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$20 GC & Review – Deadly When Disturbed by D M Barr @partnersincr1me

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DEADLY WHEN DISTURBED

by DM Barr

January 13 – 31, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

MY REVIEW

I love the fabulous cover for Deadly When Disturbed by D M Barr. It definitely fits the story for this psychological thriller. D M Barr hooked me from the opening pages and never let me go.

Dara Banks needs an assistant and Merry just happens to be there. Merry quickly makes herself indispensable, even insinuating herself into Dara’s personal life. You know that saying, when things appear to good to be true, they usually are. Well…Dara would do well to heed the warning.

Menace and suspense underlay every page. I know something is coming, but I don’t know what and and I don’t know when. I feel a sense of suspense, that, at times, had me racing through the pages. Other times, I took a step back, because I wanted to savor the anticipation.

Sex, brains, and cash – that’s all you needed to get by.

Too bad Merry will find out how wrong she could be.

Like I said earlier, I was hooked from the opening pages. The characters were compelling and I was so easily misled by them, that I never saw the ending coming. I love when an author can get me so involved, convinced I know what’s happening, then springs the unknown on me, making me see how wrong I was.

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4 Stars

Synopsis:

Deadly When Disturbed by DM Barr

Deadly When Disturbed follows the journey of leading Realtor and philanthropist Dara Banks. When Dara searches for an assistant, finding someone as resourceful as Meryl “Merry” Rafter seems too good to be true. So good in fact, she neglects to run a reference check. Bad move. Before she knows it, Merry, a former “actress” trying to be “helpful,” has insinuated herself into Dara’s business, family, and charity, and may be the only person saving her from prison. Dara becomes suspicious and begins snooping into Merry’s past. Feeling cornered, Merry reciprocates by launching an investigation of her own and realizes—too late—that she may have picked the wrong mark to con. These women’s unsettling discoveries, and their desperate efforts to safeguard their skeleton-filled closets and fragile self-images, lead to an explosive confrontation certain to destroy the lives of everyone in their midst.

Praise for Deadly When Disturbed:

“Two women. Friends? Hardly. They’re both after the same thing. And as the stakes get higher, the mind games get uglier, until—well, I’m not going to give away the killer ending. D. M. Barr’s latest domestic thriller is a total rush. It’s like being back with Betty and Veronica all over again—only this ain’t high school, and these women (like the title says) are DEADLY WHEN DISTURBED.”
~ Marshall Karp, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of the NYPD RED series

“Who’s the hunter and who’s the hunted in this taut domestic thriller? Don’t even try to guess. Just relax, enjoy, and hang on as DEADLY WHEN DISTURBED takes you on a wild ride.”
~ Brad Parks, international bestselling author of THE BOUNDARIES WE CROSS.

“Tense, well-written, and surprising—Liane Moriarty meets Gillian Flynn by way of John Lutz in D.M. Barr’s latest domestic thriller, DEADLY WHEN DISTURBED. Gaslighting and suburban intrigue abound in this carefully crafted tale, guaranteed to keep you in suspense all the way to the final chapter. Put this one at the top of your to-be-read pile!”
~ Richard Helms, Thriller, Macavity, and Shamus Awards winning author of 22 RUE MONTPARNASSE.

“DEADLY WHEN DISTURBED is a superb dark thriller that offers a brilliantly written bizarro take on the classic All About Eve. Shifts in reality and twists of the plot keep the reader on edge until the stunning and unexpected climax. Fasten your seatbelt and hang on. It’s a great ride.”
~ S. Lee Manning, award-winning author of TROJAN HORSE, NERVE ATTACK, BLOODY SOIL, and DEADLY CHOICE.

“DEADLY WHEN DISTURBED by D.M. Barr is a clever psychological thriller reminiscent of The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, updated for today’s culture and with a superior narrative.… With a steady and increasingly intense pace, [it] is a hypnotic read of insanity and wretchedness that will stay with you long after the last page.”
~ Gaius Konstantine for Readers’ Favorite

Deadly When Disturbed Trailer:

Book Details:

Genre: Domestic Suspense, Domestic Thriller
Published by: Level Best Books
Publication Date: January 2025
Number of Pages: 310
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

Prologue

She stood at her dining room table and calmly fingered through the cardboard box, double-checking that the paperwork was in chronological order. Even now, no one could accuse Samantha Ellingsworth of being anything but organized and precise. For nearly forty years, it had been both a gift and a curse.

First the letters from Harry, professing his incendiary ardor during their abbreviated law school courtship. The GIA certificate for the diamond, his glittering promise of passion extending through eternity. The deed to their Upper West side condo. A copy of her resignation from Davis & Milliken, where she’d been on the fast track to partner. The birth certificates for her daughter, dated a year later, and the surprise twins, ten years after that.

Next, the children’s coveted acceptance letters from Harrison—Manhattan’s most elite private pre-school and elementary—followed by every one of the glowing report cards she’d worked with them so diligently to earn. Campaign flyers she’d created for Harry’s run for state senate. Her passport opened to the page containing the stamp from that fateful trip to Aruba. The letters she’d written, refuting everything he’d accused her of as lies—all unopened and marked “Return to Sender.” The prescription for Prozac, unfilled, as if any pharmaceutical could rescue her from this pit of depression. Finally, the divorce papers she’d received a few weeks ago, still unsigned.

A lifetime of aspirations, misunderstandings, and betrayals, all encapsulated in a pile of paper less than an inch thick. She affixed the cover to the box and took a long, wistful look at the “perfect” apartment they’d been so ecstatic about buying, beating out several competing bids thanks to the lingering cachet of the Ellingsworth name and its clout in political circles. Confident that the condo was spotless, with everything in its place, Samantha slowly donned her hooded sheepskin coat, grabbed the box, and headed out.

The elevator operator nodded as she entered, but Gloria from the floor above murmured a curt hello and diverted her gaze as they descended from the seventh floor. Samantha had grown used to the frostiness over the past few weeks. Did the other tenants fear it was catching, that they too might be abandoned by their spouse and children, their lives reduced to rubble, if they inched too close? Whatever.

She trudged southbound through the early morning wintery mix; package still cradled to her chest like a newborn. Frigid raindrops grazed her eyelashes before cascading downward and stinging her cheeks as she passed the signs in Zabars’ windows, reminding patrons to purchase their Thanksgiving turkeys. The holiday was only days away. The irony did not escape her.

Shivering as much from the weather as from what lay ahead, she descended the subway staircase at 72nd Street, pushing against the throngs headed toward the sidewalk. She had someplace to go too and nothing—not crowds nor apprehension—was going to delay her.

Today was the day, a chance to have her say. Finally, she’d make him understand.

Samantha ran her MetroCard through the turnstile and headed toward the stairway leading to the uptown train. She positioned herself as close as possible to the opening of the tunnel and stood by the edge of the platform, resummoning her fleeting courage as the crowds swelled behind her. Commuters too involved with their phones to notice the determined woman beside them whose breathing had quickened and whose face had grown hot. She hugged the box even tighter to her fidgeting body and waited. And waited.

A collective sigh arose from the crowd as the loudspeaker announced that the next train was going out of service and wouldn’t be stopping. She saw the light in the distance and heard the clunk-de-clunk and whirl—a deafening gale descending onto the tracks, drowning out the murmur of the passengers. Her ride to the most important meeting of her life. And it was the number 2 train. How appropriate. Just like her, relegated from number one.

Timing was everything, the oncoming gleam only yards away. She tightened her grasp on what was left of her world, recalling the face of the bitch who’d laughed as she’d stolen it all away. Then she took one last breath and jumped onto the tracks.

***

Excerpt from Deadly When Disturbed by DM Barr. Copyright 2025 by DM Barr. Reproduced with permission from DM Barr. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

DM Barr

Dawn M. Barclay is an award-winning author who writes psychological and romantic suspense as D.M. Barr and non-fiction under her own name.

Her eight other published books include Expired Listings, Murder Worth the Weight, and Saving Grace: A Psychological Thriller. Along with Deadly When Disturbed, in February LBB will also publish the first of her multi-volume series, Vacations Can Be Murder: A True Crime Lover’s Travel Guide.

Dawn recently completed her second stint co-editing a Sisters in Crime NY/Tri-state anthology. New York State of Crime, published by Down & Out Books in the fall of 2024, which includes her third published short story, “Orchestral Removals in the Dark.” She is currently editing an anthology of crime fiction for Down & Out Books inspired by the music of Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

Dawn offers developmental and copy editing through SuggestedDevelopment.com, and ghostwrites personal histories and corporate profiles through LegacyQuest.net. A member of ITW, she has served as president of Hudson Valley Scribes, vice president of Sisters in Crime-NY (still a board member), and the newsletter author/board member of the NY chapter of Mystery Writers of America.

Catch Up With DM Barr:
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YouTube – @BarrSinister-m7u
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YouTube – @BarrSinister-m7u
Facebook – @AuthorDMBarr
TikTok – @AuthorDMBarr

 

 

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Review – The Bloodstone Legacy by V E Huntley #VEHuntley

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Amazon / Kindle Unlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The Bloodstone Legacy: Damnation by V E Huntley grabbed me and never let me go. I love walking on the dark side, so if you are looking for sparkly vampires, don’t look here. These guys are vicious and I can’t look away.

Damnation takes place in a dystopian world 500 years in the future, where vampires rule and humans are their slaves.

Aden Westcott has spent 300 years lost to the darkness. He lost his love, his soul mate, and can never forgive himself…until a human enters his life. Could this be his second chance at love?

I love vampire stories and it’s hard to find a new take on a familiar story, but V E Huntley has managed to do that and more. We have a slow burning romance and many triggering moments, and savagery and brutality are the norm.

There is a cliffhanger ending. I definitely appreciate the author making me aware of that in the blurb. Atonement, Book II is due out in the Spring of 2025 and I can hardly wait.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Bloodstone Legacy by V E Huntley.

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4 Stars

GOODREADS

“My penance will never be enough”

Blood. Power. Darkness. Agony.

For the last almost three hundred years, these are the only things Aden Westcott has known.

But as the world’s most notorious and most feared vampire commander, what do you do when you unexpectedly encounter the love of your life—only she’s human?

Do you cling to the darkness you’ve always known, or do you join the fight for a world where her light has the power to transform a vicious vampire-dominated society and save your undead soul in the process?

Set in a dystopian world five hundred years in the future, where vampires rule and humans are slaves, The BloodStone Legacy is a hauntingly sensual story of forbidden love, heart-wrenching choices, sacrifice, and redemption in a world consumed by darkness.

In a society divided by power and blood, Aden Westcott is a brutal vampire haunted by the memory of a lost love. When he meets Ellie, a human thrall who bears a striking resemblance to his past, she challenges everything he believes and turns his world upside down.

As their lives intertwine and their passion ignites, Aden’s inner turmoil and Ellie’s resilience spark a forbidden bond, unraveling long-buried secrets. Together, they must navigate a treacherous path in a world where darkness and light collide and choices have consequences.

As the first book of The BloodStone Legacy series, “Damnation,” will leave you breathless and aching for more.

If you enjoy dark and steamy paranormal romances such as “Adrian X Isolde” by Scarlett St. Clair and “The Dracula Duet” by Karina Halle, then “The BloodStone Legacy” is a must-read.

With its slow-burn romance, intense darkness, and escalating heat, “Damnation” is just the beginning of an unforgettable journey of a forbidden love that could save or destroy a world ravaged by vampires and ruled by darkness.

And with a cliffhanger ending, you’ll be left on the edge of your seat, eagerly awaiting the next installment of The BloodStone Legacy series. So, don’t wait, immerse yourself in the first book now. And stay tuned for the release of book two, “Atonement,” in late Spring 2025.

Warning: this book contains graphic violence, sexual situations, non-consent (not between MMC and FMC), adult language, and scenes and references of physical and/or sexual abuse/assault that some readers may find triggering.

  • Genre: Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Supernatural, Vampires
  • 568 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published December 10, 2024
  • Series: The Bloodstone Legacy: Damnation, #1

ABOUT V E HUNTLEY

V.E. Huntley is a retired producer who has spent her life telling stories in one way or another. Just ask her cats. They had to endure a lifetime of her endlessly reciting entire dialogue scenes to them, even though all they desperately wanted to do was nap.

Her childhood fear of Dracula was so intense that she couldn’t sleep without the lights on and her mother guarding her bedroom door. Over time, this fear evolved into a lifelong obsession with the dark and twisted world of vampires and the concept of immortality. So, after more than two decades in the film and television industry, she ultimately chose to pursue her true passion—writing dark and sexy paranormal romance.

Besides writing, her hobbies include reading, watching movies, traveling, and keeping her husband busy with an endless honey-do list.

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Review – For Home And Hearth by Ethan Warrener #ethanwarrener

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MY REVIEW

I am a huge fan of apocalyptic and dystopian fiction, so when Ethan Warrener offered me a copy, I was happy to grab his debut novel, For Home And Hearth.

It started a bit slow for me, but that’s okay. Ethan lays a solid foundation for the novel, introducing characters and the world they live in, fleshing them out as the book progresses.

Ella Holland is the star of the show. When a drifter comes to their small town in West Virginia, bringing the pigmen at their doorstep, she struggles to protect him…and herself. The town definitely does not look kindly on strangers.

The characters run the gamut, which happens when people are struggling to survive. It seems everyone wants or needs what others have and will do whatever they must to get it. For Home and Hearth is a prime example of genetic engineering gone wrong.

Once For Home And Hearth by Ethan Warrener got going I couldn’t stop reading. I think Ethan has a hit with his debut novel and I am looking forward to seeing what comes next.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of For Home And Hearth by Ethan Warrener.

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4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Ella Holland wanted a simple life, but she would have settled for survival.

Life in the ravaged wilds of Appalachia is dangerous, and most folks don’t live past fifty. Even if sickness or starvation doesn’t get you, the rival clans, or shifty nomads, or the unbred monsters that roam the hills will. This is why a clan must stick together at all costs, nestled in whatever patch of peaceful land it has scratched out for itself.

When a wandering drifter turns up with an army of ravenous pigmen at his heels, Ella Holland and the rest of her clan will have to confront the all the harsh realities they’ve kept sealed outside their walls, the lies they’ve told themselves, and even the specter of their own extinction.

  • Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction
  • 386 pages, Paperback
  • Published October 1, 2024 by Ethan Warrener

ABOUT ETHAN WARRENER

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

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Review – Through The Ravenous Night We Ride by Calvin Demmer @CalvinDemmer

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MY REVIEW

This is not my first walk on the dark side with Calvin Demmer. This short story collection brought horrible surprises to light and the evil stalking the pages never let up. Definitely cringe worthy. I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Through The Ravenous Night by Calvin Demmer.

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4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Secret societies, serial killers, malevolent criminals, and other evils stalk these pages.

A short story collection.

  • Genre: Anthology, Horror, Short Stories, Thrillers
  • 117 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published March 1, 2024

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Calvin Demmer is a dark fiction author. His debut collection, The Sea Was a Fair Master, was released in June 2018. When not writing, he is intrigued by that which goes bump in the night and the sciences of our universe.

You can find him online at http://www.calvindemmer.com or follow him on Twitter @CalvinDemmer.

MY CALVIN DEMMER REVIEWS

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Review – His Brother’s Dragon by Maggie Tideswell @LunaMags

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MY REVIEW

His Brother’s Dragon by Maggie Tideswell is Book II of the Tasmanian Vampire Colony trilogy. It picks up where His Brother’s Mate left off, so I recommend reading the series in order.

Harriet was in love with Enso. She would do anything to be with him, even if that meant becoming a vampire. Benji, Enso’s brother, is obsessed with her. By him becoming her ‘father’ and changing her, it makes her off limits to him. There was a crazy quadrangle going on and I wondered if Harriet would ever be safe in the colony.

Mariah is Benji’s wife, pregnant with his child. She is also a dragon. He continues to deny that she is his mate, and in His Brother’s Dragon we will get the answer.

Steamy sex scenes, vampire and dragon slayers, obsession, and danger surround the characters, which are well rounded and continue to develop throughout the series. The action keeps the pace of the novel moving along, keeping me involved, having to know how it will end.

The trilogy will be wrapped up with Suzanne’s story in Her Brother’s Keeper.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy I received from BookSprout and Maggie Tideswell.

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4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

He killed her! Her friend drank all her blood and killed her! Is she a vampire now?

The thing is, she’d wanted him to. For Enso, so that they could be together for all eternity.
The wife Benji had hidden from her is a dragon shifter!
Harriet didn’t know dragons were real, but then again, she’d thought vampires were no more than a thumbsuck by one of Hollywood’s own. Now she is one of them—for love.
Benji insists that Mariah is his wife, not his mate, even though they are having a baby together. In his mind, Harriet is his mate, even after she is officially mated with Enso, his brother. Harriet is now his daughter; she can’t be his mate, but his libido refuses to read that memo. What will it take to convince him of what is right under his nose? He and Mariah are more like enemies than a loving, married couple.
Everything changes when Mariah and the baby disappear without a trace. Did they go home with her parents as they’d tried to convince her to, or was their disappearance due to something more sinister? After all, two slayers have been seen in the vicinity of the colony, one of them a dragon slayer.
When Leila’s brother Abe contacts Suzanne, Benji and Enso’s sister, the suspicion is that he is spying on Leila’s behalf, but it turns out that he has a proposition for Suzanne that has nothing to do with his sister.
Find the answers to all these questions in the second installment of the Tasmanian Vampire Colony.

  • Genre: Dragons, Paranormal, Supernatural, Vampire
  • 272 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published October 1, 2024
  • Series: Tasmanian Vampire Colony #2

ABOUT MAGGIE TIDESWELL (from Amazon)

Bestselling international author of spooky paranormal romance, urban fantasy romance, and fantasy romance, Maggie Tideswell has a passion for romance. She combines things that can’t be explained with sweaty bodies and rumpled beds in a way that will make your toes curl and your hair stand on end.

Maggie lives in Johannesburg, South Africa with her husband Gareth and a cat called Auntie. She just can’t do without perfume, her tea and the internet. She is nearly as passionate about food as she is about creating alpha heroes every woman will fall in love with, just as she does, every time.

Follow Maggie on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maggie-tideswell

Subscribe to Maggie’s Ghoulies & Ghosties newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/h4o5m6

 

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$20 GC & Review – Lethal Wilderness Trap by Susan Furlong @partnersincr1me @Furlong_Sue

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LETHAL WILDERNESS TRAP

by Susan Furlong

December 30, 2024 – January 31, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

 

MY REVIEW

Lethal Wilderness Trap by Susan Furlong is a fast paced thriller that I read in one sitting. It has a light Christian touch and had me rapidly flipping pages as the mystery unfolded. We have plenty of suspects and the villains were hidden amongst the red herrings. The characters felt real, and I quickly became involved in their outcome. Sure, the romance happened quickly, but when you know, you know. Having a K9 companion adds a nice touch and he plays a significant role in Lethal Wilderness Trap. I’ll have my eyes open for more from Susan Furlong.

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4 Stars

Synopsis:

Trust means everything…
when danger hits too close to home.

Hunting a never-caught killer, Special Agent Nolan Shea learns of a new victim. But the body on Ava Burke’s land puts her and her young daughter, Rose, in someone’s lethal sights. With a trail of shocking clues pointing to her family’s involvement, Ava starts to question everything she holds dear and is soon desperate to uncover the truth with Nolan. Step after step, they confront their fears. But will finally cornering a murderer out in the wilderness become a trap they can’t escape?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Book Details:

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
Published by: Harlequin
Publication Date: January 21, 2025
Number of Pages: 208
ISBN: 9781335980427 (ISBN10: 1335980423)
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Harlequin

 

Author Bio:

Susan Furlong

Susan Furlong grew up in North Dakota where she spent long winters at her local library scouring the shelves for mysteries to read. Now, she lives in Illinois with her husband and children and writes mysteries of all types. She has over a dozen published novels and her work has earned a spot in the New York Times list of top crime fiction books of the year. When not writing, she volunteers at her church and spends time hiking and fishing.

Catch Up With Susan Furlong:
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Review – Fear Of The Light by Ross Harrison @AuthoRoss

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MY REVIEW

Fear Of The Light by Ross Harrison is the eight novel in the Nexus universe. I have missed all the previous novels, except Forge Of The Assassin, but never felt lost. Sure, I didn’t know how all the characters came together, so I do highly recommend beginning at the beginning to get the full benefit.

Fear Of The Light is about the gunslinger, Archer, and the assassin, Juni. They are a couple…with secrets.

Archer is playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse. The sins of the father have passed down to him, but Juni is the one paying the price. She has been taken, and each day brings her closer to death.

Ross Harrison has created a fantastic science fiction world that I got lost in. There are lots of characters, but be careful of who you choose as your favorite. Not all of them will make it to the end. The suspense hovers over the pages, and I am waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. Every time I turn around, the danger increases.

When I got to the end…

It left me wondering…what comes next.

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4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

– The eighth novel in the sweeping science-fantasy NEXUS universe and sequel to Fear of the Dark –

The gunslinger and the assassin. Star-crossed. Hopeful.

He’s dangerously in love. He’s willing to sacrifice everything. And he’s dying.

She’s unstoppable. She’s unbeatable. And she’s been taken.

An enemy they never saw coming has accomplished the he has kidnapped the assassin Juni Lien. To keep her alive, Travis Archer must face a series of ‘trials’, each pushing further away everyone who cares about him and leading to devastating consequences.

To save each other from the one foe neither of them can fight, they must each unravel the mysteries of the past. But as they dig deeper into this deranged kidnapper’s motives, they’ll uncover shocking secrets lurking in the shadows. As the truth is dragged into the light, an intricate web of deceit, manipulation, and misdirection threatens to destroy everything they’ve fought for.

If there’s one truth the kidnapper has spoken, it’s Hope is a lie.

  • Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction
  • 483 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published November 24, 2024

ABOUT ROSS HARRISON

Ross Harrison is the author of novels and short stories in the realms of science fiction – specifically space opera and science fantasy – thriller, noir, and steampunk. He has been writing since childhood, and occasionally likes to revisit those old stories for a good cringe and nervous laugh. He also talks about himself in the 3rd person because it seems more professional.

Ross lives on the UK/Eire border in Ireland, where he moved from England in 2001, hoping the rain will help his hair grow back.

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Review – Bending The ARC by Nicholas Gretener #nicholasgretener #bendingthearc

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MY REVIEW

Bending The ARC by Nicholas Gretener is a story that pits lawyer, Steve Shane against a team of lawyers from the notable firm of Todd Ives Tillington. The disparity between them makes the outcome seem like a forgone conclusion. Not so fast.

How can the scales of justice be balanced? Enter LawForce, a legal SWAT team led by Steve Shane to do just that.

I had thought all the battles would take place in the courtroom, but that is not the case. On land and sea, Steve Shane will struggle to save Wildcat Oil & Gas from the Green Action Coalition.

Wildcat Oil & Gas is plagued by accidents, each more deadly than the last. But, things are not as they seem. At times, Nicholas Gretener had me sitting on the edge of my seat, tightly gripping my ereader as I raced through the pages to see what was going to happen next. Not all the characters will survive and I did not take their deaths lightly. I may have even shed a tear or two as the book came to its conclusion.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Bending The ARC by Nicholas Gretener.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice .”
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Jonathan Hendrix, the youngest U.S. Attorney General in history, knows that bending the arc won’t happen on its own, help is needed. He is determined to curb runaway civil jury awards that are threatening to destabilize the economy.

Graduating law school, Steve Shane is a top wall street prospect. Shunning the big firms, he sets up his own practice and six years later has developed a solid reputation as a commercial litigator.

Hendrix recruits Shane to create LawForce, a government-supported, legal SWAT team to be deployed in key cases where an inequality of counsel threatens bad verdicts. Their first case – Green Action Coalition v. Wildcat Oil & Gas.

A medium sized oil and gas company, Wildcat is plagued by an apparently random series of environmental accidents. Not accidents according to the Green Action Coalition, a leader in the new era of aggressive environmental litigation, but evidence of a pattern of negligence. The damages sought by the GAC have the potential to destroy Wildcat. Acting for the GAC is a high-powered team of legal eagles from the blue-chip firm of Todd Ives Tillington, led by senior partner Andrew Tillington III. Wildcat appears hopelessly outclassed . . . then Shane is retained.

Shane and LawForce discover they are in for more than just a tough legal battle as they negotiate the twists and turns of the case to its explosive courtroom finale.

  • Genre: Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
  • 399 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published October 15, 2024

ABOUT NICHOLAS GRETENER

Nick is a retired lawyer and engineer, based out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He splits his time between Calgary, Canada; Wengen, Switzerland; and Maui, USA.

He can usually be found writing on a laptop somewhere, skiing down a piste, hiking up a mountain, or rafting down a river in canyon country.

He is convinced that if people read more, the world would be a better place. It doesn’t always have to be heavy. Read something that will stretch your mind, then enjoy a beach read. Rinse and repeat.

Website

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Welcome To Sleighville – Here Comes Chaos by Amanda Siegrist @amanda_siegrist

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Welcome to Sleighville, where it’s Christmas 365 days of the year. The holliest jolliest small town has taken a hit and Lila Hansley, a public relations expert, has come to town to repair their image. She’ll be working hand in hand with the mayor Bryce Stuart.

Bryce not only has a town with public relations at an all time low, but so is his personal life. His wife has beat him down and he needs a makeover too. Could Lila be the answer to both problems?

No sooner do they get over one black mark against the town, but then someone is murdered. It seems like every time they turn around, something bad is happening. Lila is determined to fix it.

We have a mixed bag of characters, most of whom I met before in Dashing Through The Fear, Book I, Griffin and Eve’s story. We have more mystery than suspense, but there is danger surrounding Lila. She can’t…won’t…run from it. She will face it head on.

Looking for a feel good story for the holiday season? Looking for something to make you feel warm and fuzzy all over? Why not try an Amanda Siegrist novel. She loves to give you happy ever afters.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

From USA Today bestselling author Amanda Siegrist comes an intense holiday romantic suspense series that will make you swoon and hold you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Welcome to Sleighville…where mayhem meets murder.

Mayor Bryce Stuart’s quaint Christmas town is in crisis. With holiday cheer fading faster than melting snow, he turns to a PR firm for a total holiday makeover. Amidst the tinsel-draped chaos and unexpected divorce papers, Bryce is determined to save his town even as his personal life unravels.

Lila Hansley, a PR whiz, would rather dodge snowflakes than deck the halls. When her grinch of a boss tasks her with reviving a town where yuletide seems cursed, she finds herself tangled in more than just stubborn locals and tacky decorations. Between Bryce’s infectious Christmas spirit and his soon-to-be ex-wife’s icy interference, Lila’s job becomes a real-life holiday mayhem.

But when mischief escalates to murder, Sleighville’s revival takes a sinister turn. As tensions rise and secrets surface, Bryce and Lila must navigate a web of small-town intrigue where someone’s silent night just became permanent.

Can they uncover the mystery before their Christmas miracle becomes another holiday homicide? Or will Sleighville’s dark secrets bury their efforts deeper than the winter snow?

Don’t miss book two in this suspenseful Christmas series where you’ll find holiday joy all year long!

The entire Sleighville (each book can be read as a standalone.)
Dashing Through the Fear (Book 1): Griffin & Eve
Here Comes Chaos (Book 2): Bryce & Lila

  • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Suspense, Thriller
  • 290 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published December 13, 2024 by Amanda Siegrist

ABOUT AMANDA SIEGRIST

Amanda Siegrist

Love! Gimme some love and heaps of romance. I have a sappy heart that just loves two people meeting, going through the cycles of a relationship, and ultimately, falling in love. Give me a good book like that and I’m a happy camper:)

I write contemporary and romantic suspense, but I am partial to suspense. I just love a good mystery.

Besides writing, I love baking, crafts, and baseball…oh, and meeting new people. *smiles*

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MY AMANDA SIEGRIST REVIEWS

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Review – Ivory’s Fight by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor #romanticsuspense

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Ivory’s Fight (Prey Security – Artemis Team) may be the first book in the series, but I have met these characters before. It is great to be back with them.

Ivory had been kidnapped when she was a baby, her captor teaching her how to be an assassin. She had been rescued by Prey, and her and her sister’s now work for them. She is on an undercover mission when she finds herself rescued by Roman Morales, who also works for Prey Security. She is searching for a group of children who have been kidnapped, and Roman wants revenge, after his sister’s death. They decide to work together.

There are triggers with human trafficking, rape and torture.

I love that this series is about the four sisters that were rescued by Prey. I know Jane will put them through the wringer, dragging their baggage out in the open for all to see, and helping them find their happy ever after. I can hardly wait to crack open the next book in the series.

I love Jane Blythe’s writing. She weaves romance and suspense seamlessly, putting her characters through hell to come out the other side with a happy ever after.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Falling in love has no place in a mission of revenge.

Abducted as a baby, Ivory Smith was trained to be one thing; a killer. Rescued before she could fulfil her captor’s purposes now she works for Prey Security’s Artemis Team taking down human traffickers. What should be a typical undercover mission becomes anything but when not only does she meet a man who intrigues her but she comes face to face with her abuser.

Former Delta Force operator turned DEA Agent Roman Morales lives for one thing; revenge. Growing up surrounded by addiction he’s determined not to fall down the same hole, which means keeping everyone at a distance. Until he meets a beautiful, brave woman determined to help him get the revenge he craves, he just doesn’t think he has anything to offer her in return.

  • Genre: Fiction, Military, Romance, Suspense, Thriller
  • 276 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published May 9, 2023
  • Series: Prey Security, Artemis Team #1

ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

USA Today bestselling author Jane Blythe writes action-packed romantic suspense and military romance featuring protective heroes and heroines who are survivors. One of Jane’s most popular series includes Saving SEALs, part of Susan Stoker’s OPERATION ALPHA world! Writing in that world alongside authors such as Janie Crouch and Riley Edwards has been a blast, and she looks forward to bringing more books to this genre, both within and outside of Stoker’s world. When Jane isn’t binge-reading she’s counting down to Christmas and adding to her 200+ teddy bear collection!

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!