Disclosure: I received these books to review. The post contains affiliate links; opinions shared here are 100% mine.

If you like suspense, mystery, or a  little romance, here are some books you should read this week!

I don’t do well with stories where bad things happen to children.  In Deceived by Irene Hannon, the story starts with the raw pain of a mother who’s lost her child. My heart sank even in those first few pages, reading words that any mother or wife dreads to hear. My ears were ringing with the blood rushing into my head as I realized I was holding my breath. Then in the next chapter, my heart raced as Kate tried to get back to the spot where she thought she saw her son. Remember, that son who she in an accident? UGH, I thought. I’d better order some pizza because nothing’s going to get accomplished today until I reach the last page of this book.

You know those people who talk to the characters in a book or a movie? I became that person while reading Deceived. Oh my goodness, how I wanted to scream at them! Deceived should be next to the definition of “woman’s intuition” in the dictionary because the characters kept getting these little nudges, tiny worms that wouldn’t stop itching. I could not stand to put down this book! If you love intense stories with more than a little suspense, check out Deceived.

If a calmer story is more your style, Magnolia Market is a really tame book that will make you want to drink a cup of hot tea while glaring at Avery’s mother in law.  I had a hard time getting into this one.  For one thing, it was difficult to understand the background of Avery’s life.  I realized a little too late that this is the second book in the series, so I obviously missed a lot from not reading the first book.  If you’ve read the first title, you’d probably get more out of it.  Magnolia Market is based in a small Louisiana town where society and standing are held in high regard.  Avery is treated as an outsider by the community; it was painful to watch as her own family (especially her mother-in-law) turned their backs on her.  It’s not hard to like Avery.  She’s a go-getter who is determined to make a happy life for herself.  This story made me so grateful for a mother-in-law who treats me with kindness!

As much as I wanted to enjoy this story, I found myself drifting off to other books several times as I read.  Perhaps reading the first book would have made me feel more invested in Avery’s life.  The writing was warm and cozy as one would expect from a good Southern story.  I liked Judy Christie’s style and would read more of her books if given the chance. I just don’t think that Magnolia Market was the place to start.

Now, many of you prefer a real-life story to read.  I must share Eight Twenty Eight with you.  This story takes us into the heart of a terrible accident, a difficult decision, and a beautiful love story.  There’s no way to read this story without feeling as though your heart is ripped right out of your chest, stuffed full of conflicting emotions, then jammed back into your gaping wound.  There are moments in the book that made me cringe.  I wondered what I might have done in Larissa’s shoes.  Next, I wondered what I might have done as Larissa’s mother.  Would I want my daughter to be bound for life to a man who might not ever recover from his terrible injuries?  I feel so grateful that my husband and I enjoyed several years together before we had children.  We had a long engagement because I had promised my mom to wait until I was finished with college before I married.  What if something had prevented our wedding from taking place as planned?  What if God tested our faith and love?  In Eight Twenty Eight, the message is clear.  Larissa Murphy explains that we have no guarantees.  We devote ourselves to doing God’s work today, together, and to the best of our ability.