"Taken" by Dee Henderson

Shannon Bliss went missing as a teen and now, eleven years later, has managed to escape from her captors and is trying to put her life back together. Matthew Dane is a private investigator who has personal experience dealing with helping victims piece their lives back together and find healing.

“Taken” followed the same feel as Dee Henderson’s most recent books. The book surprised me, because it didn’t have a clear climax that I anticipated. It moved along at a comfortable clip and kept me from putting it down, but the lack of conflict that I’ve come to expect wasn’t there. The characters were well-written, and I applauded Shannon’s constant faith despite her chaotic past.

This book is great for reader who have enjoyed her past three books; however, if you are wanting a page-turner with danger and suspense, this book isn’t for you.

"Raptor 6" by Ronie Kendig

“Raptor 6” begins the start of Ronie Kendig’s newest series, “Quiet Professionals.” Captain Dean Watters comes to the forefront in this novel as the fearless leader who has earned the admiration and respect of his team. Zahrah Zarrick, a local opinionated Afghani missionary, turns his world (and heart) upside down when she doesn’t take orders as easily as his team and becomes a target of local terrorists.

Ronie proves her knowledge of military life as she creates an intense world in Afghanistan where a computer hacker is compromising the military’s secrets. Die-hard fans of Kendig won’t be disappointed with this fast-paced novel; however, readers new to Kendig will find certain scenes, particularly one with torture involved, harsh, abrasive, and the balance with romance a bit unrealistic. Even though this series isn’t off to the start I expected, it isn’t keeping me from eagerly anticipating the next one. November can’t get here soon enough with the continuation of the series in “Hawk.”

"Fives and Twenty-Fives" by Michael Pitre

They say that in combat, the team that you live, train, and fight with become closer to you than your own family. Michael Pitre creates a story that shows how important that bond of brotherhood is even after returning home. Using his own experience in the Marines, “Fives and Twenty-Fives” is a realistic, yet fictional story about three such brothers and how they try to piece together their lives after returning home from war. Flashbacks throughout the book show what their lives looked like during war.

This book is a good one for those who desire a real-life view of what the war in Iraq has looked like. The author’s own experience infuses the book with a rawness that is a good reminder that just because our soldiers return home, doesn’t mean the return home the same.

"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.”

Favorite Book by State

Earlier this month, Amazon released its list of favorite books by state since the beginning of this year.

Do you think this is an accurate representation? Have you read "The Fault in Our Stars" yet? What did you think?

"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.

Happy Summer!

Happy Summer, fellow bibliophiles! There's just something about summer that engages our imaginations even if we've passed the lackadaisical summer days of childhood. Summers have always included swimming, vacations, and plenty of reading. As we start summer 2014 off, I'm looking forward to the pile of books I've already accumulated. They will help propel me towards meeting my 2014 Reading Challenge. Where are you at in yours? If you haven't started yet, it's not too late.

I just finished "Sisters of Treason" which helped me check off number 7 of 25 for my challenge this year. Expect a review here on the bloggy here pretty soon.

Up next is "Fives and Twenty-Fives." If you've followed the blog at all recently, you've noticed that military fiction has captured my attention. I haven't served, but this genre helps keep me from becoming an apathetic American. I'm so grateful for those home and abroad. I know I'll never fully understand their sacrifice and their jobs, but I'm thankful nonetheless.

Since I'll probably blow through that one pretty quickly, I also have "Secrets of the Lighthouse" set aside and ready to go.

Do you have any books on your summer reading list that you're excited about?

Be blessed.