My Review - Sabotaged

SABOTAGED, with its unique storyline and unpredictable twists, you really had to wait until the end of the book to know the whole truth.  The only negative is knowing SABOTAGED marks the end of the series.

A Great Series Full of Action and Romance!

5 out of 5 stars

Kirra Jacobs is beside herself with worry. Her uncle−a musher in the Alaskan Iditarod race−is missing. She sets out to find him only to be shadowed by Reef McKenna, her childhood nemesis.  When Kirra and Reef find her Uncle Frank, he lets them know that Kirra’s cousin, Meg, has been kidnapped and will be killed if Frank doesn’t do exactly as they say. Kirra and Reef−along with the rest of the McKenna siblings−join forces to figure out what Frank is being forced to do and where Meg is being held. While Kirra and Reef work together to hunt down clues, Kirra realizes her feelings for Reef are no longer fueled by contempt. The attraction she feels for him confuses her, but the man she sees in Reef is far different from the adolescent she grew up with.

Reef’s transformation has been slow, and though he realizes he has true feelings for Kirra, he knows her feelings for him teeter somewhere between irritation and tolerance. But that doesn’t matter. Her family is in trouble and he intends to do everything in his power to not only help Frank and Meg, but to keep Kirra out of harm’s way.  Unfortunately, the more they uncover, the more the evidence points to a catastrophic event that endangers more than just Kirra’s family.

I absolutely LOVED the entire Alaskan Courage series.  The McKenna clan is a fiercely protective and loyal bunch, but not without their difference and their scars.  It was nice to witness the transformation in Reef−the black sheep of the family and it was great to get one more glimpse at Cole and Bailey, Piper and Landon, Gage and Darcy, and Kayden and Jake. Each of their stories was gripping, action-packed, romantic, and memorable.

A great series! A must for romance/suspense junkies.

 

 

 

 

 

My Review - Stress Test

5 out of 5 stars

CURRENCY OF THE HEART is a story of overcoming loss instead of allowing it to consume you. An enchanting story with genuine characters.

Shaina Sterling knows what it is to experience loss. On her own from an early age, she’s led a difficult life that seems to get more difficult as time goes on.  Doing all that she can to protect the reputation of her recently deceased husband, she secretly sells off the accumulation of his wealth to hide his sordid secret. But she knows it’s only a matter of time before the people of Denver discover her secret. When tragedy strikes again−leaving Shaina homeless−Sloan Remington offers her not only a place to stay, but asks for her help taking care of his housekeeper who has suffered a fall. Offering to pay her for her duties is more than she can imagine, but Sloan insists it is only fair and brings her to his ranch. Shaina knows Sloan is a man with a stellar reputation, but is about to find out what a truly fine man he is.

Sloan Remington knows all about Shaina’s woes. Unbeknownst to her, Sloan has been keeping an eye on her because of the promise he made to her dying husband. His intentions towards Shaina are pure.  He wants to keep her safe, out of harm’s way, and free from the wagging tongues of Denver’s elite. Even though his intentions are to see to Shaina’s well-being, he can’t help but think of what life would be life with a woman like Shaina by his side. But Sloan is keeping his own secrets. Secrets he is sure will change the way the people of Denver and Shaina will look at him.

Though CURRENCY OF THE HEART was predictable, it did not take away from my enjoyment. Shaina is genuine at heart, never thinking she deserves more out of life. And Sloan is the consummate hero that wants nothing else but to take care and protect Shaina. The secondary characters of Mable, Jim, Abe, Elise, and Doc, add their own storylines and flare to the book. If you like romance and the historic West, you’ll definitely enjoy CURRENCY OF THE HEART

 

My Review - Currency of the Heart

4 out of 5 stars

CURRENCY OF THE HEART is a story of overcoming loss instead of allowing it to consume you. An enchanting story with genuine characters.

Shaina Sterling knows what it is to experience loss. On her own from an early age, she’s led a difficult life that seems to get more difficult as time goes on.  Doing all that she can to protect the reputation of her recently deceased husband, she secretly sells off the accumulation of his wealth to hide his sordid secret. But she knows it’s only a matter of time before the people of Denver discover her secret. When tragedy strikes again−leaving Shaina homeless−Sloan Remington offers her not only a place to stay, but asks for her help taking care of his housekeeper who has suffered a fall. Offering to pay her for her duties is more than she can imagine, but Sloan insists it is only fair and brings her to his ranch. Shaina knows Sloan is a man with a stellar reputation, but is about to find out what a truly fine man he is.

Sloan Remington knows all about Shaina’s woes. Unbeknownst to her, Sloan has been keeping an eye on her because of the promise he made to her dying husband. His intentions towards Shaina are pure.  He wants to keep her safe, out of harm’s way, and free from the wagging tongues of Denver’s elite. Even though his intentions are to see to Shaina’s well-being, he can’t help but think of what life would be like with a woman like Shaina by his side. But Sloan is keeping his own secrets. Secrets he is sure will change the way the people of Denver and Shaina will look at him.

Though CURRENCY OF THE HEART was predictable, it did not take away from my enjoyment. Shaina is genuine at heart, never thinking she deserves more out of life. And Sloan is the consummate hero that wants nothing else but to take care and protect Shaina. The secondary characters of Mable, Jim, Abe, Elise, and Doc, add their own storylines and flare to the book. If you like romance and the historic West, you’ll definitely enjoy CURRENCY OF THE HEART

 

My Review - Somebody Like You

A Unique Storyline!

5 out of 5 star

SOMEBODY LIKE YOU is an amazing love story born out of tragedy.

After the death of her husband in Afghanistan, Haley Ames is taking one day at a time, putting one foot in front of the other, and being the strong independent woman she has always been. But when she sees her husband on her front porch, she’s sure the Army has made a mistake and she’s been blessed with a miracle. Those feelings are quickly dashed when the man standing in front of her introduces himself as Stephen, her husband’s twin brother−a brother she never even knew her husband had. Haley wants nothing to do with Stephen. Looking at him only reminds her of all she’d lost.  But Stephen isn’t going to give up that easy. He has an unexplainable need to protect Haley and help her through the changes that are coming her way. Though they both must deal with the loss of a husband and a brother, they also have the chance at a bright future if they can only look beyond the pain.

I loved this story and the way the author handle this most unorthodox story line. With Haley so in love with the memory of her husband, I wasn’t sure how she would allow herself to explore feelings for Stephen without feeling a sense of betrayal. But Ms. Vogt handled this paradox quite well. Haley is strong and self-sufficient−absolutely the kind of female character I myself (I am an author) like to create.  But she also has a soft side and emotional needs that even she doesn’t know she desires to be filled. Stephen is the epitome of silent strength. Watching his feelings grow for Haley, knowing she might never return his affections was both gut-wrenching and moving.

I can’t say much more without giving away keys to the story. I will just say that I really enjoyed SOMEBODY LIKE YOU and recommend it whole-heartedly!

My Review - Mercy's Rain

A moving story!

5 out of 5 stars

MERCY’S RAIN has to be one of the most provocative Christian books I have ever read.

Mercy Roller’s life truly is a living hell. Her father−who is also the town’s pastor−rules his household with an iron fist and his own twisted, distorted form of righteous anger. Mercy’s mother and the people of Wadalow Mountain seem unable to stand against the Pastor’s tyrannical reign, and Mercy herself desires nothing more than to feel the love of a father. But what Mercy gets instead is the deplorable actions of a wicked man, a man who is anything but a messenger of God.  When her mother kicks her out of her home, Mercy embarks on a journey that takes her to another mountain community where she is faced with people who love, accept, and care for not only Mercy’s fragile heart, but her grieving soul.

MERCY’S RAIN is not a novel for the faint of heart. Though Ms. Sproles does not rely on rough language or graphic descriptions, her imagery sets scenes that are both evocative and haunting.  You will find yourself wincing and sighing out loud, wondering how much more Mercy can endure before she is set free from the cruel and harsh behavior meted out by her father.  Mercy hates her very name because it taunts her of the one thing both her earthly and heavenly father have never extended to her. I ached for Mercy when she finally found herself surrounded by good people, but her cynical mind and distrust of any man of God would not allow her to receive unconditional acceptance.  Mercy’s journey is heart wrenching because she feels unworthy of anything good and refuses to acknowledge that God is the epitome of good.  It’s a difficult process for Mercy to shed the hate that has blackened her heart, but Isabella, Terrance, and Preacher Samuel refuse to give up on Mercy until she finds the true meaning of her very name.

Book provided for review purposes.

My Review - Love is Patient

5 out of 5 stars

I really enjoyed LOVE IS PATIENT. I especially enjoyed the gritty writing with which the story is told.

Melanie Brooks has sold her body for years, but now has the chance to start over. When she arrives at her ranch in Sterling Canyon, she is astounded at the gift that has been left to her. Feeling unworthy, she can’t help but think she has to work to receive what already belongs to her.  Pappy Henderson, the ranch foreman is patient and kind with Melanie. He is well aware of her past, but reminds her over and over again that nothing she’s done in life will disqualify her from the love of God.

Nicholas Henderson, Pappy’s nephew, is immediately intrigued by Melanie. She is strong and determined, and never shies away from hard work. Her womanly curves do not go unnoticed either. But, when Nicholas learns of her previous vocation, his feelings change. He will never see her as anything more than a tainted woman.

Pappy is heartbroken that his own nephew is unwilling to see past Melanie’s previous hardships. Nicholas’ treatment of Melanie only serves to reinforce her feelings of inadequacy and that she does not deserve what God wants to freely give her. But all that changes when Melanie’s past comes back to haunt her. She will do whatever is necessary to protect her new family from the unseemly people who are determined to destroy her.

A really enjoyed LOVE IS PATIENT. I appreciate and applaud any Christian author that writes a story with realism instead of sanitizing the story which only serves to insult the audience. There were a few threads in the story I felt should’ve been handled differently.  I don’t think−under any circumstance−Melanie would’ve allowed Charlotte to remain in the squalor of her past. Melanie had the means to rescue Charlotte and I don’t think she would’ve allowed herself to live in such opulence knowing what filth Charlotte was subjected to night after night. I was also waiting for Pappy to use all the imagery of what Melanie had inherited as an illustration of what God has prepared for us. We can’t work for it, we will never earn it. It is a gift−all we have to do is accept it. Other than that, I truly enjoyed LOVE IS PATIENT and would recommend it to anyone who loves the old west.