LOOKING for . . .

Looking for . . .

Readers! Reviewers!

for the upcoming release of the second book in my mystery series:

Bat Crazy

REQUIREMENTS?

Of course, there are some. 

*  Anyone who has read and reviewed my last three books,

you qualify!

*  Comment and leave your email address!

You'll be on my free-kindle-copy-of-Bat Crazy-list

in no time at all! 

*  Limit FIVE readers (for now!)

Blessings!

A Darkly Hidden Truth

Donna Fletcher Crow has written an amazing book filled with historical tidbits and showing lots of research.

This mystery adventure book involves a twenty-something woman and her friends. The story opens at a Catholic College for future nuns and priests in England. Set in a modern-day environment, the author flashes back to medeval times and the life of a holy woman at that time. It all takes place in central and southeaster England, north of London.

As Felicity seeks to make a life-defying decision about her vocation in life, her friend Antony, asks her to help recover a missing ancient icon. She resists becoming involved in the mystery by focusing on her search for her vocation. Just as she is leaving, she receives a letter from her mother who will arrive to spend some time with Felicity.

Running, Felicity leaves to avoid the mystery as well as her mother, only to become more involved with both.

With some medival history, truth, and fantasy, the story evolves into a thriller-adventure for Felicity and her friend. Her mother accompanies them on part of the adventure while they travel back and forth, searching for clues and answers. Danger lurks in some of the old restored churches. Twists and turns keep you wondering "who-done-it?" as the young woman faces her past as well as the death of a friend.

This is one novel even when you put it down for awhile, that calls you back to find the answers to all the questions Felicity seeks.

An insightful look into some early history of England, a grand read, and perhaps even, some spiritual enlightenment.

Blessings!

Review of Attracted to Fire

Back Cover:
Special Agent Meghan Connors’ dream of one day protecting the president of the United States is about to come true. Only one assignment stands in her way. After the vice president’s rebellious daughter is threatened, Meghan is assigned to her protective detail on a secluded ranch in West Texas. Unfortunately, working with Special Agent in Charge Ash Zinders may be as tough as controlling her charge. Ash has a reputation for being critical and exacting, and he’s also after the same promotion as Meghan. But when the threats escalate and security on the ranch is breached, it becomes clear this isn’t the work of a single suspect—it’s part of a sophisticated plan that reaches deeper and higher than anyone imagined. And only Ash and Meghan can put the pieces together before it’s too late.

My Take:
Set in Texas, on a rich horse ranch belonging to the Press Secretary Scottard Burnette, you get the feel of seclusion--the wealthy atmosphere--from the first. Walls, large pool, chef. Heat from a Texas summer. Space.

The characters, too, are vivid and life-like. A peppery chef who serves way-to-hot food for the simpler palates of the Secret Service guards. A father and son team who care for and train Burnette's horses. A glimpse into a few of the Secret Service member guards' lives. A peek into a father and mother's personalities and their love for a rebellious daughter. Vice President's daughter, Lyndsey's teenage angst, fears, and mistrust are well written and life-like.

Ash Zinders, in charge of protecting her, is determined nothing bad will happen on his watch. Distressed and angry at having a woman--again--on his team, he does his best to discourage Meghan Connors so much she'll quit. Besides, he wants the job of protecting the president of the United States, and only one thing stands in his way--Meghan.

But something does go wrong. A secret service man is killed by a sniper. Lyndsey's saddle is cut. Meghan is threatened. And his heart insists on falling in love with the red-haired woman he's working with.

Meghan, intent on winning the same coveted job as Ash is just as determined to ignore Ash's rude ways. Her admiration raises when she watches him at work. Fighting her own battles of depression over her adopted sister's own drug use and death, Meghan hones in on Lyndsey's needs and drug abuse, winning her trust and eventually working with Ash to save the teen.

But will the two be able to keep the fires of love burning when only one can win the job they both yearn for? Can they put aside their prejudices to do their duty? Can they allow their love for each other to grow when each have so much baggage from the past haunting their memories?

A great story. Easy to read. A page turner, both interesting and intriguing. Well written. Well done, Diann!


Blessings!

Review of Wolfsbane by Ronie Kendig    

Back Cover:
In Venezuela, Danielle Roark and her Army Corps of Engineers team is captured. After six months of captivity, Dani escapes, only to end up charged with espionage and forced to return to the jungle to prove that a nuclear facility exists. On the mission, she is abandoned by God and country. Will she live long enough to make those responsible pay?



Haunted by memories of a mission gone bad, former Green Beret Canyon Metcalfe wrestles with his developing feelings for the feisty senator’s daughter. Setting aside his misgivings, he and Nightshade take the mission to help Dani unravel her lethal secrets. Separated from the team leaves Dani and Canyon vulnerable—and captured. After he is rescued, Canyon discovers Dani has been left behind. Livid, he sacrifices everything to save Dani—including his role with Nightshade.

My Take:
By far one of the best books I've read this year! Action, fear, real-life issues, and healing fill the pages of this novel.

The novel opens with:

Captain Canyon Metcalf forced to endure imposed silence, military accusations and taking the blame about a gone wrong overseas, is angry and ripe for the proposition General Lambert puts to him.

 Dani in an unendurable situation of rape, capture, physical and mental torture in the depths of Venezuela by the leader of El Valor de Fuerzas Armadas de Bolivvarian, a fictitious rebel army, General Bruzon, after she and her army corp of Engineers are destroyed/captured. Waiting till he's in the deepest part of sleep, she steals the stick drive, and naked, bleeding, and desperate she flees, diving into the ocean, willing to die rather than be recaptured.

Fortunately she's rescued, and recovered, faces those able to do something about the nuclear plans of Captain Bruzon. Instead of belief, she's accused of treachery. Instead of quick-moving plans to destroy the facility, she's forced once again to return to Venezuela to prove, not only her innocence, but the existence of such a plant.

When she and Canyon are separated from their special ops team, they are recaptured. But when Caynon realizes after he is rescued that Dani was left behind, he takes matters into his own hands. Thrown off the team, he coaxes his brother to help him leave the states--but his brother takes advantage by manipulating a promise from Canyon--step back and leave the field open for him to win Dani's love.

Does Canyon love Dani enough to give up his love for Dani to save her life? And will Dani even be alive by the time he arrives? Can these two bruised, bitter individuals find their way to freedom--enough to open their hearts to love--and God?

Set in the jungles of Venezuela and in the political regions of D.C., Kendig pulls the reader into the action of the book and forces them to be a part of the scene, the lives, the horror and good within the pages.

Review of Deliver Us From Evil by Robin Caroll




From the book cover:
A Search and Rescue helicopter pilot working for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Brannon Callahan is as beautiful and tough as the terrain surrounding her. When a blizzard crashes a small plane carrying U.S. Marshall Roark Holland, she must save him and the donor heart he’s transporting to a dying government witness with crucial links to the largest child trafficking ring in history.

My take:

Feisty, smart and talented, Brannon has a job that both challenges her and is fulfilling. Yet something is missing. When she meets Roark Holland, sparks fly. She is the official rescue park ranger, knows her way around, and should be in charge. But he is the FBI agent who figures that gives him an edge.

He resents having to transport a human heart for a government protected witness, but when his helicopter crashes, he has no choice but to work with Brannon whose rescue copter is also sabotaged, to find a way out of the park and keep the heart safe.

In the meantime, two young girls are found who form a bond with Brannon. She is able to find out that they are part of the biggest child trafficking business in the states. When opportunity to escape opened the door for them, they walked through and ran for their lives. Brannon and Roark are determined to find the compound, the person behind it, and rescue all the other girls, but first, they’ve got to learn to work together.

In the midst of the turmoil, will their strong personalities allow them to solve the serious problems and stop the man behind all the havoc? Will their growing respect and admiration turn to something more serious? Will Roark renew his love for God? Will Brannon learn that God’s plan for her life is better than her own plans?

For a great suspenseful read, get “Deliver Us From Evil” by Robin Caroll. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat till the end.


Blessings!

Review of Randy Singer's Fatal Convictions


Step aside, John Grisham. Randy Singer is the CBA's creator of legal novels. His "Fatal Convictions¨ is an outstanding work of art.

When the wife of a prominent Muslem leader is brutally murdered shortly after converting to Christianity, Alexander Madison "happens¨ to meet Khalid and Ghaniyah Mobassar at the hospital. An automobile/truck wreck has left her with a terrible head injury, and Alex urges them to give him a call about the case. When Khalid is accused of the murder, he requests Alex's representation.

Attorney Alexander Madison isn't interested in taking the case; he's busy with the promising personal-injury case, and his role as a part-time pastor. Though every other lawyer is shying away from it, deep down he believes the accused imam is innocent and decides to defend him in the biggest murder case Virginia Beach has ever seen.

Pressure from his church to drop the case and increasing evidence against his client all make Alex wonder if he¡¦s made the biggest mistake of his life. When the imam's beautiful daughter arrives from Lebanon to help with the case, Alex is torn between his feelings for her and his obligation to his client.

But Alex is not a quitter. He's not about to let a ruthless assassin go free even if it is the fight of his career and his life.

Singer's characters are realistic and flawed, but likeable. Hiding behind the determination that's been bred in him, protagonist Alexander Madison has just a touch of laziness and ne'er-do-well that sneaks out at times, lending him an air of a southern gentleman meets hardcore business man. On top of those traits he has a tendency to flip flop: yes, I should take this case; no, I shouldn't. He's tolerant of lazy, incompetent help, easily swayed by a beautiful face and body, and ready to take full advantage of his partner's dedicated work habits.

Yet in spite of his insecurities, he¡¦s a character we can all relate to. He loves intensely. He stays with the stuff (even though he'd rather run). Once his mind's made up, no church, and certainly no church boss, is big enough to sway him.

I could see Khalid Mobassar and his wife, Ghaniyah; his very obvious intelligence and gentleness, her passion for her Islamic faith.

It was easy to dislike the bad guy, to wonder who was behind his dastardly deeds.

Khalid's daughter, Nara, stood out as a lovely vision of modern woman working toward a better change for women in an centuries-old Muslem world.

Shannon Reese, Alex's hard-working partner, was a figure of steadiness. I enjoyed seeing her spurts of jealousy, her intelligence, and her enthusiasm for the law.

Every aspect of the setting was true. I had no trouble with being drawn into it and seeing it throughout the book. The plot was carried through ably, the whole book easy to read.

Fatal Convictions is great book, and one I highly recommend if you love courtroom drama.

Blessings!

Review of Diana Symons'
Where the Jewels Are

Back Cover:
How do you say No to a Princess who has everything? This Princess has a wise Father who sends her on a journey to find the one thing she doesn’t know she’s missing.

My thoughts:
A delightful children's book that I predict will become a family favorite. The usual tale of a child with everything, but who wants more. The Princess also has a wise-enough father to know how to deal with his child. I loved how Diana brought in the father's wisdom in sending servants to watch over his daughter: something we don't realize till the ending.

The servant child is a sweet person willing to do her duty in making the Princess happy. Fortunately, the Princess must inherit some of her father's wisdom, because she learns a valuable lesson that real jewels--real treasures--are our friends.

I happily recommend this wonderful book to anyone who wants to give their child a good read. Looking forward to your next one, Diana!

Blessings

Review of Abbie Ann
by Sharlene Maclaren

From the cover: When an unexpected incident virtually catapults Noah Carson into Abbie Ann Kane's life, the two feel an immediate attraction that Abbie works hard to ignore. After all, Noah is not a committed Christian, nor does he seem committed to marriage, considering his divorced status. Still, Abbie finds herself drawn to him--and to his son. Will the independent abbie trust the Lord and surrender to His surprising plans?

My thoughts: From the first, Noah caught my attention. I suppose from the horrid things he'd faced: betrayal from his closest friend and wife, loss of all he'd worked for, and the sudden pressure of being a single parent. I loved his obvious attraction to Abbie Ann and how he tried to ignore it, his reunion with his drunkard father, and his complete change of heart once he'd made the decisions he needed to make. He was a contradictory male: confident in his abilities one minute, fighting to keep his chin up the next when events in his life seemed overwhelming.

Abbie Ann was a different story. To me, she was a harder person to love, but she did grow on me. I enjoyed watching the softening of her spirit, although she didn't lose that spirit that was very much a part of who she was. Her determination to keep the presidency of the local women's rights movement showed that she was a strong woman and very outspoken. I liked it when she and Peter parted ways, liked it even more when she fell so much for Noah and his son, Toby, that she gave up that presidency.

All in all, Sharlene kept her promise of another well-written romance story. She's a talented author, and you'd do well, if you enjoy romance, to acquire this third book in the Kane Sisters series (along with Hannah Grace and Maggie Rose).

Much blessings!

Review of Christian Encounters
Winston Churchill   by John Perry

Winston Churchill captivated the world with his voice and his writings. His books and speeches ooze with patriotism and faith in a just God. But he wasn't always known for his oratory skills, his faith, or his ability to captivate.

Though I've always heard a lot about Winston Churchill, I really knew very little about him. Learning about a character from a period of history that I love was a delight.


Mr. Perry did a fine job of describing Churchill's early life; the yearning in the child for parents who were too busy to spend time with their boys; the difference between Winston and his sibling Everest; the constant admiration the boy, Winston, had for his folks, regardless of their neglect; the personality traits that followed him into adult life.


It was somewhat of a surprise to realize what a daredevil Churchill was. The seemingly careless way he entered into battles--in one way or another--showed the persistence of a young man with confidence to go after what he wanted. Winston loved literary writing as much as he despised Math. He pursued that endeavor with all the energy he was capable of.

He wasn't shy about fighting for the things he wanted, whether it was a place in the military or a career or a residence. Others may have considered him uncouth, but he had the confidence needed to obtain what he wanted, and felt like God was on his side.

If you'd like to learn more about the World War II period, specifically in England, and about Winston Churchill, check out this book. You'll not be disappointed.





Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers 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.”

What I Really Think About . . .

Emerson the Magnificent


I thought, "A children's book."
Then . . . "Hey, I know some people who would like this."
Finally, I quit thinking and absorbed.

I read on . . . and on, and realized that anyone could read this book and be stirred.

• Cause it's crazy. Who believes a bike can talk?
• I mean, it makes you remember your childhood. And as I read, it touched the child still hidden inside me. Touched me and made me remember the unforgettable things that only a child--or a person who's become a child again--can experience. A grownup who believes again.
• It's a book that brought tears to my eyes.
• A book with realism; all too true of life without God. Childhood fun and memories, teenage doubts, adulthood experience and disappointment, and finally, a return to simple faith.
  

A child who visits his grandmother and remembers her colorful, madeup, fabric stories is given a beautiful red bike who talks to him. Without any friends at the seaside, his bike is his greatest advisor and companion.

Teenage years brings the death of his lavender-scented grandmother. Forgetfulness. And doubts. No bike can talk, regardless of how beloved. War, family, and a job interfered and years passed without contact.

But when the old man had sunk as low as he could, when his faith had all but disappeared, when everyone else is to blame, then God, through that remnant of childish belief in a talking bike, can speak again.

What do I really think about Emerson, the Magnificent?
Uhmmm. A keeper.
Thanks, Dwight, for allowing God to use you.

Blessings!

Joshua's Hope

Try this book for a stirring read and one that will keep you wondering who'll win out in the end. I know Carol Ann and she's a great writer and sweet friend.

"Hope Courtland escaped her marriage to save her life. Her only regret is leaving her four-year-old stepson, Joshua, behind. Though she wants custody, no attorney is willing to tackle her ex-husband in a custody battle. Hope's faith begins to falter. She learns that Joshua is paying the consequences for her freedom, and in an act of desperation, she kidnaps him. Suddenly, she becomes a suspect in her ex-husband's murder.

Zack Stone is content to be sheriff of Pine Cove, Tennessee, where the worst conflict he deals with is handing out speeding tickets. Though his faith is strong, he struggles with issues of forgiveness surrounding his wife's death. When he rescues Hope in a rainstorm, the last thing he expects is to find a woman who stirs his heart. Being a small town sheriff shouldn't involve kidnapping and murder, but Zack can't turn his back on Hope and the little boy she loves.

Wild Rose Press, publisher.
Carol Ann Ernhardt, author.

Her book has gotten rave reviews. Try it!


Quote:
Dream as if you'll love forever.
Live as if you'll die today.

Blessings

Deb Vogts Debut Novel

On the cover:

Mattie Evans grew up in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Although her family has lost their ranch, she still calls this land home. A skilled young veterinarian, she struggles to gain the confidence of the local ranchers. Fortunately, her best friend and staunchest support is John McCray, owner of the Lightning M Ranch. They both love the ranch and neither can imagine living anywhere but in the Flint Hills.

Gil McCray, John's estranged son, is a pro football player living in California. The ranch is where his mother died and where every aspect of the tallgrass prairie stirs unwanted memories. Gil decides leaving the ranch is the best solution for his ailing father and his own ailing heart. But he doesn't count on falling in love.

When Mattie is called in to save an injured horse, she finds herself unwillingly tossed into the middle of a family conflict. Secret pain, passions, and agendas play out against the beautiful landscapes as love leads to some unexpected conclusions about forgiveness and renewal.

"A really good story that I enjoyed a lot." Jane, one reader, says about Deb's debut book. (Jane's looking forward to reading the second and third book in this series.)

I was one of Deb's critique partners when she wrote this book, and I highly recommend it. Deb knows the setting, has knowledge about horses, and is a skilled writer who will keep you turning the pages. I saw her go through a tough period and come out with success.


Quote:
The activity of happiness must occupy an entire lifetime; for one swallow does not a summer make. Aristotle

Blessings