fiction

Have You Read THE HIDDEN SON by Dianna T. Benson?

/ Dora Hiers
The Hidden Son by
Dianna T. Benson

About the book~ The Hidden Son (Book 1, Cayman Islands Trilogy)

When U.S. DEA Special Agent Lelisa Desmond refuses to follow an order to bury evidence in a high profile case, her superior inexplicably hires a hit man to kill her deep in the ocean off Grand Cayman Island. Lelisa survives the first attempt on her life, but someone close to her is mistakenly murdered in her place.

With no one to trust, Lelisa enlists Inspector Alec Dyer for help but learns she’s his number one suspect in the scuba diving homicide. She sets off on a daring mission to bring down the man who ordered her execution. A man in a high position, with powerful friends. A man who will stop at nothing to silence her forever in order to hide his son’s crimes.

Can she take him down, before he sends someone else to silence her forever?

My summary~
When Special Agent Lelisa Desmond disobeys a direct command, her supervisor orders her to take a vacation to the Caribbean with her partner and long-time friend. During a dive, her scuba buddy turns up dead. Alec Dyer, Inspector for the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, plagued by his daughter’s unsolved disappearance almost two years ago and pestered by his ex-wife, isn’t sure he believes Lelisa’s claims of innocence, especially when crucial evidence she claims to possess disappears.

What I liked…


First off, what an awesome cover, don’t you think? It sums up the tone for the story. The author kept me biting my nails with an intense forward motion, a well-developed plot, and towards the end, a totally unexpected twist. Each character was unique, flavorful and realistic. This is one of those books that will stick with me for a long time.

and not so much…

At times, the technical jargon was a bit overwhelming, heavier than I generally prefer to read, but I willingly waded through because I enjoyed everything else about the book. Take my advice and keep going. You’ll be glad you did.

I felt the spiritual aspect of The Hidden Son was lacking and somewhat forced, almost like an afterthought. It didn’t contain cuss words or bedroom scenes, but if you’re a strict CBA reader, you may find this book tends to be a bit on the “fringe.” 

Overall…


A great debut novel by Dianna T. Benson! According to the author’s website, she calls herself a “Thriller/ Adventure/ Suspense Author.” I believe she delivered on all counts with The Hidden Son, and I look forward to reading the second book in the trilogy, Persephone’s Fugitive, due out in July 2014.

Purchase Link

Disclaimer: I purchased my copy of The Hidden Son from an author book signing event. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.

Have you read The Hidden Son? 
Do you agree with my review? What were your thoughts?
post signature

Have you read Dog Tags by Heidi Glick?

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments

About the book~
When disabled ex-Marine Mark Graham reconnects with his best friend’s sister, he finds himself falling in love. But Beth Martindale’s presence is a constant reminder of events he’d rather forget. Mark wants to move forward, but the secrets surrounding her brother’s death as well as his own confinement to a wheelchair threaten to tear them apart. When a psychopath who calls himself The Knight fixates on Beth, Mark is determined to give her the protection he failed to give her brother on the battlefield, yet he discovers that a wheelchair isn’t the only impediment he has to keeping Beth safe. Will terror win or can Mark find the strength of mind and body to rescue Beth and find his own redemption?

Sharing my humble opinion~
Confined to a wheelchair resulting from a stint in the military, Mark Graham now spends his time teaching college students and working in a bait shop he co-owns with two friends. Guilt over his best friend’s death plagues him and worsens his traumatic medical “episodes.” When Chris’s younger sister, Beth Martindale, shows up in town, Mark isn’t sure he wants to see her. She reminds him of Chris and the friendship he cherished, but Mark has to watch over her, doesn’t he? She’s Chris’s younger sister, and she’s new in town. That’s what Chris would want him to do. When a killer targets Beth, Mark determines to recover the strength he lost. 

First off, don’t you just love the cover? The design incorporates so many facets of Dog Tags, and one of the reasons I was thrilled to get my hands on this debut novel by Heidi Glick. Beth and Mark are well-constructed characters with a shared history, weaknesses, and goals. I’m a sucker for stories with beloved pets, and Sparky, Mark’s dog, played a big part in this book.

If you’re looking for a quick book you can read late at night, this isn’t the one. Filled with appearances by “The Knight,” Glick kept me guessing on the villain’s identity until the end of the book. The romance lover in me would have enjoyed this book as much without the suspense, but that’s just me. Overall, a winner, and I’ll be looking for more from Heidi Glick!

Disclosure: Sending a big thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own, and I received no compensation for my review.


Heidi Glick has a B.A. in biology, a minor in Bible from Cedarville University, and a passion for writing Christian fiction. She has over seven years of technical editing experience, a certificate in technical writing from Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, and is working towards her Master of English at Utah State University. Additionally, she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and has written two articles for Intercom. When not working, Heidi spends time with her husband, son, and two dogs, Cocoa and Sparky. She attends Grace Chapel in Mason, Ohio.

SHORT-STRAW BRIDE by Karen Witemeyer ~ Sharing My Review

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments

About the book~

Four brothers. Four straws. One bride.

No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a long-standing debt compels her to take the risk.

Years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer comes across a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can’t bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt prompt him to attempt to rescue her once again.

Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she vows to stand by his side. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her as merely a short-straw bride?

Sharing My Humble Opinion~

A young Meredith (Meri) Hayes trespasses on the infamous Archer land to retrieve her lunch box after a bully tosses it over the fence. Travis Archer promised his dying father that he’d protect his three brothers and the land they’d grown up on. After all, it was his fault that his father died. When he rescues Meri, he breaks that promise to take her home, but that’s the only time he ever left the Archer land. Travis’s kind, compassionate spirit sparks dreams in tiny Meri’s heart and she never forgets him, even when another man proposes. When Meri overhears a plot to possibly harm the Archers, she risks trespassing again to warn Travis and his brothers.

Although I felt the prologue made for a slow beginning, I’m so glad I didn’t put Short-Straw Bride aside. It was so worth it! 

I love how the author wove subtle themes into this book, like how Meri rushed headlong into difficult situations, without thinking or praying. How many times do I plow ahead, only praying for guidance after I’m in the midst of the situation? And Meri helped Travis realize that he had been depending on himself to protect his family, rather than trusting God. How many times have I done the same thing? 

I loved Short-Straw Bride! I read it through in two sittings, barely allowing myself to be distracted except to sleep. It had the perfect blend of romance laced with passion, humor and suspense to keep me turning pages long past my bedtime. Can’t wait to get my hands on another Witemeyer book!

Purchase Link

How often do we proceed with our own plans and only then ask for God’s blessings rather than seeking His will first? 


Disclaimer: I snagged this book when it was offered free on Amazon. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.