Cape Refuge Series

This series by Terri Blackstock is comprised of
Cape Refuge
Southern Storm
River's Edge
Breaker's Reef

I'm doing an overview of all four as I read the first two many months ago and just finished the series with the final two.

Cape Refuge, Georgia is an idyllic southern town. The serenity and peace make it a perfect location for Hanover House, a halfway house run by the Owens until their murder. The Owens' daughter, Morgan and her husband, Jonathan, pick up the ministry amidst their grief until Jonathan is arrested for the murder of his in-laws. Morgan's sister, Blair, decides that Hanover House needs to be sold. While Police Chief Cade works to clear Jonathan's name and bring a killer to justice, Morgan and Blair battle with saying good-bye to their parents, deciding on how to handle Hanover House, and what to do with its residents who desperately need safe shelter.

Thus is the introduction to Cape Refuge via the first book.  Through the following three we search for the missing police chief, hunt down another murderer, search for missing women, and attempt to learn to trust those who have done wrong but repented.

Blackstock weaves characters that are real. From Morgan's fears of infertility and Blair's desire to hide childhood facial scars we learn that no one is safe from doubt. Even the pure among us have moments that we need to repent for. Throw in the mix a teenage girl who has escaped an abusive home and her toddler brother and you have the makings for great stories. You'll want to book a vacation in Cape Refuge as you get to know its citizens.  

Country Music

I have a confession to make. I'm starting here because while I did a half-confession to a friend of mine, I'm not ready to tell the world yet.

I like country music.

Or I'm getting there. This pains me for two reasons. 1) I swore I would never like country music and 2) this means someone gets to tell me "I told you so." I am blaming this transformation on Hunter Hayes.

I've been a fan of the crossover artists. The artists who have made it onto top 40 radio - Carrie Underwood, Lady A, Sugarland. Their songs hit the radio and I find myself digging them. They get squished in amongst Pink, The Lumineers, and whoever Timbaland has pimped himself out to for the month. I slowly learn the lyrics and then end up eventually acquiring their single or even the whole album.  

The "I told you so" person is someone who was in my life a mere few months, but the one statement that struck with me besides "I don't understand how guys get woman" is "one day you'll grow up and find you like country music."

He insisted with age would come an appreciation for country music. I might have snorted my disagreement at him. He was also a seafood specialist and insisted I would like seafood.  I hate seafood.  If I ever have the pleasure of running into him again, he can have the pleasure of telling me "I told you so." 

I'll turn Carrie Underwood up and ignore him.

Jeremy Camp

Let's talk living recklessly.  That is what Jeremy Camp wants you to do with his new album?  Do you have the courage to be reckless?

Reckless is another masterful recording by Jeremy Camp. As with his other albums, I play it non-stop. He's got a talent which makes good tracks but he has a passion that reaches through the speakers and grips you.  The title track from the album has lyrics that you can't ignore.

Everytime I try to play it safe
Holding back just a little part of meI find myself forgetting whatI say that I believeThe promise of Your WordIs all I needI'll lay my life downAnd give it upI'll give it up


(Chorus)I wanna be recklessCause You are endlessI wanna be shamelessAnd shout Your greatnessI will not be afraidTo surrender my wayAnd follow who You areI wanna be reckless, reckless


I will lose my lifeAnd just let goBecause I know this world is not my homeWith fearless faithI won't be movedUnshakeable inside Your truthYou laid Your life downAnd gave it upSo I'll give it up


Chorus

I won't waste any more timeMy life's Yours it is not mineUse me Lord no matter what's at stake



This song should be our heart's cry.  

Shattered

Shattered by Dani Pettrey. Second in her Alaskan Courage series.

Another entertaining read. Again we return to Yancey, Alaska and the McKenna family. Shattered concentrates on Piper and her determination to prove her wayward brother, Reef, didn't kill a female ski competitor.

Distracting Piper is Deputy Landon Grainger. He holds not only evidence that supports the theory that Reef killed Karli Davis but also Piper's heart. The problem is that she will tell him Reef is innocent but won't tell him how she feels. Landon believes Piper is better off without him. Thus a journey of solving a mystery and being honest with each other begins.

Pettrey has an easy writing style. Her stories flow and are easy to read. I had the same issue as with Submerged though that at times location and times are different but I don't feel they've been portrayed effectively. Also it seems to take a few chapters into the book to know how the McKenna family is comprised.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a taste of Alaska. Despite my dislike for cold weather, I want to visit Pettrey's Alaska.

New Groban in the house

Brave

That is right new Groban is in the house. I absolutely adore Groban. I know he isn't some people's cup of tea, but seriously his live show is amazing. If you've ever had the chance to see him on Live with whichever hosts they've hired for this month, then you know what I'm talking about.  

My favorite song though is I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever). This is what I know though. It takes more than belief it takes work.

I've had more than a few years to observe various relationships and the various stages couples go through. Of course we have the dysfunction of the relationships portrayed on TV. They may put the fun in dysfunction but they are hardly blueprints for successful relationships. Then there are the relationships my friends have ventured through. Some are still with spouse #1 and others are working on multiples. My parents have been married for 35 years and my grandparents for nearly 60.

Regardless of what stage a relationship is in it requires work. Each day it is a decision that no matter what happens I am coming home to you. If we don't have the money to eat out every night, we'll create a picnic in the living room. If we can't afford to go to the movies, we'll rent a few and watch them in bed this weekend. If what I really want to say to you is "I can't stand you right now," I will say "I love you and we need to work through this."  

It is about choosing to work through whatever comes your way so that you know  you will be in love forever.

Oh and to make this a true music review, get the album it is amazing!

Vanished

Irene Hannon brings back the romantic suspense with her Private Justice Series.

Vanished is the first of Hannon's new series, Private Justice. Moira Harrison has gotten herself lost in a torrential downpour. She can't see more than a few feet in front of her car and she doesn't know where she is. Suddenly someone is standing on the road in front of her. She slams on the brakes but it is too late. She is going to hit the woman in the road. When her car comes to a stop off the side of the road a man is there checking on her. He offers to call 911 and disappears to check on the woman in the road. An hour later Moira wakes up. There are no rescue vehicles, no police, no good Samaritan, and no body in the road.

The police attribute her confusion to a concussion so Moira takes her information to Private Investigator Cal Burke. Cal agrees to look into but can't seem to find any more evidence than the police did. He can't tell a Pulitzer Prize nominated reporter that she is crazy though.

Through determination the evidence begins to multiply. Cal and Moira piece together the information until they find the good Samaritan. Or is he?

Enjoy the beginnings of a new series. Hannon came out of the gate running with this one. I'm looking forward to the rest.

The Heart of A Hero series

The Heart of a Hero series by Shelley Gray.

A Texan's Promise
A Texan's Honor
A Texan's Choice

I'm not really big into historical fiction books. It was a different culture back then and I'm a bit of free spirit and can't relate to woman who won't speak unless spoken to. I read A Texan's Promise and couldn't wait to dive into A Texan's Honor. Then I discovered A Texan's Choice was being published and I anticipated the third book.  Gray's female characters aren't pushovers but they aren't brash women either. Her Texan Heroes are good men who sometimes have to do bad things. A former soldier, an undercover agent, and a gunslinger all have blood on their hands. Together though these men and the women they love are stronger together.


A Texan's Promise
Clay Proffitt is the foreman of the Circle Z Ranch. One night he discovers Vanessa Grant in the barn bruised from her stepfather. Determining he can't allow this to happen again he takes her away to leave with his sister. The problem? This means weeks on the trail alone together. Clay wanting to protect Vanessa as best he can marries her. It's Vanessa's dream come true. Clay worries he's only taken her from one bad situation to another. As Clay tends to Vanessa's physical wounds can she help him heal his internal wounds? A Texan's Promise takes us to the days of Cowboys. Clay has a good heart but will he surrender it to Vanessa?

A Texan's Honor
Jamie Ellis boarded a train intending to go live with her spinster aunts after her parent's death. Unfortunately that train was being robbed by the famous Walton Gang. Will McMillan and the famous gunslinger, Scout Proffitt, are in charge of the hostages. Things escalate quickly when the Gang's plan goes awry. Will removes Jamie before she can get caught in the crossfire between the Marshalls threatening to end the Walton Gang once and for all and the Walton Gang insistent upon living another day. Scout Proffitt is sent to kill Will and Jamie when they are discovered missing. Jamie trusts Will despite his apparent crooked ways. Can she forgive him after she hears the secret he's been keeping from her?

A Texan's Choice
At the end of A Texan's Honor, Scout Proffitt was looking for a clean start. He'd won a homestead in a game of poker and was ready to settle down. He wanted to hang up his gun belt and live his life in peace or as much peace as a former gunslinger could find. He didn't expect his homestead would come with a cast aside woman by the name of Rosemarie. When Rose's mother and sister find out that their deceased father gambled away the Circle C Ranch, Rose's mother takes the opportunity to unload her dreamer of a daughter. Rose abandoned offers to assist Scout in improving the neglected homestead until she can make other arrangements.Interfering neighbors soon descend and Scout and Rose find themselves married. No sooner are they married then Scout's skills with a gun are needed to stop a band of renegades terrorizing ranchers.