"Vendetta"
by Lisa Harris

Nikki Boyd has finally worked her way on to the Tennessee Missing Persons Task Force. Ever since her sister went missing ten years ago, she has done all she could to help all families with missing family members. As she works to solve the cases that she is assigned to, she never stops trying to solve her sister’s case. When she is assigned to a case that fits the same MO has her sisters, she believes that she will finally find the truth behind her sister’s disappearance. As Nikki and her team try to find the missing teenage girl, Nikki soon realizes that she is being set up for a fall. She soon becomes the target of the kidnapper. Will the Task Force be able to catch the kidnapper and find the girl before it is too late, or will Nikki become the next victim?
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​I have always enjoyed a good mystery and “Vendetta” by Lisa Harris did not disappoint me. From page one until the conclusion of the book, I was held captive by this well-written book. I could not put the book down and even the teaser chapter for book two held me captive and has me anticipated and looking forward to the second book in this series. The story is filled with fast-paced action, suspense, and a hint of romance. If you love a good mystery, then this book is definitely for you.
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

"Keeping Christmas"
by Dan Walsh

It is just a box of ugly old ornaments… or is it? Every year since her children were little Judith would make a homemade ornament with her children and then they would hang them on the tree. Now that her children are grown, married, with families of their own, and all living in different states; Judith just can’t seem to get in the Christmas spirit. To make matters worse, none of her children can make it home for Christmas. This send Judith into a deep depression that nobody or nothing can seem to get her out of. Her husband, Stan, has tried everything that he can think of to help Judith get in the Christmas spirit. He even offers to help decorate for Christmas; but when he starts to put the “ugly” ornaments on the tree, Judith stops him and refuses to do any more decorating. Things go from bad to worse as Judith sees other families spending the holiday season together. When it seems that nothing will help Judith find her Christmas joy and get in the spirit of Christmas, her husband comes up with a brilliant idea that he is sure will lift her spirits if he can just figure out how to pull everything off. Will Stan be able to help Judith find the joy of Christmas again or is this Christmas bound to be let down?
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I really loved this book. The story is beautifully written and filled with Christmas spirit. I was reminded once again of the importance of family and spending time together. The story also reminded me of my sister. For the past five years she has painted an ornament for every member of our family for Christmas. These ornaments always get hung on our tree and I always look forward to opening up my ornament from her every year. I loved how Judith made the effort to spend time with her children and making memories with them. That is something we can all do. We need to spend time with our families making memories that will last us a lifetime. I highly recommend that everyone read this sweet story.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

"The Christmas Joy Ride"
by Melody Carlson

Miranda Fortner has had a whole string of misfortunes and she isn’t looking forward to Christmas. When Miranda’s 80-year-old neighbor, Joy, asks Miranda to come with her on journey across Route 66, Miranda thinks Joy is crazy but agrees to go along with her. What Joy has planned for their trip, is not exactly what Miranda expected. Joy has planned a Christmas Joy Ride. She wants to go down Route 66 spreading Christmas cheer to others. As they begin their adventure, Miranda isn’t so sure that she should have agreed to come along after all. Miranda soon learns that she did indeed make the right decision to accompany Joy on this adventure. As the two go about spreading joy and happiness to others, they soon realize that they are being blessed as well.
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I love the Christmas season and was excited to read this Christmas novel. I was not disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. This book has a great reminder about the joy of giving and it reminds us that it is better to give than to receive. I found myself wanting to join Miranda and Joy on their trip. Now I want to try and find a new tradition for me and my family to do at Christmas time to share Christmas with others. I would highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

"High-Caliber Holiday"
by Susan Sleeman

Former marine sniper Brady Owens is very good at his job, but when a split-second hesitation leaves a hostage wounded he begins to question whether or not he should continue being a sniper. 

Morgan Thorsby is being held hostage on a train. When she tries to use her powers of persuasion to convince her captor to give himself up, she ends up getting shot herself by a stray bullet.

Brady’s co-worker convinces him to make sure that Morgan gets home safely. When they reach her house, Morgan is met with a nightmare. Someone has been in her house and left a threatening note. Brady makes sure that the rest of the house is secure and that there is no one still in the house. The police don’t think that there is a real threat to Morgan’s life, in fact they think that she “planted” the note herself to get attention. Brady doesn’t agree with the police, but there really isn’t thing that he can do. When Morgan finds another note in her car the next morning, she immediately calls Brady. Now Brady is convinced that someone is after Morgan and he will do everything that he can to protect her and keep her safe. As her stalker escalates the threats, Brady realizes that he is starting to fall in love with Morgan even though he vowed that he wouldn’t become involved. Will Brady be able to save Morgan from her stalker, or will her stalker win?
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I have enjoyed the First Responders Series and this book did not disappoint. Brady’s story is the third in the series and it is filled with lots of action, suspense, and a hint of romance. I love the way that the author incorporates all of the members of the FRS team in each of her books, but at the same time focuses on one member in each book. The story is not only entertaining and a good page turner, but we are reminded of God’s grace and the power of forgiveness. I would highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

"Deadlock"
by Diann Mills

Special Agents Bethany Sanchez and Thatcher Graves have been assigned to a murder investigation. This is their first case together and they don’t see eye-to-eye. As they try to solve the case another murder is committed. They are assigned to that investigation as well because of the similarities. They begin to clash as one is convinced that they have a serial killer and the other thinks the second murder is the work of a copycat. As they work the cases, they begin to find cold cases that match the MO of the current cases. Things begin to become even more dicey when Bethany begins to get threatening calls and messages from someone. She first suspects that they are coming from her estranged brother who has a criminal record and blames her for all of his problems. When someone begins to make attempts Thatcher and Bethany’s lives, they realize that they must put their differences aside in order to stay alive.

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Deadlock is filled with action, suspense, and a hint of romance. The mystery kept me guessing and wondering who was behind all of the murders. While the mystery was well written, there were a few things in the book that I did not appreciate in a Christian fiction book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for my honest review.


 DiAnn shares about her new novel Deadlock, in this extended interview

 What inspired DiAnn Mills to write her new novel, Deadlock

Diann talks about her novel, Deadlock

DiAnn talks about her characters in her new novel, Deadlock