Book Review: When the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason

When the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason

From the publisher's website:

After a brush with death due to equipment failure, smokejumper Alexia Allen is ordered to take time off while the incident is under investigation. She makes a last-minute decision to recuperate at her mother's home and attend her high school reunion. Yet trouble seems to be following her, and within hours of arriving home she is confronted with murder, arson--and a handsome detective.

But the conflicts ahead are nothing compared to the ghosts of her past. As she struggles to accept and forgive her family's past, she must also decide if the secret she's been guarding for the last ten years must finally come to light.

Chock-full of the suspense and romantic tension you've come to expect from Lynette Eason, When the Smoke Clears is the explosive first book in the Deadly Reunions series.

My thoughts: I have loved every book that I have read by Lynette Eason. She really knows how to engage a reader and build suspense throughout her stories. When I get one of her books, I wnat uninterrupted time to read it all the way through (although I never get that chance!).

When the Smoke Clears is a great read for anyone who loves clean, well-written suspense novels that you wouldn't mind your teen reading. I'm sure my copy will find its way into the hands of my 17-year-old daughter soon!

I give When the Smoke Clears 5 out of 5 stars!

(I received this book from Revell for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

Book Review: A Killer Among Us by Lynette Eason

When I was in college, I changed my major twice. But the third one is the one I would love to get a degree in: criminal justice. It is one of the most fascinating subjects to me. I have read many fiction and non-fiction books on crime, criminal psychology, and criminal investigation. I am intrigued by the workings of the human mind and what makes people do what they do, especially when it comes to criminal behavior.

So, I guess that's why one of my favorite fiction writers is Lynette Eason. She knows how to write novels that snag your interest right from the start. And her characters are likeable as well as ones you want to empathize with. I have enjoyed every one I have read.

A Killer Among Us is no exception. The story of three sisters and their partners (in work and in their personal lives) are interwoven in the series (although you could read one by itself without reading the others, I recommend reading all three). 

This particular book is about Kit Kenyon and her partner, Noah Lambert. Kit is a hostage negotiator, very good at what she does. But when she and Noah become involved in investigating a serial killer, their emotions threaten to get in the way of their duties to their jobs. And as more people become the killer's victims, Kit and Noah find themselves targets as well.

To give you an idea of how Mrs. Eason's books begin, here are the first few paragraphs of A Killer Among Us:

"You don't want to do this." Detective Kit Kenyon stared past the barrel of the gun and fixed her eyes on the man before her.

The forty-four-year-old blinked against the sweat dripping into his hazy green eyes. A thick tongue swept out against dry lips, and his gaze darted from her to the door to his wife, who sat on the floor under the window weeping softly.

Melanie, his twelve-year-old daughter, winced at the harsh hand ensnaring her long brown ponytail and never took her terrified gaze from Kit.

"Virgil?" Kit pushed gently. "Right now, you haven't hurt anyone. In fact, you've cooperated nicely." Except for the part where she'd asked him to end this peacefully.

But they were getting there.

Anyone who has liked the novels of Dee Henderson, Terri Blackstock, Irene Hannon and Brandilyn Collins will also want to read Lynette Eason's books. They are among the best in Christian romantic suspense.

I give A Killer Among Us 5 out of 5 stars. 

About the author:

Lynette Eason is the author of ten novels, including Too Close to Home, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA). Lynette and her husband and their two children make their home in South Carolina.

(I received this book from Revell for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

Book Review: Don't Look Back by Lynette Eason

Lynette Eason has done it again! I first heard of this author earlier this year when I received an invitation to join in on the blog tour for Too Close to Home, the first book in the Women of Justice series. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and recommend it to anyone who likes Romantic Suspense. Mrs. Eason has a way with words, and when reading her books, I am drawn in to the characters' lives, cheering the "good guys" and wanting justice for the "bad guys". These books do not take long to read because I don't want to put one down after picking it up.

In Don't Look Back, Jamie Cash, the survivor of a kidnapping, faces her attacker once again when she and Dakota Richards, an FBI Special Agent, team up with others to investigate a series of murders. The killer calls himself The Hero, and he tortures his victims, putting them through all kinds of mental anguish while physically assaulting them. The more Jamie looks into the case, the more she sees that her past has once again become her present, and she must come face to face with the killer. When Dakota reaches out to help her, she turns him away. How can she ever trust any man again?And will she win this fight for her life?

The plot moves quickly and the suspense holds throughout the story. I actually figured out who the killer was about 1/3 of the way through, but I'm not sure if it is that noticable, or if I'm getting better at this sort of thing. So, it was a little anti-climactic for me. Nevertheless, I enjoyed Don't Look Back and I'm waiting now for #3 in the series, to be released in May of 2011.

I give Don't Look Back 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Lynette Eason is the author of Too Close to Home and three other romantic suspense novels. 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.


You can read more about Lynette here.

Don't Look Back is available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

(I received this book from Revell Books for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays is a meme from Should Be Reading, where we answer three questions: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? and What do you think you'll read next? If you want to participate, answer the three questions, then put your link on the Should Be Reading Blog in the comment section. Happy reading!

What I am currently reading: The Messenger of Magnolia Street by River Jordan - Mrs. Jordan has a unique writing style, one that is interesting, yet somewhat hard to grasp. I consider myself a pretty intelligent person, but I'm not quite following the story like I feel I should. I'm hoping that all the questions I have about the plot and the characters will be answered when I reach the end, but I only have about 31 pages left, so I'm also skeptical. I'll try and write a review of this book soon.

I decided to read this one before reading The Miracle of Mercy Land, another book by Mrs. Jordan that I will be reviewing soon.

What I recently finished reading: Don't Look Back by Lynette Eason - The second book in the Women of Justice series. I liked both of the books so far in the series. I will be reviewing this one next week. You can read my (glowing!) review of Too Close to Home, Women of Justice #1, here. 

                                                  

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay - This one is definitely going on my Top Ten of 2010 list. I almost cried when I read it (I know a book has really touched me when I cry, because I seldom do when reading a book). The story of a girl who survives WWII under horrific circumstances and a reporter who discovers her story and the impact it has on the lives of so many is absolutely amazing. I wonder how Ms. Rosnay wrote such a book. I can't wait to read her next one, A Secret Kept. Review to come.

 

 

 

 

What I'll probably read next: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston - For the last few years, our city has participated in The Big Read, which is a program designed to encourage communities to read good books and share those with one another through programs such as discussion groups and movie viewings. This year, the people in our area of Knoxville, Tennessee are reading Their Eyes Were Watching God, so I will be reading this book next to prepare for watching the movie based on the book, which will be showing at our library in a few weeks.

 

 

 

What are you reading this week? Have you read any of the ones above? If so, what did you think? I'd love to hear from you!

 

WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays is a meme from Should Be Reading, where we answer three questions: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? and What do you think you'll read next? If you want to participate, answer the three questions, then put your link on the Should Be Reading Blog in the comment section. Happy reading!

What I am currently reading: Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay- I haven't finished this yet, so I can't be sure, but it looks like it may wind up on my Top Ten Favorite Books of the Year list. What a story! I can see now why I have heard so much raving about this book. I haven't wanted to put it down. I want to know what happens next! I'll try to review Sarah's Key on this blog soon. 

What I recently finished reading: The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher - I will have a review of this book next week. It was very good. I like stories about the Amish that don't try to make them look perfect. The characters in this one seemed genuine.

 

 

 

 

 

What I'll probably read next: Don't Look Back by Lynette Eason - This is #2 in the Women of Justice Series. I received the book from Revell for review. It will be on this blog during the week of October 17-23. Since I enjoyed the first one so much, I'm looking forward to reading Don't Look Back.

What are you reading now? Have you come across any that you recommend? Let me know in the comments.

Book Review: Too Close to Home by Lynette Eason

One reason I like reviewing for Revell is that I know I will be getting a book that is clean but not boring. Why some authors think they have to put foul language, "steamy" scenes, or immoral characters in their books is beyond me. I have several authors I read who are not Christian writers, but they write well and they don't have these things in their books. So it can be done, even if you don't write for a company like Revell. There are people who read these types of books!

So, when I pick up a Revell novel, I know when I begin to read that it will not contain anything that I would be embarrassed to have any of my children see if they were to pick up the book and read it.

When I first saw Too Close to Home by Lynette Eason, I just knew that it was going to be good. There was a quote from one of my favorite Christian authors (Dee Henderson) on the back of the book, and it also indicated that it's a "romantic suspense" novel. Although this seems to be a new genre (at least for me), I like suspense as well as romance, so putting the two together seemed to me to be a good combination.

I was not disappointed. The plot moved quickly from the first chapter where a girl is found murdered. A serial killer is trolling the internet, enticing young females into bogus modeling jobs and using them for his evil purposes before murdering them. Homocide detective Connor Wolfe finds himself racing against time as more girls disappear and even his own daughter becomes an unsuspecting victim. 

Samantha Cash is a special agent for the FBI. She uses her special talents as a computer expert to help Connor. As the two of them work together to find the killer, they become more attracted to each other. And as the case becomes more intense, the couple finds they have to rely on God and each other to make it through.

One thing I really like about Too Close to Home is its unpredictablity. Books are so much better when you cannot figure out the plot from the first few chapters. I am surprised how many books do not have this important quality. Eason definitely knows how to keep a reader on his/her toes. The plot surprised me in several places. I didn't want it to end!

This book is a keeper!

Available April 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

(I received a complementary copy of this book from Revell for the purposes of this review. I received no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.)

WWW Wednesday

WWW Wednesdays is a meme from Should Be Reading, where we answer three questions: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? and What do you think you'll read next? If you want to participate, answer the three questions, then put your link on the Should Be Reading Blog in the comment section. Happy reading!

What I am currently reading:

Too Close to Home by Lynette Eason - I am reading this one for a Revell blog tour. It is the first book in the Women of Justice Series. Review will be posted next week.

What I just finished reading:

Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul David Tripp - required reading for a Biblical counseling class that I am taking. Excellent book!

What I will probably read next:

The Three Weissmanns of Westport by Cathleen Schine - I have to read this one soon because someone is waiting for it after me at the library. (Westport is where Martha Stewart used to live. If you care.)

(To see more information about any of these titles, click on the title of the book or the book image.)

Have any of you read any of these? Any reviews? Please leave a comment. I love to hear from you!