Title: Sins of the Past
Authors: Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, & Lynette Eason
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 384
ISBN: 978-0-7642-1797-5
Publication Date: May 3rd, 2016

Synopsis:

Secrets and Lies. Danger That Will Never Go Away.
Join Three Beloved Masters of Romantic Suspense for Novellas Where the Past Will Not Stay Buried.
Dee Henderson - "Missing"A Wyoming sheriff is called to Chicago when his elderly mother goes missing from her retirement community. Paired with a savvy Chicago cop, the two soon launch into a race against the clock when they realize something dark may lie at the heart of the disappearance.

Dani Pettrey - "Shadowed"Adventure, romance, and danger collide when a young Alaskan fisherman nets the body of a Russian open water swimming competitor. Another swimmer, who'd been the dead woman's roommate years ago, is pulled into the search for answers as it grows more and more clear that something sinister is at play.

Lynette Eason - "Blackout"A young woman once implicated in a robbery gone wrong finds herself at risk years later when the real culprit is up for parole. The loot taken that night has never been found and he believes she knows where it's hidden--only her memory of that night has always been unreliable. Can she remember enough to find her way to safety?

Review:
I am a big fan of Dani Pettrey's stories. They are a wonderful mix of suspense, mystery, and romance. I have also read a couple of books by Lynette Eason and have really enjoyed them. Sadly, in all of my time reading, I haven't read anything by Dee Henderson till this book. I need to fix that now and look into her books!

The novella collection in Sins of the Past was a fantastic mix of authors. Dani Pettrey's story was a fantastic prequel of sorts to her Alaskan series. I loved the look back on the family, to two members of the family we never got to officially meet.

Dee Henderson's story was written so well. It didn't feel like a novella at all. It was the perfect short story. The idea of it all, I could see being plossible and the mystery kept me wondering till the revelation.

The final story by Lynette Eason closed out this book well. The suspense and mystery was so entertaining and the story just kept me hooked.

These three authors really are the top of their genre. If you haven't read any of these authors and have always wondered about them, this book would be a wonderful start. I'm fairly new to the contemporary suspense genre, and I loved being able to read these new stories and try a new to me author.

Too Read
4 out of 5

About the Authors:
Dee Henderson is the author of numerous novels, including Taken, Undetected, Unspoken, Full Disclosure, and the acclaimed O'Malley and Uncommon Heroes series. Her books have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards, such as the RITA Award, the Christy Award, and the ECPA Gold Medallion. Dee is a lifelong resident of Illinois.
Learn more at www.deehenderson.com.

Dani Pettrey is a wife, home-schooling mom, and the acclaimed author of the Alaskan Courage romantic suspense series, which includes her bestselling novels Submerged, Shattered, Stranded, Silenced, and Sabotaged. Her books have been honored with the Daphne du Maurier award, two HOLT Medallions, two National Readers' Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, and Christian Retailing's Best Award, among others. 

She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves--the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of her characters' faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland, where they enjoy time with their two daughters, a son-in-law, and a super adorable grandson.
You can find her online at danipettrey.com.

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice series, the Deadly Reunions series, and the Hidden Identity series, as well as Always Watching and Without Warning in the Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of an ACFW Carol Award, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Readers' Choice Award. She has a master's degree in education from Converse College and lives in South Carolina.
Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.


Thank you to the Author, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. 

Title: Starving Hearts
Author: Janine Mendenthall
Publisher: Heritage Beacon
Pages: 300
ISBN: 978-1-938499-84-5
Publication Date: May 16th, 2016

Synopsis:

Since her assault, Miss Annette Chetwynd has been plagued by nightmares and worries about an arranged marriage. 

She yearns to find her anonymous rescuer. Unfortunately, her health and intellect prevent it. Both repel suitors and cause Annette to doubt God’s existence, at least until He answers her prayers in an unusual way. . . .

Mr. Peter Adsley is joining the clergy, and he desires a godly wife by his side. After a failed attempt to obtain one, he engages in a clandestine meeting with the bewitching young woman who keeps crossing his path. But she is so unsettling.

Destined for disappointments, Peter and Annette both endure disgraceful situations. Will Peter’s faith sustain him through overwhelming setbacks? Can Annette overcome her doubts? Or will their starving hearts yield to the machinations of a mad man?

Review:
I have been a fan of regency books for a while, so when a new regency book comes out I get a little excited to see how an author will portray this romanticized time. I also enjoy seeing how the authors will build their world and if they stick close to Austen or only use that as a just a base.

Right off the bat of Starving Hearts, I could see that Janine Mendenthall is a fan of Jane Austen. She did her best it seemed as to try to stick to the style of writing. The story for me did start off a little slow, but in all honesty, reading Austen did too.

As the story started I didn't really feel much of connection to Annette. She started off as a little childish, but as the story moved on she did grow on me and she seemed to mature as the the real background of the story opened up. This book focused mainly on the slave trade in England and the abolishment of it.

I did like how the villain was in this story. A well crafted villain helps move the story along and offer the right amount of suspense and mystery.

There were some things about this story that popped out at me that took away from my attention, but I want to try to read and enjoy the story, so I tried to over look some things and not nitpick.

If you are into regency based stories, it might be a book you want to try.

3 out of 5

About the Author:
Janine Mendenhall teaches teens English, of all things! Sometimes she sleeps, but most nights she reads, writes, or watches movies like “Pride and Prejudice” and claims she’s researching her next book. “Splickety Love” and “Splickety Prime” have published her flash fiction. She and her husband, Tom, live in North Carolina where they and their two golden retrievers help gratify the needs of their five children and two cats.






Giveaway:
Will Annette's search for love and acceptance replace the loss and hurt in her heart? Find out in Janine Mendenhall's book one, Starving Hearts, of the Triangular Trade Trilogy. Since her assault, Miss Annette Chetwynd has been plagued by nightmares and worries about an arranged marriage. But she yearns to find her anonymous rescuer. Unfortunately, her health and intellect prevent it. Both repel suitors and cause Annette to doubt God’s existence, at least until He answers her prayers in an unusual way. . . .

Join in the search for love and acceptance with Janine and Starving Hearts by entering to win the Delightful Heart Gift Pack Giveaway.


One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Starving Hearts
• A bottle of essential oils
• An essential oils diffuser necklace
• A chiffon scarf
• A shoulder handbag
• A copy of Jane Austen's World

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on September 12. The winner will be announced September 13 on Janine's blog.


Thank you to Litfuse, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Waiting On:
Title: Still Life
Author: Dani Pettrey
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: January 3rd, 2017

Synopsis: 
From GoodReads

Work hits too close to home for crime scene photographer Avery Tate when her best friend disappears. The only lead is a chilling photo of her--apparently dead. As Avery, her boss Parker, and his friends dig into the case, she's forced to confront her feelings for Parker when they come face-to-face with a dangerous criminal.

Why I'm Waiting:
Dani Pettrey is one of my favorite authors and I can't wait for any of her books to come out. I really enjoyed her first book in the Chesapeake Bay Series and I can't wait to read this next one! The characters and story just grip you and draw you in.

What are you waiting on this week?

Topic:



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