The Line Between - Tosca Lee

Wynter has been kicked out of a cult.  She’s lived there since she was seven, and now she has to build a new life for herself.  Her sister and niece are still inside the Enclave, and Wynter wants to get them out.  But being outside the Enclave isn’t a safe place.  A disease that causes rapid onset dementia is spreading like wildfire.  Things around the entire country are falling apart, and stopping it will end up resting on Wynter’s shoulders.

I like Tosca Lee’s writing style, and this one doesn’t disappoint in that regard.  The descriptions are well done, and the tension is there.  My main complaint revolves around the time jumps.  The flashbacks come without warning and are jarring.  The ending also bothered me a bit.  After all the wonderful descriptions and immersive scenes, the end wrapped up too fast.  It made me feel a bit cheated.

I’ll take some of the responsibility for not liking this book.  It’s one of those times when liking an author doesn’t mean you like all their books.  The subject matter is chilling and something I wouldn’t normally read.  On the other hand, the way the flashbacks were handled and the rushed ending would have bothered me in any book.

Overall, it just wasn’t for me.

*I received a copy of this book from Howard Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Secrets at Cedar Cabin (Lavender Tides #3) - Colleen Coble

This is the third book in the series.  It starts with a novella, Leaving Lavender Tides, and then the first two books: The View from Rainshadow Bay and The House at Saltwater Point.  Personally, I haven't read the novella, but I've been able to read both novels.

Bailey doesn't know it, but her mother has been lying for her entire life.  Now, her mother's dead, and someone's after Bailey.  She leaves Rock Harbor (Coble fans will recognize the location) and heads for a cabin in Lavender Tides.  Little does she realize the house will link her with a human trafficking ring.

Lance has been searching for his sister for years, but he feels close this time.  He starts off by trying to tell Bailey he's a neighbor while he checks out who she is.  When he realizes she's just wrapped up in something she doesn't understand, he wants to help her.

And she wants to help him.  Both Bailey and Lance have been hurt in the past, so getting past their wounds is going to take some time.  But Bailey's upfront about who she is, and that draws Lance even closer.

I appreciate the author wrapping up Jason and Mac's story, but the brief moments with just the two of them seemed to interrupt the flow of the main story at times.  I also felt that the end was a bit rushed, but these are minor criticisms. Overall,  I really enjoyed this story and the series as a whole.

The series is about the siblings coming together but with separate stories.  There's a few plot lines that overlap, and with the way you're reading about how their lives are progressing, I think you'll get the most out of the series by reading them in order.  There's a nice little epilogue at the end from Shauna's point of view wrapping it all up in a tidy little bow.  She's got her family back, and it was an enjoyable ride for me as a reader.  Good Book!

*I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Flights of Fancy (American Heiresses #1) - Jen Turano

Isadora comes from a wealthy family.  Her mother is encouraging her to make an alliance with a duke, but the man is vulgar, and possibly a murderer.  Izzie decides to take the advice of some friends and hide until her father can get home and talk some sense into her mother.  To do that, she answers an ad for a housekeeper at a farm in a small town.  Unfortunately, being an heiress didn't prepare her for taking care of someone's home.

And that someone is Ian MacKenzie.  He spends a lot of his time in Pittsburgh, and he wants to make sure his Aunt Birdie and Uncle Amos are taken care of.  This isn't an ordinary farm, but Izzie isn't an ordinary woman.  She talks Ian into giving her a chance to prove herself, and even though he's normally a tough negotiator, he finds he can't refuse her.

As these two get closer, they come to realize that the plans they've had for their lives may not be the path they need to be on.  Izzie wants to trust them with her secret, but she's afraid Ian and the others will treat her differently.  She wants to be appreciated for who she is.  With all the strange things happening at the farm, there's more going on than meets the eye, but how long can she hide the truth?

As usual, Turano weaves a good tale, but in my opinion, her strength is her characters.  I cared about all of them, even Buttercup and Elmer (and they're barnyard animals!).  It's a nice, easy read, and just what I wanted.  Good Book!

*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.