CFBA - Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Scraps of Evidence

Abingdon Press (January 21, 2014)

by

Barbara Cameron

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

A Word from the author:

CBD, CBA, and ECPA bestselling author of 35 books (including new series upcoming for Abingdon Press in 2011/2012) including fiction and non-fiction books for Abingdon Press, Thomas Nelson, Harlequin, and other publishers.

I sold three films to HBO/Cinemax and am the first winner of the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award.

My two novellas won the 2nd and 3rd place in the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest from the Faith, Love, and Hope chapter of RWA. Both were finalists for the novella category of the Carol Award of the American Christian Writers Award (ACFW). 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Tess has taken some ribbing from her fellow officer, Logan, for her quilting hobby. He finds it hard to align the brisk professional officer he patrols with during the day with the one who quilts in her off-time. Besides, he’s been trying to get to know her better and he’d like to be seeing her during those few nights a week she spends with her quilting guild. Then one afternoon Tess and Logan visit her aunt in the nursing home, and the woman acts agitated when Tess covers her with the story quilt. Aunt Susan is attempting to communicate a message to them about Tess’s uncle. There’s a story behind this quilt, they realize, one that may lead them to a serial killer. Will they have a chance to have a future together, or will the killer choose Tess for his next victim before they find him?

If you would like to read the first chapter of , go HERE.

My Thoughts:
I have grown quite fond of the "Quilts of Love" series and found the newest release, Scraps of Evidence a book that I devoured and thoroughly enjoyed. 

This was my first experience in reading any of the author's work but I was quite impressed. I enjoyed her characters Tess and Logan and how she allowed their relationship to blossom during the course of the investigation. They were believable and endeared themselves to me. 

The investigation involves an old unsolved murder of Tess's childhood friend, Samantha, and new murders that are believed to be done by the same person. I will say I had an idea who the serial killer was and all I could think every time he was in a scene, is "you Scumbag"! Ms. Cameron wrote the serial killer's character well enough to have the reader despise him.

I would highly recommend Scraps of Evidence to anyone who enjoys a good clean 'who-dunnit'!

On a 5-Star scale - 4 Stars!!!!

I would like to thank Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Abingdon Press for my review copy of Scraps of Evidence. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give an honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

The Baby Rescue by Margaret Daley

I love a good suspense story and when it falls within a continuing series I love it all the more. The Baby Rescue, by Margaret Daley, is the second book in the Love Inspired Suspense Witness Protection series. This series is comprised of six books written by different authors. While it is a series each book can be read as a stand-alone novel.

The Baby Rescue is the story of U.S. Marshal Colton Phillips and FBI agent Lisette Sutton. Colton believes in doing whatever it takes to get the desired outcome, whereas Lisette is all for following the law by the book with no deviations. With characters so different they have one thing in common, to get the job done. In this case to rescue a baby that has been kidnapped and bring down the middleman in the child abduction ring.

I always know what I will find within the covers of any Margaret Daley novel. Strong believable characters, well thought out plot and a Christian thread pulling the main characters together. In The Baby Rescue, she created a plot that twisted and turned taking the reader on a nail-biting ride to the satisfying conclusion. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Baby Rescue and plan to read all the rest of the books in the series. Thankfully they come out monthly. If you love a good clean suspense novel, I would highly recommend picking up a copy of The Baby Rescue.

On a 5-Star scale = 5 HUGE Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank the author for my review copy. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson

Since I was a little girl, I have always loved a good fairy tale. Cinderella just happens to be one of my favorites, maybe because I was sometimes called Cinderella when I was younger. So when I had the opportunity to read, and review, The Captive Maiden I jumped at the chance!

Ms. Dickerson has a talent of taking an age-old fairy tale and putting her twist on it creating a masterful retelling.  The Captive Maiden is her retelling of Cinderella and once again she has created a masterpiece.

The two main characters, Gisela and Valten, were well crafted and endeared themselves to my heart.  I truly enjoyed watching their relationship develop over the course of the book. I found myself rooting for them both time and again as they faced each challenge. 

While The Captive Maiden is listed as a young adult novel, I guarantee you, adults will find this book a treat to read. With twists and turns you are held captive from page one until the turning of the last page.  I highly recommend this book to all those readers who love a good fairy tale retelling and a good clean Christian read.

On a 5-Star Scale - 5 BIG Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Zondervan and the BookSneeze program for my copy of The Captive Maiden. I received my copy for free in order to read and give an honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

CFBA - Tempest's Course by Lynette Sowell

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Tempest's Course

Abingdon Press (December 17, 2013)


by

Lynette Sowell


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Lynette Sowell is an award-winning novelist. Her most recent novel, Tempest’s Course, is part of the Quilts of Love line from Abingdon Press. When Lynette’s not writing, she divides her time between editing medical reports and chasing down news stories for the Copperas Cove Leader-Press. Lynette was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland but makes her home in Coppress Cove, Texas, with her husband and a herd of cats who have them well-trained.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Kelly Frost, a textiles conservator, is invited to the Massachusetts coastal city of New Bedford to restore a 150-year-old Mariner's Compass quilt. But there is one stipulation: she must live and work in Gray House, a former whaling captain's home, where the quilt is stored. There she meets Army veteran Tom Pereira, the caretaker of Gray House, whose heart seems as hard as the rocky Massachusetts coastline. Over the long-lit months as Kelly works to restore the quilt, she and Tom grow closer. And as she reads stories in a daily journal penned by Mary Gray, she learns the secrets of the quilt and Mary's own sad tale of regret. Then Tom learns secrets of his own family's past, and both Tom and Kelly learn they are tied to Gray House in ways they never imagined.



If you would like to read the first chapter of Tempest's Course, go HERE.


My Thoughts:

I have become a big fan of the "Quilts of Love" Series of books. When given the opportunity to review Tempest's Course I jumped at the chance.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially the way Ms. Sowell incorporated the journal of Mary Gray that was written in the 1850's. I have always enjoyed reading books that tie the past to the present.

Ms. Sowell created believable characters that endeared themselves to this reader.  I didn't see the ending coming but that's what makes reading so enjoyable, the surprises that an author drops when you least expect it.  I don't believe I have read anything by Lynette Sowell in the past but I will definitely be looking for her books in the future.

On a 5-Star Scale - 4 Stars!

I would like to that Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Abingdon Press for my review copy of Tempest's Course. I received my copy for free so I could read it and give my honest review which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

No One to Trust by Lynette Eason

 Reading a book by Lynette Eason is always an adventure. Her newest release, No One to Trust, is a fast paced journey involving organized crime and the WITSEC (Witness Security Program). 

Summer Abernathy believes her husband Kyle to be exactly who he says he is, a computer programmer she met in a bank when she dropped her purse and he helped her pick up the purse's contents. But one morning she wakes up to find that her husband didn't come home the night before and there are three strange men with guns in her bedroom.  They demand that she tell them where her husband "David" is. Needless to say, her world, as she knew it changed that day.

The men give Summer a chance to locate her husband's laptop but they tell her she is not to notify divthe police or they will know it.  After they leave she begins a search of her house but is interrupted by a visitor at her door looking for her husband.  After she gets rid of the 'visitor', she continues her search and soon discovers a hidden box that contains a phone number.  She decides to call the number only to find that the man answering the phone is the same man who had just visited her looking for her husband.  The man's name is Mike and he returns to the house knowing she is in trouble.

Mike asks Summer if she knows where Kyle/David is and she tells him 'yes'. In calling her husband's place of business, she found out someone leaving the vicinity had been in a car accident and was found without any ID and was taken to the local hospital. Mike and Summer get to the hospital to find out that it is her husband.  This scene propels the story into a fast paced adventure where Summer and David are taken back into protective custody, for a while anyway, and the organized crime boss starts barking orders to get them and the laptop.  Unfortunately, there are corrupt people involved and Ms. Eason does well to keep the reader guessing until the very end.

I could go on and on but it would ruin the suspense of this well crafted novel.  One thing I will say is someone always seems to know exactly where Summer and David are which suggests there is a leak in the group of U.S. Marshalls that have been chosen to protect them. Or could someone else know of there whereabouts? Ms. Eason is a master at crafting a suspense novel that will keep the reader guessing until the very end.

I would definitely recommend No One to Trust to anyone who loves a good clean suspense novel. The Christian thread was subtle but not overpowering. 

On a 5-Star Scale = 5 BIG Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Lanette Haskins and Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for my copy of No One to Trust. I received my copy for free in order to read and give my honest review, which I have done.

LYNETTE EASON is the bestselling author of the Women of Justic series and the Deadly Reunions series. She was a 2013 finalist for the ECPA Book Awards and is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. She has a master's degree in education from Converse College and she lives in South Carolina. Find out more at www.lynetteeason.com.

Smiles & Blessings,

l

Happy New Year 2014