Book Review ~ Seagrass Pier by Colleen Coble

 

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 Blurb:

 

 In a secluded corner of Hope Beach, one woman must decipher a stranger’s memories . . . before they cost her everything.

Elin Summerall was one of the lucky ones. Not only did she get a heart transplant, but the donor was a perfect fit. A miraculously perfect fit.

But when Elin begins having violent flashbacks—and vivid dreams of being strangled—she realizes that she has been the recipient of more than just a new heart . . . Elin is remembering her donor’s murder.

Her strange affliction has attracted some unwanted attention: from the press, from the authorities . . . and from the killer himself. Now, living alone with her young daughter and aging mother, Elin is being stalked—by a man she’s only met in her nightmares.

The police are dubious of her story, but one off-duty FBI agent agrees to help her: Agent Marc Everton.

Now, in a remote cottage on Hope Island, Elin and Marc must probe the secrets buried in her borrowed heart. And there’s no time to waste. One man is desperate to silence her—before she remembers too much.

My Thoughts:

 

Colleen Coble does not disappoint!  This book was so interesting.

I always love revisiting places I've read about in prior books of a series.  This is the 3rd book in the Hope Beach series and I loved them all.

There was an interesting plot of  "cell memory", where the recipient of a transplant has memories that belonged to the organ donor.  I don't know how much credence I give this theory but it made for interesting reading.

There were times throughout the story where I just couldn't believe that the main characters weren't more scared or leery.  There many threatening notes but the characters kept plugging away like it was nothing.

I enjoyed the plot twist that dealt with Josie, Elin's daughter.  I'm glad things came together the way they did.

This was a great romantic/suspense/mystery.  I can't wait to see what is next from this author!



Colletta

Book Review ~ Gabriel's Atonement by Vickie McDonough ~ 12/11/18

 

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 Blurb:

 

 All Gabe Coulter ever wanted was to live a comfortable life as a successful gambler, but a confrontation with a disgruntled cowboy who’d just lost to Gabe leads to a family man dying in his arms. Even though it was self-defense, the only way Gabe knows to get rid of his guilt is to return the money he won to the man’s wife.

Lara Talbot sees Gabe as a derelict like her husband and wants nothing to do with him. But as she struggles to provide for her family and makes plans to claim property in the upcoming Oklahoma land rush, she wonders if God might have sent the meddling gambler to help.

My Thoughts:

 

As the first book in the Land Rush Dreams series, this book was just OK for me.

It was rather slow-moving and dry.  The author kept introducing new characters and it got a bit confusing keeping them all straight especially when I wanted to be reading about the main characters.

I really liked the idea of a gambler who changes his ways because of a death-bed promise he made to his mother.  Gabe was a likable character despite his profession.

I wanted to like Lara's character but she just fell flat for me.

I have book three of the series on my shelf but I might just gift it to a reader friend of mine along with this one.  Hopefully, she'll enjoy it more than I did.

Sorry for the bummer review, but I had to be honest :(

 



Colletta

Book Review ~ Weaver's Needle by Robin Caroll ~ 12/4/18

 

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 Blurb:

 

 Two recovery specialists.
One murder.
A hunt for the Dutchman's Lost Gold Mine becomes a race of survival.

Former Army MP Landry Parker fell into the recovery specialist role quite by accident—to help her ailing father. Now that she’s on her own, she is determined to prove herself and honor her family legacy.

After being shot in the line of duty, former police officer Nickolai Baptiste became a recovery specialist, and he’s good at his job—maybe even the best.
      
A potential client pits Landry and Nickolai against one another to find the Dutchman’s Lost Gold Mine map that was stolen from her murdered husband, and the potential payday is too enticing to pass up. The trail takes them from New Orleans to Weaver’s Needle in Arizona where legend claims the mine is hidden. Landry and Nickolai are no strangers to adventure, but the unlikely partners quickly discover there’s someone after the treasure and there are those who want to ensure the lost mine in Arizona’s Superstition Mountain stays lost forever.

Can Landry and Nickolai work together despite their distrust of each other to save the legend before more innocent lives are lost? Will they find the real treasure isn’t the gold, but something more valuable. . .true love and understanding? 

My Thoughts:

 

I don't think I've ever read a book involving recovery specialists or a modern day treasure hunt complete with treasure maps and clues.  This book was so much fun to read!

 

I loved the competition between Landry and Nickolai as well as their verbal sparring with each other.  Their dynamic with each other was very well written.

 

I couldn't for the life of me figure out for sure who the bad guy actually was.  That is a big plus for me when reading a mystery.

 

The setting was amazing.  It was so interesting to read about the Superstition Mountains and the history and culture of that area.  The author did an amazing job of writing it into the story.

 

I've read other Robin Caroll books but nothing like this one.

 

Loved the ending and the whole book!

 



Colletta

Thankful Thursday ~ 9/27/18

~Last weekend instead of going out to a movie for Family Night (there just wasn't anything we wanted to see), we  instead got our go to snacks and stayed in for a rousing night of Skipbo!  If you've never played, it is a card game and the more people that play the harder it is to get a chance to play your cards.  When 2 people play it goes pretty fast.  With all four of us playing it took a bit longer and there were many times where everyone's play was covered up before they got a chance to play their top card!  We had a good time and are planning on playing again this weekend :)

~I finally finished reading a book!  I even took the time to write the review and post it.  I also wrote a post about the "Race to the Finish" of my Goodreads Challenge.  I now have 16 more books to read before the end of the year if I want to complete the challenge!  I think I need to start going to bed earlier and taking my book with me for an hour of reading before lights-out :)

~We're all taking our turn at coming down with a miserable cold.  Mine started Sunday night and is just getting bearable today.  That made for some down days and staying in my PJ's all day :)

~I am loving the new candles that are coming out in stores!  Anything pumpkin or spice are A-OK in my book :)  Right now I'm burning a Pumpkin Crumb Cake candle and it is smelling delicious in here  :)

~Laken is taking the Hunter's Safety Course in School this week!  I don't really know why because I don't think the child could ever shoot any animal.  She's such a softy.   But her friends were taking it and her Daddy was supportive so there it is.  The Hubby is more than excited to be talking hunting stats with his little girl.  The newest thing is looking through catalogs and picking out equipment and new guns to buy.  I really don't think it will happen, but it is making them happy :)

What are you thankful for today?

 

Colletta



Race to the Finish ~ My 2018 Goodread Reading Challenge

 

 

According to the Goodreads 2018 Reading Challenge page there are exactly 103 days and 7 hours left until the Challenge is over.

 

That is just a little over 3 months!  Yikes!

 

If you're like me, you either are on schedule or a little behind schedule to finish.  Some of you may be ahead of schedule (GO YOU!). 

 

Me:  I'm 5 books behind schedule and that is even after knocking 12 books off my goal.  I had started out with a goal of 52 books but that just wasn't going to happen.  If I wanted even the smallest hope of finishing the Challenge, I had to cut back my goal.  I hated to do it but there you have it.

 

I have 17 books to read in 14 weeks.

 

The way I've been reading lately, it is going to take every. last. minute.

 

To hold myself accountable and try to get psyched for the final 17 books of the year, I decided to use this post to keep track of my "Race to the Finish".

 

 

 

I plan to link up reviews as I write them as I head to the finish line.

 

1.  Deadly Encounter by DiAnn Mills - 9/21/18

 

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 How are you doing on your Race to the Finish?  I'd love to know how many books you have left to reach your goal.  If you'd like to join in with me to finish strong, write a blog post and leave a link in the comments. 

 

 

Colletta