Life in Review: A Love Surrendered by Julie Lessman

A Love Surrendered by Julie Lessman is book 3 in the Winds of Change series, and the dramatic conclusion to the entire O'Connor family series.

Please forgive me if I get bit weepy about this one. This is book 3 in the Winds of Change series, but it's actually the sixth O'Connor family book since there were three earlier books in The Daughters of Boston series. So, I feel like I have been through a lot with this family and I love them all so much. If it were up to me, I would want the series to just keep on going indefinitely. Since I know that isn't practical, I will say that this book was a beautiful end to the series. *sniff*

Steven O'Connor has made some huge mistakes when it comes to love. As a young man he thought he was in love with Maggie Kennedy, but they confused love with lust and the relationship self-destructed causing many casualties in their lives. Steven has vowed to stay away from relationships and love. He is now a federal agent who is focused on his career and doing his job. When he meets a young, innocent girl, Annie, who is hanging out with his friends, he fights everything in him that instantly pulls him toward her. He hurt Maggie by letting their relationship get out of control, and he won't let that happen again, especially not to someone as young and innocent as Annie.

I very highly recommend this book. As always, Ms. Lessman's writing is superb. If you haven't read any of these books, you could read this book as a stand alone, but as someone who is very OCD about series, I beg you not to. (LOL) This truly is one of my favorite series of all times. The O'Connor family will live in my heart forever. My recommendation to anyone who has not read these books would be to start from the very beginning, with book one of The Daughters of Boston series: A Passion Most Pure. You can find a listing of all six books HERE. The advantage to someone who is new to this series is that all six books are out now, so you would not have to wait in between books like I did. She seemed to take forever for each new book. I think she did it on purpose just to torture me. The one ray of hope in my life right now is that she has a brand new series on the way with the first book due to release in April of next year. I will be anxiously awaiting Love at Any Cost!

In all seriousness, this is a spectacular series and a very moving final book for the series. I can't even tell you how many times I found my eyes welling with tears when I was reading this book. It's a deeply touching story that is full of family drama, a touch of mystery, sweet romance, and masterfully woven together with a powerful message. The romance in these books is just a tad spicier than what you might see in other Christian fiction. It is completely tasteful and appropriate, but the author shows the beauty of the love between a husband and wife.

I will miss the O'Connor family but I will never forget them. Thank you Julie, for creating such a captivating family. I have loved them, laughed with them, cried with them, and learned from them. I look forward to the next book series and I can assure you I will be first in line when it comes out.

Book Summary:

Orphaned in Iowa, Annie Kennedy moves to Boston to stay with her spinster aunt. She longs for romance to fill the void left by her parents' death. But when she falls hard for Steven O'Connor, the man who broke an engagement to her sister, Annie is worried. Will he break her heart too when he discovers who she really is?With heart-pounding romance, intense family drama, and emotional twists and turns, A Love Surrendered is everything Julie Lessman's many fans have been waiting for.

Purchase the book HERE

Author Bio:

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of "Passion with a Purpose" underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. Winner of the 2009 ACFW Debut Author of the Year and Holt Medallion Awards of Merit for Best First Book and Long Inspirational, Julie is also the recipient of 14 Romance Writers of America awards and was voted by readers as "Borders Best of 2009 So Far: Your Favorite Fiction." Chosen as the #1 Romance Fiction Author of the Year in the Family Fiction magazine 2011 Readers' Choice Awards, Julie was also awarded #1 Series of the Year in that same poll and #3 Author of the Year, #5 Novel of the Year, and #4 Historical Fiction Author of the year. She resides in Missouri with her family and is the author of The Daughters of Boston series and the Winds of Change series whose first book, A Hope Undaunted, ranked #5 on Booklist's Top 10 Inspirational Fiction for 2010.

You can contact Julie through her website at http://www.julielessman.com/.

A complimentary copy was provided by Revell through NetGalley for an honest review.

Happy Reading!

Life in Review: Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson

She's back! One of the masters of suspense, Dee Henderson, finally has a new release and I have been counting down the days for months!

Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson is a new, stand-alone romantic suspense novel, but if you have read her famous O'Malley series you will get a great surprise when you read this one! If you haven't read that series, don't worry, you can still read this one on its own, and when you're finished I know you're going to want to read the O'Malley series too.

Ann Silver is an extremely dedicated cop who lives for her job. She is both small-town cop and the Midwest Homicide Investigator, which means she is all over the country at a moment's notice. Fortunately she is also an experienced pilot and thinks of her flight time as enjoyment. She has a few close friends who are very important to her, but a relationship with a man is not something she considers because of her personality and her career.

Paul Falcon is not only an FBI agent, he is also the heir to the Falcon empire. His father has been extremely successful in business and has companies all over the country. As the oldest son it has long been decided that he will one day take over the business for his father. Paul's career as a murder investigator with the FBI consumes much of his time and he hasn't been in a relationship for a while. Lately, though he has been thinking a lot about settling down and finally getting married.

Paul and Ann have so much in common when it comes to their careers. They are also complete opposites in their personalities. When a case brings them together, Paul is intrigued by Ann. The more time they spend together, the more he grows to like her and care about her. Ann is private and full of secrets and will be a tough shell to crack, but Paul has a feeling it's going to be worth the extra work.

I very highly recommend this book! Ms Henderson's writing is superb, as always. The characters are well developed and I fell head-over-heels in love with Paul Falcon! At times Ann was a little tough to really like as much because her character was so closed-off. I found myself liking her more and more as the story went along, though.

This book is fast-paced, but there is not quite as much action as some of her other books. With this one you get a serious mental workout. There are lots of clues to follow and plenty of twists and turns to keep you trying to figure things out, plus the emotional drama between Paul and Ann.

While this is a Christian fiction title, if you are a fan of romantic suspense, but not necessarily a Christian fiction reader, I would urge you to give Dee Henderson's books a try. She really is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors and she does weave a bit of a message into the story, but it's subtle, and being Christian is just part of who these characters are, so it fits well into the story.

I noticed on Ms. Henderson's website that a new O'Malley book is coming in 2013! I am so excited about that! It is available on some sites for pre-order already. That series is one of my very favorite series of all times. I was excited when this story sort of tied into the series, and now I can hardly wait for the new book. If you haven't read the series and are a fan of romantic suspense, then I would really urge you to give the first book a try. I think you'll be hooked. (You can see the titles and series order here: http://www.deehenderson.com/)

Stop by and check out the website for this book here: http://fulldisclosurenovel.com/

Book Summary:

PAUL FALCON AND ANN SILVER: A LOVE STORY

Ann Silver is a cop's cop. As the Midwest Homicide Investigator, she is called in to help local law enforcement on the worst of cases, looking for answers to murder. Hers is one of the region's most trusted investigative positions.

Paul Falcon is the FBI's top murder cop in the Midwest. If the victim carried a federal badge or had a security clearance, odds are good Paul and his team see the case file or work the murder.

Their lives intersect when Ann arrives to pass a case off her desk and onto his. A car wreck and a suspicious death offer a lead on a hired shooter he is tracking. Paul isn't expecting to meet someone, the kind that goes on the personal side of the ledger, but Ann Silver has his attention.

The better he gets to know her, the more Paul realizes her job barely scratches the surface of who she is. She knows spies and soldiers and U.S. Marshals, and has written books about them. She is friends with the former vice president. People with good reason to be cautious about who they let into their lives deeply trust her. Paul wonders just what secrets Ann is keeping, until she shows him the John Doe Killer case file, and he starts to realize just who this lady he is falling in love with really is....

Read an excerpt HERE

Purchase the book HERE

Author Bio:

Dee Henderson is the bestselling, award-winning author of 15 previous novels, including the acclaimed O'MALLEY series and UNCOMMON HEROES series. She is a lifelong resident of Illinois. Learn more at www.deehenderson.com.

A complimentary copy was provided by Bethany House Publishing for an honest review.

Happy Reading!

Life in Review: "The Reunion" by Dan Walsh

The Reunion by Dan Walsh is a beautiful, powerful, and deeply moving story about a man who survived the Vietnam War only to live a difficult and lonely life.

Aaron Miller served in the Vietnam War and even received a medal for his bravery and heroism. Now he lives in a storage room at a little trailer park in a small town in Florida. He lost everyone he loved after he came home from the war and hit rock bottom. He's thankful to be off the streets and grateful for what he has, but he still thinks about his family and all that he missed out on. What he doesn't realize is that he has friends who are looking for him and his whole life is about to change.

I very highly recommend this book! Dan Walsh has become one of my favorite Christian fiction authors. I am thrilled every time I see that he has a new book coming. His writing is magnificent and this story, like all of his, is packed full of emotion. Although this book is a drama, it grabbed me and held me like a suspense thriller. I was completely hooked from the very start until the very end.

If you have not yet read any of Dan Walsh's books, then I would strongly urge you to check out his website and his books! All of the wonderful things I have said about this book are just typical for all of his books. He is an incredibly talented story-teller!

I enjoyed the way this book was written with several different characters and their stories in the beginning, but eventually as things unfold they all begin to come together into one story. I loved so many of the characters in this one! Of course I liked Aaron. He's such an inspiration to all of us. I really loved Dave and Karen and their story! When I reached the end of the book I really hated to say good-bye to all of these wonderful characters who had begun to feel like real-life friends.

If you're already of fan a Dan Walsh, then I know you're going to want to get your hands on this one like I did. As is typical with all of his books, it's a wonderful blend of drama and romance with a beautiful and very powerful message. I am always anxiously awaiting his next book!

Book Summary:

Everything lost can be found.

Aaron Miller knows a thing or two about loss. He's lost love. Dignity. Second, and even third, chances. Once honored for his heroism, he now lives in near obscurity, working as a handyman in a humble trailer park.

But God is a master at finding and redeeming the lost things of life. Unbeknownst to Aaron, someone is searching for him.

With deep insight into the human heart, consummate storyteller Dan Walsh gently weaves a tale of a life spent in the shadows but meant for the light. Through tense scenes of war and tender moments of romance, The Reunion will make you believe that everyone can get a second chance at life and love.

Read an excerpt HERE

Buy this book HERE

Author Bio:

Dan Walsh is the award-winning author of several books, including The Discovery and The Reunion. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for 25 years. He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel.

Visit Dan's website HERE

.

A complimentary copy was provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for an honest review.

Happy Reading!

 

Life in Review: "Tidewater Inn" by Colleen Coble

 

Tidewater Inn by Colleen Coble is the first book in her new Hope Beach series. Colleen is one of my very favorite Christian fiction authors and I am so excited that she is writing contemporary romantic suspense again! She is a master at it! 

Libby is in the business of buying and restoring historical property. Her partner has gone to the Outer Banks to look at some property that they might consider restoring. When Libby discovers that she has family she never knew about and they are in Hope Beach she is in total shock. If that wasn't enough to shake Libby's world, while they are on the phone together, Nicole is kidnapped and disappears. Libby immediately heads to Hope Beach to do anything she can to find Nicole and to meet her new family. Both of these things are going to be much more difficult than she imagined. 

I very highly recommend this book! The writing is outstanding! As I mentioned before, Colleen is one of my top favorite Christian fiction authors and has been for several years. I love anything she writes, but it was her contemporary romantic suspense series that first made me one of her biggest fans, and I am just thrilled to see her writing a new series. 

If you read my blog often then you know that for me personally the characters are extremely important. If I don't care about the characters then I'm just not going to care about the story. Colleen Coble has some series that, even though I read them years ago, I carry the characters in my heart as if they are friends. I loved the characters in this book so much. I immediately liked Libby and was rooting hard for her. I also really liked Alec too. Ok, I'll confess. I totally fell in love with him! I was already loving this book so much, and then about halfway through the story, some of my beloved characters from a past series suddenly showed up. I literally clapped and squealed with delight! 

This story is full of small town drama, family drama, mystery, suspense, and romance. As always, she also blends in a beautiful message of faith, love, and hope. I really enjoy a small town story, and this one has a gorgeous setting as well. I will be anxiously waiting for the next book in this series! I can hardly wait! 

Book Summary:

Welcome to Hope Beach. A place of intoxicating beauty . . . where trouble hits with the force of a hurricane.

Inheriting a beautiful old hotel on the Outer Banks could be a dream come true for Libby. The inn cries out for her restorer’s talent and love of history. She’s delighted to learn of the family she never knew she had. And the handsome Coast Guard lieutenant she’s met there on the island could definitely be the man of her dreams.

But Libby soon realizes that the only way she can afford the upkeep on the inn is to sell it to developers who are stalking the island. The father who willed her the inn has died before she could meet him, and her newfound brother and sister are convinced she’s there to steal their birthright. Worst of all, her best friend and business partner has been kidnapped before her eyes, and Libby’s under suspicion for the crime.

Libby’s dream come true is becoming a nightmare. Her only option is to find her friend and prove her innocence, or lose everything on the shores of Hope Island.

Buy Tidewater Inn (The Hope Beach Series)

Author Bio:

Best-selling author Colleen Coble's novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, ACFW Book of the Year, RWA’s RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers' Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers and is a member of Romance Writers of America. 

She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana. 

Visit her website atwww.colleencoble.com. 
Twitter @colleencoble.

Win a $500 Weekend Getaway Package from @ColleenCoble and Connect with her at 8/23 Facebook Party! 

Celebrate with Colleen by entering to win a $500 gift certificate to BedandBreakfast.com!

Find out what the reviewers are saying here!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $500 gift certificate to BedandBreakfast.com
• A copy of Tidewater Inn.

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 22nd. Winner will be announced at Colleen's "Tidewater Inn" Author Chat Facebook Party on 8/23. Colleen will be sharing the story behind the book, hosting a book chat, testing your trivia skills, and of course, there will be plenty of fun giveaways - books, gift certificates and a Book Club Prize Pack! She’ll also be giving a sneak peak of her next book too! So grab your copy of Tidewater Inn and join Colleen on the evening of the August 23rd  for a chance to connect with Colleen and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER about Colleen's giveaway and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 23rd!

A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas Nelson Publishing and LitFuse PR for an honest review.

Happy Reading!
 

Life in Review: "Hidden in Dreams" by Davis Bunn + Author Q&A

Hidden in Dreams by Davis Bunn is a fast-paced, action-packed suspense thriller that seems all too realistic in the times we live in.

Dr. Elena Burroughs is trying to make a fresh start with her life. She accepted a position as a professor at Atlantic Christian University and has settled into her new home in Florida. Then she is approached by Rachel Lamprey, who was her best friend's sister, but is nothing at all like Miriam was. The woman is demanding and cold, and insists that Elena help her with a top secret issue that has come up with her company's recent product testing. In the past Elena has been known for her work with dream interpretation. One of Rachel's test subjects is experiencing a recurring and realistic dream about economic disaster.  When Elena gets involved they discover other people around the globe who are having the exact same dream, and Elena begins to have it too. As she searches for answers, things become more and more grave turning this into a fight for their lives. 

I very highly recommend this book and give it 4/5 stars! The writing is outstanding as always from Davis Bunn who never fails to entertain and impress me with his writing talent. I love suspense but I'm also a very character-driven reader. I have to care about the characters in order to really enjoy a story, and this one definitely had characters that I liked, related to, and cared about. I liked Elena right from the beginning. I was drawn into the story emotionally because I felt so connected to her. I felt her emotions, turmoil, and fear. 

The story hooked me right from the start, and I could hardly put it down because I had to know what was going to happen. The story line with potential world-wide economic disasters was very relevant considering the state of our world today. That made this book all the more compelling. I have been a long time fan of Davis Bunn's books. He writes a wide range of Christian fiction from historical/Biblical fiction to suspense thrillers and I enjoy them all. I always look forward to reading anything he writes. 

Book Summary:

Just when the world’s foremost expert on dream analysis, Dr. Elena Burroughs, thinks she is getting her life back under control after losing her position at Oxford University and the man she hoped to fall in love with, she is approached by Rachel Lamprey, the product manager of an innovative new ADHD treatment about to hit the market. 

Rachel asks for Elena’s help with a clinical trial participant who has had a disturbing dream foretelling a cataclysmic global financial collapse. But even more alarming is the fact that fifteen people scattered across the globe—including Elena herself—begin to experience the same repetitive, devastating dreams of economic ruin just as one bank crisis follows another, suggesting that these aren’t merely dreams.

As Elena searches for answers in her professional networks, she is forced to form an unlikely alliance with her most vehement critic and is drawn back into the spotlight as the public face of the so-called dreamers. As Elena and her collaborators attempt to discover the dreams’ source, the clock ticks down to devastation. Suddenly, it’s no longer just about the dreams. It’s about survival.

Read Chapter 1 of Hidden in Dreams for free: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Hidden-in-Dreams/Davis-Bunn/9781451663815/excerpt

Reading Group Guide for Hidden in Dreams: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Hidden-in-Dreams/Davis-Bunn/9781451663815/reading_group_guide

Buy Hidden in Dreams: A Novel

 

About Davis Bunn:

Davis Bunn is an award-winning novelist whose audience spans reading genres from high drama and action thrillers to heartwarming relationship stories, in both contemporary and historical settings. He and his wife, Isabella, make their home in Florida for some of each year, and spend the rest near Oxford, England, where they each teach and write. Visit Davis at www.davisbunn.com.

A Conversation with Davis Bunn

Q: How much research did you have to conduct to write this intriguing story?  

A: In a way, I suppose you could say I’ve been researching this story all my adult life. I did my studies in international economics and finance. Observing the difficulties our nation and economy has faced over the past three years, as well as what we personally have endured, has been tough. It really was great to have this chance to give voice to what we increasingly hear, that the people at fault need to be brought to justice, and the risk of another economic collapse needs to be halted. 

Q: Why is it important for you to write about such timely themes?

A: Economic uncertainty defines the world we live in. I feel it is important to show how the timeless and eternal messages are applicable to every aspect of our world and our lives. And how the gift of peace and wisdom can be used in every circumstance we face.

Q: When you wrote Book of Dreams, did you have plans for this sequel, Hidden in Dreams?

A: Two months after Book of Dreams was released, I had the call every author dreams about and yearns for—a vice president of NBC/Universal suggested we discuss the possibility of turning it into a television series. I was put in touch with one of their producers and over the next six months began working up the basic structure of what this program might look like. One of the ideas I found most appealing became the basis for Hidden in Dreams. There is as yet no firm decision about the television project. But it has been a blast to even be considered.

Q: In writing a sequel it’s always a challenge to include enough back story to satisfy those who haven’t read the first book while still making sure the book stands alone. How do you approach this dilemma?

A: You’re right, it can indeed be troublesome, but this time it all fell together very easily. The structure just flowed. That sometimes happens, where the story seems to create itself. I wish it was true all the time. I can’t even say why it was such a smooth process with Hidden in Dreams. But there was a sense of impatience about the back story, as though I needed to fit in just a few paragraphs, but I couldn’t allow myself or the reader to be drawn too far from this new story’s flow.

Q: Why did you choose to end Elena's relationship with Antonio? They seemed like a good couple.

A: For this story to work, Elena needed to enter into the dilemma as vulnerable as all the other people who shared the recurring dreams. She was isolated in a new place and forced to be dependent upon her faith and newfound friends. 

Antonio (from Book of Dreams) belonged to a different universe, far from what was happening here. I had to make a choice at the outset. Would she remain with Antonio, and the two of them experience this together? Or would she be isolated?

Writing a new story is all about two things: facing the empty page, and choices. It is kind of fun to go back and revisit decisions I made eighteen months ago, when first outlining this concept.

Q: You’re writing about two women in this novel. Is it ever a challenge to write from the female point of view? 

A: Learning to write from a woman’s point of view is very difficult for a male writer, as it usually is for a woman author writing a man’s story. Before I was published, I became friends with a husband and wife team who were both opera stars. The woman often sang a male role in a Mozart opera that was originally designed for a young boy, but which nowadays is usually sung by a woman with a slightly lower range, called a coloratura. 

I discussed my difficulty with her, of trying to make my women sound real. She told me that my trouble stemmed from working on a woman character from the outside. It wasn’t about making women ’sound’ anything. It was all about making the character live from the inside-out. 

As I worked on the point of view issue, trying to put my friend’s challenge into practice, I also began going into any meeting with a woman carrying a secret tape recorder, and taping everything that was said. I then went back and wrote out every word. It was perhaps the most boring month of my entire writing career. 

But gradually I found that I could ‘hear’ the speech patterns of these women, and reshape them into structures that fitted around what was happening in my stories. And through this exercise, the emotional content that lay behind the dialogue, the person who was expressing herself, became more real, more solid.

And then I met my wife, Isabella. And the process of instruction at the intimate level of a God-centered marriage began to unfold.

Q: In Hidden, Elena and her colleagues are attacked in Miami. After the attack, why did Elena not take more precautions?  

A: Elena had a choice to make, and so did I. Either she could play the delicate flower – fearing everything and going nowhere – or she could go on the hunt. I liked the balance between her internal fears and uncertainties, and her quest as a professional psychologist. She is, in effect, trained to look for clues – to go on the quest of drawing out the hidden. I felt the actions she took, despite the dangers, to be her natural response.

Q: Is there another Elena Burroughs book planned?

A: I have another idea. The question is, what do the readers want, and how positive is the reaction to this story?

Q: Why do you write fiction?

A: I became a believer at age 28. Up to that time, ever since graduating, I had been working in international business. I came to faith while working as a consultant in Germany. I started writing two weeks later. Up to that point, I had never picked up a pen in my life to write anything longer than a business report. But I had always been an avid reader. And the moment I started, that very first instant, I had the sense of invitation. It was the first time I had ever experienced that incredible sense of being drawn in a new, divinely inspired direction. 

I wrote for nine years and finished seven novels before my first was accepted for publication. Simply because I had received a sense of calling did not mean I was ready to serve. First the diamond had to be polished. Hard and painful as that was.

Q: While you are a prolific writer, you also get out there and live too! What’s been your most exciting real life adventure?

A: It would probably be better to ask, what has been the most exciting real-life event so far this year. Undoubtedly that would be working on the set of a film being shot from a screenplay I wrote last year.

Unlimited has now ‘wrapped’, that is, filming has been completed. The producer and director are now deep into the editing process. The film is due for release in September, 2013. I am currently working on the novel, which comes out a couple of months before then.

I had the whole thing backwards here, doing the script first, but it has been a lot of fun, and the concept remains very fresh. So hopefully Unlimited will come alive on the page as well as the screen. 

Q: What is your goal as a novelist?

A: I want to combine a truly entertaining read with a powerful after-effect. My dream is that long after the book is set down with a satisfied sigh, there are still images that surface, lessons that can be drawn, genuine hope and healing and challenges and inspirations. I want my writing to be worthy of the gift. 

Q: How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website and blog are at www.davisbunn.com

Subscribe to my blog’s feed (to get my latest posts via e-mail or through your feed reader) at http://feeds.feedburner.com/DavisBunn

Sign up for my e-newsletter (for subscriber-only giveaways and advance notice of my upcoming novels): http://www.davisbunn.com/news.htm

Facebook Author Page: facebook.com/davisbunnauthor

Twitter: @davisbunn - http://twitter.com/davisbunn

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/davisbunn/

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Howard Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Happy Reading!
 

Life in Review: "Lethal Legacy" by Irene Hannon

 

Lethal Legacy by Irene Hannon is book three in her Guardians of Justice series. I have loved this series so much that I hated to see it end. 

Book one in the series is Fatal Judgment, and book two is Deadly Pursuit. If you have read the first two books then I'm sure you are anxious for this book like I was. If you have not read the first books, you can easily read this book as a stand-alone. I loved the whole series and I recommend reading them all because they are definitely worth it. 

Kelly Warren was never convinced that her father's death was suicide when it was ruled that way after the investigation. When she finds something she believes is evidence that contradicts the suicide ruling, she takes it to the police to see if she can convince them to reopen the case. The detective who had been in charge of the case in vacation so they ask Detective Cole Taylor to speak with her. He isn't convinced that there is enough evidence to re-open the case, but he is quite sure that he would like to spend more time helping Kelly Warren if he possibly can. 

I very highly recommend this book! The writing is outstanding and the story grabs you right from the start. It's full of mystery, action, suspense and romance. The author weaves a wonderful message of faith through the story.  Once I started the book, I couldn't put it down, and when I did have to put it down, I couldn't wait to get back to it. There are some great twists and intense suspense. If you have read the first two books, you will enjoy the fact that those characters do make some appearances in this one. It's an excellent conclusion to a great series. I will be looking forward to the start of her next series. The next series is Private Justice and the first book is called Vanished and is due to be out in January 2013. I can't wait! 

Book Summary:

A determined daughter . . . 

A skeptical detective . . . 

A deadly secret . . .

The police say her father's death was suicide. Kelly Warren says it was murder--and she has new evidence to prove it. Detective Cole Taylor doesn't put much credence in her claim, and nothing in his case review suggests foul play. But when he digs deeper (delete dash) and discovers startling information linking her to a long-buried secret, the danger escalates. Is history repeating itself? And who wants Kelly silenced?

Endorsements

Praise for Irene Hannon and Guardians of Justice Series

Fatal Judgment

"Fatal Judgment is Irene Hannon's storytelling at its best. I enjoyed every minute."--Dee Henderson

"Hannon's ability to write scenes that cause readers to feel uneasy and to second guess their safety always makes her stories page turners."--RT Book Reviews

Read an excerpt HERE.

Buy this book HERE.

Author Bio:

Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the bestselling Heroes of Quantico and Guardians of Justice series. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, a Carol Award, a HOLT Medallion, a Daphne du Maurier Award, and two Reviewers' Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. Booklist also included one of her novels in its "Top 10 Inspirational Fiction" list for 2011. She lives in Missouri.

For more information about her and her books, Irene invites you to visit her website at http://www.irenehannon.com/.

A complimentary copy was provided for an honest review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Happy Reading!

Life in Review: "Glamorous Illusions" by Lisa T Bergren

Glamorous Illusions by Lisa T. Bergren is the beginning of a beautiful new series. It's a rags to riches story, and a story about love, heartache, and discovery. 

 In 1913 when Cora's father becomes very ill, she learns a family secret that turns her world upside down. She embarks on a Grand Tour of Europe with newly discovered family. This will be the biggest challenge of her life, but everyone keeps telling her that it will be worth it. The trip is a learning experience in more ways than one. Cora is learning about Europe, learning about her new family and her new name, and she's learning things about herself as well. 

 I very highly recommend this book! As always, Ms Bergren's writing is exquisite. This is a story that will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride, and will touch you deeply. The characters became like real people to me, and have stuck with me even after finishing the book. The story hooked me right from the start. It's fast-paced and full of family drama, mystery, suspense, and sweet romance. It's filled with wonderful historical detail as they travel abroad and experience new places and cultures. When they travel from America to Europe they naturally travel by ship, but it's only been a year since the sinking of the Titanic. I don't think I had ever really thought about how difficult that must have been in the years following that historic event. Surely the disaster was on every traveler's mind when they boarded a ship, but at that time it was the only way to travel abroad. I have been a big fan of Ms Bergren's books for a while now, and I will be anxiously awaiting the next book in this series! 

Book Summary:

It was the summer of 1913, and Cora Kensington's life on the family farm has taken a dark turn. Not only are the crops failing, so is her father's health. Cora is carrying on, helping her mother run their Montana farm until a stranger comes to call, and everything changes. Cora then learns a secret that will radically change her future: she is the illegitimate daughter of a copper king who has come to claim her.

Cora is invited to take the "Grand Tour" of Europe, a journey intended to finish a person's education, to solidify an understanding of ancient culture and contemporary refinement.

As she travels from England to France with half-siblings she's never known, Cora encounters the blessings of the Kensington family name, as well as the curses. But when an unbidden love begins to form, she realizes the journey is only beginning.

Faced with the challenge of accepting her father, new family, and the identity that comes with it, Cora also struggles to accept that she is also the daughter of the one true King-a Father who is the only One who can truly heal.

Buy Glamorous Illusions: A Novel (Grand Tour Series)

Author Bio:

Lisa T. Bergren is the award-winning author of over thirty-five books, with more than 2 million copies sold. A former publishing executive, Lisa now divides her time between writing, editing, parenting three children with her husband, Tim, and dreaming of her next trip to Italy. She lives in Colorado Springs.

For more information on Lisa and to view other books written, please visit her website.

This book was provided for review by David C Cook and LitFuse Publicity.

Happy Reading!