Submerged

Submerged by Dani Pettrey is her debut novel with Bethany House Publishers and they picked a winner. This book far exceeded my expectations in so many ways.  First, was the cover-very eye catching (covers do help sell books ). Second, I love, love suspense novels and this storyline really fit the bill.  Third, the prologue was one of the best I have read, it grabbed you and left you dying to get into the story.  The author was masterful with her character development and wove elements of faith, forgiveness and second chances throughout the story.
Bailey Craig had lived in Yancey Alaska and in high school and was not a very "good girl" with a reputation she felt followed her even  though she became successful. The thought of returning to Yancey and all those who remember her past is daunting.  Now she has to return to bury her aunt that was killed in a plane crash along with three others.  Bailey finds out that the plane was sabotaged and needs the help of Cole McKenna.  The problem is..Bailey broke his heart when she left ten years ago.  She has changed but will he remember her faults or has he changed too. Can they work together and find the truth and the murderer?
I absolutely loved this book except- this is book one and she left the end of the story open with Bailey and Cole and what could happen next.  I hope book two continues with the two of them in the plot.
Eagerly looking forward to book two.
Thanks to Bethany Publishing House for this free copy just for my honest opinion.

Tidewater Inn

Tidewater Inn by Colleen Coble is the first in her new HopeBeach series.  The setting is the Outer Banks and she has written another winner. 
Libby inherits an old hotel from her father,that she thought had died when she was 5, and soon finds she has a brother and sister that she didn't know she had. This is not something her new family is liking and they make it known they want nothing to do with her.  They believe she is only there to steal their birthright and are making things miserable for Libby.  Now, the plot thickens, her best friend and business partner Nicole is kidnapped in front of her and the police believe she has something to do with her disappearance.  The main part of the story hinges on Libby along with the love interest Alec trying to find Nicole before she is killed and then all sorts of strange and interesting things happen during their search for Nicole- and someone starts hunting them, but who.  In comes, Bree and Samson  from the Rock Harbor series to help in the search f or Nicole.  That was the highlight of the book for me.  I loved the Rock Harbor series and it was fun to see those characters come back in another book-great job, Colleen.
This book is another great read by Colleen.  The only thing I missed was the suspense part wasn't what she usually writes.  I did not find myself trying to figure out the culprit like usual and that is ok.  There will be another in this series and since I love Colleen's writing I will be waiting patiently for it also.
Thank you Thomas Nelson for this free copy from Booksneeze just for my honest opinion.

Fearless

I have been  done with this book for a couple of weeks but wanted to post my review on Memorial Day as a special tribute to Adam Brown. What a story, what a hero that sacrificed it all so we can live in a free country.  Thank you Adam Brown and all the special military men and women who sacrifice so much.  I have a daughter in the Army and I appreciate the military so much more just knowing what she deals with.  That is one of the reasons I picked this book to review.

This is by far one of the best books I have ever read.  Adam Brown's life was far from normal in many ways. He was a fun loving boy from Arkansas who was a real daredevil and his life was turned upside down from drugs and eventually jail time.  He finally got his life together and with help became a member of the Navy Seals.  It is so unbelievable what these men go through to become a seal-absolute torture and only " the strong survive".  Adam was one of the most determined men who would not take no for an answer-he would find a way. His determination was also fueled by his faith, family, and the love of a special woman who stood by him through thick and thin, problems and injuries and loved him deeply.  Adam would not let being blinded in one eye deter him, he learned to shoot with the other arm-nothing would keep him from reaching his goal. Adam would always volunteer for the most dangerous assignments and on March 17, 2010 was his final act of bravery that led to the ultimate sacrifice.  He was a true warrior who was "fearless"

I knew how the book ended before I read it, but I so wanted the outcome to be different.  I will reread this book again because of the special person Adam Brown was and how we all could learn from him to be a better person and to remind me what true sacrifice is. Thank you Adam Brown for loving this great country enough to give you life defending America.

Thanks to Waterbrook/Multnomah for letting me review this book for free just for my honest opinion.

Seal of God

Seal of God by Chad Williams was and is a fascinating read.  I have a daughter in the Army Reserves and this book intrigued me when it came up to read.  I was not disappointed in the least.  I am so thankful for all the soldiers and how hard they work to keep our great country free. What made this such a good read was the honesty throughout  the book. 
Chad committed to  completing the difficult training to become a Navy Seal after his mentor and training partner Scott Helvenston was brutally murdered in Iraq. The story delves into the journey as Chad trains for twenty five physically and mentally tough weeks of BUD/S training.  You really appreciate and are amazed that these guys and their bodies can stand up to this extremely tough training.  Only thirteen  out of 173 guys made it to graduation,  Scott goes on to serve on SEAL teams one and seven and was even ambushed by enemy gunners close to the same road that Scott Helvenston was killed five years earlier.
This book pulls no punches, Chad was not a Christian when he started this journey and was a real rebel who was mad at everyone and was never going to to need anyone but himself until.........  He goes to a crusade with his parents to buy more time at their house and winds up convicted about his sin and ends up making a commitment to Christ.
Find out what happens next in his walk with Christ and how he handles his "new life in Christ".
Thanks to Tyndale Publishers for sending me this book for free just for my honest opinion-this was superb.

Illusion

When I heard Frank Peretti finally had a new book out, I was thrilled. He has a way with words that are truly amazing. I picked this up from my library and was taken back-495 pages. I wondered if I could read such a long book. I not only read it, I devoured it in two sittings. I just could not put it down-always trying to figure what was going to happen next, where the author was going and how in the world will it end!.
Dane and Mandy are married for forty years and have been magicians by trade. Mandy is killed in a car wreck-or is she?. This is where the story line kicks up-Mandy awakens in the present and is nineteen just like she was in 1970. I am not telling more because you need to read it for yourself how the mystery continues. This was one superbly crafted story that showed love, loss and restoration. The ending was just perfect. Please pick up a copy and see for yourself.

Eyes of Justice

Another winner from Lis Wiehl. She has become one of my very favorite authors mainly because she really knows how to put a suspense novel together. This is the last of the Triple Threat books and it did not disappoint me at all. Well, maybe it did-I read it way too quickly and now I must wait for her next book.

This book started out with the death of one of the Triple Threat girls murdered. When the other two girls try to wedge their way in to find clues and justice for their friend, they are held at bay by the police investigators. They take matters in their own hands and with the help of an unexpected ally who has her own methods of solving crimes they start looking for possible killers. There is a suspect in custody but the murderer strikes again. Now, who do they trust? Interesting plot, interesting characters, page turning mystery that left me surprised at the murder culprit. There could have been a fine line between revenge and letting justice prevail the correct way which left me really pondering what I would do in that case.

If you are looking for a great author-check Lis Wiehl out, especially her Triple Threat novels.
Really excellent suspense stories. My thanks to Thomas Nelson for providing me with this copy free for my honest opinion.

Beckon

Welcome to Beckon-you're not here by chance. Tom Pawlik's latest suspense thriller takes place in Beckon, Wyoming that is hiding darkness, terror and evil.
This was an interesting storyline that has three stories of different individuals and the fourth story is about them together.
Jack Kendrick is searching for his father who has been missing for 12 years and goes looking for him after finding clues in his desk-a strange drawing. He and his best friend Rudy along with a guide trek up a mountain then end up trying to find their way out through a maze of caves. They are not alone-they find a strange ecosystem in there and huge spiders that feeds on slime and lots and lots of human bones.
Elina Gutierrez is a former cop hunting for her cousin that has been missing for six months. She follows a white van to Beckon. She learns that jobs are promised to those in the van but they get to Beckon but never get home.
George Wilcox's wife has an incurable disease and takes her to Beckon on a promise of a cure. Just how much will he pay for his wife to be well. Will George or the others ever discover the chilling secret this town is holding-a miracle or evil.
This is the first book I have read by this author and it was quite a ride. Jack's story got a bit gruesome at times for me but was an interesting read that kept your attention.
Thanks to Tyndale Publishers for sending me this copy for free just for my honest opinion.