When the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason Book Review

When the Smoke Clears: A Novel (Deadly Reunions)

by Lynette Eason






From the publisher:

As a member of the North Cascades Smokejumpers, Alexia Allen always takes care of the equipment that keeps her safe. So when she nearly dies in a fire due to equipment failure, she knows something is up. Ordered to take time off while the investigation continues, Alexia makes a last-minute decision to recuperate at her mother’s home and attend her high school reunion. Yet trouble seems
to be following her, and within hours of arriving home she’s involved with murder, arson—and a handsome detective. But the conflicts ahead are nothing compared to the ghosts of her past. As she strives to remember and forgive her family history, she must also decide if the secret she’s been guarding for the last ten years must finally come to light.

Chock-full of the suspense and romantic tension readers have come to expect from Lynette Eason, When the Smoke Clears is the
explosive first book in the Deadly Reunions series.

My Review:

This is one of those books I read in one night.  I couldn't put it down.  It was screaming with intrigue.  Lynette Eason, has a way of writing that just compels me to to stay up past my bedtime.  One day I will learn not to start her book when it is dark outside.

Every character caught my attention.  However, I felt some major details were missing.  Even though there will be more books in the future - it just feels like this is NOT a standalone book.  It needs the rest of the series to understand it fully.

This book did a great job in entertaining and made you wonder who was the "bad guy". 

Due to the violent nature of the book, I would only recommend for mature eyes. 

I can't wait to read more of Lynette Eason!

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

Note: I was sent complimentary copy for review purposes only. This review has not been monetarily compensated. The review was my honest opinion and views and not influenced by the sponsor in any way.

Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist Book Review

Love on the Line



From the Publisher:

Rural switchboard operator Georgie Gail is proud of her independence in a man's world ... which makes it twice as vexing when the telephone company sends a man to look over her shoulder.

Dashing Luke Palmer is more than he appears though.  He's a Texas Ranger working undercover to infiltrate a notorious gang of train robbers.  Repairing telephones and tangling with this tempestuous woman is the last thing he wants to do.  But when his stakeout puts Georgie in peril, he realizes more than his job is on the line.

My Review:

I haven't read a good story in a long time.  This is one of those books that I will not be giving away.  It is based in Texas and most of the towns I recognized.  From Alice to Cut and Shoot - it was good to see them!  

 I was thankful the author put in some trivial tidbits in the back of the book.  It was good to see what was truly historical and what was fiction.

I also liked how the author showed us what happened to all the characters in the future.  It just made the book more complete.  All the characters were easy and fun to follow.

This book was a delightful read that I could and would recommend as a short read. However, it didn't seem to have anything worth calling it a "Christian fiction" label although it was clean.

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

Note: I was sent complimentary copy for review purposes only. This review has not been monetarily compensated. The review was my honest opinion and views and not influenced by the sponsor in any way.

Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot Book Review

Summer of Promise (Westward Winds, Book 1)



Summer of Promise by Amanda Cabot is a first in the Westward Winds Series.
It is a historical western with a love story woven through it.

From the Publisher:

Though she had planned to spend the summer in Vermont, Abigail
Harding cannot dismiss her concerns over her older sister. Charlotte's
letters have been uncharacteristically melancholy, and her claims that
nothing is wrong ring false, so Abigail heads west to Fort Laramie,
Wyoming. When her stagecoach is attacked, Wyoming promises to be
anything but boring. Luckily, the heroics of another passenger,
Lieutenant Ethan Bowles, save the day.

Abigail plans to marry when she returns to Vermont, just as soon as
she attends to her sister. As the summer passes, she finds herself
drawn to this rugged land and to a certain soldier determined to
persuade her to stay. When summer ends, will she go back East, or
will she find her heart's true home?

My Review:

I would give this love tale 3 out of 5 stars. The story had a great start - adventure and a great hook.  

The author did a great job explaining the characters without getting too visual about certain questionable occupations.  I appreciated this and therefore could recommend as a mature family friendly book.

As for the characters, I found myself liking how the author describes each one and still left room for the reader to be able to draw their own conclusions. 

 Although, this is Christian fiction and it had a Christian undertone - it did nothing to help my faith.

 The reason I gave it a less than perfect rating - I felt the story drag on in the middle.  There was too much dialog and not enough action thus making me put the book down and not caring what happened.

Although, I finished the book and was thoroughly surprised at the ending.  I hope to read the next book in the Westward Wind series.  

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

Note: I was sent complimentary copy for review purposes only. This review has not been monetarily compensated. The review was my honest opinion and views and not influenced by the sponsor in any way.