Buried Secrets (Men of Valor #1) - Irene Hannon

So here's a funny coincidence - I recently finished reading Dangerous Illusions, a book someone donated to my church library.  I really enjoyed it so I looked up some of Hannon's other books.  And what did I find?  This book on sale!  The funny thing is that this book's main character is Mac, a prominent character that works with Colin (the main character in Dangerous Illusions).  Recognizing that connection, it was an instant buy.

This is the first in this series that revolves around three brothers.  Mac is an ex-Navy SEAL, and he wants to make a different kind of life for himself, maybe settle down and find a wife.  Now working as a detective, he gets called in to help police chief Lisa Grant with an interesting case.  Discovering the skeleton of a young woman puts Lisa and Mac together and sets them on a course that will lead them to a killer.  Will they be able to catch her or will she get away with it?

From the beginning, you're in the killer's head, so there's no mystery who did it.  But the killer was so intelligent and careful that I ended up wondering how far she would go to protect the life she created for herself.  Or if she'd be caught at all.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author.  She has a lot of books out there, so I've got plenty to watch for.  Good Book!

The Thief of Lanwyn Manor (Cornwall Books #2) - Sarah E. Ladd

This is the second book in the series.  The first book is called The Governess of Penwythe Hall.  I haven't read it, but Julia is from Penwythe.  I didn't feel lost at all while reading this one, so it's one of those connecting series where the books can be read alone.

Julia has fled from the gossips.  She gave her heart to a man that didn't deserve it and hopes to escape her humiliation and pain by dedicating herself to her cousin's care.  She doesn't receive a warm welcome when she gets to town, but she's determined to stay.  She meets Isaac, a local miner, and wonders if he can be someone she can trust.

Isaac's similarities with his twin brother end with their handsome looks.  Matthew is setting his sights on Julia for the sake of a local mine, but he has no real interest in her as a person.  Isaac, on the other hand, finds her very interesting.  He doesn't want to interfere with his brother's plans, but he won't let Julia be used as a pawn.

A pretty good book all around.  I liked the characters, and the mystery element was well done.  This one was entertaining, and I have no issues giving it a Good Book! review.

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

The Piper's Pursuit - Melanie Dickerson

First off, my apologies for being so late with this review.  It was a busy holiday season, and we had an amazing time with family visiting.  They were here for almost a month, and we had a great time!  Now that everything is back to normal, there's time to read again!

This is part of Melanie Dickerson's fairy tale series.  This one relates to the Hagenheim family and is a retelling of the Pied Piper.  If you're curious about how this book relates to her others, see my post HERE.

Steffan wants to redeem himself before heading home to face his parents.  He's made some mistakes, and the guilt is eating him up.  When he hears about a beast tormenting the nearby town of Hamlin, he sees it as an opportunity to prove that he's not the same person he used to be.  He's intrigued by the mayor's daughter, but she doesn't seem interested.

Katerina's been hurt in the past and doesn't trust anyone, especially men.  She sees Steffan as just another arrogant man who has his own agenda.  But when he saves her from the beast, she's forced to rethink her opinion of him.

Katerina is a bit of a shrew at times - the one particular instance I'm thinking of is toward the end, but I won't give anything away.  I liked most of the characters throughout the book, but my opinion of her was a bit of a roller coaster.  Overall it's a good read and I enjoyed it.  I'm not sure where this series is going, but we don't have a story for Adela yet, so I'm hoping to see something about her in the future.  Good Book!

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