Always the Designer, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker
Audrey Regan has worked years to make a name for herself as a wedding dress designer.
But unfortunately, Audrey's business isn't going anywhere and she's barely able to bring in any money. If she doesn't land a contract soon, she might have to close down for good.
When her best friend, Carly, asks her to design a wedding dress, she makes the decision to fly to Atlanta, knowing full well this may be the last dress she designs.
While in Atlanta, Audrey's world is turned upside down when she meets Carly's fiance's brother, JR, and she finds a new business prospect when she's asked to design a gown for a plus sized bride. Will Audrey be able to revive her business? And has she finally found true love?
It almost doesn't seem right to say, but this book was a little too happy. There's no 'suspense', no real character development, nothing really even happening except everyone and their brother (litterally as it turns out) getting married. It just wasn't real to me, everything was just too perfect, like a Strawberry Shortcake movie or something.
It got to be a little confusing keeping all the characters and their spouses straight. I found myself getting them mixed up and trying to remember who was who.
This book wasn't real memorable, but makes for a light read. I found myself looking forward more to the little facts and recipies at the end of each chapter than I did about the story itself.
This is book three in the series. Book 1 Always the Baker, Never the Bride and Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride (review).
Eyes of Justice by Lis Wiehl
The Triple Threat consists of FBI agent Nicole Hedges, federal prosecutor Allison Pierce, and crime reporter Cassidy Shaw. They met in high school, but didn't become friends until their high school reunion when they realized they all had something in common - their desire to see justice.
They've solved a few crimes together, but this time it's personal. When one of the Triple Threat is murdered, the remaining two are devastated and vow to bring the killer to justice, no matter the cost.
It doesn't take the police long to make an arrest, but the women soon become convinced that the police have the wrong person behind bars.
It suddenly becomes apparent that the killer doesn't just want one member of the Triple Threat dead...he wants them all dead.
Will the Triple Threat be able to overcome their grief and lock up the killer before it's too late?
When I first started reading this book, I wasn't sure about the killing off of one of the main characters, it seemed kind of weird to kill off someone you've come to know, three books into the series. I didn't feel too bad though, because she wasn't one of my favorite characters. It just left me feeling a little perplexed.
The plot line was good, the story pretty well written. There were some plot twists I saw coming, but most of them I didn't. I do really like the two remaining Triple Threat members. They have very real personalities and quirks.
I'm not really sure about the new character Ophelia. There was really no back story or getting to know her. She kind of just appears and (I'm guessing) supposed to take the place of the deceased Triple Threat member.
I wasn't too impressed with the ending, even though the crime was solved. I know some of the plot lines were left for the next book, I just felt like the book didn't really 'end', it just stopped.
Overall, this book is a great addition to the Triple Threat series.
This is the fourth book in the Triple Threat series. Book one - Face of Betrayal, book two - Hand of Fate, and book three Heart of Ice.
Whole Pieces by Ronie Kendig
(info of book from Tyndale)
After a brutal attack left him without a limb and his team dead, former Green Beret Haytham "Hawk" Wilson is angry at life and God. Bitter, he pushes everyone out of his life. Every day he relives his decision to send teh Afgan boy home rather than following orders to kill any who came upon his hidden team. So when on his deathbed at age 36, eaten alive by grief and regret, he's offered the chance to relive any seven hours. Hawk is determined to go back, kill the boy, and save his team. The decision is simple...until he gets there.
The clock is ticking. What will he do with the time left?
There are 7 books in the 7 hours series. (I've only read this book.) The whole concept of choosing 7 hours to relive is kind of a neat. I'm not really a fan of supernatural/fantasy type stuff; but this was good. It adds a whole new level of emotional turmoil to the character since he knows the outcome of his decision. He has to weigh every decision he makes, agonizing over what could happen.
I love Ronie Kendig's writing, and I think she could write just about anything. She has a way of writing and making you feel like you're right there (which is kind of scary in some situations!) But I really enjoyed this story, it's short, won't take too long to read, and definitely worth the $2.99!
On another note, isn't the cover awesome?!?!
This book is $2.99 and available for Kindle only. Or PDF version HERE
The Chase by DiAnn Mills
To the FBI, it's a cold case. To Kariss Walker, it's the case that could change her writing career.
Five years ago, an unidentified little girl was found starved to death behind a Houston apartment complex. A news anchor at the time, Kariss reported on the case.
Today, Kariss, a New York Times Bestselling author, plans to turn the unsolved case into a suspense novel. With the help of an FBI friend, Kariss is assigned to Special Agent Tigo Harris, who later gets the case reopened.
Tigo isn't thrilled with the idea of becoming a 'babysitter'. Considering he's deep in the middle of a gun running case against a powerful Houston gang.
The search for the dead girls' missing mother gets both the characters in over their heads as they try to figure out what happened. Will they be able to find the murderer and close the case?
This wasn't a real great book to me. The characters weren't too interesting. Especially Kariss, I'm not really a fan of reporter types. They're all the same, make stupid decisions, get themselves in trouble, and magically get themselves out of trouble. It's hard to feel sorry for someone who makes dumb decisions. (You go into a bad part of town by yourself, what do you think is going to happen?) She was very hard to like and I didn't feel much of a connection with her.
Tigo was better, there was a little more depth to him.
I figured out some of the plot twists, especially toward the end, totally saw that coming.
The story was a little too predictable for me.
I liked the idea of the story though, and I admired Kariss's hunger for justice and was glad with the outcome. I just felt there was more that could have been done with the story.
Cuts Like A Kinfe by M.K. Gilroy
Detective Kristen Conner, the newest detective with the Chicago PD, is after a ruthless serial killer dubbed The Cutter Shark. The killer targets young women with successful careers.
Kristen is a tough girl, she grew up in a cop's home and takes intense hand-to-hand combat training.
Faith and family are important to Kristen. She coaches her 7-year old niece Kendra's soccer team, The Snowflakes, she always shows up to family dinners, and almost never misses church.
But things get crazy when she's assigned to the Cutter Shark case. Kristin is a good cop, but she's never faced anything like this before. Will she be able to stop the Cutter Shark before he kills again?
I really liked this book! Kristin, the main character, is pretty cool. She's tough, funny, and not too girly, so I identified well with her ;)
I liked that Kristin struggled some with her faith and didn't come across as too perfect or preachy. She has anger problems, but tries hard to overcome them. I felt like I really got to 'know' the characters.
I never lost interest and was left guessing who the killer was until the very end! Which is a great feat if you ask me, because I'm not too easy to fool ;)
This book is very well written, realistic, and relatable. I can't wait until the next book!
