Waiting on Wednesday: Truth Stained Lies by Terri Blackstock

 "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

 Truth Stained Lies by Terri Blackstock scheduled to release March 2013.

About the book:

Cathy Cramer is a former lawyer and investigative blogger who writes commentary on local homicides.

When she finds a threatening note warning her that she’s about to experience the same kind of judgment and speculation that she dishes out in her blog, Cathy writes it off as mischief … until her brother is caught in the middle of a murder investigation—the victim is his ex-wife. As her brother is tried and convicted in the media, and bloggers and commentators like her have a field day, Cathy wonders if she should have taken the threat more seriously.

Cathy and her two sisters, Holly and Juliet, moonlight as part-time private investigators, working to solve their brother’s ex-wife’s murder. Juliet, a stay-at-home mom of two boys, and Holly, a scattered ne’er-do-well who drives a taxi, put aside their fear and lack of confidence to learn the art of investigation. But will it be too late to save their brother from a murder conviction, or his five-year-old son who’s the killer’s next target?

***

Click here to read a fun interview I did with Terri last year.  :o)

Southern-Style Meet & Greet with Terri Blackstock (Plus Giveaway)

Back a couple of months ago, I had the pleasure of meeting not one, but TWO, great Christian suspense authors.  The first one (Brandilyn Collins) stopped by for a Meet & Greet of her own a few weeks ago, and author number 2 is here with me today.  :o)

I have been reading Terri's books since I first started reading Christian fiction, and in my expert opinion, she has gotten better and better with every single book.  Her latest series about drug addiction has really taken off like a rocket, and I've talked to several people who have really enjoyed them immensely.  I was so very excited to be able to meet her in person, and as a fellow Southerner, answer a few questions for me about her books and thoughts on the South.  I hope y'all will give Terri a very warm welcome!

***

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
 
I knew when I was eleven years old. After my dad got home from Vietnam, I wrote a poem about the war, and my mother sent it in to our local newspaper. They published it, and I was so thrilled. From that moment on, I knew that writing was what I wanted to do with my life.

What genre do you most like to write?

I mainly focus on suspense, because that’s what I like to read the most. I have a short attention span, so books that I read and write have to have a lot happening to keep me engaged.  

I love your suspense, but when you venture to write a women's fiction novel, I'm in heaven.  *sigh*  Couldn't get enough of your series of books with Beverly LaHaye! 

What do you hope readers take away with them after they read one of your books?

I want them to understand the depth of God’s love for them and His provision through every circumstance. While my books are crafted to be fast-paced thrillers, I weave a message of redemption and hope, and a strong thread of good versus evil, throughout each book. I’m a firm believer that God gives us crises for a purpose, and that crises often bring profound blessings. It’s important to me to show that through characters who are suffering or in danger, and while they often don’t have things together spiritually, the reader can follow their growth arc throughout the story and come away with a feeling of hope for their own trials.  

What is your latest book release?

My latest release is Downfall, Book 3 in my Intervention Series. The series is about a family struggling with a loved one who has addictions, and it was inspired by my own journey with my daughter’s addictions. The series takes the reader through the character arcs of these family members as they deal with the addictions, the potential relapses, and the danger surrounding addictions. Intervention (Book 1) and Vicious Cycle (Book 2) were both New York Times Best-Sellers.

In Book 3, Downfall, Emily has turned her life around, but her family still has trouble trusting her. Though Emily has committed herself to a year-long treatment program and has been sober for almost a year beyond that, even her mother walks on egg shells around her, fearing she’ll relapse. After her behavior during her drug years, Emily realizes she has a lot to prove.

When police discover a home-made bomb under Emily’s car, and she then learns the wife of one of her friends was murdered that same morning, she knows things are deadly serious. But who wants Emily dead? And why? A conversation she had with two men, an Alfred Hitchcock movie, and a plan for a double-murder all conspire for one explosive ride...and Emily is the only one who can identify the killer and save the life of the next potential victim. As she frantically works to solve this ever more complicated puzzle, Emily finds herself playing right into the killer’s hands. To buy or read an excerpt, go to http://www.terriblackstock.com/books/adult-fiction-books/the-intervention-series/. 

Are you currently working on another novel, and if so, can you give us a snippet about it?
 
I’ve just finished the first book in my new series. It’s called Truth-Stained Lies, and it’s part of the Moonlighters Series. It won’t release until February of next year, but I’m having so much fun with it. The series is about three sisters--a blogger, a stay-at-home mom, and a ne’er-do-well taxi driver--who wind up moonlighting as private detectives to solve some crimes related to their family. In the first book, their brother is accused of murdering his wife in order to win custody of their son. But the killer staged the scene so that the truth is too ludicrous to be believed. How can they prove their brother’s innocence when the lies make more sense than the truth? When their five-year-old nephew is kidnapped, their urgency ramps up. Since the police don’t believe the truth, it’s up to the sisters to find the killer and stop the madness.

Wow...sounds like another winner!!  

Where can readers find you on the web?
 
www.terriblackstock.com 
www.facebook.com/tblackstock 
www.twitter.com/terriblackstock
 
Most people can recognize a Southerner by their accent.  Would I know what area of the country you’re from by yours?
 
You would definitely know I’m from the South, but you might not be able to place exactly where. I grew up in the Air Force, and we lived all over the place. Because of that, my accent is probably not quite as clear-cut as some of my neighbors. I’m also a little bit of a chameleon with accents. If I’m in another place for two weeks or so, I’ve been known to lose my accent entirely. 

What is your most favorite thing about the South?

The thing I love about the south is the people. They’re warmer, kinder, more empathetic, less pretentious, and when you’re in crisis, they’ll love on you with casseroles and hugs. Doing what I do, I could live anywhere. I stay in Mississippi because of those good people.

Iced Tea—sweet or un-sweet?

Un-sweet for me, usually. I’m not much of a sugar lover.

Gulf Coast beaches or the mountains of East Tennessee?

Mountains of East Tennessee. My honeymoon was in Gatlinburg. Because we live in Mississippi, we don’t like baking in the sun, so the beach doesn’t hold as much of an appeal to us as it does to others. I’m also a real red-head, so my skin has no pigmentation. I’m not a good candidate for sun tanning.

Dolly Parton or Elvis Presley?

I love them both, but there’s something about Dolly Parton’s story-telling in her songs that really moves me. I love a good story-teller.

Beignets in New Orleans or BBQ in Memphis?

These days, BBQ, because I have to be gluten-free. But I could have eaten my weight in beignets before.

It's probably a good thing that neither of us lives in New Orleans.  :o)

You, you all, or y’all?

Y’all, definitely. 

***

Terri, I can't begin to thank you enough for being my special guest today!  It was such a pleasure to meet you in person, and that much more enjoyable to have a nice little chat with you, too.  :o)  

And thanks to Terri's fabulous generosity, you have the chance to win a copy of her latest book, Downfall.  Trust me, friends...this entire series will have you burning the midnight oil more than once!  If you'd like to be included in the drawing, simply fill out the form below in its entirety by Sunday, June 24th, 11:59pm.  The winner will be selected through third-party site, random.org, and notified via email by me.  Limited to US residents only.  Odds of winning are based on the number of entrants, and I am not responsible for lost or damaged prizes.  

Good luck, y'all, and thanks for stopping by today!  Grab your glass of tea before you leave (and leave a comment down below the entry form, too, if you'd like).  :o)

Carol Award Winners!

Just in case you missed it, the Carol Awards were announced tonight at the ACFW Conference.  It was so wonderful to be able to sit in my living room and watch a live stream of the entire gala.  :o)

Here's a list of all the winners:

Debut Author
Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes (Tyndale Publishers)

Long Contemporary
Never Say Never  by Lisa Wingate (Bethany House)

Long Contemporary Romance
Plain Paradise  by Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson) - review

Long Historical
Sons of Thunder  by Susan May Warren (Summerside Press)

Long Historical Romance
Love Finds You in Homestead Iowa by Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press) - review

Mystery
The Camera Never Lies by Elizabeth Goddard (Barbour)

Novella
A Trusting Heart by Carrie Turansky (Barbour)

Romantic Suspense
The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press)

Short Contemporary Suspense
Night Prey by Sharon Dunn (Love Inspired Suspense)

Short Historical
Her Healing Ways by Lyn Cote (Love Inspired)

Speculative Fiction
König’s Fire by Marc Schooley (Marcher Lord Press)

Suspense/Thriller
Predator by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan) - review

Women’s Fiction
Beaded Hope by Cathy Liggett (Tyndale Publishers)

Young Adult
Anything But Normal by Melody Carlson (Revell)

***

Well, I won't lie...I was hoping for a few others to win tonight, too...namely Laura Frantz for Courting Morrow Little (review) and Melanie Dickerson for The Healer's Apprentice (review).  I suppose when you get this far, though, it really is an honor just to be nominated.  

But on the upside, I am so happy for Beth Wiseman, Terri Blackstock, and Melanie Dobson on their wins!  Melanie came away with not one, but TWO awards tonight!  I've only read one of her winning novels, and the other is patiently sitting in my TBR stack.  Yep, eventually...it will see the light of day.  :o)  And I just have to say that Beth's speech tonight was so heartfelt that I about burst into tears...probably one of the highlights of the night.

I also want to give a huge shoutout to fellow blogger, Renee Ann Smith from Doorkeeper!  I had no idea that she was a finalist in the Genesis Awards until I saw her name come across the screen.  Congrats on your big win, Renee!  :o)

Congrats to all the winners!

Book Review: Shadow in Serenity by Terri Blackstock/4 Stars

About the book:

Carny Sullivan grew up in the zany world of a traveling carnival. Quaint and peaceful Serenity, Texas, has given her a home, a life, and a child. Logan Brisco is the smoothest, slickest, handsomest man Serenity, Texas has ever seen. But Carny Sullivan knows a con artist when she sees one---and she's seen plenty, starting with her father.

As far as Carny Sullivan can tell, she's the only one in town who has his number. Because from his Italian shoes to his movie-actor smile, Logan has the rest of the town snowed. Carny is determined to reveal Brisco's selfish intentions before his promise to the townspeople for a cut in a giant amusement park sucks Serenity dry. Yet, as much as she hates his winning ways, there is a man behind that suave smile, a man who may win her heart against her will.

Shadow in Serenity is a modern-day Music Man, penned by a Christy Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author.

My thoughts:

I have been a diehard fan of Terri Blackstock since I first started reading Christian fiction over ten years ago.  I have always been able to rely on Terri to provide suspenseful stories that keep me awake until the wee hours of the morning.  However, this was not one of her stronger novels.

While the carnival/amusement park idea was unique, I felt that I had to suspend belief for a large portion of the story.  Like Carny, I wondered how in the world all of Logan's plans would come to fruition if he wasn't in fact a con artist.  Without giving too much away, the end of the story was where this was most evident.  Considering the amount of time that had passed between Logan's first visit to Serenity and the final chapter of the story, everything progressed much faster than it would in the real world.

On the flip side, I felt that the characters in this story were extremely believable, Logan in particular.  His reflections on his past as a product of foster homes combined with the years spent with his con artist mentor made him the most complex character of the story.  Having personally met a con artist in my life (but thankfully not his victim), I could identify with some of the techniques Logan used to persuade the town into parting with their hard-earned money. 

I appreciated that Terri went back to her last novel written for the general market and rewrote it to appeal to a Christian audience.  Never once did it seem that the story was rewritten as all the Christian elements blended seamlessly throughout the story.  But if I compare it to some of her recent novels, it was not up to the same caliber that I've come to expect from her.  It was only slightly suspenseful and romantic, yet still engaging enough that I wanted to read it to the very end.  My rating is 4 Stars.

Southern?  Yes, only by mentioning the state of Louisiana.  There were no actual Southern references.
Sass?  No

**Many thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

CFBA Blog Tour and Book Review: Vicious Cycle by Terri Blackstock/5 Stars

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingVicious CycleZondervan (February 22, 2011)byTerri Blackstock


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Terri Blackstock is a New York Times best-seller, with over six million copies sold worldwide. She has had over twenty-five years of success as a novelist. She sold her first novel at the age of twenty-five, and has had a successful career ever since.

Besides entertaining her readers, Terri tackles issues that she hopes will change lives. Her recent book, Predator, was inspired by her experiences on Facebook and Twitter, and her concern that people posted too much personal information about themselves. The book deals with an online predator who uses social networks as his playground. She hopes the book will change readers’ online habits.

Her New York Times best-seller, Intervention, was inspired by her own personal struggles with a daughter on drugs. In the book, a mother hires an interventionist for her drug-addicted daughter. But on the way to treatment, the interventionist is murdered, and the daughter disappears. Barbara, the mother, sets out to search for her daughter. Terri modeled Barbara after herself, and poured many of her own emotions and experiences into that character. As a result, many families experiencing drug addiction have written to thank her for telling their story and giving them hope. Vicious Cycle, Book Two of the Intervention Series, releases February 22, 2011. She’s currently working on Book Three.

Other recent books include a stand-alone novel called Double Minds, as well as Last Light, Night Light, True Light and Dawn’s Light (from her acclaimed Restoration Series). She is also known for her popular Newpointe 911 Series and Cape Refuge Series. Terri makes her home in Mississippi, where she and her husband Ken are enjoying their empty nest after raising three children.

Terri has appeared on national television programs such as “The 700 Club” and “Home Life,” and has been a guest on numerous radio programs across the country. The story of her personal journey appears in books such as Touched By the Savior by Mike Yorkey, True Stories of Answered Prayer by Mike Nappa, Faces of Faith by John Hanna, and I Saw Him In Your Eyes by Ace Collins.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When fifteen-year-old Lance Covington finds an abandoned baby in the backseat of a car, he knows she's the newborn daughter of a meth addict he's been trying to help. But when police arrest him for kidnapping, Lance is thrust into a criminal world of baby trafficking and drug abuse.

His mother, Barbara, looks for help from Kent Harlan---the man whom she secretly, reluctantly loves and who once helped rescue her daughter from a mess of her own. Kent flies to her aid and begins the impossible work of getting Lance out of trouble, protecting a baby who has no home, and finding help for a teenage mother hiding behind her lies.

In this latest novel of suspense and family loyalty, bestselling author Terri Blackstock offers a harrowing look at drug addiction, human trafficking, and the devastating choices that can change lives forever.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Vicious Cycle, go HERE.

Watch the Book Video:




My thoughts:

Since I first started reading Christian fiction, Terri Blackstock has always been one of my favorite authors.  I love the intensity in her novels, which causes me to furiously turn the pages.  She has begun a new series about the struggles of drug addiction, and she doesn't tone down that intensity one bit.

Vicious Cycle is a novel about a young girl, Jordan, who is caught up in a web of drug addiction.  Not only is she an addict, but her mother and half-brother are as well.  In the very first chapter, she is pregnant with a child and forced to have the baby in her own bed because her mother will not take her to the hospital.  Jordan does not understand that at first, but as the pieces fall into place throughout the book, Jordan's realizes she has a mother who does not care about anyone but herself.

Lance (featured in book one, Intervention) becomes friends with Jordan through school.  Because his sister is a recovering drug addict, he recognizes pretty quickly that Jordan is on the road to a bad life, not only for herself, but for the baby that she's carrying.  He convinces her to start treatment at a local rehab center, New Day.  Lance visits every weekend to see his sister while she's recovering, and seeing Jordan is an added bonus.  When Jordan voluntarily leaves New Day so close to her delivery date, he knows Jordan will return to her drug-infested home.  He takes it upon himself to drive over to her house to check on her, not realizing that he's about to be in the biggest trouble of his life.

Leave it to Terri Blackstock to create a novel that sucked me in from page one!!  Not only did I get a glimpse of the world of meth, I also got a small glimpse into the world of baby trafficking, and neither one was a pretty picture.  This book was so realistic, possibly more so than the book before it, Intervention.  I can't wait to see what's in store for Barbara, Kent, Emily, and Lance with the remainder of the books in this series.  Highly Recommended!!

5 Stars

Southern?  Yes, set in Missouri
Sass?  No

**Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review through CFBA.

Book Review: Intervention by Terri Blackstock/5 Stars

About the book:

Barbara Covington has one more chance to save her daughter from a devastating addiction: staging an intervention. But when eighteen-year-old Emily disappears on the way to drug treatment and her interventionist is found dead at the airport, Barbara enters her darkest nightmare of all.

Barbara and her son set out to find Emily before Detective Kent Harlan arrests her for a crime he is sure she committed. Fearing for Emily's life, Barbara maintains her daughters innocence, but does she really know her anymore? Meanwhile, Kent has questions of his own. His gut tells him that this is a case of an addict killing for drugs. But as he gets to know Barbara, he begins to hope hes wrong about Emily.

Fear rises as the mysteries intensify: Did Emily's obsession with drugs lead her to commit murderer is she another victim of a cold-blooded killer?

In this gripping stand-alone novel of intrigue and suspense, bestselling fiction author Terri Blackstock delivers the up-all-night drama that readers around the world have come to expect from her.

My thoughts:

This was one of those books that just slapped me in the face with it's stark reality.  Sure, I watch the tv show Intervention.  I know there are people in this world that struggle with addiction.  Until this book, though, it never really sunk in how painful and difficult it really must be for people that struggle to get help for their family members.

In typical Terri Blackstock style, this was not just a novel that dealt with a major issue.  She had to get her bad guy in their somewhere!  In this story, though, she didn't hold out until the end of the book to reveal this crazy madman who was out to get revenge.  I liked that I was able to get a better understanding of his character before he really went off the deep end.

I also thought her portrayal of Barbara, Emily's mom, was very realistic.  I'm not a mother yet, but I know if I had a child that was in harm's way, I would be beating down the door to the police station every single day for them to get busy finding my child.  Her struggle to do whatever she could was constantly at war with Detective Kent Harlan who just wanted her to stay out of the way. 

And Lance!!!  Barbara's young son almost stole the show!  His inquistive personality was a lot of fun to read, as well as his desire to be the "man of the family" at 14 years old. 

What more is there to say?  I can't help but give 5 huge stars for this powerful novel.  It was such a fast read, and worth every second to learn the things that I did. This book challenged my thinking about what goes on in neighborhoods I don't drive through, and in families that keep their struggles hidden.  Highly recommended!

Southern?  Yes
Sass?  No

Book Review: Predator by Terri Blackstock/5 Stars

About the book:

Bestselling author Terri Blackstock presents another stand-alone novel, Predator.

The murder of Krista Carmichael's fourteen-year-old sister by an online predator has shaken her faith and made her question God's justice and protection. Desperate to find the killer, she creates an online persona to bait the predator. But when the stalker turns his sights on her, will Krista be able to control the outcome?

Ryan Adkins started the social network GrapeVyne in his college dorm and has grown it into a billion-dollar corporation. But he never expected it to become a stalking ground for online Predators. One of them lives in his town and has killed two girls and attacked a third. When Ryan meets Krista, the murders become more than a news story to him, and everything is on the line. Joining forces, he and Krista set out to stop the killer. But when hunters pursue a hunter, the tables can easily turn. Only God can protect them now.

My thoughts:

I tell ya, Terri Blackstock's books just keep getting better and better! This one had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. What made it so good was that it was a story relevant to the current hi-tech society that we live in. It made me rethink everything that I post online, and thankfully, I know better than to post the intimate details of my life such as where I'm going every day, when I will or won't be home, etc. Some people really just don't know better, and this book tackles that very issue. It may literally scare you witless.

I would recommend this book to anyone, but particularly to parents and older teens. Some parents don't pay attention to what their children are looking at online, what networks they belong to, or who their friends are. That, in and of itself, is plain scary, but what's scarier is that you never know who's watching and what someone's intent may be. There's a section of the story where Terri just puts it in black and white through the voice of one of her characters:

"Examine your social networks and take down everything you've posted that you wouldn't want a murderous predator to see. Don't post where you are, ever. Don't post where you live, or your school, or your town, or your church. Don't post pictures that identify places, like colleges or schools or particular teams you might be on. Never post your work schedule or your activities or your travel plans. And don't flood the site with pictures of yourself. You have no idea how much information a predator can get from those pictures."

I loved this book because I got a great story plus some really relevant information. This has to be one of THE BEST books that Terri has ever written, and I applaud her for writing about a subject that is very prevalent in today's society. The characters in the story are real, the circumstances harrowing, and the roadblocks they face agonizing. Predator gets a huge 5 star rating from me!

**Thanks to Zondervan through CFBA for providing a copy for review.

CFBA Tour: Predator by Terri Blackstock

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance



is introducing



Predator Zondervan (May 25, 2010)



by



Terri Blackstock

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Terri Blackstock’s books have sold six million copies worldwide. Her suspense novels often debut at number one on the Christian fiction best-seller lists, and True Light, published last year, was number one of all Christian books—fiction and non-fiction. Blackstock has had twenty-five years of success as a novelist.

In 1994 Blackstock was writing for publishers such as HarperCollins, Harlequin and Silhouette, when a spiritual awakening drew her into the Christian market. Since that time, she’s written over thirty Christian titles, in addition to the thirty-two she had in the secular market. Her most recent books are the four in her acclaimed Restoration Series, which includes Last Light, Night Light, True Light and Dawn’s Light. She is also known for her popular Newpointe 911 and Cape Refuge Series.

In addition to her suspense novels, she has written a number of novels in the women’s fiction genre, including Covenant Child, which was chosen as one of the first Women of Faith novels, and her Seasons Series written with Beverly LaHaye, wife of Tim LaHaye.

Blackstock has won the Retailer’s Choice Award and has appeared on national television programs such as The 700 Club, Home Life, and At Home Live with Chuck and Jenny. She has been a guest on numerous radio programs across the country and the subject of countless articles. The story of her personal journey appears in books such as Touched By the Savior by Mike Yorkey, True Stories of Answered Prayer by Mike Nappa, Faces of Faith by John Hanna, and I Saw Him In Your Eyes by Ace Collins.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The murder of Krista Carmichael's fourteen-year-old sister by an online predator has shaken her faith and made her question God's justice and protection. Desperate to find the killer, she creates an online persona to bait the predator. But when the stalker turns his sights on her, will Krista be able to control the outcome?

Ryan Adkins started the social network GrapeVyne in his college dorm and has grown it into a billion-dollar corporation. But he never expected it to become a stalking ground for online Predators. One of them lives in his town and has killed two girls and attacked a third. When Ryan meets Krista, the murders become more than a news story to him, and everything is on the line.

Joining forces, he and Krista set out to stop the killer. But when hunters pursue a hunter, the tables can easily turn. Only God can protect them now.

Enter the Terri Blackstock iPad CONTEST: http://www.terriblackstock.com/contests/.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Predator, go HERE.

Watch the book trailer video!