Tag Archives: suspense

Review: On the Pineapple Express, by H. L. Wegley

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On The Pineapple Express, by H L WegleyOn the Pineapple Express, by H. L. Wegley (Harbourlight Books, Pelican Book Group, 2014)

You’d think monitoring messages in a rural part of coastal Washington State would be safe, even boring. But Jennifer Akihara has intercepted a coded message about a human trafficking ring selling teen girls—or younger—from the US to offshore bidders. She has to act. Now.

Jennifer’s contact with the FBI needs more proof before he can mobilize a team. That makes Jennifer and her fiancé, Lee Brandt, the team on the ground.

Jennifer and Lee have survived what they hoped was a once in a lifetime brush with death in book 1 of this series, Hide and Seek. They’re smart (she’s brilliant), brave, and they know whatever happens, God is with them.

But will that be enough to save these young girls? Especially the one Jennifer can hear crying in her mind?

With time running out, and a killer storm moving in, Jennifer and Lee take some crazy risks to find the traffickers’ hideout.

Human trafficking is one of those hard-to-read-about subjects, but H. L. Wegley delivers a story even teens could read without scarring themselves. It helps that the buyers want these girls “unspoiled.” And readers don’t see inside the girls’ heads, although we’re told that one of them hanged herself with her own shoelaces rather than face what their captors had planned.

On the Pineapple Express is a fast-moving, adrenaline-laced adventure, clean and gripping. The banter between Jennifer and Lee provides breaks in the tension, but not for long. It’s also a story with some surprising, heart-warming moments.

Favourite quotes:

If he [Lee] believed in luck, his would have been all used up by now. But a good and gracious God transcended that thing called luck. Kindle Location 520

The wind volume cranked up several decibels, sounding like a crowd of demons rooting for the devil. Kindle Location 1674

Author H. L. Wegley is a former meteorologist, and his weather knowledge lets him write detailed storm scenes. You can learn more about Mr. Wegley and his writing at his website. On the Pineapple Express is book 2 in the Pure Genius series. Book 3, Moon over Maalaea Bay, releases June 2014, with book 4, Triple Threat, slated for Fall 2014.

[Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.]

Review: The Devil Walks in Mattingly, by Billy Coffey

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The Devil Walks in Mattingly, by Billy CoffeyThe Devil Walks in Mattingly, by Billy Coffey (Thomas Nelson, 2014)

Jake and his wife, Kate, live under long-held regrets centering around one of their high school classmates, Phillip. Phillip’s death 20 years ago was ruled a suicide, but Jake and Kate each believe they killed him.

Jake is sheriff of the small mountain town of Mattingly, VA. He took the job because he’s desperate for peace, not because he’s strong like his father was. When violence rocks his town, Jake is out of his depth.

Characters like Jake and Kate feel real yet a touch distant, as if we’re peering into another world. Others like the hermit Taylor, are even more distant yet eerily believable. This separation may be due in part to the multiple points of view (each one expertly rendered) and to the switch from third person to first for Jake’s viewpoint. It’s probably a good thing, too, because it lets us read without being overwhelmed by the characters’ pain.

Billy Coffey’s writing impressed me from the start. The novel has a haunting, lyrical feel, and I understand why one reviewer called the author a minstrel. This is not my type of story, but I found much to appreciate in its pages. It’s deeper, introspective, literary. A slow read, not a race.

The title says “horror” to me, but the devil in question is the sins of the townsfolk. It’s eerie and supernatural, but definitely not the “screamfest” type of horror.

The Devil Walks in Mattingly digs into those regrets we all hold, big or small, and reminds us that although we can never undo the past or earn a pardon, there is forgiveness and grace if we’ll stop holding onto the past.

Favourite lines:

Jake: “I came into this world pure and unblemished, but I will leave it bearing all of my scars. My comfort rests in a grace that will mold those scars into the jewels of my crown.” p. 3

Narrator: “Few people knew of Charlie Givens. Those who did agreed that not only was he born to trouble, but the sole purpose of his head was to keep rain out of his neck.” p. 26

Jake: “It’s our desire to be left alone that causes evil to flourish in this world.” p. 187

Jake: “None of us can write a new beginning to our story. All we can do is start a new end.” p. 328

You can learn about Billy Coffey and his writing on his website, and if you sign up for his newsletter you’ll receive the opening chapters of The Devil Walks in Mattingly for free. You can read a shorter sample on the publisher’s website. The Devil Walks in Mattingly takes place four years before one of Mr. Coffey’s previous novels, When Mockingbirds Sing.

[A review copy was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.]

Review: Riptide, by Eric E. Wright

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Riptide, by Eric E. Wright (Harbourlight Books, 2014)Riptide, by Eric E. Wright

Vacationing on St. Simon’s Island to revive their marriage, Ashlyn and her husband, Craig, are in church when he hands her an envelope of divorce papers and walks out of her life. Betrayed and bewildered, Ashlynn soon finds out it’s worse than she thinks. The FBI has frozen her and Craig’s assets and seized their house in an investigation into Craig’s alleged money-laundering.

Ashlynn is a respected marriage counsellor. How can she face her clients? Craig is a deacon in their church. How could he have an affair, let alone commit a crime like this?

She can’t even ask him, because he’s disappeared with his attractive female co-worker. Leaving Ashlynn to fend off FBI agents and the Russian Mafia, who claim Craig lost their money. Naturally, they want it back.

Riptide is an engaging story of one woman who discovers inner strength and deeper empathy for the people in situations she’s only addressed professionally in the past. She also learns to trust good friends instead of relying solely on herself. Most of these friends are new, people who reach out to her in her pain on the island: Remy, captain of a shrimp boat; Lottie-Jean from the restaurant where Ashlynn takes temporary work; Valerie from the local church.

The counsellor part of Ashlynn observes her reactions to Craig’s desertion. If she goes back to her clients, she’ll have a greater insight into their pain.

Remy, who fancies himself a “knight in blue jeans” appoints himself her protector—from car repossessors and from the Mafia goons when they find her. Ashlynn can’t trust her feelings toward him. Even though Craig won’t consider reconciling, shouldn’t she keep trying? And is she really drawn to Remy, or is she just rebounding from Craig?

Riptide is a suspense novel, but the danger isn’t overt until far into the story. Until it escalates, readers develop a strong sympathy for Ashlynn as she spars with the FBI agents and dives into a busy waitressing job with no experience.

Eric Wright brings St. Simons Island to life and gives us a look at shrimp fishing and storms at sea. Once the action starts for Ashlynn, it doesn’t stop. Don’t plan to put the book down unfinished.

Eric E. Wright is the author of suspense novels, non-fiction books about country life, and books on theology. Visit him at The Country Window to learn more about the author and his work, and follow this link to read chapter 1 of Riptide.

[Review copy provided by the author.]

Review: Shadows of the Past, by Patricia Bradley

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Shadows of the Past, by Patricia BradleyShadows of the Past, by Patricia Bradley (Revell, 2014)

Taylor Martin’s criminal profiling skills have solved some high-profile crimes. Now someone is stalking her: sending photos and gifts. She suspects a former student, Scott Sinclair, who has dropped out of sight.

Suspense novelist Nick Sinclair, Scott’s brother, hasn’t seen him in years. He’s hoping the local police can help find Scott so they can reconcile. Nick and Taylor both want to find Scott, but can they work together when one believes him innocent and the other guilty?

There’s so much going on in this story, but nothing gets in the way. It flows like real life, with the information we need trickling in as needed. No information dumping, no slowing the pace to explain. Patricia Bradley weaves every nuance and detail together into a delightful read.

Taylor and Nick have fully-developed personalities and histories, each with a lot of pain. Taylor’s fiancé dumped her for another woman. Nick’s wife was murdered. Nick’s mother walked out when he was a child. So did Taylor’s dad, except he didn’t say goodbye.

In the midst of trying to find her stalker before the danger escalates, Taylor is dealing with nightmares from her father’s desertion. Her family refuses to talk about it, but she’s determined this time to find some answers.

Even the secondary characters are lifelike. Taylor dreads going home to her family in Logan Point because of the undercurrents and barriers, yet when she has to go, we discover they’re not the stereotypical dysfunctional family we expect. They’re individuals with hurts and attitudes, but they’re a family who care for one another.

My favourite line: Taylor phones her friend, Livy, to say she’s meeting Nick to discuss the case—at a blues restaurant. Livy’s response?

“Very romantic.” Taylor could imagine Livy’s eyebrows doing a Groucho Marx. (p. 151)

Shadows of the Past is book 1 in the Logan Point series, and I’m happy to know there are more to come. Book 2, A Promise to Protect, releases November 2014. Suspense lovers will want to be in on this series from the beginning.

For more about author Patricia Bradley, visit her website, “where love and faith cross paths with murder” and also check out her guest post on surviving the long road to publication at The Over 50 Writer. (Leave a comment there, and you might win a copy of the novel.) Or if you’ve already read the book, check out her discussion questions for Shadows of the Past.

[Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.]

Carol Daniels, Heroine

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If you called Carol a hero, she’d laugh. One of her friends calls her a survivor, and she’s not even sure how to take that. Sure, she’s taken a lot of pain and she’s still standing, but for how much longer?

Carol’s a single mom, starting over in Toronto after some anonymous creep threatened her son, Paul. She didn’t tell Paul that’s why they left Calgary—why she dyed her dark hair honey ash and cut it short, why she started wearing glasses with non-corrective lenses. Why she’s so “controlling,” to use his word for it.

Paul is sixteen and pushing the limits she sets. He’s a good kid, does well enough in school, but she can’t stop worrying that he’ll end up like his father: a loser musician who loved the spotlight—and the female fans—more than he loved his wife and sons.

I say “sons” because Carol and Skip had two, after she miscarried a daughter as a teen. Carol would tell you life got easier once Skip died in a car wreck, but losing her other son nearly killed her. Keith was only twelve when he died of a drug overdose. If she hadn’t still had Paul to care for, and Keith’s dog, she’d never have kept her sanity.

No wonder a threat on Paul’s life sent her fleeing half-way across the country.

Why would someone threaten an innocent teen? Technically, the guy threatened them both, but he did suggest that her son was an easier target. As for why? Carol has a brother who’s a dangerous offender: Harry Silver. You may have read about him in Heaven’s Prey. Harry’s enemies can’t touch him directly, but his family are walking around unprotected.

That’s what the note said, and that’s why Carol and Paul relocated with no forwarding address.

These days Carol works at the Sticky Fingers Café, baking desserts and waiting tables. She’s trying to keep anonymous in this new city, and outside of work she hasn’t met many people. Is it sad that speed dial #1 on her phone is the late-night deejay on the local oldies station? And #2 is a friend in Calgary?

Carol loves to bake, especially with chocolate. When the nightmares wake her, she’ll often whip up a pan of brownies or a batch of cookies. She’ll make herself a cup of tea—peppermint is her favourite—and ask for a Billy Joel song on the all-request oldies show. The deejay, Joey, is easy to talk to. And he doesn’t know who—or where—she is, so she’s safe.

What else do I need to tell you about Carol? She’s not as safe as she thinks she is. What’s coming is more than she can handle on her own. And she’s determined not to pray for help, not after what happened the last time she tried prayer.

Blog hop for writers

You can meet Carol, Paul, Joey and a few others this November in Secrets and Lies, Redemption’s Edge Book 2.

Today’s introduction is part of Ruth Snyder‘s biweekly writers’ blog hop series, the assignment being “a character sketch of your hero.” To see the other posts in this thread, click on the blog hop image.

Letting Christ Shine In You At Christmas (Guest Post)

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Letting Christ Shine In You At Christmas
by Nike Chillemi

Nike Chillemi

Nike Chillemi

The Christmas season can get kinda funny when I start thinking about God’s will and plan for me. That’s true even though I dearly desire for God’s priorities to be my priorities.

Right after Thanksgiving, if not before, I’m in the Christmas spirit. Things seem a little lighter, a little brighter. You don’t have to be a believer to feel this. Lots of individuals who do not classify themselves as Christians have moments during the Christmas season when they get all warm and fuzzy inside and they can’t put their finger on why. I think the light of Jesus coming into the world as a tiny baby in a manger simply has that effect on people. As a writer, I love a good story and this story warms us inside.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. [Gospel of Luke: 7-11 ~ KJV]

On the other hand, my schedule is so full during this time of year that even though I’m all wrapped up in holiday goings on, I can forget the reason for the season, as they say. Then I have to remind myself to slow down and let Christ shine through me. To do this, I’ve got to push aside the decorating, the cooking, the menu planning, the Christmas card sending, and make sure I’m connected to God, listening to Him, letting him direct the show.

But God will have His way and very often at Christmas He presents to me somebody with a great need, somebody who’s lonely… and I will welcome that person as a friend, include them at my Christmas dinner table, and/or get them a gift.

In my 1940s Christmas novel GOODBYE NOEL, pediatric nurse Katrina Lenart has been asked by the local police chief to care for an infant whose mother has been found murdered in front of a decorated Christmas tree. Katrina soon falls in love with the baby and we see Christ’s love shine through her as she sets her mind and will to protect this child from a heinous killer. At one point, Katrina risks her own life to save the infant from a kidnapping. I loved writing this Christmas story and particularly enjoyed crafting Katrina, whose faith grows and deepens as the novel goes forward through all the twists and turns of a murder mystery novel.

Goodbye Noel, by Nike Chillemi

Purchase Links:

Amazon/Kindle, Christianbooks.com

Author Bio:

Like so many writers, Nike Chillemi started writing at a very young age. She still has the Crayola, fully illustrated book she penned (penciled 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.

She is the founding board member of the Grace Awards and is its Chairman, a reader’s choice awards for excellence in Christian fiction. She writes book reviews for The Christian Pulse online magazine. She was an Inspy Awards 2010 judge in the Suspense/Thriller/Mystery category and a judge in the 2011 and 2012 Carol Awards in the suspense, mystery, and romantic suspense categories. BURNING HEARTS, the first book in the crime wave that is sweeping the south shore of Long Island in The Sanctuary Point series, finaled in the Grace Awards 2011 in the Romance/Historical Romance category. GOODBYE NOEL, the second book in the series released in December, 2011 won the Grace Award 2011 in the Mystery/Romantic Suspense/Thriller category. PERILOUS SHADOWS, third in the series released July, 2012, and DARKEST HOUR, the fourth in the series released in February, 2013.  She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers (Ning).

Review: Goodbye Noel, by Nike Chillemi

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Goodbye Noel, by Nike ChillemiGoodbye Noel, by Nike Chillemi (Desert Breeze Publishing, 2011)

The year is 1946. In the fictional town of Sanctuary Point, on the south shore of Long Island, New York, life is getting back on track after the war. It’s Christmas time, and spirits are high – until Katrina Lenart finds one of her neighbours dead.

Who would murder this young woman while her baby slept in the next room? With the father nowhere to be found, Katrina gets permission to care for the infant. She is, after all, a pediatric nurse. And she lives with her parents, who will babysit while she’s at work.

Katrina and the detective assigned to the case, Ian Daltry, get off to a bad start but quickly fall for one another. Ian can’t forget losing his wife in a drive-by shooting, and he’ll do anything to keep Katrina, his daughter Amy, and baby Leslie safe.

But can he do enough? Why is the baby a target? And for whom?

Katrina is equally determined to protect the baby, and she quickly becomes Ian’s unofficial helper to solve the mystery.

Goodbye Noel is a fun mystery with plenty of clues and red herrings. It gives an interesting picture of this era, where children of immigrant parents still face discrimination (Katrina’s parents are Czech) and where there aren’t enough eligible bachelors to go around. It’s an elegant time, even for middle-class people like Katrina and her family, and we get to observe a high-society soiree as well.

Nike Chillemi has written four mysteries so far in the Sanctuary Point series. Goodbye Noel is the second. For more about the author and her books, visit her Crime Fictionista website.

[Review copy from my personal library.]

Review: Dark Justice, by Brandilyn Collins

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Dark Justice, by Brandilyn CollinsDark Justice, by Brandilyn Collins (Broadman & Holman, 2013)

When Hannah Shire and her elderly mother stop on a deserted road to assist the victim of a car crash, they’re pulled into a terrorist plot to take down the entire US power grid and send the country into darkness.

The victim passes on a message—and a warning not to tell anyone, even the police. With no idea what’s at stake or who to trust or what the message means, Hannah and her mother, Carol, are soon on the run. She tries to keep her daughter Emily out of it, but all the three are in danger.

The story is told in the first person from Hannah’s point of view, interspersed with portions of a hearing taking place after the fact, investigating police handling of the events. This builds the suspense and allows the reader access to information that Hannah doesn’t have.

Dark Justice is a high-stakes terrorist thriller, made more gripping because of the ordinary women protagonists. Hannah misses her dead husband. She’s not used to handling everything alone, and the strain of caring for a mother with dementia has her near breaking before the story even opens.

Brandilyn Collins does an excellent job crafting Hannah’s increasing strain and paranoia while keeping reader sympathy. The pairing of vulnerable characters with the high-stakes threat makes the threat that much more real in readers’ minds. This sort of attack could actually happen, and odds are that real-life people wouldn’t be able to stop it. (Does that mean Hannah, Carol and Emily succeed? I won’t tell.)

Best-selling author Brandilyn Collins is known for her Seatbelt Suspense® fiction. Dark Justice is her most recent release, available in paperback and e-book formats. For more about the author and her other books, visit her website.

[Review copy from my personal library.]

Interview: Carole Brown (part 2)

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Author Carole BrownJanet: Welcome back, Carole. As I said last week, Caralynne and her struggle upstaged you at the start of this interview. How about introducing us to Carole Brown?

Carole: I don’t mind; it’s important her story be told! But if you insist (lol):

  • Holidays are favorites of mine because I get to spend time with family. Love decorating for the fall and Christmas seasons more than any other, but have learned to appreciate Thanksgiving because of the many blessings I’ve been given, and Easter because of the resurrection of our Lord and the harbinger of spring!
  • ŸI adore flowers and plants! My gardens are beds of serenity and peace to me as is my garden pond. I dream of the day I can get my garden pond to the place it can safely house Koi.
  • We dream (my husband to a greater extent) of the time when we can retire early and travel even more. I’m just not positive I can do without my grandsons for a lengthy period of time.
  • I love having a warm, cozy home surrounded by things I enjoy. Favorite books, music, candles, my writing stuff, our collections (music boxes and elephants for me; m&m figurines and guns for my husband). The older I get the simpler I want things. I don’t want too big and too fancy, just welcoming and comfortable which suits me.

Janet: Your home and garden sound like lovely places to visit! Are you a morning person? Evening?

Carole: Both in a way, but for different reasons. Mornings and afternoons I work on writing stuff. When evening comes though I tend to need relaxation time with family or my husband, light fun stuff like Facebook visiting, etc. I also enjoy meeting with friends which seems to stir my imagination.

Janet: Which do you prefer: plays or movies? Or books?

Carole:  Hmmm. For keeper items: books written by my friends and a few really good ones that I call keepers. We enjoy plays now and then too, but they are scattered throughout the year.

Janet: What got you started writing?

Carole: I’ve always written! Loved, loved, loved suspenses and mysteries as a child and young person, so it tended to lead me in that direction. 🙂

Janet: What’s your biggest challenge right now?

Carole: Finding the time to write. I’m spending so much time marketing, along with my normal routine (watching my baby grandson sometimes and other things) that I’m finding it hard to actually get much writing done. I aim to change that soon!

Janet: Tell us what a typical day looks like.

Carole:

  • ŸWake and get ready for the day
  • Devotional reading and prayer
  • Any quick house/family duties I need to get done
  • Email, quick checks/responses on Facebook, Twitter, and once a week or so Pinterest
  • Add to that, while I’m marketing The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, is checks on new places to advertise or promote.
  • Writing on whichever novel I’m inspired to work on for the rest of the morning and afternoon
  • Edits, and this depends on how much I have to do whether it takes up the morning and afternoon of any particular day
  • Preparation for supper/dinner
  • Evening miscellaneous computer stuff and relaxation

Of course, this routine is “routinely” broken with babysitting my youngest grandson who seems to need all of Grandmamma’s attention. (love it, but does put a limitation of getting any writing done!) There are always ministry trips to be done and other demands upon my time that can’t be ignored.

Janet: What do you like best about the writing life?

Carole: Finishing a manuscript!

Janet: Amen, sister! What do you like least?

Carole: Writer’s block.

Janet: Writers are told to read widely and voraciously. I think that’s one of the perks of the deal. What are you reading these days?

Carole: I have several books I need to review for friends and others. I’m hoping to get them done soon.

  • Friend Me by John Fabion,
  • Lorilyn Roberts’ home schooling recipe book,
  • a suspense from Barbara Dirksen (I think it’s called The Christmas Stalking!),
  • Tamera Kraft’s Soldier’s Heart and so many other good books.

Janet: What are you listening to?

Carole: Nothing right now. I enjoy gospel (different types), a little bluegrass and country (if the theme isn’t leaving your wife and drinking to drown your troubles; there’s more to life than that!), some oldies, and easy listening. Love hearing a man play the piano and a sax! Zowsie!

Janet: Is there a particular song or Scripture verse that’s made a big difference for you?

Carole: I have several favorite scriptures but this is one I’m particularly fond of taken from the King James version, Saint John 14, verses one through four. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.”

Isn’t there a lovely cadence and rhythm to the King James verses? The words are warm and reassuring. God loves us and is preparing a beautiful new world for us! 🙂 

Janet: It’s one of the most cadence-filled version, definitely. What do you like to do to get away from it all?

Carole: Go somewhere with just my husband and me. Doesn’t have to be fancy or a long period of time. An evening out at a nice restaurant, a drive with lots of discussion, a fast food joint, sitting in the car and speculating on what the other couple in the car across from us is arguing about. 🙂

My family particularly enjoys renting cabins in the Smokies.

Janet: Thanks so much for taking time to let us get to know you a bit, Carole. May the Lord continue to bless you and make you a blessing to others—in every area of your life.

Carole: Thank you, Janet, for allowing me to visit your nice site. I really appreciate the opportunity, and what a blessing it is to writers!

===

You can find Carole at her personal blog, Sunnybank Secrets, or at these group blogs: Barn Door Book Loft, Geezer Guys and Gals and Stitches Thru Time. Carole is also on Facebook and Twitter. You can also find an interview with her character, Caralynne Hayman, at Wordsmith Woman.

The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, by Carole BrownThe Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, by Carole Brown

A novel of hope shining through the darkness. Contemporary women’s fiction with strong elements of suspense and romance, of particular interest to anyone who has been abused or for those dealing with abusive situations.

Interview: Carole Brown, author of The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman

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The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, by Carole BrownCarole Brown’s novel, The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, released in October, and this is our chance to find out more about the story and its author.

Janet: Welcome, Carole, and thanks for taking time to join us. Your novel’s tag line asks “How far would you go to avenge your daughter’s murder?” Definitely an attention-getter! Caralynne Hayman is the grieving mother? Can you tell us a bit about what happened to her daughter?

Carole: I’ll be glad to. Caralynne Hayman, raised in The Children of Righteous Cain, a misguided, evil cult, was married to a man who abused her and considered her property. She never loved him, but birthed three daughters whom she loved with all her heart. When her oldest daughter is abused—and dies from it—by her brother-in-law, she knows she can’t let it go. She can endure the abuse for herself, but never for her daughters. She sets out on the path of revenge and having never been taught or experienced any sense of real Christianity, she succeeds to a certain degree.

Janet: So I expect Caralynne is dealing with anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness, etc. on top of the heavy sorrow. What other issues are stacked against her?

Carole: 

  • ŸThe leader of the group–Elder Simmons–sets strong limitations (to keep everyone in check from too much independence) especially on the women, who are given so many hours per month to use for visits, shopping, etc.  Because of her caring heart, Caralynne is always seeking ways to get around this to help her friends or to give her daughters an undocumented outing.
  • ŸElder Simmons and his group have their own lawman–a deputy sheriff–who overlooks certain crimes for “favors.” This encourages the outside law enforcement to ignore the group, thinking the deputy will call for help if and when needed. Unfortunately, this corrupt man doesn’t do that.
  • Being a naturally strong and independent woman has kept Caralynn alive although it’s also caused her to reap more abuse than normal. What the elders within the group call sassiness and slyness, Dayne (the minister and her champion) calls wit and smart thinking.
  • ŸPlus her own plot of revenge brings everything to a head.

I won’t reveal more right now as I don’t want to spoil anything for readers, but suffice it to say: Caralynne runs full tilt into almost more than she can handle and definitely more than she bargained for.

Janet: She definitely has a lot of things stacked against her! What genre is this story, Carole? And who’s your ideal reader?

Carole:  It’s women’s fiction with strong elements of suspense and romance. Women will enjoy it if they like novels with strong issues and plenty of suspense. But I’ve also received endorsements and comments from men who’ve enjoyed the book too. I’d say those who’ve gone through abuse, those who’ve known family and friends who’ve suffered from it, and/or those who have a sympathetic heart toward hurting people will find this book an excellent reading choice.

And just as an added encouragement: I’ve received reviews from those who’ve been hesitant about reading it because of the tough subject, but once into the book, find they can not put it down. Give it a chance! 🙂

Janet: Where did the story idea come from?

Carole:  My husband. We read and talk together over interesting tidbits of news items. When we read/heard about the cult in Texas some time ago, he came up with the idea of a woman who rebels against a cult. The plot developed from there.

Janet: You’ve written other stories as well. Is there a sequel to The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman in the works?

Carole: I think so. I don’t have a “for sure” title yet, only a working title which is “The Revenge of Elder Simmons.” J Here’s a blurb similar to what it will be about:

It begins with a baby kidnapping. Elder Simmons, the antagonist, will not let go. He is determined to wreak vengeance upon the MacFarlands, even if he has to do it from prison.

Cara and Dayne, now happily married, go through trials that will shatter their self-complacency and test their love. Dayne will be lied about and like Joseph in the Bible must hold steady for God’s timing. Cara has suffered hurts and abuse from her former marriage. With Dayne she thought everything would be smooth sailing. But when the lies surface, can she trust him, does she love him enough to stay strong for his sake? Will her mustard seed faith grow or be uprooted?

And while we’re talking about other stories, let me put in a quick plug for a mystery that is releasing this fall too. It’s called Hog Insane (and no, it’s not about pigs! J) It’s the first book in a series, introducing the characters Denton and Alex Davies and their Jack Russell, Taffy. A fun mystery that is very much different than The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman.

Janet: You’re a busy writer! You described The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman as “a passionate book, not for the weak hearted, but for those who want to be reminded, touched, and stirred.” What one key thing do you want readers to take away when they’re done?

Carole: Sympathy for the hurting. So many times we become impatient with those who we think of as ignorant or careless in “getting out” of abusive situations. Yet the people caught in these situations are caught in them by the brainwashing of either a single person, and family or even sometimes a religious (or nonreligious) group. The more the “leader” gains in power, the more he wants and strives to prevent any break in the system. The leader feeds his “subjects” on a steady diet of fear, accusations of lack of love and trust in their partner/leader, and/or the thought that the “subject” is failing in the right perception.

Janet: I’ve seen some positive early reviews. What has reader response been like for this book?

Carole: Excellent. It does deal with a tough subject but I honestly believe if those who are timid in approaching the subject in the book will read it through, they will realize the encouragement it provides. Perhaps it will even stir hearts to change their idea or thoughts pertaining to abuse or give a greater occasion for sympathy.

Janet: Caralynne and her struggle sort of upstaged you at the start of this interview. How about returning next week to introduce us to Carole Brown?

Carole: I can do that! 🙂

Janet: Great! In the mean time, readers looking for more can find an interview with Carole’s character, Caralynne Hayman, at Wordsmith Woman. 

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The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, by Carole Brown

A novel of hope shining through the darkness. Contemporary women’s fiction with strong elements of suspense and romance, of particular interest to anyone who has been abused or for those dealing with abusive situations.