Monday, April 16, 2018

Beneath the Surface

GIVEAWAY
BLACKBURN, LYNN H.
BENEATH THE SURFACE

She thought she'd be safe when she moved back home. She was dead wrong.

After a harrowing experience with an obsessed patient, oncology nurse practitioner Leigh Weston needed a change. She thought she'd left her troubles behind when she moved home to Carrington, North Carolina and took a job in the emergency department of the local hospital. But when someone tampers with her brakes, she fears the past has chased her down and reaches out to her high school friend turned homicide investigator, Ryan Parker, for help.

Ryan finds satisfaction in his career, but his favorite way to use his skills is as a volunteer underwater investigator with the Carrington County Sheriff's Office dive team. When the body of a wealthy businessman is discovered in Lake Porter, the investigation uncovers a possible serial killer -- one with a terrifying connection to Leigh Weston and deadly implications for them all.

My Review:

Eep! Squeal!! Thud!!! I'm in a discombobulated frenzy of excitement over this new series by Lynn H. Blackburn. Not only am I smitten by Beneath the Surface, but I'm all aflutter just contemplating the future Dive Team Investigations books! That's because Blackburn has done an incredible job of introducing team members with unique personalities that already have me clamoring for answers. Like what's up with Gabe and Anissa?! Inquiring reader minds want to know, Ms. Blackburn!

There is so much to love about this book but I'll get the one big negative out of the way first before I start waxing poetic. Ready? The worst thing about this romantic suspense is that the pages run out! Like, seriously, I'm blissfully reading along alternately swooning and cringing and occasionally shoulder-checking when -- snap -- just like that, it's over. Way too soon, even if the ending is all toe-curling sweetness. Insert disgruntled sigh here (heavy enough to cause my bangs to stand up on end.).

At least the author leaves us with a glimpse into what's coming up in In Too Deep which provides some consolation and not a small amount of anticipatory hyperventilating! If you love the kind of romantic suspense series written by Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason and Irene Hannon, you are going to become a huge Lynn H. Blackburn fan!

So, the things I love about this book. The fact that Leigh is Chinese American because I am looking for diversity in my fiction. She's a spunky nurse with a huge heart for her patients. And she's been harboring a secret crush on Ryan since her brother used to bring him home in their high school days. That's a great foundation for building a realistic romance in the midst of danger and intrigue. Especially since Ryan was interested in Leigh way back then too!

And I love the way Blackburn balances the romance and the suspense with flashes of team camaraderie and humour. I soaked up every delicious word! And the dive team angle is a refreshing addition to this genre. This is the kind of story it's easy to get immersed in -- ha! no pun intended. A taut and  gripping pager-turner I found impossible to put down...even when I reached the end!

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Beneath the Surface, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April 22 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

49 comments:

  1. Great review, KAV! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.

    psalm103and138atgmaildotcom

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  2. Good morning Kav and Best Readers,
    This review has hooked me with it's "delicious words" description and has me wanting to read this new to me author. Will I need to leave the lights on when I go to bed? ;)
    thanks for the giveaway!
    tracey14567 at gmail dot com

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    1. She has written two LIS books that I have also read. Her tag-line is 'where fear and faith collide' so maybe a nightlight might be appropriate. :-) I love seeing what these Love Inspired authors can do with a longer word count and Lynn H. Blackburn is truly brilliant! Good luck, Tracey.

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  3. I've never read one of her books. Sounds intriguing! Count me in, Kav! :)

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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    1. You will love her! Honest! Good luck, Cheryl.

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  4. I wanna see if my bangs stand on end at the sigh-worthy conclusion, too. Gosh, but that tickled me! lol For some reason the Beezus and Ramona books from my girlhood popped in my mind. Don't ask. My mind goes weird bookish places. This is exactly the book I need to help jumpstart my quickly vanishing TBR paperback stack! What a delicious review!

    dianalflowers(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. Oooh -- Beezus and Ramona -- those were happy reading days! Gasp over your vanishing TBR pile! Mind you, this one won't last long on it either. Good luck, Diana.

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    2. I just googled Beverly Cleary and she's 102 years old! Wow! I guess your "bangs" remark reminded me of Beezus, whom I haven't thought of in like forever. lol Crazy the memories our minds subconsciously hold.

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    3. Goodness...it is indelicate of me to say I thought she had passed on? 102!!! What a literary legacy! I loved Ramona but have to admit to a special fondness for a mouse named Ralph. :-)

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    4. I thought she had passed away, too. A literary legacy indeed! I need to tap into my subconscious a little bit harder because I don't remember Ralph. :o We went from suspense to Beezus? The bangs remark started it all. Bwahahahaha

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    5. And then to a mouse..named Ralph. Remember the Mouse and the Motorcycle? And the little boy in the inn who's playing with a toy motorcycle which is just the right size for a mouse????? They made a movie...oh, now I have to check my library and see if they have it. And I there's Ralph S. Mouse and Runaway Ralph. Of course, I'd have an affection for the critter books. :-)

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    7. Surely I read about Ralph since there was more than one book! hmmm Mice aren't my favorite critters (unless they're those cute little white ones), so I may not have read them. Not too crazy about rodents scampering around, especially in my house. lol

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  5. Sounds intriguing!
    karenskrayons(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. Sounds good. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

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  7. Sounds like a must read! Thank you, Kav! mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  8. Sounds Great Thanks for the chance
    iamabho AT gmail DoT CoM

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  9. "BENEATH THE SURFACE" sounds like an exciting, hair raising, adrenaline pumping book and one I'd love the opportunity to read. Thanks for the review and the chance to win a copy!
    2clown at arkansas dot net

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  10. I’ve been wanting to read this one! Thanks Kav! paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet

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    1. You definitely don't want to miss out, Paula. Good luck!

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  11. And just think Kav, you have to wait for a new adventure until November: In Too Deep (Dive Team Investigations #2). But I'm sure you'll find solace in so many books between now & then :-)

    You have my anticipating this if it's anything as good as the authors you've mentioned in your review....

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Argh! November????? Pouty sigh. I suppose I can find something else to read until then....Good luck, Trixi.

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  12. So...I'm not leaving a comment to win a copy...;) But let me just say THANK YOU for sharing the Beneath the Surface love with your readers. I'm hard at work on Gabe's story right now so the answers are coming...but not until July 2019...(ducks and runs for cover)! Grace & peace!

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    1. July 2019????? Sputter! Spew!! My imagination will run wild until then and I'll console myself Adam's story in between times. Must remember not to add your name to the draw -- bwahahahaha! Thanks for stopping by, Lynn and for writing such an awesomesauce story!

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  13. Sounds edge of your seat. Thank you.
    leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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  14. Thank you for your kind review. Lynn is my daughter and, of course, I think it is great. So encouraging when others think so ,too.

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    1. Susie, how exciting! Bet y'all haven't stopped partying since this book came out! I'm so excited to continue with this series. Oh -- and I bet the writing talent comes from your side of the family! :-)

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  15. I'm ready to go deep and find out all there is to love about thse characters. Sure hope I win that free copy. <3

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    1. You'll love them all, Sandra...well except for the serial killer. Bwahahaha! Good luck.

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  16. After reading your wonderful review of this book, I will be adding this book to my TBR list. Thanks for the review and the chance.
    pwestfall7 at hotmail dot com

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    1. Yessss!!!! It belongs there...right at the top! Good luck, Pam.

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  17. Your review reeled me in Kav! Sounds like a gripping romantic suspense that I would enjoy reading. I love the dive team aspect too! Lynn is a new author to me.
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com

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    1. You'll love her books, Maryann. Good luck.

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  18. Amazing review, Kav! This book is going on my TBR pile, which is definitely not vanishing like Diana's! :-D I don't think I'll ever have that problem. I'd love to win this book, so throw my name in the hat (or whatever you do).

    whthomas13(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Oh, I've been there, staring at an empty TBR 'pile' -- it isn't a place any reader wants to be. lol Good luck, Winnie.

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  19. Great Review! Would love to win this book!
    melmo2610(at)gmail(dot)com

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  20. This definitely has me intrigues and this is a new author for me. I would love to win! Thank you for the chance Kav.

    Be Blessed,
    Cindy W.
    countrybear52 AT yahoo DOT com

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    1. Ohhh, you will love her, Cindy. Good luck!

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  21. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ladysnowangelphotos(at)gmail(dot)com

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