Cold Vengeance by Nancy Mehl is this week’s Reader Friday! here’s the first line: “Her will to fight was fueled more by fear than resolve, but it was all she had left.”
But first the photo and verse. The photo is special–Priscilla Bettis took this photo of the Dumbbell Nebula. In case you didn’t know, and I didn’t, here’s this: The Dumbbell, a nearby planetary nebula residing more than 1,200 light-years away, is the result of an old star that has shed its outer layers in a glowing display of color.
Here’s Priscilla’s explanation of how she took it: The picture is actually 12 images taken over six minutes. The images are stacked one atop another in order to get the details of the nebula. The more faint stars show up that way, too. It’s called the Dumbbell Nebula because it’s brighter and a little pinker on the left and right edges and fainter in the middle … shaped like a dumbbell.
I think it’s beautiful and the verses in Psalm 147 immediately came to mind. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Now for Cold Vengeance by Nancy Mehl. Here’s the cover and back copy:
When a renowned crime podcaster vanishes without a trace, former FBI behavioral analysts turned private investigators River Ryland and Tony St. Clair are called upon to track her down. As they wade through the evidence she left behind, they unearth a startling connection–she may have discovered the existence of an unknown killer, and he will stop at nothing to carry out a deadly plan.
As the pair delves deeper, they soon find themselves the targets of a relentless enemy determined to silence them. With their lives–and hearts–on the line, can they confront the evil that threatens them before it consumes them both?
My Take:
Oh, my. I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down even though I needed to be writing! The characters Nancy Mehl created were amazing. I was so worried about them, something I’m sure an author loves, and loved watching the way they puzzled out the six unsolved crimes the true crime podcaster was investigating before she disappeared.
The twists and turns kept me guessing who the villain was, and I loved the way River and Tony uncovered the clues. But the missing podcaster isn’t the only problem they have. River’s mother has Alzheimer’s and River is her caregiver–for a mother who wasn’t there for River when she was a child because she was grieving the loss of her marriage. And now River’s father wants to apologize and get forgiveness…something River wouldn’t even think about until she became a Christian.
Now she feels God wants her to forgive him, but she’s struggling…not only that, a serial killer has River in his crosshairs. He is furious that she eluded death in the first book and has plotted her demise ever since. This is great conclusion to the series. Each book can be read as a stand-alone, but I’m sure you’ll want to read the others. (Not that you even have to read them in order)
You can purchase Cold Vengeance for 40% off and free shipping at Baker Bookhouse! Or here are links to other online stores.
Okay Readers, what are you reading this week? Leave the first sentence in the comments and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library.
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Comments 28
“Get in, get out . . . a blizzard’s coming.” Taken from Hidden in the Night by Elizabeth Goddard. Nancy Mehl’s book, Cold Vengeance it’s in my TBR list. I can’t wait go read it. I enjoyed your comments in it.
Author
You will enjoy Nancy’s book, Linda! And Elizabeth’s is on my TBR list, almost next in line! I have one to read in view of an endorsement and then hers…
What a fabulous photo. Thanks for sharing. And I’ll be looking for the book. Thanks, Pat.
Author
Priscilla captured a great shot and I don’t think it was easy! I’m thankful she emailed it to me. 🙂 And you’ll enjoy Cold Vengeance!
That picture looks familiar.:-) I love that God names all those stars, how magnificent is our God.
Great review, Pat! Nancy Mehl is such a talented author. I am reading Paint the Sunset by Dawn V. Cahill. The first line: Meg closed her eyes and breathed in the warm Sunday spring breeze, background music serenading her.
I’m far enough into the book to know that Meg’s serenity is about to disintegrate!
Author
Yes, Nancy is a fantastic author, Priscilla! And your photo is just amazing. I need to talk to you about how you did it! I don’t think I’ve read any of Dawn Cahill’s books…will have to remedy that.
Great photo and interesting information.
I am near the end of Garden Girls by Jessica Patch.
“Sharp claws scrape against my neck.”
Author
Ohh, that is a spine tingling book, Paula! I’m actually rereading it! And I love Priscilla’s photo.
Another christian author. I love to read their books.
Author
Yesss, Judy!
Wow Priscilla! That is some photo and the explanation was helpful. Like Pat, I had never heard of it. I called to my husband and asked if he had ever heard of the Dumbbell Nebula. He said he had. I asked if he wanted to see a pic of it. Boy, he dashed right into the living room and gave a big WOW! Good job!
Pat, the Scripture could not be more perfect for this verse. I love it.
I’m getting ready to start When Flames Ravaged by Rhonda Dragomir. “A wiry roustabout removed his sweat-soaked cap and mopped his brow. ‘She’s a beauty, ain’t she?’”
Author
I have to get Rhonda’s book ASAP! And I was truly amazed by Priscilla’s photo. How in the world can anyone look at the heavens and not know there is a God?
Let me echo: Wow Priscilla! The Dumbbell is one of my favorite planetary nebulae. I recognized it right off. Good job!! I’m curious about the particulars for this shot. Camera? Exposure time and f stop? I know you did multiple exposures, so I’m assuming they were all short because you didn’t have a tripod with slow motion controls or a clock drive. If that’s the case, then I’m curious what software you used to merge the images to get the outstanding final result. Related to God’s creation, I recently read or heard a devotion that remarked on God’s creating the sun and moon, then the devotion author noted the wording, almost as an afterthought, “He also made the stars.” Wow, did He ever! And cares so much for each of them that He even named them! How much more does He care for us! Not only knows our names, but the number of hairs on our heads!
Nancy’s book has been preordered, and I’m waiting for it to drop. I’ve read the earlier books in this series, and if you read them first, I think you’ll have a better feel for the context of River’s and Tony’s relationship.
Here’s the first line of the book I’m reading now. It’s Elizabeth Goddard’s book “Suspicious Homicide”. “Grief lashed at Finnley Wilbanks’s heart while rain pelted the windshield.”
Author
Tim, you’ve asked Priscilla all the questions I want to know the answers to but didn’t know how to pose the questions. lol And I definitely want to read Elizabeths’s latest LIS, too…so many books and so little time…lately by the time my head hits the pillow, I’m out. lol
Cool photo! I am impressed, Priscilla! I just finished Dead, White, and Blue by Annie McEwen. The first line is:
I always thought I was the type of person who knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life.
Author
Hi Gloria~ I’ve not read anything by Aniie McEwen, but that first line is intriguing!
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!!!
Author
You’re welcome, Natalya. And I’m so glad Priscilla shared her photo!
What an awesome photo Priscilla! Thank you for sharing with Pat, and thank you Pat for sharing with us! I have never heard of a Dumbbell nebula so I appreciate the explanation.
Looking forward to reading Nancy Mehl’s Cold Vengeance. I have read a number of her books and like them all.
I am reading Shadow of Hope by Susan Sleeman. “He was at her door and he was going to kill her.”
Author
Neither had I heard of a Dumbell Nebula, Mary G. And I love both Nancy and Susan’s books!!
I must admit I have never heard of the Dumbbell Nebula. I somehow doubt that is God’s name for it, but nevertheless, that is an amazing picture. The verse is so appropriate. Seeing all those stars, it boggles my mind to think that God has named each one.
I am late responding today, but I’m much further behind in my reading. I finished reading a non-fiction book tonight that I started reading last year on September 25. It seems so many other things are taking huge chunks of my reading time. I am getting ready to start reading a biography tomorrow. The title is Another Time: A Memoir by Jim & Sue Keaton with Becky Keep. The Keatons are the parents of Kim Collingsworth and her eight siblings. As the mother and pianist of the Collingsworth Family, a well-known family in Southern Gospel music, Kim is probably the best known of their children. The picture and verse are of even greater interest to me because of a statement the Keatons make in the dedication of their book, referring to their thirty-six (and counting) great-grandchildren. They state: “We just can’t pronounce all of the new names their parents have created!” Now for the first line:
On a cold Monday morning in another time, two starry-eyed teenagers stood in a courthouse in Halifax, North Carolina, and pledged their love and devotion to one another.
Hi Edward, we love the Collingsworth family, and I’ll have to be looking for this book! My husband and I are big fans of theirs, for he sings and plays piano as well. They have a lot of videos on You Tube of their family gatherings, just singing around the piano, they are such a blessing. Thank you for sharing!
Author
Every time I look up at the night sky and see the stars, this verse comes to mind. And it boggles my mind, too. And that first line sounds like the start of a great book!
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Author
Thanks for reading my blog, Diana! And it is a great book…
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What a beautiful photo and verse! Can you imagine naming all those stars and then going back the next night and knowing which is which?? It’s mind boggling!
Your book review sounds like another good one for my list, but the one I’m currently reading starts as, “ The back door slammed and nine year old Danielle Bennett jumped.” I’m finally getting to read Fatal Witness by yours truly! It has really been good so far. I’m like some others, so far behind on my reading, unexpected events this summer has thrown a kink in things, but God’s in control!
Author
Thank you, Dottie…I’m glad you’re enjoying Fatal Witness! And tell me about life getting in the way of reading my favorite books! I always read at night and some nights lately I go to sleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. 🙂