Tag Archives: mystery

Book recommendations! What did I pick?

Text: The best Christian/clean books where mystery-suspense meets women's fiction. Book cover for Miranda Warning, by Heather Day Gilbert: snowy branch with one red berry. Four more book covers with question marks on them. Follow the link to find out what's there!
Click the image to discover the other 4 books!

I had so much fun choosing my top 5 books for my “best Christian/clean books where mystery-suspense meets women’s fiction” list. And the format the team at Shepherd.com uses is refreshing: no hype-laden book blurbs, no long reviews. Just book covers and brief answers to the question, “Why did I love this book?”

So click the image above to see which books I chose and why I loved them. Then explore around the site and see what’s there. I hope you find a new book-friend or two! (Or you can click here: shepherd.com/best-books/christian-books-with-mystery-and-womens-fiction)

Shepherd’s tag line is “Explore, discover, read.” They describe a visit to their site as “like wandering the aisles of your favorite bookstore.” You can search to see if your favourite authors have shared their top-5 lists, or look for books you love and find others like them. Or just type what kind of book you feel like reading at the moment and see what suggestions come up.

If you’re curious about what Shepherd’s all about, check out their article, “Who are you and why are you doing this?” (These folks are all about questions! And about helping readers find good books.)

[Note: I do not receive any affiliate funding from sending you to the Shepherd site or from anything you do there. The only material benefit to me is the royalty earned when someone buys my featured book, Unknown Enemy.]

99-cent Ebook Sale (Ends Aug. 27/23)

If you were waiting for a sale to get your copy of Bitter Truth, now’s the time. The ebook is 99 cents until end of day Sunday, August 27 on Apple, Google Play Books, Kindle, Kobo, Nook, Smashwords, and probably a few more. To make it easy for you, here’s a link that will let you choose your preferred store and country: books2read.com/bitter-truth.

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Short-listed for an Award!

Text: Short-listed for The Word Awards! Cover art: Bitter Truth
More text: descriptors of the book, including "mystery-suspense meets Christian women's fiction"
Available on all digital platforms and in print on Amazon. Click for buy links.

Short-listed in The Word Awards 2023. Finalist in the Angel Book Awards 2022.

Attempted murder. A hostile rescuer. And an amateur sleuth’s vow to catch the attacker before he strikes again.

Against all odds, Landon Smith and her ordinary-hero neighbour Bobby Hawke survived a murderous plot six weeks ago. Now, she’s determined to leave solving mysteries to the experts—like handsome local police officer Dylan Tremblay.

But when her friend Ciara is nearly killed in a daring daylight attack, Landon can’t sit this out. Not when she knows the anger of being a victim.

Her faith tells her to leave room for God’s vengeance. Her heart says to retaliate.

The fight to expose Ciara’s enemy will uncover secrets and betrayal that could cost Landon her life.

Discussion questions included. If you like clean mystery/suspense and Christian women’s fiction, read Bitter Truth today! Buy link: books2read.com/bitter-truth.

99-cent Ebook Sale: Unknown Enemy

Come to the Green Dory Inn for the mysteries, stay for the characters.

Book 1, Unknown Enemy, is 99 cents for Kindle, Kobo, Nook, Apple, and Google Play until July 5. Great time to discover a new-to-you Christian fiction series set in beautiful Nova Scotia!

Buy your copy here: https://www.books2read.com/unknownenemy

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What are readers saying about Bitter Truth?

“A nice assorted cast of possible suspects, and lots of twists in the plot that will keep you guessing.” ★★★★★
Jeffrey C. Reynolds, blogger and reviewer

“Recommended reading for all who love a good puzzley story.” ★★★★★
Violet Nesdoly, author, blogger, and reviewer

“I definitely recommend this book!” ★★★★★
Amy C. Blake, author and Goodreads reviewer

“Lots of twists and turns. A must read!” ★★★★★
Charlene, Goodreads reviewer

“A fun and thought-provoking read” ★★★★
Miranda S., Goodreads reviewer

“I did NOT see the ending!!” ★★★★
Trudy C., Goodreads reviewer

"Janet Sketchley’s tight writing is full of homey details—nicely appointed rooms in a seaside inn on the shores of beautiful Nova Scotia, Canada, cups of coffee, tea, and fragrant baking—disarming us for the plot’s next whiplash development." ★★★★★
Violet Nesdoly, author, blogger, and reviewer

If you like clean Christian mystery and suspense, read Bitter Truth today! This link has international options for major ebook retailers and Amazon for print: books2read.com/bitter-truth.

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It’s Release Day!

Happy “book birthday” to the newest Green Dory Inn Mystery, Bitter Truth! The paperback version sneaked onto the scene early, and now the ebooks are live too.

What readers are saying about Bitter Truth.
Click the image to reach the buy link or click here to for more about Bitter Truth.
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New Mystery Novel Available for Preorder!

Come back to the Green Dory Inn for another mystery! Bitter Truth releases in March 2022.

Who would want Ciara dead? And why? Landon’s quest for the truth will uncover secrets and betrayal that could cost her life.

Digital preorder discount price is $2.99 USD or international equivalent for Kindle, Kobo, Nook, Apple, Google Play, and a few other places. A print version will also release in March without preorders. Here’s an international link for the ebooks at various stores: books2read/bitter-truth.

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Review: Detour, by Lorena McCourtney

Detour, by Lorena McCourtney (Rogue Ridge Press, 2018)

Another enjoyable mystery, packed with suspects and unusual characters. This time, Mac and Ivy take a detour on the way to their honeymoon destination in Arizona for Mac to cover a magazine assignment covering a Northern California dinosaur theme park.

The park is run down and Ivy has doubts about the couple running it. Suspicions and motives fly even before a body comes to light. Naturally, shenanigans ensue. I had a little trouble getting into this one, and found the occasional clunky sentence, but Ivy and her mutant curiosity gene are a delight. By the end, I was reading at full speed.

Ivy MacPherson (formerly Malone) is a self-titled “LOL” (little old lady) with a knack for finding—and solving—mysteries. The Ivy ‘n’ Mac series follows the Ivy Malone series now that she and Mac are a couple.

Ivy is funny, sassy, and possessed of a double helping of spunk. She’s a treat to read, and it’s worth going back to meet her in her first book, Invisible. She and Mac travel the US in an RV, yet murders somehow find her at every turn.

To learn about author Lorena McCourtney and her other mysteries, visit lorenamccourtney.info.

[Review copy from the public library. This title is available through Hoopla.]

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Cover Reveal: Bitter Truth

Who would want Ciara dead? And why? 

Against all odds, Landon Smith and her ordinary-hero neighbour Bobby Hawke survived a murderous plot six weeks ago. Now, she’s determined to leave solving mysteries to the experts—like handsome local police officer Dylan Tremblay.

But when a friend is nearly killed in a daring daylight attack, Landon can’t sit this out. Not when she knows the anger of being a victim.

Her faith tells her to leave room for God’s vengeance. Her heart says to retaliate. 

The fight to expose Ciara’s enemy will uncover secrets and betrayal that could cost Landon her life.  


And now… the cover!

Bitter Truth, A Green Dory Inn Mystery, Book 3

Pre-orders coming soon, for release in March 2022.

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99-cent Ebook Sale: Unknown Enemy

Unknown Enemy: The short read that kicks off the Green Dory Inn mystery/suspense novels.
A young woman with a traumatic past...
A lonely widow...
And a prowler who's up to  no good.
99 cents for Kindle, Kobo, etc until September 24, 2021. books2read.com/unknownenemy

About the Book

Landon Smith vowed never to return to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Despite her faith, the memories might undo her.

But a shadowy figure has been skulking around the Green Dory Inn—seen only by her friend Anna.

Loyalty demands she stand by this woman who’s been a second mother to her. No matter the cost.

With the police unable to find solid clues, and the incidents escalating, Landon must help Anna discover the truth about the prowler and stop him. Before he turns violent.

Unknown Enemy is a novella-length read. Hidden Secrets and the books to come after are all novel-length.

99-cent ebook sale ends September 24, 2021
Get your copy now!
International buy links: books2read.com/unknownenemy