Witch Weigh, Protecting The Dream and Mine are novella/short stories that were Amazon freebies.
How could I possible resist the cover for Witch Weigh by Caroline Mickelson.
MY REVIEW
“You want me to work with a FAIRY?”
That’s what happens when a witch feels entitled and acts like the spoiled brat she is. The fun character names fits the fun story inside. Easy reading, light hearted humor, laughs, love and some life lessons for an edgy witch.
3 Stars
MY REVIEW
She couldn’t say no to James, when he said they were going ghost hunting at the mental hospital and I am sure no good will come of it. I remember the monster under the bed, the dark basement, the chilling nighttime outdoors with no lights, no moon…and she has it so much worse…it’s following her…truly frightening, wickedly creepy.
3 Stars
I don’t think the cover does Protecting the Dream by Michelle Sharp justice.
How about this one? Which do you like better?
MY REVIEW
The old farm, the weather vane…it spoke to her. She’s a Ghost Whisperer and a cop and I am loving her right out of the gate. Ty doesn’t know much, but as she opens up to him the story grows, as do the characters and I want more. She had been aloof, disconnected since the death of her family. Ty’s breaking down all the barriers. The story is not so much about her role as a cop as it is about their developing relationship and her role as a medium.
A lot packed into this novella and I love, love, love it.
I used to read a lot of true stories about organized crime, so when I saw the great cover for Unorganized Crime by Judy Serrano, I had to read it. This is one of those times where the cover sucked me in more than the story.
I do want to make you aware that I read an ARC, so it is not the final product. Things can change, be tightened and ramped up, made clearer.
I thought the plot was an interesting concept, but the story jumped all over the place, like Jazz. I couldn’t decide if I liked her or not, but she did have her moments. It is hard to know the time frame and I would have liked a more detailed, fleshed out story.
Though I was not on pins and needles, I enjoyed my time spent with Jazz, Gage and Achilles. The way everything came together in the end makes me wonder what comes next and I am intrigued. That’s a definite thumbs up for Judy Serrano.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Unorganized Crime by Judy Serrano.
As Jazz finds herself falling from a helicopter, Gage St. Claire
comes to her rescue. Organized crime is once again the culprit of her parents’
situation, and as usual, she is caught in the crossfire. Gage pulls her out of
the water and helps her escape to safety. The love between them is undiscovered
as he tries to leave her behind in an attempt to keep her safe and move forward
with his black ops pursuit. Jazz becomes an undercover cop with wiping out
organized crime forever as her goal. After Jazz exposes one of the largest
crime families in the country, quite by accident, she is hired to expose crime
syndicate leader Michael Giambetti Jr., otherwise known as Achilles. Achilles
earned his nickname because he has no weaknesses. He has no weaknesses, that is
until he meets Jazz. Achilles has been untouchable, and if she were to break
this case, she could finally prove herself as a serious undercover officer. Her
job is not an easy one, and people around her are not who they appear to be.
Will Gage come back for Jazz, or will he be lost to her forever? Will she crack
the case on her own? Read as this courageous upstart stumbles through another
adventure.
“When you think about it, I really only need one hostage,” he said as he put
his hand on the small of my back and gave me a gentle shove. The helicopter was
in the air, and I fell helplessly into the clouds. I grabbed hold of the
landing skid and dangled above the water. We were not quite high enough yet
that I would turn to dust if I were to drop. “Let go!” he shouted from below. I
saw Gage take off his boots and put his wallet next to them on the ground.
“Jasmine, jump!”
I saw him
dive into the water, and I let go. This was the most terrifying thing I had
ever done. As I hit the water, two strong arms reached for me and pulled me up
as I plunged powerlessly into the deep. I held my breath, but I didn’t have
much air left. He pulled me up so that I could breathe, and I grabbed hold of
his neck. “I’ve got you, Jazz. You’re okay.”
He turned
me so that I could hold onto his neck from behind, and he swam to the shore.
The helicopter, which was holding my dad tied up and gagged, was long gone.
When we got to the shore, Hector, Gage’s boss, was standing there. He pulled me
out of the water, and Gage followed. “Good job,” Hector said to me. “You’re
very brave.”
I watched
Gage grab his wallet, cigarettes, and shoes. “You need to quit,” I said.
“They’re no good for you.”
He pulled
out a smoke and lit the tip, taking a deep pull off his cigarette. “Someday,”
he answered. “Unfortunately, we often want what is no good for us.” I knew to
what he was referring, but I let it go. Although you might think that the smell
of the cigarette would fill the air, there was an engaging male scent radiating
off of Gage that made me almost forget my name.
Suddenly, I realized that Hector was gone. “Where did Hector go? Where’s my
mom?”
“They
went after the helicopter, Jazz. I don’t think she’s coming back this time.”
My mom
abandoned my dad and me years ago. They both worked for the FBI, and she never
seemed to be able to balance her job and her family. Hector was in charge of
all their destinies. As delightfully delicious as Hector was, I always resented
him for taking her away. It was my goal to be a cop someday and wipe out
organized crime just so people like the ones my parents fought daily would go
out of business for good. Of course, I realized how unrealistic that was.
“I
started my own team. You must remember me mentioning that to you,” he said.
“Yes,
Storm. That’s what you call it.”
We
stepped over to his jeep. He reached in and handed me a towel. I began to dry
my face and hair with it, as he did the same with his own. Gage was a storm all
by himself. He was tall, well-built, and had smoldering dark eyes. His hair
fell just below his ears, and I can remember how soft it was when I last ran my
fingers through it.
“I’m not
just working for the FBI this time. I have a job out of the country. I’m going
to find someone’s daughter who was taken by terrorists.”
My
stomach churned as he opened the door to the jeep, and I hopped inside. “Don’t
leave me, Gage,” I said, as my soaking wet body leaked all over his vinyl car
seats.
I reached
up for his face, but he grabbed my hand. “We’ve been through this. You’re too
young, Jasmine.”
“Gage, I
am 19 years old. I’m old enough.”
“I’m 27,
Jazz. You’re too young for me.”
That
stung. I was waiting for Gage to the be the one for me. I didn’t want anyone
else, and even though he may think of me as too young for him, I felt the ache
in his eyes. We heard a gunshot, and Gage pushed me down onto the floor of his
jeep. He jumped into the driver’s side and took off down the road. “What’s
happening?” I asked. “Who’s here?”
“Someone
realized you were still breathing, princess. Put your head down.”
I stayed
down on the floor of the jeep as a bullet hit the windshield shattering the
glass. I tried so hard to be brave, but I could barely hold it together. I
heard Gage give our location and situation out on a radio. It was only a few
moments before everything got quiet. “I lost them,” he said.
“This is all related to my parents, isn’t it.”
“You know
I can’t tell you that.”
“And the
terrorists. Who are they? Who’s the girl?”
He pulled
the jeep over to the side of the road and sighed before looking at me. “Jazz,”
he said, putting his hand on the side of my face. “Don’t wait for me. I won’t
be back. Do you understand what I’m saying? I’m no good for you. Forget me.”
He
grabbed his towel and brushed the glass off the passenger’s seat. Then he held
out his hand for me to take, and he pulled me up off of the floor. I sat
uncomfortably and refused to meet his eyes. He wanted me to discard him like a
pack of cigarettes. I knew he was no good for me, but I just couldn’t stop
thinking about him. I didn’t say anything. Clearly, my efforts were futile.
He put
his hand back on the steering wheel, put the jeep back in gear, and we drove
down the highway. “Don’t make me come back just to check on you,” he said.
“Behave yourself. Move forward. Forget about me.”
*****
I waited for him. I anticipated his return. I am now 24 years old, and he
didn’t come back in time … or did he? This is my story. Let the ride begin.
About the Author
Judy Serrano graduated from Texas A&M University-Commerce with a master’s degree in English. She is the owner of Make Cents Editing Services, is an English teacher at a local high school, and an adjunct professor at a local junior college. Judy writes romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and Mafia romance novels. She is the author of The Easter’s Lilly Series, The Linked Series, Ivy Vines Visions, and Unorganized Crime. Although originally from New York, she lives in Texas with her husband and near her four boys. In her spare time, Judy plays guitar and sings at her church, and dotes on her fur babies.
How could I possible resist this fabulous cover? A raven on the cover always intrigues me. How about you? Do they give you a warm fuzzy feeling, or do you feel, like me, that there is trouble on the horizon?
The Night Road by Kevin Lucia was a quick read. I loved the illustrations and chapter headins.
For Grace, running was her saving grace. She would run, visit Lilly at the hospital, go home, run, visit Lilly at the hospital and go home. Day after day. Her despair drove her and when I found the reason why it all had to happen….
Great ending.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Night Road by Kevin Lucia.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
For most of her life, Grace Donaldson’s passion has been running. As a star in Cross Country and Track and Field, Grace ran to win, because losing wasn’t an option. For her, running was freedom, and she was only ever her true self when racing toward the finish line.
Her senior year, that all changed. Afterward, instead of running toward something, Grace started running away. From her pain, her anger, and her guilt. Now, as her younger sister lies on her deathbed from attempted suicide and Grace’s darkness threatens to consume her, she discovers The Night Road, and the chance to run toward something again, instead of away… if she’s willing to pay a terrible price.
ABOUT KEVIN LUCIA
Kevin Lucia’s short fiction has appeared in several anthologies, most recently with Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Bentley Little, Peter Straub and Robert McCammon.
His first short story collection, Things Slip Through was published November 2013, followed by Devourer of Souls in June 2014, Through A Mirror, Darkly, June 2015, and and his second short story collection, Things You Need, September 2018. His novella Mystery Road is forthcoming from Cemetery Dance Publications.
I am going to start the five one sentence reviews I will be sharing today with Refrain by Susan Griscom. I won an audible and kindle copy. I quickly got hooked, so scrolled through my Kindle and read every one of the Blood Courtesan Kindle Unlimited series stories that I had.
Oh Yeah…Vampires…I love when I see my name in a book, and even though Refrain, which is a complete story, is predictable, it is filled with enough steamy deliciousness to keep me reading more of the series and wanting more of her work.
3 Stars
Reborn (Blood Courtesans) by Michelle Fox was an Amazon freebie.
Reborn is a complete story, a novella, about the loss of innocence and I love Myra’s feistiness, the laughs, the kisses and bullets, though I did get frustrated with her casual stupidity, but my love of vampires keeps me reading most anything with them in it.
3 Stars
Wanted: Corynne by Kristen Strassel was an Amazon freebie.
One way to deal with bullies is to become a vampire…LOL…she had been bullied to the point of murder and was counting on becoming a courtesan, offering blood and sex, to find a place to belong in this action packed story that filled all my bloody needs.
Thank all that is vampire that someone wanted to pay their good fortune forward or Angelica may never have been accepted as a blood courtesan because she would would make a personal sacrifice, sell her soul for her sister, and I love her naive yet provocative personality filled with humor.
3 Stars
Ensnared: Star by Rebecca Rivard & Michelle Fox was an Amazon freebie.
She had been set up for the theft of one hundred thousand dollars and her only out was to become a courtesan…one month with Remy de la Lune, but this hunkalicious vampire has met his match and I was happy to be along for the ride.
I love suspense, thrills, crime and mystery. I have also been to Mexico numerous times, though I never saw it the way Carmen Amato has. Her book covers attracted my attention, because I am a sucker for great covers. Another thing that really caught my attention and made me curious was the author herself. She has a very interesting history, so be sure and scroll down to check her out.
I am going to review them in the order I read them. If they look good to you, click on the cover to hop over to Amazon. They may still be free, but be sure and check for the “0”.
The covers fit the series so well. I love when an author creates a brand.
Her whole world was this moment, this stinky mat, this iron beast that she had become. A fabulous description of Emilia Cruz…and she will need that iron will, that strength, in what is to come. Emilia is the first female detective in Acapulco and she had fought hard for it. I love the character and as I read the five stories in Made In Acapulco, I grew to love her more.
Machismo. Corruption. Cartels.
“Always pay it forward. It’s the only way we’ll save our future.”
BEING BRAVE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF FEAR: IT’S THE COURAGE TO PRESS ON IN SPITE OF FEAR
This introduction into Emilia Cruz only makes me want to read more.
3 Stars
I missed so many books between Made In Acapulco, my introduction to Emilia Cruz, to Narco Noir, the eight book. I have missed a lot.
I have missed all the books in the series except what I consider the introduction to Emila Cruz, Made In Acapulco. I think it probably affected my review, because I was just getting the hang of being in Mexico, but now I do have some familiarity with the characters and how the city of Acapulco operates.
I sense a romance, but what kind of future does a detective from the barrios have with an American with plenty of money? Could they make it work?
Well, that’s a twist. I didn’t see it coming and I am curious where it will go.
She is a badass. I love a strong female character that can hold her own. Even in the machismo world of Mexico, she earns her place and the respect of (at least) some of her coworkers, informants…
Every move is filled with danger and betrayal. Corruption is rampant, so it’s hard to know who to trust. She has to keep things close to the vest.
Her partner, Silvio, is the only person she calls in her time of need.
There is so much about the book I liked, but I was frustrated by some of the characters actions. I don’t want to say much to spoil it for you, because I think it’s worth finding out for yourself.
I do recommend starting at the beginning and you will need to read to the end of the series to get the complete story.
3 Stars
The Emilia Cruz series takes place in Acapulco, Mexico. In The Hidden Light Of Mexico City by Carmen Amato we step away from Acapulco.
“So you’re too afraid to save our country?….What will you leave your grandchildren? A country that’s just a playground of violence for the cartels?”
Eddo hated what he was forced to do just to be able to do the right thing. People will get hurt, but he couldn’t sit back and do nothing just because it was dangerous and may cost him his life.
Luz has sacrificed everything for her family. I feel so bad for her and I wonder when or if she will have her turn. Her family ticks me off. What gives them the right to treat her the way they do. Even her brother walks a fine line in my book. Family is family, but when is too much enough?
An indepth look at the brutality and corruption of Mexico’s’ drug trade and the war for territory.
Whoa…I was brought up short. I thought I knew what the story would be: betrayal, corruption, power hungry, brutal, savage, and those who try to do the right thing. I’ve always heard how Mexico was driven by the drug cartels, so on that front I wasn’t surprised.
The twist with the romance…
The Hidden Light Of Mexico City by Carmen Amato is a great police procedural, suspense/thriller. At times my heart was in my throat and I love the characters, good and bad.
The ending is excellent. Not too short, not too long, just right.
4 Stars
Now, we are real life moments in Mexico. Aapply your suntan lotion, put on your hiking boots, bring your swimsuit, bring your appetite, and let’s go meet some new people.
I took no notes for The Insider’s Guide To The Best Of Mexico. These snippets of introductions from the 42 contributor’s to the guide share their favorites in a page or three. I would take it with me if I were traveling to Mexico.
4 Stars
ABOUT CARMEN AMATO
Following a 30 year career with the Central Intelligence Agency, Carmen Amato writes mystery and suspense, including the Detective Emilia Cruz police series set in Acapulco. Emilia is the first female police detective in Acapulco, confronting Mexico’s cartels, corruption and social inequalities. The series recently won the Poison Cup award for Outstanding Series from Crime Masters of America and was optioned for television.
Originally from upstate New York, Carmen’s experiences in Mexico and Central America launched her fiction career. Carmen is a recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal.
The Water Trilogy by Britney King is still my favorite, but she writes such interesting psychological thrillers, that I will read…eagerly…any novel she pens. That being said, let’s delve into Fever Dream, a story that takes place in a Texas State Asylum.
Fever Dream is Britney King’s One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.
I am seesawing back and forth with Grace. I am trying to figure out exactly what is going on with with her. I don’t feel she is crazy, but how much does she know? Is she complicit with Clint’s disappearance?
A frontal Leucotomy is in her near future. WTH? The doctor says they are out of options and this is the way to go. He considers her lucky…yeah, right. Is he a mad scientist? Or worse?
I was curious about Elisabeth, not sure whether she was a good or bad person, disturbed, or something else. In the end, I was Team Elisabeth. She is a fascinating character and helped create some twists and turns that I never saw coming.
The rating: Fever Dream kept me reading, but I just didn’t feel that sense of urgency I expected with Grace. Elisabeth definitely made up for it. The ending…it felt a little too rushed for me, but it wasn’t what I was expecting…and that is a huge plus.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Fever Dream by Britney King.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
The bestselling
author of the “clever spine-tingler” The Secretary returns with an
unputdownable thriller following a woman in a desperate search for
answers after she’s institutionalized against her will.
The
year is 1962, and every night Grace lays her head on her pillow at the
Texas State Lunatic Hospital, she reminds herself she is not what they
say she is.
Her children and her husband are not dead. They’re searching for her.
Someone knows the truth.
Strangely, that someone is hell-bent on making sure the truth stays buried.
The question is…why?
Meanwhile, Grace has bigger fish to fry, starting with her new roommate.
Elizabeth is certifiable, and she has star status—a deadly combination, Grace realizes.
The
kind of woman who has everyone in the palm of her hand, Elizabeth gives
even the most menacing of nurses a run for their money, takes bad
intentions to a whole new level, and makes crazy look seductive as hell.
Grace
learns fast: the best way to deal with lunacy is to befriend it. It may
be her only ticket out. She also learns there’s more to her new
bunkmate than meets the eye. She’s vile, she’s cunning—and possibly
faking it.
The question is…why?
With riveting twists and a breakneck pace, Fever Dream is a propulsive thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
MEET BRITNEY KING
Hello. I’m Britney.
I live in Austin, Texas with
my husband, children, a dog named Gatsby, one ridiculous cat, and a partridge
in a pear tree.
When I’m not wrangling the
things mentioned above, I write psychological, domestic, and romantic thrillers
set in suburbia.
Currently, I’m writing three
series and several standalone novels.
The Bedrock
Series features an unlikely heroine who should have known better. Turns
out, she didn’t. Thus she finds herself tangled in a messy, dangerous,
forbidden love story and face-to-face with a madman hell-bent on revenge. The
series has been compared to Fatal Attraction, Single White Female,
and Basic Instinct.
The Water Series follows
the shady love story of an unconventional married couple—he’s an assassin—she
kills for fun. It has been compared to a crazier book version of Mr. and
Mrs. Smith. Also, Dexter.
Around The Bend is a
heart-pounding standalone, which traces the journey of a well-to-do suburban
housewife, and her life as it unravels, thanks to the secrets she keeps. If she
were the only one with things she wanted to keep hidden, then maybe it wouldn’t
have turned out so bad. But she wasn’t.
The With You Series at
its core is a deep love story about unlikely friends who travel the world;
trying to find themselves, together and apart. Packed with drama and adventure
along with a heavy dose of suspense, it has been compared to The Secret Life of
Walter Mitty and Love, Rosie.
The Social Affair is an
intense standalone about a timeless couple who find themselves with a secret
admirer they hadn’t bargained for. For fans of the anti-heroine and stories
told in unorthodox ways, the novel explores what can happen when privacy is
traded for convenience. It is reminiscent of films such as One Hour Photo and
Play Misty For Me. Classics. 🙂
Without a doubt, connecting
with readers is the best part of this gig. If you’d like to connect, shoot me
an email. You can also find
me on Facebook, Instagram,
and occasionally on Twitter.
I had these freebies by Maggie Shayne sitting on my Kindle. I am confused about Forgotten. I found it on Amazon under Forgotten Vows as a paperback and a cover I didn’t like as well as this. You can check it out for yourself on Amazon. I would love to know what you think because I think this one is fantastic. Though Goodreads has it as a Kindle cover, I couldn’t find a Kindle link.
MY REVIEW
A serial killer brought them together…Joey rides a Harley, packs a cannon, has two nieces that are cute as a button and Ash, who wants Suzy Homemaker make an unlikely couple, so I found the characters added to the pacing and suspense that kept me flipping the pages.
4 Stars
The Littlest Cowboy by Maggie Shayne was an Amazon freebie. How cute a cover is that? The Amazon cover is different,but I think this is sooooo darn cute. Check out Amazon and let me know which you like best.
Not a genre I read a lot of but, I couldn’t resist the cover and the manly family quickly draws me in with the humorous dialogue…smiles, giggles, sweetness…and everything happens quickly in this romance with a hint of danger…one for all and all for one.
“She isn’t a stray dog, Jessi…You can’t just decide to keep her.”
“i’ve already decided. Now all I have to do is convince her she belongs.”
The first half or so of the book had me thinking she was a moron, but she was a young naive girl in a hopeless situation with people pulling on her in many directions, and the last half of the book brought it to an action packed, enemies to friends conclusion of this part of her life…making me want to know more.
Just like the TV show, we have trials and tribulations, realistic life situations, sorrow and happiness, and a happy ever after with a touch of danger.
3 Stars
I won a paperback copy of Etched In Tears by Cheryl Hollon.
I met Deja in Book II, Trust In Love and I am excited to hear her story and watch Emmet work his magic to win her over.
Deja was waiting, wishing for her sixteenth birthday so she could get the hell out of Dodge. She was sick of the shaming from her classmates. A knock on the door…and now we find ourselves HERE…with Sophie. I love how they meet. Two lost souls team up, never judging, always steadfast in their support for each other.
Sometimes I wonder why people even have kids, when they throw them away so easily. Yeah, this is a novel, but Amanda Siegrist makes her characters and situations read true.
Her brother, Dare, reenters her life. Now she has to two men that are giving her a headache. LOL Dare and Emmet. What’s a girl to do?
The McCord family’s interaction with Dare, especially Ethan’s, had me cracking up. I totally get Dare’s confusion, but seeing I know the family, it was no surprise to me. One for all and all for one.
Even though it was love at first sight, at least for Emmet, the romance was on a very slow burn. We not only get Deja’s story, but wrap on the loose ends of Sophie’s as well.
Want a sweet romance? Maybe a dash of danger? Hunkalicious men? Strong women? Look no further. This series has it all, and though I feel each story can stand alone, I highly recommend beginning at the beginning.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Deserving You by Amanda Siegrist.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
From USA Today bestselling author Amanda Siegrist comes a heartwarming series that will make you swoon…and maybe even shed a few tears.
She doesn’t think she’s worthy of his love. He’ll prove her wrong.
Emmett
McCord has wanted Deja since the moment he met her, despite how she
came into their lives. It didn’t take long for him, and the family, to
forgive her and see just what kind of woman she is. Strong. Determined.
Remorseful. Faithful to a fault. He wants to declare his feelings, but
he knows she’ll resist him. He can’t risk losing her friendship. When
her brother walks back into her life, causing her pain, he’s done
keeping his feelings to himself. He wants her, and she’ll just have to
get used to it.
The entire McCord Family Novel series: (Each book in this series can be read as a standalone.)
Protecting You (Book 1): Zane & Ava Trust in Love (Book 2): Austin & Sophie Deserving You (Book 3): Emmett & Deja Always Kind of Love (Book 4): Ethan & Penelope Finding You (Book 5): Gabe & Olivia
ABOUT AMANDA SIEGRIST
Love!
Gimme some love and heaps of romance. I have a sappy heart that just
loves two people meeting, going through the cycles of a relationship,
and ultimately, falling in love. Give me a good book like that and I’m a
happy camper:)
I write contemporary and romantic suspense, but I am partial to suspense. I just love a good mystery.
Besides writing, I love baking, crafts, and baseball…oh, and meeting new people. *smiles*
The cover for The Cold Vanish by Jon Billman makes it easy to see why someone could go missing and never be found. I’d like to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read and review The Cold Vanish.
I saw the title and cover, then read the blurb, and my interest was peaked. I had to know what Jon Billman had to say in this true story of the missing across the country.
To tell the story, Jon Billman did walk in Jacob Gray’s footsteps, to a point.
The Schrödinger’s cat experiment…I had never heard the entire experiment, but the fact that it is neither, dead or alive, or both, dead and alive, until you open the box. I imagine it is the same with a missing person. I cannot imagine how the not knowing could mess with someone’s mind.
I do believe some of the problem is with those who are doing the investigating. The process has come a long way, but I think investigators can still get stuck on one person, zeroing in on them, making the suspect fit the evidence. Not only has technology aided the investigators, the investigators have become more sophisticated.
Unfortunately, there are still those who are out to make a name for themselves, to get elected to office. or just inept and unqualified for the job at hand. And the wilderness…such a large area where bodies could be easily hidden, make findng them like a needle in a haystack.
Cold Vanish…here one minute, gone the next. Aliens? Bigfoot? The Supernatural?
The book was written like a TV episode, hopping from one case to another, coming back again and again. It was confusing at times, but I do like that so many missings were shared.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Cold Vanish by Jon Billman.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
For readers of Jon
Krakauer and Douglas Preston, the critically acclaimed author and
journalist Jon Billman’s fascinating, in-depth look at people who vanish
in the wilderness without a trace and those eccentric, determined
characters who try to find them.
These are the stories that defy
conventional logic. The proverbial vanished without a trace incidences,
which happen a lot more (and a lot closer to your backyard) than almost
anyone thinks. These are the missing whose situations are the hardest on
loved ones left behind. The cases that are an embarrassment for park
superintendents, rangers and law enforcement charged with Search &
Rescue. The ones that baffle the volunteers who comb the mountains,
woods and badlands. The stories that should give you pause every time
you venture outdoors. Through Jacob Gray’s disappearance in Olympic
National Park, and his father Randy Gray who left his life to search for
him, we will learn about what happens when someone goes missing.
Braided around the core will be the stories of the characters who fill
the vacuum created by a vanished human being. We’ll meet eccentric
bloodhound-handler Duff and R.C., his flagship purebred, who began
trailing with the family dog after his brother vanished in the San
Gabriel Mountains. And there’s Michael Neiger North America’s foremost
backcountry Search & Rescue expert and self-described “bushman”
obsessed with missing persons. And top researcher of persons missing on
public wildlands Ex-San Jose, California detective David Paulides who is
also one of the world’s foremost Bigfoot researchers.
It’s a
tricky thing to write about missing persons because the story is the
absence of someone. A void. The person at the heart of the story is
thinner than a smoke ring, invisible as someone else’s memory. The bones
you dig up are most often metaphorical. While much of the book will
embrace memory and faulty memory — history — The Cold Vanish is at its core a story of now and tomorrow. Someone will vanish in the wild tomorrow. These are the people who will go looking.
ABOUT JON BILLMAN (from Grand Central Publishing)
Jon Billman is a former wildland firefighter and high school teacher. He holds an MFA in Fiction from Eastern Washington University. He’s the author of the story collection When We Were Wolves (Random House, 1999). Billman is a regular contributor to Outside and his fiction and nonfiction have appeared in Esquire, The Paris Review, and Zoetrope: All-Story. He teaches fiction and journalism at Northern Michigan University in the Upper Peninsula, where he lives with his family in a log cabin along the Chocolay River.
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