Burden of Proof - DiAnn Mills

Pages:  416
Publisher:  Tyndale House Publishers
Date of Publication:  October 9, 2018

About the book:  

Reeling from a negotiation gone wrong, FBI Special Agent April Ramos is caught off guard when a frazzled young woman shoves a crying baby into her arms, then disappears. Worry for the child’s safety quickly turns to fear when a man claiming to be the girl’s father abducts them at gunpoint. April puts her hostage negotiation skills to use to learn more about who she’s dealing with: Jason Snyder, a fugitive accused of murder.

As Jason spins a tall tale about being framed for the killing of his business partner, April must sort through his claims to find the truth. A truth that becomes all the more evident after April overhears a conversation between Jason and the local sheriff and realizes something more sinister may be happening in their small town of Sweet Briar, Texas. But aligning herself with a known fugitive to uncover the burden of proof could cost April her job . . . or worse, her life and the lives of other innocent people.

My thoughts...

Let me preface this by saying that I LOVE suspense filled Christian Fiction books!  Like, really, I can not get enough of them.  Some of my favorite authors include Lynette Eason, Dani Pettrey, DiAnn Mills, and Dee Henderson.  I'm kind of a closet junky with this genre.  But never fear, I went in to the reading and reviewing process of this book with an open mind.  Like a blank slate.  My mind was totally void of any preconceptions.  But alas, I have to admit, this was definitely a 5 star book!!  Read on...

So to start with, this is the beginning of a series entitled "FBI Rapid Response".  (I'm hoping a long, drawn out series.  The more the merrier when you find something you love!).  Mills is wonderful at researching her topics and making sure she gets all the facts correct.  She has a great track record in that department (make sure you check out some of her other books).  She's laid the groundwork in this novel for the series by developing strong characters throughout that the reader quickly comes to love.  Intertwining their lives in such a way that it feels real, like friends or acquaintances you know in your every day life.

Beyond the characters, the scenes and scenarios flow so effortlessly between the pages that it's easy to get lost in their world.  Before you know it you've quickly progressed from the start of the book to the end.  The fast paced, edge of your seat suspense keeps you on an ever winding roller coaster of a ride. 

My suggestion?  You pre-order this book and eagerly await the October 9 release.  And clear your schedule.  You will easily want to read it in one setting.  I know I did.  You won't be disappointed!  

As previously mentioned, I give this book 5 stars!  And 2 thumbs up!

**I was provided a copy of this book for my honest review**

Burning Proof - Janice Cantore

Genre:  Christian Fiction Suspense, Romance
Published by Tyndale House Publishers
Pages: 400
Publication Date:  March 1, 2016


From Amazon:

After months of investigating the brutal homicide of a young girl, Detective Abby Hart finally has the evidence she needs. But when the arrest goes terribly wrong, Abby begins to doubt her future as a police officer. As she wrestles with conflicting emotions, old questions about the fire that took her parents’ lives come back to haunt her.


“There is proof.” PI Luke Murphy can’t stop thinking about what Abby’s former partner, Asa Foster, mumbled just before he died. When he uncovers a clue to the murder of Abby’s parents and his uncle, he’s reluctant to tell Abby, despite his growing feelings for the beautiful detective.

A decade-old abduction case brings Luke and Abby together, but will his secret tear them apart?

My Thoughts:

What a fast-paced story-line, I couldn't put it down!  Burning Proof is book 2 of the Cold Justice Series by Janice Cantore, and is just as exciting as the first book, Drawing Fire.  

Burning Proof delves further in to the lives of Luke and Abby, who have such great chemistry, it's hard not to like them both.  Cantore does an excellent job developing the story, placing the details bit by bit throughout the chapters.  Getting to know Luke and Abby a little more, pieces of the puzzle are gently put together answering the many questions that surround that fateful night all those years ago.

Fans of Christian Fiction Suspense will want to add this book to their reading pile, but not before placing the first book of the series at the top of their list!  I give this book 4 stars and highly recommend it.

**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange of my honest opinion.

A Robertson Family Christmas - Miss Kay Robertson

From Amazon:

Hunter Clarke wanted one thing for Christmas: to spend it with his dad and his brother. He misses being included in any guy trips since his parents divorced and he went to live with his mom. So he’s less than happy when his mother tells him that he won a contest to spend Christmas in West Monroe, Louisiana, with a family named the Robertsons. For some reason, they’re supposed to be a big deal. How did he win a contest he didn’t enter? Besides, he’s never heard of them and sure doesn’t want to spend Christmas in a swamp with a bunch of strangers.

Korie Robertson is excited to open her heart and home to Hunter and show him what the Christmas season looks like for the Robertson family. And like it or not, Hunter experiences it firsthand. From duck-hunting disasters with the bearded guys, to learning to cook with Miss Kay, Hunter quickly discovers what it’s like to live with this boisterous, yet loving family. Putting on his headphones and ignoring them is not an option. Before long, Hunter begins to let his guard down. But with Christmas and the end of his trip fast approaching, will it be too little, too late? Or will Hunter be open to the greatest gift of all?

My thoughts:

If you're looking for a fun, clean read, then this is the book for you. Fans of Duck Dynasty will enjoying this fictional story Miss Kay has written about a young man spending time with the Robertson clan. Written in true Miss Kay form, if you're a fan of Miss Kay, you'll be a fan of this book!

This would be an excellent gift idea for that Duck Dynasty fan who has everything!  I give this book 4 stars.

*I received this item in exchange for my honest opinion*



The Breakthrough - Jerry B. Jenkins

About the book (taken from the back cover)...

After years of Turmoil, Boone Drake seems to be back on track.  He is the youngest bureau chief in Chicago Police Department history, he heads the city's Major Case Squad, he has a new family, and his relationship with God has never been better.  Still, Boone can't fight the feeling that something is about to go terribly wrong...again.

When disaster strikes, it seems Boone is destined to repeat the past, as tragedy threatens those closest to him.  And when his own family's safety is at stake, Boone is forced to make a difficult choice:  stay with his wife, Haeley, who desperately needs him, or pursue a human trafficking ring from the narrow streets, alleys, and hovels of the famed hutong district in Beijing, China, to the ancient city of Tianjin.  The stakes have never been higher for Boone as the all-too-personal case grows increasingly dangerous...and time is running out.

My thoughts...

Jerry B. Jenkins.  A name well know in Christian Fiction.  With more than 175 books written, there is rarely a reader that hasn't heard of him!

The Breakthrough, A Precinct 11 (series) novel, is the latest adventure book to hit the shelves from this #1 New York Times bestselling author.  If you find yourself a fan of crime-fighting stories, and are interested in reading more about Chicago, then you'll want to make sure to add this to the top of your reading list!

Jenkins does an excellent job of combining law enforcement with the Word of God...enough adventure to keep you on the edge of you seat, but enough "Jesus" to keep you on the "straight and narrow".  Rarely one to disappoint his readers, you'll want to make sure to enter my giveaway to win a copy of this 5 Star book for yourself!

If you're the winner, I'll send you a certificate from Tyndale to redeem at your local Christian Bookstore.  The directions are on the certificate, how easy is that?  Please make sure you are at least 18 years of age before entering, with a valid U.S. address!

**A big thank-you to Tyndale Publishing for providing me the book and certificate in exchange for my honest review!**


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Skip Rock Shallows - Jan Watson

About the book...

Lilly Gray Corbett has just graduated from medical school and decided to accept an internship in the coal camp of Skip Rock, Kentucky.  Her beau, Paul, is doing his residency in Boston and can't understand why Lilly would choose to work in a backwater town.  But having grown up in the mountains, Lilly is drawn to the stubborn, superstitious people she encounters in Skip Rock -- a town where people live hard and die harder and where women know their place.  Lilly soon learns she has a lot to overcome, but after saving the life of a young miner, she begins to earn the residents' trust.

Torn between joining Paul in Boston and her love for the people of Skip Rock, Lilly crosses paths with a handsome miner -- one who seems oddly familiar.  Her attraction for him grows even as she wrestles with her feelings and wonders what he's hiding.

My thoughts...

While the back of the book grabbed my attention, I have to admit, the interest stopped there.  Though Jan Watson is a talented writer, this book ended up not being for me.

The story starts out fully engaged, with some references to Troublesome Creek.  While this book seems to be a stand-alone novel, maybe having read the previous mentioned would have been helpful.  At times I seemed to be missing out on some of the back story, not quite understanding what they were referring to.  I decided to keep reading, to see where the story would take me.

Where did it go?  Not far.  Even half-way through the book, I was still waiting for the tempo to pick up, it had to start gaining speed soon, or so I thought!  I was anxiously awaiting for the romance interest to start between Lilly and the handsome miner, Tern/Joe. 

While there were some parts that intrigued my interest, I was mostly left skimming the pages, waiting for something, anything, to grab my attention.

If you're looking for something to read, while you're waiting for the next, great release to come out, then this may be for you.  If you're hoping this is the next great release...I wouldn't hold my breath.

I give this book 3 stars, and suggest looking elsewhere!

**I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.**

Trauma Plan - Candace Calvert

 

Back Cover Info...

Sidelined by injuries from a vicious assault, chaplain Riley Hale is eager to return to her former duties as an ER nurse.  But how can she show she's competent when the hospital won't let her attempt even simple tasks?  Determined to prove herself, Riley volunteers at a controversial urban free clinic despite her fears about the maverick doctor in charge.

Dr. Jack Travis defends his clinic like he's commander of the Alamo.  He'll fight the community's efforts to shut its doors, even if he must use Riley Hale's influential family name to make it happen. 

As Riley strives to regain her skills, Jack finds that she shares his compassion -- and stirs his lonely heart. Riley senses that beneath Jack's rough exterior is a man she can believe in.  But when clinic protests escalate and questions surface about his past, Jack goes into battle mode, and Riley wonders if it's dangerous to trust him with her heart.

My thoughts...

Candace Calvert did an excellent job in writing this book!  With her previous work experience as an ER nurse, and the author of the Mercy Hospital series, another medical based book is right up her alley!  Talk about being on the edge of my seat throughout a story!

Chaplain Rile Hale has so much going on in her life right now.  Recovering from an attack, with some medical issues lingering, she is hoping her ER friend Kate can help her get back in to a nursing position.  Now if she could just convince Kate that she is capable of handling the procedures of the day to day tasks in an ER!

While I enjoyed the relationships/characters of Riley and Travis, Bandy Biggs and Hobo were the ones that truly captured my heart!  Yes, I believe you will come to love Hobo the dog as much as I did!  But the story of Bandy, is the one that will get you thinking, and leave you pondering his wise words.  Although he was once a homeless, rodeo has-been bum, sleeping in his truck, you quickly learn there is more to Bandy than what meets the eye.  After hearing his saying, "A big buckle doesn't make a big man", you come to learn how true that is!

I give this book 5 stars and highly recommend it's reading!!

**I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers and was not required to post a positive review.**

Heart Echoes - Sally John

 

Back cover...

Only an Earthquake could shatter the walls she's built.

In the aftermath of a massive LA earthquake, the perfect existence Teal Morgan-Adams has built begins to crumble.  Teal's daughter, Maiya, is determined to learn the identity of her biological father, despite the loving devotion of her stepdad, River Adams.  But that's a secret Teal hoped would remain buried forever.  She has never shared the truth with anyone --not her family, not River, not even Maiya's father.

As Maiya's prying reopens old wounds, Teal receives tragic news and must travel home to Cedar Pointe, Oregon -- a place she's avoided most of her adult life.  Will her already-strained marriage survive the distance and the secrets she'll be forced to face there?

My thoughts...

Wow, another page turner I could not put down!  I loved the storyline, and was quickly sucked in from the very beginning with the earthquake story!

I was also drawn to the characters, the relationship between Teal and her teenage daughter Maiya, the ups and downs they went through.  It was interesting to see the dynamics between Maiya and her stepdad, River, the closeness they shared in the 5 years they had been together.  And lets not even start on all my speculations of who could be Maiya's biological dad!

When I found out Heart Echos was part of a series, I debated as to whether I have read the others in the series (Ransomed Dreams and Desert Gift) .  I think I have at one point in the past, but regardless, this book could stand alone!

I give this book 5 stars and highly recommend it if you are looking for a great read in a short amount of time!

**I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers and was not required to post a positive review.**

101 Bible Adventures

 

What an awesome book!  I requested this book with my 10 year old in mind...he has been needing another book or study to do during his TAWG time at night (Time Alone With God). 

I love the layout of the pages, each adventure starts out with a "What's Up" section, a brief overview of what the adventure is.  It is then followed by the "Action Adventure from  (Bible Passsage Reference)" where it gives them the scripture to read through the adventure (it also has a key verse in this area).  Lastly, it is followed by "Now What", a brief section on how to apply the adventure to their every day life, to live out their faith.  Each adventure is on a 2 page layout, with a comic drawn picture in the upper right hand corner.

While this book is not high level reading for my son, it is something to get him back in to God's Word.  So many times he struggles coming up with something to do on his own, this book will be great to take him through the next 101 nights of TAWG!

I give this book 5 stars, and highly recommend it!

**I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers and was not required to post a positive review.**

LEAD...for God's Sake! - Todd G. Gongwer

"Although he's one of the most successful high school basketball coaches in Kentucky's history, Steve Rocker, for the first time in his life, is falling short of expectations.  His players have lost their will to win, their love for their teammates, and their passion to play.  Coach Rocker's motivational methods that have always worked before -- and have resulted in his success -- are now failing, and he doesn't know why.

Struggling to understand what's happening, Coach seeks the counsel of one of his most successful friends, CEO Grant Steffin, who while fighting his own battles, offers advice based on his own leadership experiences.  Coach Rocker also stumbles upon some unexpected insight from -- of all people -- Joe Taylor, the high school janitor."

My thoughts...

I have been reluctant to read this book for many months, not fully understanding what it was.  The author is from the small town we live in, and actually attends the same church as my family (their children are in my children's classes at school as well).  While there has been much hype in our area since the release of the book, it was never one I intended to purchase, I thought it was a "self-help" book of sorts. Then it became available through one of the company's I do book reviews for, so I thought I would give it a try.

While the beginning was a bit rough for me (some choice language is sprinkled through out the first few chapters), I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Needless to say, I immediately handed it off to my husband, who is an elementary school teacher and basketball coach, and told him it is a "must read"!

While the book does deal with leadership and "self help" issues, it felt more like a fiction story I was reading, which is right up my alley!  Coach Rocker is dealing with many issues that are relevant in marriages today, and seems to be going through much more in his job as well. He struggles in many areas, and at times is just trying to stay afloat.  How can he be the leader others expect him to be, when he doesn't even have his own life in order?

The one storyline I couldn't get enough of was that of Joe, the Janitor.  What a special and unique man he represented!  Through the relationships that are formed, we are taken deeper in to the life of Joe, and find out how he became the man that he is today.  On the surface, Joe seems to be your average blue collar worker, but after spending several minutes with him, you learn there is so much more to who he is.

If you're looking for a great book to read, and glean some wonderful leadership advice from, then this book is for you!  Even as a stay at home mom (who leads a girl scout group, coaches Upward Cheerleading, and works with children at church) there were so many take-a ways from this book for me.  Everyone needs a "Joe" in their life, teaching them what it means to be a leader, and more importantly, a child of God.

I enthusiastically give this book 5 stars!  It would make a wonderful Christmas gift for that special someone in your life!

**I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers and was not required to post a positive review.**

 

Attracted to Fire - Diann Mills

 Taken from the Back Cover...

"Special Agent Meghan Connors’ dream of one day protecting the president of the United States is about to come true. Only one assignment stands in her way. After the vice president’s rebellious daughter is threatened, Meghan is assigned to her protective detail on a secluded ranch in West Texas. Unfortunately, working with Special Agent in Charge Ash Zinders may be as tough as controlling her charge. Ash has a reputation for being critical and exacting, and he’s also after the same promotion as Meghan. But when the threats escalate and security on the ranch is breached, it becomes clear this isn’t the work of a single suspect—it’s part of a sophisticated plan that reaches deeper and higher than anyone imagined. And only Ash and Meghan can put the pieces together before it’s too late."

My take...

I LOVED this book!  For those that know me, just about any Christian Romance storyline added with a Government Agency (CIA, FBI, etc), is bound to be a hit with me!

Special Agent Meghan Connors seems to have it all on the outside...a great career in the Secret Service, respect from her colleagues, a loving mother who wants the best for her, and her relationship with God.  Little do they know, appearances can be deceiving.  What if they learned of her sister and her issues?  Is that why she got this special assignment?  Ash Zinders, aka A to Z, just might be the one person who can get close enough to break her steel exterior.  That is, if A to Z can get past his personal feelings about female agents!

Special Agent Ash Zinders hasn't gotten to where he is on accident...hard work, steel nerves, and an excellent sense of knowing when to listen to his gut has helped him climb to the top, even if it meant earning the nickname of A to Z along the way.  The promotion he wants is within his sights as long as he stays focused and keeps Meghan at arms length.  Nothing can get in his way, especially a female agent!

With all the young celebrities in the news today, and not for being positive role models, I was not anticipating the storyline of Lindsey, the President's daughter.  While she did have a drug and alcohol problem, her issues went much deeper than just acting out as a rebellious teen.  Being secluded on the ranch, with Meghan and Ash protecting her, may be just what the doctor ordered!

My Star Rating...
5 Stars!!!

**I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers and was not required to post a positive review.**

Horse Dreams - Dandi Daley Mackall

 

"Meet Ellie James, a fourth grader with a great imagination.  Ellie spends a lot of time daydreaming about owning a black stallion show horse and winning trophies in the horse show.  But when the answer to all her dreams and prayers gallops into her life, will Ellie be able to recognize it?" (Back cover excerpt)

This is the first book by Dandi Daley Mackall I have read, even though she has many on the market.  This new series, Backyard Horses, is written for ages 9-12, but even as an adult, I thoroughly enjoyed this first book!  

After reading the first few pages, you are quickly drawn in to Ellie's life of horses, and the life of her family.  From her quirky mom, to her deaf brother Ethan, even her ad/jingle singing dad, there is much a young tween can learn from this book...

•  I love how the title of each chapter is also displayed in sign language, so the reader can learn the alphabet signs while reading this book.  There is a page at the end of the book that displays each sign for the entire alphabet.
• My all-time favorite aspect?  The subtle way the author "sneaks' in God and Christianity into the writing.  I love how Ellie is not afraid to ask God for different things in her prayers, and to even admit that she may not talk to Him as much as she should during the daytime hours.  
• There are many life lessons throughout this book that are great for youngsters to learn...especially this one:  It was right there all the time.  You may spend your whole life looking/longing for something, not realizing, that it was right in front of you the the whole time, you had it all along, but you just didn't realize it!

I checked online, and book 2, Cowboy Colt, is now available!  Books 3 and 4 are coming out spring 2012!  Now, if my girls could just get home from school, I could start reading them this book and embark on a great new series with them!

I give this book 5 Stars!

**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my thoughts on this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.**