Sunday, June 28, 2020

Cleansed by Death by Catherine Finger (A Jo Oliver Thriller Book 1)

About the Book

Book: Cleansed by Death

Author: Catherine Finger

Genre: Thriller/Suspense/Mystery

Release Date: June 2016

Haunted by an evil presence she can’t quite grasp, Police Chief Josie Oliver finds herself drawn into the crosshairs of a vicious serial killer. Fighting for her marriage, faith, and fate, Chief Josie is confronted by an Adversary that only God can conquer–if she decides to let Him in.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review:

I'm totally hooked on this series. This is the book that started it all! Yes, I apparently have read this series all out of order. That's usual but it has not diminished it in any way. In this book, we get so much suspense. I loved the intrigue! Jo Oliver is a fantastic lead character. This book as a series-opening is amazing. The deep first-person view sucks you right in, and I'm not a first-person POV fan. As an avid coffee drinker, I could sip right along with Jo. Faith is upfront and personal for this book. I loved the mystery and suspense. This book is perfect for me!

5 Stars

About the Author

Catherine Finger loves to dream, write, and tell stories. Recently retired from a wonderful career in public education, she celebrates the ability to choose how to spend her time in a new way during the second half of life. So far, she chooses to write books, ride horses, serve others, and generally find her way into and out of trouble both on the road and at home. She lives in the Midwest with a warm and wonderful combination of family and friends.

Capsized by Death, the fourth novel in her Jo Oliver Thriller series, was released by Elk Lake Publishing in December, 2019. Anchored by Death, the third of her Jo Oliver novels, was a Bronze Medal winner at the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards; a 2018 Selah Awards finalist; and a finalist for the National Indie Excellence Awards. Her second Jo Oliver Thriller, Shattered by Death, was a finalist in the International Book Awards and the National Indie Excellence Awards. Catherine and her novels have been featured on radio stations, blogs, and in numerous articles—all posted at www.CatherineFinger.com.

Catherine loves to interact with her readers at www.CatherineFinger.com Follow her on Facebook at Catherine Finger, Author, and on Twitter at CatherineFinger@BeJoOliver.

More from Catherine

Welcome to our Jo Oliver Thriller series Celebrate Lit Tour!

Cleansed by Death, the first book in the series of four novels, began with an idea to write a book about strong women struggling with life, love, and loss while embedded in traditional male roles. I wanted to show real women dealing with difficult internal and external struggles and create tension for my readers. Playing with the question of whether such challenges make our characters better—or bitter—added depth and twists to my story.

It took a long time to get this story to the point of releasing it into the world. I stopped writing it twice, shelving it for about a year each time. Every summer as I percolated over the story, I read it cover to cover and realized I still loved both the voice and the bones of the story. Adding the faith piece in a way that felt authentic and edgy was the frosting on the cake and it happened as a half vision, half spiritual warfare experience in Jo Oliver’s head and heart. This experience developed her unique brand of conversation with God as she understands Him and added a spiritual dimension to my stories.

My Midwestern roots showed themselves with reckless abandon in this debut—becoming a cornerstone of future installments. As I write this kick-off note to you, I sit in front of my computer facing a wilderness scene that features prominently in this story. Writing in the midst of the corona virus leads me back to some of my favorite places for comfort—the woods and lakes of Wisconsin.

Enjoy the read!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 28

Blogging With Carol, June 28

Texas Book-aholic, June 29

Through the Fire Blogs, June 30

Bigreadersite, June 30

Betti Mace, July 1

Godly Book Reviews, July 1

For the Love of Literature, July 2

Older & Smarter?, July 3

Emily Yager, July 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 4

Daysong Reflections, July 5

deb’s Book Review, July 5

Inklings and notions, July 6

For Him and My Family, July 7

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, July 7

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 8

Pause for Tales, July 9

Lights in a Dark World, July 10

Ashley’s Bookshelf, July 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Catherine is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/fcd9/cleansed-by-death-celebration-tour-giveaway

Saturday, June 27, 2020

The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey (Coastal Guardians Book #1)

The Killing Tide FB Banner

About the Book

Book: The Killing Tide

Author: Dani Pettrey

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Release Date: August 2019

BHP2Killing Tide When one Coast Guard officer is found dead and another goes missing, Coast Guard Investigative Service special agent Finn Walker faces his most dangerous crime yet. His only clues are what little evidence remains aboard the dead officer’s boat, and the direction the clues point to will test Finn and the Guard to their limits.

When investigative reporter–and Finn’s boss’s sister–Gabby Rowley arrives, her unrelenting questions complicate an already volatile situation. Now that she’s back, the tug on Finn’s heart is strong, but with the risks she’s taking for her next big story, he fears she might not live through it.

Thrown together by the heinous crime, Finn and Gabby can’t ignore the sparks or judgments flying between them. But will they be able to see past their preconceptions long enough to track down an elusive killer, or will they become his next mark?

Click here to get your copy!

My Review:

This story opens up and plunges you in, sink or swim. has a huge cast of characters and I have a feeling we will get to know some of the others in later books in the series. Don't get overwhelmed by that, just keep reading. After a little bit had locked me into a nice rhythm. With plenty of action and some suspense, we follow Gabby as she makes some crazy choices trying to stay alive and get some answers to her predicament. Her life is very entangled in her job as an investigative reporter, and this book shows how that was working out for her. I liked Finn. He put the past aside and worked on the future and protecting Gabby without missing too many beats. I must say that Gabby made me a bit crazy. She doesn't follow common sense thinking and in real life, I can't see this happening without some other major consequences. However, I still enjoyed the book and I'm planning on reading the rest of the series.

4 Stars

About the Author

Dani Pettrey Praised by New York Times best-selling author Dee Henderson as “a name to look for in romantic suspense,” Dani Pettrey has sold more than half a million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance.

Her novels stand out for their “wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters” (Publishers Weekly), “gripping storyline[s],” (RT Book Reviews), and “sizzling undercurrent of romance” (USA Today).

She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland. For more information visit www.danipettrey.com

More from Dani

Pettrey kicks off her new Coastal Guardians series with an intense blend of suspense, love, and faith. The Killing Tide features romance that’s as thrilling as the action, and faithful characters integrated seamlessly into a complex web of crime.

— Kate Campos BookList

The Killing Tide is the first book in my Coastal Guardian series. My husband was Navy, so why am I writing about the Coast Guard? Because I think their mission to keep our waters and our country safe should be highlighted more. Before I started writing The Killing Tide, I’ll admit I knew little about the Coast Guard. I had a friend in high school who joined the Guard right after graduation, but that’s about the depth of my experience with them. Then, my husband and I watched a movie called The Finest Hour.

If you haven’t seen it, I highly urge you to. It’s the true story of one of the most dangerous and daring rescue attempts in Coast Guard history. Boatswain’s Mate First Class Bernie Webber takes a small team to rescue the crew of the Pendleton T2 oil tanker, which split in half off the coast of Cape Cod during a brutal nor’easter in 1952. I won’t ruin the ending for you, but let’s just say it’s a wonderful testament to courage in adversity. After watching it, I knew I had to write a series about the Coast Guard. I began researching and came across the Coast Guard Investigative Service and my interest was highly peaked. After talking with Coast Guardsmen, both newly in the service and those long retired, I began to see the story weaving together like a movie in my mind. I hope you enjoy reading the CGIS Wilmington teams’ adventures, cases and…of course, romances.

Blog Stops

Through the Fire Blogs, June 17

Back Porch Reads, June 17

Losing the Busyness, June 17

Older & Smarter?, June 18

Genesis 5020, June 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 19

Worthy2Read, June 19

For Him and My Family, June 20

deb’s Book Review, June 20

Inklings and notions, June 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 21

Texas Book-aholic, June 21

Pause for Tales, June 21

Betti Mace, June 22

Read Review Rejoice, June 22

Spoken from the Heart, June 22

KarenSueHadley, June 23

Ashley’s Bookshelf, June 23

The Christian Fiction Girl, June 24

Life of Literature, June 24

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, June 24

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 25

Blossoms and Blessings, June 25

A Good Book and cup of Tea, June 25

Emily Yager, June 26

Splashes of Joy, June 26

Just the Write Escape, June 27

Blogging With Carol, June 27

Moments, June 27

Stories By Gina, June 28

Cathe Swanson, June 28

Daysong Reflections, June 28

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, June 29

Mary Hake, June 29

Lights in a Dark World, June 29

With a Joyful Noise, June 30

Inside the Wong Mind, June 30

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dani is giving away the grand prize package of a Kindle, $20 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of The Crushing Depths!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/fcce/the-killing-tide-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, June 19, 2020

Practicing Murder by Erin Unger

About the Book

Book: Practicing Murder

Author: Erin Unger

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release Date: March 2019

Graduate student Maddie Clare is never talking to her ex-boyfriend Joze Evans or God again. Broken from her past and Joze’s betrayal, she must go home for her Aunt Lonna’s funeral. But after a run-in with a stalker, who insists Maddie knows the secret that had Aunt Lonna investigating him, she’s afraid for her life and must accept Joze’s protection.

As the stalker draws closer, how will Maddie and Joze face the past and their love that never died? And will Maddie stay out of the stalker’s grip long enough to figure out what secret he possesses?

Click here to get your copy!

My Review:

This is a five-star read! A clean plot, suspense, a few twists, romance, and some faith elements, this book is it. It exceeded my expectations.

From the moment Maddie had to attend her aunt's funeral, from a plane crash, I was hooked. I yelped as she made some, to my way of thinking, scary choices. However, those decisions led her to a path that needed to happen. Joze was brave, and I adored his ability to be emotional and forthcoming. I know EMTs and others in fields like this and they often are more like Joze. It endeared him to me. Things that would have irked me in other books, didn't bother me at all in this one. I loved how fast the reading went and the cover is super cool.

5 Stars

About the Author

Erin Unger was raised in the hills of Virginia, exploring abandoned houses and reading the scariest books she could find. After marrying so young it would make a great romance novel, she has enjoyed an exciting life with her hubby. But her fast-paced life sometimes rivals the suspense in her books thanks to all her grown children and a couple grandkids.

More from Erin

Books are powerful. Whole other worlds can unfold in a few well-stated sentences. There’s nothing like that feeling a reader gets when the perfect book is open on their lap and it pulls them in on the first page. It’s like a gift. Sometimes they make us rethink long held ideas. At times they mirror what we’re going through. And sometimes they remind us of areas in our lives we haven’t worked on.

But not every book is for every person. Sometimes it’s not the best seller that struck the right cord, or the book everyone’s reading, it’s the one you stumbled upon on a special or heard of from a friend. It’s a God-ordained tool to show us His ways and plans.

As Christian writers, the power to transform is even more in our hands. We have the ability to show how great our God is and how he works in the most unusual ways at times. We use our gift to do more than only entertain, we want to make Him more real to our readers. We want to show them how to grow and change as our characters do. And it’s amazing that we can use fiction to do so.

Next time you pick up a book, see if you can find the message hidden in the character’s struggles. Maybe God used a writer to put it there just for you to learn.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 11

Wishful Endings, June 12 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, June 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 14

Inklings and notions, June 15

Blossoms and Blessings, June 16 (Author Interview)

deb’s Book Review, June 16

Betti Mace, June 17

For Him and My Family, June 18

Blogging With Carol, June 19

Artistic Nobody, June 20 (Guest Review from Kelsey Barela)

By The Book, June 21 (Author Interview)

CarpeDiem, June 22

Simple Harvest Reads, June 23 (Guest Review from Joni)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Erin is giving away the grand prize of a $40 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/fc71/practicing-murder-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Secrets Resurfaced by Dana Mentink

About the Book

Book: Secrets Resurfaced

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: June 2, 2020

When new evidence surfaces about a tragic boating accident that put her ex-boyfriend’s father in prison, private investigator Dory Winslow’s determined to look into it. But now someone’s dead set on silencing her. And working with Chad Jaggert—the father of her secret child—may be the only way to survive the treacherous truth about the tragedy that once tore them apart.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review:

Like a super good western where are you're glued to the screen, that's this book. The 4th and final book in this series held nothing back. From the investigation to the uncovering of the past, danger to places of safety, and back again; it has it all. Both Dory and Chad were great characters. Dory is a bit like a famous fish though, she can't be so caught up in something else that she's missing things that would otherwise be logical. The issue here is that I know people who are like that. There is a ton of action in this story too, and I'm one to adore animals in books. One thing after another, after another, is clear; certain people want answers from the past and others desire those answers to stay missing. I'm constantly reminded of things like, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." I came to really like this last book in this action-packed series. It's a satisfying read.

4 Stars

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a two time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and a Holt Medallion winner. She is a national bestselling author of over forty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Harlequin Heartwarming and Sourcebooks. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, teen bear cubs affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo, Junie, the nutty terrier, and a chubby box turtle. You can connect with Dana via her website at danamentink.com, on Facebook, YouTube (Author Dana Mentink) and Instagram (dana_mentink.)

More from Dana

Well, it’s been a wild ride through the Roughwater Cowboy series! Here we are at the end, with youngest brother Chad’s story. Fortunately, the rest of the clan (Mitch, Liam and Helen) are here to lend a hand when the man Chad’s father was jailed for killing comes back to life. Helping out also is Jingles the hapless dog, and a new member of the canine family, three legged Meatball. Throw in a killer on the loose and a secret child, and we’ll have a ‘hold onto your hat’ finish to this series. Thanks for coming along with me! God bless you!