Review – Fear The Silence by Robert Bryndza @RobertBryndza #FearTheSilence #NetGalley

I want to thank NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for the opportunity to review another Robert Bryndza novel, Fear The Silence.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Fear The Silence by Robert Bryndza is one of those books where I bounced between a three and a four rating. I can’t state a specific reason for it. Was it the book or was it me?

I have read two other books by Robert Bryndza and enjoyed them, so whenever I see the opportunity to read another, I am all over it. Soooo, let’s begin.

Maggie’s husband, Will, committed suicide…or did he?

He blew me a kiss and made Luna wave her paw. He looked so content. Deliriously content is how I’ll always remember that last view of him.

And the mystery begins. She travels to their island home in Croatia. Oh yeah, I think an isolated island is where she should be…alone. She discovers why he changed careers six years ago. The past never stays buried and now it has put her life in extreme danger.

I can’t imagine the terror…huddled, cowering, in the dark as someone rifles through your home…hoping, praying, not to be seen. It was…maybe…my favorite part of the book. I felt I was there with her, just waiting to be discovered. What do you think happens?

We have a hellacious storm rolling through, so it is impossible for her to leave the island. So many times, when a read a book, I try to think of what I would do. Would it be the same as the character? It’s one of those things where you have to be there to know. I think we all wish we would do something better than what gets the characters in such deep trouble.

They live in a smart home and I love when I learn something. Had me doing some surfing to see if it was true. A book that can make me do that, adds a little something extra…for me.

I kept trying to think of who it could possibly be that would want her husband dead. There weren’t that many suspects and until I found the reason, I couldn’t decide. Once the person was in my sights, it all began to come together and it read a bit like a spy novel.

As I said earlier, I went between a three and four rating. Whenever that happens, I take it up a notch. As I thought about it while writing the review and going through the highlights on my ereader, I still can’t think of what was wrong, me or the book. I guess you will have to read it for yourself. Robert Bryndza’s writing is easy to read and flows smoothly, so give him a try.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Fear O Silence by Robert Bryndza.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

‘Do you believe Will took his own life?’

The question echoed off the white tiles in the hospital’s cold, cavernous morgue, and I studied my husband in peaceful repose. I leaned down and put my forehead against his. Silent tears ran down my cheeks. They felt hot, and he felt so cold. It was five days since his death, and my grief felt heavy, like a vast, dark mass pushing down on me.

When Maggie’s husband, Will, is shot dead in their London home, she thinks he is the victim of a burglary until the police tell her the shocking news that Will was the one who pulled the trigger.

Maggie is consumed with grief and questions. Will wasn’t suicidal. He had so much to live for.

After the funeral, Maggie travels to their holiday home on a small Croatian island to escape London. She finds a disturbing letter written by Will, containing clues to a dark secret.

As Maggie puts the pieces together, she discovers Will’s death is connected to someone from his past… Someone who will go to extreme lengths to keep Maggie silent.

Three can keep a secret… If two of them are dead.

The international multi-million bestselling author of The Girl in the Ice is back with his first stand-alone thriller, a heart-racing, hold-your-breath read that will keep you hooked until the very last page.

  • List: Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Thriller
  • 350 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication July 6, 2023 by Raven Publishing

ABOUT ROBERT BRYNDZA

Robert Bryndza

Robert Bryndza is an international bestselling author, best known for his page-turning crime and thriller novels, which have sold over five million copies.

His crime debut, The Girl in the Ice was released in February 2016, introducing Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster. Within five months it sold one million copies, reaching number one in the Amazon UK, USA and Australian charts. To date, The Girl in the Ice has sold over 1.5 million copies in the English language and has been sold into translation in 29 countries. It was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery & Thriller (2016), the Grand prix des lectrices de Elle in France (2018), and it won two reader voted awards, The Thrillzone Awards best debut thriller in The Netherlands (2018) and The Dead Good Papercut Award for best page turner at the Harrogate Crime Festival (2016).

Robert has released a further five novels in the Erika Foster series, The Night Stalker, Dark Water, Last Breath, Cold Blood and Deadly Secrets, all of which have been global bestsellers, and in 2017 Last Breath was a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Mystery and Thriller. Fatal Witness, the seventh Erika Foster novel, is now available to pre-order and will be published 7th July 2022.

Most recently, Robert created a new crime thriller series based around the central character Kate Marshall, a police officer turned private detective. The first book, Nine Elms, was an Amazon USA #1 bestseller and an Amazon UK top five bestseller, and the series has been sold into translation in 18 countries. The second book in the series is the global bestselling, Shadow Sands and the third book, Darkness Falls, has just been published.

Robert was born in Lowestoft, on the east coast of England. He studied at Aberystwyth University, and the Guildford School of Acting, and was an actor for several years, but didn’t find success until he took a play he’d written to the Edinburgh Festival. This led to the decision to change career and start writing. He self-published a bestselling series of romantic comedy novels, before switching to writing crime. Robert lives with his husband in Slovakia, and is lucky enough to write full-time.

You can find out more about Robert and his books at www.robertbryndza.com

MY REVIEWS FOR ROBERT BRYNDZA

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Review – The Toymaker (Jake Pendleton #2) by Chuck Barrett @chuck_barrett

I have had The Toymaker by Chuck Barrett on my TBR since 2012. I was so excited to grab it and don’t know why I waited so long to read it.

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The Toymaker by Chuck Barrett is a continuation of The Savannah Project, so this review will be short and sweet.

I LOVED IT.

Jake Pendleton will learn the all the grisly details of the ills that have befallen him, as he faces his worst foes. One is familiar, Ian Collings, the assassin. One is new, a terrorist, and will test all his skills. He will travel the world, dodging death with colleagues old and new.

The more I read, the more lost I got in the story, wondering who would live and who would die. Hopefully, it will be the villains, but with Chuck Barrett, you can never be sure.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Former NTSB Investigator Jake Pendleton faces a dilemma as the line blurs between right and wrong. After his judgment comes into question, Jake is entrusted to his new mentor, an eccentric old man who sees beyond Jake’s flaws. A man who makes ‘toys for spies.’

A man known as The Toymaker.

Jake’s first assignment reunites him with Gregg Kaplan in a daredevil mission to rescue a fellow agent held captive in Yemen. He risks his life to stop the first attack of an al Qaeda mastermind. But now, with no one to trust but himself, can Jake stop the terrorist from destroying what is most precious to the free world?

Unfortunately, more trouble comes his way as a killer from his past threatens something more important to Jake than his own life, leaving him to make the hardest decision any man ever has to make—

Who to sacrifice.

  • Fiction, Action and Adventure, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Terrorism, Espionage

368 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 21, 2011

ABOUT CHUCK BARRETT

Chuck Barrett is the award-winning author of The Savannah Project, The Toymaker, Breach of Power, and Disruption of his Jake Pendleton series, and Blown, and Last Chance of his blockbuster Gregg Kaplan series. He is a graduate of Auburn University and retired air traffic controller. He also holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate.

He and his wife, DJ Steele (also an author) currently reside in Northern Colorado.

Awards:
—BLOWN
2016 Writers Digest Self-Published Book Awards

—Breach of Power
Winner of the 2013 Indie Excellence Award in Political Thrillers.
Finalist in the 2013 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure category.

—The Toymaker
Finalist in the 2013 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure & Mystery/Suspense categories.

—The Savannah Project
Finalist in the 2011 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure category.
Second Place in the 2011 Reviewers Choice Awards Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror category.
Honorable Mention in the 2011 ForeWord Reviews Book-Of-The-Year Awards Thriller/Suspense category.

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MY CHUCK BARRETT REVIEWS

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Early Review – Before She Finds Me by Heather Chavez #BeforeSheFindsMe #NetGalley @iamHRChavez

Before She Finds Me by Heather Chavez is up for preorder, due to be released tomorrow.

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Before She Finds Me by Heather Chavez is one of those books that it is not the cover that grabs me, though I do love female main characters, but this time it was the title. I know we will be having some hide and seek, predator and prey action. Everyone has a secret and some of them will pay the ultimate price…and I love it!

Julia is a mom and ex wife carrying heavy baggage from her tragic past, the secret haunting her. It has made her hypervigilant, noticing even the slightest thing that is amiss, her spidey senses on constant alert. Her and her daughter, Cora, have a ‘pun’ habit which I thought was a nice touch. 🙂 I love the twist that made them all targets, so, remember, make sure you hit what you are aiming for or it could come back and bite you…..

Ren and Nolan are assassins, married, and work together. Nolan gathers the information and Ren draws up the plans and maps. She is meticulous and, well, he’s getting sloppy, greedy, and I thought he could be their downfall. After all, it couldn’t be the woman. Nothing could possible go wrong…could it?

I love how the characters grew, developed more depth. The mystery of the shooting at the college goes way beyond anything I could have foreseen. I was curious from the beginning, but once the surprises started stacking up, the pace picked up and I didn’t want to stop until….

The ending was terrific and I kinda figured it out…who would be left standing, but how they would get there was a total surprise…and, oh so, fitting. There was a surprise victim or two, but, hey, fictional characters are disposable. HA HA HA HA HA I have found a new author to keep my eye on and I recommend any lover of suspense would enjoy this too.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Before She Finds Me by Heather Chavez.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

In this shocking thriller, two unlikely mothers race to uncover the truth behind a horrific attack—even after it becomes clear that the truth will destroy one of their families.

Julia Bennett has worked hard to create a stable life for her daughter, Cora, in Southern California. So when Cora leaves for college, the worst thing Julia expects on move-in day is an argument with her ex-husband and his new wife. But a sudden attack leaves the campus stunned—and only Julia’s quick actions save Cora’s life. Shaken in the aftermath, and haunted by a dark secret, Julia starts to wonder: What if the attack wasn’t as random as everyone believes?

Newly pregnant Ren Petrovic has an unusual career—she’s a trained assassin, operating under a strict moral code. Ren wasn’t on campus that day, but she knows who was: her husband, Nolan. What she doesn’t know is why Nolan has broken their rules by not telling her about the job in advance. The more Ren looks into the attack, the more she begins to question: Who really hired Nolan? And why did one woman in the crowd respond so differently from all the rest?

Julia and Ren each want answers, but their searches quickly pit them against each other. One woman is a hired killer, but the other is a determined survivor. And both mothers will defend their families to the bitter end.
 

  • Adult, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
  • 356 pages, Kindle
  • Expected publication June 27, 2023 by Mulholland Books

ABOUT HEATHER CHAVEZ

Heather Chavez Author

Heather is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley’s English literature program and has worked as a newspaper reporter, editor, contributor to mystery and television blogs, and in communications for a major health care organization. She lives with her family and two cat overlords in Santa Rosa, California, where she is at work on her next novel.

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Review – The Savannah Project (Jake Pendleton #1) by Chuck Barrett @chuck_barrett

I have had The Savannah Project by Chuck Barrett on my TBR since 2012, but didn’t pick it up until 2014. I was so excited to grab it and don’t know why I waited so long to read it.

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I cracked the book open and didn’t realize it was St Patrick’s Day…here and in Savannah Georgia. The Prologue socked me in the gut and I braced myself for what was to come. I have had my eye on The Savannah Project and The Toymaker since 2012, so it is high time I Knocked them off my reading list.

Jake Pendleton will meet Ian Collins, an assassin that will change his life forever. A man who vowed an eye for an eye, a blood vengeance.

I have never really understood all the IRA, Sinn Fein issues, but I have read and continue to read novels about them, trying. An eye for an eye is never enough. I can never understand sacrificing innocent lives. How can that be right?

As I read along, the story grew deeper, more desperate and dangerous. Jake scrambles to understand what is happening. The action is non stop as they travel the globe creating devastation wherever they go. Bodies will fall and I wonder who will be left standing.

The story doesn’t end here and I eagerly begin The Toymaker. The characters have captured my curiosity and I have to know what will become of them, whether they are the worst villains imaginable or persons who will sacrifice their life for others.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

The truth can be a dangerous thing.

Terrorism, duty, and personal safety collide when Jake Pendleton, an investigator for the NTSB, is called to investigate an aircraft accident in Savannah, Georgia during the St. Patrick’s Day celebration. The accident, which at first appears to be quite run-of-the-mill, turns out to be anything but. Since Jake is not willing to pretend there are no suspicious circumstances and more than the usual share of rather unlikely “coincidences,” he sets off a veritable avalanche of secrets, violence and treachery. Aided by an unlikely partner, Gregg Kaplan, the air traffic controller who was the last person in contact with the airplane that crashed, Jake sets out to untangle the webs of deceit and to find a vicious killer.

Nothing is as it seems, nobody is who you thought them to be.
Nothing is sacred.
Nobody is safe.

The Savannah Project is an action packed political thriller with a twist around every corner. If you like thrillers by great authors like David Baldacci, Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, and others, then you’ll enjoys this book as the author incorporates his 3M formula for his novels: Murder, Mystery, & Mayhem.

His books have reached Amazon Bestseller status in the following categories:
• Espionage & Spy Thrillers
• Political Thrillers
• Political Thriller & Suspense
• Action & Adventure
• Terrorism Thriller

  • Action and Adventure, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Fiction

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 9, 2010

ABOUT CHUCK BARRETT

Chuck Barrett is the award-winning author of The Savannah Project, The Toymaker, Breach of Power, and Disruption of his Jake Pendleton series, and Blown, and Last Chance of his blockbuster Gregg Kaplan series. He is a graduate of Auburn University and retired air traffic controller. He also holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate.

He and his wife, DJ Steele (also an author) currently reside in Northern Colorado.

Awards:
—BLOWN
2016 Writers Digest Self-Published Book Awards

—Breach of Power
Winner of the 2013 Indie Excellence Award in Political Thrillers.
Finalist in the 2013 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure category.

—The Toymaker
Finalist in the 2013 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure & Mystery/Suspense categories.

—The Savannah Project
Finalist in the 2011 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure category.
Second Place in the 2011 Reviewers Choice Awards Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror category.
Honorable Mention in the 2011 ForeWord Reviews Book-Of-The-Year Awards Thriller/Suspense category.

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MY CHUCK BARRETT REVIEWS

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Review – The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon #TheQuietTenant #NetGalley.

I want to thank NetGalley and Knopf for the opportunity to read and review The Quiet Tenant and the introduction to the author, Clemence Michallon.

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I was happy to be on the front end of Clemence Michallon’s writing career with what I think is her debut novel, The Quiet Tenant. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but I loved her twist on the serial killer scenario. I am a huge fan of serial killers, reading about them, not hanging out with them, so any fresh plot is always welcome. Of course, I think we know that a serial killer could be hidden under the guise of your neighbor. Hell, it could even be a family member. Serial killer’s are not always male, though it is rare to find one that is female.

Imagine meeting a kind, young man who turns out to be your worst nightmare. He has murdered eight women and you are the ninth. Why has he kept you alive? Why doesn’t he take what he wants and dispose of you? What makes you different from the others?

‘Rachel’ is the tenant and he is the landlord. He has had her for eight years. Now, things have changed. His wife has died and he is being evicted. How can he incorporate her into his new life, keeping the specifics hidden from his thirteen year old daughter, Cecilia.

Rachel has a set of rules she has made to keep herself alive, hoping she will be saved.

I had wondered about his relationship with his daughter, seeing he rarely let her out of his sight, other than school. Was he molesting her, having her take the place of his dead wife and Rachel is just a side bit for some variety? At first, I thought it was because he knew just how dangerous the world can be, seeing he is a predator. But, the reason was much more personal than her safety.

There were a couple of hiccups in the story, but over all it kept me reading. I wondered how in the world they could all live together and how it would end. Clemence Michallon was able to keep me in suspense, never giving away the ending, even though I tried to figure it out for myself. The twists and turns along the way were new to me and as many books as I read, it is hard to come up with something novel and unique. Kudos go out to Clemence Michallon for being able to do that and leave me wanting more. I am eager to see what she will come up with next.

The ending was inspirational and hopeful. I always wonder how I will react in a situation some of these characters find themselves in, and I tell myself one thing and wonder if that is what I would really do. After all, I don’t think any of us can know until or if it happens.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED NOVELS OF 2023 • “A bravura feat of storytelling . . . a daring and completely satisfying mystery.” —James Patterson, #1 best-selling author

A PULSE-POUNDING PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER ABOUT A SERIAL KILLER NARRATED BY THOSE CLOSEST TO HIS 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, HIS GIRLFRIEND—AND THE ONE VICTIM HE HAS SPARED

Aidan Thomas is a hard-working family man and a somewhat beloved figure in the small upstate town where he lives. He’s the kind of man who always lends a hand and has a good word for everyone. But Aidan has a dark secret he’s been keeping from everyone in town and those closest to him. He’s a kidnapper and serial killer. Aidan has murdered eight women and there’s a ninth he has earmarked for Rachel, imprisoned in a backyard shed, fearing for her life. 

When Aidan’s wife dies, he and his thirteen-year-old daughter Cecilia are forced to move. Aidan has no choice but to bring Rachel along, introducing her to Cecilia as a “family friend” who needs a place to stay. Aidan is betting on Rachel, after five years of captivity, being too brainwashed and fearful to attempt to escape. But Rachel is a fighter and survivor, and recognizes Cecilia might just be the lifeline she has waited for all these years. As Rachel tests the boundaries of her new living situation, she begins to form a tenuous connection with Cecilia. And when Emily, a local restaurant owner, develops a crush on the handsome widower, she finds herself drawn into Rachel and Cecilia’s orbit, coming dangerously close to discovering Aidan’s secret.

Told through the perspectives of Rachel, Cecilia, and Emily, The Quiet Tenant explores the psychological impact of Aidan’s crimes on the women in his life—and the bonds between those women that give them the strength to fight back. Both a searing thriller and an astute study of trauma, survival, and the dynamics of power, The Quiet Tenant is an electrifying debut by a major talent.

  • Fiction, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Thriller

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 20, 2023 by Knopf

ABOUT CLEMENCE MICHALLON (from Amazon)

Clémence Michallon was born and raised near Paris. She studied journalism at City University of London, received a master’s in Journalism from Columbia University, and has written for The Independent since 2018. Her essays and features have covered true-crime, celebrity culture, and literature. She moved to New York City in 2014 and recently became a US citizen. She now divides her time between New York City and Rhinebeck, NY.

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I Am Hooked on Devil’s Dolls by William Baker #wiliamblake

OMG! I joined William Baker’s newsletter last month and have never looked back. His series of Devil’s Dolls short stories are to die for, and The Devil’s Origins is free, OR…if you have KindleUnlimited you can grab Season 1, or purchase for $5.97.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

This standalone novella/short story, The Devil’s Origins by William Baker has me hooked. I love a good vigilante story and the only thing I hate about the Devil’s Dolls series is that it is not a novel. I want more, more depth, more detail, more of K…just MORE!

The Devil’s Origins by Willaim Baker has everything I love in a thriller…a female main character who is a vigilante, edge of the seat suspense, dead bodies, a story that can stand alone but has more to come. Once I read it, I knew I wanted more!

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Blood, ashes, and bones.

That’s all she saw.

When she awoke amongst the debris and dead bodies drenched in a mysterious substance, she found two things.

A single initial on her half-burnt uniform’s nametag.

And all her memories erased.

Abandoned, confused, hungry, and cold, K trudges on into a small town she doesn’t recognize

Failing to consider that she looks like an escaped, dangerous convict…

That her appearance would turn heads, raising dangerous questions she had no answer to.

But there is something about her new self K learns the hard way.

Her powers are anything but human.

And they can get her in a whole lot of trouble.

Soon, all hell breaks loose, and K is entangled in a murder she never wished to commit.

As she tries to escape the consequences of her actions, K is met with a choice she never thought she’d have to make.

Follow the instructions of her anonymous benefactor, or starve, die, and worse…

There is only one thing K can be certain about.

Someone is watching her every move.

They know what she’s done.

And they won’t stop until she pays what she’s due.

K’s deadly chase has only just begun.

This is the standalone prequel to the Devil’s Dolls series by William Baker.

  • List: Mystery, Novella/Short Story, Psychological, Series, Suspense, Thriller, Vigilante
  • 63 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published April 24, 2023 by Stories Of Wonder

MY REVIEW

Vengeance In Black by William Baker is a newsletter exclusive short story with a cliffhanger. I was ecstatic and disappointed at the same time. I was hooked when I read the standalone prequel, The Devil’s Origins, and was left hanging by my fingernails after finishing Vengeance In Black. I HAD TO KNOW what happened next and was ecstatic when William Black offered The Devil’s Dollmaker free for a limited time. YAY!

What’s is happening to all the women in town?

Look at that cover below…Doesn’t it make you want to know what the fuck is going on?

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I am soooo lovin’ this series of novella/short stories. It makes me think of Charlie’s Angels, except there is only one angel with an anonymous benefactor. K is the epitome of a female vigilante and I love her. In The Devil’s Dollmaker, a deliciously gruesome story of missing women, K shows her humanity. I hate that she remains a solitary action figure, yet a connection would make her a target. This way, she comes and goes, like a ghost in the night. The only downside to this action packed suspense novella/short story is the cliffhanger…and I am hanging on for dear life!

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Somewhere in the dark, the Dollmaker butchers another victim.
Going against her instincts, K decides to follow Lisa to the police, where she introduces her to Jerry, a cop that seems to distance himself from the corruption of the system. What surprises K more is that the task force has been expecting her arrival, addressing her as ‘special agent’ Rose. Is this another unexpected twist her anonymous boss has thrown her way, or could it be an elaborate scheme to trap her?

The lack of physical evidence on the case and her only unreliable witness leave her no time for caution. Thanks to Jerry’s tech skills and Lisa’s charm, they follow the missing women’s traces to the dark web, where a man called the Dollmaker deals in favors and twisted requests. But the most disturbing revelation of all is why these women answer his call…

What they find on that page scars Lisa, but K is hellbent on uncovering the man behind the operation. She knows whatever lies inside the sickest minds is best to remain hidden, but unless they act fast, more will die, and the killer’s trail will run cold.

This time there is no room for error. Not while the Dollmaker is out there mutilating his new toy.

  • List: Mystery, Novella/Short Story, Psychological, Series, Suspense, Thriller, Vigilante
  • 77 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published August 31, 2022 by Stories Of Wonder

ABOUT WILLIAM BAKER

William Baker lives on the west coast, surrounded by misty mountains, together with his wife, his son, and their two cats Tiger and Panther. He is a dedicated reader of most genres, with mysterious thrillers being his favorite.

Since he was a young boy, Will has written stories of all sorts, starting with the adventure of a mysterious beheaded rider clad in black, wandering around the village after sunset, causing terror to any foe standing in his way. After high school, Will thought it wise to pursue a proper education and became an economist. However, the stories never disappeared, on the contrary, more and more started to play themselves out like movies in his head. At last, Will had no choice but to succumb and started writing again. He has never looked back since.

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Early Review – She Knows Too Much by Pamela Crane @MentalMommyPam

She Knows Too Much by Pamela Crane will be released on 6.13.23

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Pamela Crane does not need to hook me any more. I will read anything she writes. After reading the first book in the If Only She Knew Mystery series, I was eager to get my hands on She Knows Too Much, Book II.

We have a very interesting character in Sloane, a deaf woman who runs an event planning company that she built herself. The character was inspired by Pamela Crane’s brother and sister in law, along with a Nigerian friend. She shared bits of the deaf world and Nigerian culture.

We also have Ginger, an older woman who suffers from chronic pain, but still has a sense of humor and a feistiness that keeps her on the move. I do love the mix of old and young characters.

And Tara. I thought we may see more of her in this book, after meeting her in Book I, Little Does She Know. She’s a bit needy. She may drive her friends a bit crazy, but she stands by them, through thick and thin.

We begin the story when Tara almost tripped over a hand sticking up in her yard. What? Who could it be? More importantly, who put it there? And why? The three women will become suspects.

The mystery is murky and the suspects are numerous. The villains, we have plenty to go around and they spread their evil freely throughout the town. They will stop at nothing to get what they want and I think they enjoy it immensely.

“You seem to attract a lot of trouble, Tara. The deadly kind, if you catch my drift.”

Peace has written a true crime novel and been a witness that put Marvin Valance in prison. She works with Tara on the horse ranch, saving horses that are to be sold for slaughter.

How Marvin managed to get released so early no one knew. There is so much corruption because of the Valance family pretty much controlling the town, and I think we may be able to figure that out. The big question is…will he be coming after her for revenge? I never saw the result coming and I love when an author catches me offguard. Good one, Pamela.

They will all learn that you cannot run from your past and secrets never stay buried.

She Knows Too Much seemed to start a bit slow to me, but I felt I would be rewarded by sticking to it, watching the story develop, the characters nosing around, asking questions, refusing to stand by and let the police do all the work.

We have moments of laughter, second chances and plenty of surprises. The last half of the book had me questioning everyone and everything. And…Pamela Crane leaves us with the question, what happens next? After reading the ending of She Knows Too Much, I can hardly wait to find out!

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of She Knows Too Much by Pamela Crane.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

A lot of people want Victor Valance dead. But only one is willing to pull the trigger…and is about to do it again.

Bloodson Bay has a dark history soaked in blood and revenge. When a murder is linked to three friends, it’s tough to prove their innocence when they each have a motive.

Tara: the town troublemaker with a heart of gold.
Ginger: the wild grandma whose fashion is stuck in 1986.
Sloane: the deaf entrepreneur thrust into fame after her husband is murdered.

All three women have one thing in common—a disturbing connection to the body buried on Tara’s horse ranch. Everyone in Bloodson Bay heard about the bad blood between Tara and the victim. And rumor has it Ginger’s been holding a grudge of her own. But only Sloane knows her own dark connection to him that she wishes would disappear…a secret she’s buried as deep as his body.

When they stumble on a 1990s cassette tape exposing clues from the past, the trio must work together despite their strained history to catch a killer. As if! Not even the Girl Power of the Spice Girls can prove their innocence, no matter how much they wannabe free from suspicion.

One of the women knows too much…and it’s only a matter of time before it gets them killed.

  • 28 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication June 13, 2023 by Tabella House

ABOUT PAMELA CRANE

Pamela Crane

PAMELA CRANE is a USA TODAY best-selling author and professional juggler. Not one who can toss flaming torches in the air, but a juggler of four kids, a writing addiction, and a horse rescuer. She lives on the edge (her Arabian horse can tell you about their wild adventures while trying to train him) and she writes on the edge…where her sanity resides. Her thrillers unravel flawed women who aren’t always pretty. In fact, her characters are rarely pretty, which makes them interesting…and perfect for doing crazy things worth writing about. When she’s not cleaning horse stalls or changing diapers, she’s psychoanalyzing others.

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Giveaway – Crashers by Lindy S Hudis @xpressotours @Lindyscribe

Crashers
Lindy S. Hudis
Publication date: April 27th 2022
Genres: Adult, Crime, Mystery

How far would you go to get rich?

What if you were desperate? What if you were completely out of options? Would you cut in front of a sparkling, new Mercedes on the busy L.A. freeway and slam on the brakes? What if it were that easy?

Enter the world of Crashers…

The con is simple: Get in a car accident. Collect the insurance blood money. What could go wrong?
That’s what Shari believed when she found herself in dire need of cash. When Shari meets the sexy and mysterious Bryce, he teaches her all about how to be a “capper.”

Soon Shari has more money than she knows what to do with.

But as Shari becomes more and more obsessed with her strange new world, she discovers there’s no such thing as easy money. And what started out as a simple payout soon turns into a deadly game…

Goodreads / Amazon

Only 99¢ for a limited time!

EXCERPT:

For KXXX TV and KXXX AM Radio News, this is Katie Carlson with your mid-morning eye-in-the-sky traffic report, and it’s an easy one: It’s messed up EVERYWHERE! So far, the 405 South is backed up all the way to the 101. So, if you are going into Hollywood this morning, you are going to be late for that audition. Also, there is an injury crash on the Eastbound 10. So, if you are heading into downtown LA, you might want to bring a magazine or get some knitting done. If you are going to LAX, forget it, call mom back east and tell her you will be driving out instead. Just Kidding! Any way, this is Katie Carlson with the Los Angeles mid-morning traffic report. Enjoy your commute everybody, NOT!

* * *

As the blare of the clock radio on the night table jolted her awake, Shari Barnes rubbed her eyes, blew her long brown hair out of her face, and snuggled into Nathan Townsend’s chest. She curled her body around his middle and took a deep whiff of his salty, masculine neck.

But she couldn’t ignore the voice on the radio.

“Monday morning traffic,” she sighed.

Nathan matched the sigh and put his arms around her. “At least you don’t have to drive over the hill.”

“Yeah, I would just die if I had to drive into Beverly Hills every day to work in a beautiful office.” Shari giggled and disappeared under their thick blue comforter for a few more moments of sleepy-headed bliss. She felt Nathan stretch up, and a moment later the radio shut off. Then he slid down next to her in the single bed they shared in their Studio City apartment, a few blocks north of Ventura Boulevard. The constant drone and rumble of another L.A. morning came clearly through the open window: cars honking, rock music blaring, the frantic scurrying sounds of the film shoot a few blocks away. Shari ran her bare feet up the inside of Nathan’s thigh.

He jumped. “Shit, your feet are cold.” He pushed her legs off of him.

“What time is it?” she murmured between kisses.

“Um, seven.” He nuzzled her neck and she felt him becoming erect against her.

“No time for that!” She threw off the covers. “Gotta be at work on time for once; gotta get my asp out of bed.”

“There’s a snake in the bed?” Nathan grabbed her with both hands and gave her belly gentle nips.

“Yeah, of the one-eyed variety.” Shari leaped to the floor and padded naked into the bathroom. She turned the hot water in the shower to high and stepped in, filling the small bathroom with steam.

She had just poured a green drop of shampoo into her palm and was running her hands together when the flimsy yellow and white shower curtain flew back and Nathan grinned in at her. She smiled back, surprised by neither his arrival nor the partial hard-on that preceded him.

“Mind if we join you?” he asked.

“There’s enough shampoo for everybody,” Shari said as she rubbed her hands across her scalp.

He stepped into the stall, pulled the curtain closed and began to lather her hair for her. She put her hands on his back, feeling the taut muscles and the water streaming there, but did not reach down between them. It took him about five seconds to realize it and hold her away.

“You okay?”

“Fine….”

“Don’t lie; I can always tell when you have something on your mind.”

“You know me better than I know me,” she said.

“You know it.” He pushed her wet hair over her shoulders. “Come on, give.”

“I was thinking maybe I should get a second job.”

“You’re worrying about money again?”

“Well, I have to shoot my student thesis film this year or I won’t graduate. But where am I going to get the money I need?”

“How much do you need?”

“At least five figures.”


Author Bio:

Lindy S. Hudis is a graduate of New York University, where she studied drama at Tisch School of the Arts. She is the author of several titles, including her romance suspense novel, Weekends, her “Hollywood” story City of Toys, and her crime novel, Crashers. She is also the author of an erotic short story series, “The S&M Club” and “The Mile High Club”. Her short film “The Lesson” was screened at the Seattle Underground Film Festival and Cine-Nights in 2000. She is also an actress, having appeared in the television daytime drama “Sunset Beach”. She and her husband, Hollywood stuntman Stephen Hudis, have formed their own production company called Impact Motion Pictures, and have several projects and screenplays in development. She lives in California with her husband and two children.

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Giveaway – Snow Storm by Mike Alger @ireadbooktours @alger_mike


 
Book Details:

Book Title SNOW STORM by Mike Alger
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +) 
Genre:  Mystery / Thriller
Publisher:  Publish America
Release date:   July 2002
Content Rating:  PG – I wavered between G and PG…there’s no explicit language, but there is some mild-violence.

Book Description:

He smiled. “Kidnapping? Naw… you don’t have to worry about that. Oy’m not here to kidnap you. Oy’m here to kill you.”

You ever had one of those days? You know the kind. You wake up one morning, and all of a sudden an internationally feared assassin wants you dead? I hate it when that happens. And what do you do when the forecast for your friendly neighborhood TV weatherman looks like murder?

KRGX meteorologist Greg O’Brien is having one of those days. He just hopes it’s not his last.

Buy the Book:
Amazon Audible 

Add to Goodreads


Meet the Author:

One of the most popular and recognizable faces on television sets in Nevada and California; Mike Alger is the Chief Meteorologist for KTVN-TV Channel 2 (CBS) in Reno, Nevada. The award-winning weatherman is a holder of the American Meteorological Society’s Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval. He is happily married with two children.


connect with the author: website ~ acx ~ facebook ~  twitter


Enter the Giveaway:


SNOW STORM AudioBook Tour Giveaway



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

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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!

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