book review

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What do you do when your mistakes come back to bite you – and those you care about? Crew is tangled up in a giant problem where he has the chance to do great good, but there’s great danger, too, and Susan May Warren pens his problems expertly in Burning Secrets.

I don’t do well with the idea of people being in danger, and I can’t imagine how this must feel, but I love the way that Crew handled it. From learning lessons resulting from his past mistakes to deciding the kind of man he wants to be, Crew is an excellent hero.

JoJo’s not so bad, either. With multiple talents, many skills, and a big heart, she’s out to save the world. I love this kind of heroine, and when you pair JoJo and Crew? They’re really fun.

Burning Secrets is an example of why I love fiction: because you are reminded that no matter the fierceness of the dragons, there are still dragonslayers. Crew and JoJo are just that: people willing to stand in front of others to protect and defend, and whether they’re facing dragons, villians, or a more common form of evil, we all need to remember that we, too, can choose good.

Don’t wait for this one. Burning Secrets is out now – so grab your copy today.

I received a complimentary copy of Burning Secrets. All opinions are my own.

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Final Approach makes a fantastic conclusion to the Lynette Eason’s Lake City Heroes series – but I’m not ready for it to end! I’ve enjoyed both the characters and their comradery, and I wish this wasn’t the end.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that featured an air marshal before, and Kristine Duncan makes a fascinating one. Her backstory gave her great depth, and I love the strength with which Eason gifted her.

Andrew Ross is protective, kind, and his parents own a bookstore – could there be a more perfect hero? The combination of these two as lead characters is a perfect pairing.

I loved the intricacy of the plot and the emphasis on healthy relationships. If you can call such a suspenseful story ‘fun,’ than this definitely was one. I figured out the bad guy pretty early on, so while I wasn’t surprised, I did enjoy figuring out all the details as the action played out.

Whether you solve whodunnit or you’re surprised at the end, Final Approach is a fantastic summer read, and definitely one that you can’t miss if you’ve been working your way through the Lake City Heroes series (though each can stand alone). I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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

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Burning Rivals is aptly named, because I don’t know when I’ve read a book with characters more against each other than this one! The tension and the stakes are super high for the truth to be found and the bad guy discovered, and you won’t be expecting it.

Burning Rivals is a really fun story. It shows off how naturally beautiful Alaska can be, even with Phillips’ signature high-stakes action taking the foreground. Between bad guys appearing from every angle and fires and Nature’s fury throwing her hat in the ring, there’s a lot happening, and I enjoy that.

There’s unfinished business in this story, though, and it felt as if it’s a bit more than usual for this series. I really hope there are answers in the next book, because I want to know everything.

So if you like fast-paced adventure stories with a few twists and plenty of sizzle, Burning Rivals could be the perfect summer story for you.

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

One Last Stand is a book of epic proportions! This novel truly has it all: spies, royalty, terrorists, betrayal, and much, much more – and those elements come at you hard and fast, putting you through a wringer of emotions.

As a reader, I’m okay with that. The extreme measures of the plot make for an exciting story, and I’ll take all that excitement. I love the way that Warren follows action scenes with thoughtful growth mixed with romance and blends the whole thing with a spiritual journey. I found myself nodding along as Shep grew to new plateaus and cheering for London when she faced hard truths.

Susan May Warren’s character universe has gotten quite large, and loyal readers are going to love One Last Stand. She’s hidden Easter eggs throughout the story, and finding them is such fun! I enjoy catching up with favorite characters from previous novels, and these secret treasures made this book even better.

Which is hard to do, because One Last Stand is the kind of story that stays tucked away inside you long after you turn the last page. Hidden behind the explosions and terror plots are quiet revelations of truths – the kind that whisper to your soul and make you feel stronger, just like Shep and London, for having joined them on their journey. So don’t delay – get your hands on a copy of One Last Stand and prepare for the ride of a reader’s lifetime.

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

Just when I think Susan May Warren has hit the pinnacle of her writing journey, she proves me wrong and writes a book even better than the last, and that’s definitely the case with Fireproof! From the opening scenes to the much-needed cooldown at the end, this book is hot.

And I don’t say that lightly – or in only one way; because Warren pushes the limits all around with Jade and Crispin. From the basis of the plot – hello, can anything be more intense than a search for a missing nuke? – to the way that they keep jumping out of airplanes and into wildfires to their very nicknames – Crispy? – Fireproof is, well, on fire.

But that’s a really, really good thing. Warren knows exactly when to lighten the moment, so the suspense isn’t overwhelming, but it does sizzle a good bit, because she’s the master of hunky heroes. What’s better than a clean, hopeful, suspenseful book about people determined to do the right thing at all costs?

Fireproof is one of those books that you’ll read in a single sitting because there’s no putting it down once you’ve turned the first page, and I was all in. I flew through this one – it was that good. This marriage of Warren’s story universe and Lisa Phillips’ Last Chance County world is a perfect one. I hope that they find more ways to collaborate, and if they do, I’m first in line to pre-order.

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

Roseanna M. White is the master of stories written with depth, emotion, and loads of fun – and Christmas at Sugarplum Manor is the perfect example of this!

Because the main characters of this play don’t always see that fun. It’s too easy to look only at the circumstances that surround you and how they might wall you in, which makes learning to look beyond them even more special. Can Lady Mariah see the gift in her unique ability to share joy with sugar? Can Lightbourne overcome his feelings of inadequacy over not being born to the station he’s been given? Can Gyldenkrone see that responsibility is only better when it’s served with love? Can Louise put aside her grief and hope for a promising tomorrow? I found myself highlighting section after section of White’s lyrical prose, as lessons were learned in perfectly given realizations.

It’s easy to forget the true wonder of Christmas in our American traditions of decorations and wrappings that take so much time and attention, but Christmas at Sugarplum Manor highlights that inherent joy. Even though each character has his or her own set of problems, Mariah sets out to remind them of the true meaning of Christmas, and I love how White goes about making this happen.

From Nutcracker-inspired plays to sugary treats and gorgeous decorations, this book has all the traditional trappings of Christmas – but it’s so much more than that. It has love and hope, vengeance and forgiveness, humbleness and drama and tragedy and redemption. In other words, Christmas at Sugarplum Manor the perfect story for the holiday season.

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