SUSPENSE SISTERS: SEPTEMBER GIVEAWAY

Suspense Sisters: September Giveaway

SITDOWN WITH MELISSA KOSLIN

By Patricia Bradley

Join me today for a sit-down with Suspense Sister, Melissa Koslin, as she talks about her new book, Endless as the Rain (she's giving away a digital copy). But first, a little about Melissa.

Patricia: Can you please provide a brief summary of your novel, Endless As The Rain?

Melissa: A young woman is kidnapped by the son of a mobster. Alec is certainly dangerous, but is he a threat to her, or is he truly trying to protect her from attempts on her life? She must uncover the truth of his past, how it entwines with her own, if she wants to survive.

Patrica: What inspired the title Endless As The Rain? What sparked the first seed of this story—an image, a question, a character, or a “what if” moment?

Melissa: The title of the book comes from the poem “Long-Felt Desires” by Louise Labe from the 1500s, which includes the line “endless as the rain.” 

The spark came when I was watching an interview with a writer, and she’d mentioned she came up with her story idea from a dream. I know that might sound silly. But as I thought about it, I realized I had a story that I’d dreamt about years before when I was a young teenager. It was one of those ones that sticks with you for some reason. I remembered how intense the emotion had been. I picked up a random notebook and started writing the story. I haven’t stopped writing since.

This book has actually been published before. I had written for a long time under a different pen name. It was romantic suspense mostly, but not yet explicitly Christian. I have since devoted myself strictly to Christian fiction. I removed all past books from publication and deleted social media profiles and my website- everything. But I decided this book series was too special to leave in the trash pile. I rewrote it to bring it up to my current standards, and the Christian element naturally wove into the story. It makes it make more sense. The book is now as it always should have been, and I’m extremely excited about that.

Patricia: Where did the inspiration for Alec’s character come from?

Melissa: I felt like the book needed a dark, brooding, wounded, but powerful hero, and Alec fills that role perfectly. There is so much in his past that has shaped him in unique ways that other people won’t really understand.

Patricia: What’s your favorite scene? And why.

Melissa: I’m not sure I can nail down just one. I think something I really love is that we know the whole book Alec is hiding things. We know he’s got his hands in some way with the criminal element. We know he’s powerful and feared. And yet, we feel his goodness as well.

Patricia: Where did the inspiration for Adriane’s character come from?

Melissa: I picked the name due to its similarity to the word rain. Adriane sees herself as invisible due to pulling away from the world after her father died five years ago. Yet, she is anything but. I wanted the invisible girl to find her voice and be the hero in a lot of ways.

Patricia: What was difficult about writing this book?

Melissa: This was the first book I ever wrote. It’s been rewritten literally more times than I can remember. When I came at the editing this time, I came with fresh (and more experienced) eyes and completely rewrote large swaths. AND I changed it from 1st person to 3rd person—THAT was a lot of work!

But I think even more difficult than that was how obsessed I got. I had to make sure I didn’t let real life responsibilities slide while I did the rewrite. There is something about this book that has always made me passionate.

Patricia: What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Melissa: The mystery, the constant taunting about who Alec really is and what his real goals are.

Patricia: What do you hope readers will take away from Endless As The Rain?

Melissa: Trust God when he nudges you. His path is always better than our own. Talk to God and ask for guidance. He’s always there ready to listen, eager to guide—no matter how dark your past is.

Patricia: What keeps you at the keyboard, especially on days you would rather do something else?

Melissa: The stories. That’s what keeps me excited after all these years.

Patricia: Is there a part of the book that comes from your own life?

Melissa: Funnily enough, my job in property management helps me write his business a little more realistically. The lion’s share of his business is real estate investing, so I am able to include some details that the average person may not think about. It’s not an exciting aspect, but it made writing those scenes a lot easier and accurate. 

Also, he’s a skilled martial artist. His first introduction to martial arts was traditional Taekwondo simply because that’s where the bulk of my training is. I’m a 4th degree black belt. I love writing fight scenes.

Patricia: How long does it usually take you to write a book from thought to finish?

Melissa: This varies widely. It could be a month (my quickest book), or it could be a year. Before I had our daughter, it was closer to a few months, but now it’s closer to a year.

Patricia:  A couple of fun questions now. What’s your favorite beverage? Coffee, tea or something else?

Melissa: I don’t like coffee. I don’t even like the smell. Never have. 

But I like some tea. I go for the mild ones, not spicey. My favorite right now is Tazo lemon loaf (literally tastes like lemon cake).

Patricia: What are you working on now?

Melissa: I am doing two things right now. I’m finishing up the rest of this series—almost done rewriting the last book. 

And I’m working on a new speculative fiction book—it theorizes that the Amazons are real (though not all the myths are accurate) and that they started due to being inspired by stories of Deborah (Judges chapters 4 and 5).

I researched the Amazons and potential inspirations of the original myth. Some will say past religions and cultures held women up in power, but what I found was almost all about intimate physical aspects of womanhood (mostly related to temple priestesses, who were really just temple prostitutes). It was never actual respect for them as people. But the Bible introduced the radical concept that women are of equal value as men. I can only imagine how that affected the people of that time. 

Patricia: Where can our audience go to connect with you?

Website: www.MelissaKoslin.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaKoslin/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/melissakoslin?lang=en 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissa_koslin/?hl=en 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/melissakoslin/ 

To be entered in a drawing for a copy of Endless as the Rain, be sure to leave a comment with your contact info! You can let us know if you've read any of Melissa's books! Or just say "hi"...

Endless as the Rain by Melissa Koslin

For Adriane Graham, the real question comes down to whether she's Alec Kaden's guest or prisoner…

If she's a guest, then that means Alec freed himself from his family ties to organized crime and that he's telling the truth when he says he's protecting Adriane from dangerous men. It means they both can shake off the shackles of haunted pasts and begin anew together.

If she's his guest, then Adriane Graham is no longer alone. She's safe. And maybe…just maybe…she can finally find the strength to love.

But…

If Adriane is Alec's prisoner, that changes everything.

It means his tenderness is simply a ruse to keep her under control; his kindness is just poisoned hypocrisy. It means Alec is a cruel liar, and that somehow, by some desperate way, she's got to get out of this charming man's well-guarded house…before it's too late.

Troubling questions pour like fountains through Adriane's heart…flowing…

Endless as the Rain.

Join Christian author Melissa Koslin as she explores the fine line between love and danger.


And I didn't forget that today is the anniversary of 911. My prayers are with all of the families who lost loved ones on that date. And pray for this country, that history doesn't repeat itself.

Book Review: Murders in the Marquee by Dana Mentink

 

Last week I had the pleasure of reading Murders in the Marquee by Dana Mentink. To say this book was absolutely delightful would be a massive understatement. My reading typically runs on the darker side of Christian suspense, and Murders in the Marquee veered off that path slightly. It falls somewhere between suspense and cozy mystery, and I found so many things to love as I read. Here are my top three: 

1. The characters were memorable and unique. Each of the characters had their own goals personality--just like people in real life. A few characters made me want to scream (again, just like people in real life). I loved that the main characters were people I could cheer for. 

2. The setting at the Grand Mallard Marquee Hotel added color to the story and ample nooks and crannies for suspicion to fester. The ducks and the hotel staff brought the pages of the book to life. 

3. The gamut of emotions I felt while reading this book were vast. I gasped. I laughed. I cried. Dana Mentink did a fantastic job of holding me hostage in the best way possible.  

I can't recommend Murders in the Marquee enough. If you haven't purchased a copy yet, you can grab one here. You won't be disappointed!

For a chance to win an ebook copy, comment below with your favorite part about staying in a hotel!

WHAT'S HOT in Christian Romantic Mystery and Suspense

 Marji Laine here. 

This book is a great way to round out the dog days of summer!  

Crosscurrent

by Edie James 

---

Former con artist Cara Sweet knows a runner when she sees one.

When a desperate local woman appears in the middle of the night, running from the Neptune Brotherhood, Cara doesn’t see a stranger.

She sees herself.

Just as she and Gabe and their team begin building Sweet and Sawyer investigations into an operation that can bring justice to those who need it most, their first big case threatens to destroy it all. Skye Reeves has spent years hiding in Haven Cove, burying a past built on stolen treasures, forged identities, and dangerous people. But now the same shadowy network that nearly killed Gabe's brother has caught up with her.

The timing couldn't be worse. For the first time in his career, Gabe has no badge to rely on. He’s left the police force behind to build Sweet and Sawyer Investigations alongside Cara—a partnership that’s becoming far more personal than either of them expected.

The closer Gabe and Cara work together, the harder it gets to ignore their growing feelings—or the secrets still standing in the way of their future.

And now the Neptune Brotherhood is circling.

This time, Haven Cove may not survive the currents.

THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS

We have exciting things planned for you this week on the Suspense Sisters!

On Tuesday, Suspense Sister Marji Laine will tell us what’s hot in inspirational suspense and mystery.

Wednesday, Suspense Sister A.D. Lawrence will review MURDERS IN THE MARQUEE by Dana Mentink. She’ll also be giving away a copy of this exciting book!

In this witty historical murder mystery set in a San Francisco hotel, an unlikely trio of amateur sleuths must uncover a killer before another guest checks out for good. This first book in the Murder Most Fowl Mysteries is perfect for fans of Only Murders in the Building.

In 1905, the Grand Mallard Marquee is well known for its iconic style, as well as its daily duck parade. For Saul Niffler, a reformed jewel thief, working at the luxurious hotel offers a much-needed second chance. Staying out of trouble and in gainful employment is essential. Which makes seeing a body plummet from a penthouse window extra complicated.

Except…did he see it? There’s no body to be found, and Saul knows he should concentrate on his new duties as “Duck Commandant” rather than meddle. If only Kitty Rossi, a persistent young guest yearning to be a Pinkerton detective, would leave well enough alone. Kitty has already roped in Henry, the elevator man, to investigate suspicious goings-on around the hotel. And against his better judgment, Saul feels compelled to join them.

Between the mystery of Saul’s missing predecessor and a grisly discovery in a drain, all signs point to murder most fowl. And with a cold-blooded killer roaming the Marquee’s lavish corridors, keeping his job may be the least of Saul’s problems…

ORDER IT HERE 

Friday, author Patricia Bradley interviews Melissa Koslin about her new book, ENDLESS AS THE RAIN.

For Adriane Graham, the real question comes down to whether she's Alec Kaden's guest or prisoner…

If she's a guest, then that means Alec freed himself from his family ties to organized crime and that he's telling the truth when he says he's protecting Adriane from dangerous men. It means they both can shake off the shackles of haunted pasts and begin anew together.

If she's his guest, then Adriane Graham is no longer alone. She's safe. And maybe…just maybe…she can finally find the strength to love.

But…if Adriane is Alec's prisoner, that changes everything.

It means his tenderness is simply a ruse to keep her under control; his kindness is just poisoned hypocrisy. It means Alec is a cruel liar, and that somehow, by some desperate way, she's got to get out of this charming man's well-guarded house…before it's too late.

Troubling questions pour like fountains through Adriane's heart…flowing…Endless as the Rain.

ORDER IT HERE 

Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!

THE SUSPENSE SISTERS

WE LOVE BOOKS

Returning to My Roots and The Stories That First Captivated Me!

 Long before I began writing suspense novels of my own, I loved stories filled with shadowy houses, buried family secrets, and heroines who could never be certain whom or what to trust.

Authors such as Phyllis A. Whitney, Victoria Holt, and Mary Stewart were masters at creating that atmosphere. Their books drew readers into unfamiliar places where danger seemed to hide behind every locked door. The setting became almost as important as the characters, and the past was never truly finished with the present.

Those novels taught me that suspense doesn’t always arrive with an explosion or a gunshot. Sometimes it begins with a sound in an empty room. A door that should be locked but isn’t. A photograph that raises more questions than it answers. Or a memory that returns in fragments—and may not mean what you think it does.

I’ve always wanted to write one of those stories and so when I began writing The Memory House, I had the opportunity to step beyond the kind of romantic suspense I usually write and explore something different: a psychological thriller with gothic undertones.

https://amzn.to/3NhHYKY

It was both exciting and a little intimidating.

Coldwater Hollow is a crumbling Victorian estate in rural Oregon filled with locked rooms, hidden passages, old journals, and disturbing recordings. But the true darkness in the story doesn’t come from anything supernatural. It comes from the secrets people keep, the damage families inflict in the name of protection, and the frightening realization that our own memories may not always be trustworthy.

At the center of the story is Elise Warren, a grief counselor who has spent her life helping others confront painful losses while avoiding the unanswered questions from her own childhood. Returning to Coldwater Hollow forces her to face those questions—and to uncover the truth about a mysterious little girl named Ivy.

Writing Elise’s story allowed me to explore memory, identity, trauma, and the ways our minds sometimes protect us from truths we aren’t ready to face. It also let me return to the kind of atmospheric suspense I loved as a reader, while giving it my own contemporary psychological twist.

Here’s more about The Memory House:

Some truths aren’t buried.
They’re hidden inside us.

When grief counselor Elise Warren inherits Coldwater Hollow, the crumbling Victorian estate of her estranged father, she expects to settle his affairs and finally leave the past behind.

Instead, she finds hidden journals, secret recordings, and evidence that her father’s controversial psychological treatments may have harmed more than they healed.

As Elise digs deeper, fragments of her childhood begin surfacing—memories of a frightened girl named Ivy, whispered warnings from her long-missing mother, and a darkness lurking beneath the house itself.

But the more Elise uncovers, the less she trusts her own mind.

Someone has been inside Coldwater Hollow.

Someone is watching her search for answers.

And someone desperately wants one missing piece of evidence to stay buried.

Because if Elise remembers what really happened twenty years ago, she may discover that the greatest mystery was never what happened to Ivy.

It’s who Ivy was.

And the truth could destroy everything she believes about herself.

I’m giving away an eBook copy of The Memory House to one reader!

To enter, leave a comment answering this question:

Do you enjoy suspense novels featuring old houses and long-buried family secrets? If so, who is your favorite book in this genre that has stayed with you?

Be sure to include your email when you respond. I can’t wait to hear your answers, and perhaps discover a few new books to add to my own reading list.

Mary