Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Not This Time



Not This Time

by Vicki Hinze

Book synopsis from the publisher:

Small town scandal. International terrorist attack. Who among them is the traitor? Sara and Beth have built a multi-million dollar business together, but their once solid friendship is now strained. Beth is leery of Sara's husband, and when he is kidnapped, authorities consider Beth their prime suspect. Then, their small town of Seagrove Village is rocked by an act of terrorism, and Beth doesn't know who to trust. Someone she knows is linked to the attack, but who? Is there a connection to Crossroads Crisis Center? In the midst of confusion and fear, Beth finds herself attracted to a man from her past. She knows she shouldn't fall in love with him, but she can't resist or even explain their bond. As her world unravels around her, she wonders, is it possible to be beyond redemption?

My take:

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Last year I read the first two books in the Crossroads Crisis Center series (read my review of Deadly Ties here), and loved them. It didn't take me very long into Not This Time to remember why I loved the first two books so much. Hinze is an expert at creating memorable and believable characters that stay in the mind long after the reader is finished with a book. All of the twists and turns with NINA (the terrorist organization in the book), Sara and Robert's relationship, and Beth and Joe's fledgling relationship had me turning pages (on my Kindle) as fast as I could to find out what would happen! I would highly recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys suspense!! This one gets a 5!

You can read the first chapter here: http://multnomahemails.com/wbmlt/pdf/NotThisTimeSneakPeek.pdf. Also, if you are interested in hearing what Vicki Hinze has to say about her book, you can listen to a podcast here: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/blog/2012/02/21/podcast-not-this-time-by-vicki-hinze/.


About the author:

Vicki Hinze is an award-winning author of multiple novels including Forget Me Not and Deadly Ties. Hinze's willingness to take risks in writing and genre has earned her a reputation for trail-blazing skill. She holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing and a Doctorate of Philosophy, Theocentric Business & Ethics and served as vice president on the International Thriller Writers Board of Directors. She lives in Florida with her husband. 


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

Friday, November 9, 2012

Almost Amish


















Almost Amish
by Kathryn Cushman

From the back cover:

Overcommitted and overwhelmed, Julie Charlton is at the breaking point. She knows she should feel blessed as a mother and wife - but she just feels exhausted. And then, the miraculous happens. Her sister-in-law Susan, a Martha Stewart-in-training, lands the chance to participate in a reality TV series about trying to live like the Amish and needs another family to join her. It's just the break Julie needs. But the summer adventure in simple living soon proves anything but simple. With the camera watching every move, Susan's drive for perfection feels a lot like what they left behind, while Julie suddenly finds herself needing to stand up for slowing down. Whether it's cooking, cleaning, or dressing differently, each new Amish challenge raises new complications...and soon each woman learns unexpected lessons about herself and her family.

My take:

When I first heard about this book, I was really interested in reading it. I have wondered at times what it would be like to live the Amish life and was curious to see how the author would portray a family doing just that. The book started out fairly interesting. I really was interested in Julie's story and how she was going to deal with Susan, her controlling sister-in-law. Then the further I got, the more drawn out the story seemed. By the time I was halfway through the book, I was ready for the story to be finished. While it wasn't an awful book, it just didn't keep my attention. I have to give this one 3 1/2 stars.


About the author:

Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy. She is the author of four previous novels including Leaving Yesterday and A Promise to Remember, which were both finalists for the Carol Award in Women's Fiction. Kathryn and her family currently live in Santa Barbara, CA. She enjoys hearing from readers at kathryncushman.com and on Facebook.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."