"Secrets of the Lighthouse" by Santa Montefiore

“Secrets of the Lighthouse” transports you from your favorite reading spot to beautiful Connemara, Ireland- a lush land of rolling hills where the mist rolls off the coast while the deceased watch over their loved ones longing to be with them again fueling the mystical stories of fairies and leprechauns.

Ellen Trawton had enough of her claustrophobic, aristocratic life in London and escapes to her mother’s homeland, a secret her mother thought she had carefully guarded, to break the chains of her past and embrace her future of writing and figuring out who she is, not who her mother wants her to be. As Ellen detoxes from city life and adjusts to life in the country, she discovers a family she never knew of and a lighthouse that guards Connemara and harbors deep intrigue. Ellen is drawn to the lighthouse’s past and the mystery of Caitlin, a young local who met her end at the lighthouse. Years later, the locals at the local pub, Pot of Gold, are still gossiping about whether or not Caitlin was murdered or if hers was an accidental death. If rumors can be trusted, her spirit still lingers, roaming over the hills between the lighthouse and her home watching over her husband and children.

Santa Montefiore uses descriptive, flowing language to paint a gorgeous story in “Secrets of the Lighthouse” full of heart-warming, tangible characters that make you want to meet and share a pint with at the Pot of Gold. Hearts that long for beautiful lands and romantic stories will find a treasure in “Secrets of the Lighthouse.”

"Sisters of Treason" by Elizabeth Fremantle

“Sisters of Treason” takes us back in time to the day of the Tudors’ reign in England and allows us to have a front-row seat to watch the horrors of history.

Elizabeth Fremantle takes English history and brings it to life with her own fictional rendition of history. She breathes life into a time full of death and fear of the throne as the reader immediately witnesses the beheading of Lady Jane Grey- the price of being heir to the throne. Fremantle then focuses on the reigns of Queen Mary, known as Bloody Mary to most, and her sister Queen Elizabeth, while their heirs, the Grey sisters, try to live out their lives as normally as possible without causing the Queens to fear for their throne and sentence them to the same fate that their sister met.

“Sisters of Treason” is detailed and emotional… and educational. I learned about Bloody Mary and the Grey family, mere fictional legends if you don’t know their true history. Readers who have a passion for historical fiction, particularly English historical fiction, will not be able to put “Sisters of Treason” down.

"Set-Apart Motherhood" by Leslie Ludy

I jumped into new territory for me this go-around. I am not a parent, I don't even have children in my forseeable future, but I've admired Leslie Ludy in the past. Why not give her newest book about motherhood a chance? I’ve always appreciated the insight that Leslie Ludy brings to the Christian community. Now that Leslie has entered the realm of parenthood, she brings her wisdom to other parents striving to raise their families the best they can. “Set-Apart Motherhood” encourages moms to step up and not fall for the deception that familial life has to be messy and chaotic. Leslie does well at keeping the chapters short and succinct, wrapping them up with some questions to reflect on and Scriptures to chew on. For moms with busy schedules, this could operate as an excellent devotional. The one reservation I had was that it felt as if Leslie was painting this ultra-conservative way to have the perfect family with all your ducks in a row along with the perfect house. It honestly felt a little unattainable to me; however, she mentions multiple times that it’s by the grace of God that order is achieved. As long as you hold on to the “grace of God” mantra, Leslie’s advice is very helpful and encouraging. When this title is released on July 1st, I'd welcome your feedback. What did you think? Encouraging or unrealistic?

"The Skeleton Crew: How Amateur Sleuths are Solving America's Coldest Cases" by Deborah Halber

On July 1st, Deborah Halber is releasing an interesting book called "The Skeleton Crew: How Amateur Sleuths Are Solving America's Coldest Cases."

Deborah Halber delves into the taboo world of cold cases and their unidentified victims. With an approximated 40,000 nameless Does in America today, the task of solving cold cases is overwhelming and overtaxing to already inundated law enforcement agencies. Web sleuths, regular joes trying their hand at DIY-CSI, use the internet to troll for missing persons hoping to give identities back to the unidentified victims who have slipped through the cracks.

Though the topic of “The Skeleton Crew” is an interesting one, the technicality of the book was wanting. Halber does a good job identifying many cases and key players in the realm of web sleuthing, but the excessive names and jumping from case to case and back left me confused. The book, though well-researched, didn’t flow particularly well.

Overall, I enjoyed learning about those who work hard to bring home the unidentified. It’s a scary realization that thousands are lying unnamed in America’s morgues.

"Don't Talk to Strangers" by Amanda Kyle Williams

Amanda Kyle Williams crafts an excellent psychological thriller in “Don’t Talk to Strangers.” It’s one of those books that left me checking over my shoulder every few minutes but not hesitating long enough to put it down. This well-written book follows the case of a killer who kidnaps young girls and leaves them for dead through the eyes of “former criminal investigative analyst” Keye Street.

Dr. Street takes the entire book to aid Sheriff Meltzer in the search for this twisted psycho. A new face in a town where everyone knows everyone and does not welcome strangers, Street’s job is not easy. Putting herself in the mind of the killer is no piece of cake either. If you like the ups and downs of figuring out murder mysteries and can stomach the tough topic, this book comes highly recommended. Do note- it’s not for the faint of heart that like their stories neatly packaged and wrapped up.

I’m hoping to be able to read more of Amanda Kyle Williams’ novels in the future.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Edeilweiss book review bloggers program. 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.”