TITLE:  Pelican Point (Hope Harbour #4)
AUTHOR:  Irene Hannon
DATE:  2018
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

A crumbling lighthouse is not part of the inheritance Army doctor Ben Garrison expects to claim when he journeys to Hope Harbor. Fresh out of the service, he wants only to unload the tower of bricks, decompress from years of treating battlefield trauma, and prepare to launch his civilian career.

Hope Harbor Herald editor Marci Weber has other ideas. She may not be a Hope Harbor native, but the small Oregon seaside town has become home--and she's determined to save the Pelican Point landmark.

Sparks fly as the two go head to head over the fate of the lighthouse. But when they start to cooperate, a different kind of fire ignites. And as they work together, might Hope Harbor heal the hearts of these two romance-wary souls?

Hope Harbour is a dream destination for me, as author Irene Hannon skillfully paints a picture of this Oregon seaside town in sweeping shades of pastels. Its inhabitants care for one another; its beauty feeds and soothes the soul. I think I want to live there!

On this my fourth visit to Hope Harbour, I met serious Ben and feisty Marci and quickly fell in love with both characters. Each has valid reasons to be wary of romance, but the attraction between them is instant and powerful. As they struggle with their pasts and future plans, I rooted for them all the way.

The mysterious and wise Charley once again plays in important role in helping guide the young couple, aided by his feathered friends, Floyd and Gladys. Such fun! I love the touches of whimsy in these stories. Trouble does come to the paradise of Hope Harbour, and when it does, faith becomes even more crucial to all involved.

Pelican Point charmed me from beginning to end, and it earns five stars. Highly recommended.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
 

TITLE:  Beneath the Surface (Dive Team Investigations #1)
AUTHOR:  Lynn H. Blackburn
DATE:  2018
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

After a harrowing experience with an obsessed patient, oncology nurse practitioner Leigh Weston needed a change. She thought she'd left her troubles behind when she moved home to Carrington, North Carolina, and took a job in the emergency department of the local hospital. But when someone tampers with her brakes, she fears the past has chased her into the present. She reaches out to her high school friend turned homicide investigator, Ryan Parker, for help.

Ryan finds satisfaction in his career, but his favorite way to use his skills is as a volunteer underwater investigator with the Carrington County Sheriff's Office dive team. When the body of a wealthy businessman is discovered in Lake Porter, the investigation uncovers a possible serial killer--one with a terrifying connection to Leigh Weston and deadly implications for them all.

Wow! What a ride! The intricate plot and thrilling danger in this story kept me reading without pause until the satisfying end. The villain? I guessed once, well maybe three times, but was still surprised at the outcome.

Leigh and Ryan are both appealing lead characters, struggling with their faith because of heartbreak. They’ve resisted the strong attraction pulling them close for years, thanks to Leigh’s brother’s protective demands. But big brother Kirk cannot protect Leigh from the danger stalking her, so homicide investigator Ryan steps up to find the culprit—at least he tries. Faith plays a crucial role in this story in a realistic and compelling way. I could identify with the questions plaguing both Ryan and Leigh, and their efforts to deal with the unanswerable resonated in my heart and mind.
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While the plot twists kept me guessing, the supporting cast kept me enthralled. No cardboard characters here; I’m already anxious for the next book in this series.

Beneath the Surface is the best romantic suspense I’ve read this year, and it easily earns five stars. Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

TITLE:  Only a Breath Away
AUTHOR:  Julianna Desmond
DATE:  2018
STARS: *****

As the daughter of a lighting technician and a costumer, Madalina (“Madi”) Pavel grew up in the shadows of the famed Metropolitan Opera House in New York. To fulfill her twelfth birthday wish, her parents dressed her in a beautiful gown and positioned her beneath the spotlight at center stage. Young Madi poured her all into an aria, blissfully unaware the opera’s general manager listened from a seat in the darkened theater. Now 26, after extensive training and traveling the world, Madalina is the coloratura soprano understudy for the Met Opera who seeks the breakout role of a lifetime. 

Julian Rhodes is the owner/manager of Harmonia, a popular Manhattan breakfast bistro frequented by the Met staff and performers. While Julian depends on their patronage, he secretly finds the opera tediously boring. He devotes all his energies into making his restaurant a success, but when he meets the beautiful coloratura soprano, Julian begins to rethink his priorities. 

Can a romantic relationship survive between a workaholic business owner and a promising opera singer? When Madalina is offered a fabulous career opportunity, their love is put to the test. Are Julian and his beautiful coloratura soprano meant to be, or are they destined to part ways? 

Opera? Not my first choice in music, but as a fan of this author, I couldn’t wait to learn about the life of an opera performer. Julianna Desmond, a.k.a. JoAnn Durgin, always includes interesting snippets of background information to broaden both story and reader. Only a Breath Away is no exception. Even without the enjoyment of the romance, this story gave me a new appreciation for the discipline, strength and commitment needed to perform the art of opera.

But of course, romance does carry the story. Madi is admirable in her dedication and lack of ego, and while Julian’s work ethic matches Madi’s, his generosity toward those in need touched my soul. His is truly a worthy hero but thankfully not a perfect man. Not sure what it says about me, but the scene where Julian receives a well-deserved lecture is one of my favorites.

The supporting cast of this story are so well-defined, I feel as though I would know them from a distance. Kat and Chaz, especially, won my heart, and I hope to read more of their story soon.
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The faith message, as in all this author’s books, is clearly presented. Only a Breath Away hits all the right notes, and it earns five stars. I received this book as a gift; all opinions are my own.

TITLE:  In Places Hidden (Golden Gate Secrets #1)
AUTHOR:  Tracie Peterson
DATE:  2018
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS: ****

On her way to San Francisco to find her brother, Caleb, who went missing three months ago, Camriann Coulter meets Judith and Kenzie, who both have their own mysteries to solve in the booming West Coast city. The women decide to help each other, including rooming together and working at Kenzie's cousin's chocolate factory.

Camri's search for her brother, an attorney, leads her deep into the political corruption of the city--and into the acquaintance of Patrick Murdock, a handsome Irishman who was saved from a false murder charge by Caleb. Patrick challenges all of Camri's privileged beliefs, but he knows more about what happened to her brother than anyone else. Together, they move closer to the truth behind Caleb's disappearance. But as the stakes rise and threats loom, will Patrick be able to protect Camri from the dangers he knows lie in the hidden places of the city?

Camri makes an interesting heroine. Her whole aim in travelling to San Francisco is to find her missing brother, a task she hopes will be quick and easy so she can return to her life in Chicago. An educated, outspoken proponent of higher learning and the women’s suffrage movement, she tends to speak before thinking and often regrets what she’s said. Her heart is kind, though, and she soon realizes how “uneducated” people often know much more than she does about real life.

Enter Patrick, a friend of Camri’s missing brother, Caleb, who knows more than he admits. Patrick helps educated Camri about life for poor immigrants, and his sister Ophelia brings the point home in a most poignant way.

This story is more than a romance. I learned much about the seamier side of early San Francisco and the power of corrupt people. As Camri and Patrick’s faith grew stronger in the face of much pain and danger, they encouraged my own trust in God. I enjoyed In Places Hidden, and award it four stars.
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Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

TITLE:  A Borrowed Dream (Cimarron Creek #2)
AUTHOR:  Amanda Cabot
DATE:  2018
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: ****

Catherine Whitfield is sure that she will never again be able to trust anyone in the medical profession after the town doctor's excessive bleeding treatments killed her mother. Despite her loneliness and her broken heart, she carries bravely on as Cimarron Creek's dutiful schoolteacher, resigned to a life without love or family, a life where dreams rarely come true.

Austin Goddard is a newcomer to Cimarron Creek. Posing as a rancher, he fled to Texas to protect his daughter from a dangerous criminal. He's managed to keep his past as a surgeon a secret. But when Catherine Whitfield captures his heart, he wonders how long he will be able to keep up the charade.

Dreams play an important role in this story, making it title appropriate. Catherine’s nightmare, which begins the story, seems to be more than “just a dream,” but she has no idea what to make of it. Another character experiences a similar dream, but without the nightmare aspect. I’ve had some mysterious dreams in the past and found this aspect of the story intriguing, not uncomfortable. Eventually the meanings become clear, and both dreamers decide they were gifts from God—not necessarily pleasant, but gifts nonetheless.

Catherine is easy to admire, especially her strength and compassion as she deals with her students. She’s obviously extremely intelligent as shown by her ability to read medical books and use the information correctly. Her one failing is the inability to forgive the doctor who treated (mistreated) her beloved mother. The way God worked through circumstances felt realistic, and I enjoyed her journey to wholeness and freedom.

Austin shows his heroism by leaving everything familiar in order to protect his daughter from an evil man and yet daring to risk all by caring for those in need. His secrets were kept for the best reasons, but secrets have a way of revealing themselves eventually. How he responded to evil and to abused people impressed me.

There is violence in this tale; I had to remind myself of the setting when I became angry at the law for being unable to protect children from abuse. I’m sure the story is true to its era. I enjoyed A Borrowed Dream and award it four stars. If you enjoy historical novels with clearly defined good and evil characters, you’ll enjoy this book.
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Disclaimer: I was given an advanced copy by the publisher. All opinions are my own.