THE FACE OF THE EARTH by Deborah Raney

Mitch and Jill Brannon are happily married and about to become empty nesters.  After attending a teacher’s conference, Jill leaves a message on their home phone that she is checking out of the hotel and should be home in time for supper.  However, when supper comes and goes and she still isn’t home Mitch is beside himself.  He contacts the police but they come up empty handed.  No clue as to what might have happened.  Shelley Austin is not only their neighbor but also Jill’s best friend.  She’s been there for Mitch and the kids since Jill’s disappearance.  As they work together to find Jill, they seem to be growing closer which definitely complicates the situation.  How can Mitch honor his marriage vows to Jill when she seems to have vanished from The Face of the Earth.

What if your spouse didn’t come home and you had no idea what happened? This was one of those stories that once you start reading you just can’t stop.  The author allows you to go through the ‘not knowing’ right along with Mitch, his kids and their neighbor, Shelley.  Wanting to find out what happened to Jill is what compels the reader to keep turning pages.  More than that though, I think the author did a great job of addressing all the areas of your life that would be affected if your spouse went missing.   Your marriage, your faith, your family would be forever changed.  It truly made me ponder how I would have responded if I were in Mitch’s position.  There are several twists and turns along the way which greatly enhances the readers’ experience.  I appreciated the author’s note at the end where she basically said that this side of heaven we will never understand why God allows tragedy in our lives but we can always trust that He is our comforter and Redeemer of lives.  In the world there will be trouble but if we build our life around Christ it is redemptive and meaningful.  What great insight! Deborah Raney is one of those authors who not only gives you a great story, but also causes you to be challenged as you read.

*This complimentary copy was provided by Howard Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Print Length: 368 pages
Publisher: Howard Books; Original edition (May 14, 2013)
ISBN-10:  1416599975
ISBN-13:   978-1416599975

For more information about this book or the authors other books, I invite you to visit her website at http://deborahraney.blogspot.com/

TALON by Ronie Kendig

Aspen Courtland wants to find out what really happened to her twin brother, Austin.  The only thing she has left of him is his traumatized combat tracking dog, Talon.  Although Aspen is Talon’s new handler, he would still remember Austin’s scent and may be able to find him if he is alive.   Enter Dane Markoski.  He also wants to find Austin and is asked to work with Aspen.  The connection is immediate but Dane wants nothing to with it.  Aspen has no idea who he really is but he knows that when she finds out she’ll run the other way.  Aspen knows there is more to Dane than meets the eye but she can’t deny how he makes her feel.  Danger lurks at every turn on this mission.  Success or failure depends a lot on Talon.  Will he find the courage to use his tracking ability one more time in a hostile area?

Get ready for an action packed, roller coaster ride!  Talon, the second book in the A Breed Apart Series offers up the rapid fire fiction this author’s famous for.  Having read Trinity I was looking forward to Talon and I have to say that though I really liked both stories, Talon is my favorite so far.  I loved getting to know Aspen and Dane.  Aspen has lots of grit yet also has a tender heart.  She’s just someone you want to get to know.  Dane is a complex tortured hero who definitely stole my heart.  The romantic tension was great!  I liked the reminder that in Christ we are a new creation.  That doesn’t mean we don’t struggle with our past but we have a God who allows us a new beginning.  I loved seeing the team together again.  I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between Timbrel and Candyman and can’t wait to see what happens with them in Beowulf.  Hoorah!!!  Talon comes highly recommended by this reader or any of Ronie Kendig’s books for that matter!!

*This complimentary copy was provided by Barbour through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review* 

Paperback: 352 pages 
Publisher: Barbour Books (May 5, 2013) 
ISBN-10: 1616266015 
ISBN-13: 978-1616266011

For more information about this book or the author’s other books I recommend you visit her website at http://roniekendig.com/

ROSEMARY COTTAGE by Colleen Coble

Rosemary Cottage is a charming place to be on Hope Island. Amy Lang has a lot of happy memories there with her family (especially her brother Ben). Now, however, Amy has come there to grieve the loss of Ben but also to find out what really happened to him. She’s also considering moving her midwife practice to the Island. Curtis Ireland works for the Coast Guard and is grieving the loss of his sister while raising her daughter, Raine. Amy and Curtis are drawn to each other but each has secrets. Will their secrets drive them apart when revealed? As they investigate and dig further into the truth about the death of their siblings, they find they’ve opened Pandora ’s Box. Sometimes the truth can hurt, or even kill.

This is one of those stories that once you pick it up it’s hard to put down. It’s loaded with twists and turns that take you down unexpected paths, which is always a treat. I enjoyed getting to know Amy and Curtis. Both are loyal and faith-driven people who care deeply about others. If you’ve read Tidewater Inn, (book 1 in the Hope Beach Series) you’ll be happy to know that Alec and Libby are very much a part of this story. It was fun catching up with them. You’ll find danger, suspense, romance and an ending that was both expected and unexpected. I think this author did a great job of showing the effects of sin and greed in a person’s life but also how God can change a heart. But unfortunately, though a heart is changed, there are still consequences to our behavior. If you enjoy a good romantic suspense then head on over to Hope Island. If you’ve never visited there before I recommend you start with Tidewater Inn, followed by a visit to Rosemary Cottage.

*This complimentary copy was provided by Thomas Nelson through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (July 9, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10 1595547827
ISBN-13 978-1595547828