I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
Park archaeologist Violet Hoyt’s wilderness search for a missing family’s remains takes a deadly turn when a gunman mistakes her for someone else. The discovery of a grave of skulls reopens a cold case, and someone is determined to keep the truth hidden. With the help of K—9 handler Maverick Shaw and his human—remains—detector dog, Wolf, Violet must find the final family member—and evade the masked man who has targeted her. Soon Violet learns a shocking secret: She has a presumed dead twin sister who may still be alive, and now they’re both in danger. Can Violet and Maverick expose a conspiracy before this Christmas becomes their last? (From Barnes and Noble)
My Thoughts
An archeologist, the discovery of skulls, a K-9 human remains detector and a man determined to protect all make this book unputdownable. Violet Hoyt is intelligent and intuitive and when she is on a job, like the one to find the remains of the murdered Hancock family, she is intrepid and sometimes foolhardy. Wolf, the dog who intervenes and tries his best to keep her safe is a character like none other. He is highly trained to detect remains but he also seems to be able to sniff out danger before it gets too close. And his owner Maverick is as determined to keep Violet safe as she seems to be determined to pursue danger. All of these elements made this fast-paced book a riveting and unforgettable story of courage and an indomitable spirt. There are family secrets uncovered as well as a villain who is unbelievably evil and dogged about the goal of keeping Violet and Maverick from discovering the truth. This is a book with memorable characters and a well-crafted and absorbing plot that is not to be missed by fans of compelling fiction. I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Love Inspired Suspense, Rated PG
About the Author
Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.
Park warden Dekker Hoyt’s father-son camping trip turns into a nightmare when a serial killer abducts his father. With just seventy-two hours to find him, Dekker turns to criminal investigative analyst Blaire Tremblay to identify the Park Campfire Killer. As they follow his taunting clues and face increasingly violent threats, Dekker and Blaire know that one wrong step could be fatal. With the ruthless criminal following their every move, can they stop a killer in hiding…waiting to complete his deadly plan?
With crisp writing and a gripping story, this book was a fast and addictive read. The main characters, Park Warden Dekker Hoyt and criminal analyst Blaire Tremblay, are faced with insurmountable obstacles and constant danger as they try to find and capture a serial kidnapper and killer who has been attacking campers. Stymied by the evidence that doesn’t seem to flow together, Dekker and Blaire have to use all of their available resources, including the K-9 hero Hercules and Dekker’s sister Jayla. After all, one of the most recent victims is Dekker’s father and there is limited time to find him before the killer murders him and leaves him dead on one of the many trails in the wilderness. The plot is complex and completely engrossing and it weaves suspense seamlessly with a developing romance between Dekker and Blaire. The details of the dangers they encounter in their quest to find the killer are authentic and filled with action-packed realism. I was immersed in the drama of the story and the desperation of the characters to find the truth before it was too late. There was always a ticking clock sounding in the back of my mind as I was reading. The clues that the author left were fun to follow and the red herrings and fake trails were effective as I was fooled until the big reveal. I enjoyed the entire book and look forward to more adventures in the National Park Protectors series. Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book. I also purchased my own copy. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
Love Inspired Suspense, Intense Suspense, PG
About the Author
Darlene L. Turner is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author known for her high-octane stories and riveting twists. Sparked by Nancy Drew, she’s turned her love of solving mysteries into her writing, believing readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. Dubbed “the plaid queen” for her love of everything plaid, Darlene resides with her husband Jeff in Ontario, Canada. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s “suspense beyond borders”.
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Echoes of Darkness by Darlene L. Turner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: Echoes of Darkness Author: Darlene L. Turner Publisher: Love Inspired Trade Release Date: June 24, 2025 Genre: Christian Suspense/Romantic Thriller
A serial killer stalks a small town, and a police officer must face her family’s dark past to catch him.
The sleepy community of Kenorapeake Falls in northern Ontario seems like somewhere Constable Oaklynn Brock can finally outrun her violent past. That is, until she’s assigned to investigate a series of suspicious deaths. She can’t reveal that she knows how serial killers think because she grew up with one. Yet the eerie similarities between these murders and those committed by her father, known as the Suicide Slayer, hint at a copycat in their midst. But why here and why now?
Caleb Greene of the Canadian Watchers Squad, a special task force, has his own reasons to be wary of working alongside Oaklynn. But with rumors of a local cult known as the Light Paragons gaining power, the stakes are too high to refuse.
As they explore connections between the killings and cult, Oaklynn and Caleb are forced to confront old secrets…and a terrifying new threat. Someone is watching Oaklynn’s every move. They know exactly who she is and what she might be capable of. And soon her biggest fear isn’t just having her past exposed, but that a killer will turn whatever days she has left into a living nightmare…
Darlene L. Turner is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author known for her high-octane stories and riveting twists. Sparked by Nancy Drew, she’s turned her love of solving mysteries into her writing, believing readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. Dubbed “the plaid queen” for her love of everything plaid, Darlene resides with her husband Jeff in Ontario, Canada. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.
1. What kind of research did you do for this book? What was the most interesting thing you discovered in your research?
DLT: Lots! Haha! I researched writing to inmates within Canada, different types of drugs, guns, law enforcement procedures, cults, K-9s, military, medical information. I think the most interesting—and scary—is just how many cults are out there. Yikes. We need to shine Christ’s light!
2.What was your favorite part of writing this book?
DLT: I loved adding a third POV. With my regular Love Inspired Suspense books, I can only have two, so it was fun to add the Protégé’s POV.
3.Did anything in the story end up surprising you?
DLT: I’m a pantser, so I’m always surprised by some of the rabbit trails my characters take me on. Haha! Sometimes they work out, but not always.
4. When did you know that you wanted to be an author?
DLT: From the time I picked up my first Nancy Drew book as a little girl! I fell in love with not only a good mystery/suspense story, but the idea of wanting to create my own!
5. What is your writing process like? Do you know the ending when you start writing?
DLT: I start with an idea and then decide on my hero and heroine’s vocation. Then brainstorm it into a plot line. I develop my characters through a character sketch, establishing their backstory. I don’t always know how the book ends but have a general idea.
6. What would be your advice to new authors?
DLT: Don’t give up or compare yourself to other authors. Every author has a different journey. Also, don’t be scared to reach out and ask other authors questions. We can learn from each other.
7. If you could have a luncheon with a group of authors, whom would you invite and why?
DLT: Jaime Jo Wright, Jessica R. Patch, Natalie Walters – we’d have so much fun brainstorming our stories together! Maybe too much fun. haha
8. What is your favorite thing to do when you are not writing or reading a book?
DLT: Tole painting (painting on wood), watching movies, going on walks with my hubby.
9. If you could travel to anywhere in the world and cost was not a problem, where would you go and why?
DLT: Easy. Hawaii. I love it there. It’s paradise!
10. Your new book is a trade paperback thriller. Was it more of a challenge to write? Do you plan to write more books in this genre?
DLT: I loved writing this thriller. It’s fun to go deeper into relationships, storylines, adding subplots, another POV, etc. Yes, I hope to write more thrillers!
With many thanks to Darlene L. Turner for graciously answering my questions!
(4) winners will each receive a $25 Amazon eGift Card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 23, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 30, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Open internationally. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Welcome to the Blog Tour for I’ll Be Home by Sara Davison, Darlene L. Turner, Helena Smrcek, and Melanie Stevenson, hosted byJustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: I’ll Be Home Authors: Sara Davison, Darlene L. Turner, Helena Smrcek, & Melanie Stevenson Publisher: Independent (Fab Four Press) Release Date: October 29, 2024 Genre: Contemporary Christmas anthology
With chaos and confusion all around them, can they find their way home this Christmas?
The people in these four stories are all searching for something—an escaped convict, a job promotion from a love interest, connection to a lost parent, answers across time.
Christmas should be a time of wonder and celebration, but the obstacles each faces seem insurmountable. Even, at times, life-threatening.
Perhaps they will find what they are seeking during this season of miracles and hope. Or maybe, with God’s help, they will discover that the longing of their hearts takes them to places—and people—they didn’t even know they’d been searching for.
I’ll Be Home is a collection of four stories of faith, hope, love, (and trains) that will warm your heart, encourage your soul, and draw you home this Christmas.
These four novellas all have the common theme of people trying to find where they are supposed to be and with whom, and sometimes even who they are supposed to be in life Mistletoe and Mayhem” in the Rockies definitely has a mystery vibe about it, as an escaped convict is possibly among the party goers at a new ranch retreat. “Love Across Time” is a dual timeline love story, with a romance that starts in WWII and then takes us into the present when the current occupants of the house find the love letters between this star-crossed couple. The story of Porsha in “Where My Heart Belongs” is told in an interesting fashion, with the narrator directly addressing the reader and including her audience in her story. A presentation gone wrong sends Porsha into the cold to escape and her encounter with Santa changes her life. Finally, “Just a Gilbert Blythe Kind of Girl” is set on the picturesque Prince Edward Island and includes very dramatic scenes as Lucy sets out to play the part of Anne of Green Gables, pursuing the same interests her deceased mother had. All four stories have a fast-paced plot with a believable conflict built into the story and charming, delightfully humorous characters. The romance is predictable but so enticing that it was entertaining to read the story and guess what would happen next in this veritable maze of mishaps around the holidays. I especially enjoyed the last story as Anne was a favorite character of one of my children and we spent many hours enjoying her books and series on television. The characters are quirky which make them memorable. And each story can be read as a standalone, although I did enjoy the theme of the holidays, romance and a little chaos just to make the tale true-to-life. Good, fast reads that entertained and got me into a holiday mood quickly! Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the authors as part of a review team. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Rated G, Christian Fiction
About the Authors
Sara Davison is the author of The Night Guardians, The Rose Tattoo, two sparrows for a penny, and In the Shadows series, as well as the standalone, The Watcher. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, including the Christy Award, Davison is a Holt Medallion, Cascade, and two-time Carol Award winner for romantic suspense. She lives in Ontario with her husband, Michael. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason. Connect with Sara by visiting saradavison.org to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning and a Publishers Weekly best-selling author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. Connect with Darlene by visiting darlenelturner.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.Helena Smrcek is an award-winning author, screenwriter, public speaker and writing coach. She is known for her thrilling and heartwarming stories. Her career began as a high school freelancer, leading to three decades in publishing. She co-founded Write!Canada and The Word Guild and has graduated from multiple writing programs. Connect with Helena by visitinghelenasmrcek.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.Melanie Stevenson is an award-winning author and lives in Ontario, Canada, surrounded by her husband and four children. She attended the University of Waterloo and obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts. Melanie’s first book, One More Tomorrow, was shortlisted in the Word Alive Press publishing contest out of over two hundred entries across North America and was published in 2019. In 2020, she won Best Romantic Fiction for One More Tomorrow and Best New Canadian Author at The Word Awards—Canada’s top Christian literary awards. Her mission is to create stories of excellence that impact hearts and lives. Paper, canvas, and dirt are her favorite blank pages. Connect with Melanie by visitingmelaniestevenson.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon card plus a paperback copy of I’ll Be Home!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 29, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 5, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Welcome to the Blog Tour for K-9 Ranch Protection by Darlene L. Turner, hosted byJustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: K-9 Ranch Protection Series: Crisis Rescue Team #6 Author: Darlene L Turner Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Release Date: September 24, 2024 Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
A killer on the loose.
A K-9 keeping watch.
Police constable Izzy Tremblay knows her father’s death was no accident, so when she finally discovers a lead and is immediately attacked, her suspicions are confirmed. The ambush leaves her in the hospital with three hours of crucial memory missing, which she knows holds the key to finding her father’s murderer. For protection, she takes refuge with her ex-partner, Austin Murray, on his K-9 ranch while she races to uncover the truth. But with danger still lurking, can they stay alive long enough to take down a killer?
Constable Izzy Tremblay finds evidence that her father’s death was murder and in following up on her discovery, she is attacked and loses three hours of her memory. Regardless of her new disability, Izzy remains determined to track down her father’s killer and to stop a drug trafficking ring that is getting more active in her jurisdiction. Unfortunately, the killer knows who she is and repeated threats lead her to take refuge with her former boyfriend Austin Murray, the owner and trainer at a local K-9 ranch. The action is sharp and edgy while the pace is fast-moving. The plot is intriguing and complex enough that it kept me engaged and guessing the entire time. This is a compelling and relevant story that drew me immediately into the action as I was invested in Izzy’s finding the truth as well as the developing attraction between her and Austin. I especially liked getting to know Austin’s well-trained and resourceful dogs. Nèvé, the malamute, was the star of the book with her intuitive sense of impending danger and her loyalty to Austin and Izzy. With the author’s signature style of captivating the reader from beginning to end, this is a must-read, riveting suspense with some delightful romance added. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Love Inspired Suspense, Clean Christian Fiction
More Books In This Series
About the Author
Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning and a Publishers Weekly best-selling author and lives with her husband Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. Connect with Darlene by visiting darlenelturner.com, where there’s suspense beyond borders, to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
(4) winners will each receive a $25 Amazon egift card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 23, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 30, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Mountain Abduction Rescue by Darlene L. Turner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: Mountain Abduction Rescue Series: Crisis Rescue Team #3 Author: Darlene L. Turner Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Release Date: August 22, 2023 Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
A wildfire threat…
becomes a missing person search.
A serial arsonist is out for revenge in the Canadian Rocky Mountains—and kidnaps park warden Hazel Hoyt’s son and his camping troop. Now Hazel must team up with the man who broke her heart, firefighter Mitchell Booth, to find the missing boys as wildfires blaze around them. But someone has no intention of letting the pair get off the mountain alive…
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
This book includes non-stop action that kept me on the edge of my seat, hoping that park warden Hazel Hoyt would find her young son alive and well and that the raging forest fire would be able to be contained. When an unknown suspect kidnaps Hazel’s son and a few other members of his scout troop, Hazel is forced to work with her former boyfriend, firefighter Michael Booth, but she is willing to do whatever it takes to save her eight year old son and his friends. With helicopter rescues, a firebug, a kidnapper and a theme of revenge, this book has everything it needs to keep my attention and make it a stunningly exciting novel. The book is a clean read, with faith interspersed throughout in the appropriate times and places. I enjoyed getting to know Michael and Hazel, both of whom were relatable and dynamic characters. Hazel’s dad Frank was also well-developed but not quite so likable since he was so controlling during most of the book. With red herrings and false trails, this book led me on a merry chase to figure out the villains before they were revealed. Lots to love about an adventure in the Canadian Rockies, a small child being courageous and a family working together to achieve a daring rescue! Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
About the Author
Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. You can connect with Darlene at her website where there’s suspense beyond borders.
Connect with Darlene by visiting darlenelturner.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
Tour Giveaway
(4) winners will win a $25 Amazon egift card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 14, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 21, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Releases on Tuesday, February 21st, but you can preorder now! Don’t miss the story of the heroic dog Hercules and his extraordinarily courageous people!
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Explosive Christmas Showdown by Darlene L. Turner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours.
About the Book
Title: Explosive Christmas Showdown
Series: Crisis Rescue Team #2
Author: Darlene L. Turner
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: October 25, 2022
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
A bomber brings terror to Christmas
as the presents go tick…tick…boom.
With criminal investigative analyst Olive Wells at the center of a bomber’s dangerous game, she’ll do anything to catch the culprit—even work with her ex-fiancé and his K-9 detector dog. But with the Christmas rampage drawing ever closer, Zac Turner’s convinced the attacks are personal. Can they piece together their ties to the bomber…before another gift explodes?
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message.
Connect with Darlene by visiting darlenelturner.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
My thoughts on the book:
The Jingle Bell Bomber is actively seeking victims to target and the team has to rush from one place to another trying to defuse bombs before they harm people. This is a love story as well an an intriguing suspense tale of bodies piling up and a team of experts stymied about where to go next to stop his vicious attacks. Olive Wells is an analyst and her colleague Zac Turner is an expert at finding and defusing bombs. Zac’s intelligent and intuitive dog Ziva made this book for me! She knew just where to go and when and also knew who needed her gentle presence to calm them. She is a trained bomb sniffing dog as well as a tracker, but she is so much more. Her personality stood out in the book to me and I really enjoyed getting to know her and her people. The characters were all well developed and the pace was fast, with action that was non-stop as the team raced from one place to another, following clues left by the JB, their term for the Jingle Bell Bomber. There are also sub-plots about secrets that Olive and Zac have that eventually have to be revealed for them to try to have a relationship. Faith is also a strong element in the story as the characters who have moved away from God ultimately decide that they need to totally depend on Him to keep them safe and to help them plan a future. The credible characters and their quest to save lives had me mesmerized from beginning to end. I should also note that the weather was almost a character by itself as it kept snowing and interfering with the investigation and the team’s ability to get to places quickly. This was very realistic as the book was set in Canada at Christmas time and added to the emotional turmoil of finding a deadly bomber before he strikes again. Fans of clean romantic suspense will enjoy the story of Zac, Olive and Ziva. I would rate the book with five stars for entertaining and clean content. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Tour Giveaway
(3) winners will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 24, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 31, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 