"Fatal Strike" by DiAnn Mills ... and a GIVEAWAY!

The publisher has agreed to give away a print copy of this book (US ONLY). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends October 18, 2019. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.) 

What to Do When God’s Plan Feels like a Mystery Novel

DiAnn Mills

  

Ever feel like God’s plan for our lives is a futile attempt to solve a mystery? Our days are spent looking for clues in everything we experience. Is this God’s plan for me? What does this Scripture passage mean? Is God listening to my prayers? Nights are worse because we replay and stumble through the day’s incidents with no conclusion.

You see, I’ve faced the same challenges. But we can turn that mystery into a satisfactory ending. Take a look at the following:

Who is the hero in our life story?

While we may be quick to think we are, that isn’t accurate. God is the hero in our life story. The glory all goes to Him. When we realize where we fit in the grand story of life, we can relax knowing our Hero has it under control.

Establish a problem or a goal.

How do we discern God’s plan for us? We have choices to make, places to go, and things to do. Can’t He simply send us a text?

Who is the secondary character in our life story?

That’s us. We are servants of the almighty God, not the other way around. When we resign ourselves to letting God take control, we can toss off our heavy backpacks of doubt and worry.

Who is the antagonist?

Think about it. Satan doesn’t want us to know and live God’s plan. The evil one is determined to push us in the wrong direction, distract, and discourage us. In short, he’d like for us to give up on God and find another solution to our problems that doesn’t involve God.

How does the plot thicken?

We hear lies, trip, fall, get back up, proceed, and it all repeats. While the victories give us momentary relief and assurance we’re headed in the right direction, the defeats can be painful. But the wounds and scars are how we grow closer into the image of Jesus Christ.

It can seem like God doesn’t care. Are we earnestly seeking Him as a priority instead of self-solving our mystery?

Search for clues.

Are we searching in the right places for God’s answer? Does what I need line up with God’s holiness?

Research Scripture, talk to respected Christians, pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and be aware of God working in your life.

The first clue is John 9:31: “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.”

The second clue is Jeremiah 29:11-12: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.”

The third clue is Matthew 7:8: “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

The fourth clue is Psalm 145:18: “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

The fifth clue is Psalm 66:19: “But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.”

And there are many more!

Take definite steps

We must constantly ask ourselves if we are following God’s path or one that may be good but not for us in this season.

Resolution

We accept that a sovereign God will reveal His plan to us at the perfect time. On the journey we grow, worship, grasp patience, love others, cultivate a servant’s heart, and repeat our commitment to joy in all circumstances.

How do you move ahead when God’s plan feels like a mystery novel?

Great question, DiAnn. Readers, how do you move ahead? Leave your answer below to be entered in the Rafflecopter giveaway for a copy of Fatal Strike.

Q & A with DiAnn...

Q:  Tell us about some of the core themes you discuss in this novel. How can your readers relate to these areas in their own lives?

There are two important themes in this story: (1) how unforgiveness can make us bitter and the peace of embracing forgiveness and (2) the power of adoption in families and in the spiritual realm. Leah comes from a family that has embraced adoption, and both she and Jon go on a spiritual journey exploring what it means to be adopted into God’s family.

        Q:  What do you enjoy most in writing about the work of the FBI?

Creating courageous men and women who dedicate their lives to keep us safe while showing traits that make them relatable and real.

        Q:     Can you tell us about some of the research that went into writing Fatal Strike?

I interviewed a gentleman who worked FBI SWAT. I learned so much about teamwork, the role of a negotiator, and the training. A sniper is used as a last resort when all other means of negotiation fail and people are in danger. The sniper must be confident his or her shot will not hurt another person. Following a mission, the team discusses what went well, what went wrong, and how the operation could be improved.

                 Q.     What inspired the plot of this novel—especially the motif of snakes and venom?

First of all, I hate snakes. J And I believe in writing what we fear. I knew I wanted a female FBI agent who also worked SWAT and had the role of a sniper. What if she were afraid of snakes? How would bad guys use rattlesnake venom? While a rattler bite is not always deadly, it is fatal (fatal strike) when injected into the heart. Plus, the bad guy leaves less evidence by eliminating the need to discard a knife or giving law enforcement an opportunity to trace a bullet.

            Q.     What was your favorite scene to write?

Actually, there are two. (1) Leah faces her nemesis when she’s given what she thinks is a box of flowers and a rattler is inside. Loved her reaction. (2) Leah and her dad reunite after years of estrangement. I cried during that scene.

             Q.     What are you most excited for your readers to experience through reading this novel?

The characters’ journey to solve a horrible crime. On the way they find forgiveness for their pasts and the gift of love.

             Q.     How do you come up with fresh ideas for your books? How do you beat writer’s

                  block?

My ideas come from the media, dreams, watching TV or movies, and sometimes ideas just pop into my head. Writer’s block means I don’t know what happens next. I’m an organic writer, so the idea of an outline destroys my adventure. When I’m stuck, I do one of three things: (1) write a scene I know is coming, (2) go back to the beginning and read and edit, or (3) do something else creative like cook, garden, or shopping.

           Q.     Why did you decide to become a writer in the romantic suspense genre specifically?

Romantic suspense is my favorite genre. We live in a dangerous and unpredictable world. My goal is to show real relational people who are trained to keep us safe. And along the way, they find the gift of love.

          Q:    What’s the most challenging thing about being a Christian author in this genre?

Making violence a part of the story, but keeping graphic scenes that glorify the violence out.

          Q:   Can you tell us about some future projects you’re working on?

I’m finishing up a book currently titled Airborne. A female FBI agent boards a plane in 

Houston for Salzburg, Austria. She needs a vacation to renew her relationship with God and to figure out her future. Her husband has moved out, wants a divorce, and he doesn’t know she’s pregnant. Two hours into the flight, symptoms become evident of a deadly virus onboard, and her husband, a bioengineer, becomes a person of interest.

Amazon purchase link

My review...

FBI snipers Leah Riesel and Jon Colbert are tasked with solving gruesome murders taking place in Galveston. Victims are being injected with rattlesnake venom. The prime suspect is a young man,  seen near the latest body found on the church steps, who is missing. A local gang is claiming responsibility. Leah and Jon have a history together, and in order to solve the case, they'll have to move beyond their past. 

This is a fast-paced thriller that will keep the reader guessing, as Mills is a master with suspense and mystery. The main characters are intelligent and tough, though they still struggle with realistic fears and faith issues. (The religious element was not overwhelming in any way.) The suspense angle was more prominent than the romance angle, which I enjoyed.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.

About DiAnn...

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne du Maurier, Inspirational Reader’s Choice, and Carol Award contests. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian fiction books of 2014.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is codirector of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DiAnnMills, Twitter: https://twitter.com/diannmills, or any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway