Visible Threat by Janice Cantore

Officer Brinna Caruso wants perfection—perfect justice and a perfect world. She wants to save and protect all the innocents in the world, no matter the cost.

Orphaned and struggling to get by, Ivana and her sister left Bulgaria for America with dreams of a better life. But since they arrived in Long Beach, everything they were promised has turned out to be a lie.

After a dead girl is found in the river with a mysterious tattoo on her hip, homicide detective Jack O’Reilly asks for Brinna’s help. Unaware of the depths of evil that will be uncovered, Brinna finds herself flung into a dangerous frontier—an organized human trafficking ring.

Nothing says “Woo-Hoo!  I’m going out of town and will have time on my hands!” then to pick up a copy of the newest book in the “Heart of Justice” series by Janice Cantore.

After leaving Brinna with her K9 dog, Hero in “Critical Pursuit”, she is back and still working to save lost children.  After a floater is found down by the river, Brinna is called in with Hero to see if they can track down where she came from.  With no new leads, Brinna goes back to the daily routines of police work and being notified that her days with Hero may be numbered due to a cut in the Federal Grant that was paying for the program.  As the weather turns violent with torrential rains, a call comes in of another body in the same river, but this time she’s still alive.  Putting her life and another officer’s on the line, they go in the water to get the young girl before she’s swept away.  But their heroics come at a price as both Brinna and the other officer are pulled under themselves.  Are they able to snag the girl?  Will they survive the attempt?  Who is she and what is her connection to the other body they found?  Hang onto the edge of your seat and GO BUY THE BOOK!

In reality, I don’t have many close friends.  In my head, though, I get to have dozens of friends as I read some great books all of the time.  A sign of a great writer, to me, is one that creates characters that you enjoy reading about and miss them when you close the book.  Brinna and her friend Jack are two such characters that have been created by Janice Cantore.  Brinna has such a drive and determination to be the best at her job and to make sure that no other children are abducted like she was as a child.  Jack has lost his wife and still struggles with the day-to-day living of going on without her, but is finally on the road to allowing others to get close to him again.  Both of these characters are ones that I will miss when this series comes to an end.  This book did not disappoint as it continues with the smooth plotlines and character developments that I have seen in all of her earlier books. 

Is this a "guy's book"?  This book has chase scenes, daring rescues and complete police procedures.  I can’t imagine any guy not looking forward to picking up this book and the first book in the series as well.

About The Author

A retired Long Beach California police officer of 22 years (16 in uniform and 6 as a non-career officer), Janice Cantore worked a variety of assignments, patrol, administration, juvenile investigations and training. During the course of her career in uniform Janice found that faith was indispensable to every aspect of the job and published articles on faith at work, one for a quarterly newspaper called “Cop and Christ”, and another for the monthly magazine “Today’s Christian Woman”.

With retirement Janice began to write longer pieces and several novels were born. Janice is excited and honored to be a part of the Tyndale Publishing House family. Accused, Abducted and Avenged,  comprise The Pacific Coast Justice Series, a trilogy that kicked off a brand new chapter in her writing career. September 2013 saw the release of Critical Pursuit, featuring Brinna Caruso, a K-nine officer with a heart to find abducted and missing children. Visible Threat is the next installment in this series and will be released in 2014.  In addition to suspense and action, her books feature strong female leads. Janice writes suspense novels designed to keep you engrossed and leave you inspired.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

The Sinners' Garden by William Sirls

     Andy Kemp’s young life has been as ravaged as his scarred face. Disfigured by an abusive father, the teenager hides behind his books and an impenetrable wall of cynicism and anger.  As Andy’s mother struggles to reconnect with him, his Uncle Rip returns transformed from a stint in prison and wants to be a mentor to the reclusive boy, doing everything he can to help end Andy’s pain. When Andy begins hearing strange music through his iPod and making near-prophetic announcements, Rip is convinced that what Andy is hearing is the voice of God.  Elsewhere, police officer Heather Gerisch responds to a late-night breaking and entering in one of the poorest homes in town. She soon realizes that the masked prowler has left thousands of dollars in gift cards from a local grocery store.  As the bizarre break-ins continue and Heather pursues the elusive “Summer Santa,” Andy and Rip discover an enormous and well-kept garden of wildflowers that seems to have grown overnight at an abandoned steel mill.  Soon, they realize who the gardener is, and a spree of miracles transfigures this small town from a place of hopelessness into a place of healing and beauty.

As a blogger/reviewer/reader/bookguy, I tend to read a lot of books.  I tend to read a lot of books that I consider to be suspense or intrigue or thriller novels.  Sometimes, though, a book comes along that attracts me for different reasons, reasons that I can’t really put into words.  This book, “The Sinners’ Garden”, is definitely one of those books.

What do a teenager, his mother an ex-con and a cop all have in common?  Sounds like the beginning to a very bad joke doesn’t it?  In this case, these 4 individuals are showcased in their need for redemption.  Andy, the teen, has been abused by his father and stays hidden behind painful scars.  His mother has drifted mentally away and desperately wants to reconnect.  His uncle, Rip, is being released from prison and wants to thrust himself into the role of the male figure in Andy’s life in order to right the wrongs of his past.  And Heather, who is on her path of finding out who keeps breaking into the homes in town.  Throw in a seemingly out of place flourishing garden and the Master Gardener behind it all, and you have the makings of a book that will stay with you forever.  Do yourself a favor, GO BUY THIS BOOK!

I will admit that as a typical guy, sometimes the details of things escapes me.  I’m not always as interested in how things looked like or felt like or what direction you went, as long as I know that there was a mystery that needed solving and you solved it.  I do tend to skip or skim over text that goes into a lot of detail and there were times in this book that I found myself doing that.  It’s important to note, though, that that isn’t a slam on the author, it’s just not my style of reading.  Once I get the gist of what’s happening in a paragraph, if there isn’t dialogue, I move onto the next one.  I loved how deep and immersed that I became with the characters in the book, almost like they became friends of mine.  I would be interested in revisiting with these characters in the future to see how they’ve grown after this novel.  My other thought on this book centers around what I feel was a main component of this book, redemption.  I think there was a clear story line of redemption with these characters, but I think the author left out some great opportunities to wrap the redemptive qualities of Christ into this book.  As I’m sure he was going for an all-inclusive audience with his book, it may cause others to feel a little let down that he didn’t follow through with the whole story of redemption.

Is this a guy’s book?  This is not your typical shoot-em up, run-em down or kill-em novel.  I would venture to say that if you are into those books and only those books, then you should avoid this book.  BUT, if you are guy that can enjoy a book that reminds us of God’s love and attention, then you should definitely pick this book up to read.

About the author

Over the course of his life, William Sirls has experienced both great highs and tremendous lows--some born of chance, some born of choice.  He is the father of two and makes his home in southern Michigan. Visit his site at: www.williamsirls.com

Meet William Sirls: Once a senior vice president in a large investment firm, he was incarcerated in 2007 for wire fraud and money laundering. Life lessons involving faith, grace, and forgiveness are evident in his writing. The Sinners’ Garden is his second novel. William is celebrating the book's release with an iPad giveaway.

  One winner will receive:

• A brand new iPad Mini
• The Sinners' Garden by William Sirls

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 1st. Winner will be announced March 3rd on William Sirls' blog.

Don’t miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by William’s blog on the 3rd to see if you won.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Friend Me by John Faubion

Scott and Rachel’s marriage is on the brink of disaster. Scott, a businessman with a high-pressure job, just wants Rachel to understand him and accept his flaws. Rachel is a lonely housewife, desperate for attention and friendship. So she decides to create a virtual friend online, unaware that Scott is doing the exact same thing. But neither realizes that there’s a much larger problem looming. . . . 

Behind both of their online creations is Melissa, a woman who is brilliant— and totally insane. Masquerading as both friend and lover, Melissa programmed a search parameter into the Virtual Friend Me software to find her perfect man, but along the way she forgot to specify his marriage status. And Scott is her ideal match. Now Melissa is determined to have it all—Scott, his family, and Rachel’s life. 

As Melissa grows bolder and her online manipulations transition into the real world, Scott and Rachel figure out they are being played. Now it’s a race against time as Scott and Rachel fight to save their marriage, and their lives, before it’s too late.

With the growth of the internet and all of the social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, I guess it is only a matter a time before an actual site like the one mentioned in this book comes to fruition.  It is with that thought in mind, that I couldn’t wait to dive into this book.

Scott and Rachel have hit a rut in their marriage.  Rachel spends her day caring for their child and Scott spends his day at work supporting his family.  Both of them feel they are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing to make their marriage work, but they are both falling short of a fulfilling marriage.  Rachel finds a website that offers to “recreate” lost ones from the past and she sets out to “recreate” her friend Suzanne.  As she builds her best friend, the realism intrigues Scott.  Scott, though, creates someone to listen to him, a female companion.  After Scott starts building his friend, parameters within the software alert the programmer that her “dream guy” is looking for someone.  As she begins to sculpt herself into Scott’s virtual friend, the drama begins to spiral out of control.  Is Rachel’s virtual friend real?  Does Scott cross the line with his virtual friend?  Can their real marriage survive what’s happening in the virtual world?  Find out the answer to these great questions when you BUY THE BOOK!

 

This is the first book by John Faubion and definitely looks like it won’t be his last.  The tension and stress that he writes into his characters are so real allowing the reader the chance to “see” themselves or loved ones that they know in those roles.    He has created some memorable characters in Rachel and Scott.  Not because of some outlandish lifestyle, but because they came across as real people just like the rest of us.  The storyline flowed smoothly and while the author may have taken some creative freedom when it came to describing the technology behind the “friends”, I don’t think that the reality isn’t too far behind.

Is this a “Guy’s Book”?  This is a great book and should be read by anybody, man or woman.  This will hopefully open up some eyes to those that say, “it isn’t real, so who’s it really hurting?”

 

John agreed to answer a few questions for us to get a chance to know him better:

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

Interesting question, so I’ll attempt to give you a more-interesting-than-usual answer. I’ve attached a picture from my iPad with my current favorite Bible verse.

• The Chinese is “耶和华啊，我的心仰望你。”
• The English (which I imagine most of your readers probably employ!) is “Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. (Psalm 25:1).

The “why” is that believers need to yield themselves to the Lord every day, and usually more often than that. I’m no exception. I love the Psalms and Proverbs. They’re so rich.

I don’t have a regular “life verse” like most folks. Don’t know why – just the way it worked out. The bright side of this is that if someone asks me my favorite verse next week, it may be different!

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?

The theme is for Christians to see the need — the absolute need — of living a consistent, faithful Christian life. Focus on what’s real, not on imagined dreams, fantasies, and what-might-have-been.

Back to Friend Me’s epigraph, Phillippians 4:8, “Whatsoever things are true. . . think on these things.”

Besides writing, what are some of your favorite hobbies? 

I have an old 1949 Packard automobile that I love to work on and drive. I think I’ll attach a picture of that, too. My youngest daughter turns seventeen tomorrow. Before she found out how hard it was going to be to steer, she asked for a pickup truck to drive when she was old enough. I finished that up last year, a 1966 Ford F-100.

Looks like it’s going to be mine, after all! Maybe if I’d put in power steering…

What advice would you give to a beginning writer?

Be humble, and be patient with yourself. You don’t know nearly as much as you think you do. Just about everyone on earth writes better than you do right now. So give yourself time, ask for help when you need it, and don’t wear a lot of agents and editors out until you’re ready to give them something good.

Work hard, be faithful and persistent, and write a story in such a way that if you were the reader, you’d buy your own book on the spot.

Favorite memory from childhood?

Riding my bicycle really fast down the hill from Longmeadow into Forest Park (Massachusetts). I’d gotten a speedometer for Christmas (or maybe my birthday, I don’t remember), and I actually hit 45 MPH. Scared myself to death, but it sure was fun.

The next time I tried it I talked Bobby Roman into riding along with me on his bike. He wasn’t so lucky. He flipped over and skinned up his back real bad. Our moms were not too happy with me.

Favorite comfort food?

So here’s the easy question. There is nothing on earth better than cold buttermilk.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Suspense fiction writer.  I have a wife whom I love, and five children ranging from their teens to their forties.  I love each one.  I’ve worked a day job as a senior software developer for the last fifteen years.  Previous to that, I spent nearly thirty years as a foreign missionary in Vietnam and China.  Yes, I speak Chinese as a second language.

John Faubion is celebrating his debut novel, Friend Me, with a Kindle HDX giveaway!

One winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire HDX
• Friend Me by John Faubion

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 22nd. Winner will be announced February 24th on John Faubion's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by John's blog on the 24th to see if you won.

Heart Failure by Richard Mabry, MD

When her fiancé’s dangerous secrets turn her work upside down, a beautiful doctor must choose between her own safety and the man she loves—and thought she knew. 

Dr. Carrie Markham’s heart was broken by the death of her husband two years ago. Now, just as her medical practice is taking off, her fresh engagement to paralegal Adam Davidson seems almost too good to be true . . . until a drive-by shooting leaves Carrie on the floor of his car with glass falling around her. 

When he confesses that Adam isn’t his real name and that he fled the witness protection program, Carrie is left with an impossible choice: should she abandon the fiancé she isn’t sure she really knows, or accept his claim of innocence and help him fight back against this faceless menace? 

While Carrie struggles to decide whether to follow her heart or her head, the threats against them continue to escalate. Her life—as well as Adam’s—depends on making the right choice . . . and the clock is ticking.

I guess I’m just a sucker for a good medical thriller, one that grips you from the start and never lets you go until the very last pages.  No one can do that better than Dr. Mabry, and I’m excited to have a new book by him to be able to offer you a review.

Dr. Carrie Markham has had her share of heart ache after the death of her husband several years earlier.  She has finally opened herself up to a new relationship with Adam Davidson and has a medical practice that is taking off.  In a single conversation, though, her life is turned upside down.  As Carrie and Adam are sitting in his car after a movie, shots ring out that shatter the windows of the car, and the tranquility of the night.  Adam confesses that he isn’t who she thinks he is, that he has a history that may be responsible for the attack on them.  Carrie isn’t sure she wants any part of his life, especially one that could get her killed.  As more attacks rain down on both Carrie and Adam, she decides to work with him to decide who is behind the attacks.  Can they find the shooter before more serious damage is done?  Will Carrie be able to overcome her hurt and forgive Adam?  Who is Adam and why are people shooting at him?  Your heart won’t fail you if you run and BUY THIS BOOK!

Dr. Mabry has again written a medical thriller that twists and turns from the start and throws so many red herrings at you that you don’t know which way is up until the book is done.  You feel for Dr. Markham as you understand the loss that she has endured with the loss of her husband and the feeling of hopelessness that she feels as she and Adam fight against the unknown.  You root for Adam as he struggles against trying to find out who the shooter is and keeping Carrie safe and in his life.  To me, the mark of a great author is one that can develop characters for you that you become invested in their lives and the outcome of what’s happening during the story.  Those are some of the best attributes that will keep Dr. Mabry writing and being read for years to come.

Is this a “Guy’s Book”?  It has its moments.  There is a mystery to be solved, there are shootings and evasive driving maneuvers, but there is still an element of romance as well.  But hey, who doesn’t need a little romance in their life?

Dr. Mabry agreed to answer a few questions for us to get a chance to know him better:

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Since my first novel was published only a few years ago, I feel as though I’m one of those “new” authors myself, certainly when you compare me with individuals who have written dozens of novels. I’m hesitant to give names of new authors who have impressed me, because I’d probably omit some very deserving ones. For me, the proof of the pudding is in how many people want to read the second or third book by that author. Or, as I used to tell my children, “We’ll see.”

What are your current projects?

My next book, Critical Condition, is scheduled for release on April 15, and that one is already written, edited, and ready for publication. Right now I’m working on my next book, Dead On Arrival. It begins when a man bursts into an emergency room, his gun to the head of a nurse who is pushing a wounded man in a wheelchair. The gunman says, “He’s been shot. Do something. If he dies, everyone in here dies!”

How are you the same/different from your main character, Adam/Keith?

Obviously I’ve never had the experience of being in the Witness Security Program and trying to escape from people who want to kill me. Likewise, Adam’s struggles, weighing his newfound love for Carrie against his instinct for self-preservation, aren’t choices I’ve faced. Nevertheless, I hope that Adam’s actions are the ones I or another Christian would take.

Why do you feel you had to tell this story?

Interestingly enough, the story sort of told itself. I read a newspaper article about the Witness Security Program and Alton Gansky’s favorite question jumped into my mind: “What if?” In this case, I wondered what would happen if a widowed doctor met and fell in love with a man, only to learn that he’s not really the person she thinks he is. After I populated the story, the characters sort of told me where to go from there.

You were just given a new Yacht, what would you name it?

After a few moments’ thought, I decided to use the name of my first car: Flattery (because Flattery will get you anywhere). And my first trip on the yacht would be a cruise of the Greek islands.

If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would it be?

It would be the Scripture verse with which I sign all my novels, Psalm 139:1-5. “O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel
 and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In addition to the practice of medicine, my past includes a stint overseas in the US Air Force, several periods as an interim music minister, and an all-too-brief experience as a semi-pro baseball player. In other words, there’s more to me than “M.D.” covers. Let me share a little about myself.

Education:

      My BA is from the University of North Texas (which was North Texas State University at the time). I graduated with an MD degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, then obtained my specialty training in otolaryngology (that’s “ear, nose, and throat” to most folks) at two major teaching hospitals in Dallas: Parkland and the VA Hospital.

Air Force:

       I served for almost three years as a Captain in the US Air Force at Lajes Field, in the Azores, a Portuguese possession in the middle of the North Atlantic. I’ve forgotten most of the Portuguese I learned there, but will never forget the friendships I made. Because I was involved in saving the life of a little Azorean girl whose airway was obstructed by a coin, I was written up in Stars and Stripes and received the Air Force Commendation medal. When there’s a recognition on Veteran’s Day, I’m proud to stand beside all the others who’ve served. 

 Religion: 

      I’ve been a Christian for six decades. For almost forty years, I was a Deacon in the Baptist church, serving as a Sunday school teacher and singing in the choir. After a recent move across the city, I’m proud to be a member of the Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, where I get to hear Dr. Chuck Swindoll preach regularly.

Medicine:

      During the 36 years I spent in medicine, I wrote or edited eight textbooks, authored over a hundred professional papers, and was an invited guest speaker all over the world. I held the presidency or vice-presidency of three professional societies, and was privileged to receive a number of awards and honors. But if you asked my greatest reward in medicine , it would be in seeing patients get better under my care.

 Hobbies:  

      Primarily golfing, usually once a week with the same golf partner for the past ten years or so. We don’t keep score (heresy to purists, I suppose) and we enjoy the fellowship. I’m also a voracious reader, mainly fiction, although I do read non-fiction books.

Forgotten Road by Randall Arthur

Nashville music star and family man, Cole Michaels, is persuaded to embrace an 'American Dream' theology that promises comfort, happiness, and success. But when the unimaginable happens, Cole blames God and abandons his faith. More vulnerable than ever, he is clueless that an evil character with an unspeakable secret is using every available resource to find him. 

Can two old sages, a beautiful blonde, a violin called the Mysterious Lady, and a Triumph motorcycle help prepare Cole for his ultimate trial? 

-------------------- 

Down every forgotten road is a new discovery. Sometimes pleasant. Sometimes frightening. 

There's no 'fairy tale' Christianity here. But there is a true-to-life drama that will captivate your heart and mind. And resonate with your soul.


As you may or may not know, I am the Media Director for my church library, the HeavenBound Media Center.  I started the library almost 15 years ago with about 600 titles and today we have over 7000.  I can remember, in those early days, that the selection of Christian Fiction wasn't anything like it is today.  One day, though, I had someone suggest that I purchase the books that Randall Arthur had written.  I bought them, read them, and enjoyed them immensely.  I was sad when, after "Brotherhood of Betrayal", it didn't seem as if there would ever be another Randall Arthur book.  It may have been 15 years in the making, but "Forgotten Road" is definitely worth the wait.


Cole Michaels appears to have it all.  As his pastor had said, "It is never God's will that any of His children should suffer financially......" So his rising music career, his beautiful family and everything going his way had to be given to him by God.  In an instant, though, all of that changed.  Why would God forsake him?  Isn't he a child of the King?  Who wants a God that can put people through so much pain?  As Cole know adjusts to life without his career, his family and all things perfect, there's a new focus and direction to his life.  When the opportunity comes to reignite his career, he jumps at the chance, but ends it all abruptly.  He takes out on the road to spend time conversing with God and to draw nearer to Him.  To take all of the noise out of his life to zero in on what the Lord's desire is for his life.  What does he find during his travels?  Can he get his career back on track?  What kind of life does God really want for us?  GO BUY THIS BOOK!


I can't say enough about this book.  The hard part is putting all of my thoughts down in this review without giving the story away.  This books touched me in a way that no other book has ever done.  The way that Cole gave of himself to others, the personal discovery that he made out on the road by himself, and after he teamed up with the group of men from Jason Faircloth's church.  This book was filled with such personal insight into how we need to approach our relationship with Him; "We all need to be under the preaching of God's Holy Word, None of us can afford to slack off on being in God's house on God's day", "Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money.  Tell them to use their money to do good.  They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need.  By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future".  On and on, I could keep typing these little snippets from the book that really made an influence on me, but I won't.  I'll just remind you to GO BUY THIS BOOK!


Is this a guy's book?  You better believe it.  This book hits at the heart of a man.  It shows us how to humble ourselves before man and before God so that His light is the one that shines through all of the time.  This story has a great "man's club" feel when the motorcycle club takes off on their adventure, especially because of the different adventures they get into while on the road.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Randall and his wife have been career missionaries since 1975. They have planted churches in Oslo, Norway; Munich, Germany; and Berlin, Germany.

Randall is an Atlanta native. He became a believer at the age of 12, and surrendered his life to be a preacher and missionary at the age of 15. 

Randall’s first novel Wisdom Hunter was penned in the late 1980’s. The volume was born, not out of a long held ambition to write a novel, but rather out of a therapeutic need to put into writing the painful lessons he learned as a young legalistic missionary in Norway.

The purpose of the book was to illustrate in a real-life drama the destructiveness of legalism in the body of Christ. The novel proved to be too controversial for Randall’s legalistic camp. The president of the mission agency with which Randall served demanded Randall’s resignation the very day he read the book.

Randall later wrote Jordan’s Crossing and Brotherhood of Betrayal. These books were also born out of personal struggles.

Randall’s goal as a part-time writer is to rip the smiling mask off American Christianity and tell stories that portray true-to-life struggles, true-to-life thoughts, true-to-life reactions, and true-to-life journeys.


I was supplied with a copy of this book by the author through the bookfun.org website in exchange for my honest opinion.


PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:

Amazon
Deeper Shopping
Randall's Webpage

Strait of Hormuz by Davis Bunn

An under-the-radar phone call from the U.S. State Department puts Marc Royce once again on assignment--ferreting out rumors of a clandestine operation stretching from Asia to the Mideast. At stake is Iran's threat to blockade the narrow Strait of Hormuz, cutting off vital shipping routes and escalating global tensions beyond the breaking point.

Under the guise of investigating money laundering via high-end art purchases in Europe, Royce finds himself in Switzerland with only sketchy information, no backup, and without a single weapon other than his wits.

His appointment with a gallery owner in Geneva is a dead end--the man is on the floor with a bullet through his chest. But it turns out Royce does have backup. The Mossad has sent someone to keep an eye on this undercover op, which is of more than casual interest to the Israelis. And it's someone Royce knows.


I've been so excited about the direction that Davis Bunn has taken in his writing career over the last couple of years.  From the early years of writing his Regency era romance stories, to his contemporary novels such as "Elixir", I thoroughly enjoy his latest foray into the action adventure genre with these Marc Royce novels.

Read Chapters 1-3 of Strait of Hormuz for FREE HERE

Marc Royce is back in this, the third and final installment in this action-packed series by Davis Bunn.  Marc has traveled all of the world in the previous books and finds himself in Switzerland in this new novel.  Expecting to meet up with an informant, Marc finds the gallery owner dead.  Now, seemingly without backup, Marc has to continue on with this undercover op.  Unbeknownst to Marc, though, an important figure from his past is back to help him struggle through the current operation.  Without the official backing of his own government or any other government agency in the different countries he must use all the back channels he can to discover the threat that has him zeroing in at the Strait of Hormuz.  Are there really nuclear weapons being shipped through the Strait?  What is the final target of the terrorists?  Who is providing help to Marc along the way?  Are these people friends or foes?  Begin your own undercover op when you BUY THE BOOK!!!


Mr. Bunn provides us with a fitting end to this great series.  While the body-count and action scenes aren't as plentiful as in the first couple of books, there is still a great story-line that is easy to follow.  The character of Marc Royce continues to be a very godly man, using his spirituality to help in his decision making throughout the different situations in the book.  I appreciate seeing how a "manly man" can still be humbled before God and drawn to a personal relationship with Him.  This book, and the character traits that Mr. Bunn has given to his character, should be read by everyone.


Is this a "guy's book"?  This is a tremendous book with foreign goverments, terrorists, global travels and more.  With the addition of seeing a strong man bring his faith to his daily walk, this book is definitely a "guy's book".


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


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Q: The first two books in the Marc Royce series have been bestsellers and also won praise from the critics. Lion of Babylon won the Library Journal’s Best Book of 2011 award, and Rare Earth won the 2013 Christy Award for Suspense Fiction. What do you see is behind this success?

Davis Bunn: The stories have certainly resonated with readers. I have tried to develop a strong sense of unfolding drama, combined with a unique spiritual theme. This moral structure plays out both in the story and the characters. My aim is to create an inspirational challenge that remains with the reader long after the book has been set down.

Q: This story includes two special components from your early life. Tell us about them.

DB: My mother worked as an antiques dealer. In truth, ‘work’ was not really the correct term, because this was a passion she inherited from her mother. They bonded while my mom was still a child, going to small eastern Carolina towns and hunting around junk stores for the sort of bargains that don’t exist anymore.

Their first love was early Americana, a type of colonial furniture known as Jacobean that predated America’s nationhood. I never really shared this passion, but in two previous books I came to respect and admire those who do.

And so I knew a great delight in re-entering this world in Strait of Hormuz, only this time at the very highest end. Strait takes place in the rarified world of multi-million dollar art, where the richest of collectors vie with museums and galleries for items that are no longer classed as antiques, but rather as treasures

The second special component was the location. I lived in Switzerland for almost five years, and many of the venues were places where I worked, and walked, and came to discover myself as an author.

Q: In what way is the setting important to this book?

DB: The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical waterways. Stretching between Iran and the Gulf States, the strait us home to two US fleets. More than a third of all the oil consumed worldwide pass through these waters. But the story actually begins in Switzerland, before traveling to the Sinai and then into the hotly-contested Strait of Hormuz.

Q: What spiritual theme is the focus of this story?

DB: One growing area of the missionary church movement is with displaced persons. More than five million Iranians have been expelled from their homeland, or been forced to flee the current regime. This includes virtually the entire Christian population. The missionary church movement has made enormous strides in bringing peace to these families and introducing Christ into the world of Muslims fleeing a Muslim government.

Q: What drew you to the missionary church movement as a theme? 

DB: I came to faith in a missionary church. I was working as a consultant based in Germany. The year I accepted Christ, the Southern Baptist Mission Board founded a missionary church in Dusseldorf. I attended the church, I grew in the church, I studied under two amazing pastors, and one of them returned to Europe to marry us.

It was also where I learned to write. Two weeks after coming to faith, I felt called to writing. I wrote for nine years and completed seven books before my first was accepted for publication. The church, its members, and the elders all played a critical role in bringing me to where I am now. I am living testimony to the vital role played by the missionary church.

Q: All three of the books in this series have given significant insight into the Muslim world, something critics have picked up on. What experience do you have with this region?

DB: For the four years prior to moving to Germany, I lived and worked in the Middle East. I was the only non-Muslim in the management structure of a family-owned company. They had three major arms: construction equipment, shipping, and pharmaceuticals. I rose to become Marketing Manager of the pharmaceutical division.

One of the requirements of this job was to take instruction in the Koran and Islamic history from an imam who taught at the local university. I think this experience played a major role in my coming to Christ. 

Davis Bunn is a four-time Christy Award-winning, best-selling author now serving as writer-in-residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University in the United Kingdom. Defined by readers and reviewers as a "wise teacher," "gentleman adventurer," "consummate writer," and "Renaissance man," his work in business took him to over 40 countries around the world, and his books have sold more than seven million copies in sixteen languages.

Strait of Hormuz is the series finale of the popular Marc Royce Adventures. Library Journal named Lion of Babylon (Book 1) a “Best Book of 2011.”  Rare Earth (Book 2) won the 2013 Christy Award for best suspense novel and was a CBA top 20 best-seller.

Help Davis Bunn celebrate the publication of “Strait of Hormuz.” Enter to win His & Hers Luxury Swiss Watches or a $150 Amazon Gift Card! http://woobox.com/ipi8wk. You can enter once per email address per day. Rack up bonus entries by sharing the contest with your Facebook and Twitter friends!

Beloved Daughter by Alana Terry

The Beloved Daughter, an inspirational suspense novel by award-winning author Alana Terry, is a story of persecution and triumph set in the oppressive North Korean regime. The audiobook version of Alana's bestselling debut novel is narrated by Kathy Garver, a four-time Audie award winner and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient from the Motion Picture Council. (You might also recognize Kathy as Cissy from the TV show Family Affair.)

Listen to a sample of Kathy reading from The Beloved Daughter.

The Beloved Daughter

Synopsis: In a small North Korean village, a young girl struggles to survive. It is her father's faith, not the famine of North Hamyong Province, that most threatens Chung-Cha's well-being. The Beloved Daughter follows Chung-Cha into one of the most notorious prison camps the contemporary free world has known. Her crime? Being the daughter of a Christian.


This book sounded like it would be something that might pique my interest, so I thought I would at least read it and see what I thought.  I will say that this book was nothing like what I had expected.

Ms. Terry paints such a vivid picture of her characters and the pain that they endured.  I've never read a story with such descriptions that truly made me feel like I was standing there inside the room as each story was played out.

Is this a "guy's" book?  I would say that if you have but one to read this entire year, this book should be it. This book embodies great intrigue and suspense, this is one that should not be missed.

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Acclaim: 
 
     *Winner, Women of Faith Writing Contest
 
     *1st Place, Book Club Network Book of the Month

     *Amazon Bestseller (#5 Christian Suspense)

Reviews:

"...an engaging plot that reads like a story out of today's headlines..." ~ Women of Faith Writing Contest

"Alana is a master storyteller, and I can’t imagine anyone failing to be captivated by this harrowing tale. What we have here is a compelling story, but it’s also one of great importance." ~ Brad Francis, Author of The Savvy Demon's Guide to Godly Living 

"The Beloved Daughter is a beautifully written story that is...both personal and representative of the challenges that many North Koreans still face today." ~ Sarah Palmer, Rescue Team Coordinator at Liberty in North Korea

"The author does a phenomenal job... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - but have tissues handy." ~ Pauline Creeden, Editor AltWit Press


Order your own copy of The Beloved Daughter.

Awesome Prizes!

You don't want to miss out on the month-long Beloved Daughter audiobook launch party. RSVP now on Facebook or see the Alana Terry facebook page to get started. Dozens of winners ... Hundreds of $$$-worth in prizes!

ENTER THE DRAWING: In addition to the Facebook party, you can enter the grand prize drawing below for a chance to win a $100 gift card to either Target or Amazon (you choose!), or one of the awesome prizes from the prize gallery (think Christian T-shirts, jewelry, books, CDs, lotions, and more)!


SEE THE AUDIOBOOK HERE

SEE THE PAPERBACK HERE

SEE THE EBOOK HERE

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