Contemporary

Tag: Contemporary

Double Take

by Lynette Eason

MY REVIEW

I thoroughly enjoyed this book with all its twists and turns.

The two main characters are fantastic. I really liked James and Lainie. I liked how their relationship grew and that they had known each other so long. The faith theme was quite good throughout the book. That’s not easy to pull off in such a fast paced suspense story.

This was a terrific suspense/mystery story with wonderful characters, a good cast of secondary characters, well paced, and a good faith thread.
This was a great read to start 2024, and it will definitely make my forever shelves.

My daughter is eagerly awaiting her turn. I am eagerly awaiting the next in the series.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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Countdown

by Lynette Eason

MY REVIEW

Enjoyed this story! I liked both characters in this story. The fact that it wasn’t an “Insta love” type story made it even better. I like far more suspense than romance, and I felt the author really delivered in that area.

The suspense was well done, and it was very well paced. The storyline itself was engaging and kept the reader turning the pages. It felt like a bit of a slow start for me, but I didn’t mind that at all.

The faith theme was well done and very intrinsic to the story. It’s hard to get a good faith theme in the suspense genre so it is always well appreciated when it comes through so well.

This had a wonderful cast of characters, a terrific and fascinating storyline, and a good faith theme-all the elements that I really enjoy in a suspense read. I have really enjoyed this series, and I’m rather sad to see it end. It did finish with a fantastic novel, though.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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With Every Memory

by Janine Rosche

MY REVIEW

I found this book wasn’t what I expected. Perhaps my expectations are irrelevant, yet they are there. I’m seeing a big theme come through in many of the “Christian” published books lately so my reviews are a bit like a broken record. Even my teen daughter noticed that.
This book could have had a truly powerful faith theme, but it didn’t capitalize on it. The characters show up in church, but that’s about it. In so many places the family could have turned to God or the scriptures for help and strength. That part was disappointing.

I didn’t find myself liking the characters. They were incredibly selfish in many ways, but occasionally acted out of character to care about someone else. The teen story was a bit more understandable. They aren’t adults yet so obviously don’t behave like adults. Maybe I’m old fashioned, but the fact that Xander and Avery were left alone so much and spent so much time in her bedroom alone-that was just weird to me. I didn’t like the touch on adult humor either.

I think the grandmother was maybe suppose to be funny, but I found her bitter and mean. There was a heaviness to this book that could have been better with more of God’s presence in the families life. Maybe the grandmother was the light hearted part? I don’t know.

The writing itself was well done. The parts I read to my daughter-she said the same. This author is very good with words and writing to try to touch the reader. The topics that have a warning I felt were handled well in this book by the author. How one rates a book like this I’m not sure. This is definitely going to touch readers in very different ways.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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Sunburst

Susan May Warren

MY REVIEW

I enjoyed this read. It has been sometime since I had read this author, but I enjoy suspense so I decided to give this book a read. I enjoyed the storyline, but would have liked more suspense and less romance— just my personal preference when it comes to books.

I am thinking I might have missed a bit by not reading the first in this series, but I’m not sure on that so that makes me say that really this book stands well on its own.

If you like to travel in your reads, I would recommend this one. You get a touch of another culture and experience “traveling” from the comfort of wherever you are reading. I really enjoyed that about this book. I liked the characters, but neither one of them were good at communicating well to the other, The two main characters seem to dance around their words and feelings through most of the book. They desperately needed to just open up and talk to each other. I’m the opposite of that, and I was bluntly honest when I fell in love with my hubby. I kind of underStand after reading the book, why the guy was hesitant. The girl really needed to just spit out what was on her mind…again…just my opinion.

I liked the faith theme in this book as well…always something I want in my books.
I rarely read any contemporary romance. This author wrote it well enough for me to want to find out what happens, and I finished the book enjoying the story. That’s a win for the author. If you like contemporary romance with some action, this book is for you.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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Hope Between the Pages

By Pepper Basham

MY REVIEW

This is a beautifully written time slip novel. I really enjoyed this novel, and this particular time-slip novel holds a unique distinction in all that I’ve read. I can’t pick a favorite. I enjoyed the historical and the contemporary stories. In all the others that come to mind, I can easily tell you that the historical held the largest part of my heart. Both of these stories, however, are so fascinating in story and sweet In characters. How can I possibly pick a favorite?

I love the interaction in the historical story between the two main characters. The fact that they fall in love through books is fascinating. It is so well done! The backdrop is wonderful and the characters engaging.

In the present day story Max draws me. He has scars that he thinks will prevent anyone from seeing HIM. With his sweet character and thoughtfulness, he definitely underestimated himself. I’m in a wheelchair, and I thought the same. Then I met a man who saw me…and no friend of my hubby’s knows until they meet me that I’m handicapped. I’ll never forget my trip to get a wig before a brain surgery. The lady who runs the place looked at me ( while he was perusing the tables of hair) and said, “ He married you like THAT?” Yes…yes, he did. This is why I felt so pulled towards Max and his story. I understand the thought that what can be seen will override anything else. So many times in this world of beauties…that is true. The treasure is finding someone who values you…the real you.

This was such a well done, beautiful written story ( both of them)…so many characters that I loved…and the story itself is enough to keep the reader turning the pages. Add the wonderful fairy tales with the well written lovely characters, and you have a book that made my forever shelves…and is highly likely to be read more than once. This is at least my second favorite book by this author. Vying for Position is August and Jessica in The Thorn Keeper…a read that I still easily remember. Hope Between the Pages will be the same. Do not miss this beautiful story where the authors heart is between the pages as well.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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Their Ranch Reunion

Mindy Obenhaus

BOOK BLURB

Single mom Carly Wagner is surprised to learn she’ll have to share ownership of the home she’s inherited with her first love–and first heartbreak–Andrew Stephens. The man who fled their tiny Western town is back and standing in the way of her dreams to expand her B and B. Now a successful businessman, Andrew has eight weeks to buy Carly out. But Carly’s too stubborn to persuade–and too beautiful to ignore. When fire ravages her inn and she and her daughter move in to their shared property, Andrew’s in over his head. Time is running out and Andrew must decide: leave and chase another deal…or stay and chase Carly’s heart.

MY THOUGHTS

I don’t always enjoy short reads…or romance reads. This book however was enjoyable. I liked the characters ( I’ll admit the little girl in this book stole my heart…so precious!), the plot was Hallmark type but still enjoyable, and the story was quite well done.

This was my first book by this author…and probably not my last. Really thought the book was sweet and well written.

There are quite a few brothers on this ranch so maybe each brother will get his story. I liked the dad, too.

I received this book from the publisher through Just Read Publicity Tours. All opinions are my own.

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Collateral Damage

by Lynette Eason

BOOK BLURB

Honorably discharged from the Army after an explosion nearly killed her, former military psychiatrist Brooke Adams has set up shop to help others–but her days of helping military personnel are over. She’s got her own battles to fight from her time overseas, and she’s not equipped to take on more. Former Army Special Ops Sergeant First Class Asher James could handle anything that war sent his way–terrorists, bombs, bullets. The only thing that scares him now is sleep. As the shadows close in, the nightmares begin.

Finally convinced that he needs help, Asher makes an appointment with a counselor, and Brooke is pressed by her boss to take him on. When he arrives at her office she isn’t there–but a dead body is. Brooke is devastated when she walks in, and Asher is a conveniently strong shoulder to cry on. But she can’t take him on as a client after sharing such an intimate and unprofessional moment, can she? And he’s not sure he can handle sharing his deepest fears with such a beautiful woman.

When it becomes clear that Brooke was the real target of the attack–and that her secrets go even deeper than his own–Asher vows to protect her no matter what.

Bestselling author Lynette Eason is back with a new series that spans the globe and will have your heart working overtime.

MY THOUGHTS

An intense fast paced read through most of the pages, lots occurs from Afghanistan to Tajikistan to the US. The suspense is held well through most of the book. Everyone from cops, to military, to eventually the FBI is involved in this one.

The characters are quite well done, and I really liked the main characters in this book. Though at times they seemed to act out of character, especially Brooke. They were military, though, so that isn’t perhaps unusual. The plot itself didn’t seem very realistic, and that was really the only negative to the fast paced romantic suspense. For me, the romance wasn’t too much so the ratio that is so frequently discussed about romantic suspense-well, this was just about as perfect as you can get for me.

I really liked how the author wove the faith thread into the book. In a fast paced suspense read that isn’t always easy. It was incredibly well done.

This was a great read that I would definitely recommend to all the suspense fans out there.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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Cross My Heart

by Robin Lee Hatcher

This is by far my favorite series by this author! A split time series with a family Bible that is the link between past and present is a terrific idea, and I love the stories that have been created.

This has a wonderful plot, a slow moving relationship, terrific characters and just a really sweet story…both of them so touching. The angst and horror of war with faith as an anchor; a sordid past with faith getting him through each day. Reading the notes written by the man who relied on his faith through the war and beyond.

This book will go on my forever shelves next to the first in the series.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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<i>The Memory House</i> <br> <h4>by Rachel Hauck</h4>

The Memory House

by Rachel Hauck

The author really delivers in this read! So much about life…it’s tragedies and triumphs, mountains and valleys, times of spiritual weakness, and times of spiritual growth and grace.

The characters in this book are very well done, and I was so glad that a big fight over a secret wasn’t the climax because that is rather overused. I read a lot so I tend to notice…plus it’s a constant Hallmark trope as well. This book breaks from the mold in many ways, for that, if for no other reason- it made this book stand out to me.

We adopted so that being a subject in the book also gives the book a special feel. This book has pretty much all emotions.

How people deal with loss is different for everyone, but there is only One who can make you live again! To me, that was much what the book was about…walking through the valleys, never forgetting them,but using them to continue to live.

I enjoy Rachel Haucks reads…this has to be one of my favorites by her. There were a few things I wish had been explored more or places where I wanted more remorse or a different emotion. This was a personal preference, tho, and this book was really well done with the plot and storylines. There is depth to this story that makes it a definite re-read…and some things on which to dwell. Definitely a book to read, savor, enjoy, and cause the reader to muse more about life…the messy, the tragedies,the lovely, and the ugly. It’s far more than just a romance read so go get your hands on this one!! Take yourself to another’s world and see if your perspective of things doesn’t change..at least a little.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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