by admin | Apr 8, 2012 | Books, Speculative, Suspense
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe 13th TribeThomas Nelson (April 3, 2012)byRobert LiparuloABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Best-selling novelist Robert Liparulo is a former journalist, with over a thousand articles and multiple writing awards to his name. His first three critically acclaimed thrillers—Comes a Horseman, Germ, and Deadfall—were optioned by Hollywood producers, as well as his Dreamhouse Kings series for young adults. Bestselling author Ted Dekker calls The 13th Tribe, released in April 2012, “a phenomenal story.” Liparulo is currently working with director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, The Guardian) on the novel and screenplay of a political thriller. New York Times best-selling author Steve Berry calls Liparulo’s writing “Inventive, suspenseful, and highly entertaining . . . Robert Liparulo is a storyteller, pure and simple.” Liparulo lives in Colorado with his family.
Visit Robert Liparulo’s Facebook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/LiparuloFans, or at Twitter @robertliparulo.
Learn more about Robert and his books on his Website .
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ABOUT THE BOOK:
Their story didn’t start this year . . . or even this millennium.
It began when Moses was on Mt. Sinai. Tired of waiting on the One True God, the twelve tribes of Israel began worshipping a golden calf through pagan revelry. Many received immediate death for their idolatry, but 40 were handed a far worse punishment-endless life on earth with no chance to see the face of God.
This group of immortals became the 13th Tribe, and they’ve been trying to earn their way into heaven ever since-by killing sinners. Though their logic is twisted, their brilliance is undeniable. Their wrath is unstoppable. And the technology they possess is beyond anything mere humans have ever seen.
Jagger Baird knows nothing about the Tribe when he’s hired as head of security for an archaeological dig on Mt. Sinai. The former Army Ranger is still reeling from an accident that claimed the life of his best friend, his arm, and his faith in God.
If you would like to read the first chapter of The 13th Tribe, go HERE.
Learn more about Robert and his books on his Website.
MY REVIEW:
The 13th Tribe is everything I have come to expect from a Robert Liparulo novel and more. Not only does it have the intense action and suspense, lots of high technology from weapons to information, but it has a plot that pairs Old Testament historical truth with modern what-ifs. Related from more than one point-of-view, the story centers around Jagger Baird and his family who innocently become entangled in the middle of a crazy and deadly scheme masterminded by the 13th Tribe, a group of immortals who were once members of the group of Israelites led out of Egypt by Moses.
The plot of The 13th Tribe moves at breakneck speed with numerous twists, turns and totally unexpected revelations that keep the pages turning. Although at times some of the violence left me a bit squeamish, I still needed to find out what would happen next. With characters who frequently discuss or question their faith, this book is the most spiritually relevant one I have read by Liparulo. A very strong theme of grace, forgiveness, and restoration is woven throughout.
One important thing I realized after reading The 13th Tribe is that it is incredibly easy for someone to take what they have read in scripture and misapply it to their own personal situation and/or use it to further their agenda and believe that they are following God.
I highly recommend The 13th Tribe for those who enjoy action packed suspense. I believe most men would enjoy it or any other book by Mr. Liparulo.
by admin | Mar 27, 2012 | Books, Law Enforcement, Romance, Suspense
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe ChaseZondervan (March 27, 2012)byDiAnn MillsABOUT THE AUTHOR:
DiAnn Mills believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. Her books have won many awards through American Christian Fiction Writers, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005, 2007, and 2010. She was a Christy Award finalist in 2008 and a Christy winner in 2010.
DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and is the Craftsman Mentor for the Christian Writer’s Guild. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops.
DiAnn and her husband live in Houston, Texas. Visit her website or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/diannmills
ABOUT THE BOOK:
To the FBI it’s a cold case. To Kariss Walker it’s a hot idea that could either reshape or ruin her writing career. And it’s a burning mission to revisit an event she can never forget. Five years ago, an unidentified little girl was found starved to death in the woods behind a Houston apartment complex. A TV news anchor at the time, Kariss reported on the terrifying case. Today, as a New York Times bestselling author, Kariss intends to turn the unsolved mystery into a suspense novel. Enlisting the help of FBI Special Agent Tigo Harris, Kariss succeeds in getting the case reopened. But the search for the dead girl’s missing mother yields a discovery that plunges the partners into a witch’s brew of danger. The old crime lives on in more ways than either of them could ever imagine. Will Kariss’s pursuit of her dream as a writer carry a deadly price tag? Drawing from a real-life cold case, bestselling novelist DiAnn Mills presents a taut collage of suspense, faith, and romance in The Chase.
Watch the book video!
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Chase, go HERE.
Learn more about DiAnn and her books on her Website.
MY REVIEW:
The Chase is a high octane romantic suspense novel with the emphasis on suspense. Primary characters are an ex-news anchor/best-selling author and the FBI agent who has been assigned to assist her as she writes a new novel based on a cold case. For a large portion of the book, Kariss Walker is a major thorn in the side of agent Tigo Harris with her incessant questions and interference in his case. Kariss find’s Tigo’s attitude just as infuriating. You might say they have a mutual case of dislike. Of course any frequent reader knows just where that will end up.
I won’t go into details about the plot – there is enough information in the above book description and numerous other reviews. This book appears to have been very well researched and some of the crime details could have come from recent news. The bad guys were truly frightening in their total depravity. I liked the fact that both Kariss and Tigo were portrayed so realistically with emphasis on both their strengths and their very human frailties. Kariss’ very strength and determination were both strengths and weaknesses. For someone as smart as she seemed to be, she could certainly make some wildly inappropriate decisions that usually got her in over her head.
They say that “all’s well that ends well” but boy was it a crazy and convoluted journey to get to the end of this one. There were moments of “I didn’t see that one coming” as well as “Don’t trust him!”. Yeah, I get pretty involved with my books sometimes. Anyway, The Chase is well worth reading but be warned, you will probably be looking over your shoulder for awhile afterward.
by admin | Mar 1, 2012 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Suspense
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingRuby DawnWhite Rose Publishing (January 27, 2012)byRaquel ByrnesABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Raquel married her college sweetheart seventeen years ago and you can still find them spending time together chatting over a cup of coffee like when they were first dating.
Her husband is her biggest fan and most ardent supporter. He encourages her to take time for writing as often as he can. He regularly gives her gift cards to her favorite coffee house so that she can go there to write and relax.
He has been known to whip up his famous chicken quesadillas complete with guacamole and brownies for dessert.
Raquel has written books for more than a decade. She loves to do research and has taken private detective courses, gun classes, and underground tours to get every detail right for her novels. She writes romantic suspense with an edge-of-your-seat pace. Stories filled with faith, love, and adventure.
In 2009 she signed with agent, Terry Burns, at Hartline Literary. Terry worked to get her Shades of Hope series sold and in 2010, White Rose Publishing purchased the three-book series.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A painful past. A love returns A desperate plan.
Former street kid, Ruby now reaches out to runaways through her medical clinic in the worst part of the city, but her escalating battle with a gang leader puts that in jeopardy.
Cavalier, a risk-taker, charming… Ruby’s first love is now on the right side of the law and the center of a dangerous DEA sting involving her clinic. Tom’s disappearance ten years ago broke her heart and rattled her faith. As their romance relights, memories of what it costs to love him flood her with fear.
Ruby’s battle with the gang ignites a firestorm of danger, and a pattern of lies from within her own camp emerges. With Tom’s life in the balance and her world cast in shadows, can Ruby trust God as she once did…or has she strayed too far, for too long to ever return?
Watch the book video:
If you would like to read the first chapter of Ruby Dawn, go HERE.
Learn more about Raquel and her books on her Website.
MY REVIEW:
Looks like I have yet another author to add to my gotta read list if Ruby Dawn is any indication of Raquel Byrnes’ talent. I have already tagged “Purple Knot”, the first book in the Shades of Hope series as one I NEED and have also noted that the third installment of the series, “Bayou Blue” is to be released sometime this year. I plan to read them all. Is there a support group for Christian fiction addicts?
Not only is someone trying to destroy everything Ruby has worked for or holds dear but they are also doing a pretty good job of providing enough evidence to implicate her. To escalate her stress levels, a man from her past has suddenly reappeared and has placed himself directly in the middle of the maelstrom of her life. Can Ruby allow herself to trust Tom with her life or even her heart?
Ruby Dawn is a page turner from the very start with lots of action, suspense, emotion, and romance. Ruby is strong, stubborn, and spunky but is also more vulnerable than she thinks. Tom is the perfect hero – handsome and tough yet sensitive and caring. The villains are pretty rotten. They are violent and unscrupulous but at times even their humanity manages to peek through. The plot moves at breakneck speed with so many twist, turns, and surprises that I didn’t want to put the book down. An excellent story about trust, second chances, forgiveness, and faith, Ruby Dawn is a must read for lovers of romantic suspense.
by admin | Feb 29, 2012 | Addictions, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“Downfall” is the breathtaking conclusion to Terri Blackstock’s Intervention series. It grabs the reader at page one and doesn’t let go until the satisfying conclusion. Those who have read the entire series have probably formed an attachment to the Covington family as I have and are ready to see them get a break from their trials and misfortunes. Well, they will have to make it through another high octane thriller and hope that will happen before the story ends. I’m not promising anything – you’ll have to read it yourself!
From an attempted bombing of Emily’s car to several brutal murders, seemingly unconnected crimes produce enough evidence to place Emily right in the center of the investigation. When she begins to have some suspicions as to who might be behind the murders, Emily takes it upon herself to investigate and winds up under suspicion herself. Her brother Lance has his own share of problems in a new school and only one friend who he is desperately trying to protect from a classmate who seems dangerous.
Once again Blackstock has penned a novel that almost demands to be read in one sitting. She realistically illustrates the dangers and consequences of drug addiction and the very real challenges faced by those who attempt to overcome their addictions. Blackstock also effectively details the devastating toll addiction takes on the families of addicts.
As one who has seen the effects of addiction up close, I strongly recommend the entire Intervention series for all teens. I also suggest a visit to Terri’s website to view the excellent resources she provides to help families identify the signs of addiction and to find help for their addicted loved ones.
This book was provided for review by Daniel Cohen with Shelton Interactive.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The final book in Terri’s Intervention series, DOWNFALL follows Emily Covington, who has turned her life around after a drug addiction, but her family still has trouble trusting her. Though Emily has committed herself to a year-long treatment program and has been sober for almost a year beyond that, even her mother walks on eggshells around her, fearing she’ll relapse. After her behavior during her drug years, Emily realizes she has a lot to prove.
When police discover a homemade bomb under Emily’s car, and she then learns the wife of one of her friends was murdered that same morning, she knows things are deadly serious.
But who wants Emily dead? And why?
A conversation she had with two men, an Alfred Hitchcock movie, and a plan for a double murder all conspire for one explosive ride … and Emily is the only one who can identify the killer and save the life of the next potential victim.
As she frantically works to solve this ever more complicated puzzle, Emily finds herself playing right into the killer’s hands.
Read an excerpt from Downfall HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Terri Blackstock (www.terriblackstock.com) has sold six million books worldwide and is a ”New York Times” bestseller. She is the award-winning author of ”Intervention” and ”Double Minds,” as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, and the Restoration Series.
by admin | Feb 25, 2012 | Books, Historical, Revell, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
At first glance, “Words Spoken True” appears to be the usual historical romance novel. It is true that the book is set in historical mid-1800’s Louisville, Kentucky during an era of political unrest and adequate coverage is given to that aspect of the story. Another focus is the competition between two major newspapers in the city which includes many interesting details about the publishing business during that time period. And of course there is a special romance where Adriane Darcy, daughter of the Tribune’s owner finds herself attracted to Blake Garrett, editor of the competing Herald despite her engagement to another man. Every one of these factors should be enough to make “Words Spoken True” an excellent choice but the author has chosen to rev it up another notch by including a serial killer called the “river slasher” into the mix.
I pretty much liked everything about “Words Spoken True”. Characterization was excellent. Adriane was a great blend of spunky and feminine and didn’t back down from a challenge. Blake Garrett was the perfect hero, both strong and sensitive. I could easily visualize Louisville during that period because of the excellent descriptions. Although the plot had a somewhat slow start, it soon picked up speed and pulled me right along so that I didn’t want to put the book down. With plenty of action, suspense, and romance as well as multiple twists and surprises, the story also included a subtle spiritual theme. My only complaint is that I read too fast and it was over way too soon.
Available February 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Adriane Darcy was practically raised in her father’s newspaper offices. She can’t imagine life without the clatter of the press and the push to be first to write the news that matters. Their Tribune is the leading paper in Louisville in 1855. Then Blake Garrett, a brash young editor from the North with a controversial new style of reporting, takes over failing competitor the Herald, and the battle for readers gets fierce.
When Adriane and Blake meet at a benefit tea, their surprising mutual attraction is hard to ignore. Still, Blake is the enemy, and Adriane is engaged to the son of a powerful businessman who holds the keys to the Tribune’s future. Blake will stop at almost nothing to get the story- -and the girl. Can he do both before it’s too late?
Set against the volatile backdrop of political and civil unrest in 1850s Louisville, this exciting story of love and loyalty will hold readers in its grip until the very last page. Bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart once again delivers an enthralling and enduring tale for her loyal and ever-expanding fan base.
Read the first chapter of Words Spoken True HERE.
Endorsements:
“I’ve come to expect wonderful books from Ann Gabhart, and her latest historical romance, Words Spoken True, doesn’t disappoint. In this novel, Gabhart gives readers a peek into the lives of two news reporters–one a man and one a woman–both intent upon creating the best newspaper in Louisville, Kentucky. Amid unsolved murders, riots, and adversity, the ability to trust each other and trust God is put to the test. Gabhart weaves a story that is a page turner from beginning to end. This is one you’ll highly recommend to friends.”–
Judith Miller, author, Daughters of Amana series
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several novels, including Angel Sister, The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, and The Blessed. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in Kentucky.
by admin | Feb 18, 2012 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“When the Smoke Clears” is another fine example of why books by Lynette Eason have a reserved space on my shelves. I can always count on her to provide me with an attention grabbing, heart-stopping suspense with just the right amount of romance mixed in for good measure. Eason’s characters are realistically portrayed with a believable mix of flaws and strengths. Even the heroes have their foibles and many of the villains exhibit some positive traits. That is probably the reason it is so difficult for the reader to discern the perpetrator(s) before the author is ready to reveal them.
On a disciplinary leave of absence from her firefighter position, Alexia Allen reluctantly returns to her hometown for her ten year class reunion and to check on her mother who has been hospitalized. Immediately upon her arrival at her mother’s home, Alexia stumbles onto a murder victim. From that point on, her life becomes a continuous whirlwind of danger as it becomes evident that someone either wants her dead and/or to take the blame for everything that has happened since her arrival in town. Fortunately, Alexia has handsome detective Hunter Graham squarely in her corner despite the overwhelming evidence against her. Can the two of them discover the guilty parties before another person dies?
“When the Smoke Clears” has an abundance of riveting action laced with enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing. I did guess the guilty party about halfway through the book but there were enough conflicting clues that I was never totally sure about my suspicions. Loved this book and highly recommend it to all who love a good clean mystery/suspense novel. Pick up a copy soon – you won’t be sorry.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
• Readers will be on the edge of their seat as a female firefighter tries to keep a long-held secret in the face of threats on her life
• Readers of Brandilyn Collins will appreciate Eason’s intense style and Dee Henderson fans will love the romance
• Book 1 in an explosive new series from a bestselling author
As a member of the North Cascades Smokejumpers, Alexia Allen always takes care of the equipment that keeps her safe. So when she nearly dies in a fire due to equipment failure, she knows something is up. Ordered to take time off while the investigation continues, Alexia makes a last-minute decision to recuperate at her mother’s home and attend her high school reunion.
Yet trouble seems to be following her, and within hours of arriving home she’s involved with murder, arson—and a handsome detective. But the conflicts ahead are nothing compared to the ghosts of her past. As she strives to remember and forgive her family history, she must also decide if the secret she’s been guarding for the last ten years must finally come to light.
Chock-full of the suspense and romantic tension readers have come to expect from Lynette Eason, When the Smoke Clears is the explosive first book in the Deadly Reunions series.
EXCERPT:
“Get out, Alexia. Now!”
“Got to check the closet first, sir.”
“Get your tail outta there. Immediately!”
She needed air. How had her oxygen run out? She should have had at least another five minutes. Reaching up, she disconnected the hose from her tank and shoved it up under her heavy turnout. The coat would protect her as much as possible from smoke inhalation. And she wanted to minimize the blast of hot air that would fill her lungs. She caught a breath. The dizziness receded. The countdown was on. The decision: leave or check the closet?
She scanned the imaging device over the door. Bingo. “I’ve got something. Definitely a child.”
“Alexia! Get out!”
“She’s here, sir. Can’t leave without her.”
Alexia went to the door and turned the knob. A little girl. The child looked up at her, eyes wide, stark terror stamped on her tear-streaked features. Then she coughed and her eyes rolled back. Alexia slung the imager over her shoulder and leaned in to pick up the little girl.
Alexia took another breath and coughed. Dizziness returned full force and she went to one knee. Vaguely, she felt the sweat roll down her back. “I’m in trouble,” she said into her radio, keeping her cool, refusing to panic. Help was just a second away. “Where’s RIT? No air.”
She pulled in a lungful of smoke this time. Coughing, sputtering, she turned with the child, frantic to get her out before the flames caught up with the smoke. And then the spots before her eyes merged into one big black dot. Then nothing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lynette Eason is the author of several romantic suspense novels, including Too Close to Home, Don’t Look Back, and A Killer Among Us. 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.
“Available February 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
