Series Spotlight: The Bowers Files by Steven James

 Once upon a time, Crossings Book club existed. You could order Christian books that were discounted, and they were always - or usually - in hardback with dust covers. I ordered the Pawn, #1 in the Bowers Files from them. Not sure what year. The book came out in 2007, but my Goodreads review says 2012. I think I read it twice, and the 2012 review was the second time I read it. I didn't use Goodreads in 2007. If it even existed 😉

The main original series consists of 7 books, all but one the names of chess pieces:

#1 The Pawn

#2 The Rook

#3 The Knight

#4 The Bishop

#5 The Queen

#6 The King

#7 Checkmate

  The Series revolves around FBI agent Patrick Bowers, and is an excellent well written series that is very suspenseful. There really isn't much Christian content in the books, but they definitely have a Christian world view and a redemptive message. The books are completely clean, though they are a bit more descriptive at times of crime scenes and violence.

  After the series was completed, James did 4 prequels:

Opening Moves

Every Crooked Path

Every Deadly Kiss

Every Wicked Man

  A few things about the series: The first 5 books were published by Revell, one of the imprints of Baker Book House. I don't know why, but the King, Checkmate, and the prequels were all published by Berkley. And it drives me crazy to see the books on my shelf. The books published by Revell are all trade paperback. The ones by Berkley are mass market paperbacks. So there are 4 short little mass market books, then 5 trade paperbacks, and then two mass market. It looks weird 😊

James has other books:

The Jevin Banks Experience, which has two books. I started the first, but never finished it.

The Travis Brock Thriller Series. which has two books so far. I have not read those.

The Blur trilogy, a series for teens

And some non-fiction. I read Flirting With the Forbidden, which I recommend.

  Not discounting women liking the Patrick Bowers Series, it is definitely one I would call men's fiction.

Author bio:

Steven James's latest thriller, FATAL DOMAIN, is available now. This smart, wire-tight, and emotionally resonant thriller featuring Travis Brock is the next in the series, following last year's domestic espionage thriller BROKER OF LIES.

As a popular keynote speaker and in-demand storyteller, Steven is equipped with a unique master’s degree in storytelling and has taught writing and storytelling on five continents, speaking more than 2000 times at events spanning the globe. 

He is also the critically acclaimed author of eighteen novels, including the bestselling Bowers Files suspense series. His sci-fi novel, SYNAPSE, a near-future thriller, received starred reviews from both Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and was a finalist for an International Book Award. 

When Steven isn't writing or speaking, you'll find him playing basketball or hiking near his home in the Appalachian Highlands of eastern Tennessee. 

If you love stories and storytelling, check out his podcast, The Story Blender, on which Steven has interviewed nearly 200 of the world's top writers and storytellers. 

Check out his website: StevenJames.net

New and notable author: Jessica Ashley

I ran across this author back in February of this year. Her first book, Pages of Promise,  came up as a suggestion for Christian suspense. It is the first in The Coastal Hope Series.  I knew nothing about her, but the book sounded really good. I am not positive of the publication date. I ordered the book in late February, and it was delivered March 6. The date on Amazon says April, which is definitely not correct.

The book was really good, and I bought the second, Searching for Peace one when it came out in April. Second Chance Serenity followed in June, and Tactical Revival this month. The paperback came out the 19th, and the ebook on the 26th. It doesn't happen that way too often.

The first book is about Former Army Ranger Lance Knight, and his private security business. The whole series revolves around his business and the guys who work for him. 

Book description of the first book: 

A wounded veteran who walks by faith. A traumatized woman struggling with hers.

Running from secrets that could bury her, Eliza Pierce has traveled cross-country for her fresh start. But a threatening letter left in her mailbox less than a week later throws her back into the flames of her past.

Former Army Ranger Lance Knight may have been discharged from duty, but that doesn’t mean he’s any less a soldier. As the owner of a private security firm, he’s fought plenty of battles stateside.

When someone makes an attempt on Eliza’s life, it’s Lance she turns to. And despite a first impression that left both of them wanting nothing to do with the other, he agrees to help…even if it means trading his own life for hers.

 I have really enjoyed all 4 books, and there is a 5th due out September 25, Perilous Healing. It will be the last in the series.

  There is a lot of suspense, action, drama, faith, and romance in these books. I love her characters, and she comes up with some great plots. I am looking forward to the last book in this series, and the first book in her new series, which debuts in February: Bravo, the first book in The Hunt Brothers Search and Rescue Series. Just the name of the series has me intrigued and looking forward to it: (No book cover yet).

A VETERAN WITH A HEART OF GOLD AND THE WOMAN HE NEVER SAW COMING.

Former Special Forces Operative Bradyn Hunt may have traded a battlefield for his family ranch in Texas, but that doesn’t mean he stopped fighting.\

As the founder of Hunt Brother's Search and Rescue, he and his team take on missing persons cases that no one else can solve. They’ve retrieved people from the very depths of hell-on-earth, which has left him with his fair share of scars.

Kennedy Smith has had many names and lived many different lives as she runs from her past, her only goal surviving long enough to see the next sunrise. Her most recent identity is as a ranch hand in a small, North Texas town.

Run by Army veterans, she figures there’s no better place to hide than the Hunt family ranch. That is until she begins to grow attached to the eldest Hunt brother, Bradyn. She should run, after all, not getting attached is rule number one to staying alive. But before she can bring herself to leave, the threat shows up on her doorstep, dragging Bradyn right into the flames alongside her.

Bradyn has saved the lives of hundreds of people, but can he protect Kennedy from the ghosts of her past? Or will her secrets burn everything he’s built to the ground?

Jessica also has a story in a Christmas suspense anthology with 4 other great authors coming in October. 

She apparently has written other books, according to her author bio, but I am guessing it was under another name. This series is definitely her first Christian suspense series.

If you sign up for her newsletter, you can download a free novella that is an introduction to her series.

Author bio:

After spending seven years in the Army, Jessica set out to write novels that would transport readers to new worlds and help them escape reality with messages of underdogs and swoon-worthy romance. After a decade of a successful writing career underneath two pen names, she felt her faith pulling her in a new direction.

Now, she writes sweet romance with messages of faith, hope, and the importance of trusting our hearts and the word of God.

She resides in Texas with her husband of thirteen years, homeschools their three kids, and spends her free time making sourdough.

Check out her website: JessicaAshleyBooks.com