Silk by Chris Karlsen - Review and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Chris will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

What would you do to stay young: Lie, Manipulate..kill?

London-Fall, 1888

The city is in a panic as Jack the Ripper continues his murderous spree. While the Whitechapel police struggle to find him, Detective Inspector Rudyard Bloodstone and his partner are working feverishly to find their own serial killer. The British Museum's beautiful gardens have become a killing ground for young women strangled as they stroll through.

Their investigation has them brushing up against Viscount Everhard, a powerful member of the House of Lords, and a friend to Queen Victoria. When the circumstantial evidence points to him as a suspect, Rudyard must deal with the political blowback, and knows if they are going to go after the viscount, they'd better be right and have proof.

As the body count grows and the public clamor for the detectives to do more, inter-department rivalries complicate the already difficult case.

Silk on the skin—luxurious, luscious..lethal.

Read my review:

I absolutely love Victorian mysteries, so was very excited to have the chance to review SILK by Chris Karlsen. It's the first book in her Bloodstone series.

Detective Inspector Rudyard (Ruddy) Bloodstone are embroiled in another serial killer case as the Whitechapel police are worried about Jack the Ripper. The book is highly unusual, because it begins in the killer's POV with his first, albeit somewhat accidental, killing. From time to time during the book, the author gives us another glimpse into the killer's mind and life, adding another dimension to the story.

You also have the political aspects to the case which add yet another layer as well as getting to see a bit of Ruddy's personal life.

This is a departure from Chris's other books we've reviewed, but no less well-written. Her characters are three-dimensional, fully-fleshed out people with both good and bad points (including the killer). The setting draws you back to Victorian England and, while you are reading the book, you are there. Actually, even after I stopped reading it took me a few minute to re-acclimate myself to the 21st century!

This is definitely a series I'll be putting on my auto-buy list! 5 flowers.

Enjoy an excerpt:

Events of the day and the potential satisfaction of giving Napier a bloody nose dwindled. Questions about the murder crept back into Ruddy's thoughts. Morris joined him at his table in the rear of the pub with a Guinness, the popular beer of choice in hand. “You’ve got the look of a man whose thoughts are a long distance from London.”

“No, sadly my thoughts are fixed here in the city. I’m trying to figure out a clue. Ellis’s roommate said she’d sometimes meet with a well-dressed man, a man of means the victim indicated. They’d meet up at the fountain by the British Museum.”

“Don’t know the spot but then the museum isn’t my cup of tea.”

“Not the point. I’m saying it’s odd. What member of the upper class chooses to stroll through a public garden other than Hyde or Regents, where they can see and be seen by one of their own?”

“I agree the wealthy prefer the parks filled with others of their kind but it doesn’t mean a man can’t enjoy someplace different.”

“We interviewed the guard again. The one that discovered the body walks that half of the building. He told us the majority of their male patrons are natty dressers, but he never saw a man like that loitering by the fountain.”

“My guess is: the man is married and can’t afford to run the risk of being seen by a friend of his wife’s. Or, he might live or work in the area and the spot is convenient.”

“Or, he’s a murderer who’s noticed the victim walking through the park on a regular basis, saw it as an opportunity and cozied up to her.”

Ruddy took another swallow of his ale, mentally debating the merit of each theory. “I don’t think he lives in the area. If so, he’d have cut through the park more and been seen by the guards. Not sure about the married man having a tryst idea."

To Ruddy's way of thinking, if the man was married and looking for a tumble, he’d have met her someplace other than the gardens and at a better hour.

Instinct drew him back to his original sense of the culprit and crime. “I feel like this was a crime of opportunity. I’ve thought it all along and can’t shake the sense.”

“If he was just seeking a victim, then why haven’t you had more murders like this?” Morris asked.

Ruddy downed the rest of his beer and put his tankard on the edge of the table where June would refill it. “Everyone has to start somewhere. She might be number one.”

Enjoy the book video:



About the Author:

I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.

My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.

I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream. I write two different series. My paranormal romance series is called Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is Dangerous Waters.

I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband, four rescue dogs and a rescue horse.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4822048.Chris_Karlsen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorckarlsen
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chriskarlsenwriter
Website: http://chriskarlsen.com/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Chris-Karlsen/e/B005HYTQQI
BN Author Page: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/chris-karlsen

Buy the book at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

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Ignifer's Rise by Michael John Grist - Review and Giveaway

This review is in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Michael will be awarding an autographed print copy of Ignifer's Rise to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter.

The fate of the world is written in scars. In a bleak industrial city where marks in skin are a sentence to death, Sen is a child condemned. Cursed with mysterious scars carved by his own mother's hand, he leads a fearful hidden life in the city's last abbey.

Then the King's brutal Adjunc attack, and Sen barely escapes with his life. Lost and alone in the city's dark hinterlands, he begins an exhilarating race to find the truth behind his scars. In stinking black sewers and the lava-buried ruins of an ancient civilization, he uncovers a truth far stranger than he ever imagined, laid out by his long-dead mother: an apocalypse god is rising, and only the legendary hero Saint Ignifer can stop it.

But Saint Ignifer is dead.

Revolution rocks the city. The blood of all castes runs in the streets. With a storm of new faith raging out from the barricades, Sen must embrace the terrible fate his mother wrote in his scars- in the volcano's caldera, at the end of the world- before the black jaws of the apocalypse descend. For the Rot is coming, and the Saint must rise.

Read the review:

Mr. Grist has put together an epic saga that has some pretty amazing world building. The book starts out with a bang--the world is being destroyed by the Rot and Avia is desperate to save her son-- but we don't truly know why until much later in the book.

The book is very much a coming of age novel in a way. Sen is desperate to know why his mother scarred his body and what she saw of his future. However, she's not around to ask, having died when he was only four years old. He's now fourteen and the life as he knows it is about to change--a change prophesied by his mother, who chose from five different castes to come to the convent and be with him. He doesn't understand the profound changes they will make in his life and his thinking.

Once truths start coming to light, Sen realizes he has a mission before he can fully understand what's going on and what his part in the world is.

As I said, this is a remarkable feat of world building and Mr. Grist's prose is almost lyrical. The characters (and there are many) are well drawn and memorable. Even though the book is long (over 400 pages) it's never boring or dragging.

Once Sen discovers the complete truth and sees his role in the future, it's heart-wrenching to see what he goes through to put things right. The emotions are there--the reader feels what each of the characters feel and is actually there with them.

This the first of a series--this reader is very excited to find a new author to satisfy her fantasy cravings. Good job, Mr. Grist. 5 stars.

 Enjoy an excerpt:

Sometime after his four hundredth posting he saw the creature clearly for the first time.

In the distance over a dawn-dappled roof-rise, it was an insect-thin figure bowed beneath a bulbous sack, tearing at a posting stuck to a foundry's brick wall. Sen's heart lurched with a sickening double beat, then he dropped his pack and bucket of paste, sprinted to the cornice, slid hand over hand down an anchored revelatory tube, and landed near where the creature was scrabbling.

It turned slowly, and for a moment Sen's knees weakened as he met its Sectile eyes.

A Spider.

The caste was Unforgiven, excised in the city for centuries as a monster. He'd only ever heard of them in the legends of Saint Ignifer, but here it stood before him, fear blooming off it. Its shaggy black head was monstrous, too large for its shrunken body, blooming with bulbous compound eyes. Within its lipless black mouth waggled only dark stubs, where long mandibles should have protruded. It stood on two stick-thin Sectile-limbs, with two raised to the wall, while only bulges within its brown mocking coat hinted at its remaining four limbs.

Sen stared at it, and it stared at him, the moment stretching out in the pink dawn light.

"What are you?" Sen asked at last.

The sound broke the spell, and the Spider hurled its sack of papers down and took off down the nearest alleyway.

Sen sprinted after it. His feet hammered the cobblestones, his arms pumped, and the strange Spider bolted along with an awkward and rolling grace, its four limbs twisting in unnatural ways. It turned left onto a hawking street just beginning to fill with morning crowds, sped amongst them like water through a sieve, never losing pace as it darted left and right, always ahead.

About the Author:

Michael John Grist is a 34-year old British writer and ruins photographer who lives in Tokyo, Japan. He writes dark and surreal science fiction and fantasy, inspired by authors such as David Gemmell and Orson Scott Card.

In his free time he explores and photographs abandoned places around the world, such as ruined theme parks, military bases, underground bunkers, and ghost towns. These explores have drawn millions of visitors to his website: michaeljohngrist.com and often provide inspiration for his fiction.

You can buy Ignifer's Rise on Amazon and Amazon UK. Sign up for his releases newsletter. Friend him on Facebook. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Yucatan Dead by D.V. Berkom - Review and Giveaway

(Thriller Action/Adventure)

This review is posted in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $50 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

"...an unrelenting thriller of a tension-filled novel...Yucatan Dead is the stuff of which blockbuster movies are made...very highly recommended..." ~ Midwest Book Review

"...Yucatan Dead is a gripping thriller with a gutsy heroine and a tightly woven plot; it will no doubt please Berkom's current fans and gather more." ~ Pacific Book Review

"...Yucatan Dead ratchets up the tension from the start as Kate deals with hit women, warring Mexican drug cartels, and unofficial paramilitary organizations. Survival is never a given..." ~ Big Al's Books 'n Pals

She was a dangerous man's lover...now she's his dangerous enemy.

YUCATAN DEAD...

For Kate Jones, being on the run from her former lover--the vicious leader of a Mexican drug cartel--was never going to be easy. But with a new identity, a new lover, and a new life in Arizona, she was beginning to believe she'd made it through the worst.

Then, in an act of twisted revenge, Kate's kidnapped and imprisoned by her deadly enemy, his intention to force her to pay back the money she stole before he kills her.

Fate intervenes and she finds herself working against the cartels deep in the Yucatan with a group of off-the-grid commandos. From peaceful northern Arizona to the steamy jungles of Mexico, Kate Jones must decide for herself if she'll continue to run...

...or turn and fight the evil that pursues her.

My review:

Hang onto your hats, folks, this book is an adrenaline rush from first page to last!

I wasn't sure what to expect with this, especially since it's part of a series -- but no worries, it stands alone just fine. And honestly, once you start reading, you're not going to care much about anything but catching your breath.

Our heroine, Kate, is gutsy and brave, but unfortunately made the bad choice of being involved with a man who turned out to be part of the Mexican drug cartel. She left, helped put him in jail and then went underground. Unfortunately for her, there is nowhere to hide when someone that powerful wants you found.

I don't want to give away any of the story, but just know going in that you'll be on a nonstop rollercoaster ride. No one is safe here, and nothing is certain, even the survival of our protagonist and several other main characters. The author is one of the best thriller authors I've read, and I'm still trying to slow down my heart beat from the rush. If her other books are this crazy and amazingly well written, I have a new auto-buy author to add to my list. So while this book may stand alone, I have every intention of going back and starting from the beginning. And I'll definitely grab the next book, because I HAVE to know what happens next. 5 Flowers and a hearty recommendation that you get your copy now.

About the Author:

DV Berkom is a slave to the voices in her head. As the author of two bestselling thriller series (Leine Basso and Kate Jones), her love of creating resilient, kick-*ss female characters stems from a lifelong addiction to reading spy novels, mysteries, and thrillers, and longing to find the female equivalent within those pages.

Raised in the Midwest, she received her BA in political science from the University of Minnesota and promptly moved to Mexico to live on a sailboat. Many, many cross-country moves (and several years) later, she now lives just outside of Seattle, Washington with the love of her life, Mark, an ex-chef-turned contractor, and writes every chance she gets.

For more information, please visit her website at www.dvberkom.com.

Buy the book at Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, or iTunes. Social Media Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DvBerkomAuthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/dvberkom Website: http://www.dvberkom.com Blog: http://www.dvberkom.wordpress.com Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dvberkom/ Amazon Author Page: US: http://amzn.to/oMUb1Z UK: http://amzn.to/pBwClD a Rafflecopter giveaway

Always and Forever Love by Lynn Crandall - Review and Giveaway

(Romantic Suspense)

This interview is in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Lynn will be awarding a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The presence of a ghost in her life doesn't alarm Lacy Aegar, in fact it makes her happy. Two and a half years ago when her dead husband Nicholas reappeared in her life as a full-bodied spirit, she questioned her sanity. But with Nicholas' explanation that there are things about life that are not as she's always believed, she settled into a pleasant routine of working with her sister at their private investigation business and enjoying home life with her now 10-year-old son – with Nicholas never very far away.

Lacey's complacency and sense of stability is sent topsy-turvy when she runs into Jackson Carter, the son of powerful and influential business tycoon, William Carter. Typical of the Carter reputation, Jackson's slick new private investigating business is siphoning off clients from the Aegar sisters' business, creating financial difficulty. It's a recurring nightmare for Lacey, who has already seen damage done by the Carter family, and when she encounters Jackson, she wants nothing to do with him.

But things are not what they seem when it comes to Jackson Carter, either. Unbeknownst to Lacey and her sister, Jackson is fighting a battle to preserve his business, too, and his integrity. For him, it's a fight for his soul, and he enlists Lacey's help because of her unique investigative skills and open heart. When she uncovers a mole in his business, she also discovers that one of his clients' drug trials has been given the green light to go to the next phase based on falsified data. As they work together to save both their businesses, Jackson and Lacey not only face death, they come to grips with their feelings about love and life. With Nicholas's help, Lacey comes to understand that love is always and forever, but in choosing Jackson, she chooses a full life, a life worth living.

My review:

I started reading this expecting a typical love story. Was I ever mistaken. This is a romance, but is totally unique. It even has a mystery and a ghost thrown in for good measure.

It was exciting for me to follow the hero and heroine through the story. I never knew how it was going to end, which I loved. It was not predictable, and this in itself was unique.

There is mayhem, romance, mystery and excitement throughout the story and yet, through it all, I had a feeling of tenderness, kindness and love.

I don't want to go into any further details. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone. I just want to say, "I LOVED IT"

I am giving it 5 flowers.




Enjoy this excerpt:

Noting that the receptionist’s desk was empty, Lacey glanced at the wall clock and casually wondered why Michelle wasn’t at her desk by 10:30 a.m. But the thought was quickly forgotten when sounds of anguish spilled out from behind the door of the private office she shared with Sterling.

“I can’t believe it!” Sterling fumed.

“Can’t believe what?” Lacey walked to her desk and tossed her purse in a nearby chair, slightly alarmed by her sister’s dismay.

“Oh, when it rains it pours, I guess.” Sterling’s sleek, chestnut hair fell over her face as she leaned her head on her hands.

“If it weren’t for bad luck we’d have no luck at all?”

“We’re between a rock and a hard place,” Sterling came back with from under her hair.

“Well, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” It was a common game for the sisters, something to test their edge and sometimes to relieve stress. But Lacey knew this time something was serious. “Wanna tell me what’s up?”

Sterling lifted her head but didn’t meet Lacey’s eyes. “I just got off the phone with my husband. Ben said the word from the higher-ups is keep the overtime down.”

“I see. Well, that will give you more time together. He’s been working an awful lot of hours lately. Homicide work can be very taxing. It’ll be good for him to have more time with you and the family.”

Sterling sighed, shifting back into her seat, before turning a sad face to her. “Always looking on the bright side, aren’t you, sis. Well, there’s more. The city is negotiating with the police union, but so far it looks like the cost of health insurance is going to go way up.”

“Oh, more out-of-pocket expenses.” Lacey knew that Sterling and Ben wouldn’t scrimp on health care for one-year-old Joshua—the namesake of Sterling and Lacey’s father—but with the agency’s dwindling income, the couple had already tightened their belt. “A few more macaroni-and-cheese dinners?” she offered halfheartedly.

Then Sterling delivered the final blow. “Lacey, this building’s being sold and the new owners are announcing a raise in the rent.” She grabbed the rental agreement papers from her desk and shook them in the air. “It’s the curse, all over again.”

Lacey knew exactly what her sister was talking about. It was something they jokingly attributed life’s challenges to—the Aegar Curse. It had been haunting them since their father’s death when they were young girls. In moments of lightheartedness or when no other explanations made sense of things, they joked that the curse was handed down from their mother’s side. A great-great-great-grandfather spit on somebody’s grave and— voila! The Aegar curse was born and now signified the sisters’ only inheritance from their maternal side.

She knew that neither one seriously believed in a family curse. Their father had been a cop and it was a criminal who took his life. When their mother had become clinically depressed, it was the loss of her husband that was to blame, not a curse. And when Lacey’s husband was killed by the same crime family that stole their father’s life, it was a perverted mind that pulled the trigger. Still, in the deepest parts of her heart, sad questions remained, stabbing her like hot steel and wondering, why?

“I don’t know what to do, sis.” Sterling shook her head and slumped into the couch that stood against the far wall of the office. “I love what we do. I love this office. I love this couch, the file cabinet. But we’ve lost too many clients to Carter, Inc. He’s like a vacuum sweeper, sucking up all the work. He’s the shiny new thing in town so he’s attractive, but it’s not fair. We’ve worked hard for what we’ve built and we are good at what we do.”

“Hello?” Lacey’s heart leapt into her throat as speak-of-the-devil Jackson Carter poked his head through their office door.

“Can I help you?” Sterling stood and walked toward the man.

“I didn’t see anyone at the front desk and I heard someone was looking for a vacuum sweeper.” Jackson’s eyes sparkled mischievously.

Lacey blinked hard. Words stuck in her mouth. This ubiquitous devil was starting to make a habit of taking her off guard. Deliberately, she turned to her sister. “Sterling, this is Jackson Carter. Mr. Carter, this is my sister and partner, Sterling.”

“Aka, vacuum sweeper.” Jackson stepped forward, his eyes a little too merry, and offered his hand.

As Sterling, looking more than a little awkward, stuck out her hand to the wise guy and acknowledged the introduction, Lacey heard the outer door open and close. Why didn’t I hear that a minute ago? A little warning would have been nice? Where are those keen PI skills when I need them?

About the Author:

Bio: Lynn Crandall lives in the Midwest and writes in the company of her two cats. She has been a reader and a writer all her life. Her background is in journalism, but whether writing a magazine or newspaper story or creating a romance, she loves the power stories hold to transport, inspire, and uplift. In her romances, she focuses on vulnerable, embraceable characters who don't back down. She hopes that readers discover, over and over, stories of ordinary people who face ordinary life challenges and are transformed by extraordinary love.

https://www.amazon.com/author/lynncrandall
www.lynn-crandall.com
@lcrandall246

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Echo Prophecy by Lindsey Fairleigh -- Book Review and Giveaway

(Paranormal Romance)

This review is in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Lindsey will be awarding a $15 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour--the Rafflecopter is at the end of the post. You can see the other stops on the tour here: .

“…we only see what we want to see…what we expect to see…”

Discover what’s hidden—a powerful, mythic race, an ancient Egyptian prophecy, and a love strong enough to shatter the boundaries of time.

Alexandra Larson isn’t human…but she doesn’t know that. As far as Lex is concerned, she’s simply an ambitious and independent archaeology grad student with a knack for deciphering ancient languages, especially the various forms of Egyptian. When she’s recruited to work on her dream excavation, her translating skills uncover the secret entrance to an underground Egyptian temple concealed within Djeser-Djeseru—the famous mortuary temple of Queen Hatchepsut. Lex is beyond thrilled by her discovery…as is the enigmatic and alluring excavation director, Marcus Bahur.

As the relationship between Lex and Marcus heats up, a series of shocking revelations leave the young archaeologist reeling. Once Lex discovers the truth of her ancient Egyptian roots—the truth of her more-than-human nature—the people she trusts most make one final, terrifying revelation: Lex is the central figure of a four-thousand-year-old prophecy. She is the only thing standing between the power to alter the very fabric of time and an evil megalomaniac…who also happens to be her father. As events set in motion over four millennia ago lead Lex and Marcus from Seattle to the heart of Egypt, the fate of mankind depends on one thing: the strength of Lex’s love.

My review: I agreed to read this book, even though I hadn't really checked to see what it was about. I sat down with it and just started reading with no preconceived ideas. By the time I finished the first chapter, I had to stop just to let my heart rate slow down. Wow!! What an exciting start to a story. I was absolutely hooked on just this chapter. I hoped the rest would be as good, but that isn't always the way things work out.

The next morning I brewed a pot of coffee, poured myself a cup and sat down to read. When I finally reached for my coffee, it was cold. So I poured it out, got a fresh cup and picked up the book again. At the end of chapter 16, I reached for my cold coffee, and got up to throw it out. Then without coffee since, I sat down to read again. I just had to know what was going to happen.

Each chapter was a thriller. I was never disappointed. I couldn’t imagine that the next chapter would be as good as the last, but it was always as good or better. Each chapter would reveal, in a suspenseful way, a new and exciting fact that impacted the heroine. I could hardly wait to turn a page. I was completely invested in the plot and the characters. I can't remember the last time I was so utterly caught up in a story.

This is a unique paranormal/suspense/ romance, and not like anything I had read before. It revolves around the heroine and she is the main character in the story. I will not go into details about this story. I wouldn’t want to ruin it for anyone. Basically it revolves around something that happened thousands of years before. And that is all I will tell you about the plot. You will have to read it to find out more. I do not think you will be disappointed.

I absolutely loved this story. I have to give it 5 Flowers because that's as high as we go, but I would give it more if I could.

5/5 Flowers -  I loved this book! It's on my keeper shelf! I highly recommend it.

Now, enjoy an excerpt from the story:

“I thought you might like to see this,” Marcus said softly as he set a flat, wooden box on top of the papers scattered on my desk. Through the glass top, I could see an impeccable, hieroglyph-covered stone tablet.

“Marcus,” I said without taking my eyes from the object in front of me. “Is this—”

“Yes.”

“But where’s the other one? You said there were two.” I was leaning closer to the glass, trying to get a better look at the box’s contents.

“It’s unrelated to our present work.”

I barely heard his words, entranced as I was by the slab of smooth, gray-green schist.

“Lex—”

“Can I open it?” I interrupted, eagerness evident in my voice. I looked up at him, pleading with my eyes.

Marcus grinned and nodded.

“Oh. Wow.” With the glass lid removed, the artifact was even more amazing. Shaped like a closed parabola, the dark stone tablet looked like it could have been carved only a few days earlier. Every inch was untouched by the usual rigors of time. “Where’d you say you found this?” I whispered.

“I didn’t,” Marcus said, avoiding the question.

I gently closed the glass lid and faced him. “Okay, he-who-can’t-answer-an-implied-question, then where did you find it? And when?”

Across the room, one of the other men coughed in a way that sounded suspiciously like an attempt to cover up a laugh.

The corner of Marcus’s mouth quirked, but I couldn’t tell if he was hiding a smile or a frown.

About the Author:

Lindsey Fairleigh lives her life with one foot in a book--as long as that book transports her to a magical world or bends the rules of science. Her novels, from post-apocalyptic to time travel and historical fantasy, always offer up a hearty dose of unreality, along with plenty of adventure and romance. When she's not working on her next novel, Lindsey spends her time reading and trying out new recipes in the kitchen. She lives in the Napa Valley with her loving husband and confused cats.

Website ~ Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Newsletter sign-up

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, or Smashwords.

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Review: Shadow of Perception by Kristine Mason

(Full length, contemporary romantic suspense)

What happens when negligent plastic surgeons receive a taste of their own medicine…?

Chicago investigative reporter, Eden Risk, receives an unmarked envelope containing a postcard ordering her to watch the enclosed DVD…or someone else dies. No Police. After Eden watches the DVD, a gruesome, horrifying surgery, she turns to the private criminal investigation agency, CORE, for help. Only she hadn’t expected that help to come with a catch. Her former lover, Hudson Patterson, has been assigned to the case.

Hudson would rather have another CORE agent handle the investigation. Two years ago, he’d screwed things up with Eden…bad. And as more DVDs arrive, Eden and Hudson find themselves not only knee-deep in a twisted investigation, but forced to deal with their past, and the love they’d tried to deny.


It's been a long time since I've read a book that kept me riveted and left me a little sad and conflicted.  Shadow of Perception did all that and more.

First, kudos to the author for creating a villain who wasn't just plain evil.  So frequently we see sociopaths or villains so psychologically messed up it's hard to believe they could truly exist. There are actually two villains in this book, and one of them will make you question your own idea of what is right and wrong.

The hero and heroine were interesting, to be sure.  The conflict between them seemed to be settled a little too quickly, which made me question just how deeply Hudson wounded Eden before.  I think the greater conflict  was their difficulty in sharing their pasts, their feelings, their hopes for the future.  Also, I wish the issue of Eden's eating disorder had been addressed more completely.  I felt as if she got over it just too easily (though I suppose it's possible she's not actually over it -- maybe if we see her in the future it'll crop up again).

Those were the only real issues I had with this story -- nothing major, just little nit-picky things. The rest of the plot was great.  I admit that my ability to "see" what was happening in my mind was a bit of a  disadvantage here, as some of the scenes are pretty graphic.

I completely loved the secondary characters, but did feel as if I was missing a little of the dynamics between Eden and her sister for not having read book one.  I intend to rectify that mistake immediately.  So many of the other characters are begging to have their stories told and I can't wait for the next book.

The plot was solid, the writing clean, descriptive and easy to read, and I didn't notice any editing errors, but that may also be a credit to the writing keeping me so completely engrossed.   I'm so glad to have been introduced to Kristine Mason and can't wait to keep following the members of CORE.

Rated 5 Flowers - I loved this book! It's on my keeper shelf! I highly recommend it.

Dead Women Tell No Lies by Nora LeDuc - review tour and giveaway

(Contemporary Romantic Suspense)

This review is done in conjunction with the author's virtual book tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. Nora will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so comment here today for your chance to win! Click the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour to increase your chances of winning!



Two months after her disappearance, a young woman's body turns up on a New Hampshire riverbank hundreds of miles from home. Now the murder victim’s identical twin, Rose Blue, tries to use her flawed psychic connection to her sister to solve the tragic case.

Homicide Detective Luke Lennox is skeptical of her abilities and finds the mysterious newcomer a distraction. As the department’s latest hire, he has a lot to prove, and he’s learned from past experiences a personal involvement with Rose will only end in disaster. When a threatening message alerts Rose the murderer dreams of them together, Lennox must stay close to Miss Blue. With the clock ticking and a cunning killer always one step ahead, Luke reluctantly allows her close to him during his investigation. But can he protect her from the danger that lies ahead, or lose his heart and career in this deadly game of doubles?



I started getting tense on the very first page of this story, and it didn’t stop until the very end. It was fascinating, frightening and unique. This is the story of twin sisters who have a strong bond between them. Rose Blue always seemed to know when something was wrong with her sister Dahlia Blue. This last time she was devastated when Dahlia was murdered.

Rose travels to Ledgeview, NH from her home in Vermont because she has to find out what happened and why and who did it. She meets up with the head detective, Luke Lennox, and together they began looking for answers. Luke was not altogether happy with her joining him, but she was determined to find her sister's killer.

Following them was an absolute delight, step by step as they followed every clue they could think of. Sometimes they found a lead, but more often they reached a dead end. They relationship between the two was touching and sensitive, and I really loved the way the author included this so cleverly, that it was a necessary part of the story. Having the spirit of her sister visiting her was exciting and made this story even more interesting.

Throwing in occasional thoughts of the unknown killer only heightened the tension and many times I had to put the book down just to catch my breath. Still, I had to know how it ended so I would pick it up again and turn another page.

Several times I thought I had figured out the identity of the killer and I was always wrong. I like the fact that I couldn’t figure it out until the very end when it was given to me. Then I thought, “of course, I should have known,”. But I hadn't.

This author writes an outstanding romantic suspense. One of the best I have read in a long time. I would absolutely recommend highly.

5 Flowers - I loved this book! It's on my keeper shelf! I highly recommend it.



Now enjoy an excerpt:

A chill seeped into Rose Blue’s hands, through her jeans and stocking feet on the wooden kitchen floor. She paused over her unmade sandwich and stretched the cuffs of her navy turtleneck downward.

The rip of duct tape echoed in her ears. Footsteps crunched against the stones. Closer. Closer.

The granite counter blurred and warped into a granite ledge overhanging a river.

The vision sucked her in.

A shadowy figure hovered over a petite woman wearing a pink parka and lying on the ridge. Clammy strands of blond hair clung to a heart-shaped face, a face the mirror image of her own.

“Dahlia!”

Oh, God! Gooseflesh rippled up Rose’s spine. The shadow bound Dahlia’s hands and feet with gray tape, round and round. Terror flooded Rose’s chest. Goose flesh ripped across her arms.

“Help!” she screamed before the duct tape silenced her sister’s last cry.

Rose gasped and turned over. She was lying on the planked floor in her one bedroom apartment. What happened? The hum of the furnace kicking on followed by a flash of heat filled the first floor apartment.

Her head ached like someone had slugged her. Near her hand, she spotted the butter knife. She grabbed the weapon and crawled toward the granite counter. Gripping the edge, she hauled herself to her feet. She held the blade in striking position while she tossed frantic glances over her shoulder to search the area.

Was she suffering a migraine, going crazy? She listened for the creep of a footstep, the sound of breathing, any noise in her apartment. “Who’s there?”

Nora LeDuc lives in New England with husband, two children, cat, Scaredy and dog, Winter.

Dead Women Tell No Lies is her tenth published book. She loves to hear from her readers.

Visit her website at http://www.noraleduc.com/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Women-Tell-Lies-ebook/dp/B00CY1L0M0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369936905&sr=8-1&keywords=dead+women+tell+no+lies

Tainted Waters by Maggie Thom - review tour and giveaway

(Romantic Suspense)

This review is done in conjunction with the author's virtual tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. Maggie will be awarding a $25 GC, winner's choice to Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Kobo, to a randomly drawn commenter, and an autographed digital copy of Captured Lies to another randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so comment here today for your chance to win! Click the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.



He didn’t commit suicide but who’s going to believe her...

Frustrated at being fired from her latest job and overwhelmed by her consolatory family, Sam decides to move to the family’s cabin at the lake. A place she hasn’t been since her dad committed suicide there twenty years before. Or did he? Snooping is something she’s good at but someone seems to be taking offense to her looking too closely at what has been happening at the lake. What she discovers is shocking. Now she must uncover what’s real and what’s not. All that she learned growing up, may be false.

Keegan, who has recently moved to the area to finish his latest book, is also trying to find out if his grandfather, who’d passed away ten years before, died of natural causes or was murdered.

The descendants of the four families who own the land around the lagoon are dying off. Since Sam and Keegan are the only ones questioning the deaths, they find themselves working together to seek the truth. Are people being murdered? Who would benefit from their deaths? Why would there be barricades and armed guards at the north end of the lake?

To stay alive, Sam and Keegan must find the answers and convince others, before more people are killed... including them.


This was a new author to me, and I wasn't certain about the story. It sounded like a routine suspense/intrique story with a little romance thrown in.

I want you to know that I was only partly right. It was a suspense/intrigue story, with some romance. However, it was not a routine story. There was suspense almost from the very beginning of the book. It was so exciting, and a lot suspenseful and there was just enough romance to make me happy.

The plot moved quickly, and I kept on reading without realizing the time until I was almost finished with it. I just couldn't put it down. This is a definite heart stopping and awesome suspense. I never really knew who the bad guys were, and who the good guys were. Every time I thought I had it figured out, I was wrong. I like this about it. It was never predictable. I really enjoyed being surprised.

Every time I turned the page I discovered something new, different and extremely suspenseful. I know I use that word a lot, but it really applies to this story. This book really came alive to me. The characters were so clearly defined by this author, that I felt I knew them.

I loved this story from start to finish and would recommend it everyone. This is a real worth while book to read. You will not be disappointed.

5 Flowers - I loved this book! It's on my keeper shelf! I highly recommend it.

Now enjoy an excerpt:

“Where is she?”

“Who? DD?”

“Of course, DD. Who the hell else would I be calling you about?”

“DD’s not with you?”

“No, she’s taken off. She said she never wants to see me again.” Shelley’s gut wrenching sobs filled the silence.

“Have you looked everywhere?”

“I’m not an idiot, Sam. This is my daughter.”

“Okay, look Shelley. I know you’re upset. Take a deep breath and tell me what happened.”

“We had a fight last night. She said daddy wasn’t her daddy...”

Sam gasped. DD had been listening to her and Kyle.

“And this morning she’s gone. I’ve looked everywhere. I’ve asked the neighbors. I called the bus line to see if she got on. They’re checking but that could take a while. Then I thought she might have tried to find you.” She started sobbing.

She blinked back tears and swallowed a few times before she asked, “is there any way she went in search of her real father?”

“Kyle’s her real father, Sam.”

“I meant biological.”

“I know damn well what you meant. Kyle’s her father, the other man doesn’t matter.”

“Well, obviously he does Shelley. Maybe you should have told her before now about your affair.”

“There was no god damn affair. I was raped!”

She gasped as all color drained out of her face. “Oh my god, Shelley. I’m sorry. Why didn’t you tell me?” As soon as she said it she realized she was the last person she’d tell. Emotions were clogging her throat but she managed to get out, “I’ll find her. I’ll find her. She’ll be okay. I know you don’t trust me but I promise I’ll bring her home to you.” She clicked off her cell phone. Shelley was beyond talking and she couldn’t take Shelley’s sobs, which sounded like an animal’s keening howl when she’d lost her young.

Always so brilliant Sam. Always so brilliant.

Maggie Thom took the challenge and leapt off, leaving a fulltime twenty year career in management, to write full time. After her initial panic that she might need a straight jacket, she published her first book Captured Lies, October 2012. And now is excited to release her second novel, Tainted Waters, April, 2013. Her third book, Deceitful Truths (sequel to Captured Lies), available fall of 2013. An avid reader and writer her whole life, she decided to break the monotony of wishing to be an author by making it happen. Married to her best friend, she is learning that humor, love and patience help her navigate her way through her twins’ teen years. Her motto: Escape to read and Read to escape.

She can be found at:

www.maggiethom.com
www.facebook.com/authormaggiethom
www.twitter.com/maggiethom2
www.goodreads.com.maggiethom
google +: https://plus.google.com/102887579832939598896/posts
https://pinterest.com/maggiethom2/

Tainted Waters will be available to be purchased at:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/183Jtz1
iTunes: http://bit.ly/18uXqDB
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1026Y47
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/11MrCb4
Sony: http://bit.ly/16AlZCG
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/10qX93O
Diesel: http://bit.ly/14pkwen

Review: A Legacy of Revenge by Harriet Schultz

(Full Length Contemporary romantic suspense)



When a fourteenth-century Scottish oath leads to murder in present-day Boston, the victim's devastated widow seeks revenge. Determined to find and punish the person who killed her husband Will, Alexandra Cameron joins forces with his best friend, Diego Navarro.

The handsome, wealthy and powerful Argentine never expected to win Alex’s heart, yet two years after the senseless killing, their love blazes with heat and passion. Their bliss is threatened by a Scotsman who blames the couple for the death of his son — Will Cameron’s murderer. The ruthless predator targets Alex and forces the deadly game of revenge into its next round.



This is the second book in the series. I read the first book, Legacy of the Highlands, and absolutely loved it. I wasn't certain that this second book could live up to the first. Well, I was wrong to be concerned. You don't have to read the first book to enjoy this second in the series, but if you get the chance, grab it -- it'll be a great read and make your enjoyment of this book much richer.

In this second book, It has been two years since Will Cameron’s body was discovered in a Boston alley, and his widow, Alexandra, now living in Boston, has become very close to Will's best friend, Diego Navarro.

I had forgotten a few details of the first book, but this author very cleverly included facts that made certain that you were never at a loss for what was going on.

This story, like the first, jumped into high gear almost immediately. I didn't want to put it down, but I had to once in a while, just to catch my breath. This book has a lot of twists and turns. This author has a magical way with words, she keeps you on your toes the entire book.

Again, there is a beautiful love story. It had plenty of heat, but the emotions were primary to the relationship. And the love story fit in so well that you could see that it was a very important portion of the whole plot in this tale. Without it, the story wouldn't have worked. I know that I said this about the first book, but it is so important to this book also, that I have to mention it.

I didn't know that there would be more to write about after the first book, but there is plenty going on. This is so important and exciting and I can't believe that I didn't realize that there was more to know after reading the first book.

I really don't know what more to say. If you are looking for an awesome romantic suspense, this is the book for you. I can not remember when I have read a book that was so intense before. This author is one of the best I have discovered in years. You don't want to miss reading this book.

5 Flowers - I loved this book! It's on my keeper shelf! I highly recommend it.



FTC Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Louisa and the Missing Heir by Anna MacLean

(Full length, historical cozy mystery)

Long before she will achieve fame as the author of Little Women, Louisa May Alcott is writing stories of a more dark and mysterious nature. But nothing prepares her for the role of amateur detective she assumes when the body of her dear friend, wealthy newlywed Dorothy Wortham, is found floating in Boston's harbor.

It's well known that Dorothy's family didn't approve of her husband, a confirmed fortune hunter, but Louisa suspects that some deeper secret lies behind her friend's tragic murder...



This is a fun read for all ages especially if any of you have read Little Women or any other of Louisa May Alcott stories. The many details of her life, those around her, her family and her friends are wonderfully shown in great detail. Then in addition, she adds in a wonderfully complex mystery. It was very enjoyable.

That she would take up sleuthing is a foregone conclusion. Her mind is extremely clever and as the story progresses, you will find yourself, along with her, trying to solve the mystery. Every time I thought I had solved it, I was proven wrong, as was she. However she was much ahead of me in figuring out what was going on. As she discovered something new, I would think, “Oh of course.” The fact is, I would not have been able to figure it out, although I was given the same clues as she was.

This is a tale of dark secrets, mysterious men, and a family torn apart with secrets. Louisa dares to confront the mores of the day, and does things that absolutely horrify many of the leading citizens. Her story includes so many facts about Boston in 1854 that I would swear that the author had actually lived there. As she pursues her hunt for the murderer, she is also in danger many times, but is able to handle each situation as it happens.

When she finally finds the murderer, I was surprised. I hadn’t even considered this person. What a cleverly written and fascinating mystery. It makes me want to read more of this series.

5 Flowers -- I loved this book! It's on my keeper shelf! I highly recommend it.

Crimson Footprints by Shewanda Pugh - Tour review and giveaway

(Full length Contemporary romance)

This review is done in conjunction with the author's virtual tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon gift card to another randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so comment today AND follow the tour (if you click on the tour banner above, it'll take you to a list of her tour stops) -- the more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win an awesome prize!



When an insecure, bi-racial woman begins a cloak-and-dagger love affair with a Japanese American man, she is intent on keeping her bigoted family in the dark—albeit with devastating consequences. On the night of her brother’s murder, Deena Hammond stumbles upon Takumi Tanaka, lost and on the wrong end of a .32. After rescuing him from the certain fate driving through the hood in a Porsche will bring, a sweet kind of friendship begins. A balm for her grief. Maybe, Deena likes to think, it happened the day her white mother killed her black father. Or maybe, it was always a part of them, like DNA gone bad. Whatever the case, Deena knows that her family would never approve, hell, never acknowledge her fast-growing love for Takumi. And had he never made love to her that way, in that unraveling, soul-searching sort of way, she could’ve done the same. But love’s a devil that way. So, their game begins. One where they hide what they are from everyone. Anyone. And Tak understands this—for now. After all, Deena’s career hinges on the favor of her mentor and boss, his hard-ass of a father. And the Hammond family is already stretched thin with grief. Yet, each step Deena takes toward family and career brings her closer to an acceptance she’s never had. And away from him.



Truth?  I read this book as a favor for the tour -- it didn't really sound like a book I'd enjoy, but I was intrigued enough to give it a try.  And, honestly, I'm so glad I did. The author is stupendously talented.

The story is one we've read before:  girl from the wrong side of the tracks hooks up with rich boyfriend.  Families disapprove.  It's all very West Side Story.  But the author's added in race issues as well (about as many as you can: Deena, the heroine, is half black/half white and all conflicted and Tak is Japanese).

Even that is far too simple an explanation, though, and this book is far from simple. Deena is making a life for herself, despite her background, and is completely torn between family and future.  Tak isn't quite as conflicted -- he's such a great guy. Yes, his family has its share of issues as well, nevermind that his father is Deena's boss.

It's such a cliche, but I really was sucked right into this book from the beginning, and went from a reluctant reader to an avid one, turning pages to see what would happen next.  Every time I'd think there would finally be a bit of smooth sailing for our lovers, something would happen.  Or when I'd think it couldn't get any worse, it would.

I can't write this review without mentioning the author's skill.  She's truly got some amazing talent with words. She really does paint a picture with her words, from the slums where Deena's family lives, to the office where she works, to Tak's family home.  I could see every setting clearly, as well as each very individual character, and the book unfolded like a movie in my mind.  I was so impressed.

This book was wonderful from it's tragic beginning to its satisfying ending. So, even if you read the blurb to this book and think "meh" like I did?  Don't move on to something else.  Give it a try.  If you like suspense, romance, tons of conflict and great writing, you'll love this book.  I know I did.

5/5 flowers -- I really loved it!

Shewanda Pugh is a native of Boston’s inner city, though she now lives in sunny Miami, Florida. She has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Alabama A&M University and a Master’s in Writing from Nova Southeastern University. Fueled from a young age, her passion for crossing societal boundaries like race, class and culture, is the inspiration for both her cluttered bookshelf and her writing. When she’s not busy obsessing over fiction, she can be found traveling, nursing her social networking addiction or enjoying the company of loved ones.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author.ShewandaPugh
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShewandaP
Blog: http://shewandapugh.blogspot.com/
www.shewandapugh.com

Journey in Time by Chris Karlsen - Review tour and Giveaway

(A Full length, historical / time travel romance)  

This review is done in conjunction with the author's virtual tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a digital copy of her thriller, "Golden Chariot" to one randomly drawn commenter at every stop, and a $50 Amazon gift card to another randomly drawn commenter during the tour., so comment today AND follow the tour (if you click on the tour banner above, it'll take you to a list of his tour stops) -- the more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win an awesome prize!



TRAPPED IN TIME

London attorney, Shakira Constantine, finally agrees to spend the day with her handsome client, Alex Lancaster. While riding in the countryside, the couple finds themselves caught in a time warp and transported back to the 14th century, and an England preparing for war. Everyone believes Alex is the Baron Guy Guiscard...a baron who died in the upcoming battle.

If they can’t discover a way to return to the 21st century, Alex will have to sail with the army to certain death. Shakira will be left alone to survive in the alien and terrifying medieval world.



I thought that this would be just another time travel story. Wow, was I ever wrong. Yes, they did travel back in time, but it was more than that.  First, I want to say that it took me a little bit to get involved with the story, so if you find yourself in the same spot -- stick with it!  It's so worth it!

When Alex, a music producer, meets Shakira, an attorney and a weekend guitar player in a rock band, the sparks fly. He is unable to put her out of his mind, and finally is able to convince her to spend the weekend at his cottage in Gloucestershire.

Their first day is spent relaxing and enjoying the countryside, but the second day is the beginning of their travel back into time. As they are riding, they suddenly find themselves back in the 14th century. They are immediately met by a group of knights who apparently know Alex as Sir Guy Guiscard.

This is where the story really began to grab my attention. Things were not as simple as just being drawn back into time.  The plot is much more complicated than most time travel stories I've read. I had to stop occasionally just to catch my breath and really think about what I was reading. Alex handles the situation well, but Shakira has a difficult time trying to adjust.

I don’t want to spoil the story for you, but I want you to know that I was absolutely in love with this book. I found that once I really got into it, I could not put the book down. I had to know how Alex was going to handle the upcoming battle. I wanted to know what Shakira was thinking when she believed that she was going to be left to handle this situation by herself. Their love story becomes of major importance also. It is very sweet, sexy and romantic.

There are so many twists and turns in this story as they try to find a way to return to the 21st century. I just had to know how this was going to be resolved. I could not even imagine how it was going to end. Every conclusion I came up with was wrong.

I picked this up to read a few pages before I went to bed and couldn’t put it down until I turned the last page. This is really one of the best stories I have read in a long time. I give Journey in Time a definite 5.

5 / 5 Flowers - I really loved it!

I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.

My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.

I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream.

I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband, four rescue dogs and a rescue horse.

Links: http://www.chriskarlsen.com/index.html
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/chriskarlsenwriter
http://pinterest.com/chriskarlsen/