Thursday, July 24, 2025

They Came at Night by Westley Smith Blog Tour Book Review

They Came At Night by Westley Smith Banner

THEY CAME AT NIGHT

by Westley Smith

July 21 - August 15, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

They Came At Night by Westley Smith

In the five years since the fateful and horrific night that changed her life, Sandra Leigh has kept herself sequestered at the Compound, a trauma recovery/survival skill camp that helped her process her past and feel safe in the world again. Now, the time has come for her to face life outside the Compound, and that starts with a family road trip to rebuild the relationship she once had with her young niece. A weekend at a rented cabin in the woods sounds idyllic, but Sandra begins to notice that things are off. Strange sounds and shadows, combined with a less-than-welcoming atmosphere at the nearby small town, put Sandra quickly on edge. Is it all just her paranoia coming into play, or is there something truly dangerous happening? When her niece discovers a cryptic message hidden in the cabin's guest book--THEY CAME AT NIGHT--Sandra realizes that her family is caught in the crosshairs of a heinously sinister plot, and she will need to call on all the skills she learned at the Compound to save them... if she can.

Praise for They Came At Night:

"A gripping, action-packed psychological thriller about a troubled woman whose quiet family reunion in a strange small town suddenly turns into a deadly nightmare. You’ll be cheering on every page as Sandra Leigh goes from being a victim to a heroic killing machine who will do whatever it takes to protect the ones she loves. Author Westley Smith really turns up the tension and the twists and the thrills in this fast-paced read all the way to the shocking ending."
~ R.G. Belsky, author of the Clare Carlson mystery series

"They Came At Night raises a harrowing question: what happens when the only things worse than the demons inside you are the demons outside you? When a weekend getaway turns into a chilling bloodbath, Westley Smith's heroine, Sandra Leigh, must battle her own familiar fears while facing unspeakable new ones. This is a thriller that lives up to the name: a tale that grips you and pulls you relentlessly from one page to the next as you race toward its nerve-shattering climax."
~ Charles Philipp Martin, author of the Inspector Lok novels Rented Grave and Neon Panic

"Tense and violent, Smith shows us how far a woman will go to protect her own... Action-packed but filled with heart... Sandra Leigh is the best kind of kick-ass female lead. Smart, fearless, and not afraid to get dirty to protect those she loves."
~ Elena Taylor, award-winning, best selling author

"Taut. Intriguing. Scary as hell… so be careful who you terrorize. Retribution is brutal."
~ Tj O’Connor, award-winning author of The Whisper Legacy

My Review:

 This is one intense thriller. It has a slow build with a continuous underlying threat of danger. Smith does a great job emphasizing the emotional terror of the heroine, Sandra. About half way through the novel, the threat materializes and it is a scary read. I found I could not read this novel in the evening, the terror being so well presented.

I though Sandra a very capable heroine, showing strength and abilities almost beyond belief. There was a predictable plot enhancement with a storm at just a crucial time. Nonetheless, this novel is a page turner. I was totally engaged in the action. Be prepared as this is not a cozy mystery. The body count is high and there are plenty of violent scenes. It is a good psychological and then action packed thriller.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Book Details:

Genre: Psychological Thriller/Action Hybrid
Published by: Watertower Hill Publishing
Publication Date: May 27, 2025
Number of Pages: 336
Book Links: Amazon | KindleUnlimited | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Watertower Hill Publishing

Read an excerpt:

CHAPTER ONE

Sandra Leigh hadn’t felt the phantom pain for several years—the perception of discomfort in a limb that was no longer there. But after receiving a phone call from her sister two weeks ago, the ghostly ache of her severed left ring finger had returned.

Hey, Sissy. William and I are renting a house with Emalyn for the weekend. We’d love for you to join us, Carrie had said in her normal chipper tone.

Was the pain telling her something? Perhaps a warning that she wasn’t ready for a weekend excursion with her family just yet. Should she have declined the invitation and stayed hidden in the mountains of West Virginia, at the Compound, where she was safe from... well, everything since the attack?

Now, sitting in the rear seat of her brother-in-law’s Toyota Sequoia, heading to the rental home Carrie had booked for their weekend gathering, these questions floated through her mind as she tried soothing the tingling sensation away from what remained of her finger.

Her brother-in-law, William, was driving, and Carrie, her elder sister of ten years, sat in the passenger seat. Beside Sandra, her fifteen-year-old niece, Emalyn, scrolled through her phone.

What were you thinking, Sandra? You’re not ready for this.

The suture scar across the tip of her nub wiggled like a worm on a hook as if confirming her thoughts.

“I’m so glad you decided to come, Sissy,” Carrie said, turning in the passenger seat, her Carolina-blue eyes twinkling with excitement, looking forward to their weekend.

This was the first time they had done anything together as a family since he attacked her while on the way to Carrie’s house.

West Chester University, where she was studying music education, focusing on piano, had ordered all students and staff to return home in March 2020, fearing the threat of spreading COVID-19.

Nearly an hour into her two-hour drive, the driver’s-side rear tire of her Toyota Corolla blew, leaving Sandra stranded in the middle of nowhere. Not knowing how to change a tire, she contacted AAA on her cell phone, feeling lucky to have gotten a signal at least. The operator told her they were sending someone out to make the repairs.

Five minutes later, the swirling yellow lights of an approaching tow truck cut the night. Relieved, knowing the tire would be fixed and she’d soon be on her way, Sandra had gotten out to greet the repairman.

But when the tow truck door opened with a rusty reeeek, and his snake-skin boots hit the frozen ground, Sandra felt a shift in the air that raised the gooseflesh from her toes to her scalp and caused a fear-hardening of her nipples.

Something wasn’t right.

“You the one who called about the flat tire?”

“Me too,” Sandra replied unenthusiastically, trying to suppress the horrible memory of that night unfolding in her mind.

Carrie smiled reassuringly as if she understood Sandra’s hesitation to participate in the family trip.

You don’t.

The sunlight breaking through the dense forest canopy caught Carrie’s gold wedding band and cast a circulating light that made Sandra squint. The tingling sensation intensified as if a thousand tiny needles were simultaneously jabbing the tip of a finger that was no longer there—a memento of their night together.

Mixed feelings of irritation, envy, and sadness tightened her chest. She’d never be able to wear a wedding ring—not like an ordinary wife with all ten fingers, not like Carrie could.

Averting her gaze to the Mudmaster GG1000-1A5 watch strapped to her left wrist, Sandra saw it was almost noon. They had been in the car for about two hours. The watch's compass told her they were heading northwest to Little Hope, Pennsylvania.

The ride had been uneventful and quiet, which Sandra was thankful for. She didn’t want to discuss what had happened, and she especially didn’t want to discuss her life over the last five years living and working at the Compound.

But you’re going to have to. You know that.

She did. The subject would come up this weekend. How could it not? It was the elephant in the room.

“Mom.” Emalyn spoke for the first time in over an hour. Sitting forward, she pushed her round glasses up the bridge of her nose and fidgeted in her seat. “How much longer until we get there?”

“Five more minutes, hon,” Carrie replied in a teasing, breathy mom tone.

She winked at Sandra playfully.

Emalyn rolled her dark eyes and sat back in the seat with a sigh, blowing a tuft of her curly brown hair out of her face. She scrolled through her phone several times before tiring of whatever had held her undivided attention for most of the ride and shifting her bored gaze to the passing forest.

Emalyn appeared very attached to her phone. Sandra wondered why Carrie, an elementary school teacher, wasn’t putting a stop to it. She had to know phone addiction was a real thing, something Sandra had learned from experience once she gave up using one herself.

In Sandra’s five-year absence, Emalyn had turned from a chubby-cheek ten-year-old child who loved drawing and coloring, chicken nuggets with ketchup, and Percy Jackson into a budding young woman she didn’t recognize and no longer knew. Her niece had spoken little during the drive, and the space between them had filled with an uncomfortable heaviness, like sitting next to a stranger on a tour bus.

Hell, you are practically strangers at this point.

This bothered Sandra. She had been close with her niece, nearly inseparable, before leaving everything—family, friends, school, her life, what was left post-attack—behind to join the Compound.

According to Carrie, Emalyn’s recollection of the loving, caring, always-there Aunt Sonnie—a nickname given to her when Emalyn was learning to say Aunt Sandy—was vague. To expect Emalyn to welcome Sandra back into her life as if nothing had changed between them was unrealistic.

And everything had changed. Sandra knew that happy, fun-loving, liberal college girl who was so optimistic about her future, looking forward to maybe playing piano for a symphony (if she was lucky) or teaching in a classroom like Carrie (if she wasn’t), had died that cold March night along the side of the road.

Can’t play or teach piano with only nine fingers.

She took a deep breath that rattled in her throat and looked out the window, hoping to quell the thoughts from her mind along with the irritating phantom pains. A metal For Sale sign at the mouth of a stone driveway caught her attention. A magnetic SOLD! was stuck across the front.

The colonial house sat partially hidden in dense woods about fifty feet from the main highway. The home wasn't quite dilapidated, but it needed serious rehab. She wondered how much the buyer had paid for it, knowing the work needed to make it livable.

Twenty-five yards further up the road, she saw another For Sale sign with another magnetic SOLD! across the front. This home was a double-wide trailer about to fold in on itself. Then, across the road, she saw yet another For Sale sign by a dirt driveway. This property was also marked SOLD!, though the house, a rancher, appeared in better shape than the previous two.

Why were so many properties sold on this stretch of the highway? Had the pandemic hit the area hard? It was possible. Many people had lost their homes while the world was shut down.

“You said this place was outside of a town called Little Hope, but you never said how you found it,” Sandra said, looking away from the rancher as they passed.

“Online,” Carrie replied, sweeping a long strand of auburn hair behind her ear. “A website called R&R.”

“R&R?”

“Rest and Relax,” Carrie said. “It’s like Airbnb, but the site focuses on families looking for houses big enough to vacation together.”

Hearing that Carrie had used a website to rent the house gave Sandra the heebie-jeebies. Corporations couldn’t be trusted to keep personal information from falling into the wrong hands.

“William chose the house. I can’t wait for you to see it, Sissy.”

Carrie’s blue eyes flicked to her husband with tender admiration. Even after fifteen years of marriage, her sister still swooned over William. Carrie’s wedding ring caught the sunlight again, pulling Sandra’s eyes back to it. The tip of her ghost finger twitched. She rubbed the nub, reminding her of its absence... of everything he had taken from her.

“I thought if there were any chance of getting you to come along this weekend, it would have to be somewhere remote, private,” William said, shifting his dark brown eyes onto Sandra in the rearview mirror. At forty-seven, he was strikingly handsome, with short gray hair and a stubble of matching beard growth that she wasn’t used to seeing him with.

“We’ll be alone up there, surrounded by woods with hiking trails.” He glanced at her in the mirror again and smiled.

Was he looking for her approval? A pat on the back for thinking of her and her growing distrust of civilization since the attack? Not knowing how to respond, Sandra just nodded.

A ding on William’s cell phone caused him to shift his gaze to the center console, where his mobile rested in the cup holder. The GPS map was open on the screen, leading the way to their rental home.

“Can you check that?” William asked.

“I am happy you decided to join us, Sissy,” Carrie said again, picking William’s phone up.

How Carrie kept saying Sissy rubbed Sandra the wrong way. There wasn’t necessarily a fakeness in her cadence—it was what Carrie had always called her, but now it felt forced, like her sister was tiptoeing around something.

Is she wondering if I’m… mentally stable?

By the fall of 2020, while the rest of the world was worrying if they were next on the virus’s hitlist, Sandra had grown increasingly paranoid, convinced he was coming for her.

He was still out there, free to roam the desolate highways looking for other stranded females. His essence had invaded her like a malignant organism—a constant presence in her mind, leaving her to wonder why she’d been chosen to be his victim as if she were picked from some fucked-up lottery drawn by the devil.

She had quit college in the spring and had gone completely dark by that summer, deleting her social media accounts, closing her emails, and dropping her phone carrier so he couldn’t track her down using the phone’s GPS.

She didn’t know if he had the skills to hack into her digital life, but she couldn’t take that chance, and she didn’t trust Facebook, Google, or Verizon to keep her personal information safe from a savvy and determined psychopath looking to hunt her down. She even considered changing her name for an extra measure of protection.

This consuming obsession, which had caused her to lock herself away in the guest room of her sister's house with the shades drawn, had finally led Sandra to seek professional help to deal with the emotional fallout of the attack. She couldn’t deal with the mental torment and the fear of him for the rest of her life.

Using Carrie’s laptop (so she didn’t leave a digital footprint of her own), she started an online search for therapy centers. That’s when Sandra had stumbled across what she knew immediately was her salvation.

The Compound—an unconventional rehabilitation center in the hills of West Virginia operated by ex-Navy SEAL Joel Conrad.

When she told her family of her plans to join the Compound, they objected to what they considered her rash decision. Janis, her mother, was certain the Compound was some militia group looking to overthrow the government to keep then-President Trump in power, which Sandra found asinine but something her faux-liberal-minded, CNN-watching mother would say and believe.

Carrie and William begged her not to leave, offering to let her live with them and pay for therapy for as long as needed. But she couldn’t stay. If she did, she risked herself, and more importantly, her family’s lives, positive that when he found her, he’d kill all of them.

Carrie dropped the phone into the cup holder, snapping Sandra back to reality. She shifted in her seat uncomfortably and felt the Smith &Wesson Model 442 revolver tucked into the rear of her pants press against her spine.

She’d never be helpless to defend herself again.

“Everything okay?” William asked with a concerned glance.

“It was Devin.” Carrie shook her head, frustrated. “He said they got hung up but are on their way.”

William had a twenty-three-year-old son from a previous marriage. From her chat with Carrie about the trip, Sandra knew that Devin and his girlfriend were also joining them for the weekend.

She didn’t know the girlfriend’s name and didn’t care enough to ask. She wasn’t planning on spending time with them anyway. She had other priorities this weekend, like rekindling her relationship with her sister. And especially with Emalyn.

It was why Sandra had decided to come along, despite her fears, the anxiety running the gamut, and the persistent phantom pains. The attack hadn’t just affected her life but the lives of those around her, too.

Well, except for maybe her mother, who didn’t seem too bothered by the whole ordeal. Then again, she never made that much of a fuss over anything that happened in her second daughter’s life, including when it was almost taken.

“It’s already noon. That means they won’t get here until...” Carrie trailed off.

William shook his head but didn’t say anything—the silence of a disappointed father. Carrie took his hand and squeezed it reassuringly.

Sandra looked out the window and saw another SOLD property, though there was no house in sight, and again found it weird that so much land had been sold off.

“Mom, I have to pee.”

“Five more—”

“Mom, I really have to go,” Emalyn whined.

“Well, you’re in luck, kiddo,” William said. “We just arrived in Little Hope.”

A one-way stone bridge was quickly approaching. Beyond it, Sandra saw a town tucked into the forest hills. A small sign on the bridge's right side read:

WELCOME TO LITTLE HOPE.

As they crossed the bridge, Sandra glanced into the creek gully. Four scruffy-looking boys stood on the bank, watching the Sequoia enter the town with stares so unwelcoming that her nub began to thump as if it were a warning.

***

Excerpt from They Came At Night by Westley Smith. Copyright 2025 by Westley Smith. Reproduced with permission from Westley Smith. All rights reserved.

 

Author Bio:

Westley Smith

Westley Smith had his first short story, "Off to War," published when he was just sixteen. He is, more recently, the author of two horror novels, Along Came the Tricksters and All Hallows Eve, as well as the crime thrillers Some Kind of Truth and In The Pale Light. His short fiction has been published in various magazines and websites. Wes lives with his wife and two dogs in the beautiful woodlands of southern Pennsylvania--the perfect place to hide a body.

Catch Up With Westley Smith:

WestleySmithBooks.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @wssmith100
Instagram - @wsmithbooks
Facebook - @westleysmith100
Watertower Hill Publishing

 

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I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Partners in Crime Book Tours.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.) 

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

A Halloween Murder by Mary Grand Book Review

About the Book:


Susan has always taken comfort in the peaceful rhythm of life on the Isle of Wight. But when her daughter Zoe invites her to a Halloween ghost walk at a remote castle, Susan has a sense of foreboding she can’t quite shake.

It’s meant to be a bit of fun for the group of old school friends, the thrill of an overnight stay behind the castle’s ancient gates. But when one of them is found dead, the weekend away takes a sinister turn. With the castle locked down and the group trapped inside, it soon becomes clear the killer would have been amongst them.

As the police begin their investigation, Susan can’t stand by and watch. She knows her daughter, and she knows Zoe’s friends – none of them could be capable of such a terrible act. Could they?

My Review:

This book is part of a series by I felt it read well on its own. Susan, an older woman, is a good heroine. She is overcoming some issues and growing. The pace of the plot movement is good and consistent. The plot is complex and there are enough twists and red herrings I could not identify the villain early.

Grand's writing style is good and there is a good sense of setting. It would make for a good fall read with the mysterious atmosphere of the castle. It is good for readers who would like a cozy mystery with a Halloween theme.


My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:


Mary Grand is the bestselling author of murder mysteries set in the current time but in the style of classic whodunnits. These are set on the Isle of Wight where she lives and writes, and the island landscape is an important feature of her books. The first three novels with Boldwood, starting with The House Party, are stand-alone murder mysteries. The next four are part of a series featuring amateur detective Susan Flynn, starting with A Seaside Murder (originally published as Death At Castle Cove}.
Mary's writing career started with three self-published novels starting with Free to Be Tegan, which is set in Wales, where Mary was born and grew up, and two anthologies of short stories Catching the Light and Making Changes. These earlier novels are in the women's fiction genre, featuring central characters who find strength in overcoming adversity.

Boldwood Books, 392 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Waitin' on Paige by Mary Pat Johns Blog Tour Book Review

 

About the Book

Book: Waitin’ On Paige (Romance in Valiant Book Four)

Author: Mary Pat Johns

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: July 8, 2025

All he wants is to reclaim her love…

Tavo Morales has returned to Valiant, Texas, to stir the embers of a relationship with the woman he has never stopped loving, but hidden reefs from his past threaten to destroy his future. Paige Munoz wants her new event planning business to be a success and won’t let anything stand in her way. But the path she’s on to make her dreams come true proves dangerous. Is the love Tavo and Paige once shared strong enough to survive his secrets and her stubbornness? 

Click here to get your copy!

My Review 

This is an enjoyable Christian romance that includes flawed people getting a second chance at romance. The themes of relationship reconciliation and forgiveness are major. There is also the issue of complications from a previous sexual relationship by one of them. So some obstacles to romance are present. I liked Paige but she was a bit naive when approached by a glitzy Hollywood guy. Tavo is a good character but I was initially confused by the use of both Tavo and Gus to refer to him. I was happy to see a clear presentation of the gospel is included.

This novel is part of a series but only the second I have read. It seemed the relationships between the characters here have their roots in previous novels. While this one read relatively well on its own, the full impact of it would be better appreciated if the previous novels were read first. Johns' writing style is good and the novel was fun to read.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my review of the previous book in this series I have read, Glitter and the Grouch.

About the Author

Mary Pat Johns’ writing career began once she retired from teaching speech and writing. She has written devotions for an online publication, had short stories published by Chicken Soup for the Soul, and wrote a column for the Victoria Advocate, a local newspaper.

Countin’ On Jesse, her first novel debuted in 2023, and books 2 & 3 of the Valiant series, Lovin’ On Red and Glitter and the Grouch released in 2024. God put it in her heart to tell stories of brave veterans and their reintegration into civilian life after suffering the traumas of war.

She writes Christian romance because when we see life through the hope of Christ’s sacrifice, we find that happily ever after is God’s idea.

More from Mary Pat

The ending of a series is always bittersweet. I will miss the characters, but I remind myself they are in a good place. Kind of like my grown children. They have their own lives to live, and I’m not as “hands-on” as I was during their formative years. If you weren’t around for the beginning of this series, no worries. Each book tells its own story. In the meantime, stay tuned. I have other stories to write. That said, I probably won’t wander too far from Valiant—the strong, safe place where it all began.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 22

Simple Harvest Reads, July 23 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, July 23

Leslie’s Library Escape, July 24

Artistic Nobody, July 25 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 26

Guild Master, July 27 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, July 28

Fiction Book Lover, July 29 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 30

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, July 31 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, July 31

Cover Lover Book Review, August 1

A Reader’s Brain, August 2 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys , August 3

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 4 (Author Interview)

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Mary Pat is giving away the grand prize of signed copies of the four book in the series!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54255


I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.) 


Sunday, July 20, 2025

Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink Blog Tour Book Review

Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink

FIRE MOUNTAIN

by Dana Mentink

June 30 - July 25, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink

Elements of Danger

 

Fire rains from above as they fight to discover the truth and stay alive.

In the shadow of a threatening volcano, long-haul trucker Kit Garrido wakes up in her crashed big rig, unable to recall what happened or why she's suddenly in possession of someone's baby. Fiercely independent, she has to admit that perhaps this time she could use a little help.

As the threat of eruption grows, former cop Cullen Landry refuses to leave his cabin in the evacuation area, which is why he's the only one left who can help Kit escape the crumpled cab of her truck. He doesn't want to get tangled up in the mystery of the beautiful woman with an abandoned infant, but when he sees the bullet hole in the windshield and the bloody handprint on the interior, he realizes that he's in this thing, like it or not.

When two armed men with ill intent approach, the race is on to stay alive, discover the truth, and find the baby's missing mother--all while a deadly mountain rains fire from above.

Praise for Fire Mountain:

"Fire Mountain comes in hot! An eruption of taut suspense and a crackling romance that Mentink’s fans will devour. A real stay-up-all-night read!"
~ Jessica R. Patch, bestselling author of the FBI: Strange Crimes Unit series

"A masterful blend of high-octane suspense and heart-pounding mystery. Mentink delivers an explosive thriller where danger lurks on every page, with a volcanic backdrop that mirrors the simmering tension of this unforgettable story. Clear your schedule—you won’t be able to put this one down."
~ Lynette Eason, bestselling, award-winning author of the Lake City Heroes series

"Dana Mentink is at the top of her game in this heart-pounding thrill ride. Danger explodes onto the page as Kit and Cullen fight to survive a volcanic eruption while relentless killers pursue them. An action-packed, gripping suspense, Fire Mountain will keep readers riveted until the end!"
~ Elizabeth Goddard, award-winning author of Storm Warning

My Review:

Wow, this book is action packed from beginning to end. There is constant suspense since the story takes place in the shadow of a very active volcano. The drama is mostly humans against exploding nature but Mentink added a few human villains from time to time. Just when it seems like Kit and Cullen are in the clear, there is a twist and near disaster strikes again. It was interesting to see how the duo managed to escape one potential threat only to be faced with another. In that sense the novel might have been a bit repetitive but it sure made for exciting reading.

We Washingtonians will never forget that Sunday morning when St. Helens blew. I was far enough away to not be in danger and could not imagine what it must have been like for those near the blast. Mentink brings it all to reality. Her description of the moving mud, rocks, trees and then lava was chilling.

Mentink has added a slow moving possible romance and an element of faith. The references to human trafficking were heartbreaking. There are also themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. I recommend this inspirational romantic suspense with a unique setting.

My rating: 4/5 stars. 

Book Details:

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
Published by: Revell
Publication Date: July 1, 2025
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780800746520 (ISBN10: 080074652X)
Series: Elements of Danger, Book 1 || Amazon | Goodreads
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Baker Book House

Read an excerpt:

 

 

Author Bio:

Dana Mentinkr

Dana Mentink is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author. She's written more than 50 mystery and suspense novels for Love Inspired Suspense, Harvest House, and Poisoned Pen Press. Winner of two ACFW Carol Awards, a Holt Medallion Award, and a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, Dana lives in Northern California with her husband.

Learn more at:

DanaMentink.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @DanaMentink
Instagram - @dana_mentink
Threads - @dana_mentink
Facebook - @dana.mentink

 

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Note: this is a private list. Only the list owner can enter links.

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This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Dana Mentink, Revell, & Baker Book House. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

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I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Partners in Crime Book Tours. 

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.) 

Friday, July 18, 2025

The Last Disciple: Gospel of John by Kurt Brouwer Blog Tour Book Review

 

About the Book

Book: The Last Disciple: Gospel of John (The Last Disciple Book Four)

Author: Kurt Brouwer

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: February 10, 2025

Discover the Untold Story of the Last Disciple to Witness the Miracles of Christ

In a world shrouded in doubt and darkness, one man holds the key to the greatest story ever told.

The epic saga of the Last Disciple continues in this captivating new Christian historical novel from Kurt Brouwer. Witness the miracles of Jesus through the eyes of one who was there. John, a disciple of Christ, watched the Son of God sacrifice his life on the Cross and entered the empty tomb after Jesus rose from the grave.

Witness Jesus Through the Eyes of One Who Was with Him

Years after witnessing the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Apostle John seeks to faithfully write down the life-changing events he experienced firsthand.

Go back in time with John to old Jerusalem as he describes the fateful meeting between the Messiah and Nicodemus in which Christ uttered the most beloved passage in the Bible: ”For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

John sets down the true story of Christ, contending with those who seek to water down the gospel message. Accompanied by trusted allies like Emmaus and Avram, John travels from Ephesus to Laodicea, Hierapolis, and beyond, determined to ensure the world never forgets the sacrifice and love of the Son of God.

John reunites with his old friend and fellow disciple, Philip, who is gravely ill. In a desperate bid to save Philip’s life, John seeks out the help of Evangeline, a skilled herbalist and healer. After Philip recovers, a mob whipped up by a high priest of the goddess Cybele lays in wait to attack John and Philip.

Will violent enemies of the faith cut off the gospel message John carries?

Witness the miracles of Jesus through the eyes of the Beloved Disciple—and discover how one man’s courage can change the course of history.

If you’re struggling with doubt, searching for meaning, or hungry to deepen your faith, The Last Disciple: Gospel of John is the Christian novel you’ve been waiting for.

Don’t miss this gripping tale of courage, conviction, and the eternal power of the gospel!

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

I don't really give much thought as to how the books in the New Testament came to be written. But Brouwer really gives us a sense of what might have taken place as John was compiling his gospel. It was interesting to read how he might have gotten together with others, reminiscing about their time with Jesus, comparing stories, sharing insights.

Brouwer does a great job of describing cities, temples, etc. I like how he takes us through some of the events of early church history such as how Christians faced the possibility of less work, not wanting to join the pagan guilds. I also liked how we see that Christians were still trying to understand the teachings of Jesus, sometimes disagreeing.

It was also interesting Brouwer wrote that Jesus' mother and John's mother were sisters. Some conclude it from John 9:25 but there is nothing specific in Scripture stating that. There were some early traditions that did include it.

This is a very interesting series, bringing to life people and events we might just gloss over as we read the New Testament. I recommend it.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my reviews of the earlier books in the series: The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem, The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch, and The Last Disciple: Exile in Ephesus.

About the Author

Kurt Brouwer is a Christian and a member of a vibrant Christian church on the Big Island of Hawaii. So, in addition to all the usual temptations writers face, Kurt has to fight off the lure of beautiful beaches, pounding surf, great weather, and lush golf courses. Can you imagine?

About nine years ago, Kurt did a study for his church on the Apostle John. If you’ve ever been obsessed by anything, you’ll understand what happened. Kurt couldn’t stop researching, digging, diving into the life of John and other first century Christians. Kurt read books by early church historians who wrote quite a bit more more about the disciples, but they often contradicted each other. Further, they never really delved into the daily lives and motivations, joys and sorrows of the first Christians.

Kurt took all of his research and knowledge, all the insights and details he had acquired and turned it into a series of Christian historical novels based on research and Biblical knowledge.

The first four books in the series are now available:

The Last Disciple: Crisis in JerusalemThe Last Disciple: Escape to AntiochThe Last Disciple: Exile in Ephesus, and The Last Disciple: Gospel of John.

You can also read more on why he started the series at his website.

More from Kurt

About 10 years ago, I read a piece on BibleGateway.com estimating that the Gospel of John came out fifty years or more after the Crucifixion of Christ! I couldn’t stop wondering what John did all those years? Why did it take so long to write the fourth gospel? Was it the world’s longest case of writer’s block?

In this new book, The Last Disciple: Gospel of John, we witness John struggling to put down on papyrus the life-changing events he experienced as he walked with Jesus. We go back in time and watch Christ uttering the most beloved verse in the Bible: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

While we all know this verse as John 3:16, John himself would not have understood this designation at all. It’s obvious to us that it refers to the book of John, chapter three, verse sixteen.

But, in the course of research for this series, I found out that chapter and verse did not exist in the first century. In fact, the first published Bible that used this format for both the Old Testament and the New Testament was the Geneva Bible published after 1500 AD.

As you can tell, I’m having fun writing these books. Each day I try to faithfully depict the lives of the first Christians and to show their love for Jesus and faith in the gospel message.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 18

Inspired by Fiction, July 18

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 19

Bizwings Book Blog, July 20

Artistic Nobody, July 21 (Author Interview)

CeCe Reads and Sings, July 21

She Lives to Read, July 22

Fiction Book Lover, July 23 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, July 24

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 25

Simple Harvest Reads, July 26 (Author Interview)

Book Butterfly in Dreamland, July 27

Guild Master, July 28 (Author Interview)

Cover Lover Book Review, July 29

Mary Hake, July 30

Tell Tale Book Reviews, July 31 (Author Interview)

Giveaway



To celebrate his tour, Kurt is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54252


I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Sons of Adamah by C M Genton Book Review

About the Book:


Compelling characters. Intricate world-building. Moral complexities.

Sons of Adamah by CM Genton is a gripping blend of sci-fi and apocalyptic adventure set in a future where survival hangs by a thread.

Is sacrifice the key to redemption?

Year 2131, the galactic colony on Andropida struggles under social conservatism and scientific experimentation designed to prevent humanity’s extinction.

Young John Macabee longs to follow in his father’s footsteps as a martial arts expert, and he embraces the values that prioritize survival. However, his life takes a dramatic turn when he is banished for his genetic anomaly and goes into exile on Earth.

On a perilous journey to find his brother, John navigates the socially liberal world starkly contrasting everything he’s ever known, uncovering a conspiracy threatening not only Earth but also his beloved Andropida.

My Review:


This novel got off to a bit of a rough start for me. I do wish there had been more world building at the very beginning, setting the stage for the adventure. I didn't know why they were in a crater, or even which star system they were in, for example, or why they were there at all. We do find out Andropida is a sort of life boat for earth. It is a time where there is gender fluidity. Human waste including bodies of those who have died, is used as fuel. One very human acting individual turns out to be a cyborg.

The main character, John, is sent back to earth, landing in Vancouver, B.C. The dystopian nature of the city is well described. There is a Christian element to the novel, mostly in the latter pages. Some scenes from the Book of Revelation are spoken. There is a character who believes in Elohim and that he promised to send One who would restore order. There is a reference to Jesus, though not by name, near the end, and a hymn is sung and some of the beatitudes recited.

Genton's writing style is descriptive. For example, John asks an unknown to identify himself. “His leaden words fell, but just before they hit the parquet floor, strong hands harvested them and carried them up, up, up.” (263) John then left the place. I have no idea what that scene means.

I found it hard to follow the narrative at times. I have to admit I don't think I really understood some of the novel. This is one for readers who like imaginative writing with thought provoking themes that might take concentration to understand.

My rating: 4/5 stars.


About the Author:


CM Genton grew up in a French-Catholic family, her mind fed by mystical books, Star Trek TV shows, and comic strips.

She never dreamed of being a writer. Instead, she lay awake at night wondering where the universe ended. "Then what?"

Her finely pitched obsessive compulsiveness enabled her Bachelor of fine arts and Master of the arts of theology. In seminary, she worked on a useful non-fiction book but got distracted. Laying awake at night, she wondered what the world would look like if social progressives got what they wanted. "Then what?" That called for fiction, and the Adamah series was born.

CM Genton lives in the southwest corner of Canada. She has no pictures of cute pets (or cuteness-challenged ones), tasteful decor, or holidays in Italy. She does however have pictures somewhere of her little sailboat (she gets seasick) and scrambler motorcycle with modified pipe.

La Grange-Presse, 365 pages.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

The Case of the Body on the Orient Express by Kelly Oliver Book Review

About the Book:

 

Paris, 1928: Agatha Christie and fellow writer Dorothy L Sayers board the Orient Express, bound for Constantinople. Christie in particular is looking forward to a break from recent dispiriting events in both her work and private life – the finalisation of her divorce from her philanderous husband Archie, and the miserly reception of her latest book.

But before the duo can settle in to enjoy the luxuries of their first-class journey, their journey is derailed when a fellow guest drops dead during the dinner service. And as the last person to speak to the victim, Dorothy finds herself a prime suspect in his murder.

As the train hurtles East, Sayers’ resourceful assistant Eliza and her friend Theo must navigate a maze of suspects. But with each passing mile, the stakes rise, and when another body is discovered, their search to find the killer before they reach their destination becomes increasingly complicated.

Can Eliza and Theo stay one step ahead, crack the mystery and clear Dorothy’s name? Or will this be one journey too far for the amateur sleuths?

My Review:

This is the second in a series featuring real British mystery authors. This one revolves around Dorothy L Sayers and the embarrassment of an illegitimate son. Christie, Sayers, and Eliza travel to a writers conference on the famed railroad only to be faced with murders. I like Eliza. She is a good heroine with vigor and some serious defensive moves from her time as an agent. Theo is a worthy sidekick. Both characters are drawn well.

It is fun that these historical mysteries by Oliver are based on the actual Detection Club with members like Chesterton, Christie and Sayers. The factual basis for this novel is revealed in an Author's Note. I liked learning some about poisons. I am impressed Kelly arranged this adventure as the basis for one of Sayer's actual mysteries.

This is a fun historical cozy mystery. And it looks like the adventure is not over as Eliza and Theo are left with yet another mystery in MI5 to solve.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my review of the first book in this series, The Case of the Christie Conspiracy.


About the Author:

Kelly Oliver is the award-winning and bestselling author of three mystery series: the seven-book suspense series, The Jessica James Mysteries; the three-book middle grade kids’ series, Pet Detective Mysteries; and the four-book historical cozy series, The Fiona Figg Mysteries, inspired by those trips to the Green Hills Library.

Currently, Kelly is the Vice President of Sisters in Crime.

When she’s not writing novels, Kelly is emerita Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University.

Boldwood Books, 269 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)