Twilight at Blueberry Barrens... a book review

by: Colleen Coble
Series: Sunset Cove #3

Thomas Nelson Publisher

ISBN: 9781401690304
Available September 20, 2016: print, e-book, audiobook

Fiction / Christian / Mystery / Romance

Publisher's Description:

Kate Mason has devoted herself to caring for her family's blueberry barrens. But after her fields stop producing fruit, she's forced to come up with alternative ways to make a living. Renting out the small cottage on her property seems an obvious choice, but it won't be enough.

When entrepreneur Drake Newham shows up looking not only for a place to rent but also for a nanny for his two nieces, it's almost too good to be true. And maybe it is because Drake brings with him dangerous questions about who might be out to kill his family.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Twilight at Blueberry Barrens invites you back to Folly Shoals - a small town nestled on the shore of northeast Maine.  We are able to renew our "literary friendships with Claire, Kate, Luke and many others.  As Kate and her sister Claire are looking for the Puffin's nesting ground on the cliffs of Folly Shoals, Kate notices not one, but two lifeless bodies higher on the cliffs.  Who can they be? What happened? 

Since taking charge of his brother's two daughters, Drake believes he is being followed.  When his home is broken into, he decides to investigate the murders on his own.  After the sheriff determined the cause of his brother and sister-in-law's deaths as a murder/suicide, Drake arrives in Folly Shoals to spur the investigation of his half-brother and sister-in-law as murder, not a murder/suicide. 

Colleen Coble has once again created a story so real and intriguing that I read it in one sitting! Not only do you have the murder to solve, but two other "odd" happenings in Folly Shoals.  As the story lines intertwine and the attraction between Kate and Drake heats up, the pages cannot be read fast enough!

My rating:   A       4.5 out of 5 stars

I received a complimentary digital copy of Twilight at Blueberry Barrens from Thomas Nelson Publisher and NetGalley for my honest review.

Happy Reading,

     Ellen

Defender by Diana Palmer ... a book review

Defender

Series: Long, Tall Texans

ISBN-13: 978-0373789733
Publisher: HQN Books

Available: June 28, 2016

Publisher's Description:

The man who shattered her trust is back to protect her… New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer delivers a breathtaking story of second-chance love.

When Paul Fiore disappeared from Isabel Grayling's life, he told himself it was for all the right reasons. She was young and innocent, and he was her millionaire father's lowly employee.

Three years on, Paul is the FBI agent assigned to Isabel's case. Too late, he realizes what life in her Texas mansion was really like back then—and how much damage he did when he left.
Once love-struck and sheltered, Isabel has become an assistant district attorney committed to serving the law, no matter how risky it gets. But right now, the man she can't forgive is the one thing standing between her and a deadly stalker. She knows Paul won't hesitate to protect her life with his own. But if she can't trust herself to resist him, how can she trust him not to break her heart all over again?

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Oh my... once I began this book, I did not want to put it down!  Unfortunately, I did have to go to work and cook and clean..... my apologies, I digress!

Isabel and Merrie appear to have it all... a wealthy family, a doting father, personal bodyguards, and a loving housekeeper, Mandy Swilling.  As the story develops, we are drawn into the tension between Paul and Isabel, the girls and their father, and too many unanswered questions regarding the father and his business dealings.

As I neared the end of the book, I was enjoying how Diana Palmer was tying up all the different story lines.  Then, when I went to turn the page to the next chapter, I realized I was at the end of the book!  Since this ended with a cliffhanger, I look forward to the next book and continuing the story of Isabel, Merrie, Paul, and Mandy!

I received a complimentary digital copy of Defender from HQN Books and NetGalley for my honest review.

Happy reading,

   Ellen

Silent Sentry... a book review

Silent Sentry

by Theresa Rizzo

Available: April 3, 2016

ISBN: 9780989045

Rizzo Publishing

Suspense / Mystery thriller / Romance

Age range: 18 +

Publisher's Description:

Dr. Joe Scarfili runs. He’s a runner. It’s how he copes with emotional pain.

When his wife was murdered, he ran from violent Detroit to insular Grosse Pointe. He ran from his smothering, caring family to long hours in the operating room. But when he falls for Gianna, another run could cost him everything.

Nurse and entrepreneur Gianna Donnatelli is on the verge of making her dreams come true. Her company is poised to go public with a product guaranteed to revolutionize medical care and at the same time help revitalize Detroit, only she’s attacked, stalked, and flattened by an explosion. Then the danger escalates.

With Gianna’s life at stake, Joe can’t run. Despite the fact that he has no police or tech experience… Despite the fact that Gianna’s penchant for aiding Detroit’s underprivileged is the same kind of altruism that got his wife killed… Despite the fact that Gianna pushes all his insecurity buttons… This time, Joe will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

And Gianna protects those she loves just as fiercely. Together they’ll fight to save each other and their love... Or die trying.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

How does a young woman, raised in the affluent neighborhood of Grosse Point, end up living in one of Detroit's highest crime neighborhoods?  One that has a mind of her own to live among those who need a hand-up.

I loved this book... from the opening paragraph to the closing scene!  Theresa Rizzo has created characters so real that you feel you truly know them.  Add the well-researched information regarding the Mafia and the strong bonds of Italian families, and you have an award-winning combination.  Every time I thought I had the plot figured out, Theresa threw in more twists and turns in the story line which kept me guessing to the very end!

Silent Sentry is one of the best books I have read in a long time!  Thank you, Theresa, for pouring your creative talent into this wonderful story!

I received a complimentary digital copy of Silent Sentry from author Theresa Rizzo for my honest review.

Happy Reading,

    Ellen

The Jerusalem Prophecies by Terry Brennan

The Aleppo Code

By Terry Brennan

978-0-8254-4389-3

Fiction/Christian/Suspense/Thriller

The Jerusalem Prophecies, book 3

Kregel Publications, 2015

“A thousand-year-old manuscript reveals the existence of an ancient sanctuary. 

Within that sanctuary lies the most powerful weapon in the history of the world.”

The Aleppo Code by Terry Brennan is the final chapter in the mysteries deciphered from the thousand-year-old scroll and mezuzah found in the Bowery Mission.  The scroll’s message, written in demotic text, leads a misfit group around the world and into Jerusalem seeking the “treasure” at the end of a long and treacherous road.  Before I go any further, I must digress…

Book 1, The Sacred Cipher - “A secret room has been discovered in the Chapel of the Bowery Mission.  And what’s hidden inside reveals a mystery of biblical proportions.

“When New Yorker Tom Bohannon uncovers an ancient scroll containing a dead language that has been lost in the sands of time, he doesn’t fully comprehend the danger that’s about to unfold.  Though Tom and his team of ragtag scientists and historians want to decode the ancient text, others don’t want the cipher revealed.  And they are prepared to kill to keep it hidden.  From a market in nineteenth-century Alexandrea to a library in present-day New York to the tunnels beneath Jerusalem, the secret of the cipher is gradually revealing itself across the globe.  And for those in its path, life is about to change – forever.”

Book 2, The Brotherhood Conspiracy – “A secret as old as the prophets lies hidden in an ancient code.  That code may uncover an artifact as mysterious, and dangerous, as the Lost Ark.”

The Brotherhood Conspiracy continues with Bohannon’s group realizing there is another mystery on the mezuzah which was not understood in The Sacred Cipher.  The groups chasing them will not stop until they have the mezuzah and scroll in their possession.  Once again, the group heads out to parts unknown to seek what is hidden.  “One step ahead of an ancient gang of assassins, and one step behind the deadline for impending disaster, the team encounters the death of friends and colleagues and maneuvers through a maze of political treachery, religious fanaticism, and traitorous machinations – to the very brink of judgement orchestrated by a force greater than they could have imagined.”

Book 3, The Aleppo Code - “A thousand-year-old manuscript reveals the existence of an ancient sanctuary.  Within that sanctuary lies the most powerful weapon in the history of the world.”

“Having chased the secret of the Cipher through a maze of treachery, death, and destruction, Tom Bohannon’s band of explorers seems to be at a dead end.  But the discovery of a tenth-century scriptural text holding the final key to the ancient code hurls them right back into the fray.”

As much as I would love to tell you the storyline and its outcome, I cannot – no spoilers in this review.  All three books are amazing!  Terry Brennan has woven a suspense-filled, theological mystery so real that you can “almost” imagine it happening today.  His use of biblical history, archeology and present-day news and political unrest intertwined with the fictional storyline will keep you enthralled to the end!

From the opening paragraph in The Sacred Cipher to the final page in The Aleppo Code, I was pulled into the mystery of the ancient scroll.  The characters were everyday people being asked to believe by faith, not by sight.  People I can relate to; people who believed the unbelievable.  I cheered them on, grieved with them, and peered around the tunnels along with them.

I look forward to many more reads from Terry Brennan!

A huge thank you goes to Kregel Publishing for allowing me to read and review these amazing books!

I received complimentary print copies of The Sacred Cipher, The Brotherhood Conspiracy, and The Aleppo Code from Kregel Publishing for my honest review.

Happy Reading,

     Ellen

The Lost Codex... a book review

The Lost Codex

An OPSIG Team Black Novel

By Alan Jacobson

Available: November 3, 2015

Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media

Mystery / Thriller / Suspense/ Spies and Politics

ISBN-13: 978-1504003636

 

Publisher’s Description:

In a novel Jeffery Deaver has called “brilliant,” two ancient biblical documents reveal long-buried secrets that could change the world as we know it.

n 930 CE, a revered group of scholars pen the first sanctioned Bible, planting the seed from which other major religions will grow. But in 1953, half the manuscript goes missing while being transported from Syria. Around the same time, in the foothills of the Dead Sea, an ancient scroll is discovered—and promptly stolen. Six decades later, both parchments stand at the heart of a geopolitical battle between foreign governments and radical extremists, threatening the lives of millions. With the American homeland under siege, the president turns to a team of uniquely trained covert operatives including FBI profiler Karen Vail, Special Forces veteran Hector DeSantos, and FBI terrorism expert Aaron Uziel. Their mission: Find the stolen documents and capture—or kill—those responsible for unleashing a coordinated and unprecedented attack on US soil.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

I first met Karen Vail in Alan Jacobson’s novel Spectrum, published in 2014.  She works as an FBI profiler; and in this new book, she has teamed up with other FBI agents known as OPSIG operators (Operations support Intelligence Group) to carry out covert, deniable missions around the world.

This novel begins in Washington, DC and travels the globe in search of two ancient Biblical documents which could change the world.  It is fast-paced with many twists and turns along the way.  Once I was hooked on the prologue, I did not want to put it down! 

Fantastic, action packed novel with well-developed characters… live life on the edge with FBI profiler Karen Vail, Special Forces veteran Hector DeSantos, FBI terrorism expert Aaron Uziel, and many more!  I look forward to many more great books from Alan Jacobson.

I received this e-book from Open Road Media and NetGalley for my honest review.

Happy Reading,

         Ellen

The Bones Will Speak... a book review

The Bones will Speak

A Gwen Marcey Novel series, book 2

by Carrie Stuart Parks

Thomas Nelson Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-4016-9045-8

Available: August 11, 2015

 

Book Description

Forensic artist Gwen Marcey has become the target of a serial killer who believes he's been appointed God's executioner.

In Copper Creek, Montana, Gwen Marcey is struggling to put together her life after cancer and divorce. When her dog retrieves a skull of a murder victim and leads her to the victim's grave, Gwen uses her forensic art ability to identify a serial killer. She is horrified to discover all the victims look like her fourteen-year-old daughter.

The murderer is a "lone wolf," a member of the terrorist group Phineas Priesthood-and he has a score to settle with Gwen. Unraveling the tangled Christian Identity movement, where race-not grace-provides salvation, Gwen is in a frantic rush against time. She must use all her skills to uncover the killer before he can carry out his threat to destroy her and everyone she loves.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Author Carrie Stuart Parks, an internationally known forensic artist herself, has penned a terrific mystery/suspense novel that hooks you from page one to the closing paragraph.  The main character, Gwen Marcey, is living through real-life problems that many of us are either dealing with or know someone who is.  Add a mysterious cranium, bones of a young woman, and a live victim to bring a chilling serial killer to their small town.


This is the first novel from Carrie Stuart Parks that I have read, but it will not be the last!  Although I have a crazy, busy life, I read The Bones Will Speak in two days.  I look forward to reading the first book of the series A Cry from the Dust.


I received The Bones Will Speak: A Gwen Marcey novel from Thomas Nelson Publisher and their BookLook Bloggers program.

Happy Reading,

     

        Ellen

Lorie's Heart... a book review

Lorie's Heart

By Amy Lillard

Kensington Publishing

Wells Landing Series

ISBN: 978-1-4201-3457-5

Amish Christian fiction / Mystery

Publisher’s Description

Welcome back to Wells Landing, Oklahoma, the tranquil Amish community where still waters run deep and a brave young woman sets out to discover her faith, her family, and herself…

Lorie Kauffman is grief-stricken when her father passes away unexpectedly. But her heartache quickly turns to bewilderment when she discovers he'd been leading two lives—one of simplicity and hard work in Wells Landing, and one fraught with painful ordeals in Tulsa. As she starts digging into her family's past, Lorie finds herself torn between the Amish world and the Englisch world—and she's no longer certain where she belongs…

Lorie knows that if she leaves Wells Landing, she may never be able to return. But what if her destiny lies in the outside world—the world her father knew so well? Change is never easy, but with a bit of courage and the help of a handsome and kind-hearted Englischer, she just may find the peace, acceptance, and love she's been longing for…

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

As I turned the last page of this wonderful book, I knew I was going to miss these characters - new found friends.  I rode the emotional "roller coaster" along with Lorie as she began unraveling her father's past.   Lorie not only has to grieve in the Amish way, but she also feels compelled to learn of her father’s life away from the community.  Will her desire to know the truth about her father draw her closer to the Amish community or the Englischer world?  Amy Lillard brought these characters to life in believable situations and real-life problems.  I look forward to reading the other books in this series: Caroline's Secret and Courting Emily.

Happy Reading!

     Ellen

Awake... a book review

Awake

by Natasha Preston

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Teens & YA, Mystery, Thriller

Available: August 4, 2015

ISBN 9781492618522

Publisher's Description:
Scarlett doesn’t remember anything before the age of five. Her parents say it’s from the trauma of seeing her house burn down, and she accepts the life they’ve created for her without question—until a car accident causes Scarlett to start remembering pieces of an unfamiliar past.

When a new guy moves into town, Scarlett feels an instant spark. But Noah knows the truth of Scarlett’s past, and he’s determined to shield her from it...because Scarlett grew up in a cult called Eternal Light, controlled by her biological parents.

And they want her back.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

At first, I did not know what to expect from this book.  I usually do not enjoy books in which the chapters are written from each character's point of view.  Yet, this technique did not leave me scratching my head or wondering what is going on. 

The idea of have no memories of the first four year of your life does not seem strange.  I do not have clear memories from my early years.  But when peculiar flash backs begin occurring after the car accident, Scarlett pushes her parents to reveal the truth of her early years.

Natasha Preston has penned  "a coming of age" story with a twist - boy meets girl with frightening, repressed memories.  This book has it all... suspense, mystery, and a bit of romance!  The storyline had me hooked from page one and did not end until I finished the last page!

I received a complimentary digital copy of Awake from NetGalley.com and Sourcebooks Fire for my honest review.

Happy Reading,

     Ellen

The Inn at Ocean's Edge... a book review

The Inn at Ocean's Edge

A Sunset Cove Novel

by Colleen Coble

Available: April 14, 2015

ISBN: 978-1-4016-9026-7

Christian fiction / Mystery / Suspense / Romance

A story of family ties and love that binds them together...

Claire Dellamare unexpectedly joins her CEO father at the Hotel Tourmaline on the island of Folly Shoals, Maine, in hopes of closing a merger which would only increase their presence in the aviation world.  Yet, as she is checking in, she is overcome by a full blown panic attack.  What could trigger that in a place she had never been?  Or had she?


"In 1989, Claire Dellamare disappeared from her own fourth birthday party at the Hotel Tourmaline on the island of Folly Shoals, Maine.  She showed up a year later at the same hotel, with a note pinned to her dress but no explanation.  Nobody knows where Claire spent that year - and now, Claire didn't even know she had ever been missing" (back cover).


With flashes of memory and help from Luke, a Coast Guardsman whose mother went missing the same time Claire did, they begin their own investigation to uncover the truth surrounding Claire's and his mother's disappearance 25 years earlier.


I have enjoyed Colleen Coble's books in the past - Tidewater Inn, Seagrass Pier, Smitten, and Safe in His Arms.  But The Inn at Ocean's Edge has surpassed them all!  From the very first page until the closing paragraph, I was pulled into the mystery and suspense surrounding Claire and Luke.  Would they be able to solve this mystery before serious harm comes to Claire?  Why does the local law enforcement seem to be stonewalling?  Will her family survive the truth as it is slowly exposed?

My rating - 6 out of 5 stars   A+

Can I do that..... I sure can!

I received a complimentary copy of The Inn at Ocean's Edge from Thomas Nelson Publisher and their BookLook Bloggers program for my honest review.


Happy reading,
   
          Ellen

Lethal Beauty... a book review

Lethal Beauty

a Mia Quinn Mystery

By Lis Wiehl with April Henry

Thomas Nelson Publisher

ISBN: 978-1-59554-905-1

Available: March 3, 2015

Publisher’s Description:

Mia Quinn discovers that a series of seemingly unrelated murders are linked. How far up are the strings being pulled—and what happens when one of her own is at risk?

The murder Mia is prosecuting seems like an open and shut case—until the accused claims he was the real victim and that the dead girl attacked him first. The tabloids dub her a "lethal beauty." Still, a conviction seems imminent. Then a key witness goes missing. Just when it looks like the killer could walk free, the dead woman’s mother takes matters into her own hands. 

Meanwhile, Charlie Carlson, a Seattle homicide detective, is investigating the murder of a man whose body washed up on the beach of Puget Sound, but he's got little to go on. He has no dental work, fingerprints aren't on file, and he doesn't match any missing person reports. Then a church pianist is senselessly gunned down before horrified parishioners. 

All three cases seem unrelated—but are they? Together, Mia and Charlie race to find the answer before another crime hits too close to home.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

Once again, Lis Wiehl with April Henry shines the spotlight on a current social issue alive and well in America – human trafficking and exploitation of illegal aliens.  As Mia and Charlie work together to solve seemingly unrelated cases, we are greeted with the seedier side of humanity.
Lis Wiehl works her magic in crafting not only believable characters but also a very realistic plot with numerous twists and turns!  You will find yourself engrossed in the storylines, both case-related and personal, in which Mia and Charlie find themselves.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

A

I received a complimentary copy of Lethal Beauty from Thomas Nelson Publishing and the BookLook Bloggers program for my honest review.

Happy reading,

  Ellen

The Last Sicarius... a book review

The Last Sicarius

by Van R Mayhall Jr.

iUniverse LLC, Bloomington Indiana

ISBN-13: 9781491721087

Genre: Christian / Mystery / Thriller

Are the Gospels of Judas and possibly a diary of Jesus' earthly ministry worth dying for? 

Will they prove the Christian faith or destroy it forever?

Biblical intrigue

Theological thriller

Mystery

Suspense

Good versus evil

After surviving the Kolektor's rage and murderous plot against her and those she cares about, Chloe Lejeune returns to Louisiana to continue translating the ancient manuscripts of Jesus' earthly ministry found in the oil jars.  Yet, when a Vatican official turns up to have lunch with her, she soon realizes the mystery behind the ancient jars and evil is not finished.  Along with her son, Pope Francis "charges Chloe to find the cache of jars and keep them away from their adversaries" - the rightful heir of the Kolektor's organization.

Once again, Chloe works with Vatican officials and her son J.E following biblical clues to locate the Cave of Jars before the Kolektor's heir does.  As each clue brings them closer to the jars, it also brings the evil heir-apparent one step closer.  Who will find the cave first?  Will there be any survivors to the last stand between good and evil?

Van R Mayhall Jr once again has drawn the reader into the biblical narrative and locations.  With each twist and turn, you want to cheer on Chloe and her band of scholars and military Vatican guards.  Yet, the evil heir stays on their heels, or, even one step ahead.

I enjoyed The Last Sicarius as much as the first book, Judas the Apostle.  Unfortunately, the beginning of The Last Sicarius did not flow as smoothly as I had hoped.  In his attempt to make this book a "stand alone" in the series, Van R Mayhall Jr adds background information on the characters and basic plot from the first book into the beginning chapters of this one.  This strategy took away from the opening scenes of the new book.  I believe an introductory chapter summarizing Judas the Apostle would have achieved a smoother transition between the two books; thus, allowing the second book, The Last Sicarius, to stand alone.

My rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

A

Please note: I received a complimentary digital copy of The Last Sicarius from NetGalley.com and iUniverse Publishing for my honest review.

Happy reading!

     Ellen

Judas the Apostle.... a book review

Judas the Apostle

by Van R Mayhall Jr.

Published: September 2013

iUniverse LLC, Bloomington Indiana

ISBN 9781491703328

Judas the Apostle gives The DaVinci Code a run for its money!

Could the ancient manuscripts give a first-hand account of Jesus' earthly ministry?

Biblical intrigue

Theological thriller

Mystery

Suspense

Good versus evil

After the death of her father, Chloe returns to her childhood home in Louisiana to learn his death was far from a home invasion gone badly.  When she is given a hand-written letter from her father during the reading of his will, she embarks on a mystery of biblical proportions.

The mysterious jar and its contents bring both a future and a possible ending to any who come in contact with it. Will the ancient text prove beyond a shadow of doubt the ministry and mission of the Catholic Church?  Or, as the evil nemesis desires, disproves the basis of the Catholic religion once and for all. 

Immerse yourself with Chloe as she and other scholars try to unravel the mysterious Gospel of Judas before their time runs out!

My rating: 6 out of 5 stars, A++

I loved the way Van R Mayhall Jr intertwined biblical archeology, the study of ancient languages, and a riveting plot to make this a must read.  I was hooked from page one with the story ending much too quickly.  Good news - - - - - The next book in the series, The Last Sicarius,  was published on February 6, 2014. 

So, do you know who the Sicarii are?

Happy Reading!

     Ellen

Please note: I received a complementary digital copy of Judas the Apostle for my honest review from NetGalley.com and iUniverse Publisher for my honest review.

Captured.... a book review

ISBN: 9781497692510

Available: January 27, 2015

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

When I read the description of the book, I was intrigued by the premise -

You are diagnosed with a brain tumor and only have 6 weeks to live.  How would you choose to spend your last hours, days, weeks?

Before I began the book, I mused how I would spend the remainder of my time here on earth.  I would choose to spend my time with family and close friends.  I cannot change my past, but I can speak life and love to those around me.

In Captured by Neil Cross, Kenny Drummond is informed by the doctors that he has six weeks to live.  As he processes the news, he makes a list of people he either wants to thank for helping him in the past or those he wishes to ask forgiveness from for past misdeeds.

What begins as a positive use of his remaining time turns into a downward spiral into all that is evil when he begins searching for a childhood friend, Callie. In all the different directions the mystery surrounding the disappearance of his childhood friend could take, this one had never crossed my mind.

Although I did not fully enjoy the storyline, Neil Cross' skill with the pen shines through.  His skill with the written word draws the reader into the story and allows them to feel the emotions as Kenny lives out his last days.  Add in some unexpected plot lines and you have an intriguing storyline.

My ratings:

2 out of 4 stars for my enjoyment

3.5 out of 4 stars for Neil’s writing style

I received a complimentary e-copy of Captured by Neil Cross from NetGalley and Open Road Integrated Media for my honest review.

Blessings,

    Ellen

Spectrum... a book review

Spectrum

by Alan Jacobson

The Karen Vail Series #6

ISBN: 9781497641938

Available: October 7, 2014

Publisher: Open Road Media

Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Publisher's Description:

New York City: home to world-renowned museums, theater, restaurants, iconic sports franchises. Central Park. Wall Street. And an infamous serial killer who’s terrorized the Big Apple for decades.

The year is 1995 and the NYPD has just graduated a promising new patrol officer named Karen Vail. The rookie’s first day on the job is anything but easy when she finds herself at the crime scene of a young woman murdered in an unusual manner. Vail is unsure of what she’s looking at or what it means—but it’s a case that will weigh on her mind for nearly twenty years.

As the years pass, Vail’s career takes unexpected twists and turns—as does the case that’s come to be known as Hades. Now a skilled FBI profiler, will Vail be in a better position to catch the killer? Or will Hades prove to be Karen Vail’s hell on earth?

The character who has captivated readers worldwide—and who won the praise of literary giants Michael Connelly, James Patterson, and Nelson DeMille—returns in a story that captures the experiences that shaped the revered profiler and made her the top cop she is today.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

This is the first Karen Vail Series that I have read.  I was not disappointed!  Since the storyline followed her law enforcement career from rookie cop to FBI profiler, I did not feel lost at all.  Having never lived in NYC, Alan Jacobson has written this book so realistically that I feel as though I am a local New Yorker.  His research into not only the setting and characters, but also the crimes and police work shine through in this terrific novel.

The multiple storylines, which at first seem odd, are woven together so well.  I can't say enough about this book.  I will be reading the first 5 books in the Karen Vail series very soon!

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A+ all the way!

I received a complimentary e-copy of Spectrum from NetGalley and Open Road Media Publisher for my honest review.

Blessings,

    Ellen

Seagrass Pier... a book review

Seagrass Pier

Available: July 1, 2014

ISBN: 9781401690083

Fiction / Christian / Suspense / Romance

Series: Hope Beach Series, #3

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

 

Publisher’s  Description:

In a secluded corner of Hope Beach, one woman must decipher a stranger’s memories . . . before they cost her everything.

Elin Summerall was one of the lucky ones. Not only did she get a heart transplant, but the donor was a perfect fit. A miraculously perfect fit.

But when Elin begins having violent flashbacks—and vivid dreams of being strangled—she realizes that she has been the recipient of more than just a new heart . . . Elin is remembering her donor’s murder.

Her strange affliction has attracted some unwanted attention: from the press, from the authorities . . . and from the killer himself. Now, living alone with her young daughter and aging mother, Elin is being stalked—by a man she’s only met in her nightmares.

The police are dubious of her story, but one off-duty FBI agent agrees to help her: Agent Marc Everton.

Now, in a remote cottage on Hope Island, Elin and Marc must probe the secrets buried in her borrowed heart. And there’s no time to waste. One man is desperate to silence her—before she remembers too much.

 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

The transplant brought her life ---- and the donor’s memories may bring her death.

 

In the third book in the Hope Beach Series, we meet Elin, the central character, as she learns to walk a difficult path in her life.  She is a widow who has recently undergone a heart transplant – the blessing is turning into a curse.   Why is Elin having vivid nightmares of her donor’s murder?  And why, if the police don’t believe her, does the murderer set his sights on Erin?

She moves to Hope Island to begin anew with her 4 year old daughter.  The 100-year old home is filled with treasures of days gone by including an old diary from the original owner’s widow.  Add Elin’s mother who is suffering front dementia and you have rich storylines apart from the murder / stalker mystery! 

 

My rating: 6 out of 5 stars

Can I do that?  YES!  I just did… this book is that good!

I received a complimentary e-copy of Seagrass Pier from Thomas Nelson Publishing for my honest review.

 

Blessings,

   Ellen

 

“Contentment is found in your heart, Elin.  It’s not in a profession or in a relationship.  Your roles don’t define who you are.  You define your roles.” - Elin's mother (Ch. 9 – Seagrass Pier)

 

Maverick Sheriff... a book review

ISBN: 9780373697823 

Available August 19, 2014

Harlequin Intrigue

Romance / Intrigue / Mystery / Suspense

 

Publisher’s Description:

Delores Fossen kicks off her new series, Sweetwater Ranch, with a Texas lawman, a beautiful district attorney…and the child they'll risk everything to protect.

 

Saving a little boy's life reopens painful wounds for Texas sheriff Cooper McKinnon. This could be his son, whose loss has haunted him for two years. But Cooper has a formidable adversary in Jessa Wells. She's the adoptive mother—and she'll do anything to hold on to Liam. 

 

It's cruel justice that the man who shares Liam's rare blood type has an unsolved murder in his own family. And the danger's far from over. Fighting her desire for Cooper, Jessa has no choice but to join forces with the maverick cowboy. Jessa knows working together is their best shot at keeping the child safe. But it's the possibility of a future alone that breaks Jessa's heart.

 

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I have always enjoyed the Harlequin Intrigue books.  What could be better than a mystery filled with suspense and romance!  This fast-paced novel has more than one mystery to solve, but only one is resolved in book 1 of this new series, Sweetwater Ranch, by Delores Fossen.  I look forward to reading more about the McKinnon family and its other mysteries hinted at in Maverick Sheriff.  This series will have 8 books total.  Book 2, Cowboy Behind the Badge, is expected to be released October 2013.  I know what I’ll be reading in October!  What about you?

 

Read part of chapter one HERE!

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

 

I received a complimentary e-copy of Maverick Sheriff for my honest review from NetGalley and Harlequin Intrigue.

 

Blessings,

  Ellen