Book Review: Deadly Pursuit by Irene Hannon

Deadly Pursuit is the second book in a series by Mrs. Hannon called Guardians of Justice. It is the story of Alison Taylor, a social worker who is stalked by someone who seems to want her dead for something she did years before. Ex-Navy SEAL Mitch Morgan comes to her rescue and makes it his duty to find her pursuer and bring him to justice. There are twists and turns that leave the reader wanting more as the danger to both Alison and Mitch intensifies.

As with all of the other books I have read by Irene Hannon, this one was quite entertaining. The author is a master at her craft and I look forward to reading all of her next novels. If you like authors such as Terri Blackstock and Dee Henderson, you will love Irene Hannon!

I give Deadly Pursuit 5 out of 5 stars!

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

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

My reviews of a few of Mrs. Hannon's past books:

In Harm's Way: http://seizethebookblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/book-review-in-harms-way-by-irene.html

Fatal Judgment: http://seizethebookblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/book-review-fatal-judgment-by-irene.html

Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the CBA bestsellers Against All Odds, An Eye for an Eye, and In Harm's Way. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, the HOLT Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier award, and two Reviewer's Choice Awards from Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine. She lives in Missouri.

For more information about Irene and her books, visit her website.

Book Review: The Queen by Steven James

From the publisher's website:

While investigating a mysterious double homicide in an isolated northern Wisconsin town, FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers uncovers a high-tech conspiracy that ties together long-buried Cold War secrets with present-day tensions in the Middle East.

In his most explosive thriller yet, bestselling author Steven James delivers a pulse-pounding, multilayered storytelling tour de force that will keep you guessing.

The Queen is the latest Patrick Bowers thriller from the author Publishers Weekly calls a "master storyteller at the peak of his game."

I have now read four out of five of Steven James' books in the Bowers' Files series. I have enjoyed reading every one of them. (The only reason I have not read The Knight is because I didn't have time when it came out - I need to get to it sometime!)

This series is quite fascinating and well-written. I have a little bit of a hard time when I read one because I have to remember the characters all over again, but the effort is worth it. It isn't long before I am engrossed in the story and find myself cheering Patrick Bowers (the main character) on in his quest to find the "bad guys" and see that justice is carried out. I'm sure I'll be sorry to see this series end.

Mr. James is a number one author who really understands human nature from a biblical standpoint and writes what he does with obvious passion and insight. His descriptions of evil are not "over the top", but definitely "edgy". I, however, believe that we sometimes need to see the depths of our sin before we can truly see the beauty of God and His holy majesty. These books have helped me to think in these ways. I tremble when I see the depravity displayed in the books, but I also (while reading) rejoice in the One who has provided a way for us to be delivered from "this body of death".

Another thing I found thought-provoking in this particular book were the references to the theme of forgiveness. Another main character, Tessa, has problems with guilt and feels a need to 'forgive herself". There were several scenes where the issue of forgiveness was discussed and I learned a lot from these. I especially like the following quotes which helped me understand forgiveness a little bit more:

"When you ask someone to forgive you, you're really asking the other person to sacrifice for the benefir of the relationship".

"Someone needs to sacrifice for someone else to be forgiven."

Steven James' works of fiction are not didactic, but I was certainly "preached" to when I read these scenes. I belive God simply used this book to teach me what I need right now in my life. (It is also not a "coincidence" that our pastor is preaching on this very subject on Sunday mornings right now. God's timing is perfect!)

I give The Queen 5 out of 5 stars!

“Available September 2011 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.)

When I was preparing to write this review, I decided to add a warning about the graphic content of the book that may offend some readers. Then I found this warning from the publisher that includes an article written by Mr. James that seems to express well the reason why his books contain the scenes that they do (please read the article if you are bothered by such content - it may be helpful to you):

WARNING: This book contains violence and graphic descriptions of disturbing crime scenes.  It is not for the faint-of-heart who may be offended by such written images.  For more on this topic, please read Steven James’ blog article entitled “Why I Write about Evil”.             

Here is a review of The Queen from Chris at Baker Book House:

                                              

You can also view a video for The Queen on the author's website HERE.



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: Fatal Judgment by Irene Hannon

Ask anyone who knows me well and they'll tell you that I would love to be a police detective. I am fascinated with anything that pertains to law enforcement, especially the area of crime scene investigation. I have read many fiction and non-fiction books on the subject. That is one reason why I like Irene Hannon's books.

Another reason is that she is such a talented writer. Her particular blend of romance and suspense is entertaining and exciting. This is now the third book I have read by Ms. Hannon and they have all been excellent. (You can read my review of one of her books here.)

 

Fatal Judgment is the first book in the new Guardians of Justice series. The main characters are Jake Taylor and Liz Michaels. Jake, a U.S. marshal, is assigned to protect a federal judge after her sister has been murdered. But when he arrives at the hospital to begin his assignment, he discovers that the judge is a woman from his past - a woman who was married to Jake's best friend. Things turn sour as Jake wrestles with the idea that this woman was allegedly responsible for his friend's death. 

As the investigation into the sister's murder mounts, so do Jake's bitter feelings toward Liz. However, the more he gets to know her, he realizes how wrong he actually is. And as it becomes evident that someone wants to kill the judge, Jake sees that his duty to protect is turning into more than a duty - it is becoming a desire.

I would recommend this (and all of Ms. Hannon's books of suspense) to anyone who likes a clean, fast-paced, enjoyable read.

I give Fatal Judgment 5 out of 5 stars.

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

Irene Hannon is the author of more than 25 novels, including the CBA bestsellers Against All Odds, An Eye for an Eye, and In Harm's Way. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, the HOLT Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier award, and the Reviewer's Choice Award from Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine. She lives in Missouri.

For more information about Irene and her books, visit her website at http://www.irenehannon.com/.

(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: The Killing Storm by Kathryn Casey

The Killing Storm by Kathryn Casey is an intense story of a mother, her abducted son, and the Texas Ranger who investigates the kidnapping. All this happens during a deadly hurricane that threatens the city and hinders the investigation.

is a skilled writer. This is her third novel in the Sarah Armstrong series. However, it the first of her books that I have read. And I'm glad I did. I found this book to be exciting as well as entertaining. I was pulled into the plot from the first chapter. I especially liked how it flowed seamlessly from one chapter to the next, keeping my interest while remaining plausible.Kathryn Casey

Here is a plot summary from the author's website:

A quiet afternoon in the park, and four-year-old Joey Warner plays in the sandbox, when a stranger approaches looking for his runaway dog. While Joey’s mom, Crystal, talks on her cell phone, the stranger convinces the child to help search. By the time Crystal turns around, her son has disappeared. Yet her behavior is odd, not what one would expect from a distraught mother. Is Crystal Warner somehow involved in her son’s abduction?

Meanwhile, on a cattle ranch outside Houston, Texas Ranger Sarah Armstrong assesses a symbol left on the hide of a slaughtered longhorn, a figure that dates back to a forgotten era of sugarcane plantations and slavery. Soon other prizewinning bulls are butchered on the outskirts of the city, each bearing a different but similar drawing. Before long, the investigations converge at the same time a catastrophic hurricane threatens. Someone very close to Sarah is brutally murdered, and the clock ticks, as the storm moves in. If Sarah doesn’t act quickly, the child will die.



I like books that explore the depraved mind and help us see our sinful nature in a unique way. I am fascinated by the reasons why evil people do what they do and how God uses others to restrain that evil and punish the wicked. Thank God he rescues us from ourselves!

I am grateful to Pump Up Your Book for sending this book to me for review. I am looking forward to reading more of Mrs. Casey's books!

I give The Killing Storm 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

(I received this book from Pump Up Your Book! for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

Book Review: Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

I have enjoyed many of Nicholas Sparks' books. Although I get tired of the sexual scenes often found in his novels, they are mostly sweet and romantic. And the movies made from them are often satisfying if at times a little racy.

Safe Haven was a little bit of a departure for Sparks. The main plot included his usual romance, but there was also a good suspense that made the book even more of a satisfying read. Since I like books with suspense, I became quite engrossed.

Here is the description of the book from the author's website:

"When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven."

Yes, I believe Mr. Sparks is as talented with suspense as he is with romance. And I think this book would make a very exciting movie. I recommend it to anyone who likes this kind of novel.

I give Safe Haven 5 out of 5 stars.

(Sorry, FTC, this one was also a library checkout!)

Book Review: Exposure by Brandilyn Collins

Exposure - Brandilyn Collins

Publisher: Zondervan, 2009

ISBN: 978-0-310-27643-2

Pages: 268

Genre: Christian Suspense

Have you ever had the feeling that someone was following you? Or watching you? I have. I have quite an overactive imagination, and I have often imagined someone following me, perhaps in a parking lot, or in a bus station. Or maybe someone would be listening in on a private conversation I was having. Several times I have gone a different way home because I thought maybe the driver in the car behind me was following me home.

I know, I know, I seem very paranoid, but I also know that those things do happen to people sometimes. I'd rather think of myself as cautious and realistic. Better safe than sorry, right?

Well, I have to say that I was on the edge of my seat with this book. The main character, Kaycee Raye was being stalked and the things that happened to her were terrifying. She saw pictures of a dead man in various places and then when she would call the police, the pictures would be gone. Then she starts smelling blood and hearing strange noises. Was she going crazy?

The book also contains Mafia characters, a missing 9-year-old girl, a bank robbery, and seven million dollars. Oh, yes, and a little romance, too. All combined to make a great plot that kept my interest to the very end.

This is a thrilling psychological suspense that you will not want to miss! Thank you, Mrs. Collins!

I give Exposure 5 out of 5 stars.

(I checked this book out from the library, so the FTC can ignore this review!)

"You May Have Missed" Mondays

One of my first exposures to "Christian suspense" was when I read Dee Henderson's novels, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I wanted more, but at that time could not find any other authors writing books in that genre (I'm not even sure if it was a separate genre then).

Until I discovered Terri Blackstock. I began looking for more books by her, and I was soon reading all her books. I couldn't get enough.

Then, along came Brandilyn Collins into my reading life. I read her first series, the Bradleyville Series, and was hooked. And the books just get better and better.

The Kanner Lake Series is highly entertaining. I like the characters and how they interact with one another. They are so "real". And, of course, the suspense is quite, well, suspenseful. Mrs. Collins certainly has a way with words and know exactly how to keep the tension going throughout the entire story. 

Violet Dawn is the first in the series. Here is the synopsis of the book from the author's website:

Something sinuous brushed against Paige’s knee. She jerked her leg away.

What was that? She rose to a sitting position, groped around with her left hand.


Fine wisps wound themselves around her fingers.

Hair?


She yanked backward, but the tendrils clung. Something solid bumped her wrist.


Paige gasped. With one frantic motion she shook her arm free, grabbed the side of the hot tub, and heaved herself out.


Paige Williams slips into her hot tub in the blackness of night - and finds herself face to face with death.


Alone, terrified, fleeing a dark past, Paige must make an unthinkable choice.


In Violet Dawn, hurtling events and richly drawn characters collide in a breathless story of murder, revenge and the need to belong. One woman’s secrets unleash an entire town’s pursuit, and the truth proves as elusive as the killer in their midst.

 Coral Moon is #2 in the series:

The figure remained still as stone. Leslie couldn’t even detect a breath.
   

Spider-fingers teased the back of her neck.

Leslie’s feet rooted to the pavement. She dropped her gaze to the driveway, seeking...what? Spatters of blood? Footprints? She saw nothing. Honed through her recent coverage of crime scene evidence, the testimonies at last month’s trial, the reporter in Leslie spewed warnings: Notice everything, touch nothing.

Leslie Brymes hurries out to her car on a typical work day morning—and discovers a dead body inside.
Why was the corpse left for her to find? And what is the meaning of the message pinned to its chest? In Coral Moon, the senseless murder of a beloved Kanner Lake citizen spirals the small Idaho town into a terrifying glimpse of spiritual forces beyond our world. What appears true seems impossible.


Or is it?

#3 is Crimson Eve:

Carla stared at the gun and David Thornby—or whatever his name was. Her mind split in two, one side pleading this was some sick joke, the other screaming it was all too real.

"Please. You must have the wrong person. There’s no reason for someone to want me dead. I don’t have any enemies."


"Then you’d best rethink your friends."


Realtor Carla Radling shows an “English gentleman” a lakeside estate—and finds herself facing a gun. Who has hired this assassin to kill her, and why? Forced on the run, Carla must uncover the scathing secrets of
her past. Secrets that could destroy some very powerful people.


Perhaps even change the face of a nation...

And, #4, Amber Morn:

The whole thing couldn’t have taken more than sixty seconds.

Bailey hung on to the counter, dazed. If she let go, she’d collapse—and the twitching fingers of the gunman would pull the trigger. The rest of her group huddled in frozen shock.

Dear God, help us! Tell me this is a dream...

The shooter’s teeth clenched. "Anybody who moves is dead."

On a beautiful Saturday morning the nationally read "Scenes and Beans" bloggers gather at Java Joint for a special celebration. Chaos erupts when three gunmen burst in and take them all hostage. One person is shot and dumped outside. Police Chief Vince Edwards must negotiate with the desperate trio. The gunmen insist on communicating through the “comments” section of the blog—so all the world can hear their story. What they demand, Vince can’t possibly provide. But if he doesn’t, over a dozen beloved

Kanner Lake citizens will die...

Sound good? Then you might want tp check out the Kanner Lake Series. You can read excerpts of the books on Mrs. Collins' website. And if you are interested in purchasing these books, just click on the links in this post.

Try them, I think you'll like them!

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.)

Book Review: Predator by Terri Blackstock

In the library where I work, we are allowed to look at the carts loaded with books in the processing area (where they prepare the books to be ready for the shelves) and if we see any book we want to read, we can put our name in it and whenever that book is ready to be checked out, that person gets to be the first one to check it out. Needless to say, this is one of my favorite things about working there. I often go into processing and look at what new books have come in. There is seldom a time when I don't see a new book I want to check out and read.

I have several authors that I like so much that I have read everything they have written and when I see a new one by one of those authors, I automatically put my name in it so I can be the first to read it.

Terri Blackstock is one of those favorite authors. And Predator is one of the best she has written.

Before I tell you what I liked about the book, here is a synopsis form the Zondervan website:

"In Predator, the newest page-turner by bestselling author Terri Blackstock, a killer is stalking the online social network GrapeVyne. Determined to bring her teenage sister's murderer to justice, Krista Carmichael puts her own life on the line to bait the killer. But when this online predator turns his sights on her, will she be able to control the outcome?"

What parent is not at least a little concerned about the crimes that are being committed in the world of computers and social networks, such as Facebook, MySpace, etc.? It seems every day we hear stories about online predators, stalkers, and others who have met young people on the Internet and make them believe that they just want to be friends, when in actuality they want them to be their next victim in whatever evil they desire. Mrs. Blackstock demonstrates this well in her latest book. I read this one quickly as I followed the characters through their nightmare of tracking down the killer among them. I began to think about how I wanted to protect my own children (and myself) from such a terrifying situation. Although I know that God has us all in His hands, I think there are some practical things in this book that we can learn to do so that we will not fall victim to an online predator.

Mrs. Blackstock writes in such an engaging manner. Her chapters are very short, which kept making me want to read "just one more", then I realized I was halfway through the book in a short period of time. The characters are people you would meet every day, and the things they do are quite ordinary, yet the author pulls the reader along and keeps the suspense going so as to make the book exciting and the plot interesting. I recommend this book (and any other Blackstock book) to anyone who loves a great suspense novel.

I do believe that this book will be on my Top Ten List of 2010. I give it 5 out of 5 stars!    

Terri Blackstock has sold six million books worldwide and is a New York Times bestseller. She is the award-winning author of Intervention and Double Minds, as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, and the Restoration Series.

(I checked this book out from the local library. So there is no need to say that I wasn't paid to do this review, because I never get paid for any review I do!)

Book Review: Missing Max by Karen Young

Missing Max is another audiobook I received from Oasis Audio. When I read the description from their website (see below), I thought the plot sounded intriguing. What would I do in the same situation? This book really caused me to think.



Description from Oasis Audio:

When baby Max is kidnapped during Mardi Gras, Jane and Kyle Madison’s life falls apart. What their daughter, Melanie, does next is unthinkable. Max vanished into thin air while in the care of his teenage sister, Melanie. Six months later, the family is a shadow of its former self: Melanie blames herself and is acting out and rebellious; Jane is obsessed with finding Max; and Kyle, a lawyer, struggles to cope with his own grief—and a persistent suspicion that one of his cases is connected to Max’s disappearance. With her family in turmoil and her marriage on the rocks, Jane thinks things can’t get any worse. Then when an affair and an unexpected pregnancy threaten to tear the Madisons’ lives apart, an anonymous caller leads to a break in the case. Can a second kidnapping bring their family back together?


My thoughts:
 

The book was a delight from the beginning. From the wonderful reader, to the engaging plot, to the interesting characters, it had everything I would want in a good audiobook. The author captures your attention in chapter one when Max disappears and keeps you engrossed to the very end, which is completely satisfying. It is a book of introspection as well as an entertaining read. I couldn't wait for the next time I could listen to it. I wish I could have heard it in one sitting. It probably would have been even better.
 
Ms. Young captured the way life really is with children, and although I don't know what it is like to lose a child, I could identify with this mother as she struggled with real feelings towards those who impacted her life, including her husband, best friend, and the police officer who helped the family search for Max. Every scene rang true for me.
 
I love suspense. Karen Young's book of spiritual struggle and redemption was one of the best I've ever read!
 

I can't seem to have enough praise for this book. It is one of my top favorites of the year. I am looking forward to more books by this talented writer!

 

I give Missing Max 5 1/2 out of 5 stars

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