Monday, October 7, 2024

Three Missing Days by Colleen Coble

Series: Pelican Harbor #3
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: April 6, 2021
352 pages
About the Book:

A shocking murder.

Chief of Police Jane Hardy plunges into the investigation of a tragic local murder, but everything in her personal life is unraveling.

Her son’s arrest.

Jane’s son is accused of manslaughter, and she has to decide whether or not she can trust her ex, Reid, in the attempt to prove Will’s innocence—and whether she’s going to trust Reid with her heart.   

Three missing days.

With the recent discovery of her mother’s whereabouts, Jane learns not only that her mother stole something vital all those years ago but that she drugged Jane so she wouldn’t be able to remember. What happened in those three days could change everything.

It all started with one little lie. But the truth is finally coming out.


My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐


This was my favourite of the series, it was faced paced with a lot happening. At times it did feel like too much happened at the same time and some things felt conveniently connected, but overall I was invested. We have been following Jane, Reid and Will since book one with a possible barrier to them becoming an actual family arising in book two. That issue continues into this book for a bit, until the issue is no longer an issue in itself, but now they are dealing with a much larger, scarier possibility. Can they find the answers needed? I really appreciated the way Jane and Reid worked together, supported one another, and communicated, did not keep secrets from one another. Sometimes, it did feel like way too much was happening at once. I also felt like for a bit, the one murder case was put on pause for a while, and I kept thinking about it wanting them to focus on solving it. Eventually, they do come back to it and we follow them as they seek answers. It is eventually solved. I was satisfied with the ending for all involved and we do see Jane and Reid not only grow closer to one another but also lean on the Lord for his guidance and help. I did enjoy following the same group of characters throughout the series.

(I borrowed this book from the library; opinions expressed 
in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

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Sunday, October 6, 2024

If I Live by Terri Blackstock

If I Live
Series: If I Run # 3
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Publisher: Zondervan
Released: March 6, 2018
352 pages

About the Book:

Casey Cox is still on the run after being indicted for murder. The hunt that began with her bloody footprints escalates, and she’s running out of places to hide. Her face is all over the news, and her disguises are no longer enough. It’s only a matter of time before someone recognizes her.

Dylan Roberts, the investigator who once hunted her, is now her only hope. Terrifying attempts on Dylan’s life could force Casey out of hiding. The clock is ticking on both their lives, but exposing the real killers is more complicated than they knew. Amassing the evidence to convict their enemies draws Dylan and Casey together, but their relationship has consequences. Will one life have to be sacrificed to protect the other?







My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Aug. 24 update - reread this book after purchasing a copy, and I was just as hooked as I was when I initially read it. I didn't remember the details of what happened, so there were moments that shocked me at the villains' capabilities and actions. We see Casey grow and discover God over the course of the series, and I am pleased with the way it ended. Highly recommend if you are looking for fast-paced action and characters to root for.

Original Review:

None stop nail-biting action! Don’t let your guard down because you never know what is going to happen next. It appears that Casey finally has a chance at justice, but she has to say alive long enough first. There were many times I was scared witless for Casey and Dylan. Never knowing who to trust. Some chances they take work out and others backfire. I was shocked at the extent of villain’s reach and how much control over others he had. Through it all, though, Casey learns that God is on her side and always watching out for her. She learns to find the good moments in amidst the tough ones. I loved getting inside the characters' heads (including the villain), this allowed me to really understand the characters and what motivated them. It was a struggle to make myself put this book down once I started it; as much as I wanted to savour it, I devoured it over the course of two evenings. This is a series that MUST be read in order.

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

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If I'm Found by Terri Blackstock

Series: If I Run # 2
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Publisher: Zondervan
Released: March 21, 2017
352 pages
About the Book:

Is Dylan hunting Casey to prosecute her or protect her?
 
Casey Cox is still on the run, fleeing prosecution for a murder she didn’t commit. Dylan Roberts—her most relentless pursuer—is still on her trail, but his secret emails insist that he knows the truth and wants to help her. He’s let her escape before when he had her in his grasp, but trust doesn’t come easily.
 
As Casey works to collect evidence about the real murderers, she stumbles on another unbearable injustice: an abused child and a suicidal man who’s also been falsely accused. Casey risks her own safety to right this wrong and protect the little girl from her tormenters. But doing so is risky and just may result in her capture—and if she’s captured, she has no doubt she’ll be murdered before she ever steps foot in a jail.








My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Aug. 2024 update - I just finished rereading this book after purchasing my own copy, and I was completely sucked into this book and did not want to put it down. I fell in love with Casey and Dylan once again. After rereading my previous review, the only comments I have to add are that my opinion has changed on the romance, I was excited to see it happen this time. I also particularly like the God conversations between them and how Casey is learning to spot God in the midst of the trials.

Original Review:

Picks up right where book one finished. Casey is still on the run from the cops trying to find enough evidence to bring them down before they catch up to her. Dylan now believes she is innocent of the crime they say she committed. He has been hired to help catch her but instead is trying to collect the evidence needed to bring these cops down and keep Casey away from them until then. Story is fast-paced and action filled. While on the run, Casey stumbles across a separate crime where a man has been accused of something he didn’t commit, and his world is falling apart because of it. Casey does her best to help prove him innocent, protect a little girl, and put the guilty away all while trying to stay under the radar. She has a big heart, and she can’t stop herself from helping others. Due to influences from others in this book and the previous one, Casey starts to look to God for help and begins to understand that He is there for her. I like both Dylan and Casey and do like the thought of them eventually getting together, but I struggled with their romantic connection to happen when it did, it felt weird for those feelings to come out when they did and felt rushed. I really enjoy how Ms. Blackstock indicates the switch between POV’s clearly, this makes it easy for my brain to switch with them. It did feel weird reading from Keegan’s POV as we didn’t have this in the previous book.

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

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If I Run by Terri Blackstock

Series: If I Run #1
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Publisher: Zondervan
Released: Feb. 16, 2016
318 pages
About the Book:

Casey Cox’s DNA is all over the crime scene. There’s no use talking to police; they’ve failed her abysmally before. She has to flee before she’s arrested . . . or worse. The truth doesn’t matter anymore.
 
But what is the truth? That’s the question haunting Dylan Roberts, the war-weary veteran hired to find Casey. PTSD has marked him damaged goods, but bringing Casey back can redeem him. Though the crime scene seems to tell the whole story, details of the murder aren’t adding up.
 
Casey Cox doesn’t fit the profile of a killer. But are Dylan’s skewed perceptions keeping him from being objective? If she isn’t guilty, why did she run?
 
Unraveling her past and the evidence that condemns her will take more time than he has, but as Dylan’s damaged soul intersects with hers, he is faced with two choices: the girl who occupies his every thought is a psychopathic killer . . . or a selfless hero. And the truth could be the most deadly weapon yet.


My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


This is my third time reading this book and I loved it just as much as before. My original review stands. 

Loved this book! Set in the present tense and told in first person by two characters, Casey and Dylan. This took a little getting used to at first, but I loved it. I felt I was right there with both of them and the way the chapters were divided between the people made it easy to switch between the two. Casey discovers her best friend murdered and because of events from her past she doesn't trust cops, knowing she will be framed for the murder she goes on the run. Dylan has been hired by the family of the victim as a private investigator to try to find Casey as the cops have limited resources. Casey is smart and seems to be able to keep one step ahead of Dylan. Even though Casey is running for her life she can’t stop herself from helping others and gets involved in a mystery of a missing teen. This may lead to her downfall, but she is willing to take the risk to help someone else. I loved her personality. Dylan is lead to believe that Casey is the murderer but as his search deepens he begins to question what he has been told. Will he catch up with Casey and will he be able to turn her in? I couldn't put this one down. My takeaway quote is: "See Beyond the dark part and find the good stuff." When we look we can find something good in the mist of the dark. One of the two mysteries gets solved in this book, but the other leaves you hanging.

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

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