Spotlight On Mystery — Deliver Us From Evil . . . And The 6 O’Clock News

14 Feb

If you like mysteries, check out the first book in the Brentwood Women Mystery series by W. H. Adair, Deliver Us from Evil . . . And The 6 O’Clock News.



Hildegard “Hildy” Brentwood, a 50-year-old University PR executive at Gulf State University, is faced with her toughest assignment–discover who killed her faculty friend Adrienne and student assistant, Bobby, before the university and the police shut down the investigation labeling Adrienne guilty of murder/suicide.

She enlists the help of her CEO mother Victoria and her investigative journalist daughter Grace to comb through the possible suspects–Adrienne’s misogynistic department chairman, her violent ex-husband, a smarmy journalist, or perhaps someone from her past involved in her 20-year-old rape. They uncover myriad secrets in both Adrienne’s and Bobby’s past, any of which could have been motive for murder.

Taking on the university leadership and the campus and Houston Police departments, Hildy is attacked and threatened before they uncover the truth behind the violent deaths.

Hildy and her family look into the highest and lowest realms of Houston to find answers, with a little help from their fur-buddies: Victoria’s greyhound, Minuit; Hildy’s white schnauzer, Shasta; and Adrienne’s Russian blue feline, Catrina, who is adopted by Grace.

From author W. H. Adair:

I began a lifelong love of reading before kindergarten. My earliest memories include going to the library or bookmobile and bringing home a box of books…every week. I was raised on Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Wizard of Oz, Black Beauty, and other works of mystery and wonder. Not surprising I would work to solve mysteries and answer questions in my own writing.

My connection to words led to a career in public relations and marketing. Armed with degrees in communication, business and library science, I held senior management positions in higher education, winning numerous local, regional and national marketing awards while working at both the University of Houston and Texas Southern University.

After forty years writing non-fiction, including a 175-page history of the University of Houston, I retired and finally turned to creating fictional worlds. With the help of a Writer’s League of Texas five-day retreat and the eighteen-month long Online Certificate in Novel Writing program at Stanford University, I embraced both retirement and novel writing. The result of which is The Broken Hallelujah.

When I’m not slaving over my computer, I spend time in my backyard garden and with my crazy fur babies, Jade, my yappy but huggable white schnauzer, and her best friend, Yara, a gorgeous and unflappable Russian blue feline.

Currently, I’m working on a couple of mysteries. One set at a university…involving three generations of strong women determined to clear a friend of a murder/suicide charge. The newest one involves a woman who was a foundling and now works for a tabloid newspaper, trying to work her way into mainstream media. I’m have a great time sending up some favorite academic places and people in my fictitious university. My forty years in academe opened many doors, introduced me to an amazing variety of characters, took me around the world from Houston to Alaska and Nigeria to Beijing, and offered many an outrageous tale to provide a plethora of plots.

Mini-Book Review — The Orchard

13 Feb

The Orchard by Beverly Lewis is an Amish novel set during the Vietnam War. This turbulent time affected not only the English, but the Amish community. In order for Amish men to stay faithful to their faith and avoid the draft, they had to register as conscientious objectors. But for Evan Hostetler, the choice is not an easy one. He and his twin sister, Ellie, have an idyllic life living on the farm their family has managed for generations. In Ellie’s eyes the choice is simple, but her simple world becomes more and more difficult to navigate with Evan’s decision. The message of the book seemed to be that the Amish way of life was simple and good and that any other way of living was wrong. Ellie’s character is naive and her world small. There is conflict and tragedy, but in the end the author seemed to be saying that if Evan had just followed the teachings of his church, all would have been well. Perhaps. But the Amish church is not perfect, nor is it without problems — as are all churches. I felt that the book presented a one-sided, simplistic view of the world. Beverly Lewis is a much beloved and successful author, so check this book out for yourself and decide whether to read it.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

For generations, Ellie Hostetler’s family has tended their Lancaster County orchard, a tradition her twin brother, Evan, will someday continue. Yet when Evan’s draft number is called up in the lottery for the Vietnam War, the family is shocked to learn he has not sought conscientious objector status, despite their Old Order Amish belief in non-resistance. The faraway war that has caused so much turmoil and grief among their Englisher neighbors threatens too close to home.

As Evan departs for boot camp, Ellie confides her disappointment toSol Bontrager, the brother of her best friend and cousin to her new beau, Menno. In contrast to Evan, Sol is a conscientious objector. Despite Ellie’s attraction to Menno, she finds herself drawn to Sol’s steady presence as they work together in the orchard. Suddenly, it feels as if everything in Ellie’s world is shifting, and the plans she held so dear seem increasingly uncertain. Can she and her family find the courage to face a future unlike any they could have imagined?

Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, has more than 17 million books in print. Her stories have been published in 12 languages and have regularly appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today. Beverly and her husband, David, live in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, making music, and spending time with their family.

Top 10 Tuesday — Love Freebie!

13 Feb

Happy Tuesday! It’s a Love Freebie on TTT, and boy did I have a hard time coming up with a topic! I have done a lot of these posts — Love Letters, Love in The Title, Kiss in The Title, Heart in The Title, etc. I’m not a big romance reader, so finding inspiration from my shelves seemed fruitless. With a little brainstorming I came up with a bouquet of books. My husband often gives me roses (my favorite) on Valentine’s Day, but he never gives me books. LOL! Roses die unfortunately, but books are the gift that keeps on giving. So my list is a book bouquet you can give yourself today, tomorrow, and forever!

For more inventive Love Freebie posts, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Titles for A Book Bouquet

Burying Daisy Doe by Ramona Richards

Daisies Are Forever by Liz Tolsma

Gardenias for Breakfast by Robin Jones Gunn

Leaving Lavender Tides by Colleen Coble

Orchid House by Cindy Martinusen

Reclaiming Lily by Patti Lacy

The Rose And The Thistle by Laura Franz

Sea Rose Lane by Irene Hannon

Snow in The Tulips by Liz Tolsma

Yellow Roses by Susie Waltner

Spotlight On Historical Romance — Nellie

12 Feb

Nellie Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Nellie by Amy Walsh, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Nellie

Title: Nellie
Series: Apron Strings #2
Author: Amy Walsh
Publisher: Walsh Mountain Publishing
Release Date: February 15, 2024
Genre: Historical Romance

Finances are tight for the O’Dwyer family who live on a mountain outside of Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1931. Life gets even harder when their beloved Dadaí must cease work as a coal miner to become a patient at the West Mountain Sanitarium.

Nellie is her preferred name, but family and friends have heard Mam shout “Fenella Aileen O’Dwyer!” all too often with the countless predicaments she got herself into throughout childhood. So, it’s not altogether surprising when Nellie impulsively accepts a job as an assistant cook at the Clarinda House in a case of mistaken identity — though she’s the last person her family would ask to prepare a meal.

Fortunately, along with determination, a talent for acting, and the gift of blarney, Nellie has Mrs. Campbell’s Cookery Book, a treasure she discovered at a Red Cross drought relief sale.

As her reluctant admiration for her employer grows, Nellie wishes she could be the sort of truthful woman of faith that Mr. Mason Peale esteems. If she confesses all, will she lose her job along with the friendships she’s formed at Clarinda House?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

Excerpt

She turned to her side to observe her brother. What a darling profile. His tiny snores lifted his hair away from his forehead, making her smile even though her mind was spinning faster than Uncle Bernie’s Model T wheels down West Mountain. 

So much to consider. From light-hearted memories she’d made over the past few days to burdens she didn’t want to carry.

She rolled onto her back again and rested her hands under her head. Why had God decided to create poplars just as He had? With leaves that bristled and danced in the faintest wind even when other trees stood solemn and immovable. Was there a message from the Creator in these heart-shaped leaves with silver underbellies? In how from a distance these trees looked like a swarm of joyful fairies celebrating sunlight?




About The Author

Amy Walsh

Amy Walsh writes historical and contemporary romance, mysteries, speculative fiction, and women’s fiction. She is a 5th-grade writing teacher in an urban public school. Amy and her husband, Patrick, have three children. Amy considers herself greatly blessed in the roles God has given her as an earthling, including aspiring wordsmith, teacher of youngsters, nature appreciator, tea aficionado, avid dessert fan, book fanatic, lover of family and friends, and Christ-follower.

Connect with Amy by visiting walshmountainpublishing.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a $50 Amazon gift card, print copies of Nellie and Voices in the Sanitorium, and some historical memorabilia from the West Mountain Sanitarium!

Nellie JustRead Tours giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 12, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 19, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

Spotlight On Contemporary Romance — Fall When You’re Ready

9 Feb

Fall When You're Ready JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Fall When You’re Ready by Jennifer Carr, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Fall When You're Ready

Title: Fall When You’re Ready
Series: Real American Country #1
Author: Jennifer Carr
Publisher: JCarr Writes
Release Date: February 1, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Clean Romance

Rachel never wanted to get in the way of Jordan’s dreams, but they were supposed to chase their dreams together. They made promises and swore to remain best friends through it all. But, just as all good things must come to an end, it would seem that applies to promises as well. When Rachel and Jordan end up on separate paths toward their own versions of success, they each learn the hard way that letting go is easier than it sounds. But when those paths bring them both home, all of those promises come flooding back and they have to decide whether it’s worth the risk to reopen the chapter they closed on their story so long ago.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

Excerpt

The End. I thought I had penned those two words for the last time, closing the book on a chapter I thought was final. Little did I know that fate had a plot twist in store for me, a surprising turn of events that would breathe new life into the pages of my heart and my stories.


About The Author

Jennifer Carr

A wife, mom, author, marriage and family counselor, a former AP Psychology teacher, and a podcaster, Jennifer Carr draws from her life experiences and imagination to connect with her readers and listeners through the written and spoken word.

Married to her childhood best friend and the mom of a creative daughter, Jennifer enjoys a quiet life on their farm in Alabama.

When she’s not wearing one of her many hats, you’ll find her tucked away with a book and what’s likely her third coffee of the day.

Connect with Jennifer by visiting jcarrwrites.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a signed copy of Fall When You’re Ready and a 6-month Kindle Unlimited Membership!

Fall When You're Ready JustRead Tours giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 6, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 13, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

First Line Friday — The Rhythm Of Fractured Grace

9 Feb

Happy Friday! I am pleased to feature The Rhythm of Fractured Grace by Amanda Wen today. I so much enjoyed the first two books in her Sedgwick County Chronicles series, that I jumped on the chance to read/review book 3. These dual timeline novels set in Kansas are so good! My review will be posted later this month.

But for now, here’s the first line . . .

This was not how Matt Buchanan’s life in Wichita was supposed to start.

Is Siobhan too far gone to respond to the song of a God who’s calling her back to him?

When a new customer brings a badly damaged violin into Siobhan Walsh’s shop, it is exactly the sort of challenge she craves. The man who brought it in is not. He’s too close to the painful past that left her heart and her faith in shambles.

Matt Buchanan has had a rough start as the new worship pastor. A car accident on his way into town left him with a nearly totaled truck, and an heirloom violin in pieces. When he takes it to a repair shop, he’s fascinated with the restoration process–and with the edgy, closed-off woman doing the work.

As their friendship deepens and turns into more, they both discover secrets that force them to face past wounds. And the history of the violin reveals more about their current problems than they could have ever expected.

On the nineteenth-century frontier, a gruesome tomahawk attack wiped out most of Deborah Caldwell’s family. Her greatest solace after the tragedy is the music from her father’s prized violin. Given her horrendous scars, she’d resigned herself to a spinster’s life. But Levi Martinson’s gentle love starts to chip away at her hardened heart, until devastating details about the attack are revealed, putting their love–and Deborah’s shaky faith–to the ultimate test.

Full of forgiveness and the message that no one is too damaged for God’s healing touch, the final book in the split-time Sedgwick County Chronicles will thrill fans of Rachel Hauck, Lisa Wingate, and Kristy Cambron.

Amanda Wen’s novels have released to both reader and critical acclaim, including a 2023 Selah Award for The Songs That Could Have Been and a Foreword Indies Gold Award and a Christy Award nomination for Roots of Wood and Stone. In addition to her writing, Amanda is an accomplished professional cellist and pianist who frequently performs with orchestras, chamber groups, and her church’s worship team, as well as serving as a choral accompanist. A lifelong denizen of the flatlands, Amanda currently lives in Kansas with her patient, loving, and hilarious husband, their three adorable Wenlets, and a snuggly Siamese cat.

Book Review: Letters From My Sister

8 Feb

Valerie Fraser Luesse immediately became a favorite author with her debut novel Missing Isaac. I make sure I read everything this talented author of Southern historical fiction writes. I finished Letters from My Sister a few days ago, and I just can’t let this story go! It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me think — all positives in my book. Find out more below.

Two Sisters. One Single Event. A Family Changed Forever.

At the turn of the twentieth century, sisters Emmy and Callie Bullock are living a privileged life as the only daughters of a wealthy Alabama cotton farmer when their well-ordered household gets turned upside down by the arrival of Lily McGee. Arrestingly beautiful, Lily quickly–and innocently–draws the wrong kind of attention. Meanwhile, Callie meets a man who offers her the freedom to abandon social constraints and discover her truest self.

After Lily has a baby, Callie witnesses something she was never meant to see–or did she? Her memory is a haze, just an image in her mind of Emmy standing on a darkened riverbank and cradling Lily’s missing baby girl. Only when the sisters are separated does the truth slowly come to light through their letters–including a revelation that will shape the rest of Callie’s life.

Valerie Fraser Luesse is the author of four novels set in the South: Christy Award winner Missing Isaac (2018), Almost Home(2019), The Key to Everything (2020), and the upcoming Under the Bayou Moon (August 2021), all published by Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. An award-winning magazine writer, Luesse is perhaps best known for her feature stories and essays in Southern Living, where she wrote major pieces on the Mississippi Delta, Acadian Louisiana, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Her editorial section on the recovering Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, photographed by Mark Sandlin, won the 2009 Travel Writer of the Year award from the Southeast Tourism Society. Luesse earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Auburn University and Baylor University, respectively. She is a native of Harpersville, Alabama, and lives in Birmingham, where she is the senior travel editor for Southern Living. Find her online at valeriefraserluesse.comfacebook.com/valeriefraserluessebooksbakerpublishinggroup.combookbub.com/authors/valerie-fraser-luesse; and goodreads.com

My Impressions:

I absolutely loved Letters from My Sister by Valerie Fraser Luesse. An historical novel set in rural Alabama, it features the large and rambunctious Bullock family, especially the two daughters, Callie and Emmy. The book takes place in the early years of the twentieth century — there’s some technology and medical/scientific insight, but no cell phones, automobiles, or social media to distract the characters and readers. I found the look at a large family in a small community to be refreshing. But don’t think this book doesn’t have any deep themes. The characters are left to confront loss, prejudice, identity, and purpose. The male characters add a lot to the narrative — color, wit, and some romance — but the women’s stories are the heart of this novel. The author draws on the relationships within her own family to inspire the book, but as pointed out in the afterward, Callie and Emmy and Hepsy and Lily and Tirzah are their own people. And this is what I really loved about Letters from My Sister. The characters became very real to me. That’s probably why I didn’t want to let them go as I read the last page. I rejoiced as Callie grew, I mourned with the family’s losses, I was angry when evil men seemed to get their way. and I was relieved as justice prevailed. There is also a spiritual element that is very special. It may not be conventional for the modern reader, but it points to a God who sees and is active in our lives.

Letters from My Sister does not begin with a bang. Its slow pace fits the story — it fit my reading mood and took its time to touch my heart. The only negative is that the story had an ending. 😉 My book club is discussing this book later in the month. I sure am glad, because this book just begs to be talked about.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

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

Children’s Corner — Two From Zonderkidz

7 Feb

Zonderkidz publishes great books for kids. They offer faith-based stories you can trust for the whole family. Today, I am featuring two books — God, I Feel Scared and The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible Search And Find. Find out all about them below.

Kids have big feelings, but none of their feelings are too big for God. In this picture book from licensed counselor Michelle Nietert and Tama Fortner, young readers will explore what it means to feel scared and discover how to manage their emotions in a healthy way.

Scared is a feeling that can be hard to face, but if we listen to it, we can learn things about ourselves. In God, I Feel Scared, children will discover that it’s okay to be scared and that God is with us in all things, including fear. With simple, accessible text, scared becomes an emotion that kids don’t need to avoid and instead something they can use to better understand themselves and grow closer to God. The bright, emotive art by Nomar Perez will draw kids in, and a note in the back provides tips and techniques parents and caregivers can use to help young children process their feelings in a beneficial way.

God, I Feel Scared teaches kids ages 4 to 8 how to:

  • Identify the feeling of fear and recognize things that can make them feel scared
  • See signs of fear in others
  • Develop techniques to manage fear
  • Embrace fear and new experiences without letting it overwhelm them
  • Talk to God about their feelings

God, I Feel Scared is perfect for:

  • Helping young kids develop positive ways to manage and name their feelings
  • Children dealing with changing emotions, new experiences, or anxiety
  • Family read-aloud time
  • Supporting good communication and mental health habits at an early age

My Impressions:

God, I feel Scared by Michelle Nietert and Tama Fortner explores everything about being scared. I loved the comprehensive way the authors talk about this very real emotion. They talk about what makes us scared, how the body and mind react, our responses to fears, and ways to cope. Their emphasis on facing fears with help from family, friends, and God is spot-on. The illustrations go along beautifully with the narrative. This is a book for parents and children to read together. I found it helpful in instructing adults to understand their children’s fears and the best way to go about helping their kids overcome them.

God, I Feel Scared is a great resource for the family library!

Highly Recommended.

Audience: kids ages 4-8 and their parents.

(I received a complimentary copy from Zonderkidz. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Tama Fortner is an ECPA award-winning and bestselling author with more than sixty titles to her credit, including her latest releases the Everyday Joys Devotional; God, I Feel Sad; God, I Feel Scared; and Simply Christmas: A Busy Mom’s Guide to Reclaiming the Peace of the Holidays.

As a ghostwriter, Tama has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Christian publishing to create inspirational books for children, teens, and adults. But her greatest accomplishments happen in a happy little home on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her family and a feisty little pup who is convinced he’s people too.

Michelle Nietert has been a licensed professional counselor for over 25 years and the coauthor of the award-winning book Loved and Cherished: 100 Devotions for Girls and Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life and soon to be released God I Feel Sad: Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God series.

She leads of team of counselors as the clinical director of Community Counseling Associates in the Dallas, Texas area. A popular speaker on topics regarding mental health, faith, and parenting, she is a frequent guest on national television and podcasts, including her own “Raising Mentally Healthy Kids.”

She and her husband Drew have been married almost two decades and have two school-aged children.

Connect with Michelle at www.yourmentalhealthcoach.com. 

Search and find through your favorite Bible stories with the Berenstain Bears! Readers will love exploring each and every page of this interactive book and discovering all the carefully hidden objects. Perfect for quiet time, traveling, summer reading, or any time, The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible Search and Find will deliver hours of fun while also building important skills, such as concentration, reading comprehension, attention to detail and early math skills like counting 1-10.

The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible Search and Find—part of the popular Zonderkidz Living Lights series of books—is perfect for:

  • Children ages 3-6
  • Quiet time, boredom busters, road trips, stocking stuffers, Easter baskets, or other gift giving occasions
  • Kids who love puzzles, games, and activities

The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible Search and Find is an addition to the Living Lights™ series that:

  • Features the hand-drawn artwork of the Berenstain family
  • Continues in the much-loved footsteps of Stan and Jan Berenstain in this Berenstain Bears series of books
  • Is part of one of the bestselling children’s book series ever created, with more than 250 books published and nearly 300 million copies sold to date

My Impressions:

Kids love the Berenstain Bears! And they will love the Storybook Bible Search And Find book! Eight favorite Bible stories are presented with a brief synopsis and instructions to find and/or count specific images found in the two page spread. What a great way to introduce God’s story, plus stir your child’s imagination with the highly detailed illustrations. This is a sturdy boardbook too, so it will withstand many little hands! I can see this book being used as a family devotional — telling a familiar Bible story and talking about it as the family examines the pictures. Plus it reinforces essential basic skills in reading and comprehension.

This one would be great to include in an Easter basket or as a birthday gift.

Recommended.

Audience: kids ages 3-6 and their parents.

(I received a complimentary copy from Zonderkidz. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Top 10 Tuesday — Quick Reads!

6 Feb

When time is short, but you still want to read, I think the best choice is a novella. I don’t read a lot of novellas; I really prefer a full length novel. But I do appreciate a quick read during those busy times of life. Novellas and novella collections have been my go-to for a quick reading getaway from all the hustle and bustle of life. A novella is also good when you want to try out a new author. My list includes novellas in a variety of genres, so no matter what you are in the mood for, there’s a book for you.

For more quick reads from bloggers, head over to That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Quick Reads

Better Watch Out by Natalie Walters

The Christmas Heirloom (novella collection) by Karen Witemeyer, Kristi Ann Hunter, Sarah Loudin Thomas, and Becky Wade

Her Country Gentleman (novella collection) by Sian Ann Bessey, Sarah M. Eden, and Rebecca Connolly

Medical Mystery by Richard L. Mabry, MD

Protecting Tanner Hollow (novella collection) by Lynette Eason

The Shifting Current by Dani Pettrey

Targeted (novella collection) by Lynette Eason, Lynn Blackburn, and Natalie Walters

The Unbroken Song by Jennifer Q. Hunt

Book Review — Into The Fire

6 Feb

Into The Fire by Irene Hannon was my book club’s first selection of 2024. Although Hannon is a favorite of our members, we have never read one of her books together. Into The Fire was certainly a good choice! We liked this twisting romantic suspense.

As a former smokejumper, arson investigator Bri Tucker knows her way around fires. But after a mysterious blaze takes the life of a former colleague, Bri inherits a curious puzzle from him that raises questions about several fiery deaths. Someone, however, doesn’t want her picking up where he left off in search of answers. 

When she teams up with ATF Special Agent Marc Davis to solve the puzzle, the danger escalates. But will they manage to track down the person behind the mysterious deaths before their budding romance–and maybe even their lives–go up in flames?

The bestselling and award-winning queen of romantic suspense is back with a brand-new series that is sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you burn through the pages to discover the truth.

Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than 65 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. In addition to her many other honors, she is a three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of RWA’s elite Hall of Fame and has received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Millions of her books have been sold worldwide, and her novels have been translated into multiple languages.

My Impressions:

Into The Fire is the first book in a new series for multi-published author Irene Hannon. Hannon has long been a go-to author for romantic suspense, and this book was a great choice for some adrenaline-laced reading! The book starts out with a bang as readers are introduced to an unknown bad guy with arson and murder on his mind. Following this thrilling prologue, main characters Bri, an arson investigator, and Marc, an ATF agent, are introduced. They are on the case of a fire that took the life of a well-respected retired arson inspector. Bri has doubts that the fire that caused his death was accidental — the mystery and suspense take off from there. I read a lot of suspense novels, and I found Hannon’s choice of subject matter and character occupations refreshing. The investigation is complicated by mishaps designed to distract Bri, but the two characters are very determined and professional. This is a romance too, so there are plenty of sparks (sorry, not sorry) between the main characters, even as they navigate baggage from their pasts. The danger ramps up quickly and the pace of the book accelerates, making this book a page turner! Hannon will keep you guessing as you question everyone’s actions and motives.

If you are looking for a romantic suspense that will keep you up past your bedtime 😉 , then Into The Fire should make your list.

Recommended.

Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)