A Special Contest from Author Susan Sleeman!

Today, I wanted to share a special post from my Suspense Zone colleague, Susan Sleeman. Susan, take it away! 

Enter to win a copy of Susan Sleeman's Behind the Badge and a $50 Amazon gift card!

Susan Sleeman here. Behind the Badge, my second romantic suspense book for Love Inspired Suspense will release on June 6th and in honor of all of you, the readers, I am hosting a special contest on my website for the month of June.

Let’s face it. Without you, the wonderful readers, books would not exist and I wouldn’t be able to wake up looking forward to a job that is fresh and exciting each and every day. Praise God for this incredible opportunity!

Now back to the contest. All you have to do is read the excerpt below then go to my WEBSITE and answer the following question. That's it. You're entered to win.

If you'd like to sign up for my mailing list to learn of other contests in the future you can do that at the same time, too. Full contest rules are on the entry page. Remember only one entry per person.

QUESTION: Was Sydney older than Russ when she had a crush on him?

SUSAN SLEEMAN is a best-selling author of romantic suspense and mystery novels. She grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today, she channels this enthusiasm into writing romantic suspense and mystery novels and hosting the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com.


Her books include Nipped in the Bud, High-Stakes Inheritance, Behind the Badge, and The Christmas Witness. Also watch for the first two romantic suspense books in her Justice Agency series coming from Love Inspired suspense in 2012 and featuring a private investigations firm specializing in helping those who traditional law enforcement has failed.
Susan currently lives in Florida, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson.
To learn more about Susan visit her website, Facebook , or Twitter.

The Morgan Brothers - Bk 2 Love Inspired Suspense June 6, 2011 ISBN-10: 0373444478 ISBN-13: 978-0373444472

"YOUR SISTER IS NEXT!" A killer is threatening the life of rookie cop Sydney Tucker's sister-unless Sydney turns over evidence from a drug bust. But she doesn't have the evidence. Not that the thug believes her. Now she and the sibling in her care are under the watchful eye of Logan Lake police chief Russ Morgan…but will his protection be enough? The killer is closing in, picking off the people and places that mean the most to Sydney. A list that now includes Russ. To protect her loved ones, will she pay the ultimate price-her life?

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READ AN EXCERPT:

Chapter One

Gunshots split the inky darkness.
Deputy Sydney Tucker hit the cold ground, a jagged rock slashing into her forehead on the way down. She reached for her service weapon. Came up empty handed. She'd stopped after work to check on the construction of her townhouse and left her gun and cell phone in the car.
Dumb, Sydney. Really dumb. Now what're you gonna do?
Inching her head above knee-high grass, she listened. The keening whistle of the wind died, leaving the air damp and heavy with tension but silence reigned.
Had she overreacted? Could be target practice. But at night? Maybe. Hunters did crazy things sometimes.
Footfalls pounded from below like someone charging through the brush. No. Two people. Maybe a chase. One person after another. A loud crash, branches snapping.
"What're you doin', man," a panicked male voice traveled through the night. "No! Don't shoot! We can work this out."
Three more gunshots rang out. A moan drifted up the hill.
Not target practice. Someone had been shot.
Sydney lurched to her feet, dizziness swirling around her. Blood dripped into her eyes. She wiped it away, blinked hard and steadied herself on a large rock while peering into the wall of darkness for the best escape route.
Heavy footfalls crunched up the gravel path.
"I know you're here, Deputy Tucker," a male voice, disguised with a high nasally pitch, called out. "We need to talk about this. C'mon out."
Yeah, right. Come out and die. Not hardly.
Praying, pleading for safety, she scrambled deeper into the scrub. Over rocks. Through grass tangling her feet. Her heart pounded in her head, drowning the prayers with fear.
"I'm losing patience, Deputy," he called again in that strange voice. "You're not like Dixon. He had it coming. You don't."
Dixon? Did he mean the man she arrested for providing alcohol to her teenage sister and for selling drugs? Was that what this was about?
Rocks skittered down the incline. The shooter was on the move again. No time to think. She had to go. Now!
Blindly she felt her way past shrubs, over uneven ground. Dried leaves crunched underfoot. Branches slapped her face and clawed at her arms, but she stifled her cries of pain.
"I hear you, Deputy."
She wrenched around to determine his location. A protruding rock caught her foot, catapulting her forward. She somersaulted through the air. Her knee slammed into the packed earth and she crashed down the hill. Wrapping arms around her head for protection, she came to a stop, breath knocked out of her chest, lying flat on her back in a thick stand of weeds.
"So you want to play it that way, do you Deputy? Fine. Just remember, you can run, but you can't hide. I will find you. This will be resolved one way or another." His disembodied laugh swirled into the night.
The darkness pressed closer. Blinding. Overwhelming. Terrifying.
She was easy prey. Even with her bulletproof vest, a few rounds fired in her direction would take her out. She had to get up.
She rose to her knees, but pain knifed into her knee, keeping her anchored to the ground.
Lord, please don't let me die like this. Give me the strength to move. I need to live for Nikki. She's only seventeen. She has no one.
Sydney uncurled and came to a standing position. Taking a few halting steps, she tested the pain. Nearly unbearable. But she could-no she had to do this for her sister.
Thinking of Nikki, she gritted her teeth and set off, moving slowly, taking care not to make a sound.
Out of the darkness, a hand shot out. Clamped over her mouth.
Screams tore from her throat, but died behind fingers pressed hard against her lips.
A muscled arm jerked her against a solid chest and dragged her deep into the brush.
God, please, no.
She twisted, arched her back, pushing against arms like iron bands.
She dug her heels into the ground, but he was too strong. He kept going deeper into the brush before settling them both on the ground behind a large boulder.
"Relax Sydney, it's Russ Morgan," Logan Lake's Police Chief whispered, his lips close to her ear.
Russ Morgan? What was he doing here?
"Sorry about the hand." His tone said she was nothing more than a stranger instead of someone she'd known for years. "I didn't want you to alert the shooter with a scream. I'm gonna remove my hand now. Nod if you understand me."
She let all of her relief escape in a sharp jerk of her head. His fingers dropped away.
"Once the shooter rounded that curve, you would've been a goner," he whispered while still firmly holding her. "Good thing a neighbor reported gunshots."
Sydney started to shiver and breathed deep to steady her galloping pulse. Air rushed into her lungs. She was alive, but barely. No thanks to her own skills.
"You okay?" he asked, his breath stirring her hair.
"Yes." She willed her body to stop shaking and eased out a hiss of disappointment in her performance as a deputy. "How long have you been here?"
"Long enough to hear the shooter claim he's hit Dixon and is coming after you next," he whispered again, but urgency lit his voice and rekindled her fear. "This have to do with your arrest of Carl Dixon the other day?"
"I don't know," she whispered back. "I just stopped to check on the construction of my townhouse on my way home from work."
"Off duty, huh? Explains why you don't have your weapon drawn."
"I left my duty belt in my car." She waited for his reaction to not carrying, but he simply gave a quick nod as footfalls grated against gravel.
"Shh, he's about to pass us." Russ leaned forward and drew his gun with his free hand, but didn't release his hold on her.
Crunching steps came within a few feet of their location. Halted.
"Can you feel me breathing down your neck, Deputy? I'm inches from finding you." He didn't know the accuracy of his words.
She felt Russ's breathing speed up, upping her concern and washing away the brief blanket of security his arms provided. Adrenaline urged her to move. To keep from panicking, she focused on Russ's unwavering weapon.
The shooter took a few steps closer. Her heart thumped, threatening to leave her chest. Russ tightened his hold as if he knew she wanted to bolt.
The shooter spun sending gravel flying then headed up the path.
As his footsteps receded, she tried to relax taut muscles. The warmth from Russ's body helped chase out her fear and the chill of the night. Thank God Russ was here. If he hadn't come.
She refused to go there. God had watched over her. Provided rescue, just not in the form she'd have chosen.
Not only was Russ an officer from the city police force-a team often in competition with the county sheriff's department where she worked-but a man she'd had a crazy crush on in high school. A man whose rugged good looks still turned women's heads.
She let out a long sigh.
"I know this's awkward," he whispered, "but hang tight for a few more minutes. We need to wait for him to head back down the hill."
She wanted to protest and suggest they flee now, but not Russ. He thought clearly. Taking off now gave the killer the advantage of higher ground, making them moving targets. They'd have to sit like this until he passed them again.
If they made it out of here, which the approaching footfalls told her wasn't at all certain.
They pounded closer. The shooter moved at a quick clip this time as if he thought she'd gotten away and he was fleeing. Or maybe he was heading to her car to lay in wait for her.
As the footsteps receded again, she felt Russ's arm slacken.
"Time to roll," he whispered. "Stay here."
"But I-"
"You have a backup?" He referred to a back up gun officers often carry.
She shook her head.
"Then wait here." He gave her the hard stare that'd made him famous around town and crept toward the path.
She leaned against the boulder and wrapped her arms around the warm circle on her waist where he'd held her. Without his warmth, she couldn't quit shaking. The reality of the night froze her inner core.
She should listen to Russ. Lay low. Wait until he apprehended the killer.
That was the safe thing to do.
The easy thing to do.
The wrong thing to do.
Not for everyone, but for an officer of the law, letting a shooter escape without trying to stop him wasn't an option. Even if that shooter had her in his sights, she'd make her way to her car for her gun and help Russ stop this maniac before he hurt anyone else.
*****
Near the ditch, Russ came to a stop and fought to catch his breath. Taillights on a mud splattered dirt bike roared up the trail. He'd warned the suspect to stop, but short of shooting him in the back, Russ couldn't stop him from fleeing into the dark.
At least he'd accomplished his primary objective. To protect Sydney and keep her alive. Now he needed to alert his men and the sheriff's office to the suspect's whereabouts.
He lifted his shoulder mic and ordered a unit from his office to stake out the end of the trail for the motorcycle and an ambulance in case Dixon survived. Then he asked dispatch to patch him through to the county sheriff's department to make sure they knew he'd taken charge of the scene so none of their hotshot deputies arrived with the hope of usurping control.
He turned on his Maglight and headed up the hill. The beam of light skipped over gravel and lush plants lining the winding path. Midway up, rustling brush stopped him cold. He'd left Sydney higher up. Nearer the lake.
Was a second shooter hoping to ambush him?
He flipped off his light and sought protection behind a tree. His breath came in little pulses in the unusually cold air for a typical Oregon fall. Adrenaline with little time to ebb away came roaring back, but even as the noise grew louder, he resisted the urge to take action
Maybe it was Sydney. The Sydney he used to know wouldn't have listened to his directive and stayed put. She'd trounce down the hill, her chin tilted at the same insolent angle as when he told her he didn't return her crazy crush her freshman year of high school. Not that he'd wanted to send a beautiful, lively girl like her away. He could easily have dated her, but he was four years older, in college. With their age difference, it wouldn't have been right.
Bushes at the path's edge shook then parted. Slowly, like a sleek panther, Sydney slipped out. He watched until she stood tall on those incredibly long legs he'd admired since she was sixteen before lowering his gun and aiming his flashlight at her.
She jumped. Peered up at him, an impudent look planted on her face. This was the Sydney he'd known as a teen and heaven help him, in less than thirty minutes, she'd sparked his interest again.
"Care to shine that somewhere other than my face." She perched her hand over her eyes, warding off the glare.
He moved the light but not before he caught a good look at a gaping wound running from her hairline to eyebrow, covered in congealed blood. He lifted his hand to check out her injury, but stopped. He wouldn't probe a wound on one of his men's faces. As a fellow LEO-law enforcement officer-he wouldn't treat Sydney any differently.
"I told you to stay put." He infused his words with authority.
"I wanted to help. Wish I'd listened. I tripped over the body." She held out blood-covered hands. Her eyes watered as if she might cry.
Man. Don't do that. Don't fall apart. He couldn't remain detached if she started crying. He'd have to empathize, maybe give her a reassuring pat on the arm. Maybe feel her pain and resurrect all the reasons he'd left his homicide job in Portland.
He changed his focus. Nodded at the brush. "Show me the body."
As a faint whine of sirens spiraled in the distance, she limped into tall grass, a grimace of pain marring her beautiful face. He followed, illuminating the area ahead of her. About ten feet in, she suddenly stopped. He shone his light a few feet ahead of her.
Diffused rays slid over a young male lying on his back. Russ swung the beam to the man's face landing on open eyes staring into the blackness above.
Sydney gasped and swung around him. She rushed toward the main path. Even though Russ knew it was a lost cause, he bent down to check for a pulse. No question, this man hadn't made it and no question about his identity. Carl Dixon, a man every LEO in the area knew from his frequent blips onto the police radar and the most recent arrest for selling drugs.
All that ended with three gunshots to the chest at close range from what Russ could see with his flashlight. Once they thoroughly processed the scene, he'd know better. But first, they needed to vacate the area before further contaminating the scene.
He found Sydney near the path, gaze fixed in the distance, hands clasped on her hips and exhaling long breaths as if trying to expel what she'd just seen.
Haunted eyes peered at him. "He's dead, right?"
"Yeah."
"And what about the killer?"
"Couldn't catch him. He took off on a dirt bike."
Disappointment crowded out the fear on her face. "Did you at least see him?"
"From the back. He was my height or a little taller, but lean. Wore a black stocking cap. The bike has a plate so it must be street legal. I caught the first few digits."
"That's something, then."
Russ didn't want to tell her it would do little for them in terms of searching DMV records as three digits would return thousands of bikes, but he didn't think she could take any more bad news so he kept quiet. "Let's head down to the parking lot."
He gave her the flashlight and urged her to take the lead down the steep hill. Once on solid concrete, she handed it back to him. Holding it overhead, he watched her closely for dizziness or other impairments from her fall. He saw nothing out of the ordinary, but a head injury could mean a concussion. He'd have the EMT's check her out when they got here.
He pointed at a rough-hewn bench. "Maybe you should sit down."
"I'm fine " Her voice cracked and she seemed embarrassed over reacting to the murder.
"It's okay to be upset, Syd. A horrible thing happened tonight."
"I'm fine really. I'll be back to a hundred percent by morning."

Text copyright © by Susan Sleeman
Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A.

‘Blown Away: A Curl Up and Dye Mystery’ by Nancy Mehl – Book Review

One of my favorite discoveries since I have doing book review is author Nancy Mehl. I read her novel ‘Missing Mabel’ last year (you can read my review here). The latest book in the ‘Hometown Mysteries’ series is ‘Blown Away.’

Here is the synopsis of this fun novel:

         

Death Is No Clowning Matter. Hilde Higgins has an unexplainable dislike of clowns. Now she’s fallen for a handsome stockbroker moonlighting as a clown at the children’s hospital, and when “Binky” Tuttwiler ends up dead, Hilde’s boyfriend suddenly becomes a murder suspect. Can Hilde solve the mystery before a Kansas twister blows all the evidence away?        

Here is the biography of this author:

Nancy Mehl lives in Wichita, Kansas, with her husband, Norman, and her son, Danny. She’s authored nine books and is currently at work on two new series for Barbour Publishing. Her titles include 'Simple Deceit,' 'Simple Secrets,' 'Simple Choices,' 'Bye Bye Bertie, and 'Cozy in Kansas.'

All of Nancy’s novels have an added touch—something for your spirit as well as your soul. “I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing,” Nancy says. “It’s a part of me and of everything I think or do. God is number one in my life. I wouldn’t be writing at all if I didn’t believe that this is what He’s called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan especially for your life, and there is nothing you can’t overcome with His help.”

She and her husband attend Believer’s Tabernacle in Wichita, Kansas.

I love the main character of Hilde Higgins! She is a funny young lady, and always gets to the root of the stories in which she ends up involved! Here’s an example of her humorous worldview, and Mrs. Mehl’s great writing:

I have pens from almost every state in the union, and I have no earthly idea how some of them found their way into my possession. I figure it’s some kind of cosmic joke—God’s way of messing with me a little. The only positive thing to come from my humiliating kleptomania came last winter, when a pen I’d accidentally absconded led to the solution of a murder. So it’s not all bad.

(p. 17)

And here’s a comical description of Hilde’s goldfish, Sherlock:

         

Although actually, nothing about Sherlock is plain. He’s big and beautiful—and he listens to me when I talk. At first Adam didn’t believe me when I told him about my goldfish’s listening skills. But he’s seen Sherlock swim up to the side of his tank and stare at me when I speak to him. Now he’s a reluctant believer. And Adam has also seen Sherlock wave his fin at me. In fact, he’s waved at Adam a few times, causing my down-to-earth boyfriend a little consternation.

“If this fish belonged to anyone else,” he said to me, “I’d think it was my imagination. But if there is anyone on earth who could train a goldfish to wave, it would be you, Hilde Higgins.” (pp. 36-37)

Another quirky part of Hilde’s character is her obsession with the meat product named SPAM. Although I haven’t eaten it in decades (!), I think the recipe at the back of the book for Hilde’s SPAM Salad Sandwiches sounds really tasty!

As was the case in ‘Missing Mabel,’ Hilde has a strong faith in God and His sovereignty:

         

Adam squeezed my hand and started to pray. Getting my focus off the storm and remembering that God is my true shelter helped to drive away the fear that tried to grip me. God had always protected me against the storms of life. He would protect me against this one, too. (pp. 54-55)

Hilde has a lot of great Christian friends. For instance, her neighbor, Gabe, has some great wisdom on our thought life:

         

“… Once you start to change your thinking and stop dwelling on things that have already happened, God gives you the grace to walk forward, free from the hurt and the anger. But you’ve got to take that first step.” (p. 120)

Great advice!

I love this passage that shows that our actions affect our friends and our witness for Christ. This is Hilde’s friend Paula’s explanation after she asks to go to church with her on Sunday:

         

“I want you to know that I’m willing to find out just what you see in this God thing. And it’s because I see so much love in you, Hilde. No matter how weird I get or what stupid thing I do, you never quit being my friend. If you learned that from God, then I’ve got to check Him out.” (p. 183)

In addition to all of the comedy and spiritual element, this book is also a murder mystery. Hilde is a bit of a sleuth, and she has a detective/investigator thought process. She has a great intuition about people’s motives and character. The suspense element is handled very expertly by Mrs. Mehl. There were a lot of clues that came together in Hilde’s mind at the end. She kept me guessing until the very end! And I was happy to see the final scene in the novel happen. It definitely makes me look forward to more books in this wonderfully entertaining series!

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Barbour Books and provided by The Suspense Zone  for review purposes.

‘Certain Jeopardy’ by Captain Jeff Struecker with Alton Gansky – Book Review

I am normally not a reader of military-themed books. However, the latest book in my ‘to read’ list is ‘Certain Jeopardy’ by Captain Jeff Struecker and Alton Gansky.

Here is the synopsis of this amazing novel:

Six American men live behind a protective façade; their real work hidden from neighbors and friends. Different in countless ways, they are intimately the same in one; at any moment their lives can be altered with a phone call, and their actions may change the world. They are Special Ops. And one team’s mission is about to hit certain jeopardy status when the discovery of an Al Qaeda base in Venezuela becomes secondary to thwarting the transport of a nuclear weapons expert from that training camp to Iran. Informed by the true combat experience on Captain Jeff Struecker and finessed by award-winning novelist Alton Gansky, Certain Jeopardy is an immersing and pulsating fictional account of what really happens at every level of a stealth engagement; the physical enemy encounter, the spiritual war fought within a soldier, and the emotional battles in families back at home.

Here are the biographies of these two authors:

Chaplain (Captain) Jeff Struecker is a decorated member of the United States Army’s most elite fighting corps whose personal experiences in Mogadishu, Somalia, were written about in the New York Times bestseller and major motion picture Black Hawk Down. In thirteen years of active duty, he also fought in Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Iris Gold in Kuwait. As a chaplain Jeff has done multiple tours in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He uses his personal story of survival on the battlefield to tell others how they, too, can be prepared for any circumstance life may bring.

Alton Gansky is a Christy Award-nominated and Angel Award-winning author who writes to stimulate thinking about spiritual matters. He served as a pulpit minister for twenty years and has published nearly thirty books. Alton and his wife, Becky, have three children and five grandchildren and live in the High Desert area of Southern California. 

Here is the book trailer for this action-packed novel:

The Prologue gives us an idea of what the book will provide – a little bit of humor and a lot of action. Here is a scene in Afghanistan introducing us to the six main characters:  

Sgt. First Class J.J. “Colt” Bartley and Master Sgt. Richard “Shaq” Harbison were paired a dozen yards away, almost invisible in their white camouflage and hunkered in a shallow trench. A few yards beyond them were Jose Medina, the team medic, and Martin Caraway. Caraway was the cause of all of this – Caraway and the goats.

Moyer wondered at the irony of it all. Years of training, the best intelligence, the finest equipment, a score of missions under their belts, and they get upended by goats. He could see the writing on his tombstone: TRAINED BY THE ARMY. BETRAYED BY A GOAT. KILLED BY THE TALIBAN. (p. 2)

Here’s another example of the humor and humanity of the men in this book. Here’s an exchange during a precarious predicament:

“I don’t recall reading about this in the recruitment brochure, Boss.”
It’s in the fine print, Caraway. You with us, Doc?” 
“Shaken and stirred but still in one piece.”                               
Relief flooded Moyer. “Injuries?”                                                        
“I could use a nurse, Boss.”                                           
“You’re hurt, Caraway?”
“No, I just like nurses.” (p. 10)

I really appreciated the fact that the authors focused on not only the six main characters, but their families back in the States. That made the book more appealing to me; I had more empathy for them. Here is an example of including the family in the story, as St. Major Eric Moyer thinks about his loved ones:

He saw his wife, strawberry blonde hair tickling the tops of her shoulders when she wore that yellow sundress he liked so much. Her image faded, replaced by Gina, his twelve-year old daughter. He had no free will with her. She could ask for the moon to be painted pink and Moyer would grab a ladder and have a go at it. Rob was a different matter. Sixteen years old and pushing every border and pressing every button Moyer had. They had argued just the night before, and Moyer lowered the boom. Odd, he was having trouble remembering what the argument had been about. (p. 17)

Despite that, I still am surprised how men who join the military, especially in a career Special Operations capacity, marry and have a family. The women (and men) who marry these people have to have a special constitution; it is not a situation in which I would be comfortable. I am not selfless enough to allow my husband to risk his life like that. It is a good thing Fred was in the Navy long before we met!        

One of the primary characters, J.J. Bartley is a strong Christian. He has gotten a lot of grief from his colleagues for his faith. Here’s a conversation between him and his commanding officer, Moyer; Moyer:

“I don’t know how you do it. I couldn’t do this work and be a Christian. I’d have to give up one.”
The words soured J.J. “I couldn’t do this without being a Christian. It’s how I keep my sanity. It keeps me human.” He studies Moyer’s expression. “I’m talking about me and no one else, you understand.”
“Yeah, I got it.” After a moment, Moyer said, “You had me worried. I thought the team was going to lose you.”
“Lose me? Why would you think…oh, Afghanistan.”
“You looked pretty shook – no, not shook – troubled. You looked troubled at the end.”
… “I won’t lie to you, Boss. It bothered me. Still does. I helped kill a couple of men who did nothing more than follow their sheep into the wrong place at the wrong time. Still, we made the world a slightly better place by defeating a terrorist cell. No worries. I’m not going anyplace the Army doesn’t send me.”
“That’s good. The Army spent a ton of money training you. I’d hate to think my hard-earned tax dollars went for nothing.”
“Hey, I pay taxes too.” (p. 75)

The majority of the action in this action-packed book takes place in Venezuela. The main protagonist is Antonio Santi. Here is a peek into his mindset:

Antonio Santi had headed home for the day. Although the day’s activities would have tired most men, Santi felt energized. Juggling his duties as foreign minister with business dealings even President Chavez didn’t know about provided him the intellectual thrill he longed for. Younger men might bungee jump, ride a kayak over churning rapids, hunt big game in the jungle or cheat with other men’s wives. Santi got his adrenaline rush from working behind the scenes. The danger he faced was discovery, pure and simple. Chavez was not a man of scrupulous honesty, but he was a priest compared to his own foreign minister. (p. 177)

Fortunately, I like all different types of books; I am not strictly a ‘chick lit’ kind of gal! This book will probably be enjoyed more by men than by women. Having said that, I really liked it! It kept me riveted throughout, and I was interested in finding out what was going to happen to these six men and the people who love them. This is the first book I have read from either of these authors. I am assuming it was a real collaboration, with Captain Struecker writing from his military experience, and Mr. Gansky tweaking the book and giving it more finesse. However it was done, they did a great job with it! Since the release of this book, there has been a second novel by these two authors, ‘Blaze of Glory.’ I trust that that one is just as suspenseful and riveting as is this one. If you like Christian suspense and are a fan of the military, these books are right up your alley!

You can order this book here.

The book was published by B and H Publishing Group and provided by the Suspense Zone for review purposes. The copy I have is an Advance Reader’s Copy; the page numbers included with the quotes in this review may not correspond with the page numbers in the final printed version. 

‘High-Stakes Inheritance’ by Susan Sleeman – Book Review

One genre that I really like that I don’t read often enough is suspense. ‘High-Stakes Inheritance’ by Susan Sleeman is in that genre, and it is very well done!

Here is the synopsis of this book:

“Leave Logan Lake Now or You Will Pay!” Despite the threatening warning, Mia Blackburn won’t let anyone scare her from the rustic resort she inherits from her beloved uncle. But when a fire traps her in a burning barn, she fears that she won’t get out alive. Just in time her ex-boyfriend volunteer fireman Ryan Morgan rescues her from the deadly blaze. He had once broken her heart, yet she still has feelings for him. With Ryan insisting on keeping a close eye on her, Mia feels safer – and closer to Ryan than ever before. Yet the threats haven’t stopped, and soon Mia’s high-stakes inheritance includes a murder – and Mia could be the next victim.

Here is the biography of this author:

Susan Sleeman grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today she channels this enthusiasm into hosting the popular Internet website The Suspense Zone and writing suspense and mystery novels.

Much to her husband’s chagrin, Susan loves to look at everyday situations and turns them into murder and mayhem scenarios for future novels. If you’ve met Susan, she has probably figured out a plausible way to kill you and get away with it.

Susan currently lives in Florida, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson.

I found the main character of Mia Blackburn to be very true to life. She harbored a lot of bitterness against several people, and had a thick wall around her heart. Ultimately, she allowed the Lord to heal those hurts and soften that stone cold heart. That is always a joy to see when that happens.

The other main character, Ryan Morgan, has grown very close to the Lord since the last time he saw Mia, when they were high school sweethearts. Ten years later, he has a close relationship with the Lord, and wants to share that love of God with everyone with whom he encounters. That is a very attractive quality in a man, and Mia notices! Here is an example of a prayer that Ryan offers up to God for Mia:

Lord, please keep Mia safe. And if it is your will, let her see my sincere desire to apologize for how I hurt her and help her to forgive me for what I did. (p. 13)

Here is Mia’s interpretation of God:

Please, I can’t handle this right now. Coming back here is all I can manage. This is too much.

Why was she calling out to God? He’d never helped before. No-she was on her own again the way God seemed to like it. Well, she wouldn’t just lie down and die. (p. 17)

Ryan explained to Mia how he views God’s place in our lives:

“…God has a perfect understanding of what’s good for us so He knows what to allow. We, on the other hand, don’t have a clue what’s in our best interest, just what our feelings feel us we want.” He paused as if waiting for her to stop him, but she was actually interested in hearing a logical explanation.”

“I’m listening.”

“One of my favorite verses in the Bible is in Proverbs. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. If you can trust that everything will ultimately be good for you and not let your feelings color a situation, life will be a lot simpler. Letting God be in charge of my life makr the living so much easier.”

“But I like to be in charge so people can’t step all over me ever again.” The vehemence in her tone shocked her. Was she that bitter about her past?

His lips tipped in a gentle smile meant to comfort. “And how’s that working for you? Are you happy? Everything going your way?” (p. 158)

This book is fast paced and full of action. There is also some romance included! And most importantly, God is glorified in word and deed. I was really satisfied with how the story ended. I commend Susan on her effort, and urge readers to read this one!

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Steeple Hill Books and generously provided by the author for review purposes.

‘Missing Mabel’ by Nancy Mehl – Book Review

I always love it when I am exposed to an author with whom I had previously been unaware. Such is the case with the author of the latest book on my list – Nancy Mehl and her newest novel, ‘Missing Mabel.’

Here is the synopsis of this entertaining novel:

         

Watch the tangled mess a Kansas hairdresser gets herself into when she reports to the funeral home that the body she is to work on is not the same as in her reference photo. Is she being punished when the director accuses her of stealing a diamond ring? Will Hilde Higgins’s former boyfriend help her unravel the issue or only bring more trouble to her life?                  

Here is the biography of this author:

Nancy Mehl lives in Wichita, Kansas, with her husband, Norman, and her son, Danny. She’s authored nine books and is currently at work on two new series for Barbour Publishing.

All of Nancy’s novels have an added touch—something for your spirit as well as your soul. “I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing,” Nancy says. “It’s a part of me and of everything I think or do. God is number one in my life. I wouldn’t be writing at all if I didn’t believe that this is what He’s called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan especially for your life, and there is nothing you can’t overcome with His help.”

Hilde’s mother, a neurosurgeon, was a little alarmed at the career path that her daughter took:         

I glanced at my watch. I was supposed to meet my mother at one o’clock. Just enough time to do Mabel’s hair and get to the restaurant. Lunch with Mother. Not something I looked forward to. My mother still couldn’t understand why I’d left college to go to beauty school and ended up working on “dead people’s hair, for crying out loud.” Mom is a successful neurosurgeon who is absolutely horrified by my career choice. I’d tried once to explain to her how it happened, but her dazed look told me that she was either taking a quick, open-eyed nap, or she was thinking about the next skull she planned to crack open. At least we were both concentrating on the same end of the body. (pp. 10-11)

Hilde described her first encounter with the dearly departed:     

Assuming I was fired, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. However, that was followed by a rush of terror when I understood that I was being sent to a local funeral home to fix the hair of a recently departed patron. The family insisted that their dear mother’s hair be styled by the same salon that had been taking care of her for years. Surprisingly, no one else wanted to go. Feeling that my career, such as it was, was hanging by a thread, I drove to The Sweet Slumberland Funeral Home, shaking like a leaf. I was scared stiff (no pun intended) as I was led down the hall to my client. But once we were alone, something happened to me. I felt a real peace in that room, and before long, Gertrude’s hair was beautifully coiffed. (pp. 11-12)

Hilde considered her job to be a ministry calling: 

I grabbed a pair of surgical gloves from my kit and pulled them on. Then I prayed. I always pray before starting my work. I ask for God’s help to honor the person entrusted to my care. I also pray for the family. It helps me feel like I’m a part of their healing process instead of a stranger who is intruding in their time of grief. (p. 21)

This book is surprisingly comical! Never having read any of Nancy’s books before, I was not expecting that. Here’s an example – Hilde explaining what her mother thinks of the church she is now attending:

My mother was still reeling from my decision to leave the church she’d brought me up in. I call it the “church of the frozen chosen.” My new church home is more contemporary and expressive. Mother refers to it as “that happy clappy church.” I don’t really mind. We do clap, and I am really happy there. (p. 39)

Hilde is deeply committed to Jesus. Here is an exchange between her and her best friend, Paula, who had recently embraced New Age teachings:   

She pulled her hand away and sat back in her seat. Her eyes narrowed. “Sorry. I’ve seen your God. He’s too judgmental. I could never be what He wants me to be.”

I smiled and shook my head. “He knows that, Paula. That’s why He doesn’t ask you to change. He simply asks that you let Him inside so He can do the changing.” I could tell from the way her body stiffened that I was going too far. “All right. I’ll stop. But just remember what I told you. God loves you completely—without reservation. He’s the father you’ve always wanted—and more. I should know. My father took off a long time ago with his girlfriend, and he’s never cared enough in all these years to contact me or pay one penny of child support. But my heavenly Father was there all the time, loving me and taking care of me. And He’s waiting for you to give Him a chance. Any time.” I grinned at her. “And it just so happens that I love you, too, you goofy nut.” (p. 97)

Another acquaintance of Hilde’s is the seventy year old gentleman across the street, Gabe Bashevis. They had established a relationship of friendship and trust over tea and dinner. Hilde decided she wanted to share one of her favorite food staples with him:     

I looked at my watch. “I need to get going. How about dinner tonight? I’ll fix something and bring it over about six?” I had no intention of telling him that he would be the recipient of one of my famous SPAM dishes. I found it was always better to let people taste it before telling them what it was. So far I’d never had anyone complain. (p. 129)

The main mystery in this suspenseful book is that Hilde is concerned that one of the dearly departed whose hair she styled was not the woman she had initially seen. Her sense of duty compelled her to tell the family of her concerns:

“Sorry.” My stomach felt tight. On the way to Willowbrook, I’d been relieved, since I planned to hand this whole mess over to Mabel’s family. However, the reality of telling them that their late loved one had turned up “missing in action” seemed to be losing its appeal. How would they take it? First their aunt dies. Then she’s toasted. Now some strange girl with a purple streak in her hair tells them their dear, dead aunt has actually disappeared and no one knows just where she is. Walking away and minding my own business began to look like a pretty good alternative. But I couldn’t do it. Mabel deserved better than that. (p. 133)

One more person of interest in Hilde’s life is Adam Sawyer, a childhood friend who had recently come back into her life. He seemed to have his priorities in order, as he explained when they were headed out to a secret destination:

“I don’t ever want my career to take over my life,” he said. “My dad worked hard to support us, but I would have traded time with him for almost any of the things he provided for us. Our pastor talks a lot about setting priorities. God first, family second, ministry third, and job fourth. I’m trying to get my ducks in a row now so I won’t have a problem when I get married someday.” He looked over at me and smiled. “I guess what you’ll see today is the ministry part of my life.” (p. 187)

And here’s another example of his faith:

         

“You know, my mother always prayed for me before she gave me any medication. She believes it’s important that we never put ourselves at the mercy of men’s solutions to God’s answers.”

I smiled at him even though it hurt. “I love that, Adam. Would you like to pray for me?”

He nodded, closed his eyes, and put his hand on my shoulder. “God, we thank You for being the true Healer. Thank You for touching Hilde with Your power. We know that nothing is stronger than You and that no pain can stand in Your presence. We also pray this medicine will be a blessing to her body. Thank You.” (p. 198)

The secret that Adam wanted to share with Hilde was that he was a member of a clown troupe that visited pediatric wards of hospitals: 

On the way to the restaurant, Adam shared a little more about his group, Clowns for Christ. He’d been with the group for a couple of years. Started at his church as a way to cheer up sick children, it now had ten members who split events between two groups of five clowns each. As he talked about the men he worked with and the vision they shared, I could hear the compassion in his voice for hurting children. It touched my heart and made me feel even closer to him. (p. 216)

The novel ends with the mystery of Mabel being solved. Another important development is the beginning of the healing of the relationship between Hilde and her mother:

My mother’s laughter at something Gabe said washed over me like a healing balm. Ever since we’d had our heart-to-heart talk, things have been better between us. Not perfect. Just better. The most remarkable thing is the look on her face now. There’s a freedom—a quiet joy that hadn’t been there for a long time—a fruit of the spirit that’s been inside her all the time, waiting to come out. We’ve both learned an important lesson: Allowing hurt and anger to quench the fruit God has given us can keep us from being everything He has created us to be. I’m not sure yet just who the real Hilde Higgins is—but I know she’s not the insecure little girl who watched her father drive out of her life in an orange car. Finding my true identity may take some time, but I intend to make that journey hand in hand with my real Father. The One who will never desert me. And now that Mom and I are both on the road to healing, I have every hope that we can have the kind of relationship I’ve always wanted. (p. 247)

This book is yet another example of God leading me to a terrific author who places Him at the center of her story. My understanding is that this is the first in a series of four books featuring Hilde Higgins; I really loved this character, and all of the other multidimensional characters in this novel. I look forward with great anticipation to the continuing adventures of this fun-loving young lady and her wonderfully ‘odd but happy group’ (as Mrs. Mehl describes them on page 249)!

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Barbour Books and provided by The Suspense Zone for review purposes.