Bloodborne by Gregg Luke

Bloodborne by Gregg Luke

Bloodborne is a top-notch medical techno thriller. I had a hard time putting it down, was reading it while having my infusions in the hospital this month.

Dr. Erin Cross, research specialist, is having lunch at a local deli when a gunman comes in and shoots and kills a few people, including himself, but Sean Flannery, a former Marine, saves her from being killed. When Erin keeps receiving threatening texts on her cell phone, she seeks help from Sean when she gets help from a Wal-Mart employee by barracading herself in a dressing room.

When they find themselves hidden in Sean's remote cabin, they still feel unsafe and are told to fly to a secluded island in Hawaii by an unknown organization who seems ready to protect her. The sinister person wanting her dead isall-powserful and will stop at nothing to prevent Erin's research from going public. With Sean's help, they can outwit the enemy and keep thousands of people from dying.

One main reason I enjoyed this book was because Gregg went away from the usual stereotype heroine with the perfect figure. Erin is chunky and that is great. Thanks Gregg. By the way, mosquitoes do not like my blood, as I'm Diabetic.!!!! lol

I received my review copy from Gregg.

Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Date Published: Aug 2011
ISBN: 978-1-60861-366-3
326pp

Hearts Through Time by Marie Higgins

Hearts Through Time by Marie Higgins

If you like time travel like I do with a beautiful female ghost from the past trying to solve her murderfrom 100 years ago, you'll love this romantic, suspense tale.

Nick Marshall, upon seeing Abigail Carlisle out of nowhere in his office, he has thoughts of being crazy, but when Abby does things to prove she is a ghost from 1912, he comes to believe her. Abby has been stuck in his office building ever since her murder, but when she begins spending more time with Nick, she's able to venture through the barrier that keeps her from leaving the building. She also finds herself falling in love and so does Nick. With time, Abby becomes more real and when an accident happens, Nick is whisked back to investigate who murdered her and to find out if he can alter history. When he arrives, he finds that Abby doesn't r ecognize him and he needs to gain her trust to find who wants to murder her.

This tale has a lot of twists and turns, with a bit of ghostly humor tossed in. I totally loved this book, as it blends modern day with the past.
I bought my copy at amazon.

Publisher: Walnut Springs Press
Date Published: May 2011
ISBN: 978-1-935217-92-3
285pp

Double Deceit by Stephanie Humphries

The story starts out with Elaina Bryant, a young 26 year old widow, who has come back, after a ten year absence from her childhood home with her mom and younger sister, to start over after a devastating accident that took the lives of her husband and baby daughter.

When she is offered a job at the local bookstore, she feels good. When she begins to fall in love with her boss, Ryan Hill and his mother Sandra is telling her eerie things concerning her dead daughter, she becomes distrustful of everyone, even her best friend Peter, who has loved her sister Natalie for years, but hasn't spoken of his feelings. When Natalie meets a guy agt aSingle's Conference, she falls hard for him.

When Elaina begins receiving strange letters from her deceased husband, even datged afterf his death, she thinks she's losing her sanity, but then she receives crank phone calls, even at the bookstore that no one believes. When she also receives a CD with her daughter's crying, she truly believes she's lost it. When Peter is out on a call the night she brings in a photograph as evidence she's not crazy, she decides to go find the answers herself, which puts herself in grave danger.

If you enjoy suspense with a twist, this book is for you.
I received this ARC from Walnut Springs Press.

Publisher: Walnut Springs Press
Date Published: July 2011
ISBN: 978-1-935217-94-7
295pp

Sons of the Covenant: Vol. 1: Sophia

Sons of the Covenant: Vol. 1: Sophia by Keith Terry

When the editor of this book contacted me about reviewing this most intriguing historical novel, I wasn't quite certain of what was in store for me. What insued was a much clearer and deeper understanding of one of our much beloved Prophets, Joseph F. Smith, son of Hyrum Smith, who was murdered along with his brother, Joseph, our first Prophet, in Carthage Jail in June 1844.

Brother Terry was approached by descendants of Joseph F. Smith with his unpublished journals, providing rich material for a sweeping story surrounding our 6th President and Prophet. When you read this wonderfully captivating and spiritual historical novel,take in consideration what the times were like in the mid 1800's and later and that Joseph had trials and frailties like everyone else. Some might be shocking, but be not judgmental.

Our story does center around Sophia Krushchenko, a young 17 year old Catholic postulant from the Ukraine, who is traveling to Vienna via train with her parents and younger brother. When an unforeseen incident occurs, it leaves Sophia and her family s tranded in a snowy blizzard in the mountains. With Sophia's courage and strength, she finds help, then finds herself in the jungles of primitive Borneo along side a Catholic nun. There she finds untold danger, but soon finds her way via train and ship towards Vienna, but with the onslaught of the war, she finds her way home delayed. She winds up at a small hospital in Santa Ana, California, where she is treated with scorn and indifference by the new doctor, Jared McBride, who has lost his faith.

When Sophia observes Joseph on the dock in Honolulu, she feels like he is very familiar to her. When she finds out that Joseph is a passenger on the same ship, she finds a way to meet him through Joseph's biographer, Caroline.
Just a few of the unknown stories of Joseph's life to bem ade public here are total details of little Joseph, just 5 years old when his father Hyrum and Uncle Joseph were murdered, was touching his father and not knowing his father was really dead inside that pine coffin lying in the Mansion House, seeing his father and Uncle's bodies change in looks.

Because Joseph also lost his dearly beloved mother, Mary Fielding, at such a young age, he didn't have a father figure to look up to, so he did some things not appropriate for a young LDS boy and young man. It did take Joseph a long time to get a handle on his violent temper, the one negative trait he had that concerned he and those closest to him.

I've just touched on a couple of these interesting and noteworthy episodes from Joseph's life. We know he became quite a man and implemented Family Home Evening as one of the most important programs we have in the Church.
I highly recommend this book for everyone, even those who are having struggles with their Testimonies. Towards the end, Joseph shares his vision he had as Prophet just before he spoke at his last General Conference in Oct 1918. This sharing in his own words affected me so much, I was literally sobbing. Thank you Joseph and Keith!!!!

I received my Review Copy from Sally Johnson, Creative Director and Editor of this historical novel.

Publisher: Digital Legends Press
Date Published: July 2011
ISBN: 978-1-934537-33-6
323pp

The Presley Arrangement by Monte Wayne Nicholson

The Presley Arrangement by Monte Wayne Nicholson

When I was perusing the web for information on Elvis, I noticed a website advertising this book and it intrigued me. The only copies I could find on amazon were way out of my ballpark. I finally found a small publisher in my own home state of Washington and bought a copy. This book generated so much controversay when it first came out in '87, copies mysteriously disappeared from the shelves. Now you can purchase a copy from this small publisher who earned the rights to re-publish the book in '04. The book is so controversial, it could only be written as fiction. If you are an Elvis fan like I am, you'll love this novel and be wondering about it long after you've finished it.

Mark Howe is a newly retired cop from Los Angeles and he and his wife Brigitte are vacationing cross country in their huge motorhome. Mark decides to stop off at Graceland in Memphis to take pictures and practically runs into Elvis running to a quickly descending helicopter. He takes two pictures, one of Elvis standing by the chopper and the other a fuzzy photo with Elvis and two bodyguards.

What ensues during the rest of this exciting tale causes Mark to narrowly escape being killed. With the help of his brother Dave, a cop in Muncie, Indiana and a new friend that's a dead-ringer for Clint Eastwood, he is able to unravel the mystery of whether Elvis is alive or not, and if so, who was buried in the casket.

I've heard Monte is writing a sequel. I sure hope so. A movie would sure be great. If you've ever wondered if those Elvis sightings were not real, this novel should change your mind. And, just for pure entertainment and a suspense roller coaster ride, this book is for you. There are a few twists and turns to keep you guessing.to the end.

I purchased my book from the publisher.

Publisher: Living The Dream Press
Date Published: 1987, 2004
ISBN: 0-9761764-2-4 (trade paperback)
250pp

The Transfer: Stories Of Missionaries Who Gave The Last Full Measure Of Devotion by Susan M. Woods With David M. Tuttle

The Trcansfer: Stories Of Missionaries Who Gave The Last Full Measure Of Devotion by Susan M. Woods With David M. Tuttle
This wonderful faith and testimony builder is for everyone, member and n on member alike. When I first heard about this book from the publisher, I knew I had to review this book. While waiting to see one of my doctors in Jan, the receptionist asked me what I was reading and I told her. She was highly interested, even so much as to look at the cover. When I was finished with the doctor, who I see next week, the receptionist set my next appt up and I wrote the details on the book down for her, telling her where she could purchase a copy.
This very uplifting book is set up as individual stories told by a surviving family member with birth information, parents and siblings names, dates of mission service, date of death and burial place. I highly recolmmend this book to everyone in n eed of building or gaining a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Volume 2 is now available from the publisher.
I received my review copy from Boyd Tuttle, President of Digital Legends Press & Publishing
Publisher: Digital Legends Press & Publishing
Date Published: Aug 2009
ISBN: 978-1-934537-77-0
315pp

The Perfect Fit by Michele Ashman Bell

The Perfect Fit by Michele Ashman Bell

This last installment in the Butterfly Box Trilogy was my favorite, as it tied everything up with a huge climax as to what caused Ava's accident. With a surprising and shocking prologue, it took me to about 3/4 through to figure out who was behind everything.

Andi Martin, fitness guru and the only remaining to be single, decides to apply to be a contestant on the reality show Looking For Mrs. Right that was taking place in Hawaii. Before she leaves for Hawaii, Andi receives a couple ominous e-mails. On the day before she is to arrive at the plantation/mansion of where Michael Makua is waiting for his Mrs. Right, she finds herself at a beautiful Bed & Breakfast.

When Andi makes the first cut that allows her to stay at the mansion, she is totally in for a surprise. A few of the other contestants feel jealous of Andi because Michael chooses her for the first one-on-one date. When a few so-called accidents happen to Andi, she becomes suscpicious and alarmed.

When she leaves the show to be near Chloe, who'd been injured in an accident and was in a coma, she realizes she is falling for Michael. When she visits Lauryen in New York, she and Cooper seem to be hitting it off, but Andi realizes she still has feelings for Michael and when Michael follows her to New York, she's confused, as Michael isn't a member of her faith and is not sure she can forgive his checkered past as a playboy. When both Andi and Michael's life are threatened, it brings on strength, courage and determine she never thought she had.

I highly recommend this book that takes us into the world of reality TV andwhat happens when you get 24 single beautiful women together under one roof vying for the a t tentions of one handsome,rich young man.

I received this review copy from Michele.

Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.b
Date Published: May 2011
ISBN: 978-1-60861-233-8
316pp