It has been way 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.
This book was provided for review by
Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
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 . . .
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.
J. Mark Bertrand lived in Houston, where the series is set, for fifteen years, earning an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Houston. But after one hurricane too many he left for South Dakota. Mark has been arrested for a crime he didn’t commit, was the foreman of one hung jury and served on another that acquitted Vinnie Jones of assault. In 1972, he won an honorable mention in a child modeling contest, but pursued writing instead.
Learn more about Mark and his books on his Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A grisly homicide. An international threat.
The stakes have never been higher for Detective Roland March. The victim’s head is missing, but what intrigues Detective Roland March is the hand. The pointing finger must be a clue–but to what? According to the FBI, the dead man was an undercover asset tracking the flow of illegal arms to the Mexican cartels. To protect the operation, they want March to play along with the cover story. With a little digging, though, he discovers the Feds are lying. And they’re not the only ones.
In an upside-down world of paranoia and conspiracy, March finds himself dogged by injury and haunted by a tragic failure. Forced to take justice into his own hands, his twisting investigation leads him into the very heart of darkness, leaving March with nothing to lose–and nothing to hide.
Nothing to Hide, Bertrand’s third Roland March Mystery, takes Detective March on a convoluted trail where nothing is as it seems, it is impossible to know who to trust or where their allegiance lies. Another tragic death that takes place during an attempt to track down evidence in a baffling murder places March on off-duty status. Despite his orders, Detective March takes it upon himself to ferret out the truth about the victim’s true identity in the midst of layers of lies. The more he learns, the more confusing the picture becomes.
From the streets of Houston to the back roads of Mexico, the plot of Nothing to Hide involves everyone from the Federal Government, to gun runners, to drug cartels, double agents, and other nefarious characters with agendas of their own. Narrated in the present tense, the story also includes flashbacks that connect people and events from Roland’s past to his present case. Nothing to Hide is fairly stark and graphic with several violent scenes and plenty of action and drama. Each character is well portrayed, especially Roland whose emotions and reactions give the reader an intimate look at what makes him tick. Although his friend Carter continues to challenge him with biblical truth, Roland is still resistant to his overtures. I personally think that his shell was beginning to soften a bit and look forward to the time he caves.
The plot has so many twists, turns, and surprises that it is difficult to keep it all straight and there is very little chance of second guessing Roland. There are some surprises that I definitely did not see coming. Even the final resolution was not tied up neatly with a bow. At least one remaining character was left with a huge question mark about their true role in the case. I suspect that character may make an appearance in a future Roland March Mystery.
If you are a fan of dark and gritty crime novels, Nothing to Hide and the other books of this series would be a good choice. However, you probably don’t want to lend them to your kids.
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.
“Accused” is a fast moving law enforcement novel that is so full of twists and turns I began to wonder if everything could possibly be unraveled by its end. Primary character Detective Carly Edwards is at a low point in her life. Not only is she recently divorced and not dealing well with that but she has been forced to work in juvenile because of a controversial shooting she was involved in earlier. When the missing mayor is found murdered, Carly is sent to the scene and hopes that she will have a chance to work the case.
Pulled abruptly from the new case, Carly soon learns that all information about the case has become confidential and the suspects are being hurried through the system. Too many things don’t add up and against orders, Carly begins some investigating of her own. An old friend who is also an officer enlists her help and she soon finds it impossible to know who she can trust. Forced to spend time with her ex-husband, Carly begins to see that she may have misjudged him also. As the case progresses, the people Carly cares for soon become endangered and she realizes that the corruption runs deep. At risk herself, Carly rushes to discover the identity of the true guilty party.
The suspense was well written and kept me guessing along with Carly about who she could trust. There were several surprises along the way, one of which I did not like at all. Carly struggled with her mom’s faith and then her ex-husband’s newly found belief in God. It seemed to work for them but could Carly ever let down her guard enough to trust God? With a message of forgiveness and restoration and a human example of Christ’s sacrifice, a strong spiritual thread was woven throughout the narrative. Strong and realistic characters and a well developed plot made “Accused” a book that I couldn’t put down.
This book was provided for review by The Tyndale Blog Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Detective Carly Edwards hates working in juvenile—where the brass put her after an officer-involved shooting—and longs to be back on patrol. So when a troubled youth, Londy Atkins, is arrested for the murder of the mayor and Carly is summoned to the crime scene, she’s eager for some action. Carly presses Londy for a confession but he swears his innocence, and despite her better judgment, Carly is inclined to believe him. Yet homicide is convinced of his guilt and is determined to convict him.
Carly’s ex-husband and fellow police officer, Nick, appears to be on her side. He’s determined to show Carly that he’s a changed man and win her back, but she isn’t convinced he won’t betray her again.
As the investigation progresses, Carly suspects a cover-up and strikes out on her own, uncertain whom she can trust. But when danger mounts, she begins to wonder if she made the right choice.
A former Long Beach, California, police officer of twenty-two years, Janice Cantore worked a variety of assignments, including patrol, administration, juvenile investigations, and training. She’s always enjoyed writing and published two short articles on faith at work for Cop and Christ and Today’s Christian Woman before tackling novels. A few years ago, she retired to a house in the mountains of Southern California, where she lives with two Labrador retrievers, Jake and Maggie.
Janice writes suspense novels designed to keep readers engrossed and leave them inspired. Accused is the first book in the Pacific Coast Justice series, featuring Carly Edwards. Janice also authored the Brinna’s Heart series, which includes The Kevlar Heart and The Heart of Justice.
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 at: www.diannmills.com or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/diannmills ABOUT THE BOOK:
Special Agent Meghan Connors’ dream of one day protecting the president of the United States is about to come true. Only one assignment stands in her way. After the vice president’s rebellious daughter is threatened, Meghan is assigned to her protective detail on a secluded ranch in West Texas. Unfortunately, working with Special Agent in Charge Ash Zinders may be as tough as controlling her charge. Ash has a reputation for being critical and exacting, and he’s also after the same promotion as Meghan. But when the threats escalate and security on the ranch is breached, it becomes clear this isn’t the work of a single suspect—it’s part of a sophisticated plan that reaches deeper and higher than anyone imagined. And only Ash and Meghan can put the pieces together before it’s too late.
Learn more about Diann and her books on her Website.
MY REVIEW:
Attracted to Fire is another of DiAnn Mills riveting c0ntemporary novels that feature various branches of law enforcement. In this one, the primary characters Meghan Connor and Ash Zinders are special agents in the Secret Service. The pair meets when they are both assigned to protect the Vice President’s daughter as she once again goes through drug and alcohol rehab because of repeated threats to her life.
Because of past events, hard-nosed Ash has no use for female agents on his team and is unhappy with Meghan’s assignment. As dangerous incidents escalate, Meghan demonstrates her skill, insight, and dedication time and again. Not only does Ash begin to change his mind about her value to the team but begins to view her in an even more personal light.
With expertly developed plot and characters, Attracted to Fire kept me turning the pages. The story contained ample action, danger, suspense, and drama to hold my interest and the romantic elements were an added bonus. Twists and surprises abound. Although the person behind the threats is revealed to the reader fairly early in the narrative, it is still interesting to learn how the agents finally solve the identity of the culprit and accomplices.
I recommend Attracted to Fire as well as the other novels of DiAnn Mills.
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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.
