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Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Scarred Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance book 7) in Books
Oct 20, 2021
173 of 250
Kindle
Scarred Warrior ( Dark Warrior Alliance book 7)
By Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Being a Dark Warrior and protecting others has been the only focus in Gerrick Haele's life for centuries, until he receives the shock of his life when one of the females he rescues from the archdemon's clutches ignites an arousal that hints at her being his Fated Mate. Problem is, Gerrick's Fated Mate was murdered four hundred years earlier and you are only ever given one mate in a lifetime. Questions of Dark magic and deception carry him down a path involving time travel, serums and fights to the death. Can he set aside his doubt and be the male Shae needs him to be, or will his past come back to haunt him and history repeat itself? Shae Mitchell has spent the last seven months being tormented, raped and tortured by vile archdemons and just wants her suffering to end. She is on the verge of giving up completely when Gerrick sweeps in to rescue her. Her relief at being liberated is short-lived when she realizes the demons have sunk their claws far deeper than the scars on her neck. As she fights to rid her mind of the archdemon's influence, she discovers that the explosive heat she shares with the sexy Dark Warrior threatens to consume her whole.
These get better and better each book! This was Gerricks and Shaes story which was just so well put together. We had the trapped females finally free from cages as well as a fated pair come together. Some catch ups with familiar faces and some exciting news for the king and queen. I have to say this every book I just love Mack more and more. One demon down and one to go before they unleash all hell. Really enjoyed this one.
Kindle
Scarred Warrior ( Dark Warrior Alliance book 7)
By Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Being a Dark Warrior and protecting others has been the only focus in Gerrick Haele's life for centuries, until he receives the shock of his life when one of the females he rescues from the archdemon's clutches ignites an arousal that hints at her being his Fated Mate. Problem is, Gerrick's Fated Mate was murdered four hundred years earlier and you are only ever given one mate in a lifetime. Questions of Dark magic and deception carry him down a path involving time travel, serums and fights to the death. Can he set aside his doubt and be the male Shae needs him to be, or will his past come back to haunt him and history repeat itself? Shae Mitchell has spent the last seven months being tormented, raped and tortured by vile archdemons and just wants her suffering to end. She is on the verge of giving up completely when Gerrick sweeps in to rescue her. Her relief at being liberated is short-lived when she realizes the demons have sunk their claws far deeper than the scars on her neck. As she fights to rid her mind of the archdemon's influence, she discovers that the explosive heat she shares with the sexy Dark Warrior threatens to consume her whole.
These get better and better each book! This was Gerricks and Shaes story which was just so well put together. We had the trapped females finally free from cages as well as a fated pair come together. Some catch ups with familiar faces and some exciting news for the king and queen. I have to say this every book I just love Mack more and more. One demon down and one to go before they unleash all hell. Really enjoyed this one.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Unpassing in Books
Dec 22, 2021
212 of 250
Book
The Unpassing
By Chia-Chia Lin
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
In Chia-Chia Lin's debut, The Unpassing, we meet a Taiwanese immigrant family of six struggling to make ends meet on the outskirts of Anchorage, Alaska. The father, hardworking but beaten down, is employed as a plumber and repairman, while the mother, a loving, strong-willed, and unpredictably emotional matriarch, holds the house together. When 10-year-old Gavin contracts meningitis at school, he falls into a deep, nearly fatal coma. He wakes up a week later to learn that his little sister Ruby was infected, too. She did not survive.
Routine takes over for the grieving family: The siblings care for each other as they befriend a neighboring family and explore the woods; distance grows between the parents as they deal with their loss separately. But things spiral when the father, increasingly guilt ridden after Ruby's death, is sued for not properly installing a septic tank, which results in grave harm to a little boy. In the ensuing chaos, what really happened to Ruby finally emerges.
With flowing prose that evokes the terrifying beauty of the Alaskan wilderness, Lin explores the fallout after the loss of a child and the way in which a family is forced to grieve in a place that doesn't yet feel like home. Emotionally raw and subtly suspenseful, The Unpassing is a deeply felt family saga that dismisses the American dream for a harsher but ultimately more profound reality.
To start off I’ll say it’s very well written. Sadly I just struggled to connect with the book and it’s characters, yes I’ve still given it 4 stars because it at least deserves that considering it is also the first book from this author. I don’t want to discourage anyone from reading it as someone else may connect I just struggles.
Book
The Unpassing
By Chia-Chia Lin
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
In Chia-Chia Lin's debut, The Unpassing, we meet a Taiwanese immigrant family of six struggling to make ends meet on the outskirts of Anchorage, Alaska. The father, hardworking but beaten down, is employed as a plumber and repairman, while the mother, a loving, strong-willed, and unpredictably emotional matriarch, holds the house together. When 10-year-old Gavin contracts meningitis at school, he falls into a deep, nearly fatal coma. He wakes up a week later to learn that his little sister Ruby was infected, too. She did not survive.
Routine takes over for the grieving family: The siblings care for each other as they befriend a neighboring family and explore the woods; distance grows between the parents as they deal with their loss separately. But things spiral when the father, increasingly guilt ridden after Ruby's death, is sued for not properly installing a septic tank, which results in grave harm to a little boy. In the ensuing chaos, what really happened to Ruby finally emerges.
With flowing prose that evokes the terrifying beauty of the Alaskan wilderness, Lin explores the fallout after the loss of a child and the way in which a family is forced to grieve in a place that doesn't yet feel like home. Emotionally raw and subtly suspenseful, The Unpassing is a deeply felt family saga that dismisses the American dream for a harsher but ultimately more profound reality.
To start off I’ll say it’s very well written. Sadly I just struggled to connect with the book and it’s characters, yes I’ve still given it 4 stars because it at least deserves that considering it is also the first book from this author. I don’t want to discourage anyone from reading it as someone else may connect I just struggles.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Gotta Get Theroux This in Books
Apr 25, 2021
52 of 250
Book
Gotta get Theroux This
By Louis Theroux
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
In 1994 fledgling journalist Louis Theroux was given a one-off gig on Michael Moore’s TV Nation, presenting a segment on apocalyptic religious sects. Gawky, socially awkward and totally unqualified, his first reaction to this exciting opportunity was panic. But he’d always been drawn to off-beat characters, so maybe his enthusiasm would carry the day. Or, you know, maybe it wouldn’t . . .
In Gotta Get Theroux This, Louis takes the reader on a joyous journey from his anxiety-prone childhood to his unexpectedly successful career. Nervously accepting the BBC’s offer of his own series, he went on to create an award-winning documentary style that has seen him immersed in the weird worlds of paranoid US militias and secretive pro-wrestlers, get under the skin of celebrities like Max Clifford and Chris Eubank and tackle gang culture in San Quentin prison, all the time wondering whether the same qualities that make him good at documentaries might also make him bad at life.
As Louis woos his beautiful wife Nancy and learns how to be a father, he also dares to take on the powerful Church of Scientology. Just as challenging is the revelation that one of his old subjects, Jimmy Savile, was a secret sexual predator, prompting him to question our understanding of how evil takes place. Filled with wry observation and self-deprecating humour, this is Louis at his most insightful and honest best.
I’m a huge fan of Louis Theroux I love his documentaries so when he released this book I was so looking forward to reading it. It did not disappoint as you read you read with his voice in your head! His life and adventures are just so fascinating I laughed and also felt a little sad in places! He’s open and candid about his work and relationships. I love hearing how he got his true love and it’s like every marriage with its twists and turns. I learnt so much about him. Well worth the read!!
Book
Gotta get Theroux This
By Louis Theroux
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
In 1994 fledgling journalist Louis Theroux was given a one-off gig on Michael Moore’s TV Nation, presenting a segment on apocalyptic religious sects. Gawky, socially awkward and totally unqualified, his first reaction to this exciting opportunity was panic. But he’d always been drawn to off-beat characters, so maybe his enthusiasm would carry the day. Or, you know, maybe it wouldn’t . . .
In Gotta Get Theroux This, Louis takes the reader on a joyous journey from his anxiety-prone childhood to his unexpectedly successful career. Nervously accepting the BBC’s offer of his own series, he went on to create an award-winning documentary style that has seen him immersed in the weird worlds of paranoid US militias and secretive pro-wrestlers, get under the skin of celebrities like Max Clifford and Chris Eubank and tackle gang culture in San Quentin prison, all the time wondering whether the same qualities that make him good at documentaries might also make him bad at life.
As Louis woos his beautiful wife Nancy and learns how to be a father, he also dares to take on the powerful Church of Scientology. Just as challenging is the revelation that one of his old subjects, Jimmy Savile, was a secret sexual predator, prompting him to question our understanding of how evil takes place. Filled with wry observation and self-deprecating humour, this is Louis at his most insightful and honest best.
I’m a huge fan of Louis Theroux I love his documentaries so when he released this book I was so looking forward to reading it. It did not disappoint as you read you read with his voice in your head! His life and adventures are just so fascinating I laughed and also felt a little sad in places! He’s open and candid about his work and relationships. I love hearing how he got his true love and it’s like every marriage with its twists and turns. I learnt so much about him. Well worth the read!!
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Shrine of Jeffery Dahmer in Books
Mar 20, 2021
39 of 250
Book
The Shrine of Jeffery Dahmer
By Brian Masters
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
AN UNSPEAKABLE CRIME
When he was arrested in July 1991, Jeffrey Dahmer had a severed head in the refrigerator, two more in the freezer, two skulls and a skeleton in a filing cabinet.
A DEPRIVED ACT
But if anything could be more disturbing than the brute horror of this scene, it was the evidence that Dahmer had been using these human remains not only for sexual gratification, but as part of a dark ritual of his own devising -- to furnish a shrine to himself.
A KILLER, BEYOND OUR UNDERSTANDING
________________________________________
The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer offers a chilling insight into the mind of a serial killer and reveals the horrors within.
This had me gripped! After watching Des which is a tv adaptation of the UK serial killer Denis Nielsen who killed in similar ways to Dahmer this author came to my attention. This delved deeper into Dahmers life and childhood it’s so easy to place blame when in fact this was a very sick individual! We could argue he was a victim of the very poor mental health system. The book is very well written every well researched it in no way glorifies the hideous crimes committed by Dahmer but it does bring to your attention the thin line the mental health sits on. This poor men and their families I did find a few parts very hard to stomach and read and it keeps you questioning all the way through I think my husband got annoyed at me constantly trying to discuss or read certain bits out to him just so I could process them myself!
It’s a fascinating subject in the sense do we decide between nurture vs nature, control and no control is there that part of the brain missing in men like Dahmer that says no stop missing? Also it brings to light very slack policing also shines a bad light on those professionals that didn’t pick up those warning signs could some of these men’s life been saved? .
I guess it’s something we will never know!
Book
The Shrine of Jeffery Dahmer
By Brian Masters
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
AN UNSPEAKABLE CRIME
When he was arrested in July 1991, Jeffrey Dahmer had a severed head in the refrigerator, two more in the freezer, two skulls and a skeleton in a filing cabinet.
A DEPRIVED ACT
But if anything could be more disturbing than the brute horror of this scene, it was the evidence that Dahmer had been using these human remains not only for sexual gratification, but as part of a dark ritual of his own devising -- to furnish a shrine to himself.
A KILLER, BEYOND OUR UNDERSTANDING
________________________________________
The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer offers a chilling insight into the mind of a serial killer and reveals the horrors within.
This had me gripped! After watching Des which is a tv adaptation of the UK serial killer Denis Nielsen who killed in similar ways to Dahmer this author came to my attention. This delved deeper into Dahmers life and childhood it’s so easy to place blame when in fact this was a very sick individual! We could argue he was a victim of the very poor mental health system. The book is very well written every well researched it in no way glorifies the hideous crimes committed by Dahmer but it does bring to your attention the thin line the mental health sits on. This poor men and their families I did find a few parts very hard to stomach and read and it keeps you questioning all the way through I think my husband got annoyed at me constantly trying to discuss or read certain bits out to him just so I could process them myself!
It’s a fascinating subject in the sense do we decide between nurture vs nature, control and no control is there that part of the brain missing in men like Dahmer that says no stop missing? Also it brings to light very slack policing also shines a bad light on those professionals that didn’t pick up those warning signs could some of these men’s life been saved? .
I guess it’s something we will never know!
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Fearless (Scarlet Suffragette #1) in Books
Apr 21, 2021
54 of 250
Kindle
Fearless ( Scarlet suffragette book 1)
By Nicola Claire
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Nicola Claire's captivating new Gothic romance series introduces a dark and sinister early settler New Zealand at the end of the nineteenth century - brightened by a fearless and talented heroine and a loyal and secretive police inspector...
Free spirit. Brilliant. A Liability?
Doctor Anna Cassidy has been trained by the best; the former Chief Surgeon for the Auckland Police Force. She knows how to dissect a body. She knows how to treat any ailment. And she knows how to find a cause of death.
But society is not ready for a female surgeon.
Fighting for what she believes in has been ingrained in Anna since she was a young child. But the battles she faces now are not all based on equality. A murderer stalks her fellow Suffragettes and the police inspector in charge of the case could be Anna's downfall.
Experienced. Dedicated. Something to hide?
Inspector Andrew Kelly holds duty and honour in the highest regard. His role as a detective proves just that; he never stops until justice is served. Love is something he has forsaken, for reasons he'd rather you didn't know.
But Anna is not a woman a man can ignore.
Fighting his instincts with cold determination is something Kelly has become accustomed to. But a murderer is loose in his adopted city, bringing memories to the fore of a killer who walked in the shadows of Whitechapel, and shining light on a dark past the Inspector is trying hard to forget.
A gritty, twisted, and authentic Victorian romantic suspense, sure to rip you apart... just like old Jack.
This had all of my favourite things! Gruesome murders linked to Jack the Ripper, historical romance , strong female lead and a very good story. Although the murderer was quite clear to me from the beginning I absolutely loved reading it play out! Definitely worth a try if you like any of the things I mentioned!
Kindle
Fearless ( Scarlet suffragette book 1)
By Nicola Claire
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Nicola Claire's captivating new Gothic romance series introduces a dark and sinister early settler New Zealand at the end of the nineteenth century - brightened by a fearless and talented heroine and a loyal and secretive police inspector...
Free spirit. Brilliant. A Liability?
Doctor Anna Cassidy has been trained by the best; the former Chief Surgeon for the Auckland Police Force. She knows how to dissect a body. She knows how to treat any ailment. And she knows how to find a cause of death.
But society is not ready for a female surgeon.
Fighting for what she believes in has been ingrained in Anna since she was a young child. But the battles she faces now are not all based on equality. A murderer stalks her fellow Suffragettes and the police inspector in charge of the case could be Anna's downfall.
Experienced. Dedicated. Something to hide?
Inspector Andrew Kelly holds duty and honour in the highest regard. His role as a detective proves just that; he never stops until justice is served. Love is something he has forsaken, for reasons he'd rather you didn't know.
But Anna is not a woman a man can ignore.
Fighting his instincts with cold determination is something Kelly has become accustomed to. But a murderer is loose in his adopted city, bringing memories to the fore of a killer who walked in the shadows of Whitechapel, and shining light on a dark past the Inspector is trying hard to forget.
A gritty, twisted, and authentic Victorian romantic suspense, sure to rip you apart... just like old Jack.
This had all of my favourite things! Gruesome murders linked to Jack the Ripper, historical romance , strong female lead and a very good story. Although the murderer was quite clear to me from the beginning I absolutely loved reading it play out! Definitely worth a try if you like any of the things I mentioned!
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Jaguar King (The Wild Rites Saga #1) in Books
Apr 12, 2021
50 of 250
Kindle
The Jaguar King ( The Wild Rites saga book 1)
By Anne Mcilwraith
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Magic is real? Big deal. Bills still gotta be paid.
Especially when you’re heading into vet med. Emma Chase is nothing special – if anything, with a roomie who turns into a jaguar on a regular basis, she’s the sidekick, not the heroine. Her superpowers have more to do with acing her finals and overworking herself. Knowing her best friend’s secret makes it easier to justify her own inclination to keep people at a distance, but it doesn’t change her life.
Until others like him show up on her doorstep, convinced she’s the fated savior of their race, telling her she’s destined to command the magic of – well, Emma doesn’t quite catch that part, she’s too busy getting her ass the hell out of there.
What she does know? The Jaguar King is after her, his rivals want her dead, and she doesn’t have to believe in prophecy to believe they’ll stop at nothing to catch her.
Violence. Magic. Inappropriate humor. Step into a world of wonder and savagery in a gritty urban fantasy with an unlikely heroine, sizzling heroes, and complicated villains. The Jaguar King is a full-length read and the first in a series, and all the books have satisfying resolutions as well as a series-spanning story arc. Definitely no cliff-hangers – just bad-ass shifters with one goal: claim the prize. Claim the Caller of the Blood.
I so wanted to give this more than 2 stars! The main character is good she can kick ass and has sass but it’s all a bit over complicated. I found it rushed in places and hard to read in others. It’s not all bad though I’ve been dying for a spider shifter for so long and in this area I was not disappointed and I love the link that Emma has with Fern!
The fighting scenes were a bit all over the place too nothing seemed clear.
For me overall it showed promise just didn't deliver.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Corrupt (Devil's Night #1) in Books
Feb 14, 2021
24 of 250
Kindle
Corrupt (Devils night book 1)
By Penelope Douglas
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Erika
I was told that dreams were our heart’s desires. My nightmares, however, became my obsession.
His name is Michael Crist.
My boyfriend’s older brother is like that scary movie that you peek through your hand to watch. He's handsome, strong, and completely terrifying. The star of his college’s basketball team and now gone pro, he’s more concerned with the dirt on his shoe than me.
But I noticed him.
I saw him. I heard him. The things that he did, and the deeds that he hid…For years, I bit my nails, unable to look away.
Now, I’ve graduated high school and moved on to college, but I haven’t stopped watching Michael. He’s bad, and the dirt I’ve seen isn’t content to stay in my head anymore.
Because he’s finally noticed me.
Michael
Her name is Erika Fane, but everyone calls her Rika.
My brother’s girlfriend grew up hanging around my house and is always at our dinner table. She looks down when I enter a room and stills when I am close. I can always feel the fear rolling off of her, and while I haven’t had her body, I know that I have her mind. That’s all I really want anyway.
Until my brother leaves for the military, and I find Rika alone at college.
In my city.
Unprotected.
The opportunity is too good to be true, as well as the timing. Because you see, three years ago she put a few of my high school friends in prison, and now they’re out.
We’ve waited. We’ve been patient. And now every last one of her nightmares will come true.
I was in two minds all the way through this book but something kept me hooked! It was intriguing and turned out to be an interesting storyline. There were some bits I was uncomfortable with as I don’t really enjoy reading certain scenes. Overall though I enjoyed it in the end.
Kindle
Corrupt (Devils night book 1)
By Penelope Douglas
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Erika
I was told that dreams were our heart’s desires. My nightmares, however, became my obsession.
His name is Michael Crist.
My boyfriend’s older brother is like that scary movie that you peek through your hand to watch. He's handsome, strong, and completely terrifying. The star of his college’s basketball team and now gone pro, he’s more concerned with the dirt on his shoe than me.
But I noticed him.
I saw him. I heard him. The things that he did, and the deeds that he hid…For years, I bit my nails, unable to look away.
Now, I’ve graduated high school and moved on to college, but I haven’t stopped watching Michael. He’s bad, and the dirt I’ve seen isn’t content to stay in my head anymore.
Because he’s finally noticed me.
Michael
Her name is Erika Fane, but everyone calls her Rika.
My brother’s girlfriend grew up hanging around my house and is always at our dinner table. She looks down when I enter a room and stills when I am close. I can always feel the fear rolling off of her, and while I haven’t had her body, I know that I have her mind. That’s all I really want anyway.
Until my brother leaves for the military, and I find Rika alone at college.
In my city.
Unprotected.
The opportunity is too good to be true, as well as the timing. Because you see, three years ago she put a few of my high school friends in prison, and now they’re out.
We’ve waited. We’ve been patient. And now every last one of her nightmares will come true.
I was in two minds all the way through this book but something kept me hooked! It was intriguing and turned out to be an interesting storyline. There were some bits I was uncomfortable with as I don’t really enjoy reading certain scenes. Overall though I enjoyed it in the end.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Salvaged (Releasing the Magic #2) in Books
Jul 1, 2021
98 of 250
Kindle
Salvaged (Releasing the Magic book2)
By Maya Riley
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
What do you do when you find out you’re the thing you fear most?
Seven months ago, the Void Virus was set loose on Earth. The world is now in chaos. The origin of the virus has been unveiled, and mysteries of my past have come to light.
A lot has changed during that time. I started out alone, struggling to survive. Now I had four guys, my sister, and Puppy who all had my back no matter what.
Not only did I gain a strange healing ability, but now Lincoln could create fire. That isn’t the last of the weird things going on, though. On top of that, I discovered I was created in a lab, with the intention to bring about a great change. Those intentions weren’t necessarily good. Now that I’m back on their radar and I know more about what I might be capable of, I have become the thing I fear most, and am left with more questions than ever.
We receive word of some sort of sanctuary for survivors. A place that promises protection for those who seek it. It could be a trap, but it could also be true. We do our best to travel in search of this place, but rotters aren’t the only things standing in our way. Our journey is filled with twists, turns, and straight up chaos.
If there is a safe place for survivors, we won’t stop until we find it.
Together, we will find The Salvaged.
So this was a struggle at first which was annoying as I enjoyed the first book so much, I still like her style of writing and the fact it wasn’t relationship led. Something was missing and it wasn’t till the last few chapters it got exciting. I’m hoping she is just setting the next book up as I was close to give this a 2 star rating. It was one of those books that just plods along not bad but not brilliant either. I’m curious to find out more about the magical side and the powers Blyss is bringing out.
Kindle
Salvaged (Releasing the Magic book2)
By Maya Riley
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
What do you do when you find out you’re the thing you fear most?
Seven months ago, the Void Virus was set loose on Earth. The world is now in chaos. The origin of the virus has been unveiled, and mysteries of my past have come to light.
A lot has changed during that time. I started out alone, struggling to survive. Now I had four guys, my sister, and Puppy who all had my back no matter what.
Not only did I gain a strange healing ability, but now Lincoln could create fire. That isn’t the last of the weird things going on, though. On top of that, I discovered I was created in a lab, with the intention to bring about a great change. Those intentions weren’t necessarily good. Now that I’m back on their radar and I know more about what I might be capable of, I have become the thing I fear most, and am left with more questions than ever.
We receive word of some sort of sanctuary for survivors. A place that promises protection for those who seek it. It could be a trap, but it could also be true. We do our best to travel in search of this place, but rotters aren’t the only things standing in our way. Our journey is filled with twists, turns, and straight up chaos.
If there is a safe place for survivors, we won’t stop until we find it.
Together, we will find The Salvaged.
So this was a struggle at first which was annoying as I enjoyed the first book so much, I still like her style of writing and the fact it wasn’t relationship led. Something was missing and it wasn’t till the last few chapters it got exciting. I’m hoping she is just setting the next book up as I was close to give this a 2 star rating. It was one of those books that just plods along not bad but not brilliant either. I’m curious to find out more about the magical side and the powers Blyss is bringing out.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Surrogate (Brennan & Esposito #1) in Books
Jan 14, 2021
Contains spoilers, click to show
4 of 250
Book
The Surrogate ( Brennan & Esposito book1)
By Tania Carver
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
A shocking double-murder scene greets Detective Inspector Philip Brennan when he is called to a flat in Colchester. Two women are viciously cut open and laying spreadeagled, one tied to the bed, one on the floor. The woman on the bed has had her stomach cut into and her unborn child is missing. But this is the third time Phil and his team have seen such an atrocity. Two other pregnant women have been killed in this way and their babies taken from them. No-one can imagine what sort of person would want to commit such evil acts. When psychologist Marina Esposito is brought in, Phil has to put aside his feelings about their shared past and get on with the job. But can they find the killer before another woman is targeted?
This is definitely a strange one for me! How I got through it I will never know I had to keep putting it down and regather my thoughts. Several times I asked myself do I want to keep going! This is not me taking anything away from the authors as the book was very well written, fast paced with short but well packed chapters. This was difficult for so many reasons dealing with delicate issues. Murder of both women and babies, mutilation , sexual and physical abuse, mental illness on so many levels as well as a few more I missed. The book had this draw to it you didn’t want to go on but you needed to go on! For the first book I. A series it kicks you in the gut straight away! A few times I thought I would physically throw up. So many emotions packed into 438 pages! I needed that last chapter I needed to see him get his woman I think after everything you go through you need that ending!!
Would I recommend this book? Without a doubt but it needs a trigger warning and it’s definitely NOT for the faint hearted!!
Book
The Surrogate ( Brennan & Esposito book1)
By Tania Carver
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
A shocking double-murder scene greets Detective Inspector Philip Brennan when he is called to a flat in Colchester. Two women are viciously cut open and laying spreadeagled, one tied to the bed, one on the floor. The woman on the bed has had her stomach cut into and her unborn child is missing. But this is the third time Phil and his team have seen such an atrocity. Two other pregnant women have been killed in this way and their babies taken from them. No-one can imagine what sort of person would want to commit such evil acts. When psychologist Marina Esposito is brought in, Phil has to put aside his feelings about their shared past and get on with the job. But can they find the killer before another woman is targeted?
This is definitely a strange one for me! How I got through it I will never know I had to keep putting it down and regather my thoughts. Several times I asked myself do I want to keep going! This is not me taking anything away from the authors as the book was very well written, fast paced with short but well packed chapters. This was difficult for so many reasons dealing with delicate issues. Murder of both women and babies, mutilation , sexual and physical abuse, mental illness on so many levels as well as a few more I missed. The book had this draw to it you didn’t want to go on but you needed to go on! For the first book I. A series it kicks you in the gut straight away! A few times I thought I would physically throw up. So many emotions packed into 438 pages! I needed that last chapter I needed to see him get his woman I think after everything you go through you need that ending!!
Would I recommend this book? Without a doubt but it needs a trigger warning and it’s definitely NOT for the faint hearted!!
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated A Lovely Drop in Books
Jan 16, 2021
12 of 250
Kindle
A Lovely Drop
By Darynda Jones
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
A woman who claims to do the impossible...
Andrea Grace comes from a long line of women who can do the impossible: They can eavesdrop on the past. But ever since her mother's suspicious death, Andrea has led a half-life, guarding herself from those who would kill to get their hands on her. From heads of states to the most violent criminals craving what she has to offer, every drop she makes puts her at risk.
But one fateful night, Andrea decides to anonymously help authorities solve a murder, a particularly horrendous one, and she gets a taste of what it feels like to use her powers for good. And she's hooked. She continues solving crimes with no one the wiser and does so for years until one single mistake gets her caught. And what does she do to get out of the bind she finds herself in? She tells the ludicrous, inconceivable truth.
...meets a man who believes her.
Special Agent Sebastian Strand is almost desperate enough to believe the girl's claim that she can see through the veil of time. Almost. But when he tests the defiant redhead and discovers her gift seems as real as the resentment she wears like a bulletproof vest, he asks for her help to stop a terrorist.
Now, the only element Andrea's been able to control her whole life is the only thing she needs more of as she races against time with an FBI agent hell-bent on saving the world. But will she be too late to save the embittered man's life? Or will she lose her own life, not to mention her heart, before time runs out?
I love Darynda and I really enjoyed this novella! The idea behind it is brilliant and I’m hoping we get some more. I was also a little bit disappointed as it kinda lacked something I can’t put my finger on. Overall a good novella
Kindle
A Lovely Drop
By Darynda Jones
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
A woman who claims to do the impossible...
Andrea Grace comes from a long line of women who can do the impossible: They can eavesdrop on the past. But ever since her mother's suspicious death, Andrea has led a half-life, guarding herself from those who would kill to get their hands on her. From heads of states to the most violent criminals craving what she has to offer, every drop she makes puts her at risk.
But one fateful night, Andrea decides to anonymously help authorities solve a murder, a particularly horrendous one, and she gets a taste of what it feels like to use her powers for good. And she's hooked. She continues solving crimes with no one the wiser and does so for years until one single mistake gets her caught. And what does she do to get out of the bind she finds herself in? She tells the ludicrous, inconceivable truth.
...meets a man who believes her.
Special Agent Sebastian Strand is almost desperate enough to believe the girl's claim that she can see through the veil of time. Almost. But when he tests the defiant redhead and discovers her gift seems as real as the resentment she wears like a bulletproof vest, he asks for her help to stop a terrorist.
Now, the only element Andrea's been able to control her whole life is the only thing she needs more of as she races against time with an FBI agent hell-bent on saving the world. But will she be too late to save the embittered man's life? Or will she lose her own life, not to mention her heart, before time runs out?
I love Darynda and I really enjoyed this novella! The idea behind it is brilliant and I’m hoping we get some more. I was also a little bit disappointed as it kinda lacked something I can’t put my finger on. Overall a good novella