by admin | Mar 13, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, FBI, Law Enforcement, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
The gorgeous cover of “Ashes in the Wind” opens into a suspense-filled story that begins with a bang and continues full throttle until the very end. I found the book to be very well written for a first novel and I was held captive until I read the last word.
Sara Jennings, widow of a DEA agent, has been living under protection for two years after an attempt on her life shortly after her husband’s death. When her location is discovered, Sara decides to go back to her home and face the threats head-on. She is determined to clear her husband’s name as well as find the guilty parties. Although the DEA has had some success in shutting down drug traffic into Phoenix, it has become obvious that someone within their organization is playing both sides. Once they have a suspect, they cannot act without concrete evidence. The question is – can they stop him before anyone else dies?
“Ashes in the Wind” is non-stop action with scenes that had me holding my breath as Sara found herself in one life-threatening situation after another. Although there is a touch of romance, this story is primarily built on suspense and should appeal to both male and female readers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will keep my eyes open for Peggy’s next novel. In my opinion, “Ashes in the Wind” can easily stand beside some of my other favorite suspense novels.
This book was provided for review by the Book Club Network, Inc.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
DEA Agent Greg Jennings is dead—and now they’re saying he was dirty, on the take. His widow, Sara, hiding out in the Witness Protection program after an attempt on her life, refuses to believe it, though everyone else seems to have accepted it as truth. Everyone, that is, except Drug Enforcement Administration Agent James (Mac) MacIntyre, Greg’s best friend. When yet another attempt on Sara’s life drives her out of the Wit Sec program and back home to Phoenix, Mac makes it his personal mission to protect Sara and, in the process, to clear her late husband’s and his best friend’s name. With a ruthless drug cartel hot on their heels and a mole in the agency undermining their every move, Mac and Sara find themselves literally running for their lives—even as romance tugs at their hearts. Will they unearth the truth and outrun the danger in time to carve out a future for themselves?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Peggy Levesque grew up in Minnesota as the second of eight siblings. In addition to her background in business, over the years she has led women’s Bible studies, served on church boards, coordinated volunteer assistance efforts into the community, freelanced the writing/editing/production of several publications, and has contributed to three anthologies. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Christian Writers of the West, and Tuesday’s Children, a weekly writing critique group. A recent widow, she lives near Phoenix, Arizona, with her children and grandchildren nearby. Follow her on Facebook at Peggy Levesque.
Learn more about Peggy at her website http://www.peggylevesque.com
by admin | Jul 22, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, FBI, Law Enforcement, Romance, Suspense
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingFirewallTyndale House Publishers, Inc. (July 1, 2014)byDiAnn MillsABOUT THE AUTHOR:
DiAnn Mills believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. Her books have won many awards through American Christian Fiction Writers, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005, 2007, and 2010. She was a Christy Award finalist in 2008 and a Christy winner in 2010.
DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and is the Craftsman Mentor for the Christian Writer’s Guild. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops.
DiAnn and her husband live in Houston, Texas. Visit her website or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/diannmills
ABOUT THE BOOK:
After a whirlwind romance, Taryn Young is preparing to board a plane at Houston International Airport, bound for a dream honeymoon, when a bomb decimates the terminal. Injured but still alive, she awakens to discover her husband is missing and they’re both considered prime suspects in the attack. Further, the FBI is convinced her husband isn’t who he appears to be.
Agent Grayson Hall’s number-one priority is to catch those responsible for the day’s act of terror. All evidence is pointing to Taryn and her new husband. But his instinct tells him her pleas of innocence are genuine. Is her naiveté just for show, or could she truly be another victim of a master scheme, possibly linked to the software she recently developed for her company?
With both their lives and reputations on the line, and the media outcry for justice increasing with each passing minute, Taryn and Grayson have no choice but to trust one another . . . and pray they can uncover the truth before they become two more casualties.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Firewall, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
It would have been difficult to convince me that DiAnn Mills’ books could be improved upon – that is until I read Firewall. It seemed to reach out, grab me by the collar and pull me right into the story. I really wanted to slow down and savor the story but I was so caught up in its grip that I raced right through it. I just had to find out what would happen next.
I liked the characters very much. I could identify with Taryn because like her I have always been more comfortable with my books and computer. I could easily imagine the nightmare Taryn found herself unable to wake from. And Grayson – what a guy! Dedicated to solving a crime with evidence pointing to Taryn’s guilt, he nevertheless gave her the benefit of the doubt despite his partner’s determination to incriminate her. The plot moved at breath-taking speed with so many twists and turns that it was sometimes hard to keep up. More than one surprise was in store as identities of guilty parties were revealed at just the right point in the story. And a little romance never hurt anything! I also liked the natural way the main characters grew stronger in their trust in God and others despite (or maybe because of) their sometimes overwhelming circumstances.
Firewall is a masterpiece of romantic suspense. I can hardly wait for the next installment of DiAnn’s newest series.
