The Quarryman's Bride by Tracie Peterson

Book Description:
Emmalyne Knox and Tavin MacLachlan were destined to be together...until the tragic deaths of Emmalyne's youngest sisters. Family tradition mandates that the youngest daughter should remain single to care for her parents in their old age, and now that daughter is Emmalyne. Her father unyielding, Emmalyne surrenders to her duty, heartbroken. Tavin leaves town, equally devastated.

Years later, Emmalyne's family moves, and she and Tavin meet again. Their feelings for each other are as strong as ever, but their painful past and Emmalyne's father still stand between them. Soon both families are in the midst of the growing conflict rising between the workers at the granite quarry that Tavin's father owns and operates. When a series of near-fatal accidents occur, Tavin must figure out who is behind the attacks before someone gets killed.

Bound by obligation, yet yearning for a future together, can Emmalyne and Tavin dare to dream that God could heal a decade-long wound and change the hearts of those who would stand in the way of true love?

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book.  Emmalyne was set to be married to Tavin, then tragedy strikes.  Her two younger sisters are killed and that leaves her to serve in the role as the youngest daughter.  Though it isn't something she was planning and she loves Tavin, she doesn't marry him so she can take care of her aging parents.  Her father is the one pressing this and she and her family move.  Years later, they move back and Emmalyne realizes she still loves Tavin but the same obstacle still stands between them and happiness.
I really liked this book.  Emmalyne was heartbroken to not marry Tavin but she did as her father demanded.  She trusted God throughout though it wasn't what she wanted, she still trusted Him.  I loved that.  Tavin didn't and neither did her father but as the story unfolds, we learn more about them.  Tavin only comes back to town because of a promise to his father and sickness strikes Emmalyne's family.  Overall, it was a good solid Christian story.
I rate this a 4/5.  It is a good quick read that has more depth than you would expect.

Thank you to litfuse for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Spirit Fighter by Jerel Law

Book Description:

Your mom always said you were an angel. What if she was right? Jonah Stone has always thought of himself as average, but in seventh grade he learns a fascinating family secret, and his world turns upside down. Jonah’s mom is a nephilim, the daughter of a human and a fallen angel, which makes Jonah one-quarter angel. When his mom is kidnapped by fallen angels, it’s up to Jonah and his sister Eliza to rescue her. Guided by prayer and a guardian angel, Jonah and Eliza embark on an epic adventure through the streets of New York and come to understand that God plans in ways they never could have imagined. Spirit Fighter, Book 1 in the Son of Angels: Jonah Stone series, is an imaginative adventure that is based on scripture in the book of Genesis.

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book.  Jonah is an average seventh grader, or maybe below average....at least that is what he thinks.  After a terrible day, he prays to God and is amazed by the ability that he develops.  He tells his father, a preacher, and it comes out that his mother is a half angel.  She is the daughter of her mother and 'one of the fallen', which makes Jonah and his two siblings quarterlings.  His mother is kidnapped shortly after this revelation and he and his sister are the ones who must rescue her.
I really liked how close this family was.  The father and mother may have kept secrets from the kids but when revealed the kids handled it well and it was done for their benefit.  Jonah had to grow up quickly as did his sister Eliza but they had been raised with faith and understanding.  I love how faith was woven through the book as an central part.  It wasn't just an off to the side part, it was the main part.  The author did a great job showing how beautiful and enticing evil can be.  I look forward to reading more in this series! I rate this a 4/5.  I think teens/preteens would enjoy it as well as many adults.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via netgalley).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Author Interview of Sylvia Meier

Please join me in welcoming Author Sylvia Meier to my blog today!!!

AW: Tell us about yourself…

I am a young mom to 5 wonderful children. I also have bipolar disorder type one. Being an author is something I have always dreamt of being, so to actually be one is quite literally a dream come true for me and I couldn't imagine doing anything else in my life.

AW: What genera do you write and why?

I write in my own genre I suppose. It is a mix of health and fitness, biography and self help. All 4 of my current books fit into this genre. They fit the health and fitness genre because they are typically about bipolar disorder in some form or another, biographical because much of it is an autobiography of myself, and self help because it is meant to help others in their battles with bipolar disorder and life in general.

AW: Tell us about your book….

The title of my book is "My Bipolar World: A Collection Of Works by Sylvia Meier"

This book encompasses 3 books. As the title suggests it is actually a collection of my written work.

The first section is "Living Bipolar: Learning To Live With Bipolar Disorder" This is essentially the meat of being diagnosed, things to expect, you know the textbook stuff without the textbook drab. Instead it is mixed in with real life examples.

The second section is "Bipolar Bits: Manic Madness To Depressive Depths" and this is where it starts to get really personal. This section, and the book in whole delves deep within my mind, heart and soul. It contains the ups, the downs, and the real life grit that is bipolar disorder.

The third section is the newest book in the series "Lotta Bipolar Bits: Survivors Diary Of Living Bipolar" where the story continues in diary form, again in no chronological order, simply where it fell within the pages of the book. This book also contains some very deep seated, dark stories and poems written while I was well into the grasps of depression. Some of it is difficult for even me to read.

All in all, I simply wanted the series, the collection to show an insiders view of a very misunderstood illness. Yes, it is all in my head, but that transpires to all other aspects of my life as well.

AW: What was your inspiration for this book?

My girlfriend. She's my muse. She inspired me to pick up pen and paper and just start writing. I've been writing from day one. I love to write and there was so much written work available that I had done over the years it was simple to do.

AW: Do you have a favorite character and why that one?

My book is autobiographical so the only character really in it is myself other than a few key people in my life. So, at the point of seeming vain, myself.

AW: Did you find anything particularly difficult in writing this book?

Opening up to some of the pain and heartache associated with my illness and my life.

AW: What project(s) are you currently working on?

I am still working on the full autobiographical book called "Woman Broken, A Child Lost" as well as another piece under a pen name.

AW: Do you have any interesting writing quirks you want to tell us about?

I write on everything. My books are written on scraps all over my house. If I awake at 5 am with something to

write it gets doodled down on a pad beside my bed. I have paper in my purse, my car, my coats. I've even written on the back of reciepts cause it was all I had on hand.

AW: Do you have any advice for writers out there?

Just get out there and write. You will be pleasently surprised at how well you can be recieved even when you are uncertain your work is worth it.

AW: Where can we find you? (facebook, twitter, blog, website, etc)

My main blog is www.MyBipolarWorld.com, my facebook fan page is Facebook.com/Author.Sylvia.Meier my twitter handle is @srolfe

AW: And of course we have to know, where can we find your book?

It's on Amazon in both Kindle and Paperback format http://www.amazon.com/My-Bipolar-World-Collection-ebook/dp/B00D2XY8QO/

Deadly Devotion by Sandra Orchard

Book Description:

Research scientist Kate Adams and her colleague Daisy are on the brink of a breakthrough for treating depression with herbal medicine when Daisy suddenly dies. Kate knows that if it hadn’t been for Daisy’s mentorship, she wouldn’t have the job she loves or the faith she clings to. So when police rule Daisy’s death a suicide, Kate is determined to unearth the truth.
Former FBI agent Tom Parker finds it hard to adjust to life back in his hometown of Port Aster. Though an old buddy gives him a job as a detective on the local police force, not everyone approves. Tom’s just trying to keep a low profile, so when Kate Adams demands he reopen the investigation of her friend’s death, he knows his job is at stake. In fact, despite his attraction to her, Tom thinks Kate looks a bit suspicious herself.
As evidence mounts, a web of intrigue is woven around the sleepy town of Port Aster. Can Kate uncover the truth? Or will Tom stand in her way?

My Thoughts:
I really liked this one.  When Kate's friend and mentor is found dead and believed to commit suicide, she doesn't believe it.  They were on the verge of a breakthrough and there was no way Daisy would have mixed the concoction that killed her.  Tom is not happy when Kate demands he reopen the investigation into Daisy's death.  He knows his job is on the line and is just trying to skate by under the radar but Kate is determined.
I really liked how quickly this story moved.  Kate's determination to find the truth about Daisy was so heartfelt that you had to root for her.  I wasn't sure I was going to like Tom but wound up thinking he was one of the best characters.  The plot was great with several viable suspects and yet you aren't sure about any of them.  
I rate this a 5/5.  
Thank you to Revel for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

*Available June 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.*

Deadly Sting by Jennifer Estep

Book Description:
Red is definitely my color. Good thing, because in my line of work, I end up wearing it a lot.

Most people shy away from blood, but for an assassin like me— Gin Blanco, aka the Spider—it’s just part of the job. Still, it would be nice to get a night off, especially when I’m attending the biggest gala event of the summer at Briartop, Ashland’s fanciest art museum. But it’s just not meant to be. For this exhibition of my late nemesis’s priceless possessions is not only the place to be seen, but the place to be robbed and taken hostage at gunpoint as well. No sooner did I get my champagne than a bunch of the unluckiest thieves ever burst into the museum and started looting the place.

Unlucky why? Because I brought along a couple of knives in addition to my killer dress. Add these to my Ice and Stone magic, and nothing makes me happier than showing the bad guys why red really is my color.

My Thoughts:
This was a good book.  Gin isn't overly thrilled with going to the gala, but at least she has a 'one of a kind' red dress to wear that looks fabulous on her.  Fin has wonderful taste in women's clothing, even if he is dating Gin's sister.  It could be a bad idea going to a party for the woman you killed but she can't say no to Fin.  At the gala there are lots of people who would love for the Spider to be dead, and she is recognized by pretty much all of them.  One in particular seems to have her sights set one Gin...
I loved Gin.  How confident and strong she is, most of the time.  She and Owen still have issues that haven't been worked out and that is the only spot she is weak in.  Fin is such a wonderful, conniving character that you can't help but love him.  All the support characters were good and added to the storyline, even the bad guys.  I like that this book sets up for a future books well and there is at least some closure if not entirely.
I rate it a 4/5.  I like most of it but Owen

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via netgalley).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

That Certain Summer by Irene Hannon

Book Description:

Karen and Val are family-yet they’re anything but close. Karen has carried the burden of responsibility for her aging mother ever since her gorgeous sister left town years ago to pursue a career in theater. But Val had darker reasons for leaving town-as well as a secret to keep-and coming home has never been an option . . . until their mother suffers a stroke.
Reunited in their hometown, Karen and Val must grapple with their past mistakes, their relationship with each other, and their issues with a mother who is far from ideal. When a physical therapist raising his daughter alone and a handsome but hurting musician enter the picture, the summer takes on a whole new dimension. As their lives intersect and entwine, can each learn how to forgive, how to let go, and how to move on? And strengthened by the healing power of faith, might they also find the courage to love?
With her trademark compelling characters and heartwarming hope, fan favorite Irene Hannon offers her readers an inspiring true-to-life tale of complex family relationships, transgressions revealed and forgiven, and the complicated process of finding love.

My Thoughts:
This was a really good book.  Karen has always been the 'good' daughter.  She takes care of everything, and has always been responsible, but not her mother's favorite.  Val left to lead a glamorous life and be an actress...at least that is what everyone believes.  Karen's life is to juggle and keep balance but when their mother has a stroke, she has to call Val for help and both will learn misconceptions usually lead to wrong conclusions.
I loved that this book is about learning that everyone sees things differently and that our perceptions aren't always true.  That the perceptions we have lead to our opinions being wrong and maybe guilt held for the wrong reasons or maybe just us being wrong all together.  The two sisters were completely different but coming together they get to discover who each other really is.  Their love interests aren't perfect either and have their own life problems.  That 'Certain Summer' can change your life if you let it. 
It was a 4/5 for me.  Not one of Ms. Hannon's suspense novels but definitely a good read!
Thank you for Revell for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Available June 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.