Sunday, June 30, 2013

When A Secret Kills by Lynette Eason

Jillian Carter has spent the last 10 years of her life hiding from a killer. Tired of hiding and living a secret Jillian decides to return home to confront the person trying to kill her. The killer is getting closer to Jillian and becoming desperate to finish the job.

Colton Brady is stunned to see the changes in Jillian, the girl he once was in love with. Once Jillian reveals her reason for disappearing 10 years before, Colton has a hard time believing her story. After several attempts on Jillian's life though, Colton has no choice but to confront someone very close to him.

Jillian and Colton have really never stopped loving each other. As Colton fights to keep Jillian alive the attraction they had for each other many years before is once again rekindled. Jillian has one last secret that she is keeping from Colton though. Will this be the secret that ends their relationship forever?

With so many twists and turns I kept thinking "oh this is the killer" or "oh no, THIS is the killer" and then change my mind again! What a great story that can have you guessing right up until the very end of the book! WHEN A SECRET KILLS was a quick and suspenseful read that has me looking forward to reading more of Lynette Eason's stories.


Monday, June 24, 2013

The Shadow Man by Mark Murphy

About the Author:

During Dr. Mark Murphy's residency days at the University of north Carolina in Chapel Hill, he treated a sitcom star, a televangelist, a politician, and even a serial killer. Using their stories as inspiration, he poured himself into his first novel, to critical acclaim.

In The Shadow Man Murphy draws on his own life experiences to shape main character Malcolm King: a regular guy with a loving daughter and a thriving career as a doctor. The result is an utterly believable, likeable family. But unlike Murphy's real life, Malcolm and his family undergo severe psychological duress when Malcolm becomes the target of a serial killer framing him for a rash of murders.

Yet Malcolm almost plays second fiddle in comparison to Murphy's other main character: a living, breathing setting of Savannah, Georgia. In fact, a well-known landmark serves as the novel's cover: an atomospheric, black and white shot of the Forsyth Park fountain at night.

Murphy's creative writing career began in 2004 with the publication of the short story "The Funeral" in a collection of works entitled "O! Georgia!" Shortly after, he attended the Iowa Summer Writing Festival, where his creative spark and passion for short stories was re-ignited. Two years ago, the Savannah Morning News brought him on as a regular family columnist, where he shares reflective thoughts and gentle observations on life and family each week.

Murphy's distinguished medical career started at the University of Georgia, where he earned a B.S. in Zoology before going on to the Medical College of Georgia to receive his M. D. with honors. He has since founded a medical practice and served on the boards of several prominent medical associations, including the Georgia Medical Association.

In addition to a burgeoning writing career, he continues to practice medicine as a gastroenterologist and serves on the board for the Savannah Book Festival, where he lives with his family.

Learn more about Mark Murphy at: www.mark-e-murphy.com









My Thoughts:

The Shadow Man kept me turning pages late into the evening! It started out with a grisly murder and ended with heart-stopping drama. Throughout the story I was constantly trying to figure out what was up with The Shadow Man. Why was he bent on ruining Malcolm and his family? It was a quite twisted and entertaining story. While I liked the character of Billy, I wasn't a fan of the way the author tried to weave in some Indian legend supernatural stuff through Billy and some birds, but I'll let you read it and be the judge rather than give away anything else. For the most part The Shadow Man kept me on the edge of my seat, the author very adeptly portrayed the evilness that was The Shadow Man.

Warning:

For the most part I review Christian novels on my blog. This is in NO WAY a Christian novel. There is violence, there is cursing(including the f-word), and evil is portrayed very prominently. The characters were portrayed true-to-life, Malcolm and his family were not dysfunctional, and evil does not have victory, and that is how I was able to read this book...besides the fact I love a good scare-the-pants-off-of-you read!


Tuesday, June 11, 2013

So Shines The Night by Tracy L. Higley

Daria is a tutor running away from evil when she meets Lucas. Lucas is a wealthy merchant living in Ephesus. He too has been in the presence of evil. When Lucas invites Daria to come to Ephesus with him and become his tutor she has mis-givings but sees no other way to escape the evil surrounding her in Rhodes.

Daria is once again thrust into the presence of evil in Ephesus. Lucas is set on a deadly path to exact revenge upon his wife's murderers. He has become friends with the sorcerers and the Christians in an effort to find out which group is responsible for his wife's death. Daria's desire to question everything and find out everything she can about Lucas puts her in danger.

Set in Ephesus during a time when the people of The Way were hated and feared, when Paul was speaking about the One True God, both Daria and Lucas find themselves confused about who to believe. Daria is set on pleasing the gods with offerings but yet as a scholar questioning her belief in those gods. Lucas has allowed himself to be filled with hate and vengeance almost to the point of joining the very evil that claimed his wife's life. Will Paul's influence and preaching of the One True God touch both Daria and Lucas and set them free from the claims of evil that are upon them?

Tracy Higley has a way of bringing history to life. If you have never read one of her books then I suggest you remedy that immediately! Especially if you like historical fiction. So Shines the Night focuses on a time in history when the church is just getting started. People of The Way are feared and reviled. It was interesting to see fictionally what Paul could have been like in his zeal to win people for Christ. It was also fun to "meet" other biblical characters that traveled with Paul such as Timothy and Priscilla and Aquila. I especially wanted to shout a cheer when the One True God conquered evil. So Shines the Night shows once again how well Tracy Higley researches a time in history and brings together a story that grips the readers attention.

Other books by Tracy Higley that I have read:

Guardian of the Flame
Isle of Shadows
Pompeii: City on Fire

To check out more of Tracy's books visit her website at: http://tracyhigley.com/


Monday, June 3, 2013

Cover Reveal of Bleeding Heart by Amber Stokes

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Five bleeding hearts. One profound journey.

Summer 1886

Sally Clay’s livelihood has been snatched away, but in its place arises an opportunity to escape from her sordid past and an unrelenting, unwanted suitor. Boarding a train with a heartsick rancher and an enigmatic miner, she leaves Virginia City behind and heads to Northern California, waiting for the chance to make right what went wrong three long years before.

But the road to revenge is far from smooth. Sally soon learns that the jagged pieces of a broken heart can far too easily wound the hearts of others – and hers isn’t the only heart that’s broken. Tragedy and fear dog her steps as she flees from the redwood forests to the high desert and back again. Will her bleeding heart ever find a way and a place to heal?

A desperate soiled dove. Three men who come to care for her. One man determined to claim her.

All on a journey that will show them what true love really involves.

Inspirational Historical Romance



The Book’s Blog
In conjunction with the cover reveal, Amber’s doing a “blog reveal,” as well! You can find all the latest news about Bleeding Heart, along with book extras, at the Bleeding Heart blog



About the Author
Amber Stokes has a Bachelor of Science degree in English and a passion for the written word - from
blogging to writing poetry, short stories, and novels. After her brief time at college in Oregon, she is now back home among the redwoods of Northern California, living life one day at a time and pursuing her passion via freelance editing and self-publishing her debut novel, Bleeding Heart. You can connect with Amber on her blog, Seasons of Humility.








Teaser from Bleeding Heart
Prologue

Breaking hearts should be considered a crime. That would make Elizabeth Lawson an outlaw and Joe Clifton the victim. And that wasn’t a far stretch in Joe’s mind. She had rounded up his heart, branded her name across it when it should never have belonged to her, and then left him high and dry. Still, he was getting sick of hanging around the scene of the crime. He just didn’t know where else to go.
Lake Tahoe had once been his favorite get-away destination, a place where he could go to just sit back and enjoy the view of water as clear as a shined-up mirror. Now those crystal depths and the unmoving boulders along the water’s edge taunted him, bringing back memories of a happy proposal and a less-than-happy scene where his heart was handed back to him on a silver platter – bruised, broken, and bleeding.
He didn’t want to make any more memories like that. So he made a promise to himself: He would never let anyone break his heart again.


About the Cover Designer
Lena lives in a scenic small town in Massachusetts with her husband, two kids, and a very spoiled Black
Lab. She writes fiction for young adults, mostly light fantasy with a healthy dose of "sigh-worthy" romance. You can visit her online at www.lenagoldfinch.blogspot.com.










 MY FAVORITE PASTIME:
The target publication date for Bleeding Heart is set for August 2013. I for one cannot wait to read this book! Amber has become one of my favorite bloggers. She has a talent for writing great reviews along with beautiful and thought-provoking devotionals that show her love for the Savior. I'm privileged to be a part of Amber's blog tour and look forward to what the Lord has planned for this amazing young woman. 

GIVEAWAY!!!!

Amber is offering a giveaway to celebrate the cover reveal. Fill out the Rafflecopter and a winner will be chosen. Here are the pictures of the items to be given away:

 These items were designed by these two women:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/CindyLindgren?ref=l2-shopheader-name

 http://www.etsy.com/shop/belleonabudget

Here's the Rafflecopter to enter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway