Gone Without A Trace

Gone Without a Trace
by
Patricia Bradley


MY THOUGHTS:
This is a great detective story! A serial kidnapper is on the loose, and his activity is escalating. A young woman has been kidnapped and her time may be running out. Alex Reynolds is the PI on the case, and he has extra incentive to solve the case -- if he doesn't find her within three weeks his grandfather will force him to take steps toward a career that will stifle him.

He meets up with Livy Reynolds, a detective who is reeling from a questionable shooting and a subsequent 'freeze up' that could have resulted in her partner's death. Livy also has an ulterior motive in this situation -- her cousin Robyn disappeared two years earlier without a trace, and it is suspected that perhaps she was the victim of similar foul play.

This is a pretty straight-forward detective story with plenty of viable suspects and a lot of suspense toward the end. The characters are well-rounded and realistic, and I found myself cheering for their victories. I'm hoping that Patricia Bradley will write more books in this series -- I'd love to learn more about how their lives turn out!

ABOUT THE BOOK:
The past is repeating itself--and time is running out

It's been more than two years since homicide detective Livy Reynolds's cousin disappeared from Logan Point. Unlike most people in her hometown, Livy has never believed that Robyn left voluntarily. When Dallas private investigator Alex Jennings contacts her concerning a senator's missing granddaughter who was last seen in Logan Point, Livy notices eerie similarities between the two disappearances. With self-doubt plaguing her and an almost instant dislike of the self-assured PI, she's finding this investigation an uphill battle. But with the prospect of finding her cousin on the horizon, she'll have to find a way to work with Alex--before it's too late.

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley keeps you on the edge of your seat with a case--and a relationship--that is anything but certain.

"Patricia Bradley has hit a home run. The suspense is high, the romance is sweet, and the villain is one you want to see caught and brought to justice. Gone without a Trace, a novel of forgiveness and finding one's place in the world, brings home the point that while not everything in life may go the way you want, God is still in control. Can't wait for the next book!"--Lynette Eason, bestselling, award-winning author of the Hidden Identity series

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Patricia Bradley is the winner of a 2012 Daphne du Maurier Award and a 2012 Touched by Love Award and was also a finalist for the 2012 Genesis Award. The author of Shadows of the Past and A Promise to Protect, she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Bradley makes her home in Mississippi. Learn more at www.ptbradley.com. SIGN UP

The Innocent

The Innocent
by
Ann H. Gabhart


MY THOUGHTS:
Ann H. Gabhart has written several books about the Shaker community in Harmony Hill, and I have really enjoyed them! The Shaker religion is fascinating to me -- a community who found joy (theoretically) in work and simplicity yet had an amazing number of confounding rules that must be followed. The Innocent is a story of a woman in love with her husband who went off to fight the Civil War and went missing two years prior. Destitute and attracting unwanted attention, she escapes to the brothers and sisters among the mysterious Shaker community. There she encounters a grim-faced mentor and struggles to fit in. When she stumbles upon proof that things aren't as simple and honest as they seem, she must find a way to make sense of it all.

Gabhart has done a wonderful job of researching the Shakers and the lifestyle they lived. She writes with an ease that makes you feel as if you are right beside the main character, seeing and feeling what she encounters. I really liked this book -- in addition to the great story line it caused me to stop and really clarify what I believe about God and why.


ABOUT THE BOOK: 

She longs for peace--for her land and her heart--but can it truly be found at Harmony Hill?

Carlyn Kearney has spent two lonely years not knowing whether to mourn or to hope after she receives word from the Union Army that her husband is missing. When the war ends without further word, Carlyn finds herself penniless, in debt, and forced from her home. With nowhere else to go, she seeks refuge at the Shaker village of Harmony Hill.

The Shakers profess peace through simple living, but to Carlyn, the Shaker life seems anything but simple. When mysterious deaths disturb the peace of the village, Carlyn falls under intense scrutiny. Can a kind sheriff help her expose the true culprit?

Bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart invites fans back to Harmony Hill for a story laced with intrigue, romance, and heart.

"The Innocent is another well-crafted tale from the pen of Ann H. Gabhart. With characters that will steal your heart, Gabhart introduces a desperate young heroine who seeks safety among the Shakers during the post-Civil War era and a sheriff determined to come to her aid. A rich and rewarding read you won't want to miss!"--Judith Miller, award-winning author of Refined by Love series

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several Shaker novels--The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted--as well as Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, Love Comes Home, Words Spoken True, and The Heart of Hollyhill series. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Learn more at www.annhgabhart.com.

Made With Love

Made With Love 
by
Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore


MY THOUGHTS:
What can be better than a book about an Amish pie shop that includes recipes from a renown Amish cookbook author and pie contest judge?

This book is a wonderful collaboration between Sherry Gore (the cook) and Tricia Goyer, an award winning author of best selling Amish books. It is the first in the new Pinecraft Pie Shop series about a family residing in the Florida town that is a favorite vacation spot for the Amish.

Made With Love introduces us to Lovina Miller, a young Amish woman whose lifelong dream is to open a pie shop in the town of Pinecraft, Florida. She's accepted that she will probably never marry, so she's set her sight on becoming a business owner despite the concerns of her parents. The oldest of five unmarried girls, Lovina believes she isn't pretty enough to get a suitor so she's moved on to other endeavors.

Noah Yoder, an Amish man with a tragic past, has moved to Pinecraft with three wayward Amish teens to start a new life and hopefully influence the lives of his charges through hard work as carpenters. He makes a deal with Lovina to remodel a warehouse for her shop in exchange for salvage rights to the items within.

Goyer and Gore do a fabulous job of bringing these characters to life. I really appreciated the depth and honest portrayal of emotions all involved in the story face. I won't give anything away, but this story actually brought me to tears during a particularly touching scene. I love it when a book drags my emotions through the gamut instead of just being a 'nice' read! This is one of those books where I almost found myself praying for the characters involved.

And, as a fabulous bonus, each chapter ends with wonderful traditional Amish recipes for many wonderful things -- pies, desserts, main dishes, snacks, and more! Not only was it a wonderful read, but my family will be enjoying this book for years to come through the recipes.

I highly recommend this book for those who love Amish stories AND for those who may think Amish books are formulaic -- this one is definitely unique in it's setting and story line.

This book is available for preorder on Amazon here

 
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A Dash of Love, a Pinch of Hope, and a Whole Lot of Good Cooking
 Lovina Miller should be thrilled. Pinecraft, Florida, has everything a young Amish woman could ask for: sun, sand, volleyball games, and evening singings in the park. But Pinecraft lacks the one thing Lovina desperately wants—a pie shop of her own. She longs for a place to gather with the community and serve the treat she loves.

A young carpenter named Noah Yoder strolls into her life and offers a way to make her dream come true. But before Noah and Lovina can build a shop—and a life—together, they must each face heartaches from the past. Is their new love stronger than their regrets?

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Tricia Goyer is a homeschooling mom of six, grandmother of two, and wife to John. A bestselling author, Tricia has published 50 books to date and has written more than 500 articles. She is a two time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Nominee. Tricia is also on the blogging team at TheBetterMom.com, FortheFamily.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites.

Tricia volunteers around her community and mentors teen moms. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, and she currently leads a Teen MOPS Group in Little Rock, AR. Tricia, along with a group of friends, also blog at www.NotQuiteAmishLiving.com, sharing ideas about simplifying life.

Sherry Gore is former editor-in-chief of Cooking & Such magazine, the author of "Simply Delicious Amish Cooking", "Me, Myself and Pie" and a weekly scribe for the national edition of the Amish newspaper, The Budget, established in 1890. The National Geographic Channel featured Sherry prominently their documentary series, Amish: Out of Order. Sherry's culinary adventures have been seen on NBC Daytime; the Today Show; Mr. Food Test Kitchen; and Fox, NBC, CBS and ABC News affiliates across the country. Sherry is a year-round resident of beautiful, sun-kissed Sarasota, Florida, the vacation paradise of the Plain People. She has three children and is a member of a Beachy Amish Mennonite church. When not spending time with her family, writing, or eating, Sherry is a cooking show host, and an official pie contest judge. 

Desperate Measures

Desperate Measures
by
Sandra Orchard


MY THOUGHTS:
If you are interested in a suspense novel with tons of twists and turns, this is a perfect book series for you! Desperate Measures is the third book in the Port Aster Secrets series.

When I first picked up this book I had not read the first two books in the series, Deadly Devotion and Blind Trust. Within a few pages I became confused about who the players were and felt that I was missing way too much of the back story. This is a more traditional series where each book is critical to the overall story, so I went and got the first two books. Desperate Measures definitely doesn't stand alone.

That said, the series is hard to put down! At times it seems like every character is the 'bad guy', then they are cleared individually...for a while. This is a complicated plot and it helps to read the books in close proximity to each other. Of course that isn't a problem because at the end of each book I was dying to find out what happened next!

Sandra Orchard is a master at keeping the reader guessing and causing him/her to keep the pages turning. This is not a series to start when you know you will have to put the book down frequently. I recommend this book for anyone who likes to try to figure out 'whodunit' in a complex story.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Researcher Kate Adams has finally pinpointed the medicinal plant responsible for tearing her family apart. She's certain that discovering its secrets is her only hope of solving the mystery surrounding the disappearance of her father. Kate will risk anything to find the truth--even her budding relationship with Detective Tom Parker. But more people than she can fathom are after the plants and going it alone just might prove to be a fatal mistake.

Award-winning author Sandra Orchard pulls out all the stops in this breakneck and breathtaking conclusion to the Port Aster series. Fans will not be disappointed by the surprises they find inside.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sandra Orchard is a multi-award-winning author of mysteries and romantic suspense with Revell Publishing and Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense imprint. She is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America and The Word Guild (Canada). A mother of three grown children, she lives in Niagara, Canada with her real-life-hero husband and writes full time…when not doting on her young grandchildren.  Learn more about Sandra’s books and bonus features at www.SandraOrchard.com or connect at www.Facebook.com/SandraOrchard
Sandra is represented by Steve Laube of the Steve Laube Agency.