by admin | Dec 1, 2012 | Books, Love Inspired, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
It was with regret that I was recently forced to drop my subscription to the auto-ship for the Love Inspired Suspense books because my review commitments have prevented me from finding time to read them. Some might scoff at my love for these mass market novels but I have looked forward to them over the years and have thoroughly enjoyed nearly all of them. It is because of authors like Liz Johnson who always manage to present me with a well-rounded story despite the size limitations – stories that have well-developed characters and plots that usually keep me speculating until the very end. I believe it takes special talent for an author to accomplish that within such stringent parameters.
“A Promise to Protect” lived up to my expectations one hundred percent. It was easy to identify with and love both Matt and Ashley, the primary characters. Secondary characters added color and a touch of reality to the story. The threats against Ashley were frightening and the motives behind them were based on real-life situations. I loved the loyalty and support for each other exhibited by the Navy SEALS and Matt’s dedication to his friend’s sister. The romance that grew between them was a special bonus.
Not only has Liz Johnson provided her readers with a well-written and enjoyable story but she has alerted us to the growing problem of human trafficking even within the U.S. As Christians we may not all get involved personally in the effort to put a stop to this abomination but we can all certainly pray about it.
This book was provided for review by the author Liz Johnson.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Navy SEAL Matt Waterstone knows about keeping people safe. When his best friend’s sister is attacked, Matt promises no harm will come to Ashley Sawyer–not on his watch. But Matt’s not the only protective one. Ashley will do anything to safeguard the residents of the battered women’s shelter she runs. She’s sure she can handle the threats she gets in return. What she can’t handle is the way Matt scales the walls around her heart. Yet when she falls prey to a crime web more sinister than she’d realized, trusting Matt could be the only way to survive.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Liz Johnson graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a degree in public relations and set out to work in Christian publishing. In 2006 she got her wish when she accepted a publicity position at a major trade book publisher. While working in the industry, she decided to pursue her other dream—becoming an author. She is now a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist, and A Promise to Protect is her fourth novel with Love Inspired Suspense. Liz makes her home in Nashville, TN, where she enjoys theater, exploring the local music scene, and making frequent trips to Arizona to dote on her two nephews and three nieces. She loves stories of true love with happy endings. Keep up with Liz’s adventures in writing at www.lizjohnsonbooks.com, or follow her on twitter @LizJohnsonBooks or Facebook.com/lizjohnsonbooks.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW:
What’s your new book, A Promise to Protect, about?
Ashley Sawyer has been the director of a battered women’s shelter for three years, so she’s no stranger to dealing with threats. But when she helps a young woman disappear, the threats become more intense than she’s ever experienced. Navy SEAL Matt Waterstone is happy to check on his best friend’s little sister, certain he can take care of the situation. But as Matt and Ashley search for the source of the threats, they uncover a plot more sinister than they ever imagined . . . and a love they never expected.
How did you get interested in writing about Navy SEALs?
When I was in college, I picked up a novel about a SEAL, and I was hooked. Who were these men unafraid of facing down the worst in this world? Who would go through such torturous training to be called the elite? I began watching documentaries on Special Forces units and reading everything I could about the men on the teams. Lately I’ve been reading biographies of SEALs including Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell and Fearless by Eric Blehm, fascinated by the type of personality it takes to become a SEAL.
It’s been said that good writers are good readers. What do you enjoy reading?
I’ll read just about anything that I can! And I read as often as I’m able. That translates into—whenever I’m not on deadline. My favorite books cross genres and years. As a kid, I read The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and I loved it! Still do. As an adult, I’ve really The Princess Bride and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Mostly I just enjoy a rich story with a happily ever after.
What have you enjoyed reading recently?
I’ve written three books this year—met three deadlines—so I haven’t had as much time to read as I’d like. But I did catch new books by some of my favorite historical authors—Julie Klassen and Karen Witemeyer. On a recent road trip I finally listened to the audio version of Susan Meissner’s The Shape of Mercy. It was wonderful!
Liz, what’s up next for you?
Right now I’m working on the follow up to A Promise to Protect, which is due out next year. It’s about Ashley’s brother and Matt’s best friend, Tristan. Then I’m scheduled to write a third book in my SEAL series. I’ve loved writing about the men of SEAL Team FIFTEEN and the women they fall in love with, so I’ll be sad when the series wraps up. I’m also working on a contemporary romance and bouncing at least a hundred and three other ideas around my mind.
EXCERPT FROM A PROMISE TO PROTECT:
“Tristan is the closest thing I have to a brother. He’s worried about you, and so am I. Let me help.”
Fear flickered through Ashley’s eyes as she whispered, “Someone almost ran me over.”
“Tristan said something about a letter,” Matt pressed.
Ashley nodded. “When I got home that day, there was an anonymous note saying that someone wanted his property back.”
His gut clenched. What kind of jerk threatened a battered women’s shelter? “Listen, I’m in town for a few days. Let me look into things.”
She smiled up at him. “Thanks, but I got the note more than a week ago. If there was any danger, something else would have happened by now.”
As they reached her car, her smile died. He didn’t have to ask if she still thought the threat had passed as she took in the smashed windshield of her coupe. Tucked under a wiper blade, the person responsible for the mess had left a clear message.
If I don’t get what’s mine, you’ll get what’s yours.
Excerpted from A Promise to Protect © 2012 by Elizabeth Johnson. Published by Love Inspired Books.
by admin | Nov 28, 2012 | Books, Romance, Suspense, Texas, Western
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Shattered SilenceAbingdon Press (September 2012)
by
Margaret DaleyABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Margaret Daley is an award winning, multi-published author in the romance genre. One of her romantic suspense books, Hearts on the Line, won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Contest. Recently she has won the Golden Quill Contest, FHL’s Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest, Winter Rose Contest, Holt Medallion and the Barclay Gold Contest. She wrote for various secular publishers before the Lord led her to the Christian romance market. She currently writes inspirational romance and romantic suspense books for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired lines, romantic suspense for Abingdon Press and historical romance for Summerside Press. She has sold eighty-three books to date.
Margaret is currently the President for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization of over 2300 members. She was one of the founding members of the first ACFW local chapter, WIN in Oklahoma. She has taught numerous classes for online groups, ACFW and RWA chapters. She enjoys mentoring other authors.
Until she retired a few years ago, she was a teacher of students with special needs for twenty-seven years and volunteered with Special Olympics as a coach. She currently is on the Outreach committee at her church, working on several projects in her community as well as serving on her church’s vestry.
On a more personal note, she has been married for over forty years to Mike and has one son and four granddaughters. She treasures her time with her family and friends.
Learn more about Margaret and her books on her Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A serial killer is targeting illegal aliens in southern Texas. Texas Ranger Cody Jackson is paired with a local police officer, Liliana Rodriguez, to investigate the murders.
While the case brings Cody and Liliana ever closer, the tension between Americans and Mexican Americans heightens. As Cody and Liliana race to discover who is behind the murders and bring peace to the area, what they uncover isn’t what they expected. Will Cody and Liliana’s faith and love be strong enough to survive the storm of violence?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Shattered Silence, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Shattered Silence is a perfectly executed suspense-filled novel featuring Texas Ranger Cody and Liliana the female police offer he works with to investigate a string of murders that offer very few clues to the identity of the killer. With each death it becomes more difficult to ascertain whether they are related to the previous murders and time could be running out as Liliana begins to receive some dangerous threats herself.
What more could I ask? Shattered Silence is a romantic suspense set in Texas with a Texas Ranger hero and a savvy heroine. The plot was filled with enough twists and surprises to keep me turning the pages. Although I suspected the identity of the murderer before the end, there were other levels to the mystery that prevented me from being 100% certain I was right. This was not a perfectly straightforward and simple plot but had ingenious developments that definitely kept the story interesting. The subtle romance and the subplot involving Cody’s son just added to my enjoyment. Loved this book and recommend it to all lovers of romantic suspense and/or Texas Rangers.
by admin | Nov 14, 2012 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Spiritural Warfare, Supernatural, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“Darkness Rising” is a fast-paced, suspense-filled book that held my interest until the very end. I personally thought that the plot and characters were very well developed. The topic of spiritual warfare was covered in a style that brought Frank Peretti’s earliest novels to my mind yet the material was original and had no indication that is was a “copy cat”.
Sequel to Wiehl’s “Waking Hours”, the first of the East Salem trilogy, “Darkness Rising” raises the stakes as the evil powers of darkness continue to escalate. Dani Harris and Tommy Gunderson find themselves in the fight of their lives as they attempt to find and stop who or what has released this malevolent plague upon the town. A classic tale of good and evil that involves humans, angels, and demons, “Waking Hours” is one book that you will want to read with all the lights on. I recommend it to all who enjoy a good supernatural suspense.
This book was provided for review by BookSneeze.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The evil in East Salem is no longer content to hide in the shadows. The stakes—and the darkness—are rising.
Dani Harris thought there wasn’t much left that could surprise her after serving as a forensic psychiatrist in East Salem. And Tommy Gunderson has faced few challenges in his life that he couldn’t overcome by either physical strength or his celebrity status.
But as they race to uncover what’s really happening behind the high walls of St. Adrian’s Academy, it becomes clear that supernatural forces have been at work here for generations. And now their focus is on making sure Dani and Tommy don’t interfere.
When the unseen becomes seen, faith is the only weapon strong enough to fight in a battle involving not just murder and betrayal—but angels and demons.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
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.
Pete Nelson lives with his wife and son in Westchester, New York. He got his MFA from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop in 1979 and has written both fiction and non-fiction for magazines, including Harpers, Playboy, Esquire, MS, Outside, The Iowa Review, National Wildlife, Glamour, Redbook. He was a columnist for Mademoiselle and a staff writer for LIVE Magazine, covering various live events including horse pulls, music festivals, dog shows, accordion camps and arm wrestling championships. Recently he was a contributing editor and feature writer for Wondertime, a Disney parenting magazine. He’s published twelve young adult novels, including a six-book series about a girl named Sylvia Smith-Smith which earned him an Edgar Award nomination from the Mystery Writers of America. His young adult non-fiction WWII history, Left For Dead (Randomhouse, 2002) about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis won the 2003 Christopher award as was named to the American Library Association’s 2003 top ten list. His other non-fiction titles include Real Man Tells All (Viking, 1988), Marry Like a Man (NAL, l992), That Others May Live (Crown, 2000) and Kidshape (Rutledge Hill, 2004). His novel The Christmas List was published by Rutledge Hill Press in 2004. He wrote, with former army counterintelligence agent Dave DeBatto, a four book series of military thrillers, including CI: Team Red (2005), CI: Dark Target (2006), CI: Mission Liberty (2006) and CI: Homeland Threat (2007) published by Time-Warner. A More Unbending Battle; The Harlem Hellfighters’ Struggle for Democracy in WWI and Equality at Home, was published in 2009 by Basic Civitas books. His novel, I Thought You Were Dead, will be published by Algonquin in 2010. He also has two CDs out on the Signature Sounds label, the first entitled The Restless Boys Club (1996), the second called Days Like Horses (2000).
by admin | Nov 12, 2012 | Books, Historical, Romance, Suspense
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Change of FortuneBethany House Publishers (November 1, 2012)
by
Jen TuranoABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jen grew up in the small town of St. Clairsville, Ohio, where she spent an idyllic childhood riding her purple spider bike, ice-skating on a little pond and reading Nancy Drew and Trixie Beldon books in her tree house. High School was, surprisingly enough, fabulous as Jen spent time with her girlfriends. She headed off to college with no idea of what she wanted to be when she grew up, but settled on pursuing a career in fashion because she thought it sounded glamorous. Her parents thought she’d lost her mind, but they resigned themselves to her choice and after earning a BA degree in Clothing and Textiles, Jen set off to take the fashion world by storm, only to discover retail was certainly not the glamorous career she’d imagined it would be. She moved to Buffalo, New York to take a job in the buying office of a large department store, learning all there was to know about cookware, which again, was hardly glamorous, especially to a girl who did not have a knack for cooking. She met her future husband, Al, a few months after taking this job and eight months later, they were married. After moving into management at another department store and working that for a few years, the company went out of business and Jen decided she’d had enough. One year later her son was born and Jen hung up her heels for good and concentrated on being a mom.
She began dabbling in writing when her son, then in elementary school, said he liked her made up stories as much as those in his books. It was then that she fired up the computer and never looked back.
Jen loves to write humorous stories with quirky characters and a dash of intrigue and finds historical romances especially appealing, seeing as how she’s been reading them since she was a teenager. Her mother gave her a copy of Kathleen Woodiwiss, The Flame and the Flower, and Jen was hooked on the genre. When not reading romance, she loves to read mysteries, young adult and her favorite series of all time, Harry Potter.
Besides writing, Jen enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Learn more about Jen and her books on her Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Lady Eliza Sumner is on a mission. Her fortune was the last thing she had left after losing her father, her fiance, and her faith. Now, masquerading as Miss Eliza Sumner governess-at-large, she’s determined to find the man who ran off with her fortune, reclaim the money, and head straight back to London.
Mr. Hamilton Beckett, much to his chagrin, is the catch of the season, and all the eyes of New York society–all the female ones, at least–are on him. He has no plans to marry again, especially since his hands are full keeping his business afloat while raising his two children alone.
Eliza’s hapless attempts to regain her fortune unexpectedly put her right in Hamilton’s path. The discovery of a common nemesis causes them to join forces and, before she knows it, Eliza has a whole retinue of people helping her. Eliza’s determination not to trust anyone weakens when everyone’s antics and bumbling efforts to assist her make her wonder if there might be more important things than her fortune and independence.
When all of Hamilton’s and Eliza’s best-laid plans fall by the wayside, it will take a riot of complications for them to realize that God just might have had a better plan in mind all along.
If you would like to read the first chapter of A Change of Fortune, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
At a time when we are bombarded by negative news from every side, A Change of Fortune was a refreshing distraction. This novel is humorous and witty – nearly to the slapstick point at times. I loved the dining room scene near the beginning as Eliza had one mishap after another with her borrowed gown. Not only is the story filled with humor, it has plenty of action and suspense to keep it moving right along and a sweet romance for good measure. Eliza is a spunky and hard-headed but delightful heroine and Hamilton is the perfect hero who continued to stand by and support Eliza no matter what happened. Zayne and Agatha were just the right sidekicks during their escapades.
I thoroughly enjoyed A Change of Fortune and will be eagerly looking forward to Turano’s next release. It can’t come too soon for me.
by admin | Nov 7, 2012 | Books, Romance, Suspense
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Breath of DawnBethany House Publishers (November 1, 2012)
by
Kristen HeitzmannABOUT THE AUTHOR:
From the time my dad taught me to read at sit-on-the-floor school when I was four—launching me past kindergarten into 1st grade—I have loved learning and expressing what I know through art, music, and especially writing. Education came easily, and I grew accustomed to having my work read and displayed. But breaking out of the family mold, I left college to marry my husband Jim (celebrating our 29th this year.) Since then, life and all kinds of research have provided the grist for my stories. We have three awesome adult kids, and one incredible teenager. (You might think I’m biased, but ask anyone who knows them.)
While home schooling my four kids, I wrote my first novel. I pitched it for publication, and it became the first of a five book historical series. Since then, I have written three more historical novels and nine contemporaries. The Still of Night was nominated for the Colorado Book Award. The Tender Vine was a Christy Award finalist and Secrets won a Christy in 2005.
People often ask why I started writing, and I say to get the stories out of my head. Some say they’d like to write a book, but I say if you’re not wracked with labor pains, there are easier ways to express yourself. Being a writer is a solitary, eccentric, and often compulsive path. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Learn more about Kristen and her books HERE.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Kristen Heitzmann Delivers Powerful New Romantic Suspense
Morgan Spencer has had just about all he can take of life. Following the tragic death of his wife, Jill, he retreats to his brother’s Rocky Mountain ranch to heal and focus on the care of his infant daughter, Olivia. Two years later, Morgan begins to make plans to return to his home in Santa Barbara to pick up the pieces of his life and career.
Quinn Riley has been avoiding her past for four years. Standing up for the truth has forced her into a life of fear and isolation. After a “chance” first meeting and a Thanksgiving snowstorm, Quinn is drawn into the Spencer family’s warm and loving world, and she begins to believe she might find freedom in their friendship.
The man Quinn helped put behind bars has recently been released, however, and she fears her past will endanger the entire Spencer family. As the danger heightens, she determines to leave town for the sake of the people who have come to mean so much to her.
Fixing problems is what Morgan Spencer does best, and he is not willing to let Quinn run away, possibly into the clutches of a man bent on revenge. But Morgan’s solution sends him and Quinn on an unexpected path, with repercussions neither could have anticipated.
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Breath of Dawn, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
The Breath of Dawn is a gripping character-driven novel that I found extremely difficult to put down. I was also quite sad to reach its end. Featuring several members of the Spenser family from the author’s earlier books A Rush of Wings and The Still of Night, The Breath of Dawn focuses primarily on Morgan Spenser and a new heroine Quinn Erin Riley. Several of these characters are almost bigger-than-life yet so realistically normal at the same time. Each supporting character is integral to the story and the same attention to detail has been allotted to them as to the main characters. Even Morgan’s toddler daughter Livie played an important role.
For the greatest enjoyment, The Breath of Dawn is a book that should be read without too much advance information so I won’t attempt to describe its plot. The story advances at a steady pace with plenty of time allowed for the reader to get to know the characters. The suspense does not take a prominent role for awhile but hovers menacingly in the background and builds to a climax near the end. The romance between Morgan and Quinn is one of the best I have read in some time and I loved how their characters were developed. A strong spiritual message was woven seamlessly throughout the narrative and illustrated so well how God works in our lives even when we aren’t particularly paying attention.
There is absolutely nothing that I can criticize in The Breath of Dawn except for the fact that it ended. It is another fine example of why I make it a point to read every book written by Kristen Heitzmann.
by admin | Nov 3, 2012 | Books, England, Historical, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“A Flight of Fancy” has a little bit of everything – an on-again-off-again romance, a spunky heroine who defies the norm for her era, a handsome, dedicated suitor, blackmail, adventure, humor, action, and intrigue. Someone wants to kill the hero Geoff, a reluctant Duke, and heroine Cassandra Bainbridge is also in danger because of her close relationship to him. Recovering from injuries suffered in a terrible accident, Cassandra is convinced she is being punished by God because of her “improper” attraction to her fiance Geoff. For this reason she spends nearly the entirety of the book trying to convince herself and Geoff that they should not be together. In the midst of the somewhat tiresome back and forth between Cassandra and Geoff, several more mysterious and dangerous incidents occur that escalate the mystery surrounding them.
Although I had a suspicion about one particular character’s involvement in the threats, the motivation and other person involved came as total surprises to me. Several scenes were quite enjoyable, especially Geoff’s unplanned balloon ride. Spiritual content was present but not as strong as I would have liked it to be. Overall “A Flight of Fancy” was an enjoyable novel and one sure to please those who enjoy a regency romance with a twist of intrigue.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Daughters of Bainbridge House Series- #2
Filled with the mystique of London society and the charming beauty of the English countryside, A Flight of Fancy explores what it means to find the true source of happiness and love amid the distractions of life. Readers will love the next installment in this rousing Regency series from accomplished author Laurie Alice Eakes.
Cassandra Bainbridge has twice set aside her scholarly pursuits–once for the London Season and once for her wedding preparations. Love seems a wonderful alternative to study, until disaster strikes. When an accident brings an end to her betrothal, she heads for the country to recover from both her injuries and her broken heart. There she pursues her love for ballooning and envisions a future for herself as a daring aeronaut. But when her former fiancé slips back into her life, what course will she choose?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Laurie Alice Eakes is the author of Lady in the Mist, A Necessary Deception, Heart’s Safe Passage, and several other novels. She won a National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency in 2007 for Family Guardian. Laurie Alice writes full-time from her home in Texas, where she lives with her husband and sundry dogs and cats.
“Available October 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
