Meet Axel! And a Chance to Win a Copy of the E-book!

 

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of anything Christy Barritt writes. So, when I saw the book, Axel, on the new release list, the cover caught my attention right away. Take a look and you will see why.  

Axel is Book 2 of the Lantern Beach Blackout: The NewRecruits. I confess I haven’t read book 1 yet but after finishing Axel’s story, I’m anxious to dive into Rocco.

The sparks are there between Axel and Olivia from the beginning when Axel rescues her from her ex-fiancé who shows up at Olivia's work unexpectedly.  

When Tristan, Oliva’s ex, shows up at her apartment, Oliva has to come up with something to get him to leave her alone. So, she tells him she and Axel are engaged.

But Oliva has no idea Axel’s private security agency, Blackout, is looking into the business owned by Tristan's father for more than just identity theft as she believes. Oasis Management Systems is somehow connected to the disappearances of young women up and down the East Coast.

With Olivia’s help, she and Axel rush to figure out the truth behind the missing women and Oasis’ connection before the next targeted woman goes missing.

The suspense and the growing romance between Axel and Oliva kept me turning pages. Both Olivia and Axel have had their hearts broken in the past and are naturally wary about giving their hearts away again. But in the end, they can’t fight the attraction they feel for each other and love wins out.                                            

I love stories that deal with wounded hearts finding love again. What about you? What’s your favorite type of romance in a story?

Comment for a chance to win an ebook copy of Axel. Be sure to provide your email. I’ll announce the winner next Wednesday, May 19^th.

 

Blessings, always,

 

Mary Alford

www.maryalford.net  

    

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE

Wondering what's new in inspirational suspense and mystery this week? James R. Hannibal has a brand new suspense, The Paris Betrayal, recently released from Revell Publishing. 

Here's a little bit about the story: After discovering a devastating bioweapon in Rome, Ben Calix returns to the French capitol to find his perfectly ordered world in chaos! With infection swiftly claiming his body and the Company's plan to destroy this enemy without his help, can Ben find the answers he needs to stop the attack he knows is coming? 352 pages, softcover from Revell.

Buy it HERE

THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS

 

We’re planning another great week on the Suspense Sisters. Check out our posts, our interviews, and our awesome giveaways!

THIS WEEK:

On Tuesday Mary Ellis will tell us What’s Hot in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery. 

 

On Wednesday Mary Alford will review Christy Barritt's new book, AXEL: Lantern Beach Blackout: The New Recruits Book 2. You could win an eBook copy of the book!

Women are missing. Private security firm Blackout must find them before another victim disappears.

Axel Hendrix likes to live on the edge. That’s why being a Navy SEAL suited him so well. But after his last mission, he cut his losses and joined Blackout instead. His team’s latest case involves an undercover investigation on Lantern Beach.

Olivia Rollins came to the island to escape her problems—and danger. When trouble from her past shows up in town, she impulsively blurts she’s engaged to Axel, the womanizing man she’s seen while waitressing. Now, she may not be the only one in danger. So could Axel.

Axel knows Olivia might be his chance to find answers and that acting like her fiancé is the perfect cover for his latest assignment. But he doesn’t like throwing Olivia into the middle of such a dangerous situation. Nor is he comfortable with the feelings she stirs inside him.

With Olivia's life—as well as both their hearts—on the line, Axel must uncover the truth and stop an evil plan before more lives are destroyed.

You can order it here! 

On Friday, we’ll hear from Mary Ellis who is posting about Kylie Logan's new book, A TRAIL OF LIES. We’ll find out how HRD (cadaver) dogs are used in police work. Kylie is giving away a hardback copy of her book to someone who leaves a comment, along with their contact information.

A TRAIL OF LIES

A Trail of Lies is the third in the Jazz Ramsey mystery series from national bestselling author Kylie Logan.

Jazz Ramsey is just getting used to the idea that her on-again-off-again beau, Nick, might actually be a permanent fixture, when she gets an alarming call in the middle of the night from his mother, Kim: there’s a dead man in her backyard. Kim has a long history of drinking and a vivid imagination, so when Jazz’s human remains detection dog, Wally, finds no evidence of a body, Jazz thinks she can breathe easy.

But when the body of a middle-aged man, Dan Mansfield, is discovered in a nearby park, and a photo of Nick and his mom is found in his pocket, Jazz has to admit that something isn’t adding up. Kim claims not to know who Dan is, but the cops find out soon enough: he’s a recently paroled convict who served thirty years for murder. And when Jazz traces his crime back to a bar fight with an antiques dealer, she ends up with more questions than answers.

Meanwhile, no one wants her poking around—not Nick’s mom, nor the Motorcycle-riding ex-con she connects to Dan, nor Nick himself, who seems worried about Jazz’s safety, but also about what she might find. But Jazz has never been one to take no for an answer, and she won’t give up now—even if it means risking her own life.

Order your copy here! 

 

The Suspense Sisters

 

We love books!

Why Emma Doesn't Like Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

I’d started a different post when I received a note from a reader that sent me in a different direction. That ever happen to you? Start one idea and a better idea comes along?

Anyway, the reader (and you’ll recognize yourself) wanted to know "how in the world Emma from Obsession couldn’t like chocolate chip cookies?" She thought everyone liked CC cookies. After I answered her, I…oh, do you want to know why Emma doesn’t like chocolate chip cookies, too? It’s because I don’t like them. I used to like them until I made a batch and ate every one of them right after they came out of the oven. Made me sick, therefore CC cookies no longer appeal to me.


Anyway, it got me to thinking about how many of my traits and/or experiences go into my books. Quite a few, actually.

Take my very first book, Shadows of the Past. In the storyline, there's a safe room where runaway slaves were hidden until they could be smuggled out through a tunnel to the caves near the Tennessee River and then up north. That came straight from a friend's home in Maine I visited a year before I wrote the book. The house had been built in the late 1700s as an inn and tavern. There were even holes from Redcoat bullets during the American Revolutionary War. 

Walking down the same stairs (with their original wood) made goosebumps on my arms. She showed me the room, no bigger than an 8'x8' and the tunnel that provided an escape route to the dock where a boat waited to take the escaped slaves to Canada. 

In Silence in the Dark, the opening scene came from a sad experience with a childhood friend who was killed. It was a unique way to honor her memory.  

Sometimes the stories didn't come from my experiences, but from something I'd always wanted to do. Like Justice Buried, set at the Pink Palace in Memphis. I spent so many Sunday afternoons there that the museum felt like a second home. The heroine, Kelsey Adams, is a rock climber, something I've always wanted to do, but never got the opportunity. Well, I lived my dream through Kelsey! And you know what? Rock climbing isn't on my bucket list any longer. :-)

Next time you read one of my books and wonder why the heroine does or doesn't do something, it just might be because it's a reflection of the author. 

If you have any questions or just want to make a comment, do so. I'm giving away a copy of Obsession to one randomly drawn questioner. Be sure to leave you contact information so I can contact you.

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE

Wondering what's new in inspirational suspense and mystery this week? Melissa Koslin has a brand new suspense, Never Miss, releasing today from Revell.

Here's a little bit about the story: Former CIA sniper Kadance Tolle possesses a special set of skills and a rare pedigree. She comes from a family of assassins, and by saving Lyndon Vaile's life she risks being found by them. Despite the danger, Kadance feels compelled to help Lyndon discover who is after him--and his research that seems to prove that the Ebola virus was manmade and is about to be weaponized.

With shadowy figures pursuing them and a Mastermind watching their every move, Kadance and Lyndon must scramble to stop an impending bio-attack at the State of the Union address. But their warnings fall on deaf ears, and it becomes increasingly clear that there's no one they can trust--except perhaps each other. Strap in for a breakneck story that will have you up all night, hurtling toward the last page as the clock ticks and time runs out.

Buy it HERE

THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS

 

 We’re planning another great week on the Suspense Sisters. Check out our posts, our interviews, and our awesome giveaways!

 THIS WEEK:

 

On Tuesday Mary Ellis will tell us What’s Hot in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery.

 

On Wednesday Patricia Bradley will tell us “Why Emma Doesn't Like Chocolate Chip Cookies.” She’ll be talking about how authors put bits of themselves in their characters. And she’ll be giving away a copy of her exciting new novel, OBSESSION!

Natchez Trace Ranger and historian Emma Winters hoped never to see Sam Ryker again after she broke off her engagement to him. But when shots are fired at her at a historical landmark just off the Natchez Trace, she's forced to work alongside Sam as the Natchez Trace law enforcement district ranger in the ensuing investigation. To complicate matters, Emma has acquired a delusional secret admirer who is determined to have her as his own. Sam is merely an obstruction, one which must be removed.

Sam knows that he has failed Emma in the past and he doesn't intend to let her down again. Especially since her life is on the line. As the threads of the investigation cross and tangle with their own personal history, Sam and Emma have a chance to discover the truth, not only about the victim but about what went wrong in their relationship.

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley will have the hairs standing up on the back of your neck with this nail-biting tale of obsession, misunderstanding, and forgiveness.

You can order it here! 

On Friday, we’ll hear from Roxanne Rustand who will tell us about distractions...and getting things done. (A problem for a lot of us!) She’ll also be giving away an ebook copy of her book, ONE MORE DANCE!

How badly can a relationship be broken before there's just no chance to save it?

When veterinarian Kate Mathers drives past the scene of a terrible accident and sees two ambulances race away, she whispers a prayer for those involved, not realizing that it's her husband's car in flames down in the ditch and that there was a dead woman in the car with him—a complete stranger. And now Jared is in the ICU on the verge of death, and only a miracle can save him.

She's at his bedside, trying to face Jared's precarious situation and also deal with the fact that someone is targetting both her husband and her veterinary practice, and wondering how the most perfect, joyous marriage could have gone wrong. Or did it?

If only they can have one more chance to talk and to forgive, and one more dance in each other's arms….

Roxanne Rustand is the USA Today Bestselling author of forty romance and romantic suspense novels—secular, sweet, and inspirational; both traditionally published and indie. Her books have sold over 2.75 million copies.

Order your copy here! 

The Suspense Sisters

 

We love books!

THE IMPORTANCE OF FLAWED CHARACTERS

 (This was originally posted on The BOLO Squad, a private FB page for readers of CF Romantic Suspense. If you’re not a member yet, just search for The BOLO Squad on Facebook and ask to join!)

What draws you into a story? Is it the plot…or is it the characters? I think the answer is both. Yet how many times have you liked a story but just couldn’t connect to the characters? It happens a lot.

I write suspense and cozy mystery. In both cases, the characters need to be compelling. For cozy mystery, they tend to be interesting and a little bit eccentric. It’s also helpful if they’re funny. Cozy mystery should be fun. The mystery needs to keep you turning the pages, but the characters make the story richer. They tend to influence the overall feel of the book.

However, in suspense, the characters need to be deeper. They will face uncomfortable and even dangerous situations. The plot will most probably challenge them because of their past. How many suspenseful books have happy-go-lucky characters who had perfect childhoods and who whistle their way through shootings, kidnappings, serial killers or…whatever? It could happen, but I’m guessing that by the end of the story, they won’t be whistling anymore!

Some question why the characters in suspense usually have unhappy backgrounds. The reason? Almost all of us have had hurts in our past. With characters that the reader can relate to, when our story takes a dark twist or turn, our characters will react in a way the reader understands. For example, my character, Alex Donovan, who is in my Quantico Files series, lost her parents when she was young. She had to move in with a mentally ill aunt who didn’t know how to keep her house clean. Alex, as a 12-year-old girl, had to spend her first night in her aunt’s house, sitting on a chair in her bedroom, keeping an eye out for the roaches that scurried out when she turned out the light. Because of that, she developed a fear of the dark. Now, when something happens in my story that puts Alex in the dark, the reader can relate to her reaction.

In inspirational suspense, it’s even more important. I want readers to relate to the character’s journey out of fear through the love and deliverance we can find in Christ. If they can understand a character’s spiritual struggle, hopefully, it will minister to them personally. That’s the most important reason I write – to let readers know that there is hope in Christ for whatever they’re facing. I want to bring them closer to the One who has the answer to every fear or challenge we encounter.

Has a certain character in a mystery or suspense novel really connected to you in a personal way? Tell us about it. I’ll pick one random answer and that person will win a Kindle copy of NIGHT FALL, the first book in my Quantico Files series.

Nancy Mehl

 

What Makes a Good Mystery? (Volume 1)

I love a good mystery, but what is it that makes a mystery good? Is it the plot – the whodunnit with twists and turns? Is it the characters that fill in the gaps and the detective – amateur or not – whose shrewd observations reveal the truth? Maybe it’s the conflict between good and evil?

I have a growing list of the elements that I like to see in a mystery/suspense story—way too many to put down in just one article. I’ll share them with you a little at a time, though. Here’s the first one.

Intensity

While the story doesn’t have to be a full-fledged suspense for me to enjoy it, there has to be at least one scene full of foreboding where the creepy music enters my mind. A moment when the hero realizes what’s going on and puts a target on his or her back.

This is the moment that, in novelist vernacular, is called MEP – at least in my notations. The explanation of which is full of abstracts and higher-level cognition . . . okay, okay. It stands for Most Exciting Part. Really cultured and professional, huh! LOL! But if this piece of the story isn’t intense, then it’s a meh MEP for me. Entirely forgetful.

On the other hand, if the hero is suddenly and unexpectedly (well, at least the hero doesn’t expect it) thrust into danger, painted into a corner where I can see no escape, I’m up all night making sure that there is indeed escape, and justice is done!

As I read exceptional mysteries and suspense, I have some things that are a must for me to feel that ahhhhhhh at the end of the story. I bet you have some of those as well. 

Share your idea of the most important element of a great mystery/suspense in the comments, and you might just be the winner of a $10 Amazon gift card and a super-sleuth lighted magnifying glass.   

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE

Wondering what's new in inspirational suspense and mystery this week? Susan Lantz Simpson has a brand new suspense releasing today from Zebra. More in the Amish of Southern Maryland series 

Here's a little bit about the story: The first scent of blooming flowers, fresh green fields, and invigorating days of sunshine. A Southern Maryland Amish spring bursts with hope, bright promise--and a practical young widow's chance to try love anew...

With two lively daughters, an active newborn, and a huge farm to tend, Lena Troyer has no time for impossible what-ifs. She just can't let herself be distracted by Samuel Mast's unexpected return. Even though her childhood sweetheart became the man she longed to marry, Samuel never saw or wrote Lena again after his family abruptly moved away. Now a widow, Lena is determined to keep Samuel's helpful ways and irresistible good humor at arm's length--no matter how often he's there when she needs him most...

A restless father with a shameful secret was the reason Samuel's many letters never got to Lena. And it's why Samuel can't bring himself to tell Lena the truth--though he's doing everything he can to regain her trust and prove he's worthy of the resourceful woman she's become. But as a rival for his affections complicates matters, Samuel and Lena must somehow put the past to rest--and believe that faith, honesty, and rekindled love will be more than enough to finally build a family together...

Buy it HERE

THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS!

We’re planning another great week on the Suspense Sisters. Check out our posts, our interviews, and our awesome giveaways!

THIS WEEK:

On Tuesday Mary Ellis will tell us What’s Hot in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery. 

On Wednesday Marji Laine will start an interesting series that explains what it takes to write good mystery. You’ll love her insight.

And…she’s giving away a $10 Amazon gift card and a super-sleuth lighted magnifying glass to someone who leaves a comment! 

On Friday, Nancy Mehl will talk about creating characters that readers can connect to. She’ll also give away an ebook copy of NIGHT FALL to someone who leaves a comment and their contact information.

NIGHT FALL: Book One of the Quantico Files

For any little boy or girl who hears the Train Man speak,
Who feels his rancid breath caress their pretty cheek,
Must close their eyes, pretend to sleep, and very softly pray,
Or else the evil Train Man may carry them away.

Finally free of her troubled upbringing, Alex Donovan is able to live out her childhood dream of working for the FBI. But soon after she becomes a member of the FBI's elite Behavioral Analysis Unit, authorities in Missouri contact them about bodies found on freight trains--all killed in the same way.

Alex never expected to be forced to confront her past in this new job, but she immediately recognizes the graffiti messages the killer is leaving on the train cars. When the BAU sends her to gather information about the messages from her aunt in Wichita, Kansas, Alex is haunted by the struggles she thought she'd left behind forever.

In a race against time to solve the case and recover a deadly virus sample the killer intends to spread, Alex must face how far she'll go--and what she's willing to risk--to put a stop to the Train Man.

You can buy NIGHT FALL here. 

The Suspense Sisters

                                   We love books!

Keeping the Faith

 Characters are like friends. You love each one for a different reason. There are some characters who emerge as favorites for whatever reason. Isabel Connor in Hidden Away is one of those characters. This a suspense book, so the focus is on the action and the danger. However, as the story unfolded, I found myself admiring Isabel. There is an element of surprise in writing that I don't know quite how to explain. I create a character. I know her background and her motives and yet she does and say things that I had not planned but that fit so perfectly. 

Isabel is a woman who has only recently gotten her life together. As a teenager, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time and she fell in love with the wrong guy. All those choices let to her doing jail time for being the getaway driver in robbery. She has since found a relationship with God and has a job opening up and stocking vacation homes near a ski resort for clients. Her life is back on track. She is making better choices. 

But once again and this time not because of her poor choices, she ends up being caught up in a crime and at one point the lawman even suspects her of being involved. Call it bad luck, call it misfortune, call it God's timing. But she fears that all that she has worked to build will be ripped away from her. This is what made me like Isabel. Even with all the bad things that happen and the possibility of everything she has worked for being taken from her and the guilt over her past choices, her default position is to turn to God. They are just little moments in the book, again totally not planned by me, that reveal a woman of deep faith. 

Most people haven't been in trouble with the law, but all of us have had one time or another decided to clean up some aspect of our lives. It could be with finances, or losing weight or toxic relationships or just deciding to keep your house cleaner, or read more, or not be reactive to certain situations. We might be making huge progress. And then a setback happens that was not our doing. You may have been working on losing weight and working out and end up injured. You may have paid down your credit card debt, only to be hit with medical crisis that puts you right back in debt. Always when that happens we have a choice. To throw up our hands and say "see, I told you I couldn't fix that part of my life"  or to persist through the darkness and the set back, to point our feet in the right direction and to give it all over to God. I don't want to minimize setbacks and loss, part of the process of choosing hope and trusting God is going through a season despair and grief. But never to give up hope. 

I would love to hear about one of your favorite characters from a book you have read or tell me about a time when you realized you were at a crossroads after a setback. Leave your name and email address in the comments. I will be giving away copies of Hidden Away so you can meet Isabel too. 

REVIEW OF FORGIVEN AGAIN BY GINA HOLDER

Forgiven Again

I don’t know about you, but every once in a while I find myself in a reading slump. Maybe it was pandemic stress or maybe it was something else, but I found myself in just such a slump not long ago. Usually, when these things hit, I try reading a book in a genre I don’t normally gravitate toward. For some reason, that didn’t pull me out of my rut. Then I read Forgiven Again by Gina Holder. And I was hooked from the first page.

I’d read No Greater Love, the first book in the series, last year and loved it, and book two didn’t disappoint. The characters are relatable and the balance between romance and suspense is perfect in both stories.

One of my favorite parts about Forgiven Again is how human the characters are. They’re flawed and have obstacles they struggle to overcome. At times, I wanted to shake some sense into Kathleen, because I knew she had it in her to be better than she saw herself. I was so invested in her journey as a person that I couldn’t put the book down. The mystery and intrigue were on point, and the secondary characters warmed my heart.

If you haven’t read Forgiven Again yet, you totally should. While No Greater Love doesn’t have to be read first, it’s a fantastic story as well, and I’d highly recommend it.

What do you do to get out of a reading slump? Answer in the comments for a chance to win Kindle copies of both No Greater Love and Forgiven Again. 

A.D. Lawrence

The winner of the Holly Trilogy from last month’s drawing is ***Gail H.*** Keep an eye on your email inbox for some Kindle mail. 

 

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE

Wondering what's new this week in inspirational suspense and mystery? Irene Hannon has a brand new suspense, Blackberry Beach from the Hope Harbor series, recently released from Revell. 

Here's a little bit about the story: Katherine Parker is on the cusp of having everything she ever wanted--fame, money, and acclaim. So why isn't she happy? In search of answers, she comes incognito to Hope Harbor on the Oregon coast for some R&R. Maybe in her secluded rental house overlooking the serene Pacific she'll be able to calm the storm inside. Coffee shop owner Zach Garrett has found his niche after a traumatic loss--and he has no plans to change the life he's created. Nor does he want to get involved with his reticent new neighbor, whose past is shrouded in mystery. He's had enough drama to last a lifetime. But when Katherine and Zach are recruited to help rehab a home for foster children, sparks fly. And as their lives begin to intersect, might they find more common ground than they expected . . . and discover that, with love, all things are possible?

Bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon invites you to come home to Hope Harbor--where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.


Buy it HERE

THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS

We’re planning another great week on the Suspense Sisters. Check out our posts, our interviews, and our awesome giveaways!

THIS WEEK:

On Tuesday Mary Ellis will tell us What’s Hot in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery.

On Wednesday A.D. Lawrence will be reviewing FORGIVEN AGAIN by Gina Holder.

She’s running for governor. He’s a pastor.

Will they risk their lives to keep a secret?

 Annie Staten, now known as Kathleen Phillips, has dreamed of pursuing a political career and following in her father’s footsteps. But Richard was a hated man during his tenure as governor and now his enemies will stop at nothing to prevent his daughter from winning the election.

Ryan Whitestone has loved Annie since high school, but his heart is broken by the woman she has become. When the daughter she gave up for adoption comes back into her life, can he help her heal from her pain and remind her of who she used to be?

Will Kathleen be able to forgive herself, put the past behind her, and find love again?

The continuing story of No Greater Love.

Leave a comment and you could win a Kindle copy of FORGIVEN AGAIN or NO GREATER LOVE!

You can buy FORGIVEN AGAIN here! 

On Friday, Suspense Sister Sharon Dunn will discuss a character she likes from one of her books and will share what inspired her to write about him or her. 

 

The Suspense Sisters

 

We love books!

 

Book Review of THE GATES OF EVANGELINE by Hester Young

Happy Friday, readers of suspense and mystery. Mary Ellis here.

Today I’m reviewing a spooky mystery set in the humid, vine-entangled swamps of Louisiana. I can almost guarantee you won’t figure out this one early. I know I didn’t. The Gates of Evangeline is the debut novel by Hester Young, published by G.F. Putnam & Sons. Debut, as in first book ever. That thoroughly impressed me, since my first novel had nowhere near as complicated a storyline. And it won Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2015. This book is not Christian fiction, but there is no profanity or graphic violence. Our heroine is a journalist who recently lost a child—a horror no parent should ever suffer. She accepts an assignment at a gothic mansion where time seems to have stood still. She is a Yankee in a Southern world and you can’t help but put yourself in the shoes of Charlotte Cates.

I felt the beginning moved too slowly, but that is the fault of the editor rather than the talented Ms. Young. Once the storyline picked up, I could not put this book down. I loved this novel, but the intensity is not for everyone. If you think you might like it, leave me a comment and I will draw a winner of my copy. (No, it’s not signed by the author. I don’t know Hester Young.) Also, I provided a link to purchase on Kindle, hardback, paperback, or Audible download.

Here is the back cover summary: When New York journalist and recently bereaved mother Charlotte “Charlie” Cates begins to experience vivid dreams about children in danger, she’s sure that she’s lost her mind. Yet these are not the nightmares of a grieving parent. They are warnings that will help Charlie and the children she sees, if only she can make sense of them. After a little boy in a boat appears in Charlie’s dreams, asking for her help, she finds herself entangled in a world-famous thirty-year-old missing-child case that has never ceased to haunt Louisiana’s prestigious Deveau family. Armed with an invitation to Evangeline, the family’s sprawling estate, Charlie heads south, where new friendships and an unlikely romance with the estate’s landscape architect—the warm and handsome Noah Palmer—begin to heal her grief-stricken heart. But as she uncovers long-buried secrets of love, money, betrayal, and murder, the facts begin to implicate those she most wants to trust—and her visions reveal an evil closer than she could have imagined.

You can buy The Gates of Evangeline HERE

Remember to leave me a comment, readers, alone with your email address. Have a lovely Spring weekend! ~ Mary Ellis

Something New - Shielding The Amish Witness – And a Giveaway!

 

I love release month! As an author, it is always exciting to see your book in print. To be able to go into a store and pick it is a special feeling.

The story of Shielding the Amish Witness is one that is dear to my heart because it reminds me of the ups and downs in my own life. Sometimes, God lets things fall into place in our lives for His Glory, and sometimes He allows them to fall apart so that we have nothing else to hold onto but Him.

I’ve had many moments when things fell into place and I can see God’s hand in making that happen, and others where I clung to Him and waited for His answer.

The waiting is the hardest part when human nature demands an immediate answer.  

In Shielding the Amish Witness, Faith Cooper returns to her former Amish home after losing everything. For almost a year, she believed her husband’s death came as the result of a police raid that went wrong. Yet nothing is further from the truth when she discovers her husband’s death was deliberate. And at the hands of his brother to cover up his crimes.

What about you? Have you ever asked for answers from God and didn’t get the answer you expected?  

Here is a little about the book:

Seeking refuge in Amish country puts everyone she loves in danger.

On the run after discovering her brother-in-law was behind her husband’s murder, Faith Cooper can think of only one safe place—her Amish grandmother’s home. But when danger follows Faith to the quiet Amish community, her childhood friend Eli Shetler is her only protection. And their survival depends on outlasting a relentless killer…one who has nothing left to lose.

I will be giving away an e-book copy to one reader. I will announce the winner next Wednesday. To be entered simply comment, and be sure to include your email.

Have a Blessed Wednesday! 

Mary 

www.maryalford.net 

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE

Wondering what's new this week in inspirational suspense and mystery? Chris Fabry has a brand new suspense releasing tomorrow from Tyndale House. 

Here's a little bit about the story: Led by divine revelation, eccentric millionaire Gideon Quidley hides a fortune in the West Virginia hills, using Bible verses as clues. Soon, treasure hunters arrive, and local radio DJs T.D. and Waite keep them updated. When a friend goes missing, T.D. must join the hunt himself. Will he discover where true riches lie? 400 pages, softcover from Tyndale.

Buy it HERE

THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS

 

We’re planning another great week on the Suspense Sisters. Check out our posts, our interviews, and our awesome giveaways!

THIS WEEK:

On Tuesday Mary Ellis will tell us What’s Hot in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery. 

On Wednesday Mary Alford introduces her new release, SHIELDING THE AMISH WITNESS! You could win a copy of this exciting book!

Seeking refuge in Amish country puts everyone she loves in danger.

On the run after discovering her brother-in-law was behind her husband’s murder, Faith Cooper can think of only one safe place—her Amish grandmother’s home. But when danger follows Faith to the quiet Amish community, her childhood friend Eli Shetler is her only protection. And their survival depends on outlasting a relentless killer…one who has nothing left to lose.

You can buy it here! 

On Friday, Mary Ellis will talk about THE GATES OF EVANGELINE by Hester Young. You’ll get the chance to win a copy of this interesting book.

When New York journalist and recently bereaved mother Charlotte “Charlie” Cates begins to experience vivid dreams about children in danger, she’s sure that she’s lost her mind. Yet these are not the nightmares of a grieving parent. They are warnings that will help Charlie and the children she sees, if only she can make sense of them.

After a little boy in a boat appears in Charlie’s dreams, asking for her help, she finds herself entangled in a world-famous thirty-year-old missing-child case that has never ceased to haunt Louisiana’s prestigious Deveau family. Armed with an invitation to Evangeline, the family’s sprawling estate, Charlie heads south, where new friendships and an unlikely romance with the estate’s landscape architect—the warm and handsome Noah Palmer—begin to heal her grief-stricken heart. But as she uncovers long-buried secrets of love, money, betrayal, and murder, the facts begin to implicate those she most wants to trust—and her visions reveal an evil closer than she could have imagined.

A Southern Gothic mystery debut that combines literary suspense and romance with a mystical twist, THE GATES OF EVANGELINE is a story that readers of Gillian Flynn, Kate Atkinson, and Alice Sebold won't be able to put down.

  

The Suspense Sisters

 

We love books!

 

Cover questions...can you help? Drawing for a free book. Roxanne Rustand

This spring I've started publishing a five-book series. The first, One More Dance, was out in March. 

The second book in the series, One More Wish, will be out on May 14th.  You can click HERE if you'd like to hear more about it!

But now, I am working on One More Kiss, which will be out in September. Cover decisions are so hard!  ☺  Can I ask for your advice? Below are some ideas for cover art.  Do any of these attract your eye? Make you interested in learning more about the book? 

The dog--and a host of other animals left in the care of the heroine--play a big part in the story.  Leave a comment and be entered in a drawing for a free e-copy of  One More Dance!  

Thanks so much for your help!   

Roxanne

Talking to Elizabeth Goddard

 by Patricia Bradley

Today I'm excited to be talking to Elizabeth Goddard about her new release Present Danger! (And Friday, I'll be giving a review of it on my blog at ptbradley.com/blog--Spoiler alert--I loved it)

Former FBI Special Agent Jack Tanner is working as a detective in Montana when he comes across a body in the national forest during a search and rescue mission. He's committed to finding the killer, even if it means working alongside his old flame, US Forest Service Special Agent Terra Connors.

When Terra discovers that the murder victim had ties to a powerful and dangerous trafficker of archaeological artifacts, the investigation takes a deadly turn--one that hits too close to home. As Terra fears she lacks the courage to face what comes next, Jack is more determined than ever to protect her. But he's failed her before. And if he fails this time, it will cost them far more than just their hearts.

Join bestselling and award-winning author Elizabeth Goddard as she plunges you into a web of deceit made of hidden crimes, open threats, and long-buried family secrets in this gripping first book of an explosive new series.

When I thought about interviewing Elizabeth, I wanted to do something different, so I asked her three questions and she was gracious enough to reply. 

1. Elizabeth, why did you start writing?

Since I was a young child I always loved to read and to make up stories. I spent entire summers reading and some books I re-read. I seemed to excel at writing in school, and somewhere along the way, I recognized there was a burning desire to write inside of me. 

I have to get credit where credit is due—God put that desire inside of me. He gave me the dream, and then made it come true. I felt His call on my life but ran from it for a few years until in 2001, I purchased a devotional that helped people work through answering the question about God’s call on their life. 

I also signed up to attend a writer’s conference and, wouldn’t you know it, before I even attended the conference, I accepted God’s call on my life to write. I joined ACFW and a critique group and started submitting a chapter a week. I have never looked back, and I’m so glad I answered His call.

I'm so glad you did. I have enjoyed everyone one of your books! And thank you for allowing me to endorse this one!

2. Elizabeth, what draws you to the mountains for settings?

When I was growing up, we always took vacations in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. I grew up in East Texas and it’s pretty flat, so we’d make the long drive and spend time in the stunning mountains. I think I got the love of those settings from my parents and those trips. But I don’t just love the mountains, I love the rocky ocean beaches and the redwoods . . . anything that’s awe-inspiring. I can’t say exactly why a beautiful natural setting inspires me, but when I experience something beautiful in God’s creation, I want to write a story so I can spend more time there and I want to share that experience and place with others as well.

I know exactly what you mean. It's like a beautiful sunrise forms a story and it's bursting to get out.


3. Which character in Present Danger is most like you?

Ha! I don’t usually write characters like me, but in this case, I would have to say Terra because she loves the forest.

I loved Tara. And she did love her forest. Thanks for joining us today, Elizabeth. 

Okay, Suspense Sisters' readers, you can find links to purchase Present Danger here, and if you'll leave a comment, I'll enter you in a drawing for the book. The winner will be announced next Wednesday in the comments. 

Don't forget to read my thoughts on Present Danger Friday here.

You might win another book!

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE

Wondering what's new in inspirational suspense and mystery this week? Our very own Mary Alford has a brand new suspense, Shielding the Amish Witness, just released from Love Inspired Suspense. 

Here's a little bit about the story: Seeking refuge in Amish country puts everyone she loves in danger. On the run after discovering her brother-in-law was behind her husband’s murder, Faith Cooper can think of only one safe place—her Amish grandmother’s home. But when danger follows Faith to the quiet Amish community, her childhood friend Eli Shetler is her only protection. And their survival depends on outlasting a relentless killer…one who has nothing left to lose.

Buy it HERE

AND Colleen Coble has a brand new suspense releasing today. Three Missing Days is book 3 in the Pelican Harbor series from Thomas Nelson. 

Here's a little bit about the story: A chilling murder. Chief of Police Jane Hardy plunges into the investigation of a house fire that claimed the life of a local woman as well as one of the firefighters. It’s clear the woman was murdered. But why? The unraveling of Jane’s personal life only makes the answers in the case more difficult to find.

Her son’s arrest. Then Jane’s fifteen-year-old son is accused of a horrific crime, and she has to decide whether or not she can trust her ex, Reid, in the attempt to prove Will’s innocence—and whether she can trust Reid with her heart.

Her stolen memories. Three days of Jane’s past are missing from her memory, and that’s not all that has been stolen from her. As she works to find the woman’s murdered and clear her son’s name, finding out what happened in those three days could change everything. It all started with one little lie. But the gripping truth is finally coming out.

BUY IT HERE