Living Lies, Harbored Secrets #1 by Natalie Walters

Book description:


In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name--but no one knows your secret. At least that's what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.

Lane must work with Walton's newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she'll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.

Debut novelist Natalie Walters pulls you to the edge of your seat on the first page and keeps you there until the last in this riveting story that will have you believing no one is defined by their past.


My review:

  Natalie Waters is a new author to me, and I believe a completely new author, if I am correct. I like trying out new authors, and this is one to keep your eye on if you like Christian suspense. Living Lies is an excellent read, and Walters is off to a great start with this entrance into the Christian fiction world.

  What I liked:
1) Setting: I'm not picky about settings, but I do like small town settings where everyone knows everyone. I found the setting for Living Lies attractive and ideal.

2) Characters: They can make or break a story. The author created some great and very likable ones for this book and series. At the center is Charlie and Lane. Charlie is former military, and the new deputy on the force. We fiction lovers get attached to characters, and I found myself really liking him..very cool dude for a fictional character.

  I found myself identifying some with Lane. I like it when an author tackles tough issues, and depression is the one in this book. Depression is still something many people don't understand, especially Christians. Many think it is a spiritual issue and a trip to the altar will fix it. As someone personally dealing with severe depression, I can attest otherwise. I feel Walters did a great job of portraying the realities of it, and the shame that accompanies it.

 Books with kids/families in are always ones I enjoy, so of course I liked Noah.

 And last, but not least: Deputy Frost, who will star in the next book. A bit geeky, but an expert on computers and eager to prove himself.

3) Suspense. The plot and suspense were great in this book. I had my suspicions fairly early as to the who, but it was fun getting to the reveal point and the "why".

4) Romance. I'm a guy, single for life, but I do enjoy the romantic aspects of this book. I liked how it was done, and kind of wished it had gone faster, but also felt it was more realistic the way it did go.

 What I didn't like: Well, nothing.....to be honest. I found this a great Christian read, and am looking forward to more from this author.

I was given a copy of this book to review in exchange for my honest review.

About the author:

Natalie Walters is the author of Living Lies and Deadly Deceit. A military wife of 22 years, she currently resides in Hawaii with her soldier husband and their three kids. She writes full-time and has been published in Proverbs 31 magazine and has blogged for Guideposts online. In addition to balancing life as a military spouse, mom, and writer, she loves connecting on social media, sharing her love of books, cooking, and traveling. Natalie comes from a long line of military and law enforcement veterans and is passionate about supporting them through volunteer work, races, and writing stories that affirm no one is defined by their past. Learn more at www.nataliewalterswriter.com.

Living Lies is available from Revell, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

Brimstone by Tony Ross

Book description:

Sunlight City is burning.

A religiously motivated arsonist, identified only as Brimstone, has used a brutal murder to make one emphatic statement: repent or perish. Nearly six million people in this city that champions choice and tolerance must now decide what they will do. But Brimstone will not wait long to strike again. He has declared himself the judgment of God on a sinful city, and he will continue to escalate until his demands are met.

Behind the scenes, the Granters who rule Sunlight City are faced with their own impossible decision. The key they have long searched for has unexpectedly been offered to them, and their greatest fear can now be conquered if they are willing to move swiftly and boldly… but the price may be higher than they are willing to pay.

David and Mona Johansen are brought back to Sunlight City at the request of the Granters. David finds himself working with a team of government agents as he tries to predict Brimstone's next moves and save countless lives. Mona's assignment may be of even greater importance. But time is critically short.

In fact, it may already be too late.

"Brimstone" follows "Victor" and "Orion" in a series of fast-paced thrillers that combine action, adrenaline and spiritual insight. "Brimstone" looks closely at questions of justice and takes the readers on a non-stop race against two mad agendas, building relentlessly to a shocking conclusion that will leave you breathless. 

My review:

   This is the third book in this series, and I have read and reviewed the other two. As much as I enjoyed them, this third book is by far the best.

 Set about twenty years in the future, Brimstone shows the depths human beings can go to do away with God, and make sin undeterred. Though the author writes nothing graphic, the book does show that the world could be even more evil and godless than it already is.

 Brimtone also shows that those who believe in the Bible and good, can take drastically wrong actions in fighting evil, as the man named Brimstone does in the book.

  Brimstone is different from the average Christian fiction novel. It deals with cloning, nano tech, and other futuristic things that may or may not be developed. Interwoven throughout it is the Gospel and the fact that God is so much better than what the world is offering.

  Characters from the other books came back in this one, and things were not looking too good for one of them at the suspenseful and cliffhanger ending.

 Brimtone was a great suspenseful read that also remained Christian and Biblical. Looking forward to the next book.

About the author:

Tony Ross is an author who's not afraid of the dark.

In his first book, The Ugly Duckling's Revenge, he opens the door to his own past struggles with alcoholism and depression. He shares what God did to pull him out and offers a message of hope to readers: "If God can do it for me, He can do it for you!"

His next few are what Tony defines as "thrillers for thinkers," stories filled with action, adrenaline and deep spiritual meaning, stories that look into the deepest darkness of man to shine a brighter light. Victor won a silver medal for Christian Fiction in the Readers Favorite 2013 International Award Contest.

Melody's Memory is a departure from thrillers; it's a novella focusing less on suspense and action and more on the condition of the heart. Tony invites readers to open the long-locked doors of their own hearts, shine the light on what may be hidden there, and allow healing to come.

Tony is now revisiting the world he created in Victor and Orion in The Black Cat Chronicles, a series of short novellas set before Victor. 


When he's not writing, Tony enjoys country living, backyard campfires, recreational reading and outdoor sports. He has been a member of the ministry team at Calvary Apostolic Church in Clintonville, WI since 2004. Tony is happily married and has five children.