Corpse Whisperer: Torn by H R Boldwood @BoldwoodH @SDBookTours

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I’m sad to see the series end, but Allie Nighthawk deserves a little happiness.

H R Boldwood has included bits of Cincinnati history, so you know where to avoid when the zombies arise. LOL

All is a badass bitch, so beware when confronting her…about anything. I love her kickass and take names attitude. She rides a Harley, carries her trusty Ka Bar and Hawk,her custom 9mm along a backup Glock. She also carries a bag of Doritos. Even zombies love Doritos. To her zombie hunting is simple.

Step One: Lure deadhead

Step Two: Drop deadhead.

In Corpse Whisperer: Torn, Allie and Toussaint will have their final showdown.

Allie has a wild crowd hanging around her house, Nonnie her next door neighbor, Headbutt, her bitersniffing bulldog, her African Grey feather duster and a new addition to the bird family, Hyrum, the feather duster’s baby.

Allie will have some romantic moments and I, for one, think it’s about time. She deserves something good in her life every now and then.

I love everything H R Boldwood did to wrap up the series. We had some good people die and that is a necessary thing in a novel like Torn. Not everyone can get out of the zombified world unharmed. Allie kinda hits the lottery. Maybe she can afford a better snack than check flavored dog biscuits. She has some romance in her life and her nemesis is no more.

I laughed and cried. I sat on the edge of my seat with white knuckles and I leaned back in my seat, wiping the sweat off my brow. Or was that some zushi. LOL I will sure miss the Corpse Whisperer gang. I wish them luck in all their future endeavors. 🙂

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Corpse Whisperer: Torn by H R Boldwood.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“Just after sunrise, I jumped on my Harley and hurtled toward Templeman’s Funeral Home, packing Hawk, my custom 9mm, a backup Glock, and a seven-inch Ka-Bar knife—the standard-issue zombie-hunter’s tool kit. Not that I’m standard-issue, by any stretch. I was born with the ability to raise the dead. It’s a genetic thing. Don’t ask me how it works. I didn’t write the playbook. I’m just living the dream.”

Allie Nighthawk faces a ghost from her past as she explores the fascinating and historic world of Cincinnati’s underground. When the Z-virus threatens world-wide contamination, it’s up to Allie to save the day. Is her magick strong enough to turn the tide? Or will doubt and inner demons stand in her way? And will those she loves survive?

  • Genre: Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Paranormal, Supernatural, Zombies
  • 406 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published March 7, 2023 by Third Street Press
  • Series: Allie Nighthawk Mysteries, #3

ABOUT H R BOLDWOOD

H.R. Boldwood, author of the Corpse Whisperer series, countless short stories, and Imadjinn Award finalist, is a writer of horror and speculative fiction. In another incarnation, Boldwood is a Pushcart Prize nominee and winner of the 2009 Bilbo Award for creative writing by Thomas More College. Boldwood’s characters are often disreputable and not to be trusted. They are kicked to the curb at every conceivable opportunity when some poor unsuspecting publisher welcomes them with open arms. No responsibility is taken by this author for the dastardly and sometimes criminal acts committed by this ragtag group of miscreants.

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MY H R BOLDWOOD REVIEWS

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Giveaway – She’s Got The Time by M O Mack @MimiJeanRomance @xpressotours

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She’s Got The Time
MO Mack
(Suite #45, #3)
Publication date: August 29th 2024
Genres: Adult, Thriller

From author M.O. Mack comes the third, heart-stopping thriller in the Suite #45 series, SHE’S GOT THE TIME.

SENTENCED FOR A CRIME SHE ONLY WISHED SHE COMMITTED…

Emily has broken plenty of rules. Some she regrets. Others, well, not so much.

Running from her husband Ed for example? No regrets. He was a controlling predator who trafficked women while working for the FBI. But had she known she’d end up working for a group of hit men, she might’ve made different choices. Big regrets.

On the bright side, the group only kills bad guys. On the not-so-bright side, every cartel south of the border wants the group dead, and she’s number one on the cartel’s list.

Emily also regrets trusting Charge, her hit man boss. She regrets caring about him more than she should.

But when the feds arrest her for the murder of her ex, Emily knows she’s been set up, and all signs point to Charge. Why would he do this to her? The prison is filled with cartel gangs, and there’s a price on her head.

Can she find a way out before her time is up?

The clock is ticking…

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

“I thought you loved me,” she said, knowing now that the confession he’d made after she’d saved him all those weeks ago had just been another lie.

Charge jerked his head back, like she’d taken him off guard. “What’s that have to do with anything?”

“It’s everything.” Because he’d told her that while he’d been preparing to do the hit on Ed, he’d watched her from afar and fallen for her. He’d said it was the reason he’d helped her after she’d run from Ed. “You’ve been playing me this entire time. Haven’t you? The story about you loving me was a scam to get me to keep working for you.” And it had worked. He’d probably done it because he believed she’d eventually lead him to Ed.

“I don’t have time for this right now. And I’ve proven my loyalty to you.”

“No. You said whatever you had to in order to make me trust you.” She hung her head. “I can’t believe I fell for it.” Not to mention, she’d started having feelings for Charge. She’d taken a life for him. She’d risked her own ass, too.

“I’m sorry you think that,” he said smugly, “but it doesn’t change the situation or what has to be done next.”

“And just what’s that? Am I supposed to take out the warden next? Or the head of one of the gangs here so you get paid?” She pushed back in her chair. “I’m done, Charge. Done.”

“Don’t be silly. You won’t get out of this prison alive unless you pull your head from your ass, Justine, and follow my instructions.”

This again. And why did he always call her Justine when he wanted to control her? Did he think it was some kind of psychological magic wand to garner compliance?

He went on, “You only have a day, two max, before someone realizes you have a ten-million-dollar price on your head. You don’t have much time, but it’s enough time to—”

“No, Charge. No more. I’m not buying into your crap. I mean, look at where I am.” She tried to throw her hands in the air, but they were chained to the table. “We both know I’m not getting out of here. Not after I killed that guard. At best, I’ll survive a week, and if it’s all the same to you, I’d like to enjoy what little time I have left.”

Author Bio:

Obviously, M.O. Mack is a cover. Don’t bother looking for the author’s true identity. She must remain secret due to the sensitive information written in her stories…

Okay, most of all that is total rubbish! M.O. is a full-time author from the great state of Arizona, who loves making stuff up and hates a slow story. The faster the better! Most days, M.O. tries to avoid the news (too icky) so it doesn’t interfere with writing nail-biter stories.

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MY MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF REVIEWS

MY M O MACK REVIEWS

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A Book For All Ages – Earth Shot by Stephen Henning #stephenhenning #sciencefiction

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MY REVIEW

Earth Shot by Stephen Henning is suggested for those 9 and older and I loved it. Earth Shot made me think of ET, with the 3 friends, one of them being the younger sister, but it didn’t take long for the differences to start to show when we get to know the dying alien and Magic.

Sure, THEY wanted to find the aliens, but the kids weren’t going to help them. Not only are the kids hiding from the military, but they are also hiding from the evil alien that wants to kill them all.

Magic is awesome. At times I felt sorry for him, but he’s only a machine, a tablet. I can only imagine how enamored a child would be, maybe, like me, at times forgetting it’s not alive.

I had so much fun with the kids, dodging bullets and danger, while soaring through the skies. The action was non stop, keeping me flipping pages. At times, I laughed, at times I was scared, but I never lost faith in the children.

This is the second series of Stephen Henning’s I am reading and I love his work. It keeps me entertained for hours at a time. I find the characters personalities shine throw, keeping me involved, wondering what is going to happen to them next.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Earth Shot by Stephen Henning.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

A dying alien begs you for help, but it’s not your problem ‘cos you’re just a kid. Right? Three young friends witness a UFO crash in a remote Suffolk forest and are forced to make a will they help a dying alien stop Earth from being plunged into war? If so, they’ll have to trust their lives to a know-it-all computer nicknamed Magic, with its array of clever gadgets; take on a dangerous, shape-shifting enemy; break into a US Air Force base; and find a way to reach an orbiting spaceship. Ultimately, they’ll have to rely on one another’s loyalty and friendship if they are to stay alive and save the world.

EARTH SHOT is the first book in a new science fiction series, aimed at avid sci-fi readers aged 9 and upwards.

If you like stories of alien invasion and children’s action & adventure sci-fi books, then the Seconds to Midnight series is for you!

  • Genre: Action and Adventure, Fiction, Science Fiction
  • 203 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published July 5, 2024
  • Series: Seconds To Midnight, Book I

ABOUT STEPHEN HENNING

Stephen Henning

 I began writing the first Class Heroes book on my laptop in February 2011, but these stories have probably been continually playing in my head since I was aged five or six, when I would act them out with toys and with my friends. I then branched out into using pencils, colouring pens and paper, moving on to writing pads and then my first computer.

So, as you’ve probably gathered, I have always enjoyed making up stories and the super-hero genre has been one of my favourites.

The CV-type stuff is that I went to Sheffield Hallam University to study English. I then trained and briefly worked as a journalist in Salford. After that, I moved into publishing – which was great. An interesting and fun industry to be in and fascinating to see how books are put together and sold.

After that I started doing technical writing, which led me to start my own business with my friend and colleague Andrew Butters. My love of writing, generally, led me back to writing fiction. Our company, Elucidox Ltd, publishes the Class Heroes books.

If you want to know a bit more about me, what kind of super powers I have and the kind of super villains I have to tangle with on a daily basis, then feel free to watch Rage. This is a short film, that took a long time to make. It’s a simple day in my life :-). Actually it’s just a fun movie that I made with the very kind help of some of my best mates. We had a laugh doing it, hope you like it too. And if you do, then why not explore the super world of the Class Heroes books?

Website / Goodreads  /  Youtube

MY STEPHEN HENNING REVIEWS

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Giveaway – The Mark Of The Salamander by Justin Newland @goddessfish @JustinNewland53

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THE MARK OF THE SALAMANDER Justin Newland

GENRE:  Historical Fiction

BLURB

1575.

Nelan Michaels is a young Flemish man fleeing religious persecution in the Spanish Netherlands. Settling in Mortlake outside London, he studies under Queen Elizabeth’s court astrologer, conjuring a bright future – until he’s wrongly accused of murder.

Forced into the life of a fugitive, Nelan hides in London, before he is dramatically pressed into the crew of the Golden Hind.

Thrust into a strange new world on board Francis Drake’s vessel, Nelan sails the seas on a voyage to discover discovery itself. Encountering mutiny, ancient tribes and hordes of treasure, Nelan must explore and master his own mystical powers – including the Mark of the Salamander, the mysterious spirit of fire.

THE MARK OF THE SALAMANDER is the first in The Island of Angels series: a two-book saga that tells the epic story and secret history of England’s coming of age during the Elizabethan era.

EXCERPT

It was midway through the afternoon watch. On a Monday. It wasn’t any old Monday. It was a special Monday. Not because of an extra beer ration; nor because of the smell of fish emanating from the galley. No – it was because, on that autumn day, nearly all fifty-eight surviving crew members hung over the gunwale, their eyes dripping with expectation and glued to the horizon. On occasion, they glanced up at the topmast and the barrel man as if waiting for a message from the heavens. None came, even after they’d passed the Isles of Scilly. Nor did it come after they passed Wolf Rock. It surely wouldn’t be long in coming.

As the creaking of the sails ceased, the Golden Hind glided serenely through the waters as if drawn forward by a divine wind. Even the gulls stopped squawking. A light rain shower washed the decks. The men gazed at the white flecks on the waves.

Amidst the quiet, a cry went out, and travelled down the mizzenmast, across the poop deck and into the soul of each crew member. “Land ho!”

Nelan stood next to Fletcher, who raised his hands like an Old Testament prophet and cried out, “Oh, my God!” Then he knelt on the deck, hands clasped in a prayer of thanksgiving.

AUTHOR Bio and Links

JUSTIN NEWLAND’s novels represent an innovative blend of genres from historical adventure to supernatural thriller and magical realism.

Undeterred by the award of a Doctorate in Mathematics from Imperial College, London, he conceived his debut novel, The Genes of Isis (ISBN 9781789014860, Matador, 2018), an epic fantasy set under Ancient Egyptian skies.

His second book is a historical thriller, The Old Dragon’s Head (ISBN 9781789015829, Matador, 2018), and is set in Ming Dynasty China in the shadows of the Great Wall.

The Coronation (ISBN 9781838591885, Matador, 2019) is an historical adventure and speculates on the genesis of the most important event in the modern world – the Industrial Revolution.

The Abdication (ISBN 9781800463950, Matador, 2021) is a mystery thriller in which a young woman confronts her faith in a higher purpose and what it means to abdicate that faith.

His latest is The Mark of the Salamander (ISBN 9781915853271, Book Guild, 2023) and is the first in a two-book series, The Island of Angels. Set in the Elizabethan era, it tells the epic tale of England’s coming of age.

The second in the series, The Midnight of Eights (ISBN 9781835740 330, Book Guild, 2024), charts of the uncanny coincidences that culminated in the repulse of the Spanish Armada and is due for publication in October.

Author, speaker and broadcaster, Justin gives talks to historical associations and libraries, appears on LitFest panels, and enjoys giving radio interviews.

He lives with his partner in plain sight of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England.

  • Author Website: https://www.justinnewland.com/
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justin.newland.author/
  • Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/@jnewland0711 
  • Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JustinNewland53
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjustinnewland/  
  • Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/jnewland
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-newland-b393aa28/
  • Book Bub: https://partners.bookbub.com/authors/4862998/edit
  • Video Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/qx39wZjXajU
  • Justin Newland’s Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Justin-Newland/author/B06WRQVLT8

BUY LINKS

  • Preferred Buy Link (no postage to pay on this one): https://wordery.com/mark-of-the-salamander-justin-newland-9781915853271
  • Buy link on my website (where buyer enters – and I can write – a personal dedication): https://www.justinnewland.com/the-mark-of-the-salamander~191
  • Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/MarkofSalamander
  • Publishers Website (UK): https://www.bookguild.co.uk/bookshop/the-mark-of-the-salamander/
  • Waterstones (UK): https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-mark-of-the-salamander/justin-newland/9781915853271
  • WH Smith (UK): https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/the-mark-of-the-salamander-the-island-of-angels/justin-newland/paperback/9781915853271.html
  • Amazon (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mark-Salamander-Island-Angels/dp/1915853273/ref=sr_1_2
  • Browns Books (UK): http://www.brownsbfs.co.uk/Product/Newland-Justin/The-mark-of-the-salamander/9781915853271#
  • Amazon (US): https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Salamander-Justin-Newland/dp/1915853273/ref=sr_1_1
  • Barnes and Noble (US): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-mark-of-the-salamander-justin-newland/1144122989?ean=2940186006305
  • Kobo (US): https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/the-mark-of-the-salamander
  • Amazon Canada:https://www.amazon.ca/Mark-Salamander-Justin-Newland/dp/1915853273/ref=sr_1_1
  • Agenda Bookshop (EU): https://agendabookshop.com/products/the-mark-of-the-salamander
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Follow the tour and comment. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. Follow the tour HERE.

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$25 GC – Buried On A Sundae by Lena Gregory @dollycas @LenaGregory03

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Buried on a Sundae (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
by Lena Gregory

About Buried on a Sundae 


Buried on a Sundae (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – Long Island, NY
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gemma Halliday Publishing (August 27, 2024)
Digital : Number of Pages 225
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CW1B4V2Y

From author Lena Gregory comes a delicious new mystery…

Things have been looking up for Danika Delany’s business—her uncle’s old fashioned malt shop on eastern Long Island. But for her love life? Not so much. After a disastrous date with Detective Jake Barlow, Danika lets her best friends, Gwen and Eli, talk her into a night out at the hottest new nightclub in town. Only, while there, Dani finds her sort-of boyfriend secreted in the shadows on the beach behind the club with crime boss Patrick Johansen’s wife, Angelique! An upset Dani leaves without giving Jake a chance to explain, but when he doesn’t get in touch the next day, she takes a long walk along the beach to reevaluate her love life. That’s where she suddenly stumbles across Angelique’s body buried in the dunes near where she last saw her with Jake. Sure that Jake is innocent—of murder at least—Danika and her friends set out to prove Jake had nothing to do with her murder and stop a killer…before they strike again!

About Lena Gregory

Lena Gregory is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest, the Mini-Meadows Mysteries, set in a community of tiny homes in Central Florida, and the Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries, which take place in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, New York.

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full-time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

Author Links

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – 

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Tackling The TBR 8.1 – 8.31.24 #tacklingthetbr

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I got the idea and the motivation to start doing Tackling The TBR from All The Blog Names Are Taken. I love showcasing the books on Goodreads, my ereader and my bookshelves. The more exposure for authors and their books, the better….RIGHT?

COME ON….JOIN IN.

Previous Total: 1988

Currently Reading

Books Read

Books Added: 0

Books DNF-ed: 0

Books Deleted: 0

Duplicates Removed: 0

New TBR Total: 1988

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Giveaway – The Poseidon Project by E William Podohil @dollycas

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The Poseidon Project (The Herb Society Mysteries)
by E William Podojil

About The Poseidon Project


The Poseidon Project (The Herb Society Mysteries)
Mystery- Suspense – Adventure
1st in Series
Setting – Tucson, AZ and Dubai, UAE
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wild Rose Press (August 26, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 270 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1509256849
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1509256846
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CW1BKWS3

Molly Halloran and her friends have a secret past. Their bucolic retirement is suddenly upended when Molly’s husband is abducted and held for a steep ransom. Now she, her friends, her tech executive son, Lukas and his Air Force pilot boyfriend must race against the clock and travel halfway around the world to meet the kidnappers’ demands. But when they learn why her husband has been abducted, they realize how high the stakes truly are. Molly and her friends now must face their past in order to save the future. But not only their futures; the world’s.

About E William Podojil

E. William is an international business executive and novelist. He has traveled extensively and visited over sixty countries while based in Europe and the USA. Podojil works as an executive business advisor, strategist, and coach while also pursuing his love of storytelling and writing.  His second novel, The Poseidon Project, will be published in 2024 by The Wild Rose Press and is the first in a series of adventure thrillers. Podojil writes personal, humorous stories of his life and travels with his husband and three sons in his blog at www.ewpodojil.com.

Author Links
Website/Blog  Facebook   Instagram    X    Threads

Purchase Links
Amazon – B&N  – Bookshop.org 

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$20 GW & Review – Proven Innocence by Mary J Rocco @goddessfish

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PROVEN INNOCENCE by Mary J Rocco

GENRE:  Suspense/murder

MY REVIEW

Proven Innocence by Mary Rocco is her debut novel. The writing didn’t quite get there for a four or five star rating, but I see a lot of potential with the content. The mystery was easy for me to figure out, but I like that the one under suspicion, Cindy, is not the main character. Gabrielle is. That is a nice touch, Mary.

The writing needs work, but the characters and the story line were interesting enough to keep me turning the pages, wanting to find out how Cindy will get out of the mess she’s involved in through no fault of her own. She is accused of killing her husband and children and many are quick to call her guilty.

Gabrielle has taken it upon herself, a complete stranger to help cindy prove her innocence. She needs help. She can’t do it on her own. Even though Officer Mike Thomas has shown an interest in her, he has already labeled Cindy guilty, so she investigates on her own. I felt confident we would be hearing more about them before the story was over.

Proven Innocence has ruthless characters who’s motto is: Once you’re in, you’re never out.

The italicized sentences made it hard to read on my ereader. I get what Mary was trying to do, but I don’t think it was necessary.

Mary J Rocco did a good job with Proven Innocence and I look forward to reading more of her work as she polishes her craft. I foresee good things in her future.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Proven Innocence by Mary J Rocco.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
3 Stars

Amazon / Kindle Unlimited / Goodreads

BLURB

Cynthia Evans wakes up in the trunk of a car, no idea how she got there, only to discover she’s wanted for the murder of her husband and children. With no memory of life prior, Cynthia is sure she did not commit the crime.

Only problem is-how does she convince anyone she’s not a murderer when she is not sure who she is?

With the help of a downtrodden diner waitress, Gabrielle, Cynthia fights to prove her innocence.

One thing is clear: Rick Evans is dead. But who is the real killer?

EXCERPT

Too many possibilities. To concentrate on survival, I must assure myself that this person driving knows I am here and plans to release me from the dark layer upon reaching his destination.

Seconds seem like minutes, minutes like hours, leaving it nearly impossible to estimate how long I have been lying here. My best guess is about thirty minutes, not including how long I lay there unconscious in the sealed compartment. No sense of day or night. No idea if it is dark or light outside, what day it is, or where I am in the world. I keep straining to listen for faint conversation, but still no luck. The blood on my head is drying and forming the beginning of a thin, crusty layer on top of my skin. My head itches, but I will not move a muscle to scratch it as the pain has not been numbed.

Suddenly, I feel the car turn around a ramp. The curvy road throws my body to the back part of the trunk. Gravity and cen¬trifugal force are not kind to my aching ailments as we exit the major highway. A series of turns are made after the exit, each a few minutes apart. I need to remember how many turns it takes to make a quick getaway back to the interstate, though, at this point, I have no foreseeable idea how that will happen. If my calculations are correct, the car proceeded off the high¬way as follows: it turned left at the end of the exit ramp; then it proceeded for about three minutes and made another left, a quick right, then another left. The ride begins to feel bump¬ier as the road beneath the wheels is no longer smooth pave¬ment. From the sound of the gravel below, I deduce the road is not paved. The location is too remote for paved roads––not a good sign.

Everything slows to a stop, and the roar of the engine fades. We have arrived at our destination. Sheer panic ensues.

What am I going to do? Is it best to pretend as if I am still knocked out? This person obviously wants me alive, or he would have finished the job earlier.

Click.

The driver popped open the trunk. It is slightly ajar, just enough to let in a small beam of light but not enough for me to see outside. Muted sunlight breaks through the space between the trunk and the car.

Both the driver’s side and the passenger’s side doors slam shut simultaneously, causing me to rock back and forth slightly.

There are two people.

AUTHOR Bio and Links

I have dreamed of being an author since the age of ten. I have been writing and crafting stories for the last twenty years, mostly because, well you know, life… and I got in my own way. After finishing law school, graduate school, travelling the world, getting married and starting a family I figured now was the time.

I was born and raised on Long Island, New York and spent ten years in my early adulthood living carefree in New York City. I currently reside with my husband and two beautiful children in the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, where I am a practicing attorney.

I hope to continue to publish many more novels that entertain and thrill readers.

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mary-J.-Rocco/author/B0CX13KN4Y

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Review – The Long Way Home by Alex Bueno @AlexBuenoauthor

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MY REVIEW

Alex Bueno came up with the idea for the series while talking to a friend. He wanted to make it as realistic as possible, and I think he did a great job of it. It could become one of my go to books, if I’m ever caught up in an apocalypse. The way current events are going, who knows.

The Long Night, Book I, was all about the cyberattack and the initial scramble to survive. This volume is about the aftermath. I love a book that has me asking myself, “What would I do?”

I do love a book that has a summary of the previous book. Sometimes there is a long lapse in between, but Alex had this one done pretty quick, while The Long Night was still fresh in my mind.

We will travel from The Polk correctional Facility in Polk City to Mount Weather, Virginia, where the President is being housed, to Harbour Island, to Lake Bueno Vista. I’m sure we will be hearing about the convicts and it won’t be good news.

John and Jack are still struggling to get back to Harbour Island. They are lucky to find a good Samaritan who is willing to share their resources. They will earn their keep before their visit is done.

President Lowell has found there is a traitor in their midst and they have to smoke them out.

The characters in the novels run the gamut, from the best to the worst. The action is nonstop as the characters struggle to survive. Not all will make it and some will be sorely missed. I found myself thinking things like, don’t go there, don’t do that, lay low, hit ’em NOW! At times my heart was in my throat, my hands clenching my reader, flipping the pages as fast as I can because I have to see what’s happening next.

Alex Bueno did a wonderful job keeping me engaged, from beginning to end.

We have cliffhangers, but I expected that, seeing it’s a trilogy. I can hardly wait to get my hands on the third book in the series, The Long Dawn.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Long Way Home by Alex Bueno.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Survive the Impossible in ‘The Long Way Home’, the Electrifying Sequel to ‘The Long Night’

In the wake of a devastating cyber-attack followed by an electromagnetic pulse, the Winters’ fight for survival intensifies in ‘The Long Way Home’. As chaos consumes a technology-less nation, former military officer John Winter and his son, Jack, press on in their perilous 100-mile journey from Orlando to Harbour Island, Florida. Each step brings new dangers, from lawless lands to the desperate and ruthless, pushing their limits and testing their resolve. Their sole objective is to reunite with John’s wife, Emily, an esteemed electrical engineering specialist, and their daughter, Sarah, who are struggling to organize the community for even harder times ahead.

Meanwhile, US President Thomas Lowell grapples with a crisis that cuts to the core of American democracy. Surrounded by betrayal and an unseen adversary, his decisions are pivotal in steering a fragile nation through despair and fear.

‘The Long Way Home’ escalates the suspense and drama found in its predecessor, delivering an intense narrative filled with action, strategic challenges, and a deep exploration of the human spirit. Fans of gripping survival thrillers like William R. Forstchen’s ‘One Second After’, David Crawford’s ‘Lights Out’, and Emily St. John Mandel’s ‘Station Eleven’ will find this novel an unforgettable addition to their reading list.

Will the Winters overcome the seemingly impossible odds to find each other again? Will President Lowell manage to overcome internal and external threats to save the soul of America? The answers are in the pages of this thrilling sequel that will leave readers breathless and waiting for the next chapter of this captivating saga.

Grab your copy today and continue the journey into a world where the night has fallen, but the fight for the morning is just beginning.

  • Genre: Apocalyptic, Cyber Thriller, Dystopian, Fiction
  • 418 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published April 30, 2024
  • Series: Long Night, Book II

ABOUT ALEX BUENO (from Amazon)

Trained as an engineer and driven by a passion for storytelling, Alex is a lifelong learner, with a background in tech product development. Yet, it’s not just the wonders of the digital age that fascinate him. His novels revolve around thrillers and adventures, consistently exploring the influence of technology on society. At the same time, he weaves in Christian values emphasizing family, community, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Inspired by renowned authors like Stephen King, James Patterson, Tom Clancy, and Michael Crichton, Alex’s stories captivate while also provoking deep thought.

Alex cherishes life alongside his wife and their 18-year-old son. Their journey is anchored by unwavering faith and a profound bond.

MY ALEX BUENO REVIEWS

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Giveaway – The Summer Of Love And Death by Marcy McCreary @partnersincr1me

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The Summer of Love and Death by Marcy McCreary Banner

THE SUMMER OF LOVE AND DEATH

by Marcy McCreary

August 19 – September 13, 2024 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

The Summer of Love and Death by Marcy McCreary

A Ford Family Mystery

 

The summer of ’69: memorable for some, murder for others.

Detective Susan Ford and her new partner, Detective Jack Tomelli, are called to a crime scene at the local summer stock theater where they find the director of Murder on the Orient Express gruesomely murdered—naked, face caked in makeup, pillow at his feet, wrists and ankles bound by rope. When Susan describes the murder to her dad, retired detective Will Ford, he recognizes the MO of a 1969 serial killer . . . a case he worked fifty years ago.

Will remembers a lot of things about that summer—the Woodstock Festival, the Apollo 11 moon landing, the Miracle Mets—yet he is fuzzy on the details of the decades-old case. But when Susan and Jack discover the old case files, his memories start trickling back. And with each old and new clue, Susan, Jack, and Will must narrow down the pool of suspects before the killer strikes again.

Praise for The Summer of Love and Death:

“An old case has repercussions on a new copycat killing in this excellent police procedural. With juicy twists, an engaging cast, and an intriguing case that’s impossible to predict, The Summer of Love and Death is everything I want in a mystery. An addictive and entertaining ride!”
~ Christina McDonald, USA Today bestselling author

“McCreary unspools a lot of threads in The Summer of Love and Death, then masterfully weaves them all together atop the Ford family’s compelling dynamic for an ending you won’t see coming. It’s a fun ride that kept me guessing the whole time!”
~ Tony Wirt, bestselling author of Just Stay Away

“A compelling mystery that unfolds in two skillfully woven parallel narratives. McCreary pairs a haunting meditation on intergenerational trauma with an evocative rendering of that famous Summer of Love to deliver a suspenseful and deeply satisfying read.”
~ Lori Robbins, author of Murder in Fourth Position

“In the summer of 1969, there was peace and love—but also a serial killer committing bizarre murders. When a copycat killing occurs at the local summer stock theatre, detective Susan Ford must call on her father’s memory of his 1969 investigation to help her solve the present-day murder. The Summer of Love and Death offers page-turning suspense of how the legacy of murder can continue, leaving more than death in its wake.”
~ Nina Wachsman, author of The Courtesan’s Secret

“A fiendishly smart modern who-dunnit with clever characters and a mystery that keeps you guessing . . .”
~ Elise Hart Kipness, author of Lights Out

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery (Detective)
Published by: CamCat Books
Publication Date: August 13, 2024
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 9780744310597 (ISBN10: 0744310598)
Series: A Ford Family Mystery, #3 | A Stand-Alone Series
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | CamCat Books

Read an excerpt:

You know that jittery, gut-roiling feeling you get when heading out on a blind date? That brew of nerves, anxiety, anticipation—plus a hint of dread. That pretty much summed up my morning. Today was the day, and standing at the front door, it finally hit me. I was no longer flying solo. A new partner was waiting for me down at the station.

My fingers twitchy, I fumbled with the zipper of my yellow slicker as I stood in front of the framed poster—an illustration of a white dove perched on a blue guitar neck, gripped by ivory fingers against a bright red background—touting three days of peace and music. Usually, I paid it no mind. But today it captured my attention. A signal, perhaps, that everything would turn out just fine, like it did exactly fifty years ago when four hundred thousand idealistic hippies descended upon this town. A projected disaster that ended up being a glorious experience. The legendary summer of love.

The Woodstock Music and Art Fair didn’t take place in Woodstock, New York. The residents of Woodstock were not keen on having the initially projected fifty thousand hippies traipsing through their town. The concert promoters eventually secured Max Yasgur’s dairy farm in Bethel, New York—fifty-eight miles from Woodstock and six miles from where I live now. I was four at the time. I have no memory of it. Mom said I was sicker than sick that weekend. Ear infection. Fever escalating to 104 degrees. She tried to take me to a doctor, but the roads were clogged with festival revelers, so she had to postpone my appointment until Tuesday. But by then, the worst of it was over.

Fifty years. Those teenagers were in their sixties and seventies now. The older ones in their eighties. How many of them were still idealistic? How many were still into peace, love, and understanding? How many “dropped out” and berated “the man,” only later to find themselves the beneficiaries of capitalism? Becoming “the man.”

I leaned over slightly as I reached for the doorknob. The door swung open unexpectedly, smacking me in the forehead. “Whoa.” I ran my fingertips along my hairline. No bump. For now.

“Sorry, babe.” Ray’s voice drew Moxie’s attention. Our thirteenyear-old lab mix moseyed into the foyer, tail in full swing. Moseying was really all Moxie could muster these days. “Didn’t realize you were standing there.”

Ray had left the house an hour earlier. I peered over his shoulder at the running Jeep. “Forget something?”

“Yeah. My wallet.” Ray stepped inside, dripping. Moxie stared up at him, waiting. He squatted and rubbed her ears. “Raining cats and dogs out there. No offense, Moxie.” He glanced up at the poster. “Just like fifty years ago.” He sighed.

Ray’s parents were married at the festival by a traveling minister. One-year-old Ray in tow (earning him bragging rights as one of the youngest people to attend Woodstock). Tomorrow would have been their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Their death, at the hand of a drunk driver twelve years ago, spawned a program called Better Mad Than Sad—a class baked into the local drivers-ed curriculum that Ray (and the drunk driver’s girlfriend, Marisa) created ten years ago. Parents would join their kids for a fifty-minute session in which they pledged to pick up their kids or their kid’s friends, no questions asked, no judgment passed.

Last month, Ray reached out to a few of his and his parents’ friends asking if they would be up for a “celebration of life” vigil at the Woodstock Festival site this evening. Nothing formal. Just twenty or so folks standing around, reminiscing and shooting the shit about his parents.

Ray shook the rain off his jacket. “Met your new partner this morning.”

“Yeah?”

“He’s very good-looking.” He smirked, then added, “Movie-star good looking.”

I leaned back and gave Ray the once-over. “I’m more into the rough-around-the-edges type.”

“So I got nothing to worry about?”

“Not as long as you treat me right.” I smiled coyly. I had been without an official partner for a little over a year, since July 2018. My ex-partner bought a small farm in Vermont. He told me not to take it personally, but he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I still wondered if I contributed to his anxiety in some small way. Then I got shot in the thigh that August. So hiring a new partner was put on hold. Upon my return to active duty in October of 2018, I was assigned an under-the-radar cold case with my dad brought on as consulting partner. By the time the Trudy Solomon case was resolved, in December 2018, Chief Eldridge still hadn’t found a suitable replacement. Small-town policing isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. So for the better part of 2019, it was just me and my shadow. Dad and Ray assisted on the Madison Garcia case, but the chief made it clear that protocol called for two detectives working a case, and my partnerless days were numbered. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not like I didn’t want a partner. I did. I just wished I had a say in who it was.

***

Excerpt from The Summer of Love and Death by Marcy McCreary. Copyright 2024 by Marcy McCreary. Reproduced with permission from CamCat Books. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Marcy McCreary

Marcy McCreary is the author of the Ford Family Mystery series. She graduated from George Washington University with a B.A. in American literature and political science and pursued a career in marketing and communications. She lives in Hull, MA with her husband, Lew.

Catch Up With Marcy McCreary:
www.MarcyMcCreary.com
Goodreads
BookBub – @marcymccreary
Instagram – @marcymccrearyauthor
Threads – @marcymccrearyauthor
Twitter/X – @mcmarcy
Facebook – @marcymccrearywrites

 

 

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