Sunday, September 30, 2018

Jane Reviews: Random Acts of Outrage by Christy Barritt

Series: Holly Anna Paladin Mysteries #6
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Publisher: River Heights
Released: Sept. 16, 2018
228 pages
About the Book:
When Holly Anna Paladin’s fourteen-year-old foster daughter, Sarah, disappears, Holly senses something is terribly wrong. The teen has a life-threatening disease, and if circumstances don’t harm Sarah, running out of her medication will.

Holly turns to the one person she knows she can trust—Chase Dexter. He’s one of the city’s finest detectives, but he’s also her ex-fiancΓ©. Can the two work together to find answers and rescue Sarah? Or is the history between them too great an obstacle?

With every minute that passes and every new lead that’s found, the urgency to find Sarah escalates and Holly’s outrage grows. She’s determined not to let Sarah down. But as danger closes in, Holly’s world veers on shattering . . . and this time it might be beyond repair.

Goodreads / Amazon
Christy Barritt's Website
 Random Acts of Outrage Quote
My Rating & Thoughts:  πŸŒŸ 🌟 πŸŒŸ πŸŒŸ πŸŒŸ   (5 stars)

The story opens with Holly Anna’s foster daughter, Sarah, missing. Some believe that she has runaway but Holly is positive that this is not the case. Holly ends up working closely with her ex, Chase, trying to find the girl which puts a strain on her relationship with her current boyfriend, Drew. Sarah’s medical condition and Holly’s determination have you rooting for Sarah to be found quickly. The mystery encompasses a ton of suspense that kept me guessing and twists I didn’t see coming. But it was the personal relationships that kept me turning the pages. I love watching Chase and Holly interact, but I also love the support and questions her friend Jamie has for her. I am team Chase and want Holly back together with him so I loved that they spent so much time together and that some of their feelings were addressed. However the ending left me wanting the next book now!

(I received a copy of this book from Ms. Barritt; opinions expressed in this 
review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)
JaneReads
Other Books in Series:
1 Random Acts of Murder  2 Random Acts of Deceit  3 Random Acts of Malice
4 Random Acts of Greed  5 Random Acts of Fraud

Friday, September 28, 2018

First Line Friday (Week 72): Random Acts of Outrage


Happy Friday!

Welcome to First Line Friday's hosted by Hoarding Books.
 
Today's book is: Random Acts of Outrage by Christy Barritt
    
Random Acts of Outrage
First Line:
"I cast a steely gaze at my opponent and lowered my voice. 'You will not defeat me.'"


This book released earlier this month. I have been following this series from the beginning and was so exicted that Holly Anna was back, I had to dive into it as soon as I got it. I couldn't put it down, not only was it filled it was a mystery that kept me guessing but the characters felt like friends that I was invested in. My full review will be posted on Sunday.
  
Now it's your turn!
Let me know your first line in the comments and then head over
to Hoarding Books to see who else is participating!

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Jane Reviews: The Cost of Betrayal

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: Sept. 4, 2018
384 pages
About the Book:
In Dee Henderson's novella "Betrayed," Janelle Roberts is freed--thanks to people she doesn't know--after serving six years of a twenty-year sentence for a murder she did not commit. But a murderer is still at large, and Janelle needs to be somewhere safe with someone she can trust. She may not survive another betrayal.

In Dani Pettrey's "Deadly Isle," Tennyson Kent is trapped on the isolated island of her childhood by a storm surge, and she is shocked when the typically idyllic community turns into the hunting grounds of a murderer. Cut off from any help from the mainland, will she and first love Callen Frost be able to identify and stop a killer bent on betrayal before they become the next victims?

In Lynette Eason's "Code of Ethics," trauma surgeon Ruthie St. John saves the life of Detective Isaac Martinez. After a betrayal leads to him getting shot and then attacked while in recovery, Isaac is now a key witness determined to testify. But someone is intent on silencing him--and those around him--forever. Together, Ruthie and Isaac go on the run, desperate to escape the killers hunting him.
Goodreads / Amazon / Christianbook
Dee Henderson's Website / Dani Pettrey's Website / Lynette Eason's Website

My Rating & Thoughts:  πŸŒŸ 🌟 🌟 πŸŒŸ   (4 stars)

Betrayed by Dee Henderson
I enjoyed the following the progress as Ann unraveled a cold case. With the help of her husband Paul they are able to correct a mistake that had been made. It made my heart happy to see them work together to correct this mistake and to do what they could to help Janelle deal with the consequences of this. However the ending left me frustrated and feeling cheated. There was no closure provided to the cold case. I did not like that I was left with questions and no answers to who the real killer was.

Deadly Isle by Dani Pettrey
This one included a ton of suspense from the beginning and the whole way through. Who is after Teni and will she be safe? I did not want to stop reading until I knew the villain was caught. I was taken by surprise by the reveal of the villain. On the character relationship side I really enjoyed following the second chance Callen was given, can he win her back? Getting to know their background story had me cheering for them to reunite.

Code of Ethics by Lynette Eason
Another story filled with suspense and action. Isaac comes into Ruthie’s OR with a shoulder wound. When Ruthie is checking up on him in recovery she catches someone trying to kill him. She is able to thwart the attack, but the would-be killer gets away. Isaac is determined to find the evidence needed to stop those after him, but is in no condition to do it on his own. Ruthie decides to help him. Danger seems to follow them wherever they go, can they find the evidence before the bad guys? I was on the edge of my seat while I followed along with the search for evidence. Ruthie was spunky and Isaac was determined, I enjoyed the bits of romance that were mixed in throughout.

(I received an ARC of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley;
opinions expressed in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)JaneReads

Monday, September 24, 2018

Monday's RSU: Sept. 24th

 
Welcome to Monday's RSU. Every Monday I share an update of my reading status - what book (or books) I finished since last Monday, what book I am currently reading and what I am planning on reading next. 

I received two advanced copies this week that I was anxious to read so I strayed from the reading schedule I had planned. I was also dealing with a cold this week and spent alot of time reading as it was the only thing I had energy to do.  
 

Just Finished:

The Christmas Heirloom  Random Acts of Outrage  A Sparkle of Silver

Currently Reading: 
Delayed Justice
  
Reading Next:
Burden of Proof


What are you books are you currently reading or have recently enjoyed?

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Jane Reviews: The Isaac Project by Sarah Monzon

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Radiant Publications
Released: Sept. 1, 2015
288 pages
About the Book:
With commitment their only foundation, and love constantly thwarted, can an arranged marriage find happiness in the twenty-first century?

Becky Sawyer’s life unravels in a single day. Not only does she catch her boyfriend, the man she hoped to marry, lip-locked with another woman, she also receives the gut-wrenching news that her grandfather, the man who raised her, is dying. His last wish? To see her happily married. Heartbroken, Becky seeks inspiration in the pages of the Holy Scriptures. And finds it in the story of Isaac and Rebekah.

If love couldn't keep his parents together, Luke Masterson wonders what will make a marriage last. He decides to steer clear of all women—especially crazy ones like Becky Sawyer, who employs a friend to find her a husband. But when he feels the dogged promptings of the Holy Spirit to move across the country and marry a complete stranger, it seems love has little to do with it anyway.

                                  Goodreads / Amazon 
                                                 Sarah Monzon's Website
The Isaac Project Quote 1

My Rating & Thoughts:  πŸŒŸ 🌟 πŸŒŸ πŸŒŸ πŸŒŸ   (5 stars)

This is the second time I have read this book and enjoyed it just as much. Once I started I did not want to put it down. The book opens with Becky excited about her Poppy's birthday, but as the day progresses things take a turn from bad to worse. Then she comes with this crazy plan for what she thinks will make her Poppy happy. Taking inspiration from the biblical story of Isaac and Rebekah, she asks her best friend, Lisa, to find her a husband. What happens when two strangers come together and try to build a future together?

Who couldn't like Luke? He is a godly man trying to live as God wants, a firefighter, he chooses to love Becky and tries to show her his love through every day things. Becky has been hurt by men in the past and something happens to make her doubt Luke, but instead of talking with him about it, she bottles it up and it hardens her heart each day. When she finds out it is all a misunderstanding from a friend she fears she might have already lost Luke. Will she be able to save the relationship?

Luke's uncle tells him that love is a choice and needs to be worked at everyday with some days being easier than others. This really got me thinking about my relationships with others. Do I or am I willing to the put in the work that is required to keep my relationships strong. I loved this perspective on love. The characters of Luke and Becky were easy to like and I loved that the author told the story from both their points of view.

The Isaac Project Quote 2

(I purchased my copy of this book; opinions expressed in this
review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

Other Books by Sarah Monzon:

All of You  Finders Keepers  Freedom's Kiss  The Esther Paradigm