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Tamika M. Murray
Nonfiction Social Work
The struggle is real, but the help is sincere for adolescent students In Crying, Learning, and Laughing: Why Students Visit the Teen Center. The author recounts the stressful, but the often fun position as a case manager in a Teen Center. Students’ daily interactions in a School-Based Youth Services Program add color to the murky topics of teen dating violence, child abuse, and mental health issues. The unexpected crises don’t hinder the adolescents’ high energy, but it brings insight for the curious reader. Interesting and helpful, Crying, Learning, and Laughing explore the often chaotic life of teens and how social workers in schools shine a light during dark times.
ORDER YOUR COPY
Amazon → https://www.amazon.com/
resented it as an employee. But if you agree to abide by a company’s rules, then sucking it up becomes the norm. Living with an underactive thyroid didn’t help my body’s craving for sleeping in late.
I’d roll out of bed and move with the pace of a sleep-deprived zombie. Performing the morning ritual of selecting an outfit required too much effort, so I did it the night before.
After the usual bathroom activities, my three kitties needed their breakfast. I also made sure the trapped, spayed, and neutered feral kitties got some sustenance too.
On a good day, my skinny butt was out the door by 7:00.
But if my slow energy couldn’t push me forward, 7:15 sparked a rushed commute.
The comedic stylings of the Tom Joyner Morning Show gave me life through Shaun King news, R&B music, and Chris Paul and Huggy Lowdown humor.
Many days I arrived with just enough time to turn on the computers, unlock the cabinets, sign into the necessary portals, and review my schedule before that first knock on the door at 7:54-ish.
On a quiet day, the mental health clinician, part-time case manager, intern, and I could speak with the students while listening to music or playing Uno. If the Universe was
cranky, endless tears and loud talking teens in need of a private chat greeted us.
Life at the Teen Center followed the school’s periods, but no two days ran the same. If your school, city, or state doesn’t offer an in-school program of this kind, then your
kids are missing out.
She plans to raise awareness about School-Based Youth Services Programs (Teen Centers) and why they are a necessity in all schools through the release of her book Crying, Learning, and Laughing: Why Students Visit the Teen Center, releasing on September 1, 2020.
She currently resides in Southern, New Jersey, with her boyfriend and three rambunctious kitties.
WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:
Website Address: www.mikamurray.comTwitter Address: https://twitter.com/CelestialScr81
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Pet Peeves – Alexa’s A Spy by Dorothy Rosby @DorothyRosby @iReadBookTours
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Alexa’s A Spy and Other Things To Be Ticked Off About: Humorous essays on the Hassles of our Time. When I saw this, I signed up for a tour and was supposed to review it, but I never got a copy and it slipped my mind to check on it until it was too late. I did finally find the copy the author had sent and I am so happy. It looks wonderful on my shelf.
MY REVIEW
I am in the mood for some fun and laughter, so I jumped on the chance to read Alexa’s A Spy by Dorothy Rosby, and I was not disappointed. Right away I felt an affinity towards her. I think we can be friends. She had me nodding my head, saying, “Yup. Yup. Been There Done That.” I smiled and laughed my way through some of my biggest pet peeves in this humorously written, fun, entertaining, collection of easy to read essays.
Maybe next time, I’ll think twice about flipping that driver off, exccept I already do. LOL
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Alexa’s A Spy by Dorothy Rosby.
GOODREADS BLURB
Alexa’s a Spy and Other Things to Be Ticked off About, Humorous Essays on the Hassles of Our Time is part comical call to arms and part tongue-in-cheek tirade. It’s a good-natured rant about what brings us down during the day and keeps us up through the night, a collection of humorous essays that laugh at the nuisances of modern life: spammers and scammers, clutter and litter, bad manners and uncivil discourse. Too much stuff, too much noise, too much technology. Not enough patience, not enough kindness, not enough…chocolate?
ABOUT DOROTHY ROSBY
Dorothy Rosby is a syndicated humor columnist and author of two other books of humorous essays “I Used to Think I Was Not That Bad and Then I Got to Know Me Better” and “I Didn’t Know You Could Make Birthday Cake from Scratch, Parenting Blunders from Cradle to Empty Nest.” She’s working on her fourth and hoping to give it a shorter title—something like “Wow” or “Best Seller.” She lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota, 20 miles from Mount Rushmore, something she’s very proud of even though she’s not on it. Yet.
Connect with the Author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ goodreads
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Giveaway – The Three Kitties That Saved My Life by Michael Meyer @GoddessFish
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The Three Kitties That Saved My Life by Michael Meyer
GENRE: Memoir (True romance)
BLURB
“This is like drinking tea and honey on a cold day.” When tragedy struck, I thought for sure that my own life was at an end. I was wrong. This is the true story of how two stray rescue cats and a woman named Kitty, whom I finally met after a wild ride of internet dating, brought love, romance, and laughter back into my life.
Love was then.
Love is now.
Love is forever.
WINNER of the 2018 Stephen Memorial Award
FINALIST for the 2014 RONE AWARD
A True Romance Memoir
If you love reading feel-good memoirs, then don’t miss THE THREE KITTIES THAT SAVED MY LIFE, where “Mike Meyer pens a tender tale of love, loss, and renewal. The depth of emotion is palpable…The Three Kitties will tug at readers’ heartstrings, as they ride through the emotional highs and lows of Mike Meyer’s remarkable story.” – InD’tale Magazine
EXCERPT
It is amazing how time helps. In time, I have learned to overcome my own albatross. I have learned to live again, to love again. Life is a gift reads a plaque on our dining room wall, and that sums up what I have gained from the three kitties that saved my life. From Coco, I learned to care again. From Kitty, I learned to love again. From Pom Pom, I have learned how to cope with my own demons, the effects of aging being one of these. Pom Pom has taught me to accept what is and then to move onward. Yes, I have learned plenty from my three kitties.
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Michael Meyer is the author of mysteries, thrillers, humorous fiction, and non-fiction: Love and romance, laughter and tears, thrills and fears.
He has resided in and has visited many places in the world, all of which have contributed in some way to his own published writing. He has literally traveled throughout the world, on numerous occasions. He has lived in Finland, Germany, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He gained the wanderlust to see the world, to experience other cultures, at an early age, and this desire has never left him. If anything, it has only gained in intensity as he has aged.
As a recent retiree from a forty-year career as a professor of writing, he now lives in Southern California wine country with his wife, Kitty, and their two adorable rescue cats.
Website: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005E7M8CW
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelMeyersWritingLife/
Buy links: Amazon
The book is on sale for only $0.99.
a Rafflecopter giveawayFollow the tour and comment. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. Follow the tour HERE.
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Lonely Hearts Killers – Tortured With Love by J T Hunter @JTHunter6
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MY REVIEW
Tortured With Love by J T Hunter is my fourth true crime novel by him. That being said, the Lonely Hearts Killers is rated the fourth top ten crime duos in US history, according to Time Magazine. Whether it still holds that distinction in 2020, I do not know.
What turns a nurse supervisor at the Crippled Children”s Home into a killer? Tortured With Love strikes very close to home, seeing Martha Beck is from Pensacola, Florida.
Ray had a hard life. Family and friends felt like an accident he had changed his personality. It’ hard to care, seeing he embraced his new self and reveled in his hunt for women.
Evil can be found anywhere, including dating clubs. I don’t know about you, but it sure doesn’t surprise me. It seems like perverts have found a gold mine.
Tortured With Love is a perfect example of how someone can change so much, throwing their life away in the name of love. I have no sympathy or compassion for either one.
The Lonely Hearts Killers took place in the 1940s, so comparing them, and all that has come to pass since then, may make them seem tame.
Many records were lost or unavailable to J T Hunter, but he put together a story that is easy to read and I think leaves a lot to our imagination. They told so many stories, who knows where the truth lies.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Tortured With Love by J T Hunter.
GOODREADS BLURB
What is the price of passion? What is the power of love?
Meet Martha Beck, a young nurse dedicated to healing others, until her own hurting heart lured her down a darker path. Loneliness led her to Raymond Fernandez, but love led her all the way to the electric chair.
This is the tragic story of the Lonely Heart Killers.
ABOUT J T HUNTER
J.T. Hunter is an attorney with over fourteen years of experience practicing law, including criminal law and appeals, and he has significant training in criminal investigation techniques. He is also a college professor in Florida where his teaching interests focus on the intersection of criminal psychology, law, and literature.
Catch Up With J.T. Hunter On:
jthunter.org, Goodreads, BookBub, Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook!
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MY J T HUNTER REVIEWS
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A Giveaway – The Journey of Bell by Merideth Deeds @SDSXXTours @meridethm86
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- The Journey of Bell Media Kit
- The Journey of Bell:
- A True Depiction of Obedience to Christ
- by Merideth Deeds
- Genre: Nonfiction, Pet Memoir
For thirteen years, my beloved Bell loved me unconditionally. Through the many challenges of life that I faced, she was always there by my side with unwavering loyalty and dedication. Her obedience to me is a beautiful depiction of how we, as Christians, should strive to please the Lord who is our master in Heaven. God’s Word ensures us that all good things come from above, and I think that includes our four-legged angels on Earth who love and honor their masters so fiercely and bring us so much joy.
**Only .99 cents **
About the Author
I am a native of Texas, born and raised in a small town. I graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas in 2008 with a Bachelor’s degree and from Tarleton State University in 2019 with a Master’s in English and Curriculum. I currently am a full time teacher, mother, and wife.
God has put writing on my heart in order to inspire and encourage others that are currently or have experienced similar tribulations in life. My hope is that my stories will give others hope and comfort through the trials they face throughout their lives.
My first story, Lonely Road of Faith, is inspired by real-life events and me and my husband’s broken paths that eventually led back to each other and to God.
Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads
Author Links
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMeridethDeeds/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/meridethm86
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Merideth-Deeds/e/B086R6VM61 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20222359.Merideth_Deeds
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True Crime – Devil in the Darkness by J T Hunter @JTHunter6
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True Crime novelist J T Hunter has another terrifying story to tell and I am eager to share it. I love reading crime, fiction and nonfiction, and this confirms for me the monsters that are the scariest are of the human kind.
MY REVIEW
The lead detective, George Murtie has a varied and fascinating life story, but Israel Keyes, an Army veteran, loving husband and father, and small business owner turned serial killer is the star of the performance.
Information was cultivated from reports, videos, court documents, interviews, newspapers and Facebook postings..
We will be traveling from Vermont to Alaska, with some stops in between.
Samantha Koenig…bad luck and what ifs would plague me if I were her loving father. Israel Keyes didn’t choose her specifically, he chose the place. She just happened to be there.
IF his story is true, she was compliant, having many opportunities to try and escape, but Israel has convinced her not to. I always wonder how I would act and I can only hope it would be immediate and violent, a fight to the death, seeing he (?) would probably kill me anyway, might as well fight and go down on my own terms.
The more I read, the more I think I have seen this on TV.
Sounds to me like he was exactly what he wanted to be, the guy next door….but, no emotions. Everything he did was for fun. He played the authorities and took his own way out.
Devil in the Darkness by J T Hunter is written in an easy to read format. There is some repetition, but that is to be expected when gathering information from people and places at different times, being true to the facts as J T knows them.
All in all, a well written, grimly told story of evil that walks the earth in the guise of a man.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Devil in the Darkness by J T Hunter.
GOODREADS BLURB
He was a hard-working small business owner, an Army veteran, an attentive lover, and a doting father. But he was also something more, something sinister. A master of deception, he was a rapist, arsonist, and bank robber, and a new breed of serial killer, one who studied other killers to perfect his craft. He methodically buried kill-kits containing his tools of murder years before returning to reclaim them. Viewing the entire country as his hunting grounds, he often flew across the country to distant locations where he would rent a car and drive hundreds or even thousands of miles before randomly selecting his victims. Such were the methods and madness of serial killer Israel Keyes. Such were the demands of the ‘Devil in the Darkness’.
INCLUDES PHOTOS
J.T. Hunter is the bestselling author of “The Vampire Next Door” and “The Country Boy Killer”
ABOUT J T HUNTER
J.T. Hunter is an attorney with over fourteen years of experience practicing law, including criminal law and appeals, and he has significant training in criminal investigation techniques. He is also a college professor in Florida where his teaching interests focus on the intersection of criminal psychology, law, and literature.
Catch Up With J.T. Hunter On:
jthunter.org, Goodreads, BookBub, Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook!
MY J T HUNTER REVIEWS
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Keep Writing: Sparks to Defeat Writer’s Block, Depression, and Burnout by Chrys Fey @ChrysFey
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Chrys Fey writes in more than one genre, and she does a damn fine job of it.
MY REVIEW
Keep Writing by Chrys Fey includes tips that everyone can use whether you are an author or not, such as reducing stress, especially in these turbulent times.
Setting goals is huge. Set short, medium and long range goals.
Short chapters written in easy to understand language.
Her tips are sparks, to ignite you, to set your passions on fire.
All of us bloggers are writers and I have dabbled in writing since I was a young child too. Will I ever write…my book? If I do, Chrys Fey shares easy to follow suggestions for us to pick and choose what works best for us. If I don’t, Chry shares sparks for destressing and dealing with depression.
Chrys draws from her personal experiences. Some tips may work for you and some may not, but I feel there is something for everyone in this gem.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Keep Writing by Chrys Fey.
GOODREADS BLURB
Catch the sparks you need to conquer writer’s block, depression, and burnout!
When Chrys Fey shared her story about depression and burnout, it struck a chord with other writers. That put into perspective for her how desperate writers are to hear they aren’t alone. Many creative types experience these challenges, battling to recover. Let Keep Writing with Fey: Sparks to Defeat Writer’s Block, Depression, and Burnout guide you through:
• Writer’s block
• Depression
• Writer’s burnout
• What a writer doesn’t need to succeed
• Finding creativity boosts
With these sparks, you can begin your journey of rediscovering your creativity and get back to what you love – writing.
ABOUT CHRYS FEY
Author of Hurricane Crimes, Seismic Crimes, Lightning Crimes – FREE ebook, Tsunami Crimes, Flaming Crimes.
Chrys Fey blogs at Write with Fey and edits for Dancing Lemur Press. She’s also an partnered with the Insecure Writer’s Support Group and runs with Goodreads book club.
At the age of twelve, she started writing her first novel, which flourished into a series she later rewrote at seventeen. Fey lives in Florida where she is waiting for the next hurricane to come her way.
Every day, she can be seen with a pen in my hand or pounding away at her computer. Although she doesn’t restrict herself to a single genre, she mostly writes suspense stories whether they are romances or fantasy.
MY CHRYS FEY REVIEWS
- Ghost of Death
- Witch of Death
- Hurricane Crimes
- Seismic Crimes
- Tsunami Crimes
- Flaming Crimes
- Lightning Crimes
- 30 Seconds
- 30 Seconds Before
- Write With Fey
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Giveaway & Review – Notes To My Son by Eric Lynn @iReadBookTours
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Book Details:
Book Title: Notes to My Son by Eric Lynn
Category: Adult Non-fiction 18 yrs +, 128 pages
Genre: Parenting
Publisher: Sharknado Prss
Release date: September 9. 2019
Content Rating: G: It’s advice for what parents should talk to their children about.
MY REVIEW
As the birth of his son approaches, Eric Lynn shares his thoughts, feelings, insecurities, doubts, anticipation and excitement.
A snowflake – Unique, only one of you…
I feel Eric Lynn shares bits of wisdom we can all use.
Put in simple language, with short chapters, Notes To My Son is a book you can pick up any time, anywhere and get a nugget of knowledge.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Notes To My Son by Eric Lynn.
“THE GREATEST GIFT FOR DADS OF ALL AGES AND IN ALL STAGES.”
“Your path is your own.” “No one can tell you how to walk it.” “Responsibility lies with you.”
These are just some of the important conversations we are gently reminded to embrace within Notes to My Son. With parenting, there are so many things we need to do and take care of, but what conversations are we having to be sure we truly impart the wisdom of our lives into our loved ones? Are we having difficult conversations, asking hard questions, and talking about things without regret?
Don’t let another day pass by without this book.
In Notes to My Son, you’ll discover twenty-five topics to inspire deeper, more meaningful conversations throughout your child’s life, even if your child is now an adult on their own.
Amazon.com
Add to Goodreads
Eric Lynn spends his professional life managing workforce solutions for small, mid-sized and Fortune 1000 companies. With years of professional experience, Eric understands the value of preparation. Thus when his wife, Ashley, became pregnant, Eric sought a way to prepare for his new role as a father. Something shifted within him causing him to ask different questions of life.
As he awaited the arrival of his first child, future conversations with his son, Summit, began to take shape. Eager to prepare for this new role, Notes to My Son was born.
The Lynn family lives in Colorado where they enjoy climbing 14ers, skiing, playing tennis and appreciating the abundance of all nature has to offer. Eric and his family hope that the relatable life wisdom shared in this book touches the hearts of all who read it.
Connect with the author: Website ~ Facebook
Mar 9 – Rainy Day Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Mar 9 – michellemengsbookblog – book review
Mar 10 – Over Coffee Conversations – book review / author interview / giveaway
Mar 10 – Viviana MacKade – book spotlight / guest post
Mar 11 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Mar 11 – Splashes of Joy – book reviewMar 11 –Books,Dreams,Life – book spotlight / author interview
Mar 12 – I’d Rather Be At The Beach – book review
Mar 12 – Sahar’s Blog – book review
Mar 13 – Bookmark and fork – book spotlight / giveaway
Mar 16 – The avid reader – book spotlight / giveaway
Mar 17 – A Mama’s Corner Of the World – book review / giveaway
Mar 18 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Mar 18 – T’s Stuff – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Mar 19 – She Just Loves Books – book review / giveaway
Mar 20 – b for bookreview – book spotlight
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Mar 23 – Reading Authors Network – book review / giveaway
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Mar 26 – eBook Addicts – book spotlight
Mar 26 – Olio by Marilyn – book review / giveaway
Mar 27 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Mar 27 – Adventurous Jessy – book review / giveaway
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OSR – If You Tell by Gregg Olsen @Gregg_Olsen
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Woo Hoo! I was so excited when I won a hardcover of If You Tell by Gregg Olsen from Freda’s Voice. I want to thank Freda and Gregg Olsen for my copy.
Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads
MY REVIEW
If You Tell by Gregg Olsen is an indepth look at a sadistic killer who had the ability to lure her victims in like a snake charmer as she plies her torturous ways on the innocent in the true crime novel that is written like a psychological thriller, making it hard to stop reading before the last page is read, but shows her four daughters ability to hold on to love and hope.
I won a hardcover of If You Tell by Gregg Olsen and I would like to thank Freda, Gregg Olsen and Thomas & Mercer.
GOODREADS BLURB
An Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestseller.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen’s shocking and empowering true-crime story of three sisters determined to survive their mother’s house of horrors.
After more than a decade, when sisters Nikki, Sami, and Tori Knotek hear the word mom, it claws like an eagle’s talons, triggering memories that have been their secret since childhood. Until now.
For years, behind the closed doors of their farmhouse in Raymond, Washington, their sadistic mother, Shelly, subjected her girls to unimaginable abuse, degradation, torture, and psychic terrors. Through it all, Nikki, Sami, and Tori developed a defiant bond that made them far less vulnerable than Shelly imagined. Even as others were drawn into their mother’s dark and perverse web, the sisters found the strength and courage to escape an escalating nightmare that culminated in multiple murders.
Harrowing and heartrending, If You Tell is a survivor’s story of absolute evil—and the freedom and justice that Nikki, Sami, and Tori risked their lives to fight for. Sisters forever, victims no more, they found a light in the darkness that made them the resilient women they are today—loving, loved, and moving on.
ABOUT GREGG OLSEN
Throughout his career, Gregg Olsen has demonstrated an ability to create a detailed narrative that offers readers fascinating insights into the lives of people caught in extraordinary circumstances.
A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Olsen has written ten nonfiction books, ten novels, and contributed a short story to a collection edited by Lee Child.
The award-winning author has been a guest on dozens of national and local television shows, including educational programs for the History Channel, Learning Channel, and Discovery Channel. He has also appeared on Good Morning America, The Early Show, The Today Show, FOX News; CNN, Anderson Cooper 360, MSNBC, Entertainment Tonight, CBS 48 Hours, Oxygen’s Snapped, Court TV’s Crier Live, Inside Edition, Extra, Access Hollywood, and A&E’s Biography.
In addition to television and radio appearances, the award-winning author has been featured in Redbook, USA Today, People, Salon magazine, Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times and the New York Post.
The Deep Dark was named Idaho Book of the Year by the ILA and Starvation Heights was honored by Washington’s Secretary of State for the book’s contribution to Washington state history and culture.
Olsen, a Seattle native, lives in Olalla, Washington with his wife and Suri (a mini dachshund so spoiled she wears a sweater).
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest /
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A True Story – The Vampire Next Door by J T Hunter #JTHunter @partnersincr1me
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The Vampire Next Door
The True Story of the Vampire Rapist
by JT Hunter
on Tour February 1-29, 2020
The Vampire Next Door is my second book by J T Hunter. I love reading true crime. Of course, a lot of time, the fiction I read seems all too real. So come on in and enjoy the tour.
There are two covers for the book, one on Goodreads (above) and one on Amazon (below). Which do you like best?
MY REVIEW
I love the way The Vampire Next Door by J T Hunter was written. The story flows smoothly, drawing me in to the twisted story of John Crutchley.
Factual accounting, but J T Hunter writes with a flair, bringing to life the depraved and gruesome action John Crutchley, a serial killer,walks on a super dark side, not content with just killiing, but rapes and tortures for fun. It’s so hard to understand how someone can do these terrible thing, but I am fascinated trying to figure out what makes them tick.
One victim survives to give details that may never have been known otherwise.
He had a terrible upbringing, but I make no excuses for him. We all make choices, and he made some depraved ones. He is brilliant, a genius IQ, equivalent to Bill Gates, but socially and romantically inept. Some of the jobs he held are amazing, working for NASA, the pentagon, and other top secret clearance companies.
He is vicious. Delights in seeing terror and suffering in his victims. He was a thief and, even with a top secret clearance, he dealt drugs, because he could. He loved the thrill of getting away with it. Definitely shows his personality.
J T Hunter’s research includes letters written by him, interviews, police reports, etc. He is a Ted Bundy type of serial killer, coming across as the harmless guy net door, with a psychopathic ability to fake caring and able to manipulate others to do his bidding. Watch out when the dark comes to light. No conscience. No qualms about lying to achieve his ends.
Makes me sick, lying and whining, trying to invoke sympathy. Why does a serial killer think he deserves any mercy? It’s novels like this that leave me feeling angry, enraged, disgusted and totally pissed off…not only at the pathetic excuse for a human being, but the justice system and law enforcement.
I take some solace in the advancements that have been made in forensic science and investigation techniques, treating rape as the felonious violent crime it is and the changing of laws, where hopefully the punishment fits the crime.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Vampire Next Door by J T Hunter.
SYNOPSIS
While he stalked the streets hunting his unsuspecting victims, the residents of a quiet Florida town slept soundly, oblivious to the dark creature in their midst, unaware of the vampire next door.
John Crutchley seemed to be living the American Dream. Good-looking and blessed with a genius level IQ, he had a prestigious, white-collar job at a prominent government defense contractor, where he held top secret security clearance and handled projects for NASA and the Pentagon. To all outward appearances, he was a hard-working, successful family man with a lavish new house, a devoted wife, and a healthy young son.
But he concealed a hidden side of his personality, a dark secret tied to a hunger for blood and the overriding need to kill. As one of the most prolific serial killers in American history, Crutchley committed at least twelve murders, and possibly nearly three dozen. His IQ eclipsed that of Ted Bundy, and his body count may have as well.
Book Details:
Genre: True Crime
Published by: RJ Parker Publishing
Publication Date: October 11th 2014
Number of Pages: 365
ISBN: 1500909491 (ISBN13: 9781500909499)
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Read an excerpt:
Nineteen-year-old Christina Almah was still a virgin, and a bit naïve when it came to matters of sex, but like most teenaged girls on the verge of womanhood, she enjoyed receiving attention from good-looking, romantically inclined men. Yet, even she was surprised when, after a handsome, slightly older man took an interest in her, she found herself traveling all the way across the country to see him again.
Christina first met twenty-two-year-old Carl Von Bane several months earlier while he was visiting a friend near her hometown of Westminster, California. She immediately noticed him when he walked into the Drug Emporium where she had been working for the past year as a clerk, and they had quickly hit it off. His rugged, bad-boy looks and confident disposition combined to render her fully smitten. But the budding romance had barely begun before “Von” returned home to Florida. Their brief time together had passed much too quickly for the love-struck Miss Almah.
Since Von’s departure, they had continued their blossoming relationship by telephone racking up steep long distance bills. All the while, Christina had meticulously saved her meager Drug Emporium pay so that she could afford to purchase a plane ticket to visit him. When Von had called her a few weeks ago, Christina hinted at wanting to see him again by casually mentioning that she had some vacation time that needed to be used. When he suggested that she catch a flight to Florida to visit him, she had immediately agreed. After all, this was not some fly by night infatuation. She thought that she might be in love.
Christina had been counting the days until this trip—a weeklong vacation certain to be a memorable one if for no other reason than the fact that it would be the first time she had ever traveled alone. She booked a direct flight on Eastern Airlines from Los Angeles to Orlando International Airport, and Von had picked her up there nearly a week ago. Since then, she had been staying with Von in his mother’s mobile home at Lot 12 of the Enchanted Lakes Mobile Home Park on Malabar Road, near the eastern edge of the City of Palm Bay in southern Brevard County.
Named for the lush palm trees that lined the bay at the mouth of Turkey Creek, the nearly 100-square-mile Palm Bay had experienced a period of rapid growth in recent years fueled by an influx of retirees, northern transplants, and space industry workers. As part of the “Space Coast,” Palm Bay benefited from its proximity to Cape Canaveral, home to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s space shuttle program. To the west of Palm Bay, just past Interstate 95, a vast expanse of swamps and marsh grass stretched beyond the horizon, home to an endless assortment of flora and fauna. Under the blinding gaze of the eternal Florida sun, cold-blooded creatures swam silent and unseen as they had for ages past, ancient predators stalking their unsuspecting prey.
Immediately to the east of Palm Bay sits the Town of Malabar, a small, quiet community only thirteen square miles in size. Its eastern edge meets the Intracoastal Waterway in a subtropical paradise of palm trees, sailboats, and spectacular sunsets. The area’s abundant seafood, perennial sunshine, and constant sea breeze reminded Christina of her favorite parts of California. That familiarity was reassuring. It felt comfortable. She felt safe.
A petite girl standing about five feet, four inches tall and weighing a little less than 110 pounds, Christina was not a beauty queen, but she was not unattractive either. Indeed, her green eyes and brown hair combined in an inviting way that most men found sensual and appealing, and she had enjoyed her fair share of suitors. Although she had shared a few intimate moments with boys in high school, she had never found one with whom she felt comfortable enough to sacrifice her virtue. Still sexually inexperienced, she had the classic Libra traits of compassion, innate gentleness, and a genuine caring for others, traits that were sometimes misconstrued by men. Still, it never dawned on her that Von’s testosterone-driven brain would expect something more than a kiss hello, or that he would interpret her willingness to fly across the country to visit him as a green light for sleeping together. Von had tried to take that next step during her first night in Florida, and when she told him that she was not ready, he had reluctantly played the part of the understanding boyfriend, but he could not wholly hide his irritation and mounting frustration.
Von worked at Gator Chrysler in nearby Melbourne, and he had to leave Christina alone for much of the day. That had been the routine for most of the week, and the excitement of staying with someone in another state had long-since faded away. On this particular morning, she passed some time by listening to a worn down cassette tape of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” album, popping it into the cherry red Sony Walkman that Von had given her. She played several songs, rewound the tape, and played them again, but after a while she tired of listening to the provocative singer purr about being “touched for the very first time.” She tried watching television after that, but quickly lost interest in the mindless game shows and melodramatic soap operas that dominated the channels. Growing bored, she decided to walk to Melbourne a few miles away to visit several friends that she had met through Von. She would be flying back to California the next morning and wanted to say her good-byes and make the most of her final day of vacation. Wearing blue jeans, sandals, and a black t-shirt with a Harley-Davidson insignia splashed across the front, she left the trailer shorty after 1:00 p.m. It was the twenty-first day of November, 1985.
As she walked out of the entrance of the mobile home park, a light rain began to fall. She could see dark clouds gathering in the distance and a westerly wind promised that they would soon be present. Somewhere beyond the visible horizon, thunder rumbled ominous and angry, its source hidden behind an approaching wall of grey and black clouds.
Christina turned left and started walking faster as the rain increased, heading east on Malabar Road toward U.S. 1 and the Intracoastal. She planned to stop at the Jiffy Mart at the corner of Malabar Road and U.S. 1 to buy a pack of cigarettes before walking north into Melbourne. She had not gone far when a small, light-colored car pulled up beside her.
Behind the wheel of the two-door automobile sat a clean-shaven man wearing a stylish, navy-blue sports coat, a black-and-white striped tie, and a nice pair of dress slacks, not the cheap K-Mart kind, but the higher quality cloth and cut of a more fashionable men’s store. The man looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties. He had loafer style shoes, but he was not wearing them while he drove. Christine thought it slightly odd that the well-dressed man’s bare foot operated the gas and brake pedals, but she gave it no more than a fleeting thought. She had certainly seen much stranger things during her time in Florida. The man’s eyes were concealed behind darkly tinted sunglasses and his face was framed by a mane of medium-length, dirty blonde hair. He had a thin build, and though slightly pale in complexion, his handsome facial features held an undeniable allure. She could not help feeling an attraction to him.
Flashing a broad, inviting smile, he leaned over, rolled down the passenger door window, and greeted her in a friendly, reassuring voice.
“It’s a bit wet today for a walk, isn’t it?” he asked with a wry, disarming smile. “Can I give you a lift?”
Although Christina was initially wary of his invitation, he looked harmless enough and it was the middle of the day in broad daylight in a public place, so she did not wait long before responding.
“Well,” she said, deliberately drawing out her reply as she decided how much to trust the seemingly friendly stranger. “I’m on my way to Melbourne to meet some friends. Are you going anywhere near there?”
“Sure, I have to go that way to get to my office. I just need to stop by my house real quick to pick up a notebook for work, but it’ll only take a minute or two. Go ahead and hop in.”
She hesitated for just a moment, studied her Good Samaritan one last time, and then grabbed the passenger side door handle of the car. As she opened the door, she heard Sting’s new song, “Russians,” playing on the car’s radio.
The country had long since fallen into the depths of the Cold War, and the perpetual threat of nuclear holocaust loomed in the back of most people’s minds like some amorphous boogieman lurking in the shadows. As Christine pulled the door closed, Sting’s voice flowed out of the car’s speakers, echoing what seemed to be the universal mood in America and Western Europe, the growing fear of a nuclear attack by the Russian-controlled Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The song sought to appeal to the good in what President Reagan dubbed the “Evil Empire,” expressing a desperate hope that the Russian leaders loved their children enough to avoid the horror of a nuclear holocaust.
Suffering from the same state of uneasiness expressed in the song, Christina found herself captivated by the sense of calm that seemed to radiate from the man behind the wheel. They drove for a little while making small talk. While they chatted, she caught a glimpse of the man’s eyes behind his sunglasses. Their azure shade of blue added to the aura of assuredness he projected, and it seemed to Christina that the man’s eyes had the power to peer into her very soul, not in any unsettling way, but in an understanding, comforting manner that disarmed her naturally cautious disposition. He seemed genuinely interested in learning about her, and she was impressed with how articulately he expressed himself. He was charming, witty, and exuded self-confidence, and Christine felt relieved that he seemed to be normal. Some of Von’s friends that she had met were more than a little on the odd side.
After about five minutes, the man turned his car onto a bumpy, dirt road, and then continued on for a few minutes more before exiting onto a gravel driveway obscured by a tall row of hedges. Planted across the inner edge of the yard, the hedges had grown high enough to block a clear view of whatever was behind them. As the car continued down the driveway, a well-kept lawn, dotted sporadically with pine and oak trees, came into view. At the far end of the lawn stood a redbrick, Colonial style house with four white columns framing a large front door painted the same shade of white as the columns. The gravel driveway ended at a double-length carport on the left side of the house. The man pulled into the carport and parked. Two motorcycles stood at the opposite end of the parking area.
“I’ll be right back,” the man told her as he took the key out of the ignition and slipped on his shoes.
He stepped out of the car and walked to the side door of the house, where he paused and glanced back at her.
“Hey, you want to come inside for a drink?”
She smiled politely.
“Oh, no thanks, my friends are expecting me and I don’t want them to worry.”
“Suit yourself,” he said, before unlocking the door and disappearing into the building.
After a few minutes, the man emerged and announced with an embarrassed laugh that the notebook was not in the house after all.
“It must be in the back of the car,” he said, an amused smile spreading across his face as if he had just remembered an irresistibly funny joke.
He walked to the passenger side of the car and opened the door, flashing her the same smug alligator smile. He crawled into the back seat and began looking around, grinning all the while.
Suddenly, the back of Christina’s seat shot forward, slamming her violently against the dashboard. Stunned by the force of the impact and shocked by the unexpected attack, she was barely able to register the sound of something rustling behind her.
Then something brushed against her forehead. Before she could react, her neck jerked back painfully, and she began to choke. Frantically, she reached for her purse, attempting to grab something – anything – to try to defend herself. Her fingers brushed against the top of a can of OFF insect repellant. Desperate, she thought that if she could spray her attacker in his eyes, she might be able to blind him long enough to get away.
But as her fingers closed around the spray can, the man’s voice, angry and powerful, startled her into submission.
Stop it or I’ll kill you!”
As her initial impulse of self-defense gave way to a paralyzing feeling of despair, her hand retreated out of her purse and her arm fell numbly to her side.
Then the rope tightened and everything went black.
***
Excerpt from The Vampire Next Door: The True Story of the Vampire Rapist by JT Hunter. Copyright 2014 by JT Hunter. Reproduced with permission from JT Hunter. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
J.T. Hunter is an attorney with over fourteen years of experience practicing law, including criminal law and appeals, and he has significant training in criminal investigation techniques. He is also a college professor in Florida where his teaching interests focus on the intersection of criminal psychology, law, and literature.
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