I am going to start the five one sentence reviews I will be sharing today with Refrain by Susan Griscom. I won an audible and kindle copy. I quickly got hooked, so scrolled through my Kindle and read every one of the Blood Courtesan Kindle Unlimited series stories that I had.
Oh Yeah…Vampires…I love when I see my name in a book, and even though Refrain, which is a complete story, is predictable, it is filled with enough steamy deliciousness to keep me reading more of the series and wanting more of her work.
3 Stars
Reborn (Blood Courtesans) by Michelle Fox was an Amazon freebie.
Reborn is a complete story, a novella, about the loss of innocence and I love Myra’s feistiness, the laughs, the kisses and bullets, though I did get frustrated with her casual stupidity, but my love of vampires keeps me reading most anything with them in it.
3 Stars
Wanted: Corynne by Kristen Strassel was an Amazon freebie.
One way to deal with bullies is to become a vampire…LOL…she had been bullied to the point of murder and was counting on becoming a courtesan, offering blood and sex, to find a place to belong in this action packed story that filled all my bloody needs.
Thank all that is vampire that someone wanted to pay their good fortune forward or Angelica may never have been accepted as a blood courtesan because she would would make a personal sacrifice, sell her soul for her sister, and I love her naive yet provocative personality filled with humor.
3 Stars
Ensnared: Star by Rebecca Rivard & Michelle Fox was an Amazon freebie.
She had been set up for the theft of one hundred thousand dollars and her only out was to become a courtesan…one month with Remy de la Lune, but this hunkalicious vampire has met his match and I was happy to be along for the ride.
I love suspense, thrills, crime and mystery. I have also been to Mexico numerous times, though I never saw it the way Carmen Amato has. Her book covers attracted my attention, because I am a sucker for great covers. Another thing that really caught my attention and made me curious was the author herself. She has a very interesting history, so be sure and scroll down to check her out.
I am going to review them in the order I read them. If they look good to you, click on the cover to hop over to Amazon. They may still be free, but be sure and check for the “0”.
The covers fit the series so well. I love when an author creates a brand.
Her whole world was this moment, this stinky mat, this iron beast that she had become. A fabulous description of Emilia Cruz…and she will need that iron will, that strength, in what is to come. Emilia is the first female detective in Acapulco and she had fought hard for it. I love the character and as I read the five stories in Made In Acapulco, I grew to love her more.
Machismo. Corruption. Cartels.
“Always pay it forward. It’s the only way we’ll save our future.”
BEING BRAVE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF FEAR: IT’S THE COURAGE TO PRESS ON IN SPITE OF FEAR
This introduction into Emilia Cruz only makes me want to read more.
3 Stars
I missed so many books between Made In Acapulco, my introduction to Emilia Cruz, to Narco Noir, the eight book. I have missed a lot.
I have missed all the books in the series except what I consider the introduction to Emila Cruz, Made In Acapulco. I think it probably affected my review, because I was just getting the hang of being in Mexico, but now I do have some familiarity with the characters and how the city of Acapulco operates.
I sense a romance, but what kind of future does a detective from the barrios have with an American with plenty of money? Could they make it work?
Well, that’s a twist. I didn’t see it coming and I am curious where it will go.
She is a badass. I love a strong female character that can hold her own. Even in the machismo world of Mexico, she earns her place and the respect of (at least) some of her coworkers, informants…
Every move is filled with danger and betrayal. Corruption is rampant, so it’s hard to know who to trust. She has to keep things close to the vest.
Her partner, Silvio, is the only person she calls in her time of need.
There is so much about the book I liked, but I was frustrated by some of the characters actions. I don’t want to say much to spoil it for you, because I think it’s worth finding out for yourself.
I do recommend starting at the beginning and you will need to read to the end of the series to get the complete story.
3 Stars
The Emilia Cruz series takes place in Acapulco, Mexico. In The Hidden Light Of Mexico City by Carmen Amato we step away from Acapulco.
“So you’re too afraid to save our country?….What will you leave your grandchildren? A country that’s just a playground of violence for the cartels?”
Eddo hated what he was forced to do just to be able to do the right thing. People will get hurt, but he couldn’t sit back and do nothing just because it was dangerous and may cost him his life.
Luz has sacrificed everything for her family. I feel so bad for her and I wonder when or if she will have her turn. Her family ticks me off. What gives them the right to treat her the way they do. Even her brother walks a fine line in my book. Family is family, but when is too much enough?
An indepth look at the brutality and corruption of Mexico’s’ drug trade and the war for territory.
Whoa…I was brought up short. I thought I knew what the story would be: betrayal, corruption, power hungry, brutal, savage, and those who try to do the right thing. I’ve always heard how Mexico was driven by the drug cartels, so on that front I wasn’t surprised.
The twist with the romance…
The Hidden Light Of Mexico City by Carmen Amato is a great police procedural, suspense/thriller. At times my heart was in my throat and I love the characters, good and bad.
The ending is excellent. Not too short, not too long, just right.
4 Stars
Now, we are real life moments in Mexico. Aapply your suntan lotion, put on your hiking boots, bring your swimsuit, bring your appetite, and let’s go meet some new people.
I took no notes for The Insider’s Guide To The Best Of Mexico. These snippets of introductions from the 42 contributor’s to the guide share their favorites in a page or three. I would take it with me if I were traveling to Mexico.
4 Stars
ABOUT CARMEN AMATO
Following a 30 year career with the Central Intelligence Agency, Carmen Amato writes mystery and suspense, including the Detective Emilia Cruz police series set in Acapulco. Emilia is the first female police detective in Acapulco, confronting Mexico’s cartels, corruption and social inequalities. The series recently won the Poison Cup award for Outstanding Series from Crime Masters of America and was optioned for television.
Originally from upstate New York, Carmen’s experiences in Mexico and Central America launched her fiction career. Carmen is a recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal.
I have read a lot of novels by Carolyn Arnold and she is on my must read list of authors. Girl On The Run was published this month and I was so happy to get a review copy. I love the cover and it fits the story inside.
I love a Prologue. I am like a hungry fish, swimming around, looking for a juicy worm and with a good Prologue, I eagerly bite and get hooked. Girl on the Run by Carolyn Arnold definitely set the hook.
She runs, but there is no escape.
“You’ll be wishing for a bullet by the time she’s done with you.”
I am curious to know why.
Madison was in line for a coffee, when she heard of a shooting at the Liberty Train Station, suspected causalities. Madison is on the case seeing she works for Major Crimes. Two dead, one in the hospital.
Madison is tenaciious, a Bulldog. She felt putting bad guys behind bars was her legacy and made personal sacrifices to achieve it. She has her chocolate lab, Hershey and her fiancee, Troy Matthews, who works for the Stiles Police Department too, to keep her grounded.
Who is the girl with the orange backpack that seemed to Madison to be the trigger, and what does she have to do with the shooting?
Madison had been through hell due to corrupt cops, so when she saw the shooter, who had identified himself as a cop, she stood at attention. Could a corrupt cop and the Russian Mafia be behind the shooting? She had dealt with them on more than one occasion. They were prolific in Stiles.
The investigation deepens, spreading out in different directions. Carolyn Arnold is an expert at bringing all the pieces together.
Two dead, one wounded, a girl with an orange backpack, a victim that Madison recognizes from her past, the Russian Mafia, drug trafficking, infidelity, betrayal…Step by step, I follow Madison’s footsteps to the conclusion.
Most of the book, I was plodding along, accumulating clues with Madison, thinking three stars. I was complacent, knowing this is a police procedural so it may lack the in your face thrills and chills I love so much, then…KAPOW…I’m awake now. It’s those punches, book surprises, that add the extra star.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Girl On The Run by Carolyn Arnold.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Shivers tear through her, but she must be brave—for herself, for her future. She grips her coat tighter and steps into the night and the cold, pouring rain. Never to be seen again.
An ordinary Monday morning commute turns deadly when a gunman opens fire in the local train station. Detective Madison Knight rushes to the scene, but she’s too late for the victims. Two women were fatally wounded, including an expectant mother, and one is fighting for her life. But it’s the face of one of the dead that has Madison seeing a ghost from her past. She looks just like Madison’s college friend Courtney Middleton, who vanished over fifteen years ago. If it is her, where has she been all these years, and does her resurfacing have anything to do with the shooting?
Eyewitnesses say that a young woman triggered the incident, but both the shooter and the girl seem to have evaporated into thin air. Mounting evidence suggests they may be part of a drug-trafficking operation, the girl being one of their runners. But Madison’s not so sure the girl is the hardened criminal she appears to be.
As Madison races to track down the young woman, more people turn up murdered, and there’s still no sign of the girl. Is her body out there to find or is she on the run? If the latter, is it due to fear or guilt? Could it simply be that the shooting victims were caught in the crosshairs of organized crime? Madison’s not sure, but she can’t shake her niggling suspicion: what if it was something more than that?
An absolutely gripping and addictive crime thriller. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Lisa Regan, and Rachel Caine.
ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD
CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning
author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She
has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon
Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has
written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers
everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action
adventures.
Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised
by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading
her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT™.
Carolyn was born in a small town and
enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big
city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive
imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch
the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and
empower.
She currently lives north of London, Ontario, with her husband and
two beagles and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in
Crime.
A B Whelan is a must read author for me, so I was super excited to have another novel from her. AND secrets, I love when secrets are exposed and the shit hits the fan, so let’s get started on the review for Big Little Secrets.
First, we’ll meet Nelli Horvath, a Hungarian immigrant and the wife of Clint Horvath. She made one mistake during her teenage years and it has haunted her ever since. Her life has been gray, with moments of happiness here and there. She keeps tight control of herself, lest her secret from the past escapes. She didn’t expect much from life when she fled Hungary and came to the United States…but then, she met Clint. What can be so bad she can’t share it with her husband?
Things are happening around her and when the invitation for her twentieth reunion came, she felt she had no choice but to attend. She loves her husband, but she will travel to Hungary alone. I can’t imagine living under the weight of her worry, her guilt, just waiting for the anvil to drop and crush her.
She had lived under socialism in Hungary where you learned, ‘It is what it is.’ I learned a bit about Hungary, its people and their cuisine. I love when an author does their research.
My rating: For most of the book I kept thinking my rating would be a three, but the mystery was not easily solved because of so many moving parts and the ending was worth a star, seeing it was unexpected and left me feeling sad and angry, and sad and angry….
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Big Little Secrets by A B Whelan.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A complex and
fast-paced atmospheric thriller—a terrifying journey through a maze of
secrets and locations, leading to a jaw-dropping culmination of
unexpected events.
“I now know that my wife has dark secrets,
and I must discover how a horrific accident twenty years ago is
connected to my wife’s disappearance … before it’s too late.”
Nelli
Horvath is a Hungarian immigrant, seemingly living the American dream
with her husband, Clint, and their son, Ryan, in Las Vegas. After
receiving an invitation to her 20th high school reunion, Nelli flies
back to her home country for the first time after nearly two decades,
and that’s the last time her American family sees her.
Determined
to find his missing wife, Clint travels to Hungary for the first time,
where he races against the clock, chasing clues through historical towns
and dangerous places to investigate the whereabouts of his missing
wife.
Caught in a web of old secrets and murderous lies, Clint
realizes how little he truly knows his wife, leaving him to wonder if he
really knows her at all.
ABOUT A B WHELAN
New release: No One Can Hear You Scream is a gripping, atmospheric
psychological thriller about obsession, survival, and family bonds,
releasing on October 20th.
Whelan is an Amazon bestselling author of domestic psychological thrillers.
She
currently resides in California with her husband and two children.
When she isn’t writing, editing, marketing, or researching her next
book, you can find her walking her two rescue dogs, socializing online,
coaching soccer, or doing another DIY project with her husband.
Find me on: * Facebook (AuthorABWhelan) * Instagram (authorabwhelan) * Goodreads (A.B. Whelan) * Twitter (AuthorABWhelan) * Bookbub: A.B. Whelan
As Grandma Rain lay in her hospital bed, dying, she says, “You’re late.”
Grandma Rain had raised Lake, after her parents disappeared. As they talk, Grandma Rain cracks me up with her dialogue.
“Lake, I broke the rules. Once and only once. It cost me your mother’s life. Your father’s too. Not that I gave a crap about him. Useless prick. But you loved that man. And you lost him because of me…The Wall Men took them. They did it to punish me because I wouldn’t set them free.”
A haunted house. It is so much more than that. Wall Men is not like any other haunted house story I have read. I love when an author takes an original approach to an oft told tale. No one can say that Mimi Jean Pamfiloff doesn’t have original thoughts.
Lake has no idea what is happening in the house, but did she have to do that to get the answers? Worlds collide and she has a vital role to fulfill to save them all and prevent a War of the Worlds.
I won’t share her travails, only tell you that they are worth finding out for yourself.
Thrills and chills abound in a world you need to ‘see’ to believe.
I never know what will happen when I crack open a Mimi Jean Pamfiloff book, but she never fails to surprise me with her ability to create worlds and characters that will keep me reading until the last page is read.
We have smiles and laughs with the pain and loss…BUT, the story doesn’t end here and I can hardly wait to read more.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Wall Men by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
From New York Times Bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes a suspenseful Dark Fantasy, Wall Men, Book One. (Book Two, coming June 2022!)
MONSTERS? VAMPIRES? GHOSTS AND DEMONS? MEN WHO GUARD THE WALL BETWEEN US AND THEM.
I’m
sitting at my grandma’s bedside, moments away from losing her, when she
begins to rant about monsters and men trapped in her old mansion. I
practically grew up there, so I know it’s the pain meds talking. There’s
nothing inside that drafty house except rotting books, rusty pipes, and
neglected antiques.
“I’ve written down all the rules, Lake. You
must follow them,” she tells me, gasping for air. “The Wall Men cannot
get free. They are soulless and evil. They will try to seduce you. But
you cannot listen. They must remain chained to the wall.”
What the…?
In
her final breath, she makes me swear to read her journals. But above
all, I must promise to never go inside her bedroom, the one that’s
always kept locked.
Madness!
Weeks after her funeral,
I’m forced to confront the neglected estate she’s left behind. I can’t
afford the taxes, so it has to be cleaned and sold.
That’s when I hear a deep velvety voice on the other side of her bedroom door, demanding to be let out.
And dammit if I don’t want to break my promise and see who’s on the other side.
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.
Fishing the Local Waters is a great introduction to fishing on the Gulf Coast: the types of fish, prime areas to fish, equipment to fish with, the different methods of fishing and delicious recipes to cook those fish. Includes, maps and GPS coordinates. I do enjoy fishing and would recommend this tacklebox size book packed with useful information.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Two local fishermen share their favorite spots and special techniques in this tackle-box sized guide to angling in Florida’s gulf coast waters. From inland jaunts to shore fishing to a day trip on a boat, the chapters cover everything a tourist or curious local needs for a fruitful outing. Information on the best bait, tackle, and methods are included, as are important safety tips, maps showing choice fishin’ holes, and local recipes for cooking up the catch of the day. LORAN coordinates to more than 50 proven spots to drop a line are included, and a directory of fishing businesses on the Emerald Coast completes this angling guide.
Lord Garrick has an ambitious plan. On the surface, it sounds good, though it took a battle to bring him and Rickart face to face. Garrick wants Rickart to swear allegiance to him, the Lord of Cold Spring, bringing Esterby under his umbrella. I have a suspicious nature and see conspiracies around every corner…when it comes to novels. 🙂
Maura, Rickart’s sister, comes to Cold Spring to encourage Garrick to release Rickart and Garrick is smitten.
Magic had been banished under Garrick’s father’s rule and I won’t tell much about that because I want you to find out for yourself. I think you will enjoy it as much as I did.
The action is mild with many face to face conversations and I loved to watch the interactions. It is not so much manipulation as showing a person what could be.
Rickart is only eighteen. His father’s death made him the leader of Esterby. He puts his life on the line for his people, yet has a lot of life lessons to learn.
Gertie may be a peripheral character, but like Maura, I feel her importance. She is a pit bull and I love her.
“…Mother’s watching over her like a bitch with a one litter puppy.” I love that. I thought of the pitbull reference before I read that quote. It explains why Carmen Webster Buxton is a must read author for me and I love her stories so much. We seem to speak the same language.
As I learn more about Garrick, I love how Carmen Webster Buxton has written the story. Most of sword/sorcery fantasies I have read have brutal wars raging, blood and guts flying. Hidden Magic is more about characters coming together for the benefit of making a stronger unit.
Innocent romance.
Whether Carmen Webster Buxton meant to send a message or not, these characters made me feel good and have hope…that even in today’s real world, things change, circumstances change, rules change…nothing is written that can’t be rewritten.
Hidden Magic is not a series, the story is complete…unless you would like to prolong the ending by imagining what comes next for yourself.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Hidden Magic by Carmen Webster Buxton.
4 Stars
AMAZON SYNOPSIS
The valley of the River Wystan is isolated from the rest of the world. Many years before it had been united under the Lord of Cold Spring, who had suppressed the practice of magic. But when he died, his son wasn’t strong enough to hold the other lords’ loyalty. Now Lord Garrick, the new Lord of Cold Spring, means to resume his grandfather’s role of overlord for the whole valley. Young Richart Tallengen, newly minted Lord of Esterby, tries to fight off Lord Garrick’s men, but he’s captured and carried to Cold Spring Castle. When his sister Maura comes to Cold Spring to see her brother, she catches Lord Garrick’s eye. Lord Garrick is as attracted by her courage and her brains as much as by her looks, but he is very surprised to discover that there is more to Maura than meets the eye. She has magical abilities, even though she doesn’t know it.
ABOUT CARMEN WEBSTER BUXTON
Carmen Webster Buxton spent her youth reading every book published by
Ursula LeGuin, Robert Heinlein and Georgette Heyer. This combination of
far-future worlds, alien cultures, and old-fashioned courting customs
influenced her writing, especially in her ThreeCon series.
Carmen
was born in Hawaii and experienced a peripatetic childhood, as her
father was in the US Navy. Having raised two wonderful children, she now
lives in Maryland with her husband Charlie, and a beagle named Cosmo.
She writes science fiction (often including a romance, and mostly set in
the far future), and the occasional fantasy.
Carmen has published many books:
WAKANREO SERIES Alien Bonds Alien Vows Alien Skies
HAVEN SERIES The Sixth Discipline No Safe Haven
THREECON SERIES (can be read in any order) The Nostalgia Gambit Saronna’s Gift Shades of Empire Tribes Worlds Apart
ALTERNATE HISTORY King of Trees
YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION Turnabout Drifters
FANTASY Where Magic Rules Bag of Tricks Hidden Magic
THE NAMELESS WORLD SAGA (coming in 2021) The North Edge of Nowhere Oaths and Promises
Carmen
often blogs about ereaders, digital publishing, writing, and
speculative fiction. Visit her blog to see what’s coming out next! To
ask questions or to provide feedback on her books, send email to
carmen.webster.buxton (at) gmail.com.
Scarlett West is a new author for me, but when I got the chance to read the first two books in the Fae Bureau of Investigation series, I had to jump at it. What you do think of the concept?
I have my fingers crossed that I won’t be left high and dry in this series, seeing there will be five books, but I had to check them out and I am very glad I did.
I immediately liked Adalee when I ‘saw’ how she interacted with Gavin. Since her parents were kidnapped, he was the only one that cared about her, coming by the bar and checking to see she was okay. I do have a feeling about him, but we shall see.
Business at the bar had dropped and she would have to decide what to do soon. Rent was coming due and she couldn’t cover it. So convenient that the raven haired man came to her rescue.
“I’m 100% sure you are the one I’ve been searching for.”
Fae are disappearing and if they die, the earth dies. Adalee doesn’t even know she is Fae, let alone there is a whole world of supernatural out there and she will become a part of it. Damien changed her life forever and recruits her for the FBI, the Fae Bureau of Investigation.
Adalee does not take anything sitting down. She is quick with her words and bucks his orders at every turn. She doesn’t realize how much danger her actions put him in, but he is her fated mate, whether she likes it or not, and he will do whatever it takes to protect her.
I wouldn’t mind having his nifty trick of making a hot cup of coffee appear.
I have read a lot of paranormal/supernatural novels, but not many of them feature the Fae. The Fae have their own set of rules and some could find them disturbing. It was fun and interesting learning about their world and spending time in it.
The action comes quickly and doesn’t stop. If she’s not fighting off Damien’s advances, she’s fighting the Unseelie. I got wrapped up in Adalee and Damien’s love story and it ended at a crucial spot. It was a good place to take a break…if you have to.
My biggest disappointment…I thought I had the first two books in the series, but I have Books I and III. 🙁
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Stolen in the Dark by Scarlett West.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
He forced me into their world. Now dark enemies want me dead.
When an attempted kidnapping leads me to be rescued by a dark and sexy Fae, I assume life can’t be any stranger… Until I discover I’m his fated mate, and that he needs my help to stop a ruthless enemy from kidnapping his kind.
If someone doesn’t stop the brutal attacks, it could lead to earth’s ultimate destruction, so if I want to survive, I have to join the Fae Bureau of Investigation, with Damien as my superior.
But while Damien may be both hot as hell and my one-time hero, my unearthly ability to sense things through my hair is telling me to run: Damien can’t be trusted, and I would hate him as my boss.
With the enemy closing in, though, time is running out for me to make my choice: join the Bureau…or return home to my death.
Readers who enjoy Karen Marie Moning, Laurell K. Hamilton, Amelia Hutchins, and Lindsay Hall, will love this dangerous and sexy urban fantasy.
Stolen in the Dark is a steamy, urban fantasy romance that is book one out of five. Scroll Up and One Click to start reading this hot paranormal romance today!
ABOUT SCARLETT WEST
Scarlett West writes steamy, paranormal romance featuring sexy Fae. Deep characters and hot romance are her thing.
An avid reader and writer who will never stop dreaming, Scarlett has traveled to many countries and been on tons of adventures. She draws her stories from these places, life experiences, and her grand imagination.
Besides writing, she’s a hobby herbalist and a dancer. If she’s not by the computer typing these things up, she can be found in a forest, on a mountain, or by the ocean.
Scarlett West would like to thank her three F’s: Fans, Family, and Friends. Thank you forever for your support.
I have been with Lacey James since the beginning and love the character that Chris Patchell has created. The covers are AMAZING! Chris Patchell has created a fabulous brand for the series.
The covers are linked to my reviews. They are so gorgeous I had to share them all.
Sweet Home, Oregon, is a small town, but it sure has its share of murders. This time, it’s JJ. He had come to town to disappear, but left Spot, one of the town bars, with a target on his back.
I love Lacey. I don’t know how she does all she does. She is giving, loyal, dedicated. I smile with her, but still do not understand her home life. I have had no use for Caleb since I have really got to know him. What did he think was going to happen when he came home to stay? I am suspicious. Is there more to his story? I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him. To me, he’s like a weight around her neck and I think she will be better off without him. HA HA Maybe….well, that is for another day.
I love the interaction, the dialogue and smiles, between Lacey and her partner, Eli. It’s obvious how much he cares for her, but never steps across the line and I have mucho respect for an author keeping her characters of importance on the up and up.
Knowing Chris Patchell, I find it hard to believe that a bar fight was the reason for JJ’s death. It’s too easy. The suspects are mounting as are questions and alibis. In my mind I have ruled out one, but ya never know. Secrets make for suspects.
Lacey is cracking me up again. She takes no crap, so it surprises me how she handles Caleb with kid gloves. I get it, but letting guilt over working…isn’t that what happens in real life all too often. She does the best she can and I don’t see her kids having a problem with it. I love sharing her trials and tribulations with her, supporting her, hoping she will get what she deserves, a HEA. She has earned it!
Tell Her by Chris Patchell is more about Lacey’s personal life and the town’s secrets, than the crime and I am fine with that. It keeps me hungry for more and I am so excited for Hide Her by Chris Patchell.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Tell Her by Chris Patchell.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Dark secrets are exposed when a killer comes to town.
When Officer Lacey James is called to the scene of a brutal murder, she doesn’t recognize the victim. Jonathan Jones–JJ is new to Sweet Home. Everyone Lacey talks to in the close-knit community claims he was a good guy, but someone is lying. Someone wanted JJ dead. And someone else knows why.
On the hunt for the murderer, Lacey reconstructs the victim’s trail. A bar fight. A bloody footprint. A faulty timeline. Together with her partner, Eli Davidson, Lacey pieces together the clues while keeping track of the witnesses’ lies. Each twist in the case raises new questions about the victim. About the motive behind the crime. Until Lacey and Eli unearth a piece of salacious gossip that sends the investigation reeling down a dark and dangerous path.
Will the killer be punished?
Or will the hunt for the truth land Lacey in the crosshairs of a killer?
I cannot wait for Hide Her by Chris Patchell. Check out the cover!!! I got shivers. Oh man, it is calling out to me, loudly!. From the horses mouth (Chris Patchell):
Thought I was only planning 3 books in the series, I quickly realized that Lacey needed a book 4 and so, I just “broke ground” on Hide Her.
ABOUT CHRIS PATCHELL
Chris Patchell is the bestselling author of In the Dark
and the Indie Reader Discovery Award winning novel Deadly Lies.
Having recently left her long-time career in tech to pursue her
passion for writing full-time, Chris pens gritty suspense novels set
in the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her family and two
neurotic dogs.
Warning: This is not for the faint of heart. The characters have issues, the sex is raw, graphic, including rape, bondage…
Such a pretty cover, not so the story inside. I grabbed the book from Indie Sage because of the blurb for His Affliction, which is the third book in the characters story and I had to start at the beginning.
I grabbed this book because I love damaged characters and these guys have some serious issues. I became engrossed from the opening pages…
Lying there, drugged, getting raped, she remembered her mama’s words: boys can never be trusted. Her life is changed forever, but changed in ways she never could have anticipated.
I am finding it hard to write the review. I want to warn you about the filth these characters live in, yet who am I to judge? All I can do is share my thoughts about them, about what they do to each other, about the bullying and abuse they heap on one person in particular.
Kimmy is Kailey’s best friend and I would love to have one just like her. She sticks by her side, through thick and thin, but Kailey is not one to take things lying down, any more. She fights back in her own way. She has a mouth and uses it. I love that she doesn’t cower. She stands up for herself, but something has changed. They are watching her, closely.
The title is so appropriate. I’m not sure how I would have made it through the things Hailey does. Would I have taken my life? Beat the hell out of some people? Killed someone?
The beautiful cover and cute chapter headings that signify a change to show which character’s point of view is being shared, put a pretty light on an ugly story.
“We may be a ragtag group of varying degrees of fucked up, but I know we’d do anything for Hailey Hamari.” If you read the book, you will see how twisted this statement is.
As I read the story, I thought…what the hell? Would do anything for her? Then why aren’t they standing up for her? That story will be told…
I love damaged characters, but WOW..these are off the charts. I am confused, at a loss for words, so on to the next book in the Desecrated Duet, Desecrated Essence to find out what the hell is really going on. Why do they feel Hailey deserves what is happening to her, day after day after day.
I voluntarily reviewed Desecrated Flesh by C A Rene.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
All it took was one bad decision, A need to numb the pain that threatened to tear me apart. He was someone I trusted, And he made a decision that would forever ruin me. They used to be my best friends, But after that night, I never wanted to see them again. Now they hate me and will stop at nothing to watch me suffer. But what do they know about suffering? After what I’ve been through, Everything they throw at me is child’s play. One more year and I’ll be free of them, Never having to be reminded of that fateful night. A lot can happen in a year…
ABOUT C A RENE (from her website)
First off… Call me Chrissy!
I’m
so glad you’re here, whether it’s because you found me from reading my
books or hit a link, I’m just ecstatic you decided to check me out.
In
my books you will find complete inclusivity and I refuse to be kept in
any specific box. I write across all genres and dabble in just about
everything.
To keep up with all new releases and teasers for all my upcoming books, you can follow me on any social media platform!
Lover
of all things dark. I love to read it, write it, own it, eat it,
whatever it. My addictions include Coffee, books, and WINE, in that
order.
