Series: Children of the Fifth Sun (Book 1) Paperback: 414 pages Publisher: Vesuvian Books (July 25, 2017) Language: English ISBN-10: 1944109404 Praise for CHILDREN OF THE FIFTH SUN
“An action-packed, globe-hopping science fiction thriller… pedal-to-the-metal pacing and relentless action make it easy to turn pages…” ―Kirkus Reviews
“Insane! What Gareth did here was incredible! This author took a global look at America, China, and Russia, and added a species from another era into the mix, to create a well-researched novel of suspense, intrigue, with dashing individuals. The characters travel the world on a unique mission while trying to stay out of the line of fire as rogue government agencies from several different countries try to stop them. It’s a wild ride from California to Peru, from Egypt to Siberia. The amount of research put into this novel is on par with a Michael Crichton novel. The main character, Kelly Graham, reminded me of Dirk Pitt from Clive Cussler’s novels. Overall, an incredible read and a book I’m recommending.” ―Jonas Saul, Best-selling author of the Sarah Roberts Series, April 2017
Suspend disbelief and let yourself travel on a downriver, undersea, and overland adventure in this well-constructed novel. The author takes you on a fast paced journey full of intrigue, government secrets, unusual creatures and just a tad of romance. Superlatives abound and the literary illumination paints an image so clear you feel you are there with the characters. For those who know the author, there are bit of his personality revealed which makes reading the novel even more enjoyable. A bit Tom Clancy, a hint of Dan Brown — authentically Gareth in his debut work. ―Charity Scripture
“Scientist Worthington’s understanding of the complexities and possibilities of marine biology and endocrinology are evident.” ―Publishers Weekly, May 2017l
AWARDS WINNER 2017 LONDON BOOK FESTIVAL — SCIENCE FICTION FINALIST 2018 SILVER FALCHION AWARD — SCI-FI/FANTASY/HORROR
Genre: “Science Faction” – science fiction, action and adventure with fact-based science, theories and mythology
IN ALMOST EVERY BELIEF SYSTEM ON EARTH, there exists a single unifying mythos: thousands of years ago a great flood devastated the Earth’s inhabitants. From the ruins of this cataclysm, a race of beings emerged from the sea bestowing knowledge and culture upon humanity, saving us from our selfish drive toward extinction. Some say this race were “ancient aliens” who came to assist our evolution.
But what if they weren’t alien at all? What if they evolved right here on Earth, alongside humans . . . and they are still here? And, what if the World’s governments already know?
Kelly Graham is a narcissistic self-assured freelance photographer specializing in underwater assignments. While on a project in the Amazon with his best friend, Chris D’Souza, a mysterious and beautiful government official, Freya Nilsson, enters Kelly’s life and turns it upside down. Her simple request to retrieve a strange object from deep underwater puts him in the middle of an international conspiracy. A conspiracy that threatens to change the course of human history.
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Photo Content from Gareth Worthington
Gareth Worthington is a trained marine biologist and also holds a doctorate in comparative endocrinology. Currently, Gareth works full time for the Pharmaceutical industry helping to educate the World’s doctors on new cancer therapies. In his spare time Gareth has a number of passions, including: martial arts – he trained in Muay Thai at the prestigious EVOLVE MMA gym in Singapore and currently trains in MMA at Phoenix Sportkampf, Switzerland; playing acoustic guitar; studying ancient history; drawing; and most of all writing fiction.
An award winning author, he hopes to one day hang up the pharma hat and write full time.
Every so often I will follow an email link from NetGalley and check out what’s happening. I try to limit how many books I grab at one time…you know how that is. I found some books by Joanna Schaffhousen and grabbed a couple. I would like to thank NetGalley, Minotaur Books and Joanna Schaffhausen for the opportunity to read and share them.
I immediately began reading No Mercy by Joanna Schaffhausen after finishing The Vanishing Season. I am loving the author and her characters and eagerly begin.
We start where we left off in The Vanishing Season. Each book can stand alone, though I highly recommend beginning at the beginning, because once Ellery got under my skin, I had to know… Each mystery, in this case two mysteries, end with my complete satisfaction and leave me wanting more. Now…let’s get to it.
Ellery Hathaway is on leave because of what happened. And that you will need to find out for yourself. Even though No Mercy is Book II, Joanna Schaffhausen will fill you in on the necessities.
Reed Markham is getting a divorce. He is an FBI profiler, so for those of you who watch Criminal Minds, you can see the complications that would entail for those left at home.
I love Joanna Schaffhausen’s ability to show me Tula, Reed’s daughter. I can see the little firecracker racing around, not happy with her pigtails daddy did because they are a bit lopsided. She’s ready for mommy to pick her up, but she’s so caught up in just being, she forgot she doesn’t have any shoes on. Joanna’s ability to show me the event had me smiling as I watched her.
Ellery had never been on a date. After her abduction at fourteen years old, I can understand why. Sure, she has sex. But she uses it like a weapon. Romance? She doesn’t believe it can ever happen for her after what Francis Coben, the serial killer did to her. Even though he is in prison, so is she. He is always with her…in her mind.
Something happens. I won’t tell you what, but Reed comes rushing to her side, leaving with just the clothes on his back. He saved her once, and he is determined to not let anything else happen to her. Little does he know, trouble seems to find her…or does she go looking for it? There is no romance between them, but, I wonder….
A note…
“You really think I’m unlucky enough to attract the attention of a third serial killer?”
Imagine yourself and everything about you splashed all over the internet. You even have a Wikipedia page, telling of the horrors inflicted on you by a serial killer. People building websites devoted to you…of HIM…the trolls, the filthy, disgusting…
Even though this is fiction, it reads like a true story. I don’t know how Ellery could even step outside her home. Especially on a dark night. I don’t know if I would every leave my house again. Could you? I would have alarms on every access point, the outside lit up as if it’s daytime and, at least, ONE BIG guard dog.
When it came time for Reed to leave, his boss giving him an ultimatum, I knew he couldn’t do it. There’s a rapist on the loose, an old arson case, and someone is messing with Ellery.
I love that he cooks for her, and stays with her. He’s a good cook and it is a definite improvement over the fast food she lives on. He refuses to leave her home alone.
Joanna’ Schaffhausen’s characters are the lowest of the low and the highest of the high. They range from the pond scum that doesn’t deserve to breath air to the knight in shining armor that all children dream about.
Ellery’s need to help others makes her a target all too often, but it leads to lots of non stop action and intense mysteries. Danger lurks around every corner and even comes knocking on her door. Joanna Schaffhausen stacks mystery on top of mystery, because one isn’t enough. LOL
Reed: “I want you to stop taking chances with your life.”
Ellery: “You forget. I’m living on borrowed time.”
OMG. Joanna Schaffhausen continues to blow me away with her in your face, can’t put down, take my breath away suspense.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of No Mercy by Joanna Schaffhausen.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Police officer Ellery Hathaway and FBI profiler Reed Markham take on two difficult new cases in this stunning follow-up to The Vanishing Season.
No Mercy is award-winning author Joanna Schaffhausen’s heart-pounding second novel.
Police
officer Ellery Hathaway is on involuntary leave from her job because
she shot a murderer in cold blood and refuses to apologize for it.
Forced into group therapy for victims of violent crime, Ellery
immediately finds higher priorities than “getting in touch with her
feelings.”
For one, she suspects a fellow group member may have
helped to convict the wrong man for a deadly arson incident years ago.
For another, Ellery finds herself in the desperate clutches of a woman
who survived a brutal rape. He is still out there, this man with the
Spider-Man-like ability to climb through bedroom windows, and his victim
beseeches Ellery for help in capturing her attacker.
Ellery seeks
advice from her friend, FBI profiler Reed Markham, who liberated her
from a killer’s closet when she was a child. Reed remains drawn to this
unpredictable woman, the one he rescued but couldn’t quite save. The
trouble is, Reed is up for a potential big promotion, and his boss has
just one condition for the new job—stay away from Ellery. Ellery ignores
all the warnings. Instead, she starts digging around in everyone’s past
but her own—a move that, at best, could put her out of work
permanently, and at worst, could put her in the city morgue.
ABOUT JOANNA SCHAFFHAUSEN
Joanna Schaffhausen wields a mean scalpel, sharp skills she
developed in her years studying neuroscience. She has a doctorate in
psychology, which reflects her long-standing interest in the brain―how
it develops and the many ways it can go wrong. Previously, she worked
as a scientific editor in the field of drug development. Prior to that,
she was an editorial producer for ABC News, writing for programs such
as World News Tonight, Good Morning America, and 20/20. She lives in
the Boston area with her husband, daughter, and an obstreperous basset
hound.
Jane Blythe is a fabulous author that has given me hours of reading pleasure, so I am glad to be back in the saddle series again with Christmas Victim and Savannah and Jett.
Christmas Victim by Jane Blythe was released on 12.1.19, just in time for the holidays.
I love a series where each story is complete, but recurring characters make appearances, refusing to stay by the sidelines, and Christmas Victim by Jane Blythe is one of those stories. This time we will get the low down on Savannah and Jett and find out if their second chance romance will work out.
Savannah had worked for the FBI, but injuries suffered in the line of duty have made it impossible for her to continue. Now, her job as a crime scene technician may be in jeopardy. Savannah is afraid to try to walk again, afraid to know if physical therapy will work or will she be stuck the wheelchair forever. I like how Jane Blythe dealt with her fears and insecurities. It makes it easier to understand why some people are afraid to try and move forward, paralyzed with fear. It takes a good support team and Savannah’s struggle reads like a true story of those stuggles. At times, I wanted to tell Savannah to get over herself, but who am I to judge what is right for her. I have never ‘walked’ in her shoes. Savannah is like a cat and I wonder how many lives she has left.
Savannah’s cat, Sequin (because of her spots that looked like sequins), refused to use a little box and just had to go out…at night. Okay, at night, in a wheelchair without any protection or even her cell phone, I know something bad is coming her way…but, she hears shots fired at her new neighbor’s house.
Finn, a doctor, and Chloe, am FBI agent, had worked through their problems and were now happily married with a little one on the way. She was going to spend the night with Savannah…but they found her unconscious on the ground suffering a head injury and hypothermia. Hasn’t Savannah been through enough JANE? An author after my own heart. She puts her characters through hell…repeatedly. LOL
Violet is missing and Jett has returned to work the case. And the dance of romance begins…along with the mystery. He was the one responsible for telling her to move there. He feels it is his responsibility to get her back. Jett knows who took her, the stalker she was hiding from, but the stalkers knows all the ins and outs to staying off the radar and has been impossible to locate. He and Jett have a connection and this has become the villain’s favorite game to play. He won’t go down easy.
Savannah had sent Jett away. She felt he had let her down and she could not count on him when the chips were down. This time…well, he wants her back and won’t take no for an answer.
Violet will go through hell, beatings, torture, sexual assault, but she never quits. He believes she belongs to him and will never let her go. What is the meaning of love?
When he punched her, it was only out of love. A love he wanted her to reciprocate. A love he WOULD get her to reciprocate.
Be careful if you do something to make him angry. He came from a brutal, disgusting, appalling despicable, depraved home, but he had made something of himself…or did he? Was he just good at hiding who he really was. I love stories that delve into the mind of monsters.
WOW. I am stunned, not sure what I think. HE took Jane Blythe to a really dark place and I love getting into his mind, trying to see what makes him tick, his thoughts and feelings. There were a couple of things that bothered me, but were easy to overlook. It allowed the story to continue and gave it that little twist that lets us know, monsters don’t go down easy.
Another wild ride that does NOT make for light Christmas reading, but if you are looking for the boogie man that comes out at night, this may just work for you. LOL This is the third book in the series of recurring characters, but each story is told in its entirety.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Christmas Victim by Jane Blythe.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
He broke her heart when he wasn’t there for her when she needed him the most.
FBI
Agent Jett Crane is hunting his ex-partner who has gone off the rails.
When his one time girlfriend Savannah Watson becomes an accidental
casualty, he is both thrilled to see her again, and terrified that she
might now become a target of the man he is searching for.
Savannah
on the other hand is not the least bit pleased at the prospect of
seeing Jett again. He let her down, and broke both her heart and her
trust, and she has no interest in rekindling old feelings. Despite her
determination to ignore his attempts to win her back and in spite of the
pain he caused her, being around him softens the hard wall she had
built around her heart. But with a dangerous man circling them will it
all be too late for Jett and Savannah to once again find happiness with
each other?
Doctor Alicia Reese suffered the devastating loss of her husband and was in a delicate place when Lucas walked into her office with paralyzing panic attacks.
I was reading along, then went back to the blurb, wondering if this book was going to be about love, loss and recovery and just a ho hum read, WHEN it took a sharp turn.
I had a general idea of where Deborah Serani was going to take me, but after the phone call…that revved it up for me.
I was very curious how it would all play out because it’s only 188 pages and I felt like time was running out. My suspense level rose, the tension increased, pace got faster and I felt I had to know.
Yeah, the cover drew my interest, but the title and blurb set me up for an even better story than I anticipated. I do like book surprises, don’t you? And this was one wild ride in the inner thoughts of Lucas and Alicia.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Ninth Session by Deboarh Serani.
4 Stars
BOOK BLURB
Dr. Alicia Reese, a recent
widow and a CODA – a child of Deaf Adults, takes on a new patient. Lucas Ferro
reveals the reason for his consultation is that he wasn’t really open with his
previous therapist. After gaining Reese’s trust, he shares aspects of his life
that are clearly disturbing – experiences that create anxiety and panic, but
also reveal horrifying psychopathology. Instead of referring Ferro elsewhere,
Reese chooses to continue working with him, feeling reinvigorated by the
challenge of his case.
As sessions progress, and Ferro’s disclosures become more menacing, Reese finds herself wedged between the cold hard frame of professional ethics and the integrity of personal truth – and learns just how far she’s willing to go, willing to risk and willing to lose to do the right thing.
ABOUT DEBORAH SERANI
Deborah Seraniis an award-winning author and psychologist who has been in practice for thirty years. She is also a professor at Adelphi University and is a go-to media expert for psychological issues. Her interviews can be found in Newsday, Psychology Today, The Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, The Associated Press, and affiliate radio programs at CBS and NPR, among others. Dr. Serani has also been a technical advisor for the NBC television show, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The recurring character, Judge D. Serani, was named after her.
The Psycho Collection is no longer available as a boxed set. I am reviewing the books for the Blogger Shame Challenge, because it is way overdue. I read the books in 2016 and will be reviewing them individually.
I only find the audiobook and paperback for Psycho Inside Me available at this time. I don’t know how I ended up reviewing Dictating Death on 2.5.15, finished reading Psycho Inside me on 5.18.16 and Watch Me Burn on 5.21.16. I think because they can stand alone and I reviewed Dictating Death before the boxed set came out, which is no longer available.
MY REVIEW FOR PSYCHO INSIDE ME
Action from the getgo.
The sheriff’s son, Deegan, helps the preacher’s daughter cover up the death of bad boy Bobby. They were friends, but this changed their relationship, brought them closer.
Her instinct was to take his ring for a trophy, but Deegan had a better idea. A tattoo.
The death changed her and now she is on the run. She is fueled by nightmares of Bobby, but determined not to be caught.
Are monster born or raised? That age old question, what creates a monster? I am always curious about what drives people to do some of the most heinous acts to others.
Justice doesn’t always come to the rescue and sometimes taking the matter into your own hand is the only answer. I do believe the world has a lot more grey, than black and white.
I didn’t see the direction Bonnie R Paulson was going to take with Psycho Inside me, but I do love the Bonnie and Clyde vigilante aspect. I can always relate to a vigilante and I guess that says something about me. LOL She is a badass psycho and I love her…and her boyfriend too. I feel her need to take down the bullies and pedophiles that prey on children. They do deserve the worst that can be heaped on them…and her name is Cassie.
She trained. She is only a young teenager, but she becomes a predator, created by those whotreated her as prey. I love how she is changing from her 13 year old innocent ways, forcing herself to become a calculating weapon of justice. Fine by me is she wipes out the perverts. You may feel the same way after reading about the degenerates.
The world is dark, with rays of sun shining through when the clouds lift in her mind.
How will this end? Will she be killed in one of the attacks? I want it to end well for her, regardless of what she has done. I love a characters that can win me over so completely.
Molestation and sexual assault are difficult subjects to face and talk about, but Bonnie R Paulsonwants you to know…YOU ARE NOT ALONE..you can survive.
Psycho Inside Me by Bonnie R Paulson….BLEW MY MIND.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Psycho Inside Me by Bonnie R Paulson.
I’m going over the falls and into deep water. And I go willingly.
Maria hated waiting for the death part. The fun was in the lead-in to the final act – the revenge.
The creepiness of the cover drew me in and after reading the blurb, I was hooked. Knowing what’s inside only whet my appetite for blood. And I got it. Right from the getgo. From the opening pages the knife was cutting, the blood flowing, the torture beyond belief. It wasn’t enough to kill. It must be a long, drawn out, painful and excruciating death. And Maria reveled in it.
Samantha and Maria are at odds with each other. Samantha wants to love Doctor Luke Lawson, while Maria wants to kill him. Call them the Threat Specialists – one is proud, the other horrified. What is the end game? What creates someone so twisted, reveling in brutality, savagery, enjoying the kill? Maybe you will find out…if you read Dictating Death by Bonnie R Paulson
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Dictating Death by Bonnie R Paulson
4 Stars
MY REVIEW FOR WATCH ME BURN
Levi had been burned in the romance department, so when Megan hit on him, he did all he could to avoid her. But she wanted him and friendship was not enough. Even though Chelsea had already staked her claim.
How far will she go to hold onto Levi? Are they living a story of Fatal Attraction?
Levi and Chelsea’s relationship was toxic. Now he feels he must remain along…hiding.
When he saw the FOR RENT sign, I thought, “OH NO!” The game is on.
Such a twisted, perverted definition of love, which could turn fatal. Will it? And for whom?
Stalking. Abuse. Rape.
Pathetic excuse for a man. How can he be ‘trained’ to accept his role? Can you fix what is so badly broken?
Not enough time passed for Chelsea to win Megan’s trust, but the story is short, so I can see why things happend so fast. I would love to see Bonnie R Paulson flesh the story out and take it to an even deeper, darker level. BUT, I love it. Twisting and turning to the end.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Watch Me Burn by Bonnie R Paulson.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Everyone has a little Psycho inside… ***BOX SET***
Psycho Inside Me
I
killed my first victim at thirteen years old – my age, not his. He was
going to rape me, him and a couple of his friends. And so, I killed him.
And then… I killed again. And again.
At seventeen, I’m killing
four to six times a year – maybe more. Don’t stress out. I only go
after the pedophiles and rapists. There are more out there than I could
cover in a lifetime.
Saying I did this on my own would be
selfish. Enforcing justice holds a glory all its own. But now, my
lifelong friend and backup, Deegan, has been arrested. I have to decide
if I want to give myself up and take his place or leave him with all the
damning evidence. I don’t want to stop killing. But if I let him take
the fall, I can’t kill anymore. And I need to keep doing that.
But the worst part of it all? I love him.
Dictating Death
Samantha wants to love him.
Maria wants to kill him.
Dr.
Luke Lawson has no idea that the girl he’s dating has split
personalities fighting to control her body. Samantha must keep Luke safe
at all costs.
If Samantha wins, Maria will die and disappear forever – taking Samantha with her.
If Maria wins, Dr. Lawson will die and she and Samantha will move on to the next doctor – the next kill.
But Luke is special.
He could save Samantha from herself… but only if Samantha can save him.
Watch Me Burn
Levi
I’ve been in love and it hurts.
We hurt each other.
On purpose.
I can’t escape the guilt.
Megan
I don’t want to be just friends with Levi.
But I will be.
He’s been hurt before and I just want to be there for him.
Someone needs to be on his side.
Chelsea
Levi Cole is mine.
I want him.
She can’t have him.
She needs to die.
crazy,
standalone, stalker, psycho series, psychological thriller, ya
thriller, ya romantic suspense, YA survivor fiction, ya psychological
romance, relationships, psychology
ABOUT BONNIE R PAULSON
Bonnie R. Paulson mixes her science and
medical background with reality and possibilities to make even myths
seem likely and give every romance the genetic strength to survive.
Bonnie has discovered a dark and twisty turn in her writing that she
hopes you enjoy as much as she has enjoyed uncovering it. Dirt biking
with her family in the Northwest keeps her sane.
One father was murdered, and another convicted of his death. All because their children fell in love.
Nate Beckett has spent his life fighting wildfires instead of the lies and rumors that drove him from his Colorado home town. His mother begs him to come to Carlisle now that his father has been released from prison, but it isn’t until he’s sidelined by an injury that he’s forced to return and face his past. But that means facing Brenna too.
Fourteen years ago, Nate was in love with the preacher’s daughter. When Pastor Strickland discovered Brenna had defied him to sneak out with Nate, the fight between Strickland and Nate’s drunken dad was loud—and very public. Strickland was found murdered later that night, and everyone accused Roy Beckett. When the church burned down, people assumed it was Nate getting even for his father’s conviction. He let the rumors fly and left Carlisle without looking back.
Now, Brenna is stunned to learn that the man convicted of murdering her father has been pardoned. The events of that night set her life on a bad course, and she’s dealing with a brutal custody battle with her ex and his new wife where he’s using lies and his family’s money to sway the judge. She’s barely hanging on, and she’s turned to alcohol to cope. Shame and fear consume her.
As they deal with the present—including new information about that fateful night and a wildfire that’s threatening their town—their past keeps igniting. Nate is the steady force Brenna has so desperately needed. But she’ll have to learn to trust him again first.
Book Details:
Genre: Suspense (Christian) Published by: HarperCollins-Thomas Nelson Publication Date: November 5th 2019 Number of Pages: 352 ISBN: 0310332591 (ISBN13: 9780310332596) Purchase Links:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | Thomas Nelson
Read an excerpt:
I woke up in a blinding bright room, my clothes off and something clamped to my face. I tried to reach it, but I couldn’t bend my right arm, and my hand stung. An IV was taped to my other hand, but I moved carefully and touched the thing over my face.
An oxygen mask. I tried to sit up. “What happened?”
T-bird came to my bedside, a sheen of smoky sweat still soiling his face. “Nate, lie back, man.”
“The fire,” I said. “Need to get back. My men.”
“They’re still there. Making progress. But you’re not going anywhere near a fire for a month or so.”
I took the mask off and coughed a little, but managed to catch my breath. “A month?”
“Yep. Second degree burns on 20 percent of your body. Some of the burns are deep.”
It came back to me, the event that had gotten me here.
“The family. Were they injured?”
“Not a scratch or burn. Turns out it was a U.S. Senator from Kansas. He says you’re a hero.”
“You know I had no choice. They were in the path—”
“Take the praise where you can get it, man. We don’t get that much.”
I looked at my right side. My right arm was bandaged, and so was my side and down my right leg to the point where my boots had stopped the flames. Second degree wasn’t so bad, I told myself. Third degree would have been brutal. I’d be able to leave the hospital soon. I’d heal.
“I won’t need a month,” I said.
“Yes, you will. They can’t let you go back. Doctor’s orders. You’re grounded until he releases you.”
I managed to sit up, but it was a bad idea. The burns pulling on my skin reminded me why I shouldn’t. “I can’t be grounded during fire season. Are you crazy? I need to be there. You don’t have enough men as it is.”
“Sorry, Nate. It is what it is. Why don’t you go home to Carlisle for a while? Take it easy.”
Go home? Pop had just been pardoned, and he and my mom were trying to navigate the reunion. Though she would love to have me home, I didn’t know if I was up to it. My father could be challenging, and fourteen years of prison hadn’t done him any favors.
***
Excerpt taken from Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock. Copyright 2019 by Terri Blackstock. Used by permission of http://www.thomasnelson.com/. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
Terri Blackstock has sold over seven million books worldwide and is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author. She is the award-winning author of Intervention, Vicious Cycle, and Downfall, as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, and the Restoration Series.
Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those
neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything
like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in
your stacks.
There is a darkness
moving over the land, obscuring hope, erasing freedom. It threatens to
destroy. It promises to shackle. But wait … as the shadows close in, a
small band of patriots rise up to fight. But Jeff and Anne Krieg can’t
help but wonder Is it too late for freedom? Did we wait too long? After
two terms of the most liberal president in decades, America continues
its plunge down the slippery slope of socialism by electing yet another
politician, hell-bent on destroying all the Founding Fathers held dear.
I won a paperback copy back in 2012 and added it to my TBR on 7.6.12. It sounds like a good one to me.
Goodreads rating: 3.83. It is available on Kindle for 4.99.
“Too many twists and turns to easily share about this book. Nevertheless, Carr has pulled off another “hit” that kept me reading in one setting until the clues were so well together that the villain fell into our laps…or Chris’s, LOL Carr has put a lot into the book beyond the mysteries this time…Characters enjoyed chocotinis, visited book stores…and even blundered into getting engaged (the ring had been purchased 4 months ago)… But, for me, a special thank you for the political spoof at a time when politics at the national level is devastating, gave me a laugh and lightened the load of it all!” – Review by Glenda Bixler, Book Reader’s Heaven
MY REVIEW
The Geezer Squad is back, along with the rest of the gang, and I am so happy to joining in the mystery, fun and lovin’ The family that solves a murder together, stays together. lol I am amped up, ready for some murder, mystery and laughs, with two and four legged characters combines.
Sometimes it is hard to write a review and this is one of those times. The words won’t seem to come, even though I loved The Last Thing She Said. There was lot of mystery and suspects, clues to follow, some lead to nowhere and others lead to more mystery.
I saw Shannon’s mystery coming and I’m eager for the investigation to begin. The Geezer Squad is called into action. They morphed from a book club to a cold case investigating team and they are very, very good at it. A bunch of retired law enforcement that hates to let the bad guy get away.
Sterling…well…what can I say about Sterling:
“Oh, what a beautiful German Shepherd!”…”And he’s wearing sunglasses!”
Lauren Carr’s descriptive writing brings all her characters and their worlds to life in vivid detail sometimes making me bust out in laughter, other times I am completely absorbed in the investigative details.
The whole Buttwrinkle thing had me LAUGHING OUT LOUD!
The past and present collide as the dead refuse to stay dead , and mysteries and suspects run riot through the pages. I love how Lauren Carr allows characters from her other series to make an appearance.
I went from curious to ticked off, to confused, to happy and laughing as I flipped through the pages, guessing and cyphering the clues.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Last Thing She Said by Lauren Carr.
4 Stars
Book Details:
Book Title:The Last Thing She Said (A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #3) by Lauren Carr
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 386 pages Genre: Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: July 22, 2019 Formats available for purchase: paperback, ebook, audiobook (audible & itunes) Tour dates: October 7 to November 15, 2019 Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!
Book Description: “I’m working on the
greatest mystery ever,” was the last thing noted mystery novelist
Mercedes Livingston said to seven-year-old Chris Matheson before walking
out of Hill House Hotel never to be seen again.
For decades, the writer’s fate
remained a puzzling mystery until an autographed novel and a letter put a
grown-up Chris Matheson on the trail of a cunning killer. With the help
of a team of fellow retired law enforcement officers, each a specialist
in their own field of investigation, Chris puts a flame to this cold
case to uncover what had really happened that night Mercedes Livingston
walked out of Hill House Hotel. Watch out! The clues are getting hot!
Book Title: Winter Frost (A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #2) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult fiction, 332 pages Genre: Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January 22, 2019 Formats available for purchase: paperback, ebook, audiobook (audible & itunes)Tour dates:October 7 to November 22, 2019 Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books
are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a
murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind
closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between).
No F-bombs!
“Filled with twists and turns, Winter Frost
reads perfectly well as a stand-alone, although it is part of a series.
The author creates tension and suspense throughout by keeping the
reader guessing; she keeps readers engaged with well fleshed out
characters and a dash of humor. Sterling, the retired German Shepherd
police dog turned card shark, is a new favorite. As the story flows, the
truth unfolds, layer by layer, leading to a satisfying conclusion.
“Winter Frost was an entertaining, at times humorous read with suspense, some surprises, and even cute animals in the mix.” Review of Winter Frost by The iRead Review
Book Description: It all started with a chance encounter in the city with Blair, his late wife.
Chris Matheson and the Geezer Squad,
working under the guise of a book club, dig into the events surrounding
his late wife’s supposed death halfway around the globe. A state
department employee shoots himself in the back three times. A CIA
operative goes missing. A woman is targeted by an international assassin
three years after being declared dead in a terrorist attack overseas.
Nothing is as it seems.
In his most personal cold case,
Chris fights to uncover why the state department told him that Blair,
the mother of his children, had been killed when she was alive. What had
she uncovered that has made her a target? Who terrified her so much
that she had gone into hiding and why are they now after him?
Book Title: ICE (A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #1) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult fiction, 364 pages Genre: Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: February 26, 2018 Formats available for purchase: paperback, ebook, audiobook (audible & itunes)Tour dates:October 7 to November 22, 2019 Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books
are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a
murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind
closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between).
No F-bombs!
“ICE is a
strong start to a new series that will have fans of Lauren Carr thrilled
to be introduced to another set of memorable and entertaining
characters. Carr’s Geezer Squad has brought sexy back to mature men and
women, whose kickass attitude and smarts sizzle as they melt the clues
to those cold cases!” Laura Fabiani, Library of Clean Reads
“For the whodunit mystery buff who loves ever-increasing suspense and
danger, Lauren Carr’s newest series offers up a big dose of both. Murder
and mayhem seem to be Chris’s new companions after returning home
following the loss of both his wife and his father. Juggling the
parenting responsibilities of his three daughters with his mother is not
something Chris was expecting at this point in his life, but life isn’t
something that goes as planned.” 5-Star Review at Blooming with Books
Book Description: When Sandy Lipton
and her unborn child disappeared, the court of public opinion found
young Chris Matheson guilty. Decades later, the retired FBI agent
returns home to discover that the cloud of suspicion cast over him and
his family has never lifted.
With the help of a team of fellow
retired law enforcement officers, each a specialist in their own field
of investigation, Chris Matheson starts chipping away at the ice on this
cold case to uncover what had happened to Sandy and her baby and the
clues are getting hot!
Lauren
Carr is the international best-selling author of the Thorny Rose, Mac
Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries—over
twenty titles across four fast-paced mystery series filled with twists
and turns!
Book reviewers and readers alike
rave about how Lauren Carr seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery,
suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.
Lauren is a popular speaker who has
made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at
conventions. She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German
shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
Oct 7 – Working Mommy Journal – book review of The Last Thing She Said
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I have made a huge dent in back reviews that have been sitting, waiting…and waiting. I am close to reaching my goal for this year, the first round through my notebooks and review list. I won’t get everything done, but I am happy with the challenge and my progress.
I read Gideon on 6.2.16 and gave it a 5 star rating for this debut thriller. I love Alex Gordon’s work and can only imagine how far Alex Gordon will go in her career. I plan on being around to see.
Lauren’s fate is sealed with the death of her father. He tried to protect her, but the lure for answers about death and danger surrounding her beckons her to Gideon, where He waits.
Alex Gordon”s story takes us from Seattle, Washington, to Gideon, Illinois.
Gideon was a crossroads for evil.
HE is surrounded by woods and darkness, where the dead don’t stay dead. Have I hooked you yet?
The town’s people job was to keep the darkness from crossing over.
Could Lauren be the one to stop HIM for good? Would innocence and naivety in the ways of evil and magic win out?
From the 1800s and burning at the stake to cell phones, potions and spells, evil rises and good does it’s best to prevail.
Both good and evil characters will die, so be careful who you get attached to and be prepared to grieve for the characters taken before their time.
I was a bit slow to get involved, but once Lauren traveled to Gideon, I found the pace picking up and my need to know what happens next rising to such a high level I found it hard to put the book down.
BUT…the story is not over and I am so happy to have Book II, Jericho, here at my side, ready to crack open and see what challenge faces Lauren next. I wrote that in my notes, but I reviewed Jericho before Gideon. Don’t ask me why, because I don’t know. LOL
Gideon wraps up the story in a great way and I feel it can stand alone, but I rated Jericho 5 stars, so I think ,once you begin, you would have to know more.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Gideon by Alex Gordon.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Preston & Child meets
Kim Harrison in this edge-of-your-seat debut thriller—a superb blend of
mystery, urban fantasy, horror, romance, and the supernatural.
When
Lauren’s father dies, she makes a shocking discovery. The man she knew
as John Reardon was once a completely different person, with a different
name. Now, she’s determined to find out who he really was, even though
her only clues are an old photograph, some letters, and the name of a
town—Gideon.
But someone—or something—doesn’t want her to
discover the truth. A strange man is stalking her, appearing everywhere
she turns, and those who try to help her end up dead. Neither a shadowy
enemy nor her own fear are going to prevent her from solving the mystery
of her father—and unlocking the secrets of her own life.
Making
her way to Gideon, Lauren finds herself more confused than ever. Nothing
in this small Midwestern town is what it seems, including time itself.
Residents start going missing, and Lauren is threatened by almost every
townsperson she encounters. Two hundred years ago, a witch was burned at
the stake, but in Gideon, the past feels all too chillingly present . .
.
ABOUT ALEX GORDON
Alex Gordon, author of the
supernatural thrillers GIDEON and JERICHO, was born in the Northeast,
grew up in the South, and now resides in the Midwest. When she isn’t
working, she enjoys watching sports and old movies, long walks, and the
company of her dog, Gaby. She dreams of someday adding the Pacific
Northwest to the list of regions where she has lived. And maybe the
south of France.
She is not the Alex Gordon who has written
several books about English footballers. She also has never played for
the Kansas City Royals.
Photo by Libby Bulloff
Alex also writes Science Fiction and Fantasy under the name Kristine Smith.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Geoffrey Saign will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Serve justice. Discover a secret. Find his daughter. Repay betrayal.
Jack Steel trains for the impossible, and it looks like it found him.
On a black op to neutralize terrorists, elite specialist Steel puts honor and integrity ahead of orders when he spares a monk. He just never expected his decision to put crosshairs on his back.
Hunted by a twisted killer, a vengeful billionaire, and the highest levels of government, Steel races to discover who’s behind a conspiracy that will decide the fate of two countries—and why one monk is the key to it all.
Aching from a missing daughter, Steel finds it easy to fall for Christie, a beautiful counter-terrorism analyst who offers to help. But he isn’t sure he can trust anyone.
To have a chance at love and a new life, and to serve justice, Steel just needs to stay one step ahead of a bullet…
*****
Revenge. Love. Family.
To protect their families, Jack Steel and Christie Thorton must become assassins.
Deadly Blackhood Ops specialist Jack Steel has moved on from his bloody past, but his past won’t let him go. He has it all; his partner Christie, his daughter Rachel, a protection agency he’s proud of, and his head on straight.
But it’s all torn apart when a madman blackmails him and Christy. Their skills are pushed to the limit as they are forced to become assassins to save those they love. The Mexican cartel, terrorists, and people from Steel’s past force them into a non-stop fight that they can’t walk away from.
To protect his country, and everyone important to him, Steel will be forced to trust the very people he swore to kill.
And he might have to walk away from those he loves…
Read an Excerpt from Book 2: Steel Assassin
Steel heard the ooh ooh ooh cry of a Mexican spotted owl. It began softly and escalated rapidly to a louder pitch. Wishing he could just stand still and enjoy it, he kept moving. He had a deep, abiding love for nature—which always grounded him.
As he made his way south, he also wished he had taken a firmer stand with Christie and refused her help. It probably wouldn’t have mattered. She would have come anyway. But the fact that she was in a dangerous Op, with little field experience, gave his steps more urgency.
A deeper fear lurked beneath that idea. When the Colombian had threatened to send Christie’s photo to the cartel, he had intuited that it wasn’t just a threat, but a plan. The Colombian would have to die before that happened.
The trees formed dark shadows under the moon. He ran from trunk to trunk until he was far enough south that he could approach the side of the house directly from the east.
Decades of exploring caves had made moving in darkness second nature to him.
As he got closer, the house lights guided him in. He stopped fifty feet out behind a tree. No one was visible in the windows. It triggered an alarm in his head to be more cautious.
About the Author:
Award-winning author Geoffrey Saign has spent many years studying kung fu and sailed all over the South Pacific and Caribbean. He uses that experience and sense of adventure to write the Jack Steel and Alex Sight thriller action series.
Geoff loves to sail big boats, hike, and cook—and he infuses all his writing with his passion for nature. As a swimmer he considers himself fortunate to live in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Minnesota. See what he’s up to at his website.
