Posted in 4 paws, Christian, excerpt, Giveaway, Review, romance, Romantic Comedy on June 16, 2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

New apartments should come with a trial period…

I’ve just signed a two-year lease on an apartment I can barely afford.

My job hit a brick wall so I need the place to be perfect to help me get my life back on track. But the first night in, and I already know my neighbor isn’t going to make it easy on me.

Tall, sexy, irresistible (and did I mention the British accent?), Shane Logan likes his nightly activities…a lot. I can hear everything through the paper-thin walls. I’m about to tell him that in not-so-friendly terms when I realize he isn’t just sexy, he’s also friendly and eager to be of help.

Maybe having a neighbor like him isn’t such a bad idea.

I’m a writer in desperate need of inspiration. Shane so happens to turn into mine. With a deadline approaching fast, his offer to do me a favor turns into two and three. Before I know it, he’s forced his way into my life with the tenacity of a whirlwind.

I can deal with the fact that he’s far too loud and far too sexy. But when my dog likes him more than me, I start to get a little suspicious. Soon it becomes clear Shane Logan has secrets.

Plunged into the suspicions surrounding my neighbor, suddenly the only thing I can be sure of is that Shane is fiercely determined to hide the truth about himself.

Remember when I said the lease should have come with a warning?

Well, mine should also have come with a big, red, flashing signal.

Author’s note – Neighbors and Favors is a full-length romantic comedy with no cliffhanger.

 

 

 

Amazon / Amazon UK / Amazon CA

 

Review

 

This book is long on laughs, a sexy man, and an insecure protagonist that has lost her way in life and her faith.  And we can’t forget the spoiled pomeranian!

Samantha has decided she wants to strike out on her own, as most adults should do at some point in their lives.  However, she doesn’t expect to meet the sexy British guy living next door.  But he appears to have some secrets that he isn’t sharing and it leaves Sam and the reader wondering what in the world could Shane be hiding from us?  The answer was not what I was expecting.

I had a love/hate relationship with Samantha.  I admired her for getting out on her own and away from her parents that seemed to hover over her a lot.  We know they care about her, but I think that says a lot about society today and the involvement of parents in their children’s lives.  I’m glad that she has a good relationship with them, but there are times when her mom steps over the line.  Maybe some of it needed to be done, but at the same time how will Samantha be held accountable for not getting things done? I enjoyed watching Samantha work through her faith issues and finding out that maybe she hadn’t strayed that far from the path.  It was nice that several people in her life, including the Starbucks barista, were Christens and were able to reinforce that positivity.

I found myself chuckling throughout a lot of the book especially when Samantha’s mind is going wild with speculation in regards to Shane.  What was going on in his apartment with all the banging?  Who was this blonde that was hanging around him?  So many possibilities and I think her mind went to all of those options.

You will find a lot of bible verses and discussion about faith and God.  If you do not like to read books that include those things, then this isn’t the book for you.  But if you enjoy a good rom-com, then pick up this book soon.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

“Well, hello, neighbor.”

I stare at the six-foot-three British guy, taking in his lopsided grin and the cleaning gloves and garbage bags in his hands. He’s wearing a white, snug T-shirt and jeans that hang low on his hips—nothing remarkable, really, but for some reason, he looks like he’s stepped straight out of a fragrance advertisement—you know, the expensive kind.

And for some reason, the realization annoys the heck out of me. No one looks so good in the middle of the night. I know I certainly don’t.

“What do you want?” I squeeze through gritted teeth. My good manners have apparently deserted me.

“Ah, now that’s neighborly friendliness if I ever saw some.” His lips stretch into a stunning smile with perfect, white teeth and two little dimples.

I suck in my breath as another wave of annoyance hits me.

Dimples.

Does he have to have a perfect pair of those?

I mean, why toss him a good thing or two from the genes pool when he can win the whole darn lottery?
I bet his personality sucks.

Apparently, Sammy doesn’t think so because she’s instantly stopped her barking and is now making those tiny wailing sounds that signal elation and are usually reserved for her best friends.

Aka me.

“Like I said, what do you want?” I really want to slam the door in the guy’s face but that goes against everything I stand for. So, I take a deep breath and begin my inner chant.

Patience. Forbearance. I treat my neighbor as I want to be treated.

“Anyone ever told you not to open the door to strangers when they come knocking in the middle of the night?” The guy’s grin widens.

 

About the Author

 

Kate Davis is a real-life coffee lover with her very own Pomeranian who was her biggest inspiration for this book. Yes, Sammy is real and her favorite command is “cheese.” In fact, it might just be the only command she obeys. Kate loves to play matchmaker, transporting readers to a place where her bold heroines have endearing flaws, the men are fierce and protective, the world isn’t always a safe place, and chivalry is alive and thriving!

Stay in touch. She loves to hear from her readers!

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Christian, Giveaway, Review, suspense on May 9, 2020

 

 

A FIRM PLACE TO STAND

 

by

 

LORI ALTEBAUMER

 

 

Genre: Christian / Romantic Suspense

Independently published

Date of Publication: January 25, 2020

Number of Pages: 321

 

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

 

 

She’s either being stalked or losing her mind.

A job at a camp in the rustic and often rugged landscape of West Texas offers Maribel Montgomery a chance to escape both, especially if she makes sure no one knows she’s there. But when the body of a woman washes up in the river on her first morning, her hopes of a safe place to start over are swept away.

The suspicion that she’s being watched follows her to her new home, and Maribel is forced to take a stand or keep running. Does she have the courage to face the danger stirring at the Pool of Siloam Camp? If she doesn’t, another girl might die. If she tries and fails, it could be her.

Circumstances force her into the acquaintance of Conner Pierce—a man with secrets of his own. Can Maribel risk working with him in order to save the next victim and find a missing girl? Or is he the killer?

 

 

 

 

 

Amazon * Barnes and Noble  * Books-a-Million

 

BookBaby  *  Bookshop.org

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t even know where to start with this book and how much I enjoyed it and the message.  I highlighted so many passages because they spoke to me.  This book is more than faith, suspense, or trust. It is the culmination of so many different aspects, thoughts, beliefs, and actions of the various characters.  Let’s just start with how the book starts:

 

“Journalists traveled light – especially the unemployed ones running from a tsunami of poor choices. Of course, she wasn’t exactly running since she had nowhere else to go.”

“Somewhat telling that at age twenty-six everything Maribel owned had fit into the back of a car.” 

 

Maribel is a lost soul whether she realizes it or not.  She doesn’t believe she is worthy of love or anything else all because of some bad journalistic moves on her part.  But perhaps this new job at the Pool of Siloam camp will be her salvation, or at least give her a place to sort out her life.  But everything is not as it seems as we travel the pages of this novel and follow Maribel’s journey.  I felt for Maribel because she beat herself up over an event that was not her fault (especially near the end as we really learn the truth about the events) and her lack of faith in herself.  She also didn’t believe that she was worthy of God’s love and forgiveness which is the furthest thing from the truth.  Her time in this small Texas town and interactions slowly lead her down a new path to forgiveness and as the title states, A Firm Place to Stand.

I really felt the passion that Mack and Conner had for God and forgiveness and their calling to bring Maribel back into the fold.  They have a long hard road ahead of them because Maribel carries a lot of guilt and emotional baggage that tends to get in the way of her life.  But these new friends in her life can see past her baggage and despair and continue trying to bring her around to a more positive light.

Outside of the religious/belief aspect is the suspense/mystery portion.  Why was Maribel brought to this sleepy little town in Texas?  What happened to the missing camp counselor and camper?  Who is trying to harm Maribel and why?  All of these questions kept me hooked on the story and trying to figure out who had ulterior motives.  There are some red herrings and not everything as it appears, but closer to the end of the book I had a feeling about a few characters and their motives, and I wasn’t far off base.  While the “why” surprised me, it was somewhat obvious to me that these character(s) were up to no good.

There were multiple minor characters that also drew me into the story including Peg, who brought her here for research and a family history project; Rock Griger, the town sheriff, that just didn’t seem on the up and up; Daylee, one of the campers that had been abandoned by her family.  The supporting characters had depth and I felt they were an integral part of the whole story.

Here are some of my favorite lines in the book (and there were quite a few)

 

“By the time she returned, the sun would be up, baking everything with the unrelenting heat of Texas in July.”

“The determination to stop giving herself away piece by broken piece was strong but she also knew her weaknesses.”

“Order and control eliminated chaos. Order and control took away the anxiety laden sleepless nights. Order and control equaled safe right?”

“Maribel may not have as many Texas generations behind her name, but it only took one to understand the character of those who did. A character she admired and respected.”

“How would it feel to have that strong a connection to something, roots running that deep? A simpler, purer life perhaps. A life without regrets.”

“Everything about the woman picked at the stitching holding Maribel’s heart together. Eventually she might find a loose thread and Maribel would be unraveled.”

“Peg wasn’t picking at the loose strings of Maribel’s heart.  She had simply cut her anchor line and tossed it overboard, instead of being anchored in place, Maribel sensed release.”

“She reminded Maribe of a giant metal clip trying to hold her pieces together.”

“Something – or someone – spoke to her in the soft rustle of the breeze, like a breath whispering truth in her ear. You are enough.”

“The notes didn’t just silence the night. they silenced the noise in her head and the chaos in her heart, demanding she be still.”

“Maribel felt more broken and vulnerable than ever before. The protective shell she worked to build crumbled around her. After everything she told herself, she knew what she had wanted wasn’t possible.”

 

I was inspired by this book and it had me looking deeper within myself and was I enough?

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A life-long Texan, Lori lives in a small community not far from the rugged West Texas landscape she loves to write about. The mother of now-grown twins, she has learned that the secret to survival is a well-developed sense of humor and an active prayer life. After years spent working in the insurance business, Lori now uses her time to educate, inspire, encourage, and entertain through the written word.

 

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THREE WINNERS: 

 

1ST PRIZE

 

Signed Copy of A Firm Place to Stand + $25 Gift Card to the Texas Indie Bookstore of Choice

 

2ND PRIZE: Signed Copy of A Firm Place to Stand

 

3RD PRIZE: eBook of A Firm Place to Stand

 

APRIL 30-MAY 10, 2020

 

(US ONLY)

 

 

 

 

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Check out the other blogs on this tour

 

4/30/20 Notable Quotable Texas Book Lover
4/30/20 BONUS post Hall Ways Blog
5/1/20 Review Librariel Book Adventures
5/1/20 Excerpt 1 Reading by Moonlight
5/2/20 Review Chapter Break Book Blog
5/3/20 Excerpt 2 Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
5/4/20 Review Nerd Narration
5/4/20 Review Bibliotica
5/5/20 Top 5 Book Fidelity
5/5/20 Review The Page Unbound
5/6/20 Review That’s What She’s Reading
5/7/20 Playlist All the Ups and Downs
5/7/20 Review Forgotten Winds
5/8/20 Review Tangled in Text
5/9/20 Review StoreyBook Reviews
5/9/20 Review Missus Gonzo

 

 

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Christian, fiction, Giveaway, Historical, Review on March 16, 2020

 

 

OUT OF THE EMBERS

 

Mesquite Springs, Book One

 

by

 

Amanda Cabot

 

 

Historical Fiction / Christian Romance

Publisher: Revell

Date of Publication: March 3, 2020

Number of Pages: 336

 

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

 

Ten years after her parents were killed, Evelyn Radcliffe is once more homeless. The orphanage that was her refuge and later her workplace has burned to the ground, and only she and a young orphan girl have escaped. Convinced this must be related to her parents’ murders, Evelyn flees with the girl to Mesquite Springs in the Texas Hill Country and finds refuge in the home of Wyatt Clark, a talented horse rancher whose plans don’t include a family of his own.

At first, Evelyn is a distraction. But when it becomes clear that trouble has followed her to Mesquite Springs, she becomes a full-blown disruption. Can Wyatt keep her safe from the man who wants her dead? And will his own plans become collateral damage?

 

Suspenseful and sweetly romantic, Out of the Embers is the first in a new series that invites you to the Texas Hill Country in the 1850s, when the West was wild, the men were noble, and the women were strong.

 

Praise

Out of the Embers is part prairie romance, part romantic suspense. I can’t remember when I’ve enjoyed a book more. Amanda Cabot has written an intriguing, chilling mystery and she winds it through the pages of a sweet romance in a way that made me keep turning the pages fast to see what was going to happen next. An absolutely excellent read. And now I’m hungry for oatmeal pecan pie!”  — Mary Connealy, author of Aiming for Love, book #1 in the Brides of Hope Mountain series

 

 

Baker Book House  ┃  Amazon  ┃  Barnes & Noble

Christianbook.com  ┃  Books-A-Million  ┃  Kobo

Additional Retailers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I started this book, I was quickly immersed in the characters, scenery, and even the mystery that is dangled in front of the reader with only tidbits revealed here and there to keep the reader engaged and on the edge of their seats.

There was so much to like about this book I don’t know where to start!  The setting is the Texas Hill Country which is beautiful today, I can only imagine what it was like when this book was set.  Rolling hills painted with bluebonnets in the spring….sigh, a place I want to visit.  The characters are diverse and complex and while we know some of the histories of the main characters, we don’t know everything yet and it leaves much more to be discovered in future books in this series.  But we do learn about their strengths, weaknesses, desires, and hopes for the future.  There are even a few antagonists in this book that while they might have some redeeming qualities, are not portrayed in a positive light and it adds to the complexity of the story.  Sam would be the biggest one in the book and I can only hope that a future book will focus on him and he is able to redeem himself.

I love the town of Mesquite Springs and especially the diner that Evelyn opens in town.  The description reminds me so much of the restaurant in When Calls the Heart.  I loved that they would sit single people wherever there was an open seat.  What a great way to get to know someone new in town, whether just passing through or a resident.  And that Oatmeal Pecan Pie?  I don’t like pecan pie but now I am intrigued.

Wyatt has so much going on in his life and I can feel his struggles with running the ranch and supporting his mom and sister.  I don’t think he gives them enough credit, but in his defense sometimes you can only go by past actions of people.  I think a huge boost to his mom’s wellbeing was bringing Evelyn and Polly to their ranch to dry out and stay for a few days.  It gave her a purpose which is something she needed.

There are actually three different storylines and the author weaves a suspenseful tale that kept me wondering who these characters were, what they wanted, and what the end result would be with the culmination of the book.  Part of the story I was able to figure out, but part of it was quite a surprise to me.  I really liked the suspenseful part of wondering who these other characters were since their story didn’t flow with Evelyn or Polly’s story.

There are many faith-based parts in this book which include a character surviving a potentially fatal injury.  I think that each verse or faith section only strengthens my belief that people are inherently good and will prove that in various situations.  Or if they are evil that they will receive their just rewards.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book:

Evelyn took a deep breath, trying to calm nerves that were as jittery as if she’d just drunk a full pot of coffee.

“That’s what marriage is, Wyatt. Not all couples work together like the Fosters or my parents, but if they truly love each other, they both have a part in decision making. They consider the other person’s needs and their dreams.”

“Until I met you, I felt like a flower seed planted deep in the earth, waiting for rain before it began to sprout. You’ve been that rain. You’ve given me what I needed to grow.”

“You’ve shown me that lvoing someone doesn’t mean being burdened.  It’s a gift that opens our hearts to new possibilities.”

Overall this was a fantastic book and there is probably so much more I could say but then you wouldn’t have anything left to read.  We give this 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of A Stolen Heart, the first book of the Cimarron Creek trilogy, as well as the Texas Crossroads series, the Texas Dreams series, the Westward Winds series, and Christmas Roses. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards and the Booksellers’ Best. She lives in Wyoming.

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Copy of Out of the Embers + Special Hill Country Sweets Cookbook

+$25 Barnes and Noble Gift Card 

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Copy of Out of the Embers + Special Hill Country Sweets Cookbook 

+ $10 Starbucks Card

March 10-March 20, 2020

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Check out the other blogs on this tour

3/10/20 Notable Quotable Forgotten Winds
3/10/20 Review Librariel Book Adventures
3/11/20 Review Jennifer Silverwood
3/11/20 BONUS Post Hall Ways Blog
3/12/20 Excerpt, Part 1 Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
3/12/20 Author Interview All the Ups and Downs
3/13/20 Character Spotlight The Clueless Gent
3/13/20 Review Reading by Moonlight
3/14/20 Guest Post Chapter Break Book Blog
3/15/20 Author Interview Carpe Diem Chronicles
3/16/20 Excerpt, Part 2 That’s What She’s Reading
3/16/20 Review StoreyBook Reviews
3/17/20 Review Missus Gonzo
3/18/20 Excerpt, Part 3 Max Knight
3/19/20 Review Momma on the Rocks
3/19/20 Review Book Fidelity

 

 

 

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Posted in Christian, Giveaway, Interview, suspense, Thriller on March 9, 2020

 

Chasing The White Lion

 

(Talia Inger, Book Two)

by

 

James R. Hannibal

 

 

Genre: Contemporary Christian / Thriller / Suspense

Publisher: Revell

Date of Publication: March 3, 2020

Number of Pages: 384

 

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

Young CIA officer Talia Inger has reconciled with the man who assassinated her father, but that doesn’t mean she wants him hovering over her every move and unearthing the painful past she’s trying to put behind her. Still, she’ll need him–and the help of his star grifter, Valkyrie–if she hopes to infiltrate the Jungle, the first ever crowdsourced crime syndicate, to rescue a group of kidnapped refugee children.

But as Talia and her elite team of thieves con their way into the heart of the Jungle, inching ever closer to syndicate boss the White Lion, she’ll run right up against the ragged edge of her family’s dark past. In this game of cat and mouse, it’s win . . . or die. And in times like that, it’s always good to have someone watching your back.

Former tactical deception officer and stealth pilot James Hannibal takes you deep undercover into the criminal underworld where everyone has an angle, and no one escapes unscathed.

 

 

WANT TO BE A REAL HERO?

Want to be a real hero? Compassion International, a real organization fighting child poverty, stars in Chasing the White Lion. By giving hope and a sense of identity to these kids, they’re helping families slam the door on human traffickers. A portion of every book sold will go to support Compassion’s work. You can join the fight simply by buying a copy of Chasing the White Lion.

 

 

Baker Book House ◆ Amazon ◆ Barnes & Noble

Christianbook.com ◆ Kobo ◆ Books-A-Million

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Today we welcome author James R. Hannibal to StoreyBook Reviews and share some insights into the book and even the man himself.  So sit back and learn a few things.

 

Why did you choose to write in your particular sub-genre?

 

My background in covert operations and stealth technology left me little choice. Spinning tall tales in the spy world is a sort of catharsis for a guy who can’t even tell his wife about the juiciest parts of his military career. Constantly using my imagination helps me keep all the classified data buried deep in my conscious mind. And, according to the military, I’ve proven I can keep that data buried, so I no longer have to get their approval before publishing.

 

Are there under-represented groups or ideas featured in your book?

 

With Chasing the White Lion I hope to bring attention to the suffering of Burmese refugees in the camps on the Thai/Myanmar border. Many of these families are Christians, chased from their homes by government supported militias. The children in these camps have no official identity, since they are not recognized by Myanmar and Thailand won’t register them. Having no paper or digital identity makes them prime targets for human trafficking—thus the kidnapping that really sets the story in motion. I also want to highlight one group that is fighting for these kids, and fighting hard. Compassion International is battling child poverty around the world, and they are the stars of Chasing the White Lion. In the real refugee camps, Compassion International brings hope, whole-child care, and learning, and pushes back against human traffickers by giving kids a sense of self-worth and a legal identity. Readers can help in this fight by joining Compassion or simply buying a book. A portion of all my author proceeds goes to Compassion International.

 

What made you decide to write a sequel? Any unexpected hurdles in doing this?

 

This sequel came to me in a dream on a cold night in Bavaria while I was researching another project. From that moment on, I had to write it. But the deeper I dove into the characters and plot, the more I realized that this story had a special mission. I needed to partner with Compassion International to highlight the work they are doing to end child poverty and combat human trafficking. Giving a charitable organization like Compassion a starring role in a spy/thief thriller is no easy task. We took this effort down to the wire in getting final approval—cutting it so close that we were ready with a letter-for-letter replacement name on the Friday before the final typeset went to print. But the approval came through, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to use an action tale to spread the word about Compassion’s work.

 

How important are the names to you in your books? How do you choose the names?

 

In Chasing the White Lion, one name is super important to me. Most of the scenes with the kidnappers are shown through the eyes of one child, Thet Ye. His name means Brave Life, and I hope that by spending some time in Thet Ye’s shoes, readers will gain a better understanding of these refugee children, their inherent dignity, and their will to survive.

 

If you were an animal in a zoo, what would you be? In four words or less, tell us why.

 

Giraffe. My wife loves giraffes.

 

Do you have any strange writing habits or writing rituals you’d like to share with your readers?

 

I am ashamed to admit that I like to sit at my desk, write, and eat gummy worms. Red worms. Green worms. Red and yellow worms. Sadly, the order of things is often reversed, and instead of writing and eating gummy worms, I find myself eating gummy worms and writing. This eventually devolves into just eating gummy worms with no writing getting accomplished until all the gummy worms are gone.

 

 

 

 

Former stealth pilot James R. Hannibal is a two-time Silver Falchion Award winner for his Section 13 mysteries for kids and a Thriller Award nominee for his Nick Baron covert ops series for adults. James is a rare multi-sense synesthete, meaning all of his senses intersect. He sees and feels sounds and smells and hears flashes of light. He lives in Houston, Texas.

 

 

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March 3-13, 2020

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Check out the other blogs on this tour

 

3/3/20 Top Five List Forgotten Winds
3/3/20 Review Chapter Break Book Blog
3/4/20 Author Video Kelly Well Read
3/5/20 Review Reading by Moonlight
3/6/20 Review The Clueless Gent
3/6/20 Excerpt Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
3/7/20 Character Interview Max Knight
3/8/20 Excerpt All the Ups and Downs
3/9/20 Review Missus Gonzo
3/9/20 Author Interview StoreyBook Reviews
3/10/20 Review Momma on the Rocks
3/11/20 Review Book Fidelity
3/11/20 Excerpt That’s What She’s Reading
3/12/20 Review Hall Ways Blog
3/12/20 Notable Quotable Sybrina’s Book Blog

 

 

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Posted in Book Release, Christian, Giveaway, Guest Post, suspense on February 8, 2020

 

 

Collision of Lies

 

(Detective Amara Alvarez, Book One)

 

by

 

Tom Threadgill

 

Genre: Contemporary Christian Suspense

Publisher: Revell

Date of Publication: February 4, 2020

Number of Pages: 400

 

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

Three years ago, a collision between a fast-moving freight train and a school bus full of kids led to devastation and grief on an unimaginable scale. But a fresh clue leads San Antonio police detective Amara Alvarez to the unlikely conclusion that one of the children may still be alive. If she’s correct, everything law enforcement believes about the accident is a lie.

With time running out, Amara must convince others–and herself–that despite all evidence to the contrary, the boy lives. And she will do everything in her power to bring him home.

A fresh voice in suspense, Tom Threadgill will have you questioning everything as you fly through the pages of this enthralling story.

 

Praise

Threadgill plunges a detective from the San Antonio Property Crimes Division into a deep-laid plot involving murder, kidnapping, and myriad other crimes above her pay grade.” — Kirkus Review

 

“I have a new favorite author. Tom Threadgill kept me reading for hours. I didn’t want to put this book down . . . couldn’t put it down. I absolutely adore Amara Alvarez and her relationships with her coworkers, friends, and her iguana! Now I want one. She was a heroine who made me laugh and one I could really relate to. I can think of a few words to describe this book: amazing, incredible, intriguing, mesmerizing, unputdownable. . . I could go on, but I need to stop so I can go buy up the entire backlist of my new favorite author.”  — Lynette Eason, award-winning, bestselling author of the Blue Justice Series

 

 

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Of Reptiles and Women

 

By Tom Threadgill

 

Author of Collision of Lies

 

 

Collision of Lies, my latest novel, was my favorite to write so far. As I look back on the process, I think that’s because the characters were fresher to me. I’d just finished a series of three novels and was ready to move on to something different. Not to say I won’t go back to Jeremy Winter and his cohorts, but I left them in a good spot. They can manage without me for a while.

When I write, I have only the thinnest of ideas about the story. I’m very much a pantser—though I prefer the term “organic writer” since it doesn’t sound as, I don’t know, weird?—and do as little plotting as possible. I wanted Collision to have a female protagonist but needed more than the tired “divorced cop with a chip on her shoulder” routine. Amara Alvarez, the main character, had to be real. Someone readers can relate to even though they might not be a cop or divorced (or a woman).

When I first met Amara (yeah, I know how strange that sounds), she was in her early thirties, single for the last decade or so, and working as a detective in the San Antonio Property Crimes Division. Good job, one she enjoyed, but more of a stepping-stone into Homicide. She’s a wee bit on the short side, which doesn’t bother her too much, and likes to work out, especially doing kickboxing.

Oh, and she has a pet lizard.

Not just any lizard though. Larry is a three-foot-long iguana who lives in the second bedroom of her apartment. He’s got his own hangout, complete with heaters, branches, and everything else a lizard could want. He can also be a bit moody at times.

You need to understand that I knew nothing about lizards. I’m not a fan of reptiles. So why not give Amara a dog or cat or ferret or potbellied pig? Simple. I couldn’t. She already had the iguana when I met her.

That might not make a lot of sense if you’re not a writer, but characters must be free to make their own decisions. Live their own lives. When I first met Amara (and when you first meet her), she’d already made plenty of choices, some good, some bad. One of those choices was Larry. Why? Honestly, I don’t know. I haven’t asked her yet. Maybe in the sequel. Could I insist she have a different pet, or even none at all? Sure, but then she wouldn’t be Amara. Any author will tell you that if you don’t listen to your characters, your book isn’t going to be as good as it could be.

So I had to research iguanas. What they eat. How to take care of them. The pros and cons of having them as a pet. Did you know they can grow to be up to six feet long? That if you pet them and they close their eyes, it’s not a sign of enjoyment? They’re stressed and blocking you out. If they open one or both eyes while you pet them, they trust you, even though they still don’t particularly enjoy it. And did we talk about salmonella? No? Well, be sure and wash your hands after touching Larry.

I know more about lizards now than I ever wanted to. I’ll never have one for a pet. And Larry doesn’t even show up much in the book. He’s more of a behind-the-scenes guy, though he does make an appearance or two.

But if Larry is important to Amara, I need to know everything I can about him whether I use it in the novel or not. It keeps her real in my mind. Lets me peak inside her head just a little so I can understand what decisions she will make as I go through the writing process. Larry and a slew of other traits go into building her character. Each is important in its own way.

The result is that I’m able to tag along as she moves through my novel. I don’t have to tell her what to do. She does it on her own. And if I write a scene that’s not true to her nature, she doesn’t hesitate to let me know. Nothing worse than a character acting out of character. (Can I use the same word twice in a sentence?)

Anyway, I hope you’ll pick up Collision of Lies and let me know how you like it. Amara and I put a lot of work into it and, to be honest, I’m just grateful she didn’t choose a snake (shudder) instead of Larry. Not sure I could’ve left her in the story.

 

 

 

 

Tom Threadgill is a full-time author and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). He is currently on the suspense/thriller publishing board for LPC Books, a division of Iron Stream Media. He lives with his wife in rural Tennessee.

 

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2/6/20 Notable Quotable Texas Book Lover
2/6/20 BONUS Post Hall Ways Blog
2/7/20 Review Max Knight
2/8/20 Guest Post StoreyBook Reviews
2/9/20 Author Interview All the Ups and Downs
2/10/20 Review The Clueless Gent
2/11/20 Excerpt Chapter Break Book Blog
2/12/20 Review That’s What She’s Reading
2/13/20 Excerpt Sybrina’s Book Blog
2/14/20 Review Tangled in Text
2/15/20 Review It’s Not All Gravy

 

 

 

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Posted in Christian, excerpt, Giveaway, memoir, nonfiction, self help on January 28, 2020

 

Road to Hope

 

How One Woman Went From Doubting Her Path
to Embracing Her Inner Journey

 

By

Dena Jansen

 

Genre: Memoir / Inspirational / Christian Life

Publication Date: November 15, 2019

Number of Pages: 240 pages

 

Scroll down for a giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Have you ever felt stuck? If so, you are not alone. As a 36-year-old wife, mother, and corporate executive, Dena Jansen’s life looked successful by society’s standards. But she found herself at an intersection—stranded at a real-life crossroads in her life.

Over a matter of years, darkness and doubt slowly crept in, leaving her unsure and unsettled in her life, marriage, and career. And after stalling out multiple times and nearly wrecking everything, she finally grabbed hold of a life-saving truth:

She had a choice to make. She could stay stuck, or she could try and find new roads that would lead to the peace and joy she was looking for.

With a glimmer of hope, Dena embraced the gifts of curiosity and grace and began a journey of self-discovery. And she chose to believe in a new truth:

She was meant for more and could no longer settle.

In Road to Hope, Dena invites you to join her as she wanders the roads she traveled and take anything you need from her story to help you in yours. She shares how she grew from a woman who doubted her path to one who is confident and ready for the next adventure. And she wants you to experience a similar shift. And more than that, she believes you can.

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt from the Introduction

of Road to Hope

by Dena Jansen

 

I think you picked this book up because you want to feel enthusiastic and energetic about your life, but you can’t seem to find your way there. You have all the pieces of the puzzle – marriage, kiddos, career – but when you put them together, you still don’t feel whole. There must be missing pieces, but you can’t find them. You wonder why you can’t make it work when so many other women appear to be able to do it so effortlessly. And so you give in and get stuck in a roundabout of doubt.

I’m here to tell you I have been there. I’ve been stuck in that same gloom and doom loop. And the only way I got out was to get in my own way.

While I was starting to figure out where exactly I wanted my life to go and the best route I should take to get there, I realized that me, myself, and I was the only place to start. For the first time in my life, I had to make it all about me. Being the center of my own attention was something I was apprehensive about off the bat. But I had to focus on myself. I had to try all the things that I thought mattered to help me create the life I said I wanted.

And you will have to do the same thing.

At the time, I didn’t see my journey as part of a more significant movement – one of feminism or female empowerment. But looking back, I can see how it was part of a rising tide. Maybe you have felt it, too. My 70-year-old aunt always said to me, “You girls these days. Y’all just don’t settle.”

She was right. All around me there were strong-willed women pushing for more in their own lives. Like them, I believed that I was meant for more than what I was at the time, and I wasn’t going to settle until I searched out exactly what that more was.

Navigating through my life the last few years has been an adventure. Learning how to get back in the driver’s seat of my own life felt like learning how to drive all over again. At the beginning, I needed lots of direction. I made some wrong turns and found dead ends. But the more experience I gained behind the wheel—the more knowledge and confidence I developed in myself—the more equipped I became to try out the freedom these new lanes opened up for me.

~~~

 

So before I speed off into the sun-kissed horizon toward the life of my dreams, I owe it to myself to spend time in true reflection. To look back in the rearview mirror at the living and learning that occurred on the road all over again. To honor the amazing growth and healing that happened along the way and share it with the next brave woman looking for hope.

And my gut tells me that woman is you.

I want to share my journey with you. You can sit right up here next to me while we wander the roads I traveled. Please take anything you need from my story that might help you in yours. I know that our lives might not look exactly the same from the outside – different home and family situations, career paths or trajectories, personal successes or struggles – but I genuinely believe that our dreams are very much the same. We share dreams of deep love and connection in our marriages, our families, and our work.

And we desperately want those dreams to become our realities. But in order to make those dreams come true, we have to get on the road and go. We have to go and find ourselves first.

But I’ll be honest with you. While I was out finding myself, I also found that the road can get lonely. That’s why I pray you’ll take the risk and hop in the car with me this time. It would give me a ton of comfort to know I had a friend alongside me. That the words I’m sharing won’t go into the darkness, but rather, find you right where you are in your own journey and give you the hope you’ll need to keep going.

I’ve grown from a woman who was lost and alone to one who is confident and ready for the next adventure. I want you to experience that exact same shift. And more than that, I believe you can. But first, I can’t wait to tell you how I got here.

Are you ready to hit the road? I know I am.

Buckle up, friend, and enjoy the ride. I know I did.

 

 

 

 

 

Dena Jansen’s calling to lift others up is profoundly personal. She understands the fears and doubts that hold people back because she has them too. Her own path to fulfillment is a real-life journey that’s still very much in progress. As a CPA and retired partner from Austin-based CPA firm Maxwell Locke & Ritter, she launched Dena Speaks to inspire potential seeking individuals and businesses. Dena shares life and love with her husband, JP, and their two children, Trace, and Elizabeth in Buda, Texas. She loves romantic comedy movies, listening to podcasts, and spending time with her family and friends.

 

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1/21/20 Author Video Books and Broomsticks
1/21/20 BONUS Post Hall Ways Blog
1/22/20 Author Interview All the Ups and Downs
1/23/20 Review Book Fidelity
1/24/20 Playlist Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
1/25/20 Review Jennifer Silverwood
1/26/20 Scrapbook Page Chapter Break Book Blog
1/27/20 Review Librariel Book Adventures
1/28/20 Excerpt StoreyBook Reviews
1/29/20 Review Tangled in Text
1/30/20 Review Missus Gonzo

 

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Christian, fiction, Giveaway, Review on January 19, 2020

 

ALL IN

by

L.K. Simonds

 

Genre: Gritty Realistic / Christian Fiction

Publisher: Morgan James Publishing

Date of Publication: August 27, 2019

Number of Pages: 282

 

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A woman’s empty pursuit of happiness leads to a crisis before finding redemption in the Lord in this challenging and gritty Christian novel.

Twenty-nine-year-old novelist and blackjack dealer Cami Taylor seems to have it all—but just underneath her confident exterior and newfound celebrity is a young woman in trouble. Cami’s boyfriend, Joel, wants to get married, buy a house on Long Island, and raise a family—a life that’s a million miles from Cami’s idea of happiness. Her therapist suggests compromise and trust, but Cami would rather bolt like a deer.

Breaking things off with Joel, Cami launches herself on a new quest for happiness. But her pursuit of pleasure only takes her further from herself—and toward a harrowing new reality unlike anything she’s faced before. What follows for Cami is a fight to the death that can only be waged with God’s love.

 

 

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All In delves into the human psyche and digs deep for the truth.  A truth that is revealed by the actions of Cami and those around her.

This is not your typical Christian fiction book, so if you are opposed to nitty gritty situations in your books, then you won’t want to read this one.  BUT if you like to see how faith in God can change a person from the lowest depths to the highest levels, then you will want to read this novel.  Cami is the kind of character that many will be able to relate to because her life is not picture perfect.  She may have achieved success as an author, but something is missing.  It takes connecting with distant family and a life altering event before Cami realizes the destructive path she is on and if she doesn’t change her life will not be what she wants.

I will admit that the first half of this book was slow and I wondered if Cami was going to find her way or she was going to keep floundering with her writing, her family, or her life.  But about halfway through the book, there is a revelation that changes everything and from that point on I was hooked on the book and had a hard time putting it down.  How was Cami going to handle this situation?  What about her new relationship with Kate (a distant cousin)?  How was she going to handle this news?

Chapter 23 is one of the best chapters, in my mind, because it centers around a discussion between Cami and Kate about faith, God, life, and the direction Cami is headed.  I could have quoted most of the chapter because I felt so much of it was poignant. I think it was also a turning point for Cami and Kate was instrumental in facilitating the new path despite Cami’s reluctance to open her heart and life to others.  Cami hides so much of her life from everyone and, in a way, she is much like the character Jackie in her book.  Living life on the edge but without a real purpose.  Is what she missing faith and God?  Only Cami can discover that and it isn’t an easy sell.

A large portion of this book is set in Dallas where Kate lives and Cami visits.  I was surprised to discover that Christ for the Nations Institute is a real place in Dallas.  It is a charismatic non-denominational church and I’m not sure I believe what was described in the book, but I can’t say it couldn’t happen either.  The bible is full of miracles so anything is possible.  The only question that wasn’t answered is why Kate and her husband left one church for this one.  Kate tells Cami she will tell her later but I do not remember that being answered.

These are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

“…but it seems like you’re kinda dead emotionally.  Your characters feel all kinds of things, but do you?  It’s almost like you’re putting up a front all the time.”

“In the half hour or so between first light and daybreak, the desert holds its breath.  Nothing moves. Not air. Not cactus flower. Not thermometer. Then the sun, in full bloom, crests the lumpy red mountains, and the birds abandon their night roosts with trills as clear as the air itself. By noon, you can grill tortillas on any sunny sidewalk, but the early mornings are perfect.”

“A mother bear’s protective instinct. Actually, more like wolverine.”

“There’s only one reality. Any other ideas on the subject are just existential crap.”

“There’s a big difference between hoping something will happen and arranging your life in such a way that it will happen, inevitably.”

“We’re all one bad hand away from disaster.”

“That’s an important thing about fiction, not only telling a story, but helping the reader see and feel things. Maybe even understand things, they wouldn’t – couldn’t – otherwise.”

“At the time I wrote the book, I thought she played it well.  I still believe she played it well, but I’m not so sure I should’ve let her walk away unscathed. The game always costs us something.”

“Cami, the end of your story haunts me. It breaks my heart to think about a young woman who’s determined to go after a life that will destroy her.”

“I used to think life would all make sense one day and have, you know, a beginning, a middle, and an end. But it won’t. It never will because there’s just one day on top of another until you have a whole string of them, a lifetime of them.”

“This is Texas, the weather here turns on a dime.” 

 

Overall I really enjoyed this book, especially the last half and felt that the story concluded and closed all storylines with no unanswered questions (other than the one I mentioned above).  We give this 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

L. K. Simonds is a Fort Worth local. She has worked as a waitress, KFC hostess, telephone marketer, assembly-line worker, nanny, hospital lab technician, and air traffic controller. She’s an instrument-rated pilot and an alumna of Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas. All In is her first novel.

 

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Check out the other blogs for their reviews!

1/14/20 Review Hall Ways Blog
1/14/20 Review Kelly Well Read
1/15/20 Review That’s What She’s Reading
1/15/20 Review Librariel Book Adventures
1/16/20 Review Reading by Moonlight
1/17/20 Review All the Ups and Downs
1/17/20 Review Tangled in Text
1/18/20 Review The Clueless Gent
1/19/20 Review StoreyBook Reviews
1/20/20 Review The Page Unbound
1/20/20 Review Momma on the Rocks
1/21/20 Review Sydney Young, Stories
1/22/20 Review Rebecca R. Cahill, Author
1/23/20 Review KayBee’s Book Shelf
1/23/20 Review Forgotten Winds

 

 

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Christian, Giveaway, Historical, Review, romance on October 12, 2019

 

A Distance Too Grand

(American Wonders Collection, Book One)

by

Regina Scott

 

Genre: Historical Fiction / Christian Romance

Publisher: Revell

Date of Publication: October 1, 2019

Number of Pages: 384

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

Meg Pero has been assisting her photographer father since she was big enough to carry his equipment, so when he dies she is determined to take over his profession–starting with fulfilling the contract he signed to serve on an Army survey of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in 1871. What she doesn’t realize is that the leader of the expedition is none other than the man she once refused to marry.

Captain Ben Coleridge would like nothing more than to leave without the woman who broke his heart. He can’t afford to be distracted during this survey, which is a screen for another, more personal mission, one he cannot share with any member of his team.

As dangers arise from all sides–and even from within–Meg and Ben must work together to stay alive, fulfill their duties, and, just maybe, rekindle a love that neither had completely left behind.

 

Praise

“Five stars is not a rating I usually bestow. But Regina Scott’s A Distance Too Grand merits it. Lively, realistic, engaging characters. A compelling and intriguing plot with life and death consequences kept me turning pages. I hated to put the book down.”–Lyn Cote, Carol Award-winning author

“Adventure, danger, and romance in a wonderful, fresh setting: the Grand Canyon of 1871. Readers will find much to love.” –Julie Klassen, bestselling author

“Regina has done an excellent job of bringing the setting and characters to life. I could see and feel the canyon and picture the characters going about their tasks. A balance of mystery, romance, and adventure with enough factual information that I almost felt I could take over for the heroine. I highly recommend this book.” — Linda Ford, award-winning, fan-favorite author of the Glory, Montana series

 

Baker Book House ◆ Amazon ◆ Barnes & Noble

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An adventure through the west with a plucky photographer and a stalwart commander that will test many boundaries.

Another recent book I had a hard time putting down.  The story grabbed me from page one and didn’t let go until the end.  The characters have multiple layers, the descriptions of the scenery are breath taking, and the adventure of being charting unknown territory is exhilarating.

The main characters are Meg Pero and Ben Coleridge.  They aren’t strangers as they met when Ben was at West Point and Meg was there helping her father take photos.  Despite a whirlwind romance, Meg wasn’t ready to settle down so she did what she thought she needed to do, turn Ben down and leave.  She never expected to come in contact with him again and especially didn’t expect to fall in love all over again.  Ben hasn’t changed a lot since the academy and is still a typical guy, not expressing his thoughts (or at least not well) to Meg so that perhaps there is a chance for a future for them.  Both Meg and Ben learn some lessons in this book and realize that there can be more if they both just bend a little.

I admired Meg’s persistence in getting some shots for the Army and herself despite Ben’s resistance at the beginning.  After all, she was there to do a job and while cameras back there are nothing like what we have today, it took more time to set up the shot and get just the right angle.  I admired the job she did and how the author detailed the process of taking a photograph and describing the plates and how they had to be prepped to be used in taking those photographs.  It was a lot of work to obtain a finished photograph.

I appreciated the spiritual aspects in the story- from the prayers, to the Sunday services, to the various bible verses scattered throughout.  The characters realized that there was more at work then just what they could see or touch and it was just a matter of faith.

There are some other characters to take note of in this book – Dot and Hank.  Dot is the cook for the expedition team and Hank is working on constructing the maps of what they discover.  They are married yet they have their own set of trials to endure.  They are an amazing team and it just proves the point that you should communicate with your significant other otherwise you might find yourself on the outs.  Their love is strong but even so it needs to be shared with each other to continue to flourish.

Overall I loved this book and can’t wait to see what might come next in this series…and a little spoiler, it is about Yellowstone.  If you pick up this book to read (and you should), make sure to check out the Author’s Notes at the end because she discusses The Grand Canyon and how it came into the National Parks System.

We give this book 5 paws up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regina Scott is the author of more than 40 works of warm, witty historical romance. Her writing has won praise from Booklist and Library Journal, and she was twice awarded the prestigious RT Books Reviews best book of the year in her category. A devotee of history, she has learned to fence, driven four-in-hand, and sailed on a tall ship, all in the name of research. She and her husband of 30 years live south of Tacoma, Washington, on the way to Mt. Rainier.

Website ⬥ Facebook ⬥ Blog 

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October 8-October 18, 2019

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10/8/19 Notable Quotable Nerd Narration
10/8/19 BONUS Post Hall Ways Blog
10/9/19 Author Interview Carpe Diem Chronicles
10/10/19 Review That’s What She’s Reading
10/11/19 Excerpt Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
10/12/19 Review StoreyBook Reviews
10/13/19 Excerpt All the Ups and Downs
10/14/19 Review The Clueless Gent
10/15/19 Scrapbook Page Chapter Break Book Blog
10/16/19 Review Missus Gonzo
10/17/19 Review Reading by Moonlight

 

 

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Posted in Christian, excerpt, Giveaway, suspense, Thriller on September 30, 2019

 

The Gryphon Heist

(Talia Inger, Book One)

by

James R. Hannibal

 

 

Genre: Contemporary Christian / Thriller / Suspense

Publisher: Revell

Date of Publication: September 3, 2019

Number of Pages: 400

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

 

Talia Inger is a rookie CIA case officer assigned not to the Moscow desk as she had hoped but to the forgotten backwaters of Eastern Europe–a department only known as “Other.” When she is tasked with helping a young, charming Moldovan executive secure his designs for a revolutionary defense technology, she figures she’ll be back in DC within a few days. But that’s before she knows where the designs are stored–and who’s after them.

With her shady civilian partner, Adam Tyler, Talia takes a deep dive into a world where criminal minds and unlikely strategies compete for access to the Gryphon, a high-altitude data vault that hovers in the mesosphere. But is Tyler actually helping her? Or is he using her for his own dark purposes?

 

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Praise

“A movie-worthy tale of espionage and intrigue. Hannibal has done it again.”–Steven James, national bestselling author of Every Wicked Man

“James Hannibal has crafted a story slam full of mystery, danger, twists, and turns. I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough–or bother to stop to breathe. You don’t want to miss this one!”–Lynette Eason, bestselling, award-winning author of the Blue Justice series

The Gryphon Heist plunges readers into a world where no one can be trusted, nothing is as it seems, and choosing the wrong side could be catastrophic.”–Lynn H. Blackburn, award-winning and bestselling author of the Dive Team Investigations series

“Leap on board The Gryphon Heist and ride the whirlwind of suspense. Don’t let go!”–DiAnn Mills, bestselling author of Burden of Proof

 

 

EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER ONE OF

THE GRYPHON HEIST

BY JAMES R. HANNIBAL

 

Present Day
Undisclosed Location

Talia Inger clutched her side, letting her shoulder fall against the alley wall. The pain had been growing for the last half hour, threatening to overtake her as it had in Windsor.

Eddie Gupta, her team specialized skills officer, sat cross-legged on the asphalt beside her, hidden from the street by a dumpster defaced with Cyrillic graffiti. He looked up with concern, fingers hovering over a tablet computer. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” Talia shoved the pain to the back of her mind. She wouldn’t fail—not again. “Bring up Whisper One. Show me the square.”

An app expanded to show infrared video of a small city square. A few gray, lukewarm figures drifted across the cold black of the cobblestones. A white heat source flared near the center, blocking out a good bit of the image for a moment before the filters kicked in. The flash subsided to reveal a single individual seated on the edge of a fountain. The hot spot remained where his hand should be for several seconds, then dropped to the ground and was snuffed out, crushed under his heel.

“There’s Borov.” A hint of British Indian colored Eddie’s accent. “He’s giving us the all-clear signal. Do you remember his code name?”

Talia shot him a look, and he answered with a sly smile. She remembered everything. Always. Eddie knew that. Her eyes returned to the drone feed. “Escort, Siphon is ready. Move in.”

“On it, Control,” a young woman replied through Talia’s earpiece. “Moving now.”

The infrared camera on Eddie’s Whisper nano-drone picked up another gray figure entering the square from the west, moving toward the fountain at a brisk pace. Even from behind the alley dumpster, two streets away, Talia could hear the echoing clop of the linguist’s designer heels on the stones. “Take it easy, Kayla,” she said, using the girl’s name instead of her call sign to be sure she caught her attention. Kayla hated the handle Escort, anyway. “Slow is fast, remember?”

The linguist slowed her pace to an exaggerated stroll. Talia closed her eyes and shook her head. She should have kept her mouth shut. The abrupt change looked out of place in the quiet square—enough to draw the attention of any local opposition. She held her breath. The pain in her side flared. But no enemy forces stormed in to grab Kayla.

Alexi Borov’s deep grumble came to her through the comm link—a low, intense string of Belarusian. When he moved to stand, Kayla touched his arm and sat beside him, offering what Talia hoped were whispered assurances of his safety. After a few tense seconds, he nodded. More grumbles. Kayla switched to English. “Two, six, nine, seven.”

A third player read back the sequence. “Two, six, nine, seven. Black Bag copies. Stand by.”

In the silence that followed, Eddie glanced up at Talia. She gave him a smile, made thin by her pain. “We’ll make it. It’s been a year. We can last another twenty minutes.”

One year.

One year of academics, field craft, and mock missions, knowing everything—fake embassy balls, live-fire exercises, chance meetings with undercover agents in Chestertown—everything was a test. Talia’s only break had been the TGT—the Trainee Grand Tour—which had taken her across four continents in two months, sampling every menial, low-risk job the Agency could offer. And even that had ended in a twenty-page evaluation from six different supervisors. One year of weeding out the chaff.

Only five candidates remained. Tonight was their final exam.

 

CLICK TO FINISH READING CHAPTER ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former stealth pilot James R. Hannibal is a two-time Silver Falchion Award winner for his Section 13 mysteries for kids and a Thriller Award nominee for his Nick Baron covert ops series for adults. James is a rare multi-sense synesthete, meaning all of his senses intersect. He sees and feels sounds and smells and hears flashes of light. He lives in Houston, Texas.

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Goodreads ⬥ Amazon Author Page

 

 

 

 

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September 26-October 6, 2019

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Check out the other blogs on this tour

9/26/19 Notable Quotable The Clueless Gent
9/26/19 BONUS Post Hall Ways Blog
9/27/19 Review Reading by Moonlight
9/28/19 Author Interview All the Ups and Downs
9/29/19 Review Max Knight
9/30/19 Excerpt StoreyBook Reviews
10/1/19 Review The Page Unbound
10/2/19 Top Ten List That’s What She’s Reading
10/3/19 Author Interview Missus Gonzo
10/4/19 Review Chapter Break Book Blog
10/5/19 Review Momma on the Rocks

 

 

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Comments Off on Excerpt & #Giveaway – The Gryphon Heist by James R. Hannibal @jamesrhannibal #LSBBT #Christian #Thriller #Suspense #TexasAuthor
Posted in 5 paws, Book Release, Christian, Giveaway, Review, Romantic Suspense on September 5, 2019

 

FATAL STRIKE

by

DiANN MILLS

Genre: Romantic Suspense / Clean Romance / Christian

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Date of Publication: September 3, 2019

Number of Pages: 400

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

There’s a killer on the loose in Galveston, targeting law enforcement officials and using a fatal injection of snake venom to take them down. Authorities have reasons to believe the Veneno gang is behind the hits, and FBI Agents Leah Riesel and Jon Colbert team up to track down those responsible. Their best lead is an eyewitness who identifies a young man dumping the third body on a church doorstep. But their suspect has gone into hiding, and those closest to him are reluctant to reveal anything that might help investigators find him.

As Leah and Jon check connections among the victims and dig deeper into motives, they discover appearances may be deceiving. Someone is desperate to keep their secrets hidden, and Leah and Jon must face their greatest fears in order to stop the next fatal strike.

Amazon ◆ Barnes & Noble  ◆  Books-A-Million
Indiebound ◆ Christianbook.com  ◆  Google Play
Apple iBooks  ◆   Kobo  ◆ Murder by the Book
Tyndale

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am not even sure where to begin with my thoughts on this book!  I haven’t read one of DiAnn’s books in a while and I’m not sure why.  Her books are gripping, remind us of faith, family, and ties in a multitude of issues that we see in the world today.

Leah and Jon have a hard job, or at least one that I wouldn’t want to perform, they are snipers for the FBI.  It is an important job but I wonder how someone can put aside the fact that they will most likely kill someone in the line of duty?  Granted anyone that is killed is usually a criminal, but it must weigh heavily on their hearts, or I would think that it might.  Despite their jobs and their alpha personalities, there is something between them that sparks further investigation to see if it might be more than just friendship.

There were so many aspects of this book that I enjoyed.  The characters were fleshed out and sometimes complex, the Christian part struck the perfect balance to the fast-paced action, there is a priest that struggles with his faith and doing what is right for society, and even a bit of potential romance for Leah and Jon.  All of the characters felt real with their own issues and how they dealt with those issues.  A big one for Leah is her fear of snakes and this book has them “thrown” at her from multiple directions.  I admired her strength despite it all especially in working to overcome that fear.  I felt like Jon was supportive of her and understood that sometimes there are things we are afraid to address in this life.

The main story centers around the deaths of three prominent citizens in Galveston, a gang, and a drug crisis.  The stories are interwoven neatly without giving away too many details to keep the reader in suspense.  I have to admit I did figure out part of the story only because looking at all of the characters, this was the only one that didn’t feel right.  There were many more involved in the end and I had a flurry of different emotions for the various characters.  Happy to see some get their just rewards, and sad that others had to endure the situations in which they were placed.

Leah and Jon both had unresolved issues when it came to family or close friends and their journey to closure rounded out the story.  The only thing I didn’t figure out was Leah’s heritage.  She mentions an ancestor that escaped slavery and there is a brief description of Leah, but that is about all is said in the story.  It didn’t really matter in the end, was just something I questioned.

Overall I really enjoyed this story and give it 5 paws up.

 

 

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol Award contests.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is the director of the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Marketing Retreat, and the Mountainside Novelist Retreat with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. She’s very active online and loves to connect with readers.

 

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September 3-13, 2019

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9/3/19 Author Video Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
9/3/19 BONUS Post Hall Ways Blog
9/4/19 Review Momma on the Rocks
9/5/19 Review StoreyBook Reviews
9/5/19 Author Interview Texas Book Lover
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9/8/19 Review The Love of a Bibliophile
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9/10/19 Review Reading by Moonlight
9/10/19 Review Book Fidelity
9/11/19 Author Interview Max Knight
9/12/19 Review KayBee’s Book Shelf
9/12/19 Review Missus Gonzo

 

 

 

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