Hostage In Havana by Noel Hynd

 

Book Description:  When Alexandra LaDuca illegally enters Cuba on the trail of an unsolved mystery, she gets more than she imagined. The stakes? Her life … plus a decades-old mystery to be solved, a pile of cash, and an unlikely defector. Espionage and unexpected romance smolder together in this exciting thriller set in Cuba’s isolated capital.

My Review:  Noel Hynd brings another great read in Hostage In Havana the first book in the Cuban Trilogy!  

Fiesty U.S. Treasury agent, Alexander LaDuca (Alex for short) has found out that "The Dosi family is planning a counterattack....They've been hired to kill you." (p. 72) In the next few pages the action, the adventure and the romance are all spell bounding!

Alex has two missions that she must accomplish:  First, she must meet up

with Roland Violette, an exiled agent, who has traded names of undercover spies around the world for money, and bring him back to the United States. Secondly, she'll pose as Paul Guarneri's wife so that he can relocate hundreds of thousands of dollars that were hidden somewhere in Cuba by his father before the family escaped  "The Regime."

Then there's that assassin who uses the "a new bullet that was a head of the glass technology used by Mercedes Benz . . . Quite an efficient bit of shooting from a about four hundred meters at a fast-movingcar." (p. 73)

This read is a wonderful mix of smooth talking agents and rough cohorts that creates quite a spicy adventure!

If you've read the Russian Trilogy then you'll be familiar with Alex and the people she met that helped her with her spiritual journey.  If you haven't read the Russian Trilogy you won't be lost when you read this book.

This is one of those GREAT suspense novels that is a must read for summer!

The Russian Trilogy:

BUY BOOK HERE!

About the Author:

Noel Hynd lives in Culver City, California. He has over four million books in print throughout the world and is the bestselling author of the highly acclaimed novels The Enemy Within, Flowers from Berlin, and Cemetery of Angels, and the previous titles in the Russian Trilogy, Conspiracy in Kiev, Midnight in Madrid, and Countdown in Cairo.

Write to Zondervan authors or their estates in care of Zondervan. Your mail will be forwarded as soon as possible, but please note that the author might not be able to respond personally. Email zauthor@zondervan.com or send postal mail to:

Noel Hynd

c/o Zondervan

ATTN: Author Care

5300 Patterson SE

Grand Rapids, MI 49530

A Dangerous Stage {Protection for Hire} by Camy Tang

 

My Thoughts:  I loved the first book in this series Protection for Hire.  Now A Dangerous Stage is, again, about Tessa, but enter the lawyer, Charles Britton.  Charles is the lawyer who sent Tessa to prison (for a crime she didn't commit).  

Tessa's faith is tried, for it seems that lies abound everywhere she turns after she is hired by one of the contestants to delve into a shady singing competition.

Now, I REALLY love Camy Tang's books because they have a lot of action mixed with mounds of faith!  Camy isn't preachy but she gets the point across.  A lot like Tessa who lives her faith!

Tessa is one tough lady but she has a soft center just like a wonderful chocolate, caramel truffle but that tough exterior makes her seem like an iron maiden.   

I wasn't sure about Charles...can a "wimpy" lawyer truly help a feisty lady like Tessa?!  Will Charles really stand "tough?"  These were a couple of questions I had when Tessa meets up with Charles.

I must say that I enjoyed A Dangerous Stage even more than I enjoyed reading Protection for Hire.

One doesn't need to read Protection for Hire before reading A Dangerous Stage but reading the first book will help in understanding Tessa and her mafia family.

This is one great read!

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310320348
• ISBN-13: 978-0310320340

Fun Friday

 

WOW (Warm Oven Wednesday)

 No bake Chocolate Eclair Cake

Ingredients

2 (3.5 oz) package of instant vanilla pudding mix

1 (8 oz) container of whipped topping (COOL WHIP) thawed

3 cups milk

2 sleeves graham cracker squares

1 (16 oz) tub chocolate frosting

Directions

In a medium bowl, mix together the pudding mix, milk and Cool Whip.

In an 9 x 13 baking dish, arrange a single layer of graham cracker squares on the bottom. You may have to break them up a bit to get enough crackers to cover the bottom of your dish.

Spread half of the pudding mixture on top of the crackers.

Layer another layer of graham crackers over the pudding mixture.

Then layer the other half of the pudding mixture on top of crackers.

Top with a final layer of graham crackers.

Put plastic wrap over dish and put in fridge for about 30 min to an hour to allow pudding to set.

When ready, put the tub of chocolate frosting in the microwave for about 15 seconds to soften (remove lid and aluminum foil top before microwaving).

Take out and stir frosting. It should be easily spreadable now.

Remove plastic wrap from dish and evenly spread chocolate frosting all over the top layer of graham crackers.

Place plastic wrap over top of dish and put back in fridge and let it chill overnight.

This dessert gets better over time. The graham crackers need plenty of time to soften up.

When ready, slice and serve!

The Inheritance (Secrets of the Shetlands) by Michael Phillips

 

Book Description:  Dramatic New Series from Fan Favorite Michael Phillips

The death of the clan patriarch has thrown the tiny Shetland Islands community of Whale's Reef into turmoil. Everyone assumed MacGregor Tulloch's heir to be his grand-nephew David, a local favorite, but when it is discovered that MacGregor left no will, David's grasping cousin Hardy submits his own claim to the inheritance, an estate that controls most of the island's land. And while Hardy doesn't enjoy much popular support, he has the backing of a shadowy group of North Sea oil investors. The courts have frozen the estate's assets while the competing claims are investigated, leaving many of the residents in financial limbo. The future of the island--and its traditional way of life--hangs in the balance.

My Thoughts:  When I was a young teen a remember my mom reading books by Michael Phillips and loving them.  I haven't seen any books authored by him for quite awhile and then this new book popped up...the Inheritance. . . Micheal Phillips' new series of Secrets in the Shetlands.  I was intrigued . . . 

The setting of the novel is in Scotland.  And from the descriptions this is a beautiful land!  The story is begins when David's great uncle passes away and there is no will, it seems that David may not inherit his uncles's land after all.  The courts freeze all the assets and then Loni Ford and up and  coming investor in America receives an intriguing letter from a Scottish firm.  And everything changes!

This is quite an interesting read with a lot of Scot culture as well as mystery in the "missing will." The mystery concerning the inheritance is well written. 

The biggest plus in this read, to me, is the wonderful journey of going to Scotland.  

This is a grand read!  One not to be missed!

• Series: Secrets of the Shetlands (Book 1)
• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764217488
• ISBN-13: 978-0764217487

Secrets Left Behind (Love Inspired Suspense) by Shannon Redmon

 Book Description: The more clues they uncover, the more deadly the investigation becomes.

After surviving several attempts on her life, Skye Anderson knows Detective Jake Reed’s suspicions of foul play about the accident that killed her husband must be true. Someone will stop at nothing to keep the truth hidden—and all signs point to a drug ring Skye’s late husband was investigating. Can Jake keep Skye alive and identify the killers pursuing her?

My Thoughts:  I just love when faith, hope and courage are the main themes of a great story.

This story of Skye Anderson and Jake Reed begins with fast paced action.  

At first, I was just trying to keep up with the action and then I slowed down to get a "feel" for the characters.  I needed to search the clues for the culprit.

I loved Skye who is tough yet tender and Jake....well, let's just say Jake is the kind of guy every women wants to feel protected by.

This is a story, as the title states, about secrets.  What is the secret and why are so many people being harmed by it?  

This is a wonderful read!  And it's a fast read.  The kind of book you can take to the lake, the beach or your own backyard for a get away from it all couple of hours.

*This book was provided for review by the author*

The Crow's Call by Wanda E. Brunstetter

 

Book Description:  When Vernon King, his son, and son-in-law are involved in a terrible accident, three women are left to cope with their deaths, as they become the sole providers of the family they have left. The women’s only income must come from the family greenhouse, but someone seems to be trying to force them out of business.

Amy King has just lost her father and brother, and her mother needs her to help run the family’s greenhouse. It doesn’t seem fair to ask her to leave a job she loves, when there is still a sister and brother to help. But Sylvia is also grieving for her husband while left to raise three children, and Henry, just out of school, is saddled with all the jobs his father and older brother used to do. As Amy assumes her new role, she also asks Jared Riehl to put their courtship on hold. When things become even more stressful at the greenhouse, will Amy crumble under the pressure?

My Thoughts:  Oh.be.still.my.beating.heart!  The long awaited Amish mystery by Mrs. Wanda Brunstetter is finally here! The first book in the Amish Greenhouse Mysteries.

I love suspense/mysteries so when this book came in the mail I delved right into this story.  And what a story!

The cover of this book is interesting because it shows three things that are the main events in this story.  First the crow, then the flowers and thirdly, Amy King. 

Amy King is single but dating/courting when her precious father, brother and brother-in-law are killed.  After their deaths the women  of the family seem a little lost at what can be done to keep money coming in so they can all survive.  

No, this isn't a story about survival but about family ties, love and moving on in life when all seems lost. And the mystery of the greenhouse.

This is a GREAT read!  Don't miss it!

Title: The Crow's Call #1
By: Wanda E. Brunstetter
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 320
Vendor: Shiloh Run Press
Publication Date: 2020