Among The Innocent By Mary Alford

Among the Innocent

by Mary Alford

Publisher: Revell

ISBN: 9780800740269

Sometimes I'm surprised when an author reaches out to me asking me to review their book. I'd seen so many incredible reviews about this book I never expected the author to reach out to me. When she did, I couldn't say, "No." She sent me her book for review.

Summary:

When Leah Miller's entire Amish family was murdered ten years ago, the person believed responsible took his own life. Since then, Leah has left the Amish and joined the police force. Now, after an Amish woman is found murdered with the same MO, it becomes clear that the wrong man may have been blamed for her family's deaths.

As Leah and the new police chief, Dalton Cooper, work long hours struggling to fit the pieces together in order to catch the killer, they can't help but grow closer. When secrets from both of their pasts begin to surface, an unexpected connection between them is revealed. But this is only the beginning. 

What will it mean for Leah--and Dalton--when the full truth comes to light?

My Review:

Holy smokes! What a fantastic introduction to this author!

Having never read any of her books before, but seeing fantastic reviews about the story, I figured I'd give it a go! Let me tell you, Among the Innocent did NOT disappoint!

I was hooked from the prologue until the very last page. Even in the prologue I became attached immediately to one of the characters. Then we meet the main characters of the story and it's a thriller from the get-go. I think that while it's set around an Amish community, I wouldn't consider it Amish fiction. Definitely more suspense!

Leah is an incredibly strong character! Everything she's been through with the murder of her family and trying to move on with her life only to have it explode in her face as she approaches the 10th anniversary of their killing shows her tenacity to survive!

Dalton was a bit of a mystery as he takes over as the police chief. The timing couldn't be any worse and now he has to jump in head first to new murders in the community. His secrets were interesting to uncover along the way as well!

Let me just say, the evilness that filters through the bad guy in the story is palpable. It just oozes on the page. I would say this isn't a book you want to read late at night, by yourself. Well, except for the fact that you'll have a very hard time putting the book down because it'll have you riveted!

There's a twist to the story that was a bit (not entirely) unexpected, but the way it's all explained put a stunned look on my face, I'm sure.

Now that I'm finished with this story I want to go find all of the author's other books!

About the Author:

Mary Alford is a USA Today bestselling author who loves giving her readers the unexpected, combining unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots that result in stories the reader can't put down. Her titles have been finalists for several awards, including the Daphne Du Maurier, the Beverly, the Maggie, and the Selah. She and her husband live in the heart of Texas in the middle of 70 acres with two cats and one dog. Learn more at www.maryalford.net.

Dead Sea Conspiracy By Jerry B. Jenkins + GIVEAWAY

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Dead Sea Conspiracy by Jerry B. Jenkins, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I was sent this book as part of this book tour. The review is my personal opinion.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Dead Sea Conspiracy
Series: Dead Sea Chronicles #2
Author: Jerry B. Jenkins
Publisher: Worthy Books
Release Date: August 23, 2022
Genre: Christian Suspense, Dual Timeline (Biblical & Contemporary) 

In Book 2 of the Dead Sea Chronicles, archaeologist Nicole Berman is about to discover the key to unifying three major religions, if a dangerous and evil enemy doesn’t stop her first. 

She is the first woman to be awarded a permit to lead a dig in Saudi Arabia and believes what she hopes to discover has the power to rewrite history. She assembles a team that will ultimately surprise – and in some cases – betray her. In a parallel storyline, readers are launched back to ancient Ur where young Abram is sent to learn from his forebears, who tell him firsthand stories of being on the ark during the Great Flood.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indie Bound | Christianbook | BookBub

My Review:

This was an interesting conclusion to this duology. While in the first book the first two timelines didn't make sense on how they'd come together, after reading book two I look at it as a funnel. In book one the timelines are far apart, but the closer we got to Abraham's life it starts to come together.

Book two picks up right where the first one leaves off. Doctor Nicole still seems like a flat character. The author tries to write her as intense, but oftentimes I didn't find her to be that strong of a character. She has an end goal in mind, but seems very naive to what her dig means to not only her team, the Saudis, and the world at large although she says she does.

There were parts of the story that got my attention, especially as more comes to light in regards to those on her team, but other parts of her storyline felt like space filler. There is an interesting twist that I was rather surprised about. I also felt like the author was really trying hard to get a message across about salvation that didn't seem...subtle? It just didn't feel like it flowed "naturally"?

I ended up liking the Biblical times timeline better this time. I think it's because I read the book and didn't listen to it. Terah is still a rather simpering man. I liked that God didn't give up on him even after all of the evil he did. Honestly, I would've preferred to follow his wife, Belessunu. lol She was much easier to read and like, but then we wouldn't have been able to see the change in Terah and his (very weak) faith in the Lord.

I ended up liking how the storylines ended in both times, although I would've liked more closure in the current timeline. I could see more books springing off the current timeline. I liked that the Biblical time followed Scripture and the stories we know about Abraham, Sarah, and Issac.  

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Jerry B. Jenkins' books have sold more than 73 million copies. Twenty-one of his titles have reached the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal best-seller lists. The phenomenally best-selling Left Behind series inspired several movies, one starring Nicolas Cage and another starring Kevin Sorbo. Jenkins has been featured on the cover of Newsweek and his writing has appeared in Time, Reader's Digest, Guideposts, and dozens of other periodicals. Jenkins owns the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, through which he trains thousands of aspiring writers. He is a member of the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame and chairs the Creative Writing major at Colorado Christian University. He and his wife, Dianna, have three grown sons, including Dallas, creator and director of The Chosen TV series.

Connect with Jerry by visiting jerryjenkins.com to follow him on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive signed & personalized copies of Dead Sea Rising (paperback), Dead Sea Conspiracy (hardcover), and a $50 Visa gift card. 

(9) additional winners will receive signed & personalized copies of Dead Sea Rising (paperback) and Dead Sea Conspiracy (hardcover).

 

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 16, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 23, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

The Apple Creek Announcement By Wanda E. Brunsetter + GIVEAWAY

Welcome to the Takeover Tour for The Apple Creek Announcement by Wanda E. Brunstetter, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Apple Creek Announcement 

Series: Creektown Discoveries #3 

Author: Wanda E. Brunstetter 

Publisher: Barbour Fiction 

Release Date: August 1, 2022

Genre: Fiction / Christian / Romance

An Artist Seeks Her Birth Mother 

Welcome to Apple Creek, Ohio, where a piano teacher has a fascination with painting the rural Amish landscapes around her home. Andrea Wagner has made it to her thirties feeling like she has had a charmed life and finally has fallen in love with Brandon Prentice, a local veterinarian. But then she discovers she was adopted—and all she thought she knew about herself has crumbled. Andrea becomes so fixated on finding her birth mother that she pushes Brandon away. A friend suggests Andrea write to the “Dear Caroline” column in the newspaper for romance advice, and she finds herself revealing her issues with being adopted in the letter. “Dear Caroline” receives the letter but struggles to find the right advice given her own conflicted past. What will Andrea lose before she finds herself again?  

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Christianbook | BookBub  

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written more than 100 books translated in four languages. With over 11 million copies sold, Wanda's stories consistently earn spots on the nation's most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.

Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs. 

When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Connect with Wanda by visiting www.wandabrunstetter.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of The Apple Creek Announcement and a $15 Amazon egift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight August 17, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on August 24, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Deception By Patricia Bradley

Deception

by Patricia Bradley

Publisher: Revell

Series: Natchez Trace Park Rangers

ISBN: 9780800735760

I wasn't ready to leave Natchez Trace, but also couldn't wait to read Deception, book 4 in the series. Thankful to the publisher for sending me the book for review.

Summary:

She refuses to let someone from her past define her future.
But does she really have a choice in the matter?

After being forced to kill an FBI agent gone rogue in self-defense, ISB ranger Madison Thorn is happy to be working in the fraud and cybercrimes division. At least numbers don't lie. So she's less than thrilled when she's drawn into a violent crime investigation in Natchez, Mississippi. She could also do without being forced to work with former-childhood-enemy-turned-infuriatingly-handsome park ranger Clayton Bradshaw.

When a woman who looks just like Madison is attacked on the same night Madison's grandfather is shot, it becomes clear that there is something much bigger going on . . . and that Madison herself is in danger. Madison and Clayton will have to work together--and suppress their growing feelings for one another--if they are to discover the truth before it's too late.

My Review:

What a crazy conclusion to this series! I couldn't believe how much happened in Deception from pretty much the start!

We meet Madison on her way to Natchez Trace and simultaneously meet Clayton. And then, people start being shot and dying! From beginning to end. Let me just say, the last person you wanted to know is Madison! lol 

There were so many layers to this story! There was a LOT going on, but not so much you can't keep it all straight. As the layers are peeled back, trying to figure out who the bad guy is gets harder and harder. I was pretty sure who it was a couple times, but I was mostly wrong. Trying to untangle it all proved more than difficult.

My heart went out to Madison. You know characters deal with a variety of issues, but Madison couldn't get away from blow after blow. Clayton was a great contrast with his calm demeanor helping her each step of the way. Of course, he had some of his own demons to contend with, including an addiction he's recovering from.

There's definitely a faith element in the story, but I would've liked to see more of a development with it in regards to Madison. It was good to see Clayton struggling with the growth of his faith through a variety of circumstances. 

If you want to be surprised constantly throughout a story, look no further!

About the Author:

Patricia Bradley is the author of Standoff, Obsession, and Crosshairs, as well as the Memphis Cold Case novels and Logan Point series. Bradley won an Inspirational Reader's Choice Award in Romantic Suspense, a Daphne du Maurier Award, and a Touched by Love Award; she was a Carol Award finalist; and three of her books were included in anthologies that debuted on the USA Today bestseller list. She is cofounder of Aiming for Healthy Families, Inc., and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Sisters in Crime. Bradley makes her home in Mississippi. Learn more at www.ptbradley.com.

Free Fall By Nancy Mehl

Free Fall

by Nancy Mehl

Publisher: Bethany House

Series: The Quantico Files

ISBN: 9780764237652

I was excited to finish The Quantico Files series by Nancy Mehl! There's been a lot of anticipation for Free Fall. The publisher sent me the book for review on behalf of the author!

Summary:

The closer she comes to the truth, the deadlier her chase gets. 

FBI behavioral analyst Alex Donovan and her colleague Logan Hart have been called upon to write a profile for a missing woman, but a little digging quickly turns up more disappearances in Virginia with the same physical description. 

Alex is in a race against the clock to rescue the missing victims, so when the UNSUB makes demands of her in exchange for information, Alex takes the bait. But when her life is put in jeopardy, Logan must do whatever it takes to track them down before time runs out.

Alex works to think one step ahead of the suspect, but the more Logan and the BAU learn about the serial kidnapper, the more they fear Alex may not make it out alive.

My Review:

Well, if it's any indication of how deep I was in to Free Fall, I stayed up so late reading that I could barely keep my eyes open.

This was a twist on a movie I never saw in the theaters because I can only handle so much. In fact, I was so engrossed in this story that I woke up in a bit of a panic on the second night! The storyline was definitely getting into my psyche. lol

I really enjoyed, once again, how the author gives us a glimpse into how profilers work. I can't even imagine what it's like living in their brains! Trying to work out all of the small bits of information they have to figure out who the bad person is is fascinating. Alex seemed more "centered" in book three. I think she'd been through so much and grown as a character that now in book three she seems to have "normalized" as much as she can. I thought Logan's storyline was an interesting one as well.

Needless to say, the storyline was creepy. I actually guessed what was going on not too far into the story, but trust me, it didn't make it any less nail biting. There were a couple uses of God's name that I felt were in "vain" and not necessary. On the opposite end of the spectrum though, I loved that the characters would pray together, individually, and talk openly about their faith. I'm always thankful when an author doesn't shy away from adding that strong element to the story!

The end happened way too quickly for me. I would've liked another half of a chapter or so to get a bit more closure or understanding or maybe even a little more of a struggle where the bad guy revealed more about his craziness. I don't know, it just ended so fast I wasn't quite prepared.

And then there's another ending which I felt, after three books, I would've liked to be more of a fly on the wall for the truths to come out instead of having it explained to me in just a paragraph or two.

That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the story as well as the entire series! I look forward to more suspense/thrillers from the author!

About the Author:

Nancy Mehl (www.nancymehl.com) is the author of more than forty books and a Christy Award finalist, as well as a Carol Award winner, the winner of an ACFW Book of the Year Award, and the winner of the Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense in the inspirational romance category. Her short story, "Chasing Shadows," was in the USA Todaybestselling Summer of Suspense anthology. Nancy writes from her home in Missouri, where she lives with her husband, Norman, and their puggle, Watson.