Dangerous Connections by Julie Coulter Bellon

Dangerous Connections by Julie Coulter Bellon

Julie is the queen of espionage and is as good as Helen MacInness in this genre, as she was my favorite back then.

Dr. Tyler Winthrop has just finished a tour of duty in Iraq and is meeting his dad in France for some rest and relaxation. When Tyler notices a couple of things of his dad's left unattended in his hotel room, he suspects something is wrong, as his dad never leaves his belongings, especially his watch, behind. He realizes his dad has mysteriously disappears, though he has left a strange note for Tyler to go home to the states, but this just makes him more determined than ever to find him and find out what happened to his bag and laptop while he was helping to deliver a baby onboard his plane. When Tyler happens upon Isabella Floret and her brother, Marcus, working to thwart a terrorist plot to kill thousands of American military, he decides to help bring them down.
When Isabella and Tyler are abducted, they aren't sure of who to trust and are able to elude the terrorists for a time. When they seek help from the American Embassy, Tyler finds a special book his friend in Iraq had given him to read that had been stolen with the rest of his stuff. Tyler finds that Isabella is very strong and quite the fighter and can get out of tough situations and comes to admire her.

When they find out that a popular French spot has been targeted, they will stop at nothing to see these terrorists come to judgment. The action is non-stop amidst the french backdrop of this super suspenseful thriller. Julie, you've outdone yourself!!!!

I received my book from Julie.
Published by: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Date Published: March 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59811-919-0
208pp

Cold As Ice by Stephanie Black

Cold As Ice by Stephanie Black

With each novel Stephanie writes, she keeps getting better. I absolutely love her cliffhangers, she is so good at what she does, as she grabs you from the start and pulls you in. Way to go, cousin!!!

Abigail Wyatt is beginning to believe her younger brother Derek has left his demons behind him by starting over. He's getting his career off to a good start by making jewelry with stones. When a dinner party with his parents fizzles after not talking with them in five years, he literally runs, leaving Abigail tied up. His pushy landlord is after the back rent Derek owes and when she is found murdered in a nearby park, he knows he will be the number one suspect.

When the police question Abigail about her brother, she gives up more information that puts her brother in a darker light. When it looks more and more like Derek is being setup, with the help of friends, she digs into the troubled murdered woman's past, finding a long ago murder that could tie-in to this murder.

When Abigail and her brother are injured, things begin to get suspicious and that she is getting too close to the truth and that someone will stop at nothing to silence her. Abigail even seeks for the murdered woman's mother to find out what was troubling her daughter and finds more than she bargains for.

I highly recommend this nail-biter of an ending. If you enjoy top-notch suspense, you'll love this newest from the queen of LDS suspense. As the title says, it reminds us of the hit song "Cold As Ice" throughout the novel.

I received my copy from Stephanie Black.

Published by: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Date Published: August 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60861-013-6
296pp

Tennis Shoes Adventure Series: Sorcerers and Seers by Chris Heimerdinger

Tennis Shoes Adventure Series: Vol. 11: Sorcerers And Seers by Chris Heimerdinger

Well, it's about time we get to read more about the adventures of Jim Hawkins, his sister Jenny and Garth Plimpton, plus all their children and the Book of Mormon and New Testament characters we've come to love. The first time I heard Chris was close to finishing this Volume was last year and the deadline came and went, so we found out it was being released early Sep of this year. Well, the wait was well worth it, but Chris, please not keep us in suspense another five years!!!!

For those not familiar with the Tennis Shoes Adventure Series, the first Volume is entitled Tennis Shoes Among The Nephites. Jim, Garth and Jenny embark on a fascinating and terribly exciting journey into Book of Mormon and New Testament lands, winding up in Frost Cave, Wyoming that takes them on a time travel journey of mass proportions.

In this volume, we find Jim and Jenny side by side with the Mortal Messiah in Gethsemane and Golgatha, while witnessing the wrath and rejection of His followers, ones who cannot comprehend His full earthly mission to save mankind.

Joshua Plimpton, Chief Captain of the Nephites, is on a quest to destroy the vilest of villains to rescue the Golden Plates. He has both the sword of Laban and the Liahona with him. He has times of struggling with his faith, but he manages to realize whose side he is fighting for and his faith becomes strong with the aid of Hamira, one of King Omer's granddaughters. They come in contact with huge Mastadon's as they journey towards Cumorah.

We continue to savor the exploits of Appollus, our fearless andcourageous Roman Centurion, who shows Meagan just how much he loves her when she is seriously injured by a "Gadianton Ghost."

It's surprising for the group when they find how adept Huracan, the black jaguar is, who has been with the group for a long time as well as Rafa, Harry's constant companion and a Perigrine Falcon, who appears to know when things will happen to warn the group ahead of time.

Other characters we're friends with are Gidgiddonihah, who died and was brought back to life to change history, Rebecca, Josh's 10 year old sister, who was also born in Book of Mormon days, Marcos,a former Gadianton Robber, Mahonri Moriancumr, the brother of Jared, Pagag, son of Mahonri Moriancomr and Ryan Champion, former boyfriend of Meagan. And,then we have Steffani, Jim's daughter and the most athletic of the Hawkins children and constant companion to Pagag.

If you love time travel as I do, you'll love this series and if you want to know more about The Book of Mormon and its characters, you'll love this series and book. Also, for those who have listvened to tvhe book on CD, you miss out on the Chapter notes at the end of each chapter. I very highly recommend this next installment, but hope to see it come to a huge climax soon, especially since one main character has ended up back home in Utah where he started out from.

I bought my autographed copy from Chris.

Published by: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published Date: 7 September 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60861-087-7
491pp