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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
I’m always curious where Kathryn Meyer Griffith can take the Dinosaur Lake series and she does not disappoint. Like the tag line says, The aliens are coming in force…but for a malevolent or a benevolent reason? I think they may make us an offer we can’t refuse. Kathryn Meyer Griffith has a vivid imagination and I love her Dinosaur Lake series so much, I would hate for it to ever end.
Humanity…we go about our daily business as if there will always be a tomorrow. What if aliens came to visit and gave us an ultimatum. I, for one, don’t believe we would be able to hold up our part of the bargain. There are those that put their life on the line and those that only think of themselves, not caring what they do to others or the environment as they please themselves.
Henry has retired from his ranger job at Crater Lake, lost much and still suffers, but he has loyal friends who will jump to his aid when called.
Oscar, I love him. He has saved many human lives and will be called on again.
The first part of the book reminds us of what has already happened, leading us into what is coming. I do like when an author refreshes my memory, reminding me of what has come before, bringing the heartache and loss back to mind. We do have many feel good moments and that is important to me too. I want to smile and laugh while wondering if the world is going to end.
I wonder…what would humanity do if it was all real?
What do you think? What would you do?
From beginning to end, I devoured the words. I had to know what Kathryn Meyer Griffith created in Dinosaur Lake VII. Every time I think this series and Kathryn can’t surprise me, they do. I couldn’t stop reading. Even though the ending seemed abrupt, I think that was me wanting more. I don’t know what more she could have said or done to create a better experience for me.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Dinosaur Lake VII by Kathryn Meyer Griffith.
4 Stars
AMAZON SYNOPSIS
Ex-Park Chief Ranger Henry Shore has had his share of adventures and trials. But for many years he had a good life with his wife, Ann, and his daughter, Laura, being Chief Ranger at Crater Lake National Park. His life was perfect. Then the dinosaurs came. With his rangers, he fought the prehistoric beasts for years in his park; while outside the world also battled the malevolent creatures. He had one friend among the dinosaurs, little Oscar, who helped him, and the other humans, to fight and survive the dinosaur wars; during them he lost his daughter. These days Henry is recovering from the loss of his beloved wife, Ann, and trying to find purpose in his new lonely life. The year before he’d been temporarily rescued from that sorrow by being drafted, as a renowned dinosaur hunter and expert, to help track down some of the last remaining rogue dinosaurs in the country, and then later, two of the wilier creatures loose and causing havoc at the government’s secret Area 52. Area 52, where two mysterious ancient alien spaceships were housed and examined by a team of our scientists. Alien ships somehow suspected of being connected to the world’s previous dinosaur scourge because of the ancient dinosaur DNA discovered in their labs. That assignment ended abruptly for Henry when the two alien aircrafts mysteriously vanished. Now Henry is home again, and at loose ends. But when so many new menacing extraterrestrial spacecrafts begin to appear in Earth’s air spaces, and the alien abductions multiply, Henry is drafted yet again to help. For fear has rapidly spread across the world as more and more alien airships are sighted everywhere. Why are so many alien ships suddenly harassing our planet, and what do they want? It won’t take long before the world, with Henry and an old friend’s help, find out. Then they have to figure out how to appease the aliens, or the Earth could be doomed.
ABOUT KATHRYN MEYER GRIFFITH
Since childhood I’ve been an artist and worked as a graphic designer in the corporate world and for newspapers for twenty-three years before I quit to write full time. But I’d already begun writing novels at 21, over fifty-one years ago now, and now have had thirty-six (romantic horror, thrillers, SF Thrillers, horror novels, romantic SF horror, romantic suspense, romantic time travel, historical romance, and murder mysteries) novels, and thirteen short stories, published from many traditional publishers since 1984. But since 2012 I’ve gone into self-publishing in a big way; and upon getting some of my older books’ full rights back for the first time in 36 years, self-published all of them along with my newer novels. My seven Dinosaur Lake novels and nine Spookie Town Murder Mysteries (Scraps of Paper, All Things Slip Away, Ghosts Beneath Us, Witches Among Us, What Lies Beneath the Graves, All Those Who Came Before, When the Fireflies Returned, Echoes of Other Times, and Waiting Beyond The Veil) are my best-sellers.
I was married to beloved Russell (who passed away on August 27, 2021) for over forty-three years; have a son, two grandchildren, and a great granddaughter, and I live in a small quaint town in Illinois. I have a quirky cat, Sasha, and live in an old house in the heart of town. Though I’ve been an artist, and a folk/classic rock singer in my youth with my late brother Jim, writing has always been my greatest passion, my butterfly stage, and I’ll probably write stories until the day I die…or until my memory goes.
2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *Finalist* for her horror novel The Last Vampire ~ 2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS * Finalist * for her thriller novel Dinosaur Lake.
Novels and short stories from Kathryn Meyer Griffith:
Evil Stalks the Night, The Heart of the Rose, Love Is Stronger Than Evil, Vampire Blood, The Last Vampire (2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS*Finalist* in their Horror category), Witches, Witches II: Apocalypse, Witches plus bonus Witches II: Apocalypse, The Nameless One erotic horror short story, The Calling, Scraps of Paper (The First Spookie Town Murder Mystery), All Things Slip Away (The Second Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Ghosts Beneath Us (The Third Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Witches Among Us (The Fourth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), What Lies Beneath the Graves (The Fifth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), All Those Who Came Before (The Sixth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), When the Fireflies Returned (The Seventh Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Echoes of Other Times (The Eighth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Waiting Beyond The Veil (The Ninth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Egyptian Heart, Winter’s Journey, The Ice Bridge, Don’t Look Back, Agnes, A Time of Demons and Angels, The Woman in Crimson, Human No Longer, Spooky Short Stories Collection, Haunted Tales, Forever and Always Romantic Novella, Night Carnival Short Story, Dinosaur Lake (2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS*Finalist* in their Thriller/Adventure category), Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising, Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation, Dinosaur Lake IV: Dinosaur Wars, Dinosaur Lake V: Survivors, Dinosaur Lake VI: The Alien Connection, Dinosaur Lake VII: The Aliens Return, Dinosaur Lake VIII: For Love of Oscar…coming soon. Memories of My Childhood (short story collection) and my Christmas Magic 1959 non-fiction autobiographical short story.
I was approached by T L Bodine to read and review Neverest. The cover immediately drew me in, then I read the blurb and clicked reply to her email.
I am so happy to have T L Bodine to share her thoughts about, well, whatever she wants.
INTERVIEW WITH T L BODINE
1. Book covers heavily influence me and sometimes I will grab a book just because I love the cover. What is your process for coming up with the final product?
This particular cover went on a bit of a design journey. My publisher and I had a very different idea in mind, but with AI-rendered art being such a hot-button topic lately, we wanted to lean hard in the opposite direction and go with something that was very obviously bespoke and physical. My editor found the artist, Donnie Kirchner, and shared his Instagram to me, and I was intrigued by the way he worked with texture and color so I got on board pretty quick. I made several moodboards of other book covers I liked and different art styles and color palettes, and we sent a bundle of that over to Donnie who really knocked it out of the park. The original painting is actually hanging up in my living room now. The sky is painted on canvas, and the mountain is actually torn paper backlit with fairy lights to get that horizon glow. Overall I’m really happy with how it turned out, and it definitely captures the attention!
2. What was your inspiration for writing Neverest?
I randomly stumbled across an article on one of those “weird news” sites on social media, about the bodies on Everest, and realized it was something I had never thought about before. It sent me on kind of an obsession spiral for a bit, trying to understand — why people climb the mountain even knowing the risks, why recovering a body is so important it’s worth risking more lives, why there are so many inexperienced climbers on Everest especially. In hunting for answers to satisfy my curiosity, I started thinking through a lot of spooky “what if” scenarios, and the central relationship drama at the heart of the book started to reveal itself.
3. Why a book about mountain climbing?
I started this project knowing essentially nothing about mountaineering, so I went on quite a research spree just to feel comfortable in that space. I’m still definitely a couch potato. But in reading climbing logs and blogs from mountaineers and watching YouTube videos and documentaries and digging into memoirs, I started to get a sense of what drives people into this hobby…and realized that in a lot of ways, mountaineering isn’t so different from writing. Obviously their hobby is way more dangerous than mine, and a lot more physically demanding. But we share a same passion for investing a tremendous part of ourselves into something others might view as a waste of time or even selfish — and once I found that emotional hook, I understood exactly what I was writing. Neverest is a story about grief and ghosts and death in the mountains, but it’s also about being married to someone with a deep, life-altering passion for something you cannot begin to understand. And that, I think, is super relatable to a lot of us.
4. What authors have influenced your writing career?
Like most horror fans, I started reading Stephen King when I was entirely too young, and that influence has definitely stuck around. I also owe a lot to the YA authors of my youth, like Robert Cormier and R.L. Stine, and to the classics like Shirley Jackson, John Steinbeck, and Kurt Vonnegut. Among my contemporaries, I continue to be totally blown away by Paul Tremblay, Grady Hendrix, T. Kingfisher and Gillian Flynn. Their work never fails to inspire me!
5. What do you do for fun and relaxation?
What is this “relaxation” you speak of? 😛 I’m a copywriter by trade so I’m in the position of taking time away from my writing job…to do a different writing job. Not very smart of me. I do also enjoy playing video games with my husband (our current obsession is playing World of Warcraft Classic on “hardcore” mode, so when your character dies you have to delete them and start over). I also cook a lot and tend to my pet rats and our little dogs. One of these days I should pick a hobby that involves going outside.
6. As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
I feel a deep affinity for rats. I’ve kept them as pets since my teens, and they’re such funny little animals — hypersocial, political, full of gossip and petty squabbles but completely devoted to each other, curious yet skeptical, infatuated with good food and warm, dark, cozy places to sleep in a pile with their best pals. Equally at home in the forest or crawling around in the trash. I can’t think of a more relatable creature.
7. What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on a zombie book called Cage of Bones, which is the third and hopefully final installment of my Lazarus series about self-aware zombies struggling to survive and thrive under the nose of a government that wants to eradicate them. I’ve also got a book in the editing stages now about a selkie and a musician who team up to escape the abusive music producer who controls them both. After that, I guess we’ll see which thing from my mountain of to-dos grabs my attention first!
Thanks so much, T, for taking the time to share your thoughts. It is a credit to your writing skills to make Neverest sound as if it wasn’t your first climb up the mountain (at least in our imagination). I can only imagine the gorgeous cover hanging on your wall. Your zombies sound awesome and my hubby thinks I may have been a mermaid in my former life, so your writing ticks all the boxes for me.
First off, the paranormal element is subtle, but a Yeti is mentioned. This is not a creature feature, but the paranormal twist and the look into what happens when you climb a mountain and your mind may become your worst enemy.
A year ago, Sean Miller, Carrie’s husband, climber Mount Everest and never came home. Carries is lost in her grief, but evokes a promise from their best friend, Tom, to take her to the top so she can find her body.
I never saw Neverest being the book it turned out to be, but it surely has enough horror without the creature…or is there something more to the mountain, something that lays it’s claim to those who falter. Is it a beast? Is it their minds altitude sickness causing them to lose it? Is there a hostile force that protects the mountain?
Tom and Sean usually climbed together, but Tom had his reasons for not being on the trip. They weren’t what I thought and I wonder if all those that never returned from climbing Mount Everest were all accidents.
Neverest is a book about survival. I have seen some TV shows and read some accounts of Mount Everest. I cannot imagine ever having the desire to do such a thing. For one, I like heat and I am pretty laid back. I think climbers have a desire to conquer something. Or are they running from something? Sean felt climbing was the only time he was in control of events. When you think of all the support needed to accomplish such a feat, I think that is a misnomer.
The writing, and watching shows and reading books, makes it easy to visualize her preparations, her assent, and the action as it unfolds. The hazards and danger, from the mountain and from the person themselves, does not make me want to follow in their footsteps. It was creepy. I found myself shivering and it wasn’t from the cold.
Maybe the mountain is striking back because of how humans have trashed it. My curiosity, which is great that an author can have me doing it, made me surf the internet. People…I get this feeling of who do they think they are. Do they think, if I were ever to climb the mountain, I would want to see how little they care about their environment? It’s like we say for the beach, leave only footprints.
Carrie is searching for answers and her guilt drives her on a journey of self discovery that she didn’t know she was looking for. The held the journal Sean had left behind as if it was her lifeline…
Man, oh man, that ending. I had no idea how T L Bodine would finish Neverest, but I didn’t see that coming. I guess, I was just along for the ride, not thinking of where I was going, just taking one step after another, one page after another, one word after another…
T L Bodine’s writing draws me in as I become fascinated with the allure to conquer, the price the climbers pay, both physical and mental, the cold, the lack of air and the tricks the mind plays on them. I wonder how many fall prey to altitude sickness and just wander off, lost on the mountain and lost in their mind.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Neverest by T L Bodine.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
One year ago, Sean Miller—journalist and mountain climbing enthusiast—reached the summit of Mount Everest and was never seen again. Unable to move on without knowing the truth of what happened, his widow Carrie insists on an expedition to search for Sean’s body so it can be properly laid to rest. Tom, Sean’s best friend and former climbing partner, agrees to serve as expedition guide and promises to keep Carrie safe on the mountain, despite their complicated relationship history.
Guided by a travel journal left behind by her husband, Carrie ventures into the frozen, open-air graveyard of the world’s tallest peak. But as Sean’s diary and Carrie’s experiences reveal, climbing the mountain is more than a test of endurance; it’s a battle of wills with an ancient and hostile force protecting the mountain—and the dead do not rest easy at the summit.
NEVEREST is a survival thriller with a hint of the supernatural that will appeal to fans of Ally Wilkes’ All the White Spaces and Amy McCulloch’s Breathless.
Genre: Fiction, Horror
292 pages, ebook
First published April 25, 2023 by Ghost Orchid Press
ABOUT T L BODINE
T.L. Bodine writes dark fantasy and horror. She’s interested in uncanny, fantastic things, and the way real people with real problems interact with them.
You can also read up-and-coming stories on Wattpad, or check out her Tumblr for writing advice, creepypasta, and more.
When not writing, she can usually be found watching horror movies, playing story-heavy video games, or experimenting in the kitchen.
She lives in New Mexico with her husband, David, and two small dogs.
I have had The Savannah Project by Chuck Barrett on my TBR since 2012, but didn’t pick it up until 2014. I was so excited to grab it and don’t know why I waited so long to read it.
I cracked the book open and didn’t realize it was St Patrick’s Day…here and in Savannah Georgia. The Prologue socked me in the gut and I braced myself for what was to come. I have had my eye on The Savannah Project and The Toymaker since 2012, so it is high time I Knocked them off my reading list.
Jake Pendleton will meet Ian Collins, an assassin that will change his life forever. A man who vowed an eye for an eye, a blood vengeance.
I have never really understood all the IRA, Sinn Fein issues, but I have read and continue to read novels about them, trying. An eye for an eye is never enough. I can never understand sacrificing innocent lives. How can that be right?
As I read along, the story grew deeper, more desperate and dangerous. Jake scrambles to understand what is happening. The action is non stop as they travel the globe creating devastation wherever they go. Bodies will fall and I wonder who will be left standing.
The story doesn’t end here and I eagerly begin The Toymaker. The characters have captured my curiosity and I have to know what will become of them, whether they are the worst villains imaginable or persons who will sacrifice their life for others.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
The truth can be a dangerous thing.
Terrorism, duty, and personal safety collide when Jake Pendleton, an investigator for the NTSB, is called to investigate an aircraft accident in Savannah, Georgia during the St. Patrick’s Day celebration. The accident, which at first appears to be quite run-of-the-mill, turns out to be anything but. Since Jake is not willing to pretend there are no suspicious circumstances and more than the usual share of rather unlikely “coincidences,” he sets off a veritable avalanche of secrets, violence and treachery. Aided by an unlikely partner, Gregg Kaplan, the air traffic controller who was the last person in contact with the airplane that crashed, Jake sets out to untangle the webs of deceit and to find a vicious killer.
Nothing is as it seems, nobody is who you thought them to be. Nothing is sacred. Nobody is safe.
The Savannah Project is an action packed political thriller with a twist around every corner. If you like thrillers by great authors like David Baldacci, Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, and others, then you’ll enjoys this book as the author incorporates his 3M formula for his novels: Murder, Mystery, & Mayhem.
His books have reached Amazon Bestseller status in the following categories: • Espionage & Spy Thrillers • Political Thrillers • Political Thriller & Suspense • Action & Adventure • Terrorism Thriller
Action and Adventure, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Fiction
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 9, 2010
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.
I was happy to be on the front end of Clemence Michallon’s writing career with what I think is her debut novel, The Quiet Tenant. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but I loved her twist on the serial killer scenario. I am a huge fan of serial killers, reading about them, not hanging out with them, so any fresh plot is always welcome. Of course, I think we know that a serial killer could be hidden under the guise of your neighbor. Hell, it could even be a family member. Serial killer’s are not always male, though it is rare to find one that is female.
Imagine meeting a kind, young man who turns out to be your worst nightmare. He has murdered eight women and you are the ninth. Why has he kept you alive? Why doesn’t he take what he wants and dispose of you? What makes you different from the others?
‘Rachel’ is the tenant and he is the landlord. He has had her for eight years. Now, things have changed. His wife has died and he is being evicted. How can he incorporate her into his new life, keeping the specifics hidden from his thirteen year old daughter, Cecilia.
Rachel has a set of rules she has made to keep herself alive, hoping she will be saved.
I had wondered about his relationship with his daughter, seeing he rarely let her out of his sight, other than school. Was he molesting her, having her take the place of his dead wife and Rachel is just a side bit for some variety? At first, I thought it was because he knew just how dangerous the world can be, seeing he is a predator. But, the reason was much more personal than her safety.
There were a couple of hiccups in the story, but over all it kept me reading. I wondered how in the world they could all live together and how it would end. Clemence Michallon was able to keep me in suspense, never giving away the ending, even though I tried to figure it out for myself. The twists and turns along the way were new to me and as many books as I read, it is hard to come up with something novel and unique. Kudos go out to Clemence Michallon for being able to do that and leave me wanting more. I am eager to see what she will come up with next.
The ending was inspirational and hopeful. I always wonder how I will react in a situation some of these characters find themselves in, and I tell myself one thing and wonder if that is what I would really do. After all, I don’t think any of us can know until or if it happens.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED NOVELS OF 2023 • “A bravura feat of storytelling . . . a daring and completely satisfying mystery.” —James Patterson, #1 best-selling author
A PULSE-POUNDING PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER ABOUT A SERIAL KILLER NARRATED BY THOSE CLOSEST TO HIS 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, HIS GIRLFRIEND—AND THE ONE VICTIM HE HAS SPARED
Aidan Thomas is a hard-working family man and a somewhat beloved figure in the small upstate town where he lives. He’s the kind of man who always lends a hand and has a good word for everyone. But Aidan has a dark secret he’s been keeping from everyone in town and those closest to him. He’s a kidnapper and serial killer. Aidan has murdered eight women and there’s a ninth he has earmarked for Rachel, imprisoned in a backyard shed, fearing for her life.
When Aidan’s wife dies, he and his thirteen-year-old daughter Cecilia are forced to move. Aidan has no choice but to bring Rachel along, introducing her to Cecilia as a “family friend” who needs a place to stay. Aidan is betting on Rachel, after five years of captivity, being too brainwashed and fearful to attempt to escape. But Rachel is a fighter and survivor, and recognizes Cecilia might just be the lifeline she has waited for all these years. As Rachel tests the boundaries of her new living situation, she begins to form a tenuous connection with Cecilia. And when Emily, a local restaurant owner, develops a crush on the handsome widower, she finds herself drawn into Rachel and Cecilia’s orbit, coming dangerously close to discovering Aidan’s secret.
Told through the perspectives of Rachel, Cecilia, and Emily, The Quiet Tenant explores the psychological impact of Aidan’s crimes on the women in his life—and the bonds between those women that give them the strength to fight back. Both a searing thriller and an astute study of trauma, survival, and the dynamics of power, The Quiet Tenant is an electrifying debut by a major talent.
Clémence Michallon was born and raised near Paris. She studied journalism at City University of London, received a master’s in Journalism from Columbia University, and has written for The Independent since 2018. Her essays and features have covered true-crime, celebrity culture, and literature. She moved to New York City in 2014 and recently became a US citizen. She now divides her time between New York City and Rhinebeck, NY.
One of Christine E Schulze’s reasons for writing The Amielian Legacy was to enthrall readers with a fantastical adventure, with characters that will grab the reader’s imagination, bringing them along on an epic quest. Larimar: Gem of the Sea is the first novella of the series, and once I began reading, I didn’t stop until I was finished.
We begin with a map of the Four Realms, and at the end of the book Christine E Schulze explains their history.
Captain Jorah is at the helm of the Gem of the Sea, sailing on another adventure. There is no place he would rather be, and as we learn his story, we find this adventure was a long time coming. It will take him to places he never could imaging, encountering many magical creatures. He is good and kind. At times, his crew thinks he’s out of his mind, but they are loyal to the core.
Larimar seeks his help. Only a mortal can pull the sword, the Serpent’s Bane, from the stone and save the City of Larimar. Reminded me of a Charmed episode, and, of course, King Arthur.
If you love action and adventure, fantasy and characters that run the spectrum, from human to supernatural, quests to solve the riddles of myths and legends, then Larimar: Gem of the Sea by Christine E Schulze may be for you.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Larimar: Gem of the Sea by Christine E Schulze.
4 Stars
BOOK BLURB
A fearless captain and a mysterious girl who walks on water. An underwater city and a destined deadly curse. What could possibly go wrong?
Captain Jorah is renowned for being one of the youngest explorers to ever sail Zephyrian waters. He’s also notorious for landing his crew in situations they hadn’t counted on, involving man-eating mermaids and other dangerous misadventures.
When Jorah decides to search for the legendary underwater City of Larimar, he doesn’t account for the quest that follows. After being rescued from shipwreck by a mysterious young woman who walks on water and carries a singing seashell around her neck, he soon finds himself reunited with an old friend once thought lost to him. Before he knows it, he’s caught up in a race against time to save her yet again, this time from a looming prophecy about a deadly serpent destined to consume her entire race.
Can Jorah help her save her people before the dark prophecy completes itself?
The Amielian Legends is a collection of stand-alone young adult books, all set in the same fantastic universe, that can be read in any order. Read Larimar: Gem of the Sea today to discover new worlds filled with adventure, diverse characters, and whimsical magic.
Amazon:https://amzn.to/3WGhwew
Audible: https://amzn.to/3qisbQz
BOOK EXCERPT
Captain Jorah stood proudly aboard the Gem, smiling as his ship departed from the shores of Muriel. He closed his eyes and lifted his face to the sun, relishing its warmth on his fair skin, paler than usual from being cooped up too much this past winter. With a deep inhale, he savored the salty air and released a contented sigh. How good it felt to be one with his beloved ocean once more.
As they picked up speed, the wind tousled his shoulder-length hair about his face. He pulled the unruly locks back, tying them with a bit of twine, and a fond, bittersweet memory played before him. His mother, washing his hair as a young lad, admiring how its golden-brown hues were the same as his father’s. When he grew older, she would run her hands through his hair and say it was golden-brown like the sands of the distant lands he longed so much to discover. Much as he relished this life of adventure, he oft times wished he could trade it for one more simple, precious night with Mama, sitting on the shoreline, talking, and dreaming of a better life. At least he had fulfilled the greater part of her dream by building that life for himself, and so he would go on doing, with each new quest he undertook.
Jorah watched his kingdom of Muriel as it shrank on the horizon. The castle stretched high on the cliffs, its gold-gilded turrets glistening in the rising sun’s prismatic glow. The flags atop the turrets bore Muriel’s royal standard of two aqua-colored seals swimming in a perfect circle on a dark blue backdrop. As the flags waved at the matching banners that flew from the Gem’s masts, Jorah could almost imagine the castle bid him a fond farewell.
Then again, truth be told, he had seen little inside the castle’s walls in the past few years. He hardly recalled the feel of his fine satin sheets or the taste of fine wine. He preferred to be on the go, always seeking his next quest. At nineteen, he had already explored as many of Zephyr’s Islands as could be reached, discovering many unique creatures and plant life, including what had since become the most popular breeds of Thebazilian foxes. He was also one of few who’d dared to travel to the mysterious Western Realm, learning much from the diverse cultures he encountered there.
Jorah had abandoned a life of luxury to pursue his life-long curiosity. He did not seek gold or silver. Nor did he seek to conquer or establish new lands. No, the most favored treasure he sought was that of ancient civilizations, myths, and legends.
Thus, as Jorah bid Caracol, his first mate, to follow him into his cabin, Caracol inwardly groaned. What harebrained mission had the captain concocted this time? Were they searching for trolls, elves, or perhaps narwhals? Caracol hoped it was narwhals. He had always fancied seeing the great “unicorns who ruled the seas.”
Of course, Caracol, like the rest of the crew, looked up to Jorah. He was a good captain and an intelligent man. But Caracol also wasn’t the only member of the crew to question their captain’s sanity from time to time.
When the crew had first come together, they had thought Jorah crazy for believing in the ridiculous legends he was always digging up. Now, they thought him crazy because the legends nearly always proved true, and yet he still insisted on pursuing such “exhilarating journeys,” as he cheerfully called their oft-near-death experiences. The most exhilarating thing the crew usually found about such quests was the trip home, especially after their last mission, where they had nearly been devoured by man-eating mermaids.
Blessed Amiel, Caracol breathed the silent prayer with a shiver, as he recalled the mermaids’ slimy hands clawing at him. Please let it be anything but mermaids.
Despite his nagging worries, Caracol remained silent as he followed his captain into his cabin. After all, Jorah had kept them alive thus far. Surely, he would keep them safe on whatever new mission he had in store.
As Jorah unrolled one of the huge maps and spread it wide on the table, Caracol watched the familiar, eager glint leap into his captain’s bright green eyes.
“This,” Jorah said, pointing to a location on the map, “this is our new destination.”
Caracol peered over Jorah’s shoulder and instantly felt a headache coming on. His captain didn’t even point to a landmark. Rather, he pointed to some random part of the Zephyrian Ocean. Those usually ended up being the worst kinds of adventures. The mermaids’ seaweed stench rushed back to him, making his stomach roil.
Swallowing hard, he said, “That’s in the middle of the Zephyrian Ocean, Captain.”
“Yes, Caracol, and do you know what’s in the middle of the Zephyrian Ocean?”
Caracol didn’t have any idea, but he had the reluctant feeling that he would momentarily find out.
“I don’t know, Captain.”
“The ancient City of Larimar, also known as the ‘Gem of the Sea!’” Jorah tensed, as though he might burst from his rush of excitement. “It’s the legendary city of the Larimar people, named after one of their ancient queens, ‘Larine,’ and ‘mara,’ their word for ‘sea.’ The Larimar people are elves, skilled in magic that allows them to control the very ocean waves…”
Elves, Caracol reflected, as the captain rambled on. Elves aren’t so bad. The last elves they had encountered had given them weapons, jewels, and other gifts. The King of Arabis had been quite impressed with all they had brought to trade, after that expedition. Caracol began to feel a bit more at ease.
“…with amazing buildings constructed from the larimar stone. It’s the most magnificent city ever built on the ocean floor.”
Oh, dear, Caracol thought. Ocean floor. Of course, there hadto be a downfall somewhere. His thoughts darted back to mermaids, and a knot twisted in the pit of his stomach.
“On the ocean floor, Captain? How will we know where to stop sailing and dive below? How will we know when we’ve found this city?”
The determined, decisive gleam Caracol had witnessed far too often in Jorah’s eyes flashed in them now as he said, “Oh, we’ll know, Caracol. Believe me. If the legends are true, and I’ve never yet pursued a legend that wasn’t based in some truth, we’ll know.”
ABOUT CHRISTINE E SCHULZE
Christine E. Schulze has been living in castles, exploring magical worlds, and creating fantastical adventures and romances since she was too young to even write of such stories. Her collection of young adult and children’s fantasy books, The Amielian Legacy, is comprised of series and stand-alone books that can all be read separately, but also weave together to create a single, amazing fantasy.
One of her main aspirations for The Amielian Legacy is to create fantasy stories with characters that connect with readers from many different backgrounds. Her current focus is to include racially diverse characters and those with disabilities. The latter is inspired by Schulze working with adults with autism and other developmental disabilities at Trinity Services in Southern Illinois.
Schulze draws much of her inspiration from favorite authors like Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Diana Wynne Jones, favorite games like The Legend of Zelda, and especially from the people in her life. Some of her exciting ventures include the publication of her award-winning Bloodmaiden, as well as The Gailean Quartet with Words Matter Publishing. Her books for younger readers include In the Land of Giants and The Amazing Captain K.
Christine currently lives in a cozy Hobbit hole, but you can visit her on her website: http://christineschulze.com.
OMG! I joined William Baker’s newsletter last month and have never looked back. His series of Devil’s Dolls short stories are to die for, and The Devil’s Origins is free, OR…if you have KindleUnlimited you can grab Season 1, or purchase for $5.97.
This standalone novella/short story, The Devil’s Origins by William Baker has me hooked. I love a good vigilante story and the only thing I hate about the Devil’s Dolls series is that it is not a novel. I want more, more depth, more detail, more of K…just MORE!
The Devil’s Origins by Willaim Baker has everything I love in a thriller…a female main character who is a vigilante, edge of the seat suspense, dead bodies, a story that can stand alone but has more to come. Once I read it, I knew I wanted more!
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Blood, ashes, and bones.
That’s all she saw.
When she awoke amongst the debris and dead bodies drenched in a mysterious substance, she found two things.
A single initial on her half-burnt uniform’s nametag.
And all her memories erased.
Abandoned, confused, hungry, and cold, K trudges on into a small town she doesn’t recognize
Failing to consider that she looks like an escaped, dangerous convict…
That her appearance would turn heads, raising dangerous questions she had no answer to.
But there is something about her new self K learns the hard way.
Her powers are anything but human.
And they can get her in a whole lot of trouble.
Soon, all hell breaks loose, and K is entangled in a murder she never wished to commit.
As she tries to escape the consequences of her actions, K is met with a choice she never thought she’d have to make.
Follow the instructions of her anonymous benefactor, or starve, die, and worse…
There is only one thing K can be certain about.
Someone is watching her every move.
They know what she’s done.
And they won’t stop until she pays what she’s due.
K’s deadly chase has only just begun.
This is the standalone prequel to the Devil’s Dolls series by William Baker.
Vengeance In Black by William Baker is a newsletter exclusive short story with a cliffhanger. I was ecstatic and disappointed at the same time. I was hooked when I read the standalone prequel, The Devil’s Origins, and was left hanging by my fingernails after finishing Vengeance In Black. I HAD TO KNOW what happened next and was ecstatic when William Black offered The Devil’s Dollmaker free for a limited time. YAY!
What’s is happening to all the women in town?
Look at that cover below…Doesn’t it make you want to know what the fuck is going on?
I am soooo lovin’ this series of novella/short stories. It makes me think of Charlie’s Angels, except there is only one angel with an anonymous benefactor. K is the epitome of a female vigilante and I love her. In The Devil’s Dollmaker, a deliciously gruesome story of missing women, K shows her humanity. I hate that she remains a solitary action figure, yet a connection would make her a target. This way, she comes and goes, like a ghost in the night. The only downside to this action packed suspense novella/short story is the cliffhanger…and I am hanging on for dear life!
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Somewhere in the dark, the Dollmaker butchers another victim. Going against her instincts, K decides to follow Lisa to the police, where she introduces her to Jerry, a cop that seems to distance himself from the corruption of the system. What surprises K more is that the task force has been expecting her arrival, addressing her as ‘special agent’ Rose. Is this another unexpected twist her anonymous boss has thrown her way, or could it be an elaborate scheme to trap her?
The lack of physical evidence on the case and her only unreliable witness leave her no time for caution. Thanks to Jerry’s tech skills and Lisa’s charm, they follow the missing women’s traces to the dark web, where a man called the Dollmaker deals in favors and twisted requests. But the most disturbing revelation of all is why these women answer his call…
What they find on that page scars Lisa, but K is hellbent on uncovering the man behind the operation. She knows whatever lies inside the sickest minds is best to remain hidden, but unless they act fast, more will die, and the killer’s trail will run cold.
This time there is no room for error. Not while the Dollmaker is out there mutilating his new toy.
William Baker lives on the west coast, surrounded by misty mountains, together with his wife, his son, and their two cats Tiger and Panther. He is a dedicated reader of most genres, with mysterious thrillers being his favorite.
Since he was a young boy, Will has written stories of all sorts, starting with the adventure of a mysterious beheaded rider clad in black, wandering around the village after sunset, causing terror to any foe standing in his way. After high school, Will thought it wise to pursue a proper education and became an economist. However, the stories never disappeared, on the contrary, more and more started to play themselves out like movies in his head. At last, Will had no choice but to succumb and started writing again. He has never looked back since.
OMG I laughed my way though Two Sticky Nuts by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff. I guess the title might give us a clue as to what may be involved, but there is so much more to the story than I anticipated. There always is with Mimi’s work.
Mila and Sofie are best friends, and polar opposites, but their trip to Jamaica changes Mila’s life, challenging her and pushing her past her limits.
I was reading along, thinking this is a lot of fun, with laughs galore, and Mimi Jean throws a wrench in what I thought would be a simple story. She manages to do that to me a lot, catching me off guard…in a very good way. It enables her to add those moments that I do not anticipate ahead of time. Of course, it helps when we have a hunkalicious man…or two.
If you like some spice in your romance, lots of laughs and surprises, come along for the ride. You won’t regret it.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Two Sticky Nuts by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
(NOTE: Standalone) From New York Times bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes a sassy, raunchy Rom-Com that’s sugary sweet, Two Sticky Nuts.
How far would you go for your possible Mr. Right?
I’m all in for a trip to Jamaica with my best friend, Sofie—sunshine, fruity cocktails, hot men. Yes, please! But when Sofie takes off with a sexy waiter, I’m stuck all alone. At what turns out to be a family resort. Where are the single men?
I’m ready to head home early when I spot an Adonis coming from the beach. Ohmygod. Are those abs real? Did he just sit next to me?
Turns out, Carter’s smart, adventurous, and makes indie films. We spend two amazing days together as he scouts locations around the island. And though we don’t hook up, our chemistry’s on fire! Quivers. Goosebumps. Fire!
Before he leaves, we trade numbers since he’s always passing through Dallas, where I live, and I can’t wait to see him again.
Until…
I get home.
And show a coworker my vacation pics.
And she recognizes Carter.
Gasp! Carter failed to mention his side gig, and let’s just say Mamma wouldn’t approve. I really want to give this guy a shot, but can I get past this?
Answer: I just might have to join him to find out.
Genre: Humor and Comedy,OhHellNo series, Romance, Standalone
260 pages, ebook
Published June 9, 2023 by Paper & Silver, Inc
ABOUT MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF
MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF is a New York Times bestselling author who’s sold over one million books around the world. Although she obtained her MBA and worked for more than fifteen years in the corporate world, she believes that it’s never too late to come out of the romance closet and follow your dreams.
Mimi lives with her Latin lover hubby, two pirates-in-training (their boys), and their three spunky dragons (really, just very tiny dogs with big attitudes) Snowy, Mini, and Mack, in the vampire-unfriendly state of Arizona.
She hopes to make you laugh when you need it most and continues to pray daily that leather pants will make a big comeback for men.
