The Highland Heist by Pepper Basham ~ a book review

 

Humor, suspense, mayhem, mystery, betrayal, love, faith and devotion all rolled into one delightful historical novel.

This is the fourth book in Pepper Basham’s the Freddie and Grace Mystery series. While it is very much a stand alone story, the reader may benefit from reading the previous books.

The story begins with Freddie and Grace returning from their honeymoon with a newly adopted daughter form Cairo, Zahra. Her presence in the story brings humor with her matter-of-fact personality.

Freddie surprises Grace with a trip to her father’s home.  When they arrive they discover he has sold the family home and has moved. They visit her sister, Lillias, who previously had tried to trick Freddie into marrying her. Instead, she ends up marrying someone else and is not happy.  Grace discovers that her deseased mother has left them an estate in Scotland but in order to claim it, they must go together within a specific time frame.  Unfortunately, the mysterious death of Lillias’s husband puts a damper on their plans. Freddie and Grace must solve the murder before they can leave for Scotland. A series of mishaps, danger and threats slow their progress.  While Freddie and Grace’s marriage started under strained circumstances, their love, support and devotion to each other, and their faith in God, carries them through the stressful circumstances.

Who are the villains?  Who can be trusted? 

The author weaves humor into the suspense which makes it a joy to read!

This is from the publisher’s website:

“Grace Storms a Scottish Castle to Save her Sister
 
Lord Astley surprises his wife with a trip to America to see her family before they end their honeymoon adventures. But just as they arrive, they find Grace’s sister, Lillias, is the prime suspect in her husband’s murder. To add to the confusion a solicitor arrives to tell the sister’s they are needed in Scotland immediately to claim their mother’s inheritance.
 
The clock is ticking to clear Lillias of suspicion, but someone is determined to keep the sisters from reaching the Scottish Highlands. When Lillias disappears, Freddie and Grace race to Scotland, sure the answers will be found in a long-forgotten castle.
 
With a ghost from Frederick’s past leaving threatening clues along the way, the mysterious Mr. Kane waiting in the wings to grab the inheritance for himself, and an apparition haunting the infamous castle, Lord and Lady Astley must capture the castle, save Lillias, and not die in the process.”

Go HERE to read an excerpt 

Pepper Basham’s stories are always delightfully entertaining and spiritually uplifting. 

Go HERE to learn more about Pepper Basham and her books 

 

 

I received a complimentary **ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed  are my own.

**A word about ARC books.   Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) are a preview copy and are not a finished product. They may differ from the final published work and may include additional editing. My reviews may include some things that vary from the final published book.

 

 

 

Hope's Enduring Echo by Kim Vogel Sawyer ~ a book review

 

 

Set in Colorado in the early 1900’s, this story is about perseverance and faith.

Jennie’s family has been living in the mountains while her father is employed to check the wooden water lines that bring water from the mountains down to the town. Unfortunately, he fell while checking them one day and has been left with a permanent injured leg. The home they have lived in for years is provided to them as part of his employment.  If he can’t check the lines, they will lose their home. Jennie has been accompanying him on his rounds and secretly takes over the job.  She and her mother are hopeful that her father will regain enough strength and movement to resume his job, however, he has become depressed and has lost interest in almost everything.  One day, on her trip to check the lines, she meets a young paleontologist, Leo, who spots a bone Jennie is carrying and is convinced it is a dinosaur bone.  They strike up a friendship and work together to look for more bones. 

Jennie’s hope is that her father will recover soon and she can go to art school to pursue her love of art. She knows that until her father resumes his job, she must carry on checking the pipes.

Leo, who is a fellow believer, offers encouragement and support.  His father is a preacher and disapproves of him studying about dinosaurs. Leo and Jennie counsel and encourage each other to keep hoping.

The characters in this book are very believable and they feel like part of your family. This is an emotional, encouraging and uplifting story. 

You can read an excerpt HERE 

Learn more about Kim Vogel Sawyer HERE 

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed  are my own.

**A word about ARC books.   Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) are a preview copy and are not a finished product. They may differ from the final published work and may include additional editing. My reviews may include some things that vary from the final published book.