Heartbreaking and Uplifting – Sacrifice by Charisse Moritz #CharisseMoritz

Flamingo, Valentine, Heart

Sacrifice by Charisse Moritz is a perfect romance for a romantic day!

Sacrifice is my third Charisse Moritz novel, and she does not disappoint.

Sacrifice (Choosy Beggars #2)

The first book I read by Charisse Moritze was Shakespeare Burning. The title made me so curious, but the cover played it’s part. I had to read it and was blown away. This is not a genre I actively seek, so was there some ‘reason’ I was drawn to it? I have now found another author for my favorites list.

Shakespeare Burning

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Need something to make you laugh out loud and feel good about life? Sacrifice is a must read.

Charisse Moritz and her novels would not seem like a fit for someone like me, who loves to delve in the darkness of romance novels. You know, the ones with murder and mayhem, rape and sex trafficking. BUT, Charisse’s writing and her characters draw me in so deep, sometimes I almost think they are real. They sure could be.

I have two pages of notes and wonder what I am going to do. Usually, with that many notes, I tend to share too much. I loved Sacrifice and the realistic, lovable characters that Charisse Moritz, so I don’t want to spoil a moment for you. I want you to experience their struggles, hope and dreams for yourself. I am sure you want a happy ever after. I know I did, and with Charisse, that is possible.


The situations the characters find themselves in could happen to anyone. The characters feel as if they could be the band members you find in the bar you frequent, the girl who left her abusive boyfriend and is hiding out, the single father that suffers from the lies his ‘ex’ feeds him.

The two main characters, Shae and Daisy, are flawed, frightened, insecure, beat down by life. Shae will do whatever it takes to make sure his son has the things he did not. Daisy looks through rose colored glasses, yet flinches at a knock on her door and things Shae is some kind of Sasquatch.

Her is a reason why I love Charisse Moritz’s writing so much…At 4 %, they meet for the first time and it is JUST TOO DARN CUTE AND FUNNY. The tone of the writing is serious, yet written in such a way that I never got too dogged down, too sad or depressed, because her vivid, hilarious descriptions of Daisy’s thoughts when letting her mind road to Shae, had me laughing out loud.

Mutt is a character that has to be mentioned. And if you want to know more, you’ll have to find out for yourself. I love when a peripheral character basks in the limelight…as I write that, I have a smile on my face.

A chat between Daisy and Shae when he picked up his son, Patrick, from babysitting, leaning against the doorframe with his feet crossed and his arms across his chest (which I so can visualize):

“Want to tell me why my boy is not wearing any pants?”

“He didn’t share his reasons, but I support his choices.”

I mean, how can you not crack up. Laugh out loud, whether anyone is around or not.

Patrick, a two year old, is, of course, adorable. I can hear that baby voice ‘speaking’. His actions and the dialogue is so cute, sweet, except when he’s letting them know he’s not happy. After all, he is two years old.

Shae took Daisy shopping. I don’t want to spoil the why of it, other than to say, Mutt is playing him like a fiddle. Her’s another quote that will share why I love Charisse Moritz’s writing

Patrick got a new jacket and a puzzle out of the deal. I got a hard on and a headache.

The sexual attraction is off the charts and I have never read of a couple of characters with this much self control. They both have their reasons, but Daisy is irresistible and his jealousy surprises even him

“Why don’t you just pee on me?”

I laughed out loud…again. Warning: If you read this around other people, well, you know.

There is more than one moment that shocked and awed me, in good and bad ways. I didn’t even try to figure out what was going on and why. I thought, even though I love Charisse Moritz’s writing, this is a romance, and I am along for the ride. Even a good romance rarely gets more than a four star rating from me. Out of the three books that I have read by Charisse, two of them have been five star ratings. She manages to supply those BAM, in your face moments and I love that.

EVERYTHING…PERFECT…for me. Romance with a dash of mystery and suspense.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

AMAZON SYNOPSIS

Eighteen-year-old Shae is the daddy of a two-year old.
On his own and barely getting by.
Every day, he struggles to be good enough for his boy.
Every day, he falls a little further behind.
He doesn’t apologize.
He tries harder.
Sacrifices more of himself.
Because keeping his son is all that matters.
When Daisy Goodwill moves in across the hall, she is an irresistible splash of color and hopeful smiles. She disrupts his every waking moment in such wonderful ways, daring Shae to imagine a brighter future. But his new neighbor is full of apologies, hiding from an overly possessive ex and a threat to Shae’s black-and-white world. Because championing Daisy requires the one sacrifice he can’t survive.

ABOUT CHARISSE MORITZ (from Amazon)

Charisse Moritz

Emily Award Finalist and Melody Of Love Award Finalist, Charisse Moritz divides her life between upstate NY and northern Florida. When not barricaded inside her writing cave or enjoying every possible minute with her husband and three kids, you’ll find her listening to 60’s music, singing off key and looking for new reads.

Her debut book, Shakespeare Burning was released in July 2019 and is available in digital and print.

https://charissemoritz.com

MY CHARISSE MORITZ REVIEWS

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WOW! 30 Red Dresses by Johan Twiss @JohanTwiss

30 Red Dresses

MY REVIEW

Looking at the cover, I never expected what was coming. I’m sure I read the blurb before I picked it up in 2017, but not before I started reading it this week and WOW!

30 Red Dresses by Johan Twiss was such a surprise to me. I have a file of short stories and novellas, and chose 30 Red Dresses as a One Sentence Review to wipe it off my TBR, but after reading it, I changed my mind. It hit me so hard, I had to share more.

It was so sad from the very beginning. Venta is eight years old. It’s her birthday and her uncle is taking her to town. She’s excited, but…my heart fell to my gut. Her uncle is a disgusting human being, so I knew she was in for a rude awakening.

Sex trafficking is all too real. I cannot imagine how a young girl of eight could in any way comprehend what is happening to her. I was so far past mad, angry, seeing red, disgusted…

What does a white giant, a Cambodian and and 30 red dresses have in common?

An incredibly powerful story where the characters lives are changed forever and I teared up a time or two because the story went so far in such a few words. Strong. Powerful. Thought provoking. Sickening, yet hopeful.

The author’s note at the end of the book is just as powerful as the story.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

While on a book tour in Cambodia, author James Moore unwittingly seeks refuge in a brothel to escape a devastating flash flood. He and his translator witness the atrocities of girls forced into prostitution, including a young child with a special gift. Together, they fight to not only save the girls from the rising flood waters, but from the menacing brothel owner and his men.

ABOUT JOHAN TWISS

Dear Brilliant Reader,

Johan Twiss

Thank you for your interest in my books. I am passionate about writing clean science fiction and fantasy stories that are not only exciting, but suitable for tweens, teens and adults alike.

Have a question? Complaint? Want to send me a gift card to the Cheesecake Factory? Simply reach out to me at my website at www.johantwiss.com/contact

(I can also tell your future at no extra cost, although gift cards to Cheesecake Factory tend to make the predictions more accurate.)

And if you really want to make my day, please leave a review for my books on Amazon and Goodreads. Your reviews help new readers discover my books, for which I am very thankful.

All the best and happy reading,
Johan

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest

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Legion Novellas by Ashley Fontainne #AshleyFontainne

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The Legion Novellas by Ashley Fontainne are quick reads and can be gobbled up in a day. I must warn you though, locked doors won’t keep the evil away. Lights won’t hide the shadows. I love that the covers create a brand for the series and have an eerie feel about them. The entire series is available in paperback for $11.25.

My name is Legion: for we are many.

Mark 5:9

Many (A Legion Novella Book 1)

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

He entered thinking one thing, facing a bloody, gory horror he never could have envisioned and by the time he figured out what really happened, he was face to face with evil and it wanted him. His faith will be tested. The book may be short, but it has the creep factor alive and well and I turned the pages faster to put an end to it. And, of course, the ending is so much worse than I thought. May be short. Isn’t sweet. Made my skin crawl. Packed a lot in this novella. For the most part three stars would work, but because Ashley Fontainne had to take me down such a twisting road, jerking me left and right til the end, she has earned that additional star.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Many be Ashley Fontainne.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars
Madness (Legion Novella Book 2)

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

A mother’s anguish and her descent into hell after her husband’s death will be called on to face a demon. A child’s anger over the loss of his family will have him questioning his faith. Will he make the right choice between good and evil? He didn’t remember that night, but evil will do whatever it takes to try and collect another soul. Legion is many and still has Clyde in his sights. Could he survive a second time? FREE WILL. Horror and evil oozes off the pages and Ashley Fontainne leaves me wanting more!

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Madness be Ashley Fontainne.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars
Mayhem

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I knew it was coming, but tears formed and my heart broke. The characters have been to hell and back and Ashley Fontainne shows no mercy. Who will be called to face Evil and have their faith put to the test this time? Looking at the cover, I think I know who Legion will be targeting. Mayhem is the third novella in the Legion series, so I am anticipating some heart palpitating horror to come my way. Not all the characters will survive. How strong is their faith? WOW…Just WOW…I knew what would happen, or thought I did, but not how it would happen. I find it amazing how Ashley Fontainne managed to pack so much action in a small package, containing all the emotions a human can feel and ending the series in an uplifting way.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Mayhem be Ashley Fontainne.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

ABOUT ASHLEY FONTAINNE

Ashley Fontainne

Award-winning and International bestselling author Ashley Fontainne enjoys stories that immerse the reader deep into the human psyche and the monsters lurking within each of us. She writes in numerous genres including mystery, suspense, horror, sci-fi and sometimes poetry.

Ashley lives in Arkansas with her husband and is the proud mother of one son and grateful daughter of co-author, Lillian Hansen. To learn more about her books please visit https://ashleyfontainne.net/

Website  / Facebook  /  Pinterest

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Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World @ericjguignard

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Professor Charlatan Bardot’s travel anthology includes many buildings, though no haunted houses. So…buckle your searbelt and let’s travel around the world.

Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I love the awesome cover for Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology by Eric Guignard. Some of the locales are real places, and, the rest, I’ll leave it up to you to decide.

The anthology includes short stories of horror from noted authors all over the world. Whether it takes place in a hospital, lighthouse, mining camp, wishing well…most everything but haunted houses, the anothology is sure to supply plenty of thrills and chills.

Might want to keep the light on…but, locked doors won’t keep them out.

Professor Bardot is as interesting as the beautiful book, with fabulous illustrations to go with the fantastic cover.

Travel around the world with horror as your companion. The Professor may have your imagination running wild on your travels when you visit your own hotel, cathedral…

I cannot think of anything that could be improved upon a book that gave me many hours of reading pleasure.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology by Eric J Guignard.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“At Last, an Authoritative Compendium to (Fictional) Haunted Buildings for the Delight and Exploration of Reader-Travelers Around the Globe.”

For nearly forty years, renowned paranormal investigator Professor Charlatan Bardot has examined, documented, and acquired stories of haunted buildings around the world. Partnered with leading anthologist Eric J. Guignard, and gifted artists Steve Lines and James Gabb, the greatest of Charlatan’s discoveries are made available now in this comprehensive travel anthology!

From the Philippines’ tragic Ame-Soeur Clothing Factory, to Sweden’s reverent Fish Church; from Tanzania’s vengeful Unguja Restaurant, to Canada’s cursed Crow Island Lighthouse, Charlatan Bardot presents a lifetime of experience and insight into paranormal architecture.

27 feature stories and 36 tiny tales are included of haunted temples, diners, hotels, shops, hospitals, outposts, theaters, and other building types, along with maps, travel notes, illustrations, and more, all designed to provide an immersive experience for veteran travelers and armchair ghost hunters alike!

Enter Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World (2021 edition) and explore the strange and curious locales of the globe and of your imagination.

ABOUT ERIC J GUIGNARD

ERIC J. GUIGNARD is a writer and editor of dark and speculative fiction, operating from the shadowy outskirts of Los Angeles, where he also runs the small press, Dark Moon Books. He’s twice won the Bram Stoker Award (the highest literary award of horror fiction), been a finalist for the International Thriller Writers Award, and a multi-nominee of the Pushcart Prize.

He has over one hundred stories and non-fiction author credits appearing in publications around the world. As editor, Eric’s published multiple fiction anthologies, including his most recent, Pop the Clutch: Thrilling Tales of Rockabilly, Monsters, and Hot Rod Horror , and A World of Horror , a showcase of international horror short fiction.

He currently publishes the acclaimed series of author primers created to champion modern masters of the dark and macabre, Exploring Dark Short Fiction ( Vol. I: Steve Rasnic Tem ; Vol. II: Kaaron Warren ; Vol. III: Nisi Shawl ; Vol. IV: Jeffrey Ford ; Vol. V: Han Song ; Vol. VI: Ramsey Campbell).

He is also publisher and acquisitions editor for the renowned +Horror Library+ anthology series. Additionally he curates the series, The Horror Writers Association Presents: Haunted Library of Horror Classics through SourceBooks with co-editor Leslie S. Klinger.

His latest books are Last Case at a Baggage Auction ; Doorways to the Deadeye ; and short story collection That Which Grows Wild (Cemetery Dance).

Outside the glamorous and jet-setting world of indie fiction, Eric’s a technical writer and college professor, and he stumbles home each day to a wife, children, dogs, and a terrarium filled with mischievous beetles. Visit Eric at: www.ericjguignard.com, his blog: ericjguignard.blogspot.com, or Twitter: @ericjguignard.

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A Plague of Traitors by D V Berkom Review @dvberkom

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A Plague of Traitors by D V Berkom is the 11th book of the Leine Basso series…a series that keeps on giving…and I am taking. This may have been the best one yet, seeing I have read 429 books this year and It has change my reviewing criteria. Some books that would have been fours before can end up as threes now, and it takes more to get a five star rating. I still love reading threes them, so I consider 3 a good number. As a matter of fact, I consider the number 3 and multiples of 3 my lucky numbers.

A vivid and colorful cover, sure to get anyone’s attention on a bookshelf.

A Plague of Traitors (Leine Basso Thriller #11)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Assassins…Leine Basso is my favorite! I have been with her from the very beginning and she has done nothing but fill my life with many hours of reading pleasure!

A bioweapon…is anyone safe? Leine Basso is on the case, and from my knowledge of her past, she will prevail…but, how?

Leine had been a badass assassin for the government, but now works for SHEN – Stop Human Enslavement Now – an anti trafficking network. She was pulled away from training to meet up with Scott Henderson, who wanted to recruit her. It’s off to Libya.

Sasha is Russian and had been offered a lucrative job in Libya, studying a virus that sounded all too familiar, after living with Covid.

There is so much more going on than Leine had thought, so she contacted Tony, who had been grooming her as a CIA operative. I feel for her. I’m not sure how much she can trust Tony, or anyone around her. After all, he is CIA.

Well, I have sooo many notes I am going to toss a bunch of them aside. I think it would be sharing too much and I loved A Plague of Traitors, so I sure don’t want to spoil anything for you.

Needless to say, Leine ends up in the thick of things. I did have some doubts about those around her, but the group she trained were there to the death for her. Yeah, it may not have went smoothly, but does anything worth having. If it was all sunshine and roses…

A book like A Plague of Traitors by D V Berkom is so terrifying to me because I can envision something like this happening in real life. It brings to mind many questions. There are many people fueled by hate and greed. We can never know how far they will go. How do you protect yourself, others, your country?

Betrayals and double crosses abound. The story read so true, I kept asking myself how they could be so ignorant to trust and to believe they are in control of the outcome?

The CIA, Leine Basso, Russians, Syrians, mercenaries…Leine Basso is on her own, but she operates at a high level and accomplishes her missions. I have complete faith in her. To say she is a badass is putting it too mildly. I would love to have her at my side if I were ever in trouble.

I love that D V Berkom mentions animals and the hunters who hunt the poachers in Africa. She also mentions the devastation of the animal population that war causes.

The depth and detail make me worried, sad, angry, frustrated…as I think of all the book contains, I hope it will open readers eyes to all the consequences of carelessness, egoism, war and unrest. The Butterfly Effect rules the Chaos.

I love how D V Berkom combines facts and fiction and she has done an excellent job of blending them together so seamlessly it read like a history lesson. So many plots combine and they flow smoothly, taking the story to the highest level.

A well deserved 5 stars D! I applaud you and look forward to what comes next.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of A Plague of Traitors by D V Berkom.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

A former assassin leads a heroic band of foreign fighters to thwart an enemy like no other.

Former assassin Leine Basso races to prevent Syrian intelligence from obtaining a lethal Russian bioweapon—a savage combination of toxins never before seen in nature.

Leine’s called back to war-torn Tripoli, enlisted by her former employer to train a heroic group of Isis-fighting snipers to crush the horrific threat. But there’s a leak, and the Libyan operation goes terribly wrong—the bioweapon ends up in the hands of a brutal terrorist who will stop at nothing to force the West to its knees.

Are there spies in their midst? Can Leine and her warriors prevent a ruthless enemy from releasing the deadly toxin before it’s too late? Or will humanity be destroyed in a cataclysmic finale orchestrated by A Plague of Traitors?

ABOUT D V BERKOM

Image of D.V. Berkom

DV Berkom is a slave to the voices in her head. As the author of two popular thriller series (Leine Basso and Kate Jones), her love of creating resilient, kick-*ss female characters stems from a lifelong addiction to reading spy novels, mysteries, and thrillers, and longing to find the female equivalent within those pages.

Raised in the Midwest, she received her BA in political science from the University of Minnesota and promptly moved to Mexico to live on a sailboat. Many, many cross-country moves (and several years) later, she now lives just outside of Seattle, Washington with the love of her life, Mark, an ex-chef-turned contractor, and writes every chance she gets.

My Reviews DV Berkom’s Leine Basso Thrillers:

My Reviews for DV Berkom’s Kate Jones Thrillers:

My Reviews for DV Berkom’s Claire Whitcomb Westerns

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5 Stars For #5, Saving Grayson by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor

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Every time I see an email from Jane Blythe, I get excited. I LOVE her stories and she has never disappointed me. Soooo, without further ado, let’s check out Saving Grayson.

Saving Grayson (Saving SEALs, #5; Special Forces: Operation Alpha)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I LOVE IT! Five stars for #5, Saving Grayson, in the Special Forces: Operation Alpha (Saving Seals) series. These hunkalicious men have stolen my heart.

Juliet’s father had blackmailed her into marrying Dimitri Federov, a man she didn’t know, let alone love, so she ran. Dimitri is the son of a Russian crime boss, and there is no way they are going to let her go, but she ran to the right place…the bed of Chaos, Grayson Simpson.

“I should go,” she said…”Don’t fight it, Juliet. Chaos has adopted you now.”

She felt like a stray that had been adopted by a bunch of well meaning, albeit a little scary, men who looked like they possessed the skills to fix this for her.

Jane Blythe has included many nuggets of wisdom for life.

Grayson is the funny one of the Seal Team, loving playing pranks and telling jokes. He finds that Juliet and him have much in common. They both like the simple things in life, fish and chips, walks on the beach, time with friends…I wouldn’t mind a sexy, handsome Seal wanting to protect me from the big bad evil men…and neither does Juliet. All the Seals wives had escaped or been rescued from horrendous situations, so they were tight, opening their hearts, making her feel welcome. They would do anything for each other.

Her father is a piece of work, desperate to hold onto what he created from nothing, and will sacrifice her to keep it. He is worse than the Russians he has gone into business with, because he is her father. He is supposed to love and protect her, and he will do whatever it takes to get her back.

Jane Blythe creates in depth characters, making them leap off the pages, grabbing me and never letting me go.

We are going to crawl into the underbelly of black market diamonds and the dangerous men involved. There are no limits they won’t go to make things right, in their own way, murder, theft, kidnapping, torture, human trafficking. She will learn firsthand the meaning of blood diamonds.

Whoa…I didn’t see that coming, but knowing Jane I shouldn’t have become so complacent. Her stories keep on giving, good and bad, filled with twists and turns.

Juliet had a taste of freedom, love, and friendship. She will do anything to get it back.

Jane Blythe wraps up Saving Grayson in a way that made me feel she could not have done more…BUT…I am wondering…King is the last single man standing on the Seal Team and he is quite the player. How about it JB? He needs a woman too.

WAIT! WTF! JANE…A CLIFFHANGER? I don’t think you have ever left me hanging. OMG! NO! How can I wait? Most of the time, when a book ends in a cliffhanger, I take away a star. I left the fifth star for Jane, because, even though she is making me be on pins and needles…waiting…I know I will get the next book…

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Saving Grayson by Jane Blythe.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

He’s her only hope of escaping the man she’s been sold to.

Juliet York has lived under her father’s thumb her entire life, but when he blackmails her into agreeing to marry a man she doesn’t know, she realizes if she doesn’t run now she’ll spend the rest of her life with an abusive sociopath. The last thing she expects when she seeks shelter from a storm is to meet a man who isn’t put off by her quirks, who makes her smile, and who vows to protect her.

When Grayson “Chaos” Simpson finds a naked woman in his bed he’s intrigued by her, and when he learns she’s in trouble he promises to keep her safe. But Juliet is hesitant to believe that his motives for helping her are pure. Her father has secrets, and his sins are about to be visited upon her. Grayson and his SEAL team are now the only thing standing between her and death.

ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

Jane has loved reading and writing since she can remember. She writes dark and disturbing crime/mystery/suspense with some romance thrown in because, well, who doesn’t love romance? She has one completed series, Detective Parker Bell, and one new series, Count to Ten.

When she’s not writing Jane loves to read, bake, go to the beach, ski, horse ride, and watch Disney movies. She has a black belt in Taekwondo, and a 200+ collection of teddy bears. She has the world’s two most sweet and pretty Dalmatians, Ivory and Pearl. Oh, and she also enjoys spending time with family and friends!

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

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No One Can Hear You Scream by A B Whelan @AuthorABWhelan

I found A B Whelan when I came along a freebie. Who knows where it came from, a blog I visited, a giveaway I participated in, or maybe I just scrolled through Amazon and found it. Either way, I am glad I did, because this woman can write!

No One Can Hear You Scream

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I love deep, dark, twisted novels and No One Can Hear You Scream fits the bill to a T. Warning! Brace yourself! Brutal. Graphic.

The animal sanctuary took in those pets whose owners didn’t want them any more. Sounds like a good story…right?

Jennifer Parker is a YouTube influencer and shares her time with the animal sanctuary, as does her son, Jayden. He even created an Instagram account for George, a cow, who is the star. I love that our social media world is making an appearance in novels, not always in a good way.

I immediately didn’t like Tyler, her momma’s boy husband. Looks to me like she has another child instead of a life partner. Good thing she ditched him. He might have made a good boy toy, but is not a keeper.

Again…I am furious, sickened, disgusted…If I were ever to meet someone like HIM I hope I would have the courage to take him out! The abuse is shocking, even for me and I love being shocked and sickened in a depraved thriller sort of way.

We have two plots going on, and, though I haven’t talked about Alex, I have a feeling I know what part his story will play.

No One Can Hear You Scream by A B Whelan may have you thinking twice about putting your life on line, for all the world to see.

OMG…I see it coming…so freaking twisted! I had to take a deep breath at 82%. The evil keeps on going. Well, I didn’t see that coming…and that is why I love A B Whelan so much. She gives and she teases. I figure out one thing, then, BAM, in your face.

This line really hit home: Our world has gotten so small it suffocates us.

I had moments where I wanted to shout out to Jennifer…and the police!

Mind blowing. Gut wrenching. I love this dark, gritty, horrendous story that others may shy away from, and A B Whelan took it to the max with No One Can Hear You Scream

A B Whelan has included book club questions at the end. I think they will create a lively discussion.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of No One Can Hear You Scream by A B Whelan.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

A ruthlessly addicting and terrifyingly twisted story of a family stuck on a secluded mountain at the mercy of an obsessed fan of the woman.

It started as a vacation of a lifetime.

Jennifer Parker is a successful YouTube influencer living in a beautiful home outside Los Angeles with her three children. After divorcing her husband of eighteen years, Jennifer dives right into a new relationship despite her children’s disapproval.

Jennifer’s boyfriend, Tyler, is a middle school English teacher and a mama’s boy. To prove to Jennifer that he can be as outdoorsy as her ex-husband, he suggests going on an off-the-grid vacation in a yurt in Montana. The idea of not having cell phone reception and running water for days doesn’t appeal to Jennifer. Reluctantly, she agrees to the trip because she envisions this unique retreat as an opportunity for her children to connect with her new boyfriend.

Jennifer’s subscribers are excited about following their favorite online vlogger on an adventure in the wilderness. But one follower sees her vacation as the perfect opportunity to get close to her and act out his twisted and sick fantasies.

Alone on the mountain, where no one can hear her scream, Jennifer realizes that it wasn’t the deep, dark woods she had to fear after all.

ABOUT A B WHELAN

New release: No One Can Hear You Scream is a gripping, atmospheric psychological thriller about obsession, survival, and family bonds, releasing on October 20th.

A.B. Whelan

Whelan is an Amazon bestselling author of domestic psychological thrillers.

She currently resides in California with her husband and two children. When she isn’t writing, editing, marketing, or researching her next book, you can find her walking her two rescue dogs, socializing online, coaching soccer, or doing another DIY project with her husband.

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MY A B WHELAN REVIEW

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Tis The Season – A Christmas Kindness by Cheryl C Malandrinos @ccmalandrinos @pumpupyourbook

A Christmas Kindness

MY REVIEW

5 Stars? An emphatic yes! Two thumbs up? No doubt!

A Christmas Kindness by Cheryl C Malandrinos and illustrated by Caroline Mabey is a wonderful story depicting one of life’s lessons, the value of a gift, no matter how big or how small.

Eight year old Robert wants nothing more than to tell Santa what he wants for Christmas. He even wrote it down so he wouldn’t get it wrong. What a wonderful time to share in the innocence and wonder of a child.

A Christmas Kindness by Cheryl C Malandrinos may have been written for children, but I loved it. Not only do we get a fabulous story that will put a smile on a parent’s face as they read it with their child, but it has interactive projects that anyone can do and the cost is minimal, sometimes repurposing some of those items that may have been tossed in the trash. I see many subjects that could come up as parents share this marvelous book with their children.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of A Christmas Kindness by Cheryl C Malandrinos.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Eight-year-old Robert is eager to share his wish list with Santa at the mall on Christmas Eve. When he meets Glenn, who only has one request for Santa, Robert is confused about what he should do. Can he cast aside what he wants and ask Santa to bring his new friend a special gift?

ABOUT CHERYL C MALANDRINOS

Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Cheryl C. Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of Little Shepherd, A Christmas Kindness, Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving, and Amos Faces His Bully. A blogger and book reviewer, she lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two daughters. She also has a son who is married.

Website / Twitter

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It’s The End Of The Line for Dead Meat…Day 9 by Nick Clausen @NickClausen9

Nick Clausen has done an amazing job with the Dead Meat series and I am totally invested in sticking with it til the end to see how he wraps it up. That being said, I have my fingers crossed that my favorite characters will still be alive when it is all said and done.

Dead Meat - Day 9: A Zombie Apocalypse Thriller

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Well, this is the final day of the zombie apocalypse and I have had my fingers crossed that my favorite character, Dan, will make it to the end. TODAY, his mission is to find his father. Will he be dead dead? Will he be a zombie, making it possible for Dan to cure him?

I can picture Dan with the water gun. How about having a little fun in zombieland?

As we near the end of our journey, Nick Clausen has never failed in the world building and dangerous times…and it is nail biting, spine tingling, with characters to love and hate. He kept me on my toes with the pacing and suspense as I wondered who he would kill off next. Would be favorite characters(s) be left alive when their journey ends?

My rating: I have been doing so much reading since Covid entered our lives that I think my ratings have changed and it is even harder to get my attention, keep it, and make me race through the pages…because I HAVE TO KNOW! Nick Clausen was able to do that with Dead Meat: Day 9. This series has been unpredictable and unputdownable and five stars is well deserved!

Now, I’m curious…what’s next Nick?

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Dead Meat: Day 6 by Nick Clausen.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

AMAZON SYNOPSIS

The dead have awakened. The world is ending. This is the final day.

Here comes the thrilling conclusion to the Dead Meat series. Find out who makes it through and who doesn’t—and whether mankind can still be saved from the undead who have by now taken over most of the world.

But zombies aren’t the only thing threatening human lives, as the world is standing at the brink of all-out nuclear war …

ABOUT NICK CLAUSEN

Born 1988 in North Jutland, where I still live with my wife, who also happened to be my earliest childhood girlfriend. From 2017 I have lived as a full-time writer. Up until then, I had different jobs beside the writing. I have been studying as a carpenter for three years, and have also read two years of psychology at Aalborg University. It turned out that the writing had a much more powerful pull on me.

Nick Clausen

I decided early on that I would be an author when I grew up. In fact, the decision came to me already when I read my first book, Snevampyren by Dennis Jürgensen. My first “real” stories I wrote at 14-15 years of age. They were rejected by the publisher, but still got praise. There were some years when I was busy with being a teenager and trying to get an education before I suddenly remembered that I should be an author.

That day I made a promise to write 1,000 words a day until I got a book published. I sat down and started writing. I continued to write every single day for a year and a half. I sent the finished manuscripts to different publishers, and the rejections piled up. Twelve of them by the end. But each time I could feel it was a little bit better. The criticism became more positive. The thirteenth story was called Tidevandet, and it was adopted by the publisher and came out a year later.

I have always enjoyed writing, although in the beginning I put a lot of pressure on myself. My approach to the process has become much more free over the years. For example, I no longer plan my stories. That way, I feel that I’m experiencing the story while writing it and the characters feel like real people. I do not know where the ideas come from, but I’ve never had trouble finding them.

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WOO HOO – Dinosaur Lake VI by Kathryn Meyer Griffith @KathrynG64

.

I am so excited to make another visit to Crater Lake in Oregon!

Dinosaur Lake VI: The Alien Connection

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

It is so exciting to be back in Klamath Falls, Oregon, with Henry Shore, but I do so with a heavy heart. Kathryn Meyer Griffith is wrapping up the story in Dinosaur Lake VI, and I will sorely miss the characters I have grown to love. She has surprised me with the story, taking me to a place I never anticipated and I do so love when an author can do that.

Henry is back at Crater Lake National Park…this time as a visitor, touring the wintry back roads in a camper, reminiscing about his past adventures. He had to catch a fish for dinner, because Ann had not stocked the pantry and they were deep in the backwoods, unable to easily drive into town. He thought of their dinosaur friend, Oscar, who he sorely missed, but they all the dinosaurs were gone now. I feel so much sorrow for Henry.

A snow storm was coming, so it was time to leave the park while they could get out.

I am so invested in the characters and how their lives have changed throughout the books. When Justin came to visit Henry, everything came rushing back for him…and for me. Henry needs a mission and Justin has just the thing.

I cannot tell you a lot about the book, because if you haven’t read the previous ones, and think aliens and dinosaurs are for you, I do not want to spoil them for you. I want you to experience them for yourself and I highly recommend the series. But I will tell you it is…

Original, exciting, action packed, loaded with characters that can steal your heart. Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s descriptive writing makes it easy to get lost in the world she has created. We do have some evil dinosaurs and a couple of alien space ships. I did not anticipate how she would wrap the series up, but she did it in a splendid fashion.

I love what Kathryn Meyer Griffith did with the Dinosaur Lake series and could see this easily being made into a TV or movie series.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Dinosaur Lake VI by Kathryn Meyer Griffith.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

AMAZON SYNOPSIS

Henry Shore has spent the last decade hunting for, fighting, protecting people from, and exterminating rogue dinosaurs in his beloved Crater Lake National Park, and the towns around it. Once the Chief Park Ranger there, now he’s retired and, since all the dinosaurs are supposedly gone, he’s trying to live his best retirement life. Except, for Henry, that doesn’t seem to be possible…because of a new sorrow he’s had to shoulder, and a new insidious breed of super-smart, highly intuitive dinosaurs that have suddenly emerged to again menace humanity. Henry is asked to track them down; and he’s dragged back into the fray. Besides being asked to battle this new threat, Henry has also been invited by his paleontologist son-in-law, Doctor Justin Maltin, to join a top-secret government team of research scientists at Area 52 investigating the original and apparently ancient origins, of the earth’s earlier plague of dinosaurs–and two mysterious alien spaceships stored there. What Henry becomes a part of turns out to be so much more than even he could have imagined. A true alien enigma. There’s something mysteriously mindboggling at Area 52 and Henry will help uncover its mystery, and, in doing so, will have the most incredible experience of his life–and that’s saying a lot for a seasoned dinosaur hunter.

ABOUT KATHRYN MEYER GRIFFITH

Since childhood I’ve been an artist and worked as a graphic designer in the corporate world and for newspapers for twenty-three years before I quit to write full time. But I’d already begun writing novels at 21, over fifty years ago now, and have had thirty-three (romantic horror, horror novels, romantic SF horror, romantic suspense, romantic time travel, historical romance, thrillers, non-fiction short story collection, and murder mysteries) previous novels, and thirteen short stories, published from various traditional publishers since 1984. But I’ve gone into self-publishing in a big way since 2012; and upon getting all my previous books’ full rights back for the first time in 35 years, have self-published all of them. My six Dinosaur Lake novels and Spookie Town Murder Mysteries (Scraps of Paper, All Things Slip Away, Ghosts Beneath Us, Witches Among Us, What Lies Beneath the Graves, All Those Who Came Before, When the Fireflies Returned) are my best-sellers.

Kathryn Meyer Griffith

I’ve been married to Russell for over forty-three years; have a son, two grandchildren and a great-granddaughter and I live in a small quaint town in Illinois. We have a quirky cat, Sasha, and the three of us live happily in an old house in the heart of town. Though I’ve been an artist, and a folk/classic rock singer in my youth with my late brother Jim, writing has always been my greatest passion, my butterfly stage, and I’ll probably write stories until the day I die…or until my memory goes.

2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *Finalist* for her horror novel The Last Vampire ~ 2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS * Finalist * for her thriller novel Dinosaur Lake.

*All Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s books can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/ld4jlow

*All her Audible.com audio books here: http://tinyurl.com/oz7c4or

Novels and short stories from Kathryn Meyer Griffith:

Evil Stalks the Night, The Heart of the Rose, Blood Forged, Vampire Blood, The Last Vampire (2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS*Finalist* in their Horror category), Witches, Witches II: Apocalypse, Witches plus Witches II: Apocalypse, The Nameless One erotic horror short story, The Calling, Scraps of Paper (The First Spookie Town Murder Mystery), All Things Slip Away (The Second Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Ghosts Beneath Us (The Third Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Witches Among Us (The Fourth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), What Lies Beneath the Graves (The Fifth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), All Those Who Came Before (The Sixth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), When the Fireflies Returned (The Seventh Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Egyptian Heart, Winter’s Journey, The Ice Bridge, Don’t Look Back, Agnes, A Time of Demons and Angels, The Woman in Crimson, Human No Longer, Six Spooky Short Stories Collection, Forever and Always Romantic Novella, Night Carnival Short Story, Dinosaur Lake (2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS*Finalist* in their Thriller/Adventure category), Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising, Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation and Dinosaur Lake IV: Dinosaur Wars, Dinosaur Lake V: Survivors, Dinosaur Lake VI: The Alien Connection, Haunted Tales, Memories of My Childhood, and Christmas Magic 1959.

Stalk Kathryn Meyer Griffith:

MY KATHRYN MEYER GRIFFITH REVIEWS

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