Posted in fiction, Historical, mystery, Spotlight, suspense, Trailer on December 11, 2022

 

 

THUNDER ROAD

 

by

 

Colin Holmes

 

 

Noir / Suspense / Historical Fiction

Publisher: CamCat Books

Publication Date: February 15, 2022

Page count: 384 pages

 

Scroll down for the Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

In this gamble, more than a few poker chips are at stake.

 

When an Army Air Force Major vanishes from his Top Secret job at the Fort Worth airbase in the summer of 1947, down-on-his-luck former Ranger Jefferson Sharp is hired to find him, because the Major owes a sizable gambling debt to a local mobster. The search takes Sharp from the hideaway poker rooms of Fort Worth’s Thunder Road, to the barren ranch lands of New Mexico, to secret facilities under construction in the Nevada desert.

Lethal operatives and an opaque military bureaucracy stand in his way, but when he finds an otherworldly clue and learns President Truman is creating a new Central Intelligence Agency and splitting the Air Force from the Army, Sharp begins to connect the dots. And those dots draw a straight line to a conspiracy aiming to cover up a secret that is out of this world⎯literally so.

 

 

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Praise

 

“[In this] intriguing debut . . . clear crisp prose . . . morphs from a western into a detective story with an overlay of conspiracy theories.” Publishers Weekly

“Sparkling 1940’s dialogue, wry humor, an unpredictable yet coherent storyline, and a breezy style all his own, make Colin Holmes’ somewhat spooky novel, Thunder Road, a winner. I’ll be on the lookout for his next novel.” —Rob Leininger, author of Killing Suki Flood and the Mortimer Angel “Gumshoe” series

“This genre-defying and enormously entertaining romp is Mickey Spillane meets Whitley Strieber meets Woody Allen. I can’t remember when I’ve had so much plain old fun reading a book and just didn’t want it to end.” —Historical Novel Society, Editor’s Choice

“A carefully crafted and original suspense thriller of a read, Thunder Road by Colin Holmes is the stuff of which block-buster action/adventure movies are made. With many and unexpected plot twists and turns, Thunder Road is an inherently fascinating and entertaining novel . . .” Midwest Book Review

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before the pandemic, Colin Holmes toiled in a beige cubical as a mid-level marketing and advertising manager for an international electronics firm. A recovering advertising creative director, he spent far too long at ad agencies and freelancing as a hired gun in the war for capitalism.

As an adman, Holmes has written newspaper classifieds, TV commercials, radio spots, trade journal articles, and tweets. His ads have sold cowboy boots and cheeseburgers, 72-ounce steaks, and hazardous waste site clean-up services. He’s encountered fascinating characters at every turn.

Now he writes novels, short stories, and screenplays in an effort to stay out of the way and not drive his far too patient wife completely crazy. He is an honors graduate of the UCLA Writers Program, a former board member of the DFW Writers Workshop, and serves on the steering committee of the DFW Writers Conference. He’s a fan of baseball, barbeque, fine automobiles, and unpretentious scotch.

 

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Each receives an autographed hardcover copy of THUNDER ROAD

 

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Posted in Book Blast, Giveaway, mystery, suspense on December 9, 2022

 

 

STOLEN OBSESSION

 

Annalisse Series, Book 1

 

Updated for 2022!

 

by

 

MARLENE M. BELL

 

 

Genre: Romantic Mystery
Publisher: Ewephoric Publishing
Date of Publication: March 20, 2018, Revised 2022
Number of Pages: 284

 

 

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

 

 

PEOPLE DIE, BUT LEGENDS LIVE ON.

Manhattan antiquities appraiser Annalisse Drury dreams of a quiet life on the family farm among the sheep she loves, when her best friend is murdered. The police assume robbery is the motive because her friend’s expensive bracelet is missing. But the 500-year-old artifact is rumored to carry an ancient curse, one that unleashes evil upon any who dare wear the jewelry created for the Persian royal family—and Annalisse believes her friend is the latest victim.

Weeks later, Annalisse sees a necklace matching the stolen bracelet at a gallery opening. Convinced the necklace is part of the deadly collection, Annalisse begs the gallery’s owner to destroy the piece, but her pleas are ignored— despite the unnatural death that occurs during the opening. With two victims linked to the jewelry, Annalisse is certain she must act.

Desperate to keep the gallery owner safe, Annalisse reluctantly enlists the owner’s son to help—even though she’s afraid he’ll break her heart. Wealthy and devastatingly handsome, with a string of bereft women in his wake, Greek playboy Alec Zavos dismisses Annalisse’s concerns—until his parents are ripped from the Zavos family yacht during their ocean voyage near Crete.

Annalisse and Alec race across two oceans to save his mother, feared dead or kidnapped. As time lapses, the killer switches mode and closes in on the man who’s meant for Annalisse with the lifestyle she wants most.

But when it’s her turn as the hunted, will she choose to save Alec and his mother, or sacrifice everything to save herself?

 

Hold on for a heart-thumping adventure through exotic lands in this fast moving, romantic suspense mystery by Marlene M Bell.

 

 

Amazon US  ┃  Amazon UK  ┃  Amazon CA  ┃  Amazon AU

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marlene M. Bell is an eclectic mystery writer, artist, photographer, and she raises sheep in beautiful East Texas with her husband, Gregg, three cats and a flock of horned Dorset sheep.

The Annalisse series — mysteries with a touch of romance —  has received numerous honors including the Independent Press Award for Best Mystery (Spent Identity) and FAPA (Florida Author’s President’s Gold Award) for two other installments, Stolen Obsession and Scattered Legacy. She also penned the first of her children’s picture books, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! based on true events from the Bell’s ranch. The simple text and illustrations are a touching tribute of compassion and love between a little girl and her lamb.

 

 

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Tapestry overnighter bag, sterling necklace (handmade in Greece),

autographed copy of updated 2022 Stolen Obsession, $50 Amazon Gift Card

 

ONE RUNNER-UP:

 

Autographed copy of updated 2022 Stolen Obsession

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Giveaway, Review, Romantic Suspense, suspense on November 2, 2022

 

 

 

TARGETED:

 

Three Romantic Suspense Novellas

 

by

 

Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, & Natalie Walters

 

 

Christian / Suspense / Romance / Novellas

Publisher: Revell

Pages: 368 pages

Publication Date: November 1, 2022

 

Scroll down for the Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Get ready for triple the excitement, intrigue, and romance with three heart-stopping stories from your favorite romantic suspense authors!

 

In On the Run, Lynette Eason introduces you to IT Specialist Daria Nevsky, a highly skilled FBI agent with the ability to hack any computer. She must go on the run to find out who wants her dead–and Dr. Ryker Donahue refuses to let her do it alone.

 

In Deadly Objective, Lynn H. Blackburn throws physical therapist Emily Dixon and Secret Service Agent Liam Harper into an impossible situation. They don’t know why the vice president’s son seems to be in the crosshairs of a killer, but they’ll sacrifice anything to keep him safe.

 

In Caught in the Crosshairs, Natalie Walters pits former Army PSYOPS officer Ari Blackman against his colleague, CIA officer Claudia Gallegos, when Claudia is implicated in the murder of a Saudi prince. Can he prevent a coup that would put America at risk?

 

 

 

 

 Baker Publishing Group

 

AmazonBaker Book HouseChristianbook.com

 

Other Baker Publishing Group Affiliates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have read books by all three of these authors, and they never disappoint. This is true with this new book which includes three novellas that tie to other series that they write. I am always impressed by authors that can pack action and romance into a shorter story that doesn’t leave you wanting more. Ok, well, sometimes you want more, but everything is nicely wrapped up within that novella.

All three stories are action-packed from start to finish and feature strong women who know how to get the job done. All three feature different branches of the government – CIA, FBI, and Secret Service – and it is intriguing to see how they all act and react the same, yet sometimes differently, too. Love can be found right under their noses, and despite trying to fight it, reality sinks in, and each woman accepts that the man in front of her is the right one for her.

While I don’t want to play favorites, I think my favorite story was Deadly Objective by Lynn Blackburn. Something about this pairing of a physical therapist and Secret Service agent and the tense situations they endured touched me. Perhaps it was the teen that they were protecting from himself and others.

That isn’t to say that On the Run by Lynette Eason didn’t grab my attention, with Ryker expanding his patient care beyond the hospital walls. Daria was a smart cookie on top of that, and despite her upbringing with a mob father, she runs the straight and narrow.

Caught in the Crosshairs has a swoony analyst, Ari, who has women fawning all over him no matter where they go. Perhaps that is why he has the playboy and James Bond nicknames. That doesn’t stop Claudia from getting her man, both in the field and in love.

These are perfect for reading over lunch or before you turn out the light…but you might have difficulty putting the book down!

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lynette Eason is the USA Today bestselling author of Life Flight and Crossfire, as well as the Danger Never Sleeps, Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master’s degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children.

 

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Lynn H. Blackburn is the award-winning author of Unknown Threat and Malicious Intent, as well as the Dive Team Investigations series. She believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. Blackburn is passionate about CrossFit, coffee, and chocolate (don’t make her choose) and experimenting with recipes that feed both body and soul. She lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina, with her true love, Brian, and their three children.

 

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Natalie Walters is the author of Lights Out and Fatal Code, as well as the Harbored Secrets series. A military wife, she currently resides in Texas with her soldier husband and is the proud mom of three. She loves traveling, spending time with her family, and connecting with readers on Instagram and Facebook.

 

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Receives a paperback copy of 

 

TARGETED,

 

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a $10 Target Gift Card

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Giveaway, mystery, Review, suspense, Texas on October 25, 2022

 

 

 

CONCRETE EVIDENCE

 

by

 

DiAnn Mills

 

 

 

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Pages: 416 pages

Publication Date: October 4, 2022

Categories: Christian Fiction / Mystery & Thrillers

 

 

Scroll down for a giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Bestselling and award-winning author DiAnn Mills delivers a heart-stopping story of a faulty construction job, the discovery of a dead body, and a sinister plot.

 

On the family’s Brazos River Ranch in Texas, Avery Elliott helps run her grandfather’s commercial construction business. Raised by Senator Elliott, Avery has never doubted her grandfather is the man of integrity and faith she’s always believed him to be …. until the day she finds him standing with a gun over the body of a dead man. To make matters worse, Avery’ just discovered a billing discrepancy for materials supposedly purchased for construction of the Lago de Cobre Dam.

Desperate for answers, Avery contacts FBI Special Agent Marc Wilkins for help. As Marc works to identify the dead man Avery saw, threats toward Avery create a fresh sense of urgency to pinpoint why someone wants to silence her. With a hurricane approaching the Texas coast and the structural integrity of the Lago de Cobre Dam called into question, time is running out to get to the bottom of a sinister plot that could be endangering the lives of not only Avery and her loved ones but the entire community.

 

 

 

Purchase the Book

 

 

Praise

 

“* VERDICT Mills . . . delivers another action-packed novel that offers intrigue and an adventurous ride. Recommend to fans of Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason, and Carrie Stuart Parks.” – LIBRARY JOURNAL, Shondra Brown

 

“The confident plotting keeps the mysteries coming, and red herrings will have readers guessing the culprit through to the satisfying conclusion. Fans of Colleen Coble and Susan Sleeman will savor this thrilling standalone.” – PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DiAnn Mills hits it out of the ballpark again! I have enjoyed this author’s books for a few years now, and she can suck me into the story like no one’s business.

This novel mixes politics, murder, romance, family, and forgiveness all in one not so tidy bundle. Many characters are flawed, but there is growth as obstacles are put in their path.

Avery, the protagonist, is a strong-willed woman, but she didn’t get that way all on her own. Taken in by her grandfather as a child, she learns a lot from him about ethics and faith. Both of those served her well over the years but could stand in her way of moving forward with her life. It was interesting how her body reacted to stress at the beginning of the book. She is tenacious and doesn’t back down, which is both good and bad, especially regarding her safety.

Marc is one of the good guys that finds himself smack dab in the middle of this situation because of his father. It is no surprise when sparks happen between him and Avery as the story progresses. I think they are good for each other, but at the same time, they are both stubborn, and someone has to give in at some point.

The mystery has multiple layers, and just when I thought I might know who was orchestrating everything, a new piece of evidence or a suggestion changed everything I thought or believed. By the end of the book, I had narrowed down who was behind all of this, but the truth is revealed in bits and pieces for us to understand.

The characters are well-developed, and I enjoyed getting to know all of the players. I loved Marc’s partner, Roden. He has a good sense of humor and is dedicated to his job with the FBI. He could also play the “good cop” to Marc’s “bad cop.” But they are a good team and were able to put a lot of the pieces together. There are plenty of characters to dislike, including Avery’s parents. They are lowlifes and are only after one thing, money.

Faith is a strong component of this book. Not all characters are strong believers, but many come around and realize that perhaps having faith and believing help soften the edges.

This is a top-notch book that will take you on a fast-paced ride. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. You can download a list of her published titles by clicking here.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a former director of Blue Ridge Christian Writers, and a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She shares her passion for helping other writers be successful by teaching writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

 

 

 

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10/19/22 Shelf Life Blog Review
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10/21/22 That’s What She’s Reading Review
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10/24/22 The Plain-Spoken Pen Review
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Posted in 4 paws, Review, suspense, Thriller on October 23, 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

Secrets, suspense, and a missing sister—who may not want to be found—are at the center of Brianna Cole’s latest enthralling multicultural drama. Will appeal to fans of psychological suspense, gritty drama, and readers of De’Nesha Diamond, Kiki Swinson, Saundra, Wahida Clark, Ashley & JaQuavis, Victoria Christopher Murray, and Shelly Ellis.

“That’s not my sister.” Overwhelmed by shock and relief, those are the only words Deven can muster when she is called to identify the body of a suicide victim. A body she was informed was her sister, Kennedy. But as she stares at the lifeless stranger, she’s filled with questions: Who is this woman? Why was Deven listed as family? And most important, where is Kennedy? Her intuition tells her just one thing: this can’t be a total coincidence.

Desperate to put the pieces together, Deven launches her own investigation. Soon, she finds herself tangled in a web of secrets and lies so twisted that it blurs the lines between fact and fiction. And between the sister she thought she knew and the one who seems to have many hidden, dangerous lives. But only Kennedy would have the answers to increasingly urgent questions. Just one possibility is clear: Kennedy isn’t missing. Maybe she just doesn’t want to be found. And maybe you can never truly know another person. Even your own sister.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Bookshop

 

 

Review

 

What if everything you thought to be true was turned upside down?

This new thriller from Briana Cole threw several plot twists at me that kept me guessing for most of the book. Every now and then, I did guess a few of the twists, but definitely not the major one at the end.

Devan is the main character and it is primarily her POV that this story is told. There are a few sections that share parts of her sister’s diary entries. The story is primarily in the present, but there are flashbacks to her past with her parents and her sister. We don’t learn the full story of her sister and why they lost touch for so many years until much later as the story is unravelling.

I sympathized with Devan, but at the same time she let herself be taken advantage of by the people in her life. She let her boyfriend take advantage of her, personally, I think he was a narcissist. But not to worry, he gets his later in the book. There are people that care about her, but it takes her a little while to fully trust them and their motives. Actually, there are many characters that are hard to trust and for good reason as you will learn.

While Devan’s world is turned upside down, she also learns more about herself and that she is stronger than she realizes.

There is so much more that could possibly be told in this story, but unless there is a sequel, we will just have to make up our own future for Devan and the rest.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Briana Cole is an acclaimed author, motivational speaker, sex educator, and actress. Her novels are known for exploring unconventional relationships and making readers question all expectations about love, lust, and monogamy. An Atlanta native, she graduated cum laude from Georgia Southern University and is a proud member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Her motto and ultimate drive toward success is a famous quote from Mae West: “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

 

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Posted in excerpt, suspense, Thriller on September 29, 2022

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

How do you track down a killer when he has no face?

The corpse of a millionaire antique collector is found in New York on the eve of a major auction. The last thing he saw in the darkness, seconds before his grisly demise, was something that terrified him beyond imagination and was enough to end his life. But was it a man or was it a ghost?

Now detective Kevin Kris must draw on all of his considerable skills in what amounts to the most challenging case of his career, as he sets out to track a murderer who is known as The Man With No Face.

Capable of causing paralyzing fear and death just by his appearance, is the Man With No Face really the embodiment of an ancient Greek monster? And what is the connection between an ancient medallion and a secret project codenamed Chimera 68?

The fate of millions of people rely on just one man to solve an unfathomable riddle.

This cozy, fast-paced, who dunnit mystery is packed full of unexpected twists and turns that will leave you as breathless as Kris, as he tries to keep pace with a foe who is every bit his equal.

 

 

Purchase the book

 

 

Excerpt

 

“The inspector told me that my father went out at 11.30 p.m. and caught a cab to an unknown destination,” Edmund replied.

“Did the police tell you anything else?” asked Kris.

“Only that they found a single clue at the scene of the crime, and I don’t have any idea how it could have got there,” said Edmund, slowly. “There was a book on his chest.”

“What book?”

“Mythical Creatures of Ancient Greece. It was published in New York this year and was opened at the page on Chimera.”

“A monster with the head of a lion, the body of a goat and a serpent for a tail. The offspring of Typhon and Echidna that was slain by Bellerophon, at the command of King Iobates.” Kris nodded. “Was your father interested in Ancient Greek legends?”

“He didn’t know anything about them.” Edmund shook his head. “On the page it was open at, someone had made a simple, pencil sketch of a king on his throne, and some woman…”

 

 

About the Authors

 

Jake is digital marketer and fan of healthy, active lifestyle. He is keen on sport, cinema, books and self-development. Jake belives in power of positive thinking and phisical jerks.

Kate is a teacher. She loves cooking, growing plants, spending time with her family and her lovely pets.

Jake & Kate are creative duo. Besides writing fiction books they developed other creative projects like boardgame and journal for cinema lovers.

 

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Posted in 4 1/2 paws, Review, suspense, Thriller on September 16, 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

NYPD detective turned small town PI Laney Bird is in a fight to save lives—including her own—when an explosion of deadly violence at a block party exposes the crimes simmering underneath her neighborhood’s peaceful façade.

A transplant to the upstate New York hamlet of Sylvan, all Laney wants is a quiet life for herself and her son. But things rarely remain calm in Laney’s life.
When one neighbor, a Russian immigrant, is shot, and his Ukrainian wife disappears—along with Laney’s best friend—at her neighborhood summer block party, Laney will need all her skills as a PI to solve a mystery that reaches far beyond her small town.

As people closest to Laney fall under suspicion, the local authorities, and her colleagues, question her own complicity. And then there’s fifteen-year-old Alfie, her complicated, enigmatic son, obviously hiding something. Even as Laney struggles to bury evidence of her boy’s involvement, his cagey behavior rings every maternal alarm.

Laney’s personal life unravels as she’s drawn into her friend’s dark secrets, and she must ask herself: how far would a wife and mother go to keep her family from ruin? One woman’s desperation is another’s downfall, and with treachery blazing hot as the searing summer sun, Laney realizes she and Alfie are in danger and she must fight to save lives, her own and her son’s included.

 

* Starred PW Review, December 2021

 

 

 

AmazonB&NIndie BoundBook Depository

 

 

Review

 

This is the second in a series about Laney Bird; a retired police detective turned PI in a small town in New York. The cast of characters is back from the first book, but we find that her best friend Holly has a more significant role in this novel. The story is told from Laney and Holly’s points of view, and while they are doing different things, their stories intersect near the end, bringing everything together. The story also flips in time between April and July of the same year. It is essential to share the events in April since it will help the current-day events make more sense.

While we don’t see Alfie quite as much in this book compared to the first one, he still plays a vital role with a new friend and her impact on the situation at hand. There is also a new potential romance for Laney with one of her coworkers, Jack. Actually, Jack is the son of the owner of the PI firm, but that doesn’t seem to bother him.

Multiple storylines are happening, not just between Laney and Holly, but other characters that impact both of them. I enjoyed trying to figure out what certain characters were up to and how Laney was able to make some educated guesses and ended up in the right place to find the details she needed to prove her suppositions.

I was a bit disappointed with some of Holly’s actions, and I’m not sure how she could have taken out a mortgage on her home by forging her husband’s signature. Usually, things like that are notarized. I also couldn’t believe her brother’s let her keep giving them money to support their lives. Granted, one had cancer, but this had been going on for years. I think it was guilt from her childhood that caused her to act this way. But in the end, she could recognize her issues and move forward.

Laney was a bit calmer in this book, but I suppose since it wasn’t her son that was missing, she could think a bit more rationally.

I enjoyed this book more than the first one, and you don’t have to read the first book to enjoy this story. It does give you a little more insight into Laney and her capabilities.

We give it 4 1/2 paws.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Emilya Naymark is the author of the novels Hide in Place and Behind the Lie.

Her short stories appear in A Stranger Comes to Town, edited by Michael Koryta, Secrets in the Water, After Midnight: Tales from the Graveyard Shift, River River Journal, Snowbound: Best New England Crime Stories 2017, and 1+30: THE BEST OF MYSTORY.

When not writing, Emilya works as a visual artist and reads massive quantities of psychological thrillers, suspense, and crime fiction. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her family.

 

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Posted in 4 paws, Review, suspense, Thriller on September 14, 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

She left the NYPD in the firestorm of a high-profile case gone horribly wrong. Three years later, the ghosts of her past roar back to terrifying life.

When NYPD undercover cop Laney Bird’s cover is blown in a racketeering case against the Russian mob, she flees the city with her troubled son, Alfie. Now, three years later, she’s found the perfect haven in Sylvan, a charming town in upstate New York. But then the unthinkable happens: her boy vanishes.

Local law enforcement dismisses the thirteen-year-old as a runaway, but Laney knows better. Alfie would never abandon his special routines and the sanctuary of their home. Could he have been kidnapped–or worse? As a February snowstorm rips through the region, Laney is forced to launch her own investigation, using every trick she learned in her years undercover.

As she digs deeper into the disappearance, Laney learns that Alfie and a friend had been meeting with an older man who himself vanished, but not before leaving a corpse in his garage. With dawning horror, Laney discovers that the man was a confidential informant from a high-profile case she had handled in the past. Although he had never known her real identity, he knows it now. Which means several other enemies do, too. Time is running out, and as Laney’s search for her son grows more desperate, everything depends on how good a detective she really is–badge or no..

 

CrimeReads Notable Debut 2021

Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award Finalist

 

 

 

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Review

 

I always enjoy a psychological thriller, but I’m not sure what that says about me! In this new series, Laney and her son move to a small town in NY to escape her involvement in undercover work in NYC, trying to bust some drug dealers. There are other issues, too, including her husband leaving her because he doesn’t want to take care of their child anymore. We see that Alfie has some issues, but it is sad to see a parent decide they don’t want to parent anymore. So Laney does what she thinks is best to raise Alfie in a safe environment. However, what town is truly safe, especially when it comes to teenagers? When Alfie disappears, Laney goes off the deep end and decides that no one can do as good of a job finding him as she can. While there is some truth to her words, I felt she was somewhat manic when speaking to people and tracking down clues. Granted, she gets the job done, but at what cost?

The story does flip back and forth in time so that we can understand what she was doing as an undercover cop and what impact that has on the present day’s incidents. You might get an inkling about her partner and that perhaps he isn’t who he appears to be.

We also meet Laney’s best friend, perhaps only friend, Holly. I think Holly gets involved for the adventure until that backfires on her, but sometimes you do need to shake up your life. I liked that Holly wasn’t afraid to jump into situations and at least be there to support Laney.

I thought that Laney should have been more accepting of the police helping her find Alfie. Sometimes small-town police don’t take everything seriously, but I think one officer did despite her impetuous actions. But her actions might have caused more problems despite the results she achieved.

While I had a feeling where this book was going, it still kept me engaged, and the ending sets up the next book or at least a portion of it. That book is next on my list to read, so look for a review in a few days.

Overall, a suspenseful book, and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Emilya Naymark is the author of the novels Hide in Place and Behind the Lie.

Her short stories appear in A Stranger Comes to Town, edited by Michael Koryta, Secrets in the Water, After Midnight: Tales from the Graveyard Shift, River River Journal, Snowbound: Best New England Crime Stories 2017, and 1+30: THE BEST OF MYSTORY.

When not writing, Emilya works as a visual artist and reads massive quantities of psychological thrillers, suspense, and crime fiction. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her family.

 

WebsiteFacebookFB Author PageTwitter * Instagram

 

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Posted in 4 paws, Book Release, Review, suspense, Thriller, women on September 8, 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

A disgraced attorney seeking redemption. A single mother desperate to regain custody of her son. Two women willing to risk it all to put a sexual predator behind bars.

 

Former Assistant District Attorney Miranda Quinn is on the brink of a career comeback when she gets a phone call. It’s a witness who disappeared three years earlier, resulting in a violent criminal going free. Miranda was fired as a result, but the witness has resurfaced with a shocking story, one that implicates Miranda and her ex, defense attorney Adam Baxter. And now, there’s a new victim.

Miranda’s legal advice blog-turned-podcast Miranda Writes is about to become a daytime TV show, but the negative press could destroy her credibility. Will the network stand behind her?

When it comes to the law, Miranda has all the answers, but the questions are getting harder and the stakes are getting higher. The dangerous web of lies and cover-ups she exposes leaves her questioning just how much she is willing to risk. She has the right to remain silent, but needs to speak up… doesn’t she?

 

Miranda Writes is a story of how far we’ll go to protect those we love and the power of second chances.

 

 

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Review

 

Mix romance, a little suspense, and quick wit, and you get Miranda Writes.

I was hooked on this book from the get go. Miranda is a lawyer who was somewhat disgraced when she worked for the ADA’s office. She moved to writing a blog and doing a podcast to address legal scenarios, which made her happy. Now, she has been signed by a broadcasting company to do a live show, and she is beyond thrilled. However, the case that threw a wrench into her life has circled back around, and Miranda is in the middle of things, but not necessarily in a good way.

I enjoyed this fast-paced novel that had me wondering who was involved in the coverup from years ago, who was terrorizing Miranda, and would she overcome everything that was being thrown at her. I was quite surprised at different turns of events as Miranda learned the truth about what happened three years ago. While I sympathized with Miranda, some of her actions didn’t make much sense. Everything hinges on one witness, yet when she doesn’t respond, she doesn’t go find out what happened to her. And when she meets a new guy, Eric, she practically falls into bed with him the first moment they are alone. So, while I enjoyed the storyline and uncovering the truth, Miranda’s actions at times were puzzling, to say the least.

There are some twists that I didn’t expect that just added to the depth of the story. I liked that several people got what was coming to them, and they were brought to justice.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Gail Ward Olmsted was a marketing executive and a college professor before she began writing fiction on a fulltime basis. A trip to Sedona, AZ inspired her first novel Jeep Tour. After three more novels: Driving on the Left, Guessing at Normal and Second Guessing, she began Landscape of a Marriage, a biographical work of fiction featuring landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, a distant cousin of her husband’s, and his wife Mary. Her latest, Miranda Writes, is a contemporary novel with a legal twist. She loves writing about quirky, wonderful women in search of a second chance at a happy ever after.

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Book Release, fiction, Review, suspense on September 7, 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

They’ve spent their lives as the deadliest assassins in a clandestine international organization, but now that they’re sixty years old, four women friends can’t just retire – it’s kill or be killed in this action-packed thriller.

Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have worked for the Museum, an elite network of assassins, for forty years. Now their talents are considered old-school and no one appreciates what they have to offer in an age that relies more on technology than people skills.

When the foursome is sent on an all-expenses paid vacation to mark their retirement, they are targeted by one of their own. Only the Board, the top-level members of the Museum, can order the termination of field agents, and the women realize they’ve been marked for death.

Now to get out alive they have to turn against their own organization, relying on experience and each other to get the job done, knowing that working together is the secret to their survival. They’re about to teach the Board what it really means to be a woman–and a killer–of a certain age.

 

 

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Review

 

Let’s just say that I loved this book! We follow four women back and forth in time that were recruited to become assassins, and they were darn good at their job. Perhaps too good. Once they retired, a contract was put out on their lives and what ensues is their efforts to stay alive and uncover who was behind this death notice.

We always see paid assassins in the movies and such, but I don’t think we have ever seen an all-female squad. Not that it doesn’t happen, but these four are a team from start to finish, and they all have their own individual skills. I think that because they are women, this lets them into places that men may not be able to enter. But after forty years, they know each other very well and are able to complete their missions successfully.

I was impressed by their observation skills, which should be surprising considering how long they have been in this field. They aren’t sure who to trust, that circle is very small, but there are a few. I know that once everything is uncovered as to who was behind everything, it is somewhat surprising. Part of it was expected, but there is a small twist. And even after the truth is revealed, there is even another twist.

The book is told primarily from Billie’s point of view, but it encompasses all four women and their lives outside of this hit squad. I enjoyed the jumps in time to understand how they were recruited and some of the jobs they worked. The book is action, suspense, and humor all rolled into one.

Make sure to read the author’s notes at the beginning and the end of the book. These cracked me up!

I could see this becoming a series or even a movie made from this book.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Deanna Raybourn is a 6th-generation native Texan. She graduated with a double major in English and history from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of one, Raybourn makes her home in Virginia. Her novels have been nominated for numerous awards including two RT Reviewers’ Choice awards, the Agatha, two Dilys Winns, a Last Laugh, three du Mauriers, and most recently the 2019 Edgar Award for Best Novel. She launched a new Victorian mystery series with the 2015 release of A CURIOUS BEGINNING, featuring intrepid butterfly-hunter and amateur sleuth, Veronica Speedwell. Veronica has returned in several more adventures, most recently AN IMPOSSIBLE IMPOSTOR, book seven, which released in early 2022. Deanna’s first contemporary novel, KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE, about four female assassins on the cusp of retirement publishes in September 2022.

 

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