I will start this post with Marc Layton’s short story/novella of The Galston House. By joining his list at https://BookHip.com/VAXMBXC you can download this exclusive FREE story!
Clarence Lamb is the Sheriff of Moreton and has cuffed his share of human evil, but there was something chilling, otherworldly about The Galston House and he vowed to never visit after dark.
Clive and Adrian Done felt like they stole The Galston House, that the price was too good to be true. Was it?
The Sheriff felt he should warn them about the history of the house, but they already knew it and were not worried about it. Would they live to regret it?
A quick read and suitably creepy haunted house story.
Josef didn’t want to believe that it was true. That the inmates were running the asylum. He and his men were waiting to be scooped up as POW’s as the Reich fell, but that was not to be. They were being sent to the most important place in Germany and Josef felt the oddness as they approached their destination. They were at Site One in search for The Spear of Destiny.
Creepy, brutal and savage, with more to come. Quite different from The Galston House and I got caught up in the evil. I was surprised at how much was packed into such a quick read, filled with action
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Dark Offerings by Marc Layton.
4 Stars
ABOUT MARC LAYTON
Join Marc Layton’s VIP Readers Group and receive his exclusive & FREE novella. Copy and paste the following link into your browser and start reading:
International Bestselling Author. Marc Layton’s passion for writing spine-chilling stories full of intrigue and suspense was born out of his travels around the globe. He felt inspired by the places he visited and the people he connected with and was motivated to pursue writing, so he could share these stories with the world. A voracious reader of thriller and horror stories himself, it was only natural that he would dive into this genre. Marc Layton is currently living in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Witch Weigh, Protecting The Dream and Mine are novella/short stories that were Amazon freebies.
How could I possible resist the cover for Witch Weigh by Caroline Mickelson.
MY REVIEW
“You want me to work with a FAIRY?”
That’s what happens when a witch feels entitled and acts like the spoiled brat she is. The fun character names fits the fun story inside. Easy reading, light hearted humor, laughs, love and some life lessons for an edgy witch.
3 Stars
MY REVIEW
She couldn’t say no to James, when he said they were going ghost hunting at the mental hospital and I am sure no good will come of it. I remember the monster under the bed, the dark basement, the chilling nighttime outdoors with no lights, no moon…and she has it so much worse…it’s following her…truly frightening, wickedly creepy.
3 Stars
I don’t think the cover does Protecting the Dream by Michelle Sharp justice.
How about this one? Which do you like better?
MY REVIEW
The old farm, the weather vane…it spoke to her. She’s a Ghost Whisperer and a cop and I am loving her right out of the gate. Ty doesn’t know much, but as she opens up to him the story grows, as do the characters and I want more. She had been aloof, disconnected since the death of her family. Ty’s breaking down all the barriers. The story is not so much about her role as a cop as it is about their developing relationship and her role as a medium.
A lot packed into this novella and I love, love, love it.
I was scrolling through my reading list and came across the cover for Sara by Tony Hayden and I wondered why it has sat on my reading list since 8.10.14. Does the cover draw you in, make you wonder what evils are inside the cover?
Sara unfolds like a Criminal Minds episode…a young college girl, a small town, a flat tire, a corrupt and dangerous police chief, a dad looking…
I was drawn in so quickly, with shivers running up and down my spine, rapidly turning pages…
At 20% my fears ramped up, the tension and pacing was off the charts and I couldn’t read fast enough. I could see this really happening, the events and characters could be real, the writing made the story come to life.
I found myself checking how much of the book was left because I had a really bad feeling…
I love this quote: “…we concentrate on finding the bad guys after the fact to ensure the cycle is broken.”
As the pieces came together, I knew my spidey senses hadn’t failed me, but I didn’t realize how bad these monsters were…and how many there were in one small town.
Tony Hayden took a twist I didn’t see coming and I love when an author can spin a twist to a story that I have read over and over…missing girl…in the woods…and make me unable to put the book down until I found all the answers.
I had two problems, which I won’t detail, one with the dad and one with Sara, but it kept the story going to the place Tony Hayden wanted it to be. That happens to me a lot in suspense novels, and I totally understand why it has to go that way. And, who knows how people will react until they are put in that position. Still, it kept nagging me, so a solid four stars it is.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
On a lonely two-lane highway through the foothills of Northern Colorado, Sara Jean Haller has disappeared. Her father, a rural county deputy, battles his own demons and a despotic sheriff in a desperate search to find his only child. Mike Haller must untangle a web of lies and secrets woven into the fabric of this small mountain town to discover the road that leads to his missing daughter. Tony Hayden has laced together a story of struggle, hope and the untethered brutality of men without boundary that forces the reader up a dark mountain path to the edge of a shallow grave that hides no secrets.
ABOUT TONY HAYDEN
Tony Hayden is a graduate of the
University of Northern Colorado. A former history teacher and fourteen
year veteran of the Army and Army National Guard, he now lives in
Portland, Oregon, with his wife and son.
Have you ever been ticked off by someone taking to long in the grocery store line? Has someone made you wait while they decided which cafe latte they wanted? And…to put the shoe on the other foot, have you ever got in a fast food line and hemmed and hawed about what you wanted to order? Have you ever fumbled around at the ATM for your debit card? At the pharmacy? This book will make you think twice…maybe.
Time Killer by Todd M Thiede is one of those books that is hard for me to rate. It had so many things I love in a suspense/thriller…an unhinged killed, lots of bodies falling, danger and tension making me have to know what happens.
It looks like this is the second book of Todd M Thiede’s writing career and his first Max Larkin Detective Series novel, so I can forgive some of the things that bothered me. The writing seemed to be loose, at times too quick to pass over what is happening. I would have loved to have more details about a couple of events, more details on the characters feelings about what transpired. But, all in all, well done, Todd. I would definitely read more of your work.
I flipped flopped between 3 and 4 stars, and when that happens I up it, so…………
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Witness a gripping thriller that will surely hook you from start to finish in Time Killer…
Have you ever stood in a line at a grocery store while a person in front of you argued every price and then at the very end they pulled out a book of coupons? Have you ever waited in a drive thru as the person in front of you took forever to order his food? There is a person in Rockton Illinois that has had this happen to him and he is doing something about it. He is getting rid of the Time Wasters in Rockton.
Detective Max Larkin has a pretty simple life in Rockton. He wakes up every morning and goes to the police station to solve small town crimes. However, today is going to be different. Not only is he getting a new partner, Jesse Fairlane, that he doesn’t want, but he is getting assigned to a murder case where the murderer writes TIME WASTER on the wall in the victim’s blood.
Follow them as they attempt to solve the murder mystery case and find out if their tandem would work in Time Killer.
ABOUT TODD M THIEDE (from his website)
When you think of an Amazon bestselling author you probably won’t think of Todd M. Thiede.
He’s been a finance manager at a car dealership in Illinois for over 15
years. He’s a father of 4 and now a grandfather of 3. When he’s not
working or spending time with his family, he’s writing books. His Max
Larkin Detective series has been on Amazon’s Bestsellers list for
multiple books in the series. He’s also written Political Thrillers
under the pseudonym T.T. Michael, and those books have won multiple
awards from Readers’ Favorite and Book Excellence Awards.
Todd M. Thiede is now diving into the Sci-Fi world with his new book “A New Planet”.
Beyond The Creek by Nico Bell is one of those books where the rating bounces between a three and a four, so I always round up. What drew me in was the cover, then the title gave me that icky feeling that I look for in a horror novel, and the blurb finished me off.
We are in Madison, Virginia, where Alex Foster hopes for a new start, a second chance for her and her baby. Things are looking up for her. She just had to watch out for Harry, the tarantula, and don’t cross the creek. Would you? Sometimes being told not to do something makes me want to do it. You know that saying, curiosity killed the cat.
Alex didn’t care that her new home was not the Taj Mahal. There’s no Robert here.
The story sounded familiar to me…bit it didn’t take long for me to see it wasn’t what I was thinking. Nico Bell took it to a place that surprised me and I love when an author can do that.
I also love a characters that steps away from the norm. Alex is not a sleek, trim, model type. She’s giving and pregnant.
Danger arises, lives are at risk, monsters come a calling and I wonder, who will live and who will die.
Vivid, frightening descriptions of the monsters. Creepy good. So much better than I thought because it sounded so familiar to me, predictable, but by the time I got to the end, I had to hold my breath during the battle and smiled when she opened to door to….because I thought I knew what was coming. I loved the ending!
I vountarily reviewed a free copy of Beyond The Creek by Nico Bell.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
When Alex Foster accepted the caregiver position with the eccentric Nox family, she was issued a single rule. Don’t wander past the creek. Alex isn’t interested in exploring the Nox’s vast wooded property. After escaping an abusive past, her sole focus is building a safe future for herself and her unborn baby. Except, a series of chilling events threatens her happily-ever-after. Now, she must fight to survive an ancient evil before all hope is lost. There’s something beyond the creek, and it’s hungry.
ABOUT NICO BELL (from Amazon)
Nico Bell is a horror writer from America who dabbles in both the dark and humorous. She’s had several short stories published, and her debut novel Food Fright is available March 26, 2020.
Warning: This is not for the faint of heart. The characters have issues, the sex is raw, graphic, including rape, bondage…
Desecrated Essence has another beautiful cover for the Desecrated Duet series by C A Rene, though the story inside is dark and tormented, as are the characters.
Desecrated Essence is the second book in the Desecrated Duet series. For me, Desecrated Essence takes erotica to a whole new level.
We are three months later than the end of Desecrated Flesh, the first book in the series.
I started reading Desecrated Essence as soon as I finished Desecrated Flesh. The characters fascinate, disgust, and frighten me. Psychopaths and sociopaths walk around us, never showing their true colors. Here, you will see them. Understand them? Probably not.
Pleasure and pain. Dark…I found these characters so deep, dark and primal, I cannot put into words what I felt as I read, yet I couldn’t stop reading. I am so disturbed that I have to know how their story ends.
I know I keep repeating myself, but I don’t even know what to say about Kailey…and the rest. Sex, sex, sex. I am worn out just reading about it. I am getting bored and kinda grossed out by all the sex, yet I am waiting to see what the Monster wants.
I know there is more to story about the guys, how dangerous they are. They do come from mob families.
I do love reading about dark, depraved characters, but these guys are so far gone, I don’t think any of them can be saved. To say they have mental issues is putting it way to mildly They are brutal, savage, murderous, yet, like all criminals, they do have a code of their own.
I had trouble writing the review for the first book, Desecrated Flesh, and I am having an equally hard time writing a review for Desecrated Essence.
If you like to wallow in the dangerous, brutal world of sexual degradation, come on in.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Desecrated Essence by C A Rene.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
What happens when your only source of warmth and light leaves you? The dismal shadows once kept at bay, begin to seep back in and coat everything the light once touched. All feeling becomes saturated in their inky grasp and escape becomes impossible. She left me here in the dark, alone and awaiting the impending destruction.
Who do you turn to when you feel all is lost? His presence isn’t welcomed, and his anger scorches my insides, but at least he never leaves. Now that I’m truly alone, his claws sink deep and trying to flee would be futile. We are one, him and I. There’s nothing I can do but watch the storm clouds roll in.
How do I warn them if the warning is me? I can’t control him once he has something in his sights, his determination knows no bounds, and his wrath is an addiction I know too well. There’s no stopping the lightning if you don’t hear the thunder.
ABOUT C A RENE (from her website)
First off… Call me Chrissy!
I’m
so glad you’re here, whether it’s because you found me from reading my
books or hit a link, I’m just ecstatic you decided to check me out.
In
my books you will find complete inclusivity and I refuse to be kept in
any specific box. I write across all genres and dabble in just about
everything.
To keep up with all new releases and teasers for all my upcoming books, you can follow me on any social media platform!
Lover
of all things dark. I love to read it, write it, own it, eat it,
whatever it. My addictions include Coffee, books, and WINE, in that
order.
Hardcore Kelli is my first foray into Wrath James White’s world and, even though it is a novella, it rocked my world and has stuck with me, leaving me wanting more. I love reading off the wall, twisted works and Wrath supplied me with a few hours of reading entertainment. I thought it would have a three rating, but seeing I can’t get it out of my head that seemed so wrong, so four it is.
Katy is a boxer, with a losing record. A garden variety type. She only did it for the money. Her world changed when she was introduced to Hardcore Kelli by her sister, Samantha. I love her. I couldn’t help but smile and laugh, until the story took an ugly turn, one I never saw coming.
If you love a quirky tale, with blood, guts, and gore, this could be for you.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Harcore Kelli by Wrath James White.
4 stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Bullets whizzed past Katy as she dashed through the grass and weeds, and the maze of broken recreational vehicles, farm equipment, and other slowly oxidizing junk. She gripped the gleaming battle axe in both hands as she waded through gunfire, determined to reach her archnemesis and end his reign of terror forever. Murder Man stood in the doorway of the rundown mobile home, firing at will. She had found his lair. Now it was time to bring him to justice.
Katy hurdled the rusting skeleton of an old ’77 Ford Thunderbird like an Olympic gymnast. She had once been a cheerleader, a good one. Once upon a time she could do flips, handsprings, and somersaults with ease. That was so long ago it felt more like an ancient story from some dusty old history book than something that had actually occurred in her lifetime.
I am going to start the five one sentence reviews I will be sharing today with Refrain by Susan Griscom. I won an audible and kindle copy. I quickly got hooked, so scrolled through my Kindle and read every one of the Blood Courtesan Kindle Unlimited series stories that I had.
Oh Yeah…Vampires…I love when I see my name in a book, and even though Refrain, which is a complete story, is predictable, it is filled with enough steamy deliciousness to keep me reading more of the series and wanting more of her work.
3 Stars
Reborn (Blood Courtesans) by Michelle Fox was an Amazon freebie.
Reborn is a complete story, a novella, about the loss of innocence and I love Myra’s feistiness, the laughs, the kisses and bullets, though I did get frustrated with her casual stupidity, but my love of vampires keeps me reading most anything with them in it.
3 Stars
Wanted: Corynne by Kristen Strassel was an Amazon freebie.
One way to deal with bullies is to become a vampire…LOL…she had been bullied to the point of murder and was counting on becoming a courtesan, offering blood and sex, to find a place to belong in this action packed story that filled all my bloody needs.
Thank all that is vampire that someone wanted to pay their good fortune forward or Angelica may never have been accepted as a blood courtesan because she would would make a personal sacrifice, sell her soul for her sister, and I love her naive yet provocative personality filled with humor.
3 Stars
Ensnared: Star by Rebecca Rivard & Michelle Fox was an Amazon freebie.
She had been set up for the theft of one hundred thousand dollars and her only out was to become a courtesan…one month with Remy de la Lune, but this hunkalicious vampire has met his match and I was happy to be along for the ride.
I love suspense, thrills, crime and mystery. I have also been to Mexico numerous times, though I never saw it the way Carmen Amato has. Her book covers attracted my attention, because I am a sucker for great covers. Another thing that really caught my attention and made me curious was the author herself. She has a very interesting history, so be sure and scroll down to check her out.
I am going to review them in the order I read them. If they look good to you, click on the cover to hop over to Amazon. They may still be free, but be sure and check for the “0”.
The covers fit the series so well. I love when an author creates a brand.
Her whole world was this moment, this stinky mat, this iron beast that she had become. A fabulous description of Emilia Cruz…and she will need that iron will, that strength, in what is to come. Emilia is the first female detective in Acapulco and she had fought hard for it. I love the character and as I read the five stories in Made In Acapulco, I grew to love her more.
Machismo. Corruption. Cartels.
“Always pay it forward. It’s the only way we’ll save our future.”
BEING BRAVE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF FEAR: IT’S THE COURAGE TO PRESS ON IN SPITE OF FEAR
This introduction into Emilia Cruz only makes me want to read more.
3 Stars
I missed so many books between Made In Acapulco, my introduction to Emilia Cruz, to Narco Noir, the eight book. I have missed a lot.
I have missed all the books in the series except what I consider the introduction to Emila Cruz, Made In Acapulco. I think it probably affected my review, because I was just getting the hang of being in Mexico, but now I do have some familiarity with the characters and how the city of Acapulco operates.
I sense a romance, but what kind of future does a detective from the barrios have with an American with plenty of money? Could they make it work?
Well, that’s a twist. I didn’t see it coming and I am curious where it will go.
She is a badass. I love a strong female character that can hold her own. Even in the machismo world of Mexico, she earns her place and the respect of (at least) some of her coworkers, informants…
Every move is filled with danger and betrayal. Corruption is rampant, so it’s hard to know who to trust. She has to keep things close to the vest.
Her partner, Silvio, is the only person she calls in her time of need.
There is so much about the book I liked, but I was frustrated by some of the characters actions. I don’t want to say much to spoil it for you, because I think it’s worth finding out for yourself.
I do recommend starting at the beginning and you will need to read to the end of the series to get the complete story.
3 Stars
The Emilia Cruz series takes place in Acapulco, Mexico. In The Hidden Light Of Mexico City by Carmen Amato we step away from Acapulco.
“So you’re too afraid to save our country?….What will you leave your grandchildren? A country that’s just a playground of violence for the cartels?”
Eddo hated what he was forced to do just to be able to do the right thing. People will get hurt, but he couldn’t sit back and do nothing just because it was dangerous and may cost him his life.
Luz has sacrificed everything for her family. I feel so bad for her and I wonder when or if she will have her turn. Her family ticks me off. What gives them the right to treat her the way they do. Even her brother walks a fine line in my book. Family is family, but when is too much enough?
An indepth look at the brutality and corruption of Mexico’s’ drug trade and the war for territory.
Whoa…I was brought up short. I thought I knew what the story would be: betrayal, corruption, power hungry, brutal, savage, and those who try to do the right thing. I’ve always heard how Mexico was driven by the drug cartels, so on that front I wasn’t surprised.
The twist with the romance…
The Hidden Light Of Mexico City by Carmen Amato is a great police procedural, suspense/thriller. At times my heart was in my throat and I love the characters, good and bad.
The ending is excellent. Not too short, not too long, just right.
4 Stars
Now, we are real life moments in Mexico. Aapply your suntan lotion, put on your hiking boots, bring your swimsuit, bring your appetite, and let’s go meet some new people.
I took no notes for The Insider’s Guide To The Best Of Mexico. These snippets of introductions from the 42 contributor’s to the guide share their favorites in a page or three. I would take it with me if I were traveling to Mexico.
4 Stars
ABOUT CARMEN AMATO
Following a 30 year career with the Central Intelligence Agency, Carmen Amato writes mystery and suspense, including the Detective Emilia Cruz police series set in Acapulco. Emilia is the first female police detective in Acapulco, confronting Mexico’s cartels, corruption and social inequalities. The series recently won the Poison Cup award for Outstanding Series from Crime Masters of America and was optioned for television.
Originally from upstate New York, Carmen’s experiences in Mexico and Central America launched her fiction career. Carmen is a recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal.
I have read a lot of novels by Carolyn Arnold and she is on my must read list of authors. Girl On The Run was published this month and I was so happy to get a review copy. I love the cover and it fits the story inside.
I love a Prologue. I am like a hungry fish, swimming around, looking for a juicy worm and with a good Prologue, I eagerly bite and get hooked. Girl on the Run by Carolyn Arnold definitely set the hook.
She runs, but there is no escape.
“You’ll be wishing for a bullet by the time she’s done with you.”
I am curious to know why.
Madison was in line for a coffee, when she heard of a shooting at the Liberty Train Station, suspected causalities. Madison is on the case seeing she works for Major Crimes. Two dead, one in the hospital.
Madison is tenaciious, a Bulldog. She felt putting bad guys behind bars was her legacy and made personal sacrifices to achieve it. She has her chocolate lab, Hershey and her fiancee, Troy Matthews, who works for the Stiles Police Department too, to keep her grounded.
Who is the girl with the orange backpack that seemed to Madison to be the trigger, and what does she have to do with the shooting?
Madison had been through hell due to corrupt cops, so when she saw the shooter, who had identified himself as a cop, she stood at attention. Could a corrupt cop and the Russian Mafia be behind the shooting? She had dealt with them on more than one occasion. They were prolific in Stiles.
The investigation deepens, spreading out in different directions. Carolyn Arnold is an expert at bringing all the pieces together.
Two dead, one wounded, a girl with an orange backpack, a victim that Madison recognizes from her past, the Russian Mafia, drug trafficking, infidelity, betrayal…Step by step, I follow Madison’s footsteps to the conclusion.
Most of the book, I was plodding along, accumulating clues with Madison, thinking three stars. I was complacent, knowing this is a police procedural so it may lack the in your face thrills and chills I love so much, then…KAPOW…I’m awake now. It’s those punches, book surprises, that add the extra star.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Girl On The Run by Carolyn Arnold.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Shivers tear through her, but she must be brave—for herself, for her future. She grips her coat tighter and steps into the night and the cold, pouring rain. Never to be seen again.
An ordinary Monday morning commute turns deadly when a gunman opens fire in the local train station. Detective Madison Knight rushes to the scene, but she’s too late for the victims. Two women were fatally wounded, including an expectant mother, and one is fighting for her life. But it’s the face of one of the dead that has Madison seeing a ghost from her past. She looks just like Madison’s college friend Courtney Middleton, who vanished over fifteen years ago. If it is her, where has she been all these years, and does her resurfacing have anything to do with the shooting?
Eyewitnesses say that a young woman triggered the incident, but both the shooter and the girl seem to have evaporated into thin air. Mounting evidence suggests they may be part of a drug-trafficking operation, the girl being one of their runners. But Madison’s not so sure the girl is the hardened criminal she appears to be.
As Madison races to track down the young woman, more people turn up murdered, and there’s still no sign of the girl. Is her body out there to find or is she on the run? If the latter, is it due to fear or guilt? Could it simply be that the shooting victims were caught in the crosshairs of organized crime? Madison’s not sure, but she can’t shake her niggling suspicion: what if it was something more than that?
An absolutely gripping and addictive crime thriller. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Lisa Regan, and Rachel Caine.
ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD
CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning
author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She
has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon
Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has
written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers
everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action
adventures.
Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised
by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading
her to adopt 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 north of London, Ontario, with her husband and
two beagles and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in
Crime.
![Protecting the Dream (A Dream Seeker Novella Book 2) by [Michelle Sharp]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51BmjLPVGFL.jpg)
Nico Bell is a horror writer from America who dabbles in both the dark and humorous. She’s had several short stories published, and her debut novel Food Fright is available March 26, 2020.
