Landry and Nickolai were an interesting pair. I felt this book tried to walk a fine line between a Christian romance and an action/traditional romance, and I really wanted it to pick one or the other. Besides that, I thought the ploy was intriguing and different, but still somewhat believable. Landry seemed like a fascinating and strong woman, and was a great heroine to read.

I wasn’t a big fan of this book. The suspense didn’t grab me as much as I like the suspense in books I read to do. I found it a little strange with the Native American spirituality in it and how it was integrated into the story. I also didn’t really like the ending as things didn’t wrap up as nicely as I would have liked. For example, I felt like some issues that were presented in the book were glossed over so the book could end. I also found the conversion to Christianity wasn’t well displayed. One moment he’s still critical although slightly opening up to the idea because of his sister and Landry but I didn’t think he was close enough to simply pray once and poof he is converted and there’s only a slight mention of it afterward before the book ends. I have a brother who has schizophrenia so I always get my back up when people talk about it and am more hypocritical of how people portray it in art. I found Caroll to do a decent job of not playing too much to the stigma of the mental illness, but as always, there could be major improvement as not everyone with the illness is dangerous and in this instance Caroll still included the violent part of it and gave the recovery process a longer time than necessary as most people with schizophrenia can function quite normally with the right dosage of meds.

I'm somewhat torn about this book. I liked it for the most part. It started slow but once I got into the mystery it was good. Robin Caroll is a gifted writer and her skills moved the plot right along. The characters were interesting and compelling. I enjoyed their backstories and thought that they added depth to the storyline.

What I didn't particularly enjoy was the mystic part of the story. For me it was a detraction rather than an enhancement. The wrap up in the Epilogue was really just too far out there for me. If you can set that aside (I did) I think that you'll enjoy this novel.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

Weaver’s Needle by Robin Carroll is a fascinating story line of the two recovery specialist. Landry was a former military police for the army. She had an interesting backstory into how she became a recovery specialist and I won't spoil that for you. Her competitor is Nikolai Baptiste and he was a former police officer who has his own story of how he retired after nine years and started a new line of work. I liked that each of them had a best friend that they would call and talk to. Even though Landry's best friend was a little too over the top. I was starting to think she could actually be part of the problem. :-) I'm hoping Chris, Nikolai's former partner could get his own book. There was a story of native American rituals woven throughout Landry and Nikolai's story. Admittedly I may have done some speed reading through those parts until we got closer to the end and it made a little more sense to me. I loved how the relationship between them develops throughout the book as they went from seeing each other as competitors to seeing each other as partners. Landry was a great character. She was a strong female but not stupid or too stubborn.
Admittedly I only read this book because it was written by Robin, however I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would from just the book description.
Sexual content: great chemistry, kissing,
Violence: someone is trying to stop them; vandalism,

Weaver’s Needle was an excellent thriller, with lots of questions, lots of plot turns, an evildoer I didn’t see coming (although I might have if the novel hadn’t been so fast paced), and a real twist ending.

Despite my bias for romantic suspense over straight suspense, I actually preferred the suspense elements of Weaver’s Needle to the romance. Who was behind the murder? Who is threatening Landry and Nickolai as they work together to find the lost map and perhaps solve the murder … and the mystery of the lost mine? What is the significance of the strange scenes about the Native American rituals?

There was also a compelling subplot about Nickolai and his relationship with his teenage sister, a schizophrenic in full-time care. Nickolai blames himself for not recognising the signs difference between normal teenage acting out and serious mental illness—a mistake which had tragic repercussions. It’s tough to incorporate mental illness into a novel, and I thought it was done well.

Next to all that, it might be inevitable that the romance element wasn’t going to be as strong. I could see the building attraction between Landry and Nickolai, but there was always the issue that Landry was a strong, praying Christian, and Nickolai an unbeliever. I thought this was glossed over, which affected my enjoyment of the romance.

But don’t let that deter you from reading Weaver’s Needle if you like thrill-of-the-chase mysteries with depth.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Superstition Mountains, AZ is the setting for this adventurous read! Full of adventure, mystery, and a little bit of romance, Robin Carolll's newest title release is sure to fulfill the reading desires of fans.

Landry Parker, a former MP, and Nickolai Baptiste, a former police detective, are pitted against each other in a race to see who can find the missing information their client is desiring. As recovery specialists, the goal is to find the missing map and the Dutchman's Lost Gold Mine first and claim the prize as their own. This treasure hunt leads Landry and Nickolai to very beautiful Indian country. Both Landry and Nickolai feel a sense of not being welcome shortly after their arrival there. They do not let that get in the way, but what about their feelings for each other?

I loved the characters in this book and how the author weaved them together so seamlessly. The interjections of Gopan's story were fascinating! This is a fairly fast-paced book that I was able to read quickly because I couldn't put it down!

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to receive a complimentary copy of this book for review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

Weaver's Needle by Robin Caroll

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Robin Caroll's newest venture into the world of recovery specialists (ie treasure hunters) promised excitement, adventure and romance but fell quite a bit short of its goal.

Having read some of Ms. Caroll's collaborative work with Colleen Coble, I approached her latest story with some happy anticipation, hoping for a good plot with well developed characters. I was somewhat disappointed with the story as it went along given the anticipation that Ms. Caroll built at the beginning of the story was not well carried with the fleshing out of the plot. She begins her story with two characters, Landry Parker and Nickolai Baptiste, who are recovery specialists called to bid on the same venture - to find a map that possibly leads to gold mine in Arizona. With the circumstances surrounding the map's disappearance both Landry and Nickolai are reluctant to sign on but neither can afford to pass up the finders fee that's offered. As they take their respective paths to seeking out the details of how and why the map went missing they both find that all  answers are leading to Apache Juction, Arizona and its surrounding towns. Both Landry and Nickolai have personal financial reasons for taking this case and as they find themselves working together they have to remember that there can only be one collection fee given for the map's finding. The question Ms. Caroll then presents is whether working together will keep them safe or make them more of a target for whomever stole the map? And further will this case bring them together forever or keep them divided as they seek the map and the treasure it indicates exists. With the plot presented there is much room for an author to really make the characters involved come alive and create a real feeling of danger and excitement. However, I found the "excitement" and "danger" to be rather lukewarm and not anxiety-inducing in the least.  If you are going to write about brakes failing or a napalm fire breaking out in a hotel room and you want your readers to really be afraid for your characters you have to be very descriptive with the details of those happenings and the reactions of your characters. I never really felt fear or anxiety for Landry or Nickolai, rather I felt like the "danger" was an afterthought added to make the story seem more interesting. And the random angry lady involved in the wreck caused by Nickolai's failed brakes was really annoying and not helpful to the scene at all. Another inclusion that bothered me was the random inserts of Apache ceremonies and rituals that were not well connected to or explained within the story. Usually those scenes are inserted to explain the actions of participating characters but I was halfway through the book before I finally understood the reason Ms. Caroll included them. Furthermore, the character that was to carry out the decisions of the Apache council was not revealed until the last two chapters; making him unhelpful to the carriage of the plot. And the whole ending where Nickolai was given the choice of "saving Landry's life if he gave up his memories of the location of the gold mine" was so very weird and not possible I laughed and shook my head when I read it. This is supposed to be a Christian book so why do the Apache have any power over who lives and who dies based on one person's choice? That power rests in the hands of Almighty God who does not give the power of life and death to any man! Not good, Ms. Caroll! Finally, Ms. Caroll's "bad guy" was so evident from the first third of the book that I was bored with his revelation at the end. I find that the best "bad guys" are those who are concealed or are working unsuspected alongside the "heroes" until the end and their revelation comes as a shock to all those involved. Not that all criminals are masterminds but I do expect fictional ones to be capable of more stealth than your average sneak thief or drug dealer. I did find some redeeming qualities in this book so all is not completely lost. I was very happy with the way in which Ms. Caroll dealt openly with the mental illness Nickolai's sister suffers from. She showed that Schizophrenia is a real disorder and that those who suffer from it often harm those who are closest to them in very brutal ways. And when Ms. Caroll showed that faith in Christ is the best way for any Schizophrenic to find the strength to overcome their tendencies, that impressed me and made me see that her intentions were headed in the right direction. I was also glad to see that Ms. Caroll had Nickolai see that the blame for his parents deaths was not his to carry. His family had no history of mental illness and his sister's actions were not unlike those of her friends, therefore her condition was not to be anticipated or realized until it turned violent in a tragic way. Additionally, the romance between Landry and Nickolai was fairly well written, with a sweetness and carefulness that I have come to expect from Christian Romance. I was a little against it at first, given that Nickolai was an unbeliever but was happy to see them together at the end of the story. So although there were some things that were good about this story, I'm not sure I will be recommending this book to anyone as it was rather disappointing. I hope that Ms. Caroll will spend more time honing her craft before she writes another like this. For avid readers of adventure/dramatic stories she will have to make her writing much sharper and more descriptive if she wishes to have devoted fans. 

I received this E-book free of charge from Barbour Publishing/Shiloh Run Press via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review.

Weaver's Needle by Robin Carroll is a book whose pages are infused with drama, suspense, and unexpected romance. Nickolai and Landry, both recovery specialists, have taken on a case to find a missing treasure map. One that pits them against each other as the only one to get paid is the one who finds the map first. But the competition becomes complicated and convoluted. Warnings are given but each decides to continue the search. Who will find the map? Will they even survive the search effort? Who is out to stop them? The author does a fantastic job telling the history of Weaver's Needle and the American Indian legends surrounding the map and the cave to which it leads. Shamans, Shadow Warriors, dream visions, all to protect the site. The story moves quickly with lots of action, several twists to the plot and an earth-shattering, world-spinning, steal-your-heart kind of kiss. Whew, where's my fan? Tough subjects such as mental illness, death and the whys of illness and disease are briefly touched on throughout. Woven with the themes of strong friendships, restoration, guilt, and grief is Landry's faith in a God who loves and cares throughout difficult times. Nickolai, though, is of a different bent--if there was a superior being, it didn't play fair. The tension mounts and where will these contrary beliefs lead these two characters. Weaver's Needle is a story full of strong energy and great descriptive writing, making one feel like you are right there in the scene. A story lovers of mysteries and romance will not want to miss.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

This was an interesting book. I liked it, but I didn't love it. The mystery wasn't as compelling as I wanted it to be. I was only mildly interested instead of on the edge of my seat. The romance was a bit insta-lovey, but it was decent enough. The main issue I had with the book was that I had trouble connecting with Landry. She seemed rather cold and one dimensional to me, and I think the story lacked the emotional impact it could have had because of that. Overall it was entertaining, if a little rushed.

Weaver’s Needle is a book by a new-to-me author, Robin Carroll. The book sounded interesting and I really was not sure what to expect. What I got was a plotline that would make any Indiana Jones lover proud.
To start out, I absolutely loved the premise of this novel. A murder with a missing item. Two people pitted against each other to be the first to recover said item. Legends, curses, and intrigue surround everything else. The book moved steadily forward and certainly kept my interest. My one complaint is that despite all the opportunities for it, this book just didn’t have the amount of tension I would suspect. But that didn’t hinder my enjoyment of it too much.

All in all, I found Weaver’s Needle to be a unique book. It’s a storyline that at least for me, did not feel overdone. I can honestly say that there were a lot of unexpected moments and events in the book and it kept my interest throughout. I also enjoyed the bit of local legend and Native American beliefs tossed in. All was handled well I thought and the prevailing message of the book aligned itself with Christian beliefs.
If you are looking for a book that falls a bit more into the realm of an adventure with a bit of mystery thrown in, this might be a book worth picking up.

Weaver’s Needle, the latest Christian suspense novel by Robin Caroll, is particularly interesting to me because I love this author’s writing and the setting is a short drive from my Phoenix home. Apache Junction is southeast of Phoenix, a charming town that retains its small Southwest community feel with friendly, down-to-earth people.

One missing document. Two recovery specialists. One million dollars and one murder later, Landry and Nickolai are competing to recover that missing document. The $50,000 “reward” is desperately needed by both Landry and Nickolai – one to save a business that is a father’s legacy and the other, to move one’s sister to move to a halfway house from a hospital where she has had long years of treatment for schizophrenia.

Winifred is the widow of the murdered man, the woman in charge of their company, Winslet Industries. Nickolai drove to Apache Junction. Landry flew to Arizona with Stan, a VP and long-time employee of the Winslet’s, and Winifred‘s chosen rep to handle expenses for Landry and Nickolai. The competitors squared off as boxers might when seeing each other in the ring.

The missing document is a map of Arizona’s Superstition Mountains with Weaver’s Needle. The original drawing with handwritten notes was sold to Mr. Winslet by a descendent of the woman who cared for the dying Lost Dutchman. The Lost Dutchman Mine is folklore to most Arizonans. Landry was told there is a curse on the gold and on anyone trying to find it, that ghost warriors of the Superstitions would destroy the map to destroy the curse. Unbeknownst to Landry and Nickolai, Apache shamans are in prayer, seeking to deflect the white people who, the spirits revealed, were coming.

First, she gets a warning note, then Landry’s rental vehicle had a punctured tire. Her first suspect was Nickolai. When Landry and Nickolai are almost killed, they learn to fully trust each other and work together. Phillip, another board member of Winslet arrives to watch out for Winifred’s interests, wanting to be part of their investigation but the two evaded them.

I like both Landry and Nickolai; they are hard-working, honest people. Landry is a Christian, and prays through challenges. Nickolai is not a Christian and sees prayer as a crutch. As described, they could step off the pages and into the mountains. I couldn’t decide which of the two recovery specialists I wanted to find the map, especially when sparks fly between them.

One of many things I enjoy about Ms. Caroll’s novels is that her character(s) show without preaching what a life of faith can look like, which is what this Christian sometimes needs to see. The plot twists and surprises bring many breathtaking moments! There was a limited number of suspects. The one(s) I thought of as the bad guy(s)/ gal(s) was correct but I couldn’t figure out the motives. The author shows spiritual lessons that I need to be reminded of. There were a couple things that, to me, stretched Christian faith a little farther than I’ve considered. The end, while it seemed to drop off quickly, was very satisfactory. I highly recommend this novel to readers of any age who appreciate Christian suspense with solid, lyrical writing, excellent background and setting, and ever-increasing breathtaking experiences.

From a grateful heart: I received this eBook from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

Weaver's Needle
Robin Caroll
Barbour Publishing, Inc.








Shiloh Run Press

Christian , Romance

Pub Date 01 Jun 2017

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of Weaver's Needle through Barbour Publishing Inc, and Netgalley:
Landry Parker was a former Army MP who finds herself in the recovery specialist in order to help her ailing father, a job she is not certain she can do well at.
Former Police officer Nickolai Baptise finds himself working as a recovery specialist after being shot in the line of duty.
Before long Landry and Nikolai find themselves pited against each other by a potential client.
This journey takes them from New Orleans to the Supersticious Mountains in Arizona, in search of the treasure.
Will they find out true treasure is not found in silver or gold?
Find out in Weaver's Needle.
Five out of five stars!!!
Happy Reading!

Nickolai Baptiste and Landry Parker are both recovery experts in New Orleans. They are each to find the map for the Lost Dutchman's Mine in Arizona. They each have their reasons for needing the money which the one who finds the map will get. They find that they have an attraction for each other as well as being competitors. When the accidents, or maybe not so accident start happening then they decide to work together. Landry's faith in God is strong but Nickolai not so much. Can he overcome his feelings and get back to God? That is only one of the questions to be answered in this story.

Weaver’s Needle by Robin Caroll begins as a wealthy widow hires two competing recovery specialists to obtain the map her husband was killed for. Landry Parker and Nickolai Baptiste are each other’s biggest competition and they are both desperate for the huge finder’s fee that will go to the person who finds this map. The quest to find the map quickly becomes dangerous and it is not clear who can be trusted. Landry and Nickolai find themselves in the difficult position of only being able to trust each other as unforeseen events keep occurring. This was the first book that I read by Robin Caroll and I impressed with the steady movement in the plot that kept my continued interest throughout the story. I definitely recommend this book for readers who love mystery/suspense. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

It had been a while since I read one of Robin Caroll's books and it was wonderful to be back with her writing again. I always love her characters and she didn't disappoint in Weaver's Needle.
However, I was a bit disappointed that I had figured out who the bad guy was almost immediately after he was introduced. That spoiled a huge part of my reading pleasure. I still liked the book and Robin wrote a very nice story, but it didn't captivate me as much as her previous books.

Part mystery, part Indian folklore, part race for the gold, & part romance makes this story intriguing enough to keep you turning pages!

Both Landry Parker and Nickolai Baptiste are pitted against each other tasked with finding an old treasure map that's worth a fortune. Which in turn, can lead them to an old mine Indians believe to contain what's called Dutchman's Lost Gold worth millions. Heading to Weaver's Needle Arizona begins their journey piecing together the clues on where to find the map and bring it back to the widow whose husband was killed for it! Is this a race for the treasure or for their very lives?

I really enjoyed learning about the legend of the Dutchman's Lost Gold mine in the Indian culture. It added a fascinating layer to the mystery surrounding the story. Competition between Landry and Nickolai is fierce and mistrust is high. It added tension & conflict enough to keep me rooting for them both. As the stakes are raised, I enjoyed seeing them begin to work together and through their differences. There were a few high tense scenes to keep me on my toes. Romance was just the right pace and I think it took them both by surprise. The book was well-written and thoroughly researched, a true delight to read. It was my first book by this author, but certainly not my last. I'll be searching for more from her!

*I received a complimentary copy from Barbour publishing & Netgalley. I was under no obligation to post a review. *

I like mysteries, particularly when they include a historic element such as National Treasure and Dan Brown's novels. However, for some reason, unlike other reviewers, I just couldn't get into this book. The folklore was confusing to me and the "treasure" seemed contrived. Admittedly, I gave up before finishing so I may have missed the most suspenseful parts. I found the main protagonists to be one-dimensional rather than true to life, overly competitive, and relatively unlikable. The foray into mental health issues didn't seem to add to the story or my connection to the character. I cannot recommend this one, as other authors have done a much better job in this genre.

This is a Christian book where one characters is a non believer (Nickolai) and the other one a believer (. Landry). I was a little surprised by that the author used a great deal of Native American shaman rituals. I really enjoyed the authors ability to bring in different religions and not just focus on Christ Centered ones.
The authors writing style took me a little times to get used and the story couldn't quite figure out if it was mystery or romance neither one blended as well as I hoped.
The if you follow the mystery its your basic story with very little bite someone tries to drive them off the road hoping to spot them from searching. Nothing stood out its our basic mystery. On the romance side everything happened so fast even with them being so different and yet they were in love.
Neither side of the story was blended well enough giving readers your basic story.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advance Copy

Nice historical romance with full character development and a plot that twists just enough to keep your interest. Hope for more by this author in this world/series.