Darcy Coates had me until the last head rolled and that was fantastic and very unusual. This dark and disturbing, graphically suspenseful novel had me so wrapped up I couldn’t stop reading until the last word was read.
I don’t even have the breath to scream. My face is to the sky, my back to the empty white void beneath me as I plunge, carrying a wave of snow in my wake.
And that is only the beginning of Christa’s nightmare. Nine people begin the tour and only one person will be left standing. I figure…it has to be her…doesn’t it? But, how will the others be taken out and who is the one doing it that is the question.
At first I rated Dead Of Winter by Darcy Coates a four, but as I wrote this review, seeing the novel had everything I could want in a suspense novel and an ending that deserves a star of it’s own, I had to raise my rating to a 5. I mean, I love a good storm, whether in the cold climes leading to a blizzard or the warm climes leading to a hurricane, an isolated location, a killer amongst them, bloody, gruesome and graphic deaths…I mean, what more could I possibly require for a mind numbing thrill ride into the depths of depravity and revenge?
We have those ‘don’t go out there’ moments…and I love it.
The writing and pacing keeps the suspense at a high level, the story flowing seamlessly. The list of suspects included all of the tour goers, Darcy Coates making me suspicious of them all, at one time or another. I couldn’t eliminate anyone, except Christa. Did I see who the villain was and the need for revenge? Sure, there was a hint or two here and there of the reason, but it did not lead me to the villain…until Darcy Coates exposed him. I bow to her for a job WELL DONE.
OH, I forgot to mention the gorgeous cover and the intriguing title that screams, “Read me!”.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
From bestselling author Darcy Coates comes Dead of Winter, a remote cabin in the snowy wilderness thriller that will teach you to trust no one. There are eight strangers. One killer. Nowhere left to run.
When Christa joins a tour group heading deep into the snowy expanse of the Rocky Mountains, she’s hopeful this will be her chance to put the ghosts of her past to rest. But when a bitterly cold snowstorm sweeps the region, the small group is forced to take shelter in an abandoned hunting cabin. Despite the uncomfortably claustrophobic quarters and rapidly dropping temperature, Christa believes they’ll be safe as they wait out the storm.
She couldn’t be more wrong.
Deep in the night, their tour guide goes missing…only to be discovered the following morning, his severed head impaled on a tree outside the cabin. Terrified, and completely isolated by the storm, Christa finds herself trapped with eight total strangers. One of them kills for sport…and they’re far from finished. As the storm grows more dangerous and the number of survivors dwindles one by one, Christa must decide who she can trust before this frozen mountain becomes her tomb.
Expected publication July 11, 2023 by Poisoned Pen Press
ABOUT DARCY COATES
Darcy Coates is the USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen horror and suspense novels.
She lives in the Central Coast of Australia with her family, cat, and a collection of chickens. Her home is surrounded by rolling wilderness on all sides, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Toymaker by Chuck Barrett is a continuation of The Savannah Project, so this review will be short and sweet.
I LOVED IT.
Jake Pendleton will learn the all the grisly details of the ills that have befallen him, as he faces his worst foes. One is familiar, Ian Collings, the assassin. One is new, a terrorist, and will test all his skills. He will travel the world, dodging death with colleagues old and new.
The more I read, the more lost I got in the story, wondering who would live and who would die. Hopefully, it will be the villains, but with Chuck Barrett, you can never be sure.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Former NTSB Investigator Jake Pendleton faces a dilemma as the line blurs between right and wrong. After his judgment comes into question, Jake is entrusted to his new mentor, an eccentric old man who sees beyond Jake’s flaws. A man who makes ‘toys for spies.’
A man known as The Toymaker.
Jake’s first assignment reunites him with Gregg Kaplan in a daredevil mission to rescue a fellow agent held captive in Yemen. He risks his life to stop the first attack of an al Qaeda mastermind. But now, with no one to trust but himself, can Jake stop the terrorist from destroying what is most precious to the free world?
Unfortunately, more trouble comes his way as a killer from his past threatens something more important to Jake than his own life, leaving him to make the hardest decision any man ever has to make—
Who to sacrifice.
Fiction, Action and Adventure, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Terrorism, Espionage
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 21, 2011
ABOUT CHUCK BARRETT
Chuck Barrett is the award-winning author of The Savannah Project, The Toymaker, Breach of Power, and Disruption of his Jake Pendleton series, and Blown, and Last Chance of his blockbuster Gregg Kaplan series. He is a graduate of Auburn University and retired air traffic controller. He also holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate.
He and his wife, DJ Steele (also an author) currently reside in Northern Colorado.
Awards: —BLOWN 2016 Writers Digest Self-Published Book Awards
—Breach of Power Winner of the 2013 Indie Excellence Award in Political Thrillers. Finalist in the 2013 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure category.
—The Toymaker Finalist in the 2013 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure & Mystery/Suspense categories.
—The Savannah Project Finalist in the 2011 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure category. Second Place in the 2011 Reviewers Choice Awards Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror category. Honorable Mention in the 2011 ForeWord Reviews Book-Of-The-Year Awards Thriller/Suspense category.
I knew I was tackling an epic read when I began The Phoenix Project Compendium by M R Pritchard, but I eagerly ‘cracked open’ my ereader and never quit until the last book was read. I will break them down, book by book, but I highly recommend the Compendium for the value. It is worth every penny.
Book I, The Phoenix Project:
The Phoenix Project, Book I, lays the foundation for the series. I quickly became involved in the character’s lives. Andie Somers worked in genetics, but left to become a nurse. Her family includes her husband, Ian, and a five year old sweetie pie, Lina. When her world falls apart, Andie finds out she is considered special, indisposable. She meets Adam, who at times I couldn’t decide if he was good or bad. The more I read, the more involved I became. I love apocalyptic/dystopian novels and I am eager to see where M R Pritchard plans to take me. Utopia? Or is a madman making the world in his own image?
Book II, The Reformation:
“It’s starting. I thought we had more time.”
“It’s the Reformation.”
“They’re overthrowing the United States.”
“Someone is hellbent on starting the human race over and they’ve found the means to do it…”
“The Districts are the only safe havens for those who were lucky enough to be chosen.”
Andie has been chosen. She is special, because she is the only way that knows how to perform the genetic engineering that the Districts require. But….
The book follows the normal pattern of an apocalyptic/dystopian novel with a special science fiction twist and a drastic and grotesque form of population control. Earth is fighting back and this is the solution. We have the struggle to find supplies, avoid people that want to kill you, and find a safe haven.
Crane is the man of the hour and his cruelty knows no bounds. I hated him and wanted to see his demise. He uses Andie’s love of Lina to control her. Could there be a method to his madness that is required for the survival of humanity? How far is too far?
I love that Andie’s daughter, Lina, reads her a story, instead of the usual, mother reading to daughter. Lina is a sweetie pie and when M R Pritchard shares her moments, they put a smile on my face. The children are the future and I am eager to see what she will become in the future books.
Andie is romantically torn between her husband, Ian, who has been drugged and taken from her, paired with another, or Adam, the Volker soldier that puts his life on the line to keep her safe.
I love the Guardians, genetically altered dogs.
Andie had tried to escape the District and paid a heavy price. I thought WTH…Now, she is being sent to travel the country, visiting the five other Districts. It turns about to be something other than what both Andie and I thought, and I love it.
By the end of The Reformation, things become clearer and my heart is broken.
Book III, Revelation:
The characters struggle to find their place and there is always a plan running in the background, that the higher powers refuse to share.
We have a lot of action as Andie is forced to leave the safety of Phoenix.
A surprise pops up, but my spidey senses told me that would happen. Things are not as they appear to be and by the end of Revelation we will find out why and I did not see that coming.
Revelation, Book III of The Phoenix Project by M R Prichard had me gobbling up the words, each chapter leading me deeper into the story, wanting….no…having to know what comes next. I couldn’t stop reading. At times I thought of The Walking Dead, without zombies, other times I thought of The 100, because of all the scientific angles, other times I thought of The Stepford Wives, because of what they have done to the Residents. It’s still a case of the have nots wanting what the haves are determined to keep for themselves.
Revelation does provide a lot of food for thought.
Book IV, Inception:
We bounced from one point of view to another in Book IV of The Phoenix Project: Inception by M R Pritchard. Each book is filled with tension and action with a pace that pulls me along, never wanting to stop reading, having to know what happens next to who. M R Prichard is not afraid to kill off her characters. I knew not all of them could make it, even thought of one or two who would be lost, but couldn’t be sure until it was in front of my eyes. The characters are growing, changing, struggling to survive, facing insurmountable odds that will test them to their very limits. There is an underlying current of danger throughout, wondering who to trust and who will betray them. I have devoured one book right after the other and won’t quite until the last page is turned and the last word read.
Book V, Origins:
We have learned the Origins of the principal characters, how they came to be what they are, their superpowers included. Each has a gift, or a curse, it depends on how you look at it. I was surprised by many things and it seems no one is all good or all bad, but playing God can backfire. Manipulating people and nature to get the result you want may not work out the way it was planned.
The more I read, the more lost I become in this epic story of science fiction and an apocalyptic/dystopian world. I am invested in these children’s lives as they grow into adulthood, along with all the other characters I have been with throughout The Phoenix Project, and am curious to see how M R Prichard will end the story.
I was able to visualize some of the action and characters and, I must admit, Norah and Jill stole my heart in this one. Imagine a two year old child, riding a goat, talking like an adult….and so much more. She is just the latest character that I have become infatuated with.
The end is near as I crack open the sixth book, Resurrection, in this compendium.
Book VI, Resurrection:
I have loved every step I took with the characters of The Phoenix Project and read the sixth book in the series, Resurrection, with feelings of regret. I have spent so much time with them, I will miss them dearly.
Much of the book is like a synopsis of the previous books, filling in the blanks with more details of what has happened to the characters, explaining how they got to where they are now. I learned a lot about their motivations and the horror that they have been put through because of those who wish to play God, thinking they know what is best for the world and how to accomplish their goals. They will use whatever horrendous methods they can create to make man in the image they wish, and they don’t stop there. Want a Pegasus? A flying pig? How about a child that can fly? Want to live forever?
Through all the angst, torture, terror and struggle to survive, there were light moments of sweetness and laughter. How about Andromeda and Adam:
She picks up a large stick and throws it at the shadows….She hears a thud and a grunt…
“That was not nice….”
I laughed out loud and it is something that you may have had to be there to enjoy. Talk about push/pull, these two have had a hellacious relationship and I am curious to see how it will all pan out, seeing they are immortal.
“No one has ever come back for me,” his voice is weak. “Not once.” His voice is breathless. “Not in all of my time on this earth…”
“No grave can hold me. I’ll crawl back to you. Always.
How far do you believe man should go to change the world for the better? Are there no limits?
“…to build a new world you’ve got to tear the old on down.”
And they did.
I loved the ending and never saw it coming. I am sad to say goodbye to the characters I have come to know and love. I want to commend M R Pritchard for a job well done!
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Phoenix Project Compendium by M R Pritchard.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
*The Phoenix Project complete six book series*
Love, deception, and conspiracies in a post-apocalyptic America, this is how dystopia is created.
Andie is searching for her family. The Reformation is blocking her every move. She must alter the populations genetic code or never see them again.
Expected publication June 13, 2023 by Midnight Ledger
ABOUT M R PRITCHARD (from Amazon)
M. R. Pritchard is a two-time Kindle Scout winning author, her short story “Glitch” has been featured in the 2017 winter edition of THE FIRST LINE literary journal, and her short story “Moon Lord” has been featured in Chronicle Worlds: Half Way Home (Part of the Future Chronicles). M. R. Pritchard holds degrees in Biochemistry and Nursing. She is a northern New Yorker transplanted to the Gulf Coast of Florida who enjoys coffee, mint chocolate, cloudy days, and reading on the lanai.
Visit her website MRPritchard.com and sign up for her newsletter. You’ll get a monthly newsletter with updates, day to day shenanigans, and book deals.
I was scrolling through a list of my books and saw Tears Of Endurance by D G Torrens. I am constantly surprised with the free books I pick up…and this one blew my mind. Tissues will be required. I think I had tears in my eyes for the last twenty to twenty five percent of the book. I was heartbroken and want to congratulate D G Torrens on the ability to rip my heart right out of my chest.
I was expecting more suspense, but the romance of Arianna and Ben is the star that shines in the sky and the darkness that brings devastation.
I felt something like this was coming and I could not stop reading because of it. I had to know. I can hardly believe how quickly D G Torrens brought me into their lives. They are characters that made me care about what happened to them. I wanted the fairy tale. I wanted the happy ever after. I don’t know what an author is thinking when they take that away from me…………but, great job D G! You took my heart, ripped it from my chest and stomped on it……..repeatedly.
When a single tear fell from Ben’s eyes, that was the beginning of the end for me. Before I was done, I had tears streaming down my face, trying to hide it from my hubby. Crying over a book. Crying over a made up story. LOL I did it and I am not ashamed to admit it. Love can be the highest high and the lowest low! Is it the worth the price?
What do you think? Maybe by reading Tears Of Endurance by D G Torrens it can help you decide to take that leap of faith and go for it, if you haven’t already.
I added this to my reading list in Januray of 2015 and I am soooo happy I did.
.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A SECRET CAN TEAR YOU APART OR BIND YOU FOREVER…
For Arianna Ferria, a satisfying and challenging life as an art gallery owner takes an unexpected turn into burning romance when she falls for the handsome and successful Ben Fielding. Soon, their relationship blossoms into more than she could ever imagine. However, when a black secret comes crashing down around them, their love faces the ultimate test of endurance while they come to grips with a tragic fate that changes the course of their lives forever…
D.G. Torrens is a UK & USA bestselling Author/Poet. D.G. has written and published 19 books to date and is currently penning book 20 – AMNESIA due for release 2021. The author is represented in the USA by Hershman Rights Management (HRM Literary Agents) A prolific writer with a deep passion for the written word, D.G is also a founding member of bestsellingreads.com and AuthorCityUK.
Her first book, Amelia’s Story, inspired people the world over and has been downloaded over 500k times worldwide. Amelia’s Story is the author’s true-life story. It was never intended for publication. Originally, D.G wrote it for her daughter. D.G. then went on to write military romance, romantic suspense, romantic drama, contemporary romance novels, and poetry books, which have all been received well. The success of Amelia’s Story led the author to the BBC RADIO WM 95.6 FM, in 2014/15 on the Adrian Goldberg breakfast show, where she lent her time as a weekly Headline Reviewer for 12 months. A quote from the author, “It can be quite daunting discussing the day’s headlines knowing thousands of people are tuning in… You never know when you are going to mess up! Thankfully, with lady luck on my side, I managed to wing it… “ Following on from BBC Radio, D.G has since been interviewed by, Award-Winning Radio DJ, Graham Torrington on the late-night show at BBC Radio WM and David Driver Author & DJ at Drystone Radio FM. Most recently, D.G was fortunate to be interviewed By American Radio Host/author/actor, Cyrus Webb at CoversationsLive.com Radio for Mississippi. The author’s first TV appearance was recently aired on AuthorPaedia TV Live hosted by Christopher Douglas author/host/interviewer/director. You can view all four episodes on YouTube (link below) to learn more about the author, her life and books: AuthorPaedia TV Link: https://youtu.be/e_2Affw7CtU D.G is exceptionally driven and throws herself into all the projects that she takes on. D.G is a full-time author.
Quote by D.G. Torrens: ‘Don’t tell me to reach for the stars when there is a whole universe out there.’ (That is how she walks through life.)
Quote by D.G. Torrens: “Not everyone will understand your journey what matters is that you do.”
D.G. Torrens lives by the motto, “The child first and foremost.”
I love the fabulous cover for The Deadening by Kerry Peresta. Everything about the book appealed to me. I got so much more than I expected, from the Prologue that set the hook until the final page I read.
Olivia Callahan ‘claws at the bars of her paralysis.’
I screamed and screamed, but my useless lips refused to utter a sound.
Super creepy. Her mind is screaming, but no one can hear her. She can’t move a muscle, not a finger, not an eyelid, to let them know she can hear them. I can’t imagine how terrifying that would be, but Kerry Peresta made me feel her confusion and terror.
As Olivia talks to her friends about her divorce from Monty and her lawyers suggestions, they question her decisions to buckle under to his demands. As I learn about Monty, I question who her lawyer is really working for. She is meek and mild, worse than a doormat, telling everyone her life is hunky dory. I can only hope she becomes rabid at some point.
When Olivia awakens from her coma, she doesn’t remember how she came to be there…or anything else for that matter. Who are the people in her room? Even worse, who is she?
Even though it is terrible how she came to be there, I love the changes the brain injury caused in her. The brain is amazing. Even a smell could bring back a memory, and it would crush her. Maybe some memories are better off forgotten, but I too would want to know.
Mom leaned over and whispered, “See? If you faint occasionally, they’ll do whatever you want without arguing about it.”
Olivia Callhan’s changes have a ripple affect, changing everyone else’s life along with it. There are moments of levity along with the devastation wreaked on her friends and family.
“You’re coming back to life, and we are so excited for you.”
“I never even knew I was dead.”
Niles, I wondered how the author would handle that whole situation. Is he deserving of a second chance? I was afraid that Kerry Peresta would use a trite solution, but no, she surprised me and I loved how she dealt with him.
There is the beginning of a romance between Olivia and Hunter, the detective that handled her investigation, and I love that there was no instalove, but a mutual attraction. Of course, I might have felt different if I didn’t know there was another book on my Kindle so I can find out what happens next in, The Rising.
I loved the ending!
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Deadening by Kerry Peresta.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Olivia Callahan’s quiet, orderly life is shattered when she regains consciousness in a hospital and discovers she is paralyzed and cannot remember a thing. The fragmented voices she hears around her help her piece together that an apparent assault landed her in the hospital, but nobody knows who attacked her, or why. After a chilling struggle to survive, she awakens from a coma unable to remember what happened to her or anything at all, except she has been told she is an entirely different person. Or is she?
Now, in spite of a brain injury that has rewired her personality, Olivia is on a mission to reclaim her life. As clarity surfaces and she starts to understand who she was, she is shocked. Had she really been that person? And if so, does she want her old life back?
Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
310 pages, Paperback
First published February 23, 2021 by Level Best Books
ABOUT KERRY PERESTA
Kerry Peresta’s publishing credits include a popular newspaper and e-zine humor column, “The Lighter Side,” and short stories in the published anthology, “That One Left Shoe,” and her first novel released in 2013 by Pen-L Publishing, “The Hunting,” contemporary women’s fiction. She spent twenty-five years in advertising as an account manager, creative director, and copywriter before deciding to devote more of her time to writing. She is currently working on her next novel, and the most current one, The Deadening, fiction, suspense; releases Feb. 23, 2021 and will be available for pre-order mid-January. Kerry has been published in several local magazines, including Local Life, Island Events, Bluffton Breeze, and Lady Lowcountry. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Island Writers Network of Hilton Head. She enjoys participating in writing conferences, and has served as chapter president of the Maryland Writers’ Association. Learn more about Kerry at www.kerryperesta.net, https://www.facebook.com/klperesta or https://www.instagram.com/kerryperesta
Book Title: Shadow Grizzly of the Rocky Mountains by Natascha Birovljev Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 352 pages Genre: Adventure Publisher: North Raven Books Release date: March 27, 2023 Content Rating: PG for romantic elements
MY REVIEW
Shadow Grizzly Of The Rocky Mountains by Natascha Birovjlev is the third book in the Rocky Mountain series and the best one…so far. The characters lives are moving forward as they face obstacles placed in their paths.
Each book starts with a Prologue, sharing a Native legend. The Great Bear is based on an Iroquois legend and, of course, I think most of us know of the constellation.
Natascha Birovjlev had me chuckling right off the bat. These are a couple of my favorite quotes:
“Wash it off, put a bandage around it, and I think you’ll live, Boss.”
He bent over and grabbed an apple and took a bite. “Hmm, these would make a great apple pie.”
“If you make it, I’ll eat it,” replied Lyla.
Rosie is a new character that has come to Willow Ranch. She is the niece of Eric LaForge, a trapper and friend of Lee’s father. We also have Woodwind, coming to join us. He is Lonefeather’s brother, recently released from prison. He will face some challenges, and I wondered what his story was. We will also meet Dorothy and Sam. OMG. This nine year old girl stole my heart. Her mother calls her Starshine. It is a fitting name, seeing she lights up the world around her. She is much older than her age, being raised by a single mother who shares the important things with her, preparing her…
“Seeing the world through the yes of a child can make us adults start to believe in dreams again.”
I love learning the history of the Natives and can see why they feel so much resentment and confusion when Natascha Birovjlev shares their story of the residential schools. I love when an author has me surfing the web, doing my own research, wanting to know more. I can feel their anger and disgust as I learn. But that is the past. Now, WE must figure out where we go from here.
He put his arm around Sam, who was also crying softly and pulled her tight. “Thank you for being here,” he whispered to the girl. “A shared burden is easier to bear.”
OK, here come the waterworks, even though I knew this was going to happen.
“Okay, but can I have whipped cream on top?” Sam replied between sobs, wiping her eyes.
The innocence of this sweet, sweet child breaks my heart and puts it back together again.
Shadow Grizzly Of The Smoky Mountains by Natascha Birovjlev is the third book of the Smoky Mountain series and the one that has hit me the hardest. I laughed with the characters, I cried with the characters, and, at the end, I felt all was right with the world. I am excited to find out what comes next for the Spruce View residents.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Shadow Grizzly by Natascha Birovljev.
5 Stars
Book Description:
Can love triumph in the face of adversity and the shadows of the past?
In the shadows of the Canadian Rockies, a gripping tale of love, danger, and destiny awaits.
Discover the enthralling story of rancher Lee, who finally gets permission to lead horseback tours in the wilds of Canada. His dreams of family and shaping the future of Willow Ranch hang in the balance. If he fails, he loses everything.
As Lee embarks on his quest, his sister Lyla returns from the Yukon to take charge of the wildlife station. Destiny reunites her with Lonefeather Jones, a Native American dreamcatcher weaver grappling with demons from his past. As the flames of their long-hidden feelings spark to life, they must confront the shadows that threaten to keep them apart.
Amidst the untamed beauty of the Rocky Mountains, new challenges test the courage and unity of Willow Ranch’s residents and friends. As relationships falter, death looms, and darkness threatens to consume the light, can the power of love prevail?
Join the unforgettable characters of the Willow Ranch series in this heart-stopping third installment. In a breathtaking landscape where mysteries lurk around every corner, you’ll be captivated by tales of love, adventure, and the unbreakable human spirit.
Uncover the secrets hidden in the shadows of the Rockies. Will love conquer the darkness before the last light on the horizon fades? The answer lies within these pages.
Natascha Birovljev is a storyteller at heart and author of the “Willow Ranch” book series.
Growing up in Germany, horses were always part of her life. After getting her Master degree in Religious Studies and German Literature, adventure was calling and she traveled to Alberta. She fell in love with the wild beauty of the Rocky Mountains and immigrated from Germany to Canada in 2005.
Here she worked the first years as a guide for horseback vacations, exploring mountain trails and spending the summer months in tent camps in the wilderness.
Inspired by her adventures and connections to ranchers, cowboys and First Nation communities, she started writing her books. Natascha lives on her ranch in Alberta with her horses and dogs.
Her stories show her fascination with the beauty of the Rocky Mountain wilderness and her love for the people she encounters.
WOW! I mean…WOW. I love romantic suspense novels, and from the blurbs, I thought I would enjoy the McKay Series by W L Brooks, but Let The Dead Lie is a novel that keeps on giving. I couldn’t stop reading. I know this is romantic suspense, but the girls stole the show! The excellent characters are outstanding and outshine the wonderful mystery and danger.
“Daddy, it was all a big misunderstanding. Things were said, and then one thing led to another, and well, here we are.” Alexandra explained in the wispy voice he knew she’d been practicing in the mirror.
The girls, all adopted at the same time by Emmit McKay and his, now deceased wife, Gracie: Casey, who is ten years old, prideful with a superiority complex. Alexandra, who is eight years old and a girlie girl with an attitude. Fletcher is seven. Her name was Jamie, but the tomboy demanded her name be changed. Any idea where the name came from? Charlie, the peacekeeper comes to the fold later. Their large personalities are only eclipsed by their hearts.
When the social worker is due for an inspection prior to the adoption of Charlie:
“They want a fight?” asked Casey, nodding her head. “Is that it, Pops? We gotta fight for what’s ours?”
“Seems that way. If that’s what we all agree on.” He looked at each of his daughters, Casey and Alexandra nodded. Fletcher peered up at him and grinned It was the mischievous grin that made him want to swallow.
“We’s ain’t nos sissies. They want a fight, we’s’ll fight!” Fletcher whooped.
“What?”
“I thought we agreed on a dress.”
“I’s ain’t got a dress! And possession’s nine tenths of the law,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.
Savannah comes to the small town of Blue Creek. She is the principal of the girl’s school and is put to the test when they are brought to her office for discipline. As the days unfold, she learns more about the girls and how the town looks…down…at them.
The girls are wise beyond their years, working as a team. They are secretive, plotting and planning…and when danger comes to their home, they will rise to the occasion.
The Widow Sadie had told them to Let The Dead Lie.
The writing made the situations easy to visualize, the dialogue making me feel as if I am there, hearing the words spoken live. Let The Dead Lie by W L Brooks would make a fabulous movie or TV series. I was smiling, laughing, cowering in fear, tearing up, all my emotions coming into play.
“We’s tried to keep the blood in, but it won’t stop,” Fletcher told her.”
The ending is heartwrenching, yet I did have a smile or two. I hate to pick favorites, but Fletcher spoke to me. She will do whatever it takes to protect what is hers. These girls are more than capable of doing exactly that.
At times, I had to take a break, the book was so intense and I was overwhelmed.
I could go on and on and I quickly grabbed the next book, The Secrets That Shape Us by W L Brooks, to see what the secret was that would make one of them leave Blue Creek.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Let The Dead Lie by W L Brooks
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A widower with four adopted daughters, Emmit McKay likes to keep a handle on things. But nothing can prepare the former FBI sharpshooter for the battles coming to his small hometown. Especially the one which arrives in such a tempting package.
Savannah Walker moves to Blue Creek to take over as principal of the school Emmit’s daughters attend. With a masters’ degree in education and a no-nonsense attitude, she is caught off guard by the behavior of the McKay girls and never expects to fall in love with them—or in lust with their father. But her intimacy with the family stirs up rumors and unearths secrets.
Savannah and Emmit cannot deny the chemistry which draws them together, but the closer they get, the more dangerous the stakes become. When a murderer is hidden amongst you, you can’t let the dead lie.
Fiction, Romance, Suspense, Thriller
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2017 by The Wild Rose Press, Inc
Original title: Let the Dead Lie Series: McKay (#1)
ABOUT W L BROOKS (from her website)
W.L. Brooks was born with an active imagination. When characters come into her mind, she has to give them a life- a chance to tell their stories. With a coffee cup in her hand and a cat by her side, she spends her days letting the ideas flow onto paper. A voracious reader, she draws her inspiration from mystery, romance, suspense and a dash of the paranormal.
A native of Virginia Beach, she is currently living in Western North Carolina. Check out the latest book in her McKay Series, The Truth Behind the Mask, and stay tuned to see what’s next!
Three ideas. Three directions. Not everyone will survive.
REVIEW
OMG! Five hundred and nine pages of suspense with characters to die for…and Benjamin X Wretlind is not afraid to kill them off. Some I mourned, others, well…
As I read, I kept thinking of The Walking Dead, only on an alternate planet. Instead of zombies, we have vicious creatures. And the evil humans, we have them too.
There is so much I want to say, but this is the third book in the series and I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone. It is worth learning everything for yourself. The beginning does give us a quick recap, but I highly recommend beginning at the beginning.
In All We Leave Behind: Transits Of Three by Benjamin X Wretlind, three children will be pushed into adulthood when they make their exodus from a sanctuary which has become too dangerous. The main focus is on Miriam Page. She is the leader of the first group to leave their sanctuary. The second group is led by Joel, the thinker who wants to find a way to go back to Earth. The third group is led by Micah, who was the Scribe.
Doubts will arise as the dangers do too. The leaders find themselves second guessing their decisions, but keep taking the next step forward. They realize there is no going back.
All We Leave Behind: Transits Of Three by Benjamin X Wretlind is described as an anthropological science fiction series. I find it is a wonderful description. The people, who Benjamin has no problem killing off, struggle to survive. Some things they do because they must, other things they do because they have lost their humanity. Does it always come down to kill or be killed? Can’t we learn to get along?
I will caution that there is brutality, torture, danger and death. There are also moments of levity, smiles, laughter and love. But isn’t that life?
Nemeth is a character that began to take a position front and center for me.
I was able to visualize the world, the characters and their actions, because of Benjamin X Wretlind’s vivid and detailed descriptions, at times making me feel like I am walking beside them, battling creatures and the elements, looking for their new home.
Questions are answered and new questions arise. There will be nine books in the series. I am already so invested I don’t know how I will manage to wait for the next book and the next book and the next book and the next book and the next book and the next book.
I feel my review does not do the book justice, but I was afraid of giving something away, so this is what you get. Want to know why the book blew me away? Read it. 🙂
At the end of the book is a list of the characters and a glossary of definitions.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of All We Leave Behind: Transits Of Three by Benjamin X Wretlind.
5 Stars
BLURB
Following the exodus from rising floodwaters, the surviving descendants of those who came to create a society on a planet far from Earth have struggled to rebuild within the remains of an ancient temple. Now, as disease and an unfamiliar environment threaten to destroy them yet again, everyone seems to have an opinion about what to do next.
Miriam and Tobias Page, newly married, believe there may be a possible home beyond a distant canyon. Their journey with a quarter of the population doesn’t start well and soon nature and their own humanity will conspire to end it all. Meanwhile, Miriam’s two cousins, Joel and Micah, have different ideas. Joel is convinced the best course of action is to return to the mountains they left to mine for the ore that would make a great return to Earth possible. Micah hopes to stay, learn all he can about the temple’s previous occupants, and prove both of them wrong. But soon, he and his new partner Patience realize that no option is truly safe.
As the transits of three different groups get underway, new dangers and surprises emerge from within the rainforests, mountains, and deserts of the planet…and one of those may have followed them from Earth. While a final home is a dream away, present nightmares must be dealt with first if any of them are going to survive.
EXCERPT
“How many?” Moran asked.
“Four. Just up ahead.” Tobias tightened his grip on his weapon.
“Bethany is waiting for us.”
Moran stopped and watched as the caravan slowly edged toward the right, away from immediate danger. “Wish we had more to spare.”
“So do I.” Tobias took in a calming breath and let it out slowly. The nervousness in his stomach eased up. Miriam had taught him several techniques for dealing with fear, for calming his anxiety and sharpening his mind. He would forever be grateful to be married to a counselor, a therapist, a wise wizard of the brain’s complications.
“Ready?” Moran asked.
They both walked slowly toward Bethany’s position, their eyes locked on the trees where Tobias saw the four animals.
“Eight,” Bethany whispered as they approached. “Four more in a cluster of trees to the right of the others.”
“Typical pack. Haven’t heard the growl, yet,” Moran said. “Maybe they didn’t see us.”
“Oh, they did.” Tobias pointed to the tree with the first rychat he spotted. “I swear I saw that one lick its lips.”
“Well, we’ll have to take care of that.”
Moran raised his crossbow and took aim at the one Tobias pointed out. In tandem, both Tobias and Bethany raised their own weapons.
“One on the trunk,” Tobias whispered.
Bethany responded. “The big one to the right.”
The three were silent as they steadied themselves.
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Benjamin, a speculative fiction author, ran with scissors when he was five. He now writes, paints, uses sharp woodworking tools and plays with glue. Sometimes he does these things at the same time.
I am an avid fan of Abigail Owen’s and will read anything she writes! That being said, The Stolen Throne, Book 2 in the Dominion series, is even better than The Liar’s Crown. Each book has grown in depth and detail, from the world building to the characters growth. There is no shortage of action and danger.
I am a huge fan of book covers. Once I read that someone saw a lobster on the pretty cover of The Stolen Throne, I couldn’t stop looking at it. Check it out for yourself. Great cover, Elizabeth Turner Stokes. And, I love maps. Kellerica did a great job on the maps of Nova.
I read a lot of teen and young adult novels. Many times I cannot give them a five star rating, through no fault of the author or the story. It’s just not deep enough, engrossing enough, sexy enough, violent enough…well, you get the drift.
The Stolen Throne by Abigail Owen is an exception to my normal. The book was long, so I couldn’t finish it in one sitting, but I would have if my eyes didn’t start to cross, blurring the words. I was so engrossed in the details, wandering the worlds with Meren and her unlikely group of heroes, traveling through portals to places I never would have dreamed of on my own. I feel their pain, their struggles, their love, their loyalty…to the twin of the Queen, who was meant to be disposable.
I have a people to protect. I have a bondmate to save. I have a king to destroy.
We have moments to smile, even laugh. Moments to drown our sorrows in those lost. Moments of hope and inspiration, like Abigail Owen’s inspiration for this novel, which starts with an obscure Hans Christian Anderson fairytale about a man who shed his shadow, and when the shadow turned real, he took over the man’s life. She found her villain and her hero. I love when one character can fit both roles. It makes for a more interesting character.
I loved everything about The Stolen Throne by Abigail Owen.
I can hardly wait for The Shadows Rule, Book 3, due for publication in January 2024.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Stolen Throne by Abigail Owen.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
My twin sister is the true queen of Aryd. She survives, hiding and clinging to life in the desert, while I reign as the false queen alongside the monstrous King Eidolon. There’s only one escape from this gilded prison: Reven. My Shadowraith. My heart. Only the shadows that he struggles to control are growing more sinister, more powerful.
It’s just a matter of time before they turn on him…and on me.
Even escape doesn’t mean true freedom, though, when we’re still on the run from Eidolon’s unstoppable armies. And when we discover there’s a traitor among us, I have no choice…I must become the queen I was never meant to be.
Because as one evil hunts me, the other loves me more than himself.
And my fate lies with both.
The Dominions series is best enjoyed in order. Reading Order: Book #1 The Liar’s Crown Book #2 The Stolen Throne Book #3 The Shadow Rule All
460 pages, ebook
Expected publication May 2, 2023
ABOUT ABIGAIL OWEN
Multi–award-winning paranormal romance author, Abigail Owen, loves plots that move hot and fast, feisty heroines with sass, alpha heroes with heart, a dash of snark, and oodles of sexy shifters! Other titles include wife, mother, Star Wars geek, ex-competitive skydiver, spreadsheet lover, eMBA, organizational guru, Texan, Aggie, and chocoholic. Abigail grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. She attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing). However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it. Abigail currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own personal hero (who she totally married!) and their two children, who are growing up way too fast.
Sue Coletta has a collection of thrillers that have given me hours of reading pleasure. Her covers are always amazing and covers have such a huge influence on me, so I invited her and her cover designer, Elle J Rossi from Evernight Designs, to share their thoughts.
Behind-the-Scenes Peek at Cover Creation
Sue: When Sherry approached me about writing a guest post with my cover designer, I thought it was a great idea. Readers only see the finished product, but a lot goes into each cover. Today, I’ve teamed up with my designer, the amazing Elle J. Rossi from Evernight Designs, to peel back the curtain on how we created the final cover for Restless Mayhem.
Ready? Let’s do this…
Before I approach Elle, I have a vague idea of what I want. For Restless Mayhem, the two most important elements were the wolf and dreamcatcher. Once I find images that somewhat match my mental picture, I send Elle multiple links to photo elements to either build from or use a guide. Included in the email, I also include the overall emotion I want convey. For Restless Mayhem, I wrote “dark but hopeful.” How she interprets that first email is beyond me. But somehow, she does.
Elle: Once I receive Sue’s email, I look over all the images she’s sent for review and start to get a good idea for the concept she’d like to see for the cover. Some authors will also send comps of covers in their genre/subgenre that they like. Since Sue’s most recent cover is part of a series, it’s important to stay on brand while also allowing the book to stand out as a new addition. As a fellow author (https://www.ellejrossi.com/), I know how important this first impression of someone’s book is. Humans are visual creatures, and Sue and I want to take advantage of that.
Once I have an idea in my head, I start the mock-up process. Ideally, I like to send the author a couple of rough options and get their feedback before purchasing the images we’ll use on the final. Once I have those completed, I shoot them off to Sue to get her thoughts.
Here are the mock-ups I sent for Restless Mayhem…
Sue: Both are awesome, right? I had to sleep on it to decide where I wanted to go. Plus, a snowstorm knocked out our power and I’d been trying to work via cell phone all day. Needless to say, I was absolutely fried when the mock-ups landed in my inbox. In the morning, I emailed Elle. Here’s what I said…
New day, and the brain’s working again. 😉
Okay, here’s what I’m thinking. I love the black wolf, but I don’t want anyone to think werewolves. The characters are saving Eastern Gray wolves. I’d prefer the dreamcatcher to be more of a focal point and the wolf to be secondary. If we took the dreamcatcher, red sky, and wolf from the first cover and made it clean and crisp like the second, added in a couple trees where the wolf can emerge from, I think it’ll be awesome.
Or…
Using the first cover again, pull the dreamcatcher forward and push back the wolf so he’s more of a ghostly, shadowy outline, and make it clean and crisp (without the added texture), that may be even cooler. Thoughts?
Once again, somehow Elle unscrambled that nonsense.
Elle: Sue may think that her feedback was rambling or nonsense, but it made perfect sense to me. So, I sat back and analyzed the two covers while considering her thoughts and reworking the cover. I used the same dreamcatcher from the first sample but completely replaced the wolf, added a new background, and blended the two together. I did the same on a fourth mock-up but with another wolf. I also omitted the tagline area and then sent those 2 options to Sue for more feedback.
Sue: I loved them both. Here’s where Elle and I had to pick apart the finer details of each cover and choose the elements that most resonated. I’ve worked with Elle for so many years, I value her input. So, I emailed…
OMG, I absolutely love them. Can’t decide between the two. Is it the same background behind the howling wolf as the other wolf? The skyline and dreamcatcher are absolutely perfect.
Elle wrote back…
I’m so glad you like them. Similar backgrounds but not the same. I think it comes down to the actual wolf. I’m torn, but lean slightly toward the non-howler. 😁
I agreed. The non-howler was a better fit. My only addition was Poe, sitting on the S in Restless. True to form, Elle surprised me again. I’ll let her explain what she did.
Elle: I loved the idea of adding in Poe as it brought in another element from some of the previous covers. This, again, was another way to stick to the brand. However, when I added him in, he kind of disappeared into the background and was completely lost, which defeated the purpose of adding him in. I pondered on how to make him stand out. Of course, we could have him glow, but this isn’t that kind of book. J I could lighten him, but crows are black and should stay black, so that wouldn’t work. I opted to try lightening a portion of the background. That worked for multiple reasons: Poe is clearly seen, and it added another color which really made the cover come to life. I sent that latest version off for Sue’s approval, but I had a feeling this was THE ONE.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this behind-the-scenes peek at cover creation. The most important aspect of any partnership is mutual respect and trust. She does her job, I do mine, and the cover(s) reaps the rewards.
You can find out more about Elle’s design services here: https://www.evernightdesigns.com/
I love the amazing cover for Restless Mayhem by Sue Coletta, which was done in collaboration with Elle J. Rossi from Evernight Designs,. Mr Mayhem and Shawnee have come a long way since I first met them. I never would have predicted that Mayhem, Shawnee and her grandfather, Jacy Lee, would become eco-warriors to save the wolves and wolf dogs they found being trafficked. Buy one to hunt it down and kill it. How cruel.
I have so many highlights in my ereader, I confuse myself. LOL
The crows…sure the wolves are the stars of Restless Mayhem, but the crows are always there, always vigilant, always helpful, and their personalities shine through Sue Coletta’s writing. I find them fascinating and often refer to reality to confirm the authenticity of her writing. I worry for them, as much as I do their human friends. Shawnee and Poe’s ‘problems’ go back a long way and their interactions are laugh out loud funny, but when push comes to shove, he will be there. I wonder…will their feud ever end. 🙂
Shawnee…I love this woman. Maybe these quotes will give you an inside glimpse into who she was, is, and is becoming.
“Between the cougar attack and the bees, I couldn’t catch a friggin’ break. What’s next, a moose stomping me to death?”
Mayhem…
“True warriors are born with an inbred fight response rather than merely flight. And you, dearest Cat, have many of the same attributes.”
Sue Coletta richly details Shawnee’s training, and when they went flying through the trees, I slowed my reading, intrigued, trying to picture it in my mind. It was wild. Walking through the woods, making nary a sound, as they stalk the hunters. I have heard of that before and I love that Sue is able to make Restless Mayhem seem so real, except I don’t think Mayhem, Shawnee and Jacey Lee would get away with the things they do in the real world. Money, influence and prejudice hold too much sway. And…is there such a thing as a Wendingo?
Everything has a place in this world and when you remove an element, the environment reflects that loss. The Native American culture and environmentalists the world over have voiced their concerns and warnings. I love books that can incorporate all these elements into a cohesive novel that grabs me from start to finish.
I could go on and on and on and on, but I think you get the gist. I love, love, love the Mayhem series, since I cracked open the first book, but Sue Coletta supplies enough back story that I believe Restless Mayhem can stand alone. So, don’t be afraid to grab Restless Mayhem, then I am sure you will want to go to the beginning and see how we came to be where we are now.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Restless Mayhem by Sue Coletta.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Amidst a rising tide of poachers, three unlikely eco-warriors take a stand to save endangered Eastern Gray Wolves—even if it means the slow slaughter of their captors.
Deep in the woods of Jackson, New Hampshire, an ancient evil lurks. Armed poachers patrol a secret enclosure, holding captive a pack of majestic Eastern Gray Wolves. But three unlikely eco-warriors are determined to free the wolves, embarking on a dangerous mission to end their torture.
With courage and conviction, Shawnee, Mayhem, and Jacy Lee march onward, even if it means risking their own lives to take down the poachers and restore freedom to the wolves. It’s a battle between justice and injustice, and the eco-warriors are determined to win—no matter the cost.
But what if something even more evil lurks in those woods? What if Shawnee’s not ready to answer the cry for help?
378 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 26, 2023 by Crow Talons Publishing
ABOUT SUE COLETTA
Sue Coletta is an active member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Feedspot and Expertido.org named her Murder Blog as one of the “Top 100 Crime Blogs on the Net” (Murder Blog sits at #5) for four years in a row. And recently, she appeared on an Emmy award-winning true crime show.
Sue also blogs at the Kill Zone, a multi-award-winning writing blog, and writes two serial killer thriller series (Tirgearr Publishing) and narrative nonfiction/true crime for Globe Pequot, trade division of Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group.
For readers, she has the Crime Lover’s Lounge, where members will be the first to know about free giveaways, contests, and have inside access to deleted scenes (if available). As an added bonus, members get to play in the lounge. Your secret code will unlock the virtual door.
BONUS: When you join Sue’s community you’ll receive two free killer reads!
Sue lives in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire with her husband, and begins each by feeding all the wildlife in her yard. Her favorite “pets” are a murder of crows who live free but come when called by name.
