Candy Cane Crime by Amanda Flower

Candy Cane Crime is book 5.5 in the Amish Candy Shop Mysteries. Most of the stories are told from the viewpoint of Bailey but this one is told from the viewpoint of her Amish cousin Charlotte. Charlotte is on the fence on whether or not she wants to join the church. I like it that her Bailey and Bailey's Amish grandmother Clare are very supportive of her. All the quirky characters from the previous books are included in this book. An appearance by Jethro the pig is always a hoot. Unlike the other books no bodies turn up but there is a mystery involving Charlotte. She is in charge of attaching the notes to the candy canes and a couple of the notes are addressed to her only as a secret admirer. She racks her brain as to who could it possibly be. In the end she does discover who it is and I'm looking forward to seeing what she does with the knowledge.

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

Two Reasons to Run by Colleen Coble

Two Reasons to Run is the newest thriller by Colleen Coble and the second in the Pelican Harbor series. Each book in the series has its own mystery but each one has the same mystery that starts in the first book in the series and involves Jane Hardy's brief time when her family was part of a cult. If you have not read the first book in the series and wish to do so I would advise you stop reading this review now. There are things that happen in the first paragraph of this novel that would spoil the first book's story for you. I really do not think you would regret reading this first book in the series.

The book starts off with Jane in shock after learning that her newborn son did not die at the cult compound. He is alive and so is the father of her son who has raised him from a teenager. Jane is resentful that the father did not reveal who he was when he first came to town but Jane has to get over that resentment and distrust in order to save her son's life from a stalker. She will have to work together with the father of her son to keep her son alive. This book kept me in suspense and I can't wait until the third book Three Missing Days is released in 2021!

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

Truly, Madly, Deeply: A Novel by Karen Kingsbury

Truly, Madly, Deeply is another Baxter novel written by Karen Kingsbury. This is book 31 of the Baxter, yes 31 but you don't have to read the previous books to follow what is going on in this book. The good thing about reading this book is that you don't have to read all those books. She does a good job of summarizing who the characters are and how they relate to each other. There were five Baxter siblings and this one feature's Luke Baxter's son Tommy. If you want to read about Tommy's parents story it is included in the book Return (Redemption Series) published in 2009. Tommy is in his senior year of high school. All is well with him. He has found a gal he really likes. After visiting the 911 memorial with his family he decides he wants to be a law enforcement officer. This does not go well with his mother Reagan. As a mother I can understand her feelings. She fears for the safety of her son. I am happy that Karen Kingsbury tackled this subject. Law enforcement officers have not gotten very much respect lately. Because of the actions of one corrupt police officer people treat law enforcement officers with disdain. I liked it that the author portrayed them as heroes and as people that we need to respect.

The main part of the story dealt with Tommy's decision to become a law enforcement officer but the other part of the story dealt with someone close to him getting a health diagnosis that will affect their life. I loved how Tommy stood by this friend. I kept reading hoping for the best outcome possible. Don't want to say too much more. Not going to spoil it for you. I think this will be an enjoyable read.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, this ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Autumn Skies by Denise Hunter

Autumn Skies is book and probably the last in the Bluebell Inn Romance series. This series is about the Bennett siblings who try to keep an inn running smoothly after the tragic death of their parents. Grace was still in high school when we first met her. In this book she has graduated high school but opted not to attend a university. Instead she sets up her own business which is Blue Ridge Outfitters. The siblings have decided to sell the inn so Grace has to find a new location for her business which is fine for her. In the meantime Levi is getting married so we get to catch up on Levi and his bride which was fun. Her sister Molly is in charge of showing the inn to potential buyers we also get to catch up on Molly and her husband Adam.

Wyatt Jenning comes and stays at the inn and he and Grace become friends. Both have baggage from the past that they must deal with and overcome. I can't tell you much more or it will spoil the story.

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

Piecing It All Together by Leslie Gould

Piecing It All Together is book 1 is the Plain Patterns series. The story centers around two different women in a family generations apart. Savannah Mask is living out west and all plans are set in place to be married. Her fiance suddenly calls off the wedding. Savannah decides to visit her Amish grandmother in Nappanee, Indiana. Savannah takes her grandmother to a quilting circle held at Jane Berger's shop. Jan Berger is a distant cousin of Savannah's and tells the story of their ancestor Emma Gingrich. Emma had a sad story in the beginning. I won't reveal what she went through. Don't want to spoil it for you but Emma had to be strong to endure what she went through. I admired Emma's character on how she dealt with people who were different from her. I like both Savannah and Emma. I am not sure whose story I liked better. Savannah reconnected with Tommy Miller who was a childhood friend. He was unjustly being accused in the disappearance of an Amish woman and she helped in the investigation to prove his innocence.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and Bethany House. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Someone Like You by Karen Kingsbury

Someone Like You is yet another Baxter novel. I think I would have liked the story better had it not been a Baxter novel. Book managed to make me cry within the first quarter of the book. A character dies and you don't really get fully invested in the character but you feel the pain of the character's loved ones who have to say goodbye.

All and all it was an enjoyable book but a couple of things bothered me. Book featured Maddie West, daughter of Brooke Baxter West and granddaughter of the Baxter patriach John Baxter. Maddie finds out some news that her parents have kept from her all her life and she is not able to forgive them. I thought she kept unforgiveness in her heart way too long. Sure her parents should have told her but why keep bitterness in your heart that long. Another thing that bothered me was that she got engaged to Connor Flannigan and was so in LOVE with him and quickly fell out of love with him and another boy when she made a visit to Oregon.


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

Dead Silence by Robin Caroll

Dead Silence had me hooked from the first few pages when single mom Elise was able to read lips of men plotting to "take care" of the senator. Elise works in the court system as a sign language interpretor. She is good at her job since she son is totally deaf. She is distracted from telling what she witnessed to the police when she gets a call that her son has broken his arm and is in the hospital. Before she is able to tell what she knows the unthinkable happens to the senator. A series of events happens that put her and her son't life in danger. It doesn't help that the FBI is not helpful to her, one of them a female FBI agents that is always making snide remarks. I loved the dedication that Elise went through to protect her family. Loved that she had the support of her sister-in-law.
I read another reviewer who said she guess who the murderer was by the middle of the book. I did not guess and only knew when it was revealed to the reader.

Thanks to Barbour Publishing and Netgalley for providing me a digital copy of this book to read and review.