Sunday, April 23, 2023

Review: Aftermath by Terri Blackstock

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: May 11, 2021
320 pages
About the Book:

A devastating explosion.
Three best friends are at the venue to hear their favorite band. Only one makes it out alive.

A trunk full of evidence.
When police stop Dustin Webb with a warrant to search his trunk, he knows there’s been a mistake. He’s former military and owns a security firm. But he’s horrified when the officers find explosives, and he can’t fathom how they got there.

An attorney who will risk it all for an old friend.
Criminal attorney Jamie Powell was Dustin’s best friend growing up. They haven’t spoken since he left for basic training, but she’s the first person he thinks of when he’s arrested. Jamie knows she’s putting her career on the line by defending an accused terrorist, but she’d never abandon him. Someone is framing Dustin to take the fall for shocking acts of violence . . . but why?

My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Taylor is at a concert with her friends and a bombing happens at the concert. She is able to escape and get out but cannot find her friends. Meanwhile Dustin gets pulled over by the cops because they have received an anonymous tip that he has explosives in his trunk, he doesn’t know what has happened and tell them to go ahead and search as he doesn’t have anything to hide. Apparently, he shouldn't have let them search because someone has set him up and placed explosives in his car. Who set him up and why? What happened to Taylor's friends and how does Taylor deal with the trauma of what’s happened. Dylan calls his childhood friend who he grew up next door to even though they haven't spoken in 15 years.  Dylan is five/six years older than Jamie and he thought he was protecting her staying out of her life but now he's in jail and needs her help as she is a criminal defense lawyer. She knows that her friend is not guilty and as she begins investigating she suspects she knows who is setting him up, but how does she tell Dylan and how does she prove it? Meanwhile we meet Travis, who is Dustin's business partner, and is dealing with a family emergency with his wife in the hospital dying of cancer and his mother-in-law helping him care for their twin two year-olds. Lots of emotional stuff happening in this book. I really enjoyed following Jamie trying to figure everything out and catching the people responsible. I felt for Dustin and Taylor’s situations. I did not want to put it down. 

(I was gifted this book by a friend; opinions expressed 
in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

When Dreams Cross - Second Chances #2

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Saturday, April 22, 2023

Review: Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

Genre: Classic 
Released: 1872
225 pages
About the Book:

Pragmatic gambler Phileas Fogg has made a gentlemanly wager to the members of his exclusive club: that he can circle the world in just eighty days, right down to the minute. Fetching his newly appointed French valet, Fogg embarks on a fabulous journey across land and sea - by steamer, rail, and elephant - to win the bet of a lifetime.

Inspired by Jules Verne’s own sea travels and his fascination with circumnavigating the globe, the avid dreamer’s picaresque voyage inspired generations of adventurers who were eager to best Verne’s challenge - from nineteenth-century journalist Nellie Bly to Monty Python’s Michael Palin.






My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐

I read this for a readathon and was a little unsure about it going in because I don’t have the best relationship with Classics. I liked the way the book started and was interested to see where it would go. I did get a bit bogged down and bored in the middle as I struggled picturing what was happening. While I like the character of Phileas it was his valet, Passepartout that I was truly invested in. When they got separated from one another I became worried about Passepartout and was anxious to find out if he was okay. I absolutely loved the ending; the surprise was perfect and made the book for me.


(I inherited my copy of this book from my dad; opinions expressed 
in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)
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Friday, April 21, 2023

Review: Sea Rose Lane by Irene Hannon

Series: Hope Harbor #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance 
Publisher: Revell
Released: June 7, 2016
362 pages

About the Book:

After a devastating layoff, attorney Eric Nash heads back to the town where he grew up--only to discover that his childhood home is being transformed into a bed & breakfast. Instead of plotting his next career move in peace, he's constantly distracted by noise, chaos--and BJ Stevens, the attractive but prickly blonde architect and construction chief who's invaded the house with her motley crew.
 
As for BJ, her client's son might be handsome, but after a disastrous romance, dating isn't high on her agenda. Yet when they join forces to create a program for Hope Harbor seniors, might they also find healing, hope, and a new beginning themselves?






  

My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐

BJ is hard-working, has a heart for others, and is trying to make up for the guilt she carries. Eric is a high achiever who had to leave his passion behind to pursue his career goals. The events happening now in Eric’s life make him consider what God’s plan for his life is verses what he has strived his whole life for. Can he follow his heart to God’s leading, or does he take what seems to be the safe route? The chemistry between these two is obvious right from their first meeting. I loved how they were honest with each other and were determined not to act on their feelings so that they wouldn’t be hurt when Eric left town. But does God have different plans for them?

The Luis storyline was difficult, the things he has experienced was heartbreaking. But just when he is losing hope God brings people into his life to show him hope is not all lost. I was pleased with the way his story progressed and ended thanks to the intervention of Eric, BJ and Eleanor. Charley, the local artist and taco stand owner, always seem to be in the right place at the right time for each character. I was a bit surprised that Tracey wasn’t more involved in this story, it was said she was BJ’s best friend, but the two of them hardly interacted.

The theme I took away from the book is that by being willing to let go of one dream you can realize a more fulfilling dream you didn’t even know had, and that God can (and will) use all circumstances for His will. BJ expresses this exact thing when she says, “The circumstances that led me to this decision might not have been pleasant, but I do see God’s hand in the outcome.” Overall I enjoyed these characters and the way the story progressed, I was very pleased with the ending.


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

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Thursday, April 20, 2023

Review: Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon

Series: Hope Harbor #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Revell 
Released: June 30, 2015
346 pages
About the Book:

Tracy Campbell never wanted to leave Hope Harbor, Oregon, or the idyllic three-generation cranberry farm where she grew up. But life--and love--altered her plans. When tragedy strikes and changes her plans yet again, she finds herself back in her hometown with a floundering farm to run and a heartbreaking secret. Romance is not on her agenda. Nor is it on Michael Hunter's. The visitor from Chicago has daunting secrets of his own. But when Tracy recruits him to help save a struggling charitable organization, the winds of change begin to sweep through Hope Harbor, bringing healing, hope, and love to countless lives--including their own.






  

My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐

We meet Michael who has just arrived in Hope Harbor and he's on a leave of absence from work for a couple months and trying to find some peace and make decisions about the future. He is a recent widow, about 18 months ago he lost his wife. He meets Tracy who is a Hope Harbor resident and runs a cranberry farm with her uncle, who is basically raised her. Tracy is also a widow after losing her husband. Both say they are never getting married again, they loved their spouses but feel like their previous actions show them that they are not spouse material. We also meet Anna, the self-imposed hermit, whose life completely changes after one little act. She randomly ends up inviting Michael to live in her guest house for a little bit after meeting him at the harbor. Michael is able to draw her out a little bit and share her story. Tracy and Michael are both in their late 20s/early 30s and Anna is retired with a son around Michael's age.

Playing a prominent role is Charlie who is a taco stand owner and an artist and lives as a free spirit doing his own thing. He is an eccentric character and seems to always tell Tracy and Michael what they need to hear at that exact moment. I felt like the story moved a bit slow at times and the number of widow’s kind of bothered me. In addition to Tracy, Michael, Tracy’s uncle, and Anna being widows there is also mention of a seagull said to be a widow after losing his partner. It was a bit overwhelming and I was like can we get some other back story for characters.

I struggled to connect with either Tracey or Michael, and this made it hard for me to cheer for them. There were times I really liked Tracey but there were also times when she annoyed me, such as when she was rude to Michael for no good reason. My favourite characters were two secondary characters, Anna and Uncle Bud. I loved how Uncle Bud teased Tracey but also voiced his true opinions to her which got her to evaluate her true feelings. I became invested in Anna’s story wanting to know what caused her to shut the world out and how her life would be changed, I was pleased with the ending she was given. 

The descriptions of Hope Harbor were so wonderfully don that I could easily picture the setting. Irene Hannon is one of my favourite authors and just because this book didn’t have me loving the main characters it won’t stop me from reading her books. 

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

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