Terror. Pain. Then darkness. This is how it starts.
This, my dear readers, is what we call The Birth.
My name is Sonia. I am vampire.
There are some vampires who have not adapted as the years go by. You know, keep up with fashion, technology, politics…Sonia is not one of them. Even though she intermingles with humans, she does not date them. She knows about death and loss.
Some in government, the FBI and the CIA know about them. Humans pose a danger to vampires, so it is best to be low key. But…someone is out there slaughtering young vampires.
Sonia meets a human, Alex. She doesn’t know why, but she ends up spending time with him. She has a roommate, Sunny, who is a hunkalicious vampire with a wonderful sense of humor. I quickly grew to love him. He donates half his money to charity and snuggles babies in the NICU. I’ve never heard of a vampire, let alone a male vampire, doing such a thing.
I am loving the story, but at times, the author buried me with too many details. But, I did like when Sonia was talking about having interests in mines in Australia. I have watched TV shows about mining for opals in Cooby Pedy. It’s fun when I am familiar with a location.
I was about 40% into the story before it really got going for me. Have you ever heard of a zombie vampire? Well, we have one here. I smell more than the dead. I smell a rat. Sonia will get to the bottom of it or die, again, trying. But, what about Alex?
The details interrupted the pace at times, but sticking with the story paid off with some fabulous battles. A little vampire, human, vampire triangle was intriguing. I am sure Sunny would have loved to part of a menage a trois with Sonia and Alex. LOL
I believe Moon Flower: Vampires Of Los Angeles by is Heather Ewen Foster’s debut novel. Well done. I look forward to reading more of your work and I have my eye on you now.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Sonia, a 250-year-old Australian vampire, thought she had found peace in the quiet neighborhood of Whitley Heights, Hollywood. But when a mysterious creature starts slaughtering young vampires, Sonia is thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse.With her friend Sunny targeted by an ancient monster, Sonia must uncover the truth behind these brutal attacks. Desperate to save her friend and end the bloodshed, Sonia navigates the treacherous politics of the vampire world. Along the way, she finds herself torn between her irresistible attraction to Alex, the enigmatic human journalist helping in her investigation, and her deep bond with sexy and charismatic Sunny, Alpha Vampire extraordinaire.As the sinister plot unravels, Sonia’s race against time becomes a pulse-pounding battle against an impossibly powerful foe. Will she uncover the truth before more lives are lost? And what sacrifices will she have to make to protect those she loves?Moon Flower is a spellbinding urban fantasy that will leave you breathless. Heather Ewen-Foster’s suspenseful tale immerses you in a world of danger, romance, and mythical creatures. Get ready for an electrifying adventure that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.
Welcome to Sleighville. Where you are sure to have a holly, jolly time.
Sure, the title for Dashing Through The Fear by Amanda Siegrist gave me that shivery feeling of trepidation, but the cover added the extra ‘dash’. Not just with the content, that gave me a warm, cozy feeling, mixed with fear, but the font was a perfect fit.
I do love small towns, where everyone knows your business. Some of the time it adds a fun element to the story, other times it gives a character others to turn to in times of trouble…and ‘Eve’ will need all the help she can get. First, with a place to live, then a job.
She, literally, runs into Griffith and she will find it hard to avoid him, since he lives next door and is the chief of police of Sleighville. Who would imagine a hunkalicious guy like him would have a pet like Walter., but they are a great fit. Walter is a cat with one eye and half a front paw. Critters add a little something extra to every story, for me.
No one knew why the rental property had such a high turnover rate. Hmmmm…
Eve’s job search is a success, getting hired at Noel’s Cafe. She had worked in a bakery before, so I have a feeling this, along with other things, will be a perfect fit.
Mystery, suspense, thrillers like Dashing Through The Fear by Amanda Siegrist is predictable, but she always manages to create characters that wiggle their way into your heart and a surprise or two along the way. Gaslighting and psychological warfare are only two of things that Eve will have to deal with. There is also the past that she so desperately tried to leave behind. I love how she, eventually, solves the problem. Very nice, Amanda.
I love that we have two mysteries going on at the same time and I didn’t realize it…until Amanda Siegrist showed me, though it was right in front of my face. That’s always a good sign of a well written story., keeping me so busy reading, I forget to try and solve the crime. Actually, those two mysteries apply to Eve, while Griffin has his own issues that hit very close to home. I love that miscommunication never reared it’s ugly head. Will they come together, healing each other? Of course. It wouldn’t be a great romance if they didn’t. I don’t feel like I’m spoiling anything, because it’s pretty easy to figure out in romance novels…unless we don’t have a happy ending and Amanda doesn’t write those. LOL
A fun note – I was reading along…and there was my name, Sherry. It’s always fun to see my name in a novel, even if I am only a minor character. 🙂
Normally, a story like Dashing Through The Fear by Amanda Siegrist is predictable, and, yes, some of it was, but there is a sense that something is coming. It’s just a matter of what and when, keeping a sense of trepidation lurking throughout the pages. Thanks, Amanda, for another very entertaining story.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
From USA Today bestselling author Amanda Siegrist comes a brand new series. An intense holiday romantic suspense that will make you swoon and hold you on the edge-of-your-seat until the very end.
Welcome to Sleighville. Where you are sure to have a holly, jolly time.
Running is her only option. He made sure of that. Where better to run to than the last place he’d ever think to look for her. Sleighville. A small, quaint town that celebrates Christmas—every. Single. Day. Just the thought makes her want to puke, but she’s out of options. Nothing prepared her for small-town camaraderie. Everyone knowing everyone and everything. Where she lives, where she works, and worst of all…they know something is off. That she’s not who she claims to be.
Griffin isn’t sure what to make of his new neighbor, but one thing he does he can’t resist a puzzle. She’s skittish, wary, and one of the most beautiful women he’s ever met. It’s not hard to fall for her, which is bad. He has no doubt she’s hiding something—or hiding from something. If only she’d let him in, trust him with her secrets. No amount of Christmas cheer is going to sway her his way, but patience and time might. Problem is, he fears he doesn’t have much time. She’s one step away from running. No doubt not her first time, but he’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she stays right where she is. In his town, and in his arms.
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication December 12, 2023
Series: A Sleighville Novel, Book I
ABOUT AMANDA SIEGRIST
Love! Gimme some love and heaps of romance. I have a sappy heart that just loves two people meeting, going through the cycles of a relationship, and ultimately, falling in love. Give me a good book like that and I’m a happy camper:)
I write contemporary and romantic suspense, but I am partial to suspense. I just love a good mystery.
Besides writing, I love baking, crafts, and baseball…oh, and meeting new people. *smiles*
This one is for the girls who still believe in modern fairytales and in a prince who not only spoils you rotten, but knows where to find the spot….
And I smiled. This is the opening to Falling for Mr Wright by Olivia Boothe. Does it make YOU smile?
I do not actively seek out contemporary romance novels, but when it is by a favorite author of mine, I will give it a go. Good writing is good writing and able to draw me into the book, as Olivia Boothe did with Falling For Mr Wright.
Sara works for the Rebecca Fitzgerald Dance Company. Why she isn’t a dancer herself, is a story I am not in a position to tell, but we all have baggage, don’t we? Her boss is a dragon, and I don’t mean the paranormal kind. She is mean, cruel. Everything about the workplace makes me want to tell her it’s time to move on.
When her favorite coffee shop is closed, she is forced to go the next closest one. There’s no way she can go to work without a coffee for her boss. That’s where Tom met Coffee Girl and he couldn’t get her out of his mind.
I definitely got the Pretty woman vibe. Vivian and Kit. Edward and Phillip. I loved their cat and mouse game, at times wondering who is the pursued and who is the pursuer. Their need to control their emotions had me smiling. We all know, the heart wants what the heart wants. Sure we have some baggage and guilt, and all that angst, but I believe love will win out.
Tom was so blindingly beautiful, my retinas stung.
“I’ll tell you what the problem is. Your hoo-ha has cobwebs.”
And that is what I mean by some great writing. I loved the description and dialogue.
Recommended for adults and you can get the list of warnings on her website. Also, Falling For Mr Wright was written under another title, Wicked Dance, I had never read it, so it wasn’t an issue for me. There will be two books in the series and seeing I enjoyed this one so much, I can hardly wait to get my hands on the next one. Hmmmm, I wonder what couple it will be.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Protective alpha billionaire meets shy contemporary dancer in this spicy, slow-burn, billionaire who spoils, touch her and you perish, contemporary romance.
After my high school sweetheart up and leaves me one day without a single explanation, I vow never to let myself love another man. I’ve managed to keep that promise for the last four years—that is, until I inadvertently fall into the arms of New York City’s most eligible bachelor, and now my whole world is flipped upside down. Tom Wright is everything I don’t need in my life, but stars above, he’s everything I never knew I wanted. The man is intoxicating, and I can’t seem to resist the way he looks at me or the way his touch makes me feel alive again. But one dark secret could ruin everything, and I don’t know if I’m prepared to endure that kind of pain all over again.
My life is pretty simple. I work hard and I party even harder. I own New York City’s most reputable real estate agency, catering to the filthy rich and notoriously famous. There’s no shortage of beautiful women willing to share my bed, though everyone knows I have one golden rule: No commitments. Ever. But when Sara Hart unexpectedly falls into my life, something about her timid smile and gorgeous brown eyes makes me want to throw the damn rule book out the window. Every time she’s near, my blood spikes with a raging fire I can’t contain. So, when my shadowed past resurfaces, unearthing ghosts I’d rather remain buried, I’m forced to make a decision that may cost me the only woman I’ve ever truly loved. And that’s a price I’m not ready to pay.
Intended for mature audiences 18 years+ Please check author’s website for a comprehensive list of content warnings.
Previously published as Wicked Dance, Falling For Mr. Wright is the 1st book in Olivia Boothe’s popular steamy contemporary romance duet. This new edition sports a new title, glow-up cover, fresh edits, re-imagined scenes, and additional chapters in the MMCs POV.
Genre: Contemporary, Literary, Romance
432 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 4, 2023 by Three Brothers Press
ABOUT OLIVIA BOOTHE
REAL LOVE AS IT IS. MESSY, COMPLICATED & SINFULLY ADDICTIVE.
Born in Colombia and raised in New Jersey since the age of eight, Olivia always dreamed of becoming a story teller.
If you enjoy deadly-hot romance novels with deep, layered plots, she’s your gal. Because it’s not just about the first kiss and the happily ever after, it’s about everything in between.
In addition to writing contemporary and paranormal romance, Olivia is currently working on an adult contemporary fantasy.
Fun Facts: When not locked away in her writing tower at the wee hours of the night, Olivia works a government 9-5 job and manages a house full of males (a husband, three sons, and a doggo named Hunter). On occasion, she summons her tribe for a night of wine and shenanigans. Dark chocolate is her kryptonite, she hates/loves to ugly cry during movies, and is a die-hard Bon Jovi fan.
Don’t forget to subscribe to her newsletter to receive exclusive news and updates such as book releases, giveaways, sales, events, sneak peeks and bonus material for upcoming projects.
Island Santa by Owen Thomas is a cute, coming of age, holiday story about a child’s wishes, dreams and the innocence of her belief, at twelve years old, that Santa is real and how will he find them on vacation in Hawaii.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
The Nelson family is spending Christmas in Hawaii, a dubious proposition for Peter and his ten-year old sister, Katie.
Katie still believes in Santa Clause. Embarrassing, but true. Having finally come to grips with the tragic “extinction” of unicorns and the senseless exile of the Tooth Fairy, little Katie now clings to Santa with a tenacity so grim and so combative that her older brother and her parents can only exchange worried looks across the dinner table. Someone should talk to her about the real world.
But no one quite seems to have the courage.
Needless to say, the idea of running off to Hawaii just as Santa is loading up his sleigh is met with more than just a little resistance. After all, how is it reasonable to expect that the red-suited fat man will know to look for them in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? What will he think when he parks his reindeer atop their dark and empty home?
Peter, fourteen, has his own concerns, less about Santa than the sacrifice of holiday tradition. What about the snow and stringing the house with Christmas lights? What about the first-person-shooter zombie video games at the neighbors’ Christmas Eve party? More importantly, how can a Christmas away from home not have a devastating impact on the volume of Christmas-morning loot?
Not that the Nelson kids have any real say in the matter. The tickets have been purchased. The bags have been packed. Peter will have to console himself with the belief that his friend Cody is right: that the Islands are teeming with topless women. Katie, meanwhile, will just have to trust that Santa is capable of adapting to rapidly changing circumstances.
Neither of them is prepared to understand why their father seems to have forgotten his true age, or why their mother is calling him a sex pony, or even why he pushed for the trip to Hawaii in the first place.
In the end, everyone is going to believe what he or she wants to believe about the world.
It’s going to be an interesting Christmas.
Genre: Christmas, Comedy and Humor, Coming of Age, Fiction, Holiday, Novellas and Short Stories
Format: 69 Pages, Kindle
Published: November 25, 2014 by BookBaby
ABOUT OWEN THOMAS
Owen Thomas is a life-long Alaskan living on Maui because life is too short for long winters. He has written six books: “The Lion Trees” (which has garnered over sixteen international book awards, including the Amazon Kindle Book Award, the Eric Hoffer Book Award, the Book and Author Book of the Year, the Beverly Hills International Book Award and, most recently, a finalist in the Book Excellence Awards); “Mother Blues,” (a novel of music and mystery set in post-Hurricane Harvey Texas); “Message in a Bullet: A Raymond Mackey Mystery,” (the first in a series of detective novels); “The Russian Doll” (the second installment in that series); “Signs of Passing” (a book of interconnected short stories, and winner of fourteen book awards, including the Pacific Book Awards for Short Fiction, also named one of the 100 Most Notable Books of the Year by Shelf Unbound Magazine); and “This is the Dream,” (a collection of stories and novellas that explore that perplexing liminal distance between who we are and what we want). Owen maintains an active fiction and photography blog on Facebook, Tumblr and on his author website at www.owenthomasliterary.com.
For the ninth consecutive year since he has been measuring his commercial success as an author, Owen has not won the Orange Prize for Fiction. Also, to great acclaim, he has not won the Man Booker Prize. Most recently, in April of 2020, Owen was not nominated for a Pulitzer.
Owen makes his home in Alaska and Hawaii. When he is not writing, Owen can be found recreating and taking photographs in the grandeur of these wonderfully picturesque locations. Some of these photos are posted on Owen’s photo blog, 1000 Words per Frame.
We begin If The Sun Spares Us by Brenda Marie Smith where If The Light Escapes Us left off. The books are best read in order, letting the characters seep into your heart, the danger get your pulse pounding, and your hopes for them come to fruition.
Oh man, I never saw Bobby doing what he did. Was it the right thing to do? Who knows in the crazy world they are living in.
It’s a year later and they have settled into their new home. They still have their highs and lows and are meeting and trading with others, taking in those who want a place in their community. Perhaps there is hope for humanity yet.
Life goes on and mistakes will be made. Rebuilding the world will not be easy, but taking one step at a time and letting bygones be bygones allows them to work together to create their new world one step at a time.
Braving The Light Series by Brenda Marie Smith has been a tragic, gut wrenching adventure filled with despair and hope and love.
4 Stars
BLURB
Two years ago, a solar pulse destroyed modern life. Bea Crenshaw organized her starving, suburban neighbors into a farming community. But now Bea’s gone, and her grandchildren must carry her legacy forward.
In the post-apocalyptic pressure cooker of Austin, Texas, 19-year-old Keno and his younger cousins struggle to ensure their community’s survival even as they’re forced to relocate to safer grounds. Northern Lights that don’t belong this far south grow increasingly intense, making Keno fear what harm the sun will cause next.
Even worse, a marauding militia called the Raiders is closing in, led by a deranged woman who preys on teenage boys. Despite Keno’s debilitating flashbacks from a firefight, he and his wife have a new baby to protect. Though Bea is dead, her spirit desperately searches for ways to shield her grandkids. When Raiders target two neighborhood members, the only hope lies in the community’s strength, Keno’s ingenuity, and the family’s fierce love for one another.
EXCERPT
I’m half-starved, about to drop in my tracks, and emotional pain is clawing me up inside. Living through this apocalypse, I don’t know if it’s the deprivation or the heartache that will kill me first.
I think I’ve been scouting South Central Austin for a place to move my family and neighbors for about two weeks, but I’ve lost track of time, and I’m not finding a freaking thing. We have to move; we just have to. I was hoping to find a place with walls and water, but no such luck.
It’s dusk when I come upon a row of warehouses, looking for a spot to sleep. Most warehouse doors are bent, with the jambs and locks broken. All looted inside, messes that don’t look like they have anything worth scavenging. One door has a big hasp and a bigger lock intact. Maybe I’ll break it in the morning to see if I can find some food.
A few doors down, there’s a stairwell leading to a basement door. A good place to hide where I have an escape route. I duck down into it.
“We’re so screwed,” I grumble to myself as I lean my rifle on the stairwell and slide off my backpack.
“You got that right.”
F***. Who said that? I whip my face around, my hand on the pistol behind my back.
“I wouldn’t fire that if I were you.”
A face looms above me… behind a crossbow that’s aimed at my head. I throw up my hands.
“Don’t shoot!”
AUTHOR Bio and Links
2018-10-18_Brenda Marie Smith
BRENDA MARIE SMITH is attracted to stories where everyday characters transcend their limitations to find their inner heroism. She lived off the grid for years in a farming collective where her sons were delivered by midwives. A lifelong community activist, Brenda has managed student co-op housing, produced concerts, and raised a small herd of boys. She and her husband live in Kyle, Texas. They have more grown kids and grandkids than they can count.
Book Title: Santa’s Magical Reindeer: Becoming Pen Pals by Michele Monaco Category: Children’s Fiction (ages 3 to 7), 38 pages Genre: Children’s Book Publisher: Mascot Kids Release date: Nov 7, 2023 Content Rating: G. Suitable for everyone.
MY REVIEW
Michele Monaco and illustrator, Prabir Sharkar have created an entertaining fantasy of magical reindeers visiting three young girls, wanting them to be pen pals. The illustrations for the oversized book are colorful and fun, on heavy, slick pages for the youngsters to touch. The story may encourage the young to pick up pencil and paper and write to..anyone. There are a list of questions at then end for the kiddies to ask their favorite reindeer, Santa, or any pen pal they choose. I love books that encourage children to communicate in any form and stretch their imagination. Sure to entertain the child hiding in all of us.
4 Stars
Book Description:
Right after Thanksgiving is the busiest time of year for Santa and his crew of eight famous reindeer! Every year, the Famous Eight sleigh team from the North Pole eagerly helps Santa by going on a quest to find kids who believe in Christmas magic. In Santa’s Magical Reindeer: Becoming Pen Pals, Prancer, Vixen, and Dasher go on an adventure in search of eager pen pals. On their journey, they find three rambunctious girls who eagerly exchange letters with them and become lifelong friends.
Michele Monaco has a great love for the Christmas season. She embraces the Christmas spirit all year round by remembering to look at life through the eyes of a child. As a mother of three beautiful and exuberant daughters, she believes in the magic that the holiday brings. Michele lives in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and enjoys traveling, reading, running, and enjoying the outdoors.
Book Title: Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times®, Vol. 1 by Pam Gittleman Category: Children’s Fiction (ages 2 to 5), 46 pages Genre: Children’s Picture Book Publisher: Mascot Kids, an imprint of Amplify Publishing Group Release date: Oct 3, 2023 Content Rating: G. Suitable for everyone.
MY REVIEW
The thick, shiny pages of For Kinder Times by Pam Gittleman calls out to the children to be touched. Each rhyming fairy tale has been tweaked and includes the three kind mice, with questions and emoticons at the end of them. I love interactive books that ask the child to participate, making them feel as if they are part of the story. The Kinder Times shows how easy it is to be kind to others, no matter where you are.
5 Stars
Book Description:
What happens when Three KIND Mice put their heads (and bodies!) together to get some cheese on top of the counter? Will Humpty Dumpty be left in pieces when his friends notice that he’s fallen off the wall? And who will get bags of wool–and toys and books–from Baa Baa BRIGHT Sheep? Read all about the beloved characters from traditional nursery rhymes in this endearing collection of eight updated rhymes that nurture kindness, empathy and gratitude!
Pam has been an early childhood music educator for over twenty-five years with a passion for singing, rhyming, reading stories, and making music with preschoolers.
When Pam noticed that some children seemed unfamiliar with traditional nursery rhymes, and that parents and teachers were avoiding them because of their outdated, dark, and inappropriate nature, she set out to modernize them. Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times® provides a memorable way to build language, musicality, and literacy through songs, stories and rhymes that nurture kindness, empathy, and gratitude. The inclusion of resources that support social and emotional learning (SEL) make it easy for parents and teachers to engage with the children they love.
The rhymes in the book can also be enjoyed as songs on the Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Timesalbum recorded by Raffi and Lindsay Munroe, as well as in videos on theNursery Rhymes for Kinder Times® Show on YouTube. (www.linktr.ee.com/forkindertimes)
Aside from making music with young children, Pam loves dogs and dark chocolate. She lives in New York with her husband, and loves when her children, grandchildren, and granddogs come to visit!
Pam collaborated with Dan and Catherine Markowitz for art and design of the book.
Book Title: And the Trees Talked Back by Frederick J. Burns Category: Children’s Fiction (ages 3 to 7), 48 pages Genre: Children’s Book Publisher: Frederick J. Burns Release date: Nov 4, 2023 Content Rating: G. Suitable for everyone.
MY REVIEW
All I had to do was see the cover, read the title and know that I had to have this book. I love everything to do with trees, whether naked, clothed, or anything in between.
This oversized book, with wonderful illustrations, and a young girl who can talk to trees is sure to spark the young ones imaginations. Like seeing shapes in clouds, she sees faces in trees. I have seen things in trees too. Amanda has a huge heart and capacity for empathy. I smiled through the entire book and cannot imagine a child not enjoying this wonderful, magical adventure with Amanda.
5 Stars
Book Description:
Meet Amanda, an extraordinary child with a unique gift — she can talk to trees.
Living in a quaint village with a mystical forest, Amanda’s life takes an enchanting turn when she seeks out her inquisitive cat, Daisy. As the sun sets and the moonlight casts its glow, the duo embark on a thrilling night-time adventure.
As Amanda encounters ancient trees, she uncovers a world she never knew existed, where wisdom and acceptance coexist with fear and hatred. Amidst the rustling leaves and haunting shadows, she confronts the duality of nature, discovering the true meaning of good and evil. Her bonds with nature deepen and she learns to navigate the world where choices shape destinies.
And The Trees Talked Back is a heartwarming tale of wonder, friendship, and self-discover that will captivate readers of all ages.
Burns, always an artist on the inside, breaks through his trial attorney exterior at age 63, to write and illustrate his first children’s book, AND THE TREES TALKED BACK. Three years in the making, Burns strives to convey a world where commonalities are more important than differences, where empathy is more important than distain and where making friends is more important than creating enemies. With no formal art training, Burns enjoys working in and learning new mediums and styles. His art has won awards in juried competitions, been displayed on billboards, in government offices, the D’Amour Museum of Fine Art, and now graces the cover of Dave Brinnel’s second CD, ALONE. His detailed illustrations of trees using pen and ink with washes of watercolor have been compared to the fantastical illustrations of Arthur Rackham and Maurice Sendak. Burns lives in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts with his wife, Heather and two dogs, where he is developing ideas for his next book.
In Sir Henry’s Heart, we pick up where we left off in The Girl From The Basement, Book 3, of the Idle Hands series by Michael Chikondi. It’s all about Miriam and Sir Henry. Sir Henry had become fixated on Miriam and those he sets his sights on never survive his obsession. Will Miriam be the first? I have hope. After all, the entire series has taken place with Sinjen and Miriam side by side.Can Miriam find a way to save herself, seeing no one is allowed to intervene?
It’s funny how fascinated the vampires are with Miriam’s diary. Gave me some chuckles and that is always good when we are dealing with blood thirsty vampires.
Sinjen works with vampire hunters, cleaning up messes not of his own making. I love it. Vampire and vampire hunter, working together. Sinjen is one of the few vampires able to do so. His faith in humanity has been depleted.
The Idle Hands series has been a wild ride, filled with ups and downs, and could it possibly end with love and romance? I must admit, Richard and Miriam deserve a happy ending after all they have been through…and managing to stay human amongst the vampires is quite the feat.
I have loved being along with each adventure taken in the Idle Hands series by Michael Chikondi. I am eager to see where we will go next.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Sinjen and Miriam find themselves at a crossroads. As it becomes apparent that Sir. Henry will not be dissuaded from pursuing her, she has no choice but to return to him. Sinjen’s hands are tied, by order of the House of Nightfall and by his Mistress. When Sinjen receives a black envelope from Lord Mica, the most powerful vampire prophet, he is devastated. These letters mean that death is certain, and Sinjen must face a more immediate danger.
Michael B. Chikondi is not to be trusted, but the creature agrees to a meeting in its burrow. We enter with trepidation, given that the thing has no doorbell. As we crawl through the narrow tunnel, gored out by its own teeth, by the texture, we hear what can only be described as a hacking cough.
“Can we approach?” we call.
“No soliciting.” the voice returns.
“You sent for us; you told us to ask you questions. You know, for promotional reasons.”
“Ask.” the dread voice responds.
“Alright, who are you?” we try.
“A creature of mist and shadow, half-mad, I used to go out, I did, and know those…humans. Not now, not since…the pen.”
“You found a pen? That’s why you became a writer?” we ask, now terrified, trying to gauge how fast we can leave the burrow. The photographer has already left us, chewing off his own watch, caught on a tree root.
“Yes, but now…I hunger…”
We are not proud; we turn tail and flee, before it can leave its den. We aren’t paid enough to get a full bio. We can only pray someone buys its books, so that the thing never comes out on its own.
Ed. What the hell is this? This isn’t what we requested. Just some nonsense and an artist’s rendition of what one of my people saw before he contracted rabies? Eh, whatever. Plenty more writers in the sea.
Wow…what an amazing cover. Look at it closely. I love it. And, I love books that have a severe weather event. We are on the road in Virginia and a blizzard is headed Kay’s way. She must get home. She will be better there. The headlights blaze through the rear view window, gaining on her, and…..
She wakes with a name, Kay Smith, but no memory.
I am cynical and immediately suspicious of everyone around her. The doctor, the nurses and the guy who visits the comatose woman in the bed next to hers. Lest She Forget is a romantic suspense novel, so….is he the villain or the hero? They chat, and seeing she is alone, he leaves her his number. I have a feeling she will be using it…soon.
Kay could leave her past behind. Start over. But, we all know the past always catches up to us. Just because you’re paranoid, it doesn’t mean that people aren’t out to get you. She definitely needs to keep that paranoia alive. She is being hunted….again. By who? And why?
As she does her research, a sympathetic hospital clerk shows her concern by sharing all the information she can find about ‘Erin Johnson’. Her research leads her to Nick Costa, the mysterious visitor.
About halfway through, the tension rises and keeps building. The chase is on. The clock is ticking and the body count is rising. I have a revelation and why I didn’t see that coming, I don’t know. Was I so involved in the moment that I didn’t try to predict the outcome? I do love when an author can keep me in the moment.
This is Lisa Malice’s debut novel. With the amazing job she did, the sky’s the limit and I hope to around for her next fabulous story.
4 Stars
Synopsis:
Haunted by a forgotten past. Hunted by a ruthless killer. No one to save her but herself.
After surviving a car crash, Kay Smith wakes from a coma with amnesia, a battered face, and no one to vouch for her identity. Her psychiatrist is convinced that her memory loss is connected to the horrific flashbacks and nightmares haunting her. As she digs for clues to her past, Kay uncovers a shady character following her every inquiry. Who is he? And what does he want from her?
As Kay’s probes deepen, she realizes that everyone around her has deadly secrets to hide—even her. Emerging memories, guilty suspicions, and headline-screaming murders push Kay to come out of the shadows and choose: will she perpetuate a horrendous lie or risk her life to uncover the truth?
Praise for Lest She Forget:
“Lisa Malice’s debut, Lest She Forget, is filled with twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end!” ~ Debra Webb, USA Today Bestseller
“Brimming with intrigue, Lest She Forget takes readers on a dark and twisted journey with surprises around every corner. It’s a thriller that grips you from the first page!” ~ Ellery Kane, award-winning author of the Doctors of Darkness series
“This twisty thriller takes you deep into Kay’s psyche, even as she runs for her life. Whoever you think this woman is, whatever you think she’s seen or done, prepare to be surprised!” ~ Sarah Warburton, author of Once Two Sisters and You Can Never Tell
“Lisa Malice’s psychological thriller Lest She Forget is a tense and twisty debut, an intricately plotted story that grows more and more complex with each new revelation. Don’t even try to guess how this novel ends; just put yourself in Malice’s capable hands and enjoy the ride!” ~ Karen Dionne, author of the #1 international bestseller The Marsh King’s Daughter and The Wicked Sister
“Lisa Malice turns an amnesia story on its head in this twisty, unique tale of intrigue, suspense and unexpected turns. You won’t be able to predict the next chapter, much less the ending.” ~ Lisa Black, NYT bestselling author of the Gardiner & Renner and Locard Institute series
Book Details:
Genre: Psychological Thriller Published by: CamCat Books Publication Date: December 2023 Number of Pages: 368 ISBN: 9780744307153 (ISBN10: 0744307155) Book Links:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | CamCat Books
Read an excerpt:
The loud heavy beat of my heart echoes in my ears, pulsing in sync with the car’s wipers as they furiously slap at the snow alighting the windshield. The frantic rhythm draws me in as I stare ahead into the darkening night and the thick snowflakes swirling in the beams of the headlights. The effect is almost mesmerizing.
My eyelids start to droop. I want nothing more than to sleep, let my mind shut off. Under slumber’s spell, the ache in my heart would subside, the guilt in my soul would vanish, and, if I was lucky, I’d wake up to find that the words I heard earlier today were just part of a gruesome dream, an awful nightmare.
She’s dead.
My chest tightens, my heart races as my thoughts are pulled toward our last moments together. Fraught with suspicion, accusations, anger. My eyes tear up.
It’s your fault.
The words reverberate in my ears as my head starts to throb. How could I have been so stupid and naïve to fall for that man’s lies, his manipulations? If I could go back in time and change everything, fix my mistakes, right a host of wrongs, I would. Things would have turned out differently. Two—no, three—people would still be alive. But there’s no going back. Worse, I see no path forward, at least not one I can live with.
My gaze is drawn to a hazy pair of headlights reflected in the rearview mirror. A chill runs down my spine, even as a bead of sweat trickles down the side of my face. My fingers, clenched atop the steering wheel, go numb as my foot presses down on the accelerator.
“Calm down,” I tell myself. I can’t let fear trick me into imagining what is not there.
I squeeze my eyes shut for a second, then open them again and glance into the side mirror. They’re still there, those headlights, keeping pace with me. I focus on the road in front of me, take a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “Get a grip,” I tell myself. “If he wanted me dead, I wouldn’t have made it this far.”
Staring ahead, a forest of tall pines engulfs the road, blocking out much of the remaining daylight and casting a gloom all around that grows blacker and grimmer with each fleeting moment. But I can’t go back. Not now. I’d have to face the truth, accept my own culpability, surrender myself, my life, my future. I’m not ready to do that.
I turn on the radio and press the scan button, hoping for a distraction. Music pours through the speakers in short clips—Spanish, hard rock, country, polka—and then a soft, familiar melody, its words just on the tip of my tongue.
“. . . I would surrender my soul, if it would bring back yours . . .”
My gut twists with remorse. The pain is cut short as the radio scanner moves to the next station.
“. . . Could you forgive me, if I made it to Heaven . . .”
Tears well up in my eyes as the radio, again, moves on.
“. . . My name won’t be on St. Peter’s list . . .”
A mournful sob erupts from deep inside me. My hands, clutching the steering wheel, suddenly go weak and start to tremble. Those songs, their lyrics—words that never held any personal meaning—now haunt me. It’s as if some cosmic disc jockey knows what I’ve done and doesn’t want—no—won’t let me forget it.
“Please, no more!” I shout.
A woman’s voice pops over the speakers, a news program. “Finally, I sigh, poking the scan button to set the station.
“. . . it’s time for a quick station break, after which we’ll go to a weather update with WCVA’s meteorologist, Alec Bohanan. Our weather team says this blizzard hitting Virginia and much of the East Coast, the first significant snow event of 2017, is a bad one. It could be a killer, so sit tight at home and keep your radio dial tuned to this station . . .”
She’s right. The snow is coming down thicker and heavier with each passing mile. The roads will only get worse. But I need to press on. I must get home. I can think better there. Figure out what options I have left.
My attention is pulled back to the voice on the radio. “When the last segment of The June Jeffries Show returns, we’ll join the Virginia State Police press conference with breaking news on the missing person case of—”
It’s your fault.
The words echo in my ears, pulsing louder and faster with each echo, drowning out the newscaster’s voice. I slam my fist down on the radio’s power button.
Suddenly, flashes of light bounce off the windshield. The muscles in my jaw tighten. My neck stiffens. My hands, locked in a death grip on the steering wheel, grow cold, numb. My gaze darts to the rearview mirror. Unable to look away from the looming vehicle behind me, I throw my left arm up to block its intense beams.
The steering wheel jerks to the right, pitching the passenger-side wheels off the road. I grasp the steering wheel with both hands and pull to the left, but overcorrect. The car careens across the snow-swept blacktop, skids beyond the center line.
When I finally pull the car into the right lane, my heart is pounding, my body trembling, while my grip on the steering wheel goes weak.
***
Excerpt from Lest She Forget by Lisa Malice. Copyright 2023 by Lisa Malice. Reproduced with permission from CamCat Books. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
Lisa Malice earned her B.S. in psychology at the University of Minnesota, her M.S. and Ph.D. at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her debut novel, Lest She Forget, a psychological thriller, was a finalist in five unpublished manuscript contests. Lisa is an active member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and the Authors Guild. A native of Minnesota, Lisa lived in the Atlanta area with her husband for nearly thirty years before moving to the Tampa area in 2019 to enjoy a life of sailing, fishing, and shelling on the Florida Gulf Coast. They have two adult children and a granddog.
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