Summer of Suspense: Sixteen Tales By Some of Christian Fiction's Most Popular Mystery and Suspense Authors by Mary Alford

Summer of Suspense: Sixteen Tales By Some of Christian Fiction's Most Popular Mystery and Suspense Authors Reviews

• 
  Miss W Book Reviews

  My review is for two books in the Anthology. The first book is Inscription by Ruth Hartzler. This novella is a prequel to the Relic Hunters Taskforce series. This novella is a clean romantic suspense and I really enjoyed it, ALOT. I have read this author's cozy mystery series which is fantastic and this romantic suspense did not disappoint.
  
  The main character is Dr. Abigail Spencer who is a biblical scholar, not only that a Latin and Greek Scholar. She is a college professor that is forced into procuring biblical artifacts.
  
  This is an incredibly well written story full of suspense. The descriptions were so detailed and the research the author did is obvious to this reader. I could not read this book fast enough! It was so good! So much intrigue and well developed characters. This novella packs such a punch I forgot it wasn't a full length novel.
  
  This story is fast paced and thrilling.
  
  I can't wait for the first book in the series, called Scroll, coming out soon.
  
  The second book I read in the anthology is Breakout by Samantha Price This is the first book I have read from this author and I was BEYOND wowed! This book is a prequel to the Gretel Koch Jewel Thief series.
  
  Gretel Kotch is a international jewel thief that loves the high of stealing diamonds until she falls in love with the wrong person. Gretel is in prison trying to think of ways to get out and get her old life back. This story had me on the edge of my seat. The characters are terrific. The writing is so well done. This is what a suspense book should be. If you like clean and wholesome romantic suspense, your going to LOVE breakout, like I did.
  
  Keep an eye out for the first book in this series called Shiny Things.
• 
  Sharon

  Storm Warnings by Mary Alford ** It Was Ok
  There was potential for a good story but I felt like the book was incomplete.
  
  Afterglow (Lantern Beach Escape, Book 1) by Christy Barritt **** I Really Liked It
  This Mystery/ Suspense was very good. It nearly had a spooky Gothic vibe to it but it wasn't that dark and drear. In fact, a sweet love story runs through it.
  
  Code Pink - Stolen Baby by Patricia Bradley *** I Liked It
  Two significant days, five years apart, dramatically change a woman's life. This novella is intense, like a made for TV movie.
  
  Fading Into the Night by Vannetta Chapman *** I Liked It
  This novella has two very interesting lead characters who are polar opposites in almost every way but they work well together on a brief mission. I would enjoy reading more about them in other books even if the author never had them cross paths again.
  
  Missing by Mary Ellis ** It Was Ok
  This tale did not have the angst of Suspense; it read more like a Cosy Mystery. I did enjoy the dialogue between Marc and Lily.
  
  On the Run by Debby Giusti ** It Was Ok
  This tale had a number of intriguing elements but it did not set well for me. The main plot thread was not resolved, making this tale feel like just a prequel to the real story.
  
  Wedding Day Revenge by Rachel J. Good ** It Was Ok
  I don't really have any criticism of the story but I just wasn't really interested in reading another Amish story.
  
  Inscription (Relic Hunters Taskforce - Prequel) by Ruth Hartzler **** I Really Liked It
  Wow! This novella packed the punch of a full length novel. I almost gave it 5 stars but I thought the reason the bad guys gave for keeping Agent Jack Riley alive was weak. However, the rest of the plot was believable. This tale is intriguing and I am considering delving into the Relic Hunters Taskforce series.
  
  Death in Earthen Vessels by Shaen Mehl W/A Shaen Layle *** I Liked It
  This is a thriller just a little on the dark side.
  
  Deceiving Death by Ruth Logan Herne ***** It Was Amazing
  This is just the way Romantic Suspense should be: great characters, intricate plot, witty dialogue and believable romance. It is so very entertaining that I'm going to put a bookmark in this volume so that I can easily come back to this tale again and again.
  
  The Secret Life of Emma Evans by Loree Lough *** I Liked It
  There was a convoluted path for Bady and Libby to navigate in order to find the truth and I enjoyed the process of discovery with them.
  
  Cold Creek Manor by Elizabeth Ludwig ** It Was Ok
  This was too short. It felt like only a summation of the story.
  
  Chasing Shadows by Nancy Mehl *** I Liked It
  Interesting tale. Interesting lead character; I think I will check out more of this author's books about her.
  
  Murder in Sugarcreek (An Accidental Adventure of Doreen Sizemore) by Serena B. Miller ** It Was Ok
  Kind of entertaining Cosy Mystery with quirky "senior's" humour.
  
  Breakout (Gretel Koch Jewel Thief: Prequel) by Samantha Price *** I Liked It
  This was very different from what I expected but that's okay. This fast-paced, action-packed tale is definitely a prequel; it is an intriguing teaser designed to entice the reader to follow the storyline in the ensuing series. I'm hooked.
  
  Terror in the Cabin by Alana Terry ** It Was Ok
  Not my cup of tea. This tale is written from the main character's point of view in the first person narrative style and I didn't connect with the character at all.
• 
  Linda

  I just read Inscription which is a prequel from Ruth Hartzler. It’s was really suspenseful and it left you wanting more. It had you at the edge of your seat. I can’t wait to read the whole series
• 
  Elizabeth

  Summer Of Suspense: Sixteen tales by some of Christian Fiction most popular authors.
  
  Wow , a collection . There are sixteen authors that went together to write sixteen different novellas . All these are suspense, mystery, Amish , fictional, good and clean novellas. I enjoyed all of them . There were a few authors that I had not read anything from , but I enjoyed them. I was not disappointed. These novellas will keep you up way in the night reading . They are short stories so you can read them pretty quick.
  I was given a complimentary copy of this book, but was not told that I had to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.
• 
  Melissa Henderson

  What a great collection of suspense stories! Each one was filled with suspense and action. Every author brings a unique style of writing and unique story. From the Amish mysteries to guns and bullets flying to a brave granny praying over a thug, the stories and characters are amazing. I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required.
• 
  Sarah

  I was SO excited when I saw, MONTHS AGO, that several of my favorite authors were putting together an anthology of suspense and mysteries. Summer of Suspense was everything and more that I was expecting, as far as the quality of the stories. In fact, I was pre-ordering the next books in the series as I finished stories. It’s always exciting when authors start new mystery/suspense series! It was also fun getting to see old friends making cameo appearances in some of the stories. I had pre-purchase the iBook version for myself, and the Kindle version for my mom. Then I had the opportunity to get a early reviewer copy!!! *HappyDance!!! Every story is a keeper and I’m looking forward to reading the books over and over again!
• 
  Jerah Alvarado

  Mary Alford kicks off this exhilarating novella collection by 16 christian mystery/suspense authors! There is everything from being on the run from the government to a stolen baby, Amish suspense, ex-boyfriend/spouses, con artist, theft, airplane ride gone wrong, and insanely good FBI thrillers!
• 
  Susan Snodgrass

  If you like inspirational suspense, here's a keeper for you. Sixteen, count 'em, SIXTEEN, tales of suspense. Short novellas that can easily be read in just a short amount of time, they are sure to be pleasing to suspense fans. I had read only three of these authors before, Mary Alford, Ruth Logan Herne and Loree Lough, but thoroughly enjoyed the offerings by others. The one by Elizabeth Ludwig was especially suspenseful. Highly recommended.
  
  *My thanks to one of the authors for a preview copy of this book. The opinion here is my own.
• 
  Mary Ann

  I enjoyed this great collection of powerful suspense stories by wonderful writers who know how to hold your attention with exciting tales. It’s nice to know the stories are clean and not overly violent too. Most of these writers I have read and recommended, and now I know a couple more. Many of the stories are Amish mysteries, so those who like this genre won’t be disappointed. Don’t wait to order yours. They’re on sale this week—all 16 for 99c, and each is worth more than that. I received a copy from an author. All opinions are my own.
• 
  Deena

  It's always a little difficult to rate a an anthology of short stories, especially one as riverside Summer of Suspense. I'm happy with the handful of stories I read and enjoyed. But there were quite a few I wasn't able to get into, mainly because I'm not a fan of the genre.
  
  My favorites? Afterglow by Christy Barritt, Storm Warnings by Mary Alford, Chasing Shadows by Nancy Mehl, and Cold Creek Manor by Elizabeth Goddard.
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  Hannah

  Most of the sixteen stories were underwhelming for me. My favorites were Christy Barritt and Patricia Bradley's; each of those were four star stories for me. Most of the rest weren't very memorable or weren't well developed, and I found myself annoyed by several stories that were criminal POVs (a personal pet peeve in mystery) and several others that included some profanities.
• 
  Barbara Hackel

  A collection of suspense/mystery/and interesting stories by an assortment of authors, many of which were new to me. The stories are about random topics, not like some compilations that are all about one topic-such as dogs. However, what they share is individualism and quality writing. While many of the authors were ones I was familiar with from previous reading, I was pleased to discover new authors as well.
  Two of my favorite authors represented were Christy Barritt and Ruth Hartzler. Ruth's book in particular interested me because it was quite different from her typical Amish stories. It seemed to be fiction, yet had elements that seemed like well researched facts. This combination, with one foot in fictional suspense and one foot in non-fiction, made INSCRIPTION a story that stayed with me long after I finished it.
  A nice collection with plenty of variety, and a terrific bargain!
• 
  Sunnie

  So I love a good suspense and a good mystery, and I was happy because there was also some Amish stories in this set as well. They are really entertaining reads and I really enjoyed the stories by Vannetta Chapman and Rachel J. Good. Yes, I'm just a little partial to the Amish stories. But all the stories were attention getters and you can't just read "part" of a story or "part" of this anthology. You have to read each of the stories.
  
  There was a wide variety of storylines and there were a few new authors for me, but many were authors whose books I won't miss! It was a wonderful price, too, for so much to read and keep ya busy! Highly recommend this one!!!!
• 
  Linda Rainey

  A Nice Collection.
  
  This was a nice collection of Christian romantic suspense.
  I loved seeing some familiar authors and meeting new ones.
  This collection is recommended for those who love Christian suspense.
• 
  Tonya

  Some of the stories were absolutely wonderful! Some of them were just flat out unbelievable. Spies that are believers? Not possible. Spies have to lie too much to be believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. But it was a good deal and I’m glad I read the books.
• 
  C Allen

  Breakout is Samantha Prices's contribution to this Sixteen book collection of Christian Fiction. It is a new idea for the mostly Amish author and a tremendous prequel to the Gretel Koch Jewel Thief series.
  
  Gretel Koch is a minister's daughter that is an international jewel thief and worst, she has been caught. Gretel's every waking minute is spent planning her escape and revenge on the boyfriend who stole her diamonds.
  
  How was Special Agent Jack Fletcher going to play into her plan?
  
  A fast-reading story that keeps your attention from beginning until the end.
  
  A real winner, Samantha. Can't wait for the rest of the series.
  
  I was given an ARC by the author for my honest review.
• 
  Robin

  What a great collection of suspense tales. I absolutely loved each and everyone in this book. All had a twist which made the suspense even stronger. Highly recommend. I received an advance reader copy from the author. Opinions are my own.
• 
  Kristine Morgan

  I really enjoyed this group of novellas from some of today's leading suspense authors. Every story grabbed my attention but luckily they were novellas so I could budget 1 a night and not lose too much sleep. Each story is complete. So settle in for 16 nights of suspense. Grab a pot of coffee and settle in for a great read.
• 
  Marilyn

  Summer of Suspense has some of my favorite authors contributing to this great collection. Since I recently attended an event with authors Vannetta Chapman and Rachel J. Good present I read their contributions first.
  
  Vannetta Chapman tale Fading Into the Night setting was in Shipshewana, IN. Ben Lapp sure didn’t expect any to be trying to save his Amish community from a terrorist attack. I felt like I was right in the midst of his travels with the Agent Nora Brooks as they went to the Bishop. When will Dash be spotted with his wanderings around the area with no electronic signals in Amish Country?
  
  I was thrilled to hear that Rachel J. Good’s contribution featured beloved characters Benuel and Mari in Wedding Day Revenge. As their wedding day was near, Mari was uneasy with threats being received that sounded like her twin sister who was in prison. This tale was enthralling thinking a conclusion was coming only to lead into more unexpected events that kept me on the edge of my seat until I was finished.
  
  I’m looking forward to reading every other tale in this marvelous suspense collection by so many gifted authors. I appreciate the wide variety of genres that each author is known for.
  I’m so glad I pre-ordered Summer of Suspense. I highly recommend this collection to fans of suspense.
• 
  Janice Sisemore

  Summer of suspense
  
  A lot of great authors in the book set. A lot of stories to read. A great way to read authors you have not read before. I still have a lot to read but wanted to write a short review. I will update when I read more of them.
  
  Wedding day revenge by Rachel Good
  
  Definitely very suspenseful. Frannie escapes from prison. When will they catch her?
  
  The way the story started out I wasn’t sure Frannie was really the bad sister or if it was Mari. I was on edge of my seat with suspense.
  
  The secret life of Emma Evans by Loree Lough
  
  Who do it ? Read and see who killed Emma or if someone really did. It was a fun story to read but ended too soon.
  
  Storm Warnings by Mary Alford
  
  Fast moving story. A lot of action. Covered a short amount of time. Really exciting book.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  Patti Whitson Stephenson She Lives to Read

  What a great collection of stories! Every author in this collection is an accomplished author. I loved the variety of stories in this collection. Two of my favorite stories were by Vannetta Chapman and Rachel Good. This book is quite the bargain, and the stories are short enough that you can read one in a setting. I’m hoping this same group of authors collaborates on another collection again. Just the right blend of suspense and romance. Don’t miss it!
  
  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
• 
  Kim

  Sixteen stories to devour for a few days or more of happy enjoyment are all in one package. Several have Amish undertones or story lines but within modern settings. This set will take you all over the globe. All stories are previously unpublished by these Christian suspense authors. Some introduce you to characters in other books as a sample of their work.
  
  Grab a glass of your favorite summer beverage while you treat yourself to stellar mysteries from authors both known and new.
• 
  Connie Brown

  Great stories.
  
  This collection of stories is marvelous. Some of the authors are old friends of mine as they are some of my go to reads. Some are new to to me and I'm finding new people to read. The stories are filled with tense situations and some unexpected outcomes
  Read these stories and enjoy.
• 
  Peni

  Please see individual stories for review.