Showing posts with label YA/Adult Thriller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label YA/Adult Thriller. Show all posts

Thursday, June 20, 2019

BLOG TOUR w/ GIVEAWAY: Wrong Place Wrong Time by E. James Harrison


ABOUT THE BOOK

The first idyllic hours of Greg and Marena Walker’s Caribbean vacation are filled with turquoise water, sand as soft and white as powdered sugar, and gentle ocean breezes. But all too soon the Walkers find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now they are running for their lives . . .

Scott Vaughn has made a lucrative career of secretly transporting illegal materials. Pay him enough, and he’ll move whatever you want from anywhere to anywhere. And though he has never met the Walkers, he needs them dead. His future depends on making certain they don’t have one..

Wayne Hovey desperately wants Scott Vaughn—alive is best; dead is acceptable. And luck has handed him the perfect bait: Greg and Marena Walker..

In a heart-pounding game of cat and mouse, each player is driven to succeed, never realizing they are all pawns in something much larger—and more dangerous—than any of them knows.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I grew up on the west side of Salt Lake City in a pretty typical family.  My dad worked most of his life in a factory, my mom was a homemaker and my three sisters were...sisters!  The two older ones were always bossing me around and I always had to give in to my younger sister.  (They may not remember it exactly like that, but it's true--really!)  A mom and three sisters means a lot of estrogen in a house, so during my preteen years my dad and I would escape whenever we could to the quiet of the mountains and deserts of Utah pursuing my dad's favorite hobby--rockhounding. Saturday's meant trapsing over desolate ground and blasting old cans full of holes with a .22 rifle.     

My early teen years were filled with pimples and the clumsy awkwardness of getting to know girls and for the most part, those are years to be forgotten.  It was during my high school years that two great things happened in my life.  First, I discovered airplanes and boats--two things I thoroughly enjoy to this day.  But second, and by far the most important and best thing that's every happened to me, was I met my wife, Debbie. (That's a picture of her over on the right.)  I met her in a geometry class. The teacher sat us alphabetically and I ended up in the desk behind her.  Had there still been ink wells in the desks, I'm sure I would have dipped the tips of her long dark hair in the ink in an effort to attract her attention.  With no ink I had to satisfy myself with untying the bows made from ribbons that she used to tie back her hair.  I succeeded in getting her attention, and ultimately convincing her to marry me, but not for several more years.


After high school there was a year of college (University of Utah) and then two years as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Returning from my missionary responsibilities I shocked everyone--including myself--by being accepted to Brigham Young University.  And that's when I first discovered writing.  I had no idea what I wanted to be when I "grew up," but the fiancée of one of Debbie's roommates was majoring in public relations.  I had no idea what that was, but it sounded fun so from then on I told everyone I was a public relations major.  I thought it would be a bunch of back slapping and socializing. Little did I know that English and writing are at the heart of public relations.  And the rest, as they say, is history.  I ultimately got an Associate degree in public relations and a Bachelor degree in creative writing.

REVIEW

E. James Harrison has written a compelling suspense novel.  The focus is on the horrible situation that Greg and Marena find themselves in rather than a romance which made the suspense the most compelling part of the story.  The prologue pulled me into the story immediately and the book didn't let go anywhere along the way.  It was interesting to see the different perspectives as the story went on, including the bad guys and their motivations and actions and how they collided with the 'good guys' including Greg and Marena who came to the Domincan Republic for vacation and ended up in the 'wrong place' at the 'wrong time' and ended up facing death.  I especially enjoyed the details about Greg and Marena's vacation and snorkeling trip before things went wrong.  An enjoyable mystery full of suspense and sympathetic as well as evil characters, Wrong Place Wrong Time is a great choice for those who enjoy a good suspense story without all the romance.

GIVEAWAY

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Tuesday, February 16, 2016

BLOG TOUR & Giveaway: The Spider and The Sparrow by A.L. Sowards


ABOUT THE BOOK

May 1915. After tragedy strikes during the Second Battle of Artois, Frenchman Julian Olivier will do anything to get out of the trenches. So when British Intelligence recruits him to spy behind enemy lines, he jumps at the opportunity. Just before he begins, however, he has a chance encounter with a young French woman who leaves his heart marked for the remainder of the war—even if he doesn't know her name.

Warren Flynn is a Canadian airborne hero, and dogfights with the Germans are all in a day's work. Second only to his love of flying is his fascination with Claire Donovan, the daughter of an American munition manufacturer living in Paris. Warren flies Julian into Germany and soon receives orders to post the Allies' newest operative—an attractive peasant woman named Evette—in Claire's home.

As a dangerous ring of spies and saboteurs threatens to turn the war against the Allies, Julian discovers goodness in his enemies' hearts. But even if he survives, will he ever be reunited with the woman whose memory he can't erase? Will Warren survive the war, and will Evette unearth the infiltrator in her own territory before it's too late?

REVIEW

After several books looking at the life of spies during World War II, Sowards goes back even farther to tackle spying during World War I.  As in all her books, the author takes the reader right down into the nitty-gritty details of the war, both the good and the bad.  The four main characters all face major challenges as they struggle to not only survive but maintain the relationships that are important to them.  Other than all the details, the other thing that I really appreciate about Sowards books is the look at both sides.  The dangers of war, both physical and emotional as well as ethical and moral come shining through, giving the reader something to think about long after the book is read.

GIVEAWAY

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TOUR SCHEDULE

Feb. 16th: 
Feb. 18th: 

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

BLOG TOUR w/ GIVEAWAY: Extreme Measures by Michele Ashman Bell


ABOUT THE BOOK

Following the trauma of her estranged husband’s untimely death, Emma Lowell is happy with the life she has rebuilt for herself. She’s engaged to a wonderful man and anticipates a fresh start, free from her troubled past. Only one persistent obstacle remains: Margaret Lowell, her former mother-in-law. Margaret continues to be a demanding presence in Emma’s life, and her requests have become increasingly disconcerting. When Margaret asks Emma to accompany her on a sentimental journey to the family’s mountain cabin, the young woman reluctantly agrees. After all, her fiancé is out of town. No one will miss her. Emma could never have suspected the horror that awaits in the snow-bound cabin, for beneath Margaret Lowell’s elderly façade lies a sinister and terrifying nature—and a plot born of insanity. Alarmed by the dark plan that unfolds, Emma struggles to escape the isolated cabin in a chilling game of cat and mouse. As the danger escalates, and with little hope of rescue, Emma must engage in a battle of wills if she is to avoid becoming the final piece in Margaret’s twisted puzzle . . .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michele Ashman Bell grew up in St. George, Utah, where she met her husband, Gary, at Dixie College. They are the proud parents of four children: Weston, Kendyl, Andrea, and Rachel.

A favorite pastime of Michele’s is supporting her children in all of their activities, traveling both in and outside the United States with her husband and family, and doing research for her books. She also scuba dives. Aside from being a busy wife and mother, Michele is an aerobics instructor at the Life Centre Athletic Club near her home. Michele is the best-selling author of several books and a Christmas booklet and has also written children’s stories for the Friend magazine.

REVIEW

Emma's life is looking up.  She has a wonderful fiance and is looking forward to getting married and moving on with her life.  She wants to leave her difficult relationship with her former mother-in-law in the past, but Margaret Lowell has very different plans.  When Emma gets tricked into taking Margaret on a trip to the family cabin things go downhill fast and she is forced to find the courage to stand up to her mother-in-law in ways she never expected.  Luckily for her she has some good friends who sense something is wrong and come looking for her.

Bell has created an interesting and suspenseful read with Extreme Measures.  It's a fast read with just enough detail included to carry the story along.  The focus is on Emma overcoming the unexpected threat that her mother-in-law suddenly presents and facing her own fears along the way.  I quite enjoy these kind of stories where the main character has to grow and develop.  Margaret's obsession provides an interesting psychological aspect to the story that adds to the tension.  An enjoyable, clean suspense book that I can easily recommend.

GIVEAWAY

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BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

 

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

BLOG TOUR REVIEW w/ GIVEAWAY: Murder at Tophouse by Clair M. Poulson


ABOUT THE BOOK

Officer Mike Denton can't shake the feeling that something isn't right. Since the shooting that nearly killed him, Mike has attempted to piece his life back together. Just when he thought things were starting to look up, false allegations leveled by his partner, Cal Granberg, have led to his suspension, and Mike begins to suspect that Cal may have played a role in the deadly attack. He has only one clue: a conversation he was never meant to hear involving guns in New Zealand.

Suspicious that he may have stumbled on an illegal gun trafficking plot, Mike sees his suspension as an opportunity to conduct an independent investigation into the shady actions of his ex-partner. He prepares for a month-long "vacation" to New Zealand to find the proof that would clear his good name—but what he couldn't prepare for is lovely young New Zealander Skylie Yates, a woman with her own troubles. A dangerous enemy believes that Skylie is the key to finding a hidden fortune. The problem: Skylie claims to know nothing about the money. Now, Mike must set aside his own quest for evidence in order to discover who's behind the threats to the woman he's coming to care for. But when hsi two investigations collide and Skylie's life hangs in the balance, Mike finds himself in a race against time to unearth a corruption far deeper than he could have imagine ...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Clair M. Poulson retired after twenty years in law enforcement. During his career he served in the U.S. Military Police Corps, the Utah Highway Patrol, and the Duchesne County Sheriff's Department, where he was first a deputy and the the county sheriff. He currently serves as a justice court judge for Duchesne County, a position he has held for nineteen years. His nearly forty-year career working in the criminal justice system has provided a wealth of material from which he draws in writing his books. Clair has served on numerous boards and committees over the years. Among them are the Utah Judicial Council, and FBI advisory board, the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, the Utah Justice Court Board of Directors, and the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice. Other interests include activity in the LDS Church, assisting his oldest son in operating their grocery store, ranching with his oldest son and other family members, and raising registered Missouri Fox Trotter horses. Clair and his wife, Ruth, live in Duchesne and are the parents of five married children. They have twenty-two grandchildren.

REVIEW

One thing I can always say about a Clair M. Poulson book is that it's never boring.  Another thing I can say is that they always suck me in right from the beginning.  And Murder at Tophouse is no different.  After reading that prologue I was immediately feeling indignation in behalf of Detective Mike Denton.  After everything he goes through just in the prologue, he gets struck another blow in the very first chapter.  But his determination to fight for himself and to do it the right way had me cheering for him.  Maybe it's Poulson's own background that helps him provide such great detail in his books or maybe he's just a great storyteller, or more likely it's both, but whatever the case may be he writes books that are hard to put down.  I especially appreciate the fact that his books are clean despite the often nasty topics that are addressed in them (murder, gun smuggling, etc).  And there is even some romance mixed in with the plot.  Another great read from one of my favorite writers.

GIVEAWAY


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BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

 

Thursday, January 15, 2015

BLOG TOUR: Eruption by Adrienne Quintana

Eruption blog tour


ABOUT THE BOOK

Jace Vega has finally landed her dream job—working for Omnibus, an up-and-coming tech firm. But a mysterious message from her future self sets Jace and her old friend Corey racing to piece together clues before Omnibus destroys their future—and their past. This fast-paced thriller will keep you guessing till the very last page.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Adrienne Quintana is the second of nine children and has always loved to read. After a mission, marriage, and four children, Adrienne completed her Bachelors of Science and Communication at the University of Phoenix. In the midst of housekeeping, potty-training, and carpooling, Adrienne discovered that she could still find time to accomplish her a life-long dream of becoming a writer.

REVIEW

I haven't read enough of this book yet to give a complete review, but it certainly has an intriguing beginning.  I'll post the rest of the review soon.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

BLOG TOUR: Finding Sheba by H.B. Moore

finding sheba tour

Finding ShebaFINDING SHEBA 
by H.B. Moore
StoneHouse Ink, 2013

An ancient legend is reborn . . . One that might prove the Bible false. For centuries, historians have theorized the Queen of Sheba as only a seductive legend, and scholars have debated over the legitimacy of King David or King Solomon. When undercover Israeli agent, Omar Zagouri, stumbles onto a tomb in Northern Jerusalem he unknowingly finds the final clue that threatens to overthrow government claim to the Holy Land, pits wealthy collectors against one another, and sends ruthless archaeologists scrambling to find the queen’s secret burial place. An assassination attempt on the Coptic Pope, His Holiness, Patriarch Stephanus II, is only the first in the chain of lethal crimes. Omar must find a way to prevent the greatest discovery of the century from becoming the most deadly.



heather moore
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Heather B. Moore is the award-winning author of ten novels, two inspirational non-fiction books, and two anthologies, including The Newport Ladies Book Club Series, A Timeless Romance Anthology, and Christ’s Gifts to Women (co-authored by Angela Eschler). Her historical fiction is published under the pen name H.B. Moore. She is the two-time recipient of Best of State in Literary Fiction, two-time Whitney Award Winner, and two-time Golden Quill Winner for Best Novel. Her most recent historical novel under H.B. Moore is Daughters of Jared (2012 LUW Gold Award of Excellence & 2012 LUW Best Book Trailer).


 
REVIEW

Archaeology is such a fascinating subject. Combine that with murder and intrigue and romance and you have the makings of a great read. Moore has created such a story here. With fascinating undercurrents and romantic tension, the mystery of the queen of Sheba unfolds. Jade, an American graduate student arrives in Egypt prepared to work on her thesis only to discover that her beloved professor's death was not an accident and that a discovery in Israel may turn everything she thought she knew on it's head. Meanwhile, Omar, an agent for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Ancient Artifacts, having helped discover the tomb that could change everything, sets off for Yemen on another assignment hoping to see his former girlfriend, only to find much more than he bargained for.  With enough twists and turns to satisfy most readers as well as some fascinating background and setting, I can heartily recommend this book.

Monday, June 24, 2013

BLOG TOUR: Lair of the Serpent by T. Lynn Adams



ABOUT THE BOOK



The shock of the assault caught the men off guard, and they struggled to control the American. 
They wrestled him to the ground, pinning him there, holding him fast, as Sang stood up from the ground.

Cursing in Khmer, Sang pointed the gun at Jonathon’s head and, without hesitating, pulled the trigger.

Jonathon can’t wait to surprise Delia for her birthday. With a little help from Delia’s brother, Severino, he plans to visit her in Cambodia where she’s working as a humanitarian volunteer.

But Jonathon arrives only to find a panicked Severino—and no Delia.

Jonathon and Severino are determined to find Delia before it’s too late—but it might not be that easy. Now, with the orphan Chey and their friend Juan, Jonathon and Severino must fight their way through human trafficking rings, a dense jungle, and a radical group bent on using Delia as a human sacrifice in order to find the Nāga Mani, a sacred and powerful stone.

Lair of the Serpent seamlessly blends intense action and suspense with family loyalty and tender romance. The rich setting and colorful characters will ignite your imagination, while the twisting plot and elements of fantasy will satisfy every adventurer’s thirst for exotic quests.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Writing has been part of the author’s career since she was fifteen years old. In addition to newspapers, she has written for many national and international publications. Currently she is the editor of a regional agriculture newspaper and relishes the opportunity to perform that work from her home. She and her husband are raising six children, and she is quick to tell you that means five to seven loads of laundry every day. It also means loads of laughter, which they enjoy doing more than anything else.

Besides being with her family, the author loves studying the scriptures, learning history, reading, and drawing. She served a mission to Peru and deeply treasures that experience. On a personal note, she will admit she is terrified of spiders, can’t fry an egg, and once burned a bag of potato chips. (She hid the bag in the oven to keep it from being devoured by her teenage sons and forgot it was there. Since then she has discovered the best hiding place in the entire house is the dishwasher. No teenager wants to get near one!)

There are two things that have influenced the author more than anything else. One is her family and the other is the gospel. She couldn’t imagine living without either one and is profoundly grateful to the Lord that His plan means she doesn’t have to choose. He has provided a way for us to enjoy both for an eternity. She only hopes she doesn’t have to do much laundry in Heaven.

REVIEW

Great characters with depth, check. Fascinating setting full of cultural and physical details, check. Thrilling adventure, check. This book has pretty much everything that a great book needs.  The characters are sympathetic and easy to relate to with strengths and weaknesses. Jonathan and Severino are both teenagers but they have experienced some pretty awful things (rattlesnake bites, being held hostage, threatened with death, etc). But nothing has prepared them for the disappearance of Delia, Severino's sister, while on a humanitarian mission to Cambodia. But neither boy will leave the country without her and the police aren't a lot of help.  I think one of the things that I love the most about Adams' books is the incredible detail in the setting. I could almost see, smell, and hear the place as I read.  This she manages to do while moving the story along at a rapid pace. This series of books really would make a great series of movies (which are in the works, I believe). Jonathan, Severino, and Delia are exposed to both the best and the worst that humanity has to offer and it makes for one incredible story. I highly recommend it (I would start with the first book in the series though, Tombs of Terror where Jonathan, Severino, and Delia meet for the first time).