Rearview Mirror by Stephanie Black – Countdown to Christmas 2011

 Posted by  Countdown to Christmas, Special Features
Dec 012011
 

24 days until Christmas

 

Stephanie Black has loved books since she was old enough to grab the pages and has enjoyed creating make-believe adventures since she and her sisters were inventing long Barbie games filled with intrigue and danger or running around pretending to be detectives. She is a three-time Whitney Award winner for Best Mystery/Suspense, most recently for Cold as Ice (2010).

Stephanie was born in Utah and has lived in various places, including Arizona, Massachusetts, New York, and Limerick, Ireland. She currently lives in northern California and enjoys spending time with her husband, Brian, and their five children. She is a fan of chocolate, cheesecake, and her husband’s homemade bread.

Connect with Stephanie: WEBSITE | BLOG | Twitter | Facebook

* * * * *

LDSWBR: What Christmas-related activity would you like to do this year that you have never done before?

STEPHANIE: I’d like to take the family to go see the Christmas lights at the zoo. My daughter used to volunteer at the zoo, so it holds fond associations for me. While she’s home from college, it would be a fun time to go see the lights.

LDSWBR: If you could find one book under the tree this year, what would it be?

STEPHANIE: Cold River by Liz Adair.

LDSWBR: What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory?

STEPHANIE: I absolutely loved Christmas–there’s no one particular memory that stands out as my favorite. But I think the gift I wanted more than I’ve ever wanted any gift in my life, before or since, was a Princess Leia Barbie doll (okay, technically she probably wasn’t a Barbie, but that type of doll). I was maybe nine years old. My sister and I were a little late to the Star Wars bandwagon–we didn’t see the movie the first time it was released, but when it was re-released later, we finally saw it and became instant fans. And I wanted that Princess Leia doll so much. To my joy, on Christmas morning, there she was. She had Princess Leia’s long white dress and signature hairdo–I still remember how to fix that Princess Leia hair: you’d make ponytails, then pull the hair through the center of these brown plastic donut-things, tuck the hair around the donuts, and use another elastic to hold the hair behind the donut so it looked like she had giant buns of hair. We loved playing with those Princess Leia dolls!

LDSWBR: Princess Leia dolls – how fun! Thanks, Stephanie. Merry Christmas!

* * * * *

Buy Rearview Mirror by Stephanie Black

SEAGULL BOOK | DESERET BOOK | AMAZON

Read our Combined Review of Rearview Mirror.

Did you have a favorite doll (or Star Wars toy) as a child? 

* * * * *

To enter the Countdown to Christmas 2011 contest, complete the following and then tell us what you did:

  • **Required entry (+1) – Leave a thoughtful comment on this post. (More than just “Great contest!” please) You must leave a comment on this post for your other entries to count. If you are reading this post through email or an RSS reader, please click through to leave a comment.
  • Bonus entry (+1 total) – Leave a comment on our Combined Review of Rearview Mirror. Don’t forget to leave a comment on this post first!
  • Additional entries (one time +1 entry each) – 1) Subscribe to LDSWBR through email 2)Follow @LDSWBR on Twitter 3) Like LDS Women’s Book Review on Facebook (all found at the the top of the right sidebar on the LDSWBR blog). NOTE: If you already subscribe through email, follow us on Twitter, or Like us on Facebook you must tell us in a comment for the extra entries to count.
  • By leaving a comment and entering the Countdown to Christmas 2011, you agree to the contest information found here.

 

***If you haven’t read the contest rules and info, read them here.***

Book prizes donated by their authors:

  • Rearview Mirror by Stephanie Black (paperback or Kindle)
  • The Next Door Boys by Jolene B. Perry
  • Winner’s choice of one of the books in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series by Josi S. Kilpack (including Banana Split which will be released in February 2012)
  • Seeking Persephone by Sarah M. Eden
  • Obsession by Traci Hunter Abramson
  • Circle of Secrets by Kimberley Griffiths Little
  • Indelible by Lani Woodland and a swag bag!
  • Identity by Betsy Love
  • The Hainan Incident by D.M. Coffman (autographed copy)
  • Count Down to Love by Julie N. Ford
  • Geek Girl by Cindy C. Bennett
  • The Breakup Artist by Shannen Crane Camp
  • Seers by Heather Frost
Don’t forget to comment! Merry Christmas and happy reading!

Rearview Mirror by Stephanie Black – Combined Review

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Combined Reviews
Dec 012011
 

Title: Rearview Mirror

Author: Stephanie Black

Publisher: Covenant

Published Date: Sept 2011

Softcover; 316 pages

ISBN# 978-1-60861-463-9

Genre: Mystery-Suspense

Reviewed by: Shanda, Sheila & Mindy

FTC FYI: free review copies in exchange for an honest review

Shanda’s Review

I should not have started Rearview Mirror on a windy night while my husband was out of town.

There are some seriously creepy things that happen in this book. I questioned my sanity a couple of times, read until I couldn’t keep my eyes open, and then hoped this would be one of those nights that I wouldn’t remember my nightmares dreams.

Rearview Mirror was a page turner that I didn’t want to put down. At one point I gasped out loud and almost screamed with the main character. I read the next few pages with my hand covering my mouth. I’m sure my eyes were wide with shock at a certain turn of events. I was guessing at characters until the end, going back and forth on who I thought was guilty.

I enjoyed the side stories with the secondary characters. The author kept them integral to the story but brief enough to not become too distracting from the main storyline. Several of the characters became people I wouldn’t mind reading more about in the future.

Rearview Mirror gets a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars from me for being a creepy story that kept me guessing until the end.

Sheila’s Review

Stephanie Black is well known for her wonderful mystery/suspense books. She has won several Whitney Awards for her writing and they have been well-deserved. She always has a way of drawing you into the story from the first paragraph.

Rearview Mirror starts with something happening that will leave your mouth hitting the floor. Boom! The mystery starts, and you are left wondering who “did it” after reading the first two pages.

There are several story lines taking place in the novel, but they soon weave together as you try in vain to figure out who killed several people. Just when you think you have figured out who is behind all of the dirty deeds (there is also the possibility that more than one person is responsible) another possible bad guy/gal is thrown into the suspects’ spotlight. You feel like you are being bounced all over the place as you keep changing your mind about who is the real killer.

Fiona Claridge, the main female character, is struggling with physical and emotional challenges from an accident many years earlier. Her best friend was killed in the car accident and Fiona was driving. Fiona may appear weak at times, as she feels the pressure of her past mistakes and the current stalker making her life miserable. You soon realize that Fiona is stronger than you think as she attempts to attack her problems head on.

Rearview Mirror can be read in one sitting, if you are lucky enough to have the time. I did not want to put this book down. I played a game of UNO Attack with one hand and held the book in the other. I am happy to report that in 5 rounds, I won, while reading my book!!

Your heart will be kept leaping and your brain boggled as you read of one frightening event after the other. The end IS a big surprise! I had my suspicions, but then I was thinking almost everyone was a suspect, but was shocked when it all came down to the end.

Stephanie Black has definitely bested herself again. This book is fantastic and I highly recommend it to all readers.

Mindy’s Review

Rearview Mirror is another strong offering from Stephanie Black. This book starts strong from page one and doesn’t let go. I was guessing the whodunit for the whole book. I loved how Stephanie would plant her little seeds of mystery in my head, string along a suspect, then ease me to another.

Fiona Claridge has had a rough few years. She was the driver in a fatal car crash that killed her roommate eight years earlier. Now, years later, someone is harassing her. Is it Kimberly Bailey, the disgruntled student that Fiona had to fail, or Carissa Willis the housewife with a secret? Or is it someone even closer to Fiona?

The author does incredible job of switching POV’s throughout the story. Each character is so unique and very well written.

5 out of 5 stars. This book is full of suspense and mystery. I loved it! I know when I’m liking a book, I quickly I read the last couple lines on the last page to make sure things will be alright for the character. I had to do that here.

What Stephanie Black mystery-suspense novels you have enjoyed?