by admin | Aug 11, 2012 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Law Enforcement, Mystery, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Although I enjoy most good Christian fiction in general, I find myself drawn to certain genres more than others and romantic suspense is one that I particularly like. I have found that Irene Hannon is one author I can depend on to provide me with a page turning plot that I can’t put down.
As the final installment of Hannon’s Guardians of Justice series, “Lethal Legacy” includes familiar characters from the previous books, especially its hero Cole Taylor who reluctantly agrees to take another look at a closed case for heroine Kelly Warren. Although the death of Kelly’s father was ruled a suicide, she remains unconvinced that he killed himself. New clues persuade Cole that Kelly may be right, especially when suspicious circumstances indicate that Kelly may be in danger herself. When Cole realizes that his interest in the case has become personal, his need to solve it quickly becomes even more important to him.
Irene Hannon has a genuine gift for writing suspense. When the suspense reaches a certain point, she is adept at relieving the tension with a romantic scene or a little humor before ratcheting it up another level. “Lethal Legacy” had plenty of twists and turns and more than one surprise that kept me engaged for the entire novel. Everything was not tied up in a neat little package at the end that left me wondering but it had a satisfactory resolution.
I am a bit sad to reach the end of the Guardians of Justice series but I can rest assured that the next series from Hannon will be just as enjoyable.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Two-Time RITA Award-Winning Author Completes Critically-Acclaimed Romantic Suspense Series
Bestselling suspense author Irene Hannon completes the Guardians of Justice series with her much-anticipated novel Lethal Legacy, releasing in August 2012. Hannon’s signature high-intensity action and taut suspense combined with her talent for writing tender, heartwarming romance will have readers on the edge of their seats. A two-time RITA award winner, Hannon completes the critically acclaimed series with a story of old grudges and a budding romance.
Kelly Warren is on a mission to prove her father’s death wasn’t suicide, but Detective Cole Taylor doesn’t put much credence in her claim. Nothing in his case review suggests foul play until Kelly ends up in the emergency room with a suspicious life-threatening medical condition. The incident strikes him as more than just coincidence. Digging deeper, he discovers she’s linked to a long-ago crime. Is history repeating itself? And who wants Kelly silenced?
Hannon, a former communications executive for a Fortune 500 company, left the corporate world in 2003 to focus on her growing fiction brand. While continuing to write contemporary romance, she also delved into suspense. The result was her Heroes of Quantico series, which began in 2009 with Against All Odds. From the beginning, her suspense books have garnered rave reviews. Booklist named her last novel, Deadly Pursuit (Revell, 2011) one of the top ten inspirational fiction titles for 2011 saying Hannon crafted “compelling characters and an emotionally engaging plot powered by a surfeit of nail biting suspense.”
Each of her suspense titles, though part of a series, can be read as a stand-alone novel.
Available August 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the bestselling Heroes of Quantico and Guardians of Justice series. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA awards from Romance Writers of America, a Carol Award, a HOLT Medallion, a Daphne du Maurier Award and two Reviewers’ Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri.
For more information about her and her books, visit her web site at www.irenehannon.com and follow her on Twitter at @IreneHannon.
by admin | Aug 10, 2012 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
It has been a number of years since I read the first book in Colleen’s Rock Harbor series and I have made it a point to attempt to obtain each of her subsequent releases. I’m pretty sure I have most of her collection including some Love Inspired Suspense written as Colleen Rhoads. Whether contemporary or historical, with settings from Hawaii to Texas to the Outer Banks to mention but a few, each of Colleen’s stories has held my attention to the very end and pulled me into the action.
“Tidewater Inn” is one of Colleen’s contemporary novels and is set in the Outer Banks area. Working with her partner to obtain property to restore, Libby witnesses her best friend’s kidnapping at the same time she discovers that she has been left property by her recently deceased father. As a hurricane threatens, Libby desperately attempts to find her friend while getting to know previously unknown relatives who are not exactly welcoming. As the danger increases, Libby realizes that several people could be suspects. Yet in the midst of life threatening situations, Libby has found a man who could just possibly be the man God has for her. But will they survive to find out if that’s the case?
As a long-time Colleen Coble fan, it is a given that I loved “Tidewater Inn”. The descriptions of the Outer Banks makes me want to visit the area. Her characters are so well developed that it was easy to love or hate them, or to hope for a positive transformation in their lives. A story that will have the reader asking along with Libby “What would Jesus do in this situation?”, “Tidewater Inn is an example of some of the best and worst of human behavior from faith and loyalty to greed and murder. It is a riveting story that merges suspense and romance in a delightful way.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
Inheriting a beautiful old hotel on the Outer Banks could be a dream come true for Libby. The inn cries out for her restorer’s talent and love of history. She’s delighted to learn of the family she never knew she had. And the handsome Coast Guard lieutenant she’s met there on the island could definitely be the man of her dreams.
But Libby soon realizes that the only way she can afford the upkeep on the inn is to sell it to developers who are stalking the island. The father who willed her the inn has died before she could meet him, and her newfound brother and sister are convinced she’s there to steal their birthright. Worst of all, her best friend and business partner has been kidnapped before her eyes, and Libby’s under suspicion for the crime.
Libby’s dream come true is becoming a nightmare. Her only option is to find her friend and prove her innocence, or lose everything on the shores of Hope Island.
Listen to the first chapter of “Tidewater Inn”:
Find out what the reviewers are saying here!
Purchase your own copy of “Tidewater Inn” HERE.
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.
Visit her website at www.colleencoble.com. Twitter @colleencoble.
Bestselling author, Colleen Coble, talks about her new novel “Tidewater Inn.”
Win a $500 Weekend Getaway Package from @ColleenCoble and Connect with her at 8/23 Facebook Party!
Celebrate with Colleen by entering to win a $500 gift certificate to BedandBreakfast.com!
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A $500 gift certificate to BedandBreakfast.com
- A copy of Tidewater Inn.
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 22nd. Winner will be announced at Colleen’s “Tidewater Inn” Author Chat Facebook Party on 8/23. Colleen will be sharing the story behind the book, hosting a book chat, testing your trivia skills, and of course, there will be plenty of fun giveaways – books, gift certificates and a Book Club Prize Pack! She’ll also be giving a sneak peak of her next book too!
So grab your copy of Tidewater Inn and join Colleen on the evening of the August 23rd for a chance to connect with Colleen and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book – don’t let that stop you from coming!)
Don’t miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER about Colleen’s giveaway and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 23rd!
by admin | Aug 2, 2012 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Political, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
I consider it a privilege that I have had the opportunity to read and review two new novels within the past two weeks by one of my favorite authors Davis Bunn. There is never a moment’s hesitation when I am offered one of his books because I know without a doubt that I will soon be in for a unique and enjoyable reading experience.
“Hidden in Dreams” did not disappoint. Although a sequel to Bunn’s earlier novel “Book of Dreams”, this novel can easily stand on its own merit; however for background on the primary character Dr. Elena Burroughs, I would highly recommend the previous book.
In “Hidden in Dreams” Elena has settled comfortably into a seaside home in Florida where she has accepted a teaching position at a small Christian university. When she is contacted unexpectedly by the sister of her recently deceased friend, Elena soon finds herself drawn into the very center of a rapidly escalating situation that places her in the spotlight before the entire world. A number of apparently unrelated people, including Elena, are having identical dreams that appear to be prophetic of a worldwide financial disaster. Because of her professional position as an expert on dreams, Elena is appointed as spokesperson for the group which also includes her professional nemesis. Is it possible for them to work together to prevent the impending disaster?
With a plot that at times is uncomfortably close to current events, “Hidden in Dreams” is a skillfully crafted story with a blend of prophecy, conspiracy, suspense, and a touch of romance. Unexpected twists and numerous surprises provided momentum as the pages turned. The strong message of faith with an emphasis on prayer added hope to a somewhat bleak situation.
I liked the fact that with the exception of one or two people, there was always the question of who could be trusted. I did feel that in the case of the romantic triangle, the author may played it safe. I could see definite possibilities (and probably more exciting ones) if Elena’s final choice had been different. Nevertheless, the story had a satisfying ending even if I might wonder “What if?” I would rate “Hidden in Dreams” 4-1/2 stars for that reason alone. Otherwise it was a unique and exciting tale that will leave many readers wondering about the truth behind our real financial crisis.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Just when the world’s foremost expert on dream analysis, Dr. Elena Burroughs, thinks she is getting her life back under control after losing her position at Oxford University and the man she hoped to fall in love with, she is approached by Rachel Lamprey, the product manager of an innovative new ADHD treatment about to hit the market.
Rachel asks for Elena’s help with a clinical trial participant who has had a disturbing dream foretelling a cataclysmic global financial collapse. But even more alarming is the fact that fifteen people scattered across the globe—including Elena herself—begin to experience the same repetitive, devastating dreams of economic ruin just as one bank crisis follows another, suggesting that these aren’t merely dreams.
As Elena searches for answers in her professional networks, she is forced to form an unlikely alliance with her most vehement critic and is drawn back into the spotlight as the public face of the so-called dreamers. As Elena and her collaborators attempt to discover the dreams’ source, the clock ticks down to devastation. Suddenly, it’s no longer just about the dreams. It’s about survival.
Read Chapter 1 of Hidden in Dreams for free – CLICK HERE.
Reading Group Guide for Hidden in Dreams – CLICK HERE.
Video Book Trailer for Hidden in Dreams
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Davis Bunn is an award-winning novelist whose audience spans reading genres from high drama and action thrillers to heartwarming relationship stories, in both contemporary and historical settings. He and his wife, Isabella, make their home in Florida for some of each year, and spend the rest near Oxford, England, where they each teach and write. Visit Davis at www.davisbunn.com.
A Conversation with Davis Bunn
Q: How much research did you have to conduct to write this intriguing story?
A: In a way, I suppose you could say I’ve been researching this story all my adult life. I did my studies in international economics and finance. Observing the difficulties our nation and economy has faced over the past three years, as well as what we personally have endured, has been tough. It really was great to have this chance to give voice to what we increasingly hear, that the people at fault need to be brought to justice, and the risk of another economic collapse needs to be halted.
Q: Why is it important for you to write about such timely themes?
A: Economic uncertainty defines the world we live in. I feel it is important to show how the timeless and eternal messages are applicable to every aspect of our world and our lives. And how the gift of peace and wisdom can be used in every circumstance we face.
Q: When you wrote Book of Dreams, did you have plans for this sequel, Hidden in Dreams?
A: Two months after Book of Dreams was released, I had the call every author dreams about and yearns for—a vice president of NBC/Universal suggested we discuss the possibility of turning it into a television series. I was put in touch with one of their producers and over the next six months began working up the basic structure of what this program might look like. One of the ideas I found most appealing became the basis for Hidden in Dreams. There is as yet no firm decision about the television project. But it has been a blast to even be considered.
Q: In writing a sequel it’s always a challenge to include enough back story to satisfy those who haven’t read the first book while still making sure the book stands alone. How do you approach this dilemma?
A: You’re right, it can indeed be troublesome, but this time it all fell together very easily. The structure just flowed. That sometimes happens, where the story seems to create itself. I wish it was true all the time. I can’t even say why it was such a smooth process with Hidden in Dreams. But there was a sense of impatience about the back story, as though I needed to fit in just a few paragraphs, but I couldn’t allow myself or the reader to be drawn too far from this new story’s flow.
Q: Why did you choose to end Elena’s relationship with Antonio? They seemed like a good couple.
A: For this story to work, Elena needed to enter into the dilemma as vulnerable as all the other people who shared the recurring dreams. She was isolated in a new place and forced to be dependent upon her faith and newfound friends.
Antonio (from Book of Dreams) belonged to a different universe, far from what was happening here. I had to make a choice at the outset. Would she remain with Antonio, and the two of them experience this together? Or would she be isolated?
Writing a new story is all about two things: facing the empty page, and choices. It is kind of fun to go back and revisit decisions I made eighteen months ago, when first outlining this concept.
Q: You’re writing about two women in this novel. Is it ever a challenge to write from the female point of view?
A: Learning to write from a woman’s point of view is very difficult for a male writer, as it usually is for a woman author writing a man’s story. Before I was published, I became friends with a husband and wife team who were both opera stars. The woman often sang a male role in a Mozart opera that was originally designed for a young boy, but which nowadays is usually sung by a woman with a slightly lower range, called a coloratura.
I discussed my difficulty with her, of trying to make my women sound real. She told me that my trouble stemmed from working on a woman character from the outside. It wasn’t about making women ’sound’ anything. It was all about making the character live from the inside-out.
As I worked on the point of view issue, trying to put my friend’s challenge into practice, I also began going into any meeting with a woman carrying a secret tape recorder, and taping everything that was said. I then went back and wrote out every word. It was perhaps the most boring month of my entire writing career.
But gradually I found that I could ‘hear’ the speech patterns of these women, and reshape them into structures that fitted around what was happening in my stories. And through this exercise, the emotional content that lay behind the dialogue, the person who was expressing herself, became more real, more solid.
And then I met my wife, Isabella. And the process of instruction at the intimate level of a God-centered marriage began to unfold.
Q: In Hidden, Elena and her colleagues are attacked in Miami. After the attack, why did Elena not take more precautions?
A: Elena had a choice to make, and so did I. Either she could play the delicate flower – fearing everything and going nowhere – or she could go on the hunt. I liked the balance between her internal fears and uncertainties, and her quest as a professional psychologist. She is, in effect, trained to look for clues – to go on the quest of drawing out the hidden. I felt the actions she took, despite the dangers, to be her natural response.
Q: Is there another Elena Burroughs book planned?
A: I have another idea. The question is, what do the readers want, and how positive is the reaction to this story?
Q: Why do you write fiction?
A: I became a believer at age 28. Up to that time, ever since graduating, I had been working in international business. I came to faith while working as a consultant in Germany. I started writing two weeks later. Up to that point, I had never picked up a pen in my life to write anything longer than a business report. But I had always been an avid reader. And the moment I started, that very first instant, I had the sense of invitation. It was the first time I had ever experienced that incredible sense of being drawn in a new, divinely inspired direction.
I wrote for nine years and finished seven novels before my first was accepted for publication. Simply because I had received a sense of calling did not mean I was ready to serve. First the diamond had to be polished. Hard and painful as that was.
Q: While you are a prolific writer, you also get out there and live too! What’s been your most exciting real life adventure?
A: It would probably be better to ask, what has been the most exciting real-life event so far this year. Undoubtedly that would be working on the set of a film being shot from a screenplay I wrote last year.
Unlimited has now ‘wrapped’, that is, filming has been completed. The producer and director are now deep into the editing process. The film is due for release in September, 2013. I am currently working on the novel, which comes out a couple of months before then.
I had the whole thing backwards here, doing the script first, but it has been a lot of fun, and the concept remains very fresh. So hopefully Unlimited will come alive on the page as well as the screen.
Q: What is your goal as a novelist?
A: I want to combine a truly entertaining read with a powerful after-effect. My dream is that long after the book is set down with a satisfied sigh, there are still images that surface, lessons that can be drawn, genuine hope and healing and challenges and inspirations. I want my writing to be worthy of the gift.
Q: How can readers find you on the Internet?
My website and blog are at www.davisbunn.com
Subscribe to my blog’s feed (to get my latest posts via e-mail or through your feed reader) at http://feeds.feedburner.com/DavisBunn
Sign up for my e-newsletter (for subscriber-only giveaways and advance notice of my upcoming novels): http://www.davisbunn.com/news.htm
Facebook Author Page: facebook.com/davisbunnauthor
Twitter: @davisbunn – http://twitter.com/davisbunn
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/davisbunn/
by admin | Jul 19, 2012 | Adventure, Africa, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Political, Suspense
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingRare EarthBethany House Publishers (July 1, 2012)byDavis BunnABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Born and raised in North Carolina, Davis left for Europe at age twenty. There he first completed graduate studies in economics and finance, then began a business career that took him to over forty countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Davis came to faith at age 28, while living in Germany and running an international business advisory group. He started writing two weeks later. Since that moment, writing has remained both a passion and a calling.
Davis wrote for nine years and completed seven books before his first was accepted for publication. During that time, he continued to work full-time in his business career, travelling to two and sometimes three countries every week. His first published book, The Presence, was released in 1990 and became a national bestseller.
Honored with three Christy Awards for excellence in historical and suspense fiction, his bestsellers include The Great Divide, Winner Take All, The Meeting Place, The Warning, The Book of Hours, and The Quilt.
A sought-after speaker in the art of writing, Davis serves as Writer In Residence at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University.
Learn more about Davis and his books on his Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Marc Royce stares out of the helicopter, a sense of foreboding rising with the volcanic cloud. Below, the Rift Valley slashes across Africa like a scar. Decades of conflicts, droughts, and natural disasters have left their mark.
Dispatched to audit a relief organization, Royce is thrust into the squalor and chaos of Kenyan refugee camps. But his true mission focuses on the area’s reserves of once-obscure minerals now indispensable to high-tech industries. These strategic elements–called rare earth–have inflamed tensions on the world’s stage and stoked tribal rivalries. As Royce prepares to report back to Washington, he seizes on a bold and risky venture for restoring justice to this troubled land.
But this time, Royce may have gone too far.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Rare Earth, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Come back tomorrow for my review and more about Rare Earth and Davis Bunn.
by admin | Jul 10, 2012 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Suspense
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingInescapableBethany House Publishers (July 1, 2012)byNancy MehlABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Nancy Mehl lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband Norman and their dog, Watson. She’s authored thirteen books and is currently at work on her newest series for Bethany House Publishing.
All of Nancy’s novels have an added touch – something for your spirit as well as your soul. “I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing,” Nancy says. “It’s a part of me and of everything I think or do. God is number one in my life. I wouldn’t be writing at all if I didn’t believe that this is what He’s called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan especially for your life, and there is nothing you can’t overcome with His help.”
She and her husband attend Believer’s Tabernacle in Wichita.
Learn more about Nancy and her books on her Website .
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Lizzie Engel is used to running away. At eighteen, she left her Mennonite hometown, Kingdom, Kansas, with plans never to return.
But five years later, the new life she built is falling apart. Lizzie knows she’s being followed, and she’s certain the same mysterious stranger is behind the threatening letters she’s received. Realizing she’ll have to run again, the only escape Lizzie can manage is a return to the last place she wants to go.
Once she arrives in Kingdom, Lizzie is confident she’ll be safe until she comes up with a new plan. In reacquainting herself with the town and its people–especially her old friend, Noah Housler–she wonders if she judged her hometown and her Mennonite faith too harshly. However, just as she begins to come to terms with her roots, Lizzie is horrified to discover the danger she ran from is closer than ever.
No longer sure who to trust and fearful for her life and the lives of those around her, Lizzie finds she has only one place left to run–to the Father whose love is inescapable.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Inescapable, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Inescapable is a mystery/suspense set in the isolated old order Mennonite town of Kingdom, Kansas. Although the novel is a page turner with sufficient twists and surprises to keep most mystery lovers happy, I felt that its real strength was in its character development. The interaction between characters varied from loving and supportive to hostile which had a strong influence on decisions made by the primary characters.
As Lizzie faced various trials in her life. she was finally able to learn that the only way she could survive was by trusting God to take care of her situation. By letting go of her anger and unforgiveness toward her father and the people of Kingdom, she was finally able to find the peace she had been searching for in her life. Inescapable has a strong message of forgiveness and reconciliation and ended well. I found the details about the old order Mennonites to be interesting. They were an entirely different group than the Mennonites I encounter in our part of the country.
Inescapable was a satisfying read in all respects. I think that readers who enjoy Amish fiction and/or mystery suspense would find it to their taste.
by admin | Jul 5, 2012 | Adventure, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Suspense
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingSerpent of MosesBethany House Publishers (July 1, 2012)byDon HoeselABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Don Hoesel is a Web site designer for a Medicare carrier in Nashville, TN. He has a BA in Mass Communication from Taylor University and has published short fiction in Relief Journal. He was born and raised in Buffalo, NY but lives in Spring Hill, Tennessee, with his wife and two children. The Serpent of Moses is his fourth novel.
Learn more about Don and his books on his Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Moses built and lifted up the brass serpent, healing the afflicted Israelites of snakebites. King Hezekiah called the serpent Nehushtan. Long thought destroyed, it’s been buried for millennia, secreted under the region’s shifting sands. Now the Israeli government wants it back and they will stop at nothing to get their hands on it. Yet they’re not the only ones who covet the Nehushtan.
Archaeologist Jack Hawthorne travels to Libya intent on recovering the sacred object, but one does not cross the Mossad and expect to walk away without a fight. Jack and his friends must find the priceless “snake of brass upon a pole” before those who are also hunting it find them…and silence them forever.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Serpent of Moses, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Archaeologist Jack Hawthorne could easily be compared to a modern day Indiana Jones. His quest for biblical artifacts has taken him all over the world and pitted him against various others who were after the same thing. Much like Indiana Jones, he has narrowly escaped serious injury or death numerous times but he never gives up. As the title indicates, in this sequel to Elisha’s Bones, Jack has a bead on the bronze serpent created by Moses in the Book of Numbers and destroyed by Hezekiah in Second Kings. Unfortunately there are others, including some powerful Israelis who will stop at nothing to obtain the serpent of Moses. Before very many chapters have elapsed, Jack and his long-time friends ex-CIA agent Jim Duckett, Dr. Esperanza Habilla and her brother, Romero find themselves up to their eyeballs in a dangerous adventure that could very well cost them their lives.
Serpent of Moses had the same page-turning suspense that I found in Elisha’s Bones. I enjoyed following the separate adventures of each of the characters until they came together near the end for the grand finale. It was also intriguing to read excerpts from their antagonists’ point of view. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and hope to see more adventures of Jack and Espy in the near future. My only complaint is that it was unclear to me what the final outcome was for Templeton (I reread several times to be sure I didn’t miss something). Is this something that readers should decide for themselves or will it be revealed in a forthcoming installment? I’d really like to know.
