Lynn Hallbrooks's Blog, page 3

The Crushing Depths by Dani Pettrey #NetGalley #BookReview #TheCrushingDepths #RomanticSuspense #ChristianFiction #Military

Upfront information: I was provided with an advanced reader’s copy of The Crushing Depths by Dani Pettrey courtesy of Bethany House Publishers via Net Galley. The book will be available for purchase on June 30, 2020.

Parental note: As a Christian fiction book, one would expect it to be clean. It is except there is mild to moderate violence – most of which is played off-stage.

Genre and my rating: Christian Romantic Suspense – 5 stars

Brief synopsis: Noah Rowley heads up a Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) team in a small coastal town. The range of duties that this team performs are varied. The risks they take are many. If you ask them, they'd say it was worth it to find the person or persons responsible, whether it be on an oil rig or closer to home.

My perspective as a reader: There were several investigations going on in this story. Ms. Pettrey did a wonderful job of interweaving them alongside a couple of budding romances.

My perspective as an author: I was impressed by how well Ms. Pettrey shared the various emotions at play while maintaining the investigative threads and imparting information that was pertinent yet separate from each of these.

I look forward to seeing what Ms. Pettrey has in store next for the readers of the Coastal Guardians series. I know I'm hooked.

I hope my insights into this story will be helpful in your decision-making process. 

Happy Reading,

Lynn Hallbrooks
​@LHallbrooks
Author-Reader-Cheerleader
Founder of Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC

Memorial Day Memory

Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC designed by Creative Digital Studios and David McKoy I often remember the time that David McKoy and I went to an event on Memorial Day at a Houston Veteran cemetery. We marched together honoring the sacrifices of those that "gave all" for the people back home.  

David's passion while writing the Call Sign: Wrecking Crew series was fueled in part by his love of military history a...

A #BookReview of The Amber Secret by David Leadbeater #NetGalley #TheAmberSecret #ActionAdventure

​It's time to reveal The Amber Secret by David Leadbeater. It is being published through Thomas and Mercer. An advanced reader's copy was provided to me by NetGalley and the public version will be available on December 15, 2019.

This is the third book in the Relic Hunters series and builds upon the previous two - The Relic Hunters and The Atlantis Cipher. Therefore, I recommend reading the series in order.

Parental Note: This book contains violence and adult language. 

My rating: 5 Stars

A brief synopsis: Guy Bodie and his team are dealing with the fallout from their previous adventure when they are whisked away. Now, at the hands of ruthless treasure hunters and guided by an older gentleman of questionable sanity, Guy's team must unravel the clues that lead them to the Amber Room. Will those who, take this treacherous trek through the mountains, survive? Or will their guide lead them astray, never to be found?

My take as a reader: I was riveted to the story - wincing and gnashing my teeth. Wondering, all along, if the Relic Hunters would find the lost treasure or at least a way out of their predicament.

My thoughts as an author: Mr. Leadbeater is masterful at keeping the reader engaged in the ongoing events. Never knowing what will happen until the appropriate time.

I think anyone who enjoys action and adventure with a twist of treasure hunting will be delighted with this series.

If you'd like to learn more about David Leadbeater and his bodies of work, here are great places to start: 

US Amazon Author page

Facebook

​Website

Thank you for stopping by and until next time, happy reading.
​
Lynn Hallbrooks
Author-Reader-Cheerleader
Founder Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC

Finding Some Wit and Wisdom #DoubleCrossLit #Humor #Legal #Books #Readers #ReadingCommunity

Double-Cross Lit has provided readers with an opportunity to get a mash-up of genres since February 2019. I, for one, am grateful that they have. I have seen some interesting mixes of genres as well as some cool covers.

This month's theme is Wit and Wisdom. That means you get to choose from humor, legal, or both for your genres. My fellow authors and I appreciate you taking the time to look over your options here... especially if you decide that one or more of them would suit your reading needs. Hey, honesty is the best policy, you know. 

If you'd like to share this post anytime from November 15, 2019 and November 17, 2019, with your friends and family - feel free. If you use social media, please use the hashtag #doublecrosslit so we can say thanks when we see it.

Happy Reading,

Lynn Hallbrooks
Author-Reader-Cheerleader
Founder Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC 

Companies join together to help others #HumansHelpingHumans #InDarknessBeLight

While Amazon is widely known as a place to get books, it also has a pantry program for folks with limited time to shop. From now until November 15, 2019, Amazon is partnering with Kellogg, Feeding America, Hormel, and Del Monte to bring awareness to a problem that faces even Americans. That is hunger. While there are food banks, they often get depleted around this time of year. 
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You can help re-stock food banks without leaving your home or office. When you visit this link, you'll be shown ways that you can help out a fellow American that you may not even know. 
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Growing up, I was taught that charity begins at home, here is how you can help someone in your home country perhaps even your home state or city. Please consider doing what you can... even if it is sharing this blog post with others. Remember, "there but for Grace, go I".

Lynn Hallbrooks
Author-Reader-Cheerleader
Founder Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC

Watch Out for Monsters and Madmen this #Halloween - #DoubleCrossLit #SciFi #Horror #eBooks

With Halloween a few weeks away, why not grab some eBooks as a treat to yourself or for others. 

The theme for Double-Cross Lit this month is Monsters and Madmen. The genres are science fiction and horror. If you or someone you know loves these types of books then stop by and snag you some copies.

The sale runs from today, October 18, 2019, through October 20, 2019 based on US time. 

Happy reading,

Lynn Hallbrooks
Author-Reader-Cheerleader
Founder Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC

The Raid by Steven Konkoly #BookReview #NetGalley #PoliticalThriller #Military #NewRelease

​Today, October 8, 2019, is the release date for The Raid by Steven Konkoly. I was honored to be provided a copy via NetGallery courtesy of Thomas & Mercer. This is the second book in the Ryan Decker series. Book one, The Rescue, went to number 1 on Amazon shortly after its First Reads' release on March 1, 2019. As of August 2019, it has reached over 100,000 sales. That's no small feat folks. It's anyone's guess what will happen with The Raid. Will you be among those that snap it up? Not sure, then let me tell you a bit about it.

Parental note: The book contains violence, adult language, and mentions human trafficking.

My rating: 5 stars hands down.

A brief synopsis: Ryan Decker, Harlow Mackenzie, and their teammates are tasked to investigate some strange happenings on the US/Mexico border. Not even the usual suspects are sure what's going on. The team quickly discovers obstacles that put their skill sets as well as their abilities to improvise, overcome, and adapt to the test.

My take as a reader: Picture for a moment a project that you promised to do (or have for school), where you had lots of time to do it. Then you're slammed with other things.  Next time you put your head up you realize it's the afternoon of the day before it was due and there are hours of work to get done? Without warning, the computer, internet, and everything else you needed are unavailable. Now imagine that feeling increased by a factor of 10. That's how I felt as I got towards the end of the book. It starts out with a few things to handle and before you know it you're having a hard time catching your breath while flipping pages as fast as your eyes can read them.

My take as an author: Personally, I think Steven Konkoly has found his stride as an author. He has figured out how to fit all the different elements, of a book, in their proper places in order to make it amazing. 
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It'll be interesting to see what happens with the current books of the Ryan Decker series between now and when book 3 comes out in Summer of 2020. I also look forward to seeing what Steven Konkoly has in store for these characters.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll join me in reading this intriguing series. If you have a prediction about The Raid and how long it will stay number 1 or how many sales it will get, I'd love to hear it.

Lynn Hallbrooks
Author-Reader-Cheerleader
Founder Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC

 

Not Your Typical Cloaks and Daggers #DoubleCrossLit #Fantasy #Thriller #eBooks

Some of you might remember the term "cloak-and-dagger" as it relates to intrigue.  Well, this month, Double-Cross Lit took it a step farther. Think of cloaks and daggers being used in some fantasy novels and the intrigue one sees in a thriller. Then generously sprinkle in other fantasy stories and thriller novels, you'll get the Cloaks and Daggers event happening from September 21, 2019 through Septemb...

Cloaks and Daggers via #DoubleCrossLit #Fantasy #Thriller #eBooks

​​This weekend, the Double-Cross Lit event features a mash-up of fiction in the fantasy, fantasy thriller, and thriller genres. Stop by this page anytime September 21, 2019 through September 23, 2019 while the prices are reduced for the Cloaks and Daggers event.

Even if these stories are not your "cup of tea", each share gets these books closer to someone who will love and appreciate them.

​Want to find out what the mash-up will be next month? Then sign up as a reader and you'll get an email alerting you to what's going on and when.

Happy reading and exploring,

Lynn Hallbrooks
Author-Reader-Cheerleader
Founder, Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC

About #YouBeneathYourSkin by Damyanti Biswas aka @damyantig Published by @SimonSchusterIN #NewRelease #CrimeNovel

Today, September 17, 2019, is the release date of Damyanti Biswas's debut novel You Beneath Your Skin. It is being traditionally published by Simon and Schuster India. Based on this blurb, I think this story might be an eye-opener for many:

"It’s a dark, smog-choked new Delhi winter. Indian American single mother Anjali Morgan juggles her job as a psychiatrist with caring for her autistic teenage son. She is in a long-standing affair with ambitious police commissioner Jatin Bhatt – an irresistible attraction that could destroy both their lives.
 
Jatin’s home life is falling apart: his handsome and charming son is not all he appears to be, and his wife has too much on her plate to pay attention to either husband or son. But Jatin refuses to listen to anyone, not even the sister to whom he is deeply attached. Across the city there is a crime spree: slum women found stuffed in trash bags, faces and bodies disfigured by acid. And as events spiral out of control Anjali is horrifyingly at the centre of it all.
 
In a sordid world of poverty, misogyny, and political corruption, Jatin must make some hard choices. But what he unearths is only the tip of the iceberg. Together with Anjali he must confront old wounds and uncover long-held secrets before it is too late." Damyanti is not a novice to the writing world. She has written short stories that have been published in anthologies and journals around the world, including Litro, Griffith Review, Bluestem and others. She’s also one of the editors of the Forge Literary magazine.

Damyanti Biswas is the co-founder of We Are The World Blogfest #WATWB - a group of people who desire to bring positivity to social media. Each member does their part to share positive stories from around the world. When not writing, sharing positive stories, or  with family and friends, she volunteers for the non-profits, Project WHY and Chhanv Foundation. All proceeds from You Beneath Your Skin will be split between these organizations. I suspect that the knowledge she gained working with these groups helped her when writing this book.

Here's an opportunity to learn about another culture - the good and the bad - while helping others. You can purchase and download You Beneath Your Skin primarily in India. Never fear, if you're not in India, use this link.

Would you like to learn more about Damyanti Biswas, Simon and Schuster India, Project Why, and/or the Chhanv Foundation? Check out the links below.

Links for Damyanti Biswas:
Website
Follow on Facebook - Instagram - Pinterest - Twitter

Links for Simon and Schuster India:
Website
Follow via Facebook - Instagram - Twitter

Links for Project Why:
Website
Follow via Facebook - Instagram - Twitter

Links for Chhanv Foundation aka Stop Acid Attacks:
Website
Follow via Facebook - Instagram - Twitter

Feel free to share this post with others. All positively word comments are welcomed. 

Wishing you and yours a wonderful one,

Lynn Hallbrooks
Author-Reader-Cheerleader
Founder Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC