Firewall (FBI: Houston) by DiAnn Mills

FBI: Houston (Book 1)

After a whirlwind romance, Taryn Young is preparing to board a plane at Houston International Airport, bound for a dream honeymoon, when a bomb decimates the terminal. Injured but still alive, she awakens to discover her husband is missing and they’re both considered prime suspects in the attack. Further, the FBI is convinced her husband isn’t who he appears to be.

Agent Grayson Hall’s number-one priority is to catch those responsible for the day’s act of terror. All evidence is pointing to Taryn and her new husband. But his instinct tells him her pleas of innocence are genuine. Is her naiveté just for show, or could she truly be another victim of a master scheme, possibly linked to the software she recently developed for her company?

With both their lives and reputations on the line, and the media outcry for justice increasing with each passing minute, Taryn and Grayson have no choice but to trust one another . . . and pray they can uncover the truth before they become two more casualties.

My Review:
Heroes are not always male, as proved by the protagonist of this Christian fiction. With her IQ of 150 and her knowledge of martial arts, Taryn Young knows how to handle herself. Add in her courage in the face of grave danger, and . . . WHAM! Female Hero without a cape!

Suspense and romance intertwine as the story unfolds. People die. Some are brutally murdered. Who is the cause? Who can be trusted? This is a complex tale sure to keep the reader's interest.

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. for my copy.

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

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

The Survivor (Crime Scene: Houston) by DiAnn Mills

Crime Scene: Houston

Kariss meets Dr. Amy Garrett, who survived a brutal childhood attack in which the assailant was never found. Now Dr. Garrett wants her story written in a novel.

Kariss wishes she could seek the advice of Special Agent Tigo Harris, but she broke off the relationship a few months prior and seeing him again would be too painful. She interviews Amy and conducts her own research, stepping unaware into a viper's pit of danger.

Tigo misses Kariss and wants her back, but he understands why she broke off their relationship. Instead, he concentrates on solving a car bombing and bringing the killer to justice.

As Kariss's new story attracts an onslaught of danger that she never expected, can Tigo save the woman he loves and find who wants her dead for writing about an unsolved cold-case?

My Review:

Protagonist, Kariss Walker, writes suspense novels based on cold cases. Amy Garrett, a childhood survivor of violence, wants her story told as if a work of fiction with the hope of drawing out the perpetrator and thereby solving the crime. As soon as the ladies agree on the project, horrible things begin to happen to Kariss.

I enjoyed renewing my acquaintance with Tigo, the handsome FBI Agent and Kariss' love interest. He holds Buzz Lightyear in high regard. (It's things like this that make a character come to life.) Tigo struggles with his faith in God, and because Kariss does not want to be unevenly yolked, she decides to stop the romance. The story opens as they've not seen one another for two months. The reader cannot help but root for Tigo to find God, accept Christ, and restore his relationship with Kariss.

Some cons: Amy is losing her hearing and doesn't like using the telephone; yet it seems, she's always on the phone! Amy's brother proves to be a distraction--at least for me. The undercover work should have been left out.

This work is a sequel to The Chase, and I suggest you read them in order.

Discussion questions are included.

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.

The Chase by DiAnn Mills

Crime Scene: Houston

To the FBI it's a cold case. To Kariss Walker it's a hot idea that could either reshape or ruin her writing career. And it's a burning mission to revisit an event she can never forget. Five years ago, an unidentified little girl was found starved to death in the woods behind a Houston apartment complex. A TV news anchor at the time, Kariss reported on the terrifying case.

Today, as a New York Times bestselling author, Kariss intends to turn the unsolved mystery into a suspense novel. Enlisting the help of FBI Special Agent Tigo Harris, Kariss succeeds in getting the case reopened. But the search for the dead girl's missing mother yields a discovery that plunges the partners into a witch's brew of danger. The old crime lives on in more ways than either of them could ever imagine.

Will Kariss's pursuit of her dream as a writer carry a deadly price tag? Drawing from a real-life cold case, bestselling novelist DiAnn Mills presents a taut collage of suspense, faith, and romance in The Chase.

My Review:
The protagonist, Kariss Walker, is a best selling author who wants to change genres; she now wants to write a suspense novel. The reader learns a bit about the publishing business when Kariss's agent refuses to allow Kariss to veer from her successful path of writing fiction for women, and they part ways.

Kariss shadows a FBI agent, Santiago (Tigo) Harris, for research and ends up attracted to him. Tigo, working on tracking down criminals involved in a gun smuggling operation, does not like the extra task of babysitting this nosy lady. A bit of romance ensues leaving the reader looking forward to the next installment of Kariss and Tigo.

One negative: I stumbled each time I came across an error that editing should have corrected. Perhaps some sharper editing eyes could be employed for future works.

This is a good read; it even solves a real FBI cold case. I appreciate the delicate touch used to weave in the Christian faith. Discussion questions are included making this a good choice for a book club read.

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.

Attracted to Fire by DiAnn Mills

Special Agent Meghan Connors’ dream of one day protecting the president of the United States is about to come true. Only one assignment stands in her way. After the vice president’s rebellious daughter is threatened, Meghan is assigned to her protective detail on a secluded ranch in West Texas.

Unfortunately, working with Special Agent in Charge Ash Zinders may be as tough as controlling her charge. Ash has a reputation for being critical and exacting, and he’s also after the same promotion as Meghan.

But when the threats escalate and security on the ranch is breached, it becomes clear this isn’t the work of a single suspect—it’s part of a sophisticated plan that reaches deeper and higher than anyone imagined. And only Ash and Meghan can put the pieces together before it’s too late.

My Review:
Great read! This intricate puzzle kept the attention of this reader. I was tempted last night to turn the bedside lamp on and read the remaining pages. However, I'm glad that I waited until morning; the novel demands sharp attention, and I didn't want to miss a clue.

Suspense and romance intertwine as tragedies occur. People die. Some are murdered. Who is the cause? Who can be trusted? This is a must-read!

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Tyndale House Publishers for my copy.

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

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

A Woman Called Sage by Diann Mills

From the Back Cover:
They took away everything she loved ... now, she's out for revenge. Sage Morrow had it all: life on a beautiful Colorado ranch, a husband who adored her, and a baby on the way. Until five ruthless gunmen rode up to their ranch and changed her life forever. Now Sage is a bounty hunter bent on retribution.

Accompanied only by her majestic hawk, she travels throughout the Rocky Mountains in search of injustice, determined to stamp it out wherever it's found. The stakes are raised when two young boys are kidnapped and Sage is forced to work with Marshall Parker Timmons to rescue them. But Sage may ultimately get more than she bargained for. In this exciting historical romance set in the late 1800s, murder, intrigue, kidnapping, and questions of faith will keep you in suspense until the final pages.

My Review:
Thank you to CFBA and Zondervan for my copy of this western mystery. The plot keeps the reader interested as Sage, a part Indian bounty hunter searches for the killer of her husband and unborn child. She's been trained in the ways of the Ute Tribe to survive in the wild, and these skills enable her to hunt for the killer. Her adventures keep the pages turning.

In addition, romance weaves its spell with three suitors! That's the only glitch I see: after all, how can one disinterested woman capture so many hearts?

An interesting character is Hawk, a red-tailed hawk that Sage has nursed from infancy. They have a unique bond, and he communicates with her--not verbally, of course. If you like western adventure stories, you'll like this one.

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

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

Sworn to Protect by Diann Mills

Border Patrol Agent Danika Morales has sworn to protect the southern borders of our nation, but that oath has cost her. Two years ago, her husband, Toby, was killed trying to help the very immigrants Danika was responsible for sending back to Mexico. His murder was never solved. But now, a recent string of attacks and arrests leads her to believe that someone in McAllen is profiting from sneaking undocumented immigrants into the country . . . and it may somehow be tied to Toby’s death.

My Review:
Thank you to CFBA and Tyndale House Publishers for my copy of this terrific suspense novel. I enjoyed this one, and I honestly hated to interrupt my reading to take time to eat or sleep.

The writing is third-person point of view, with short chapters--which I prefer. The story seems to move along at a faster pace as I flip pages.

The characters are all quite believable, and even a bit of romance is included. Both viewpoints of immigration are presented in a balanced manner, allowing the reader to reach to her own opinion.

The plot is a smooth flow of heart-thumping action. I've learned such a good bit about the hard work of the Border Patrol and how our Texas borders are protected.

Discussion questions are included. This is a suspense novel I recommend.

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

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

Breach Of Trust by DiAnn Mills

Call of Duty Series, Book 1

Paige Rogers is a former CIA agent who lost all she treasured seven years ago when her entire team was killed in a covert mission. She blames their leader—Daniel Keary—whom Paige believes betrayed them. Disillusioned and afraid for her life, she disappeared and started a new life as a small-town librarian.

But when Keary announces his candidacy for governor of her state, he comes after Paige to ensure that she won't ruin his bid for office. He threatens everything she holds dear, and Paige must choose between the life of hiding that has become her refuge or risking everything in one last, desperate attempt to right old wrongs.


My Review:
Because of DiAnn Mills, I need botox! Almost every chapter had me raising my eyebrows, causing my forehead to wrinkle. This is one Christian fiction I enjoyed reading page after page.

The characters are believable, the plot is fast paced, and the ending ties up neatly. There's plenty of suspense with the protagonist, Paige Rogers, a CIA operative in hiding and a campaign for governor taking place. Thrown into the mix is high school football coach, Miles Laird, who plays a wanna-be lover.

However, I find fault when Ty Dalton, a man with only one redeeming quality--that of pride in his son--does not bother to go to the hospital to visit that injured son. That move is out of character for Ty, making his character flatter than necessary.

Written in third person narrative, the reader easily follows the thought process of each character. To heighten the drama, antagonist chapters are written in first person narrative and printed with a different font. Even though this is book one in a series, it is a stand-alone novel. I say, well done! Discussion questions are included.

Watch the Book Trailer:



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