I'll Be There: A Deep Haven Montana Fire novel by Susan May Warren

Book Description:

From a USA Today bestselling and RITA-award winning author, a novel uniting two beloved series:

Smokejumper Conner Young can't wait to marry the woman who's stood by him for three years as he fought fires in the forests of the northwest. The only wound in the weekend is the lack of his best man--a brother whose murder is still unsolved. It's unfinished business that haunts him, keeping him from truly moving on.

Liza Beaumont, long time Deep Haven artist is a survivor of a brutal grizzly attack. Struggling with nightmares, she's not sure she's ready to join Conner's world. He's a hero, yes, but his life is rife with danger and stress and frankly she's not sure she has the courage to be the wife of a man who may not come home again. 

When Liza's wedding invitation unearths a witness in his brother's murder, Conner's hope of solving the case is reignited. Suddenly, it's a choice between showing up to help Liza knit together their perfect day--or tracking down his brother's killer. But when his investigation finds its way to Deep Haven, and Liza's life is threatened, there may not be a wedding at all.

What happens when the smokejumpers from Montana Fire come to Deep Haven? Sparks, fire and hopefully...a happy ending.

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Oh, wow! There is just something thrilling about starting a Susan May Warren novel! For fans of Warren, this novel is the culmination of something beautiful and exciting. Warren brings together an ensemble cast from Deep Haven, as well as her Montana Fire, Montana Rescue and Team Hope series! Seriously, this story has long been anticipated and was no less amazing than I expected it to be!

So, get ready to be completely engrossed, on the edge of your seat and utterly delighted by this one. If possible, try to start it when you have several hours to just be alone with it, because I promise you it is hard to put down and stop thinking about. This one has all the feels; suspense, action, romance, faith, hope and more... I see the seeds for some new story lines in here!

I would recommend reading Playing with Fire, Book 2 in the Montana Fire Series first. Connor and Liza meet in another novel but the meat of their story is found in the aforementioned book. Truthfully, Connor and Liza show up in several of Warren's novels (individually), but you do not have to read them all to get this one. I can however, highly recommend all of her earlier books, they were wonderful!

(Sigh, I am still in the ahhh moment over this one! Loved it!)

True to You (A Bradford Sisters Romance Book #1) by Becky Wade

Book Description:

After a devastating heartbreak three years ago, genealogist and historical village owner Nora Bradford has decided that burying her nose in her work and her books is far safer than romance in the here and now.

Unlike Nora, former Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient John Lawson is a modern-day man, usually 100 percent focused on the present. But when he's diagnosed with an inherited condition, he's forced to dig into the secrets of his past and his adoption as an infant, enlisting Nora to help him uncover the identity of his birth mother. 

The more time they spend together, the more this pair of opposites suspects they just might be a perfect match. However, John's already dating someone and Nora's not sure she's ready to trade her crushes on fictional heroes for the risks of a real relationship. Finding the answers they're seeking will test the limits of their identity, their faith, and their devotion to one another.

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To say that I loved this novel, would be too mild a statement! (Insert - happy sigh!) I absolutely did, from the beginning until the end. Wade has me in a state of high anticipation for the rest of the series. I only wonder how I can bear to wait for Book 2!?!

Where to begin? I guess, we should start with well crafted first and secondary characters that are sure to engage you and hold you captive to their story being told. I loved the relationships between both Nora and her sisters, and especially between Nora and John. Their story was a delight and had me eagerly flying through the pages to see what laid ahead for them. Their dialogue and moments had all the right doses of sweetness, humor, spice and a touch of that something more.

Wade, wrote True to You a little bit differently than most of her novels. In this story you get a feel of several characters different perspectives; which I loved! There is the dual point of view from our two main characters, but also at times from Nora's sister and others; either directly from them or from a text, letter, etc. This was fun, and to me, really added to the story.

Another thing I loved about the novel were the faith elements; the thread of redemption, the faithfulness of God and what it looks like to say He is your all and you trust Him. We see this played out in difficult circumstances, and as the characters come to grasp deeper truths about themselves and God.

Again, I cannot say enough good things about this novel. Loved it, and I think you will too! If you haven't read the prequel novella, Then Came You, I can highly recommend it as well. I enjoyed getting the back story on Nora's family. You certainly don't have to read it, there is a cliffs notes version in this one. Still, it was a very enjoyable read.

(Still on the edge of my seat with a grin on my face - Book 2 cannot get here soon enough!)