Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll

Quilts of Love, Book 21

Following an attack that killed her mother and stole her ability to speak, 21-year-old Sophia Montgomery has no choice but to accept her estranged grandmother’s offer to return to their family home. Although detective Julian Frazier is working hard on the case, Sophia unknowingly frustrates him because her inability to speak thwarts her eyewitness evidence. The fact that Julian is undeniably attracted to Sophia doesn’t help either, so Julian hides his feelings as concern for a trauma victim and focuses instead on finding the killer.

Little do they know, the clues to solving the case may be right in front of them, displayed in Sophia’s mother’s “special” quilt design. Who will realize the secret Sophia’s unwittingly been hiding in plain sight? When the truth comes to light, will Sophia find her voice again? Or will the murderer—still at large—silence her forever?

My Review:
Talk about confusing! Sophia Montgomery wakes up in a hospital room, barely able to move and unable to speak. She's been tortured and brought to death's door. Her mother was killed right in front of her! And in the hospital room, she meets--for the first time--a grandmother who she thought was long dead.

With a quilt as the centerpiece, this is a good suspense novel. It reads at a steady pace, and I did not figure out the solution until right before the end. In addition, there is a touch of romance. You don't want to miss reading this one!

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Abingdon Press for my copy.

If you would like to read the first chapter, click here.

If you would like to buy a copy, click here.

The Curious Case of the Missing Figurehead by Diane Noble

A Professor and Mrs. Littlefield Mystery, Book 1

She’s Passionate about Solving the Case ... with the Town’s Life-Long Bachelor.

El Littllefield runs The Butler Did It catering. It’s the perfect cover for her to solve “who-done-its” (nothing too dangerous, please!) in this small university town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. While catering her most important event yet—a fancy retirement dinner for Dr. Max Haverhill, life-long bachelor and history dean—countless guests fall ill, a 200 year-old relic is stolen, and her best friend vanishes. All in the first hour.

As El and Max race to solve the mystery, they discover there’s more to their relationship than simply solving the case. Welcome to Eden’s Bridge—the perfect small town setting for big intrigue, romance, and humor.

My Review:
This first book of a new series centers around a female sleuth. It contains humor, romance, as well as a good mystery. The protagonist, El Littlefield, is a caterer who owns a company called, "The Butler Did It." She loves to cook and turns to baking cookies whenever she's under stress. As the story opens, everything is running smoothly for a huge dinner party. Shortly after the final bite is consumed, dinner guests begin dropping like flies! (Perhaps the butler DID do it!)

To complicate matters, a valuable, recently discovered relic is stolen.

El has a quick wit and a snappy personality. Of course, she immediately begins to investigate these unfortunate events. Helping her is handsome Max Haverhill. It's no mystery that he plays the romantic lead.

I love the way El thinks. For instance, after saying an extended grace, thanking God for more than the meal, she explains, "I like to let God know how much I like the life He's given me. I think He loves it when we notice." (183)

El's best friend, Hyacinth, is someone I'd like to know better. I hope she plays a big part in the next volume. I also expect to read more about the relationship between El and Max.

Chapters are written in the point of view of several characters allowing different perspectives. I really enjoyed this technique.

I look forward to reading book two of this series.

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and David C. Cook for my copy.

If you would like to read the first chapter, click here.

If you would like to buy a copy, click here.

The Desire by Dan Walsh & Gary Smalley

The Restoration Series, Book 3

Can faith build a bridge between their dreams?

For two years, Allan and Michele have been trying to have a baby. The emotional ride has been taking a toll on their hearts--and their relationship. Michele is obsessed with researching fertility treatments while Allan seems content to spend his time--and their money--on supporting displaced children in Africa. Something's got to give. But they both hope it's not their marriage.

Still, God has a plan for Allan and Michele that they could never have imagined. And all it takes to set it in motion is a change of heart . . .

My Review:
I've read each of the books in this series, and although I think that's the best way to enjoy the Anderson family saga, this Christian fiction could easily be read as a stand-alone novel. It covers some sticky subjects: adoption, unwed pregnancy, and infertility. And it covers them with finesse.

Christians often want to know just how to find God's will.  Many feel that it's a fuzzy road to travel. I really liked chapter 33 when Allan and Michele discuss how they spent their day--each separately seeking God's direction, and yet, each coming up with the same answer. The writer nailed it when he showed us step by step how its done!

I also liked the character Christina, a pregnant, unwed teen. She has a tough decision to make, and I feel she made the best choice.

I think most will benefit by reading this novel.

Thank you to Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group for my copy.

Nowhere to Turn by Lynette Eason

Hidden Identity, Book Two

She thought her days of hiding were over . . . but the danger has just begun.

The day Danielle Harding takes her eleven-year-old son and flees from her abusive husband is the same day Kurt Harding dies. A relieved Dani believes she and her son are finally safe--but in reality, things are just heating up. When Kurt was alive, he took something important from a mysterious individual--who wants the item back and believes Dani now has it. As she and her son run for their lives, they have nowhere to turn, until she hires Adam Buchanan of Operation Refuge and goes into hiding. Unfortunately, she won't be able to hide for long . . .

From the first breathless scene, this tension-laced story will hold you in its iron grip as bestselling author Lynette Eason propels you along in a race to discover the truth.

My Review:
After the death of her husband, who had abused her, Dani Harding, and her son, Simon have people trying to kill them. So they go into hiding. Unfortunately, no place remains safe for long. This Christian fiction thriller keeps the pace moving. It's difficult to tell just who the bad guys are as even the abusive husband was FBI. 

I've read other books by the author and enjoyed them; unfortunately, I was able to easily figure out the twists and turns in this tale.

In addition, the novel needs more careful editing. There are many sentence fragments and even some misspelled words. One page has Simon eleven-years-old and another states that he is twelve. Errors like these prevent me from enjoying an otherwise good tale.

Thank you to Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group for my copy.

Driftwood Tides by Gina Holmes

He made himself an island until something unexpected washed ashore.

When Holton lost his wife, Adele, in a freak accident, he shut himself off from the world, living a life of seclusion, making driftwood sculptures and drowning his pain in gin. Until twenty-three-year-old Libby knocks on his door, asking for a job and claiming to be a friend of his late wife. When he discovers Libby is actually his late wife’s illegitimate daughter, given up for adoption without his knowledge, his life is turned upside down as he struggles to accept that the wife he’d given saint status to was not the woman he thought he knew.

Together Holton and Libby form an unlikely bond as the two struggle to learn the identity of Libby’s father and the truth about Adele, themselves, and each other.

My Review:
Results from a blood test prove that Libby is adopted, and her mother provides the paperwork that confirms it.  Libby then begins the hunt for her birth parents. I believe that I would act much the same way.

The author writes believable characters with flaws.

The reader first meets Holton, when he's close to the proverbial bottom of the barrel. When his wife--the love of his life died, Holt began his long journey with alcoholism. He's truly unlikeable, but somehow Libby sees something worthwhile, and through her eyes, this reader relates.

Here is a realistic story of the horrible life of an alcoholic, the frustration of an adopted child seeking acceptance from a parent, and the desperate need of several people to believe that their futures have the hope of love. Although this may sound like a depressing story, it's not.

Forgiveness is a theme that threads its way throughout the tale. Each character has to struggle to forgive. We cannot be forgiven until we first forgive. I especailly like the discussion that Tess and Libby have about whether alcoholism is a choice or a disease.

My favorite quote is: "She couldn't change what was done to her, but she could show them what love was supposed to look like.
She could at least be the daughter she always wanted to be." (220+221)

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. for my copy.

If you would like to read the first chapter, click here.

If you would like to buy a copy, click here.