Lethal Legacy by Carol Post

Book description:


Someone wants her family secrets buried. He's her only chance to survive. Andrea Wheaton thought her parents' tragic deaths were accidental--until she's attacked during a burglary at their home. Now she's also being targeted. Her ex-sweetheart Sheriff Deputy Bryce Caldwell insists on protecting her, though she refuses to trust him again. But with a killer closing in, can she and Bryce uncover her family's secrets before it's too late for them both?

My review: 

  There are way too many books in the Love Inspired Suspense line to keep up with, but I have been reading more of them lately than I used to. This author is one reason for that. Back in November of 2016, she emailed me and asked me if I would review her new book at that time. Since then, I have reviewed a few other books, all of them suspense books in this line with the exception of one, and I have enjoyed every one.

 So I was happy to get an email from her recently to review Lethal Legacy, the newest book from her. This book is the second book in a mini series by her, and follows Fatal Recall, the last book I reviewed for her.

 This book launches right into the action and suspense within the first few pages, and brings back one of the characters from the previous book, Deputy Bryce Caldwell. From that point, the rest of the book is him trying to protect his next door neighbor, his ex-girlfriend, from danger from an unknown source. The book also brings back two other characters from the previous book, as they attempt to help protect their friend's attractive neighbor.

 With books like these, you know the guy is going to get the girl by the end of the book. That is a given, but it is still fun reading what leads up to that point, and the author did a great job of doing that. I love suspense, and there was a ton of it in this book. The reader is kept guessing as to who is after Andrea, and why. It wasn't easy to predict what was coming next, and it did keep me on the edge of my seat as the suspense built to the great ending.

 Forgiveness is a topic often dealt with in Christian fiction, and it was a topic in this book. Maybe we hear it often because we need to hear it often.

 This was a great suspenseful and Christian read the author can be proud of. I am hoping she has one more book to go with these two.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

About the author:

From medical secretary to court reporter to property manager to owner of a special events decorating company, Carol's résumé reads as if she doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up. But one thing that has remained constant through the years is her love for writing. She started as a child writing poetry for family and friends, then graduated to articles and finally novels.

Carol lives in sunshiny Central Florida and writes fun and fast-paced inspirational romance and romantic suspense. Her books have received a 2016 Royal Palm Literary Award and been nominated for a 2016 RITA® award and a 2014 RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award. She is also a popular speaker, presenting workshops on a variety of craft topics. Besides writing, she enjoys sailing, hiking, camping—almost anything outdoors. Her two grown daughters and grandkids live too far away for her liking, so she now pours all that nurturing into taking care of a fat and sassy black cat and a highly-spoiled dachshund.

Thirst of Steel, The Tox Files #3 by Ronie Kendig

Book description:

The Final Conflict Will Hinge on One of History's Most Dangerous Blades

Dismantled centuries ago, the sword of Goliath is still rumored to thirst for its enemies' blood. Cole "Tox" Russell wants only to put the dangers of his past behind him and begin his new life with Haven Cortes. First, though, he's called to complete a final mission: retrieve the sword and destroy the deadly Arrow & Flame Order.

The AFO, however, is determined to reunite the sword. Threatening the life of Ram and Tzivia's father, they jeopardize Ram's long-held and dangerous secret while demanding Tzivia locate the blade. With the Wraith team slowly being torn apart, things worsen when Mercy Maddox, a new operative, emerges with the stunning news that the artifact is tied to both Ram's secret and a string of unsolved serial murders.

Tox, Ram, and the others are forced to set aside fear and anger to target the true enemy. No matter the cost, Wraith must destroy the AFO . . . or join them in the flames. 

My review:

  Ronie Kendig is one of those authors who just keeps getting better, and this series has got to be her best. She took a different turn in this series than in her other military fiction, and added a supernatural aspect.

 In this, the 3rd and final book in the series, the sword of Goliath is being searched for. The bad guys want it for evil purposes, and the good guys want it to stop the bad guys.

 This book had a lot going on in it. Thankfully, the author noted every time the book switched locations, as it took you all over the place, though mainly in Russia and the USA.

  I was sad to see the series end, but it did end with the best book of the series. There seemed to be even more action and suspense than the other, and there were a few surprises. I wondered for the first part of the book why the main character, Tox, was not making an appearance. Then I found out why, and I did not see that coming.

 This book focused more on Ram than the others did. Cole (Tox) was still the main character, but Ram played as much of a part as he did in the book.

 I saw a comment about the book where a reviewer said "how could you?!" to the author, so I was expecting someone to die....and I was correct in who I pegged was going to die. It was sad, but it was also an awesome scene that I had to re-read a few times after I finished the book. I am a guy, but yes....it effected me emotionally.... and I'll leave it at that. :)

 Kendig is a favorite author of mine, but I don't say this lightly: I was honestly wowed at the intricate plot she wove.... the curse, the sword, the history she used.....it truly was an amazing plot. I found myself thinking more than once "how on earth did she come up with THAT?!" She showed as usual that it is possible to write great military/special OPs books and keep it clean and curse free.....and I really admire that.

 The romance angle was played out more in this book, and it involved one of the surprises in the book...one that is revealed fairly early.

 Even with the sad emotional part I mentioned before, the book had a terrific ending, and I had that satisfied feeling one has when they read a great novel that does more than entertain....it pulls you into the story and won't let you go.

 Great job, Mrs Kendig. You are a definite asset to the Christian fiction market.

 I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

About the author:

Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author of over twenty novels. She grew up an Army brat, and now she and her Army-veteran husband live a short train ride from New York City with their children and a retired military working dog. Ronie's degree in psychology has helped her pen novels of intense, raw characters. Visit her at www.roniekendig.com.

Thirst of Steel is available from Bethany House Publishers.

Called to Protect, Blue Justice #2 by Lynette Eason

Book description:

For the past year, Chloe St. John has been working as a K-9 cop with her German shepherd partner, Hank. After being dumped by her fiance for another woman, Chloe has decided that Hank is just about the only male she likes. She's over the whole romance thing and focuses her attention on doing her job. Because a serious case of human trafficking with connections to her missing cousin just landed in her lap.

When US Marshall Blake MacCallum's daughter goes missing, he's ordered to kill the judge he's protecting and tell no one about his daughter's disappearance or she will die. Blake races against the clock to rescue his daughter while Chloe and Hank are asked to be a part of the task force assembled to bring down the traffickers. Chloe finds herself attracted to the silent, suffering man, but thanks to her previous bad judgment, she wonders if she can trust him. And can Blake trust himself around this firecracker of a woman?

Bestselling author Lynette Eason warns readers to buckle in for a fast and furious ride that will have their hearts pumping from the very start.

My review:

  I have enjoyed every book and series I have read by Lynette Eason, but feel this one is her best yet. I really enjoyed the first one, but liked this one even better....possibly because most of the characters are familiar now.

  Called to Protect is a great suspenseful read that I enjoyed every minute of. The plot and characters were top notch, and the suspense and drama were awesome. Eason tackles the issue of human trafficking in this book, and she does a stellar job of portraying how awful it is, and how the people work and operate who are involved in that horrible practice. As much as I enjoyed the book, it did bring a stark reminder of how widespread this crime is, and how many people have been abducted and forced into God knows what.

 The book is Romantic suspense, and I enjoyed that angle as well. Blake and Chloe are likable characters, and even I found myself rooting for that part. Slight spoiler: this isn't a book where they marry at the end of the book after a whirlwind romance, but the book did have a very good and promising ending the romance department.

 This is possibly Eason's most riveting novel so far. The human trafficking angle made for a great plot, and the dilemma of U.S. Marshal Blake Macallum made it even better.

 Called to Protect also hits on forgiveness, and how we must forgive those who have hurt us and done us wrong... no matter how bad the offense.

 This is definitely a book Eason can be proud of, and it left me wanting to read more of the St John family.

 I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

About the author:

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of Oath of Honor and Called to Protect, as well as the Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and the Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master's degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.


Called to Protect is available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

Formula of Deception by Carrie Stuart Parks

My review:

An artist hiding from an escaped killer uncovers one of World War II’s most dangerous secrets—a secret that desperate men will do anything to keep hidden.

After the murder of her twin sister, Murphy Anderson changed her name and appearance and moved to Kodiak, Alaska, to avoid the press and publicity. But when local authorities discover she’s an artist and request her help in drawing a dying man’s memories, she unintentionally ends up in the limelight again—and back in the killer’s crosshairs.

The deathbed confessions of an Alaskan hunter have Murphy drawing the five bodies he discovered on remote Ruuwaq Island ten years ago. But what investigators find has them mystified. Evidence suggests that the bodies were deliberately destroyed, and what they uncover in an abandoned Quonset hut from World War II only brings more questions.

As one by one the investigators who were at the hut die, Murphy knows there is something much darker at stake. What happened on this island during the war? And who is willing to kill to keep its secrets buried?

My review:
 I enjoyed the 4 books in the Gwen Macy Series by Parks, but was getting a little tired of the main character and her issues....so I was happy to see a book coming out by this author that wasn't in that series.

 With the author being a forensic artist, her book are all  the more interesting since she knows what she is talking about. This book, though totally different from the others, again showed the author's professional knowledge in that area.

  I liked the new characters the author came up with, along with the plot and setting. The book was very suspenseful, which is exactly what I like. It is a book that kept me turning the pages as fast as I could to see what was going to happen next.

 I did enjoy the book, but there came a point in the book that left me confused as to what had happened and what was going on. I won't give any spoilers away, but I was left with a feeling of wondering if I had missed something.

 I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

About the author:

Carrie Stuart Parks is Christy, Carol, and Inspy award-winning author, an award-winning fine artist, and internationally known forensic artist. Along with her husband, Rick, she travels across the US and Canada teaching courses in forensic art to law enforcement as well as civilian participants. She has won numerous awards for career excellence. Carrie is a popular platform speaker, presenting a variety of topics from crime to creativity.


Formula of  Deception is available from Thomas Nelson Publishing.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers for the review copy.

The Patriot Bride, Daughters of the Mayflower #4, by Kimberly Woodhouse

Book review:

Faith Jackson and Matthew Weber are both working covertly to aid the Patriot cause. But will they be willing to sacrifice all for their fledgling country?
A brand new series for fans of all things related to history, romance, adventure, faith, and family trees.

Spies Work Together for the Patriot Cause
Faith Jackson is a wealthy widow, friend of George Washington, and staunch supporter of the Patriot cause. Matthew Weber is friends with both Ben Franklin and his son William, who increasingly differ in their political views; and Matthew finds himself privy to information on both sides of the conflict. When a message needs to get to a spy among the Loyalists, Faith bravely steps up and in turn meets Matthew Weber. Suddenly she believes she could love again. But someone else has his eye on the Faith she portrays in elite social circles. What will Matthew and Faith have to sacrifice for the sake of their fledgling country?

My review:
  Christian suspense is my favorite genre' and that is where I first ran across this author. Seven years ago she wrote a 2 book series with her daughter that was Christians suspense. I enjoyed those books and her writing style, so I have read her books that are not suspense, such as this one.

 This one caught my eye because of the time period it was written in. I enjoy reading about the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, and Woodhouse did a great job on weaving a fictional tale and fictional characters with historical events and people. I really liked her two main characters, and their dangerous spy mission was as good and suspenseful as a suspense novel. I have read books before where a main character was a spy, but I think this is the first book I have read where both main characters were spies.

  It is interesting to see how different authors portray real historical people, and I enjoyed this author's portrayal of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

  I enjoyed the book a lot, and only wished it had been a little longer. It ended way too soon. Even though it was historical fiction, the story helped remind me of the sacrifices that were made to win our freedom and to keep it.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

About the author:

Kimberley Woodhouse (www.kimberleywoodhouse.com) is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than fifteen fiction and nonfiction books. A popular speaker and teacher, she's shared her theme of "Joy Through Trials" with more than half a million people across the country at more than 2,000 events. Kim and her incredible husband of twenty-five-plus years have two adult children. She's passionate about music and Bible study and loves the gift of story. You can connect with Kimberley on her website and at www.facebook.com/KimberleyWoodhouseAuthor.

The Patriot Bride and the other books in the Daughters of the Mayflower Series are available from Barbour Books.

Thanks to Barbour for the review copy.