High Treason by DiAnn Mills

My thoughts: The story takes the reader into the tense world where security for a Prince of Saudi Arabia visiting America with his family and his life is threatened. Combining the forces of the Prince's own security force with that of the FBI still seems to leave holes of vulnerability. The problem is finding the source of danger and ending it.

But when it seems that there is someone close to the Prince that is at the root of the problem but they don't know who it is, all are suspect.

At stake is not only the life of the Prince but the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia which is already tenuous. The Prince while adhering strongly to cultural customs of his own country and beliefs is considering changes economically and culturally - in relation to how women are treated. With that in play, how will CIA (aka, FBI) agent Monica be able to work in the security detail and inside the Prince's own household?

A fast paced story that leaves the reader anxious for the next page turn. The culprit behind the entire conspiracy is not revealed for certain until very near the end of the book keeping characters and reader guessing.

A good read!

About the book: 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?

Find a copy here: Tyndale Media Center or at your favorite book seller.

DISCLOSURE: Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy ti facilitate a review. Opinions are my own and are freely given.

Without Warning: A JB Collins Novel by Joel Rosenburg (available in stores March 14, 2017)

ISBN 978-1-4964-0616-3
Hardcover $26.99

About the Book: As he prepares to deliver the State of the Union address, the president of the United States is convinced the Islamic State is on the run, about to be crushed by American forces once and for all. But New York Times foreign correspondent J. B. Collins tells the president he’s dead wrong. With the Middle East on fire, the Israeli prime minister dead, and Amman in ruins, Collins fears a catastrophic attack inside the American homeland is imminent. He argues that only an all-out manhunt to capture or kill Abu Kahlif―the leader of ISIS―can stop the attack and save American lives. But will the president listen and take decisive action before it’s too late?

Read a PDF Excerpt - click here

My thoughts: When Joel Rosenburg "puts pen to paper" he opens doors to areas of life unknown and inexperienced to the average person. His fiction into the political, espionage, terrorist world of today reads like reports to heads of state and back-workings of news journalists who are in the know.

Having read earlier novels about national security journalist J.B.Collins, I highly anticipated this conclusion to the series - Without Warning. Rosenburg did not disappoint. His writing was fast paced, detailed, with characters whose believability was flawless. His descriptions left this reader placed squarely within the scene with the action.

J.B.Collins is not a Christian though raised in the Church. His brother is a professor of theology. Both see action in this story. They both see grief as well as it reaches into their beings. The horrific scenes of terrorist attracts on America are unbelievably realistic and horrifying to imagine.

The title is so apt in the case of this story from beginning to end. While warned sufficiently, it seems that horror can hit at any moment, Without Warning.

I highly recommend this series for all high school to adult readers. It is clean. It is horrifyingly real. It is Christian in scope. It takes the reader through action and also into the courts of Islamic Princes' and Heads of State. 

About the author (from Amazon): Joel C. Rosenberg (www.joelrosenberg.com) is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of eleven novels and five nonfiction books, with more than 3 million copies sold.

His books have been read and enjoyed by a wide range of U.S. and foreign leaders, including former CIA Director Porter Goss, former Delta Force Commander Lt. General (Ret.) Jerry Boykin, Sen. Marco Rubio, former Sen. Rick Santorum, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, former Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Natan Sharansky, and former Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon.

Joel has been interviewed on hundreds of radio and TV shows, including ABC’s Nightline, CNN, CNN Headline News, C-SPAN, Fox News, MSNBC, The History Channel, the Rush Limbaugh Show, the Sean Hannity Show, and the Glenn Beck Show. His articles and columns have been published by National Review, FoxNews.com, CNN.com, the Jerusalem Post, World magazine, and the Washington Times, among others. He has been profiled by the New York Times, the Washington Times, and the Jerusalem Post.

Joel has spoken to audiences all across the U.S. and Canada and around the world, including Israel, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Russia, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, India, South Korea, and the Philippines. He has also addressed audiences at the White House and the Pentagon, members of Congress on Capitol Hill, members of the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa, and spoken at a conference held at the European Union Parliament in Brussels.

Purchase - click here

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Tyndale Fiction to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own, alone, and I was not compensated to review the book.

Maybe It's You (Crisis Team Series #3) by Candace Calvert [Review & Giveaway]

My thoughts:  Calvert lifts villainous "Sloan" from the pages of Crisis Team #2 - Step by Step - and fleshes her out as the survivor of a terrible over-the-cliff car accident who is back at work in the ER of another hospital in a different city. Her life has changed for the better, but it is still flawed and she has multiple secrets which she strives to keep safely tucked away.

The story explodes into action with a near kidnapping in front of the hospital and Sloan runs to the rescue of the teen. While in the ER because she is slightly injured, the rescued teen has a disturbing tattoo "property of...." in a hidden area. As the story progresses, the frightening reality of girls held as sex trafficking merchandise and similarly tattooed comes to light along with brutal criminal activity toward these young girls and those who come into the cross hairs of the criminals.

Woven throughout is the thread of forgiving those who have harmed you and also in finding a way to forgive yourself. This forgiveness is found in the deep seated forgiveness of Christ and it is called Grace. Calvert nicely weaves this into the story.

The romantic interaction between Sloan and Micah, a Crisis Team Volunteer and ad man or PR man for the hospital, gets off to a slow start but they do discover their attraction to each other. This book seems to have a bit more romance than Calvert's previous books.

This is a good, clean read though some parents may want to screen it prior to giving it to a young teen given the subject of sex trafficking and sweet romance scenes (though definitely clean) are part of the story. Again, this is a clean read and definitely not offensive.

About the book: ER nurse Sloane Ferrell escaped her risky past--new name, zip code, job, and a fresh start. She's finally safe, if she avoids a paper trail and doesn't let people get too close. Like the hospital's too-smooth marketing man with his relentless campaign to plaster one "lucky" employee's face on freeway billboards.

Micah Prescott's goal is to improve the Hope hospital image, but his role as a volunteer crisis responder is closer to his heart. The selfless work helps fill a void in his life left by family tragedy. So does a tentative new relationship with the compassionate, beautiful, and elusive Sloane Ferrell.Then a string of brutal crimes makes headlines, summons responders . . . and exposes disturbing details of Sloane's past.Can hope spring from crisis?

GIVEAWAY 

Begins February 20
ENDS March 13  @ 12:01 a.m. ET. 

 Open to USA addresses only.
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DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the author to facilitate a review. These are my own opinions and I was not compensated to review the book.

Flash the Donkey Makes New Friends by Rachel Anne Ridge

About the book: Children will fall in love with Flash the Donkey as they learn the value of true friendship and what it means to be a good friend to others.

Hee-haw! A stray donkey with a penchant for inventions is taken in by a mismatched collection of barnyard friends. Flash the Donkey Makes New Friends is the heartwarming story of a not-so-ordinary donkey who needs a special place to belong. Flash is the inquisitive type who loves to invent things and solve problems, but his curiosity sometimes gets him into trouble! With the help of his new-found friends--Jed the Goat, Carson the Pig, and Ruby the Chicken--Flash manages to turn problems into adventures and learns valuable lessons along the way. Inspired by Rachel Anne Ridge's memoir Flash, named one of Publishers Weekly's Best Summer Books of 2015, kids will fall in love with this endearing donkey as they learn to appreciate the value of true friendship.

My thoughts: This cute story begins with a donkey who has a wagon and puts it to use by pulling it, riding on it, sleeping in it, and stashing all his "finds" in it. (This is sure to appeal to all the little boys out there who have a beloved wagon themselves.) Then through an accident, he meets three new friends who take him in and patch him up.

After patching Flash the Donkey up, they let him sleep in the spare bed. Each of the other beds has a name on it, but not the spare bed. On the story progresses with Flash joining in the other's activities. They soon find they are becoming friends.

This story has genuine kid appeal and provides opportunity to learn the Biblical admonition to spread seeds of kindness and be a friend. So while being a fun book to read or have read aloud, it is also a book replete with spiritually educational and edifying lessons.

Rachel Anne Ridge has done a fantastic job of writing this story in a way that is appealing to the child and creating the illustrations. There is a special charm to the characters, especially Flash. And then the little daisy that keeps popping up on the pages is a "find me" project for readers.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of Flash the Donkey Makes New Friends to facilitate a review.

Step by Step (Crisis Team #2) by Candace Calvert [Review & Giveaway]

ISBN: 978-1-4143-9034-5
Paperback $14.99

About the book: Three years after a tragic accident left her a widow, ER nurse Taylor Cabot is determined to move on, checking off one item after another on her survival list. Her relationship with a handsome plastic surgeon even gives her hope for the last point—“fall in love again.” At least until crisis chaplain Seth Donovan steps back into her life, reawakening unanswered questions about her husband’s death.

While in San Diego to train community volunteers, Seth hopes to learn why Taylor is backing away from the crisis team and from their friendship. But nothing prepares him for the feelings that arise when he sees Taylor again . . . and sees her moving on with another man.
When a community crisis hits home and puts lives at risk, emotions run high and buried truths are unearthed. Will hope make the survival list?

My thoughts: Candace Calvert does not disappoint. Again she has brought compassionate medical care rendered with the expertise about which only a medical professional could write. This time a new dimension is brought to the table of healing - crisis care by chaplains and caring volunteers. Just as there is a need for someone to patch up and mend broken bodies, there is a need for someone to nourish and gently care for the wounded spirit and soul of those broken by tragedy or who have to endure the loss of a loved one through tragedy.

As the characters are introduced and their flawed personalities or their own broken spirits are fleshed out, we step into scene after scene deftly described and detailed by the author. Forgiveness enters into the story. Tragedy. Healing. Revelation of past secrets. Hope for healed and mended futures. And yes, a sweet love story.

This is a good, clean read that is safe to hand over to any teen or grownup. This is Christian fiction and the thread of faith is delicately woven throughout.

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Begins February 7
ENDS February 29  @ 12:01 a.m. ET. 

 Open to USA addresses only.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.
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DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the author to facilitate a review. These are my own opinions and I was not compensated to review the book.

The Play-Along Bible: Imagining God's Story Through Motion and Play by Bob Hartman, Illustrated By: Susie Poole

ISBN-13: 9781496408648
Ages 3-6 - Tyndale House Pub.

My thoughts: If you've ever sung "Itsy Bitsy Spider" you know that children love it and love the actions of the song. There are some fun Sunday School "Bible" songs that have actions, too. These are always a hit. I know when telling the story of Joshua marching around Jericho and the walls of Jericho falling down, the young children relish the opportunity to "shout" to make the walls fall. That is the concept of The Play-Along Bible. No, it isn't a song or songs. It is a simple way to engage young children as you tell them the stories from God's Word.

Each of the 50 stories has a title, Scripture reference from which the story is taken, and the text told in simple words and phrasing accompanied with instructions for the child (and the parent or caregiver) to do that illustrate that part of the story....

In the very beginning, everything was completely dark. You couldn't see a thing (Place your hands over your eyes. Shut them tight.)

Then God said, "Light!" (Say, "Light!")

And it wasn't dark anymore--it was bright! (Open your eyes.)

God called the light "day" (Shout, "Day!") and the darkness  "night." (Whisper. "Night")

And that was the first day. (Shout, "Hooray!") 

Opportunities to wave hands and arms, wiggle fingers, etc. are given throughout. This is engagement that will capture the attention of the young child and ingrain the basics of each of the stories in their mind. Keep in mind that the story-telling is very basic. The concept is to give the basics and to capture the child's attention. This does it very well.

This hardcover book can be used in Children's Church, Sunday School, preschool, or at home. There are four Bible verses given at the end of the book. Parents can actually read the Biblical text to the child if they so desire because the reference for each story is given. Since the Scripture is not printed in the book, parents will also have the option to select the version that they prefer. My preference would be the King James.

The illustrations are light and whimsical. There is joy depicted and a myriad of objects on the pages for little eyes to seek out and identify. Another great opportunity to engage and teach.

About the book: Looking for a way to integrate the Bible into your child’s playtime?

The Play-Along Bible inspires children’s imaginations while growing their understanding of and love for God’s Word. Through simple hand motions, facial expressions, verbal exclamations, and funny noises, kids can participate and respond to God’s amazing story. Whether it’s acting out the dawn of creation by making a funny fish face or belting out a giant roar while pretending to be a ferocious beast in Daniel’s lions’ den, kids will encounter hundreds of fun ways to actively engage with the Bible. Using this fresh and easy, multisensory approach, you’ll be surprised how well your child will recall and absorb the Scriptures. Adding to the experience are delightful full-color illustrations from British artist Susie Poole.

About the author: Bob Hartman is a pastor, author, and storyteller with a rich history in publishing and whose books have sold more than 1 million copies. Primarily he's written children's books with a strong moral theme or Bible story books. Bob is best known for The Lion Storyteller Bible, which sold more than 200,000 copies, and The Wolf Who Cried Boy, with more than 90,000 copies sold. He is also the author of You Version's Bible App for Kids, which has been downloaded over 5 million times. Bob is married to Sue, and they have two married children and three grandchildren.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy from Tyndale Blog Network to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own. I was not compensated.

The Last Operative by Jerry B. Jenkins

I usually thoroughly enjoy a book by Jerry B. Jenkins. This was no exception. I enjoyed it. I found it interesting and since I'm not an authority on spy-craft or the CIA or NSA, I found it plausible.

I am sure there are more "accurate" stories. I am sure there are more intriguing stories. But I found this good enough for me. It told me a tale about which I had no mental concept - spies who spy upon spies and who then report to unknown authority figures. And then the "operatives" are almost all gone- except The Last Operative who is the main protagonist.

We see him in a tangle where he doesn't know whom he can trust out of those he has trusted most and completely in years and events bygone.

Folks die. Houses are blown to smithereens. Folks are on the run. People lie, steal, spy.

A good read that incorporates faith - faith one has and faith one needs to regain.

DISCLOSURE: I received this via the TyndaleRewards program after earning points. Opinions are my own. I was not compensated.

Get FREE BOOKS via Tyndale Rewards Points for joining and sharing your review links

I just want to ENCOURAGE each of you Chat With Vera readers of the wonderful Tyndale Rewards program. You earn points in a variety of methods (one of which is to put a link to a Tyndale book review in the Tyndale Rewards website) and after you earn points you can select Bibles, children's or teens books, audio, Christian fiction, and other books. A WONDERFUL program. Here is some info on it....

What Is the Tyndale Rewards Program?

I know what you’re thinking . . . not another points program. You’re right! BUT It’s NOT just another points program. The Tyndale Rewards program is designed to provide you with opportunities to get books and Bibles for ZERO dollars. That’s right—F. R. E. E. As a member of the Tyndale Rewards program, you’ll have access to inspiring literature, Bibles, special promotional offers, and much more.

Other member incentives include a free gift on your birthday, along with opportunities to share your personal recommendations and feedback concerning Tyndale products. The more participation you have with the program, the more points you earn—and points translate into free stuff!

The Tyndale Rewards program is a great way to get free books and Bibles that you can keep for yourself or give to friends and family. Your journey to earning free faith-based products starts here.

So why not click here and join up right now. Get some "spending points" for books you love to read. You will receive 25 sign-up points by using the link above.