Relative Justice - A Review

 

Relative Justice

by

Robert Whitlow

A Review

To those who are willing to look beneath the

surface in the search for truth.

Your perseverance will be rewarded.

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,

to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

(Proverbs 25:2)

Robert Whitlow’s latest faith-based legal thriller is also a medical thriller. David Cobb and his father, Carter Cobb, have a small law practice in Raleigh NC. David’s sister-in-law, Katelyn Martin-Cobb, joined a large DC law firm after graduating from law school. She finds herself in the midst of a major career change at the same time as Carter’s health takes a turn for the worse. Arriving home to support her father-in-law, the Cobb family of lawyers find themselves handling a medical patent suit.

David and Katelyn are exploring the place faith will have in their lives - both personally and professionally. Emerson Chappelle, the antagonist in the story, will be facing similar decisions before the story ends.

This reader found the story intriguing - worthy of my time. The author weaves in themes of spiritual obedience, grace, forgiveness, and family; and he does it well. Robert Whitlow lives up to his reputation in this 5-star book.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Catch - A Review

 

The Catch

by

Lisa Harris

A Review

The judge’s wife has been killed, a courtroom has been ambushed, a protected WITSEC witness has disappeared. And it is all connected.

Madison James and Jonas Quinn, US Marshals, are assigned to one case, but find that they are working on all three. The plot takes us from Seattle’s inner city to the rural forests surrounding the ciTy to the waterways that define the city’s western boundary. Murders, kidnappings, and chase  scenes define the crimes - even as we learn to appreciate the courage and strengths of the Marshals and the victims.

The result is a satisfying faith-based thriller that will hold the reader’s attention from the beginning to the end. Speaking to faith, courage, and grief, the book will be of value to many readers. Though not the author’s best work, it was worth the time I spent reading it. I give the book 4-½ stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Malivious Intent - A Review

 

Malicious Intent

by

Lynn H. Blackburn

A Review

Ivy sat behind her desk and dropped her head against the high back of her seat. Lord, I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do. It took her several minutes before she managed to whisper, “...but my eyes are on you.”

Lynn Blackburn has a record of combining faith, suspense, and romance, into believable stories that will hold most reader’s interest from the first pages to the very last page of the book - while still leaving the reader wanting more. She has done it again.

From the pile of counterfeit cash found in chapter one to the grenades tossed in the final moments of the book, we get a glimpse of Gil Dixon and Ivy Collins working to discover who is trying to destroy her business and her life. In the process Ivy will need to rebuild a 15 year-old dead relationship with Gil that may or may not be refreshable.

This satisfying book is worthy of all five stars I am giving it.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Crosshairs - A Review

Crosshairs

by

Patricia Bradley

A Review

After reading Patricia Bradley’s previous book in the “Natchez Trace Park Rangers” series, I had put the Natchez Trace on my bucket list. Given the number of murders and other events in the first five of 71 chapters of her most recent faith-based book, I am not so sure:

1. Assault of a 94-year-old woman in her home
2. Theft of a 150-year-old diary
3. Death of a 16-year-old out behind the old Methodist church
4. A tornado that swept through part of the county
5. Illegal marijuana sales

Nope, not sure I want to visit.

Having said that, the crimes and writing did hold this readers attention. When the local sheriff, the Investigative Services Bureau of the National Park Service, and the FBI, are all involved in the mess that defined the Trace that week, things do get interesting. The mix of crimes, law enforcement agencies, and characters, easily make for a 5-star book.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Trace of Doubt - A Review

 

Trace of Doubt  

by

DiAnn Mills

A Review

Why do I remember

The sins that stalk my soul?

Why can’t I hold on to the

Forgiveness that makes me whole?

Ashes rise to steal my breath.

I choke from downing fear.

Help me, Lord, to cling to You

In never-ending prayer.

When I pick up a new book by DiAnn Mills, I expect to experience the best in Romantic Suspense. Trace of Doubt is no exception. Marissa is the epitome of evil; even the fifteen-year prison sentence had not changed her. Now she would kill her sister and her daughter and break her father’s heart.

Two narrators trade places throughout the book as Shelby Pearce and Denton McClure take turns telling their stories and how those stories interact with Marissa’s malignant behavior. It would not be easy as they each had to deal with lies and misconceptions that wounded their lives and the lives of those around them. They each would need to experience far more of God’s forgiveness and grace than they thought they needed. But He would provide.

The book was intense at places and held my attention. My only concern was the implication that a pastor can provide the level of counseling needed by two of the main characters. Unless the pastor had at least a MS in Counseling, the kind of support needed by Aria and Shelby should normally be done by a professional counselor. Seminary training is not sufficient for the consistent therapy these two women needed. I would suggest that an appropriate warning be added as part of the front matter or immediately following the book’s epilogue. Despite this oversight, the book is worthy of 5-stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Labyrinth of Lies - A Review

 

Labyrinth of Lies

by

Irene Hannon

A Review

Cate Reilly, a detective for the St. Louis MO Police Department, and Zeke Sloan, an agent assigned to the DEA, have both gone undercover at the Ivy Hill Academy, an elite girls’ private high school. She to help locate two missing teens; he to investigate a drug cartel that seems to have connection to the same school.

Two problems immediately present themselves. First, the two cases appear to be interconnected. Second, Cate and Zeke have a years-old relationship that went bonkers eight years ago - a breakup that left both very disturbed. Working at a girls’ high school would seem like a cushy assignment except both Cate and Zeke will find their lives in danger. The story is well-written, though at times gaps appear in the story. For example, at one point Cate is out, lost, on a snowy road. The next time we see her, she is on the phone conversing with her handler. No explanation, no hint from where her help came.

The faith-based story held this reader’s interest and might easily appeal to anyone interested in suspense or romantic-suspense literature. I give the book 4-½ stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

All That Is Secret - A Review

All That Is Secret

by
Patricia Raybon

A Review

“Because our gathering this morning,
my sisters and brothers, isn’t so much
about us —and why we’ve come here
—wearing our nice
clothes and our fancy
hats and our new shoes —”

...

“Instead,” Jack added, “we gather in this place
—this holy place—
to worship and praise our God.
So draw in the wanderings of your minds,
 turning from your concerns and worries,
and let’s turn our attentions solely on him.”

Yes! YEs! YES! Patricia Raybon has created a great piece of historical fiction that leaves the reader primed for more volumes in this series. Maybe not from the first line (as per the back cover) but certainly from the first page “readers will be hooked.” From the moment that Joe Spain finds the baby left on the frozen ground on a ranch outside the city of Denver CO, it is clear that somebody is up to no good.

A year later, in 1923, Joe’s daughter arrives in Denver to discover the truth about her father’s death. The home of the second largest KKK chapter in the USA, Colorado becomes a hotbed of anti-black activity and politics. It is in this environment that Professor Annalee Spain, Joe’s daughter, finds herself looking for his story. With the help of the help of the local AME Pastor, Rev. Jack Robert Blake, an orphaned white lad, Eddie Brown Jr,, and a retired Denver DA, Colonel Sidney Castle, she would seek the answers she sought. The KKK makes its presence known, but they are not the enemy that Annalee is really fighting. Families and politics are far bigger problems - holding secrets that even the best of people do not want revealed.

Intense at times, the book is one the reader will not be able to put down. I spent more than one night staying up to get it read. I give the book five-stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Undercurrent of Secrets - A Review

 

Undercurrent of Secrets

by

Rachel Scott McDaniel

A Review

Two stories, two mysteries, two romances, separated by one hundred years, joined by the love for a paddle-wheeler that had its beginnings in 1914 and that is still plying its trade along the Ohio River serves as the backdrop for this well-told plot.The author weaves the stories together using two narrators, one from the past and one from the present. Together these two narrators allow us to follow the lives of Devyn Asbury and Hattie Louis and their loves and adventures. Bootleggers, kidnappers, arsonists, and murderers all add to this exciting tale.

There are few books that will bring tears to my eyes as I finish them - this one did. I give this piece of faith-based historical fiction five-stars.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are mine alone.  

The Printed - A Review

 

The Printed

by

Cameron Fitzgerald

A Review

This book is a dystopian look at a post-democratic America where Christian beliefs have been deemed terroristic. Believers are interrogated and, if found guilty, “Printed”. Their fingerprints are painfully removed, and they are sent to rehabilitation centers.

The book follows the lives of Emmet, a believer who is “printed” and Jasper, partially responsible for determining the innocence or guilt of those undergoing interrogation. Emmett is “printed”, but Jasper is transformed as well as he spends time with Emmett. The first third of the book follow Emmett and Jasper as they attempt to escape the current regime; the middle third focuses on Jasper’s transformation as he better understand and accepts Emmett’s faith as his own; the final third focus on the efforts Emmett and Jasper spend on building a place of respite where believers do not need to fear the government’s repressive behavior toward Christians. The climax comes as the pair begin to rescue believers from the rehab centers to which they have been sent.

The author does a decent job of integrating elements of faith throughout the story - but to this reader it seemed a bit much. I never quite got gripped by the story - this reader felt this dystopian sci-fi was less than satisfying. I give the book 3-½ stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Cryptographer's Dilemma - A Review

 

The Cryptographer's
Dilemma   

by

Johnnie Alexander

A Review

Barbour Publishing presents another book in its series of mysteries based on true events that can be further researched on-line or using the references mentioned in the epilogue. . This plot surrounds a Doll Collector whose Boston store served as the focal point for a spy that sought to provide Japan critical information following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941.

The story centers on one of the Code Girls, whose primary task was to decrypt messages intercepted from the German and Japanese. Eloise Marshall was “drafted” by the FBI to work alongside Phillip Clayton, a colorblind FBI agent who was not qualified to serve in the Air Corp. Together they were assigned the job of identifying the source of several letters that alluded to troop movements within the US Armed Services. The work would take them across the country - from Washington DC to Seattle WA and several places in between.

This reader was intrigued - not only by the story, but by the events that served as the catalyst for the book. More than once on-line sources were consulted providing more depth to the story as additional details of this WWII traitor were revealed. The author has provided an attention-keeping story rooted in history. I give the book five stars.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Woman In Shadow - A Review

 

Woman In Shadow

by

Carrie Stuart Parks

A Review

Joshua 1:9
"This is my command—
be strong and courageous!
Do not be afraid or discouraged.
For the Lord your God is with you
wherever you go.”

PTSD is not just a consequence of military service. It can also evolve from the dangers and trauma faced by First Responders. Such was Darby Graham’s circumstances. She had been part of a recovery program, but now had arrived at Targhee Falls,ID, to put her new found recovery to a test. The Mule Shoe Dude Ranch had experienced a number of mysterious events - accidents, deaths, and missing staff. Darby’s recovery program had asked her to look into the events and report back. She had not been asked to risk her life. 

But life at the dude ranch continued to go downhill. Dead animals showed up in unexpected places, more staff were found dead, windows were shot out. With the exception of a local sheriff deputy, she was not sure who to trust - even the sheriff herself seemed implicated.

I do wish that the author and/or publishers had included references to the help available to those struggling with PTSD whatever the source. A website or phone number would have been a great way to begin or conclude the book. This was an Advanced Reader's Copy, so the possibility of such appearing in the final version of the book exists.

Written with a mixture of first-person and third-person narratives. this faith-based story follows Darby and other characters as they seek to discover the source of the events that sought to destroy the well-deserved reputation of Mule Shoe. The book deserves a sequel, I would like to hope it is possible. I give the book five-stars.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Silver Shadow - A Review

The Silver Shadow

by

Liz Tolsma

A woman’s place was
in the home, raising children,
caring for her husband, keeping house.
She had no business out working a job,

thinking she didn’t need a man.

That was the thug’s motivation for attacking the women of Denver CO in the ending months of 1900 and the beginning of 1901. The problem was that it was not only his thoughts, but also those of the Denver Post’s editor, Joseph Ward, and at least one rising star of its newsroom, Harry Gray. And the only woman assigned to the newsroom, an attempt to show that an early 20th century employer could be inclusive, Polly Blythe, had to work in that environment.. It also appeared to be the attitude of the Denver Police Department’s Chief of Detectives, Hamilton Armstrong.

And if that was the case, why should anyone, police or otherwise, investigate the brutal attacks on 11+ women on the streets of Denver. The attacks involved the use of a lead or copper pipe hitting the women over the head - three died, the others were injured with varying degrees of physical damage. None were robbed; none were sexually assaulted. Altogether, it did make a good story - except many of the facts and people were taken from Denver’s historical record. Borrowing from that historical record, the author has done a surprising job of weaving a believable, faith-based, tale from the known facts of the era. The remarkable story concludes with a brief epilog describing the actual events that provided a foundation for the plot. The book provides fictional answers to many of the unanswered questions that remained from the actual events that took place in early 20th-century Denver.

In the present book, Polly Blythe and Denver Detective Edwin Price would be the two characters with enough gumption and curiosity to continue to follow the story - though many city leaders thought it a less than worthwhile task. Their work and the creativity of the author merit this five-star review.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Present Danger - A Review

Present Danger

by

Elizabeth Goddard

A Review

“The direction your life takes

can often come down to

one decision,

one moment in time.”

Elizabeth Goddard has created another great faith-based thriller set on the Eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Beginning with a plane crash in chapter one and ending with the cliff rescue in the book’s final moments, the author managed to hold this readers attention

With the focus of antiquities dating from the American west to the Middle East, we get glimpses of how lives are made through the decisions we make - whether they are made by people with hearts of gold or full of evil. Grayback County Sheriff Detective Jack Tanner and US Forest Service Special Agent Terra Connors both have made decisions that effect their lives even today, yet they will need to work together to find those responsible for the three deaths and the associated theft of ancient artifacts. In doing so they will need to face the decisions that they and their families have made in the past.

This “can’t put it down” book has a place in the church library, in the public library, and in the home of any reader looking for a colorful adventure. I give the book 5-stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Hours to Kill - A Review

 

Hours to Kill

by

Susan Sleeman

A Review

“For the Spirit God gave us 

does not make us timid, 

but gives us power, 

love and self-­discipline.”

II Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

That was Mack’s verse. He had learned to rely on it as he worked with a Christian counselor on the issues surrounding his PTSD from his time in the Middle East. It had almost allowed him to kill his wife, Agent Leigh Jordan, after a nightmare - they broke up over that incident. Now he had to work with her.

Normally stationed in Washington DC, the attempt on his wife’s life brought him to Portland to track down the person responsible - a drug runner, a gun runner, and a sex trafficker. The RED Team of the US Marshals Service followed suit. And Bear, the retired police dog, added a new twist to this faith-based thriller.

A fast paced story that travels from Alabama to Oregon to California takes a number of unexpected twists and turns keeping this reader up late. The book includes all the tension of Criminal Minds and all the romance of Bones, providing an entertaining story with lots of excitement. I give the book four stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

Her Every Move - A Review

Her Every Move

by

Kelly Irwin

A Review

 Reading is a gift. I read when I can’t sleep
I read when I’m sad. I read when I’m happy.
Reading gives me joy,
takes me places I’ve never been,
and I learn things.
What person wouldn’t want that gift?”

(Her Every Move, p. 343)

Though it opens a bit slowly, Her Every Move becomes a heart stopper as Jackie Santora, San Antonio Public Library librarian, and SAPD Detective Avery Wick stumble among the various suspects who may be placing bombs around the city. They have identified three or four, but could it be somebody who has not yet been named.

The book builds believable characters within a real-life setting (downtown San Antonio and the Alamo) to create a thrilling story that this reader could not put down. I now want to add San Antonio to my bucket list of places to visit.

Kelly Irwin has given us a faith-based thriller that explores the doubt that many live with when life gets tough without being preachy. It does not resolve those questions, but in a well-written story she allows the reader to explore those themes along with the book’s characters. I give the book four-stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

Obsession - A Review

 

Obsession
]

by
Patricia Bradley

A Review

Obsession is a faith-based novel focusing on the lives of two US Forest Rangers serving the National Park Service near Mount Locus MS along the Natchez Trace (or Parkway). Emma Winters was assigned to the “interpretive” side of the National Park Service - focusing on visitor and historical experiences. Sam Ryker was a part of the “law enforcement” service of the National Park Service. The story has its roots in the disappearance of Emma’s twin brother ten years earlier, an event which has affected Emma’s emotional and relational life ever since.

Though its roots go back ten years, the story opens with Emma returning to the Mount Locus visitor center late one night to retrieve a file she needed to complete a report. There she discovers intruders that begin taking pot shots at her. She calls 911, who sends Sam Ryker to check out the scene.

The plot traces the discovery of who and why was involved in taking those shots and discovering the history of Emma’s brother. In the course of the book, the author explores the cost of keeping guilt and shame hidden and of not offering forgiveness for wrongs done in the distant past.

Though this writer is not familiar with the area, the description makes it a part of a bucket list to visit for both its scenery and its history. The book is intense and involved as it explores the region and the backgrounds of the story’s characters. I give the book 5-stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

Backlash - A Review

 

Backlash

by

Rachel Dylan

“God hasn’t left you, Hunter. God’s there even when we think we can’t feel Him or hear Him. Sometimes it may just be a whisper in the wind or a beautiful sunrise, and that’s all it takes to remind me that the Lord is so much bigger than us. Than this earth. Than our lives. He is everything and everywhere while at the same time He cares about each of us.” (Page 85)

I could not put down this faith-based romantic thriller. With three friends being accused of three very different crimes, the CIA and the DEA are on high alert as they seek to find the villains who are out to discredit three strong patriots in the employee of the US government. It will take the work of all the friends to find the guilty parties. And as they seek their answers we also get a glimpse at the romantic lives of this group. 

The book read like a movie that might appear in Hallmark’s Movies and Mysteries channel - except it dealt with three relationships rather than focusing on a single couple. Nonetheless, it was a satisfying and fun read.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Point of Danger - A Review

 

Point of Danger

by

Irene Hannon

Irene Hannon presents a morning talk show host, Eve Reilly, whose job and life are being threatened from three very distinct directions. Detective Brent Lange will be responsible for following the clues. He has three problems - it is his first case as a newly hired detective and he is quickly falling for Eve and he does not handle relationships well.

The author has created a believable faith-based suspense novel. The context is current starring, among others, none other than the bane of the conservative movement, a group of antifas. The story moves quickly as the reader tracks the various villains found in the story.  My only complaint was the transitions found in the middle of most chapters as the spotlight moves from protagonist to detective to antagonist to supporting characters. I found myself having to highlight these unexpected transitions as I tracked the story. I would hope these transitions might be better marked in the final text. In spite of this minor difficulty, I have no problem in giving this a five-star review. 

______________ This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Closer Than She Knows - A Review

 

Closer Than She Knows

by

Kelly Irwin

Her prayer life was more
a series of discussions
between an Abba Father and
His recalcitrant daughter. 

It is not often I read a book for a second time - I did this one. Not because it was great (though, it was good), but because I read it the first time last February. I was ready to review it, but then the 2020-pandemic hit. My schedules changed, my wife was home, meals were a bit different. And for 6-8 weeks my habit of reading and reviewing got sidelined. I have mostly caught up on my reviews, but this book got pushed to the bottom of the pile. Now, six months later, I discovered the missing review; but to prepare a current and fair review, I needed to reread the book. I am glad I did.

Kelly Irwin has written a faith-based novel that focuses on the court recorder daughter of a law enforcement heavy family. Her father and two of Teagan O’Rourke siblings were in law enforcement. One stepsister chose law school - a close second. A serial killer was slowly murdering the important people around her, co-workers, friends, and now, it seemed, family members. The clock was ticking before another would die. The family, working with the San Antonio Police Department, and the youth pastor, who was sweet on Teagan, would need to follow the clues - would they lead to a murderer or to a trap.

Teagan would need to learn (or was it relearn) to trust God - both for her and her family’s safety and for her future. They would be hard lessons to learn. 

The book held this reader’s attention from chapter one to chapter forty-two. Though not planned, it was a book worth reading a second time.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.