Stories Under Starlight: Book Reviews & Tours: August 2023

Friday, August 25, 2023

Fiction Review: COUNTDOWN by Lynette Eason

Synopsis: Flight paramedic Raina Price's past has marched back into her present--and it wants to kill her. With a stalker who knows her well determined to end what he started, US Marshal Vince Correlli vows to protect her at all costs--even if ends his career.

Review: Countdown by Lynette Eason follows flight paramedic Raina Price as she tries to move forward from her dangerous past. When the stalker she’s been so careful to hide from finally catches up with her, she realizes that her loved ones are in danger once again. U.S. Marshall Vince Corelli wants to help, and the closer he gets to Raina, the more he realizes that not only is his life in danger, but also his heart.

As the fourth installment in the Extreme Measures series, Countdown does not disappoint. I love this romantic suspense thriller from Lynette Eason and how she incorporates faith-based principles and beliefs. Both Raina and Vince each have things in their past they wish they could change. Raina struggles with trust, and Vince is trying to overcome past regrets. Their romance is realistic and slowly develops throughout the book. I enjoyed the pace of the story along with the suspense and danger. The different POVs from not only the main characters, but from the villains too really brings you into their world! Overall, a great read from start to finish! Can’t wait for the next Lynette Eason book!

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Lone Star Blog Tour: FACING THE ENEMY by DiAnn Mills Guest Post & Giveaway

FACING THE ENEMY

DiAnn Mills

Christian Fiction / Suspense / Romance

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Date of Publication: September 5, 2023

Number of Pages: 352 pages 

***Scroll down for Giveaway!***

When the long-awaited reunion between Risa and her brother, Trenton, ends in tragedy, Risa is riddled with guilt, unable to cope with the responsibility she feels over his death. On leave from the FBI, Risa returns to her former career as an English teacher at a local college, only to see her past and present collide when one of her students, Carson Mercury, turns in an assignment that reads like an eyewitness account of her brother's murder, with details never revealed publicly.

Alarmed by Carson's inside knowledge of Trenton's death, Risa reaches out to her former partner at the FBI. Special Agent Gage Patterson has been working a string of baby kidnappings, but he agrees to help look into Carson's background. Risa and Gage soon discover their cases might be connected as a string of high-value thefts have occurred at properties where security systems were installed by Carson's stepfather and children have gone missing. There's a far more sinister plot at play than they ever imagined, and innocent lives are in danger.

CLICK TO PURCHASE

“Why Should I Journal”

Guest Post by DiAnn Mills

If you currently journal, then you understand the positive features of recording our emotions, thoughts, learning experiences, and adventures. My journaling has seen me through ups, downs, and everything in between. Looking back at what I wrote years ago often gives me a new perspective on personal growth.

For those who question if journaling could be an asset, the following may inspire you to begin.

Journaling benefits:

1. Builds healthier bodies. Stress is a proven factor in diagnosing many physical and mental ailments.

2. Develop good habits and discourage bad ones.

3. Encourages spiritual growth by recording how God is active in our lives.

4. Eliminates stress. Our lives are filled with tension that leads to stress and sometimes conflict. Journaling provides a way to vent those challenges.

5. Encourages us to express our emotions, positive and negative, in a healthy manner. Seeing what we feel in words garners a better understanding of ourselves and how we view the world.

6. Engages our mind and helps to improve memory and concentration.

7. Enhances a higher level of self-confidence with increased awareness of our surroundings.

8. Establishes better sleep patterns since we are not focusing on events that prevent rest.

9. Helps us develop better communication skills. Our vocabulary grows when we are conscious of the words used to describe our experiences.

10. Offers a creative form of expression that is private and intimate.

11. Provides a means to understand the world in a nonthreatening environment.

12. Shows areas in our life where we can rejoice.

Various kinds of journals are available to suit individual needs. A simple notebook may work for you, while others may prefer elaborate bullet journaling with multi-colored pens and highlighters. This is your journal, and adapting the type to our personalities makes the experience valuable and enjoyable.

Can you offer additional benefits to journaling?

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She is a storyteller and creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. DiAnn continues her passion for helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

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