Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those
neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything
like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in
your stacks.
Cassidy Jones is your
typical teenager– that is, until a seemingly harmless accident in the
laboratory of a world-renowned geneticist turns her world upside down.
Discovering
incredible strength, speed, and enhanced physical senses that defy
logic, Cassidy embarks on an action-packed adventure that has her
fighting for answers…and for her very life.
Don’t miss the other action-packed books in Cassidy Jones Adventures! Cassidy Jones and Vulcan’s Gift, Book Two Cassidy Jones and the Seventh Attendant, Book Three Cassidy Jones and the Luminous, Book Four Cassidy Jones and the Eternal Flame, Book Five
I do enjoy young adult novels and the paranormal and superhero world the characters live in. I added Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula to my TBR on 11.4.12. Sounds like a good clean read with a wild adventure in store for us readers.
The Disaster Curse by Chrys Fey is a short story that gives a hint of the life Thorn and Amanda will have. It’s not all smooth sailing. An earthquake caused by an erupting volcano, setting off a firenado…and the story shows how small the world can be and by believing you deserve good things, your belief will allow you to have them.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
The Disaster Curse (Disaster Crimes #7) is a short story of 23 pages that follows A Fighting Chance (ft. Thorn) and wraps up the Disaster Crimes series.
Following a 7.1 earthquake in Guatemala, Thorn and Amanda, volunteering for the American Red Cross, help survivors in any way that they can. They hand out food and water and offer comfort to the people shaken by this event.
A sudden tremor knocks everyone off their feet, only it’s not an aftershock of the quake. One of Guatemala’s many volcanoes is erupting—a disaster on top of a disaster.
Thorn and Amanda now must do whatever they can to help each other and the survivors of the quake endure this natural phenomenon.
Chrys Fey is author of the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique
concept that blends disasters, crimes, and romance. She runs the Insecure
Writer’s Support Group Book Club on Goodreads and edits for Dancing Lemur
Press. https://www.chrysfey.com
If they expected silence, they hired the wrong woman.
This latest romantic legal thriller by bestseller Cara Putman shines a light on the shadowy world of scientific secrets and corporate vendettas—and the ethical dilemmas that plague the place where science and commerce meet.
Book Details:
Genre: Mystery/Suspense Published by: Thomas Nelson Publication Date: January 12, 2021 Number of Pages: 336 ISBN: 0785233318 (ISBN13: 9780785233312) Purchase Links:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook.com | Goodreads
Read an excerpt:
Caroline shifted in the high-backed chair. The massive conference room table made her feel more petite than usual. Quentin Jackson, the man propelling Praecursoria through its rapid growth, vibrated with energy as he studied her.
“We are on the cusp of amazing developments and a transition from the lab to trials. We have a few CAR T-cell therapies in early stages now with more in our pipeline.”
She racked her mind for the importance of T cells, and he gave a hearty laugh.
“Don’t worry if the science overwhelms you. We’ll have you up to speed in no time. All you need to know right now is that T cells are one of the two cells that make up white blood cells. The treatments we’re working on could be the difference between life and death for young cancer patients. We need your legal expertise and quick mind to synthesize the science with the map to market.”
“I’ve overseen several court trials related to patents, which should help with that process.” It had been an unforeseen aspect of her days clerking for Judge Loren. She swallowed against the lump in her throat that still welled up when she thought about his untimely death from pneumonia. A month ago she couldn’t imagine interviewing for a job somewhere else, even if a part of her knew that she should stretch her wings.
“When can you start? Today?”
She felt rooted to the chair. Everything was moving so fast. Could she really transition her experience managing clerks for a judge into managing patents and contracts for a start-up? While Praecursoria had been around for a decade as a cancer research lab, about eighteen months ago Quentin sold off its lucrative genetic testing branch to focus exclusively on the development of cutting-edge CAR T-cell therapies. Starting over that way was a bold if risky move.
She lifted her chin and forced a smile that didn’t waver. “If that’s what you need. First we have a few details to work out.”
He laughed. “I like the way you tackle issues head-on. That will be key in this role. I know how to steer the ship, and my chief scientist can navigate the research, but you’ll keep us on the legal straight and narrow.” He tapped his pen against the legal pad in front of him. Then he picked up her résumé and named a salary that pressed her against the chair. “There will be performance bonuses tied to the successful conclusion of trials. We want to look into stock options as well. That will be one of your assignments in conjunction with HR.” He slapped his hands on the table and she jumped. “My enthusiasm gets away from me sometimes.” He shrugged but never wavered as he examined her. “Let’s start with a field trip. The best way for you to understand why we’re doing this work and research is to show you.”
***
Excerpt from Lethal Intent by Cara Putman. Copyright 2021 by Cara Putman. Reproduced with permission from Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
Cara Putman is the author of more than twenty-five legal thrillers, historical romances, and romantic suspense novels. She has won or been a finalist for honors including the ACFW Book of the Year and the Christian Retailing’s BEST Award. Cara graduated high school at sixteen, college at twenty, completed her law degree at twenty-seven, and recently received her MBA. She is a practicing attorney, teaches undergraduate and graduate law courses at a Big Ten business school, and is a homeschooling mom of four. She lives with her husband and children in Indiana.
Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and giveaways!
Enter To Win!:
This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Cara Putman. There will be three (3) winners of one (1) physical copy of Lethal Intent by Cara Putman (US ONLY). The giveaway begins on January 11, 2021 and runs through February 7, 2021. Void where prohibited.
Happy Monday everyone and welcome back to Music Monday! Let’s share some songs we’ve been enjoying lately! If you would like to play, and I really hope you do, please see the rules and link up below HERE
What a fabulous voice and I did let the music take my mind!
**images are linked to Amazon (I am an affiliate)**
Hi Everyone. We have had a cold spell coming through, but the sun is shining today (Friday). It always lifts my spirits when I see blue skies. Mr Wonderful and I cut our hair yesterday. It’s always an adventure when I cut his hair. Mine, I don’t worry about so much. Just cut it straight across and I’m good. Feels better now and I hope it’s easier to wash. My bum arm is getting better, but taking so darn looooooong. We still have some of our Christmas stuff up because I’m not going in the attic until it gets a bit warmer, so why take it all down. Mostly it’s just lights. I am going to take the decorations off the tree this week and make it a Mardi Gras tree. I love lights and plan to keep some up, after taking the rest of the Christmas garland down. Anything to make myself feel better right now is a good thing. I’m still having trouble coming up with a blogging schedule, but I hate having to scramble to post something because I haven’t blogged ahead, so I need to figure it out.
I got the idea and the motivation to start doing Tackling The TBR from All The Book Blog Names Are Taken.
It has helped me to keep track of my reading shelf as far as current
events and I also started doing a post for Books From The Backlog,
from Carole’s Random Life in Books,
to tidy up my shelves. I feel better about my out of control TBR and
have even knocked off a couple of those old ones that had been
hanging around for years.
Does anyone else remember this commercial? As I was sitting here and drinking a cup of hot chocolate it came to mind. It has stuck with me since the first time I saw it.
Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those
neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything
like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in
your stacks.
Librarian’s note: Alternate cover edition of ASIN B005EIO02C.
Frey’s life is a lie. She doesn’t remember being bound from magic. She didn’t intend to get entangled in Council business.
But she did.
And
now she’s on the run. As the Council trackers pursue her, Frey
discovers a world beyond their lies. With the aid of a stranger, she
fights to reclaim her true identity before the others hunt her down. If
they find her, she will burn.
I added Frey (Book I of the Frey Saga) to my TBR on 11.1.12 and grabbed it from Amazon on 10.1.12. That makes me wonder if I won the book and waiting for a giveaway to be over before I added it. I do love reading Young Adult novels filled with magic, so this should be a good one for me.
I was watching the Bones TV series, the episode where Bones and Booth get married. When Cundi Lauper began singing At Last, I immediately thought of sharing it with this review. It seemed so appropriate. Funny how that happens sometimes.
GUEST POST
Sherry Asked: Why did you name
Detective Thorn…Thorn?
Chrys Fey’s Answer: Honestly,
I don’t remember. HAHAHA! Usually, I’ll have a first name for a character, and
then I have to come up with a good last name to go with it. I’ll explore
surname websites and even the credits for movies to find a suitable last name.
When it comes to my detective or law enforcement characters, I first come up
with the surname that’ll pair well with “Detective” or “Officer.” I do this
before even considering the first name. If I ever do.
For example, Officer Burnett is a character we meet in Seismic
Crimes (Disaster Crimes Book 2), and we are reacquainted with him in
A Fighting Chance. I simply considered a last name that sounded good
with “Officer.” I wanted it to be strong. Officer Burnett is a strong title and
name combo. So, when it came time to name the detective who comes in to help
hunt down the corrupt cop and murderer David Buckland aka Buck, I literally
contemplated what name would sound really badass with “Detective.” It doesn’t
get much more badass than Detective Thorn.
Pages: 154
Genre:
Romantic-Suspense
Heat Rating: Hot
MY REVIEW
It’s a great day. A Fighting Chance is the final book in the Disaster series and it it time for Thorn’s and Amanda’s story to be told.
Because you may want to start this series at the very beginning with Hurricane Crimes, I will try not to give anything away. I have loved growing and living life to the fullest with Beth and Donovan and would love for you to learn what they have been through to have a life so good they never even dreamed of it.
Thorn is a police officer and best friend to Beth and Donovan. Amanda is a survivor of domestic violence, still hiding out from her ex. She works with Beth at the Fighting Chance, and has become a very good friend of hers. These women have learned to stick together and their man will put their life on the line to keep them safe.
Amanda has found so much to live for, and when the danger comes walking through the door, she knows she cannot face it alone. Thank goodness she doesn’t have to.
She is afraid for Thorn. Afraid to hope for happiness. She is broken, but not beaten.
Thorn and Amanda’s relationship develops in a slow, realistic way. It is tentative and sweet.
I loved reading about her home remedies for defending her home. They are low tech, but they do the job. When Amanda talks about how she points her blinds, I couldn’t help but smile. I do the same thing.
Chrys Fey handles a difficult topic, like domestic abuse in a graceful and interesting way and I can’t help but believe it could be an inspiration for those who need a little bit of help to feel they are worth of a good, loving life.
The feeling of evil, of danger, of a sense of urgency, is subtle, but present throughout the story.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of A Fighting Chance by Chrys Fey.
4 Stars
BLURB
*A FIGHTING CHANCE is Book 6 in the Disaster
Crimes series, but it’s a spin-off featuring a new couple, so it can be
read as a standalone.*
Thorn has loved Amanda from afar, giving her whatever she
needs as a survivor of abuse—space, protection, and stability. He yearns to
give her more, though, to share his feelings, kiss her, love her, but he’s
worried the truth will frighten her away.
And Amanda is afraid. She’s scared of her attraction for
Thorn. Most of all, she’s terrified of her ex-boyfriend, who is lurking nearby
where no one can find him. When she grows closer to Thorn, Damon retaliates,
jeopardizing their happy ending.
Up against an abusive ex and Mother Nature, do Thorn and
Amanda have a fighting chance?
Amanda looked up from the current list of up-to-date
payments for classes. A movement outside the glass storefront caught her eye.
She tilted her head to see a man coming up the sidewalk from the side where the
picnic bench sat. Through the vertical blinds, she glimpsed a square face—a
short, rugged beard and long, dark hair pulled into a man bun. Her breath fled
from her lungs. Her body went from icy cold to flaming hot in the span of a
millisecond. She dropped to the floor and slid under the counter, beneath the
ledge where they put their purses and cell phones.
“What—” Beth peeked at the windows. Then she snapped her
fingers at April and pointed at the stools.
April jumped into action. She pushed the stools in so they
blocked Amanda. The bell attached to the door jingled as April removed the
jacket she wore and draped it across the stools, creating a curtain to shield
Amanda.
From a crack, Amanda watched Beth move to stand in front of
the twins, who were in their walkers playing peacefully. “I’m sorry, but we’re
going to be closing.”
“I don’t give a shit. I’m here for Amanda.”
The sound of Damon’s voice had her heart beating even
harder. That voice had haunted her nightmares, had come back to life in her
memories.
Beth cocked her head to the side. “Who? There’s no one by
that name here.”
Author’s
Note: I wrote The Disaster Curse to answer a few
lingering questions readers may have after reading A Fighting Chance,
and to tie the whole series together with a neat, shiny, perfect little bow.
Plus, there was one disaster that I hadn’t written about yet. *wink*
The
Disaster Crimes Series:
*The Crime Before the Storm (prequel)
Hurricane Crimes (novella, #1)
Seismic Crimes (#2)
Lightning Crimes (free short, #2.5)
Tsunami Crimes (#3)
Flaming Crimes (#4)
Frozen Crimes (#5)
A Fighting Chance (spin-off, #6)
The Disaster Curse (short story, #7)
*Free
exclusive story to newsletter subscribers.
***LAUNCHING
A WEBSITE***
TheFightingChance.org is a
website dedicated to domestic violence and sexual assault awareness. Inspired
by the Disaster Crimes series.
***GIVEAWAY***
Prizes:
Hurricane Crimes (Disaster Crimes 1) and Seismic Crimes (Disaster Crimes 2)
eBooks (mobi or epub), Hurricane Crimes Playing Cards, Girl Boss Sign, and a
Volcanic Blast Scented Candle
Chrys Fey is author of the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique
concept that blends disasters, crimes, and romance. She runs the Insecure
Writer’s Support Group Book Club on Goodreads and edits for Dancing Lemur
Press. https://www.chrysfey.com
Book Title: Weekend Pass by Paul Cavanagh Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 210 pages Genre: Literary Publisher: Not That London Writer Release date: Jan 19, 2021 Content Rating: PG-13 + M. Includes some f-words, religious profanities, and mature themes (addiction, adultery)
Weekend Pass packs a lot into fewer than two hundred pages. The dialogue never stutters. The writing is tight and clean and elegant with hidden depths that give pause for reflection and thought. It covers important, difficult themes in a compassionate, humanist way. It was an absolute pleasure to read. Recommended, TheBookBag.co.uk
Book Description:
Who can forgive a mother who poisons her eight-year-old son? Even if it was an accident. Tasha thought she had everything under control – her family life, her career as a nurse – until her son got into her stash of painkillers. Now, during her first weekend home from drug treatment, she must come to grips with the damage she’s done and somehow pick up the pieces. Told from the points of view of four different family members, Weekend Pass is a story about the lies we tell ourselves and the people we love. And it’s about struggling to rise above the mistakes that threaten to define us.
Paul Cavanagh is a Canadian author whose debut novel, After Helen,
won the Lit Idol competition at the London Book Fair in the UK and was
published to rave reviews in the United States, Canada, and the British
Isles. He’s been compared to Pulitzer Prize winner Anne Tyler for his
ability to be at turns funny and moving while exploring the paradoxes of
modern family relationships. He lives in London, Ontario (not be be
confused with that other London). Weekend Pass is his third novel.
