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MaryAnn (14 KP) rated Vanishing Point (Nikki Boyd Files #4) in Books
Mar 5, 2019
It's Garret Addisson's first week on the job at Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and he has his first murder case already. It isn't only one, the murder victim is number three in a series of murders. The strange thing is, is that at the scene of every murder there is a Polaroid picture of each victim at the scene.
The TBI calls in Special Agent Jordan Lambert, a woman that Garret had a relationship with in police academy. Will their relationship be rekindled?
This is an outstanding murder, mystery romance novel that I have read in a very long time. It was difficult to put down. The author keeps you in suspense on all levels in the story line.
Even though I had not read any of the other" Nikki Boyd " series, it did not affect the story line at all. I was able to really jump in and comprehend the story line without any problems following along.
What I truly enjoyed is how the author brought God into the whole situation and helps explain that God is in everything, even if it does involve suffering; explaining that God sometimes brings us to hard things to help nurture our faith and sometimes to help bring those who are not strong in faith or don't know Him to believe.
An amazing writer I highly recommend this book.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
The TBI calls in Special Agent Jordan Lambert, a woman that Garret had a relationship with in police academy. Will their relationship be rekindled?
This is an outstanding murder, mystery romance novel that I have read in a very long time. It was difficult to put down. The author keeps you in suspense on all levels in the story line.
Even though I had not read any of the other" Nikki Boyd " series, it did not affect the story line at all. I was able to really jump in and comprehend the story line without any problems following along.
What I truly enjoyed is how the author brought God into the whole situation and helps explain that God is in everything, even if it does involve suffering; explaining that God sometimes brings us to hard things to help nurture our faith and sometimes to help bring those who are not strong in faith or don't know Him to believe.
An amazing writer I highly recommend this book.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated In a Dark, Dark Wood in Books
Feb 13, 2018
Nora hasn't heard from her friend Clare in over 10 years, until she receives an invite to her "hen party" (bachelorette party for us Americans) from one of Clare's friends. Clare and Nora were the best of friends in school, until a series of events brought them apart, and she eventually decides to attend, along with their friend Nina. However, when Nora and Nina arrive, they gather with a group of Clare's friends at an isolated house in the woods. Things seem off from the beginning and go downhill from there.
This book was a juggernaut that I couldn't stop reading. It was a fast read with a captivating plot that overcame some of its other flaws, mainly some mildly annoying characters who lacked development and performed some outlandish actions based on the past. The book unfolds from Nora's point of view in bits and pieces, and she's an unreliable narrator as well (suffering from some memory loss), which really allows the suspense to build. Note that despite the title, it's not a scary book, per se, just a thriller or mystery. It's a fun read, trying to piece together the various threads to reach the conclusion. I felt a little bad for those caught up in the schoolhouse games of the characters, for sure.
Overall, would have liked to have gotten to know the characters and their motivations a bit more (some very high stakes actions occur, which are a little hard to believe - a lot of the plot requires suspending disbelief at times, if you really think things through), but still an enjoyable and fast-paced thriller. 3.5 stars.
This book was a juggernaut that I couldn't stop reading. It was a fast read with a captivating plot that overcame some of its other flaws, mainly some mildly annoying characters who lacked development and performed some outlandish actions based on the past. The book unfolds from Nora's point of view in bits and pieces, and she's an unreliable narrator as well (suffering from some memory loss), which really allows the suspense to build. Note that despite the title, it's not a scary book, per se, just a thriller or mystery. It's a fun read, trying to piece together the various threads to reach the conclusion. I felt a little bad for those caught up in the schoolhouse games of the characters, for sure.
Overall, would have liked to have gotten to know the characters and their motivations a bit more (some very high stakes actions occur, which are a little hard to believe - a lot of the plot requires suspending disbelief at times, if you really think things through), but still an enjoyable and fast-paced thriller. 3.5 stars.
Louise (64 KP) rated Burned and Broken in Books
Jul 2, 2018
I was provided a copy of this book from the publisher, my opinions are honest and my own.
Mark Hardie’s debut novel is set in Essex following our main protagonists DS Frank Pearson, DC Catherine Russell and young girl called Donna. DI Sean Carragher has been found burned to death in his car and Donna’s best friend Alicia was found dead in an underpass. Could these two deaths be connected? That’s the job for Pearson Russell to find out!
Starting off the book was very slow-paced, difficult to follow and the writing was very descriptive…maybe too much. The timeline of the book felt very jumpy and the POV’s would switch without so much as a warning. The first part of the book was setting the scene and some of the characters I felt unnecessary and were there just to fill a few more pages. The second half of the book was a lot better and Hardie get’s in to the flow of things. The ending was ok, but there wasn’t enough suspense in the book. I wasn’t excited to find out ‘whodunnit’.
This isn’t a bad book, especially for a debut but there is a lot of Police/Crime books out on the market and this doesn’t really stand out.
I believe there is going to be more books that continue following Pearson and Russell on more investigations. I might read them to see how Mark Hardie’s writing develops.
If you are a fan of Crime/Mystery novels..still check this out as though it wasn’t for me.. you may love it.
Mark Hardie’s debut novel is set in Essex following our main protagonists DS Frank Pearson, DC Catherine Russell and young girl called Donna. DI Sean Carragher has been found burned to death in his car and Donna’s best friend Alicia was found dead in an underpass. Could these two deaths be connected? That’s the job for Pearson Russell to find out!
Starting off the book was very slow-paced, difficult to follow and the writing was very descriptive…maybe too much. The timeline of the book felt very jumpy and the POV’s would switch without so much as a warning. The first part of the book was setting the scene and some of the characters I felt unnecessary and were there just to fill a few more pages. The second half of the book was a lot better and Hardie get’s in to the flow of things. The ending was ok, but there wasn’t enough suspense in the book. I wasn’t excited to find out ‘whodunnit’.
This isn’t a bad book, especially for a debut but there is a lot of Police/Crime books out on the market and this doesn’t really stand out.
I believe there is going to be more books that continue following Pearson and Russell on more investigations. I might read them to see how Mark Hardie’s writing develops.
If you are a fan of Crime/Mystery novels..still check this out as though it wasn’t for me.. you may love it.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Behind the Scenes (Apart from the Crowd, #1) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
Undoubtedly Jen Turano's BEST book yet! A healthy dose of mystery, the suspense of the romance, the antics of Permilia...And Asher...*SWOON*
"Turn your troubles over to God, and...accept what He may have in store for you." - Behind the Scenes
It is a well established fact that Jen Turano is a TOP favorite author of mine. And Behind the Scenes has surpassed all the others to take its place at the top of her books. Very well written with a lot to keep the reader engaged it was HARD to put this one down! The opening scene with Alva Vanderbilt's ball swept me into the era and had me swooning and giggling and gasping and holding my breath. Permilia and Asher danced, argued, and perhaps encounter a dastardly plot...As the story unfolds, more pieces to the puzzle are laid, but you also find out that the puzzle is much larger than originally anticipated. All the while Asher and Permilia are learning to trust that maybe God's plan for their lives can be something AMAZING!!!
Behind the Scenes wouldn't be complete without Jen's unique style and sense of humour that she weaves into her storylines. Never fear dear reader! Jen does not disappoint. This book is full of new predicaments, comedic escapades, and dramatic rescues. I simply can not wait to continue this series with Gertrude's story in Out of the Ordinary releasing this fall!
I received a complimentary copy of Behind the Scenes from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
"Turn your troubles over to God, and...accept what He may have in store for you." - Behind the Scenes
It is a well established fact that Jen Turano is a TOP favorite author of mine. And Behind the Scenes has surpassed all the others to take its place at the top of her books. Very well written with a lot to keep the reader engaged it was HARD to put this one down! The opening scene with Alva Vanderbilt's ball swept me into the era and had me swooning and giggling and gasping and holding my breath. Permilia and Asher danced, argued, and perhaps encounter a dastardly plot...As the story unfolds, more pieces to the puzzle are laid, but you also find out that the puzzle is much larger than originally anticipated. All the while Asher and Permilia are learning to trust that maybe God's plan for their lives can be something AMAZING!!!
Behind the Scenes wouldn't be complete without Jen's unique style and sense of humour that she weaves into her storylines. Never fear dear reader! Jen does not disappoint. This book is full of new predicaments, comedic escapades, and dramatic rescues. I simply can not wait to continue this series with Gertrude's story in Out of the Ordinary releasing this fall!
I received a complimentary copy of Behind the Scenes from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Merissa (12934 KP) rated Maggie's Man (The Cowboys of Cavern Country #2) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
Maggie's Man is the second book in The Cowboys of Cavern County series. In this one, we meet up with Aiden, who appeared in book one. This time, he has his eye on Maggie, a waitress at a small cafe. They have spoken for a while, but Aiden hasn't had the courage to ask her out. Eventually he does, and although the date starts well, misunderstandings quickly overtake things (read, 'foot-in-mouth'!!)
The relationship between Maggie and Aiden is full of ups and downs, misunderstandings, and embarrassments. Although it is full of heat, I wasn't completely taken with their relationship. There seemed to be too many misunderstandings for me, although to be fair, Aiden wouldn't have known half of it because Maggie was too prideful to actually talk to him - for example, the cab after the dinner party.
However, what made up for it, was the whole suspense/mystery side of things. Robert is a complete scoundrel, and it looks like he will get away scot-free yet again. However, Bella Settarra has written an amazing story with more twists, turns, double dealing, and red-herrings than you can shake a stick at. Absolutely loved this side of the story.
Very well written, with no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow, this book was completely enjoyable. Maggie's Man can be read as a standalone as apart from Aiden, there are no crossover characters to mention. Definitely recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
The relationship between Maggie and Aiden is full of ups and downs, misunderstandings, and embarrassments. Although it is full of heat, I wasn't completely taken with their relationship. There seemed to be too many misunderstandings for me, although to be fair, Aiden wouldn't have known half of it because Maggie was too prideful to actually talk to him - for example, the cab after the dinner party.
However, what made up for it, was the whole suspense/mystery side of things. Robert is a complete scoundrel, and it looks like he will get away scot-free yet again. However, Bella Settarra has written an amazing story with more twists, turns, double dealing, and red-herrings than you can shake a stick at. Absolutely loved this side of the story.
Very well written, with no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow, this book was completely enjoyable. Maggie's Man can be read as a standalone as apart from Aiden, there are no crossover characters to mention. Definitely recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Archangel MC in Books
Jan 19, 2020
Brilliant
Contains spoilers, click to show
“Even shattered wings hold heavenly beauty.”
I don’t know who I am.
I don’t even remember what my name is.
I was lost, confused and broken the day I met them.
My Angels.
To the world, they’re nothing but leather wearing, foul-mouthed bikers, but to me, they are my saviors.
The light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
However, as my memory starts to come back to me in pieces, I fear the darkness ahead. Maybe the reason why I can’t recollect anything is because I don’t want to.
Life is sweet in heaven.
But hell doesn’t want to let me go.
Archangels MC is a Contemporary Romance Reverse Harem Standalone story where the heroine is just as fearless as her men, but the mystery that torments her once unraveled might be too much for them to overcome.
If you like hot bikers with attitude with a soft gooey center, a little suspense in a story with twists and spins that will make your jaw drop and whole bunch of hotness mixed with sweet tender moments, well then this baby is for you!
My view
This book has so many emotional twists and turns I was so engrossed. The trauma we see Hope go through from crawling out of her shallow grave to finally getting revenge on the person who put her there. For once you are rooting for that happily ever after! The 3 gorgeous,kind and amazing men helping her every step of the way. Really was an emotional roller coaster!
Love the little nod to Freya and her 5 boys too!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I don’t know who I am.
I don’t even remember what my name is.
I was lost, confused and broken the day I met them.
My Angels.
To the world, they’re nothing but leather wearing, foul-mouthed bikers, but to me, they are my saviors.
The light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
However, as my memory starts to come back to me in pieces, I fear the darkness ahead. Maybe the reason why I can’t recollect anything is because I don’t want to.
Life is sweet in heaven.
But hell doesn’t want to let me go.
Archangels MC is a Contemporary Romance Reverse Harem Standalone story where the heroine is just as fearless as her men, but the mystery that torments her once unraveled might be too much for them to overcome.
If you like hot bikers with attitude with a soft gooey center, a little suspense in a story with twists and spins that will make your jaw drop and whole bunch of hotness mixed with sweet tender moments, well then this baby is for you!
My view
This book has so many emotional twists and turns I was so engrossed. The trauma we see Hope go through from crawling out of her shallow grave to finally getting revenge on the person who put her there. For once you are rooting for that happily ever after! The 3 gorgeous,kind and amazing men helping her every step of the way. Really was an emotional roller coaster!
Love the little nod to Freya and her 5 boys too!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Fear For Me (For Me, #2) in Books
Jul 16, 2020
I read the first book in this series a few years ago and it was ok - judging by my review on Goodreads of it - but I wasn't overly in to it. This one has been on my Kindle for a few years now so it's about time I read it.
This starts with the "Bayou Butcher" serial killer - Jon Walker - breaking out of prison and setting out to kill the people who put him there starting with Lauren Chandler, the DA that made sure he went down for life, as well as the judge and those on the jury. In comes Anthony Ross, a Marshall, who tracked Walker down the first time and Lauren's ex.
I was equally drawn into this when they were hunting Walker and freaked out when we had scenes from Walker's POV as he went about killing. The more I read, though, the more I was convinced that Walker wasn't doing everything alone and then it was the mystery of just who Walker was in league with that had me reading. I thought I had it figured out but I was so wrong.
The romance reignited between Lauren and Anthony as neither had really gotten over the other in the five years since they'd parted ways. It was nice to see inside both of their heads and what their feelings were towards the other. I'll be honest. I wasn't that interested in the romance so I skipped the sex scenes in this, totally uninterested.
I don't think I'll be reading the last book in the series. I'm not that into Romantic Suspense anymore.
This starts with the "Bayou Butcher" serial killer - Jon Walker - breaking out of prison and setting out to kill the people who put him there starting with Lauren Chandler, the DA that made sure he went down for life, as well as the judge and those on the jury. In comes Anthony Ross, a Marshall, who tracked Walker down the first time and Lauren's ex.
I was equally drawn into this when they were hunting Walker and freaked out when we had scenes from Walker's POV as he went about killing. The more I read, though, the more I was convinced that Walker wasn't doing everything alone and then it was the mystery of just who Walker was in league with that had me reading. I thought I had it figured out but I was so wrong.
The romance reignited between Lauren and Anthony as neither had really gotten over the other in the five years since they'd parted ways. It was nice to see inside both of their heads and what their feelings were towards the other. I'll be honest. I wasn't that interested in the romance so I skipped the sex scenes in this, totally uninterested.
I don't think I'll be reading the last book in the series. I'm not that into Romantic Suspense anymore.
BookInspector (124 KP) rated The Heatwave in Books
Sep 24, 2020
The protagonists in this book were Jasmine and Felicity, and the story was told from their perspectives. Felicity is telling the story at the present day, she has to go back to her home-town where she grew up, to find a girl that has been kidnapped. Because “only she knows how to find her”. Felicity is a very troubled character, she has a drinking problem, and suffers from quite a few mental health problems. Jasmine and Felicity were best friends at school, and Jasmine is a person who tells the story from the past. I really liked Jasmine’s story, it is more intriguing and gripping compared to Felicity’s.
The narrative was very well balanced, in my opinion. Felicity keeps kindling the suspense with “her big secret” and “what have I done?” moments, making me restless to find out what this huge secret is. And Jasmine is telling a really absorbing story, leading very cleverly to all these huge discoveries. The topics discussed in this book were alcoholism, teenagers and their behaviour, mental health issues, forbidden romance and many more.
I really enjoyed the author’s clever writing style. The book feels quite calm and smooth, there is no police involved and it is only alone, an ordinary woman trying to uncover what actually happened. But at the same time, this book is carrying a shroud of mystery, that my curious side could not wait to unravel. The chapters felt quite short, and the dual perspective made this book very entertaining. The culmination of this novel did not disappoint me, I was not expecting the “Big Secret” to be this awesome.
The narrative was very well balanced, in my opinion. Felicity keeps kindling the suspense with “her big secret” and “what have I done?” moments, making me restless to find out what this huge secret is. And Jasmine is telling a really absorbing story, leading very cleverly to all these huge discoveries. The topics discussed in this book were alcoholism, teenagers and their behaviour, mental health issues, forbidden romance and many more.
I really enjoyed the author’s clever writing style. The book feels quite calm and smooth, there is no police involved and it is only alone, an ordinary woman trying to uncover what actually happened. But at the same time, this book is carrying a shroud of mystery, that my curious side could not wait to unravel. The chapters felt quite short, and the dual perspective made this book very entertaining. The culmination of this novel did not disappoint me, I was not expecting the “Big Secret” to be this awesome.
Lethal Intent
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When Caroline takes a job with a promising medical start-up, she believes she’s on the side of...
Mystery Suspense