

Meet the Author
Susan May Warren is the ECPA and CBA bestselling author of over fifty novels with more than one million books sold, including Wild Montana Skies and Rescue Me. Winner of a RITA Award and multiple Christy and Carol Awards, as well as the HOLT and numerous Readers' Choice Awards, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic suspense, thrillers, romantic comedy, and novellas. She can be found online at www.susanmaywarren.com, on Facebook at SusanMayWarrenFiction, and on Twitter @susanmaywarren.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.