DiAnn Mills: Facing the Enemy

By Kelly Bridgewater

For the past five years, FBI Special Agent Risa Jacobs has worked in the violent crimes against children division of the Houston FBI. She’s never had reason to believe there’s a target on her back . . . until now.

When the long-awaited reunion between Risa and her brother, Trenton, ends in tragedy, Risa is riddled with guilt, unable to cope with the responsibility she feels over his death. On leave from the FBI, Risa returns to her former career as an English teacher at a local college, only to see her past and present collide when one of her students, Carson Mercury, turns in an assignment that reads like an eyewitness account of her brother’s murder, with details never revealed publicly.

Alarmed by Carson’s inside knowledge of Trenton’s death, Risa reaches out to her former partner at the FBI. Special Agent Gage Patterson has been working a string of baby kidnappings, but he agrees to help look into Carson’s background. Risa and Gage soon discover their cases might be connected as a string of high-value thefts have occurred at properties where security systems were installed by Carson’s stepfather and children have gone missing. There’s a far more sinister plot at play than they ever imagined, and innocent lives are in danger.

 

My Thoughts:

Facing the Enemy by DiAnn Mills features two mysteries that come around and tie together into one eye opening ending. Mills does a wonderful job at diving into a story that uses a writing assignment and missing babies and ties them together. The writing assignment was my favorite part. As a budding author, it felt unique and different. The plot did capture my attention and did not let go. As for the budding romance between Gage and Rise, it seemed a little over the top. Yes, the heroine and the hero have a past, but personally, I wanted a little deeper of a relationship before they dove into their budding feelings. Mills did a wonderful job at crafting a world that keeps the readers actively involved in the plot. The element of the missing babies tugged at my heartstrings. I could not imagine how awful it would feel to have your baby stolen from you when the baby was under three months old. Overall, Facing the Enemy by DiAnn Mills has some unique, yet original plot ideas; however, the romance was not what I expected. More backstory that leads to the growing romance.

I received a complimentary copy of Facing the Enemy by DiAnn Mills from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase Facing the Enemy 

Most Anticipated Suspense for Fall 2023

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Here is my three times a year where I show beautiful covers of upcoming release books. 

Here are the Most Anticipated Suspense books. (All covers come from Goodreads.)

Facing the Enemy by DiAnn Mills

26 Below by Kimberley Woodhouse

Into the Fire by Irene Hannon

The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater by Jaime Jo Wright

Shadows at Dusk by Elizabeth Goddard

Like I always say, we need more books in this genre! 

DiAnn Mills: Trace of Doubt

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Bestselling and award-winning author DiAnn Mills delivers a heart-stopping story of dark secrets, desperate enemies, and dangerous lies.

Fifteen years ago, Shelby Pearce confessed to murdering her brother-in-law and was sent to prison. Now she’s out on parole and looking for a fresh start in the small town of Valleysburg, Texas. But starting over won’t be easy for an ex-con.

FBI Special Agent Denton McClure was a rookie fresh out of Quantico when he was first assigned the Pearce case. He’s always believed Shelby embezzled five hundred thousand dollars from her brother-in-law’s account. So he’s going undercover to befriend Shelby, track down the missing money, and finally crack this case.

But as Denton gets closer to Shelby, he begins to have a trace of doubt about her guilt. Someone has Shelby in their crosshairs. It’s up to Denton to stop them before they silence Shelby—and the truth—forever.

 

My Thoughts:

Trace of Doubt by DiAnn Mills is a chase for what really happened. After Shelby Pearce was released from prison for killing her brother-in-law, readers are invited to watch her try to work her way back into society. Death threats and shots at her are the norm in suspense novels. The story does have a realistic look at the prejudice that is shown to ex-cons. While the story progressed, I had a good idea of what really occurred fifteen year ago. But then again, I am pretty good at figuring out most suspense novels even though the authors thinks they put enough red herrings in place to fool the reader. The suspense and the concept of the novel was well-written. There is a touch of romance to the plot too. Not too much. A little. A little creepy at times especially with the way that Mills described the hero when he first came onto the page. I couldn’t get the image of him and young 33 year old heroine out of my head. The climactic moment was nicely handled. I really liked how Mills crafted the last twenty percent of the novel. Overall, Trace of Doubt by DiAnn Mills is a story that reached a wonderful ending. If you enjoyed this novel, I suggest trying Center of Gravity and Sister Dear by Laura McNeil. Same type of story. Well handled.

I received a complimentary copy of  Trace of Doubt by  DiAnn Mills  from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

Purchase Trace of Doubt

DiAnn Mills: Fatal Strike

By  Kelly Bridgewater

There’s a killer on the loose in Galveston, targeting law enforcement officials and using a fatal injection of snake venom to take them down. Authorities have reasons to believe the Veneno gang is behind the hits, and FBI Agents Leah Riesel and Jon Colbert team up to track down those responsible. Their best lead is an eyewitness who identifies a young man dumping the third body on a church doorstep. But their suspect has gone into hiding, and those closest to him are reluctant to reveal anything that might help investigators find him.

As Leah and Jon check connections among the victims and dig deeper into motives, they discover appearances may be deceiving. Someone is desperate to keep their secrets hidden, and Leah and Jon must face their greatest fears in order to stop the next fatal strike.

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Fatal Strike by DiAnn Mills is a predictable, unoriginal tale of drug chasing. From the first chapter, I had a good idea of how the story would lay out, and I was proven correct. The characters were flat and had told their story before. I had a hard time staying focused on the story. I have seen the story before written by a number of romantic suspense authors. Not that Mills doesn't know how to write; she does, but I have read this drug chasing and terrorists plots a number of times, and they are really repetitive and boring. While this story might be just the right story with plenty of action for some fans of romantic suspense, Fatal Strike did not work for me. I wanted something a little more original with tons of hair raising moments and an unpredictable ending. Fans of Irene Hannon and Colleen Coble might be overjoyed with Fatal Strike, but not me.

I received a complimentary copy of Fatal Strike by DiAnn Mills from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Purchase Fatal Strike

About the Author:

From Amazon

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She is a storyteller and creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers' Choice, and Carol award contests.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is Director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Marketing Conference, and Mountainside Novelist Retreat with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

Connect with DiAnn here: diannmills.com (Taken from Amazon.)

DiAnn Mills: Burden of Proof

By Kelly Bridgewater

Reeling from a negotiation gone wrong, FBI Special Agent April Ramos is caught off guard when a frazzled young woman shoves a crying baby into her arms, then disappears. Worry for the child’s safety quickly turns to fear when a man claiming to be the girl’s father abducts them at gunpoint. April puts her hostage negotiation skills to use to learn more about who she’s dealing with: Jason Snyder, a fugitive accused of murder.

As Jason spins a tall tale about being framed for the killing of his business partner, April must sort through his claims to find the truth. A truth that becomes all the more evident after April overhears a conversation between Jason and the local sheriff and realizes something more sinister may be happening in their small town of Sweet Briar, Texas. But aligning herself with a known fugitive to uncover the burden of proof could cost April her job . . . or worse, her life and the lives of other innocent people.

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

DiAnn Mills is hit or miss if I enjoy her romantic suspense. Some of her books take place with terrorists plots, and I don't like those type of stories. But for romantic suspense to work, I need a good bit of suspense as the main idea with a little bit of romance sprinkled across the top. I don't want the romance to be the main storyline. Some romantic suspense authors do make the romance the main storyline. It's fine for them, just not my type of story. With DiAnn Mills latest story Burden of Proof, 

I believe the suspense was the main focus.

Her description was well-written. I had no problem visualizing any of the settings or the people who populated the story. Emotions were described just the way they should be without overwhelming me. The third person point of view captured my imagination.

The plot was definitely something I haven't seen done before. It was original and predictable. I think it was predictable because Mills told you who the bad guy was early on, but she lead me down a trial of clues to prove what she wanted the readers to know. No evidence. No convinction. The story moved at a fast pace. I finished the book in over a day. I really wanted to see how they would catch the bad guy and who was all involved.

The characters of April and Jason drove the story. I did find it weird that Jason who did work in any type of law enforcement agency knew just as much about the inside workings of the FBI as April who was a FBI agent. April, the heroine, was a strong heroine who put herself in some daring positions in order to bring justice to Jason who she believes in innocence. Jason, on the other hand, ignores all the rules telling him to hide and keep cover until the case is solved.

The romance didn't rush through the pages. There were moments Mills jumped the gun with their emotions by stopping the fast pace of the novel to allow Jason and April to ponder their growing feelings for each other. It didn't really bothered me. It just took me out of the story when I was reading it.

Overall, A Burden of Proof by DiAnn Mills is a unique story filled with fast paced novel and a hint of romance that proves not all claimed guilty people are actually guilty. I think fans of Irene Hannon, Lynette Eason, and Colleen Coble will be excited to read this latest version.

I received a complimentary copy of Burden of Proof by DiAnn Mills from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

About the Author:

From Amazon

 DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne du Maurier, Inspirational Reader's Choice, and Carol Award contests. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian fiction books of 2014.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She's an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the following social media platforms or others listed at diannmills.com.

facebook.com/diannmills
twitter.com/diannmills
instagram.com/diannmillsauthor 
(Taken from Amazon)

DiAnn Mills: High Treason

By Kelly Bridgewater

When Saudi Prince Omar bin Talal visits Houston to seek cancer treatment for his mother, an attempt on his life puts all agencies on high alert. FBI Special Agent Kord Davidson is the lead on the prince’s protective detail because of their long-standing friendship, but he’s surprised—and none too happy—when the CIA brings one of their operatives, Monica Alden, in on the task force after the assassination attempt.

Kord and Monica must quickly put aside interagency squabbles, however, when they learn the prince has additional motives for his visit—plans to promote stronger ties with the US and encourage economic growth and westernization in his own country. Plans that could easily incite a number of suspects both in the US and in countries hostile to Saudi Arabia. Worse yet, the would-be assassin always seems to be one step ahead of them, implicating someone close to the prince—or the investigation. But who would be willing to commit high treason, and can Kord and Monica stop them in time?

https://www.christianbook.com/high-treason-diann-mills/9781496410993/pd/410995?product_redirect=1&Ntt=410995&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

My Thoughts:

DiAnn Mills is romantic suspense gold. She knows what the genre wants and she delivers. With every single book of hers, I am taken for a ride and given a chance to watch the heroine and hero fall in love. With the concluding book to her FBI Task Force Series, High Treason, she does exactly what she promised.

The writing is clear and concise. I had no problem following Kord and Monica around as they learned to work together to solve the case. Mills does not head hop, so she stays in the perspective of the character who she began the chapter with. I can't imagine all the research she has to do to make this contemporary romantic suspense true. Like understanding the Islam culture and understanding how Monica would face that different culture while trying to protect the Prince.

Monica is a strong heroine who amazes even the men she is sent to protect. In the Islam culture, women aren't allowed to do these things, but Monica does things like unarm a bomb without hesitation or kill a person in point-blank range. Whereas, Monica is a strong heroine; Kord is a normal, predictable FBI Specialist who has already been protecting this Middle-Eastern family. He is the character who transforms spiritually the most in the story. While Monica clings to her faith from the beginning and is still the same at the end of the novel.

The plot didn't wow me. In my humble opinion, it has been overdone. Protecting a Middle-Eastern Prince and finding out who wants them dead is not an original plot. The climactic moments were predictable, and, I believe, which I could be wrong, that Mills has even done them in her past books. Or it could have been done by a number of different suspense authors, but I know I have read these same scenario's somewhere else. I wasn't gripped by the plot, and I wanted more. It was written well and kept my attention. I had a good idea of who wanted the Prince killed before Mills showed me, and I was correct.

High Treason by DiAnn Mills has a fascinating heroine but a lackluster hero and plot, aching for more thrills in the story. Overall, I believe fans of Mills other works will enjoy this novel. I have enjoyed most of her books. This one just didn't hit out the park for me. If you enjoy Terri Blackstock, Irene Hannon, or Lynette Eason, and you haven't tried Mills, you should try her books.

I received a complimentary copy of High Treason by DiAnn Mills from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars

Meet DiAnn Mills

https://www.christianbook.com/page/fiction/fiction-authors/diann-mills?search=DiAnn%20Mills

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne du Maurier, Inspirational Reader's Choice, and Carol Award contests. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian fiction books of 2014.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She's an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the following social media platforms or others listed at diannmills.com.

Where To Purchase:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/High-Treason-Task-Force-Book-ebook/dp/B073RSPXG8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516638840&sr=8-1&keywords=diann+mills+books

Barnes and Nobles: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/high-treason-diann-mills/1126701417?ean=9781496410993#/

Christian Book Distributor: https://www.christianbook.com/high-treason-diann-mills/9781496410993/pd/410995?product_redirect=1&Ntt=410995&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

Follow Author

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/81639.DiAnn_Mills

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/DiAnn-Mills/e/B001JP4L9G/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

DiAnn Mills: Deep Extraction

By Kelly Bridgewater

A pacemaker should have saved oil and gas magnate Nathan Moore’s life. Instead, it provided his killer with a seemingly perfect means of execution.

A bombing at one of Nathan’s oil rigs days earlier indicates his death could be part of a bigger conspiracy, a web Special Agent Tori Templeton must untangle. But her first order of business is separating the personal from the professional―the victim’s wife, her best friend, is one of the FBI’s prime suspects.

Clearing Sally’s name may be the biggest challenge of her career, but Tori finds an unexpected ally in the newest member of the task force, recently reinstated Deputy US Marshal Cole Jeffers. As Tori and Cole dig deeper into Nathan’s personal and business affairs, they uncover more than they bargained for. And the closer they get to finding the real killer―and to each other―the more intent someone is on silencing them for good.

From Amazon

I have attached the book trailer video. I hope it wets your appetite for Deep Extraction. Enjoy!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-0h2iT3pQg&feature=youtu.be

My Thoughts:

With a contemporary story that could have been ripped from the headlines of the latest newcasting show, DiAnn Mills captured my suspense loving heart with Deep Extraction, her latest novel. Filled with a strong heroine who hunts for the truth of God and why he allows bad things to happen to believers, Tori is a heroine worth rooting for. The hero, Cole, comes out of retirement and helps Tori solve the murder of their mutual friend, Nathan Moore. The plot is action-packed with non-stop interviews and numerous death threats, not allowing me to forget that Tori and Cole are hunting for  a murderer. On the other hand, the romance is really not that important and appeared to be rushed for me at the book's end. While the romance wasn't prominent to the plotline, the suspense filled my expectations of a romantic suspense novel with an unpredictable ending. Fans of Mills' other works, Lynette Eason, and Terri Blackstock should pick this book up. It's a keeper, and I anxiously await the conclusion to the FBI Task Force Novel series.

I received a complimentary copy of Deep Extraction by DiAnn Mills from Tyndale Publishing, and the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

How would you feel about wining a copy of DiAnn Mills' Deep Extraction? Sounds great, huh?

Well . . . go to DiAnn Mills' website with this link (http://www.diannmills.com/desk/deep-extraction-giveaway/) and follow the instructions. Good luck!
(This giveaway is not from me; it is given by DiAnn Mills on her personal website.)