About the book: From a USA Today bestselling author!
Like a butterfly on a summer breeze, love rarely lands where it’s expected.
Working for her dad’s landscaping business stifles Linnea Ranta. When she’s invited to design and build a community garden with an intriguing master carpenter, she seizes the chance to unfurl her wings, but at what expense to her heart?
Logan Dermott eases back his flirting when he senses Linnea’s fragility, but she has more backbone than he suspected. As they work together, Logan finds he’s falling for her, but it may be too late to win her love.
Will Linnea break free of her chrysalis and fly away before Logan realizes what he almost had?
My review: Clean romance–no foul language, no sex scenes
I thought I’d read this when it first came out, but then realized it had gotten lost in a mess of other books.
I’ve followed the Farm Fresh Romance series, and naturally wanted to keep up with the side characters.
I loved the comparison between Linnea and butterflies. I think we’re all like that in some respect. Wanting to break from the mold someone has put us in and be our own person–to be the person God created us to be.
My rating: 5 roses
About the book: Mercy Brennan followed in her father’s footsteps in a law enforcement career, but she has no interest in any other connection to him. A U.S. Marshal in St. Louis, Missouri, she’s assigned to a joint task force with the St. Louis PD that puts her back into contact with her father and in the sights of St. Louis’s most powerful gang.
When the gang has reason to believe Mercy has possession of some highly sensitive and incriminating information, her boss assigns Mark St. Laurent–a Deputy U.S. Marshal and Mercy’s ex-boyfriend–to get her out of town until they can guarantee her safety.
Initially unaware of the danger she’s in and uncomfortable working with Mark, Mercy’s frustration escalates when she discovers the extent her boss and Mark have been keeping her in the dark. It isn’t until a freak ice storm hits, stranding them at a remote location and out of contact with the district office, that the full severity of their situation becomes clear. As the storm worsens, the forces of nature combine with a deadly enemy closing in to put their lives at imminent risk. Can they survive long enough for help to arrive–if help is even coming at all?
My Review: I loved the story; however, it is advertised as a romantic suspense, and the romance is a little on the light side. There is romantic history between Mark and Mercy, and we get hints of their feelings regularly, but the romance is lacking. The suspense, on the other hand, is strong. It was this part of the book that kept me reading. I look forward to the next installment in this series.
Rating: 4 roses
About the book: WITNESS IN JEOPARDY
It’s a typical day at Rachael Long’s day-care center—until a masked gunman tries to abduct one of the children in her charge. First response commander Jake Marsh manages to diffuse the situation before anyone is harmed…but not before Rachael unmasks the would-be kidnapper. Now Jake must lead a manhunt and protect Rachael from the criminal who’s turned his focus on her. But the case is reawakening painful memories for Jake, and Rachael’s treating emotional wounds of her own. And with danger mounting as Christmas nears, they must learn to let go of the past in order to outwit a killer…and find the peace that’s always eluded them both.
My Review: I have been eagerly awaiting Jake’s story, and I wasn’t disappointed. As always, Susan Sleeman wrote an excellent story. Romance, suspense, intrigue, deception–all of them were included in this book, the last of the First Responders Series. I am sorry to see this group’s set of stories end. I enjoyed each of them and highly recommend them.
My rating: 5 roses
About the book: Nine months pregnant, Hope Solomon is on the run and fearing for her life. Desperate for warmth, food, and shelter, she finds what looks like an abandoned house. Inside, she discovers a Christmas that’s been left behind—complete with faded decorations on a brittle Christmas tree and dusty stockings filled with loss.
Someone spies smoke coming from the chimney of the empty house and alerts Dr. Luke Griffin, the owner. He rarely visits the home that harbors so many bittersweet memories for him. But no one is going to violate the space so near and dear to his heart.
Then Luke meets Hope, and he knows this mother-to-be desperately needs help. With no room at any local inn, Luke invites Hope to stay, unaware of the danger following her. While running from the darkness, the embers of Christmas present are stirred with an unexpected birth and a holiday romance. But will Hope and Luke live to see a Christmas future?
My review: Loved this book, as I do all of the books I read by Christy Barritt. She has a way with words that amazes me. It’s a full story of love and suspense with less words. I highly recommend it.
My rating: 5 roses
I received these books from the publishers/authors. Above are my honest reviews. Nothing was required to receive the books, nor did I receive any other compensation.
PS. clicking on any of the above images will take you to Amazon to purchase.
Happy Reading,