Monthly Archives: December 2025

The Tiger Among Us by Chris Warner #chriswarner #thetigeramongus

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One day I walked into Florabama, a fabulous bar that sits on the Alabama Florida Line, the Redneck Riviera, and lo and behold there was Chris Warner with a stack of his books. How could I say no?

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I bought a signed copy of The Tiger Among Us by Chris Warner from the author during a visit to Florabama. If you are looking for some southern reading that’s a bit outside the norm, come join me.

First off, I would like to salute and send out a huge THANK YOU to those who serve and protect to keep us safe.

We will be doing some traveling from Louisiana to El Salvador and Washington DC.

Michael Stein was born to be a Marine. Two years and he’s out…until…the NSA wants him. The NSA is an independent entity but operates under the Department of Defense. It’s purpose is to encode and decode intelligence communications and protect us from hackers taking sensitive classified information on government computes. Echelon…does it exist?

LSU…here he comes. It had been his goal to go to college, but not this way. Michael thinks the LSU chicks are hot, especially when he meets his teacher, Kimberly. Rule #1…Don’t get sidetracked…broken. He’s not a virgin, but ten years in the military as a Recon Marine, his life was not conducive to relationships. He is a hard man and when he metes out punishment, he does it with no hesitation, no remorse.

Being at LSU, ya can’t have a story without talking about food, fun and football.

WOW…as I was reading along, watching the Seal Team operate, I was impressed with Chris Warner’s ability to bring to life the action, the bangs of bullets and booms of claymore mines.

The twist wasn’t what I expected, though should have. I think I was distracted because of my mood. The troubling times we are experiencing through Covid and protests makes me realize that there is no reason to heap more on our military by asking them to battle those they are sworn to protect…us.

I got way more than I expected and I can recommend The Tiger Among Us by Chris Warner.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

…in the spring of 1990 a terrorist cell of Muslim computer science students exacts a brute force hack into the computer system of the Counter-Anti-Terrorism-Assistance-Program (CATAP) at Louisiana State University. Two traveling Israeli Mossad agents teaching counter-terrorism at the LSU instructional program are murdered in Athens, Greece outside their hotel. It is perceived as an international terrorist incident. Dr. Bobby Lee Broussard of the National Security Agency (NSA) discovers a terrorist cell at LSU trying to undermine the government’s efforts to combat terrorism. The United States civilian masters order a lone Marine Corps operative to LSU to locate, exploit and eliminate the terrorist threat in the name of national security…Michael Stein is an exemplary 28-year old Recon Marine. Nearing ten years of service, he is ready to retire from the military and pursue a degree and a family. However, Michael is offered a mission that alters all plans… Louisiana, his area of operation, is unlike any he’s encountered, containing a host of pitfalls and distractions… Stein survives these worldly impediments to fulfill his deadly mission in a thrilling, unforgettable climax.

MY CHRIS WARNER REVIEWS

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Sherry’s Shelves 12.21 – 12.27.25

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Hi Everyone. Well, I have gotten behind on blogging, lots of reviews to write. I hate when I do that. It makes them hard to write, but I did enjoy the company that came visiting. It was a nice break. Watching the football bowl games. It’s amazing how fast the time has gone. 2026…WOW. I don’t even know where 2025 went. We’ll be hanging around the house and watching the ball drop on New Year’s Eve. We don’t go out any more. Also, Michigan is playing in a bowl game on New Year’s Eve. We were talking about the last time we traveled to watch them and it was New Year’s Day 2020. We played Alabama and lost, but that’s okay. It was fun being around all the action…and then the bottom dropped out of the world. We look back on that with some scary thoughts, seeing we were in New Orleans in 2020 for Mardi Gras and some family had come down from Connecticut.

Here’s hoping we have a great 2026! Happy New Year.

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    Do You Want To Play A Game – Sara’s Game by Ernie Lindsey @Ernie_Lindsey

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    Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    I snatched Sara’ Game by Ernie Lindsey on a free day on 10.23.23. The cover talked to me and I am a sucker for a great cover. This psychological thriller is sure to mess with your mind.

    The question of the day:

    Are you ready to play the game?

    Sara Winthrop has tragedy hanging over her head. First her husband goes missing, then her three children. What the hell is going on and why is she a target for such wickedness. It had me wondering. It takes a strong character like Sara to save the day…and I do love kickass women. The tempo of Sara’s Game by Ernie Lindsey makes me want more of such a great character.

    Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
    4 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    Two years ago, Sara’s husband left for the gym one morning…and never came back. His car was found. He wasn’t. Unbelievably, the police report said, “No foul play suspected.” There were a few unreliable sightings over the following months, but little else.

    Now, on the last day before summer break, her three children have gone missing from their schools, all at the same time.

    And the note under her windshield wiper asks one simple question: Are you ready to play the game?

    • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Thriller
    • 263 pages, Kindle Edition
    • First published January 1, 2012
    • Series: The Sara Winthrop Thriller Series, #1

    ABOUT ERNIE LINDSEY

    Ernie Lindsey grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of southwest Virginia, working on the family farm and reading, and has spent his life telling stories to anyone that will listen. He currently works as a freelance writer and is the author of five Mystery & Suspense novels and numerous short stories. When he’s not writing, you can find him tackling the gigantic To Be Read list on his Kindle or the never-ending stack of books in his office.

    Ernie and his family live in Oregon, along with a multi-fingered Hemingway cat named Luna.

    Head over to Ernie’s site where you can pick up some free Kindle books. Join him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ErnieLindseyFiction.

    Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

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    Review – Cruel Scars by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor #brutalscars

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    Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    We are back with Prey Security: Bravo Team #4, Cruel Scars by Jane Blythe, a romantic suspense novel that is sure to be sizzling hot and filled with danger. But two strangers will meet and fall in love, getting their happy ever after. We just don’t know what torment and torture they will have to go through to find it.

    Stephanie Fuller is on a vacation, but that was not to be. She was snatched off the street and whisked away. She wakes up naked and afraid, laying on the cold concrete. She wasn’t alone for long. A man is stripped of his clothing, chained to the wall, naked. Stephanie meet Patrick “Trick” Kramer. I don’t know how they will save themselves, but Patrick only needs one chance. Will they come close enough, thinking he is no threat? Of course. 🙂

    I love when Patrick describes her as a superhero in training. Gotta have a little light to overcome the darkness.

    I love this series and I love to see familiar faces. The team is family and when one is in danger, they all are. You need help and healing, this family will supply it. Sure, we have some cheesy moments, but that is a common theme with the genre. But, not everything is predictable. So brace yourself for a wild ride.

    Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
    4 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    To survive two strangers will have to rely on only each other.

    Stephanie Fuller has had the year from hell and a vacation to Mexico was supposed to be a way to find her equilibrium again. Instead she’s snatched off the streets and wakes up in a dark, dank underground prison. Nothing could prepare her for what’s going to happen to her there, or the connection she builds with her fellow captive.

    When Patrick “Trick” Kramer wakes up in a small cell and learns he’s not alone he quickly puts together the pieces of who took him and why. Despite a rocky start in life he’s a protector, and there is nothing worse for a man like him than having an innocent woman who needs his protection but being unable to save her from the hell that’s coming.

    There is no way Stephanie won’t hate him for what he has to do.

    • Genre: Fiction, Military, Romance, Suspense, Thriller
    • 236 pages, Kindle Edition
    • Published April 9, 2024 by Bear Spots Publications
    • Series: Prey Security, Bravo Team

    ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

    USA Today bestselling author Jane Blythe writes action-packed romantic suspense and military romance featuring protective heroes and heroines who are survivors. One of Jane’s most popular series includes Saving SEALs, part of Susan Stoker’s OPERATION ALPHA world! Writing in that world alongside authors such as Janie Crouch and Riley Edwards has been a blast, and she looks forward to bringing more books to this genre, both within and outside of Stoker’s world. When Jane isn’t binge-reading she’s counting down to Christmas and adding to her 200+ teddy bear collection!

    Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

    MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

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    Review – Brutal Scars by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor #brutalscars

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    MY REVIEW

    It is so nice to be back with Jane Blythe’s hunkalicious military men in Brutal Scars, the third book in the Prey Security: Bravo Team series. We start out hot and it doesn’t end until the happy every after. Brutal Scars is filled with action and adventure and Jane has no qualms about putting her characters through the proverbial wringer.

    In Brutal Scars, we will get Jessica Bowen and Mason “Scorpion” Markson’s story. Mason thinks he knows Jessica’s story, but he is in for a rude awakening when he volunteers to join a cult to rescue her. We know Jane Blythe writes about strong female characters, so we know Jessica is no shrinking violet. She feels his appearance is going to ruin everything.

    Jessica had a horrendous childhood and Mason is in for a big surprise when she tells him like it is. He is looking forward to coming face to face with her brother, David. But, first, they will have to survive their time in the cult. The cult leader has an agenda and feels anyone that doesn’t believe his way of life is the only way, they plan to eliminate. It’s up to Jessica and Mason to save the day.

    I love romantic suspense novels. Sure, they all have a similar format…Damsel in distress, knight in (un)shining armor comes to save the day and they live happily ever after…and that is what I am looking for.

    Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
    4 Stars

    AMAZON SYNOPSIS

    He’s the last person she wants messing up all her hard work.

    Jessica Bowen knows responsibility, learned it at a young age. Living through something horrific she somehow managed to hold most of her family together and build a life for herself. A life that isn’t the one she planned but it’s one she can be proud of, where she can make a difference and save lives. Until he shows up threatening to destroy everything she’s worked so hard to achieve.

    Mason “Scorpion” Markson was looking forward to a vacation when he gets a call that the spoiled, selfish sister of an old friend is in trouble. He shouldn’t go into a cult after her, it’s more hassle than its worth, and yet he owes it to his friend to save his sister. The last thing he expects to find when he goes undercover is a calm, competent, capable woman who has a whole lot of anger and hostility towards him.

    She’s not who he was led to believe she was, so why did her brother lie about her?

    If you loved USA today bestselling author Jane Blythe’s inclusions in Susan Stoker’s Operation Alpha world, you’ll be thrilled with BRUTAL SCARS, the third book in the Prey Security: Bravo Team series.

    ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

    USA Today bestselling author Jane Blythe writes action-packed romantic suspense and military romance featuring protective heroes and heroines who are survivors. One of Jane’s most popular series includes Saving SEALs, part of Susan Stoker’s OPERATION ALPHA world! Writing in that world alongside authors such as Janie Crouch and Riley Edwards has been a blast, and she looks forward to bringing more books to this genre, both within and outside of Stoker’s world. When Jane isn’t binge-reading she’s counting down to Christmas and adding to her 200+ teddy bear collection!

    Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

    MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

    • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
    • You can see my Reviews HERE.
    • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
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    Review – Facing Nightfall by Michael B Chikondi @M_B_Chikondi #facingnightfall

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    Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodread

    MY REVIEW

    Facing Nightfall: The Sunrise Saga by Michael B Chikondi is his first novel and I am glad that he brought it into the light. This dark, gothic, eerie novel can be described as a coming of age novel for Abbey Sharp. I love that she climbs out her window and has a hideaway on the roof where she observes her surroundings while smoking cigarettes.

    Abbey and her friend, Lewis, wander the streets at night fighting against the darkness that calls to them. They will face more than the supernatural. They will question their life, their loyalty will be tested and it will take a lot of strength to resist the evil taking over the town.

    MIchael B Chikondi blends the supernatural with humanity, making the characters question their choices. I found Facing Nightfall to be an original take on a familiar tale and I do love my vampires, so getting lost in Abbey’s story was exciting, making it hard to stop reading. It’s 419 pages of deliciousness.

    I have read numerous novels by Michael B Chikondi, but this is my favorite.

    Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
    5 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    When the quiet town of Masham falls under the shadow of something ancient and merciless, Abbey Sharp finds herself drawn into a struggle far larger than late-night smokes on the rooftop and her parents’ weary routines.
    As night stretches on, whispers of missing people, strange broadcasts, and creatures that shouldn’t exist unravel the fabric of normal life. Abbey and her friend Lewis are forced to confront a terrifying the town is infested with vampires, and survival demands more than just keeping the lights on.
    But in a world where allegiances blur and even family can change overnight, Abbey must decide how much of herself she’s willing to sacrifice. Is she strong enough to resist the seductive pull of power, or will she lose everything in the fight against the darkness?
    Facing Nightfall is a gothic, atmospheric vampire tale where loyalty is tested, blood is bargained, and the night never truly ends.

    • Genre: Fiction, Gothic, Horror, Paranormal, Supernatural, Vampires
    • 419 pages, Kindle Edition
    • Published October 31, 2025

    ABOUT MICHAEL B CHIKONDI (from Amazon)

    Michael B. Chikondi is not to be trusted, but the creature agrees to a meeting in its burrow. We enter with trepidation, given that the thing has no doorbell. As we crawl through the narrow tunnel, gored out by its own teeth, by the texture, we hear what can only be described as a hacking cough.

    “Can we approach?” we call.

    “No soliciting.” the voice returns.

    “You sent for us; you told us to ask you questions. You know, for promotional reasons.”

    “Ask.” the dread voice responds.

    “Alright, who are you?” we try.

    “A creature of mist and shadow, half-mad, I used to go out, I did, and know those…humans. Not now, not since…the pen.”

    “You found a pen? That’s why you became a writer?” we ask, now terrified, trying to gauge how fast we can leave the burrow. The photographer has already left us, chewing off his own watch, caught on a tree root.

    “Yes, but now…I hunger…”

    We are not proud; we turn tail and flee, before it can leave its den. We aren’t paid enough to get a full bio. We can only pray someone buys its books, so that the thing never comes out on its own.

    Ed. What the hell is this? This isn’t what we requested. Just some nonsense and an artist’s rendition of what one of my people saw before he contracted rabies? Eh, whatever. Plenty more writers in the sea.

    MY MICHAEL B CHIKONDI REVIEWS

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    Thoughtprovoking – Journey To Red Dawn by Cagla Meyda #caglameyda #austinmacauley #journeytoreddawn

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    Amazon / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    Journey To Red Dawn: The Torch Of Life by Cagla Meydan was so much more than I expected. I think Altan, a Wall Street broker, was going through a midlife crisis. He is a mountain climber, and when he heard that Mount Evolution had grown taller, he embarked on a journey of self discovery by climbing to the top. He is seeking answers to some age old questions like: Why am I here? What is my purpose?

    Altan is married and, though he doesn’t know it, his wife Ruby is pregnant. She never loses faith, believing, no matter what, Altan will return to her. The journey is brutal. Many of those who began the journey with him, will never return home and it looked like he wouldn’t either. He won’t leave his new friend, and it will mean his death, also.

    I liked the thought that everything is connected. Their psyche as a whole would affect the climb. When they dwelled in doom and gloom, the weather darkened and storm arose. The earth shifted, making itself known.

    Journey To Red Dawn by Cagla Meydan is one of the most thoughtprovoking novels I have read in a long time. The book is an oversized paperback, heavy in weight, and 403 pages of unputdownable deliciousness. The Epilogue is short and sweet and I loved it.

    Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
    4 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    Despite his success as a Wall Street broker, a loving family, and a life others would envy, Altan is haunted by a recurring dream—one that tragically came true. On the brink of abandoning everything, he receives an unusual gift for his fortieth a veiled storybook. Drawn to its pages, he hopes to find solace and some answers, unaware that it’s an invitation to the mystical realm of existence. Propelled by a series of strange events, Altan embarks on a breathtaking journey to the heart of Anatolia, following the threads of a supernatural mystery. What begins as a search for answers unravels into an odyssey beyond imagination—filled with peril, wonder, and revelations about humanity and creation itself. As he ascends through hidden dimensions of consciousness, courage, love, faith, and unyielding resilience guide him toward an awe-inspiring truth waiting at the journey’s end. Journey to Red Dawn is an allegorical epic of the universal ‘Human’ story—a timeless pilgrimage back to the essence, where all faiths and quests for meaning converge. Join Altan as he uncovers the secrets of life, death, and beyond. Through his eyes, witness a world where every step is a leap towards the truth, and every dawn brings new hope and understanding. Are you ready to let the sun rise within you? Let your journey begin… ‘Questions that have found their answers are the ship’s final arrival to harbor.’

    • Genre: Action and Adventure, Fiction, Inspirational, Metaphysical, Paranormal, Self Discovery, Supernatural
    • 376 pages, Kindle Edition
    • Published October 10, 2025 by Austin Macauley Publishers
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    Sherry’s Shelves 12.14 – 12.20.25

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    Hi Everyone. Time has gotten away from me and I have very few posts scheduled in advance. I like to post every day. Luckily, if I must, have some prewritten hanging out for that very reason. We had company from out of town, so I read a lot, but didn’t write reviews. I hate when I do that, because it makes it harder to write a review. I am watching college football playoff games today, so I am going to try and catch up. Alabama had a wild ride yesterday, but they always play to the very end. They beat Oklahoma, which is no slouch. They will be playing Indiana next. Michigan is out of the playoffs, but they will play in the Cheez It Citrus Bowl against Texas on December 31st, so I know what I’ll be doing on New Years Eve. We usually stay home and watch the ball drop in New York. How about you? Do you have any plans for the new year? Do you make new year’s resolutions? For all those who celebrate, Happy Holidays.

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    • Sherry’s Shelves
    • Giveaway – Dug To Death
    • Thoughtprovoking Review – Journey To Red Dawn by Cagla Meyda
    • Review – Facing Nightfall by Michael B Chikondi
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      Giveaway – Dug To Death by Gianetta Murray @dollycas #gianettamurray #dugtodeath

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      Dug to Death: A Vivien Brandt Mystery
      by Gianetta Murray

      About Dug to Death

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      Dug to Death: A Vivien Brandt Mystery
      Cozy Mystery
      2nd in the Series
      Setting – South Yorkshire, England
      Publisher ‏ : ‎ Catmom Press
      Publication Date ‏ : ‎ October 28, 2025
      Print length ‏ : ‎ 294 pages
      Paperback
      ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1739547330
      ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1739547332
      Digital
      ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1739547325
      ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DZ3PV2SP

      “Wicked stepmother” wasn’t something Vivien wanted on her resume (or CV!).

      But six months after moving from California to join her British husband in a quiet Yorkshire village, Vivien and her cat Sydney are confronted with a volatile 24-year-old stepdaughter and the sparks begin to fly.

      It certainly doesn’t help when they join a local protest and a body turns up.

      In this sequel to Moved to Murder, Vivien must once again work with her enterprising neighbors to solve a murder and clear her family’s name. Which isn’t easy when you’re dealing with people who “Ear all, see all, and say nowt”!

      About Gianetta Murray 

      Gianetta Murray grew up in California in the heady days of Silicon Valley, but for the last twenty years has lived a slightly more peaceful existence in England with her husband and a minimum of two cats. She enjoys rewatching Hollywood musicals and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, plays guitar and ukulele, and stresses about using all the pears provided by the tree in her back garden. She dreams about one day being spit on by Jonathan Groff.

      Author Links 

      Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – More Stores

      TOUR PARTICIPANTS

      Tour Wide Giveaway – A signed paperback of Dug to Death, one winner for the UK, one for North America

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