Distortion by Terri Blackstock

Moonlighters Series #2

Juliet Cole’s life has been dismantled by the murder of her husband. She doesn’t know who—or what—to trust when everything she has believed to be true about her marriage has been a lie. When Juliet Cole’s husband of fifteen years is gunned down in a dark parking lot before her eyes, she thinks it was a random shooting. Devastated and traumatized, she answers hours of questioning. When she’s finally allowed to return home to break the news to her boys, she hears a voicemail that takes the situation from a random shooting to a planned, deliberate attack. "Mrs. Cole, we know you have access to the supply and the money. If you don't turn fifty million over to us and give us the codes, then you'll be burying more family members."

Suddenly, Juliet realizes that she and her children could be in danger. She teams up with her sisters and PI Michael Hogan to dig into the sham Bob has been living for years. The more she learns, the worse the betrayal. A drug trafficking history, a fortune in cash, and a secret family all emerge to turn Juliet’s belief system on its head, and threaten the things she loves. Are she and her sisters skilled enough as sleuths to get to the truth?

My Review:
Terri Blackstock knows how to make me hold my breath! Even though this fast paced suspense novel kept me flipping pages, I found myself anxious to read even faster. What a good read! It kept my full attention, and I never suspected the ending.

I immediately connected with the character Juliet Cole. Poor woman; she witnesses her husband, Bob, murdered. She actually sees the killer! As the police investigate, her world continues to crash down around her as she copes with ever-growing ugly revelations about the husband she dearly loved and thought she knew. However, Juliet is a strong woman, and she dedicates herself to helping the police and the FBI solve this crime.

I especially enjoyed the part where Juliet wonders if Bob was a Christian. "Could he have been a Christian and still been involved in drug trafficking? Could he have truly loved God and still done something that would devastate so many lives?" (304)

I highly recommend this one.

Discussion questions are included.

Thank you to BookLook Bloggers for my copy.

Vicious Cycle by Terri Blackstock

An Intervention Novel

When fifteen-year-old Lance Covington finds an abandoned baby in the backseat of a car, he knows she's the newborn daughter of a meth addict he's been trying to help. But when police arrest him for kidnapping, Lance is thrust into a criminal world of baby trafficking and drug abuse. His mother, Barbara, looks for help from Kent Harlan-the man whom she secretly, reluctantly loves and who once helped rescue her daughter from a mess of her own.

Kent flies to her aid and begins the impossible work of getting Lance out of trouble, protecting a baby who has no home, and finding help for a teenage mother hiding behind her lies. In this latest novel of suspense and family loyalty, bestselling author Terri Blackstock offers a harrowing look at drug addiction, human trafficking, and the devastating choices that can change lives forever.

My Review:
Whew! I've just finished reading this terrific book, and now I can breathe! (I found that as I flipped the pages, I was actually holding my breath.) The author had me at the first sentence and kept my attention all the way through until the satisfying end.

Written in third person by each of the characters helps make this an easy-to-read thriller. Each character has a voice, and the reader is able to understand his/her thinking process. I feel as if I got inside the minds of meth addicts--not a good place. I certainly learned a good deal about the addiction.

I enjoyed watching the solutions to the various crimes, as well as the romance blooming. Some of the characters realistically struggle with the questions: "Why does God allow this?" and "Does He even know I exist?" Sound biblical answers are given.

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Zondervan for my copy.

If you would like to read the first chapter, click here.

If you would like to buy a copy, click here.

Showers in Season by Beverly LaHaye and Terri Blackstock

Seasons Series #2

On the quiet cul-de-sac of Cedar Circle, where neighbors are close friends, fierce winds of circumstance threaten to sweep one couple away. Their Down’s Syndrome pregnancy is shattering news for Tory and Barry Sullivan, but the option Barry proposes is abhorrent to Tory. It will take a wisdom and strength greater than their own to carry them through. That, and the encouragement only a loving, close-knit community can provide.

Over kitchen counters and across the miles, the women of Cedar Circle lend their support to Tory and to each other as all of them face their personal struggles, heartaches, and joys. Shining with bright faith and friendship that illumine the stormiest night, Showers in Season explores the junction of life’s realities, the cost of obedience, the power of relationships, and the promises of God.

My Review:
This is a touching story that centers on Tory, pregnant with a Down's Syndrome child, and her husband, Barry, who knows what it takes to raise a Special Needs child. He watched his mother raise his Autistic brother. Tory and Barry have a deep discussion that brought this reader to tears.

Other vital issues are covered in this novel. Cathy keeps a secret from Steve because she fears he won't want to continue to see her if he finds out. Sylvia and Harry face a challenge in their work as Nicaraguan missionaries through the after effects of a hurricane. Brenda struggles in her new job with a demanding boss, while she longs to return to homeschooling.

Writing in the third person point of view enables the reader to follow the thoughts and lives of several characters as they interact with one another. Short chapters help keep the plot moving. Characters are quite believable. All in all, this is an enjoyable read.

I did not read the first book in the series, but I had no problem understanding the characters or the plot.

If you would like to buy a copy, click below.

Double Minds by Terri Blackstock

Struggling to succeed in the Nashville music scene, talented singer/songwriter Parker James finds the competition fierce-–even deadly. A young woman’s murder, industry corruption, and a menacing stalker draw Parker into danger and intrigue.

Nothing is as it appears, and unraveling the truth challenges everything Parker believes about her talent, her future, and her faith.

My Review:
This is one terrific book with a fascinating plot, well-rounded characters, a steady pace, a few twists and turns, and a satisfying ending. What more could a reader want? I began reading it this morning, and I did not stop until I finished it. I did not want to stop!

The protagonist, Parker James, is a female Christian song writer who lives in Nashville. I learned so much about the Christian music industry: song writing, photographing the album cover and publicity shots, recording a CD, contracts, going out on tour, performing, and the interaction between singer and band. Parker's brother is a police officer, and the reader is treated to a glimpse inside the minds of officers as they work to solve a crime.

Without being "preachy" appropriate biblical references are interspersed throughout the novel. Study questions are at the back of the book. This is a winner, and I give it a big thumbs up!

If you'd like to read the first chapter, click here.

If you'd like a copy, click here.