book review

Roseanna M. White has a new book releasing, and here’s what Yesterday’s Tides is all about:

In 1942, Evie Farrow is used to life on Ocracoke Island, where every day is the same–until the German U-boats haunting their waters begin to wreak havoc. And when special agent Sterling Bertrand is washed ashore at Evie’s inn, her life is turned upside down. While Sterling’s injuries keep him inn-bound for weeks, making him even more anxious about the SS officer he’s tracking, he becomes increasingly intrigued by Evie, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own.

Decades earlier, in 1914, Englishman Remington Culbreth arrives at the Ocracoke Inn for the summer, never expecting to fall in love with Louisa Adair, the innkeeper’s daughter. But when war breaks out in Europe, their relationship is put in jeopardy and may not survive what lies ahead for them.

As the ripples from the Great War rock Evie and Sterling’s lives in World War II, it seems yesterday’s tides may sweep them all into danger again today.

Yesterday’s Tides is Roseanna M. White’s best novel yet – and that’s saying something! She is a master craftsman of the surprise, the symbolic, the deep – and I love how she ties so many of these elements together in unexpected ways in this story.

That kept happening with this one. I mean, unless you’re reading Nicholas Sparks, where someone always seems to die tragically, with most romance-type books the cool people get together, right? Yet Yesterday’s Tides doesn’t fit that pattern. It kept me on my toes all the way through the book, not only about who would end up together, but also about the big picture, the subplots, and so much more. I wasn’t confused, but I was actively trying to figure out what was going to happen – and it was good. White drew me in and totally engaged me with the story, the setting, and her characters.

White’s notorious for examining an issue from every perspective in her books. I love the way that she helps readers wrestle with big ideas right along with her characters, and typically that occurs in beautiful, lyrical lines that jump off the page and beg to be highlighted. In Yesterday’s Tides, she handles it a bit differently. I feel that there are still big ideas that are being looked at carefully, but more than ever, the reader is doing this through the eyes of the characters. It’s much more subtle, and while I love that other style, I’m still finding myself pondering the issues long after turning the last page.

Books that draw me in and take me away and then make me think before sending me back home are the best ones, I think. They provide an escape but also a lesson, some wisdom and beauty to add to your life. White excels at this, too, but that’s not even the most exciting thing about this particular story, because if you’ve read any of her others, there’s something else you need to know.

White hid Easter eggs in Yesterday’s Tides for all of her other series/standalones! They’re fantastic! All of her story worlds collide in this one novel, in one way or another, and it happens naturally and wonderfully and made me want to sit up and clap. If you haven’t read the others, you won’t miss anything; but if you have, those mentions will add extra joy to your day.

So put Yesterday’s Tides on your TBR list, or better yet, pre-order it now so you can start reading it on Tuesday, when it releases; and then when you’re done, let’s talk – because this is one book you won’t be ready to close for good.

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

I’m so excited to have this opportunity to share about Jody Hedlund’s third installment in her Waters of Time series, Stay With Me, with you because I’ve loved each and every one! Here’s the official summary:

As a private investigator, Sybil Huxham has seen her fair share of strange occurrences. But nothing in her career has been more perplexing than the miracles she’s witnessed as a result of people drinking ancient holy water. When she discovers more of the rare holy water, she experiences strange overlaps with a nobleman in the Middle Ages who is languishing in a dungeon, accused of treason and condemned to die. To save his life, she finally crosses to the past completely.

Nicholas Worth has never met a woman quite like Sybil, and as the two run for their lives into the Weald, they find refuge among a community of outlaws. With both their reputations on the line, they have little choice but to marry. As they get to know each other, an undeniable attraction develops. But danger and disease chase after them, drawing ever closer. Will they be able to escape the threats? And will Sybil choose to stay with Nicholas in the past, or will she be ripped apart from him forever?

Wow! Stay With Me proves that Christian romance stories can sizzle with sexy undertones while still being completely clean and dive deeply into real-life issues. Hedlund ups the ante with her hot characters in this story and takes issues of personal responsibility and how to respect and love your spouse far beyond where most authors go. I love how she’s opening up this conversation in a way that fits well with her story but is relevant to our modern culture and issues.

Nicholas and Sybil were favorite supporting characters of mine from previous novels in this series, so it’s exciting that Hedlund gave them their own chance to shine – and shine they do! Hedlund tackles attraction full on in this story, yet she does so in completely clean and respectable ways. The interactions between this pair sizzles endlessly, but Hendlund shows this attraction in respectful ways. While there are a very few kisses, she does much with a well-timed glance or simple touch. She’s brought real romance to this story, and I can’t wait to read more of her work.

While you could read this story independently, Hedlund gives much more detail into the story of the water with its supernatural elements in the previous books. Stay With Me will be much richer if you read those first. Besides, you won’t want to miss a single page of this series.

Stay With Me has many fun elements – it’s historical, sci-fi, and romance all in one – but they dovetail well. The criminal suspense element pairs well with the romance, and the historical-slash-time-travel plot enriches the rest. If you enjoy any of these genres, you’ll love this series, so grab your copy now, collect your snacks, and settle in, because you won’t stop until you’ve reached The End.

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

If you want to know more about the other books in this series, click on the titles below to read my reviews of each one.

Never Leave Me

Colleen Coble’s expanded her Rock Harbor world with the Annie Pederson series, and Dark of Night releases in January. Here’s what it’s all about:

As if the last few months haven’t been hard enough—complete with threats on her life and the return of her first love, Jon—Annie has to figure out whether or not to believe a woman who claims to be her sister, Sarah, who was abducted twenty-four years ago at age five. Annie’s eight-year-old daughter, Kylie, has plenty of questions about what’s going on in her mother’s life—but there are some stories Annie doesn’t want uncovered.

As Annie grapples with how to heal the gulf between her and her would-be sister and make room in her daughter’s life for Jon, she’s professionally distracted by the case of yet another missing hiker in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A woman named Michelle Fraser has now been abducted, and though the woman’s estranged husband is at the top of their suspect list, Annie and her colleagues will need to dig deeper to determine whether these recent mysteries are truly as unrelated as they seem.

Colleen Coble’s Annie Pederson series returns readers to Rock Harbor in the best kind of way! Dark of Night picks up right where the series opener, Edge of Dusk ends, and the continuity is great. Coble builds into the story of Annie, Jon, and Kylie, developing these characters further, even as she ties in threads from the original Rock Harbor cast. It’s the best of both worlds!

I really enjoyed the way that Coble added more intrigue to the plot. With Annie’s investigations, her mysterious past, and townie interactions, Dark of Night is full of questions. I like books that keep you on your mental toes, and this is definitely one of those. Seeing how Coble brought all the pieces together made for a fascinating novel.

That’s why I think Dark of Night would be a great book club pick. It would be fun to be able to discuss the family issues, the professional ethics, and questions about how to live out your faith when everything seems to be up in the air. If you have friends who are fans of romantic suspense, this would make a great choice.

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

Sundown is the third and final book in Susan May Warren’s Sky King Ranch series, and it’s a fantastic finale! Here’s what it’s all about:

Former Delta Operative Colt Kingston knows when someone is lying. He may not know the truth, but he sure doesn’t trust Tae, the woman who is caring for his ailing father at Sky King Ranch. Behind those beautiful blue eyes, he can tell there is a troubled–and smart–woman.

A few of her stories prove true–he’s found the crashed plane and the dead body inside. Still, her story of survival seems too incredible to believe . . . until the thugs she claims to be hunting her show up and threaten Sky King Ranch. Now Tae must disappear, along with her secrets.

But Colt’s not about to let her go it alone. And when they discover that her secrets include the antidote to a plague that threatens the world, it’ll take all three Kingston brothers to save the country they’ve vowed to protect.

Susan May Warren’s books keep getting better – and she’s definitely upped the stakes and the pace in Sundown! This book sizzles with intensity from all angles: from the exciting tension between Colt and Tae to the military-like men and their focus on the ops they plan.

Susan May Warren has mastered how to write an exciting, suspenseful, keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat story full of fascinating characters and their just-as-strong love interests. That combination hooks me every time, and Sundown was no different. I couldn’t put this book down, and I love how so many angles were at play all at once.

But what makes Sundown a book you need to read if you’re also a Warren fan – and why you should back up and start at the beginning of her book list if she’s new to you – is because she’s also the master of the saga. Short books frustrate me because I want to know characters in deep ways, and then I’m too invested in their stories to want to give them up after a few hundred pages. I want to stay with them and get updates, to drop in on them and find out how they’re doing, I want that world to continue and to feel just as complex and amazing as it did at first.

That’s what Warren has built through her last several series, and it continues through the Sky King Ranch books. Characters and families – the Marshalls, Jones, Inc., etc. – are woven into this series, and their stories continue here. That broadens the cast of characters, deepens the emotional intensity, and builds out this story world in fascinating ways. Warren’s technique and emotionally charged style of writing brings me right into the story, even though I couldn’t dropkick a bad guy or jump out of a plane if my life depended on it like so many of these characters can do, but that just makes me admire them more. It makes these high-stakes story fun in a way that no one else could do.

So get Sundown queued up on your Kindle or en route to your mailbox and settle in for an exciting read. Just make sure that you have an uninterrupted stretch of time – because nothing’s going to take this book out of your hands once you get started.

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

Defending Honor is the third book in Lynette Eason’s Elite Guardians Collection, written with Kelly Underwood, and it releases on October 4! Here’s what it’s all about:

Bodyguard Laila Rabbinowitz is all business. Tough and stoic, she was the perfect Mossad agent…until a terrible betrayal led to her worst nightmare. Being a bodyguard with the Elite Guardians allows her to keep her heart safe—she’ll never get involved with a client, never let anyone close enough to betray her again. And she’s certainly not going to trust anyone who doesn’t earn it.

Billionaire Preston Whittaker walked away from his famous family after a terrible event, but he’s put that behind him—or so he thinks. When his father and brother are killed in a suspicious boating accident, he must take the helm of the family business and carry on the family legacy. But someone doesn’t want him at the helm. They want him dead.

Enter the Elite Guardians. Preston is going to need someone by his side 24/7, and the only solution is…a fake marriage. Laila needs to pull off acting as the trophy wife to the country’s most eligible bachelor. With the eyes of the paparazzi on them, she’ll have to convince everyone that she and Preston are in love.

Preston’s reputation as a party playboy precedes him, and Laila doesn’t belong in his world filled with parties and money. But is there more to Preston Whittaker that the world doesn’t see? Maybe, in time, he’s someone Laila could learn to trust. Only problem is, the danger is closer than they both know…and time is running out.

Defending Honor is a surprise delight! Underwood keeps the action moving, your heart pumping, and the pages turning with this perfect addition to the Elite Guardians Collection.

I must admit that I was a bit skeptical when I read the full summary. A turned-around billionaire playboy? It sounded like, well … a fantasy story, honestly, but Underwood totally pulls it off. She crafted characters that you really care about from the very beginning, and that makes all the difference. She mixes in heartwarming scenes with heartrending action sequences that keep the pace flowing. Throw in believable motivations for the entire cast of characters and surprises that don’t let up and Defending Honor will keep you on the edge of your seat for the entire read!

Defending Honor is the perfect fun fall read. I thoroughly enjoyed this story with characters who felt like they could be friends. Don’t miss this fun ending to a fantastic series.

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

Fallout is the next release in Carrie Stuart Parks’ loosely linked but stand-alone novels that all revolve around a retreat center in the Pacific Northwest. Here’s what it’s all about:

After a difficult childhood, Samantha Williams craves simplicity: jigsaw puzzles, lectures at the library, and the students she adores in her role as an elementary school art teacher in the dusty farming community of LaCrosse, Washington.

But when an SUV crashes into the building where she teaches, her entire world is upended. Samantha manages to keep the children safe, but her car isn’t so lucky. Oddly, her purse—with her driver’s license, credit cards, and other identification—is missing from the wreckage.

After authorities discover that the driver in the accident was shot seconds before the crash, Samantha quickly becomes entangled in increasingly strange events that have her constantly looking over her shoulder.

Samantha has long tried to forget the tragedy of her past, but the twisting connections she discovers between the murdered driver, a deadly secret government project, and an abandoned town can’t be ignored. Those involved are determined to keep these secrets buried, and they’ll use any means necessary to stop Samantha’s search for truth.

Carrie Stuart Parks’ latest novel Fallout is a dangerously delicious tale of high-stakes action and what-if whodunnits. She drips out the drama as Samantha tries to survive each day while you try to figure out what’s fiction, what’s real, and what’s going to happen next.

Samantha is a quirky character you can’t help but love – though you might find yourself groaning at some of her choices. The same is true of a few other characters, too; you can’t help but cheer them on all while wondering what they’re really up to.

Parks’ novels always include a historical aspect, and I love that, but this one read a bit different to me, because not only was the story built around real historical truth, but she placed an event in history that hasn’t happened yet – but could. The possibility of this had me searching online to determine how much was real and how much was creative license early in the story. The very real danger posed by this history isn’t over, and that ups the stakes for any concerned reader. That whole situation takes this book to a whole new level.

So if you love mysteries and whodunnits, if you love history and mystery but don’t mind a bit of fear factor, then Fallout is the perfect autumn read for you.

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

The conclusion to Roseanna M. White’s current series, The Secrets of the Isles, releases on September 13, and it will knock your socks off! Here’s what it’s all about:

After a summer of successful pirate-treasure hunting, Lady Emily Scofield and her friends must hide the unprecedented discoveries they’ve made, thanks to the betrayal of her own family. Horrified by her brother, who will stop at nothing to prove himself to their greedy father, Emily is forced to take a stand against her family–even if it means being cut off entirely.

Bram Sinclair, Earl of Telford, is fascinated with tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table–an interest he’s kept mostly hidden for the last decade. But when a diary is unearthed on the islands that could lead to a secret artifact, Bram is the only one able to piece the legends together.

As Bram and Emily seek out the whereabouts of the hidden artifact, they must dodge her family and a team of archaeologists. In a race against time, it is up to them to decide what makes a hero worthy of legend. Is it fighting valiantly to claim the treasure . . . or sacrificing everything in the name of selfless love?

Roseanna M. White ends her series The Secrets of the Isles on a high note with Worthy of Legend! This compelling story ramps up the action, the treasure, and the lessons from each of the ones before and takes them to new levels.

I love how White uses the events of this story to tie together all of the tiny details and ideas from the other books. Nothing is left out – which doesn’t mean that everything is wrapped up neatly – but everything has a purpose. In fact, White surprised me with just how far she takes the action in this story. She definitely pulls every emotional thread her characters have to drive the lesson home and keep the reader as invested as possible in this story – and it works.

You won’t be able to put this book down! The large cast of characters feels like family, and I love the way that they worked together to find the treasure and to help each other personally. The balance of the realistic, loveable characters and the drama caused by Emily’s villainous family means that there’s never a dull moment.

For me, White’s books are known for their lessons. Each one investigates an issue that somehow, through the way that the characters explore this question, is driven home and embedded in my heart. Worthy of Legend is no different. While I hope that there are few out there facing the heartache that Emily does in this book, the truth that she learns is no less real and every bit as necessary. I have absolutely no idea how White does it, but I hope she continues to do so for dozens more novels.

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

Read my reviews of the other books in this series, The Nature of a Lady and To Treasure an Heiress here.