SUMMER OF SUSPENSE GIVEAWAY

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Celebrate Truth's Release with Us This Summer!

Kristen here. Happy Fourth of July! I hope you're having a fabulous summer so far. If you're looking to fill your summer reading with suspense, check out Truth, the last volume in Long Hot Summer: Christian Romantic Suspense from Two Dogs Publishing. I'm so honored to be part of this volume with fellow authors Jerusha Agen, Sami A. Abrams, and Sarah Hamaker. 

Keep reading to learn about the four stories in this volume and how you can enter to win a Kindle copy.

Meet the Authors and Stories of Truth

Trapped - Jerusha Agen

Her lies keep her safe. Until the truth shows up. And it’s carrying a gun.

Kristen Grant will do anything to protect her adopted teen daughter from the dangers of their past, no matter how many secrets it requires.

His childhood friend may have a different name, but that doesn’t change the way he feels. Security specialist Sean Kingston never expected to meet his childhood buddy in sleepy little Leben Falls. She’s changed, shrouded in mystery and secrets she doesn’t want to share.

Freedom has a price, and the enemy of Kristen’s past has come to collect. Will she have to pay with her life?

Mine - Sami A. Abrams

Haunted by an abusive past, Jennie Neilson’s quiet life shatters when a mistaken text message puts her daughter into the crosshairs of a child predator. Detective David Whitman, haunted by his fiancée’s death, uncovers a chilling connection to Jennie’s past. The feeling of being watched and a reminder of her ex-boyfriend, Jennie fears he’s returned for revenge. As the predator escalates, Zoey is kidnapped, forcing Jennie to make a decision that could get Zoey killed. Racing against time, David must face his fears to save them both, risking everything to stop a man intent on claiming Jennie—or destroying her.

Fatal Past - Sarah Hamaker

Dr. Eve Davenport has forged a life for herself far from the pain of her past. But when she foils the kidnapping attempt of Ethan Smith, she comes face-to-face with the boy’s father, Jefferson Smith—the high school sweetheart who broke her heart and left her with secrets she’s buried for nearly a decade. Jefferson can’t believe the woman who saved Ethan, his late twin brother’s son, is Eve—the girl he once loved and lost. But as the danger mounts, Jefferson and Eve must confront their tangled history and uncover who is behind the attacks targeting Ethan and Eve.

Beneath the Crushing Waves - Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

Jenni Battley never imagined moving back in with her parents. To survive single parenting, she returns to Rosemary Beach with her young daughter and takes a summer job at her former high school. Her husband’s death canceled last Christmas, and now, a student drug ring overshadows her school’s Christmas-in-July event. Her bitter heart doesn’t belong near any joy-filled celebration—especially not one at the epicenter of an investigation. Officer Shane Prescott and paramedic Logan Oswald graduated with Jenni, and both keep appearing at the most inopportune times. Can she trust them, or is there a wolf in sheep’s clothing?

Comment to Win an E-book Copy of Truth

To enter the giveaway for an e-book copy of Truth, leave a comment with your email address and answer this question: What is your favorite Fourth of July memory or your favorite way to spend this holiday? The winner will be announced next week. 

CONGRATULATIONS!

Lora D won the Suspense Sisters' June contest! She's won her choice of a $100 gift card to either Amazon, Walmart, Christianbook.com, or Hobby lobby!

Congratulations, Lora!

JUNE GIVEAWAY

 

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INTERVIEW WITH DARLENE L. TURNER

Darlene L. Turner is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author known for her high-octane stories and riveting twists. Sparked by Nancy Drew, she’s turned her love of solving mysteries into her writing, believing readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. Dubbed “the plaid queen” for her love of everything plaid, Darlene resides with her husband Jeff in Ontario, Canada. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.

INTERVIEW

Tell us about your recent release.

Echoes of Darkness is a story about the fight between good and evil. Constable Oaklynn Brock not only has to fight the darkness of her past, but also solve a case involving a serial killer copying her own father’s kills as she tries to keep her identity a secret from everyone around her. Plus, she has to work with a man from a newly formed Canadian Watchers Squad who’s fighting his own demons. Together they must face the darkness as the Protégé targets her sleepy town of Kenorapeake Falls, Ontario.

What was your inspiration for this book?

I had the idea for the story years ago, but it evolved into something different. I wanted to focus on light vs darkness in a bit grittier storyline to show how we can overcome the darkness if we trust. There’s so much darkness in our world and I wanted to share that even in that darkness, we can be a light—a single light—God’s light shining for all to see.

What is your favorite part of the writing process? Your least favorite?

Developing my characters is my favorite part of the writing process. Once I figure out their vocation (and what actor/actress I will model them after!), I begin crafting their backstory, deep wound, goals, motivations, etc. I then take them through their lives to see what happened to them at ages 0-13, 14-20, 21-35, a year ago, six months ago, one hour before the story opens, 10 minutes. It’s a great way for them to come alive in my mind because once that happens, they will become alive for the reader.

My least favorite? Writing the dreaded synopsis! I think that’s probably most authors worst nightmare. I’m a pantser, so it’s hard for me to plot out the storyline because when I go to write the book, I tend to go down rabbit trails. Sometimes they work. Other times…not so much. LOL.

Tell us three things about yourself that might surprise your readers.

1) When I was in my twenties, I did a little bit of modeling. It was fun!

2) I love camping. Being out in nature is the best.

3) I enjoy lots of different types of movies: Marvel, Lord of the Rings, sci-fi, and a good romance!

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Tole painting (painting on wood), watching movies, going on walks with my hubby.

What are you working on now?

I’m starting book #4 in my new National Park Protectors series for Love Inspired Suspense. This series is about six Hoyt siblings and each one has a vocation related to parks. There’s a park warden, archeologist, conservation officer (game warden), smokejumper, search and rescue pilot, and a park warden trainee.

Anything else you’d like to share?

My faith is the core in my stories. No matter what my characters go through, they always turn to God in the end. I pray before I start writing and ask God to give me HIS words, not mine. I want to be His light. Someone once said that we write WITH God not FOR God. I like that. He’s right there with me when my fingers are flying across my keyboard, whispering into my ear His words! I pray that readers will see God in all of my stories. To Him be the glory.

Where can your readers learn more about you?

Website: darlenelturner.com
I spend a lot of time on Facebook. Here’s my author page and profile:
Facebook (author page)
Facebook (personal)

Echoes of Darkness

A serial killer stalks a small town, and a police officer must face her family’s dark past to catch him.

The sleepy community of Kenorapeake Falls in northern Ontario seems like somewhere Constable Oaklynn Brock can finally outrun her violent past. That is, until she’s assigned to investigate a series of suspicious deaths. She can’t reveal that she knows how serial killers think because she grew up with one. Yet the eerie similarities between these murders and those committed by her father, known as the Suicide Slayer, hint at a copycat in their midst. But why here and why now?

Caleb Greene of the Canadian Watchers Squad, a special task force, has his own reasons to be wary of working alongside Oaklynn. But with rumors of a local cult known as the Light Paragons gaining power, the stakes are too high to refuse.

As they explore connections between the killings and cult, Oaklynn and Caleb are forced to confront old secrets…and a terrifying new threat. Someone is watching Oaklynn’s every move. They know exactly who she is and what she might be capable of. And soon her biggest fear isn’t just having her past exposed, but that a killer will turn whatever days she has left into a living nightmare…

Leave a comment for your chance to win a copy of Echoes of Darkness. (Print copy U.S. only) 

A Fun Way to Share Suspense

 I don't know about you, but I love discovering new suspense authors. There are so many amazing stories being released all the time, and I like to find new books that stand out. The problem is that there are only 24-hours in a day and pesky things like jobs and other commitments often get in the way of my reading and relaxation. Facebook groups dedicated to fiction and even hashtags like #booktok have helped me stumble across wonderful stories that I wouldn't have found otherwise. Then, when I find a book that keeps me guessing and sticks with me after I've read the final page, I want to share it with others who have similar taste in reading material. 

This love of stories and sharing them is what inspired my author friend, Hilary Hamblin and me to start the Knives and Roses Podcast. We both love and write suspense and romantic suspense, and we've made it our mission to share off-the-charts suspense with anyone looking for a book recommendation. We review both Christian and general market fiction, but have standards as far as language and spicy scenes are concerned. If a book has minimal language and we review it, there will always be a disclaimer for content, so readers will know what they're getting into before picking up a book. 

We've had the privilege of interviewing authors like Patricia Bradley, Jessica Patch, Jaime Jo Wright, Elizabeth Goddard, Sami Abrams, and several others. It's been fun getting to know the people behind the books we love! 

Listeners have recommended books for us to review on the podcast as well. It's been great finding new authors this way as we share our favorites books with others. So far, the podcast has been a fantastic experience! It's given me the opportunity to read books I might not have considered reading in the past and sharing my love of stories with other readers. 

If you're ever in the mood for listening to book reviews, check it out on your favorite streaming platform. 

How do you find new books and authors. Let me know in the comments below for a chance to win the latest book I read for the Knives and Roses Podcast, Attempted Mountain Abduction by Jessica Patch!