Frantic by Mike Dellosso [3.5 stars]

This review contains minor spoilers.
Frantic by Mike Dellosso.
Gas station attendent Marny Toogood is enjoying a normal day on the job when an urgent message from a girl in the backseat of a car draws him into a desperate rescue attempt. Now he's on the run with the girl and her brother.
They face cults, kidnapping, and other evils and Marny soon realizes he must let go of his past and surrender all to Christ.

This is turning out to be a hard book for me to review. Because there was a lot I didn't like, but what I did like, I really liked, if that makes sense ;) So I apologize if this is a confusing review.

I think Mike Dellosso is a very good writer. He definitely has a way with words, his descriptions are fascinating and the writing is great. But, I didn't care too much for the story. 
A lot of people are saying this book is fast-paced, but I found it to be somewhat slow. The first half of the book was just the three characters running around and you weren't really introduced to what was going on until about halfway through the book.
I did like the characters, they were interesting.
But what I really didn't like was the supernatural element toward the end, I am not a fan of supernatural type stuff, and considering the first 3/4 or so of the book was not that, and then suddenly they go into this house and this whole supernatural element is added, it didn't make a lot of sense to me.
As soon as the serial killer element was introduced, I figured out who it was. Wasn't very hard considering there weren't a ton of characters in the book, but I was kind of disappointed in that aspect.
But despite all the things I didn't like about this book, William is what this book is all about. William has a gift, faith. That might not seem like much to some, but William is able to do some pretty amazing things. While some things he does lean more towards 'supernatural', the concept of having faith like a child brings on new meaning in this book, and I think Mike Dellosso did a great job of that.

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.

Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride by Sandra Bricker [3.5 Stars]

Always the Wedding Planner, Never the bride by Sandra Bricker.
Wedding planner Sherilyn Caine has moved from Chicago to Atlanta to marry Andrew Drummond IV, an Atlanta native with a family name that tops all the social registers. Sherilyn joins her best friend and old college roommate Emma, the hotel's baker, in working at The Tanglewood, a destination wedding hotel.
Sherilyn and Andy have only known each other a short time, but they know they're destined to be married. But then why do all their wedding plans keep falling apart?




Cute, light read. The characters were fun, but not real memorable. (Russell was a fun character. I liked the addition of him.) Nothing really 'exciting' happened, no real problems or anything. I can't really say much more than this just being a cute, happy, uneventful read.
The storyline is fun and kept me interested and willing to read the next.

There were some things (in the kindle edition at least. I've noticed these things in most kindle editions) that were confusing; mostly typos, and that there weren't proper breaks between paragraphs. So you'd be reading along and then suddenly the story would change points of view or go to an entirely new scene/situation.

I like how the author ends each chapter with something fun, like a recipie, wedding planning tips, how to pick a wedding dress, and other fun stuff. Very unique idea that I really enjoy.

Overall, this is a fun book. A good change of pace between all the crime/suspense/thrillers I normally read ;)

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.

Liebster Award

I was chosen by Shannon from her great blog at Diary of an Army Wife to recieve the Liebeter award.

Thanks Shannon, I SO appreciate it!!!

This award is given to bloggers with less than 200 followers, in the hopes that it will bring many new friends/followers.

Leibster means 'dearest' or 'beloved' but it can also mean 'favorite'.

The idea of the Liebster Award is to bring attention to blogs with less than 200 followers. So in the spirit of good fun, I am passing this award on to five other bloggers. Please stop by and visit them!

The rules are:

1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

2. Reveal your five picks for the award and let them know.

3. Post the award on your blog.

4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the blogshare - other bloggers.

5. Finally, and the best rule of all, have fun and spread the love!

My five picks for the Liebster Award are...

1. Natalia from The Journal of Natalia Rose

2. Anne from Strawberry Monkey Files

3. Haley

4. Liv from Liv in the Moment Photography

5. Jolie from Buckeyes Down Under

So just right click the award, save it to your computer, and add it as a picture to your blog.

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?