Carolina Reckoning

Carolina Reckoning
by Lisa Carter
ISBN: 978-1426757976
$12.07 (paperback)
$9.99 (kindle)

About the book:
Alison wanted her cheating husband gone, not dead... 
When 30-something housewife, Alison Monaghan discovers proof of her husband's infidelity in a photograph with a mysterious woman, she must decide how to confront Frank when he returns home from work. Despite the influence of her best friend Valerie, a strong Christian, Alison remains aloof from God and is determined to handle this crisis her own way. But Alison may not get that chance. Frank never makes it home. Soon his body is found on a lonely back-country road in antebellum Weathersby Historic Park where Frank served on the board of directors and where Alison, with a degree in landscape design, was a volunteer garden docent. Homicide detective Mike Barefoot, a Cherokee native from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, immediately puts Alison at the top of his suspect list. He finds himself drawn to her--and not just because she had motive for the crime. As an army veteran, Mike usually keeps his emotional walls high. And as a detective, he knows not to get involved with murder suspects. So why he is so attracted to Alison? Can he fight his feelings for her--and the stirrings in his heart toward God?

My thoughts:
I started this yesterday morning and finished it at about Oh say about 10:30 last night lol. Carolina Reckoning is part romance, part suspence and part history in some ways. The main part of the story is about Alison and the emotions of confirming her husbands infidelity and the long ago collapse of her marriage. It's also about discovering her husband has "discovered" God shortly before his death and is in the process of correcting some major mistakes and getting ready to confess them to her. Alison has her best friend to encourage and support her as she works her way through the muddle her husband left her and ends up learning to lean on God and stand up for herself.

Mike Barefoot is a police officer who has trusted 1 to many women with his emotions and has given up on God altogether even though he was raised by his Granny who was a very strong Christian woman. He starts out believing that there is a strong chance that Alison murdered her husband but ends up changing his tune in more than one way.

Carolina Reckoning is a bit light. It's not an emotional rollercoaster and won't reach down and touch you somewhere deep in your heart - but the salvation message is there and watching both Alison and Mike learn to lean on God and trust that he truly is there for us was really nice to watch. I loved the ending - not for the romance but for the conclusion to the mystery that sorta surprised me. It wasn't the "who dun it" I thought it would be but the mystery itself and the reasons behind it were interesting.  It's a perfect book for a cold blizzardy or rainy day and would make a great gift for someone who enjoys reading late at night.

About the author:
Lisa Carter is the author of Carolina Reckoning and Aloha Rose, and a writer and teacher whose articles have appeared in FamilyFun, Thriving Family, MomSense, and Christian Parenting Today. She is a frequent speaker and vocalist at women’s ministry events and has taught at the collegiate, high school, and middle school levels. Lisa is a member of ACFW, RWA and Sisters in Crime. When she isn't writing, Lisa enjoys traveling, quilting, and researching her next romantic adventure. She and her husband have two daughters and make their home in Raleigh, North Carolina. Visit her online at LisaCarterAuthor.com.

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of the book to read and review on GivingNSharing. I was not required to have a positive review and no $$ exchanged hands. Thanks for reading!

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