Break My Bones Rachael Tamayo (Deadly Sins, #1) Publication date: June 6th 2024 Genres: Adult, Thriller
Three years ago Brooklyn James ran for her life with her toddler in tow. Now, her estranged husband, Cain, is back. Brooklyn will be forced to decide, will she run once again, or stand her ground and face the devil himself?
Brook is the manager of a popular Dallas Nightclub, mother, and wife. Three years later she and her daughter are back on their feet and things for her are going better than she imagined when she was forced to run for her life from her husband Cain and ended up homeless with a toddler to protect. Despite her current success, spending every waking moment watching for his inevitable return has taken its toll on the young mother.
Cain James has been released from a three-year stint in prison, and has hooked back up with his lifelong best friend, Donovan. With money in hand due to a substantial inheritance after his father’s death, and the support of the man that has always helped him when he needed it most, he’s got a plan to win back his wife, by any means necessary.
As Cain becomes a man undone by obsession and descents slowly into madness, Brook must watch virtually helplessly and decide, will she run from him again, or stand this time, risking everything?
After dropping off my daughter and parking my car, I walk into the empty, closed club, pulling the ringing cell out of my purse to answer.
“Hello.”
“Is this Brooklyn James?”
“Who is this?”
I can’t make out the noise in the background on the line, wondering if it’s just a bad connection or if she’s really somewhere that loud. “My name is Mary, and I’m with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. I’m calling to advise you that your husband has been released from custody.”
The world sways around me, and I wonder if I heard her correctly. I swallow even though my mouth is dry and grip the rail on the bar next to me, steadying myself as I choke out, “What?”
“He was released three days ago.” She says it as if it’s nothing. As if she might not have just destroyed my life.
He’s been out for three days?
But why is she calling? It doesn’t even make sense.
“Why are you notifying me? He wasn’t arrested for assaulting me. You guys don’t do that for DWI, do you?”
“Yes, I understand that, and no ma’am, we don’t. When his file was being processed, there was a request that you be notified. I apologize for the delay, but we’ve been short-staffed here due to budget cuts.”
I sit on a barstool, glancing around to make sure no one else is here. What if a vendor is walking around? Or the bartender came in early, and I didn’t notice his car in the parking lot? I’ve worked hard to keep this part of my life in the shadows, away from almost everyone. “Can you tell me who made the request?”
“I’m afraid not. We can’t release that information. I’m sorry.”
I blow out a breath, having figured as much. But you never know when you’ll get that one person who will bend the rules, or simply doesn’t know the rules. “Um, okay then. Thanks, Mary.” What else do I say? Thanks for destroying my life?
“You’re welcome, ma’am. Have a nice evening.”
The conversation ends, and I put the phone back in my purse without thinking. I’ve told myself that I would know what to do when this happened. I’ve had a mental checklist for close to two years now.
Call Ashley and let her know.
Call the school.
Consider changing my name, my daughter’s name. Why didn’t I leave Dallas? Why did I stay here and make it so simple to find me?
I should take the money, turn around now, and go. Fetch my child, pack, and never look back. His mother knows how to find me. My heart beats too fast in my chest. I close my eyes, considering every choice I’ve made in all these years, making no move to hide from him. No move to run once I had the means to get away.
What was I thinking? Fuck.
No, scratch that. I won’t run. I won’t hide. I’ve been training, and I’ve been shooting; I know how to handle the gun, and myself. I’m strong now. I can do this. I have to. Because he will show up. He will find me.
I have no doubt.
Author Bio:
Rachael Tamayo is the bestselling author of the award-winning Deadly Sins Series, and award-winning thriller, Crazy Love, among several other titles. Before she started her writing career, she was a highly awarded 911 emergency services dispatcher with twelve years of experience and many commendations under her belt. Upon exiting law enforcement, she focused her writing career on the dark, suspenseful, and psychological after beginning as a romance author. Now Rachael uses her dark thriller as a sort of self-therapy after all those years answering 911 calls and works all that she knows and was exposed to into the frighteningly realistic and layered characters her readers know and love her for. Rachael lives on the Texas Gulf Coast in Houston, Texas with her husband and their two children.
As I read along, I wondered why the title was Mia when it seemed to be more focused on Jack. By the time I got to the end of the story, I knew why.
Mia by John Lansing is the fifth book in the Jack Bertolino series, but my first one. I will recommend starting with the first book if you get the opportunity, but I don’t think it affected my enjoyment of Mia at all. Flawed characters that live dangerous lives create fast paced suspenseful stories with twists and turns and book surprises galore.
From state to state, country to country, and continent to continent, the race is on, the danger rising, and her life could be forfeit. Kill or be killed.
The ending…I sure didn’t see that coming, but it was a perfect fit.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Mia by John Lansing.
4 Stars
Synopsis:
Mia, is the origin story of retired inspector Jack Bertolino as a young undercover, NYPD narco-busting detective and his relationship with Mia, his confidential informant.
Mia, a former Miss Colombia, has the kind of beauty that can make a grown man contemplate leaving his wife, his job, and his kids. She’s a complex character, with a painful backstory, who signs on with Jack to help him infiltrate, and take down, a heavy hitter in the Colombian drug trade. Mia has ice water in her veins and is already responsible for delivering large amounts of cocaine, and millions of the cartels cash into the government’s coffers.
This is Jack and Mia’s story. How Mia became a confidential informant, her evolving relationship with Jack, and how the life and death case they break wide open becomes the prequel to The Devil’s Necktie.
Book Details:
Genre: Crime Thriller Published by: White Street Press/ Karen Hunter Publishing Publication Date: June 4th, 2024 Number of Pages: 252 ISBN: 979-8-89456-000-7 (Print) | 979-8-89456-899-7 (Digital) Series: The Jack Bertolino Series, Prequel Book Links:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Read an excerpt:
Jack Bertolino’s early morning shower gave up the ghost long before he swiped his long-term pass to gain entry to the Staten Island Ferry. Once he landed in the City, he headed for Tango 23’s base of operations. There he picked up his NYPD plain-wrap sedan. The ninety-degree temperature, wetted by ninety-five degree humidity, made a mockery of the air conditioner in the Ford Crown Vic as it crawled through commuter traffic headed for LaGuardia. The air was thick, the stench of exhaust on the Grand Central Parkway overwhelmed as Jack dodged a pothole, rattled into the airport parking lot and came to an engine-clicking stop next to DEA agent Kenny Ortega’s government issue.
The joint narcotics task force case was in its sixth month. Jack had agreed to meet a few old friends and a new confidential informant who had arrived from Miami via Colombia. This CI claimed to be able to provide entry into the inner workings of Manuel Alvarez’s illicit drug operation.
Alvarez, a notorious Colombian trafficker, had been on Jack’s radar for more than a year. Alvarez was responsible for importing a thousand keys of cocaine into Miami on a monthly basis, and the poison
was dripping into New York City. Jack wanted Alvarez’s head on a pike.
At thirty-eight, Jack was already a lieutenant, the boss of the narco-rangers called Tango 23. His crew had great success shutting down drug and money-laundering cells in the five boroughs, piling millions of dollars of the cartel’s money into the city’s coffers.
Jack was a handsome, unpretentious man with thick dark hair he wore brushed back. Creases on his striking face were a roadmap of years exposed to the elements doing undercover narcotics work on the streets of New York City.
As he stepped out of the car, a hot gust of wind blew grit into Jack’s eyes and mouth. It also blasted the long hair of a young woman exiting the passenger side of Ortega’s vehicle, obscuring her face. The deafening sound of a wide-body jet thundered overhead as Jack spit and wiped his stinging eyes.
The woman hand-combed strands of blonde away from her face. When Jack’s vision cleared, he was momentarily stopped in his tracks. The woman was drop-dead gorgeous.
He nodded to Sal Traina, a member of the Tango group, and shook the hand of Mia Ferrero as Ortega made the introductions. Mia, an ex-Miss Colombia, was the confidential informant. Kenny Ortega, the Miami-based DEA agent, was Jack’s partner on the drug task force.
Nick Aprea, a detective from the LAPD narcotics division, had flown in from Los Angeles, where a large quantity of the illicit drugs ended up. He ducked low as he slid out of the back seat, wearing a black leather jacket in the New York heat, and led with a wolfish grin as he proffered a hand the size of a baseball glove. “Jack, good to be back in business.” Aprea was tall, hard, and took life as it came. He had arrived with serious skin in the game. A few years back, his partner had been gut-shot in an Alvarez–Delgado operation. Nick had put fifteen hundred keys of coke on the table, and his partner had been put in an early grave. When Jack invited him to the party, Nick jumped at the chance to deliver some retribution.
Mia signed on to the joint operation between the NYPD, Miami DEA, and LAPD to infiltrate Manuel Alvarez’s operation and help put away a
heavy hitter for the Colombian cartel. She was a proven commodity, already wealthy from delivering large quantities of cocaine and cash to the United States government’s coffers in their ongoing war on drugs. The Feds had a formula in place for paying informants. The bigger the bust, the larger the payoff. A nice way to fatten your wallet, an easy way to die.
Mia started playing Jack—who had a reputation of being a straight arrow—from the moment she touched down at LaGuardia Airport. She’d been summoned for a meeting downtown, organized to get a feel for the principals, define the case, and plan a strategy.
It was time to roll. Sal was sitting in the passenger seat of Jack’s car when Mia rapped on the window. Sal slid out, and Mia stepped in seconds before Jack pulled out of the lot.
“I hope you don’t mind. It was so crowded in the other car,” she said.
Jack wasn’t thrilled. “It’s okay,” he said, always careful when spending time with a CI. First of all, rules and parameters of the relationship had to be set in place, until the informant was proven trustworthy. Too many things could go wrong. Jack was career building and didn’t need any bullshit slowing him down. He had a line in the sand when dealing with informants, and although he always treated them with respect, sharing his personal life was a nonstarter.
Mia started talking rapid fire. Her English was lightly accented but flawless, and Jack chalked her excited banter to nerves.
“I wasn’t supposed to fly first class, but I used my frequent-flyer miles, and thank God because the plane was full, and I was in the air for so many hours. Should I call you Jack or Mr. Bertolino?”
“Lieutenant works.”
“Oh, very formal. It’s so hot in here,” Mia play-whined, and undid the second button on her blouse as she turned to face Jack. “Are you a by-the-numbers kind of guy?”
“Something like that.”
“I know a lot of Italians in Medellín. Not a formal one in the mix. Very sexy though, Italians in general, don’t you think?”
—
Jack kept his eyes trained on the traffic. “Never given it much thought.”
“Oh, I have. Very much so.”
Jack wasn’t going there. He hoped Mia would lose herself in the approaching view of the New York skyline and stop talking. Instead, she seemed content to stare at Jack who was growing increasingly uncomfortable, but didn’t want to get off on the wrong foot with a woman who could break his case wide open.
“And the police in general, what do they call it? Mucho testosterone. You can’t hide it, Jack—I mean, Lieutenant.” Mia’s smile was sly, and Jack kept his eyes on the road, not wanting the conversation to get out of hand.
“Your nose,” she said knowingly, “that must have hurt.”
Jack had a bump on his otherwise straight Roman nose. It was a gift from a crack dealer named Trey, who he traded punches with outside the Red Hook projects in Brooklyn. Trey went to jail, and Jack had a reminder every morning when he shaved to keep his right fist higher and jab with his left.
“Do you like sex on the beach?” Jack hoped she was talking about the cocktail and didn’t respond. “What about sex in the car?” Mia said and ran a manicured nail down his thigh. “I love giving blow jobs, I mean, giving oral sex.”
Jack shot a look in the rearview mirror, tried to remain stoic, but he was getting hot under the collar. He was doing sixty and Kenny Ortega’s car was tight on his bumper. Jack glanced in the rearview again, and saw the men in the trailing car laughing.
He’d had enough. He signaled and pulled the wheel hard to the right, sending Mia sliding against the passenger door. As horns around him started blaring, he skidded to a tire-screeching stop on the shoulder of the Brooklyn–Queens Expressway. He was followed by Ortega, Nick, and a few other smirking detectives in the second car.
Jack knew he’d been set up. He picked up the radio and raised Ortega. “Get this woman out of my car.”
Mia feigned being hurt. “Is it something I said?” Over the intercom, Ortega and his crew were howling. Mia jumped out of Jack’s car, her
face split into a sultry grin, and she winked. “Just having some fun, Lieutenant.”
Jack was the only one on the crew not laughing. He pulled back into traffic, riding solo, and dialed his home number.
Jeanine answered on the second ring. “Are you all right, Jack?”
“Huh?”
“An afternoon call. It’s usually bad news.”
“Oh, no, not today. Just wanted to hear your voice.”
“Hmmm, okay… Good.” Jeannine could read Jack’s mood and wasn’t buying it.
Jack started to relax, the earth rotating back on its axis. “Actually, I just made a pickup at LaGuardia, had a moment.”
“Okay. Are you going to make it home for dinner?”
“Don’t wait on me. We have a TAC meeting, breaking in a new informant. You know how that goes.”
Jeannine knew all too well what that meant. And Jack was hit with the familiar chill on the other end of the line. “Okay, Jack. Your son’s asking what happened to his father.”
“Tell him I miss him.”
“Tell him yourself, Jack,” Jeannine said quietly before hanging up the phone.
Jack stifled his growing anger, fully aware that he was an absentee father. From his point of view, he was building a secure life for his family, and they all had to make sacrifices. It was a team effort. He knew he was being defensive, but he also knew what it took to rise through the ranks of the NYPD.
Jack snapped out of it when Kenny beeped his horn and rocketed past in the fast lane. He rolled his eyes, slightly amused as Mia, sitting in the back seat, nailed him with a look that was purely X-rated.
***
Excerpt from MIA by John Lansing. Copyright 2024 by John Lansing. Reproduced with permission from John Lansing. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
John Lansing is the author of six thrillers featuring Jack Bertolino—The Devil’s Necktie, Blond Cargo, Dead Is Dead, The Fourth Gunman, 25 to Life, and MIA—as well as the true-crime non-fiction book Good Cop Bad Money, written with former NYPD Inspector Glen Morisano. He has been a writer and supervising producer on Walker, Texas Ranger, the co-executive producer of the ABC series Scoundrels, and co-wrote two MOWs for CBS. The Devil’s Necktie is in development at Andria Litto’s Amuse Entertainment, with Barbara DeFina attached as a producer.
A native of Long Island, John now resides in Los Angeles.
I loved the prequel and I love zombies and kickass women that take them out. Allie Nighthawk believes that is her only talent. She quickly had me cracking up with her quick wit and and take no prisoner’s attitude. She wears fun T-shirts, like Zombies Hate Fast Food.
…one of the few corpse whisperers who put the toys away when clients are finished playing with them.
We start out with a shocking ‘toy’ that Allie will have to put down. The necromancer from her past is determined to seek his revenge, but Allie will do what needs to be done, no matter what.
Allie has a new partner, Rico De Palma, the department’s new liaison for the Paranormal Crimes Unit. I love having law enforcement and the supernatural intertwined. Puts that something extra into the story that I am always on the lookout for. Too bad they leave corpse whisperers hanging in the wind.
I love the cleanup group that comes in after the mayhem Allie creates….Splatz.
Allie has a nosy neighbor, Nonnie, who constantly complains, but that turns around when Allie starts pet sitting for Kulu and Headbutt, and when Leo enters their life…
The Last Dance…terribly sad.
The zombies are changing, becoming more dangerous. They are becoming more intelligent with an ability to problem solve. Carovescology is a new science created to study zombies. Zombies have been created by getting the Z virus or getting bitten. It seems like someone has come up a new method. We have three kinds of zombies….corpsicles, flesheaters, and the freshies. Who is behind it and why are they doing it?
H R Boldwood’s characters are often disreputable and not to be trusted. They are kicked to the curb at every conceivable opportunity.
The Corpse Whisperer by H R Boldwood is such a fun read, as long as the gore doesn’t gross you out. Me…I love it. The grosser, the better. And that is only partly why I am loving this series. Great characters, great storyline, gruesome and funny at the same time.
I want to thank H R Boldwood for the opportunity to read a free copy of The Corpse Whisperer. Now…on to the next book in the series, Corpse Whisperer Sworn.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Welcome to the world of Allie Nighthawk, corpse whisperer and bad ass zombie hunter. “If you raise deadheads, you’d better be able to put ‘em down. Nobody said it was pretty. But in this day, when vampires aren’t just for breakfast anymore, and the dead are disposable pawns for necromancers, someone has to ante up. Looks like I won the lotto. Imagine my delight. You should thank me, really, because the world is batshit crazy.” When the zombie population spikes and no one knows why, it’s up to Allie to solve the mystery. But there’s a hitch. She’s stuck babysitting Leo Abruzzi, a zombie-bitten gangster who’s turning state’s evidence. But the mob and a powerful necromancer will stop at nothing to take Leo and Allie down. Allie Nighthawk is Anita Blake on steroids, with a fondness for leather and Jack on the rocks. She has a healthy dose of Stephanie Plum and Rachel Morgan in her, too, though she’d never admit it. The battle between good and evil just got wicked fun.
H.R. Boldwood, author of the Corpse Whisperer series, countless short stories, and Imadjinn Award finalist, is a writer of horror and speculative fiction. In another incarnation, Boldwood is a Pushcart Prize nominee and winner of the 2009 Bilbo Award for creative writing by Thomas More College. Boldwood’s characters are often disreputable and not to be trusted. They are kicked to the curb at every conceivable opportunity when some poor unsuspecting publisher welcomes them with open arms. No responsibility is taken by this author for the dastardly and sometimes criminal acts committed by this ragtag group of miscreants.
I got the idea and the motivation to start doing Tackling The TBR from All The Blog Names Are Taken. I love showcasing the books on Goodreads, my ereader and my bookshelves. The more exposure for authors and their books, the better..RIGHT? COME ON….JOIN IN.
First off, I want to say, I loved the first R G Angel book I read, Hades’ Game. It told me that she is an author on my automatic read list. That means, I see it, I read it. But, Broken Rivalry was not my favorite. It read like a young adult, teenage angst novel, with some steam sex thrown it. Poppy was a character that peaked my interest and I would like to know what is in story for her next.
But, in Broken Rivalry by R G Angel, we have a rich, have it all girl who loses it all. I cannot imagine what it would feel like to go from living in a mansion and having designer everything to living in a trailer park and shopping, if you can afford it that week, at the thrift store.
I liked the idea of the three girls and the three guys, and we will have to hang around for the next book in the series to see how all that pans out.
Poppy is a character that stands out. She sacrifices for the needs and the happiness of her mother and two brothers. Even with all the hardship, she managed to get a scholarship to Silverbrook University, where she met her two best friends. They all have their own tragic story to tell, holding secrets close.
The story was pretty predictable, but it still pulled out a lot of the feels that I look for in a romance. Anger at those who wield their power, chopping down those who get in their way. Sorrow for the innocents who get caught in the middle, through no fault of their own. Respect for the ones who pick themselves up and make a new life for themselves. Love, loyalty, forgiveness, passion, second chances, sacrifice…and a happy ever after.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Poppy: Once, I walked the halls of privilege, but in a heartbeat, I watched my world crumble. Now, as I stand at the threshold of Silverbrook University, I’m armed with nothing but a scholarship and a determination to reclaim a semblance of my former life. But fate has a cruel sense of humor. Ethan Hawthorne, the golden boy of my former elite world and my ex-rival, is here. His every smirk is a reminder that the past is not easily outrun.
Ethan: At Silverbrook, I’m the guy with the world at his feet—star athlete, heir to a legacy, the guy who always wins. But Poppy? She was the one challenge I never conquered, the one competitor who never played by my rules. Her return in my life is a curveball I never saw coming. She’s changed, hardened by life’s twists, and now she captivates me more than ever. Our history wasn’t just competition; it was a clash of hearts and egos. Now, the rules have changed. I’m not just out to win a petty game. This time, I’m playing for her heart.
In the elite corridors of Silverbrook University, a tale of passion, redemption, and undeniable attraction unfolds. Poppy and Ethan, bound by their tumultuous past, are caught in a dance of denial and desire. Can an alpha athlete truly humble himself for love? And can a strong-willed girl find forgiveness in her heart? Dive into a steamy saga of love, scars, and second chances.
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Sports
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 22, 2024S
Series: Silverbrook University, #1
ABOUT R G ANGEL
On top of being an International Bestselling Author, I’m a trained lawyer, world traveller, coffee addict and cheese aficionado.
When I’m not busy doing all my lawyerly mayhem or writing Contemporary Romance with heart, heat and a little darkness, alpha heroes and strong heroines and because I’m living in rainy (yet beautiful) Britain, I mostly enjoy indoor activities such as reading, watching TV, playing with my crazy puppies.
I hope my stories will make you dream and will bring you as much joy as they brought me by writing them.
If you want to know any of the latest news join my reader group R.G.’s Angels on facebook or subscribe to my newsletter!
**images are linked to Amazon (I am an affiliate)**
Hi Everyone. I’ve been working on Christmas around the house, but it’s been more of a chore this year than ever. I find myself frustrated when things aren’t the way I want them.
We took a road trip to Biloxi and New Orleans. We don’t walk around as much as we used to, but we do photo ops from the car. We did stop at the Riverwalk for a little shopping and hot chocolate and beignets. I bought a pair of warm ankle boots that I have been looking for everywhere. It seems, for footwear for me, it’s a trip to the Riverwalk. We love to watch the action of the Mississippi River and there was a huge cruise ship waiting to depart.
I’m not much of a shopper, so look quick. LOL
I don’t have any plans to travel for the rest of the year, but Mr Wonderful will be going to Birmingham to pick up his mother for Christmas. When he takes her back home, he will pick up his brother from Connecticut and come home.
Have you read any good books lately? Do you have anything special planned? Do you have any holiday traditions you would like to share?
Join us for this review tour from Nov 6 to Dec 8, 2023!
Book Details:
Book Title: A FELONIOUS FINALE (The Owl’s Nest Mysteries) Author: C.S. McDonald Category: Adult Fiction, 268 pages Genre: Cozy Mystery Publisher: McWriter Books Release date: April 2023 Tour dates: Nov 6 to Dec 8 Content Rating: G. C.S. McDonald’s books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults–no bad language or sexual content.
Book Description:
Alexa Owl has one burning question: Who killed Bobby Starr?
Out of the blue that ornery angel, Detective Bobby Starr, shows up at The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe. Much to Alexa Owl’s surprise, Bobby doesn’t need her help. Rather, he’s brought along someone else who wants to qualify for Saint Peter’s Guardian Angel Squad. Saint Pete has delegated this new inductee to solve a murder to get into the group, and it’s a doozie: Who killed Detective Bobby Starr? How can Alexa turn this assignment down?
Back in the 60s, Bobby’s fifth wife, Katherine was a diva in a community operetta company. During a performance of The Merry Widow, Bobby was forced to stand-in for a member of the chorus who fell ill. Only, Bobby’s first performance would be his last! The suspects are hitting all the notes as this mystery comes to crescendo!
I love sharing giant covers for Sue’s books, so you can get that up close and personal looks at all the details.
The first book in the series, Wings Of Mayhem is free. Go ahead. Grab a copy. You will see why I am so hooked on this series and these characters. Always check for the ‘0’.
GUEST POST BY SUE COLETTA
Sherry asked me another question that other readers might wonder about.
“I am writing my review and saw the list of all the consultants and sites in the front of the book. It is obvious you do tons of research, and I am interested in how you came to be so enthralled with Native American culture.”
It’s sort of a convoluted story, but I’ll try to simplify things.My brother and I grew up in a three-bedroom gambrel built by my maternal grandfather. In fact, my bedroom used to be my mother’s childhood bedroom. Unfortunately, my grandparents on both sides died before I was born, except for my maternal grandmother, who died when I was four.
This house held hidden secrets. In the walls, in the floors, and in the side attic.
Because of my grandparents passing, no one commented on the construction of the house, nor did they explain why the backs of our closets had hidden doorways that led to tunnels behind the walls or why trapdoors led to a secret staircase. To access the hidden passageways, you had to crawl or hunch. My brother and I thought they were the coolest forts. Neither of us had any idea why they existed, nor did it matter. Kids don’t care about the why or how something materialized. They just take the win.
Fast forward a few years. In the third grade my art teacher—back then we had one teacher for all creative activities—planned to put on a school play about the Pilgrims “discovering” America. She asked each student to choose a role, “Indian” or Pilgrim. I chose the former.
Side note: Please excuse the usage of “Indian” rather than more acceptable terms of Native American, First Nations, American Indian, First Peoples, or Indigenous. I use it here for accuracy. That’s the term my misguided teacher used.
Also of note:
Back then, all teachers whitewashed America’s dirty little secrets and instead taught a skewed version of history.
“Indians” were portrayed as the villains of the school play.
For this role, I needed a costume, which Mom made from a bedsheet. A cute little dress edged in fringe. The material couldn’t stay white, of course, so she brewed up several pots of tea to create the perfect dye to mimic tanned animal hides. While we dyed my dress, she told me all about my grandfather and our Native roots. She also said I was spitting image of his sister, my Great Aunt Hat.
Anyway, because I lost my mother so early in life, important parts of our conversation have faded. I’ve pieced together that I’m most likely Algonquin, since my grandfather hailed from Maine, but I’ve never been able to pinpoint the exact clan affiliation. Native American bloodlines are notoriously difficult to trace. They weren’t included in the census bureau because the white population didn’t consider them human, as disgraceful as that sounds. As an aside, Little Rain was one of my relatives, the name I gave Maggie in my Mayhem Series. It fits her so well.
On my father’s side, others have traced his line back to the Mayflower. Evidently, my paternal line consists of the very colonists who murdered Native Americans. So, basically, I’m a walking contradiction. 😉
From as far back as I can remember, I’ve always had a Native heart and soul. When my mother told me about our heritage, life made sense. And so did those secret passageways in our walls. My grandfather built hiding places into our home to protect family and friends from those who wished them harm, like an underground railroad. He had good reason to, as Native people were driven off their ancestral land at an alarming rate. Even today, few New England states have a robust Indigenous community.
Incidentally, at the school play, I wore that tea-dyed, fringed dress with pride. I also gave the teacher a piece of mind for portraying my People like they were the enemy. Needless to say, Mom had a lot of explaining to do afterward. The principal wasn’t pleased with my outburst. LOL Never once did Mom blame me, though. Instead, she taught me to take pride in my Native heritage.
So, to answer your question, yes, I do a ton of research for my Mayhem Series. Not only for accuracy but for me, personally. Through that research I fell in love with Diné culture and traditions, and the spirituality speaks to my soul. As Shawnee learns about her heritage, I learn about mine.
Thanks for another great question, Sherry. <3
Truly fascinating Sue. I want to thank you so much for sharing ‘the good, the bad, and the ugly’. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of you giving your teacher a history lesson. I love picturing you, in your fringed dress, righting a wrong. Unfortunately and unbelievably, in the 21st century here in Florida, they are trying to ‘turn back time.’ It’s true, ‘history repeats itself’…over and over and over again.
It’s 9:30 am on a Monday morning and Mr Mayhem and Shawnee are racing through the forest. Shawnee struggles to keep up with the frantic pace Mr Mayhem has set, slapping branches aside, doing her best to keep up. Why is Poe sending out an alarm?
Where is Shicheii? Shicheii is her grandfather, her only living relative. She will die for him.
And that is the opening for Merciless Mayhem.
Sue Coletta and the Mayhem gang have been working tirelessly to protect nature and all the animals that inhabit our world, and this time Orcas and dolphins are the target of the Killzme Corporation. They present themselves as conservationists, but use those who care about saving the animals for nefarious purposes, without their knowledge. That really ticked me off! Sue Coletta’s subject matter and writing does get all my emotions firing.
The blurb and introduction inside the book made me want to share…well, almost everything, but I figure you will read that anyway, so let’s just get right down to my thoughts.
Sue Coletta does a lot of research and I love an author that strives to make their novels authentic, as realistic as possible. She does that very well.
I won’t go into all the updates for how we came to be where we are. I will leave that for you to find out for yourself, but Sue Coletta does include them in the story. I believe you may be able to read each book as a standalone, but starting in the beginning gives so much depth and meaning into the characters, I recommend beginning with Wings Of Mayhem, Book I.
The Killzme Corporation was the largest animal trafficking ring in the US and they had put a bounty on Mr Mayhem and Shawnee. They will use anyone they care about to get their hands on them.
I love their role playing, as they do their investigating, and they had me bursting out in laughter. The visuals Sue created in my mind are amazing.
Mr Mayhem’s nickname for Shawnee, Cautious Cat, is a misnomer. She can be impulsive, acting without thought of the consequences, putting herself in peril when those she loves are in danger. Mr Mayhem is her mentor and works with her to create a center of calm, giving herself time to anticipate the results of her actions. It’s a work in progress. 🙂
I am speechless when Shawnee launches her attack, around 617 on my ereader. She is a badass warrior and a character sure to capture any thriller lover’s heart, like mine.
Shawnee is in a committed relationship with Levaughn, but we don’t hear much about him. We meet up with some old friends and are introduced to some new ones.
Her interactions with Poe are always fun. They are like two kids struggling through sibling rivalry and Shawnee comes out with the short end of the stick. Lots of smiles to be had, but when push comes to shove, Poe will be there for her.
I love an author that makes me want to do my own research and Sue Coletta is one of those authors. Her chapters begin with Native American sayings that make me think. The Sea Shepherd is mentioned and I remember watching the TV show. They put themselves in danger to stop the slaughter of whales by the Japanese.
Chapter 47 took me to a place I have been waiting to go. I thought it had to come and I am eager to see where Sue will take it in the next book. That being said, I feel it is too important to share and I WANT you to find it out for yourself. Will this go where I want, where I feel it has to, where I feel fate has meant it to be? Have I made you curious?
The Orcas and dolphins may be safe, for the moment…BUT… brace yourself. The next stop is Yellowstone, where Killzme has planned a mass slaughter of bears, wolves and lynxes.
I am always eager to see what Sue will come up with next in this series, but now she has made me even more curious with this snippet at the very end of the novel:
Once my grandfather vanished inside, I swiveled toward my mentor. “He’s definitely hiding somethin’.”
“Oh, yes. Yes, he is. The question is, what?”
“Aw man, Shicheii. What did you do?”
Sue Coletta left me smiling. Thanks, Sue, Mr Mayhem and Shawnee! Oh, and our feathered friends.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Merciless Mayhem by Sue Coletta.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Shawnee and Mayhem continue to wreak havoc on the Killzme Corporation—the largest animal trafficking ring in the country—by killing one poacher at a time. The stakes grow increasingly higher when the nefarious group retaliates by putting a bounty on their heads.
Meanwhile, the traffickers set their sights on capturing Orca for profit and pleasure.
With a ticking clock and no place left to hide, Shawnee and Mayhem alternate between undercover surveillance and clandestine battles to save their loved ones and the Innocent Ones from Killzme’s evil plans. Skills are tested. Tenuous alliances are formed. Not everyone will make it out alive.
Set in a world of cultural wonder, environmental threats, and looming danger, this heart-stopping eco-thriller will have you glued to the page from the first sentence to the last.
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.
I got a copy of the complete series of Fyre and Ash by Logan Fox through Booksprout. Thank you Logan Fox and Booksprout for the opportunity to read and review Fyre and Ash.
MY REVIEW
I am reviewing each book individually and the collection as a whole.
Healing was my obsession… until *she* walked into my classroom.
I must confess, I love a good villain as much or more than a good hero. I find them fascinating. Both characters Fyre and Charlotte Ash have tragic pasts, but once Charlotte is in Fyre’s sights…I love that she fought him, regardless of the attraction. She knew it was wrong as he forced himself upon her. There are many triggers, so…if you don’t like diving into the depths of depravity in an erotic thriller that has no boundaries, step aside. This isn’t for you.
3 Stars
The action ramps up and the danger rises for Charlotte Ash. Fyre has enemies and will use any means necessary to draw him in. We meet Arrow, Fyre’s faithful companion, who takes an immediate liking to Charlotte. We come to a point where all hell breaks loose and, well, I can’t say much more or I feel I will give too much away. I will tell you, the ending of this novella had me screaming, “No, no, no, no, no,” at my ereader. Logan Fox, what are you doing to me? I am so glad that I have the rest of the story, sitting here, waiting for me to take the next step. First, a breath of fresh air to brace myself for what is to come.
4 Stars
Boy, did Under Fyre end on a low note, so I am eager to begin Catching Fyre. Definitely an appropriate name, because someone’s going to burn. We learn how and why Fyre becomes a serial killer and there is so much to his story. I begin to look at him like another ‘villain’ I love so much, Mr Mayhem, from Sue Coletta’s Mayhem series. Things are not always as they appear to be and the saying: Don’t judge a book by it’s cover applies to Fyre. I have grown to love him and Charlotte and I am shocked at where we end up. Well done, Logan.
4 Stars
MY REVIEW FOR FYRE AND ASH: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION
For those girls who openly root for the hero…while fantasizing about the villain.
Each book starts with a Playlist and I was very curious what music inspired Logan Fox for these novellas.
I love for an author to take me to the dark side and wallow in depravity. I find myself smiling and laughing, all too often, so I am glad this is fiction and not real life. What does this say about me? That I love an author that can take me out of my comfort zone, have me squirming in more ways than one. The perverse and twisted characters reach a climax that made me hate it when I read the last sentence…until I found there was a bonus epilogue.
I’m not sure why I didn’t give this a five star rating. I think because it felt rushed? Like something was missing, but I don’t know what. I don’t think it could have taken me to a deeper, darker place. And, as far as healing her…or himself…I will definitely be checking out more of Logan Fox’s work. Shee hits all my discomfort zones. LOL
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Healing was my obsession…until she walked into my classroom.
For years, my art therapy classes have provided solace to trauma survivors. I’ve never questioned my motives before. Then her file crosses my desk. Charlotte Ash. Battered. Bruised. Broken. The devil who kidnapped her put this girl through seven days of hell before she could escape. The torture she suffered shows in her dead eyes. Eyes that brighten with hope when our gazes lock. She’s drawn to me. And I’m obsessed with her. I’m her teacher, but instead of healing her, I’m stalking her. Instead of distancing myself, I’m watching her sleep at night. It’s for her protection. To keep her safe from harm. I will kill for her. But the only monster hiding under her bed…is me.
From USA Today bestselling dark romance author, Logan Fox, comes a deliciously dark and twisted stalker romance collection. Fyre and Ash contains all three books in the series, along with exclusive bonus content. * Playing with Fyre * Under Fyre * Catching Fyre * Bonus content from the Fyre & Ash world
Trigger: This book contains graphic sex, violence, assault, abuse, murder, stalking, voyeurism, exhibitionism, knife play, breath play, primal play, age-gap, a possessive/obsessive morally grey antihero, dub-con, torture, drugs, suicide ideation, bondage, captivity, humiliation and degradation, mental illness, somnophilia. Please proceed with caution.
For fans of Haunting Adeline, That Sik Luv, and the Mindf*ck series.
