It Happens In A Book

  Lights Out by Natalie Walters      CIA analyst Brynn Taylor developed a new program to combat terrorism, and she invited members of foreign intelligence agencies to America to foster cooperation between countries. Now one of them, Egyptian spy Remon Riad, is missing.      Jack Hudson has been working for the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency (SNAP) for almost nine years and takes the lead in hunting down the missing spy. But he isn't at all pleased to find out Brynn is involved. It's hard to trust a woman who's already betrayed you.      Every lead they follow draws them dangerously deeper into an international plot. Kidnapping, murder, explosions, poisoning--the terrorists will do anything to accomplish their goal of causing a digital blackout that will blind a strategic US military communications center and throw the world into chaos.      Can Brynn surrender control to a man who doesn't trust her? And can...

  Tacos for Two by Betsy St. Amant      Food truck owner Rory Perez may not be able to cook, but she’s determined to keep the family business out of the red.  An upcoming contest during a food truck festival seems like the best way to do it.  The prize money could finally give her solid financial footing, freeing up her time to meet the man she’s been talking to via an anonymous online dating site.      Jude Strong is tired of being a puppet at his manipulative father’s law firm, and the food truck festival seems like the perfect opportunity to dive into his passion for cooking and finally call his life his own.  If he loses the contest, he’ll be back at the law firm for good, so failure is not an option.      But things are about to get complicated.  Rory’s chef gets mono, forcing her to cook after all.  And Jude discovers that his stiffest competition is the same woman he’s been failing for online.  Wi...

  A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano All theater romances are tragedies. Ella Blythe knows this. Still, she cannot help but hope her own story may turn out different than most--and certainly different than the tragic story of the Ghost of Craven Street Theater. Yet as she struggles to maintain her tenuous place in the ever-shrinking ballet company, win the attentions of principal dancer Philippe, and avoid company flirt Jack, Ella cannot deny the uncanny feeling that her life is mirroring that of the dead ballerina. Is she dancing ever closer to the edge of her own tragic end? Or will the secrets that are about to come to light offer release from the past? This was the second book I have read by Joanna Davidson Politano ( The Love Note ) and once again, I loved it! A Midnight Dance gave me some mega Phantom of the Opera vibes (which means it is awesome :)). I loved how easily the author was able to describe the dances portrayed in the book. Also, the conflict between the ...

  A Christmas in the Alps by Melody Carlson      After a time of heartache and loss, Simone Winthrop discovers a tantalizing letter from her French great-grandmother, which seems to suggest that she is heir to a family treasure. Ever practical, Simone assumes the claim is baseless, but her best friend encourages her to find out for sure. Despite her deep-rooted fear of flying, Simone boards a jet to travel to Paris at Christmastime to uncover the truth.      During the long flight, Simone meets the charming Kyle Larsson, who's on his way to France to become an apprentice clockmaker. Though they abruptly part ways, an unexpected rendezvous in the French Alps at Simone's family's clock factory may lead to the discovery of the family treasure . . . and so much more.      For anyone who is wearying of staying home, Melody Carlson invites you to spend Christmas with her in the beautiful French Alps this year. So pull on your mittens, tie your...

  Beyond the Tides by Liz Johnson    When Meg Whitaker's father decides to sell the family's lobster-fishing business to her high school nemesis, she sets out to prove she should inherit it instead. Though she's never had any interest in running the small fleet--or even getting on a boat due to her persistent seasickness--she can't stand to see Oliver Ross take over. Not when he ruined her dreams for a science scholarship and an Ivy League education ten years ago.    Oliver isn't proud of what he did back then. Angry and broken by his father walking out on his family, he lashed out at Meg--an innocent bystander. But owning a respected fishing fleet on Prince Edward Island is the opportunity of a lifetime, and he's not about to walk away just because Meg wants him to.    Meg's father has the perfect solution: Oliver and Meg must work the business together, and at the end of the season, he'll decide who gets it. Along the way, they may discover that thei...

  The Chase by Lisa Harris      US Marshal Madison James may not be sure who shot her three months ago, but she does know one thing--it's time to get back out into the field. When her partner, Jonas Quinn, receives a message that a federal warrant just came in on a man connected to a string of bank robberies, Madison jumps at the chance to get back to work. What she and Jonas find is a bank robbery in progress that's gone wrong--and things are about to get worse.      For these bank robbers, it's never been just about the money. It's about taking risks and adrenaline rushes, and getting caught is not part of the game. When the suspects escape, Madison and Jonas must hunt them down and bring them to justice before someone else--someone close to them--gets hurt . . . or worse.      From Seattle to the San Juan Islands, bestselling author Lisa Harris takes you on a nonstop chase where feelings are complicated and failure isn't an option. To...

  Come Back to Me by Jody Hedlund      The ultimate cure that could heal any disease? Crazy.      That's exactly what research scientist Marian Creighton has always believed about her father's quest, even if it does stem from a desire to save her sister Ellen from the genetic disease that stole their mother from them. But when her father falls into a coma after drinking a vial of holy water believed to contain traces of residue from the Tree of Life, Marian must question all of her assumptions. He's left behind tantalizing clues that suggest he's crossed back in time. Insane. Until Marian tests his theories and finds herself in the Middle Ages during a dangerous peasant uprising.      William Durham, a valiant knight comes to Marian's rescue and offers her protection . . . as his wife. The longer Marian stays in the past, the more she cares about William. Can she ever find her father and make it back to the present to heal her sister? An...

Never Miss by Melissa Koslin      Former CIA sniper Kadance Tolle possesses a special set of skills and a rare pedigree. She comes from a family of assassins, and by saving Lyndon Vaile's life she risks being found by them. Despite the danger, Kadance feels compelled to help Lyndon discover who is after him--and his research that seems to prove that the Ebola virus was manmade and is about to be weaponized.      With shadowy figures pursuing them and a Mastermind watching their every move, Kadance and Lyndon must scramble to stop an impending bioattack at the State of the Union address. But their warnings fall on deaf ears, and it becomes increasingly clear that there's no one they can trust--except perhaps each other.      Strap in for a breakneck story that will have you up all night, hurtling toward the last page as the clock ticks and time runs out. Like the last review, this was the first book I have read by this author and I am official...

  The Paris Betrayal by James Hannibal      After a rough mission in Rome involving the discovery of a devastating bioweapon, Company spy Ben Calix returns to Paris to find his perfectly ordered world has collapsed. A sniper attack. An ambush. A call for help that brings French SWAT forces down on his head. Ben is out. This is a severance--reserved for incompetents and traitors.      Searching for answers and anticipating a coming attack, Ben and a woman swept up in his misfortunes must travel across Europe to find the sniper who tried to kill him, the medic who saved his life, the schoolmaster who trained him, and an upstart hacker from his former team. More than that, Ben must come to grips with his own insignificance as the Company's plan to stop Leviathan from unleashing the bioweapon at any cost moves forward without him--and he struggles against the infection that is swiftly claiming territory within his own body. This is the first book I have re...

  Help Her Be Brave by Amy Ford What if we lived in a world where every woman with an unplanned pregnancy always felt empowered to choose life for her unborn baby? To create that kind of change, it will take all of us. As the church, we can play a powerful role in making abortion unthinkable. With Help Her Be Brave, you can discover your part in saving lives and find your pro-life passion. This was a great book! In each chapter the author explained a story or example of a girl or woman going through a certain problem that went with the chapter's theme. At the end of each chapter, Amy Ford listed out ways that each of us could get involved in the pro-life (or pro-LOVE) movement. Throughout the book, Amy Ford points out that at the foundation of every abortion decision is fear: fear of disappointment, fear of the future, fear of rejection. It is our job in the pro-life/pro-LOVE movement to show these girls that they are loved. No matter what mistakes they have made, we will love them...

Present Danger by Elizabeth Goddard Former FBI Special Agent Jack Tanner is working as a detective in Montana when he comes across a body in the national forest during a search and rescue mission. He's committed to finding the killer, even if it means working alongside his old flame, US Forest Service Special Agent Terra Connors. When Terra discovers that the murder victim had ties to a powerful and dangerous trafficker of archaeological artifacts, the investigation takes a deadly turn--one that hits too close to home. As Terra fears she lacks the courage to face what comes next, Jack is more determined than ever to protect her. But he's failed her before. And if he fails this time, it will cost them far more than just their hearts. Join bestselling and award-winning author Elizabeth Goddard as she plunges you into a web of deceit made of hidden crimes, open threats, and long-buried family secrets in this gripping first book of an explosive new series. I really enjoyed reading ...

 Another piece of my story, at last! I know that what I have posted so far needs a TON of editing and fixing, but I was wondering what you all thought of the pacing. (and not the pace at which I post the story lol) Is the plot going too slowly, too fast, or just the right pace? Anyway, let's get to the story! Chapter Five Intrigue filled me, wondering at Tara’s cryptic words. She had shown up at the bakery, trying to act nonchalant, but I could sense the excitement that bubbled up within her. She had leaned against the counter and, with a twinkle in her eyes, told me to meet her in the ballroom at exactly six-o-clock. After I begged for a hint as to what the surprise was, she mentioned that dinner would be provided. Then, as if a last-minute thought, she suggested that I wear something nice. I stood in front of the cracker mirror in the hallway of the apartment building I lived in, debating with myself whether or not to wear my new dress from Henry. It sure was beautiful. But would...

 I really need to make this a habit...:-) Here's another part of the story! The rest of the day they spent wandering through the city and it's numerous parks, but their never-ending conversation had moved on to lighter topics. They were walking past a clothing store when Cassie stopped and gasped. “I just realized something. I can’t go to Tara’s party.” Henry pulled her out of the flow of people to the wall of the store. “Why not?” “I don’t have anything to wear.” She had sounded so perplexed, he had expected her to have an important and serious reason. Only women… “Are you serious?” “Yes.” Her eyebrows furrowed together, making creases in her forehead. “I can’t wear this-” She gestured to the navy blue suit she wore. “And I don’t have anything nicer.” “I think you look nice,” Henry offered, hoping to make her blush. She just glared at him and he held his hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay. There’s a clothing store right here. Why don’t you pick something out?” “Are you serious...

  Unknown Threat by Lynn H. Blackburn      US Secret Service Special Agent Luke Powell is lucky to be alive. Three of his fellow agents have died in unusual circumstances in the past ten weeks. Luke is devastated by the loss of his friends and colleagues, and his inability to locate the killer feels like a personal failure. He's an expert at shielding others, but now the protectors are in need of protection.      FBI Special Agent Faith Malone is driven to succeed and confident in her ability to solve every case she's assigned. She's been put in charge of the investigation into the unprecedented attacks, and with Luke's life in danger, the stakes have never been higher. But it's hard to know how to fight back when you don't know who the enemy is.      As more agents are targeted, Luke and Faith will have to work together to bring a killer to justice and prevent any more names from joining their fallen brothers and sisters on the Secret S...

It's a little late (or a lot...lol) but here's another part of my story! Chapter Four Henry had gone as long as he could before anyone asked about medical school. And, of course, it was his mother. She practically cornered him in the hall, since she probably knew that would be the only way to get him to talk to her. He’d been avoiding her as much as possible since he had returned home. She clearly had noticed. “What are your plans for the future, son?” How could he explain that practicing medicine had lost its spark? That he couldn’t go a minute without thinking about his father whenever he stepped into a hospital? Or that being a doctor without his father beside him seemed pointless and futile? “Medical school, I guess. What else would I do?” His mother drifted into silence but didn’t move away. “I’m not blind, you know,” she said after a while. “I can see you’ve been avoiding me.” “Yes, I know. And I’m sorry. It's just… everything has changed and I don’t know how to fix i...

  When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin      Munich, 1938. Evelyn Brand is an American foreign correspondent as determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession as she is to expose the growing tyranny in Nazi Germany. To do so, she must walk a thin line. If she offends the government, she could be expelled from the country--or worse. If she fails to truthfully report on major stories, she'll never be able to give a voice to the oppressed--and wake up the folks back home.      In another part of the city, American graduate student Peter Lang is working on his PhD in German. Disillusioned with the chaos in the world due to the Great Depression, he is impressed with the prosperity and order of German society. But when the brutality of the regime hits close, he discovers a far better way to use his contacts within the Nazi party--to feed information to the shrewd reporter he can't get off his mind.      This electric standalone no...

Here's another section of Always and Forever! If you missed the last sections or if you want to just reread any part, I have tagged each part under Always and Forever on the left sidebar.   The next day, as five-o-clock neared, I found myself constantly checking the clock, then the door, and back again. Unchecked nervousness sent flutters through my stomach. Leanne came to tell me she had to leave a little early; a hair appointment. But I could tell from the blush on her face that she had a date. The mysterious Joe, I assumed. He had become quite a regular, and he always asked for “Miss Leanne.” Whenever he walked in the front door, Leanne would turn into a young schoolgirl. Not that I was much better, I chided myself when I found myself staring at the door expectantly. Again. In my defense, there wasn’t anything else to do. No customers; it was too late in the day to bake something. So I sat on the little stool and- The bell above the door sounded and, though I was staring ri...

  Active Defense by Lynette Eason As a former field surgeon in Afghanistan, Heather Fontaine is used to life-or-death situations. She just didn't expect them to follow her home. When she returns from a party to find that someone has broken into her house--and threatened her friends--she assumes it is the stalker who has been following her and creeping her out. She hopes to find safety and peace of mind by leaving the city and hiding out in a small town. But trouble has followed her even there. Luckily, a stalker isn't the only one watching Heather. Travis Walker has been secretly watching out for her for weeks. As owner of his own security agency, it's what he does. Together, Travis and Heather must figure out who wants her dead--and why--before it's too late. Bestselling and award-winning author Lynette Eason will have you looking over your shoulder as you dive into this fast-paced, suspense-filled story about losing control and finding something even better. I loved r...

 It's been over two weeks since I posted part 6, but I was all caught up on what I had written and didn't take any time to write more. But this week I got on it and finished typing out what I had (because pen and paper is where it's at 😀). Anyway, here is the beginning of chapter three!  “What do you think?” Tara stood over my shoulder, tousling my freshly shampooed hair.  I didn’t know what to think. I hardly recognized myself. My once long, blonde locks were now clipped to just barely touch my shoulder. Tara’s maid slowly demonstrated the proper ways to style my new hairdo and the techniques of putting on makeup until I felt I could redo the look on my own. “I… I look so different.”  “You look absolutely gorgeous, that’s what. I wish my hair were as curl-able as yours. I can hardly do anything with this.” She pulled on one of the naturally tight, red curls that framed her cheeks. “What are you talking about? Your hair is lovely.”  “Agree to disagree. Come on,...

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas/New Year's! I know I did :) Here is another part of Always and Forever. Since it has been a while, if you want to review the last section of the story, I tagged them all under "Always and Forever" on the left sidebar. Enjoy :)  Before he could make a reply, John pulled the car up to the back entrance which was usually reserved for the staff although Henry preferred it to the impressive, overbearing front entrance. Henry burst from the car, leaving his luggage for John, and hurried up the back steps. A blast of humid air made his hair immediately stick to his forehead. Betsy, the dear old cook, was hovering over a large pot on the elaborate cook-stove.  “Still slaving away over your famous stew, I see, miss Betsy.”  The large, colored lady turned with a startled expression, the soup ladle still in her grasp. “Why, master Henry. I didn’t know you were expected home anytime soon.” A laugh bubbled from his chest. “I was hoping to surpr...