Tag Archives: 4 star review

Review – Body Parts by Caitlin Rother @pumpupyourbook

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Title: Body Parts by Caitlin Rother

Publisher: Citadel Press

Publication Date: February 25, 2025

Pages:384

Genre: True Crime

 

MY REVIEW

I know it might sound odd, but I love serial killers….I mean reading about serial killers. I love getting into their minds, searching for the reasons they do the things they do…and Wayne Adam Ford deserves a close look and the sentence that was handed down to him. I am also intrigued by the legalities. Why does it take years?

I got ticked off at those who felt empathy for him. I don’t believe there was anything wrong with him, other than he is a monster that gets off on killing women. I believe that he was able to manipulate people, never letting them see the real him, until they take their last breath.

Body Parts has been updated by Caitlin Rother and I think she did have some things I didn’t like. The story was easy to follow along, but I don’t believe it was family or a brain injury that was the cause of him being a serial killer. That is where the nature or nurture question comes into play. I am not an expert, so I can’t say what is what, but I feel they will use whatever excuse they can come up with to make themselves less of a monster.

My thanks go out to Caitlin Rother for the opportunity to read and review Body Parts.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
3 Stars

BOOK BLURB:

BODY PARTS takes a deep psychological look at serial killer Wayne Adam Ford. A long-haul trucker, Ford confessed to picking up dozens of prostitutes and troubled women along California roads. He tortured and repeatedly choked them during sex, revived them with CPR, then did it again. Only four of them didn’t survive, he said, claiming that was an accident. After dismembering two of his victims, he dumped their bodies in the California Aqueduct and other waterways in Humboldt, Kern, San Joaquin, and San Bernardino Counties. Ford’s complex death penalty case made national news because he is one of the only serial killers to turn himself in and help authorities identify his victims. He was recently transferred from death row at San Quentin to a state prison in San Luis Obispo. 

Originally released in March 2009, this new edition of BODY PARTS has been updated with 32 pages of new developments about the identification of Kerry Anne Cummings, Ford’s first victim, whom he dismembered and who went unidentified for 25 years. If there is such a thing as a happy ending to a book about a serial killer, this is it. The new material takes the reader through the investigative process involved in solving a cold case like this one so many years after the fact. Kerry now has her name back and her family has closure after so many years of not knowing what happened to her, after being prevented from reporting her missing to police because she was using drugs. Rother is the first to interview the Cummings family about Kerry and her troubled life before she went missing in late 1997.

Overall, the book is based on exclusive information Rother uncovered during her extensive research and exclusive interviews with Ford’s father and brother. She also interviewed, the prosecutor, sheriff’s detectives from all four counties, the defense’s sole investigator, and a woman who survived after being raped and tortured by Ford.  By obtaining a court order to release sealed court files and digging through boxes of evidence and investigators’ reports, Rother was able to paint comprehensive and compelling portraits of Ford, his family and his victims. Rother’s book shows readers how Ford’s family dynamics, his severe head injury, his bouts of mental illness, and his compulsive sexual perversions led to his tragic killing spree, tearful confessions, and dramatic trial.

This is a re-release with 32 pages of new developments about the recent identification of Ford’s first victim, Kerry Anne Cummings, through genetic genealogy 25 years after her murder. So, now she has her name back and her family has closure.

BODY PARTS is available at Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Body-Parts-Serial-Killers-Compulsions/dp/0806543914.

Book Excerpt:

Kathie Cummings had recently moved from the Seattle area to the small town of Addy in northeastern, Washington, after leaving a job with the University of Washington as the director of operations in finance and research.

The new number Detective Fridley tried for Kathie went to voice mail, so he left her a message, saying that he was calling from the sheriff’s department in Eureka.

Kathie immediately assumed that he was calling about her long-missing sister, Kerry, though she was expecting him to say that Kerry had overdosed, and they had finally identified her. But when they connected, she didn’t mention any preconceived notions. “I let him do the talking,” she recalled.

“I’m calling about an unusual situation,” he told her. “Can I ask if you have any family members who are missing?”

“Yes, I do, my sister.”

“How long has she been missing?”

“Since 1997 or 1996,” Kathie said, feeling a little dizzy from the stress of the call and unable to remember exactly.

“Does your sister have any identifying marks?”

“She has a ring of flowers around her left ankle, a nose piercing, and her ears are pierced.”

“Can you tell me, did your sister ever give birth?”

“Not to my awareness,” she said, but inside, she was thinking, oh, s***. She knew he was talking about Kerry, so she started to panic, jumbling the chronology of events in her mind. There’s a baby out there. No, there’s an adult now.

Just the thought of a baby she never knew about broke her heart, especially not knowing if the child had lived.  

“We may have connected her DNA to a close relative,” Fridley told Kathie, clearly trying to be sensitive and careful with his words. “Jeff Cummings, do you know him?”

“Yes, he’s my cousin.”

 “I would like to talk to you about what we know, but first we’ll need to get DNA confirmation that the person that we have here matches your sister.”

Hearing that said so directly, Kathie felt faint. “I’d been expecting it, but I hadn’t been expecting it that day,” she recalled.

“What do we need to do?” she asked. “We need to get a copy of your DNA and compare it to the DNA that we have.”

After determining the location of the nearest police agency, Fridley said he would arrange for her to get tested.

Over the next three days, Kathie went even further down the rabbit hole than Jeff had. Not only did she read all the news stories she could find, but she listened to podcasts and downloaded the first edition of this book, published in 2009, on her Kindle.

“When I searched on the internet and all those pages came up with him, I went into complete shock. I never imagined, honestly, that this would be the kind of information and news I would get.”

She had to read this book three times, because she couldn’t absorb all the gruesome details on the first go. “The first time I just read through it, and I could hardly remember what I read, other than a few identifying markers that convinced me that this was the right person. I went back for pieces that I missed, [thinking], what did I read? I just kept going through it.”

She kept wondering why Ford had started off “so gruesome,” by cutting up her sister so violently, but then didn’t do the same thing to his next victims, other than slicing off the woman’s breast that was in his pocket when he surrendered.

“Knowing my sister, she was willing to be intimate with him,” Kathie said. Based on her last conversation with Kerry, when she “was more wasted than any other conversation I’d had with her, I figured she was on something new, so he suggested, ‘Let’s try this,’ and she said, ‘Okay, whatever,’” until she choked, passed out, and died.

– Excerpted from Body Parts by Caitlyn Rother, Citadel Press, 2025. Reprinted with permission.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother has written or co-authored 15 books, ranging from narrative non-fiction crime to thrillers and memoir. Among her recent titles is an updated edition of BODY PARTS with 32 pages of new developments about the Wayne Adam Ford case, and DEATH ON OCEAN BOULEVARD, the story of the Rebecca Zahau death case. Coming out in June is DOWN TO THE BONE, about the McStay family murders, and in 2026, DOPAMINE FIX, the first in a two-book deal for a new crime fiction series with Thomas & Mercer. An award-winning investigative reporter for 19 years, Rother’s stories have been published in Cosmopolitan, the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The San Diego Union Tribune, The Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, and The Daily Beast. Her more than 250 TV, radio and podcast appearances include 20/20, People Magazine Investigates, Crime Watch Daily, Australia’s World News, and numerous shows on Netflix, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, HLN and REELZ. A popular public speaker, she also works as a writing-research coach-consultant and website designer. For fun, she binges on limited series, swims, and plays keyboards and sings in a jazzy bluesy trio called In the Lounge with her partner. Rother earned a bachelor’s in psychology from UC Berkeley and a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University.

Website & Social Media:

Website ➜ https://caitlinrother.com 

Twitter ➜ https://twitter.com/caitlinrother

Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/caitlinrother/ 

Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/the_real_caitlin_rother

BlueSky ➜ @caitlinrother.bsky.social

 

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Review – Omniviolence by Jones Worthington @StuJonesFiction @DrGWorthington

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MY REVIEW

Omniviolence by Jones Worthington is one of those books that makes me wonder if it will ever become our reality. It all begins with Jackson Cross, a teenager that has nothing better to do than visit a slaysite, killing strangers with a drone. Kills are paid in crypto currency. Once his accounts are hacked, he is on the run with the hitman hired to take him out. Joseph “Bones” Carboni has had a change of heart and the race is on.

In this rapidly changing world of technology, it’s hard to predict our future. I love novels that make me think about…and, at times, fear what is to come.

Stu Jones and Gareth Worthington are an amazing duo. Omniviolence may not be my favorite novel by the authors, but it may be yours. How about it? Is anarchy and the downfall of our world as we know it of interest to you? Could you imagine our world becoming the Wild West with the weapons we have available to us? Who would be safe?

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Omniviolence by Jones Worthington.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Jackson Cross kills strangers with nothing more than a drone and a computer in exchange for crypto—all from his mother’s basement.

When his accounts are scythed, and he’s pegged at the top of the most popular slaysite, Jackson is ejected from his virtual comfort zone and forced to go on the run.

Joseph “Bones” Carboni is an old-school mafia hitman with a lot of demons and one big problem: he’s developed a conscience. When tasked with slaying fifteen-year-old Jackson, Joe breaks rank. Now, he must decide if playing the hero is worth having a target on his own back.

Attacked from all sides and struggling to survive in a world where your elderly neighbor or an angry kid on social media can be your executioner, neither Joe nor Jackson realize they’ve become entangled in a global power struggle that could change what it means to be human.

* * *

This near-future speculative fiction thriller with a dose of satire explores the consequences of the democratization of technology, cryptocurrency replacing fiat, cancel-culture bleeding into the streets, the total disbanding of government, and the disenfranchisement of the next Generation—Generation Alpha.

A gripping tale of vengeance and redemption, this story plunges into the heart of our rapidly changing world and values, revealing a terrifyingly real and imminent future for humanity. We are on the brink of omniviolence.

  • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Political, Science Fiction
  • 322 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published February 25, 2025 by Vesuvian Books

ABOUT STU JONES

A veteran law enforcement officer, Stu Jones has served in patrol, narcotics, criminal investigations, as an instructor of firearms and police defensive tactics and as a team leader of a multi-jurisdictional SWAT team. He is trained and qualified as a law enforcement SWAT sniper, as well as in hostage rescue and high-risk entry tactics. Recently, Jones served for three years with a U.S. Marshal’s Regional Fugitive Task Force – hunting the worst of the worst.​

A Dragon Award Nominee, Jones is the author of multiple sci-fi/action/thriller novels, including the multi-award-winning It Takes Death To Reach A Star duology and Condition Black, written with co-author Gareth Worthington(Children of the Fifth Sun, A Time for Monsters).

Known for his infectious storytelling and blistering action, Jones strives to create thought-provoking reading experiences that challenge the status quo. When he’s not chasing bad guys or writing epic stories, he can be found planning his next adventure to some remote or exotic place.

www.stujonesfiction.com

ABOUT GARETH WORTHINGTON

Screenshot

Gareth Worthington holds a degree in marine biology, a PhD in Endocrinology, an executive MBA, is Board Certified in Medical Affairs, and currently works for the Pharmaceutical industry educating the World’s doctors on new cancer therapies.

Gareth is an authority in ancient history, has hand-tagged sharks in California, and trained in various martial arts, including Jeet Kune Do and Muay Thai at the EVOLVE MMA gym in Singapore and 2FIGHT Switzerland.

He is an award-winning author and member of the International Thriller Writers Association, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and the British Science Fiction Association.

Born in England, Gareth has lived around the world from Asia, to Europe to the USA. Wherever he goes, he endeavors to continue his philanthropic work with various charities.

Gareth is represented by Renee Fountain and Italia Gandolfo at Gandolfo Helin Fountain Literary, New York.

http://www.garethworthington.com

MY STU JONES REVIEWS

MY GARETH WORTHINGTON REVIEWS

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Review – For Peace And Purpose by Ethan Warrener #ethanwarrener #forpeaceandpurpose

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Kindle / Kindle Unlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

For Peace And Purpose by Ethan Warrener is the second book in The Tucker Clan Saga apocalyptic and dystopian fiction series. Ella is the star of the show and her world is growing more dark and dangerous by the minute.

The Reverend is a character I love to hate. He may believe his way is the right way, but I see him manipulating religion to fit in a way that profits himself. I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him. LOL

Omar, the outsider is back again. I can’t figure out what his game is and wonder if he will be the death of the Tucker clan or someone that will help them.

There are lots of peripheral characters that have important parts to play. As with most apocalyptic and dystopian novels, there are the haves and the have nots. Slavery even rears its ugly head. We have genetically altered beings and I’m not sure if there is a person around that is completely human, that hasn’t been modified in some way.

The series took thirteen years to write and I am thankful that Ethan Warrener stuck with it. I love apocalyptic and dystopian novels, and always wonder how authors come up with such fabulous ideas. The Tucker Clan Saga is a trilogy and I can hardly wait to find out how Ethan will bring it to it’s conclusion.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of For Peace And Purpose by Ethan Warrener.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Things used to be simpler.

Now, as the Tuckers’ enemies hatch a secret plot for revenge, as a shadowy entity stalks the surrounding woods, and as new players enter the scene, Ella Holland’s world grows darker, more dangerous, and more twisted. The lines between good and evil, native and foreigner, friend and foe become ever more blurred in the Tucker clan’s struggle for peace and purpose.

Can Ella navigate this increasingly complicated world while still holding onto her convictions? Can she save those she loves without sacrificing her soul?

  • Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Genetic Engineering, Science Fiction
  • 335 pages, Paperback
  • Published November 8, 2024 by Ethan Warrener

ABOUT ETHAN WARRENER

Ethan Warrener grew up in Southwest Missouri, which resembles West Virginia if you really squint. If he’s not writing or teaching, he’s spending any extra free time with his wife and kids or playing too many video games. As you might expect from a Midwesterner, he’s an occasional farmer, a regular churchgoer, and a huge metalhead. For Home and Hearth is his first novel fit to see the light of day.

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MY ETHAN WARRENER REVIEWS

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Conclusion – The Name Once Erased by R M Demeester @rmdemeester

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MY REVIEW

The Name Once Erased is the conclusion to the trilogy, The Girl Once Known by R M Demeester. The series does need to be read in order.

The Girl Once Known series is character driven, told from multiple characters points of view. To me, it helps see things from different characters perspective, finding out their motivations for the things they do, and some of those things are down right ugly. Why do the characters think that secrets are best kept hidden? The past always comes back to haunt them. It’s better to face life head on, instead of carrying excess baggage.

Mira is the main character throughout the series and it was fascinating watching her grow and develop into a complex character that always tries to do the right thing.

I want to thank R M Demeester for the opportunity to read the entire series. If you love character driven stories, this is a series you don’t want to miss.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

SECRETS HAVE A WAY OF SURFACING…

Mira believes she has her family’s dysfunction under control—until her grandmother’s funeral stirs up long-buried questions. She has always believed her father’s side of the family is more stable than her mother’s, despite his past indiscretions. But an ancestry test links him to a hidden relative he swears he doesn’t know.

Determined to uncover the truth, Mira digs deeper. But someone is desperate to bury the past, along with her family name. Mira wants the secrets, betrayals, and old wounds to end with her—even if it means risking everything she her marriage, her children, and the family name she’s fighting to save.

After The Girl Once Known and The Bond Once Broken, the series reaches its thrilling conclusion in The Name Once Erased.

  • Genre: Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
  • 280 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication February 28, 2025

ABOUT R M DEMEESTER

R.M. Demeester, from Saskatchewan, loves being a mom, reading books, and writing. She’s been writing since she was very young. Today, she’s known for her stories in women’s fiction, romantic suspense, and thrillers. She also has a rescue dog named Gainer, a chocolate lab who passed away recently, but is still very much loved and missed. Her newest book, “The Girl Once Known”, comes out in February 2024.

MY R M DEMEESTER REVIEWS

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Review – The Vampire’s Curse by Valerie Twombly @fangedfantasy

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MY REVIEW

I love vampire novels. Can’t get enough of them. When Valerie Twombly offered me a copy of The Vampire’s Curse, I quickly snatched it up. I mean, what’s not to like. We have a cursed vampire, Andrei Vladimiri, and a gypsy girl, Sonia Covaci, who will meet her destiny in Romania.

Sonia dreams of him and Andrei dreams of her. Their dreams become closer and closer together, and they both know it’s time they met. So, Sonia hops on a plane to Romania.

Andrei had been cursed by a witch that was angry that he didn’t choose her. Every vampire he turns becomes a vile creature that he is compelled to kill. He is separated from the rest of his clan. He is their king, but until or if he can break the curse, they will remain separated.

I love that Sonia takes the bull by the horns and if anyone can find a cure for the curse, I think it will be her. I love a strong female character and Sonia does not disappoint.

The Vampire’s Curse by Valerie Twombly is Book I of the Beyond The Mist series. I love the combination of vampires and gypsys, curses and fated mates, and it makes me wonder what comes next. I was quickly drawn in and didn’t quit until the last page was read.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Vampire’s Curse by Valerie Twombly.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

She’s fated to break his curse. He’s destined to kill her.

CURSED
With his clan trapped and starving, vampire Andrei Vladimiri will stop at nothing to save them. But an ancient curse compels him to waste precious time hunting the vile creatures he creates every time he feeds. With the clock ticking, he weaves a trap to lure the fated female who can save them all.

FATED
Sonia Covaci doesn’t believe her grandmother’s visions of the future. But when a purchased trinket brings dreams of a mysterious stranger, her small town American life threatens to spin out of control. Sensing he is in danger, she does the unthinkable and boards a plane for Romania.

Sonia follows her fate. Andrei moves in for the sacrifice. Never did he imagine the female destined to break the curse would become the woman he couldn’t afford to lose.

  • Genre: Fiction, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Supernatural, Vampires
  • 156 pages, Kindle Edition
  • First published March 27, 2017
  • Series: Beyond The Mist #1

ABOUT VALERIE TWOMBLY

Award winning and bestselling author Valerie Twombly grew up watching Dark Shadows over her mother’s shoulder, and from there her love of the fanged creatures blossomed. Today, Valerie has decided to take her darker, sensual side and put it to paper.

When she is not busy creating a world full of steamy, hot men and strong, seductive women, she juggles her time between a full-time job, hubby and dog, in Northern IL.

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Review – Hidden Angels by Carolyn Arnold @Carolyn_Arnold #NetGalley #HiddenAngels

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MY REVIEW

Carolyn Arnold is a go to author for me. Her ability to spin a web of mystery keeps me following along in her step by step investigation. Detective Amanda Steele is on the case in Hidden Angels.

Her body had been hidden in the walls of the church for twenty years. How could it be that she had never been missed? As the story unfolds the ugliness of their community is exposed. Lives will be changed forever.

Amanda’s long term relationship is over and she is single again. She finds it hard to balance work and family, but isn’t that a common problem for all of us? Especially for a homicide detective? Their job is no nine to five job. Her partner, Trent is in a relationship, so she puts aside the feelings that she has for him. Zoe, her adopted daughter who is nine years old going on teenager, is her anchor.

When Amanda and Trent were questioning Audrey:

The woman’s elaborate storytelling had drawn her in.

It made me think of my husband’s ability to stretch a story out.

As the investigation develops, dirty secrets are exposed. The victim had been used and abused and tossed aside like trash. Those involved are despicable and I hope they get their comeuppance. Knowing Carolyn Arnold, she will make them pay.

I want to thank Carolyn Arnold, NetGalley and Bookouture for the chance to read Hidden Angels.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

As the wall is peeled back, everyone falls silent. Then they see her. The near-perfect remains of a young female, two jelly bangles and a neon necklace being the only clues to how long she had been hidden there. But who was she? And who could have possibly wanted to take such an innocent life?

  • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
  • Format
  • 353 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication February 20, 2025 by Bookouture
  • Series: Detective Amanda Steele #13

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 – Cold As Hell by Kelley Armstrong @KelleyArmstrong #netgalley #coldashell

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MY REVIEW

I am always up for a Kelley Armstrong novel, so when I saw Cold As Hell was available on NetGalley, I promptly clicked, requesting a copy.

I haven’t read all the books in her unique towns series, but I don’t feel lost following along. I love books that deal with storms, and a blizzard makes for some extra danger to the characters.

Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton are expecting a child, but that does not stop her from investigating the murders in the small sanctuary town of Haven’s Rock.

The action begins from the opening pages. Kendra had grown up Indigenous in Canada, and her idea of going out means one drink. But, here she is, staggering around, being dragged through the snow, kicking and screaming. Thank goodness someone sees what’s happening and saves her from something worse. How could she be drunk on one drink? Did someone drug her?

Haven’s Rock is a small town and everyone knows everyone and all their business. It shouldn’t be that hard to figure out who is the villain.

I did get some chuckles from Kelley’s creative writing.

I’m so accustomed to lumbering around like my dog that I suspect after the baby is born, I’ll fall flat on my ass leaning backward for balance.

“Will has even promised me a T-shirt. ‘I escaped a serial killer, and all I lost was this lousy pinkie toe.’ I will be sorely disappointed if he’s joking. I want that shirt.”

I love some humor with my danger and Kelley is a pro at supplying them both. I love that the characters all have lots of baggage. Of course, they do. That seems to be a requirement to becoming a resident in Haven’s Rock. That being the case, there are lots of suspects to choose from. The villain is truly evil. The torture he submits to his victims is dark, brutal. I loved the ending, but I won’t be telling you anything about it. You’ll need to find out for yourself.

Thanks NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read Haven’s Rock by Kelley Armstrong.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong returns to Haven’s Rock in Cold as Hell as Casey Butler hunts down a dangerous killer during a deadly blizzard.

Haven’s Rock is a sanctuary town hidden deep in the Yukon for those who need to disappear from the regular world. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, are starting a family now that they’ve settled into their life here. As Casey nears the end of her pregnancy, she lets nothing, including her worried husband, stop her from investigating what happens in the forbidden forest outside the town of Haven’s Rock.

When one of the town’s residents is drugged and wanders too close to the edge of town, she’s dragged into the woods kicking and screaming. She’s saved in the nick of time, but the women of the town are alarmed. Casey and Eric investigate the assault just as a snowstorm hits Haven’s Rock, covering the forest. It’s there they find a frozen body, naked in the snow. With mixed accounts of the woman’s last movements, the two begin to question who they can trust—and who they can’t—in their seemingly safe haven.

  • Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
  • 343 pages, Kindle
  • Expected publication February 18, 2025 by Minotaur Books

ABOUT KELLEY ARMSTRONG

Kelley Armstrong

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers’ dismay. All efforts to make her produce “normal” stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She’s the author of the NYT-bestselling “Women of the Otherworld” paranormal suspense series and “Darkest Powers” young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

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MY KELLEY ARMSTRONG REVIEWS

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Review – Rule Of Extinction by Geoff Jones @Jonesy_Geoff

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Rule Of Extinction by Geoff Jones will be published on 2.25.25 but is available right now for preorder.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Rule Of Extinction: The Preservation Of Species by Geoff Jones is out of this world, literally. A comet is headed to Earth and no one will be spared, until the pods arrive. Could they be their salvation? Who sent them? Why did they send them? It doesn’t matter. It’s time to climb in and find out.

When I found out what was going on, I was shocked. I never anticipated the truth.

Geoff Jones is not afraid to kill off his characters. No one is safe, and a time or two I felt like asking him why that person.

I love apocalyptic and dystopian novels. I love seeing what the characters will do. Man’s basest nature is exposed and the characters cover the spectrum. Good ones. Bad ones. Ones who will sacrifice themselves for others. Ones that will do anything to survive.

The novel moved at a steady pace and I never lost interest. The world Geoff Jones created was fascinating and well developed, surprises popping up here and there.

I didn’t realize that Rule Of Extinction (The Preservation Of Species was a trilogy, so I’m crossing my fingers that I will be around at the end.

I want to thank Geoff Jones for the opportunity to read and review Rule Of Extinction.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

A civilization-ending comet is headed for Earth.

Two days before impact, thousands of mysterious pods land in a swath across North America. When people touch them, the pods open. Anyone who climbs inside is carried away.

No one knows where the pods came from and no one knows where they go, but finding one is David Williams’ only chance to save his family from the end of the world.

… and escaping Earth is just the beginning.


The Preservation of Species trilogy begins with Rule of Extinction, a post-apocalyptic science-fiction adventure filled with unforgettable heroes, terrifying monsters, and heart-pounding action.

  • Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Science Fiction
  • 447 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication February 25, 2025
  • Series: The Preservation Of Species #1
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Review – It’s Raining Men by Hollie Smurthwaite @H_Smurthwaite

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Amazon / Kindle Unlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I first became acquainted with Hollie Smurthwaite when I read her The Psychic Colors Series. I loved the trilogy, so she is on my radar. When I saw the opportunity to read It’s Raining Men, how could I possible resist. I mean, the author, the title, the blurb, and the cover made me have to have it.

The first man fell from the sky.

With a start like that, I am off and running.

“I’ve got cobwebs in my hoo-ha. They make me cranky.”

It’s Raining Men by Holliesmurthwaite was everything I anticipated. The action begins from the opening pages and never lets up. Sahara is a fabulous character with a big heart. She opens her home and the hunkalicious men keep coming. We have a paranormal curse that she is determined to remove to give the men she comes to care for their freedom. There are many laughable moments that put a smile on my face.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of It’s Raining Men by Holliesmurthwaite.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Male-storm Warning in Effect!

A woman stumbles into a witches’ spell and finds the “perfect guy” she never wanted.
Sahara’s life is a broke, betrayed, and roasting in a record-breaking heatwave—with no air conditioning. But when her dog bolts into Willowbark Retreat, things go from bad to bizarre.

Outside, it’s pouring rain. Inside? It’s raining men.

Turns out, the quirky commune ladies are actually witches who’ve conjured perfect gorgeous, obedient, and magically programmed to fulfill their every sexual whim.

When one of these creations imprints on Sahara, she’s stuck with Cortland—frustratingly stubborn, shamelessly seductive, and relentless in his pursuit of sex. She wants him just as much, but giving in while he’s bespelled would mean betraying principles she refuses to compromise.

While Sahara scrambles to break the spell, and her libido battling her better judgment, she reluctantly leans on a group of magical heroes desperate to escape their own enchantments.

They raid her fridge, clutter her space, and—slowly but surely—Sahara must decide if she’s ready to stop just surviving and start fighting for the love and family she never thought she deserved.

Enemies-to-lovers, found family, and magical mayhem collide in this steamy paranormal rom-com where the storms are freaky, the men are maddening, and love is the ultimate magic

  • Genre: Comedy, Fiction, Humor, Romance
  • 360 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published February 11, 2025

ABOUT HOLLIE SMURTHWAITE

Hollie Smurthwaite is a paranormal romantic suspense author of The Color of Trauma and The Color of Betrayal. The Color of Trauma was the winner of the 2020 Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author Project in adult fiction. She lives in Chicago with her husband, son, and too few pets. In past lives, she’s been a checkout clerk, massage therapist, office manager, recruiter, magazine staff writer, pepper spray hawker, and belly dancer.

MY HOLLIE SMURTHWAITE REVIEWS

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.no
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
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$15 GC & Review – Early Termination by Cindy Goyette @partnersincr1me @cindy_ccgoyette

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EARLY TERMINATION

by Cindy Goyette

January 20 – February 14, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

MY REVIEW

Cindy Goyette draws on her personal experience in Early Termination. What does she mean by Early Termination? There are two ways to get off probation. Be a model citizen…or die.

Probation Officer Casey Carson has issues. She is caught in a romantic triangle and she is on a gang’s hit list. Bodies are accumulating. She’s determined to figure out what’s going on, which puts a target on her back.

I found Casey to be an interesting character. I don’t know if I have ever read a book where the main character was a probation officer. We get an inside look into what that entails and I am intrigued.

The writing was top notch. The giant chicken was a nice touch. At times, I found myself laughing out loud and other times I sat white knuckled. The pacing kept me flipping pages, trying to figure out who the villain was, before Cindy Goyette revealed them to me. I didn’t see it coming and I love when an author can surprise me. Well done, Cindy.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Early Termination by Cindy Goyette.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

Synopsis:

A Probation Case Files Mystery

 

There are two ways to get off probation early. The first is to be a model citizen and complete all requirements imposed by the court. The second is to die. In Early Termination, Phoenix probation officer Casey Carson’s clients aren’t civic-minded, but they are dropping like flies.

She’s on a gang’s hit list, a detective’s suspect list, and is torn while two very hot men vie for her heart. As more clients die and a probationer accuses her of brutality, she becomes the focus of the investigation. Casey risks losing everything in her race to find the real killer, but doing so will put the target squarely on her back. She will need to find the person responsible for lightening her workload before she’s the one terminated.

Praise for Cindy Goyette’s Novels:

“A hard-charging crime novel powered by combustible realism and driven by a fresh, new heroine—probation officer Casey Carson. Buckle up for a wild, white-knuckle ride.”
~ Lee Goldberg, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“A dynamite start to an excellent new series. This is the kind of book that can grow legs and take off just by word of mouth. The character Casey Carson has grit, loyalty and honor. OBEY ALL LAWS is a topnotch thriller and I can’t wait for the next one. Author Cindy Goyette is here to stay.”
~ David Putnam the bestselling author of The Bruno Johnson series

“Cindy Goyette is a master with words. And she knows how to spin a tale! Drawing from rich life experiences in law enforcement, her characters jump from the page. Don’t miss a single sentence this gifted author writes.”
~ Judith L. Pearson, author of From Shadows to Life, The Wolves at the Door and Belly of the Beast

“A rollicking ride through the gritty world of feisty Probation Officer Casey Carson, a fantastic character with a heart as big and vast as the Arizona desert she calls home. When her probationers keep stacking up as homicide victims, Casey realizes that someone is sending her a message, and they’re dead serious about it. Now, she must unravel the sinister plot before she becomes the next victim. A complex, entertaining story that includes a secondary theme of romantic frustration simmering in the background, and a twisty ending that ensures we’ll see more adventures from Casey Carson. A great read! Five thumbs-up!”
~ Kerry Peresta, author of the Olivia Callahan Suspense series and Back Before Dawn

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Published by: Level Best Books
Publication Date: January 7, 2025
Number of Pages: 320
Series: A Probation Case Files Mystery
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

One

In probation work, there’s no such thing as a routine day at the office.

This morning, flashing red and blue lights guided me to the crime scene. Coming to a stop behind the coroner’s van, I parked my Jeep Wrangler and took a deep breath.

Coroner meant someone was dead. Not a good start to my day, but even worse for whoever I’d been called here about.

As I climbed out of my Jeep, I adjusted my sunglasses and surveyed the area. Yellow crime scene tape blocked off the entrance to the canal. Red tile rooftops peeked over six-foot walls that separated the waterway from the middle-class sea of stucco on either side. The canal, about ten feet wide, snaked smack in the middle of a dirt pathway that residents used to get their steps in.

It was nearing the end of September, and I was grateful for the hint of the cooler weather that would dip below one hundred for the first time in months. Ninety degrees might seem hot to some, but in Arizona, it was sweater weather.

I walked up to a uniformed cop and held out my badge. “I’m with probation. Detective Ramsey asked me to come.”

It wasn’t unusual for the police to contact us, but it wasn’t common practice to be called to a crime scene. My curiosity mixed with dread.

The cop glanced at my identification. “Ms. Carson. Welcome to the shit show. Don’t touch anything.” He held the tape high so I could pass. I ducked underneath and secured my badge to my belt so the other officers could tell I belonged there.

Lots of Tempe Police blue uniforms and forensic staff mulled around the area, but I homed in on the tall, balding man standing close to the water. He had on plain clothes—khakis and a plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up. I figured he might be Ramsey, so I walked over to him.

He scribbled something on a small notepad and glanced at me as I approached. “You the PO?”

I nodded and dropped my gaze to the mound covered by a tarp at his feet. I wasn’t fond of seeing dead bodies. One reason I was a PO and not a cop.

“Thinking this might be one of your charges, Ms. Carson,” he said. “I gotta warn you, it’s not pretty. He was in the water for a while and birds, and god knows what else got to him. You got a strong stomach?”

No. At the mere thought of seeing the body, my breakfast threatened to make a reappearance, but I wouldn’t admit that. “I’m fine. Why do you think he was on my caseload?”

Ramsey shrugged. “Someone stuffed your business card in his mouth.”

I gulped air. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope. You ready?” Ramsey reached down and pulled the sheet back before I could respond.

A bloated, green face, missing chunks of cheek, greeted me. Bulging eyes looked skyward. Bran flakes swirled in my stomach and crested in my throat. Without a word, I ran to the canal and vomited so hard I thought I’d hack up a vital organ or two.

“You okay, ma’am?” Ramsey sounded bored.

I wiped my mouth on my sleeve and straightened. Memories of the same man, alive and animated, flashed in my mind. Not so long ago, he was proud of accomplishing a solid month of sobriety. Now, I hardly recognized him. “Could you put the sheet back?” I said, keeping my back to the body on the ground.

“Sure.”

I waited a moment to give Ramsey time to cover the corpse and to compose myself. But that would take a while, and the detective didn’t seem like he had a lot of patience. The relationship between police and probation was fickle. We often needed each other, but POs were on the lower end of the food chain.

When I finally turned around, Ramsey was tapping his pen against his notebook. “So, you know the guy, or what?”

“Brian Johnson,” I said. “He was on abscond status. Haven’t seen him for a few weeks, maybe a month. He was doing well, but then he stopped reporting. He probably relapsed. I was gearing up to request a warrant for probation violations. What do you think was the cause of death?”

Ramsey shrugged again. “Too soon to tell, but most people who die of natural causes don’t end up in a canal or send a message like your business card does. They preserved it in a plastic Baggie, so we’d get the point no matter how long it took to find him.

I felt even sicker. Was the message for me? “Couldn’t you ID him through fingerprints? I thought you had all kinds of tech gadgets for that.”

“Sure,” Ramsey said. “But then I wouldn’t have seen your reaction. Plus, some of his fingertips are missing and what’s left probably isn’t usable. Dental records take time.” He pulled a business card out of his shirt pocket and handed it to me. “Call me if you think of anything else I might need to know.”

I turned back to the canal and vomited until I had nothing left to give.

In probation work, there’s no such thing as a routine day at the office.

This morning, flashing red and blue lights guided me to the crime scene. Coming to a stop behind the coroner’s van, I parked my Jeep Wrangler and took a deep breath.

Coroner meant someone was dead. Not a good start to my day but even worse for whoever I’d been called here about.

As I climbed out of my Jeep, I adjusted my sunglasses and surveyed the area. Yellow crime scene tape blocked off the entrance to the canal. Red tile rooftops peeked over six-foot walls that separated the waterway from the middle-class sea of stucco on either side. The canal, about ten feet wide, snaked smack in the middle of a dirt pathway that local residents used to get their steps in.

It was nearing the end of September, and I was grateful for the hint of the cooler weather that would dip below one hundred for the first time in months. Ninety degrees might seem hot to some, but in Arizona, it was sweater weather.

I walked up to a uniformed cop and held out my badge. “I’m with probation. Detective Ramsey asked me to come.”

It wasn’t unusual for police to contact us, but it wasn’t common practice to be called to a crime scene. My curiosity mixed with dread.

The cop glanced at my identification. “Ms. Carson. Welcome to the shit show. Don’t touch anything.” He held the tape high so I could pass. I ducked underneath and secured my badge to my belt so the other officers could tell I belonged there.

Lots of Tempe Police blue uniforms and forensic staff mulled around the area, but I homed in on the tall balding man standing close to the water. He was dressed in plain clothes—khakis and a plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up. I figured he might be Ramsey, so I walked over to him.

He scribbled something on a small notepad and glanced at me as I approached. “You the PO?”

I nodded and dropped my gaze to the mound covered by a tarp at his feet. I wasn’t fond of seeing dead bodies. One of the reasons, I was a PO and not a cop.

“Thinking this might be one of your charges, Ms. Carson,” he said. “I gotta warn you, it’s not pretty. He was in the water for a while and birds, and god knows what else got to him. You got a strong stomach?”

No. At the mere thought of seeing the body, my breakfast threatened to make a reappearance, but I wouldn’t admit that. “I’m fine. Why do you think he was on my caseload?”

Ramsey shrugged. “Your business card was stuffed in his mouth.”

I gulped air. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope. You ready?” Ramsey reached down and pulled the sheet back before I could respond.

The face before me was bloated, green, and missing chunks of cheek. Bulging eyes looked skyward. Bran flakes swirled in my stomach and crested in my throat. Without a word, I ran to the canal and vomited so hard, I thought I’d hack up a vital organ or two.

“You okay, ma’am?” Ramsey sounded bored.

I wiped my mouth on my sleeve and straightened. Memories of the same man, alive and animated flashed in my mind. Not so long ago, he was proud of accomplishing a solid month of sobriety. Now, I hardly recognized him. “Could you put the sheet back?” I said, keeping my back to the body on the ground.

“Sure.”

I waited a moment to give Ramsey time to cover the corpse and to compose myself. But that would take a while, and the detective didn’t seem like he had a lot of patience. The relationship between police and probation was fickle. We often needed each other, but POs were on the lower end of the food chain.

When I finally turned around, Ramsey was tapping his pen against his notebook. “So, you know the guy, or what?”

“Brian Johnson,” I said. “He was on abscond status. Haven’t seen him for a few weeks, maybe a month. He was doing well, but then he stopped reporting. He probably relapsed. I was gearing up to request a warrant for probation violations. What do you think was the cause of death?”

Ramsey shrugged again. “Too soon to tell, but most people who die of natural causes don’t end up in a canal or send a message like your business card does. It was preserved in a plastic Baggie, so we’d get the point no matter how long it took to find him.”

I felt even sicker. Was the message for me? “Couldn’t you ID him through fingerprints? I thought you had all kinds of tech gadgets for that.”

“Sure,” Ramsey said. “But then I wouldn’t have seen your reaction. Plus, some of his fingertips are missing and what’s left probably isn’t usable. Dental records take time.” He pulled a business card out of his shirt pocket and handed it to me. “Call me if you think of anything else I might need to know.”

I turned back to the canal and vomited until I had nothing left to give.

***

Excerpt from Early Termination by Cindy Goyette. Copyright 2025 by Cindy Goyette. Reproduced with permission from Cindy Goyette. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Cindy Goyette

Cindy Goyette is a former probation officer who had a front row seat to the criminal justice system. She kept her sanity by finding humor in most situations. A mix of these things helped her create The Probation Case Files Mystery Series, Book 1, OBEY ALL LAWS won a PSWA Award for best suspense, and was published in January of 2024. Book 2, EARLY TERMINATION, released January of 2025. Her first cozy mystery, DIAMOND IN THE RUFF, will release in May of 2025. After spending over twenty years in Arizona, Cindy lives in Washington state with her husband and two Cocker Spaniels.

Catch Up With Cindy Goyette:
CCGoyette.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub – @ccgoyettewriter
Instagram – @cindy.goyette
Threads – @cindy.goyette
X – @cindy_ccgoyette
Facebook

 

 

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  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!