MY REVIEW for The Rumor That Refused To Die by Chris Verstraete
“Do you mean that story wasn’t true?…It says the policeman died in 1950 after his car fell into a giant sinkhole. I thought newspapers had to print the truth?”
“You be the judge,” her teacher said.
The Rumor That Refused To Die by Chris Verstraete shows how quickly a story changes, from person to person and time to time.. Amanda takes her school assisgnment and runs with it, digging deep, and I love where Chris went with the story. It had me smiling, because I have seen a movie with a creature like this, so it was easy to visualize. What is released to the public is far from the truth, so being prepared is impossible. If you want to know the truth of anything, you must seek it out from many sources, and then you may still never know. After all, who really shot John F Kennedy?
MY REVIEW for the anthology as a whole
O is for Outbreak is a part of a twenty six horror anthology series. It is the fifteenth book, and if the other 14 were anything like this, I am sorry I missed them. Many of the thirteen short stories are pandemic related, so I think most of us can relate to them. Brain eating larva, viruses, insects, government conspiracies, the evil eye, a giant worm, and so much more had goose bumps running up and down my spine. I was caught up in the creepy and didn’t stop until I read the last story. The wonderful thing about an anthology, you can pick it up for a quickie no matter where you are.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of O Is For Outbreak
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
O is for Outbreak is the fifteenth book in an epic series of twenty-six horror anthologies. In this book you will find a selection of thirteen unsettling tales from some of the most talented independent horror authors writing today. From government conspiracies to historic plagues, otherworldly viruses to deadly insects, O is for Outbreak brings a wide selection of pandemic-inspired horror tales that will have you hiding away, face mask in place.
Protecting Sparrow by Jane Blythe is Book IV 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.
I was excited to begin Protecting Sparrow by Jane Blythe. I don’t know why, but I didn’t connect with Protecting Sparrow like I did the first three books in the series. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy my trip to Africa. After all, I know danger and romance are on the way.
It all starts with Sparrow’s helicopter being shot down. She is a member of the Air Force’s Nightstalkers, the best of the best. She knew the helicopter was too badly damaged after being hit by a missile to stay in the air. A crash was eminent. Who would survive? AND…go figure. She was going home to New York tomorrow…NOT.
There’s a couple storylines going on at the same time. One I knew about because of the last book, Protecting Falcon, which is still ongoing. Bringing Ethan Zimmerman into the story created the second. He came to her rescue and they were both kidnapped by a drug trafficker.
They had been friends for a long time and she wondered if there could be more. Ethan had lost his wife and could not get past it. He felt moving on was a betrayal, but…Sparrow had a big heart and knew what to say to reach people. She was a calm in the storm, yet she could fight like a hellcat when called upon to do so.
The last part of the book didn’t go the way I thought and I do love when I can’t see it coming.
All in all, an entertaining read and I look forward to getting my hands on Book V, Protecting Hawk, and his one night stand.
There are some very sad moments and lots of running from danger, a missile, a catastrophic crash and Colt….OMG! A punch to the gut.
On that note:
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Protecting Sparrow by Jane Blythe.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Grief is all that’s stopping this friendship becoming more.
When Sparrow Oswald’s helicopter is shot down in Africa the last person she expects to come to her rescue is her old friend Ethan Zimmerman. She’d love for there to be more between them but he’s not over his wife’s death. As they work together to find who is using Ethan’s plane to smuggle drugs the spark between them grows. Only question is will Ethan do anything about it.
Ethan isn’t looking to move on. He’s already loved and lost and no way is he willing to open his heart up to let it happen again. But when he and Sparrow are kidnapped by a drug trafficking warlord and have only each other to rely upon he can’t deny that feelings he didn’t want are there nonetheless and they’re growing. He’s going to have to look at his life and decide what he wants his future to look like, only by the time he makes those decisions it might be too late.
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!
I love finding new author’s and sharing their debut novels, like Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita.
A blizzard in a small town in Alaska. Oh yeah, I am intrigued from the getgo. THEN, add 205 residents that all live in the same highrise. Nothing could possibly go wrong, right?
A boot with a foot. A hand. Washed up on shore. I have seen TV shows about the body parts that wash ashore in the Northwest. Really creepy and using this topic to get Cara to the small town of Point Mettier, Alaska, with her own reasons for wanting to investigate, begins the mystery and danger that is to follow.
I shiver as she drives through the tunnel. It is one way and switches directions every half hour. I felt a bit claustrophic with her. Two and a half miles. I get creeped out in the drive through car wash. LOL
The highrise used to be an army post, with tunnels because of the weather and to keep from being seen. Of course, kids are going to explore and even though I think I would be creeped out, I would have to explore too.
All towns have secrets, but small towns make it much harder to keep them. Everyone knows everyone. They live and breathe in the same space.
The descriptions of the highrise and the people are richly detailed. It made it easy for me to paint pictures in my mind. I love odd characters and City Under One Roof has its fair share. Are they on the run?
I could hear the wind howling, I could feel the icy cold.
Told, mainly, from three characters point of view: Cara, who is a detective from Anchorage, Alasksa, Amy, who is the teenager that found the body parts, and Lonnie, who came to live in the high rise after leaving a mental institution. She is one of the best characters, her and Denny. And Susie, always hanging out in the hallway.
City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita has all the elements I look for in a thriller, a fabulous location and the storm is a bonus, great characters, danger, intrigue and mystery.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A stranded detective tries to solve a murder
in a tiny Alaskan town where everyone lives in a single high-rise
building, in this gripping debut by an Academy Award–nominated
screenwriter.
When a local teenager discovers a severed hand
and foot washed up on the shore of the small town of Point Mettier,
Alaska, Cara Kennedy is on the case. A detective from Anchorage, she has
her own motives for investigating the possible murder in this isolated
place, which can be accessed only by a tunnel.
After a blizzard
causes the tunnel to close indefinitely, Cara is stuck among the odd and
suspicious residents of the town—all 205 of whom live in the same
high-rise building and are as icy as the weather. Cara teams up with
Point Mettier police officer Joe Barkowski, but before long the
investigation is upended by fearsome gang members from a nearby native
village.
Haunted by her past, Cara soon discovers that everyone
in this town has something to hide. Will she be able to unravel their
secrets before she unravels?”
ABOUT IRIS YAMASHITA
Iris is the Academy Award nominated writer for the movie LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA, directed by Clint Eastwood. The film received a Golden Globe award for “Best Foreign Language Film” and was nominated for 4 Oscars®, including Best Original Screenplay. Her debut novel, CITY UNDER ONE ROOF, the first in a mystery series, will be released by Berkley Group in January, 2023.
Non, je ne regrette rien (No I don’t regret anything)
Reading A Reservoir Man by L J Ambrosio was me stepping outside my comfort zone and I am so glad I did. A Reservoir Man has a deeper meaning in the story than just a title for the book.
From the day he was born in 1947, Michael was looked at differently. He had a harelip and all the old wives tales and folklore made his life more difficult than it had to be, but his parents loved him, unconditionally. His innocence makes him a victim to those who prey on the naive. I love that he was able to rise above it. Some people are givers, some people are takers, and Michael is a giver. I love that he is an observer. I, too, like to people watch. We both have an affinity for benches, a great place to watch people from. He was used and abused, yet still kept moving forward. I felt so many emotions while reading A Reservoir Man. The story feels like a true life biography. AND, the ending….brought tears to my eyes. Well done, L J.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of A Reservoir Man by L J Ambrosio.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A Reservoir Man, critics have hailed this explosive and timely work as “a must-read coming-of-age story of 2022.” Twists and turns further pull the reader in to Michael’s action-packed tale, with powerful themes, from betrayal and family to secrets and identity. “Be sure not to blink because you just might miss a pivotal moment in Michael’s rousing, larger-than-life story.” –R.C. Gibson, Indiestoday. “This book is a dream, a gamble, a utopia, even.” — Kalyan Panja, Bookmarkks.
ABOUT L J AMBROSIO
Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. He taught at over 7 universities in America. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.
The Weepers series by Nick Chiarkas got even better than Weepers, Book I, in Book II, Nunzio’s Way. I have grown to love these characters, no matter what bad things they do. The series raises that age old question, nature or nurture. Are we a product of our environment? I cannot imagine what it would be like growing up in the housing projects, wondering, every time you step out your door, is this the day I die?
The Prologue will give you a glimpse into Nunzio Sabino’s life to catch you up, as told by Father Joe to Father Casimiro, a new man in town. Nunzio had been in love…It is tragic, heartbreaking, and brutal. It also explains why Nunzio trusts few people. He was thirteen and the five of them, Nunzio, Father Joe, Pompeo, George and Nick, meet every Tuesday, even to this day.
“Does Nunzio ever worry about some ambitious hooligan wanting to take over?”
“Nunzio is the top lion. He is constantly watched by the ambitious and the aggrieved. He can’t show weakness. He can’t let a single insult – especially a public one – go unchecked. Continued leadership requires constant vigilance and no margin of error. None.”
Angelo, I have been with him since he was seven years old, struggling to find his place in the violent world he lives in. He will have to fight for it, maybe even kill for it, and everything has a price to be paid.
I do love an author who isn’t afraid to kill off his characters, even some that I have come to care about. He took me by surprise and I was even a little ticked off. Well done.
Nick Chiarkas brings to light many problems that persist to this day. I felt their need to kill or be killed. If you read his biography, I think you will get the same impression I did. That the Weeper series feels all too real. Gang warfare in the 1960s…has it changed?
Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. I knew a lot of the characters from Weepers, so I was already involved in their lives, but Nick Chiarkas too me to a whole new level. The violence, the brutality, the love, loyalty and betrayal, the flawed characters that stole my heart, I will not soon forget.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Nunzio’s Way by Nick Chiarkas.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
“In this city, you can have anything you want if you kill the right four people.” ~ Nunzio Sabino
In Weepers (Book 1), Angelo and his gang, with a bit of help from his beloved “uncle” Nunzio Sabino, defeated the notorious Satan’s Knights. Now, in this standalone sequel to Weepers, it’s 1960 and Nunzio is still the most powerful organized crime boss in New York City, protecting what’s his with political schemes and ‘business’ deals.
Against this backdrop of Mafia turf wars, local gang battles, and political power-plays in the mayoral election, the bodies begin stacking up. An unlikely assassin arrives fresh from Naples after killing a top member of the Camorra to avenge the murder of her family. She blends seamlessly into the neighborhood and with the focus on the threat from the Satan’s Knights, no one suspects that Angelo’s father and Nunzio are next on her hit list. Nunzio has lived his entire life by the mantra; Be a fox when there are traps and a lion when there are wolves. Will Nunzio be a lion in time?
ABOUT NICK CHIARKAS
Nick Chiarkas grew up in the Al Smith housing projects in the Two Bridges neighborhood on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
When he was in the fourth grade, his mother was told by the principal of PS-1 that, “Nick was unlikely to ever complete high school, so you must steer him toward a simple and secure vocation.” Instead, Nick became a writer, with a few stops along the way: a U.S. Army Paratrooper; a New York City Police Officer; the Deputy Chief Counsel for the President’s Commission on Organized Crime; and the Director of the Wisconsin State Public Defender Agency.
On the way to becoming an author, he picked up a Doctorate from Columbia University; a Law Degree from Temple University; and was a Pickett Fellow at Harvard. How many mothers are told their children are hopeless? How many kids with potential simply
Protecting Falcon by Jane Blythe is Book III 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.
I have read numerous books in the Special Forces: Operation Alpha series and this is my third book in the Prey Security series by Jane Blythe. I have read a lot of Jane’s stories and eagerly crack the cover on every book I get my hands on. Protecting Falcon was no different. In fact, I was even more eager than usual, because I knew Hope was in dire straits and Cam was going to be the one to save her.
Hope is no wimp. She has a quiet strength about her. She had risked her life to help another slave, who happened to be Cam’s sister. He and his team were able to get Raven and her daughter out, but had to leave Hope behind.
Prey Security is owned by Cam and his five siblings. The whole family has a need to make sure Hope is rescued. She went above and beyond anything that could have been asked of her to help Raven and her daughter, Cleo.
Cam is a bit grumpy, like Walter Matthau in Grumpy Old Men. When he finds Hope, in a cage, wondering if she is alive, I think his heart skips a beat. He is quiet and she is a talker. What’s that saying about opposites attract?
“You’re really here for me?”
As soon as Hope said that my eyes teared up. I can visualize her, looking at him with soft eyes filled with wonder. Such innocence, considering the things that have been done to her by the traffickers and the evil man that revels in her pain and degradation. Little does he know, the things being done to her do not define her.
I knew how she came to be there because of reading Book II in the series, Protecting Raven, but Jane Blythe does fill in the blanks so the story can stand alone, but once you meet Prey Security, I think you may want to get each character’s story.
Jane Blythe kept me dragging myself through the Amazon rain forest, hunted, hurt, tired, hungry, thirsty, and falling for the handsome special forces man that came specifically for Hope. Danger surrounds them and getting out will not be easy.
Of course, they are going to fall in love along the way. Are any of us surprised? I would be let down if they didn’t. After all, this is romantic suspense. We have some fun dialogue and I love to smile while the characters are running for their lives. 🙂
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Protecting Falcon by Jane Blythe.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Sparks fly when opposites attract.
When Hope Delancey showed kindness to another slave, she never expected it to put her in the crosshairs of a dangerous man. After weeks of being held captive she’s rescued by a gruff, grumpy, intimidating soldier who obviously wishes he was anywhere but in Colombia rescuing her. But Hope sees through the cold exterior to the man underneath, a man she could fall in love with, a man who has already told her he has nothing to offer.
Falcon Oswald never again wants the responsibility of someone else’s life resting in his hands. But that’s exactly the position he finds himself in when he agrees to honor the promise he made to his sister to rescue Hope. Now they’re running for their lives through the Amazon rainforest, and as Hope impresses him with her strength over and over again he realizes walking away from this woman might prove impossible, even if its what’s best for her.
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!
It was 1951. Angelo and his father were walking the snowy streets in a New York City housing project, when his life was changed forever. His father disappeared and the seven year old boy felt he should have done something. This coming of age story kept getting better and better, the more I read.
The boy already knew the first rule of the jungle: If it moves away from you, it’s food: it it moves toward you, you’re food.
“By the time a boy hits his teens, he’s either prey, predator, or he has mastered his environment…respected by the weak and the predators.”
I can’t imagine growing up in such an environment and I can see why a child’s world can become so brutal so early in their life.
A priest, a Mafia boss, a police detective and Angelo, a gang member form an unlikely union.
Weepers made me think of West Side Story. I can see why it was voted best mystery novel. There is so much I would like to share, but I won’t. The more I read, the more involved I became in the characters lives, and I want you to find out about them for yourself. I immediately went into Nunzio’s Way, and………..well, that’s another story.
I checked out Nick Chiarkas’ bio and saw why the story felt so real to me. Be sure and take a look. He knows what he’s writing about.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
BEST MYSTERY NOVEL – JOHN E. WEAVER EXCELLENT READS AWARD & READERS’ FAVORITE WINNER – YA COMING OF AGE CATEGORY The 1957 murder of an undercover cop in a New York City housing project has unexpected ties to the unsolved disappearance of a young father walking home in those same projects with his son, Angelo, on Christmas Eve six years before. The only witness to the cop killing is Angelo, now 13, while on his way to seek his own revenge in the early morning hours. The killers know he saw them. A series of gripping events forge a union between a priest, a Mafia boss, a police detective, and Angelo, a gang member. In the end, Weepers shows us that the courage of the underdog despite fear and moral ambiguity will conquer intimidation.
Weepers has received finalist status for the Best Novel of 2016 by the Public Safety Writers Association(PSWA), the Midwest Independent Publishers Association (MIPA) best mystery/thriller novel of 2015, the Best Young Adult Novel for 2016 by Bookvana, and the Best Crossover (Mystery & Young Adult) for the 2017 Best Books Award.
ABOUT NICK CHIARKAS
Nick Chiarkas grew up in the Al Smith housing projects in the Two Bridges neighborhood on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
When he was in the fourth grade, his mother was told by the principal of PS-1 that, “Nick was unlikely to ever complete high school, so you must steer him toward a simple and secure vocation.” Instead, Nick became a writer, with a few stops along the way: a U.S. Army Paratrooper; a New York City Police Officer; the Deputy Chief Counsel for the President’s Commission on Organized Crime; and the Director of the Wisconsin State Public Defender Agency.
On the way to becoming an author, he picked up a Doctorate from Columbia University; a Law Degree from Temple University; and was a Pickett Fellow at Harvard. How many mothers are told their children are hopeless? How many kids with potential simply
The Color of Trauma by Hollie Smurthwaite was an awesome surprise for me. I thought it would be a good fit. The premise had a twist and finding something different is very unusual. Needless to say, it made the book very hard to put down in the wee hours of the morning.
I love that Kiera is not a ‘young adult’, but a mature woman. She has a gift that leaves her with few friends, spending many hours alone, and sex…well, she has a friend that money can buy.
She is a memory surgeon. She does most of her work for free, taking on one or two big paying jobs a year. She couldn’t tell you why she does them, but it does give her clients a little bit of peace. She takes a traumatic experience a person has suffered, erases the facts from their mind yet leaving the memory that something bad did happen, and takes it as her own. She has a driver, no need for a license, because her ‘job’ has triggers that muddles her mind and her actions, making it too dangerous to drive.
Chicago has a serial killer and Dean Matthson is the head detective on the case. He, and others at the precinct, call her and others like her memory munchers. It is an apt description, though it does sound kinda rude. He knows it is frowned on using them for an investigation, but he is going to do it anyway. The clock is ticking and it won’t be long before another life is lost.
I love the character of Kiera. She may come across as weak, but stand back when she gets her hackles up. She can take care herself, doesn’t back down from a fight, and has some spicy language. I love that she finds humor amongst the darkness, in the dialogue. It’s not bad enough that the trauma she takes into her mind, her home life left a lot to be desired. Her scars were invisible, but that doesn’t mean there is no pain, pain that can be debilitating.
If Kiera ever wrote a memoir, which she would never do, she would title it The Color of Trauma Is Pink…The worst memories were always a shade of pink.
I can understand someone’s fear over memory surgeons abilities, but everything good can be used for bad. Some major damage could be done, but so much good could come from it too. It’s that age old question: Just because you can do something, should you?
The attraction is quick, instalove, maybe, but when you feel the spark how do you avoid the fire? It would take a special person for her, but also for him. Dean is a homicide detective. He never knew when he would be called out or when his shift would end. They both have baggage and I am eager to see how they handle it. I feel confident there will be some kind of happy ever after…won’t there?
The psychopath serial killer finds a target and zeroes in on her. He had researched her, reading lots of articles. He thought if he ever wrote a memoir, he would name it The Psychopath And The Empath. I knew this would happen, but that’s okay.
There was one blip that bothered me, but maybe because I saw something similar in one of my favorite TV crime shows. I thought about it for a minute or two and wondered how much time passed during that blip. That could make a huge difference that is not always easy to determine.
I am loving the The Psychic Color series by HollyieSmurthwaite and I can hardly wait to see what she does in Book II, The Color Of Betrayal, Jolene and Cass’ story.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Color Of Trauma by Hollie Smurthwaite.
4 Stars
The Color of Trauma
The Psychic Colors Series
Book One
Hollie Smurthwaite
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense, PNR
Publisher: Hollie Smurthwaite
Date of Publication: August 30, 2021
ISBN:978-1737118916
ASIN: B09B2QWV52
Number of pages: 358
Word Count: 95,000 words
Cover Artist: Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations
Book Description:
Experiencing another’s past could end her future . . .
Kiera Brayleigh is a memory surgeon. In the ten years since her “gift” manifested, she’s helped dozens of women deal with trauma by removing their horrific memories—burns, rapes, tortures. It pays well, but she holds those moments, making her a fiery mess. The bizarre request from a Chicago homicide detective is the last thing she needs.
Detective Dean Matthson is burdened with an uncanny ability to get inside the minds of criminals. In a dead-end hunt to capture a serial killer, he risks his hard-earned reputation by doing the unthinkable: recruiting a memory surgeon to probe the mind of a comatose victim.
Kiera might appreciate the cop’s dimples and his commitment to the job, but only an idiot would agree to experience a rape-murder victim’s last memories. Kiera, it turns out, is that idiot. Dean’s dedication and calming presence challenge Kiera’s distrustful nature, and she finds herself falling for Dean even as he struggles with his own demons.
Can two broken people find love?
When the killer discovers Kiera’s on the case, he realizes she is exactly what he needs to relive his kills. Dean and the killer both close in on their targets, and it becomes a race to catch the monster before he catches Kiera.
The Color of Trauma is a thought-provoking paranormal romantic suspense novel with an unconventional heroine, dark themes, and psychological drama.
“I’m not sure
how much Ms. Morten has shared with you, but—”
Kiera lifted a
finger; thankfully, her index. “Dr. Patty told us you had questions about
memory reading as it might apply to one of your cases. Read memories aren’t
admissible in court. You’re wasting your time.”
“I don’t need
evidence like that,” Dean said, deciding not to point out that Patty hadn’t
graduated yet and wasn’t, technically, a doctor.
“Whew,” the
blond he didn’t recognize said. “It’s one of the frustrating things about what
we do.” The memory surgeons all winced when she spoke, though the blond didn’t
appear to notice.
“What’s your
name?” he asked.
She beamed. “Amy
Carter.”
“Do you mind telling
me what’s your specialty?”
“Bitching and
complaining,” Kiera replied in a tight voice.
Amy’s lips
compressed, but she didn’t say anything. Was Kiera the group’s bully? Was that
how she controlled the narrative? Everyone looked to her, even Patty.
Kiera sighed.
“Dr. Schwartz is the expert in the field. Look into his research. Gilfoile and
Roberts are hacks, and the rest don’t know shit but still want to capitalize on
the memory-surgeon thing.”
He wrote down
“Schwartz” in his notebook, surprised at her generosity. “Thank you.”
She stared at
him with those blue eyes that didn’t blink enough. “That all?”
“Not quite.”
“Yeah, I
figured.” She shook her head. “They don’t fully understand how memory works, so
it’s going to be a while before they figure out how we’re able to access
people’s memories and how they can be removed and kept in someone else’s mind.
We can’t help you with the science stuff.”
“I’m more
interested in how it works from a practical standpoint.” He directed his
questions at everyone else, but the only one looking directly at him was Kiera.
Fine. If he won her over, the others would follow. “I’m trying to ascertain what
you can and can’t do.”
“Why?”
No time to
finesse. With his attention still on Kiera, he handed Brittany Kolchek’s
picture to Ramon and asked him to look and pass it on.
“I’ve never seen
her before,” Ramon said. “Is she missing?”
Dean waited
until everyone had viewed the photo, because he didn’t want to give them the
opportunity to refuse.
Beth looked
last, and she studied Brittany for several seconds. “She seems nice.” Then she
walked the photo back to him.
“Her name is
Brittany Kolchek,” he said. “She’s in a coma.” As a group, they cringed, even
Kiera. Good—they cared. “The doctors say she won’t wake.”
“You don’t want
information. You want one of us to jump into her memories,” Kiera said, her
face as hard as her voice.
“We believe she’s the third victim of a serial
killer targeting young women. All three scenes have little physical evidence.
This might be our only chance to catch a break.” When nobody spoke or moved, he
added, “He’ll kill again.”
About the Author:
Hollie Smurthwaite is a paranormal romantic suspense author of The Color of Trauma and The Color of Betrayal. The Color of Trauma was the winner of the 2020 Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author Project in adult fiction. She lives in Chicago with her husband, son, and too few pets. In past lives, she’s been a checkout clerk, massage therapist, office manager, recruiter, magazine staff writer, pepper spray hawker, and belly dancer.
You can see my Giveaways HERE. You can see my Reviews HERE. If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me? Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk. Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’. I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked. Thanks for visiting fundinmental!
I was looking on my TBR for something to read that I didn’t ‘have’ to review (because I have several others waiting to be written) and came across this fabulous cover. 🙂 Then, I saw I had the second book too. There are numerous books in the series and I am excited to see they are on Kindle Unlimited.
I mean…look at that fabulous cover. How could I possibly resist?
Flipping through my reading list, I came across this gorgeous cover. Then, I saw I had the second book in The Valen Legacy by Sherrel Lee, and I had to read on. Valens Remembered is a prequel and it sure caught my attention. Short and not so sweet, I quickly got caught up in the intrigue. Why is everyone in the Nix family being bumped off?
Larinda Nix Thomas has lost two sets of parents. She only has memories of her adoptive parents, but that is only a temporary situation. You see, Larinda is special. She is a Valen. A unicorn shapeshifter, born to guard humankind. BUT…
A quick read of loss, sorrow, danger and intrigue. I am so happy that I have Valens Rise, Book II waiting to be read.
I immediately began reading Valens Rise by Sherrel Lee after reading the prequel, Valens Remembered. I was just getting involved with Larinda when….
Jemma NIx is a Phoenix, but doesn’t know it…yet. She has no family and doesn’t realize the danger she will face. She had been in the foster system, but that didn’t work for her, so she grew up on the streets. She is naive, untrusting, easily misled. She began to run away at a very young age, ending up on the street, until she found out she was the sole survivor of an inheritance that will change her life. She is childlike in her joy when experiencing new things.
I love when Hawke takes her to the fair and she has her first corndog.
“Ooooooh, it’s really good….I may become addicted. Who knew meat by products on a stick could manifest love at first bite?”
I can understand her making some mistakes, going to the wrong people for help, seeing she doesn’t know who she can trust.
For the first time in her life, sexual feelings are coming alive. Hawke makes her feel ‘funny’ and I feel a romance coming. Her aches and pains are something else. She does not yet know that Valens are a special breed of human…and she is a Phoenix.
I was sad to say goodbye to Larinda in the first book, but I am quickly becoming a ‘friend’ to Jemma, whether she realizes it or not. LOL I love humor with danger and Sherrell Lee gave me smiles, along with the…NO, DON’T DO THAT. NO, DON’T GO THERE.
I don’t read as many books about Phoenixes as I do Werewolves and Vampires, so I try and snap them up. I am loving this series and the covers that spotlight what supernatural/fantasy creature will be the star.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Valens Rise by Sherrell Lee.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
When Jemma Nix, a shape shifting phoenix discovers her family’s legacy, she is overwhelmed with distrust and doubt. Her entire family may have been murdered. Her mentor may be using her in a deadly pursuit of power.
Confronted with these facts, Jemma begins to suspect that those closest to her are mad. Refusing to believe their claims of a secret race, she pushes away the one man who may be able to help. The one man who she may love. Rather than face the reality of her new life, Jemma makes a fateful decision. One that places the Valens in jeopardy and forces them to face a deadly, genetically engineered threat.
ABOUT SHERREL LEE
Sherrel Lee lives in a land called Texas and is the wrangler of a fearsome Yorkiepoo named Rogue (Half Yorkie half Poodle weighing in at a hefty eight pounds). She is a mother and grandmother who encourages her family to live life on their own terms, and to laugh as often as they can. She is fascinated with the real and mystical worlds of Urban Fantasy and Romantic suspense chasing murderous villains through the pages of her books.
I love reading paranormal romance and Amber Garr’s Every Which Fae is chock full of magical and supernatural creatures. There will definitely be some romancing going on in a friends to lovers relationship.
Sadie is a fighter and her bite is worse than her bark. She is an investigative reporter with KPWTV, and fights for those who aren’t strong enough to fight for themselves. She has her best friend, Tris, at her side, armed with a camera. They make a great team.
The adventure begins when Sadie finds out she is a halfling, half fae and half human…and her father is missing, her biological father, who she has never met.
Blake comes knocking on her door and before Sadie knows it, he becomes a member of the team. He is Mac’s, the missing father, employee at the porn shop he owns. I liked that touch and it gave me a chuckle or two when Sadie and Tris make their first visit to the shop.
Gallus is a vampire and joins the group as Sadie searches for clues to where her father has been taken. It’s not long before Wylen makes an appearance. He cracks me up and we do have some fun situations arise. He is more than he appears and sticks to Sadie like glue…most of the time. The more she learns, the more determined she is to get to the bottom of things.
I have read some of Amber Garr’s other work and loved it, so picking up Every Which Fae was easy to do. I am curious what the target audience is for Every Which Fae. For me, definitely an adult that loves violence, blood and guts, and hot sexy scenes…HA HA HA…I would rate Every Which Fae a three.
For a teenager, or young adult I would rate it a four. Every Which Way is filled with adventure, intrigue, mystery, danger, romance, humor and snark. The characters are marvelous, each adding a certain something to the story.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Every Which Fae by Amber Garr.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Our dark family secret has finally caught up to me.
For years, I’ve made it my priority to deliver justice and bring down those who prey on the weak. Shifty landlords, deceitful realtors, and dirty politicians cannot hide from me. As an investigative reporter with a special ability for digging up the facts, my life has been good.
Until the evening my mother tells me I’m not human.
My biological father is missing. I’m falling in love with my best friend who is struggling with a crushing reality that could tear us apart. And now, a full-blooded fae with smoldering eyes and a royal attitude has me second-guessing my entire existence.
I never thought the truth could hurt so much. Staying away from a mystery is hard, but am I ready to sacrifice all that makes me human and trust in a world I never knew?
Every Which Fae is a paranormal romance featuring a friends-to-lovers romance, dangerous fae politics, and a halfling caught in the middle of a greater conspiracy. Grab it now and get tangled in the suspense!
ABOUT AMBER GARR
Amber Garr spends her days as a scientist and nights writing about other worlds. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain she has a supernatural sense of smell. Amber is a multiple Royal Palm Literary Award winner, author of the bestselling The Syrenka Series, The Leila Marx Novels, the award-winning The Water Crisis Chronicles, and the The Second Rising Series. When not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie.
