I sped through this fast-paced suspense. The Christian message is low key but clear.
Tavish is unique and demonstrates real growth throughout the story. There were a couple of "coincidences" that I felt were a little too unlikely, but I thoroughly enjoyed this and read it quickly. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it!

DNF ch.3

This one was shaping up to be quite the tense suspense story (there were at least three solid hooks in the first two and a half chapters), but the leading lady’s nickname (Tavish) was annoying (her given name, Evelyn, was much more enjoyable), and I didn’t appreciate the profanity that showed up in chapter three.

Content: profanity

This book is fairly well-written. I also appreciated the occasional humor, the cute dog, the chunks of suspenseful moments and the references to art and painting. I have, however, lost the taste for mystery/suspense and found myself skipping the slower bits. Others who like this genre might enjoy this title though.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.”

“This will pass. Breathe in calm, breathe out fear.”

“I have to stop running. Living in the shadows. Being afraid. Fractured by fear.”

Another winner by Carrie Stuart Parks! This one was a wild ride for sure. It had so many twists and turns that I had no clue where it was headed and couldn’t wait to see what happened next. As always with Carrie Stuart Parks books, she has a multi-layered main character. Tavish is a bit quirky and eccentric to say the least. I loved how many moments in the book where I wasn’t sure whether to trust her. Was she crazy or telling the truth?

The secondary characters were great, especially Agent Sawyer Price. I wouldn’t mind seeing him in a future book. What was also cool was the setting of New Mexico, as I don’t read many books that takes place there. There was also a lot of great thematic elements of trusting in God. Lastly, as someone who loves trying coffees from different countries, the greatest mystery in the book was what kind of German coffee Sawyer was drinking! :)

* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and Thomas Nelson. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

12Kathryn
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12 months ago
Fragments of Fear by Carrie Stuart Parks
Fragments of Fear
by Carrie Stuart Parks (Goodreads Author)
Read
Read in July 2019
This was my first ever Carrie Stuart Parks novel and I am so, so very glad that I was able to read it and share it with y’all!

So, why did I enjoy it so much? I’m a bit picky with my books, and especially romantic suspense books because they all tend to have the same, typical plot line, but this one was different. While the main character, Tavish, didn’t have a good past, I felt like she handled it differently than all the other women in romantic suspense. She didn’t really close herself off and become a walking ice sculpture like many of the women in the romantic suspense that I’ve read. I think she dealt with it in a little bit more of a realistic way, and that made her much more relatable.

Another aspect that I absolutely loved was the humor sprinkled throughout. Now I will be the first to admit that I generally do not enjoy much humor in my books. I prefer heavy and emotional reads to lighthearted and warm ones, but Ms. Parks made the humor work in this book. It wasn’t over the top and it wasn’t telling lame jokes or anything like that, but mainly just humorous in the way Tavish thought about things and I could really relate to that because I kind of think the same way as her.

This is a romantic suspense book, BUT there really wasn’t a ton of romance in it, at least not that I noticed. I mean, the characters do meet and fall for each other, but for a lot of the book they aren’t even in contact with each other, so it’s not overly romantic, which I really did appreciate. That does, however, bring up the one issue I had with this book. Because the characters didn’t spend that much time together, their relationship seemed a little unrealistic. I mean, how can you love someone when you’ve only had one real conversation with them? In the end, though it works out and I didn’t mind that part too much.

So, in conclusion, I loved this book and I will definitely be reading more of Ms. Parks’ novels in the future. Fragments of Fear was just the right mix of humor and suspense that it kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing until the very end of the book. It you’re a suspense fan, I would highly recommend you picking this one up!

**I received a complementary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson and JustRead tours but was not required to give a good review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.**

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK 

I really enjoyed this fast paced thriller from author Carrie Parks. Tavish seemed to get herself in trouble everywhere she went. When she finds her boyfriend dead, the street is so bad she finds herself chewying on her fingernail, a very bad habit. And her boyfriends death leads to a string of deaths, and she can’t seem to find the connection. Then she meets FBI Special Agent Sawyer Price, who not only is a bit attracted to Tavish, he wants to help her find answers.

Tavish and Sawyer wiggled their way into my heart from the beginning. I love the unique and interesting characters created by Ms. Parks. They all played their parts so well in each scene of this highly rated thriller. Tavish was a mixed up young lady, she wasnt a Christian, instead she depended on her Crystal’s. And the supporting characters have their own unique qualities as well. There are so many twists and turns to this story. I tried throughout the book to figure out who did what, it was all so mixed up, it seemed like everyone was guilty. I love the way this author weaves all of the characters together with the horrific issues going on, and created an ending that was a shocker in some ways. Near the end, I had narrowed the killer down to a few, but I was still shocked at the results. I love when authors keep us guessing throughout the story. Especially authors like Carrie Parks, writing such twisted scenes, bringing every character into the picture. And I appreciate that Ms. Parks shows Tavish’s life before and after she gives her heart to Jesus.

If you love a good clean thriller/mystery, this is the book for you. You will love this one! A copy of this book was given to me by the author or publisher. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions here in this review are totally mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

From the very beginning this book had me enthralled. I instantly fell in love with all the characters. I found myself wondering who Tavish could trust, who was the enemy, and how she was going to unravel this mystery. I was rooting for her throughout the book. I loved watching Tavish learn how to put her trust in God through one simple verse on her grandmother's tombstone. I kept wondering what's going to happen next. Parks definitely keeps the reader on their toes. She kept me guessing all the way to the end. Once I thought I had it figured out, another twist and I was guessing again. I had a hard time putting this one down. If you love suspense, this is a must-read.

**I received this book in exchange for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Fragments of Fear
by Carrie Stuart Parks

Thomas Nelson–FICTION

Thomas Nelson

Christian , Mystery & Thrillers

Pub Date 23 Jul 2019

I am reviewing a copy of Fragments of Fear
through Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley:

Carrie Stuart Parks is a FBI Certified Forensic Artist! She infuses her real life expertise into her suspense novels.

After the Suicide of her fiancé Evelyn McTavish’s world comes crashing down around her. Just as she is struggling to
Put her life back in order she ends up getting a call telling her, her dog is about to be destroyed at the pound. The problem is she doesn’t own a dog. The shelter is adamant that the microchip embedded in the canine with her name and address makes it hers.

Evelyn does recognize the dog, and knows it’s owner is John Coyote, she knows this because she was commissioned to draw dog and owner. She knows the solution is to return the dog to his owner, but when she gets to John Coyote’s place she discovers he was murdered!

Soon Evelyn herself becomes a target she crosses paths with undercover FBI agent Sawyer Price. The more he gets to know her, the more personally invested he becomes in keeping her safe. Together, they’re desperate to find the links between so many disparate pieces.

Will Sawyer be able to keep Evelyn safe from whoever is out to get her? Find out in Fragments of Fear.

Another masterpiece by Carrie Stuart Parks...This story captured by attention from page one...and did not let go until the final page. Five stars!

What I think you should know:
Fragments of Fear is a contemporary suspense novel. Evelyn McTavish who prefers to be called Tavish is an heiress who has just lost her fiance and feels alone in the world. When she witnesses a horrible crime no one believes her, so she the investigation into her own hands.

What you might want to know:
The book does contain violence and murder, however the author, Carrie Stuart Parks did not include details that were not necessary. Tavish suffers from severe anxiety.

What I enjoyed about this book:
Tavish isn’t sure of her place in life and has let her opinion of herself be tarnished by others, in this book she is learning to lean on herself. FBI Agent Sawyer Price was a great character, he added an extra layers to the story, giving you a view of Tavish in someone else’s eyes. The technical art details were also a great touch giving me things to think about. The author did a masterful job of writing a story that had me intrigued from the first page to the last.

Who will enjoy this book ( just to name a few):
Fans of Suspense
Fans of Mysteries
Fans of Christian Fiction


I received a complimentary copy for this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

Parks has created another superior book to read. Tavish is a fantastic character. She's smart and flawed. She's driven and she's seeking. Tavish has anxiety attacks, and it looks like, through all of this, she stands a chance of coming to some major revelations about the Truth in many ways. Her whole life was coming apart and then the call from the shelter, come get your dog. A dog she didn't own, a dog that has a microchip registered to her. So now she and Marley, the dog, have a whole new host of questions and the answers, are well worth reading.

I wasn't disappointed with anything with this book. From the characters who are easy to "bond" with, the science, "police procedure" type aspects, to the strong current of Faith that flows through this story, I didn't want to put it down at all. When it ended, I was happy, yet sad. I need another one ASAP, please.

My copy came from Celebrate Lit. This review is my own, left of my own free volition.

Fragments of Fear by Carrie Stuart Parks



Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

______________________________________________________________________________
Story Notes

Carrie Stuart Parks offers readers a well written story with lots of suspense, heart and a search for one’s life purpose after enduring tragedy.

I must say that I really enjoyed this book. It was a bit slow getting started and not a little quirky but the story really drew me in and kept me reading to the very end. It begins with a phone call to Evelyn McTavish, Tavish to her friends. Apparently her dog has been turned in at a local shelter and will be destroyed if she doesn’t come and claim him. But Tavish doesn’t own a dog and she cannot understand how her name is listed for a dog she knows is owned by a former client. She is still trying to recover from the ordeal of finding her fiancee dead in his car and then having no one believe her when she insists it wasn’t suicide. She also has an upcoming art show to prepare for and is not sure she is in any way ready. But she doesn’t want Marley to be destroyed because no one claims him. Deciding to return the dog to it’s owner, Tavish heads to the shelter to collect the runaway Marley, a black Puli that is often mistaken for a walking black mop. Her quest to be a good friend is interrupted when she arrives at her former client’s home to find the door open and no one there…..until she finds his lifeless body on the floor. Terrified that her world is spinning out of control again, Tavish runs away from the scene, praying she will be safe from whoever the killer is. Her dash leads her into the active dig site for a local archaeologist group and undercover FBI agent Sawyer Price. Sawyer is not sure what to do with this interesting woman who has unexpectedly burst into his investigation. Her story seems outlandish but he can’t deny her honesty. Her odd manner of dress and speaking might be off-putting to others but Sawyer finds that it adds to the uniqueness that is Tavish. As they work together to finds the ones responsible for all the violence and crimes, they will find themselves in a much bigger and more deadly race of discovery than they ever imagined. They will have to sort out who is telling the truth and who is hiding behind a friendly face before the person responsible silences them forever. This really was a very good story, it was well crafted and the characters were very likable. The suspense came in waves which allowed the story to flow well and kept my interest with each turning page. The inclusion of the art theft in the story gave it a new angle and fresh feeling approach to a murder-mystery. I am not much of an art lover but I can certainly admire the talents of others and Tavish’s art bent gave an interesting look into the mind of an artist. Tavish herself was a great character that I enjoyed getting to know. She was real, raw and totally falling apart at the beginning of the story but through the grace of God, she was able to stand her ground, defend her friends and solve more than one mystery by the end. The romance between her and Sawyer was really nice too. It was an underlying current throughout the story and its culmination in a new relationship at the end was so sweet and naturally expected. The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars was because of it’s slow and odd start. It fits with the rest of the book but I didn’t really care for it. I will still be recommending this book to others as a good read and am hopeful they will enjoy it too. Looking forward to more from Ms. Parks.

I received this E-book free of charge from Thomas Nelson Fiction via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

Carrie Stuart Parks book is stated at being Christian Fiction, but it does not read as other Christian Fiction books I have read. I recommend this book as it held my interest and was not preachy as with other Christian Fiction books I have read.. The book did not come across as Christian Fiction. The book revolves around a woman named Tavish who seems estranged from her mother even though they live on the same estate. Tavish is convinced that her fiance was murdered and didn't commit suicide. While investigating that death and having an art gallery showing, we are further propelled into Tavish's life and left wondering why does it seem the people around her are either dying or she is being put into dangerous situations.

I would recommend this book to both mystery readers and Christian Fiction Readers.

This was a riveting read that kept me turning the pages. It was a fast paced mystery with a great plot. There were so many twists and turns that I did not see coming. What a ride!
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction, the author, and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Devastated from finding her fiancee dead, Evelyn McTavish (Tavish) is convinced he murdered ,but it was ruled suicide. And that's the beginning of a twisty thriller featuring missing dead man, an abandoned dog being microchips with her info as the owner, gas explosion and a myriad of other twists waiting to be discovered. Fast-paced enjoyable read.

Evelyn McTavish is an accomplished but struggling artist and she seems to have a hard time realizing her self-worth. "Tavish" has apparently had a weight problem in the past so she has a poor self-image of herself, her relationship with her mother is very strained, and she has just buried her fiance when this book begins. Suddenly, she finds herself caretaker to a dog whose owner has been murdered and running from the person who probably killed him. As the story continues, Tavish and FBI Special Agent Sawyer Price work together to find answers as more murders are committed, art work is stolen and art forgeries are discovered. Along the way, Tavish has her car stolen, she becomes a walking target, and she finds her sanity being questioned. Who is behind this and why is she the target? Sawyer seems to want to protect her but are his motives honest and pure? Perhaps the only positive outcome from all of her problems is that Evelyn Yvonne McTavish finally begins a relationship with the Heavenly Father that her late beloved grandmother had encouraged her to find.

I must admit that I don't often read stories set in New Mexico so I enjoyed the references to Albuquerque and the use of Native American artifacts in the plot. I also enjoyed the unending suspense and trying to guess just what was coming next. Fragments of Fear is filled with non-stop action and danger and I can see why other readers are so eager to read Parks's books. This was my first time to read a book by Carrie Stuart Parks but it won't be my last!

I voluntarily received an Advance Reader's Copy from Thomas Nelson as part of JustRead Publicity Tours but I was not required to write a positive review.
#NetGalley

When I first started out reading this I wasn't real sure I would like it. But I'm glad I kept reading!!
This book was pretty awesome!! If you're a lover of suspense like I'm becoming then you won't be disappointed!
I am adding this author to my long list of favorite authors. Her writing style is amazing! Each character is special in their own right and I loved how she made each character especially Sawyer and Tavish.
I'm very happy that MS. Parks has included Jesus. I was happy for Tavish.
I also like these very unual names.
Oh and we can't leave Marley out!!
This is suspense at it's best. I loved this book because of all the action and I enjoyed guessing who it was until the end!
If you want a heart stopping action packed from beginning to end then this is you!! I want to buy a copy when this comes out!!
I strongly recommend this!
My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for a complimentary copy of this book. NO compensations were received and all opinions are my own.

This is a fascinating gripping story that kept me guessing. I was instantly caught up in 35-year-old Tavish’s misfortune from the start. This is a psychological suspense novel that made me sympathize with Tavish when her world starts unraveling at a funeral of all places. She’s been pursuing a career in art. Her mother didn’t think this would go anywhere but she worked hard to make a name for herself anyway.

When it comes to faith, Tavish believes in everything just to cover her bases, chanting, horoscope, reincarnation and wearing a crystal around her neck. She does have a crisis of faith in the middle of this fast-paced drama with its well-timed humor, and suspenseful moments. I appreciated that crime scenes were not too graphic. Tavish is convinced her friend didn’t kill himself! She thinks he was murdered and made to look like he committed suicide. No one wants to go there. It’s easier to go with suicide.

After the funeral this wild ride takes another crazy turn when Tavish gets an innocent enough phone call from Happy Tails Shelter. She hangs up on the shelter after telling them she doesn’t own a dog. They call back, “…You look lady, and I’ll give it to ya straight. Either pay up and get the dog, or we’re gonna kill it.”

“I’m telling you for the second time, I don’t have a dog. I’ve never had a dog! I’ve never even owned a goldfish---"

“Alls I know is the microchip on this mutt is registered to you….”

Now her interest was piqued, the dog was registered to her. She had to see what this was about. She picks up the dog named Marley. Weird she knows this dog and his owner. She then goes to Marley’s owner’s house. It appears empty. She looks around and finds her acquaintance dead. She can’t believe this is happening; she’s stumbled on a second dead body this week. She tries to cope, get help but finds she is having an anxiety attack. Then someone attempts to take her life. How and why is this happening?

Did a murder really happen or is Tavish losing it? Is her mind playing tricks on her? Which characters are truly the good and bad guys? It makes you wonder as more drama unfolds. I liked when Travis digs in to uncover the truth, learn what the scripture means on her grandma’s headstone, save Marley the dog and hopefully learn that her mother isn’t evil. Soon Tavish is drawn into a web of suspicion and murder in which she must solve the mystery or be blamed for it.

This author does a great job of mixing humor into this intriguing, complex mystery, suspense story. This is a Fun, clean read with characters I enjoyed hanging out with. I look forward to reading more from this author. This would make a great book club pick. There is so much to talk about.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Catalogue front page www.bookfun.org

I absolutely loved this story!! Full of mystery, suspense, a touch of romance, some humor, and fast paced. Evelyn gets a call that her dog is about to be put down, but she doesn't have a dog, which leads her to a dead body, that disappears and then to an archeological site that is being watched for stolen artifacts, to an art museum and killers on her trail. One of my favorite stories of Carrie's to date.

This book was full of lots of twists and turns. Totally kept me on my toes. I really want to read more about Sawyer and Tavish and Marley!!!! 
Can't wait to read more books by Carrie Stuart Parks!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.