Fear Has a Name (The Crittendon Files #1) by Creston Mapes

Title: Fear Has a Name (The Crittendon Files #1)

Author: Creston Mapes

Pages: 417

Year: 2013

Publisher: David C. Cook

     I received a free copy of this book through a giveaway on The Suspense Sisters Blog.

     It was more than a break-in. More than a stalking. It was personal. When a stalker targets his wife and two daughters, journalist Jack Crittendon must uncover who the person is and what his motives are – if he is to protect the ones he loves. The investigation leads Crittendon into a world of behind-closed-door secrets and faith gone awry, as does his story on a missing pastor, whose apparent suicide is more than it appears.

     Each move Crittendon makes weaves him tighter and tighter into a web of lies, greed, hypocrisy, sin, and danger. He believed he’d never give in to fear and the hate it leads to. But that was before. And holding on to his faith won’t be easy. Nor will keeping his family safe and ending the terror. Because that might require him to step over lines he said he would never cross.

     Creston has created very believable characters in this book. It is very easy to relate to the emotions that both Jack and his wife, Pam, are dealing with as they go through this very scary time in their lives. They are struggling to hold on to their belief in God which is true to human nature when problems that are beyond our control come our way.

     In the midst of the problems the Crittenden family is facing Jack is also trying to keep on track with doing his job working with the family of the missing pastor on the story of his disappearance. The two stories are wonderfully interwoven. This book kept my interest as I was following along and trying to figure out if and how the two stories may connect.

     This is a great book and I highly recommend it. I give it 5-stars.

The Ransom (Legacy of the King's Pirates #4) by MaryLu Tyndall

Title: The Ransom (Legacy of the King’s Pirates #4)

Author: MaryLu Tyndall

Pages: 405

Year: 2014

Publisher: Ransom Press

     Miss Juliana Dutton feels that family and fortune have betrayed her. She is afraid that fate will do the same. She is forced to take over the running of the family business in Port Royal, Jamaica in 1692. No woman is involved in any type of legitimate business at that time. To try and help keep her secret she agrees to an engagement with the town buffoon, Lord Munthrope. She only hopes that the man is trustworthy. Juliana is struggling to maintain her faith in the Divine.

     The Pirate Earl, Alexander Hyde, is the son of the infamous Captain Edmund Merrick Hyde. He is the most feared pirate in Port Royal. Disillusioned with the religion of his parents and the pleasures of the world, Alex staves off his emptiness by leading a dual life to hide his deepest secrets.

     MaryLu  has done a marvelous job of developing great characters. I admit that I’ve come to expect this of her. There is an incredible twist in that in this novel she has one person living a dual life. The two different personalities are vastly different and she has done a masterful job of keeping them separate and straight while at the same time dropping very slight hints at the duplicity.

     The plot is great. It kept me entertained and very involved in the story. I wanted to see how the situations and problems were resolved. I loved following both Juliana and Alex as they try to work their way to trusting that God cares for them. The only down side for me in this book compared to the others in this series is that it mainly takes place in Port Royal rather than on the pirate ship. She does include some great ship scenes and action.

     I highly recommend this book. I give it 5 stars.