Giveaway & Review – The Torching by Kerry Peresta @kerryperesta @partnersincr1me

The Torching by Kerry Peresta Banner

The Torching

by Kerry Peresta

May 8 – June 2, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

MY REVIEW

I think the title and cover will tell us what’s going to be happening in The Torching, the third book in the Olivia Callahan series. I have loved the covers for the entire series. I have loved watching Olivia struggle through her recovery of an assault that led to her having amnesia. She slowly pieces together her life, her personality taking a three hundred and sixty degree twist. I really like her new self and watching her come into her own.

Trouble seems to be her middle name, because it follows her wherever she goes, through no fault of her own. Her group of friends are loyal and have their own baggage to share.

We start with her beloved Maryland house being torched. Accident? Arson?

The Wine, Whine, & Win group is missing one of their gal pals, Hannah. She had found her true love and moved to Florida. Why isn’t she answering their calls? Hmmm……

It took me a while to put the mystery together. I was surprised at first, but it makes so much sense. Ya never know where greed will take someone, how far they will go to accomplish their mission? goal?

Romance is in the picture, but Olivia is not ready to commit. I love how Kerry Peresta handled their relationship. She has been through, and continues to go through so much, how can she trust a man, or even herself, to make the right choice.

There is so much going on, so many players in The Torching by Kerry Peresta, that my mind was spinning, at times. Seems I would turn around and another villain popped up. No one was safe. Olivia’s search for a purpose has found her a career and answers from her past. I love that Kerry Peresta has created such fabulous characters that I do want to see more from them…and I think I know where we will be going next.

I had so many highlights in my ereader, that I had to pick and choose what I would share. Seeing this is a series, I don’t want to spoil any of the previous books for you, which I do highly recommend reading.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Torching by Kerry Peresta.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

Synopsis:

Mysterious fires. A haunting past. A secret file.

Three years ago, Olivia Callahan endured an assault that resulted in a devastating brain injury. She survived, but she couldn’t remember anything about her life or who she was. Now, she’s determined to build a bridge between the past she lost and the life she must reclaim.

When Olivia crosses paths with PI Tom Stark, she is drawn to the investigative field, and becomes his intern. She finds a heavily redacted, forty-five-year-old file locked in his desk drawer that mentions her mother as a young woman. Why had her mentor hidden the file from her, and why had he never mentioned a case involving her mother?

As Olivia moves forward with her fledgling career, a string of mysterious fires moves through the community, puzzling the Baltimore Arson Investigative Unit. One of the fires strikes Olivia’s beloved farmhouse in rural Maryland. Now, in addition to uncovering the secrets bound within the redacted file, she becomes convinced that the fires happening around the area are disturbing calling cards…and they’re meant for her.

The Torching Trailer:

Book Details:

Genre: Traditional mystery or Suspense
Published by: Level Best Books
Publication Date: March 2023
Number of Pages: 323
ISBN: 978-1-68512-323-9
Series: The Olivia Callahan Suspense series, 3 | Each is a Stand Alone Novel
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

Smoke assailed us halfway up my long, winding, driveway. A dingy, gray film coated my windshield. I jabbed the brake to slow down, but my trembling foot slipped off the brake. Lilly gave me a look that broke my heart.

The surging, ballooning smoke hurled itself at us like angry fog. Visibility fell to near-zero the longer I drove. I slowed to a crawl. We inched along the lane until the strobing white-and-red lights cut through the smoke. I counted two fire engines and one black SUV on the lane as I approached. A couple of firefighters raced into my house. My door lay on the porch in three pieces, and an axe was propped against the wall. Each firefighter wore oxygen tanks attached to large, anteater-shaped masks. With their cumbersome, reflective-striped protective gear and masks, they looked more suited to step on the moon than inside my beloved Maryland farmhouse.

I brought my car to a shuddering halt.

We stepped out. I put my arm around Lilly.

Vaporous clouds of smoke cloaked my house. A couple of firefighters worked with giant, yellow firehoses. The men had divided themselves into teams, and the muted shouts told me some of them were behind the house. Flames leapt toward the sky from the backside of the roof. I counted six firefighters working on the house that I could see—plus the ones in the back. Tears trickled down my cheeks, and a terrifying thought struck—what about my cat?

“Lilly,” I said, my voice shaky, “Where was Riot when you last saw him?”

Lily’s face went white. “Mom…”

I grabbed her by the shoulders. “No, no…Riot’s smart. He will have found safety. I’ll find him. Stay here.”

I ran across the yard to a woman dressed in navy slacks and a white shirt with metal glinting on the front and official-looking patches on the arms. “I’m the owner,” I yelled over the whump of igniting flames, batting my way through smoke.

She shook my hand and identified herself as the public information officer. “Sorry to meet under these circumstances, but glad you were out of the home. We have it controlled. The team inside is checking to make sure it was contained. As far as we can tell, the seat of the fire is in the attic. Give us thirty minutes, okay? But ma’am, I’ll need you to stay back. Our investigator will be here soon. She’ll let you know when it’s safe to go inside.”

“My cat’s in there,” I yelled. “Can you have someone look for him?”

She spoke into a radio.

The smoke started to let up. Three hoses trained on the roof gushed out torrents of water. The huge flames stretching into the sky began to shrink. Radio chatter stuttered around the space. The firefighters stayed in constant contact, radios slung across their chests with a strap that held a mic.

These guys would not know where to look for Riot.

With an apologetic glance at Lilly, I skirted around the trucks, avoided the PIO, and dashed across the yard, up the front porch stairs, and into the house.

“MOM,” Lilly wailed through the billowy smoke.

Coughing, I ran inside. “Riot,” I screamed. “Riot, I’m here, buddy.”

I looked behind the couch. Underneath the dining room table. On top of his cat tree. Underneath the wingback chair. He wasn’t in any of his favorite spots. I plowed through the murkiness and melting sheetrock.

A bullhorn blared, “Ma’am. We need you to exit the building.” “Now!”

My throat was closing. My eyes stung like crazy. I needed to find him and get the heck out.

I scrambled into the kitchen and opened the lower cupboards, then the uppers. Searched the seats of the barstools, underneath the kitchen table. My heart thrashed like a wrecking ball in my chest. “Riot? I’m here, boy. Come on out,” I begged. A timid sound reached my ears. I waited. I heard it again, louder.

A shaggy, orange head appeared on top of the cabinets. I climbed up, grabbed him, and raced out the back door. The backyard firefighter team made group gestures that I interpreted as ‘get the hell out of here and let us do our job, ma’am’.

I zigzagged through the first responder obstacle course to my car, blinded by the strobing lights. Lilly spurted fresh tears and held out her arms for Riot. We watched in silence as the flames soared into the sky.

***

Excerpt from The Torching by Kerry Peresta. Copyright 2023 by Kerry Peresta. Reproduced with permission from Kerry Peresta. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Kerry Peresta

Kerry Peresta is the author of the Olivia Callahan Suspense series. “The Torching,” book three, releases March, 2023, and books four and five in 2024 and 2025. Her standalone suspense thriller, “Back Before Dawn,” releases May, 2023. Additional writing credits include a popular newspaper and e-zine humor column, “The Lighter Side,” (2009—2011); the short story “The Day the Migraine Died,” published in Rock, Roll, and Ruin: A Triangle Sisters in Crime Anthology, articles published in Local Life Magazine, The Bluffton Breeze, Lady Lowcountry, and Island Events Magazine. She is past chapter president of the Maryland Writers’ Association and a current member and presenter of the Pat Conroy Literary Center, Hilton Head Island Writers’ Network, South Carolina Writers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Kerry is the mother of four adult children, and spent thirty years in advertising as an account manager, creative director, copywriter, and editor. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her working out, riding her bike or kayaking, enjoying the beaches of Hilton Head Island, or cuddling her two cats, Agnes and Felix. She and her husband moved to Hilton Head Island in 2015.

Catch Up With Kerry Peresta:
www.KerryPeresta.net
Goodreads
BookBub – @kerryperesta
Instagram – @kerryperesta
Twitter – @kerryperesta
Facebook – @klperesta

 

 

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MY KERRY PERESTA REVIEWS

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Review – The Truth Behind The Mask by W L Brooks pumpupyourbook #WLBrooks

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The McKay Series is an amazing collection of five novels and I have been devouring each and every one. Because The Truth Behind The Mask is Book IV of the series, I am going to do my best to not spoil anything for you.

Each book highlights one member of the McKay family and there are always secrets and danger involved. My favorite is Book I, Let The Dead Lie. We meet the girls and how they came to be brought together into a family. They have been abused, neglected, tortured and learning to love and be loved is so very difficult for them. They work hard and live hard. Nothing comes easy to them, but when you earn their trust, they will die for you.

Alexandra is the sister being spotlighted in The Truth Behind The Mask by W L Brooks. She had deeply hurt her sister, Fletcher, who had left town because of it. It’s those pesky secrets that keep popping up, refusing to stay buried. Fletcher had been staying with Jake and when she gets kidnapped, Alex and Jake will have to learn to work together.

Fletcher McKay attracted lunatics worse than shit attracted flies. Yep, the kid was trouble with a capital T.

Fletcher has been my favorite since the beginning, though I do love the other ‘ladies’ too and watching them grow, change, and find their place in the world has been a road I happily traveled. The tragedies heaped on Fletcher are unimaginable! Time and time again she is taken to the brink of death, but she suffers so the others won’t have to. Seems everyone wants to protect her. Believe me. she may be small but she is a warrior.

W L Brooks’ ability to write some fabulous dialogue between her characters is amazing. I found myself laughing out loud at Jake and the ice princess, Alexandra. She is always so prim and proper, only wears dresses and rarely has a hair out of place. Jake is relaxed, laid back, easy going, ‘a throwback to the caveman’. Only someone like him will be able to break down the walls of the ice princess. Their romance is one wild ride and I loved all the verbal foreplay. It makes for some steamy sex scenes.

And Tiny…I have been remiss in never mentioning him. He is a loyal friend and the ‘chef’ at the diner. You’ll definitely know he has a problem with you if he serves you burnt food. LOL

Every time I think their life will calm down and they can live a normal life, something else happens and I can’t wait to find out what and to whom.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Truth Behind The Mask by W L Brooks.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Is Alexandra McKay the reason her sister Fletcher left town? Yes. Does that mean Alex wants to put her life on hold to bring the little beast back? No! But when she discovers her sister’s been abducted, Alex will do whatever it takes to rescue her.
Giving up his PI gig was tough, but Jake Keller would rather do that any day than partner up with Alexandra McKay. Unfortunately, if he wants to find his friend Fletcher, he has to work with Her Royal Pain-in-the-Behind-ness. Hot or not, the woman makes his jaw twitch.
Forced together by circumstance, and ensnared in a web of clues, the pair submit to their undeniable passion. But if they’re unwilling to face the truth, they will risk not only Fletcher’s life but their own chance at happiness.

  • Genre: Mystery Suspense Thriller
  • 302 pages, ebook
  • Published June 9, 2021 by The Wild Rose Press

ABOUT W L BROOKS (from her website)

W.L. Brooks was born with an active imagination.  When characters come into her mind, she has to give them a life- a chance to tell their stories. With a coffee cup in her hand and a cat by her side, she spends her days letting the ideas flow onto paper.  A voracious reader, she draws her inspiration from mystery, romance, suspense and a dash of the paranormal.

A native of Virginia Beach, she is currently living in Western North Carolina. Check out the latest book in her McKay Series, The Truth Behind the Mask, and stay tuned to see what’s next!

Website / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / TikTok

MY W L BROOKS REVIEWS

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Review – Honor ‘N’ Duty (Federal K9 #6) by Tee O’Fallon @TeeOFallon

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I won a copy of Honor ‘N’ Duty by Tee O’Fallon and kept it on the top of my reading list.

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I am so excited to have won a copy of Honor ‘N’ Duty (Federal K9 #6) by Tee O’Fallon. It is the only book I have read in the series, but now I have my eye on her. I love romantic suspense and the characters quickly grew on me. After reading her impressive bio, I saw why she could write such a believable story with realistic characters. I think most of us know how dangerous and savage cartels can be, but would they kill a child to get what they want?

I was gripped from the meeting in the elevator. Do you believe in love at first sight? What if the woman is marrying your brother? Even though I knew MOST of what was to come, it didn’t stop me from rapidly flipping pages, having to know what comes next. Kade, hubba hubba. Laia, sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do, no explanations. At times Rosa and Smoke steal the stage. I mean, who doesn’t love pineapple pizza and whipped cream directly from the can.

I highly recommend the series and have my fingers crossed that more will come my way.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Two years after his brother’s murder in jail, Department of Homeland Security K-9 Officer Kade Sampson is still haunted by guilt. No man should ever have to arrest his own brother, even if he is laundering money for a drug cartel. Fortunately, Laia Velez—his brother’s gorgeous widow—never learned the truth about Kade’s involvement. But when she asks him for help, he knows that trouble with the cartel is far from over…

Kade is the last person Laia wants to call. But between her house being thoroughly trashed and the uneasy sense that she and her young daughter are being watched, Laia isn’t taking any chances. The cartel wants something from her. And Kade and his K-9 partner, Smoke, are her only chance to survive whatever fresh hell is coming their way…

Now Laia and Kade are trying to stay one step ahead in a game that’s growing more deadly by the minute. But what the cartel wants, the cartel gets. And Kade is running out of time to save the woman he loves from the same fate that killed his brother…

ABOUT TEE O’FALLON

Tee O’Fallon is the author of the K-9 Special Ops, Federal K-9, and NYPD Blue & Gold Series. Tee spent twenty-three years as a federal agent conducting complex, long- and short-term criminal investigations, including undercover operations, across many agencies at the federal level, and multi-state investigations as a police investigator. It felt only natural to combine her hands-on experience in the field with her love of romantic suspense. Tee has lived in New York State most of her life with a five-year stop in Colorado. When not writing, she enjoys cooking, gardening, chocolate, lychee martinis, and all creatures canine.

Be sure to follow Tee on BookBub for the latest on sales and new releases: https://bit.ly/BookBubTeeOFallon

Sign up for Tee’s newsletters at https://teeofallon.com/subscribe/ to receive a FREE digital copy of Lock ‘N’ Load!

Tee loves hearing from readers and can be contacted via her website https://teeofallon.com.(less)

Review – Vanished (Faith Black FBI Case Files) by Jade Madden @jademaddenbooks

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

All too often prequel’s are just a tease and set up for Book I of a series. I do so love with an author can make a prequel novella that stands alone yet makes me want the next one. Especially when a female FBI agent is looking for a woman that went missing on the 87 mile stretch of Jade Forest section.

We are off to a quick start, when a young girl goes missing in the Jade Forest.

Small town mystery with a couple of characters brought together under tragic circumstances. How much danger will they face? I think plenty. The big question is, where will it come from? Is it two legged or four legged? Will there be a romance?

Vanished by Jade Madden is a complete novella, an entire story, in one fell swoop. YAY!

It is written with a light touch. Though there is plenty of gruesome death, it’s over quick. I never really felt the sense of urgency and suspense I love so much. That’s okay. It is a novella and I don’t believe it was meant to. NOW…

What’s next in the Faith Black Case Files? Bring it on.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Vanished by Jade Madden.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

An FBI Agent. A missing hiker. And a secret to die for…

FBI Agent Faith Black was damn good at her job.

But considering the events of her last case, she is lucky to still have her badge.

Her latest assignment lands her in a sleepy backwoods town where people are disappearing.

She’s less than enthused.

She partners with the local sheriff who’s desperate for answers. They agree that their only option is to retrace the footsteps of a college grad who recently vanished while hiking.

Together they scour the hiking trail over 87 miles through the thick mountain forest. They can’t shake the eerie feeling they are not alone.

Whatever was lurking in the shadows wants them gone.

And nothing could have prepared them for what they find.

It was a secret that the ominous forest has been hiding.

A secret only the dead knew…

Vanished is the prequel to the Faith Black FBI Crime Files series; it can be read as a standalone.

Disclaimer: This book is for mature audiences and contains mild profanity and violence.

102 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2022

ABOUT JADE MADDEN

Jade Madden lives in Minnesota with her husband and dogs. When she’s not writing mystery, thriller, and suspense books, she loves to travel, long-distance hiking, gardening, clean eating, learning about healthy lifestyles, bushcraft, herbalism, and staying fit.

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Review – A Mermaid Tea Party by Sally Huss @sallyhuss

Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

A wonderfully illustrated children’s story sure to entrance the youngsters. Kindness and good manners are on the agenda, when they have a tea party at school. I love the illustrations and descriptions of the food, the fellow water residents they pass on the way to school, and the teacher that makes the tea party so special. Quick and easy for the youngsters to understand. What little girl doesn’t want to be a mermaid?

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Fun, Beautifully Illustrated Bedtime Story/Picture Book about Thoughtfulness and Good Manners for Beginner Readers, Ages 2-8

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 19, 2013

ABOUT SALLY HUSS (from Amazon)

Sally Huss is a children’s book author and illustrator and a former tennis champion. She lives with her brilliant husband who is forever telling her what her next book should be. She, however, listens to her own heart and writes what she wants; occasionally serving him scrambled eggs and gluten-free toast. She herself prefers a blueberry muffin.

www.sallyhuss.com

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Review – The Rising by Kerry Peresta @kerryperesta @partnersincr1me

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

First off, don’t ya just love that cover? Sometimes I will grab a book for that reason alone, but not so in the case of The Rising by Kerry Peresta. I loved her first book in the series, The Deadening, so I quickly dove into The Rising, which is an appropriate title as Olivia Callhan makes the most of her chance to remake herself after being in a coma following an assault and subsequent amnesia.

“You should’ve returned my calls, you idiot. It didn’t have to end like this.”

A great start to The Rising by Kerry Peresta, and I was immediately caught up in the mystery. And, of course, Olivia Callahan is smack dab in the middle of it.

Monty, her ex husband, is in prison, but that doesn’t stop him from manipulating people and complicating her life. She talks herself into visiting him. She is surprised at his appearance, Schwartzenegger in a room full of Danny Devitos. Had me laughing out loud. Her hope was to be able to move forward, but she needed some answers from him first. He is slick and I would be careful of anything he says.

‘Sherry’ plays a bigger part in each story and I love that my namesake is turning into a kickass character.

Olivia had written a book about her experiences and regrets doing so. It puts her in the limelight, recognized everywhere she goes. Her agent is constantly harping on her to write another one, but she has no interest in doing so.

Her love interest, Hunter Faraday, is a very patient man. He will have to be if he wants a relationship with her. She still doesn’t know who she really is, though her personality is done a three hundred and sixty degree turn and I am loving the new her. She falters now and then, but that is to be expected. She is still trying to learn her past.

Her girlfriends stick by her, but Hannah is now on my shit list. Can she redeem herself?

Bells and clangs and alarms sounded in my mind like a fire truck screaming down the freeway.

Want a profound quote. The whole book had me feeling that way. Murder, bombs, revenge, and a new start for Olivia. She’s not happy with the police investigation, so she is starting one of her own.

I was so sad for Niles. Can someone be all bad? Do they deserve a second chance?

Well, The Rising by Kerry Peresta was a wild rollercoaster ride of mystery and emotion, and I expected no less after reading The Deadening. We have so much action and intrigue, I couldn’t stop reading, t times wanting to wring her neck and punch out some of the other characters. Other times, the characters rose to the occasion, making me glad to know she has people like that around her. I will immediately be cracking open The Torching. I guess we’ll be seeing a fire…maybe two…maybe more, going by the title?

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Rising by Kerry Peresta.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

After an assault that landed her in a hospital as a Jane Doe two years earlier, Olivia Callahan has regained her speech, movement, and much of the memory she lost due to a traumatic brain injury. The media hype about the incident has faded away, and Olivia is ready to rebuild her life, but her therapist insists she must continue to look back in order to move forward. The only person that can help her recall specifics is her abusive ex-husband, Monty, who is in prison for murder. The thought of talking to Monty makes her skin crawl, but for her daughters’ sake and her own sanity, she must learn more about who she was before the attack. Just as the pieces of her life start falling into place, she stumbles across the still-warm body of an old friend who has been gruesomely murdered. Her dream of pursuing a peaceful existence is shattered when she learns the killer left evidence behind to implicate her in the murder. The only person that would want to sabotage her is Monty-but he’s in prison! Something sinister is going on, and Olivia is desperate to figure it out before another senseless murder is committed.

  • Fiction, Medical, Psychological, Romance, Suspense, Thriller

Published March 29, 2022 by Level Best Books

ABOUT KERRY PERESTA

Kerry Peresta’s publishing credits include a popular newspaper and e-zine humor column, “The Lighter Side,” and short stories in the published anthology, “That One Left Shoe,” and her first novel released in 2013 by Pen-L Publishing, “The Hunting,” contemporary women’s fiction. She spent twenty-five years in advertising as an account manager, creative director, and copywriter before deciding to devote more of her time to writing. She is currently working on her next novel, and the most current one, The Deadening, fiction, suspense; releases Feb. 23, 2021 and will be available for pre-order mid-January. Kerry has been published in several local magazines, including Local Life, Island Events, Bluffton Breeze, and Lady Lowcountry. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Island Writers Network of Hilton Head. She enjoys participating in writing conferences, and has served as chapter president of the Maryland Writers’ Association. Learn more about Kerry at www.kerryperesta.net, https://www.facebook.com/klperesta or https://www.instagram.com/kerryperesta

MY KERRY PERESTA REVIEWS

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Review – Her Dark Grave by Carolyn Arnold #NetGalley @Carolyn_Arnold #HerDarkGrave

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Carolyn Arnold sets the hook in me with the Prologue for Her Dark Grave.

I am going to kill someone before graduation.

Just because a family appears to have it all, no one knows what goes on behind closed doors…mom and ‘my little boy’ aren’t telling. And, that is how a killer is born.

Madison Knight is a detective with the Stiles Police Department. Her nightmares and inability to sleep have her driving around in the early morning hours. Her lover, Troy Matthews, a SWAT leader, had fought for his life when they went up against the Russian Mafia. Could they be following her? Are they in danger?

Her car runs out of gas and she discovers a suitcase filled with body parts.

Tara is found. She may be rich, but she is devoted to those less privileged. She fights poverty and illiteracy, knowing the power of being able to read can lead to jobs.

She strongly believed that children are our future.

Madison Knight is my favorite Carolyn Arnold character. Besides her and her significant other Troy, we have her partner Terry, who seems to be hiding something from her, and Cynthia, head of the forensics lab and lead criminal investigator. She is Madison’s best friend and expecting a baby. Madison reminds me of Brenda Lee Johnson from the TV show, The Closer.

HE knew he was different from the time he was six years old. He felt no pain, but did experience pleasure, and aren’t we supposed to pursue happiness? I don’t think ‘they’ meant by being bathed in blood. His memories are his friends. As the pace of his kills picks up and a second woman is found mutilated, is he trying to get caught. Does he want his name in lights?

As Terry’s secret is exposed and Madison and Troy’s future becomes clear to her, it seems she has come full circle. To find out what I mean by that, you will need to read the book.

I love that Carolyn Arnold’s books smack of realism. Sure, there are those ‘fiction’ moments, but her ability to take us through the procedures of the investigation, step by step, lead us to the killer in a realistic way. Her research is evident in the details.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Her Dark Grave by Carolyn Arnold.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Her eyes widen at her reflection in the steel blade as it comes closer, closer, closer…

Detective Madison Knight thought a midnight drive through the countryside would help clear her mind, but she thought wrong. Her car runs out of gas, stranding her in the middle of nowhere in pitch darkness. When she gets out to stretch her legs, the beam of her phone’s flashlight lands on a suitcase in the ditch. After she opens it, she’s sorry she did.

Tara Jackson was only twenty-one years old with her entire life ahead of her before she was stabbed to death and stuffed into a piece of luggage. Madison is determined to find her justice and soon uncovers that Tara was keeping secrets from those closest to her and suspects they may have gotten her killed. But while she’s exploring that lead, the body of another young woman is found in a sports equipment bag.

She looks just like Tara and is the same age, and Madison starts to wonder if the killer she’s after has killed before. Desperate, she turns to cold cases and missing person reports to see if she can dig up anything to further the investigation.

Madison finds eighteen-year-old Daphne Tucker, who was reported missing from the area three years ago. She’s a doppelganger to the other victims. Is the reason Daphne hasn’t been heard from because she’s dead too? And has her killer returned, hungry for more blood?

As Madison edges closer to the truth, someone is stalking her from the shadows, and she fears it just may be the twisted, demented killer she’s hunting. But can Madison outsmart him or her before she becomes the next victim?

This completely gripping bone-chilling crime thriller is perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, D.K. Hood, and Leslie Wolfe.

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 17, 2023 by Hibbert & Stiles Publishing Inc

ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from police procedurals, hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

MY REVIEWS FOR CAROLYN ARNOLD

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Review & Giveaway – Shadow Wolf by Natascha Birovljev @ireadbooktours

Book Details:

Book Title:  Shadow Wolf of the Rocky Mountains by Natascha Birovljev
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  484 pages
Genre: Adventure 
Publisher:  North Raven Books 
Release date:  March 27, 2023
Content Rating: PG for romantic elements

MY REVIEW

It is wonderful to be back in Spruce View with characters I have come to know so well. Shadow Wolf of the Rocky Mountains is the fourth book in the Rocky Mountain series. I have loved spending time with everyone, struggling through their issues ad the find their place in the world.

The Prologue shares a story of Two Wolves, loosely based on a Cherokee legend. I love that each book starts out with a different tribes legend. I love that we have an animal rescue center, and Kachina, a wolf pup is in dire need of their help.

We meet a new guy, Doug. All my spidey senses went on alert, but that could just be me. I am always looking around the corner for this or that bad thing or bad person to make an appearance.

I was able to spot some trouble coming and I had to know how everything would pan out. There is so much going on and so many new adventures for the characters, there was never a dull moment.

I have loved this series, reading one book right after the other. Natascha Birovljev is an amazing author, filling the book’s pages with vividly described environments, characters that had me laughing and even shedding a tear or two or three and mysteries to be solved. I feel like I have learned a lot about ranching and the Native culture.

Could there be more coming in the Rocky Mountain series? We could end here and I would be satisfied, but I would love to have more and keep up with the gang.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Shadow Wolf by Natascha Birovljev.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

Book Description:

What if the untamed wilderness held the key to unlocking the deepest desires of the heart?

In the shadow of the majestic Rocky Mountains, whispers of untold stories and hidden destinies come to life. Welcome to the world of The Shadow Wolf of the Rocky Mountains, the fourth installment in the gripping Willow Ranch series. Here, three humans and a she-wolf navigate a treacherous landscape of love, loss, and the unforgiving wilderness.

When fate intertwines the lives of Rosie, the resilient groom, Cody, the enigmatic cowboy, and Woodwind, the mystical Cree Indian, their fragile dreams and deepest fears are unearthed. At the heart of it all is the Willow Ranch, a place where passions ignite, and lives are forever altered. Can they trust the strength of their bond and the power of love to guide them through the storm?

In this haunting tale of self-discovery and the quest for redemption, each character is forced to confront their own demons. As Cody grapples with the crushing weight of his brother’s suicide, Rosie fights for her horses and her home amidst swirling deception. And Woodwind, haunted by self-doubt, must find the courage to save the she-wolf and the woman who has captured his heart.

As careless decisions threaten the future of the Willow Ranch, the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains presents a formidable challenge. With time running out, the friends and staff must pull together and believe in the magic of community to save their home and their happiness.

Dare to venture into the wild unknown, where heartache and hope collide, and where the call of the heart is a siren song that cannot be ignored. “Song of the Wild: Call of the Heart” beckons you to the Willow Ranch, where the secrets of the wilderness hold the key to love, courage, and the power of unity.

Embark on this unforgettable journey of love and self-discovery today – answer the call of the heart and unlock the secrets hidden within the wild. 

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon ~ Amazon.ca / goodreads

Meet the Author:

Natascha Birovljev is a storyteller at heart and author of the “Willow Ranch” book series.

Growing up in Germany, horses were always part of her life. After getting her Master degree in Religious Studies and German Literature, adventure was calling and she traveled to Alberta. She fell in love with the wild beauty of the Rocky Mountains and immigrated from Germany to Canada in 2005.

Here she worked the first years as a guide for horseback vacations, exploring mountain trails and spending the summer months in tent camps in the wilderness.

Inspired by her adventures and connections to ranchers, cowboys and First Nation communities, she started writing her books. Natascha lives on her ranch in Alberta with her horses and dogs.

Her stories show her fascination with the beauty of the Rocky Mountain wilderness and her love for the people she encounters.

connect with the author: website facebook instagram youtube ~ pinterest ~ goodreads

WILLOW RANCH Book Series Tour Giveaway

MY NATASCHA BIROVLJEV REVIEWS

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Review – Primitives by Erich Krauss #erichkrauss @penguinrandom

2

I was so excited that I won a copy of Primitives by Erich Krauss. Everything about it grabbed me. I was not disappointed. Just look at this beautiful hard cover. Doesn’t it pop?

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I saw this book on a book tour and had to have it. I stalked the book and…voila…I got me a gorgeous hardcover book to add to my bookshelves!

Yeah, I did let it languish on the bookshelf, staring at me, making me think, “I gotta read that.” Finally…I have…and I was not disappointed. It wasn’t everything I hoped it was, but now that I know there is another one coming, I understand. The depth and detail of the apocalyptic/dystopian world Erich Krauss has created is amazing. I was able to follow the storyline easily, vividly imagining the world the characters are in. I walked in their footsteps, because of The Walking Dead series. We just replaced the zombies with a virus.

My hands ached from holding the hardcover. I did not want to stop reading. I knew I would have to stay up for many hours to get through 424 pages. I knew pretty quickly it would be up to the characters to engage me. And they did. We went through two points of view and past and present times. Erich Krauss made it work. Now that is some good writing.

Why do some scientists think they are entitled to play God? I think that role is already filled(?). Narcissists. Egomaniacs. I am intelligent. I have all the answers. I know what is best. I am right. You are wrong. It doesn’t matter what you think. It is of no value. Go along to get along. Shut up and sit down…or I’ll make you.

I love books that cause me discomfort, make me question….things…

We have all the good and bad of humanity filling the pages with their actions. Trust does not come easy. Your life depends on you making the right decisions. I love a book that gets my own thoughts flowing, me almost helping write the pages as the action flows on the pages. Maybe even adding whatever pops in my head over and above what is written.

I think Erich Krauss’ inspiration came from his personal life and the Covid Epidemic. Be sure and read his bio. It may be short, but it is fascinating. I haven’t read any of his other books, but as I scrolled through them, I thought, I would read that. Yeah, that’s not something I would have thought of reading, like Got Fight?: The 50 Zen Principles Of Hand To Face Contact. But, ya know what? I would now. I may need it when I return to the butte and Seth, Sarah, and I meet the Merry Men.

I want to leave you with this question. Does humanity deserve to survive?

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Primitives by Erich Krauss.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

From New York Times bestselling author Erich Krauss comes Primitives, the story of two unlikely heroes thrust into a post-apocalyptic mission to restore humanity.

Thirty years after The Great Fatigue infected the globe—and the treatment regressed most of the human race to a primitive state—Seth Keller makes a gruesome discovery in his adoptive father’s makeshift lab. This revelation forces him to leave the safety of his desert home and the only other person left in the world…at least, as far as he knows.

Three thousand miles away in the jungles of Costa Rica, Sarah Peoples has made her own discovery—just as horrific, and just as life-changing. It will take her far from the fledgling colony of New Haven, yet never out of reach of its ruthless authoritarian leader.

On separate journeys a world apart, Seth and Sarah find themselves swept up in a deadly race to save humankind. Their fates will come crashing together in an epic struggle between good and evil, where the differences aren’t always clear. Among the grim realities of civilization’s demise, they discover that the remaining survivors may pose an even greater threat than the abominations they were taught to fear.

Fighting for their lives, they’re confronted with a haunting question.

Does humanity deserve to survive?

Primitives, the first book of this saga, is a tale of bravery and self-discovery found in the ruins of a dying world, where the darkest sides of human nature are revealed.

ABOUT ERICH KRAUSS

ERICH KRAUSS is a New York Times bestselling author who has written more than thirty books. Inspiration for his stories comes from more than twenty years traveling the globe, from living in the Amazon rainforest to fighting professionally in the Muay Thai rings of Thailand. He lives in Las Vegas with his wife, Georgina.

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
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  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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Review and Giveaway – Shadow Crow by Natascha Birovljev @ireadbooktours

Book Details:

Book Title:  Shadow Crow of the Rocky Mountains by Natascha Birovljev
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  446 pages
Genre: Adventure 
Publisher:  North Raven Books 
Release date:  March 27, 2023
Content Rating: PG for romantic elements

MY REVIEW

I love how each book of the Rocky Mountain series starts with a Prologue and a Native story. The Prologue of Shadow Crow Of The Rocky Mountains by Natascha Birovljev is a Lenape legend. I have always been fascinated by the Natives culture and this series has been excellently translated. As far as ranch life and horses, Natascha Birovljev lives what she writes.

“Dad’s dead, Chuck muttered. “I still can’t believe it.”

Now, he is returning to Spruce View with his raggedy pickup and his best friend, Goat, his mule mare. It’s a loss, but also a blessing that he was pulled from hunting camp he was working at that had become hell for him. Chuck had up and left. No goodbye to anyone.

He inherits his fathers trapline. And thus starts the mystery.

I love books that have crows in them and they will make an appearance, here and there throughout. Are they a sign for Chuck? Are they trying to tell him something? Is he listening?

It is wonderful to be back with some familiar characters. As soon as I finished one book, I picked up the next.

Lyla is a Cree woman and has been involved with Nick, co owner of Willow Ranch. I don’t want to go into too much detail about the book because it is a series and I don’t want to give anything away, but Lyla will have some life changes. I love her dog, Mr Mud. What a fun name.

In Shadow Crow of the Rocky Mountains, Chuck doesn’t come off so well. He pissed me off, more and more. Is he really so dense he can’t see what’s coming, or is he so wrapped up in himself he can’t see past his own state of mind.? Through most of the book I was hating on the men, Chuck and Nick. Can they be redeemed, because they sure have some issues.

I am so excited that I have all four books of the Rocky Mountain series by Natascha Birovjlev. As soon as I finished one, I picked up the next one, getting more and more involved in the characters lives. I try not to judge them, because the author is the one telling the story and the characters are talking to her. Their reasons are there own, and as the story unravels, I was able to understand their reasons and motivations for their actions, right or wrong.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Shadow Crow by Natascha Birovljev.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

Book Description:

Do you believe in the power of love and ancient magic to overcome the obstacles of the heart and the wilderness?

Dive into an enchanting journey of love, adventure, and mystery set in the captivating wilderness of Canada.

In The Shadow Crow of the Rocky Mountains, Chuck and Lyla find themselves drawn together by their shared love for the Canadian wilderness. However, while Lyla embraces the strength the mountains provide, Chuck returns to his hometown a bitter man, determined to sell his inherited fur-trapper route, and leave once more.

When a lucrative offer from a cunning businessman and a chance encounter with the enigmatic Wahleeah enter the picture, Chuck’s plans for a swift exit are thrown into disarray. As the possibility of staying in his hometown starts to feel like an adventure rather than a punishment, Chuck finds himself embroiled in a whirlwind of emotion, danger, and intrigue.

Lyla, appointed by her Native American tribe as the protector of wild horses, faces her own challenges. With a tumultuous relationship and her dreams of transforming the wild horse territory into a protected reserve on the line, a mysterious figure named Lonefeather Jones enters her life, igniting a magical spark within her. But will this newfound magic be enough to overcome the setbacks and jealousy that threaten to tear her world apart?

As secrets are uncovered and lives intertwine, the Willow Ranch residents find themselves facing trials that will test their courage, love, and loyalty. With legends of the First Nations woven into the narrative, this tale of ranch life and the untamed beauty of the Canadian wilderness will leave you breathless and yearning for more.

Unravel the mysteries of the Rocky Mountains and immerse yourself in the spellbinding world of The Shadow Crow of the Rocky Mountains. 

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon ~ Amazon.ca
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

Natascha Birovljev is a storyteller at heart and author of the “Willow Ranch” book series.

Growing up in Germany, horses were always part of her life. After getting her Master degree in Religious Studies and German Literature, adventure was calling and she traveled to Alberta. She fell in love with the wild beauty of the Rocky Mountains and immigrated from Germany to Canada in 2005.

Here she worked the first years as a guide for horseback vacations, exploring mountain trails and spending the summer months in tent camps in the wilderness.

Inspired by her adventures and connections to ranchers, cowboys and First Nation communities, she started writing her books. Natascha lives on her ranch in Alberta with her horses and dogs.

Her stories show her fascination with the beauty of the Rocky Mountain wilderness and her love for the people she encounters.

connect with the author: website facebook instagram youtube ~ pinterest ~ goodreads

WILLOW RANCH Book Series Tour Giveaway

MY NATASCHA BIROVLJEV REVIEWS

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!