Tag Archives: suspense and thriller fiction

Review – Bending The ARC by Nicholas Gretener #nicholasgretener #bendingthearc

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MY REVIEW

Bending The ARC by Nicholas Gretener is a story that pits lawyer, Steve Shane against a team of lawyers from the notable firm of Todd Ives Tillington. The disparity between them makes the outcome seem like a forgone conclusion. Not so fast.

How can the scales of justice be balanced? Enter LawForce, a legal SWAT team led by Steve Shane to do just that.

I had thought all the battles would take place in the courtroom, but that is not the case. On land and sea, Steve Shane will struggle to save Wildcat Oil & Gas from the Green Action Coalition.

Wildcat Oil & Gas is plagued by accidents, each more deadly than the last. But, things are not as they seem. At times, Nicholas Gretener had me sitting on the edge of my seat, tightly gripping my ereader as I raced through the pages to see what was going to happen next. Not all the characters will survive and I did not take their deaths lightly. I may have even shed a tear or two as the book came to its conclusion.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Bending The ARC by Nicholas Gretener.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice .”
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Jonathan Hendrix, the youngest U.S. Attorney General in history, knows that bending the arc won’t happen on its own, help is needed. He is determined to curb runaway civil jury awards that are threatening to destabilize the economy.

Graduating law school, Steve Shane is a top wall street prospect. Shunning the big firms, he sets up his own practice and six years later has developed a solid reputation as a commercial litigator.

Hendrix recruits Shane to create LawForce, a government-supported, legal SWAT team to be deployed in key cases where an inequality of counsel threatens bad verdicts. Their first case – Green Action Coalition v. Wildcat Oil & Gas.

A medium sized oil and gas company, Wildcat is plagued by an apparently random series of environmental accidents. Not accidents according to the Green Action Coalition, a leader in the new era of aggressive environmental litigation, but evidence of a pattern of negligence. The damages sought by the GAC have the potential to destroy Wildcat. Acting for the GAC is a high-powered team of legal eagles from the blue-chip firm of Todd Ives Tillington, led by senior partner Andrew Tillington III. Wildcat appears hopelessly outclassed . . . then Shane is retained.

Shane and LawForce discover they are in for more than just a tough legal battle as they negotiate the twists and turns of the case to its explosive courtroom finale.

  • Genre: Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
  • 399 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published October 15, 2024

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

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Welcome To Sleighville – Here Comes Chaos by Amanda Siegrist @amanda_siegrist

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MY REVIEW

Welcome to Sleighville, where it’s Christmas 365 days of the year. The holliest jolliest small town has taken a hit and Lila Hansley, a public relations expert, has come to town to repair their image. She’ll be working hand in hand with the mayor Bryce Stuart.

Bryce not only has a town with public relations at an all time low, but so is his personal life. His wife has beat him down and he needs a makeover too. Could Lila be the answer to both problems?

No sooner do they get over one black mark against the town, but then someone is murdered. It seems like every time they turn around, something bad is happening. Lila is determined to fix it.

We have a mixed bag of characters, most of whom I met before in Dashing Through The Fear, Book I, Griffin and Eve’s story. We have more mystery than suspense, but there is danger surrounding Lila. She can’t…won’t…run from it. She will face it head on.

Looking for a feel good story for the holiday season? Looking for something to make you feel warm and fuzzy all over? Why not try an Amanda Siegrist novel. She loves to give you happy ever afters.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

From USA Today bestselling author Amanda Siegrist comes an intense holiday romantic suspense series that will make you swoon and hold you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Welcome to Sleighville…where mayhem meets murder.

Mayor Bryce Stuart’s quaint Christmas town is in crisis. With holiday cheer fading faster than melting snow, he turns to a PR firm for a total holiday makeover. Amidst the tinsel-draped chaos and unexpected divorce papers, Bryce is determined to save his town even as his personal life unravels.

Lila Hansley, a PR whiz, would rather dodge snowflakes than deck the halls. When her grinch of a boss tasks her with reviving a town where yuletide seems cursed, she finds herself tangled in more than just stubborn locals and tacky decorations. Between Bryce’s infectious Christmas spirit and his soon-to-be ex-wife’s icy interference, Lila’s job becomes a real-life holiday mayhem.

But when mischief escalates to murder, Sleighville’s revival takes a sinister turn. As tensions rise and secrets surface, Bryce and Lila must navigate a web of small-town intrigue where someone’s silent night just became permanent.

Can they uncover the mystery before their Christmas miracle becomes another holiday homicide? Or will Sleighville’s dark secrets bury their efforts deeper than the winter snow?

Don’t miss book two in this suspenseful Christmas series where you’ll find holiday joy all year long!

The entire Sleighville (each book can be read as a standalone.)
Dashing Through the Fear (Book 1): Griffin & Eve
Here Comes Chaos (Book 2): Bryce & Lila

  • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Suspense, Thriller
  • 290 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published December 13, 2024 by Amanda Siegrist

ABOUT AMANDA SIEGRIST

Amanda Siegrist

Love! Gimme some love and heaps of romance. I have a sappy heart that just loves two people meeting, going through the cycles of a relationship, and ultimately, falling in love. Give me a good book like that and I’m a happy camper:)

I write contemporary and romantic suspense, but I am partial to suspense. I just love a good mystery.

Besides writing, I love baking, crafts, and baseball…oh, and meeting new people. *smiles*

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Review – Ivory’s Fight by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor #romanticsuspense

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MY REVIEW

Ivory’s Fight (Prey Security – Artemis Team) may be the first book in the series, but I have met these characters before. It is great to be back with them.

Ivory had been kidnapped when she was a baby, her captor teaching her how to be an assassin. She had been rescued by Prey, and her and her sister’s now work for them. She is on an undercover mission when she finds herself rescued by Roman Morales, who also works for Prey Security. She is searching for a group of children who have been kidnapped, and Roman wants revenge, after his sister’s death. They decide to work together.

There are triggers with human trafficking, rape and torture.

I love that this series is about the four sisters that were rescued by Prey. I know Jane will put them through the wringer, dragging their baggage out in the open for all to see, and helping them find their happy ever after. I can hardly wait to crack open the next book in the series.

I love Jane Blythe’s writing. She weaves romance and suspense seamlessly, putting her characters through hell to come out the other side with a happy ever after.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Falling in love has no place in a mission of revenge.

Abducted as a baby, Ivory Smith was trained to be one thing; a killer. Rescued before she could fulfil her captor’s purposes now she works for Prey Security’s Artemis Team taking down human traffickers. What should be a typical undercover mission becomes anything but when not only does she meet a man who intrigues her but she comes face to face with her abuser.

Former Delta Force operator turned DEA Agent Roman Morales lives for one thing; revenge. Growing up surrounded by addiction he’s determined not to fall down the same hole, which means keeping everyone at a distance. Until he meets a beautiful, brave woman determined to help him get the revenge he craves, he just doesn’t think he has anything to offer her in return.

  • Genre: Fiction, Military, Romance, Suspense, Thriller
  • 276 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published May 9, 2023
  • Series: Prey Security, Artemis Team #1

ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

USA Today bestselling author Jane Blythe writes action-packed romantic suspense and military romance featuring protective heroes and heroines who are survivors. One of Jane’s most popular series includes Saving SEALs, part of Susan Stoker’s OPERATION ALPHA world! Writing in that world alongside authors such as Janie Crouch and Riley Edwards has been a blast, and she looks forward to bringing more books to this genre, both within and outside of Stoker’s world. When Jane isn’t binge-reading she’s counting down to Christmas and adding to her 200+ teddy bear collection!

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MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

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Review – Blood Lasts Forever by Jeff Gunhus @jeffgunhus

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MY REVIEW

Blood Lasts Forever is not my first Jeff Gunhus novel. His writing is amazing and there is never any hesitation when I am offered a copy for review.

Fifteen year old Wyatt Bucks is a bully. When he turns up dead, no one in the small town of chambers questions it. It only took one mistake for someone to hunt him down and make him pay. The Fab Five have taken a blood oath to take their secret to the grave.

It’s twenty years later, and the past has come calling. Jeff Gunhus did a great job of creating a story and characters that are realistic and gripping. The details enabled me to visualize the scenes as they unfolded.

I wondered what would happen at the cabin. I figured someone must have broken the blood oath, but who and why was the big question. It didn’t go down the way I thought it would, but that’s not surprising with Jeff Gunhus. He is a master at creating suspense and roller coaster ride stories, keeping me flipping pages, eager to know what comes next.

 

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5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Not every death is a tragedy.

When fifteen-year-old Wyatt Bucks is found dead in the Sagasett River, the small town of Chambers breathes a collective sigh of relief. Wyatt was a troubled youth, feared and despised by many. But his death, deemed an accident by the local sheriff, leaves a chilling legacy that will haunt the town for decades.

Twenty years later, Mitch Ansel, now a middle school teacher, receives a call that resurrects the nightmares of his past. Alongside his old friends, the Fab Five, Mitch is forced to confront the dark secret they’ve buried for years—a secret that ties them to Wyatt’s death.

As the friends reunite at a remote cabin, they must navigate a web of deceit, fear, and violence. Each carries scars from the past, but none are prepared for the revelations that await them. Mitch’s terrifying visions of Wyatt and the relentless pull of their shared guilt threaten to unravel their lives and sanity.

  • Genre: Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
  • 272 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published November 11, 2024

ABOUT JEFF GUNHUS

Jeff Gunhus

Jeff Gunhus is the USA TODAY bestselling author of thriller and horror novels for adults and the middle grade/YA series, The Templar Chronicles. The first book, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year-old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born. His books for adults have reached the Top 30 on Amazon, have been recognized as Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Finalists and reached the USA TODAY bestseller list.

After his experience with his son, he is passionate about helping parents reach young reluctant readers and is active in child literacy issues. As a father of five, he leads an active life in Maryland with his wife Nicole by trying to constantly keep up with their kids. In rare moments of quiet, he can be found in the back of the City Dock Cafe in Annapolis working on his next novel or on JeffGunhus.com.

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Review – The Bond Once Broken by R M Demeester @rmdemeester

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MY REVIEW

The Bond Once Broken is the sequel to The Girl Once Known by R M Demeester, so it’s best to read it first.

These dysfunctional characters, Sherry and Sierra, pass their legacy on to their children. Secrets and lies have followed them from childhood to adulthood. Sherry has worked hard to pull herself together, but Sierra cannot let the past go.

The Bond Once Broken is a complex psychological thriller that will have your head spinning, so brace yourself. You won’t want to stop reading once you start.

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4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Reading The Girl Once Known is strongly recommended before reading The Bond Once Broken.

In the aftermath of Mira’s hit-and-run accident, The Girl Once Known takes this dysfunctional family for another spin in its emotional, suspenseful sequel, The Bond Once Broken.

Sherry and Sierra, connected by a troubled childhood, have children who live out their mothers’ legacy.

While one of Sherry’s daughters seems to break free from the cycle of dysfunction, Sherry herself strives to leave behind a past she’d rather forget. Meanwhile, Sierra remains chained to the past, driven by a desperate need to right a deep-seated wrong from her childhood, which leads to a life of emptiness.

The tension between Sherry and Sierra reaches a boiling point when a reunion escalates their animosity. As long-hidden secrets from their shared history erupt, they face a crucial choice: either restore their bond or settle their scores, regardless of the consequences.

  • Genre: Fiction, Psycological, Suspense, Thriller
  • 293 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published June 7, 2024
  • Series: The Girl Once Known #2

ABOUT R M DEMEESTER

R.M. Demeester, from Saskatchewan, loves being a mom, reading books, and writing. She’s been writing since she was very young. Today, she’s known for her stories in women’s fiction, romantic suspense, and thrillers. She also has a rescue dog named Gainer, a chocolate lab who passed away recently, but is still very much loved and missed. Her newest book, “The Girl Once Known”, comes out in February 2024.

MY R M DEMEESTER REVIEWS

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Giveaway – Voices From Beyond by Fran Lewis @partnersincr1me @franellena

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Voices from Beyond by Fran Lewis Banner

VOICES FROM BEYOND

by Fran Lewis

December 9-13, 2024 Book Blast

Synopsis:

Voices from Beyond by Fran Lewis

As the book unfolds, each person you meet is given a chance to repent or suffer the mirror’s unique form of hideous justice. Be careful doing wrong because the mirror waits for you…

Here are seven stories that will bring chills down your spine and make you wonder: what lies behind the stones? Who lives here? Each voice you will hear has been silenced by the evil of others. Rosie and many others in the camps were tortured and enslaved, and not allowed to speak out at all. Bertha’s voice was never heard by her aunt, who used her for cooking, cleaning, and even servicing men for money.

Next is a teacher who believed that children should be seen and not ever heard, and their opinions were off limits. Sarah Jones knew the secret that her cousin Benita was hiding, and what she had done to her mother. Sarah would bide her time and take on not only Benita but others, too. This is the story of how Sarah Jones decided to fight back. But did she succeed?

Finally, there are several who have wronged so many, and these last three remain behind stones that barely stand straight, where their names are engraved but covered with mud and soil so that no one will ever give them the honor of saying a prayer over them or mourning their deaths. These three come from different walks of life: one is a lawyer, another an accountant, and the third a judge. What are they guilty of? Read their stories as they tell them, and you decide if their fates were just or not, as they blackmailed and threatened so many whose voices, you’ll learn, were silenced in fear.

Within this world, many gain wealth by taking what belongs to others. There is a catch to this, as I will decide the fate of each person as they spend time in my special mirrors facing what they have done. If they show remorse, they have one fate. If not, they will belong to me!

Book Details:

Genre: Psychological Thriller
Published by: Royal Flush Publishing
Publication Date: October 28, 2024
Number of Pages: 60
ASIN: B0D1QM7Y9Z
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads

 

Author Bio:

Fran Lewis

Fran worked in the NYC Public Schools as the Reading and Writing Staff Developer for over 36 years. She has three masters degrees and a PD in Supervision and Administration. Currently, she is a member of Who’s Who of America’s Teachers and Who’s Who of America’s Executives from Cambridge.‬‬

‬

Fran is the author of more than 14 titles including three children’s books. She has written several books on Alzheimer’s disease in order to honor her mom and help create more awareness for a cure. These include Memories are Precious: Alzheimer’s Journey; Ruth’s Story and Sharp as a Tack and Scrambled Eggs Which Describes Your Brain?. She also wrote A Daughter’s Promise about her walk through the disease with her mother. ‪Fran is the author of the Faces Behind the Stones series, a middle school series featuring stories growing up in the Bronx with her sister and MJ magazine. Voices from Beyond is her latest book which was preceded by Mirror Image, What If?, Population Zero, and Accusations.‬

Catch Up With Fran Lewis:
Just Reviews
Book Talk with Fran Lewis Radio Show
Goodreads
BookBub
Instagram – @ferndine49
X – @franellena
Facebook

 

 

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Review – The Girl Once Known by R M Demeester @rmdemeester

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MY REVIEW

I had read Yours Truly by R M Demeester and loved it, so I have kept my eyes open for more of her books.

The Girl Once Known is a look into the lives of a highly dysfunctional family, of which Mira is the star. She is burdened with OCD and a need for everything having a place and being in it. She loves her surroundings clean and organized. She lives with her mother and sister who constantly berate her. The way they treat her is horrendous. When an opportunity comes for her to move out and live with her estranged father she doesn’t hesitate.

Her boyfriend helps ground her, but what happens when his actions pull her feet out from under her? In her confusion, she runs from the house. Someone hits her and runs. She is left bloody and broken. I knew the answer of who hit her couldn’t be as easy as the first person I suspected, or the second person I suspected. I love a twisty plot that takes its time unraveling, keeping me turning the pages, having to know the answer.

You won’t get all the answers from The Girl Once Known, so I am quickly going to dive into the next book in the series The Bond Once Broken.

I want to thank R M Demeester and Booksprout for the opportunity to read and review The Girl Once Known by R M Demeester.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

After a violent hit-and-run shatters Mira Harris’s life, she finds herself at a crossroads.

Before the accident, Mira, haunted by a childhood shaped by dysfunction and the recent return of her estranged father, has always sought order to cope. Her relationship with Joseph Oliver, a young man with a troubled past, provided a semblance of balance. But now, with her trust broken and her body battered, to find out who wanted to harm her, she must peel back layers of lies, confronting not just the driver’s identity but the very fabric of her childhood.

As the truth inches closer, Mira and those closest to her face a reality more daunting than her injuries. Is uncovering the truth worth the risk and the personal cost not only to Mira but also to those closest to her?

  • Genre: Fiction, Psychological, Suspense, Thriller
  • 334 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published February 2, 2024

ABOUT R M DEMEESTER

R.M. Demeester, from Saskatchewan, loves being a mom, reading books, and writing. She’s been writing since she was very young. Today, she’s known for her stories in women’s fiction, romantic suspense, and thrillers. She also has a rescue dog named Gainer, a chocolate lab who passed away recently, but is still very much loved and missed. Her newest book, “The Girl Once Known”, comes out in February 2024.

MY R M DEMEESTER REVIEWS

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$15 GC – Scars Of The Heart by Bob Van Lawerhoven @partnersincr1me

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SCARS OF THE HEART

by Bob Van Laerhoven

November 25 – December 6, 2024 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

Why can people be so cruel to each other? In his search for answers, Bob Van Laerhoven concentrates on individuals, but ideologies, religions, and political structures shimmer in the background.

Through ten stories set in different countries and eras, Van Laerhoven takes us through the destructive consequences of our passions as a common thread, from contemporary Syria to Algeria in the 1950s, and the civil war in Liberia to the uprising in Belgian Congo in the 1960s.

The ten stories in SCARS OF THE HEART highlight the dark side of love, which fuels our violence, inner loneliness, and greedy egos.

Praise for Scars Of The Heart:

SCARS OF THE HEART received a New York Book 2024 Festival Honorable Mention in the category Anthologies/Compilations and a Gold Book Award 2024 from Literary Titan.

“SCARS OF THE HEART Heart by Bob Van Laerhoven is a compelling collection of short stories that delve into the profound impacts of war… The settings range from the war-torn Middle East to World War II and Nazi Germany, bridging past and present to create relevant and relatable narratives. I finished the book with immense respect for the author’s raw and heartbreaking portrayals of reality. The non-war stories are equally compelling, showcasing Van Laerhoven’s versatility and skill in crafting riveting tales. Fans of Roald Dahl or Edgar Allan Poe will appreciate the beautifully crafted stories in SCARS OF THE HEART. For those who enjoy well-constructed plots and complex characters, this collection is a must-read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who can endure the psychological turmoil and pain depicted, as it offers profound insights into the atrocities and resilience of life.”
~ 5-stars Literary Titan Review

“In SCARS OF THE HEART, Bob Van Laerhoven has taken a most controversial subject and written ten short stories around it. Each story is unique in its own right but the same theme is carried through each one. The author holds the reader’s attention in each story for different reasons… Each story has a different tale and lesson to be learned and each title is more intriguing than the last. Bob Van Laerhoven has highlighted the atrocities that were committed during the various wars throughout the ages, how nobody is ever allowed to forget them, and how it affects vulnerable youngsters growing up as they learn the truth–as seen through the eyes of a relative, family friend, or even history–of what happened to their family, village, and country. This is a most interesting anthology and will give readers much food for thought. It is a profound read and I will be sure to reread some of the more intriguing stories because there is so much to learn from them.”
~ Reviewed by Bernadette Longu for Readers’ Favorite – 5 stars

“Mr. Van Laerhoven is an artist with words who paints in all mediums.
He also has the ability to make you think and feel.
In this collection of short stories his talent is on display with a heavier hand in horror and angst, and it works well. There is no sugar coating what the characters see and do, and yet it is so real, you can picture each part of it, and will find the stories will not go away when you finish them…
These stories are wonderful, unsettling, and should be on your list to read. Highly recommended.”
~ Hussong’s Cantina – Amazon.com

“SCARS OF THE HEART is a collection of short stories by Bob van Laerhoven that explores the darker sides of the human psyche and the complex nature of human relationships. Laerhoven brings together narratives on the themes of love, loss, revenge, and redemption. Each story is complete on its own, yet together, they paint a vivid picture of the scars that life can leave on the heart.
While SCARS OF THE HEART is an intriguing collection, some readers may find the intensity and dark themes challenging. Laerhoven does not shy away from depicting violence and emotional suffering. While these align with the subject of the stories, they can be unsettling. Additionally, the complex nature of some stories may require careful reading to fully appreciate the symbolism they embody. For fans of thought-provoking and emotionally resonant fiction, I give it five stars out of five.”
~ 5-Star Review David Ikediuwa – Goodreads

Book Details:

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Suspense-Drama, Historical Literary Fiction
Published by: Next Chapter
Publication Date: May 28, 2024
Number of Pages: 245
ISBN: 9784824193995 (ISBN10: 4824193990)
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Kobo | Goodreads

 

Author Bio:

A full-time Belgian/Flemish author, Laerhoven has published (traditionally) 44 books in Holland and Belgium. As a freelance travel writer, he explored conflicts and trouble spots across the globe from the early 1990s to 2003: Somalia, Liberia, Bosnia, Sudan, Gaza, Iran, Iraq, Mozambique, Kosovo, and Myanmar… to name a few. Echoes of his experiences on the road trickle through in his novels.

Catch Up With Bob Van Laerhoven:
www.BobVanLaerhoven.be
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BookBub – @BobvanLaerhoven
Instagram – @bobvanlaerhoven
Threads – @bobvanlaerhoven
Twitter/X – @bobvanlaerhoven
Facebook

 

 

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$25 GC – Tangled Darkness by MM Desch @partnersincr1me @marymdesch

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TANGLED DARKNESS

by MM Desch

December 3, 2024 Cover Reveal

Synopsis:

In a twisted web of lies, she’s either the spider or the fly.

When a psychiatric clinic assistant turns up dead, Dr. Leslie Schoen finds herself a suspect in the case—and facing allegations which could destroy her career.

As Detective Davis works the investigation, Leslie launches her own inquiries. She soon uncovers deception and illegal schemes involving stolen prescription opioids at her clinic. It seems everyone around her is hiding something, and as she gets closer to the truth, the threats against her escalate. She struggles with keeping dangerous information from her pregnant wife, Izzy, and knows she needs to confront traumatic demons from her own past. But as she delves deeper into a web of lies, one thing becomes clear: someone will do anything to keep their criminal plans in the shadows.

With her family and even her life on the line, Leslie must outwit those who want her silenced before it’s too late. No one’s motives are what they seem, and the killer may be closer than anyone thinks.

Book Details:

Genre: Psychological Thriller
Published by: Rowan Prose Publishing
Publication Date: July 15, 2025
Number of Pages: 339
ISBN: 9798227130914
Book Links: Amazon | Kobo | Apple | BookBub | Goodreads | Books2Read

 

Author Bio:

MM Desch

Mary Desch, writing under the pen name MM Desch, brings a wealth of psychiatric expertise to her gripping psychological thrillers. Drawing from her extensive career as a general and addiction psychiatrist across multiple states, she crafts relatable characters facing intense psychological and physical dangers. Her deep understanding of human motivations, conflicts, and trauma recovery infuses her writing with authenticity and suspense.

A lifelong mystery enthusiast, Mary’s passion for the genre evolved from childhood fascination with Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine to a deep appreciation for detective fiction in college. This enduring love for suspenseful storytelling naturally led her to write psychological thrillers.

When not delving into the intricacies of her next novel or novella, Mary enjoys hiking, long walks with her wife and their spirited mini schnauzer, exploring local food scenes, golfing, and following women’s professional basketball.

Mary’s debut thriller, Tangled Darkness, marks the beginning of a promising foray into psychological suspense fiction.

Catch Up With MM Desch:
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What The ? Is Going On – First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston #ashleyelston #firstliewins

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MY REVIEW

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!

First Lie Wins is my first book by Ashley Elston, but it won’t be my last. I loved everything about First Lie Wins. I thought I knew what was going on, but Ashley had a few twists and turns that caught me offguard. I love when an author has me thinking…WTF and Ashley Elston does it in a big way.

Think having the perfect boyfriend, a white picket fence, the garden you always wanted and a wonderful group of friends is the be all end all? Think again. You can never be sure someone is who they say they are, because what you see is not always what you get.

If you are looking for a book that will fuck with you mind, grab a copy of First Lie Wins.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK | INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“This fast-paced read has everything you could want in a thriller: secret identities, a mysterious boss and a cat & mouse game that kept me guessing the whole way through.”—Reese Witherspoon

Evie Porter has everything a nice, Southern girl could want: a perfect, doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence and a garden, a fancy group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist.

The identity comes first: Evie Porter. Once she’s given a name and location by her mysterious boss Mr. Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the mark: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job.

Evie isn’t privy to Mr. Smith’s real identity, but she knows this job will be different. Ryan has gotten under her skin, and she’s starting to envision a different sort of life for herself. But Evie can’t make any mistakes—especially after what happened last time.

Because the one thing she’s worked her entire life to keep clean, the one identity she could always go back to—her real identity—just walked right into this town. Evie Porter must stay one step ahead of her past while making sure there’s still a future in front of her. The stakes couldn’t be higher—but then, Evie has always liked a challenge…

  • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
  • Format: 384 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published: January 2, 2024 by Pamela Dorman Books

ABOUT ASHLEY ELSTON

Ashley Elston worked for many years as a wedding photographer before turning her hand to writing. She lives in Louisiana with her husband and three sons. Elston has written six young adult novels. FIRST LIE WINS, her adult debut, was a number one New York Times bestseller and was selected as a Reese’s Book Club pick.

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  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
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