by admin | Sep 20, 2019 | Allegory, Books, Speculative, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
In a collaboration with his daughter Rachelle, an author in her own right, Ted Dekker delivers another allegorical novel that brilliantly illustrates the battle between darkness and light, religion and faith. Set almost entirely within an isolated town inhabited by cult members, the tale begins somewhat slowly but develops a momentum that builds strongly to an unexpected climax.
I have personally have had and still have issues with fear and these authors have opened my eyes to just how strongly that fear can imprison us. The use of darkness and light to demonstrate their points was illuminating (if I may be so bold). Several characters appeared during the course of the book whom I found difficult to decide just what their role was – whether a friend or an enemy. As Bobbie said repeatedly, “Don’t trust anyone.” I did think I knew who she was and my guess turned out to be correct. Others became more evident as I drew near to the end.
I really did enjoy “The Girl Behind the Red Rope” and I appreciated everything about it that made me think about my own responses to it. I also found quite a few very quotable lines within the story and I wish I had taken time to mark or copy them. Ted and Rachelle Dekker make a great team and I hope to see more books by them in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed a 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:
Ten years ago, Grace saw something that would forever change the course of history.
When a terrible scourge is unleashed on the world, she and others from their religious community are already hidden deep in the hills of Tennessee, abiding by every rule that will keep them safe, pure–and alive. As long as they stay there, behind the red rope.
Her older brother’s questions and the arrival of the first outsiders she’s seen in a decade set in motion events that will cause Grace to question everything she has built her life on. Enemies rise on all sides–but who is the real enemy? And what will it cost her to uncover the truth?
For the first time, bestselling authors Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker team up and deliver an intense, tightly focused ride through the most treacherous world of all.
Read an excerpt HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Ted Dekker is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of more than forty novels, with over 10 million copies sold worldwide. He was born in the jungles of Indonesia to missionary parents, and his upbringing as a stranger in a fascinating and sometimes frightening culture fueled his imagination. Dekker’s passion is simple–to explore truth through mind-bending stories that invite readers to see the world through a different lens. His fiction has been honored with numerous awards, including two Christy Awards, two Inspy Awards, an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, and an ECPA Gold Medallion. In 2013, NPR readers nationwide put him in the Top 50 Thriller Authors of All Time. Dekker lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Lee Ann.
Rachelle Dekker is the Christy Award-winning author of The Choosing, The Calling, and The Returning in the Seer series. The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle was inspired early on to discover truth through the avenue of storytelling. She writes full-time from her home in Nashville, where she lives with her husband, Daniel, and their son, Jack. Connect with Rachelle at www.rachelledekker.com.
by admin | Sep 16, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Political, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
I have been familiar with the author’s historical romance novels so I was a bit surprised to find her latest one a psychological/political suspense. I do love suspense novels so I was pleased to have the opportunity to read State of Lies.
Almost from the beginning when Georgie’s husband is killed in an accident, the story takes on a mysterious twist as she discovers inconsistencies about his death and strange things begin to occur at her home. As she attempts to discover what is going on it becomes evident that someone wants her dead also.
I enjoyed the book with its convoluted twists and unusual agenda. Several surprises were in store, especially the ending.
Warning: Readers who expect their Christian fiction to have a strong message of faith will be disappointed and others will find the inclusion of more than one sensual but non-explicit scene to be objectionable.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Amazon Vine. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The secrets of those closest to us can be the most dangerous of all.
Months after her husband, Sean, is killed by a hit-and-run driver, physicist Georgie Brennan discovers he lied to her about where he had been going that day. A cryptic notebook, a missing computer, and strange noises under her house soon have her questioning everything she thought she knew.
With her job hanging by a thread, her son struggling to cope with his father’s death, and her four-star general father up for confirmation as the next secretary of defense, Georgie quickly finds herself tangled in a web of political intrigue that has no clear agenda and dozens of likely villains.
Only one thing is clear: someone wants her dead too. And the more she digs for the truth, the fewer people she can trust.
Not her friends.
Not her parents.
Maybe not even herself.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Siri Mitchell is the author of 14 novels. She has also written 2 novels under the pseudonym of Iris Anthony. She graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree and has worked in various levels of government. As a military spouse, she lived all over the world, including Paris and Tokyo. Siri is a big fan of the semi-colon but thinks the Oxford comma is irritatingly redundant. Visit her online at sirimitchell.com; Facebook: SiriMitchell; Twitter: @SiriMitchell.
by admin | Sep 16, 2019 | Books, England, Historical, Regency, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
As a longtime fan of Gothic novels, I have been pleased to see several Christian authors begin to offer books in that genre. I’m not certain why I find those dark and mysterious books so intriguing but I do love them. Abigail Wilson is a fairly new author whose two books I’ve read fit into that genre very well.
Midnight on the River Grey features young Rebecca Hunter whose brother died under mysterious circumstances. Forced to live with her guardian, Lewis Browning who she believes is responsible for the death, Rebecca is determined to prove his guilt. As most readers know, things are not always as they seem and Rebecca may have a difficult finding the proof she needs. And is it possible that she may change her feelings toward her guardian?
I enjoyed this book immensely with its dark and brooding atmosphere, danger and secrets around every corner, and Rebecca’s own personal fears. The romance was not unexpected but welcome all the same. All-in-all this book was a satisfying experience and I would definitely read more by this author.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Amazon Vine. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Can one develop feelings for the man you swore to see hanged? That’s just what Rebecca fears she has done in this Gothic Regency romance.
After her brother’s mysterious death, Rebecca Hunter vows to expose the man she believes responsible: Mr. Lewis Browning—known by the locals as the Midnight Devil and by Rebecca as her new guardian.
Summoned to his reclusive country estate to await her London season, Rebecca plans her own secret investigation among the darkened corridors of the mysterious Greybourne Hall. Yet Lewis Browning is not as she once imagined, and his motivation is horribly unclear. Recurrent nightmares and Rebecca’s restless feelings are further complicated by the shadow of her mother’s prior descent into madness and wondering if she, too, will follow the same heartbreaking path.
Even as midnight rides, strange injuries, and further murders lead back to Mr. Browning, Rebecca can’t ignore the subtle turn of her heart. Has she fallen for the man she swore would pay for her brother’s death? And moreover, can she trust him with her uncertain future?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Abigail Wilson combines her passion for Regency England with intrigue and adventure to pen historical mysteries with a heart. A registered nurse, chai tea addict, and mother of two crazy kids, Abigail fills her spare time hiking the national parks, attending her daughter’s gymnastic meets, and curling up with a great book. In 2017, Abigail won WisRWA’s Fab Five contest and in 2016, ACFW’s First Impressions contest as well as placing as a 2017 finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is a cum laude graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and currently lives in Dripping Springs, Texas, with her husband and children. Connect with Abigail at www.acwilsonbooks.com; Instagram: acwilsonbooks; Facebook: ACWilsonbooks; Twitter: @acwilsonbooks.
by admin | Sep 15, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
When I first began to read As the Light Fades there was a sense of familiarity about it but it took me a few chapters to remember that the familiar characters inhabited another book I read several years ago by the author, The Things We Knew. Although it is not an official sequel, I enjoyed catching up with other members of the Carlisle family and learning about how their lives had progressed since the previous novel.
In this book, Liz Carlisle has returned to Nantucket after her life pretty much imploded. Strapped for money and still fearful from an abusive relationship, Liz rents a guest house from Matthew Stone because it is the only thing she can afford and accepts a job at a business with a job she never imagined doing. Both Liz and Matthew have things from their past they would prefer to forget but as most of us know, sometimes the past refuses to remain buried. In addition, Matthew is responsible for his troubled niece which adds another layer onto why he is not interested in a relationship with anyone.
As the Light Fades is a testament to the wonderful writing skill of Catherine West. She is so adept in making family dynamics come alive with all the subtle nuances that exist in most families. She is also unafraid to tackle sometimes taboo topics such as dementia, self-harm (cutting) and several forms of abuse. Complicated relationships combined with family love and loyalty, forgiveness, and restoration of relationships combines to make this a book well worth reading. It may have a romantic focus but it is so much more than that. I highly recommend this book.
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:
Title: As the Light Fades
Author: Catherine West
Release Date: September 10, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Sometimes we’re placed in the strangest of circumstances for the most important reasons.
After her carefully constructed life crumbles, Liz Carlisle finds herself back on Nantucket, picking up the pieces. With the family estate under renovations, the solitude she craves seems out of reach.
Matthew Stone intends to steer clear of his new tenant. She’s carrying a load of baggage, but as long as she pays the rent, he’ll let her be. He’s got enough to deal with caring for his wayward niece, Mia.
Liz doesn’t have time for teenagers and her track record with men is abysmal, but an unlikely friendship forms between the three.
When her former boyfriend is charged with assault, Liz is called to testify against him. But he knows the darkest secrets of her life—secrets she’d hoped to keep buried forever, and he’s ready to reveal them. Telling the truth is the right thing to do, but it may cost her everything she’s worked so hard for, and all she’s come to love.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Catherine West is an award-winning author of contemporary women’s fiction. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or reading books by her favorite authors. She and her husband reside in Bermuda, and have two adult children and two beautiful granddaughters. Catherine is the winner of the 2015 Grace Award (Bridge of Faith) and a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award (The Things We Knew, 2017 and Where Hope Begins, 2019, and a Carol Award Finalist for Where Hope Begins. Her latest novel, As the Light Fades, releases September 2019.
Catherine loves to connect with her readers and can be reached at Catherine@catherinejwest.com
CONNECT WITH CATHERINE: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a $75 Amazon gift card from the author!
Be sure to check out each stop on these tours for more chances to win. Full tour schedule on this tour shown below. Giveaway begins at midnight September 11, 2019 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 18, 2019. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. For our giveaway rules and policy, click HERE.
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