Walking on Hidden Wings by Rachel Scott McDaniel

Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Released: April 23, 2024
322 pages

About the Book:

Geneva Ashcroft Hayes's marriage to a newspaper mogul might have been arranged, but the New York socialite is devastated when her husband's plane crashes a few short months after their nuptials. When the authorities suspect murder, Geneva sets out on a wild mission to find his killer--and to prove it wasn't her!

When mysterious notes surface pointing to Geneva's guilt in his death, they only strengthen her resolve. She has little to go on except for a detective friend's cryptic list of locations connected to her dead spouse. When the friend also disappears, she trades her sparkling gowns for coveralls and pilot goggles.

Armed with a new name and career as a wingwalker and barnstormer, she travels from town to town in hopes of unearthing clues and locating her missing friend. But Geneva discovers that her past may not belong to her . . . what she once believed as truth may be nothing more than lies and deception.

My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved this story! Geneva has gone undercover to try to figure out who is responsible for her husband's death, but instead discovers much more than she could have imagined. Interspersed throughout we are taken back in time and see her relationship develop between Geneva and her husband. Each chapter ended with a question or a reveal dropped that I had to keep reading to find out what was next. I was hooked. There is romance, mystery and faith  all interweaved. I loved it.  I have never read anything by this author before and I will definitely be reading more by them in the future.   

Favourite Quote: 

“Love gives, not takes. It never forces another person to sacrifice but sacrifices itself for the other person”

(I received this book from a friend; opinions expressed 

in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

Power Play by Rachel Dylan

Series: Capital Intrigue #3
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: June 1, 2021
294 pages

About the Book:

When State Department attorney Vivian Steele witnesses two ambassadors collapse as if poisoned at a diplomatic dinner in Washington, DC, she is recruited to be a member of a joint FBI task force assigned to investigate. But she soon finds her by-the-book ways clashing with a special agent in the Diplomatic Security Service, Jacob Cruz. A former Navy SEAL and in charge of the event's security, Jacob takes the attack personally and is driven to act quickly, even ahead of the rules and regulations.

As Viv starts to work her diplomatic sources, her past as a State Department lawyer comes back to haunt her, and secrets held tightly by the government thrust her into a web of danger. Afraid, Viv turns to the one man bent on protecting others. But can she accept Jacob's reckless ways as exactly what she needs to stay alive and to discover the truth behind the attacks?

My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐

There were so many characters and agencies involved it was hard to keep track of everyone. It felt like we were following two separate cases that just happened to start at the same event. We had met Vivian in book one and are now she is one of the main characters, but I missed seeing the other women I'd gotten to know in books 1&2. Vivian is a lawyer but is pulled into a dangerous situation and forced to work closely with Jacob for security. Then we are following Delaney and Weston who are working on the other case. The romantic relationship starts out at instant hate just because of their profession and then quickly becomes instant love. The romance felt off and inappropriate under the circumstances, a huge distraction. I was able to predict a few things that were to happen. I definitely enjoyed one set of characters over the other. The friendship, partnership and teasing was enjoyable to follow even if I didn't fully follow the investigation itself. The ending did tie to the two cases together.

(I purchased my copy of this book; opinions expressed 

in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

Other books from this author that I have reviewed:   

   

Deadly Proof - Atlanta Justice #1

Lone Witness - Atlanta Justice #2

Breach of Trust - Atlanta Justice #3

End Game - Capital Intrigue #1

Backlash - Capital Intrigue #2

Backlash by Rachel Dylan

Series: Capital Intrigue #2
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: October 1, 2020
309 pages

About the Book:

CIA analyst Layla Karam is thrust into a dangerous DEA field operation against a cartel that puts a target on her back. Though Layla never wanted to be a field agent, Langley had other ideas. After one of her team members is murdered because of fallout from the op, Layla is left scrambling to find safety.

At the same time, the CIA opens up an internal investigation against her. Out of options, Layla turns to ex-boyfriend and private investigator Hunter McCoy for help finding out who might want to ruin her career.

Layla and Hunter soon discover a mole inside the DEA has sold out the team's identity to the cartel. She must clear her name with the Agency and protect herself and her teammates from cartel retaliation. With threats on all sides, Layla must put her trust in Hunter--the man who broke her heart--and hope they both come out of it alive.

My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Layla, a CIA agent, is attacked and threatened and then becomes the subject of an IG investigation. Are the events connected? She ends up having to work with her ex-boyfriend, Hunter, who is now a PI. The relationship did not end well and as the story progresses Layla discovers that there is more to their breakup than she thought. It felt like there were three separate stories going on. I was fully invested in Izzy's case and mildly curious what was happening with Layla, but I didn't care at all about Zane and Cass. It felt like there was so much switching between each of the storylines and hard to find the connection that it was hard to stay invested in the story. Izzy's situation is what kept me in the book. I had been hoping to see Lexi from book one in this book.

(I purchased my copy of this book; opinions expressed 

in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

Other books from this author that I have reviewed:   

   

Deadly Proof - Atlanta Justice #1

Lone Witness - Atlanta Justice #2

Breach of Trust - Atlanta Justice #3

End Game - Capital Intrigue #1

 

End Game by Rachel Dylan

Series: Capital Intrigue #1
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: January 7, 2020
309 pages

About the Book:

When elite members of the military are murdered on the streets of Washington, DC, FBI Special Agent Bailey Ryan and NCIS Special Agent Marco Agostini must work together to bring the perpetrator to justice. Unfortunately, all evidence points to a Navy SEAL sniper whom Bailey refuses to believe is guilty.

When Bailey and Marco start to connect the dots between the victims, including a link to a powerful defense contractor, they wonder if there's a deeper cover-up at play. Then Bailey is targeted, and it becomes clear that someone is willing to kill to keep their dark secrets.

With the stakes getting higher by the moment in a twisted conspiracy, there's a rush against the clock to determine whom they can really trust. As allies turn to enemies, the biggest secret yet to be uncovered could be the end of all of them.

My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐

The murder of a SEAL is connected to another murder which leads to Bailey (from the FBI) and Marco (from NCIS) working together to figure out who is responsible. The investigation leads them into danger and corrupt people. When another couple murders happen the clue start fitting together. Can they figure it out before they get hurt? In addition to Bailey and Marco's point of views, there are point of views from Lexi and Izzy. I was invested the most in Lexi and wish I could have spent more time with her instead of the others. This felt like I was watching an episode of NCIS. There were so many characters and agencies involved it was difficult to keep track of everyone.

(I purchased my copy of this book; opinions expressed 

in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

Other books from this author that I have reviewed:   

   

Deadly Proof - Atlanta Justice #1

Lone Witness - Atlanta Justice #2

Breach of Trust - Atlanta Justice #3

A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice by Rebecca Connolly

Genre: Historical Fiction 
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Released: April 5, 2022
320 pages

About the Book:

Based on the remarkable true story of the Carpathia—the one ship and her legendary captain who answered the distress call of the sinking Titanic.

Shortly after midnight on April 15, 1912, the captain of the Carpathia, Arthur Rostron, wakes to a distress signal from the Titanic, which has struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage. Though information is scarce, Rostron leaps into action, determined to answer the call for help. But the Carpathia is more than four hours away, and there are more questions than answers: Will his ship hold together if pushed to never-before-tested speeds? What if he also strikes an iceberg? And with the freezing temperatures, will there be any survivors by the time the Carpathia arrives?

Kate Connolly is a third-class passenger on Titanic, and she is among the last to receive instruction and help after it hits an iceberg. Despite the chaos of abandoning ship, Kate is able to board a lifeboat, though after seeing the Titanic sink into the abyss and hearing the cries from hundreds of people still in the water, she wonders if any rescue is even possible.

Told in alternating chapters from both Captain Rostron and Kate Connolly.

My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I learned so much from this book. Even though it is a fictional retelling of the response of the ship Carpathia to the Titanic's distress call you could tell that the author did quite a bit of research into this event and the author's note at the end detailed this. Story is told through through alternating perspective's of the Carpathia's captain, Arthur, and a Titanic passenger, Kate. There are also various journal entries and newspaper articles interspersed throughout. I was captivated. I enjoyed how the captain tried to put the passengers first and gave credit to his crew, not himself. Highly recommend listening to the audiobook. 

(I borrowed a copy of this book through Audible; opinions expressed 

in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)