MORTAL FIRE: The Secret of the Journal by C.F.Dunn

About the book

Twenty-nine-year-old, independent, and self-assured Cambridge history professor Emma D'Eresby has one obsession in life: the curious journal of a seventeenth-century Englishman, a portion of which was left to her by her late grandfather.

When an unexpected opportunity to study the journal in its entirety presents itself, Emma finds herself leaving Cambridge to take up a year-long position at a prestigious university in Maine. Anticipating a quiet year of research, Emma quickly discovers her work impeded by a range of unforeseen complications. 

From the start, there is the well-intentioned matchmaking of her vivacious Russian colleague, Elena Smalova, and the unexpected jailing of one of her post-graduate students. More troublesome, however, are the unsolved, brutal night attacks on women near the university and Emma's suspicion that they might be linked to the sinister English professor, Kort Staahl. But, most diverting and disconcerting of all, is Emma's growing attraction to the strikingly handsome Dr. Matthew Lyons, whose kind but deliberately distant demeanor puzzles her.

Suspense and dread mount when Kort begins to take a persistent and unsettling interest in Emma. What are Kort's intentions, and what is he capable of? And the mystery surrounding Matthew only deepens when Emma discovers a link between him and the journal. What is Matthew trying to hide?

Read Chapter One here

C.F.Dunn runs a specialist dyslexia and autism school in south east England, and writes in the south west.

Here is the link to C.F. Dunn's website

My Review

I am always excited to receive a package in the mail. Invariably it contains a new book for reviewing. I usually have a few books going at the same time in the review process, so I will let a new one wait until I get the others finished. Can't get too many books going at once. 

However, today when I received the review copy of Mortal Fire, I knew it was a book that couldn't wait to be read. The cover alone was intriguing. Dark and mysterious, old books in the foreground and an eye surrounded by wisps of smoke. Very intriguing, indeed. But the best part lay in-between the pages. 

Once I began reading this book, I couldn't put it down. I only stopped because my dogs wouldn't stop pestering me to take them outside. I had to know what was going to happen next. 

Extremely well-written, strong, bold characters and a plot so tight with suspense I found myself holding my breath more often than not.

Emma D'Eresby, a visiting History professor from England, is on a journey, a quest, searching for a lost journal. The people she meets at Howard's Lake College in Maine, USA, are a cast of characters in and of themselves. Sam Wiesner, the "lady's man;" Elena Smalova, intelligent and excitable, and Matthew Lynes, mysterious, strong, and maybe even something more.... just who is he?

Mortal Fire is a book you want to read with the lights on and during the day. But if you are like me.... you won't be able to put it down.

You can purchase your copy here: 

http://store.kregel.com/searchproducts.cfm

www.amazon.com

This review was made possible by Kregel Publications providing me with a free review copy. I am under no obligation to write a positive review.

 

 

UNENDING DEVOTION by Jody Hedlund AND GIVEAWAY!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Michigan, 1883

In Her Darkest Hours, Is He the Man She Needs?

Lily Young longs to find her lost sister or will die trying. Heedless of any danger, she searches logging camps and towns, posing as a photographer’s assistant. And then she arrives in Harrison, Michigan–and the sights of Connell McCormick.

Connell is determined to increase the fortune of his lumber-baron father and figures as long as he’s living an upright life, that’s what matters. But when Lily arrives in town she upends his world, forcing him to confront the truth that dangerous men have gained too much power while good men turn a blind eye.

Vexing but persuasive, Lily soon secures Connell’s help, drawing them ever closer to each other. Will standing for what’s right cost them both everything?

LINK TO BUY THE BOOK

http://ow.ly/dihgn 

ABOUT JODY HEDLUND

Jody Hedlund is the bestselling author of "The Doctor's Lady" and "The Preacher's Bride". She won the 2011 Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, the 2011 Award of Excellence from the Colorado Romance Writers and was a finalist for Best Debut Novel in the 2011 ACFW Carol Awards. Currently she makes her home in central Michigan, with her husband and five busy children. She loves hearing from readers on Facebook and on her blog.

Visit her website: http://jodyhedlund.com

MY REVIEW

I really enjoy historical novels. So reading Unending Devotion by Jody Hedlund was a treat indeed. I had read a previous book by her, The Preacher's Bride, and enjoyed it as well.

One of things I like about how she writes, is the research she does for her books. Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest, timber country, I was aware of some of the things she talked about in Unending Devotion, but not to the extent she brought out in her book. 

The opening of the story is what caught my attention. Lily Young, the main character, is on her way to rescue a young girl caught in prostitution in one of the logging towns. She wasn't the first girl Lily rescued.

Lily and her friend, Oren travel from one logging town and logging camp to another, taking pictures of the men who work in them and hopefully, find her missing sister, Daisy.

The conditions are not just rough, they are dangerous, especially for a young, pretty girl, like Lily. If it wasn't for Oren, her friend, protector and father-figure, she wouldn't have gotten very far.

Strong characters and real stories interwoven in this fictional piece make for a fascinating story. Then throw in Connell McCormick, son of a lumber-baron, things really get interesting.

Connell knows things aren't good in Harrison, yet, he doesn't dare rock the boat against the man who has the law in his pocket. However, Lily challenges his fence-riding. Will he stand up to one of the most evilest men in the state? Will he stand up for what he knows is right? Will Lily find her sister? You will just have to read the book to find out!

Unending Devotion isn't just about a missing sister, or Lily's unending love for her. Nor is it just about the wretched conditions of the logging camps and towns filled with the depravities of man. Throughout it all, we see the unending devotion God has for each one of us. Though we may try to run and hide and even try to do things our way, He still loves us. He loves us enough to let us come to the end of ourselves, so we will turn to Him. That is unending devotion. 

This review was made possible through Litfuse Publicity Group. They freely provided a review copy for reviewing only. I am under no obligation to write a positive review. 

READ MORE REVIEWS HERE!

http://litfusegroup.com/author/JHedlund

UNENDING DEVOTION BY JODY HEDLUND / NIKON CAMERA GIVEAWAY AND FACEBOOK PARTY 9/18/2012! ENTER AND RSVP TODAY!

Celebrate with Jody by entering to win a Nikon Camera Prize Pack!

See what folks are saying about Unending Devotion!

One “devoted” winner will receive:

• A Nikon COOLPIX Digital Camera
• $25 Shutterfly gift certficate
• Unending Devotion by Jody Hedlund

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 17th. Winner will be announced at the “Unending Deovtion” Author Chat Facebook Party on 9/18. Connect with Jody, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like yourself. There will also be gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group)!

So grab your copy of Unending Devotion and join Jody on the evening of the September 18th for a chance to connect with Jody and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book – don’t let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!

HIDE AND SEEK By Maj (Ret) Jeff Struecker and Alton Gansky

ABOUT THE BOOK

Amelia Lennon no longer wears a uniform or carries a weapon. An Army trained Foreign Affairs Officer, she’s negotiating a dispute with the Kyrgyzstan government that threatens to leave the U.S. without an airbase in that region. She traded her gun for the power of words, but now she needs both.

While following her government contact – Jildiz Oskonbaeva, the lawyer daughter of Kyrgyzstan’s president – Amelia witnesses an attempt to abduct her. She manages to prevent the kidnapping, but now the two women are on the run in a city that’s erupting into chaos.

Master Sergeant J.J. Bartley is the Special Operations team leader tasked to rescue Amelia and Jildiz. With two new members in his unit – one with a secret that could endanger everyone’s life – J.J. must soldier his unit through crazed mobs intent on overthrowing the government. Back home, his pregnant wife is misinformed that her husband and the team have been killed. But before this is over, Bartley will find out that’s the least of his problems.

BUY THE BOOK HERE: http://jeffstruecker.com/2012/hide-and-seek/   

 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Chaplain (Major) Jeff Struecker is a decorated member of the United States Army’s most elite fighting corps whose personal experiences in Mogadishu, Somalia, were written about in the New York Times bestseller and major motion picture Black Hawk Down. In thirteen years of active duty, he also fought in Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Iris Gold in Kuwait. As a chaplain Jeff has done multiple tours in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He uses his personal story of survival on the battlefield to tell others how they, too, can be prepared for any circumstances life may bring.

Alton Gansky is a Christy Award-nominated and Angel Award-winning author who writes to stimulate thinking about spiritual matters. He served as a pulpit minister for twenty years and has published nearly thirty books

WATCH THIS BOOK TRAILER!

 MY REVIEW

Fellas, this book review is especially for you, not that the ladies wouldn't enjoy the book. But sometimes there just has to be a novel for the guys, and this is it!

Action-packed from the get-go. Suspense in tons. Steeped in intrigue. Code of honor. Fellas, it just doesn't get better than this.

Struecker and Gansky have written a great book. Not just great, but GREAT! You won't be able to stop reading this book. This isn't one you can lay aside after a few pages. Oh no, your hands and eyes will be glued to it until you finish it. 

Struecker and Gansky have called upon their various military and spiritual experiences to write a story that is alive with strong characters, from Amelia Lennon, the Army Foreign Affairs Officer and her daring thwarting of the kidnapping of the daughter of Kyrgyzstan's president to Master Sergeant J.J. Bartley and his Special Operations team.

How do I tell you about this book without spoiling it? Let's just say there is more to the story than just a blown kidnapping and rescue operation. 

There is chaos and fear. There is also faith and hope. And let's not forget, honor. 

A most compelling story that you won't be disappointed in. I would rank it right up there with Robert Ludlum, Tom Clancey and the rest of the great writers.

The B & B Media Group, Inc. provided me with this free review copy. I am under no obligation to write a positive review.