Book Review - When a Secret Kills by Lynette Eason

Lynette Eason kills it again! With each book I read, she became one of my favorite authors, as every romantic suspense she writes has me on the edge of my seat turning pages before I can finish the last sentence. I absolutely have to know what's happening next.

When a Secret Kills is the final book in her Deadly Reunions series. Every book has been gripping, but this one tops them all. I couldn't put it down.

Here's the back cover copy, in case you'd like to check it out:

Investigative reporter Jillian Carter knows it's time to put the past to rest. She's tired of looking over her shoulder, letting a killer go free. She's no longer the scared kid who changed her name and disappeared. Now, no matter what the cost, Jillian must do what she is trained to do - find the truth and expose it. And the truth is that Senator Frank Hoffman committed murder ten years ago - and Jillian watched it happen. Didn't she?

Let me tell you, Senator Hoffman is one scary man. When Jillian teams up with her high school flame, Colton, they work together to get the proof they need to attempt to bring Frank to justice. More than one friend is in danger (and has been in the past two books). And there's another element to the book that makes the tension even stronger, but I won't give it away.

Curious? Here's where you can get a copy:
CBD
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Book Review - The Survivor by DiAnn Mills

One of the things I love about DiAnn Mills' stories is the complexities of her characters. There are only two main characters in The Survivor - Kariss Walker and Tigo Harris - but every other character involved in this intense suspense novel has just as many facets to their stories as Kariss and Tigo. I also love that even the relationships are tense. There isn't a slow spot in this book.

I also love that DiAnn touched on one tough topic in this novel: a fallen pastor. I always prefer novels with something to say about our world, and The Survivor does not disappoint.

I highly recommend The Survivor. It's full of action, suspense, and tension. It'll keep you turning pages and wondering just how the story will end.

Here's the back cover copy for your perusal:

In The Chase, award-winning author DiAnn Mills introduced you to the world of Kariss Walker, the bestselling suspense author with a nose for trouble. In The Survivor, Kariss gets the chance to tell her most powerful story yet. But will it revitalize her writing career? Or bring it to a violent end?

Kariss meets Dr. Amy Garrett, who survived a brutal childhood attack in which the assailant was never found. Now Dr. Garrett wants her story written in a novel. Kariss wishes she could seek the advice of Special Agent Tigo Harris, but she broke off the relationship a few months prior and seeing him again would be too painful. She interviews Amy and conducts her own research, stepping unaware into danger.

Tigo misses Kariss and wants her back, but he understands why they broke off their relationship. Instead, he concentrates on solving a car bombing and bringing the killer to justice. As Kariss's new story attracts an onslaught of danger that she never expected, can Tigo save the woman he loves and find who wants her dead for writing about an unsolved cold case?

You may find a copy here:
Amazon
CBD
Barnes and Noble

Book Review - Placebo by Steven James

Placebo…a fake drug used in controlled research. Placebo…the subject of Steven James’ latest novel. Nothing fake about that.

Unlike James’ Patrick Bowers thrillers, Placebo is a medical thriller. However, you will find many of the same elements he included in the Bowers books within this new series about Jevin Banks. Jevin Banks has a female co-worker who appears to be his love interest. He also has a good friend. The characters are interconnected and work together to solve the case. The villains are just as creepy, and the answers still aren’t always clear. I hung on the edge of suspense all the way through this novel, just as I did reading the Patrick Bowers series.

The one thing I noticed in Placebo is the amount of information shared concerning technical medical terminology and procedures. At times, it felt like I was reading a textbook more than a novel, but the information seemed necessary in order for me to understand what was going on within the plot. It did tend to slow the story down, though.

Otherwise, I kept turning the pages to find out what happened next. Jevin Banks is an intriguing character who is dealing with the grief of losing a spouse and asking the deep questions that coincide with such sorrows of life. The opening chapter is the best opening chapter I’ve ever read in a novel. I would totally keep reading this new series and look forward to the next book.

*Available November 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

To purchase your copy, please visit one of the following retailers:

CBD

amazon

Parable

Barnes & Noble

Please Note: I received a copy of Placebo from the publisher for review purposes. I am not required to give a positive review. It is my intent to give my readers a thoughtful review. Thank you for reading this one!

Book Review - When a Heart Stops by Lynette Eason

A gentle edge. That's what I think of when I read Lynette Eason's suspense novels. She keeps you on the edge of your seat, but her words have a gentle tone to their suspense. The killer is sick, but quietly so. The characters are nervous, but not frantically so. This makes for that gentle edge.

In When a Heart Stops, Serena Hopkins, medical examiner. Not much bothers her until a serial killer begins killing her high school classmates and leaving notes. As she and FBI agent Dominic Allen begin to work the case together, her life is threatened. Are the notes for her? Are they for someone else? And what, exactly, do they mean? What if Serena and Dominic can't catch the killer before they succeed in their threats against her life?

One coy killer is on the loose, and Lynette Eason will keep you flipping pages through the final chapter of the book to find out who it is. You'll think you'll know and then you'll doubt you're right.

Because this is a Deadly Reunion novel, you may wish to keep a list of character names. It's been awhile since I read When the Smoke Clears. Several of the cast from that are the same cast for When a Heart Stops. It took me a few chapters to figure out who everyone was again and how they were connected. Having a list of the characters' names would help keep them straight between the two books.

I always enjoy Lynette's stories. If you like suspense thrillers but don't like a lot of gore or blunt detail, you will enjoy her novels.

Available October 2012  at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

You could purchase your copy at one of the following retailers:
CBD
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

*Please note: I received a copy of When a Heart Stops from the publisher for review. I am in no way bound to providing a positive review of the novel. However, I enjoy books rather often, and Lynette Eason has written something I enjoy reading, so I give her my thumbs up and share my review with you.

Presents, Presents Everywhere!

I apologize for posting this late. I've been busy, busy, busy this week!

Our first Christmas giveaway winner is...Glenda Parker!!! Glenda, please contact me with your address. My email is: amoralescmc@yahoo.com. Congratulations! I'll get that in the mail to you right after the Thanksgiving holiday.

My second gift to one lucky reader is...

An autographed copy of A Pheromone Affair. This book is near and dear to my heart for two reasons. One, my dad wrote it. Two, he hired me to edit it.

Audrey Leclaire is on vacation in Israel when her trip is interrupted by a telegram from her grandfather.

While Audrey's grandfather breathes his last breath, disclosing a family secret that's been kept for his lifetime, George Gorman is diligently working on a pheromone which he intends to use to answer the Jewish Question.

Audrey must head back to Israel on a mission to resolve her grandfather's honor. Will she be able to stop a madman and save a nation before the pheromone is released or those who want her dead succeed?

If you would love to check out this exciting read, please leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing what you think of it!!!

Book Review - Dry as Rain by Gina Holmes

Summary

Eric Yoshida has worked hard to provide a great living for his family – but at what cost? Over the years he distanced himself from the wife he meant to spend the rest of his life with, finally committing the ultimate betrayal of their love.

All seems to be over until Kyra loses part of her memory in a car crash. Will Eric have a second chance at love? Or will Kyra remember his wrongdoing and ask him to leave forever?

My Review

Gina Holmes delivers another heartfelt story in Dry as Rain. Although this one didn’t bring me to tears like Crossing Oceans did, I enjoyed reading Dry as Rain. It evoked a desire to give Eric a good talking to, yet it produced a yearning for Kyra to find forgiveness, as well.

Tackling the issue of adultery, Gina didn’t water it down, make excuses for it, or glorify it. She told it like it is. Not every story has a happy ending, and I applaud her realistic look at a marriage gone wrong. There is no fluff in this novel, and that elevates her as a true storyteller in my eyes. She didn’t candy coat the circumstances surrounding her characters. They are incredibly believable, and reading the novel played like a movie in my mind.

I highly recommend Gina Holmes’ novels. If you are looking for women’s fiction dealing with real life issues and an honest, believable approach to them, her books are for you.

Win My Copy of Dry as Rain

Because I love Gina's books so much, I'm going to give away my copy of Dry as Rain. One lucky blog reader will receive this gently read copy. I apologize, but it does have a crease in the cover. Apparently the bottom corner folded up or under when I placed it in my bag one time. However, the pages are clean and ready for your enjoyment!

All you need to do is leave a comment below answering the following discussion question found at the back of Dry as Rain:

Can you think of a time in your own life when you were afraid to be honest with someone?

Don't forget to leave me a link to your blog or email address, Twitter handle, some way for me to get in touch with you should you win. Thanks for entering! The winner will be announced October 1st. You have until September 30th to enter your comment.

To Purchase Your Own Copy of Dry as Rain:

amazon

Barnes & Noble

CBD

Please note: I received a complimentary copy of Dry as Rain from Tyndale House Publishers for the purpose of writing this review. Although I am not required to provide a good review, I can honestly say that I enjoy Gina Holmes' novels and will continue to read them as she has them published.

Book Review - The Queen by Steven James

Synopsis:

FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers is sent to a small town in the middle of nowhere in northern Wisconsin. While investigating the murder of one man, he is called out to investigate the double homicide of a woman and her daughter - the husband is nowhere to be found - or at the bottom of an icy lake.

The Queen follows Pat as he begins to uncover a high-tech conspiracy, chases down suspects, and deals with his own personal life all at the same time.

My Review:

The Queen is part of a series, preceded by The Pawn, The Rook, The Knight, and The Bishop. I confess that I haven't read any of the previous Patrick Bowers thrillers. BUT, after reading The Queen, I will be going back and reading through the entire series. I love a good crime-related suspense, and Steven James delivers with The Queen. 

It took me a few chapters to enter into the thrill of the story. Although James opens well, I struggled to figure out who was who until around the sixth chapter. This is probably just me, and if I'd read the previous books, I might have known sooner. Once I figured it out, the story took off, and I couldn't put it down. He had me guessing who the mysterious Valkyrie was all the way to the very end.

I had the honor of meeting Steven James at the 2010 Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. I admire his enthusiasm for the craft of writing, and it shines through in his novel. He masterfully switches from Special Agent Bower's first person view to the third person view of his criminals and his loved ones. It makes the character-filled story easier to navigate.

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

To purchase The Queen, please visit:

Revell

amazon

Barnes & Noble

CBD

Please note: I was provided a free copy of The Queen from Revell for the purposes of this review. I was not required to provide a good review, and I believe by crafting a great story, Mr. James has earned the five stars I've awarded him.

Book Review - The Muir House by Mary DeMuth

Mary DeMuth has written a page-turner that had me holding my breath as I turned the next page. I questioned, "What happens next?" more than once throughout reading The Muir House.

Meet Willa Muir. An interior decorator who's been "cutting" since she was a young girl. A woman afraid to commit her life to another, because she has a hole in her existence. She can remember every year of her life, but one...

Hale wants to marry Willa, as well as see her whole. He's reminded her of her need for Jesus, but he can't convince her to marry him. So he lets her go.

As Willa returns to the Muir House in Texas, will she be able to fill the hole in her past, find forgiveness for those who've never loved her, and find her home?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Muir House by Mary DeMuth. DeMuth's characters are so real they could live next door. One of the things I love about her writing is how much truth about human nature is embedded in every word she puts on the page. This is what keeps me turning pages like I check my facebook home page. I want to know what happens next. I want to see what's going on in her character's lives. I want more. And I get it.

Mary has a way of writing that keeps the answers a chapter away. In order to find out what the new connection is, one has to keep reading. She mentions one thing at the start of the book, and it isn't until the end that it all comes together and back around to the first thing.

I highly recommend The Muir House for summer reading or your Christmas wish list. Then pass it on to a friend. I know I'm going to!

Get your copy here:

amazon - http://tinyurl.com/Muir-House-Amazon

Barnes and Noble - http://tinyurl.com/Muir-House-B-N

CBD - http://tinyurl.com/Muir-House-CBD

Find Mary DeMuth here:
Blog - Live Uncaged
Facebook - Author Mary DeMuth 
Twitter - Mary DeMuth


***Disclaimer*** I received a copy of The Muir House from Zondervan via Mary DeMuth. I wasn't required to write a positive review, but I couldn't help myself. The quality of the writing is so fantastic! Five light bulbs from me!

Book Review - Someone to Blame by C.S. Lakin

The Moore Family recently moved to Breakers, a small town in the Pacific Northwest, fleeing the heartache of lost loved ones. Their family is fragile, and one wave crashing them against the cliffs could break them – unless the walls around their individual hearts came down.

Billy Thurber has recently shown up in town, as well, selling firewood off the back of his pickup truck. When he arrives, so does trouble. The people of Breakers don’t like the glare in his eyes or the attitude he carries. So when the trouble starts, all the fingers point to Billy…except for one.

Will one person’s compassion set Billy’s heart free from his past? Will the once-quiet town of Breakers find peace again?

In Someone to Blame, C.S. Lakin provides a full cast of characters with real issues. She provides just enough description for the readers mind to envision the coastal fishing town and the surrounding mountains, allowing the reader to imagine the rest. I enjoyed the small-town pace of the book. The action is just enough to keep one wondering what’s coming next, if anything else could go wrong, and who’s to blame for what the town is going through. Once the action peaks, it drops off again as evidence from the once sleepy town is revealed. But keep reading, because the end of the story is the best part of the book.

Lakin sprinkles revelations of God’s love, grace, and forgiveness throughout the story. The tale she tells moved my heart more than once.

Someone to Blame is a fresh story filled with twists and turns resembling the coastal roads it is set against. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I give it four out of five light bulbs.

To find out more about C. S. Lakin, visit her website here: 
http://www.cslakin.com/

Find your copy of Someone to Blame here:

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/Someone-to-Blame-Amazon

Barnes and Noble: http://tinyurl.com/Someone-to-Blame-BnN

CBD: http://tinyurl.com/Someone-to-Blame-CBD