by admin | Jul 26, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Spiritural Warfare, Supernatural, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“Evil Forebodings” is what I would consider a supernatural/paranormal suspense with a bit of romance. I’ll admit that I had a hard time getting into it at first, probably because there were several different characters which left me feeling somewhat confused. Eventually everything came together and I was able to see a method to the madness. The author just had to lay some foundation so her readers could get to know each character individually before they began to work together. So, if you have the same problem, just be patient. It will soon make sense.
This is a pretty wild and crazy story with even a couple of pets taking on major roles when evil stalks the streets of Newville. Four unlikely people are brought together by the mysterious events in their town – a young woman who can understand animals, a police officer, a reporter, and a diner owner. Each of them plays a major role as they work to bring an end to the malevolent danger. The question is “will their faith be strong enough or will they all die?”
Overall, this story has a good premise and I enjoyed it. I personally would have preferred a stronger example of spiritual warfare but that is just my own preference. “Evil Forebodings” is certainly a novel that will make its readers think and hopefully consider their own faith.
A copy of this book was provided for review by Celebrate Lit.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Tiffany Rodgers is the kind of danger that she never dreamed could happen to her in the quiet little town of Newville. She is being stalked and having strange visions. The animals even seem different of late, somehow affected by the changes in the air. Officer Allen Lawrence is drawn to Tiffany, but he has reservations. Is she losing her mind, playing games, or are the things that she is seeing more than just evil forebodings?
Purchase your copy of Evil Forebodings here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Carol E. Keen currently resides in Alabama with her husband and family. She spends her time writing, reading, working on photography, and working with her much loved critters. She started creating stories to share with others at the age of two years old. She was published for several years in FAMA magazine (Freshwater And Marine Aquarium) as a contributing editor. She published her first book on CD, called Simply Seahorses. She is overjoyed to be publishing her fiction to share with you now. Carol currently has more books in the “works”. Please feel free to follow her for updates.
On a personal note: Carol really enjoys coffee and a good book!
Guest Post from Carol E. Keen:
Well, I know it isn’t lady like or proper to squeak or go “Eeeeeee!” with excitement, but it’s so hard not to do so. I’m past excited to be on this tour with Celebrate Lit! First I have to say, these are wonderful folks who I’m so very blessed to get to work with!
Now, today I’m doing happy dances over your being here for the kick off for my book, Evil Forebodings. It’s my second published book, and my first full-length fiction novel. This book took eight, yes that is 8, long years to complete. What on Earth could take me that long to write one book?
It started with my first event called, NanoWriteMo. In my case, it was NanoWrite-less! Who had the “brilliant” idea to have a huge writing contest smack over Thanksgiving and two major birthdays in our family? It was a disaster. It was as bad as saying a night person like myself has to function at 8:00am and be good at it. I was alone in my endeavor and didn’t get far at all.
A few years later, I went back to working on this book. This time I had a huge emotional backset from an incident that was just traumatic. I was told, in essence, that I wasn’t good enough to write for a career, and that my focus was on all the wrong things in my life. This came from a published author, who really didn’t know me. I was weighed and judged unfairly, and it was devastating. I learned a great deal though, and pretty much gave up on doing things the way I had been.
Forging ahead anyway, my first book, Beauty For Ashes, was published. Then I got to work on Evil Forebodings. This story and its characters have never left me, and I knew I had to finish this book. I’m really pleased with how it turned out, and I hope that you will enjoy it. While I believe all authors put some of themselves into their work, this book had a heavy dose of my heart infused into it in several places.
Thank you so much for joining me on this adventure, and please feel free to ask questions!
Blessings, Carol ?
Blog Stops:
July 26: Daysong Reflections
July 27: Our Perfectly Imperfect Life!
July 28: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS
July 29: inklings and notions
July 30: A Reader’s Brain
July 31: Mary Hake
July 31: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
August 1: Through the Open Window
August 1: Cassandra M’s Place
August 2: Bukwurmzzz
August 3: Karen’s Krayons
August 4: Petra’s Hope
August 5: Carpe Diem
August 6: Singing Librarian Books
August 7: For the Love of Books
August 8: Books! Books! Books!
To celebrate her tour, Carol is giving away three copies of her new book with a bookmark. Click here to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/9f31
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by admin | Jul 26, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, FBI, Law Enforcement, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“Deadly Encounter” may be one of my favorite novels by DiAnn Mills to date. From the discovery of a dead man and an injured dog at the very beginning all the way to its exciting conclusion, I had difficulty putting the book down.
The sometimes fast but always steady paced plot contained plenty of danger and excitement which included dead bodies, mysterious illness, military drones, and so many possible suspects it was no wonder even the FBI had trouble solving the case. The romantic element was subdued and for the most part took a back seat to the action and suspense. I liked the primary characters, especially the extremely gifted Whitt who tried to steal the show from Stacy and Alex. Woven into this wonderful tale is a thread of faith as Stacy and Alex realize they need to return to theirs and Whitt’s fear that God might just be like his own abusive and negligent father.
You can’t go wrong with any of DiAnn’s novels and “Deadly Encounter” would be a great one to start with if you’ve never read any of them.
A copy of this book was provided for review by the Tyndale Blog Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Airport Ranger volunteer Stacy Broussard expected a peaceful Saturday morning ride around the perimeter of Houston’s airport. What she encounters instead is a brutal homicide and a baffling mystery. Next to the body is an injured dog, the dead man’s motorcycle, and a drone armed with a laser capable of taking down a 747.
Though FBI Special Agent Alex LeBlanc sees a clear-cut case of terrorism, his past has taught him to be suspicious of everyone, even witnesses. Even bleeding-heart veterinarians like Stacy. But when her gruesome discovery is only the first in a string of incidences that throw her life into a tailspin, Alex begins to wonder if Stacy was targeted. As a health emergency endangers Stacy’s community, and the task force pulls in leads from all directions, Alex and Stacy must work together to prevent another deadly encounter.
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; the 2015 president of the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, & Love chapter; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. 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 her website.
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by admin | Jul 23, 2016 | Books, Historical, Montana, Romance, Suspense, Western
MY REVIEW:
I always enjoy reading Tracie Peterson’s books because I know I will find a well-written historical romance with compelling characters and just the right blend of drama, danger, and suspense to keep those pages turning. It also doesn’t hurt that her research is excellent and I always learn something new with each one of her novels.
The second book in the Sapphire Brides series, “A Beauty Refined” features Phoebe, a young woman visiting Montana with her father, a German count. An unlikely friendship forms between Phoebe and Ian, a local lapidary but a chance encounter with a familiar woman reveals secrets from the past that place them all in eminent danger.
Once again, I stayed up much too late reading because I HAD to know what would happen next. How could one man be so selfish, heartless, and downright evil that even his own family were just pawns in his quest for wealth and power? There just didn’t seem to be any way that the innocent could come out on top this time so although I knew they would prevail, the suspense kept me on edge until the final resolution of the situation.
“A Beauty Refined” is the second book of the series but it easily stands alone. The story also revolves around Montana sapphires but features entirely different characters and situations. I would suggest also reading “A Treasure Concealed” – for the sheer pleasure of doing so and for the background history of the sapphire discovery. Tracie Peterson’s books never disappoint and I highly recommend any of them.
A copy of this book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
What does it take to reveal the true beauty of a hidden gem?
Phoebe Von Bergen, the daughter of a German count, is excited to visit America for the first time while her father purchases sapphires in Helena, Montana. Little does she know, however, that her father’s intentions—both for her and the gemstones—are not what she thinks.
Ian Harper, a lapidary working in Helena, finds the dignified young woman staying at the Broadwater Hotel more than a little intriguing. Yet the more he gets to know her, the more he realizes that her family story is based on a lie–a lie she has no knowledge of. And Ian believes he knows the only path that will lead her to freedom.
Meeting Ian has changed everything for Phoebe, and she begins to consider staying in America, regardless of her father’s plans. But she may not be prepared for the unexpected danger that results when her family’s deception begins to unravel.
Learn more and purchase a copy.
Read an excerpt from A Beauty Refined HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than one hundred books. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.
Find out more about Tracie at http://www.traciepeterson.com.
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by admin | Jul 8, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Medical, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“Lethal Harvest” is one of those novels that will make you think and will challenge your beliefs. As a fast-paced medical suspense the story seems to move at breakneck speed at times only to slow down just enough to try the reader’s patience. I honestly believe there was purpose behind that method because it certainly kept me turning the pages.
In a time when medicine is advancing quickly and technology has opened even more possibilities, the question of ethics should be considered. Just because something is now possible, is it appropriate? That is exactly the scenario that takes place in “Lethal Harvest”. A brilliant researcher secretly breaks the law as he works with human embryos in an attempt to find a cure for a devastating disease that affects his family which happens to include the President of the United States. A chance mistake brings other players into the picture and his death brings danger to the door of his widow and his partners.
“Lethal Harvest” held my attention throughout the entire book with ample danger, action, drama, and even a romance to keep it interesting. The story was very readable for one that included so many medical terms and procedures. Characters were mostly likeable and believable and a strong message of faith was woven throughout the narrative.
This particular version of “Lethal Harvest” has been updated by the surviving author to include such modern devices as cell phones and the story itself fits very well into current history. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys medical suspense.
A copy of this book was provided for review by Kregel Publications.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
“A Machiavellian plot . . . [and] a satisfying medical thriller.” —Library Journal
In order to save the president’s life, a brilliant embryologist– the president’s nephew–made a “devil’s bargain” with a secret group of federal agents. But Tim Sullivan’s illegal genetic manipulations of human embryos place everyone he knows at risk. Before he can finish his work, a freakish accident kills him and leaves only troubling questions behind.
Now his partner, Ben McKay, and Tim’s widow, Marnie, must uncover the hidden truth about Tim’s research before more lives are swept away. In the process, they’re forced to face their feelings for each other and the dark secrets in their own pasts. This story of love, loss, and danger crosses international borders from Mexico to the former Soviet Union in order to answer one searing question: if Tim’s research is completed, what form will the strange and dangerous harvest take?
Ambition, jealousy, and the ultimate meaning of love move this riveting story through the dark labyrinth that may lie buried under breakthroughs in genetic research and cloning.
Read an excerpt from “Lethal Harvest” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
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Sandra Glahn (PhD, UT Dallas) teaches at Dallas Theological Seminary, her alma mater. She is the author or coauthor of more than twenty books, including the CBA bestseller and Christy Award finalist, Lethal Harvest, and the Coffee Cup Bible Study series. Her most recent book is The City of Ephesus: A Short History. |
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William R. Cutrer, M.D., is an OB/GYN and an ordained minister. He is the Gheens Professor of Christian Ministry and the director of the Gheens Center for Marriage and Family at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He serves as the medical director at A Woman’s Choice Pregnancy Resource Center. He is the author of Choice Today: A Pregnancy Resource and Under the Fig Leaves, and coauthor of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage and The Infertility Companion. He has also coauthored the novels Lethal Harvest, Deadly Cure, and False Positive. |
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by admin | Jun 8, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Medical, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“Medical Judgment” is yet another of Dr. Richard Mabry’s suspense-filled novels woven around the medical profession. It always surprises me how well this author can write from a female protagonist’s viewpoint but he pretty much nails it every time. Dr. Mabry grabbed my attention with this one from page one and held it all the way to the end. I read the book in one evening because I couldn’t put it down.
The plot moved along at a steady clip, driven by plenty of action, suspense, and soul-searching. Spiked with just the right touch of romance and faith, “Medical Judgment” was an extremely satisfying read. Each of the primary characters was well-rounded with both positive and negative traits which made them all the more authentic. I particularly liked how difficult it was to decide just who was harassing Sarah Gordon during the entire book. Several possible culprits were presented, all with feasible motives. Even her good friends and pastor were suspect! This novel just goes to prove that not all murderers have rational motives so it can be very difficult to pin them down. I was completely surprised by who the guilty party turned out to be. I had no clue!
If you enjoy medical mystery/suspense novels, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of “Medical Judgment” asap. I don’t think you will regret it.
A copy of this book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Dr. Sarah Gordon lost her husband and daughter. Now she’s about to lose her life.
After losing the two people she loved the most, Sarah Gordon doesn’t think life could get worse. But, after a fire in her garage is ruled an arson, she begins to realize someone is after her—and that person wants to see her dead. But first, they want to see her suffer.
Her late husband’s best friend, Kyle Andrews, and a recovering alcoholic detective, Bill Larson, are trying to solve the mystery before it’s too late, and they’re both trying to win her heart, too. Not only does Sarah feel torn between two men, she also feels as though she cannot trust anyone.
With creepy threats that become more and more sinister, Sarah finds herself in constant fear, but even the best home alarm technology won’t protect her. Who is doing this, and why are they after her?
Click here to learn more and purchase a copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician who writes “medical suspense with heart.” His novels have won multiple awards: a semifinalist for International Thriller Writers’ debut novel; finalists for the Carol Award, Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, and Romantic Times’ Reader’s Choice Award; and both finalist and winner of the Selah Award. He and his wife live in Frisco, Texas.
Find out more about Richard at http://www.rmabry.com.
ENTER TO WIN:
Join Richard in celebrating the release of Medical Judgment by entering to win an e-reader!
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A copy of Medical Judgment
- A Kindle Fire HD 6
Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on June 21st. The winner will be announced June 22nd on the Litfuse blog.
by admin | Jun 4, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Dectective, Mystery, Suspense
ABOUT THE BOOK:
MY REVIEW:
“Sister Eve and the Blue Nun” is the first book I’ve read by Lynne Hinton. I was uncertain what I could expect and it took me a little while to become fully engaged with the book even though it began quickly with a murder to solve. However, once I became better acquainted with the motorcycle riding, jeans wearing nun who doubles as a detective, it was easy to jump in and let the story pull me along for the ride.
I liked how Eve tended to be a bit of a lone ranger but also had a tendency to jump into things too quickly and make a mess of them. Her belief in her friend’s innocence was admirable as was her determination to prove it. Unfortunately that led her to make dangerous decisions that jeopardized her life. The way the legend of the Blue Nun played into the story was fascinating and I learned about a spiritual gift recognized by Catholics called biolocation that I had never encountered before.
All-in-all, I enjoyed reading about Sister Eve’s adventures in helping to solve another case enough that I will absolutely be open to reading more books by this author.
A copy of this book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
After a murder at the monastery, Sister Eve may need a miracle if she is to prove a dear friend isn’t a cold-blooded killer.
Sister Eve, a motorcycle-riding nun with a natural (or is it supernatural?) gift for solving murders returns to the enclave she once called home and quickly finds herself confronting yet another mysterious death.
Someone has poisoned Dr. Kelly Middlesworth—a researcher on the life and ministry of 17th-century’s revered “Blue Nun”—and a set of irreplaceable historic documents have disappeared before they could even be examined.
When all evidence seems to point to the victim’s brother, Sister Eve sets out to expose the killer and learn the explosive truth those missing manuscripts might contain.
Chasing a killer is dangerous work, and as her two worlds collide, Sister Eve may need some heavenly help simply to survive.
Learn more and purchase a copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lynne Hinton is the “New York Times” bestselling author of “Friendship Cake” and “Pie Town.” A native of North Carolina, she received her undergraduate degree from the U.N.C. at Greensboro and her Masters of Divinity degree from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. She also studied at Wake Forest University and the NC School of the Arts, School of Filmmaking. She has served as a chaplain with hospice and as the pastor of Mount Hope United Church of Christ and First Congregational United Church of Christ, both in North Carolina. Lynne is a regular columnist with The Charlotte Observer. She lives with her husband, Bob Branard, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Find out more about Lynne at http://www.lynnehinton.com.
