thriller

Audiobook Review: Wrong Exit N.L. Hinkens

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Her life is about to change—if she survives the road trip.

Driving the I-40 coast-to-coast was never on Cora Dalton’s bucket list, until the day she finds out she has inherited a house in New York from a grandmother she has never met. Terrified of flying, Cora talks her best friend, Adele, into accompanying her on what they think will be a rip-roaring fun, 10-day road trip.

But when they pick up a teenage runaway at a gas station with a dark and disturbing past, things begin to go awry. Someone is following them—someone determined to finish the job they started. When their passenger inexplicably disappears at their motel one night, they find her diary in the back seat of the car. Everything in it points to murder.

But never believe what you read. The truth lies between the lines.

An edge-of-your-seat thriller with an earth-shattering final twist!

Audible

My Review

I chose to listen to this book after receiving a free audio copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Most of this story is told from Cora’s POV. She’s a fashion influencer who has been able to quit her “regular” job, has recently gotten married, and now she’s inherited a house from the grandmother she never met. Her life should be perfect, right? Unfortunately, that’s not so easy.

Wrong Exit is suspenseful but frustrating at times. Some of Cora’s decisions didn’t make a lot of sense to me.

The narrator was okay. Her timing was good. I’m not sure if she was trying to make the story even more suspenseful, but it sounded like she was whining throughout the book.

If you’re looking for a suspenseful thriller with a big final twist, I recommend this book but to read rather than listen to.

About the Author

NYT and USA Today bestselling author Norma Hinkens writes psychological suspense thrillers in domestic settings, as well as fast-paced science fiction and fantasy about spunky heroines and epic adventures in dangerous worlds. She’s also a travel junkie, legend lover, and idea wrangler, in no particular order. She grew up in Ireland, land of make-believe and the original little green man. In her spare time she retreats to rural Idaho to hike, bike and boat, but mostly to eavesdrop on mountain men and prepare for the apocalypse. If you like heart-stopping sagas, gritty heroines, and twists you won’t see coming, then you’ll love her turbo-paced thrill-rides! Join her VIP Reader Club for hot new releases, stellar giveaways, exclusive content, behind the scenes and more!

Website

Audiobook Review: The Registration by Madison Lawson

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Book Title: The Registration (a Novel) by Madison Lawson
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  320 pages
Genre: Thriller
Publisher:  CamCat Books
Release date:  September 2022
Content Rating: PG-13 + M. There is violence, including a torture scene, and some language, as well as mention of domestic violence, abuse, murder, and abortions.

 

You can’t outrun the Registration.

Imagine it’s legal to commit one murder in your lifetime⎯if you Register the victim and accomplish the kill within fourteen days. So when Lynell Mize stands in line to Register the man who abused her as a child, she’s shocked to hear a stranger Register her to be killed. Why would anyone who doesn’t know her squander his one legal murder on her? Desperate to survive the next two weeks, she must find out who wants to kill her⎯and why.

​Easier said than done as Lynell soon discovers that multiple strangers have used their Registration on her. Along the way, she reunites with her estranged husband who is determined to dig up a past Lynell prefers to keep buried. With only days left to live, Lynell fights to uncover the truth and survive a destiny not of her choosing.

​BUY THE BOOK:
CamCat Books
AUDIBLE ~ AMAZON 
B&N ~ IndieBound ~ Bookshop
add to goodreads

My Review

I chose to listen to this book after receiving a free audio copy from iRead Book Tours. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

The Registration begins with Lynell overhearing someone Registering her, and it is a page-turner immediately. She’s a survivor who has not had the best life so far. She was abused by her stepfather. She has an ex who she still loves, but that whole storyline of their past was a little bothersome for me.

Lynell and Daniel represented good and innocence while her uncle represented the epitome of evil. There were several torture scenes that were horribly graphic, so if you’re squeamish, I wouldn’t recommend this book (this is the 2nd audiobook in a row I’ve said that).

There is a lot about her family that Lynell doesn’t know since she never knew who her father was. She does learn about her family and there are some twists, but there are also a couple of things that were so obvious that I thought I must be wrong – but I wasn’t.

The narrator did a good job. I enjoyed listening to her voice, and her pace and timing were spot on.

I do recommend The Registration. Any book that makes me cry as hard as it did proves that the characters were well-developed, but I wish there was more to the ending. Maybe there will be a follow up book?

About the Author

Author Madison Lawson writes speculative fiction novels full of suspense, social commentary, and complex relationships. She has published a dozen short stories, many of which won awards such as the Koresh Award and the Gordone Award. She received her B.A. in English from Texas A&M University and is currently earning her M.A. in English at North Carolina State University. Born and raised in a small Texas town, Madison began escaping through reading and writing as soon as she could.

connect with the author: 

website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

Follow the Tour

Mar 27 – My Reading Getaway – book review / author interview
Mar 27 – Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight
Mar 28 – Leanne Bookstagram – book review
Mar 28 – Liese’s Blog – book spotlight
Mar 29 – fundinmental – book spotlight
Mar 29 – Celticlady’s Reviews – book spotlight / guest post
Mar 29 – Bound 4 Escape – audiobook review
Mar 30 – JB’s Bookworms with Brandy Mulder – book spotlight / guest post
Mar 31 – Novels Alive – audiobook review
Mar 31 – StoreyBook Reviews – book review
Apr 3 – Lynchburg Reads – book review
Apr 4 – Review Thick And Thin – book review / guest post
Apr 4 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / author interview
Apr 5 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review
Apr 6 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review
Apr 7 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review
Apr 7 – Leels Loves Books – book review
Apr 10 – Splashes of Joy – book review / guest post
Apr 11 – Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s – book review
Apr 11 – Sandra’s Book Club – book review
Apr 12 – 411 ON BOOKS, AUTHORS, AND PUBLISHING NEWS – book spotlight
Apr 12 – Paws.Read.Repeat – book review
Apr 12 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / guest post
Apr 13 – Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf – audiobook review
Apr 13 – Mystery Review Crew – book review
Apr 14 – Geauxgetlit – audiobook review
Apr 14 – Books for Books – book spotlight
Apr 17 – Books and Games – audiobook review / author interview
Apr 17 – Just Another Reader – book review 

Audiobook Review & Giveaway: Fool Her Once by Joanna Elm

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Fool Her Once (A Novel) by Joanna Elm
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +), 416 pages 
Genre:  Thriller
Publisher:  CamCat Books
Release date:   Feb, 2023
Content Rating:  PG-13 + M. There’s adultery, language, some sexual content, and violent crime, but no explicit descriptions of the crimes.

 


Some killers are born. Others are made.

​As a rookie tabloid reporter, Jenna Sinclair made a tragic mistake when she outed Denny Dennison, the illegitimate son of an executed serial killer. So she hid behind her marriage and motherhood. Now, decades later, betrayed by her husband and resented by her teenage daughter, Jenna decides to resurrect her career—and returns to the city she loves.

When her former lover is brutally assaulted outside Jenna’s NYC apartment building, Jenna suspects that Denny has inherited his father’s psychopath gene and is out for revenge. She knows she must track him down before he can harm his next target, her daughter.

Meanwhile, her estranged husband, Zack, fears that her investigative reporting skills will unearth his own devastating secret he’d kept buried in the past.

From New York City to the remote North Fork of Long Island and the murky waters surrounding it, Jenna rushes to uncover the terrible truth about a psychopath and realizes her own investigation may save or destroy her family.

Buy the Book:
CamCat Books
Audible ~ Amazon
B&N ~ IndieBound ~ BookShop
BookBub
add to goodreads

My Review

I chose to listen to this book after receiving a free audio copy from iRead Book Tours. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Fool Her Once is a book that is difficult to put down. There are secrets from the past that Jenna, an experienced investigative reporter, starts to uncover. She wants to know what happened to the son of the serial killer she reported about years ago. She has always felt she needed to look over one shoulder and she wants to end that. But now, she uncovers things that make her scared about the future for her and her family.

The story switches from the past to the present. At times near the beginning, I didn’t feel it was necessary, but the longer I listened, the more I realized that it was necessary.

Along with the thriller aspect of the story, there are intertwined relationships that are all somehow a part of Jenna’s life. I’ve learned to keep notes on the different characters in books, thank goodness, or I may have gotten confused.

I enjoyed listening to the narrator, Rachel Fulginiti. Her pace and timing were very good.

I’m used to books with surprises, but there were one or two that had my jaw dropping! This is the first book I’ve read by Joanna Elm, but I’m sure it won’t be the last.

About the Author

Joanna Elm is an author, journalist, blogger, and attorney. Before the publication of her first two suspense novels (Scandal, Tor/Forge 1996); (Delusion, Tor/Forge/1997), she was an investigative journalist on the London Evening News on Fleet Street in the U.K. She also wrote for British magazines like Woman’s Own.

Then, she moved to New York where she worked as a writer/producer for television news and tabloid TV programs like “A Current Affair.” She was also the researcher/writer for WNEW-TV’s Emmy-award-winning documentary “Irish Eyes.” In 1980, she joined the Star as a reporter, eventually becoming the magazine’s news editor and managing editor before moving to Philadelphia as editor of the news/features section of TV Guide.

After completing her first two novels while living in South Florida, (Nelson DeMille described Scandal as “fresh, original and unpredictable”) Joanna returned to New York, enrolled in law school, graduated summa cum laude, passed the NY Bar exam, and worked as a principal law clerk for an appellate division justice in the prestigious First Department. She has been married to her husband Joe for 35 years and has one son.

connect with the author: website ~ instagram ~ twitter ~ bookbub ~ goodreads

Giveaway

Enter to win a copy of FOOL HER ONCE
(2 winners/USA only)

Gleam

Follow the Tour

Feb 20 –Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 20 –Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Feb 21– Diane’s Book Journal – book review
Feb 22 –JB’s Bookworms with Brandy Mulder – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 22 –Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Feb 23 –Leanne Bookstagram – book review
Feb 24 – Liese’s Blog – book spotlight
Feb 27 – Mostly Mystery Reviews – book spotlight
Feb 28 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
Mar 1 – Sandra’s Book Club – book review
Mar 3 – My Reading Getaway – book review / giveaway
Mar 3 –Books for Books – book spotlight 
Mar 6 – Books are a Blessing – book review / giveaway
Mar 7 –The Obsessed Reader – book review / giveaway
Mar 7 –Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / giveaway
Mar 8 –@shangread_la – book review / giveaway
Mar 8 –@bookqueenbee – audiobook review
Mar 9 –Paws.Read.Repeat – book review / giveaway
Mar 13 –Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / giveaway
Mar 14 –Authors on iTours: Let’s Talk Books – audiobook review
Mar 14 – The Adventures of a Traveler’s Wife – book review / giveaway
Mar 15 – Bound 4 Escape – audiobook review / giveaway
Mar 15 – Mystery Review Crew – book review / giveaway
Mar 15 – FUONLYKNEW – book review / giveaway
Mar 16 – Books and Games – audiobook review
Mar 17 – Just Another Reader – book review / giveaway
Mar 17 – fundinmental – book review / giveaway
Mar 20–Adventurous Jessy–book review / giveaway
Mar 20 – Celticlady’s Reviews – book review / giveaway
Mar 20 – Welcome To MLM Opinion’s Reviews – book review
Mar 20 – Bigreadersite–book review
TBD – Amy’s Booket List – audiobook review / giveaway
TBD – Leels Loves Books – book review / giveaway

Book Review & Giveaway: How the Wicked Run by Annabelle Lewis

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Book Title:  How the Wicked Run (A Boston Clairvoyants Novel) by Annabelle Lewis

Category:  Adult Fiction 18+, 283 pages

Genre: Contemporary Mystery, Thriller with Romance and Humor
Publisher:  PePe Press
Release Date: Oct 2022
Content Rating:  PG13 +M: Lots of cursing, kidnapping, all sex off page, no gore

Destined for Love and Danger

Sidrah Keeling, well-intentioned Boston clairvoyant and stalwart protector of her newfound family of psychics, purchases a country respite hours away from her grand Boston home. Lazy Pond Farm, just outside the town of Macoun, Massachusetts is an enormous fixer-upper, but it perfectly serves her agenda of fostering romance and promoting healing. In that order.

But instead, the group encounters trouble. Fate, as usual, has her own plans.

Macoun—named after the apple—is infested with racists led by a man who harbors terrifying secrets.

Will Jenny, Max, Sidrah, Leon, and Bones—the fabulous five—have the power to change Macoun? Will they be able to rescue those who need saving?

And what about love?

As the fates do battle, so will the lives between the wicked and the good. A twisted thread. Who will break? In How the Wicked Run, romance, mystery, and adventure collide once more for this enchanting family of audacious clairvoyants.

Buy The Book:
Amazon

My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy from iRead Book Tours. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

I had read Dead Cat, Run and Cut and Run and I liked them, so I was happy to review the third book in the trilogy.

Five psychics in Boston found each other and have become a “family.” They truly would do anything for each other. There was a lot of character development in the first book so although How the Wicked Run does stand on its own, I would recommend at least reading Dead Cat, Run first for an even better experience.

The psychics are good, moral people and know they need to help others, so they are constantly battling evil. They are led by Jenny’s visions but one of her visions is personal, and Sidrah is all over it. Jenny works so hard for others, so Sidrah wants this vision to come true so that she’ll have a little time to herself.

Once again, they’re up against evil. Once the murderer/kidnapper is brought to light to the reader, the book gets difficult to put down. The things he does to a “friend” are unfathomable.

I like how seemingly unrelated events eventually tie together. If you’re looking for a good thriller, How the Wicked Run won’t disappoint.

About the Author

Annabelle Lewis is a pseudonym for the author who lives in Minnesota but was raised in Texas. An important distinction for those who understand both states. When you read her work, this diversity will explain a lot. An avid reader since she got her first bicycle and a library card, she discovered the world, first through books. The mother of two children and several furry ones, she stayed home to raise her family, then stopped to take a breath and searched for new worlds to conquer. She found it with writing.

The Boston Clairvoyants novels as well as the Carrows Family Chronicles all take on the battle between good and evil. Vividly portrayed and humorously written, the reader will root for the bad guys to be taken down by the ensemble and recurring cast of characters in each series.

Annabelle considers herself a champion of the screwed over. And a dog lover. And an incredible mom. Oddly, she’s not a good dancer.

Connect with the Author:  Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~Instagram ~ Bookbub ~ Goodreads

Giveaway

Enter to win THE BOSTON CLAIRVOYANTS TRILOGY

(one winner/USA only)

Gleam

Follow the Tour

Nov 21 – The Obsessive Reader – book review / giveaway
Nov 22 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
Nov 23 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 25 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 25 – Bigreadersite – book review / giveaway
Nov 28 – Leels Loves Books – book review / giveaway
Nov 29 – Books for Books – book review
Nov 30 –Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Dec 2 – LeanneBookstagram – book review / giveaway
Dec 5 – @onecreativeartist – book review / giveaway
Dec 5 – Adventurous Jessy – book review / giveaway

Book Review: The Cellar by John Nicholl

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Dark, disturbing and gripping. This is not for the faint of heart.

Nurse. Protégé. Murderer.

Marcus Gove has been all these things. He’s reached the pinnacle of his art and now it’s time for him to take a protege. Lovely Lucy is perfect for the role, or she will be . . .

Artist. Teacher. Daughter.

Lucy Williams is just like everyone else. She’s had some success as an artist, not so much success in love, but she’s getting by. But soon she’s going to have to become something else if she wants to be a survivor.

Detective. Ex-husband. Underdog.

Ray Lewis’s career isn’t heading anywhere. But he’s a solid detective and he’s determined to find Lucy no matter what the upper brass throw at him.

Three people. Ten days. Who will live and who will die?

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3K0XBkc

My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

This is the first John Nicholl book I’ve read, but it won’t be the last.

Lucy is an artist who is in a bad marriage and has decided it’s time to end it. Marcus Gove is a serial killer who is obsessed with Lucy and comes up with a ruse to kidnap her because he thinks she’s the one. He enjoys torturing women, and it gets to the point that she’d almost rather be dead.

Detectives work constantly for several days until they finally get a break. But will it be soon enough to save Lucy? The answer is unexpected and one that surprised me.

The Cellar is definitely not for the faint at heart. It’s graphic, a little more than I care for, but it has a strong woman as the main character. She just makes some bad decisions. I liked reading about the detectives and how they worked the case. Overall, it’s a great read.

About the Author

John Nicholl is the bestselling author of numerous psychological thrillers and detective series, previously published by Bloodhound, and inspired by his real-life experience as an ex-police officer and child protection social worker. Boldwood will be publishing the next title in his Galbraith series and a new psychological thriller in autumn 2022, and will be reissuing his bestselling backlist from May 2022.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JohnNichollAuthor

Twitter https://twitter.com/nicholl06

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/johnnichollauthor/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JohnNichollNews  

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/john-nicholl

Book Review: Replenished by William Michael Davidson

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After his wife walks out on him, Charlie Phoenix tries to lick his wounds by purchasing his dream car: a ‘69 Corvette Stingray. It isn’t long before he realizes that the Stingray has the bizarre ability to replenish itself; every time the fuel needle drops below E, he watches in amazement as it slowly returns to F. But the car does more than just replenish gasoline. After driving in it for months, he realizes that his health problems have vanished, and the relationship with his estranged son mends whenever they go for a drive together.

Hoping to use the car for good, Charlie must come to terms with whether such power was ever meant to be placed in the hands of any one driver. And as his life begins to unravel, it becomes clear there is another, darker side to this Stingray lurking beneath the hood—one that utterly terrifies him.

A tale of jealousy, rage, and human frailty, this is a drive along the dark highways of the human heart. Buckle up.

Amazon

My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. I had read Doppelganger by the author and liked it, so I was happy to read this book.

This book starts with a man driving with a corpse next to him. He’s running from the police, and he says that it’s the car’s fault. What? Then he begins telling his story from death row…

Charlie’s world falls apart when his wife leaves him after 18 years. Not really because he misses her. He’s just not sure what to do now. So, he buys a classic car, and everything changes. At first, things are better: Charlie gets a girlfriend, his son starts to actually talk to him, and the car can heal people (and his cat) and relationships.

The characters are realistic, and Charlie is well-developed. The others are seen through his eyes so there’s no way to know what they’re feeling or if they’re truthful with him.

Poor Charlie no longer has much control over his life. Once he realizes what is happening with the car, can he get rid of it? Obviously, based on the beginning of the book, he can’t…but there’s more.

If you like horror and/or thrillers, you’ll like Replenished.

About the Author

William Michael Davidson lives in Long Beach, California. A believer that “good living produces good writing,” Davidson writes early in the morning so he can get outside, exercise, spend time with people, and experience as much as possible. He is a writer of suspense and speculative fiction. If he’s not writing, he’s probably at the beach.

Book Review: The Art of Revenge by Joe Giordano

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The Art of Revenge, an Anthony Provati Thriller is a riveting chase around the world that will have gritty thriller lovers salivating for more. Action-packed, suspenseful and at times terrifying, a must read for those who like hanging on the edge of the cliff by only their fingers.

The Art of Revenge features two unlikely heroes. Anthony Provati is a jazz pianist, art gallery owner, and sailor, who has a mob boss uncle. Valentina Esposito was orphaned at birth but is rewriting her destiny by becoming a brilliant computer programmer. They undertake a global pursuit of murderous Russian and North Korean operatives to foil a terrorist plot funded by forgeries and the ransom of stolen paintings.

Amazon

My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

I had read three of Joe Giordano’s books and was happy to read The Art of Revenge. It is the third book in the Anthony Pravati series, and it begins with Anthony having to deliver cocaine to make money for close friends who are on the verge of losing everything. Talk about a suspenseful beginning!

Valentina is an orphan who ended up as a prostitute until she was “adopted” by Millie. Anthony knows Millie and once he meets Valentina, they end up in a global cat and mouse game involving deadly Russians, North Koreans, and multiple gangs. Being the nephew of Frank Pravati, a mob boss, has its advantages while they are involved in their pursuits.

The action rarely stops. Anthony and Valentina will be lucky to come out of this alive. There are surprises that I actually realized I was gaping at the words I’d just read. There are also some twists, and I liked how the ending was written.

About the Author

Joe Giordano was born in Brooklyn. His father and grandparents immigrated to New York from Italy. He and his wife Jane now live in Texas.

As a former 3M International Executive Vice President, Joe experienced the global cultures and locations he writes about.

Joe’s stories have appeared in more than one hundred magazines including The Saturday Evening Post, and Shenandoah. His novel, Birds of Passage, An Italian Immigrant Coming of Age Story (2015), and Appointment with ISIL, an Anthony Provati Thriller (2017) were published by Harvard Square Editions. Rogue Phoenix Press published Drone Strike in 2019 and his short story collection, Stories and Places I Remember, in 2020.

Joe was among one hundred Italian American authors honored by Barnes & Noble to march in the 2017 Manhattan, Columbus Day Parade.

Visit Joe’s website at https://joe-giordano.com/

Book Review: Her Frozen Cry by Carolyn Arnold

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The moon shines through the open window, bathing the woman in pale light. Blood-red wine from a shattered glass soaks into the cream blanket beside her, and her dull eyes stare vacantly at the framed photograph in her hand.

When beautiful wife and mother Alicia Gordon is found dead in a remote woodland cabin, Detective Amanda Steele is shocked to discover that she knows the husband. Amanda hasn’t spoken to Tony since she lost the love of her own life seven years ago and seeing tragedy tearing her old friend’s family apart brings back so many painful memories.

Alicia was alone when she died, but she was so young, and Amanda can’t help feeling suspicious. Then she discovers that Alicia’s sleep medication had been tampered with, slowly poisoning her over several days. Amanda wants to trust that the sorrow on Tony’s face is real, but the more she digs into his marriage, the more it seems that he had opportunity, and motive…

Interviewing one of Alicia’s old colleagues, Amanda is shaken to her core when the woman suddenly collapses in her arms, dying in seconds from a lethal dose of the same poison that killed Alicia. But what could link this woman to Tony?

With her partner blaming Amanda for not arresting Tony immediately, she needs to prove that he isn’t the killer, or accept that the second woman’s death could be on her hands. She’s running out of time and leads when she discovers threatening messages sent to both victims. It’s the final clue to unmasking the most twisted killer Amanda has ever come up against, and to stop them she’ll have to risk everything…

A heart-pounding crime thriller perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.

Buy Links: 

Amazon: https://geni.us/B09S142GRLsocial

Apple: http://ow.ly/OtYR50HRCsW

Kobo: http://ow.ly/tKUa50HRCvT

Google: http://ow.ly/7Nzy50HRCyL

My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

I have read all of the books in the Amanda Steele series. If you decide to read this series, don’t judge it on the first book, The Little Grave. After I read it, I wasn’t too sure how I’d like the series because that first book was more about Amanda’s grief than the mystery she was working on. I did try the next book, and she is dealing with her grief and has been able to move on – as much as you can move on from the loss of your family. She has become one of my favorite Carolyn Arnold characters.

Amanda and her partner, Trent, work well together and have gotten to know each other pretty well. Even though Amanda knows the husband of the victim in the current case they’re working on, she believes that she can be objective. Both Trent and their boss, Malone, decide to trust her judgment and although it’s difficult for her, she deals with it well.

I like how among all the drama that Amanda and Trent still follow procedure for the most part. There is a lot of drama, but the murder that they are investigating is still the main plot. It’s just not a good time for Amanda, Malone, Zoe, and especially Amanda’s former friend, Tony.

There are several suspects that Amanda and Trent need to investigate, and they even have two suspects in jail at the same time. Unfortunately, I figured out the killer quickly. I was hoping I was wrong, but I wasn’t

I definitely recommend Her Frozen Cry and although it stands on its own, you’ll get more out of the story if you read the whole series.

About the Author

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from police procedurals, hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

Social Media

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolynArnold/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Carolyn_Arnold

Website: https://carolynarnold.net/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/authorcarolynarnold/

Bookouture Email sign up: https://www.bookouture.com/carolyn-arnold

Book Review: Ashes in Venice by Gojan Nikolich

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A psychopath with size 16 shoes, nursing home hookers and an irreverent Las Vegas homicide detective with a gambling habit set the tone for this off-beat tale of revenge and retribution.

Blackjack addict Frank Savic is deeply in debt and facing family problems when he’s asked to delay his retirement to catch a vigilante killer who murders other murderers in a manner the veteran cop has never seen.

While dead bodies stack up in quick succession, the motorcycle-riding policeman gets reluctantly involved with a desperate mother who will do anything to get justice for her dead son.

Savic, his investigation complicated by a suspected FBI coverup and a prison bribery scandal, is also unaware that the quirky murderer might also be the solution to his own financial and domestic dilemma.

Add the brooding backdrop of Venice, Italy…and a vengeful killer who reads Shakespeare, and you have a teasing psychological thriller where surgical bone saws and spiders are just tools of the trade.

Yes, there are spiders.

My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from Reedsy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Detective Savic is about to retire, and this is his last case. He’s looking for who he believes to be a vigilante killing murderers.

The two main characters are Savic and Colt, the murderer he is looking for. Both characters are well developed, and I was able to connect with both of them, even Colt.

Savic is dealing with a mountain of debt and a wife who is in a home because she is sick and losing her memory. His days are taken up with worry about his debt, his wife, and his case.

Colt is intelligent and methodical. He knows what he’s doing, and this is a mission for him. The way he kills his victims is quite different, and I had to cringe at what he did to his last victim, although he deserved it.

There are a lot of characters but they were easy to keep track of, especially since so many of them die along the way (that sounds horrible!). One character that I need to mention is Felicia Mendez, the mother of one of the murder victims, who is determined to find someone to kill her child’s murderer. She’s a bit “out there” and some of her antics were pretty bizarre. She wasn’t my favorite character, but I enjoyed reading about her.

This book needs proofreading. There were minor things throughout, but I have to recommend proofreading when something is distracting. In this case, mister in the lower case, such as “mister Jones” is used often rather than “Mr. Jones.”

Despite the need for proofreading, this was a good read. The description of The Venetian in Las Vegas was spot on, and the descriptions of Venice were great. Although I’ve never been there, I could picture it. There is a lot of suspense, and the murder descriptions are not for the faint of heart. The second half of the book was a page turner and difficult to put down.

About the Author

Gojan Nikolich is a former Chicago newspaper reporter, editor and public relations agency executive. He graduated with B.A. and M.A. degrees in English Literature from DePaul University, served as a U.S. Army sergeant and worked as a journalist in Korea and Japan. He lives in Colorado.

Book Review: Joanna Fields: The Culling by Wolfren Davis

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If Joanna Fields can survive a post-apocalyptic wasteland, then keeping her two best friends from foolishly getting themselves killed should be easy. It’s not. Between kidnappers, a new type of undead, plans that all go awry, and a goat with a funny name, the trio might just be in over their heads. Are they prepared? No. Would literally anyone else be more qualified? Most definitely. Are they going to survive? Well, that’s the question, isn’t it?

My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from Reedsy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

It’s been 30 years since the apocalypse and friends Joanna, Ari, and Jeremiah are in their late teens so they know no other way of life. They are nomadic survivors traveling with a large group who are now on their way to Heaven-Blessed, a community where they can stay. Before they make it to Heaven-Blessed, Ari is kidnapped and taken to Red Valley where the annual Culling occurs when hundreds of undead are killed. Even though Ari is the badass of the group, Joanna and Jeremiah decide they have to save her.

For the first time, Joanna and Jeremiah are on their own when they leave the caravan. Luckily, they aren’t alone for long and have help or they’d never make it. Unfortunately, they’re discovered and end up in Red Valley as well. As I expected, Ari is not happy to see them because she could take care of herself, but now she has them to worry about.

The three main characters are well-developed, and I enjoyed how Joanna and Jeremiah grew in such a short amount of time. It was survive or die for the two of them and they not only survived but thrived. I also liked that they were far from perfect and even a little weird sometimes. There are quite a few other characters, and a list of characters at the beginning of the book would be helpful.

Although there are a lot of post-apocalyptic books out there, this one has its own little twists. Yes, there are undead, but there are also people who were bitten but didn’t die or turn.

This is a quick read that has a lot of excitement, some humor, and even a touch of romance. I enjoyed Joanna Fields: The Culling, and I’m hoping to read the next book, Joanna Fields: Heaven-Blessed, soon. I have to find out what happens next!

About the Author

Wolfren Davis, graduate of ENMU, was raised in beautiful Colorado amongst the colorful leaves of the abundant aspen trees. Despite all the fresh air and endless skyway, she spent all her time tucked into a dark corner with a good book. Her library teacher was heard saying she was relieved when the girl left for college because, on her last remaining days, she’d read all there was to offer. Now she resides in New Mexico with her beloved French Bulldog who, instead of barking like a normal dog, screeches like a seal suffering from the flu, her two cats whose sole purpose is to not let her sleep, and her amazing domestic partner.

Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wolfren-Davis-106069558415209/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavisWolfren @DavisWolfren