The Mahoney Sisters Trilogy by Tracey V. Bateman

I really like mysteries and the Love Inspired Suspense series mysteries have surprised me. These are good! There is just the right amount of intrigue and adventure mixed in with romance and a nice healthy dose of faith.


Tracey Bateman has written a series about 3 sisters... hence the name, The Mahoney Sisters.




Book 1, Reasonable Doubt centers on Keri Mahoney. Keri's childhood sweetheart is whisk away by his aunt after his parents are killed in a car wreck. Although they vow to stay in touch, forces beyond their control prevent that from happening. Now, 15 years later, Justin is back in Keri's life along with his twin sons and a murder investigation hanging over his head. Can Keri keep her personal feelings out of the way and be the cop she was trained to be? Did Justin kill his wife? Or is there someone else out there responsible... someone who now wants to remove Justin and his boys from the picture also?




Book 2, Suspicion of Guilt focuses on Denni Mahoney. Denni runs a home for girls who have just left the foster care program and entered young adulthood. She helps them find employment, take college classes and prepare to function independently in the real world, but someone doesn't like what she is doing. Flooded basements, fires in the kitchen, and missing items are just a few of the not-so-subtle hints he or she is leaving. Denni is determined to move forward ignoring the warnings, but Detective Reece Corrigan has other plans. Reece is determined to get to the bottom of the attacks even if that means suspecting one of the girls in the home.




Book 3, Betrayal of Trust spotlights the oldest Mahoney sister, Raven. Raven is in a high powered, fast moving career that keeps her from family and from faith. She is too busy striving to be a mover and a shaker and dealing with secrets from her past that feed her insecurities and doubts. Then a once in a lifetime opportunity presents itself. Matthew Strong is pulling out of the Senate race and he is being mum as to why. Every report wants this story and Raven, as Matt's former fiance, is sure she has an inside track. What she doesn't expect is to walk into a situation where she could loose her heart and possibly her life.




All 3 of these books were great reads! And all 3 are now available at Paperback Book Swap (look for my account! http://barbsbooks.paperbackswap.com/ )

True Light by Terri Blackstock

Terri Blackstock is one of my absolute favorite writers. I have never disliked any of her books!

True Light is book 3 in her Restoration series. I have heard a number of folks say these books are weird. They certainly are different... extremely creative and original... and downright good! I haven't been disappoint with any of them!

It is difficult to share a lot about the books, as it might spoil the plot for someone who plans to read them. Suffice it to say that life in Oak Hollow continues to be a challenge with no electricity. Crime is on the rise.. people are desperate.. life has certainly changed dramatically since the pulses started. And no one knows when they will end.

There are those who push on, adapting, coming up with legitimate ways to provide for their families and others. And there are those who steal and who kill.

In True Light a teenage boy is shot and Mark Green is arrested for the assault. There is no real evidence, but Mark's father was a criminal so he is guilty by reason of birth. Mark finds himself in the foulest of places... a jail with no electricity and no running water... and no one willing to clean it. But God has him there for a purpose. Mark is eventually able to see the why and even to see what God wants him to do there, but he isn't happy about it. However, he obeys even when it means opening himself up for more hate and cruelty.

There is so much more to this story... we see young teens struggling to deal with all that is happening around them... neighbors turning against neighbors... friendships and marriages being strained to the brink of snapping.. and yet, there is always the undeniable hope of Jesus... which Blackstock incorporates beautifully in her books.

Read True Light... go back and read Last Light and Night Light first. Each book builds on the previous ones. And there is a 4th one on the way... Dawn's Light. I think it might be the final installment in this wonderful series.

How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill

NOTE: This is a secular work... one I thoroughly enjoyed... but there is course language used several times in the book. It is a non-fiction work and I have no doubt the use of such language fits the different situations. However, since most of the books I review are Christian fiction and free of language, I wanted to "warn" any potential readers.

The subtitle to How Starbucks Saved My Life is A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else... and that is the thrust of the book.

I stumble across a quote that was taken from this book a few weeks ago and the title intrigued me. What I found was a wonderful biographical journey that made me ponder if I am living life in my own little bubble unaware of all that is happening around me.

Michael Gates Gill was reared in a rather affluent home. The son of a writer for New Yorker magazine, it was normal for Gill to meet and socialize with the likes of Robert Frost, Ernest Hemingway, Jackie Onassis and others from the top elite. After receiving an Ivy League education, Gill joined a prestigious advertising firm and embarked on a 25 year trek up the corporate ladder. Over the years he found time to marry and father 4 children, but very little time to actually be there with them or for them.

Then it happened. The firm was bought out and the new owner liked "young." And so at 53 Gill finds himself out of work and at a loss. He tries to run his own consulting firm, but it fails. He has an affair and fathers another child, bringing an end to his marriage and further damaging his relationship with his older children. And then he is diagnosed with a rare, but operable and benign brain tumor that is robbing an ear of its hearing.

Feeling completely down and out, Gill wanders into a Starbucks in his old neighborhood to enjoy a bit of luxury in a latte. What he finds is a job. Not as manager... not as marketing exec... a job at the bottom... sweeping, mopping, serving coffee.. whatever is needed.

And overtime, this now 63 year old white man who is working for a young African-American woman in a Starbucks where he is the only Caucasian and the only person over 30, finds there is more to life than bank accounts, clients, Brooks Brothers suits and all the things he once held sacred.

He learns to live... really live. To SEE those around him.. to care about them.. to listen to them.. to not judge them on appearance... and in the end, despite the hard work and the long hours that his body has to endure, he realizes this is the best thing that ever happened to him.

This story is not all sunshine and roses... there is no sugarcoating... but it is encouraging and uplifting. There is no doubt God was at work in Gill's life and I pray his eyes and heart are open to see that one day.

I also loved all I learned about Starbucks. I am not a coffee drinker and have never been into a Starbucks (shock! LOL!). They are a really great company who respects not only its customers, but also those who work there. Unlike other big corporations who hire part-time to avoid providing benefits, Starbucks offers all their employees benefits and also help to move forward.

I highly recommend this book. I am very glad I read it. I recently found out that it is coming out soon as a movie, starring Tom Hanks. I have no doubt it will be good, but I encourage you to read the book first. There are things that can only be conveyed in print... not on film.

The Heart's Homecoming by Merilee Whren

Eight years ago Sam Lawson stood at the altar, ready to marry his childhood sweetheart, Jillian Rodgers... but Jillian didn't show. In fact, she hasn't shown her face to Sam for the past eight years and he has been just fine with that. He forgave Jill, but that doesn't mean he wants to see her or have anything to do with her.

For eight years Jillian has worked to build a name and career for herself. She has come home to visit family some, but always kept a low profile not drawing attention to herself.

That is all about to change. Jillian's family needs her and no matter how uncomfortable it will be to move back to her small hometown and be near Sam, Jillian is going to be there for her mom and dad.

As Jillian and Sam are thrust together, they become reacquainted and find that each is no longer the person they were eight years ago. Not wanting to pick up where they left off, they decide to see if the "new" Sam and Jillian are meant to be... in spite of the pain of past, the awkwardness f the present and the uncertainty of the future.

The Heart of Grace by Linda Goodnight

This is the 3rd and final book in The Brothers Bond series that Goodnight wrote for Love Inspired. It is a great series... one I think any romance reader would enjoy.

Drew Michaels lives for adventure and danger and he has decided it is best that he does that alone.. no matter how much it hurts himself and his wife. Larissa. Drew informs Larissa in no uncertain terms (and certainly not in person!) that they are threw... he is riding off into the sunset alone leaving her free to find Mr. Right. But Larissa has no desire to go hunting for Mr. Right when she knows she has already found him, Drew.

Larissa prays for the Lord to intervene and He does.. in a big way. Drew is injured while taking war photos. The hospital doctor agrees with Larissa that the best thing Drew needs is rest and TLC, so home he goes with Larissa... the last place he wants to be.

Larissa is getting too close... she will learn his secrets and then it will all be over anyway... why did he get married in the first place!?

God knows why and He has a plan for Drew, his marriage and his long lost brothers.

A Treasure of the Heart by Valerie Hansen

Valerie Hansen is one of the favorite Love Inspired authors and she did not let me down with this book. Lillie Delaney is headed home from Chicago to Gumption, Arkansas... yes, her grandmother will be able to say "I told you so" but Lillie doesn't care. She is tired of the big city and the rat race. She is ready for home and some much needed peace and quiet!

What she finds instead is that her grandfather has run away with another woman, her grandmother refuses to work in her cafe and to take off her pink shower cap and the new pastor is a Harley riding rebel complete with black leather jacket. What on earth has happened to her small home town!?

Lillie learns that the Lord truly does work in mysterious (and strange!) ways!

The Heart of a Man by Deb Kastner

Another cute one from Love Inspired.. and with a neat premise.. one that I haven't seen done before.

Dustin Fairfax was about to inherit a sizeable trust fund.. and with that the ability to help those less fortunate than himself in a big way.. but there is a catch.. Dustin has to become the man his father wanted him to be... polished, professional, urbane... no one would use those words to describe Dustin!

Enter Isobel Buckley, image consultant. Isobel has her work cut out for her if she is going to make this sow's ear into a silk purse. And along the way she's going to learn there is a lot more than clothes that make the man.