Tyndale House

High Treason by DiAnn Mills (Review)

February 10, 2018 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

I’ve been on a Romantic Suspense kick this month (so many good ones out in February). Are you a fan of the genre?

In My Opinion

In her newest book, DiAnn Mills takes readers into a well-developed exploration of Saudi Arabian culture.

As CIA Operative Monica Alden joins FBI Agent Kord Davidson on protection detail for a Saudi prince and his family, she straddles the line of respecting the family’s expectations while doing the job she’s there to do. While her drive and desire to be in the thick of the investigation are strong, she does what she can to ease everyone’s unease at a woman in her position.

Book Review: Deep Extraction by DiAnn Mills

March 28, 2017 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

My Review

What happens when a case hits close?

In Deep Extraction by DiAnn, that’s the exact question FBI Special Agent Tori Templeton and reinstated Deputy US Marshal Cole Jeffers wrestle with as they investigate a murder.

As the two uncover unbelievable hidden truths about a man they called friend, they struggle with the possibility a member of his family might have killed him. Not to mention the growing attraction between Tori and Cole.

Both of these characters are tough, no-nonsense law enforcement agents but both also have fears they deal with daily.

The body count rises without a break in the case which keeps the FBI task force (as well as readers) scrambling to find the answer. I loved that there were a couple extra surprises at the end of the book.

Maybe It’s You by Candace Calvert

January 25, 2017 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

Maybe It’s You by Candace Calvert

About the book

ER nurse Sloane Ferrell escaped her risky past—new name, zip code, job, and a fresh start. She’s finally safe, if she avoids a paper trail and doesn’t let people get too close. Like the hospital’s too-smooth marketing man with his relentless campaign to plaster one “lucky” employee’s face on freeway billboards.

Micah Prescott’s goal is to improve the Hope hospital image, but his role as a volunteer crisis responder is closer to his heart. The selfless work helps fill a void in his life left by family tragedy. So does a tentative new relationship with the compassionate, beautiful, and elusive Sloane Ferrell.

Then a string of brutal crimes makes headlines, summons responders . . . and exposes disturbing details of Sloane’s past.

Can hope spring from crisis?

My thoughts

If you’ve read the previous book in Candace Calvert’s Crisis Team series, you’ll remember Sloane as the antagonist to that book’s heroine. And chances are, you didn’t think much of her.

An author who takes an unlikeable character and creates a story where I not only sympathize with that same character but also root for her HEA is rare. Calvert manages to tell Sloane’s story in a way that resonated with me. Her poor decisions from the past aren’t justified or glossed over but they build depth to the person Sloan is striving to become.

And when she gets to know Micah Prescott, she beings to believe she is worthy. But Micah has his own past regrets and demons he’s holding on to.

Maybe It’s You kept me involved from chapter one, rooting for Sloane to accept those in her life who want more for her—friendship, acceptance, forgiveness, grace, and perhaps even love.

The Crisis Team series allows readers a small glimpse into the lives of family, friends, and witnesses after tragedy strikes. In a world filled with too many horrible news bites, learning about people who have a heart for those left behind to pick up the pieces is refreshing and encouraging. Calvert manages to bring those people some well-deserved recognition through her books.

About the author

Candace Calvert is a former ER nurse and author of the Mercy Hospital, Grace Medical, and Crisis Team series. Her medical dramas offer readers a chance to “scrub in” on the exciting world of emergency medicine. Wife, mother, and very proud grandmother, Candace makes her home in northern California. Please visit her website at www.candacecalvert.com.

Q&A with Candace Calvert

http://mediacenter.tyndale.com/downloads/press_kits/Maybe%20It’s%20You_AuthorQA_Final.pdf

Read the first chapter

https://files.tyndale.com/thpdata/firstChapters/978-1-4143-9036-9.pdf

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Life Lessons from Lara (by Dandi Daley Mackall)

December 4, 2016 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

In Larger-Than-Life Lara, Dandi Daley Mackall approaches a difficult subject, one that is a life lesson every child should be taught at a young age, with grace, care and a pinch of humor. A book that should be required reading in every school class

room, Lara handles herself well in every situation—well, almost every one.

What’s even cooler about this book is it not only deals with the topic of bullying but it also teaches readers the different parts of telling a story as each chapter deals with one of these elements (Dialogue, Setting, Rising Action, Details, Cliff-Hangers, and Climax are all addressed).

Ten-year-old Laney Grafton is a tad relieved when the new girl enters her classroom because everyone’s mean words and teasing shifts away from her and onto Lara Phelps. But here’s the thing about Lara: she doesn’t react like she should. Nope. Instead, Lara accepts the bullying and returns each action with a kindness. And while the storyteller (Laney) doesn’t intervene, she does begin to change. As will every reader of this book.

As a reader, I felt Laney’s hardships as well as Lara’s as I was taken along for the ride through the eyes of a fourth-grade girl shares a story through her eyes. The author portrays this excellently through the writing of the story. I was there in that class room with Laney and as she shares this impactful time in her life all the while commenting on what’s she’s learned about telling a story. And the results are sometimes humorous, sometimes heart-breaking, but always memorable.

If you have young children who are being bullied or if you know young children you want to encourage to help a friend who is being bullied or if you want to share how one person can make a difference, then Large-Than-Life Lara is a way in which to do it impactfully.

****I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Befriend by Scott Sauls

October 13, 2016 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

Befriend: Creating Belonging in an age of Judgement, Isolation, and Fear by Scott Sauls wasn’t quite what I expected in this book. But that’s not at all a bad thing.

In a world where much of our communication with others is via Facebook, text messages, instant messages, 140 characters on Twitter, or photos on Instagram, we’ve lost a lot of personal interaction. An opportunity to go deeper. Be more understanding. Give a piece of ourselves to others. In short, we’ve limited ourselves to our circle of friends online and in our cell phone contacts. How many of us even take the time to send a personal, meaningful email to a friend or family member?

What Scott Sauls encourages readers to Befriend is to step away from the computers, to put down the cell phones, and make real connections. And again, the challenge is to step outside our circle of influence and get to know people who are different than us—the poor, the wealthy, people with different political views, the disabled, and children to name just a few.

At the beginning of the book, Sauls offers three ways to read his book: read a chapter a day (to ruminate on each challenge), as a small group study, or reading it through in one or two sittings. I can definitely see the advantage and potential for deeper friendships as well as servant opportunities that would benefit a small group.

Even reading Befriend in a few sittings challenged me to reach out to others. Others who don’t live in my neighborhood (or city or country). Those who have less (or more) than me. People who view life through different eyes than I do. Because in the end, my relationships should be a reflection of Jesus, and he hung out with every type of person.

***The publisher provided me with a free copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review and was not compensated in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.