LOWCOUNTRY LOST by T. I. Lowe, Reviewed by Kim and Paula

KIM'S REVIEW:

I loved this story! The very first line sucked me in and I became so invested in these characters and their lives that I felt like I was living it with them. T. I. Lowe is one of my favorite authors so I expected nothing less. Everything I have read by her has been so well written and completely immersive.

I loved both Rowen and Avalee and wanted to know their entire story from beginning to end. While we eventually get it, I was flipping the pages as fast as I could to try and figure it out. I felt their heartbreak through the pages. The pain they went through and how it affected them individually and their marriage was heartbreaking. I loved watching Avalee heal and I loved how Rowan helped her through it. Speaking of Rowan, wow, what a great character! I absolutely loved his personality and his dedication to Avalee! When we find out his story of healing, my heart literally ached for him. I really enjoyed all of the secondary characters and the depth they added to this story!

Lowcountry Lost, while heavy at times, is also full of healing, humor, southern charm, and wonderful characters! Do not miss it!
*I both purchased and received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. 5 stars! The faith thread is light. 

PAULA'S REVIEW:

As a co-owner of Lowcountry Lost, a company that rehabs old buildings, Avalee wears overalls and a hard hat. But below that hardhat is a hard head and a hardened and bruised heart. On the job to bring a ghost town in Somewhere, South Carolina back to life, she is shocked to find that the engineer for the project is her ex husband, Rowan Murray.

This story is a look at a painful past and how to get beyond that pain. “A new start doesn’t negate the past. It learns from the roots of history and blooms into a better version.”
Avalee compares herself to a ghost town: “once flourishing yet now just so dang exhausted.” She puts her all into the re-making of the town of Somewhere, and in the process, reclaims the love she thought she lost forever.

The characters were realistic and well drawn, the plot so interesting with the construction work needed to give the town a complete overhaul. A favorite character was Bash, a teen who helped on the crew. Preacher, the dog who liked to sleep in the chapel, stole the show, along with various other items. But the clincher was the reconnection and healing of Avalee and Rowan.

Along with the drama, there was a ton of fun and some witty banter and deep spiritual lessons.

This was an outstanding Southern Comfort story from a talented author.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Tyndall via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.*5 stars and a solid faith thread

SEE REBECCA'S REVIEW

BackCover Blurb:
Sometimes what haunts you most is wondering what could have been.

Avalee Elvis prides herself with being able to fix just about anything. . . except her past. Unable to put the puzzle of her life together, she pours heart and soul into making neglected places whole again. As the owner of Lowcountry Lost, Avalee spends her days in hot-pink Carhartt overalls and a tool belt reclaiming Lowcountry properties. Making them beautiful again releases the deep sigh that soothes the hurt she holds.

Avalee’s latest project takes her to tiny Somewhere, South Carolina, a long-abandoned town. She ignores its ghostly folklore but can’t miss the shock of hearing the familiar Irish brogue that materializes on the job site—the voice of the man she never wanted to see again.

Rowan Murray is a structural engineer hired by investors to oversee the redevelopment of the quaint downtown Avalee is bringing back to life. Once upon a time, he was also the man who knew Avalee better than anyone else—or so he thought. Six years ago, neither of them was prepared for the tragedy they would face together or what would happen in its wake. But as they work together to complete the rehabbing of Somewhere, their broken pieces and the pain that nearly consumed them begin to lose its grip, and both begin to wonder if it’s not too late for a restoration of their own.

From the author of the breakout Southern fiction bestseller Under the Magnolias comes a story of loss and abandonment, forgiveness, and the beauty of undying love.

-Contemporary Southern romance with a second chance romance trope
-Special features include: discussion questions for book clubs, recipes, and a playlist inspired by Avalee and Rowan’s love story
-Contains themes of loss and restoration
-For fans of HGTV shows like Fixer Upper, Home Town, and Good Bones

Tyndale Fiction, September, 2024

Available in digital ebook, paperback,  and audiobook

Buy LOWCOUNTRY LOST at Amazon, Christianbook .com, or Baker Book House

 

 

GONE TO THE DOGS Series #2, #4, #6 by Kathleen Y'Barbo, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

 

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

"Nowhere in scripture did it say that heaven was a warm sunny day on a Texas ranch, I felt like that just might be the case."

Country music super-star Trina Potter had a mother (Peach . . . yep, that's her real name, I think!) and a niece down in Texas, while she made her music and her home up in Nashville, Tennessee. Maybe that needed to change . . . since her mother's decision-making skills were becoming a little suspect (like leaving mountainous piles of fabric for her dog-costume business . . . wait, was it a business or a hobby? . . . I digress . . . that she could trip over). And sweet Mari? Her niece? Well, she was trying desperately to open a rescue facility for dogs and was being thwarted around ever corner (like a bomb being left in the corner of the field where the dogs were . . . what's up with that?).

And then . . . there's the little matter of a certain nerdy high school prom-date . . . "He's grown taller and broader in the shoulders over the years and he (Wyatt Chastain) was more serious than I remembered, but he hadn't lost his sense of humor".

Suddenly there were more and more reasons to spend time in Brenham, Texas. If you think there's more to this story, then you would be correct. What an invigorating, cozy little mystery!

THE BARK OF ZORRO

"Lightning cracked. Thunder boomed. The poor pup yipped in fear. I had to do something."

Second Chance Ranch Dog Rescue volunteer Cassidy Carter was on her own this stormy Valentine's Day night. There was a pup that needed rescuing and it was up to her to make it happen. After a series of minor mishaps (like having to sort of, kind of, trespass to reach the frightened dog, then fleeing the scene while being chased by an unknown subject, and getting everything in the rescue van muddy and wet in the process) Cassidy got her dog! . . . only to discover that someone had painted the letter Z across his side.

"Since when did a man render me unable to successfully complete a sentence?"

James the Gorgeous Game Warden had done just that. She tried to ignore the fact that he had most assuredly pointed out that Cassidy's driver's license had expired, so she couldn't lawfully drive her vehicle until she took care of that little detail. Fast forward, Cassidy brings James into the "Zorro" conversation and they form a "team" mentality (or at least Cassidy does, James is insistent that she leave investigating to the professionals). Not!  . . . which makes the personal bond they are forming a little tricky to navigate.

This cozy Texas town mystery takes multiple twists and turns, but in the end culprits are apprehended and romance gets its much needed chance to bloom!

NEW LEASH ON LIFE

"Can we set aside some time to figure out how we can fix what needs to be fixed between us?"

After four years Nora Hernandez is losing hope that her beloved Dr. Lane Bishop is ever going to propose marriage. His heart is always in the right place but his lackadaisical approach to commitment is causing Nora to wonder if she just needs to let him go. Just when she's about to approach the subject, a Belgian Malinois becomes part of their equation. He's highly trained, much like one would expect from a military working dog, and when the small town of Brenham, Texas experiences a couple of suspicious explosions, the canine appears to have bomb-sniffing skills. "Pal", as he's named until they can find his true owner, is also capable of calming PTSD . . . which ironically is just what Lane needs . . . making Lane exactly who Nora needs.

My favorite book in the series! A really interesting small town mystery mixed with the sweetest of long awaited small town romances. 

*I purchased all three books and was under no obligation to provide positive reviews.

See the entire series of six books (so far) from Authors Janice Thompson and Kathleen Y'Barbo at Amazon

Available in digital ebook, paperback, and audiobook

THE KILLER'S THERAPIST by Christy Barritt, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

"He paused inside the house and sucked in a deep breath . . . the scents around him filled his nostrils . . . his favorite image filled his mind. Hadley Dawson."

Dr. Hadley Dawson firmly believes in the "power of transformation -for all . . . not just a select few". Her work as a career psychologist centered around those whose misdeeds had landed them in prison and her success stories were enough to warrant an upcoming book tour. Joining Hadley on those public appearances was a former patient Benjamin Lewis, a man who had spent years in jail for a crime he admitted to committing; now considered a stellar citizen . . . until . . . he becomes a murder suspect, yet again.

Hadley's very best friend was her best friend's husband . . . now before you raise your eyebrows too high, Hadley was divorced and Josiah was a widower. The two had formed a tight friendship centered around a mutual grief following Jules' death. Josiah was also a local detective, and after questioning Benjamin, his skepticism and Hadley's loyalty had the potential to cause . . . for the first time ever . . . a rift between them.

There's absolutely nothing ordinary about this story. Hadley's life is literally turned upside down over and over again as the body count mounts and no one person appears to connect all the dots. As she and Josiah begin to fight an unseen adversary alongside their unspoken feelings for each other, the killer or killers escalate their attempts to run Hadley's reputation and destroy anyone who gets too close.

A stellar combination of mystery and suspense with shades of psychological warfare battling the deepest intentions of the heart. 

*I purchased a copy of this book and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

BackCover Blurb:
The mind is a dangerous place . . . especially when you can't trust your own.

Dr. Hadley Dawson's revolutionary theory—that even the darkest minds can be healed—has made her a rising star in criminal psychology. But when a string of unexplained deaths leads back to a former patient, her life’s work suddenly stands in question.

When the poster boy for her rehabilitation program is accused of murder, Hadley's conviction begins to crack. Has she been blind to the darkness lurking within those she sought to save?

Detective Josiah Brennan, her late best friend's husband and once her staunchest ally, now questions Hadley's judgment. Their friendship frays as the evidence mounts, forcing Hadley to confront an unsettling truth: her quest to reform criminals may have unleashed a killer.

With her reputation in tatters and her theories in doubt, Hadley races to uncover the truth. But each revelation only deepens the mystery. Is someone orchestrating an elaborate plot to destroy her career? Or is the threat more sinister—aimed at claiming her very life?

In a heart-pounding race against time, Hadley must outwit a cunning adversary before she becomes the next victim. But in a world where minds can be manipulated, who can she really trust?

River Heights Publishing, September, 2024

Available in digital ebook and paperback at Amazon

WATERFALL by Linda K. Rodante, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise

Christian Romantic Mystery, Book One in The Waterfall Mysteries

This story starts out with a thrilling scene and it just gets more troublesome and confusing. 

Richard, a school counselor who likes to climb up waterfalls, meets Annalisa when they come upon a boy on the roof of a car in a swollen, swirling creek. They save Hudson but then circumstances surrounding finding two bodies makes everything super complicated. As they work to piece the puzzle together, they become friends and that turns to romance.

Amid danger and lots of questions, Annalisa lives out her faith and Richard discovers faith and accepts Christ. They are sure God is working in their lives.

Fast-paced drama, reliable and interesting plot and a steady friend-to- more romantic thread makes this a fantastic story.
*I purchased a copy of this book in the Summer Suspicions collection from Amazon. All opinions are mine alone.*4 stars and a strong faith thread

BackCover Blurb:
If you love a good whodunit and romance...

A dead body, a flood, and a boy’s rescue. Can Annalisa Carabelle keep the boy safe while racing to discover a killer before it's too late?

“This (mystery) kicks off with an intense water rescue and…kept me on my toes all the way to the end…I loved Anna and Richard together…and the romantic tension between them.” Meez Carrie, Reading is My Superpower

All Annalisa Carabelle wants is a successful summer season for the bed-and-breakfast she co-owns. She never expected the flood, the boy who needed rescuing, or the man who came from nowhere to help. The dead body? Well, the wound to the head proved it had nothing to do with do with the deluge.

Richard Jordan’s plans for the summer include as much scrambling up waterfalls as possible. He needs the adrenaline rush because life has proven routine, even pointless. But both the woman and the boy called him a hero, and maybe the dead body is a wake-up call. Life might be worth living if he and this intriguing woman can find the killer and make sure he doesn’t kill again.

But they’ve got too many suspects, and even the police are baffled. With the family protecting the killer, he might just get away for good, unless they force his hand—and stay alive while they are doing it.

September, 2024

Available in digital ebook, paperback, and audiobook:

BUY WATERFALL at Amazon