TITLE:  Troubled Waters
AUTHOR:  Susan May Warren
DATE:  2018
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: ***

Billionaire Ian Shaw can have everything he wants--except a happy ending. Or at least that's what it feels like with his fortune recently liquidated, his niece, Esme, still missing, and the woman he loves refusing to speak to him. In fact, he doubts she would date him even if they were stranded on a deserted island.

Despite her love for Ian, Sierra Rose knows he has no room in his life for her as long as the mystery of his missing niece goes unsolved. The only problem is, Sierra has solved it, but a promise to Esme to keep her whereabouts secret has made it impossible to be around Ian.

When the PEAK chopper is damaged and Sierra lacks the funds to repair it, Ian offers a fundraising junket for large donors on his yacht in the Caribbean. But the three-day excursion turns into a nightmare when a rogue wave cripples the yacht and sends the passengers overboard. Shaken up and soaked to the bone, Ian finally has a chance to test his theory when he and Sierra do indeed find themselves washed up on a strange, empty shore.

It will take guts and gumption for the PEAK team to rescue the duo. But it will take a miracle to rescue Ian and Sierra's relationship.

I expected to enjoy this book, and parts were good. The pace was intense, the action well-written…but there were problems. The two main characters, Ian and Sierra, continued to wrap themselves in their own fears and self-absorption rather than being honest with one another, so much that there were many times I wanted to Gibbs-slap the backs of their heads.

Troubled Waters is billed as Christian fiction, but faith played little to no part in the story, other than desperate cries for help, until almost the end. Then at last, Jesus was mentioned once. But the final knell, for me, came after the big rescue. Only the rich and beautiful were saved from the disaster, and no one even mentioned the loss of the crew, as though they didn’t matter. That left a sour taste in my mouth.
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I appreciated the chance to read this book, but I can only award it three stars. I was given a copy of Troubled Waters by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

TITLE:  Oath of Honor
AUTHOR:  Lynette Eason
DATE:  2017
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

Police officer Isabelle St. John loves her crazy, loud, law-enforcement family. With three brothers and two sisters, she's never without someone to hang out with--or fight with. And she knows they'll be there for her when things get tough. Like when her partner is murdered and she barely escapes with her own life.

Determined to discover exactly what happened, Izzy's investigation sends her headfirst into a criminal organization, possibly with cops on the payroll--including someone from her own family. With her dead partner's handsome homicide detective brother Ryan shadowing her every move, Izzy's head is spinning. How can she secure justice for her partner when doing so could mean sending someone she loves to prison? And how will she guard her heart when the man she's had a secret crush on for years won't leave her side?

Wow, what a ride! Oath of Honor lives up to its rating as romantic suspense, and the high-level tension keeps the pages turning as fast as possible. The whole St. John family is high-adrenaline, and Izzy’s determination to solve her partner’s murder puts her in danger again and again. The stakes raise even higher when family loyalty comes into question.

Ryan is just as resolved to solve the murder of his brother as Izzy, but neither expected sparks of attraction. As danger increases, his fears for her increase exponentially.
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The faith element in Oath of Honor is subtle yet strong throughout the story. Just one warning: If you have high blood pressure, take this one slow! On the other hand, if you enjoy high-tension romantic suspense, you’ll love Oath of Honor. Recommended.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher, and it earns five stars.

TITLE:  Thee Will I Cherish
AUTHOR:  JoAnn Durgin
DATE:  2017
STARS: *****

Armed with her MBA degree, Gabriella Martin is ready to face the world. She’s gained valuable experience the past year as the interim chief financial officer of her parents’ highly successful Choose Me! Christian marriage ministry, but is that what she’s destined to do the rest of her career? While she considers her options, Gabriella returns home to the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in her native Virginia. What she doesn’t count on is running into her childhood friend Harley nearly everywhere she goes, especially since he seems more ruggedly handsome and irresistibly charming than ever.

A master woodworker and furniture builder, Harley Goodwin has always been “just friends” with Gabi Martin from the time they were kids. He prays that while Gabi’s home in Meadowvale trying to figure out her future direction, he can win her heart. He might not have a fancy college degree, but he’s built a solid, flourishing career and is financially stable. But as determined as Harley is to earn Gabi’s love, she seems to suffer from the misconception that he’s dated every other eligible girl in town, and she’s the last woman standing.

During the long and hazy days of summer, can Harley convince this stubborn beauty she’s the only woman he’s ever loved and that Gabriella needs to stay in Meadowvale permanently and make a life, home, and family with him?

Whenever I pick up a book by JoAnn Durgin, I know she’ll introduce me to memorable characters, flawed, quirky, and almost always with a good sense of humor. Thee Will I Cherish met and exceeded my expectations, making me smile, chuckle and even laugh out loud. Tears flowed, too, at particularly tender points of the story.

I loved meeting the Martin family, beginning with the three sisters, Gabi, Mari, and Aubrey, who share a strong bond of love and faith. Their parents are admirable, dedicated to their unique ministry and their family.

Harley won my heart from the first meeting, with his handsome exterior and mix of pride and insecurity. His passion for woodworking reminded me of my husband and made this hero even more appealing. This quote resonated: “In the midst of chaos in our modern world, woodworking gives us a place to slow down, pay attention, and take the time to do things right.”
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Harley and Gabi’s love story touched my heart and stirred my emotions. The faith message of this romance is clear, spelling out the Good News and showing its wonderful results. Thee Will I Cherish earns five stars. Highly recommended!

TITLE:  Vanishing Point
AUTHOR:  Lisa Harris
DATE:  2017
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: ****

During Garrett Addison's first week on the job as a criminal investigator for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, his team is called out to a murder scene of a young girl. She's the third victim in a string of disappearances with one thing in common--a Polaroid photo of each victim left behind at the crime scene.

The FBI is pulled into the case to help, and Garrett finds himself working with Special Agent Jordan Lambert, the woman he once loved. When yet another girl dies--number six--Garrett blames himself and believes he doesn't have what it takes to be an agent. What he'll discover is that, while he may be done with the killer, the killer is not done with him--or Jordan.

Bestselling and award-winning author Lisa Harris unveils an unforgettable story of a case that has haunted the public and law enforcement for more than a decade. Fans of the Nikki Boyd Files will thrill to finally discover what actually happened to Nikki's sister, Sarah. New readers will become instant fans after devouring this chilling tale.

Having read the three Nikki Boyd Files books, Vendetta, Missing and Pursued, I anticipated another fast-paced, enjoyable thriller with Vanishing Point. While it is definitely fast-paced, I did not enjoy it nearly as much as I’d expected. Seems strange to say, but I think the reason is that this story is too realistic and too well-written. The horrible killings of young girls, their parents’ anguish, and the trauma to the hero and heroine disturbed me—but I couldn’t quit reading.

The on-again/off-again relationship between Garrett and Jordan frustrated me, too, but their reasons for their actions were understandable. I had to keep checking the dates for each chapter, as the timeline jumped quite a bit—needed for this story, but jarring nevertheless.
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In spite of those little issues, I recommend Vanishing Point to those who enjoy tense thrillers with a touch of romance. It earns four stars. I received a copy of this book from its publisher.