Carrie Stuart Parks: Fallout

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Her carefully crafted life is about to be demolished.

After a difficult childhood, Samantha Williams craves simplicity: jigsaw puzzles, lectures at the library, and the students she adores in her role as an elementary art teacher in the dusty farming community of LaCrosse, Washington.

But when an SUV crashes into the school where she teaches, her entire world is upended. She manages to keep all of the children safe, but her car isn’t so lucky. Oddly, her purse—containing her driver’s license, credit cards, and other identification—is missing from the wreckage.

After authorities discover that the driver in the school accident was shot seconds before the crash, Samantha quickly becomes entangled in increasingly strange events that have her looking over her shoulder.

Samantha has long tried to forget the tragedy of her past, but the twisting maze she discovers between the murdered driver, a deadly secret government project, and an abandoned town can't be ignored. Those involved are determined to keep these secrets buried, and they’ll use any means necessary to stop Samantha’s search for truth.

 

My Thoughts:

Fallout by Carrie Stuart Parks is a trip through a past chemical warfare issue, which could be disastrous for the current day. The plot was interesting and captivating. I had a really hard time putting the novel down. The heroine, Samantha, has to learn more about her past and put the puzzle pieces together to figure out why someone wants to kill her. Similarly, Dutch, the hero, has to also come to reality about the weight of the pass that he keeps carrying around. Samantha is the deeper character who Parks dives into and allows readers to emphasize with. The plot focuses mostly on the suspense, which I highly favor. Near the end of the story, the heroine and hero have a romantic moment that I really did not like. Nothing in the story really led up to them having feelings for each other. The story would have been better to end the story with a spark of an emotion, not trying to develop a relationship. Even with this tiny issue, Fallout by Carrie Stuart Parks was a delightful suspense novel with a twist to the ending that kept me engrossed in the plot. Definitely will want a copy for my shelf.

I received a complimentary copy of Fallout by Carrie Stuart Parks  from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

Purchase Fallout

Most Anticipated Suspense Fall 2022

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Here is another favorite post:

Most Anticipated Suspense Novels for Fall 2022

All covers come from Goodreads.

Fallout by Carrie Stuart Parks

The Premonition of Withers Farm by Jaime Jo Wright

Sundown by Susan May Warren

Targetted by Natalie Walters, Lynette Eason, and Lynn H. Blackburn

Dark Fall by Brian Andrews

How about you? I believe we need more stories in this genre!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carrie Stuart Parks: Woman in Shadow

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Carrie Stuart Parks combines her expertise as a forensic artist with her ability to craft a gripping story in this page-turning web of light and shadow.

A woman off the grid.

Darby Graham thinks she's on a much-needed vacation in remote Idaho to relax. But before she even arrives at the ranch, an earthquake strikes—her first clue that something is amiss. Then when a cabin on the edge of town is engulfed in flames and problems at the ranch escalate, Darby finds herself immersed in a chilling mystery.

A town on fire.

A serial arsonist sends taunting letters to the press after each fire. As a forensic linguist, this is Darby’s area of expertise . . . but the scars it’s caused her also the reason she’s trying to escape from her life.

A growing darkness.

As the shadows continue to move in, the pieces of the town around her come into sharper focus. Can she trust the one man who sees her clearly?

 

My Thoughts:

Woman in Shadow by Carrie Stuart Parks is a hunt or be hunted story through the Yellowstone National Park area. The story takes places at Mule Shoe resort as a art community. First, the story starts out with flushing out the characters and the surroundings. Then the story advances into the conflict. After that the conflict takes over the story and pushes all the characters to their boundaries. One of my favorite parts was that the story actually focused on the conflict, Parks did not craft a romance story that took away from the immediate danger that the characters were in. I did like the setting. It was one of my favorite parts. As someone who has never been out to Yellowstone National Park; I loved being able to explore and discover this part of the country. Overall, Woman in Shadow by Carrie Stuart Parks is a keep readers on their toes type of story. Readers will not see what is the climactic moment or the showdown until the moment happens.

I received a complimentary copy of Woman in Shadow by Carrie Stuart Parks through Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Carrie Stuart Parks: Relative Silence

By Kelly Bridgewater

A powerful family with lots of secrets. A forensic artist with his own tragedies. And a hurricane drawing bearing down on their private island.  

Fifteen years ago Piper Boone’s only child died in a boating accident, and Piper’s almost perfect life came to an end too. After living through a divorce and losing her job, she retreats to Curlew Island and her childhood home—a secluded mansion for the politically powerful Boone family, who are practically American royalty.

But Piper’s desire to become a recluse is shattered when a mass shooter opens fire and kills three women at a café where Piper is having lunch. The crisis puts her family in the spotlight by dredging up rumors of the so-called Curlew Island Curse, which whispers say has taken the lives of several members of the Boone family, including Piper’s father and sister.

Forensic artist Tucker Landry also survives the shooting and is tasked with the job of sketching a portrait of the shooter with Piper. They forge a bond over their shared love of movies and tragic pasts. But when police discover a connection between the shooting and two more murders on Curlew Island, they face a more terrible lineup of suspects than they could have imagined: Piper’s family.

Unraveling the family’s true history will be the key to Piper’s survival—or her certain death.

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I enjoy Carrie Stuart Parks stories. I love how she captures the artist's attention to detail. With her latest novel, Relative Silence, I loved the mystery. As a word of warning, the story does start a little slow for fans of non-stop thrills. It appears to be a family narrative, but then the suspense speeds up right along the approaching hurricane. That is when Parks captured my attention, and I stayed up way too late, trying to finish the novel. I really invested myself in the family and the characters. I couldn't wait to see justice prevail and have some peace for Piper as she deals with her family and her dead daughter. Parks did a fabulous job at keeping the villain's identity secret. Even I didn't figure out before the end. I had it pegged at a certain character, but was proven wrong. Overall, Relative Silence is an amazing tale of a family and the woes a family can create. I loved the action in the second half. I honestly can't wait for whatever else she decides to create.

I received a complimentary copy of Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks through Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase Relative Silence

Most Anticipated for Summer 2020

By Kelly Bridgewater

It is that time again.

Another edition of where I show you the books I can't wait to read in the coming months.

This time the books cover from May 1 to August 31, 2020.

Enjoy!

(All Covers come from Goodreads, unless noted!)

Stay With Me by Becky Wade

 

 Storing Up Trouble by Jen Turano

 

The Heart of a Hero by Susan May Warren

 

 

A Gilded Lady by Elizabeth Camden

 

The Crushing Depths by Dani Pettrey

 

Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks

 

The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan

 

 

Acceptable Risk by Lynette Eason

 

Are any of these books going to be read by you this coming summer? Summer is when I hibernate and read tons of books, so I plan to knock out some of these books in no time. Can't wait!!!

Carrie Stuart Parks: Fragments of Fear

By Kelly Bridgewater

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Fragments of Fear by Carrie Stuart Parks, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book:

Title: Fragments of Fear
Author: Carrie Stuart Parks
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: July 23, 2019
Genre: Inspirational Suspense/Thriller

Stolen art. A New Mexico archaeological dig. An abandoned dog. And a secret that’s worth killing for.

Evelyn McTavish’s world came crashing down with the suicide of her fiancé. As she struggles to put her life back together and make a living from her art, she receives a call that her dog is about to be destroyed at the pound. Except she doesn’t own a dog. The shelter is adamant that the microchip embedded in the canine with her name and address makes it hers.

Evelyn recognizes the dog as one owned by archaeologist John Coyote because she was commissioned to draw the two of them. The simple solution is to return the dog to his owner—but she arrives only to discover John’s murdered body.

As Evelyn herself becomes a target, she crosses paths with undercover FBI agent Sawyer Price. The more he gets to know her, the more personally invested he becomes in keeping her safe. Together, they’re desperate to find the links between so many disparate pieces.
And the clock is ticking.

From JustRead Tours

My Thoughts:

I have adored Carrie Stuart Parks's writing since I picked up her first novel. I'm really glad to have another Christian suspense author to enjoy. So many Christian play it safe by writing romantic suspense, but those lean toward the romance side as more of a plot tactic. But Parks is definitely not like that. She writes suspense that grips me in the first chapter and doesn't let go. In Fragments of Fear, the plot had me guessing a couple time of where I thought the story would head to, but Parks would throw a curve ball in the action and take the story in a different direction. I love how each one of Parks' heroines are artist who use their ability to capture the bad guy. There was a budding romance between Evelyn and Sawyer, but I really didn't believe they fell in love as fast as Parks claimed they did by the end of the novel. While the romance really didn't fit, the suspense was well-written and captured my attention. I believe fans of Steven James, Ronie Kendig, and Lynette Eason should pick up this book or anything by Carrie Stuart Parks.

I received a complimentary copy of Fragments of Fear by Carrie Stuart Parks from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Purchase Amazon Goodreads  Barnes and Nobles  Book Depository  Christianbook
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About the Author:

From JustRead Tours

Carrie Stuart Parks is a Christy finalist as well as a Carol Award–winning author. She has won numerous awards for her fine art as well. An internationally known forensic artist, she travels with her husband, Rick, across the US and Canada teaching courses in forensic art tolaw-enforcement professionals. The author/illustrator of numerous books on drawing and painting, Carrie continues to create dramatic watercolors from her studio in the mountains of Idaho.

(Taken from JustRead Tours.)

Connect with Carrie Stuart Parks:
Facebook
Website
Twitter
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Follow along  at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops.



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Least Favorite Covers

By Kelly Bridgewater

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned and showed my favorite covers, but this week, I want to go in another direction. A direction I know most might disagree with but that's okay. This is my opinion.

These covers didn't hit the mark for me. I really don't think they work well for the genre they are in, and I'm not that interested in the cover. Even though some of the authors are my favorite writers, so I definitely can't wait to dive into the story; I just think the publishing company missed the mark on the cover. (All images come from Goodreads.)

Storm Rising by Ronie Kendig

 

The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey

 

Fragments of Fear by Carrie Stuart Parks

 

Threads of Suspicion by Dee Henderson

 

The Five Times I Met Myself by James Rubart

 

What about you? Have you ever picked up a book and knew the writing would be awesome but the cover really didn't capture my imagination?

Most Anticipated for Summer 2019

By Kelly Bridgewater

I love showing what books I'm looking forward to in the coming books. For this list, it includes any books published from June 1st to August 31, 2019.

(All pictures come from Amazon unless noted.)

Without further ado, here is my list:

The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White

I love this cover, and the story sounds awesome too. Hurry up, June!!

Storm Rising by Ronie Kendig

Kendig's books never disappoint. I love the action and the suspense. Can't wait for this one!



Fragments of Fear by Carrie Stuart Parks

Parks always creates something I have never seen, and then she tosses it in a suspense novel, which I love. Even though the cover has a little too much orange for me, I still can't wait to read the story in between the pages.



The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey

I enjoy suspense, if you couldn't tell by now, so of course, I am a fan of Pettrey's writing. This is a new series, so I can't wait to dive in and see where she takes me.



Vow of Justice by Lynette Eason

I can never go wrong with a suspense novel by Eason. She excites and always keeps me on my toes. Another best seller I bet.



What about you? What are some of the books you are looking forward to reading this summer?

Carrie Stuart Parks: Formula of Deception

By Kelly Bridgewater

An artist hiding from an escaped killer uncovers one of World War II’s most dangerous secrets—a secret that desperate men will do anything to keep hidden.

After the murder of her twin sister, Murphy Anderson changed her name and appearance and moved to Kodiak, Alaska, to avoid the press and publicity. But when local authorities discover she's an artist and request her help in drawing a dying man's memories, she unintentionally ends up in the limelight again—and may be back in the killer's crosshairs.

The deathbed confessions of an Alaskan hunter has Murphy drawing five bodies discovered on remote Ruuwaq Island ten years ago. But what investigators discover there has them mystified. 

Evidence suggests that the bodies may have been deliberately destroyed, and what they uncover in an abandoned World War II Quonset hut only brings more questions.

As one by one the people who were at the hut die, Murphy knows there is something much deeper at stake. What happened there during WWII? And who is willing to kill to keep those secrets buried?

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

Carrie Stuart Parks is making a name for herself in suspense. I have read her Gwen Marcy's stories, and I loved them. I love how she brings her skills in forensic arts to her characters. Of course, Parks has decided to start a new series with Formula of Deception. What could be better than a modern day mystery taking place in Alaska featuring some World War II elements? Which is exactly what Parks does. I was excited when I heard about the new series from Parks in Fall 2017. I couldn't wait to see what happens.

The mystery captured my attention right away, and I couldn't wait to see how Parks would create twists and turns throughout the entire novel. Parks does a great job at inviting into the mystery, and I had hard time putting the novel down. From the first chapter, I was drawn into the mystery with the World War II elements and anxiously flipped through the rest of the story, wanting to see what happens. The mystery was well-researched and captured my attention.

Murphy is an interesting heroine. I really can't wait to see more installments in this series about her. Parks left a lot unresolved about her past with hints of the truth floating around the edge. I hope I learn more about her sister and hopefully find the answers to what happens. Parks created Murphy with past hurts and trying to hide from her sister's killer.

Overall, Formula of Deception by Carrie Stuart Parks is a spine-tingling mystery filled with a number of twists and turns and a great introduction to a new fascinating heroine, Murphy. I believe fans of Carrie Stuart Parks' other mysteries will enjoy this novel too. Fans of Steven James, Kathy Herman, and Dee Henderson should pick this book up.

I received a complimentary copy of Formula of Deception by Carrie Stuart Parks from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

From Amazon

About the Author:

 Carrie Stuart Parks is an award winning artist, writer, speaker, and law enforcement instructor. A Certified Forensic Artist, she met her husband, Rick, in the romantic hallways of the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Together they formed a dynamic and successful team in their fine and forensic art, working on major national and international cases and creating exquisite watercolors and stone carvings. They travel internationally, teaching forensic art to a variety of participants: from the Secret Service to the FBI, from large law enforcement agencies to the smallest two-man departments in their one-week classes. They are the largest instructors of forensic art in the world. Carrie has won numerous awards for her innovative teaching methods and general career excellence and is a signature member of the Idaho Watercolor Society.

Carrie's Gwen Marcey series chronicles a forensic artist from Montana and is loosely based on Carrie's forensic cases.She began her fiction writing career while battling breast cancer. Mentored by NY Times bestselling author, Frank Peretti, Carrie's debut novel, along with her subsequent novels, have been met with critical acclaim. (taken from Amazon)