TITLE:  All Summer Long
AUTHOR:  Melody Carlson
DATE:  2016
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS:  ***

Though it means giving up the chef's job at her uncle's small town Italian restaurant in Washington, Tia D'Amico is thrilled to move to San Francisco to help her aunt with a new business venture: transforming an old luxury yacht into an upscale floating restaurant. The icing on the cake is that Leo Parker, Tia's crush from a long-ago sailing camp, has been hired as the yacht's captain. The only problem is that he's engaged to someone else. 

Tia hides her feelings and rolls up her sleeves as she sets out to make her aunt's dream a reality. But as the tide turns on Leo's relationship, does Tia dare hope he might set a course for her heart? 

The cover of All Summer Long captured my interest, as did the author’s name. Melody Carlson is a well-known author, and I expected a real treat in this story. Hmm…how do I say this? It wasn’t what I expected.

While All Summer Long is a sweet story, suitable for teens and even younger, I could not identify with any of the characters. Tia and Leo seemed awfully immature at ages 26 and 28. I wanted to shake Leo and his fiancé, Natalie, while Tia spent too much time wishing she could hate Natalie. But she was just so nice…

So while I cannot recommend this story for adults who prefer depth to their reading, it is suitable for tweens and teens. As such, All Summer Long earns three stars.

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

TITLE:  Her One and Only
AUTHOR:  Becky Wade
DATE:  2016
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS:  ****1/2

Gray Fowler, star NFL tight end, is being pursued by a stalker, so his team hires a protection agency to keep Gray under the watch of a bodyguard at all times. When Gray meets Dru Porter, an agent assigned to him, he's indignant. How can an attractive young female half his size possibly protect him? 

But Dru's a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt. She's also ferociously determined to uncover the identity of Gray's stalker. And she's just as determined to avoid any kind of romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past. But the closer they get to finding the stalker, the closer they grow to each other. As the danger rises, can Dru and Gray entrust their hearts--and their lives--to one another?

This story starts off with a bang—literally. Beginning a novel with a time-warp prologue is tricky, but author Becky Wade pulls it off in Her One and Only.
Dru Porter is about as non-typical a bodyguard as one can imagine, and while Gray Fowler at first appears to be a stereotypical football star, he has secrets that Dru must uncover. The witty dialogue between these two is refreshing, as their forbidden attraction keeps growing in spite of Dru’s best efforts.

The rest of the Porter clan adds dimension to the story and made me want to read the previous three books of this series. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, its multi-layered personalities, the mystery of the stalker, and, of course, the romance. But above all, I appreciated the message of redemption clearly shown through this story. Her One and Only easily earns four and a half stars from me.
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Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

TITLE:  Fading Starlight
AUTHOR:  Kathryn Cushman
DATE:  2016
PUBLISHER: Bethany House Publishers
STARS:  ***1/2

Lauren Summers is hiding. Her fashion house internship should have launched her career, but a red carpet accident has left her blackballed. The only job she finds is unpaid, but comes with free lodging--a run-down cottage in the shadow of a cliff-side mansion. Unsure of what comes next, she's surprised to be contacted by a reporter researching a reclusive former Hollywood ingénue who lives in the nearby mansion. 

Kendall Joiner wants Lauren's help uncovering the old woman's secrets. In return, she'll prove the red carpet accident was a publicity stunt so Lauren can regain her former job. With all her dreams in front of her, Lauren's tempted by the offer, but as she and the old woman get to know each other, Lauren realizes nothing is quite as it seems.

When offered a copy of this book by the publisher, the charm of its front cover convinced me to accept. As I began to read, though, I wondered if this story was aimed at a young adult audience—not my usual genre. The actions and reactions of the heroine and her friend seemed immature to me, and perhaps as a result of that disappointing beginning, I found it difficult to identify with her.

The mystery of the unfriendly neighbor lady is intriguing, and that kept me reading. I enjoyed the few tidbits about the characters’ backgrounds but would have appreciated more details. This is a sweet story, and I give Fading Starlight three and a half stars.
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Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
 

TITLE:  When Night Comes (Jack Turner Suspense Series Book 1)
AUTHOR:  Dan Walsh
DATE:  2014
STARS:  ****

Jack Turner comes back to Culpepper to give a series of lectures for his old history professor. Within days, he starts having bizarre experiences at night. Like he's traveling back in time, experiencing the epic events in his lectures firsthand. He has no control over these experiences and can't make them stop.

Joe Boyd thought he'd left big city crime back in Pittsburgh when he took a detective job in Culpepper, Georgia, a sleepy southern college town. His peaceful life ends when two students turn up dead in two weeks. The coroner is saying natural causes, but something doesn't add up.

Rachel Cook, a teaching assistant at Culpepper, can't believe Jack is back in her life again. She's had a crush on him since she was fourteen, but Jack never knew. He instantly seems attracted to her, but she can tell...something is deeply troubling him.

Watching all this from a distance is Nigel Avery. He's certain this experiment's about to unravel. It'll be his job to tie up all the loose ends when it does.

When Night Comes is the first Dan Walsh novel I’ve read, but I daresay it won’t be the last. From the first line, I was hooked, and the tension didn’t let up until after I’d turned the last page. This is not a soothing bedtime story!

The nightmares afflicting Jack Turner are filled with war scenes, and they’re more than dreams. But why, and how? And why are two college students dead with no obvious cause? Those are the mysteries that haunt Jack Turner and Detective Joe Boyd.
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Author Dan Walsh creates realistic characters, strange plots, and a truly suspenseful story. I was given an e-copy of this book by the author, and in return I offer my honest opinion. When Night Comes earns four stars, and I recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good suspense story.

TITLE:  Enchantment (The Lewis Legacy #6)
AUTHOR:  JoAnn Durgin
DATE:  2015
STARS:  ****1/2

Sam and Lexa Lewis and their TeamWork Missions volunteers are together again! A two-week mission brings them to New Mexico—the Land of Enchantment—as they work on a church building alongside their new friends in the One Nation under God congregation of Native American Christians. Outside forces, both unseen and overt, impede and threaten their efforts. But with faith to guide them, and the strong bonds of friendship to sustain them, the crew faces the challenges together as they persevere for the Lord’s glory. 

Eliot Marchand hopes the mission in Albuquerque will finally give him the opportunity to pursue a relationship with the beautiful Marta Holcomb. With his dangerous assignments around the globe, and little time to spend with her, is a relationship worth the risk to both their hearts? 

Successful business owner Dean Costas wants to get to know the lovely Sheila Morris better, but his court-appointed charge, Felipe Hernandez, might cause trouble after he takes a liking to Sheila’s pretty 14-year-old daughter, Angelina. Will Dean have time to romance the shy widow or will they need to focus their energies on chaperoning the teenagers? 

Bringing together every couple and familiar characters from the previous books in The Lewis Legacy Series—including the TeamWork children—Enchantment will sweep you away! Love is in the air, so join the fun with the crew for Albuquerque’s International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, a one-of-a-kind TeamWork Talent Show, revelations and updates in the lives of the close-knit crew, the introduction of one new TeamWork volunteer, and even a surprise visit from two beloved characters.

Set in the Land of Enchantment, this story is filled with stirrings of love, trials of faith, and dangers unforeseen. The author’s descriptions of the location outside Albuquerque, New Mexico, not only invited me to visit, but made me want to stay awhile.
Old friends from previous Lewis Legacy stories as well as a few new faces populate this multi-layered novel. Author JoAnn Durgin weaves several threads together into a beautiful tapestry of faith and love, one that I will keep to read again.
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I purchased this book for my own library and award Enchantment four and a half stars. Recommended.
 

TITLE:  Murder Comes By Mail
AUTHOR:  Ann H. Gabhart
DATE:  2016
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS:  ****1/2

Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane doesn't particularly enjoy being touted as the hero of Hidden Springs after pulling a suicidal man back from the edge of the Eagle River bridge in front of dozens of witnesses--a few of whom caught the breathtaking moments with their cameras. But the media hype doesn't last long as a new story pushes its way into the public consciousness of Hidden Springs' concerned citizens. 

Photos of a dead girl arrive in the mail, and Michael becomes convinced she was murdered by the man he saved. With a killer one step ahead, things in Hidden Springs begin to unravel. Now Michael must protect the people he loves--because the killer could be targeting one of them next. 

Readers will love racing along with Deputy Sheriff Keane as the clock ticks in this page-turning mystery. 

Author Ann H. Gabhart takes us back to the quiet town of Hidden Springs for her second cozy mystery, but the quiet doesn’t last long. Deputy Michael Keane’s instinctive lunge to save a suicidal man triggers a string of disturbing murders, each one tied somehow to the deputy. As he strives to solve the case and prevent any more murders, we are drawn into his turmoil and the unease of the whole community.

I was able to guess the murderer’s identity, but that did not detract from my pleasure in reading this story. Its tension kept me involved in the story, kept the pages turning. As always, Ann Gabhart’s characters were realistic, some quirky, many intriguing, and some downright strange.

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder Comes By Mail, and it earns four and a half stars. I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. 

As I got ready for church this morning, a poem I'd written many years ago came to mind. I know why. So many around me are hurting, so many are suffering. So many have hard questions, and I understand. 

This poem was written when it appeared God had ignored our prayers for healing for a precious little girl. Yes, He healed her as He took her home, but my sorrow was too great to accept that for a while.

If this little rhyme touches your heart, I am blessed.

Touching God
 
Pain constricts my heart,
Its pressure bows my back.
Grief and anger fog my mind,
My arms hang limp and slack.

Life takes too much effort,
In sorrow I cry out:
"God, oh God, why don't You care?"
As faith succumbs to doubt.

In anger I assault Him
With all my grief and fears.
My flailing fingers touch His face...
And feel His loving tears.

Our faithful heavenly Father
Is never far away.
When trials make us feel alone
He longs to hear us pray.

For prayer is our connection,
A channel for His grace.
He touches us with love and peace
Whene'er we touch His face.

The struggles will continue
They'll pummel, press and prod;
But His grace becomes sufficient
As I touch the face of God.