About the Book

Book:  Day of Reckoning

Author: Valerie Massey Goree

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release date: August, 2019

International Retrieval Organization Agent Lela Ortiz is assigned the kidnapping case of businessman, Chuck Davenport. When her boss allows Chuck’s brother-in-law to assist, Lela accepts the help with reservations, especially when Jay Vashon prays to God at the most inopportune times.

Jay would do anything to help bring his brother-in-law home, even work with hesitant Agent Ortiz. As Jay helps Lela decipher the clues sent to Chuck’s special-needs son, Jay begins to fall for the feisty IRO agent.

Can Jay break through the barrier Lela has constructed around her heart? Will Lela be able to overcome her distrust of men and God? And what of Chuck? Can the pair locate him before the ransom deadline?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award winner Valerie Massey Goree resides with her husband on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula of Washington State.

 

After serving as missionaries in her home country of Zimbabwe and raising two children, Glenn and Valerie moved to Texas. She worked in the public school system for many years, focusing on students with special needs. Now retired in Washington, Valerie spends her time writing, and spoiling her grandchildren.

 

Novels include: Deceive Me Once; Colors of Deceit; The Stolen Lives Trilogy, Weep in the Night; Day of Reckoning; and Justice at Dawn, to be released July, 2021. Valerie’s latest novel Forever Under Blue Skies, is now available from Amazon.

 

Valerie loves to hear from her readers.

 

Check Valerie’s website to learn more about her books: www.valeriegoreeauthor.com

 

More from Valerie

“Dressed in black, Lela stretched out of the chair like a panther on the hunt.” Would that sentence entice you to know more about Lela?

 

It worked for me, and I wrote the sentence!

 

Here’s how it all came about. When I outlined the plots for my Stolen Lives Trilogy, I knew that an International Retrieval Organization (IRO) agent mentioned in Book One would became the star in Book Two, and an agent highlighted in Book Two would take the lead in Book Three.

 

I first ‘met’ Lela Ortiz two-thirds of the way into writing Weep in the Night, Book One in the trilogy. She was a minor character, a proficient agent, but serious and quiet. Up until that point, I still hadn’t decided which agent would go on to fame in the next book. However, when I wrote the sentence already quoted, I knew Lela was my gal.

 

Ooh. I fell in love with that description of her and had to delve into her backstory. Why was she so serious? What happened in her past to make her such a good agent? At first, I decided she was an orphan, but she ‘informed’ me she had a loving family. Scratch that idea. If her troubles didn’t stem from her immediate family, where did they originate?

 

Quite often a character will ‘give’ me details during a conversation with another member of the cast. My plan might be for the plot to veer left, then lo and behold, the character will say something that takes the story in a completely different direction. This may sound strange to some readers, but believe me, many authors will agree that if your character isn’t ‘talking’ to you, maybe it’s because you’re taking them in the wrong direction. Lela certainly did that with me. And I think her story is so much richer and deeper than the one I’d originally planned.

 

After you read about her life before becoming an agent, you’ll understand her desire to help people, and why her boss holds her in high regard.

MY REVIEW 

This has been a very intriguing story. I loved Lela and her strong desire to help others. The organization she works for does amazing work on helping find people who have been kidnapped. I thought this was a brilliant part of the story where Lela shined at her job. Her instincts are spot on and she is very determined to follow leads. There is something from her past that has affected her but she tries to hide the scars that will never go away. 

Jay is a good character and helps Lela find out why his brother-in-law Chuck has been kidnapped. As they  start to investigate they  find clues that may help them figure out why Chuck has been kidnapped. I liked the twists in the story and how the author has two characters working together that hide emotional scars. I think for me their budding friendship was refreshing and gave readers a little background on each of them. Jay is a little timid around Lela because he doesn’t want to get hurt. Lela doesn’t want to let Jay in because she has trust issues. 

I loved how the author kept the story interesting by incorporating another mystery in the book. This part of the story is genius and allows the author to show her creativity. The way she ties the two mysteries together is very intriguing and kept me on my toes. Lela has her hands full with two investigations, a past she needs to deal with and a man she may be falling for. I loved the  faith element in the book and liked how Jay shared Jesus with Lela. It gives her much to think about as she starts to allow God to help her heal from her past. 

Get ready for action and suspense  in this story where  the kidnapped victim gives clues in video taped messages. The author included a child who has Fragile X Syndrome. I learned a little about this disorder as the author introduces us to Chuck’s son. The child is able to communicate by sign language and pictures. This will become a  very important part of the story as video messages are sent to the family. Overall the story is well written and characters are developed enough that you become invested in them. If you are looking for a clean suspense story this one is for you. 

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 5

For Him and My Family, June 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 7

Texas Book-aholic, June 8

deb’s Book Review, June 9

The Sacred Line, June 9

Inklings and notions, June 10

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 11

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 12

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, June 13

Betti Mace, June 14

Stories By Gina , June 15 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 16

CarpeDiem, June 17

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, June 18

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Valerie is giving away the grand prize package of a copy of the book, wall plaque saying ‘Wait on the Lord’, a writing journal, and Aromatherapy Lavender Foam Bath crystals!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/10d05/day-of-reckoning-celebration-tour-giveaway