Never Miss by Melissa Koslin

Book description:
 

Former CIA sniper Kadance Tolle possesses a special set of skills and a rare pedigree. She comes from a family of assassins, and by saving Lyndon Vaile's life she risks being found by them. Despite the danger, Kadance feels compelled to help Lyndon discover who is after him--and his research that seems to prove that the Ebola virus was manmade and is about to be weaponized.

With shadowy figures pursuing them and a Mastermind watching their every move, Kadance and Lyndon must scramble to stop an impending bioattack at the State of the Union address. But their warnings fall on deaf ears, and it becomes increasingly clear that there's no one they can trust--except perhaps each other.

Strap in for a breakneck story that will have you up all night, hurtling toward the last page as the clock ticks and time runs out.

My review:

 Never Miss is this author's first solo effort in Christian fiction. She previously co-authored a book in the Coffey and Hill Series with Mike Nappa. The book description intrigued me, so I requested it to review and was not disappointed. It was a fast-paced suspenseful read. With all the controversy and theories about Covid, it made this book all the more interesting with the theory of the Ebola virus being man-made. 

  Lyndon and Kandance were great characters, and not only totally different from each other, they were also different from the typical characters in this type of book. She a former sniper for the CIA coming from a family of assassins, and he a quiet guy with three doctorates, yet not the typical geek that the casual observer would assume him to be, nor arrogant or a braggart about his degrees and accomplishments.  And Mac the Maine Coon cat made an interesting addition to the cast of characters.

  Never Miss is a page turner and very difficult to put down. There is a lot happening in it, and you never know what is coming next. The plot of the book - that the Ebola virus may be man-made and is about to be weaponized - was an excellent plot that is not that far-fetched in these times.

 The romance element was well done, and interesting to watch develop between two so totally different people, as was the faith angle. Kandance was shocked and found it hard to believe a guy like Lyndon believed in God and had a relationship with him, and in the end the book showed that even an assassin is not beyond redemption. 

 This was an excellent read, and I am looking forward to more from this author.

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

Melissa Koslin is a fourth-degree black belt in and certified instructor of Songahm Taekwondo. In her day job as a commercial property manager, she secretly notes personal quirks and funny situations, ready to tweak them into colorful additions for her books. She and Corey, her husband of twenty years, live in Jacksonville, Florida, where they do their best not to melt in the sun. Find more information on her books at MelissaKoslin.com.

Never Miss is available from Revell, part of the Baker Publishing Group. Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

Love Found in Cranberry Cove, Cranberry Cove #2 by June Foster

Book description:

 Gracie Mayberry wants to study marine science at the community college in a neighboring coastal town. But a degree takes money, and she must remain in Cranberry Cove to help her mother support her disabled father who lost both legs while serving his country and now suffers from PTSD. She leaves her job at Starbucks to work at The Inn at Cranberry Cove while the owner is on maternity leave. When the sophisticated, good looking Blake Sloan arrives at the inn, she's attracted to the guy with eyes the color of rich honey.

Seattle resident Blake Sloan takes time off from his job in his father's thriving fishing vessel company. He admits he's followed his father's dream instead of his heart's desire—to run his own business and start a non-profit to benefit wounded vets. When he meets Gracie's father, he's sure God has placed the longing within him.

But when a stalker makes terrifying midnight visits to the humble Mayberry home and threatens their lives, Blake discovers he's also a target of extortion.

Can Blake and Gracie learn who's behind the danger that threatens them? Will a small-town girl and big-city boy find a life together?

My review:

    I enjoyed the first book in this series, and loved the setting of both the town and Inn. I was happy to find out there was a sequel coming, and it is now out.

  Again the setting is mostly around the inn, though this book has two different main characters. This book has a bit more suspense than the first, which is my favorite genre'.

 Blake and Gracie were very likable characters, and since this is a romantic suspense novel, there is a romance brewing between them fairly early on in the book amidst the suspense element of the book. I had my suspicions about the identity of the bad guy, and was happy to find out I was right. Though it is also cool when I can't figure that out in a book.

 The book was an enjoyable read, and I am hoping there is more to come in this series.

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

An award-winning author, June Foster is also a retired teacher with a BA in Education and  MA in

Counseling. She is the mother of two and grandmother of ten. June began writing Christian romance in 2010. She penned her first novel on her Toshiba laptop as she and her husband traveled the US in their RV. Her adventures provided a rich source of information for her novels. June enjoys writing stories about characters who overcome the circumstances in their lives by the power of God and His Word. June uses her training in counseling and her Christian beliefs in creating characters who find the path to live godly lives.

Check out her website at JuneFoster.com

The Paris Betrayal by James R Hannibal

 

Book description:

After a rough mission in Rome involving the discovery of a devastating bioweapon, Company spy Ben Calix returns to Paris to find his perfectly ordered world has collapsed. A sniper attack. An ambush. A call for help that brings French SWAT forces down on his head. Ben is out. This is a severance--reserved for incompetents and traitors.

Searching for answers and anticipating a coming attack, Ben and a woman swept up in his misfortunes must travel across Europe to find the sniper who tried to kill him, the medic who saved his life, the schoolmaster who trained him, and an upstart hacker from his former team. More than that, Ben must come to grips with his own insignificance as the Company's plan to stop Leviathan from unleashing the bioweapon at any cost moves forward without him--and he struggles against the infection that is swiftly claiming territory within his own body.

Award-winning author James R. Hannibal ratchets up the tension on every page of this suspenseful new thriller.

My review:

   My only complaint about this author is that he hasn't written a lot of books yet. I have enjoyed everything he has written, including his three secular novels. I was excited to see he had a new book coming out, and was admittedly a little disappointed that it did not go with the two previous books he wrote for Revell. 

  After reading The Paris Betrayal, that disappointment has gone away. This book was more than a great read, it was a great ride. And the book is more than a great suspense novel. It is a spy novel....and I loved it. This may be Hannibal's best novel so far.

 Ben, the main character, has a lot go wrong for him in this book. Sickness, betrayal, no one believing him, kicked out of the CIA, and seemingly him against the world as he tries to do the right thing in the face of total opposition. By the way, this story is based on the story of Job from the Bible.

  The book has non-stop action and suspense, and has some twists and turns that I never saw coming, especially the one at the climax of the story. There were things going on that Ben did not know about, and the author also kept the reader in the dark about. The story has its share of people who you don't know are good, or bad guys pretending to be good, and my suspicions on one character did turn out right, while I was totally surprised by another. Hannibal did a masterful job of writing an awesome spy/suspense novel that pulls you in, keeps you entertained, and also keeps you guessing. And it has what any novel of this kind should have: a likable hero who triumphs in the end. That really isn't a spoiler, because isn't that what always happens? And after all that happened to poor Ben, he did deserve to come out on top. :)

  I definitely recommend this book, and if ever there was a Christian fiction novel that men would enjoy, this is it......though there really is not any overtly Christian content in it, just a Christian worldview. It does appear to be a stand alone novel, though I wouldn't mind a sequel.

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

James R. Hannibal is no stranger to secrets and adventure. This former stealth pilot from Houston,

Texas, has been shot at, locked up with surface-to-air missiles, and chased down a winding German road by an armed terrorist. He is a two-time Silver Falchion Award winner for his children's mysteries, a former Thriller Award nominee, and a 2020 Selah and Carol Award finalist for The Gryphon Heist--the opener for the CIA series that now includes Chasing the White Lion. James is a rare multisense synesthete, meaning all of his senses intersect. He sees and feels sounds and smells, and hears flashes of light. If he tells you the chocolate cake you offered smells blue and sticky, take it as a compliment.

The Paris Betrayal is available from Revell, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Check out his two previous novels from Revell: