book review

Jody Hedlund’s Waters of Time series keeps getting better! The latest, Wait for Me, releases on May 9th. Here’s what you need to know:

Dawson Huxham blames himself for his sister’s death . . . until he briefly crosses time and discovers she’s alive in the Middle Ages. Hoping to reconnect with her, he searches for the holy water that will help him visit the past for a longer duration. But he realizes he’s not the only one looking for the miraculous water. Terrorists are threatening him and watching his every move.

As Dawson locates holy water from an unlikely source, he crosses fully into the past where he meets a beautiful noblewoman, Philippa Neville, who is desperately trying to escape her uncle’s plans for an arranged marriage. When danger closes in, Dawson agrees to wed her in an effort to thwart her uncle’s schemes. As forces in both the present and past conspire against the newlyweds, will they find a way to be together before the swiftly moving waters of time separate them forever?

Hedlund outdid herself with the modern Dawson and historic Philippa combo in Wait for Me! The way that these two interact is so fun and yet steamy. Dawson’s honor is on full display even as we see that clash with the values of the time, and this conflict makes for a thrilling story.

I loved that plotline, but while it makes your heart race, the overarching lesson that Dawson and Philippa need to learn will have you mulling it over for days. These clear, specific takeaways aren’t just good for this romantic pair but are things that we can implement, too, and that elevates this story to a higher level for me.

Throughout this series Hedlund has been exploring gender roles in both time periods, as well as healthy ways to communicate and be in relationship with each other. The historic angles are handled well and I appreciate the way that she digs into this. Our culture needs strong heroes like these!

Wait for Me crosses genres, and each one is done well. I love the way that the sci-fi component feels real and that the historical pieces are influenced by real historical events and figures. Hedlund has done her research, and the series keeps getting better. Don’t leave us hanging, please – keep building the Waters of Time series. We need more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Blind Trust, the final book in the SNAP Agency series by Natalie Walters, releases next Tuesday – and this is a book you need! Here’s a summary:

Lyla Fox knows she has a reputation at the SNAP Agency for impulsivity, but when she receives a threatening letter from a man she helped put in prison, she can’t stop herself from going all in to find out why he’s coming after her. Unfortunately, she’s going to need the help of the one person who questions her reckless choices more than anyone else.

Explosives and weapons specialist Nicolás Garcia agrees to help Lyla in order to keep her safe, but her recklessness continues to be a major concern, especially when her investigation into a conspiracy puts a target on her back. Dealing with bombs is dangerous. Working with Lyla is proving to be just as treacherous–to both the mission and his heart.

Blind Trust is the best book in the SNAP Agency series, and if you’ve been reading along, you know that’s saying something! Lyla and Garcia really shine here, and Walters uses this story to weave together all the threads she’s been tugging since the beginning of the series.

These both played large roles in making Blind Trust both a fun book to read and one that dealt with the heavy issues of terrorism and fear with a balanced hand. I’m not interested in fluffy books; I want to learn something when I read, but the best stories for me teach me while I’m lost in the story itself, and that’s exactly what Walters does with Blind Trust.

Actually, it took me far longer than usual to read this book; partly because I really didn’t want to say goodbye to Kekoa and the gang, but also because I kept backing up and rereading. That’s really rare for me, but I kept thinking of things and making connections and going back a bit to read again. Finally, as I neared the end, I could tell that the events of Initium were critical to Blind Trust, and I put the whole book down to go reread the prequel short story since it had been a while since I’d done so. Then I backed up again.

That might seem weird, and it is unusual for me, but it was also perfect for Blind Trust. You won’t want to miss a single reference, so take the time to start at Initium and work your way through the whole series, even if you’ve read them before, because you’ll get so much more out of them this way. I’ll be doing that again soon, because even though I know how it all wraps up now, you can never have too much Kekoa or Lyla.

If it seems weird that a supporting character takes up so much space in the hearts of reader-fans everywhere, then you haven’t met Kekoa yet – but you should, because if you know, you know. What I loved about this particular book is that Lyla nearly reaches that same kind of stardom in my head. She’s sassy and snappy and fierce but also full of love and goodness, determined to help anyone she can. Lyla makes a perfect female lead, so when you set her up against Garcia and throw hunky Hawaiian Kekoa into the mix, it can’t be anything but fantastic.

So for all of these reasons and more, you need to read Blind Trust. Grab your copy today – it releases everywhere in just one week!

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

Susan May Warren is writing a new series featuring hunky heroes – the Minnesota Marshalls – and Jonas will release everywhere on April 4! Here’s what it’s about:

Jonas Marshall is done storm-chasing, plagued with the memory of a terrible accident that paralyzed a fellow chaser, so the last thing he’s going to do is run into more danger. Now, he’s just a simple weatherman deploying dirigibles in an experiment to track weather patterns in Slovenia.

As far from danger as he can get.

But danger comes knocking in the form of hiker in need of rescue, and he can’t deny that her companion—beautiful Sibba Kovac—is a great distraction from the guilt that haunts him…until she paraglides right out of his life.

Probably for the best.

But danger still won’t leave him alone when a storm knocks his dirigibles out of the sky, and he happens upon one that looks tampered with…

It is. And worse, it’s carrying what could be radioactive waste. At least according to EOD expert Sibba…who finds herself face-to-face with the rescuer she can’t forget. But she’s not looking for him—her grandfather is missing, and she’ll stop at nothing to find him.

When her missing grandfather leads to the threat of a dirty bomb, she’s the only one who can stop it. And Jonas is the only man brave enough to run into danger with her. But she doesn’t have room in her heart to love him—not when she lives with death in her periphery. Can the right man, at the right time help her see beyond her fears to a future?

And if they have a chance to save the world, can Jonas let go of the woman he loves?

So what do you need to know about Jonas? Buy it. Today. Now. You won’t want to wait a single second past the delivery date to start in on this series, although if you haven’t read Fraser, the first, then get busy.

What’s even better is that while Jonas doesn’t officially release until April 4 at all major retailers, you can get it now on Susan May Warren’s website. So, really, you can get it now.

If you’re not familiar with Warren’s writing style, it’s action-adventure on asteroids with lots of hunky heroes and quoteable, deep lessons interwoven into the plot.

They’re fabulous.

I end up alternately cheering on the heroes as they save the world – because, face it, they always do – while simultaneously highlighting most of the second half of the story because I love the phrasing and the lessons and the way that Warren knits the beautiful words together. They sing.

And Jonas? He’s brainy and brave and oh-so-fun. So you won’t want to wait at all for this one. Snag your copy now, stockpile the chocolate, and enjoy.

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

Denise Hunter’s new book A Novel Proposal releases on March 21! Here’s what it’s all about:

When novelist Sadie Goodwin is forced to stop writing westerns and charged with penning a contemporary romance novel to rescue her lackluster sales, there’s only one tiny problem: She’s never been in love.

Desperate to salvage her career, Sadie begins devouring romance novels. Knowing she must devote herself to this confounding genre, she accepts an invitation to hole up at her friend’s beach duplex for the summer. Where better to witness love in bloom than on the beautiful North Carolina shore?

However, once ensconced in the charming ocean-front home with her sweet maltipoo Rio, she finds many ways to procrastinate. First there’s the beach, right outside her backdoor, with all its interesting visitors (research). Then there’s the free library she decides to build and set up by the back deck (She has to do something with all those romance novels). To say nothing of Sam Ford, the grumpy neighbor on the other side of the duplex . . . who she can’t seem to stop annoying.

A social butterfly by nature, Sadie soon gets to know all the beach regulars—sunbathers, walkers, and surfers alike. The free books draw a crowd right up to the house for nice little book chats, which further irritates her reclusive neighbor, to break up her “writing.” But things take an unexpected turn when Sadie opens a recently-placed novel to find a secret compartment—and tucked inside is a beautiful engagement ring. To whom does the ring belong? Sadie is convinced she needs to find the owner and save the man’s proposal from certain doom.

She draws a reluctant Sam into the project, and slowly their connection begins to develop. Are these weird fluttery feelings the first stirrings of love? Has Sadie managed to stumble upon the very subject about which she must write—and wouldn’t Sam make the perfect alpha hero?

Will Sadie find the ring’s rightful owner? And will she manage to pen a career-saving romance novel by summer’s end?

Denise Hunter’s next release A Novel Proposal is certainly unique, and it corners the market on fun! Sam and Sadie make the perfect people for setting up this scenario.

That’s because they complement each other so well! I love how Sadie’s enthusiasm takes over when obstacles loom. Her life is far from perfect, but she constantly looks on the bright side and tries to keep moving forward. Sam, on the other hand, has retreated to lick his wounds. Finding out how to heal and trust will be a challenge for them both.

Hunter does a fantastic job of writing these real-life lessons into the story without weighing it down. The balance between faith, flirting, and fun is perfect!

And the fun quotient is really high. Sadie is determined to find the owner of a ring she’s found, and she drags Sam along for the ride. This plot moves the story along and adds a healthy dose of whipped cream to the top of this sundae-like story.

I really enjoyed A Novel Proposal. It’s fun without being fluffy and has real lessons to learn, too. With warm weather on the way, it’s the perfect spring break read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Under Fire, the last book in Lynn Blackburn’s Defend and Protect series, releases on March 7, and you don’t want to miss this one! Here’s what it’s all about:

USSS Special Agent Zane Thacker has landed his dream assignment protecting the president of the United States. When the president plans a fundraiser at the exclusive estate of a political supporter in Raleigh, Zane is thrilled to be working again with Special Agent Tessa Reed, his best friend–and the woman he desperately wishes could be more.

Though Tessa almost lost everything, she battled her demons and came out on the other side healthy and healed. But when her role as the liaison between the Raleigh office and the president’s protective detail wrenches her past back into the present, her greatest failure threatens to come to light.

Zane refuses to let Tessa go through this alone. But can he stand by the woman he loves and protect the president from a mounting threat at the same time?

Under Fire by Lynn Blackburn is on fire! This exciting story wraps up this trilogy perfectly, although I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters, which is perfect, because …

Blackburn uses this story to segue into her next series! I love the way that she made this work. The characters in the Defend and Protect series make a fantastic team, and Blackburn shows herself to be equel to the genius of Susan May Warren or Dee Henderson when worldbuilding with the way that she creates an extensive cast of characters and can weave their lives together.

With that said, though, I didn’t feel that I had a good handle on Tessa Reed before this book. She felt like the quiet newbie in the Raleigh Secret Service office in the first two books of the series, and while she seemed quite capable, she kept to herself more than the others. She comes fully into her own in this story, though, and you find out what’s been happening with her that caused the friction with Zane and kept her moving on the down-low previously.

What I love about her, though, is that she’s handling all of her past junk with honesty and aplomb, all while taking charge of the case, the chocolate, and the coffee! She’s such a neat character, and I hope we see more of her in this interagency world that Blackburn is creating.

Under Fire sizzles with signature Blackburn tension, and she keeps your heartrate high with a mix of fast-paced action and quirky humor. It’s a fantastic read, and if you love suspense and/or romantic novels, you won’t want to miss this one.

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

What are you reading right now? I love recommendations – share yours in the comments below!

Brooke, the conclusion to Ronie Kendig’s Metcalfes series is here, and it’s a doozy! Here’s what you need to know:

Prioritizing career over family cost Brooke Metcalfe Mulroney everything—her relationship with her siblings, her marriage, her children. Written off by her family, she delves deeper into her work. Until a life-altering moment offers a chance at something she didn’t know she wanted—redemption. But her self-centered ways nip at her heels as she goes on the lam to do what she knows is right.

Former Special Forces operator and founder of MiLE, Cord Taggart wages war on human trafficking by taking the violence to the wicked, determined to never again let an innocent die because he did nothing. But maybe he’s bitten off more than he can chew this time as he works to track down New York City high-powered attorney Brooke Metcalfe, who is MIA. Then there’s her brothers who have threatened to chase him into the afterlife should he fail.

Tricky are the hours as Cord negotiates many battles: freeing the captives, demolishing the Trench that has made millions off the skin-trade industry, and his growing, deep-rooted feelings for the bombshell in her highfalutin tower. Brooke must put her life—and heart—in the hands of the thick-skulled operator.

Wow. Just, wow. Brooke is a heartstopping finale to the Metcalfes drama, and it’s absolutely perfect.

It’s obvious that Kendig wrote Brooke with great concern for the victims of trafficking and with great respect for those in the military and organizations dedications to their rescue. The line between showing the brutality these people endure and what we as readers need to have in our minds is razor sharp, and Kendig walks this line with care. Kendig has written a story that will entertain us while engaging our hearts with this issue and will implore our souls to help.

On that entertainment side, Kendig has woven this entire series seamlessly into the military universe that she has created. With exciting, hunky men from previous series’ brought forward into this one, any Kendig fan will immediately fall in love – and appreciate the glimpse into their lives now. The love story is written with signature Kendig steaminess, and the best part for me is always how she shows how exciting kindness and respect can be. It did seem as if certain characters were able to throw off the trauma they endured very quickly, but that does help the plot move along. Even so, it is all done with respect and done well.

This book isn’t all about entertainment, though, and Kendig provides both information about the reality of human trafficking in the story, as well as about organizations who work to fight it at the end of the book. This is important, because if you read Brooke – and especially if you’ve read the whole Metcalfe series – you won’t be able to move on to your next book. You’re going to need to know more. You’re going to want to know how you can support the people like Cord and Brooke. You’ll want to know where the real MiLE organizations are, and Kendig shares her connections here.

One thing to note is that the style of this book differs from the rest of the series. It’s not written chronologically; instead, the story starts in the middle of the action and then italicized flashbacks fill you in on what has happened up to that point. This is done extremely well; it’s not only hard-hitting, but it draws out the suspense perfectly.

I’ve long been a fan of Kendig’s books, so I’d recommend that you start at the beginning and work your way through. I’d also say that Brooke is one of her best, though; so if you’re new to her books, grab the whole Metcalfe series and settle in. You’re in for an amazing ride.

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

Laura Frantz has published a fascinating new historical fiction novel that involves her own ancestry! Here’s what The Rose and the Thistle is all about:

In 1715, Lady Blythe Hedley’s father is declared an enemy of the British crown because of his Jacobite sympathies, forcing her to flee her home in northern England. Secreted to the tower of Wedderburn Castle in Scotland, Lady Blythe awaits who will ultimately be crowned king. But in a house with seven sons and numerous servants, her presence soon becomes known.

No sooner has Everard Hume lost his father, Lord Wedderburn, than Lady Hedley arrives with the clothes on her back and her mistress in tow. He has his own problems–a volatile brother with dangerous political leanings, an estate to manage, and a very young brother in need of comfort and direction in the wake of losing his father. It would be best for everyone if he could send this misfit heiress on her way as soon as possible.

Drawn into a whirlwind of intrigue, shifting alliances, and ambitions, Lady Blythe must be careful whom she trusts. Her fortune, her future, and her very life are at stake. Those who appear to be adversaries may turn out to be allies–and those who pretend friendship may be enemies.

Who knew that a religious rebellion, royal controversy, and neighborly scandals could be as fascinating as Laura Frantz describes in The Rose and the Thistle? While I wouldn’t want to be caught between my own beliefs and anyone else’s disapproval, Frantz explores the many ways this happened during this controversial time in European history in exciting ways.

Scotland and England have a rocky history, and The Rose and the Thistle brings this to life both on national and personal levels. The way that Frantz relates these in the story make the whole concepts easier to understand. The personal elements up the dramatic factor and while still clearly relating the beauty of both countries. As someone who is (partly) of Scottish descent, I’ve always wanted to see a castle in Scotland, and Frantz’s sweeping descriptions of this country’s beauty only increased that desire.

While the historical plotlines are what set the boundaries and made this story move along, it’s really all about the hot Everard and the brilliant-but-bonnie Blythe. Frantz created really exciting characters here, and they don’t necessarily fit the historical stereotypes – which made the book extra fun to read. Blythe is made to be more than just eye candy for a future husband, and Frantz gives you much to think about in terms of what one might look for in a potential spouse. Everard must learn to bear the responsibilities of his station and his family, and that means that he can’t consider only his own personal wants. With deep and meaningful characters set against the backdrop of upheaval, you’ll find yourself speeding through this story.

Until you come to a Frantz zinger, that is. I was pleasantly surprised by how many times the author caught me with a line of unquestionable beauty or depth – one that I wanted to underline so that I could come back to it again and again to ponder. I love when books are not only crafted well but also written beautifully. The Rose and the Thistle is both.

So if you’re a fan of smart-but-steamy historical fiction, put The Rose and the Thistle on your TBR list. You’re going to love it.

What are you reading right now?

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Check out these reviews of other novels by Laura Frantz here:

The Mistress of Tall Acre

A Heart Adrift