Where Hearts Prosper by "Suzanne V. Reese"

Where Hearts Prosper is the first book published by Suzanne V. Reese and was released late last year. Suzanne has been relatively quiet on the publicity front since she's been very distracted with her fight with breast cancer. Coming from a family where breast cancer is alarmingly prevalent myself, her struggle and frustrations are especially touching for me.

You can read a preview of this book and learn more about the author and her book on her website and keep track of her fight with breast cancer on her blog, Chocolate Daydreams.

Here's the back cover blurb:

Carmen Anderson has spent her entire life avoiding the place she grew up: the town tiny of Prosper, Arizona.


But when her teenage daughter, Paige, begins to rebel, the devoted single mother makes an impulsive decision to move back to Prosper and its wholesome values.


While Carmen is in Chicago for a business meeting. Paige is unexpected stranded in Prosper during a flood that takes out its only access bridge.


In a race to save her daughter, Carmen sets out on a desperate journey.Jeopardizing both her career and a proposal of marriage, Carmen must get to her daughter before she uncovers a painful secret--the mystery of why Carmen ran away from a people who still love her fiercely, even after years of hurtful separation.

Mystery, Suspense, Romance in Ronda Hinrichsen's book "Missing"

I first 'met' Ronda Hinrichsen online three or four years ago after attending the same writer's conference. Through the email group we joined I actually read a long-ago incarnation of this story, which was captivating and interesting then, and I know has undergone massive rewrites and improvements since. Rhonda's book Missing was released last fall and her second book Trapped will be released shortly and show up in stores over the next few weeks.

Here's the back cover blurb:

A BYU-Idaho choir tour in British Columbia turns out to be anything but ordinary when soloist Stacie Cox spots a kidnapped child from Rexburg during a performance.

Before Stacie can alert the authorities, the little girl disappears. Stacie vows to find and rescue her, a choice that forces her to deal with her guilt-ridden past and another little girl that haunts her dreams.

When the handsome Matt Brennan helps Stacie in her search, she tries to resist the attraction she feels for him. Yet as he gains her friendship and trust, her resolve to never fall in love begins to crumble.

And after a series of harrowing events, Stacie must decide if she is willing to sacrifice her life--and a possible future with Matt--to save a stranger.

If you live in the Brigham City area, you can attend Ronda's opening night party next week:

My OPENING NIGHT Book Signing party for TRAPPED will be at Reflections of Utah Book Store at 47 S. Main Street, Brigham City, Utah on May 6, 2010 from 5 p.m to 7 p.m.

You can learn more about the author, her books and read an except on her website. Also, check out her blog for regular updates.

Inspirational romantic suspense by Dee Henderson

I love audio books and listen to them all the time as I travel or do projects around the house. My local library is set up with Netlibrary.com, so I can download oodles of audio books for free--which I've totally loved. Unfortunately, it's gotten so hard to find books that are both engaging and free of the harsh language and sex scenes. Honestly, most of the inspirational romance I'd been exposed to in the national market I found to be insipid, but I gave Dee Henderson's work a chance and have been so pleased! Her books are all romantic suspense (at least the ones I've been exposed to so far) and involve either law enforcement/federal agents (like the FBI) or military personnel--and no, not all the tough characters are men, the women are plenty strong and inventive as well.

My first book was Danger in the Shadows, which I found complex, with a well developed romance, likable characters, and not too heavy-handed on the religion angle. Her male and female leads even had a legitimate reason to be kept apart, unlike so many books about people who have simple misunderstandings. Here's the blurb from Amazon:

Sara is terrified. She's doing the one thing she cannot afford to do: fall in love with former pro-football player Adam Black, a man everyone knows. Sara's been hidden away in the witness protection program, her safety dependent on staying invisible--and loving Adam could get her killed!

Introducing the O'Malleys, an inspirational group of seven, all abandoned or orphaned as teens, who have made the choice to become a loyal and committed family. They have chosen their own surname, O'Malley, and have stood by each other through moments of joy and heartache. Their stories are told in CBA best-selling, inspirational romantic suspense novels that rock your heart and restore strength and hope to your spirit.

You can learn more about Dee Henderson' stories including reading a first chapter here.

"Deadly Treasure" by Jillayne Clements

"Deadly Treasure" is Jillayne Clements' first novel, though she has a cook book coming out shortly.
Here's the blurb:

A treasure map. A locket. Murder. Deceit.

None of these things are on Lexi's mind when she returns home to Park City, Utah, for her grandfather s funeral--until she stumbles across an old diary while cleaning out his attic.

Soon Lexi's head is filled with tales of hidden treasure buried deep in the Uintah Mountains.

When the diary is stolen and Lexi realizes her life is in danger, she decides to find out if the stories are true. She heads to the Uintahs in search of the secret mine, with her handsome friend Brad by her side. With surprising twists around every corner, expect the unexpected in this thrilling tale of adventure and romance.

You can learn more about Jillayne, her book, and her cookbook on her website.

"Depth of Deceit" by Betty Briggs

Here's a book released last fall by author Betty Briggs that I just stumbled across. Sounds great doesn't it?

How does an intelligent woman find herself mired in a web of deception, abuse, and danger?

Stephanie Saunders is a lovely young attorney with a big heart, keen mind, and a trust in others that nearly proves disastrous. Her handsome and wealthy boyfriend strikes her as perfect, but is he too good to be true? Her boss hovers around her like a protector and friend, but is he? Stephanie’s work focuses on defending the indigent, and one client earns her trust and friendship, but why is he showing up at the oddest places? It seems that she can trust only the horses she trains and loves, magnificent beasts who remind her of life’s purposes and meaning.

In a dramatic turn of events, Stephanie must make a decision that will affect her life forever. While fans of the author’s earlier novels will be thrilled to discover a familiar character, this novel stands alone in plot and dramatic impact.

You can learn more about the author at her website. and take a moment to check out her book trailer.



This book was published by Sunrise Selections and can be purchased at Amazon.com. The ISBN: 978-0965630757 and it is 352 pages, 5x8, softcover.

Tristi's Pinkston's mystery/romantic suspense novel "Agent in Old Lace"

Tristi Pinkston is the author of three other books--all historical fiction--and contributed to a couple of other books, which you can learn all about on her website. This book was a change of direction for the author, but a great read. The blurb follows:

Shannon Tanner has it all a perfect family, a perfect job, and a perfect boyfriend. Or so she thinks. What Shannon doesn't know is that her boyfriend, Mark, is stealing money from her father and making millions doing it. When Shannon learns Mark's secret, he turns on her, and Shannon's life abruptly goes from perfect to perilous.

In an effort to protect Shannon, the FBI assigns their only female agent to go undercover as her personal bodyguard. But when the agent is injured the day before the assignment, they turn to the next best thing: their top agent, Rick Holden in a dress.

Life seems safe again for Shannon with Rick by her side and Mark apparently gone for good. Then Shannon gets word that her best friend has been kidnapped, and it becomes clear that Mark isn't going to stop any time soon. Shannon realizes the only way to save herself and her friend and stop Mark once and for all is by sending Rick, her only source of protection, away. Can Rick save Shannon before it's too late?

You can learn more about Tristi at her website, or her blog (one of several). Tristi has a humorous mystery series she's working on as well, the first of which will be released next March.

"All the Stars in Heaven"--sweet romance by Michele Paige Holmes

Michelle Paige Homes first book, Counting Stars was selected at the Whitney Award winner for best romantic fiction in 2007, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Her second book, All the Stars in Heaven has been praised as even better then the first book. The two books are slightly related through a minor character, but you absolutely do not need to read the first one to understand the second.

Here's the blurb from her publisher:

Ever since the woman he once adored told Jay Kendrich he was a chivalrous hero, he has tried to live up to the praise. But when things don't work out with Jane, moving on and dating other girls proves to be a chore. That is until he meets fellow Harvard student Sarah Morgan. Although Sarah is a freshman studying music and Jay is in his third year of law school, he discovers they have much in common. He has also discovered that getting to know the shy pianist is painful. The last thing Jay expected from his friendly advances was to be assaulted by a brawny stranger.

It is abundantly clear that someone wants him to stay away from Sarah. If only he could. As long as she can remember, Sarah has lived under a watchful eye. While her father insists it's for her own protection, Sarah feels imprisoned. As she begins to believe that those she has trusted most don't have her best interest at heart, she is driven further from her respected father and closer to Jay. But their love will come at a high price as the pair edges closer toward to a truth that is darker than either of them could have imagined.

Here's a link to Michele's blog, which has the prologue available for your reading pleasure. Also, here's a book review from Jennie Hansen at Meridian Magazine--all writer's wish they got such great reviews from this tough but fair writer/reviewer. Michele's book is nearly at the end of the column, but feel free to see what Jennie says about the other books she reviewed that month. =)

Humorous suspense in "Wake Me When It's Over" by Robison Wells

Robison Wells is one of the funniest guys I know (virtually), so there was no question when I picked up his books that I would be entertained. Rob published three books, then decided he needed to feed his family on a regular basis and returned to school to earn his MBA, just in time for him to graduate last spring after the economy tanked and jobs disappeared like a mirage. The good news is that unemployment has given him plenty of time to start writing again, so we look forward to yet more entertaining books. He seems to be managing to squeeze in writing with his family, blogging, and being president of the Whitney Awards committee again.

His second book, Wake Me When It's Over is a humorous suspense--the first of a three-book series whose back cover blurb follows:

It took months for Eric to work up the courage to ask Rebekah Hughes out, and now the woman of his recent dreams is gone. Kidnapped! At least that's what Eric believes. It's difficult to clearly recall recent events when you're lying semi-conscious, bleeding in the snow. Now it's up to Eric to rescue his new girlfriend--well, his almost-girlfriend. In the great teeter-totter of love, Rebekah has been sitting solidly on the ground, casually ignoring the fact that Eric is dangling four feet above the sandbox. So far, his brilliant, passive approach to winning Rebekah's love hasn't worked--now, perhaps, his unusually daring heroics will sway her. It's worth the trip to find out in this seriously funny, full-throttle ride into the human heart.

"Hire a babysitter, order up a pizza, and take the phone off the hook. Because once you pick up Wake me When It's Over, this book won't leave your hands until you've read it straight through to the last page." --Kerry Blair, author of This Just In.

You can find this book and the second in the series, The Counterfeit, at Amazon.com. you can read their first chapters on Rob's website. To read funny tidbits about Rob's life and writing experiences, check out the blog link at the top of the post.

Cami Checketts "The Sister Pact"

Cami Checketts' third book, "The Sister Pact" was recently released. It's a romantic suspense that's full of mysteries. the back cover blurb reads:

Savanna Compton is devastated when her sister and best friend, Allison, falls into a coma after a tragic accident. Or was it an accident? Even with a charming and handsome detective at her side, it seems Savannah may never discover the truth. But if she doesn’t her family could be in even more danger. And Savannah’s past holds its own secrets that could change everything.

Now she must prove her innocence to the one person who is beginning to matter most. Join Savannah as she struggles to summon hope and rely on faith even in the darkest of circumstances, and learn how the bond between sisters can overcome anything.

A review I posted to the Facebook group is found here. Cami's website which has an excerpt of the book can be found here, and her blog which has other reviews, her upcoming signings, and other great information about the author can be found here. This books is available at Amazon.com, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Deseret Book, and anywhere else LDS books are sold.