Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Book Review: JACK by Susan May Warren
Marji Laine here.
I know this series is from last year, but I've only just found it! I'm SO becoming a huge fan of the Minnesota Kingstons!
Usually I have my book reviews planned in advance, but I couldn't decide on this one. Then I spotted the cover of JACK. (I am a sucker for a pair of sensitive eyes.) I've read Susan May Warren's books before. (There is a reason why she's an award-winner, a best-seller, and a highly-acclaimed writing coach!) Most of what I'd read before were romances, heartwarming and life-changing with huge obstacles to overcome, but not mystery or suspense novels.
I was delighted to find that this one has both a mystery and suspense. In fact, she now has so many suspense novels. You can bet I'll be enjoying a LOT of these series!
JACK the first epic book of the Minnesota Kingstons, so I expected to have a lot of introductions. I didn't expect to get the feeling like many things had already happened. The author has done an amazing job of building in-depth back stories, and some of them have even been previously published in another series. I did a little investigating and the Alaska Air One Rescue books are a prelude to this series. I know there are at least a few characters that are shared between them.
Something refreshing: (at least to me) these characters had a realness about them. Especially their mistake and their guffaws. Not telling a lie, I was belly laughing during the dance practice! Seriously, Jack? That's the best you could come up with?? Oh, you have to read what he said!
When the ignition to the suspense did happen, the elements were all there. Characters with something to hide. People with a past. Plenty of motives all around, and a missing bridesmaid who typically has her own way of doing things. Was she really "missing" or just on a lark? It was hard to say, until Jack and Harper started trying to track her and found more danger than answers.
And the subtlety of the romance of these two is palpable. They are magnets that teeter back and forth between attracting and repelling. Definite chemistry there.
This isn't a thriller by any means, but there is the impending danger, the ticking clock as it were, that is in all suspense books. And I LOVED it! Jack and Harper will stay with me. I'm so ready to pick up the next book in this series and hunker down for another brilliant story. And yes, I will review it.
This book's subtitle is: The grumpy tracker. The girl he never forgot. A missing bridesmaid and a second chance he doesn't deserve. Here's a little more about the book:
Her secret blew apart his life—and now she needs his help? If only he could say no…
Nope, not forgotten at all.
Of course Jack the Grump has shown up for his sister’s wedding, and by the way he looks at Harper, um, clearly her sins aren’t forgiven. So what—she’s sooo over her best-friend’s brooding, dark oldest brother. Really.
Then a bridesmaid goes missing.
And sure, Harper is a journalist who knows how to sniff out truth, but the clock is ticking and there’s only one person who can help…Perfect. No problem. She’s not going to fall for her childhood crush again. Promise.
Yes, Jack can admit that Harper’s not the girl he used to call Pigtails anymore. She’s all grown up…but he’s not going to get burned again. Still, what’s a guy going to do?
So, find her missing friend, get the bride down the aisle and ditch town before they find themselves in over their heads…or worse.
Dead.
Jack is a best friend’s brother, childhood crush, grumpy-to sunshine, sweet but sizzly romantic suspense about second chances and finding the family you always wanted…
Get your copy HERE!
--
I was ready to pick up Conrad, book 2 of this series, but I think I'm going to go back in time and do the Alaska Air One Rescue series. I think that starts things from the beginning. And if they are anything like JACK, I'll be happily reading for the next several months. :)
In a recent book you've read, or maybe one you're reading now, what was something unique, something you didn't expect, that happened? Share in the comments and you just might win an e-copy of COUNTER POINT, book 1 from my Heath's Point Suspense series.
But I do hope you'll pick up a copy of JACK, and I hope you LOVE it!
Monday, May 11, 2026
WHAT'S HOT in Inspirational Mystery and Suspense
Marji Laine here.
I've noticed a number of books by these authors coming out every few weeks, so I'm not sure if they are actually first time releases, but I am intrigued.
Thin Red
Line (Heroes of Glory)
by Kayla
Lowe
The bravest battle is the one within.
Marcus
“Mac” Castillo has faced death in war zones and on the streets of Glory—but
nothing prepared him for the darkness creeping into the city’s homes. ER nurse
Grace Llewellyn has lost her faith and her sense of safety, until she meets
Mac. Together, they navigate trauma, corruption, and the weight of
life-and-death decisions. Can they survive the night—and learn to trust in God
and each other?
A gritty,
emotional Christian suspense romance about brokenness, faith, and finding love
in the chaos.
THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
We have exciting things planned for you this week on the Suspense Sisters!
Wednesday, we’ll hear from Marji again. She’s reviewing a book from Susan May Warren’s “The Minnesota Kingstons” series. Find out what Marji thinks about JACK, book one in the series. Here’s a little something about it.
There's Trouble in the North...
Her secret blew apart his life—and now she needs his help? If only he could say no…
Ten years should be long enough for Jack to forget the girl-next-door, his kid sister’s bestie and the woman—no, girl—who derailed his life. Now, he sort of likes his loner world as a missing person’s tracker. Well, mostly. But of course, when he returns home for his sister’s wedding, there she is…
Nope, not forgotten at all.
Of course, Jack the Grump has shown up for his sister’s wedding, and by the way he looks at Harper, um, clearly her sins aren’t forgiven. So what—she’s sooo over her best-friend’s brooding, dark oldest brother. Really.
Then a bridesmaid goes missing.
And sure, Harper is a journalist who knows how to sniff out truth, but the clock is ticking and there’s only one person who can help…Perfect. No problem. She’s not going to fall for her childhood crush again. Promise.
Yes, Jack can admit that Harper’s not the girl he used to call Pigtails anymore. She’s all grown up…but he’s not going to get burned again. Still, what’s a guy going to do?
So, find her missing friend, get the bride down the aisle and ditch town before they find themselves in over their heads…or worse.
Dead.
Jack is a best friend’s brother, childhood crush, grumpy-to sunshine, sweet but sizzly romantic suspense about second chances and finding the family you always wanted…
BUY IT HERE
Friday, author Kristen Hogrefe Parnell interviews Suspense Sister Gina Holder about her new book, THE ESCAPE GAME. She’s also giving away an eBook copy of this intriguing novel.
Twenty years ago, the world’s leading enigmatologist disappeared, leaving behind a cipher no one could solve… not without his journal.
Liam Shepherd, a missionary and escape-room enthusiast, is searching for answers of his own. His sister has vanished without a trace, and the trail of clues leads him straight to Demi—and the secrets hidden in her father’s journal.
Their search brings them to the eerie Ives Mansion, where its brilliant and reclusive owner has designed a deadly challenge. Once inside, Demi and Liam realize they’re no longer guests.
They’re players.
Trapped inside a twisted real-life mystery game, they must solve a series of lethal riddles before time runs out. Each puzzle brings them closer to the truth about Demi’s missing father and Liam’s sister —but also deeper into a carefully crafted game where the stakes are far higher than they're ready to face.
With the clock ticking and lives hanging in the balance, Demi and Liam must confront their fears, their pasts, and the faith that may be their only hope of escape.
In this gripping Christian suspense novel, every clue matters—and every mistake could be fatal.
Can Demi and Liam solve the final puzzle before the game ends…or will the escape room become their tomb?
BUY IT HERE
Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!
THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
WE LOVE BOOKS
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Top 7 Fight Scene Mistakes… And Some Self-Defense Advice
Melissa here. This article was originally published in Crime Reads Magazine in 2021. It’s one of my favorite articles, and though it’s written for writers, it’s also interesting and instructional for readers. I hope you like it.
If you don’t read anything else, please at least read the final note at the
bottom.
I’m a 4th Degree Black Belt and Certified Instructor of Taekwondo
and have cross-trained in multiple styles, including Krav Maga, Kali, KFM,
multiple weapons, etc. I trained and taught as a career for over 20 years. I
also write suspense novels. It drives me a little nuts whenever I read a fight
scene that isn’t realistic. It’s probably hard to write a fight scene if
you’ve never trained or never been in a fight. A lot of people fall into that
category, so here are a few tips on mistakes to avoid.
1. You think movies are accurate.
In a lot of ways, they are not. We all love watching those movies that are all
about the tough guy/girl who kick butt over and over. Sometimes, those scenes
will go on for 30 minutes. The problem? Who has that kind of stamina? No one.
Even top fighters have to catch their breath. Fighting is like sprinting flat
out, maybe worse with all the adrenaline—you get tired really fast. If you’ve
ever watched MMA or boxing, you’ll notice the fighters conserve energy as much
as they can. They’re not stupid. They know they can’t afford to waste energy.
And yet in the movies, the actors never seem to get tired. Might have to do
with the fact that the actors throw like 3 techniques and the scene cuts.
They’re not doing those scenes straight through.
The moral? Do not model your fight scenes after movies. Readers often have a
lower threshold for inaccuracy than moviegoers. Don’t annoy them.
2. You assume tough guys can take an endless beating.
Even the toughest of tough guys are human. You hit them hard enough and in the
right spot, they’re going to feel it. This goes hand-in-hand with point 1
above. There are a lot of movies where fights scenes are two really tough
people trading blow after blow and barely seeming to notice. If they’re really
that tough, their punches would have an impact.
And don’t solve the problem by simply not letting your tough guy get hit.
But he/she is just that good, you might be thinking. No one is that
good. Everyone gets hit in a fight. Unless he’s fighting Pee Wee Herman. I
took a knife defense seminar once from a Korean master who’d patrolled the
North Korean border when he was in the South Korean military. They had to use
knives because they technically weren’t allowed to be there and a gunshot
would alert others to their presence. He said rule one was you’re going to get
cut. Accept it at the beginning and go from there. Same thing in hand-to-hand.
You’re going to get hit. It’ll be more believable if your character takes a
few shots.
3.
You don’t give enough detail—fight scene equivalent of talking heads.
John punched, and then Jack punched, and then John kicked. Blah, blah, blah.
HOW did John punch? Where did he punch? Did the strike connect? What did it
sound like—a crack, a thud? Did John miss his target, hit the wall behind Jack
instead, and pain radiated through his hand and up his wrist? Can he no longer
strike with that fist, and now he has to use elbow strikes and left-hand
punches? Did Jack slip on the wet pavement and barely catch his balance? Are
there any bystanders? What are they doing? Egging them on, trying to help one
of the fighters, calling the police? Is it raining and cold, or is the sun
gleaming off a metal roof and blinding John? Add detail, but of course, make
sure it’s relevant and contributes to the action.
4. You don’t know your strikes.
You don’t have to be Jackie Chan, but we can do better than Whack-A-Mole.
You don’t have to have
characters that do butterfly kicks and flying side kicks. In fact, if you
don’t know what those are, please don’t try to put them in a book. However,
you don’t have to stick to punches only. Fights are messy. People are going to
use whatever is at their disposal. I don’t necessarily mean picking up random
objects and striking with them, although that’s certainly an option. There are
hundreds of different ways to strike using your hands, elbows, knees, feet,
etc. A few examples to try (other fighting styles may have different names for
the same techniques):
-
Punch – For refence, a punch uses the first two knuckles, and
the wrist is locked straight. Punching is a lot more difficult to do correctly
and without hurting yourself than you’d think. If you’re writing an
inexperienced fighter, they’re probably going to hurt their wrist or hand.
-
Hammerfist – This is more of a swinging motion, using the side
of your fist. Think of pounding your fist on a door. It can be done in a tight
motion or broad. It can be done in any direction—down, to the side, inverted,
even upward in the right circumstance. This takes very little technical
skill.
-
Elbow strike – You don’t hit with the tip of the elbow, but
with the meaty part of the forearm close to the elbow. Or for a back elbow
strike, you hit with the tricep side of your arm close to the elbow. This is a
close-range strike and can be very powerful. It’s not terribly hard to learn,
but you can hurt yourself if you hit with the tip of your elbow.
-
Front kick – This is a snapping kick to the front. Think of
kicking someone in the groin. It can also be used as a thrusting kick. Think
of pushing someone away with your foot. The striking tool can be the top of
your foot/ankle all the way up your shin, or the ball of your foot. Ball of
your foot is more powerful (smaller surface area), but it’s more difficult to
do.
-
Round kick – A lot of martial arts styles call this a round
house. It’s like a snapping front kick on its side. Lift the knee up to the
side and snap the kick. This is a lot more powerful if kicking with the back
leg, but the opponent has a greater chance of seeing it coming. Same striking
tools as the front kick.
Unless your character is well trained, those are the basic techniques I would
stick with, for the most part. But remember, it doesn’t have to be clean.
Fights are messy. Maybe they fall and round kick from the ground to try to
sweep their opponent. Maybe they get grabbed in a bearhug from behind and try
everything from a back elbow strike that’s really more of a wiggle, to a
hammerfist slipped back to the groin. You can use these techniques in endless
and messy ways.
5. You don’t know your targets.
You need to know where to hit to cause maximum impact, and conversely, where
you can get hit without overwhelming impact. This will help you to more
accurately write reactions to being struck. Hitting the peck area isn’t going
to cause a ton of harm, nor the upper back, upper arms/shoulders, or
thighs—there are ways to cause pain anywhere on the body of course, but for
certain areas, it takes more knowledge and skill. Here are some prime targets
to aim for.
-
Nose. The founder of the organization that I trained in was
asked one time what’s the absolute best thing you would do in self-defense.
The questioner was expecting some deep Korean mystical secret. What did the
Grand Master say? Punch them in the nose. Getting hit in the nose causes a lot
of blood, tearing of the eyes, and disorientation.
-
Throat. It’s fairly easy to protect your throat with your chin,
but if the correct strike is used, hitting the throat can cause your opponent
to choke on their own breath.
-
Ears. Nothing wrong with slapping someone in the ears. Use a
nice firm hand. It’s not a glamourous strike, but it works.
-
Poke them in the eyes. Of course, you could cause significant
damage, but if you’re fighting for your life, do it.
-
Some people say to strike the solar plexus (center of the chest
where the ribs come together), but I think it depends on who you’re fighting.
If it’s a beefy/thick guy, I would opt for one of the other targets.
-
Shin. Kick with the heel or toe of your shoe. Great way to
distract someone (get their grip to loosen) who has you in a bearhug.
-
Foot. Stomping the foot is simple and works. Unless the
opponent has steal-toe shoes on.
-
And everyone’s favorite (or maybe just mine)—groin. Use a
technique you can really slide up in there and gouge. Also, an option in close
contact is simply grabbing the groin, squeezing, and wrenching. (I know that
just made all the male readers clench their legs together. Sorry.)
6.
You think every person and body type makes for an equal
fighter.
Women can fight. Don’t ever believe they can’t. BUT a slender female is going
to have to fight differently than a 200-pound man. Power is speed x mass, and
females have less muscle mass than men. It’s just science. Therefore, female
or small-framed fighters have to be better technicians and smarter. I write a
lot of kick-butt females, and they know their targets and the best striking
tools. They know they often have to evade rather than try to block some huge
guy and get knocked down. They know they have to be quick and light on their
feet.
7. Lack of strategic thinking.
A good fighter is a strategist. He/she will pay close attention to their
opponent. They’ll pick up on their strengths and weaknesses, what their
tendencies are. Do they have a really good long-range skillset, but weak close
in? Get in close and stay there. Do they telegraph certain techniques? Counter
those techniques and use it against them. Are they strongly dominant on the
right? Move around to force them to use their left. A good fighter is very
often patient and will strategically choose when and how to attack. If you’re
writing a skilled character, show that strategy.
Final Note:
The best thing about learning how to write a fight scene, is you just picked
up on some basic self-defense. You probably feel like some of those strikes
you can do, and now you know where to target those strikes. If someone wants
to take your purse, give it to them—it’s not worth it. BUT, for the ladies out
there in particular, if someone physically attacks you, my advice is to go
freaking crazy. Show aggression, not fear. Most attackers are looking for the
easy target. DO NOT be the easy target. Make yourself such a difficult and
crazy target that the attacker abandons the idea of hurting you. Visualize
what that looks and feels like so you’re more prepared if you’re ever
attacked. Even if they have a weapon, do NOT allow yourself to be taken to a
secondary location—that’s where really bad things happen. FIGHT. Hit over and
over and over. Keep struggling. Scream. Gouge eyes. Bite. WHATEVER you have to
do, do it. Until you can get to safety, DO NOT STOP.
Melissa Koslin
is a fourth-degree black belt in and certified instructor of traditional
Taekwondo. During the day, she masquerades as a commercial property manager.
She and Corey, her husband of twenty-seven years, and young daughter live in
Florida, where they do their best not to melt in the sun.
The original article in Crime Reads Magazine:
https://crimereads.com/a-crime-writer-and-taekwondo-instructors-top-7-fight-scene-mistakes-in-fiction/
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
The Real-Life Inspiration Behind The Escape Game
The Real-Life Inspiration Behind The Escape Game
Have you ever heard of the Winchester Mystery House?
Tucked away in San Jose, California, it’s a place that feels
more like a nightmare than a home. Doors that open to nowhere. Staircases that
twist and turn in impossible ways. Hallways that seem to stretch on forever.
Rooms built… and then abandoned.
It’s strange. Unsettling. And completely real.
.jpg) |
| Photo provided by the Winchester Mystery House and used with permission. |
The house belonged to Sarah Winchester, widow of William
Winchester—the man behind the Winchester rifle. After losing her husband and
child, she was left with unimaginable grief. Desperate for answers, she turned
to a spiritual medium.
What she was told would change everything.
According to legend, she was warned that she was being
haunted by the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles. The only way to
survive? Build. Never stop building. Because if construction ever ceased… her
life would end too.
So she built.
For decades, construction continued—day and night—until her
death in 1922. The result? A sprawling, labyrinthine mansion designed not for
comfort, but for confusion. Crooked staircases. Hidden doors. Rooms within
rooms. It’s said she even moved bedrooms frequently, hoping to stay one step
ahead of whatever might be following her.
Whether you believe the legend or not… it’s hard not to feel
something when you look at that house.
 |
| Photo provided by the Winchester Mystery House and used with permission. |
And that’s where The Escape Game began.
I was fascinated by the idea of a place that doesn’t quite
make sense. A house that looks normal from the outside—but inside? It’s
something else entirely.
I’ve always been fascinated by things that don’t quite make
sense—places or objects that feel like they’re hiding something just out of
reach. One of those is the Voynich manuscript, a real historical text written
in a language no one has ever been able to decipher. Page after page of
beautiful, intricate symbols… and yet, no clear meaning.
It’s mysterious. Intriguing. And just a little unsettling.
Because confusion has a way of pulling us in while also
keeping us lost.
So I asked myself: what if I took that feeling—the
disorientation of something you can’t quite understand—and built a story around
it?
What if the danger wasn’t supernatural—but human?
That question led to the creation of the Ives Mansion—a
gothic monstrosity perched on a cliff overlooking Lake Superior in northern
Minnesota. Like the Winchester house, it’s filled with secrets. Twists. Hidden
intentions. And the unsettling sense that you’re never quite where you think
you are.
While the Winchester Mystery House sparked the idea, the
design of Ives Mansion was heavily inspired by the J.J. Hill House in St. Paul,
Minnesota. If you’ve ever seen it—or taken a virtual tour—you know how rich it
is in detail. Ornate woodwork. Intricate fireplaces. Unexpected architectural
choices.
You can explore it here: https://www.mnhs.org/hillhouse/activities/virtual-tour
Those details made their way into the story—elements like
the snake-backed fireplace, the dragon sconces, and other features that give
the mansion its personality… and its secrets.
But at its core, The Escape Game isn’t just about a
house.
It’s about fear.
The villain of the story, Lizette Ives, is trapped by fear
just as surely as Sarah Winchester must have been all those years ago. Fear can
twist reality. It can trap us. It can make us build walls that were never meant
to exist.
But Scripture reminds us of something powerful:
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace…” — 1
Corinthians 14:33 (KJV)
And also:
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power
and of love and of a sound mind.” — 2 Timothy 1:7
Fear may be real. The things we face in this world can be
overwhelming, confusing, even terrifying.
But we are not meant to live trapped inside it.
The Bible never promises that life won’t feel confusing or
frightening at times. But it does remind us that confusion and fear are not
where we’re meant to live.
We’re called to something steadier. Something clearer.
Something grounded in truth.
And maybe… just maybe… the scariest places aren’t the ones
filled with ghosts.
They’re the ones where fear and confusion take hold—and
refuse to let go.
Twenty years ago, the world’s leading enigmatologist disappeared, leaving behind a cipher no one could solve… not without his journal.
Puzzle shop owner Demi Kayne has spent twenty years hoping her father would return home. When she discovers his hidden journal, she finally uncovers the clue she’s been waiting for—but it leads somewhere far more dangerous than she imagined.
Liam Shepherd, a missionary and escape-room enthusiast, is searching for answers of his own. His sister has vanished without a trace, and the trail of clues leads him straight to Demi—and the secrets hidden in her father’s journal.
Their search brings them to the eerie Ives Mansion, where its brilliant and reclusive owner has designed a deadly challenge. Once inside, Demi and Liam realize they’re no longer guests.
They’re players.
With the clock ticking and lives hanging in the balance, Demi and Liam must confront their fears, their pasts, and the faith that may be their only hope of escape.
Can Demi and Liam solve the final puzzle before the game ends…or will the escape room become their tomb?
Giveaway: Comment below to win a paperback copy of The Escape Game by Gina Holder
Click here to learn more: https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Game-Deadly-Survival-Masters-ebook/dp/B0GTX8621Q/
Gina Holder is a Christian award-winning author of romantic suspense and cozy mysteries filled with faith, intrigue, danger, romance, and epic twists you'll never see coming.
She’s had an infatuation with books for as long as she can remember. She loves
sharing uplifting messages from God’s Word and introducing readers to new and
new-to-them authors on her blog. When she’s not writing, Gina enjoys playing
the piano, cooking, reading, watching Hallmark mysteries, and solving “escape
room” puzzles. She loves growing in her craft as an author. She published her
debut novel in 2017. Gina lives in Wyoming with her husband and daughter.
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