Saturday, January 30, 2016

Thin Ice by Irene Hannon A Review

ABOUT THIN ICE
After losing her parents in a car accident and her sister to a house fire, Christy Reed has been mired in grief. Life is finally starting to feel normal again when an envelope arrives in the mail--addressed in her sister's handwriting. And the note inside claims she is still alive.

FBI Special Agent Lance McGregor, a former Delta Force operator, is assigned to reopen the case, but he's coming up with more questions than answers. If Ginny Reed is still alive--who is the woman buried in her grave? Where is Ginny? And is Christy a pawn in a twisted cat-and-mouse game--or the target of a sinister plot? As he digs deeper, one thing becomes clear: whoever is behind the bizarre ruse has a deadly agenda.

File Size: 5789 KB
Print Length: 401 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0800724534
Publisher: Revell (December 29, 2015)
Publication Date: December 29, 2015
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B012H109TG

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Irene Hannon is a bestselling, award-winning author who took the publishing world by storm at the tender age of 10 with a sparkling piece of fiction that received national attention.

Okay…maybe that’s a slight exaggeration. But she was one of the honorees in a complete-the-story contest conducted by a national children’s magazine. And she likes to think of that as her “official” fiction-writing debut!

Since then, she has written more than 50 romantic suspense and contemporary romance/women’s fiction novels. She is a seven-time finalist for and three-time winner of the RITA award—the “Oscar” of romance fiction—and a member of the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. Her books have also won a Daphne du Maurier award, two Carol awards, three HOLT Medallions, a National Readers’ Choice award, a Retailers Choice award, two Booksellers’ Best awards and two Reviewers’ Choice awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. One of her novels was also named by Booklist as a top 10 inspirational fiction books of 2011. In addition, she is a two-time Christy award finalist.

Irene, who holds a B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in journalism, juggled two careers for many years until she gave up her executive corporate communications position with a Fortune 500 company to write full. She is happy to say she has no regrets!

In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, gardening and singing.  A trained vocalist, she has sung the leading role in numerous musicals, including “South Pacific,” “Brigadoon,” “Oklahoma” “The King and I” and “Anything Goes.” She is also a soloist at her church.

When not otherwise occupied, Irene and her husband enjoy traveling, Saturday mornings at their favorite coffee shop and spending time with family. They make their home in Missouri.

MY REVIEW
  Thin Ice by Irene Hannon is just an amazing book. It is book two in the Men of Valor series.  In this book Christy is living through so  many horrific events. Her parents die in a car accident, her sister house burns down with her in it, then she gets a note in her sisters handwriting and it is a kidnapping with a picture to prove it. The kidnapper tells her not to go to the police, but Christy goes to the FBI. That is where she meets Lance. She doesn’t want the kidnapper to know she went to the FBI, so they pretend to be good friends.
  This book is really spell-binding and I just devoured it. Irene knows how to write books full of suspense. She will keep you reading well into the night. If you don’t read any other book this year, you should read Thin Ice. What an mind-boggling novel.
  In Thin Ice Irene Hannon teaches us no matter what happens having Jesus in your life helps in the most trying circumstances. Also tells us to never give up.
  The Men of Valor series is about three brothers and Thin Ice focus in on the middle brother, but we hear from the oldest brother Mac who’s story was in book one Buried Secrets. Book three will be about Finn the youngest. I just love Irene Hannon’s books. She is so talented and you won’t regret reading her novels. Highly recommended.

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I received my free copy from Net Galley for my review. 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

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Miracle Drug by Richard L. Mabry, M.D. A Review

ABOUT MIRACLE DRUG
The infection wasn’t supposed to happen, but it did. The treatment was supposed to take care of it, but it didn’t. Dr. Josh Pearson must get his hands on a particular experimental drug for his patients, which include the President of the United States, for them to have a chance against this different strain of the original virus. But Josh learns that the manufacturer may have already discarded the only supply of the drug. Without it the President and Josh’s other patients will most certainly die. And then Josh is hit with more devastating news: Rachel Moore, a nurse with whom he is falling in love, becomes ill making Josh even more desperate to find the medication. Overcoming these odds will take more than a miracle drug—it will take

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Abingdon Press (September 15, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 163088118X
ISBN-13: 978-1630881184
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I'm a retired physician who is now writing. I also stay busy being a husband and grandfather, working on my golf game, and doing the hundred-and-one other things that retired people do.

I got into non-medical writing after the death of my first wife with my book, THE TENDER SCAR: LIFE AFTER THE DEATH OF A SPOUSE. I'm gratified that it continues to help those who have lost a loved one.

From that point, I moved into writing fiction. Thus far I've had seven novels of medical suspense published: CODE BLUE, MEDICAL ERROR, DIAGNOSIS DEATH, and LETHAL REMEDY were the first four. The second and third books listed were named finalists for the ACFW Carol Award and Romantic Times' Best Inspirational Novel respectively, and LETHAL REMEDY won the Selah Award.

Then came STRESS TEST (also a finalist for Romantic Times' Best Inspirational Novel), HEART FAILURE, CRITICAL CONDITION, FATAL TRAUMA, and my latest, MIRACLE DRUG (which made the CBA bestseller list). I've also self-published a novella, RX MURDER, which is currently available for Kindle and in hard copy.

You can follow me on my blog (rmabry.blogspot.com) and my web page (rmabry.com).


MY REVIEW
  Miracle Drug by Richard L. Mabry is an excellent novel. It is very intriguing with the way the characters receive the infection and how there is no drug on the market, but an experimental drug that shows promise.
  Miracle Drug is full of mystery and suspense. Just when one problem gets solved another one crops up and you believe that isn’t any way out of the problem, but then things happen and things work out.
  Josh and Rachel are very likable characters whom work in the hospital and she is one of the people who become infected. Josh is the ex-presidents doctor and he also has the same infection that Rachel does. Who gets the very limited supply of the experimental drug?
  Miracle Drug is very suspenseful with a touch of romance. Politics and medicine with suspense and romance make an excellent book. Recommend this book Miracle Drug for your reading enjoyment.
   

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This is my own book and I wasn’t asked to review it.

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Whispers in the Reading Room by Shelley Shepard Gray A REVIEW

ABOUT WHISPERS IN THE READING ROOM
Lydia’s job at the library is her world—until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.

Just months after the closure of the Chicago World’s Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.

Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.

Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn’t merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.

Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks—the man so many people fear—is actually everything her heart believes him to be.

Series: The Chicago World's Fair Mystery Series
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (November 10, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310338492
ISBN-13: 978-0310338499
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail. Find Shelley on her website, www.shelleyshepardgray.com, on Facebook: ShelleyShepardGray, and on Twitter @ShelleySGray.


MY REVIEW
  Whispers in the Reading Room is a very sweet, tender love story, but one filled with suspense and intrigue.  I love this authors style and her characters are amazing. This is book three in the series-A Chicago World‘s Fair Mystery. I hadn’t read the other books, but thoroughly enjoyed this one. It can easily be a stand alone book.  I would really love to read the first two books now.
  Lydia works at a library and hides away in her books. She was once from a wealthy family, but there fortune failed. Her mother wants her to marry well so she will be taken care of.
  She meets Sebastian when he comes to her reading room. They never talk, but she always looks out for him.
  Lydia finds out many dark things about Sebastian, but still enjoys his friendship. Only when someone she knows personal is murdered does she wonder what Sebastian is capable of.
  Read this amazing book to find out if Sebastian and Lydia become more than friends. Find out who killed Lydia’s former friend. The many things people go through, but don’t give up. An amazing read full of love, suspense and faith. Highly recommended.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I receive books free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Book Review Blogger program/BookLook. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express are my own. This is true of any book I review for any publisher or author; I will not review books where a positive review is required and I will always express my own opinions of each book received and read.

Friday, January 8, 2016

Drawing Fire by Janice Cantore A REVIEW

ABOUT DRAWING FIRE
One case from her past defines homicide detective Abby Hart.

With a possible serial killer stalking elderly women in Long Beach, California, Abby’s best lead is Luke Murphy, an irritating private investigator who saw a suspect flee the scene of the latest homicide. When Abby discovers that the most recent victim is related to the governor, she’s anxious to talk to him about a cold case that’s personal to her—one Luke is interested in as well.

As she learns more about the restaurant fire that took her parents’ lives years ago, Abby discovers why Luke is so invested in finding the ones responsible. The more they uncover, though, the more questions they have. Can Abby find peace without having all the answers?

File Size: 4303 KB
Print Length: 417 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (May 21, 2015)
Publication Date: May 21, 2015
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00PCJXWHM

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 now be a part of the Tyndale Publishing House family. Accused, the first installment in her new suspense offering, The Pacific Coast Justice Series, was released February 1, 2012 and kicked off a brand new chapter in her writing career. 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

MY REVIEW
  This is a really good suspenseful novel. Luke and Abby are very likable. Besides the suspense there is romance, but not the main theme.
  Since the author is a retired police officer she really knows the ins and outs of suspense and how things operate.
  Abby wants to know why her parents died and why everyone keeps telling her to let the case be. Abby knew the one way she could get closer to the truth is to become a detective and worrk on it, but so many things keep happening and then Luke shows up and he has a very real interest in the same case. At first Abby doesn’t like the hot shot PI, but things change.
You will want to read Drawing Fire to find out what happens with Abby and Luke. How they get along, how they get around road blocks.
 Very good, interesting novel, that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommended.

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I received my free copy from Net Galley for my review. 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