Zero Visibility by Sharon Dunn ~ Review

Lucie's Review: Lots of action and intrigue in my first Love Inspired Suspense!

Merci and Loralei are on their way to visit Merci's aunt, but on the way they get waylaid and Merci might just be in for much more than she ever imagined.
Nathan is a knight in insulated armor, who swoops in and saves Merci and Loralei in the nick of time. But he just might be in over his head.

This is my first time reading a Love Inspired Suspense, and I was impressed with the non-stop action elements, and this particular novel's survival theme.
There was alot of action, that never really slowed down. And the plot really kept me guessing, because I had no clue what the bad guys were looking for!
This book had a good pace to it, so it kept me reading even though this wasn't exactly my style of read. But if all Love Inspired Suspenses are like this I'm sure I will be reading more in the future.

Overall this was a good suspenseful read, though I did miss a little bit of the romantic interaction, though it was completely unstandable that they didn't get to have too many conversations focusing on their relationship as they were running for their lives! A read that I would recommend for people who like survival stories.

I received this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!

Yikes!!! by Bill Myers ~ Review

My Review: A hilarious conclusion to a fun series.

T.J. Finklestein is you reveryday average girl--except for the fact that she has two invisible, time-stumbling friends, Tuna and Herby...Yup, completely normal. As if that weren't bad enough, Herby and Tuna accidently transport T.J.'s entire class to Africa! Not to mention many other mishaps.

I have really enjoyed this series, because they have a nice clean humor that I believe that parents and children alike will appreciate. And while each of the books in the series teaches a great moral lesson, one thing that struck me was that there aren't any mentions of Jesus, sin, or salvation. So there were times when I wondered why it was marketed as a Christian book, that aside I found myself highly entertained. T.J. and the boys got themselves into tons of wacky adventures, and there was always something happening.

Overall this is a fun and funny series about an average girl who is far from average. I think that this series is well written and something that kids will love, yet I couldn't help but wish that it was a bit more like Mr. Myer's former series', including The Bloodhounds Inc., & Wally McDoogle, both of which expressed a more Christian theme. So if you are looking for a fun kid's read that teaches good lessons, this is a series that is a blast :)

No Review Required.

An Uncommon Grace by Serena B. Miller ~ Review

Lucie's Review: A engaging, heart tugging drama.

Ex-military nurse Grace Connor is hoping that a move to rural Ohio will help her achieve a simpler pace in her everyday life, and help her brother stay out of trouble.
Levi Troyer's life changed in a heartbeat, when he came home to find his step-father and mother gunned down by a gunman looking for money.
The following events cause Levi to question the rules that he has lived by his whole life. Can there be any future between a Schwartzentruber Amish man and an English nurse?

This story started out kinda sadly, and as things progressed I wasn't sure how Levi and Grace cvould ever work anything out, so this book definitely kept me guessing and reading. There was always something happening, and I just kept reading because I couldn't find a good stopping place and I always wanted to know what they were going to do next.

There was definitely alot of drama in this book, and Ms. Miller did a fabulous job of making me really come to care for the characters. This book was about the Schwartzentruber Amish, who are the most strict of the orders, so this book had a sort of different take on the Amish, but I learned tons!

I think that one of the things that I really liked about this book was how Levi and Grace interacted, and were very careful to guard their feelings to a certain extent, because of how it would be so hard for them to be able to make it work. So I admired their respect for each other.

Overall, this is a book that I would highly recommend. The story is dramatic and engaging, and there are parts that are sure to pierce your heart. I can't wait to see what Ms. Miller will write next!

I received this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

A Plain and Simple Heart by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith ~ Review

Lucie's Review: A Hilarious, Sweet Love Story

Rebecca longs to find love, she has been infatuated with Jesse for years. And when she hears that he is back in Lawrence, she jumps at the chance to see him again. But love might not be as simple as Rebecca thinks.

Having already read the first book in the series I was very excited to read this one about the younger of the sisters, Rebecca. But what is so great about this book is that you wouldn't need to read the first book to fully enjoy this mix of Western and Amish genres.

Rebecca has some hilarious adventures including run-ins with the Lawrence Temperance League and some really pinchy-pointy shoes!
I loved the humor and how it was a sort of sweet love story. And how Rebecca grew and matured throughout and she opened her eyes to real love.

Overall, it can't get better than this! Amish and Western fiction combined together in one rolicking adventure. I liked the way that this book was well paced and there was always something happening, because not only were there many hilarious adventures, but there was a good old fashioned western mystery as well. I like how this book showed that sometimes love isn't what you think it willl be, and that things in God's time always work out better. Colin was a really great admirable hero, who always tried to do the right thing, and has a dream of becoming a preacher.  This was a great read the really cheered me up and I just loved being able to be along for the ride. This is a book that I would happily recommend to anyone looking for a great adventure and a good laugh!

I received this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!

Lethal Legacy by Irene Hannon ~ Revell Blog Tour & Review

Review: So hard to put down!

They said it was suicide. Kelly doesn't believe them.  Kelly believes that it was murder. And she is determined to prove it.
Cole Taylor thinks this is another open and shut case. Can Kelly prove him wrong so that together they can confront her father's murderer?

Non-stop action, with no "good stopping place." I can always count on Irene Hannon to write a great suspense novel, full of action, mystery, not to mention the sparks of love that light up the air.
This is the kind of book where if you read wnat to read one chapter, you are gonna end up reading twenty. The characters and plot are well written and realistic, making the story utterly believable. And there is never a dull moment, something is always happening!

I loved how there were moments where I would hold my breath, the suspense was so thick.  I also thought that the romance element of it was really well done, and I liked watching Kelly and Cole's relationship grow.

Overall, this was a perfect conclusion to a heart-pulsing series. The only thing that isn't perfect about it is that that it is the last one of the series! This is a book that I highly recommend and had a hard tiem putting down!

I received this book from Revell in return for an honest review. Thanks!

Problems in Plymouth by Marianne Hering and Marshal Younger ~ Review

My Review: Perfect for young readers!

Chances are that the kids in your life have heard and fallen in love with the Adventures in Odyssey audios, and the kids' many Imagination Station adventures. Well there's a whole new book series of adventures for young readers.

Patrick and Beth's adventure finds them in 1621, where they meet many historic figures and stumble into another adventure! When food and muskets go missing the Pilgrims fear that the Indians may be planning a war, but Patrick and Beth know who is really responsible. Will they be able to expose the truth and prevent a war?

This is the perfect read for children that are growing in confidence with their reading, ages 7 and up. I have many younger friends who have said that these books are simply the best. Also there are a few moms that I know who have said that they had a hard time tearing their reluctant reader from the pages of these books. So I thought I'd give 'em a whirl to see if they were something that I could recommend. And I am happy to say that they are! I loved how this book had nice big print and simple words yet still conveyed a great story with lots of actions and a great lesson for young readers. The Adventures in Odyssey franchise has found another winner. Reading it brought me back to my younger days listening to Adventures in Odyssey. Though I was a bit surprised that there were characters I didn't recognize at the forefront. I guess I'm getting old!

Overall this is a book, and series that I would heartily recommend to my younger friends, and to parents who want to get their kids reading!

No Review Required.

Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan by Melanie Dobson ~ Litfuse Blog Tour & Review

My Review: A charming read from the Gilded Age.

Elena doesn't want to marry the much sought after, most eligible bachelor on Mackinac Island, Chester Darrington--she's not sure he can even tolerate her. But what will happen when Elena falls for the innovative Chase? What will her family do to survive if Elena doesn't make an advantageous match?

I really liked the style of Ms. Dobson's writing and was quickly drawn into the story. Both of the main characters, Chase and Elena were very likable, and even though they didn't spend as much time together as I would have liked, I could really see that they were perfect for each other.

I loved the way the Ms. Dobson captured the Gilded Age, and I could tell that she'd done some great research to make this book happen. I loved the setting and how there was a wisp of mystery about the lighthouse!

Overall this was a highly enjoyable read, with great characters that were easy to connect with. There were moments of humor, and the story as a whole was well done and very charming. I really liked the character of Elena's father who was very supportive of her wishes, and a great caring dad. This is a book that I would happily recommend, and I hope to read more of Ms. Dobson's books in the future :)

I received this book through Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

About the Book:

As the Gilded Age comes to a close, Elena Bissette's once-wealthy family has nearly lost its fortune. The Bissettes still own a home on fashionable Mackinac Island, where they will spend one last summer in the hope of introducing Elena to a wealthy suitor. But Elena is repulsed by the idea of marrying for money.

Quickly tiring of the extravagant balls, Elena spends most evenings escaping back into Mackinac's rugged forest. There she meets Chase, a handsome laborer who shares her love for the night sky. The two begin to meet in secret at an abandoned lighthouse, where they work together to solve a mystery buried in the pages of a tattered diary.

As Elena falls in love with Chase, her mother relentlessly contrives to introduce her to Chester Darrington, the island's most eligible bachelor. Marriage to the elusive millionaire would solve the Bissettes' financial woes, and Elena is torn between duty and love.

Buy the Book Here: http://ow.ly/ceeZA

About the Author:

Melanie Dobson has written ten contemporary and historical novels including five releases in Summerside's Love Finds You series. In 2011, two of her releases won Carol Awards: Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa (for historical romance) and The Silent Order (for romantic suspense).

Melanie received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Liberty University and her master's degree in communication from Regent University. Prior to her writing career, Melanie was the corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family and a publicist for The Family Channel. She later launched her own public relations company and worked in the fields of publicity and journalism for more than fifteen years.

Melanie and her family enjoy their home in the Pacific Northwest. The entire Dobson family loves to travel and hike in both the mountains and along the cliffs above the Pacific.

When Melanie isn't writing or playing with her family, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, line dancing, and reading inspirational fiction.

For more about Melanie Dobson and her books, visit www.melaniedobson.com.

Check out all the other great stops on this tour: http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/13517085/melaniedobson


Celebrate with Melanie by entering her Kindle Fire Giveaway!





Find out what the reviewers are saying here!






One grand prize winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire
• Signed copies of Melanie’s Love Find You books: Love Finds you in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa, Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana.

But hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/4/12. The winner will be announced on 8/6/12 at Melanie's blog!

Just click one of the icons below to enter! Tell your friends about Melanie's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Charity House Courtship by Renee Ryan ~ Review

Lucie Review: Thankfully first impressions aren't everything, but they sure can cause a boatload of trouble!

When Marc Dupree first sets his eyes on Laney O'Connor his first impression of her is less than flattering. He mistakenly identifies her as a lady of the night!
Laney is in desperate straits, she needs to find a way to pay of the morgage on the orphanage that she runs to care for the children of prostitutes. And accepting Marc's help might be the only way to save the orphanage.

What an interesting start to a romance! Marc Dupree is a man of many contradictions and more than a few wrongful assumptions. There were certainly a few times when I was sitting there wondering how he came to those conclusions. (But later on I understood more of why he thought the way that he did). I liked how he wasn't the perfect hero, he had flaws and he realized them.

Laney was a resouceful heroine, who fought to give the orphans a better life and keep them off the street. Sometimes I kind of questioned the way she went about doing the things that she did, but that's just my personal opinion.

I liked how the characters grew and we got to look abck and see how they overcame their pasts, and learned to trust God more fully, and to depend on Him more fully.

Overall, I liked this sweet read. It was great to finally know how Marc and Laney got together (they are featured in the other Charity House books, so this is something of a prequel). Marc and Laney had a great adversarial relationship, and the sparks flew! I liked the way that they interacted with each other, and this book was highly readable, as I sped through it wanting to find out what would happen next. A great historical romance :)

I received this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!

The Rancher's Secret Wife by Brenda Minton ~ Review

Lucie's Review: Can a meeting that can only be predestined lead to lasting love?

Reese and Cheyenne meet in what some would call a coincidental way. Reese meets Cheyenne right before he is deployed to Afghanistan for duty. Cheyenne is alone and pregnant dumped by a man that she thought was her husband. Ever noble, Reese offers to marry her to offer her security. Could a marriage of convenience turn into a marriage of true love that only God could plan?

This book was just so well done! There was so much authenticity in the situations, at first I was a bit skeptical about how in the world the author would make a marriage of convenience believable in this day and age. But she did it! I loved how the characters had rich back stories and how well they interacted with each other.

I loved how Reese, when he could have been upset for so many reasons with the situations he was in, just took it all in stride and trusted God. Like he was such a good hero, so honorable and noble, and to top it all off he's a cowboy! This guy really can't get any better!

I loved watching their relationship grow and how they learned to make things work together. This book has some humorous moments, and some that were just plain sweet. And of course moments that were just like, *sigh* so sweet!

Overall this book was so good, I loved the ranch setting, and the entire plot of the book. I finished this book in less than 7 hrs, it was that good. I was glued to my chair. I loved the many characters, especially Reese's grandmother and his many brothers who gave advice in varying levels of helpfulness :) Overall, this is a book that I highly recommend!

I received this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

TCBN Huge Book Celebration Going On the Month of August!

Want to know where to get some great Christian books? Want to know where you can win some? Well, every day in the month of August The Book Club Network will be giving away 10 books! 10 books, everyday! Which to my thinking, is just too cool!

So if you want to give winning a great book a try be sure to check out the Book Club Network! They have awesome giveaways not only in August, but every month! So be sure to mark your calendar and check it out :)