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Book Review: One Final Breath

2 Oct

When investigator Gabriel Chavez had his cover blown by an aggressive reporter, the silver lining was being able to rejoin the dive team. The downside? Dive team captain Anissa Bell–a woman who both fascinates and frustrates him.

Anissa grew up as a missionary kid on the Micronesian island of Yap and always planned to return after college. But she remained stateside, determined to solve the case that haunts her–the murder of her best friend and the disappearance of a three-year-old child.

When Anissa’s fractured past collides with Gabe’s investigation into the tragic shooting death of a teenage boy in Lake Porter, they’ll have to put their complicated history with each other aside in order to uncover the identity of a killer. What they’ll discover is that revenge has no statute of limitations.

Lynn H. Blackburn believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. Her Dive Team Investigations series includes Beneath the Surface and In Too Deep (a Fall 2018 Okra Pick and 2019 Selah finalist). The conclusion to the series, One Final Breath, releases in September 2019. She is also the author of Hidden Legacy and Covert Justice which won the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery and Suspense and the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel.

 

My Impressions:

Lynn Blackburn sure knows how to keep her readers guessing! In the final book in the Dive Team Investigations series, One Final Breath, the action focuses on not one, not two, but three seemingly unrelated cases. Suspense is amped up and the sparks fly in this romantic suspense. Definitely a recommended read!

Blackburn has created a wonderful ensemble cast of characters in her series, but each book has focused on one couple. In One Final Breath, Anissa and Gabe, once adversaries, have become good friends. The chemistry is there, if only they would admit it! Enemies to friends to something more is developed wonderfully by Blackburn. And while I liked the romantic aspect of the book, it is the suspense-filled action that kept me turning the pages. I read this one in record time because I just had to know how the cases intersected and the identity of the bad guy(s). And boy was I surprised — something that doesn’t happen often. Blackburn created intricate plot lines that came to a credible ending. I enjoyed getting to see favorite characters from the preceding books as they all worked together to solve the cases. Blackburn explores works vs grace, as both Gabe and Anissa strive to make up for past mistakes and perceived blame. While I don’t share any elements of the main characters’ past lives, I could identify with their desire to make things right.

There’s a lot to love about One Final Breath, and one thing to hate — the series is now at an end. šŸ˜‰ But I look forward to more great books from Lynn Blackburn.

Recommended.

Audience: adults

To purchase, click HERE.

(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Audiobook Mini-Review: Hometown Girl

30 Sep

Beth Whitaker isnā€™t supposed to be a small-town girl. Sheā€™s always dreamed of leaving Willow Grove, Illinois, for the big city, but she feels trapped, struggling to make up for a mistake thatā€™s haunted her for years. Just when Beth is finally ready to break free, her sister impulsively buys a beloved but run-down farm on the outskirts of town, and she begs Beth to help with the restoration. Reluctantly, Beth agrees to help ā€” and puts her own dreams on hold once again.

Drew Barlow hasnā€™t been back to Fairwind Farm since he was a boy, and heā€™s spent all these years trying to outrun the pain of a past he thought he buried long ago. When he learns that the owner has passed away, his heart knows itā€™s finally time to do the right thing. Returning to Willow Grove, Drew revisits the old farm, where he attempts to piece together his memories and the puzzle of the crime he witnessed so long ago.

Both on a journey to find peace, Beth and Drew are surprised when they begin to experience a restoration of their own. But when long-buried secrets break through the soil and the truth unfurls, will it threaten their budding relationship ā€” and the very future of the farm?

Courtney Walsh is an author, artist, theatre director, and playwright. Just Let Go will be her eighth inspirational romance novel. Her debut, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category. A creative at heart, Courtney has also written two craft books and several full-length musicals. She lives in Illinois where she and her husband own a performing arts studio and youth theatre. They have three children.

Connect with Courtney online at her website (courtneywalshwrites.com) or on any of these social media platforms:

Facebook.com/courtneywalshwrites
Instagram.com/courtneywalsh
Twitter.com/courtney_walsh

 

My Impressions:

I had read only one book by Courtney Walsh before I was notified by Amazon that through my Prime account I could borrow the audiobook of Hometown Girl. Well of course I downloaded it immediately. I mean, what’s not to like — a wonderful author and a free book! šŸ˜‰ What I got reinforced that Walsh is a must-read author for me. Hometown Girl is a contemporary romance (not always my first choice in genre), but there is nothing fluffy about it. It is full of wonderful characters with the same struggles as you and me. Their past mistakes and failures haunt them, just as false perceptions of place and purpose keep them from finding their Why. Add a charming and close-knit community, a couple of quirky characters, and a decades-old mystery, and this book had me hooked! I’m not sure I would recommend the audio-version. Not because it wasn’t excellently read, but because you will want to read this one straight through! šŸ˜‰ I read it in 1 hour increments on my morning walks, but would have enjoyed it more if I could have read it throughout the day and the night.

I think Hometown Girl is a winner. I cannot wait to dig into more books by Courtney Walsh.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase, click HERE.

(Thanks to Amazon Prime for letting me borrow this book. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: Mending Fences

27 Sep

Every saint has a past. Every sinner has a future.

Luke Schrock is a new and improved man after a stint in rehab, though everyone in Stoney Ridge only remembers the old Luke. They might have forgiven him, but nobody trusts him.

Amos and Fern Lapp allow Luke to live at Windmill Farm under two conditions. First, Luke must make a sincere apology to each person he’s hurt — a four-page, single-spaced list. Second, he must ask each victim of mischief to describe the damage he caused.

Simple, Luke thinks. Offering apologies is easy. But discovering the lasting effects his careless actions have caused . . . that isn’t so simple. It’s gut-wrenching.

And his list keeps growing. Izzy Miller, beautiful and frustratingly aloof, also boards at Windmill Farm. Luke’s clumsy efforts to befriend Izzy only insult and annoy her. Eager to impress, Luke sets out to prove himself to her by locating her mother. When he does, her identity sends shock waves through Stoney Ridge.

614hFKkbVRL._US230_Suzanne Woods Fisher has a specialty: she writes about real people living in faith-based communities. With over 750,000 copies of books sold worldwide, she is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than twenty-five books, ranging from children’s books (The Adventures of Lily LappĀ series) to novels (The Choice) to non-fiction books (Amish Peace: Simple Living for a Complicated World).

When Suzanne isn’t writing, she’s probably playing with puppies. She’s been involved with Guide Dogs for the Blind for over fifteen years. Raising puppies, she says, is like eating a potato chip. You just can’t stop at one.

Readers are invited to stop by Suzanne’s website at: http://www.suzannewoodsfisher.com.

 

My Impressions:

As her bio states, Suzanne Woods Fisher’s strength is writing “about real people living in faith-based communities”. Whether set in a Plain community or in an historical context, her characters feel like your own neighbors, friends, and family. Mending Fences is no exception. Bringing favorite characters from past books together with new, she creates a story of second chances and new beginnings. While this novel will certainly appeal to fans of Amish fiction, it will resonate with anyone looking for a heartwarming story.

Luck Schrock has been a secondary character in a number of Fisher’s novels, but in Mending Fences he is one of the mains. Back from another stint in rehab, Luke wants a chance to prove he is a changed man. While the Amish are quick to offer forgiveness, trust is hard to come by. And for Luke it can be painful. I loved how Luke doggedly worked through making amends for his many pranks. He learned that what seemed harmless fun cost others in meaningful ways. The other main character, Izzy Miller, is looking for a brand new start in the first safe place she has lived. She is attracted to many of the aspects of a Plain life, but her old ways of thinking get in the way of grace. Forgiveness, both giving and receiving, is a strong theme. As always, Fisher liberally sprinkles humor within the pages of Mending Fences. There are laugh out loud moments combined with poignant scenes as more than one character accepts God’s love.

There’s more to come from The Deacon’s Family series as a few story lines are left unresolved. But the wait will be a short one — book 2, Stitches in Time, is due out in just a few days!. I am looking forward to seeing just what else Fisher has in store for Luke, Izzy, and the other residents of Stoney Ridge.

Recommended.Ā 

Audience: adults.

To purchase, click HERE.

(Thanks to Library Thing and Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: The Gryphon Heist

19 Sep

Talia Inger is a rookie CIA case officer assigned not to the Moscow desk as she had hoped but to the forgotten backwaters of Eastern Europe–a department only known as “Other.” When she is tasked with helping a young, charming Moldovan executive secure his designs for a revolutionary defense technology, she figures she’ll be back in DC within a few days. But that’s before she knows where the designs are stored–and who’s after them. With her shady civilian partner, Adam Tyler, Talia takes a deep dive into a world where only criminal minds and unlikely strategies will keep the Gryphon, a high-altitude data vault, hovering in the mesosphere.

Even Tyler is more than he seems, and Talia begins to wonder: Is he helping her? Or using her access to CIA resources to pull off an epic heist for his own dark purposes?

In this Ocean’s Eleven-meets-Mission Impossible thriller, former tactical deception officer and stealth pilot James R. Hannibal offers you a nonstop thrill ride through the most daring heist ever conceived.

James R. HannibalĀ (Lt. Col., USAF Reserve), isĀ  the author ofĀ Shadow CatcherĀ andĀ Wraith. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy who has flown the A-10 Warthog, the MQ-1 Predator drone, and the top secret B-2 Stealth Bomber, totaling overĀ 1000 combat and combat support hours. He regularly reviews terrorism-related nonfiction for theĀ New York Journal of Books.

 

My Impressions:

Spies, explosions, shootouts, high speed chases — you get all this and more in The Gryphon Heist by James Hannibal. I found this novel filled with plenty of international intrigue and a spot-on faith message — an book I really needed. So strap on your 5-point harness and prepare to be entertained! This one is highly recommended!

Talia Inger, a rookie CIA agent, is assigned to the worst possible department in the agency — Other. That means that the poorest Eastern European country with a ho-hum field assignment is her lot in life. Routine becomes anything but as she is swept into a a crazy scheme with even crazier partners. Talia is a character to love — idealistic, determined, and more than a bit broken by her childhood. She relies on no one but herself. The other characters in The Gryphon Heist range from an endearing tech geek to a pyrotechnic psychopath. Oh yeah, these characters are great. Ā And Talia and the reader can never be sure just who can be trusted. As to the plot, action-packed/adrenline-laced/high octane don’t even begin to describe it. I could not turn the pages fast enough as Talia and the gang sprint from place to place across Europe to prevent a huge attack against the US. Were some of the scenes extreme, even a bit impossible? Maybe. But I didn’t care — I was having too much fun. Talia’s faith journey was serious though, and Hannibal did a great job at walking her through forgiveness and grace. There are some loose ends hanging, and a sequel is due out early next year. I cannot wait!

I have been raving about The Gryphon Heist to my friends and husband, and am eager for them to read it. It’s like a James Bond movie, only better — it’s a book!

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase, click HERE.

(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: As The Light Fades

18 Sep

Sometimes weā€™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. Sheā€™s carrying a load of baggage, but as long as she pays the rent, heā€™ll let her be. Heā€™s got enough to deal with caring for his wayward niece, Mia.

Liz doesnā€™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 ā€” secrets sheā€™d hoped to keep buried forever, and heā€™s ready to reveal them. Telling the truth is the right thing to do, but it may cost her everything sheā€™s worked so hard for, and all sheā€™s come to love.

Catherine West is an award-winning author of contemporary (upmarket) fiction. When sheā€™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 one beautiful granddaughter. Catherine is the winner of the 2015 Grace Award (Bridge of Faith) and the Romance Writers of Americaā€™s Faith, Hope & Love Readerā€™s Choice Award (The Things We Knew). Where Hope Begins released May 2018, and her latest novel, As the Light Fades, releases September 2019.

 

My Impressions:

If you have read the blurb for Catherine West’s latest novel, As The Light Fades, you get only part of the picture of this multi-layered novel. Yes this is Liz’s story, but it is also Mia’s and Drake’s and . . . . You get the picture. And yet I never felt the complex plot was anything but natural. As The Light Fades is about life in all of its messiness, sorrow, and hope. A story to be savored, I highly recommend it!

As The Light Fades is told through third person points of view, the first person thoughts of Drake Carlisle, an Alzheimer victim, and teenaged Mia’s diary entries. This nuanced style gives the reader a unique perspective on all that is happening within the lives of the characters. And what characters they are — Mia, a traumatized teenager who reacts with anger and fear; Liz, hiding from a violent ex and the mistakes of her past; Drake, a once brilliant artist now locked within a mind that can’t quite grasp his current reality; and Matthew, a tremendously good guy who brings stability and security to more than one character. Along with the wonderful Nantucket setting, this book has all the elements for a good story. It is West’s deft handling that brings it up to great status. There is a lot going on in As The Light Fades, and I cannot begin to relate it without telling you the whole story. Story lines tangle themselves together, just like the stories of real life. And that is one of its many strengths. So what was my favorite part of this novel? Matthew. Realistically portrayed, Matthew has a deep faith that withstands doubts and trials. He is strong and dependable, loving and accepting, a person you would want as son, brother, uncle, and friend. He is not superman, but close enough! šŸ˜‰ He also exemplifies what a home should look like. I found the concept of home to be a strong theme — what it really means to belong to a place and people. The only negative about As The Light Fades is that I want to know more! But isn’t that what a lot of great books do? It’s keeping this reader thinking and wondering.

For women’s fiction with heart and soul, you cannot go wrong with As The Light Fades.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase, click HERE. (Free for Kindle Unlimited!)

(Thanks to the author for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: Strands of Truth

16 Sep

About The Book

Book: Strands of Truth

Author:Ā Colleen Coble

Genre:Ā Suspense

Release Date:Ā September 10, 2019

Harper Taylor is used to being alone ā€” after all, she grew up in one foster home after another. Oliver Jackson finally took her under his wing when she was a runaway teenager, and now Harper pours her marine biology knowledge into Oliverā€™s pen shell research. But sheā€™s never stopped wishing for a family of her own.

So when a DNA test reveals a half-sister living just two hours away, Harper is both hopeful and nervous. Over warm cinnamon rolls, Harper and Annabelle find striking similarities in their stories. Is it just a coincidence that both their mothers died tragically, without revealing Harper and Annabelleā€™s fatherā€™s name?

Oliverā€™s son Ridge still sees Harper as a troubled teen even all these years later. But when Oliver is attacked, Ridge and Harper find themselves working together to uncover dangerous secrets that threaten to destroy them all. They must unravel her past before they can have any hope for the future.

Suspense, romance, and generational secrets meld in this engrossing new novel fromĀ USA TODAYĀ bestselling author Colleen Coble.

 

Click here to get your copy.

 

My Impressions:

Colleen Coble is one of my very favorite romantic suspense authors. She always delivers fast-paced, twisting stories sure to keep me up way to late at night. Strands of Truth proved to be another great read. The action takes off right from the start and never stops. I loved the characters, the setting, and the very chilling plot — this one is definitely recommended!

Harper Taylor and Ridge Jackson don’t like each other and definitely don’t trust one another, but when Oliver, Ridge’s father and Harper’s mentor, is attacked they join forces to find out just what is going on. As the danger increases — and it does at an alarming pace — they cannot continue to deny their attraction to each other. Romance and peril occupy much of their time. šŸ˜‰ There are lots of plot threads that are seemingly unrelated, but become clearer as they uncover clues from the present and from the past. I really liked that aspect of the book. Not one, but two, unsolved mysteries are connected with all the present day doings. The mystery involves family connections and DNA tests and is a chilling reminder of how unstoppable an obsessed person can become. The Dunedin, Florida-area setting is dear to my heart — I spent the first year of my marriage right up the road in Tarpon Springs. Real life local sights and flavor are brought into Strands of Truth, and all I can say about that is road trip anyone? Scenes from old FloridaĀ also are incorporated into the story. I loved revisiting childhood memories as the main characters visit the mermaids of Weeki Wachee. False impressions and jealousy play a large part in the relationships between multiple characters. Coble will make you think about what the other guy is feeling. One negative I found was the farfetchedness (is that a word?) of a few of the scenes. But the mystery was too much fun for them to seriously influence my reading experience.

I finished Strands of Truth in just one day — I could not put this book down! I’m betting you’ll love it too!

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Celebrate Lit and Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

 

 

About The Author

colleen-coble-headshot-smallColleen Coble is aĀ USA TODAYĀ bestselling author and RITA finalist best known for her coastal romantic suspense novels, includingĀ The Inn at Oceanā€™s Edge,Ā Twilight at Blueberry Barrens, and the Lavender Tides, Sunset Cove, Hope Beach, and Rock Harbor series. Connect with Colleen online atĀ colleencoble.com; Instagram: colleencoble; Facebook: colleencoblebooks; Twitter: @colleencoble.

 

Read A Premium Excerpt

Suspense, romance, and generational secrets meld in this engrossing new novel fromĀ USA TODAYĀ bestselling author Colleen Coble.

Strands of Harper Taylorā€™s childhood are resurfacing ā€” but will the truth save her . . . or pull her under?Ā 

Harper Taylor is used to being alone ā€” after all, she grew up in one foster home after another. Oliver Jackson finally took her under his wing when she was a runaway teenager, and now Harper pours her marine biology knowledge into Oliverā€™s pen shell research. But sheā€™s never stopped wishing for a family of her own.

So when a DNA test reveals a half-sister living just two hours away, Harper is both hopeful and nervous. Over warm cinnamon rolls, Harper and Annabelle find striking similarities in their stories. Is it just a coincidence that both their mothers died tragically, without revealing Harper and Annabelleā€™s fatherā€™s name?

Oliverā€™s son Ridge still sees Harper as a troubled teen even all these years later. But when Oliver is attacked, Ridge and Harper find themselves working together to uncover dangerous secrets that threaten to destroy them all. They must unravel her past before they can have any hope for the future.

Suspense, romance, and generational secrets meld in this engrossing new novel fromĀ USA TODAYĀ bestselling author Colleen Coble.

ā€œFree-dive into a romantic suspense that will leave you breathless and craving for more.ā€Ā ā€“DiAnn Mills, bestselling author

ā€œAs always, Colleen Coble never disappoints.Ā Strands of TruthĀ is no exception. I was hooked from the first page. Trying to read this story slowly is impossible. Donā€™t be surprised when you find yourself flipping the pages in a hurry to find out what happens next! This one is for your keeper shelf.ā€Ā ā€“Lynette Eason, bestselling, award-winning author of the Blue Justice Series

ā€œColleen Cobleā€™s latest book,Ā Strands of Truth, grips you on page one with a heart-pounding opening and doesnā€™t let go until the last satisfying word. I love her skill in pulling the reader in with believable, likable characters, interesting locations, and a mystery just waiting to be untangled. Highly recommended.ā€Ā ā€“Carrie Stuart Parks, bestselling author ofĀ Formula of Deception

ā€œOnce again, Colleen Coble delivers an intriguing, suspenseful tale inĀ Strands of Truth.Ā The mystery and tension mount toward an explosive and satisfying finish. Well done.ā€Ā ā€“Creston Mapes, bestselling author

ā€œJust when I think Colleen Cobleā€™s stories canā€™t get any better, she proves me wrong. InĀ Strands of Truth, I couldnā€™t turn the pages fast enough. The characterization of Ridge and Harper and their relationship pulled me immediately into the story. Fast paced, with so many unexpected twists and turns, I read this book in one sitting. Coble has pushed the bar higher than Iā€™d imagined. This book is one not to be missed.ā€Ā ā€“Robin Caroll, best-selling author of the Darkwater Inn series

ā€œItā€™s in her blood! Colleen Coble once again shows her suspense prowess with a thriller as intricate and beautiful as a strand of DNA.Ā Strands of TruthĀ dives into an unusual profession involving mollusks and shell beds that weaves a unique, silky thread throughout the story. So fascinating I couldnā€™t stop reading!ā€Ā ā€“Ronie Kendig, bestselling author of The Tox Files

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Children’s Corner — The Trouble with Tryouts

13 Sep

Sister Bear is a super soccer player. She should be a shoo-in at soccer tryouts ā€¦ except for one little problem. Sister Bear is too small. Find out if Sister makes the team despite her size in this engaging early reader chapter book featuring all your favorite Berenstain Bear family and friends.

Sister is fast on her feet. She kicks the ball with the power of a cub twice her size. Yet, even Mama, Papa, and Brother think she has set her sights too high because, compared to the other cubs, Sister Bear is too small to make the team ā€¦ or is she?

Featuring all your favorite Berenstain Bear family and friends, this early reader chapter book helps kids connect plot to chapter structure, taking their love of books and reading to the next level. And, as part of the beloved Living Lights series, itā€™s the perfect segue for emerging readers and fans of the brand.

The Berenstain Bears Trouble with Tryouts:

  • Helps early readers ages 6-10 graduate from following along with picture books to reading chapter books on their own
  • Is the perfect steppingstone for readers who are ready to take the next important step in their reading comprehension
  • Includes all the Berenstain Bears family and friends who have been beloved by parents, grandparents, children, and grandchildren for decades
  • Features kid-friendly text and easy-to-read, easy-to-remember Scripture verses
  • Teaches valuable life lessons about always believing in yourself and never underestimating the power of an underdog
  • Is a fun, new book in the popular Zonderkidz Living Lights series, which has sold over 8 million copies since 2008

To purchase, click HERE.Ā 

My Impressions:

The Berenstain Bears are back in an easy-to-read chapter book for young elementary school-aged kids — The Trouble with Tryouts. The story — a soccer tryout that goes awry for Sister Bear — will definitely resonate with every reader. Sister Bear learns valuable lessons about perseverance, dedication, and going the extra mile. She expresses herself pretty clearly too — sure to elicit a few giggles, chuckles, and guffaws. šŸ˜‰ And as Sister Bear learns that sticking it out in tough situations pays off in the end, your child will be challenged by the story and the reading exercise. Engaging for both boys and girls, The Trouble with Tryouts is a great choice for practicing reading and learning life lessons.

Recommended.

Audience: early readers

(Thanks to Zonderkidz for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: The Cost of Betrayal

12 Sep

In Dee Henderson’s novella Betrayed, Janelle Roberts is freed — thanks to people she doesn’t know — after serving six years of a twenty-year sentence for a murder she did not commit. But a murderer is still at large, and Janelle needs to be somewhere safe with someone she can trust. She may not survive another betrayal.

In Dani Pettrey’s Deadly Isle, Tennyson Kent is trapped on the isolated island of her childhood by a storm surge, and she is shocked when the typically idyllic community turns into the hunting grounds of a murderer. Cut off from any help from the mainland, will she and first love Callen Frost be able to identify and stop a killer bent on betrayal before they become the next victims?

In Lynette Eason’s Code of Ethics, trauma surgeon Ruthie St. John saves the life of Detective Isaac Martinez. After a betrayal leads to him getting shot and then attacked while in recovery, Isaac is now a key witness determined to testify. But someone is intent on silencing him — and those around him — forever. Together, Ruthie and Isaac go on the run, desperate to escape the killers hunting him.Ā 

Dee Henderson is the author of numerous novels, including Immortality, An Unfinished Death, Taken, Unspoken, and the acclaimed O’Malley series. Several titles have appeared on the USA Today Bestseller list; Full Disclosure has also appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list. Her books have won or been nominated for several industry awards, such as the RITA Award, the Christy Award and the ECPA Gold Medallion. Visit her at http://www.deehenderson.com.

Praised by New York Times best-selling author Dee Henderson as “a name to look for in romantic suspense,” Dani Pettrey has sold more than a half a million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance.From her early years eagerly reading Nancy Drew mysteries, to paging through Agatha Christie novels or watching on-the-edge-of-her-seat adventure movies, Dani has always enjoyed mystery and suspense. She considers herself blessed to be able to write the kind of stories she loves — full of plot twists and peril, love, and longing for hope and redemption. Her greatest joy as an author is sharing the stories God lays on her heart. She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland, where she lives with her husband. Their two daughters, a son-in-law, and two adorable grandsons also reside in Maryland. For more information about her novels, visit http://www.danipettrey.com.

Award-winning, best-selling author, Lynette Eason writes for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line and for Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Her books have hit the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won numerous awards such as the prestigious Carol Award, the Selah, the Daphne, the IRCC award and more. Lynette is married, has two children, and lives in Greenville, SC.

My Impressions:

My book club chose The Cost of Betrayal, the 3-novella collection by romantic suspense authors Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, and Lynette Eason, for a number of reasons. We love all three of these authors, their books being some of our favorites in the romantic suspense genre, and we wanted to try something a little different. We have never chosen to discuss a novella collection before. I presume we will have a mixed bag of opinions ā€” and a lively discussion!

All three stories in The Cost of Betrayal are classic examples of the three authorsā€™ works. Betrayal by Dee Henderson features fan favorite characters Ann and Paul Falcon as they delve into a closed murder case. This is more of a mystery, than suspense. I liked the various scenarios that the characters examine for what really happened years before. Deadly Isle by Dani Pettrey is almost all action with murders, storms, and danger around every corner. The author introduces new characters in this story. Lynette Eason returns to her Blue Justice series with the novella, Code of Ethics. Dr. Ruthie St. John, the only non-law enforcement member of the large St. John family becomes embroiled in a life and death case with Det. Isaac Martinez. The sparks fly, and the twists and turns are rapid.

The Cost of Betrayal is a good choice for fans of romantic suspense/mystery who want a quick and easy reading option. Because of their novella length, the stories take off at a brisk clip without a lot of backstory or character development. However, each one was entertaining and perfect for an evening escape.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase, click HERE.

(Thanks to Bethany House for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Audiobook Review: Flood Watch

5 Sep

The tide is high, and so is the danger on Lantern Beach.

Still in hiding after infiltrating a dangerous gang, Cassidy Livingston just has to make it a few more months before she can testify at trial and resume her old life. But trouble keeps finding her, and Cassidy is pulled into a local investigation after a man mysteriously disappears from the island she now calls home.

A recurring nightmare from her time undercover only muddies things, as does a visit from the parents of her handsome ex-Navy SEAL neighbor. When a friend’s life is threatened, Cassidy must make choices that put her on the verge of blowing her cover.
With a flood watch on her emotions and her life in a tangle, will Cassidy find the truth? Or will her past finally drown her?

USA Today has called Christy Barritt’s books “scary, funny, passionate, and quirky.”

A Publishers Weekly best-seller, Christy writes both mystery and romantic suspense novels that are clean with underlying messages of faith. Her books have sold almost two million copies, and one is currently being developed as a movie.

Christy’s books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery, have been twice nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, and have finaled for both a Carol Award and Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year.

She’s married to her prince charming, a man who thinks she’s hilarious–but only when she’s not trying to be. Christy’s a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who’s known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado.

Christy currently splits her time between the Virginia suburbs and Hatteras Island, North Carolina. She loves spending time with her husband, her two sons, and her four dogs.

For more information, visit her website: http://www.christybarritt.com.

My Impressions:

Cassidy Livingston is back in the second book in Christy Barrittā€™s Lantern Beach Mysteries series, Flood Watch. In this quick-paced novel, Cassidy and hunky nextdoor neighbor, Ty, join forces to investigate a missing persons case that could just be murder. Cassidy is a west coast detective in hiding as she awaits testifying in a big gang case, but it seems she cannot resist getting involved in the mysterious doings in the small North Carolina beach community.

There is much to like in Barrittā€™s book. It definitely has a cozy feel with its quaint, touristy town setting. The beach scenes are a bonus for those who need a staycation with their reading. šŸ˜‰ The characters are engaging, and the budding romance between former Navy SEAL, Ty, and Cassidy adds the perfect amount of tension. Cassidy has a backstory that is a continuing thread ā€” this gives an extra layer of suspense and danger to the story. The mystery kept me guessing right to the end, a big plus in my book. There is a very subtle faith thread woven throughout the book. Cassidy is not a believer, but she is being wooed in several ways. I found this to be very natural. I listened to the audiobook version of Flood Watch. I really liked the reader and felt her tone and delivery fit the sassy and quick-witted Cassidy very well.

So if you are looking for a mystery to take you away, Flood Watch is a good bet. It is the second book in the series, and with the continuing thread, I suggest it should be read after book 1.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase, click HERE. (Currently FREE for Kindle Unlimited.)

(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions are mine alone.)

 

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Husband Approved — Outbreak

29 Aug

I have come to the sad realization that I cannot possibly read all the books. šŸ™ I never dreamed that day would come. Now that doesn’t mean I won’t try! šŸ˜‰ But still, so many deserve to be read and read NOW. That’s where friends and family come in. I received a surprise copy of Outbreak by Davis Bunn a month or two ago and was so disappointed that I could not dive into it right then and there. But when my DH said give me a book to read, I handed it to him without a moment’s hesitation. You will find a few of his thoughts below the book blurb and author info.

 

The waters off the West African coast are a menacing red, full of algae thick enough to stand on in places. In nearby villages, mysterious deaths start to occur — and the panic mounts. But before an alarm can be sounded, the sea currents shift, the algae vanishes, and the deaths stop. Everyone is relieved when things return to normal, and local government officials are happy to sweep the publicity nightmare under a rug.

An American biological researcher, Avery Madison, is dispatched by his employer to piece together exactly what happened, having long feared an ecological disaster just like this could occur. He’s had little evidence to go on before now, and what he finds in West Africa is rapidly disappearing. But Avery knows the danger hasn’t disappeared — it has just moved on.

Davis Bunn is a four-time Christy Award-winning, best-selling author who serves as writer-in-residence at Regent’s Park College, the University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom.

Defined by readers and reviewers as a “wise teacher,” “gentleman adventurer,” “consummate writer,” and “Renaissance man,” his work in business took him to over 40 countries around the world, and his books have sold more than seven million copies in sixteen languages.

 

Thoughts on Outbreak from my husband:

A quick and easy read, Outbreak has the right amount of suspense to keep the reader engaged. And there is little romance to get in the way šŸ˜‰ . Characters are generally likable, but there are plenty of bad guys to keep the story interesting. The subject matter — deadly algae blooms and viruses — was unique and interesting. And the Asheville, North Carolina setting brought back memories of trips to that city. My husband’s verdict — recommended! Although, he did say it wasn’t as good as To Kill A Mockingbird (his favorite book), but definitely better than Moby Dick. LOL!

Husband Approved And Recommended.

Audience: adults

To purchase, click HERE.

(Thanks to Bethany House for complimentary copy, and to my husband for reading it. All opinions are his alone.)

 

 

 

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