I grabbed Into The Water by Paula Hawkins from the library and I am so glad I did. It was a 2017 Goodreads Choice winner. I actually wrote this review last year and saved it for a ‘rainy day’.
Into The Water by Paula Hawkins touches a lot of serious, sensitive topics, and she handles them so well. Her portrayal of what secrets and misunderstandings bring about could be a warning to us all. Secrets do not stay buried.
I feel for all the lives forever changed.
I had some confusion switching to so many points of view, especially early on. My head was spinning, there is soooo much happening, so many angles, but Paula Hawkins wraps the story up nicely.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
The author of the #1
New York Times bestseller and global phenomenon The Girl on the Train
returns with Into the Water, her addictive new novel of psychological
suspense.
A single mother turns up dead at the bottom of the
river that runs through town. Earlier in the summer, a vulnerable
teenage girl met the same fate. They are not the first women lost to
these dark waters, but their deaths disturb the river and its history,
dredging up secrets long submerged.
Left behind is a lonely
fifteen-year-old girl. Parentless and friendless, she now finds herself
in the care of her mother’s sister, a fearful stranger who has been
dragged back to the place she deliberately ran from—a place to which she
vowed she’d never return.
With the same propulsive writing and
acute understanding of human instincts that captivated millions of
readers around the world in her explosive debut thriller, The Girl on the Train,
Paula Hawkins delivers an urgent, twisting, deeply satisfying read that
hinges on the deceptiveness of emotion and memory, as well as the
devastating ways that the past can reach a long arm into the present.
Beware a calm surface—you never know what lies beneath.
Carolyn Arnold writes some of the best police procedurals I have ever read. Midlife Psychic is her first foray into the paranormal world, but I have no doubt it will be an entertaining read, because of her ability to pen a wonderful story.
I have read a lot of Carolyn Arnold’s work and I am excited to delve into the psychic world with her first paranormal story, Midlife Psychic. I love that the female character is older and it is a refreshing change from the young adult novels I love so much. Along with hot flashes, come psychic visions.
Carolyn Arnold writes wonderful mysteries and police procedurals, so I am excited to begin this journey with her…AND…of course, we have to start with something that I am already afraid of…a plane crash.
Erin Stone is a Catholic, so anything to do with the paranormal smacks of Satan worship. She cannot talk to any family about this, but thank goodness her best friend, Trisha, has a very open mind and believes in all kinds of new age things, like the power of intuition, the laws of attraction and lucid dreaming. I love that Erin and Trisha have such different upbringings and beliefs, yet are best friends.
She is a 911 operator for the Toronto Police Services. Her parents had died in a plane crash 28 years earlier and as the anniversary of the date approaches, her brother talks her into going to the memorial, where she runs into the NTSB agent who investigated their parents crash. For some reason, she finds it easy to talk to him, and she does need help to investigate her dream and the plane crash. A little attraction makes it easier. Karma at work?
We are just cruising along, doing some talking, some investigating, maybe falling in love…until…about 60% and Carolyn Arnold takes it up a notch. Danger rears it ugly head.
There is a religious tone to the story and if you don’t believe in visions, clairvoyance, lucid dreaming and psychics, here is the chance to walk a mile in Erin’s shoes and learn how she comes to accept that a fact is a fact, a truth a truth.
Be sure and catch Carolyn Arnold’s inspiration for writing Midlife Psychic and her acknowledgments and find out how much of her personal life she shares.
I bounced a bit on the rating, but the when Carolyn Arnold added danger to the mix, it gave me that extra bit I was looking for. The ending seemed a bit off to me, but I can’t quite put my finger on why? Did I want more details? Did I want a different ending? I don’t know. If you get a chance to read Midlife Psychic, I would love to know you thoughts. Maybe it is just me wanting…MORE.
I voluntarily reviewed and ARC of Midlife Psychic by Carolyn Arnold.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Hot flashes in my forties? Expected. Waking up psychic? Not in my wildest dreams.
My
name is Erin Stone. I’m forty-three with a daughter away at college and
a successful career as a communications officer with the 911 dispatch
center for the Toronto Police Service. My life had just returned to new
normal after my divorce and everything was going along smoothly. Then
BOOM! Turns out the universe had other plans for me.
I dreamed
of a plane crash—only it wasn’t just a dream. The crash happened in real
life. Eighty-three dead. A vision, plain and simple. Not exactly. My
family certainly wouldn’t understand. And me…psychic? I’d dabbled in
new-age spirituality in the past but never plunged into the deep end.
Now I’m in over my head.
Why was I given this vision, and does
it hold clues as to what caused the crash? My best friend Trish is
convinced it does, and a handsome stranger with the National
Transportation Safety Board is willing to partner with me to solve the
mystery. But if I’m going to embrace the vision as telling of newfound
psychic abilities, I will need to keep my paranormal gift a secret from
my daughter, brother, and aunt. Little good that might do them though.
Someone
out there has their own secrets and is willing to go to great lengths
to protect them. Now the very gift I was given has put the lives of my
loved ones at risk. Will my psychic abilities be strong enough to save
them?
This work of paranormal women’s fiction features a
strong-willed heroine in her forties with enough baggage to check some,
along with a heavy dose of magic and a splash of romance.
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 just west of Toronto
with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada
and Sisters in Crime.
Owen was at a loss. His wife, Maya, had died of cancer. Why was it her, instead of him? After all, he is a Navy Seal and puts his life on the line every time he goes on a mission.
He was heading to his apartment when he saw an open door. He entered to rescue the maiden, Evie, from being raped. She reminded him of Maya, so even though they lived in the same building, he was determined to put distance between them.
Of course, it’s romantic suspense, so it isn”t hard to figure out they will get together. The thing is, Jane Blythe throws twists and turns willy nilly, so we can never be sure how they will get there. And so…
Owen comes home from a mission to find Evie packed and ready to go. She is leaving him. His past came back to smack him in the face and it was too late to come clean. She had always felt like second best. Now, she felt used, was crushed, and, until the cartel came knocking at her door, she wanted nothing to do with him.
She becomes a threat to the Perez Cartel and the entire Seal team knows just how deadly they can be. They have dealt with them before. The cartel is deadly, dealing in kidnapping, torture, trafficking and murder, to keep the drugs running.
Every move they make to hide and protect her, they are found. How can he keep her safe and have a chance at winning her back?
The suspense builds and even though I have a good idea how it will end…wink, wink…the nonstop action and danger was one wild ride. I am tired and ready for bed, but I have to know…
…and Jane Blythe has me wanting to hear Shark’s story. He deserves a happy ever after too. What do I see when I reach the end? It is like Jane read my mind. Shark’s story is next in line. Hoorah.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Saving Owen by Jane Blythe.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
His secrets ruined their marriage, can she trust him now to keep her safe?
Evangeline “Evie” Walter always looks for the good in people, a trait that usually ends up with her being used and hurt, just like it did in her marriage to Navy SEAL Owen. But when she finds herself in the sights of a ruthless cartel she doesn’t see any other choice but to risk getting hurt again by turning to the only people she trusts to keep her safe; Owen’s SEAL team.
Owen “Fox” LeGrand was grieving his wife when he met Evie, he saved her life and friendship grew between them before they fell in love. Then he ruined it. He’s waited two years for a chance to make things right but he never expected that opportunity to come because Evie’s life is in danger. Now getting her to trust him again has taken on a whole new importance, because if he can’t fix what he broke then Evie could wind up dead.
ABOUT JANE BLYTHE
Jane
has loved reading and writing since she can remember. She writes dark
and disturbing crime/mystery/suspense with some romance thrown in
because, well, who doesn’t love romance? She has one completed series,
Detective Parker Bell, and one new series, Count to Ten.
When she’s not writing Jane loves to
read, bake, go to the beach, ski, horse ride, and watch Disney movies.
She has a black belt in Taekwondo, and a 200+ collection of teddy bears.
She has the world’s two most sweet and pretty Dalmatians, Ivory and
Pearl. Oh, and she also enjoys spending time with family and friends!
The Order of the Dolphin series by Kristie Clark keeps getting better in Dragon Gold. I do recommend reading them in order, beginning with Killing Dragons, but Kristie Clark includes all the updates if you were inclined to read it as a stand alone.
Eva is in charge of dolphin research at the Roatan Institute for Marine Science in Honduras. She talks to dolphins and has been creating a vocabulary to enable them to communicate.
Thomas is head of the Sternberg Center for Cancer Cures in Kansas city, Kansas, creating innovative gene therapy. On his last trip to Roatan, his lab tech, Ivan, had found an enzyme in the toxic red tide. Thomas and Eva are both passionate about their work. but how can they have a relationship with so much distance between them.
I love anything to do with water, so to dive with the dolphins, hunt with them for lionfish, and learn of the world underneath, even in a fictional way, is very interesting and entertaining to me.
Action and danger enter the story and Eva’s life early on. She has friends that will come to her aid in Julian’s deadly game. All the characters play pivotal roles, even if they are not the stars.
An extreme sense of urgency lingers on the pages, and I feel it almost as much as Eva, but she must keep her cool, make a plan…and wait for Thomas. He was a Navy Seal working with dolphins, and she can use all the help she can get.
Kristie Clark’s blend of fact and fiction brings her world to life, making me want to jump in with both feet. She explains her research and facts at the end of each novel and I love it. Getting lost in her tropical paradise gave me many hours of reading enjoyment.
The first book, Killing Dragons, took Kristie Clark ten years to write, but like the pacing of Dragon Gold, she wrote this one in a month. Guess these characters had a lot to say to her.
There is so much between the cover of Dragon Gold…a touch of ecology, giving back to the world that gives us life, cancer research, Naval bits and pieces, fish farming, genetic engineering, kidnapping and murder, and Kristie Clark ties it all together in an amazeballs package.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Dragon Gold by Kristie Clark.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A dragon will kill any who dare to take its gold.
After her dangerous adventures earlier in the year, everything is finally going well for Dr. Eva Paz. Her breakthroughs in dolphin communication are changing the world. Her discoveries could save the reef she loves. And now her mother has found love again.
But then a madman returns to claim what’s his. Eva’s old nemesis, Julian Gulliver, kidnaps Eva’s mother, and he demands an exorbitant ransom.
It’s money Eva doesn’t have.
What she does have are friends who are willing to do anything to help, including ex-Navy SEAL—and ex-boyfriend—Dr. Thomas Sternberg. But Eva’s greatest asset may be her dolphins: Taffy, Finn, Cleo, and Chico.
Together, they need to mount a rescue effort. Yet things are even more desperate than they imagine, for Julian isn’t the only menace terrorizing Roatan.
Join Eva as she works with Thomas and her dolphins to rescue her mother and save the reef from a man who would destroy them all.
For fans of Michael Crichton, Dragon Gold is book two in Kristie Clark’s Order of the Dolphin Series.
ABOUT KRISTIE CLARK
KRISTIE CLARK, a pediatrician, lives on the High Plains with her
husband, sons, border collies, and a cat named Bonsai. An avid scuba
diver, she holds a Roatan Marine Park Bay Islands Lionfish Spearing
License.
Book Title: The Academy Saga by C.J. Daly Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 500 pages Genre: Suspense Romance Publisher: BrandyLight Ink Release date: September 2019 Content Rating: PG-13. My book has some adult themes, language, and a few slow-burn romance scenes.
“Unique, intense, and suspenseful. A story with compelling characters that pull you into the author’s world and keep you reading from beginning to end.
Intriguing start to a new series.” –New York Times Best Selling Author Jami Brumfield
“CJ has created an unforgettable story about a young woman caught up in a world of lies and deception. The Academy Saga is a page-turning read with a twist you may not see coming.”—Tony Jones, Executive Producer of My All American
“Wow wow wow! This book has it all. It’s extremely well written, the characters are amazing and the story is so intriguing that it pulls you in from the very first page. There’s tension, mystery chemistry and of course romance. I loved it! I would highly recommend this page turner!” — RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @abbi_reads_xx
Book Description:
Readers’ Favorite Suspense Romance
Kate Connelly should be careful what she wishes for.
Just seventeen, she already feels like she’s suffocating. Since her mother’s death, her father’s basically checked out, so she’s stuck raising her brothers by herself out in the New Mexico scrub. All Kate wants is a little distraction from the same-ole, same-ole that is her life.
When two mysterious guys show up at the diner where she works, she thinks her wish has come true, until they start giving her a hard time. Like her life isn’t hard enough. Something about them niggles her, but she
brushes it off. She’s never going to see them again anyway . . . right?
Then they appear in an alley one night to either rescue or kidnap her (she’s still not sure which) before disappearing like figments of her imagination.
Kate decides to put the bizarre encounters out of her mind. She has bigger problems to worry about: like that elite
military academy that’s been pursuing her gifted little brother. When one of their cadets shows up at her high school, he creates instant pandemonium. And just happens to be one of those mysterious guys. Coincidence? Mama said there’s no such thing. And to always trust her instinct. But that might be kind of hard, because every time she’s around Cadet Peter Davenport, her gut starts flip-flopping on her. And her heart.
Can Kate keep it together long enough to stop Cadet Davenport’s mission? She’s about to find out. And—once again—how neatly life can be split into before and after.
Book Title: The Academy Saga: Cadet-in-Training by C.J. Daly Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 441 pages Genre: Suspense Romance Publisher: BrandyLight Ink Content Rating: PG-13. My book has some adult themes, language, and a few slow-burn romance scenes.
MY REVIEW
After reading Book I, I could hardly wait to begin Cadet In Training by C J Daly. which picks up where Academy Saga left off.
They use sweet little Mikey to keep Kate in check, but I have a feeling about her. When or how it will change, I don’t know, but she is the mama grizzly bear when it comes to her family and I don’t see her backing down. She is naive, innocent, too trusting, easily manipulated, headstrong, determined, devoted to Mikey.
The Academy is not like an military academy I have ever heard of, and, like her, I am very suspicious of what they are really up to. Pete has been gone for a some time, and Ranger is her trainer. He is a cruel taskmaster…and there is a story there.
“…when I slowed down to breathe, the air smelled foul.” I feel the same way as Kate.
She is independent and Ranger does everything he can to break her. She fought like a hellcat, but she knew she had to change.
Mikey, I love the way C J writes this character. Her fabulous writing makes me smile. I can hear his words and see his actions.
I love Ranger. He walks that like of bad/good and adds a level of excitement for me that Pete can never do. He is intriguing as I try to figure out who he realllllly is. Would not have a dull moment with him.
The greater good…whenver I hear that I feel someone is about to be sacrificed. A life with purpose…or a slave to whatever the Academy deems. AND IT IS FOR LIFE!
Much of the books deals with school, learning and training, but the second half ramps up, hooking me for Book III
The epilogue…WHAT…WHAT…It blew my mind. I didn’t see that coming…and I am sooooo curious how it will play out.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Cadet In Training by C J Daly.
4 Stars
ABOUT THE BOOK
>“Absolutely ADDICTING! CJ Daly does it again and delivers a story YOU CAN’T PUT DOWN! Edge of your seat GREATNESS! I was completely hooked into this story. I couldn’t turn the
pages fast enough. The Cadet in Training was such a phenomenal escape. With characters that fly off the pages, you become immersed! CJ Daly has stunning story telling skills! I’m still sitting here, like what did I just read and why is it over! Agh! I can’t wait for book 3!!! #theacademysaga is going down as one my absolute favorites! #TeamPete! All the stars! I’m ready to read this one again!” RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @elizabeth.ness.56
Book Description:
Another Readers’ Favorite 5-STAR Suspense Romance. Begin the journey today.
Kate’s destiny has been determined for her.
Hidden out in the country for most her life, Kate Connelly suddenly wakes up, handcuffed to a hospital bed, in the psyche ward of The Academy. Her crime? Being “gifted.” And it’s Officer “Ranger” Nealson’s job to make her adhere to The Academy’s agenda for her. Even though he’s the one who drugged and dragged her in. Kate’s hate for Ranger, and his academy, is at an all-time high. Ranger has his work cut out for him . . . and Kate does too. She has to fight through the rigors of the Cadet-in-Training program, and quickly. If not, she’ll lose the one privilege she’s been given at The Academy—access to her precious little brother.
And until she graduates from the CIT program, Officer Nealson is banned from Missions. When General Weston finally offers a juicy recon to Ranger, he wants to jump at the chance to prove himself again. After all,
catching bad guys is his thing. Almost all pros for doing it. One con—Cadet Connelly has to ride along.
The hardened officer finds he’s slowly been growing a soft spot for his mentee. But he’s determined not to end up like his father, and former Elite Cadet Pete Davenport—throwing away their career for a girl (not even a woman). And Kate has lingering feelings for Pete, who risked his life to warn her, and conflicting feelings for Ranger. She has to set both aside to focus on completing her first mission.
When the dust settles, old alliances are broken and new ones are formed. But one thing remains the same: Kate’s destiny has been determined for her by The Academy. Ready or not . . . she’s set for Missions. Will one of the former elite cadets step in to help change her fate, or will she be left to fight the
Academy’s agenda alone?
CJ Daly grew up on the scrabbly plains of Eastern New Mexico. When she was supposed to be helping her six siblings with chores on the family ranch, she was really sneaking behind dusty haystacks to read. And dreaming about becoming a writer.
After graduating high school, CJ moved to Big D, where she quickly put herself through college while trying to rid herself of her country accent. She had better luck with college, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in English literature. After teaching a few years and pausing to have back-to-back boys, she began writing in earnest.
A few years later, “The Academy Saga” was born. It instantly earned a Readers’ Favorite 5-STAR seal of approval and became an Amazon best seller.
Anita Dickason draws on her 22 years in law enforcement to create her wonderful novels, and the depth and detail she writes into them give me hours of reading pleasure.
When the call came in, Jennie Layton raced to Texas…to her grandmother.
Jennie’s parents had died in a car accident when she was ten years old. Her grandmother took her home…to the ranch.
Murder, attempted murder, cattle rustling, greed…with twists and turns that kept me saying, “I didn’t see that coming.”
Deadly Business by Anita Dickason is a modern day wild west story, with characters and scenarios that read all too real. Fact and fiction is blended seamlessly, with a pace that made it impossible to put down. The depth and detail had me lost, worrying and fretting.
I read a Texas Rangers series by Jon Land, and Anita Dickason’s inclusion of the Special Texas Rangers and U S Marshalls made me feel right at home.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A Texas Multi-Billion Dollar Lure!
Following
a tactical raid at an Oklahoma farm, a phone call sends U.S. Deputy
Marshal Piper McKay rushing back to the East Texas cattle ranch where
she grew up.
Her grandmother, Jennie Layton, is near death from a
crushed skull. When local authorities claim the cause of the injury was
an accident, Piper isn’t convinced.
Who wants Jennie dead? Is the reason connected to a dubious contract Piper finds in Jennie’s desk?
Piper
realizes her grandmother isn’t the only one in danger when she barely
escapes a deadly attack. Thrust into the middle of a high-stakes,
high-risk shell game, Piper has become the target.
The case takes
a bizarre turn when Piper unknowingly crosses paths with a Special
Ranger. If he can’t derail her investigation, it could cost him his
life.
With millions of dollars on the line, nothing will stop a ring of cold-blooded killers, including the murders of a U.S. Marshal and a Special Ranger.
ABOUT ANITA DICKASON
Code Name: Trackers: The elite of the elite. FBI agents, each with a secret, an extra edge, that defies reason and logic.
Characters
with unexpected skills—that extra edge for overcoming danger and
adversity—have always intrigued Anita. Adding an infatuation with
ancient myths and legends of Native American Indians, and Scottish and
Irish folklore creates the backdrop for her characters.
Anita is a
retired Dallas Police Officer. During—what she refers to as an
extraordinary career—Anita served as a patrol officer, undercover
narcotics officer, advanced accident investigator, and SWAT
entry/sniper.
Upon retirement, she became involved in a research
project that dealt with the death of a witness to the Kennedy
assassination. The research led to her first book, JFK Assassination
Eyewitness: Rush to Conspiracy, that details the results of her
reconstruction of a 1966 motor vehicle accident that killed Lee Bowers,
Jr., a key witness to the assassination.
Once the Bowers book
was written, Anita reached the same point many authors ultimately face:
I’ve written it, now what do I do? Answering that question has become
another career, one she has wholeheartedly embraced. The publishing
field is in a constant state of flux, offering unlimited possibilities
for an author, but also endless landmines.
Anita started a new
company, Mystic Circle Books & Designs LLC, offering cover design
and manuscript services. In addition to her works as an author, she
enjoys helping other authors see their dream become a reality.
“Roils with passion, rancor, and greed
wrapped in Southern politesse… King’s intricately woven mystery is sure to
please fans of the thriller and suspense genre far and wide.”
Jester Falls has always been an idyllic town. Perfect for
a getaway. And what better place to stay than Magnolia House, the tourist
trap’s most popular bed and breakfast, run by the eccentric Channing family.
Ruth Channing loves her family—at least what’s left of
it. She’d do anything to protect them.
But it isn’t until her brother picks up a mysterious
woman on the side of Route 78 that Ruth realizes how many definitions the
word anything can have.
Everything about Ashley Parker rings false: her past, her
profession, even her name. Most worryingly of all, her reluctance to leave.
When guests start disappearing, it’s clear there’s more at stake than just the
family business… a lot more.
MY REVIEW
I will always grab a chance to read a Britney King novel…the reason…she manages to surprise me, keeping me guessing what is to come. She continues her magic in Passerby.
Beginning: She finds two bodies. What would you do? Call the police? Not Ruth Channing. Why? That is what I want to know. Even more than the fact of why they are dead to begin with. And who they are…Surprise!
Ruth Channing lives in the small town of Jester Falls, but her life is no joke. We all know about small towns…there are no secrets…or, at least, they don’t stay secret for long. She was born with the umbilical cord around her neck and it seems that same luck follows her throughout her life.
All that is left of Ruth’s family is her two brothers, Johnny and Davis. Davis seems to be the golden child and it is no surprise to Ruth when he leaves on a cross country trip, leaving her and Johnny to run Magnolia House, a bed and breakfast. She works her fingers to the bone, sacrificing any kind of personal life to keep Magnolia House going.
Davis arrives home, but he is not alone. He brings Ashley with him. I am not sure what’s up with her, but I feel she has an agenda, especially after she and Davis announce their wedding plans so soon after arriving.
The Holts…seems like the Holts and Channings have a Hatfield and McCoy feud going on and not only fists are flying. In small towns,, there is always a ”history’ and there are many undercurrents running through Jester Falls.
Ruth is the fixer in the family and I wouldn’t blame her if she washed her hands of the messes she is constantly cleaning up, especially when it comes to Davis.
Ruth…OMG…it seems the world is against her, even her own family. You never know what people will do when money is involved. I can’t figure out why…Davis, the glorified loser and Johnny….Does no one see? I am sooooo angry FOR Ruth…and very worried. I am angry at how she is treated, but she does have one ally, who will drop everything to come to her aid.
White knuckled, edge of the seat suspense, and Britney King does not make it easy to unravel the mystery, pushing and pulling me in different directions, throwing out red herrings and misleading me, all while the pacing and suspense build to an intolerable level. I HAVE TO KNOW! Read faster…My only complaint is that I felt confused in the beginning. I have to remember this is an ARC and all questions will be answered, even if they are not what I was expecting…That is why I love Britney King’s creative writing, with storylines that get my emotions roiled up.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Passerby by Britney King.
4 Stars
ABOUT THE BOOK
Jester Falls has always
been an idyllic town. Perfect for a getaway. And what better place to stay than
Magnolia House, the tourist trap’s most popular bed and breakfast, run by the
eccentric Channing family.
Ruth Channing loves her
family—at least what’s left of it. She’d do anything to protect them.
But it isn’t until her
brother picks up a mysterious woman on the side of Route 78 that Ruth realizes
how many definitions the word anything can
have.
Everything about Ashley Parker rings false: her past, her profession, even her name. Most worryingly of all, her reluctance to leave. When guests start disappearing, it’s clear there’s more at stake than just the family business… a lot more.
I live in Austin, Texas with
my husband, children, a dog named Gatsby, one ridiculous cat, and a partridge
in a pear tree.
When I’m not wrangling the
things mentioned above, I write psychological, domestic, and romantic thrillers
set in suburbia.
Currently, I’m writing three
series and several standalone novels.
The Bedrock
Series features an unlikely heroine who should have known better. Turns
out, she didn’t. Thus she finds herself tangled in a messy, dangerous,
forbidden love story and face-to-face with a madman hell-bent on revenge. The
series has been compared to Fatal Attraction, Single White Female,
and Basic Instinct.
The Water Series follows
the shady love story of an unconventional married couple—he’s an assassin—she
kills for fun. It has been compared to a crazier book version of Mr. and
Mrs. Smith. Also, Dexter.
Around The Bend is a
heart-pounding standalone, which traces the journey of a well-to-do suburban
housewife, and her life as it unravels, thanks to the secrets she keeps. If she
were the only one with things she wanted to keep hidden, then maybe it wouldn’t
have turned out so bad. But she wasn’t.
The With You Series at
its core is a deep love story about unlikely friends who travel the world;
trying to find themselves, together and apart. Packed with drama and adventure
along with a heavy dose of suspense, it has been compared to The Secret Life of
Walter Mitty and Love, Rosie.
The Social Affair is an
intense standalone about a timeless couple who find themselves with a secret
admirer they hadn’t bargained for. For fans of the anti-heroine and stories
told in unorthodox ways, the novel explores what can happen when privacy is
traded for convenience. It is reminiscent of films such as One Hour Photo and
Play Misty For Me. Classics. 🙂
Without a doubt, connecting
with readers is the best part of this gig. If you’d like to connect, shoot me
an email. You can also find
me on Facebook, Instagram,
and occasionally on Twitter.
Book Title: The Academy Saga by C.J. Daly Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 500 pages Genre: Suspense Romance Publisher: BrandyLight Ink Release date: September 2019 Content Rating: PG-13. My book has some adult themes, language, and a few slow-burn romance scenes.
MY REVIEW
Since her mother’s death, she had become the mother. She had kept them home, isolated and, in her mind, protected. Why did her mother stress the importance of staying under the radar. From what? Or more importantly, who?
She isn”t paranoid…someone is watching them.
Out in the boondocks, short of funds, she does the best she can, picking up a few bucks working weekends at the diner. Her dad…had pretty much left them to their own devices. He doesn’t physically abuse them, but….
The dialogue is lively and at times I found myself cracking up, laughing out loud. Two chapters stand out, Chapter 8 and Chapter 9.
I love the kids: Kate, who is 16, Andrew, who is 8, and Mikey, who is 5. I can hear Mikey’s voice as I read along, filling me with smiles. I think it would be fun to hear a narrator try to match the voice in my head.
Kate has great instincts and is very leery of what is happening since Pete and Ranger have come into their lives. I feel her frustration and her desperate attempt to save her brother, Andrew, from something she sense is evil, something so wrong she will lose him forever.
Tension and anticipation abound as I try to figure out what is Pete’s end goal. Why do they want Andrew so badly. What makes him different? Is he good? Bad?
I love a slow burning romance.
The Academy Saga by C J Daly has fabulous characters, with Kate, Andrew , Mikey and Pete being the stars. The dialogue is wonderful, with Mikey being the standout for me. It is way past adorable.
Lock the doors and disable the phone. Once you start, I feel you won’t want to stop. So much is going on with an underlying current of evil and suspense. Set aside a lot of time. The 500 page paperback left me with sore arms and blurry eyes, because I didn’t want to stop…though I did have to…until the last word was read. The buildup to the end of Book I leaves me eager and happy to know I have Book II ready and waiting to be read.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Academy by C J Daly.
4 Stars
ABOUT THE BOOK
“Unique, intense, and suspenseful. A story with compelling characters that pull you into the author’s world and keep you reading from beginning to end. Intriguing start to a new series.” –New York Times Best Selling Author Jami Brumfield
“CJ has created an unforgettable story about a young woman caught up in a world of lies and deception. The Academy Saga is a page-turning read with a twist you may not see coming.”—Tony Jones, Executive Producer of My All American
“Wow wow wow! This book has it all. It’s extremely well written, the characters are amazing and the story is so intriguing that it pulls you in from the very first page. There’s tension, mystery chemistry and of course romance. I loved it! I would highly recommend this page turner!” — RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @abbi_reads_xx
Book Description:
Readers’ Favorite Suspense Romance
Kate Connelly should be careful what she wishes for.
Just seventeen, she already feels like she’s suffocating. Since her mother’s death, her father’s basically checked out, so she’s stuck raising her brothers by herself out in the New Mexico scrub. All Kate wants is a little distraction from the same-ole, same-ole that is her life.
When two mysterious guys show up at the diner where she works, she thinks her wish has come true, until they start giving her a hard time. Like her life isn’t hard enough. Something about them niggles her, but she brushes it off. She’s never going to see them again anyway . . . right?
Then they appear in an alley one night to either rescue or kidnap her (she’s still not sure which) before disappearing like figments of her imagination.
Kate decides to put the bizarre encounters out of her mind. She has bigger problems to worry about: like that elite military academy that’s been pursuing her gifted little brother. When one of their cadets shows up at her high school, he creates instant pandemonium. And just happens to be one of those mysterious guys. Coincidence? Mama said there’s no such thing. And to always trust her instinct. But that might be kind of hard, because every time she’s around Cadet Peter Davenport, her gut starts flip-flopping on her. And her heart.
Can Kate keep it together long enough to stop Cadet Davenport’s mission? She’s about to find out. And—once again—how neatly life can be split into before and after.
Book Title: The Academy Saga: Cadet-in-Training by C.J. Daly Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 441 pages Genre: Suspense Romance Publisher: BrandyLight Ink Content Rating: PG-13. My book has some adult themes, language, and a few slow-burn romance scenes.
“Absolutely ADDICTING! CJ Daly does it again and delivers a story YOU CAN’T PUT DOWN! Edge of your seat GREATNESS! I was completely hooked into this story. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The Cadet in Training was such a phenomenal escape. With characters that fly off the pages, you become immersed! CJ Daly has stunning story telling skills! I’m still sitting here, like what did I just read and why is it over! Agh! I can’t wait for book 3!!! #theacademysaga is going down as one my absolute favorites! #TeamPete! All the stars! I’m ready to read this one again!” RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @elizabeth.ness.56
Book Description:
Another Readers’ Favorite 5-STAR Suspense Romance. Begin the journey today.
Kate’s destiny has been determined for her.
Hidden out in the country for most her life, Kate Connelly suddenly wakes up, handcuffed to a hospital bed, in the psyche ward of The Academy. Her crime? Being “gifted.” And it’s Officer “Ranger” Nealson’s job to make her adhere to The Academy’s agenda for her. Even though he’s the one who drugged and dragged her in. Kate’s hate for Ranger, and his academy, is at an all-time high. Ranger has his work cut out for him . . . and Kate does too. She has to fight through the rigors of the Cadet-in-Training program, and quickly. If not, she’ll lose the one privilege she’s been given at The Academy—access to her precious little brother.
And until she graduates from the CIT program, Officer Nealson is banned from Missions. When General Weston finally offers a juicy recon to Ranger, he wants to jump at the chance to prove himself again. After all, catching bad guys is his thing. Almost all pros for doing it. One con—Cadet Connelly has to ride along.
The hardened officer finds he’s slowly been growing a soft spot for his mentee. But he’s determined not to end up like his father, and former Elite Cadet Pete Davenport—throwing away their career for a girl (not even a woman). And Kate has lingering feelings for Pete, who risked his life to warn her, and conflicting feelings for Ranger. She has to set both aside to focus on completing her first mission.
When the dust settles, old alliances are broken and new ones are formed. But one thing remains the same: Kate’s destiny has been determined for her by The Academy. Ready or not . . . she’s set for Missions. Will one of the former elite cadets step in to help change her fate, or will she be left to fight the Academy’s agenda alone?
CJ Daly grew up on the scrabbly plains of Eastern New Mexico. When she was supposed to be helping her six siblings with chores on the family ranch, she was really sneaking behind dusty haystacks to read. And dreaming about becoming a writer.
After graduating high school, CJ moved to Big D, where she quickly put herself through college while trying to rid herself of her country accent. She had better luck with college, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in English literature. After teaching a few years and pausing to have back-to-back boys, she began writing in earnest.
A few years later, “The Academy Saga” was born. It instantly earned a Readers’ Favorite 5-STAR seal of approval and became an Amazon best seller.
Protect by Jane Blythe seemed different to me than the novels she usually writes. It took me a while to figure out why. I think it’s because it wasn’t as dark and disturbing as most of her work I have read. The darker, the better for me. This seemed a cross between a cozy mystery and romantic suspense, more on the lighter side.
Poppy is the receptionist and office manager for the police department. She is a fabulous character and carries the novel, keeping me hoping for a happy ever after for her.
Detective Beau Caldwell was driving home when he saw a car on the side of the road. Something seemed very wrong.
Poppy had been coming home from her parents funeral and stopped when she saw a wrecked car. She quickly becomes a suspect in the death of the serial killer when she is found bending over his dead body by Beau. I didn’t see that coming, but Jane Blythe is good at throwing book surprises at me.
Do you believe in Fate? Events make Poppy consider it.
Have you ever played Strip Beetle? Why not let Poppy teach you the rules?
Beau is a detail man, while Poppy lets her heart lead the way. I do love that there was not a lot of push/pull in their ‘relationship’ and Poppy is not the type to get all angsty. about things. She is sensible and understanding.
I figured out the culprit pretty quick, but the route we took to the end was frightening and suspenseful, with some twists and turns and bullets flying, keeping me on my toes.
There were a couple of bumps and moments when I had to stop and think, feeling like I was filling in the blanks. That is unusual for a Jane Blythe novel, but I loved Poppy and the last of the book saved it.
“They did so much for me it seems disrespectful to not honor their memory by trying to live my best life.” That sums up Poppy.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Protect by Jane Blythe.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Who killed the serial killer?
All Poppy Deveraux wants to do is bury her parents and get out of the town where she suffered through a horrendous ordeal. Unfortunately that plan is derailed when she finds herself at the centre of a police investigation. The sexy cop working the case makes her want to break her own rule and let things get serious, but as soon as she is allowed she’s leaving town with no plans to return, so what’s the point in falling in love?
Detective Beau Caldwell is attracted to Poppy from the second he lays eyes on her, but she’s involved in his case and it isn’t wise to mix business with pleasure. Doesn’t stop him falling for the beautiful woman he’d like to have a future with, but as soon as she can Poppy is leaving and she’s never coming back. Is it worth risking his heart on the off chance things might work out the way he wants or can he learn to live in the moment and let what happens happen?
Jane Blythe’s Protect is an emotional, action-packed romantic suspense written in K. Bromberg’s Everyday Heroes Worlds project.
ABOUT JANE BLYTHE
Jane
has loved reading and writing since she can remember. She writes dark
and disturbing crime/mystery/suspense with some romance thrown in
because, well, who doesn’t love romance? She has one completed series,
Detective Parker Bell, and one new series, Count to Ten.
When she’s not writing Jane loves to
read, bake, go to the beach, ski, horse ride, and watch Disney movies.
She has a black belt in Taekwondo, and a 200+ collection of teddy bears.
She has the world’s two most sweet and pretty Dalmatians, Ivory and
Pearl. Oh, and she also enjoys spending time with family and friends!
Jane Blythe, a USA Bestselling Author, is a must read for me. I have been loving her books and the River’s End Rescue series has been a wonderful adventure into the small town life of some fabulous characters that have stolen my heart…and the serial killers that hunt them.
Maggie woke up early, and seeing she had a routine, she couldn’t figure out why…until, she smelled the smoke. Her hotel was on fire and she was trapped…no way out.
Theo, and the rest of the team get the call…Honeysuckle Hotel. They all know Maggie and her hotel, that it had been in her family for generations. After serving in the Marines, Theo had come home to be a firefighter. I wouldn’t mind a hunkalicious fireman throwing me over his shoulder and saving me from…anything. LOL He had been friends with Maggie, so he thought nothing of offering her a place to in his home while the hotel was being repaired.
Somniphobia: The fear of sleep. Nightmares have plagued Maggie her entire life, so I know there has to be a horrible story there. She sleeps with the light and TV on. I don”t sleep with the light on, but I do sleep with the TV on. I need the noise to cover up all those creaks and groans the house makes when things are too quiet.
River’s End is a small town, where everyone knows ones everyone’s business. People think Maggie is sweet, cool, calm and collected. But, they don’t know her secret.
I first me Theo in a Broken Gems novel. He has a broken heart and felt he did Maggie wrong when she reached out to him because of it. She felt she deserved to be punished, alone with her nightmares.
I love books with secrets and I am curious what Maggie’s will be. The villain has a plan and the fire is only the first step. He doesn’t care about anything or anyone. It’s all about what he wants, how he feels…and he feels monstrous,wants revenge. For what
Have you ever looked at someone, and all of a sudden you see them in a different light? As if they are a different person altogether? And, sometimes a character…or two…need to be slapped upside the head.
I love that no two of her romantic suspense scenarios are the same. She always manages to tweak them in an engrossing way.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Some Lies Will Haunt You by Jane Blythe.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Everyone has told lies but hers might get her killed.
Maggie Wilson has spent her entire adult life pretending she’s self assured and confident, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. When her hotel catches fire she finds herself looking at a childhood friend through new eyes, but as she falls for him she realises that if she wants to have a future with him she’ll have to admit to the lies that have hung over her head for half a lifetime. If she does that she’ll lose him.
Firefighter Theo Black walks through the flames to rescue his friend Maggie without a second thought, that was easy but realizing things are changing between them isn’t. He’s already done the whole falling for a friend thing before and it didn’t work out, he has no intention of going through that again. However when it becomes clear someone keeps setting fires when Maggie is around he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe, even if it means risking his heart.
ABOUT JANE BLYTHE
Jane
has loved reading and writing since she can remember. She writes dark
and disturbing crime/mystery/suspense with some romance thrown in
because, well, who doesn’t love romance? She has one completed series,
Detective Parker Bell, and one new series, Count to Ten.
When she’s not writing Jane loves to
read, bake, go to the beach, ski, horse ride, and watch Disney movies.
She has a black belt in Taekwondo, and a 200+ collection of teddy bears.
She has the world’s two most sweet and pretty Dalmatians, Ivory and
Pearl. Oh, and she also enjoys spending time with family and friends!
