Hidden Currents (Lantern Beach #1) - Christy Barritt

This is the first book I've read by this author.  I was looking for a new author and saw that I could borrow this from Amazon for free.  This series is four books at the time I'm writing this review, but the book summary says it's going to be six total.  So far there's Hidden Currents, Flood Watch, Storm Surge, and Dangerous Waters.

Cassidy's cover has been blown.  She's taken out the head of a gang in Seattle, but now she's in hiding on the other side of the country.  With a bounty of a million dollars on her head, she has to stay out of the spotlight.

Easier said than done.  She's supposed to be selling ice cream to the tourists (since none of the local will buy from her), but she soon gets bored.  A murdered man on the beach has her detective instincts tingling, and no matter how many times she tells herself to keep her nose out of things, she finds herself involved.

There's also some romantic tension going on between Cassidy and her neighbor, Ty.  They definitely get off on the wrong foot, but the more they learn about each other, the more they want to know.  But Cassidy's got a man waiting for her when she comes out of hiding, and she tells herself she can't be interested.

We read from both Ty and Cassidy's point of view, and I liked that.   I was also able to connect with both characters, especially Cassidy.  My only gripe was the two chapters that took the story out of the present and put it into the past.  These two chapters could've easily been incorporated into the flow of the story as a memory or flashback.  I'm not a fan of skipping around time-wise in novels, but it was only twice, so I'll give that a pass.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more.  This one ended a bit abruptly, and potential readers be warned that Cassidy is still in hiding at the end of the book.  You're going to want to keep going, and I have the feeling you may want to read these in order.  I can't wait to read about the continuing relationship between Ty and Cassidy.  Good Book!

The Weaver's Daughter - Sarah E. Ladd

Kate is torn between two worlds.  Her brother works at a mill while her father is a weaver.  Loyalty is important to her father, and she doesn’t dare upset him.  He won’t allow Kate to have much say in the business, even though she feels like it will be hers one day.

Henry has come back from the war, and his homecoming isn’t quite what he was hoping for.  Arguments with his grandfather and an intriguing woman he can never have bring him down.  When tragedy strikes, the gap between them grows.  And it continues to grow as things in town get worse.

This is very North and South (Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-ashe) meets Romeo and Juliet.  The warring families, the mill owners under attack – it all felt familiar to me.  Fortunately, it doesn’t end as tragically as Romeo and Juliet.

At the time of this review, I didn’t see this book linked to a series, but I hope to see more from this world.  I’d like to find out what happens to Charles or Mollie.  Even Frederica.  All in all, a good book that I enjoyed.  Now I’m off to watch North and South – it’s one of my favorites!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Gathering Shadows (Finding Sanctuary #1) - Nancy Mehl

This is the first book in a three-book series.  The other books are called Deadly Echoes and Rising Darkness.  This is the first book I have read by this author.

Wynter is using her job at the news station to investigate a lead in her brother's disappearance.  He's been gone for years, and her parents have accepted that he's dead.  Wynter refuses to believe it.  She sees him in her dreams, and he's calling for her to find him.

She ends up in the quiet town of Sanctuary, a place where people are suspicious of her and will do anything to keep their secrets safe.  Her photographer, Zac, suspects there's more to their visit to the town and ends up wanting to help her

The mayor, Reuben, makes her feel welcome.  Someone wants her to leave, and mysterious things keep happening.  She's hoping to find out if the young man from the picture is her brother, but she's not going to be able to figure it out on her own. 

I really enjoyed the relationship between Zac and Wynter, almost more than I did the romantic relationship that was supposed to be blooming between Wynter and Reuben.  Once they get past their initial dislike of each other, Zac isn't afraid to confront Wynter with the realities she needs to hear at times. I just liked the comfortable relationship they ended up having.

My eyes won't thank me tonight, but I read this in one day.  It was a great read and well worth it.  I'll definitely be on the lookout for the other two books in the series.  The main characters in the next book are introduced in this book, but in such a way that I believe these will be okay to read alone or out of order.  Even though I was disappointed not to see Zac as a main character in the other books, I'll hold out hope that he still shows up.  Fingers crossed!  Good Book!