The Runner

The Runner

by A. Wayne Gill

About the book (from the back cover):

Michael Knight had the perfect life - a perfect family, a perfect relationship and a perfect future. He was to follow in his father's footsteps and preach the gospel to the nations. But Michael has a secret...that will take him from being a small-town preacher's kid to the heart of the big city, where everything seems golden, glittery and glamorous. He will obtain the opportunity of a lifetime and he will walk down the corridors of power, influence and wealth. The whole world will be laid at his feet for the taking. But at what cost? Will he trade in all he has been for all he could become? A. Wayne Gill presents a breakthrough novel of suspense, intrigue and spiritual awakening. You will be drawn into the lives of the characters as their worlds collide, forcing them to make decisions that will impact generations. The Runner will grab you from its opening pages and will not let you go.

My take:

I have always enjoyed a good suspense novel. I also enjoy legal drama, so was excited to start reading this book. When I started reading though, I wasn't sure I would be interested in it at all. There were several things that were very distracting and took away from my enjoyment of the book. For one, the point of view changed quite often, sometimes by the paragraph. There were also so many characters, it was hard to keep track of all of them at times. However, the further I read, the more interesting the story became to me. I found myself wondering what would happen to Michael Knight (that name alone was distracting to me, as it is the name of David Hasselhoff's character on the old show Knight Rider). Overall, I am interested to read the next books in what the author said would be a 7 part series. This book has a lot of potential in its story line but I do think it could use some more editing.

I give this book 3 1/2 stars.


About the author:

When he isn't crafting legal dramas, Wayne Gill serves as CEO and Managing Partner of Gill Dion & Forsyth P.A., a law firm with offices in Florida and Georgia that serves some of the top companies in the world, including AT&T, Hilton Hotels Corporation, Sun Trust Bank, and American Express. This husband and father earned his B.A. in English from Trinity College and law degree from George Washington University. His first book, Tales My Grandma Told Me - A Business Diversity Fable, has been referred to as the "Bible" of supplier diversity. Wayne has been recognized among the 50 Most Powerful Black Professionals in South Florida and the Who's Who in Black South Florida. He's received Macy's Crystal Award for Outstanding Minority Business Advocacy, and he's received several honors from NMSDC affiliates and the local Bar Associations. In 2002, he received Northwood University's Arthur E. Turner Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Betterment of Mankind. He is a board member of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County and Secretary of the Board for the Southern Florida Minority Supplier Development Council. While practicing law, running a successful law firm, and writing novels keeps him super busy, Wayne is also a passionate, committed co-founder and legal advisor to Oasis Compassion Agency, a non-profit empowerment agency for the disadvantaged.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Glass Road Public Relations. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Vanished

Vanished

by Irene Hannon

About the book (from the back cover):

Reporter Moira Harrison is lost. In the dark. In a thunderstorm. When a lone figure suddenly appears in the beam of her headlights, Moira slams on her brakes - but it's too late. She feels the solid thump against the side of her car before crashing into a tree on the far side of the road. A man opens her door, tells her he saw everything, and promises to call 911. Then the world fades to black. When she comes to, she is alone. No man. No 911. No injured person. But she can't forget the look of terror she saw on that face in the instant before her headlights swung away. And she can't get anyone to believe her story - except maybe a handsome ex-homicide detective turned private eye, who reluctantly agrees to take on the case. As clues begin to surface, it becomes obvious that someone doesn't want this mystery solved - and will stop at nothing to protect a shocking secret.

My take:

I really, really liked this book! I have read several of Irene Hannon's other books, namely her Guardians of Justice series (see my reviews here and here) and loved them, so I knew I probably wouldn't be disappointed upon reading her latest book, which is also the beginning of her new series Private Justice. From the very beginning, Hannon drew me in with Moira's story. She opens the book with the main character, Moira Harrison, being lost on a dark, stormy road. I hate being lost, especially when it is dark out, so I identified strongly with Moira from the beginning.

As her story continued to unfold, I was truly mystified as to how everything was going to turn out. Who was the mysterious figure on the side of the road? And who was the guy who stopped by without calling 911? I also enjoyed the story line between Cal Burke (the private investigator) and Moira. I found myself yelling at the book at one point when Moira did something I considered incredibly stupid. This is the stuff of great suspense, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this book. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good suspense novel. I would rate this one a "5" and can't wait to read the next books in the series.



About the author: Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the CBA bestsellersAgainst All Odds, An Eye for an Eye, In Harm's Way and Fatal Judgment. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America (she’s a five-time finalist), the HOLT Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier award, and two Reviewer's Choice Awards from Romantic Times Book Reviews magazine. She lives in Missouri. For more information about Irene and her books, visit her website atwww.irenehannon.com.





Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Deposit Slip

The Deposit Slip

by Todd M. Johnson

From the back cover:

Erin Larson is running out of options. In the wake of her father's death, she found a slim piece of paper - a deposit slip - with an unbelievable amount of money on it. Only the bank claims they have no record of money, and trying to hire a lawyer has brought only intimidation and threats. Erin's last chance is Jared Neaton. When Jared wearied of the shady ethics of his big law firm and went out on his own, he never expected the wheels to fly off so quickly. One big loss has pushed him to the brink, and it's all he can do to scrape by. He's not sure if Erin's case is worth the risk, but if the money is real, all his problems could vanish. When digging deeper unleashes something far more dangerous than just threats, both Jared and Erin must decide the cost they're willing to pay to discover the truth.

My take:

I really enjoyed this book, but found it to be very slow moving for my tastes. That being said, I loved the premise of the story. I found myself wondering if a bank really could hide a deposit (this seemed kind of unlikely to me, as I believe all banks are part of the FDIC). But it was still an interesting thought to ponder. The book reminded me a lot of a John Grisham novel, without the language and immorality. One thing I wished would have been a bit more prominent is Jared Neaton's love interest. Maybe it's because I'm a girl, but I really enjoy reading a good love story. I know this wasn't meant to be a romance, and I'm not trying to make it into one, but I would have enjoyed reading a bit more of the "romantic tension" in the story. I am kind of hoping the lack of it means there will be a sequel. Overall, I really did enjoy this book and give it a "4."


About the author:

Todd M. Johnson has practiced as an attorney for over thirty years, specializing as a trial lawyer. A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Minnesota Law School, he also taught for two years as adjunct professor of International Law and served as a U.S. diplomat in Hong Kong. He lives outside Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife, his son, Ian, and his daughter, Libby. This is his debut novel. Visit his website at www.authortoddmjohnson.com.





Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Deadline

Deadline

by Randy Alcorn

Jake Woods, Gregory "Doc" Lowell, and Finney "Finn" Keels have all been best friends since they were young boys. Having grown up together and then fought in the Vietnam War together, they were as close as friends could be. The following is a description from the back cover of the book:

Doc's shoulder jammed into Jake as he swerved the Suburban sharply to the right, cut between a telephone pole and a billboard, then careened into a ten-foot-high embankment. Sometime between the sound of Doc's last cry and the sickening crunch of bent metal from the car's first roll, Jake lost consciousness. The last sensation he felt was of being crushed between the two men he had known since childhood. When tragedy strikes those closest to him, award-winning journalist Jake Woods must draw upon all his resources to uncover the truth about their suspicious accident. Soon he finds himself swept up in a murder investigation that is both complex and dangerous. Unaware of the threat to his own life, Jake is drawn in deeper and deeper as he desperately searches for answers to the immediate mystery at hand and - ultimately - the deeper meaning of his own existence. Deadline is a dramatic and vivid novel of substance, filled with hope and perspective for every reader who longs to feel purpose in life. 

When I first started reading this book, I wasn't sure I had the interest to get drawn into such an "involved" book. When I say "involved," I mean I thought it was going to have several offshoots in the story line that would make it hard to stay focused. I was right about the offshoots, but I was wrong about not being interested. I knew I had loved Alcorn's Safely Home when I read it last year (see my review here), and wanted to see if I would feel the same way about other books of his. I definitely loved this book. I loved seeing Jake's character change throughout the book, and enjoyed the descriptions of what Alcorn thought Heaven might be like. There were times when I felt the Heaven storyline was detracting a bit from Jake's story (I will be honest - I really wanted to find out what was happening to Jake and kind of skimmed at times through the Heaven parts). While the Heaven parts were interesting, it seemed like they would be better suited for another book.

However, overall, I loved this book. The parts I really enjoyed were Jake's conflicts in the world of journalism, and political correctness. I didn't realize it when I first started reading, but this book was actually written in 1994. I thought that might make it a bit dated, but surprisingly, it was very true to the times we are living in. I had to chuckle a bit at the references to a "car phone." But the abortion, homosexuality, and politically correct debates were right on target. I am definitely looking forward to reading Alcorn's other books in the series, Deception and Dominion. This book easily gets 5 stars.


About the author:

Randy Alcorn is the best-selling author of Heaven, with more than 500,000 copies sold. His novels include Dominion, Deception, Edge of Eternity, Lord Foulgrin's Letters, The Ishbane Conspiracy, and the Gold Medallion winner Safely Home. He has written numerous non-fiction books as well, including The Treasure Principle, The Purity Principle, and The Grace and Truth Paradox. A former pastor, Randy is the founder and director of Eternal Perspectives Ministries. He and his wife, Nanci, live in Oregon and have two married daughters and five grandsons.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

Not This Time

Not This Time

by Vicki Hinze

Book synopsis from the publisher:

Small town scandal. International terrorist attack. Who among them is the traitor? Sara and Beth have built a multi-million dollar business together, but their once solid friendship is now strained. Beth is leery of Sara's husband, and when he is kidnapped, authorities consider Beth their prime suspect. Then, their small town of Seagrove Village is rocked by an act of terrorism, and Beth doesn't know who to trust. Someone she knows is linked to the attack, but who? Is there a connection to Crossroads Crisis Center? In the midst of confusion and fear, Beth finds herself attracted to a man from her past. She knows she shouldn't fall in love with him, but she can't resist or even explain their bond. As her world unravels around her, she wonders, is it possible to be beyond redemption?

My take:

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Last year I read the first two books in the Crossroads Crisis Center series (read my review of Deadly Ties here), and loved them. It didn't take me very long into Not This Time to remember why I loved the first two books so much. Hinze is an expert at creating memorable and believable characters that stay in the mind long after the reader is finished with a book. All of the twists and turns with NINA (the terrorist organization in the book), Sara and Robert's relationship, and Beth and Joe's fledgling relationship had me turning pages (on my Kindle) as fast as I could to find out what would happen! I would highly recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys suspense!! This one gets a 5!

You can read the first chapter here: http://multnomahemails.com/wbmlt/pdf/NotThisTimeSneakPeek.pdf. Also, if you are interested in hearing what Vicki Hinze has to say about her book, you can listen to a podcast here: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/blog/2012/02/21/podcast-not-this-time-by-vicki-hinze/.

About the author:

Vicki Hinze is an award-winning author of multiple novels including Forget Me Not and Deadly Ties. Hinze's willingness to take risks in writing and genre has earned her a reputation for trail-blazing skill. She holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing and a Doctorate of Philosophy, Theocentric Business & Ethics and served as vice president on the International Thriller Writers Board of Directors. She lives in Florida with her husband. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

When a Heart Stops

When a Heart Stops
by Lynette Eason

From the back cover:

As a medical examiner, Serena Hopkins is used to dealing with death. But that doesn't make it any easier when she's called to the eerie scene of a murder - especially when Serena realizes that she knows the victim. Nearly as unnerving is the presence of FBI agent Dominic Allen, her childhood crush. As evidence mounts and points to a serial killer with disturbingly familiar methods, Serena and Dominic must work to find a pattern and stop the killings before the murderer strikes again. And when Serena's own life seems at stake, she must decide if the secret she has been keeping has put her next on the killer's hit list. Can she trust Dominic with the truth before it's too late?

My take:

I was glued to each page of this suspenseful novel. I definitely stayed up too late one night so I could discover the startling conclusion of this book. The only thing I didn't really like was some of the gruesome details. They definitely weren't as bad as they could have been, but my overactive imagination saw them crystal clear. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I think anyone who loves suspense, or medical suspense, would love it.


This book is available at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.


About the author:

Lynette Eason is the author of several romantic suspense novels, including Too Close to Home, Don't Look Back, A Killer Among Us, and When the Smoke Clears. She is a member of American Fiction Christian Writers and Romance Writers of America. A homeschooling mother of two, she has a Master's degree in Education from Converse College. She lives in South Carolina. Visit her website at www.lynetteeason.com and follower her on Twitter at @LynetteEason.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Lethal Legacy

Lethal Legacy

by Irene Hannon

From the publisher:

Kelly Warren is on a mission to prove her father's death wasn't suicide, but Detective Cole Taylor doesn't put much credence in her claim. Nothing in his case review suggests foul play until Kelly ends up in the emergency room with a suspicious life-threatening medical condition. The incident strikes him as more than just coincidence. Digging deeper, he discovers she's linked to a long-ago crime. Is history repeating itself? And who wants Kelly silenced?

My take: 

I absolutely loved this book. I was so excited to see it was up for review and anticipated reading Irene Hannon's latest suspense novel. Hannon certainly didn't disappoint with this one! I love how she is able to weave a romance in with the suspense. Each page had me eagerly turning to see what would happen next. I found myself really caring about what happened to the main characters, Kelly and Cole. I also loved finding out what happened to Liz and Jake from Fatal Judgment and Alison and Mitch from Deadly Pursuit (see my review on Deadly Pursuit here. Overall, this was a wonderful ending to the Guardians of Justice series. 

About the author:

Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the CBA bestsellersAgainst All Odds, An Eye for an Eye, In Harm's Way and Fatal Judgment. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America (she’s a five-time finalist), the HOLT Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier award, and two Reviewer's Choice Awards from Romantic Times Book Reviews magazine. She lives in Missouri. For more information about Irene and her books, visit her website atwww.irenehannon.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

After All

After All

by Deborah Raney

About the book (from the back cover): 

Eighteen months after the tragic Grove Street Fire took the life of her husband, David, and four other heroic firefighters, Susan Marlowe thinks she's finally beginning to heal.

But then she discovers that David carried a secret to his grave. A secret that changes everything she thought their marriage had been. For the sake of their sons, can Susan forgive the unforgivable?

Andrea Morley lost her closest friend in the fire. But she has no right to mourn him. Instead, she must forever grieve in silence—because her dearest friend was someone else's husband.

Peter Brennan carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. As Hanover Falls' fire chief, he was responsible for the brave firefighters who lost their lives that awful November night.

Can he ever shake the feeling that he should have somehow prevented the tragedy?

As he tries to rebuild the team at Clemens County's Station 2, it seems he might find comfort in the arms of the woman he least expected.

I loved the first two books in this series, Almost Forever and Forever After. I am happy to say that After All is a great ending to this series. Some situations got resolved that I wasn't expecting, and I enjoyed reading about the characters from the other books. The one thing that bothered me about the book was the cover. I thought Susan's eyes looked strange. But that was easily resolved, as I didn't have to look at the cover for very long when I had it open! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading Christian inspirational fiction, with a bit of suspense. I rate this one a "5."


About the author:

Deborah Raney is a bestselling novelist whose books have garnered multiple industry awards including the RITA Award, HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award, Silver Angel from Excellence in Media, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. Her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, sed light on the ravages of Alzheimer's disease. The novel inspired the highly acclaimed World Wide Pictures film of the same title and continues to be a tool for Alzheimer's families and caregivers. Deborah is on faculty for several national writers' conferences and serves on the advisory board of the 2500-member American Christian Fiction Writers organization. She has written more than 20 novels, and her recent Hanover Falls Novels series is published by Howard/Simon & Schuster. Deb and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy small-town life in Kansas.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Glass Road Public Relations. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Baker's Wife

The Baker's Wife 

by Erin Healy

From the back cover:

To save her husband and son, Audrey Bofinger must rescue her enemy. The Bofinger family has lost their church ministry in a scandal exposed by Officer Jack Mansfield. Hoping to heal and to restore their reputation, Audrey, Geoff, and their son Ed take over a failing bakery in the small community. Driving to the bakery one morning, blinded by fog, Audrey hits a motor scooter owned by Jack’s wife, Julie. The mangled scooter is crushed and bloody. But Julie is nowhere to be found. Her disappearance coincides with a sudden illness that nearly cripples Audrey.

Jack believes the Bofingers have hurt Julie to take revenge on him, but the evidence dries up and her trail goes cold. At a breaking point, Jack takes the tiny bakery and its patrons hostage, issuing only one demand: Audrey has six hours to return Julie to him, or lose Geoff and Ed forever.

With only an excruciating and intuitive gift, an ex-con, and Julie’s estranged daughter to help search for clues, Audrey starts the search of her life for a woman who has vanished like the fog.

I love reading suspense novels. When I am on the edge of my seat, wondering what is going to happen next, I know I am reading a good book. This book took me a bit of time to get into, but I blame that on being too busy to sit down and read large chunks at a time. By the time I got halfway through the book though, I was completely into the book. 

This book had many twists and turns. One intriguing part for me was the fact that I really had no idea how the book was going to end, or what happened to Julie. Many times I will be reading a book and have some sort of idea, or have some insight due to the characters' thoughts. But this one was a true enigma to the end! 

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading suspense - it will keep you up reading late into the night!

Let the flour fly! Beginning October 24th, Erin's celebrating the release of her latest page turner, The Baker's Wife, with an outstanding KitchenAid baking prize package giveaway that includes a brand new KitchenAid Mixer, cook books, and all you need to whip up some fabulous bread or sweets! Then and on November 10th she'll be wrapping up the release of The Baker's Wife with an Author Book Chat Party on Facebook! Don't miss a minute of the fun!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• Empire Red 4.5 QT Ultra Power KitchenAid Stand Mixer
• Black & White Kitschy Apron
• Black Silicone Oven Mitt
• Black OXO Rolling Pin
• Wilton 9X5 loaf pan
• At My Grandmother's Knee Cookbook by Faye Porter
• Second Helpings with Johnnie Gabriel Cookbook
• The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 9th. Winner will be announced at The Baker's Wife Author Book Chat Facebok Party. Erin will be wrapping up the The Baker's Wife celebration with a book club chat and giving away a bunch of "sweet treats"! So grab your copy of The Baker's Wife (it's okay if you don't have one yet- you might win one!) and join Erin on the evening of November 10th for a book chat, some "baking" trivia and lots of "sweet" giveaways (books, and Amazon, iTunes & Starbucks gift certificates)!

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends. Hope to see you on the 10th!

About the author:

Well-known to critics and reviewers, Erin Healy has established herself as an award-winning editor and a best-selling co-author with Ted Dekker. Healy received wide acclaim for her two debut novels Never Let You Go and The Promises She Keeps. Her work focuses on the psychological and spiritual, driven by high moral stakes. She lives and writes in Colorado with her family.

For more information please visit www.erinhealy.com. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from LitFuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Falls Like Lightning

Falls Like Lightning

by Shawn Grady

Silas Kent is a smoke jumper who doesn't like to stay around one place for long. Elle Westmore is a pilot who flies smoke jumpers into the trenches. The two of them dated years ago, before Elle had her daughter, Maddie. Silas broke up with her to move to Alaska.When they meet up again to tackle a worsening wildfire, sparks fly again...but will they stay together this time?

I have to admit - this was not one of my favorite books. The characters and story had great potential - but to me, both seemed to fall flat. I sensed no chemistry between Silas and Elle, and some elements of the story were confusing and I found myself wondering what had just happened.

It is possible that others would enjoy the story. It seems like one that men, rather than women, would enjoy, due to the rapidly moving storyline and less emphasis on the emotional aspects. I think I would rate this book a 3 out of 5.


Read an excerpt from the book below:

Falls Like Lightning

About the author:

Shawn Grady signed with Bethany House Publishers in 2008.  He was named “Most Promising New Writer” at the 39th Annual Mount Hermon Writers Conference. He is the author of the novels Through the Fire, Tomorrow We Die & Falls Like Lightning.

Shawn has served for over a decade as a firefighter and paramedic in northern Nevada. From fire engines and ambulances to tillered ladder trucks and helicopters, Shawn’s work environment has always been dynamic. The line of duty has carried him to a variety of locale, from high-rise fires in the city to the burning heavy timber of the eastern Sierras.

After graduating from James Logan High School in Union City, California, Shawn attended Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego as a Theology undergrad. There he found clarity of direction and proceeded on to acquire an Associate of Science degree in Fire Science Technology as well as Paramedic licensure through Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada.

Shawn currently lives in Reno, just outside of Lake Tahoe. He enjoys spending time in the outdoors with his wife, three children and yellow Labrador.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Deadly Pursuit

Deadly Pursuit

by Irene Hannon

Alison Taylor is receiving strange phone calls, and now she has started receiving threatening gifts. Her overprotective brothers, Cole and Jake, are watching out for her, and so is Mitch Morgan, her brother Cole's partner on the police force, who is also pursuing her romantically. Who is stalking Alison? And will they get close enough to harm her? And will Alison let Mitch get close enough to get into her heart?

This is my first time reading any of Irene Hannon's books, and all I have to say is, "Wow." I loved this book so much! I can't believe I hadn't heard of her before I received the invitation to review this book! By the first few pages, I was hooked! The characters, action, and plot were enough to make me want to stay up late reading. Her style reminds me of Dee Henderson, one of my favorite suspense novelists. As soon as I finished Deadly Pursuit, I looked up Hannon's other books. Deadly Pursuit is the second book in the Guardians of Justice series. Fatal Judgment (click here to learn more about this book) is the first in the series, and covers Jake Taylor's (Alison's brother) story. I plan on reading all of her books - seriously, Irene Hannon is that good! 

I highly recommend this book, and give it 5 stars. 

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

About the author:

Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the CBA bestsellers Against All Odds, An Eye for an Eye, In Harm's Way and Fatal Judgment. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America (she’s a five-time finalist), the HOLT Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier award, and two Reviewer's Choice Awards from Romantic Times Book Reviews magazine. She lives in Missouri. For more information about Irene and her books, visit her website at www.irenehannon.com.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Shadows on the Sand

Shadows on the Sand

by Gayle Roper

Carrie Carter and her sister Lindsay ran away from home 17 years ago (at 16 and 10 years of age, respectively). Their mother was an alcoholic who attracted the wrong kind of men, and it had no longer been safe to stay at home. The two sisters wound up in Seaside, New Jersey, where Carrie got a job at a diner. Now, 17 years later, Carrie runs the diner while Lindsay works as a sous chef in the kitchen. 

Greg Barnes, a former cop, has been coming in to Carrie's Cafe for breakfast for the past 3 years - since his wife and children were killed. He doesn't say much, but Carrie has a major crush on him. When one of Carrie's employees, Jase, turns up missing, Greg helps try to figure out what happened to him, and he and Carrie figure out they have a mutual attraction. When another employee goes missing, suspicions turn to a dangerous cult. Will they figure out what happened to the missing employees? And will their romance last?

I loved this book. I have read several other suspense novels by Gayle Roper and enjoyed each one of them. So when I saw that this book was available for review, I put my request in right away. I love the small town feel of Roper's novels, and the way she weaves a suspenseful story without making it overly scary. I also like the way she has her characters work through spiritual issues of forgiveness and trust. Roper also works in some comedy -in this instance, through the back characters who are constantly on their smart phones, "twittering" and "facebooking." She almost made these characters seem satirical - I know I laughed out loud several times! This is one I recommend, and one I will definitely read again in the future. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Cash Burn

Cash Burn

by Michael Berrier

Jason Dunn is a senior executive for Building Trust Bank. His wife, Serena, recently left him for another man. His brother, Flip, just got out of prison and is already evading his parole officer. Brenda Tierney is Jason's beautiful new administrative assistant who idolizes him. When Jason makes a costly mistake, the CEO puts his arch-nemesis in charge of him, which leaves him restless and unhappy with his job. Brenda plants an idea in Jason's mind that would make it all go away...will he have the ability to pull it off? 

I loved this book. It kept me flipping page after page, and I didn't want to put it down. The story had several twists and turns, and an ending that I totally didn't expect. As far as Christianity in the novel, there were references to church and a pastor makes several appearances throughout the story. What I feel is lacking is a "Christ theme." What do I mean by that? Well, Jason, Flip, and Brenda are all pretty immoral characters. While some consequences for immorality appeared, I found myself wishing that at least one of the characters would come to the realization of his/her need for Christ. I don't want to give away any of the plot, so I won't say anymore. But overall, I did really enjoy reading this story. I would compare it to a John Grisham novel. If you like suspense and thrillers, you will also love this book. 

About the author: Michael Berrier

Michael Berrier is a businessman and novelist with a special interest in ethical practices and corporate citizenship. He studied fiction writing under T.C. Boyle and the University of Southern California. He has spent a thirty-year career in business and is a co-founder of Square 1 Bank, currently serving as Risk Manager.  Michael lives in the San Diego area with his wife and son and their Border Terriers, Jethro and Jack.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers, as part of the Digital First program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.",

Judgment Day

Judgment Day

by Wanda L. Dyson

Suzanne Kidwell prides herself in her sensationalist tv show, Judgment Day. She exposes a lot of crooked businessmen and politicians. The only thing is, she doesn't check her facts well enough, and her employer is not happy with her. When someone sets her up for murder, she looks to her former fiance, private investigator Marcus Crisp, and his partner, Alexandria Fisher-Hawthorne. In the process of investigating her case, they find a bone-chilling underground operation. Will Suzanne's name be cleared? What will happen with the underground alliance?

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was the perfect mix of suspense and wit, with a bit of romance mixed in. I do, however, think some of the side story lines could have been developed a bit more. Also, at the beginning I had a hard time going back and forth from Suzanne's story line to Alexandria's (Alex's). I also want to mention that the back of the book has some wrong information. Overall, I loved this quick, suspenseful read. I would love to read more about these characters, and hope the author has a sequel planned.

Please click here to rank my review.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

False Witness

False Witness

by Randy Singer

Professor Wang Dagan has created the abacus algorithm, a mathematical formula that has the power to cripple the internet. The Chinese mafia gets wind of its existence, and will do anything to get ahold of it. They kidnap Jessica Shealy, wife of bounty hunter Clark Shealy, in order to force Clark to track down Dagan and the algorithm. The Shealys are able to escape, but are forced to go into witness protection. Enter Jamie Brock, Isaiah Haywood, and Wellington Farnsworth, all law students working at a legal aid clinic. The Shealys approach them with an interesting request. What will happen to the Shealys and the algorithm? What happens to Wang Dagan? I can’t go into a lot of detail on this book, because too much of the plot would be given away.

I did struggle with the intense violence in the beginning of the book. A less sensitive person may not be bothered by it, but I had a hard time not squirming in my seat at certain parts. However, I was intrigued by the age old struggle between good and evil that was represented in this book. I found myself asking myself how far I would go to protect someone I loved. Would I inflict violence on someone else? How much worth can you place on each life – is it okay to torture and kill someone in order to save another? The author did not create a Christian character in Clark Shealy. His character did have some morals, because he did experience some hesitation before the violence. But it made me wonder how differently the story would have turned out had Shealy been a Christian.

I highly recommend this book that I could barely put down!

**After note: I wrote this review, then went to post it on Amazon. Curious about what others had to say, I read through some of the reviews and was confused when I saw some reviews that talked about the book’s treatment of the Indian Dalit Untouchables. It made me wonder if I had read the same book as them. Then I discovered that the new Tyndale edition had been revised. Professor Dagan was now Professor Kumari, and the Chinese Underground Church was now the Dalits, the lowest caste in Indian society. It doesn’t appear that the storyline was changed any more than that. I do wish that I had known of these changes before I read the original, though.

The Corruptible

The Corruptible

by Mark Mynheir

"Dying on the toilet was not how I envisioned leaving this world." When I read that first line of The Corruptible, I knew I was going to enjoy this book. Ray Quinn, an ex-homicide detective, recently went into the private investigating business after an injury left him unable to work on the force. His latest case has him investigating the murder of a former colleague with his sidekick, the goofy Barney Fife-like Crevis Creighton, and friend Pamela Winters. 

This book, as I state above, had me interested from the first page. I love a good suspense novel, especially with humor and quirky characters mixed in. The book had numerous twists and turns, and I definitely didn't expect the ending. Mynheir creates in Quinn a very likeable, dynamic character. The Corruptible is the second and latest in the Ray Quinn series and I look forward to reading the first book, and the books to come. 

If you love reading mysteries with a twist of humor and interesting characters, you will love The Corruptible.

Please click here to rank my review.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."