by admin | May 6, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Once in awhile, a truly unique story comes along and I believe “Sister Dear” is one of those. As the oldest of three sisters, I was intrigued by the story of Allie and her sister Emma. It was fascinating to read the different points of view both past and present from key characters. These helped build the story and helped me to understand what was really going on below the surface. As always, much more than it appeared.
“Sister Dear” tells the story of Allie, a young woman falsely accused of murder who was convicted and spent ten years of her life separated from friends and family, especially her young daughter who was raised by sister Emma. After her release from prison Allie is determined to prove her innocence and risks losing her new freedom to do so.
A spell-binding story of murder and manipulation, the plot moves from character to character and from past to present with a multitude of twists, turns, and surprises along the way. An excellent cast of supporting characters added depth to the tale and even a touch of romance near the end was the icing on the cake.
“Sister Dear” is the first novel I’ve read from this author but I will definitely look forward to future releases.
A copy of this book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
Dark family secrets threaten to ruin Allie’s chance at freedom and claims of innocence. Don’t miss the new book from Laura McNeill, Sister Dear. Convicted of a crime she didn’t commit, Allie watched a decade of her life vanish – time that can never be recovered. Now, out on parole, Allie is determined to clear her name, rebuild her life, and reconnect with the daughter she barely knows.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
All Allie Marshall wants is a fresh start. But when dark secrets refuse to stay buried, will her chance at a new life be shattered forever?
Convicted of a crime she didn’t commit, Allie watched a decade of her life vanish – time that can never be recovered. Now, out on parole, Allie is determined to clear her name, rebuild her life, and reconnect with the daughter she barely knows.
But Allie’s return home shatters the quaint, coastal community of Brunswick, Georgia. Even her own daughter Caroline, now a teenager, bristles at Allie’s claims of innocence. Refusing defeat, a stronger, smarter Allie launches a battle for the truth, digging deeply into the past even if it threatens her parole status, personal safety, and the already-fragile bond with family.
As her commitment to finding the truth intensifies, what Allie ultimately uncovers is far worse than she imagined. Her own sister has been hiding a dark secret—one that holds the key to Allie’s freedom.
Learn more and purchase a copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Laura McNeill is a writer, web geek, travel enthusiast, and coffee drinker. In her former life, she was a television news anchor for CBS News affiliates in New York and Alabama. Laura holds a master’s degree in journalism from The Ohio State University and is completing a graduate program in interactive technology at the University of Alabama. When she’s not writing and doing homework, she enjoys running, yoga, and spending time at the beach. She lives in Mobile, AL with her family.
Find out more about Laura at http://lauramcneill.com.
by admin | Apr 20, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Political, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Suspense-filled, political intrigue novel “A Powerful Secret” grabbed my attention and held it throughout its pages. Set within the ranks of the rich, famous, and powerful movers and shakers, this story provides an inside view of what goes on behind the scenes of both politics and commerce.
Book two of the Worthington Destiny series features Sean, the second Worthington son. Although immensely successful on his own, Sean has never felt that he met his father’s approval and tends to compensate by his wild and crazy, thrill-seeking adventures. Yet when his older brother suddenly drops out of an important Senate race and it becomes apparent that someone wants to destroy his family, Sean risks everything to get to the bottom of it.
Not only is this a good suspense-filled novel but the character development is excellent. The authors do a wonderful job of illustrating family dynamics and how relationships between parents and children, brothers, and sisters affect each of their lives. In “A Powerful Secret” old family secrets come to light that could destroy them all.
While this novel is the second of the series, I had no problems following it. Reading the first book would probably add background but I did not feel that I missed anything crucial. For those who enjoy political intrigue, “A Powerful Secret” would be a good choice.
A copy of this book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Sean has always felt like an outsider in his own family.
Now he must risk never achieving what he wants most–his father’s love.
Billionaire globe-trotter Sean Worthington is stunned when his older brother suddenly abandons the Senate race in New York and walks away without a backward glance. As campaign manager, Sean’s left to handle the media feeding frenzy with no answers. Worse, their father–as usual–backs Will, the “perfect” son.
Frustrated by his father’s lack of belief in him, Sean determines to finally move on and forge a unique path. But when a powerful secret is revealed, threatening everything Sean has counted on, he must wrestle with shocking truths . . . and combat the power brokers behind the scenes who have the Worthington family in their crosshairs.
Read an excerpt from “A Powerful Secret” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Dr. Kevin Leman is an internationally known psychologist, radio and television personality, and speaker who has taught and entertained audiences worldwide with his wit and commonsense psychology. He has made house calls for hundreds of radio and television programs, such as Fox & Friends, The View, Fox’s The Morning Show, Today, Dr. Bill Bennett’s America in the Morning, 700 Club, CBS’s The Early Show, James Robison’s Life Today, Janet Parshall, CNN’s American Morning, and Focus on the Family, and has served as a contributing family psychologist to Good Morning America.
A bestselling and award-winning author, Dr. Leman has written more than 50 books about marriage and family issues, including The Birth Order Book, Sheet Music, Making Children Mind without Losing Yours, and Have a New Kid by Friday. He is coauthor, with his son Kevin Leman II, of a series of illustrated children’s books for each child in the family. He is also featured on 6 video series on marriage, parenting, blended families, and single parenting.
Dr. Leman and his wife, Sande, live in Tucson, Arizona. They have five children and two grandchildren.
Jeff Nesbit is a former communications director to the vice president at the White House, served as the director of public affairs for two prominent federal science agencies, and has been a national journalist with Knight Ridder Newspapers. He is the author of 20 novels. Cocreator of the Emmy award-winning Science of the Olympic Winter Games and the Science of NFL Football video series with NBC Sports, Jeff is executive director for Climate Nexus and writes “At the Edge,” a weekly science column for U.S. News & World Report.
by admin | Apr 20, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Overall I enjoyed “The Newsmakers” although at times I found myself distracted by the unusual (to me) tense in which it was written. The plot was one that could easily have come from today’s news and I believe the author’s familiarity with that community helped immensely. It was so easy to imagine news being manipulated to gain ratings. I have to wonder if there is more truth to this novel than fiction.
I admired Erica’s determination to be a news reporter who made a difference and her willingness to buck the system for stories that mattered. Her quick rise to fame did not alter those desires but she found herself overruled time and time again by her superiors. As the suspense built, Erica found it difficult to know who she could trust – even the man she was beginning to care for.
The fast-moving plot and realistic characters held my interest throughout this large book. Due to the tense issues mentioned earlier, I did bog down occasionally and have to reread paragraphs to be sure I understood what I had just read. Although I received my review copy from a Christian book blogger program, I feel I need to warn readers that if they are looking for a book with a Christian message, “The Newsmakers” isn’t it. It is however a clean read that most Christians should not find objectionable.
This book was provided for review by the BookLook Blogger Program of Harper Collins Christian Publishing.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
TV reporter Erica Sparks has become a superstar overnight. Is it due to her hard work and talent, or is she at the center of a spiraling conspiracy?
Erica Sparks is a beautiful and ambitious reporter who has just landed her dream job at Global News Network in New York. And while it was hard to leave Jenny, her cherished eight-year-old daughter, in the custody of her ex-husband, Erica is determined to succeed in the cutthroat world of big-time broadcasting. She can only hope her troubled past won’t come back to sabotage her dreams.
Although the wounds from her divorce are still fresh, Erica can’t deny the chemistry between her and her new producer, the handsome and empathic Greg Underwood. But a relationship is the last thing she wants right now.
On her very first assignment, Erica inadvertently witnesses—and films—a horrific tragedy, scooping all the other networks. Mere weeks later, another tragedy strikes—again, right in front of Erica and her cameras. Her career skyrockets overnight, but Erica is troubled. Deeply. This can’t just be coincidence. But what is it?
Erica will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. But she has to make sure disaster—and her troubled past—don’t catch up with her first.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lis Wiehl is one of the nation’s most prominent trial lawyers and highly regarded commentators. Currently, she is the legal analyst and reporter on the Fox News Channel and Bill O’Reilly’s sparring partner in the weekly “Is It Legal?” segment on The O’Reilly Factor. Prior to that she was O’Reilly’s co-host on the nationally syndicated show The Radio Factor. She is also a Professor of Law at New York Law School. Her column “Lis on Law” appears weekly on FoxNews.com.
Prior to joining Fox News Channel in New York City, Wiehl served as a legal analyst and reporter for NBC News and NPR’s All Things Considered. Before that, Wiehl served as a Federal Prosecutor in the United States Attorney’s office.
Wiehl earned her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and her Master of Arts in Literature from the University of Queensland.
Wiehl is also the author of The 51% Minority, which won the 2008 award for Books for a Better Life in the motivational category, and Winning Every Time.
She lives with her husband and two children in New York.
by admin | Apr 20, 2016 | Books, England, Historical, Mystery, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“The Reluctant Duchess” is often a study of contrasts. Heroine Lady Rowena Kinnaird is both fragile and courageous with a backbone as strong as the Scottish coast where she was raised. And what a contrast her new life as the Duchess of Nottingham is to the rugged Highlands she knows and loves! How different can her new husband Brice Myerston be to that cruel man he saved her from with a hasty marriage? Rowena finds herself removed from one dangerous situation only to discover that she is right in the middle of another one!
What can I say about “The Reluctant Duchess” that would not be needless repetition of other glowing reviews? I was captured on page one and held prisoner until the dramatic and satisfying end. I loved the primary characters Rowena and Brice and also enjoyed catching up with Brook and Justin from the first book of the Ladies of the Manor series, “The Lost Heiress”. Filled with historical facts, danger, suspense, mystery, and romance, the plot began at a steady pace but gathered momentum as the story progressed.
I liked the portrayal of both Brice and Rowena as unique individuals with both strong and weak attributes. I also appreciated the fact that their relationship progressed slowly and was not a love-at-first-sight romance. Their personal and spiritual growth were strong points in the narrative that did not compromise its emphasis on Christian faith.
So, this is another glowing review of “The Reluctant Duchess”. I loved it and cannot wait for the next installment of this series. If you enjoy historical romantic suspense set in Great Britain, you should love the book and the rest of the series.
A copy of this book was provided for review by Celebrate Lit.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Will Fleeing the Scottish Highlands Only Leave Her in More Danger?
Lady Rowena Kinnaird may be the heiress to a Highland earldom, but she’s never felt good enough–not for her father, not for the man she thought she’d marry, not for God. But after a shocking attack, she’s willing to be forever an outcast if it means escaping those threatening her life.
Brice Myerston, the Duke of Nottingham, has never been one to shy away from manor-born ladies, yet the last thing he needs is the distraction of the newly introduced Lady Rowena. He has enough on his plate having recently come into possession of a rare treasure for which many would kill, yet those around him seem intent on pairing him with this desperate but beguiling girl.
Rowena is reluctant to marry this notorious flirt. And when she learns that Brice is mixed up in some kind of questionable business with a stolen treasure, she fears she’ll end up in more danger than she fled.
Purchase your copy here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. The Reluctant Duchess is Roseanna’s eleventh published book. Her novels range from biblical fiction to American-set romances to her new British series. She lives with her family in West Virginia. Learn more at www.RoseannaMWhite.com
GUEST POST FROM ROSEANNA WHITE:
Though I’ve written nearly thirty books, thirteen of which will be out by the end of 2016, there’s something very special about the Ladies of the Manor Series. The first book, The Lost Heiress, is a rewrite of the first novel I ever wrote—at the age of 12-13. Once I finished that first novel, I made it my goal to keep adding more manuscripts to my “finished” file. I started in immediately on the sequel . . . and soon ran into a problem. You see, I knew who I wanted these characters to be. Brice Myerston, a duke, whom readers would have met in the first book. And a young lady from Scotland who had suffered abuse.
That’s it. That’s all I knew. And it stymied 13-year-old me, who hadn’t a clue what it felt like to suffer such things, and whose imagination, while rich, just lacked a certain basis in the realities of human nature. Probably a good thing that I gave up on the story back then, and didn’t dust it off again until my mid-20s, when I was reworking the series. And better still that Rowena had many more drafts to go through before she finally took to the printed page in The Reluctant Duchess.
I narrowed my setting down, during those years, to the Highlands, and I chose Loch Morar because of how perfectly the region of Lochaber suited the story I wanted to tell. Isolated. Stark. Rugged. Beautiful. Sometimes cruel. This was a land utterly perfect for my heroine’s family, for her back story. Then came the challenge of picking a clan for her to belong to—because lemme just tell you, one could quite easily offend with such choices, if not portrayed properly, LOL. And because I wanted her father to be chief of her clan, I ran the risk of people mistaking him for the actual chief, if I chose an actual clan.
A writing friend came to rescue and offered her last name for my heroine: Kinnaird (pronounced “kin-AIRD”), which is a sept (branch) of another clan in reality, so had no chief of its own, but was still a well-established Scottish name. Perfect!
So Rowena Kinnaird was born after many years of her character floating in and around my head and computer screen. And I got to pair this backward, sometimes shy, sometimes stubborn Scottish lass with the charming, suave, polished English duke I’d had planned out since I was 13.
I went to great pains in The Lost Heiress to make Brice Myerston a favorite character, so that readers HAD to read his story. Mwa ha ha ha. ? So far, so good on that score! Brice is a hero who has his faults, but he also has character. He has faith. He has a good heart, he’s considerate, he’s understanding. And he’s also so accustomed to charming everything female that he doesn’t quite know what to do when Rowena doesn’t seem inclined to be charmed.
There are clashes. There is tension. There’s much healing on Rowena’s part. Many trials for them both. But I hope that through this story of The Reluctant Duchess readers see what it means to triumph over past hurts. And how brightly God shines against the darkness.
BLOG STOPS:
April 12: Just Commonly
April 12: Book by Book
April 13: Books for Christian Girls
April 13: Cassandra M’s Place
April 13: Melissa Wardwell
April 14: A Holland Reads
April 14: Reading Is My SuperPower
April 15: Splashes of Joy
April 15: Blossoms and Blessings
April 15: Story Matters
April 16: Bookworm Mama
April 16: bigreadersite
April 17: cherylbbookblog
April 17: A Greater Yes
April 18: Singing Librarian Books
April 18: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS
April 19: Simple Harvest Reads
April 19: Henry Happens
April 19: Karen Hadley
April 20: Daysong Reflections
April 20: Texas Book-aholic
April 20: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
April 21: Proverbial Reads
April 21: Heidi Reads…
April 22: Seasons of Opportunities
April 22: 100 pages per hour
April 23: Reader’s Cozy Corner
April 23: The Power of Words
April 24: Giveaway Lady
April 24: Under His Wings
April 25: For The Love of Books
April 25: Book Bites, Bee Stings, and Butterfly Kisses
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate the release of her book, Roseanna is giving away a few of Roseanna’s favorite things.
Click the link to enter: a Rafflecopter giveaway
by admin | Apr 12, 2016 | Books, Historical, Suspense, WWII
MY REVIEW:
“The Cairo Code” is a HUGE book that weighs in at nearly double the pages of most books I review. Although publicized as a thriller, I was approximately halfway through it before the action seemed to pick up. The author spent much of the first half laying down background information on not only the primary three characters but others who played prominent roles as well. I freely admit that there were several times I was tempted to put it away but persevered because I had committed to review it.
Overall the story is an intriguing one. To me, its chief interest was the bond between Jack Halder, Harry Weaver, and Rachel Stern and how that affected the outcome as they were pitted against each other on opposite sides of the war and their roles in the attempt to assassinate President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. The story itself was well written and once it finally got moving, it progressed at a steady pace. Although we know from history that the plot was not successful, there were a few surprises in store before the end.
I feel that I should issue a word or two of warning. I accepted “The Cairo Code” for review because other books I’ve received from Howard Books have been Christian fiction. There was no mention of the Lord or Jesus in the narrative. More than one character engaged in intimate relationships outside of marriage. Scenes were not explicit but were nevertheless not really necessary to the plot. In addition, those who do not like violence might want to steer away from this book also. Again, the violence was not particularly gory and would be expected in a novel about war. The third warning is that apparently this novel was originally published as “The Sands of Sakkara”. Readers who had already read this book might be disappointed to buy the same book with a different title.
A copy of this book was provided for review by Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The international bestseller takes you on a fast-paced, nail-biting thrill ride from the Great Pyramids in Cairo, to behind the Nazi lines in Berlin, to the very seat of democracy as our hero tries to unravel a plot that could kill FDR and Winston Churchill.
To save the Western Allies, he must kill the woman he loves…
November 1943: Adolf Hitler sanctioned his most audacious mission ever—to kill US President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill while they visit Cairo for a secret conference to plan the Allied invasion of Europe, an invasion which threatens imminent defeat for Germany.
Only one man is capable of leading the defiant Nazi mission—Major Johann Halder, one of the Abwehr’s most brilliant and daring agents. He is a man with a tortured soul and a talent for the impossible. Accompanied by an expert undercover team and Rachael Stern, the young and beautiful Egyptologist, Halder must race against time across a hostile desert to reach Cairo and successfully complete the assignment, or else forfeit his life and the life of his son.
When US military intelligence hears about the plan, they assign Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Weaver, one of their best officers, to hunt down and eliminate Halder and his team. But for Weaver, as well as for Halder and Stern, there’s more than the balance of war and the lives of the Allied leaders at stake—a pact of love and friendship will be tested in the frantic, high-stakes chase to the death.
Based on a real attempt to kill the President, The Cairo Code is a breathless, suspenseful thriller—a heart-wrenching tale of friendship, love, and treachery set against the exotic and intriguing backdrop of wartime Egypt.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Glenn Meade was born in 1957 in Finglas, Dublin. Several of his novels have been international bestsellers, translated into more than twenty languages, and have enjoyed both critical and commercial success.
by admin | Apr 5, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Law Enforcement, Mystery, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
I have read all the books in Orchard’s Port Aster Secrets series so I was expecting her new series to be similar. Boy was I wrong! Protagonist Serena Jones could not be any further removed from Kate Adams if she tried. Don’t get me wrong – I thought it was great!
Serena is a smart cookie with a penchant for trouble. She loves art and loves her job with the FBI investigating art thefts. When a friend asks her to investigate some missing paintings from the local museum, Serena jumps right in, hoping to prove her abilities. Little does she expect all the trouble the case will bring nor does she expect the number of suspicious candidates who might be the culprit.
“A Fool and His Monet” is a cozy mystery at its best with multiple suspects, some danger and action, a touch of romance, and a large dose of humor. What could be better? In my opinion, Sandra Orchard made a successful transition from romantic suspense to cozy mysteries. I simply cannot wait to see where Serena might take the readers next.
A copy of this book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Sketchy politics and a palette of lies can’t stop Serena Jones from exposing the mastermind behind the daring theft of a priceless work of art
Serena Jones has a passion for recovering lost and stolen art–one that’s surpassed only by her zeal to uncover the truth about who murdered her grandfather. She’s joined the FBI Art Crime Team with the secret hope that one of her cases will lead to his killer. Now, despite her mother’s pleas to do something safer–like get married–Serena’s determined to catch thieves and black market traders.
When a local museum discovers an irreplaceable Monet missing, Serena leaps into action–and a whole heap of trouble.
Read an excerpt from “A Fool & His Monet” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sandra Orchard is the award-winning author of many inspirational romantic suspense and mysteries, including Deadly Devotion, Blind Trust, and Desperate Measures. Her writing has garnered several Canadian Christian Writing Awards, a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, a National Readers’ Choice Award, a HOLT Medallion Award of Merit, and a Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. In addition to her busy writing schedule, Sandra enjoys speaking at events and teaching writing workshops. She lives in Ontario, Canada. Learn more about Sandra’s books and check out the special bonus features, such as deleted scenes and location pics, at http://sandraorchard.com.
