About the Book

 

Book:  Blood Sisters

Author: Jim O’Shea

Genre:  Suspense/Thriller

Release Date: June 16, 2020

Libby Meeker is seeing things.

The young Salt Lake City architect is experiencing visions of her twin sister, despite the fact that Melissa died mysteriously almost one year ago.

If that’s not bad enough, a serial killer surfaces in northern Utah, and a series of bizarre clues lead Detective Troy Hunter to Libby…and unspeakable possibilities that begin to shatter her fragile world.

 

Click HERE for your copy!

 

 

About the Author

 

Author of two highly-rated thrillers (The Linen God and The Reluctant Disciple), Jim O’Shea spends his time crafting novels of suspense that frequently tackle the dynamic between faith and science. Jim believes God continues to reveal his creation masterpiece through scientific discovery, and that Christian fiction is a great tool to expose those emerging truths.

His third novel, “Blood Sisters”, takes a more traditional approach to mystery thrillers with a mind-bending whodunit in the tradition of Agatha Christie, Harlan Coben, and Michael Connelly. His fourth novel, “I, Witness”, will return to his faith/science roots and feature a compelling blend of espionage, leading-edge science, and salvation.

More from Jim

 

I had a dream years ago about identical twin brothers horsing around on a bridge over a rushing river. One tragically fell in and his body was never recovered, but years later the surviving twin began seeing his late brother outside his bedroom window, in the shadows of the church next to his home, and in passing cars and buses.

That dream eventually became the basis for my latest Christian mystery/thriller. In “Blood Sisters”, Libby Mitchell is not only seeing her deceased twin sister all around her small Utah town, but also dealing with the frightening reality of a serial killer targeting young women with red hair. When a series of bizarre clues point Homicide Detective Lee Hunter to thirty year old, red-haired Libby Mitchell, the mystery takes more than a few unexpected turns, providing a thrill ride the reader won’t soon forget.

 

 

My Review

 

This is one of those books that, had my schedule permitted, I would have read straight through in one sitting. It is unsettling and intense, the epitome of a psychological thriller, and of all the books that I have reviewed, this is probably the most frightening. Suffice it to say I would not read this one while home alone! I vacillated between a rating of 4 or 5 stars, eventually settling on the latter for several reasons, one being that I have always enjoyed this genre and seem to encounter it rather seldomly in Christian fiction. I also, as aforementioned, wanted to be able to read this from cover to cover all at one time because it is honestly that absorbing, with zero slow points in the story.

Jim O’Shea has certainly written a memorable suspense novel with “Blood Sisters”! Usually I figure out whodunit early on, and while I had various suspicions, I give the author kudos for pulling off the surprise twist at the end. That is the quintessential element of the genre, yet all too often I find that, for me at least, I am not very surprised when I get to the denouement. On the surface, Libby Meeker is an ordinary woman, working as an architect and spending time with her aging parents. However, the family is still healing from the passing of Libby’s twin, Melissa, one year prior. At least, they’re trying to: “Although her memories remained remarkably vivid for a long time after the tragedy, they had faded somewhat in recent months—until an innocent remark from a stranger opened the eyes of a dead woman.” And so begins an escalating series of events that seem to point to either a ghost or insanity or both.

Overall, this novel exceeded my expectations and absolutely had me looking over my shoulder at particularly chilling moments, and I would recommend it to mature readers interested in clean but dramatic psychological suspense. There are a few things that bothered me, such as not having resolution for a certain character whose history is mentioned as troubled and what I perceived as a lack of metanoia on Libby’s part. I may be off-base here, and would appreciate the thoughts of anyone else who has read the book. To me, it did not seem that Libby changed much throughout the story; “Blood Sisters” is billed as a Christian book, published under a Christian imprint, and while I can recognize the religious elements in the novel, I am not sure that I would automatically recognize it as a Christian novel aside from the devotional at the end of the narrative. Mostly, I feel this way because Libby says that she is not sure whether or not God exists, and I did not really see significant change in her actions or beliefs by the end. Nevertheless, I found this novel to be well-executed and compelling, and it somewhat changes how I always thought it would be so neat to be a twin!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

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About the Book

 

Book:  Dead Silence

Author: Robin Caroll

Genre: Christian Suspense

Release Date: June 2020


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More from Robin

 

Hi, there. . .Robin here. I’m getting so excited for the release of my thirty-fourth novel, DEAD SILENCE. I have to say, I love this book. The heroine is strong, yet flawed. Her love for her son—willing to do anything to protect him is a mother’s instinct I relate to so well, having three daughters and two grandsons. The love of a mother for her child is so ingrained in me that I wanted to share that in a story.

I’ve been asked why I opted for a heroine who is an ASL translator and who has a deaf son. Many years ago, I became friends with someone who is deaf. She shared with me some of her frustrations, but also how her way of life is in comparison to mine. It got me to thinking that being deaf could be thought of as a disability but could also be used as an advantage…it was all in how you looked at it. My friend shared many stories of how she “eavesdropped” by reading lips and learned much about people and how they reacted to issues, enough that it led her into her career field today—a counselor, specializing in providing therapy for the hearing impaired as they live in a hearing world. I hope that I portrayed my characters in this positive light.

While I’m a Louisiana girl at heart, I reside in Little Rock, the capitol city for Arkansas. Since Bill and Hilary Clinton lived here and claimed it home before Bill was President, we have many political plans and posturing here. I saw it as a perfect backdrop for this particular story with the political undercurrents running rampant throughout the story.

I hope that you enjoy reading DEAD SILENCE as much as I enjoyed writing it.

 

 

My Review

 

Over the past couple of years, I have not read as much in the suspense and thriller genre as I normally do, mostly because I read almost exclusively for the purpose of reviewing rather than free reading, but also for the sake of enjoying more peaceful stories. Nevertheless, when the opportunity arises to review a Christian suspense book, I tend to go for it. It makes for a nice change of pace once in a while, especially when the author is one I know spins a good yarn. Last year I read “Stratagem” and was very impressed, so I was eager to read another novel by Robin Caroll.

As soon as I heard that “Dead Silence” featured a court sign language interpreter, Elise Carmichael, as the main character, I was in! This despite the political aspect, because as much as I hate politics, I have always been fascinated with sign language. I watched the 1962 film version of “The Miracle Worker” in high school so many times that I had all of the dialogue memorized. So this book beckoned to me, and even more so when I learned that Elise’s seven-year-old son, Sawyer, is deaf and mute. Elise’s job and skills are what entangle the two of them in a harrowing investigation related to the assassination of Senator Lilliana York, Elise’s mother-in-law. So far, so good; I appreciated that while this story takes place in the political realm, the mystery and suspense are the focus, and I honestly had a difficult time putting it down due to the quick pace.

Caroll skillfully writes a strong faith element into “Dead Silence.” Elise has drifted away from God in bitterness and anger over her son’s perceived disability and her husband’s death, which makes her a sympathetic character whose coming-home journey is fraught with distrust and fear. Most of us can relate to some degree: “Maybe that’s why she had been so resistant to turn back to God. Putting Sawyer, the one thing, the one person she loved more than anything else in this world, into anyone else’s hands besides her own terrified her.” We know from Scripture that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28) and that He is higher and greater than all else, and Elise comes to truly understand this throughout the novel.

There are some points of this story that kept this from being a 5-star read for me. While I can attest that many people do not know how to do their jobs, I found the degree of ineptness demonstrated by the FBI in this book rather farfetched. Elise and her entourage are more capable and have more connections than I thought likely, as well; although I loved their proficiency, I did not think it very credible overall. Some details are left out, such as how the assassin enters the Senator’s home undetected, and one of the main characters in the beginning of the story suddenly drops out for the rest of the narrative. I did think that the ending was too tidy and abrupt after all of the detail and the rather slow passage of time prior, but I was nonetheless rather pleased with the resolution. All of this is to say that while I did have some issues with certain elements, I still enjoyed “Dead Silence” very much, and if you are able to suspend disbelief a bit, this is a gripping story of murder, conspiracy, healing, and the power of both a mother’s love for her son and God’s love for us.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

 

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About the Book

 

Book:  Secrets Resurfaced

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Release Date: June 2, 2020

 

About the Author

 

More from Dana

 

Well, it’s been a wild ride through the Roughwater Cowboy series! Here we are at the end, with youngest brother Chad’s story. Fortunately, the rest of the clan (Mitch, Liam and Helen) are here to lend a hand when the man Chad’s father was jailed for killing comes back to life. Helping out also is Jingles the hapless dog, and a new member of the canine family, three legged Meatball. Throw in a killer on the loose and a secret child, and we’ll have a ‘hold onto your hat’ finish to this series. Thanks for coming along with me! God bless you!

 

 

My Review

 

It wasn’t until I started blogging and writing book reviews that I read any of the Love Inspired Suspense titles. Generally speaking, I tend to find these kinds of series repetitive and formulaic, and I favor the suspense much more than the romance. However, I have yet to read one that I haven’t loved! I appreciate that the series features a multitude of authors, which keeps the ideas and voices fresh and distinct, and that there are even series within the Love Inspired Suspense collection. The Roughwater Ranch Cowboys is one, and I enjoyed this fast-paced fourth book.

Dana Mentink draws readers into a story of past tragedy and present danger with “Secrets Resurfaced”, which explores the ongoing heartache of unresolved issues and unforgiveness. Although only five years have passed since the sinking of the boat that killed two people and sent Rocky Jaggert to prison, the gulf in the lives of his son Chad Jaggert and Chad’s now ex-girlfriend Dory Winslow seems endless. As Dory follows a lead about the accident, someone becomes intent on keeping the details buried, and Dory and Chad are forced to work together to find out the truth. Does the truth really set you free?

Secrets are the starting point for just about any mystery, and Mentink utilizes the motif well in this novel. The suspects cast doubt on each other in a way that is compelling and not contrived, and the romantic thread is credible, with enough drama to be absorbing but not overplayed. Dory’s father’s animosity toward the Jaggerts becomes apparent as the tale unfolds, and the entire backstory of the novel is revealed slowly, shedding light on what has made the characters act the way that they do. To me, this is just as important as the suspense element itself; I am always interested in the psychological aspect and in what motivates the characters, either for good or for ill. Several of the characters in “Secrets Resurfaced” come to realize that although their motivations may have been well-intentioned, their actions result in unnecessary pain and anguish. Only the unconditional love that the Lord gives us and models for us in Scripture will ultimately prevail, and it is this love and forgiveness that we should always extend to others. Time doesn’t always heal, but love does.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

 

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About the Book

 

Book:  Hope for Tomorrow

Author: Michelle De Bruin

Genre:  Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: October 2018

A young man leaves his career and agrees to board the teacher who offers him a priceless gift.

When Logan De Witt learns of his father’s sudden death, he returns home to the family’s dairy farm and chooses to stay. As a way to make some extra money, he agrees to board the teacher for their local school.

Karen Millerson arrives from Chicago and accepts the role of country school teacher. Eager to put her family’s ugly past behind her, Karen makes a fresh start in her new surroundings as a way to replace the trust she lost in her father.

Can Karen learn to trust again? Will Logan lay aside his grief in exchange for God’s purpose for his life?



Click HERE to get your copy!

 

About the Author

 

Michelle De Bruin lives in Iowa with her husband and two teenage sons. She has a bachelor’s degree in Religion with a Christian Ministry emphasis, and in Music. Michelle is the spiritual services provider for an organization that offers services for people with mental and physical disabilities. She has been a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) since 2015. Michelle writes inspirational historical romance about people who live in rural communities. Characters that bring to life the delights of farm and small-town living, whispers of Dutch heritage, and Christian faith make Michelle’s stories distinct. A romantic at heart, Michelle is always on the lookout for glimpses of God’s love through the window of a good story. Her first book, Hope for Tomorrow, released in 2018. The sequel, Promise for Tomorrow, released November 2019.

 

More from Michelle

 

Hope for Tomorrow is a story that explores responses to uncertainty and the grief that comes from sudden losses. The main characters of the story have experienced unexpected changes that press them to grow deeper in their faith. Psalm 30:5 reminds us that weeping may linger through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Logan De Witt, his mother, his sister, and Karen Millerson the new teacher, learn this truth for themselves as the events of the story’s plot unfold.

My hope is that readers will learn the best way to respond to loss and change while also finding pleasure in the ways the Lord introduces joy and unexpected blessings into our lives.

 

An excerpt

 

“How far must we travel to reach Bridgewater Springs?” Glad to finally be able to see above the cornfields, Karen scanned the horizon. No buildings indicated the location of another town. Only the silhouettes of silos, hip roof barns, and a few windmills broke up the landscape.

“We ain’t goin’ to Bridgewater Springs.”

“What do you mean?” Karen’s middle stretched tight.

“Didn’t anyone tell ya?” The school board chairman turned to her. Crows’ feet etched deep lines in the sun-browned skin around his eyes.

“I received a letter that said I am to teach English and reading at the Bridgewater Springs High school.”

Mr. Hinkley shook his head and clicked his tongue. “Oh, the sad communication in our school systems these days.” Slapping a horse with the reins, he cleared his throat. “The school in Bridgewater Springs combined subjects. The community got worried about how many students might actually decide to go on to high school. They wanna hold off before hiring too many teachers. Don’t wanna get too carried away with offering a lot of subjects if no one comes to school to take ‘em. You know how that goes.” He transferred both reins to one hand, reached in his front pocket, pulled out a toothpick, and stuck it in a corner of his mouth.

The toothpick wagged a bit before he continued speaking. “At the last minute, the superintendent told me that the girl who taught our school last year got engaged over the summer. So, since you were a teacher without a school, and we were a school without a teacher, he made the decision to send ya here.” He chewed on the toothpick for a moment before looking over at her once again. “Sorry ya have to find out this way. I thought maybe someone already told ya.”

“You mean to tell me, to tell me that I . . .” She gave up in a sigh that collapsed all the air from her lungs.

“Now I know we ain’t the most educated folks you’ll run across, but our kids deserve a chance. Just like any in the big city.”

“But I . . . I still need to . . . to . . .” Karen groaned about the sputtering that betrayed her chaotic mind. She drew in a deep breath and tried again. “I traveled all this way to begin my career.”

“Well, now, I think we can work somethin’ out.” Mr. Hinkley drove on a road that crested a small hill and dipped to a stone bridge spanning a brook.

 

 

My Review

 

Historical fiction never fails to appeal to me, no matter what kind of reading mood I might be in, and “Hope for Tomorrow” is no exception. The detailed cover illustration is even perfect for summer, with a distant white church set amidst the blue sky and green prairie and a young woman in a white dress and straw hat in the foreground. Set in Iowa in 1910, this story sits on the cusp of the old way of life before the onset of WWI and the roaring ‘20s. In like manner, the narrative itself unfurls at a rather leisurely but steady pace.

Author Michelle De Bruin takes readers from a sorrowful opening scene to a humorous one shortly thereafter, setting the authentic, true-to-life tone of the novel. Jeremiah 29:11 kept coming to mind as I read: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Indeed, in “Hope for Tomorrow”, the characters face many challenges that make it seem as though their plans are destined for failure, their dreams shattered. However, when they remain faithful to God and continue to serve Him even when all hope seems lost, He makes a way for them. This is the central theme of the book, and it applies to our lives as well.

Logan De Witt and Karen Millerson both come to the point of this surrender in their respective journeys, when there is nothing more that they can do themselves except wait and trust God to work. Throughout the narrative, their relationship with one another also undergoes testing as they begin to develop feelings for each other. Karen still struggles with distrust and from trying to escape painful memories, and Logan is torn between pastoring his congregation in Oswell City and living at home with his mother and sister to work their family farm. At times, both characters think that they know God’s plan, confusing it with their own, and nearly miss out on wonderful blessings as a result.

A steady reminder of the security we have as our Heavenly Father’s children, “Hope for Tomorrow” inspires and also entertains. My only real complaint is finding a few grammatical errors and some modern phrasing that seemed to disrupt the dialogue in which it appeared. For fans of historical fiction and historical romance, this book is an uplifting read that also teaches readers the importance of waiting on God and trusting in Him and in His perfect timing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

 

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About the Book

 

Book:  Relentless Love

Author: Heather Greer

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Release Date: June 2, 2020

Without passion, there is no love. Without love, is she even living?




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About the Author

 

More from Heather

 

Authors leave a bit of themselves on the pages of what they write. Whether it comes out in a name or character’s special interest or a faith lesson the author had to learn themselves before they could put in on paper, somewhere in what is written readers will find a hint of the author in the story. This glimpse into the author’s world add a feeling of authenticity to the story.

My family and friends will quickly recognize at least one of these windows into my world as they read Relentless Love. Though I didn’t intend it, my personal experiences with dementia and Alzheimer’s care are woven into the story. While the exact details are different, I was a full-time caregiver to my grandmother through the middle and late stages of her life with dementia. Dealing with the confusion, illogical thinking, obsessing, and paranoia that are portrayed in the story is part of everyday life for a caregiver.

In including Katie’s experience with her father’s deteriorating mental health, I pray others facing the same struggle find encouragement and strength. And because my time with my grandma was blessed with sweet memories, in spite of the struggles, I’d like to share a recipe she passed down to me in high school. I cannot make this cookie without thinking of the one who made it first and all the lessons she taught me about what it means to love God, our families, and others.

Lace Cookies  – from the kitchen of Sue Ellen Forby

Ingredients:

1 cup oats                                            3Tbs. flour

¼ tsp. salt                                            1 stick butter

1 cup sugar                                          1 tsp. vanilla

½ tsp. baking powder                         1 egg

Directions: Mix oats, salt, sugar, baking powder, and flour. Melt butter and pour over dry ingredients. Add vanilla and egg. Mix well. Refrigerate at least one hour, until set.

Preheat oven to 350. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into marble sized balls and place at least 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes. Edges of cookies will be golden brown. Remove from oven and carefully slide parchment from pan to let cookies cool completely before removing them from paper. These cookies puff during cooking but flatten out completely as they cool.

 

 

My Review

 

This is my 100^th book review of 2020! I love being able to read and share wholesome books, thanks to God’s abundant blessings and the privilege of being a part of several wonderful review groups. This week also happens to be the celebration of Celebrate Lit’s 5-Year birthday! It is so wonderful to observe this milestone, and I am so delighted to be able to be a part of the team!

With these special moments, it seems fitting that the books I am reviewing this week are each part of a series. Heather Greer’s “Relentless Love” is the final book in her trilogy about fictional character Katie, a young woman facing the heartache of both past and present while also being a single mom to a toddler and living with her elderly father. Due to her previous devastating losses, Katie is cautious and wary. And lonely. Perhaps what drew me to empathize with her so much is the fact that we all deal with loneliness sometimes, and even more so these days with the coronavirus pandemic. When Nathan correlates Katie’s own loneliness with that of her father (for very similar reasons that I will not detail to avoid potential spoilers), I appreciated his insight. I also loved his response to Katie’s question: “How does a mother teach her son to become a man?” He tells her, “You teach him about the man his father was.” This advice , upon contemplation, actually has a double meaning: teaching little Sammy to emulate not only his dad’s actions, but also his Heavenly Father’s.

This story deals with some heavy themes, to a greater extent than I was expecting, but Greer achieves a laudable balance between them and lighter scenes. “Relentless Love” explores dementia and the crushing blow that it can strike to families. My grandpap had Alzheimer’s, and thus, having firsthand knowledge of how heartrending the condition and others like it can be, I again felt like I connected with the characters more than I may have otherwise. Nevertheless, I believe that this book series needs to be read because it does broach difficult subjects of the body and spirit. It lets us know that it is ok to cry, but that we also need to trust the Lord with every difficult circumstance because His love truly is relentless. He will pursue us to the ends of the earth when we are His, so that we in turn can share His unyielding love with others. When we do, even in the midst of our own storms and trials, we realize that the Lord blesses us through this.

Contemporary romance readers, and those who have been following this trilogy, will definitely not want to miss out on “Relentless Love”! For sensitive readers: In addition to having a part of the story  about dementia, infertility is also a topic that is discussed, although very cleanly and well within the bounds of propriety. For horse and ranch lovers, there is some of that as well!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

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