Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Fraser (Minnesota Marshalls #1) by Susan May Warren

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. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and 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. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday.

This week I'm featuring Fraser (Minnesota Marshalls #1) by Susan May Warren. I finally read this book and just in time because the sequel, Jonas, releases next week!

About the Book

Fraser Marshall is pretty sure his career as a Spec Ops fighter is over. Yes, he’s gone into private security, working for Jones, Inc, but his last gig ended with him wounded and taken captive. And those wounds just won’t heal. The last thing he wants to do is stick around his family’s winery pressing grapes. But what choices does he have?

The answer comes via a panicked phone call from his kid brother, Creed.

Help, Fraser. I’m in over my head…

Yeah he is, because he’s run away with a princess, with her bodyguard hot on the trail. And said bodyguard, Pippa Butler is going to hunt them down, no matter the cost.

Even if she has to join forces with a bossy, arrogant former American SEAL. But Pippa has her own set of lethal skills, and if Fraser gets in the way, she’ll leave him on the side of the road. Still, maybe he’s not a terrible side-kick. He is handsome, and he makes her laugh…

No, no, bad Pippa! She has no room for a man—an American—in her life. And Fraser hasn’t ever considered slowing down. Even if Pippa has him wondering if there is a different future ahead.

But there’s more to the story than a Romeo-and-Juliet runaway romance. Princess Imani has seen a murder, and the perpetrator isn’t going to let her get away. Will Fraser and Pippa find the couple first?

And if they do, can they work together to keep them safe?

It’ll be tough if their hearts get in the way…

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

Fraser couldn't escape the carnage.

Friday 56

"I don't know about this, Imani." Creed sat in the back of their water taxi, the wind in his face, his hand clasped in hers - this time his move, because something just didn't feel right in his gut.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: The Deadly Shallows (Coastal Guardians Book #3) by Dani Pettrey

About the Book

A DEADLY ATTACK.
A STOLEN WEAPON CAPABLE OF IMMENSE DESTRUCTION.
A PAINFUL SECRET THAT THREATENS TO TEAR TWO HEARTS APART.

CGIS Agent Noah Rowley is rocked to the core when several of his valued team members come under fire on his Coast Guard base. He and his remaining team race to the scene and end the attack, but not before innocent lives are lost. Furious and grief-stricken, he vows to do whatever is needed to bring the mastermind behind the attack to justice.

Stunned by the ambush, Coast Guard flight medic Brooke Kesler evacuates in a helicopter carrying the only surviving gunman. The gravely wounded man whispers mysterious information to Brooke that immediately paints a target on her back.

As Brooke and Noah race to uncover answers, emotions between them ignite. Noah struggles to protect Brooke at all costs and to conceal the secret that prevents him from becoming what he longs to be--the right man for her.

Everything is at stake as a horrifying truth emerges. . . .

The attack wasn't the end game. It was only the beginning.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This is my favorite book in the series. Like the previous two books, there was a lot going on, a lot of people to keep up with, and multiple mysteries to solve, but it felt easier for me to keep up with this time.

There's a mass shooting that takes place early on in the book, so that was harrowing to read about. To say things got intense is an understatement. I was racing through the pages, hoping they'd find the mastermind and motive behind the tragedy as fast as possible.

Brooke and Noah made the perfect couple. And while they were the main focus of this book, I also enjoyed the side story featuring Caleb and Austin, and the mystery they were trying to solve.

All in all, this was a fantastic romantic suspense that I highly recommend. I do suggest starting with book one though, just so you're familiar with all the characters.

4.5 STARS

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Study of Poisons by Maria V. Snyder

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 The Study of Poisons by Maria V. Snyder releasing April 15. Poison Study is my all-time favorite book, so when I heard that Maria V. Snyder was writing the book from Valek's point of view, I was beyond excited! I preordered as soon as I could and am clearing my schedule to dive into it as soon as it releases. 

About the Book

Fierce, determined, dangerous. No wonder her soul called to his.

As Chief of Security of Ixia, Valek has spent the last fifteen years keeping Commander Ambrose and his citizens safe. With his complex network of spies, informers, and soldiers, it’s his job to hunt down and capture criminals, including the intriguing Yelena.

Sensing there is more to the story of why she killed a general’s son, Valek arranges for Yelena to become the Commander’s new food taster, training her in the delicate art of detecting poisons. As mysteries and a devious plot to harm the Commander unravel, Yelena’s presence becomes crucial. Will her intelligence, stubbornness, and survivor instincts be a help to Valek’s investigation, or a hinderance?

A companion novel to Poison Study, The Study of Poisons reveals Valek’s side of the story. Return to the world of Ixia and discover just how the lovely Yelena got Valek’s cold heart pumping!

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: His Runaway Crush: A Contemporary Christian Romance (Easter in Gilead Book 3) by Heather Gray

About the Book

Can once upon a time turn into a happily ever after?

Letty Stanton might live in Gilead, but Heavenly Brew is her home. After all, home is where the heart is. Letty has spent a decade running from a past she never wanted to face and keeping at arms' length all the people who hold her close to their hearts. When a handsome stranger blows into town, though, he upsets the calm and comfortable life she's worked so hard to cultivate.

Dawson Bauer is new to small-town life. From the four-year-old who couldn't whisper if her life depended on it to the middle-aged man who only speaks in grunts and glares, Gilead is filled with quirky people who think privacy is a mythical creature. Not to mention that everybody is obsessed with Easter, and he'd be happy to never hear that word again. Then there's the enigmatic woman who runs the town's coffee shop. There's something about her...

What happens when a guy who mostly means well and a girl with mile-high walls collide? Sparks fly, secrets come to light, and everybody in Gilead has an opinion.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This was a really sweet read. I loved that it was set around Easter. You don't find that too often, but I was glad to see it!

Dawson, the new AV director at Gilead Bible College, doesn't like Easter, but, per the terms of his contract, he has to be part of the annual passion play. He isn't happy about it, but I appreciated the way he took it all in stride. Letty (love her name) was quiet and unassuming. She was always in the background and liked it that way. She had some secrets, and I was so curious to find out what they were!

I loved the town of Gilead. They were a tight-knit community, and I enjoyed seeing how they rallied around each other. I also loved that there was a strong message of faith throughout the entire story.

I highly recommend this book to fans of sweet and inspiring contemporary romances. And while this is book three in the series, it stands alone just fine. Each book is written by a different author and although I haven't read the other books yet, I fell so in love with the town of Gilead and all its residents that I'm eager to check them all out.

I received an advanced 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: Enhanced 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. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and 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. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday.

This week I'm featuring Enhanced by Candace Kade. I've been in the mood for a sci-fi book lately and this is exactly what I've been looking for. Lots of interesting and futuristic tech and great world building. I'm loving it.

About the Book

Lee Urban is living a lie.

In a society where everyone's DNA determines their destiny, being a Natural means automatic relegation to the gritty and dangerous Outskirts. With the harnessed power of gene-editing, the ability to create a super-human race has transformed the world and offered the opportunity of a genetically enhanced life. But only to those who can afford it.

Born a Natural, Lee Urban was adopted into the Enhanced high society of the Asian Federation and forced to conceal her genetic roots. When her dream of attending Peking University becomes a reality, she is determined to go despite a warning from a mysterious source.

Targeted by a hacker bent on exposing her true DNA, Urban faces off with an Artificial Intelligence Game that puts her—and her lies—to the test. What was supposed to be a dream come true turns into a lethal gamble of hide-and-seek with her genetics. Can Urban continue the act, or will the cracks in her story expose her and endanger her family?

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

Urban marched into Gene-IQ, cursing New Beijing's summer heat. She wiped away the sweat beading on her chin. Her all-black attire, from her heeled boots to her leather jacket, even the motorcycle helmet in her hands, clashed with the garish walls of the crowded facility.

Friday 56

All was silent and dark except the air whistling through her helmet as she plummeted to the ground below.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Finding You by Tanya Eavenson

About the Book
Can a Texas man wrangle the cowgirl who made him believe in second chances? Or will the wilds of Wyoming keep them apart?

Dallas Campbell expects her seasonal position as a dinner theater entertainer in Wyoming to end within weeks, but when she's given a full-time offer, she accepts. Still struggling with the loss of her husband and child, she's determined to forge a new future, sell her Texas home, and leave the past behind.

Gabe Langston has been a widower for two years and needs a new start with his daughter. He finds the perfect home with a history as big and wide as Texas and located near a ranch that will board his horses. Boxes hidden in his attic point to the ranch and the home’s mysterious prior owner, so he reaches out to her in Wyoming.

Dallas returns to Texas to investigate the contents in the hidden boxes. She plans to stay with her aunt for a few days and then head back to Wyoming. What she doesn't count on is a handsome cowboy and his sweet daughter interfering with those plans.

Determined to help Dallas work though her past, Gabe buckles in for what is sure to be a tough job. He’s up for the challenge, but can he convince the woman he’s falling for to extend her stay, permanently? Or will her new life in Wyoming keep them apart?

Amazon / Goodreads

Available in Kindle Unlimited

MY THOUGHTS

I absolutely loved this sweet inspirational romance. I finished this book in one afternoon. It was so good that I couldn't put it down. I flew through the pages and reached the end before I knew it.

Right from the start, I knew I was going to like Dallas and Gabe. There was something so genuine about them. They were both dealing with grief and heartache, and I really felt for them. They had a lot in common aside from their pain, though, which made them seem even more perfect for each other. I can't fail to mention Cindi, Gabe's sweet and adorable daughter, and Dallas' wise Aunt Ruth. They were such great characters.

I loved the inspirational message. No matter what life throws your way (good, bad, and everything in between), God is with you. What a great reminder to trust in the Lord! If you're a fan of inspirational contemporary romance, this story is a must read! I can't recommend it enough!

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

FIVE STARS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tanya Eavenson is an award-winning Christian romance novelist. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children. Her favorite pastime is grabbing a cup of coffee, eating chocolate, and reading a good book. You can find her at her website http://www.tanyaeavenson.com/

Author Links

Website: http://www.tanyaeavenson.com/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tanya-Eavenson/e/B00B2UO5TE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tanya-Eavenson-129609683872033/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6913760.Tanya_Eavenson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanyaeavenson/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tanya-eavenson

Can't Wait Wednesday: Blind Trust (The SNAP Agency Book #3) by Natalie Walters

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 Blind Trust (The SNAP Agency Book #3) by Natalie Walters releasing April 11.

About the Book

Lyla Fox knows she has a reputation at the SNAP Agency for impulsivity, but when she receives a threatening letter from a man she helped put in prison, she can't stop herself from going all in to find out why he's coming after her. Unfortunately, she's going to need the help of the one person who questions her reckless choices more than anyone else.

Explosives and weapons specialist Nicolás Garcia agrees to help Lyla in order to keep her safe, but her recklessness continues to be a major concern, especially when her investigation into a conspiracy puts a target on her back. Dealing with bombs is dangerous. Working with Lyla is proving to be just as treacherous--to both the mission and his heart.

Natalie Walters closes out her SNAP Agency series with a bang with this nail-biting story of a deadly government conspiracy, an unlikely couple, and an ending that will leave you breathless.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?