by admin | Aug 4, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Legal, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I have seen Robert Whitlow’s books compared to those by John Grisham but I personally prefer Whitlow’s. Their books are similar in that many of them focus on legal cases and trials but when I read Grisham’s novels, I found myself bogged down in too many legal details that detracted me from the actual story. Robert Whitlow seems to include just enough facts to keep his story plausible but tends to focus more on his characters (at least that is my opinion).
In “A House Divided” the reader meets the Gage family. Corbin, the father is a lawyer as are both his children, Ray and Roxy. Although they share careers, their family is broken mostly due to Corbin’s long history of alcoholism. Corbin accepts an extremely risky case that has far-reaching effects that changes the lives of his entire family.
There were times that the storyline seemed to move slowly and it was difficult for me to keep reading. I did persist and I was glad I did because this book has a wonderful redemptive theme. I particularly liked the way the two most resistant characters turned their lives around and turned to the Lord. In fact, both of them had experiences where they felt they had received direct revelation from Him. The details about Alcoholics Anonymous were interesting and Corbin’s experiences were quite believable. I also liked the way the case was resolved which made it more realistic than a huge victory might have been.
Once again Whitlow proved to me how well he understands people and how skillfully he is able to express himself. I recommend “A House Divided” to all who enjoy a good legal novel.
This book was provided for review by the BookLook Blogger Program of Harper Collins Christian Publishing.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A father’s mistakes nearly cost his children everything. Now his children must unite to take on the most important case of their respective careers.
Corbin Gage is slowly drinking himself into the grave while running a small law practice in a small Georgia town. The assistant DA in the same community is his son Ray, poised for a professional breakthrough based on a job offer to work for the best law firm in the area. Roxy is Corbin’s daughter, a rising star associate in Atlanta for an international law firm that specializes in high stakes, multi-million-dollar litigation.
Against the advice of everyone in his life, Corbin Gage takes on a toxic tort case on behalf of three boys who have contracted non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma due to an alleged chemical exposure. The defendant, a herbicide/pesticide/fertilizer company, is the largest employer in the area. Because of the lawsuit, Ray’s job offer evaporates, forcing him to go to work with his father. Roxy’s expertise in complex litigation draws her into the drama.
As their investigation uncovers an audacious conspiracy to conceal dangers to their community, Corbin, Ray, and Roxy come to a personal treaty in their pursuit of justice. But they soon discover that burying a problem can have explosive results.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Robert Whitlow is the best-selling author of legal novels set in the South and winner of the prestigious Christy Award for Contemporary Fiction. A Furman University graduate, Whitlow received his J.D. with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law where he served on the staff of the Georgia Law Review. A practicing attorney, Whitlow and his wife, Kathy, have four children. They make their home in North Carolina.
by admin | Jul 31, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
The idea behind the plot for “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” is one that you might expect to find in a Hallmark movie. It would be a sweet bit of romantic fluff with just enough conflict to make it interesting. Well, this book is anything but fluff. The heroine Vanessa married her high school sweetheart Logan much too young for all the wrong reasons and because of their immaturity and poor communication, the marriage ended after a short time. Neither party ever got over it but they did move on with their lives and careers. Vanessa also got engaged along the way. Making plans for her destination wedding took her back to the place where she met her ex and guess who happens to be in town at the same time?
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to deduce that there could just be some complications arising with Vanessa’s wedding plans. I disliked Ted from the start. How dense can a man be who wants to plan his wedding to correspond to a medical conference? I knew there had to be trouble in that relationship even if it did take Vanessa a minute to wake up to reality.
I liked how the story was written with flashbacks about Vanessa and Logan’s history together. That and well placed introspection by both parties gave me an intimate knowledge of their relationship and what went wrong. It didn’t take me long to start rooting for Logan and Vanessa to get back together.
The author handled the pacing of the plot very well and I couldn’t have asked for better character development. I felt like I knew both Vanessa and Logan well by the end of the book. Action scenes that included an ocean rescue and a hurricane were blended well into the romantic plot that had me quickly turning the pages. I liked how both Logan and Vanessa’s faith developed during their years apart. I also liked how God seemed to place them in each other’s path continuously.
“Crazy Little Thing Called Love” is a great book that should appeal to most readers who enjoy contemporary Christian romance.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Wedding bells and storm clouds collide in the first engaging novel in a brand-new series about destination weddings, the power of love, and the possible mishaps and missteps that happen on a couple’s journey down the aisle to “I do.”
Paramedic Vanessa Hollister has put her adolescence behind her, including the unwanted label of being the new kid in town over and over again, thanks to her father’s military career. She’s overcome what her mother called “the biggest mistake of her life” and is planning an elegant destination wedding in Destin, Florida with her new fiancé. But will the reappearance of her first husband from her what-were-you-thinking teenage elopement disrupt her dream of an idyllic beach wedding?
As a professional storm chaser, Logan Hollister is used to taking risks. However, a reckless decision during the last tornado season has him questioning the future of his team, the Stormmeisters. Coming face to face with his ex-wife eight years after their divorce compels him to confront his greatest regret: losing Vanessa. Does their past give him the right to interfere with her future?
A fast-moving, powerful hurricane throws Vanessa and Logan together as they evacuate to a storm shelter along with other residents of the Florida Gulf Coast. Forced to spend time together, the pair battles unexpected renewed feelings for each other.
Vanessa and Logan are faced with a choice: Should they accept, once and for all, their teenage marital mistake? Or is God offering them a second chance at happily ever after?
Learn more and purchase a copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” A 2015 RITA® Finalist and a 2014 Carol Award finalist, Beth is a contemporary romance novelist with Howard Books. Her 2014 novel, “Somebody Like You,” was one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. In 2015 she introduced her destination wedding series with both an e-novella, “Can’t Buy Me Love,” (May) and a novel, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” (June).
Find out more about Beth K. at http://bethvogt.com.
by admin | Jul 30, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Inspirational, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“Hope Harbor” is an engaging inspirational romance about second chances in both faith and love. A stranger’s visit to Hope Harbor in an attempt to overcome his grief and guilt after his wife’s death results in some probably not so coincidental encounters that affect the lives of many in a positive way. It is a story of healed emotions and restored relationships as well as renewed faith in God.
I really enjoyed visiting the Oregon coastal town of Hope Harbor and getting to know some of its inhabitants. The love interests Michael and Tracy were well developed but other characters filled major roles. I particularly enjoyed Anna and Charley and Floyd the seagull added a nice touch of humor. I also found the details about cranberry farming to be quite interesting.
I always enjoy Irene Hannon’s novels – whether it is a romantic suspense or a contemporary romance. “Hope Harbor” did not disappoint.
This book was provided for review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Come home to Hope Harbor–where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.
Tracy Campbell never wanted to leave Hope Harbor, Oregon, or the idyllic three-generation cranberry farm where she grew up. But life–and love–altered her plans. Now she’s home again–with a floundering farm to run . . . a tragic secret . . . and a wounded heart. Romance is not on her agenda. Nor is it on Michael Hunter’s. The visitor from Chicago has daunting secrets and devastating regrets of his own. But when Tracy recruits him to help with a project that is close to her heart, winds of change begin to sweep through Hope Harbor, bringing healing, hope, and love to countless lives–including their own.
Read an excerpt from Hope Harbor here.
Praise for Irene’s Contemporary Romances
“Captures the reader from the very first pages. Irene Hannon knows the power of words and the miracle of faith.”–New York Journal of Books on That Certain Summer
“Beautiful storytelling . . . a gem of a read.”–RT Book Reviews on That Certain Summer
“Hannon’s multithread plot is woven beautifully together to create a tapestry that will enchant romantics of all ages.”–Publishers Weekly on One Perfect Spring
“Irene Hannon is one great storyteller.”–#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber on One Perfect Spring
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
by admin | Jul 28, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Sci-fi, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Whether you want to call it sci-fi or a suspense/thriller, “Trial Run” is a tale that might leave the reader wondering just how close we might be to experiencing some of what takes place within its pages. It took me a bit to really get into the story – probably because of the vast array of characters and trying to wrap my mind around who was who and exactly what their role might be. It actually took me until at least halfway through to decide who were the good guys and who were the bad guys. At times I still was uncertain but it quickly became evident.
Locke deals with some concepts in “Trial Run” such as quantum physics, computer science, and other modern marvels that may be over many readers’ heads. It was over mine but I managed to enjoy the story without attempting to understand everything. The idea of out-of-body time travel and its potential are intriguing but the possibilities raised in this book make me hope it is not possible.
Although “Trial Run” is marketed as a mainstream novel, it is a clean read with no gratuitous sex or violence. There is plenty of action, espionage, suspense, and even a touch or two of romance. It is not the book for everyone but those who enjoy this genre should find it to their taste. It’s not my favorite type novel but I did find it interesting enough to want to learn the outcome. And I might just want to read the next installment of the series.
This book was provided for review by Blogging Bistro, LLC.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Where does perception end and reality begin?
Can your mind actually cause something to happen in the “real” world?
What happens when we throw out our conception of the limits of space and time?
When science, government, and big business clash, who will ultimately have control of our information, our privacy, and even our very thoughts?
One thing remains clear:
What you don’t know can kill you.
Free sample of Trial Run by Thomas Locke
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Thomas Locke is an award-winning novelist with total worldwide sales of seven million copies.
His work has been published in twenty languages, and critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction and his 2014 induction into the Christy Hall of Fame.
Thomas divides his time between Florida and England, where he serves as Writer In Residence at Regent’s Park College at The University of Oxford. Visit Thomas at http://tlocke.com.
Q&A With Thomas Locke, author of Trial Run
Q: What reader did you have in mind when you were writing Trial Run?
Thomas Locke: I suspect there are a lot of readers out there like me, who love mainstream fiction in principle, but are dismayed by how dark it is becoming.
I love to read. I am happiest with a good book in my hands. And most of my purchases are mainstream fiction. Too often, however, I find myself skipping over bits that are just plain not necessary for a good story.
I wrote Trial Run for readers like me. Passionate about story, yearning for the thrill of a great tale, hoping for something that uplifts as well as ignites.
Here’s a video trailer for Trial Run, hot off the press:
https://youtu.be/FS9Vr2Nfc4Q
Q: In Trial Run, you introduce several seemingly unrelated threads at the beginning of the story. By the end of the story, those threads have become woven together in an intricate tapestry. What’s your thought process behind this writing strategy?
Thomas Locke: This concept can best be summed up by the phrase you often hear a Hollywood producer say: “Where is the cut?”
By this, the producer means, what can you leave out of the script so that the audience must figure things out for themselves?
Instead of spoon-feeding the audience every item required to move to the climax, things are left unsaid. This sense of vacuum draws the audience into the action, and hurries them forward to the story’s close.
Q: Several settings in Trial Run (Santa Barbara, CA, the Italian/Swiss border site) depict real places. How do you select these real-life settings for your stories, and do you alter details of these places to suit your stories?
Thomas Locke: The core element of my placing a story is research. And the core element in my research is emotion. For many people, the ‘take’ that I finally use in the story does not jibe with what they like to see as valid for a particular setting, especially when that place is close to their heart and I have used a more negative perspective. But the facts have been carefully studied.
An example from Trial Run is Santa Barbara. For a lot of people who know and love California, this is their absolute favorite place in the SoCal region. And for good reason. It is a lovely town, one my wife and I really enjoy visiting.
For this story, I was granted an insider’s view into the University of California at Santa Barbara, or UCSB. And from the perspective of many students enrolled there, UCSB is filled with hyper-inflated SoCal egos.
The contrast I found between the students with money (and in SoCal, when I say they had money, I really mean they had money) and those who don’t is as sharp as anywhere I have ever been. The student who formed my core source and guide was on a scholarship. He was there to study. He was, to say the least, in a minority.
Everything I described about the school, the bicycle traffic and the events on the beach and the housing, are based on observation. But the perspective was based upon the humorous bafflement with which this student viewed many of his fellow classmates.
I personally love this aspect of building a story. The research at this emotional level grants me the opportunity to see the world through another person’s eyes and heart. Being trusted with this, time and again, is part of the miracle process that happens every time I start a new tale.
Q: I’ve heard there’s a free ebook prequel to Trial Run. How can I get a copy?
Thomas Locke: As I was writing the opening scenes of Trial Run, I found myself continually asking questions about what happened before that door opened and before the party started. I began sketching a sort of parallel story, laying out ideas that formed the story-before-the-story.
“Double Edge” is the result.
The publishers liked the short story prequel so much that they have asked me to write a complete novel based upon these concepts. This novel will form either book three or book four in the series.
You’ll find links on my website http://tlocke.com/fault-lines/ for downloading your free copy of “Double Edge” from your favorite online bookseller.
Q: Trial Run is book 1 in the three-volume Fault Lines series. Please give us a preview of what to expect in book 2.
Thomas Locke: This is a timely question, as I completed the first draft of book 2 on June 8. The working title is Flash Point.
In many respects, Flash Point is a true hybrid. By this I mean that the core themes are the same as in Trial Run. But everything is also very different. I had two key questions in mind when I started book two: How far can I take this? How much can I risk?
This whole concept of controlled out-of-body experiences opens up a completely new vista. I had to develop a new story framework for Trial Run, and everywhere I looked I found myself asking the same questions:
- Where does this take mankind?
- If this could actually happen, where do we go?
- Who are we as people?
- How would this remake us?
These questions are first asked in Flash Point. Where we go from here depends mostly upon you, the reader.
So let’s dance!
Get to know Thomas Locke at these online outlets:
Website: http://tlocke.com/
Subscribe to Thomas’s e-newsletter and blog: http://eepurl.com/5cnH5
Receive Thomas’s latest blog posts via your feed reader: http://tlocke.com/blog/feed/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tlockebooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/thomas_locke
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tlockebooks
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/tlockebooks/
by admin | Jul 22, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Novella, PTSD, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“Beast of Stratton” is a 172 page novella that takes the reader on a fast and furious suspense-filled ride. It is a story about betrayal, trust, forgiveness, and healing. Readers get an up-close and personal look at the sufferings of an injured military man who suffers from PTSD as he struggles to overcome the pain and flashbacks.
In my personal opinion, “Beast of Stratton” is a good story that would have been even better in a full-length novel. I would have liked more background on the primary players, especially Miles, Aimee, and Ian as well as additional details about what was actually happening during much of the tale. The romance between Miles and Aimee went from dislike and distrust to love much too quickly. I wanted to watch it develop over more than what seemed to be one day’s time. I understand the need to condense and hasten the plot in novellas to fit page requirements. That is one reason I prefer full-length books. The story here is good and the author’s talent is obvious – I just wanted more of it.
This book was provided for review by The Book Club Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Architect Aimee Hart, determined to locate her father, infiltrates Miles Stratton’s engineering firm as a secretary. Her presence wrenches the shaggy, wounded man from his penthouse, and the quest begins. Betrayed by his best friend, Miles would rather hide than help, especially from the man’s daughter. But something’s not right. Someone’s trying to destroy Stratton Industrial. A decorated war veteran, he’s defended his own before and the Beast of Stratton can do it again. Even with the enemy at his side.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Raised in Louisiana and Wyoming, Renee started writing poetry in junior high school and that, as they say, was that. After having her son, a desire to attend pharmacy school sent her small family to Laramie and she’s been counting pills ever since. While writing’s her first love, well, after the Lord and her husband, she also likes to fish and hunt as well as pick away on her classical guitar. Nestled against the Black Hills with her husband, crazy old dog and ornery cat, she serves the community of northeastern Wyoming as a pharmacist and pens her Christian stories, keeping them interesting with action and intrigue, of course. She loves to interact with readers and invites you check out her website, blog, and social media.
Website: http://www.reneeblare.com/
Blog: https://reneeblare.wordpress.com/
Group Blog: http://diamondsinfiction.blogspot.com/
by admin | Jul 16, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“Can’t Buy Me Love” is a fantastic prequel to Beth Vogt’s new Destination Wedding series. If the rest of the series is even half as good, I will be happy. Can’t wait to dive into “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” which is waiting it’s turn patiently on my review stack.
The story of Bellamy, a gal from a large, middle-class family who is engaged to Reid who comes from a wealthy, upper-crust background. As Bellamy plans her dream wedding, she stresses over meeting the standards of Reid’s family and accidentally makes a purchase that could put a stop to everything. I loved how Reid’s mom stepped in to set things right and proved that you really can’t buy love.
“Can’t Buy Me Love” is truly a story about love, family, what is truly important, and forgiveness.
This book was provided for review by The Book Club Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In this e-novella kicking off the brand-new Destination Wedding series, Bellamy, a bride-to-be who dreams of a one-of-a-kind Manhattan wedding, gets caught up in all the planning, and things quickly spin out of control. What is the true cost of an ultimate uptown wedding?
Bellamy grew up in a large, boisterous family. The Hillmans may not have had it all, but Bellamy learned how to stretch a dollar and make it look like she did. Now she’s marrying Reid Stanton, the man of her dreams. While planning their one-of-a-kind Manhattan destination wedding, Bellamy gets caught up in all things Pinterest. It starts out simply enough with a “Save the Date Destination Wedding” board. Then it’s the “Destination Wedding Dresses” and “Invitations” boards. As her ideas multiply, so does the cost of the wedding.
Before she realizes it, all her creative planning has decimated the budget. Can Bellamy make things right, or will the cost of the ultimate wedding be losing the man she loves?
NOTE — the e-novella also includes an excerpt of Crazy Little Thing Called Love, the first novel in the series, which releases June 30, 2015.
Purchase a copy on Amazon.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. Now Beth believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” A 2015 RITA® Finalist and a 2014 Carol Award finalist, Beth is a contemporary romance novelist with Howard Books. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. In 2015, Beth introduced her destination wedding series with both an e-novella, Can’t Buy Me Love, and a novel, Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Her e-novella, A November Bride, was part of the Year of Wedding Series by Zondervan. Beth enjoys writing contemporary romance because she believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us. Find out more about her books at bethvogt.com. An established magazine writer and former editor of Connections, the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth is also part of the leadership team for My Book Therapy, the writing community founded by best-selling author Susan May Warren. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people, and their youngest daughter, Christa, who loves to play volleyball and enjoys writing her own stories.
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 
