5 Star Review for The Grave Artist by Jeffrey Deaver & Isabella Maldonado @jefferydeaver @isabellambooks

NEW RELEASE

GOODREADS

Fanfrickintastic. I am loving the Sanchez and Heron series by Jeffrey Deaver and Isabella Maldonado. The multiple plot lines and villains that are found in The Grave Artist kept my mind spinning, and the authors kept me on my toes from beginning to end.

Carmen Sanchez is an agent for Homeland Security Investigations. Her partner, Jake Heron is a security expert. They are the only two members of a newly created division, I-Squared. Governmental politics will rear its ugly head, but that’s to be expected. They find a way to work around it.

Carmen and Jake first meet the Honeymoon Killer when a groom is murdered. They quickly discover he has struck in other countries, but for some reason, when they try to contact them, they get no response. We learn who the serial killer is from the very beginning and see the world through his eyes. It does not detract from the story, it only enhances it.

Declan is Jake Heron’s computer. He is analytical and creative. If you didn’t know he was a computer, you might think he was a person when you are talking to him.

Silena, Carmen’s sister, is on the hunt for their father’s murderer. Everyone thought it was a suicide, but they were convinced he found out something he shouldn’t have and it cost him his life. Carmen had told her to hang tight until she closed the Honeymoon Killer case and she could help, but… Carmen and Silena are kickass characters, sometimes putting themselves in danger by not waiting for the Calvary to come.

Tristan Kane, from the first book, Fatal Intrusion, puts in an appearance. making their investigation even more complicated.

It took both of their skills to answers all the questions I had, and I didn’t get the answers until the very end…and that ending…it keeps on giving. Every time I thought the characters trials and tribulations were over, Jeffrey and Isabella found something else that made my jaw drop. Awesome. Spine tingling. Mysterious. 

I want to thank Thomas & Mercer and MB Communications for the opportunity to read and review The Grave Artist by Jeffrey Deaver and Isabella Maldonado.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

Perfect couples are his perfect victims. Now he’s hunting those hunting him in a riveting thriller by New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Isabella Maldonado.

A wedding reception is coming to a close in the Hollywood Hills when the blissful day is shattered by the death of one of the newlyweds. Though the incident appears to be an accident, Homeland Security Investigations agent Carmen Sanchez and her partner, security expert Jake Heron, discover that the tragedy is the third in a series of similar deaths and conclude something far more sinister is at play.

The two uncover chilling evidence pointing to a serial killer who has taken evil to the next level. Dubbed the Honeymoon Killer, this man isn’t interested in his victims but in creating his own macabre masterpiece from their graves—focused on the survivors and reveling in their grief. And now his dark obsession has turned to Carmen and Jake…

The Honeymoon Killer has decided they are the perfect next target. Take one out and delight as the other crumbles. Time is running out as a deadly game between predator and prey begins.

  • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
  • 396 pages, Paperback
  • Expected publication September 9, 2025 by Thomas & Mercer
  • Series: Sanchez & Heron, Book II, Stand Alone

#1 international bestselling author of over thirty novels and three collections of short stories. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. His first novel featuring Lincoln Rhyme, The Bone Collector, was made into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. He’s received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world.

Website

Wall Street Journal bestselling and award-winning author Isabella Maldonado wore a gun and badge in real life before turning to crime writing. A graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico and the first Latina to attain the rank of captain in her police department, she retired as the Commander of Special Investigations and Forensics. During more than two decades on the force, her assignments included hostage negotiator, department spokesperson, and precinct commander. She uses her law enforcement background to bring a realistic edge to her writing, which includes the Special Agent Nina Guerrera series, the Special Agent Dani Vega series, the Detective Veranda Cruz series, and the Sanchez and Heron series (co-authored with Jeffery Deaver). Her books are published in 24 languages. For more information, visit www.isabellamaldonado.com.

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Review – Deadly Sanctuary by Shannon Hollinger @thiswritersays #deadlysanctuary

Readers love "Deadly Sanctaury"
Praise for "Deadly Sanctuary"

 

Amazon / Goodreads

I have a weakness for books that have a Florida setting, especially in the Everglades. It’s not just the people that can be dangerous, so can your surroundings. So, that being said, welcome to Gator Glade and FBI Agent Cassidy Knox’s nightmare.

Cassidy had left Gator Glade in the dust, but when her grandfather dies, she returns to her home town. She is recovering from her confrontation with a serial killer. and she is the only one left to take care of her grandfather’s affairs. Will she stay? Will she be able to conquer the demons that drove her away?

Things are not as they first appear. Danger surrounds the animal sanctuary, which puts Cassidy in danger too. There is a subtle hint of menace that mounts with each page I turn and I anticipate something bad happening. We have a romance slowly developing, but characters that have baggage tend to make for complicated relationships. Will there be a happy ever after? I’m not telling.

I want to thank Shannon Hollinger for the opportunity to read and review for the first book in the Cassidy Knox series, Deadly Sanctuary.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

She’s no stranger to trouble…

Deep in the heart of the untamed Florida Everglades lies a web of secrets, danger, and deceit. For FBI Agent Cassidy Knox, it’s the only home she’s ever known—one she vowed never to set foot in again. But after a harrowing confrontation with a serial killer, Cassidy finds herself with no choice but to return to the animal sanctuary of her youth. Grieving the recent death of her beloved grandfather, Butch, on top of her own trauma, she hopes for a brief respite to heal her wounds.

Only the swamp, where the past lurks just beneath the surface, has other plans. When a neighbor is found murdered, the suspicion surrounding her grandfather’s death intensifies, drawing Cassidy into a chilling investigation that threatens everything she holds dear. With old friendships rekindling and new betrayals surfacing, the lines between ally and enemy blur.

As Cassidy races against time to uncover the truth, she clashes against her inner demons—and the boy who once stole her heart. With danger lurking around every corner, the only thing she knows for sure is that she can’t trust anyone. Because the killer’s taking aim… and they have her in their sights.

Get ready to dive into a heart-pounding mystery where trust is a luxury and survival is a game of wits. A gripping, heart-racing thriller that will leave you breathless.

  • Genre: Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
  • 256 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication September 8, 2025 by Scene Of The Crime Publications

With degrees in Crime Scene Technology and Physical Anthropology, Florida writer Shannon Hollinger hasn’t just seen the dark side of humanity—she’s been elbow deep inside of it! She’s an avid animal lover, reader, and hiker, and has been known to use her forensic skills to figure out who ate the last cookie in the house.

A multi-genre, Amazon charts top 20 best-selling author, Shannon writes psychological thrillers filled with jaw-dropping twists and shocking endings, the police procedural Chief Maggie Riley mysteries, where the darkness of the Maine wilderness is rivaled only by the deadly secrets it conceals, and the romantic suspense Cassidy Knox mystery thrillers, where the animals will steal your heart and the nights are as hot as the days.

Her novels have been translated into multiple languages, and her short fiction has appeared in Suspense Magazine, Mystery Weekly, and The Saturday Evening Post, among many other magazines and anthologies.

Shannon is a member of the International Thriller Writers and the Short Mystery Fiction Society.

To keep current on book news and to enter monthly giveaways, sign up for Shannon’s newsletter through her website, www.shannonhollinger.com.

Find Shannon on social media:

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Sherry’s Shelves 8.31.25 – 9.6.25

Hi Everyone. We had to do a little home repair this week. Our toilet kept running and we couldn’t get it to shut off, so we bought the innards at the hardware store and thought it would be an easy fix. Yeah. Right. Well, I have wanted a new toilet in our master bathroom for some times now…and I am finally getting it. Thank you Google, for clarifying the confusing. Three days later, we have a beautiful new toilet. Isn’t it funny that sometimes it’s the simplest things that makes us happy? LOL

  • Sherry’s Shelves
  • $25 GC – Deadly Village: A WWII Mystery by Kate Partker
  • Review – Deadly Sanctuary by Shannon Hollinger
  • 5 Star Review for The Grave Artist by Jeffrey Deaver & Isabella Maldonado
  • Review – Armored by Mark Greaney
  • Friends With Benefits – Opal’s Fight by Jane Blythe
  • Scrumdiddlyumptious – Wicked Believer by Kait Ballenger
  • Giveaway – Murder Pays A Call by Nancy Cohen
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$25 GC – Deadly Village; A WWII Mystery by Kate Parker @dollycas #kateparker


Deadly Village: A World War II Mystery
(The Deadly Series)
by Kate Parker

About Deadly Village

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Deadly Village: A World War II Mystery (The Deadly Series)
Historical Cozy Mystery
13th in Series
Setting –  Cotswold village of Chipping Ford
Publisher ‏ : ‎ JDP Press
Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 19, 2025
Number of Pages ~300
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8992015249
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FJGJMGQZ

In a village steeped in secrets, one woman’s past is the key to solving a murder.

Olivia Redmond thought she’d left danger behind in blitzed-out London. But the quiet Cotswold village of Chipping Ford offers little refuge–especially when a local gossip turns up dead. With a baby to care for and the villagers turning frosty, Olivia’s only ally is a young bobby overwhelmed by his first murder case.

As a former newspaper reporter and covert asset for Britain’s intelligence chief, Olivia knows how to uncover the truth. The deeper she digs, the uglier it gets: blackmail, betrayal, and decades of whispered sins. And as the village closes ranks, Olivia must choose–keep the peace or expose the secrets that could shatter everything.

Perfect for readers of historical mysteries with sharp heroines and tangled moral landscapes, Deadly Village is the exciting thirteenth book in the World War II mystery Deadly Series. If you like research based history and clean reads, then you’ll love USA Today Bestselling Author Kate Parker’s page-turning mystery.

About Kate Parker

Kate Parker has long wanted to build a time travel machine. However, after several false starts, she gave up and created time travel by going back in time inside her books. Since she’s fond of murder mysteries, it is probably best that all of her travel is inside books or police from various ages would be hunting her. When not recreating old time buildings and fashions, she can be found with a modern computer and modern air conditioning in North Carolina with her daughter and a 115 lb. puppy who could just crash through any time barrier.

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Apple – Kobo 

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Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious – Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger @kait_ballenger

Amazon / Kindle Unlimited / Goodreads

OMG!!!!!! I am blown away by Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger. Think Lucifer, the TV series, meets Fifty Shades Of Gray. I love everything about Original Sinner, from the fabulous cover to the last word read. Once I began reading, I couldn’t stop. The seven deadly sins are running wild in New York City and Lucifer reigns supreme. They’re waiting for God to make an appearance, for Lucifer to receive redemption. Charlotte had run from her abusive religious father and the man she was given to. Through a series of stumbles she becomes Lucifer’s fake fiancee. BUT, once Lucifer has her, he will face heaven and earth and everything in between to keep her. They don’t hide who they are. In the days of social media, it wouldn’t work anyway. The paparazzi have them in their sights. Sexual tension runs throughout and when they do have sex it’s sizzling hot with plenty of dominating and submissive kink.

There are all kinds of triggers for some people, so check it out good before reading. It doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, I revel in their delicious wickedness and debauchery. I want more. Lots more. I love, love, love it!!!!! So, I’m moving on to the sequel in the Original Sinners series, Wicked Believer.

I bought my copy of Original Sinner and it was worth every penny of it!!!!!!!!

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

Seven deadly—and ultrarich—sins rule NYC, and though she came here to escape her past, one woman’s true path to freedom might be the devil’s bonds in this scorching hot romantasy from Kait Ballenger.

The seven deadly sins keep high profiles in the Big Lust runs brothels, Sloth’s a media streamer…you get the picture. Pride, though, he’s more mysterious. You might know him as Lucifer—temptation irresistibly embodied. The paparazzi are dying for some burning-hot gossip. So when someone publishes my scathing but private rant about him, they eat it up. And now my job is on the line. After all, he is my boss.

With his vicious siblings vying for his power, Lucifer needs to distract the press, so he reframes my tirade as a lovers’ spat, demanding I play the devil’s fiancée. I need to be a good girl, smile for the cameras, nothing more.

But cocky and cruel as he is, his darkness awakens something wicked in me. Sexy and in control, he might just be the cure—an extra dose of sin to heal me from a lifetime of shame and subservience.

And I like it.

  • Genre: Angels and Demons, Dark Romance, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural
  • 346 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published March 25, 2025 by Montlake
  • Series: Original Sinners
Evoto

    Kait Ballenger is an award-winning author of dark romantasy and paranormal romance. She is obsessed with tales of morally gray, sometimes villainous heroes and can’t resist a spicy redemption arc. When Kait’s not busy writing kinky paranormal fantasy, she can usually be found with her nose buried in someone else’s naughty books. She lives in Florida’s Bible Belt with her husband and two adorable sons—and will gladly use that belt to whip you.

    For news on future releases, exclusive bonus scenes, and NSFW character art, sign up for Kait’s newsletter: https://bit.ly/3t7zXLA

    You can also find Kait on TikTok @kaitballenger or Instagram @kait.ballenger

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      $25 GC – Rekindled Flame by Ella Braeme @xpressotours #ellabraeme

      Rekindled Flame
      Ella Braeme
      (Burning Hearts, #1)
      Publication date: September 3rd 2025
      Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

      He swore to protect his town—but guarding his heart is the real challenge.

      Volunteer firefighter Shawn Miller thought he had his life figured out in small-town Elken Grove. His print shop pays the bills while his real passion—fighting fires—keeps him connected to the community he loves.

      Then his new Captain walks through the station doors: Rebecca “Becks” Schwartz, the woman who walked out of his life nine years ago. Now she’s his superior officer, and someone in the department is determined to drive her away—or worse.

      As danger closes in, Shawn must balance protecting Becks with respecting her authority. But when sparks fly hotter than ever between them, he realizes some flames aren’t meant to be extinguished—they’re meant to be stoked.

      Get REKINDLED FLAME today and feel the heat of this slow-burn second chance romance!

      Goodreads / Amazon

      EXCERPT:

      “There’s something else you should know before you leave.”

      Something in the chief’s tone made Shawn sink back into his chair. “Sir?”

      “The new captain is a woman,” Washington said carefully, clearly bracing for resistance. “Rebecca Schwartz from the Charlotte Fire Department. Goes by Becks, according to her application. She’ll be arriving Thursday next week for an informal meet-and-greet at Mr. Jones & Husband, then coming by on Saturday to meet the volunteers during training before officially starting on Monday.”

      Shawn nodded, unfazed by the gender revelation. “A female captain? That’s fine by—“

      But the words died in his throat as the full name registered. The folder slipped from his suddenly numb fingers, papers spilling across the floor. Rebecca Schwartz. The name echoed in his head like the aftershock of an explosion.

      “Rebecca Schwartz?” he repeated, his voice sounding distant to his own ears.

      Washington’s eyebrows rose slightly at Shawn’s reaction. “You know her?”

      Know her? Shawn almost laughed at the absurdity of the question. He’d known her as Becca back then—sweet-faced but determined Becca with her infectious laugh and fierce ambition. He’d known the curve of her smile and the scent of her skin. Known her dreams and fears. Known the sound of her voice first thing in the morning and the last thing at night.

      Until he hadn’t.

      “We trained together,” he said finally, the understatement of the decade. “At the North Carolina Fire Academy. When I knew her, she went by Becca, not Becks.”

      Washington frowned, clearly surprised by this information. “I didn’t connect the dots when reviewing your files.” He leaned forward, suddenly concerned. “Is this going to be a problem?”

      Shawn bent to gather the scattered papers, grateful for the chance to hide his expression. Memories he’d buried years ago resurfaced in vivid detail—Becca’s fierce determination during training exercises, her infectious laugh during rare moments of downtime, the devastating fury in her eyes the last time they’d spoken.

      “I never want to see your face again, Miller. Keep six feet away from me for the rest of our lives.”

      He straightened, clutching the reassembled folder, his knuckles white against the manila paper. “No, sir. No problem at all.”

      Author Bio:

      Ella Braeme writes steamy small-town romance where protective heroes and the women who capture their hearts find love in the mountains and marshlands of Georgia. Whether her characters are running toward danger or running from their past, they always find their way to happily-ever-after. When she’s not dreaming up new ways for couples to fall headlong into danger (and love), she’s in her garden, supervised by a dog who firmly believes digging holes helps the flowers grow. Her quick, satisfying reads deliver the perfect escape, whether you’re sneaking in a chapter during lunch or staying up way too late to reach that happily-ever-after.

      Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Facebook


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      Rekindled Flame Blitz


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      Giveaway & Review – Knot Of Souls by Christine Amsden @ChristineAmsden @pumpupyourboook

      About the Book

       Title: Knot of Souls

      Author: Christine Amsden

      Publisher: Christine Amsden

      Publication Date: May 20, 2025

      Pages: 384

      Genre: Urban Fantasy

       

      Kinda creepy, but plenty mysterious, Knot Of Souls by Christine Amsden starts out with Joy’s murder. Somehow she comes back to life, but she finds herself possessed by Shade, a Fae prince. They are forced to work together to solve multiple murders.

      When I first started reading this, I thought of The Host by Stephanie Meyer. I was curious how two entities could occupy one body. Who has control? Will the dominant person override the other, eventually making them disappear?

      Joy is used to be walked all over. It was fun to watch her grow and build confidence through her situation with Shade. Shade becomes a more accepting character, learning to work with Joy, instead of controlling all their actions and making her take a backseat to their lives.

      Christine Amsden draws from her personal experiences to give the characters hope. I wondered how she would end the story and I am very satisfied with her choice.

      I enjoyed my time with the characters and being there through their struggles. I did find it hard to connect with them, but I was curious about what would happen to them.

      I want to thank Pump Up Your Book Tours and Christine Amsden for the opportunity to read and review Knot Of Souls.

      Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
      4 Stars

      BOOK BLURB

      Two souls, one body …

      When Joy wakes up in an alley, she knows three things: she was brutally murdered, she has somehow come back to life … and she is not alone. She’s been possessed by an inhuman presence, a being that has taken over her dying body. That being is powerful, in pain, and on the run from entities more dangerous than he is.

      Shade, a Fae prince on the run, didn’t mean to share the body he jumped into. Desperate and afraid, accused of a murder he didn’t commit, he only sought a place to hide—but if he leaves Joy now, he faces discovery and a fate worse than death.

      Forced to work together to solve multiple murders, including her own, Joy and Shade discover hidden strengths and an unlikely friendship. Yet as their souls become increasingly intertwined, they realize their true danger might come from each other … and if they don’t find a way to untangle the knot their souls have become, then even the truth won’t set them free.

      Knot of Souls is a stand-alone buddy love fantasy that forces two very different beings to work together … and come out stronger on the other side.

      Knot of Souls is available at Amazon.

       Book Excerpt

      Joy

      The first thing I realized, after I died, was that my body could walk and talk and no longer needed my help for any of it. I was in there, able to look through my eyes and hear through my ears, but even the simple task of aiming my gaze had slipped outside my control. I was a passenger inside my own mind, an observer along for the ride.

      Kristen had been right, I thought numbly as I struggled to make sense of my new reality. Had it only been lunchtime today when she’d told me I’d never get ahead if I didn’t learn to assert myself? “Take control of your life,” she’d said, “or others will take it for you.”

      She couldn’t have been thinking of anything quite so literal. Whatever was happening to me, it wasn’t because I’d failed to advocate for a promotion at work or refused to ask out a coworker.

      Right?

      My body reached my car and slid behind the wheel. A rattled thought—not my own—cursed as it tried to understand how the contraption worked. How much can cars have changed in only a century? Visions accompanied the thoughts, memories—again not my own—of a classic car, gleaming black and elegant, its top down, my bobbed hair whipping around my face as I laughed with glee, a white-faced young man at my side gripping the door, begging me to slow down. I did not.

      Which brings me to the second thing I realized, after I died: I was no longer alone inside my own mind.

      Whoever was in there didn’t seem to have noticed me yet. Fine. I slid into the smallest corner of my brain I could find, ignoring the intruder as they struggled to figure out how to work an automatic transmission. Maybe they’d get frustrated and give up and go find someone else’s body to possess.

      Holy shit! I’ve been possessed by the ghost of someone who died in like 1930.

      But why?

      I tried to remember what had happened, but the images danced just out of reach. I recalled that the night had been unseasonably cold for October, the chill biting through my inadequate jacket as I hurried to my car, parked in a garage two blocks away from the shelter where I’d been volunteering. Hugging my arms around my torso for warmth, I took a shortcut through an alley and …

      There was a noise. I’d startled, my heart pounding in my throat, already on edge because of the argument.

      Wait. Back up. There’d been an argument. That seemed significant, but my scattered thoughts couldn’t piece it together as yet, not when a bodily intruder fumbled at the gearshift of my two-month-old Hyundai Accent with only fifty-eight “low monthly payments” left to go.

      Low is such a relative word.

      – Excerpted from Knot of Souls by Christine Amsden, Christine Amsden, 2025. Reprinted with permission. 

      About the Author

       Christine Amsden is the author of nine award-winning fantasy and science fiction novels, including the Cassie Scot Series.

      Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but Christine believes great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. She writes primarily about people, and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.

      In addition to writing, Christine is a freelance editor and political activist. Disability advocacy is of particular interest to her; she has a rare genetic eye condition called Stargardt Macular Degeneration and has been legally blind since the age of eighteen. In her free time, she enjoys role playing, board games, and a good cup of tea. She lives in the Kansas City area with her husband and two kids.

      Author Links  

      Website https://christineamsden.com/wordpress/

      X http://www.x.com/christineamsden 

      Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Amsden-Author-Page/127673027288664?ref=hl

      Giveaway:

      Christine Amsden is giving away 2 epub sets of the 4-book Cassie Scot series (gifted through BookFunnel! This includes Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective, Secrets and Lies, Mind Games and Stolen Dreams

      Terms & Conditions:

      • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
      • Two winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one set of the 4-book Cassie Scot series (four books total).
      • This giveaway starts July 1 and ends September 26.
      • Winner will be contacted via email on September 26.
      • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
      a Rafflecopter giveaway
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      $20 GC – Whatever It Takes by Alan Brenham @partnersincr1me

      Whatever It Takes by Alan Brenham Banner

      WHATEVER IT TAKES

      by Alan Brenham

      August 11 – September 5, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

      Synopsis:

      The Kit Hanover Series

       

      In Las Vegas, informants learn the hard truth that snitches get stitches. Or in Myra Taylor’s case, shot and buried in the desert.

      An unfortunate setback for the FBI as they try to build a case against Sonny Holman, Leon Benuzzi, and Boris Krakov. Myra wasn’t the first casualty either, so the FBI needs to step up its game to nail this slick money laundering ring. Fortunately, they have an ace up their federal sleeve in the form of a relentless homicide detective with a maverick mindset. Willing to do whatever it takes, Kit Hanover accepts an undercover assignment as an exotic dancer for Sonny Holman at his Pink Kitten Gentlemen’s Club. Although the stunning Native American detective isn’t crazy about pole dancing, she’ll put her introverted nature aside to win Sonny’s trust and find concrete evidence of his shady dealings. But working a demeaning dancing gig and being ogled by lecherous patrons aren’t Kit’s only obstacles. She’s been trying to reconnect with her estranged sister in Las Vegas, though now is hardly the best time for a family reunion. Can the FBI keep her sister safe without blowing Kit’s cover? A death at the club puts Kit on everyone’s radar, and the more she digs, the more dangerous the assignment gets, with money laundering just the beginning of the crimes that can be traced back to Sonny and his associates. With prostitution, trafficking, and murder among the offenses, Kit must navigate the escalating danger and stay alive long enough to dismantle a powerful criminal organization.

      Praise for Whatever It Takes:

      Whatever It Takes by Alan Brenham launches readers into a high-stakes undercover thriller where danger lurks behind every glittering facade. Author Alan Brenham has a clear vision and control over this story world that comes through in the confident narration and construction, delivering a tightly plotted narrative that keeps the suspense building with every chapter. Once you’re gripped by this story, it doesn’t relinquish its hold, zooming through a pacy plot but always with the right amount of detail… highly recommended must-read for fans of fast-paced, high-risk crime thrillers featuring strong female leads.”
      ~ Readers’ Favorite – 5 star review

      Whatever It Takes is a gritty and fast-paced crime thriller that follows Fort Worth detective Kit Hanover as she’s recruited by the FBI to go undercover in a seedy Las Vegas nightclub to take down an organized crime ring involved in money laundering and murder…There’s a lot of emotional complexity packed in here—anger, fear, pride, loneliness—and Brenham doesn’t shy away from the sleazier, more uncomfortable parts of undercover work. The club scenes are drenched in smoke, sweat, and that sense of being watched, and you can almost feel Kit’s skin crawl as she tries to keep her cover intact. It’s not just about the mission—it’s about survival. And Kit never stops being human in the face of it all.”
      ~ Literary Titan – 5-Star Review

      Whatever It Takes Trailer:

      Book Details:

      Genre: Crime Fiction
      Published by: Indie
      Publication Date: May 12, 2025
      Number of Pages: 348
      ISBN: 9798283664705 (pbk)
      Series: The Kit Hanover Series, Book 2
      Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

      Read an excerpt:

      PROLOGUE

      Saturday night, March 3rd

      A sobbing and trembling Myra Taylor lies on the cold Nevada desert floor. Her hands are tied behind her back, and her ankles are cruelly bound. Though she cannot see the passing clouds high in the night sky, she can hear the unmistakable sounds of a shovel digging into the sand, with the earth tossed rudely to the side.

      Two months ago, a chance encounter at Sprout’s Farmers Market had changed everything. The agent’s offer seemed like a lifeline amidst her struggles. Her infant son’s medical bills had piled up, and the financial burden was overwhelming. Her job as an exotic dancer didn’t pay enough. The substantial amount of money the agent promised felt like a divine intervention, a means to alleviate her worries and give her son a fighting chance. But now, the single mother wishes she’d never agreed to snitch her boss, Sonny Holman, off to the FBI.

      “Don’t kill me. Please don’t kill me.” The terror in her voice is unmistakable, even though the canvas hood dulls her frantic cries.

      There is no response.

      “Please, I’ll do anything you want. Anything at all.”

      Still no response.

      The twenty-seven year old brunette twists her wrists in a vain attempt to free herself. If only she could work the cord off one wrist, she could free her legs and run for it.

      Then she hears a thump. Footsteps crunch in the sand, getting closer.

      Her thoughts go back to her son and to the man she was in love with.

      A pair of strong hands jerks her off the ground like she’s a ragdoll. “Please don’t. I have a baby boy. He’s very sick. Please let me go. I’ll be good. I’ll do anything Sonny wants. I swear.”

      “You shoulda done that ‘steada rattin us out to the fuckin feds,” the man growled.

      Myra finds herself thrown to the ground face-first. The impact knocks the breath out of her. She inhales, gasping in the canvas hood. The last two sounds she hears are the slam and slide of a semi-automatic handgun and the mournful howl of a lone coyote.

      ***

      Excerpt from Whatever It Takes by Alan Brenham. Copyright 2025 by Alan Brenham. Reproduced with permission from Alan Brenham. All rights reserved.

       

       

      Author Bio:

      Alan Brenham

      Alan Brenham is the pseudonym for Alan Behr. He served as a criminal investigator with municipal, county and federal law enforcement agencies. He also worked with the US Army in Berlin, Germany. His employments took him halfway around the world, from Russia to the Middle East and across most of Europe. Later, he was admitted to the Texas state bar and spent his legal career as a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, and staff counsel for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Today he and his wife reside in the central Texas area. He has authored twelve crime fiction novels under the pen name of Alan Brenham. He is currently working on his thirteenth novel, the third book in the Kit Hanover series, titled Come And Get It.

      He is a member of the International Thriller Writers, the Mystery Writers of America, and the Writers League of Texas. Awards and endorsements included a Best in Crime Fiction Award from the Texas Association of Writers for his first novel, Price of Justice. Game Piece earned a Readers Favorite gold medal. Cornered and Rampage were endorsed by NY Times Best-Selling authors, CJ Lyons and Michael McGarrity. When Things Fall Apart was a Finalist for the Silver Falchion Award for Best Investigator category at Killer Nashville 2024, the 2024 Global Book Award, and the Book Excellence Award. Literary Titan Gold Awards for Once Upon A Crime, No More Lies, Price of Justice, Every Silent Thing, Never Say A Word.

      Catch Up With Alan Brenham:

      AlanBrenham.com
      Amazon Author Profile
      Goodreads
      BookBub: @AlanBrenham
      Instagram: @alanbe75
      Threads: @alanbe75
      X: @alanbrenham
      Facebook: @AlanBrenham

       

       

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      Review – Please Don’t Lie by Christina Baker Kline & Anne Burt @bakerkline

      GOODREADS

      Please Don’t Lie by Christina Baker Kline and Anne Burt is the first book in the Crystal River series. Hayley moves to the Adirondacks with her new husband, but we all know, you can’t run away from your past.

      It has been two years since she lost her parents to a house fire and her sister to an overdose. A shadow hangs over Hayley and no matter how many self help books she reads, she will be forced to confront a reality she never envisioned. Don’t we all know that an isolated mountain town can hold dangers that will change her life forever? The location adds a feeling of menace and the pace had me rapidly flipping pages.

      I love that Christine and Anne were able to keep me guessing until the very end.

      I want to thank Christine, Anne and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to share Please Don’t Lie with you. I hope to read more of their work in the future.

      Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
      4 Stars

      In this stylish, twisty thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christina Baker Kline and award-winning author Anne Burt, a young woman heads to the Adirondacks with her new husband for a fresh start—but the past won’t let her go.

      Two years ago, Hayley Stone lost everything. First, her parents died in a devastating fire. Then, her sister overdosed, leaving Hayley alone and hounded by a media circus that turned her family’s tragedy into tabloid fodder. When her new husband suggests a fresh start in the Adirondacks, the promise of anonymity in an isolated mountain town feels like salvation.

      But the mountains hold darker secrets than she ever imagined.

      Her once-loving husband grows distant and volatile. The widow down the road keeps spewing vague accusations. Not even their new friends—a free-spirited couple living on the property—can help Hayley shake the creeping sense that something is off.

      As winter edges closer, Hayley discovers that her sanctuary is anything but safe. Trapped and isolated, she faces a terrifying in trying to escape her past, she may have run straight into something far more dangerous.

      • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
      • Kindle Edition
      • Expected publication: September 1, 2025 by Thomas & Mercer
      The writer Christine Baker Kline (USA), New York, New York, January 28, 2020. Photograph © Beowulf Sheehan

      A #1 New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, including The Exiles, Orphan Train, and A Piece of the World, Christina Baker Kline is published in 40 countries. Her novels have received the New England Prize for Fiction, the Maine Literary Award, and a Barnes & Noble Discover Award, among other prizes, and have been chosen by hundreds of communities, universities and schools as “One Book, One Read” selections. Her essays, articles, and reviews have appeared in publications such as the New York Times and the NYT Book Review, the Boston Globe, the San Francisco Chronicle, LitHub, Psychology Today, Poets & Writers, and Salon.

      Born in England and raised in the American South and Maine, Kline is a graduate of Yale (B.A.), Cambridge (M.A.) and the University of Virginia (M.F.A.), where she was a Hoyns Fellow in Fiction Writing. A resident of New York City and Southwest Harbor, Maine, she serves on the advisory boards of the Center for Fiction (NY), the Jesup Library (Bar Harbor, ME), the Montclair Literary Festival (NJ), the Kauai Writers Festival (HI), and Roots & Wings (NJ), and on the gala committees of Poets & Writers (NY), The Authors Guild (NY) and Friends of Acadia (ME). She is an Artist-Mentor for StudioDuke at Duke University and the BookEnds program at Stony Brook University.

      Website

      Anne Burt is the coauthor with #1 New York Times bestselling author Christina Baker Kline of the thriller PLEASE DON’T LIE. Anne’s debut novel, THE DIG, was an American Booksellers Association Indie Next Pick, the Strand Book Store’s mystery selection for spring 2023, and Indie Next’s lead “Thrills & Chills” reading group title for summer 2024. Anne is also the editor of MY FATHER MARRIED YOUR MOTHER and co-editor of ABOUT FACE. Her essays and fiction have appeared in numerous publications and venues, including Salon, NPR, and Working Mother, and she is a past winner of Meridian Literary Magazine’s Editors’ Prize in Fiction.

      • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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      • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!