Category Archives: Reviews

Review – Fear The Silence by Robert Bryndza @RobertBryndza #FearTheSilence #NetGalley

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I want to thank NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for the opportunity to review another Robert Bryndza novel, Fear The Silence.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Fear The Silence by Robert Bryndza is one of those books where I bounced between a three and a four rating. I can’t state a specific reason for it. Was it the book or was it me?

I have read two other books by Robert Bryndza and enjoyed them, so whenever I see the opportunity to read another, I am all over it. Soooo, let’s begin.

Maggie’s husband, Will, committed suicide…or did he?

He blew me a kiss and made Luna wave her paw. He looked so content. Deliriously content is how I’ll always remember that last view of him.

And the mystery begins. She travels to their island home in Croatia. Oh yeah, I think an isolated island is where she should be…alone. She discovers why he changed careers six years ago. The past never stays buried and now it has put her life in extreme danger.

I can’t imagine the terror…huddled, cowering, in the dark as someone rifles through your home…hoping, praying, not to be seen. It was…maybe…my favorite part of the book. I felt I was there with her, just waiting to be discovered. What do you think happens?

We have a hellacious storm rolling through, so it is impossible for her to leave the island. So many times, when a read a book, I try to think of what I would do. Would it be the same as the character? It’s one of those things where you have to be there to know. I think we all wish we would do something better than what gets the characters in such deep trouble.

They live in a smart home and I love when I learn something. Had me doing some surfing to see if it was true. A book that can make me do that, adds a little something extra…for me.

I kept trying to think of who it could possibly be that would want her husband dead. There weren’t that many suspects and until I found the reason, I couldn’t decide. Once the person was in my sights, it all began to come together and it read a bit like a spy novel.

As I said earlier, I went between a three and four rating. Whenever that happens, I take it up a notch. As I thought about it while writing the review and going through the highlights on my ereader, I still can’t think of what was wrong, me or the book. I guess you will have to read it for yourself. Robert Bryndza’s writing is easy to read and flows smoothly, so give him a try.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Fear O Silence by Robert Bryndza.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

‘Do you believe Will took his own life?’

The question echoed off the white tiles in the hospital’s cold, cavernous morgue, and I studied my husband in peaceful repose. I leaned down and put my forehead against his. Silent tears ran down my cheeks. They felt hot, and he felt so cold. It was five days since his death, and my grief felt heavy, like a vast, dark mass pushing down on me.

When Maggie’s husband, Will, is shot dead in their London home, she thinks he is the victim of a burglary until the police tell her the shocking news that Will was the one who pulled the trigger.

Maggie is consumed with grief and questions. Will wasn’t suicidal. He had so much to live for.

After the funeral, Maggie travels to their holiday home on a small Croatian island to escape London. She finds a disturbing letter written by Will, containing clues to a dark secret.

As Maggie puts the pieces together, she discovers Will’s death is connected to someone from his past… Someone who will go to extreme lengths to keep Maggie silent.

Three can keep a secret… If two of them are dead.

The international multi-million bestselling author of The Girl in the Ice is back with his first stand-alone thriller, a heart-racing, hold-your-breath read that will keep you hooked until the very last page.

  • List: Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Thriller
  • 350 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication July 6, 2023 by Raven Publishing

ABOUT ROBERT BRYNDZA

Robert Bryndza

Robert Bryndza is an international bestselling author, best known for his page-turning crime and thriller novels, which have sold over five million copies.

His crime debut, The Girl in the Ice was released in February 2016, introducing Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster. Within five months it sold one million copies, reaching number one in the Amazon UK, USA and Australian charts. To date, The Girl in the Ice has sold over 1.5 million copies in the English language and has been sold into translation in 29 countries. It was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery & Thriller (2016), the Grand prix des lectrices de Elle in France (2018), and it won two reader voted awards, The Thrillzone Awards best debut thriller in The Netherlands (2018) and The Dead Good Papercut Award for best page turner at the Harrogate Crime Festival (2016).

Robert has released a further five novels in the Erika Foster series, The Night Stalker, Dark Water, Last Breath, Cold Blood and Deadly Secrets, all of which have been global bestsellers, and in 2017 Last Breath was a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Mystery and Thriller. Fatal Witness, the seventh Erika Foster novel, is now available to pre-order and will be published 7th July 2022.

Most recently, Robert created a new crime thriller series based around the central character Kate Marshall, a police officer turned private detective. The first book, Nine Elms, was an Amazon USA #1 bestseller and an Amazon UK top five bestseller, and the series has been sold into translation in 18 countries. The second book in the series is the global bestselling, Shadow Sands and the third book, Darkness Falls, has just been published.

Robert was born in Lowestoft, on the east coast of England. He studied at Aberystwyth University, and the Guildford School of Acting, and was an actor for several years, but didn’t find success until he took a play he’d written to the Edinburgh Festival. This led to the decision to change career and start writing. He self-published a bestselling series of romantic comedy novels, before switching to writing crime. Robert lives with his husband in Slovakia, and is lucky enough to write full-time.

You can find out more about Robert and his books at www.robertbryndza.com

MY REVIEWS FOR ROBERT BRYNDZA

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Review – She Who Rides Horses by Sarah Barnes #sarahbarnes @ireadbooktours

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I won a paperback copy of She Who Rides Horses by Sarah Barnes in a tour giveaway and I immediately picked it up and began reading..and didn’t quit until the last word was read.

Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly.

What is essential is invisible to the eye…

People have forgotten this truth…But you mustn’t forget it.

You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.

Antoine de St – Exupery, The Little Prince (1943) Chapter XXI

Everything about She Who Rides Horses by Sarah Barnes intrigued me. I love horses, all animals really, so I was super excited to read about a young girl with a connection to a young horse and how it will change their world forever.

Horses are a food source, but Naya wants to ride the red filly. Her patience pays off as she earns the filly’s trust and willingness to let her ride. Naya uses no ropes, no force, just asks permission, allowing the filly to choose the time. I have a feeling it won’t be long before her imagination comes up with more uses for the horses.

I love the visionary aspects, the psychic connection Naya has with the filly.

When Naya is injured and she and her mother are forced to accept the help of strangers, I watched her grow as they struggled through the winter. The filly, a stallion and a pregnant mare choose to stay close to them.

Naya is approaching adulthood. For the first time, she feels an awareness of her sexuality. Will she be able to make her own choice of a mate or will one be chosen for her?

I am hooked on the series and I had to read the intro to Book Two, to see what was over the cliff that had captured everyone’s attention in Book One.

She Who Rides Horses by Sarah Barnes is a must read for horse lovers…maybe even all animal lovers.

At the end of the book is a section on domestication and the language of the characters. a glossary, references, an acknowledgment and an intriguing afterword by Linda Kohanov.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of She Who Rides Horses by Sarah Barnes.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Set more than 6,000 years ago, She Who Rides Horses: A Saga of the Ancient Steppe (Book One) begins the story of Naya, the first person ever to ride a horse. Daughter of a clan chief, bolder than the other girls but shunned by the boys because of her unusual appearance, Naya often wanders alone through the vast grasslands where her people herd domesticated cattle, sheep and goats, and hunt wild horses for their meat. But Naya dreams of creating a different kind of relationship with the magnificent creatures. One day, while out roaming by herself, she discovers a filly with a chestnut coat as uncommon as her own head of red hair. With time running out before she is called to assume the responsibilities of adulthood, Naya embarks on a quest to fulfill her vision of galloping with the filly across the boundless steppe. Unwittingly, she sets in motion forces and events that will change forever the future of humans and horses alike.

  • Genres: Action and Adventure, Fiction, Historical Fiction
  • Kindle Edition
  • Published April 2, 2022 by Little House Press

ABOUT SARAH BARNES

Once upon a time there was a little girl who loved stories.  She especially loved stories that happened a long time ago, in a land far, far away.  At first, others had to tell her the stories, but then, like magic, she learned to read them for herself out of books.  And then, even more magical, she discovered that there were stories inside her that she could write down using her own words.  

But just as she made this discovery, the girl came under a spell that made her believe that the only way that she could tell stories about long ago and far away was to become something called an historian.  And so that is what she did.  What she was not told, but had to learn for herself, was that becoming an historian meant relying more and more on facts and evidence and less and less on her own imagination, and soon the girl forgot all about the stories that had once been inside of her, waiting to be told.  The girl – now a grown-up professor with a Ph.D. – wrote lots and lots of words but with less and less joy, for the stories were lost.  Then one day, a special creature appeared, beckoning to the girl to leave her life in the ivory tower where she had become imprisoned.  The creature came in the shape of a horse, for the girl had loved horses all of her life but never had one of her own.   Realizing she wanted to be with the horse far more than she wanted to keep on being an historian, the girl fled her old life and went to live with the horse in a barn.  There, little by little, the horse helped the girl to remember the stories long buried in her heart until one day, she began to write them down.  And the rest is history.

When Sarah is not writing stories, she practices and teaches riding as a meditative art.  She holds a Ph.D. in history from Northwestern University and spent many years as a college professor before turning full-time to riding and writing.  She has two grown daughters and lives with her husband, her dogs and her horses near Boulder, CO. She is currently working on books two and three of the She Who Rides Horses trilogy.

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Review – Turnabout by Carmen Webster Buxton #@CarmenWBuxton #sciencefiction #apocalypti/dystopian

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I have been loving Carmen Webster Buxton’s novels and have come to the final one on my reading list, Turmabout. This apocalyptic/dystopian, science fiction novel is about a teenage boy who loves jazz, carries a flip phone and Turns.

One day, caught in a girl’s bedroom, trapped in a closet he finds himself teleported to his home. How did this happen? He discovers that left handed people are the only ones that Turn and it only happens to him when he is turned on and scared to death.

The next time he Turns, he finds himself in Makoro, a place where women rule and men are in very short supply. The Folly happened when scientists tried to create a biological weapon that would kill enemy soldiers, but instead it killed a lot of men. The Rage was the women’s response, taking over the government through whatever means necessary.

He is a prisoner, protected and used to procreate.

It was hilarious when he escaped and dressed like a woman to hide in plain sight.

I had fucking boobs. Small as they were, they got in the way when I moved my arms.

It was almost like wearing a cup, but one that someone had stepped on first.

I loved this wonderfully original coming of age science fiction novel. Carmen Webster Buxton’s creative writing makes it easy to place myself in her character’s world, walking in their footsteps. I had some laughs and some sad moments, as Jason finds friends in the strangest places. The loss of one broke my heart and made me angry. I do love an author who isn’t afraid to kill off their characters for the good of the story.

I sincerely hope Carmen is busy writing. How about it, Carmen? Anything in the works?

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Jason Miller’s biggest worries were keeping up with his homework, paying for his classic jazz habit,and hiding the fact that he carried a flip phone. But then one day he finds himself teleporting from place to place, a talent he can’t control. It gets worse when he lands in an alternate world, one that has many, many more women than men. It sounds great until Jason learns the downside to being a precious commodity: Having a harem is no fun when you’re the one who’s locked up.

  • List: Apocalyptic and Dystopian Fiction, Science Fiction
  • Kindle Edition
  • First published May 1, 2017 by Cracked Mirror Press

ABOUT CARMEN WEBSTER BUXTON

Carmen Webster Buxton spent her youth reading every book published by Ursula LeGuin, Robert Heinlein and Georgette Heyer. This combination of far-future worlds, alien cultures, and old-fashioned courting customs influenced her writing, especially in her ThreeCon series.

Carmen was born in Hawaii and experienced a peripatetic childhood, as her father was in the US Navy. Having raised two wonderful children, she now lives in Maryland with her husband Charlie, and a beagle named Cosmo. She writes science fiction (often including a romance, and mostly set in the far future), and the occasional fantasy.

Carmen has published many books:

WAKANREO SERIES
Alien Bonds
Alien Vows
Alien Skies

HAVEN SERIES
The Sixth Discipline
No Safe Haven

THREECON SERIES (can be read in any order)
The Nostalgia Gambit
Saronna’s Gift
Shades of Empire
Tribes
Worlds Apart

ALTERNATE HISTORY
King of Trees

YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION
Turnabout
Drifters

FANTASY
Where Magic Rules
Bag of Tricks
Hidden Magic

THE NAMELESS WORLD SAGA (coming in 2021)
The North Edge of Nowhere
Oaths and Promises

Carmen often blogs about ereaders, digital publishing, writing, and speculative fiction. Visit her blog to see what’s coming out next! To ask questions or to provide feedback on her books, send email to carmen.webster.buxton (at) gmail.com.

Website / Twitter / Facebook

MY CARMEN WEBSTER BUXTON REVIEWS

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Review – Protecting Dove by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor #romanticsuspense

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Protecting Dove by Jane Blythe is Book VI of the Prey, but the series is part of something so much bigger. There are many more books and authors putting their own spin on the Operation Alpha World.

About Operation Alpha

Operation Alpha is the fan fiction world for Susan Stoker’s SEAL of Protection, Delta Force Heroes, and Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Worlds. The books all have at least one of Susan’s characters in them. Check it out at Aces Press.

Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

When I first saw the cover of Protecting Dove, I thought of a cyborg. Dove looks like a china doll, unreal, but as we delve into the story, all is revealed. She is an albino. I have never read a book about an albino character and I love that one of my favorite authors has given me that experience. Sun can be deadly and Dove will be put to the test in Protecting Dove.

Dove is a member of Prey security, the chief financial officer. Her favorite thing about being wealthy is the clothes. She rarely wore things more than once and had all the accessories to go with them. Another passion is her ability to give back.

She is dressed for the charity ball, but when she opens the door for her bodyguard, she never expected to see him, Isaac Anderson. He had saved her life two years ago, but because he had seen her at her worst, she wanted nothing to do with him. Of course, we know things will not stay that way.

We know with romantic suspense, there will be some push and pull with the romance, and some danger and action. Even though most things are predictable, Jane Blythe creates fascinating characters with their own personalities that make them stand out as individuals and puts them in intriguing situations.

Dove quickly captured our hearts, mine and Isaac’s with her:

“I’m sassiness not sweetness.”

Dove grew up, with the rest of her family, learning how to defend herself. Looking at her, small in stature and pale as a china doll, makes her seem fragile and defenseless. She was always aware of her surroundings, could cry on cue, and used all her ‘disabilities’ to her advantage. Beware those who underestimate her.

For the first time in her life, she is at the center of danger and wants to show her family that she is not defenseless, that she has skills to defend herself…and those she cares about.

“You smell delicious, like cake.”

I had to share this quote because of Jane Blythe’s writing…

She doubted it was possible to smell like cake down there, but she wasn’t going to ruin the mood and tell him so.

Every character in the series has a tragic story to tell and Jane Blythe comes up with a story that is unique to each character. She can write some sappy romance and I love it. Sprinkle in some steamy sex here and there, danger and intrigue, and a happy ever after, and I will forever be a Jane Blythe fan, eagerly devouring every word she writes. Whenever I think the worst is over, she will come up with something else, and even when I know something is coming, it can still be a surprise.

Just because this series is over, don’t fret. Jane Blythe will be spinning off in another direction that is sure to visit these familiar characters again. I do love these ongoing series, where the characters almost seem real and I become heavily invested in them.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Protecting Dove by Jane Blythe.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

He saw her at her most vulnerable and she never wanted to see him again.

Dove Oswald never expected to come face to face with the man who saved her life ever again. Nor did she expect him to save her a second time. Surprised by the spark of attraction between them, when she realizes he’s hiding something she’s determined to figure out what it is. When she inadvertently puts both their lives in danger she’ll finally get the chance to prove to everyone that she’s every bit as strong as the rest of her family as she and Isaac fight side by side for their lives.

Isaac Anderson fails the people he cares about. When he accidentally spots a crime scene photo and recognizes one of the perpetrators he knows he’ll do whatever it takes to save someone he once cared about, try to even the score. Instead he winds up falling for the woman he used, and now he’s faced with a whole new challenge, caring about someone means he could fail them, and he and Dove are going to find themselves in a danger neither of them saw coming.

  • Genre: Fiction, Military, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Thriller
  • 259 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published January 10, 2023 by Aces Press

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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Dark Romance Review – Lethal Sin by Jennifer Bene @jbeneauthor

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Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

WOW. Intense. Hot. Not one, but two assassins. Buckle up because this is one intense and dangerous novel that is sure to test your limits.

Camille Devereaux is an assassin working for the head of the Irish Mafia, Patrick Callahan. Mateo Salvai’s boss wants information from her and Mateo is tasked to get it. Brutal, savage torture pushes her to her limits, and him to his too.

“Fucking kill her now! That bitch! That fucking bitch!”

His plan has went to shit. His options are few. He makes his choice. Any guesses?

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Lethal Sin by Jennifer Bene.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

The safest kind of love for Camille Devereaux has always been none at all. No attachments. No friends. No family. Nothing more than a one night stand whenever the itch got too strong to scratch by herself – and it always worked for her. She was one of the best free agents in the business. If you wanted intel on someone, she could get it. If you wanted a sticky situation resolved, she could fix it. And if you wanted someone to quietly disappear? Well, for the right price she could do that too.

It all worked perfectly until one of the biggest crime lords in the city decided he wanted her on the payroll full-time. Exclusively on his payroll. At first she had refused, but then he found a weak spot that even Camille hadn’t known about, and once she knew? There was no saying ‘no’ to Patrick Callahan.

That was how she found herself on the wrong side of the gun, in a sticky situation of her own, on her knees before the head badass from a rival criminal organization – Mateo Salvai. All he wants when he first meets Camille is to get the answers his boss wants from her, using his own devious methods, but once he meets this feisty, strong woman, all his plans go out the window. He’s fascinated by her, he craves her, and once he realizes she’s his perfect match he knows he can’t let her go.

Yet, the world they run in is dangerous and there are no easy options when they both report to powerful men bent on the other’s destruction. Will Mateo break his loyalties to protect Camille, and will Camille let go of her long-held rules to let him help her?

Jump in to the criminal underworld of these two assassins and get ready for a no holds barred, sexy, intense rush to the explosive conclusion of ‘Lethal Sin’, book one of the Dangerous Games series!

  • BDSM, Dark Romance, Erotica, Suspense and Thriller Fiction

206 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2016

ABOUT JENNIFER BENE

Jennifer Bene is a USA Today bestselling author of dangerously sexy and deviously dark romance. From BDSM, to Suspense, Dark Romance, and Thrillers—she writes it all. Always delivering a twisty, spine-tingling journey with the promise of a happily-ever-after.

Don’t miss a release! Sign up for the newsletter to get new book alerts (and a free welcome book) at http://jenniferbene.com/newsletter

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Giveaway & Review – Call Her Janie by S R Fabrico @ireadbooktours @StacyRowe1

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Book Details:
Book Title:  Call Her Janie: A scintillating romantic suspense with a shocking twist by S.R. Fabrico
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  350 pages
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher:  S.R. Fabrico
Release date:  June 27, 2023
Content Rating:  PG-13+M. it does have some cursing not much but some. There are some intimate scene, mostly left up to the readers imagination.

MY REVIEW

I immediately relaxed into the book, like a calgon bath, I let it take me away. I loved the small moments of peace and wonder. S R Fabrico’s writing style flows smoothly, making Call Me Janie by S R Fabrico easy reading.

I was already curious about what drove her to the small town of Southport, North Carolina, but when she described the scars, I became even more curious about what happened to her. Her brother, Randy, and his wife, Renny have settled in Southport, so… here she is.

Running from her past, she stumbles into Josh, or should I say, he stumbled into her. She tries to resist a persistent and charming Josh, because the Cinderella story rarely comes true. She had learned that the hard way, and wasn’t ready to let any man into her heart.

“You don’t want to hop on my crazy train…” “My heart is hurt, and I need to heal it first.”

When Lizzie’s sister in law describes her day teaching kids about family genealogy, I laughed out loud.

” ‘Wow, Jameson, you have a large family. Why aren’t you in the picture?’ He blurts out, ‘I was still swimming in my daddy’s balls.’ “

Lizzie and Helen are fabulous characters. Of course, I would be enamored with Lizzie, she is the main character. But when she gets a job at Helen’s book store, they wrapped me up in their world, making me feel sad, happy, warm and cozy, frightened and hopeful.

If a Hallmark card were a town, this would be it.

S R Fabrico took me in deeper and deeper with each page I read. I wanted to see Lizzie’s happy ever after, but kept telling myself to slow down and enjoy the journey.

I had my suspicions about HER, but I never saw THAT coming. The pace and tension ramped up, making me ‘flip the pages’ faster.

Call Her Janie by S R Fabrico was an emotional read that I couldn’t put down…But the story isn’t finished. We stopped at a good place and I can hardly wait for Keeping Janie.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Call Me Janie by S R Fabrico.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars



Book Description:

Are you ready for a heart-pumping, page-turning journey of love, loss, and suspense? Look no further than S.R. Fabrico’s latest masterpiece, filled with gripping twists and turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
 
Meet Lizzie Levine, the unstoppable female executive at a top NYC marketing firm. Driven by the tragic loss of her parents, Lizzie refuses to let anything stand in her way – until a handsome, enigmatic billionaire named Gray Stone enters the picture. But when Lizzie discovers she’s pregnant with Gray’s child, she learns there’s more to him than meets the eye.
 
Desperate for a fresh start, Lizzie escapes to the serene coastal town of Southport, NC. There, she meets Josh, a charming local determined to help her heal and move on from her troubled past. But as Lizzie begins to rebuild her life, she soon realizes that her past is not so easily left behind. Someone with a sinister agenda lurks in the shadows, and Lizzie’s life is in grave danger.
 
With a writing style, that’s both eloquent and engaging, S.R. Fabrico takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions as you journey with Lizzie through the twists and turns of her life. Whether you’re a fan of suspenseful thrillers or heartwarming love stories, this book is a must-read. Don’t miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in a world of passion, intrigue, and danger.

Buy the Book:
Signed Copy
Amazon
add to goodreads




Meet the Author:

S.R. Fabrico is a 16-time award-winning author. Her debut novel The Secrets We Conceal was published in March 2022. She has also written a series of sports journals for athletes, including the Amazon best-selling My Dance Journal.

A 25-plus-year professional in the business, marketing, and sports world has taken her to numerous places throughout the course of her life and provided countless life experiences. She is a World Champion Dance Coach, coach of the year recipient, and speaker and various conferences across the United States.

S.R. Fabrico works and writes from her home in Knoxville, TN, where she lives with her husband and two children. She appreciates the beauty of the mountains, but her favorite place to visit is the beach. She is a lifelong math nerd and enjoys good puns. When she isn’t writing, she likes to read books, wife hard, and mom hard.

connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

Enter the Giveaway:


CALL HER JANIE Book Tour Giveaway



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Review – The Toymaker (Jake Pendleton #2) by Chuck Barrett @chuck_barrett

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I have had The Toymaker by Chuck Barrett on my TBR since 2012. I was so excited to grab it and don’t know why I waited so long to read it.

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The Toymaker by Chuck Barrett is a continuation of The Savannah Project, so this review will be short and sweet.

I LOVED IT.

Jake Pendleton will learn the all the grisly details of the ills that have befallen him, as he faces his worst foes. One is familiar, Ian Collings, the assassin. One is new, a terrorist, and will test all his skills. He will travel the world, dodging death with colleagues old and new.

The more I read, the more lost I got in the story, wondering who would live and who would die. Hopefully, it will be the villains, but with Chuck Barrett, you can never be sure.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Former NTSB Investigator Jake Pendleton faces a dilemma as the line blurs between right and wrong. After his judgment comes into question, Jake is entrusted to his new mentor, an eccentric old man who sees beyond Jake’s flaws. A man who makes ‘toys for spies.’

A man known as The Toymaker.

Jake’s first assignment reunites him with Gregg Kaplan in a daredevil mission to rescue a fellow agent held captive in Yemen. He risks his life to stop the first attack of an al Qaeda mastermind. But now, with no one to trust but himself, can Jake stop the terrorist from destroying what is most precious to the free world?

Unfortunately, more trouble comes his way as a killer from his past threatens something more important to Jake than his own life, leaving him to make the hardest decision any man ever has to make—

Who to sacrifice.

  • Fiction, Action and Adventure, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Terrorism, Espionage

368 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 21, 2011

ABOUT CHUCK BARRETT

Chuck Barrett is the award-winning author of The Savannah Project, The Toymaker, Breach of Power, and Disruption of his Jake Pendleton series, and Blown, and Last Chance of his blockbuster Gregg Kaplan series. He is a graduate of Auburn University and retired air traffic controller. He also holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate.

He and his wife, DJ Steele (also an author) currently reside in Northern Colorado.

Awards:
—BLOWN
2016 Writers Digest Self-Published Book Awards

—Breach of Power
Winner of the 2013 Indie Excellence Award in Political Thrillers.
Finalist in the 2013 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure category.

—The Toymaker
Finalist in the 2013 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure & Mystery/Suspense categories.

—The Savannah Project
Finalist in the 2011 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure category.
Second Place in the 2011 Reviewers Choice Awards Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror category.
Honorable Mention in the 2011 ForeWord Reviews Book-Of-The-Year Awards Thriller/Suspense category.

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MY CHUCK BARRETT REVIEWS

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Review – Truly Darkly Deeply by Victoria Selman @VictoriaSelman #psychologicalthriller

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The cover and title grabbed me, and when I read the blurb I knew I had to have it. I love reading about serial killers, but Truly Darkly Deeply by Victoria Selman is different from the usual fair…it’s about those left behind that have to deal with the fallout of someone they loved being a vicious, cruel killer.

Sophie meets Matty Melaren when she is twelve years old and falls in love with him. She looks at him as her dad, seeing she never knew her real dad. Her mother keeps secrets from her, and we all know that secrets never stay buried. They may have, if Sophie wasn’t determined to get answers and makes a trip to Battlemouth Prison, where Matty is incarcerated. He delighted in spilling the beans.

Truly Darkly Deeply by Victoria Selman deals with the emotional turmoil and devastation that Sophie and her mother, Amelia Rose suffer when Matty is imprisoned. Friends and neighbors shun them. Many tear filled sleepless nights dog them both. Even reading about it, I cannot imagine the anguish they go through.

There was no secret that Matty Melaren was a serial killer. When I first began reading, I was a bit disappointed because Matty was not the star. The more I read, the more I found that Sophie is the star and to walk in her shoes, or try to, the more I loved her. It may seem there won’t be any twists and turns, but I can promise you….THERE IS! The ending was amazing!!!!!!! I never saw it coming!!!!!! I urge you not to peek, because the ending is worth waiting for.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Truly Darkly Deeply by Victoria Selman.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

12-year-old Sophie and her mother, Amelia-Rose, move to London from Massachusetts where they meet the charismatic Matty Melgren, who quickly becomes an intrinsic part of their lives. But as the relationship between the two adults fractures, a serial killer begins targeting young women with a striking resemblance to Amelia-Rose.

When Matty is eventually sent down for multiple murders, questions remain as to his guilt — questions which ultimately destroy both women. Nearly twenty years later, Sophie receives a letter from Battlemouth Prison informing her Matty is dying and wants to meet. It looks like Sophie might finally get the answers she craves. But will the truth set her free — or bury her deeper?

ABOUT VICTORIA SELMAN (from her website)

“Victoria Selman is an exciting and powerfully fresh voice”—PATRICIA CORNWELL

Victoria Selman is the author of the critically acclaimed Ziba MacKenzie series. Her debut novel, Blood for Blood, was shortlisted for the prestigious CWA Debut Dagger Award and an Amazon Charts #1 bestseller for five weeks, selling over half a million copies.

Victoria has written for the Independent, co-hosts Crime Time FM, compiles the Afraid of the Light charity anthology series and was shortlisted for the 2021 CWA Short Story Dagger Award.

Her first latest thriller, Truly Darkly Deeply, was published as Quercus’ flagship title in July 2022 and was an instant Sunday Times bestseller.

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Early Review – Before She Finds Me by Heather Chavez #BeforeSheFindsMe #NetGalley @iamHRChavez

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Before She Finds Me by Heather Chavez is up for preorder, due to be released tomorrow.

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Before She Finds Me by Heather Chavez is one of those books that it is not the cover that grabs me, though I do love female main characters, but this time it was the title. I know we will be having some hide and seek, predator and prey action. Everyone has a secret and some of them will pay the ultimate price…and I love it!

Julia is a mom and ex wife carrying heavy baggage from her tragic past, the secret haunting her. It has made her hypervigilant, noticing even the slightest thing that is amiss, her spidey senses on constant alert. Her and her daughter, Cora, have a ‘pun’ habit which I thought was a nice touch. 🙂 I love the twist that made them all targets, so, remember, make sure you hit what you are aiming for or it could come back and bite you…..

Ren and Nolan are assassins, married, and work together. Nolan gathers the information and Ren draws up the plans and maps. She is meticulous and, well, he’s getting sloppy, greedy, and I thought he could be their downfall. After all, it couldn’t be the woman. Nothing could possible go wrong…could it?

I love how the characters grew, developed more depth. The mystery of the shooting at the college goes way beyond anything I could have foreseen. I was curious from the beginning, but once the surprises started stacking up, the pace picked up and I didn’t want to stop until….

The ending was terrific and I kinda figured it out…who would be left standing, but how they would get there was a total surprise…and, oh so, fitting. There was a surprise victim or two, but, hey, fictional characters are disposable. HA HA HA HA HA I have found a new author to keep my eye on and I recommend any lover of suspense would enjoy this too.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Before She Finds Me by Heather Chavez.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

In this shocking thriller, two unlikely mothers race to uncover the truth behind a horrific attack—even after it becomes clear that the truth will destroy one of their families.

Julia Bennett has worked hard to create a stable life for her daughter, Cora, in Southern California. So when Cora leaves for college, the worst thing Julia expects on move-in day is an argument with her ex-husband and his new wife. But a sudden attack leaves the campus stunned—and only Julia’s quick actions save Cora’s life. Shaken in the aftermath, and haunted by a dark secret, Julia starts to wonder: What if the attack wasn’t as random as everyone believes?

Newly pregnant Ren Petrovic has an unusual career—she’s a trained assassin, operating under a strict moral code. Ren wasn’t on campus that day, but she knows who was: her husband, Nolan. What she doesn’t know is why Nolan has broken their rules by not telling her about the job in advance. The more Ren looks into the attack, the more she begins to question: Who really hired Nolan? And why did one woman in the crowd respond so differently from all the rest?

Julia and Ren each want answers, but their searches quickly pit them against each other. One woman is a hired killer, but the other is a determined survivor. And both mothers will defend their families to the bitter end.
 

  • Adult, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
  • 356 pages, Kindle
  • Expected publication June 27, 2023 by Mulholland Books

ABOUT HEATHER CHAVEZ

Heather Chavez Author

Heather is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley’s English literature program and has worked as a newspaper reporter, editor, contributor to mystery and television blogs, and in communications for a major health care organization. She lives with her family and two cat overlords in Santa Rosa, California, where she is at work on her next novel.

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Review – Fury: a Cinderella story by David Allen @AnotherfunnyD

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Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

For a debut novel, David Allen did a hellacious job with Fury: a Cinderella Story. The cover didn’t do a lot for me, but after reading Fury, it fits the story. After all, Cindy is the epitome of nice…until she dies…then, she wants revenge on those who feel they are entitled, not thinking twice about the repercussions of their actions.

Cindy does have a wicked sense of humor.

“…Also, when people trust you, it is so much easier to crush them under your heel on the way to the top.”

Cindy does indeed make a Cinderella transformation, from an office worker to the belle of the ball, bringing her to the attention of three of the worst male specimens on earth. It will be the death of her…until…

Cindy plots her revenge, with the help of her best friends, Anna and Jay, and they bring Hell right to them, one by one. David Allen shares her revenge in a graphic, gruesome manner, and the cover comes to mind. She looks sweet and innocent, but her revenge is flaming hot. Even though it is savage and brutal, I found myself smiling, occasionally even laughing. And I smiled as I went through my notes and write this down.

Like Lucifer says in the TV series, “I’m going to bring it right to you.”

When she returns to Inferno, I was blown away. I never saw anything of what was to come and I loved it. I never anticipated the finale and wanted to yell and cheer. Again, I want to congratulation David Allen on his debut novel and highly recommend you horror lovers to grab a copy. I think you will get more than you bargained for…as did Cooper, Ronnie and Emery!

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Fury: a Cinderella story by David Allen.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

When Cindy Tremaine showed up to the office work meeting Monday morning, no one was surprised given her legendary work ethic. Except for Cooper Washington, who killed her three nights earlier.
Cindy Tremaine is the best employee Cleaning California has, and helped turn is from an idea to a regional powerhouse. She and her best friends, the stepsisters Anna and Jay Hildebrand, are elated when they find out they are going to be merging with Royal Crown industries, a global leader in technology and architecture, founded by Gable Washington.
At a ball to celebrate the merger, she meets Cooper Washington, the unbelievably handsome and charismatic son of Gable, and heir to the company. Along with his two friends, Ronnie and Emery, he uses his prince charming persona to lead Cindy into a night out, in which she ends up drugged and dies as a result. The three men panic and hide her body and put a plan together to get away with the crime. A plan which didn’t account for Cindy arriving back at work. Cindy, along with the stepsisters, now vow vengeance as the men try to figure out a way to stop her.

  • Genre: Dark Comedy, Fiction, Horror, Humor
  • 361 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published October 23, 2022

ABOUT DAVID ALLEN

I was born in Ogden Utah. Raised in Cape Girardeau,Missouri and now live in Columbia, MO. I graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia with degrees in Economics and Philosophy. Fury: A Cinderella Story is my debut novel. 

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