Posts Tagged ‘suspense’
Judgment Day by Wanda Dyson
September 29th, 2010 | 
Author: ABOUT THE BOOK
Sensational journalism has never been so deadly.The weekly cable news show Judgment Day with Suzanne Kidwell promises to expose businessmen, religious leaders, and politicians for the lies they tell. Suzanne positions herself as a champion of ethics and morality with a backbone of steel—until a revelation of her shoddy investigation tactics and creative fact embellishing put her in hot water with her employers, putting her credibility in question and threatening her professional ambitions.
Bitter and angry, Suzanne returns home one day to find her deceased boyfriend, Dr. Guy Mandeville’s nurse, Cecelia Forbes unconscious on her living room floor. Before the night is over, Cecelia is dead, Suzanne has her blood on her hands, and the police are arresting her for murder. She needs help to prove her innocence, but her only hope, private investigator Marcus Crisp, is also her ex-fiancé–the man she betrayed in college.
Marcus and his partner Alexandria Fisher-Hawthorne reluctantly agree to take the case, but they won’t cut Suzanne any slack. Exposing her lack of ethics and the lives she’s destroyed in her fight for ratings does little to make them think Suzanne is innocent. But as Marcus digs into the mire of secrets surrounding her enemies, he unveils an alliance well-worth killing for. Now all he has to do is keep Suzanne and Alex alive long enough to prove it.
Watch the book trailer:
If you would like to read the Prologue and first chapter of Judgment Day, go HERE.
MY THOUGHTS
Judgment Day is a good book – full of suspense and mystery – yet, I say that with some caution. The action is fast-paced, the characters are believable (each experience their own set of life’s events and no one is perfect), but some things about the book could just be better.
In a way, it seems as if the book was pushed through the publishing process to get it on bookshelves. One main reason for my saying this is a huge mistake on the back cover – the wrong character is named as the murder victim! Hopefully, a reprinted cover will reflect the right storyline.
Ultimately the story is about TV show host Suzanne and how her poor investigative skills may have landed her in hot water with a few enemies after her. The downside to the story is it also focuses on Marcus and Alexandria – the two private investigators Suzanne hires after her arrest. While it’s okay to have more than one main character, it’s really a toss-up about who the book is really supposed to be about – Suzanne or the PIs.
On top of all the suspense, kidnappings, and showdowns, a little bit of love is in the air. Judgment Day isn’t a romance, but it never hurts to throw a little in. 
And like the budding love, there’s a hint of religion scattered in the pages. Judgment Day is far from being preachy with the characters living their everyday lives and experiencing God in a real way as they do so.
If you enjoy fast-paced, suspense novels, Judgment Day is the book for you. Overall, the story is well-crafted, and the book is easy to read in one sitting.
Tomorrow We Die
ABOUT THE BOOK
Chase the Angel of Death and You Might Catch Him
Jonathan Trestle is a paramedic who’s spent the week a few steps behind the angel of death. When he responds to a call about a man sprawled on a downtown sidewalk, Trestle isn’t about to lose another victim. CPR revives the man long enough for him to hand Trestle a crumpled piece of paper and say, “Give this to Martin,” before being taken to the hospital.
The note is a series of dashes and haphazard scribbles. Trestle tries to follow up with the patient later, but at the ICU he learns the man awoke, pulled out his IVs, and vanished, leaving only a single key behind. With the simple decision to honor a dying man’s last wish, Jonathan tracks the key to a nearby motel where he finds the man again–this time not just dead but murdered. Unwilling to just let it drop, Jonathan is plunged into a mystery that soon threatens not only his dreams for the future but maybe even his life. He must race for the truth before the Angel of Death comes calling for him.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Tomorrow We Die, go to HERE.
MY THOUGHTS
I was curious to read this book for two reasons. First, it was something out-of-the-ordinary for me and not in my typical historical fiction genre. Second, author Shawn Grady is compared to one of my all-time favorite authors - Dee Henderson.
I enjoyed the book and, in fact, read it in entirety during a lazy weekend afternoon. Was it spell-binding? Yes and no. I didn’t have to read it all at once, but I was intrigued by the mysterious note and exactly what would happen to Jonathan and his friends.
In a way, the storyline is a mix of CSI and the new show on tv called Miami Medical. At least that’s what I thought after the first couple of chapters.
The action is fast paced, and the characters are interesting, but not necessarily memorable. The story is written from the first person point of view, meaning we as readers only know and feel what the main character (Jonathan) knows, feels, and observes. Does first person POV work in this story? Definitely. It adds to the suspense and also the intricate details of Jonathan’s life as a paramedic. (For those who may get queasy at medical stories, there’s a lot of medical description in this book.)
Would Dee Henderson fans enjoy Tomorrow We Die? Probably. To me, the suspense level and romance between the characters wasn’t as strong as Dee’s stories, but the comparison between the two authors is reasonable.
From reading reviews by other readers, Tomorrow We Die is labeled as better than Shawn Grady’s first book, Through the Fire.
A special thank you to Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Bethany House Publishers for sending me a copy to review. The words under My Thoughts are entirely my own and contain no affiliate links.
Is The Hope Diamond Cursed?
ABOUT THE BOOK
eye of the god takes the fascinating history surrounding the Hope Diamond and weaves it together with a present-day plot to steal the jewel from the Smithsonian Institute.
We follow Alex and Isaac Weld, the most lucrative jewel thieves in the world, in their quest to steal the gem, which according to legend was once the eye of a Hindu idol named Rama Sita. When it was stolen in the 17th century, it is said that the idol cursed all those who would possess it. That won’t stop the brilliant and ruthless Weld brothers.
However, they are not prepared for Dr. Abigail Mitchell, the beautiful Smithsonian Director, who has her own connection to the Hope Diamond and a deadly secret to keep. Abby committed long ago that she would not serve a god made with human hands, and the “eye of the god” is no exception. Her desire is not for wealth, but for wisdom. She seeks not power, but restoration.
When the dust settles over the last great adventure of the Hope Diamond, readers will understand the “curse” that has haunted its legacy is nothing more than the greed of evil men who bring destruction upon themselves. No god chiseled from stone can direct the fates of humankind, nor can it change the course of God’s story.
If you would like to read the prologue and first chapter of eye of the god, go HERE.
MY THOUGHTS:
Author Ariel Allison creates an intriguing storyline centered on Dr. Abigail Mitchell and her obsession with the Hope Diamond. The plot of eye of the god is like one huge chess game…except the reader doesn’t know which character is which player until the very end.
Making the story even more fascinating is the history of the Hope Diamond intertwined with the present-day. While some books can be confusing when they jump timelines, I found the history chapters adding to the suspense. I had to wonder if the curse of the Hope Diamond was going to affect one of the current characters.
I didn’t find this book overly religious or preachy. While God and Abby’s faith are mentioned throughout the story, I don’t think a non-Christian reader would be offended.
So, what did I like about this book? Pretty much all of it! And I have to say that the ending leaves me wondering if there’s going to be a follow-up book. Anyone know?
A special thanks to Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for providing this book for review.
P.S. – Make sure you read Ariel’s note about herself below. Definitely fascinating!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Allison is a published author who lives in a small Texas town with her husband and three young sons. She is the co-author of Daddy Do You Love Me: a Daughter’s Journey of Faith and Restoration (New Leaf Press, 2006). Justin Case, the first of three children’s books will be published by Harvest House in June 2009. Ariel is a weekly contributor to www.ChristianDevotions.us and has written for Today’s Christian Woman. She ponders on life as a mother of all boys at www.themoabclub.blogspot.com and on her thoughts as a redeemed dreamer at www.arielallison.blogspot.com.
From Ariel:
I am the daughter of an acclaimed and eccentric artist, and given my “unconventional” childhood, had ample time to explore the intricacies of story telling. I was raised at the top of the Rocky Mountains with no running water or electricity (think Laura Ingles meets the Hippie Movement), and lived out the books I read while running barefoot through the sagebrush. My mother read to me by the light of a kerosene lantern for well over a decade, long after I could devour an entire novel in the course of a day. Authors such as C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkein, George MacDonald, and L.M. Montgomery were the first to capture my heart and I have grown to love many others since.
Review: Blood Bayou by Karen Young
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
and the book:
Howard Books (May 5, 2009)
Can Camille face Jack? Has he truly changed from the man he used to be? Will Camille be able to prove that the man she let out of jail didn’t murder Jack’s sister? Will she survive long enough?
Murder, lost love, random accidents, reconciliation, and a twist of humor make Blood Bayou an exciting, suspenseful read. I enjoyed how author Karen Young created believable, well-rounded characters with flaws, emotions, and a past.
Suspense is a genre that I started reading and enjoying in the last year, and Blood Bayou is one of the best I’ve read.
Karen Young is the author of thirty-four novels with more than ten million copies in print. Romantic Times magazine and the Romance Writers of America have given her fiction numerous awards. She is a frequent public speaker and lecturer who lives in Houston. This is her first Christian novel.
Visit the author’s website.
Product Details:
List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Howard Books (May 5, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416587500
ISBN-13: 978-1416587507
AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Luanne Richard opened the door to her killer wearing a smile and little else. With a drink in one hand and invitation and mischief dancing in her eyes, she sensed no danger. After several martinis, her instinct for danger was hazy at best.
She’d been lounging on the patio in her bikini when the doorbell rang. It had occurred to her that a cover-up might be the proper thing, but she wasn’t much into doing the proper thing. Never had been. It got really boring trying to live life properly. Now, glancing through the peephole, she saw he was alone and thought it might be fun to tease him a little. No one
around, as far as she could tell. So she let him in, closed the door, and turned to face him.
That is when she saw the knife.
She sobered instantly. And when he raised it and lunged, aiming for her throat, she recoiled on instinct alone, tossed her drink at his face and somehow—miraculously—managed to
evade that first vicious slash. While he cursed and blinked gin from his eyes, she turned and ran on bare feet.
She raced through the huge house wondering frantically how to escape. She cursed her carelessness in leaving the gate open when she drove home from the club. It came to her that
she stood no chance while inside, so she flew through the living room and made for the den and beyond—the patio. She prayed the door was open, that she’d failed to close it when she got up
and came back in.
Please, oh, please . . .
Halfway there, she took a quick look over her shoulder and screamed. He was close and gaining. He would be on her if she didn’t do something. As she streaked past a very expensive Chinese vase, she gave it a push to tip it over, thinking to trip him. He stumbled but didn’t go down. He picked it up, tossed it aside, and laughed. Laughed!
This couldn’t be real. This kind of craziness happened in nightmares to other people, not to her. Hadn’t she had enough grief in her life? Hadn’t she tried her best to fight the demons that tormented her? Hadn’t she often resisted temptation? Was she to be damned for the times she didn’t?
I’m sorry, God. I’m sorry. I’m sorry . . .
No! She wasn’t going to let this happen. She had a lot of life to live yet. She would change. She had changed. Nobody understood how hard it was for her to keep to the straight and narrow. She kept to the path. Almost always.
Once out on the lawn, she realized she couldn’t make it to the front. It was too far away. He’d overtake her before she got halfway there. And there was no time to punch in the security
code to open the gate. She was trapped. Mad with fear, she ducked around lush landscaping, making for the walk that led to the pier and boathouse. She veered to avoid the cherub fountain and stumbled, twisting her ankle painfully. She flung out a hand for balance only to have it slashed on the lethal thorns of a pyracantha. Sobbing now, she dashed through a grove of wax myrtles, wincing at the slap and sting of limbs before finally reaching the pier jutting over the bayou. It was her only chance.
She looked again over her shoulder. He’d slowed, knowing she had no place else to run. The knife blade glinted brightly in the sun. She whimpered, trying to think. Blood dripped from
the gash on her hand and her ankle throbbed. Scalding tears ran down her cheeks. What to do?
“Gotcha now, Luanne,” he taunted. “The boathouse or the bayou, babe. What’s it gonna be?”
Not the bayou. Never the bayou.
She had a fear of Blood Bayou. It had almost claimed her once. None of the romantic legends spun about it held any charm for her. The water was too dark, too still, too deep, too alive with slimy things, predatory things. The bayou was death.
She was out of breath and in pain when she remembered the telephone in the boathouse only a few feet away. Checking behind her, she saw that he was still coming, but moving almost
leisurely, as if enjoying the chase, savoring her fear. Anticipating the kill?
The thought made her leap onto the pier. Hot from the August sun, the wooden planks burned the soles of her bare feet. Below the pier, black water slapped against the pilings, disorienting her. Don’t look down! Eyes straight ahead, she finally reached the boathouse door, grabbing at the latch, fingers clawing. Panic and blood from her wounded hand made her clumsy,
all thumbs, as she worked at the strange fastener. But at last she got it, wrenched it open.
Inside it was dark and dank and, like the bayou, smelled of rotting vegetation and decaying fish. But it was sanctuary and she scrambled inside, slammed the door shut, and set the bolt. It would not keep him out for long, but it offered a few precious seconds. Her eyes struggled with the dark. It was her only chance. But one thing nagged: Why was he giving her this chance? No time to worry about that. She flew to the wall-mounted phone, grabbed the receiver, and punched in 911.
He was at the boathouse now, rattling the door. Terror leaped in her chest. With her heart in her throat, she strained to hear the ring connecting her to 911. But nothing. In a panic, she jiggled the button up and down. Listened for a dial tone. Nothing. She frantically pressed the button up and down again. And again nothing. She gave an anguished cry and slammed the receiver against the wall. The phone line was dead!
She screamed at the thunderous crash. He kicked the door open. It slammed against the wall, shaking the boathouse to its foundation. As she watched, petrified, he took an unhurried step inside, filling the doorway. With the sun behind him, he loomed as large as a truck. He paused, no doubt to let his eyes adjust to the dark interior. He took his time. Then he began to move slowly toward her. “I’ve got you now, sugar,” he taunted, his smile grotesque.
Incoherent with terror, all she saw was the knife. She scrambled backward, desperate to get out of his reach. But he kept coming. With a bump, she backed against the sleek hull of a
boat. Trapped! Below was bottomless, black water. Sobbing, she looked at him piteously. She was going to die. The bayou was going to claim her after all.
Review: Enduring Justice by Amy Wallace
A painful past
Hanna Kessler’s childhood secret has remained buried for over two decades. But when the dark shadows of her past threaten to destroy those she loves, Hanna must face the summer that changed her life and the man who still haunts her memories.
A racially-motivated killer
As a Crimes Against Children FBI Agent, Michael Parker knows what it means to get knocked down. Difficult cases and broken relationships have plagued his entire year. But when the system fails and a white supremacist is set free, Michael’s drive for retribution eclipses all else.
A racist’s well-planned assault forces Hanna and Michael to decide between executing vengeance and pursuing justice. The dividing line between the two is the choice to heal. But when the attack turns personal, is justice enough?
MY THOUGHTS:
Having not read the previous two books in the Defenders of Hope series, I felt like I was missing out on a little bit of the story. I’m sure my attachment to the characters would’ve been even stronger if I knew all the details of what happened previously. However, don’t let that deter you from picking up a copy of Enduring Justice! Author Amy Wallace tackles some big issues and writes in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I know I will be heading to the library for the first two books in the series.
About the Defenders of Hope series:
Visit www.DefendersofHope.com
Buy the book:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1601420145
Excerpt:
http://www.amywallace.com/ej_chapter.html
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Amy Wallace is a freelance writer and self-confessed chocoholic. She is a graduate of the Gwinnett County Citizens Police Academy and serves as the liaison for the training division of the county police department. Amy is the author of Ransomed Dreams, the first book in the Defenders of Hope series, and a contributing author of several books including God Answers Moms’ Prayers, and God Allows U-Turns for Teens. She lives with her husband and three daughters in Georgia.
Contest:
Enter to win all THREE BOOKS in the DOH series by signing up for Amy’s Dark Chocolate Suspense Newsletter and then leave a comment on the blog tour post at Amy’s blog. It’s chock full of insider info on the writing world, a thought-provoking devotion, and easy but yummy recipes. If you already subscribe to the newsletter, just leave a comment saying so on the blog tour post! The winner will be chosen at random on 5/8/09. Two runner’s up will also be chosen to win a copy of Enduring Justice.
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Tags: Amy Wallace, Defenders of Hope, Enduring Justice, review, suspense | 
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