Deadlock
by DiAnn Mills
Rating: 5 of 5
Book 3 of FBI: Houston series
Tyndale House – Fiction | Romantic Suspense

Two suspicious murders leave Special Agent Thatcher Graves certain that a serial killer is on the loose in Houston. His new parter in the violent crimes unit, Special Agent Bethany Sanchez, is not so sure and wants to do everything by-the-book when Thatcher is someone who goes by his gut instinct.

Can they work together to solve the murders that keep occurring? Can they put aside their differences and work together despite the fact that Thatcher is one of the people that Bethany’s family hates since he once arrested her brother? Will Bethany ever feel like she isn’t betraying her family by doing her job?

I found this story to be one of the most interesting I’ve ever read because it wasn’t a typical suspense mystery. The story brought light to some of the aspects of Hispanic culture that I was not familiar with. I really enjoyed the added layer which really gave authenticity to the story. I really liked getting to know Bethany and Thatcher while following them on the hunt for a possible serial killer. Their characters were interesting and easily relatable. Although I didn’t grow up as Bethany did, I could feel her frustration and struggle to do what she believed to be right despite how unjustly her family treated her.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Every Bride Has Her Day
by Janice Thompson
Rating: 4 of 5
Book 3 in the Brides with Style series
Revell – Fiction | Contemporary Romance

After all that they’ve gone through, Katie Fisher and Brady James are finally getting married. Having been dreaming and planning her wedding since she was young, Katie is ready to begin wedding plans until she discovers that she can’t seem to say no to all of her family’s and friends’ ideas for the perfect wedding. Katie is torn between her sweet hometown and her new friends in Dallas, but she still knows that change is inevitable. With Brady possibly getting back into professional basketball, Katie’s whole life is about to change even more. Since Katie already has her perfect wedding gown, courtesy of her future mother-in-law and boss, how will Katie be able to fight for her own wedding? Will Katie be able to have her dream wedding or will she try to compromise her vision to please her family and friends?

I was so excited to read this story. It  picks up where the previous book took off so I would definitely recommend reading the other two books first to get the full effect. The book could possibly be read without the others but it will make so much more sense to have read the others.

Ever since Katie wrote that essay and won the free wedding dress, her life has been changed for the better. I really enjoyed getting to know more about Katie in this story. The author is one of my favorites for light-hearted contemporary romance. I could feel the tension and unease that Katie felt when she felt like everyone was trying to tell her what her wedding should be like. I could feel the frustration and anxiety building in Katie and could totally relate to her as the main character. I loved the other love stories that were interwoven and nicely tied off because I’ve gotten to know these characters and become invested in their happiness.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who needs a light, summer romance.

I received this book for free from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Anchor in the Storm
By Sarah Sundin
Rating: 4 of 5
Book 2 of Waves of Freedom series
Revell – Fiction | Historical Romance

Lillian Avery is excited to start her first job as a pharmacist in Boston. As a young woman, she would have never been able to get the job unless World War II had created a shortage of young men pharmacists. When rather large prescriptions for sedatives keep coming in, Lillian begins to question why the patients and doctors are allowing this, so she begins an investigation of her own.

Ensign Archer Vandenberg is Lillian’s brother’s best friend who’s been reassigned to a destroyer to defend the Eastern border from German U-boats while based out of Boston. Archer suffers from PTSD but is trying his hardest to fight off the paralyzing fear. When he realizes that some of his crewmates are constantly suffering from drowsiness, he begins to suspect some of his men to be self-medicating. When he enlists Lillian’s expertise and help, she reveals her own suspicions surrounding the sedatives. Can they figure out what is happening? Can they find a way to work together without getting caught or killed?

Since this story was the second in a series, I was a little concerned I wouldn’t be able to catch up, but the story read as a standalone novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the setting of World War II. As someone studying in the medical field, it was interesting to see the incorporation of the different drugs that were used during that time period. I really enjoyed getting to know Lillian and Archer and all of their individual struggles. As someone who also loves history, I really enjoyed learning more about military life on a destroyer and also the state of medicine. I will have to hunt down the first book in the series to read!

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good historical romance.

I received this book for free from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.