TITLE:  The Best Summer of Our Lives
AUTHOR:  Rachel Hauck
DATE: 2023
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS: ***1/2

From the back cover:
Twenty years ago, the summer of '77 was supposed to be the best summer of Summer Wilde's life. She and her best friends, Spring, Autumn, and Snow--the Four Seasons--had big plans.

But those plans never had a chance. After a teenage prank gone awry, the Seasons found themselves on a bus to Tumbleweed, "Nowhere," Oklahoma, to spend eight weeks as camp counselors. All four of them arrived with hidden secrets and buried fears, and the events that unfolded in those two months forever altered their friendships, their lives, and their futures.

Now, thirtysomething, Summer is at a crossroads. When her latest girl band leaves her in a motel outside Tulsa, she is forced to face the shadows of her past. Returning to the place where everything changed, she soon learns Tumbleweed is more than a town she never wanted to see again. It's a place for healing, for reconciling the past with the present, and for finally listening to love's voice.

My review:
The Best Summer of Our Lives didn’t make it easy for me to review. I’m still not sure what I think of this coming-of-age saga of four tightly knit friends who called themselves the Four Seasons. I couldn’t identify with any of the main characters, but they were certainly interesting, childhood friends who seemed more like sisters as they fought and forgave. Or did they?

The faith aspect of The Best Summer of Our Lives can only be described as unusual. Strange, even. Not bad, but strange. For these reasons, this story earns three and a half stars.
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I was given a copy of this book by Baker Publishing Ltd. and Graf Martin Communications. 

TITLE:  Cold Pursuit
AUTHOR:  Nancy Mehl
DATE: 2023
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS: ***

From the back cover:
Ex-FBI profiler River Ryland still suffers from PTSD after a case went horribly wrong. Needing a fresh start, she moves to St. Louis to be near her ailing mother and opens a private investigation firm with her friend and former FBI partner, Tony St. Clair. They're soon approached by a grieving mother who wants them to find out what happened to her teenaged son, who disappeared four years ago. River knows there's almost no hope the boy is still alive, but his mother needs closure, and River and Tony need a case, no matter how cold it might be.

But as they follow the boy's trail, which gets more complicated at every turn, they find themselves in the path of a murderer determined to punish anyone who gets in his way. As River and Tony race to stop him before he kills again, an even more dangerous threat emerges, stirring up the past that haunts River and plotting an end to her future.

My review:
This is my personal review, so I must be honest. I have read and enjoyed other books by Nancy Mehl, but not this one. Cold Pursuit is written skillfully, and the faith aspect is good, but I found certain aspects troubling, making it hard for me to read. Not to detract from the author’s talent and ability to create memorable characters and plots, but I do not like to be inside the minds of serial killers. Period. Another reason would be a spoiler, so I cannot disclose it. If I’d realized that was what awaited me, I would not have chosen to read Cold Pursuit.

For those who love intense suspense with a large, up-close dose of insanity, this book is for you. For those (like me) who are sensitive to such things, perhaps a different book is better.
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 I was given a copy of this book courtesy of Baker Publishing and Graf Martin Communications. Three stars for the reasons stated above.  
 

TITLE:  Countdown (Extreme Measures #4)
AUTHOR:  Lynette Eason
DATE: 2023
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

From the back cover:
Flight paramedic Raina Price has been running so long it's hard to stop. To escape a dangerous stalker, she changed her name and disappeared, building a new life with the help of a friend from her time in juvie. It feels good to put her energies into saving people's lives, but because her stalker was never found, she's never stopped looking over her shoulder. And one can only run so far before the past finally catches up.

US Marshal Vincent Corelli's job is to hunt down fugitives and protect those who are assigned to him. When Raina is almost killed right in front of him, he vows to protect her at all costs--whether it's his job or not. Together they work to solve the mystery of Raina's past. But someone is out to make sure Raina doesn't live long enough to do it.

My review:
Secrets, haunting pasts, few reliable friends, and a romance that refuses to be denied make Countdown a five-star read. It kept me spell-bound from beginning to end, so much that I finished it in an afternoon.

Raina’s past has affected her whole life, from family relationships to overwhelming trust issues, and Vince’s own secrets affect his ability to accept God’s forgiveness. I appreciated the strong faith aspect in this excellent suspense novel, as both main characters struggle with why God allows terrible things to happen, even to His own children.
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I thoroughly enjoyed Countdown and give it five stars. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. Recommended!

TITLE:  The All-American
AUTHOR:  Susie Finkbeiner
DATE: 2023
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: ****

From the back cover:
Two sisters discover how much good there is in the world--even in the hardest of circumstances

It is 1952, and nearly all the girls 16-year-old Bertha Harding knows dream of getting married, keeping house, and raising children in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. Bertha dreams of baseball. She reads every story in the sports section, she plays ball with the neighborhood boys--she even writes letters to the pitcher for the Workington Sweet Peas, part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

When Bertha's father is accused of being part of the Communist Party by the House Un-American Activities Committee, life comes crashing down on them. Disgraced and shunned, the Hardings move to a small town to start over where the only one who knows them is shy Uncle Matthew. But dreams are hard to kill, and when Bertha gets a chance to try out for the Workington Sweet Peas, she packs her bags for an adventure she'll never forget.

My review:
I finished reading The All-American a few days ago but have struggled to know how to review it. The characters are great, with Flossie being my favorite, and the insertion of news articles worked well. But the ending felt incomplete, making me wonder if another book is planned. When I read for pleasure, the main characters’ stories need to have a satisfactory wrap-up, not incite a “Huh?”

I am old enough to remember hearing my parents discuss lives ruined by the McCarthy era Communist hunts, with innocent people having their reputations and way of life destroyed, and that rang true in the family of The All-American. I enjoyed this story, I did not love it. While the back cover points to Bertha as the main character, Flossie steals the stage.
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The All-American earns four stars for good characters, interesting era portrayed well, and a few memorable lines. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher.

TITLE:  Counter Attack (Pearl River #1)
AUTHOR:  Patricia Bradley
DATE: 2023
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: ***

From the back cover:
No sooner has Alexis Stone been sworn in as the interim sheriff for Russell County, Tennessee, when a serial killer dubbed the Queen's Gambit Killer strikes again--this time in her hometown. Pearl Springs is just supposed to be a temporary stop along the way to Alex's real dream: becoming the first female police chief of Chattanooga. But the killer's calling card--a white pawn and a note with a chess move printed on it--cannot be ignored.

Pearl Springs chief of police Nathan Landry can't believe that his high school sweetheart Alexis (he refuses to call her Alex) is back in town, and he can't help wanting to protect the woman he never stopped loving. But as the danger mounts and the killer closes in, can Nathan come through on the promises he makes to himself to bring a killer to justice before it's too late.

My review:
I had a hard time rating Counter Attack. Fast-paced with good character development, it should have been five stars, but a few things bothered me. First, the cover shows a blonde woman, while the lead character has – and this is important to the story – dark red hair. Second, the depravity of the villain made it hard for me to finish. And finally, I had guessed the identity of the killer.

Why did I order this book? I’ve read several by Patricia Bradley and enjoyed them. She’s a great author, one I greatly respect.
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All things considered, I would recommend Counter Attack to those who love romantic thrillers featuring depraved serial killers, but I will avoid such stories from now on. As a result, to my sorrow, Counter Attack earns three stars from me. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher.
 
 

TITLE:  In the Shadow of the River
AUTHOR:  Ann H. Gabhart
DATE: 2023
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

From the back cover:
In 1881, Jacci Reed is only five years old when a man attempts to kidnap her from the steamboat her mother, Irena, works on. Badly wounded during the confrontation, Irena takes Jacci aboard the Kingston Floating Palace, a showboat tied up beside them. There, Jacci's actor grandfather tends to her mother and Jacci gets a first taste of the life she will come to lead.

Fifteen years later, Jacci is an actress aboard the Kingston Floating Palace, and largely contented with her adopted family of actors, singers, and dancers. Especially Gabe, who has always supported her, and the gruff grandfather she has come to know and love. Jacci's mother has been gone for years, but the memory of the altercation that ultimately took her life--and the cryptic things Jacci has overheard about her past--is always there, lurking in the back of her mind.

When someone on the showboat tries to kill Jacci, it's clear her questions demand answers. But secrets have a way of staying in the shadows, and the answers she craves will not come easily. Gabe only hopes they come in time for him and Jacci to have a future together.

My review:
Like every Ann H. Gabhart book I’ve read, In the Shadow of the River gently winds its way into my heart and mind. Even the high-tension portions of the story excite and enthrall without assaulting my emotions. I’m not sure how the author achieves this fine balance, but it makes me want to read all her books.

What makes a family, and can secrets be good? These two questions haunt Jacci, and the more she discovers, the greater the danger she faces. Gabe wants to protect her, but he cannot always be with her.

I love In the Shadow of the River and give it five stars. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher.
 

TITLE:  Forged in Love (Wyoming Sunrise #1)
AUTHOR:  Mary Connealy
DATE: 2023
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

From the back cover:
In 1870, Mariah Stover is left for dead and with no memory when the Deadeye Gang robs the stagecoach she's on, killing her father and brother. As she takes over her father's blacksmith business and attempts to move forward, the old-fashioned townspeople meet her new occupation with disdain.

Handsome and polished Clint Roberts escaped to Western Wyoming from the painful memories he left back east. In the hope of a new life, he opens a diner where he creates fine dishes, but is met with a harsh welcome from the townsfolk who prefer to stick to their old ways.

Clint and Mariah are drawn together by the similar trials they face in a new town, and Clint is determined to protect Mariah at all costs when danger descends upon her home. As threats pursue them from every side, will they survive to build a life forged in love?

My review:
What a unique tale, with the heroine a blacksmith and the hero a chef. Mariah’s profession isn’t the only compelling aspect to this heroine; her determination to continue her father’s blacksmithing business shows her responsibility and courage. But danger stalks her, as the gang who killed her brother and father never leave a witness alive.

Clint’s fancy French dishes with unpronounceable names (for the townspeople) bring folks back again and again to his diner because their taste buds overcome their aversion to new things. But will he ever feel welcomed in the small town?

There was one little error in the story, regarding the timing of an expected birth, but the rest of the story overcame this mistake. I loved the growing relationship, complete with misunderstandings and stubborn independence, between Mariah and Clint. I also enjoyed getting acquainted with Mariah’s dear friends, Becky and Nell and trust they will tell their own stories soon.

I think the back cover copy is overstated, as only one or two people treated Mariah and Clint poorly. Most seem eager to support both in their unusual occupations, bringing work to Mariah and hungry bellies to Clint.

Forged in Love grabbed me from the beginning, and this tension-filled romance earns five stars. I was given a copy of this book by Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Publishing.

TITLE:  A Match in the Making (The Matchmakers Book 1)
AUTHOR:  Jen Turano
DATE: 2023
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS: *****

From the back cover:
Miss Gwendolyn Brinley accepted a temporary paid companion position for the Newport summer season, believing it would be a lark to spend the summer in America's most exclusive town. She suddenly finds her summer turning anything but amusing when her employer expects her to take over responsibilities as an assistant matchmaker. Tasked with the daunting prospect of attaining advantageous matches for her clients, Gwendolyn soon finds herself in the employ of Mr. Walter Townsend, the catch of the Season, but a gentleman Gwendolyn finds beyond irritating.

Walter Townsend is reluctantly in search of a wife for the sake of his unruly motherless children who cannot keep a governess for long. What he wasn't expecting was Miss Brinley, an amateur matchmaker who turns his quest for a new wife into a complete and utter debacle. Constantly besieged by society ladies on a mission to win his affection, Walter must find a way to overcome their inundating attention--and his unexpected attraction toward Gwendolyn.

The more time they spend together throughout the Newport Season, the harder it is for Gwendolyn to find Walter a wife when she realizes his perfect match might be . . . her.

My review:
A Match in the Making could have been called “The Reluctant Matchmaker,” since Gwendolyn was pressured into attempting to create financially beneficial matches for the high-society young women during the Newport Season—not the low-stress paid companion position she’d agreed to.

Gwendolyn makes a fantastic heroine in this Guilded Age story: feisty, confident and compassionate as well as beautiful. In a time of strict distinction between classes, where a good match means nabbing the richest man, she doesn’t intend to marry. Adventure and independence attract her more than a husband ever could. At least that’s what she’d believed.

Walter would prefer a truly competent governess for his three children, but since that hasn’t worked, a wife will have to be found. When he approaches Gwendolyn for her help, sparks fly.

The dialogue in A Match in the Making is delightful, making me laugh out loud at times. Society’s rules reminded me of the Pharisees, but Gwendolyn handily exposed its failures, while doing her best to fulfill her duties.

Walter’s children, Oscar, Samuel and Priscilla won my heart with their earnest misbehaviors and sweetness, as did their grandmothers.

A Match in the Making enchanted and entertained me and easily earns five stars. I was given a copy of the book by Graf Martin Communications and Baker Publishing. Recommended!

TITLE:  Windswept Way (Hope Harbor #9)
AUTHOR:  Irene Hannon
DATE: 2023
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****
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From the back cover:
Buying a haunted house was never in Ashley Scott's plans, but when an intriguing opportunity drops into her lap after a major setback, she finds herself trekking cross-country to Hope Harbor on the Oregon coast to launch a new life.

Wounded warrior Jonathan Gray isn't sure what to make of the attractive woman on his reclusive older neighbor's isolated property, but her presence is none of his business--until she enlists his help with an ambitious project. When Jonathan finds his interest in the new arrival becoming more personal than professional, however, his defenses go up. There's no room in his life--or his heart--for romance.

Yet, as these three hurting people join forces to restore life, laughter, and love to a historic estate that has known too much sadness, they may also find healing, hope, and happiness for themselves.

Bestselling author Irene Hannon invites you back to Hope Harbor, where hearts heal and love blooms.
 
 
My review:
Thank you, Irene Hannon, for inviting me back to Hope Harbor, my favorite fictional place. Renewing acquaintances and meeting new ones is such a joy!

Ashley’s spunk and determination, as well as her compassionate heart, drew me to her in short order. She intrigued Rose Fitzgerald as well, with her ideas and plans to bring Rose’s Victorian mansion Edgecliff into use. But Rose isn’t ready to rejoin society herself; she’d rather continue hiding on her expansive property. Instead of feeling rebuffed, Ashley yearns to gently lead the lovely old lady back into life.

Jonathan is a totally different challenge. He’s done just fine with hiding his disfigurement from the world, letting his employee act as liaison for his construction company when face-to-face was needed. His attraction to the young woman with the beautiful face and ambitious plans becomes yet another pain. He knows no one could love the man he’d become.

Journeying through these characters relationships and watching them deal with past injuries – physical and emotional – to find healing and love touched my heart.

Visiting Hope Harbor feels personal to me, because my sister lives just up Highway 101 in a small town on the Washington coast, where my parents also lived. Entering each story is, for me, like coming home. I love Windswept Way and award it five stars and much gratitude for another amazing, heart-warming story.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher; all opinions are my own.