Protection For Hire by Camy Tang

If you have read Camy Tang’s Sushi Series, you know she is known to write “romance with a kick of wasabi.” Her new book, Protection For Hire, takes things to a whole new level! Tessa Lancaster was part of the yakuza, the Japanese mafia, with her Uncle Teruo as the leader. She willingly goes to prison for a crime she didn’t commit, in order to protect her family. While in jail, she finds God and becomes a Christian. Her time after jail is spent trying to live out her new life in Christ. But trying to create a new normal is hard. Who wants to hire ex-yakuza? However, Tessa does find a way to use her skills. She becomes a bodyguard for a wealthy socialite, Elizabeth St. Amant and her three year old son after Elizabeth’s abusive husband is after Elizabeth. Tessa’s uncle doesn’t understand why Tessa won’t return to the yakuza after her salvation. Also Elizabeth’s lawyer, Charles Britton, has to work with Tessa, but Tessa doesn’t know that Charles was at her trial and influenced the judge to give Tessa even more time in jail. Both Tessa and Charles learn what it means to be made new in Christ and to live in that new life.

I received this book from Zondervan for the purpose of this review.

Weddings & Wasabi by Camy Tang

The Sushi Series, book 4

In the 4th Sushi series book, the final cousin, Jennifer Lim, is highlighted. She has just graduated from culinary school and is expected to join the family business run by her control freak aunt. However, Jennifer wants to start her own catering business. In trying to do that, she is on the hunt for a wine merchant when she finds more than she was looking for. With the guts to stand up for herself in front of her ex-boyfriend and her own family, Jennifer story gets even better.

Camy Tang has hit a home run with this short novella to complete her Sushi Series! (Though I secretly hope she writes some more books about this crazy family!)

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!

Learning by Karen Kingsbury

Bailey Flanigan Series #1

In the second Bailey Flanigan book, Bailey is in NYC performing with the ensemble for the musical Hairspray, while Cody is coaching a thriving football team from a small school. Yet both of them long to share their dreams with each other, no matter where they are in life, and who else is around them. This creates an interesting conflict when both Bailey and Cody are cultivating friendships with other people.

While I liked following Bailey’s and Cody’s individual stories, as the chapters flipped between the two characters, I found their conflict even more interesting. Both Bailey and Cody try to ignore their feelings for each other, but as they try to fill their lives with things in order to not miss the other, the ache gets even bigger. I enjoyed this book, but would not rate it as one of Kingsbury’s best books.

Leaving by Karen Kingsbury

Bailey Flanigan Series #1

Leaving is the first book in Karen Kingsbury’s Bailey Flanigan series. Bailey’s dreams of signing and dancing on Broadway are about to come true when she wins an audition for the musical Hairspray and has to move to NYC. Meanwhile, Cody takes a coaching job at a small high school near the jail where is mother is so he can be closer to her. Both Bailey and Cody experience the loneliness of being in a new town while being homesick for their family and friends back home.

This was a good start to Bailey’s story that has been a long time in coming. Though I think the series as a whole gets too drawn out, this book was enjoyable.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Thicker Than Blood by C.J. Darlington

Christy Williams is trying to get her life back together and make a new start as an antique book buyer, but when a stolen first edition book is found in her possession, she is framed for a crime she did not commit. When Christy is seemingly alone in the world, she turns to the only family she has left, her estranged sister Mary. After their parents’ untimely deaths, Christy abandoned Mary, but now she needs her again. Will Mary open the door for Christy so they both can find peace and healing, or will Mary put up an even bigger wall between them?


I read Thicker Than Blood after reading Darlington's second book, Bound By Guilt, in which Christy is a minor character. So I knew much of the story before even cracking the first page, but the journey was still very much worth the read. Darlington is definitely going to be on my top list of authors!

This Fine Life by Eva Marie Everson

Mariette Puttnam seems to have it all. It is 1959 and she has just graduated from boarding school. When she returned to her privileged life, she isn’t sure what to do. She considers college, marriage, and a job. But nothing seems to be right until she finds an unlikely answer that takes her on a unique journey that she never expected to be on.


This was an enjoyable read. I kept wanting to turn the page to find out what twists and turns Mariette's journey would take her on.

Tailor Made Bride by Karen Witemeyer

A new dressmaker has moved to Coventry, Texas and J.T. Tucker thinks that Hannah is the most shallow person that he has ever met. He thinks her ideas about tailoring clothes for women is more about fashion than godliness. Yet when Hannah steps in to help J.T.’s sister catch her beau, J.T. sees Hannah’s heart. Will this drive an even greater wedge between J.T. and Hannah or will they be able to bridge the gap that has come between them?

The Swan House by Elizabeth Musser

The Swan House Series #1

Set in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement, The Swan House finds Mary Swan Middleton part of a city wide tragedy when her mother and many others are killed in a plane crash. While each person has a different way of dealing with grief, the family’s maid shows Mary that the best way to deal with one’s own grief is to help others less fortunate. It is through this that Mary meets Carl, a young black teenager, who helps Mary through her grief, and through a challenge that she is given. Their time together teaches Mary more than she could ever have learned on her own, and more than she ever imagined.

Making Waves by Lorna Seilstad

Lake Manawa Summers Series

Set just before the turn of the 20th century, Making Waves was a great summer read. Marguerite Westing and her family spends the summer at Lake Manawa, and Marguerite isn't just happy, she is thrilled! It is a chance for her to escape her stodgy suitor, Roger Gordon. Marguerite believes that being at the lake will provide an escape while her suitor has to work in town. But while Roger keeps finding ways to interrupt Marguerite’s fun at the lake. At the lake, Marguerite has discovered her new loves, sailing, and her sailing instructor, Trip Andrews. However, life isn’t all fun when her father’s own problems threaten to ruin the family. Will Marguerite be able to save her family and follow her true love?

Stuck In The Middle By Virginia Smith

Joan Sanderson feels like she is stuck in the middle. She is the middle daughter whose life seems to be going no where. Her older sister is married and ready to start a family, while her younger sister is off following her dreams. All the while, Joan lives at home with her mother, cares for her grandmother, and works in a furniture store. She lives a fairly boring life, that is, until a doctor moves in next door. While Joan’s younger sister is flirting with the new doctor, Joan’s goal is to get a date with him. Will Joan be able to fund her way out of the rut that she was in?

This is the first book in the Sister-to-Sister series.