Until I Met You by Tari Faris Book 2 in the Restoring Heritage series Rating: 4/5 Release date: September 8, 2020
Tari Faris definitely knows how to portray such heartfelt characters with their own strengths and weaknesses. The reader is once again drawn into the small town charm of Heritage and it’s fun to “see” characters from the first book. For me, this story was not only about romance but it was about the relationship between two brothers.
Austin temporarily moves to Heritage to do a landscaping job but refuses to live with his brother, Nate, who already lives there and is the local pastor. Austin meets Libby, his neighbor who also just arrived to become the new librarian. The two have their own pasts to deal with and overcome in order to move on with their lives. Nate is battling his own demons of the past and finds it hard to give himself a chance at love with Olivia, Libby’s new roommate. Olivia is tired of waiting for Nate to make up his mind about them and tries to find a journalism job out of state. Can these two couples find a way to work together and find forgiveness and love?
These intertwined love stories were masterfully written and the depth of brother’s characters was very well done. The incorporation of faith and forgiveness was vital for the characters and I was impressed with how the author dealt with the effects of holding onto unforgiveness.
My thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.
Two Reasons to Run by Colleen Coble Book 2 in the Pelican Harbor series Rating: 4.5/5 Release date: September 8, 2020
The story continues with Chief Jane and Reid and their son, Will. I was excited to dive back into the Pelican Harbor series and it did not disappoint. The story will make more sense if you read the first book, One Little Lie, but the background info is summarized fairly well, so I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary. However, One Little Lie was also an excellent read so I’d still recommend starting from the beginning of the series.
Jane is still reeling from all the lies her father told her. She continues to feel betrayed by her father and even Reid, the father of their son. As chief, she starts investigating the disappearance of a local on an oil rig and suspects foul play. Homeland Security won’t listen to her, so she must continue to investigate on her own to stop a possible terrorist attack. Reid is willing to help her since the man who disappeared had also asked him to help. Together they move from clue to clue to figure out who’s behind the threat all while trying to protect their son, Will, whose life has been threatened in an effort to get Jane to drop the investigation. Meanwhile, Jane and Reid go on a journey trying to find relatives, which brings up a lot of baggage from their pasts. Can these two continue to work together and protect their son while trying to prevent a terrorist attack?
I love Colleen Coble’s stories. They just keep on getting better. I really like continuing with these main characters and how they need to deal with real life challenges. The situations they are in really do require the inner strength that only comes from faith. I also wasn’t able to guess the ending, which I was pleasantly surprised by. I am eagerly awaiting the conclusion to this series, Three Missing Days.
I highly recommend this book and series if you enjoy contemporary Christian stories with romance, action, mystery and suspense.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.
Book: The Crushing Depths Author: Dani Pettrey Genre: Romantic Suspense Release Date: June 30, 2020
They know the power and peril of the ocean.But as they get closer to the deadly truth…An even greater danger lurks just beneath the surface.
When an accident claims the life of an oil-rig worker on the first drilling platform off the North Carolina coast, Coast Guard investigators Rissi Dawson and Mason Rogers are sent to take the case. Tensions surrounding the oil rig are high and the death has everyone on edge. Environmental activists are threatening to do whatever it takes to stop the structure from being completed, while rumors are being whispered about ancient curses surrounding this part of the ocean.
Mounting evidence shows the death may not have been an accident at all. Was he killed by one of the activists or, perhaps more frighteningly, a member of his own crew? Rissi and Mason have to sort through not only a plethora of suspects, but also their own past and attraction to each other.
Just as the case seems like it’ll break open, worse news arrives. A tropical storm has turned their way and soon they’re cut off from any rescue–and right where the killer wants them. It’s a race to discover his identity before he eliminates the threat they pose.
Praised by New York Times best-selling author Dee Henderson as “a name to look for in romantic suspense,” Dani Pettrey has sold more than half a million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance. Her novels stand out for their “wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters” (Publishers Weekly), “gripping storyline[s],” (RT Book Reviews), and “sizzling undercurrent of romance” (USA Today). She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland, where she lives with her husband. Their two daughters, a son-in-law, and two adorable grandsons also reside in Maryland. For more information about her novels, visit www.danipettrey.com
My Thoughts
The Crushing Depths by Dani Pettrey Book 2 in the Coastal Guardians series Rating: 4/5 Release date: June 30, 2020
Woohoo! I love getting to know what happens next. Dani Pettrey introduced readers to some phenomenal characters in her first book of the series, The Killing Tide, and I was very impressed with how seamlessly the story continues in this second installment. However, you can still read this as a standalone and not feel like anything is missing. Get ready for a thrilling ride!
Coast Guard Investigator Rissi Dawson loves her job but when her childhood friend and crush joins their team, things get a little more interesting. Having just moved from Kodiak, Alaska, Mason Rogers was surprised to find Rissi working for the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS). They are sent out to investigate whether a death on a nearby oil rig was an accident or if foul play was involved. Oil rigs are already a dangerous place to be and add in environmental activists, tensions are high and suspect. When the crewmate’s death points to murder, can Rissi and Mason find out who is to blame before they hurt someone else or get rid of the evidence? Are the environmental activists involved or is it someone on the oil rig? While trying to solve the case, can Rissi and Mason admit their feelings for each other and keep each other from danger?
I always love Dani Pettrey’s characters. Rissi is so strong and resilient after the abusive past she endured. I loved seeing her as a strong and competent agent with uncanny instincts about people. It reminded me of the TV show, Lie to Me, where the main character talked about how victims of abuse can have amazing observational people skills because of what they went through. Rissi knew how to read a room. Unfortunately, Mason did not stand out as much to me in this particular story because there was another subplot regarding Noah (Mason’s boss) and Brooke (Coast Guard medic). Mason is still a sweet and strong male lead but because there are so many other characters, I do not think he got as much development. I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing since I enjoyed following all the other characters on the CGIS team, but this is why I marked it down one star.
The story is fast-paced and full of action and intrigue that the reader can’t stop reading until the end when all is revealed. There was a certain point in the book where I did suspect who the murderer was but it still was a nice surprise to read. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy clean thrillers with romance and mystery. I’m sure it will be another hit!
My thanks to the author, NetGalley and CelebrateLit for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.
More from Dani
Enjoy this special recipe for a Lavender and Honey Latte that makes a special appearance in my book!
Hello. This blog is all mine and I will do my best to post what interests me and what books I read with honest reviews. I am a lover of good Christian fiction with a touch of romance, mystery, intrigue, humor, fun, etc. I invite you to join me as I read my way through books and life. I am currently pursuing my residency training as a family medicine physician!!! I have to carefully choose what I want to read for fun. My name is Kim and you are entering the Wong Mind.
