Tag Archives: read in 2026

Review – Harmed And Dangerous by Jasper Bark #jasperbark #crystallakepublishing #harmedanddangerous

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I am a sucker for a great cover, often grabbing a book for that reason alone, so take a look at Harmed And Dangerous by Jasper Bark. The girl is in shadows, walking into the light. Is that going to be a good thing? The spin Jasper put on the title, Harmed And Dangerous, made me even more curious. He even added an opening illustration. I love when an author goes the extra mile.

Harmed And Dangerous by Jasper Park is the eighth book in the Bark Bites Horror series, but don’t worry if you haven’t read the previous books. Harmed And Dangerous is a stand alone story.

How about a location? A remote town in Louisiana. I’m sure nothing can go wrong there.
How about a young girl, Kyra, on her own, looking for answers to her past?
How about a little paranormal action going on, Kyra seeing through the eyes of the serial killer that murdered her mother?

Oh yeah. It checks a lot of boxes for me and I was quickly drawn into the world Jasper Bark created. Delilah was a wonderful surprise and an awesome character. Like Kyra, I saw through the eyes of Billy Ray, the serial killer who had been put to death by lethal injection more than ten years ago.

Things are not always as they seem and Jasper Bark kept me on my toes, trying to see what was coming before it arrived. I don’t believe I have ever time traveled, like Kyra will. She has one foot in the past and the other in the present. It raises questions like…if you could change the past, would you?

My thanks go out to Jasper Bark and Crystal Lake Publishing for the opportunity to read Harmed And Dangerous.

4 Stars

AMAZON SYNOPSIS

A Paranormal Thriller for readers of Stephen Graham Jones, Tananarive Due and Grady Hendrix

Put yourself in Kyra’s place.

You’re seventeen years old, lost and alone in a remote town in Louisiana. You’re searching for the birth parents you never knew. The heat is crippling. The river often floods, washing houses away and lifting corpses from the ground.

The locals treat you with suspicion. You don’t belong here. They’re hiding something. All over town, in nooks and hidden alcoves, there’s evidence of a forbidden faith. They keep the old ways here, but no one will tell you what they are.

There’s an intangible presence following you. Hiding in your peripheral vision. You can’t see, hear or touch it, but you know it’s there, waiting for its chance to claim you. Then the episodes start.

Your vision goes and when it returns you’re seeing the world as it was fifteen years ago. Physically you’re in the present, but everything you see happened a decade and a half ago.
Suddenly you realize…

You’re seeing through the eyes of the serial killer who murdered your birth mother. He takes control of you, forcing you to watch as he stalks and brutally murders her.

And there’s nothing you can do to stop him. Because he died by lethal injection more than a decade ago.

***

Harmed and Dangerous is the eighth book in the Bark Bites Horror series. A stand-alone story that you can start right away!
Bark Bites Horror is a spine-tingling series of stand-alone books that take the horror genre to a whole new level. Get ready for a Goosebumps for grown-ups and a sexed-up Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark! This is your favorite new obsession. These are the terror tales you’ve been waiting your whole life to read. The Draw You In trilogy forms books 5 to 7 of Bark Bites Horror.

This is Horror 2.0, re-gened, re-tooled and recreated for a fearless new audience! Think you’ve seen everything in horror? Think again. Bark Bites takes you places you’ve never been and shows you sights few mortal eyes would dare behold.

Don’t be the only weird kid on your block to miss out!

ABOUT JASPER BARK

Jasper Bark is infectious – and there’s no known cure. If you’re reading this then you’re already at risk of contamination. The symptoms will begin to manifest any moment now. There’s nothing you can do about it. There’s no itching or unfortunate rashes, but you’ll become obsessed with his books, from the award winning collections ‘Dead Air’ and ‘Stuck on You and Other Prime Cuts’, to cult novels like ‘The Final Cut’ and acclaimed graphic novels such as ‘Bloodfellas’ and ‘Beyond Lovecraft’.

Soon you’ll want to tweet, post and blog about his work until thousands of others fall under its viral spell. We’re afraid there’s no way to avoid this, these words contain a power you are hopeless to resist. You’re already in their thrall and have been since you began reading this bio. Even now you find yourself itching to read the whole of his work. Don’t fight it, embrace the urge and wear your obsession with pride!

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Review – Patient’s Privilege by Rich Morvillo #richmorvillo #patientsprivilege

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MY REVIEW

Well..I’m kinda in shock right now. I thought Patient’s Privilege by Rich Morvillo would be an interesting and mysterious book, and it was. BUT, when I got to the ending, my mind was blown. I fell for all the red herrings that Rich threw my way. Yeah, it could be him. Oh yeah, it could be her. Or him. Or him….

It begins with Timothy Shea working at a psychiatric clinic in New York. He had been recommended employment by a respected psychiatrist, Abner Reese, the man who, more or less, ran the place. Abner was the only psychiatrist, the rest were psychologists. When Abner’s wife is murdered and he is attacked, the mystery begins. The deeper into the investigation we go, the more muddy the water.

The biggest hurdle is patient privilege.

Tim is accused of the murder. Timothy says he has information that could exonerate him, or at least make Abner the target of the investigation, but patient privilege prevents him from sharing the information with the authorities. He encourages the patients to come forward, but blackmail and threats stop them.

The plot thickens. There’s another murder. A pedophile ring is exposed.

Tim created a murder board. In my mind I am looking at all the suspects. Is there a conspiracy? I am collecting all the clues, whether still hidden from the police because of patient privilege, or whether Tim was able to find a work around. There is so much I want to say, but in this case, less is more.

Richard Morvillo offered me a copy. I checked it out, thought it would be a good fit, and I told him to count me in. Want a book with moral and ethical food for thought? How about a mystery that becomes more convoluted the more you read? Sound intriguing? Patient’s Privilege may be for you.

 

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

When Timothy Shea, a clinical psychologist at an elite clinic in New York, is thrust into the middle of a criminal investigation where the circumstantial evidence against him is compelling, he sets out to prove that not only is he innocent, but also that he is being framed. A dark secret involving patients at the clinic, one that implicates well-known psychiatrist Abner Reeves, might be the path to his exoneration, but the patient’s privilege prevents him from disclosing this confidential information. As Timothy tries to work around the privilege, Reeves reveals information to the police that all but seals Timothy’s fate. What unfolds is a roller-coaster ride that pits two strong-willed professionals against one another in a battle to see whose version of the truth will prevail.

  • Genre: Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Psychological
  • 296 pages, Paperback
  • Expected publication March 3, 2026 by Subplot

ABOUT RICH MORVILLO (from Amazon)

Rich Morvillo resides in Washington, DC with his wife, two children and two dogs. He is the co-head of the White-Collar Defense and Investigations Group at a large international law firm and is nationally recognized in his field. A graduate of Colgate University and Fordham University School of Law, he is a frequent speaker at professional programs and has published various articles on ethics and the law. He also taught a course on professional ethics at Georgetown University School of Law,

Website

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Review – The Cyber Sanction by Nicholas Gretener #nicholasgretener #thecybersanctuin

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MY REVIEW

I read Nicholas Gretener’s first book and debut novel in the LawForce series, Bending The Arc, and loved the idea of a legal team standing up for the little guy, so I was eager to see where he would take The Cyber Sanction, the second book in the series.

Law Force is a team of elite lawyers with the full backing of the United States government.

“They don’t take passengers; they take fighters.”

“…I wasn’t blindsided because I was careless-I was attacked because I was a threat.”

I think a lot of our future wars will be held in the cyber world. The world we live in is small. Taking down one country’s financial system can have a domino affect that could spread all over the world.

We’ll travel from Zurich to Washington to Switzerland to China and back again.

Listen to that voice in your head. Knock, knock, intuition calling.

Nicholas Gretener writes novels that are easy to follow, though they deal with the law, banking, and other complicated institutions. Sometimes books are over my head, not so with Nicholas’ novels. He writes in a way that makes everything easy to follow. I will warn you, though, the tension, suspense and pacing can keep you flipping pages, unable to stop reading. There’s danger and betrayal. The scenario reads like a true crime novel. Could this be our future?

My thanks go out to Nicholas Gretener and Qualitas Publishing.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“Sunshine is the best disinfectant.”
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis

A legal thriller at the confluence of law, banking, and cybercrime.

In a world where power no longer lies in armies or arsenals, but in algorithms and access, the next great war will be fought across digital frontiers.

When BostonFirst Bank implodes in a mysterious cyberattack, the financial aftershocks threaten to upend the global economy. The evidence leads to Helvex Financial, a Swiss banking giant—yet deeper still to Zhonghua Capital, a covert Chinese state holding company intent on reshaping the world’s financial order.

Enter LawForce, a task force of elite lawyers with full U.S. governmental support created to defend justice where traditional systems fail. At its helm stands Steve Shane, a lawyer driven by conscience, and Jonathan Hendrix, the U.S. Attorney General, whose vision for LawForce blurs the line between legality and warfare.

From Zurich war rooms to Washington boardrooms, from the shadowed servers of Helvex Financial to the mountain passes of Switzerland, The Cyber Sanction hurtles toward a reckoning where truth, technology, and justice collide.

Blending the tension of a legal thriller with the precision of a geopolitical espionage novel, The Cyber Sanction is a searing exploration of digital warfare, accountability, and the moral cost of justice in an interconnected cyber world.

The Cyber Sanction—where justice goes global, and every byte can kill.

  • Genre: Fiction, Legal, Suspense, Thriller
  • 406 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published December 4, 2025 by Qualitas Publishing
  • Series: A LawForce Novel #2

ABOUT NICHOLAS GRETENER

Nick is a retired lawyer and engineer, based out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He splits his time between Calgary, Canada; Wengen, Switzerland; and Maui, USA.

He can usually be found writing on a laptop somewhere, skiing down a piste, hiking up a mountain, or rafting down a river in canyon country.

He is convinced that if people read more, the world would be a better place. It doesn’t always have to be heavy. Read something that will stretch your mind, then enjoy a beach read. Rinse and repeat.

Website

MY NICHOLAS GRETENER REVIEWS

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    New Release Review – The Secret Winners Club by Donna Galanti @DonnaGalanti #thesecretwinnersclub

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    Amazon / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    The Secret Winners Club by Donna Gilanti is written for those between the ages of eight and thirteen, but I think people of all ages can relate to the message: Embrace your own unique self because you’re special just the way you are.

    Each chapter begins with an illustration that spotlights a character’s point of view. I love when an author adds that something extra to the story.

    Thirteen year old Sunny Whitlock is the main character. She has alopecia, an auto immune disease that caused her to lose her hair. I love the way she deals with it, by making her own headscarves. She doesn’t hide with bland colors, but bursts with colorful designs. She also has joined the junk bot club competition. Her father owns the scrapyard in town, so she has access to a lot of the parts, but her father also donates parts to the club. She gets picked on because of his work. It’s still the usual that we all struggle with, the haves and the have nots and those that are considered different, ouside the norm.

    Sunny’s best friends are also auto immune deficient and together they form The Secret Winners Club. The goal is to step outside of their comfort zone, support each other and to win…at any cost. Do you see where this is going? What will be the cost of putting winning ahead of all else? This is one of those things…it’s a great idea, but they are doing it for the wrong reasons. As they begin to succeed, they learn the cost of their decisions.

    The Secret Winners Club is a coming of age story that shares thoughts, feelings, and actions we can all learn from. I loved how the characters developed, learning life lessons as they strive to achieve the goals they set for themselves.

    Tbank you Donna Galanti for the opportunity to read The Secret Winners Club.

    5 Stars

    ABOUT THE SECRET WINNERS CLUB

    1st Rule of The Secret Winners Club:
    Do whatever it takes.

    Thirteen-year-old Sunny Whitlock has alopecia; an autoimmune condition that’s made her lose her hair—and she’s desperate to be seen as more than just the bald kid. But how? By setting an epic goal: win her school’s junkbot club competition. And if she’s #1, then other kids will have to see beyond her disease … and she’ll finally fit in.

    Sunny’s immune-deficient best friends are also tired of looking different and achieving second place in their school competitions. With a bold plan, Sunny bands with them to create The Secret Winners Club, a club devised to win—at any cost—and push them outside their comfort zones.

    They promise to trust no one else. It’s all classified! And in total secrecy they aim to help one another become #1 before this middle school year is over. But as they start to succeed, they quickly discover that crossing the line and hurting others can make them even more visible and even more an outsider.

    Bookshop / Amazon / B & N / Books A Million / Apple

    ABOUT DONNA GALANTI

    Donna Galanti is the author of the middle-grade ooks Unicorn Island series, Joshua and the
    Lightning Road series, and Loon Cove Summer. She’s lived in fun locations including England, her family-owned campground in New Hampshire, and in Hawaii as a U.S. Navy photographer. Donna is an avid outdoor adventurer and nature lover. She volunteers for the Old-Growth Forest Network and the National Audubon Society. For details on her books, events, and school programs, visit donnagalanti.com.

    GIVEAWAY

    Donna Galanti is offering a paperback (US ONLY) or ebook (International) of her book, Loon Cove Summer. Entry is easy peasy.

    Enter a comment that answers the question, do you go on summer vacations?

    Giveaway ends 3.10.26

    MY DONNA GALANTI REVIEWS

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    Review – Dead Woman Walking by Carolyn Arnold @carolynarnold #netgalley #deadwomanwalking

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    MY REVIEW

    Here we are. Back with Amanda Steele in Dead Woman Walking, Book 15, and this time it hits close to home. Amanda’s half brother is dating Christine Lane, a realtor and the murder victim. Carolyn Arnold is quit to set the hook and that is only one of the reasons I love her books so much. She is great at taking us step by step, through the investigation.

    The owner of the house where Christine Lane was found is Dominique Sharp, a lawyer who has a long line of disgruntled employees and so many secrets and a trail that leads to the killer. Could Christine’s murder be a case of mistaken identity?

    Carolyn Arnold has a way with words. The short chapters make for an easy read with the mystery set at a steady pace. She has a way of creating doubt, when it comes to flushing out the villain. She calls in help from characters that appear in other series she writes. So, brace yourself for another great read in the Amanda Steele series.

     

    4 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    Preparing the empty house for another viewing, she knows she’s taking a risk showing it at night. She never told anyone she was here, but she desperately needs this sale. If she pulls it off, she can finally give her daughter the life she deserves. But as she climbs the stairs, goosebumps spread down her arms. She’s not alone…

    When the body of realtor Christine Lane is discovered in one of Woodbridge’s most affluent homes, Detective Amanda Steele is left reeling. The victim was dating Amanda’s half-brother, making him an immediate suspect. They’ve never been close but Amanda knows he’s not a killer.

    As forensics move in to process the crime scene, Amanda is ambushed by a well-dressed woman desperately trying to get inside the house. Dominique Sharp is a successful lawyer and expected her house to be sold by the time she returned from a business trip to DC. Could she have been the intended target?

    Delving into Dominique’s business, Amanda and Trent discover a long line of disgruntled employees and a dark web of secrets that lead them to a killer who will stop at nothing to get their deadly revenge on her.

    But can Amanda take the greatest risk of her career to lure the killer back into the light? And will she have to sacrifice someone close to her to ensure justice is finally served?

    A totally addictive and pulse-pounding crime thriller that will have you turning the pages late into the night. Perfect for fans of Mary Burton, Elle Gray and A. J. Rivers.

    • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Police Procedural, Suspense, Thriller
    • 337 pages, Kindle Edition
    • Expected publication February 25, 2026 by Bookouture
    • Series: Detective Amanda Steele #15

    ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD

    CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from police procedurals, hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting 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 near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

    MY REVIEWS FOR CAROLYN ARNOLD

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    AWESOME – Review – Redemption by V E Huntley #VEHuntley #redemption

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    They think his love for her makes him week with phoenix
    they're about to lean it makes him unstoppable
    my penance will never be enough redemption

     

    Amazon / Goodreads

    MY REVIEW

    Whew (as I brush the sweat off my brow). Redemption by V E Huntley is the heart pounding conclusion of Aden and Ellie’s story in the Bloodstone Legacy trilogy. Between the smoking hot sex (XXX Rated) and the bloody and savage battles, I can’t think of one thing V E Huntley left out. I love her original interpretation of the vampire world.

    We see the story from two points of view, Aden’s and Ellie’s. I love when I can see events unfold from different perspectives, delving into the minds of each character, allowing me to empathize with them, even when they are wrong.

    I will keep this review short and sweet, seeing I really do not want to spoil anything for those who will begin the series with Damnation. I cannot recommend the Bloodstone Legacy enough. The vampires are unique and have the same issues as us humans, politics, communication, and kids. What will they turn out to be? Vampires? Half breed’s? Humans?

    What a fabulous happy ever after ending to a mind blowing conclusion of Aden and Ellie’s story. Any time I see V E Huntley’s name, I’m hoping she has come out with a new book. She is definitely hovering around the top of my must read author list.

    My thanks go out to V E Huntley for the opportunity to read, review and share my thoughts for Redemption.

     

    5 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    MY PENANCE WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH The breathtaking conclusion to The BloodStone Legacy trilogy—a dark, seductive paranormal romance about forbidden love, impossible choices, and the price of redemption.

    They think his love for her makes him weak. They’re about to learn it makes him unstoppable.

    For centuries, vampire commander Aden Westcott’s reputation for brutality was legendary. Until her. When Ellie awakens feelings he thought long dead, their forbidden bond becomes both his salvation and his greatest vulnerability.

    In a society divided by power and blood, redemption demands the highest price. In this final chapter, Aden and Ellie’s choices will echo through eternity. Some say love conquers all. In Aden and Ellie’s world, it might just destroy everything.

    Perfect for fans of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City, Scarlett St. Clair’s Adrian X Isolde, Karina Halle’s The Dracula Duet, and readers who crave their romance dark, passionate, and unforgettable with brooding anti-heroes paired with resilient heroines.

    Redemption is Book 3 of a trilogy. It ends with the HEA you’ve been waiting for.

    Perfect for fans of enemies-to-lovers romance and dark fantasy who crave high stakes, forbidden love, and a brooding immortal hero facing his own redemption.

    This book is a dark paranormal romance. Be mindful of the trigger

    Graphic violence
    Sexual situations
    Blood Play
    Adult language – the word “fuck” is used a lot

    • Genre: Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural, Vampires
    • 647 pages, Kindle Edition
    • Published February 19, 2026
    • Series: The Bloodstone Legacy #3

    ABOUT V E HUNTLEY

    V.E. Huntley is a retired producer who has spent her life telling stories in one way or another. Just ask her cats. They had to endure a lifetime of her endlessly reciting entire dialogue scenes to them, even though all they desperately wanted to do was nap.

    Her childhood fear of Dracula was so intense that she couldn’t sleep without the lights on and her mother guarding her bedroom door. Over time, this fear evolved into a lifelong obsession with the dark and twisted world of vampires and the concept of immortality. So, after more than two decades in the film and television industry, she ultimately chose to pursue her true passion—writing dark and sexy paranormal romance.

    Besides writing, her hobbies include reading, watching movies, traveling, and keeping her husband busy with an endless honey-do list.

    Website

    MY V E HUNTLEY REVIEWS

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    Review – I’m Not The Only Murderer In My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig #ferguscraig #netgalley #ImNottheOnlyMurdererinMyRetirementHome

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    MY REVIEW

    With a title like I’m Not The Only Murderer In My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig, I had to pause and check it out further. A serial killer is moving in…even better. A little humor served up with murder is always wicked good fun.

    Carol is a serial killer, convicted of killing seven people. Now, she’s being released from prison and heading toward the retirement home. Her murdering days are over, even though she is surrounded by so many murder weapons. How ironic. She also discovers there are plenty of criminal investigators that she will be living with. It looks like she will be on the other side of the coin, when there is a murder at her retirement home. Because her secret is exposed and so many are pointing their fingers at her, she begins her own investigation into the death.

    I enjoyed my time at the retirement home. It’s not often that I can laugh with a serial killer and watch as they try to solve a crime, instead of commit one. It’s fun to meet intriguing characters that keep the easy to read story flowing smoothly. There’s even a little romance to be had.

    3 Stars

    GOODREADS BLURB

    After a decades-long stint in prison, former serial killer Carol is looking to kick back and relax in her new retirement home…until a fellow resident drops dead and Carol has to prove she actually didn’t do it this time….

    Carol is delighted to be leaving her tiny prison cell behind to take her place in a luxury retirement home. She’s hoping her past as a serial killer won’t come to light so she can make a few friends and find some murder-free hobbies. But it’s not long before a fellow resident—who happens to be a former police commissioner—drops dead, and Carol’s true identity is leaked—making catching up over daily activities of bingo and baking rather awkward.

    Just her luck, Carol soon realizes that the victim wasn’t the only former law enforcement officer at Sheldon Oaks—it’s filled to the brim with former cops, barristers, and government representatives, her newfound friends included. And everyone thinks Carol’s guilt is a no-brainer, but she is ready to prove them dead wrong…without killing anyone, for once.

    • Genre: Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Humor, Mystery
    • 272 pages, Hardcover
    • Expected publication February 17, 2026 by Berkley

    ABOUT FERGUS CRAIG

    Fergus Craig is a multi-award winning writer, actor and comedian. Fergus has written two parody novels based on his character Detective Roger LeCarre. The second, Murder At Crime Manor, was shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction. His third novel, I’m Not The Only Murderer In My Retirement Home, is out in February 2026.

    He is a big fan of Newcastle United, pubs, desserts and lying awake at night worrying about things he has zero control over.

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    Review – Adrift by Will Dean #netgalley @willrdean #adrift #netgalley

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    MY REVIEW

    Adrift was so much more than I thought it would be. The subtle evil of Drew’s manipulations had Peggy questioning her own actions. Drew stepped up his machinations when he found out his wife, Peggy, had sold a novel. They were both authors, but he has turned into a has been. He begrudges Peggy’s success in every way, whether it was getting a check from a publisher or getting a job with the library. He sabotages all her successes. Denies her and his son food and water. Isolates them, continually moving their canal boat farther and farther away from everyone else.

    Peggy is determined to find a way out for her and their son. She didn’t want him growing up to be like his father, a failure in every way. Samson is fourteen years old and bullied by the kids in school. His determination to do well in school and leave town when he is older drives him to endure. The isolation and poverty is brutal.

    My emotions were all over the place. If you want a character to hate, Will Dean has supplied one. Every time I didn’t think Drew could do something worse, he did. As Peggy searches every nook and cranny in their canal boat, she discovers some truths.

    As their worst moments came about, I saw the ending unfold. Some I knew and some I hoped for.

    My thanks go out to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read Adrift by Will Dean. What a wild ride it was. He’s definitely on my radar now.

      Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
      4 Stars

      GOODREADS BLURB

      The author of the “master class in suspense” (Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author)The Chamber returns with a high-tension thriller about a family’s descent into darkness that is perfect for fans of Dennis Lehane and Lisa Jewell.

      Peggy and Drew, both aspiring writers, move to an isolated canal boat with their fourteen-year-old son. Peggy is the glue that holds their family together, even as their son is bullied relentlessly for his physique and his family’s lack of money. But when Drew becomes frustrated by his wife’s sudden writing success, he moves their boat further and further from civilization.

      With their increasing isolation, personal challenges become harder to ignore, even as they desperately try to break toxic generational patterns. But when Drew’s gaslighting becomes too much for Peggy to take, it sets off a catastrophic series of events.

      With Will Dean’s signature “well-drawn characters and excellent prose” (Sarah Pearse, New York Times bestselling author), Adrift is gripping exploration of the ties that bind when everything spirals out of control.

      • Genre: Adult, Dark, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
      • Kindle Edition
      • Expected publication February 17, 2026 by Atria/Emily Bestler Books

      ABOUT WILL DEAN

        Will Dean grew up in the East Midlands, living in nine different villages before the age of eighteen. He was a bookish, daydreaming kid who found comfort in stories and nature (and he still does). After studying Law at the LSE, and working in London, he settled in rural Sweden. He built a wooden house in a boggy clearing at the centre of a vast elk forest, and it’s from this base that he compulsively reads and writes. He is the author of Dark Pines.

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        Review – They’ll Take Everything by C H Connor @CHConnor_ #theylltakeeverything

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        Amazon / Goodreads

        MY REVIEW

        I love the cover for They’ll Take Everything by C H Connor. The colors and content are eye catching. And that title…definitely draws me in. For a debut novel, C H Connor hit it out of the ballpark.

        David Dale carries a heavy weight of guilt. He feels responsible for the car accident that killed his family. He decides to make a drastic change, trying to find redemption. He is going to start a charity that will help others that find it hard to move on from a tragedy. Bev, a close personal friend of thirteen years, agrees to join in. It’s not long before things begin to happen. Anonymous messages, Threats. Extortion. David stands firm on his mission.

        The suspense builds slowly as the danger increases. Revenge is coming, knocking at his door.

        WTF? That’s why I don’t read ahead. I love when an author can surprise me and I didn’t see it coming, though I knew who the villain was. I went back and reread the last chapter because it was just that great.

        My thanks go out to C H Connor for the opportunity to read They’ll Take Everything.

         

        4 Stars

        GOODREADS BLURB

        David Dale has been running from guilt for three years.

        The car accident that killed his family was his fault. Now he has one chance at redemption: opening a charity for families shattered by tragedy.

        But that’s made him the perfect target.

        Days before the launch, anonymous messages begin. Precise. Threatening. Someone’s been watching him. Someone knows exactly how to break him. What begins as extortion becomes a calculated campaign to dismantle David’s life, piece by piece.

        The charity launches to national attention — which only makes things worse.

        David finds himself targeted by a criminal syndicate who don’t leave witnesses. As he unravels the conspiracy, he’s forced to confront the past he thought he’d buried. But that’s when he realises the terrifying truth.

        This isn’t extortion. It’s revenge.

        Three years of guilt. Two weeks of terror. One truth that changes everything.

        How far would you go to turn heartbreak into hope?

        Perfect for fans of Stieg Larsson and Harlan Coben, and for readers who crave layered suspense, emotional depth, and immersive, character-driven stories.

        • Genre: Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
        • 323 pages, Kindle Edition
        • Expected publication February 16, 2026

        ABOUT C H CONNOR

        C.H. Connor is the debut author of the psychological crime thriller, THEY’LL TAKE EVERYTHING, released 16 February 2026.

        Connor built his career in software before putting pen to paper and publishing his upcoming novel. Connor lives with his partner and son in Manchester, UK.

        You can connect with Connor on Instagram. To receive updates on his latest work and upcoming events, you can sign up to his spam-free newsletter at chconnor.com.

        Connect on Instagram: ch_connor

        Website

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        Review – I Don’t Wish You Well by Jumata Emill @brownboywriting #idontwishyouwell

        Posted on by
        Murder is just the beginning...
        Unlikely detective duo, small-town scandal, Friday Night Lights meets a Good Girl's Guide to Murder

         

        Amazon / Goodreads

        MY REVIEW

        The eye catching cover and title for I Don’t Wish You Well by Jumata Emill made me curious. You can say curiosity killed the cat, because Pryce Cummings, a podcaster and aspiring journalist, starts his own investigation into Moss Pointe, Louisiana’s Trojan mask killings and someone wants to keep the secrets buried. Did they really catch the killer? There are many who believe they had convicted an innocent man, and the deeper Pryce dug, the more he is convinced they got it wrong.

        Moss Pointe is a small town with small minded people. Church and football were worshiped. Being gay in a racist town had Pryce struggling to keep his sexuality secret, at least until he left for college, where he felt free to explore.

        Pryce gets help from an unlikely source, free spirited Izzy. He wears his gayness in the open. Pryce slowly begins to understand what he has sacrificed to keep his secret.

        “That paranoia hasn’t drained you yet? God, I felt suffocated under it when I lived here.”

        Halfway through the pace picked up. Bodies fell and secrets were exposed. All the questions raised by vigilante justice arise. I love thought provoking books, and I Don’t Wish You Well by Jumata Emill had me wondering…what would I do if I walked a mile in someone’s shoes?

        My thanks go out to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read I Don’t Wish You Well by Jumata Emill.

        4 Stars

        GOODREADS BLURB

        A teen investigative podcaster decides to dig into the truth behind a grisly murder spree that rocked his hometown five years ago, but soon discovers that this cold case is still hiding deadly secrets—in this chilling thriller perfect for fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.

        Five years ago, the infamous Trojan murders turned the small town of Moss Pointe, Louisiana into a living nightmare. Four teen boys—all star players on Moss Pointe High’s football team—were murdered one after the other by a Trojan-mask wearing killer. 

        Eventually, the murderer was unmasked. But the community has never forgotten—and some folks in town still wonder whether the police got it right.

        Eighteen-year-old Pryce Cummings is one of them. An aspiring journalist, Pryce is pretty sure he just stumbled upon evidence that throws the killer’s guilt into question. It’s the perfect story for his own podcast, and a reason to go back to the hometown he’s avoided since coming to terms with his sexuality while at college.

        But in Moss Pointe, digging into the past is anything but welcome. There’s so much more to what happened in there five years ago, and Pryce is ready to crack it all wide open . . . if he lives to tell the tale.

        • Genre: Crime, Fiction, LGBTQ, Mystery, Queer, Suspense, Thriller
        • 400 pages, Hardcover
        • First published January 20, 2026 by Delacorte Press

        ABOUT JUMATA EMILL

        Jumata Emill is a journalist who has covered crime and local politics in Mississippi and parts of Louisiana. He earned his BA in mass communications from Southern University and A&M College. He’s a Pitch Wars alum and a member of the Crime Writers of Color. When he’s not writing about murderous teens, he’s watching and obsessively tweeting about every franchise of the Real Housewives. Jumata lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is the author of The Black Queen and Wander in the Dark.

        Website

        • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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