Happy Tuesday! From Monday through Wednesday, I’m spotlighting The Christy Award 2019 finalist books in each category – let’s keep going with mystery, suspense, thriller! Some of the authors were gracious enough to answer a couple of questions for me so I’ve included their answers below as well.
The Christy Award® Gala 2019 is coming up TOMORROW night (Nov 6th) at Lipscomb University in Nashville, following The Art of Writing Conference. The Christy Award Dinner Gala will celebrate the art of Christian fiction, announce the 2019 winners of The Christy Award, and feature bestselling authors Patti Callahan, James Rubart and Becky Wade. In addition, they’ll honor the legacy of bestselling author and pioneer of inspirational fiction, Janette Oke, in the 40th anniversary year of Love Comes Softly. (You can still register to attend both events until the day of the conference/gala!)
If you can’t attend this year, watch the live stream HERE
And the finalists for Mystery, Suspense, Thriller are….
CALLED TO PROTECT
SERIES: Blue Justice #2
GENRE: Romantic Suspense
PUBLISHER: Revell
RELEASE DATE: July 31, 2018
PAGES: 320
For the past year, Chloe St. John has been working as a K-9 cop with her German shepherd partner, Hank. After being dumped by her fiancé for another woman, Chloe has decided that Hank is just about the only male she likes. She’s over the whole romance thing and focuses her attention on doing her job. Because a serious case of human trafficking with connections to her missing cousin just landed in her lap.
When US Marshall Blake MacCallum’s daughter goes missing, he’s ordered to kill the judge he’s protecting and tell no one about his daughter’s disappearance or she will die. Blake races against the clock to rescue his daughter while Chloe and Hank are asked to be a part of the task force assembled to bring down the traffickers. Chloe finds herself attracted to the silent, suffering man, but thanks to her previous bad judgment, she wonders if she can trust him. And can Blake trust himself around this firecracker of a woman?
Bestselling author Lynette Eason warns readers to buckle in for a fast and furious ride that will have their hearts pumping from the very start.
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Lynette Eason is the best-selling, award winning author of almost fifty books including the Women of Justice series, the Deadly Reunions series, the Hidden Identity series, the Elite Guardians series and the Blue Justice series. She writes for Revell and for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line. Her books have appeared on the CBA, ECPA, and Publisher’s Weekly bestseller lists. She has won several awards including the Carol Award, the IRCC award, the Selah, and the Christian Retailing’s Best 2017 Award. She placed in the top ten in the James Patterson 2016 co-writer contest. The movie, Her Stolen Past, based on Lynette’s novel, aired February 2, 2018 on the Lifetime Movie Network. Lynette is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Romance Writers of America (RWA), Mystery Writers of America (MWA), International Thriller Writers (ITW), and Faith, Hope, and Love (FHL) chapter of RWA as well as the Kiss of Death (KOD) chapter. Lynette can be found online at www.lynetteeason.com
why do you write Christian Fiction?
how has love comes softly by janette oke impacted you and/or your writing?
Oh my goodness, Janette Oke was my go to author for a clean romantic read. I adored her prairie romances. And even tho my favorite stories are filled with suspense and dead bodies, Janette is just about the only author I’ll read even tho she doesn’t write suspense in the way that I do. I read hers because she captures my attention and imagination with her incredible character development. I simply have to know how the characters are going to fare and flip the pages with eager anticipation.
EVERY WICKED MAN
SERIES: The Bowers Files #11
GENRE: Suspense/Thriller
PUBLISHER: Berkley
RELEASE DATE: September 4, 2018
PAGES: 560
A criminal mastermind’s chilling terrorist plot forces FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers to the brink in this thriller from bestselling novelist Steven James.
When a senator’s son takes his own life and posts the video live online, Agent Bowers is drawn into a complex web of lies that begins to threaten the people he loves the most. As he races to unravel the mystery behind the suicide and a centuries-old code that might help shed light on the case, he finds a dark pathway laced with twists and deadly secrets that touch a little too close to home.
A fast-paced, intelligent thriller, Every Wicked Man will have readers racing through the pages to its thundering conclusion.
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Steven James is a critically acclaimed author of 14 novels and a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest. Publishers Weekly calls him “[a] master storyteller at the peak of his game.” His second book on writing, Story Trumps Structure (WD Books), received the Special Storytelling Resource Award from Storytelling World. When he’s not working on his next novel, James teaches Novel Writing Intensive Retreats across the country with New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni. Visit him at his website.
why do you write Christian Fiction?
how have christy by catherine marshall & love comes softly by janette oke impacted you and/or your writing?
MIND GAMES
SERIES: Kaely Quinn Profiler #1
GENRE: Suspense/Thriller
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
RELEASE DATE: December 4, 2018
PAGES: 332
Kaely Quinn’s talents as an FBI behavior analyst are impossible to ignore, no matter how unorthodox her methods. But when a reporter outs her as the daughter of an infamous serial killer, she’s demoted to field agent and transferred to St. Louis.
When the same reporter who ruined her career claims to have received an anonymous poem predicting a string of murders, ending with Kaely’s, the reporter’s ulterior motives bring his claim into question. But when a body is found that fits the poem’s predictions, the threat is undeniable, and the FBI sends Special Agent Noah Hunter to St. Louis.
Initially resentful of the assignment, Noah is surprised at how quickly his respect for Kaely grows, despite her oddities. But with a brazen serial killer who breaks all the normal patterns on the loose, Noah and Kaely are tested to their limits to catch the murderer before anyone else–including Kaely herself–is killed.
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Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Ginger Murray PhotographyNancy Mehl is a USA Today best-selling author. She’s been a finalist for the Carol Award twice and won the award once. She was also a finalist for two Reviewers’ Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews and was a finalist for the coveted Christy Award. She lives in Missouri with her husband, Norman, and her Puggle, Watson. She’s authored almost forty books and is currently working on a new series for Bethany House about an FBI profiler working with the BAU. Visit her at her website.
why do you write Christian Fiction?
Christian fiction, when inspired by the Holy Spirit, can speak to readers in a way secular fiction can’t. We only need to follow Jesus’ example. He was the Master Story Teller. His parables were fictional stories that were full of God’s love and healing power. I pray over every book I write, asking God to use it to touch the lives of the people who read it. I wouldn’t want to write any other way.
how has christy by catherine marshall impacted you and/or your writing?
I loved reading Christy when I was a teenager. I was surprised to find that faith could be powerfully displayed through fiction. I’m so grateful to God that He’s allowed me to follow in Catherine Marshall’s footsteps. I try to write novels that are more than just exciting stories. I pray over each book and ask God to use it to touch someone for Him. What an honor!
The Christy Award/ECPA is offering one of my readers ALL the finalist books in one category of your choice. (US only) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? Which of these The Christy Award mystery, suspense, thriller finalists are on your TBR list? Which have you already read?
I have not read every wicked man yet but it’s on my TBR list.
Every Wicked Man is on my list. I haven’t read any of the books.
all are great!
I have read Mind Games and Called to Protect but have not heard of the other one. Another one of my favorite genres.
I am in the same boat. I have read those two but never heard of the Steven James book!
Congratulations to all these authors! All these books look so exciting! Would love to read these!
I haven’t read any of them yet, but I’ve heard great things about them!
Awesome books!
This is my favorite category. I have read Called to Protect and it was great. Mind Games is on my TBR list.
I’ve read Every Wicked Man. The other two are on my TBR. This is my go-to-genre!
This is one of my favorite genres! It looks like there are going to be more to put into my TBR pile.
I have read Mind Games, and enjoyed it, especially since CF Romantic Suspense is my favorite kind! Would love to win any print copy! Thanks for the opportunity!
I’m a big fan of Nancy Mehl’s work and have read a few of Steven James . I’m rooting for Mind Games by Nancy Mehl to be this year’s winner.
Love seeing this as it’s brought back motivation and excitement for Christian fiction and The Christy Awards for myself.
I’ve read Called to Protect and Mind Games. Nancy Mehl’s books are ones that I eagerly anticipate every year! I’ve never read any of Steven James’s books though.
I haven’t had a chance to read any of these…yet! They’re on my tbr! ?
I am a suspense lover and can’t believe that I haven’t read any of these! I’m pretty sure I have Nancy Mehl’s Mind Games on my Kindle ap, so I’m sure I can remedy that problem.
I need to add Every Wicked Man to my TBR list!
I love the idea of suspense & thriller books…but haven’t read another since finishing one by Frank Peretti. Such intensity, yet sooo well written. Need to prep myself more to read these fascinating options.
I would like to read Mind Games
My favorite genre!! 2 new to me authors and 1 I love to read, all these books added to my goodreads list!
Mind Games blew my mind . . . for me, it stands out high above the rest for the simple sake of doing something I never would have imagined in Christian fiction (but SO GOOD).
YES!!! I agree wholeheartedly. It’s one of my top 10 suspense reads ever.
So I’ve read all but the actual winner! Loved this whole series by Lynette Eason and loved Nancy’s book so much. Looking forward to reading the second book in this series. If the winning book is better or on par with these two, I definitely need to read it!!
haha me too, Melissa!
My favorite category!
I loved Mind Games! Would definitely love to read the others. Supsense/thriller is my favorite genre.
I enjoy suspense, but I haven’t read any of these yet.