The Fourth Vow

In light of world events, it seems that authors have such a great wealth to draw from to entertain readers. Speculation is always present and evil can always be found in the unlikeliest of places. Those entities that have their roots ground in providing assistance at some point in time, now find that their greed has no boundaries or accountability, especially for those sitting at the top of the food chain. In Richard T. Dolezal's novel, The Fourth Vow, you combine the elements of intrigue, religious freedom, along with the growing threat from the ACLU and the Vatican. For those that love Don Brown's novel's this will be one for you to pick up.

The novel opens with a horrific bombing of an ACLU fundraising event that mocks Christians and pushes the liberal agenda as far left as possible. While innocents are lost as well as big time Hollywood celebrities and local government officials in San Francisco, it seems as if the government can't put their finger on how it happened. Believing it was some sort of terrorist threat using a nuclear device, even though radiation amounts are almost untraceable, a team of investigators tries to uncover who is responsible. While the body counts continue to rise with no possible connections, the team is at odds on where to go and who might be responsible.

Those that follow the Fourth Vow, among the Catholic Church particularly are those that have committed to doing whatever the Pope himself asks without question. A vow that certain Jesuits who have attained stature within their order are allowed to take. Those that take the vow are considered the Pope's men, loyal to the Vicar of Christ on earth. Wherever the Ope would send them, they would go immediately. Whatever he asked of them, they would do faithfully and without question. So it begs to ask the question, who is responsible? Is it the Vatican attempting to covering their footprints or is it someone who is looking to take back restore order within the world again in regards to true moral and absolute truth?

I received The Fourth Vow by Richard T. Dolezal compliments of the Cadence Group. In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, you should assume that every book reviewed here at Reviews From The Heart was provided to the reviewer by the publisher, media group or the author for free and were received, unless specified otherwise. I have to warn you that this does contain profanity and thus the reason for my rating. For those of you that love fast moving action, all across the globe while trying to figure out just who is responsible, then this is definitely a book for you. It definitely makes one wonder just how far some entities will reach in the name of their own self serving type of justice in the world. This could truly be something ripped from our own headlines in the very near future if not happening now. I give this novel a solid 4 out of 5 stars.

For more information about The Fourth Vow, Richard T. Dolezal or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Fourth Vow by Richard T. Dolezal

To read more reviews on The Fourth Vow, please visit Cadence Group 's website.

The Perfect Girl

Sometimes no matter how good we want a book to be, often times it leaves us feeling a bit disappointed and that is about how I can wrap up The Perfect Girl by Filly Macmillan. Touted as comparable to suspense thrillers like The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl, this one unfortunately for me, failed to deliver on its expectations.

It is a murder suspense that takes place over a short duration and often times between the switching of character views, the reader has a tendency to become a bit disconnected trying to stay on top of who is who and how are they involved as the novel unfolds. Zoe Maisey is a seventeen-year0old music prodigy with a genius IQ who was involved in a tragic accident that left her as the sole survivor. Her mother in trying to begin a new life for them, tries to keep this a hidden secret, which we all can presume, doesn't stay one. At Zoe's piano recital with her step brother, her secret is revealed and along with that her mother, Maria is dead by the end of the evening.

The book toggles back and forth in Zoe and Maria's past so the reader has an idea of where it all begins to come together from when the novel opens to how it all gets resolved in the end. It was definitely NOT what I had expected and was hoping for a bit more than this one delivered. I guess for me, I want to mystery to unfold a bit more and not be so apparent in uncovering what has happened. It might work for other readers but in my opinion, just not what one would expect in comparing it to other novels. I received The Perfect Girl by Gilly Macmillan compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers and would give this one a 3 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about The Perfect Girl, Gilly Macmillan or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Perfect Girl by Gilly Macmillan

You can find Gilly Macmillan on Facebook to stay up to date on her latest books.

To read more reviews on The Perfect Girl, please visit William Morrow's website. 

In A Strange City

"What's the difference between a ritual and a routine? It's a question he asks himself almost every day. Are rituals better than routines, more elevated? Or do ritual invariable slide into routine, until we forget why we started and why we continue? Another good question, but he's afraid pondering the answer will only tempt him to sleep, and he is determined to see the sun rise today. Once upon a midnight dreary...ah, but such allusions are unworthy, the sort of obvious unthinking wordplay one expects from the newspaper hacks who write about him. Even in print, they cannot capture him.

He would not say it out loud - for one thing, he has no one to whom to say it - but he has begun to feel a kinship with Santa Claus. Who knows, Saint Nick was probably real once. A man decides to put on a red suit, visit a few houses in his village, and leave gifts behind. The first year, it was a lark. The next year, it was an obligation. And then the next and the next, until he could never stop.

But in that case, the tradition outgrew the man, so others had to step forward and preserve it. He cannot count on this happening here. He had been chosen, and soon he must choose." (pg 2).

So begins the latest novel from Laura Lippman, In A Strange City, the sixth book in the Tess Monaghan series. The premise behind this novel is that for the past fifty years on the birth date of Edgar Allen Poe, a person wearing a cloak has places three roses and a bottle of cognac on the writer's grave. His identity has remained a mystery. This time two men show up a the grave site and one of them is shot. Now the mystery grows as Private Investigator Tess Monaghan witnesses the apparent murder but just who shot whom and what is the connection? When roses and cognac appear on her doorstep, it seems as if the investigation takes on a whole new dimension as it begins to get personal.

I received In A Strange City by Laura Lippman compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this novel in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion. Having read other novels from Laura Lippman, I found myself wanting this to be as good as her other books, but was disappointed by this being a reprint from 2001 when the novel was first published. I LOVE anything to do with Poe and love the occasional references to the literary writings of Poe along with the background of the toaster and more about who Poe was outside of his novels. All in all, I wasn't really a fan of this one considering I love a great mystery novel. For me this one came in at a 3 out of 5 stars in my opinion. Just didn't provide the twists and turns I was hoping for as they clues were almost spoon-fed to Tess Monaghan to figure out the who done it.

For more information about In A Strange City, Laura Lippman, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

In A Strange City by Laura Lippman

You can find https://www.facebook.com/lauralippman/?fref=tsLaura Lippman on Facebook to stay up to date on her latest novels.

To read more reviews on In A Strange City, please visit William Morrow's website.

The Spy House

4 men from various military forces from the around the world, are found brutally killed behind a locked and sealed door underground. Sounds a bit like some math or science puzzle but that is precisely behind the premise behind Matthew Dunn's latest novel The Spy House, the fifth book in the Spycatcher series. I have truly loved this entire series that takes readers into the life of William Cochrane, (think of Jason Bourne or Ethan Hunt) who has at this point been asked to leave the MI6 and CIA after serving so many years for both organizations. He has become a bit of a liability that they can't control.

But just what can a man do now after this has become who he is? He contracts out his work now so he doesn't have to answer to anyone but that also means that he isn't provided with the creature comforts he was used to in order to accomplish his goal. This mission takes on a bit of a personal nature when Will learns that the man they are accusing of being guilty is his mentor and best friend. There is no possibility that the blame that they are placing on him is true and besides taking on this contract, he is also taking on the personal responsibility to oversee the investigation.

This has all come to a culmination when an Israeli Ambassador to France is killed in cold blood by what some believe is a Hamas sniper in a Paris square. Israel wants to retaliate, but they lack the facts to connect these crimes to Hamas with 100% certainty. They have given the U.S. two weeks to provide the hard cold facts in this matter, before they launch their own mission against those they believe responsible and if they do so, it will put the U.S. in a position to choose what side they will support. A matter that could potentially led the entire world into a third world war. Now it's a race against time for Will to provide the answers but likely all could espionage thrillers, there are those that wish to prevent that from happening and soon the body count not only begins to rise, but becomes personal in nature to Will as well.

I received The Spy House by Matthew Dunn compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review. This truly falls into the lines of such notable authors as Ian Fleming and John LeCarrè, so fans of their literary works will love this entire series. Some readers might take offense to the profanity used in this novel, so with that being said, I wanted to disclose that about the novel. It strikes me as odd how this novel came out just before the terrorists strikes in Paris and helps you understand the dark undercover work that our nations leaders use to help prevent things like this from happening, but they can't always prevent. I love that Matthew Dunn writes from the experience as a former MI6 officer and thus brings that sense of realism to his series. For me this one rates a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about The Spy House, Matthew Dunn or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Spy House by Matthew Dunn

You can find Matthew Dunn on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Spy House, please visit William Morrow's website. 

• Series: Spycatcher (Book 5)
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; First Edition edition (October 20, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062309498
• ISBN-13: 978-0062309495
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches

The Respectable Actress

I believe I have read all of Dorothy Love's novel with the exception of one and I hope to rectify that after reading her latest The Respectable Actress, I feel in love with the background character of Celia MacKay, a woman who comes to the aid of India Hartley who has been accused of murdering her fellow actor in a play at Savannah's Southern Palace. With a last minute change to the script, due to trying to impress a critic, India has been asked to shoot notable thespian Arthur Sterling instead of throwing a vase at his head. The only problem is that the prop gun has been replaced in the moment by India's own hand gun which she didn't realize until it went off, and now has been arrested at the prime suspect. It doesn't help that her earlier comments to make it look good to the audience by Sterling was met with a willingness that if only it wasn't just acting in front of witnesses.

Now that the trial has been set, and of course publicity and rumors are running rampant in Savannah, India's attorney, Philip Sinclair believes that in order to accurately get to the bottom of the case with his client, she should be released into his custody on the island of Indigo Point. The judge agrees and provides them both with time to put their case together. If Philip can win this case, it will help his law career immensely but when mounting evidence that begins to pile up against India, he wonders if he has bitten off more than he can chew. India is met with more hostility as the women who live in Indigo Point don't exactly respect her position as an actress and feel the position is one of a lesser class woman.

She tries as hard as possible to find any friends on the island, and befriends Philip's sister Amelia who is attempting to try and find a way to restore their families land holdings since the war decimated most of what they had once had. She also longs for the opportunity to find true love with the limited supply of eligible bachelors on the island. The one mystery on the island is the locked room in the home that seems to be a bit of a shrine to a woman that no one will discuss as if they expect her to return at any moment. Are there secrets that Philip is hiding as well? Sometimes one's past can truly come back to haunt them after all.

I received The Respectable Actress by Dorothy Love compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest and personal review. This is the sequel to Dorothy Love's The Bracelet in which the character of Celia MacKay is highlighted and one I fully intend to read. Historical novels like this one take the reader back to a time when society automatically made assumptions based on the classes of people and actors/actresses fell into line almost with prostitutes which I found more than interesting, how many judged India before any of them had read the truth and also how newspapers were more interested in selling papers over getting to the facts of the case before it went to print. A well written novel and one I found myself a silent character in which made it all the more delightful to spend time with Philip and India on the island. I can't wait for more. This one rated a 4.5 out of 5 stars and includes a reader's discussion guide that is great for book clubs.

For more information about The Respectable Actress, Dorothy Love or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Respectable Actress by Dorothy Love

You can find Dorothy Love on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Respectable Actress, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page. 

Love Finds You In Sugarcreek, Ohio

What happens when Criminal Minds falls into the land of the Amish living in Sugarcreek, Ohio? We have the makings of an exceptional novel in the Love Finds You Series, this time from best-selling author Serena B. Miller. Joe Matthews is tired of running and hiding with his young son, Bobby. Now that his truck has broken down in the small Amish community of Sugarcreek, Ohio, Joe just needs to find a way to make enough money to pay for the repairs to his truck and get back on the road. It would have not been an issue, had someone not stolen his wallet, along with all his credit cards and cash. There is no way he can call anyone right now to have those items replaced because then people would know where he is, and for now, that is not an option.

Police officer Rachel Troyer has always tried to maintain peace and order in their small Amish town, and now in the midst of the Swiss Festival, she knows tourists from all over will be descending on them for the next week and she can only hope nothing will go wrong this year. It's not the Amish she has to contend with or even the tourists but the Amish teens who are in their Rumspringa period of running around that has caused her concern. Not to mention her three aging aunts whom she has tried in vain to talk out of running their Inn and take some time to retire. She can't imagine if something were to happen to one of them in the midst of this time, where she will be putting all her efforts. She just never imagined a strange man and his young boy would be the next guests needing a place to stay.

Rachel can trust her instincts enough to know that Joe is hiding something, but she can't figure out what. Her aunts are only too willing to lend them a place to stay and food to eat in exchange for some work that needs to be done on the Inn and surrounding land. But Joe hopes this will only be long enough to pay for the repairs on his truck before he will be on his way. Something that pleases Rachel more than she is willing to admit, however Bobby has had enough of being on the road and just wants a place to call home now. Will Rachel be able to help or hurt them in the end?

I received Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio by Serena B. Miller compliments of Summerside Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. By far, some of my favorite Amish novels are the ones where they blend worlds of the English and Amish seamlessly into one compelling novel you don't want to put down until the end. Couple that with a great mystery as to what Joe and Bobby are running from and you truly have the best of three amazing genres woven together in a masterpiece. I especially love the ending I didn't see coming but LOVE the way Serena closed this one with an exclamation mark on my heart! The best part is this novel is being made into a movie slated to be out in June, so you can find out all the behind the scenes tidbits on Serena's Facebook page as well as a look at the trailer below!!! Hands down a truly deserving 5 out of 5 stars and one that holds a permanent place in my personal Love Find You collection.

For more information about Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio, Serena B. Miller or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio by Serena B. Miller

You can also find Serena B. Miller on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page. 

   

Guideposts Books is excited to announce the premiere of a new film based on the book Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio (Summerside Press) by Serena Miller. The movie, produced by Mission Pictures International and filmed last fall in the actual town of Sugarcreek, will premiere on Sunday, June 1, 2014, at 7:00 PM EDT on Up TV (formerly the Gospel Music Channel). Visit the movie website for more information.




Serena and Guideposts will be celebrating with a Facebook viewing party! 

Join Serena and readers on Facebook while you tune in to watch Love Finds You in Sugarcreek to share your thoughts about the movie, chat with other viewers, and win fun prizes. Just use hashtag #LFYSugarcreek to join the discussion on June 1st.

Check your local listing for UpTV (http://up.viewerlink.tv) to find out when it airs in your timezone.

Excited? Help me spread the word! Just share this link and information on your social media along with the hashtag #LFYSugarcreek! Plus, we'll be tracking the hashtag and giving away Amazon & Starbucks cards to people at random who help to promote all throughout the month of May. Winners announced at the Love Finds You in Sugarcreek viewing party on June 1st.

 

"This is so exciting for Serena Miller and Guideposts! We are thrilled that Up TV has chosen Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio to make into a movie,” said Lenore Lelah Person, vice president and editorial director of Guideposts Books and Inspirational Media. “With Serena’s wonderful story and a beautiful backdrop in Ohio Amish country, fans of the story and the series will enjoy seeing it on screen. For more information read the media release.

For those who are not familiar with the Love Finds You™ series, this will be a great opportunity to introduce them to these uplifting and engaging romances." Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio is one of more than 50 releases in the popular Love Finds You™ series uniquely titled after actual American towns with unusual but intriguing names and combines travel, romance and faith in one package. The series includes both historical and contemporary releases, and each fictional story draws on compelling history or the unique character of a real place. Stories center on romances kindled in small towns, old loves lost and found again on the high plains, and new loves discovered at exciting vacation getaways. Mission Pictures has purchased the movie rights to the entire series and plans to produce additional films based on the series in the future.

Hypocrisy

In a world where technology is evolving at an exponential rate, it will only be a matter of time before diseases like cancer finally find a cure and find that it is as treatable as polio. "Only in light of the fact cancer research, cancer treatment, cancer prevention is a multi-billion dollar enterprise. Do you have any idea how many people are employed just because there is no real cure for cancer? Do you have any idea how much the pharmaceutical industry makes treating cancer patients with chemotherapy drugs? Ca you even begin to imagine how many hundreds of research centers there are worldwide that are funded by the American Cancer Society, The National Cancer Institute, and other non-profit organizations, and private investors? How about radiology, oncology, surgery? What if Dr. Laura Crawford's clinical research validated her theories, if she had developed an effective treatment for cancer, the entire landscape of cancer research and treatment would dramatically change. So is murder the justification to keep things as they have always been or is there another motive for her death?" (pg 57).

Those are just a handful of the questions that New York City homicide detectives Amaris Dupree and T.J. Brown are trying to find answers for. Not only has the murder of Dr. Crawford cost her her own life but possibly the lives of millions who could have been saved by her research findings. She was on the cusp of announcing a discover that would change cancer once and for all and was about to get approval from the FDA to begin using it as treatment for cancer patients everywhere. Is is possible that there are companies willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that that doesn't happen, or even worse that greed has become the sole motivator for companies to take risks like murder to prevent them from losing the potential billions if this drug finding was approved?

As the two detectives interview countless suspects, they also deal with the fact after six months on the job neither of them knows much about the other, and that is what's possibly keeping them from working so well together. As partners, you need to understand the dynamics of what one works and thinks the way they do, and until these two have a true heart to heart, holding nothing back conversation, it may in fact hinder the amount of detective work that they can accomplish. However the closer they get to the truth, one of them will find their own life is at stake and thus upping the ante to find the answers out before there is another murder.

I received Hypocrisy by D.M. Annechino compliments of iRead Book Tours for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are my own unless otherwise notated. This is the first time reading one of D.M. Annechino's novels and while the premise behind the novel is initially what drew me in, the constant description of how well endowed naturally Dupree's assets were in light of her working with her other male counterparts was something that I felt detracted me away from the novel. There is a toggling of parallel storylines, the one in which initially drew me to want to read this book, and the conflict in the relationships between the two detectives that had no real purpose in the novel for me. It almost felt like two books in one but with no apparent meaning in moving the story along. I'd have to say for me, this one rates a 3.5 out of 5 stars. There is a fair amount of profanity laced throughout the novel which for most of my readers they may find offensive but overall the storyline is enough to keep you moving through the novel to see how it turns out in the end.

For more information about Hypocrisy, D.M. Annechino, or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Hypocrisy by D.M Annechino

You can also find D.M. Annechino on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Hypocrisy, please visit iRead Book Tours page.

Beyond Justice - Review and eBook Giveaway

I have heard that the words of Matthew West's song Forgiveness was inspired by a woman's story to forgive the drunk driver who took the life of her child. The same conclusion can be reached by the conclusion of Beyond Justice by Joshua Graham who is rapidly earning his way to the top of my Most Wanted Author list. Beyond Justice is his debut novel written back in 2010 and I don't know how I missed it up until now. The message is as relevant and powerful as it was when it was written and it is definitely for those who are finding it more than challenging to forgive someone for something they did to them. This is a highly recommended novel for that very reason.

Beyond Justice takes us in the heart of what all of us would dread, to come home after a long day of work, anticipating spending time with our spouse and kids. Expecting nothing out of the ordinary, Sam Hudson is a bit puzzled by the fact his security system isn't armed when he arrives home, but doesn't think too much about it. His wife Jenn has been having issues with arming it, and since she is home it doesn't seem at all out of the ordinary. Sensing a romantic night awaits him as he enters his home, he finds Jenn has lilac candles waiting in their bedroom hoping to surprise him. That is exactly what he gets when he opens the door to the bedroom to find her laying in bed, stabbed multiple times. Grabbing his cell phone, he frantically dials 911 and she whispers to him to find the children. Not wanting to leave her side, he rushes to his daughter Bethie's room and discovers the same thing. She is laying in bed with multiple stab wounds and a slight pulse. Rushing to his son's room he finds a bloody baseball bat on the floor and his son barely breathing under the covers.

It is more than any man could ever hope to handle, but it's just getting started for Sam as one by one his house of cards begins to fall as he watches his family carted off in an ambulance while the detectives begin to suspect that Sam is more than innocent in his claims. All the evidence seems to point compellingly back to Sam and no matter how much he sticks to his pleas that he is innocent, the evidence keeps stacking up against him. Will he be able to prove his innocence or will he find time to wrestle with the reasoning facing the death penalty behind bars? Only time will tell.

I received Beyond Justice by Joshua Graham compliments of Partners in Crime Book Tours and Dawn Treader Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. This is a true suspense novel in that you literally can't see what's coming from that blind corner. I LOVE that! Too many times, the authors give it away too soon and thus the need to finish the book is lost, but not this time. Joshua maintains that same level of intensity from the beginning until the ending you never saw coming. It is the basis for grace and forgiveness coupled with a spiritual element that can only be God inspired! Well done Joshua Graham. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. For those of you that love a great murder crime mystery novel, trust me and pick this one up. You'll definitely be wanting more!!!

For more information about Beyond Justice, Joshua Graham, or where you can pick up this novel today, please click on the links below:

Beyond Justice by Joshua Graham

You can also find Joshua Graham on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Beyond Justice from the Partners in Crime Book Tour, click here. 

Now for the best part, thanks to Partners in Crime they are providing an Ebook Copy of Beyond Justice to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here are your guidelines:

1. "Like: Joshua Graham's Facebook page. While you're there tell him why you'd love to win a copy of this book.

2. "Like" my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart. If you have already "Liked" my page, find this review there and click the Like button.

3. Leave a comment below telling me why you would love to win an Ebook copy of Beyond Justice along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner by email once the giveaway ends on February 13th.

Butterfly Palace

For fans of Downton Abbey who want a little bit more spice in the storyline, you might just want to pick up Colleen Coble's latest novel, Butterfly Palace. Set in Larson and Austin, Texas in the early 1900's we find that the romance between Lily Donaldson and Andy Hawkins have all but fizzled. They were at one time engaged to be married but with the deaths of both of their fathers in a horrible fire, it seemed that Andy blamed himself for not being able to get the men out alive and he left Lily behind in ashes of their love.

Now that four years have passed Lily has found employment working as a ladies maid in Butterfly Palace, the wealthy home of the Marshall family. She finds her job enjoyable as Belle Castle's lady's maid putting her knowledge of fashion and hair design to work for her. She learns that Belle has her sights set on marrying Drew Hawkes, a guest in the Marshall home. Little did she realize that Drew is her Andy from Larson. Why he has changed his name and what he is doing in Austin cause her to be concerned and both hope that neither of them will share their intimate past with their current employers.

While Belle has her sights set on Drew, her father meanwhile wants Belle to marry Mr. Stuart Vesters, an up and coming wealthy politician and businessman. But it seems Mr. Vesters isn't all he appears to be to the Marshall family. Now that Lily has found work in the home, she finds herself the unlucky victim of the Servant Girl Killer, a serial killer that has been murdering maids around the city, preferring women who fit Lily's mold as the intended victim. Will Drew be able to keep up his pretense of acting like he doesn't know who Lily is even when she is almost murdered in the church or will their love reignite once again despite the obstacles facing them both?

I received Butterfly Palace by Colleen Coble compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own unless otherwise noted. I found myself completely captivated by this novel because I am a huge fan of Downton Abbey. I think Colleen Coble did an exceptional job at incorporating the characters of the upstairs wealthy aristocratic family from those of the household staff. The intermixing of those stereotypes is necessary to understand when Lily finds herself at odds wanting to talk to Drew but being in her position as a maid, wasn't something that was allowed. There are social barriers keeping them apart as well as the roles each of them in playing in their current situation which complicates their conversations. Lily at one point is discovered conversing with Drew by Belle who believes that Lily it out of place as a maid and threatens to fire her if she doesn't discontinue in her pursuit of being in Drew's company. A little jealous rivalry since despite Lily's attempts to downplay her beauty, she still comes shining through. I honestly had my suspicions about who was the murderer, but Colleen truly mixed me up and had me chasing my own tail by the end. Well done in my opinion and thus a just deserved 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Butterfly Palace, Colleen Coble or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today,  please click on the links below:

Butterfly Palace by Colleen Coble

You can also find Colleen Coble on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Butterfly Palace, please visit Thomas Nelson's website. 


Length: 336 Pages
Publication Date: January 21, 2014
Company: Thomas Nelson
ISBN-10: 1595547835
ISBN-13:9781595547835

Second Watch

There's that case that lingers in the mind of every single cop. The one that will never go away. The one in which the victim can never rest. For Detective J.P. Beaumont, that is the case that happened forty years ago. The one that was simply tagged at the Girl in the Barrel. The only reason that it remains on J.P.'s mind is that while undergoing double knee replacement surgery, he's been haunted by the ghost of Monica Wellington, the girl in the barrel. She reminds him of the promise he made to her mother, Hannah, that they would never rest until the case was solved. And they hadn't solved it.

Like another cold case, this one torments the sleeping hours while J.P. recovers in the hospital. Taken back to that time period in rich detail through his dreams he remembers the case as if it just happened. Yet something besides the ghost of Monica is plaguing his sleep. It is why they were never able to solve that case. Taking into consideration, that things like DNA testing and technology were not as prevalent as they are today, he's hoping that he can finally solve the case and lay both Monica's spirit and his conscience to rest.

Now his only issue with not being able to walk or drive is how to reopen a case that was sealed forty years ago while he remains in the hospital? Just what would be his reasoning? He knew that sharing that the ghost of Monica was haunting his dreams wouldn't pass, so he opted for the case that was never solved that every cop wants to see come to a resolved end. J.P. only ghost however isn't just Monica, he's also seeing Lt. Lennie Davis or Lennie D as his friends referred to him. Lennie has something he needs J.P. to do and he can't rest until there is peace in his life, the one he never was able to return home to after serving in Vietnam. So J.P. is once more transported back to Vietnam and that fateful day that changed both of their lives forever.

I received Second Watch by best selling author J.A. Jance compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is a first for me, reading J.A. Jance's novels but I absolutely LOVED this one. It truly is a must read for fans of crime murder mystery's or shows like Criminal Minds. In fact while reading it I heard Jack Webb (Dragnet) as the narrator's voice so it really made the novel that believable for me. The flash backs into J.P.'s past were well done and gave you insight into what is the character's motivation to find have absolution and resolution in his life in each of this situations, with one being personal with his past in Vietnam, one he hasn't even shared with his wife and fellow cop, Mel. This is one of those novels that you will think about long after it's over primarily because it's that real. I rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and look forward to reading more from J.A. Vance in the near future.

For more information about Second Watch, J.A. Jance or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click the links below:

Second Watch by J.A. Jance

You can also read more about the novel through the publishers website as well as an excerpt from the novel by clicking here.

You can also find J.A. Jance on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

Carolina Reckoning

How would you feel if those suspicions you had of your husband were confirmed by finding a photo of them together in the pocket of his raincoat? Well for Alison Monaghan it is the proverbial straw that brings her to a breaking point. With her husband Frank being a bit of a control freak, she's finally going to summon the courage to confront him now that she finally has the proof she's been looking for. The only thing that causes her to reconsider is how it will affect their children, Clare and Justin now that they are in high school. Will it mean a messy divorce? How will she be able to provide for herself and her children since Frank has been their financial safety net all these years as a commercial pilot? All she knows is she has to deal with all the emotions she's been keeping bottled up all these years and tonight when Frank gets home, she's gonna let him have it.

Only Frank never arrives home. Alison receives that fateful knock at the door all wives dread. And the news is just what she never hoped to hear. Frank has been found murdered just seven miles from their home and of course, like most detectives, Alison is their key suspect. Deep in her heart she wanted him to pay, but not like this. She never wanted him dead. But how can she deal with the fact she's not as upset as a wife should be? That is just the thing, Raleigh homicide detective Mike Barefoot is wondering as well. He's been working enough of these cases to know just how convincing wives can be after murdering their husbands. However the more time he spends investigating the case and getting to know the man Frank really was, the more he convinces himself that Alison had nothing to do with his murder. Now if he can only keep his focus on finding the killer instead of finding himself drawn to Alison's heart.

In the latest novel from Lisa Carter, Carolina Recknoning takes the reader inside the murder of Frank Monaghan and the lifestyle he keep secretly from his wife and family. Alison doesn't believe she can move forward until she finds out more about the life Frank kept hidden from her including leaving them penniless and in more debt than she ever could imagine. Her children have their own problems to deal with living in wealthy neighborhood and being part of the affluent class of people in their city. Now all their friends suddenly turn on them they've known forever and the only thing any of them have is one another to survive in high school among the horrible things their friends say about their family. Is it possible to find hope in the midst of this crisis? Will their lives ever go back to normal again? But as the family is drawn into discovering who the murderer is, they suddenly find themselves with targets on their backs as well.

I received Carolina Reckoning by Lisa Carter compliments of Abingdon Press for my honest review and did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. This novel really draws out the emotions to make you consider what you would do in this situation. How would you move forward? How can you bring yourself to forgive someone when they have hurt you beyond what you think you can bear? How can you forgive someone now that they are gone? This is truly a story about solving a crime but even greater than that is finding redemption for yourself. The family ultimately finds that a relationship with God is the only way they can salvage what is going on and it doesn't happen overnight. In fact, its a realistic portrayal of what happens in the life of a believer. Things don't get easy for them because they start going to church, in fact, it gets worse. They struggle with things just like we all do but there is a peace found when you know you hope is in God instead of what the world has to offer. I'd rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Carolina Reckoning, Lisa Carter or where you can preorder a copy of this novel due out in August of this year, please click on the links below:

Carolina Reckoning by Lisa Carter

You can also find Lisa Carter on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: Abingdon Press (August 6, 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1426757972

ISBN-13: 978-1426757976

After Her

"When I was young, I'd say, that's what I did to make life interesting. My sister and I were always looking for a little drama, and if the world didn't provide some, we'd invent it. We could make up stories so read we believed them ourselves.

And then something really did happen, of course. And all we wished for then was that it never did."

Rachel and Patty Toricelli grow up in Marin County much like any other young child in 1970. When faced with the seemingly endless possibilities of adventure that awaits them on the mountain, just outside their backdoor and a summer to fill it with adventure as only limited by their own imaginations. Now faced with being children of divorce watching their mom fall further into an apparent depression and their father busy working as a police detective, they only have each other to keep themselves entertained. From sneaking into backyards to watch TV through their neighbors picture windows when they find themselves without cable any longer, they resort to making up the storyline and dialogue when their favorite TV shows are aired.

It seems a lifetime of Charlie's Angels and The Brady Bunch have inspired the two girls imagination and they often find making up stories is often times better than the truth. As young teens, adults are willing to disclose certain things to them seeing them as simply too young for that sort of thing. When a new neighbor and his reclusive wife move in, Patty and Rachel begin documenting their daily comings and goings to figure out just who they are and why they rarely see his wife. Since their father works so much, they come to expect him to be busy and long for whatever attention he can offer them when he has time, from taking them to dinner at Marin Joe's or for a Giant's baseball game. He is ever the vigilant father watching out for his young daughters.

When a helicopter suddenly hovers over the mountain top playground they have come to call home, they soon learn that the adventure they have been seeking hasn't been very far away. A body of a 21-year-old girl has been found murdered and raped and their father now has strict instructions to stay off the mountain. Yet Patty and Rachel feel that perhaps the police haven't truly searched everywhere for clues and soon set off with a plan to aid in the search. Rachel has a unique ability that lets her at times see into the future and believes that this is just the time to utilize that ability to help her father out.

In the latest novel from Joyce Maynard, After Her is the story of the coming of age between Rachel Toricellin and her younger shy sister Patty for the beginning of the novel.This sets the backdrop for the novel as more young women are showing up murdered on the mountain the girls have grown up on and characterizes the Trailside Killer case the terrorized Marin County in the 1970's. Joyce does a remarkable job at getting you inside the heads of Patty and Rachel early on in their young lives to set the stage for how events like serial murders in someone's backyard might affect them while they are watching this going on, all the while, having their own father as the lead investigator. For those of you that love a great murder mystery based on a true case, then this one will definitely want to be on your must read list. A note of caution that there are some sexual content in relating to the girls coming of age story in which they are exposed to a variety of sexual situations that might be common for this type of novel.

I received After Her by Joyce Maynard compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. I'd rate this novel a 4 out of 5 stars and found the content of the novel extremely engaging to draw the reader into the lives of the characters of Patty and Rachel. For me, it makes for a great novel if I feel personally connected to them in some way and being able to remember back to all my summers filled with imagination, mine are not that far off from Patty and Rachel's.

For more information about After Her, Joyce Maynard and where you can preorder a copy of this novel due out August of 2013, please click on the links below:

After Her by Joyce Maynard

You can find Joyce Maynard on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

A Question of Honor

For some honor means everything. For a soldier especially. Men have killed to keep the honor of their family or their duty as an officer intact. That's why it comes as a complete surprise and utter shock when Lieutenant Wade has been accused of murder. Not only the murder of his parents, but also the murder of a random family that he seemed to have close ties with. For nurse Bess Crawford, this comes at such a loss for words for a man that she thought she knew to have committed these murders. It seems as if Bess really didn't know this man at all.

Now ten years later she is still haunted by the notion that Lieutenant Wade may not be dead like most presume. She wants to follow all the clues to see where they might lead and hopefully give her some insight into the reasons why a man would murder six people and then completely live a different life in the army.

" We've all asked ourselves the same question."

"And yet no one pursued it."

"We pursued him. And were told he was dead. There was no need for your father to travel to England to go into the matter. He was needed there at the time."

"Yes, I expect you're right." I fell silent, thinking it through. "I was shocked when the Subedar told me who he'd seen. I would probably have left it there, if I hadn't seen the man for myself. Or believed I did. We could have both been wrong, you know. Still, I remember my father's face when he got the news. I remember how everyone felt, even though I didn't know about the other murders. If we did see the Lieutenant in France, then I want to get to the bottom of it for the Colonel Sahib's sake. I think what bothers me most is that we assumed, the entire regiment, that Lieutenant Wade was dead. If he's escaped justice, then my father will feel responsible. He called off the search, you see." I smoothed the fingers of my driving gloves, not looking at Simon. It was the first time I'd really put my feelings into words. Even to myself. "I don't want him blamed. I don't want him to feel he should have done more. Because I don't think he could have done."

"Then you're going the wrong way about it. You're bringing it all back again. For all of us."

"No, I'm trying to lay the Subedar's words to rest. There must be someone out there in France who bears a resemblance to Wade. If it isn't Wade - then he's dead, his bones already dust in the Khyber Pass. Where they ought to be."

And so the search continues for answers as the reader follows Nurse Bess Crawford in another mystery by Charles Todd in his latest novel, A Question for Honor due out in bookstores in August of 2013. I've been a huge fan of the Bess Crawford Mystery's simply due to the fact I love mystery and historical fiction. Charles Todd weaves them together so masterfully to give the reader so much more than they ever expected. Plus the added bonus of having a woman character offer the duality of roles, first as a nurse and then during her free time or on leave, following the clues that may in fact restore an honor due to her father, the Colonel Sahib.

I received A Question of Honor by Charles Todd compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. This one does truly deserve a full 5 out of 5 stars in my personal opinion. The best part I love about Charles Todd's Bess Crawford Series is his attention to detail, and his ability to tell such a compelling story you honestly believe it just might have happened. He does all this without going into gory details or using inappropriate language that some authors chose to in writing their novels. This is why I LOVE his novels and this entire series. I plan of coming back for more and more because I love Bess! She's a woman who I could see myself as becoming had I lived in that time period. This is like Downton Abbey meets Sherlock Holmes.

For more information about A Question of Honor, Charles Todd, or where to preorder a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Question of Honor by Charles Todd

You can also find Charles Todd on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

You can also visit Charles Todd's webpage for more on his novels. 

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (August 27, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062237152
• ISBN-13: 978-0062237156
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches

Sleeping in Eden

The problem with lies is that often the circumstances will ultimately reveal themselves in due time and the threads by them will weave more people into the situation that were ever meant to be. Such is the case as the threads begin in Nicole Baart's latest novel, Sleeping in Eden. In the small town of Blackhawk in Northwest Iowa, Dr. Lucas Hudson is called to a crime scene to act as coroner who is vacationing to determine cause of death on what seems to be an open and shut case of suicide. Inside a barn Dr. Hudson finds the body of Jim Sparks who is hanging from a beam and a chair lies overturned in the dust. As the sheriff and his men attempt to cut down the body, they uncover another body lying undisturbed beneath where Jim has hung himself. It appears as through the body has been buried for quite some time and it seems as if Jim may in fact have had something to hide besides ending his life.

Now it seems that the past and present will intersect as these two discovered will unearth more than most had hoped in the small town of Blackhawk. As the reader opens Sleeping in Eden, they will discover the book is laid out in alternating chapters focusing on Lucas and then Meg. Lucas is the present day doctor dealing with now two dead bodies and trying to uncovering their secrets since Jim Sparks left no suicide note but also not someone that the residents of Blackhawk would miss. In fact the only surprise residents have is that Jim took the permanent way out instead of simply moving out of Blackhawk. Meg in a character the reader is introduced from the past who existed in the town of Blackhawk before Lucas ever arrived. It is here we learn her story of a summer love between Meg Painter and Dylan Reid and it's those choices that they both were a part of that has launched this investigation into the present day. Just what happens when popular Meg meets Dylan, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks is about to be discovered through this story.

Like the tracks of the train that run parallel down the side of town, so do these two stories run side by side. At some point you know that they will have to intersect one another and that's what keeps the reader flipping pages and trying to discover the connection before you reach the end. It shows reader just what the implications are when secrets are kept and the implications that can have on seemingly innocent characters who come along much later in life. This was the perfect setting for a murder mystery spanning more than one time period and Nicole Baart does an exceptional job at making the setting and characters life like and believable.

I received Sleeping in Eden by Nicole Baart compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review and received no compensation for a favorable one. I was surprised to discover since Howard Books usually prides itself on Christian books, this one did manage to squeeze past the publishers with a handful of profanity and some questionable content. However, this one still manages to deliver with its intended purpose which is a compelling mystery that entertains its readers. I'd rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars. For those mystery and criminal fiction fans, you'll want to add this one to your summer reading list.

For more information about Sleeping in Eden, Nicole Baart, or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Sleeping in Eden by Nicole Baart

You can also find Nicole Baart on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Howard Books; Original edition (May 21, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439197369
• ISBN-13: 978-1439197363
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1 inches 

You can find this novel on paperback and eBook formats wherever fine books are sold. 

The Seers

Debut Novel Reveals a Whole New World of Good & Evil

Welcome to a new world where science and spirituality are not separate, but rather opposite ends of a spectrum. Creator M.D. Kackowski attempts to shed light on the unseen laws of the universe for the betterment of society, by launching a fantastical, page-turning thriller.

The Seers illustrates a world where good battles evil for the world’s soul. The fate of humanity rests in the hands of the seers, a handful of humans with therare ability to see the unseen and who call into action their angels to do battle with demons. It is a fast-paced story that blends two classic genres:  part apocalypse and part detective story. The book climaxes with a surprising and shocking chain of events that readers are bound to applaud.

Readers are provided with a multi-medium experience that leaves them with an exciting and captive narrative that continues on with an interactive digital component. It introduces and submerges the user (reader) into a whole new world, providing a boundless fictional platform that is ripe for full exploration. With QR codes, illustrations and video links sprinkled throughout the book, the reader truly gets to engage and interact with the creative content.

“The Seers is the culmination of more than a decade of writing, researching, and experimenting,” says Kackowski. “My book explores a whole new dimension that unifies the physical and spiritual worlds while a war is waged that could alter the destiny of not only humankind but the universe.”

His debut novel explores a number of interesting themes, including:

• Are there unseen worlds, where activities in such worlds can influence or impact our world?
• Is the war of good vs. evil or angel vs. demon is being waged now?
• What does one do – and what should one do – with a powerful ability?
• What do you do once confronted with your past and discover who you really are?

It also raises many questions, including:

• Are there really such things as diseased souls, and if so, how does one heal his or her soul?
• Is there really a set of cosmic laws that can be harnessed to serve one’s desires?
• How do you know what is real, what is a dream, what is a memory – or a vision from another dimension?
• What would you do if the devil tempted you with unimaginable powers, longevity, and riches?
• Are biblical references to demons and angels true?
• Can you have faith during a time of darkness, anger and frustration?
• What would you do if you are pulled into different worlds without warning or full knowledge?

Woven into the story are bits of philosophical commentary on how humans lead their lives and the emotions and activities that deeply challenge our ability to live a long, healthy, and happy life. The book also shares insights on the soul’s detractors – jealousy, greed, anger, hatred, arrogance, sloth, gluttony, impatience, narcissism, fear, lust, and indifference.

My Review: 

The Seers by M.D. Kaczkowski is a remarkable book unlike any other I have had the opportunity to read in my 4 years of reviewing books and I can definitely see this is where future books may be headed. This takes the story of spiritual warfare and solving the crime of who is killing homeless people in New York to an incredible climax. The QR codes appear at the end of almost every single chapter. At the beginning it was a bit frustrating to understand what they were intended to be used for and kind of took me away from the story. However, looking back, I found it provided visual references for readers who may not understand what references were being made in the chapter such as a video of what life was like for a child growing up in New York in the 1950's where the story begins.

It revolves around a detective John Scarcepho who growing up was able to see into the spiritual world and often awoke to seeing a large spiritual being in his room. Being too young to understand what he was dealing with, his father thought he would beat it out of him while his mother, cared for him and kept reading to him from the Bible. At one point when Johnny is 13, he fears that the beatings will continue until he informs his spiritual being to leave him alone and never come back.

Now as a he has gotten older he can't seem to understand what the significance is to waking up each morning at 4:10 AM and why there are so many murders of homeless men happening in New York. Each of the victims is left with their eyes removed and a page from Revelations 20 stuffed in the victims mouth. It's when the mayor insists that John take the lead in the latest victim, Father Mahoney, that John will be reminded that what he saw as a child will be necessary to save the world. He learns that he is a Seer, a person who has the ability to "see" into the spiritual world and has been assigned a guardian angel since he was born. If John dies than the future of the world will be turned completely upside down and the final chapter of the Bible may in fact not come true at all.

This is a compelling novel and one I completely enjoyed. The music links, video references, and handbook definitions made me feel a part of the story and I believe that is the writers purpose in including them as part of the book. It really made this feel like part book and part movie by the time I was finished and I hope that he will write more in this series and style of book.

I received The Seers by M.D. Kaczkowski compliments of Media Connect for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. I honestly LOVED this interactive novel and couldn't wait to pass this one along to a friend who I knew would love this virtual novel experience in spiritual warfare and really makes you consider the questions above in regards to the spirit world. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and hope this is the first of many novels to come that introduce science with technology to take book reading to a completely whole new experience for the reader.

For more information about The Seers, M.D. Kaczkowski, or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Seers by M.D. Kaczkowski

You can follow M.D. Kaczkowski on Facebook to stay up to date with The Seers and his latest novels.

Dangerous Refuge

Sometimes some of the best scripted stories can be ruined by repeated suggestions that come far too often that they distract you from the original story. Such is the case in the latest novel from Elizabeth Lowell, Dangerous Refuge. In this novel, the reader is immediately introduced to Shaye Townsend, who works for National Ranch Conservancy, whose goal is to broker a deal between ranch owners and the Conservancy to retain the land for the purpose of ranching instead of seeing the property abandoned or turning into shopping malls or high-priced resorts. When Shaye discovers the body of Lorne Davis, to her untrained eye, it doesn't appear that he died of natural causes.

When Tanner Davis shows up at the ranch, the sparks begin to fly and between the two with sexual innuendos on almost every other page about what either of them wants from the other. That is the downright distracting part. I can deal with the fact that these two are more than mildly attracted to one another but I felt like I needed to be reminded of that fact throughout the entire first half of the book. Even though the story behind this was really well written, it was that repeated reminder between the two that really ruined what could have been a great novel for me.

The novel focuses on Tanner Davis working with Shaye Townsend on investigating the mysterious death of his uncle while taking a much needed break from working the morgues in Los Angeles as a Homicide Detective. Now discovering that the 1932 Saint-Gauden gold coins he had been collecting his whole life had suddenly gone missing even though it their hiding place would have made his Uncle look like a Pirate to discover them. Tanner believes that whoever had stolen the coins might in fact be the very same person who he believes murdered his Uncle and won't stop until he uncovers the truth.

I received Dangerous Refuge by Elizabeth Lowell compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. The story was well written and the premise that inspired me to want to read this was amazing. However the intense sexual undertones and consistent reminders of their intense sexual attraction to one another really got old after the first few chapters. However, with that being said, if you like that type of reference in your murder mystery dealing with a bit of modern western fiction thrown in, then you will find this novel suitable for your tastes. For me, this one ranked 3 out of 5 stars and I was hoping for a bit more than what I got between the pages, but that is my preference. There are bound to be countless readers that would really enjoy this novel.

For more information about Dangerous Refuge, Elizabeth Lowell and where to preorder a copy of this book coming early April, please click on the links below:

Dangerous Refuge by Elizabeth Lowell

You can find Elizabeth Lowell on Facebook to keep up to date with all her latest novels.

No Way Back

Imagine going about your day like every other day. Getting up, getting ready for work and expecting to come home to your husband and end your day just like every other one. Only today's going to be different. All those normal days of the same old boring routine will be something you wish you could get back. You'd never complain again. Today will be the day you wished you never got out of bed. The day where all those what if's questions that play in your mind would simply go away. Today is the day where you will spend every single minute trying to stay one step ahead of people who want you dead and there is No Way Back to the life you had before.

In the novel, No Way Back by best selling author Andrew Gross, Wendy Gould, an attractive wife and step mother to David's children from a previous message is sitting in a bar waiting for her friend Pam to show up. It seems that talking things over with your best friend is better than attempting to go home and have yet another argument with your husband. Even if she were to head home, David has late night business meetings in hopes of securing another contract that will add even more money to their already lavish and comfortable lifestyle.

The one thing Wendy doesn't count on is that an attractive man in the bar approaches her during one of her most vulnerable times in her marriage. She loves the attention he provides and when her friend Pam calls to tell her she can't meet her, Wendy makes the mistake of leaving the bar with the man knowing the choice she makes tonight will alter her life forever. When she arrives in his apartment, she suddenly comes to grip with her moral conviction and kindly tells Curtis that she needs to go home before things go any further than simply being in his apartment.

While she freshens up in his bathroom, she overhears voices in the other room and slowly picks out the door expecting to find Curtis on the phone. What she sees is another man sitting across from Curtis telling him to pick up the gun he has placed before him. When Curtis refuses, the man shots him anyway. Wendy knows that she is likely to be next since the man who shot Curtis has obviously heard the water running in the bathroom and knows she is likely to be shot next.

She sees the gun that Curtis refused to pick up lying just within her reach outside the bathroom door and while the other man is distracted she rushes out and picks it up. She informs the man she is an ex-cop and to put his hands up. However, when he draws his weapon on her, she has no other choice but to shoot him. What has just happened? She can't go home? How will she be able to tell David what happened even though nothing happened with Curtis? When she reaches into the pocket of the shooters jacket, she finds an ID that tells her that just has just killed an agent with the Department of Homeland Security which mean that even know she can't even go to the police. What will she do? What would you do?

I received No Way Back by Andrew Gross compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. This one is action packed on every single page. It is a nail biter and a jaw clincher to be certain and I quite literally inhaled this one in a matter of hours. There are some uses of profanity and vulgarity but overall the story is amazing. For those of you that love a bit of adrenaline to go along with your murder mystery, then this one will be one you'll want to pick up. I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 simply based on my review scale and have enjoyed the previous Andrew Gross novels I have had the opportunity to review in the past, Eyes Wide Open and 15 Seconds.

For more information about No Way Back, Andrew Gross or where to preorder a copy of this book that is due out in early April of this year, please click on the links below:

No Way Back by Andrew Gross

You can also find Andrew Gross on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

A Plain Scandal - Giveaway and Review

"I don't know how you've been able to worm your way into the affections of the Troyer family, but rest assured that's the only family you will lead from the Amish way!"

Once again those harsh words rung in the ears of Chloe Humphrey, an Englischer who has gained the affections of Timothy and Becky Troyer who have left the Amish faith in favor of an English lifestyle. But no matter how often Chloe and Timothy try to convince the new Bishop Hooley and Deacon Sutter, they remain convince that unless Chloe stays away from the Troyer family, the rest of the Amish community will be forced to shun them.

Despite all her protests, someone else is after the Amish community. Someone is cutting off the beards of Amish men and the hair from the Amish women against their will. This is considered a hate crime by the local sheriff because the Amish women never cut their hair. It's against their religious beliefs and the Amish married men are the only ones wearing beards and now they seem to also be the target of someone's hatred for the Amish. However when an Amish man is found murdered along with his beard being cut off, the risks for the entire community Amish and English have just risen.

However Chloe believes there is a single connection to all the crimes if she can only interview the victims. But with the new Bishop and Deacon controlling the Amish community and advising all to avoid dealing with Chloe, she isn't about to gain much cooperation. Will she be able to solve this latest string of crimes that have found there way into the heart of Appleseed Creek or will she be cast aside by the friends and family she has come to hold dear to her heart?

In the latest novel, A Plain Scandal by Amanda Flower, we are once more gifted with a blend of Amish fiction coupled with a murder mystery in the second book in the Appleseed Creek mystery series. I received this book compliments of B & H Publishing Group and Shelton Interactive for my honest review and once again feel in love with the two different types of people living together in the heart of Ohio's Amish Country and admire the friendship that Chloe shares for the Amish people's beliefs. She tries to respect their personal beliefs even if she doesn't understand the harsh reality of being shunned personally. She wants to do whatever she can to help but faces barriers when the Amish refuse to help much in talking with her. I think Amanda Flower did an exceptional job at keeping the pace of the novel engaging but moving forward always keeping you guessing until the final pages of the book for the reveal. For those of you that love Amish fiction and a great murder mystery, trust me and pick up this series! You don't need to read the first book in the series to gain an appreciation for the residents of Apple Creek, but I know you'll be as hooked as I was and will want to pick up A Plain Death too, the first book in the series. This one rates a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my book!

For more information about A Plain Scandal, Amanda Flower, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

A Plain Scandal by Amanda Flower

You can also join Facebook to follow Amanda Flower and stay up to date with all her latest novels.

Thanks to the generous folks at Shelton Interactive and B & H Publishing Group, they are providing a giveaway copy to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here are your details to enter:

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

2. "Like" my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart. If you've already LIKED the page, leave me a comment there telling me you stopped by to enter the giveaway.

3. Be a resident of the US or have a US Shipping Address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

4. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy of this book along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

5. "Like" Amanda Flower's Facebook page!

The giveaway will end on March 15th and I will notify the winner of the giveaway by email.