Moving Target (Elite Guardians #3) by Lynette Eason

Title: Moving Target (Elite Guardians #3)

Author: Lynette Eason

Pages: 336

Release Date: January 31, 2017

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Revell

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

About the book:

     Intensity. Skill. Tenacity. The bodyguards of Elite Guardians Agency have it all.

     When Maddy McKay and Quinn Holcombe don’t show up for Quinn’s birthday party, his friends know that something is very wrong. Their search turns up little beyond evidence that Quinn and Maddy have vanished. And it soon becomes apparent that they did not leave of their own accord.

     Maddy awakens in a cement room with no idea where she is. But it’s not long before she realizes she’s in the clutches of a madman who exacts revenge through games—hunting games. His prey of choice? Humans. Now Maddy and Quinn must run for their lives and outwit their killer when their game begins.

     Because if they don’t win this game . . . they die.

My review:

     Heart-pounding romantic suspense at its best!

     This is a stand-alone story within a series. A number of the characters from the previous books have support roles in this one though.

     The two main characters, Maddy and Quinn, are so well developed that I connected with both of them really quickly after starting this book. They each have their own emotional baggage that keeps rearing its ugly head and getting in the way of moving on with their lives. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how they slowly faced up to it and figured out the steps they needed to take to work through it.

     This all takes place in the midst of being targeted by a madman who wants to kill both of them. The key though is that he wants to play some games and mess with their heads first. The plot is crafted so ingeniously that it really kept me guessing. In fact when the actual mastermind behind all the games is revealed I found that I had made a number of wrong guesses along the way.

     I have read and loved both of the previous books in this series. This one is no exception. It is fabulous and I’m highly recommending it! It gets a rating of 5 stars from me.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*

The Newcomer (Amish Beginnings #2) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Title: The Newcomer (Amish Beginnings #2)

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Pages: 336

Release Date: January 31, 2017

Genre: Amish Fiction / Historical Romance

Publisher: Revell

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

About the book:

     A fresh start in the New World will test Anna’s resolve …and her heart.

     In 1737, Anna Konig staggers off a small wooden ship after ten weeks at sea, eager to start a new life in the vibrant but raw Pennsylvania frontier. It’s a time of new beginnings, and for Anna and Bairn’s shipboard romance to blossom.

     But this perfect moment cannot last. As Bairn grasps the reality of what it means to be Amish in the New World, his enthusiasm evaporates. When a ship captain offers him a first mate position, he grabs for it. Just one more crossing, he promises Anna. But will she wait for him?

     As a newcomer joins the church, Anna is torn. This man is everything Bairn is not—bold, devoted, and delighted to vie for her heart. And he is here. Bairn is not.

     Far from the frontier, an unexpected turn of events weaves the lives of Bairn, Anna, and the newcomer together. When the secret is revealed, which true love will emerge?

My review:

     This is an incredible historical romance!

     This is part of a “true” series. You need to read book one before reading this one to get the full enjoyment out of it.

     I loved the characters in this book. They are extremely well developed. I connected with Anna Konig in the first book and thoroughly enjoyed seeing her growth and maturity in this book.

     The different personalities of the members of the little group from Ixheim, Germany are so realistic. I can see people I know represented by each of them.

     I was fascinated with the detail presented about the early Amish settling in America. The fact that some of the legal requirements for immigrants had to be adjusted was totally new to me.

     I am looking forward to finding out what happens for this community in the next book.

     I have to give this great book a rating of 5 stars. I am highly recommending it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*

The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green

Title: The Mark of the King

Author: Jocelyn Green

Pages: 416

Release Date: January 3, 2017

Genre: Historical romance

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

About the book:

     Life in this New World requires more strength than she ever imagined.

     After the death of her client, midwife Julianne Chevalier is imprisoned and branded, marking her as a criminal beyond redemption. Hoping to reunite with her brother, a soldier, she trades her life sentence for exile to the fledgling French colony of Louisiana. The price of her transport, however, is a forced marriage to a fellow convict.

     New Orleans is nothing like Julianne expects. The settlement is steeped in mud and mosquitoes, and there is no news of her brother, Benjamin. When tragedy strikes, she turns to military officer Marc-Paul Girard for help, but does he know more about her brother than he will admit?

     With her dreams shattered, Julianne must find her way in this dangerous land, where only grace—and love—can overcome the stigma of the king’s mark upon her shoulder.

My review:

     This is an incredible historical novel!

     The depth of the characters is marvelous. Each of the main characters, Julianne Chevalier and Marc-Paul Girard, deal with intense inner turmoil that makes it very difficult to trust others. There are also a number of secondary characters that are hiding deep secrets that cause grave danger to others.

     The historical content is great. I’ve never looked into 1700s New Orleans and its development. I had never given any thought to the early settlement of New Orleans and the French settlers in the New World. I was absolutely fascinated by my first exposure to this period in the history of America.

     The amount of detail given in the descriptions is wonderful. My heart felt broken by many of the ordeals and trials that the characters faced. The way that the settlers were treated by the soldiers was appalling.

     I have to give this fantastic book a rating of 5 stars. I am definitely highly recommending it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*