Riveting Historical Fiction by Lisa Wingate

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

This book is a fictionalized account of a family of siblings who were torn apart by a real adoption scandal in the 1940’s and 1950’s.  Ril and her siblings were taken from their houseboat home when their mother went to the hospital to deliver twins.  In the hospital, her mother was told that her babies were stillborn.  Her husband unwittingly signed away all the children, thinking he was signing a paper to waive the costs for his wife’s hospital bill.

 The woman behind this terrible account was Georgia Tann, who was the head of the Tennessee Children’s Home.  Tann had helpers watching for vulnerable children who she had kidnapped and then delivered to shady boarding homes where they were kept until they were adopted out to couples who could afford the exorbitant adoption fees.

Ril’s name is changed to May and she has the good fortune to be adopted by a well to do couple who have also adopted her younger sister.  Flash forward to the present when May is placed in a retirement home and meets rising lawyer Avery Stafford when she makes a political trip with her politician father. Through a set of circumstances, Avery and May become acquainted and pieces of their lost pasts begin to come together.

Lisa Wingate paints a painful picture of the reality of many of Georgia Tann’s adoptees.  She layers a story from the present day against the past.  Readers are kept in the dark as to the present-day identities of the siblings as the story unfolds.  This well-paced story keeps readers wanting more.  Wingate’s story-telling skills are excellent.  Her characters are fascinating and well-drawn.  This is an excellent read.  I received a free copy from the publisher for my honest review.

Legal thriller by new author

Beyond Justice by Cara Putman

Hayden McCarthy has become an attorney because she knows the pain of justice not being served.  She is assigned a wrongful death case against the government concerning an juvenile illegal immigrant.  This case could make her a partner or destroy her career, not to mention the danger it will put her in.  Adding to the complications is the most eligible bachelor in Washington, DC, Andrew Wesley, who seems to be developing an interest in her, or is it just his concern for the dead young man’s brother? 

  The events seem to spiral out of control and she wonders what the best course of action is—pursue justice or close the case as she is being pressured to do?

Fans of Robert Whitlow will enjoy this story.  I found the characters interesting, the different threads of the plots intriguing, but the story did not grip me.  Putman handled the legalese in the way a layman could understand.  The subject matter was timely and motivating.  I can’t say exactly why this story fell a bit flat in my eyes.

I am thankful to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for my honest review. 

Excellent Biblical Historical Fiction

Wings of the Wind by Connilyn Cossette

Alanah, a Canaanite, in the ancient near east decides it is better to join the fight against the Hebrews and die rather than live and be made a slave.  She joins the battle disguised as a man and miraculously survives.  She joins her enemy, the Israelites, as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, her home.  Tobiah, her protector, marries her to obey the torah and keep her safe.  Has she made a grave mistake?  Will she be able to survive among her enemies?

This book is the third in the Out of Canaan series by Connilyn Cossette.  I read the first book and loved it, but somehow missed the second one, but could still follow the plot in the third.   

This book was meticulously researched and answered most questions that readers might have regarding God’s command to take over Canaan.  Because of Alanah’s background as a Canaanite, her husband Tobiah carefully instructed her in the ways of the Israelites.  I also found very interesting how the author dealt with the subject of Kora’s rebellion and the consequences that fell upon the people.

I enjoyed the characters and how they grew and changed during the length of the novel.  They were so realistically drawn and I grew to love them, despite their faults.  I was delighted to meet again Shira and Kiya and see how they had changed since the first book.

This book was so interesting and I could hardly put it down.  I think other readers who enjoy Biblical historical fiction will love it, too.  I received a free copy from the publisher for my honest review.    

Carrie Stuart Park's Portrait of Vengeance

Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks

Gwen Marcey finds herself in the middle of another suspenseful mystery, only this time it is her past intersecting with a present day murder and child abduction.  As she tracks down the perpetrator, she narrowly escapes death by the villains who remain hidden until it is almost too late for her to escape.

The plot had more twists and turns than a mountain road.  Just when the conclusion seems to be in sight, another twist occurs, which makes reading the book very exciting.

The ending had a satisfying conclusion, but left room and enough unanswered questions to necessitate another book.

I enjoy the way Parks set her stories in unusual places and teaches the readers important background information that makes her stories even  more interesting.  In addition, I enjoyed finding out more about Gwen and her past.

I really liked this book and plan on reading her next installment.  Readers of suspense will enjoy it, too.  I received this book at no cost in exchange for my honest review.

Sequel to Terri Blackstock's If I Run

If I'm Found 

by Terri Blackstock                                                                                                                                                                 

Terri Blackstock was hard-pressed to write a sequel that compares to her first book in the series of her page-turning suspense, If I Run, but she succeeds marvelously.  I literally groaned, NO! when I turned to  the last page and saw that it was a Note from the author.   I immediately wanted to dive into the next installment.  But not yet . . .

The author continues the breakneck pace of the plot, which kept me engrossed in this book.  There was hardly a time when I wasn’t looking over Casey or Dylan’s shoulders’ to see if I could see Keegan or Rollins following close behind.

I enjoyed the development of the characters and how they learned and struggled against evil.  The sub plots gave such depth to Casey’s character.  Dylan’s character was revealed in the way he treated Casey and her difficult situation.  Even the bad guys revealed more about themselves and their motives, too, as the story progressed.

Of course, the ending was a temporary stopping place for the story and I was happy to know that Casey’s intervention had made a difference.  But her original motive for running had not changed and so another sequel must be on the way.  I can hardly wait!

Suspense readers will love this series.  I received a free copy of the book from the publisher and this is my honest review.

Another Erica Sparks novel

The Separatists by Lis Wiehl

Erica Sparks is at it again.  Her nose for a good story keeps her heading toward danger.  This time it is uncovering the secrets of a separatist group that wants to secede from the United States.  Of course, this story couldn’t come at a worse time for Erica.  Her marriage is stretched to the breaking point by her husband’s lack of comparable success, and her daughter’s rebellion.  She needs to focus on her family, but the murders that surround her divert her attention and cause her to fear for her family’s safety.  In addition, they all seem to point to the leader of the secessionist movement, Mary Bellamy.  Can Erica successfully navigate between the demands of her career and the needs of her family and manage to stay alive, too?

Lis Wiehl keeps us on the edge of our seat with another Erica Sparks story.  However, after having read two of her previous Newsmaker Novels with Sebastian Stuart, this one was a bit predictable.  The strong female villain, the last second escapes, and the challenges she faces trying to balance her priorities have all been introduced in the previous books.

  Wiehl uses interesting backgrounds in her books and this book is no exception.  The fact that a state wants to secede from the Union may be more like real life than we might suspect.

  This book does have a satisfactory conclusion, but leaves room for another sequel with another complication.  Over all, I enjoyed the book and thank the publisher for the free copy to review.

The Marriage Pact, a Psychological Thriller

The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond

 Newly-weds Jake and Alice receive a very unusual wedding gift—a membership in the marriage pact.   Really, who wouldn’t want to be part of such a group that guarantees that your marriage will thrive? But getting into the Pact proves to be much easier than getting out as Alice and Jake discover.

 

This book was startlingly intense and thought-provoking.  The twists and turns in the plot were amazing.  The author does a magnificent job of keeping the reader off balance, never knowing what to expect, which must have been synonymous with what Jake and Alice felt.

The characters were revealed little by little and I grew more attached to them as the story continued.  I was surprised at the ending, and left wondering what would happen to Jake and Alice.

This is not the type of book I usually read, but despite some four letter words expected of a secular publisher, I enjoyed the book.  My thanks to the publisher for the free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.