The Romanov Conspiracy by Glenn Meade

The Romanov Royal Family

What really happened on that night in July 1918 when the Romanov royal family was executed. Did they all die that night, or did Princess Anastasia and her brother escape? Dr. Laura Pavlov, an American forensic archaeologist, and an international team are digging in the outskirts of Ekaterinburg, Russia where the Royal family was executed. In one of the mine shafts, Pavlov and her team find a perfectly preserved body. Laura then leaves Russia in search of answers because of what was found on the body. She finds a clue that takes her to Ireland to understand what happened in the days leading up to the Romanov family execution.

I've learned about the history of Russia first taking a Russian literature class in high school and then visiting Belarus as a freshman in college. So when i saw this book was available for a blog tour, I had to get it! I was a little taken aback by the length (over 500 pages), but I as I read it, I was hooked from the beginning. It was a little slow going just trying to concentrate on all that was happening and keeping all the characters straight. I found myself having to reread a page or two when I got distracted so I could keep up with the story. I planned on reading just one part a day, figuring the book would take me all week, but I finished it in just over 3 days. I did not want to put the book down! The story line of the Romanov family intrigued me. The author put in twists and turns that I would have never figured out. I'd love to sit down and read this book again!

I give this book 4.5 stars. I received The Romanov Conspiracy from Howard for the purpose of this review.

The Deposit Slip by Todd M. Johnson

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  The Deposit Slip  Bethany House Publishers (July 1, 2012)

 by  Todd M. Johnson  


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Todd M. Johnson has practiced as an attorney for over 30 years,
specializing as a trial lawyer.

A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Minnesota
Law School, he also taught for two years as adjunct professor of
International Law and served as a US diplomat in Hong Kong.

The Deposit Slip is his debut novel. He lives outside Minneapolis,
Minnesota, with his wife Cathy, and children Ian and Libby.




ABOUT THE BOOK

$10,000,000 Is Missing.


Erin Larson is running out of options. In the wake of her father's death, she found a slim piece of paper--a deposit slip--with an unbelievable amount on it. Only the bank claims they have no record of the money, and trying to hire a lawyer has brought only intimidation and threats. Erin's last chance is Jared Neaton.

How Far Will One Lawyer Go to Find the Money?

When Jared wearied of the shady ethics of his big law firm and started his own, he never expected the wheels to fly off so quickly. One big loss has pushed him to the brink, and it's all he can do to scrape by.

And How Far Will Someone Go to Stop Him?

He's not sure if Erin's case is worth the risk, but if the money is real, all his problems could vanish. When digging deeper unleashes something far more dangerous than just threats, both Jared and Erin must decide the cost they're willing to pay to discover the truth.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Deposit Slip, go HERE.



My Review:

Erin Larson is going through her father's belongings after his death and finds a deposit slip for over 10 million dollars. However the bank claims to have no record of the deposit from three years earlier. Larson's only option to find the truth is a lawsuit. But when there are people trying to intimidate her and threaten her, even smashing the windows on her car, will she be able to follow through with the lawsuit?

Jared Neaton is tired of the shady ethics of the big law firm and decides to start his own firm. But he is getting final bill notices and is unable to keep up with other bills. He can't risk another loss of a case. But when the Larson case is presented to him, there is something about it that makes him risk it all to take the case.

I saw this book on Amazon before it came out, and I was really interested in it. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it and read it. I was not disappointed! I loved the mystery of it and trying to figure out what really happened. Was the deposit slip real? Where did the money go? Who was trying to cover it all up? Where had the money come from originally? This book kept me wondering and trying to figure things up right up to the very last page. I give this book 4.5 stars. I received this book from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance (CFBA) for the purpose of this review.

Darkroom by Joshua Graham

Xandra Carrick travels to her mother's homeland of Vietnam with her father to scatter her mother's ashes. Having spent her life seeking her father's approval, Xandra became a photographer like her father. When processing the photos from Vietnam, she begins to have visions that entangle her in a 40 year old conspiracy that started during the Vietnam war. Her only hope is to uncover the truth. But in doing so, she finds herself and those around her in danger.

Darkroom was a book I wasn't sure about when I got it as I just started reading suspense books in the last few months, but this book blew me out of the water. The first almost 100 pages were a little slow as the book was just laying out the different story lines, but once they began to intersect with each other, I didn't want to put the book down.

I give this book 4.75 stars. I received this book from Howard Books for the purpose of this review.

When The Smoke Clears By Lynette Eason

From the back cover:

After a brush with death due to equipment failure, smokejumper Alexia Allen is ordered to take time off while the incident is under investigation. She makes a last-minute decision to recuperate at her mother’s home and attend her high school reunion. Yet trouble seems to be following her, and within hours of arriving home she is confronted with murder, arson--and a handsome detective.

But the conflicts ahead are nothing compared to the ghosts of her past. As she struggles to accept and forgive her family’s past, she must also decide if the secret she’s been guarding for the last ten years must finally come to light.

Chock-full of the suspense and romantic tension you’ve come to expect from Lynette Eason, When the Smoke Clears is the explosive first book in the Deadly Reunions series.

My review:

This was a great suspense book. Alexia returns home after 10 years to walk into a murder, then danger seems to follow her or even going a step ahead of her! I knew who didn’t commit the crime, but I wasn’t sure who actually did it. Eason kept me guessing I had several suspicions, but even the end was still a cliffhanger. The ending answered some of the questions, but left you wanting to start reading the next book immediately.

I think there is a fine line with suspense books between what I like, and what I don’t. This book surprised me and keep wanting more. The crimes weren’t explained in gory details that would have turned me off. The writing was faced paced and kept the story moving. I give this book 5 stars.

I received this book free from Revell for the purpose of this review.