by admin | Apr 17, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Medical, Suspense
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingLip ReadingDavid C. Cook (March 1, 2014)byHarry KrausABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A Word from Harry:
I started writing my first novel during my last year of surgery training at UK. I was a chief resident, and started writing Stainless Steal Hearts in a call room at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Lexington. It was a crazy time to write! I had a very demanding schedule, often spending days and nights in the hospital. I had two sons at that time, and I recognized the wisdom in my wife’s urging: “Now doesn’t seem the right time for this dream.”
My experience as a writer is far from typical. Having received my formal training in biology and chemistry and medicine, my only preparation for a writing career was a love for reading. The longest thing I’d written before my first novel was a term paper in undergraduate school. My first novel was accepted by Crossway Books and published in 1994, and it wasn’t until after I had FOUR published novels that I even opened a book of instruction about the craft of writing fiction. This is not what I recommend to others! Yes, I was successful, but I was bending the “rules” without knowing it. I had a natural talent for plotting, but I realize my initial success may have stunted my growth as a writer. I’d have made faster progress if I’d have gone to the fiction teachers sooner.
I have three sons: Joel, Evan, and Samuel. Look closely in all of my books and you’ll see them there. My lovely wife, Kris, provides the basic composition for all those beautiful, athletic, dedicated women in my novels.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
She Could Save Millions, or Save Herself
She just needs a little longer. She’s really close. Dr. Rebecca Jackson, a medical researcher, stands on the verge of a breakthrough that will transform medicine. But she soon discovers the reason behind the miraculous progress in her research, and it leaves her with a nearly impossible choice . . . and little time to decide. More than her research is at stake. And more threatens it than this latest revelation. Something she’s tried hard to cover up. There is a high cost to some things in medicine and it’s not always the patient who pays. Can Rebecca find the faith and wisdom she needs to make the right call? The clock is ticking and the pressure is on.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Lip Reading, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Lip Reading is a riveting contemp0rary medical novel that held me spellbound until its somewhat surprising end. It would be misleading to say that it doesn’t end with a happily-ever-after but it is definitely not the one I expected. A story filled with drama, tragedy, romance, suspense, sacrifice, and redemption, Lip Reading moves along at a fairly rapid pace. Characters are well-rounded and realistically portrayed. There were times I didn’t agree with the choices made but those choices took the storyline to an inevitable conclusion.
Lip Reading was a very satisfying novel and I recommend it to all fans of contemporary medical fiction.
by admin | Apr 5, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
You only have to read Billy Coffey’s blog a few times to realize that he has a unique gift for getting to the heart of a matter and seeing things that many of us miss. A greater gift is the beautifully eloquent way he manages to express himself with actual words. In “The Devil Walks in Mattingly”, Billy has taken his gift to a new level with a haunting supernatural story that reaches into the very souls of the primary characters.
Three people in or near Mattingly have carried a secret for twenty years. Each of them feels responsible for the death of a young man. The guilt has eaten at them for all those years and has affected each one differently. One of them puts on a good front but is eaten up with fear and suffers from terrible nightmares. Another tries to assuage the guilt by taking care of others, especially those whose circumstances are similar to the boy who died. The third has spent the years isolated and alone in Happy Hollow, a place the people of Mattingly fear. The years have not been kind to him and he has more or less become delusional. Despite their coping mechanisms, none of the three has managed to find closure or peace.
The plot of “The Devil Walks in Mattingly” is so deftly written that the secrets are revealed quite slowly. The reader gains an intimate look into the tortured lives of the characters but must continue reading to gain a true understanding. Certain supernatural aspects of the story are left to the reader’s imagination and one might be undecided about what is real and what is not. Ultimately, that is not the point of the story. It is a story of grace and the redemption and peace that is possible only when one finally releases their guilt and shame to the Lord and stops trying to carry the burden themselves.
“The Devil Walks in Mattingly” is sometimes dark and seemingly hopeless but there is a light that shines through that darkness. It is a story that should be savored slowly and then pondered for awhile.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
For the three people tortured by their secret complicity in a young man’s untimely death, redemption is what they most long for . . . and the last thing they expect to receive.
It has been twenty years since Philip McBride’s body was found along the riverbank in the dark woods known as Happy Hollow. His death was ruled a suicide. But three people have carried the truth ever since—Philip didn’t kill himself that day. He was murdered.
Each of the three have wilted in the shadow of their sins. Jake Barnett is Mattingly’s sheriff, where he spends his days polishing the fragile shell of the man he pretends to be. His wife, Kate, has convinced herself the good she does for the poor will someday wash the blood from her hands. And high in the mountains, Taylor Hathcock lives in seclusion and fear, fueled by madness and hatred.
Yet what cannot be laid to rest is bound to rise again. Philip McBride has haunted Jake’s dreams for weeks, warning that he is coming back for them all. When Taylor finds mysterious footprints leading from the Hollow, he believes his redemption has come. His actions will plunge the quiet town of Mattingly into darkness. These three will be drawn together for a final confrontation between life and death . . . Between truth and lies.
Purchase a copy and learn more at Billy’s website.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
| Billy Coffey’s critically-acclaimed books combine rural Southern charm with a vision far beyond the ordinary. He is a regular contributor to several publications, where he writes about faith and life. Billy lives with his wife and two children in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. |
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Win a Kindle HDX from @BillyCoffey in “The Devil Walks in Mattingly” Giveaway!
Billy Coffey is celebrating his new book, The Devil Walks in Mattingly, with a Kindle Fire HDX giveaway.
One winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire HDX
- The Devil Walks in Mattingly by Billy Coffey
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 5th. Winner will be announced April 7th on Billy’s blog. Watch Billy give the backstory of the book here.
Don’t miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Billy’s blog on April 7th to see if you won.
by admin | Mar 31, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Because of its whimsical title and gorgeous cover art, the reader would probably expect “Dancing With Fireflies” to be just one more sweet and syrupy romance novel. Actually the story does include a sweet romance but there is much more substance to this book than its cover might suggest.
Hunter’s characters are natural and filled with life. Jade is a troubled young woman who finds herself in a difficult situation. Daniel is a special man who adores Jade but must choose between his love for her and the big plans his parents have already made for his future. Besides romance, the plot has its share of conflict, misunderstanding, angst, and near tragedy. At times I did not agree with Jade’s actions but in view of her experiences, I could understand her confusion. Daniel was a rock through the entire story and I was happy with the choices he made about his career.
“Dancing With Fireflies” covers some difficult subject matter that might be suitable for more mature readers. The specific situation was handled tactfully and with care; however parents of teens may want to read the book in order to decide if it is appropriate for their child. This novel could be an opening for discussion with daughters about the very real dangers that they could encounter while dating or even at a party.
I always enjoy novels by Denise Hunter and “Dancing With Fireflies” was no exception. I recommend it without reservation.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Jade returns home to Chapel Springs after years of protecting her fragile heart. Then along comes Daniel, making her long to dance again.
Creative and complicated, Jade McKinley felt like a weed in a rose garden growing up in Chapel Springs. When she left, she thought she’d never look back. But now, pregnant, alone, and broke, she has no other choice but to return.
The mayor of Chapel Springs, Daniel Dawson, has been an honorary member of the McKinley family for years. While his own home life was almost non-existent, Daniel fit right into the boisterous McKinley family. He’s loved Jade for years, but she always saw him as a big brother. Now that she’s back, his feelings are stronger than ever.
As Jade attempts to settle in, nothing feels right. God seems far away, she’s hiding secrets from her family, and she’s strangely attracted to the man who’s always called her “squirt.” Finding her way home may prove more difficult than she imagined.
Learn more and purchase a copy at Denise’s website.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Denise Hunter is an internationally published best-selling author. Her books have won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and was a RITA finalist. In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she’s been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all of her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps, too. When Denise isn’t writing, she’s busy raising three heroes-in-the-making with her husband.
Find out more about Denise at http://www.denisehunterbooks.com/.
by admin | Mar 19, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Suspense
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingPoison TownDavid C. Cook (February 1, 2014)byCreston MapesABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Creston has fond memories of his boyhood in Bath, Ohio, where he became enchanted with his future wife, way back in the fourth grade. His father, Bernie, owned and operated The Weathervane Furniture Shop in town. The whole family lived right upstairs in the century-old house known as “The Shop.”
Creston studied journalism at Bowling Green State University, then began his writing career. During the past 30 years, he has worked as a reporter, corporate copywriter, creative director, freelance writer, and author.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
There’s More Than One Kind of Poison in This Town
People are sick and dying. Rumors are swirling. Some claim chemicals leaking from a manufacturing plant are causing the cancer that’s crippling people on the poor side of Trenton City, Ohio. Yet nothing at the plant appears amiss.
The problem remains a mystery until reporter Jack Crittendon’s long-time mechanic falls ill and he investigates. Soon Jack becomes engulfed in a smokescreen of lies, setups, greed, and scandal.
The deeper he digs, the more toxic the corruption he uncovers. As he faces off with the big-time players behind the scenes and tries to beat the clock before more people die, he realizes the chillingly unthinkable–he knows too much.
If you’d like to read the first chapter of Poison Town, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Jack Crittendon, reporter, is back in another suspense filled and action packed novel that kept me turning the pages as fast as I could read them. Second book in the series, events in Poison Town takes place shortly after the conclusion of Fear Has a Name and several familiar characters turn up in various supporting roles.
Poison Town has a fast moving plot filled with danger and suspense that keeps the reader on edge most of the time. It is a story about corporate corruption that comes closer to home than Jack could ever imagine and the closer Jack and his friends come to the truth, the more they find that their lives and the lives of their families are in jeopardy.
A story about bravery in the face of threatening situations and faith in God when circumstances seem impossible, Poison Town is a must read for lovers of suspense novels.
by admin | Mar 14, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Southern
MY REVIEW:
“A Stillness of Chimes” is a haunting but beautiful Southern tale chock full of childhood friends, lost love,forgotten faith, and dark family secrets in a charming Georgia town where everything is not as it seems. It is a book I did not want to put down once I began reading. The plot and its characters pulled me into the pages so thoroughly that I had to find out what would happen next.
I enjoyed everything about “A Stillness of Chimes”, the interaction between characters, the mystery of a long believed dead man suddenly reported seen around town, and the dregs of a romantic relationship with a possibility of renewal. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, the author pulled another surprise out of her endless bag of tricks. Certain revelations near the end were a bit shocking and although some things did not turn out exactly how I might have hoped, the symbolism was perfect.
A wonderful blend of mystery, drama, romance, with just the right touch of faith, sacrifice, and forgiveness, “A Stillness of Chimes” is the perfect book for lovers of Southern novels.
This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah
Blogging For Books program.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Laura Gantt doesn’t mind being home in Prospect, Georgia, but she minds the Southern niceties and mini-sermons she has to endure after her mother’s unexpected death. On her summer break from teaching in Colorado, Laura wants to focus on wrapping up her mother’s estate. Turns out dodging painful memories becomes impossible when her lifelong friend and former beau Sean Halloran reveals that the town is buzzing with rumors due to numerous sightings of her father, Elliott. Problem is, her father has been dead since she was seventeen.
Known for his horrible mood swings after returning home from Vietnam, Elliott Gantt wasn’t always the most stable person. But if he is alive, why did he fake his death and remain in hiding for so long?
Click here to download chapter one of A Stillness of Chimes.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Meg Moseley is still a Californian at heart although she’s lived more than half her life in other states. Holding jobs that ranged from candle-maker to administrative assistant, Meg eventually contributed human-interest pieces for a suburban edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Contemporary fiction remains her real love, and she’s the author of When Sparrows Fall and Gone South. She lives in Atlanta near the foothills of the Southern Appalachians with her husband.
Learn more about Meg and her books on her website.
by admin | Mar 10, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Law Enforcement, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
When I open a novel by Janice Cantore I know I can expect a great story filled with action and top-notch, realistic law enforcement drama. “Visible Threat” is the second book in Cantore’s newest series but easily stands on its own merit. I can vouch for that because SOMEHOW I missed “Critical Pursuit”. After reading “Visible Threat” I intend to remedy that oversight as soon as possible.
Featuring Brinna Caruso, a Long Beach officer dedicated (or perhaps obsessed) with saving all the abducted children she can with the help of her search and rescue dog Hero. An unidentified body and a daring river rescue reveals evidence that indicates the possibility that a human trafficking ring may be operating in their area. Brinna teams up with her former partner Jack to find the corrupt men behind the ring before more women become victims.
“Visible Threat” hits the ground running and barely gives the reader a chance to catch a breath before it is off again. The characters and situations depicted are believable and genuine. The references to Christian faith are mostly worked into natural conversations between friends and are not at all intrusive or disrupting to the story. The resolution at the end was credible and not the sometimes hurried tying up of loose ends found in some novels.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Visible Threat” and recommend it to anyone who enjoys police suspense novels. Do yourself a favor and pick up copies of both “Critical Pursuit” and “Visible Threat”. I know you will be glad you did.
This book was provided for review by The Tyndale Blog Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Officer Brinna Caruso wants perfection—perfect justice and a perfect world. She wants to save and protect all the innocents in the world, no matter the cost.
Orphaned and struggling to get by, Ivana and her sister left Bulgaria for America with dreams of a better life. But since they arrived in Long Beach, everything they were promised has turned out to be a lie.
After a dead girl is found in the river with a mysterious tattoo on her hip, homicide detective Jack O’Reilly asks for Brinna’s help. Unaware of the depths of evil that will be uncovered, Brinna finds herself flung into a dangerous frontier—an organized human trafficking ring.
Read an excerpt from Visible Threat HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Janice Cantore is a retired Long Beach police officer who now writes suspense novels to keep readers engrossed and leave them inspired. Her twenty-two years of experience on the force lend authenticity to her stories. Her Pacific Coast Justice series has met with critical acclaim. Critical Pursuit is the first book in her latest series.
Visit Janice’s website at www.janicecantore.com and connect with her on Facebook.
