Teaser Tuesday #83 – For the Love of Grace by Andy Blackman #Andy Blackman

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Teaser

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of booksandabeat.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read. Open to a random page. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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I was offered a chance to read For the Love of Grace by Andy Blackman and I am so happy I jumped on it. This suspense thriller quickly captured my attention and held it throughout.

Thanks Rachel at Authoright Marketing & Publicity and Andy Blackman for the chance to read and review this fantastic novel of love, loss and revenge.

Amazon  /  Goodreads

MY TEASE

Eventually Grace let out a sigh, and said, “Well better get it over with,”and lifted the brown envelope and ripped the top off.

Grace read the short telegram; finally, after staring at the letter what seemed like an eternity, Grace passed it to Julie.

(page 32 in paperback)

The title and cover does not convey how wonderful the story inside really is!

GOODREADS BLURB: Grace Backer had a life full of tragedy. But despite everything, she raised her son, Tom, with her secret intact. Tom is a prodigal child, destined to escape the slums of the East End of London for a better life; circumstances will make him flee his loving mother and their home much sooner than expected.

Tom starts a new life in Odessa, Russia, and with the help of new-found friends starts a business. At last, he is finally accepted into a new and loving family, but one which holds its own dark secrets. A chance meeting with the son of a duke of the realm leads to close friendship and a new business partnership. When Tom decides to move his company to London and have his regal new friend run it, the firm thrives. However, not everything is as it seems, and Tom’s business soon conceals dangerous secrets of its own.

Years later, when Tom finally decides to return to London, he is a wanted man, one hunted by the intelligence agencies. If he is finally to be reunited with his beloved mother and his best friend, he must fight to put the past behind him. But keeping secrets is never easy.

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Teaser Tuesday #79 – Perfectly Tortured by Kristine Mason @KristineMason7

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Teaser

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of booksandabeat.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read. Open to a random page. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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Perfectly Tortured by Kristine Mason

Kristine Mason is at the top of her game with her lates twisted CORE novel of murder and a serial killer. If you love dark suspense and thrills that make you unable to put the book down, you will want to read her stand alone novels.

Perfectly Tortured (C.O.R.E. Above the Law, #3)

Goodreads  /  Amazon

MY TEASE

“And now she’s perfectly dead,” Adeline said on a laugh. “This one will be, too. You have no choice, lover. It’s either her or—”

“Don’t! Don’t you dare say her name.” He glared in the rear view mirror. “Understand?”

(page 40 on Kindle)

I will be reviewing Perfectly Tortured by Kristine Mason on 11.1.16, so be sure and stop by to check out this darkly delicious thrilling read!

GOODREADS BLURB

What happens when you fall in love with the sister of the serial killer you’re hunting? Something perfectly tortured…

ATL agent Harrison Fairclough has one thing on his mind: stopping a serial killer. He knows who the man is, where he lives and who he’s murdered. The problem? He can’t prove Liam Forrester is a killer without exposing ATL—an agency that isn’t supposed to exist. Needing to get close to Liam, and lead investigators to him before someone else dies, Harrison comes up with the perfect solution…he dates the serial killer’s sister. Except his plan quickly derails once he meets the curvy physical therapist. He’s drawn to her sensual smile, comes to crave her kisses and touch, until the body count rises.

Kiera Forrester’s schizophrenic brother, Liam, has occupied the past ten years of her life. He still does, so much that she’s moved to Florida to watch over him. When she meets her new neighbor, Harrison, she’s instantly attracted to the sexy web designer. But as their relationship heats up and Keira realizes she’s falling in love with Harrison, she’s afraid there’s no future for them. The dark secrets of Liam’s past can’t be hidden away, especially when those secrets lead to murder…

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Giveaway & Review – Roma: Underground by Gabriel Valjan @GValjan @NouveauWriter

roma-series-horizontal-befunky-collage      I was drawn into the Roma Series because of the fabulous covers and the storyline.

It made me think of Kathy Reichs and the the TV series, Bones, with her forensic anthropology, only for a character that specializes in forensic accounting.

roma-underground Amazon  /  Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I love the concept for Roma, Underground by Gabriel Valjan…a woman on the run and an investigator and archaelogist on a treasure hunt…of sorts.

If you like procedural novels, Roma is for you. Gabriel Valjan allows Bianca to take us step by step through her investigation, though there is more than one mystery going on.

Want to visit Roma? See some sights? Eat some great food…and lots of it? Then lets follow Bianca as she helps her ‘boyfriend’ solve the mystery of who is smuggling stolen historical artifacts out of the country.

Bianca’s step by step digital search and quick mind will have her ‘gang’ tiptoeing through danger as she tries to avoid discovery from her past employer, a covert US organization. I like that her investigation mirrored a forensic murder investigation, just surfing the internet instead of dissecting a body. She makes me think of Penelope Garcia on Criminal Minds. You must find the parts and pieces and put them together.

Gabriel Valjan is very detail oriented in his descriptions of places and food. He takes us Underground, through caves, and dining in restaurants, showcasing the food enough to make your mouth water. My only complaint is sometimes the details dogged down the pacing, slowing the story and losing the sense of suspense and danger. This could be because I am an action junkie!!!

I questioned how I would get through the entire series, but the deeper into the story I went, the more involved I became. I was already interested in Bianca, but the peripheral characters grew around her, creating their own dilemmas that drew her in, bringing with them an increasing sense of danger.

Roma, Underground’s mystery is wrapped up nicely, but Bianca’s story is still left to our imagination…or the next book, Wasp’s Nest. Thank goodness I do not have to wait, because the entire series is available.

I received Roma Underground free of charge from Gabriel Valjan.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 3 Stars

SYNOPSIS

ROMA, UNDERGROUND (Book #1)

Savvy forensic accountant Alabaster Black is hiding in Rome from her former employer, covert U.S. organization “Rendition.” While there under an assumed name she meets Dante, an investigator, erstwhile explorer and member of the Roma Underground, a band of amateur archaeologists who map the city beneath Rome. With Italian artifacts disappearing at an alarming rate, Alabaster and Dante search for answers and create a trap for the thieves. Through a mysterious online contact Alabaster learns she is being followed, and with her safety at risk she is forced to rethink her chosen alliances and discover hidden truths about herself.

ABOUT GABRIEL VALJAN

gabriel-valjanGabriel Valjan lives in Boston, Massachusetts. He is the author of the Roma Series, available from Winter Goose Publishing. Gabriel has also written numerous short stories and essays found online and in print.

Connect with the author:  Website ~Twitter  ~ Facebook

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GIVEAWAY

  • 5 winners get a paperback copy of CC
  • 5 winners get an ebook copy of CC
  • 1 winner gets whole set of Roma series in paperback (signed)
  • 1 winner gets whole set of Roma series in ebook format
  • 12 winners total
  • Print copies open to USA and ebooks open international
  • Giveaway ends Dec 17

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Teaser Tuesday #78 – Witches by Kathryn Meyer Griffith @KathrynG64

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Teaser

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of booksandabeat.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read. Open to a random page. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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Witches by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Kathryn Meyer Griffith writes some fantastic stories and this paranormal/supernatural suspense novel will have you on the edge of your seat…biting your nails…waiting…hoping…

Witches

Goodreads  /  Amazon

MY TEASE

“Amadeus!” she ordered, and he was in her arms, shivering and mewling like a lost kitten. Something sticky came away on her hands, and she discovered he was covered in blood.

“How?”

Witch coming.

Black witch

(23% on Kindle)

I will be reviewing Witches by Kathryn Meyer Griffith on 10.28.16, so be sure and stop by to check out this wickedly witchy read!

GOODREADS BLURB

WHITE MAGIC
Amanda Givens uses her powers with great care. The people of Canaan, Connecticut would not welcome a witch among them even a white witch a “good” witch. For years, she has lived quietly in a remote cabin with Amadeus, her feline familiar. Bit when an evil coven filled with creatures from the depths of hell torments Canaan with unspeakable horrors and brutal slayings, Amanda knows she can hide no longer. She is the one they are after. And she is the only one who can stop the terror.

BLACK MAGIC
Ever since fanatical witchhunters consigned her to an eternity of fury, Rachel Coxe has been waiting for her chance to come back to life. Now, centuries later, the time is right. Amanda is all that stands between her and her unholy vengeance. Flanked by the forces of darkness, Rachel is ready to unleash all the horror at her command

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Teaser Tuesday #77 – Water Under The Bridge by Britney King @britneyking_

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Teaser

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of booksandabeat.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read. Open to a random page. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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Water Under The Bridge by Britney King

This gorgeous cover looks so nice…doesn’t it? Britney King designed it herself.

Wait til you read the not so nice story inside!!!!!

Water Under The Bridge

Goodreads  /  Amazon

MY TEASE

I have to find you.

You need to know the only friend you need is me.

(7% on Kindle)

I will be reviewing Water Under The Bridge by Britney King on 10.25.16, so be sure and stop by to check out this fantastic suspense thriller!

GOODREADS BLURB

My whole life I’ve wanted nothing more than to fit in.
Only, my whole life I’ve done anything but.
That’s probably because I’m anything but average. After all—female serial killers seem to be a minority in today’s society.
And that’s ok—because I’ve longed for a change for quite some time now.
Which brings me back around to fitting in.
You know what one has to do to fit in?
I do.
One has to blend.
Which is great news!
Because I realize my clock is ticking, so to speak, and now I want a family. Luckily, I’ve always been good at getting what I want.
So I figure what better place to blend than suburbia?
All that stuff I did before—it’s water under the bridge now. I just hope it’s not too late to change my ways. Here’s to hoping for suburbia’s sake, too.
I mean, what are the odds I could be the girl next door?
Apparently, they’re better than you might think.

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Your whole life you’ve wanted to fit in.
Only your whole life you’ve done anything but.
That’s probably because you’re anything but average— you’re a killer— but, then so am I.
You say you’ve longed for a change for quite some time now.
This is good because, well, me too.
Your clock is ticking, you want a family, but you waste so much time.
I know because I’m watching, waiting, blending.
What you don’t realize is if you want me, and I think you do, then you’ll have to change your ways because sometimes hunters become hunted.
But what are the odds of that happening in suburbia?
Apparently, they’re better than you might think.

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FREE Suspense Thriller – Natalie’s Art by Susan Fleet #SusanFleet

I have read most of Susan Fleet’s fantastic thrillers, but this is one I was Missing (look below to get my little pun, hint, it’s the title of another of her books) You can bet I have grabbed my copy, so be sure and grab yours too.

There’s also a wonderful book trailer and check out her bio. She is a very interesting lady.

NATALIE’S ART 31 reviews 4.6 rating   ASIN: B00OSAXLN

Natalie’s Art, a Frank Renzi crime thriller, is FREE September 22-26, 2016

Natalie's Art (Frank Renzi, #5)

Amazon  /  Goodreads

Art heists, Murder and Revenge! In 2010, a ruthless man forces Natalie to steal priceless paintings from Boston’s Gardner Museum. After the heist he intends to kill her. But NOPD Detective Frank Renzi is hot on her trail. Will Natalie escape?

 

ABOUT SUSAN FLEET

Susan FleetFor many years award-winning author Susan Fleet worked as a trumpeter in the Boston area. While teaching at Brown University and Berklee College of Music she began writing crime fiction. In 2001 she moved to New Orleans. Her first crime novel, Absolution, was named Best Mystery-Suspense-Thriller of 2009. Subsequent novels in her Frank Renzi series, Diva and Natalie’s Revenge, have won accolades from reviewers and readers alike. Jackpot is the fourth book in the series.

Susan blogs about true crime and has published twelve of her posts in an ebook. DARK DEEDS: Serial killers, stalkers and domestic homicides. http://darkdeeds.susanfleet.com/dark_deeds_book.html#.UYvV_MqYFaI

For nine years, Susan lived in New Orleans enjoying the music, food and ambiance of the French Quarter. She survived Katrina. She now divides her time between the Big Easy and Boston. Visit her at http://www.susanfleet.com

While teaching at Berklee, Susan created a course about 20th Century female musicians. Her book, Women Who Dared: Trailblazing 20th Century Musicians, spotlights violinist Maud Powell and trumpeter Edna White. http://susanfleet.com/women_who_dared-vol1.html See her profiles of other talented women at http://archives.susanfleet.com

You can stalk Susan at the links below:

Susan has some great book trailers. You can see them on her YouTube page.

Website / Goodreads / You Tube / Amazon Author Page

For more of Susan Fleet’s work, you can check out my reviews:

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It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s… Sharcano by Jose Prendes Review

Flying flaming sharks star in this funfilled apocalyptic thriller, Sharcano by Jose Prendes

I love this cover. Talk about ACTION! I see a lot of it.

sharcanoAdd me to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

OMG! As soon as I saw this cover, I knew I had to have Sharcano by Jose Prendes, so I bought my very own copy. This has been the first book I bought this year.

I read Jose Prendes’ bio and it reads as if it is a short story and great for some laughs.

It all started with the amazing find of an 83′ megalodon beached, mauled and burnt.

I can see it all now. Coming soon to a theater near you…It’s lava sharks!

As soon as Mick Cathcart hears of it, he dumps his daughter at his exes and it’s off on the adventure of a lifetime. He thinks he is God’s gift to women, arrogant and self absorbed.

When Father MacKenzie hung himself in desolation, Father Cox stepped in, determined to change the outcome Father MacKenzie had foreseen.

Reading about Bao and his terrifying and sad, yet uplifting, trial by water was so detailed and realistic, my emotions ran AMOK, highs and lows and back again. He is such a kind hearted and loving child who is put to the test, his losses and sorrow mount. I kept thinking, please Jose, don’t leave him out there alone. His sacrifices deserve a reward.

We have Buck and Trigg, just a couple of good old boys out looking for Sasquatch. They are quite the characters and seem to pop up at just the right time. I can’t help but laugh at them, even though things don’t look so good to me, they don’t seem to understand how up a tree they are.

Volcanoes are popping up from the sea floor, spewing lava worldwide and it is alive.

I can see them, forming in the lava, jumping, flying, determined to find…US!

A plague, the Hell Virus, begins to spread. Humans are facing extinction.

The action is easy to visualize after watching all those Sharnadoes.

Funny, witty, sad, hopeful, uplifting.

The characters don’t all make it to the end, sometimes sacrificing themselves to save others. They grabbed at me, pulling me for and against them. I didn’t always like them, but they all had their contribution to make. 

There is a twist that sets it apart from the B movies I love so much…spirituality.

I was hem hawing and telling myself, yeah I know that, then WTF, then, yeah I know that, then WTF.

Jose Prendes did a great job pushing my buttons at the end of Sharcano. I loved this novel and am looking forward to the next one.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  5 Stars

ABOUT JOSE PRENDES (From Goodreads)

Jose PrendesJose Prendes, international man of mystery, was found swaddled in a basket among the reeds at the mouth of the Amazon. Raised by local shamans, Jose learned the magic of language and decided to dedicate his skills to the betterment of all mankind. He trekked to America at the age of 12, on foot no less, and made his home in Florida for a few years. After discovering a cure for the common cold, and losing it among his comic book collection, Prendes decided to abandon Florida for sunny Los Angeles.

Upon arriving in the city of angels, he was made the leader of a small group of cinephiles who believed he was the second coming of Shakespeare. Wielding immense power, and a ridiculously awesome dvd collection, Prendes continues his struggle to save the world from the coming peanut butter and jelly apocalypse.

Stalk him:  Goodreads  /  Twitter

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A Chilling Mystery – Dark Ice by Dave Stanton – Review & Giveaway

Dark Ice by Dave Stanton took me to a slippery slope and I zigzagged my way to the end.

Genre: Crime, Murder Mystery, PI

Published by: LaSalle Davis Books

Publication Date: April 11, 2015

Number of Pages: 304

Series: Dan Reno Novel #4

ISBN: 098960313X (13: 978-0989603133)

Purchase Links: Amazon Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Dark Ice by Dave Stanton has such a pretty cover and sounded a bit different, so I wanted to check it out.

I wondered if the author was an extreme skier, because he was able to vividly describe the terrain with all my senses involved. I saw the sparkling white snow, I smelt the crispness of the air, I tasted the snow on my tongue, I heard the soft hiss of my skis gliding through the snow, I felt the burn in my legs…

The body belonged to the daughter of General Raymond Horvachek and he had no faith in Captain Galanis’s ability or willingness to solve the murder.  I would have no faith in him either. He was slimy, slutty and way to into himself.

The General wanted to hire Dan to solve it. Dan’s nickname, The Snake, made me think of Kenny Stabler from the Oakland Raiders football team. You can tell what time of year it is as I write this review. Football season coming up and I can hardly wait. Dan had that ball buster kind of attitude and was a party animal, until he met Candi.

His friend, Cody, on the other hand is still going strong and still quite the party animal. By the way, where is Cody? He just left, and with all the threats against Dan and his girlfriend, I would think Cody would be right behind them…but when the shit hit the fan, heeeeee’s back. I thought the book was too well written for Dave Stanton to forget about him, but I was surprised by how long it took for him to make another appearance. He is a great character and adds a bit more spice to the story.

The killer was no one I suspected, but there is a reason for that. I cannot tell you why, but it didn’t work for me.

I was curious and would not quit reading until I had the answers, but the road to get there seemed confusing and disjointed at times. I see why he kept two courses of action going, it did keep the suspense level up there, but It didn’t work very well for me. It kind of seemed like it was action for action’s sake. Or maybe it was just my mood. I finished the book in one sitting and it did keep me involved, so I would recommend you give this a try if you are in the mood for a “chilling” mystery on a cold winters night.

I received a copy of Dark Ice by Dave Stanton in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  3 Stars

SYNOPSIS

Two murdered girls, and no motive…

While skiing deep in Lake Tahoe’s backcountry, Private Eye Dan Reno finds the first naked body, buried under fresh snow. Reno’s contacted by the grieving father, who wants to know who murdered his daughter, and why? And how could the body end up in such a remote, mountainous location? The questions become murkier when a second body is found. Is there a serial killer stalking promiscuous young women in South Lake Tahoe? Or are the murders linked to a different criminal agenda?

Searching for answers, Reno is accosted by a gang of racist bikers with a score to settle. He also must deal with his pal, Cody Gibbons, who the police consider a suspect. The clues lead to the owner of a strip club and a womanizing police captain, but is either the killer?

The bikers up the ante, but are unaware that Cody Gibbons has Reno’s back at any cost. Meanwhile, the police won’t tolerate Reno’s continued involvement in the case. But Reno knows he’s getting close. And the most critical clue comes from the last person he’d suspect…

EXCERPT

1

The cornice stretched three feet over the sheer face below. There was about fifteen feet of vertical drop before the snow covered slope angled out at forty-five degrees. I inched my skis farther forward, the tips hanging over the void. I was wrong—it was more like twenty feet of mandatory air. And that was the shallowest entry the ledge offered.

I blew out my breath and ignored the sickly sensation of my testicles trying to climb into my stomach. Turning back now would mean a long uphill hike, while the reward for leaping off the cornice was five hundred feet of untracked powder. A slight dip to the left marked the most forgiving launch point. I pushed myself back and sidestepped higher up the ridge. A couple deep breaths, then I released my edges and glided toward the dip.

In a second I launched over the precipice, my hands thrust forward, my knees tucked toward my chest. As I dropped, I could see the distant desert floor of Nevada fall behind the stands of pine and fir at the bottom of the bowl. I extended my legs in the instant before I touched down and absorbed the shock, blinded for a second by a blast of snow. Then I cranked my skis on edge, bounced out of the fluff, and made a second turn through the deep powder. It had snowed about a foot last night, but here the fresh coverage was at least two feet, maybe more. Bottomless under my boots.

Twenty turns to the glade below, my heart pounding, my body disappearing in blasts of powder, the white coating me from head to toe. When I reached the tree line, I skidded to a stop and caught my breath. Then I looked up and admired the S-turns I’d left on the otherwise unblemished slope. Not bad, I thought, smiling at the understatement. Most of the winter storms that blow through the Lake Tahoe region come out of the warm Pacific and dump wet, heavy snow, creating the notorious Sierra cement. But last night’s blizzard swept in from Alaska, bringing colder and lighter snow. As a result, I was in the right place at the right time.

I skated along the terminus of the bowl and turned into the trees when they became sparse enough to allow passage. This was the Nevada backcountry, unpatrolled, accessible by ducking the boundary ropes at the highest elevation of South Lake Tahoe’s ski resort, right at the California-Nevada border. Before me lay 4000 feet of descent to the high desert floor where I’d parked my truck, near Route 207 outside of Gardnerville.

It was slower going now, the terrain interrupted by tangles of deadfall and icy patches where the wind had scoured the surface. I picked my way through it, my skis alternately sinking in powder then chattering and scraping across slick bands of ice. Finally I spotted a clearing—a wide, sweeping snow bank that fell toward a collection of pines hundreds of feet below. I rode the section like a surfer on a wave, turning down off the lip then riding back up, staying high and avoiding a flat area that would likely necessitate a hike.

When I reached the trees below, I entered a broad glade, the trunks spaced at wide intervals, the snow as soft and uniform as a white pillow. The morning sun had just appeared from behind a swath of swift moving clouds, and the snow glittered with pinpricks of light. I took a long moment to take in the scenery, then I picked a line and pushed off into the mild grade. The pristine snow held no surprises, the powder light and consistent, making it easy to find a rhythm. Floating through the trees and leaving a wake of rounded tracks, I become immersed in the splendor of the moment, as if the setting had been created solely for my indulgence.

My grandiose thoughts came to a crashing halt when I came around a tree and my skis rammed into something solid beneath the snow. My binding released with a loud click, and I flew forward and face-planted in a poof of powder.

“Son of a bitch,” I said, wiping the snow from my goggles. I took a quick inventory of my body and found no injuries. Then I crawled back ten feet to where my ski lay. When I pulled it from the snow, the edge caught, probably on a hidden stump, I thought. Then the powder fell aside, and I saw a flesh-colored streak. I froze for a second, certain my eyes were playing tricks on me. Blinking, I used the ski to push away more snow.

“No way,” I whispered, my heart in my throat. A bare shoulder revealed itself, then a snarl of blond hair strung with ice. I reached down with my gloved hand and carefully pushed aside the hair. The face was half-buried, one eye visible, lashes thick with mascara, a blue iris staring blankly. Using both hands like a shovel, I pushed away the bulk of the snow covering the upper body. A sour lump formed in my gut. The body was naked, the skin that of a young woman, perhaps a teenager.

 

ABOUT DAVE STANTON

authorDave Stanton is the author of five novels in the Dan Reno private eye series. They do not have to be read chronologically to be enjoyed, but for those who want to know, the order is: Stateline, Dying for the Highlife, Speed Metal Blues, Dark Ice, & Hard Prejudice.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1960, Dave Stanton moved to Northern California in 1961. He received a BA in journalism from San Jose State University in 1983. Over the years, he worked as a bartender, newspaper advertising salesman, furniture mover, debt collector, and technology salesman. He has two children, Austin and Haley, and lives with his wife, Heidi, in San Jose, California.

Stanton’s five novels all feature private investigator Dan Reno and his ex-cop buddy, Cody Gibbons.

Catch Up:
author's website author's twitter

GIVEAWAY

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours for Dave Stanton. There will be one US winner of 1 $20 Amazon Gift Card. The giveaway begins on September 1st, 2015 and runs through September 31st, 2015. For US residents only.
Stop by the Tour Participants sites to get chances to win copies of Dark Ice & more!

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Tour Participants:

9/02/2015 showcase @ Bookalicious Traveladdict
9/03/2015 guest post @ Books Direct
9/03/2015 showcase @ The Pen and Muse Book Reviews
9/04/2015 showcase @ Bloody Bookish
9/05/2015 Interview, spotlight w/excerpt @ BooksChatter
9/06/2015 interview @ Suspense Magazine
9/07/2015 showcase @ Mythical Books
9/08/2015 review @ VicsMedia Room
9/09/2015 review @ Mallory Heart Reviews
9/10/2015 guestpost @ Writers and Authors
9/10/2015 review w/interview @ Deal Sharing Aunt
9/14/2015 review @ Marys Cup of Tea
9/15/2015 review @ A Fold in the Spine
9/15/2015 showcase @ Sapphyrias Book Reviews
9/18/2015 review @ Bloody Bookish
9/21/2015 review @ For Life After
9/24/2015 review @ fundinmental

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Are They Human? Novus by Crystal Marcos

The simple cover of Novus, The Cresecren Chronicles, by Crystal Marcos hides the action inside.

If you like apocalyptic/dystopian adventure with characters that will win your heart, then Novus is for you. This is a series, so we will follow Cayden and his mismatched band of “family” as they struggle to survive and create a new world.

Add me to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

Novus – Latin for new

Novus by Crystal Marcos is the first book in The Cresecren Chronicles, an action/adventure, dystopian/apocalyptic romance of an inhuman sort. This is a series and after finishing the first book, I can hardly wait for the next.

I was drawn to Cayden’s story from the opening chapter. He is a Cresecren, created to be used in whatever manner his human’s see fit, a slave. When Cayden has served his usefulness, he is sent to Gavaron, with other Cresecren considered rejects and rebels.

He immediately hooked up with Alecander, even though they do not have friends, sex or mates…like humans.They are infertile. Is that considered a curse or a blessing? So what did he feel for Linnaya?

When we do get to Novus, a charming town – “A place to start over, a place to begin, a clean state…” – Just when I thought they were safe, this mismatched band of friends will be put to the test.

I became complacent, lulled into a sense of comfort by Crystal Marcos’s writing. Things are not what they appear to be and there is imminent danger of a different kind.

I felt happy in those moments when the characters could celebrate and enjoy life, and deep sorrow when tragedy struck.

The descriptive writing led me to visualize the action and the world that surrounds the characters. Example: Every once in a while her copper sandals would peek out as if to say hello. How great is that?

Novus made me think of our Civil War, but with a twist. The “people” just want to be free, human and Cresecren alike. The characters have become a family, of sorts, and I am totally invested in their survival. I marveled at their willingness to put their life on the line for each other as they began to realize their feelings and the ability to care. The Cresecren are not just robots, with no feelings and desires of their own. They had more in common with humans than anyone thought…or is that what put them in so much danger, hunted down like criminals or terrorists.

I love Novus and I look forward to more Cresecren adventures with Cayden, Linnaya and the family, as they struggle to make a free life and stay alive.

I received a copy of Novus by Crystal Marcos in return for an honest and unbiased review.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Ideal for Hunger Games and Divergent fans, Crystal Marcos delivers Novus, a riveting novel set in a dystopian future of action-adventure, suspense, and romance. Intriguing characters and a gripping storyline keep the reader turning page after page.

Being a teenager is hard enough. And what if your life’s path is predetermined? On top of that, you aren’t even Human?

Cayden was given life as a Cresecren. He expected to live out his days with the dysfunctional Human family he was assigned to serve. One fateful night, however, landed him in Gavaron, the home of maimed, elderly, or defiant Cresecren.

Beyond its borders is the Den, an area much more dangerous than he ever imagined. Now seventeen, Cayden unwittingly becomes involved in a conspiracy and is one of a handful of survivors fleeing a deadly attack. They set off on a perilous journey in search of refuge and the truth. Along the way, Cayden begins to comprehend the difference between fully living and merely surviving, while trying to balance his emotions and a forbidden love.

5 Stars -I would recommend not starting Novus (The Cresecren Chronicles, Book 1) by Crystal Marcos if you have anything planned for the rest of the day, as you will most likely not want to put the book down! . . . It’s the kind of book whose characters you miss when you finish the book. -Readers’ Favorite

ABOUT CRYSTAL MARCOS

Award-winning author Crystal Marcos has been a storyteller her entire life. As the oldest of five children, she had to do a lot of entertaining. She lives on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington State with her husband and daughter Kaylee, with another child on the way. Crystal is the author of BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale and HEADACHE: The Hair-Raising Sequel to BELLYACHE. Novus, her third book and first Young Adult novel, is Book One of The Cresecren Chronicles.

Stalk Crystal Marcos: Website  /  Goodreads  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

BUY AT:  Amazon  /  B&N  /  Kobo ibooks  /  Smashwords

My review for – A delicious tale – Bellyache by Crystal Marcos

 

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You can’t run from A Killer Past by Maris Soule

A Killer Past by Maris Soule

Can we run from the past? I don’t think so.

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MY REVIEW

I was drawn to A Killer Past for numerous reasons, the title, the cover, the blurb and the location, Michigan. I love to read books that are in a location I an familiar with and I know a bit about Michigan. This is not your comfy, cozy mystery.

Sergeant Jack Rossini had been called to a scene where two gang members claimed to be beaten up by a little old woman. After they arrived at the hospital, they changed their story to ninjas, ending with they fell.

That little old lady is Mary Harrington, who is 74 and looked like easy prey. Boy were they wrong. She kicked their ass, but that created a big problem for her, exposure. Now, not only is she in danger, but also those close to her. How far would they go to keep the past buried?

I knew the premise of the story was a forgone conclusion, but I was looking forward to some twists and turns that would entertain me. The first one was Mary Harrington.

I mean…a 74 year old woman is the main character and her hidden past forces her to go on the offensive. Even though it had been years since she had used martial arts, actions were done by reflex. All her training had paid off.

Even after being warned, Jack does not let the mystery lie. He wants answers. Will he get them? Will he wish he had left well enough alone? We shall see.

Seeing I am no spring chicken myself, it was hard to buy into her kicking ass and taking a few kicks herself, then walking away. I know surprise was on her side, so I’ll give it to her. I don’t know what is missing in A Killer Past, but I did not feel a sense of urgency. I knew the gang members would retaliate, I mean, they are gang members, after all. Isn’t that what they do? It took me three days to read it. It lacks that something extra that makes it unputdownable. Nevertheless, A Killer Past was worth reading and I did enjoy it. I would recommend this as a not so cozy, easy reading mystery.

I received A Killer Past by Maris Soule in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  3 Stars

SYNOPSIS

When two gang members choose Mary Harrington as their target, the quiet widow has a secret to share of her own

Most people in the town of Rivershore, Michigan view Mary Harrington as a quiet widow whose only oddity is that she spends a lot of time at the gym. Her son thinks it’s time for her to move into a retirement home. Two gang members think she’ll be an easy target. No one in Rivershore knows what Mary did in her younger years—really did—but the two gang members discover they’ve underestimated their victim . . . and Mary fears reverting to old habits may have jeopardized her future.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Profile photoAward winning author of 25 romances, 2 mystery and 2 short stories, with 2 suspense novels coming out 2015. Maris Soule was born and raised in California but moved to the midwest two years after her marriage. She is a member of MWA, MMRWA, Sisters-in-Crime, RWA, FWA, and Authors’ Guild. Soule is still married to the same man, has two grown children, and two granddaughters. She is currently working on another mystery, this one set in Skagway, Alaska.”

Website  /  Facebook  /  Twitter  /  Google+  /  LinkedIn  /  Goodreads

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.
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