The Healer by Gregg Luke — Blog Tour/Giveaway

 Posted by  Book Reviews
Feb 192015
 

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The Healer

Author: Gregg Luke

Publisher: Covenant

Published: February 3rd, 2015

ISBN13: 978-1-62108-826-4

Paperback: 272 pages

FTC FYI: Received a paperback copy from the publisher in exchange for honest review.

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary

After successfully completing his first-year professorship, Welsh folklore expert Chris Pendragon has earned a vacation. At least that’s what the young scholar tells himself—but deep down he feels an urgency to reassess his life, to find a sense of purpose. Hoping that perhaps a trip to Wales will provide the answers he seeks, Chris embarks on a journey of self-discovery. But he could never have anticipated the unimaginable adventure that awaits him …

Shortly after his arrival in Wales, Chris is witness to a horrific accident with more far-reaching consequences than he could have dreamed. Following Chris’s heroic rescue of one of the victims, an unexplainable phenomenon is revealed: bones that had been broken were made whole with Chris’s touch. Still reeling form this discovery, Chris is approached by a wizened old man with an implausible answer: Chris has been chosen to be the bearer of the Dial, a healer of unparalleled power. But the calling is fraught with peril, and Chris soon discovers there are those who will stop at nothing to seize the power of the Dial. With the help of a beautiful, if skeptical, doctor, Chris must choose: go back to the life he was leading or embark on a thrilling new destiny.

My Review

The Healer grips you from the first page and doesn’t stop until the end!  I really enjoyed this book and Chris’s journey to find the answers he is seeking and also how to find himself in his new role.  I was fascinated by the Welsh history and loved the details of Chris’s travels.  I thought there were some very clever twists and turns, especially involving Dr. Ingledew.  I loved Chris, but I think the character that surprised me the most was Father Llewellyn.  He was a treat, absolutely delightful.  Every time he spoke, I smiled.  The Father says something to Chris that really struck me.

I’ve come to believe that those with the greatest blessings are often those with the greatest challenges. (page 229)

This statement fit this book perfectly.  Chris, at first, sees his role as a healer as a burden.  I loved reading his self-discovery and how he plans on handling it in the future.  The history of the Dial was fascinating and enjoyable.  The last few chapters were icing on the cake, a perfect way of showing the reader how he plans to treat his gift.  I’m so excited to see what is next for Chris.

5 out of 5 stars.

Author Links

Goodreads / Website 

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Deseret Book / Seagull Book

The Healer Bannera Rafflecopter giveaway

Deadly Undertakings by Gregg Luke – Countdown to Christmas 2012

 Posted by  Countdown to Christmas, Special Features
Dec 052012
 

20 days until Christmas

 

Gregg Luke was born in Bakersfield, California but spent the majority of his youth in Santa Barbara, California. He served an LDS mission in Wisconsin, then pursued his education in Biologic Sciences SBCC, UCSB, and BYU. He completed his schooling at the University of Utah, College of Pharmacy.

In addition to his pharmacy practice, Gregg is an avid reader and writer. He has published in Skin Diver Magazine, the Oceanographic Letter, Destiny Magazine, Pharmacy Times, and the New Era. His fictional novels include The Survivors, Do No Harm, Altered State, Blink of an Eye, Bloodborne, and Deadly Undertakings, five of which were Whitney Award finalists. Visit him at www.greggluke.com.

Visit Gregg:  WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

* * * * *

LDSWBR: Do you top your Christmas tree with a star, angel, or something else? Does it have special meaning to you?

GREGG: We top our tree with an angel. I don’t know why we’ve always done so. I guess we’ve never found a star we really liked.

LDSWBR: What is your favorite Christmas movie? Why is it your favorite?

GREGG: I have two favorite Christmas movies: Seasons of the Heart and Christmas Vacation. The first because it expresses the true meaning of Christmas so well, and the second because it expresses the silliness that people get themselves into over the season.

LDSWBR: What Christmas gift have you been most excited to give?

GREGG: My favorite Christmas gift was being able to give my dad a book he’d been looking for for a long time. This was before the Internet and Amazon, so it was quite a challenge, but I was able to do it. I’ll never forget the look on his face. Priceless.

LDSWBR: What a great gift and memory. Thank you, Gregg!

* * * * *

Purchase Deadly Undertakings: 

AMAZON | KINDLE | NOOK | DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK

 Being an assistant to the state midical examiner in Salt Lake City might sound like a dead-end job, but Rebekah Smith loves the mystery and challenge of determining the cause of death in the bodies delivered to their morgue. Tutored by her friend and boss, Dr. Sandeep Mahesh, she gains understanding not only for her job but also for how to mask her own troubled past.

While analyzing the corpse of a 100 year old woman, Rebekah discovers some disturbing elements: not only was the deceased woman a healthy centenarain, but she was also embalmed before anyone discovered she’d passed away. When two identical cases surface, Rebekah enlists the help of her boyfriend, special investigations officer, Josh Logan. Together they uncover shocking truths about the bizarre deaths, which eventually lead them to the nightmarish revelation they weren’t prepared for. Yet, unknowingly, the more they reveal, the closer they come to being the killer’s next guinea pigs.

 Do you have a silly “Christmas Vacation” memory in your family? What is your favorite scene in Christmas Vacation?

* * * * *

To enter the LDSWBR Countdown to Christmas 2012, leave a thoughtful comment below.

Be sure to comment on each Countdown to Christmas 2012 post for more chances to win. Please click through to the website as only comments submitted directly on this post will be accepted.

Prizes include a $50 Amazon gift card and the author-donated books listed below. This is raffle-style drawing where all entries throughout the contest period are entered into the same “hat” for all prizes. US only. 18 years and older please. See all contest rules and restrictions below.

If you don’t already follow LDSWBR through email, Facebook or Twitter (those cute little book buttons on the sidebar) you may want to consider doing so during the contest so you don’t miss any posts or chances to enter the drawing. Following LDSWBR is not required but it is nice to know that our book reviews are useful to other readers. :)

If one of our LDSWBR reviews has ever helped you find a book you enjoyed, perhaps you would consider helping us spread the word about the LDSWBR Countdown to Christmas 2012. A link posted to your friends and family either in email or on your favorite social network would be so greatly appreciated. Thanks!

By leaving a comment and entering the Countdown to Christmas 2012, you agree to the contest rules below:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY; entrants must be 18 years or older; open to residents of continental US only; giveaway begins December 3, 2012 and all entries must be received by 12:00 Midnight December 23, 2012 Mountain Time; to enter, complete the required entry on each post and any additional entries of your choice if listed; LDS Women’s Book Review reserves the right to determine what is considered a thoughtful comment as per each posts required entry; giveaway prizes include a $50 Amazon gift card and a variety of book prizes donated by featured authors; the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning; LDS Women’s Book Review is not liable for technical problems which may affect entry into the giveaway; winner identity will be verified by email address; winner will be selected December 27, 2012 by use of a sequence generator on random.org; winner will have until January 3, 2013 to claim their prize; if any prize winner forfeits or does not claim prize, prize will be re-awarded to next winner in sequence; all prizes will be awarded; limit of two prizes per entrant; this contest/giveaway is not associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other entity unless otherwise specified; by entering the giveaway you give LDS Women’s Book Review the right to publicize your name on the LDS Women’s Book Review blog; winner agrees to release LDS Women’s Book Review from any liability as a result of winning; email comments & questions to LDS Women’s Book Review – ldswbr (at) gmail (dot) com; giveaway subject to Utah regulations; VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Book Prizes (as of December 5, 2012 – more to be added to this list!)

  • Tres Leches Cupcakes by Josi S. Kilpack (signed paperback copy)
  • Not Your Average Fairy Tale by Chantele Sedgwick (paperback or ebook)
  • Deadly Undertakings by Gregg Luke (personalized paperback)

Previous Countdown to Christmas 2012 posts:

 

Season 6 Episode 4: Interview with author Gregg Luke & Giveaway

 Posted by  2012 Podcasts, Contests, Podcasts, Special Features
Oct 302012
 

Sheila, Mindy and I had the privilege of podcasting with author Gregg Luke this past weekend. His latest medical thriller, Deadly Undertakings, was released in August 2012. In this episode of the LDSWBR podcast, Gregg shares his inspiration for Deadly Undertakings as well as how he came up with the creepy idea for his current work-in-progress. Let us help you get in the Halloween mood. (Don’t worry, it’s not TOO scary.) Enjoy! Don’t forget to visit www.ldswbr.com and enter to win a signed copy of Deadly Undertakings. (See podcast blog post for details. Contest ends November 7, 2012.) Music: Seeing The Future (Dexter Britain) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

[podcast]http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/shows/2012-10-27/ldswbr_season6_episode4_10-27-12.mp3[/podcast]

 

Deadly Undertakings Giveaway

We are giving away a signed copy of Deadly Undertakings by Gregg Luke. To enter the giveaway, listen to the podcast and complete the form below. Contest ends Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 12:00 Midnight Mountain Time. See form below for complete rules and details for the giveaway.

 

Deadly Undertakings by Gregg Luke

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Oct 242012
 

Deadly Undertakings

Author: Gregg Luke

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published: August 2012

ISBN13: 9781621080749

Paperback: 288 pages

Genre: mystery suspense

FTC FYI: I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary: Being an assistant to the state medical examiner in Salt Lake City might sound like a dead-end job, but Rebekah Smith loves the mystery and challenge of determining the cause of death in the bodies delivered to their morgue. Tutored by her friend and boss, Dr. Sandeep Mahesh, she gains understanding not only for her job, but also for how to mask her own troubled past.

While analyzing the corpse of a 100 year old woman, Rebekah discovers some disturbing elements: not only was the deceased woman a healthy centenarain, but she was also embalmed before anyone discovered she’d passed away. When two identical cases surface, Rebekah enlists the help of her boyfriend, special investigations officer, Josh Logan. Together they uncover shocking truths about the bizarre deaths, which eventually lead them to the nightmarish revelation they weren’t prepared for. Yet, unknowingly, the more they reveal, the closer they come to being the killer’s next guinea pigs.

My Review

5 out of 5 stars.  I am starting right off with a rating today, because I can’t wait to tell you how much I loved this book.  My husband gets a kick out of sitting next to me when I’m reading, especially when I’m reading spooky books.  I gasp loudly, hold my breath, and shake my head too many times for him to count.  This book was no exception.  I loved it!  I loved the mystery, the science, and Rebekah and Josh most of all.  I loved them as a couple and their playful banter, even under extreme stress.  I also enjoyed the point of view changes.  It was interesting to see how characters in the story saw their situation.  (I can’t say more :)  Each character was written exceptionally well with care and detail.  Gregg has definitely out done himself with this book.  I can tell by reading his books that he has a brilliant mind, and have greatly enjoyed the books I have read from this great author.  I also loved the Easter Egg from his Whitney nominated book from 2011, Bloodborne.

Gregg is the author of many books.  Follow him on Facebook and Goodreads.

AMAZON / DESERET BOOK / SEAGULL BOOK

Bloodborne by Gregg Luke – Combined Review – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Combined Reviews, Special Features
Sep 072011
 

Bloodborne

Author: Gregg Luke

Publisher: Covenant

Published Date: August 2011

Softcover; 325 pages

Genre: Mystery-Suspense

ISBN# 978-1-60861-366-3

Reviewed by: Shanda, Sheila & Mindy

FTC FYI: LDSWBR received a free review copy in exchange for an honest review

Shanda’s Review

Bloodborne has everything that makes a suspense novel great. The threat is terrifyingly believable. The protagonists are imperfect and relatable. Close calls and unknown elements keep the reader turning pages. There is the black and white of right and wrong along with plenty of gray in between.

While the story is told mainly from Erin and Sean’s viewpoints, the reader experiences a significant amount through the villains’ points-of-view as well. The story carries smoothly between each character. I love that the reader gets to know one of the nicest characters in the book through the eyes of the main bad guy, who isn’t quite as unfeeling as one might expect.

Because suspense novels are very plot-based, I was not expecting the depth with which Gregg wrote Erin and Sean. Don’t get me wrong, Gregg is great at writing 3-dimensional, believable characters (if you’ve read Blink of an Eye, you know what I’m talking about). Bloodborne went well beyond my expectations, not just with characterization, but with the interaction between the two main characters as well. Erin and Sean’s relationship (don’t assume I mean romance here) is multi-faceted and complex.

I give Bloodborne 5 stars. I’m headed straight over to the Whitney Award website to nominate it for the Mystery-Suspense category. Well done, Gregg!

Sheila’s Review

My first thought after reading Gregg Luke’s Bloodborne was, “Move over Dan Brown, Gregg Luke is in the house!!” Gregg has written a novel that plays out like a movie in your head. At times I forgot I was reading a book. The action is great, the suspense is high and the characters keep you wondering who they really are and how they fit into the big picture.

The many storylines in the book seem at first to be disconnected, but soon you can see how all of the pieces start fitting together. The other amazing thing is that the whole story takes place over a period of only four days. There is A LOT that happens in those four days.

Some of the things that intrigued me in Bloodborne were the research done by Dr. Erin Cross, the main female character, the bad guys being members of the Order of Benjamin’s Blood with a Grand Illuminate at the head, and the strange background of the hero, former special ops agent Sean Flannery. Mosquitoes also play a huge part in this story (They also got front cover status!) I didn’t like these insects before and I hate them even more now. My skin kept itching every time I read about Jacob, the “Mad Scientist” breeding his deadly bio-weapon bugs.

I have read most of Gregg’s books and I feel that this book is his best!! He was on fire when he wrote Bloodborne. The storyline is so compelling that you cannot put this book down. I know that you hear this often from reviewers, but it is 100% true when you read Bloodborne. I stayed up late so I could finish this book. I really wanted it to continue and not end. I am wondering if Gregg could get more from this storyline and these characters. I am always impressed with the extensive research Gregg does for his novels. This book is no exception. You can tell he spent a lot of time gathering information.

Nice job, Gregg!! I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads.

Mindy’s Review

I was very excited to read this book after talking with Gregg about it at Storymakers. Right away, I was drawn in by the cover. Unfortunately, mosquitos love me. With my red hair and fair skin, I am always the first to get bit. I was very excited to see where this book would take me.

Bloodborne grabbed my attention from the first page. Dr. Erin Cross is at a deli when she receives a threatening text message telling her she is about to die. She looks around the deli wondering if someone there was playing a sick joke. Erin views the number and it is all zero’s, untraceable. Then, another one comes through, and another. She looks around and sees a middle aged, good looking guy, texting. Erin runs over and immediately accuses him of being the guilty sender. At that same moment, a man runs in the deli, guns drawn and shoots up the place. When confronted by Sean, the texter, he pulls out a knife, says some Latin phrases and stabs himself in the neck. Why does someone want to kill her? Eric is a scientist. Recently, she had a disastrous H1N1 trial, so she has been trying lie low since then. Could this have something to do with that?

See what I mean by “grabbed my attention?” I love Gregg’s writing style, and I really love his shorter chapters. They have a sneaky way of making me read just one more chapter. Before I know it, it’s midnight and I have finished a lot more then just one more chapter.

Bloodborne blew me away. I loved it. I read most of it with my mouth wide open. 4 1/2 stars out of 5. Excellent job, Gregg!

To-Read Tuesday 8.30.2011

 Posted by  Special Features, To-Read Tuesday
Aug 302011
 

If you could read only ONE book from your to-read list, what would it be and why?
What are you looking forward to? Is it a sequel? Have all of your friends read it and you’re tired of being the odd one out? Is there a movie being released that is based on the book? Are you in love with the cover? Leave the link to your To-Read Tuesday blog post or just tell us which book you would read and why in the comments below.

Shanda

Bloodborne by Gregg Luke

I’ve been looking forward to reading this since Gregg told me about it at Storymakers in May. We’ll be posting a combined review of Bloodborne on September 7.

Sheila

I am so anxious to read Hang’em High by Tristi Pinkston. I really love the characters from the Secret Sisters Mystery series. It will be great fun to read about them going to Montana to visit the dude ranch.

Mindy

Pumpkin Roll by Josi S.Kilpack

What is Sadie up to next? Can’t wait to find out.

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