Category Archives: 5 Star Reviews

Tag Team Event Giveaway – Ruined Wings by Ashley Fontainne @AshleyFontainne

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Welcome to my Tag Team Tag Team Event & Giveaway!

This is where myself (Sherry at fundinmental) and Laura at fuonlyknew tag team an author and share their book.

We give you two different perspectives on our reviews and two chances to win!

Sooo…let’s get to it…

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Ashley Fontainne is a master storyteller and I am not surprised that Ruined Wings, a novella, has been picked up for film.

You can get it free on Amazon.

To me, this cover speaks of despair and hope and I love the black and white image done by One of a Kind Covers by Ashley Fontainne.

Ruined WingsAmazon  /  Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Ashley Fontainne is a master storyteller and I am always on the lookout for another story from her.

Ruined Wings…I love that the cover shows the despair and hope that is contained between ‘the pages’. It makes me wonder which will prevail.

A lot was riding on the day for Callie, but something felt wrong to her. I knew something bad was coming and her life would be changed forever.

DRUGS…ADDICTION…whether legal or illegal drugs, addiction is addiction. The destruction it brings into a family is horrific. The loss of a loved one can make something you thought was so important, inconsequential.

I love Callie, a flawed, yet strong, focused, determined seventeen year old girl who cannot accept her loss…who can’t move on.

The descent into hell is slow, seductive, and I did not see it going down this way. I love that Ashley Fontainne can always pull a trick or two out of her hat to keep me on my toes.

This sad, and realistic tale reads like a true story.

Ashley’s writing will reach into your heart and gut, and rip them out! Ruined Wings reads like a true story.

Once you start, you won’t be able to stop reading. Unputdownable. Gut wrenching. Tragic, yet hopeful.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 5 Stars

Check out the trailer HERE.

BUY LINKS:  Amazon  /  B&N  /  Kobo  /  Itunes

GOODREADS BLURB

“Ruined Wings is raw, real and a terrifying journey into addiction. A must read for every parent.” – Elaine Raco Chase, bestselling author.

Seventeen-year-old Callie Novak is on the cusp of changing her life as she warms up for the final heat in the Women’s 1600 meter track and field competition. While she sets a new state record, her family’s worse nightmare is just beginning.

When tragedy strikes the Novak family every reader will feel the pain of grief, the perils of drug abuse, the despair that leads to a shocking downward spiral and the strength that’s needed to overcome addiction.

ABOUT ASHLEY FONTAINNE (from her website)

Award-winning and International bestselling author Ashley Fontainne is an avid reader of mostly the classics. Ashley became a fan of the written word in her youth, starting with the Nancy Drew mystery series. Stories that immerse the reader deep into the human psyche and the monsters that lurk within us are her favorite reads.

Her muse for penning the Eviscerating the Snake series was The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Ashley’s love for this book is what sparked her desire to write her debut novel, Accountable to None, the first book in the trilogy. With a modern setting to the tale, Ashley delves into just what lengths a person is willing to go when they seek personal justice for heinous acts perpetrated upon them. The second novel in the series, Zero Balance. focuses on the cost and reciprocal cycle that obtaining revenge has on the seeker. For once the cycle starts, where does it end? How far will the tendrils of revenge expand? Adjusting Journal Entries answered that question: far and wide.

Her short thriller entitled Number Seventy-Five, touches upon the sometimes dangerous world of online dating. Number Seventy-Five took home the BRONZE medal in fiction/suspense at the 2013 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards contest and is currently in production for a feature film.

Her paranormal thriller entitled The Lie, won the GOLD medal in the 2013 Illumination Book Awards for fiction/suspense and is also in production for a feature film entitled Foreseen.

Ashley’s decided to delve into the paranormal with a Southern Gothic horror/suspense novel, Growl, which released in January of 2015. The suspenseful mystery Empty Shell, released in September of 2014. Ashley will be teaming up with Lillian Hansen (Ashley calls her mom!) to pen a three-part murder mystery/suspense series entitled The Magnolia Series. The first book, Blood Ties, is due out the Summer of 2015.

Ashley also hosts The WriteStuff, a popular BlogTalk Radio show, each Friday night at 10 p.m. CST.

Website  /  Twitter  Facebook  /  Pinterest  /  G+  /  LinkedIn  /  Instagram

GIVEAWAY

Ashley Fontainne is offering to one lucky commenter an audio copy of Ruined Wings.

Ends 6.27.17

Do you have an inspirational moment in your life to share?

You can enter for a second chance to win and another perspective on Ashley Fontainne’s Ruined Wings, check out Laura at fuonlyknew.

My winner:  Chrys Fey……Laura’s winner:  Dragonfly.

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who dropped in and commented!

Ashley Fontainne’s writing is so spectacular, I am always anticipating the next book I will read of hers. Here are my reviews…so far:

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
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Early Review – No Surrender by Patrick Bisher with Jon Land #PatrickBisher @jondland

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No Surrender by Patrick Bisher & Jon Land was not what I expected, but so much more than I anticipated.

The true story is disheartening and uplifting, emotions flitting through the pages like butterflies through the air, leaving me feeling like all things are possible.

This is an early review and the book is up for preorder, releasing July 4, 2017.

This is one you won’t want to miss.

No Surrender: Faith, Family, and Finding Your Way

Amazon  /  Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Patrick Bisher’s true story is all about overcoming hardship and finding his true path in life. His determination and perseverance can be an inspiration to us all, giving us hope and encouragement to dream and reach for it.

Michigan is my home state, so knowing Patrick is a fellow Michigander made me want to know his story even more. He is an amazing  man with a story to share that we can all walk away from being better off for knowing it.

Imagine, as a child, a 9 year old boy, hearing, “You’ll never be able to walk again.” When I read that, the first thought to pop into my mind was One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.

At the end of each chapter is an inspirational summary of ‘What you can learn from this.’

Patrick takes us from a childhood of bullying, harassment, despair and pain, to an adulthood filled with hope and determination and a desire to inspire and uplift. He is dealt blow after blow, struggling to find his way through every setback. Even when he is lost, he finds an inner strength.

Life is full of surprises and the road twists and turns, a journey we must all take, but there is no straight line.

Funny that he also tasted the General Motors life and found it lacking. I worked there for fifteen years and took early retirement because I wanted more. It felt like a prison to me and I had to spread my wings. Sometimes we have to take a leap of faith. No risk, no reward.

I totally agree with his final chapter and it concerns me for our country’s future.

Patrick believes in Paying It Forward. His story takes us from him being bullied and labeled as a cripple who would never amount to anything, to being a Navy SEAL, when everyone said it wasn’t possible, to giving back to all those who need a little help in achieving their goals and desires.

Believe…believe in yourself.

I felt so good after reading No Surrender and I want to thank Patrick for his service to our country and his willingness to share what he has learned with all of us.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of No Surrender by Patrick Bisher & Jon Land.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 5 Stars

Never Surrender by Corey Hart is a song I hold close to my heart.

It was an inspiration to me when I needed one and I hope it lifts you up too.

GOODREADS BLURB

A Navy SEAL who first overcame a crippling childhood condition and then a devastating training accident offers his own experiences as lessons in defeating adversity.

Patrick Bisher’s career as a Navy SEAL should have ended after a parachuting accident nearly crippled him. But overcoming adversity, even an injury as serious as a broken hip, was nothing new for him. He’d spent a portion of his childhood in leg braces. Doctors told him he’d never walk again thanks to a degenerative hip condition. He wasn’t about to give up then, any more than he was in the wake of that parachute training accident. Instead, he went on to serve in combat as a member of SEAL Team Seven, seeing action in Iraq and ultimately winning the Army Commendations Medal, among other awards.

Now Patrick wants to take the lessons he learned on and off the battlefield and apply them to everyday life. He offers inspiration to all who’ve faced the kind of adversity he has. In chapters drawn directly from his own experience, he sketches a heart-wrenching tale of salvaging lifelong victories out of crushing defeats, and hope out of heartache.

From being branded a “cripple” to successfully negotiating BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALS) training, from agonizing pain to heroic achievement, from devastating loss to finding his faith, Patrick’s story is one of discovering ways to do everything he possibly can, instead of making excuses for what he can’t. An American hero who never surrendered is now sharing his lessons with those fighting their own battles to emerge from their dark places into the light and lead a better, more productive life

ABOUT JON LAND

JON LAND is the USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels, including Strong Enough to Die, Strong Justice, Strong at the Break, Strong Vengeance, Strong Rain Falling (winner of the 2014 International Book Award and 2013 USA Best Book Award for Mystery-Suspense), Strong Darkness (winner of the 2014 USA Books Best Book Award and the 2015 International Book Award for Thriller), and Strong Light of Day (winner of the 2015 Books and Author Award for Best Mystery Thriller and the 2016 Beverly Hills Book Award for Best Mystery). Land is a graduate of Brown University. He lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

MY JON LAND REVIEWS

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Early Review – The Future Is Now – Fracture Point by Jeff Altabef @JeffAltabef @novelpublicity

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Fracture Point by Jeff Altabef is not my first foray into his worlds and I can say for a fact that it will not be my last.

Fracture Point made me feel as if our future was held between the pages…and it is frightening.

The release date is set for June 26, 2017.

Cover by D Robert Pease

Fracture Point

Amazon  /  Goodreads

MY REVIEW

 Let me start by saying, make sure you have no plans…nowhere to go, nothing to do…because once you start reading, Fracture Point will take you down a path that will not let you go until the last word is read.

Is this what the future holds for us?

Warren Scott, well, he got my attention from the opening chapter and I felt nothing good was going to come from knowing him. He has a secret and he won’t share…yet. There is nothing he won’t do to win and revels in the evil he doles out to anyone who crosses him…or sometimes just because it feels good. Psychopath is too nice a word for him.

Jack is working a banquet for the richy rich and was hooking up with one of their wives. He was after info, but got more than he bargained for when he found a flash drive.

Once their paths cross, others become involved in the race to save Jack’s life and their own, running at a frenetic pace, making me worry and fret, wondering who will survive.

Fracture Point is a frightening glimpse into America’s future…voters rights taken away, the poor are discounted as lesser human beings, and terrorism is used to create fear and manipulate the people. Does any of this ring a bell?

They are at a Fracture Point, the point where a spark can set their world ablaze.

Fracture Point hits all the buttons for a heart pumping, blood boiling, terrorizing suspense thriller that smacks of realism, with big business and the 1% taking everything and leaving nothing for the 99% struggling to survive.

Is this what OUR world is coming to? Will it take a Civil War to wake up the leaders? What happens when the American Dream is dead, there is no hope left and we feel backed into a corner with nothing to lose?

CAUTION – Kindle is at risk of being thrown.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Fracture Point by Jeff Altabef.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

A mysterious scarlet haired jazz singer.
A rebel on a motorcycle.
And a killer with a penchant for torture.

Food is scarce, good jobs the rarity, and big brother is watching everyone. Will Jack and Tom’s family be torn apart in the mayhem, and how far will one brother go to save the other’s life?

In 2041, America is rife with ghettos and armed checkpoints, and poverty runs rampant. A bloody civil war is brewing, and everyone will be forced to take a side. Education is the only way out of a life where you’re never sure where your next meal will come from, or what you’ll have to do to get it. Tom aced his assessment tests and scored an education contract, giving him a way out of poverty. Jack isn’t so lucky.

When Jack, a spy for a rebel fraction, goes missing, only his brother Tom can unravel the mystery of his disappearance. He will risk everything to save his brother from Warren, a killer who enjoys torturing his victims and making them beg for mercy. On a mission, Tom plunges into a world filled with mystery and danger. When he also discovers that his family has been keeping secrets from him—secrets that threaten to doom them all—he doesn’t know whom to trust.

Tom must break every rule he’s lived by, and go head-to-head with a psychopath if he’s to have any chance of saving his brother—and just maybe, keep America from reaching the fracture point.

ABOUT JEFF ALTABEF

Jeff Altabef is an award-winning author who lives in New York with his wife, two daughters, and Charlie the dog. He spends time volunteering at the writing center in the local community college. After years of being accused of “telling stories,” he thought he would make it official. He writes in both the thriller and young adult genres.

In the Young Adult genre, Jeff co-authored the Chosen Trilogy with his teenaged daughter, Erynn. The Chosen Series has won multiple awards including the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal for Best Coming of Age Novel, the 2015 Beverly HIlls Book Award for Best YA Fiction, and a Mom’s Choice Award.

As an avid Knicks fan, Jeff is prone to long periods of melancholy during hoops season. Jeff has a column on The Examiner focused on writing and a blog designed to encourage writing by those who like telling stories.

You can connect with Jeff on his website, Facebook, Twitter & Newsletter.

MY REVIEWS FOR JEFF ALTABEF

Red Death

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Are We Facing Extinction? Dark Light Dawn by Jon Land & Fabrizio Boccardi @jondland

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Jon Land has been a go to author for me from way back.

He is stepping outside his comfort zone in Dark Light Dawn, a horror thriller, and I am super excited to find out…

This is an early review and the book is now up for pre order and will be released August 1, 2017.

Dark Light: Dawn

Amazon  /  Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I have been a huge fan of Jon Land’s for many years and I am always eager to pick up another one of his novels.

Dark Light Dawn is a new genre for Jon Land and he has outdone himself. The opening is the hook, slowly reeling me in character by character, event by event, a war between good and evil ravages the world, innocents and guilty alike falling in agony.

Jon Land keeps the mystery going, slowly sharing pieces of what brought the world to this cataclysmic place, making it impossible for me to put the book down. Will anyone survive? Are we facing extinction?

The story is told from multiple points of view and I enjoyed seeing each character’s perspective and motivation.

It all began with Ben Younger…

Ben Younger and his partner, Dale Denton, are drilling oil, or at least trying to, on the impact crater of The Big Bang. Is it cursed, or is the Mexican way of doing business too costly. I guess that tells us there will be surprising developments arising.

Will arrogance and greed be Dale Denton’s downfall?

Max Younger, Ben’s son was in the fight of his life in Yemen. He functioned as if a man in auto mode, like he has a sixth sense. NOW, he’s in an even bigger fight and there is so much more at stake than just his life.

Vicky is a wiz with disease, having worked for the CDC and WHO and is called to Jordan.

Al-Qadir in Iraq, is a ruthless savage, hell bent on torturing and killing all those  who oppose him.

Science fiction, religious, paranormal and supernatural, horror…you decide.

The minute I thought I had everything figured out, the worst is over…

Holy Moly, what can I say?

The tension goes on and on and on and one.

Dark Light Dawn by Jon Land filled me with so many emotions, I was spent by the time I read the last word….but, please Jon….I WANT MORE!

Amazing! Mind shattering!

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

With an uncanny ability to survive any combat situation, Max Younger has built a good life for himself as a Navy SEAL. That is, until a rogue rescue operation plunges him back into the past he thought he’d escaped forever.

Waiting for him back home in New York are terrible, long-hidden truths rooted in the tragic death of his father. But the origin of those truths lie further back than that, and Max finds himself ensnared in a sinister plot involving nothing less than the biblical apocalypse.

The explosive conflagration of events reunites him with the only woman he ever loved: Victoria Lewin, a brilliant expert in infectious disease who may be the only one who can stop the spread of a deadly pestilence threatening the planet. Max’s reunion with Vicky comes amid a firestorm being unleashed by forces that date back to the very origins of the universe.

Across the globe, the stage is being set for a final, epic confrontation between the forces of good and evil. Sides are chosen, a fearsome army rises, and the lines between science and superstition become increasingly blurred. Max desperately seeks to discover whether he is fated, under the shadow of the Medusa Strain, to help save the world . . . or destroy it.

ABOUT JON LAND

JON LAND is the USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels, including Strong Enough to Die, Strong Justice, Strong at the Break, Strong Vengeance, Strong Rain Falling (winner of the 2014 International Book Award and 2013 USA Best Book Award for Mystery-Suspense), Strong Darkness (winner of the 2014 USA Books Best Book Award and the 2015 International Book Award for Thriller), and Strong Light of Day (winner of the 2015 Books and Author Award for Best Mystery Thriller and the 2016 Beverly Hills Book Award for Best Mystery). Land is a graduate of Brown University. He lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

MY JON LAND REVIEWS

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Sex, Torture and Human Trafficking ~ Blood is Power by Ella Medler Review

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Amazon  /  Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Ella Medler’s Hunter Series has some of the most awesome, vibrant, eyecatching covers that relate to the story and I love them. I could never walk by without picking them up, just by the cover alone.

I had read Blood Is Heavier, Book I, and I was dying to continue Nick’s story. Blood Is Power picks up where Blood Is Heavier left off. I knew this would be another hit thriller and I was not disappointed. Fast paced, exciting and suspenseful.

Nick was tired of all the killing, but Campbell or Dallas had kidnapped Cameron and Maxi to make him do their bidding, so now they would have to pay. They had no idea what a big mistake they had made. If he was good enough to hire, they should have thought of the repercussions. He found the yacht easily.

Tequila is Nick’s best bud. They had been in Special Forces together and had a special bond. She understood him and would do anything for him. She is strong, stubborn and resourceful. He had Max and Cam. She was alone, but she takes care of his family as if it’s her own. She is obsessive, impetuous and pushes things too far. It gets her in trouble. I was freaking out for Tequila. I love her and am scared for her.

Police Officer Newton, along with Marsh is doing a lot off the grid. Newton has a disregard for rules. They are walking a mighty fine line, venturing on their own to save…..They will risk their careers to do the right thing.

What was Dollar dela Rue’s game? He enjoyed being turned on by others pain. Is he in to human trafficking? Aweful, just awful Ella. How do you come up with such evilness. LOL I love it.

“So much blood? I hope its worth it.”

“Blood is power. Its money and influence and authority. It’s me.”

Hard to not give away too much. Police corruption. Rich powerful men ruling the world. A few out for the few. They can bring you down on a whim. Is that happening now? I do believe in conspiracies. Just look at current events.

I love thrillers and this is a great one. From the UK to Cypress to the Maldines. Greed, corruption, pornography, sex slaves, murder, and the deepest, darkest depravities of the sexually perverted.

Death of a 1000 – ling chi.

The writing was so real, I was at turns afraid, disgusted and super pissed.

I can’t think of where she will go next but am glad to hear that Tequila’s story will be told.

Bonus material and an interview with Ella Medler is at the end of the book.

The interview is very entertaining. When she tells how she remains sane, I loved it. Cracking up. I loved reading how she chooses characters names, and does her research on locations, the military culture, maps, organ transplant, slave trade, trafficking…

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Blood Is Power from Ella Medler.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

In this second instalment of his story, Nick Hunter proceeds to track down and eliminate every person involved in his son’s kidnap. But where will the chase end? And has he bitten off more than he can chew? Nick discovers a tangled net of human trafficking and corruption, and world-class players with a penchant for disturbed obsessions. Gritty, dark, chock-full of suspense. Don’t start reading if you cannot finish it in one sitting.

85,000 words approx, plus Bonus Materials 1, 2 & 3.
*
(non-spoiler excerpt)
“Action!” Dollar shouted. Then, quieter, to her. “Oh, I will enjoy watching your end, Precious. Every single second of it. Every cut, every lick of blood, every morsel of flesh that drops off your body.” Tequila felt her eyes bulge out of their sockets. She was too terrified to breathe, too stunned to think. And still, the beast walked nearer. He sneered, and then lifted up the scalpel until it was level with his chin. “Don’t forget to scream,” he whispered.
*
Don’t miss BLOOD IS THE END, the last book in the Hunter trilogy, due for release in 2014, and DEAL WITH IT! – Tequila’s story, a spin-off created by popular demand.
.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ella MedlerElla Medler is a U.K. author and free-lance editor. She writes fiction in more than one genre in a seemingly vain attempt to slow down her overactive brain enough to write non-fiction on subjects she knows a thing or two about. She also does not believe in the starchy use of English and ignores the type of rule that doesn’t allow for a sentence to be finished in a preposition. Her books are action-driven and well-developed characters are her forte. Loves: freedom. Hates: her inner censor.

Stalk Ella:  Blog  /  Goodreads  /  Facebook  /  Twitter  /  Paper Gold Publishing

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Blood Is Heavier, Book I

Blood Is Heavier (Hunter)Blood is Power (Hunter)
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Giveaway & Reviews for Marred & Cleaved by Sue Coletta @SueColetta1 @SilverDaggerSxx

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If you are looking for a fabulous and informative crime and thriller blog to follow, look no further. I have been a follower of Sue Coletta’s for some time now, so I was super excited to get my hands on Marred and Cleaved.

Just check out the covers by EJR Digital Art!

Cleaved
 
Cleaved
Grafton County Series, Book 2
by Sue Coletta
Genre: Thriller, Suspense
I just finished MARRED and it blew me away, so there was no way I was going to wait to read CLEAVED. I have to have more!
I love anything to do with water, and when I saw the Marine Patrol and Fish & Game would be involved, I became even more excited. I know what water can do to a dead body and I’m looking forward to finding out who put it there.
Sue starts her books out with a bang and I am gasping for breath right along with Sage. Then, Sue takes it to an even darker place and I excited to see how it will play out.
I feel as if the characters have become my friends and I worry for them as the serial killer adds body after body and the action continues non stop.
Sage has great instincts and after all she has been through, she listens to them.
Frankie has become my favorite character. She is humorous, brash, dresses as if she’s going out on the town instead of to a crime scene, hates authority and is quick with a sharp retort. Niko doesn’t think she would be good as the Sheriff because of these faults, so he is constantly grooming someone else to take his place when he quits.
Niko’s team has a Keystone Kop, Mayberry feel to them, but they are coming together, making constant progress.
The serial killer is back with a vengeance and I wonder if it is the same one…or is there more than one.
 Sue Coletta takes us to a very dark place with a kidnapping that would make any of us cringe and rage at the villain and the world.
I love how creative Sue is in coming up with new ways for the serial killer to torture and kill his victims, really making them suffer and beg for death. She never thinks the evil is bad enough, so she piles on more and more and more…
 Her ability to create so much tension and angst, at times left me white knuckled, gripping my Kindle so tight my hands hurt, making me want to reach through the screen and take matters into my own hands.
I voluntarily reviewed Marred by Sue Coletta.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 5 STARS

 
Author Sage Quintano writes about crime. Her husband Niko investigates it.
Together they make an unstoppable team. But no one counted on a
twisted serial killer, who stalks their sleepy community, uproots
their happy home, and splits the threads that bonds their family
unit.
Darkness swallows the Quintanos whole—ensnared by a ruthless killer out for
blood. Why he focused on Sage remains a mystery, but he won’t stop
till she dies like the others.
Women impaled by deer antlers, bodies encased in oil drums, nursery rhymes,
and the Suicide King. What connects these cryptic clues? For Sage and
Niko, the truth may be more terrifying than they ever imagined.
 
 
 
Marred
Marred
Grafton County Series, Book 1
 Marred by Sue Coletta starts out with a baby’s funeral and a severely broken woman who is pissed off at herself and the world because of it. I can’t help but wonder WHY.
Sage is broken in more ways than one…blaming herself for her unborn baby’s death even though she had been tortured by a serial killer and was lucky to even be alive. She is MARRED for life and now I understand why.
NOW, he’s back, terrorizing her and she has nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
I cannot imagine what she has been through, though Sue Coletta’s writing makes me become totally engrossed in her story, filled with details that draw a too vivid picture in my mind. I think it is time she takes matters into her own hands and let him know she will not cow down…this time. I love when the character has been through a traumatic, life changing experience, and the past comes back to haunt them, demanding they take action to defend themselves.
Sage is a bestselling author, writing crime novels, and this adds an extra element, making it even more interesting. Does her writing bring the killer even closer, thinking of her as a challenge? She keeps secrets, pushing people away, even keeping her husband at arm’s length. She writes about crime and her husband investigates the.
The murders are described in detail and they are brutal, savage. The more gruesome the better for me. LOL I guess I am a little twisted myself.
The body count rises.
I’m almost at 50% and I see what you are doing Sue. I know what you set me up for and I think it’s going to get ugly. I am pissed off at both of them for not communicating, but if they did we wouldn’t be in this dark place, with a sense of urgency and danger making me want to read faster and slower all at the same time, savoring the story.
There is a touch of the paranormal, rape, brutal and mind numbing torture. Why do women and society place blame on the vivctim, when it is the villain’s fault?
At times I am so angry with Niko that I want to reach into my Kindle and slap him upside the head, cuss him out, and tell him, “It’s not about YOU!”
Having a couple of critters adds another element that I love. They’d put their lives on the line for her.
Uh oh, I am glad that what I was thinking at 50% was wrong. Sue…you did a great job of yanking my chain and it takes a lot to lead me down the wrong path. Fabulous!
Deputy Sheriff Frankie, a female, is becoming a favorite character for me. To say she is rough around the edges is putting it mildly. She is aggressive and a bit raunchy, but I wouldn’t want any one else by my side in a time of crises.
WOW, Sue. You can sure spin a tale that has a lot of suspense that keeps my emotions raging as I struggle to take a calming breath before moving on to more of the same. You twisted and turned the story, keeping plenty of surprises coming my way.
Marred is the first book in the Grafton County series. One villain is taken care of, but you will want to read more of the series, because one remains.
I voluntarily reviewed Marred by Sue Coletta.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 5 STARS

 
When a serial killer breaks into the home of bestselling author, Sage
Quintano, she barely escapes with her life. Her husband, Niko, a
homicide detective, insists they move to rural New Hampshire, where
he accepts a position as Grafton County Sheriff. Sage buries secrets
from that night—secrets she swears to take to her deathbed.
Three years of anguish and painful memories pass, and a grisly murder case
lands on Niko’s desk. A strange caller begins tormenting Sage—she
can’t outrun the past.
When Sage’s twin sister suddenly goes missing, Sage searches Niko’s
case files and discovers similarities to the Boston killer. A
sadistic psychopath is preying on innocent women, marring their
bodies in unspeakable ways. And now, he has her sister.
Cryptic clues. Hidden messages. Is the killer hinting at his identity? Or is
he trying to lure Sage into a deadly trap to end his reign of terror
with a matching set of corpses?
Sue Coletta
 
ABOUT SUE COLETTA
 
Member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International
Thriller Writers, Sue Coletta is an award-winning, multi-published
author in numerous anthologies and her forensics articles have
appeared in InSinC Quarterly. In addition to her popular crime
resource blog, Sue co-hosts the radio show “Partners In Crime”
on Writestream Radio Network every third Tuesday of the month from 1
– 3 p.m. EDT/EST (see details at www.suecoletta.com).
She’s also the communications manager for the Serial Killer Project
and Forensic Science, and founder of #ACrimeChat on Twitter.
She runs a popular crime website and blog, where she shares crime tips,
police jargon, the mind of serial killers, and anything and
everything in between. If you search her achieves, you’ll find posts
from guests that work in law enforcement, forensics, coroner,
undercover operatives, firearm experts…crime, crime, and more
crime.
For readers, she has the Crime Lover’s Lounge, where subscribers will be
the first to know about free giveaways, contests, and have inside
access to deleted scenes. As an added bonus, members get to play in
the lounge. Your secret code will unlock the virtual door. Inside,
like-minded folks discuss their favorite crime novels, solve
mindbender and mystery puzzles, and/or relax and chat. Most
importantly, everyone has a lot of fun.
Sue lives in northern New Hampshire with her husband, where her house is
surrounded by wildlife…bear, moose, deer, even mountain lions have
been spotted. Course, Sue would love to snuggle with them, but her
husband frowns on the idea.
 
 
 
 

The doctor is in….and he’s insane – Celeste: Primal by Kristine Mason @KristineMason7

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Kristine Mason has taken the Celeste Files to a new level in Primal.

Amazon  /  Goodreads

MY REVIEW

 I have been waiting for Olivia to shine, and Kristine Mason is letting her show her stuff in Celeste: Primal. Olivia is only three years old, but when her mother is abducted, it is up to her to save her. I have read all of Celeste’s stories, and this one tops them all.

Celeste, John, and the kids were heading home to Wissota Falls, Wisconsin, for vacation. She wanted to go home, but, with her memories of the past and the last time she was there, I would have opted for the beach.

Maxine, Celeste’s mentor, has seven failed marriages and a house she shares with some friendly ghosts. Too bad they can’t talk to Maxine, but they use Celeste as a go between. They are funny and helpful, and this time they are talking to Olivia.

When Celeste goes missing, the wrath of CORE, owned by her father, Ian, comes down…There will be hell to pay and no one will stop until she is brought home.

Some CORE secrets will be exposed and I wonder what the repercussions will be.

I always laugh at myself when I come to the part where the action revs up and all the bad begins. I wait, anticipate, and revel in the badness. The darker, the better.

Primal is an apt title for this brutal, savage delving into parapsychology by those with their good and bad reasons for it.

OMG. I think I’m going to puke. OMG, Celeste…I have to wait, collect my thoughts as the horror and true evil of Martha washes over me, making my skin tingle and shivers run up and down my spine. I actually gagged. Through the tears pooling in my eyes, I read to the end.

If you love a breathtakingly beautiful love story and a horrifying supernatural thriller, this is one you will no be able to put down once you start. You will want the to follow the characters through their life, meet their friends, family, and ghosts, struggle through their trials with them, and share in their happiness during the good times.

If you have a ghost in your life, hold tight. You never know what help they can be in your time of need.

I love that Kristine shared the middle finger in the novel and if you want the chuckle I got hearing about letting the bird fly, read this yourself. You won’t regret it. Her writing will leave you wanting more.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Fear the living, not the dead…

John Kain’s wife, Celeste, has been abducted. With little evidence, the CORE investigator enlists the help of their clairvoyant, three-year-old daughter. He attempts to connect with Celeste through his preschooler, but he’s left with more questions than answers, and even more fear. Using psychic visions, his little girl somehow takes him into the paranormal world and shows him the horror his wife is facing—if he doesn’t find Celeste soon, he might never see her alive again.

Celeste has woken to a living nightmare. Thirty-five years ago, a psychiatrist obsessed with the supernatural had kidnapped her psychic mother. Although her mom had survived, the twisted doctor had murdered five other people like her, and thanks to her mom’s testimony, was sentenced to life in prison. Spurred by vengeance, the psychiatrist’s son is determined to continue with his father’s experiments, and he has a special room just for Celeste.

With the help of the dead, Celeste is doing everything possible to save herself from being tortured. But she’s running out of time. Her kidnapper believes he can enhance her psychic gift through brain surgery. The doctor is in….and he’s insane.

ABOUT KRISTINE MASON
.

AuthorPhoto_PerfectlyToxicKristine Mason is the bestselling author of the popular romantic suspense trilogies, C.O.R.E. Shadow, and Ultimate C.O.R.E. She is currently working on her next trilogy, C.O.R.E. Above the Law, along with a series of Psychic C.O.R.E. novellas.

Although Kristine has published a few contemporary romance novels, she focuses most of her energy on her romantic suspense stories, which she loves for their blend of dark mystery/suspense and sexy romance. She is fascinated with what makes people afraid, and is famous for her depraved villains whose crimes present massive obstacles for her heroes and heroines to overcome.

Kristine has a degree in journalism from Ohio State University and lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband, four kids, and two dogs. If she’s not writing, she’s chauffeuring kids, gardening, or collecting gnomes. Oh, and she makes a mean chocolate chip cookie!Connect with Kristine on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kristinemasonauthor, Twitter https://twitter.com/KristineMason7 or email her at authorkristinemason@gmail.com. You can also find out more about Kristine’s books at http://www.kristinemason.net

Blog /  Facebook /  Twitter  /  Goodreads /  Pinterest

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MY REVIEWS FOR KRISTINE MASON’S NOVELS

Creature Feature Review – The Jersey Devil by Hunter Shea @huntershea1

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The Jersey Devil is not my first Hunter Shea novel, nor will it be my last. His creature features are packed with horrifying thrills and chills that entertain me for hours and I always hate to see the story end.

I borrowed this paperback copy from Laura, my sister at fuonlyknew.

ALSO, be sure and check out Hunter Shea’s bio. I find him VERY interesting and I think you will too.

28475212

Amazon  /  Goodreads

I love creature features and The Jersey Devil by Hunter Shea is a gripping and terrifying horror tale that unrolled like movie film as the images flitted through my mind. I am an avid watcher of B movies and this cover told me all I needed to know.

Boompa knew the legend of The Jersey Devil was true and his family had been waiting…waiting…waiting…knowing this day would come.

I love that Boompa, a farmer in his eighties, used a computer to keep aware of any monster sightings. The Willet family had prepared for this moment their entire lives and they will fight to the death.

I can’t imagine being in the woods and I mean so far back in the boonies that even the people that live there are off the grid…dangerous…Imagine how dark it is, how every rustle of leaves or crack of a branch leaves you shivering in fear. I have sat in my back yard, very late at night photographing the moon and freaked myself out listening to the sounds of the night, looking over my shoulder wondering if it is really some harmless lizard or…

The characters all have their purpose, some heroes and some not so much, and some who will not make it out alive and I felt Hunter Shea disposed of them in a way that made me feel it was okay.

So…look to the side, look to the back, look below, look above…

This action packed legend comes to life early with bloody, savage, gripping and terrifying horror. These super charged monsters will take you to a gruesome place where no one is safe. You won’t want to miss it.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  5 Stars

~~~

GOODREADS BLURB

“Old school horror.” —Jonathan Maberry

THE LEGEND LIVES

Everyone knows the legend of the Jersey Devil. Some believe it is an abomination of nature, a hybrid winged beast from hell that stalks the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey searching for prey. Others believe it is a hoax, a campfire story designed to scare children. But one man knows the truth…

THE DEVIL AWAKES

Sixty years ago, Boompa Willet came face to face with the Devil—and lived to tell the tale. Now, the creature’s stomping grounds are alive once again with strange sightings, disappearances, and worse. After all these years, Boompa must return to the Barrens, not to prove the legend is real but to wipe it off the face of the earth…

THE BEAST MUST DIE

It’ll take more than just courage to defeat the Devil. It will take four generations of the Willet clan, a lifetime of survivalist training, and all the firepower they can carry. But timing is critical. A summer music festival has attracted crowds of teenagers. The woods are filled with tender young prey. But this time, the Devil is not alone. The evil has grown into an unholy horde of mutant monstrosities. And hell has come home to New Jersey…

~~~

ABOUT HUNTER SHEA

Hunter SheaHunter Shea is the product of a misspent childhood watching scary movies, reading forbidden books and wishing Bigfoot would walk past his house. He doesn’t just write about the paranormal – he actively seeks out the things that scare the hell out of people and experiences them for himself. Hunter’s novels can even be found on display at the International Cryptozoology Museum. His video podcast, Monster Men, is one of the most watched horror podcasts in the world. He’s a bestselling author of over 13 (lucky number!) books, all of them written with the express desire to quicken heartbeats and make spines tingle. Living with his wonderful family and two cats, he’s happy to be close enough to New York City to gobble down Gray’s Papaya hotdogs when the craving hits.

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

~~~

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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MY REVIEW FOR THE MONTAUK MONSTER BY HUNTER SHEA

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Assassin + Serial Killer = Come Hell or High Water by Britney King @britneyking_

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I love the fabulously eerie cover for Come Hell or High Water, the finale for a stupendous trilogy by Britney King.
 
Come Hell or High Water (The Water Trilogy #3)
 
 Author: Britney King
Title: Come Hell or High Water
Series: Water Trilogy #3
Release Date: April 19, 2017
.

MY REVIEW

I didn’t think Kate could get any more twisted, but I was so wrong. Her desire to know drives her to do unspeakable, twisted and perverted things. Her actions constantly amaze me, and not in a good way. Where our anger and thoughts of doing something bad to someone may flit through our minds, Kate acts on hers.

This latest ‘event’ cannot end well and I don’t know what she’s thinking. She’s fooling herself. People like her can’t have friends. I’m not even sure she can have a husband and kids and I wonder how this story could possible end with a happy ever after.

If Kate and Jude could live in a sexual frenzy, could they be happy, content with a life in suburbia? Can a serial killer ever be happy? Does killing become an end all, must have, like the air they breathe?

This trilogy has been an amazing journey into the mind of assassins and serial killers, and what motivates them to do the things they do. Sometimes I think I am a little twisted because I loved reading about Kate and Jude so much, but then I think about the author that writes it. LOL

Kate starts out calm and in control…for now, and Jude will settle for that…for now. But what happens the shit hits the fan and Jude fears that more than anything.

And their children…Do serial killers breed serial killers?

Britney King’s in depth descriptions of people, whether it’s the main characters, their petty, drunken neighbors, or the woman in the dress shop treating people like crap because she hates her petty life

We get a glimpse into their past through flashbacks, but that is no excuse for them doing the things they do.

Seeing all books need to be read to follow the story, I don’t want to spoil anything, so all I can say is Kate and Jude are seriously fucked up and I can only wonder .how they haven’t managed to kill each other

I love the illustrations heading each chapter, hinting at what’s to come.

After Kate and Jude have sex, Jude’s thoughts are I think about what we’ve just done, how we’re so broken and yet we fit just right. Then why all the problems? Why can’t Kate be happy? Content?

I started to get bored with the killing (LOL), chatting, kids…and that’s when Britney King throws in a fantastic twist. She lulls me in with a sense of complacency then slams it home.

I have been trying to figure out how Britney King will wrap up The Water Trilogy and couldn’t wrap my mind around a happy ending, but she came up with one that fit very nicely and I can rest…

This twisted, dark suspense thriller series is one you won’t want to miss!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Come Hell or High Water by Britney King.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  5 Stars

EXCERPT

“I’ve been studying her for weeks. I know how she takes her coffee, the color she prefers on her nails, the way her mouth moves when she sleeps. I don’t know what she looks like when she’s happy. But I will.”

When Cheryl Steinbeck-Edwards makes the decision to get in a car with a potential contractor, meticulous hitman Jude Riley and his lovely wife Kate, it appears to be the perfect partnership. Turns out, nothing is perfect, and getting in that car was a poor choice, to say the least.

When Kate decides not to kill the woman, as she and her husband agreed, a series of events, some might even call it karma, conspire to turn their worst fears turn into reality.

 

I’ve been studying her for months. I know how she takes her coffee, the color she prefers on her nails, the way her mouth moves when she sleeps. I don’t know what she looks like when she’s happy. But I will.

That’s not to say I meant to keep her this long. And, of course, you, well you, never intended to keep her at all. But then, what’s done is done.

“I want you to be happy here,” I told her the first week she was here, not long after we let the drugs wear off completely.

“I don’t see how that’s possible,” she said.

“Tell me what makes you happy.”

I could see her thinking about my question; I could see that I’d set something into motion. It wasn’t immediate—most things that are truly great rarely are, but eventually her lips turned upward. Slowly, she broke out into a full-on smile, and it was like the sun coming out on a cloudy day. “He makes me happy.”

“Your husband,” I said. It wasn’t a question. Mostly because it hadn’t occurred to me that it should be.

She laughed just slightly. The smile remained. “Something like that.”

“I see,” I told her, raising my brow.

She looked at me then, really looked at me. The smile faded but her eyes lit up. “Not yet, you don’t,” she said. “But you will.”

 

 
ABOUT BRITNEY KING
 

Britney King writes modern love stories for mature audiences. She also enjoys suspense and often finds her sweet spot penning a good mixture of the two.

Britney is the author of eight novels and is currently at work on number nine.

She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, children, two dogs, one ridiculous cat and a partridge in a pear tree.

.
  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
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MY BRITNEY KING REVIEWS

 

#RomanticSuspense Review – Morgan’s Hunter by Cate Beauman @CateBeauman

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Cate Beauman is a must read author for me.

I love romantic suspense and she is a top notch author with The Bodyguards of LA County series to her credit. I am eager to meet them all, and I will be happy to introduce you to therm…one by one.

I love the cover, the bright green catches my attention quickly, and the elements tell me the story inside will be an interesting one, involving murder and mystery.

Cover by Streetlight Graphic

Morgan's Hunter (The Bodyguards Of L.A. County, #1)

Amazon  /  Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I cannot imagine how our brave men and women feel as they dodge IED’s and bullets in a foreign land, so…

When Hunter was at Jake’s side in Afghanistan, as he lay dying, Jake made Hunter promise to take care of Sarah and the baby.

Hunter had been injured himself and nightmares haunted his sleep.

Morgan didn’t hurt for money, but she worked hard anyway. She and her friends were the six Musketeeers and committed to their environmental work…until three are found murdered. She seeks answers with a vengeance.

She is a scientist doing wildlife research, not a fighter, so her dad’s solution…Ethan Cooke Security and Hunter is assigned to work with her.

This is my favorite type of reading. I do want a high degree of suspense and I  feel it throughout…waiting for the culprits to show themselves and the confrontation that will result. Making this mystery even harder to solve, is their location, alone in the wilderness.

Two strong personalities clash and the verbal foreplay begins. Sparks are flying from their first meeting. Of course, we knew this was coming. After all, Morgan’s Hunter is a romantic suspense, so I would be hugely disappointed if it didn’t.

Cate Beauman does a fabulous job of creating desire and painful denial, the characters not allowing themselves to act on their attraction. Their  denial creates it own suspense and anticipation as I wait for them to act on their feelings. I keep waiting for them to drop their guard and get it on.

I knew something would happen before they left the forest. I hate the way it happened, but it had to be that way. Sometimes Morgan acts like a spoiled brat and it makes me wonder about myself. I can be obstinate and cantankerous when someone tries to boss me around. Would I do that in her situation?

Greed, money, power…who knows what will cause a person to corrupt themselves.

The danger doesn’t end when I thought it would. I love that Cate kept me on pins and needles, sneaking in the last tidbits of goodness, choosing the time when I can take a breath and say, “OMG, What’s next?.”

This fabulous series stands alone and ranks high on my reading list. I can hardly wait to read more.

I voluntarily reviewed Morgan’s Hunter by Cate Beauman.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  5 Stars

ABOUT CATE BEAUMAN

 
International bestselling author Cate Beauman is known for her full-length, action-packed romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County. Her novels have been nominated for the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, National Indie Excellence Award, Golden Quill Award, Writers Touch Award, and have been named Readers Favorite Five Star books. In 2015, JUSTICE FOR ABBY was selected as the Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Gold Medalist, while SAVING SOPHIE took the Silver Medal. SAVING SOPHIE was also selected as the 2015 Readers Crown Award winner for Romantic Suspense and FALLING FOR SARAH received the silver medal for the 2014 Readers’ Favorite Awards.

Cate makes her home in North Carolina with her husband, two boys, and their St. Bernards, Bear and Jack. Currently Cate is working on Deceiving Bella, the eleventh novel in her popular Bodyguards series.

For information on Cate’s new releases, monthly giveaways, and upcoming events, sign up for her newsletter at: http://www.catebeauman.com/author/home.html#!newsletter-sign-up/c9td

Contact Cate:  Amazon Author Page  /  BookBub

Social links:  Twitter  /  Website  /  Facebook  /  Goodreads  /  Instagram

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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To read in order:

While reading the series in order is recommended, it is not necessary. Each story is a stand alone title featuring new primary characters with limited overlapping secondary characters. Click the highlighted link below to check them out:

Book Eleven: Deceiving Bella, the story of Isabella and Reed (In production)