Category Archives: Reviews

Outstanding – Best In Murder by Lauren Carr @TheMysteryLadie #bestinmurder #ireadbooktour

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MY REVIEW

YAY! Another Mac Faraday and Gnarly story and I can hardly wait to find out where Lauren Carr is going to take me now. Her stories never fail to entertain me, leaving me wanting more.

WOW! I am blown away. There is so much action and fun to be had in Best In Murder by Lauren Carr, but, of course, there has to be a downside, seeing this is a murder mystery. It all begins with a missing platinum and diamond dog collar and a missing Irish Wolfhound.

The kids and the dogs steal the show. As their actions unfolded on the pages they played like a movie in my mind. I had so many awww how sweet and laugh out loud moments, I never wanted them to end. Gnarly is the mayor of the town and throws his weight around, creating chaos. Can a mystery ever be solved in Mac Faraday’s world without Gnarly’s input?

There is so much I want to tell you, but I do not want to spoil all the fun you’ll have finding things out for yourself. Each book in the series can stand alone, so don’t be afraid to jump in at any time.

 

5 Stars

Book Details:

Book Title:  BEST IN MURDER (A Mac Faraday Mystery #15) by Lauren Carr
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +)
Genre:  Mystery
Publisher:  Acorn Book Services
Release date:   Oct 13, 2026
Content Rating:  PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!

“Pedigreed dogs, rich owners, cutthroat competition, enormous egos, several murders, a stolen diamond dog collar, a missing Irish Wolfhound show dog, a disgruntled cop, and a criminally inclined biker with a vicious poodle all come together in this tale. As each new element dropped in my lap, I was pulled in further until it was impossible to put the book down. I consumed it.”– Marilyn R. Wilson, Book Reviewer and Author

Book Description:

One Collar. Two Dead. Total Chaos.
When a priceless platinum-and-diamond collar vanishes at the Mid-Atlantic Classic Kennel Club Invitational—Best in Show at the Spencer Inn, it looks like the ultimate high-society theft. But when two women connected to the glittering event are murdered in quick succession, the case explodes into something far more deadly.
Mac Faraday and his troublemaking German Shepherd, Gnarly, dive headfirst into the glamorous, cutthroat world of championship dog shows. Amidst perfectly groomed champions worth small fortunes, ruthless competitors, and million-dollar egos, the trail leads to a missing Irish Wolfhound whose value goes well beyond his blue-blood pedigree.
As tensions rise between Spencer PD and the county sheriff’s office, Mac’s team races to untangle a web of greed, betrayal, and long-buried secrets—all while the elegant resort descends into delightful canine chaos. With show dogs of every shape and size turning the Spencer Inn into their personal playground, Gnarly does what he does best: stir up trouble and sniff out the truth.
Fast-paced, laugh-out-loud funny, and packed with four-legged mischief, Best in Murder proves that in the high-stakes world of Best in Show, the biggest prizes come with the deadliest risks.

Buy the Book:
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BONUS! BONUS! BONUS!

Pre-order Best in Murder now and receive the exclusive bonus noveletteWho Framed Michelangelo?— a complete Mac Faraday mystery featuring Gnarly and a very special Goldendoodle!

Download WHO FRAMED MICHELANGELO? Now

One Locked Cottage. One Framed Dog. Two Four-Legged Detectives on the Case.

When beloved local Frieda Selleck is found mauled to death in her locked cottage, all evidence points to her gentle, arthritic Goldendoodle service dog, Michelangelo. But Mac Faraday refuses to believe the obvious. With help from his irrepressible German Shepherd, Gnarly, Mac must prove the loyal service dog was framed for murder.

Just days before the glamorous Mid-Atlantic Classic Kennel Club Invitational descends on the Spencer Inn, Frieda—a sharp-eyed woman with a reputation for “psychic” visions—had handed Mac a sealed envelope containing clues to her own killer. Now, with doors locked from the inside, no signs of forced entry, and a hidden wall safe emptied of cash and gold, Mac and Gnarly race against time to uncover the truth.

Joined by an unlikely four-legged partner in Michelangelo, the canine detective squad follows a trail of family secrets, phony smiles, suspicious alibis, and a desperate climb down a steep wooded hillside. As the pieces fall into place, Mac discovers that even the shiniest “golden child” can hide a dark heart.

A fast-paced, twist-filled cozy mystery packed with humor, heart, and plenty of doggy mischief. Perfect for fans of the Mac Faraday series!

“Who Framed Michelangelo?” is an exclusive prequel short story set at the Spencer Inn the week before the events of Best in Murder (Mac Faraday Mystery #15, coming October 13, 2026).

Meet the Author:

Lauren Carr is the author of over thirty acclaimed mystery novels, with more than half a million copies sold worldwide. Her fast-paced series—the Mac Faraday Mysteries, Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries, and more—blend twists, suspense, humor, and unforgettable characters (including clever German shepherds!).
 
It’s Murder, My Son organically hit #1 in Mystery on Amazon, and her books consistently rank in the Top 20 Police Procedurals in the US and international markets.
 
A popular speaker and publishing consultant, Lauren lives on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV, with her husband and three spoiled rotten German shepherds.

connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ X/twitter ~ pinterest ~ goodreads

 

MY LAUREN CARR REVIEWS

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    Small Town Romance – Savage Consequences by Amanda Siegrist #amandasiegrist #savageconsequences

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    Amazon / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    Amanda Siegrist found me some years ago and I am happy she did. The more of her work I read, the more I enjoy her writing. She has developed her craft well. loving romance, suspense and happy ever afters.

    Savage Consequences was originally written as Sunrise Awakening. It was the first book Amanda ever wrote. It is now the fifth book in the Consequences series. I loved it then, and I love it now. Seeing I read so many novels, it’s easy to entertain me with one I have read before, especially when it has been edited and story things are changed.

    I love novels that take place in small towns. So let’s start by meeting Officer Jake Anders. He escaped the big city and left his tragic past behind. The thing is, you can’t run away from your post. It follows you wherever you go. And, murder can happen anywhere.

    Jake, literally, bumped into Maddie, the local librarian. Instalove? Instant attraction? Does it matter? It doesn’t take long before danger rears its ugly head and it circles around Maddie.

    Jo is an interesting character. She has a habit of spouting random facts.

    Weird things begin happening to Maddie. As with most romantic suspense novels, she hesitates telling Jake about them. We all know that she should seek help. Jake does, eventually, put his foot down. Someone will be with her at all times. The scenario is one of my pet peeves about romantic suspense novels. It is hard to avoid it, but Amanda had a fine way of dealing with the don’t go into the woods dilemma.

    Claire…an excellent twist. I had my suspicions, but I didn’t quite get to that conclusion. i love when an author can surprise me. Get me so lost in thestory that I am eager for the next word, the next sentence, the next paragraph, making me want to flip ahead, though I never allow myself to do so.

    The ending….the dratted cliffhanger. To find out what happens next, we’ll be reading Lucas and Elle’s story.

    4 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    At some point you have to face the consequences.

    Small-town Officer Jake Anders thought he’d found peace after escaping his horrific past. Then savage murders rock his quiet town, each more brutal than the last. Walking away isn’t in his nature. Neither is falling for a woman with secrets.

    Maddie, the beautiful librarian remodeling the local library, captured his heart with one sweet smile. As Jake digs deeper into the murders, a chilling pattern Maddie is at the center of it all. He vows to keep her safe, but she’s hiding something. And the more he presses, the more she pulls away.

    With each brutal discovery, Jake realizes the killer is closer than he imagined, circling Maddie with deadly intent. She won’t tell him what she’s concealing from him, but he’ll do anything to protect her, even if it pushes her away to keep her alive. Because nothing will stop him from finding this killer. Nothing.

    Perfect for readers who love small-town suspense with deadly secrets and heart-stopping romance. One-click Savage Consequences to discover the explosive truth today!


    Please This book was previously published as Sunrise Awakening. It’s been heavily edited and quite a few parts of the story has changed.

    • Genre: Fiction, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Thriller
    • 268 pages, Kindle Edition
    • Published June 9, 2026 by Amanda Siegrist

    ABOUT AMANDA SIEGRIST

    Amanda Siegrist

    Love! Gimme some love and heaps of romance. I have a sappy heart that just loves two people meeting, going through the cycles of a relationship, and ultimately, falling in love. Give me a good book like that and I’m a happy camper:)

    I write contemporary and romantic suspense, but I am partial to suspense. I just love a good mystery.

    Besides writing, I love baking, crafts, and baseball…oh, and meeting new people. *smiles*

    Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook / Instagram

    MY AMANDA SIEGRIST REVIEWS

     

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    Does Hell Have Email – I Hope This Email Finds You In Hell by Mackenzie Reed #mackenziereed

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    Amazon / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    I Hope This Email Finds You in Hell immediately whet my appetite. I had to know what Mackenzie Reed has to share. How about you? Can a title draw you in? A cover?

    Want to go to Hell? The entrance is in Times Square,. So, after seeing her boss doing an exorcism in the office, Brie demands he take her with him to rescue her coworker and friend, who has been by her side since her parents death.

    Battling demons may not be romantic, but working together can cause a sense of familiarity and bring them closer together. I do love a little fun with my danger, and, we do have a little romance. I Hope This Email Finds You In Hell by Mackenzie Reed is not a mind blowing read, but I enjoyed my time with the characters and would recommend it, if you are looking for a fun, easy reading and entertaining book.

    3 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    When staying late at the office leads to witnessing an exorcism, Brie Benson’s mundane life takes a hellish turn…literally.

    After her parents’ death, twenty-seven-year-old Brie has mastered the art of compartmentalization to survive her mind-numbing routine as a receptionist at a life insurance company. But when she accidentally catches her hot, uptight boss, Luke, performing an exorcism on Debra from accounting, her carefully ordered world implodes.

    Swearing Brie to secrecy, Luke reveals he’s from a line of demon hunters and that demonic activity is spiking. But when her emotional support coworker vanishes, Brie is determined to find her. With nothing left to lose, she convinces Luke to let her join his rescue mission.

    The problem? Their destination is hell. And the entrance is in Times Square.

    Now Brie and Luke must navigate a corporate underworld of monsters and bureaucratic nightmares while racing to save their colleague and repair a tearing veil between worlds. All before their growing feelings become irrelevant and hell claims them forever.

    • Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Romance, Romantasy, Paranormal, Supernatural
    • 351 pages, Kindle Edition
    • First published September 1, 2026 by Berkley

    ABOUT MACKENZIE REED

    Mackenzie Reed is the author of the young adult novels The Rosewood Hunt, The Wilde Trials, and Worse Than the Others, and the adult novel I Hope This Email Finds You in Hell. She cultivated her love of storytelling at Nazareth College, where she graduated with a BA in communication and media. A native of upstate New York, she can usually be found spending time with her family, trying to outwalk her plot holes, and living out her authorly dream of writing in local cafes. Visit her online at mackenziemreed.com.

    Website

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    Dark Paranormal Romance – Pride: Kneel Before None by Sadie Winchester #sadiewinchester #pride

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    Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    Welcome To Suburbia. Pride: Kneel Before None by Sadie Winchester is the first book in the Infernal Virtures series that cover the Seven Deadly Sins. If all the rest of the stories are as good as Pride, I hope to get a chance to read them all. Each story is written by a different author.

    Pride is a dark paranormal romance and I do love walking on the dark side. Ace is a demon casino owner. Eve is a precognitive and Ace has foreseen her appearance, so when she walked in the casino, he knew she would be his. Eve had come to his casino to save her brother. She felt confident she could win the blackjack tournament and hoped to buy his freedom with the winnings.

    The romance is steamy. I expected that and much of the book was what I expected and hoped for, drawing me in from the opening pages. I enjoy the enemies to lovers dance. There are enough twists and turns to keep me on my toes and whets my appetite for the next book in the series, Envy by B J Wolff.

    My thanks go out to Sadie Winchester for the opportunity to read Pride, and the introduction to the Infernal Virtues series.

     

    4 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    Welcome to Superbia. A city where sins are celebrated as virtues, and monsters no longer hide in the shadows. All manner of creatures revel in the pride of their true natures beneath neon lights.

    EVE
    Did you know the odds of beating the house are one hundred to zero when you’re the hottest precognitive since… well, ever?
    I did.
    Every gamble was mine to win until I walked into Sevenfold Casino.
    That was my first mistake.
    My second? Underestimating Ace Reynard, its arrogant owner.
    Ace wasn’t just a demon I hadn’t seen coming, he was the blind spot I never knew existed.
    All I wanted was enough money to buy my brother’s freedom.
    Instead, I wagered far more, putting my body and my life at Ace’s mercy.
    Until he cracked the mirror I’d spent my entire life believing reflected only me.

    ACE
    Knights of Hell aren’t known for patience.
    I waited anyway.
    For more than two years, I watched the future unfold one vision at a time, knowing my Little Spade would eventually walk through the doors of Sevenfold Casino.
    She wasn’t just another pretty face.
    My power recognized hers long before we met, and every instinct I possessed demanded that I claim what fate had already promised was mine.
    What I didn’t expect was for destiny to be holding cards of its own.
    Fate brought her to my table.
    I simply made sure the house always won.

    • Genre: Dark, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural
    • 360 pages, Kindle Edition
    • Published September 25, 2026

    ABOUT SADIE WINCHESTER

    A dark romance author, Sadie Winchester is looking forward to sharing the stories living in her head rent-free with the rest of the world. She writes across a variety of sub-genres, including mafia romance and paranormal romance.

    During her high school years, she fell in love with writing short stories which continued on/off into adulthood. Finally, she decided to pursue her dream in 2023, and the rest is history.

    Sadie lives in the Pine Barrens with her husband and son. When she’s not reading and writing, she enjoys spending time outdoors, sipping local brews, and binge-watching her favorite shows.

    Website

    MY SADIE WINCHESTER REVIEWS

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    Good Vs Evil – The Devil Knows Her Name by C N Vair #cnvair #netgalley #cnvair #thedevilknowshername

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    Witch battles devil's century-old pact to protect her loved ones

    Amazon / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    I love the title, The Devil Knows Her Name by C N Vair. It definitely caught my attention, so I had to grab a copy and find out for myself what it means. It is an appropriate title and it is true. The devil does know Tess Wynne. When she died, she made a deal with the devil, and once a year he returns and offers her more power so he can get a foothold in the human world. So far, she has not succumbed to his pleas.

    “I would do anything to live, I thought. I was desperate and the devil heard me.”

    Tess runs a wildlife sanctuary and uses her magic to protect it from human influence.

    A new pastor comes to town and wants the land her sanctuary stands on.

    C N Vair is a new author for me, and she did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Tess Wynne. The story was suitably dark and gruesome, as any battle with a demon would be. The good versus evil scenario plays out and…you will need to find out for yourself.

    4 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    In the isolated Appalachian town of Burrsville, Tess Wynne lives in precious quiet. Having been left for dead a century earlier, Tess made a deal with the devil to stay in the only home she’s known. Tending to her wildlife sanctuary, she keeps the land and its people safe — pulling on spidering threads of ancient magic, trying to preserve the balance of nature against the encroaching ravages of human influence. But, every autumn, the devil returns, offering Tess more power in exchange for a foothold into the human world. And, every autumn, Tess refuses.

    As Tess prepares her wildlife sanctuary for the winter, an unexpected addition to Burrsville catches the locals’ attention. Freshly arrived Zeke Abdee, the town’s new pastor, begins to sinisterly mold the townspeople to his will.

    With everyone slowly turning on Tess, Pastor Zeke is determined to stake his claim on the very land where Tess keeps her sanctuary. Cornered, a desperate Tess pushes her magic to the darkest edges. All the while, the devil bides his time, waiting for Tess to decide if she will be prey — or predator…

    • Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Gothic, Horror, Mystery, Witches
    • 360 pages, Hardcover
    • Published August 25, 2026 by Berkley

    ABOUT C N VAIR

    C.N. Vair (she/her) is a horror and dark fantasy author living in Western New York. A former journalist, she’s interested in the history and haunted corners of small towns, the magic and malice of the natural world, and power in all its forms. When she’s not writing, you can find her wandering in woods and cemeteries, growing poisonous plants in her garden, or spending time with her husband and dogs.

    Website

     

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      Review – Bring Them Home by Carolyn Arnold #carolynarnold #BringThemHome #NetGalley

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      Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

      MY REVIEW

      Bring Them Home by Carolyn Arnold is the sixteenth book in the Amanda Steele series. Amanda Steele is the complete package for a mystery series, a not so perfect woman who loves her work and her adopted daughter, Zoe. She doesn’t have a relationship going on, right now, but…

      In Bring them Home by Carolyn Arnold, the mystery hits close to home when one of the kidnapped victims is Zoe’s school teacher. Amanda struggles between work and motherhood, and protecting Zoe is at the top of her list of things to do.

      Amanda and her partner, Trent, have some great dialogue. Their brainstorming the what ifs of the mystery make for some great reading. The sexual tension between them is not to be denied. Will they ever come together and have the relationship I feel they both deserve? They already make a fantastic team.

      I know a lot of people don’t care for Prologues and Epilogues, but I love them. Prologues can set the hook early, and Carolyn Arnold gets me every time. Her Epilogues make me eager for the next book to come. If you are looking for an easy to read police procedural, you can’t go wrong with a Carolyn Arnold book. Even though Detective Amanda Steele is a series, each book can stand alone.

      My thanks go out to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to share Bring Them Home by Carolyn Arnold.

      4 Stars

      GOODREADS BLURB

      She’d never been this terrified but she refused to let it show, to give her captors more power. As she was led out of the van with her parents, she stifled a cry. Ahead of her was an old farm, surrounded by fields. There was no one for miles around. No one to hear the screams that would inevitably come.

      When a seemingly ordinary family goes missing in plain sight, Detective Amanda Steele is called in to find them before it’s too late. The only evidence left behind is the mother’s abandoned car in a mall parking lot—her phone and purse on the front seat. But why would anyone target a loving mother, a dedicated father and elementary schoolteacher, and a teenage girl?

      Amanda and Trent speak with friends and family but can’t unearth any reason the family would disappear on their own. Their darker suspicion is confirmed when they find CCTV footage of the mother and daughter being bundled into an unmarked black van, driven away at speed. They are looking at an abduction.

      Soon charred remains are discovered in a field outside of town, and Amanda uncovers a lead that could blow the investigation wide open. If she’s right, this case is linked to a woman who went missing ten years ago—and closer still, to someone within the police department. But can Amanda and Trent put all the pieces together in time to stop a twisted killer before more lives are lost?

      A completely gripping and pulse-pounding crime thriller, perfect for fans of Kendra Elliott, Robert Dugoni and Mary Burton.

      • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Police Procedural, Suspense, Thriller
      • 342 pages, Kindle Edition
      • Published August 27, 2026 by Bookouture
      • Series: Detective Amanda Steele #16

      ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD

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

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

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

      MY REVIEWS FOR CAROLYN ARNOLD

       

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      After Dusk – After Alex by R M Demeester #rmdemeester #afteralex #afterdusk

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      Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

      MY REVIEW

      I have missed some of the After Dusk books, but I do know Gia, so I was glad to get my hands on After Alex and find out how Gia is doing since she hooked up with Alex.

      It has been four years since the death of Alex’s daughter and the end of his marriage to Valarie. Instead of their daughter’s death drawing them together, it drove them apart.

      Gia was a high class call girl and Alex was her bodyguard. It is not surprising that they fell in love and wanted to get out of the dangerous world of drugs and underground clubs they were living in, but the past isn’t done with them.

      When Gia and his ex wife, Valarie are taken Alex was determined to make everyone involved pay. He felt he had everything to lose and everything to gain, which makes him a very dangerous man.

      So, buckle your seatbelt because this is gonna be a wild ride.

      4 Stars

      GOODREADS BLURB

      Could Alex Roberts lose everything again?

      Four years after the death of his daughter and the collapse of his marriage, Alex has finally rebuilt his life. With Gia, he has found something stability, passion, and a future he never thought he’d have again. But the past isn’t finished with him.
      When his ex-wife Valarie leaves a chilling note in the condo he shares with Gia, Alex knows she’s back. And she isn’t just looking for closure, she’s unpredictable. As the threat grows, so does the guilt Alex thought he had buried. He still feels responsible for Valarie and everything that went wrong. Gia sees it too. She feels him slipping, piece by piece, into the wreckage of a life he barely survived.

      Now Alex must face the woman he couldn’t save or risk losing the one who saved him.

      • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Romance
      • 161 pages, Kindle Edition
      • Published October 24, 2025 by Thorned Heart Press
      • Series: After Dark #4

      ABOUT R M DEMEESTER

      R.M. Demeester, from Saskatchewan, loves being a mom, reading books, and writing. She’s been writing since she was very young. Today, she’s known for her stories in women’s fiction, romantic suspense, and thrillers. She also has a rescue dog named Gainer, a chocolate lab who passed away recently, but is still very much loved and missed. Her newest book, “The Girl Once Known”, comes out in February 2024.

      MY R M DEMEESTER REVIEWS

       

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      Review – This Never Happened by Kent Heckenlively #thisneverhappened #kentheckenlively @pumpupyourbook

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      Amazon / Goodreads

      MY REVIEW

      I was not familiar with any of Kent Heckenlively’s books…until I got my hands on a copy of This Never Happened. This book was a fabulous surprise.

      Heidi Scherzinger is a working girl, but she is not your average call girl. She is Chicago’s most infamous call girl and she is in Sonny Battaglia’s, the country’s most powerful Mob boss, sights. He makes her an offer she can’t refuse. Get out of town and relocate to Washington DC. Can you guess where this is going?

      This is a Watergate style romp through the bedrooms of Washington DC. Whoever holds the information has the power.

      I really enjoyed my time with Heidi. Kudos to Ken for a ‘lively’ adventure. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more of his work.

      4 Stars

      AMAZON SYNOPSIS

      Heidi Scherzinger is just a typical working girl in Chicago in 1972. Well, maybe not so typical. In fact, she’s running Chicago’s most successful independent call girl outfit when she’s summoned to meet with Sonny Battaglia, the country’s most powerful Mob boss.

      The other local call girl agencies are complaining about her success, so Sonny offers her a deal: either she gets whacked, or she relocates to Washington, D.C., where she’ll be working for the “Agency” under the control of the creepy Sidney Gottshalk, the resident blackmail specialist.

      The Agency wants blackmail material on all the horny Democrats flooding the Capitol in the run-up to the presidential election, trying to defeat President Nicholas Dixon as he runs for a second term.

      The always efficient Heidi quickly sets up a first-class operation, aided by the quietly competent Milton Greenbaum. What follows is a Florence Gump-style adventure through a 1970s Washington, D.C., that might be just a little different than the version you read about in your history books.

      • Genre: Fiction, Political, Suspense, Thriller
      • 406 pages, Paperback
      • Published June 23, 2026 by Manhattan Book Group

      ABOUT KENT HECKENLIVELY

      When I was fourteen years old I submitted my first story to ANALOG magazine, devoted to short science fiction stories. My story did not get accepted, but I did get a gentle rejection letter which told me to keep writing. In college I wrote my first novel, spent many years writing screenplays, and eventually ran across a story I thought I could turn into a non-fiction story. That was PLAGUE, co-authored with Dr. Judy Mikovits.

      In between writing, I worked a summer for a United States Senator, spent two summers chasing bad guys at the United States Attorney’s Office, and spent six weeks in a virus lab where I worked with Ebola.

      In college I was a double major in English and Political Science, served as Head of our Model United Nations team, and was our school’s Rhodes Scholar Candidate. In law school I was a writer and editor for law review, and also won top honors in our Mock Trial class.

      I worked as a lawyer with my dad for several years, then found myself drawn to my original love of science and became a science teacher. Now I get to teach science during the day and write about it at night.

       

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      $25 GC – Maybe You Lied by Jennifer Sadera @partnersincr1me #jennifersadera #maybeyoulied

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      MAYBE YOU LIED by Jennifer Sadera Banner

      MAYBE YOU LIED

      by Jennifer Sadera

      September 7 – October 16, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

      Synopsis:

      Everything he knows about his life is. . . a lie.

      Blindsided by the sudden death of his mother, 21-year-old Will Lockhart can no longer afford the rent or bear the haunting memories of their shared Massachusetts apartment. While packing up his mother’s belongings, he discovers his long-dead father’s deed to a house in upstate New York. With nowhere else to go, he settles there, intent on making a fresh start. But odd things happen as soon as Will moves in. He’s unnerved by evidence of fire damage in the cottage, and alarmed by the seizure his elderly next-door neighbor suffers upon meeting him. Most shocking of all are the rumors of a long-ago murder in his house. Now, trapped in a town full of strangers, unsure of whether local murmurings are true or simply small-town gossip, he’s determined to discover what really happened all those years ago, and how he’s connected to the chaos. The truth will set him free. Or get him killed.

      Praise for Maybe You Lied:

      “Sadera has done it again! Maybe You Lied is an evocative and compelling tale of family trauma, betrayal, and the chilling truth that the most dangerous secrets are those buried by the people closest to us.”
      ~ Lisa Malice, bestselling author of Lest She Forget, winner of the 2023 IBPA Best New Voice in Fiction Award

      “MAYBE YOU LIED is a spectacular thriller that instantly grips you and refuses to let go. With great emotional depth, this novel plunges you inside Will Lockhart’s mind, soul, and angst. He’s a down on his luck, grief and guilt-ridden young man stuck in a hopeless rut. When he discovers a deed to a house he believes he’s inherited, it seems like his luck just might change. Page by page, he uncovers hidden layers of a past he could never have imagined. But when nothing is as it seems and everything you knew about your family and your past is a lie, be careful of digging up the truth. It might set you free…unless it kills you first. This darkly suspenseful, romantic journey knits a cast of intriguing, deeply unreliable characters into a clever, twisty narrative. You won’t want to put down this edgy story of loss, love, identity, and family truths as you hurtle towards its surprising end.”
      ~ Zelly Ruskin, award-winning author of Not Yours to Keep and the forthcoming One of Us Must Die

      “Maybe You Lied is a twisty, emotionally charged domestic suspense that ramps up to a jaw-dropping, visceral finale. Don’t miss it!”
      ~ Bonnie Traymore, Author of The Rich Guy’s Wife

      “Family ties? Or family lies? Will Lockhart is coming home to a woodland cottage he never knew existed, his life in shreds and fragments. In a novel as intricately woven as a web, Jennifer Sadera explores sociopathy, nature versus nurture, and the one thing that can never die–a chance at love and redemption.”
      ~ Jenny Milchman, Mary Higgins Clark award winning author of the Arles Shepherd thrillers

      “A young man’s attempt to piece together his family’s dark history propels this gripping mystery, which moves with an electric speed through secrets twistier than the branches of a mangled family tree. Combining thrills, romance, and a moving exploration of grief, MAYBE YOU LIED is perfect for fans of sinister family dynamics who want to devour a thriller in one breathless go.”
      ~ Ashley Winstead, national bestselling author of This Book Will Bury Me

      MAYBE YOU LIED Trailer:

      Book Details:

      Genre: Psychological Suspense, Domestic Suspense
      Published by: Creative James Media
      Publication Date: September 22, 2026
      Number of Pages: 344
      ISBN: 9781965648919 (ISBN10: 1965648916)
      Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads

      Read an excerpt:

      Landlords don’t rent apartments to zombies.

      I scratched the four-day stubble on my jawline and parked my mom’s Camry behind the brown brick walk-up. Home-Not-So-Sweet Home.

      As I stepped into the cramped apartment lobby Sergei was waiting.

      “The rent,” he said, his guttural Russian accent turning his words into a nonsensical de-REN. I paused, reluctantly meeting the bushy brows lowered ominously over his steely slitted eyes. Easy to translate.

      I nodded and darted my own eyes to the stairway. One of these days my landlord would surely raise a heavily muscled arm and crash his ham hock fist into my face. Emitting my zombie grunt, I pivoted to the stairwell and rushed up, expecting Sergei to follow. Relieved when he didn’t.

      It would be a brief reprieve. When my mom lived here Sergei only showed up once a month, but in the three years since she died, he’d pounded his frustration with my spotty payments onto my apartment door with increasing frequency, not budging until I opened the creaky steel barrier. Saying nothing, he’d hold out a meaty palm that looked like it could strangle me all by itself.

      Back when I still had cash, I’d offer a wad of fifties and hundreds that he’d snatch up like grabbing cash from an ATM. Only the Will Lockhart machine was now empty, and Sergei looked as though he wanted to kick it into compliance. Kick me. Face flushed with fury, he’d study me with those hard gray pebbles, taking in my disheveled hair and sagging clothes. A gaze that told me exactly what he thought about me—a twenty-one-year-old slacker who clearly cared about nothing. A deadbeat. A zombie. And this was mostly true except for the one thing I cared deeply about: those last seconds with Mom. I relived them daily, the guilt as fresh and dangerously addictive as a drunk’s bleary-eyed yearning for a Bloody Mary the morning after a bender.

      I deserved the memories. If not for me, Mom would still be alive.

      I closed my eyes against the inevitable scene rolling through my mind. The flash of headlights slicing through my Honda’s dusky interior like a white-hot comet, too fast to stop, too bright to blink away; a violent force whirling me into its vortex. My neck twisting painfully, head hitting something hard. The car’s interior exploding into a slow-motion kaleidoscope. How I’d instinctively thrust my arm out to protect my mom, instant pain bolting from fingers to shoulder; glass shattering and raining down upon us like the stinging embers of trailing fireworks.

      And then, the stillness. The church-like quiet.

      I’d blinked into the silence as the noises trickled in—the hissing of the steaming engine, and a tinny song coming through the radio from somewhere under the car’s hood. A far-off voice belted out a twangy country tune. “Put on the bacon and the eggs, darlin’ . . .”

      Mom and her country music. Mom and her . . . Mom. Head throbbing, I’d scanned the smoke-choked twilight. She was right where she was supposed to be, still hooked in place by her seatbelt, staring straight ahead, like she was listening for something.

      “Mom? Are you all right?”

      Beyond the jagged glass edges of her blown-out window I saw the lines of the truck through the smoky haze, the words “Barclay’s Bread” written in fancy red letters on its wide, boxy side. Mom said nothing.

      Painfully bolted into our twisted metal cage, waiting for the Jaws of Life to extract us, I’d reached out, trying to touch her with my other hand, the one that still worked. If I could just shake her out of her trance.

      But in those final precious seconds our bodies existed in the same world, I knew. She was already gone.

      I shook my head, forcing me back to the present, wishing my mind could be like the Etch-a-Sketch Mom bought me when I was six. One harsh shake in each direction and the contents of the screen disappeared. But my mind retained in painful detail the truck driver’s distinctive profile, the beak of a nose angled down, a squinted eye and bulbous cheekbone lit up by his cell-phone screen.

      As a kid, the thought of Mom dying had set waves of terror rolling through me. Not just because I loved her, but because a part of me always dreaded the day she’d be taken from me. Convinced it would happen but unsure of when, I’d spent a good four years waking up each night and tiptoeing to her bedroom door, peeking through the crack between the edge of the flimsy wood and the wall to ensure she was still in bed, alive. Ridiculous as it seemed, even then, it was understandable, given our track record. I mean, not long before my dad left us, just after my fifth birthday, we’d been a family of four.

      ***

      Excerpt from MAYBE YOU LIED by Jennifer Sadera. Copyright 2026 by Jennifer Sadera. Reproduced with permission from Jennifer Sadera. All rights reserved.

       

       

      Author Bio:

      Jennifer Sadera

      Jennifer Sadera first worked in the publishing industry as a junior copywriter for NAL/Penguin. She has written and edited for newspapers and magazines as a freelancer and on the staffs of major women’s publications, Woman’s World and Redbook.

      Catch Up With Jennifer Sadera:

      JenniferSadera.com
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      Facebook – @jennifer.sadera
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      Maybe You Lied… But This Giveaway Doesn’t

      This giveaway is hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Jennifer Sadera. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.
      MAYBE YOU LIED by Jennifer Sadera | Gift Card

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      Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

       

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      Review – Nearshore by Steve Hawk #netgalley #stevehawk #nearshore

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      A gripping coastal debut of humanity, power, and looming catastrophe

      Amazon / Goodreads

      MY REVIEW

      Do surfing and nuclear bombs go hand in hand? They do in Nearshore by Steve Hawk. It reeks of possibilities. Our current reality makes Steve Hawk’s novel read as truth. How isolated are we as a country and as individuals? Words versus actions? It seems to me like many things are possible that we, as a people, would never thought a reality. How much of terrorism is home grown?

      It seems to be more plot than character driven, but I found myself rooting for the good guys. In books like Nearshore, there are a lot of details that can, at times, cause this action story to bog down.

      All in all, the story kept me involved and I would consider reading more of Steve Hawk’s work.

      My thanks go out to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the opportunity to share my review for Nearshore by Steve Hawk.

       

      4 Stars

      GOODREADS BLURB

      “Nearshore is the best novel of homegrown nuclear terrorism yet written, chillingly credible, terrifying, and all too plausible.”
      — Richard Rhodes, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Making of the Atomic Bomb

      “An exceptionally thoughtful literary thriller. In the depth and breadth of its story, in the lyricism of its prose, Nearshore will surely establish Steve Hawk as a writer to be reckoned with.”
      — Kem Nunn, author of Tapping the Source, Dogs of Winter, and Tijuana Straits

      “Engrossing, graceful, and transporting, this is a terrific—if terrifying—tale of near apocalypse.”
      — Publisher’s Weekly


      Daybreak, West Virginia: A “small” nuclear bomb detonates beside an Appalachia highway. The weapon’s explosive yield is meager, the death count blessedly low. And yet—it is history’s first act of nuclear terrorism, and it threatens to tilt the world beyond reckoning.

      Months later, surfer and lifeguard Jamie Palmer is patrolling his domain, a treacherous stretch of wild California coast, when he responds to a mysterious nearshore boating accident that has jettisoned two people overboard. The victims turn out to be Palmer’s best friend—a brilliant, renegade Stanford University professor—and the man’s teenage son, Luca. The professor drowns, Luca survives—leaving Palmer the boy’s guardian.

      Soon after, Chelsea Wu, a math prodigy and doctoral student, confides to Palmer that she and the professor unearthed a link between a Silicon Valley megacorporation, its sociopathic billionaire founder, and the nuke in West Virginia. When a second device is detonated, this unlikely team—the surfer, the orphan, and the math whiz—must persuade investigators that the bombmakers are not only homegrown, but also hiding in plain sight.

      An immersive and disturbingly plausible debut, Nearshore delivers a mix of literary suspense and coastal noir. Moving with the speed of a barreling wave, Nearshore also explores deeper clashes: isolation versus community and family, Silicon Valley versus humanity, words versus action, land versus sea.

      • Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Literary, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
      • 352 pages, Hardcover
      • Published August 18, 2026 by Viking

      ABOUT STEVE HAWK

      Steve Hawk began his writing career as a newspaper reporter. He would go on to spent eight years as editor of Surfer magazine, six years as executive editor of Sierra (the magazine of the Sierra Club), and five years as editor of Stanford Business magazine.

      He also worked as a writer and consultant on the fictional HBO series John From Cincinnati. He is the author of Waves, a coffee-table book about the aesthetics and physics of ocean waves, and recently ghost-wrote a book (due out in the summer of 2027) for his brother, Tony, that celebrates the history and culture of skateboarding.

      He has been surfing for nearly 60 years, and is one of a one of a handful of people to have ridden waves on all seven continents. He lives with his family near Half Moon Bay, California, where he spends as much time as possible frolicking in the ocean. Nearshore is his first novel.

      Website

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