A Deadly Wilderness by Kelly Irvin is this week’s Reader Friday. Here are the first two lines: The hunt had been good. Lalo Hernandez veered from the trail, scooted through a stand of trees, and crouched behind thick bushes, enjoying the warm noontime sun on his back.
But first the photo and verse. My son-in-law has been at it again–fishing at daybreak. He snapped this sunrise photo just this week, and it’s beautiful. I love that verse, and somehow it just seemed to go with the verse.
Now for A Deadly Wilderness, by Kelly Irvin. Here’s the cover and back copy:
A frantic anonymous crisis center hotline call propels counselor Susana Martinez-Acosta smack into the center of a murder investigation and a homicide detective’s arms. Exactly where she doesn’t want to be. Following the tragic death of her husband, she’s struggled to build a safe haven for herself and her son. That new world doesn’t include hitmen and persistent detectives with dangerous jobs.
An idyllic wilderness hike turns deadly when homicide detective Ray Johnson tumbles into a ravine and lands on a corpse later identified as the son of a prominent citizen. Ray works to solve the political hot-potato murder before city leaders bump him from the case. His determination to find the man’s killer leads him from the wealthiest enclaves in San Antonio to the city’s dark underbelly, all the while trying to win the woman he loves.
A Deadly Wilderness is a romantic suspense novel that will take the reader along on a tumultuous journey as the consuming need for material wealth drives a deadly wedge among family members who haven’t learned when enough really is enough.
The journey ends where it began—in a deadly wilderness. Not everyone will survive the trip.
My take:
A Deadly Wilderness by Kelly Irvin kept me up past midnight, flipping pages to see what would happen next. Her characters immediately drew me in, and the suspense and mystery kept me guessing who the bad guy was. She totally captures the life of a police officer with the ups and downs of the job.
Each character in this multiple-viewpoint book was well drawn — I could feel their hopes and fears. I totally understood Susana’s fear that if she married Ray, she might become a widow again, and her son would lose another person he loved. Seeing how both Ray and Susana coped with the loss of a mate showed how two people could process the same thing differently. Irwin will draw you into this well-written mystery as she weaves all the threads together. This is a book readers of Lynette Eason’s books will love.
A Deadly Wilderness is available in KU or for purchase here!
Okay, Readers, what are you reading this week? Leave the title or first line in the comments. I’ll enter you in a drawing for a $10 gift card from Amazon…or someplace else…
By the way…I was looking at my books on Amazon and came across my very first romance story for Harlequin Heartwarming! This was such a fun book to write…once I learned how to write a romance. lol Check it out! It’s in KU
In this second-chance romance from the USA Today–bestselling author, a man questions his life choices when he reunites with the first woman he ever loved.
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Comments 52
Love the verse. Yes, the LORD is my light and salvation. Thank you for sharing. I just started reading Teach The Torches To Burn by Christina Dodd.
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Emily, that sounds like a good book.
I listened to the song while in my hot tub and worshipped the Lord in song❤️ Thank you for sharing such inspirational music. I ALWAYS listen!
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I’m so glad you enjoy the songs, Charlotte. I enjoy finding them.
I was thinking of reading Martha’s Choice the other day. I was surprised to see the book so I had to buy it. Now I know I have to start it.
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Great, Sharon! I hope you enjoy it.
Your SIL took a beautiful picture. Kelly Irvin is such a talented author. I’m not surprised you liked A Deadly Wilderness. I am reading Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund. It’s a theology book on Christ’s heart, and it’s very deep and dense and good. The first line: “My dad pointed out to me something that Charles Spurgeon pointed out to him.” (Doesn’t that make you want to read on?!)
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I love Charles Spurgeon, Priscilla. And the book sounds really deep.
Always Listening by Nadija Mujagic
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That sounds interesting BN100!
That photo looks so peaceful, and the verse tells us why. Thank you also for the worship song. We sing it in our contemporary service. And thank you for the Kelly Irvin book review. I don’t know how I missed that one.
I just finished reading Susan Warren’s “Scent of Hope” which is the second in her Call of the Wild series set in Alaska. As expected, it’s a very good book.
Last night, I started Terri Reed’s “Danger in the Rockies” which is one of the books in the Colorado K-9 Unit series. The opening line is “K-9 Officer Maren Anderson battled the fatigue she’d been facing since driving from Colorado Springs to the Barren Valley Clinic in Barren Valley, Colorado.”
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Hi Tim. I love Susan may Warren’s Books and I’m glad that you enjoyed Jeff’s picture and the scripture verse.
Now and Then and Always by Melissa Tagg is what I am about to start!
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Hi Michele! Melissa and I have been friends since before she was published. I love her Books.
Monster In The Moonlight
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Oh wow Pam, that sounds like an interesting book.
Beautiful photo and scripture!
Happy Friday, Pat! Enjoy your weekend!
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Hi Caryl. I’m going to enjoy the photo and scripture. Have a great weekend.
Deadly Wilderness is a good one. I read it several years ago. Now I’ll have to pick it up and reread it! Thanks for the review, Pat.
Psalm 27 is one of my favorites and Jeff’s photo goes perfectly with it. I enjoyed singing along with 10,000 reasons.
I’m beginning to read The Pursuit of Civility by Jen Turano. It’s Jen’s latest book. I know I will be in for some unexpected humor along the way.
The first sentence is a long one, but it does give a bit of a clue as to what’s coming.
“In hindsight, taking a small group ot students from the Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies to a county fair to assess their progress regarding the rudimentary rules of civility was’t quite the brilliant opportunity Miss Annaliese Merriweather had expected it to be—not when two of the five young ladies had slipped away from the group, undoubtedly intent on delving into a bit of mischief.”
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Hi Barbara, you definitely can depend on Jen for humor! I agree about Jeff’s photo – she has a great eye
Beautiful photo and I love Psalms.
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Hi Judy, I love the psalms, too
Thanks for the song link–always good to listen to Matt’s music especially when feeling stressed–to remind me of the importance to worship and be blessed. I am currently reading Expired Vows by Lisa Phillips.
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Hi Dawn, I love that song. And Lisa has some really good books.
Great photo and verse combo.
Prologue
Wallden, Ohio January 1
It was cold out and the forecasters predicted a batch of snow on the way.
D is for Daisy by Shelley Shepard Gray
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Gloria, I love Shelly Shepherd, Gray’s books, and will have to check this one out.
Beautiful peaceful scene! Great picture from your SIL. Pat, you always find the right verse to go with the photos you share!
Just downloaded both Deadly Wilderness and Matthew’s Choice from KU and added them to my TBR stack. If I would stop adding new books I might actually get all of them read! Lol
I am currently reading Dangerous Spring by Roxanne Rustand.
Blessed weekend everyone!
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Mary G I love Roxanne‘s Books. I think I read this one and it is good. Yes my son-in-law takes great photos and I love trying to find a verse for them. Thank you for downloading Matthews Matthew’s Choice!
love the song& Book sounds great! i’m currently reading Soldier’s Christmas Baby by Clara Pines
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I glad you enjoyed the post Sheila. That’s a new author to me. I’ll have to check her out.
Finished Montana Rose last night and that same scripture was in that book.
Going to start Alaska Reunion today by Jennifer Snow. It’s about a high school reunion and facing dreams unfulfilled.
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I’ll have to check out Montana Rose, Gail. And your next book to read sounds intriguing.
Love the Post I am reading an ARC The Amish Widower’s Dilemma by Christinia Rich I Love Psalms
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Sarah, the Amish book sounds good! Glad you enjoyed the post.
I concur with Tim. The picture is so peaceful, and the verse says it well. I would love to spend some time there, but just not loaded down with the fishing gear. I enjoy that song whenever I hear it, so don’t worry about repeating it. Here’s a link to a song that’s been playing in my head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iglLdhY4kw&list=RD_iglLdhY4kw&start_radio=1
Kelly Irvin’s book sounds like a must read. I am reading Irene Hannon’s Harbor Pointe. I always look forward to her next book in the Hope Harbor series because of Charley’s tacos and his great insights and advice. First line: Her sister was in a coma.
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Hi Edward, I don’t have Internet right now so I can’t listen to the song, but I will as soon as I can! (I’m using my phone to answer the comments and it’s a pain)
I’ll have to get Irene Hannah‘s Harber Point series.
Beauty for Ashes by Dorothy Love which is my book group read for July.
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Joan, that sounds like a very interesting read. Love book clubs!
I am reading Targeted in the Swamp by Kerry Johnson, a Love Inspired Suspense book. It is very good. I have a hard time putting it down.
Have a great weekend!
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Carolyn, I have not read Kerry Johnson. I’ll have to check it out.
I’m reading and loving Beach House Rescue by Hope Toler Dougherty, and I highly recommend it!
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Hi Dolores, Hope’s book is nexton my to be read list!
I am reading an ARC of Wyoming Ranch Promise by Amie Denman.
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Hi Deborah, another book by another author I don’t know! Have to check her out
I’m reading The Keepsake Sisters by Lori Wilde.
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Hi Diana! I’ll have to check your book out – not sure I’ve ever read anything by Lori Wilde!
Love the photo and the verse. Your SIL loves that his photo is used here. Made his day. I just finished The Other Sister by Jessica R Patch. Headed next to a little romance and suspense to cleanse my palate so to speak after that twisty turny (if those are words) thriller.
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I’m glad he got to see the post! Tell him thank you for allowing me to use the great photo!! And yeah, those are the right words for Jessica’s books. Lol
Hope your weekend has been a good one Patricia! As always I love your photo and verse, you do so well at picking them both out for us to enjoy. I’m still reading on The Voice We Find by Nicole Deese, it’s long and I don’t seem to take time to read during the day, too much to do!
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It has been, Dottie! Nicole Deese’s book sounds interesting. And I know what you mean about not having time. I only have time to read after I go to bed, and sometimes that makes for a late night. lol
I am listening to an audio book of John Grisham’s Racketeer.
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I haven’t read John Grisham in years, Sally Jo. I need to rectify that! Good to ‘see’ you here.