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GRAVE SECRETS

An intriguing, inspirational, but sometimes uneven abduction tale.

In this second installment of a Christian romantic suspense series, a secret society’s unholy crusade hits close to home for an entrepreneur when the group kidnaps his sister.

The wealth and connections of Gavin Garrison, who runs a bodyguard service, and his brother, Grayson, make them prime candidates to join the Continental Alliance, a centuries-old secret society/cult. The group’s members aim “to undermine women’s rights and put women back into what they deemed was their proper place.” They do this by kidnapping women from wealthy families and forcing them into unwanted marriages. Mason Kennedy, the Alliance’s leader, ups the ante by abducting the Garrison brothers’ sister, Cate, whom Gavin was visiting while on vacation. Gavin’s investigation reunites him with park ranger Samantha Rollins, whom he met in Kay’s series launch, Grave Pursuits(2023). Samantha is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of her uncle. The cold case heats up when Gavin and Samantha discover a link between her uncle and the secret society. That makes Samantha a legacy, and Mason invites her to join the group. She declines. “It’s cute how you actually thought I was leaving you a choice in the matter,” Mason tells her before she, too, is taken. “Turning us down isn’t an option.” Gavin and Grayson commit to joining the society to give them an in to locate Cate and Samantha. “It’s us against the Alliance,” Grayson proclaims. “Let’s find a way to bring Mason Kennedy’s world crashing down around him before he tears down ours.” This second volume of Kay’s Pennsylvania Parks Series sometimes strains credulity. But readers who keep the faith will be rewarded with clear, reassuring testaments to God’s love in trying circumstances that would challenge even the most devout. Samantha herself had “turned her back on the God who saved her, but He kept reaching out to her. All she had to do was take hold of His hand…He didn’t promise a trouble-free life, but He promised to be with her through the suffering.” Yet the growing relationship between Gavin and Samantha will win no points from readers who favor fiercely independent female characters. While Samantha proclaims she can take care of herself, “secretly, she relished his desire to protect her. It made her feel safe.” Still, fans of the author and this Christian series will find their literary prayers answered.

An intriguing, inspirational, but sometimes uneven abduction tale.

Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2023

ISBN: 9781950240388

Page Count: 287

Publisher: Faith Writes Publishing

Review Posted Online: Jan. 30, 2024

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THIS SUMMER WILL BE DIFFERENT

A steamy, romantic summer read with a charming setting.

A florist attempts to avoid her best friend’s brother—and their powerful chemistry—on Prince Edward Island.

When Lucy Ashby visits her best friend Bridget’s family home on Prince Edward Island for the first time, Bridget gives her three rules: Eat your weight in oysters….Leave the city behind. And, most importantly, Don’t fall in love with my brother. Unfortunately for Lucy, she sleeps with Felix basically the second her plane lands, unaware that he’s Bridget’s brother until it’s too late. Lucy has never felt understood or accepted by her immediate family, and Bridget is one of the very few people she allows into her inner circle, so Lucy’s desperate to abide by these rules. And so she and Felix try to avoid each other on every one of Lucy’s visits to PEI over the years. And, of course, they fail spectacularly, always returning to each other when they’re in between relationships. But it’s never been anything serious…Lucy makes sure of that, backing off whenever her emotions feel too strong. In her “real life” back in Toronto, it’s easier for Lucy to avoid thinking of Felix as she runs a busy floral shop, working herself into the ground. But when Bridget asks Lucy to come to PEI for an emergency girls’ trip less than two weeks before Bridget is supposed to get married, Lucy drops everything to be there for her best friend. She doesn’t expect to find Felix there, along with feelings that are stronger and more difficult than ever to ignore. Even more than jeopardizing her relationship with Bridget, Lucy is afraid that giving in to her feelings could ruin the life she’s worked so hard to build. Fortune, the author of hits like Every Summer After (2022), gives readers another refreshingly summery story full of angst, romance, and sex scenes aplenty. The PEI setting is a beautiful backdrop for Lucy and Felix’s secret hookups and Lucy’s journey of self-discovery as she learns how to stand on her own two feet as a business owner, friend, and daughter. In addition to frequent (and welcome) Anne of Green Gables references, there are oysters galore and many sandy, windy scenes that transport readers straight to the island.

A steamy, romantic summer read with a charming setting.

Pub Date: May 7, 2024

ISBN: 9780593638880

Page Count: 368

Publisher: Berkley

Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024

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PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION

A warm and winning "When Harry Met Sally…" update that hits all the perfect notes.

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A travel writer has one last shot at reconnecting with the best friend she just might be in love with.

Poppy and Alex couldn't be more different. She loves wearing bright colors while he prefers khakis and a T-shirt. She likes just about everything while he’s a bit more discerning. And yet, their opposites-attract friendship works because they love each other…in a totally platonic way. Probably. Even though they have their own separate lives (Poppy lives in New York City and is a travel writer with a popular Instagram account; Alex is a high school teacher in their tiny Ohio hometown), they still manage to get together each summer for one fabulous vacation. They grow closer every year, but Poppy doesn’t let herself linger on her feelings for Alex—she doesn’t want to ruin their friendship or the way she can be fully herself with him. They continue to date other people, even bringing their serious partners on their summer vacations…but then, after a falling-out, they stop speaking. When Poppy finds herself facing a serious bout of ennui, unhappy with her glamorous job and the life she’s been dreaming of forever, she thinks back to the last time she was truly happy: her last vacation with Alex. And so, though they haven’t spoken in two years, she asks him to take another vacation with her. She’s determined to bridge the gap that’s formed between them and become best friends again, but to do that, she’ll have to be honest with Alex—and herself—about her true feelings. In chapters that jump around in time, Henry shows readers the progression (and dissolution) of Poppy and Alex’s friendship. Their slow-burn love story hits on beloved romance tropes (such as there unexpectedly being only one bed on the reconciliation trip Poppy plans) while still feeling entirely fresh. Henry’s biggest strength is in the sparkling, often laugh-out-loud-funny dialogue, particularly the banter-filled conversations between Poppy and Alex. But there’s depth to the story, too—Poppy’s feeling of dissatisfaction with a life that should be making her happy as well as her unresolved feelings toward the difficult parts of her childhood make her a sympathetic and relatable character. The end result is a story that pays homage to classic romantic comedies while having a point of view all its own.

A warm and winning "When Harry Met Sally…" update that hits all the perfect notes.

Pub Date: May 11, 2021

ISBN: 978-1-9848-0675-8

Page Count: 384

Publisher: Berkley

Review Posted Online: March 2, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021

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