The Choice Book Review

SUMMARY:  One young woman.  Two very different roads.  The choice will change everything.
     Even as a pregant, unwed teen in 1974, Sandy Lincoln wanted to do the right thing.  But when an ageless woman approached her in a convenience store with a mysterious prophecy and a warning, doing the right thing became even more unclear.  She made the best choice she could . . . and has lived with the consequences.
     More than thirty years later, a pregnant teen has come into her life, and Sandy's long-ago decision has come back to haunt her.  The stakes rise quickly, leaving Sandy with split seconds to choose once more.  But will her choice bring life . . . or death?

REVIEW:  This is a hard review to write because I don't want to give anything away but it all seems important.  Sandy looked like she has it all:  perfect grades, head cheerleader, and dating the star of the football team. But after a one-night stand with her boyfriend, she now has to decide what to do with her unplanned pregnancy.  On her way to live with her aunt to finish school, finish her pregnancy and to give her baby up for adoption, Sandy is approached by an older lady who gives her a prophecy and warning about the future.  She makes some difficult choices and goes on with her life.
     About thirty years later, Sandy is approached by a student for some advice and finds out the young girl is pregnant.  As she give Maria advice and helps her in some difficult circumstances, Sandy is forced to make some difficult decisions and faces a lawsuit as she remembers what happened to her.
     This is a great book and was hard to put down.  Sandy had to make some grown-up decisions quickly that were hard and not acceptable to some but ones she knew she had to make.  It was interesting to watch her faith in God grow as her child grew, which helps her in her decision making and to stand firm when everything around her feels like it is crashing in.  Even though Sandy risks losing her job by helping Maria and faces a large lawsuit, she never waivers and is rewarded in ways she would have never imagined.  This story was very well written and brings the issue of abortion to the table without being overbearing and in-your-face.  This may be one all teenage girls (and their parents) need to read.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group for review without compensation.

Robert Whitlow is the best-selling author of legal dramas set in South and winner of the prestigious Christy Award for Contemporary Fiction.  A Furman University graduate, Whitlow received his J.D. with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law where he served on the staff of the Georgia Law Review.  A practicing attorney, Whitlow and his wife, Kathy, have four adult children.  They make their home in North Carolina.

Tidewater Inn Book Review

A Hope Beach Novel

SUMMARY:  Welcome to Hope Beach.  A place of intoxicating beauty . . . where trouble hits with the force of a hurricane.

     Inheriting a beautiful old hotel on the Outer Banks could be a dream come true for Libby.  The inn cries out for her restorer's talent and love of history.  She's delighted to learn of the family she never knew she had.  And the handsome Coast Guard lieutenant she's met there on the island could definitely be the man of her dreams.

     But Libby soon realizes that the only way she can afford the upkeep on the inn is to sell it to developers who are stalking the island.  The father who willed her the inn has died before she could meet him, and her newfound brother and sister are convinced she's there to steal their birthright.  Worst of all, her best friend and business partner has been kidnapped before her eyes, and Libby's under suspicion for the crime.

     Libby's dream come true is becoming a nightmare.  Her only option is to find her friend and prove her innocence, or lose everything on the shores of Hope Island.

REVIEW:  Libby is being bombarded from all sides.  Her business partner and best friend Nicole is kidnapped before her eyes as she is talking to her on a video cam.  Just before she disappears, Nicole tells Libby the dad she thought died when she was five had died recently and left Libby a historic inn on Hope Island off the North Carolina coast.  Libby also has a brother and sister she didn't know about who thinks she is only there to rob them of the money they would get for selling the inn.  A developer interested in the property the inn sits on offers Libby $10 million dollars to sell it.   As an archaeological historian who works in historic preservation, the offer seems like the only possible answer to the question about the large cost of upkeep but she knows the buyer only wants to tear it down to build beachfront condos. And, to make matters worse, she is considered the chief suspect in Nicole's disappearance and possible death.  Oh, and yea, there is a hurricane headed towards Hope Island.
     This is the first in the Hope Beach series and is great.  I liked the twists and turns the author gave the story.  Libby is determined to find Nicole and never gives up the hope that she is out there somewhere alive even when everyone else thinks she is dead.  Before he died, Libby's father Ray left her a note asking her to show grace to her siblings, which expands her faith and Christian walk even more, especially when they make her mad and try to make her life more difficult.  The twists in the storyline about Libby's family (and the connection between Nicole and Tina, Ray's wife) towards the end is different and pleasing.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group for review without compensation.

RITA finalist Colleen Coble is the author of several best-selling romantic suspense series, including the Mercy Falls series, the Lonestar series, and the Rock Harbor series.  She lives with her husband, Dave, in Indiana.

Lethal Legacy Book Review

Guardians of Justice Series #3

SUMMARY:  A determined daughter ...  A skeptical detective ...  A deadly secret ...

     The police say her father's death was suicide.  Kelly Warren says it was murder - and she has new evidence to prove it.  Detective Cole Taylor doesn't put much credence in her claim, and nothing in his case review suggests foul play.  But when he digs deeper and discovers startling information linking her to a long-buried secret, the danger escalates.  Is history repeating itself?  And who wants Kelly silenced?

REVIEW:  In the last book of the Guardians of Justice series, Irene Hannon does not disappoint her readers.  Kelly is convinced her father did not commit suicide.  But getting the local police to reopen her father's case is difficult.  But, when a gift her father ordered the day before he died shows up, Kelly is determined to do what it takes to get someone to listen to her and to review the evidence again.  Cole Taylor was on duty when Kelly comes in and agrees to look through her father's file.  As Cole follows up different leads Kelly gives him, he discovers a deep secret that involves the Witness Security Program that could change Kelly's life forever.
     The twists and turns in this novel will keep the reader on his/her toes but are not too complicated that you get lost easily.  The ending of the story is sorrowful for two characters when you realize what could have happened for them had they made different choices, but it is fitting for the storyline.  I like how Cole tries hard to keep his developing feelings for Kelly separate from the investigation and he waits to pursues her when everything is over.
     This is the third book in the Guardians of Justice series but don't let it stop you from reading it.  The only reason you would need to read the other two books is to understand the relationships of Cole's brother and sister and their wife and fiance', respectively.  Even then, these characters are minor ones and their histories really don't impact this story.  This is a great book that I really enjoyed.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

  

Available August 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Two-time RITA Award winner Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the bestselling Heroes of Quantico series, Fatal Judgment, and Deadly Pursuit.  Her books have also been honored with a Carol Award, a HOLT Medallion, a Daphne du Maurier award, and two Reviewers' Choice Award from RT Book Reviews magazine.  She lives in Missouri.

The Stars Shine Bright Book Review

A Raleigh Harmon Novel

SUMMARY:  After the FBI suspends her for bending its rules, Special Agent Raleigh Harmon is looking for a chance to redeem her career and re-start her life.

     Sent undercover to a thoroughbred horse track, Raleigh takes on a double life to find out who's fixing the races.  But when horses start dying and then her own life is threatened, Raleigh realizes something bigger - and more sinister - is ruining Emerald Meadows.  

     She's never felt more alone.

     Her one contact with the FBI is Special Agent Jack Stephanson, a guy who seems to jump from antagonistic to genuine friend depending on the time of day.  And she can't turn to her family for support.  They're off-limits while she's undercover, and her mother isn't speaking to her anyway, having been confined to a mental hospital following a psychotic breakdown.  Adding insult to her isolation, Raleigh's fiance' wants them to begin their life together - now - precisely when she's been ordered not to be herself.

     With just days left before the season ends, Raleigh races to stop the killing and find out who's behind the track's trouble, all the while trying to determine if Jack is friend or foe, and whether marrying her fiance' will make things better - or worse.

     Raleigh is walking through the darkest night she's faced, searching for a place where the stars shine bright.

REVIEW:  Raleigh is having a tough time.  Her mom is in a mental hospital because of the lies Raleigh has had to tell her because of her job.  She is under intense scrutiny by the Bureau due to some decisions she made on a previous case that were not "by the book."  She is asked to go undercover to find out who is fixing the horse races at a racetrack in Seattle and has two weeks to solve the case.  Her fiance' is wanting to make their relationship permanent and doesn't understand why Raleigh want to continue working, especially as an FBI agent.  And these are just a few of the problems she has to deal with on top of all the opposition and frustrations she encounters on her job.
     This is a really good book.  The author goes into great detail describing the people, places and events that make you feel like you are right there in the scene.  There are times when I would try to rush through the story just to see what would happen next, and others when I dreaded what was going to happen because of what I imagined the outcome would be.  The author is not predictable in her writing and makes each of the different storylines and aspects of Raleigh's life come alive.  One of my favorite things is how Raleigh's faith is a major part of her character, both undercover and not.  She really struggles with having to lie to those she loves and those she works with while investigating the racetrack.  She also doesn't believe in coincidences when some different events seem random but eventually sees how God is guiding her in her quest for truth.
     The Stars Shine Bright is the fifth story in the Raleigh Harmon series.  It is beneficial to have read at least one of the other titles to fully comprehend the relationships and problems but it is not necessary. I really enjoyed this book (probably more than The Clouds Roll Away) because this time I was familiar with some of the secondary characters and events.  This made Raleigh's reactions, decisions, and outlook easier to understand and follow.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group for review without compensation.

Sibella Giorello began writing as a features reporter for newspapers and magazines.  Her stories won numerous awards, including two nominations for the Pulitzer Prize.  She won a Christy award for her debut novel, Stones Cry Out.  She lives in Washington state with her husband and family.  Visit her website at SibellaGiorello.com.   

Submerged Book Review

Alaskan Courage

Book One

SUMMARY:  A sabotaged plane.  Two dead deep-water divers.  One single clue.

     Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey, Alaska, again.  She has a past, and a reputation - and Yancey's a town that doesn't forget.  She's returned only to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash, but then dark evidence emerges and Bailey's expertise becomes invaluable for the case.

     Cole McKenna can face dangerous rescue dives.  He can face the fear a murderer may be threatening his town.  But facing the reality of Bailey's reappearance is a tougher challenge.  She broke his heart . . . but doesn't seem to be the same girl who left Yancey ten years ago.  And he's not the same guy she left behind.

     Racing against the clock and a rising body count, Bailey and Cole must move beyond the hurts of their pasts to work together until the truth of what is hidden in the depths finally surfaces.

REVIEW:  It's been a while since I read a book that kept my attention like this one.  The romantic suspense was blended excellently and the storyline kept you guessing.  Since Bailey had left Yancey after thoroughly screwing up her reputation, it was refreshing to see most of the townspeople accept her back with open arms and loving hearts.  Even the people who Bailey hurt the most did not hold her previous actions against her. 
     The main storyline starts with the crash of a plane that holds Bailey's aunt.  The bodies of two deep-sea divers turns up soon afterwards that might hold a connection to her aunt's death.  As the investigation unfolds, Bailey's expertise in Russian studies becomes very important and could be the key to solving the case.  She, Cole, Landon (Cole's childhood friend) and Cole's brother and sisters work together to figure out who the murder is and what he is looking for before he kills again.
     This is a wonderful book that makes you want to keep reading until the mystery is solved and the story ends.  LOVED IT and can't wait until the other books of this series are released.

This book was provided by Bethany House Publishers for review without compensation.

Dani Pettrey is a wife, home-schooling mom, and author.  She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves - the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of her characters' faith, and plenty of romance.  She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters.  To learn more about her, visit www.danipettry.com.

Passages Book Review

How Reading The Bible In A Year 

Will Change Everything For You

SUMMARY:  How a few passages a day will change your whole life.
     Many of us would love to read the Bible more often, but we rarely make time for more than a few verses on the run.
     But the Bible was never meant to be read in short segments here and there when you can fit it in.  The Bible is meant to be experienced in sizeable chunks - in passages - and read daily.  It is not a book of mystical incantations, but the story of God's passionate love - for you.  It is not a distant relic, but a best friend offering counsel and companionship - for today.
     Through his own remarkable story, Brian Hardin shows you how reading through the Bible in a year changed his life and how it will change yours too.  Passages goes beyond exploring how the Bible was meant to be read, providing three distinct Bible reading plans to help you get started doing it right now.
     Hardin, whose daily podcast has more than a million listeners a month, guarantees you a life revolution, if you will only commit to a few minutes a day to read through the Bible in a year.
     As you rediscover the joy of reading the Bible, visit www.dailyaudiobible.com and join a community of fellow readers to share your thoughts on your new adventure.

REVIEW: All throughout this book, Brian Hardin encourages you to step out and read the bible.  He tells his personal history, of his own time reading it and how he has grown.  Also included are letters from listeners of his podcast who have been touched and have grown listening to his recordings and reading the bible on their own.  Three different reading plans are listed in the back to give you some options if you are just getting started.  Brian suggests instead of reading one verse at a time to read a couple of chapters together to get a better understanding of what is going on in the passage and see what God is saying to you personally.  It doesn't matter when you get started but that you do.  He suggests reading it out loud or listen to it being read to get a better feel of what the passage is saying.

     This is a good book if you are just getting started reading your bible no matter how long you have been a Christian.  It will give you some good helps and directions on how to get started.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group for review without compensation.

Brian Hardin is a speaker, photographer, record producer, and an ordained minister.   In 2006, he created the Daily Audio Bible, an online podcast that now delivers 1.5 million downloads a month.  He has produced over 150 albums and works with artists and the arts extensively.  He is married to Christian musician Jill Parr.

To Heaven and Back Book Review

A Doctor's Extraordinary Account 

of Her Death, Heaven, Angels, and Life Again

A True Story

SUMMARY:  A kayak accident during a South American adventure takes one woman to heaven - where she experienced God's peace, joy, and angels - and back to life again.

     In 1999 in the Los Rios region of southern Chile, orthopaedic surgeon, devoted wife, and loving mother Dr. Mary Neal drowned in a kayak accident.  While cascading down a waterfall, her kayak became pinned at the bottom and she was immediately and completely submerged.  Despite the rescue efforts of her companions, Mary was underwater for too long, and as a result, died.

     To Heaven and Back is Mary's remarkable story of her life's spiritual journey and what happened as she moved from life to death to eternal life, and back again.  Detailing her feelings and surroundings in heaven, her communication with angels, and her deep sense of sadness when she realized it wasn't her time, Mary shares the captivating experience of her modern-day miracle.

     Mary's life has been forever changed by her newfound understanding of her purpose on earth, her awareness of God, her closer relationship with Jesus, and her personal spiritual journey was suddenly enhanced by a first-hand experience in heaven.  To Heaven and Back will reacquaint you with the hope, wonder, and promise of heaven, while enriching  your own faith and walk with God.

REVIEW:  This book was very easy to follow and easy to read.  Dr. Neal talks about her faith before the accident, saying she was a Christian but not deeply spiritual or religious, letting the reader know she was not someone special that God had spoken to before.  You also see how her experience helped her during difficult times losing some close family members.  Dr. Neal also is open and honest about dealing with depression during her recovery over having to return to Earth because she wasn't through with the work God needed her to do.  She is a believer in miracles, which her full recovery after her death attests, and recounts many miracles she has experienced since her accident. 

This is an interesting book.

This book was provided by Waterbrook Multnomah for review without compensation.

Mary C. Neal, MD is an orthopaedic surgeon.  She studied at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine, completed her orthopaedic residency at the University of Southern California and is fellowship-trained as a spinal surgeon.  She is the former director of spine surgery at the University of Southern California and is a founding partner of Orthopaedic Associate of Jackson Hole.  Her after-life experience has been featured on national media including WGN, Dr. Oz, and Fox and Friends.  She has served as a church elder, on several non-profit organization boards, and created the Willie Neal Environmental Awareness Fund.  Dr. Neal lives with her family in Jackson Hole, WY.