Tree Swing Reading

Flying Books Giveaway: "The Silent Order" by Melanie Dobson

It's time to release some of the books that have been flying around my living room looking for a new home. Would you be willing to help them find new owners?

I'm having another book giveaway from now until the end of March here on this blog! There will be a whole variety of different kinds of books!  I hope you'll find some books you like!

Here are the rules:

1.) To enter the drawing for a book, just answer my random question for the day in the comments of the post.

Today's question: What kind of cookies are your favorite?

My Answer: I'm all about warm chocolate chip cookies!

2.) Be reachable by email should you win, so I can let you know.

3.) Enter by March 10, a winner will be selected the following day.

4.) Come back again tomorrow!

Today's book: The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson

Description:

When his partner is murdered, 1920s detective Rollin Wells goes into hiding. Taking refuge in an Amish home in Sugarcreek, Ohio, he works to discover who in the police force is collaborating with Cleveland's notorious mob. But when he befriends a young Amish mother named Katie, will he unearth an even more shocking secret?

Flying Books Giveaway Day 1: "The Missionary" by Carmichael and Lambert

It's time to release some of the books that have been flying around my living room looking for a new home. Would you be willing to help them find new owners?

I'm having another book giveaway from now until the end of March here on this blog! There will be a whole variety of different kinds of books!  I hope you'll find some books you like!

Here are the rules:

1.) To enter the drawing for a book, just answer my random question for the day in the comments of the post.

Today's question: What do you do to help yourself relax when you're stressed? I need some suggestions! :)

My Answer: I like bubble baths! But chocolate helps too...

2.) Be reachable by email should you win, so I can let you know.

3.) Enter by March 8, a winner will be selected the following day.

4.) Come back again tomorrow!

Today's book:

The Missionary by William Carmichael and David Lambert

Description:

American missionaries David and Christie Eller run a clinic for homeless children in Caracas, Venezuela. But when an angry David publicly rails against the government, he falls into an unimaginable nightmare of espionage. Will his life-or-death gamble to escape the country with his wife and son succeed---or will the resources of a corrupt dictatorship prevail?

What I Thought:

I couldn't put this one down!  It was a great suspense with lots of twists and turns and an unexpected plot!  David faces the overwhelming delima that a lot of missionaries face: lack of funds to do what people desperately need him to do for even basic survival of the people he's trying to help. So when he is offered money by what he thinks is a wealthy donor, he makes a critical mistake in taking it without thoroughly checking the source. He ends up in a mess of trouble!

A good read that kept me turning the pages even when I was supposed to be making dinner!

Review of "Abomination" by Colleen Coble

Description:

Proverbs 6 holds the key to a serial killer's next move! When the self-appointed "Destroyer of Evil" targets Eve Alexander, she flees with her 2-year-old daughter to Michigan's remote Upper Peninsula. But when her search-and-rescue team discovers a body at a nearby geocaching site---with the murderer's deranged trademarks---Eve must fight back before she's next!

 

My Thoughts:

I picked up this book initially because I was interested in the geocaching aspect of it.  My husband enjoys geocaching. I enjoyed the book and found it very similar to a lot of the romantic suspense in the Christian fiction industry right now.

Book Bullets:

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Suspense

Part of a Series: no

Publication year: 2008

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

 

Review of "The Baker's Wife" by Erin Healy

Description:

Before Audrey was the baker's wife, she was the pastor's wife.

Then a scandalous lie cost her husband a pastoral career. Now the two work side-by-side running a bakery, serving coffee, and baking fresh bread. But the hurt still pulls at Audrey.

Driving early one morning to the bakery, Audrey's car strikes something-or someone-at a fog-shrouded intersection. She finds a motor scooter belonging to a local teacher. Blood is everywhere, but there's no trace of a body.

Both the scooter and the blood belong to detective Jack Mansfield's wife, and he's certain that Audrey is behind Julie's disappearance.

My Thoughts:

This book is just what I needed to get me excited about reading again! I devoured in in 24 hours! I loved the imagry of the bread and the comfort that it brought. I loved the plot and flow of the story. I loved the characters, especially Audry and Geoff and their son. I love it when I find a book like this that satifsfies my cravings for both good characters and interesting suspense. 

Book Bullets:

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Suspense

Part of a Series: no

Publication year: 2011

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

 

But the case dead-ends and the detective spirals into madness. When he takes her family and some patrons hostage at the bakery, Audrey is left with a soul-damaged ex-con and a cynical teen to solve the mystery. And she'll never manage that unless she taps into something she would rather leave behind-her excruciating ability to feel other's pain.

Let it Snow--Book Giveaway Day 3: "Forget Me Not" by Vicki Hinze

"Oh the weather outside is frightful..."

It seems much of the country is dealing with a lot of snow these days. We have certainly had a lot lately ourselves! For the most part, I am ok with it because I have my sewing projects and my books to read and, as long as I don't have to drive in it, I'm content to be home.

So, for me, winter is a great season for reading! And, in honor of that, I am having a week-long giveaway! Every day for this week, I will have a book to give away. I hope you will find something you would like to read!

Those rules again:

1.) To enter the drawing for a book, just answer my random question for the day in the comments of the post.

Today's question: Do you participate in any "winter-type" sports? (like skiing, ice fishing, ice skating, etc.)

My Answer: I am not really good at any winter sports. Someday I'd really like to try snow shoeing. The only winter sport I do is sledding with my family--but that can be really good exercise on the hill near us! 

2.) Be reachable by email should you win, so I can let you know.

3.) Enter by January 29, a winner will be selected the following day.

4.) Come back again tomorrow!

Today's book:

Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze

Description:

THEIR ELUSIVE ENEMIES TOOK EVERYTHING. NOW THEY WANT MORE.

Crossroads Crisis Center owner Benjamin Brandt was a content man—in his faith, his work, and his family. Then in a flash, everything he loved was snatched away. His wife and son were murdered, and grief-stricken Ben lost faith. Determination to find their killers keeps him going, but after three years of dead ends and torment, his hope is dying too. Why had he survived? He’d failed to protect his family.

Now, a mysterious woman appears at Crossroads seeking answers and help—a victim who eerily resembles Ben’s deceased wife, Susan. A woman robbed of her identity, her life, of everything except her faith—and Susan’s necklace.

The connections between the two women mount, exceeding coincidence, and to keep the truth hidden, someone is willing to kill. Finding out who and why turns Ben and the mystery woman’s situation from dangerous to deadly. Their only hope for survival is to work together, trust each other, and face whatever they discover head on, no matter how painful. But will that be enough to save their lives and heal their tattered hearts?

My Thoughts:

Another exciting suspense that will keep you guessing until the end!

Review of "Less Than Dead" and "The Ends of the Earth" by Tim Downs

I've been reading about bugs!  I finally got a chance to pick up where I left off in the "Bugman Series" by Tim Downs and read books 4 and 5 of the series.

Description:

When a grave is discovered on the property being excavated for the new Patriot Center mall--property that is owned by the front-running candidate for the next presidential election--the FBI immediately becomes involved. Nick's services are requested to help determine if this is a forgotten graveyard or evidence of foul play. But when the cadaver team the FBI has secured can't find any more graves, Nick follows local legend to a bizarre woman named Alena who keeps to herself in the mountains and trains the best cadaver dogs.

Description:

Dr. Nick Polchak is called to a farm community in eastern North Carolina to investigate a murder. The victim is the owner of a failing organic farm who had developed a drug problem, and the police think his murder is drug-related.

Nick finds the remains of a bale of marijuana scattered in the tomato fields--but the South American marijuana seems to be strangely infested with a common North Carolina insect: the tobacco hornworm. To further confound the mystery, the bugs are infected with a fungus from Asia. Nick suspects the man wasn't killed because of the marijuana, but because of the insects it contained. He then discovers that a vicious agricultural scheme is underway to cripple the U.S.'s corn and ethanol production. But just how far will these terrorists go in their quest?

My Thoughts:

If you like "CSI"-type shows, you will enjoy these books. I have been a fan of the poor socially akward, coke-bottle-glasses-wearing Nick since I read the first book in this series.  He is adorable in the funniest way.  And the other people in the books are fascinating as well.  With the "Bugman"books, you get to go on the case along with Nick, using bugs and their science to help Nick solve crimes along with the other specialists in his life.  I love that there's sparks of romance in his life now too. 

A great series, especially for those who like the long-running CSI.  I think Nick even reminds me a Grissom a bit.

Book Bullets:

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Suspense

Part of a Series: yes, books 4 and 5 of the "Bugman Series"

Publication year: 2009

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Review of "Distant Echoes" by Colleen Coble

Description:

Love blossoms in the warm Hawaiian sun, but something sinister lurks in the silent sea. When a missile test goes off-course, destroying a tourist boat and killing several passengers, dolphin researcher Kaia Ohana is called upon by Navy security head Jesse Matthews to help in the stalled investigation. Is sloppy science at fault---or sabotage and terrorism?

My Thoughts:

I read this book while I was on the plane to Florida!  I thought it was a nice storyline, with cool dolphins; but, in all honesty, it felt kind of choppy to me.  More and more I expect a lot from the books I read, and there wasn't a nice flow to this one, in my opinion.  The characters would go from conflict to resolution without much explanation; or from love to separated back to love without flow.  The action was nice, but not the well-developed plot I was hoping for. A nice read overall.

Book Bullets:

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Genre: Romance, Suspense

Part of a Series: yes, book 1 of the "Aloha Reef Series"

Publication year: 2005

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 

 

Review of "Pattern of Wounds" by J. Mark Bertand

Description:

For Detective Roland March, his latest case has become personal. March doesn't know the young female who was stabbed to death, but he thinks he recognizes the crime scene. Nearly ten years ago, March gained national fame as the subject of a true-crime book. But now this crime scene bears eerie similarities to that one. And whispers begin to emerge that March may have put the wrong man behind bars.

Worse, Houston may now have a serial killer on the loose. As more cases emerge that seem connected, and threats against March and those closest to him build, he must solve the case--rescuing not only the city but his own reputation as a homicide cop.

My Thoughts:

I really liked this book. Truthfully, I didn't expect to like it. And, it's a lot to take in. I had to concentrate while reading it to remember the different characters and how they fit into to whole story, but it was worth the brain power. It was gritty and interesting and believable.  I look forward to the next book in the series!

Book Bullets:

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Suspense

Part of a Series: yes, book 2 of the "Roland March Series" 

Publication year: 2011

Publisher: Bethany House

Great series by Lynette Eason

"Women of Justice" series is great! A nice combination of suspense and romance. My favorite combo in a book!

Book 1: Too Close to Home

Description:

Samantha Cash is the FBI's secret weapon. Her methods are invisible, and she never stops until the case is closed. When missing teens begin turning up dead in a small Southern town, Samantha is assigned to help local chief Connor Wolfe find the killer. And he has two problems with that. There's her faith--in God and herself. And then there's the fact that she looks exactly like his late wife.As they get close to an answer, the case becomes personal. The killer seems to be taking an interest in Connor's 16-year-old daughter, who thinks her dad is getting way too protective. Can't a girl just have some fun?

Book 2: Don't Look Back

Description:

Twelve years ago, forensic anthropologist Jamie Cash survived a brutal kidnapping. After years of therapy, she's made a life for herself---and finally lets herself get close to FBI agent Dakota Richards. But when her attacker reappears, can she escape his grasp a second time? Will she ever feel safe enough to find true love?

 

Book 3: A Killer Among Us

Description:

Kit Kenyon is a first-rate hostage negotiator. Noah Lambert is a good detective with excellent instincts. The new partners have hardly had time to get used to each other when they are thrown into a grisly murder case. As evidence mounts up and more victims are found, Kit and Noah realize they are on the hunt for a serial killer. The problem is, he's hunting one of them too.

 

My Thoughts:

Like I said at the top of the post, I always enjoy a good romantic suspense!  These books reminded me of Dee Henderson's romantic suspense books. The action keeps moving along and the romance part grows along with the suspense. Definately a good series to grab your attention and keep you interested until the surprise ending.

Book Bullets:

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: romantic suspense

Part of a Series: yes, Women of Justice Series 

Publication year: 2010, 2011

Publisher: Revell

Review of "The Queen" by Steven James, Loved It!

Description:

While investigating a double homicide in an isolated northern Wisconsin town, Special Agent Patrick Bowers uncovers a high-tech conspiracy that twists through long-buried Cold War secrets and targets present-day tensions in the Middle East. A pulse-pounding thriller that explores the rippling effects of the choices we make!

My Thoughts:

I got to read this a few weeks ago when we were in Door County, Wisconsin. It was fun reading about a Wisconsin-based story, and, even though it is summer now, I could totally related to the tales of the winter storms and snow. I always love Steven James' books! The Patrick Bowers series is fantastic! If you like suspense, these are books you cannot miss. There's something about Patrick Bower's character, too, that draws a reader in and makes him both believable and human.  He works against some majorly bad dudes!  But the book is not just about the action, there's also the human side of him, wrestly with issues of right and wrong, how best to raise his step-daughter, and falling in love.

A great book, a great series, a great character! 

Book Bullets

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: contemporary

Part of a Series: yes, book 5 of Patrick Bowers Series 

Publication year: 2011

Publisher: Revell