Vanished by Irene Hannon - a review

Vanished  is the first novel in Irene Hannon's Private Justice series and if it is any indication of the rest of the series, Ms. Hannon has another hit series on her hands.

The book begins when reporter Moira Harrison is driving on a back country road in pouring down rain and finds herself lost.  She notices a figure in her headlights just seconds before she hears a thump and loses control of her car crashing into a tree. Moira loses consciousness and when she comes to the woman she saw in her headlights is nowhere to be found nor is the man who she thought stopped to help her.  Moira takes her story to the local police but without a body no one believes her story.

Moira is haunted by the look on the woman's face that appeared in her headlights and she can't give up trying to find out what really happened that night.  She soon enlists the help of Cal Burke, a former police detective, turned private investigator.  Cal and his two partners end up taking the case on Pro Bono without much hope that it will turn into anything.  As time progresses they find there is more to the story then just a woman caught in the headlights on a rainy night.

When a book pulls me into the story from the very first page, I know it is going to be a book I will remember long after turning the last page.  Vanished pulled me in from page one and held me captive throughout the entire book.  It is definitely a page-turner and has a sweet love story mixed in as well.  This is another book for my "keeper" shelf.

Vanished is a must read for all Irene Hannon fans and if you are not currently a fan of Ms. Hannon's, Vanished will surely convert you to becoming one.  I would highly recommend Vanished to anyone who enjoys a good clean suspense novel.

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

*** Available January 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.***

I would like to thank Donna Hausler and Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for my review copy of Vanished.  I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

My Happy New Year Wish for You

Smiles & Blessings,

The Intercept by Dick Wolf - a review

For anyone who is a Law & Order fan like I am, you MUST read The Intercept by Dick Wolf.  As you can see by the picture of the book cover to the left, Dick Wolf is the creator of Law & Order and The Intercept is his first novel.

I truly love reading fast paced thrillers that get my adrenaline pumping and Dick Wolf' debut did just that.  His character, NYPD Special Agent Jeremy Fisk is the protagonist and is a character to be remembered.

The story is set in New York City and  days before the 4th of July celebration and dedication of the new One World Trade Center building six people on board a commercial jet stop a hijacking attempt and become instant celebrities known as "The Six".  Special Agent Fisk and his partner, Kirsten Gersten don't believe it was simply a terrorist attack.  In fact, they believe it was a diversion in order to allow another passenger to come into the United States unnoticed.

What I liked most about this book was I felt like I was watchiing it unfold on television.  Mr. Wolf has a gift of showing his story just as if it were a script being acted out on the television screen.  I also love it when I get pulled into a book and I'm held captive until the very last page.  The Intercept did that for me and I'm sure it will be the same for you.  I would highly recommend this book to any adult who enjoys action packed thrillers!

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

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

Smiles & Blessings,

Cross Roads by Wm. Paul Young - a review

I was ecstatic when I learned that William Paul Young had written another book.  I read his book The Shack several years ago and it stayed with me for a long while after turning the last page.  When I had the opportunity to receive an Advanced Readers Copy of his new book, Cross Roads, I jumped at the chance.

Cross Roads is the story of Anthony Spencer, a self-made man, savvy and successful in business, but very proud with a very large ego.  Anthony (Tony) has a fear that people are watching him.  It's so bad he even has a secret apartment.  One day while heading to his car in the parking garage, he suffers a cerebral hemorrhage that leaves him in a coma in the hospital ICU.

Tony awakens to find himself in a strange world that he soon learns is part of who he has become.  It is in this world that he soon learns about himself.  While in the coma, Cabby, a young boy with down syndrome kisses him and Tony soon finds himself looking at the world through the eyes of this young man.  Then when Cabby kisses Maggie, a family friend Tony finds himself 'sliding' again.

Just as the protagonist in The Shack met the Trinity, Tony meets Jesus and the Holy Spirit as well.  Each time Tony slides he is back within "himself" and has dialogue with interesting 'characters' as well as Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

I required quite a few Kleenex while reading this book, just as I did when I read The Shack,  If I had to chose between the two books, I would have to choose The Shack,  But Cross Roads is a very good book as well.

I would highly recommend Cross Roads to the adult reader only because a younger audience might not understand all that is happening within the pages.

On a 5-Star scale = 4 Stars.

I would like to thank Sarah Reck and Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Group, for my ARC copy of Cross Roads.  I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

The Chase by DiAnn Mills - a review

The Chase, by DiAnn Mills is Christian Suspense at it's finest. This is the first book in the Crime Scene Houston Series and if the rest of the series is anything like The Chase, Ms. Mills will have a hit series on her hands.

This book is drawn from a real-life cold case and Ms. Mills brings the story to life with her passion for the real tragic event. Just as Ms. Mills wanted to tell the story, her heroine, Kariss Walker is passionate about telling the story within the book.  

Kariss Walker is a former TV news anchor that is now a New York Times bestselling author.  While working as a news anchor she reported on a case where an unidentified little girl is found starved to death in the woods.  The little girl becomes known as Cherished Doe.  Kariss hasn't been able to let go of the story and after writing women's fiction for several years she wants to write a novel about Cherished Doe in hopes that it can help solve the case.

When Kariss approaches her agent about changing genre and writing a suspense novel, her agent begs her not too and soon drops her as a client.  Kariss is determined and contacts an old friend with the FBI.  He pairs her up with his top agent, Special Agent Tigo Harris.  Tigo is not too happy about the match up and in time sparks are flying.  

With the help of Tigo, the Cherished Doe case is reopened and Tigo and Kariss work together to try to determine exactly what happened.  During this time Tigo is also working undercover to try to break up a gun running cartel.  Could the cases be connected.  Are they able to bring a solution to Cherished Doe's death.  All these answers are within the covers of this wonderful book.

If I have anything negative to say about The Chase, its the lack of romance.  Sure, sparks fly between Tigo and Kariss and they think to themselves that they are having feelings for each other but they never really 'get there' before the book ends.  There is a Chapter One of the second book in the series tucked in at the back of the book and Tigo and Kariss will be brought back.  My hopes are that they will finally express their love for each other somewhere within the pages of Book 2 (no name listed).

I would highly recommend this book for mature audiences only based on content.  

On a 5-Star scale - 4 Stars

I would like to thank Zondervan for my copy of The Chase.  I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

The Christmas Pony by Melody Carlson - a review

For me, when a book is good, really good, I connect with the characters at a level where I feel like I am part of the story.  In Melody Carlson's new book, The Christmas Pony, I experienced just that.  Little Lucy Turnbull, the lead character in this book came to life for me.  From the beginning, she pulled me into the story and held me there.

I must say, it's rare for me to put a real life person's face on a character in a book that I am reading, but in The Christmas Pony I envisioned Lucy as Rebecca Harrell.  If you don't know who Rebecca is, watch the movie Prancer.  Rebecca played Jessica Riggs who's character is so much like little Lucy Turnbull's.

The Christmas Pony takes place at Christmas in the year 1937. It is the story of 8 year old, Lucy Turnbull who wants nothing more than a pony for Christmas.  Not just any pony mind you, she wants Smoky, who is owned by a neighbor. Times are hard as Lucy's father has passed away and her mother and grandmother have started taking in borders and Lucy's mother does laundry in order to make ends meet.  The last thing they need is a pony to feed and board.

While in town one day, Lucy comes across a couple of people who's car has broken down and they are in need of a place to stay.  She invites them to her home and so the story begins.

Does Lucy get her pony?  Does Lucy's mother find love again? You'll have to read the book to find the answers to these questions.  This is a wonderful little book of 169 pages that is over before you know it.  I guarantee that you will find joy between the pages.  I loved this little book.

I would highly recommend The Christmas Pony to anyone wanting a clean, feel-good book to read.

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

* Available Sept 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.*

I would like to thank Donna Hausler and Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for my copy of The Christmas Pony. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

Soul's Gate by James L. Rubart - a review

I am a big fan of James L. Rubart's work. His new novel, Soul's Gate, is the first book in his "Well Spring" series.  It is a book about fighting enemy warfare in the supernatural.

The story is about four normal everyday Christians who are brought together to learn to fight for other people's souls.  The lead character, Reece Roth, is a trainer of spiritual warriors. Because of things that happened in his past, he hasn't rained anyone for many years.  But a prophecy spoken over him many years ago brings him out of "retirement" in order to train a new group of faith filled warriors.

The warriors are trained to enter a person's soul (with their permission of course) in order to war against the demons the person is battling. This is so they can bring healing and renewal to the person's soul. The warriors enter into prayer and work with the Holy Spirit in order to battle the enemy.

Through their faith, the warriors deal with issues of their own. Through their training they are able to bring healing to each other and open themselves up to help others.

I believe one of the main focuses of this book is to show us, the reader, that we need to help other's heal through prayer.  We need to pray strong prayers, not just, "please bless John or Mary" but really pray.  We need to open ourselves up to be receptive to the Holy Spirit and let Him know our hearts for the hurting of others.  This book has definitely changed my perspective on praying.

This is not a book for the faint in heart.  But it is a book that can make you think.  I would highly recommend this book to adult readers.

On a Five-Star Scale - 4 stars.

I would like to thank Litfuse Publising and Thomas Nelson Publishers for my review copy of Soul's Gate.  I received my copy for free in order to read and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,