Nine

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Zoe Johnson has spent most of her life living in the shadows, never drawing attention to herself, never investing in people or places.  But when a wide-eyed, bedraggled teenager with no memory walks into the diner where Zoe works, everything changes.

Against her better judgment, Zoe, who has been trying to outrun her own painful memories of the past, finds herself attempting to help a girl who doesn't seem to have any past at all.  With little warning, they must follow the only sure thing they know: a woman hundreds of miles away will either save them...or be the last person to see them alive.

Review

Nine is an action-packed read: part thriller, part science fiction, part conspiracy, and part... something unlike I've ever read before!  Kudos to Rachelle Dekker for her unmistakable writing talent - she is truly an incredible story-teller.  I found myself re-reading phrases and paragraphs for the pure joy of appreciating her way with words. Nine took me on a crazy ride, and I couldn't help but be drawn into this complex, multi-faceted story following Zoe and Lucy: two young ladies who struggle with their identities and how they are to view themselves.  Both struggle with a crippling past and the journey they embark on is their hope for a better future - if they stay alive long enough to see that future.

I really dislike having to write this, but I unfortunately encountered a couple drawbacks.  The body count in this novel is high.  Like really, really high.  I'm sure it could rival any secular R-rated action movies out there on the market. I struggled over the cold, calculating scenes detailing torture and ruthless killings.  It felt extremely out of place for a "Christian Fiction" novel, and wasn't quite what I was expecting.  Which leads me to the second drawback: a distinct lack of faith element in the story.  Other than a cringe-worthy flippant remark about only Jesus being able to enter a locked room, and references to a cult society where Christianity was skewed in terrible ways, there is no mention of God at all in the book.  The characters in the story are asked to change who they are, but through their own power, without seeking Christ and viewing his redemptive work on the cross as the only power to save (something I was hoping for in a Christian fiction novel, so it was disappointing not to see that theme incorporated into the story).  

All in all, Nine is a well-written suspense novel packed full of cliff-hanger moments. If you want a wild ride centered around a desperate fight between good and evil, then this is the book for you.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  

The Bride of Ivy Green

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Spring is in the air...and change is too.  Mercy Grove has lost her girls' school and is resigned to life as a spinster, especially as the man she admires is out of reach.  She contemplates leaving Ivy Cottage to become a governess - a decision with consequences she never imagined.

 

Meanwhile, her friend Jane Bell is facing a difficult decision of her own.  Should she accept Gabriel Locke even if it means giving up her inn and destining another man to a childless marriage?

 

When a secretive new dressmaker arrives in the village, Mercy, Jane, and the other ladies of Ivy Hill attempt to befriend her, but they soon suspect she isn't who she claims to be.

 

Together the women of Ivy Hill look forward to one wedding, but surprises lie in store and dearly held dreams may yet come true.

Review

In Jane Austen style, Julie Klassen has written another lovely novel filled with sweet romance, supportive friendships, abiding faith, and a touch of mystery.  Mercy Grove is easily the main female character in this novel, but her friends, Rachel and Jane, make up a great supportive cast with their own interwoven side stories.  The Bride of Ivy Green is by no means a fast-paced novel, proceeding more like a leisurely stroll, inviting the reader to pause, take a breath, and just enjoy the simplicity of life in Ivy Hill.  I will be the first to say that I greatly enjoy a thrilling suspense novel, but in a world run by a fast-paced culture, it is like taking a holiday to be able to sit back and relax to a sweetly written novel that is more about the characters and their development then whipping through the story. 

 

I am sad to see that this is the final book in "Tales from Ivy Hill", but am quite happy with the satisfying endings for all of the characters.  Successfully tying up all the characters that have made their way through the "Tales from Ivy Hill" books is no small feat, and I applaud Ms. Klassen for accomplishing it with such ease.  I am excited to see what is next for Ms. Klassen, full well knowing that her next work will be another fabulous read.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

In Too Deep

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When the Carrington County Sheriff's Office dive team is called in to recover a body from a submerged car, they aren't prepared to find an encrypted laptop - or an unsettling connection between investigator Adam Campbell and the dead accountant.

 

Adam turns to his friend, Dr. Sabrina Fleming to recover the files from the laptop.  But the deeper they dig, the deadlier the investigation becomes.  When evidence implicates members of Adam's own family, he and Sabrina will have to risk everything to solve the case. 

 

The truth could set hundreds free - but someone is willing to do whatever it takes to silence anyone who threatens to reveal their secrets.

Review

Book two in "Dive Team Investigations", In Too Deep follows a similar format to its predecessor, Beneath the Surface in delivering a fast-paced mystery and a thrilling climax.

The world of computer forensics is fascinating - and not one usually highlighted in mystery novels, as DNA forensics usually takes the forefront in the fictional world of investigations.  I really enjoyed the fun character of Dr. Sabrina Fleming, a superhero buff that wears converse sneakers, drives a Mini Cooper, and lives in a tiny home.  But behind her quirky persona, she is a genius and a whiz with computers.  No matter how locked up a computer drive is, or how damaged, she always is able to draw some clue, some secret from its database.  She is the go-to expert for the dive team, much to Adam Campbell's pleasure as he secretly admires her.

In Too Deep was the perfect mash-up of suspense and romance.  I was hooked from the first page and really wished it was longer!  Fans of Christian suspense will not be disappointed.  The final instalment to the series, One Final Breath, comes out September 3, 2019 - I cannot wait!!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Mind Games

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FBI Behavioral Analyst Kaely Quinn's methods may be highly unorthodox, but her talent is undeniable.  She's done her best to establish a new life for herself after being demoted and transferred to St. Louis when a reporter revealed she's the daughter of an infamous serial killer.  But when that same reporter claims to have received an anonymous poem predicting a string of murders, ending with Kaely's, it seems her old life has followed her.

 

When a body is found that fits the poem's morbid predictions, Kaely and her new partner, Special Agent Noah Hunter, are forced to move past his skepticism of her approach and work together to unravel the deadly riddle. 

 

With a brazen serial killer who breaks all the normal patterns on the loose, Noah and Kaely must race to catch the murderer before anyone else, including Kaely, is killed.

 

Review

 

What a chilling read!  The cover and title of this book say it all as Mind Games takes the reader along a twisted ride into the dark mind of a serial killer who has their sights firmly fixed upon Kaely and her demise.  The initial killings are seemingly random, creating panic in trying to predict where the killer will hit next.  Suspense builds with each page until it reaches a thrilling climax and an incredible plot twist.  This was truly one of the best suspense novels I have read, but be forewarned: Mind Games is not for the faint of heart.  Even just the fact that Kaely's father was a serial killer (and how that would have impacted Kaely emotionally and psychologically growing up) is a dark and disturbing element. 

 

I'm excited to see that this is the start of a new series and will be eagerly anticipating book two, Fire Storm, scheduled to come out in August 2019!

 

 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.