Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson

Not a fan. I have to be honest and say that I have never read any of her books. I have always heard that she is a good suspense author. I love authors like Terri Blackstock, Brandilyn Collins, Lynette Eason and Colleen Coble, These authors keep me up turning pages until I fall asleep. I had heard so much about this author that I was expecting the same. The suspense was lagging. I think I would have appreciated this book more if I had read her earlier works particularly the O'Malley novels. I get to that reason later.

I found the romance part of the story was lacking and it was a big part of the book. FBI agent Paul Falcon was attracted to Ann Silver from the get go when she dropped into his office and dropped some vital information on a case he was working on. Ann Silver worked in law enforcement as a part time sheriff and also a MHI. She is close to 40 years old and very private. Unlike the typical woman she had no desire to marry or even have kids. She was happy to remain single the rest of her life. The author spent way too much time at the beginning of the book of Paul asking all her friends about her. By the time the romance started he knew just about everything about her except her secrets and she had some big ones. You will have to read the book to discover what the secrets are but the secrets are revealed in the middle of the book. Anyway the case involves a serial shooter but the shooter is female.

As I said Ann is content to be by herself but she has a life away from the crime too. She writes a series of novels called the O'Malley series and the series are based on the lives of people she has met and some of Paul's friends and relatives are featured in these books. This is the reason why I thought reading the O'Malley series would add to my enjoyment of this book. Not sure if I am going to go back and read those novels if those novels move as slowing as this one.

Just because I did not enjoy this book don't let it influence you. If you love Dee Henderson I am sure you will love this one. It just was not for me.

I received an Advance Reading Copy compliments of Bethany House Publishers and the Early Reader program on Librarything.com.
This book is due to be released on October 2, 2012.

The Amish Bride by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould

This was the third book in the Women of Lancaster series and my favorite. In the first book we are just getting to know the characters and their history. I did not care too much for the second book since the regular characters were not in it too much. I really liked this book. We got visits from previous characters and able to catch up on what's going on in their lives.

Ella Bayer is a 19 year old Mennonite girl and all she wants in life is to become Ezra Gundry's Amish bride and to go to baking school. She first wants to go to baking school because she knows that going to baking school will not be a possibility once she marries. There are roadblocks. It seems that her family and his family are standing in the way of Ella and Ezra becoming a couple. This is not the only problem Ella is facing. She finds out secrets about her father and that he has returned to town in poor health. She has not forgiven him for abandoning the family when she was young. In the meantime her Amish grandmother gives her an old book with codes in it and asks her to see if she can solve the mystery. This involves traveling to another state where she will find clues.

In the first book I really did not care for Marta, Ella's mother. I thought she was a little harsh but in this book you come to understand her a little better. You realize that she really does love her children and only wants the best for them.

Will she become Ezra's Amish bride? I do not want to give too much away to spoil it for the reader. All I can say is that you will be surprised at the ending.

A Plain Scandal by Amanda Flower

Strange things are happening in Appleseed Creek. A few of the Amish girls in town have been attached and had their hair cut off. Even the Troyer's grandpa, their grossdaddi as they call him was attacked and had his beard cut. It turns deadly when one amish man not only had his beard cut but was stabbed in the back with some scissors used to shear sheep. Never mind that this is police work. Chloe has her mind set to help solve the crime. Is the person doing all this Amish or is it someone else. Chloe starts asking questions. The Amish are sometimes closed mouthed with Englishers but Chloe managed to get clues from talking with them even though she irritated them at times especially the Amish women who had their hair cut.

In this book Deacon Sutter is still trying to make trouble for the Troyer family. He gets the new bishop to ostracize the Troyers. The Troyers are not yet shunned but still as close to shunning as you can get.

I really like how the author develops her characters. There is an attraction between Timothy Troyer and Chloe but the romance is not hurried and I like it that way. It will probably be the third book before the romance is full blown. Timothy's family is Amish but he left the Amish faith a few years back and is now a Mennonite. I read on the author's website that the third book will be A Plain Disappearance. I plan to read that one too when it comes out. I am so happy to have discovered this author and will read anything she puts out.

Thanks to Netgalley and B&H Books for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book. This title will be released on February 15, 2013.

The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury

The Bridge is a story of paying it forward, community, and lost love.  The Bridge is a quaint little bookstore in downtown Franklin, Tennessee.  The owners are a childless couple who have always given to the community.  They have always extended a helping had when others were in need but the flood of 2010 destroyed their bookstore.  Charlie and his wife do not have the funds to restore the bookstore. 

While in college Molly and Ryan became friends and would enjoy each other company in one of the upper rooms at the bookstore.   Molly was from an upper crust family from the northwest while Ryan is from a poor family in Alabama.  Because of manipulations on the part of Molly's father the couple parts ways.

I do not want to give too much away to spoil this story for the reader.  You will not regret reading this story on how the community comes together to help this couple.  You will have to read this book to see if there is hope for Molly and Ryan.  You will not regret reading this story.

What I liked about this new book by Karen Kingsbury is that it had a beginning, a middle and a end.  Unlike some of her other books you will not have to read five or six books to see this story resolved.  It's a quick read and you should be able to read it in a couple of hours.  It's sure to put a smile on your face.

The only criticism I have is that I wish the romance could have been developed a little more.

Thanks to Netgallley and Simon and Schuster, Inc. for providing me this ebook to review.

This title will be released on October 23, 2012

Beauty to Die For by Kim Alexis and Mindy Starns Clark

Beauty to Die for: A Spa Mystery is a nice little cozy mystery that will keep you guessing until nearly the end of the book. Raven, a top model has died while undergoing a spa treatment. It was determined that her death was a murder but who murdered her? It could be anybody because Raven was not liked by anybody. Everybody despised her but who hated her enough to murder her? Juliette Taylor was at the spa at the same time promoting her line of exclusive beauty products to Christian women. She is acquainted with Raven. Juliette's reputation is at stake because one of her products, a clay mask was found to contain atrophine while killed Raven. Juliette must prove that her product had nothing to do with Raven's death.

Julliete Taylor has never married because no man could compare to TOTGA which stands for the one that got away 25 years ago. While at the spa she reconnects with this man who never forgot her either. He helps her solve the mystery. I thought it was cute how this love story unfolded.

The story really did not get suspenseful for me until I was way into the story. Lots of action in the end.

Thank you to B&H Books and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.