Point of Danger by Irene Hannon

Hate mail was one thing. This was quite another.

Radio talk show host Eve Reilly is used to backlash from her pot-stirring on-air commentary and interviews. But now it seems a disgruntled listener is resorting to more than angry words to express their displeasure. When a suspicious package arrives on her doorstep, Eve turns to law enforcement for help.

Police detective Brent Lange can't find any evidence to link the string of unsettling incidents that follows, but he's convinced they're connected. As the harassment grows more menacing, it becomes clear someone wants Eve's voice silenced--permanently. 

But unless he can track down her elusive foe, the gutsy woman who is willing to take risks for what she believes--and who is swiftly winning his heart--may not survive.

 

Irene Hannon..... her name has earned some serious recognition in the realm of crime thrillers. Her books are riveting and never fail to leave you with a "Whoa...what!?" moment. Several years ago she released a book that spent a lot of time in the mind of a very demented killer, and it disturbed me badly. Since then, I have not read any of her books. I was a little nervous to pick up 'Point of Danger', but a friend recommend I read it so I did. I am glad I did.

‘Point of Danger’ has a really strong heroine - she is driven, committed to her beliefs (both spiritual and political), and not afraid to face life head on. Our hero has some baggage but he is suitably swoon worthy. No complaints there. 

 

The plot was believably, had enough red herrings to distract, and delivered beautifully right through to the last page. I read this book in one sitting and really enjoyed the whole thing.

 

Thank-you to Graf Martin Communications and to Baker Publishing House for allowing me to review this great book.

Dead End by Nancy Mehl

Back Cover: When a body is discovered in a field in Iowa, the police uncover fourteen additional corpses, some from twenty years ago, others from the recent past. The remains point to a serial killer with an MO the authorities have seen before--Ed Oliphant, a man who has been in prison for more than twenty years . . . and is FBI Special Agent Kaely Quinn's father. After several failed attempts to discover if Ed has been training someone to be a copycat killer, the police turn to Kaely in St. Louis for help.

Kaely promised herself she would never step foot in her hometown or set eyes on her father again. She's always refused to confront her past, but if she wants to prevent any more deaths, she must come face-to-face with the man she's hated for years.

As more bodies are discovered, Kaely races against time and her own inner turmoil to uncover the killer. Will this most personal case yet cost Kaely her identity and perhaps even her life?

Review: Kaely Quinn, a behavior analyst or criminal 'profiler', is a character that I could have hung out with for another dozen books or so. I sense that "Dead End" is the last of this series, therefore making it a trilogy, and I am so sad to say goodbye to this insanely interesting and quirky individual. 

I've read a lot of Nancy Mehl's books, and the"Kaely Quinn Profiler" trilogy is by far my favourite work of hers so far. "Dead End" can be read as a stand alone book, but you will not get the same satisfaction or depth if you don't read the other two books first (both of which I highly recommend). 

This trilogy is about a woman named Kaely Quinn who is the daughter of an infamous serial killer. To combat the evil in the world and to try and understand how her father, a man who had always appeared so normal, could in actuality be a notorious serial killer, she joined the FBI. Through her own unique and sometimes frightening methods, Kaely has become an incredible profiler and helped many law agencies find their UNSUB. However, her unusual techniques aren't without their dangers.... and as Kaely struggles to deal with the demons of her past she begins to loose control of her methods...and her confusing relationship with Noah.

As time races by, Kaely fights to hold herself together and push the demons back as she and Noah confronted one of the most difficult cases of her career - one that again involved her notorious father and an apparent copy-cat killer. 

If you like thrillers and detective type stories, you will love this one. Highly recommend this series! 

Thank-you to Graf Martin Communications and to Baker Publishing Group for a complimentary copy of this book. 

Storm Rising by Ronie Kendig

Review: This was a much anticipated book release for me. I recently finished reading the trilogy, "Tox Files" by Ronie Kendig, which is the lead-up series to this new series, "The Book of the Wars". I can not say enough good things about "Tox Files" nor about book one of "The Book of the Wars". These two series have bumped Ronie Kendig from being an author I liked to my current favourite.

There is so much to these series that it is hard to sit down and condense everything into a small blurb. There really isn't anything I don't like about these books, nor about "Storm Rising". So I might as well discuss what I am enjoying so much about them.

First, the premise/plot. To say that the idea these books are based on is an original is to put it lightly. In an era where there are millions of books and stories being sold, it is hard to find a book where you don't feel like you've read some sort of variation of it before. That is not the case with Storm Rising (or the books before it). The premise behind these books is down-right brilliant. Ronie Kendig has taken hints of prophecy or vaguely mentioned relics from the Bible and woven an entire modern-day saga from them. The various artifacts in these stories are all about to reek some serious global havoc, and it is up to the elite teams in these books to take down the threat. As basic as that sounds, the way it is played out is masterful and I couldn't flip the pages fast enough.

Second, characters. Storm Rising brings a vaguely familiar character to a front row seat. Leif...otherwise known as "Runt" from the "Tox Files" trilogy is now the head of an elite military crew tasked at taking out a new threat called the Book of Wars - a book prophesied to contain some rather terrifying information if it lands in the wrong hands. Leif is far from what he seems, and this book is starting to peal back some rather incredible layers to this marine, and left me wondering, "Who is he?" or maybe more accurately, "What is he?"

Leif is supported by an amazing cast - or should I say, 'crew'? The support characters are all well fleshed out and don't simply support the story - they add to it and each season it with their own distinct flavor and voice. Anyone of the characters in his crew could have their own novel.

After Leif, my favourite character is certainly Iskra. She is so complex and utterly kick-butt-awesome. I love her and I loved trying to figure out what she was going to do next. The chemistry between her and Leif was awesome.

Third....pace and writing. Honestly, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. There wasn't a dull moment in this book. The writing was fantastic, and I actually read a few paragraphs out loud just to enjoy the brilliance a little bit more.

There is more I could say, but I'm going to cut it short there. If it hasn't come across clearly yet, I'll spell it out....This is a fantastic book and you should buy it (and review it!)....and you should also buy the Tox Files by Ronie Kendig as well.

Thanks to Graf Martin Communications and to Baker Publishing House for a complimentary copy of this book.

Back Cover: 

Does an Ancient Book of Prophecy Hold the Answers to Saving the World . . . Or Predict Its Destruction?
Mentioned in the pages of the Old Testament but lost to history, the Book of the Wars has resurfaced, and its pages hold secrets--and dangers--never before seen on earth.

Tasked with capturing the ancient text, former Navy SEAL Leif Metcalfe is once more given command of his own team. But their best efforts are ruined when a notorious Bulgarian operative known as Viorica snatches the volume right out from under them.

Iskra "Viorica" Todorova is determined to use the book to secure the thing that matters most--freedom. But a series of strange storms erupts around the globe, and the coming dangers foretold in the text threaten crops, lives, and entire nations. Though both are haunted by secrets of the past and neither trusts the other, Leif and Iskra must form an uneasy alliance to thwart impending disaster. However, the truth hidden in centuries-old words could unleash a storm of their own destruction.

Crown of Souls by Ronie Kendig

What a way to kick off 2018! I started the new year reading the sequel to one of my top picks from 2017. I know it's very early on in the 2018 book season, but I may have already read my favourite book of the year: Crown of Souls by Ronie Kendig.

Welcome to another adventure with the ultra-awesome, hard core, kick-butt amazing Tox Russel. Tox and his team of highly specialized operatives are faced with a mission that strikes close to home when one of Tox's old war-time friends becomes mixed up with a dangerous artifact. This artifact, a deadly crown, takes over Alec's mind. Crazed and aided by the supernatural powers of the mysterious crown, Alec becomes rapidly more wicked as he strikes with disturbing precision. Convinced that he's acting in the name of justice, Alec puts out an offer for Tox to join him. Tormented, Tox is faced with a struggle that is not only physical, but internal as well.

Enter Haven: deception expert and plucky girlfriend. She realizes quickly that Tox is identifying with Alec more than he should. As they madly chase Alec around the globe, Haven is hard pressed to keep Tox's head together. Things get trick when Alec sets his sights on her and Tox opens up to her about his past.

This book is filled with big-screen worthy fight scenes, unforgettable characters, and mind bending supernatural elements. These books need to become a movie. The plot is one big twist and I could NOT put this book down. It dug it's hooks into me with the first page, and now that it's over (with a major cliff hanger at the end!) I am dying to read the next one. Write quick, Ronie Kendig! And please.... a twenty or thirty part series would be amazing. :)

I would highly, highly recommend both books in this series. In fact, I insist. You must read it. 

Back Cover: When You Stare Into the Abyss It Also Stares Into You

The bullet that rips into Cole “Tox” Russell was never meant to kill. It was meant to send a message. Only one man is skilled enough to have taken the shot, a rogue Special Forces operator who vanished months ago.

Alec King is perhaps the only person as skilled as Tox, and he’s out for justice. Furious with orders that got his men killed, he intends to make those responsible pay. And he insists Tox join him, believing they are the same breed of soldier.

Afraid his old friend could be right, Tox battles a growing darkness within himself as he and his team are forced into another deadly encounter with antiquity. It appears Alec is harnessing the power of a mysterious artifact, a crown that history has linked to some of the worst slaughters in humanity. Racing to stop Alec before his vengeance is unleashed, Tox must fight the monster without becoming on

Thank-you to Graf Martin Communications and Baker Publishing House for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. 

The Assault by Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, and Alton Gansky

Back Cover:

As Darkness Threatens, Four Gifted People Will Give the World Its Best--And Maybe Only--Chance to Survive. This is Harbingers.

In Invitation, four beloved and bestselling suspense authors introduced supernaturally gifted characters on a race to stem the tide of growing evil. Now Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, and Alton Gansky return with the next cycle of fast-paced and riveting tales.

In Bill Myers's "The Revealing" the team finds themselves in Rome trying to retrieve the mystical spear Hitler once stole. The task will take them from hidden chambers inside the Vatican to a mysterious seaside cave with unexpected and dangerous powers.

Frank Peretti's "Infestation" tells of a microscopic plague unleashed on the world that deceives, blinds, kills, then spreads and kills again. The Harbingers team must confront this faceless evil bent on seducing and destroying humankind.

In "Infiltration" by Angela Hunt, a seaside respite intended to buy time for the wounded team turns deadly when misplaced trust leads the Harbingers into dangerous waters.

Alton Gansky's "The Fog" reveals a supernatural mist unlike any other, filled with vicious monsters that kill whatever they find. When one team member realizes the only way to stop the fog is to enter it, the ultimate sacrifice must be made.

Review: YIKES! I couldn't put this book down.... literally.... I couldn't unlock my terror frozen knuckles (haha). Joking aside, I'm really enjoying this Harbringers series. As mentioned in a previous review, this series runs like a TV show. There are four authors and each author writes one novella for each book. Each novella contributes to the overall theme/story that the authors are telling together. Each author writes from a different character's point of view. Sound confusing? It's not. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if this series brings in a whole new chapter of book writing where this type of style becomes very common. I love being able to pick the book up and read a complete story in thirty minutes.... but yet have that story adding to an overall story. It's very cool.

The characters in this series are all so different from each other and very engaging. The uniqueness of this cast of characters is so entertaining - from an atheist ex-priest, to a soft heart ex-football player with the gift of healing, to a little boy that can see into the spiritual realm, to a tattoo artist that tattoos prophecies, and lastly, a genius who sees patterns and numbers in everything. When these five get thrown together - watch out! Sparks fly and action happens. This series is fast paced and very exciting.

Of note.... it is scary. Like...chew my nails off and keep my feet covered in a blanket scary. I personally wouldn't give this book to anyone under about 16 years old (I am quite conservative, FYI). In my opinion, it is an older-teen/adult read.

Thank-you to Graf Martin Communications and Baker Publishing House for a copy of this book!

The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker

Review: A smashing success for Shawn Smucker with his debut novel, The Day the Angels Fell! It was beautifully written, plotted brilliantly, and I fell in love with his cast of characters. I was asked minutes after finishing this book how I liked it. My reply was that I haven't read such a fantastic fairy tale in a long time. What was brilliant about this book was that it was an amazingly clever twist off the story of the two cherubim who were left to guard the Tree of Life from the Bible. I tell you, this book is a must read. In trying to find another way to describe it, I would also add that it had some definite ways it reminded me of the Chronicles of Narnia (I don't say that lightly, those have been my all time favourite books since I was five years old). 

The story is told from the point of view of an old man - an old man we almost immediately find out is the young boy in the story, Samuel. Samuel is about twelve years old, and he and his best friend are the main drive behind this story. Samuel and Abra find themselves thrust into the craziest adventure of their lives when the veil between physical and spiritual is pulled back and a thousand year old drama begins to play out on the land of Samuel's farm. Ancient foe, heavenly hosts, devilish monsters, legend, and a supernatural weapon weave their way through Samuel and Abra's summer as they fight to deal with the scenario they find themselves at the head of. 

The Day the Angels Fell is clever enough for an adult or teen to be fully engrossed. The content could have been written quite easily for an older audience, but the way Shawn Smucker penned this book I would be comfortable giving it to a young teen, no problem. There are some mature questions asked about right and wrong, "just because you can do something, should you?", what is death?, is death a gift or a curse?, and so on... The Day the Angels fell definitely made me think in addition to thoroughly entertaining me. I really hope that this book is the start of a long series (ten or more books please!). Congratulations to Shaw Smucker and his team for an excellent job well done. I am quite spellbound and waiting for me. 

Back Cover: It was the summer of storms and strays and strangers. The summer that lightning struck the big oak tree in the front yard. The summer his mother died in a tragic accident--and young Samuel Chambers would have done anything to turn back time. Even today, he can hardly believe it all happened . . .

Prompted by three strange carnival fortune-tellers and the surfacing of his mysterious and reclusive neighbor, Sam begins his search for the Tree of Life--the only thing that could possibly bring his mother back. 

His quest to defeat death will entangle him and his best friend Abra in an ancient conflict, forcing Sam to grapple with an unwelcome question.

Could it be possible that death is a gift?

Thank-you to Baker Publishing House and Graf Martin Communications for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Fault Lines by Thomas Locke

Review: It felt mighty good to step out of the historical romance genre for a few hours and take a crazy ride through this psychological, futuristic thriller. If you are searching for a book that will refuse to let you go until you flip the last page, then you have found the perfect book for your autumn read.

Fault Lines surprised me in that it is not a continuation of where the last books (Trial Run and Flash Point) finished off. Instead, Fault Lines takes us back to the beginning to where Charlie Hazard and Gabriella first meet. If this were a superhero story (which, in a sense, it sort of is), then this would be the "origin story". And who doesn't love a good origin story? Fault Lines grabs hold of characters we have already come to love (or hate) and takes us back to their beginnings. In Fault Lines, you really get to know the characters on a much more intimate level - particularly Charlie Hazard.

Prior to Fault Lines, I considered Charlie a great secondary character. He is now, officially, my favourite character of the series. The dude is seriously kick butt awesome! Being an army ranger, he can out-plot, out-fight, and out-maneuver even the craziest strike teams - and hardly break a sweat doing it.

In this book we also get a glimpse into why Gabriella is so gun-shy on relationships and why the experiments had to be so top secret (won't get into more here.... you'll have to read it for yourself).

This book can be read first (where it is set chronologically) or if you are like me and have already read the first two books, this one fits in fine as a back flash story.

The concept behind this series is a little weird and some parents might want to have a chat with their kids before letting them read it. I don't think there is any harm in giving this book to your kids, but it is worth having a talk to them about outer-body experiences (books are about being able to "ascend" and leave your body and teleport yourself around and travel through the 'spiritual' realm, in essence).  Other than that, there is no inappropriate content. There is some violence, though it is not graphic, and there is a love interest, though it is entirely appropriate for a teenage audience. This was a fun read and a great addition to the series.

Back Cover:  There isn't much that can throw Charlie Hazard off balance. But the mystery woman with the striking eyes and the intense request to follow her--now--is about to shake his world. Knowing little more than her name, Charlie leaves his post as a guard at the Satellite Beach community center for what he thinks is just another risk-containment job. But Gabriella, an experimental psychologist, has far more in store for him than protection duty--if the two of them survive the test.

Reese Clawson relishes her work at the Combine and all the perks and power that come with it--including the ability to manipulate perceptions. But the Combine never anticipated this mind-shifting technology. If Gabriella's experiments succeed, the Combine would be destroyed. And Reese will never allow that to happen.

Thank-you to Graf Martin Communications and to Baker Publishing House for offering me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Still Life by Dani Pettrey

Back Cover: Blacklisted in the photography business over a controversial shot, Avery Tate answered an ad for a crime-scene photographer. She expected to be laughed at, but crime-scene analyst Parker Mitchell hired her outright - and changed her life. But six months ago, when her feelings for Parker became too strong, she left his employ to sort out her heart.

Now, for the first time, Avery is facing the world that rejected her to attend the gallery opening of a photography exhibit for which her friend modeled. But the only image of her friend is a chilling photo of her posing as if dead - and the photographer insists he didn't take the shot. Worse, her friend can't be found, and so Avery immediately calls Parker for help.

As Avery, Parker and their friends in law enforcement dig into the mystery, they find themselves face-to-face with a relentless and deadly thread.


Review: This is the second book in the series, "Chesapeake Valor", and it follows the saga of a crime fighting team made up of old and new friends. The group, a mismatch of companions, is brilliant at solving crimes. With their uniquely different approaches and talents they form a formidable force. One by one, the team buts up against a person they can't quite forget.

This is the story of Parker Mitchell, a crime-scene analyst, and Avery Tate. Avery is a girl from the 'wrong side of the tracks' and would seemingly be the totally wrong sort of girl for a straight shooter like Parker. However, as Avery humbles herself to the Lord and is remade, Parker finds that he can't keep her out of his thoughts or his heart. Problems lurk, however, as old secrets have a way of coming to the surface and past relationships threaten their budding romance before it even begins. To make matters worse, a string of horrific events threaten to tear Avery apart.

While sparks fly between Parker and Avery, Declan is being driven crazy by the compassionate, free spirited Tanner. He can't figure out why she unhinges him so much... or why he acts like a complete jerk around her. For her part, Tanner can't warp her head around Declan. He can seem so nice one moment...and the next she wishes he would just disappear from her life. What is with him? More on this with the next novel, I am sure...

As Avery and Parker struggle to figure out where they stand with each other, a string of seemingly non related crimes is occurring around their city. Despite wanting to take a break from working together, they find themselves once again teamed up as they race against the clock to figure out how a terrorist, an art show, and Avery's oldest friend are all related.

This is an exciting, fast paced novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat and chewing your nails with suspense. I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns in this story - particularly the last few twists in the story. I won't say anything more other than I honestly did not see THAT coming...

As a warning, some of the subject matter is quite dark and disturbing. For those who frequently read crime novels I am sure the content is quite mild. For myself, it gave me a pretty bad nightmare! So, read it during the day (not in the middle of the night like I did) or perhaps pick up something a little more light hearted if you tend to be very sensitive to the more sinister side of things.

Thank-you to Graf Martin Communications and Baker Publishing House for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Primary Decision by Dr Kevin Leman and Jeff Nesbit

Back Cover:

The road to power and position is fraught with perils, even for a Worthington. But Sarah does not intend to lose.
Sarah Worthington never expected to become the US attorney general--at least not this early in her career. Plunged into the vicious vetting process, with all sides digging for secrets in her family closet, she steels herself for the path forward. Nothing will deter her from making her mark on the world in the biggest way possible--even if that means prosecuting the current president of the United States.

Yet powerful forces conspire behind the scenes to take the Worthington family down, and the president orders her to close the investigation. Will she comply? Or turn the tables to pursue her ultimate dream--the US presidency?

Review: I have enjoyed the Worthington Destiny trilogy written by the well known author, Dr. Kevin Leman and the former senior communication official of the White House, Jeff Nesbit. Together, these two highly experienced men have put together a series of fascinating novels. The Worthington Destiny books take you into the world of a blue blood American family, the Worthingtons. This incredibly wealthy and powerful family is a force to reckon with, with connections and influence reaching out to a global scale. Each novel takes a look at one of the three Worthington siblings and their respective roles in their family and country.

At the back of each book, the authors express a keen interest in birth order characteristics. It is intriguing to see how they explore first born, middle born, and youngest child personality traits in these rapidly moving, interesting stories.

This series brings the reader into a world of political intrigue that I personally never even dreamed existed. Based on the expertise of the authors and the believability of the stories I would venture to say that what takes place in these books probably does occur in real life. I found it very eye opening. That being said, this is still fiction. And as fiction, I found these books, including the most recent one (A Primary Decision) to be very good reads. I am not generally a fan of political thrillers, but I truly did enjoy the mind games, the plot twists, and the politics of these books.

A Primary Decision focuses in on the youngest of the Worthington siblings, Sarah Worthington. The baby or "princess" of the family, Sarah has always had to fight hard to get respect from her family. While their love has never been in doubt, she struggles to prove herself as a capable and intelligent woman when those around her do their best to shelter her  and protect her.

I would recommend this book as well as the two precursor novels.

Thank-you to Graf Martin Communications and Baker Publishing House for a complimentary copy of this book.

The Raven by Mike Nappa

Back Cover: As part of his street performance, a deception specialist who goes by the name The Raven picks his audience's pockets while they watch. It's harmless fun - until he decides to keep the wallet of a prominent politician, hoping for a few extra bucks. When he finds compromising photos of the councilman and his "personal assistants," The Raven hatches a plan to blackmail the man. However, he quickly finds himself in over his head with the Ukrainian Mafia and mired in a life threatening plot code named "Nevermore."

Private investigators Trudi Coffey and Samuel Hill must scramble to sort out the clues to rescue The Raven from a wild card bent on revenge.






Review: Wow. This new series by Mike Nappa is something else. I devoured The Raven in a day. It's fast paced - very fast paced - and too exciting to put down. The first book in this new and riveting series staring the Coffey and Hill detective agency was Annabel Lee and The Raven follows right on its heels.

The Coffey and Hill novels star Trudi Coffey the head of the Coffey and Hill detective agency. Originally, it was both hers and her husband's business - hence the "Hill" part of the name - until he decided to take a second wife oversees on one of his CIA business trips. The pig. Now, seven years later, Samuel Hill is back and Trudi finds herself somewhat unwillingly working the odd case with her ex-husband.Unfortunately, they are an amazing team, so when things get tense and the two separate cases they are working on begin to overlap, Trudi and Samuel find themselves in close quarters again.

I love the chemistry between Samuel and Trudi. Their's is a very interesting relationship. On one hand, Trudi has found Jesus and Samuel accepts her new faith but doesn't understand it. And on the other hand, Samuel is begging for Trudi's forgiveness and for another chance, but Trudi just can't bring herself to trust him again. I'm looking forward to see how these two work things out - or not - over the rest of the series.

As for The Raven, this kid has seriously gotten himself into some big trouble. A pastor's kid on the run from his old life and a God he doesn't understand his knack for getting in trouble has just landed him in the angry clutches of the mafia and their nefarious plan.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting thriller. It is a fantastic read.

Thank-you to Graf Martin Communications and Baker Publishing House for a complimentary copy of The Raven in exchange for my honest opinion.

Flash Point by Thomas Locke

Will they shatter the boundaries of time and space?

Lena Fennan is a low-level financial analyst with a high-powered conviction. Just as she's on the verge of a life-transforming windfall, a mysterious invitation draws her into a series of events that threatens to crush her. But captivated by a glimpse into a breathtaking future, Lena refuses to give in.

Reese Clawson emergence from prison gripped by the slow burn of revenge. She aims to track down everyone who had a hand in destroying her - and take them out. First on the list is Charlie Hazard, who will be snared by their shared secret.

As events and places become tangled, Lena and Reese are pulled into a collision course that could redefine everything - even the limits of human possibilities.

Review: This is the second book in the series "Fault Lines" by Thomas Locke. Fault Lines is a daring new science fiction series for young adults that manages to twist and turn its way through the unbelievable while maintaining just enough of a grip on reality to make you wonder... and fear... that it could actually be true.

In the world of Fault Lines, a small group of scientists have managed to isolate brain waves that allow people to travel into the future and across the globe in a mere instant. These ascents, while beautiful, are also fraught with danger as monsters unseen in the physical realm all of a sudden become a terrifying reality. I can see why many people would be absolutely riveted by this story - the plot is clever, characters realistic, and the pace fast. Flash Point is a very well written science fiction piece.

Personally, I found the concept of this novel interesting, but disturbing. I struggled with the premise behind the 'ascensions'. To me, this felt very contrary to God honoring beliefs. We are not supposed to empty our minds, and the whole concept of ascending out of your physical body and into a space between heaven and earth seems like dangerous ground to me. In this series, characters can ascend out of their physical bodies and look down on themselves from a position above their physical selves, can travel to different places and influence the physical world, and basically meddle in a realm that is reserved for spiritual hosts.... to me it was very disturbing and touched too close to a reality that believers of Christ should not meddle with.



Thank-you to Graf Martin Communications and Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for a complimentary copy of Flash Point in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thin Ice by Irene Hannon

Back Cover:  If Ginny Reed is still alive - who is the woman buried in her grave?

After losing her parents and her sister, Christy Reed has been mired in grief. Now, life is finally starting to feel normal again - until an envelope addressed in her sister's handwriting arrives in the mail. And the note inside claims she is still alive.

FBI Special Agent Lance McGregor, a former Delta Force operator, is assigned to reopen the case... but he's coming up with more questions than answers. Is Christy a pawn in a twisted cat-and-mouse game - or the target of a sinister plot? As Lance digs deeper, one thing becomes clear: someone in the shadows has a deadly agenda.

Bestselling author and three-time RITA Award winner Irene Hannon pulls out all the stops in this high-stakes thriller that races to a bone chilling finish.

Review:  Irene Hannon is an amazing writer. She has the ability to grab you with the first line and then leave you with no choice but to go along for the ride until the very last page. Like all her other stories, Thin Ice is captivating and filled with fast paced excitement from start to finish. I would recommend not starting this book in the evening unless you plan on being up very, very late.

Thin Ice is part of a series called Men of Valor and is the second book. This series is focused on three brothers who were part of the USA military in different capacities. Thin Ice focuses on the second bother, a former Delta Force operator, who has transferred from military to civilian life. Christy's case in the first to land on his desk at his new "low risk" job with the FBI. Lance soon discovers that this case is going to use more of his Delta Force training than he originally thought. The stakes are also a lot higher than he anticipated as he realizes that if he doesn't stay a step in front of the kidnapper that he could very well loose the woman he is rapidly falling in love with.

From the very beginning, sparks fly between Lance and Christy. As circumstances throw them together - and threaten to tear them apart - Christy and Lance play a complicated game with a criminal who proves to have no sense of humanity.

Thin Ice is a chilling read with a fair share of disturbing scenes. Irene Hannon puts the reader into the mind of her criminal, and it's not a pretty place to be. I would recommend that this book be read by adult readers for this reason.

As for other content, I appreciated the strong faith in Christy and how completely she trusts God to carry her through even the worst of circumstances. Her faith spreads to Lance and is a beautiful part of this novel.

Overall I would certainly recommend this book. I really enjoy all of Irene Hannon's books - they are excellent. This one is the first I've recommended for a mature audience, but all the others are fine for a bit younger audience. Thin Ice is suspenseful, well written, cast with wonderful and believable characters, and piloted by God fearing characters. A great book.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group"

Trial Run by Thomas Locke

Back Cover: Dr. Gabriella Speciale has assembled an international team of elite scientists with one goal in mind - to create and control out-of-body experiences that transcend the limits of time and space. Reese Clawson's mind-bending experiments aim to explode the boundaries of human consciousness - and annihilate the opposition in the process.

When a terrifying discovery and a string of failed tests threaten to dismantle both programs, they key to survival may reside in the mind of a gifted grad student whose unsettling dreams have thrust him into the centre of a dangerous battle for control.

As the threads of perception and reality become tangled and time itself twists in unexpected directions,

One warning remain clears: 

WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW CAN KILL YOU.


Review….

Fault Lines. A fitting title for this series. Think beyond the fault lines of the earth. Think about a fault line between your present reality and your future reality within the depths of your own mind - this is the fault Dr. Gabriella Speciale and her team are exploring.

This is a fast paced, high-intensity, edge-of-your-seat thriller that kept me engaged long after I flipped the last page.

Two elite organizations are battling the frontier of this high-tech and abnormal technology. Reese Clawson, a woman who works for American Intelligence, is bent on not just mastering the stolen technology she ripped from Dr. Speciale, but annihilating the other team in the process. The plot thickens and the twists begin to weave faster and faster as a brilliant grad student turns up on the radar of both groups. His dreams are far passed the norm, and border on the unnatural. What he dreams makes him a very valuable asset for both teams, and perhaps the deadliest person ever born.

I found this book to have very strong writing, great characters, and a fantastic plot. I just signed up for the author's news letter so that I know immediately when the next book is out. I hope it's soon because I'm dying to find out what happens. Fault Lines is a fantastic new series and I certainly give it a high recommendation if your are in the mood for a thriller.

This book was provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group and Graf Martin Communications

Trapped by Irene Hannon

Back Cover: A runaway teen. A desperate sister. And an intrepid PI determined to discover the truth.

When Laura Griffith's sixteen-year old sister disappears on a frigid February day, leaving only a brief note behind, Laura resolves to do whatever it takes to track down the runaway teen. That includes recruiting ATF agent turned private investigator James Devlin to help. Dev knows time is of the essence with runaways - just forty-eight hours can mean the difference between recovery and ruin.

But the deeper he and Laura dig, the more Dev begins to suspect that something sinister is at work in the girl's disappearance. And in the icy winter weather, the trail is going cold.

Review: Irene Hannon is such a brilliant author. I have aspired to be an author for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately for me, I really can't seem to find the discipline to separate myself from the books I am currently reading or from my sports to actually sit down and write something to completion. Books like Irene Hannon's though make reading so incredibly enjoyable that I really don't mind that I can't make my own. However, she also makes me hope that when (not if...but when) I begin to write that hopefully my style, ability to craft a story, and prose is somewhat like her's.

"Trapped" reaches out from the first page and seizes you in an icy grip that it refuses to relinquish until the very last page. Lip caught between your teeth and eyes riveted to the page, you'll frantically fly through this book as you try and keep pace with Devlin and Griffith's frantic search to find the runaway  teen. Not only do you scramble after the keen PI as he ruthlessly pursues each and every lead, but you diverge into the terrifying world where Laura's sister finds herself in trouble far greater than anything she could have ever dreamed.

A fairly street-smart teen, Darcy was born and raised in New-York. She knows her way around the city and has been clever about orchestrating her escape from her over-controlling, older sister who she has been foisted upon since her father's untimely death. A death that, deep in her soul, she feel's responsible for. Burdened, rebellious, and feeling trapped, Darcy runs. Knowing her way around the streets, she takes precautions as a surprise blizzard traps her in a shelter with less-than-savoury company. As cautious as she is, Darcy could never predict the outcomes of what one, seemingly wise move, could do.

This is a fabulous book and I am loving Irene Hannon's new "Guardians of Justice" series. I own every book she has ever published and recommend them all.


Thank-you, Baker Publishing & Graf-Martin for the copy of this book. What a great read!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group" 

Vanished by Irene Hannon

Back Cover:   A Tenacious reporter.
                                                        A skeptical PI.
                And a secret that will shatter lives. 

Reporter Moira Harrison is lost. In the dark. In a thunderstorm. When a lone figure suddenly appears in the beam of her headlights, Moira slams on her brakes - but it's too late. She feels the solid thump against the side of her car before crashing into a tree on the far side of the road.

A man opens her door, tells her he saw everything, and promises to call 911. Then the world fades to black. When she comes to, she is alone. No man. No 911. No injured person. But she can't forget the look of terror she saw on that face in the instant before her headlights swung away. And she can't get anyone to believe her story - except maybe a handsome ex-homicide detective turned private eye, who reluctantly agrees to take on the case.

As clues begin to surface, it becomes obvious that someone doesn't want this mystery solve - and will stop at nothing to protect a shocking secret.

Review: I wish Irene Hannon published a new book every week. I would be a very, very happy girl if that was the case. I know I'm gushing... but she is just such an amazing author! I've read quite a few books lately that I just haven't been able to get excited about. I haven't picked up a book and had fun reading it for months, but I had a lot of fun reading this one.

Hannon is a fabulous writer. Her dialogue is engaging, the plots awesome, she has a great sense of humor, her stories are realistic and smart, and her characters are incredibly engaging. And yes... I do own every single one of her books... and I love them all.

The first book in Hannon's new series, Private Justice, promises to carry as much excitement and entertainment as her Guardians of Justice series. "Vanished" has an explosive start and the action just keeps on rolling in throughout the whole book. There wasn't a boring moment from the first page to the last. I am so excited for this series. An absolute must read!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group"

Rare Earth by Davis Bunn

Back Cover: Marc Royce stares out of the helicopter, a sense of foreboding rising with the volcanic cloud. Below, the Rift Valley slashes across Africa like a scar. Decades of conflicts, droughts, and natural disasters have left their mark.

Dispatched to audit a relief organization, Royce is thrust into the squalor and chaos of Kenyan refugee camps. But his true mission focuses on the area's reserves of once obscure minerals now indispensable to high-tech industries. These strategic elements - called rare earths - have inflamed tensions on the world's stage and stoke tribal rivalries. As Royce prepares to report back to Washington, he seizes on a bold and risky venture for restoring justice to this troubled land.

But this time, Royce may have gone too far.

Review: I love historical romance. I really, really do. But I can't tell you how excited I was to mix up my norm and read "Rare Earth". This book with its swinging right hooks, ruthless mercenaries, sweltering African heat, nasty political intrigue, and on-the-ground-action had me reading until 3 am. I honestly meant to only read the first few chapters, but I just couldn't put it down.

Marc Royce is unassuming. He tells his new colleagues at corporate Lodestone that he's an accountant. And they believe him. Why wouldn't they? He looks the part - the problem is, Marc Royce can look any part. With orders from Central Intelligence to stay under the radar and figure out who and what is responsible for the mess at the base of the spewing Mt Elgon, he is ignored as just another corporate tie - that is, until things start getting ugly and Royce starts throwing punches.

With a fierce independence that has his handler sweating bullets back on the USA homefront and a tenacious moral obligation to defend the abused, Marc Royce makes the decision to not just find out who is behind the lost billions, misplaced natives, and murders - but to single-handedly bring about justice. Royce is an oddity in his trade as he isn't in the business for money or promotion. A strong Christian, an effective leader, and a dangerously effective agent, this humble, courageous warrior is a fabulous lead.

In addition to thoroughly enjoying the character of Marc Royce, I was also suitably impressed by the research Davis Bunn clearly did on geographical Africa, the politics, and the tribal situations there. It's a good thing that this book is a fast and interesting read, as you need to be awake to really follow the tribal and political movements that are essential to the plot.

Oh, there was so much to like about this book! The fight scenes (awesome), the plot, Marc Royce, the mercenary Crowde, the pastor of the refugee camp - Charles... Of course, since this is a review, I do need to mention a few things that I didn't like quite so much. As much as it pains me to say this, there were a couple of grammatical and spelling errors (why!?). For example, 'fear' was spelt 'ffear' and multiple items were linked with 'and' and not separated by commas (ie. Marc and Kitra and Charles instead of Marc, Kitra and Charles). Minor errors, but still a little frustrating. I also found that Kitra, Marc's love interest, was a little underdeveloped and I couldn't figure out where Marc's depth of feeling was coming from - other than basic, physical attraction.

Overall though, a solid read that I would recommend. Just as a side note, this book is part of a series but I read it as a stand-alone and had no problems jumping in 'mid-stream'.

Rating: 3.5 Stars 
This book was almost a 4 but the errors and the slight lack of character development demanded I lower its score.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group"

Deadly Pursuit by Irene Hannon

4/5 Stars - Christian/Suspense/Romance
Back Cover: Social worker Alison Taylor has a passion for protecting children. But it now seems that she needs protecting. When her tormentor’s attentions take a violent turn, she calls in reinforcements – her police-detective brother, Cole, and his new partner, ex-Navy SEAL Mitch Morgan. As her relentless stalker turns up the heat and the danger intensifies, Mitch takes a personal interest in the case. Because protecting Alison has become more than a job; his future depends on keeping her safe.


Review: The first book in the series, “Guardians of Justice”, by Irene Hannon, was one of those rare novels that had me up late into the night and did not relinquish its hold on me until I had turned the last, thrilling page. Its sequel, “Deadly Pursuit” did not disappoint.

In all honesty though, how can you not love a novel that includes a heroic ex-Navy Seal, a witty child’s protection officer, the twisted element of a deranged criminal mind, and the strong ties of family, love, and Christ? Overall, an excellent and entertaining read.


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group