Tag Archives: suspense and thriller fiction

Giveaway – The Ghost Of Shantel Thompson by Curtis Maynard @GoddessFish @CurtisMaynard12

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THE GHOST OF SHANTEL THOMPSON by Curtis Maynard

GENRE:  Paranormal Thriller

BLURB

When the Riggs family in Mobile, Alabama, faced the mysterious death of their adoptive daughter Shantel Thompson, they never imagined her ghost would linger for decades…

In Curtis Maynard’s heart-stopping paranormal thriller, ‘The Ghost of Shantel Thompson,’ a new family, fifty years later, grapples with a haunting legacy where the line between life and death is hauntingly thin.

Just as they begin to settle into their new life, their own young daughter is gripped by chilling visions of Shantel. It’s not just fleeting shadows—she’s entangled in a vengeful spirit’s relentless quest for justice, a quest that spans generations.

As whispers from the grave reveal long-hidden secrets, this new family faces a terrifying truth: some ghosts refuse to be silenced. Now, they must confront the mystery of Shantel’s death before her ghostly agenda consumes them all.

Dare to uncover the truth? ‘The Ghost of Shantel Thompson’ awaits to send shivers down your spine

EXCERPT

Hours drifted away as they immersed themselves in the accounts of the murder day, meticulously examining interviews with the neighbors. It was during this exhaustive search that Sarah stumbled upon an article that sent a shiver down her spine. Her face turned pale, and she repeated the word “no” in disbelief.

Concern etched on his features, Damian inquired, “Honey, what’s wrong?” His worry grew as he witnessed his wife’s deteriorating condition.

Handing him the article, Sarah whispered, “Read it. It’s about the little girl who was murdered. She was adopted, just like Alicia. And look at the name. Shantel.”

Damian’s trembling hands held the article as he absorbed its contents. Shantel had been ten years old, the exact age their daughter had been when they had adopted her and moved to this very town. The uncanny similarities between the two girls sent a chill down his spine.

“D-Damian?” Sarah attempted to regain her husband’s attention, her voice quivering. “Damian?”

“I’m sorry,” he replied, placing the article down. “It’s just… It hits too close to home. I mean, what are the odds that we would move into the very house where she was killed?”

“And the name, Damian. Shantel. How could Alicia possibly know about her? We never disclosed the fact that a murder had occurred in our home,” Sarah lamented.

“Do you think she found out from someone else?” Damian posed the question, searching for answers.

“Who, Damian? She hardly leaves the house, except to go to school. Yet somehow, she learned about Shantel. Unless… never mind,” Sarah dismissed a fleeting thought, her anxiety evident. “I’m letting my imagination run wild again. I’ve watched one too many horror movies,” she chuckled nervously, masking her unease.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Curtis Maynard is an independent filmmaker, screenwriter, and author passionate about suspenseful storytelling. Enthralled by the paranormal, his mysteries and thrillers feature everything from hauntings and visions to cryptic messages from beyond the grave. Curtis currently resides with his wife and son in Alabama, a setting rich with inspiration for his novels and short films. He hopes his stories will leave you spellbound, disquieted, and suspicious of the slightest shuddering shadow.

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Library Borrow Review – Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben @HarlanCoben

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MY REVIEW

The vibrant red cover for Fool Me Once by Harlan Corben jumps off the shelf, but I have been a fan of Corben’s long before I started blogging, so, when I saw there would be a Netflix series, I had to grab it from the library. I was not disappointed.

Maya’s husband is murdered, but the waters are murky and the mystery is convoluted. Harlan Coben really had me going, but when the mystery was solved and the ending smacked me in the face, I was left speechless. Way to go, Harlan!!!!!!!

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Former special ops pilot Maya, home from the war, sees an unthinkable image captured by her nanny cam while she is at work: her two-year-old daughter playing with Maya’s husband, Joe—who had been brutally murdered two weeks earlier. The provocative question at the heart of the mystery: Can you believe everything you see with your own eyes, even when you desperately want to? To find the answer, Maya must finally come to terms with deep secrets and deceit in her own past before she can face the unbelievable truth about her husband—and herself.

  • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
  • 392 pages, Kindle Edition
  • First published March 22, 2016 by Dutton

ABOUT HARLAN COBEN

Harlan Coben is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of the world’s leading storytellers. His suspense novels are published in forty-five languages and have been number one bestsellers in more than a dozen countries with seventy-five million books in print worldwide.

His books have earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, and many have been developed into Netflix Original Drama series, including his adaptations of The Stranger, The Innocent, Gone for Good and The Woods. His most recent adaptation for Netflix, Stay Close, premiered on December 31, 2021 and stars Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, and Richard Armitage.

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Review – Vicious Scars by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor @GiveMeBooksPR

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Title: Vicious Scars
Series: Prey Security: Bravo Team #1
Author: Jane Blythe
Genre: Military Romantic Suspense
Tropes: Forced Proximity/Private Security
Release Date: January 9, 2024

MY REVIEW

I usually read Jane Blythe’s series in a progressive order, but this time I stepped ahead. I couldn’t help myself. I feel her books can be read as stand alones. The characters appear throughout the books, but each book highlights a couple. Vicious Scars tells Tallulah Russell and Gabriel “Tank” Dawson’s story.

Jane sets the hook early, creating a need to know from the opening pages. An intruder. It wasn’t what I expected, and I love that. Jane is very good at throwing twists and turns throughout her books. There are two story lines in Vicious Scars and we will only learn the results of one, Tallulah and Gabriel’s story.

A kidnapping of a woman in Witness Protection. What? Why would Prey Security feel the need to save someone who has been given a new identity and is being hidden by the U S Marshalls? Well, I’ll tell you. There’s a rat and they are there to, not only save her, but catch the man who has put a million dollar bounty on her head.

At 6%:

Instead of trying to brute force her way out of his hold by thrashing about, which would have been impossible, she immediately put her hand between his legs, grabbed his crotch, and twisted.

Yeah, Jane may love her damsels in distress, but she does not leave them defenseless.

Tallulah carries the sins of her father and has been in foster care since she was three years old. Because of her desire to help those in need, she has put a price on her head. Just once, she would love to have something good in her life. She doesn’t know it yet, but her kidnapper is the man that fits the bill.

We have some light moments, having me nodding my head and smiling. Even in times of darkness, there is light.

Some steamy moments heated up my ereader, but Tallulah and Tank deserve something good in their lives. Even though I knew Jane Blythe would supply it, the road to their happy ever after was not an easy one. Bullets flew, bodies fell, and suspense mounted as we came to the heart pounding conclusion.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

BLURB

No good deed goes unpunished.

Tallulah Russel knows she’s made a mistake. Unfortunately it’s too late to do anything about it. Snatched from her home and held prisoner in a cabin by a man whose behavior grows more confusing by the minute, she has two choices. She can escape the second she gets an opportunity, or she can put her trust in her kidnapper when he tells her he’s the only thing standing between her and certain death.

Gabriel “Tank” Dawson didn’t want this job. Now when his team needs him, he wants to be there for them, but this case has been ranked as high priority. Falling for the target shouldn’t be an option. But he can’t seem to help himself. Every second he spends with Tallulah he grows more captivated by her. Too bad the second she learns he’s been lying to her from the beginning she’ll hate him.

What should have been a simple plan goes to hell and its Tallulah who will end up paying the price.







PURCHASE LINKS

99c for a limited time!

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited






COMING SOON


Releasing February 13

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU






AUTHOR BIO


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 Prey Security, 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!


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MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

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Tortured and Near Dead – Extreme Risk by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor #romanticsuspense

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MY REVIEW

Jane Blythe is one of my most favorite authors and for the first time, she ended a book with a cliffhanger. Sure, her books run in series and the characters keep making appearances, but each story is told before she moves on to the next, except for Lethal Risk. The hunkalicious, heroic men were left in a precarious position. They had been betrayed, set up, captured, tortured, and were wondering if they were going to make it out alive.

It had all begun with a survivalist that wanted to create utopia, his own version of it. I think we all know there is no such thing and his dream becomes perverted, thriving after his death. Who was running things now, they did not know. As he waited for his turn of torture he wasn’t sure he could survive, there came a bright light and a soft voice, “You buys ready to go home?”

Piper was a psychiatrist working at Prey Security. The guys were sent to her, but there was no way he was going to spill his guts to her. They had a mutual attraction going, but never acted on it. Piper had a past she kept hidden, but we all know that the past will rear its ugly head until it is dealt with. You can run, but you can’t hide.

When someone breaks into her apartment, her world changes. Not just for the bad, with a stalker out to get her, but for the good too. Prey Security rallies around her and she learns what it means to have family. They are a tight knit bunch and if you take on one of them, you take on them all.

I didn’t see the danger coming at her the way it did. It draw Piper and Arrow closer.

There are many things predictable about romantic suspense novels, but Jane Blythe manages to create a story that keeps me on my toes, throwing in a twist or a turn here or there. Of course, I do want a happy ever after and she delivers that too, all while making me crave the next book in the series. Who is the lucky guy that is going to find his happy ever after? What dangers will the couple face? Each and every one of these gorgeous, manly men put their lives on the line, so they all deserve whatever good life can offer.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Can she accept an offer of help from a patient she’s attracted to?

Dr. Piper Hamilton is used to keeping on the fringes. She knows what it’s like to be responsible for the death of someone you love and she’d do anything to protect herself from feeling that pain again. But now she’s being stalked and a man she’s been attracted to for years is offering her not only his protection but a chance at happiness as well. Only problem is he’s a patient which makes him off limits.

Antonio “Arrow” Eden has been attracted to the pretty doctor ever since he met her, but after almost losing his life he’s decided it’s time to make his move. He’s a fixer, a healer, and he’d do anything to wipe away the sadness he sees lurking in Piper’s eyes. When he learns she’s in danger he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe, until he realizes he might be the biggest threat of all.

With a stalker circling closer, and demons from their pasts standing in the way, Arrow and Piper might never get a chance to have the happy ending they both desperately want.

  • Genre: Fiction, Military, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Thriller
  • 274 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published March 14, 2023
  • Series: Prey Security, Alpha Team, #3

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!

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MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
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Tyranny Rules – The Price Of Safety by Michael Bland @mcblandwriter

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MY REVIEW

The Price Of Safety by Michael C Bland is anything but…I was quickly swept up in the incredible world he has created.

“Dad, I need help,”: my nineteen year old daughter said.

Dray’s life is going to change in ways he never could have imagined, and he has been instrumental in many of the scientific advancements in the year of 2047. His heroes will become his worst enemies.

Neural implants, drones, genetic engineering, tyranny, conspiracy, and scientific advancements make up Michael Bland’s incredible world of The Price Of Safety, an oxymoron. Imagine, if you will, that every action you take and every word you utter is being observed. And if THEY don’t like it, well…there will be repercussions.

Dray may be the main character, because he has what everyone wants…knowledge, but others stood out to me, too. One of the characters, Kieran is the ultimate villain and one of my favorite characters because of it. On the flip side, Talia, Dray’s youngest daughter, is another of my favorite characters. Her chutzpah is adorable. She is bright and impulsive.

As Dray’s eyes are opened and reality seeps in, the danger rises for him and his family. There is nowhere to hide.

The action ramps up to a frenetic level. Bodies will fall in the streets, buildings destroyed, entire neighborhoods invaded. A war is on, but the ‘herd’ has no knowledge of it. They are caught in the middle of those who rule and those who refuse to go down without a fight.

Mina, Dray’s wife….Good one, Michael. I love that you show no mercy to anyone. Every time I turn around, I find my jaw dropping, my sense of wonder at the depth and creativity of your writing coming alive on every page as the tension takes over, making me rapidly flip the pages, devouring the words, lost in the story. I was filled with anger and rage, sadness and despair, yet hope for those who will not stop to keep us free from tyranny.

I want to share so much more, but I want you, the reader, to have the same emotions running riot as you read The Price Of Safety by Michael C Bland, as I did. So this is all you get.

The Price of Safety is part of a planned trilogy and I can hardly wait to see what comes next.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

2020 INDIE BOOK AWARD FINALIST – SCIENCE FICTION
2020 INDIE BOOK AWARD FINALIST – THRILLER
2020 NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARD FINALIST – NEW ADULT FICTION


By 2047, no crime in the U.S. goes unsolved. No wrongdoing goes unseen. When Dray Quintero learns his 19-year-old daughter Raven committed a heinous act, he covers it up to save her life. This pits him against the police he’s respected since he was a child and places him in the crosshairs of Kieran, a ruthless federal Agent. To survive, Dray must overcome the surveillance system he helped build and the technology implanted in the brains and eyes of the citizens.

To protect his family, he turns to a group of fighters who also discovered the government’s secret. But their help isn’t enough, for his adversaries have a level of control he’s unable to escape. That no one can.

Hunted and betrayed, with time running out, Dray must choose between saving Raven and dismantling the near-perfect society he helped create.

  • Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Genetic Engineering,Science Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
  • 335 pages, Paperback
  • Published April 6, 2020
  • Series: The Price Of Trilogy

ABOUT MICHAEL C BLAND

Michael C Bland is a founding member and the secretary of BookPod, an invitation-only, online group of professional writers. He pens the monthly BookPod newsletter where he celebrates the success of their members, which include award-winning writers, film makers, journalists, and bestselling authors.

His novel, The Price of Safety, was chosen as a Finalist of the 2020 Indie Book Awards for both Science Fiction and Thriller, and is the first in a planned trilogy.

Michael currently lives in Denver with his wife Janelle and their dog Nobu.

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Hell Hath No Fury – Into The Silent Sea by Claire Stibbe @ClaireStibbe

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MY REVIEW

The Prologue, I love Prologues, for Into The Silent Sea by Claire Stibbe, got my attention and my curiosity humming. That’s a great start for what I think is going to be a great story.

What do you think about when your significant other is very late getting home, or doesn’t come home at all? Do you imagine them lying in a ditch on the side of the road? When I read it in the book, I couldn’t help but smile, because I have had that thought.

Part of the deal with Clodagh Shepherd’s marriage to Ryan, was a prenup saying she would turn a blind eye to his affairs. WTH! Why would she even marry him? Then, is he gaslighting her, making her think that she is crazy? Or is she crazy?

A book like Into The Silent Sea can be a wake up call for those in a troubled marriage. Keep on eye on your finances, or you may be left broke and homeless while he/she is living the good life.

At times I almost cried out loud, “Don’t drink the coffee.”

My head was spinning from all the psychological craziness going on in her head…and the craziness she has set in motion…and the craziness all around her..and the craziness that found its way into my head. Things are not as they appear to be and the more I read, the further down the rabbit hole I go. There is no way I was every going to figure this one out…and I was happy with the ending. She does prove the adage, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

I will warn you to take a deep breath before you dive Into The Silent Sea by Claire Stibbe.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Dangerous is one thing. Deadly is something else.

When Clodagh Shepherd’s curiosity gives way to obsession, her thoughts turn to revenge.
In the wake of her husband’s affair and subsequent disappearance, Clo makes an impulsive decision to befriend the beautiful stranger who has stolen her life. Answering an ad for a home help, she moves into the home of her husband’s mistress and is immediately drawn into the chilling reality behind the idyllic façade of Hamptons Life. Central to her terrifying nightmare is a deadly secret—a secret someone will kill to keep.
In this dark and twisting thriller, Clo proves the adage ‘hell hath no fury like a woman scorned’ with shocking consequences.

  • Genre: Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Thriller
  • 350 pages, Kindle Edition
  • First published October 24, 2018 by Bookpreneur

ABOUT CLAIRE STIBBE

Claire Stibbe is the winner of the 2021 Page Turner Award for Fiction and a prolific novelist. Today, she writes dark, domestic suspense novels that draw on her experiences as a survivor of domestic abuse. Her aim is not just to tell gripping stories but to inspire other survivors to find freedom and independence.

Claire worked as an Executive Assistant for twenty years in both London and the Far East. She now devotes herself full-time to writing. Her novels owe much to her years as a member of the Albuquerque Police Citizen’s Academy where her main focus was the impact of violence towards women and their families.

Claire now lives in Utah with her husband and son, and her cat, Edward, who sleeps on her desk while she writes. She is addicted to reading and sharing the crime fiction love. To keep up-to-date with her new books and blogs, sign up for her newsletter at: https://linktr.ee/ClaireStibbe

Member: Albuquerque Police Citizen’s Academy, International Thriller Writers, CWA, Sisters in Crime, Alliance of Independent Authors and Mystery Writers, New Mexico Book Co-op, and Southwest Writers.

Awards: Winner of the Page Turner Writing Award and the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards, Wishing Shelf Silver Medal Award, Award-Winning Finalist 2019 Best Book Awards sponsored by American Book Fest.

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Review – Killer Dead Victim Alive by Michael Geczi @MichaelGeczi

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MY REVIEW

I jumped between a three and a four rating for Killer Dead Victim Alive by Michael Geczi. I love serial killers…I mean reading about serial killers. But, that’s not all that drew me to the novel. A good title and the tropical content of the cover spoke to me.

We are on the beach near Santa Monica Pier and what do I spy? Why it’s Keith John Victor, serial killer. What??????

Mollie Granger and Greg Nichols, detectives in the Criminal Investigations Unit of the Santa Monica Police Department are on the case. Keith Victor had killed six people and a missing person, Chrissy Weeks, is attributed to him. Is she deal or alive? We shall see. And we do. She walks into the police department with a story that won’t hold water.

Mollie is hard working, has sharp instincts and is always asking questions. I loved this description from a colleague:

….her pupils were shaped like question marks because her eyes always “”looked like they wanted to now more.”

Her significant other, Gwen Seward, is an African America lawyer specializing in civil rights, while Mollie is a white police officer. Not only are they gay, but they will have to deal with racial differences and how they look at life. Many of Gwen’s clients have been profiled by police and the question remains…are the guilty or innocent?

The biggest question…who killed the serial killer? I quickly discovered who, but the motive remained hidden and I loved how Michael Geczi led me to the answer, step by step.

K J…hmmm. I wonder what part she plays in the abduction of the women and Chrissy. Her super power is being invisible, blending into the scenery, living in the shadows. How sad. Life has not been kind to K J and neither is Michael Geczi.

I love how some criminals think they are smarter than those out to catch them and I’m not sure what narcissistic game Chrissy is playing.

Funny what a small world we live in, with lines crisscrossing our lives, woven into a pattern not easily seen. Was it fate or Karma that brought Keith and Chrissy together?

Killer Dead Victim Alive by Michael Geczi was a wild ride. We got, not just one dysfunctional, dangerous villain, but two. Even when I think I know what’s going on Michael manages to pull a surprise out of his hat.

I didn’t get my hand on the first book in this series of books about serial killers, The Deadly Samaritan, but I hope to be there for the next one. Michael Geczi left the surprise ending open and I love it, so maybe….things are not always as they seem and our time in Santa Monica is not over.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“Killer Dead, Victim Alive””If you’re a fan of Freida McFadden, David Baldacci, or Harlan Coben, you’ll find this book captivating and imaginative.”

The serial killer is dead; the expected seventh victim is alive, and the Santa Monica detectives and the FBI agents are shaking their heads.“Who-done-it” meets “why-done-it.” The A twisty mystery, spiked with psychological and cultural implications, all playing out in sun-drenched Santa Monica.Police Detectives Mollie Granger and Greg Nichols respond to a call near the world-famous pier. A dead male, shot in the forehead at close range, is posed in the sand. He’s Keith Victor, a serial killer who’s murdered six persons and kidnapped a possible seventh, Chrissy Weeks.Meanwhile, six miles away, Weeks walks into a police station, says, “I think you’ve been looking for me,” and claims Victor dropped her off outside an hour earlier. Quite the trick, given the coroner says Victor’s been dead for thirty-six hours. Weeks, a narcissist with a complex backstory, views most people as chess pieces to be played. And she’s playing at mega speed, even though her never-ending lies and moves – some of which backfire – quickly turn her into a suspect from a victim.The case comes at a difficult time for Granger, a middle-class white cop having relationship problems with Gwen Seward, a wealthy African-American civil rights attorney. They’ve drifted apart since the George Floyd murder shined a bright light on their differences and challenges. They’ve even tabled plans for marriage and kids.Granger focuses on Weeks even as she and Seward attempt to repair their relationship. In the process, the detective learns that families, love, truth, and understanding overcome personal and professional challenges and bring unexpected second chances.

  • Genre: Fiction, Serial Killer, Suspense, Thriller
  • 281 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published November 17, 2023 by Tierra Buena Publishing

ABOUT MICHAEL GECZI (from Amazon)

Former Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, Associated Press and Dallas Morning News writer and editor; Wall Street executive; best-selling author; communications/crisis consultant and university instructor (University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism). Also author of Futures: The Anti-Inflation Investment. Lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife, Lisa.

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Short But Packs A Punch – A Day In the Life by Andrew Masseurs #AndrewMasseurs

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MY REVIEW

A Day In the Life by Andrew Masseurs is one of those books that is very hard to review without spoiling any of the goodies inside. At only 86 pages, it packs a wicked punch.

I love apocalyptic novels, and Andrew Masseurs’ debut novella has Michael awakening to a desolate world where he is the only survivor. As he searches for his wife and daughter, he finds he is not alone after all. Each day passes with more strange and dangerous creatures making an appearance and I wondered how in the world Andrew Masseurs would wrap this up.

I was swept away by the story and had more than one OH NO moment that left me devastated. I felt like weeping with Michael and wondered how he would pick himself up and make it through another day. The ending…

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Michael awakens to a world where everyone has disappeared. Not only must he come to grips with the sudden loss of his family, but he must also survive in a changing, overgrown, dangerous world filled with new predatory creatures. A Day in the Life for a man on the edge.

  • Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
  • 86 pages, Paperback
  • Published November 10, 2023 by Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd
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Giveaway – Prick by D L Hammons @XpressoTours

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Prick
DL Hammons
Publication date: December 12th 2023
Genres: Suspense, Thriller, Young Adult

People are dying under mysterious circumstances in the small town of New Haven. And the city’s best hope of uncovering the truth rests with a troubled teen and the girl who can’t stand him.

Cassie Underwood’s life is shattered when her younger sister dies in a freak car accident. In her grief, Cassie unfairly blames her sister’s constant companion—Taggart McGill—a boy with a sketchy past and abrasive personality. As Cassie attempts to recover from the loss, she struggles to honor her late sister’s memory by befriending the person she resents most.

Things get complicated when Cassie overhears a fellow student asking Taggart to convince the police another death in the accident had nothing to do with the crash at all. Taggart surprisingly agrees and a suspicious Cassie decides to accompany him in his snooping. She soon learns everything she knows about Taggart is wrong… and he has insight into things that link the car accident to other suspicious deaths in their close-knit community.

Now it seems there’s only one thing keeping Cassie’s name off the growing list of victims—finding out who Taggart McGill really is.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

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EXCERPT:

“Didn’t my sister ever tell you that the way you dress is a bit clichéd? I mean, look at you. The isolated loner, the social outcast, in a dark hoodie? Really?”

I wasn’t sure what changed, maybe something in his posture, but he seemed to soften.

“It might be cliché, but it’s practical.”

“How so?”

Taggart pulled a pair of white earbuds from inside the sweatshirt and plugged them into his ears, then pulled up his hood, which completely covered his face, blocking me—and everything else—out.

I leaned over the edge of the table, pulled back his hood and yanked out his buds. He didn’t resist.

“Point taken.”

“Obviously not.”


Author Bio:

DL Hammons wrote his first piece of fiction decades ago … to impress a girl (it was moderately successful), and he hasn’t looked back.

He wrote a script for a 15-minute audiotape in the style of old radio shows (i.e., Little Orphan Annie, Dick Tracy), for which his group received an A+ and he was praised for the originality of the story. He was hooked. He later joined the school newspaper and made a name for himself authoring sports articles and feature pieces.

Unfortunately, the seed planted in high school would lay dormant for decades while DL faced the realities of adult life. College exams, school loans, early morning alarms and late-night dinners, business trips, heart-stopping love, dirty diapers, mortgages, coaching clinics, scholarship applications, and everything else that tends to induce follicle disembarkation and enlarged prostates. It wasn’t until his children had flown the coop that “the itch” returned, and he had the time to give it the attention it deserved.

Growing up as a military brat, DL moved around quite a bit as a kid. After graduating from LSU and raising a family in several southern states, he now makes his home in Central Arkansas where he has spent the last dozen years perfecting his voice, splitting his writing time between YA and Adult Mystery/Suspense. Other than being an author, DL claims that the most interesting thing about him is that he lacks a sense of smell. Other passions include (but are not limited to) his family (including his two mini-Australian Shepards) music, movies, video gaming, and cool weather camping.

DL is represented by Tina P. Schwartz of the Purcell Agency.

Knight Rise and Fallen Knight are part of his adult Silent Sleuth series, and PRICK is his first Young Adult book – part of the Taggart McGill Mystery series.

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Detective Amanda Steele – Taken Girls by Carolyn Arnold @Carolyn_Arnold

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MY REVIEW

Taken Girls by Carolyn Arnold is about a prom gone wrong…and it’s all down hill from there.

Detective Amanda Steel works for the Homicide Unit of the Prince William County Police Department. She stays busy with work, but I’m not sure how she would cope if she wasn’t. Sure she loves spending time with her adopted daughter, Zoe, and her significant other, Logan, but she is not one for being idle.

A call for help from her niece Ava, draws Amanda into a missing person’s case. Though it is outside her normal purview, it is the sister, Reese, of Ava’s best friend, Nadine, so she can’t say no. The shit really hits the fan when her niece, Ava, has been taken by the same man who took Reese. I saw it coming, because Ava is too smart for her own britches. She couldn’t stop investigating on her own, but she already had a target on her back.

There was one bump in the road at about 70%. I don’t see Carolyn Arnold letting that slip by and it really bugged me. Other than that, it was another intriguing mystery that kept me entertained for hours. I am looking forward to the next Detective Amanda Steele. novel.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREAD BLURB

Music from the busy dance floor echoes into the deserted room where the Prom Queen lies deadly still. A tiara rests on her soft blonde curls, but her face is frozen with fear, and her painted red lips are forever sealed shut in a silenced scream…

When Detective Amanda Steele’s niece, Ava, begs her to look for a missing schoolfriend, she immediately agrees to take on the case. Eighteen-year-old Reece left home three nights ago after fighting with her mother and hasn’t been seen since. But when the teenager’s body is discovered brutally murdered, poised dramatically at the prom venue, Amanda is devastated she didn’t save the girl in time.

Haunted by the scene, Amanda dives headfirst into the case. Chasing every lead, she is horrified when she discovers a potential key witness strangled in her own home. It soon becomes clear that the killer will stop at nothing to silence anyone who might reveal their identity. So when Ava mentions she saw someone acting strangely at the prom venue that night, Amanda’s heart stops.

And when Amanda’s worst nightmare comes true, and her beloved niece is taken, she knows that every second counts to uncover this twisted killer’s identity and bring Ava home safely. But can she crack the secrets of this killer’s deadly game before it’s too late?

  • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
  • 326 pages, Kindle Edition
  • First published June 20, 2023 by Bookouture
  • Series: Detective Amanda Steele, Book 8

ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from police procedurals, hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

MY REVIEWS FOR CAROLYN ARNOLD

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.no
  • 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!