Tag: Thriller

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase

Stolen Secrets by S. F. Baumgartner Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Stolen Secrets: A Thriller (Mirror Estate Series Book 7)

Author: S.F. Baumgartner

Genre: Thriller with Christian elements

Release Date: June 2, 2026

An adopted daughter. A vanished teenager. A secret that must stay hidden.

FBI Special Agent Charlie O’Rourke believed adopting Jamie Beth would keep her safe. But when her best friend vanishes during a school band rehearsal, Charlie discovers the threat isn’t random.

As Jamie Beth desperately searches for answers about her best friend’s disappearance, she has no idea she’s next.

To save his daughter, Charlie must choose between protocol and survival.

Perfect for readers who love the layered conspiracies of Daniel Silva, the emotional stakes of NCIS, and the shadow-war tension of The Blacklist.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

S.F. Baumgartnercrafts fast-paced Christian suspense thrillers, weaving tales of complex characters, secretive operatives, and relentless agents. Her gripping storytelling has earned acclaim, with Living Secrets and Forgotten Secret—Books 1 & 2 of her Mirror Estate series—named Top Picks in the thriller & suspense categories, respectively, at Killer Nashville, and Tangled Secrets—Book 3 of Mirror Estateseries—won couple of awards in the Christian Indie Awards and the Incipere Awards. When she’s not plotting her next twist, she’s binge-watching crime TV shows, like NCIS or playing with her cats. Fans of James Patterson’s style, especially those who appreciate short, punchy chapters, will find much to love in her work.  And as always, her books are all clean.

More from S.F.

Stolen Secrets is the seventh book in the Mirror Estate series, and for me it represents something I didn’t fully realize when I started writing it: the beginning of the end of the Ghost arc.

When I began the series, I never mapped out a long, eight-book storyline for the Ghost. In fact, I didn’t even think about how long that arc might last until around Book 6, Shadowed Secret. That’s when it started becoming clear that the threads surrounding the Ghost, Dylan, and the larger conspiracy needed more room to unfold. Book 8 will wrap up the Ghost storyline, though the Mirror Estate series itself is far from over. There are still many stories left to tell.

One of the continuing mysteries involves Dylan and the buried treasures connected to Mirror Estate. Whether that storyline concludes in Book 8 or continues beyond it is something I’m still discovering as the story evolves.

Stolen Secrets also includes a bonus story titled “Shadow Extraction.” Writing that novelette was one of the hardest parts of the project. It features Olivia in the middle of a black-ops mission that unfolds at the end of her honeymoon in Italy. The emotional and operational stakes in that story made it especially challenging to write, but it also became one of my favorite parts of the book.

Another element I enjoyed writing in Stolen Secrets involves Jamie Beth and Owen. Watching those two characters work their way through danger and figure out how to escape was incredibly rewarding as a writer. Those scenes capture something I love about thrillers—the moment when characters must rely on their own courage and quick thinking to survive.

Looking back, Stolen Secrets feels like a turning point for the series. Secrets are beginning to surface, alliances are shifting, and the long game surrounding the Ghost is finally moving toward its conclusion.

But even as that arc approaches its end, the world of Mirror Estate still holds plenty of secrets waiting to be uncovered.

My Impressions

“Every family had secrets. Probably hers too. She was adopted. That alone meant there was a whole history she didn’t know. A mother. A father. A reason they gave her up.”

I hope I can sleep tonight! I just finished Stolen Secrets, #7 the Mirror Estate series, by S. F. Baumgartner. The novel is touted as a thriller. I had forgotten since the last book just how thrilling, in chilling way. We are following the story of the Ghost, an infamous criminal who is now cooperating with the FBI and CIA. For unknown reasons, the Ghost has decided to help protect 17-year-old Jamie Beth O’Roarke. Jamie was adopted at 5 years old by Charlie and his wife, partly as their answer to prayers and partly as an assignment. “Are you asking me to help you disappear a child?” “I’m asking you to help keep one alive.”

When a friend is mistaken for Jamie and kidnapped, events are set in place that interconnect. Rescue and intelligence-gathering operations are detailed and complicated. And my eyes were absolutely glued to the pages as I read! I could feel the tension, the terror, the confusion, every emotion Jamie and Owen felt as well as those of their parents and all the agents involved in this case. I loved seeing the creativity of Jamie and Owen when the cards were stacked against them.

I was very grateful for the opening pages of the book. Each previous book in the series is summarized. Even better, there is a relationship chart that takes up two full pages. I took pictures and referred back to the charts frequently as I read to get a clearer understanding of all the moving pieces in this story. Plus, there is a map at the beginning of the book. Kudos, Ms. Baumgartner! 

If you love exciting action, multiple characters, rapidly changing scenes, and a complicated mystery, this book and series is for you! I can’t wait for the next book and more of the ongoing mystery to be solved! 

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“He and Charlie weren’t so different, the two of them. Fathers. Willing to sit with devils. For their children, they’d walk through fire.” ( Marco)

“Here was a father who’d spent his whole life running from his family’s shadow, building something clean, something legitimate. And now, for his son, he was sitting at this table with the people he’d tried to leave behind.” (Marco)

“Secrets were the hallmark of his family. And the Ghost’s secrets had a body count.” ( Dylan)

“Welcome to the intelligence community. Everything is compartmented. You only know what and when you need to know.” Fr. Phil

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Superior! I would read the next book immediately if I could! Mesmerizing!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 1

The Lofty Pages, June 1

Simple Harvest Reads, June 2 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 3

Artistic Nobody, June 4 (Author Interview)

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 6

For Him and My Family, June 7

Guild Master, June 8 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, June 9

Blogging With Carol, June 10

Fiction Book Lover, June 11 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 11

Because I said so -adventures in parenting, June 12

The Bookish Ledger, June 13 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, June 14 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, S.F. is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and an eBook copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/9cIN6/stolen-secrets-a-thriller-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, Launch Team, NetGalley, Purchase

What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: What the River Keeps

Author: Cheryl Grey Bostrom

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Released: August 12, 2025

Genre: Women’s Fiction (with notes of suspense, mystery, and a thriller)

Back Cover Copy:
Hildy Nybo is a successful biologist, her study of the Pacific Northwest’s wild fish both a passion and a career. But behind her professional brilliance, Hildy’s reclusive private life reflects a childhood fraught with uncertainty. Despite her father’s love and her mother’s sympathy, she grew up constantly losing even her most cherished belongings, unable to recall where she misplaced them. Haunted by the confusion of those early years, she now records her life in detailed diaries and clings tightly to memory-prompting keepsakes.

Then her mother’s health fails, and Hildy accepts a job near her childhood home, joining a team of scientists who will help restore her beloved Elwha River after the demolition of two century-old dams. There Hildy settles into one of the cabins on her family’s rustic resort―a place she both loves and dreads, for reasons she can’t fully explain.

When local artist Miranda Rimmer rents an adjacent cabin for her pottery studio, Hildy shrinks from such a close neighbor. But then Miranda’s carpenter brother, Luke, shows up to help with construction and captures Hildy’s attention. Now a few years beyond a tragedy that brought him to his knees, Luke recognizes a kindred soul in Hildy, and they build a relationship that dismantles the walls Hildy’s built to keep people out. As troubling pieces of the past surface, Hildy dares to wonder if she can banish the shadows that have burdened her and follow her river’s course to freedom. 


Buy links:

Amazon: https://a.co/d/cL9Epn2

Amazon CA: https://a.co/d/4O1vP8e

Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/4ak264kj

Books-A-Million: https://tinyurl.com/4fn6p679

Christianbook.com: https://tinyurl.com/42dwxrp9

Bookshop.org : https://tinyurl.com/5xfy2dn5

About the Author

A keen student of the natural world and the workings of the human heart, Pacific Northwest author Cheryl Grey Bostrom captures the mystery and wonder of both in her lyrical, surprising fiction.

Her novels Sugar Birds (Christy finalist, Amazon bestseller, and Book of the Year) and Leaning on Air have won more than two dozen industry honors, among which are Christianity Today’s Fiction Award of Merit and American Fiction, Reader’s Favorite, ACFW Carol, Nautilus, Best Book, IPPY, Foreword Indies, and International Book Awards. Kirkus Reviews named Cheryl’s newest work of contemporary women’s fiction, What the River Keeps, as a Best Indies Book of June 2025.

An avid birder and nature photographer, Cheryl lives in rural Washington State with her husband and a pack of half-trained Gordon setters.

My Impressions

“‘There’s Love in that book. It’s a road map out of the dark.’ Out of her anxiety, too?”

What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom is about a brilliant fish/river naturalist in the PNW who, due to childhood issues, could be considered an unreliable narrator. Hiding her true self from most people, Hildy limps solo through life, until the past comes calling and forces a return home. Will this change destroy her, or will she find the strength and courage to overcome fears of the past? Heart-wrenchingly beautiful! This book will tear you up and make you cry before it rebuilds your faith in humanity and God’s ability to take care of his precious chosen ones. 

“They hush me, Daddy. Every fish I see.” At 10, Hildy is overwhelmed by the sense of the amazing, the obvious evidence of a great Creator God when she sees fish. Her father, a warm nurturer, encourages her to look for God in nature. However, her mother, quick to correct Hildy and obviously ashamed of what she deems as “quirkiness,” quickly shuts down Hildy’s searching nature. 

Years later, we find Hildy as a brilliant fish biologist and river conservationist, but a person who has very few social skills and very definite oddities, stiff-arming most people. 

I loved Junie and her hubby Otis who love the family and serve the family business selflessly. While they love unconditionally without judgement, Otis does tell Hildy, “‘You want to get free a those chains a yours? All that anxiety?’ Here we go again. ‘You know I do.’ ‘Then—‘ ’Stop, Otis. You’ve told me fifty times.’ Maybe not fifty, but while Fourth of July campers had settled into the resort’s quiet hours, he’d repeated himself so often she could hear him in her sleep: ‘Do some diggin’. Find the lie.’”

Against incredible odds, when Hildy meets new cabin renter Miranda’s brother, Luke, a gradual rapport develops between the two. Luke’s had losses in the past, but he has learned to turn them over to God, so he can have the strength to move on. Hildy and Luke dance around a relationship, with Hildy’s issues rising up like a monolith dam to separate them. Luke wants to face Hildy’s stunting emotional issues with her- will she allow him that close? Will Hildy be able to accept that someone could love her wholeheartedly, and how will surprising revelations from her past affect or stall her growth? 

Bostrom creates Hildy, a character so full of anxiety and fear for her own sanity, that I thought she’d be hard to relate to. Instead, I learned to love her deeply. I wonder how many other people may be out in our world, limping by on their self-made crutches when God wants to heal the source of the problem. 

One of my top books of 2025!

I received a copy of the book from the author and Tyndale Publishers. I also bought my own copy. No positive review is required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“That locust verse I promised to send you, different version: ‘I will give you back what you lost.’” – Luke

“Some lies get handed down, become strongholds kids are raised with.” – Luke

“That cabin’s a big old stove, darlin’, with stories still cookin’ inside…I trust those memories will make sense to you once they’re baked. Some will even be beautiful.”– Junie 

“I’ve spent the better part of my life hiding the fact that I’m crazy, Luke. Crazy. If people knew what goes on in my head, I’d lose what little credibility I have.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior!! I just want to rise and give a standing ovation!

ARC, Bethany House, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, NetGalley, PB, Purchase

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Night Falls on Predicament Avenue

Author: Jaime Jo Wright

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Release Date: April 9, 2024

In 1910, Effie James is living a dream for two. Her younger sister is harboring a secret that has left timid Effie determined to fulfill her daring sister’s grand plan of seeking out adventure in their small Iowa town. When a British gentleman arrives, disrupting their peace with efforts to find the wife many claim lived her final days at the now abandoned house at 322 Predicament Avenue, Effie is thrust into intrigue she couldn’t have prepared for. But what she finds inside will forever link her to the scandal staining the house’s walls and to a woman whose secrets promise a curse.

A century later, Norah Richman is living out her late-twin’s dream of running their great aunt’s bed-and-breakfast on Predicament Avenue–a place Norah believes nothing good can come out of after her sister’s abduction and murder thirteen years ago. Her first guest is a crime historian and podcaster, and Norah resolves to stay far away from the charming and enigmatic man–until another guest is found dead. As they dig deeper, something sinister unfurls that will reveal an ominous unknown far greater than the possibility of death itself.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Jaime Jo, the coffee-fueled and cat-fancier extraordinaire, has entwined her life with the legendary Captain Hook, residing serenely in Wisconsin’s rural woodlands.

Her literary vocation involves penning Gothic tales, a baffling change from that of Austenites, with a preference to the master of dark, Edgar Allan Poe.

More from Jaime Jo

True crime did NOT just become popular in this century! Scour the old newspapers for a full and detailed telling of the latest crime. That’s how I got the idea for Night Falls on Predicament Avenue! Yes! I read an old newspaper article from the late 1800’s in which they described in quite delectable detail, the crime scene of a murder in a house with questionable history. That being said, it’s also important to note, that forensics DID just recently become popular in the last 50-100 years. In the 1800’s, if you were murdered, it was common for your neighbor to tour and trample over your crime scene out of curiosity and/or the hope they might be of service in solving the crime. More likely than not, they were merely wanna-be podcast listeners of true crime shows simply born too early for that technological advancement.

My Impressions

“I can hear the darkness.”

“Sometimes findin’ out the truth is too painful. It’s easier to figure out how to get by an’ pretend the past doesn’t haunt you.”

Haunted, I am. Jaime Jo Wright, led by her self-acknowledged muse of Edgar Alan Poe, offers up one of her eeriest novels yet. What makes Wright, with her themes of death and fear so beloved?

For some, it may be the tendency towards the macabre. Wright pens this dual timeline and includes interludes of an unreliable narrator, totally obsessed with death and God’s judgment. At first, I questioned why I was reading something so dark. However, having read several of Wright’s books, I know that eventually the mysteries will be explained, and specters will be unmasked. Eventually, breaking through the dark clouds of the shadow of death, Wright will present that Ray of Hope that shines brightly enough to tunnel through the darkness victoriously.

Small town Shepherd, Iowa, holds secrets as it sees two murders a century apart. In 1901, the bankers’ daughters, Polly and Effie James, witness a terrible occurrence at 322 Predicament Avenue. Polly, terminally ill, becomes almost comatose after being an eye-witness. Effie, the bookish and more rule-oriented of the two, searches for a way to bring her sister back from what she believes is a premature sickness. Society conspires against Effie at every turn. At risk to her own reputation, Effie befriends a newcomer to town and starts investigating with him, breaking every expectation her parents have for her future.

Nearly a century later, Nora Richman owns 322 Predicament Avenue, capitalizing on its dark history to attract visitors to her B and B. A true-crime podcaster comes to stay, ruffling Nora’s nerves as he revives the two murders, one being that of Nora’s twin sister a decade earlier. Nora is a shell of herself since that event, barely able to leave her home, and wants nothing to do with resurrecting the hurtful past. Another death and a second visitor to the house sets in motion a course of events that could totally break Nora.

Fear of death. This is Effie’s predicament. “When a person lived afraid of death, when they could feel death’s cold breath on their neck every moment of the day, there was no courage left to be had. No anticipation. No hope. Only the force of one’s own will to try to outrun the fear before they were eaten alive by it. Before their greatest fear became their worst reality.” Whew, if reading that doesn’t explain Effie’s life and make you, the reader, afraid, I don’t know what will! Anderson, Effie’s English acquaintance, fears something very much.

Nora doesn’t so much fear death as life itself. Nora’s guest, Sebastian, is afraid of something that is altering his life. Nora has so many questions. How can she stop being afraid? Her friend answers, “He left you to live. So live, Norah. Believe there haven’t been mistakes, only a busted-up old world in need of hope.” The real question Wright challenges us, the reader with, is will we surrender to hope or fear? On what basis?

What an incredible wrap-up! I guessed one culprit, but never in a million years would I have nailed the other villain. Wright also drives home the point people are not as we judge them to be.

Bravo, Miss Wright! I’m ready for your next novel of creepy hope!!

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought my own ecopy and a paperback for my keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Death had been a guest here at Predicament Avenue for decades, and it was clear that Death wasn’t ready to check out quite yet.”

“It’s a’right to admit you’re not a’right.”

“It was as if the sun had gone down at 322 Predicament Avenue the night Naomi’s murdered body had been found, and it had never risen again.”

“What was it about being afraid that pushed a person away from God instead of toward Him?”

“Fear steals our joy and is the agony of those with no hope. It will not define us. Fear is the enemy we will defeat.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent!! Nobody can tell a chilling tale like Jaime Jo Wright, yet bring enough hope into it that you are amazed at the journey, begging for more!!

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 10

Devoted To Hope, April 10

By The Book, April 11

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 11

Inspired by Fiction, April 12

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 12

Texas Book-aholic, April 13

Blossoms and Blessings, April 13

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 14

Blogging With Carol, April 14

Betti Mace, April 15

JESUS in the EVERYDAY, April 15

Live. Love. Read., April 16

For Him and My Family, April 16

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, April 17 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, April 17

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 18

Holly’s Book Corner, April 18

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 19

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 20

Sylvan Musings, April 20

Bigreadersite , April 21

Back Porch Reads, April 21

Lily’s Corner, April 22

Simple Harvest Reads, April 22 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, April 23

Denise L. Barela, April 23

The Lofty Pages, April 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jaime Jo is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 gift card to Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, MI and an autographed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2af9e/night-falls-on-predicament-avenue-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Kindle, Purchase, Revell

Among the Innocent by Mary Alford Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Among the Innocent

Author: Mary Alford

Publisher: Revell

Released: June, 2022

When Leah Miller’s entire Amish family was murdered ten years ago, the person believed responsible took his own life. Since then, Leah left the Amish and joined the police force. Now, after another 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. Could it be that the former police chief framed an innocent man to keep the biggest secret of all buried? And what will it mean for Leah–and Dalton–when the full truth comes to light?

USA Today bestselling author Mary Alford keeps you guessing as two determined souls plumb the dark depths of the past in order to forge a brighter future–together.

My Impressions

“The inevitable showdown coming had been a decade in the making. When it was over, would any of them be left standing?”

This quote. It indicates the enormous level of suspense created and maintained throughout novel. I felt the need to check my blood pressure after reading Among the Innocent by Mary Alford, to make sure it was not abnormally high!! This particular novel is a little darker than most I choose to read, but it is oh, so well done!

I did identify with Leah more than I would like at some points. “She’d lost her family to a killer—probably Ellis to the same man. Now she was slowly losing Marge to a different kind of killer.” The killer that stalks Marge is all too prevalent, and so many families must deal with that threat. I loved how that thread strengthens the story.

Sigh. Dalton is swoony dreamboat who might be perfect, but for his secrets. Full of faith despite a rough past, he is protective of Leah, kind, sensitive, and quite the looker. Will he and Leah be able to work together to keep tragedy away from the Amish community, or will they become part of the region’s mounting calamities?

I received a copy of the book from RevellReads. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Let it go. The past is written and done, but you’re not.”

He was back. John was back.

“…he wanted to beg her to trust him. Yet how could he ask for trust when he had his own secrets?”

“It’s going to be okay.” And it would, because he’d make sure of it. Yet to get to okay, they’d have to go through a whole lot of bad.

“Her heart kicked out an unsteady beat at his protectiveness. Something about him made her wish for a second that she could be normal.”

“The mountains were black shapes in the distance, but they were always there. Just as God was. Even in the darkest moments when it was hard to feel his presence.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! A thriller-chiller of the first degree!

About the Author

Mary Alford is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than fifty novels. Her books have been finalists in the Selah Award, the Daphne du Maurier Award, and the HOLT Medallion Contest. As a writer, Mary is an avid reader. She loves to cook and can’t face the day with-out coffee. She and her husband live in the heart of Texas in the middle of 70 acres with two very spoiled cats and one adorable rescue dog. Mary is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook and Twitter or any social platforms listed at http://www.maryalford.net.

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, New-to-Me Author

Canceled by John Faubion Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Canceled

Author: John Faubion

Genre: Christian Thriller

Release date: November 14, 2021

ebook-cover_Canceled

Jerold Steele has been canceled. His identity is stolen. His job is gone. Even more bizarre, the people around him are dying.

Each one was stalked and killed by a supernatural menace that hides

in darkness, and preys on the mind.

Facing exposure, the killer is eliminating every person that threatens him. In his world, there’s only room for one superman, and that superman is going to be him.

Brenda Neal wants to trust him, but the deaths terrify her. Is it better to hide, or fight with him?

CANCELED is a cutting-edge, page-turning thriller, a story you hope won’t be in tomorrow’s headlines.

Read CANCELED to find out what happens when the only thing that will stop a killer is Power no one never imagined.

Click here to get your copy!

My Impressions

“We know the enemy, and his name is Evan Gale.”

“Who are you, Evan Gale?”

Canceled by John Faubion is a thriller ride you won’t soon forget. Reminiscent of Peretti, a spiritual battle is taking place while events unfold on earth. A liberal seminary that doesn’t believe in the supernatural begins to question its teachings, as staff members meet violent ends.

I was glued to my seat as I followed Jerold Steele and Brenda Neal in their search for the truth. I could almost taste the fear and terror that Faubion puts some of his characters through. The twists surprised me, as I thought I knew the identity of the killer.

I appreciated the great, easy, and clear gospel presentation as it was very appropriate. I was surprised by the use of a 70’s tract in this very modern story. (I read that tract as a kid.) I would have been happier without denominations being named, since some readers may infer that a particular denomination mentioned must therefore be evil.

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher via Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great! Suspenseful Thriller that will have you furiously flipping pages!!

About the Author

John Faubion was a foreign missionary in Vietnam, Guam and to the Chinese for nearly thirty years. Then a professional software engineer for more than twenty years after that.

He’s the father of five children, and lives in central Indiana with his wife.

More from John

Cancel Culture? This is worse.

All around us we see our culture changing, and not for the better. Sometimes it seems like all the voices we hear are filled with anger, hatred and intolerance.

There’s a reason for that:  They are all rooted (you guessed it) in anger, hatred and intolerance.

It was time to step back and look at what it’s like to be canceled, but from an entirely different source: The Supernatural.

The main character is a preacher, but one of those who does NOT believe in a supernatural god. He doesn’t know what he believes. But when he’s finally confronted with a supernatural experience he cannot deny, he finds that walking on the dark side is going to cost him his life.

The only solution, both for him and the one he falls in love with, is to know God, and get access to the supernatural weapons he never dreamed existed.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, April 22

For Him and My Family, April 23

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 25

Inklings and notions, April 26

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 28

Through the Fire Blogs, April 29 (Author Interview)

deb’s Book Review, April 29

Blogging With Carol, April 30

Pause for Tales, May 1

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 2

Spoken from the Heart, May 3

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 4

Mary Hake, May 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 5

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, John is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card, along with a paperback copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1d0b0/canceled-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, Pre-purchased through author.

Goodness and Mercy by Debbie Viguie

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Goodness and Mercy

Series: #18 Psalm 23 Mysteries

Author: Debbie Viguie

Publisher: Big Pink Bow

Released: November 2021(note: available at debbieviguie.com or soon on Amazon)

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

In the 18th installment of the Psalm 23 mysteries series, Cindy and Jeremiah find themselves in over their heads when a trip to New Orleans goes terribly wrong.

My Review

So, this series, the Psalm 23 Mysteries by Debbie Viguié, is my abs fave of all time!! Murder, a Jewish rabbi and a Christian secretary (how will THAT come together?!), characters that I swear I know like friends suddenly shocking me. Each book revolves around a holiday. This is book #18 in the series, and it is ESSENTIAL to read the books in order. Viguié refers to so many characters and events from past novels, you feel like someone handed you a spoonful of your fave dessert each time that happens. Somehow, Viguié manages to turn everything you thought you knew about your beloved characters on their heads, and you trust NOBODY in this book!! YIKES!! Yet, this book contains a crucial, wonderful scene we Psalm 23 fans have been waiting for, like forever!! Biting my nails, howling with laughter, angrily growling at the author for her treatment of fave characters!! Absolutely highly recommended!! Not for the faint of heart!!

My Rating

Rating: 5 out of 5.

My All-Time Fave Series!! Best Book of Series Yet!!

About the Author

Debbie Viguié is the New York Times Bestselling author of more than three dozen novels including the Wicked series co-authored with Nancy Holder. In addition to her epic dark fantasy work, Debbie also writes thrillers including The Psalm 23 Mysteries, the Kiss trilogy, and the Witch Hunt trilogy. Debbie also plays a recurring character in the audio drama, Doctor Geek’s Laboratory. When Debbie isn’t busy writing or acting she enjoys spending time with her husband, Scott, visiting theme parks.

BLOG, Revell

Deadly Intentions by Lisa Harris

Babbling Becky L

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About the Book

Title: Deadly Intentions

Author: Lisa Harris

Publisher: Revell

Released: August 2019

Detective Josh Solomon always believed his wife’s death was the result of a home invasion. But when he is pulled into a case with striking similarities, it doesn’t take long for him to realize the chilling truth: the attack that took his wife’s life was far from random.

My Review

Deadly Intentions is a masterful Christian romantic suspense novel by one of the best, Lisa Harris.
After three of her coworkers die protecting a top-secret project, Caitlyn Lindsey contacts the detective-husband of one of the victims, Josh Solomon. What could be so important people were expendable to keep it hidden, and who can be trusted to help the fleeing couple as they search for evidence?

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This book rates right up there with the chillers and thrillers. I love the touch of bioterrorism, the medical explanations that are simple enough for a layman to understand, and the absolute terror element without venturing into the horror genre. I love how Harris weaves in the faith component. It is clear, timely, very apropos, and short, not preachy.

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Because of the compelling nature of Ms. Harris’s writing, I was able to read this book through in 5 to 6 hours, at one sitting. Whew! That’s all the excitement I can handle at one time!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. This does not affect my opinions, which are solely my own.

 

My Rating

golden-stargolden-stargolden-stargolden-stargolden-star

About the Author

BIO: Award-winning author of nineteen novels and novellas, Lisa Harris lives with her husband and their three children in Mozambique, Africa, where they work as missionaries.

When she’s not busy writing or homeschooling, she loves traveling, cooking different ethnic foods, and photographing animals and birds in the African bush. Visit her website at www.lisaharriswrites.com and her blog at www.myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot…

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Bethany House, BLOG, NetGalley

Fire Storm, Kaely Quinn, Profiler #2, by Nancy Mehl

Babbling Becky L

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ABOUT THE BOOK

TITLE: Fire Storm

SERIES: Kaely Quinn, Profiler, (#2)

AUTHOR: Nancy Mehl

PUBLISHER: Bethany Publishing House

RELEASED: August 2019

FBI Profiler Kaely Quinn visits Nebraska to care for her ailing mother. She can’t help but notice suspicious connections among a series of local fires, so she calls on her partner, Noah Hunter, to help find the arsonist. Together they unwittingly embark on a twisted path to a mad man who is determined his last heinous act will be Kaely’s death.

Get your copy here.

MY REVIEW

Life is cold in this chiller/thriller by Nancy Mehl. Fire Storm, #2 Kaely Quinn Profiler Series, takes place mostly in a town called Darkwater. It is winter, and as cold as winter can get. Relationships are cold, too. Omaha doesn’t want Noah and Kaely’s help.

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Kaely herself is having trouble dealing with the chilly relationships between herself and her brother and her cancer-stricken mother.
Conversely, it’s hot in town. Multiple fires lead Kaely and Noah to believe that arson is the cause of Darkwater’s destruction. Jason gets hot under the collar when Kaely puts her job before her family. Kaely feels the heat as the fires increase without a viable suspect. I raced to read this exciting, terrifying novel as quickly as I could.

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Only the need to function kept me from pulling an all-nighter to discover who really was behind the evil visiting the town. Mehl manages to tie up loose ends realistically and bring things to a satisfying conclusion…until she masterfully inserts a dangling issue that may create a cliffhanger for books to come. Faith, fear, trust, unbelievable tension, and the mind of a madman combine to make this a thriller you won’t want to put down.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinions, which are solely my own.

MY RATING

golden-stargolden-stargolden-stargolden-stargolden-star

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nancy Mehl 

Nancy Mehl lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband, Norman, and her very active puggle, Watson. First published in 2001, she has now authored nine books, including an omnibus mystery collection, Cozy in Kansas, which contains three of her previously published Ivy Towers mysteries. Book three in the series, For Whom the Wedding Bell Tolls, won the American Christian Fiction Writers Mystery Book of the Year award. Nancy’s main writing interests lie in mystery although her new Harmony Series leans more toward the romantic suspense genre. Nancy runs a HUD program for the city of Wichita and is president of a volunteer organization, Wichita Homebound Outreach. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Kansas Authors Club. You can find out more about Nancy by visiting her Web site at: www.nancymehl.com“

 

 

 

BLOG, Favorite, Pre-purchased through author.

Anointest My Head with Oil, #16 Psalm 23 Mysteries by Debbie Viguie

Babbling Becky L

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ABOUT THE BOOK

TITLE: Anointest My Head with Oil

SERIES: The Psalm 23 Mysteries

PUBLISHER: Big Pink Bow

RELEASED: June 25, 2019, Kindle ed.

When an arsonist targets synagogues Jeremiah and Cindy must race to find him before he strikes again.

MY REVIEW

At long last. Book #16, of the Psalm 23 series by Debbie Viguié, Anointest My Head with Oil, is finally here.
First, we start with a smile. That’s because the first sentence of every book is very similar, changing only the character, day of the week, and his/her feeling toward it. So, for the first and only minute of the novel, the reader has a moment of calm before the hurricanes of action set in. I have called them hurricanes for a reason. Just as one tragedy or terror is resolved or survived, there is a short moment of rejoicing and romance and another dervish of frenetic action is set in motion. This particular volume holds the key to some mysteries locked beforehand, but also opens new possibilities and new fears.

Don’t miss Debbie Viguié’s latest Psalm 23 Mystery, Anointest My Head With Oil! Fun, Romance, and Terror in Every Chapter!
If you like Christy Barritt, you will love Debbie Viguié. Snarky, quick wit; hot, clean romance; a loyal group of friends; and intense suspense. These qualities make Anointest My Head…and the whole series one not to be missed.
Oh, yes. I read this in one sitting. Just necessary. Be warned.

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While I purchased the book directly from the author, this does not reflect in my opinions, which are solely my own.

MY RATING

golden-stargolden-stargolden-stargolden-stargolden-star

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Debbie Viguié is the New York Times Bestselling author of more than three dozen novels including the Wicked series co-authored with Nancy Holder. In addition to her epic dark fantasy work, Debbie also writes thrillers including The Psalm 23 Mysteries, the Kiss trilogy, and the Witch Hunt trilogy. Debbie also plays a recurring character on the audio drama, Doctor Geek’s Laboratory. When Debbie isn’t busy writing or acting she enjoys spending time with her husband, Scott, visiting theme parks. 174708