by admin | Oct 23, 2012 | Books, Historical, Romance, Suspense
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
No Safe Harbor
Bethany House Publishers (October 1, 2012)
by
Elizabeth LudwigABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Elizabeth Ludwig is an award-winning author whose work has been featured on Novel Journey, the Christian Authors Network, and The Christian Pulse. Her first novel, Where the Truth Lies, which she co-authored with Janelle Mowery, earned her the 2008 IWA Writer of the Year honors. This book was followed in 2009 by “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” part of a Christmas anthology collection called Christmas Homecoming, also from Barbour Publishing.
In 2010, her first full-length historical novel Love Finds You in Calico, California earned Four Stars from the Romantic Times. Books two and three of Elizabeth’s mystery series, Died in the Wool (Barbour Publishing) and Inn Plain Sight (Spyglass Lane), respectively, released in 2011.
Coming in 2012 is Elizabeth’s newest historical series from Bethany House Publishers. No Safe Harbor, the first book in the Edge of Freedom Series, will release in October, with two more books following in 2013 and 2014.
Elizabeth is an accomplished speaker and teacher, and often attends conferences and seminars, where she lectures on editing for fiction writers, crafting effective novel proposals, and conducting successful editor/agent interviews. Her popular literary blog, The Borrowed Book, enjoyed a wide readership in its first full year, with more than 17,000 visitors in 2011. Along with her husband and two children, Elizabeth makes her home in the great state of Texas.
Learn more about Elizabeth and her books on her Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Thrill of Romantic Suspense Meets the Romance of 1800s America
Lured by a handful of scribbled words across a faded letter, Cara Hamilton sets off from 1896 Ireland on a quest to find the brother she’d thought dead. Her search lands her in America, amidst a houseful of strangers and one man who claims to be a friend–Rourke Walsh.
Despite her brother’s warning, Cara decides to trust Rourke and reveals the truth about her purpose in America. But he is not who he claims to be, and as rumors begin to circulate about an underground group of dangerous revolutionaries, Cara’s desperation grows. Her questions lead her ever closer to her brother, but they also bring her closer to destruction as Rourke’s true intentions come to light.
If you would like to read the first chapter of No Safe Harbor, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
No Safe Harbor is a historical romance with a large dose of suspense. In fact, although the romantic aspect is excellent, the suspense is a prominent component of the story. A major theme of the novel is vengence and the negative affect it has on all involved when they don’t turn it over to the Lord.
Both Rourke and Cara kept secrets from the other which resulted in feeling of guilt and lack of trust. However Cara’s unfailing faith and willingness to forgive eventually overpowered Rourke’s desire for retribution.
No Safe Harbor is definitely a page turner with several breathtaking scenes. I didn’t want to put it down until I reached the end. Definitely a MUST READ in my opinion.
by admin | Oct 19, 2012 | Books, Historical, Romance, Suspense
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Against the Tide
Bethany House Publishers (October 1, 2012)
by
Elizabeth CamdenABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A Word from Elizabeth:
I am a college librarian in central Florida by day, but by night I can be found pounding out inspirational historical novels the moment the sun goes down. I love writing books about fiercely intelligent people who are confronted with profound challenges. As a rather introverted person, I have found that writing is the best way for me to share my faith and a sense of resilience with others.
I married relatively late in life, which turned out to be an odd kind of blessing. I had gotten very good at leading a solo life, and although I was not particularly content being alone, I had become reconciled to it. Most importantly, it taught me never to take my husband for granted. I give daily thanks for the blessing of being able to share a life with my favorite person on the planet.
As for who I am? I love old Hitchcock films, the hour before sunset, a long, sweaty run through the Florida countryside, and a glass of good wine. After spending my entire adult life on a college campus (either as a student or a librarian) I have finally been able to pursue my ultimate goal of writing professionally.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Love and Lives are Threatened in Camden’s Latest Offering
As a child, Lydia Pallas became all too familiar with uncertainty when it came to the future. Now, she’s finally carved out a perfect life for herself–a life of stability and order with no changes, surprises, or chaos of any kind. She adores her apartment overlooking the bustling Boston Harbor, and her skill with languages has landed her a secure position as a translator for the U.S. Navy.
However, it is her talent for translation that brings her into contact with Alexander Banebridge, or “Bane,” a man who equally attracts and aggravates her. When Bane hires Lydia to translate a seemingly innocuous collection of European documents, she hesitantly agrees, only to discover she is in over her head.
Just as Bane’s charm begins to win her over, Lydia learns he is driven by a secret campaign against some of the most dangerous criminals on the East Coast, compelled by his faith and his past. Bane forbids any involvement on Lydia’s part, but when the criminals gain the upper hand, it is Lydia on whom he must depend.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Against the Tide, go HERE.
by admin | Oct 16, 2012 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“You Don’t Know Me” is the latest addition to Susan May Warren’s Deep Haven series. While the other novels in the series have for the most part stayed within the contemporary romantic fiction parameters, this one has an added layer of suspense. The story features Annalise Decker, a woman who changed her identity twenty years earlier to participate in the witness protection program. Life in small town Deep Haven is pretty much perfection for Annalise with a great husband who is running for mayor, talented kids, good friends, and plenty of school and sporting events as well as charitable organizations to keep her busy. That is until a face from her past shows up in the coffee shop one day and the perfect life she has built could come tumbling down.
Although Annalise is the primary character, other members of her family including her mother-in-law and her witness protection handler AKA known as Uncle Jack play prominent roles also. Annalise may be keeping a HUGE secret, but it quickly becomes evident that each of the others have secrets of their own. As is usually the case with secrets, they all are eventually revealed. Although “You Don’t Know Me” is not Warren’s usual romantic style, I liked the fact that the stressful events drew Annalise and her husband Nathan closer and more in love than before. I also liked the underlying message about secrets and faith.
I have long been a fan of Susan May Warren’s books and “You Don’t Know Me” is just another example of this lady’s immense talent. Her characterization is superb. I found it easy to identify with what each person was experiencing emotionally as they wrestled with making the correct decisions. Pacing was excellent and the suspense kept me glued to the book when I should have been doing something else. I think the only thing I didn’t love about this book was that it ended much too soon and I will have to wait awhile for Susan to release another novel. I guess it would be too much to ask her to forgo her personal life to keep me supplied with reading material.
“You Don’t Know Me” is another winner from Susan May Warren and I highly recommend it.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A Deep Haven Novel
Sometimes the secrets we keep to protect ourselves can be our undoing.
To all who know her, Annalise Decker is a model wife and mother. She’s a permanent member of the PTA, never misses a sporting event, and is constantly campaigning for her husband’s mayoral race.
No one knows that Annalise was once Deidre O’Reilly, a troubled young woman whose testimony put a dangerous criminal behind bars. Relocated through the Witness Security Program to the quaint harbor town of Deep Haven, Deidre received a new identity and a fresh start, which began when she fell in love with local real estate agent Nathan Decker.
Twenty years later, Annalise couldn’t be more unprepared for her past to catch up with her. When Agent Frank Harrison arrives with news that the man she testified against is out on parole and out for revenge, Annalise is forced to face the consequences of her secrets. Will she run again, or will she finally find the courage to trust those she loves most with both her past and her future?
Purchase a copy of “You Don’t Know Me” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning novelist of over thirty novels. A five-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Carol Award.
A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!.
Find out more about Susan May at http://www.susanmaywarren.com/.
by admin | Oct 13, 2012 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
The second novel in Lynette Eason’s Deadly Reunions series, “When a Heart Stops” is literally what its title says – heart stopping suspense. Like the first novel in the series “When the Smoke Clears”, this installment also focuses on plans for a high school class reunion. Heroine Serena, a medical examiner, just happens to be a member of that class. When the body count rises and they all belong to her former classmates, Serena not only becomes involved in an attempt to find the murderer but may also be a target. When her former secret crush shows up as an investigator into the crimes and also shows a serious interest in spending time with Serena, a little romance is the result.
With a copycat killer who delights in taunting the police, another potential threat that is a carryover from the first book that involves Serena’s best friend who disappeared on graduation night, and a plot that is filled with secrets, numerous twists, turns, and surprises, it is impossible to guess the guilty party. The pacing was near perfect, the characters strong, and the suspense was look-over-your-shoulder intense.
I always enjoy Lynette Eason’s suspense novels and “When a Heart Stops” was no different. I would recommend reading “When the Smoke Clears” first because it has pertinent characters and facts that enhance the understanding and enjoyment of “When the Heart Stops”. While each book has a unique mystery that is solved by its end, there is also another underlying mystery that is woven into the entire series that has yet to be solved. Now we must wait for the next installment and hope to find the outcome in it. I know its publishing date cannot come too soon for me.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The highly-anticipated second installment in the Deadly Reunions series, When a Heart Stops will have readers staying up late as they race to the finish to find out what happens. Full of the suspense and romantic tension reader have come to expect from Lynette Eason, When a Heart Stops is intense, emotional and fast-paced.
Spunky and outgoing, nothing much bothers medical examiner Serena Hopkins–except for the thought of falling in love again. But when a serial killer is picking off her former classmates, Serena’s life becomes intertwined with her old high school crush, FBI agent Dominic Allen. Is the secret she’s keeping putting her next on the killer’s hit list? Can she trust Dominic with the truth before it’s too late?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lynette Eason is the author of several romantic suspense novels, including Too Close to Home, Don’t Look Back, A Killer Among Us and When the Smoke Clears. She is a member of American Fiction Christian Writers and Romance Writers of America. A homeschooling mother of two, she has a master’s degree in education from Converse College. She lives in South Carolina. Visit her website at www.lynetteeason.com and follow her on Twitter at @LynetteEason.
Praise for Lynette Eason & the Deadly Reunions Series
Eason does an amazing job of setting the bar high for romantic tension, as well as offering a deep dark secret that may or may not ever come to light. The first book in the Deadly Reunions series, readers will be so hooked that they’ll want to embark on this thrill ride for years to come!
– Suspense Magazine
Eason is quickly making a name for herself with taut, suspenseful fiction. The mystery will keep the reader guessing until the end, and as soon as one puzzle is resolved, a cliffhanger will keep you anxiously awaiting the next installment!
– RT Book Reviews
“I love this book. It will keep you guessing until the very end.”
– Dee Henderson, bestselling author
by admin | Oct 8, 2012 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Law Enforcement, Romance, Suspense
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Full Disclosure
Bethany House Publishers (October 2, 2012)
by
Dee Henderson
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dee Henderson is the bestselling, award-winning author of 15 previous novels, including the acclaimed O’MALLEY series and UNCOMMON HEROES series. She is a lifelong resident of Illinois.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Ann Silver is a cop’s cop. As the Midwest Homicide Investigator, she is called in to help local law enforcement on the worst of cases, looking for answers to murder. Hers is one of the region’s most trusted investigative positions.
Paul Falcon is the FBI’s top murder cop in the Midwest. If the victim carried a federal badge or had a security clearance, odds are good Paul and his team see the case file or work the murder.
Their lives intersect when Ann arrives to pass a case off her desk and onto his. A car wreck and a suspicious death offer a lead on a hired shooter he is tracking. Paul isn’t expecting to meet someone, the kind that goes on the personal side of the ledger, but Ann Silver has his attention.
The better he gets to know her, the more Paul realizes her job barely scratches the surface of who she is. She knows spies and soldiers and U.S. Marshals, and has written books about them. She is friends with the former Vice President. People with good reason to be cautious about who they let into their lives deeply trust her. Paul wonders just what secrets Ann is keeping, until she shows him the John Doe Killer case file, and he starts to realize just who this lady he is falling in love with really is…
Watch the book trailer:
If you would like to read the first chapter of Full Disclosure, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
It has been far too long since Dee Henderson released a new novel so I was super excited to receive an ARC of “Full Disclosure” to review. And what a book it is! There is so much going on that one could wonder why the author threw in several seemingly inconsequential story lines. But in the end she ties them all up into one neat little package full of surprises. This lady is so good at what she does, she even had me wondering for awhile if the heroine might actually be the villain. (Maybe she was – you’ll have to read the book to find out because I’ll never tell.)
It was fun to revisit characters from Henderson’s earlier novels – and in such a unique way. In fact her earlier novels are discussed quite frequently within the context of this novel in such a way that I have to wonder if “Full Disclosure” might be somewhat autobiographical. Even the title hints at that. Whatever the case may be, this book has a bit of everything – suspense, humor, drama, action, and romance with an abundance of twists and surprises. I’m not sure I have ever gotten to know characters more thoroughly than Ann Silver and Paul Falcon because of the intimate look into their thoughts throughout the novel.
If you have ever enjoyed a book by Dee Henderson, “Full Disclosure” is one you don’t want to miss. If you are not familiar with her work, you might want to start now with the O’Malley series to add another level of enjoyment to the reading of “Full Disclosure” when it releases this fall.
by admin | Oct 6, 2012 | Books, Speculative, Suspense
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Brink of Chaos
Zondervan (September 25, 2012)
by
Tim LaHaye and Craig Parshall
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Tim LaHaye is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 70 nonfiction books, many on biblical prophecy and end-times. He is the coauthor of the record-shattering Left Behind series and is considered one of America’s foremost authorities on biblical end-times prophecy.
LaHaye has written more than 60 non-fiction books on a wide range of subjects such as: family life, temperaments, sexual adjustment, Bible prophecy, the will of God, Jesus Christ, and secular humanism with over 14 million in print, some of which have been translated into thirty-two foreign languages. His writings are best noted for their easy-to-understand and scripturally based application of biblical principles that assist in facing and handling the challenges of life.
Craig Parshall serves as senior vice-president and general counsel for the National Religious Broadcasters and has authored seven bestselling suspense novels.
Craig Parshall is a highly successful lawyer from the Washington, DC, area and the author of the popular Chambers of Justice series of legal thrillers. With his wife, Janet, he has also authored the historical novel Crown of Fire, which takes place in the 1500s against the turbulent backdrop of the Scottish Reformation.
ABOUT THE BOOK
In the third book of The End series, Joshua Jordan remains in Israel during his self-imposed ‘exile’ out of the reach of U.S. authorities who have trumped-up false criminal treason charges against him. His wife, Abigail, continues to lead the Roundtable to prove the innocence of her husband. Following the nuclear attack by Russia, Israel is cleaning up the bodies of dead enemy soldiers for 7 months and setting out on its 7 year plan—both per the prophecies in Ezekiel. As corruption in high government offices threaten to block the election of a worthy presidential candidate by all means necessary—including the unthinkable—Israel’s leadership is tempted to sign a ‘peace’ proposal initiated by the UN under the authority of Coliquin. After he discusses this plan with Pastor Peter Campbell, Joshua is convinced Coliquin may well be the prophesied Anti-Christ and that his peace plan is a trap to destroy Israel. Are the recurring dreams Joshua has had about the coming rapture from God. And is the end sooner than anyone expects?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Brink of Chaos, go HERE
