A Path to Forgiveness by Vannetta Chapman and Carrie Lighte

 A Path to Forgiveness

Book Summary

Can love and forgiveness set them free?

Hiding Her Amish Secret by Carrie Lighte

Arleta Bontrager’s convinced no Amish man will marry her after she got a tattoo while on Rumspringa, so she needs money to get it removed. But taking a job caring for Noah Lehman’s sick grandmother means risking losing her heart to a man who has his own secrets. Might revealing their truths release them from the past…and open up a future together?

A Widow's Hope by Vannetta Chapman

After tragedy claimed her husband’s life and her son’s ability to walk, Hannah King doesn’t want a new man. She has her family, a home and mounting debts. Scarred Amish bachelor Jacob Schrock offers Hannah the job she desperately needs. But while Hannah helps Jacob resolve his accounting issues, can she and her little boy also heal his wounded heart?

My Thoughts

A Path to Forgiveness contains the re-release of Hiding Her Amish Secret by Carrie Lighte and A Widow’s Hope by Vannetta Chapman.  I enjoyed both books.  I find them well-written with engaging, realistic characters.  Hiding Her Amish Secret by Carrie Lighte (first book in The Amish of New Hope series) has Arleta Bontrager convinced that no man will want to marry her when they learn her shameful secret.  During her rumspringa, Arleta had fallen in love with a man and planned to go Englisch.  She got a small tattoo of a heart on her foot that includes his initials.  The man soon dumped her and now Arleta is left with a permanent reminder.  Arleta takes a job caring for Sovilla, Noah Lehman’s grandmother for the summer.  The money she earns will pay for her to get the tattoo removed.  Noah lost his parents and siblings in a fire.  He feels guilty because he was out with his girlfriend that evening and ended up coming home late.  If Noah had arrived home sooner, he feels he could have saved his loved ones.  He now believes that he does not deserve to marry.  Sovilla wants to see her grandson happily wed and decides to play matchmaker.  It is a sweet story about two people who need to find forgiveness and move forward with their lives.  There is repetition of certain details (the guilt over the tattoo, the fire, guilt over not being there for his family).  I like the characters and the life lessons.  They need to see that honesty is the best policy.  

Amish Built Playhouse

A Widow's Hope by Vannetta Chapman is the first novel in the Indiana Amish Brides series.  Each book in the series can be read on its own.  We get to follow Hannah King and Jacob Schrock in Goshen, Indiana.  Hannah King lost her husband in a farming accident that also confined her four-year-old son to a wheelchair.  Hannah has moved back in with her parents, but she does not like adding to their expenses.  She knows that money is tight for her family and they are at risk of losing their farm.  Hannah wants to find job to help save the family farm.  She feels fortunate when Jacob offers her a position.  Jacob is disfigured after arriving home one day to find the family home on fire.  He struggled to save his parents.  Jacob feels the scars are the cost of his failure to save them.  Jacob is going to be audited by the IRS.  He needs Hannah to make sense of his business paperwork.  Neither Hannah nor Jacob is open to a relationship, but God may have different plans for them.  I enjoyed this heartwarming, emotional story.  I loved the characters and their stories.  I like Vannetta Chapman’s writing style.  I was pulled into the story.  Reading one of the author’s stories is like visiting with friends.  A Widow’s Hope is a story about family, faith, love, and forgiveness.  I like that we get to see how the community pulls together to help those in need.  The path to happiness and love is never easy, but it is worth it in the end.  A Widow's Hope is an emotional story that tugs on your heartstrings.  A Path to Forgiveness was a delightful way to spend a rainy afternoon.  A Path to Forgiveness contains two touching Amish novels with mouthwatering bumbleberry pie, a terrible tattoo, a horrible loss, a matchmaking groossmammi, pleasurable playhouse, a sorrowful widow, and a lasting love.  

A Path to Forgiveness is available from Amazon*.  Vannetta Chapman has An Amish Proposal for Christmas publishing on September 27.   It is the first book in the Indiana Amish Market series.  You can find Vannetta Chapman's other novels here.   Carrie Lighte has  Healing an Amish Family coming out on January 10. You can find Carrie Lighte's books here.  Thank you for stopping by today and reading my review.  Tomorrow I am featuring The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma by Patricia Johns.  I have a small problem.  I need to figure out where to stash my Halloween decorations.  My mother states they are taking over (I only have five skeletons, assorted light sets, and approximately fifteen or so inflatables--this does not count the inflatables that have yet to arrive).  There are just so many cute inflatables for Halloween.  I actually found two with ghosts reading books (ghost stories).  I will spend some time today trying to hide my decorations around the house (I will need to make a map so I can locate them when I need them).  Wish me luck!  I hope that you have a day filled with joy.  Take care, stay cool, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Peanut Butter Panic by Amanda Flower

Peanut Butter Panic

Book Summary

Thanksgiving is Bailey King’s busiest holiday weekend. This year promises to be even more hectic, since Bailey’s candy shop, Swissmen Sweets, is providing desserts for Harvest, Ohio’s first village-wide Thanksgiving celebration. Yet, even with a guest list close to seven hundred people—Amish and English alike—the event’s organizer, Margot Rawlings, is unfazed . . . until she discovers her mother, former judge Zara Bevan, will be in attendance.

Zara’s reputation as a harsh critic is matched only by her infamy as a judge who has actively harmed the Amish community. So, no one is prepared when Zara arrives with much younger boyfriend Blaze Smith and reveals their impending nuptials at dinner. That should have been the day’s biggest news, except shortly after the announcement, Blaze suffers an allergic reaction to something he’s eaten and dies on the spot.

Now, Bailey’s desserts are prime suspects, along with Margot and nearly everyone who attended the meal. With such a cornucopia of possibilities, Bailey must dig in and get to the bottom of this murder, before the killer goes up for seconds…

My Thoughts

Bailey King along with her grandmother and cousin are preparing the sweets for the dessert table at the townwide Thanksgiving in Harvest, Ohio.  Margot Rawlings has been organizing the event for months.  Margot reminds Bailey of a general preparing her troops for battle.  After Margot takes a phone call, Bailey notices that she looks pale and nervous.  It seems that Margot’s mother, Zara is coming to town. Apparently, Margot has never been able to live up to her mother’s expectations.  Ruth, the bishop’s wife, learns about Zara’s imminent arrival and is an uproar.  Zara was a judge before retiring and she was not kind to the Amish community which includes Ruth’s younger brother.  After the opening prayer at the Thanksgiving meal, Zara rises and states she has an announcement.  She has just become engaged to Blaze Smith, her boyfriend and tennis instructor, who is young enough to be Margot’s son.  During the meal, Blaze begins to turn red and has trouble breathing.  The EMTs arrive but they are not in time to save him.  Blaze was allergic to peanuts, and it seems someone spiked his food with the lethal nut.  Zara asks Bailey to investigate and find the guilty culprit.  With Margot as well as the desserts from Swissmen Sweets in the hot seat, Bailey dives into the case.  Can Bailey serve up the killer?

Peanut Butter Panic by Amanda Flower is the seventh An Amish Candy Shop Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone for those new to this entertaining series.  I like Amanda Flower’s writing style.  It is engaging and lighthearted (makes her stories easy to read).  I love the humor sprinkled throughout the story.  There are great characters in this series.  They are friendly, realistic, and relatable.  Bailey King is too nice.  She ends up watching Jethro way too often.  I like how the pig, cat, and bunny get along (so cute).  The mystery is straightforward.  There is a dead guy, several suspects, a red herring, and curious clues.  While I found the mystery a breeze to solve, I enjoyed following Bailey as she looked into the crime.  Aiden Brody, Bailey’s boyfriend, is in town for BCI and, of course, he gives Bailey the standard warning (which she has no intention of following).  The mystery is wrapped up neatly at the end.  There are delectable, sweet treats that Bailey and her family whip up at Swissmen Sweets.  I like that the author featured buckeyes (peanut butter and chocolate) since I am from Ohio.   I had to laugh when Bailey had to push Jethro about in a stroller.  I could picture the scene in my head thanks to the author’s vivid descriptions.  I am glad that that Millie and Lois (from An Amish Matchmaker Mysteries) were included in the story.  The two friends are a unique pair.  I am looking forward to the next An Amish Candy Shop Mystery.  Peanut Butter Panic is an amusing tale with cuddling critters, a formidable mother, a fine feast, a fatal allergy, relationship despairs, a surprising secret, and a busy Bailey.

Peanut Butter Panic is available from Amazon*.  The other six An Amish Candy Shop Mysteries can be found here.  Amanda Flower has Because I Could Not Stop for Death coming out on September 20.  It is the debut of An Emily Dickinson Mysteries.  Frozen Detective will be out on December 6.  It is the second book in A Piper & Porter Mysteries. On December 27, Amanda has the fourth An Amish Matchmaker Mystery coming out which is Honeymoons can be Hazardous. I am looking forward to reading it because Millie and Lois are entertaining.  If you follow Amanda Flower on Amazon, you will receive an email when she has a new book release.  

Here are some of the other novels that were released today:  Mrs. Morris and the Pot of Gold by Traci Wilton, An Amish Marriage of Convenience by Rachel J. Good, Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley, The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais, Amish Jane Doe by Shelley Shepard Gray, The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma by Patricia Johns, A Search for Redemption by Jo Ann Brown, Hiding in Plain Sight by Laura Scott, and A Widow's Hope by Vannetta Chapman which is included in A Path to Forgiveness. (re-release).  I appreciate you stopping by today.  I will return tomorrow with my thoughts on Amish Jane Doe by Shelley Shepard Gray.  I hope that you have a sweet day.  Take care, stay cool, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais: Review & Excerpt!

The Witches of Moonshyne Manor

About the Book

A coven of modern-day witches. A magical heist-gone-wrong. A looming threat.

Five octogenarian witches gather as an angry mob threatens to demolish Moonshyne Manor. All eyes turn to the witch in charge, Queenie, who confesses they’ve fallen far behind on their mortgage payments. Still, there’s hope, since the imminent return of Ruby—one of the sisterhood who’s been gone for thirty-three years—will surely be their salvation.

But the mob is only the start of their troubles. One man is hellbent on avenging his family for the theft of a legacy he claims was rightfully his. In an act of desperation, Queenie makes a bargain with an evil far more powerful than anything they’ve ever faced. Then things take a turn for the worse when Ruby’s homecoming reveals a seemingly insurmountable obstacle instead of the solution to all their problems.

The witches are determined to save their home and themselves, but their aging powers are no match for increasingly malicious threats. Thankfully, they get a bit of help from Persephone, a feisty TikToker eager to smash the patriarchy. As the deadline to save the manor approaches, fractures among the sisterhood are revealed, and long-held secrets are exposed, culminating in a fiery confrontation with their enemies.

Funny, tender and uplifting, the novel explores the formidable power that can be discovered in aging, found family and unlikely friendships. Marais’ clever prose offers as much laughter as insight, delving deeply into feminism, identity and power dynamics while stirring up intrigue and drama through secrets, lies and sex. Heartbreaking and heart-mending, it will make you grateful for the amazing women in your life.

About the Author

Bianca Marais cohosts the popular podcast The Sh*t No One Tells You About Writing, aimed at emerging writers. She was named the winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award for Creative Writing at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies in 2021. She is the author of two novels, Hum If You Don’t Know the Words and If You Want to Make God Laugh, as well as the Audible Original The Prynne Viper. She lives in Toronto with her husband and fur babies.

Author Links

Author website: https://www.biancamarais.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biancamaraisauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/biancam_author/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/

My Thoughts

The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais is an interesting witchy tale.  There are witches, a crow, a ghost, and a lively teenager.  The story has a unique beginning as we get to meet each witch.  The point-of-view switches between the sisters and Persephone.  The author created some unique characters.   The witches are in their 80s with all the aches and pains that comes with that age.   We learn about each sister which includes the secrets they are keeping.  I loved Persephone.  She is a precocious teenager who wishes to help the octogenarian witches.  Persephone provides levity and charm.  The pacing picks up in the last quarter of the book as the action and suspense ramp up.  There are sisterly squabbles, the reading of tea leaves, a fiery game, a frantic search, reuniting with Ruby, and magic spells.  The resolution was a little too neat and easily accomplished, but there was an unusual component.  There is a part that is clever, and I like the revelation near the end (I cannot say more because it is a spoiler).  I do want to let you know that the story does contain an excessive amount of foul language, intimate situations, nudity, and self-love.   The Witches of Moonshyne Manor is a curious anecdote with a clever crow, a talented teenager, sister witches, mad men, a self-righteous relative, a sizzling sport, a ticking clock, and a panicky pursuit.

Excerpt

Saturday, October 23^rd

Morning

Half an hour before the alarm will be sounded for the first time in decades—drawing four frantic old women and a ge­riatric crow from all corners of the sprawling manor—Ursula is awoken by insistent knocking, like giant knuckles rapping against glass. It’s an ominous sign, to be sure. The first of many.

Trying to rid herself of the sticky cobwebs of sleep, Ursula throws back the covers, groaning as her joints loudly voice their displeasure. She’s slept in the buff, as is her usual habit, and as she pads across the room, she’s more naked than the day she was born (being, as she is, one of those rare babies who came into the world fully encased in a caul).

Upon reaching the window, the cause of the ruckus is im­mediately obvious to Ursula; one of the Angel Oak’s sturdy branches is thumping against her third-floor window. Strong winds whip through the tree, making it shimmy and shake, giving the impression that it’s espousing the old adage to dance like no one’s watching, a quality that rather has to be admired in a tree. Either that, or it’s trembling uncontrollably with fear.

The forest, encroaching at the garden’s boundary, looks disquieted. It hangs its head low, bowing to a master who’s ordered it to bend the knee. As the charcoal sky churns, not a bird to be seen, the trees in the wood whisper incessantly. Whether they’re secrets or warnings, Ursula can’t tell, which only unsettles her further.

That infernal billboard that the city recently erected across from the manor property—with its aggressive gigantic let­tering shouting, ‘Critchley Hackle Mega Complex Coming Soon!’—snaps in the wind, issuing small cracks of thunder. A storm is on its way, that much is clear. You don’t need to have Ivy’s particular powers to know as much.

Turning her back on the ominous view, Ursula heads for the calendar to mark off another mostly sleepless night. It seems impossible that after so many of them—night upon night, strung up after each other seemingly endlessly—only two remain until Ruby’s return, upon which Ursula will dis­cover her fate.

Either Ruby knows or she doesn’t.

And if she does know, there’s the chance that she’ll want nothing more to do with Ursula. The thought makes her breath hitch, the accompanying stab of pain almost too much to bear. The best she can hope for under the circumstances is that Ruby will forgive her, releasing Ursula from the invis­ible prison her guilt has sentenced her to.

Too preoccupied with thoughts of Ruby to remember to don her robe, Ursula takes a seat at her mahogany escritoire. She lights a cone of mugwort and sweet laurel incense, watch­ing as the tendril of smoke unfurls, inscribing itself upon the air. Inhaling the sweet scent, she picks up a purple silk pouch and unties it, spilling the contents onto her palm.

The tarot cards are all frayed around the edges, worn down from countless hours spent jostling through Ursula’s hands. Despite their shabbiness, they crackle with electricity, sparks flying as she shuffles them. After cutting the deck in three, Ursula begins laying the cards down, one after the other, on top of the heptagram she carved into the writing desk’s sur­face almost eighty years ago.

The first card, placed in the center, is The Tower. Unfortu­nate souls tumble from the top of a fortress that’s been struck by lightning, flames engulfing it. Ursula experiences a jolt of alarm at the sight of it for The Tower has to signify the manor; and anything threatening their home, threatens them all.

The second card, placed above the first at the one o’clock position, can only represent Tabitha. It’s the Ten of Swords, depicting a person lying face down with ten swords buried in their back. The last time Ursula saw the card, she’d made a mental note to make an appointment with her acupunctur­ist, but now, following so soon after The Tower, it makes her shift nervously.

The third, fourth and fifth cards, placed at the three o’clock, four-thirty and six o’clock positions, depict a person (who must be Queenie) struggling under too heavy a load; a heart pierced by swords (signifying Ursula); and a horned beast towering above a man and woman who are shackled together (obvi­ously Jezebel). Ursula whimpers to see so many dreaded cards clustered together.

Moving faster now, she lays out the sixth, seventh and eighth cards at the seven-thirty, nine and eleven o’ clock po­sitions. Ursula gasps as she studies the man crying in his bed, nine swords hovering above him (which can only denote Ur­sula’s guilt as it pertains to Ruby); the armored skeleton on horseback (representing the town of Critchley Hackle); and the two bedraggled souls trudging barefoot through the snow (definitely Ivy). Taking in all eight sinister cards makes Ursula tremble much like the Angel Oak.

Based on the spread, Ursula absolutely should sound the alarm immediately, but she’s made mistakes in the past—lapses in judgment that resulted in terrible consequences—and so she wants to be a hundred percent certain first.

She shuffles the cards again, laying them down more de­liberately this time, only to see the exact same shocking for­mation, the impending threat even more vivid than before. It couldn’t be any clearer if the Goddess herself had sent a hom­ing pigeon with a memo bearing the message: Calamity is on its way! It’s knocking at the window, just waiting to be let in!

And yet, Ursula still doesn’t sound the alarm, because that’s what doubt does; it slips through the chinks in our defenses, eroding all sense of self until the only voice that should mat­ter becomes the one that we don’t recognize anymore, the one we trust the least.

As a result of this estrangement from herself, Ursula has de­veloped something of a compulsion, needing to triple check the signs before she calls attention to them, and so she stands and grabs her wand. She makes her way down the hallway past Ruby’s and Jezebel’s bedrooms at a bit of a clip before descending the west wing stairs.

It’s just before she reaches Ivy’s glass conservatory that Ur­sula breaks out into a panicked run.

The Witches of Moonshyne Manor is available from Amazon*, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, IndieBound, Apple Books, Google Play, Indigo, Libro.FM,  Books-a-Million, Kobo, and Target. You can find the author's other creations here.  Thank you for joining me today.  Tomorrow I am featuring Peanut Butter Panic by Amanda Flower.  It is the 7th An Amish Candy Shop Mystery.  I hope that you have fun day (we need to make time for things that bring us joy).  Take care, stay cool (it is still so hot), and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Hiding in Plain Sight by Laura Scott

 Hiding in Plain Sight

Book Summary

Seeking refuge in Amish country…

in order to stay alive

Fleeing to her uncle’s home is Shauna McKay’s only option after her mother’s brutally murdered and the killer’s sights set on her. Local sheriff Liam Harland’s convinced hiding Shauna in his cousin’s Amish community will shield her. But when an Amish woman who looks like Shauna is attacked, it’s clear nobody in this peaceful community is safe…unless Liam and Shauna can stop the culprit’s murderous plan.

My Thoughts

Hiding in Plain Sight by Laura Scott is a captivating romantic suspense.  I enjoyed getting to know Shaunna, Liam, David, and Elizabeth.  I thought Hiding in Plain Sight was well-written with steady pacing.  I loved all the action that propelled the story quickly to its conclusion.  I enjoyed the suspense and intrigue.  The story captured my attention.  I wanted to know who was behind the attacks on Shauna.  I thought the title of the book was spot on.  Hiding in Plain Sight is a Christian story with no foul language or intimate situations (just a couple of kisses).  Love, faith, courage, and family are the main themes.  I liked Shauna’s faith journey.  She needed to learn to trust in God and know He is always with us.  I am glad the author included an epilogue that nicely wrapped up the book.  Hiding in Plain Sight is a gripping tale with a murdered mother, disquieting gunshots, a car conundrum, a striking sheriff, a concerned uncle, accommodating Amish, an astounding discovery, and finding faith.  

Hiding in Plain Sight will be out on August 23, and it can be preordered from Amazon*.  Laura Scott has Amish Holiday Vendetta coming out on November 29 which features Elizabeth and David. You can find Laura Scott's other novels here.  I appreciate you joining me today and reading my latest book review.  I will return on Monday with The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais.  I hope that you have a fun weekend (or a relaxing one if that is what you need).  I am venturing into our shed to locate a couple of items.  It is packed to the gills until I finish painting the walls (I am still filling in holes--I keep finding more holes or nails that have yet to be removed).  Take care, stay cool, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

An Amish Marriage of Convenience by Rachel J. Good

 An Amish Marriage of Convenience

Book Summary

In USA Today bestselling author Rachel J. Good’s sweetly romantic inspirational series, the bustling Green Valley Farmer’s Market in Pennsylvania is an unexpected place for residents of nearby Amish communities to find the partner of their dreams. But as spring gives way to summer and the market fills with the season’s bounty, a new relationship begins to bloom as well…

When widower Stephen Lapp moves his five children from New York State to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, his only plan is to buy his family’s farm stand, Lapp’s Pastured Pork. That way, his brother can move closer to his fiancée and open his own stand. But on Stephen’s first trip to the market, his brave act of kindness nearly ends in catastrophe—until strong-willed Nettie Hartzler saves him—and makes an impression he can’t forget . . .

A widow with private heartaches of her own, Nettie has no interest in getting involved with any man, though she doesn’t discourage their respective children’s new friendships—despite Stephen’s contentious oldest daughter. But when Nettie runs into serious money worries and Stephen proposes a marriage of convenience, she’s distressed and conflicted. She’s come to know Stephen’s gentle heart and generous soul, and she can’t believe he’ll want her if she reveals the sins of her past. God has His own plans for the faithful, however, and this time they may include a second chance at love . . .

My Thoughts

An Amish Marriage of Convenience by Rachel J. Good is the fourth novel in the Surprised by Love series.  Each book in the series can be read on its own, but I recommend reading them in order.  I like the author’s writing style.  It is casual (easy going) which makes the story a breeze to read.  The pacing varied throughout the book.  Sometimes I thought it was a little on the slow side, while at other times it moved along at a steady pace. The point-of-view alternates between Nettie, Stephen, and Joline.  Nettie and Stephen each had problems from their youth that are plaguing them in their adult lives.  Fears and insecurities have a way of holding us back.  They both need to learn to let go and trust God.  Forgiveness is another theme in the story.  I like that the romance progressed slowly.  I thought it was amusing how Mrs. Vandenberg used her new project to get the pair together.  

Mrs. Vandenberg is trusting that God will find a way to overcome the obstacles in the path to the couples happily ever after.  I liked the light humor sprinkled throughout the book (I laughed out loud a few times).  It was good to return to the Green Valley Farmers Market where we get to catch up with the characters from first three books.   Mrs. Vandenberg has a wonderful new project.  It is something that could be used in neighborhoods all over the country.  It is certainly a “beacon of hope” for many people.  The author also touched on bullying and learning disorders.  I like how the various threads all came together for one heartwarming tale.  The ending of An Amish Marriage of Convenience is special.  I am glad the author included an epilogue.  I loved the last line of the book (it was fitting).  An Amish Marriage of Convenience is a delightful escape from reality.  An Amish Marriage of Convenience is a heartening tale with a demanding market, the cunning Mrs. Vandenberg, school troubles, frightening fears, a sneaky schoolgirl, a caring community, and a forgiving God.  

An Amish Marriage of Convenience releases on Tuesday, August 22 and it can be preordered on Amazon*.  The other novels in the Surprised by Love series are An Unexpected Amish Proposal, An Unexpected Amish Courtship, and An Unexpected Amish Christmas.  You can find Rachel J. Good's other novels here.  The author has An Amish Christmas Inheritance publishing on October 25.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return tomorrow with Hiding in Plain Sight by Laura Scott. I am off to get work done around the house.  I have been having Fibromyalgia flare ups which means I am not getting much done.  I am determined to get the walls painted by the end of November (my mother wants everything in place by Christmas).  At least I do not have to do the ceilings (already done by the shyster who never returned to paint the walls).  I hope that you have a blissful day.  Take care, stay cool, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Overkill by Sandra Brown

Overkill

Book Summary

#1 New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown delivers a riveting thriller in which a conflict of conscience for a former football star and an ambitious state prosecutor swiftly intensifies into a fight for their lives.
 
Former Super Bowl MVP quarterback Zach Bridger hasn’t seen his ex-wife, Rebecca Pratt, for some time—not since their volatile marriage imploded—so he’s shocked to receive a life-altering call about her. Rebecca has been placed on life support after a violent assault, and he—despite their divorce—has medical power-of-attorney. Zach is asked to make an impossible choice: keep her on life support or take her off of it. Buckling under the weight of the responsibility and the glare of public scrutiny, Zach ultimately walks away, letting Rebecca's parents have the final say.
 

Four years later, Rebecca's attacker, Eban—the scion of a wealthy family in Atlanta—gets an early release from prison. The ludicrous miscarriage of justice reeks of favoritism, and Kate Lennon, a brilliant state prosecutor, is determined to put him back behind bars. Rebecca’s parents have kept her alive all these years, but if her condition were to change—if she were to die—Eban could be retried on a new charge: murder.
 
It isn’t lost on Zach that in order for Eban to be charged with Rebecca’s murder, Zach must actually be the one to kill her. He rejects Kate’s legal standpoint but can’t resist their ill-timed attraction to each other. Eban, having realized the jeopardy he’s in, plots to make certain that neither Zach nor Kate lives to see the death of Rebecca—and the end of his freedom. 

My Thoughts

Overkill by Sandra Brown has Zach Bridger, a former MVP quarterback, forced to make a difficult decision.  His ex-wife, Rebecca Pratt has been in a coma after a night of overindulgence and abuse with bad boy, Eban Clarke and two of his friends.  Rebecca left all medical decisions to Zach.  Four years have passed since Rebecca became incapacitated and Eban is out of jail early for good behavior (and some arm twisting from his father’s lawyer).  Kate Lennon, a state prosecutor, is determined to put Eban away for a long time.  She can only charge Eban with murder after Rebecca has died.  Kate visits Zach to see if he is willing to remove life support.  Zach acquiesced to Rebecca’s parents four years ago.  The Pratt’s put Rebecca in a long-term care facility where she is being kept alive by machines.  Zach will need to decide what action to take while Eban works to keep his freedom.  

The blurb for Overkill made it sound like an exciting book.   After reading Overkill, I have to wonder if the person who wrote the blurb read the book. The romance element overrode everything else.  There is sexual tension between Zach and Kate.   If you like stories that are steamy (this book is one step away from erotica), then you will enjoy Overkill.  I found there to be a significant amount of foul language, sexual innuendoes, and intimate relations (consensual and not).  I do not like reading about sexual assault.   The ending goes with the rest of the book, but I found it a turn off.  There is a distinct lack of action (except for what was happening in Zach’s pants).  The story rehashed whether or not Zach should take Rebecca off life support.  I understood the dilemma, but I did not need it to be repeated ad nauseum.  The characters lacked development.  I found the characters to be exaggerated.  Eban Clarke is the spoiled rich frat boy who has no intention of growing up and behaving properly.  Zach is the strong, sporty guy who broods and is rude.  Kate is an eager, petite lawyer who wants to get justice (she is the type that men like Zach want to protect).  I wanted suspense and action (there is some near the end).  I thought Overkill was way too long (416 pages).   You can skip chapters and not miss a thing.  Overkill wraps up with a tidy yet steamy ending.  As you can tell, Overkill was not my type of book.  If in doubt, download a sample to judge for yourself.   Overkill is a lackluster tale with the evil Eban, a persistent prosecutor, the robust quarterback, the devout dad, and a coma conundrum.  

Overkill is available from Amazon*.  You can find Sandra Brown's other novels here.  While Overkill was not a good fit for me, I suggest you download a sample to judge it for yourself.  Thank you for stopping by today.  Tomorrow I am featuring An Amish Marriage of  Convenience by Rachel J. Good.  It is the fourth book in the Surprised by Love series.  I needed something tame after reading Overkill.  I hope that you have a satisfying day.  Take care, stay cool, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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