Review: A Time to Stand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

In a small Georgia town where racial tensions run high and lives are at stake, can one lawyer stand up for justice against the tide of prejudice on every side?

Adisa Johnson, a young African-American attorney, is living her dream of practicing law with a prestigious firm in downtown Atlanta. Then a split-second mistake changes the course of her career.

Left with no other options, Adisa returns to her hometown where a few days earlier a white police officer shot an unarmed black teen who is now lying comatose in the hospital.

Adisa is itching to jump into the fight as a special prosecutor, but feels pulled to do what she considers unthinkable—defend the officer.

As the court case unfolds, everyone in the small community must confront their own prejudices. Caught in the middle, Adisa also tries to chart her way along a path complicated by her budding relationship with a charismatic young preacher who leads the local movement demanding the police officer answer for his crime.

This highly relevant and gripping novel challenges us to ask what it means to forgive while seeking justice and to pursue reconciliation while loving others as ourselves.

 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

A Time to Stand by Robert Whitlow is an interesting yet significant piece of literature. Here, readers explore the toughest of racial tensions by white versus black. A white officer shoots an unarmed black teen. The lawyer in this case is Adisa Johnson. An African American attorney in a man’s world. Tensions rise with each adding page. Anger, frustration, fear, and justice ring out everywhere. Then there’s  the romantic entanglements that make this story even more complex.  Writer Robert Whitlow adds to the suspense by creating several twists and turns that readers won’t expect. So many factors play a part of this plot. It’s easy to judge than to listen. Innocent people are under fire due to the situation presented inside…pressure builds and the drama as well. I was thoroughly impressed with the talent demonstrated by this writer. He created a believable, exciting, and intriguing tale. Hooking me in with every word. The main characters were well-developed. I look forward to reading more by Robert Whitlow in the future. Overall, I highly recommend A Time to Stand.

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Review: Chihuahua Confidential

Synopsis:

“If I say so myself, I am muy foxy!”

When novice P.I. Geri Sullivan first heard her adopted Chihuahua talk, she thought she’d gone barking mad. But it turns out Pepe is a savvy sleuth—and if he has his way, he’ll soon be a bone-a-fido celebrity, too, as Pepe and Geri are Hollywood-bound to star in the reality show Dancing With Dogs. So far, so bueno. 

Then Nigel St. Nigel, the judge everyone loves to hate, becomes the judge someone wanted dead. Pepe and Geri are hot on a killer’s heels but between perfecting the paso doble and protecting Pepe’s Pomeranian lady love, both have their paws full. If Pepe’s new status as a Beverly Hills Chihuahua goes to his head, it may be the last waltz for Geri’s crime-biting compadre…

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Chihuahua Confidential by Waverly Curtis is another exciting adventure. In this new mystery, Pepe and his owner, Geri, are headed for stardom. Pepe and Geri will be featured on Dan omg with the Dogs. It is there that they find a new case. A judge most disliked is found dead. Many suspects are found making finding the killer harder to catch. Danger, risks, and mayhem are everywhere. The pages are filled with humor. Pepe the talking Chihuahua is my favorite character. Then, there’s Geri an average female who is needing a job to pay bills and feed both her and Pepe. Geri is learning to be a detective and Pepe is helping her learn. And it’s not long before another case finds the pair. Hilarious, well-developed, and a perfect read for animal lovers worldwide. I enjoyed reading the first novel in this series. This second book, was just as good. Overall, I recommend it to all. 

Review: A Life Before

Synopsis:

Picture yourself as Mike Strange, a lawyer in 1989 who agrees to represent residents of a large condominium complex, twelve of whom have lost a spouse to lung cancer in the past five years. Surprisingly, all twelve were non-smokers, nor were exposed to second-hand smoke. But all were exposed for years to radon gas emanating from the basements of their condo units. 
As this young lawyer starts ruffling too many feathers to bring those responsible to justice, his wife Susan is brutally murdered by an unknown assailant, clearly as a warning to Mike to back off. For twenty years, her murder has eluded a suspect by the police. 

Only one person seems to have a clue after all this time, a young college student, Samantha Collins, who has recurring dreams of the murder of a young housewife by a tattooed man with a scar on his chin. She has had this dream since she was thirteen, but now in 2011, the dreams are more frequent and include more and more information that place Samantha Collins as the reincarnated Susan Strange from years ago. 

Share the excitement as this one cold case is brought back to life through the vision of Samantha, as the perfect crime may not have been so perfect after all. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

A Life Before by Julien Ayotte is an exciting thriller. Right away, I was swept into the book. The characters were believable and the scenes fly by fast. I was completely lost within the pages. There are several cases inside that keep readers like myself guessing. Intriguing, stunning, and well-told. Julien Ayotte is a new writer to watch out for…his words come to life. Danger, excitement, and emotional. Crime happens everywhere. These crimes were entertaining to follow. Overall, I recommend A Life Before to readers everywhere. 

Review: Eleven on Top

Synopsis:

Stephanie Plum is thinking her career as a fugitive apprehension agent has run its course. She’s been shot at, spat at, cussed at, fire-bombed, mooned, and attacked by dogs. Stephanie thinks it’s time for a change. So she quits. She wants something safe and normal. But the kind of trouble she had at the bail bonds office can’t compare to the kind of trouble she finds herself facing now…

Stephanie is stalked by a maniac returned from the grave for the sole purpose of putting her into a burial plot of her own. He’s killed before, and he’ll kill again if given the chance. Caught between staying far away from the bounty hunter business and staying alive, Stephanie reexamines her life and the possibility that being a bounty hunter is the solution rather than the problem. After disturbingly brief careers at the button factory, Kan Klean Dry Cleaners, and Cluck-in-a-Bucket, Stephanie takes an office position in security, working for Ranger, the sexiest, baddest bounty hunter and businessman on two continents. Tempers and temperatures rise as competition ratchets up between the two men in her life — her on-again, off-again boyfriend, tough Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and her boss, Ranger. Can Stephanie Plum take the heat? Can you?

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich is another hilarious tale. Adventure as always with Stephanie Plum. A woman sleuth who gets into ore trouble than she should. Even with help, Stephanie still lands into danger. This time, involving a maniac wanting to silent her forever. With her own grave. This novel is intense. Stephanie Plum is quitting and it’s because of the killer going after that she is lured back into her bounty hunting business again. Maybe, it’s  the career for her after all….Stephanie Plum, doesn’t just solve crimes but catches the bad guys too. Entertaining as ever…with a bit of romance. Risks are something that the protagonist lives for….it’s funny watching her go stir crazy with nothing to do. Overall, Eleven on Top is a great read. 

Review: Ten Big Ones

Synopsis: 

“I’m Stephanie Plum. My mother says that I’m famous and have to set a good example. She’s right, but I’m from Jersey and truth is, I have a hard time getting a grip on the good example thing.”

Swing off the Jersey Turnpike and you’ll be in bounty hunter Stephanie Plum’s neighborhood. You’ll know it because all hell will be breaking loose. Not that she looks for trouble – it just seems to follow her. In Ten Big Ones it explodes at a deli, and when Stephanie pegs a robber as a member of a vicious Trenton gang, they peg her as dead. Vice cop Joe Morelli fears she’s in way too deep – even with the help of crime-solving, cross-dressing, bus driver Sally Sweet, and Stephanie’s friend Lula riding shotgun as backup. With a notorious killer on her tail, Stephanie figures the best hideout is Ranger’s secret lair…

Original. 

Rating: 4-stars 

Review:

Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich is another hilarious tale. Adventure as always with Stephanie Plum. A woman sleuth who gets into ore trouble than she should. Even with help, Stephanie still lands into danger. This time, involving a powerful gang out to quiet her. Stephanie Plum, doesn’t just solve crimes but catches the bad guys too. Entertaining as ever…with a bit of romance. Risks are something that the protagonist lives for….it’s funny watching her go stir crazy with nothing to do. Overall, Ten Big Ones is a great read. 

Review: A Life Removed

Synopsis:

Detectives Bruce Marklin and Jocelyn Beaudette have put plenty of criminals behind bars. But a new terror is stalking their city. The killer’s violent crimes are ritualistic but seemingly indiscriminate. As the death toll rises, the detectives must track a murderer without motive. The next kill could be anyone… maybe even one of their own.
Officer Aaron Pimental sees no hope for himself or humanity. His girlfriend is pulling away, and his best friend has found religion. When Aaron is thrust into the heart of the investigation, he must choose who he will become, the hero or the villain.
If Aaron doesn’t decide soon, the choice will be made for him. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

A Life Removed by Jason Parent is a thrilling criminal tale. Inside, readers will follow an investigation. Murder happening more than once. A former officer once good turns into a monster. With two of the best detectives following the evidence, it’s only time until Aaron Pimental’s life stops. The chase is exciting. The detectives, Bruce Marklin and Jocelyn Beaudette, are interesting to follow. A killer is loose and it will take time before they stop him. Death, danger, and intrigue are covered on every page. I enjoyed reading this novel. I look forward to reading more books by this talented writer. Overall, A Life Removed is one thriller I recommend to all. 

Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Side of the Trap

Synopsis:

Take a journey inside the pleasurable wickedness called trapping. As Big O, the leader of the Waverly Street Mafia strives to take his team to the top of the game. Things are looking good for the Waverly Street Mafia, until the King of heroin in Killumbia S.C. Bo hears that their doing business without dealing exclusively with him. Feeling disrespected, Bo devises a plan to knock the Waverly Street Mafia out of the game. The mafia is not easily shaken, which leads to Bo becoming more ruthless. 

Bo thinks he’s got away with murder, but karma always has the last say so… 

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Side of the Trap by Town Head is full of criminal activity. They say karma is a bitch and so it is…Bo will soon learn that. The entire novel contains adult content so, I highly recommend those 18 and above to read this. Town Head has brought an urban street fiction to life. The rivalry, crime, hatred, and war are found on these pages. Lust, greed, and drugs too. Inside, readers will find an intriguing yet deadly tale. The charcaters are  believable. Their situations are realistically caught by this writer. I haven’t read any of Town Head’s previous work but this novel was good. It had all the elements and more. 

Review: Grizzly Season

Synopsis:

The highly anticipated follow-up to SW Lauden’s Bad Citizen Corporation, former Los Angeles police officer Greg Salem and his sidekick Marco escape to a remote cabin in the backend of the Angeles National Forest, only to have their peaceful retreat upturned after stumbling across the marijuana farm operation called Grizzly Flats. When the drug lord Magnus Ursus’ latest marijuana crop leaves Greg’s hometown and closest friends in disarray—setting off a series of explosive scenes including high-speed motorcycle chases, violent porn shoots, high-altitude gun fights, Mexican drug smuggling and murder—Greg is forced out of retirement to avenge his home and save the lives of those closest him.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Grizzly Season by S W Lauden is an exciting adventure. This book has trouble all over it. Inside, I found a retired police officer forced out of retirement because of a lot of mayhem happening within his hometown. A drug lord operating a marijuana farm leaves around a lot of violence. From shootings to car chases, the main charcater, Greg Salem, will have his hands full. Murder investigation and criminal activity makes this a heart racing read. Panic, fear, and deadly situations on every page. I’ve found Grizzly Season to entertaining. Suspenseful and well-developed. Overall, I recommend this hard-billed thriller by S W Lauden to all. 

Review: The Glorious Heresies

Synopsis:

From Lisa McInerney, hailed by The Irish Times as “arguably the most talented writer at work in Ireland today,” comes The Glorious Heresies, a searing debut novel about life on the fringes of Ireland’s post-crash society.

When grandmother Maureen Phelan is surprised in her home by a stranger, she clubs the intruder with a Holy Stone. The consequences of this unplanned murder connect four misfits struggling against their meager circumstances. Ryan is a fifteen-year-old drug dealer desperate not to turn out like his alcoholic father, Tony, whose feud with his next-door neighbor threatens to ruin his family. Georgie is a sex worker who half-heartedly joins a born-again movement to escape her profession and drug habit. And Jimmy Phelan, the most fearsome gangster in the city and Maureen’s estranged son, finds that his mother’s bizarre attempts at redemption threaten his entire organization.

Biting and darkly funny, The Glorious Heresies presents an unforgettable vision of a city plagued by poverty and exploitation, where salvation still awaits in the most unexpected places.

— New York Time’s Book Review’s “10 Best Crime Novels” of the year.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney is quite a read. There’s a lot of realistic issues happening within the plot. The charcaters have tough struggles that can send their worlds spiraling downward. Ranging from drugs to sex plus violence, their worlds are full of chaos. They want different lives yet live in paths that keep them where they are or send them down further than where they originally planned to be. Four misfits each with a different issue. Readers will get an insider’s view to the world’s ugliness and how those living these lives try to survive their outcomes. The Glorious Heresies is definitely a dark yet deeply complex story. This world stayed in my mind long after reading reading it. Unforgettable scenes. Overall, I recommend it to other readers.

Book Review: A Question of Devotion

Synopsis:

Then she saw it – a sheet of paper in the mailbox, underneath the mail. It was white with large black letters and said LEAVE IT ALONE. 
Mrs. B has a quiet life, and she likes it that way. Morning pinochle games at St. Mary’s Senior Center. Afternoon lunches with Myrtle, Anne and Rose. Peaceful evenings with a cup of coffee and the classic movie channel. 
But one day she wakes to a phone call, which leads to consequences she could never have foreseen. Secrets snowball and threaten to change the neighborhood of Burchfield forever. Someone has to make things right. It’s up to Mrs. B.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

A Question of Devotion by Anita Kulina is one novel that zeroed in on my full attention. An older Polish woman takes it upon herself to solve a case. One that involves her neighborhood. Changes are coming…as well as danger and threats. 

A debut novel, A Question of Devotion, is indeed an interesting mystery. Secrets come to light. Notes with threats are left and phone calls, too. Mrs. B. has a lot to juggle as the heroine of this book. Computer technology is one thing. I found it captivating and funny how one elderly lady’s typical life changes from doing games at a senior center to investigating a crime. 

The characters including Mrs. B are beleivable. For fans of The Murder She Wrote, Piriot, and Columbo, readers will love this book. I was engaged, entertained, and can’t wait for the next installment. Mrs. B is my new favorite lady detective. Smart, brave, and funny. Overall, I recommend A Question of Devotion to all. 

Review: Weave A Murderous Web

Synopsis:

No good deed goes unpunished. When Jane Larson—a hot-shot litigator for a large firm in New York City—helps out a friend, she is sucked into the unfamiliar world of divorce and child support. 

Jane’s discovery of the deadbeat dad’s hidden assets soon unravels a web of lies, drugs, and murder that keeps getting more dangerous. 

Soon, Jane is involved in a high stakes race to recover a missing suitcase of cash and catch the murderer before she becomes the next victim.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Weave A Murdeous Web by Anne Rothman-Hicks & Ken Hicks is an entertaining thriller. One that kept me on the edge of my seat. Suspense oozed all over the pages. The threat and danger followed one New York litigator very closely. Jane Larson is well-known in her career. But soon her upcoming case, will bring not only chaos but deadly consequences. The opponent is one that sent chills down my back. I kept guessing as the plot swirled past me. Divorce, child support, and murder. Not just one but many. Little by little, each person involved is being killed. It’s only time before, Jane Larson becomes the next victim. But there’s still a case to solve…can she do it in time?

I was immediately taken with Weave A Murdeous Web. The pacing was fast. Not boring. Always  waiting for what may lie ahead. The main character, Jane Larson, is a strong determined woman. She’s a character readers can easily like and connect with…plus, the darkness that engulfs her due to the current case is thrilling. Drugs, murder, lies. Absolutely, crazy and dangerous. Just enough action to keeps things moving along. As each page went by, the plot got stickier like a spider’s web. The book’s setting was in New York, and it felt so real to me. I’ve been there once, and I got to revisit it again by reading this novel. Unexpected twists, the search for truth, and finding the killer was an adventure I enjoyed. Overall, I recommend this crime piece to readers everywhere. 

Review: The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir

Synopsis:

“Just because the men have gone to war, why do we have to close the choir? And precisely when we need it most!” 

As England enters World War II’s dark early days, spirited music professor Primrose Trent, recently arrived to the village of Chilbury, emboldens the women of the town to defy the Vicar’s stuffy edict to shutter the church’s choir in the absence of men and instead ‘carry on singing’. Resurrecting themselves as “The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir”, the women of this small village soon use their joint song to lift up themselves, and the community, as the war tears through their lives. 

Told through letters and journals, The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir moves seamlessly from budding romances to village intrigues to heartbreaking matters of life and death. As we come to know the struggles of the charismatic members of this unforgettable outfit — a timid widow worried over her son at the front; the town beauty drawn to a rakish artist; her younger sister nursing an impossible crush and dabbling in politics she doesn’t understand; a young Jewish refugee hiding secrets about her family, and a conniving midwife plotting to outrun her seedy past — we come to see how the strength each finds in the choir’s collective voice reverberates in her individual life. 

In turns funny, charming and heart-wrenching, this lovingly executed ensemble novel will charm and inspire, illuminating the true spirit of the women on the home front, in a village of indomitable spirit, at the dawn of a most terrible conflict. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir by Jennifer Ryan is one to love. I am always intrigued by stories about World War II. This one was just that…but much more. Jennifer Ryan brings to readers a story about the women on the home front. Women band together during these terrible and emotional times. Husbands and sons away fighting at war. Life is interrupted and everything opens up…the women are able to step in and do much more. A choir group is dismissed and all seems lost. But not yet. One determined woman goes out and reaches the ladies. They form a new choir…The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir. From there, I got to meet a bunch of interesting woman whose stories varied as did their personalities. A refreshing piece of literature. Bold, engaging, and intriguing. I was hooked. Secrets, a crime, and love are all wrapped in inside this stunning story. Overall, I recommend The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir to readers worldwide. 

Review: Red As Blood

Synopsis:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo meets Six of Crows—this international bestseller is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that chills to the bone, and not just because of the icy winter setting. 

Lumikki Andersson has made it a rule to stay out of things that do not involve her. She knows all too well that trouble comes to those who stick their nose where it doesn’t belong. But Lumikki’s rule is put to the test when she uncovers thousands of washed Euro notes hung to dry in her school’s darkroom and three of her classmates with blood on their hands. Literally. 

 A web of lies and deception now has Lumikki on the run from those determined to get the money back—no matter the cost. At the center of the chaos: Polar Bear, the mythical drug lord who has managed to remain anonymous despite his lavish parties and notorious reputation. If Lumikki hopes to make it out alive, she’ll have to uncover the entire operation.

 Even the cold Finnish winter can’t hide a culprit determined to stain the streets red.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

As Red As Blood by Salla Simukka is a striking new YA thriller. I was drawn into the dark adventure ahead of me. The character, Lumikki Andersson, is a phenomenal protagonist. Her past experiences help her in her current situation. Deadly, frightening, and suspenseful. Lumikki ends up involved in something no other other would want to be involved within…death lies on the future. Hanging in the air like a heavy blanket that one can’t shake off. Only time will tell, if Lumikki can get the answers before something ends up happening to her. 

Salla Simukka has enticed me into her world of fiction. I have read many fantasy novels but this was definitely one that caught my attention. The plot showed potential. Needs a bit of kinking out…otherwise it was brilliant. The main character seems to have skills that are too good for this first piece in the series. I would have liked to see her struggle a bit more with her abilities aka skills versus her being perfectly skilled. Although her past seems to make her perfect skills believable yet…still. She’s young yet and shouldn’t have it well-tuned.  She should learn what flaws are in her best skills and get them sharper as each book comes out…instead of already being perfect in book one. All in all, the character intrigues me. She’s determined and brace enough to risk her own life. That,are me really connect and like her a lot. Overall, I recommend this dangerous tale, As Red As Blood, to all. 

Review: Murder in the Dark

Synopsis:

It’s Christmas, and Phryne has an invitation to the Last Best party of 1928, a four-day extravaganza being held at Werribee Manor house and grounds by the Golden Twins, Isabella and Gerald Templar. She knew them in Paris, where they caused a sensation. Phryne is in two minds about going. But when threats begin arriving in the mail, she promptly decides to accept the invitation. No one tells Phryne Fisher what to do. At the Manor House, she is accommodated in the Iris room, and at the party dallies with two polo-playing women, a Goat lady (and goat), a large number of glamorous young men, and a very rude child called Tarquin. The acolytes of the golden twins are smoking hashish and dreaming. The jazz is as hot as the drinks are cold. Heaven. It all seems like good clean fun until three people are kidnapped, one of them the abominable child, and Phryne must puzzle her way through the cryptic clues of the scavenger hunt to retrieve the hostages and save the party from further disaster.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Murder in the Dark by Kerry Greenwood is another fabulous murder mystery. Inside, I found myself following Miss Phryne Fisher as entangles another crime. Her detective skills are amazing. Miss Fisher is a modern living woman who defies that of her own time period. She’s bold, clever, and charming. Kerry Greenwood has once more kept me hanging onto every one of her words. Action, adventure, and clues to chase. 

Murder in the Dark is highly engaging to read. I never knew what to expect next from the woman detective. Danger is always around with Phyrne Fisher. That and nothing is done in simple terms either. The high, rich, and dramatic lifestyle is featured every time. Miss Fisher may have many faults but her skills make up for them. A daring personality is needed when threats are made and people are missing. Time is racing and Miss Fisher is chasing after the evidence…

Richly detailed, exciting,and thrilling…Kerry Greenwood has done it again. Creating a vivid bright world of fiction that readers can loose themselves within and feel the rush of adrenaline as the plot unfolds…overall, I highly recommend this book to readers everywhere. 

Review: Ghost and Shadows

Synopsis:

The oath Detective Cooter “Cadillac” Holland swore to defend his home against foreign and domestic enemies is put to the test when evil men from both sides of the border start a war on the eve of Mardi Gras, an election, and the first Super Bowl in Saints’ history. A shadowy operation has resurrected the blueprints for the classified operation that nearly got Detective Holland killed in Iraq, and now threatens his life again. When Detective Holland’s friends and family are also put at risk, he is forced to call upon the skills and mind-set learned as a Special Forces and Intelligence operative to keep the peace between local heroin dealers and a violent Mexican drug cartel, outsmart a defense contractor, and take on a loose-cannon Federal official out to cover the tracks of a deal gone bad to avert a bloodbath when New Orleans can least afford it.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Ghosts and Shadows by H. Max Hiller is an exciting new read. This is the third novel in the detective series. I was able to easily follow along and understand the story. The plot was fast-paced, thrilling, and well-written. Immediately, the first page sucked me into it. I felt compelled to know more. The main character, Detective Coote, aka Cadillac, proved to be an interesting person. His background and current life hold promises that he can handle anything. 

The plot took me into the heart of Louisiana. There, I found a mystery and several crimes that piqued my curiosity. Fires that have been saved as crime scenes were soon taken down…meaning the scenes were destroyed completely. Lost evidence and no investigation could take place. A fire bug who has the power to commit deadly crimes and get away with them, is the most creepy feeling of all. But it’s just a theory or sothecharcaters think…Ghosts and Shadows is the perfect title to this suspenful yet intriguing book. I loved it. H. Max Hiller caught my attention and held it through every page. I can’t wait to read more of his work. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to all. 

Review: Wired Rogue

Synopsis:

‘Wired in’ to her computers, MMA-fighting tech agent Sophie Ang has been content in her clean, cool tech lab, where she chases criminals online, continuing a dance in the dark with the enigmatic vigilante known as the Ghost. Tumultuous changes from without and within eject her from her agency cocoon to the front lines, where she finds herself in partnership with a brilliant, overbearing, larger-than-life ex-Special Forces operative, Jake Dunn. They climb walls, dodge bullets, kidnap children and dig up bodies for a case that might cost her life—and has already taken her badge.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Wired Rogue by Toby Neal is like combing a thriller from Brenda Novak and the Bourne Series onto one compelling read. The danger was intense. The operations were realistic and the characters were amazing. An unknown enemy sent shivers down my spine. This tale was centered on a cult that used children. I felt frustrated and sad. The bad characters were real dirt bags. I haven’t read the previous novel before this one, but it was easy to follow. I understood what was happening and why. The main character, Sophie Ang, is super cool. She’s the woman every man wants on his team. Her skills are frightening good, yet she still manages to get injured several times throughout the book. There are moments her partner, Jake Dunn, thought she would die on him. I almost thought so too. But somehow fate, let her survive. Sophie Ang is a leading protagonist that readers will admire. Despite her obstacles and the number of times she could have died, she keeps on working. 

Toby Neal has brilliantly created a thriller suspense. One that I won’t be forgetting. This story ends in a way that has me excited for what is to come. Sophia Ang and Jake Dunn have more work ahead…or at least I hope so. I have come to love these heroes. Wired Rogue is indeed a great title for this rough yet deadly plot. Fast-paced, mysterious, and a whole lot of action. Every page is thrilling to read. I couldn’t stop once, I started it. Never a dull moment inside Wired Rogue. Overall, I highly recommend this powerful novel to all. 

Review: Brooklyn Streets Meet Wall Street

Synopsis:

Coming from a ruff section of Brooklyn, New York, a young man climbs the ladder to success and falls in love. His happiness, however, can’t last forever, and an important friendship puts his future in jeopardy.
Josh Robinson was drifting through life. When he thinks about the man he wants to be in the future, the only thing he is certain of is that he wants to wear a suit. To Josh, a suit means respect. When people saw his father in a suit, they would go out of their way to call him Mister.

For his future, Josh picks one of the professions where wearing a suit is mandatory: securities trading. The second he sets foot on Wall Street, he knows he made a great decision.

His future looks even brighter when he meets the lovely Lisa. She is gorgeous and intelligent, but their relationship leads to a complicated and messy love triangle that will have severe repercussions for all of them.

In this novel of sweet romance and high finance, Josh is forced to make a difficult decision about his priorities and his future. Can he really have the dream job and the dream girl?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Brooklyn Streets Meet Wall Street is an urban fiction novel that readers won’t forget. It literally takes readers straight into the characters’ lives.  Josh is an African American who grew up on the streets and dreamed of doing something better with his life. That dream was working at Wall Street. Financial investments. Wearing a suit to Josh represents respect. Wearing a suit would give him the respect he wants. However, life is never as simple or easy as well plan. There’s always more struggles, tough choices, and mistakes before we get anywhere. I liked how this urban fiction novel was easy to read and follow along to…it represented a realistic side to the street life. The ugly side to how the poor really live and how they struggle to make ends meet. Their decisions to engage in crime shows two sides of them. Survivors and and those who don’t care about humanity. From killing to drugs…readers can feel the violence and intensity of every situation. Coming from this kind of lifestyle is hard to get away from no matter how high one is willing to sprite in the world. James Jimmy Richardson has created an entertaining read that will capture his audiences from everywhere. Well-written, stunning, and well-developed. Overall, I recommend Brooklyn Streets Meet Wall Street to readers everywhere. 

Review: Cross-Out

Synopsis:

Cross-out…

17-year-old Jaime “Kimo” Flores is weeks away from graduation at Chavez High in Bell Gardens. Jaime has his foot in three worlds: he’s a talented art student; he’s a promising future cop in a Police Explorer program; and, as “Kimo,” he’s the informal leader of a crew of graffiti writers. A drive-by shooting results in the death of a gang member just released from jail. Things heat up when Posse leaders demand retribution for the death of their man. They are intent on first identifying, then hunting down the occupants of the drive-by vehicle. In this small community in southeastern Los Angeles, the continuation high school is considered one of the best in the state. Families work hard to earn a living. The police in town try to keep the streets safe, but these positives camouflage deadly and vindictive forces in the community. Nothing is quite what it seems. This story reveals a rare look into the guarded worlds of graffiti crews and street gangs. These subcultures are seen through Jaime’s eyes as he struggles to stay ahead of the malevolence that is cutting down those closest to him. Jaime’s worlds can no longer be separated. He must choose before others choose for him.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Cross-Out by Roger Cannon is a must read for all. Teens and adults need to read this book. It portrays the realistic side of a teen being stuck in the crosshairs of danger. Choices have to made before there isn’t time to choose. Urban street life comes alive on every page. The main character, Jamie, is the teen who is living it rough. He has secrets like the rest of us. His is the fact of living three separate lives which will clash time and time again, if he doesn’t do something about it. His family could be in danger. The intensity of his dreadful situation builds. Keeping me satisfied and hoping for the best. I want to sympathize and shake that kid. Taking his problems on his own may not be the solution. Bold, deadly, and entertaining. Cross-Out is about a community that also has a darkness. Good and evil living together…one will win. Suspenseful and cleverly written, Roger Cannon pulled me deep into his story. The title is a symbol…which readers will find once they begun this journey…overall, I highly recommend this crime novel to all. 

Review: When All The Girls Have Gone

 

Synopsis:

When Charlotte Sawyer is unable to contact her stepsister, Jocelyn, to tell her that one of her closest friends was found dead, she discovers that Jocelyn has vanished.

Beautiful, brilliant—and reckless—Jocelyn has gone off the grid before, but never like this. In a desperate effort to find her, Charlotte joins forces with Max Cutler, a struggling PI who recently moved to Seattle after his previous career as a criminal profiler went down in flames—literally. Burned out, divorced and almost broke, Max needs the job.

After surviving a near-fatal attack, Charlotte and Max turn to Jocelyn’s closest friends, women in a Seattle-based online investment club, for answers. But what they find is chilling…

When her uneasy alliance with Max turns into a full-blown affair, Charlotte has no choice but to trust him with her life. For the shadows of Jocelyn’s past are threatening to consume her—and anyone else who gets in their way…

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz is a cozy romantic mystery with a lot of humor. I have read a few of Jayne Ann Krentz’s novels, but this latest one hooked me. The characters were fascinating to watch in action. Their easy-going nature and troubles were interesting. They fit in together like a jigsaw puzzle. Both main characters had lived lives that changed them. Apparently, it seemed to change them both in a positive way. One escaped a fire and was adopted the other was dumped before her wedding and left with bills to pay off…both have issues. Real life issues.It was easy to connect with them on many levels. The way life pulls the rug from under their feet kind of theme also rings true in real life. I love how realistic everything played out inside this book. The PI investigator’s timing and knack for gut instincts in finding out stuff were incredible. Yet he seems to put doubt, in his gut, when it comes to a more personal reason. This causes him to wonder and it eats him alive. Anyone placed in this man’s shoes would have questions as well as doubts. Then, there’s the leading female character who believed in him. This sort of gave him a piece over his internal conflicts. Plus, the instant chemistry between the two satisfying. Two sisters are involved in a dangerous situation. One left thinking she was protecting her sister and friends. Turned out that she was wrong. Instead, she and her sister will be reunited under dire circumstances and it will be up to the PI investigator to get them both before it’s too late…When All the Girls Have Gone is an intriguing, suspenseful, yet wonderful journey. One that readers won’t resist. I loved reading it. Every page had some kind of action that intrigued me. Kept me turning those pages. When I reached the ending, I was very glad I read this book. Overall, Jayne Ann Krentz’s novel is a must read for all. I highly recommend it.

 

Review: Rio Street Kid Stargazer

                                                                              
Synopsis:

A gripping, gritty, action-packed crime thriller ripped from today’s headlines from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Beyond the beautiful beaches and elegant hotels lurks the squalor and crushing poverty of Rio’s notorious favelas. It is a dangerous, exotic world governed by a different set of laws and shaped by contrasts — beauty, violence, power, poverty, protection, corruption, faith and drugs. Here, in the slums of Rio, thousands of poor people face horrific choices every day. It’s no exception when sixteen-year-old Rio street kid Lucas Rocha meets Daniel Burke, a Brazilian-American businessman visiting from Boston. When Lucas snatches Daniel’s wallet in an act of desperation, it sets in motion a series of catastrophic events, and the lives of these two strangers become permanently … and dangerously … entangled. Facing down Rio’s powerful drug lords, both Lucas and Daniel are hell-bent to beat the odds and make things right. But what is right in a world filled with wrong? 

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Rio Street Kid Stargazer by Craig S. Wilson reminded me of everything I learned about other cultures and the people that lived in those foreign countries. It made me sad learning how poor and terrible the living situations are for most of the world’s population. This brilliant novel brought those realistic issues into a stunning read. Death, mystery, and danger all wrapped into one entertaining dark novel. The addictive yet sinister plot creates a thought provoking session into readers. More questions occur and the risks are high. Choices have to be made and just like chess each step could have major consequences for all. Craig S. Wilson’s masterfully woven tale brings readers a brother who struggles to support and feed his siblings after the death of their mother. Yet the final words from their mother leaves Lucas wondering what she meant. Lucas is faced with struggles no guy should have to go through yet food is a must. To get it he’s left with begging, stealing or selling drugs. This story is a fast read and one that will keep readers turning the pages. Overall, I highly recommend Rio Street Kid Stargazer to readers worldwide. The suspense and crime within makes it a must read. 

Review: Curious Minds

 

Synopsis:

Emerson Knight is introverted, eccentric, and has little to no sense of social etiquette. Good thing he’s also brilliant, rich, and (some people might say) handsome, or he’d probably be homeless. Riley Moon has just graduated from Harvard Business and Harvard Law. Her aggressive Texas spitfire attitude has helped her land her dream job as a junior analyst with mega-bank Blane-Grunwald. At least Riley Moon thought it was her dream job until she is given her first assignment: babysitting Emerson Knight.

What starts off as an inquiry about missing bank funds in the Knight account leads to inquiries about a missing man, missing gold, and a life-and-death race across the country. Through the streets of Washington, D.C., and down into the underground vault of the Federal Reserve in New York City, an evil plan is exposed. A plan so sinister that only a megalomaniac could think it up, and only the unlikely duo of the irrepressibly charming Emerson Knight and the tenacious Riley Moon can stop it.

Rating: 5 stars

Review: 

Janet Evanovich is one of my all-time favorite writers. Her work never disappoints. Inside of here latest novel, Curious Minds, I am in love. The first page instantly nailed my attention to full alert. The danger roused my mind. Sending my heart pounding my and my eyes following along as the plot sent me racing forward. The characters are perfect. Creating the exact atmosphere and setting for the adventure and trouble ahead. Curious Minds is fast-paced, thrilling, and hilarious. Riley Moon is a small-town girl who has landed it big time in the work field. However, she is soon disappointed that her job turns out to be looking out for Emerson Knight. Then, the plot takes a twist when they are soon working together to figure out the mystery of what’s really happening with the gold and who’s behind it all. I thoroughly enjoy reading along as the pages were leading me to the end of the story. Truly a great set of new characters to love and a new well-written tale to add to my bookshelf. Overall, Janet Evanovich once again crafted a brilliant world of fiction.

Review: The Premise

 

Synopsis:

The Premise, like life, is full of contrasts. Good news has bad outcomes, one-time criminals turn out to be heroes, those with the most to live for die early, and solutions coalesce from the most confusing set of clues.

Such is the nature of this novel that coaxes the reader to suspend doubt just long enough to realize we all are just one discovery away from a completely different life.
Set in 2017, you soon realize we are as foreign to what our lives will look like then, as are our lives today when compared to them pre 9/11. When you consider the central question posed by The Premise, introspection is the result. Only you know the answer… would you take the cure?

Andy Crossfield is a first-time author, a fact that may seem hard to believe to the readers of The Premise. Set in the very near future, the plot evolves quickly, moving from a scientist who finds himself killing his co-conspirator, to a prison corporation CEO, that devises the deaths of 13 inmates in order to cover up his larger crimes, to a famous criminologist/mystery writer who becomes entangled with a beautiful, violet-eyed geneticist and tries to uncover why she is being targeted.

The Premise explores the extremes of human nature and ingenuity, and through its many twists and didn’t-see-that-coming revelations, convincingly makes the case that humanity can indeed create a better future. Strap yourself in for one helluva ride. The Premise is an adventure you won’t want to put down!

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Premise by Andy Crossfield is a political crime fiction that will keep readers turning the pages. There’s enough action that moves the plot in a fast pace. The suspense will hang in the air like a thick-covered blanket until the ending. Andy Crossfield’s writing is brilliant. It combines science, politics, and crime all into one magnificent read. Technology and science hand-in-hand used to solve world issues like ending diseases. The Premise shows readers how easily corruption, greed, power can occur taking everything that is good and using it for the worst. As long as there, is good there will always be evil too. The characters come from all paths of life. Creating an interesting set of characters and a lot of twists. For those who love a good murder and suspense novel, this is definitely a must read. Once readers open this book, they will not want to stop reading it. Overall, I highly recommend this story to readers everywhere.

 

Review: The Last Good Girl

 

Synopsis:

Emma, a freshman at a Michigan university, has gone missing. She was last seen leaving a bar near the prestigious and secretive fraternity known on campus as “the rape factory.” The main suspect is Dylan Brooks, the son of one of the most powerful politicians in the state. But so far the only clues are pieced together surveillance footage of Emma leaving the bar that night…and Dylan running down the street after her.

When Anna discovers the video diary Emma kept over her first few months at college, it exposes the history she had with Dylan: she had accused him of rape before disappearing.

Emma’s disappearance gets media attention and support from Title IX activists across the country, but Anna’s investigation hits a wall. Now Anna is looking for something, anything she can use to find Emma alive. But without a body or any physical evidence, she’s under threat from people who tell her to think hard before she ruins the name of an “innocent young man.”

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Last Good Girl by Allison Leotta is the most realistic crime novel I have read. The entire story circulates on things that really do happen…such as college rape. Women on college campuses have suffered continually by male students. Most whom get away with the crime. Surprisingly most women don’t bother reporting the sexual assault. The ones that don’t make it out alive never get solved…unless they have a really good investigative reporter interested and willing to do everything it takes to bring the rapist to light. However, as in the real world…politics ruin everything. They rule every move. Uncovering a rapist should not be a talk of whose politician’s son or daughter is going to be hurt by the truth but whether or not the bad guys are convicted for the crimes they commit. I found myself completely swept up into the plot. It’s fast-paced, interesting, and nails it home. The danger is a real threat whether fiction or nonfiction. The question whether or not if a college campus rapist gets away or not is one that will propel readers to keep turning the pages. Once I opened the novel, I couldn’t stop until I finished it. Allison Leotta writes a story that captivates readers…and it’s one they won’t ever forget. Addictive, brilliantly told, and a must read for all. I highly recommend The Last Good Girl to readers everywhere.

 

Review: The Innocents

 

Synopsis:

Quinn Colson didn’t owe his hometown of Jericho, Mississippi, a damn thing. After serving for more than a decade as a U.S. Army Ranger, he’d returned, been elected sheriff, and tried to make the town and surrounding Tibbehah county a better place. He was rewarded with being voted out of office, and went back to the war zone he’d left.

Now, back in Jericho, trying to fix things with his still-married high school girlfriend and retired Hollywood stuntman father, he’s drawn to becoming a lawman again. This time, he accepts a badge from acting Sheriff Lillie Virgil, a foul-mouthed law woman with shades of Calamity Jane. But what they must confront together is something brand-new.

When a former high school cheerleader is found walking a back road completely engulfed in flames, the entire state focuses on the rural county, wanting answers. The light soon shines on several people: the girl’s father, a worthless drunk named Wash Jones; a pair of teenage thugs with grand ambitions to control north Mississippi; and a red-headed truck stop madam named Fannie Hathcock, who has her own problems – the Syndicate from down on the Gulf Coast has big plans for her neck of the woods.

As Quinn and Lillie uncover old secrets and new lies, the entire town turns against them, and they learn the most dangerous enemies may be the ones you trust most.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Innocents by Ace Atkins is a well-developed story. A southern detective tale that will bring readers some humor, intrigue, and danger. After spending sixteen years in a rural community, I can connect easily with this novel. What seems to be a rural town with high priority case to solve, turns out to be more deadly than originally thought. Those that the characters trust are the ones that are their enemy. The bad guys are in plenty…then to have an entire town flip sides on the good guys is a nightmare. One I hope to never see…but inside this riveting read, the scenes play out like a movie screen. Action, adventure, and crime are everywhere. Every page is detailed, engaging, and lured me deeper into the tale. The plot is fast-paced. Sheriff Lillie is a female leader who knows how to handle people and the job at hand. Then there’s tough sexy Quinn Colson.  He was once a sheriff and wants back in…only time will tell if that happens. Both of them are in for a thrill ride…Believable and realistic. The Innocents brings drugs, sex, violence and redemption all into one stunning book. I couldn’t stop reading it until I finished it. Ace Atkins is definitely a writer that hooks readers with a suspenseful yet unforgettable story. Immediately, drew me inside…to a journey that sends both mind and heart racing.

 

Review: Blind Thrust

 

Synopsis:

Horrific earthquakes are devastating the Front Range between Denver and Colorado Springs in an area long believed to be seismically quiescent. They are being generated by ruptures along cryptic, mysterious, deeply buried thrust faults (blind thrusts) that, unlike many faults, do not break the surface during large-scale seismic events. Somehow the cause of the unusual earthquakes must be unraveled and the cataclysms stopped before they result in more carnage and devastation. But are they the result of natural tectonic adjustments, hydro-fracking, conventional subsurface sequestering, or clandestine operations?

Environmental Geologist Joe Higheagle is on a mission to find out the answer. But he soon finds himself in a deadly duel of wits against powerful forces. With his team of techie sleuths, Higheagle goes toe to toe against his adversaries while grappling to collect, analyze, and leverage the scientific data needed to prove his case. But at every turn he is thwarted by his shadowy enemy and, with the cataclysms worsening, he may not have enough on his side to solve the mystery and save Colorado from more devastation.

Can he solve the enigma of the earthquakes and gather enough evidence to stop those responsible? Will the tremors continue to wreak death and mayhem across the Front Range? Or will Higheagle and his outgunned team be defeated and ultimately crushed by their adversaries? If the earthquakes are not stopped, thousands more will perish and more towns and homes will be destroyed, leaving countless injured and homeless as well as untold financial damage across the Front Range. But can the resourceful Higheagle and his team stop those responsible? In the end, all they can do is try.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Once again, Samuel Marquis has presented a masterpiece to readers worldwide. His latest novel, Blind Thrust, is another earth shattering thriller. What I love best about this new bestselling writer’s work, is how he incorporates his knowledge of geology into his writing. An interesting fact for readers that haven’t read any book by Samuel Marquis is that Blind Thrust was also the name of a manuscript. One that was stolen from the main character, Nick Lassiter in The Slush Pile Brigade.  I love the style of writing found in each of the thrillers. The characters are believable and the scenes are action packed. Fast-paced and well-written.  Readers of all ages can find Blind Thrust highly engaging, intriguing, and educational.

Danger, suspense, and a journey like  no other…all inside Blind Thrust. Humans versus mother nature. Adventure, science, and a crime that will keep readers hooked. From the beginning to the end, I found myself lured. A plot that pulls readers into the path of life and death. A place in Colorado is experiencing some mother nature disasters that can turn deadly…but what’s added to the danger ahead is that humans are making worse. One man of science and his friends are hoping to stop that group of humans before all is too late. Survival of the people who live nearby the area, of destruction, are all on the line. Can Joe Higheagle come to the rescue in time or will it be too late? Overall, I loved Samuel Marquis’s novel, and I highly recommend it to all.

 

 

 

Review: Yukon Audit

 

Synopsis:

The Yukon. Land of the midnight sun and the Klondike gold rush. Wilderness and wildlife, rivers and lakes, mountains and glaciers. As mystical a place as there is on earth. The Yukon’s also a great place to launder illicit cash with a gold mine. And organized crime knows it.

C.E. Brody is a man of the world but prefers life in a cabin on the Yukon River. For a living, he flies an ancient float plane and runs a highway repair shop. Single, fiercely independent, a champion for the little guy, Brody loves his dogs and plane, hates cops and phones, and cooks a great meal for two.

After repairing her car, Brody is hired by a beautiful and mysterious woman to fly her over a gold mine. The two spot a missing plane. They land and find two men inside. He knows the pilot, she knows the passenger.
Within hours, Brody realizes he’s suddenly become the center of attention for the RCMP, the FBI, and two underworld gangs. His beautiful passenger is making romantic advances. He’s beaten up, his plane is hijacked, a friend’s child is kidnapped. With no idea what’s going on, he’s bound and determined to get answers. And get even.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Yukon Audit by Ken Baird is an excellent story to read. Here, there is action, adventure, and romance all rolled into one entertaining tale. Brody is a car mechanic…and soon he is plunged into an adventure of a lifetime. Little does he know that one woman’s job request will send him straight into danger. Plus, the woman happens to be very attractive. There is only so much that a man can through…will Brody survive the journey all in one piece?

Ken Baird lured readers in by the wilderness of the Yukon and the danger it presents. There is a beauty to behold about the place. I have never been but once, I have read this book, I felt like I was there. The characters were enticing. The woman is confident and bold.  Brody is courageous and a little less confident than the attractive beauty beside him.Yukon Audit was told in a way that was played realistically. I could actually see all of these scenes coming alive. They could actually happen. Crime is everywhere. Ken Baird writes it in a way that brought out excitement. Suspense and intrigue were heavily upon every page. I didn’t know what to expect. Truly a page turning thriller that will hold all to its plot. Fast-paced and masterfully written. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to readers worldwide.

 

Review: The Origin of Aaron Jackson

 

Synopsis:

Aaron Jackson was just a normal mechanic when the russian mafia came knocking at his place of employment. After the russian mafia hurts his friends and takes over his old neighborhood because they want the land. When no one helps and the system is corrupt, Aaron has no choice other than to begin his one man war on crime against the mafia and take back what they have stolen by any means necessary. Trained as a martial artist in a deadly martial art by his mentor Mr park since he was a child he will employ all that he knows to bring them down. Will Aaron survive or will he triumph over evil.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Origin of Aaron Jackson by Norman R. Colson is a novel packed full of action, danger, and suspense. One young man goes up against crime when no one else will. This creates an irresistible journey that readers can’t ignore. Good versus evil is a strong theme that continues to lure readers into thrilling adventures like this one. Things like the Russian maifa, corruption, and the black ops will plunge readers into a world that will keep them on the edge of their seats battling for their lives against the crimes being committed within this new title. This story almost reminds me of the Karate Kid Norman R. Colson’s writinng is highly entertaining and well-done. The Origin of Aaron Jackson is definitely mystery thriller all should read. Overall, I highly recommend it to readers everywhere.

Review: Love Me If You Can

 

Synopsis:

Some people chase love, some people chase money, while others chase both. Love and money can bring out the best and worst in people.

Keandria is a single mother who is working as an escort to make ends meet. She has just left her abusive baby daddy and is doing her best to make it on her own. Drama soon escalates and turns deadly when her baby daddy makes it clear that he will not help her with their child and would rather spend his money entertaining his new chick, Kayla. Keandria soon finds comfort from one of her clients which complicate matters. Keandria finds herself feeling emotions that she hasn’t felt in years, but soon wonders are they all in vain. Will the love prevail or will past betrayal and hurt destroy her future?

Michele is Keandria best friend and works as a stripper at Choppers night club. When Michele meets Jason one night at the club, things soon start to change. Jason starts to catch feelings and decides that if they are going to be official, she has to stop stripping and find another job. Michele doesn’t want to stop stripping, but she doesn’t want to lose Jason either. Michele will have to decide what she loves the most her money or Jason.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Love Me If You Can by Shanice B. is  hot, sexy, and seductive. The writing takes readers deep into the drama high story. This urban romance is intense…it starts off with a woman who deals with her annoying baby daddy that doesn’t know when to quit. She works her butt off, at an adult center so that she can pull off enough money to take care of her and her child. There is plenty of trouble between parents and the threat of child visitation rights.  A woman fighting to provide for her child finds out that things between her parents are just as bad as her own issues. Then there is her friend who also works as a stripper. She too has men issues. Men screwing other women when they already have a woman who wants them. I rooted for the two women as they kicked their men’s butt out to the curb. The future looks bumpy but it might just be worth fighting for…Keandria has a new man in her life helping her with the custody battle and Michele has a man that wants her but she has to quit her stripper job…can these ladies find the happiness they both deserve or will their battles take everything away? Love Me If You Can by Shanice B. is absolutely a must read for all. I couldn’t get enough of these tough female characters and their men issues. Romance is in the air and drama is so intense that it’s addictive like a drug. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to readers everywhere.

 

 

Review: A Thuggish, Ruggish Love 2

 

Synopsis:

“For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” – Luke 8:17, NIV

When Mackie, Xavier, Blaze and Aleah all met up in the same place at the same time it was explosive. Nobody knew how their lives were intertwined.
The result left Xavier fighting for his life.

With Xavier unconscious and not able to point his finger at the shooter, detectives begin their investigation into who shot him?

Aleah is falling in love fast and hard. She’s never been a part of anything close to resembling street life but for a chance at love she’s willing to ride or die for Blaze.
Mackie has been thrown for a loop with Xavier being shot. She seeks the comfort of her best friend since childhood as she tries to come to turns with what she’s done.
Diesel has always been team Mackie. He wants to carry her away from the only life that she has ever known. With several obstacles in their way, will they be able to avoid the demons that are chasing them?

Blaze has spent his entire life protecting his little sister. As Mackie’s sins are trying to catch up with her, he continues to put his life on the line to keep her safe. But with the Feds hot on his tail, he must decide if he is willing to continue to put Mackie first or accept a life that includes being locked up.

Keya’s stress level is through the roof. When she finds out Aleah’s role in Xavier being shot, she comes unglued. Their sisterly bond is stretched to the point of popping.
As the anticipation builds surrounding these lives, find out if Xavier is given a lease on life; if Blaze and Aleah can build a life together; if Mackie is able to leave the game behind; and if Keya can find it in her heart to forgive.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

A Thuggish, Ruggish Love 2 by Regina Swanson has just got hotter and more intense than one before it. Wow…the drama and romance heat up inside this new novel. The writing continues to impress me as it lures me deep into four lives that just keep getting more complicated. Complicated, sexy, and emotional…that’s A Thuggish, Ruggish Love 2 by Regina Swanson. The suspense from the last novel’s ending expands into this title and it’s impressive. The old and new issues get tangled and loyalties blur. Where will Keya, Xavier,  Aleah, Mackie and her brother Blaze end up…then there’s a new character who gets more attention…and Keya might just find a bit of happiness for once. The big questions that keep readers on the edge of their seats are whether or not siblings will stick together or go with what finally makes them happy.

A man is left hospitalized and his sister, new lover, and wife are worried if he’ll make it out fine. Then there’s his sister who works hard at her job and trying to help her brother and his wife with their issues. Blaze doesn’t want the thug life but his sister loves it and now it’s coming back to bite them both in the ass…only thing is Blaze willing to go to the lengths to protect his sister from what he tried telling her not to do or will he do what he needs to do to be happy? Aleah is in a rut. Her husband went from a loving great man to very abusive faster than she could ever imagine. He stops with abuse but ignores her all the time and then finally goes after another woman. A woman that is highly dangerous…and living a dark lifestyle that’s about to crumble….a simple fight ensues and all of them are involved in some way or another. Will they survive or fall trying? A Thuggish, Ruggish  Love 2 is steamy, fast-paced, and intriguing. Regina Swanson doesn’t disappoint. Her characters have once again, dragged me deep into the center of their lives. Their world became my own…Overall, I highly recommend this urban street romance to all.

 

Review: All Is Not Forgotten

 

Synopsis:

It begins in the small, affluent town of Fairview, Connecticut, where everything seems picture perfect.

Until one night when young Jenny Kramer is attacked at a local party. In the hours immediately after, she is given a controversial drug to medically erase her memory of the violent assault. But, in the weeks and months, that follow, as she heals from her physical wounds, and with no factual recall of the attack, Jenny struggles with her raging emotional memory. Her father, Tom, becomes obsessed with his inability to find her attacker and seek justice while her mother, Charlotte, struggles to pretend this horrific event did not touch her carefully constructed world.

As Tom and Charlotte seek help for their daughter, the fault lines within their marriage and their close-knit community emerge from the shadows where they have been hidden for years, and the relentless quest to find the monster who invaded their town – or perhaps lives among them – drive this psychological thriller to a shocking and unexpected conclusion.

As they seek help for their daughter, the fault lines within their marriage and their close-knit community emerge from the shadows where they have been hidden for years, and the relentless quest to find the monster who invaded their town – or perhaps lives among them – drive this psychological thriller to a shocking and unexpected conclusion.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker is a deep thought provoking thriller that enticed me from the start. The description leading into the main characters washed over me…making it feel like I was actually there. Wendy Walker took me through a young woman’s rape situation…it was horrifyingly real. The way the perpetrator knew how to go about not leaving behind any evidence…was a nightmare from hell. Thinking about this led me to what’s happening in our world today…many women and men are being raped. Imagine how many perpetrators get away with the crime and are never punished…it ruins the family and the victims’ lives forever.

Inside All Is Not Forgotten, Jenny Kramer, the main character goes through one such situation. She goes to a party and is later raped then found. She can’t remember anything until closer to the ending…where the story of who done it and why falls together. Until I reached the ending, I was intrigued by the intense plot. It kept me guessing all the hows, whys, and whos. Jenny’s experience and the emotional journey that she and her family went through is a ride I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemies. The danger of not knowing who did the things that happened to you…is scary. It could have been anyone and Jenny wouldn’t have realized it until she could finally remember and let go of that moment. I definitely agree that this is one well-written thriller that will never be forgotten by all who read it. It certainly left an impact upon me. Overall, I would highly recommend this stunning tale to readers worldwide. All Is Not Forgotten is a tale for everyone everywhere.

 

Review: Beijing Red

 

Synopsis:

When ex-Navy SEAL Nick Foley travels to China to find purpose and escape the demons of his past, he instead stumbles into a conspiracy his Special Forces training never prepared him for. A mysterious and deadly outbreak ravages a remote area of western China, and Nick finds himself the lead suspect in a bioterrorism investigation being conducted by China’s elite Snow Leopard counter-terrorism unit.

To clear his name and avoid prosecution, he must team up with beautiful Chinese CDC microbiologist Dr. Dazhong “Dash” Chen to find who is really behind the attack. As their investigation proceeds, their budding friendship is tested by nationalistic loyalties and suspicion.

In a race against time, Nick and Dash must risk everything to stop a madman before he unleashes the world’s next super-weapon in Beijing.

Rating: 5 stars

Review: 

Beijing Red by Alex Ryan is a reminder of one of my most favorite movies…the Bourne Series. It’s intense, fast-paced, and absolutely a riveting read. There’s enough excitement that kept my heart racing, my palms sweating, and the fear of another deadly disaster. Alex Ryan is indeed a superb writer whose words swept over me and washed me deep into this stunning one of a kind adventure. With the way our world’s technology and other foreign countries bio-technologies increase at an alarming rate…the fear of this realistic doom kept me awake all night long. Absolutely the most compelling read I have read in awhile.

Alex Ryan has masterfully created a plot that can one day actually happen to us if not already happening. The frightening realization is terrifying. I couldn’t put this novel down until I read it all. Inside Beijing Red, readers like myself will have met an ex-Navy Seal who like Matt Damon that played the leading role in Bourne Series…is found in a rather difficult situation where he is being hunted down for a rime he didn’t commit. A government conspiracy that leads Nick and China’s microbiologist, Dash, to figure it all out before the true criminal behind it all lets loose another deadly nightmare. A race against time, countries, and the government both Nick and Dash will have to use every source of power they have to defeat whoever is behind the bioterrorism. Readers like myself will get to travel to China and explore one of the most  dangerous plots that exist…Beijing Red. Overall, I found this read to be thrilling, and I highly recommend it to readers worldwide.

 

Review: Death at Breakfast

 

Synopsis:

From the acclaimed New York Times, bestselling author of Still Missing, More Than You Know, and Gossip comes the first entry in a stylish and witty mystery series featuring a pair of unlikely investigators—a shrewd novel of manners with a dark heart of murder at its center, set in small-town New England.

Indulging their pleasure in travel and new experiences, recently retired private school head Maggie Detweiler and her old friend, socialite Hope Babbin, are heading to Maine. The trip—to attend a weeklong master cooking class at the picturesque Victorian-era Oquossoc Mountain Inn—is an experiment to test their compatibility for future expeditions.

Hope and Maggie have barely finished their first aperitifs when the inn’s tranquility is shattered by the arrival of Alexander and Lisa Antippas and Lisa’s actress sister, Glory. Imperious and rude, these Hollywood one-percenters quickly turn the inn upside-down with their demanding behavior, igniting a flurry of speculation and gossip among staff and guests alike.

But the disruption soon turns deadly. After a suspicious late-night fire is brought under control, Alex’s charred body is found in the ashes. Enter the town’s deputy sheriff, Buster Babbin, Hope’s long-estranged son and Maggie’s former student. A man who’s finally found his footing in life, Buster needs a win. But he’s quickly pushed aside by the “big boys,” senior law enforcement and high-powered state’s attorneys who swoop in to make a quick arrest.

Maggie knows that Buster has his deficits and his strengths. She also knows that justice does not always prevail—and that the difference between conviction and exoneration too often depends on lazy police work and the ambitions of prosecutors. She knows too, after a lifetime of observing human nature, that you have a great advantage in doing the right thing if you don’t care who gets the credit or whom you annoy.

Feeling that justice could use a helping hand–as could the deputy sheriff—Maggie and Hope decide that two women of experience equipped with a healthy curiosity, plenty of common sense, and a cheerfully cynical sense of humor have a useful role to play in uncovering the truth.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Death at Breakfast by Beth Gutcheon is a highly entertaining murder mystery that delighted me from the beginning. When two women arrive at an inn to take a cooking class together their stay turns into an unexpected adventure. What was meant to test how well the two companions travel together turned into an experiment of solving a murder…first there are the celebrities who like always act like they are bigger than life and charge through places like it’s their right. The make the lives of others serving them totally chaotic…and unsettles the rest of the people at the inn. Soon, there is a room that catches fire and it’s not long until a dead body is found. The two companions both Maggie and Hope decide that it’s up to them to solve the case before the wrong person is charged. They know with high profile people involved that the pressure on the police, as well as the deputy sheriff, will prove to be a struggle. All want the case closed and solved asap. Can the two women solve it before it’s too late?

Beth Gutheon’s latest novel, Death at Breakfast, provides us readers with a pair of sleuth women and a cozy atmosphere that turns into a deadly mysterious setting. The women pair with the deputy sheriff and it’s a race against time to solve the death. The masterfully woven tale brings a lot of humor, wit, and suspense to every page. The plot moved by fast creating an urge to read faster…then there’s the intrigue of who done it and why that lured me deeper into the heart of this novel. I loved the variety of characters…their personalities, as well as careers, varied and that, too made this one highly entertaining read. Both Maggie and Hope reminded me of Miss Fletcher and Miss Marple. I can definitely see this novel becoming a big TV hit with fans everywhere. Overall, I highly recommend this thriller and crime title to readers worldwide.

 

Review: Resort Isle

 

Synopsis:

San Diego Detective Frank Dugan has just become a victim of ruthless criminals, who have passed in and out of prison and continue to perform their grisly acts, in a free society. Dugan wants them put someplace where they can never return and never harm innocents again, and presents an innovative solution to this revolving door crime dilemma to the government. The result is Resort Isle, a lonely tropical dot in the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by the most vicious sharks known to man, a place from which there is no escape and virtually no supervision. This resort is the last vacation the worse of the bad will ever get.

But Detective Dugan never figured that one day he’d be the guest of his own invention, a permanent resident, on this island, where many that he sent there can’t wait to kill him.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Resort Isle by Paul Sekulich is one of the most fascinating, crime thrillers I have read. I couldn’t believe the odds of a man, who created the idea of an island for the worst criminals to be placed upon to be set on there as well. The main character, detective Frank Dugan, is by far the best fictional character ever. He lives quite a normal life like the rest of us. He and his wife are paying a mortgage on their home and have kids. Soon danger comes knocking on the door, and right on the day of Dugan and his wife’s anniversary…bad men come to take jewelry…only to find that they got the wrong Duggan and what happens next tore apart my heart…I could feel detective Frank Dugan’s anger and hurt. The plot is well-developed and one that kept me on the edge of my seat. I kept expecting far worse to happen to detective Frank Dugan…and the talented writer, Paul Sekulich kept me guessing all the way to the last page. Absolutely remarkable…I was instantly hooked by the story from page one. Not many authors can do that…Resort Isle is a place no good person ever wants to go…it’s a dangerous place that even the criminals fear of being sent. Overall, this is definitely a must-read thriller, for readers everywhere. I look forward to reading more of Paul Sekulich’s novels and hope the next  Overall, this is definitely a must read thriller for readers everywhere. I look forward to reading more of Paul Sekulich’s novels and hope the next one features my new favorite detective Frank Dugan.

Review: Deadly Defiance

 

Synopsis:

The law firm of Turner & Waters has a new associate. Jodie Waters has finally worked her way up from Stan’s secretary to become a full-fledged attorney. Having great confidence in her abilities, Stan asks her to help him in the investigation of a wrongful death case. A worker in a local sweatshop has died and his family wants the owner, Icaro Melendez to pay for the crime. The problem is the Dallas Police and the FBI have closed out the case for lack of evidence. It seems like a hopeless case, but Stan reluctantly agrees to have Jodie look into it. Jodie, excited to have her first case, boldly launches into an investigation and soon finds herself working undercover as the girlfriend of one of Icaro Melendez’ sons. While Jodie and Stan are busy with the Melendez case Paula Waters takes on the defense of a young mother accused of stabbing her husband to death with an ice pick. Paula is ecstatic to get such a high-profile case until she finds out her client is broke and this isn’t the first time one of Maureen Thompson’s husband has been bludgeoned to death with an ice pick. She learns that her client dubbed “the Ice Pick Widow” by the media survived her first murder trial due to a hung jury but wonders if she’ll be so lucky this time around.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Deadly Defiance by William Manchee is a crime mystery thriller that features women sleuths. I loved the murder cases that were brought up, inside this intriguing novel. Here, readers will find that two women are being accused of their husbands’ murders. So, there are two women sleuths each working a separate murder case that involves a woman being charged for the crime of murdering their husbands. What’s really interesting is that one of these accused women has been labeled as a wife killer because each of her husbands has been killed “by her”. Then, there’s the fact that this same woman killer who was talking to Stan about how her husband left her poor and that she wished he was dead…and then ends up in jail charged, of her husband’s death. She definitely had the motive but did she do it? Next, a Hispanic woman is wanting another trial. She also has been charged, for killing, her husband. Except she blames the boss who is tangled up in the drug cartel…

Deadly Defiance is exactly that.  Stan and his new partner Jodie get mixed up in a deadly situation that has them defying the cartel who wants revenge on them…and then there’s Paula taking on the other murder case. Danger, excitement, and intrigue will follow readers on every page. The suspense of this new thriller will have readers on the edge of their seats waiting to see what happens next…Will the team of three survive their toughest cases yet or will they be taken out by their enemies? Deadly Defiance: A Stan Turner Mystery (vol. 10) is definitely a must read for all. William Manchee is a very talented writer whose juicy thick plots will have readers immediately hooked from the beginning. The first novel, I have read in this series and now look forward to reading more. Overall, I highly recommend this thriller mystery to readers worldwide.

 

Review: The Dove’s Necklace

 

 

Synopsis:

The stunning novel that explores the secret life of Mecca by the first woman to win the international prize for Arabic fiction.

When the body of a young woman is discovered in the Lane of Many Heads, an alley in modern-day Mecca, no one will claim it as they are all ashamed of her nakedness. As Detective Nasser pursues his investigation of the case, seemingly all of Mecca chimes in―including the Lane of Many Heads itself―in this brilliant, funny, profane, and enigmatic fever dream of a novel by Raja Alem, the first woman to win the International Prize for Arabic Fiction.

Nasser initially suspects that the dead woman is Aisha, one of the residents of the Area, and he searches her emails for clues. The world she paints embraces everything from crime and religious extremism to the exploitation of foreign workers by a mafia of building contractors, who are destroying the historic areas of the city. In stark relief with this grimness is the beauty of her love letters to her German boyfriend. Another view reveals the city through the eyes of Yusuf, Aisha’s neighbor, increasingly frustrated by the acceleration pace of change.

As gripping as classic noir, nuanced as a Nabokov novel, and labyrinthine as the alleys of Mecca itself, this powerful and disturbing work of fiction masterfully reveals a city and a civilization in all its contradictions, at once beholden to brutal customs and uneasily coming to terms with new traditions. Raja Alem’s singular The Dove’s Necklace is a virtuosic work of literature that deserves the world’s attention.

Rating: 5 stars

Review: 

The Dove’s Necklace by Raja Alem is a captivating novel that will lure all readers to its great depth. A mystery that intrigues the soul to flip its pages in a haste to find out its secrets. What lies deep in this novel is a history that will blow readers away with every word. Raja Alem is indeed a talented writer with a way of bringing, to life, the murder, customs, and investigation that is portrayed in this stunning tale. The point of view is enjoyable. Told from an alley way’s point of view…was a brilliant idea. This sets readers, onto a journey, that will keep them hooked until the last page. Ever wondered about the city of Mecca and what secrets it keeps or the lives of the people? The Dove’s Necklace masterfully covers these and many more interesting questions that will surely rise as readers keep digging deeper into this powerful story.

Inside this riveting tale, The Dove’s Necklace, opens readers to the place where the danger and mystery begin. It’s also a place with tons of history such as wars, kingdoms, and customs that keep one’s mind buzzing with action. Raja Alem’s story is about love and revenge. Soon, readers are taken where a dead woman’s body lies…not only is she dead but also completely nude. No one knows the woman’s name…this scene and the people’s reaction to the dead woman’s body intrigues readers deeply. Who is she? Why her? Who killed her and why left nude? These questions and many others are answered but  will keep readers guessing and on the edge of their seats as they rush through the pages with a burning intensity to find out the answers. I loved reading this Arabic story. Traveling all the way to Mecca without so much as leaving my seat was amazing. The raw beauty of the novel will hold readers in like prisoners…Intriguing, dramatic, and suspenseful…The Dove’s Necklace is a must read for all. Giving readers worldwide a glimpse into one of the most famous cities of all time.

 

Review: The Letter Writer

 

Synopsis:

The first thing Woodrow Cain sees when he steps off the train in New York City on February 9, 1942, is smoke from an ocean liner in flames in the harbor. It’s the Normandie, and word on the street is that it was burned by German saboteurs. “Ten lousy minutes in New York and already his new life felt as full of loss and betrayal as the one he’d left behind.”

What he left behind in a small North Carolina town was a wife who’d left him, a daughter in the care of his sister, and a career as a police officer marred by questions surrounding his partner’s murder. When he gets a job with the NYPD, he wants to believe it’s the beginning of a new life, though he suspects that the past is as tenacious as “a parasite in the bloodstream.”

It’s on the job that Cain comes in contact with a man who calls himself Danziger. He has the appearance of a “crackpot,” but he speaks five languages, has the manners of a man of means and education—and he appears to be the one person who can help Cain identify a body just found floating in the Hudson River. But who exactly is Danziger? He’s a writer of letters for illiterate immigrants on Manhattan’s Lower East Side—“a steadfast practitioner of concealing and forgetting” for his clients, and perhaps for himself: he hints at a much more worldly past. What and whoever he really is or has been, he has a seemingly boundless knowledge of the city and its denizens. And he knows much more than the mere identity of the floating corpse. For one thing, he knows how the dead man was involved in New York City’s “Little Deutschland,” where swastikas were proudly displayed just months before. And he also seems to know how the investigation will put Cain—and perhaps his daughter and the woman he’s fallen for—in harm’s way. But even Danziger can’t know that the more he and Cain investigate, the nearer they come to the center of a citywide web of possibly traitorous corruption from which neither of them may get out alive.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Letter Writer by Dan Fesperman is a political thriller that will automatically entice its readers to it plot’s depth. Danger, intrigue, politics, and spies all masterfully woven for readers entertainment. I loved the sense of excitement and fear on every page. Readers don’t know what to expect until it happens.  Dan Fesperman’s writing has a way of sucking its readers into its tale. The way the novel is told, it creates a sense of actually being there and experiencing it all with one’s own eyes and ears. The scenes have a way of popping, to life, and sends readers on a race for truth.

Dan Fesperman takes readers on a journey that involves a city full of corruption, danger, and murder. The Letter Writer is fantastic…tons of action, suspense, and keeps readers guessing. One man witnesses an ocean liner go up in flames, his past life is a mess and now he’s an NYPD officer in New York and his partner is murdered. This alone will leave readers on the edge of their seats in anticipation of what’s to come. The title of this novel comes into play when this police office, Cain, meets a man who is a writer. Together these two unlikely characters pair up to investigate the city’s crimes that involve a group using swastikas. When one wearing a swastika pops up dead the danger heats up…and as with all investigators, Cain’s life isn’t the only life that may be placed into danger…his daughter and a woman whom he’s falling for might just be pulled into this intricate and highly intense investigation. Stakes are high but so are the possibilities of surviving it all. This was the first time that I have read any work by Dan Fesperman and I loved it. A novel worthy of every readers’ attention…addictive, fast-paced, and thrilling. Overall, I highly recommend this stunning novel, The Letter Writer, to readers everywhere.

Review: Murder at the 42nd Street Library

 

Synopsis:

This first book in an irresistible new series introduces librarian and reluctant sleuth Raymond Ambler, a doggedly curious fellow who uncovers murderous secrets hidden behind the majestic marble façade of New York City’s landmark 42nd Street Library.

Murder at the 42nd Street Library follows Ambler and his partners in crime-solving as they track down a killer, shining a light on the dark deeds and secret relationships that are hidden deep inside the famous flagship building at the corner of 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue.

In their search for the reasons behind the murder, Ambler and his crew uncover sinister, and profoundly disturbing, relationships among the scholars studying in the iconic library. Included among the players are a celebrated mystery writer who has donated his papers to the library’s crime fiction collection; that writer’s long-missing daughter, a prominent New York society woman with a hidden past, and more than one of Ambler’s colleagues at the library. Shocking revelations lead inexorably to the traumatic events that follow—the reading room will never be the same.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

 

Murder at the 42nd Street Library by Con Lehane is one that readers can’t miss. Librarians as sleuths…takes on an interesting role in a crime mystery novel. This is the first novel in a new series that makes tracking down a killer intriguing.

Con Lehane’s new crime mystery, Murder at the 42nd Street Library, will lead readers to a string of murders, a woman wanting revenge, and three generations of criminals. Readers will be kept guessing as the clues are pieced together and the truth starts to unravel. The scenes are intense with action, drama, and danger on every page. A woman abused my several men wants revenge, but then she is killed by a man whom she also had information on…and now, trying to piece together the whole mystery before another murder happens will be like racing against time itself. Internal conflict, criminals with too much to lose, and jealousy will keep readers turning the pages in a rush to find out what happens next. The writing is full of mayhem even on the last page. Murder at 42nd Street Library is a rare and complex crime mystery that once readers dig into it, it becomes addictive. Overall, I would recommend this novel to readers worldwide.

Review: Alone in the Wind

 

Synopsis:

In the second installment of the misadventures of Megan Docket, she learns of the investigation of meth dealing in the area. A gut feeling forces her to question the motives of a DEA agent residing in the area. As she snoops on the agent, she becomes protective of a young teen and a young autistic, who works at the local diner. The meth use in the community causes the deaths of two friends and ensnares the local residents in the drug trade.

Meanwhile, discord with her husband Brian creates problems at home. When the DEA agent and the chief of police commit murder, Megan uncovers the truth. After she impulsively commits revenge against the men, it blackens her soul and plunges her into a personal hell. Burdened with grief over the community tragedies and her own guilt, she seeks peace and redemption.

This is the author’s second book in her Wind Series. The first book in the series is Voices in the Wind.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Alone in the Wind is the perfect title for this new novel in the Wind Series. Judy Bruce has done it again. Creating the perfect novel full of crime, action, and secrets. We all have a dark side but sometimes that dark side will eat us alive if we don’t let it out soon…inside this second novel for the series we are introduced to a lot of issues. There are marital issues going on between the main character Megan and her now husband, Brian. Then there is the meth dealing going on as well as two young people who need Megan’s help. The plot instantly pulls readers in and brings them on a path of danger, betrayal, lies, and suspense. Megan may or may not be able to uncover the truth in time but the ending will not only satisfy readers but get them hooked on what might happen next to Megan. Will she be in trouble for what’s eating at her? Or will she survive and find forgiveness after all? Overall, I highly recommend this second novel of Judy Bruce’s and look forward to reading book three. I loved reading this intriguing story and I know without a doubt that readers everywhere will love it too.

 

 

Review: The Run Begins

Synopsis:

Lou Malloy is 18 years old and ready, for the world, but is the world ready for him. His brother Sam has left and his sister wants to move to Florida with the family. Malloy is having none of it and on a wild moment decides to hop in a boxcar going he knows not where. The important thing is that it’s not in Kansas. He has a problem and that problem is money. He doesn’t have any until Henry Lowe, who is in the same boxcar, offers Malloy the deal of a lifetime. All he has to do is help Lowe rob a casino in Georgia. With the promise of a big payday, Malloy throws in with the scheme and seal his fate forever…. AND THE RUN BEGINS

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Run Begins by J. Frank James is an excellent yet highly refreshing read. J. Frank James introduces to readers a character that is unlike any other criminal. Most don’t care about family nor open up like a book yet Lou Mallery does just that. A young man growing up in a rural small-town and never gets the approval from his parents…only his sister knows that he tried to stick up for her and why…but his parents only think of him as a young punk who is nothing but trouble. Funny how when  an accusation label becomes one that you fulfill later on…Lou Mallery leaves his home and heads into trouble all own his own. Getting involved with something that involves a whole lot of money can be very dangerous indeed. When Lou Mallery gets out of jail…more problems will arise and when they do readers will be gobbling up the books as J. Franks writes them. The Run Begins is a realistic crime fiction tale that will intrigue readers from page one. I was impressed with J. Frank Jame’s writing and this is the second of his novels that I have read. Overall, I  highly recommend this new title to readers everywhere.

Review: The Launch

 

Synopsis:

How far would you go to make your dreams come true?

Watson Sinclair has only been in New York for a couple of hours and already he’s had a small accident in his car involving some distracting cleavage and an inconveniently-placed fruit stand. His best friend JC Dubois is a few blocks away kidnapping the editor of the Royal Features Syndicate. Watson has to pick them up and get back across the Canadian border safely with their prisoner. It didn’t have to be this way.

Watson and JC always wanted to be cartoonists for the daily papers. Their dreams came true when they received a syndication contract for their comic strip. But then months went by and legendary editor Ray Bennett stopped returning their calls. They were faced with a choice: give up and go back to their day jobs or consider drastic measures to get the job done. Like kidnapping Ray and taking over the launch of the strip themselves.

The plan is simple: drive to New York to take Ray and his laptop back to London. Give orders to Ray’s prick of an Assistant Editor. Keep Ray quiet and secure, convince his staff that he is working from home, and keep all this from their wives. They’ve got one week.

If they pull this off and execute a successful launch, their dreams are back on track. If they screw it up and get caught, they go to jail. Nothing like a little motivation.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Launch by Mark Victor Young is surprisingly the best humor adventure that readers will take. This was the first novel, I have read by this brilliant mastermind. His writing forces readers to keep turning the pages. Every page is filled with laugh-out-loud moments, suspense, and intrigue. Readers curiosity will kill them if they don’t read it until the last page. The Launch is freshly told with an air of drama, humor, and tight deadlines that might prove to be the very end for the characters or their new anticipated future they always dreamed of…

Inside, The Launch shows readers just how far some people are willing to risk everything to get what they always dreamed of…they have a plan. Everything is thought out…and all they have to do…is complete each step. If they fail…everything they know will fall apart. Two married men who fall into kidnapping and taking over the comic strips to get their comics published. The question is will it work out or will they fail? Mark Victor Young is a talented writer who brings readers an exciting and intoxicating thrill ride…The Launch. I loved it, and I highly recommend this story to all. I look forward to reading more by Mark Victor Young in the future. His work is indeed one I nor any other reader would want to miss.

 

Review: Ripe for Murder

 

Synopsis:
Penny Lively loves running her family’s winery, but to keep the business growing, she needs to find a way to attract more guests. When she’s approached to invest in a new train line through wine country, Penny and her intoxicating winery manager, Connor, hightail it to a lavish resort to hear the details. Unfortunately, her neighbor’s daughter, Chantal, is also there, swirling up trouble by flirting with the married investors—and with Connor too.

When one of the investors’ wives is murdered, Chantal, who was seen fighting with the woman, is the prime suspect. Chantal may be a sour grape, but she’s no killer. So Penny, who’s become a sleuthing connoisseur, starts sniffing out the real suspect—and discovers that her fellow potential investors have been savoring more than their share of deadly secrets…

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Ripe for Murder by Carlene O’Neil is a delightful yet highly suspenseful read. Instantly readers are taken deep into a mysterious plot. The characters are entertaining and realistic. Carlene O’Neil has a way of enticing her readers into her story and dragging them further into a race in finding the real murderer.

Ripe for Murder takes readers on a journey of keeping a family winery. We all know it’s not easy, but when someone steps in to make it harder for your family winery to survive the fight becomes harder…until that person is being framed for murder. Carlene O’Neil writes a well-written story that keeps reader guessing…did Chantal commit it the murder or not…and if she didn’t who did it? The motives are there…and Penny is determined to find out before it’s too late. I loved reading this brilliant mystery novel. Readers who love Agatha Christie’s novels then this is definitely for you. Suspense, intrigue, and danger are filled on every page. Once you begin reading this title, you won’t be able to stop reading it until you reached the end. I highly recommend Ripe for Murder to readers worldwide.

Review: Dead Money Run

 

Synopsis:

Lou Malloy has just maxed out on a fifteen-year prison sentence for the theft of $15 million and just before leaving prison he learns that his sister is brutally killed. As he is leaving prison, he’s told to keep his nose clean or he would soon be back. As far as Malloy is concerned all bets were off, until he finds his sister’s killer. In the meantime, he has to fight off predators trying to get their hands on the money he stole and keep from being sent back to prison trying to protect those dear to him. He catches a break when he meets up with Hilary Kelly, a private investigator with an agenda of her own, She has been hired by the insurance company that paid on the theft claim of the money stolen from the casino by Malloy. In the course of events, Malloy and Kelly become more than just friends and Kelly decides to throw in with Malloy. Together they work to uncover exactly what happened to Malloy’s sister and why. Their search involves a vicious gang led by a vengeful old man and his crazy son who has his own problems keeping his hands off other women. To make matters worse, Malloy and Kelly’s search is complicated by the fact that Malloy’s sister was really a special agent with the Department of Homeland Security. She was working undercover when she was killed trying to locate the whereabouts of special plates to produce counterfeit currency that if the plates end up in the wrong hands, whole banking systems of major foreign countries could collapse overnight.

As Malloy and Kelly race to find the killer of Malloy’s sister, they enlist the help of Crusher, a pro wrestler who served in the cell next to Malloy at the Atlanta Penitentiary. The decision is made for Malloy and company to hit the same casino again that Malloy robbed fifteen years ago by a special ops unit of the Department of Homeland Security. The plan is complicated by the fact that the ops unit is a phony setup led by a former agent turned rouge, who is backed by another vicious gang with international contacts intent on getting their hands on the missing money plates. Malloy decides to go through with the heist of the casino a second time, but on a different schedule than planned. If they don’t make it they have no way to return to the real world. They are in a make or break it race. Read as they race to the finish line and learn if this where the run ends or the run begins….

Dead Money Run is a fast paced, action packed, crime thriller. This is the first book in the Lou Malloy Crime Series.

On the day Lou Malloy is to be released from prison, the warden calls him for a private meeting. “Ten percent of fifteen million is a lot of money,” the warden tells him. He’s probing Lou for the whereabouts of the $15M that was stolen from a casino 15 years earlier. Lou, however, doesn’t bite. He’s got big plans, which include finding the person who killed his sister while he was in the joint.

Enter Hilary Kelly, a 20-something beauty who gives Lou a motorcycle ride from the bus station. She claims to be a student, but Lou is far too wise to fall for it. After crashing in Hilary’s trailer, Lou soon finds her .38 Smith and Wesson and discovers she’s a private investigator who knows something about his sister.

Hilary a great character, and loaded with memorable lines: “Lou, sometimes you can be the nicest killer I have ever known.” Alas, she and Lou were made for each other – he likes to think of himself as a “compassionate killer.”

Fans of James Ellroy and Elmore Leonard are going to love James’ ingenious capers, devious characters, and wry humor. The entire book goes down like a strong yet smooth shot of bourbon.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Dead Money Run by J. Frank James is a must read for all. Readers will find themselves lost deep in one of the juiciest plots of all-time. A  murder case tied in with stolen money and a gang out to find the stolen money is one adventure reader’s don’t want to miss.

J. Frank James is indeed a talented writer whose characters are believable and his story pops off the pages. Scenes come alive as readers keep turning them. A race to find out what really happened to one man’s sister and why is a thrilling rollercoaster ride. Lou is just released from prison for having stolen $15 million dollars. His sister died while he was locked away and his only plans are to find the ones responsible for her death. In his mission to find out how and why Lou soon  finds himself attracted to a woman who is anything but what she claims to be. They both are soon following the mystery trail together. Readers won’t be disappointed in reading this suspenseful novel by J. Frank James. I loved reading it. Overall, I highly recommend Dead Money Run to readers everywhere.

Review: Deep Dark

Synopsis:

The moment detective Reed Novak steps onto the crime scene, he knows the case is going to rock his world. A beautiful young woman murdered at home. No sign of forced entry. No motive. She’s obviously not the killer’s first victim, and Reed’s instincts tell him she won’t be his last. Reed’s first clue comes via a mysterious text that links to a dating profile, but even more intriguing than the clue is the person who sent it.

As a white-hat hacker in the Delphi Center’s cyber investigation unit, Laney Knox sneaks into some of the deepest, darkest corners of the Internet looking for predators. Laney would prefer to stay away from Austin PD’s most recent murder case, but she can’t ignore the chilling similarities between that crime and her own brutal attack years ago. Laney offers to help the sexy lead detective, but he wants more from her than just a promising tip—Reed wants her trust. Laney resists, but as their relationship deepens she’s tempted to reveal the closely guarded secrets that could make her a key witness…or the killer’s next victim.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

WOW…Laura Griffin has done it again! I don’t know how she does it but all of her novels are absolutely stunning. Not one book is a bad apple…This latest novel of hers, Deep Dark is definitely a must read. For anyone who loves cyber crimes, forensics, and hot steamy romances then this is for you!

Laura Griffin’s talent never surprises me anymore. Her work just keeps on staying amazing book after book. I love reading her novels. There’s always a deep dark and intriguing mystery case to solve and sexy hot heroes for readers to fall in love with…as well as a fast-paced plot full of danger. Deep Dark is highly intensifying with suspense, romance, and a crime that will leave readers feeling chills down their spines. Laura Griffin will always keep readers on the edge of their seats, especially with this hot new novel. Overall, I highly recommend this read to readers everywhere. There is a reason why Laura Griffin’s books are my favorite…they pack so much heat and intrigue that it’s addictive.

Review: The Conspiracy of Silence

 

Synopsis:

SEX SCANDALS IN HIGH PLACES…

Here’s an exposé on the murky world of high-stakes politics, a depiction of the life-and-death struggle of a young female lawyer who goes to great lengths to outwit a diabolical trio in order to save her lover from a murder rap.

  

The conscience of a town steeped in sexism, vanity and hypocrisy is pricked by the brutal murder of a mysterious woman in an LA park. But the shock is transformed into a steamy, seductive scandal when the corpse turns out to be Susan Whitaker, the flamboyant wife of the governor of California.

A secret lover/blackmailer theory leads to the indictment of Hollywood’s most influential black celebrity. It is only the beginning, for Susan Whitaker did not, in fact, exist. Little does anyone realize that this colossal fraud is a mere curtain raiser to a chilling world of ugly skeletons dating back to the assassination of a U.S. senator in a Washington hotel sauna, skeletons connected to riveting sex scandals in high places, skeletons the FBI and political kingmakers will kill for…

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Conspiracy of Silence by Augustine Sam is absolutely a must have for every reader’s list. Inside this head spinning tale, readers are taken deep into a political web of lies, danger, and murder. Readers will see what happens when a lawyer goes to the extreme to save her high profile boyfriend’s life from a crime he didn’t committ. But as with all nests…buried for keeps, the wasps will come outof hiding to protect what they don’t want found.

Augustine Sam is a talented writer. The plot is fast-paced and one of the most intriguing cases that readers will come across in fiction. This is one thrill ride readers won’t be forgetting any time soon. Suspense hangs deep on every page…the chacarters are perfect for this novel. Well-developed and will keep readers guessing…

For readers who love action, danger, and crime…this is the perfect read for you. The scenes that Augustine Sam has created for readers’ enjoyment are vivid and detailed. The Conspirarcy of Silence will play like a live motion picture for readers with every turned page. I enjoyed reading this well-written story and look forward to reading more by this writer in the future. Overall, I highly recommend this scandalous read to all.

Review: Onyx Webb Series (book 3)

Synopsis:

The Onyx Webb series follows the unusual life of Onyx Webb along with a central group of characters in various locations and times. The billionaire Mulvaney family, piano prodigy Juniper Cole and her brother Quinn, paranormal show hosts Cryer and Fudge, and a few others make up the core of the series. Written like a book version of a supernatural soap opera, each character’s story moves forward with mostly every episode. It may appear that the characters are entirely unrelated and yet episode by episode, the connections will become clearer. Like being an inch away from a spider web, with each book, the web will move further and further away revealing the full story of every character and most importantly, the stunning conclusion for Onyx Webb herself.

In Book Three…

1. It’s in the late 30’s and Onyx and Ulrich have started a new life in Crimson Cove, Oregon.
2. It’s 2010, and Koda Mulvaney is picking up the pieces of the latest tragedy and still looking for the girl in the mirror.
3. Paranormal show hosts Cryer and Fudge have a run in with a ghost at the Open Arms.
4. It’s the 60’s and Declan Mulvaney is building the family fortune – a good intent with horrible consequences.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Onyx Webb Series (book 3) by both Richard Fenton and Andrew Waltz is the most fascinating yet thrilling series readers will ever find. Talk about unique, suspenseful, and exciting. With every page, readers get closer and closer to knowing how the series all ties in together. So many interesting characters and roles it’s hard not to love the passion behind every episode written by this duet.

A woman who loves her husband and yet he is too busy sitting in from of the TV to bother with her. Then there’s the affair he has…and it causes his wife to go into an extreme makeover. Sympathy can easily be felt for the woman. Then, there’s a ghost trying to piece together certain facts to solve…and a man who fakes his death using certain software…

There’s never a dull moment inside the Onyx Webb Series (book 3). Episodes 7-8-9 will leave readers hanging in suspense until the next brilliant book is here. Mystery solving is absolutely fun when reading this spectacular novel. Another scene like that of a woman rising up above her body while wolves devour and tear her apart. She knows fighting is the only way…but can she?

Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz have masterfully woven a combination of genres and themes to create this highly addictive series that readers won’t be forgetting. This novel is the kind that readers will be reading over and over again. So much to love when reading the Onyx Webb Series. There’s a little of everything and a wide range of characters to satisfy every reader’s taste. The plot is fast-paced, intriguing, and well-written. The characters are well-developed and will hook readers in from the beginning to end. Overall, I highly recommend the Onyx Webb Series to readers worldwide.

 

The Runaway Part 3

Detective Amy Reid and her now partner Officer James Weatherson, have three unsolved murders. And a serial killer on the loose. Who are all three victims? Where were they held captive before killed? Were there more bodies to be found?
Questions after questions, reporters were storming the police station. A fourth victim was found in a park. All victims were women, beaten, and starved. Before let out and killed. Al four have different hair colors. A blonde, a redhead, a brunette, and a blackhaired woman. All had different skin tones too. All four were placed in different locations from each other. And all were shortly killed a day before the other one.
What was the killer’s motive? Something against women?  Feeling frustrated the cornors came up to inform both Amy and James that the women lived in the same apartment together. All of them went to the same college.
When they went around asking other college students if the four women had any enemies everyone said no.
Everyone had some kind of enemy..
Amy felt like someone was falling her around. But shook the feeling off. It was a campus. Students were every where.
Lurking in the shadows someone followed Amy everywhere she went. Watching her every step.
Bidding time..

James found Amy and informed her that the criminal instructor was recently laid off..because he wouldn’t allow women in his criminology class. Saying women were too weak to handle it. Amy felt this had to be their killer. James also informed her that he had officers search his home and they couldn’t find him. That it looked like he hadn’t been there for weeks. His garbage bag stunk up his house. And theres no food in the fridge nor did his bed look slept in. James told her they got a search warrant to go through the house and his garage searching for anyhing thay would end the investigation.

Writing Challenge #10-10 Thriller Supense Novel

Write about how someone is copying off a notorious murderer and leading police and FBI on a while goose chase. How are all the victims killed? How does the copycat killer leave behind his own signature? Who is the copycat killer and why? Write how this copycat killer  mail corresponded with the notorious killer. Is the notorious killer aware of who his copycat killer is? Write this novel’s setting in Louisiana. How easy is it to get away with murder there? Who does the copy cat killer go after from the FBI? And why? Does this FBI agent survive or will the agent just be another helpless victim? Write all this in 2500 words!