by admin | May 2, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, FBI, Law Enforcement, Romance, Suspense

MY REVIEW:
Anchored by Death is the first novel I’ve read by Catherine Finger. It is also the third installment of the Jo Oliver Thriller series. I am actually scheduled to also review the first two books, apparently in reverse order. That should be interesting. I cannot honestly state that this book can stand alone although I was able to understand and enjoy it. I do believe that the missing background info from the previous two books would have enhance my enjoyment tenfold.
For the most part the plot moved along at a steady rate with action scenes sharing space with routine FBI and police research. The cast includes several interesting characters, particularly Jo Oliver and agent Nick Vitarello. Their relationship is complicated. The two work well together as an investigative team but their personal relationship includes a very strong emotional attachment. Jo’s past experiences have made it difficult for her to trust men and to also question her own ability to choose. A desperate search for a dangerous serial killer whose crime spree seems to be escalating takes Jo, Nick, and the rest of their team on a dangerous and suspenseful assignment that puts their very lives in danger.
Despite beginning with the third book of the series, I did enjoy it immensely and am happy that I have the opportunity to read the previous two very soon. They may not be in order but this book raised some questions about their past that I will enjoy seeing answered. From what I’ve read thus far, I recommend Anchored by Death but strongly suggest that readers begin with Cleansed by Death and Shattered by Death.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Book: Anchored by Death
Author: Catherine Finger
Genre: Christian Mystery/Thriller
Release Date: June, 2017
Click here to get your copy. |
 |
Police Chief Jo Oliver needed a little time to herself. But when her escape to Wisconsin turns deadly, she teams up with FBI agent Nick Vitarello, hoping to catch the Bow Tie Killer. Their romantic past and complicated present leads them into uncharted territory as they match wits with a psychopath bent on destroying everything they hold dear.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Catherine Finger loves to dream, write, and tell stories. Retired from a wonderful career in public education, she celebrates the ability to choose how to spend her time in a new way during the second half of life. So far, she chooses to write books, ride horses, serve others, and generally find her way into and out of trouble both on the road and at home. She lives in the Midwest with a warm and wonderful combination of family and friends.
MORE FROM CATHERINE:
Thank you for your interest in the Jo Oliver thriller series. Today we celebrate Anchored by Death—book three in the series. The basic plot for this book came as a result of an FBI workshop I attended on how profilers track killers. A particular method was presented that really stuck with me. As I thought it over, I had the idea to combine a map of Wisconsin with the tracking technique I had learned, and I actually built the crime scenes around the theory. I then created a killer who would do the sorts of things I had mapped out, and in that order. This was a satisfying challenge for Josie and I enjoyed my research jaunts throughout Wisconsin while writing the chase and takedown scenes.
When Josie’s off the clock and spending time with family and friends, you can catch our heroine in the kitchen. Ever since her infamous Flourless Chocolate Cake appeared in Anchored by Death, fans have requested the recipe. For the epicurean readers, here is the recipe she used when preparing this special treat:
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Ingredients:
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1 ½ sticks butter
¼ salt
6 eggs, room temp
1 ½ cups sugar (white granulated or brown will do)
Confectioner’s sugar and cocoa powder for dusting top and cake stand
How To:
Heat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare springform or regular round pans with nonstick spray or butter and flour.
Melt chocolate, butter, and salt—microwave will work in a pinch—or add all to heatproof bowl and place over small saucepan of simmering water to melt without burning. Set aside to cool
Beat eggs and sugar until light and thickened, around 6-8 minutes. Fold in melted chocolate mixture until completely combined.
Pour batter into buttered and floured cake pan—springform or regular round—and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 90 minutes, until a toothpick comes out wet but relatively clean.
Allow cake to cool completely before removing from pan. Dust with confectioner’s sugar and cocoa—Jo used a stencil for a quick and pretty design.
Thanks again for celebrating Anchored by Death—and know that I appreciate you. Readers are a special breed. As a lover of the written word and an author, I invite you to enjoy the read.

BLOG STOPS:
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 22
Through the Fire blogs, April 22
Texas Book-aholic, April 23
April Hayman, Author, April 23
For the Love of Literature, April 24
Writer Without a Space, April 24
Inklings and notions, April 25
deb’s Book Review, April 25
For Him and My Family, April 26
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 26
Betti Mace, April 27
Holly Jo Morris, April 27
Older & Smarter?, April 28
All-of-a-kind Mom, April 28 |
Reading Is My SuperPower, April 29
Blogging With Carol, April 29
Christian Bookaholic, April 30
Maureen’s Musings, April 30
Ashley’s Bookshelf, May 1
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 1
Spoken from the Heart, May 2
Just Your Average reviews, May 2
Daysong Reflections, May 3
Bigreadersite, May 3
Locks, Hooks and Books, May 4
Pause for Tales, May 4
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 5 |
GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate her tour, Catherine is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/f982/anchored-by-death-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Jan 10, 2020 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, FBI, Law Enforcement, NCIS, Romance, Suspense

MY REVIEW:
Rachel Dylan is quickly becoming another of my go-to authors when I want to read a good action-packed suspense novel. End Game affirmed my choice with its nonstop action and lots of twists and surprises along the way.
I loved how Dylan portrayed the members of various agencies and how well they all worked together – both men and women with no one-upping between the agencies. These agents were shown to be dedicated to their jobs, with integrity and determination to solve the murders as quickly as possible. This riveting suspense had me second guessing the characters and on the edge of my seat at times. I appreciated the subtle Christian message that flowed throughout the narrative as well as the fact that the romantic relationship between Bailey and Marco did not overshadow the plot.
End Game was a fun and intriguing tale that left me sorry to reach its end. I look forward to the author’s next offering.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author through Bethany House. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Each New Clue . . .
Every Crime Scene . . .
Brings Them Closer to Discovering the End Game
When elite members of the military are murdered on the streets of Washington, DC, FBI Special Agent Bailey Ryan and NCIS Special Agent Marco Agostini must work together to bring the perpetrator to justice. Unfortunately, all evidence points to a Navy SEAL sniper who Bailey refuses to believe is guilty.
When Bailey and Marco start to connect the dots between the victims, they wonder if there’s a deeper cover-up at play. After Bailey is targeted, it becomes clear that someone is willing to kill to keep their dark secrets.
With the stakes getting higher by the moment, Bailey and Marco rush against the clock to determine whom they can really trust in this twisted conspiracy. As allies turn to enemies, the biggest secret yet to be uncovered could be the end of them all.
Read an excerpt here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rachel Dylan (www.racheldylan.com) was a litigator in one of Atlanta’s most elite law firms for over eight years and now works as an attorney at one of the Big Three automobile manufacturers. She is the author of Deadly Proof and four Love Inspired Suspense novels and lives in Michigan with her husband.
by admin | Aug 22, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, FBI, Law Enforcement, Romance, Suspense

MY REVIEW:
Lynette Eason has come through once again with a riveting tale of suspense for her readers. The final book in her Blue Justice series, Vow of Justice features another member of the St. John family, Lincoln. Linc is an FBI Special Agent whose partner Allison Radcliffe was murdered – only she is still very much alive. Once he discovers the truth, Linc is determined to work with Allison to stop a killer and bring down a dangerous organization.
A brilliant plot soon reveals that there is much more at work behind the scenes and an unexpected, twisted killer has his own plans for Allison. At some point I actually began to suspect a certain character wasn’t exactly who he was supposed to be but I didn’t guess his true motives. I enjoyed reading more about the rest of the St. John family and loved how they all jumped in to help Linc and Allison.
Eason has outdone herself with Vow of Justice, a truly suspense filled tale that kept me turning those pages. I will miss the St. John crew but am confident that I will love the next series as well. If you are not already a fan of Lynette Eason, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Vow of Justice today. You may want to also pick up the rest of the series because you will probably want to read those too.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Playing dead might just get her killed
FBI Special Agent Lincoln St. John is living his own personal nightmare. When the woman he loves, Allison Radcliffe, is killed, he devotes himself to tracking down the killers and making them pay for their crimes. He expected it to be a challenge. What he never expected was to find Allison very much alive shortly after her “murder.”
As his anger and hurt mix with relief, Linc isn’t sure how he’s supposed to feel. One thing he does know for sure: he and Allison will have to work together to stop a killer before she dies a second time–this time for good.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Photo Credit: © Mary Denman
Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of Protecting Tanner Hollow, as well as the Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master’s degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.
by admin | Jan 4, 2018 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, FBI, Love Inspired, Romantic Suspense

MY REVIEW:
“The Baby Assignment” is a fast paced mystery/suspense that kept me engaged to the very end. When a hero and heroine who were previously engaged agree to help protect a baby left at the Houston FBI office, their lives become connected again. Despite danger at every turn and a mystery to solve, Tanner and Macy manage to rediscover the spark between them but is it strong enough to keep them together this time?
I enjoyed this book with multiple plot twists and surprises sprinkled throughout. Dialogue was excellent and helped keep it interesting. Loved how quickly Macy became attached to the baby and how protective Tanner was of them both. A major plus was that I didn’t have it all figured out before I was halfway through the story.
As always, this novel by Christy Barritt was entertaining yet contained a faith-filled thread that was encouraging to this reader. I recommend “The Baby Assignment” to anyone who enjoys a short but action filled suspenseful read.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Tasked with figuring out who left a baby at the Houston FBI office, Special Agent Tanner Wilson has only one clue — his ex-girlfriend’s name written on a scrap of paper. But Macy Mills doesn’t recognize the little girl, and soon someone’s dead set on abducting her…even if it costs Tanner’s and Macy’s lives.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Christy Barritt loves stories and has been writing them for as long as she can remember. When she’s not working on books, Christy writes articles for various publications. She’s also a frequent speaker at various writers groups, women’s luncheons and church events. She’s married to Scott, a teacher. They have two sons, two dogs and a houseplant named Martha. For more information, visit her website at: www.christybarritt.com.
by admin | Dec 4, 2017 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, FBI, Law Enforcement, Nashville, Romantic Suspense

MY REVIEW:
After reading a few chapters of “Vanishing Point” I had the thought that the story seemed familiar. Then I realized that this particular book covers the entire span of years from the time Sarah Boyd disappeared until her case and the related cases were solved. Rather than featuring Nikki Boyd as the primary character, this book features other investigators on the case, including Garrett Addison and Jordan Lambert.
As I read this suspense filled story, I felt the frustration of the investigators as they were taunted time and again by the killer who always seemed to be one step ahead of them and their pain as they were unable to prevent the death of another young woman. With a relatively fast-paced plot, the tale is laced with danger and enough twists and surprises to keep most readers on their toes. A bit of romance spiced things up just the right amount without overpowering the mystery/suspense.
I felt that “Vanishing Point” was a satisfying conclusion to the Nikki Boyd series. It could easily be a stand-alone novel but reading the other books in the series adds a broader perspective to the story. I have enjoyed reading several novels by Lisa Harris and would recommend “Vanishing Point” and any of the others to those who enjoy Christian suspense.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Six girls missing . . . and every clue leads to a dead end
During Garrett Addison’s first week on the job as a criminal investigator for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, his team is called out to a murder scene of a young girl. She’s just one in a string of disappearances with one thing in common–a Polaroid photo of each victim left behind at the crime scene.
The FBI is pulled into the case to help, and Garrett finds himself working with Special Agent Jordan Lambert, the woman he once loved. When yet another girl dies, Garrett wonders whether he really has what it takes to be an agent. Maybe he should just walk. But while he may be done with the killer, the killer is not done with him–or Jordan.
Read an excerpt HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lisa Harris is a bestselling author, a Christy Award winner, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 and 2015 from Romantic Times for her novels Blood Covenant and Vendetta. The author of more than thirty books, including Vendetta, Missing, Pursued, and the Southern Crimes series, Harris and her family have spent fourteen years living as missionaries in southern Africa. Learn more at www.lisaharriswrites.com.
by admin | Apr 5, 2017 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, FBI, Law Enforcement, Romantic Suspense

MY REVIEW:
When I open a new book by DiAnn Mills I know I can expect am extended reading session because I will not want to put it down. “Deep Extraction” totally met those expectations and then some!
With such an unusual murder method that was used, how on earth would the investigating team ever find the killer? As if that was not enough in itself, problems cropping up within the team could very well stop them in their tracks. I knew that the author would manage to wrap up everything before the end in her usual brilliant style and not only would the case be solved but another deserving couple would be looking forward to a future together.
The fast paced plot included the anticipated twists and surprises that make Mills’ books so much fun to read. Escalating suspense kept my on the edge of my seat but the developing romance was a welcome diversion at just the right intervals. Tori and Cole were strong, well-developed characters who were easy to like but her FBI partner Max started out as a real jerk. Fortunately Max redeemed himself before the end and I also gained an understanding of what was behind his actions.
As always, I loved this book by DiAnn Mills and eagerly look forward to her next novel. If you haven’t read her suspense novels, “Deep Extraction” would be an excellent place to begin.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that was provided by The Tyndale Blog Network. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A pacemaker should have saved oil and gas magnate Nathan Moore’s life. Instead, it provided his killer with a seemingly perfect means of execution.
A bombing at one of Nathan’s oil rigs days earlier indicates his death could be part of a bigger conspiracy, a web Special Agent Tori Templeton must untangle. But her first order of business is separating the personal from the professional—the victim’s wife, her best friend, is one of the FBI’s prime suspects.
Clearing Sally’s name may be the biggest challenge of her career, but Tori finds an unexpected ally in the newest member of the task force, recently reinstated Deputy US Marshal Cole Jeffers. As Tori and Cole dig deeper into Nathan’s personal and business affairs, they uncover more than they bargained for. And the closer they get to finding the real killer—and to each other—the more intent someone is on silencing them for good.
Deep Extraction is recommended for fans of the following:
Romantic Suspense
Christian Fiction
FBI Crime Solving Novel
Read an excerpt from “Deep Extraction” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.
Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association; International Thriller Writers, and the Faith, Hope, and Love chapter of Romance Writers of America. She is co-director of The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.
DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.
DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

To celebrate Deep Extraction’s official release, DiAnn Mills is featuring a random drawing for multiple giveaway prizes. If you subscribe to her blog then you don’t have to do a thing . . . just wait to see if your name is drawn!
To be eligible for the random drawing for the following prizes, be sure to CLICK HERE!
- 1st Place – Apple iPad Mini 2 (32GB WiFi)
- 2nd Place – FBI lunch kit filled with yummy Texas shaped chocolates and a personalized copy of Deep Extraction
- 3rd Place – $50. Amazon Gift Card and a personalized copy of Deep Extraction
- 4th Place – FBI K9 Dog with an FBI cold beverage container and a personalized copy of Deep Extraction
- 5th Place – Personalized copy of Deep Extraction, FBI pen, and Crime Scene Band-Aids
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