Synopsis

 

Lest you think I have started writing erotica, I should explain that the title comes from an actual CIA operation of the same name. Operation Midnight Climax was a subset of the better-known MK Ultra project that tried to use psychedelic drugs as a form of mind control. Midnight Climax involved two CIA-run brothels, one in New York City and the other in San Francisco, from the mid-1950s into the 1960s that used prostitutes to lure unsuspecting ‘clients’ in and then dosed them with psychedelic drugs to study their effects. I first learned about this strange tidbit of San Francisco history from a column my friend, Gary Kamiya, wrote several years ago in the San Francisco Chronicle. When I first read it, I thought oh my god, there is a story here! You can find Gary’s original piece here!

Now, here’s what MIDNIGHT CLIMAX is about–

Kats, Molly, and Shig return in an all-new adventure set in 1959, some 15 months following the events of HUNTERS POINT. We find Kats and Molly happily together, though they will be facing some questions about their relationship. Molly has become the entertainment manager at Ann’s 440, and Shig, of course, remains a fixture at City Lights Bookstore.

This story will expand on Kats’ past as we learn what happened to him after the Battle of Vosges, where he was injured. His connection to that time during the war will come full circle as elements from that past find him in his present-day San Francisco.

As with Hunters Point, there are several historic figures that play important parts in the story. As a writer, I find those elements super exciting to craft.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Kats moved slowly toward Epps. “I’m not with them,” he gestured to the men scattered on the ground. “I’m a friend of Dr. Turier. Do you remember Dr. Turier?” he said in his most calming voice. “I want to take you to him. We can make everything OK.” Kats wasn’t sure if the words were even registering, but the man didn’t move to attack or retreat. He was about to take another step forward when he heard a siren echo from up the street.

At the sound, Epps’ face twisted, and he surged forward toward Kats. Even though he was ready, Kats was shocked at how fast the man was. He pivoted to the side, like a matador with a charging bull, and as Epps passed by, Kats fired a fist into the man’s lower back, straight into the kidney. The strike should have disabled the man, but Epps barely grunted and whipped around with such speed and ferocity that Kats was immediately on the defensive. Epps shot his right fist toward Kat’s head. Instinctively, he raised his left arm to block the blow, saving himself at the cost of his arm. He rocked back, feeling like he’d been hit with a baseball bat, and his arm fell to the side, numb and lifeless. Kats had fought men who were stronger than he was. He’d also fought men who were faster. But he’d never fought someone stronger and faster. He dropped to one knee trying to gather himself as Epps turned again and charged.

As the wild-eyed man came at him, Kats knew his only chance was to redirect that savage energy, so as Epps raced forward, he welcomed him in and rolled backward, using his good arm to pull the man over him, actually accelerating his charge into the concrete wall behind him. The man met the wall with an audible grunt, and Kats had a moment to gather himself, but only a moment. Within seconds, Epps was again on his feet, facing Kats, seeming to seethe with power. Then from the garage entrance a flashing red light appeared, and a siren echoed up the walls. Epps spun toward the light and, seeing the approaching police car, bolted toward the open wall. Reaching the second-floor wall, he leaped over it in one smooth motion. Kats raced forward in time to see that Epps had landed safely and was already running down the alley toward a chain-link fence. Reaching the ten-foot fence, he appeared to run up the barrier in one long step and then was over and gone in one swift, near superhuman move. As Kats stood there, his chest heaving and his arm throbbing and hanging uselessly at his side, he wondered how he could possibly stop this living science experiment.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Peter Kageyama is a third-generation Japanese American. He is a former Senior Fellow with the Alliance for Innovation and the author of four nonfiction books on cities and urban development. Peter was a finalist for the 2023 Roy Peter Clark Literary Award. He lives in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife, award-winning architect Lisa Wannemacher, and their dog, Dobby.

 

 

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Synopsis

 

Gina Marie Cototi is a feisty Sicilian sparkplug, a Brooklyn-based PI with a fondness for family, friends, and one roguishly handsome Casanova named Rocco Benelli. Hey, nobody’s perfect.

This headstrong sleuth drives a split-window ’63 Corvette coupe and never, I mean never, misses Sunday dinner with Ma, Dad, and her sister Theresa.

Broke, brooding, and breathtaking, Benelli, an out-of-work parole officer is cursed with more charm than any man deserves. Deep down, Gina knows she shouldn’t touch him with a ten-foot pole, but she’s got more cases than she can handle, and Benelli’s ready, willing, and able-bodied, the perfect partner to help her get the goods on Vlad “The Scud” Rzhevsky, a disreputable boxer running point on dirty deeds for Luca Mura, a mobster as evil as he is dangerous.

Gina must somehow close the case without losing her life to Mura or her virtue to Benelli, but a moth working alongside a flame is always in danger of catching fire.

For fans of Janet Evanovich. Think of Man-Killer as Stephanie Plum meets Moonstruck.

 

 

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Review

 

This book was quite a surprise. It was action-packed, funny, and had some over-the-top characters. I might admit that I read this book with a New York accent in my head. I think that made it more authentic.

I really liked Gina’s character. She is smart, modest, and tries to stay above the law, especially since her father is a retired police detective. Rocco was (and still is) a lady’s man with many conquests to his name. I think he has something for Gina, but she isn’t giving in to him despite wanting him. These two pair up to help her clear some of the insurance fraud investigations she has on her plate. Rocco is out of work and agrees to give her a hand for a hefty fee…in advance. Despite the plan to work on different cases, they cross paths when the family classic Corvette is stolen from the front yard. This event sends the pair down some shady and questionable paths.

I haven’t even mentioned Gina’s sister, Theresa. She is an over-the-top character. She is probably my least favorite character because I couldn’t relate to her at all, and she lacked some redeeming qualities other than being a devoted older sister. She is a good woman, just a bit too much for my tastes. But despite that, she isn’t afraid to jump in and help Gina out whenever possible.

I am unsure if this will be a series, but I think it should be. There are so many possibilities for Gina, Rocco, and the rest of the gang.

Overall, I give this 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Sitting at the café table with my back to the door I could feel my excitement building. Rocco’s scent sailed in on a breeze as he walked through the door, the unmistakable fragrance of his aftershave, his shampoo, and his musk, a perfect storm of sensory eroticism as evocative as hickory burning in the fireplace on a bitter and snowy night. He was well behind me and out of sight but I was sure it was him. The back of my neck tingled with the dance of a thousand rising hairs as his image took shape in my mind. I could picture his swagger as he came toward me—the slapping of his leather boots on the café’s oak floor, the rising and settling of his broad chest. Heart thumping, I reached for my coffee and knocked over the paper cup. A pool of rich brown awkwardness spread across the table before me. I caught my reflection in the liquid and thought, klutz!

I jumped out of my chair and right into his brawny arms. Somehow, I managed to suppress one hell of a telltale gasp, an I’m-swept-away gasp.

“Hey, Gina Marie, are you all right?” he asked in his throaty baritone, a voice that made me vibrate like a pitchfork all the way down to the tips of my toes.

His breath carried the mystery of every woman he’d ever been with, titillating and taunting me. “Hey, biyatch, we kissed Rocco,” they trilled, “mouth-to-mouth, tongue-to-tongue. Suck it!”

I couldn’t think of a thing to say to him while I stood there, dumbstruck, gawking at the iron of his stubble-clad chin and the fathomless depth of his brown eyes that matched the hue of his wavy ringlets. Time stood still while I was in his arms. I felt safe and protected. I kid you not, the man’s embrace was as enveloping as a fucking womb.

Hey, Gina Marie Cototi, snap out of it!  Get your head out of your ass. Slamming my open palm into the center of his chest, I shoved him away. “Getting a little handsy this morning, Rocco?”

Palms out, he backed away. “Whoa, easy, Gina. I was just trying to help.”

I felt my armor shoring up, the interlocking of a trillion nanobots erecting an impenetrable shield around me. “Yeah, right—you mean helping yourself to an early morning grope is more like it.” Meanwhile, coffee was dripping off the edge of the table, running down my leg, and puddling at the bottom of my left boot. The sticky liquid squished between my toes. Yuck.

 

 

About the Author

 

Lawrence Kelter hails from New York but now calls North Carolina his home. He is the bestselling author of more than twenty-five mystery and thriller novels including the Stephanie Chalice Mystery Series that has topped bestseller lists in the US, UK, and Australia. In 2017 he penned BACK TO BROOKLYN, the studio-authorized sequel to the cult comedy classic “My Cousin Vinny.”

Early in his writing career, he received direction from literary icon, Nelson DeMille, who edited portions of his early work. Well before he said, “Lawrence Kelter is an exciting new novelist, who reminds me of an early Robert Ludlum,” he said, “Kid, your work needs editing, but that’s a hell of a lot better than not having talent. Keep it up!”

His novels are quickly paced and crammed full of twists, turns, and laughs.

 

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Synopsis

 

Beneath the weight of four long years in confinement, a story of liberation unfolds, igniting a whirlwind of love, fear, and even hope.

When Ed and Stacey go to Las Vegas to visit their friend Pepper, they realize his dementia has gotten worse. They decide to take him with them on their road trip to see old friends near Mt Konocti in northern California. At the reunion, he meets Sandy Martin, and they begin a new love relationship. He calls in to a local radio talk show and the audience likes him so much that he becomes a regular part of the show. But when a local psychopath hears Pepper on the show and decides he wants Pepper to be his friend, things take a very dark turn…

 

 

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Praise

 

“This book was both suspenseful and beautiful at the same time. All in all, an excellent read.” – Book Addict Book Blog

“The author uses richly crafted characters to bring the story to life, weaving past memories into the present. Keeping Pepper highlights the importance of living each day to the fullest, even if it means taking risks.” – Novels Alive

“Thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns as the story evolved. Certainly didn’t see some of them coming. The poignancy of old friends, new paths and one more good time was woven into a very engaging story.” – Deb Zak (Amazon Reviewer)

“This was such a fresh and engaging story about the power of taking risks no matter your age or stage of life. It centers on a group of longtime friends of former ad executive Michael Pepper. Pepper’s story is romantic and, at times, quite suspenseful. I found his energy and spirit of adventure inspiring, and it made for a very enjoyable book.” – KKW (Amazon Reviewer)

 

 

Excerpt

 

Konocti

 

In the end, twelve of them decided to make the trip. Several others begged off, leery of the trails and opting to take the day at the farm. They took three vehicles. A car and two SUV’s, packed with lots of food, drinks and gear in addition to the people. It took them about twenty minutes to get to the bottom of the mountain. The road goes through the village of Kelseyville, down some residential blocks, then the road slopes up through a series of farm fields and orchards, followed by open rocky hillsides. As they rose up on the hill, the tableau took shape – Clear Lake at the foot of the mountain with towns and suburban blocks in the distance. Going higher, the view got bigger, and the lake got both deeper in color, and silvery where the sun reflected off it. They all stopped talking and watched the view changing and developing with some awe as they drove. As they got higher, they disappeared into a cloud bank, then the road popped out of the cloud, and they were in a thick stand of Maul Oaks in a notch between two peaks rising on either side of them. The oaks were tall, 40 to 60 feet, with big heavy curving branches that looked like trees out of an old Disney cartoon. They drove a bit further through the woods until they reached a clearing with parking spaces near a trailhead. They got out, still surrounded by trees.

“That didn’t take long,” Stacey said, stretching her legs.

Richie was organizing their stuff. He had divided them up into small packs so people could carry them easily on their backs. By giving them to a few people, he figured nobody would have too much weight to carry.

“They call it Mt. Konocti, but it’s really not much of a mountain,” he said. “Just about 2,200 feet above the lake.”

“Looked a lot higher coming up,” Hubert said. “Beautiful views on the way up. Can’t wait to see them from here.”

“Yeah, it gets better from here on.” Richie said. He turned to speak to the group. “Everybody ready? Everything good? Anyone need to pee or anything before we get started?” Nobody said anything. “Anybody wanting to take a nap yet?” He laughed, as did a few in the group.

“A nap?” Pepper asked Ed.

“It’s a joke, Pepper.”

“Ah.”

Pepper was standing with Ed, Stacey, Sandy, and Franny. They had decided to stay together as a group on the hike. They looked like an aging tribe in plaids and jeans, shaggy hair and caps in the cool morning. Bits of fog lingered and drifted through the trees around them, cooling the air and filtering the sun.

“OK, well then let’s get started,” Richie said to them all, turning to walk. “The trail-head is over here.” And they were off. They hit the trailhead and followed the path into the trees. After a few minutes, Richie started talking to them about where they were.

“This is what they call the Black Forest because it’s a very dense wood of Douglas Fir and Maul Oaks. It’s a bit of a mystery, since it’s located on the north face of the mountain where it never gets direct sunlight. Nobody really understands how it got started here or why it grows just here.”

“Kind of spooky in here actually,” Sandy said to Pepper, sliding her arm around his. Pepper thought that was nice, but he wondered if she was thinking he needed propping up. He decided not to worry about it.

“Yes,” he agreed with her. “Keep your eyes open for witches.”

Richie kept going. “Truth is Mount Kon is really pretty exceptional. It’s not so big, as I said before, but it is a special place – both the mountain and the lake. It’s an old volcano. Part of what they call the Clear Lake Volcanic Field. It has been quite active in its history. They say it last erupted around 10,000 years ago, which is pretty recently.”

He stopped to help Cyn and Hubert over some rocks.

“I guess it was a fairly active volcano over the millennia, and through that time it created lots of caves and natural tunnels – old volcanic vents – into the interior of the mountain. Indians used to live here – lots of them. This was a large settlement of native Americans all around the lake. Mostly the Pomo tribe. They say thousands lived in the area in the 1800’s before white men came and started killing them off.”

“God Bless America,” Eddie said.

“But the Pomo explored the area more than anyone since. Their stories about the mountain told about a huge open cavern in the center of the mountain. Probably this would have been the central magma chamber from when the mountain was an active volcano. They said their men used to crawl through the tunnels until they came to the edge of the openings, then they would drop things into the cavern to see how far they fell. Often, they never heard them land. Geologists mostly tend to believe these stories. They say this could be the tallest cavern in North America. But the soil is very unstable and many of the vent tunnels have collapsed. So, it is dangerous to explore – nobody has ever been able to find the central cavern, if it still exists. But one thing they do know about Konocti – the mountain breathes. All the vents around the sides, and the open cavern in the center creates wind drafts and thermal currents. The changing pressures and different temperatures create its own air system. They say when the weather is changing on the outside and it gets windy, that’s when you can hear it the most, kind of whistling or wheezing. Feel it too, since the air on the inside is a constant temperature it feels either warmer or cooler than the air outside. So you get little blasts of the mountain’s breath walking around.”

He stopped and walked with them for a bit. Walking and talking got him out of breath.

“Lots of people have reported strange breezes blowing right out of holes in the side of the mountain. Sometimes they smell like old decaying soil, sometimes people say they blow warm wet air. It breathes. In storms, especially. And lots of people report finding openings into the side. Sometimes big enough to call caves. Other times just holes. This mountain — it seems to have its own life, kind of. It’s unpredictable and kind of spiritual. One of the reasons I wanted to bring you all up here, just to see it and feel it. The Pomo felt it. This was a sacred place to them. They gave it the name Konocti which combined their two words for “mountain” and “woman.”

“Wow,” Sandy said. “You know, Richie – as long as I’ve lived in San Francisco, I never heard any of that before, and we’re so close. I’ve heard of Clear Lake, but never heard much about it. Never seemed to be anything that special.”

 

 

About the Author

 

Scott Brody works in broadcasting and ad sales in Southern California. He’s married with a daughter, two sons, and two grandchildren. He also wrote The Org, which is available on Amazon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

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Synopsis

 

A photographer on the brink of fame. A dictator with a dangerous agenda. Used to hiding behind her camera, can this skilled artist capture the truth and still escape with her life?

Margo McAllister is mere hours from her dream. In Italy, to compete for a prestigious award, the young photographer turns down a corrupt politician who offers her an insane sum to brush up his reputation with a clever portrait. But her plans crumble to dust when she’s slipped a blackout drug cocktail, awakens to $40,000 in damages to her hotel room, and is summarily bounced from the contest.

Suddenly, a beggar with no options, Margo travels to the despot’s personal castle to earn enough money to cover her debts and get her life back on track. And while she quickly discovers the property is crawling with secrets and lies, she fears the oligarch’s creepy propositions and rough demands indicate he believes she’s a captive with no way out…

Can Margo escape to freedom by capturing the face of evil?

Portrait of Deception is the dark and gritty second book in the Southwest Suspense women’s fiction series. If you like tough females, relentless action, and hints of steam, then you’ll love Kathryn Dodson’s twisted adventure.

 

 

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Review

 

This book packed a lot into the pages! There is mystery, suspense, travel, deception, family, and friendship. Sounds like a mixed bag, but it works.

Margo ends up in a situation in Italy. Part of that is her fault, but most of it is not. It is the egomaniac that sees her and decides she must be his. Umm, yeah, right, dude, that isn’t how it works in the civilized world. However, this situation causes even bigger issues down the road. I felt bad that Margo had to take on this assignment just to clean up the mess in Italy, but on the flip side, it brought her closer to her aunt and taught her that there is more to life than her photography.

There are quite a few scumbags in this book. But there are several redeeming characters that, while we don’t know all of the details in the beginning, their stories unfold, giving you another perspective to consider. Yes, I’m being vague, but to say too much would give away some plot twists.

I didn’t want the story to end, and I felt like there could be more to come in Margo’s world.

This book kept me up at night because I couldn’t put it down. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

I am currently working on my ninth novel. I earned a B.A. in English with a creative writing specialization from Southern Methodist University.

After college, I traveled, earned an MBA and a PhD, and worked as a nonprofit, corporate, and government executive before seriously picking up the pen again.​

Originally from Texas, I’ve had the good fortune to live in Spain, Mexico, Tanzania, and several US states; and the good sense to end up in Carlsbad, California. I love travel, fiery food, hanging out with my neighbors in the front yard on Friday evenings, and reading everything from management books to magical realism. My greatest accomplishment may be raising a son who loves to read.

 

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Synopsis

 

‘Dark Truth’, the second in a series of three novels, is a suspenseful mystery thriller full of intrigue that will leave you guessing right until the very end.

Private investigator Joe Wilde is hired by Tom and Marie Archer to investigate the disappearance of their six-year-old daughter Laura. Joe also takes on an unusual case for a client by the name of Jack Riley. Jack believes he was framed to make it look like he was cheating on his fiancée, Claire Brooks. Claire has been the target of disturbing vandalism. As Joe helps the police investigate Laura’s disappearance, he uncovers disturbing secrets concerning the Archers and some of their neighbors. Meanwhile, the attacks on Claire become more extreme. Fearing for her life, Claire also hires Joe. As Joe continues to investigate, he puts himself in great danger.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

The conditions were near perfect; there was only a very gentle breeze. His location afforded him an ideal view of the occupant’s back garden.

He was situated on a small hill approximately 150 yards away — he was well concealed amongst some thick brush. He had been waiting patiently for nearly thirty minutes now and knew it was a case of when, not if his target came out into the back garden, especially given it was a lovely late summer’s night.

He looked at his watch; it was almost half ten — then out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw a silhouette move past the rear patio doors. He looked through the red dot sight of his rifle but there was no one at the patio door. He was glad he had recently invested in a bipod to rest his rifle on so he wouldn’t have to hold it. He wasn’t a bad shot but practising on static objects was one thing, trying to hit a moving target was a completely different proposition.

There was still no sign of movement but he was prepared to wait it out for another hour or two if need be — the pay off would be worth it. Just then he started to feel some light drops of rain on his forehead, this was the last thing he needed, if it turned into a full-on downpour that would pretty much end any hope of his target going outside.

The rain did get worse but fortunately it only lasted for fifteen minutes before it completely stopped. A few minutes beforehand his target had stood by the patio door briefly looking out across the garden, no doubt checking to see if the rain was beginning to ease. Now that the rain had stopped, surely she would be going out into the garden very shortly he thought to himself.

He got his wish soon after as just a couple of minutes later he saw the patio door slide open and his target walk slowly out onto the patio. She walked towards the end of the garden, when she was almost at the end she stopped and started looking around. He saw this as his chance — he looked through the sight and aligned the red dot right in between her eyes then gently rested his right forefinger on the trigger. He could feel the adrenaline starting to pump through his body; he needed to control his breathing so he started breathing gently through his nose.

‘On the count of three,’ he said to himself. ‘Three, two, one.’

On the count of one he exhaled and squeezed the trigger — a split second later his target slumped to the ground. He didn’t need to wait around to confirm the kill; he knew he had executed the perfect shot. He detached the rifle from the bipod then put them both in his sports holdall before making his way down the far side of the hill where he had parked his car.

 

 

About the Author

 

C.D. Steele is the author of the Joe Wilde mystery thriller series. There are at present two books in the series, False Truth which was published by The Book Guild on 28/04/21, and Dark Truth which was published by The Conrad Press on 15/11/23.

He works as an Executive Officer in the Civil Service, has a degree in Recreation Management, and lives in County Down, Northern Ireland.

 

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Synopsis

 

She has a loving husband and a successful career–who says you can’t have it all? Miranda Quinn is living her very best life… until she’s not. It’s been two years since her legal advice TV show was canceled, but the former Assistant District Attorney has rebounded with a late-night radio show, Miranda Nights . When her closest friend’s teenaged son gets arrested, Miranda tries to help but the evidence against him is overwhelming. Following a family member’s medical diagnosis, Miranda begins to wonder if her ‘happily ever after’ has been canceled as well. But the real trouble arrives when a persistent caller, desperate for Miranda’s attention, embarks on an all-out effort to get her to see the error of her ways. Threatening messages and slanderous social media posts escalate to break-ins and arson when a fanatical fan claims to be her only path to salvation. Miranda Nights is a fast-paced, witty story full of hidden dangers, with a strong and resilient woman at its core.

 

 

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Review

 

Miranda is the target of an unknown stalker who believes that she has something to repent for in her life. The stalker goes through the seven deadly sins in his attempt to achieve his goal with her. The targets are frightening, but luckily not harmful. However, that could change at any time. On top of dealing with this situation, she is also helping her best friend Tracey and her family through a potential sex offender situation with their 16-year-old son. It is one of those situations that is innocent but was blown up because of other certain factors. These are the suspense/thriller storylines in the book. But there is also Miranda’s nighttime online show, which talks about legal situations and offers resources for those who need help. She has it cushy since she has a studio in the basement of her home. However, the network wants her in Manhattan five days a week instead of doing two shows at her home. I know which I would prefer.

I loved this book. The mystery/suspense of the stalker kept me on the edge of my seat, not knowing when they would strike next. Then, it tugged at my heartstrings with Tracey’s family situation. Then there is the adoring husband, who is very supportive of everything she does. That is my kind of man! There is also the family connection with her father and his new wife. There are some tense moments when some health issues are uncovered. I am amazed that Miranda is able to hold everything together, considering everything that is happening in her life.

I had a hard time putting this book down, and while I had read the first book, it had been a few years, and I didn’t remember much about that one. So, although this is the second in a series, it could be read on its own since there are plenty of references to what happened in the first book to bring you up to speed.

We give this book 5 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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Synopsis

 

A sharp-edged, supremely twisty thriller about three women who find themselves trapped inside stories they know aren’t their own, from the author of Alice and Near the Bone.

Celia wakes up in a house that’s supposed to be hers. There’s a little girl who claims to be her daughter and a man who claims to be her husband, but Celia knows this family—and this life—is not hers…

Allie is supposed to be on a fun weekend trip—but then her friend’s boyfriend unexpectedly invites the group to a remote cabin in the woods. No one else believes Allie, but she is sure that something about this trip is very, very wrong…

Maggie just wants to be home with her daughter, but she’s in a dangerous situation, and she doesn’t know who put her there or why. She’ll have to fight with everything she has to survive…

Three women. Three stories. Only one way out. This captivating novel will keep readers guessing until the very end.

 

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Allie realized she should never have agreed to this trip. Once Cam and Madison backed out on their deal and showed up with the Wonder Twins in tow, she should have said she felt sick, had to study for a test, anything to stay back in the dorm for the weekend. But she’d felt boxed in by Cam and Madison’s pleading faces, by the mocking way Brad had looked at her as she hesitated before picking up her backpack and climbing into the car.

He’d looked like he could read her mind, could see right through to her reluctance (and, if she was honest with herself, anger), like he was daring her to come anyway.
Allie knew it was stupid, knew it was childish, but she could never back down from a dare.

Besides, she was the reason for this weekend in the first place. If she had decided to stay back at school, she’d never hear the end of it.

They’d all shown up in Brad’s car—a BMW, of course, which Allie was sure his parents had bought for him. Cam and Madison had moved off campus that semester, and Cam was supposed to be driving her old Toyota. It was going to be Allie and Cam and Madison, the Three Musketeers back together again, off to a beach cottage that Cam’s parents’ friends owned and said they could use for the weekend.

Instead, there was Brad, driving his stupid rich boy car and watching her with those eyes that told Allie never to be caught alone with him. Cam and Madison had yelled from the backseat, and Allie had swallowed her annoyance and climbed in, crammed in the middle seat because “you’re the smallest and legroom doesn’t matter for you.”

Cam and Madison had whooped and shouted, slapping a paper “Birthday Girl” crown on her head and dropping a package of Hostess Cupcakes in her lap.

“Let’s get this twenty-first birthday party started!” Cam had shouted, her arm around Allie’s shoulders.

Allie had smiled, the way she was supposed to, but she didn’t miss the look Brad had given her in the mirror. Something sneaky, something snakey, something that didn’t bode well at all for the weekend.

They’d driven away from the campus, and almost immediately Steve had handed a thermos to Madison, shaking it meaningfully.

“A little juice for the party,” he’d said.

Madison had immediately opened it and guzzled a bunch, and then passed it to Allie, who didn’t want to drink alcohol at ten in the morning, and especially did not want to drink some mystery cocktail prepared by Steve. But everyone had been watching her and waiting, so she’d taken a sip and made herself not wrinkle her nose, because whatever was in there tasted like gasoline. Cam had shouted, “Yeah, girl!” and grabbed the thermos, downing a fair amount herself.

They’d passed the bottle back and forth, Allie taking only small sips, but Cam and Madison hadn’t seemed to notice. Despite limiting her intake, Allie had still dropped off to sleep in the backseat, only waking when they had pulled up in front of the cabin.

“Where the hell are we?” she’d asked, sitting up straight. Cam and Madison were out cold on either side of her. Whatever Steve had put in that bottle had packed a punch. “This is not the beach.”

“‘This is not the beach,’” Brad had said, his voice high and mocking. “I see why your GPA is so high. Nothing gets by you, Brockman.”

Cam had stirred beside her, then sat up and looked out the window. “Are we there yet?”

“Well, we’re somewhere,” Allie had said, trying to draw on her patience. She’d had no idea where Brad had driven them, and since he was the only one in the vicinity with a car, she needed to convince him to stop f*ing around and take them to the cottage.

“Is this the woods?” Cam had said. “A cabin in the woods?”

“Just like the movie!” Madison had squealed, jumping out and slamming the door behind her. Steve had followed, chasing her around the clearing in front of the cabin’s porch.
“Everyone died in that movie,” Allie had muttered. “Like, actually everyone.”

 

Excerpted from Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry Copyright © 2023 by Christina Henry. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

 

 

About the Author

 

Christina Henry is a horror and dark fantasy author whose works include Horseman, Near the Bone, The Ghost Tree, Looking Glass, The Girl in Red, The Mermaid, Lost Boy, Alice, Red Queen, and the seven-book urban fantasy Black Wings series.

She enjoys running long distances, reading anything she can get her hands on, and watching movies with samurai, zombies, and/or subtitles in her spare time. She lives in Chicago with her husband and son.

 

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Synopsis

 

“It’s easy to have more than one life. You just have to know how to balance them . . .”

Raised to be the ultimate scam artist, April has been many women to many people. She seduces, extracts fortunes, and then vanishes without a trace. And now she’s finally living her dream of having two perfect—separate—lives. That means two mad-successful identities and two unsuspecting husbands. But a mysterious package has just arrived—and its contents threaten to expose April’s every scandalous secret . . .

Up against a merciless, unknown adversary, April must maintain her flawless images—while revisiting her past exploits. She’ll need to step up her tricks and utilize every conniving play she’s ever learned to save her freedom and her life. But amid all those she’s wronged, even April’s insight and savvy can’t predict who she can trust—or who wants to end her. And the ultimate price she’ll have to pay promises anything but survival . . .

 

 

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Review

 

I don’t think the title does this book justice…this book is full of deception, action, suspense, and a twist at the end that blew my mind!

April goes by many names for her many different lives. I do well to keep my life straight. I can’t imagine juggling multiple! But she was raised to perfect this lifestyle. To gain all she could financially before disappearing and starting anew. She is definitely a product of her environment. But was it a good environment for her? There are details we learn later in the book (so no spoilers here) that had me wondering how her mother could raise her this way. But, if you look at her mother, it isn’t too much of a surprise. I do think that near the end, April was reconsidering her life and what she wanted it to be like, and was this her destiny?

There were times I wanted to feel bad for April, but she put herself in this position. She could have left this behind, but it might have meant finding an honest way of life and standing on her own two feet. As we get to know her mother, it is easy to see why this may not have been an easy task to attain.

If you enjoy a suspenseful novel filled with action, this is one that you should consider.

We give this book 5 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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RIP THE SKY

 

by

 

Mark Packard

 

 

Speculative Fiction / Fantasy / Science Fiction

Publisher: Bluestreak Publishing

Page Count: 317 pages

Publication Date: August 21, 2023

 

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After a shocking courtroom tragedy, a disturbed Vietnam veteran and the vindictive judge who sent him to prison become an unlikely pair of time travelers in a chaotic multiverse. The fallen angel who rescues them wants to guide them to a radiant new life. But first they must return to the scene of a ghastly crime.

Billy Worster was a naïve teenager ill-prepared for the gruesome realities of war. The sole survivor of a deadly massacre in a Vietnamese jungle, he avoided certain death only because he ran away when the shooting started. Riddled with guilt, he comes home to a dusty Texas farm with post-traumatic stress disorder and the crazy notion that he can fly in and out of parallel worlds.

As Billy struggles with addiction and questions his sanity, he is arrested on a drug charge and ends up in the courtroom of Judge Madeline Johnston, a bitter old judge tormented by a dark secret surrounding her father’s death. She callously tosses Billy into prison, but when a greedy executor files a lawsuit to steal his inherited land, Billy is hauled back to her courtroom in chains, where a stunning twist of fate launches them into the sky on an odyssey of discovery and healing.

Spanning forty years from the jungles of Vietnam through infinite, parallel worlds, Rip the Sky examines how the power of forgiveness can lead us toward a better life, no matter how many worlds we may live in.

 

 

 

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Deleted Scene, Part Two

 

 from Rip the Sky

 

by Mark Packard

 

CLICK TO READ PART ONE OF THE DELETED SCENE

 

It was quiet. The radio in the old truck had long been broken, and the only sound was the hot wind whistling through the open windows. Neither one spoke for several minutes. Finally, Billy broke the silence, “Were you scared when you were over in Normandy? I remember you telling me when I was a boy about how you waded to the shore, and there was dead bodies floating face down in the water. They got drowned cause their packs strapped to their backs were too heavy.” Billy couldn’t help gesturing with his hands as visions of the littered battlefield played out in his mind. “And then when you got to the sand you had to step over body parts, and everything was on fire, smoke coming from everywhere. And I remember you saying how lucky you were that you were not one of the first ones to land, ‘cause they never had a chance.”

Floyd took another drag from his cigarette, inhaled deeply and methodically, holding in the smoke for what seemed like half an hour, and then let out a long, hard exhale, as if he were respirating bad memories.

“We did what we had to do,” he said, “and so will you.”

The sun blasted the pavement, and Billy stared at the highway ahead, fascinated by the illusory sheets of water, the mirages that appeared and instantly vanished on the highway. They always looked so real. He counted them, tried to pinpoint the exact spot when the phantom mist evaporated from sight, but could never really figure out where they were when they vanished. Billy squirmed again in his seat.

“Dad, I guess I am a little scared,” he said.

Floyd turned to look at Billy, staring hard at his pimply-faced, scrawny son. Floyd’s eyes glassed over, and Billy felt—measured, even pitied. And he hated that.

“I was afraid when I went to war too,” Floyd said. “A man would have to be crazy not to be scared. There ain’t nothing wrong with being scared, Billy.”

Billy nodded, unable to look away from his father’s gaze.

“But if I could make it,” Floyd continued, “so can you. You’re just as good as anybody else, especially all those long-haired city boys.”

“I will,” Billy said, “Thanks, Dad.”

There was another long silence, and then Floyd cleared his throat, rubbed his eyes, and whispered, “Damned pollen.” Billy knew better than to speak when the pollen made his father’s eyes water. The old man’s eyes had watered just two days before, during a whisky-filled night,

when Billy saw his dad pound the coffee table with his fist, muttering about how only poor kids get drafted, about how he wished Billy could have gone to college so they wouldn’t have to drive to Abbeville. Billy didn’t speak then either.

Floyd drove slowly in the right-hand lane, and another pickup passed in the left lane, the driver in the cowboy hat giving Floyd’ the “thumbs up” signal as he blew by them. “Must like my bumper stickers,” Floyd said, and as the passing pickup sped away Billy noticed the same bumper stickers that were patched onto the back of Floyd’s truck that read “America, Love it or Leave it” and “America, My Country Right or Wrong.”

Billy watched the pickup disappear into the horizon, then read the white letters and numbers on the green road sign that flashed by, barely having time to learn that Abbeville was 30 miles away.

Neither said another word, and at long last they pulled into Abbeville, drove past the Air Force base where pilots learned to drop bombs and napalm on the North Vietnamese hiding in the jungles of Vietnam, past the tall buildings that adorned the sky, and into the parking lot at the Continental Trailways Bus Station.

The long truck ride was over, but Billy didn’t want to get out yet, keeping his head down, staring at the fabric of the cloth seat beneath him.

A long, awkward minute passed, until Billy, with his head still bowed, muttered the words, “I love you, Dad.”

This time Floyd squirmed, cleared his throat again, but didn’t speak right away. He gripped Billy’s hand and shook it hard. “I’ll miss you too son. Pay attention and remember that everybody in Langtry is praying for you.”

Billy’s throat felt tight and swollen, and his eyes were moist. “Yes sir,” he mumbled, as he climbed out of the pickup, scooped up his duffle bag out of the rusted bed, and waved goodbye.

Floyd watched his son walk into the bus station and wiped his eyes.

“They never stood a chance.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Packard spent the last 38 years as a trial attorney and is now retired from the courtroom and working as a mediator. In a life before lawyering, he was a journalist and regrets waiting far too long before returning to his roots to write his first novel, Rip the Sky. Though he knows he should have jumped off the merry-go-round years ago, he hopes to hang around long enough to craft a few more tales. Connect with the author:

 

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DEAD BY PROXY

 

Proxy Legal Thriller Series, Book 1

 

by

 

Manning Wolfe

 

Legal Thriller / Suspense / Action

Publisher: Starpath Books, LLC

Date of Publication: September 15, 2023

Number of Pages: 324 pages

 

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In this lawyer-on-the-run suspense drama, attorney Quinton Bell loses the trial of his career, and possibly his life.

Dead By Proxy takes you on a heart-pounding journey through the life of a criminal defense attorney whose world is wiped out. When Quinton loses a career-defining case, he finds himself being hunted by the very client he tried to save.

As Quinton navigates the treacherous path of survival, he is running from a powerful and relentless adversary who will stop at nothing to see him silenced. Finally landing in Houston, he hides in plain sight while re-inventing his new life as a trial lawyer.

When he’s forced to take on a high-profile murder case, he exposes himself and those he loves to danger. With each passing moment, the noose tightens, and he must draw on every ounce of wit to outsmart those who still want him dead.

Will Quinton Bell find a way out, or will he forever be a target in a deadly game of cat and mouse?

Dead By Proxy is the first book in the edgy Proxy Legal Thriller Series. If you like memorable characters, smart gritty action, and jaw-dropping twists, then you’ll love Manning Wolfe’s fast-paced page-turner.

 

 

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Praise

 

“A riveting read that expertly teams courtroom drama and legal maneuvering with imminent danger, spine-tingling suspense, a touch of romance, and non-stop action. Talk about an adrenaline rush!” – Reedsy

“Manning Wolfe just put herself on my list of must-read authors!” – John Ellsworth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many plot twists and turns to keep you engaged and wondering what could possibly happen next.

I love a good suspense/thriller novel, and this book delivers. We meet Byron Douglas, who has found himself on the wrong side of the Irish Mafia in New York and has to escape to Texas to try and disappear into the population and potentially save his life. What he doesn’t expect is for his old friend’s father to help him disappear. Judge Bell arranges for Byron to assume his son’s life, who is presumed dead. What unfolds is a twisty tale that reveals the underbelly of the criminal world and what lengths some will go to to avoid jail.

Byron is a likable character and has morals for a lawyer. Not that lawyers don’t have morals or a conscience, but there are some that do not. I appreciated that he didn’t like everything as it unfolded, but he knew if he didn’t assume this other identity, he could be discovered and killed rather quickly. Not that it was a foolproof plan, but it was better than nothing. I wondered how events would play out for him in the long run. What evolves was surprising, and while I might have suspected part of the plot twist, most of it was a surprise.

The action is fast-paced, the characters are varied, and the courtroom scenes are detailed. While I am not a lawyer (nor have I played one anywhere!), I felt like I had a grasp on the process from the descriptions the author laid out for us. I am intrigued by this series, and I wonder if Byron, now Quinton, will struggle with his choices and identity from now on. There are so many revelations at the end of the book, and I can’t imagine how I would handle it if I were in his shoes.

While this book does wrap up the situation that Byron/Quinton finds himself in, there is a bit of a cliffhanger that will leave you wanting more from this author sooner rather than later. But it looks like you will only have to wait until January for the next in this series.

I stayed up way too late reading this book (the joy, or curse, of insomnia) and gave it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manning Wolfe, an award-winning author and attorney, writes cinematic-style, smart, fast-paced thrillers and crime fiction. Manning was recently featured on Oxygen TV’s: Accident, Suicide, or Murder, and has spoken at major book festivals around the world.

Manning’s legal thriller series, featuring Austin attorney Merit Bridges, includes Dollar Signs, Music Notes, Green Fees, and Chinese Wall.

Manning’s new Proxy Legal Thrillers Series, featuring Houston attorney Quinton Bell, includes Dead by Proxy, Hunted by Proxy, and Alive by Proxy.

Manning is co-author of Killer Set: Drop the Mic, and twelve additional Bullet Books Speed Reads.

As a graduate of Rice University and the University of Texas School of Law, Manning’s experience has given her a voyeur’s peek into some shady characters’ lives and a front-row seat to watch the good people who stand against them.

 

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Grand Prize: eBook of Dead by Proxy + $25 Amazon gift card

 

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10/03/23	Forgotten Winds	Review
10/03/23	Hall Ways Blog	BONUS Stop
10/04/23	Librariel Book Adventures	Review
10/04/23	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Stop
10/05/23	Reading by Moonlight	Review
10/06/23	StoreyBook Reviews	Review
10/07/23	Writing and Music	Review
10/08/23	The Real World According to Sam	Review
10/09/23	Jennie Reads	Review
10/10/23	Chapter Break Book Blog	Review
10/10/23	Boys’ Mom Reads	BONUS Stop
10/11/23	Rox Burkey Blog	Review
10/12/23	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Review

 

 

 

 

 

 

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