Another Lada Ray Hit – Stepford USA Review

Of course, the name alone made me think of the Stepford Wives. Would it be predictable? Yes and no.


Stepford USA (Accidental Spy Smalltown Adventure)

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Jade was married and pregnant, so she gave up her world-traveling journalistic career and moved to a small town in Massachusetts.

She had a hard time adjusting to such a laid back atmosphere, until her visions started. She had never been psychic or had visions before, but Rebecca refused to be ignored.

To help pass the time and find out the secrets that were being covered up, she joined the knitting club. If her thinking was correct, these women would know everything that went on in town and she could learn about Rebecca from Gossip Central.

white cat photo: White Cat 40K.jpg

Adelaide, one of the ladies from the knitting club, missed another meeting. Jade used the excuse of her pride in her finished baby hat to visit her. That was when she met Lily, her cat. There was something special about her, she seemed human.

While she was there, Jason came in. He had been in prison, convicted of the rape and murder of Rebecca. He sat and had tea with Jade and Adelaide. On Jade’s walk home, it went through her my mind that it couldn’t have been him who tortured and killed Rebecca. She felt he was a victim.

The visions would only show part of what really happened. She kept trying to see more.

She was determined to prove Jason’s innocence, but someone was just as determined to stop her. The question was – how far would they go?

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos    5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

I love Lada Ray’s books and her writing keeps me in suspense, waiting for the next surprise, twist, turn, or delightfully evil surprise. Okay, I may be a little sick, but I love reading about the evil that men do. The minute I think I know what is going on and where the story is taking me, she pulls something else out of her magical bag of mystery.

The books I have read of Lada’s have been pretty heavy and this seemed to be a departure from them. But, wait, she always has a surprise or two that you don’t see coming and she didn’t fail me now.  I knew who the real murderers were  early on, but she kept me guessing, as I tried to figure out how she was going to prove it. She puts in all the details to make you see how depraved people can be and the torture Rebecca suffered.

The cover is gorgeous and the title is so appropriate. Yes, the title does give away the background of the book, but the story goes so much further. A small town, with all the things that entails. Gossips. Good old boys club made up of the rich and connected. And a murder, but the victim, Rebecca, refuses to be silenced by death, reaching out to Jade for justice.

I loved her descriptions of the characters. They are so real, they can be your neighbor, your friend, or maybe even you.

Jason – an Adonis, spoiled

Marc – ambitious and full of himself, a sleazebag and politician. An oxymoron?

Peter – roving eyes and naughty fingers, a womanizer, married for money

Jack – a nerd, bad with women, a loner

Nick – chief of police.

The paranormal events are so believable. I have actually heard of some things that happen in the book, happening in real life. I have heard that people really  have visions. Someone I know swears she has a psychic friend. The friend really does help the police occasionally solve cases. Doesn’t it have to be true then? Is it really paranormal or is it something else?

Of course, there are always the pet lovers who say their critters talk to them and they understand every word of it. ^_^

The emotions I felt as she uncovered the sordid details ranged from disgust to anger, sorrow to happiness, and a feeling of relief when it was over. Even though it wasn’t happy ever after for everyone, I felt very satisfied.

I won this book on Lada Ray’s blog, along with Gold Train and Green Desert, books in the Accidental Spy Adventure Series. Once I read her book Earth Shifter, I was eager to read more.

I look forward to reading many more books from Lada Ray.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lada RayLiving her life in the fast lane, Lada Ray, M.A., always wanted to write cool stories, which she’d been imagining in her head ever since she can remember. Instead, she listened to her well-meaning parents and started her life in a more traditional way (for her, that is). Born in Russia, she is a world traveler, linguist, financial consultant, Feng Shui Master, shaman, futurist, and metaphysics/spirituality researcher.

Lada holds a Master’s Degree in comparative linguistics (graduated summa cum laude,) is fluent in several languages and has traveled to twenty six countries in Europe, Asia, North and South America, as well as Africa. She had worked in Havana, Cuba as an interpreter for the Russian educational exchange delegations, including a couple of interviews with the man himself – Fidel Castro.

In the USA, she published articles in the Hartford Courant & taught Russian on cable TV. Then, something inexplicable possessed her to work as financial consultant for AIG and Smith Barney/Citigroup. But later, she came back to her senses and quit the corporate world to pursue her dreams. She studied Feng Shui in Hong Kong and Malaysia, and received her Feng Shui Master’s certification from the famed Asian author, Lilian Too (graduated first in class). For years, Lada operated an extensive feng shui website and blog – a hit with both local and worldwide fans – and authored over thirty articles on feng shui and spirituality. At the same time, she taught her proprietary feng shui courses and did public speaking.

A few years ago, Lada finally got her ultimate wish, and now she imagines her stories full-time in the bustling New York City and beautifully serene Catskill Mountains, NY, where she lives with her family and calico cat.

Lada Ray is the author of the Accidental Spy Adventure Series, including the Amazon & Kindle bestseller, GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure), mystery/thriller STEPFORD USA (Accidental Spy Smalltown Adventure), and GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Iraq Prequel). She is the creator of the new, top-rated metaphysical YA fantasy/thriller THE EARTH SHIFTER, and the EARTH KEEPERS CHRONICLES: ORIGINS (Catharsis, Lemurian Crystal, Atlantis).

Visit Lada’s innovative & cool author website: LadaRay.com
For posts about Russia & world, feng shui, spirituality, predictions read her popular blog: LadaRay.wordpress.com
Twitter: @LadaTweets
Youtube: Lada Ray Channel

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To Purchase Lada Ray’s books on Amazon, simply click on the covers below.

To see my 5 STAR Review of Green Desert, go HERE.

To see my 5 STAR Review of Earth Shifter, go HERE.

To see Earth Shifter videos, go HERE.

To see Lada Ray’s Tour Sales and Giveaway, go HERE.

To see The Earth Shifter “Virtual Tour” Interview, go HERE.

To  see Lada Ray’s extension of the above interview, go HERE.

To see the Tour update, go HERE.

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.
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To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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7 thoughts on “Another Lada Ray Hit – Stepford USA Review

  1. Hi Sherry, thank you so much for a great review, and for understanding my writing so completely. I am truly honored. 🙂

    Lada

    • I love your books. They have that something extra that is such a treat when I find them. I look forward to more of your books for my reading pleasure. ^_^

  2. P.S. The kitty on the pic is absolutely gorgeous, and she does have that all-knowing “Princess Lily” look to her! 😉

    • I saw that and thought it was perfect. Exactly like I pictured her.

  3. I wish you had a rate button. I would give you an excellent star!
    I have to read this one too! How am I ever going to read all of Lada’s books! Aaah, lots of java!

    • I wish I had a rate and like button. Have to check around and see if I can find a freebie, but haven’t been able to yet. That is one of the great things about WordPress, it’s all there and ready.

      Thanks for the wonderful words. You know, they are always appreciated. I love her books, guess that is obvious. I just picked up Catharsis as an Amazon freebie. You got it too, right? Great minds think alike. lol

  4. Pingback: Gold Train Robbery - Conspiracy - Spies - Lada Ray | fundinmentalfundinmental

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