Rachel Ann Nunes' new paranormal romance, "Imprints"

Do you enjoy paranormal romances and wish you could find some that weren't filled with offensive language and intimacy? Rachel Ann Nunes' newest title, Imprints, has you covered. I read this book last month and thoroughly enjoyed it. It had a tight, suspenseful plot, a sweet romance, a mystery, and well-developed, likable characters.

Here's the blurb:

Sometimes what you can't see means everything.

A young woman is missing. In desperation, her parents turn to Autumn Rain for help. Autumn reads imprints - emotions mysteriously left behind on certain treasured objects. But will this ability enrich her life or destroy it?

Autumn isn't sure - her life has become far from normal - but for people whose loved ones are missing, her talent might mean the difference between life and death. Even the infuriating Detective Martin has asked for Autumn's help, though at times she feels more like a suspect than a consultant. Too often Autumn find herself retreating to her antiques shop and the company of her best friend, Jake Ryan, to avoid notice.

But soon more than one woman is missing, and Autumn teams up with private eye Ethan McConnell to investigate their disappearance. Ethan's attraction to her is a pleasant change from Jake's frustrating offers of friendship, but once Autumn takes that first step, she sets in motion a series of events that risk not only her own life but the lives of those she cares most about.

You can read my full review of this book here, and check out the review on Mormon Times here. You can learn more about Rachel's books and what's coming up soon from this prolific author on her website or blog.

"Tribunal" by Sandra Grey

Tribunal, by Sandra Grey is the first of the five finalists in Best Historical. This is her second book. Here's the back cover blurb.

Berlin, 1945 Major Rolf Schulmann lies close to death in a military hospital after enduring the horrors of a concentration camp. Revived from a coma through a priesthood blessing, he slowly returns to health as his fiancee, Marie Jacobson, tenderly cares for his deep physical and spiritual wounds.

Meanwhile Rolf 's best friend, SS Lieutenant Hans Brenner, begins to overcome the despair and depression of his postwar gutter-rat existence as he finds himself falling for Natalie Allred, a beautiful American nurse. But as the world's emerging superpowers race to obtain nuclear secrets, Hans becomes a pawn in the deadly game-and Natalie's freedom hangs in the balance. Rolf, unaware of their predicament, feels haunted by his Nazi past and seeks peace of conscience through the rigors of a military tribunal. Then, as tensions escalate between the United States and Russia, Rolf and Hans find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. With vivid emotion, Tribunal explores the risks and rewards of loyalty and love in the bitter aftermath of world war.

I was unable to find a website or blog by the author, but I did find this great book review by Tristi Pinkston.

"Altered State" by Gregg Luke

Altered State is the last of the Mystery/Suspense finalists for the Whitney Awards. This is Gregg Luke's fourth published book, and he's expecting another one to come out this summer.

Homer and Morgan Winegar believe they may have finally found happiness in the quiet college town in which they have settled. Perhaps now in their new life together with Morgan’s nine-year-old son, they can each leave a troubled past behind.

But when Morgan’s psychology students begin exhibiting bizarre behavior, the couple quickly becomes entangled in an experiment headed for catastrophe. Someone is illegally administering a mind-altering drug to unwitting students. With the potential for millions of dollars in profits on the line, the pharmaceutical designers are more than willing to set aside morals to test the limits of the subconscious and mind control.

As the growing ranks of test subjects fulfill increasingly disturbing commands, Homer and Morgan race to discover who’s pulling the strings—and how they are doing it. But as the final stages of research point to a deadly calamity, events from the past threaten to shatter the couple’s fragile trust—just as they need it most. Will they be able to overcome the forces that threaten to pull them apart and find a way to stop the impending tragedy?

You can learn more about this author and his books on his website. Here's one review, you can find more on his website:

"Gregg Luke has done it again! What a fantastic read. I don't hand out those 5's too often, but this was definitely deserved! He has a gift of being able to make you love characters, give you a dynamic and interesting plot, AND give you an intense suspense- no way is it predictable or ordinary! Love it!!! -Hillary, LDS Women's Book Review

Stephanie Black's "Methods of Madness"

Though I don't know that the book exactly qualifies for Halloween horror, I understand Stephanie Black's latest tale will keep your pulse racing to the exciting conclusion. Stephanie won a Whitney Award last year for her mystery/suspense book, Fool Me Twice, and has a reputation for delivering plenty of twists and turns along the way.

The blurb:

It’s been three years since the terrible night Emily Ramsey suffered a double tragedy—the death of her sister and the disappearance of her fiancé. She deserves another chance at happiness, and gentle, adorable Zach Sullivan is the perfect man to mend her shattered heart. But from the moment Emily opens the hand-carved box holding a glittering diamond solitaire, she’s seized by an unshakeable fear: she’s going to lose Zach.

That’s exactly what Monica, Zach’s ex-girlfriend, is banking on. Bitter with envy, Monica will stop at nothing to sabotage Zach and Emily’s romance. Troubling notes show up in Emily’s mailbox, fanning the flames of suspicion. A bloody photograph sends her reeling. But when someone is brutally murdered, will Emily be able to escape suspicion and the possibility that she might be next?

Whitney Award–winning author Stephanie Black treats readers to another of her brilliantly thrilling stories that will leave the reader no choice but to keep reading well past the stroke of midnight.

You can learn more about Stephanie at her blog, or her website.

"Lockdown" by Traci Hunter Abramson

Traci Hunter Abramson has been a Whitney Award finalist twice for her suspense books Freefall and Royal Target. Her newest title, Lockdown, was released this past spring. As a former employee of the CIA, Traci brings lots of realism to her books and is highly acclaimed. Her latest book was inspired by the tragedy at Virginia Tech. Here's the blurb for Lockdown.

Only twice had she set foot inside the building since the massacre. The first time had been just a month after the tragedy .. . . The second time she had returned to the scene of the crime had been two days ago when she forced herself to enter the building to check on the temporary office for the SEAL team. The counselor she had seen in the months after the shooting had encouraged her to face her fears, but now . . . Riley wasn’t sure she was ready to face them after all.

Caught up in a hostage situation that is hauntingly familiar, Riley Palmetta once more finds her life hanging in the balance. What starts out as a well-organized and highly intensive training course for the prevention of random acts of terror quickly turns into a real-life nightmare of suspense and intrigue that will test the faith and finely honed skills of Tristan Crowther and his elite group of LDS Navy SEALS. For Tristan, this is not only a race to save lives; it is a deeply personal mission that moves relentlessly toward an irreversible crisis. And life—as well as love—is on the line.

You can visit Traci's website for more information about her, her books, links and other fun stuff.

Medieval romances without the saucy wenches

Okay, maybe there is a saucy wench or two in Joyce DiPastena's historicals--but they aren't the main characters. I've always been a sucker for a really good historical romance, but most of them are so full of stuff I don't want to read, that I hesitate to pick up any of them. No worries with Joyce's books, however. Her first book, Loyalty's Web, was selected as a Whitney Award finalist for 2007--and it thoroughly deserved the honor. Her second book, just released this summer, is Illuminations of the Heart. Joyce is an expert at writing spine-tingling kisses that stop at kissing, weaves her history into the story so it feels organic, and adding plenty of inner tension in the story. She's also brilliant at marketing her book and getting the word out.

And here's the blurb for Illuminations:

“Clothilde.”
He spoke the name on a breath like a prayer. Then he lowered his head and kissed her.

Her heart is lost in that first embrace, her world shaken to its foundations. There is just one problem: her name is not Clothilde. It is Siriol de Calendri. Trained in the art of illumination in the far-off city of Venice, Siri is directed by her late brother’s will to the county of Poitou in France, where she enters the guardianship of her brother’s friend, Sir Triston de Brielle. Once in Poitou, Siri hopes to find employment in an illuminator’s shop—until Triston unexpectedly snatches her heart away with a kiss.

Triston is a man of quiet honor and courage, but the guilt he carries for the death of his late wife, Clothilde, has left him numb and hesitant to love again. Worse yet, Siri bears an uncanny resemblance to his lost love. Or does she? Her merry laughter and twinkling eyes are very different from his late wife’s shy smiles and quiet ways. Yet when he gazes into Siri’s face, all he sees is Clothilde.

Then Triston’s past returns to threaten them both. Will his tragic life with Clothilde be repeated with Siri? Trapped between the rivalry of the king’s sons on the one hand and a neighbor out for vengeance on the other, Triston realizes it would be safer to send Siri away. But how can he bear to lose her again?

Siri is determined not to be cast off and not to live in another woman’s shadow. She has illuminated many a priceless book with pen and paint. But can her own vibrant spirit illuminate the darkness in Triston’s soul and make his heart beat for her alone?

In case you need more recommendations than my own, you'll find a list of the people and dates of reviews from her blog tour here. You'll find her website here, which has excerpts and news about her books, along with more reviews, and where you can buy the books.

Cami Checketts "The Sister Pact"

Cami Checketts' third book, "The Sister Pact" was recently released. It's a romantic suspense that's full of mysteries. the back cover blurb reads:

Savanna Compton is devastated when her sister and best friend, Allison, falls into a coma after a tragic accident. Or was it an accident? Even with a charming and handsome detective at her side, it seems Savannah may never discover the truth. But if she doesn’t her family could be in even more danger. And Savannah’s past holds its own secrets that could change everything.

Now she must prove her innocence to the one person who is beginning to matter most. Join Savannah as she struggles to summon hope and rely on faith even in the darkest of circumstances, and learn how the bond between sisters can overcome anything.

A review I posted to the Facebook group is found here. Cami's website which has an excerpt of the book can be found here, and her blog which has other reviews, her upcoming signings, and other great information about the author can be found here. This books is available at Amazon.com, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Deseret Book, and anywhere else LDS books are sold.