by admin | Apr 9, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, FBI, Law Enforcement, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“Double Cross” is an apt title for the newest romantic suspense from DiAnn Mills. When the man FBI agent Laurel Evertson sent to prison agrees to help solve a current case, she is afraid to trust him. Both she and the Houston Police Officer helping with the case are just a bit wary that they could be victims of a double cross. As the story progresses, it becomes difficult to determine just who is double crossing whom.
Plenty of action, danger, faith, and romance fill out the plot of this exciting novel with realistic characters and setting. The lengths the scammers were willing to go and the way they targeted elderly victims suffering from dementia could easily be found in tomorrow’s front page news. In addition to primary characters Laurel and Daniel, I found Daniel’s grandmother Abby to be a major competitor for center of attention. What a brave and spunky woman who was not willing to give up easily.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Double Cross” and highly recommend it as well as any other novel by DiAnn Mills.
This book was provided for review by The Tyndale Blog Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
FBI Agent Laurel Evertson’s investigation into a scam targeting the elderly takes an unexpected twist when key evidence leads her to Morton Wilmington, a felon she arrested five years ago on her first undercover assignment. That case has haunted her since, and though she’s vowed to forget Wilmington—and what she sacrificed to put him away—he is now her best lead.
Houston Police Officer Daniel Hilton fears his grandparents may be the scammer’s next targets, and he’ll do anything to protect his family—even force interagency cooperation. But he’s quickly drawn to Laurel’s empathy and zeal and agrees to follow her lead . . . even if it means teaming up with a felon.
As the unlikely trio uncovers evidence suggesting the scam is more extensive and deadly than they imagined, both Laurel and Daniel find themselves in the crosshairs of a killer. Together they must decide if they can trust Wilmington’s claims of redemption, or if he’s leading them straight into a double cross.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
by admin | Apr 5, 2015 | Books, Law Enforcement, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
When a body buried over twenty years ago is exposed by a construction crew, local small-town police chief Lisa Grant is joined by Mac McGregor, a county detective sent to assist her with the case. As they work together to determine the identity of the victim as well as who buried the body, the evidence accumulates and things begin to heat up – both the case and a mutual attraction between Lisa and Mac.
As I have come to expect from Hannon’s earlier novels, the plot of “Buried Secrets” is filled with twists and surprises along with danger, suspense, and romance. Characters are well developed. I particularly liked the integrity shown by Mac and Lisa in their determination to wait until after the case is solved to pursue a personal relationship. The villain of the story is revealed fairly early on so that is not a surprise but the lengths this person goes to to avoid being connected to the case is more than enough to keep readers involved in the story.
“Buried Secrets” is an excellent romantic suspense that held my attention throughout. For those who enjoy contemporary Christian romantic suspense, this is definitely a book not to miss.
This book was provided for review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
They both wanted quieter, safer lives.
But crime never sleeps . . .
and killers keep killing.
After years as a Chicago homicide detective, Lisa Grant is ready for the kinder, gentler life of a small-town police chief. But the discovery of a human skeleton by a construction crew at the edge of town taxes department resources. Enter ex-Navy SEAL Mac McGregor, the detective sent by the county to assist on the case. As they work to solve the mystery behind the unmarked grave, danger begins to shadow them. Someone doesn’t want this dead person telling any tales–and will stop at nothing to make certain a life-shattering secret stays buried.
“The queen of inspirational romantic suspense” (Library Journal) is at the top of her game with this riveting new series.
“An excellent suggestion for inspirational fiction fans as well as readers who enjoy Mary Higgins Clark’s subtly chilling brand of suspense.”
Booklist on Vanished
Read an excerpt from “Buried Secrets” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Irene Hannon is the bestselling author of more than forty-five novels, including That Certain Summer, One Perfect Spring, and the Heroes of Quantico, Guardians of 
Justice, and Private Justice series. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, a Carol Award, three HOLT Medallions, a Daphne du Maurier Award, two Reviewers’ Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine, a Retailers’ Choice Award, a Booksellers’ Best Award, and a National Readers’ Choice Award. In addition, she is a two-time Christy Award finalist, and Booklist included one of her novels in its “Top 10 Inspirational Fiction” list for 2011. She lives in Missouri. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com
by admin | Mar 16, 2015 | Books, ebook, Law Enforcement, Love Inspired, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
When I agreed to review the Texas K-9 Unit Series Books 1-3 Bundle, I was told I did not have to read all three books. Once I finished the first one, “Tracking Justice”, how could I not continue with the next two? Over the course of approximately two days, I completed the entire series and now I need to read books 4-6.
Although each book is written by a different author and can stand on its own with a resolution to each individual story, there is a continuing thread of a greater mystery to be solved that I assume will reach its climax in the final book. Each book features a different dog and its handler from the K-9 unit. Of course there is a romance involving each handler and someone involved in the case in some manner. The books are action-packed with edge-of-the seat suspense and unexpected twists.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with the Texas K-9 unit. I loved reading about how each dog has its own unique purpose and personality and how its breed specially equips them for their jobs. I look forward to finding time to read the final three books of this series and am hoping to find them in a second bundle in the near future.
This book was provided for review by FlyBy Promotions Blogger Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Love Inspired Suspense authors Shirlee McCoy, Margaret Daley and Sharon Dunn will get your pulse racing with tales of Texas cops and their loyal K-9 dogs tracking down a crime ring. Enjoy three action-packed Texas K-9 Unit romantic suspense novels in one box set! When a boy goes missing from his bedroom, a police detective must assure a desperate single mother that he and his trusty bloodhound will find her son. A woman with amnesia has to rely on an officer and his border collie to stay alive when she can’t remember who tried to kill her. An FBI agent is called in to protect a single mother when the rookie K-9 officer witnesses a murder and becomes the killer’s target.
Purchase a copy of the Texas K-9 Unit Series Books 1-3 HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
|
Shirlee McCoy
 Photo: Giordano Photographics Shirlee McCoy has always loved making up stories. As a child she daydreamed elaborate tales in which she was the heroine — gutsy, strong and invincible. Though she soon grew out of her superhero fantasies, her love for storytelling never diminished. Shirlee knew early that she wanted to write inspirational fiction and began writing her first novel when she was a teenager. Still, it wasn’t until her third son was born that she truly began pursuing her dream of being published. Three years later she sold her first book. Now a busy mother of four, Shirlee is a homeschool mom by day and an inspirational author by night. She and her husband and children live in Maryland and share their home with a dog and a guinea pig.
|
|
Margaret Daley
 Margaret has been writing for over 35 years. She started writing in the late 1970s because she wanted to see if she could put a whole story down on paper. That book is still in the drawer and will never see the light of day. But she was able to finish a book, which was her goal. She loved teaching and working with students with special needs, and recently retired from teaching to write full-time. When she isn’t working, she loves to read, travel, and go to lunch and a movie with a friend. She and her husband, Mike, to whom she has been married for over 40 years live in Tulsa. Besides teaching and writing, she is also a mother of one. Her son, Shaun, is married with four daughters.
|
|
Sharon Dunn
 Sharon Dunn first fell in love with mystery and suspense about the time she read Nancy Drew mysteries in the fifth grade. Her first book in the Ruby Taylor mysteries Romance Rustlers and Thunderbird Thieves was a finalist for the Romantic Times Inspirational Book of the Year. The second book in that series Sassy Cinderella and the Valiant Vigilante was voted Book of the Year by American Christian Fiction Writers. Her hobbies include reading, working out, hiking, trying to find things around the house and making pets out of the dust bunnies under the furniture. Before she started writing, she used to sew. Now she just collects fabric and patterns and fantasizes about projects. After nearly twenty seven years of marriage, Sharon lost her beloved husband in 2014. She lives with her three nearly grown children, two cats and a nervous border collie named Bart.
|
Check out the Facebook Page!
by admin | Mar 13, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, FBI, Law Enforcement, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
The gorgeous cover of “Ashes in the Wind” opens into a suspense-filled story that begins with a bang and continues full throttle until the very end. I found the book to be very well written for a first novel and I was held captive until I read the last word.
Sara Jennings, widow of a DEA agent, has been living under protection for two years after an attempt on her life shortly after her husband’s death. When her location is discovered, Sara decides to go back to her home and face the threats head-on. She is determined to clear her husband’s name as well as find the guilty parties. Although the DEA has had some success in shutting down drug traffic into Phoenix, it has become obvious that someone within their organization is playing both sides. Once they have a suspect, they cannot act without concrete evidence. The question is – can they stop him before anyone else dies?
“Ashes in the Wind” is non-stop action with scenes that had me holding my breath as Sara found herself in one life-threatening situation after another. Although there is a touch of romance, this story is primarily built on suspense and should appeal to both male and female readers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will keep my eyes open for Peggy’s next novel. In my opinion, “Ashes in the Wind” can easily stand beside some of my other favorite suspense novels.
This book was provided for review by the Book Club Network, Inc.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
DEA Agent Greg Jennings is dead—and now they’re saying he was dirty, on the take. His widow, Sara, hiding out in the Witness Protection program after an attempt on her life, refuses to believe it, though everyone else seems to have accepted it as truth. Everyone, that is, except Drug Enforcement Administration Agent James (Mac) MacIntyre, Greg’s best friend. When yet another attempt on Sara’s life drives her out of the Wit Sec program and back home to Phoenix, Mac makes it his personal mission to protect Sara and, in the process, to clear her late husband’s and his best friend’s name. With a ruthless drug cartel hot on their heels and a mole in the agency undermining their every move, Mac and Sara find themselves literally running for their lives—even as romance tugs at their hearts. Will they unearth the truth and outrun the danger in time to carve out a future for themselves?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Peggy Levesque grew up in Minnesota as the second of eight siblings. In addition to her background in business, over the years she has led women’s Bible studies, served on church boards, coordinated volunteer assistance efforts into the community, freelanced the writing/editing/production of several publications, and has contributed to three anthologies. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Christian Writers of the West, and Tuesday’s Children, a weekly writing critique group. A recent widow, she lives near Phoenix, Arizona, with her children and grandchildren nearby. Follow her on Facebook at Peggy Levesque.
Learn more about Peggy at her website http://www.peggylevesque.com
by admin | Jan 23, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Law Enforcement, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Hidden Agenda by Lisa Harris, the third installment of the Southern Crimes series completes the series with answers to questions posed in the two earlier novels. Readers will quickly discover what really happened to Hunt brother Michael who apparently died in an explosion. If anyone guessed (or hoped) from the subtle hints in Fatal Exchange that the next book would feature Michael, then they have an adventure in store.
Michael’s grieving family believe that they buried him after a deadly explosion several months earlier. An undercover police agent, Michael’s luck has run out and he is just hours from real death at the hands of the leader of the drug cartel he has infiltrated. His hope of escape is nearly gone when he is rescued by none other than the son and daughter of that very man. What ensues is a breath-taking story as the trio flee from both the cartel and Michael’s own police department who seem to believe he has gone rogue. Is it possible that Olivia’s father will stop at nothing, including the deaths of his own children?
Hidden Agenda can easily stand on its own but is a satisfying conclusion to the series. I personally enjoyed renewing my acquaintance with Michael’s family members and other primary characters from the previous books. Characters are strong. Some like Michael and Olivia have strong convictions and unshakeable integrity. Some others are obviously and believably evil. Harris has penned a story that could easily take place in any location in our country. Events described are those that I would rather pretend couldn’t happen in my neighborhood but are nevertheless frighteningly realistic. I liked the strong spiritual theme that wound unobtrusively throughout the story, especially the strong faith of both Olivia and her brother.
This is the perfect book for those who enjoy fast-paced romantic suspense but also prefer novels that are free from explicit violence and intimate scenes. I enjoyed the entire series and look forward to what Lisa has in store for her readers in the future.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
His cover is blown. Now his enemies are on his heels and closing in.
Michael Hunt is alive–and on the run. Presumed dead by friends and family, the undercover assignment he’s been working for the past eight months has just been blown. With a hit out on his life and corruption inside the Atlanta police department, Michael finds himself hunted by both the cartel and the law. His only hope is Olivia Hamilton–the daughter of the man who wants him dead.
This nonstop chase from Christy Award-winning Lisa Harris will leave you breathless.
Praise for Lisa Harris’s Southern Crimes Series
“Readers looking for a strong female protagonist and a unique murder mystery will find much to admire in Harris’s work.”–Publishers Weekly on Dangerous Passage
“Harris takes you on a trail that leads straight to the worst kind of evil–and the lives of those who are determined to stop it.”–bestselling author Lynette Eason on Dangerous Passage
“A thrill ride from start to finish. Full of twists and turns, this exciting story will keep readers enthralled.”–RT Book Reviews on Fatal Exchange
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lisa Harris is a bestselling author, a Christy Award winner, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 from Romantic Times. She has sold over thirty novels and novella collections. Along with her husband, she and her three children have spent over ten years living as missionaries in Africa where she homeschools, leads a women’s group, and runs a nonprofit organization that works alongside their church-planting ministry. The ECHO Project works in southern Africa promoting Education, Compassion, Health, and Opportunity and is a way for her to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves . . . the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice” (Proverbs 31:8).
When she’s not working, she loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari. For more information about her books and life in Africa, visit her website at www.lisaharriswrites.com or her blog at http://myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com. For more information about The ECHO Project, please visit www.theECHOproject.org.
by admin | Oct 25, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Law Enforcement, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
I always enjoy a good mystery/suspense novel and “A Promise to Protect” met all my requirements to keep those pages turning. The story opened with a murder to be solved and did not waste any time getting the action going.
With two principal characters who share a past history together and one of them hiding a secret, the reader can be sure there will be some sparks between them. Add several incidents such as attempted shootings, more than one arson case, an explosion, a kidnapping, threatening calls, etc. and the suspense mounts. Several clues along the way hint at the person behind the threats but not enough to be conclusive. Plenty of confusion will keep most readers guessing – not only about the guilty party but whether all the incidents are even connected. Is Leigh the real target or could it be Ben?
“A Promise to Protect” held my attention throughout with a well-developed plot and excellent characters, including a child who added extra depth to the story. A few unexpected twists and surprises added to the suspense. Romance took a back seat to the action and suspense but the conclusion was quite satisfying. The Christian spiritual element was present throughout but was not overdone and seemed to be a natural part of the story.
I have enjoyed both books in Bradley’s Logan Point series and intend to read her future novels as well.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In a steamy small town riddled with broken promises, one woman’s secret could change everything.
Acting Sheriff Ben Logan hasn’t heard from Leigh Somerall in a very long time, but it doesn’t mean he can get her–or their whirlwind romance of ten years ago–out of his head. When she calls out of the blue, it is with a strange request to protect her brother, Tony. But all too soon, Ben is charged with a different task–protecting Leigh from the people after her brother. With Leigh doing everything in her power to avoid Ben, it’s no easy task. And the secret she is keeping just may change their lives forever.
Endorsements:
“A taut story of mistakes and betrayal, a mother’s fierce love, revenge and danger–and the redeeming wonders of faith and love.”–Lorena McCourtney, author of the Cate Kinkaid Files and the Ivy Malone Mysteries
“Old secrets, second chances at love, and a skillfully crafted small-town suspense. You will fall in love with Ben and Leigh and cheer them on as they fight for their happy ending. I’m making room on my shelf for all of Patricia Bradley’s novels!”–Susan May Warren, bestselling and award-winning author of When I Fall in Love
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Patricia Bradley‘s manuscript for Shadows of the Past was a finalist for the 2012 Genesis Award, winner of a 2012 Daphne du Maurier award (1st place, Inspirational), and winner of a 2012 Touched by Love award (1st place, Contemporary). She is a published short story writer and is cofounder of Aiming for Healthy Families, Inc. When she’s not writing or speaking, she can be found making beautiful clay pots and jewelry. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America and makes her home in Mississippi. Learn more at www.ptbradley.com.
