Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Hybrid (The Hybrid Series Book 2) by Candace Kade

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over for the time being.

This week I'm featuring Hybrid (The Hybrid Series Book 2) by Candace Kade. I'm really enjoying it so far! 

About the Book

Lee Urban's search for truth could destroy everything.

After narrowly surviving several attempts on her life, Lee Urban retreats into hiding, seeking refuge with her family for the Lunar New Year. But the relaxing holiday turns into a heist when someone crashes the party with intel on the hybrid’s identity.

Driven by desperation, Urban accepts a position within the elite Dragons AI team, a high-stakes gamble that will propel her into the heart of the turbulent West. As she follows the elusive clues to the hybrid, the journey takes her closer to uncovering the truths about her own origins and the odd circumstances surrounding her adoption.

Tensions between the Enhanced and Naturals grow increasingly violent, and the Western Federation teeters on the brink of civil war. Urban's choices threaten to tear her family apart, and the secrets she unearths just might shatter the delicate balance of society.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

Urban aimed straight for the dragon. The creature's bulbous eyes and enormous fangs grew larger as she pulled hard on the throttle of her motorcycle.

Friday 56

"We can't always choose our family." Uncle Chang nodded at Lucas, who had collapsed in a fit of hysterical laughter on stage. "But we can choose to make the most of the family we have."

What have you been reading lately?

Review: The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold by Ally Carter

About the Book

An action-packed, second-chance rom-com about two rival spies who must join forces in order to stay alive, from New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter.

Ten years ago, they joined the CIA.

Six years ago, he left the game.

Five years ago, they fell in love.

One year ago, she ran out into the cold with absolutely no intention of ever coming back.

And two minutes ago, they woke up, bloody and bruised and handcuffed together in the dark.

They don’t know where they are. They don’t know how they got there. And they have absolutely no idea who is after them or what this nameless, faceless villain wants.

The only thing that’s clear is that, after ten years of covers and chemistry, secrets and lies, these two rival spies have been sucked into their greatest mission yet, and now they’re going to have to team up to stay alive. (If they don’t kill each other first.)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This was a super fun romantic comedy. Full of hilarious laugh-out-loud moments and exciting high-stakes action, this book was nearly impossible to put down.

There are two POVs, Alex and King, and also two timelines, the present and the past, which starts ten years ago when they first met and became spies and leads up to the present time. I thought it was really fun to see how their relationship evolved over time and to see all their ups and downs.

Speaking of their relationship, Alex and King had amazing chemistry. Their banter was so much fun. They made a great, albeit reluctant, team.

I will say that while I really enjoyed seeing their past and present, there were a few times where I had a hard time keeping track of which timeline we were in and who the narrator was. But, other than that, this was an absolute joy to read. While it is the second book in the series, I believe it can stand alone okay. Although, you might miss out on some of the fun of how the two books are connected.

NOTE: This is a closed-door romance that includes some strong language.

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FOUR STARS

Can't Wait Wednesday: Canyon of Deceit by DiAnn Mills

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Canyon of Deceit by DiAnn Mills releasing September 9. 

About the Book

A rescue team searches for a missing young girl and suspects all is not as it seems in this high-stakes romantic suspense novel from the author of Lethal Standoff and Facing the Enemy.

When wilderness survival expert Therese Palmer receives a frantic phone call from former colleague Professor Rurik Ivanov, she is shocked by the news that his young daughter, Alina, is missing—and that Rurik wants Therese’s help finding her. She’s sure Rurik hasn’t given her the whole story . . . especially since he refuses to report the kidnapping to the police. Yet with a child’s life hanging in the balance, Therese can’t turn down this mission. She knows the clock is ticking and she can’t do this alone.

Therese reaches out to Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, whom she met seven months ago during one of her training courses in wilderness survival skills. Blane’s specialized training and background with the Crisis Negotiation Unit make him uniquely prepared for this search-and-rescue mission. He agrees to help Therese and to accept Rurik’s terms to keep Alina’s disappearance quiet, and as the two begin working together, Therese is determined the spark growing between them won’t distract from their mission to save Alina.

Traversing deep into the desert of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Alina’s last known location, Therese and Blane struggle to separate truth from lies within the mix of intel they’re receiving. As they close in on answers that suggest the involvement of Russian organized crime and a high-profile international assassination attempt, they must fight to rescue Alina before she becomes an innocent casualty of a much bigger plot—no matter the risk to their own lives.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: Burning Justice (Chasing Fire: Alaska Book 6) by Lisa Phillips

About the Book

RESCUE. DANGER. DEVOTION.
THIS TIME, THEIR HEARTS ARE ON THE LINE.

She's been searching for her father for fifteen years...

Maria Sanchez has spent her entire career as a CIA operative searching for her father, and she’s not going to let some tough, arrogant former-soldier-turned-hotshot stand in her way.

His life was upended on a single fateful mission...

After being betrayed, branded a traitor, and declared dead, Kane Foster has a lot prove—and he’s not going to let his team—or his country—down. Even if he has to douse the sparks between him and his feisty teammate. Because some things are more important than love.

Now someone tell that to his heart…

As the smoke clears on this pulse-pounding series, buried truths will be uncovered and loyalties tested in this sizzling finale to the Chasing Fire: Alaska romantic suspense series.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

Burning Justice was a great conclusion to the Chasing Fire: Alaska series. It didn’t take long for things to heat up, and the story was moving at a lightning-fast pace. I could hardly keep up!

Things with the militia group finally came to a head, which I was very eager, and a little nervous, to see.

I loved getting to know Kane and Maria better. They were such a great pair!

This has been a great series. Exciting, action-packed, and full of danger with strong messages of faith and characters who were easy to root for. I really hope there’s another Chasing Fire series coming soon! If you're a fan of swoony, action-packed romantic suspense, you'll love this series. Be sure to start with book one.

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FOUR STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold by Ally Carter

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over for the time being.

This week I'm featuring The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold by Ally Carter. I'm loving it! There have been so many laugh-out-loud moments. Release day is August 5th. I should have my review up sometime next week. 

About the Book

An action-packed, second-chance rom-com about two rival spies who must join forces in order to stay alive, from New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter.

Ten years ago, they joined the CIA.

Six years ago, he left the game.

Five years ago, they fell in love.

One year ago, she ran out into the cold with absolutely no intention of ever coming back.

And two minutes ago, they woke up, bloody and bruised and handcuffed together in the dark.

They don’t know where they are. They don’t know how they got there. And they have absolutely no idea who is after them or what this nameless, faceless villain wants.

The only thing that’s clear is that, after ten years of covers and chemistry, secrets and lies, these two rival spies have been sucked into their greatest mission yet, and now they’re going to have to team up to stay alive. (If they don’t kill each other first.)

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

Ten Years Ago

Washington, DC

As luck would have it, the first time Alexandra Sterling really wanted to kill a man happened to be the night before she started spy school. 

Friday 56

"Tell me again why you had a crossbow in your luggage?"

What have you been reading lately? 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Secrets Along the Shore: Beach Read Thrillers by Jaime Jo Wright, Taylor S. Newport, D.L. Wood, Julia Blythe

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Secrets Along the Shore: Beach Read Thrillers by Jaime Jo Wright, Taylor S. Newport, D.L. Wood, Julia Blythe releasing August 15. This sounds like the perfect summer read! Featuring a couple of my favorite authors, and a couple who are new to me, I'm so excited! 

About the Book

Four exhilarating summer thrillers of faith, love and excitement!

The Ones I Left to Die - Jaime Jo Wright
A decade before, Noa Lorne escaped the sadistic clutches of the Serpent, a serial killer known by the telltale mark he carved into the necks of his victims. She has learned to live being the only known survivor, but her recollection is sketchy, and her desire to relive the trauma, nonexistent. But now a new victim has been discovered, and it seems the Serpent has returned. With a detective from the cold case division desperate to connect the dots, Noa concedes that to find the Serpent, she must remember them—the other victims—the ones she’d behind left to die.

Survival Mode - Taylor S. Newport
Medically discharged from the Australian SAS, Tyler Reid struggles to adjust to life as a civilian. When an old friend offers him a high-risk mission to rescue a woman and her son from a ruthless crime boss, Tyler can’t refuse. The assignment is deadly, the enemy relentless, and Tyler's new teammates are strangers. Can he trust them? As he fights off the enemy, the stakes rise with every move, testing his limits and pushing him to his breaking point. In a world where survival depends on split second choices, failure is not an option.

All That Lies Beneath - D.L. Wood
The case was closed. Until another body turned up.
Private investigator Sophie Walsh thought the nightmare was over when a conviction finally came in the Perfect Princess serial killings. But when another young woman is found murdered—with the same chilling signature—the certainty shatters. As whispers of a copycat, partner, or devastating mistake surface, Sophie races to uncover the truth. Did they convict the right man? Or is the real killer still watching—and ready to strike again?
Set in a small Southern town with secrets as deep as the Tennessee River, All That Lies Beneath delivers gripping suspense with twists you won’t see coming.

The Girl Between Us - Julia Blythe
Typically, strong friendships never develop between a local and a summer girl—especially a summer girl from the school for the Deaf. But that’s just what happens when Scarlet McBride is chosen every summer to spend July 4th week at the school headmaster’s lake lodge. Surprisingly, the headmaster has left her the lodge in his will. Fifteen years since her last summer at the lake, Scarlet returns with plans to sell the house but learns her old summer friend Becca Bishop still resides across the water. They had once been inseparable—until the night Becca’s little sister drowned. That’s when all fingers pointed at the outsider as the one to blame, and Scarlet was never chosen again—until now.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: A Montana-Sized Secret by Allie Pleiter

About the Book

Can she trust him again

For the sake of their baby?

Returning to High Mountain pregnant is not the fresh start Carly Davis imagined—nor is telling Jack Peters he’s the father. And with Jack in the early stages of addiction recovery, she questions if he can handle being a parent. But Jack is determined to show that he’s changed, and a chance to prove himself arises when they must care for a litter of rescued baby bunnies. Trust slowly builds between them again, but as unexpected news threatens their fragile bond, can they overcome the uncertainties to be the family they both need?

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

Amazon / Goodreads / Author Website

MY THOUGHTS

“Don’t tell God the size of your problem, tell your problem the size of God.”

I absolutely loved this heartfelt and touching story. Serious and hard topics were discussed and handled with grace.

Jack had a lot to make up for, a lot of apologies and mending of relationships to do. I appreciated the fact that he owned up to his mistakes and was trying to make amends. It was good to see him actively trying to be a better man.

Carly had a lot to deal with. There were a lot of things weighing heavily on her mind. The worry of judgment from friends, family, the small town she lived in, her fractured relationship with Jack, and the disappointment she felt in herself. I really felt for her and was rooting her on.

I thought working together with the bunnies and then at VBS was a great way for Jack and Carly to break the ice again. I appreciated that there were some lighter moments amidst the serious topics. I thought there was a nice balance. I loved watching their faith grow and learning to lean on God.

I loved this story of second chances and new beginnings. If you’re a fan of touching, heartfelt, and emotional Christian fiction, you’ll love it too! I can’t recommend it highly enough!

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS