Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Nike Chillemi's Deadly Designs



Deadly Designs is available on Amazon in ebook format

$3.99 Buy on Amazon

About the Book:
Private investigator Veronica "Ronnie" Ingels teams up with Deputy Dawson Hughes to find a geeky radio broadcaster's missing wife and young daughter. They fear the woman and child were taken by Islamic terrorists as revenge against the husband's pro-Israel, conspiracy theory broadcasts. The investigation takes Ronnie and Hughes from a manicured Connecticut estate, to interviews with an elitist A-List society crowd, and run-ins with cranky local police detectives. Then they plunge deep into the seamy, drug-riddled underbelly of the fashion world, with the specter of international terrorism hovering.

Hughes has recently been promoted to lieutenant in the Taylor County, Texas Sheriff's Department. He's on leave on a special assignment with Authorized Operations (AO), a clandestine, quasi-government agency operating out of a sea-side mansion in Hither Hills, NY. The only thing is, many powerful politicians, and government big-wigs claim Authorized Operations doesn't exist.

Ronnie is furious at both Hughes and the broadcaster for waiting thirty-six hours to start the search. She knows the longer it takes, the less chance there is of finding the child alive. The problem is, radio talk-show host Ed Harper has been hoping-against-hope that his pot-smoking, model wife is on one of her 'esoteric experiences' and has simply taken the child while she romps for a few days. He doesn't want to seriously consider the other, more hazardous possibility… that his radio broadcasts have angered some very dangerous people.


Nike, what do you love about this book?
I loved building tension, and creating plot twists in this one…and there were quite a number of conundrums. I thoroughly enjoyed dishing out turmoil, not to mention mayhem to Ronnie and Dawson. Keeping them on their toes was such fun for me.

Introduce us to the character you had the most trouble with.
I had the most trouble with Ronnie. I had to reveal something deep and dark from her past. To do this I had to lead up to it in a natural way and then set up a circumstance whereby it would be plausible for it to come out.

What do you hope readers will tell other readers when they’ve finished the book?
I hope readers will tell other others it was an exciting detective story. I'd also like for readers to mention that although there were a few dark moments in the novel, there was also wry humor, and overall it was uplifting.


About the Author:
Like so many writers, Nike Chillemi started writing at a very young age. She still has the Crayola,
fully illustrated book she penned (colored might be more accurate) as a little girl about her then off-the-chart love of horses. Today, you might call her a crime fictionista. Her passion is crime fiction. She likes her bad guys really bad and her good guys smarter and better.


Nike is the founding board member of the Grace Awards and is its Chair, a reader's choice awards for excellence in Christian fiction. She has been a judge in the 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 Carol Awards in the suspense, mystery, and romantic suspense categories; and an Inspy Awards 2010 judge in the Suspense/Thriller/Mystery category. Her four novel Sanctuary Point series, set in the mid-1940s has finaled, won an award, and garnered critical acclaim. HARMFUL INTENT released under the auspices of her own publishing company, Crime Fictionista Press, won in the Grace Awards 2014 Mystery/Thriller/Romantic Suspense/Historic Suspense category. Her new release is DEADLY DESIGNS. She has written book reviews for The Christian Pulse online magazine. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and John 3:16 Marketing Network.  

Friday, October 23, 2015

Intriguing new Chrisitian allegory by Jwyan C Johnson

Faith and the Parable of the Blindfold: a Fun Biblical Adventure to Find, Keep, and Test Your Faith through Symbolism (Christian Parables Book 1)


From the author:
Tip-toe with Tom as he sneaks past Lady Luck. He holds a map, ready to discover someone else, somewhere else on a higher yet deeper level called Faith. It is here where one remarkable blindfold unlocks Tom's other "senses." Find out why "patience" and "patients" sound the same only at his "old place." Will Tom leave Lady Luck for Faith? And will anyone else? Take the Test-Your-Faith Challenge and journey along inside a biblically attractive mystery with morals, symbolism, discussion questions, a hyperlinked bible index, and even a bonus family skit version!

My review:

Johnson's skit on showing faith in a contemporary allegorical format is a great idea for youth and Sunday school groups. It's quick, rich with symbols, and provides lots of backup with complementary Scripture. Presented in two formats, a text and skit, readers and group facilitators will be able to share how faith can be challenged, its true power, and its origin. A chart of Scripture, discussion guide, and break down of the symbols is included.

Buy on Amazon: Faith & the Parable of the Blindfold
Jwyan C. Johnson



Second in a series
Wordplay 2: Biblical Tales of a Lawyer's Lullabye
see on Amazon

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Mystery book for young people by Dana Rongione

Another Great Mystery Novel by Christian author and speaker, Dana Rongione
  


My Fears Relieved:  A Delaware Detectives Mystery
Book Three

About the book:  
It all began with a pocket knife which led to a mysterious inscription which led to a wolf. But there are no wolves in Delaware...or are there? It's up to the Delaware Detectives to find out.
·       In book one, Abby and Jamie, along with their friends Scott and Phyllis, followed a trail of tantalizing clues to uncover a hidden fortune.
·       In book two, the curious siblings embarked on a nearly-impossible mission to find a missing man.
·       Book three thrusts the detective team into a new mystery they are determined to solve no matter where the clues may lead. But are the kids prepared to discover what's really lurking in the woods of Beaver Valley?

While this book is appropriate for readers of all ages, gender and educational status, it was designed with the homeschool student in mind. To that end, the book contains a Glossary of Terms that can be used in the subject of Spelling and Vocabulary. The author has also included a Science Center, a History Hideout and a special Art Academy—all of which provide valuable insight and activities based on information from within the story itself. Could this be the perfect addition to your homeschool curriculum?

For the entire month of October, your can pick up a Kindle copy of My Fears Relieved
for only 99 cents.  Haven't read the rest of the series?  No problem. 
They're all on sale this month only!  Click here for more information.

About the author:
Dana Rongione is a Christian author and speaker living in Greenville, SC with her husband, Jason, and her two spoiled dogs, Tippy and Mitchell.

For a living, she writes quality Christian books for audiences of all ages and speaks to women on a variety of inspirational and encouraging topics. For fun, Dana devours more books than she does chocolate (though not by much).  She also enjoys hiking, playing the piano, and spending time with her family.

To find out more about Dana and her ministry, visit her website at www.DanaRongione.com.  

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Children's Book Review of Nana's Three Jars series, by Carol Round




Giving Generously, the third book in the delightful children's series of stories with a moral, is now available in time for Christmas from Author Carol Round. 

Nana’s Jars series
Children’s Fiction

Carol Round
ISBN 978-0692532423
September, 2015

$12.95 paperback only at this time

Buy on US Amazon

From the publisher:
Charlie has a dilemma. Christmas is approaching and he wants to give his teacher a special gift. He’s been saving his money to purchase a present for Miss James but until he and Emma make a trip to visit Nana, he isn’t quite sure what he will do. Join Charlie and Emma as they learn more about the third jar — spending wisely — and why it’s just as important as the giving and saving jars. “Nana’s 3 Jars: Spending Wisely” is an interactive book for adults to read and then make hot chocolate mix with children using the recipe in the back of the book. It is the third and final book in the “Nana’s 3 Jars” series.

My review:
Carol Round’s delightful third book of her series of children’s stories with a moral is a great read with sweet illustrations to subtly teach children about giving gifts with a purpose. Gifts are personal and meaningful when they come from the heart and are created with thought, based on affordability. The stories are based on a lesson Charlie and Emma’s grandmother teaches about earning and saving money, when to give, and when to spend it. Charlie visits his grandmother on the farm and sees the perfect holiday gift for his teacher. His grandmother and mother help him create the gift using donations and purchased items from his savings for him to give.


Included in the book are the directions for this gift—hot chocolate mix in a jar, directions, as well as labels to create readers’ own Saving, Giving, Spending jars. Beautifully illustrated, not too long for a good sit-down read, and easily read.


Volumes One and Two, Giving Generously, and Saving Pennies, are available as well.
See Carol Round's Amazon Page, US, for more information.

About the Author, Carol Round
I am a transplanted Okie. I was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana. However, my parents, who were originally from the Sooner State, decided to return to their roots in 1969 when I was 16-years-old. Although I have only returned to my birth state three times, Oklahoma people still detect a bit of Cajun accent. I think that’s funny because they don’t think they have an accent.

No matter where I’m living—I’ve moved ten times since I graduated from high school—I love being outdoors any time of the year. Whether it is raining, snowing or the sun is shining or hiding behind a cloud, I prefer the beautiful landscape of God’s creation anytime. Being outdoors, even when I’m weeding my flowerbeds, helps me to reconnect with God.

Visit Carol's website.