Audio Book Review: Buried Secrets (Men of Valor Series, Book #1) by Irene Hannon

This is good (not great) romantic suspense.
Buried Secrets (Men of Valor Series, Book #1)
Series Men of Valor Series
Author Irene Hannon
Narrator Therese Plummer and Jennifer Grace

Runtime 10.5 Hrs. - Unabridged
Publisher Recorded Books
Downloads ZIP M4B MP3
Release Date April 7, 2015
Genre: Christian, Mystery, Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.0 Overall, Story, and Narration

After seven years as a Chicago homicide detective, Lisa Grant has hit a wall. Ready for a kinder, gentler life, she takes a job as a small-town police chief. But the discovery of a human skeleton by a construction crew at the edge of town taxes the resources of her department. A call for assistance brings detective Mac McGregor, an ex-Navy SEAL, to her doorstep. As they work to solve the mystery behind the unmarked grave, danger begins to shadow them. Someone doesn't want this dead person telling any tales--and will stop at nothing to make certain a life-shattering secret stays buried.
Master storyteller Irene Hannon is back with an exciting new series featuring former special forces operatives now in the thick of the action in civilian life. Hannon is at the top of her game in this can't-put-it-down thriller that will have readers up until the wee hours devouring every page.

Review:
Lisa Grant left her tense job as a Chicago homicide detective to become a small-town police chief. When a construction crew uncovers a human skeleton, Lisa calls for help from the County enforcement. Detective Mac McGregor, a handsome ex-Navy Seal, steps on scene to help. He gets off on the wrong foot and has to scramble to recover his equilibrium with the striking police chief.

Lisa is at a point in life where she is open to making personal time to look towards a family on her own. Mac is at an age where he would like to settle down with a family like his own close-knit clan. The two professionals clearly have zinging chemistry, but they agree to hold off on any personal relationship until their current investigation is complete.

Lisa and Mac are intent on revealing the events almost twenty years ago that resulted in a death of a young girl. They have identified the victim and have pressed the three ‘friends’ who were last known to see the girl. However, without hard evidence they are preparing to shut the investigation as a cold case. Then new deaths begin to alarm Lisa and Mac.

A strong element of this story is the pull between the characters who have to defer even the first date. This is woven throughout the mystery and case interviews. I appreciated the presentation of the heat of the attraction without graphic, sexual details. The romance was sort of refreshing as the couple acknowledge their interest but put it on hold... except in their thought processes which was a bit repetitive. I also found the lack of provable evidence in the crimes to be interesting and well crafted. The Christian faith of the characters is apparent in their life choices but not preachy.

Mac’s brothers are other strong alpha men who make fun, flirtatious appearances and are presumably the “men of valor’ whose stories are shared in the series. I recommend this to readers who like Christian romantic suspense.

Audio Notes: Narrators Therese Plummer and Jennifer Grace did a nice job sharing the characters and narrative. I’ve always enjoyed Therese Plummer and I liked the offset voice from Jennifer Grace. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: Christian Audiobook Sale July 2017. This qualifies for 2019TBR, 2019 Audiobook and 2019Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: The Last Woman in the Forest by Diane Les Becquets

This is an interesting psychological thriller.

The Last Woman in the Forest
by Diane Les Becquets

Print Length: 352 pages
Publisher: Berkley (March 5, 2019)
Sold by: Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07DMZ4P68
Genre: Mystery, Psychological Thriller
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

From the national bestselling author of Breaking Wild, here is a riveting and powerful thriller about a woman whose greatest threat could be the man she loves.…
Marian Engström has found her true calling: working with rescue dogs to help protect endangered wildlife. Her first assignment takes her to northern Alberta, where she falls in love with her mentor, the daring and brilliant Tate. When they’re separated on another assignment, she’s shattered to learn of his tragic death. Before long, Marian discovers disturbing inconsistencies about Tate’s life, and begins to wonder if the man she loved could have been responsible for the unsolved murders of at least four women.
Hoping to clear Tate’s name, Marian reaches out to a retired forensic profiler who’s haunted by the open cases. But as Marian relives her relationship with Tate and circles ever closer to the truth, evil stalks her every move.…

Review:
Marian Engström is a gentle sort of person who loves animals. She drifted from job to job until she found a job working with rescue dogs in an endangered wildlife research program. The dogs are specially trained and assigned to trained handlers. Marian was lucky to get accepted to the program and slowly gets to advance with the training skills. She meets Tate who becomes her training and mentor. Marian is surprised by Tate’s interest but craves his gentle, caring attention. Romantic entanglement is not permitted in the project teams but they secretly become involved. One of the other workers warns Marian that a relationship with another handler would probably not survive their separation to different jobs around the world.

After being assigned separate projects, Marian is devastated to learn of Tate’s death by a bear attack. She becomes more confused and distraught when a visit with Tate’s sister reveals that Tate lied to her about his life history.

Tate once told her that he found a female victim of a serial murderer who was never caught. Tate described the body with particular detail which Marian realizes shouldn’t be possible if the woman wasn’t found for months. Marian calls the investigating forensic profiler, Nick, trying to assure herself that she hadn’t fallen in love with a monster.

Nick is retired and dealing with his own health issues. But he agrees to talk to Marian and review the information she has. Bit by bit a picture of Tate develops that leaves Nick scared for Marian’s safety just as he himself is preparing for specialist treatment for life threatening cancer.

This story builds through an interesting series of present events, then switch back profiles and memories. Marian dialogs her history, her first encounter and subsequent romantic development with Tate. Interspersed with Marian’s accounts are Nick’s developed profiles of each of the murder victims, describing the facts that led him to believe how they were approached and the events of each of their murders. The book starts with a prologue description of the first victim. This pulled me in. Chapter 1 jumps to present day situation with Marian concerned about the doubts she was having about Tate. Chapter 2 moves back seven months. This pattern continues throughout the book.

There was still a slowness to the story, perhaps due to this pattern of changing entries, but this was balanced with the intriguing plot that was developed by the author. There wasn’t really strong suspense until late in the story. I think this is a solid physiological thriller.

Source: 2018 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2019TBR, 2019NetGalley and 2019Alphabet Goals.

Sunday Post February 10, 2019/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday February 11, 2019

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading now at The Book Date (at Wordpress).

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

This past week I struggled a couple days to fight off a cold. I came home early on Wednesday to sleep the afternoon. I rested Saturday and today too. Meanwhile my daughter went home sick Friday with a very high fever and feeling really yucky.

I am continuing to work on probate files and litigation files for closing out.

The dryout process is done at the damaged office but it looks like we will now be on hold until the engineer and architect get their plans to us.

Our house roof was completed this week and we are waiting for word on the fairly minor interior repairs.

Our weather had warmed up really nicely to the 70s mid week but dropped back to 40s on Saturday.

My reading was steady. I finished 3 books: two ebooks and one audiobook. I posted four reviews and my usual memes.

I visited 22 blogs during the week.
Shout Out this week to ReadRantRock&Roll. This is Mischenko's "blog about books, music, movies and more…".
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post February 3, 2019/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday February 4, 2019.

• MBS January 2019 Reading List Wrap Up.

• NG2018- #NetGalley Book Review: Quinn's Promise Rock by Christie Thomas and Sydney Hanson; Children, Christian; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Land: Founding: A LitRPG Saga by Aleron Kong; Humorous, LitRPG, Science Fiction; My Rating: 4.5 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 5.0.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Defiance, Defending Home, Book 1 by William H. Weber; Post-Apocalyptic, Sci Fi; 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.25.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway February 9, 2019. Open Worldwide. Ending 2/7/2019.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: A Bachelor Establishment by Jodi Taylor; Humor, Historical Romance, Regency Romance; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall.

• Sharing Beyond Books #362 Comment Giveaway February 9, 2019. Open Worldwide. Ending 2/23/2019.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement February 10, 2019.

Finished Reading:
1. eBook/Kindle (NG2018)

The Last Woman in the Forest
by Diane Les Becquets
This is an interesting psychological thriller.
Source: 2018 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audiobooks/Smartphone (ATBR)

Buried Secrets (Men of Valor Series, Book #1)
Series Men of Valor Series
Author Irene Hannon
Narrator Therese Plummer and Jennifer Grace
This is good- not great -romantic suspense.
Source: Christian Audiobook Sale July 2017.
Click on book title for full description.

3. eBook/Kindle (ebTBR)

Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit
by Francis Chan
This is a wonderful book that reminds us of our true relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Source: Kindle Free TBR 2012.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:

1. Audiobooks/Smartphone (ATBR)

The Bird and the Sword
By: Amy Harmon
Narrated by: Trina Nishimura
Series: The Bird and the Sword Chronicles, Book 1
Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins
I am really enjoying this fantasy romance.
Source: June 2017 Audible Daily Deal $3.95.
Publisher's Summary
Swallow, daughter, pull them in, those words that sit upon your lips. Lock them deep inside your soul, hide them 'til they've time to grow. Close your mouth upon the power, curse not, cure not, 'til the hour. You won't speak and you won't tell, you won't call on heaven or hell. You will learn and you will thrive. Silence, daughter. Stay alive.
The day my mother was killed, she told my father I wouldn't speak again, and she told him if I died, he would die too. Then she predicted the king would sell his soul and lose his son to the sky. My father has a claim to the throne, and he is waiting in the shadows for all of my mother's words to come to pass. He wants desperately to be king, and I just want to be free. But freedom will require escape, and I'm a prisoner of my mother's curse and my father's greed. I can't speak or make a sound, and I can't wield a sword or beguile a king. In a land purged of enchantment, love might be the only magic left, and who could ever love...a bird?
©2016 Amy Harmon (P)2016 Audiobooks.com Publishing

2. eBook/Kindle (NG2019)

Never Let Go (Uncommon Justice Book #1)
by Elizabeth Goddard
I like how this has started.
Source: 2018 NetGalley.
As a forensic genealogist, Willow Anderson is following in her late grandfather's footsteps in her quest for answers about a baby abducted from the hospital more than twenty years ago. The case may be cold, but things are about to heat up when someone makes an attempt on her life to keep her from discovering the truth.
Ex-FBI agent--and Willow's ex-flame--Austin McKade readily offers his help to protect the woman he never should have let get away. Together they'll follow where the clues lead them, even if it means Austin must face the past he's spent much of his life trying to forget. And even if it puts Willow's tender heart at risk.
In this fast-paced and emotional page-turner, bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard keeps the stakes high, the romantic tension sparking, and the outcome uncertain until the very end.

3. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband
A Bridgertons Prequel
By: Julia Quinn
Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor
Series: The Rokesbys, Book 2
Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins
Another historical romance for this month. 
This will be my continuing series book for February.
Source: December 2018 Audible Credit.
Publisher's Summary
With her brother, Thomas, injured on the battlefront in the colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health.
But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He's unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier's life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie.
When Edward comes to, he's more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out three months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is - even if he does not recall her face - and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he'd always assumed he'd marry his neighbor back in England.
Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself - completely - to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs. Rokesby.
©2017 Julie Cotler Pottinger (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

4. eBook/Kindle (ebTBR)

January Breeze, February Embers, March Whispers
(Elderberry Croft #1)
by Becky Doughty
I will be reading the February story for my 'Monthly' Goal reading.
Source: Kindle Free TBR 2015.
Click on book title for full description.

February 10, 2019 - I am staying up to date with the One Year Bible plan reading through You Version App.
I am reading a 21 day reading with others in our church: Gospel of John; What it Means to Believe.
[You can check out audio of the One Year Bible Plan on the companion commentary online.]

I completed three books and posted four reviews. That keeps me to 3 reviews to post.
I continue to slowly add reviews to NetGalley, Goodreads, Amazon and Audible. I still have older ones to catch up on.
I added two titles to my NetGalley shelf so it is at 11 unread from November to date plus 4 old titles (2012!) that I might get read this year. I still have four remaining author titles in queue. 
Still many through InstaFreebie and many new author requests I haven't replied to.

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and (yours truly). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
I picked up two more NetGalley review titles.
I picked up one Audible daily deal and one February free Audible Original.
I didn't purchase any Kindle paid titles and I only picked up 13 free kindle titles again. (Note these are in my Amazon library, NOT on my Kindle until I download and transfer them.)
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

I received two titles from NetGalley.
The Lady in the Coppergate Tower
by Nancy Campbell Allen
"Hazel and Sam must fight their way past vampires, clockwork beasts, and their own insecurities as they try to reach her sister in the impenetrable Coppergate Tower before time runs out."


Finder
by Suzanne Palmer
"Fergus Ferguson has been called a lot of names: thief, con artist, repo man. He prefers the term finder...
Foolhardy. Eccentric. Reckless. Whatever he’s called, Fergus will need all the help he can get to take back the Sword and maybe save Cernee from destruction in the process."

Won

NONE

Purchased

I picked up one Audible Daily Deal:
2/4/2019 Audible Daily Deal $3.95
God of War
By: J. M. Barlog, Cory Barlog
Narrated by: Alastair Duncan
Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
Release date: 08-28-18

Free

2/10/19 Free Audible Original
Sovereign
By Jeff Hirsch
Narrated by: Jesse Einstein
Length: 6 hrs and 3 mins
Release date: 01-31-19
"One boy's story of surviving alone on a strange planet.

I only added 13 free titles to my Kindle library. I didn't spend much time adding free books again this week.  Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement February 10, 2019

We shared prayer requests as always before our Sunday School teacher shared this morning’s lesson titled The Temptations. He reiterated a previous message identifying all temptations as lust of the flush (body pleasures), lust of the eyes (wanting things) and the pride of life (being prideful of our belongings or our own achievements). These temptations were present when Eve fell to Satan and were present when Jesus withstood the temptations in the wilderness. Jesus can relate to us because he too was fully human and fully subject to the temptations of humanity.

Pastor concluded his sermon series on Forward.
1. Seek God's presence -- not just at church.
2. Recapture God's love for the lost.
3. Pursue life transformation – for ourselves and others.
4. Live together in unity within the church body.
5. Investment in future generations.

Point We must invest in the next and future generations or we Will lose them.

What will we pass on? What legacy?
Majority of Christ followers are reached before age 10; it is unlikely there will be a conversion after age 35. Of youth believers before age 13, 75 percent will walk away by age 19. Only 20 per cent or less return.

Pastor shared Matthew 25:14-30 which tells the parable of talents reflecting that we should not waste the talents that God gives us.

Eighteen of our youth and youngsters provided a demonstration of all the issues children of today have to deal with:
doubt, depression, bullying, self-worth, abuse, anxiety, fear, peer pressure, substance abuse, guilt, divorce, addiction, alcohol abuse, sexual pressure, suicidal thoughts.

These are some of Satan's weapons. Frankly, my husband felt these issues haven’t changed much since our young years.

How can they (non-believers) call on Jesus unless someone tells them about him? Romans 10:12-14. The church has the answer (Jesus) to the world’s problems, but we have to share the good news to those not in the church.

This is the song played as the backdrop to their presentation. Simple Pursuit.

Verses for Today:
Romans 10:12-14 (NIV)
12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

Lord, I prayer that You show me how to help reach and encourage young people to know You.

Sharing Beyond Books #362 Comment Giveaway February 9, 2019

Hello again and Welcome back to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
None of us (19) who answered subscribe to Inoreader. It appeared that Marjorie was one of the few who had heard of it.

The Winner from SBB #361 comments is: #9 MARJORIE who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated (**Finally!) ARC/Review titles or (recently updated) Love and Christmas titles - all linked near the end of the post. -- [12/15/18 I am pulling out some new Christmas and Love titles to add to the Win box choices. I had to move the books due to the water threat in office. I will dig them out again soon.]

**NOTE: I did post an Updated ARC and Other books for Giveaways. I have to go back and list the titles -- someday.
Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #362

(One Question.)

St. James asks: Who among your readers give books for Christmas gifts or other gifting times (birthdays, mother's day, valentines, etc.)??

I almost always give books to the grandchildren at Christmas and other holidays. I also gift books to some few family and friends who are readers.

Image found at A Fondness for Reading.

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month I draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! The supply of questions is dwindling so share some if you think of any -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify.

Your turn to share. St. James asks: Who among your readers give books for Christmas gifts or other gifting times (birthdays, mother's day, valentines, etc.)??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Updated ARC and Other books, including the "Love" and Christmas titles all in one post.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday February 23, 2019 at 5 PM central.