Life Support: The Santee Series Book One By Robert Whitlow

I received this book free from booksneeze.com for my honest review of this book.

Book Description
Alexia knows this new case is a matter of life and death. She doesn't have a clue what it will do to her heart and soul.

Baxter Richardson survived a fall from a cliff while hiking in the mountains. His survival depends on the machines that help him breathe. His haunted, unstable wife wants to pull the plug and hide her secrets. His father wants him alive for reasons of love and money. Attorney Alexia Lindale must navigate the mixed motives and warring facts to determine—and fight for—what's right for Baxter in this compelling tale of betrayal and a mysterious, healing grace.

Life Support is the first book in the Santee Series by Robert Whitlow. Alexia Lindale is an attorney in a law firm in Santee, South Carolina. She handles divorces for her law firm. Rena Richardson is the wife of a prominent family in Santee. Rena and her husband go for a hike and she pushes her husband off the edge of a tall cliff. Rena, believing her husband is dead, goes to the road and calls 911. They airlift her husband, Baxter Richardson, to the local hospital and take her there for her injuries too. Rena tells them Baxter had been drinking and he got too close to the edge of the cliff and lost his balance. Rena presumes Baxter is dead until they tell her he is in the ICU in a coma. Alexia Lindale is asked to go to Greenville to the hospital to help facilitate peace between Rena and her father in Law. From here Alexia gets caught up in Rena's lies and games.

Life Support is an awesome novel by Robert Whitlow. This story shows us Alexia's transformation to a believer and how she begins to depend on God to be her guide for her life including her work. Life Support keeps you at the edge of your seat and it hard to put down. The web of lies and deceit brings you into the story and you feel like you are right there. There is a balance of showing God's support in all areas of the characters lives and legal issues. An awesome legal thriller that you cannot put down. I am addicted to Robert Whitlow's novels!! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoy Christian Fiction and legal thrillers. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series. I look forward to reading many more books by Robert Whitlow.

Water's Edge by Robert Whitlow

I received this book free from booksneeze.com for my honest review of this book.

Book Description
Sometimes the smallest towns hold the biggest secrets. Ambitious young attorney Tom Crane is about to become a partner in a big-city law firm. One final matter has to be cleared from his docket—the closing of his deceased father’s law practice in the small town of Bethel. Killed in a tragic boating accident, John Crane didn’t leave his son anything except the hassle of a bankrupt estate.

Then, within twenty-four hours, Tom loses his job, his girlfriend, and his cat. Job didn’t have it much worse.

Returning to Bethel with his pride ground to powder, Tom’s plan to quietly shut down his father’s practice and slink out-of-town runs into an unexpected roadblock—two million dollars of unclaimed money stashed in a secret bank account. Tom follows the money into a tangled web of lies, theft, and off-shore financial transactions manipulated by powerful men who will do anything to stop him from discovering the truth
Water's Edge is the first book of Robert Whitlow's I have read and all I can say is I am hooked!! Water's Edge is about a lawyer in Atlanta who needs to go back to his hometown of Bethel, Ga to close his father's law practice after his death. The day before he left he lost his job and his girlfriend. Tom Crane heads to Bethel to stay with his Great Uncle, Elias, a retired minister. Tom finds himself in an uncomfortable situation. His Uncle is a very spiritual man and Tom is not anymore. As he begins closing out his father's office Tom finds himself in the middle of a mess of criminal activity by very powerful people in town that had been family friends for years. Tom also finds God and goes on a spiritual journey.

Water's Edge is an awesome legal thriller. Robert Whitlow writes about good and evil, spiritual and personal awakenings, faith and love. This story was an edge of your seat story that was very hard to put down once you start. Robert Whitlow writes with such expertise of not just the legal aspects but spiritual aspects with a perfect balance. The characters in this story are very deep and real who encounter real life issues. You feel like you are right there in the story. As a fan of John Grisham and other legal thriller authors, Robert Whitlow is fantastic. I look forward to reading more of his books. I recommend this book to fans of John Grisham and fans of Legal drama and Christian fiction. Thank you booksneeze.com for the opportunity to read this!

Never The Bride by Cheryl Mckay and Rene Gutteridge

I received this book from Waterbrook Press/Blogging for Book. I received this book to give my honest review of what I read.

Book Description:

Eleven Bridesmaid Dresses Don’t Lie

Since she was just a little girl, Jessie Stone dreamed up hundreds of marriage proposals, doodled the romantic ideas in her journal with her treasured purple pen, and fantasized about wedding dresses and falling in love. She’s been a bridesmaid nearly a dozen times, waved numerous couples off to sunny honeymoons, and shopped in more department stores for half-price fondue pots than she cares to remember.

But shopping for one key component of these countless proposals hasn't been quite as productive–a future husband. The man she thought she would marry cheated on her. The crush she has on her best friend Blake is at very best…well, crushing. And speed dating has only churned out memorable horror stories.

So when God shows up one day, in the flesh, and becomes a walking, talking part of her life, Jessie is skeptical. What will it take to convince her that the Almighty has a better plan than one she’s already cooked up in her journals? Can she turn over her pen and trust someone else to craft a love story beyond her wildest dreams?

Never The Bride was originally written by Cheryl Mckay as a screenplay and Rene Gutteridge wrote it into a novel. Never The Bride is an entertaining story about Jessie Stone a romantic whose biggest dream is to find Mr. Right and get married. She had over 100 journals and in those journals she has many different scenarios for proposals. One day God appears in human form to her and tells her she needs to share her ideas with others. She quits her job and starts her own business helping men plan and execute the perfect proposals. Jessie and her sister, Brooklyn work together. God asks Jessie to trust Him to write her love story.

I enjoyed this book a lot. I found myself laughing out loud and other times tears. This story truly shows what happens when you lean on God instead of yourself. Our authors show God's unconditional love and what happens when you put your faith in Him. This was a well written story with a lot of emotion. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a story that is funny and romantic.

Inside Threat-A Riley Covington Thriller By Jason Elam and Steve Yohn

I received this book from Tyndale Publishing free for my honest review of this book.

Book Description:
After taking two football seasons off, Riley Covington is attempting to make a comeback in the league while trying to forget Khadi Faroughi, now on security detail for a prominent senator.
But a new attack turns both of their lives upside down yet again. During a state funeral, terrorists overrun the National Cathedral and take senators, congressmen, and their entourages hostage, including Khadi. This new generation of The Cause is made up of homegrown terrorists—an inside threat to the security of the nation. They release most of the hostages, but Khadi and several others are kept behind as significant bargaining chips.
The Cause pledges to behead one member of Congress each day throughout the month of Ramadan as a punishment for their own country’s rejection of Islam. Despite the protests of Counter-Terrorism Division director Scott Ross, Riley races to CTD armed with a plan and a fierce determination to rescue Khadi at all costs.

Inside Threat is the fourth book in the Riley Covington Thriller Series. When Tyndale Publishing offered this book for review I signed up for it, it sounded like an awesome book. As I looked online to find out about the books, I found that this was #4 in the series. I decided to purchase books 1-3. I became addicted in book 1!! This series is awesome, each book got better.

Inside Threat paints the tale of homegrown terrorist. Extreme Islamic born and raised here in the United States with no ties to overseas terrorist groups. These terrorists are all over the United States and have organized to have killings going on all over the US to draw attention away to the BIG act. Riley Covington has entered into the PFL again after two years off and is still playing for the Washington Warriors even though his heart is still with the Colorado Mustangs. Scott Ross and the rest of the counterterrorism department minus Khadi are working on these random killings being done by Americans. Khadi is now working security for a Senator and is not happy but felt she needed to distance herself from Riley. The sudden death of an US Chaplin, orchestrated by this terrorism group, puts all their plans in motion. The terrorists take over the National Cathedral in Washington DC and take hostage all the Congressmen and Senators and one Khadi. Riley goes into mode when he knows Khadi is in danger. Scott Ross, Riley's best friend and director of Counterterrorism, does not want Riley anywhere near this incident. Riley shows up with his own plan, which is dangerous.

Inside Threat by Jason Elam and Steve Yohn is a fantastic story. I could not put this book or the other 3 down. It is fast paced, action packed, funny, and emotional. The story line really gets you thinking about terrorism and the types of things that could happen. This book is well researched and is obvious the authors educated themselves about many things including Government, terrorism, and of course football. Throughout this book we see Riley's Faith in God, his belief of the bible, and his giving spirit to anyone in trouble. This book shows the beliefs of Christians, Muslims, and the Extremes of Islam. I highly, highly recommend this book, and this series to anyone who reads Christian Fiction. I fell in love with these books and hope to read more by these 2 authors.

Forever After by Deborah Raney

I received this book from Glass Road Public Relations for no charge for my honest review of this book. I was not paid to give a good review.

Book Description

Jenna Morgan mourned the loss of her husband, Zach, in the fire that destroyed the Hanover Falls homeless shelter and claimed the lives of three other firefighters. A year later, her ability to keep up the charade of prosperity she and Zach lived is at an end. Even with financial help from Zach's parents, she can't make the mortgage and credit card payments. But Jenna Morgan refuses to go back to the trailer home life from which she escaped. She's come so far. She just can't go back to that.
Lucas Vermontez has endured physical therapy for a year, but the legs crushed while he fought the homeless shelter fire are nowhere near 100% yet. Will his dream of returning to the fire station ever become reality? And can he conquer these feelings he has for his best buddy's widow?

Forever After is the second book The Hanover Falls Novel series by Deborah Raney. The nice thing about how the books are written, if you have not read the first one there is enough details from book one to not feel lost. I am glad I read the first one since I like to read them in order. Forever After is centered around Jenna, whose husband, Zach, died in a fire of a homeless shelter and Lucas, Zach's partner, who lived but sustained injuries that changed his life. Lucas also was dealing with the death of his father in that fire also. Jenna is trying to make a life for herself and stand on her own two feet. Lucas is trying to get better and find a job that he loves like he did firefighting. Jenna and Lucas reconnect as friends but as they spend more time together Lucas has feelings for her but does not know what to do because he doesn't want to betray his friend. Jenna fights with doubts of God's love and faith, while Lucas has a strong faith in God. Jenna finds out she cannot do it herself without God's help and Lucas proves with God's love you can do anything.

Forever After is a wonderful book. Deborah Raney has put together a wonderful cast of characters that truly find their way into your heart. You feel their joys and heartaches. Much research had been done about fires, firefighters, Arson investigators, training for these jobs. Raney writes with such expertise on these things. It's a beautiful story of finding true love and believing with God, everything is possible. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys Christian Fiction. I look forward to reading more novels by Deborah Raney.

Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond

I received this book From Litfuse Publicity Group for my honest review of this book.

Book Description:

When Susannah goes to Dakota territory as a mail-order bride she finds something she never dreamed she would - true love.

With no prospects for marriage and her parents recently deceased, Susannah Underhill agrees to go west to the Dakota territory to marry her minister's homesteading brother, Jesse. But Susannah is painfully shy, doesn't see herself as worthy of love from either a husband or from God, and lives in constant fear that Jesse is going to ship her back to Detroit.

In spite of her petite size and the fact that Susannah doesn't look like she could survive on the prairie, Jesse quickly discovers that his new wife is a greater blessing than he even hoped for. The years she spent as her father's veterinary assistant allow her to save Jesse's ox and twin calves and to help neighboring farmers with their animals.

But Susannah's feelings of unworthiness are deeply rooted, and she can't believe that Jesse's praise-or the tenderness and love he shows-could possibly last. The thawing of her heart seems almost as distant as Spring in the midst of the winter blanketing the Dakota prairie.

Spring for Susannah is the debut novel for Catherine Richmond. A historical fiction, that takes place in Dakota Territory before there were many settlers. Susannah lost her parents and got married by proxy to Jesse Mason, brother of her Pastor at the church she attended. Jesse Mason paid her way to Dakota. Susannah never planned to be married, she had never dated and really never made friends. Susannah didn't want to any of this but did it to survive. Living in a Sod house and farming. Jesse is a kind man, loves God and has great faith in contrast Susannah didn't feel she was worthy of God's love or anyone elses. Despite her being a woman from the city she shows her strength by helping Jesse on the land to make it prosperous. In this story we watch Susannah transform for a shy, proper woman with little to no faith that God wants anything good for her to a strong, independent woman whose faith grows exponentially.
I couldn't put this book down. Catherine Richmond truly transports you to the 1800's in the Dakota Territory after the Civil War. I felt like I was there with our characters. Catherine Richmond throughly researched and knows about the time period and the places she wrote about in this book. It's a beautiful story of love and redemption. I highly recommend this book to anyone but especially those who enjoy historical fiction. I look forward to reading more by Catherine Richmond. Thank you Litfuse for the opportunity to read this wonderful debut novel.

The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck by Kathleen Y'Barbo

I received this book from Waterbrook's blogging for books program for free for my honest review of this book.

Product Description
Unlikely romance is sometimes just an inconvenient marriage away

Charlotte Beck may be entering adulthood, but she can’t seem to keep to her stubborn, independent spirit from bucking social protocol. Fed up with her behavior, Charlotte’s father Daniel pressures her to settle into a nice marriage despite knowing she is set on going to college. Then Daniel sees Charlotte with the handsome but annoying English astronomer Alex Hambly, and everything changes.

Though Alex and Charlotte can barely stand one another, Daniel offers them a deal they can’t refuse: if they agree to marry, he will save Alex’s family from financial ruin and grant Charlotte the freedom to go to college. Reluctantly the couple agrees, but in private they plot to annul the marriage as soon as possible.

But when Alex’s feelings change and he refuses to dissolve their contract, will Charlotte find a way out of her vows? Or will she discover that maybe this marriage isn’t so inconvenient after all?

The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck is the first book of Kathleen Y'Barbo's I have read. We meet Charlotte in London to be introduced to society there. Charlotte is not interested in the things other women of this time are. Charlotte wants to attend college and be in business while all other women are looking for a husband. Charlotte longs to be back in Colorado with her father. While in London Charlotte meets Alex Hambly whose family competes with Charlotte's in business all over the world. Alex's family is losing its money and he needs to find a way to take care of his mother and brother. Also save the family name. From the moment Charlotte fell into Alex's arms sparks have flown between them. Charlotte heads back to Colorado and Alex Hambly heads there to work a business deal. When the deal goes south for Alex, Charlotte's father has the answer, Charlotte and Alex marry. Alex's family will be saved and Charlotte's family gets what they want that she is married and part of society. Little do the families know, Charlotte and Alex have already planned to a fake marriage and a very quick annulment.

As a fan of historical fiction I grabbed up this book quickly. Unfortunately this book didn't grab me like I had hoped. I found out after reading it that there are 2 other books ahead of this one, which I have not read and think it would have made a difference to read them. That being said, this book is a good book. It is very well researched and written. The characters leap off the pages and are very real. The storyline was different from most historical fiction where the story is about arranged marriages. Kathleen Y'Barbo is a great author and I look forward to reading more from her.