KATIE'S QUEST by LEE CARVER

There was a time in my life that I wanted to be a missionary. I had visions of going overseas and working in an orphanage. As I read this story I realized how painful, sad and rewarding missionary work is. The author does an amazing job of describing the jungles that Katie and the team went to. The villages were sparse with comfort but plentiful with people needing medical attention.

Katie is a wonderful character who has compassion for others. Her desire to go  to these villages and help is heartwarming. I loved reading about the different people she treated and how she shared her faith with them. What really drew me to this book was how the author beautifully illustrated the compassion Katie had for the people she was treating. She worried that she wasn't doing enough, or because of the language barrier she wasn't able to share Jesus with them. God has a way for us to show His love for others just through our actions. Katie was a great example of that .

I did like the interaction between her and Matt. It is hard for Katie to let her guard down with Matt since he is a pilot. The memory of losing her fiancé  from a plane accident still hurts . Will she allow Matt to help her overcome her grief? There are several times in the book where danger lurks and I found it to be intriguing as they trusted God for their safety. I can't imagine the life people live in villages that are unsafe and without food or water. The story made me cry at times as I read how desperate people are to survive. Matt really impressed me with his determination to save a young girl from a life that would place her in danger.

The author did an excellent job in reminding Katie what is really important in life. We all take things for  granted at times. Kate's experience in the jungles of Brazil have made her see that money is not important, people are . To be able to help others and give them comfort is priceless. The ending is very intense and filled with uncertainty . Will Katie and Matt survive the jungle?  I look forward to the next book in this series. With the authors expertise in missionary work, it is sure to be another exciting book.

"When you take care of them with kindness, they see Jesus in you."

I received a copy of this book from the author and The BookClub Network. The review is my own opinion.

BEYOND JUSTICE by CARA PUTMAN

I just love this author's books. They are always written with such intricate knowledge of the subject and the story comes alive with realism. I loved the subject of immigration and how the author gave details of what someone goes through to come to the United States. Sometimes people get lost in the red tape and this leads us to a non stop action filled story that keeps readers on the edge of their seat.

Hayden has just won a case that everyone said she couldn't win. She is tough as nails and I love her compassion for her clients . When  she receives a new case, things don't add up for her. It seems every time she tries to get answers , she is  stopped, scared away or lied to. Why did a young boy die while in a detention center? His mother believes he was killed and the government was involved. Can you imagine taking on the government and accusing them of killing a young boy who just wanted to have a better life?

I did like Anderson and thought he was perfect for Hayden. Anderson has his own problems with a father who has his eyes set on a more powerful influence in the political world. Does Andrew support his father's political views? I did like that Andrew worked with helping immigrants and how that intertwines with Hayden's battle to find justice for a young boy and his family.

The author has strong characters that are determined to fight for what they believe in. There is some very intense scenes that bring this story to a high  caliber thriller. I loved the faith that several characters had and never deterred from it even in the midst of danger. Will Hayden find the answers she needs before more people die? Get ready for a book that is filled with lies, secrets, drugs and a story that delivers a powerful ending.

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.

NO TURNING BACK
by Tracy Buchanan

Far be it from me to ruin your chance to be enthralled — like when you find yourself stuck in a giant web and see the ‘mother of all spiders’ coming towards you. And you can’t look away.

If you have an e-reader, don’t read this one in the dark. Seriously.
I CANNOT WAIT to read Buchanan’s other books! shiver
~Back Porchervations

I found it to be an engaging read, with many twists as Anna learns more about local and family history.
~Cassidy’s Bookshelves

No Turning Back is a compelling psychological thriller and I give it more than 5 stars! My Paradise Rating!
~Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book 

This was a truly compelling thriller that had me intrigued from the very beginning, especially given my fascination with reading anything serial killer related.
~That’s What She’s Reading

No Turning Back: A Novel
Women Sleuths/Suspense Thriller
Crooked Lane Books (June 13, 2017)
Hardcover: 352 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1683311638
E-Book ASIN: B01N4FP1AR

Anna Graves’s whole life has recently been turned upside down. A new mother, she’s just gone back to her job as a radio presenter and is busy navigating a new schedule of late night feeding and early morning wake ups while also dealing with her newly separated husband. Then the worst happens. While Anna is walking on the beach with her daughter, she’s attacked by a crazed teenager. Terrified, Anna reacts instinctively to protect her baby.

But her life falls apart when the schoolboy dies from his injuries. The police believe Anna’s story, until the autopsy results reveal something more sinister. A frenzied media attack sends Anna into a spiral of self-doubt. Her precarious mental state is further threatened when she receives a chilling message from someone claiming to be the “Ophelia Killer,” a serial killer who preyed on the town twenty years ago—and who abruptly stopped when Anna’s father committed suicide.

Is Anna as innocent as she claims? And is murder forgivable, if committed to save your child’s life? Internationally bestselling author Tracy Buchanan takes readers on an emotional roller coaster ride filled with heart-stopping secrets and hairpin turns in No Turning Back, her US debut.

About The Author

Tracy Buchanan lives in the UK with her husband, their little girl and their one-eyed Jack Russell. Buchanan traveled extensively while working as a travel magazine editor and has always been drawn to the sea after spending her childhood holidays on the coast visiting family–a fascination that inspires her writing. She now dedicates her time to writing and procrastinating on Twitter.

Author Links

Webpage – Tracy.Buchanan.co.uk

Twitter – @TracyBuchanan

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TracyBuchananAuthor

GoodReads – http://www.goodreads.com/Tracy_Buchanan

Purchase Links

Amazon  B&N   IndieBound

This is not a book you want to read late at night when you hear noises outside and your mind is telling you to run. The opening is terrifying, intense and starts the book in a spiral of terror that doesn't  stop till the end. I was mesmerized from the start and found the book to be chilling and well written.

Anna is a good character with a lot going on. She has just come  back to work after having a child. I loved her job as a radio personality . The setting of the story is in the U.K.which I found very fascinating. What happens to Anna one day while out for a stroll with her child ? What  would you do to protect your child? I do have to say that the weapon Anna used to protect herself was quite unusual. I have to wonder if it really could do the damage the author described. With  the adrenaline flowing through Anna in a survival mode, perhaps anything she used could become lethal. I was a bit confused at times when the story would go back and forth while introducing  The Ophelia Killer. Later this will play a part that will turn the story upside down. It took awhile to connect the dots between The Ophelia Killer and its importance to the story. I will say it is worth the wait as the author strategically gives reads a thrill ride of mind games.

The town soon turns against Anna when the story breaks of the violent crime that Anna was involved in.  I wasn't surprised at how most of her friends turned their back on her. It is true that you know who your real friends are when things get bad. Can you trust your friends to have  your back when you are accused of a crime? The mind games in this story is outstanding. I was quite surprised at the ending and the build up was captivating. This is one story that is a psychological thriller with twists that jump off the page. Overall it is a great read with some profanity throughout the book.

I received a copy of this book from The Great Escape Book Tour. The review is my own opinion.

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Marriage Is Pure Murder
by Staci McLaughlin

This is a well thought out cozy murder mystery … I enjoyed the supporting cast and family who, against their better judgement, help Dana discover clues.
~Laura’s Interests

This book had the perfect mix of suspense, mystery, and humor. I had a hard time putting the book down so I could get other things done.
~Bookworm Cafe

This was a fast-paced and enjoyable cozy.
~Brooke Blogs

Marriage Is Pure Murder (A Blossom Valley Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Kensington (May 30, 2017)
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0758294920
E-Book ASIN: B01LJKQFH6

Wedding bells are ringing at the O’Connell Organic Farm and Spa in California’s postcard-perfect Blossom Valley. The entire staff is pitching in to send one of their own down the aisle. But no one knew the nuptials could turn up so many secrets—or that marriage and murder could go hand in hand . . .

Dana Lewis is marrying Jason Forrester, a talented reporter and the love of her life. She couldn’t dream of a better venue than the farm where she works, and her friends are determined to give her the wedding of her dreams. Even her florist, Bethany Lancaster, is making sure she has just the right flowers. But Dana’s happiness wilts when she finds Bethany shot dead—and discovers her friend was a busybody with a blackmail list longer than a cathedral veil. With so many enemies, finding Bethany’s killer seems all but impossible. And when Dana herself is eyed as a suspect, she’ll have to chase down the culprit faster than she can say, “I do”—or she’ll be trading in her wedding dress for prison stripes . .

About The Author

Staci McLaughlin graduated from the California State University, East Bay before becoming a technical writer for a number of years. Now she is a stay-at-home mom and a cozy mystery writer in my spare time (Ha!). Once she can wrangle the kids into bed, my husband and I enjoy watching scary movies and playing both board games and video games. 

She is currently a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, as well as a contributor to the LadyKillers blog at http://www.theladykillers.typepad.com/. She lives with my family in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Author Links:

Webpage – http://stacimclaughlin.com/home

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Staci-McLaughlin-161577987251041/

I was quite impressed with this cozy mystery. I loved the small town atmosphere and wanted to go to the ice cream shop and taste every flavor there.  The author really did a great job of making her characters real and interesting. I found Dana  the main character to be very smart and I loved reading about her job. Who wouldn't want to work at an organic farm and spa?

What I like the most about this book is how the mystery is well written with subtle hints of who the killer might be. There were a few funny moments but not so silly that the characters start to become boring. I loved how the story moved along at a good pace with details that were not overwhelming. The book has several characters but not so many that the reader gets lost in trying to remember them all.

I was quite intrigued by the wedding that Dana was planning. It was going to be a great day for her and her soon to be husband Jason. I liked that Jason was protective of Dana when she decides to do a bit of detective work. How could she not, since she seems to be a suspect? The victim was not liked by some of the people in the town. She had a habit of finding out secrets about people and using that to her advantage. I at first was so clear who the killer was, but was pleasantly surprised by who it turned out to be. The ending is good and has a great scene that involves some mud throwing in a way. It definitely was fun to read and I'm happy to say a very well written ending to a story that I loved.

I received a copy of this book from The Great Escape Book Tour . The review is my own opinion.

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Bearly Departed
by Meg Macy

Bearly Departed (A Teddy Bear Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
New Series
Kensington (May 30, 2017)
Paperback: 288 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1496709639
E-Book ASIN: B01LJKQI7I

The Silver Bear Shop and Factory might be the cutest place around, but there’s nothing warm and fuzzy about murder . . .

As manager of the family teddy bear shop and factory, thirty-one-year-old Sasha Silverman leads a charmed life. Well, except for the part about being a single divorcée with a ticking biological clock in small-town Silver Hollow. And that’s just kid’s stuff compared to Will Taylor, the sales rep who’s set on making drastic changes to the business her parents built from scratch—with or without Sasha’s approval . . .

But before Will digs his claws in, someone pulls the stuffing out of his plan . . . and leaves his dead body inside the factory. Reeling from shock, Sasha’s hit with more bad news—police suspect her hot-tempered Uncle Ross may have murdered him. Sasha knows her uncle would never do such a thing, and she’s launching her own little investigation to expose the truth. As she tracks Will’s biggest rivals and enemies for clues, Sasha can’t get too comfy—or she’ll become the next plaything for a killer . . .

About The Author

Award-winning mystery author Meg Macy lives in Southeast Michigan, close to Ann Arbor, Chelsea, and Dexter — the area she chose for the setting of her new “Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear” cozy mystery series for Kensington. She is also one-half of the writing team of D.E. Ireland for the Eliza Doolittle & Henry Higgins Mystery series; two books have been named Agatha Award finalists. Meg’s first published book, Double Crossing, won the 2012 Best First Novel Spur Award from Western Writers of America. She’s a graduate of Seton Hill University’s Writing Popular Fiction program. Meg loves reading mysteries, historicals, and other genre fiction, and also enjoys gardening, crafts, and watercolor painting.

Author Links:      www.megmacy.com      Meg Macy – Teddy Bear Cozy Mysteries      Meg Macy on Twitter

Purchase Links:  Amazon      B&N   Apple iTunes     Kobo   Google Play

The minute I saw the cover, I knew I had to read the book.  What can I say? I adore teddy bears. There is something so comforting about them. The author has done a good job on her debut Cozy Mystery series.  I loved the town she described with so many cute little themed shops. It is a tourist's dream to visit a town like this. From the beginnng I was enthralled with the story of a bear shop with the bear factory behind it. I thought the author did a fabulous job of detailing the different bears and how they are made.

Sasha is a delightful character who runs the family  shop while her sister Maddie does the books. They have employees that seem to be happy working at the factory but there is always someone who wants to change things up even though everything is fine. Enter into the story Mr. Will Taylor. I didn't like him at all. He was arrogant and so full of himself. Who does he think he is wanting to lay off workers and have production sent overseas? So what if he is their salesman and thinks the company will be better off with their product being done in China? I could here the grumblings among the employees as rumors spread about loss of jobs.

Uncle Ross is a great character and will not stand for any nonsense about the family business. His big mistake was running his mouth one night with threats against Will. Can you guess who is found dead at the factory soon after? I did like the authors creative way to use stuffing from a bear to perhaps end someone's life. It is only fitting since it is a bear factory. I did laugh because I found it brilliant writing. As in most cozy mysteries there is always one front runner as the suspect. Sasha decides she is going to find out who the killer is and off to the races we go.

The list of suspects start to grow as some people didn't exactly care for the deceased. There is a lot going on in the book that at times, I found to be too much. I wanted more focus on the mystery  and less on Sasha's ex-husband. One of the best things I liked was the bear hospital. How cute it would be to take a bear there for repairs and watch a child light up when their bear was healed? I wasn't surprised at who the killer was, so that was disappointing. As a first in the series I believe the author has great potential and  I will look forward to reading the next book in the series. I do feel the need to go get a teddy bear now.

I received a copy of this book from The Great Escapes Book Tour. The review is my own opinion.

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