Tag Archives: Suspense

Canyon of Deceit by DiAnn Mills – Interesting Read Filled with Mystery, Intrigue, Suspense

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Canyon of Deceit by DiAnn Mills is the first book I’ve read by this author and I didn’t know what to expect.  The description drew me in and the mystery, intrigue, and adventure kept me engaged.

Therese Palmer received a call from Professor Rurik Ivanov desperately seeking her help to find his daughter Alina who had been kidnapped.  With the few details he gave her, she knew she needed help.  Therese was certain that Rurik wasn’t forthcoming with the facts, and she reached out Texas Ranger Blane Gardner for help.  Between her wilderness survival skills and Blane’s hostage negotiating experience, perhaps they could do the impossible.  Could they safely rescue Alina from kidnappers who were hiding the Guadalupe Mountains National Park?  They were about to find out.

Canyon of Deceit was action packed and filled with mystery and intrigue, from beginning to end.  There was no shortage of action or bad guys from the Russian organized crime, to the drug traffickers, to the Russian government looking for one of their own who was seeking asylum in the United States.  The storyline was rather convoluted and instead of trying to figure it out, I went along and let the story unfold. 

Therese, Blane, Alina, were very likable characters.  My favorite was Blane’s boss Major Sergio Montoya and I would like to see a book with Sergio as the main character.  I enjoyed how the story was written in the characters’ own voices.  Rurik Ivanov was interesting, but I wasn’t sure if he had good intentions or why he continued to withhold information that would help get his daughter back safely.  I found the wilderness hiking and survival section very interesting.  The author does a good job describing the scenes. 

I appreciated that the Christian faith was a part of the storyline and the characters’ lives.  The story involved kidnapping, murder, espionage, defection, drug trafficking and more.  The violence mentioned in the book but it does not go in to graphic detail, but beware if that’s something you don’t want to read about.

Canyon of Deceit by DiAnn Mills was an interesting read and the storyline was engaging.  I would like to read more novels by this author.

I would like to thank Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Canyon of Deceit by DiAnn Mills.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

Final Approach by Lynette Eason – Action and Suspense with Some Likeable Characters

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Final Approach by Lynette Eason is the fourth book in the Lake City Heroes series. 

Air Marshal Kristine Duncan is officially off duty.  She and a group of friends are flying down to Key West for vacation.  She is looking forward to some much-needed rest, fun, and spending time with friends.  Hopefully, getting better acquainted with FBI Special Agent Andrew Ross. 

Even though she is off duty, out of habit Kristine is scanning fellow passengers.  Everything seems normal until one man catches her attention.  Something seemed off about him.  Suddenly, what should have been a short uneventful flight has become a hijacking.  Thankfully, Kristine’s friends are there to help!  Looks like vacation plans will be put on hold. 

I liked having the characters and friendships from earlier books carried over.  I wanted to see their friends have more interaction with Kristine and Andrew.  I appreciated that faith played a part in the story.  At one point Kristine was contemplating how she should respond to her parent considering what the Bible says about how children should honor their parents.  Interesting since the father daughter relationship had some major issues.  I liked Kristine’s care and commitment to her siblings and Andrew’s relationship with his family and seeing him reunite with a friend

There’s a lot of action and suspense in this book with several plotlines.  Some are red herrings that dropped off later.  It stretched the imagination, especially Kristine’s story.  I would like to have seen the story with the hijacker’s family, especially his son, resolved more fully.  Would also have liked to have seen the connection between Kristine and Andrew developed more.  Don’t recall if it was focused on in the first three books. 

Final Approach by Lynette Eason was action packed and filled with suspense and some likable characters.  Liked some of the other books in Lake City Heroes series more.  But if you are a Lynette Eason fan and like action and suspense, you will want to read Final Approach. 

I would like to thank Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Final Approach by Lynette Eason.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

The Beijing Betrayal by Joel C. Rosenberg – Un-put-downable, Will keep you up late at night!

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The Beijing Betrayal by Joel C. Rosenberg is the sixth and final book in the Marcus Ryker series.  This novel picks up where the last book, The Libyan Diversion, left off.  The United States had experienced a deadly terrorist attack by Abu Nakba and his terrorist group Kairos.  They nearly achieved their aim at taking out the President of the United States, the Pope, and as many American as they could.  If it had not been for Marcus Ryker and his team, they may have succeeded.  As it stands, far too many people were killed and injured.

When it becomes known that Abu Nakba, and his terror group Kairos, are still operational President Carlos Hernandez calls on the CIA’s elite team lead by Marcus Ryker to once and for all take out this terror threat.  Intelligence indicates that Abu Nakba and Kairos are operating in Pakistan.  Marcus and his team plan out their mission, but things did not quite go as planned.  When the team makes a horrifying discovery that the terrorists are working to weaponize the Cerberus virus their only option is to destroy the lab.  That explosive decision will make their covert mission a little harder to conceal from both friends and foes. 

Later, it discovered that Abu Nakba escaped and his terror organization is back up and running.  President Hernandez will need the CIA’s elite team to hunt down and destroy this terror group.  After the last mission, Ryker’s team is exhausted and working non-stop to try and find Nakba.  Who is funding this operation and to what end?  Is it the Russians, Iran, and how does China fit into the equation? 

Joel Rosenberg is one of my favorite writers.  He has a way of capturing the reader’s attention from the get-go.  The Beijing Betrayal is jam packed with action and suspense.  What would have once seemed an implausible story, now the possibilities seem all too real.  Joel is good at describing scenes and you can almost imagine it in your mind. 

My favorite part of the book are the characters.  Marcus Ryker is a very likable character.  He is intense and passionate about his work, cares about the people he works with, and is committed to the work they do.  I love the relationships between Marcus and his family, friends, teammates.  Even though there is plenty of action, suspense, and intrigue, it is the characters that keep my attention.  I liked the relationship between Marcus and Annie, the love and respect they have for each other.  I was rooting for them!  I liked the times where Marcus and Annie were able to talk and reflect on their relationship.  Something I appreciate about reading a book by a Christian writer is that it is clean, has no profanity, and the characters speak about their faith and try to live it out.  The Christian Gospel was shared. 

Since the story is about a terrorist group and their leader, the book has some violent scenes.  But Joel does not focus on the blood and gore.  With the aspect of the weaponization the Cerberus virus designed to kill people, it was rather disturbing.  But in what we have seen over the past 25 plus years, the thought of evildoers resorting to something like this is a very real possibility. 

Since I knew this was the last book of the Marcus Ryker series, I did not know how it would end.  Happy or sad?  As the action winds down in the story, Joel did not skimp on the ending.  He took time wrap things up with the characters readers have come to know and care about.

I highly recommend The Beijing Betrayal by Joel C. Rosenberg, especially for those who enjoy geo-political thrillers and Christian fiction.  It is filled with non-stop action that will keep you up late at night.  The Beijing Betrayal is un-put-downable!  You know a book is good when you are thinking about it when you are not reading it.  I look forward to reading the next book that Joel writes.  If you haven’t read all the books in the Marcus Ryker series, you may want to consider doing so. 

I would like to thank Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read complimentary a copy of The Beijing Betrayal by Joel C. Rosenberg.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

Storm Warning by Elizabeth Goddard – Filled with Mystery, Intrigue, Suspense – May keep you up at night

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Storm Warning by Elizabeth Goddard is the first book in her Hidden Bay series.  This book is action packed from the get go, filled with mystery, intrigue, and suspense. 

Remi Grant first came to Cedar Trails Lodge when she was searching for a safe haven where she could escape from those trying to find her.  These days Remi works as the manager of the lodge.  The lodge is fully booked with guests who are here to watch the storm of the decade come ashore with winds and waves battering the Pacific Northwest coastline.

If it was up to her, Remi would not be on the beach with the storm coming in.  But she was trying to find a guest’s tiny yorkie.  Time is running out and Remi is reminded she can go up a rope ladder.  A few feet from the top Remi notices the rungs of the ladder are broken and the rope is shredded.  As she considers her options, she hears a voice, “Grab my hands now before it’s too late.”  The stranger, Hawk Beckett, caught her wrist as Remi is paralyzed in fear, and he pulls her to the top.

Former Night Stalker and military helicopter pilot Hawk Beckett was able to book the last cabin before the storm came in.  A friend had told him that he might find the answers he was looking for at the Cedar Trails Lodge.  Remi would like to remember what happened two years ago.  Hawk would like to forget the painful memories of the past couple of years.  Despite feeling leery of Hawk, it seems Remi will need to trust him to help protect her from whoever has finally tracked her down. 

Hawk Beckett was my favorite characters.  I like that he was ready, willing, and able to do whatever he had to do to protect Remi.  With all his military and security training he was the right man for the job.  With the resources that Hawk has available, he is not the average Joe.  In that sense, realism is a bit of a stretch.  Sometimes that is okay and why I am reading fiction.  There was no shortage of potential bad guys, with suspects at every turn.  I had inkling who the bad guy may be and it seems as though not everyone is who they first seem to be.  Faith was a small part of the story and I would have liked to have had that play a bigger part in the character’s lives.  Overall, I liked the book and enjoyed the mystery and suspense.  It kept me up late on more than one night. 

From page one, Storm Warning is action packed and filled with mystery, intrigue, and suspense.  It is fast paced and may keep you up at night until you unravel the mysteries.  If you like intrigue, mystery, and suspense you may want to read Elizabeth’s Goddard’s newest book Storm Warning. 

I would like to thank Revell Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Storm Warning by Elizabeth Goddard.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

Serial Burn by Lynette Eason – Action-packed, mystery, and intrigue with a little romance

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Serial Burn by Lynette Eason is the third book in the Lake City Heroes series.  This novel is action packed from beginning to end.  Characters from two earlier books are included, but it works well as a stand-alone book.   

It has been twenty years since Jesslyn McCormick lost her parents and sister in an arson fire.  She has made a public vow to find out who murdered her family.  As a Fire Marshal, Jesslyn is dedicated to help bring justice to those who lives have been impacted by arson.

When a local church has been set on fire Jesslyn has been assigned to the investigation.  Because a church was attacked it is considered a hate crime and FBI Special Agent Nathan Carlisle has been assigned to work this case.  Will they be able to find out who started this fire and stop them before more people are endangered and damage is done?  When more fires are started in Lake City evidence indicates it is the work of a serial arsonist.  When Jesslyn has some close calls at fire scenes, she is concerned that she is being targeted by the arsonist.  

This book has lots of action, suspense, and mystery throughout the story.  Both main characters, Jesslyn and Nathan, have some serious issues from their individual lives that they are trying to work through.  The cases they are working on are bringing those issues to the forefront.  There is attraction between the two main characters, but they realize that for now that is something that will be put on hold.

I really liked the support network of friends that were part of their lives.  Friends that were introduced to readers in the first two novels of this series.  I liked how Jesslyn and Nathan were able to build a relationship and begin to trust one another.  Faith was a part of the story.  I would have like to have seen it play a bigger part.  Perhaps in the form of examining their thoughts and actions compared to what the Bible says how a believer should respond.  Or a friend who is a solid and very caring Christian speaking truth to them. 

There were some heavy emotions and situations in this book.  In addition to those who perished in fires, there was adultery, guilt, anger, resentment, unforgiveness, and thoughts about self-harm.

Overall, I liked the book and enjoyed the suspense and whodunit.  I appreciated the supportive friendships the characters had.  If you enjoy mystery, suspense, and whodunit novels, you may want to read Serial Burn by Lynette Eason. 

I would like to thank Revell Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Serial Burn by Lynette Eason.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.  Serial Burn will be released on January 21, 2025.

Over the Edge by Irene Hannon – Filled with Mystery and Suspense

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Over the Edge is Irene Hannon’s second book in the Undaunted Courage series.

Lindsey Barnes recently moved St. Louis.  She made the move following traumatic incident that she desperately wants to put behind her.  Her business as a person chef is doing good.  But a chef without her knives is not going to be very productive.  So, Lindsey makes plans to stop at the home where she left her equipment. 

The homeowner is not there, only a construction worker is in another area.  Lindsey spots her knife roll on the kitchen counter.  As she come around the island, she encounters a man dead on the floor surrounded by blood.  Before she can react, she hears someone in the guest bathroom and she quickly hides under the island countertop.  Soon after the suspect leaves, Lindsey calls 911.  Another nightmare has begun.  Even though she is the only witness, Lindsey does not want to go through this again!

I liked the mystery and suspense in the book, it kept me guessing right up to the end.  Most of all, I liked the characters.  Especially Detective Jack Tucker and the relationship he had with his sisters Bri and Cara, they are a very caring and closeknit family.  Bri was featured in the first book of the series, Into the Fire.  I appreciated how Jack and Lindsey worked through issues, and opened-up with one another.  Jack was willing to investigate Lindsey’s claims that someone was might be targeting her because she was the only witness.  I appreciated that the novel was clean and faith was included in the storyline. 

One of the things that did not make a lot sense was Lindsey repeatedly talking to her friends about the developments in the case.  Police standard procedure is to caution the witness to not speak about the case with anyone.  When a character does something that does not make sense, it seems like it was included to add an element of danger. 

If you like a good whodunnit, filled with mystery and suspense with a little romance, you may want to read Irene Hannon’s newest book Over the Edge. 

I would like to thank Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Over the Edge by Irene Hannon!  I was provided a complimentary copy of the eBook, but was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

Target Acquired by Lynette Eason – Suspense, Mystery, and a Little Romance

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Target Acquired by Lynette Eason is the second book in the Lake City Heroes series.  It has two-timelines, one dates to the 1940’s and one takes place in the present.  The characters are from several families whose lives intersect both in the past and present day in the fictional town Lake City, North Carolina.  Like many families, life can be complicated and relationships are impacted.  Especially when sinful emotions like bitterness, anger, resentment are allowed to fester. 

The story starts out in the 1940’s with Eliza Crane who finds herself in state-run mental hospital and locked in her room.  She is hopeful that her friend Betsy will come to see her again, she is like a lifeline.  Eliza is being held against her will because of the allegations her father made that she tried to harm herself.  She is desperate to get out so she can be with her fiancé William. 

Fast forward to current day and we meet SWAT medic Kenzie King.  The SWAT team is under the leadership of Sergeant Cole Garrison.  Kenzie and Cole have known each other and their respective families since they were young.  Kenzie has had a challenging time trying to fit in with the team.  She is the only woman and a couple of the men are not sure she is the right person for the job.  It is causing division and they need to be able to work together as a team and have each other’s backs.

Added to the challenges of her new position, Kenzie seems to be the target of someone who is out to get her.  The attacks keep on happening and she is not safe in her own home or on the job.  Is it someone on the team that wants her to leave?  Or is it a stranger who wants her dead? 

I liked Cole’s character the best.  He was caring and developing good leadership skills.  Kenzie’s background is explained so we can understand her motivations.  She was intent on being tough and proving herself.  But I would like to have seen her character more fully developed.

I liked the suspense and mystery while trying to figure out who done it.  I enjoyed the friendships between the characters that were brought back from the first novel in this series, Double Take.  The friends were caring and supportive of each other.  It was a bit of a challenge to keep the characters straight because there were a lot of characters between the two timelines.  Thankfully, at the beginning of the book, the characters are listed with a brief description.  I would have liked have seen the character’s faith more developed.  Faith was briefly mentioned, but was not a big part of the story.

I would like to thank Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Target Acquired by Lynette Eason.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

Fatal Witness by Patricia Bradley – Interesting Plot, But the Story Got Bogged Down

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I enjoy suspense and mystery novels and was excited to read Patricia Bradley’s newest book Fatal Witness, the second book in the Pearl River Novel series.  A cold case, family secrets, a repressed memory, and a family seeking justice makes for an interesting mystery. 

At age nine, Danielle witnessed her parents’ murders and was whisked away by her uncle Keith.  It has been twenty-five years and Dani has no memory of the events that changed her life.  Her uncle has protected and insulated her from all possible danger.  While she has no memory of her family, she inherited the natural artistic talents of her grandmother Mae.  The subject of a recent magazine article, Dani has been invited to attend an artist workshop in Cincinnati.  Though Dani has no memory of her early life, her grandmother has never forgotten her, nor stopped looking for her.  Seeing the article in the pottery magazine, Mae is certain that Dani may be her long-lost granddaughter. 

I found the storyline intriguing.  I liked Dani and was curious about her uncle Keith and how he would react to Dani venturing out on her own.  I liked her grandmother Mae who was willing to press law enforcement to investigate this cold case and find her granddaughter.  Law enforcement officers in the remote area of Tennessee were stretched thin and had a lot of area to cover.  But Mark Lassiter with his K-9 companion Gem, along with Alex Stone and her team would do what they could investigate this cold case and protect those in danger. 

Once Dani is back in Tennessee, things heat up and it appears the murderer will stop at nothing to protect their secrets.  At this point in the story, it seemed to get bogged down.  I struggled with the last half of the story. There were a lot of characters and potential suspects to weed through.  There were some strategic errors made by law enforcement several times.  Some risks and decisions that were made were not logical.  As a former military sharp shooter, I found it interesting that Mark allowed himself to be distracted. 

Faith was a small part of the story and a Bible verse was focused on in times of danger.  I would like to have seen Mark’s faith more fully developed and part of the story. 

I liked the storyline and characters in Fatal Witness, but found the story dragged in the last half of the novel. 

I would to thank NetGalley and Revell Publishing for the opportunity to read Patricia Bradley’s book Fatal Witness.  If you enjoy Patricia Bradley’s writing and like mysteries and intrigue, you may enjoy this book.  I was provided with a complimentary copy of Fatal Witness.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

One Wrong Move by Dani Pettrey – Interesting Storyline, Likeable Characters, But Too Many Characters and Subplots

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I enjoy reading mystery and suspense books and was excited to read Dani Pettrey’s newest novel One Wrong Move, the first book in the Jeopardy Falls series. 

Christian O’Brady’s received a frantic phone call from his client Tad Gaiman about a break-in and theft at his art gallery in Jeopardy Falls.  Christian had installed state of the art security system at all three of Gaiman’s art galleries.  When Christian arrived on the scene, he learned that the impenetrable system was compromised by his client and a mystery-women he had met the night before.  Christian will be working with Sheriff Brunswick and insurance investigator Andi Forester to find out what happened.  When news comes out about break-ins at Tad’s other art galleries, this case just got a lot more complicated.

The premise of this storyline is interesting and many characters were likeable.  There was a lot going on in this story.  There were a lot of characters, Christian’s brother and sister worked with him, along with a work associate.  Christian’s brother Deckard knew of Andi, but under a different name, and what he knew about her was not good.  Andi had a lot of baggage and had left her last job with the FBI under a cloud of suspicion.  Not a lot of people believed in her innocence, except for friend Harper. 

Andi was not the only person with personal baggage.  Christian, Deckard, and their sister Riley had a rough start and had battled putting their past and the memories behind them.  It seems like everyone’s past was coming back to haunt them.

I had some problems with this book from the start.  At the beginning there are two brutal murders that take place and were told from the point of view of the bad guys.  It seemed over the top and especially ugly which surprised me in a book from a Christian writer and publisher.  It did not make the story better and I thought about putting the book down.  There were multiple bad guys and keeping track of them was challenging. 

There was a whole lot of past baggage with the main characters, almost everyone of them.  They were likeable, but it was a lot of issues to get through.  Perhaps the volume of issues took away from the storyline. 

The Christian faith was somewhat included, but was not deeply developed.  The physical attraction between some of the character could have been toned down some.  There were some illogical decisions or risks that were taken that did not make sense.  I didn’t quite believe the ending.  With two brutal murders and other violence in addition to major high end art theft, it did not seem logical that law enforcement would be on site to get the bad guys. 

There were elements that I liked in One Wrong Move, likeable characters, and an interesting storyline.  But it was overwhelmed by the number of characters with lots of baggage and details.  I like Dani Pettrey’s writing, but this story kind of detracted from itself by the volume of characters and subplots. 

I would like to thank Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of One Wrong Move by Dani Pettrey.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

Double Take by Lynette Eason – Action Packed Suspense

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I enjoy mystery and suspense novels and was excited to read Lynette Eason’s newest book Double Take.  This is the first book in her new Lake City Hero series.  This book will grab your attention from the get go. 

Lainie Jackson is a physician’s assistant at a hospital in Lake City, NC.  After stopping to check on a friend, Lainie headed to work on a rainy day.  A driver behind her was intent on passing and clipped her car which sent her car over the side of the mountain.  After calling 911, Lainie noticed a man peering over the edge of the road.  A man that looked like Adam, her former fiancé who was dead.  Or was he?

Detective James Cross and his partner, Cole Garrison responded to a domestic violence call.  James wants to do whatever it will take to get the children out of a very dangerous situation, including putting himself in the line of fire.  After sustaining injuries, James was taken to the hospital where he was treated by Lainie, his sister’s best friend.  Perhaps they can reconnect and help each other.

There was a lot going on in this story.  Lots of characters and relationships that were intertwined.  Some healthy and some not so good.  Both Lainie and James had a lot of baggage from their past, from family issues and PTSD that had left emotional scars.  It seemed like there some “blame the imperfect parents” that caused their children to have issues going on.  I don’t know any perfect families and life sure can be messy. 

Yet, I liked how Lainie was honest, straight forward, and respectful.  I appreciated how James evaluated how he had erred in his response to his father and how his father was willing to look at his own actions.  I liked the main characters, they seemed like decent, kind, and caring people.  They had good friends who were supportive and tried to be there for them, people they could trust.  I appreciated that Lainie did not do stupid things that unnecessarily put herself at risk and she was open to receiving help. 

The characters were likeable.  The storyline was a bit of a stretch on believability.  But I wanted to know whodunnit and why.  I liked how the characters grew and developed during the story.  There were some twists and turns, intense situations, and serious subject matters.  Topics like domestic violence, attempted murder, suicide, and dysfunctional families.  Faith was a small part of the story.  I would have like to have seen faith, trust and dependance upon God, and prayer more fully developed in the characters. 

If you like suspense and mystery, you may want to read Double Take by Lynette Eason.  I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading future books in the Lake City Hero series. 

I would like to thank Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Double Take by Lynette Eason.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

Into the Fire by Irene Hannon – An Interesting and Satisfying Read

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Irene Hannon has become one of my favorite writers.  I enjoy her romance stories and suspense novels.  That is why I was excited to read her newest book Into the Fire, the first book in the Undaunted Courage series.

Bri Tucker was scheduled to meet with retired arson investigator, Les Kavanaugh, to review several cases he thought merited further investigation.  Instead, she finds herself at Les’ home investigating a fire that has taken his life.  The next day Bri reluctantly accepts help from ATF Agent Marc Davis.  After Bri and Marc examined the scene, both agree that there wasn’t much of anything to suggest arson.  Just that nagging feeling that something is not right.  Though Bri and Marc find each other attractive, each has their own emotional baggage that may make developing a personal relationship difficult. 

I really liked this book.  I found the investigation of a fire very interesting.  What makes a fire suspicious vs accidental, and what information is relevant in an arson case.  I liked the characters.  At first, I wasn’t too keen on Bri.  But as her background was unveiled, I grew to appreciate her.  Marc was a wonderful character, kind, caring, wise, and protective.  Also enjoyed the Bri’s sister and brother and their close, and supportive relationships.  Loved Marc’s grandmother, such a sweet, wise, and caring woman. 

I did not suspect who the bad guy was.  Interesting that the story begins with the perspective of the arsonist.  About two thirds of the way through the story the bad guy is revealed, which causes the reader to look forward to seeing how the characters will solve the case.

Faith was part of the story, especially with Marc’s character.  I would like to have seen it even more with other characters. 

With the mix of an interesting plot, likeable characters, mystery, suspense, and romance, Into the Fire by Irene Hanson was an interesting and satisfying read.  I recommend it.  The book will be released on October 17, 2023.  

I would like to thank Revell Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Into the Fire by Irene Hannon.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

Countdown by Lynette Eason – Mixed Reaction

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I have enjoyed several novels by Lynette Eason and was excited to read her newest release Countdown, the fourth book in the Extreme Measures series. 

Raina Price works as a flight paramedic along with her friends Penny and Holly.  Raina had to reinvent her life due to an abusive relationship from which she had escaped.  To protect herself and her loved ones there is no going back.  While watching sports news Raina sees a young snowboarder who is the spitting imagine of the man from whom she escaped.  If she has seen Michael Harrison, surely the boy’s father will see him and figure out who he is.  How can she protect the boy?  Raina’s been feeling spooked lately, like someone has watching her.  US Marshal Vincent Covelli is concerned and wants to help Raina.  Will she accept his help or try to go it alone?  How can Vincent and law enforcement help protect Raina from a man whose true-identity and whereabouts are unknown?

This book had a lot of twists and turns.  The action and intrigue did not stop until the end. 

What I liked about the book: I appreciated the friendships that Raina had with Penny and Holly and their friends.  They were a closeknit group and there for each other, through thick and thin.  I liked Vincent, he was a very caring and patient man, ready to put himself in danger to protect Raina. 

What I struggled with: Countdown really stretched the imagination on believability.  I understand that there are evil people out there who are intent on causing harm and destruction.  But to have someone keep track of a person for many years, as well as those with associated with her, was not believable.  To be able track when she called a person after many years, who has the resources to that? 

It did not make sense that Raina who has been in constant fear for her life, especially following an incident, would come home and not lock the garage door.  Come on!  The logic on why the bad guy was doing what he did, it was a stretch too.

I would like to have seen the characters’ faith a bigger part of the story.  Instead, it seemed cursory. 

There were things I liked about Countdown and some things I was not too keen on.  I like Lynette Eason‘s writing, but Countdown was not my favorite.  If you are a fan of Lynette Eason and have read the earlier books in this series, you may enjoy it. 

I would like to thank Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Countdown by Lynette Eason.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

Double Indemnity by Robert Whitlow – Missed the Mark

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I had the opportunity Robert Whitlow’s newest book Double Indemnity, which will be released June 6, 2023.  Since I enjoy mysteries, suspense, and legal thrillers, I’ve read and enjoyed Robert Whitlow’s other books. 

Double Indemnity takes place in Bryson, a small town in Georgia.  The story begins with pastor Connor Grantham hiking through the woods, part of it on private property.  When he spotted a massive buck with antlers passing by, he took a video.  Suddenly he encountered a hunter who stumbled and fell.  Assuming the man was pursuing the deer Connor thought nothing of the chance encounter. 

The story then goes back three weeks prior and leads up to the present time.  Readers are introduced to Liz Acosta who works for Pollard and Associates law firm.  She is relatively new to the community.  Sometimes Liz feels like she was hired because of her ability to speak and translate Spanish.  But now she has an opportunity to represent a new client, Elena Thompson, who is seeking legal counsel regarding her troubled marriage and a possible divorce.  Elena and her husband Matt are in marriage counseling with their pastor Connor.  It’s an understatement to say that both Liz and Connor will be challenged in their jobs to handle Elena Thompson and the ever-widening chaos and drama that swirls around her. 

I was looking forward to reading Double Indemnity, but I really struggled to get through this book.  It was very slow in story development.  But the biggest stumbling block for me were the main characters.  I didn’t like Connor, Elena, Matt and felt neutral about Liz.  When I don’t like or connect with the characters, I’m probably not going to like the book.

Connor Grantham was a pastor who developed his sermons based on his experiences in nature and found Scripture to make the point of his illustration.  He seemed drawn to mysticism and experiences, rather than sound Bible teaching.  He lacked wisdom and discernment, especially in his dealings with Elena.  He seemed surprised that by trespassing he was violating the law and was a suspect in the murder of Matt Thompson.  Not to mention he returned to the scene of the crime multiple times.  He seemed to jump whenever Elena said jump and would ask how high.  Something that made no sense to me was when he touched and removed evidence from a potential crime scene.

Elena was probably one of the most dislikable characters I’ve read about in a long time.  Innocent or guilty, she was terrible.  She treated everyone like they were at her beckon call and most everyone went along with her.

Liz showed some common sense and reason, especially compared to the other characters.  Some of the secondary background characters were likeable. 

The story dragged through a good part of the story.  I couldn’t understand why there was so little support for Connor from his friends and congregation.  Then it seemed like the story came to an abrupt conclusion.  It was only at the end that friends came alongside Connor and tried to help him. 

If you are a Robert Whitlow fan or like legal suspense stories, you may like this book.

I wanted to like this book.  But I found Double Indemnity hard to read because the story dragged, moved ever so slowly, and most of the main characters were not likable.  Sound Christian faith was lacking in this book.  Because of that I don’t recommend this book.

I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Double Indemnity by Robert Whitlow.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

Critical Threat by Lynette Eason – Suspense and Intrigue, But Falls Short

Posted in Extreme Measures Series, Intrigue, Lynette Eason, NetGalley, Revell Publishing, Revell Publishing Group, Suspense by

Critical Threat is Lynette Eason’s third book in the Extreme Measures series.  I enjoy suspense and intrigue novels and looked forward to reading this new release. 

It appears that there may be a serial killer loose in Virginia.  FBI Special Agent and behavioral analyst Grace Billingsley and prison psychiatrist Sam Monroe team up to help the Critical Incidence Response Group to find this murderer before he takes the life of another innocent person.  Details of the case have been withheld from the public.  But when a prisoner has information about the crimes, Sam and the team want to find out what he knows and if he is involved.  Sam brings a unique perspective to the case because his father is a convicted serial killer and was recently transferred to the same facility where Sam works. 

The serial killer aspect of this story makes the novel rather dark.  It was interesting trying to understand how the team puts together a profile of the murderer.  I liked the interaction between Grace and Sam.  Grace was not put off by Sam’s family background.  She was compassionate and caring towards him.

What I found off-putting about the story was Grace.  She was a brave woman, but didn’t use a lot of wisdom or common sense.  After the killer sees her at a crime scene, he repeatedly tries to get to Grace.  Though she has been targeted and has some protection, she makes several poor decisions, making her vulnerable to attack.  The folks that were providing protection did a poor job, because multiple times the killer was successful in getting to Grace. 

When a character repeatedly puts themselves at risk and fails to use common sense, I stop caring about them because the story feels manipulating.  I would rather someone be smart over being brave. 

Both Grace and Sam had family issues going during the height of the case.  To some degree it gave the reader a better understanding about the characters.  It may have taken away from the main storyline. 

There wasn’t a lot of the Christian faith included in the novel.  Grace’s attempt to help Sam’s daughter understand about good and evil fell short.  Her explanation about the devil and sin seemed more filled with human psychology, rather than sound theology about a sovereign and holy God and sin and repentance. 

The storyline was interesting, had a lot of suspense and intrigue.  It was also dark and disturbing.  At times, the story seemed drawn out and repetitive.  Grace putting herself at risk, over-and-over again, didn’t seem realistic.  Nor did the FBI failing to protect a target.

I enjoy Lynette Eason’s suspense novels, yet Critical Threat wasn’t my favorite.  Would I recommend it?  If you like Lynette Eason’s writing, you may want to give it a try. 

I would like to thank Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Critical Threat by Lynette Eason.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

Honor’s Refuge by Hallee Bridgeman – Likable relatable characters, suspense, intrigue

Posted in Bravery, Good vs Evil, Hallee Bridgeman, Honor’s Refuge, Intrigue, Love and Honor Series, Relationships, Revell Publishing, Romance, Suspense by

Honor’s Refuge by Hallee Bridgeman is the third book in the Love and Honor series.  It’s the second book I’ve read by this author.  I wanted to read it because the author makes the characters come to life.

Honor’s Refuge continues the story of Phil Osbourne, who was introduced in the first book of the series Honor Bound.  In that book, Phil had lost his leg due to an injury he sustained on a mission with the special forces team.  Phil’s been home for two years and developed a friendship Melissa Braxton who runs a shelter for women who suffer from physical abuse.  Truth be told, Phil and Melissa have fallen in love.  But Phil doesn’t feel like a man who is whole, or that he can’t be the man Melissa deserves. 

Phil and some of his former teammates researched and found Melissa’s long-lost sister Lola.  They were separated when they were very young following their mother’s death.  Phil would do anything, including putting himself at risk, to reunite this family. 

I appreciate how Hallee Bridgeman develops the characters in her book.  The main characters are very likeable, as well as Phil and Melissa’s friends, family, and co-workers.  There is a depth to the characters that makes them seem real.  Honor’s Refuge is suspenseful.  Mysteries are unveiled as the characters work through their weaknesses, understand their feelings and try to strengthen their faith. 

Faith is part of the character’s lives.  I appreciated that Phil and Melissa prayed and talked about the Lord.  I would like to have seen the Gospel more accurately presented.  Melissa’s sister Lola is comforted by the community that has taken her in, she is curious about their faith.  It was explained to her that “It’s less about religion and more about community.”  Repentance of sin and belief in Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sin was not explained. 

Phil was one of my favorite characters.  He used his experience and training to help protect Melissa, Lola, and her children.  His personal mission was to protect them threats from very evil people entrenched in drug trafficking. 

I had some problems with the ending of the book.  Phil’s background and training was special forces, and since he was dealing with men who were downright evil.  I’m not sure it was realistic that he would respond to the bad guys by subduing them and using zip ties and sheets to restrain them.  I didn’t understand why Phil struggled with remorse over the violence he employed to protect innocent women and children from a drug lord and his minions who intended to harm them.

I liked Honor’s Refuge because of the characters.  It’s an interesting story with suspense, intrigue, bravery, good vs. evil, and developing relationships.  I did struggle some with the ending.  Even so, I recommend Honor’s Refuge by Hallee Bridgeman.  I would give this book a 3.5-star rating. 

I thank Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Honor’s Refuge by Hallee Bridgeman.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

Body of Evidence by Irene Hannon- Likable Characters, Interesting Storyline

Posted in Body of Evidence, Christian Fiction, Irene Hannon, Mystery, Suspense, Triple Threat by

Body of Evidence by Irene Hannon is the third book in the Triple Threat series.  If you like mysteries and intrigue, give this book a read.

Grace Riley is a forensic pathologist in rural Missouri.  Not the kind of place where you anticipate stumbling across a lot of murders.  Though the evidence seems to indicate Mavis died of natural causes, something about this case doesn’t sit right with Grace.  It’s Friday night, Grace is alone and conducting an autopsy in the mortuary when she hears a noise.  She investigates, but it isn’t until she goes outside that she finds the source of the noise and dials 911.  The new local sheriff, Nate Cox, is on duty and responds to the call.  These two working together will not be deterred until they get to the bottom of it.

I really enjoyed Body of Evidence, and from page one, I was hooked.  The main characters, Grace and Nate, were likeable and had interesting careers.  I liked learning about the job of a forensic pathologist, and very different in a rural setting as opposed to a big city.  I enjoyed their friendship and developing romance.  I also liked Grace’s relationship with her sisters. Eve and Cate.  They were caring and supportive.  The townspeople were intriguing, and I found myself examining them through the lens of a perspective suspect.

I appreciated that this a clean novel.  Faith is talked about a little bit in the novel.  I would have liked to have had that element further developed with the main characters.  I did figure out who the bad guy was and wanted to learn about their motives and why they did their dastardly deeds.  Very much liked Grace and Nate, there were upright in character, determined to find the truth and fight for justice. 

If you like suspense and intrigue, if you like books that involve law enforcement and medical mysteries, I recommend Body of Evidence by Irene Hannon. 

I would like to thank Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy Body of Evidence by Irene Hannon.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

The Deadly Shallows by Dani Pettrey – Suspense, Mystery, Relationships and Faith

Posted in Bethany House Publishers, Coastal Guardians Series, Dani Pettrey, Faith, Mystery, NetGalley, Romance, Suspense, The Deadly Shallows by

As someone who enjoys suspense novels, I was excited read Dani Pettrey’s newest book, The Deadly Shallows, the third book in the Coastal Guardians series. 

Brooke Kessler, is attending a Flight Medic A-School graduation to support her friend Molly.  Like a story ripped out of today’s headline news, in the middle of the ceremony there’s unimaginable horror when someone begins shooting into the crowd.  Brooke, Noah Rowley, and their fellow Coast Guard team members will begin the long process of investigating who is responsible for this tragedy and bring them to justice. 

One of my favorite parts of The Deadly Shallows was the relationships between co-workers who had become trusted friends.  Many of the characters returned from the first two novels in this series.  The author captures the sense of friendships and commitment to one another.  I appreciated that faith was part of the character’s lives, most notably through prayer.  I liked that novel was clean, no profanity or immorality by the main characters.

There were a lot of twists and turns in this story, a couple of romances between characters and two mysteries going on.  I like how Noah worked through the painful memories he had as a child that continued to impact his life.  The story did drag a little bit.  There was one romantic scene that could have been dialed down some.  

Overall, I really liked The Deadly Shallows.  I like mystery and suspense.  But what I appreciated most was the relationships, with likable characters and their faith being part of the story.

If you like mystery and suspense, or stories based around the military, relationships and faith, you may want to read The Deadly Shallows by Dani Pettrey.

I would like to thank Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for an opportunity the read a complimentary copy of The Deadly Shallows by Dani Pettrey.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

Fatal Code by Natalie Walters – Suspense, Mystery and Intrigue

Posted in Cyber Security, Fatal Code, Intrigue, Mystery, Natalie Waltes, SNAP Agency, Suspense, Uncategorized by

Since I love reading mystery and suspense novels, I was excited at the opportunity to read Fatal Code by Natalie Walters.  This is the second book in the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency (SNAP) series.  This author is new to me, and I haven’t read the first book in the series, Lights Out.

The book opens with Elinor Mitchell attending the funeral service for her beloved grandfather Arthur Conway.  He was a brilliant man, a theoretical physicist, and had worked at the Los Alamos National Lab.  More important than his career was the impact that he made on his granddaughter’s life.  He took Elinor in and raised her while her parents were involved with conservationist causes all around the world.  Elinor is also a scientist and is working on an important project at Lepley Dynamics.

Kekoa Young works for the SNAP Agency and is investigating a possible information leak at Lepley Dynamics.  Concerns have been raised that information has been shared with competitors or foreign governments.  Kekoa is a cyber security expert and was also assigned to keep an eye on his neighbor Elinor Mitchell.  That task that is outside his comfort zone.  Kekoa’s team at SNAP will also be part of the investigation.  Garcia, Lyla, Jack, and Brynn will be investigating other Lepley employees. 

I enjoyed the story more as it focused on Elinor and Kekoa and their growing relationship.  Elinor was closed off and not open to friendship.  Later on, as she opened up, I grew to like the character.  Kekoa was my favorite character.  He was kind, caring, fun, thoughtful, smart, and a diligent worker.  Both Elinor and Kekoa are struggling with their own hurts.  Will they work through those hurts or choose to remain insulated?

I enjoyed the intrigue and mystery and trying to figure out who the bad guys were and why they were involved in trying to steal sensitive information.  Faith was a part of the storyline and it was impactful to Elinor and Kekoa’s lives.  I would like to have seen the Christian faith and Gospel also included.

Toward the end of the book, one of the bad guys threatens a character by describing the torture she will endure.  That seemed over the top especially coming from a Christian book publisher.  It would have been beneficial to have a key or list of characters at the beginning of the book with a brief description.  There are a lot of characters in the book and it’s hard to keep track of them. 

I enjoyed the mystery and intrigue in Fatal Code.  While some of the scientific information was over my head, I found cyber security and code-breaking interesting.  I enjoyed the developing relationship with Elinor and Kekoa and the ties that Kekoa has with his family back in Hawaii.  If you like mystery, suspense, and intrigue you may to read Fatal Code by Natalie Walters. 

I would like to thank Revell Publishing and NetGalley for an opportunity to read Fatal Code by Natalie Walters.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

Malicious Intent by Lynn H Blackburn – Mystery, Suspense and Likable Characters

Posted in Book Review, Defend and Protect Series, Law Enforcement, Lynn H Blackburn, Malicious Intent, Mystery, NetGalley, Revell Publishing, Suspense by

I like reading mysteries and suspense stories and have enjoyed Lynn H. Blackburn’s novels.  That’s why I was excited to read her newest book, Malicious Intent, the second book in the Defend and Protect series.

Malicious Intent focuses on Gil Dixon and Dr. Ivy Collins, characters introduced in the first book of the series, Unknown Threat.  Gil and Ivy go way back, but they had a falling out and haven’t seen each other since then.  Secret Service Agents Gil and Zane are following up on counterfeit bills deposited by Hedera, Inc., Ivy’s business.  When they arrive at her home and knock on the door, they find something is amiss as the door opens by itself.  It had been 15 years since Gil had last seen Ivy, and now she was standing before him.  But something is terribly wrong with Ivy.  She looks beat up and is holding a gun.

Other characters from the first book, Luke, Zac, Tessa, Faith, and Sabrina, are also included in this story.  One of the things I liked about this book was the friendships and commitment these people had for one another.  The storyline and investigation were interesting as they tried to determine who was trying to harm Ivy and why.

The romance part of the story was a little rushed, especially considering how Gil and Ivy’s relationship had ended 15 years earlier.  But Gil was ready to put the past behind him.  I did like Ivy and her drive and passion to help people.  I found annoying Gil’s repeated use of a nickname he had for Ivy, who is now a grown woman, not a young girl.  There’s a little bit of faith worked into the story.  I would have liked to have seen more of that.  The characters were likable, but I wish they had been developed more fully.  I appreciate that the novel was clean, without profanity or sexual immorality. 

Overall, I liked Malicious Intent because of the mystery and suspense.  My favorite part was the friendships and commitment between all the characters.  I recommend this book, especially if you like suspense and law enforcement. 

Thank you to Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read complimentary copy Malicious Intent by Lynn H. Blackburn.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

Deadly Target by Elizabeth Goddard – Too Many Twists and Turns, Not Believable

Posted in Action, Deadly Target, Elizabeth Goddard, NetGalley, Revell Publishers, Romance, Suspense by

Deadly Target is Elizabeth Goddard’s second book in the Rocky Mountain Courage series.  I looked forward to reading it because I’ve enjoyed Elizabeth’s novels in the past. 

Erin Larson is a criminal psychologist and crime podcaster.  Erin and her friend are kayaking on Puget Sound when out-of-nowhere, a large yacht is speeding towards them and tries to mow them down.  They narrowly escape by abandoning their kayaks.  After being rescued Erin, receives a phone call from her former boyfriend, Detective Nathan Campbell, in Montana.  She is filled with dread as he tells her that her mom tried to commit suicide and is in the hospital.  This is just the beginning of the action in chapter one.  The rest of the book is filled with twists and turns, attempts to kill either Erin or Nathan and their family members and others caught in the crossfire.  It stretched from Washington to Montana and Boston.

Deadly Target is action-packed and filled with many twists and turns.  Nearly everyone was suspect and couldn’t be trusted.  It took me a while to get into the story because the tension continued to build and build and build with multiple incidents.  I didn’t connect with the character Erin because I found her off-putting.  I liked Nathan but didn’t understand what he saw in Erin. 

As much as I wanted to like Deadly Target, I didn’t enjoy it.  The story had too many twists and turns and too many characters.  It was hard to follow, and stretched the imagination.  The plotline with its endless action just wasn’t believable, especially towards the end.  Added to those negatives, the main character wasn’t very likable.  That’s why I don’t recommend Deadly Target by Elizabeth Goddard.

I would like to thank Revell Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Deadly Target by Elizabeth Goddard.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.