The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R. Patch

 Gwen McDaniel along with her husband and baby moved to Cold Water Maine to start over.  He is a doctor and she is a former detective. 

Trigger warning: This book deals with some dark matters such as child abduction, grooming, child SA, miscarriage and mental health.

I could not put this book down. Stayed up way too late reading.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Something happened in the former place they lived but the reader is not given much information at first.  They moved into an area where she remembers visiting as a child.  They purchase an older home which is downright creepy.  She hears noises in the night but her husband doesn't hear those noises.  I am wondering when I start reading this book if her husband is gaslighting her. Also a femur bone is found on the property but the local officials says it is an animal bone. Gwen questions that and so does Cady a new friend she made in town.  More strange things keep happening. There are so many twists and turns. Around 70 percent into the book the twists start coming and they don't stop until the end.  I keep thinking the book was going into one direction and then I realize I am wrong.  So many twists in this book. 

 I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Through Each Tomorrow by Gabrielle Meyer

 Through Each Tomorrow is installment 6 in the Timeless Series. To get full enjoyment from reading this book I suggest that you make sure you have read all previous books in the order they are written. The author mentions characters from several of the previous book. There is so much I liked about this book. I have enjoyed all of Gabrielle Meyer's books and look forward to each release. This one kept me turning pages. It was that suspenseful.

This book features two male characters who are best friends and both are time crossers and share the same two paths. One path is the mid 1500s when Queen Elizabeth is on the throne. The other path is 1883. In the 1500s Andrew is just a physician and Charles is an Earl. In the 1883 path Andrew is weathy with a father in the shipping industry. In the 1883 Charles is a farmer trying to support his mother and sister. Both men suffer angst as to which path they will chose when the time comes. Both have loved ones in each path they feel they need to support. One finds love in 1500s and the other finds love in 1883 but social norms at the time may prevent this from being with them.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves time crossing novels and anyone who love a good clean novel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Prowl by Colleen Coble

 

Prowl is the second installment in the Sanctuary series. A young woman is found dead on the compound and her death was not caused by any of the large exotic animals who reside there. Someone is sabatoging the compound and wants them shut down to obtain the valuable property. Twists and turns happen in the story before we find out the culprit who I never suspected. There is also the story of the murder of Paradise's parents but that is not resolved yet but more pieces of the puzzle was revealed. Can't wait to read the rest of the story in a future book to unravel this mystery.

I received a compliment copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own

When Justice Comes by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker

 When Justice Comes is the third and final book in The Tupelo Grove series. I suggest that this series be read in order starting with the first book Where Secrets Lie. This excellent spell-binding series is co-written with Rich Acker.  In this book Hez and Savananah Webster are in the final stages of planning their wedding. They had been previously married and divorced but realized they are still in love and plan to remarry.  They want to adopt Savannah's nephew. It was her dying sister's wish that her child be adopted by them but they are running into obtacles in adopting the child. Seems like the child's evil grandfather wants to adopt him also. He has powerful ties in the town and the court is leaning toward him.  This book was filled with twists and turns and a couple of surprises here and there.   People who enjoy romantic suspense thriller type books will enjoy this book.

I received a compliment copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter

 Shelby Thatcher loved working in the bookstore that was owned by her beloved Gram. When her Gram suddenly died Shelby assumed that Gram would leave the bookstore to her. She was shocked to learn that Gram had left her only half. The other half was left to Gray Briggs. I suspected the reason Gram had left Gray part of the bookstore and i was not wrong. Gray and Shelby had been sweethearts in high school but broke off when they went different directions for school. Gray had a rough life. His mother was not in his life and his father was sent to prison for killing someone. Gray had a loving grandmother who raised him after his father was sent to prison but the stigma of having a parent in prison left a stigma on Gray. He was mistreated by the town people and was mistreated by his fellow classmates. He lost a scholarship due to someone telling a lie about him. I normally like small towns in books. They are my favorite setting but the way Gray was treated was almost unforgiveable. Even Shelby's family did not treat him right. They disliked him because they felt he had hurt Shelby. Eventually Shelby and Gray rekindled their friendship but the town still mistreated Gray even after all the years that had passed. I can't give too much away. Don't want to spoil it but keep reading. You won't be disappointed even though you experience frustration with the way people treat Gray.

I received a compliment copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own

The Lighthouse at the Cove by Amy Clipston

 The Lighthouse at the Cove is part of the Coral Cove series but you don't have to read the books in order. I didn't even remember a mention of any of the previous characters of the first book in this one. Kaiah is a traveling journalist and on her way to cover an interesting site her car breaks down in Coral Cove.  The mechanic says that it will be several weeks before the part to her car comes in so she has no choice but to stick around for a while. A kind man, Reid kindly offers her his garage aparment for her to stay in. She takes him up on his offer. Reid is a widower with a young daughter, Piper. Piper is a delightful child and quickly wins the heart of Kaiah.  She eventually wins the heart of Reid. She begins to love the town and helps them raise money to repair their local school and lighthouse. I loved the small town and hope the author writes another book in this setting.

I received a compliment copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own

Behind Enemy Bylines by Kathleen Fuller

 I have enjoyed most of Kathleen  Fuller's modern romances so far but this was not one of my favorites. For one thing it started out slow before it picked up speed and I really did not feel the chemistry between the two main characters Sebastin and Jade.  Sebastin had loved Jade 10 years earlier but she rejected him due to a family situation. They reconnect after 10 years after her boss sends her to the town to conduct a business deal and the person she has to deal with is none other than Sebastin.  They could have solved many of their problems had she been honest from the get-go.  Another side story is this rich man who has a history of marrying multiple times. He sends his spoiled rotten daughter Kalista  to stay with one of his ex-wives for the summer.  Loved seeing the growth in Kalista from being a spoiled brat to a mature young woman.  

 I received a compliment copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own. 

Where Secrets Lie by Colleen Coble and Rick Aker

 Where Secrets Lie is book 2 in the Tupelo Grove series written by Colleen Coble and Rick Aker. Happy to see that Hez and Savannah Webster, a recently divorced couple are heading back to a remarriage. It seems that someone for their own evil reason is trying to sabatog them getting remarriage by making it appear that Hez is still dealing with his former demons. You will find out later in the story who is doing this and the reader finds out before Hez and Savannah find out. Things seem to be working out for Hez and Savannah. They are able to purchase Savannah's dream home and their relationship is better than ever. You think they are going to get their happily ever after ending. It appears to be the ending of the story but don't be fooled. The best is yet to come in the next book. The last chapter revealed something is going to be expolsive. I don't see how I am going to wait for several months for the next book in the series but I'll have to wait like everyone else.

This book is set to be released on June 3, 2025. I received an advanced reader’s copy from Thomas Nelson and Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

Everything's Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh

 I love reading books by Courtney Walsh. The quirky characters always manage to make me laugh and this book did not disappoint. Rosie is at a stalemate in her acting career and is too embarassed to reveal her situation to her circle of successful best friends. She pretends to them that everything is going smoothlly.  Her friends are great supportive people but Rosie just hold back. She finally gets a job as a director of a production of Cinderealla. When she gets there she finds out it is a group of senior citizens putting on the play but even though these actors are older there is still plenty of energy left in them. 

This was not one of my favorite books by Courtney Walsh but the story was still enjoyable.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Tempest at Anabel's Lighthouse by Jaime Jo Wrigth

 Tempest at Annabel's Lighthouse is a dual timeline mystery story by Jaime Jo Wright.  There is always a ghostly like supernatural essence in her stories but in the end you see it it not really and that there is a logical explanation.  In the modern timeline we have Shea going to the upper Michigan area to research the ghost of Annabel who lived in the 1800s and died in a boating accident.  The second timeline is in the 1800s, the character is Rebecca and is 20 years past when Anabel died.  Both timelines were enjoyable to read but I enjoyed Rebecca's story more. Rebecca has lost her memory so it was intriguing to discover her story as to why she lost her memory.  

Thanks to the LibraryThing Early Readers program and Netgalley for providing me a digital copy of this book to read and enjoy.

Shattered Sanctuary by Nancy Mehl

 

Shattered Sanctuary brings together Erin Delaney, an ex-cop turned author and Kaeley Quinn-Hunter, former FBI profiler.  We met Kaeley in a previous series but it is not necessary to read that series first but it could be helpful to understand her personality and her method of doing things.  I hope she appears in future books since it is nice to catch up on what is happening in her life since the last book she was featured in.  Kaely is a born again Christian; Erin is not.  Kaely wants to witness the joy of Christ to her friend but treads lightly. She doesn't want to push her away. Erin has baggage from her past to deal with. Kaely and Erin meet up in a town in Tennessee called Sanctuary.  From the townspeople they learn stories of ghosts and murders from the past in this little Dolly Parton loving town.  They intend to have a relaxing few days in Sanctuary but it is anything but relaxing when a series of murders of young women occur in Sanctuary and Erin and Kaely have to put thier heads together and use thier profiling skills to catch a serial killer but he kills again. Five women have already died.  

If you like a book with not a lot of romance in it this book is for you. I think in the future there is a possibility with a certain law enforcement officer but in the meantime Erin is content with her new furry friend Chester.

Thanks to LibraryThing and Netgalley for providing me a book to read and review. I was not compensated and all opinions are my own.

I can't wait until the next book in the series will be released. There was a preview at the end of the book so it should be coming Fall 2025.

The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter

 I always take the opportunity to read a book by Denise Hunter. She is my favorite romance writer and with this book she added an element of mystery which I love since romantic suspense is my favorite genre. Maggie Reynolds has been a widow for five years. She has a small child which her husband Ethan never got the opportunity to see. Maggie's brother-in-law Ryan has been in love with Maggie since he was a teen. He hopes to let his feelings be known

to her but when she returns to Seabrook she sees a man at an amusement park who is the spitting image of her late husband. She begins to question of whether or no this man is actually her husband or someone else. I was engrossed in the whole book wanting the mystery to be revealed. I was more involved in the mysterious man than the love story developing between Maggie and Ryan.

One thing I did not like about Ryan is that he was married before and the marriage failed because his wife knew that he was in love with his sister-in-law. This was confirmed when he was under dental sedation for surgery. He should have never married someone unless they had his whole heart and he did not.

All and all it was an enjoyable book to read. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys reading Denise Hunter.

Ambush by Colleen Coble

 Ambush by Colleen Coble is the first book in the Sanctuary series. Blake Lawson who is one of the main characters was introduced in the Tupelo series. He appeared as Hez's first cousin.  Blake Lawson's mother is running a sanctuary for wild animals that her late husband established. He tragically died earlier and Blake is helping his mother run the sanctuary.  Her mother is raising Blake's half brothers. Paradise Alden previously lived in the Alabama small town and returns after 15 years as a veternarian for the sanctuary. Her parents died some 15 years earlier. Shortly after she arrived someone dies and other dangerous things begin to happen at the sanctuary. With Blake's help they begin to unravel what is happening there.  I can usually guess who the villian is but I was stumpted until the end on this story.  

There was also a side mystery going on what happened with Paradise's parents. That mystery will be solved in future books.

Second Chance at Sunshine Inn by Amy Clipston

 

We return to Coral Cove in Second Chance at Sunshine In. I enjoyed the small time flavor of books written in small town. I was instantly drawn to the storyline and the characters which were well developed
. Everleigh learns she has inheirted half of the Sunshine Inn which was left to her by her beloved godmother, Alana. Alana is a traveling NICU nurse and enjoys her job. She is hoping to sell Sunshine Inn for a profit to establish a charity that she and her godmother dreamed of starting but her partner Cade Witherspoon does not want to sell. He eventually agrees and gives her a timeline to sell. They both agree that they don't want it to be sold by a developer. Will they each get what they want? There were some bumps along the way but I like how the story played out. Relationships were repaired and everyone got what they really in their heart wanted.