A Haven on Orchard Lane

Book description:  "Famed actress Charlotte Ward stepped away from the Victorian London stage five years ago. Now in desperate circumstances, she tries to restart her career--only to experience a complete collapse. Against her better judgment, Charlotte's estranged daughter, Rosalind, comes to her mother's rescue and moves her to a quiet English coastal village where her mother can evade the gossip columnists, at least for a time. 

Charlotte is grateful to re-establish even tenuous family ties with Rosalind. As one with regrets over her own romantic past, she's happy to see love blossom for her daughter. For Rosalind, however, it's time away from teaching, and now she must care for the mother who wasn't there for her. And what could possibly be more complicated than romance?

But there can be no permanent escape from the threats of recent months. As the privacy they seek is threatened, mother and daughter must make some difficult decisions--ones that jeopardize those they care about most."

My review:  A Haven on Orchard Lane is a very simple story with plenty of wit and charm. I think this is the first book I have read by this author, and while I would not put Lawana Blackwell on my list of favorite authors, I certainly wouldn't mind reading some of her other books. To me the plot is a little flat, but I still enjoyed the story. The characters are unique and fit the story very well. If you are looking for a laid back novel that flows steadily along, this is the book for you.  I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Traces of Guilt

Book description:  "Evie Blackwell loves her life as an Illinois State Police detective . . . mostly. She's very skilled at investigations and has steadily moved up through the ranks. She would like to find Mr. Right, but she has a hard time imagining how marriage could work, considering the demands of her job.

Gabriel Thane grew up in Carin County and is now its sheriff, a job he loves. Gabe is committed to upholding the law and cares deeply for the residents he's sworn to protect. He too would like to find a lifetime companion, a marriage like his parents have. . . .

When Evie arrives in Carin, Illinois, it's to help launch a new task force focused on unsolved crimes across the state. She will work with the sheriff's department on a couple of its most troubling missing-persons cases. As she studies old evidence to pull out a few tenuous new leads, she unearths surprising connections. One way or another, she knows Gabriel Thane and his family will be key to the answers she seeks."

My review:  This is a book I didn't dare start reading until I knew I had plenty of uninterrupted time to read! There is not one Dee Henderson book that I have not thoroughly enjoyed and Traces of Guilt is no exception. From start to finish I couldn't read fast enough to see what would happen next, yet I hated when the book was finished. I stayed up way too late reading, but it was totally worth it. Ms. Henderson has a way of making her characters come alive. By the end of the book, the characters feel like family and the setting feels like home. I can't wait for the next book in the series!  I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.