NOW READING: FULL DISCLOSURE ~ DEE HENDERSON

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

Paul Falcon is the FBI’s top murder cop. If the victim carried a federal badge or had a security clearance, odds are good he sees the case file or his guys 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 he 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 . . .  

NOW READING: HARVEST OF RUBIES ~ TESSA AFSHAR

The prophet Nehemiah's cousin has been catapulted into the center of the Persian court - working long hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and becoming the queen's favourite scribe.

Not bad, for a woman living in a man's world.  But a devastating past has left Sarah believing that God doesn't love her and her achievements are the measure of her worth - a measure she can never quite live up to.

Darius Pasargadae is accustomed to having his way.  A wealthy and admired aristocrat, the last thing he expects is an arranged marriage to the queen's scribe, an intelligent woman who scorns him.  

Can two such different people help one another overcome the idols that bind them?

NOW READING: SAFE HAVEN ~ NICHOLAS SPARKS

I've been wanting to read Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks for a while now, and as filming of the film version took place over the last few months, fun set photos like this one only made the story seem that much more interesting.

Julianne Hough (Katie) and Josh Duhamel (Alex) goofing around on set 

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

Kristen, Alex & Katie

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

NOW READING: A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE - A FEAST FOR CROWS ~ GEORGE R.R MARTIN

The war in the Seven Kingdoms has burned itself out, but in its bitter aftermath new conflicts spark to life. The Martells of Dorne and the Starks of Winterfell seek vengeance for their dead. Euron Crow's Eye, as black a pirate as ever raised a sail, returns from the smoking ruins of Valyria to claim the Iron Isles. From the icy north, where Others threaten the Wall, apprentice Maester Samwell Tarly brings a mysterious babe in arms to the Citadel. As plots, intrigue and battle threaten to engulf Westeros, victory will go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel and the coldest hearts.

NOW READING: CUT IN HALF - HOW GOD MENDED ME WITH 23 MIRACLES ~ ANA LE ROUX

Ana le Roux was an average thirty something mother. But three weeks after giving birth to her second child tragedy struck - the unimaginable - a violent head on collision. The force of impact thrust her forward with such intensity that it literally cut her in half! Ana le Roux would tell you she was set to die that day but instead, after seemingly endless dialogue with God, she relinquished her freedom of choice to Him. “Cut In Half” tells how, in that instant, Ana opened her eyes and began to experience the most amazing gift - healing.

Survival comes down to one simple word… Miracle.

In her awe inspiring testament of God’s love, Ana proves that miracles are not just an archaic phenomenon found in scripture; they really do happen every day in a variety of ways.

NOW READING: BY REASON OF INSANITY ~ RANDY SINGER

Following a series of murders in Virginia Beach, newspaper reporter Catherine O'Rourke experiences disturbing dreams that detail each crime.  To aid the investigation, she shares them with a detective working the case.  But her plan backfires when she's arrested as the main suspect.  Catherine turns to Las Vegas lawyer Quinn Newberg, a high-priced specialist in the insanity defence who believes in justice.  He also believes in his client.  But he does not believe Catherine's dreams are anything other than the result of a fractured personality disorder, triggered by a traumatic event from her past.  Though he knows that insanity cases are unpredictable, nothing has prepared Quinn for this.  To win, or even survive, he'll need more than his famed legal maneuvering.  On this case, he'll need a miracle.

NOW READING: PEARL IN THE SAND ~ TESSA AFSHAR

Striking beauty comes at a price. Rahab paid it when at the age of fifteen she was sold into prostitution by the one man she loved and trusted - her father.  With her keen mind and careful planning she turned heartache into success, achieving independence while still young.  And she vowed never again to trust a man.  Any man.

God had other plans.

Into the emotional turmoil of her world walked Salmone, a prominent leader of Judah, held in high esteem by all Israel.  A man of faith, honor and pride.  An enemy.

What is a woman with a wrecked past to do when she wanted to be loved, yet no longer believes it possible? The walls of Jericho are only the beginning. The real battle for Rahab will be one of the heart.

Can a Canaanite harlot who has made her livelihood by looking desirable to men make a fitting wife for one of the leaders of Israel? Shockingly, the Bible’s answer is yes.  

Pearl in the Sand tells Rahab’s untold story. Rahab lives in a wall; her house is built into the defensive walls of the City of Jericho. Other walls surround her as well - walls of fear, rejection, unworthiness.

A woman with a wrecked past; a man of success, of faith …of pride; a marriage only God would conceive! Through the heartaches of a stormy relationship, Rahab and Salmone learn the true source of one another’s worth and find healing in God ~ Tessa Afshar website.

NOW READING: MY LAST DUCHESS ~ DAISY GOODWIN

Cora Cash, possibly the wealthiest heiress in 1890s America, has been raised to believe that money will open every door to her. But when her mother whisks Cora to England to secure her an aristocratic match, Cora is dismayed by the welcome she at first receives. The great English houses in which she is entertained are frosty and forbidding, dogged by intrigue above stairs, and gossip below. And it is only when she loses her heart - to a man she barely knows - that Cora realises the game she is playing is one she does not full understand, and that her own future happiness could be the prize.

This beautiful cover caught my eye, and I was totally sold when I saw the story is placed in the 1800's!  

NOW READING: A MEMORY BETWEEN US ~ SARAH SUNDIN

Major Jack Novak has never failed to meet a challenge - until he meets army nurse Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. When Jack lands in the army hospital after a plane crash, he makes winning Ruth's heart a top priority mission. But he has his work cut out for him. Not only is Ruth focused on her work in order to support her orphaned siblings back home, she carries a shameful secret that keeps her from giving her heart to any man. Can Jack break down Ruth's defences, or are they destined to go their separate ways? ~ Sarah Sundin website

NOW READING: A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE - A STORM OF SWORDS 2: BLOOD AND GOLD ~ GEORGE R.R MARTIN

The Starks are scattered.  Robb Stark may be King in the North, but he must bend to the will of the old tyrant Walder Frey if he is to hold his crown.  And while his youngest sister, Arya, has escaped the clutches of the depraved Cersei Lannister and her son, the capricious boy-king Joffrey, Sansa Stark remains their captive.


Meanwhile, across the ocean, Daenerys Stormborn, the last heir of the Dragon King, delivers death to the slave-trading cities of Astapor and Yunkai as she approaches Westeros with vengeance in her heart.

NOW READING: RAPTURE ~ LAUREN KATE

The sky is dark with wings...

Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.

Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen.

For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her - and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.  In the fight for Luce, who will win?

The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can’t wait any longer ~ Lauren Kate website.

NOW READING: HOW DO I LOVE THEE ~ NANCY MOSER

Generally I am not a huge fan of poetry.  Mostly I find it annoying; circling a subject, being way too subtle, and I find myself thinking just say what you're trying to say, already!

One exception to my general dislike of poetry is the poem How Do I Love Thee by Elizabeth Barrett Browning:

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for right. I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.

I am now reading the novel How Do I Love Thee by Nancy Moser, a biographical novel of Elizabeth Barrett's romance with fellow poet Robert Browning. The year is 1845. After her brother dies in a sailing accident, the grief-stricken, sickly Elizabeth Barrett becomes a recluse. She is a published poet - but a virtual prisoner in her own home. Blind family loyalty ties her to a tyrannical father who forbids any of his children to marry. She resigns herself to simply existing. That is, until the letter arrives... "I love your verses with all my heart," writes Robert Browning, a fellow poet. As friendly correspondence gives way to something more, Elizabeth discovers that Robert's love is not for her words alone. Could it be that God might grant her more than mere existence? And can she risk defying her father in pursuit of happiness? BEHIND THE STORY: The love story of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning seems impossible—and it would have been, if God hadn't been involved. Over and over I was moved by evidence of Divine intervention. These two people needed each other so much that God went to great lengths to bring them together. They saved each other. It's truly an inspiring story. Also inspiring are the love sonnets Elizabeth wrote - for her eyes only.  As a bonus in this book, we have included the "Sonnets from the Portuguese" in the back of the book. Read them for yourself! How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...



NOW READING: BEES IN THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN ~ MAUREEN LANG

I am now reading my next book for Tyndale Review.

Bees in the butterfly garden by Maureen Lang; Book 1 in The Gilded Legacy series.

Raised in an exclusive boarding school among Fifth Avenue’s finest, Meg Davenport has all she’s ever needed... but none of the things she’s wanted most, like family, or dreams of a future that includes anything other than finding a suitable match. So when her distant father dies, she seizes the chance to throw etiquette aside and do as she pleases. Especially when she learns that John Davenport wasn’t the wealthy businessman she thought, but one of the Gilded Age’s most talented thieves.

Poised to lead those loyal to Meg’s father, Ian Maguire knows the last thing his mentor would have wanted is for his beloved daughter to follow in his footsteps. Yet Meg is determined, and her connections to one of New York’s wealthiest families could help Ian pull off his biggest heist yet. But are they both in over their heads? And in trying to gain everything, will they end up losing it all? ~ Maureen Lang website. 

NOW READING: CATCHING FIRE ~ SUZANNE COLLINS

I am now reading Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, the sequel to The Hunger Games.

After winning the brutal Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta return to their district, hoping for a peaceful future. But their victory has caused rebellion to break out ... and the Capitol has decided that someone must pay. As Katniss and Peeta are forced to visit the districts on the Capitol's Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever.

NOW READING: THE LUCKY ONE ~ NICHOLAS SPARKS

When Nicholas Sparks releases a new book two things are certain: 1) You are going to cry when you read it, and 2) it will, at some point, be turned into a feature film.

Nicholas Sparks writes beautiful, believable love stories. The thing is, though, where I love traditional, happily-ever-after endings, Nicholas seems to be a fan of bitter-sweet endings. For this reason I have avoided Nicholas Sparks novels for a while now; The guy, while brilliant, never quite gives me the ending I had hoped for.

I am now reading The Lucky One, my first Nicholas Sparks novel in a few years, and I have to admit it was the movie trailer which convinced me.  You might recall this was one of the 20 books to read before they're adapted into 2012 movies. 

When U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a smiling young woman half-buried in the dirt during his third tour of duty in Iraq, his first instinct is to toss it aside. Instead, he brings it back to the base for someone to claim, but when no one does, he finds himself always carrying the photo in his pocket. Soon Thibault experiences a sudden streak of luck—winning poker games and even surviving deadly combat that kills two of his closest buddies. Only his best friend, Victor, seems to have an explanation for his good fortune: the photograph—his lucky charm.

 

Back home in Colorado, Thibault can’t seem to get the photo—and the woman in it—out of his mind. Believing that she somehow holds the key to his destiny, he sets out on a journey across the country to find her, never expecting the strong but vulnerable woman he encounters in Hampton, North Carolina—Elizabeth, a divorced mother with a young son—to be the girl he’s been waiting his whole life to meet. Caught off guard by the attraction he feels, Thibault keeps the story of the photo, and his luck, a secret. As he and Elizabeth embark upon a passionate and all-consuming love affair, the secret he is keeping will soon threaten to tear them apart—destroying not only their love, but also their lives.

Filled with tender romance and terrific suspense, The Lucky One is Nicholas Sparks at his best—an unforgettable story about the surprising paths our lives often take and the power of fate to guide us to true and everlasting love ~ Nicholas Sparks' website.

NOW READING: MAID TO MATCH ~ DEEANNE GIST

I've been wanting to read Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist for quite some time now.    The only reason I've been putting it off, was that I wasn't convinced that a book about maids would capture my attention.  Knowing Dee, I should have known better.  I'm only a few pages in, and already I'm fascinated by the world she has created, and in love with the characters.  I simply adore Deeanne's books!  She does historical romance very well, and manages to concoct beautiful love stories without the need to cross the boundaries of propriety at every turn.  Maid to Match is quite the fan favourite having won many awards, and has also just been nominated for a RITA, the Oscars of romance writers!  See all the awards this wonderful author has been nominated for and/or won here. 

Falling in Love Could Cost Her Everything.

From the day she arrives at the Biltmore, Tillie Reese is dazzled by the riches of the Vanderbilts, and by Mack Danvers, a mountain man turned footman. When Tillie is enlisted to help tame Mack's rugged behavior by tutoring him in proper servant etiquette, the resulting sparks threaten Tillie's efforts to be chosen as Edith Vanderbilt's lady's maid. After all, the one rule of the house is no romance below stairs.

But the stakes rise even higher when Mack and Tillie become entangled in a cover-up at the town orphanage. They could both lose their jobs, their aspirations... and their hearts ~ Deeanne Gist's Website.