What the Bishop Saw

(The Amish Bishop Mysteries #1)

by Vannetta Chapman

Description

Somewhere in the Embers Lies the Truth

A fire blazes out of control in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, leaving an elderly Amish bachelor dead. Bishop Henry Lapp rushes to the scene, and he learns the fire was no accident. Someone intended to kill Vernon Frey. But who would want to kill Vernon? Well, practically everyone—Amish and Englisch alike.

When the police point the finger at a suspect Henry knows is innocent, the bishop must decide whether or not to use his mysterious, God-given gift—one he's tried desperately to ignore all these years—to try and set the record straight. His close friend and neighbor, Emma, encourages Henry to follow God's leading.

Could the clue to solving the case be locked somewhere deep in his memory? Will Henry find the courage to move forward in faith and put the right person behind bars? Is his friendship with Emma becoming something more?

What the Bishop Saw is a story of extraordinary talents, the bonds of love and friendship, and the unfailing grace of God.

Biography

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She has published more than one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Her novel Falling to Pieces was a 2012 ACFW Carol Award winner. A Promise for Miriam earned a spot on the June 2012 Christian Retailing Top Ten Fiction list. Anna's Healing was a 2015 Carol Award finalist. Chapman writes Amish romance, Amish cozy mysteries, and Christian dystopian (suspense). Chapman was a teacher for 15 years and currently writes full time. She lives in the Texas hill country with her husband. For more information, visit her at www.VannettaChapman.com 

My thoughts ~

Amish Bishop, Henry Lapp, has a incredible gift that has been useful in investigating an arsonist in their community. As a member of the community is suspect for setting these fires, Bishop Lapp is not convinced of his guilt.

Action packed and at times disheartening, the fires continue. Characterization is very well defined, as well as visual portrayals of this Colorado community. 

Consumed by the events in this creative novel, I am once again impressed by the author's talent to bring her characters to life. I'm looking forward to the sequels in this series. Vannetta Chapman never disappoints!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as a gift, and was not expected to post a positive review. All expressed opinions are my own. 

Love's Winter Hope

An Eagle Harbor Novel #5

by Naomi Rawlings

Description

Journey back to a time when neighbors knew each other's names, and a handshake meant a person's honor. The bestselling Eagle Harbor Series continues with Book 5, Love’s Winter Hope. 

When Jessalyn Dowrick’s husband left her and their three daughters to head west five years earlier, she had no choice but to pick up the pieces of her broken life and continue without him, eventually supporting herself as Eagle Harbor’s seamstress, and secretly hoping her husband would return. But days soon slipped into months, and months into years, all without word of Thomas or a cent of the money he’d promised to send. 

While working day and night to build a new life that his wife would be proud of, Thomas wrote Jessalyn every week, asking her to come to South Dakota. But she never arrived. In fact, she never answered a single one of his letters. When he returns to Eagle Harbor in search of answers, he finds a woman who thought him dead . . . and soon regrets he didn’t come after her earlier. 

As winter closes in and storms trap Thomas in town until the harbor opens in the spring, will he be able to convince his wife he’s worth a second chance? 

Come visit the historical town that readers can't get enough of. 

Eagle Harbor Series--Where Love Finds Its Anchor Book 1: Love's Unfading Light (Mac and Tressa) Book 2: Love's Every Whisper (Elijah and Victoria) Book 3: Love's Sure Dawn (Gilbert and Rebekah) Book 4: Love's Eternal Breath (Seth and Lindy) Book 5: Love's Constant Hope (Thomas and Jessalyn) Book 6: Love's Bright Tomorrow (Isaac and Aileen--winter 2018) Prequel Novella: Love's Violet Sunrise (Hiram and Mabel) Short Story: Love's Beginning (Elijah and Victoria)

Biography

Naomi Rawlings is the author of seven historical Christian novels, including the Amazon bestselling Eagle Harbor Series. While she'd love to claim she spends her days huddled in front of her computer vigorously typing, in reality, she spends her time homeschooling, cleaning, picking up, and pretending like her house isn't in a constant state of chaos. She lives with her husband and three children in Michigan's rugged Upper Peninsula, along the southern shore of Lake Superior where they get 200 inches of snow every year, and where people still grow their own vegetables and cut down their own firewood--just like in the historical novels she writes.

My thoughts ~

Eagle Harbor's rescue team once again saves the life of a former resident who nearly drowns. After a five year absence from his family, his wife is not open to welcoming him with open arms, and with good reason.

As in previous novels in this series, past characters are included which brings continuity regarding the characters who reside in Eagle Harbor. I love that about this series. I enjoy reading about the development of past characters and their families as another focus family is featured each time. Character development is very well done, with realistic personalities and events revealed. The locale is portrayed in vivid descriptions, placing the reader into the spirit of life in the upper peninsula of Michigan, along the shores of Lake Superior.

I highly recommend this most recent novel in this series. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as a gift, with no expectations for a positive review. All expressed opinions are my own.

Dangerous Testimony

(Pacific Coast Private Eyes)

by Dana Mentink

Description

LAST WITNESS STANDING 

Four weeks before she's set to testify at a gang murder trial, someone is determined to make sure that Candace Gallagher Andrews never takes the stand. When nowhere is safe for the private investigator or her little girl, Candace turns to the only person she can trust—longtime friend and former navy SEAL Marco Quidel. For Marco, protecting Candace is not just another duty. As the trial date nears and the killer stalks ever closer, Marco knows fear for the first time—the fear of losing Candace and her daughter. But while Marco begins seeing Candace as more than just a friend, her late husband's memory is never far from her mind. So he must keep Candace alive—and not get emotionally involved—long enough to put away a killer.

Biography

Dana is an award winning author of Christian fiction. Her novel, Betrayal in the Badlands, won a 2010 Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, and she was pleased to win the 2013 Carol Award for Lost Legacy and a Holt Medallion Merit Award. She's authored more than twelve novels to date for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line. Dana loves feedback from her readers. Contact her at www.danamentink.com

My thoughts ~

The Pacific Coast Private Eyes series has been suspenseful and fast paced from the very first book to the last in the series. Dangerous Testimony ends this series and is no disappointment! I'm sorry to see this series end. Dana Mentink has a talent for increasing your heart rate and making you want to read faster to find out what lurks around the next corner. 

The Gallagher family is very well defined, and after reading the four books in this series I feel as if I know the family personally. This last suspense novel involves Candace and her family. Danger lurks at every turn as she is the last witness scheduled to testify at a gang murder trial. Someone wants her out of the picture before the trial begins. Trouble propels, and the pace doesn't abate as Candace fights to save her own life and that of her young daughter.

Suspense is the substance that keeps this story moving. If you love mysteries and danger this book is for you. I recommend reading the entire series. You won't be disappointed!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as a gift. All expressed opinions are my own.