Stalker in the Shadows By: Camy Tang

Another great read by Camy Tang. I love her work! Monica Grant has a stalker that wants her to stop plans for the free children’s clinic she wants to open. Shaun O’Neill’s sister was killed and he believes it was the same man that is stalking Monica. As Monica’s bodyguard, now he can catch that killer and put him where he belongs. But will his preconceived notions be right on target, or get Monica killed? The suspense kept me turning the pages to see who the stalker was going to go after next. I laughed out loud, shivered, and cringed at some of the “gifts” Monica received from her stalker. If you receive a long, white florist box, and you don’t know who it is from, be careful opening it! But it’s all contained in this book, so you can read without danger, except to startle you as your read, and keep you reading late into the night to finish the book! Trying to read people is a hard craft to learn. Some people you can read right off; others take a little longer to figure out. Monica and Shaun are on opposing sides as they try to figure out who her stalker is. The same is true with trying to please someone. Monica wants to make her daddy proud, but her Heavenly Father is already proud of her just the way she is. As Aunt Becca states, “Jesus loves you, and His love makes you worthwhile. When you follow God’s will for you, you’re valued not because of what specifically you’re doing. You’re valued because you’re doing God’s work.” Monica has to learn to please God first. She can’t control how her father will feel about her, but she can live her life pleasing to God and that makes her valued in His eyes. If you love romantic suspense filled with unexpected twists and turns, you will love this book by Camy Tang!

Formula for Danger By: Camy Tang

If you like romance and suspense you will love this book by Camy Tang! Someone is trying to steal Rachel Grant’s scar-reducing cream formula and they will go to any length to get it, even killing people who get in the way. What can Rachel do to prevent them from getting it? Who can she trust? Edward Villa has agreed to watch out for her, but can Rachel trust him? Will she allow him to become a target? Rachel is working to gain the approval of her father. He is harder on her than her sisters; he expects more out of her and is never satisfied. As she’s trying to live up to his expectations, or her perception of them, will she push Edward away? He used to be a good friend, but then he started distancing himself. If her own father treats her this way, how can she expect God to be satisfied with her? Edward’s father worked all the time, canceling family events at a moment’s notice. Now that Rachel is doing the same thing, he can’t trust her with his heart, so he backs away. Edward tells her she thinks more about what her father thinks of her than what God thinks of her. Can she be secure in her confidence in Christ’s love before it is too late? Formula for Danger has many twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages. The romance, suspense, and the truth of God’s love are interwoven throughout the pages. Pick up this book today for a great suspenseful and encouraging read!

Though My Heart Is Torn By: Joanne Bischof

This is the second book in this series. I could not put this book down! I connected with Lonnie and Gideon in book one and it didn’t stop in this book! Their heart may have been torn, but so was mine. I could not believe what was happening and what they were going through. Rarely have I ever gotten so attached to a character, much less two of them, that I could not wait to read the next book in the series. That’s where I am with this one. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book. Joanne Bischof does an excellent job of telling a story and incorporating characters that you will care about and pull for. Lonnie and Gideon O’Riley were joined in a shotgun wedding in book one, Be Still My Soul. In this book, Though My Heart Is Torn, we find out that Gideon is still married to his first wife! How can that be? The ruse is believable and this story takes off again. Lonnie and Gideon are separated. Gideon is reunited with his first wife, Cassie Allan. Can Gideon just take his heart back and give it to Cassie? We find it isn’t that easy. Gideon and Lonnie must figure out how to fall out of love with each other and move on with their lives without each other. Can they do this while holding onto their faith in God? Can they hold on and wait to see what God has in store for them? Sometimes waiting is the hardest part. Does Cassie get what she wanted out of Gideon? Can Lonnie move on without Gideon in her life, especially once she meets the new reverend? You’ll have to read this book to find out! Once you finish this one, you will not be able to wait to read the next one! Great job Joanne Bischof! I cannot wait to read more of your books!

Be Still My Soul By: Joanne Bischof

Be Still My Soul is Joanne Bischof’s debut novel. You’d never know it by reading this story! From page one, I was hooked and couldn’t put this book down until I finished it. Lonnie Sawyer and Gideon O’Riley are forced to marry. This is 19th century Appalachia and Gideon did steal a kiss. Even though they don’t love each other and Gideon doesn’t want to be married, Lonnie must learn to trust Gideon and Gideon must learn to love Lonnie. But, can Lonnie’s faith help Gideon come to terms with his new life and added responsibility? Not if Gideon’s old life keeps coming back to haunt him! Just when Lonnie thinks she can trust Gideon, something happens to push Gideon right back where he was. Read this truly amazing tale of two very different people and how they learn to trust in each other, God, and along the way, fall in love. Lonnie must have peace in her soul while Gideon fights his demons; however, Gideon needs peace to realize what he has before he loses it all. But, will it be a happily ever after or a never after? Be Still My Soul continues on in the second book of the series, Though My Heart Is Torn. If you love a great romantic tale of a hastily arranged marriage by the bride’s father that follows all the ups and downs of making that marriage work, you will love this story. You will be captured on page one and not turned lose till you finish. All the surprise twists will have you turning the pages, crying and laughing at the antics of these two characters. This is the love story to equal Scarlett and Rhett in Gone With the Wind. You won’t be disappointed! I cannot wait to read more by this debut author.

Popular By: Tindell Baldwin

I decided to read this book by Tindell Baldwin due to the subject matter. The first sentence on the back of the book captured my attention and I had to read it. “All I was asking for at fifteen was to belong, to be loved, and to be a part of something.” My big question when I started reading this book was how do you explain to your daughter why they shouldn’t act a certain way or why they shouldn’t do certain things? As Baldwin explains in her book, sometimes answers aren’t so simple. Popular is Baldwin’s memoir. She lived through this. I can only imagine the courage it took to write it. From addictions to alcohol, drugs, and sex to giving her life to God, this book will touch your heart and encourage you as you read what she struggled with and how she overcame. Her explanation of why sex outside of marriage doesn’t work: there’s no commitment to back up the gift of intimacy. Without the commitment, there’s emptiness. With open honesty, painful truthfulness, and a little bit of irony, Baldwin tells her life story to be an inspiration to others—to keep others from following in her path, to help them understand that God asks us to be different not because He wants us to suffer, but to keep us from the alternative. Teenagers are too often left behind. Nobody wants to find out why they act like they do. Each one has a story and each one just wants to know they are loved. Their crowd believes that parents shouldn’t have any control; they should be able to do as they please without any restrictions. Thanks for this book and the healing I know it will bring to teenager girls and adults as well.

Rosemary Cottage By: Colleen Coble

I loved this book by Colleen Coble! Rosemary Cottage is the second in a series. Tidewater Inn is the first; you do not need to read the first one to enjoy this one. If you love mystery, suspense, and romance you will love this book! How well do you know your friends, your family? What you don’t know, may surprise you. Amy Lange and Curtis Ireland are trying to figure out why someone killed Amy’s brother Ben and Curtis’ sister Gina. As they dig deeper, they get closer to getting themselves killed. Who resorted to murder to keep Ben and Gina from talking? What are they afraid Curtis and Amy will find out? No matter what is in your past, God will forgive you. There’s always a way of redemption. This is a key theme that runs through this book. We must forgive others as God forgives us. Can Curtis and Amy let the past go, regardless of what they find out? Or will they let it hold them back from a future together? You’ll have to read the book to find out! The characters in this book are memorable characters that you can relate to, even the secondary ones. Rosemary Cottage becomes a place you’ll want to go visit, maybe even move to. The people and place become real as you read. The mystery and suspense will keep you turning the pages. I now want to go back and read Tidewater Inn and I can’t wait for the next book in this series to come out!! I received this book free from Thomas Nelson publishers in exchange for a review.

Rain Shadow By: Cheryl St. John

Anton Neubauer is looking for a wife, but not just any wife. He wants one who can cook, clean, and be a mother to his son. Rain Shadow is the exact opposite of what he is looking for. At the age of 3 1/2, Rain Shadow was rescued from a wrecked wagon train by Two Feathers, an Indian with the Wild West Show. She cannot find true happiness until she finds out who she is and who her family is. Nineteen years later, Rain Shadow and her son Slade are part of the Wild West Show. Slade is in a train wreck traveling with the Wild West show to their winter quarters and is taken to Anton’s house to recuperate. Once Rain Shadow realizes where her son is, she can’t leave him. How far will guilt, shame, and grief rule Anton and Rain Shadow’s decisions? Can they get past their beliefs that they are no good for each other? Anton decides to marry Rain Shadow to protect her from the father of her child. He figures what would be the harm in marrying her to protect her and her child until the danger passes? He’s not attracted to her; she’s not the wife material he’s looking for. However, can he remember that when they are married? “She was reminded of the calm before a storm, those minutes of heavy, oppressive stillness before wind gusted and rain poured from the skies in torrents. A volatile undercurrent passed between them.” You won’t want to miss this amazing story! Rain Shadow is filled with passion, bravery, and shame. She can’t get over her past. Anton will never forgive himself for his previous wife’s death. Now that he needs a mother for his son, he has the perfect one picked out. But where does that leave Rain Shadow? Rain Shadow is the second book in a series by Cheryl St. John. Heaven Can Wait is the first in this series. It is not necessary to read these in order, but you will want to read the first one to get the complete story of Anton and Emily. I thoroughly enjoyed Rain Shadow. Sometimes true love comes when you least expect it, wrapped differently than you ever thought possible. You won’t be disappointed with this story!!