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Murders Abound–Pursued with Hostile Intent

Deb’s Dozen: Someone murders entire families—how are they related? Now someone’s after her.

Hostile Intentby Lynette Easton concludes her Danger Never Sleeps series. Finishing the book was sad. I’m not ready to leave these characters. Lynette’s many talents include creating characters who become real to you as you’re reading. I dislike having to say goodbye to friends even when they’ve been involved in tracking murders.

Ava Jackson received an early discharge from the Navy to come home to be with her ailing mother. While deployed, she’d lost her father. She couldn’t bear the thought of not being with her mother in her mom’s last days. After visiting her mom, a man attacks her as she makes her way to her car. She fights back savagely and runs the attacker off when FBI Special Agent Caden Denning arrives to help in the nick of time.

And so starts this exciting, terrifying, unpredictable effort to find the attacker. Ava seems to be the key to the murders of three families. The FBI fears the murders will continue unless they find the commonality among the killings. Ava hides secrets; Caden hides his attraction to Ava. hey both relentlessly try to solve the puzzle and catch the killer—before the killer succeeds in his quest to get Ava.

Hostile Intent engrossed me to the point Ava and Caden’s world became my reality, and true reality hid somewhere outside their realm. Finding a book that plunges you into the middle of the characters’ lives and takes you with them on their journey is rare. Lynette Eason is one of today’s mystery/suspense/thriller writers capable of doing so. Hostile Intent rates five stars.

About Lynette

Hostile Intent+MurdersMany awards grace Lynette Eason’s shelves—three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, and the Golden Scroll Award among many others. She graduated from the University of South Carolina and obtained a master’s degree in education from Converse College. Lynette lives in South Carolina with her husband, Jack, and two children. You can learn more about Lynette at www.lynetteeason.com.

Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group gave me a copy of Hostile Intent but did not in any way require me to write a review. As an Amazon Associate, I may receive a small commission should you purchase Hostile Intent through any of my links.

Tried for Murder; Served Her Time. Still Guilty?

Deb’s Dozen: Tried for murder, served her time. Despised by many, looking for justice.

Trace of Doubt by DiAnn Mills fascinated me. Unlike most of her other books, we meet the criminal at the onset. But this murderer, Shelby Pearce, served her time for the crime of shooting her brother-in-law and had been paroled. Coming to the small town of Valleysburg, she finds some will not allow her to peacefully start over.

One of the people most against her parole is FBI Special Agent Denton McGuire—a rookie when she was tried and convicted he investigated her case. But the murder, in his mind, was not her only crime. He suspected, but had been unable to prove, she had embezzled five hundred thousand dollars from her brother-in-law’s account—money earmarked to be sent to African orphans.

Shelley begins to receive death threats; Denton finds he cares for her and decides to help protect her. And the drama takes over, with twists and turns to the very end. Mills writes her characters with care to ensure they come alive in the readers’ imaginations. You will be intrigued by Shelby and come to admire her. You will agonize with Denton as he finds his heart and his job at cross purposes. Although not the most complex of Mills’s books, Trace of Doubt will capture you and keep you reading. I loved the story. Four and a half stars.

Suspense and mysteryDiAnn Mills, a prolific author who has been awarded many honors—two Christy Awards and finals for the RITA, Carol, Golden Scroll, and awards—as well as placed on the CBA and ECPA best-seller lists. She loves coffee, quite the aficionado, and roasts her own beans. She and her husband live in Houston, Texas.

Tyndale Books gave me a copy of Trace of Doubt, but did not require me to write a review.

A Christmas Miracle for Idaho

Deb’s Dozen: An angel teardrop, a creature fashioned from snow—blessed by Jesus himself.

Seldom have I seen a book as beautiful as Christmas in Idaho by Ray Downing. The presentation, the artwork, the paper, and the cover are stunning. In addition, the book comes with a CD containing a reading of the story by Eric Conger and the beautiful art animated as well. You will want to keep a copy of this story to read every Christmas—be you a child or a child at heart.

You see, Idaho got his name from a burlap sack Molly and Josh used as his vest when they fashioned him from snow. Little did they know the last handful of snow they patted upon his chest contained an angel’s tear. That tear caused Idaho to live and think and want to learn, especially about Christmas.

The pages that follow Idaho’s realization he was alive tell a wonderful tale. He endeavors to learn why Christmas holds such an honored place in their household. Idaho learns the story of Christmas. He meets the woodland creatures and finds a robin that perished in the cold. Sad, Idaho tears off a piece of burlap to wrap it in and carries the robin with him. One of the things he learns tells him when spring arrives, snow melts and he will disappear. So he sets out to find out as much about this world as he can before that time comes.

You will definitely want to get his book and read Idaho’s story. I am sure you will find amazement and sadness and joy within. I cannot recommend this book more highly—I wish I could award more than five stars.

Digital artist Ray Downing, Emmy winner and creator of “The Real Face of Jesus” for the History Channel, in this book, through his interests in art, science, and religion created an emotionally charged and lavishly illustrated Christmas story—a journey of discovery which questions our understanding of time and explores the possibility of immortality.

Ray graciously gave me a copy of Christmas in Idaho, but did not require me to write a review. To purchase, go to https://www.christmasinidaho.com/shop.