The Stars Shine Bright by Sibella Giorello [3.5 stars]

The Stars Shine Bright by Sibella Giorello
From back cover:
After the FBI suspends her for bending its rules, Special Agent Raleigh Harmon is looking for a chance to redeem her career and re-start her life.

Sent undercover to a thoroughbred horse track, Raleigh takes on a double life to find out who's fixing the races. But when horses start dying and then her own life is threatened, Raleigh realizes something bigger-and more sinister-is ruining Emerald Meadows.
     She's never felt more alone.
     Her one contact with the FBI is Special Agent Jack Stephanson, a guy who seems to jump from antagonistic to genuine friend depending on the time of day. And she can't turn to her family for support. They're off-limits while she's undercover, and her mother isn't speaking to her anyways, having been confined to a mental hospital following a psychotic breakdown. Adding insult to her isolation, Raleigh's fiancé wants them to begin their life together-now-precisely when she's been ordered not to be herself.

     With just days left before the season ends, Raleigh races to stop the killing and find out who's behind the track's trouble, all while trying to determine if Jack is a friend or foe, and whether marrying her fiancé will make things better-or worse.
     Raleigh is walking through the darkest night she's faced, searching for a place where the stars shine bright.

This book was just ok for me. I really like Sibella Giorello's wirting, but this book just didn't really work for me. I had trouble getting through it and it wasn't as enjoyable as the previous books. The plot itself, the whole racing thing, something I am not really interested in, was boring to me.  The book was very well written and researched, and I really felt the author knew what she was talking about, it was just a little boring.

I love Ms. Giorello's writing, she has an amazing way with words and describing things. I enjoyed the characters in this book. The character development was good and all the secondary characters had good depth. It was just the plot that didn't work. This is one book I won't be reading again, but I definietly be reading the next book!

Proof by Jordyn Redwood [4 stars]

Proof by Jordyn Redwood
From back cover:
After DNA evidence clears a suspected serial rapist of grisly crimes, ER physician Dr. Lilly Reeves think she's a danger to the case, and takes matters into her own hands. Police detectives er colleagues worry her obsession will be detrimental to her health. But Lilly can't stop, even if it means digging into a dark mystery that science cannot comprehend. Alone and on the run, Lilly wonders: Is there any proof that will bring a monster to justice?

I'll start off by saying this is a book for mature audiences, since it deals with the topic of rape.

I thought this book was very well done. There's a lot of medical details, but not so many where they're hard to follow or understand. The characters were well done and I felt as though I really got to know Dr. Lilly Reeves throughout the book.

I found the genetics aspect of the book to be very intriguing!

It was interesting that we find out who the killer is in the middle of the book (you never see that happen!) and the rest of the story is proving that the person actually did commit the crime when DNA testing proves wrong.

I did figure out a few of the plot twists, but overall, this is a very well done book. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!

Nothing to Hide by J. Mark Bertrand [5 stars]

Nothing to Hide by J. Mark Bertrand
From back cover:
The victim's head is missing, but what intrigues Detective Roland March is the hand. The pointing finger must be a clue-but to what? According to the FBI, the dead man was an undercover asset tracking the flow of illegal arms to the Mexican cartels. To protect the operation, they want March to play along with the cover story. With a little digging though, he discovers the Feds are lying. And they're not the only ones.
In an upside-down world of paranoia and conspiracy, March finds himself dogged by injury and haunted by a tragic failure. Forced to take justice into his own hands, his twisting investigation takes him into the very heart of darkness, leaving March with nothing to lose-and nothing to hide.
I really enjoyed this book! I thought the first two books in the series, Back on Murder and Pattern of Wounds, were really good. I like the author's voice and his use of words. Each and every sentence seems to be carefully thought out. The writing is brilliant, really.

A word of warning, the initial murder is a little gruesome, but the book is so well written, if you can stand a little gore, it's WELL worth it!

I did figure out the killer A little over halfway through the book, but was left guessing as to how the plot would come together.

Mr. Bertrand definitely has a gift for character development. I really enjoy each and every character in these books. There's so much depth and emotion to the characters, they come across as real people you might know or come across in day-to-day life.
Roland March is such a great character. I appreciate the fact that while he's a tough cop, he has a soft, compassionate side. Sometimes authors get so wrapped up in giving us a gritty, tough cop character, they forget that that doesn't come across as 'real'.
I thought it was interesting that while March might not always follow the rules, everything he does seems smart. He makes educated decisions and only disobeys the rules if he has no other choice, while still realizing what he's doing is wrong.

I think this is the last book in the series, and while it's disappointing to see a great series end, I would have to say this is one of the best series I've ever read.

When the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason [3.5 stars]

When the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason
From back cover:
After a brush with death due to equipment failure, smoke jumper Alexia Allen is ordered to take time off while the incident is under investigation. She makes a last-minute decision to recuperate at her mother's home and attend her high school reunion. Yet trouble seems to be following her, and within hours of arriving home she is confronted with murder, arson-and a handsome detective.
But the conflicts ahead are nothing compared to the ghosts of her past. As she struggles to accept and forgive her family's past, she must also decide if the secret she's been guarding for the last ten years must finally come to light.

Let me start off by saying I am not a huge fan of Lynette Eason's last books, the Women of Justice series. I found them to be very predictable, so much so, that in one of the books I figured out the killer in the first 30 pages. But, I'm all for second chances and was hoping this book might redeem itself. While it was a little more difficult to figure out the killer, I did figure it out pretty early on and was rather disappointed with who it was. I won't say why, as I don't want to give the story away, but if you read this, you'd understand.

Being from Washington, I was hoping this book was going to be based there, and I was a little disappointed that it wasn't, but that's just me. ;)

Anyways,
I read a lot of suspense and thrillers, and I thought the amount of 'bad things' happing in this book was too much. It was just one thing after another after another! I think if the author would've halved the amount of attempts on Alexia's life and it would've been ok. It was definitely overkill, (Please excuse the pun.) and got to the point where the 'unexpected' was very expected.
I was also disappointed with the fact that this book is called When the Smoke Clears, and Alexia is a smokejumper, that there was no firefighting/smoke jumping aspect to the story like I was hoping for.

Now for what I DID like...
Alexia's story and background were interesting, and I found Alexia to be a strong character despite all she'd been through. But I felt like there was something missing to that would have made her a truly great character.
The romance aspect was not too cheesy or over the top, very well done.
The main themes throughout this book are Alexia dealing with her past and forgiveness. I liked that while this was a Christian book, it didn't come across as preachy.

Low price Kindle book!

The Pawn by Steven James is only $4.00!
From back cover:Patrick Bowers specializes in tracking down the killers who elude the FBI's best forensic investigators. As an environmental criminologist, Bowers employs twenty-first-century geospatial technology to analyze the time and space in which a crime takes place. Using an array of factors, Bowers can pinpoint, with surprising accuracy, the important clues that lead to solving the toughest of cases.

Bowers's impressive skills have made him one of the Bureau's top agents. Until now. Called to the mountains of North Carolina to consult on a gruesome murder, Bowers finds himself caught in a deadly duels with a serial killer who seems to transcend Pat's analytical powers. Forced to track the killer's horrific string of murders one by one, bowers finds his techniques and instincts put to the ultimate-and perhaps final-test.

I HIGHLY recommend this book! (Unless you get creeped out easily or don't like crime stuff, then you should probably skip this.)
This book is full of twists and turns, from the very first pages to the last. You'll start out thinking one thing is going to happen, and suddenly something completely different happens! I really like the main characters, Patrick, and his daughter Tessa.
The author is very knowledgeable and this book is filled with fact and information. (Almost too much at times.)

So if you're looking for an exciting, suspenseful read, then check this out! And, it's only $4.00, you can't really beat that ;)

Free Kindle books

In Between: A Katie Parker Production by Jenny B. Jones
From back of book:

Katie Parker knows life isn't fair. After all, when your mom's in jail and your dad's a no-show, you figure things just aren't going your way. But hey, she can deal. Then she finds out she's being sent to live with a foster family--in In Between, Texas. What kind of town has a name like In Between? And what kind of family wants a kid like her? One thing's for certain: None of this will be good. Sure enough--thanks to some new "friends" and her non-Mom's crazed mother, Mad Maxine--life sails right past bad to stinking. Then again, she's just a temporary kid, they're just temporary parents, and she definitely doesn't have any ideas about making any of this permanent. God, on the other hand, may have other plans altogether.

 

This is YA, which I don't read much anymore, but I LOVE Jenny B. Jones's books! She is so funny and I really enjoyed the characters in this book! (Especially Mad Maxine!) So even if you aren't a YA reader, you should enjoy this. And best of all, it's free!

 

Deadly Aim by Patricia H. Rushford

From back of book:

Angel Delaney puts up a tough front-as a female police officer she must. She works for peace in her coastal Oregon town, but loathes the means she must sometimes use to get it. So when her line of duty requires her to use deadly force against a twelve-year-old boy, Angel's world begins to crumble. The community wants answers, and Angel is dismayed to find that the media portrays her as a racist, a rogue cop, and a menace. While she works to clear her name and her conscience, the investigation into her use of deadly force creates more questions than answers. The detective working on Angel's case, has his hands full when crucial evidence disappears and other people are found murdered. Do these killings relate to the boy's death? Is Angel next?

 

I read this book awhile ago, the story is pretty good. And being from the Northwest, I always find stories based there pretty interesting.

 

Danger in the Shadows by Dee Henderson

From back cover:

Under FBI protection. Sara isn't even Sara Walsh anymore. Her name is what they tell her. Her home is where they send her. And she's never there for long.

Though faceless, he haunts Sara's dreams. He's the man who abducted Sara as a child and continues to stalk her. He's the one who is determined to end their connection-and Sara's life.

Which makes her falling in love with a man as high profile as Adam Black a bad idea. And a dangerous one. For both of them. Sara's life is an unsafe place for love-and certainly an unsafe place for the children Adam longs for. No one knows that better than Sara, and she can't take the risk.

But if she doesn't, her life will never be her own. Where will she find the courage to name her terror and face her fear?

 

This is the prequel to the very popular O'Malley Series. The series is pretty good, the romance a little cheesy at times, but they're all a good read.

Submerged by Dani Pettrey [2.5 stars]

Submerged by Dani Pettrey
From the back of the book:
Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey, Alaska, again.
She has a past - and a reputation, and Yancey's a town that doesn't forget. She's returned only to bury a loved one killed in a plane crash. But then dark evidence emerges and Bailey's expertise becomes invaluable for the case.
Cole McKenna can face dangerous rescue dives. He can face the fear a murderer may be threatening his town. But facing the reality of Bailey's reappearance is a tougher challenge. She broke his heart...but doesn't seem to be the same girl who left Yancey ten years ago. And he's not the same guy she left behind.
Racing against the clock and a rising body count, Bailey and Cole must move beyond the hurts of their pasts to work together until the truth of what is hidden in the depths finally resurfaces.

I thought this book sounded really good when I first heard about it; and while the story was pretty good, I was continually irritated by the author's complete lack of knowledge on Alaska. When I read a book, I want to know the author did his or her research and knows what they're talking about.
This author didn't get much right in that regard.
Such as:
-The average temperature in SE Alaska in the summer is in the 60's...not the 70's and 80's as she was saying. That would be record breaking temps in Kodiak (where the town of Yancey was modeled) if it got up into the 80's.
-The author kept trying to make it sound like everyone in Alaska lives the hang loose lifestyle, board shorts and flip flops. This is Alaska, not Hawaii! It's way too cold and unpractical to dress like that!
-There really aren't a lot of sandy beaches in Alaska. Most of the coastline there is rock. And if there did happen to be a sandy beach, it's probably not going to be big enough to go for a run on. You'd break your ankle on a rock.
-And my favorite? The part where they say it's hard to rent a boat during peak king crab season...it's summertime. King crab season runs from October to January. I would know, my dad used to fish king crab!
There were more, but I don't want to get too picky. I really don't want to seem mean, but if the author can't get simple facts straight, how am I supposed to be convinced of the bigger story?

I really did think the writing was good, especially for a first time author. And the plot was quite intricate, enough so that I could follow it well without getting lost.
The characters were ok, I didn't love them, but I didn't dislike them either. And I also found the romance part to be a little cheesy. Overall, this book was just an ok read for me.

I'll read the next book in the series, but I hope the author does some research.

If you're looking for a good mystery book based in Alaska, I would highly recommend something by Kimberley and Kayla Woodhouse.

Cuts Like A Knife by M. K. Gilroy [5 Stars]

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!

Free Kindle Book: Hazardous Duty by Christy Barritt

Hazardous Duty by Christy Barritt is a free Kindle download! I reviewed the third book, Organized Grime, HERE.Hazardous Duty is the first book in the Squeaky Clean Mystery Series. It follows Gaby St. Claire, a girl who dropped out of college to start her own crime scene cleaning business.
Gaby is on a routine cleaning job when she discovers something the police missed...the murder weapon. And she soon realizes the police have the wrong person in jail. Gaby begins to feel ignored by the people working on the case, so she decides to figure it out herself. Can she stop the killer before he kills someone else?

This is a fun read, even though it's about a crime scene cleaner, it's not icky or gory on the details. The characters are fun and interesting. This is a great read! And it's free, so who can complain?

Favorite series - To Catch A Thief Series

The book I'm reading right now is taking me a long time to get through, so instead of not posting at all, I thought I would share some of my favorite book series!

The To Catch A thief series by Jill Elizabeth Nelson includes the books Reluctant Burglar, Reluctant Runaway, and Reluctant Smuggler.

The series is about security consultant Desiree Jacobs and FBI Agent Tony Lucano.
The first book, Reluctant Burglar-Desiree Jacobs father has been murdered and now the security company becomes her responsibility. But when she finds a container of stolen paintings, she finds out the truth, her father was a thief. She can turn the paintings over to the law, disgracing her father’s name, embarrass museums around the world with the fact they've been displaying forgeries and destroy the company’s name, or, turn the art over to the bad guys and her father’s murderer walks free.
But when she receives a death threat, she has to decide whether or not to trust her rival, Tony Lucano, for help and protection.

I really like this series; I've read the books twice. The characters and plot are interesting. This series has a good mix of mystery, suspense, and romance. Some parts are a little predictable, but the plot is interesting enough to keep you reading.
Overall, a great series if you enjoy mysteries!

Organized Grime by Christy Barritt [4.5 Stars]

Organized Grime by Christy Barritt.
Gabby St. Claire is a crime scene cleaner and wannabe forensic investigator. She's already solved two mysteries, but this time it's serious. Her best friend Sierra is wanted for a bombing and the killing of three people in an ecoterrorist attack. Gabby knows Sierra is innocent, and is determined to prove it. But Sierra has disappeared and her only contact is a frantic phone call. Gabby risks her life to prove Sierra's innocence. Fortunately she has her neighbor Riley to help. The more she investigates, the more it seems Sierra is guilty. Will Gabby be able to prove Sierra is innocent before the FBI arrest her?

Christy Barritt is not too well-known of an author, I don't know why because she is a very good writer! This is the third book in the Squeaky Clean Mysteries. (The first being Hazardous Duty and the second being Suspicious Minds.) I really like her sense of humor and how she can write a good mystery so you're left wondering who did it throughout the book. There are some good twists to the story that I was surprised to see! The characters are fun and Gabby's job is quite interesting. Even though Gabby is a crime scene cleaner, there's no gorey details in any of the books. So, if you're squeamish, there's nothing to worry about ;)

I really liked how she writes about Gabby's coming to salvation and how she deals with forgiveness. It's very real. Too many authors write about how perfect peoples lives are once they become Christians, but that isn't true, we still have difficult times and things we struggle with and Christy Barritt does an excellent job explaining that and summing up Gabby's walk with Christ.

Overall, this is a great murder mystery. Funny at just the right times, romance that isn't too cheesy or annoying, and a great mystery that will keep you guessing!

This book is only $4.99 on Kindle, so it's a good buy =) You could read this series out of order (the outcomes of the previous two mysteries are not given away) but I always suggest starting with the first book, as there are a few other plot lines that were summed up in this book and would be ruined if you started here first.

Firethorn by Ronie Kendig [5 Stars]

I had seen on this authors facebook page that she was looking for book influencers, so I thought I would offer and was thrilled when she decided to send me a book in exchange for an (honest) review!

Firethorn by Ronie Kendig is the fourth (and sadly, final) book in the Discarded Heroes series.
Firethorn follows former Marine Griffin "Legend" Riddel, who finds himself sitting in a maximum security prison facing charges for a murder he didn't commit.

Covert operative Kazi Faron is hired to break Griffen out of prison and reassemble the newly dismantled Nightshade team.

As Kazi and Griffen race around the world to rescue the Nightshade team, Griffen learns that Kazi has secrets. Secrets that could get them killed.
Will they find the traitor in time? And can they learn to trust each other long enough to save the team?

I knew going into this book it was going to be bittersweet, considering it's the last Discarded Heroes book. The Nightshade team is a group of characters I have grown to love and respect and am sad to see go. But then again, if I have to say goodbye to some of my favorite characters, might as well see them go out with a bang. Literally.
If I had to sum this book up in one word...it would be intense. I don't know how Ms. Kendig continues to write such amazing books. The action is fast paced and exciting; it draws you in and won't let go! I am not really an emotional person, but I was getting teary toward the end of the book (anyone who reads it will know exactly why!) so for me, an author who is able to get me emotionally invested into a book has to be good.
Each and every character is true to life and they bring so much to the story as they deal with the underlying themes of hope, faith, redemption, rejection, and family. It was interesting to see how each of the complex plot lines came together toward the end, there was one I hadn't figured out and was surprised with how it ended up. This is a book that is hard to put down, as you are always left wondering what's going to happen next.
I am so glad I was given the chance to review this book. This series is one I will definitely be picking up and reading again.
Firethorn is the perfect conclusion to the Nightshade series.

If you love suspense/thrillers, or are a fan of shows like 24 or The Bourne movies, this is a series for you! I cannot praise/recommend this series enough.

Note-I would recommend reading this series in order, starting with Nightshade.

Deadly Disclosures - Low price Kindle download

Deadly Disclosures by Julie Cave is only $0.99 from Amazon. 
Deadly Disclosures is about Dinah Harris, an FBI agent struggling with alcohol and depression. She attempts to keep her focus as she searches for answers as to why Thomas Whitfield, the Secretary of the Smithsonian, has vanished from his office. Foul play is suspected; And when Whitfields body is found, and more people around him begin to die, Dinah is drawn into a conspiracy concerning creationism and evolution.

It's mystery mixed with theology and creationism vs. evolution, which makes for a very interesting read!

Low price Kindle download

No Safe Haven by Kimberly and Kayla Woodhouse is only $1.99 on Amazon. Check it out! I reviewed the second book, Race Against Time HERE.

No Safe Haven is about Jenna and Andi Tikaani-Gray. Andi is Jenna's 12-year old daughter who has a rare medical disorder.
Jenna's husband (Andi's dad) recently died in a car accident and they're excited when
they finally receive good news from out of town specialists about Andi's disorder. But as they're flying home from a doctors appointment in Anchorage, the unthinkable happens, their plane crashes into Sultana, one of the most remote and dangerous mountains in Alaska. 
To make matters worse, a storm is headed their way; along with someone who wants to kill them. The only person who can keep them alive is Cole Maddox. Both Jenna and Andi can sense he's hiding something. But trusting the last minute passenger who joined them on their flight will prove to be difficult, but do they have any other choice?

Race Against Time by Kimberly and Kayla Woodhouse [4 Stars]

Race Against Time by Kimberly and Kayla Woodhouse

Thirteen year old Zoya Naltsiine is out with her sprint racing dogs when she witnesses a murder. While trying to get away, she gets shot. She's left feeling angry at God for all the bad things that have happend to her, her friends and family.

Zoya's mom, Anesia, is a single mom who runs a kennel with champion sprint racing dogs. Anesia is tired of being alone, especially seeing Jenna and Cole's new marriage. She's trying to hold everything together, so she hires Sean Connelly to help out around the kennel.

Sean Connelly has (literally) walked away from his high profile job at CROM to get away from his tyrannical father. He sells everything and walks more than 6,000 miles to North Pole, Alaska, looking to start over. He applies at Anesia's kennel, and gets the job.

Zoya is angry at everyone, (especially God) and killers are after her.
Anesia is trying to do what's best for her, Zoya, and the dogs, as well as trying to figure out Sean, his secrets, and the feelings she has for him. 
And Sean is determined to keep the girls safe and figure out why macrochips are being implanted in the dogs.

Are the macrochips related to the murder? Why are the killers still after Zoya? Will Zoya ever put her anger aside and trust God again? And Anesia, will she ever find love again?

Race Against Time is the sequel to No Safe Haven (Which you will want to read before Race Against Time) Written by the mother-daughter team Kimberly and Kayla Woodhouse, Race Against Time alternates points of view between multiple characters. (Mainly Zoya, Anesia, and Sean. As well as Andie, Cole, Jenna, and a couple other characters.)
I liked that the book alternated between characters, but I wish it hadn't been as many as there were; it got to be too many.
The book is set in North Pole, Alaska, (Somewhere I’ve been before. So that made it a little more interesting for me!)
The descriptions of Alaska, the terrain, and sled dog racing were fun, accurate, and interesting to read about.

A fun, light read with a great mix of action, adventure, romance, sled dog racing, faith and Alaska. A great book anyone of any age would enjoy.

Trailer for the book: