The Last Con Review

When a con man trying to redeem himself gets pulled back into his old ways, determining which version of himself is the real one may prove his most difficult job yet.

Former con man Fletcher Doyle is finally home after six years in prison. He's working hard to restore his relationship with his wife and twelve-year-old daughter, but it's slow going. He hopes that the upcoming mission trip into Detroit will allow him to demonstrate his new found faith and honorable intentions-that is, if he can keep himself from murdering Brad, the uptight and condescending church leader who also happens to be his landlord.

But within hours of arriving in the city, Fletcher can feel the pull of the life he thought he'd left behind. And when he runs into his old partner, he finds himself blackmailed into doing another job for a mysterious criminal who calls himself the Alchemist.

Between trying to hide his reawakened criminal life from his wife and the ever-present Brad, and trying to keep the Alchemist from bringing it all crashing down, Fletcher is in over his head. When the unthinkable happens, Fletcher will have to call on his years in the game and his fledgling faith to find an ancient treasure-and restore his family.

The Last Con by Zachary Bartels was once again an intense read. I thoroughly enjoyed the suspense and intrigue that Bartels presented throughout the book. It is a must read for readers who love movies like Oceans Eleven (which I do!). The characters are all interesting and it is fun to follow all the twists and turn along with them. The Last Con will have you on the edge of you seat the whole time and guessing till the last second. I think that anyone who loves a good heist novel will surely love The Last Con. 

5 out of 5. A intriguing Afternoon Snack.

I received a copy of this book from BookLook in exchange for my honest review.

Trial Run Review

Reese Clawson's work is mind-bending--literally. Her company specializes in global data analysis for an elite group of industry executives, and now a lucrative government contract is moving her into the realm of cutting-edge intelligence gathering. She is determined to crack the limits of consciousness--and in doing so, the boundaries of secrets and lies. But her experiment crashes as test subjects slide into a coma-like state. Reese is left scrambling to maintain control, drawing three disparate people into the search for answers--an adrenaline-amped thrill junkie with altered brain chemistry, an Italian scientist working on remote-viewing technology, and a math prodigy whose algorithms subvert 
computer encryption.

Will this piecemeal team prevail when a government operative is sent to investigate? As the threads of perception and reality become tangled and even time itself twists in unexpected directions, one warning remains clear: what you don't know can kill you.

Trial Run by Thomas Locke was a book I had a hard time getting into. I really tried but for me I just couldn't get hooked. I'd read a chapter or two then set it down and not pick it up again for a long while. That being said I still have not finished it. I'm not quite half way through and while I do plan on finishing Trial Run I did not finish it in time for this review. I really want to like this book but for me its a lot of information coming at me that I don't quite understand. I feel like maybe Trial Run is meant for more science loving readers. I am not that. If you enjoy sci-fi I think this would be the perfect book for you. You might be able to understand what is going on more than I have been able to. :) 

3 out of 5. An Afternoon Snack that was to much for me to finish.  

I received a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Through Waters Deep Review

War is coming. Can love carry them through the rough waters that lie ahead?
It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war. Handsome and outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. On shore, Jim encounters Mary Stirling, a childhood friend who is now an astute and beautiful Boston Navy Yard secretary. 

When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is discovered, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges--and dangers--await them.

Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin was a book that made it to my favorites shelve the minute I put it down. It has everything I love! Great history, amazing characters, and heartwarming romance. I love how much history Sarah puts into her books but without it becoming overwhelming. The characters were very easy for me to fall in love with and I can't wait for the next book in this series about the secondary characters Arch and Lillian. (Yes I enjoyed Through Waters Deep so much I read the Dear Readers!) Sarah is an amazing author and if you have yet to read any of her works I would suggest you get on it right away! 

5 out of 5. A lovely Afternoon Snack. 

I received a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Hope Harbor Review

Come home to Hope Harbor--where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.
Tracy Campbell never wanted to leave Hope Harbor, Oregon, or the idyllic three-generation cranberry farm where she grew up. But life--and love--altered her plans. Now she's home again--with a floundering farm to run . . . a tragic secret . . . and a wounded heart. Romance is not on her agenda. Nor is it on Michael Hunter's. The visitor from Chicago has daunting secrets and devastating regrets of his own. But when Tracy recruits him to help with a project that is close to her heart, winds of change begin to sweep through Hope Harbor, bringing healing, hope, and love to countless lives--including their own.

Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon was a wonderful story that just makes you feel good after finishing. I loved the wonderful characters that were brought to life and getting to see them each blossom in their own ways. Tracy, Michael, Anna and every other character have you from the very start rooting for a happily ever after. I love Irene Hannon's writing and can't wait to get my hands on more of her future works. I'm sure after reading Hope Harbor for yourself you will feel the same.

5 out of 5. An Afternoon Snack that is full of hope.

I received a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.