by admin | Apr 5, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
You only have to read Billy Coffey’s blog a few times to realize that he has a unique gift for getting to the heart of a matter and seeing things that many of us miss. A greater gift is the beautifully eloquent way he manages to express himself with actual words. In “The Devil Walks in Mattingly”, Billy has taken his gift to a new level with a haunting supernatural story that reaches into the very souls of the primary characters.
Three people in or near Mattingly have carried a secret for twenty years. Each of them feels responsible for the death of a young man. The guilt has eaten at them for all those years and has affected each one differently. One of them puts on a good front but is eaten up with fear and suffers from terrible nightmares. Another tries to assuage the guilt by taking care of others, especially those whose circumstances are similar to the boy who died. The third has spent the years isolated and alone in Happy Hollow, a place the people of Mattingly fear. The years have not been kind to him and he has more or less become delusional. Despite their coping mechanisms, none of the three has managed to find closure or peace.
The plot of “The Devil Walks in Mattingly” is so deftly written that the secrets are revealed quite slowly. The reader gains an intimate look into the tortured lives of the characters but must continue reading to gain a true understanding. Certain supernatural aspects of the story are left to the reader’s imagination and one might be undecided about what is real and what is not. Ultimately, that is not the point of the story. It is a story of grace and the redemption and peace that is possible only when one finally releases their guilt and shame to the Lord and stops trying to carry the burden themselves.
“The Devil Walks in Mattingly” is sometimes dark and seemingly hopeless but there is a light that shines through that darkness. It is a story that should be savored slowly and then pondered for awhile.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
For the three people tortured by their secret complicity in a young man’s untimely death, redemption is what they most long for . . . and the last thing they expect to receive.
It has been twenty years since Philip McBride’s body was found along the riverbank in the dark woods known as Happy Hollow. His death was ruled a suicide. But three people have carried the truth ever since—Philip didn’t kill himself that day. He was murdered.
Each of the three have wilted in the shadow of their sins. Jake Barnett is Mattingly’s sheriff, where he spends his days polishing the fragile shell of the man he pretends to be. His wife, Kate, has convinced herself the good she does for the poor will someday wash the blood from her hands. And high in the mountains, Taylor Hathcock lives in seclusion and fear, fueled by madness and hatred.
Yet what cannot be laid to rest is bound to rise again. Philip McBride has haunted Jake’s dreams for weeks, warning that he is coming back for them all. When Taylor finds mysterious footprints leading from the Hollow, he believes his redemption has come. His actions will plunge the quiet town of Mattingly into darkness. These three will be drawn together for a final confrontation between life and death . . . Between truth and lies.
Purchase a copy and learn more at Billy’s website.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
| Billy Coffey’s critically-acclaimed books combine rural Southern charm with a vision far beyond the ordinary. He is a regular contributor to several publications, where he writes about faith and life. Billy lives with his wife and two children in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. |
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Win a Kindle HDX from @BillyCoffey in “The Devil Walks in Mattingly” Giveaway!
Billy Coffey is celebrating his new book, The Devil Walks in Mattingly, with a Kindle Fire HDX giveaway.
One winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire HDX
- The Devil Walks in Mattingly by Billy Coffey
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 5th. Winner will be announced April 7th on Billy’s blog. Watch Billy give the backstory of the book here.
Don’t miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Billy’s blog on April 7th to see if you won.
by admin | Mar 24, 2014 | Books, Historical, Romance, Suspense, Texas
MY REVIEW:
Having recently read “Butterfly Palace”, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Coble’s novella “Bluebonnet Bride” features Nathan White who had a minor role in the previous novel. Because of circumstances surrounding him in “Butterfly Palace”, Nathan mostly came across as gruff and distrustful although it was obvious that he loved his sister and niece. I enjoyed reading about the Nathan that Elli got to know soon after she married him as a mail order bride.
Colleen managed to pack quite a bit of action and suspense into such a brief story and she kept it believable too! I read my copy of the ebook in one sitting because I NEEDED to find out what happened before I could put it down for the night. Both Elli and Nathan were both characters I would love to revisit. Elli was a sweet young woman desperate for a chance of a safe home and a family to love. Despite her grave circumstances, she was determined to be a good wife to Nathan. Nathan proved himself to be a husband Elli could depend on and easily grow to love. When danger followed Ellis all the way from Finland to Texas, Nathan’s first priority was to protect her and his niece Hannah.
The only complaint I could voice about “Bluebonnet Bride” is that it was much too short; however I could say that about any book written by Colleen Coble. She is one author whose books I do not miss.
This book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson Publisher’s BookLook blogger program.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
At the turn of the 20th century, Elli Korpela boards The Baltic with hundreds of eager women, all seeking new beginnings and brighter futures in America . . . as mail order brides.
Escaping a forced engagement, Elli seeks refuge in a faraway marriage, desperately needing her new life with a Texan named Nathan White to be safer than the one she left behind in Finland. And as she glimpses her future husband and his darling niece at the train station, she instantly knows her risk will prove the best decision she’s ever made.
Until he became the guardian of four-year-old Hannah, Nathan White never took an interest in marriage, arranging a mail order wife to simply love and care for his orphaned niece. That is, he never took an interest until he laid eyes on the beautiful Elli Korpela.
After a fairytale ceremony in the gardens of the grandest estate Elli’s ever seen, a place called Butterfly Palace, their peaceful beginning takes a disquieting turn as an intruder brutally attacks Elli in the middle of the night. Nathan intervenes, but the devil escapes unidentified, leaving Elli to face two chilling possibilities: either the attack was arranged by strike workers in Nathan’s employ or her shadowy past followed her into the present – and across the sea.
As the danger mounts, Elli and Nathan must face their enemy together, fighting to stay alive – and fighting to stay man and wife.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Best-selling author Colleen Coble’s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, ACFW Book of the Year, RWA’s RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers and is a member of Romance Writers of America. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana.
Find out more about Colleen at http://www.colleencoble.com/.
by admin | Mar 21, 2014 | Books, Historical, Romance, Suspense
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingTide and TempestBethany House Publishers (March 4, 2014)byElizabeth LudwigABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Elizabeth Ludwig is an award-winning author whose work has been featured on Novel Rocket, the Christian Authors Network, and The Christian Pulse. Her first novel, Where the Truth Lies (co-authored with Janelle Mowery), earned her the 2008 IWA Writer of the Year Award. This book was followed in 2009 by “I’ll be Home for Christmas”, part of the Christmas anthology collection, Christmas Homecoming.
In 2011, her second mystery, Died in the Wool (co-authored with Janelle Mowery) was nominated for a Carol Award. In 2012, the popular EDGE OF FREEDOM series released from Bethany House Publishers. Books one and two, No Safe Harbor and Dark Road Home, respectively, earned 4 Stars from the RT Book Reviews. Book three, Tide and Tempest, received top honors with 4 1/2 Stars.
Elizabeth is an accomplished speaker and teacher, often attending conferences and seminars where she lectures on editing for fiction writers, crafting effective novel proposals, and conducting successful editor/agent interviews. Along with her husband and children, she makes her home in the great state of Texas.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Two years ago, her fiance perished during their voyage to America.
Now she discovers it may have been murder…
Dreaming of a better life, Tillie McGrath leaves Ireland behind and, with her beloved fiance by her side, sets sail for America. But when illness robs her of the man she holds dear, she’s left alone with only a handful of tattered memories. While forging on proves difficult, Tillie soon finds some new friends at her New York boardinghouse, and begins pursuing a new dream–to open a home for orphaned children.
Despite two years passing, Captain Keondric Morgan has never forgotten the lass who left his ship so heartbroken. When a crewman’s deathbed confession reveals her fiance’s demise was the result of murder, the captain knows he must try to contact her. But his attention draws the notice of others as well–dangerous men who believe Tillie has in her possession something that could expose their crimes. And to their way of thinking, the best way to prevent such an outcome is to seize the evidence and then hand Tillie the same fate as her naïve fiance.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Tide and Tempest, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
The third installment of Ludwig’s Edge of Freedom series, Tide and Tempest is a riveting tale filled with mystery and intrigue. Featuring Tillie who made an appearance in the previous novel of this series and Keondric Morgan, a ship’s captain who feels responsible for Tillie, this latest novel also includes frequent appearances by other characters from the earlier books.
From the beautiful cover that set the mood for the story, the historical details, to the climatic ending, I loved everything about Tide and Tempest, Although as far as I know I have no Irish heritage, I always find Irish history fascinating. The plot moved along at a brisk rate with plenty of action, danger, and surprises to hold almost anyone’s interest. The romance between Tillie and Keondric was so filled with obstacles and personal issues that it often seemed doomed to failure. Although I felt sure that everything would turn out well in the end, there were times the author had me wondering if one of the characters to whom I had become attached would meet an untimely fate. Several surprises and revelations were exposed and a strong message of faith in the midst of troubles was woven throughout the narrative.
I am sorry to see this wonderful series come to an end but I will look forward to what Elizabeth Ludwig has in store for her readers in the future.
by admin | Mar 19, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Suspense
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingPoison TownDavid C. Cook (February 1, 2014)byCreston MapesABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Creston has fond memories of his boyhood in Bath, Ohio, where he became enchanted with his future wife, way back in the fourth grade. His father, Bernie, owned and operated The Weathervane Furniture Shop in town. The whole family lived right upstairs in the century-old house known as “The Shop.”
Creston studied journalism at Bowling Green State University, then began his writing career. During the past 30 years, he has worked as a reporter, corporate copywriter, creative director, freelance writer, and author.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
There’s More Than One Kind of Poison in This Town
People are sick and dying. Rumors are swirling. Some claim chemicals leaking from a manufacturing plant are causing the cancer that’s crippling people on the poor side of Trenton City, Ohio. Yet nothing at the plant appears amiss.
The problem remains a mystery until reporter Jack Crittendon’s long-time mechanic falls ill and he investigates. Soon Jack becomes engulfed in a smokescreen of lies, setups, greed, and scandal.
The deeper he digs, the more toxic the corruption he uncovers. As he faces off with the big-time players behind the scenes and tries to beat the clock before more people die, he realizes the chillingly unthinkable–he knows too much.
If you’d like to read the first chapter of Poison Town, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Jack Crittendon, reporter, is back in another suspense filled and action packed novel that kept me turning the pages as fast as I could read them. Second book in the series, events in Poison Town takes place shortly after the conclusion of Fear Has a Name and several familiar characters turn up in various supporting roles.
Poison Town has a fast moving plot filled with danger and suspense that keeps the reader on edge most of the time. It is a story about corporate corruption that comes closer to home than Jack could ever imagine and the closer Jack and his friends come to the truth, the more they find that their lives and the lives of their families are in jeopardy.
A story about bravery in the face of threatening situations and faith in God when circumstances seem impossible, Poison Town is a must read for lovers of suspense novels.
by admin | Mar 10, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Law Enforcement, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
When I open a novel by Janice Cantore I know I can expect a great story filled with action and top-notch, realistic law enforcement drama. “Visible Threat” is the second book in Cantore’s newest series but easily stands on its own merit. I can vouch for that because SOMEHOW I missed “Critical Pursuit”. After reading “Visible Threat” I intend to remedy that oversight as soon as possible.
Featuring Brinna Caruso, a Long Beach officer dedicated (or perhaps obsessed) with saving all the abducted children she can with the help of her search and rescue dog Hero. An unidentified body and a daring river rescue reveals evidence that indicates the possibility that a human trafficking ring may be operating in their area. Brinna teams up with her former partner Jack to find the corrupt men behind the ring before more women become victims.
“Visible Threat” hits the ground running and barely gives the reader a chance to catch a breath before it is off again. The characters and situations depicted are believable and genuine. The references to Christian faith are mostly worked into natural conversations between friends and are not at all intrusive or disrupting to the story. The resolution at the end was credible and not the sometimes hurried tying up of loose ends found in some novels.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Visible Threat” and recommend it to anyone who enjoys police suspense novels. Do yourself a favor and pick up copies of both “Critical Pursuit” and “Visible Threat”. I know you will be glad you did.
This book was provided for review by The Tyndale Blog Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Officer Brinna Caruso wants perfection—perfect justice and a perfect world. She wants to save and protect all the innocents in the world, no matter the cost.
Orphaned and struggling to get by, Ivana and her sister left Bulgaria for America with dreams of a better life. But since they arrived in Long Beach, everything they were promised has turned out to be a lie.
After a dead girl is found in the river with a mysterious tattoo on her hip, homicide detective Jack O’Reilly asks for Brinna’s help. Unaware of the depths of evil that will be uncovered, Brinna finds herself flung into a dangerous frontier—an organized human trafficking ring.
Read an excerpt from Visible Threat HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Janice Cantore is a retired Long Beach police officer who now writes suspense novels to keep readers engrossed and leave them inspired. Her twenty-two years of experience on the force lend authenticity to her stories. Her Pacific Coast Justice series has met with critical acclaim. Critical Pursuit is the first book in her latest series.
Visit Janice’s website at www.janicecantore.com and connect with her on Facebook.
by admin | Mar 6, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Terri Blackstock has always been one of my go-to authors when I am in the mood for a good suspense. I have enjoyed her books for years and “Distortion” is sufficient proof to me that her books have only gotten better over the years.
The plot of “Distortion” is one that could come from current news. It was easy to imagine the nightmare Juliet’s life became after witnessing the murder of her husband then finding her horror compounded by discovering the web of lies surrounding him. His death and subsequent discoveries and threats were additional heartbreaking events to previous tragedies in the lives of Juliet’s siblings and friends. I loved the way they all stuck together to help each other despite their own troubles and grief.
“Distortion” is an action-filled story that kept me involved until the very end. It is a tale of faith and courage in the midst of tragedy that ultimately led to a fitting resolution. One thread was left hanging but I suspect it will be tied up in a neat package in the next installment of the series. I can’t wait to read it.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Juliet Cole’s life has been dismantled by the murder of her husband. She doesn’t know who—or what—to trust when everything she has believed to be true about her marriage has been a lie.
A husband’s lies can have deadly consequences.
When Juliet Cole’s husband of fifteen years is murdered before her eyes, she thinks it was a random shooting. Devastated and traumatized, she answers hours of questioning, then returns home to break the tragic news to her boys. But a threatening voicemail takes this from a random shooting to a planned, deliberate attack.
Juliet realizes that she and her children are in danger too, unless she meets the killers’ demands. But as she and her sisters untangle the clues, her husband’s dark secrets come to light. The more she learns, the more of her life is dismantled. Was her husband an innocent victim or a hardened criminal?
Pre-order a copy for just $4.99 on Kindle, Nook, iTunes, or the eBook version on CBD until March 10th.
Learn more at Terri’s website.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Terri Blackstock has sold over six million books worldwide and is a New York Times bestselling author. She is the award-winning author of “Intervention,” “Vicious Cycle,” and “Downfall,” as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, Restoration, and Moonlighters.
Kindle Fire Giveaway and Facebook Party!
Don’t miss Terri Blackstock‘s latest release in the Moonlighters series, Distortion.
The book releases March 11th, and Terri will be kicking off the release with a fun Facebook Distortion party and giving away a Kindle Fire HDX. PLUS readers can pre-order the ebook for just $4.99 between now and 3/11 everywhere ebooks are sold.
One winner will receive:
- A brand new Kindle Fire HDX
- Distortion and Truth Stained Lies by Terri Blackstock
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 11th. Winner will be announced at the Distortion Facebook Party on March 11th. Connect with Terri for a “suspenseful” book launch party with prizes, a book chat, and more.
Don’t miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN
on the event page. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your
chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 11th!
