2013- 12 Days of Fiction: DAY 6!

Wishing on Willows by Katie Ganshert

Katie is an up and coming author and I am thankful to have discovered her fairly early in her writing career. 

Willows is contemporary romance at it's finest. 

Maybe it's because I grew up (and, incidentally still live) in a small town, but I connected right away with Robin, and the residents of Peaks, Iowa. 

What happens when the stores on Main Street start struggling and big money arrives in town with an offer they can't refuse? When property gets sold, and someone's dream dies on the altar of 'progress'? 

Robin had a dream- and she shared it with her husband. Aside from her son Caleb, The Willow Tree Cafe is all she has of him. She isn't about to give up, and definitely not without a fight. 

We all have dreams. Sometimes everything goes as we imagine. Sometimes, we have to let go, and the dream dies. And sometimes, our dreams are to small. And it's when we surrender those dreams, and give ourselves to a greater plan than ours that we receive infinitely more than we could ever ask or think. Because the One we trust knows what we need even before we ask- and he loves to give us good gifts! 

http://www.fictionherofeatures.com/2013/08/ian-mckay.html

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Does a second chance at life and love always involve surrender?

A three-year old son, a struggling café, and fading memories are all Robin Price has left of her late husband. As the proud owner of Willow Tree Café in small town Peaks, Iowa,  she pours her heart into every muffin she bakes and espresso she pulls, thankful for the sense of purpose and community the work provides.
                                  
So when developer Ian McKay shows up in Peaks with plans to build condos where her café and a vital town ministry are located, she isn’t about to let go without a fight.

As stubborn as he is handsome, Ian won’t give up easily. His family’s business depends on his success in Peaks. But as Ian pushes to seal the deal, he wonders if he has met his match. Robin’s gracious spirit threatens to undo his resolve, especially when he discovers the beautiful widow harbors a grief that resonates with his own.

With polarized opinions forming all over town, business becomes unavoidably personal and Robin and Ian must decide whether to cling to the familiar or surrender their plans to the God of Second Chances. 

2013- 12 Days of Fiction: DAY 7!

Deployed by Mel Odom

So in case you're wondering, "Does this chick even read anything that doesn't end up on her other blog?" The answer is YES! It just so happens that most of my favorite books this year happen to coincide with FHF. Most....but not all. :)
Mel Odom writes modern suspense- his other series before this was about NCIS. As a fan of the TV show, I'm not sure how I missed those books. They are on my TBR pile now, though.
Book 1 in the Called To Serve series follows Marine Lance Corporal Becka Shaw from her home in a backwater town in the U.S. to Somalia, where she is deployed (hence the title) with her unit to offer protection to humanitarian aid workers.
I am proud of Mel for choosing to highlight the struggles of those women who choose to serve in our country's armed forces.
Becka has a sweet little boy who waits for her at home. He's a little more grown up every time she returns. As a mother, I relate to Becka's struggles. She does what she has to in order to provide for her son- but she knows every time she leaves she could be saying goodbye for the last time.
For those who remember last years countdown, I try to read & recommend something for the guys* as well. This is one of those books. While it may center on Becka, there are several other men in her unit who become primary characters. Book 2, Renegade, picks up the story of Pike Morgan- and I have read & recommend it also. If you enjoy page turning action, suspense, and all around good fiction, Mel Odom should be added to your reading list.

*because Mel is writing about war and terrorists, there is a lot of death in these books, often in violent manners (i.e. Explosions, executions, and lots of gunfights). I am big on age-appropriate fiction, so please bear in mind that this title is recommended for men specifically, and parental discretion is encouraged before purchasing for a younger reader.

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Lance Corporal Bekah Shaw joined the Marine Reserve to support herself and her young son when her ex-husband decided they were no longer his responsibility. Deployed to Somalia for her current tour of duty, she learns that her team must protect international humanitarian efforts and hunt down the terrorists responsible for the violence and carnage. The mission seems straightforward until the team encounters a renegade, a ghost who seems to be fighting against both sides.

Rageh Daud once lived in contentment with his family in Mogadishu, Somalia. But when that life was torn from him by a terrorist attack, he vowed to avenge his loved ones whatever the cost. Raising an army of men from the displaced people scattered through the countryside, his only goal is destruction—until he encounters an orphan child he feels compelled to protect.

When their worlds collide in a desperate situation, Bekah’s Marines and Daud’s militia realize that their only hope for defeating a common enemy—and their only chance at staying alive—may be to form an unthinkable alliance.

2013- 12 Days of Fiction: DAY 8!

A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund

Even though I loved the cover on this book, it took a bit of convincing to get me to read it. I guess I had this hang up that if I read the book, and the story wasn't good, it would ruin the cover. And I really liked the cover. So I looked and didn't touch for a long time. But when A Noble Groom popped up on FHF, I knew my hesitancy had cost me- and I figured it was time to read the book.
I really enjoy stories where the characters are forced together. It makes for some truly great dialogue, and who doesn't love those awkward moments when one (or both) of the characters blunder?
Combining two independent personalities and 'shoving' them into a relationship often makes for an explosive read. I don't know that I would call Groom explosive, although there did come a time while reading it that I exploded....and Carl and I had to part ways for a while. :) I suppose it is a testament to how much I cared about Annalisa and what happened to her.
A Noble Groom is a page turner with loveable characters and an absorbing plot.

http://www.fictionherofeatures.com/2013/06/carl-richards-gottfried-charles-von.html

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Michigan, 1880

Annalisa Werner's hope for a fairy tale love is over. Her husband failed her in every way and now his death has left her with few options to save the family farm. She needs a plentiful harvest. That, and a husband to help bring it in. Someone strong, dependable. That'll be enough. A marriage for love...that's something she's given up on.

So her father sends a letter to his brother in the Old Country, asking him to find Annalisa a groom.

Then a man appears: Carl Richards, from their home country of Germany and a former schoolteacher--or so he says. He's looking for work and will serve on the farm until her husband arrives.

With time running out, she accepts his help, but there's more to this man than he's admitting. He's also gentle, kind, charming--unlike any man she's ever known. But even as Carl is shining light into the darkness of her heart, she knows her true groom may arrive any day.

2013- 12 Days of Fiction: DAY 9!

No Safe Harbor by Elizabeth Ludwig

In trying not to feature the same authors as I did last year, I've run into a completely different hurdle. I've managed to double promote almost all of these titles. :) If you are a fan or follower of the blog I co-write with my battle brother, Nancy Kimball, my 12 Days will seem pretty redundant.
I can't really apologize though, because it means not only do these books contain great heroes, but also the book as a whole is a great read.
Elizabeth Ludwig writes historical suspense, and it's a genre that I am not very familiar with. But having read both No Safe Harbor and Dark Road Home (book 2 in the a Edge of Freedom Series) it's pretty safe to say that I am now a big fan. (Am I also allowed to say that book 3, Tide and Tempest is one of my most anticipated titles for 2014? Of course I can. It's my blog. Ha!)
This story centers around Irish immigrants who have just arrived in New York city. My husband's great-grandfather and  -grandmother immigrated here from Scotland in 1902 through the gateway of Ellis Island- so the setting and characters appealed to me. Rourke and Cara are characters worth investing in, their love story...and the suspense, will keep you turning pages until the very end.

http://www.fictionherofeatures.com/2013/07/rourke-walsh-turner.html

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New York City, 1897

She came to America searching for her brother. Instead all she's found is a web of danger.
Cara Hamilton had thought her brother to be dead. Now, clutching his letter, she leaves Ireland for America, desperate to find him. Her search leads her to a houseful of curious strangers, and one man who claims to be a friend--Rourke Walsh. Despite her brother's warning, Cara trusts Rourke, revealing her purpose in coming to New York.

She's then thrust into a world of subterfuge, veiled threats, and attempted murder, including political revolutionaries from the homeland out for revenge. Her questions guide her ever nearer to locating her brother--but they also bring her closer to destruction as those who want to kill him track her footsteps.

With her faith in tatters, all hope flees. Will her brother finally surface? Can he save Cara from the truth about Rourke... a man she's grown to love?

2013- 12 Days of Fiction: DAY 10!

With Every Letter by Sarah Sundin

I just want you to take a moment and appreciate the cover of this book. It's so rich! I'm a little partial to it because one of my favorite photographers, Brandon Hill, took the picture used for the cover art. I actually saw this image on his blog before I discovered Sarah's book! 

The WINGS OF THE NIGHTINGALE series attracted me for several reasons, but what really connected me to the story, and with Mellie, is the fact that she is a Filipino. Sounds strange, but there's a good reason. It just so happens that my youngest sister, Alice, was adopted from the Philippines. She's been a part of our family for 3 years now, and I couldn't be more thankful that she is finally home.  

So you see, I was automatically invested in the heroine even before I started reading With Every Letter. I wanted Mellie to succeed. The connection was personal. 

My favorite thing about this story is that Sarah takes her time drawing the characters together. The characters mature together, becoming so much a part of each other in the process that reading "The End" on a story has never been more satisfying. 

Against the conflict of WWII when death is an ever present reality, the friendship and ultimate romance between Tom and Mellie is a breath of fresh air. 

Well researched, with a great cast of secondary characters, Letter is a story not soon forgotten. 

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They know everything about each other--except their real names.

Lt. Mellie Blake is looking forward to beginning her training as a flight nurse. She is not looking forward to writing a letter to a man she's never met--even if it is anonymous and part of a morale-building program. Lt. Tom MacGilliver, an officer stationed in North Africa, welcomes the idea of an anonymous correspondence--he's been trying to escape his infamous name for years.

As their letters crisscross the Atlantic, Tom and Mellie develop a unique friendship despite not knowing the other's true identity. When both are transferred to Algeria, the two are poised to meet face-to-face for the first time. Will they overcome their fears and reveal who they are, or will their future be held hostage by their pasts?

Combining a flair for romance with excellent research and attention to detail, Sarah Sundin vividly brings to life the perilous challenges of WWII aviation, nursing--and true love. 

And, once again, for more about Mellie's story, head here: 

http://www.fictionherofeatures.com/2013/10/tom-macgilliver.html

2013- 12 Days of Fiction: DAY 11!

Submerged by Dani Pettrey 

I am a late comer to the McKenna party. But a body can only hear so much praise before curiosity takes over, and suddenly I "had to know" what all the fuss was about. 

This story swallowed me like the frigid black waters of Alaska swallow Cole every time he dives. Unlike Cole, I didn't let the limited air in an oxygen tank determine how long I stayed under. :) 

It's been a while since I've read a good, tight suspense. The story is character driven, with Bailey and Cole leading the charge. Getting to know the rest of the McKenna clan is a bonus, and the carry over from one book to the next is seamlessly done. This story is about overcoming your past, and leaving it in the past. Bailey's struggle to believe that she is not who she used to be is one that we all face, and her journey to accepting her identity as a new creation is powerful. 

If you are a fan of Dee Henderson's O'Malley series, I guarantee that you will love the Alaskan Courage series. 

So come on- take the plunge! It's worth it.
 

For a spotlight on Cole McKenna and a unique look at Submerged, check out my other blog: 

http://www.fictionherofeatures.com/2012/09/cole-mckenna.html

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A sabotaged plane. Two dead deep-water divers. 

One single clue.

Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey, Alaska, again. She has a past, and a reputation--and Yancey's a town that doesn't forget. She's returned only to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash, but then dark evidence emerges and Bailey's own expertise becomes invaluable for the case.

Cole McKenna can face dangerous rescue dives. He can face the fear a murderer may be threatening his town. But facing the reality of Bailey's reappearance is a tougher challenge. She broke his heart...but doesn't seem to be the same girl who left Yancey ten years ago. And he's not the same guy she left behind. 

Racing against the clock and a rising body count, Bailey and Cole must move beyond the hurts of their pasts to work together until the truth of what is hidden in the depths finally surfaces.

2013- 12 Days of Fiction: DAY 12!

Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer

Short-Straw Bride is a light, lovely western romance. 

I should admit here that I am kind of a control freak. 

Sometimes. 

I just, you know....like having control of things.

As a result, one of my biggest spiritual struggles is trust- surrendering to God's will and not giving in to fear. How interesting that control issues are the fatal flaw of our hero, Travis Archer. 

Bound by our common weakness, I journeyed with Travis through the book. And what do you know- the story became a mirror, reflecting my own flaws back to me. I became more aware of my need for change, even as Travis did, in the story.

Once again, Karen does a great job of bringing the characters to a point of surrender and ultimately strengthening their faith. 

I am thankful she also challenged me along the way. 

For a spotlight on Travis, and a unique review of Short-Straw Bride, check out my other blog: 

http://www.fictionherofeatures.com/2012/07/travis-archer.html

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Four brothers. Four straws. One bride.

No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a long-standing debt compels her to take the risk.

Years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer comes across a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can't bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt prompt him to attempt to rescue her once again.

Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she vows to stand by his side. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her as merely a short-straw bride?