Deep Shadows by Vannetta Chapman

Life in Abney, Texas, is predictable and safe—until the night a massive solar flare wipes out all modern technology.   Shelby Sparks, novelist and single mom, had one goal: to provide for her diabetic son. In the wake of this global disaster, her mission hasn't changed. Only now, medication is a priceless commodity and the future resembles an apocalyptic nightmare.

Max Berkman and Shelby were once sweethearts, but he lost his chance at claiming her love years ago. When the abrupt loss of power ushers him into a leadership role, he rises to the occasion. But his highest priority—to keep Shelby and her son safe—could prove to be the biggest challenge of all.   As the brilliant northern lights give way to deep shadows, Max and Shelby's faith will be tested like never before. Only one rule remains: Find a way to survive.

Isn’t it great when two great products combine to become one really super, duper thing?  What would Reese’s be if there wasn’t chocolate in my peanut butter, what would Twix be without that soft nugget and caramel?  In this same way, I’m so excited that Vannetta Chapman has finally penned a novel in the suspense genre!  I can finally read a book by Ms. Chapman and be able to find out what makes this author so exciting to everyone else.                                                                                                                                                                   

Seeing the Northern Lights should always be on a bucket list, but never as far south as Texas.  Shelby knows this is a sign of impending danger and the airplane falling out of the sky put an exclamation mark on that thought.  As Shelby, her neighbor Max and their friends make their way down the mountain, it becomes apparent that those beautiful colors in the sky are causing havoc everywhere.  As the sounds of additional explosions continue, the friends hastily make way for their small town.  All power is down, cell phones are silent and most of the cars are dead weights in the middle of the road.  Amateur CBers are finding out that this interruption of the power, etc. isn’t isolated to their small town, it’s happening around the globe.  The government and the townspeople begin strategizing on short and long term solutions to their current situation.  Within days, criminal elements are already looking for a way to exploit “The Flare” to their own gain.  Can they join together as a community and help each other out during this time or does every man begin to fend for himself?  If the power does every fail, you won’t be able to read this on a Kindle, so go to your local bookstore and BUY THIS BOOK!!!

This is the first in a new trilogy by Vannetta Chapman.  I tell you that so that you understand this book doesn’t provide you with a final resolution, it only gets you 1/3 of the way there.  The good news is that means you still have 2/3 of this series to long for, I know that I will.    Have you ever woke from a nap and had such a vivid nightmare during that nap that you feel you are still inside that nightmare?  That’s how I was reading this book.  No one was home so I had the TV off and only 1 lamp on in the house.  Whenever I’d stop and take a drink of water, my mind would be telling me to conserve that water since I wasn’t sure when the power would be back up and water would be flowing freely again.  Yes, I know that’s silly, but that’s how I felt while I was reading this book.  Ms. Chapman has developed characters and a small town that just beg to be helped and I for one am ready to offer my assistance!

 

Is this a "guy's book"?  Yes, Yes a thousand times YES!!!  Planes falling from the sky, police chases, political upheaval, gun fights, etc!  This book has it all and has such a great story flow that I was able to finish this in one afternoon.  I can’t believe I have to wait for the next book to come out and then even longer for the ending in book 3.  Either way, this is a definite MUST PURCHASE for any guy who loves these end of time stories.

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About the Author:

The first thing you need to know about me is that I write Fiction full of GRACE.  Every plot is different. The characters change. Some of my books are mysteries, others are novellas, and some are romances. But they all are stories of light, hope, and truth. Stories that at least for a moment touch the deepest places in our heart.  Tales that whisper hope. That speak of family and community. That remind us of God and His love.

What do I write? If I had to reduce it to four words, I suppose I’d say I write Fiction full of GRACE.

Murder Comes By Mail by Ann Gabhart

Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane doesn't particularly enjoy being touted as the hero of Hidden Springs after pulling a suicidal man back from the edge of the Eagle River bridge in front of dozens of witnesses--a few of whom caught the breathtaking moments with their cameras. But the media hype doesn't last long as a new story pushes its way into the public consciousness of Hidden Springs' concerned citizens.

Photos of a dead girl arrive in the mail, and Michael becomes convinced she was murdered by the man he saved. With a killer one step ahead, things in Hidden Springs begin to unravel. Now Michael must protect the people he loves--because the killer could be targeting one of them next.
 

Imagine, if you will, sitting down with a hamburger made by Coke or watching a television manufactured by Ford.  While Coke and Ford excel in their perspective fields, don’t you ever wonder if they could translate that same type of success into another business venture?  Ann Gabhart has done that with this quirky series of books around Hidden Springs.  Ms. Gabhart is best known for her contemporary novels as well as her Shaker novels, but she sure has a hit on her hand here in the mystery and intrigue genre.

You see a man about to jump off a bridge, your natural instinct is to do everything you can to save him from ending his life.  That’s exactly what Deputy Sheriff Keane did and he may have just set in motion a chain of events that may cost him a life close to him.  The chilling last words from the jumper after Michael took him down come back to haunt him as pictures of dead bodies begin to arrive in the mail.  Are these pictures taken by the life of the jumper he just saved or is there someone more sinister lurking in their little town? As the pressure mounts and more photographs are received, Michael races against the clock to make sure the next picture isn’t of someone close to him.  So what are you waiting for??  Put down the camera and go BUY THIS BOOK!!!

I’ve read some novels that tend to take forever to get into and then pull you ever so slowly to the final resolution.  Those books can be as much fun as a root canal.  How nice it is that this book isn’t like that.  This is the second book in the Hidden Springs series, although it can technically be read without having to read the first book.  I will admit, though, that I did go out and buy the first book in the series and read it before I read this one and I wasn’t disappointed in the first book either.  Ms. Gabhart has created some believable characters and has definitely captured the essence of the small town.  Need to find the Sheriff, just go down to the diner, he should always be down there.  I loved the flow of the book, very light fare that allowed me to get whisked away in its simplicity.  I would liken this to a Mary Higgens Clark or an Agatha Christie novel, pure enjoyment with a great whodunit thrown in.

Is this a "guy's book"?  It’s light, it’s fluffy, but it’s definitely worth the time to read.  There are some tense moments, some police procedural items and plenty of “action” in this small town.  I think any guy would get some enjoyment by picking up this book, even both books in this series.

About The Author

Hi, glad you could stop by to get to know me better. I’m a country girl, born and raised on a farm in the Outer Bluegrass region of Kentucky. I know you’re thinking horse farm, but no, not out my way. Mostly cows on the farms around here. My grandfather did have a big old workhorse when I was a little girl. My family grew tobacco and corn. We had a few milk cows, some hogs and sheep, but mostly beef cattle. I grew up working on the farm and enjoying the woods and animals. My roots go deep in the land, and I now live on a farm just a mile away from the farmhouse where I was born and raised.

I started writing when I was ten and have been writing ever since. My first published writing (personal experience pieces, youth stories, and poems) was in church periodicals like Home Life. My first novel, A Forbidden Yearning, was published by Warner Books in 1978 and was a historical romance about the settling of Kentucky. Since then I’ve published over twenty-five other novels for adults and young adults. Some of the early titles are out of print now but still floating around out there as used books.

You can connect with Ann Gabhart at the following locations:
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Web Site

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion, as part of their Book Review Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

Sins of the Past by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey and Lynette Eason

In Dee Henderson's “Missing”, a Wyoming sheriff is called to Chicago when his elderly mother goes missing. Paired with a savvy Chicago cop, the two realize her disappearance is no accident, and a race against the clock begins.

Dani Pettrey returns to Alaska with “Shadowed” introducing readers to the parents of her beloved McKenna clan. Adventure, romance, and danger collide when a young fisherman nets the body of an open-water swimming competitor who may actually be a possible Russian defector.

Lynette Eason's “Blackout”,  delivers the story of a woman once implicated in a robbery gone wrong. The loot has never been found--but her memory of that night has always been unreliable. Can she remember enough to find her way to safety when the true culprit comes after her?       

What’s better then a new book by your favorite author?  How about a new book with 3 great stories from 3 of the top Christian Fiction writers!!  Now if that don’t get you excited and running to your local bookstore, I don’t know what will.

BUY THIS BOOK!!

In the first story, “Missing”, by Dee Henderson, there’s nothing worse than getting that call that a loved one is missing.  For Police Chief John Graham, not being in charge while the search was on for his mother takes a lot of restraint.  Luckily, the detective assigned to the case is just as determined to find his mother as she is.  Tip after tip is investigated leading to the twist that no one saw coming.

We are then presented with the next story, this one from Dani Pettrey.  Fans of Dani’s, “Alaska Courage” series will be delighted with this mystery as we are introduced to the parents of the McKenna clan.  A Russian swimming competitor is found murdered and the Russian authorities are on their way to claim the body.  Before that happens, though, the rumors of her being a Russian defector have got to be investigated or any information she was relaying to the Americans could fall into the wrong hands.  Can this mystery be solved in time?

Finally, Lynette Eason brings us “Blackout” about a young girl trying hard to remember that night that changed so many lives.  The robbery, her running away, the wreck, the deaths.  All of it rambles around in her mind.  She does what she can to remember it all, or should she.  Someone is doing what they can to make sure she doesn’t remember that night.  Some things are better left alone.

BUY THIS BOOK!!

3 great authors, 3 great stories, all in one book.  I will say this was probably one of my favorite books over the last year and for a purely selfish reason.  I tend to be a speed reader and peruse through some of the background “fluff” that can be found in books.  Yes, I know that everything is important in a book, but sometimes I need to weed out the noise in a book and get to the bottom of the who, what, where and why.  With these stories and their shortened time frame, they fit perfectly into my style of reading.  Just the right amount of background, pace and mystery to keep me hooked and looking forward to turning the page.

Is this a "guy's book"?  These are light romance books, but plenty of suspense and intrigue.  Any guy would enjoy all 3 of these stories as they are like little fireworks; packed with just the right amount of explosive material to make you want to light another one.

About the Authors:

Dee Henderson is the bestselling, award-winning author of 15 previous novels, including the acclaimed "O'Malley Series" and "Uncommon Heroes Series".  She is a lifelong resident of Illinois.

Dani Pettrey is the bestselling author of the Alaskan Courage series and winner of the 2014 Daphne du Maurier award for Inspirational Novel, the 2014 Christian Retailing's Best Award for Suspense, and the 2013 Holt Medallion for First Novel. She and her husband reside in the DC Metro area. She can be found online at www.danipettrey.com.

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the the 'Women of Justice' and 'Deadly Reunions' series. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America, Lynette's books have appeared on the ECPA and CBA bestseller lists and have won several high-profile industry awards.

Traces of Guilt by Dee Henderson

Evie Blackwell loves her life as an Illinois State Police detective . . . mostly. She's very skilled at investigations and has steadily moved up through the ranks. She would like to find Mr. Right, but she has a hard time imagining how marriage could work, considering the demands of her job. 

Gabriel Thane is a lifetime resident of Carin County and now its sheriff, a job he loves. Gabe is committed to upholding the law and cares deeply for the residents he's sworn to protect. He too would like to find a lifetime companion, a marriage like his parents have.

        

It takes something truly special to bring me out of “retirement” and begin blogging book reviews again.  A new novel by Dee Henderson is just the type of motivation that I needed to dust off the laptop, bring up the blogger webpage and spend days trying to remember my password.  Either way, it’s good to be back and even better being able to start with a novel by Dee Henderson.

Nobody likes a cold case, nobody except Evie Blackwell that it is, and nobody can work a cold case better than her.  Taking some time off for vacation, Evie heads to Carin County to pilot a new task force dealing with cold cases.  This time, the cases involve a missing 6-year old girl and a missing family of 3, including a local deputy.  Evie arrives in town and sets up in the old Post Office to begin her investigation of these cold cases.  Assisted by the Sheriff, Gabriel Thane, she begins to uncover several avenues that were overlooked in the initial investigation.  Between the cold cases and other mysteries involving Sheriff Thane’s family, this is one book that will keep you heated up.  So get going and BUY THIS BOOK!!

I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t been much of a fan of Dee Henderson’s latest novels.  Not that there are anything wrong with them, but from my perspective they haven’t been up to the normal level of suspense that her first group of books were.  Thankfully, though, this book (and hopefully the whole series) is a throwback to her great suspense novels of the past.  We are introduced not only to Evie Blackwell, who appears to be the lead in this new series, but to Sheriff Gabriel Thane and his family.  Dee also brings back several characters out of her other books to throw in a bit of familiarity to her long time readers.  With all of the moving pieces of this story, you have a book that will keep you turning the page well into the night

Is this a "guy's book"?  Between all of the happenings with Evie searching for answers to these cold cases and the obvious additional storylines for additional novels that are set up in this book, this is a sure bet for any guy to pick up and enjoy.

About the Author:

Dee Henderson is the bestselling, award-winning author of 15 previous novels, including the acclaimed "O'Malley Series" and "Uncommon Heroes Series".  She is a lifelong resident of Illinois.

Battered Justice by Linda J White

FBI Special Agent Jake Tucker works hard to be an excellent investigator and a great dad to his two kids, even if he is divorced. When a fellow agent is shot south of Baltimore, Jake and his partner Cass McKenna lead a team to find the shooter. Soon the agents are targeting a low-level street gang. Jake keeps finding evidence linking the gang and drugs to a nearby casino, one Senator Chase Westfield helped get approved. Chase is the new husband of Jake's ex-wife, Tam and tension builds between the two men as Jake discovers Chase is abusing Tam--and putting Jake's kids at risk. Soon they're on a collision course from which only one can emerge.  But Lady Justice can be battered, too, and soon Jake finds himself in a new fight–a fight of faith, the fight of his life.

The time between Bambi and Bambi 2 was over 63 years; Cinderella and Cinderella 2 over 51 years and Peter Pan to Return to Neverland over 49 years.  The time between “Bloody Point” and this book, its sequel, is only 10 years.  I’m very happy that Linda didn’t make us wait almost 40 more years to put another great thriller in our hands!

The sting of a divorce with kids is only trumped by the death of a partner and spouse.  Having two agents paired together like this, Cass with having lost her husband and Jake with being divorced, keeps the drama high throughout this book.  Mix in some dark political characters and you have the makings of “Battered Justice”.  When one of their own agents, close to retirement and participating in a basic surveillance operation is gunned down in the streets, Jake and Cass pick up the trail of some drug dealers making this appear to be a “wrong place at wrong time” shooting.  As the investigation leads to bigger paths and bigger targets, the case becomes personal for Jake.  Jake’s ex-wife is now married to a strong local politician with ties all over the city, with one big secret.  Jake is sure that his ex-wife’s new husband, Chase, is abusing his wife and possibly his kids.  As Jake tries to keep them safe, he’s roped into a murder allegation when his ex-wife is found murdered.  With Jake on desk duty, Cass has to go it alone to make all of the puzzle pieces fit together.  Would Jake be able to shake this allegation? Who is behind these drug shipments? Is Chase as clean as his image projects? Do Cass and Jake ever share their feelings about each other? Don’t wait for the sequel to show up at the theater near you, go BUY THIS BOOK!!!!

It’s my blog and I’ll provide my opinion if I want to.  What makes a Christian fiction book?  A great story that may or may not be based on happenings of today, made up of make believe people and places with some creative licensing thrown in to tie everything up in a neat bow at the end of the book.  What make a GREAT Christian fiction book?  When all of those other things happen and the characters have open and honest talks with God in their everyday life and those interactions are challenged and vetted and the reader gets to see a picture of the God we serve through the author’s eyes.  Linda does a perfect job in her books letting us see characters that are flawed like us, but that continue to approach the Throne in their daily walk and decisions.  This book does not disappoint in its action, wit or suspense.  It’s great to find an author that can provide all of that in one book.

Is this a "guy's book"?  FBI Agents, drug smuggling, political corruption, murder.  This list could go on and on but I think you get the picture.  Yep, all of these are in this book.  Yep, this has the markings of a great “Guy’s book”.

About The Author

Linda J. White writes FBI thrillers from her home in rural Virginia. Her husband, Larry, was a video producer/director at the FBI Academy for over 27 years. Mother of three grown children, Linda is also a national-award winning journalist and a women’s ministry speaker. When she’s not writing, she can be found playing with Keira, her Sheltie, reading a book, or dreaming of the beach.


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Finding Me by Kathryn Cushman

After her father and stepmother's accidental death, Kelli Huddleston sorts through their belongings and learns a shocking secret. Years before, her father faked his death during a boat wreck at sea--and faked Kelli's as well. He'd run from a wife, a son, and a daughter back in Tennessee, meaning Kelli has a family she's never known.

She's already cashed the payout on her dad's life insurance check and looks at it as her ticket to a new life. The lure and puzzle of digging into this hidden past is too much to resist, and she soon finds herself in Tennessee. When the trip threatens to open doors to the past better left shut, and her plans for the future are threatened, Kelli must make an agonizing choice that will change her life forever.

So what do you do when you’re not feeling very well and you can’t sleep?  Me?  I pick up a copy of whatever is lying around and open it up.  Boy, this is one time that I can say that I’m glad I wasn’t able to sleep!

The tragedy of having a parent and siblings dying in a house fire when you’re just a baby and then your only surviving parent and your step-mother perish in an auto accident later in life would put anybody’s life in a tailspin  This is what has happened to Kelli Huddleston.  As she attempts to recover from all of the despair in her life, she begins the process of cleaning out her parents’ house.  With all rooms emptied except for her dad’s office, she finally tackles the once forbidden area.  Gaining entrance to the safe, she finds old photographs of a family.  Knowing that the fire that had killed her mother and siblings had destroyed everything including photographs, she’s not sure who these photos must be of.  There are also newspaper clippings of a father and his daughter disappearing in the ocean and their bodies never being found.  What connection would these photos and clippings have to her father?  With just a little information, Kelli pieces together that all of what it seems her father has told her has been a lie.  In order to find the truth, Kelli heads out to find these people and find out why her father would have abandoned them all by faking his and his daughter’s death.  What secrets will she find out when she connects with the people in the photo?  Will they believe her story of who she is?  Will she be able to add anything to their lives now?  Don’t worry about uncovering the truth now, just go BUY THIS BOOK!

This isn’t the first book that I’ve read from Katie Cushman, but I must say that it’s probably the one that I enjoyed the most.  The pace of the story was steady, there wasn’t much lag, but there always wasn’t much speed either.  I stayed in focus of what the character was trying to accomplish, nothing was too unbelievable.  I felt that a couple of the characters (Shane and Kenmore) could have been fleshed out a little more, as their acceptance of Kelli seemed a little rushed.  I loved the additional back story of Kelli and her view on salvation, what a great discussion this can open up to so many different people.  I do feel like the ending was a bit rushed, but I understand why it had to be presented in the way that it was.

Is this a "Man’s Book"?   I would say that this is a great book for a man to read, even without the obligatory smashups and explosions.  This book, though, is one that men need to read so that they can see consequences of actions when they think that the grass is greener in the other pasture.  I will point out, though, that the tagline to the author is “Women’s Fiction Author”, so just make sure that you cover that up before you sit down to read this great book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy. She is the author of five previous novels including Leaving Yesterday and A Promise to Remember, which were both finalists for the Carol Award in Women's Fiction. Kathryn and her family make their home in Santa Barbara, California.

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The Color of Justice by Ace Collins

1964

Justice, Mississippi, is a town divided. White and black. Rich and poor. Rule makers and rule breakers. Right or wrong, everyone assumes their place behind a fragile façade that is about to crumble.  When attorney Coop Lindsay agrees to defend a black man accused of murdering a white teenager, the bribes and death threats don’t intimidate him. As he prepares for the case of a lifetime, the young lawyer knows it’s the verdict that poses the real threat—innocent or guilty, because of his stand Coop is no longer welcome in Justice. As he follows his conscience, he wonders just how far some people will go to make sure he doesn’t finish his job?

2014

To some, the result of the trial still feels like a fresh wound even fifty years later, when Coop’s grandson arrives in Justice seeking answers to the questions unresolved by the trial that changed his family’s legacy. When a new case is presented, again pitting white against black, this third generation Lindsay may have the opportunity he needs to right the wrongs of the past. 

But hate destroys everything it touches, and the Lindsay family will not escape unscathed.

Who has 36 (at least) novels to their credit and still has a Christy Award Finalist for 2015?  Ace Collins, that’s who.  And if you haven’t read anything buy this Ace yet, then shame on you.  Ace is, in my honest opinion, one of the greatest, if not THE greatest, author in the legal thriller genre today.

The setting is Deep South in the summer of 1964.  Racial division is alive and well, even if it’s rarely discussed out loud.  Having moved back to the town he grew up in to care for his mother, Attorney Coop Lindsay has thrown out his shingle in town.  What most locals accepts as an open and shut murder case of a white girl by a colored young man, turns into anything but when Coop agrees to represent the young man.  Not only is he committing career suicide, but he is placing himself and his family directly in harm’s way.  As the evidence, or lack of it, continues to mount, Coop is finally victorious in the courtroom, but at what cost.  Upon celebrating, Coop and the young man are never to be seen again.  Flash forward now to 2014 and the town has completed an about face.  The town is seemingly integrated now, but the bigotry from some of the past continues to shine.  Coop’s grandson visits the town upon reading some journals of his grandfather’s and seeks to find out what really happened to his grandfather.  The town is up in arms again, this time though, a young colored man has been killed by the white grandson of a very prominent citizen, one that played a major role in the last case of his grandfather’s.  Will justice be found again? Can Coop undercover what really happened to his grandfather?  Will the bigotry in town every go away?  You will be found guilty if you don’t run now and BUY THIS BOOK!!

The thing that I enjoy most about reading stories by Ace Collins is how believable his characters are and how easy it is to take an interest in their well-being.  This story presents a very tough subject during a tough time, but Ace handles it perfectly, even to the point of making me, the reader, pause to reflect what my prejudices look like.  The pace of this book is very fast, if you aren’t in for a story that takes off from the beginning and leaves you breathless, not knowing when to catch your breath, then I wouldn’t recommend this book.  I will admit that I thought I knew whodunit pretty early on, but I was wrong.  And not only was I wrong, I didn’t even see that there was an entire second half of this story to tell.  He makes every piece of this book come together realistically, that’s the kind of attention to detail that I’ve come to appreciate when I sit down and crack open a new Ace Collins novel.

Is this a "Man’s Book"?   This is not a “man’s book” or a “woman’s book”.  This is a book that must be read and will be enjoyed by everyone.  This is a book that will get you thinking and get you talking and one that will definitely keep you up as you try to finish the book.  If I could only have one legal genre author in my bookcase, it would definitely be a novel by Ace Collins.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Citing his Arkansas heritage, Christy finalist Ace Collins defines himself as a storyteller. In that capacity, Ace Collins has authored more than seventy books for 25 different publishers that have sold more than 2.5 million copies. His catalog includes novels, biographies, children’s works as well as books on history, culture and faith. He has also been the featured speaker at the National Archives Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted a network television special and does college basketball play-by-play



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