What Matters Most

Leta Breckenridge is forced to drop out of college to care for her dementia-ridden mother. After learning a severely delinquent account may force her mother into a less desirable facility, Leta steps out of her comfort zone and lands a high-paying job at an Austin public relations firm. But her dream job turns into a nightmare when she learns the firm is a front for a political opposition machine--and that the research she's been collecting will be used against her new love interest, Nathan Emerson.

Nathan is a rising political star being pressured to run a bid to unseat the current governor of Texas. He's already in a relationship with a woman much better suited to be a politician's wife, but he's never met anyone like Leta. Could this feisty, challenging woman hold the key to his heart? (description from www.amazon.com) 

I really enjoyed this book. I thought Ms. Gilbert did a very good job incorporating a lot of legal and political research naturally into the text. I could tell it was very well researched, and I really liked that aspect of What Matters Most. I felt like I got a taste of a very different world, and it isn't something in most romance novels. 

I also really liked both protagonists. Leta was smart and brave, and Nathan was kind and intelligent. I empathized with both of them in their struggles, and neither of them irritated me (which often happens in novels). They were both likable and relatable. 

I did feel like their story was a bit unrealistic, even for a romance novel. However, that is pretty common in this genre, so it wasn't a huge issue. 

Overall, I really liked this book. I'm a sucker for books set in Texas, and I thought it was a unique and easy read. Definitely recommend for any romance novel junkie. 

*I received a free copy of this book in order to review it. 

Kingdom's Dawn

Sixteen-year-old Leinad thought he was a common farmer's son, nothing more. He wondered why his father had trained him for years to master the sword-not exactly a tool of the trade forfarmers-but one tragic event initiates a world of revelation. 

Only then does he begin to understand his calling-a calling no other man in the entire kingdom of Arrethtrae can fulfill-a calling given him by the King Himself.

Teamed with a young slave girl, Leinad is thrust into adversity and danger-for the Dark Knight and his vicious Shadow Warriors will stop at nothing to thwart the King's plan to restore the kingdom. Leinad will need more than a sharp blade and a swift hand to fulfill his mission and survive the evil pots of the King's sworn enemies!

Journey to Arrethtrae, where the King and His Son implement a bold plan to save their kingdom; where courage, faith, and loyalty stand tall in the face of opposition; where good will not bow to evil-and the future of a kingdom lies in the hands of a young man. (copy of back cover)

I had been eyeing this series for a LONG time before I finally got to read Kingdom's Dawn. In some ways, it was what I expected. It was an allegory, though not such a clear, cut and dry one as I expected. It didn't follow one distinct story in the Bible, which I appreciated, as that would probably have been boring. 

Chuck Black also showed some really fine values in Kingdom's Dawn. There was lots of courage, loyalty, love, and self sacrifice. Leinad, the hero, was quite heroic. I suppose there were some faults in him (he occasionally doubted the King, for example), but on the whole I didn't find him to be very relatable. He didn't have a great sense of humor or much of a temper. In some very Christian fiction they make their heroes and heroines nearly perfect, a model Christian. But that sometimes makes it hard to get emotionally attached to the character, as it did here. They talked about the hard things Leinad was going through, but Mr. Black didn't elaborate on Leinad's feelings very much. A lot of his (Leinad's) hardships were kind of breezed through....the book was very fast-paced. Because of this, I found it hard to empathize with Leinad, and couldn't get as attached to him as I normally do to my heroes.

So, as a girl, I didn't enjoy that aspect of Kingdom's Dawn. But I think many guys (especially young teenagers) wouldn't really mind that so much, and the quick pace of the book might appeal to them. It is an action book, and I felt like the action was done pretty well. I think people who are a fan of action novels, especially kids about 12 and up, would really enjoy Kingdom's Dawn. I'm looking forward to trying out some of Chuck Black's other books. 

Murder Comes by Mail

Doing a good deed never felt so bad. 

Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane doesn't particularly enjoy being touted as the hero of Hidden Springs after pulling a suicidal man back from the edge of the Eagle River bridge in front of dozens of witnesses-a few of whom caught the breathtaking moments with their cameras. But the media hype doesn't last long as a new story pushes its way into the public consciousness of Hidden Springs' concerned citizens. 

Photos of a dead girl arrive in the mail, and Michael becomes convinced she was murdered by the man he saved. With a killer one step ahead, things in Hidden Springs begin to unravel. Now Michael must protect the people he loves-because the killer could be targeting one of them next. (copy of back cover)

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in A. H. Gabhart's The Hidden Springs Mysteries, Murder at the Courthouse.  When I saw Murder Comes by Mail I was very excited to read it. And it was good......but not really what I expected. Of course you get an idea from the back cover that this is a serial killer story. Why this didn't clue me in, I don't know, because I am not a very big fan of mysteries about serial killers. They are normally a.) excessively gory, b.) lacking real clues and leads for the sleuth, and c.) downright creepy! 

Well, Murder Comes by Mail wasn't that terrible. It wasn't much gorier (is that a word?) than Ms. Gabhart's first mystery, and it had a few clues (though definitely less than Murder at the Courthouse). I think the main downside was the letdown from the first book. I LOVED the cute, small town feel of Murder at the Courthouse, but there was a lot less of that coziness in Murder Comes by Mail. It almost seemed like a city mystery set in a small town; the dynamic of the series changed a lot in this novel. I know this change will appeal to a lot of people, and this book was a very interesting, engrossing read. But for myself, a lot of the reasons I liked the first Hidden Springs Mystery weren't valid for Murder Comes by Mail. 

I know, I'm doing a lot of comparison here. I guess that's what happens when you read books in the same series. If you haven't read Murder at the Courthouse, than the things I'm talking about probably won't bother you. 

Okay, now for what I liked. Well, I like the main character. Michael Keane is mature and steady, and his decisions are (normally) sound. He is loyal, and he protects his friends. The anxiety the killer caused him was remorse for the victims and worry for those close to Michael. Michael never worried about himself. In a hero, this is a very admirable quality. 

We really got a better view into Michael's emotions in this book. All of the tension and fear caused by the murders set him on edge, so he wasn't as controlled as he normally is. Being able to see his character in a trying situation was really neat. 

On the whole, I enjoyed Murder Comes by Mail. It creeped me out a little, but I thought it was well written and an enjoyable read. Looking forward to seeing what Ms. Gabhart does with her next installment.

*I received a free copy of this book in order to review it. 

The Red Door Inn

Marie Carrington is broke, desperate, and  hoping to find sanctuary on Prince Edward Island while decorating a renovated bed-and-breakfast. Seth Sloane moved three thousand miles to help restore his uncle’s Victorian B and B-and to forget about the fiancée who broke his heart. He wasn’t expecting to have to babysit a woman with a taste for expensive antiques and a bewildering habit of jumping every time he brushes past her.

The only thing Marie and Seth agree on is that getting the Red Door Inn ready to open in just two months will take everything they’ve got-and they have to find a way to work together. In the process, they may find something infinitely sweeter than they ever imagined on this island of dreams. (copy of back cover)

The Red Door Inn, by Liz Johnson, has everything you expect and want in a romance novel. A light, happy feel, believable and attractive characters, and, of course, a love story. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and read it in only one day (which, for me, is unusual). It was very engaging, and had a great plot. I also liked the characters and their dialogue.

But my favorite aspect of this book is the gorgeous PEI setting. Ms. Johnson richly described the Island, and the frequent referrals to Anne of Green Gables just added to the idyllic setting. Not only the landscape, but the feel of an old Victorian B and B were what added to the novel. I loved watching Marie redecorate the old house.

I also appreciated the message of accepting the lost and needy. It was very inspirational. I do wish there had been a bit more Christianity and morals included, though. There was a lot of romance, but I felt like there could have been a little more depth added since it is a Christian novel.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Red Door Inn, and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

*I received a free copy of this book in order to review it.

Her One and Only

After ten years in the NFL, superstar Gray Fowler is accustomed to obsessive fans. But when Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, his team hires an executive protection agency to guard him until the culprit is caught. Dealing with bodyguards 24/7 is a headache, especially when one of them is a young, beautiful woman. How can a female half his size possibly protect him better than he can protect himself?

Dru Porter is a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt; none of which saved her from disaster on her last assignment. In order to rebuild her tarnished reputation, she's determined to find Gray's stalker and, since relationships between agents and clients are forbidden, avoid a romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past.

Yet every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they'll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives-and their hearts-to one another. (copy of back cover)

I have followed Becky Wade's books every since I read her first novel, My Stubborn Heart. My Stubborn Heart is one of my favorites, so I always jump at the chance to review other titles by Ms. Wade. I'm acquainted with the other three in the Porter Family Series, and I was excited to read the conclusion, Dru's story. As always, Becky Wade's compelling characters and the details of her story kept me hooked. I enjoyed reading Her One and Only, and the bodyguard and stalker theme is one of my favorites.

Dru Porter is a very tough, very independent young woman who is an "Executive Protection Agent" for famous football star Gray Fowler. The humor involved in a young, attractive woman guarding a large football player was done very well. I laugh out loud in all Ms. Wade's books, and this was no exception.

 I didn't expect to be able to relate to Dru very well though. She is an great marksman, a martial arts expert, and extremely fit and tough. I have shot a gun only once in my life, have never taken any kind of martial arts, and am not particularly fit (I'm not very diligent at exercising regularly...). Obviously, I had my doubts about Dru's tough image. I expected her to be a rough, unlikable feminist. However, I really grew to like her. I like how she says what she means. She is very honest, without being rude. I like how seriously she takes her responsibilities. I like the fact that she has dignity. She didn't put up with junk from Gray. And I really appreciate how she held to her principles. Even though she was in what must have been a very tempting position, she didn't lower her standards with Gray. She didn't do what he wanted her to do, because she knew it was wrong. That kind of example was very valuable, especially in this type of book.

Not that Gray was such a bad guy, either. But he was more of the redemption character. A lot of his internal struggle is the fight against his sin, especially alcoholism. He is also fighting against his past, and all this tension made him a very interesting character. One of my favorite parts of the book is Gray breaking his bad habits;specifically, drinking. It isn't easy and he doesn't enjoy it, but it is the right thing and he does it. Which is pretty realistic....few of us enjoy saying no to things that make us feel better. Even wrong things.

In these ways I felt like Her One and Only has some lessons to teach. I always love reading a Christian novel that has more than just fluff.

*I received a free copy of this book in order to review it.

Murder at the Courthouse

Michael Keane’s stressful days as a Columbus police officer are done. He’s ready to relax into his new position as deputy sheriff in his sleepy hometown. Nothing ever happens in Hidden Springs, Kentucky, and that’s just fine with Michael. Nothing, that is, until a dead body is discovered on the courthouse steps. As Michael works to solve the case, it seems that every nosy resident in town has a theory. When the sheriff insists Michael check out one of these harebrained theories, his surprising discovery sends him on a bewildering search for a mysterious killer that has him questing everything he has ever believed about life in Hidden Springs. Bringing wither her a knack for creating settings you want to visit and an uncanny ability to bring characters to life, A. H. Gabhart pens a whodunit that will keep you guessing. (Back Cover of Murder at the Courthouse )

To be honest, I didn’t expect very much from Murder at the Courthouse. I didn’t expect it to be bad, of course, but I didn’t think I would love it. I expected another light read that I would finish and then never give it another thought. But that is not what I got with this book! In fact, I don’t know when I read a mystery I enjoyed more. Ms. Gabhart has created a beautiful, intriguing mystery that keeps you coming back again and again! So many mysteries have no real “clues” or a solution that was impossible to predict or figure out on your own. In other types of novels this might be a good thing, but not in a mystery. We should be given every clue the protagonist is given, and we should come to the same conclusion they do. Many fictional sleuths leave me in the dust because of their poorly written mysteries, but Murder at the Courthouse has a plot that is built slowly and carefully; and that shows a great amount of skill.

In addition to the mysterious elements of the book, there were many psychological elements woven into the story. The characters experienced real growth, and we were able to see it. As a reader, that is a very exciting thing. There were conflicts (besides the murder) that were resolved, and I enjoyed learning more and more about the characters. I was told a wonderful story, and I experienced a great adventure. That is what every novel and mystery is supposed to do. I would count Murder at the Courthouse a great success, and I look forward to the next installment in Ms. Gabhart’s newest series, The Hidden Springs Mysteries.

*I received a free copy of this book in order to review it.