My Bookshelf: Flights of Fancy by Jen Turano

Miss Isadora Delafield may be an heiress, but her life is far from carefree. When her mother begins pressuring her to marry an elderly and uncouth duke, she escapes from the high-society world she’s always known and finds herself an unlikely candidate for a housekeeper position in rural Pennsylvania.
Mr. Ian MacKenzie is known for his savvy business sense and has built his reputation and fortune completely through traditional hard work. But when his adopted parents are in need of a new housekeeper and Isadora is thrown into his path, he’s unexpectedly charmed by her unconventional manner.
Neither Isadora nor Ian expected to find the other so intriguing but when a chain of mysterious incidents on the farm point to a larger threat, they’ll have to set aside everything they thought they wanted for a chance at happily-ever-after.

Featured Releases—February

Happy almost February! And, happy blog relaunch day for me! This is my very first ever blog post on the new blog, and I am so excited to be sharing this new journey with you! I felt like it would be fitting for my first ever post to be something that I’ve brought with me from the old blog, so today I’m writing all about my featured releases for February! I’ve written must-have releases posts for years, and then that morphed into these featured releases posts less than a year ago, and that’s something I cannot imagine not continuing as I relaunch. I love doing the research, finding which authors are releasing what new books when, and I absolutely love sharing what I’ve found with you, my lovely readers. So, here are the fantastic-sounding new novels I’ve found for the month of February!

My Bookshelf: A Stranger at Fellsworth by Sarah E. Ladd

Could losing everything be the best thing to happen to Annabelle Thorley?

In the fallout of her deceased father’s financial ruin, Annabelle’s prospects are looking bleak. Her fiancé has called of their betrothal, and now she remains at the mercy of her controlling and often cruel brother. Annabelle soon faces the fact that her only hope for a better life is to do the unthinkable and run away to Fellsworth, where her estranged uncle serves as the school’s superintendent. Upon arrival, Annabelle learns that she must shed her life of high society and work for her wages for the first time in her life.

Owen Locke is unswerving in his commitments. As a widower and father, he is fiercely protective of his only daughter. As an industrious gamekeeper, he is intent on keeping poachers at by even though his ambition has always been to purchase land he can call his own. When a chance encounter introduces him to Annabelle Thorley, his steady life is shaken. For the first time since his wife’s death, Owen begins to consider a second chance at love.

As Owen and Annabelle grow closer, ominous forces threaten the peace they thought they’d found. Poachers, mysterious strangers, and murderers converge at Fellsworth, forcing Annabelle and Owen to a test of fortitude and bravery to stop the shadow of the past from ruining their hopes for the future.

Featured Release: Lady of a Thousand Treasures, Giveaway, and More!

Welcome to  Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd Scavenger Blog Hunt with an awesome giveaway, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!  On each stop, there will be:

• special content by the blogger, plus
• a clue
• then head back to the launch post on JustRead or straight to the main crossword puzzle to fill in the words and get the special phrase to enter the  giveaway!

Before we begin, there's a bit about Lady of a Thousand Treasures. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Lady of a Thousand Treasures
Series: Victorian Ladies, Book 1
Author: Sandra Byrd
Publisher: Tyndale House
Release Date: October 9, 2018
Genre: Historical/Gothic Romance
Links: Goodreads

Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. But with her father’s passing and her elderly uncle’s decline, the family business is at risk, and unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone.

The death of a wealthy client offers an unexpected opportunity when Eleanor is appointed the temporary trustee of the baron’s legendary collection. She alone must choose whether to donate the priceless treasures to a museum or allow them to pass to the baron’s only living son, Harry—the man who broke her heart.

Harry claims to love Eleanor still, and though she yearns to believe him, there are circumstances that make her question if this is true. Yet she also distrusts the late baron’s motives, especially after her uncle and her home are attacked. With her family’s finances dwindling and the threat of debtor’s prison closing in, Eleanor knows that donating the baron’s collection would win favor among potential clients, saving the family and its firm. But the more time Eleanor spends with Harry, the more her faith in him grows. Can she risk bestowing upon him the treasures, and her heart, after all?

Ultimately, Eleanor must decide whom she can trust—who in her life is false or true, brass or gold—and what is meant to be treasured.

Lady of a Thousand Treasures is the first book in Sandra Byrd’s Victorian Ladies series, and is actually only the second book I have ever read by her. However, it has made me want to read many, many more of her novels, because I REALLY enjoyed this book. In fact, I’ve already borrowed another of her novels from the library, because I am certain that if it is anywhere near as good as this one, I will enjoy it. To be perfectly honest with you, I had never read anything quite like this story before, but I liked getting to know more about antiquities and what evaluators were like back in those days. It was such an interesting storyline, with a riveting plot and fascinating characters, and I quite honestly couldn’t get enough of it.

When I first started the book, there was a lot of suspicion going around about Harry—and others—and it made it hard for me to know who to trust and who I should like, but I really enjoyed that! It gave a nice, mysterious edge to the story, and I really enjoyed trying to figure out who was good and who was bad along with Eleanor. Then, the deeper I got into it, the more twists and turns and unexpected events I found, and I couldn’t help but be captivated by every page. There wasn’t a moment when I felt like a scene was boring or could have been done without, every piece had a part to play in the story, and each one was just as interesting and well written as the next.

Obviously, I cannot help but give this story all five bookshelves. Sandra did an amazing job of weaving together a touching, captivating, unforgettable tale, and I already want to read it again as I’m writing this. I couldn’t have imagined a better story. Clearly, I also am giving Lady of a Thousand Treasures a place on my all-time favorites list, and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone who loves a good historical novel. Sandra has now become one of my favorite authors, and I want everyone to enjoy her books just as much as I did.

If you'd like to purchase a copy, just click on one of these links:

Goodreads | Amazon | iTunes | Christian Book | Book Depository | Books-A-Million

About the Author

After earning her first rejection at the age of thirteen, bestselling author Sandra Byrd has now published fifty books.

Sandra's delighted to kick off her new historical romance series with Tyndale House Publishers, Victorian Ladies, with Lady of a Thousand Treasures. The three-book Victorian Ladies series follows her historically sound Gothic romances, Daughters of Hampshire, launched with the bestselling Mist of Midnight, which earned a coveted Editor's Choice award from the Historical Novel Society. The second book, Bride of a Distant Isle, has been selected by Romantic Times as a Top Pick. The third in the series, A Lady in Disguise, was published in 2017. Check out her contemporary adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, which was a Christy Award finalist, as was her first historical novel, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. To Die For was also named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2011, and The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr was named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2012.

Sandra has published dozens of books for kids, tweens, and teens, including the bestselling The One Year Be-Tween You and God Devotions for Girls. She continued her work as a devotionalist, with The One Year Home and Garden Devotions, and The One Year Experiencing God's Love Devotional.

Please visit www.sandrabyrd.com to learn more or to invite Sandra to your book club via Skype.

CONTACT: website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

SCAVENGER HUNT CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Instructions: Head to every stop on the tour to collect a word to finish the crossword puzzle. Hint: You might want to print out the crossword puzzle (link below) and enter it everyday to make it easier.

Crossword Board: https://crosswordlabs.com/view/lady-of-a-thousand-treasures-scavenger-hunt

Not a crossword puzzle fan? Just compile the clue words from each stop and enter it on the Rafflecopter entry.

This stop's CLUE is:  His

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive:

• a copy of Lady of a Thousand Treasures (print to US addresses OR ebook to international)
• Cork coaster set of the British Isles (US Only)
• "To The Lighthouse" diffuser made by Seawitch Candles in Cornwall, England. (US Only)
• $10 Amazon gift card (open international)

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight October 15, 2018 and lasts through 11:59pm October 22, 2018. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to stop on every stop on the Tour Schedule for all the clues to enter!

TOUR SCHEDULE

For the full tour schedule, click on either of the launch pages below.
(All stops expected to post by 12:00 NOON EST)

Launch Page at JustRead

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.

To see where I’m linking up, check out my Where I Party page.

All credit for the italicized synopsis goes to Sandra Byrd and Tyndale House Publishers.

Featured Release: An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White

With danger creeping ever closer, do their dreams still matter?

Once London’s top thief, Barclay Pearce has turned his back on his life of crime and now uses his skills for a nation at war, including keeping an eye on a talented engineer working as a clockmaker. But not until he rescues the man’s daughter from a mugging does he begin to wonder what his future might hold.

Evelina Manning has constantly dreamed and worked for independence, but she certainly never meant for it to inspire her fiancé to end their engagement and enlist in the army. When the intriguing man who saved her returns to the Manning residence to study clock repair with her father, she can’t help being interested. But she soon learns that nothing with Barclay Pearce is as simple as it seems.

As 1915 England plunges deeper into war, the race is on for any technological edge, and Evelina’s father’s ideas have captured the attention of many—perhaps too many. As danger seems to encroach from every side, it may just take a reformed thief to steal the time they need to escape.

My Bookshelf: When the Morning Glory Blooms by Cynthia Ruchti

1890s—Morning glories climb the wall of the home where Anna nurtures unwed mothers and their babies.

1951—Ivy works at a nursing home caring for an aging Anna, whose wild tales are not just idle ramblings but memories of a remarkable life that must be shared.

2013—Becky rocks a grandbaby who has rocked her world, unaware of the significance of the house across the street.

Three eras. Three women desperate for hope. Three reasons to believe it won’t come in time. Can Ivy preserve Anna’s emotion-packed, grace-hemmed memories? Will Becky’s prayers for the child of her unwed daughter be answered? And how will one child bring together the intertwining stories of women across generations? As each fights a tangled vine of deception, each uncovers possibilities for hope—and the blossoming simplicity of truth.

Change of Heart by Courtney Walsh

A Colorado senator’s wife, Evelyn Brandt seems to have it all. But her carefully constructed life comes toppling down when the FBI crashes her society brunch with the news that her husband has been arrested for embezzlement, and he’s far from repentant. It turns out this was only the start of his indiscretions—for which he has little regret.

As the weeks following the scandal turn into months, Evelyn withdraws, even shirking her duties with the philanthropic Valentine Volunteers. The inquisitive women of the group are determined not to let Evelyn’s divorce destroy her. They have big plans for her to use her long-forgotten artistic talent to reimagine the city’s iconic lamppost hearts. But doing so will force Evelyn to work closely with Trevor Whitney, her ex-husband’s former best friend. Though she and Trevor used to be close—and he’s been letting her hide in his guesthouse—his gruffness conveys his unease with the situation.

Amid the beauty of Trevor’s farm and the comfort of a paintbrush, Evelyn starts to reclaim the dreams she sacrificed to become the perfect politician’s wife. And as creativity inspires them both, Whit begins to see the girl he fell in love with before his friend—and his own mistakes—stole his chance. Possibilities for a new beginning emerge, but long-kept secrets threaten to ruin everything. After so much time, is a change of heart too much to hope for?

Fates and Traitors by Jennifer Chiaverini

The infamous John Wilkes Booth, mercurial son of an acclaimed British stage actor and a Covent Garden flower girl, has been the subject of more than a century of scholarship, speculation, and even obsession. Booth is often portrayed as a shadowy figure, a violent loner whose single murderous act made him the most hated man in America.

Lost to history until now is the story of the four woman whom he loved and who loved him in return.

Presiding over the chaotic Booth household and overflowing with a mother’s love, the steadfast and compassionate Mary Ann Booth is blind to her son’s growing traitorous rage.

Asia Booth has always stood by her younger brother, protecting him and helping him become a successful actor like their father—but there are some secrets even the most loyal confidante isn’t told.

Daughter of a unionist New Hampshire senator, the smart, fiercely independent Lucy Hale believes the love she and John share is a rare and precious blessing in a country torn apart by war.

For the strong-willed, widowed Mary Surratt, Booth represents the last hope of the Confederacy, and she welcomes him and his conspirators into her home—at great peril to her family.

As their stories intertwine, overlap, and speed toward the inevitable conclusion, all four women attempt to answer the most important question of their lives—who, exactly, is John Wilkes Booth?

My Bookshelf: Secrets Over Sweet Tea by Denise Hildreth Jones

Secrets can be funny things…

We think they keep us safe, but more often than not, they spill out when we least expect and make a mess out of everything. It’s a truth Scarlett Jo Newberry knows all too well—a truth Grace Shepherd and Zach Craig are about to learn the hard way.

As the lives of this boisterous pastor’s wife, polished news anchor, and beleaguered divorce attorney intersect on the tree-lined streets of Franklin, Tennessee, scandal threatens to topple their carefully constructed worlds. Grasping at survival, they embark on a journey of friendship and courage, desperate to find a way back to laughter, love, and life. 

To Win Her Favor by Tamera Alexander

A gifted rider in a world where ladies never race, Maggie Linden is determined that her horse will become a champion. But the one man who could help her has vowed to stay away from thoroughbred racing forever.

An Irishman far from home, Cullen McGrath left a once prosperous life in England because of a horse racing scandal that nearly ruined him. He’s come to Nashville for a fresh start, hoping to buy land and begin farming, all while determined to stay as far away from thoroughbred racing as possible. But starting over proves harder than he’d wagered, especially when Maggie Linden’s father makes him an offer he shouldn’t accept yet cannot possibly refuse.

Maggie is certain that her mare, Bourbon Belle, can take the top purse in the inaugural Peyton Stakes, the richest race ever run in America. Maggie only needs the chance to prove it. To give her that chance—and to save Linden Downs from being sold to the highest bidder—Maggie’s father, aging, yet wily as ever, makes a barter. His agreement includes one tiny troublesome detail—Maggie must marry a man she’s never met. A man she never would have chosen for herself.

To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander

Olivia Aberdeen, destitute widow of a man shot as a traitor to the South, is shunned by proper society and gratefully accepts an invitation from “Aunt” Elizabeth Harding, mistress of Belle Meade Plantation. Expecting to be the Harding’s head housekeeper, Olivia is disillusioned when she learns the real reason Elizabeth’s husband, Confederate General William Giles Harding, agreed to her coming. Not finding the safe haven she expects, Olivia is caught off guard by her feelings for Ridley Adam Cooper, a Southern man who seems anything but a Southern gentleman.

Branded a traitor by some, Ridley Cooper, a Southern son who chose to fight for the Union, is a man desperate to end the war still raging inside him. Determined to learn “the gift” that Belle Meade’s head horse trainer and former slave, Bob Green, possesses, Ridley harbors secrets that threaten both their lives.

As Ridley seeks to make peace within himself for “betraying” the South he loved, Olivia is determined to never be betrayed again.

My Bookshelf: Sweetbriar Cottage by Denise Hunter

When Noah and Josephine discover their divorce was never actually finalized, their lives are turned upside down.

Following his divorce, Noah gave up his dream job and settled at a remote horse ranch in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia, putting much-needed distance between himself and the former love of his life. But then Noah gets a letter from the IRS claiming he and Josephine are still married. When he confronts Josephine, they discover that she missed the final step in filing the paperwork and they are, in fact, still married.

Josephine is no happier about the news than Noah. Maybe the failed marriage—and botched divorce—was her fault, but her heart was shattered right alongside his, more than he would ever believe. The sooner they put this marriage behind them, the better for both of their sakes.

But when Josephine delivers the final paperwork to his ranch, the two become stranded in his cottage during the worst spring snowstorm in a decade. Being trapped with Josephine is a test of Noah’s endurance. He wrestles with resentment and an unmistakable pull to his wife—still beautiful, still brave, and still more intriguing than any woman he’s ever known.

As they find themselves confronted with each other and their shared past, old wounds surface and tempers flare. But when they are forced out into the storm, they must rely on each other in a way they never have before. Josephine finally opens up about her tragic past, and Noah realizes she’s never been loved unconditionally by anyone—including him. Will Noah accept the challenge to pursue Josephine’s heart? And can she finally find the courage to trust Noah?

My Bookshelf: Caught by Surprise by Jen Turano

After years of hiding her true nature, Miss Temperance Flowerdew is finally enjoying freedom outside of the shadow of her relations, so the last thing she expected on her way to work was to be grabbed off the street by a stranger and put on a train bound for Chicago.

When Mr. Gilbert Cavendish is called upon to rescue a missing woman, he follows the trail to Chicago only to discover that the woman is his good friend, Temperance. Before they can discover who was behind her abduction, they’re spotted alone together by a New York society matron, putting their reputations at risk.

Even though Gilbert is willing to propose marriage, Temperance is determined not to lose her newfound independence. But when the misunderstanding in Chicago escalates into a threat on her life, accepting Gilbert’s help in solving the mystery may lead to more than she ever could have dreamed.

Caught by Surprise is the third book in Jen Turano’s Apart from the Crowd series, coming after Behind the Scenes and Out of the Ordinary. I have been a huge fan of Jen’s ever since I first read one of her books years and years ago, and I have read everything she has written ever since. Honestly, I have to say, I think that this is my favorite series she has written so far, there is just something about it that has made me really enjoy it. Although, I always enjoy everything she writes. There is always the perfect mixture of romance, hilarity, and mystery, and I happen to be extremely fond of Jen’s writing style. And historical novels.

As I said in my review of the last book, I was waiting until I read Caught by Surprise before deciding which of the three books was my favorite in the series, and…that was a good idea. Because Caught by Surprise is DEFINITELY my favorite. Although I have absolutely loved every book in this series, I just couldn’t help but fall in love with Temperance and Gilbert, and I found their story to be even more irresistible than the others. There is just something about Temperance—maybe it is her great affinity for adventures, or the way she is completely happy when she’s truly herself, no matter what others think—that reminds her a little bit of me, and that made me love her all the more. So much about her joy, her true character that she heartily embraced once she found her independence that really inspired me, and reminded me of how I should always embrace myself as well and never be afraid to be truly me. And I just love characters who inspire me.

Another thing that I absolutely loved about this book was the mystery of it all. There were so many wonderful twists and turns, some unexpected, some I hoped would happen so in a way they were somewhat expected, both just as intriguing and just as perfect. The way they were constantly dodging threats, running from that first abduction and then all that came after, leant such a delightful amount of suspense—of the lighthearted variety—to the story, and I absolutely loved the way that Jen weaved it all together, especially with the numerous revelations that came with it. The plotline of this novel was just so perfectly mapped out; I couldn’t have imagined it any better myself, and that made it all that much more wonderful.

Not only that, but Gilbert is also one of my absolute favorite parts of this story. I absolutely loved watching how he grew as a character throughout the course of this book, and though I won’t spoil it for anyone, suffice it to say that even though I loved him at the beginning, I loved him all that much more at the end. He really is the perfect match for Temperance, and though I won’t spoil any part of that either, I absolutely loved how their story progressed, and especially how it ended. Besides that, the many parts that Permilia, Asher, Gertrude, and Hamilton played all throughout this book were just the perfect addition, and I loved getting to catch up with them since I have missed them in the time it’s been since I read their novels.

All in all, I absolutely loved this book. Caught by Surprise is the perfect conclusion to this series, and I cannot imagine it being any better. Jen did a phenomenal job of capturing these characters, and their stories, in a way I will not soon forget. I am so very glad that I have this book on my bookshelf, as I know it is one that I will read many more times in the years to come, and I cannot wait to lend it to all of my lovely reader friends. I highly recommend Caught by Surprise, and the rest of the series, to anyone who loves a good romance, an intriguing mystery, and a lot of laughter, and I can promise you that this book is one that you are sure to enjoy.

Happy reading!

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for only my honest review.

To see where I’m linking up, check out my Where I Party page.

All credit for the italicized synopsis goes to Jen Turano and Bethany House Publishing.

My Bookshelf: All This Time by Melissa Tagg

Bear’s past refuses to let go.

Ten years ago, Bear McKinley gave up everything—his freedom and his reputation—for his mess of a family. But after years of distance and too many attempts at starting over, he finally has a new life…until his past catches up to him once again. Suddenly, he finds himself charged with the care of his missing brother’s children, convinced he’s out of second chances to make his life count. And yet, with every day that passes, these kids and the woman he never stopped missing help patch the holes in his heart. Maybe this is the fresh start he’s been longing for all along. But as his newfound hope grows, so does the mystery surrounding his brother’s activities—and when the threat reaches into the lives of those he loves, it’s clear he can’t run away this time.

Fear holds Raegan’s future captive.

Raegan Walker is fine. She’s happy working part-time jobs and rarely venturing from her hometown. At least, that’s what she tells everyone…and herself. But she can’t help wondering what might’ve happened if she hadn’t abandoned her art so many years ago—and if Bear McKinley had never left. When Bear returns and she’s commissioned for a painting that just might revive her artistic ambition all in one week, it’s time to finally reach for more than fine. But doing so means facing the fears that have held her back all this time, including admitting the secret she’s kept from Bear and her family. With her dream and her heart on the line, how much will Raegan have to risk to finally chase her happy ending?

Do You Have a "Shut Down" Heart?

As those of you who actively follow my blog know, last week I shared a post about the way that we live not-so-loving lives, how we treat others in not-so-loving ways, and how we need to live with “open hearts.” If you haven’t read that post, you’re going to want to go back and read it, because that was just the beginning of everything I have to say about that particular topic. This post is just the first of many that will come after the one I shared last week, so if you read that one first it will give you a little bit of context.

Last week, I shared that I had just finished a book that I loved, and that taught me a lot about what it means to love, but what I didn’t share as much about is that it also taught me a lot about what it means to live alive. That’s something I want to talk about today. In Secrets Over Sweet Tea, Denise Hildreth Jones writes about being alive. Really alive. And ever since I read that book, that’s something I truly want to be, and that something that will help us to really love.

My Bookshelf: Out of the Ordinary by Jen Turano

Working as a paid companion may be quite commonplace, but Miss Gertrude Cadwalader’s eccentric employer makes her job unpredictable, to say the least. She finds herself carrying out an array of highly unusual tasks, including wearing peculiar outfits and returning items the woman pilfered. But when the wealthy Mrs. Sinclair catches Gertrude sneaking around the Sinclair yacht with some of the missing items in her possession, she immediately jumps to the wrong conclusion.

Shipping magnate Harrison Sinclair is caught in the middle of a misunderstanding between his mother and Gertrude, but he can’t help coming to his friend’s defense. Even as he hopes their friendship might become something more, Harrison is unprepared for the outlandish escapades that seem to follow the lovely, anything-but-ordinary Gertrude at every turn.

My Bookshelf: Behind the Scenes by Jen Turano

After spending the last six years banished to the wallflower section of the ballroom, Miss Permilia Griswold has finally figured out a way to pass the time at all the New York high-society events she attends. Under the pseudonym “Miss Quill,” she is the author of society gossip columns filled with tidbits only an insider in society—albeit one on the fringes—would know.

When she overhears a threat against Mr. Asher Rutherford, the owner of one of the most up-and-coming department stores in the city, she’s determined to warn him. But the irritatingly handsome man doesn’t believe her, leaving her no choice but to take matters into her own hands. What she doesn’t anticipate is that she’ll end up putting herself at risk in the process—or that she and Mr. Rutherford, a man with secrets of his own, just might end up joining forces after all.

This Isn't Love

Can I ask a serious question this morning? I’m hoping it’s not too early for what I have to say, because I have been thinking about this a lot in my life, and I am sure there are some people who need to hear it. I know I need to hear it, and I’m the one writing it. I just hope people will take the time to open their hearts to what I have to say instead of shutting them down with the familiar “Everything is fine just the way that it is” and “I’m fine, I don’t need to change.” I just recently read a book that I know is going to stick with me for quite some time, and when it doesn’t anymore I am going to read it again so that it does. This book, this fictional story at that, has taught me more about loving others and living my life than many sermons and Bible lessons ever have. So I’m working on an a series about not living with “shut down” hearts, and I think this is my first step, though this one is more my own and has a lot less to do with what I read about in that book (the review of which will come at some point, when I’ve finally stopped being behind on all my reviews).

My Bookshelf: Storm Front by Susan May Warren

Life and love hang in the balance during a deadly summer of storms.

A tornado has destroyed a small Minnesota community, and among the missing are not only a group of students but also PEAK Rescue team leader Chet King. Ty Remington will stop at nothing to rescue his mentor, not even when the girl he loved—and lost—walks back into his life. But Brette needs his help more than he knows, despite her stubborn determination to push him away. And when he gets a second chance, loving her just might cost him more than he can imagine.

A blogger for Vortex Storm Chasers, Brette Arnold didn’t expect her adventures to land her in the same place as Ty, the guy who she walked—no ran—from over a year ago. She had her reasons—good ones. The kind that tell her that falling for him again would only lead to heartache. But Ty isn’t the kind of man to give up—not on the missing students or on her.

My Bookshelf: Troubled Waters by Susan May Warren

 Billionaire Ian Shaw can have everything he wants—except a happy ending. Or at least that’s what it feels like with his fortune recently liquidated, his niece, Esme, still missing, and the woman he loves refusing to speak to him. In fact, he doubts she would date him even if they were stranded on a deserted island.

 Despite her love for Ian, Sierra Rose knows he has no room in his life for her as long as the mystery of his missing niece goes unsolved. The only problem is, Sierra has solved it, but a promise to Esme to keep her whereabouts secret has made it impossible to be around Ian.

 When the PEAK chopper is damaged and Sierra lacks the funds to repair it, Ian offers a fundraising junket for large donors on his yacht in the Caribbean. But the three-day excursion turns into a nightmare when a rogue wave cripples the yacht and sends the passengers overboard. Shaken up and soaked to the bone, Ian finally has a chance to test his theory when he and Sierra do indeed find themselves washed up on a strange, empty shore.

 It will take guts and gumption for the PEAK team to rescue the duo. But it will take a miracle to rescue Ian and Sierra’s relationship.