Sunday, April 26, 2015

WarZone by Amryn Cross



By Marcy G. Dyer


Back Cover Copy

Cade Blackwell never came home from the war, at least not the same version of himself everyone remembers. He'd like nothing more than to be that man again...to be normal, but with physical and mental scars, it may not be possible. At least he thinks he wants normalcy until he meets Alexandria Holst--cold, blunt, and an absolutely brilliant detective. What begins as nothing but a chance meeting soon rips him from civilian life and thrusts both of them into a murder investigation that has the police baffled and Alex thrilled at the prospect of the puzzle. He shouldn't tempt death, not after nearly dying in Afghanistan, but he's never felt more alive than when he's running through the streets of Washington D.C. Sometimes toward danger, sometimes away from it, but always with her--a woman who both intrigues and frightens him. The shadows they chase may be nothing compared to the darkness in her head. Cade knows one thing for certain. If he's a soldier, Alex Holst is definitely a warzone.

My Review:

Cade Blackwell is trying to adjust to "normal" life outside of the war when he meets Alex Holst. The quirky woman is far from normal and she throws his life into turmoil. A turmoil he loves and fears. Together they race to solve a murder that has stumped the police department. 

While there is no romantic thread between Cade and Alex, they do have a respect for each other. 

The spiritual thread is faintly interwoven in the story, and I suspect it will increase in intensity in future Alex Holst books. It will fun to see how these characters develop over time.

Cade's character was very likable. I've known men like him. Trying to adjust to civilian life, but not quite knowing how. He's structured and honorable, but doesn't know what to do with himself. When he meets Alex, her quirky, blunt style draws him in even though he's not quite sure about her.

Alex's character is a cross between Sherlock Holmes and Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory. She's engaging and intriguing in spite of her bluntness and lack of social skills. Alex's brilliant mind enjoys the puzzle of figuring out the solution to whatever crime she's solving.

The plot kept me turning page after page, and I would recommend this story to anyone who's a fan of suspense novels. Especially ones with unique, fun characters.

Author Bio:


A tomboy with southern belle roots, Amryn Cross was born and raised in Tennessee where she learned the importance of God, family, Southern hospitality, and football. She’s loved the written word from the time she was a child, convinced the squiggly lines on top of the Hostess cupcake really spelled out a secret message.

From an early age, she loved to write stories of heroines who entered a man’s world and excelled. Though she put writing on hold to pursue her love of science, the stories and characters she created were never far from her mind.

After obtaining degrees in biology, medical technology, and forensic DNA and serology, Amryn finally decided to attempt to marry her love of science and writing into something that would glorify God. Thus, her first completed novel, Breathing to Death– an inspirational romantic suspense–was born.

Working full-time as a forensic scientist, Amryn makes time for writing between spending time with friends and family and working in her church. She is also an active member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and My Book Therapy (MBT) and answers writers’ forensic questions at Jordyn Redwood’s Medical Edge blog.

Find Amryn at:

Monday, April 20, 2015

Interview with Nancy Jill Thames




Debbie: Tell us a little about yourself.
Nancy Jill:  My dad was in the Air Force so we traveled and moved around a lot. I lived in places like Casablanca, Morocco, Valdosta, GA and Las Vegas, Nevada, which gave me a sense of adventure. I'm just an average housewife who loves to entertain, or used to. When the kids started to leave the nest, I decided to finish a book I'd started writing years ago, "Murder in Half Moon Bay" and do a series - just for kicks. I needed a creative outlet. I have a degree in music and love playing classical piano but one can't play piano all day! My faith in God has led me all my life and He's been so faithful. Traveling with my husband on his business trips gives me the ideas to base my books on.

Debbie: Tell us about your most recent book/or the book we are focusing on.
Nancy Jill: Book 1 "Murder in Half Moon Bay" was written as a personal challenge to prove I could write a story like Agatha Christy or Donald Bain ("Murder She Wrote"). Once I saw I could actually do it I decided to write seven more stories centering around Jillian the feisty garden columnist, her clue sniffing Yorkie, and garden club friends. Now I'm on book 10! The books are stand alone, but I like readers to start with Book 1 to see how Jillian began her sleuthing career.

Debbie: Why did you choose this particular genre?
Nancy Jill: Romance bores me, I don't care much for fantasy, dystopian, or Sce-Fi and I love the ability to include fine art, afternoon tea and pet capers in my stories.

Debbie: What was your journey to publication like?
Nancy Jill: I blogged the first 12 chapters of "Murder in Half Moon Bay" as a lark, generated some interest with a Bay Area rag and decided to self-publish through CreateSpace. I stumbled upon Kindle eBooks and published there, made a ton of errors, got  bad reviews for writing about my faith without a disclaimer, which I immediately remedied, and started to sell books. Every article, post, or blog relating to becoming a successful author I devoured. But the best thing I did was to join writing groups in my area.

Debbie: What are a couple of your favorite books and what are you reading now?
Nancy Jill: Loved "Snow Falling on Cedars," "The Poisonwood Bible," and "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" trilogy. I'll read best sellers if they aren't too raunchy. I just finished a memoir by Jemima Pett called "White Water Landings."

Debbie: What are you working on now and can you give us a little peek inside?
Nancy Jill: Book 10 "Murder at the Empress Hotel" is set in the beautiful city of Victoria on Vancouver Island, where a bitter legal and political conflict over fishing rights and the love of one woman turns deadly with the murder of a young attorney. The mystery draws Jillian and Teddy into yet another adventure.

Debbie: What advice would you give authors who are on their own journey to publication?
Nancy Jill: Write a good book. Get lots of feedback. Write a few more books. Hire an awesome editor, proofer, and cover artist.

Debbie: Do you have any books or websites that helped you wit
h your writing that you could share with us?
Nancy Jill: I only read one book on writing "How to write a D... Good Mystery" by James Frey. I checked it out of the library after writing 12 chapters!

Debbie: Is there anything you'd like to tell us we haven't covered?
Nancy Jill: I like what J K Rowling said about writing - "I write what I like to read." It's a good reminder.

Debbie: Please let us know where we can find you on the web.
Nancy Jill: I'd love to: ...enter the world of Jillian Bradley and her Yorkie companion Teddy, where afternoon tea is served and murderers are brought to justice. Amazon Author Central: http://ow.ly/3xKFLw  Books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords and Kobo.



 
 
by Deborah Malone
 
Deborah Malone's first novel Death in Dahlonega, finaled in the American Christian Fiction Writer's category Five writing contest! Deborah was also nominated for 2011 and 2012 Georgia Author of the Year in Novel category. She has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, for the historic magazine "Georgia Backroads" since 2001. She has had many articles and photographs published, and her writing is featured in "Tales of the Rails," edited by Olin Jackson, as well as the "Christian Communicator." She is a member of the Georgia Writer's Association, Advanced Writers and Speaker's Association and the American Christian Fiction Writers.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, April 6, 2015

Persephone's Fugitive



Prepare to embark on a fast-paced adventure with Sara and Keegan in Persephone’s Fugitive, the second book in Dianna Benson’s Cayman Islands Trilogy. Once again, Benson has crafted a twist-filled story guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their seats. I highly recommend this book. 





Persephone’s Fugitive
Book Two
Cayman Islands Trilogy
By
 Dianna T. Benson

*** SPOILER ALERT *** Reading Persephone’s Fugitive (including the book blurb) before The Hidden Son (Book One in the Cayman Islands Trilogy) will ruin the ending of The Hidden Son. However, both books are standalones. 

When a routine 911 call turns deadly, Paramedic Sara Dyer finds herself held at gunpoint by Jason Keegan, an injured psych-ward patient charged with murder. The situation spirals out of Sara’s control when the confrontation becomes a tense standoff between Keegan and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.

As Keegan’s hostage, Sara fights to save them both before he blows them up. She realizes his warning to the Cayman police is no empty threat since he’d rather die than spend the rest of his life in a prison cell. Sara soon discovers Keegan is just as determined to survive as she is - provided he can escape Grand Cayman and disappear forever. As she struggles to trust in God’s protection, help from an atheist turns her struggle into a lure away from her faith.





Sunday, April 5, 2015

Interview with Dianna Benson

Recently, I interviewed Dianna T. Benson. 




Dianna T. Benson is the award-winning and international bestselling author of The Hidden Son and Final Trimester. Persephone’s Fugitive is her third release. An EMT and a HazMat and FEMA Operative since 2005, Dianna authentically implements her medical and rescue experience and knowledge into all her suspense novels. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and their three children. www.diannatbenson.com

What made you want to become a writer?

I was in fifth grade the day President Reagan was shot. From that real event that day, I developed all sorts of fictional scenes and dialogue, something I did on a continual basis daily. When I asked friends and teachers what scenes and stories they created because of the attempted assassination, none of them had a clue what I was talking about. At that moment, I realized I was the only person I knew who did this sort of thing every day.

As time passed I recognized my zeal to write suspense novels, and like my respiratory system inhales and exhales, each day throughout the day my mind instinctively creates scenes and dialogue, always suspenseful in nature. Being an EMT, being a mom, and being blessed with this writer brain, the stories never stop flowing. Developing a good story, however, is where the real writing occurs. Fortunately, I love the arduous revision process, as it is where I take my shell of a story and make it worth reading (hopefully).

Tell me about your latest release.

Persephone’s Fugitive, Book Two in the Cayman Islands Trilogy 

When a routine 911 call turns deadly, Paramedic Sara Dyer finds herself held at gunpoint by Jason Keegan, an injured psych-ward patient charged with murder. The situation spirals out of Sara’s control when the confrontation becomes a tense standoff between Keegan and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.

As Keegan’s hostage, Sara fights to save them both before he blows them up. She realizes his warning to the Cayman police is no empty threat since he’d rather die than spend the rest of his life in a prison cell. Sara soon discovers Keegan is just as determined to survive as she is - provided he can escape Grand Cayman and disappear forever. As she struggles to trust in God’s protection, help from an atheist turns her struggle into a lure away from her faith. 

Your latest release is based on a true story. How can fans find out more about the true story on which the novel is based?

With HIPPA and other privacy laws, I’m unable to reveal the true story about that day during one of my EMS shifts. But I can share that on one of our calls that day, my partner and I were treating and transporting a handcuffed and injured psych-ward patient to the ED (Emergency Department), and per protocol, a LEO (Law Enforcement Officer) was escorting him. I can thankfully report that no one was injured and the situation ended well and quickly—not the makings for good fiction; however, my writer brain visualized the possibilities in that situation and took off writing a fictional story, thus Persephone’s Fugitive was born.      

How many books have you written?

The Hidden Son (released 2013) is my fifth completed book—I signed with my first agent in 2007 with this book. Final Trimester (released 2014) is my sixth. Persephone’s Fugitive is my seventh. I’m currently writing my next book. Someday I may revise at least one of my first four completed books. I also started writing an Amish suspense trilogy and a western suspense trilogy, but neither the Amish nor western genres fit my writing voice.     

How can fans connect with you?

All my books are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, etc. (anywhere books are sold).
I’m on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn – all the links are on my website.
If interested in viewing the book trailer to Persephone’s Fugitive:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyn2vxPh8zE


Thank you for featuring my newest release, Persephone’s Fugitive. I enjoyed my time here on Sleuths and Suspects.  





Persephone’s Fugitive
Book Two
Cayman Islands Trilogy
By
 Dianna T. Benson

*** SPOILER ALERT *** Reading Persephone’s Fugitive (including the book blurb) before The Hidden Son (Book One in the Cayman Islands Trilogy) will ruin the ending of The Hidden Son. However, both books are standalones. 

When a routine 911 call turns deadly, Paramedic Sara Dyer finds herself held at gunpoint by Jason Keegan, an injured psych-ward patient charged with murder. The situation spirals out of Sara’s control when the confrontation becomes a tense standoff between Keegan and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.
As Keegan’s hostage, Sara fights to save them both before he blows them up. She realizes his warning to the Cayman police is no empty threat since he’d rather die than spend the rest of his life in a prison cell. Sara soon discovers Keegan is just as determined to survive as she is - provided he can escape Grand Cayman and disappear forever. As she struggles to trust in God’s protection, help from an atheist turns her struggle into a lure away from her faith.

Hyperlinks for Persephone’s Fugitive