Cold Case Pursuit by Dana Mentink

by | Jan 31, 2021 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Love Inspired, Romantic Suspense

MY REVIEW:

I always know that I may as well settle in and make myself comfortable when I pick up a new book by Dana Mentink because I will not want to move for awhile. Her books are always guaranteed to keep me turning pages as quickly as possible because almost anything can and will happen at any moment. Not only is there ample action, danger, and suspense to hold my attention but the author never fails to create a convincing plot combined with a strong thread of faith. It also does not hurt that a dog or a child or even sometimes both are often included.

Cold Case Pursuit contains all of the above in spades. The villain is evil, creepy, and always seems to be one step ahead even while taunting Penny, one of his intended victims. Tyler was the perfect hero as he dedicated himself to protecting Penny and working hard to solve the case, even after a serious injury. He began by trying to be an encouragement to her but it was easy to see that a more serious relationship was in store for them.I enjoyed reading about the K9 division of the police force as well as examples of how they worked.

Do not allow the sweet cover image fool you into passing this book by. Despite the cute dog and child, Cold Case Pursuit has one of the most dastardly plots ever!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Book:  Cold Case Pursuit

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Click here to get your copy!

A cold case solved by the K-9 unit…

but the past is not so easily escaped.

Decades after her parents’ murders, Penelope McGregor’s grateful the killer’s finally been identified—until he comes after her. Now Detective Tyler Walker and his K-9 partner, Dusty, must protect Penelope and catch the culprit…while making sure his little girl stays out of the crosshairs. But can the single father outplay a killer whose endgame will leave no one safe?

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dana Mentink is a two time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and a Holt Medallion winner. She is a national bestselling author of over forty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Poisoned Pen Press, and Harvest House. Besides writing, she busies herself puttering around her Northern California backyard. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, teen bear cubs affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo, Junie, the  nutty terrier, and a chubby box turtle. You can connect with Dana via her website at danamentink.com, on Facebook, YouTube (Author Dana Mentink) and Instagram (dana_mentink.)

MORE FROM DANA:

I love book covers with adorable children on them, don’t you? There’s something so angelic about those wee folks on the covers. I have two bear cubs myself, young adults now, and I love them devotedly. Tell you what though. Sometimes, just occasionally mind you, they were a wee bit naughty. Don’t tell anyone, but one reason I enjoyed writing Cold Case Pursuit so much is that hero Tyler is the single dad of a little girl named Rain who is….er…a handful. Sure, she’s adorable, but she’s prone to disobedience and the occasional tendency to flush things down the toilet. So in addition to the edge of your seat pursuit of a murderous clown killer, there are the shenanigans of a precocious preschooler, a highly trained yet distractible police K-9, and a romance that doesn’t exactly run smoothly. Fun to write? You betcha! I hope you enjoy coming along with me on this True Blue adventure!

BLOG STOPS:

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 19

KarenSueHadley, January 19

Bigreadersite, January 19

Through the Fire Blogs, January 20

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, January 20

Remembrancy, January 21

Genesis 5020, January 21

By The Book, January 21

For the Love of Literature, January 22

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 22

CarpeDiem, January 22

Texas Book-aholic, January 23

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 23

Blogging With Carol, January 23

Inklings and notions, January 24

Fiction Book Lover, January 24 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Batya’s Bits, January 24

Betti Mace, January 25

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, January 25

Labor Not in Vain, January 25

Hebrews 12 Endurance, January 26

Sara Jane Jacobs, January 26

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, January 26

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 27

Lighthouse-Academy, January 27

Older & Smarter?, January 27

Artistic Nobody, January 28 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Splashes of Joy, January 28

Mary Hake, January 28

For Him and My Family, January 29

Simple Harvest Reads, January 29 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Pause for Tales, January 29

deb’s Book Review, January 30

Hallie Reads, January 30

To Everything There Is A Season, January 30

She Lives To Read, January 31

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 31

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 1

Daysong Reflections, February 1

Bizwings Blog, February 1

GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize of a Mentink giveaway bundle, including a $50 Amazon gift card and a tote bag!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/105ab/cold-case-pursuit-celebration-tour-giveaway

New Releases February 2021

by | Jan 31, 2021 | Books

Well, we have put January behind us and are starting fresh with a new month. Quite a few new books will be released during February including several I’ve been eagerly waiting for. I hope to post the March update before the end of this month to give everyone a chance to anticipate what’s coming up and to preorder so you can read it asap.

Click on the book cover to go to its Amazon listing.

DISCLAIMER:

Book links may contain Amazon associate codes. As an Amazon Associate I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

 

New Releases January 2021

by | Jan 31, 2021 | Books

 

Below you will find a number of Christian fiction books that have been published during January of this year. This list is by no means exhaustive but includes most novels released during this period by the major publishers. I personally have read at least ten of these books and plan to read several more. I have also created a duplicate page that can be accessed from the menu that will include upcoming books for each month as I have time to add them. Please read the disclaimer at the bottom of the post if you decide to purchase.

Click on the book cover to go to its Amazon listing.

DISCLAIMER:

Book links may contain Amazon associate codes. As an Amazon Associate I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

 

All That We Carried by Erin Bartels

by | Jan 29, 2021 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction

MY REVIEW:

As a title, All That We Carried serves a double purpose in my opinion. It literally describes the heavy backpacks the sisters struggled with during their hike and the emotional burdens that also weighed them down.It was especially appropriate that Olivia carried the heaviest pack for most of the hike since she was the sister who wrestled an enormous amount of guilt and forgiveness. I was happy to see that the sisters did mostly resolve many of their issues by the end but would have loved to read some more constructive dialogue between them rather than their constant bickering when they did talk.

While mildly interesting in places, it was a struggle for me to wade through this book. After losing my own mother just less than a year ago, it is difficult for me to imagine going for years with next to no communication with my sisters. We help each other get through the hard times and celebrate the good times together when we can.I am also not a hiker and found the minute details of the sisters’ hike to be somewhat boring. It is possible that in the midst of a simply terrible, horrible, depressing year that I just need to read something a bit more entertaining.

And just who was the Josh guy who kept showing up just when the sisters needed him and dispensed quite a bit of spiritual wisdom before disappearing again? Was he a real person or was he an angel or Jesus type supernatural being sent to help? I was never quite sure of that.

There were definitely some heavy themes that would leave most readers something to ponder afterwards.This might even be a good choice for book clubs because I can imagine quite a few good discussions that might be inspired by it.

I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The most treacherous terrain is found within

Ten years ago, sisters Olivia and Melanie Greene were on a hiking trip when their parents were in a fatal car accident. They haven’t seen each other since the funeral. Olivia coped with the loss by plunging herself into law school, work, and a materialist view of the world–what you see is what you get, and that’s all you get. Melanie dropped out of college and developed an online life coaching business around her DIY spirituality–a little of this, a little of that, whatever makes you happy.

Now, at Melanie’s insistence (and against Olivia’s better judgment), they are embarking on a hike in the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. In this remote wilderness they’ll face their deepest fears, question their most dearly held beliefs, and begin to see that perhaps the best way to move forward is the one way they had never considered.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Erin Bartels is the award-winning author of We Hope for Better Things (2020 Michigan Notable Book, 2020 WFWA Star Award-winner, 2019 Christy Award finalist) and The Words between Us (2020 Christy Award finalist, 2015 WFWA Rising Star Award finalist). Her short story, “This Elegant Ruin,” was a finalist in the Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction Contest in 2014, and her poetry has been published by The Lyric. A publishing professional for 18 years, she is the director of WFWA’s annual writers retreat in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She lives in Lansing, Michigan, with her husband, Zachary, and their son. Find her online at www.erinbartels.com.

 

Active Defense by Lynette Eason

by | Jan 29, 2021 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Suspense

MY REVIEW:

Heather Fontaine had suspected she had a stalker for awhile but when someone broke into her home, she decided that she was putting the safety of her friends into danger so she disappeared. Fiercely independent, Heather tried not to let herself get too close to people and certainly would never ask anyone for help. Turns out she actually had another stalker in Travis Walker whose career was in security, only Travis was secretly keeping watch over Heather in order to protect her.

As in all novels by Lynette Eason, the suspense and danger ramped up with each chapter if not by the page. Who was stalking Heather and for what reason and how far were they willing to go? Plenty of action and unexpected twists kept me turning those pages and the well blended elements of faith and romance made it all the sweeter. It was fun seeing characters from earlier books in the series as well as meeting new ones in Active Defense.

As always, I recommend this book as well as any book written by this author. It stands on its own quite well but would be even more enjoyable if the series were read in proper order. Pick up your own copy soon!

I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

She’s used to life-or-death situations.
She just didn’t expect them to follow her home.

When former field surgeon Heather Fontaine returns from a party to find that someone has broken into her house–and threatened her friends–she assumes it is the stalker who has been creeping her out. She hopes to find safety and peace of mind by leaving the city and hiding out in a small town. But trouble follows her even there.

Luckily, a stalker isn’t the only one observing Heather. Travis Walker has been secretly watching out for her for weeks. As owner of his own security agency, it’s what he does. Together, Travis and Heather must figure out who wants her dead–and why–before it’s too late.

Read an excerpt HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of Collateral Damage and Acceptable Risk, as well as Protecting Tanner Hollow and the Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master’s degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.