"A Daring Venture" by Elizabeth Camden

I love that the main female characters in Elizabeth Camden’s books are always strong, smart, independent women. The main character in “A Daring Venture” is no exception. 

This is the story of Doctor Rosalind Werner who is no stranger to sadness. Her parents died from a water-borne disease when she was young. She was forced to live with a relative who later died, forcing both her and her brother, Gus, to move to Germany and live with yet another relative. She has dedicated her life to saving as many people as she can from the same type of horrible death as her parents. Rosalind is also struggling to live in her tiny house with her brother and his German wife, Ingrid who harbors ill feelings toward Rosalind as they were forced to leave Germany because of a scandal involving Rosalind.

She and her associate, Dr. Leal, are trying to convince the world that chlorine is the answer. It can kill harmful bacteria and is safe. However, not everyone is easy to sway, especially the handsome Nicholas Drake who just happens to be the newly appointed Commissioner of Water for New York.

Nicholas has lots of issues, too. He is from “new” money, his aunt is trying to exact revenge upon him, his sister, and his sister’s family and he finds himself attracted to Rosalind, who is on the other side of the cholrine debate.

One issue in this book really resonated with me. Nick was in charge of moving the residents of five towns so that a new reservoir could be created. I empathized with the folks of those towns who were angry and upset that they were going to be “bought out” and forced to move. I live in an area that was purchased by the government and flooded in 1933 when the Tennessee Valley Authority built 40 dams to control flooding and create cheap electricity. People lost their family farms, homes and livelihoods.

My favorite part of the book is when Dr. Leal, Rosalind’s associate, tells her that “all God asks of us…” is to “do our best with what we have.” What a great reminder!

This is the second book in the series, but it is a standalone story. I have not read the first (yet), but it in no way inhibited my enjoyment of this one. The third book, “A Desperate Hope” comes out Feb 5, 2019.

Publication Date: June 5, 2018

Genre:  Christian Fiction, Romance, Historical, 20^th Century

Cover: Perfect

Rating: 4 stars

Source:  I received this book from the publisher, Bethany House, in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!

“Something In the Water” by Catherine Steadman

“Something In the Water” by Catherine Steadman is a tale of love, greed, betrayal, mystery and murder. All those things that make a great book!

Erin is a documentarian and she has thought of a great idea… interviewing three inmates who are getting ready to be released soon. She will interview them inside prison, film their release and interview them after. During this process, Erin and Mark finally get married and take a dream honeymoon to Bora Bora. However, while deep sea diving, they find a mysterious bag that changes their lives forever… and not in a good way.

Spoiler Alert! If you have neither started the book nor finished, get it, read it and come back later for the review!

I loved this book. It had a great beginning and I was hooked from the first sentence. It kept me entertained and I have never pondered the difference between flotsam and jetsam so much. 😉

In the end, my only issue was that I was not 100% sure about the wreck and when Mark became involved. I think that he was tangled up in the mess from the beginning. He was an experienced diver and it was quite coincidental that they just happened upon the wreck, he found the bag, and he dove to the wreck alone. In the final chapter, Erin is pondering how everything happened and she recounted the huge blow up with Mark the night they slashed the wedding cost. I also thought it odd at the time that they cut the wedding expenses so much but still went to Bora Bora for two weeks. I think I know why; he was involved from the get go!

Also, he had not seen Hector since before the wedding. He was busy planning something for all that time and his persona changed quite a bit. I think that deep down Erin knew that there was something “off” with Mark and that is why she chose not to tell him about the baby.

I loved how all three of her interviewees became a part of her life, especially Eddie. I still wonder if Eddie might have been involved somehow in the whole mess or was he just somewhat of a father figure/helper to Erin. He obviously liked her since he assisted her in the sale of the diamonds and the ensuing coverup of Mark’s murder.

Perfect ending… “You can’t save everyone. Sometimes you just have to save yourself.” Erin proved that she had what it took when it came to saving herself and her unborn child. The book wrapped up satisfyingly, and I wonder if there might be another that would include a few more details and Erin’s “other favor” for Eddie.

Publication Date: June 5, 2018

Genre:  Mystery, Thriller

Cover: Perfect

Rating: 4 stars

Source:  I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!

#SomethingInTheWater #NetGalley

"Everything We Give (Everything #3)" by Kerry Lonsdale

Warning: Spoiler Alert! If you are reading this and have not read the first two books in the series, stop and read those first! If you have read the first two, I don’t give anything away about the third.

“Everything We Left Behind” ended with Lacy walking up to James on the beach, giving him a business card and telling him “I believe you know someone who might need this… He’s been looking for me.” I was quite surprised when "Everything We Give”, which wraps up the Everything series, began with Ian (Aimeee’s husband).

This book is Ian’s story. Chapters about his childhood and youth are interspersed throughout chapters of his current life. We learn why he is the way he is, but most importantly, we learn why he may be looking for Lacy.

This third book is as good as the first two and wraps up the series neatly!

“Women of the Dunes” by Sarah Maine

It isn’t often that I finish a book and immediately look to see if I own any others by that author so that I can start reading another. “Women of the Dunes” by Sarah Maine was that good! Betrayal, murder, romance, archaeology, myth, handsome Scottish men… this one has it all!

The author laces together a story of different generations with three alternating time lines. Set in Ullanessm, an island off the western coast of Scotland, Libby Snow arrives to excavate the site of Scottish legend Ulla in an attempt to find burial sites and artifacts. Ulla is a Viking who arrived with her lover, several warriors and treasure centuries ago. The travelers are met by a monk who tries to save the lover’s life but fails. Several legends and poems are written about them and they even inspire the name of the island.

Libby has long had the desire to visit Ullanessm after hearing stories of her great-great-grandmother, Ellen, who previously lived and worked on the island. However, shortly after arriving, Libby discovers a body… an unexpected body that cannot be connected to the legend since it is clearly much more recent.

She then meets the handsome caretaker of Sturrock House, Rodri, who seems to be hiding some secrets of his own.

What happened to Ulla, her lover, the monk and the treasure? What will Libby find? What is the identity of the latest body? Lots of questions that the author fully answered.

Such a great story that was perfectly written. The three story lines were expertly woven together to complete the picture of all three generations. Her writing made me feel as if I was there on Ulanessm. A great book with an excellent ending that would be a perfect vacation/beach read.

Oh, by the way, “The House Between Tides” is next; I’ll let you know.

Publication Date: July 24, 2018

Genre:  Women’s Fiction, Historical, Mystery, Suspense

Cover: Perfect and beautiful!

Rating: 5 stars

Source:  I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!

#NetGalley #WomenOfTheDunes #SarahMaine