The Newsmakers (A Newsmakers Novel) by Lis Wiehl (2016-01-19)

This book was incredibly disappointing, and I'll never get back the time spent reading it. ( I had no idea or expectations of a Christian novel; I was expecting an action thriller based on the news business). But I saw nothing offensive, if you don't count the unrealistic aspects.
The plot is is totally predictable; I kept thinking there must be a surprise or a twist coming somewhere, somehow, but no. The characters are one-dimensional, and the "heroine" especially unbelievable.
The author does write well, though (especially for this category), and idea of manufacturing news for coverage is intriguing, even if beyond the pale as presented.

Erica Sparks is convinced that she has reached the top echelon of television news when she is invited to join Global News Network, an up and coming news organization that small town girls like herself, could only dream about working for. Sadly, her first assignment is marred by tragedy, tragedy that she expertly films and reports, catapulting her name and face onto every major network in the world. Eerily, her second major assignment has similar results, and Erica begins to wonder if there is more going on than appears on the surface of her unprecedented success.

Engaging the help of a co-worker, only lands him at near death and confiding in her attractive producer, Greg Underwood, seems risky at best. Erica develops the eerie sensation that GNN's owner, Nylan Hastings, is not only brilliant, but psychopathic in his drive to reach the top; expertly eliminating anyone that proves detrimental to the cause. The cat- and- mouse game reaches another level when sordid details about her past are threatened to be revealed and Erica fears that her passion for journalism will prove to be fatal.

This sensational thriller is a page turner and gives the reader a glimpse, albeit fictional, into the world of global "newsmakers".

I purchased this ebook because the synopsis sounded intriguing. I couldn't get past the first chapter. This book reads like the author was a junior high student. Written in first person, present tense without much dialogue is not my idea of a good book. Don't waste your money or time.

Too sexy to be advertised as Christian. I also didn't really like that the majority of the book was in present tense. It makes sense for the urgency of a news reporter's life, but it annoyed me a number of times. I quit reading after the sexual description of a perverted character. Don't read this if you are expecting a clean book.

As other reviewers have said, the writing is just OK, but I picked it up for a quick read and it was good for that. The use of present tense was distracting and kept pulling me out of the story. Other reviewers have said that we can figure out the identity of the criminal early on; personally, I think that was the authors' intent, and it didn't bother me. I enjoyed the story concept and felt that the main character (Erica) was fleshed out well enough for me to be interested in what happened to her.

My main concern is that this was promoted by a Christian publisher as Christian fiction and, quite frankly, it's not. The only reference to God at all is the fact that Erica repeated the Serenity prayer by rote whenever she was stressed or facing the temptation to drink and she calmed herself down at one point by sitting in the back of a church and enjoying the janitor's peaceful, rhythmic sweeping of the floor.

But she told someone she'd read a porn book and she was making plans to sleep with a man she was starting to date. Most of all, she was doing life on her own and with the help of one friend and there was no attempt to interact with God, seek his help and direction, etc. except that rote Serenity Prayer, even though she claims her faith is important to her.

I don't read only Christian fiction and, if this book had been promoted as a secular thriller, I still would have picked it up, read it, and enjoyed it. But I'm annoyed when a book is promoted as Christian fiction, but is really not.

Erica Sparks is a journalist. She’s trying to impress her boss.
She’s known to be a beautiful woman and power focused.
Her life has been tough, she’s experienced tragedy and she’s just beginning to get her life back on track.

Within this though, the past comes back to haunt her.
All that she hold dear could be in jeopardy.

Great news stories seem to be falling at her feet, in the place at the right time.
Is this Co-incidents?

She’s soon finding herself as one of the Top Reporters at the GNN Global News Network.

It’s a fast paced thriller which goes from one crisis to another.it doesn’t give you much time to breath which isn’t a bad thing, however it lead me to gasp and humf sometimes at it’s believableness.

This is sold as a Christian Read, so don’t be mistaken it’s a clean living book, it’s much more modern than that.

My tanks to Thomas Nelson-fiction via Net Galley for my copy

The book started out very good and I thought that it might be her best yet, but it didn’t last long. Unfortunately, once again the author’s politics is displayed in an odd way. Through the character of Greg Underwood she describes the actions of American soldiers in the Iraq war as “wanton killing of civilians, the rapes” and goes on and on about how they slaughtered children and babies.

Written in the annoying present tense, the storyline is far from believable. Erica is a young alcoholic mother trying to get her life in order and starting a new career. She immediately becomes a media star because someone is setting her up with great news stories. The story is more like a teenager’s fantasy, but if you don’t mine lack of realism, it is a light, fast read. Some of the situations and the famous name-dropping is cringe-worthy.

I am not sure why this is published by a Christian publisher. There was nothing in it that dealt with faith, modesty, purity, or other themes expected from a Christian book.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program

This book - The Newsmakers by Lis Wiehl - looked pretty interesting right from the start! I liked the cover and I liked the story on the cover so I couldn't wait to read it.

The protagonist, Erica Sparks, is an obscure television reporter in Maine. She's just gone through a divorce as well as a rehab treatment for alcohol abuse. She's trying to get her career back on track, and to do so she lets her ex-husband have custody of their eight year old daughter for a year.

The billionaire founder of Global News Network is Nylan Hastings. He runs the network himself after making billions on a video game that he created. Now as a leader in the news world, he wants to be the best including hiring the best reporter and newscaster he can find and when he sees a trailer of Erica's reporting, he offers her a position as a field reporter for the network. To Erica, it is the chance of a lifetime.

On her very first assignment, Erica witnesses a tragedy when a ferry crashes into a bulwark. She attempts to save the life of one of the victims and the pictures of her desperately working over this woman plus her own coverage propel her to be covered on every news channel, including CNN. Her reporting of the incident makes her skyrocket in popularity. Then tragedy strikes again when she is doing a live interview with a potential presidential nominee Kay Barrish. During the interview Barrish collapses. Erica valiantly tries to save her with CPR. The footage rivets the world—GNN’s ratings soar and Erica is now a household name.

Something strange comes to Erica's attention - the possibility that the ferry accident was caused deliberately. Her independent investigation gradually reveals a horrific connection. To tell you any more of this story could possibly be a spoiler so I won't tell you anything further.

I will say that Erica finds solace in God while in recovery and in the book, she references the serenity prayer a couple of times, but unfortunately, Erica doesn't turn to God when things get dark and she feels overwhelmed. I was a little disappointed in that, but The Newsmakers is definitely a page turner! Once I got started, I wasn't able to put the book down until I was finished. It's kind of a mix between crazy mystery and suspense thriller. At the heart of the whole story is our real-life flawed heroine. The story is about love, loss, family and second chances. She's a journalist who wants to uncover the truth.

I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Erica is a reporter, recently hired by GNN, the up and coming Global News Network. She is being groomed to be the next sensation. Coincidentally, things are actually going her way. She goes from the bottom to the top in a matter of just a couple of weeks. She has access to the most viewed, highest ranked, stories first hand. She just happens to be in the right place at the right time, more often than not. But this coincidence along with some other strange things that have happened to her, is becoming a bit disturbing. She knows there are some people who love power, and are control freaks, and yet how far would they go to gain what they desire? Before she realizes it, she is deep in the middle of a dangerous web and not sure there is any way out but forward.

I have a bit of mixed emotions on this one. I felt like this book was extremely interesting. I read it in roughly 24 hours. I honestly just couldn't put it down for long. The writing style, which I have heard some complain about, actually didn't bother me at all. Maybe it is just because I am a simple country gal, not too sophisticated and I enjoy reading books without an extreme amount of detail. I enjoyed the plot which moved quickly; the characters were engaging, and the set up was entertaining.
As far as the villain goes, honestly, I knew from the beginning who it was, but I don't think that's the point of this book. I think it is more about keeping you wondering what he will do next and whether Erica will endure whatever is coming. On those aspects of the book, I would give it close to five stars. When I read a book, I don't want to put down, it is good!

BUT... There's always a but... you know? This book is put out by Thomas Nelson, a publisher I have always considered as a Christian fiction marketer. And personally, I would not consider this book a Christian fiction. There is no reference in the book to faith, or really even God. (Erica does often repeat the serenity prayer as sort of a self-soothing routine) She is a recovering alcoholic and has been clean for over a year, but there are secrets in her past she does not want revealed to the public. Yet, from a Christian standpoint, this book in no way addresses her recovery as anything other than her own hard work. (no faith or God involved there) She is also quick to give herself away, so no purity going on. Another thing that bothered me was the use of some foul language. I personally do not use or usually select book that include such. It wasn't extreme, but I prefer clean fiction. And there were a few other innuendos of a sexual nature that I just felt the book itself could have done without.

So how to rate this book is a bit complicated.... I do not know if it is promoted as a Christian fiction even though the publisher is supposed to be. The back simply says fiction, suspense. So I am going to give the book four stars. If you read enough reviews, you will be able to discern for yourself if this book is for you or not.

I received this book from the Fiction Guild and Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to review positively and no other compensation has been provided.

Engaging book. Nylan Hastings, owner of Global News Network (GNN), is intent on dominating the world of news. To that end, he is looking for a "star" who can be the face of GNN. Greg Underwood has uncovered Erica, currently working at a small town New Hampshire station. She is exactly what Nylan wants — young, beautiful, resourceful, anxious to get ahead, intelligent — and she is hired.

Her first assignment is a rare interview with the Duches of Cambridge. But, as she is setting up the interview, there is a horrific ferry crash in view of her cameras. Erica's coverage of that crash makes her an instant celebrity.

Erica's second major catch is an interview with the likely next President of the US, Kay Barrish … who suddenly dies in the midst of the interview and on live TV. Erica's heroic attempts to revive her boost her ratings to the top.

But, something isn't right about all of this. Odd things begin to happen in the office; there are nagging questions about the ferry crash — perhaps it wasn't the result of external terrorist activity; why would a perfectly healthy Presidential candidate suddenly die; seemingly random deaths begin to appear to have some connections. Erica begins to wonder if she is being manipulated for some hidden purpose.

Wieh does a good job of keeping the suspense high, giving just enough information to keep the reader guessing. It's not hard to figure out who the real evil figure is, but who are Erica's friends? There are moments when the dialogue and events are rather cliche-ish — Greg and Erica have been to dinner and a sudden rain chases them into a tight shelter.

The thing that I found very annoying was Wiehl's use of the present tense throughout the book. It makes logical sense, but somehow the story doesn't flow nearly as well.

Though promoted as Christian fiction, there is little really Christian about it. Erica whispers the "Serenity Prayer" on a few occasions. Some of the things that Erica does verge on New Age practices. Erica has a troubled past and wrestles with strongholds in her life. That makes the book more real but she wins by the sheer force of her will, not by help from the Holy Spirit — and sometimes she succumbs to temptation. Read this book as a good fiction story with well-defined evil but rather flawed good. I enjoyed it very much, but it's not a primer on "The Normal Christian Life" (book by Watchman Nee).

(DISCLAIMER: I received a free copy of "The Newsmakers" from the publisher as a part of their bloggers' book review programme, BookLook Bloggers. I was free to write the review I thought the book deserved and received no compensation apart from continued participation in the programme.)

Lis Wiehl’s latest novel “The Newsmakers” hits close to home with the author, as main character Erica Sparks is looking to move up in the world of TV newscasting (Wiehl is a TV legal analyst and commentator and therefore quite knowledgeable about Erica’s world).

The beautiful and talented Erica has just been hired by Nylan Hastings, founder of Global News Network, a young news network looking to take over the broadcasting world with geolocated news and cybertargeted stories. Erica, who has overcome alcohol demons in her past, can’t believe her luck — until a series of major stories start coincidentally occurring in her presence, and Nylan’s true personality starts to come to light.

“The Newsmakers” is a story of power, greed and manipulation, with Erica having to see the darkness of humanity and attempting to bring the truth to light. To what length is she willing to go to solve the story? But as those creating the horrific events that unfold realize she is digging into the investigations, Erica realizes she — and those around her — may be in danger. She must determine whom she can trust.

Wiehl’s novel is fast-paced and exciting, bringing together the storylines brilliantly. Readers will love the plucky, but fallible Erica, and grow to detest Nylan and his minions. Erica and her new IT friend Mark do a great job of revealing clue after clue as to who is responsible.

The book does also feature some romance, and brings to light family dimensions and issues, including abuse. And a word of transparency — “The Newsmakers” does contain mild cursing and drug and alcohol use, and there is really no Christian theming to this novel.

I’m looking forward to seeing how Erica’s story continues, and how her ethics and morals will be tested in the next installment.

Four and a half stars out of five.

Thomas Nelson provided this complimentary copy for my honest, unbiased review.

The Newsmakers
By Lis Wiehl
and Sebastian Stuart

She thought she was finally about to raise above her past - her roots, her mistakes, her secrets. Erica Sparks has just landed the job of her dreams - a journalist, a field reporter for GNN a rising star in the cable news world.

Erica's first assignment grabbing a quick 5 minute interview with the Duchess of Cambridge. But before the interview takes place a tragedy strikes. Right place, right time Erica makes the most of her timely placement scoping all the major networks with her live coverage. Before the day is over Erica is a star reporter and GNN has become the station.

Knowing that fame is fleeting Erica is determined to keep pushing for stories of importance. And the tragedy that made her is one that Erica can't let go of. She's determined to the cause and the NTSB's blanket computer malfunction doesn't cut it as far as Erica is concerned. But GNN doesn't want follow-ups, they want the next big story.

But when tragedy strikes a second time on Erica's watch, she has to wonder is it pure coincidence or something more sinister. Is Erica about to become the next live on-air tragedy for GNN? Or is she merely paranoid?

Get ready to see the world of news and those who report it in a whole new way... If you have ever felt that news story were manipulated to compel you to see the world their way you are even for an even bigger shock. The news isn't merely being reported or manipulated it is being manufactured in a way one has never suspected.

Lives are in the balance as the ultimate story unfolds and Erica is caught on the front-lines of a story that could potentially bring the country to its knees.

If you like intrigue and conspiracy fiction with romance you will want to pick-up a copy of The Newsmakers. If you are looking for something different from your normal reading fare this may be what you are looking for. I had never read one of Lis Wiehl's books before so I went at this one with no expectations other than being intrigued by the cover. The cover does this book justice, perfectly suiting it.

I was provided a copy of this book by the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review.

The Newsmakers by Lis Wiehl is an eye-opening look at the world of broadcasting and cable news. As with any company, there is behind the scenes maneuvering and blatant rivalry for ratings. The protagonist, Erica Sparks, is attempting to make a name for herself in a new Global News Network. As the story progresses Erica finds herself on the scene for several unexpected tragedies, causing her to wonder if these were coincidences or was she just there at the right time. Her attempt to unravel the progression of her life coincides with her rise at the network. Meanwhile Erika is trying to stabilize her private life and regain custody of her daughter.

I did not care too much for the first person writing style and I did also reject the celebrity name-dropping that supported the writing format. However, the book was interesting for the realistic interpretation of how the network news is staged.

Others on this site have commented that The Newsmakers does not fall into the Christian genre. True, since this book is edgier than most. But I think that since Erica knew she was a flawed person, she spent a lot of her time trying to overcome temptations and stay strong. The Serenity Prayer helped her. In truth, if we are honest, most of us would admit that we are flawed and are trying to be Christians under construction. As we grow, our attitudes should grow too.

Thank you to Fiction Guild and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me with a copy of the book.

TV reporter Erica Sparks has left behind the mistakes of her past, and is determined to find her niche in the world of big-time broadcasting. When she lands a dream job with media corporation GNN, she sets out to be the best investigative journalist she can be. Her very first assignment results in her witnessing and reporting on a tragedy that puts her en route to stardom. But when a second news scoop makes her a nation-wide household name, she can't decide if things seem to be too coincidental or she's simply been at the right place at the right time. As Erica starts tracking down the truth of what happened, she realizes that nothing is as it seems, and that standing up for justice may cost her everything.

Lis Wiehl and Sebastian Stuart have teemed up to write a nail-biting story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. An ominous undertone pervades the story, and as a lover of suspense books I can say that the plot itself is riveting! However, for the first time ever I have found a Wiehl novel to be written in a present tense that I simply couldn't wrap my mind around as it just felt awkward to read. In fact, every so often I'd be in the midst of an action-packed chapter when things would grind to a halt because the writing would be so jarring. There are also a couple of places where the language is a bit edgy for Christian fiction. And, while Erica certainly has qualities to admire, she seems to have no qualms about her desires to be intimate with her producer at the network, Greg. While the story may just be reflecting the reality of our world today, I do expect more from a publisher of Christian fiction. So, while there was much I loved about the story as it is my favourite genre and the suspense side of things was top-notch, I didn't find the writing - or the content - up to Wiehl's usual standards.

I mildly recommend this book and award it 3 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of the Booklook Bloggers review program. Available from your favorite book retailer from Thomas Nelson, a division of HarperCollins.

While The Newsmakers is published by Thomas Nelson, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, I wouldn’t classify it as Christian fiction. None of the characters have any faith, there is no underlying Christian theme, there is one oblique sexual reference, and it’s obvious the heroine has no issues with sleeping with someone she’s not married to. Having said all that, it’s still “clean”, but definitely on the edge of what I normally see in Christian fiction. I’m not a fan of the term “clean” as a description for fiction without sex—it implies sex is dirty, which isn’t how God intended it. However, alternative labels such as family-friendly or wholesome also don’t apply to The Newsmakers, which has violence and adult themes I wouldn’t recommend to children.

The Newsmakers is mostly told from the viewpoint of Erica Sparks, the damaged reporter who is given the opportunity of a lifetime with her recruitment to Global News Network. GNN is the newest kid on the cable news block, established by social media mogul Nylan Hastings. Erica is a recovering alcoholic who lost custody of her daughter in her divorce, so she’s got something to prove, and something to hide.

The story gets going quickly, and the pace barely slows down throughout as Erica both chases the news and tries to prevent becoming a part of it. Someone is after her, but she’s not sure if it’s a jealous colleague out to make her feel out of place in her new role, or something more serious . . .

I guessed the identity of the evildoer pretty early on, which turned The Newsmakers from a thrilling suspense novel to a more sedentary tale of when-will-she-work-out-the-obvious (and I suspect anyone else who watches James Bond movies will draw the same conclusion I did). I also found the writing style of third person present tense made for uneven pacing. The action scenes were fine, but Erica’s interior monologue was jerky and pulled me out of the story and overshadowed otherwise excellent writing.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

I was disappointed with this book. At one point, I actually had to look at the back of the book to see who the Publisher was to make sure that it was a Christian publishing house. The book has vulgarity in it. There is almost no spiritual aspects to it other than the main character repeating a generic Serenity Prayer. The story line was just okay an a bit predictable.

Overall I enjoyed “The Newsmakers” although at times I found myself distracted by the unusual (to me) tense in which it was written. The plot was one that could easily have come from today’s news and I believe the author’s familiarity with that community helped immensely. It was so easy to imagine news being manipulated to gain ratings. I have to wonder if there is more truth to this novel than fiction.

I admired Erica’s determination to be a news reporter who made a difference and her willingness to buck the system for stories that mattered. Her quick rise to fame did not alter those desires but she found herself overruled time and time again by her superiors. As the suspense built, Erica found it difficult to know who she could trust – even the man she was beginning to care for.

The fast-moving plot and realistic characters held my interest throughout this large book. Due to the tense issues mentioned earlier, I did bog down occasionally and have to reread paragraphs to be sure I understood what I had just read. Although I received my review copy from a Christian book blogger program, I feel I need to warn readers that if they are looking for a book with a Christian message, “The Newsmakers” isn’t it. It is however a clean read that most Christians should not find objectionable.

This book was provided for review by the BookLook Blogger Program of Harper Collins Christian Publishing.

Erica, an intrepid young and beautiful journalist has a wonderful new job in New York working for a large broadcasting firm and a handsome man who is attracted to her. She should be on the top of the world! However, she has a sad past- she is a former alcoholic and she lost custody of her daughter. She also finds her new boss Nathan rather creepy.

When she starts attempting to discover who is behind an attack on the Staten Island ferry and who killed a woman presidential candidate, she puts herself in grave danger. She is not sure who she can trust. She doesn't want to end up like Mark - a computer expert who studies the hacking of the ferry computers and winds up in hospital after a nasty attack.

This is a fast-paced thriller that is enjoyable and easy to read. Erica is a likeable and ethical character, who is also vulmerable because of her unhappy childhood and drinking problem. Most of the characters are well-rounded, but some of the villians are drawn in an unsubtle way. I found the plot rather far-fetched and complicated, however, but anything is possible these days! This is the start of a series by the extremely talented Lis Wiehl who, I was pleased to see, studied a Master of Arts in Literature at The University of Queensland.

I received this free ebook from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

First thoughts: I really had a difficult time getting into this book. The plot was interesting but the author's writing style, using the present tense, kept me feeling disconnected somehow. Other than that, I enjoyed the story. The suspense kept me guessing what would happen and the main character was relatable and well developed.

Plot: Erica Sparks becomes a star overnight as she starts off her new career as a newswoman covering a ferry crash. After breaking news occurs right before TV crew multiple times, Erica's suspicions are raised. Her boss is a very driven man, but is the station covering the news stories or making the news?

Characters: The story is told mostly from Erica's perspective. She's a very likable character. Though she's made mistakes in the past, resulting in losing custody of her daughter, Erica is trying to get her life back on track. I liked her tenacity in going after the stories she wanted to cover. The romance blossoming between Erica and Greg wasn't as developed as I'd have liked to see it be.

Recommendation: I'd recommend this book to those who enjoy thrillers. It reads more as clean fiction than Christian, as there weren't any spiritual themes. I did enjoy the story and the perspective of the news media, how they can shape the public's perceptions. I'd probably read more from this author.

Rating: 3/5 stars

I received a free copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The review for today is “The Newsmakers (A Newsmakers Novel) by Lis Wiehl(author) and Sebastian Stuart( contributor). This fits in the genres of fiction and suspense.

Meet our main character Erica Sparks who is an up and rising reporter. From New England she shines until drinking and divorce gets in the way. Recovering and getting back on her feet she rises to become the darling of her area. It is from here that she is noticed from a news center team in New York.

Leaving her daughter behind until she can get settled in, Erica steps into the role with ease. It doesn’t take her long to make headlines with the viewers and her boss. But not everyone is happy. Toes are being stepped on and deals being made behind close doors. But she is determined to make it and reestablish her relationship with her daughter

Everything is going well, through her hard work and determination. That ‘s before a ship crashes, only she is suspicious of the true nature of the tragedy.

Her boss from Global News Network is private, rich and craves power. It doesn’t stop there. Erica finds a way to interview a potential woman presidential candidate who has not made her intentions known yet. By befriending the woman’s mom it shows just how smart and creative she is in getting stories out to the public with her as the byline.

This book was interesting. The pace for me was really nice and there was little stoppage that made me go, “Huh?” This is normally not my kind of book to read and was really not sure what to expect when I opened it up. Parts of it were predictable to me however I did enjoy it.

This book was reviewed for free in exchange for a free review.

The Newsmakers by Lis Wiehl

Erica Sparks is a beautiful and ambitious TV reporter with her sights set on success. She is discovered by Nylan Hastings, one of cable news’ biggest backers. What Erica doesn’t know is that Nylan has ambitions of his own, which include her.
Despite her almost-overnight stardom, Erica’s past may well bring her down and she struggles to escape it. However someone at GNN, her network, seems to have learned about her sealed court records. Someone is watching her and trying to intimidate her. Unusual things begin happening wherever Erica shows up. Is it just coincidence or is there more to it than that? She must try to figure it out before more coincidences occur.
Lis Wiehl and Sebastian Stuart write a suspenseful book set in the field of cable news networks. Ms. Wiehl’s insider status lends authenticity to the book. The layered plot keeps the reader searching for additional insight as to the motivation of the characters. The book presents an interesting premise, which gives the reader something to ponder.
However, there was one thing that puzzled me: the lack of evidence concerning faith in any of the characters. Erica, a recovering alcoholic, is an ethical person, and she prays the Serenity prayer during times of stress. In addition, there is no mention of Jesus or scripture, which I find a bit unusual for a book from Thomas Nelson. My only guess is that the publishers are trying to appeal to a larger market than just the readers who read “Christian fiction”. If you are looking for an overtly Christian fiction book, this one may disappoint, but if you are wanting to read a fast-paced book with a good clean story, this one will suffice.

“Newsmakers” is a political thriller, stolen from the front pages of a 21st century newspaper - perhaps it opens up a new genre of literature: “journalistic terrorism.”

As in the past, Lis Wiehl has created a carefully paced story that keeps the reader engaged and wanting more. It seems like Erica Sparks is in the right place at the right time for two, too many, news stories. She was there when the ferry crashed; she was there when Kay Barrish, California politician considering a run for the Presidency, dies in Erica’s arms. As a friend says, “It was awful coincidenky (sic) …”

It would take Erica, her co-workers at GNN, the new Global News Network, police working on both the East and West Coasts, and a bit of luck to find the connecting link. A link that could have national and international implications if not discovered.

Though coming from a Christian publisher, the book is not overtly religious and should appeal to a large number of readers - those who like cozy mysteries, those who like a hint of romance, conspiracy theorists, and news junkies.
The pieces come together in an epilogue. An epilogue that ends with a call from the President of the United States asking for Erica Sparks help ...
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

The Newsmakers by Lis Wiehl is actually the first book I have read of hers. This book was very suspenseful and I was always rooting for our main character Erica Sparks. Coming from an abusive and backwards childhood, she set up goals for herself to escape the life she grew up in. Along the way she made some mistakes, some pretty serious, but again she struggled to pull herself out of the gutter of her past. This was a very interesting take on how breaking news happens and it was a pretty scary look at “what ifs” when powerful, rich men have no one to answer to except themselves and the lengths they will go to too make themselves little “gods”. I could hardly put this book down and the short concise chapters had me flipping quickly to see what would become of our heroine as she battles personal demons and the ones in the real world. I honestly did not know for sure if she would be able to survive with all the evil she was confronting and not knowing whom she could truly trust. This was in parts a haunting and creepy tale with a touch of romance. I look forward to more in this series and to Ms. Wiehl’s backlist. My thanks to Thomas Nelson’s Fiction Guild for providing me with a copy for an honest review, and the opinions are my own honest ones as they should be.

I was excited to see that Lis Wiehl wrote another story but this time her co-author/contributor is Sebastian Stuart. And this story doesn't leave off where Lis' other stories ended, this is a whole new "look."
Erica Sparks is not only beautiful but she is feisty. She has just landed her dream job at Global News in New York. She feels this is a major "up" for her career. And she is good at her job.
Now, Erica is divorced with an eight year old daughter, Jenny. She doesn't like leaving Jenny with her ex but in the cut throat business of reporting, Erica fees that she must do what she HAS to do.
And she seems be "falling" for the producer.
Erica, on her first reporting job, accidentally witnesses and films a horrific tragedy. And then a few weeks later she, again, captures a hair raising tragedy. Her career blooms!
But "it" just doesn't seem right to Erica and she is worried about the coincidences.
This is where the suspense and the mystery come in.
Just a word . . . this is not a christian read. Even though at one point Erica thinks about God. This is a clean well written thoroughly enjoyable suspense read!
As only Lis Wiehl can . . . lots and lots of suspense. And an ending that was a bit of surprise.

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

The Newsmakers is another intriguing novel from Lis Wiehl (with Sebastian Stuart), as television reporter Erica Sparks starts a new job for Global News Network in New York City. She witnesses and reports a couple tragedies, and quickly her career skyrockets with fame and popularity. Driven to uncover the truth, she investigates the causes of the tragedies and find herself in more and more danger, surrounded by characters of questionable trust. At the center of the action, drama, and suspense, Erica Sparks is a great character with a challenging background and an admirable pursuit of justice. Overall, The Newsmakers is a fascinating read and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more from Lis Wiehl, and I would definitely recommend this novel to readers hoping for a bit of mystery and suspense.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers, I received a copy of The Newsmakers and the opportunity to honestly review it. I was not required to write a positive review, and all 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.”)

Erica Sparks has become a star reporter overnight. She has landed her dream job at GNN, and she can see her future brightening. Is it all coincidence or is there something deeper going on? The investigative side of Erica will not let her rest until she has the answers to her growing suspicions. Not sure who she can trust, she has to be careful when she starts falling for her producer, Greg. Will the truth come to light before someone else gets hurt?

This was an amazing read! The characters were complex and had their own set of flaws. The plot was intriguing; keeping your interest until the very end. I enjoyed the twists and turns, and would totally recommend it!

I received this book free from the publisher through the Fiction Guild book review bloggers program. 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.”

While this book started off a little slow, it certainly picked up speed and kept me on the edge of my seat. Erica Sparks has just landed her dream job of being a field reporter for a new news agency. She quickly finds herself caught in developing stories and tenaciously works to find the truth even when she's ordered to move on. Erica soon finds out that things in the new company are not like she was told they would be and she ends up in mortal danger.

This book did a good job of showing that our decisions have consequences and often come with a cost. Erica has to decide what it’s worth to her to have a prestigious job in the news industry. Erica has made a lot of mistakes and believes this is her fresh start. But can she outrun her past and regain custody of her daughter?

I wish this had been told in first person, I think it would have enhanced the story. But I really enjoyed this book. It was full of suspense and action. Erica felt real to me. She had real problems and real strengths. It was a fast, interesting read.
I reviewed this book for Thomas Nelson, Fiction Guild. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.