Category Archives: Reviews

Scrumdiddlyumptious – Wicked Believer by Kait Ballenger @kait_ballenger #wickedbeliever

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I am super excited to be back in Charlotte and Lucifer’s world in the Wicked Believer by Kait Ballenger, the sequel to Original Sinner. Let’s do a recap. God brought Lucifer and the seven deadly sins to New York City…and vanished. A celestial war is on the horizon. Charlotte is no longer the good little Christian. Not since Lucifer got his hands on her. She is walking on the dark side, growing and learning to stand on her own. The sex is sizzling hot. He is the dominant and she is the submissive, but…

Queen of my own damned life. Queen of my own goddamn choices.

“Not a fallen angel. Not a demon. Not a human, but something else in between.”

There are a lot of triggers in Charlotte and Lucifer’s erotic world, so be sure you are ready to walk on the dark side. I was lost in it. The darker it got, the more intense it felt. I loved all the changes that Charlotte is going through. I loved being on the sidelines and watching sides being taken as the apocalypse approaches. Charlotte is not going to stand behind Lucifer and let him drive the boat,. She’s going to be front and center. The kink level rises, and Charlotte does not shy away from it. She embraces it. I was reading along, white knuckled, eager to read the next word, the next sentence, the next chapter, and then….it came to an end.

I love everything about Wicked Believer and I want to thank Kait Ballenger and Montlake for the opportunity to read and review it. I can hardly wait for the next book, seeing there is war on the horizon.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Author Kait Ballenger whips up a spicy sequel to Original Sinner, a no-holds-barred dark romance where the devil and his queen-to-be explore the bounds of kink, even as they stand on the brink of war.

I wasn’t always immortal. And I’m not sure I’ll ever get the hang of it. Not like Lucifer, a.k.a. Pride. He and the other seven deadly sins, the high-profile billionaires who run this city, make the divine life look easy.

I came to New York a good, if damaged, Christian girl. Then Lucifer opened my eyes to the darkness. To the hunger burning inside me. To a world of pain and pleasure like nothing I’ve ever known. Now it’s all I crave. He’s all I crave.

But as I grapple with this new existence—and the events that led me to it—unseen forces push me and Lucifer apart. Paparazzi track my every move, Lucifer’s family plays their wicked games, and I hardly know who I am anymore. Or who I’m meant to be.

A celestial war is brewing, and Lucifer’s siblings are out for blood—and the dark power inside me calls me to join the fight.

  • Genre: Dark Romance, Erotica, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural
  • 453 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication September 9, 2025 by Montlake
  • Series: Original Sinners #2

ABOUT KAIT BALLENGER

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

    MY KAIT BALLENGER REVIEWS

    • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
    • You can see my Reviews HERE.
    • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
    • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
    • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
    • Product images are linked/I am an Amazon affiliate.
    • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

    Friends With Benefits – Review – Opal’s Fight by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor #opalsfight

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    Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    Are you looking for heroes and heroines, foxy ladies and macho men? You can’t go wrong with a Jane Blythe novel. Her characters carry heavy baggage and I have a great time watching them get their happy ever afters. At times the stories feels all too real, making them even more terrifying.

    CJ and Opal have been having a friends with benefits relationship. Neither is ready to make a commitment. Trouble arises when Opal finds out she is pregnant, right in the middle of an undercover operation. Memories of her past surface, which makes her more determined than ever to save the girls from human traffickers. (Every time I enter my doctor’s office, I see a poster about trafficked girls. Florida is known to be a high risk state for visitors). Opal’s Fight is a little bit different, in that, the traffickers want the babies. The girls are considered disposable.

    Babies are kryptonite to CJ. Can he learn to love their unborn child? Well, if you are like me, you know he will overcome his feelings and become the husband and father that Opal and their unborn child need. The interesting part is the how of it.

    “Need us to go beat him up for you?”

    “Nah, if he needs beating up, I think we can handle it,” she said, gesturing to her sisters.

    And I have no doubt they could handle it. The ladies were raised by the Master to be assassins and they don’t hold anything back when danger puts them in the crosshairs of evil. Even after the undercover operation is over, the danger lingers. I knew when IT was going to happen, I just didn’t know exactly what and by whom.

    Whew. That was one wild ride, filled with highs and lows and lots of danger. I’m really excited to get started on the next series of ferocious women warriors, the Athena Team series. First up is Scarlett.

    Thanks Jane, for the opportunity to read and review Opal’s Fight.

    Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
    4 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    An unplanned pregnancy could push their friends with benefits arrangement to something more or break what they have.

    Despite growing up the way she did, Opal Smith always knew she wanted to have a family of her own one day. The last thing she expected was to wind up pregnant in the middle of an undercover case. Not that it matters because she knows without a doubt that the only man she trusts with her body and her heart will step up. CJ would never let her down. Ever.

    Navy SEAL Cameron John “CJ” Ulrich has a secret. One he hasn’t disclosed with anyone. Including his best friend. Even though he feels things changing with Opal, starts thinking maybe he’d like more than friends with benefits, when she announces she’s pregnant that’s it. Things are over between them. For good. But the dangers of her undercover case are lingering around her, and CJ might wind up losing Opal and the baby he believes he doesn’t want permanently.

    • Genre: Fiction, Military Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Thriller
    • 280 pages, Kindle Edition
    • Published November 14, 2023
    • Series: Prey Security: Artemis Team #4

    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 – Armored by Mark Greaney @MarkGreaneyBook #armored

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    He's one man with a team to protect, a secret to keep, a mission to complete.

    Amazon / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    Josh Duffy wondered who he had become. He was a security guard at the mall. Who is there to protect? He can’t even afford to take care of his family. He couldn’t help but question why he was here. Not just here at the mall, but here on earth. What was his purpose?

    Josh Duffy had been a professional bodyguard. He was one of the world’s elite operatives, until Lebanon. He was successful in protecting his principal, but he had paid a price, the loss of his leg.

    An old friend finds him at the mall and offers him an opportunity to work in the field. The UN is hoping to broker a truce between the different drug cartels in Mexico. He gets more than he bargains for.

    Once the action starts, it never stops. Danger is found around every corner. Bodies will fall. It doesn’t take long for them to realize there is a traitor amongst their group. Who will make it out alive?

    Mark Greaney’s research makes Armored shine. The vivid details and realistic characters bring the story to life. The pacing and excellent writing kept the suspense at a high level. A sense of urgency played across the pages and I found myself engrossed in the story. I would definitely read more of his work.

    I won this copy of Armored, Armored #1, by Mark Greaney.

    Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
    4 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    A novel inspired by #1 New York Times best-selling author Mark Greaney’s Audible Original drama, Armored.Joshua Duffy is a Close Protection Agent—a professional bodyguard—and he’s one of the world’s elite operatives. That is, he was until his last mission in Lebanon. Against all odds, Josh got his primary out alive, but the cost was high. Josh lost his lower left leg.  There’s not much call for an elite bodyguard with such an injury. So, Josh has to support his family working as a mall cop in New Jersey. For a man like Josh, this is purgatory on earth, but miracles can occur even in Paramus.  A lucky run-in with an old comrade promises to get Josh back in the field for one last job. The UN is sending a peace mission into the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico, an area so dangerous it’s known as Espinazo del Diablo—the Devil’s Spine. Only a fool would think they could broker peace between the homicidal drug cartels in the region, and only a madman would sign on to keep those fools alive.

    • Genre: Fiction, Military, Mystery, Spy, Suspense, Thriller
    • 510 pages, Kindle Edition
    • First published July 5, 2022 by Berkley
    • Series; Armored #1

    ABOUT MARK GREANEY

    Mark Greaney has a degree in International Relations and Political Science. In researching The Gray Man series he traveled to ten countries and trained extensively in the use of firearms, battlefield medicine, and close range combative tactics.

    Learn more at MARKGREANEYBOOKS.COM

    Email Mark at MarkGreaneyBooks@gmail.com

    MY MARK GREANEY REVIEWS

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

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    NEW RELEASE

    GOODREADS

    MY REVIEW

    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

    GOODREADS BLURB

    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

    ABOUT JEFFREY DEAVER

    #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

    ABOUT ISABELLA MALDONADO

    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.

    • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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    Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious – Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger @kait_ballenger

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    Amazon / Kindle Unlimited / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    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

    GOODREADS BLURB

    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

    ABOUT KAIT BALLENGER

    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

      MY KAIT BALLENGER REVIEWS

      • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
      • You can see my Reviews HERE.
      • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
      • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
      • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
      • Product images are linked/I am an Amazon affiliate.
      • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

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

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        About the Book

         Title: Knot of Souls

        Author: Christine Amsden

        Publisher: Christine Amsden

        Publication Date: May 20, 2025

        Pages: 384

        Genre: Urban Fantasy

         

        MY REVIEW

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

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        GOODREADS

        MY REVIEW

        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

        GOODREADS BLURB

        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

        ABOUT CHRISTINA BAKE KLINE

        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

        ABOUT ANNE BURT

        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.

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        Review – Three Girls Gone by Carolyn Arnold #ThreeGirlsGone #NetGalley @Carolyn_Arnold

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        Amazon / Goodreads

        MY REVIEW

        I am always happy to be back with Detective Amanda Steele of the Prince William County Police Department and eagerly crack open Three Girls Gone by Carolyn Arnold. We are in the small town of Dumfries, Virginia.

        I love Prologues. I love the tease. I love the hook that gets set from the opening pages.

        They ended up where they were supposed to be, just like destiny had intended.

        Unfortunately, that is not a good thing, seeing the killer is doing the placing of the young girls’ bodies. The murder struck close to home for Amanda. She has an adopted nine year old daughter that she loves to pieces. She has the whole work/life conflict, but Zoe understands how important Amanda’s job is, even though she feels disappointed at times. Amanda could relate to the loss of a child, because she had lost her husband and six year old daughter to a car accident.

        There was a child, Julie Gilbert, twelve years back, and a colleague of Amanda’s, Katherine Graves, was back and determined to find out who killed the child. Secrets will be revealed

        I always wonder when Carolyn Arnold will let Amanda have her happy every after. Her and her partner Trent have a push pull relationship. They already have a great working relationship and I think a personal relationship would work for them as well.

        The detailed descriptions of Zoe’s actions are so sweet and easy to visualize, putting a smile on my face.

        Carolyn Arnold never lets me down. She manages to write stories that grab me and never let me go. I race through the pages, having to know what’s coming next, who is doing what to who and how is Amanda going to catch the bad guy. The mystery is not easily solved and I like an author who can keep me guessing.

        My thanks go out to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Three Girls Gone by Carolyn Arnold.

        Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
        4 Stars

        GOODREADS BLURB

        The girl in the ballerina dress lies still on the carousel with her face toward the blue sky. In her tutu and slippers, she’s ready for her next performance. But as the morning sun shines down upon her, she no longer feels its warmth on her cheeks. Her bright light is gone forever.

        When the body of Hailey Tanner is found in a local park, Detective Amanda Steele races to the scene. Interviewing her devastated parents, they confirm that Hailey never made it home from her dance class. Searching for clues in the family home, Amanda discovers that some ballet clothing was taken from Hailey’s room. Could the killer have been close to her?

        As Amanda and Trent question potential suspects, they’re painfully reminded of a similar case. Julie Gilbert, another gifted performer, was murdered in exactly the same way twelve years ago. Amanda’s former colleague, Katherine Graves, never gave up hope of bringing the killer to justice and now with a clear link between the two victims, she steps back into the investigation.

        But she’s soon warned off when a threatening note is found in the hem of Hailey’s dress. “This girl’s your fault. Stop looking or there will be more.”

        With boxes of evidence files and potential leads, Amanda knows that Katherine must have been getting close, but when a third girl is taken soon after, the clock starts ticking again. There’s no way Amanda will let another child suffer at the hands of this twisted killer. But how much will the team be prepared to sacrifice, and can they save this girl before it’s too late?

        • Genre: Fiction, Mystery
        • 356 pages, Kindle Edition
        • Expected publication August 27, 2025 by Bookouture
        • Series: Detective Amanda Steele #14

        ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD

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

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

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

        MY REVIEWS FOR CAROLYN ARNOLD

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        Review – A Glimpse Too Far: Based On A True Story by Karen Charles @pumpupyourbook

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        Amazon / Goodreads

        MY REVIEW

        A Glimpse Too Far by Karen Charles is based on a true story. I love stories that can blend fact and fiction as seamlessly as Karen has done. Elouise wakes up after a terrible accident with the ability to see glimpses of people’s pasts and futures. Is it a gift or a curse? I feel sure that there are those who would love to exploit her gift.

        There are secrets that will be exposed and when she gets pulled into a powerful senators plan to use her gift as a weapon, danger surrounds her. She has no chance at a normal life, and I love the path that Karen Charles chose for her to walk.

        I love that Karen Charles brought horses into the story. I had recently read another book that had wild horses in it and the dangers they face.

        There is a love interest and I love that Karen Charles has chosen to veer from a familiar path that usually defines a romantic suspense novel.

        To wrap things up, A Glimpse Too Far by Karen Charles was a quick, easy read with the right amount of mystery and danger that kept me flipping the pages, wanting to know what comes next. Wanting to know if Elouise can have a happy ever after. And I love that things didn’t end the way I thought they would. That makes me think there could be more in store for Elouise. What do you think, Karen? Is she still talking to you?

        I want to thank Pump Up Your Book Tours and Karen Charles for the opportunity to read and review A Glimpse Too Far.

        Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
        4 Stars

        GOODREADS BLURB

        A terrifying gift. A government cover-up. And a past that won’t stay buried.
        Elouise thought she had left the past behind. After a tragic accident, she woke with a chilling ability to see glimpses of people’s pasts and futures. She’s spent years trying to live a normal life. But when a powerful senator pulls her into a high-stakes game of deception and control, she realizes her gift is no longer a secret—it’s a weapon. And he intends to use it.
        She must make an impossible play his deadly game or risk everything to expose the truth.
        Danger closes in. Now, Elouise is running for her life, hunted by those who will do anything to silence her.
        Who can she trust? The boyfriend who swore to protect her? Or the man who wants to own her gift—at any cost?
        A Glimpse Too Far is a pulse-pounding thriller filled with menace, betrayal, and a race against time. Will the truth be uncovered before it’s too late?

        • Genre: Fiction, Psychological, Suspense, Thriller, Animals, Horses
        • 217 pages, Kindle Edition
        • Published June 18, 2025 by BookBaby

        ABOUT KAREN CHARLES (from Amazon)

        Karen Charles is the author of Freeman Earns a Bike, a children’s book, and two thrillers based on true stories. Fateful Connections takes place in the aftermath of 9/11, and Blazing Upheaval takes place during the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles and the Northridge earthquake. She has two businesses: a global company that trains international teachers to teach American English, and an Airbnb on a beautiful bay in Washington State, where she resides with her husband. Her latest book is the psychological thriller, A Glimpse Too Far.

        Website & Social Media:

        Website ➜ www.weaveofsuspense.com  

        X ➜  http://www.x.com/karenra24229683 

        Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/karen.rabe.7/

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        Review – Wings Of Steel & Fury by Sarah J Daley #WingsofSteelFury #NetGalley #sarahjdaley

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        Amazon / Goodreads

        MY REVIEW

        Wings of Steel & Fury by Sarah J Daley is a fabulous fantasy that gave me hours of reading pleasure. We have a lot of characters and each has a special place and purpose in the story. We have Eleazar Starson, a prince and heir to the throne of Honor, but he must earn it. Little does he know, those closest to him will betray him. He falls to Earth, to the human world, where someone who was used to light and beauty will have to learn to survive in a world of darkness, with monsters and chaos. Lucky for him, he meets Fury.

        …she’d come into the world screaming and her mother had anointed her ‘Fury’ and she’s spent her life living up to the name.

        Diver, Fury’s brother, Fury will work together to keep Eleazar alive. Eleazar’s brother will be back to finish off what he started, so he may have the throne. Diver is a lovable character, and, though Fury felt he had been spoiled rotten, he will rise to the occasion and become one of my favorite characters.

        Wings Of Steel & Fury felt like fantasy, and steampunk rolled into one, with a splash of the apocalyptic/dystopian genre. The battles between the ‘gods’ and the humans are brutal, savage, and amazing. It is a fight to the death and I feel the loss of many of those who fall, who willing give up their life to save others. Both sides see things from their own perspective, instead of how they really are and much will be learned as they have to work together to survive.

        I want to thank Angry Robot and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Wings Of Steel & Fury by Sarah J Daley. I was sad to come to the end of this wonderful novel.

        Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
        4 Stars

        GOODREADS BLURB

        The human world is no place for a god, but toiling on Earth may just teach an angel how to fly once again…

        Eleazar Starson, prince of Splendour and heir to the Great Throne of Honor, is living his worst nightmare. Betrayed and grievously injured, he has been cast from a world of light and beauty to suffer in the Below, a world of darkness and despair populated with demonic ghouls and vile creatures. It is a terrible world, a human world. It is an awful place for a god, especially one as beautiful and brilliant as Eleazar.

        But, broken and lost, he is a god struggling in the muck, his only allies a pair of atheist siblings who would sooner worship a burnt ghoul than show him proper obeisance and the closest gateway back to Splendour is half a world away through a wild and daunting landscape of chaos, monsters and men. He has no choice but to endure the unspeakable horrors of this human place, this war-torn world of carbines and steel rails and smoke-belching factories, not if he wishes to return to Splendour and reclaim his place among the Angelus.

        • Genre: Angels, Gods And Godesses, Fantasy, Fiction
        • Kindle Edition
        • Expected publication August 26, 2025 by Angry Robot

        ABOUT SARAH J DALEY

        Sarah J. Daley is a former chef who lives and writes in the Chicagoland area with her husband, son and very fat cat. Her debut novel, Obsidian, was a finalist for the 2022 Compton Crook Award. She has also published with Warhammer’s Black Library and continues to churn out work featuring indomitable MCs who get dumped into impossible, and usually violent, situations. She is also a proud stepmother to three adult children who definitely don’t consider her wicked.

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