by admin | Sep 15, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
I have read and enjoyed several of Erin Healy’s novels in the past. Her stories often take an entirely different direction from what is usually the norm but that is part of what makes them so interesting. I will admit that at first I had a difficult time getting into “Hiding Places” and actually put it down for awhile and returned to it after reading something a bit more frivolous. Once I understood the pertinent facts, I suddenly found that I was quickly reaching the end. When it grabbed my attention it didn’t let go.
The main protagonist of the story is eleven-year-old Kate Whitby who has free range of the family hotel where she occupies herself by spying on everyone, especially her obviously dysfunctional family members. The historic buildings of the hotel each have hiding places that were designed for safety when they were built during World War 2. Kate is familiar with most of the hiding spots which play an important role in the drama and danger that develops when several gang members converge on the hotel in search of the man they believe killed the son of their leader.
The story is told through several points of view which makes it both interesting yet sometimes confusing. There were times I wanted to sit Kate down and have a long talk with her about how inappropriate her behavior was, especially her tendency to hide things. The truth was, she saw life through the innocent eyes of a child and her somewhat skewed desire to help others.
Although the tale is pretty suspenseful, it is relieved by occasional humorous moments – usually involving Kate or her great-grandmother. I liked how Kate’s family finally woke up and realized how much they cared for each other when faced with the possible loss of their loved ones. Overall, “Hiding Places” was a satisfying read and a reminder of the importance of family.
This book was provided for review by the BookLook Blogger Program of Harper Collins Christian Publishing.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Family means safety. Family means protection. Until it doesn’t.
Eleven-year-old Kate Whitby leads an invisible life, the youngest member of her odd family. They live in their historic small-town hotel, where she is an expert at keeping everyone’s secrets: her sister’s a thief, her great-grandmother isn’t as crazy as people think, her mother lives in the past, and her beloved grandfather might have killed his best friend.
Devoted to the people she loves-more than they have ever been to her-Kate vows to protect each one. Charlie Fuse has lived on the streets since his alcoholic father threw him out. When Charlie’s powerful street family tests his loyalty by demanding that he kill the son of a rival gang leader, he refuses. They frame him for the murder, forcing Charlie to run.
When Kate finds Charlie injured and penniless, she hides him from his enemies and her uncharitable relatives, unaware that he has a connection to her family as old as the hotel itself.
The murderous gang tracks Charlie down. To flush him out, they take the clueless family hostage and threaten young Kate. Even then, Kate keeps Charlie hidden, putting all her childlike faith in one terrible hope: that the family who has never been able to protect her before might learn how to do it now.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Erin Healy is the bestselling coauthor of Burn and Kiss (with Ted Dekker) and an award-winning editor for many bestselling authors. She is a member of ACFW and Academy of Christian Editors. Her novels include such thrilling stories as Never Let You Go, The Baker’s Wife, Stranger Things, and Motherless. She and her family live in Colorado.
Facebook: erinhealybooks
Twitter: @erinhealybooks
by admin | Sep 6, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
When Maven Morris is asked to foster an abandoned young boy with obvious behavior problems, she resists until she meets him and feels an undeniable connection. Maven begins to gain the boy’s trust and is beginning to love him when the unexpected happens and she finds herself in the middle of a deadly situation.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Deadly Intent” with its rapidly escalating suspense and tension. The story was well written with true-to-life characters. I liked the way Maven and Paul and their friends turned to prayer when they found themselves in seemingly impossible situations. The only complaint I have is that the story ended much too quickly.
This book was provided for review by the Pelican Book Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Everyone belongs somewhere. The key to happiness is recognizing that place when you get there.
Maven Morris has lost her way. A childless widow, she has no immediate family. Forced into a medical leave, she has no career. At loose ends, she hasn’t a clue what’s next for her.
Her neighbor, Paul Jordan knows what he wants-to move their friendship to a new level. Maven may not know what’s next, but she knows she has no interest in romance with anyone-not even her handsome neighbor.
When a young boy is abandoned in the city park, he touches Maven’s heart. In spite of his obvious special needs, she agrees to provide a foster home. She has no idea the impact he will have on her-or the danger he brings to her doorstep.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lillian Duncan writes suspense novels with a hint of romance. She believes books can be entertaining and uplifting at the same time. Along with novels, she writes devotions for ChristianDevotions.us. She lives in the middle of Amish country in Ohio with her husband and menagerie of pets, including four parrots, a Jack Russell Terrier and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that she’s thinking about renaming Clifford–since he continues to grow and grow and grow… She’s been a speech-language pathologist for over thirty years. Most of those years were in the Cleveland Municipal School district where she worked primarily with deaf and hard-of-hearing students. As a writer, speech pathologist, and an educator, she believes in the power of words to change lives, especially God’s Word.
by admin | Aug 25, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Law Enforcement, Suspense
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingCold as IceSydney Lane PressbyM.K. Gilroy
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mark won’t claim he has done it all in the world of publishing, but he has packed boxes, edited manuscripts, made sales calls, created marketing plans, directed design and illustration, started companies, consulted, agented the works of others, and written advertising and catalog copy. He’s authored, compiled, and ghost written books that have landed on an array of bestsellers lists and sold millions of copies. His first ghost writing project, The Wal-Mart Way, was done for Don Soderquist, Sam Walton’s longtime right-hand man.
In early 2012 he put on a new hat as a fiction author. His debut novel, Cuts Like a Knife, was released in April 2012 and was met with rave reviews from USA Today, Fresh Fiction, Publishers Weekly, and other leading national reviewers. His second novel, Every Breath You Take, second in the Kristen Conner Mystery Series, released in Fall 2012 to similar acclaim. Kristen Conner returns in Cold As Ice, which releases in Fall 2014.
Gilroy has extensive writing credits. He scripted and served as creative consultant for a two-hour training video that was honored with the Award of Excellence by the International Television Association. He has compiled and written close to fifty books and penned hundreds articles and curriculum pieces for a variety of periodicals and publishers.
Gilroy and his wife Amy reside in Brentwood, Tennessee. Their six children are Lindsey, Merrick, Ashley, Caroline, Bo, and Zachary—the youngest has now headed off for college, so he and Amy are officially empty nesters.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Detective Kristen Conner is back on a new murder case. She’s still fighting with her sister—and no surprise, someone new wants to kill her! He was a pillar in his Chicago neighborhood: popular school teacher, devoted father and husband, political activist on behalf of underprivileged children—and a master gardener who liked to plant flowers in his neighbor’s yards. What wasn’t to love about him? Who would want him dead?
When Detective Kristen Conner lands the case she knows from day one who the key suspect is. That’s simple. The person most likely to kill you is someone close that you know and love. But the wife? She was always at her husband’s side and just as passionate about his causes as he was. No way could this loving wife and mother of three be a killer. Right? Mix in her on-again, off-again relationship with FBI Agent Austin Reynolds, a quick trip to New York City where Kristen helps her media-star sister for a new apartment—only to discover the body of a man who appears to have been executed by a professional killer on a run through Central Park—and Kristen Conner is once again swept into a world of danger, intrigue, and a confusing love life.
What she doesn’t know just might kill her.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Cold as Ice, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Detective Kristen Conner is dedicated to her job and becomes extremely frustrated if prevented from doing it. For that reason she balks at mandatory visits to a therapist and is pretty unhappy that she is surrounded by protection after accidentally nearly stumbling upon an execution in Central Park while on vacation. A murder in her mother’s neighborhood is at the top of her list and she has no time to be worried about the Russian mafia.
“Cold As Ice” is a suspenseful book with plenty of action and danger as one would expect when dealing with cold-blooded killers such as the Russian mob. That scenario kept things moving right along while the closer-to-home murder provided more insight into the actual detecting process by the homicide department. A little romantic misunderstanding and family dynamics add a touch of realism to the story.
Overall, I enjoyed “Cold As Ice” but might have liked it better if there hadn’t been so many different points of view. At times it came very close to being quite confusing. Other than that, it was a pretty good read and I would most likely be interested in the next book in the series.
by admin | Aug 15, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Now that I have read both “A Cry From the Dust” and “The Bones Will Speak” I am certain that I will have a place on my bookshelves for any forthcoming novel by Carrie Stuart Parks. I have always enjoyed suspense novels but in the past few years have begun to shy away from those that have too much gore. Carrie’s books have just enough details to ramp up the suspense as well as give the crimes credibility but she does not include anything that makes me cringe or keeps me awake at night. I also like the fact that she draws from her own career and personal experiences for her plot and character development.
In “The Bones Will Speak” forensic artist Gwen Marcey is trying to pick up the pieces after a bout with cancer, an unwanted divorce, and financial pressures due to the loss of her job. A discontented teen daughter adds to her stress. When her dog brings home a human skull, Gwen’s life becomes even more complicated as more bodies are discovered and there is even a possibility that she and her daughter are being targeted by a serial killer.
This book had me turning the pages as fast as I could read. I didn’t want to put it down until I found out who the killer could be. Plenty of twists and surprises kept the story moving and the tension built throughout the book until its climatic last pages. I can’t wait to read about Gwen’s next adventure.
This book was provided for review by the BookLook Blogger Program of Harper Collins Christian Publishing.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Forensic artist Gwen Marcey has become the target of a serial killer who believes he’s been appointed God’s executioner.
In Copper Creek, Montana, Gwen Marcey is struggling to put together her life after cancer and divorce. When her dog retrieves a skull of a murder victim and leads her to the victim’s grave, Gwen uses her forensic art ability to identify a serial killer. She is horrified to discover all the victims look like her fourteen-year-old daughter.
The murderer is a “lone wolf,” a member of the terrorist group Phineas Priesthood-and he has a score to settle with Gwen. Unraveling the tangled Christian Identity movement, where race-not grace-provides salvation, Gwen is in a frantic rush against time. She must use all her skills to uncover the killer before he can carry out his threat to destroy her and everyone she loves.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Carrie Stuart Parks is an award-winning fine artist and internationally known forensic artist. She teaches forensic art courses to law enforcement professionals and is the author/illustrator of numerous books on drawing. Carrie began to write fiction while battling breast cancer and was mentored by New York Times bestselling author Frank Peretti. Now in remission, she continues to encourage other women struggling with cancer. Visit Carrie’s website.
by admin | Aug 14, 2015 | Books, Historical, Mystery, Romance, Suspense, WWII
MY REVIEW:
In “Through Waters Deep” Sarah Sundin has provided an intimate glimpse into the lives of ordinary people during the tense days preceding U.S. involvement in World War 2. A secretary in the Boston Navy Yard, Mary Stirling prefers to remain in the background. She learned a difficult lesson about the dangers of pride as a child and practically flees from any threat of attention. Naval Ensign Jim Avery is an old school acquaintance of Mary’s who crosses her path in Boston. Spending time together as friends leads to stronger feelings on both sides but complications threaten to end their relationship before it begins.
Tensions are at a high at the naval yard and several apparent acts of sabotage have everyone on edge. As a fan of Nancy Drew mysteries and a keen observer, Mary cannot resist a bit of undercover investigation despite warnings to remain uninvolved. As time passes, the list of potential saboteurs grows and so does the risk of danger to the ships and the men who are assigned to them. Are Mary’s observations just a game or can she help solve the mystery before it’s too late?
Both Mary and Jim are strong characters who have trauma from their childhoods to overcome. Sarah’s fear of being too proud has kept her true personality under wraps. Jim, in turn, blames himself for injuries sustained by his younger sister and avoids taking charge from fear that someone else could be injured because of his actions. I loved how each of them encouraged the other and enjoyed how they overcame their fears by drawing closer to the Lord.
“Through Waters Deep” has plenty of action, suspense, and romance to meet the needs of most readers. Historical details added authenticity to the story and helped me as a reader to understand a bit more about life during that era. I highly recommend this book and any other book this author has written.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war.
Outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. Back on shore, Boston Navy Yard secretary Mary Stirling does her work quietly and efficiently, happy to be out of the limelight. Yet, despite her reserved nature, she never could back down from a challenge. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges–and dangers–await them.
Sarah Sundin takes readers to the tense months before the US entered WWII. Readers will encounter German U-boats and torpedoes, along with the explosive power of true love, in this hopeful and romantic story.
Learn more and purchase a copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sarah Sundin is the author of “With Every Letter,” “On Distant Shores,” “In Perfect Time,” and the Wings of Glory series. In 2014, “On Distant Shores” was a finalist for the Golden Scroll Awards from both AWSA and the Christian Authors Network. In 2011, Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist’s mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children.
Find out more about Sarah at http://www.sarahsundin.com/.
Dive into Sarah Sundin’s explosive new series, Waves of Freedom, with book one, Through Waters Deep. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges–and dangers–await them in the midst of their budding romance.
Join Sarah in celebrating the release of Through Waters Deep by entering to win an Anchors Aweigh prize pack!
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A copy of Through Waters Deep
- A nautical tote bag
- A set of compass rose notecards
- A “Hope Anchors the Soul” journal
- A Boston Tea Party earl grey tea set
- A Through Waters Deep apron
- A set of nautical tea towels
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 24th. The winner will be announced August 25th on Sarah’s blog.
by admin | Jul 28, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Sci-fi, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Whether you want to call it sci-fi or a suspense/thriller, “Trial Run” is a tale that might leave the reader wondering just how close we might be to experiencing some of what takes place within its pages. It took me a bit to really get into the story – probably because of the vast array of characters and trying to wrap my mind around who was who and exactly what their role might be. It actually took me until at least halfway through to decide who were the good guys and who were the bad guys. At times I still was uncertain but it quickly became evident.
Locke deals with some concepts in “Trial Run” such as quantum physics, computer science, and other modern marvels that may be over many readers’ heads. It was over mine but I managed to enjoy the story without attempting to understand everything. The idea of out-of-body time travel and its potential are intriguing but the possibilities raised in this book make me hope it is not possible.
Although “Trial Run” is marketed as a mainstream novel, it is a clean read with no gratuitous sex or violence. There is plenty of action, espionage, suspense, and even a touch or two of romance. It is not the book for everyone but those who enjoy this genre should find it to their taste. It’s not my favorite type novel but I did find it interesting enough to want to learn the outcome. And I might just want to read the next installment of the series.
This book was provided for review by Blogging Bistro, LLC.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Where does perception end and reality begin?
Can your mind actually cause something to happen in the “real” world?
What happens when we throw out our conception of the limits of space and time?
When science, government, and big business clash, who will ultimately have control of our information, our privacy, and even our very thoughts?
One thing remains clear:
What you don’t know can kill you.
Free sample of Trial Run by Thomas Locke
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Thomas Locke is an award-winning novelist with total worldwide sales of seven million copies.
His work has been published in twenty languages, and critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction and his 2014 induction into the Christy Hall of Fame.
Thomas divides his time between Florida and England, where he serves as Writer In Residence at Regent’s Park College at The University of Oxford. Visit Thomas at http://tlocke.com.
Q&A With Thomas Locke, author of Trial Run
Q: What reader did you have in mind when you were writing Trial Run?
Thomas Locke: I suspect there are a lot of readers out there like me, who love mainstream fiction in principle, but are dismayed by how dark it is becoming.
I love to read. I am happiest with a good book in my hands. And most of my purchases are mainstream fiction. Too often, however, I find myself skipping over bits that are just plain not necessary for a good story.
I wrote Trial Run for readers like me. Passionate about story, yearning for the thrill of a great tale, hoping for something that uplifts as well as ignites.
Here’s a video trailer for Trial Run, hot off the press:
https://youtu.be/FS9Vr2Nfc4Q
Q: In Trial Run, you introduce several seemingly unrelated threads at the beginning of the story. By the end of the story, those threads have become woven together in an intricate tapestry. What’s your thought process behind this writing strategy?
Thomas Locke: This concept can best be summed up by the phrase you often hear a Hollywood producer say: “Where is the cut?”
By this, the producer means, what can you leave out of the script so that the audience must figure things out for themselves?
Instead of spoon-feeding the audience every item required to move to the climax, things are left unsaid. This sense of vacuum draws the audience into the action, and hurries them forward to the story’s close.
Q: Several settings in Trial Run (Santa Barbara, CA, the Italian/Swiss border site) depict real places. How do you select these real-life settings for your stories, and do you alter details of these places to suit your stories?
Thomas Locke: The core element of my placing a story is research. And the core element in my research is emotion. For many people, the ‘take’ that I finally use in the story does not jibe with what they like to see as valid for a particular setting, especially when that place is close to their heart and I have used a more negative perspective. But the facts have been carefully studied.
An example from Trial Run is Santa Barbara. For a lot of people who know and love California, this is their absolute favorite place in the SoCal region. And for good reason. It is a lovely town, one my wife and I really enjoy visiting.
For this story, I was granted an insider’s view into the University of California at Santa Barbara, or UCSB. And from the perspective of many students enrolled there, UCSB is filled with hyper-inflated SoCal egos.
The contrast I found between the students with money (and in SoCal, when I say they had money, I really mean they had money) and those who don’t is as sharp as anywhere I have ever been. The student who formed my core source and guide was on a scholarship. He was there to study. He was, to say the least, in a minority.
Everything I described about the school, the bicycle traffic and the events on the beach and the housing, are based on observation. But the perspective was based upon the humorous bafflement with which this student viewed many of his fellow classmates.
I personally love this aspect of building a story. The research at this emotional level grants me the opportunity to see the world through another person’s eyes and heart. Being trusted with this, time and again, is part of the miracle process that happens every time I start a new tale.
Q: I’ve heard there’s a free ebook prequel to Trial Run. How can I get a copy?
Thomas Locke: As I was writing the opening scenes of Trial Run, I found myself continually asking questions about what happened before that door opened and before the party started. I began sketching a sort of parallel story, laying out ideas that formed the story-before-the-story.
“Double Edge” is the result.
The publishers liked the short story prequel so much that they have asked me to write a complete novel based upon these concepts. This novel will form either book three or book four in the series.
You’ll find links on my website http://tlocke.com/fault-lines/ for downloading your free copy of “Double Edge” from your favorite online bookseller.
Q: Trial Run is book 1 in the three-volume Fault Lines series. Please give us a preview of what to expect in book 2.
Thomas Locke: This is a timely question, as I completed the first draft of book 2 on June 8. The working title is Flash Point.
In many respects, Flash Point is a true hybrid. By this I mean that the core themes are the same as in Trial Run. But everything is also very different. I had two key questions in mind when I started book two: How far can I take this? How much can I risk?
This whole concept of controlled out-of-body experiences opens up a completely new vista. I had to develop a new story framework for Trial Run, and everywhere I looked I found myself asking the same questions:
- Where does this take mankind?
- If this could actually happen, where do we go?
- Who are we as people?
- How would this remake us?
These questions are first asked in Flash Point. Where we go from here depends mostly upon you, the reader.
So let’s dance!
Get to know Thomas Locke at these online outlets:
Website: http://tlocke.com/
Subscribe to Thomas’s e-newsletter and blog: http://eepurl.com/5cnH5
Receive Thomas’s latest blog posts via your feed reader: http://tlocke.com/blog/feed/
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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/thomas_locke
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