Series Finale That Got It Right

By Kelly Bridgewater

Every read a book that was so fabulous that you honestly could not wait to get your hand on the second, third, or even fourth book. BUT when you actually read the book, it did live up to the previous book in the series. Today, I am going to share some books that I loved the first or second book in the series, but the ending of the series did completely blew the story out of the water. These writers promised a good ride and body did they deliver. (All covers and synopsis come from Goodreads.)

No Matter the Cost by Susan May Warren

Checkmate by Steven James

Thirst of Steel by Ronie Kendig

Soul Raging by Ronie Kendig

Drawn by the Current by Jocelyn Green

Know of any other books that did fabulous at handling the end of a series? Please let me know. I love books that deliver a final push that rocks the ending of the novel.

Steven James: Fatal Domain

By Kelly Bridgewater

When the past scratches its way into the present, it can leave deep scars.

A series of cryptic clues leads Department of Defense redactor Travis Brock to suspect that a grim chapter from his past is not yet over. With the help of his eidetic memory and his newly formed team, he must unearth the truth and stop a terrorist group from stealing one of the military’s most highly guarded technological breakthroughs. With it, the group plans to commit a daring act of espionage that could upend the work of one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical firms and impact millions of people worldwide.

In a high-stakes story of action and intrigue that reaches from a refugee settlement in Uganda to the shores of the Potomac in Washington, DC, shattering secrets from the past will be revealed, loyalties tested, and intimate betrayals brought to light as Brock is forced to decide how to forgive what he cannot forget.

From a novelist that Publishers Weekly has called a “master storyteller” comes an intricate and taut thriller that will have you guessing until the final page.

 

My Thoughts:

Fatal Domain by Steven James takes readers for a wild ride. It was nice to see Travis Brock back in action again. James does a wonderful job at creating action that does not give the reader time to put the book down. I wanted to keep on reading. I needed to know what happened next. Who knows if Travis Brock will be the next Patrick Bowers, but I enjoy watching him try to explore life, relationships, and the job while trying to stay alive. Human Trafficking is talked about in the story, but James does not explore the dark side of it and show the horrors of it to the readers. The story centers around a bad group of people and how much they want to bring harm to the American people. The worst part of the plot is that it is timely and could happen at any time. A very relevant story to our culture today. Overall, Fatal Domain is the type of story that I gravitate toward. Plenty of action that I did not want to do anything else but finish the story. I really hope there are going to be more Travis Brock’s stories.

I received a complimentary copy of Fatal Domain by Steven James from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:  4.5 out of 5 stars

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Most Anticipated Suspense for Spring 2024

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Most Anticipated Suspense Novels being published during the Spring of 2024. 

All Images Come from Goodreads

Fragile Designs by Collen Coble

Cold Threat by Nancy Mehl

Double Take by Lynette Eason

Fatal Witness by Patricia Bradley

One Wrong Move by Dani Pettrey

One Last Shot by Susan May Warren

Fatal Domain by Steven James

One Final Target by Janice Cantore

What about you? I'm always on the lookout for a new Suspense book. Please leave any suggestions below. 

Top 5 Books to Give as Gifts

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Usually for Christmas, I hunt sales at Thriftbooks, Amazon, or Christianbook and then gift myself the books that I want to read. There is usually a stack under that tree that I tie a bow around, but I don’t spend the time wrapping since I already know what the books are, and they are for me.

Today, I want to share 5 favorite books that I love. (Images and Synopsis come from Goodreads.)

Secrets She Kept by Cathy Gohlke

The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

Heiress by Susan May Warren

The Knight by Steven James

The Souls of Lost Lake by Jaime Jo Wright

 

Don't forget to read and purchase books just in time for Christmas! 

Steven James: Broker of Lies

 By Kelly Bridgewater

The man who knows all our secrets has a secret of his own.

When Travis Brock, a high-level Pentagon redactor with an eidetic memory, finds a clue to solving the tragic arson that took his wife from him, he risks everything to find the truth—and chances losing himself in the process.

With a terror attack looming on the horizon and a pair of assassins on his tail, Brock drops off the grid and joins forces with a disavowed Homeland Security operative. Together they race to stop the attack before Brock is neutralized by the people he trusts the most.

From critically acclaimed, bestselling novelist Steven James comes a smart, wire-tight, and emotionally resonant thriller that asks just how far across the line we might go to see justice carried out.

My Thoughts:

With Broker of Lies, Steven James creates a terrorist threat story with unique characters. One of my favorite things of this story is that Travis Brock is not a detective or ex-military. He is an average Joe who steps up when the time comes. Nothing really special about him. But the skill that he does have is important to the solving of the terrorist plot. The heroine is a woman of many disguises. She has been trained to slip in and out of dangerous situations. She is brave and a little risky. For the plot, the first twenty percent of the novel is laying the groundwork for the character’s jobs and the background, so it is pretty boring. As a reader, I don’t think we needed all of that information. But once you reached past that part, then the action kicked into gear and the terrorist plot was woven through the story as the heroine and the hero tried to escape the ultimate destruction. Plot twist ends the story, so I wonder if there will be a second novel or not. Overall, Broker of Lies by Steven James is different than his widely-poplar Patrick Bowers series, but it does have plenty of action to keep readers flipping through the pages late into the night. I definitely want to see if there is a second book.

I received a complimentary copy of Broker of Lies by Steven James from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:  3.75 out of 5 stars

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Steven James: Synapse

By  Kelly Bridgewater

From the critically-acclaimed author whom Publishers Weekly has called a “master storyteller” comes a taut new thriller where things are not always as they appear to be.

Thirty years in the future, when AI is so advanced that humans live side by side with cognizant robots called Artificials, Kestrel Hathaway must come to terms not just with what machines know, but what they believe. Is hope real for them, or merely an illusion?

Soon after experiencing a personal tragedy, Kestrel witnesses a terrorist attack and is drawn into a world of conspiracies and lies that she and Jordan, her Artificial, have to untangle. With a second, more brutal attack looming on the horizon, their best chance of stopping it is teaming up with federal counterterrorism agent Nick Vernon.

But the clock is ticking—and all the while, Jordan is asking questions that Artificials were never meant to ask.

Deftly weaving suspense and intrigue into a rich, resonant tale that explores faith and what it really means to be human, Steven James offers us a glimpse into the future and into our own hearts.

Synapse is an unforgettable, gripping story of dreams shattered, truth revealed, and hope reborn.

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

Steven James is my go-to writer when it comes to Psychological Thrillers. He captures my attention and throws in so many twists and turns that I usually don't figure out who the villain is before the end of the novel. James has written a new novel entitled Synapse. This tale is a little dystopian meets I, Robot. Can a machine worship God? That seems to be an important question that the robot in the story asks. As for the plot, I felt quite bored. There really wasn't that much action until the last ten percent of the novel. The main character lost a baby in the opening chapters, and it changes her and sticks with her throughout the novel. But instead of that, she really doesn't change that much. The idea of a minister having a kid without being married is a little odd even though she does talk about God and doubting her faith at times. It just didn't sit with me too well. Overall, Synapse by Steven James is a complete 180 from what he normally writes, and I wasn't that thrilled with the novel.  Fans of science fiction and dystopian novels might devour this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of Synapse by Steven James from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

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About the Author:

From Amazon

Steven James is a national bestselling novelist whose pulse-pounding thrillers continue to gain wide critical acclaim and a growing fan base.

Suspense Magazine, who named Steven's book THE BISHOP their Book of the Year, says that he "sets the new standard in suspense writing." Publishers Weekly calls him a "master storyteller at the peak of his game." And RT Book Reviews promises, "the nail-biting suspense will rivet you."

Equipped with a unique Master's Degree in Storytelling, Steven has taught writing and storytelling on four continents over the past two decades, speaking more than two thousand times at events spanning the globe.

Steven's groundbreaking book on the art of fiction writing, STORY TRUMPS STRUCTURE, won a Storytelling World award. Widely-recognized for his storycrafting expertise, he has twice served as a Master CraftFest instructor at ThrillerFest, North America's premier training event for suspense writers.

Respected by some of the top thriller writers in the world, Steven deftly weaves intense stories of psychological suspense with deep philosophical insights. As critically-acclaimed novelist Ann Tatlock put it, "Steven James gives us a captivating look at the fine line between good and evil in the human heart."

After consulting with a former undercover FBI agent and doing extensive research on cybercrimes, Steven wrote his latest thriller, EVERY WICKED MAN--a taut, twist-filled page turner that is available now wherever books are sold. Suspense Magazine selected it as one of their "Best of 2018" books in the thriller/suspense category. (Taken from Amazon.)

Most Anticipated for Rest of 2019

By Kelly Bridgewater

Now that fall is within reach, there is a number of books coming out from now to the end of the year that I can't wait to get my hands on.

Here they are in particular order: (All images come from Goodreads, unless noted.)

The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden 

 

Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano

 

 

 Memories of Glass by Melanie Dobson

The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron

 

Synapse by Steven James

 

 

 Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters

 Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock

 Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright

The Piper's Pursuit by Melanie Dickerson

 

 The Bridge to Belle Island by Julie Klassen

What about you? Do you have any books to add to this collection? Are you looking forward to any of these books too?

Why Did You Have To Leave Me?

By Kelly Bridgewater

Nothing is better than reading a series that you love and watching it end. I love picking up a book and noticing that is the first book in a series, but it has to be well-written and capturing my attention from the first book.

There are plenty of books that capture my attention and don't keep my interest the whole time. There are some hit and miss books in a series when you are reading it.

BUT . . .

there are a couple of series that capture my attention the whole time. I get lost in the characters and the setting. I anxiously await the next book in the series. I feel sad when I close the book and know the author is done.

Here are the series I hated to see end:

Christy Miller series by Robin Jones Gunn (I'm glad she keeps writing books in this series with familiar characters.)

From Amazon

Christiansen family by Susan May Warren

From Amazon

The Tox Files by Ronie Kendig

From Amazon

The Patrick Bowers series by Steven James

From Amazon

Courage to Dreams series by Susan Anne Mason

From Amazon

All of Sarah Sundin's writings

From Amazon

What about you? Why not list any books or series that you have enjoyed so much that you hated to see it end?