Adventure Archives - Page 3 of 5 -

Killer Thrillers for the Beach

2 Comments / Adventure, Award Winner, Bestselling Author, Book List, Legal, Mystery, Nominated for Award, Sci-Fi, Suspense, Thriller

There are two kinds of Beach Reads:

Action-packed adventure/thrillers that rev up your blood pressure and provide stay-awake reading (killer thrillers)
Completely relaxing, low-key, fun mystery books that tweak your brain cells, but allow you to nod off on time

None of the killer thriller titles below are relaxing or low-key. I defy you to nod off while reading any of them. Charge your e-reader, ‘cause you won’t want to take a break – except maybe to eat. Or, you might want to eat while reading. 🙂

Warning: most deal with adult topics and/or contain sporadic adult language.

(Listed in alphabetical order by author)

"The 7th Canon" by Robert Dugoni

Standalone. Priest accused of terrible crimes.
Read review here.

"The Trapped Girl" by Robert Dugoni

Engrossing entry in the Tracy Crosswhite series. Fascinating case. Twists and turns galore. Read my review here.

"The Fixer" by Joseph Finder

Set in Boston. What a premise!
Read review here.

"The Switch" by Joseph Finder

Michael Tanner picks up the wrong laptop computer in the airport. After he finds out who the owner is, does he do the right thing? HA!!! Great story!

"Phantom Instinct" by Meg Gardiner

Gardiner always delivers edgy, complex plots. The lead character should have her own series.
Read review here.

"UnSub" by Meg Gardiner

Stay awake reading at its best. Serial killer topic. Keep the lights on!

"The Second Life of Nick Mason" by Steve Hamilton

Astonishing new series. Adult topics. Pages fly by.

"Orphan X" by Gregg Hurwitz

Excellent read. Adult topics. Another page-turner.

"Signal" by Patrick Lee

Where does the signal originate? Slam dunk great!
Read review here.

"The Heist" by Daniel Silva

Intriguing international art heist. Spies included.
Read review here.

If you have a favorite thriller not listed above, let us know in the comments below. 🙂 Happy reading the killer thrillers for the beach!

Killer Thrillers for the Beach Read More »

Greatest Love Stories of All Time

Leave a Comment / Adventure, Award Winner, Bestselling Author, Book List, Cozy, General, Historical, Mystery, Nominated for Award, Paranormal, Romance, Saga, Suspense, Western, Women's Fiction

It’s the time of year when bouquets of flowers fill the stores, the gift of a box of chocolates takes on new meaning, and love songs (and movies) fill the airwaves. Swoonworthy stuff, ya’ll.

Instead of creating a post about current titles that inspire hearts to flutter, I put out an open call for men and women to name their favorite Greatest Love Stories of All Time. Thanks to Mari Barnes*, Sarah Bewley, Leah Canzoneri, Kait Carson, Peggy Clayton, Joy Ross Davis, Missy Davis, Laura Di Silverio, Saword Broyles Ellis, Terri Gault, Courtney Carter Girton, Sherry Harris, Cynthia Kuhn, Joyce Laferrera, Marj Lilley, Alice Loweecy, Gary Miller, Sylvia Nickels, Debbie York Parker, Nanci Rathbun, Jeanie Smith, Ellis Vidler, and Lynn Chandler Willis for their wonderful suggestions. *drawing winner 🙂

Books are listed in alphabetical order by title, and where available, links to the Greatest Love Stories are included. Click on the titles and read more about them.

“At Home in Mitford” by Jan Karon

“Cinderella Story” by Wendy Logia

“Come Rain or Come Shine” by Jan Karon

“Dr. Zhivago” by Boris Pasternak

“Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte

“Lonesome Dove” by Larry McMurtry

“Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon

“Persuasion” by Jane Austen

“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen

“Sense and Sensibility” by Jane Austen

“Shadow of the Moon” by MM Kaye

“Somewhere in Time” by Richard Matheson

“Soulless” by Gail Carriger

“The Far Pavilions” by MM Kaye

“The Last of the Mohicans” by James Fenimore Cooper

“The Notebook” by Nicholas Sparks

“The Princess Bride” by William Goldman

“The Scarlet Pimpernel” by Baroness Orczy

“The Second Coming” by Walker Percy

“The Thorn Birds” by Colleen McCullough

Are you thinking romantic, weak-at-the-knees thoughts?

Our work is done. 😉

Photo credit: Patti Phillips

Greatest Love Stories of All Time Read More »

Author Profile: Craig Allen Johnson

2 Comments / Adventure, Author Profile, Award Winner, Bestselling Author, Mystery, Nominated for Award, Suspense, Thriller, Western

The Walt Longmire character that Craig Allen Johnson has brought to life both in award-winning books and on TV, has come to personify the modern Western law man – rough, tough, and ready for whatever the bad guys can throw at him.

Somehow, I had not realized that the show was based on Johnson’s books until the first season was half over. Books? Well, I ran right out – really – and bought the books that my local store had in stock. I started with Cold Dish and was forever hooked.

I watched the Longmire series on A&E until somebody in the network offices lost their collective minds and cancelled the show because the demographic didn’t fit their model of the future. Say what? A successful show that millions of people watch, that is making your corporation money and you don’t like the people who are doing the watching? Hmph.

Well, we fans are not a dumb bunch and we mounted a social media campaign for another network to pick up the show. Netflix and the Johnson people were able to come to an agreement and the fans collectively smiled. It has been reported that the Netflix association may come to an end after Season 6, but we still have the fabulous bestselling books – with more to come.

Craig Johnson was born in West Virginia, but wound up in Wyoming some years after a visit while delivering horses. He built the 2,000+ square foot log cabin in which he and his wife, Judy, now live. Ucross, Wyoming is sparsely populated – a mere 25 inhabitants – and is the source for Johnson’s twitter handle: @ucrosspop25.

What makes Sheriff Walt Longmire so immediately likable? Middle-aged, experienced at his job, widower of a woman he loved more than life itself, an attorney daughter of whom he is so very proud, and a Cheyenne best friend/sidekick whom he has known since childhood. Longmire mostly follows the rules, but when justice is in question, the rules are sometimes open to interpretation.

The stories are full of wonderful dialogue, intriguing mysteries, life and death situations, and a core set of characters with whom you’d like to spend as much time as possible. Johnson’s obvious love of the wide-open spaces of Wyoming spills onto the pages when the landscape becomes a character, as suddenly dangerous as any killer could be or as mesmerizing as a beautiful painting.

The books have been credited as having one of the best depictions of Native American/White Man interactions in the world of fiction – they certainly ring true in the reading. Johnson’s ranch is right next to a Cheyenne reservation, and through the years he has come to respect the challenges that Native Americans have faced and continue to face. His books explore the cultural differences and celebrate the traditions in thoughtful and meaningful ways, often including those themes in the mysteries.

When not writing the Longmire series, consulting on the TV show, or working his ranch, Johnson travels around the country (and to France) with Judy, doing book tours. I met him in Raleigh, NC at Quail Ridge Books. He’s charming and as funny in person as you would hope him to be after having read the books.

A great showman who delivers a great read. 🙂

Take a look at the reviews of:

“The Cold Dish”

here

“Kindness Goes Unpunished” here

“Dry Bones”

here

Check out www.craigallenjohnson.com, where you will find details about his upcoming tours, the online fan store with lots of Longmire goodies, and photos of the cast of Longmire.

*Photo of Craig Allen Johnson taken by Patti Phillips at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, NC.

Author Profile: Craig Allen Johnson Read More »

Authors of the Carolinas

2 Comments / Adventure, Award Winner, Bestselling Author, Book List, Christian, Cozy, General, Historical, Mystery, Nominated for Award, Romance, Suspense, Western, Women's Fiction

How many of you have read about a region of the USA in a novel and wanted to travel there, in part to experience the food, in part to relax and enjoy the fabulous scenery that can only be seen in that one area of the planet? The Carolinas (both North and South) are home to fabulous shrimp & grits dishes, as well as mouth-watering other goodies. And you can’t visit either State without having a refreshing glass of world famous Sweet Tea.

The authors listed below either live in North or South Carolina, grew up here, or set their books in the region. We are treated to the cuisine of the Appalachia, the Low Country boils, the scenery of the mountains, and/or the wildlife/marshes of the coast. There is a mix of historical, paranormal, happily-ever-after, outrageous comedy, dark mysteries, and cozies – something for everyone who loves thumpin’ good fiction.

Click on the website links to find out more. J

Suzanne Adair “A Hostage to Heritage” www.suzanneadair.net

JD Allen “Grasshopper” in “Murder Under the Oaks” www.jdallenbooks.com

Maria Alonso-Sierra “The Coin” www.mariaelenawrites.com

Mike Axsom “Making Memories Down South” www.mikeaxsom.com

Jodie Bailey “Breach of Trust” www.jodiebailey.com

Kaye Wilkinson Barley “Whimsey” www.kayewilkinsonbarley.com

Cindy Blackburn “Five Spot” www.cueballmysteries.com

Heather Blanton “A Promise in Defiance” www.ladiesindefiance.com

Susan Boyer “Low Country Book Club” www.susanmboyerbooks.com

Felicia Bridges “Czechmate” www.adventuresthatinspireaction.com

Antoinette Brown “One-Cat Woman” in “Carolina Crimes”

Ross Cavins “Barry vs The Apocalypse” www.rosscavins.com

Diane Chamberlain “Pretending to Dance” www.dianechamberlain.com

C. Hope Clark “Echoes of Edisto” www.chopeclark.com

J.A. Coffey "Double Dog Dare" www.jacoffey.com

Cynthia Cooke “Going All the Way” www.cynthiacooke.com

E.B. Davis “Ice Cream Allure” in “Carolina Crimes” www.ebdavismysteries.com

Saword Broyles Eller www.amazon.com/author/saywordbeller

Nora Gaskin (Esthimer) “Time of Death” www.lystrabooks.com

Normandie Fischer “From Fire into Fire” www.normandiefischer.com

Beatrice Fishback “Bethel Manor” www.beasattitudes.net

Dorothea Benton Frank “All Summer Long” www.dotfrank.com

Marni K Graff “Death Unscripted” www.auntiemwrites.com

Jordon Greene "They'll Call It Treason" www.jordongreene.com

Leigh Greenwood “Forever and Always” www.leigh-greenwood.com

Lynette Hampton “Fiona’s Journey” www.agnesalexander.com

Rick Helms “Older than Goodbye” www.richardhelms.net

Judy Hogan “Haw” www.judyhogan.home.mindspring.com

Tom Honea “A Confluence of Rivers” www.amazon.com/dp/B009LU1X8I

Ellen Hunter "Much Ado About Murder" www.ellenhunter.com

Polly Iyer “Indiscretion” www.pollyiyer.com

Regina Jeffers "Angel Comes to the Devil's Keep" www.rjeffers.com

Sabrina Jeffries “Stormswept” www.sabrinajeffries.com

Linda Johnson “Trail of Destruction” www.lindajohnson.us

Kieran Kramer “Trouble When You Walked In” www.kierankramer.com

Vicki Lane “Under the Skin” www.vickilanemysteries.com

Linda Lovely “Lies” www.lindalovely.com

Cynthia Luhrs “First Knight” www.cluhrs.com

Margaret Maron “Long Upon the Land” www.margaretmaron.com

Jamie Mason “Monday’s Lie” www.jamie-mason.com

Karen McCullough “Wired for Murder” www.kmccullough.com

Heather McGovern "A Moment of Bliss" www.heathermcgovernnovels.com

Ruth Moose “Wedding Bell Blues” www.ruthmoose.com

Katy Munger “Desolate Angel” www.katymunger.com

Nancy Naigle “Every Yesterday” www.nancynaigle.com

Heather Newton “Under the Mercy Trees” www.heathernewton.net

Kathryn O’Sullivan “Neighing with Fire” www.kathrynosullivan.com

Gail Oust “Cinnamon Toasted” www.gailoust.com

Kate Parker “Deadly Scandal” www.kateparkerbooks.com

Britni Patterson “A Thousand Deadly Kisses” www.britnipatterson.com

Leigh Perry “The Skeleton Haunts a House” www.leighperryauthor.com

Ashantay Peters “Reading Between the Lives” www.ashantay.com

Patti Phillips “Kerrian’s Notebook, Vol. 1” www.pattiphillipsbooks.com

Karen Pullen “Cold Feet” www.karenpullen.com

Kathy Reichs “Trace Evidence” www.kathyreichs.com

Jennifer Riley “Jerk Alert” available at Amazon

Sarah Shaber “Louise’s Chance” www.amazon.com/Sarah-R.-Shaber/e/B001HMPB9U

Nancy Simpson “B.O.Q.” www.authornpsimpson.com

Regina Smeltzer “Retribution” www.reginasmeltzer.net

Jennifer Hudson Taylor "For Love or Liberty" www.jenniferhudsontaylor.net

Ellis Vidler “Prime Target” www.ellisvidler.net

Kathryn R. Wall “Jordan Point” www.kathrynwall.com

Tamara Ward “Concealed Suspicions” www.authortamaraward.com

Lynn Chandler Willis “Wink of an Eye” www.lynnchandlerwillis.com

Bonnie Wisler “Count a Hundred Stars” available at Amazon

Caleb Wygal "Blackbeard's Lost Treasure" www.calebwygal.com

See any new-to-you names on the list of Authors of the Carolinas?

Happy reading! 🙂

Authors of the Carolinas Read More »

Texas Fiction – 2016 List

Adventure, Award Winner, Bestselling Author, Book List, Cozy, Debut Author, General, Historical, Mystery, Nominated for Award, Romance, Short Stories/Collection, Suspense, Thriller, Western

Every once in a while, it’s fun to focus on regional fiction. It’s a chance for readers to concentrate on stories that take place in their favorite part of the world or an area that has aroused their curiosity. Sometimes, fans like to search for books written by authors that live in that region.

The Texas list of 36 authors is a mix of:

Authors who live there, but write books set elsewhere
Authors that have written novels set in Texas, but live elsewhere.
Authors who live in and write about Texas.

Click on the names to take you to the author sites.

Kathleen Rice Adams: “Prodigal Gun”

Susan Wittig Albert: “Blood Orange”

Linda Bingham: “Skyscraper Caper”

Parris Afton Bonds: “Blue Bayou” box set

James Lee Burke: “House of the Rising Sun”

Valerie P Chandler: ‘Rota Fortunae’ in “Murder on Wheels”

Caroline Clemmons: “Angeline”

Catherine Coulter: “Nemesis”

Bill Crider: “Between the Living and the Dead”

Stephanie Jaye Evans: "Safe from Harm"

Ann Everett: “Say You’ll Never Love Me”

Kay Finch: “The Black Cat Knocks on Wood”

Kinky Friedman – series about a Texan living in NYC

Meg Gardiner: “Phantom Instinct” (reviewed here)

Kaye George: Imogene Duckworthy series, “Broke”

Linda Kozar: “Weighty Matters”

Billy Kring: “Tonton”

Liz Lipperman: “Chicken Caccia-Killer”

Nancy Martin: “Miss Ruffles Inherits Everything”

Larry McMurtry: “Lonesome Dove”

James Michener: “Texas”

Golden Keyes Parsons: “His Steadfast Love”

Mark Pryor: “Hollow Man”

James Reasoner: “The Last War Chief”

Catie Rhodes: “Rest Stop”

Rick Riordan: “Rebel Island”

Terry Shames: “The Necessary Murder of Nonie Blake”

Leann Sweeney: Yellow Rose Mystery Series

Livia Washburn: “Peach of a Murder”

Nancy G. West: "Smart, but Dead"

George Wier: “Cold Rains”

Lori Wilde: “Love of the Game”

Lynn Chandler Willis: “Wink of an Eye” (reviewed here)

Manning Wolfe: "Dollar Signs"

Reavis Z. Wortham: “Dark Places”

Celia Yeary: “Annalisa”

Have fun choosing from this great list of Texas fiction. 🙂

Texas Fiction – 2016 List Read More »

“The Heist” by Daniel Silva

Adventure, Bestselling Author, Suspense, Thriller

Israeli top spy/art restorer, Gabriel Allon, would rather be working on a major art restoration in Italy, but a blackmailing member of the Italian Art Squad is able to tear him away from his project with a threat. In “The Heist,” a corrupt British spy who had been selling stolen artwork to an anonymous art collector winds up dead and a famous painting has gone missing. Enter Gabriel with his special expertise. In order to get an art dealer friend and associate cleared of suspicion for dealing in stolen goods, Gabriel must agree to do the impossible.

A plan is devised to lure the real thief (and murderer) into the open in order to find and recover a masterpiece that has been missing for decades – Caravaggio’s Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence. But, Allon, next in line for the job as the head of Mossad, has friends and enemies in high places and it will be tricky to keep all the parties, himself included, alive and focused on the end game.

As we expect in Silva’s riveting series, the stakes in Gabriel’s personal and professional lives are higher than ever. In “The Heist,” Gabriel bends the laws of more than one country, enlists the assistance of men that specialize in assassination and special ops, and adds an additional layer of danger in order to help a survivor of a brutal attack years before in Syria. Returning characters create continuity for the series and keep the pages turning in true Silva fashion.

Silvia’s books give the reader a look at the world of politics and spies from an Israeli understanding, but we are always presented with multiple views of each of the conflicts addressed. “The Heist” is no different. This is a serious novel that tackles the Syrian turmoil, the effect of a country at war with itself, and its place within the context of the larger Middle East complexity.

As Gabriel is called upon to help his old friend, he is torn between duty to country and the price he has paid for it over the years. The excitement of the caper unfolds on the pages, but there is also a more cerebral feel to “The Heist ” – perhaps a nod to an aging Allon looking back over his life and taking stock. The action is less physical than in the previous book, “The English Girl,” as we are enmeshed in the worlds of art restoration, high finance, bank transfers, and politics, but there is plenty of action nonetheless.

“The Heist” is the fourteenth title in the sixteen book (so far) Gabriel Allon series.

Please visit www.danielsilvabooks.com for more information about Daniel Silva and his work.

“The Heist” by Daniel Silva Read More »

“Cuff Lynx” by Fiona Quinn

Adventure, Military, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense, Thriller

Lexi Sobado is back in Fiona Quinn’s fourth book in the Lynx series, “Cuff Lynx.” Lexi has mostly recovered from her last mission and on the first day back at the Iniquus office, senses something is not quite right with the headquarters of her top secret world. Iniquus is under attack and she needs to figure out how and why even though she’s not yet 100%.

Lexi’s regular role at Iniquus is to ‘puzzle’ the plans and tactics of field missions. She has the unusual skill of ‘knowing’ when something isn’t what it should be. She has a sixth sense, a psychic sense that becomes heightened well beyond the norm in the presence of evil.

Her skills are put to the test when she hears that Ops are failing, the founder of Iniquus, General Elliot, is in a coma, clients are losing confidence, valuable art is involved, and to top it off, Striker Rheas, Lexi’s heart’s desire, is teamed up with a gorgeous woman with few scruples. What else could go wrong? In “Cuff Lynx,” quite a lot.

Lexi has out-of-body experiences that help her gather Intel about the location of other people without having to leave the office or use a computer, and when she goes ‘behind the Veil’ at great risk to herself, we believe it. Quinn’s descriptions of those psychic missions are absorbing and keep the pages turning. The concept underpinning the use of the ‘Veil’ raises questions about how intelligence is gathered in the real world. If fact-gatherers were able to use this technique, would the Intel be of better quality or be obtained more quickly? Fascinating futuristic talking points.

The problems multiply, the evildoers abound and in “Cuff Lynx,” we’re not sure if the good guys (including her lover) are on Lexi’s side. Our heroine is a mix of sweetness, naiveté and single-mindedness unusual for an average person her age and that mix is what makes Lexi Sobado so refreshing as a central character in a thriller. The supporting characters are dedicated Special Ops professionals and Lexi’s softer character makes an intriguing contrast to the hard-core military types.

Over the course of the series, she is widowed, stalked by a killer, held in captivity, chased, scarred, loved, and trained in special skills that not even her Iniquus team can know about – all at a break neck pace.

“Cuff Lynx” can be read as a stand alone, but it’s much more fun if you read them all to experience the development of Lexi’s character and her relationship with the various members of her team. Quinn told me recently that she plans to feature the other characters in their own books. Cool.

Please visit www.fionaquinnbooks.com for information about the rest of Quinn’s work in fiction and non-fiction.

“Cuff Lynx” by Fiona Quinn Read More »