I am intrigued by the amazing cover, the great title and the mystery within Poisoned Lily by Nik Grybaski. The story is okay and a quick read, 72 pages. Be prepared to be transported to the past in this historical mystery. The treatment of the dead woman could be happening in real time, seeing she is unimportant to some and deserving of an investigation to others.
Leo Katz, a photographer, and Klaus Rosnbloom, a pathologist, stumble onto each other, working together to help the police solve the crime. This is a quick, yet enjoyable read that some may like more than I.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Poisoned Lily by Nik Grybaski.
2 Stars
AMAZON SYNOPSIS
Was Lily murdered, or did her sinister secret force her to take her own life?
In a room above a tavern, on the hedonistic streets of Praterstrasse Vienna, is the dead body of a kept woman.
A mysterious lady sits alone in the bar. A man exits the premises through the back door, gripping onto a cane with an amber head. A youth, clutching a bottle, stumbles down the stairs and drinks the remnants of the poison his dead lover, Lily, took just minutes before.
Was it suicide?
It’s up to photographer Leo Katz and his new friend, pathologist Klaus Rosenbloom, to solve the mystery. But how can they discover who the killer is when vicious thugs steal vital evidence and threaten their lives?
Grab you copy of this thrilling murder mystery now!
ABOUT NIK GRYBASKI
Nik Grybaski is neither real nor imaginary, existing solely in the shadows of the worlds Nik creates.
Nik is responsible for creating Leo Katz and the things that Leo gets up to when Nik is asleep.
A dabbler at most things useless but creative, Nik writes to forget…Nik has already forgotten.
I gave The Girl Who Crossed The Line by Tikiri Herath two stars and let me tell you why. Disappointment. Everything about the prequel intrigued me. From the cover to the blurb, I was drawn in. BUT, the prequel was only half the book, ending in a cliffhanger. The other half, chapters of Book I, The Girl Who Ran Away…and that, of course, left me wanting more. Soooo, I was miffed. I wouldn’t waste my time with this one. If it sounds like one for you, go for Book I, The Girl Who Ran Away.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy The Girl Who Crossed The Line by Tikiri Herath.
2 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A reckless girl. A grave mistake. A fateful destiny.
She’s the underdog everyone loves to hate….
…then she commits a crime.
Young Asha is the outsider, the girl everyone loves to hate at school.
One day, she does the unspeakable in a desperate bid to keep a friendship.
But she doesn’t realize her misdeed has got the attention of a ruthless and powerful man who rules the dark underworld of human trafficking.
Will he let her get away with it?
Or will he entrap her too?
One thing is for sure. Asha’s grave mistake will haunt her for the rest of her life. Did you like Lisbeth Salander from The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo? Then, you’ll love Asha from the Red Heeled Rebels.
Begin a wild ride around the world without getting a passport or even buying an airline ticket. Get it now.
The Girl Who Crossed the Line is the prequel story to the addictive Red Heeled Rebels psychological suspense series.
*This book was formerly titled Shattered / Beginnings.
If you enjoy gripping psychological thrillers with flawed but gutsy heroines, vigilante action in exotic locales and twists that get your pulse pounding, you’ll love these books by multiple award-winning Canadian novelist, Tikiri Herath.
Tikiri Herath is the multiple award-winning author of international mystery and thriller novels.
Tikiri has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Victoria, Canada, and a master’s degree from the Solvay Business School in Brussels, Belgium. For almost two decades, she worked in the intelligence and defense sectors, including in the Canadian Federal Government and at NATO in Europe and North America.
Tikiri’s an adrenaline junkie who has rock climbed, bungee jumped, rode on the back of a motorcycle across Quebec, flown in an acrobatic airplane upside down, and parachuted solo.
When she’s not plotting another thriller scene or planning an adrenaline-filled trip, you’ll find her baking in her kitchen with a glass of red Shiraz and vintage jazz playing in the background.
Born in Sri Lanka, Tikiri grew up in East Africa and has studied, worked, and lived in Southeast Asia, continental Europe, and North America through her adult life.
An international nomad and fifth-culture kid, she now calls Canada home.
I was looking on my TBR for something to read that I didn’t ‘have’ to review (because I have several others waiting to be written) and came across this fabulous cover. 🙂 Then, I saw I had the second book too. There are numerous books in the series and I am excited to see they are on Kindle Unlimited.
I mean…look at that fabulous cover. How could I possibly resist?
Flipping through my reading list, I came across this gorgeous cover. Then, I saw I had the second book in The Valen Legacy by Sherrel Lee, and I had to read on. Valens Remembered is a prequel and it sure caught my attention. Short and not so sweet, I quickly got caught up in the intrigue. Why is everyone in the Nix family being bumped off?
Larinda Nix Thomas has lost two sets of parents. She only has memories of her adoptive parents, but that is only a temporary situation. You see, Larinda is special. She is a Valen. A unicorn shapeshifter, born to guard humankind. BUT…
A quick read of loss, sorrow, danger and intrigue. I am so happy that I have Valens Rise, Book II waiting to be read.
I immediately began reading Valens Rise by Sherrel Lee after reading the prequel, Valens Remembered. I was just getting involved with Larinda when….
Jemma NIx is a Phoenix, but doesn’t know it…yet. She has no family and doesn’t realize the danger she will face. She had been in the foster system, but that didn’t work for her, so she grew up on the streets. She is naive, untrusting, easily misled. She began to run away at a very young age, ending up on the street, until she found out she was the sole survivor of an inheritance that will change her life. She is childlike in her joy when experiencing new things.
I love when Hawke takes her to the fair and she has her first corndog.
“Ooooooh, it’s really good….I may become addicted. Who knew meat by products on a stick could manifest love at first bite?”
I can understand her making some mistakes, going to the wrong people for help, seeing she doesn’t know who she can trust.
For the first time in her life, sexual feelings are coming alive. Hawke makes her feel ‘funny’ and I feel a romance coming. Her aches and pains are something else. She does not yet know that Valens are a special breed of human…and she is a Phoenix.
I was sad to say goodbye to Larinda in the first book, but I am quickly becoming a ‘friend’ to Jemma, whether she realizes it or not. LOL I love humor with danger and Sherrell Lee gave me smiles, along with the…NO, DON’T DO THAT. NO, DON’T GO THERE.
I don’t read as many books about Phoenixes as I do Werewolves and Vampires, so I try and snap them up. I am loving this series and the covers that spotlight what supernatural/fantasy creature will be the star.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Valens Rise by Sherrell Lee.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
When Jemma Nix, a shape shifting phoenix discovers her family’s legacy, she is overwhelmed with distrust and doubt. Her entire family may have been murdered. Her mentor may be using her in a deadly pursuit of power.
Confronted with these facts, Jemma begins to suspect that those closest to her are mad. Refusing to believe their claims of a secret race, she pushes away the one man who may be able to help. The one man who she may love. Rather than face the reality of her new life, Jemma makes a fateful decision. One that places the Valens in jeopardy and forces them to face a deadly, genetically engineered threat.
ABOUT SHERREL LEE
Sherrel Lee lives in a land called Texas and is the wrangler of a fearsome Yorkiepoo named Rogue (Half Yorkie half Poodle weighing in at a hefty eight pounds). She is a mother and grandmother who encourages her family to live life on their own terms, and to laugh as often as they can. She is fascinated with the real and mystical worlds of Urban Fantasy and Romantic suspense chasing murderous villains through the pages of her books.
I love creature features, and Mothman, I have read numerous books about Mothman and am always eager to add another. So, let’s check out Below by Lauren Hightower. I have read one other book by her, Whispers In The Dark and Loved it.
I love the simple old time feel of the cover and creature features. Below, a terrifying novella by Laurel HIghtower, has all the requirements for a B movie. Whenever I come across a story like this, it unrolls through my mind like a piece of film, each frame worse than the last. I love it!
Mothman and a snowstorm! YAY! A whoosh in the air, a blackness…oh yeah.
I must say, she is a much nicer (or dumber) person than I am. I would have got the hell out of there. Something isn’t right. I can’t imagine how she feels, but I can see it through Laurel Hightower’s words. I love when an author can paint a picture through words.
She’s alone. In the dark. Something is out there. What is it and what does it want? She keeps on going. Pushing forward. What else is there to do? She won’t quit.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Below by Laurel Hightower.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO HELP A STRANGER?
While driving through the mountains of West Virginia during a late-night snowstorm, a recently divorced woman experiences bizarre electrical problems, leaving her with little choice but to place her trust with a charismatic truck driver. But when an unexplainable creature with haunting red eyes gets between them, she is forced to make one of the toughest decisions of her life. Will she abandon the stranger who kept her safe—or will she climb down below, where reality has shapeshifted into a living nightmare?
ABOUT LAUREL HIGHTOWER
Laurel Hightower grew up in Kentucky, attending college in
California and Tennessee before returning home to horse country, where
she lives with her husband, son, and two rescue animals. She works as a
paralegal in a mid-sized firm, wrangling litigators by day and writing
at night. A bourbon and beer girl, she’s a fan of horror movies and
true life ghost stories. Whispers in the Dark is her first novel.
Ella Dethroned by Brandon Barr is an action packed novella with gods and aliens, science fiction and some medieval thrills with characters that gripped me and I felt bad for the ones that didn’t make it…at least some of them. LOL
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
An exciting stand-alone science-fantasy adventure. Get the Ebook for free at www.brandonbarr.com
Hunted
and desperate, Ella, the former ruler of her Realm, must evade the
king’s assassins and fulfill a mission given her by the gods.
Ella
carries an otherworldly device, the purpose of which she does not know,
but if she is to grasp hold of a prophecy spoken over her, she must
survive to deliver the item to a mysterious man named Quanthum.
Her only aid is her sharp intelligence and a devoted soldier named Rathan, who has sworn to protect her.
Enter the world of Hearth and read the dramatic tale of Ella and Rathan today!
Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those
neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything
like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in
your stacks.
Here we go again, another book I don’t know who gave it to me or when I got it, but Water’s Blood by Elaine Calloway was released 1.28.13. So I will share a one sentence review.
Walking the New Orleans streets, the Elementals search for the Minare, the Fallen Angels, but Brooke, a Water Elemental has an even more important mission of her own, to save her human family, and everything about the book made me want to read it, though, I did have some trouble with Ella, until I let my mind go and the fantasy take me where it will.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Nature’s
Elementals—Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water—have lived for countless
millennia. Disguised as humans, they are charged with one mission:
protect the innocent from fallen angel clans, who reap human souls and
force them to do their bidding.
Brooke, a Water Elemental
stationed in New Orleans, broke the rules once—she mated with a human.
For her indiscretion, she is forbidden to share a life with her loved
ones: NOPD officer Alex and their half-breed daughter, Ella.
Now Ella is about to turn sixteen, and the local clan of fallen angels is determined to snare her soul by Halloween.
Brooke broke the rules once by allowing love to interfere with her mission. Now she and Alex must put consequences aside to break the rules again—if they wish to save their daughter’s soul.
Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those
neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything
like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in
your stacks.
The books I have been sharing for the Backlog post are from the documents on my Kindle. I am trying to read through them so I can delete them. Some have been hanging around for a very long time, others not so much.
This week, I’m sharing Lynda Filler’s Code Raven: Prequel, a thriller novella. Love that cover…and whenever I see a crow it gets my mind working…something evil this way comes.
I don’t know when I downloaded it or where I got it from, but the Code Raven: Prequel was released 7.16.18.
The Code Raven: Prequel is a wild and amazing introduction to a thrilling series and I found the characters to be unique, fascinating, and highly skilled.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
The world’s most elusive billionaire. A brain trust that cannot be controlled. A warrior and a patriot. After
the brutal murder of Luke Raven’s wife and seven-year-old daughter,
Luke disappears for several months. When he returns, get ready for the
non-stop action of Luke, Luci, Zach, RB, Maggs, and a cast of
unforgettable characters who form the Raven Group. Discover the
secretive life of billionaire Luke Raven, how he made his fortunes, and
where his true loyalties lie. The Code Raven Series is a page-turner, an action-packed adventure. This is where it all began.
“The author’s style is reminiscent of CLIVE CUSSLER, LEE CHILDS or BALDACCI.” N. Huff
Hanzel and Gretel’s story has nothing on Bulwark and the Gingerbread House.
It all started with and accident and a large puddle of water appearing from nowhere…and the town went to hell.
Clay is the small town sheriff and is prime marriage material. Dayna is the local reporter and dogging his every step, causing many personal problems for Clay.
It had been fifty years since the ‘unusual’ killings.
There are plenty of scary moments when I wondered who would survive and, of the ones who would bite the dust, how it would happen. Not much good going on, but when it happened, it was great. Plenty of magical badness.
Need a good scare, this may be for you. Is it there? Is it all in your mind? There are two endings and for those who want a HEA, you’ll want to read the second one. Me…I loved the first ending…it keeps on giving…
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Bulwark by Brit Lunden.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Clay Finnes is the sheriff of a small town in Georgia called Bulwark. Recently separated from his wife, all he can think about is what went wrong, and will Jenna ever come back to him. He’s troubled by a bothersome reporter trying to build a story from what he thinks is a normal day in his life. Clay has to admit that the fantastical stories, told by an accident victim as well as unusual sightings of wolves, things are getting a bit strange. A visit to the ominous Gingerbread House makes him realize that his life as he knows it will never be the same.
I haven’t read any Young Adult for a while, so when I was offered a copy of Diamond Moon by Celia Breslin I jumped on it. This may be the 12th book in the series, but I didn’t have any trouble beginning out of order. That being said, I loved it enough to recommend beginning at the beginning so you don’t miss any of the good stuff.
It’s been a while since I have read any Young Adult Werewolf stories, and I was ready for this sweet little novella, Diamond Moon by Celia Breslin.
Darci’s parents had died and all she had left was a map leading to a mystery town. She is half human and half werewolf. Her desire is to be all human, so hopefully whoever is in the mystery town can help her to quit shifting. Last time her heart stopped. How long before it kills her?
Thus, the adventure begins.
She’s going solo. She is creeped out by the forest, which usually brings her comfort and puts her at ease. Maybe that is a sign. Is someone or something out there?
We meet Ross. He is all wolfy male, wanting to escape the city and find more meaning for his life. He walks away from his computer job to build houses, though he still keeps his hand in technology.
Okay, I think we all know where this is going, but I am having a great time getting there.
I quickly fell in love with Mister Sun God Sexy. I love his Big Bad Wolf attitude and his pet attack cat.
A lot is packed into this short story and I loved it.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Diamond Moon by Celia Breslin.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Human-wolf hybrid Darci Diamond spends every full moon locked in auntie’s basement in Southern Oregon. Her excruciating shifts terrify her, the last one causing her heart to stop beating. Seeking a cure, she journeys to Los Lobos.
Ross
Luparell returns to the struggling Tao pack, using his millions made in
the tech industry to build homes for pack families in need. He never
imagined he would also find his one true mate. But when a hybrid with
the biggest green eyes he’s ever seen lands on his doorstep in the
middle of a wicked summer storm, there’s no denying it. She’s the one.
She wants a normal human life, free from pain-filled shifts. He won’t give up on her Wolf, and will do whatever it takes to help her accept her true nature. But can he convince her to trust him with her heart?
ABOUT CELIA BRESLIN
Writer, urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Mega Joss Whedon fan. Lover of dark chocolate and exercise (no kidding). I write about the sexy and mysterious creatures of the Otherworld. Vampires, werewolves and all manner of Fae hold an extra special place in my heart.
