An Eye For An Eye

Mark Sanders is sent to St. Louis to work as a field agent and to help him recover from a robbery gone bad in which he shoots an innocent young man by accident. While jogging in the park he notices a pretty female. As he looks closer he realizes that it's Emily Lawson. Twenty years ago he and Emily had a crush on one another and shared a first kiss. She can't believe it when he tells her who he is. As they stand chatting with each other shots ring out! Mark throws Emily to the ground. After observing where the shots are coming from he checks Emily. She's been hit and is losing blood quickly. Will they be able to get to the hospital in time? Were the shots meant for him? Who is shooting at them and will they try again? Will Emily and Mark get a chance to re-acquaint themselves with a long ago friendship?

An Eye for an Eye is Book 2 in the Hero's of Quantico Series and an excellent read. The story keeps you engaged from the first page to the last. The dialog is crisp and realistic. I found that the emotions of Mark, Emily and the shooter all rang true. I thoroughly enjoy the romantic element in the book too. I loved that Coop (from Against All Odds) played a major role. I highly recommend this book and can't wait for Book 3.

BLOG AWARD

BLOG AWARD

Wow! Cathy at WordVessel awarded Love 2 Read Novels the One Lovely Blog Award. Thanks, Cathy! Now I have to pass it on to as many blogs as I'd like with a limit of 15.

I hereby bestow this "lovely" blog award on:

MaryLu @ Cross and Cutless

Lena @ A Christian Writers World

Judy @ That's a Novel Idea

Lonestar Homecoming

Gracie Lister has always run away from problems. She's about to marry Border Patrol agent Cid Ortega but not for love. She feels he can provide a good home for her daughter Hope. When she finds out that he has some dealings with the Cartel she demands he get out. He agrees and the wedding is on. While waiting in her wedding gown two FBI agents show up at her door looking for Cid. When gunshots are fired she flees out the back door with Hope, five dollars in her purse and a ticket for the train (which she is able to get on) heading for Bluebird to hopefully get a job and hideout.

Enter Michael Wayne. He's a soldier returning home to Bluebird after his wife died to assume the role of single father to two children he hasn't really been around. He will be working with the Border Patrol where he hopes to find out who killed his brother. But the killer is now after him. While waiting at the train station for a ride to Bluebird he notices Gracie and Hope. He sees how good she is with her daughter and over hears her tell her daughter she doesn't have any money left to eat. When Gracie collapses Michael comes to hear rescue. He offers her work as his nanny on a trial basis. She reluctantly agrees feeling like she has no choice. Sparks fly between them but neither want to admit there is something there. When she fears Cid will find her and Michael fears the he may be killed they both agree to a marriage of convenience to protect the children. Will that truly protect the children? What happens if your marriage of convenience turns out to be love? Who is the real bad guys and will they figure it out before it's too late?

I really enjoyed this story. I love the whole "marriage of convenience" storyline. Both Michael and Gracie were wonderful but flawed people who are both very protective of those they love. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Rick, Allie, Jack and Shannon from the previous stories. I also learned something about Synesthesia. I highly recommend this story to those who love a book you can't put down, characters who stay in your mind and a mystery you don't figure out 'til the end. You could read this as a stand alone but it's a much fuller story if you read Lonestar Sanctuary and Lonestar Secrets first. Great book. Great series.

Jenna's Cowboy

Jenna Callahan Colby knows what it's like to hurt, real bad. Her husband left her without a second thought. Leaving her not only empty and lifeless but leaving their son without a father. She returns to Callahan Corners to heal and work as a partner with her family on the ranch.

Enter Nate Langley. After two tours of duty in war time he has seen and experienced lots of horrible things. He returns to Callahan Corners to help his father run the farm. When he sees Jenna needs help changing a flat he helps her out and realizes that the feelings he's had for her all his life are still going strong. Jenna feels that same pull. After all she has had feelings for him as well. Will these two scared souls ever be healed? Will they find the love they both so much desire?

I loved this gentle and tender story of what God can do. Nate was such a great hero. He was so real and I loved how he spoke to Jenna. Jenna was a wonderful heroine. She was fun and loving and loyal to her family. I'm looking forward to getting to know the Callahan's better. I also learned about PTSD. I have heard that term but didn't really know anything about it or how it can effect you. Wow! It's something you deal with for the rest of your life.

I highly recommend this romantic tale.

Will the Raven Saint be sold?

Grace Wescott has always been interested in serving the Lord and doing what she could for the less fortunate. It's while she is helping someone else that she finds herself taken captive by Captain Rafe Dubois where she is to be sold to the Spanish Don. Although at times she feels God has abandoned her, she stays strong in her faith. Her behavior captivates the attention of those on the ship...especially that of Captain Dubois. But will it be enough to change his mind about selling her? And though she thinks him a rake, he also stirs tender emotions inside her heart. When the first mate helps her escape from the ship dressed in boys clothes, it sets off a chain of events that doesn't let up until the close of the book. Can God change the hearts of people?

This is the third and final installment in the Charles Towne Belles Series and I loved this story. I like all the stories but I have to say that this was my favorite. I was drawn into the story from the very first page and found it hard to put down. I read the majority of it in one day! I thoroughly enjoyed the characters of Rafe and Grace. You could truly feel the pull between the two. I also enjoyed the secondary characters and most especially Rafe's cat, Spyglass! You could read the Raven Saint as a stand alone but you get a much better story if you read the The Red Siren and The Blue Enchantress first. MaryLu does a fantastic job wrapping up all the little details in the series. Highly recommended. MaryLu never disappoints.