Such a pretty cover for Little Deadly Secrets by Pamela Crane. Little Deadly Secrets was originally published as One Perfect Morning in Great Britain in 2020 by Harper Collins Publishers.
Little Deadly Secrets is not my first novel to read by Pamela Crane, but it is my first one to review. I enjoyed A Second Hand Lie, so when I got the opportunity to read Little Deadly Secrets, I was more than happy to.
Three women: Lily is a born leader, Robin is an organizer and planner (I can relate to that) and MacKenzie is always there, rock solid. They met in college and became best friends. They called themselves the Spicier Girls. Lily is the Adventure Spice, Robin is the Homemaker Spice and MacKenize is the Doctor Spice. They are bonded for life…by a secret. But, we all know, secrets do not stay buried. They have a way of coming back and biting you…
“With this bracelet I do vow
To these two girls forever bound.
Through life and love, through thick and thin Until that day when death will win
When I got to Chapter 4, a light bulb went off. I think I know where this is going and I am engrossed. Betrayal, grudging discontent. So much going on. Not sure if I care for one of the adults and the jury is still out on the kids…at least one of them. I love characters that evoke emotions of any kind, even the bad kind. What a bunch of messed up people and I love it.
Pamela Crane is great at throwing in those ‘little’ things, like Nico.
To sum it up, these are some of the most damaged people I have met, but the resolution of the story can give us all hope. Even though it is so far out there, sometimes I had to keep reminding myself it was fiction. It is not a new storyline for me, but I loved it.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Little Deadly Secrets by Pamela Crane.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
From USA Today bestselling author Pamela Crane comes an addictively readable domestic suspense novel…
Mackenzie, Robin, and Lily have been inseparable forever, sharing life’s ups and downs and growing even closer as the years have gone by. They know everything about each other. Or so they believe.
Nothing could come between these three best friends . . .
Except for a betrayal.
Nothing could turn them against each other . . .
Except for a terrible past mistake.
Nothing could tear them apart . . .
Except for murder.
ABOUT PAMELA CRANE
PAMELA CRANE is a USA TODAY best-selling author and professional juggler. Not one who can toss flaming torches in the air, but a juggler of four kids, a writing addiction, and a horse rescuer. She lives on the edge (her Arabian horse can tell you about their wild adventures while trying to train him) and she writes on the edge…where her sanity resides. Her thrillers unravel flawed women who aren’t always pretty. In fact, her characters are rarely pretty, which makes them interesting…and perfect for doing crazy things worth writing about. When she’s not cleaning horse stalls or changing diapers, she’s psychoanalyzing others.
I am a huge fan of Jon Land, so when I was given the chance to read his first book of Margaret Truman’s Capital Crime series, I was eager to begin. It is different from the Murder She Wrote series and Caitlin Strong series and I loved it and I do love a series where each book can stand alone.
I have been reading Jon Land’s books for decades, but have never read any of Margaret Truman’s Capital Crime series, until now. This was different from the Murder She Wrote and Caitlin Strong novels Jon writes and I loved it.
We start out with Lia and her granddaughter enjoying the beach…until the drones come and the bullets begin flying. It was a miracle they were still alive. Lia had retired from her job in the Elite Special Ops of the Israeli Army after suffering wounds that kept her at her desk. She feels she has no choice but to get back in the game.
Thousands of miles away, in Washington D C, Brixton is on the Washington Metro when his senses go on high alert. He spots a woman wearing a hijab. She brings to mind the woman responsible for his daughter’s death. The flash told him he was too late to stop her, but his actions saved many lives.
The VP has heart issues and I love the frightening stance Jon Land took with the issue. I love that his mind is able to conceive of such realistic scenarios.
Lia and Brixton carefully and quietly try to discover what is really going on and the danger mounts. If they weren’t so highly thought of and had a track record to prove it, some might have thought they were paranoid. What’s the saying…You’re not paranoid if they are out to get you. Others are drawn in and it becomes too big to keep secret.
Jon Land quickly captures my attention and it never lets up. I love reading about conspiracies. When Jon has the characters talking about the NSA having access to all the cameras, like the ones at gas stations, traffic lights, tolls, it made me think of the TV show, Person of Interest. Like all things, it can be used for good or evil.
What do a nun, an Israeli Mossad agent, and an international American Private Investigator have in common? This is power gone wild and it will take all of them to stop it.
WHOA! Murder on the Metro goes so far over the line, it frightens me. Is it possible? I believe most anything is possible in the electronic age we live it.
Talk about political machinations, Murder on the Metro seems all too real. From current events, we can see some leaders will go to any extreme to accomplish their goals. The steps they will go to to keep and have the ultimate power is an ultimate betrayal.
Jon Land wrapped up the story in spectacular fashion, leaving me hopeful for our future. I do think there are more good than bad people, though at times it’s hard to keep that in mind, and his writing is so realistic, I believe it could really happen.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Murder On The Metro by Jon Land.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
In Margaret Truman’s Murder on the Metro, Jon Land’s first thrilling addition to the New York Times bestselling Capital Crimes series, Robert Brixton uncovers a sinister plot threatening millions of American lives!
Israel: A drone-based terrorist attack kills dozens on a sun-splashed beach in Caesarea.
Washington: America awakens to the shattering news that Vice President Stephanie Davenport has died of an apparent heart attack.
That
same morning, a chance encounter on the Washington Metro results in
international private investigator Robert Brixton thwarting an attempted
terrorist bombing. Brixton has no reason to suspect that the three
incidents have anything in common, until he’s contacted by Kendra
Rendine, the Secret Service agent who headed up the vice president’s
security detail. Rendine is convinced the vice president was murdered
and needs Brixton’s investigative expertise to find out why.
In
Israel, meanwhile, legendary anti-terrorist fighter Lia Ganz launches
her own crusade against the perpetrators of that attack which nearly
claimed the lives of her and granddaughter. Ganz’s trail will ultimately
take her to Washington where she joins forces with Brixton to uncover
an impossible link between the deadly attack on Caesarea and the
attempted Metro bombing, as well as the death of the vice president.
The
connection lies in the highest corridors of power in Washington where a
deadly plot with unimaginable consequences has been hatched. With the
clock ticking toward doomsday, Brixton and Ganz race against time to
save millions of American lives who will otherwise become collateral
damage to a conspiracy destined to change the United States forever.
ABOUT JON LAND
Jon
Land is the award-winning, critically acclaimed author of 36 books,
including the bestselling Caitlin Strong Texas Ranger series that
includes Strong Enough to Die, Strong Justice, Strong at the Break,
Strong Vengeance and, most recently, Strong Rain Falling. The Tenth
Circle marks the second return engagement of his longtime series hero
Blaine McCracken on the heels of last year’s Pandora’s Temple which was
nominated for a Thriller Award and received the 2013 International Book
Award for Best Adventure Thriller. Jon’s first nonfiction book,
Betrayal, meanwhile, was named Best True Crime Book of 2012 by Suspense
Magazine and won a 2012 International Book Award for Best True Crime
Book. He is currently working on Strong Darkness, the next entry in the
Caitlin Strong to be published in September of 2014. He graduated Phi
Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude from Brown University, where he continues
to maintain a strong volunteer presence, in 1979.
Unicorn Island by Donna Galanti is a beautifully written coming of age fantasy for a young girl looking for her place in the world…and she finds it in the most unlikely place. It was easy to like Sam and when she looks out at the view from her attic bedroom window in Foggy Harbor, I felt like I would enjoy living there too. I love when an author gives me more than I anticipated and leaves me with a smile on my face.
At the end of the book, Donna Galanti shares some history on unicorns, wyverns, veterinarians, the pirates of the Carolina’s and Ocracoke and Assateague Islands, where the wild horses roam free.
I loved this wonderful story and am so glad there is more to come.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Unicorn Island by Donna Galanti.
4 Stars
SYNOPSIS
Beyond the mist lies a magical secret waiting to be discovered. Unicorn
Island is a middle-grade illustrated novel series about a young
girl who discovers a mysterious island full of mythical beasts and darker
dangers! When Sam arrives in Foggy
Harbor, population 3,230, all she can see is a small, boring town that’s way
too far from home. And knowing that she’s stuck there all summer with her
grumpy Uncle Mitch only makes things worse. But when Sam discovers a hidden
trapdoor leading to a room full of strange artifacts, she realizes Foggy Harbor
isn’t as sleepy as it seems. With the help of a new friend, Sam discovers an
extraordinary secret beyond the fog: an island of unicorns whose fates are
intertwined with hers.
“An accessible and fast-paced magical adventure.” – Kirkus
Reviews
“An all-too-human, enchanting middle grade fantasy novel.” –
Forward Reviews
“What begins as realistic fiction turns to a fantastical
tale of magical rescue. Fans of unicorns and magic in the real world will enjoy
this adventure.” – School Library Journal
In New York
City, lights twinkled across Sam’s ceiling all night long. She had never felt
lonely there,
knowing the
city was awake with her. She could already tell Foggy Harbor was different. It
looked like
the loneliest
place ever. Why would anyone live here on purpose? she wondered.
The driver
pulled into the bus station. A neon sign that should have flashed Foggy Harbor
Parking
was missing
most of its letters. BOR . . . ING. Some sign, she thought. I’m
already bored here.
“You got someone
picking you up, Miss?” the driver asked as he pulled her suitcase from the
luggage compartment.
Her t-shirt
clung to her in the heavy, muggy air. Sam checked her phone for the address Mom
had given her: 1 Foggy Way.
“My uncle lives
a block from here,” she said, pointing at the street sign.
The driver
nodded and pulled out of the station, leaving her under the broken sign. Sam
texted Mom one word out of duty: ARRIVED. With no choice but to find her new
home, she adjusted her backpack and popped up her suitcase handle, dragging it
along. It clickety-clacked all the way down the quiet street.
Uncle Mitch’s
stone house sat at the end, alone and secluded, hugging the ocean. Its sloped
roof pierced the murky sky. One light glowed in a back window. Crickets trilled
around the house, creating an eerie buzz as waves lapped the shore.
Sam crunched
over the walking path made of shells, then thumped up the front porch steps and
rang the doorbell, eager to escape the empty night.
After a few minutes,
the door was yanked open. A tall man with curly black hair and a bushy mustache
loomed over Sam, the porch light deepening his frown. “Yes?”
Sam swallowed
hard. “Uncle Mitch?”
His eyes grew
wide and he pulled her inside, slamming the door. “Samantha? What are you doing
here?”
Cool air washed
over her from a ceiling fan that whirred above, and she shivered, shrinking
under his glare. Then she remembered what Mom had said: He’s the only family
we’ve got.
ABOUT DONNA GALANTI
Donna Galanti is the author of the bestselling paranormal suspense Element Trilogy and the children’s fantasy adventure Joshua and The Lightning Road series. Donna is a contributing editor for International Thriller Writers the Big Thrill magazine, a writing contest judge at nycmidnight.com, and regularly presents as a guest author at schools and teaches at writing conferences. She’s lived from England as a child, to Hawaii as a U.S. Navy photographer. Donna also loves teaching writers about building author brand and platform through her free training series at yourawesomeauthorlife.com. Visit her at donnagalanti.com.
Knight’s Ransom by Jeff Wheeler is my introduction to his writing and I am so happy to have met him and his characters. I loved the book and look forward to reading more of his work. I think I waited to long after reading Knight’s Ransom to write the review, because I don’t feel it reflects how I truly felt.
Ransom had been taken hostage by King Gervase. Now, the king is dead and he’s going home. He had met Claire while he was a hostage and she is the one who gave him his name, Ransom. The king had raised them both as if they were his own. Claire is very outspoken and I think Ransom will have his hands full with her. Will they become a couple. I don’t know yet, but I am going to find out.
The point of views bounce back and forth between Ransom and Claire.
Ransom wants to become a knight and leader, but the path will be fraught with danger and intrigue.
There is something special about Ransom and when he is at his lowest, something good comes his way.
So much betrayal, political machinations, kings fighting, always fighting. Seems to me they need to find something else to do. Maybe they have too much spare time and desire to dominate.
Ransom makes difficult choices, but his loyalty can never be questioned. He is caught in the courtly machinations going on, young royals being easily manipulated, then betrayed, sons going to war to depose their father as king, brothers fighting each other.
There are many characters and not all will survive, but this is Ransom’s story and it will be told over several books. I do like when an author is not afraid to kill off his characters, though some will be missed, others I will be glad are gone.
Medieval history is stretched and twisted in this brutal world, brilliantly spelled out through Jeff’s words. I am hooked and can hardly wait for the next book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Knight’s Ransom by Jeff Wheeler.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. A brutal war of succession has plunged the court of Kingfountain into a power struggle between a charitable king who took the crown unlawfully and his ambitious rival, Devon Argentine. The balance of power between the two men hinges on the fate of a young boy ensnared in this courtly intrigue. A boy befittingly nicknamed Ransom.
When the Argentine family finally rules, Ransom must make his own way in the world. Opportunities open and shut before him as he journeys along the path to knighthood, blind to a shadowy conspiracy of jealousy and revenge. Securing his place will not be easy, nor will winning the affection of Lady Claire de Murrow, a fiery young heiress from an unpredictably mad kingdom.
Ransom interrupts an abduction plot targeting the Queen of Ceredigion and earns a position in service to her son, the firstborn of the new Argentine dynasty. But conflict and treachery threaten the family, and Ransom must also come to understand and hone his burgeoning powers—abilities that involve more than his mastery with a blade and that make him as much a target as his lord.
ABOUT JEFF WHEELER
Jeff Wheeler took an early retirement from his career at Intel in 2014 to write full-time. He is a husband, father of five, and a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jeff lives in the Rocky Mountains. His books have been on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller list 5 times (for The Thief’s Daughter, The King’s Traitor, The Hollow Crown, The Silent Shield, and Prism Cloud) and have sold more than 4 million copies. His novels have also been published or will be published in many languages: Italian, Chinese, Hungarian, Turkish, Polish, Spanish, Russian, and German.
He is also the founder of Deep Magic: the E-zine of Clean Fantasy and Science Fiction (www.deepmagic.co), a quarterly e-zine featuring amazing short stories, novellas, and sample chapters.
You can usually find Jeff at Emerald City Comic Con, New York Comic Con or at writers conferences.
He welcomes hearing from readers: jgwheels /at/ gmail dot com
If you are interested in purchasing signed
copies of his books for friends, family, or your own collection, please
e-mail: WOJWbooks /at/ gmail dot com
I was watching the Bones TV series, the episode where Bones and Booth get married. When Cundi Lauper began singing At Last, I immediately thought of sharing it with this review. It seemed so appropriate. Funny how that happens sometimes.
GUEST POST
Sherry Asked: Why did you name
Detective Thorn…Thorn?
Chrys Fey’s Answer: Honestly,
I don’t remember. HAHAHA! Usually, I’ll have a first name for a character, and
then I have to come up with a good last name to go with it. I’ll explore
surname websites and even the credits for movies to find a suitable last name.
When it comes to my detective or law enforcement characters, I first come up
with the surname that’ll pair well with “Detective” or “Officer.” I do this
before even considering the first name. If I ever do.
For example, Officer Burnett is a character we meet in Seismic
Crimes (Disaster Crimes Book 2), and we are reacquainted with him in
A Fighting Chance. I simply considered a last name that sounded good
with “Officer.” I wanted it to be strong. Officer Burnett is a strong title and
name combo. So, when it came time to name the detective who comes in to help
hunt down the corrupt cop and murderer David Buckland aka Buck, I literally
contemplated what name would sound really badass with “Detective.” It doesn’t
get much more badass than Detective Thorn.
Pages: 154
Genre:
Romantic-Suspense
Heat Rating: Hot
MY REVIEW
It’s a great day. A Fighting Chance is the final book in the Disaster series and it it time for Thorn’s and Amanda’s story to be told.
Because you may want to start this series at the very beginning with Hurricane Crimes, I will try not to give anything away. I have loved growing and living life to the fullest with Beth and Donovan and would love for you to learn what they have been through to have a life so good they never even dreamed of it.
Thorn is a police officer and best friend to Beth and Donovan. Amanda is a survivor of domestic violence, still hiding out from her ex. She works with Beth at the Fighting Chance, and has become a very good friend of hers. These women have learned to stick together and their man will put their life on the line to keep them safe.
Amanda has found so much to live for, and when the danger comes walking through the door, she knows she cannot face it alone. Thank goodness she doesn’t have to.
She is afraid for Thorn. Afraid to hope for happiness. She is broken, but not beaten.
Thorn and Amanda’s relationship develops in a slow, realistic way. It is tentative and sweet.
I loved reading about her home remedies for defending her home. They are low tech, but they do the job. When Amanda talks about how she points her blinds, I couldn’t help but smile. I do the same thing.
Chrys Fey handles a difficult topic, like domestic abuse in a graceful and interesting way and I can’t help but believe it could be an inspiration for those who need a little bit of help to feel they are worth of a good, loving life.
The feeling of evil, of danger, of a sense of urgency, is subtle, but present throughout the story.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of A Fighting Chance by Chrys Fey.
4 Stars
BLURB
*A FIGHTING CHANCE is Book 6 in the Disaster
Crimes series, but it’s a spin-off featuring a new couple, so it can be
read as a standalone.*
Thorn has loved Amanda from afar, giving her whatever she
needs as a survivor of abuse—space, protection, and stability. He yearns to
give her more, though, to share his feelings, kiss her, love her, but he’s
worried the truth will frighten her away.
And Amanda is afraid. She’s scared of her attraction for
Thorn. Most of all, she’s terrified of her ex-boyfriend, who is lurking nearby
where no one can find him. When she grows closer to Thorn, Damon retaliates,
jeopardizing their happy ending.
Up against an abusive ex and Mother Nature, do Thorn and
Amanda have a fighting chance?
Amanda looked up from the current list of up-to-date
payments for classes. A movement outside the glass storefront caught her eye.
She tilted her head to see a man coming up the sidewalk from the side where the
picnic bench sat. Through the vertical blinds, she glimpsed a square face—a
short, rugged beard and long, dark hair pulled into a man bun. Her breath fled
from her lungs. Her body went from icy cold to flaming hot in the span of a
millisecond. She dropped to the floor and slid under the counter, beneath the
ledge where they put their purses and cell phones.
“What—” Beth peeked at the windows. Then she snapped her
fingers at April and pointed at the stools.
April jumped into action. She pushed the stools in so they
blocked Amanda. The bell attached to the door jingled as April removed the
jacket she wore and draped it across the stools, creating a curtain to shield
Amanda.
From a crack, Amanda watched Beth move to stand in front of
the twins, who were in their walkers playing peacefully. “I’m sorry, but we’re
going to be closing.”
“I don’t give a shit. I’m here for Amanda.”
The sound of Damon’s voice had her heart beating even
harder. That voice had haunted her nightmares, had come back to life in her
memories.
Beth cocked her head to the side. “Who? There’s no one by
that name here.”
Author’s
Note: I wrote The Disaster Curse to answer a few
lingering questions readers may have after reading A Fighting Chance,
and to tie the whole series together with a neat, shiny, perfect little bow.
Plus, there was one disaster that I hadn’t written about yet. *wink*
The
Disaster Crimes Series:
*The Crime Before the Storm (prequel)
Hurricane Crimes (novella, #1)
Seismic Crimes (#2)
Lightning Crimes (free short, #2.5)
Tsunami Crimes (#3)
Flaming Crimes (#4)
Frozen Crimes (#5)
A Fighting Chance (spin-off, #6)
The Disaster Curse (short story, #7)
*Free
exclusive story to newsletter subscribers.
***LAUNCHING
A WEBSITE***
TheFightingChance.org is a
website dedicated to domestic violence and sexual assault awareness. Inspired
by the Disaster Crimes series.
***GIVEAWAY***
Prizes:
Hurricane Crimes (Disaster Crimes 1) and Seismic Crimes (Disaster Crimes 2)
eBooks (mobi or epub), Hurricane Crimes Playing Cards, Girl Boss Sign, and a
Volcanic Blast Scented Candle
Chrys Fey is author of the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique
concept that blends disasters, crimes, and romance. She runs the Insecure
Writer’s Support Group Book Club on Goodreads and edits for Dancing Lemur
Press. https://www.chrysfey.com
Amanda Steel had lost her reason for living. She lost her husband and her child to a drunk driver. Since then, her life has been a series of one night stands and a loss of her desire to follow in her father’s footsteps, becoming a police chief. It takes a sleeping pill for her to get any rest. Becky, her best friend, is her salvation.
When the man responsible for her family’s death ends up dead himself, she is allowed to investigate, under the direction of her new partner, or so they say. That is the only thing I didn’t like about the book. Maybe it would happen in real life, maybe not, but Carolyn Arnold’s books are so realistic, that it stuck with me.
At times I was sure I knew where Carolyn and Amanda were taking me…then there would be a curve in the road, leading me to who knows where. Only Carolyn Arnold knows…until YOU read the story yourself.
Amanda Steele’s past comes back to haunt her, though, in truth, it never left her.
Carolyn Arnold is an amazing author, creating complex stories and characters that keep me reading until the last page is turned. I want to know, I have to know. I do hope Amanda Steele can find the life she is meant to live.
Some serious issues arise, like murder, alcoholism, death, sex trafficking, and Amanda Steele, Carolyn Arnold, and I are on the case.
Two doozies at the end of the story have me salivating, thirsting for the next book.
I voluntarily reviewed and ARC of The LIttle Grave by Carolyn Arnold.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Detective Amanda Steele stops just inside the doorway, recognizing the victim’s face instantly. He seems so vulnerable in death; soft, human, even harmless. But she can never forget the evil he has inflicted. Her heart is hammering as she remembers her precious daughter, with her red curls and infectious laugh, and how she was lowered into that little grave…
It’s been five years since Detective Amanda Steele’s life was derailed in the path of an oncoming drunk driver. The small community of Dumfries, Virginia, may have moved on from the tragic deaths of her husband and daughter, but Amanda cannot. When the driver who killed her family is found murdered in a motel room, she can’t keep away from the case.
Fighting her sergeant to be allowed to work an investigation with such a personal connection to her, Amanda is in a race to prove that she can uncover the truth. But the more she digs into the past of the man who destroyed her future, the more shocking discoveries she makes. And when Amanda finds the link between a silver bracelet in his possession and the brutal unsolved murder of a young exotic dancer, she realizes she’s caught up in something darker than she ever imagined and suspects that more girls could be in danger.
But as Amanda edges toward the truth, she gets closer to a secret as personal as it is deadly. Amanda has stumbled upon a dangerous killer, and she must face some terrible truths in order to catch this killer – and save his next victim as she couldn’t save her own daughter…
A gripping, page-turning thriller full of mystery and suspense. Perfect for fans of Rachel Caine, Lisa Regan and Robert Dugoni.
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.
Jane Blythe writes some fabulous suspense/thrillers and I am always eager to read whatever she writes. So…buckle up, because I am sure this will be a bumpy ride.
Woo Hoo. Another romantic suspense novel for the Broken Gem series by Jane Blythe and I am super excited to share it with you.
Marigold was jealous of Emerald Hatcher, her cousin who is getting married, and she hates herself for it. Emerald deserves to be happy after all she has been through. Sure, love and life hasn’t worked out for Marigold…but Emerald and her sisters had been sold to traffickers and Marigold wants to be a part of their lives.
Of course, there is a hunkalicious piece of eye candy that catches her eye. I’m just wondering what’s going to happen to her for there to be a need to save her. Enter Jonah Jagger. He loves being a part of the Hatcher sister’s lives and wants a woman to love and cherish for himself. Jonah had filed for divorce because he was in love with the idea of love, not his wife, but she doesn’t accept it. How far will she go to TRY and get him back?
When the characters MEET…lips to lips…he cannot help himself. Nor could she. Marigold Vaile was there to change her life. Why not start with Mr Hottie? Seems all the girls want the cops that work with Sapphire, to her chagrin.
Marigold has a twin, Lavender. She had expected her to show up for the wedding. After all, she was the one that convinced Marigold to come in the first place. Marigold is the sensible one and Lavender has a devil may care attitude, but Marigold knows that something is very wrong when she doesn’t show up or answer her cell phone. A call to Sapphire and help is on the way. The sisters know what’s important in life and vow to make it happen.
WOW! That’s a direction I didn’t see going and the twists keep on coming, from one nightmare to another. AND, now, the suspense really ramps up. If you think you know where this romance suspense novel is going, you may be half right, because I know Jane Blythe will be adding a branch here and there on this family tree. I am waiting…for the other shoe to drop. How will it happen? When will it happen? I knew the moment was here when I wanted to take a two by four and smack Jonah up side the head. What a sap!
Jane Blythe’s writing is so wonderful and exciting with her happy ever afters that have me eagerly picking up each book with anticipation. She has never failed me, so I felt confident setting aside time. I know I won’t be putting the book down until the last page is read.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Salvaging Marigold by Jane Blythe.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
She’s been used by men her whole life what makes him any different?
Marigold Vaile has a bad track record when it comes to men, but she is determined to start the new year by making some changes. When her twin fails to show up for their cousin’s wedding she’s going to have to trust her one night stand to get her sister back alive. Is he different than all the others or will her heart be broken all over again?
Jonah Jagger moved to get away from his ex-wife after the disintegration of their marriage. When a stunning redhead catches his attention the two celebrate New Year’s Eve by tumbling into bed. What was only supposed to be one night quickly becomes more when he promises her cousin he’ll look after her as they hunt for her missing twin. Only a killer might not be all the couple has to contend with as his persistent ex circles closer.
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!
Mermaids Marry In Green by Alice Renaud is Book III of the Sea of Love series. If you are a lover of the mer world, this is one series that is a must read.
Once I started reading Mermaids Marry in Green by Alice Renaud, I couldn’t stop. I forgot how fantastic the series is and I won’t put off reading any of her work again.
The afane had awakened, only to find out he was the last of his kind. He desperately struggles to find someone he can communicate with.
Calitha is on of the strongest mermaids in the western seas, but she struggles to fulfill her destiny. She wished she had had more time with her mother, more time to prepare for her role as the leader of the three mer clans. Whenever she was in doubt, she thought, “What would my mother do.” She never found time for herself, for a love life, for romance.
When Jonty, a warlock, entered her life, all bets were off. He came to her requesting her help in dealing with the afane, a water monster in England, and she was eager to go. The attraction was immediate, but Calitha is a leader, not to be mated to a human. Even though it was forbidden, the heart wants what the heart wants. It surely will not be an easy road, but I have a feeling…Sexual tension follows them, but they put it aside to deal with the problem at hand.
She surrendered, thinking she would have one night of pleasure before she returned to her duties, but that one night told her the truth – he was her mate. Of course, we know that is coming, but I do love all the push/pull that keeps them from making a commitment. It’s how the romance will come about that becomes one of the most interesting aspects of the story.
They both had a past, a mistake made, guilt weighing them down. Of course their love will have a rocky road filled with danger, but the sex is sweet…and HOT.
I love mer stories, but all too often I don’t finish a series. I am so glad I had all three of the Sea of Love series, because once I started it, I didn’t want to quit. Now that the story is told, what do I do? Where do I go from here. Any suggestions Alice?
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Mermaids Marry in Green by Alice Renaud.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Caltha Dooran is the toughest, fiercest shape-shifting mermaid in the western seas. She has three Clans to rule, and no time for romance. But when a warlock, Jonty, turns up and asks her to come with him to London to capture a water monster, she can’t say no. In London, away from her duties, her attraction for Jonty grows… and they soon fall under each other’s spell. But will his past and her responsibilities pull them apart, or can they find the only true magic, the one that binds two souls together?
ABOUT ALICE RENAUD
Alice lives in London, UK, with her husband and son. By day she’s a compliance manager for a pharmaceutical company. By night she writes fantasy romance about shape shifting mermen, water monsters and time-travelling witches. Her first book, “A Merman’s Choice,” was published in January 2019 by Black Velvet Seductions. It is the first book in a fantasy romance trilogy inspired by the landscapes and legends of Brittany and Wales. The second book, “Music for a Merman,” is out now and the third, “Mermaids Marry in Green,” will be released on 1 November. Alice has also written a short story, “The Sweetest Magic of All,” included in the BVS “Mystic Desire” anthology, out now. Alice loves reading and writing stories, and sharing them with anyone who’s interested!
This year I have finished more series than usual and am proud of that. A lot of times, I start a series, read the first book, and never continue. Not so here and I am happy I took the time to get the entire story of Selkie Moon.
The Third Note by Virginia King picks up where The Second Path, Book II, left off. I highly recommend reading this series in order.
A package arrives from Selkie’s long dead grandmother. It was supposed to be delivered on her eighteenth birthday, but it was seventeen years late. Stella, her step mother begs her not to open it and it just makes Selkie more curious about what’s inside. I knowsecrets have been kept and I want her to find them out.
“What if you could heal the past?” That is what Selkie has been trying to do since her move to Hawaii.
Soooooo, it’s off to Ireland with Davina, who believes Selkie is a psychic detective. They both have pasts that will confront while there. She’s on a mission to discover what happened to her twin relatives. Supposedly, one was murdered and the other sent away.
Psychic visions, myths and legends, fairies, ghosts, magic, superstitions, secrets, and Selkie is determined to unveil them.
The Third Note is heavy on the mystery and the suspense is subtle, yet there are urgent and dangerous moments as Selkie and Davina visit their roots in Ireland. So many pieces to the puzzle, it took Selkie spelling it out for me, piece by piece, to see how the puzzle came together. The romance is sweet and develops over time.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of the Third Note by Virginia King.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A mysterious parcel. An unsolved crime. A spell from beyond the grave.
After
returning from her last strange quest, Selkie Moon is more than ready
to settle down. So when she receives a parcel from her great grandmother
35 years after her death, opening it seems like such a bad idea.
But
curiosity wins and the objects it contains plunge Selkie into
long-buried family secrets. Suddenly an old mystery begins to echo with
the present and she’s wrapped in a spell that won’t let go: frightening
visions, deadly encounters and a pull from the past that she can’t
ignore. What happened down by the old stone well in 1896 – and why does
it matter to Selkie after more than a hundred years? Armed with only her
wits and psychic twinges that are hardly reliable, Selkie is drawn into
a web of cryptic clues that delve deep into the folklore of Ireland
where superstition still weaves a powerful – and fatal – spell.
If
you love mysteries with lightning pace, twists and turns you never see
coming, quirky clues and a sprinkling of the supernatural, then you’ll
love The Third Note.
Join Selkie Moon on a quest that will threaten not only her sanity, but her life.
ABOUT VIRGINIA KING
When a voice wakes you up in the middle of the night and tells you
to write a mystery series, what’s a writer to do? That’s how I came to
create Selkie Moon, after a massage from a strange woman with gifted
hands was followed by this nocturnal message. I sat down at the
keyboard until Selkie Moon turned up — a modern woman with a mythical
name. Soon I was hooked, exploring far-flung places full of secrets
where Selkie delves into psychological clues tangled up in the local
mythology.
Before Selkie Moon invaded my life, I’d been a
teacher, an unemployed ex-teacher, the author of over 50 children’s
books, an audio-book producer, a workshop presenter and a prize-winning
publisher. These days I live in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney
with my husband, where I disappear each day into Selkie Moon’s latest
mystery. Bliss.
Labyrinth of the Dolls is book two in Craig Wallwork’s Tom Nolan series. I loved the first one, so it was a no brainer grabbing this one when Craig asked me if I would like a copy.
I loved the first book of the Tom Nolan series, Bad People, by Craig Wallwork, so when I got the chance to get my hands on Labyrinth of the Dolls, Book II, there was no hesitation.
Pam Bollen was in a great mood as she set off to work. Every Wednesday, at 6:00 AM, she headed to the home of Joanna Harcourt to clean her house. The grisly sight awaiting her was the macabre body of Joanna.
Enter MIT, the Murder Investigation Team, and Tom Nolan. He had joined the team with the specific purpose of chasing down his nemesis.
The past converges with the present as Tom Nolan hunts for what the media has labeled the Dollmaker. Tom has a knack for finding serial killers and it will take all his resources to put the past to bed once and for all.
I love that Tom is not a GQ kind of guy, though there is nothing wrong with that. LOL In fact, I love them too. But Tom feels like a realistic character. He’s a bit on the chunky side with an overbite, but there is someone for everyone, isn’t there? Will we have a little romance on the side?
The Ragman is his boogieman, that comes in the dark doing evil things. Only he knows why he does what he does, but Tom is pretty darn good at getting into his head.
The Tom Nolan series is one of those that keeps on giving. In fact, I think it got better with Labyrinth of the Dolls. As I sit, watching Criminal Minds, I feel as if Craig Wallwork could have been one of the writers. His books are filled with human evils, frailties, weaknesses and strength.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Labyrinth of the Dolls by Craig Wallwork.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
EVIL HAS A NEW FACE
It’s been one year since the horrific murders of Stormer Hill,
and the events of that time continue to resonate with Detective
Constable Tom Nolan. In an attempt to find the second killer, known only
as the Ragman, Nolan joins West Yorkshire’s Murder Investigation Team.
Partnered
with Jennifer Morrison, a straight-talking detective with her eye on
promotion, the two officers are assigned to track down a new killer
whose victims are all found dressed like human dolls. As the
investigation progresses, Nolan becomes an intricate piece in the
killer’s grand vision that puts his life in danger.
But with the
body count rising daily and the pressure to find who the media is
labelling the Doll Maker increasing, Nolan discovers more than just a
series of grisly murders…
Within the human dolls, the answers he has sought for nearly a year may finally be found.
ABOUT CRAIG WALLWORK
Craig Wallwork is the author of the novels, Bad People, and The
Sound of Loneliness, as well as the short story collections,
Quintessence of Dust, and Gory Hole. His stories have been nominated
three times for the Pushcart Prize, many of which feature in various
anthologies and magazines both in the U.K. and U.S. He currently lives
in England.
