Showing posts with label Thriller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thriller. Show all posts

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Student Saturday: One of Us is Next by Karen M. McManus

 


Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller 
Student Reviewer:  Campbell P.

The book "One of us is next" is a part of a suspenseful mystery series. The story is based on a group of kids called the Bayview four, who recently solved a mystery on their friends' death. It takes place in the town of Bayview in present times and contains much high school drama as well as a dangerous game of truth or dare. The three main characters, Maeve, Knox, and Phoebe are all very determined to solve this mystery of who runs the truth or dare game. This book reminds me of the book A Good Girl's Guide toMurder,   as they both feature friend groups being the target of someone's plan. This is a very suspenseful, yet a must-read book that I would recommend to readers who love thrilling, mystery, and good plot twists.

Monday, April 17, 2023

The Hills be Shaken by Michael Stewart

 




Genre: Adult, Thriller
Source: Purchased

I loved this book so much I read it twice.  Mose as an engineer reminded me of author Del Shannon. He not only writes books but he is an engineer, specifically dams.  I loved the character Mose. I loved he kept saying, "I'm just an engineer." The fact he was able to take the info he had and use the knowledge from his career to help him was so spot on. I think something else I really like was that there was so much you could learn about engineering from reading this story. For a lot of people who read this, it may not have mattered at all. I love a book that has just enough info to teach me as well as having a plot so tight to keep me reading non-stop.  this is the first time in a long time that I have actually read a book through twice, back to back. I was able to picture the town.  Lots of twists and turns. I never expected the ending.

Friday, July 12, 2019

Forged Lines by J.T. Bishop


Genre: Adult, Science Fiction, Thriller, Romance
Source: I purchased a copy. The opinions expressed here are my own

This is the next fantastic book in the Red-Line: Fletcher Family Saga.  When I started the book, I was a little confused. You have a police officer watching the skies for  UFOs. They make fun of her at the station and call her VT.  Then we switch to a dinner party. It was at this point I started having trouble remembering who is who. I had read and reviewed the last book back in January.  Then we have the event that sets everything into motion. The house where the dinner party is taking place is blown up. From that point on, I was oriented and hooked once again by this author.  The officer known as Vee has been tasked with looking for any other victims or survivors at this house fire. She comes across injured Jasper, who is babbling about his pills and his ship. A part of Vee wants to believe him but knows he has to be delusional. 
You have an alien race that has been fighting a battle within their own ranks. Within their culture, you have the Reds and the Greys. They have blended in and even married into the human race.  This has created some very unique problems. Hiding among them is the "High Child." He needs to go back to Eudora and take his place as leader. There are those who want him stopped and will stop at nothing to make that happen. You need to read this book to see what role Vee will play in this story. That was a great little twist I enjoyed immensely.
The book is jam-packed with action. You aren't sure who they should trust. Every time I thought I had figured out who was good and who was evil, something else was thrown at me, and I realized again, I didn't know. Once I got to the third or fourth chapter, I had to finish the book. My husband kept telling me to sit back in my chair. I get so into a book I scoot to the edge of my chair.  If you have not started or heard of this series, you must. It was wonderful. You won't be disappointed.  

About the Author

J. T. loves stories that explore a character’s unique abilities and origins. It’s the thrill of the unknown that continues to inspire her stories. What if extraterrestrials did walk among us? It’s a theme she finds intriguing and provides a wealth of inspiration for her books.  Drama, angst, passion, and humor all add to the fun. A little bit of romance doesn’t hurt either.

J.T. graduated from Southern Methodist University with a major in Marketing. She’s worked in the corporate world as a project manager as well as a Customer Service Manager. She tried teaching for a while and took a course in teaching children how to write. That course reignited her passion that began in high school when she and her best friend would write stories featuring themselves as the main characters. It was fun to do, but it took years before she got serious. But, when the right idea came along, and inspiration hit, she was ready to run with it.

J. T. enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling whenever she can, and spending time in nature (despite the heat in Texas). Getting up in the morning with a cup of coffee, ready to write is the start of a perfect day. www.jtbishopauthor.com 

Saturday, July 14, 2018

Intense Book Series by Glenn Haggerty

I have found a new author whose books I absolutely love. His writing style is similar to Max Elliot Anderson and Tim Shoemaker. These are two author's whose books are on my classroom shelves. Not only do my boys love these books, but so do my girls. I highly recommend this author to all of my readers.



Escape 

Genre: Middle Grade, Adventure, Thriller
Source: I purchased a copy

Glenn Haggerty’s books are full of suspense and adventure. Tyler Higgins wants to fit in with the “cool” kids. He is willing to ditch his former best friends to be “cool”.  He is quickly learning that being “cool” is not all it is cracked up to be. Tyler agrees to spy on kids parked at Lover’s Lane.  He invites his former best friend who declines. While hiding in the woods waiting to catch teens making out a car pulls up. When the trunk lid is opened they see what they are sure is a dead body. Unfortunately they are discovered.  This book takes you on an edge of your seat adventure as these two teens try to stay alive.  Discover what exactly is going on. Who is chasing them and who wants who dead.  This is a lite Christian Fiction.  Throughout the book Tyler talks about church and God. The reason I loved this book is because it is so true to life in the Christian aspect.  Tyler has thoughts about what he believes God would want him to do, chooses to take a different path because he doesn’t want to listen to God. The other thing we see is what happens when he makes decisions he knows is wrong.   This is a book that can and will be enjoyed by everyone. This is the first book of a trilogy.





Run
Genre: Middle Grade, Adventure, Thriller
Source: I purchased a copy
Tyler Higgins family has moved.  Now he is once again trying to fit in with the cool kids.  The cool kids have ditched him in the woods.  He decides he will get his younger brother to go into the woods to try and find the “cool kids” treehouse. When a storm hits they stumble onto an old house. As creepy as it is they slip inside. When they hear someone coming up from the basement they hide in a closet.  When the coast is clear they escape.  A run in with the creepy guy from  the old house puts Tyler and his family in danger. When these would-be plumbers threaten him and his friends Tyler takes things into his own hands.  Once again Glenn Haggerty has created a story that keeps you sitting on the edge of your seat.





Chase 
Genre: Middle Grade, Adventure, Thriller
Source: I purchased a copy

This was the most intense of the three books. Tyler has noticed a change in some of his friends. He is sure there is a drug problem in his school.  His plan is to find out who is dealing the drugs. The problem is that they need to find the person at the top of the chain.  Tyler and some of his friends come up with a plan.  They are going to track these drug dealers to get to the bottom of the problem.  But the woods are full of problems.  Sometimes the ones you think you can trust are the ones you need to avoid. Will this adventure cost Tyler and his friends their lives?  These books are so good that I read one a day. I stayed up to finish them each night.  I look forward to reading many more books by this author.

Thursday, March 15, 2018

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James



Genre:  Adult, Mystery, Thriller
Source:  I received a copy from Netgalley to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I am an eclectic reader. There are several things that will draw me to a book. First and foremost is if a book is a mystery. Check, this one is. Are there supernatural undertones? Check again.  This book also has multiple points of view and we bounce back and forth between time periods. 

We are taken into 1950 and a place called Idlewild Hall in Vermont. Idlewild is a boarding school. This seems to be a school where girls are place when their parents don’t want them around. Considering the time period these girls were shipped off or hidden away so they would not be an embarrassment for their parents.  Four of the girls become very close friends,  and then one mysteriously disappears. 
We are then transported to 2014.  The thread that connects the past to the present is the school. In the 1950s when one of the girls goes missing the head of the school figures she has run away. This just shows how little the school administration feels about their charges.  Her friends don’t believe that she ran away.  They think she was murdered.
In the present time Fiona Sheridan, a journalist gets involved when someone decides to reopen the school. She is going to do a story on the place. Her connection? Twenty years before, her sister’s murdered body was found on the school’s grounds. Her sister’s boyfriend has been in prison all these years, convicted of her murder. Fiona never believed that he killed her. She is determined to find out what really happened. You just know that this is not a good idea.
If I had to choose one of the time periods as my favorite it would definitely be the past. The author made me care so much about the girls that are considered broken.  Oh, did I mention the school has a ghost called Mary Hand? What is her backstory? This is what adds that exceptional creep factor. For some reason I seem to start these books at night and then can’t put them down until I finished them. The problem with this one is that is was just creepy enough to scare me whenever I heard a noise.   It has been a while since I’ve read a book that has so captivated me. I have not read any of her other works but that will definitely change.  There is something about the Gothic period set against the present time that seems to work.  I can’t recommend this book enough.  You definitely must read this book. I just wouldn’t recommend you read it at night or when it is stormy out, unless you want to have your pants scared off.

This book comes out March 20th. Be prepared.

Saturday, December 30, 2017

The Marker by Diana Savastano



Genre: Adult, Mystery, Suspense
Source: I purchased a copy


The book starts off in the middle of action. A battle is going on and Dr. Bradley Taylor, a doctor during the war is treating the injured. Although he is a Confederate, he upholds his oath and treats men on both sides.  He gets shot in the back and his friend drags him into the woods where he dies. Several valuables are taken from him. As he lays dying he has a vision of a woman with a grave marker in her hands.  We then switch to present day. Jennifer Beasley works for a magazine in New York. She is being sent to Florida to interview several people for a story. She insists on doing the story only if she gets two weeks of vacation afterwards. While in Florida, she stops at an antique shop to purchase a gift for her father’s birthday. She finds a unique marker from the civil war period.  She is told the seller’s son found it at a Civil War graveyard in Louisiana. She starts hearing voices and seeing things. Once she is back in New York, her cousin who was raised by her dad brings a friend who makes several predictions about the marker. Jennifer has another vision where she meets the ghost of Dr. Bradley Taylor.  This spurs her on to Louisiana to the gravesite where she meets Dr. Bradley’s ghost again. She interviews him and gets information she needs to help him. She learns he is in a Union graveyard when he is a Confederate soldier. She calls on all of her friends, makes some new ones, and even finds true love and danger as she tries to keep her promise to help Dr. Bradley.  This was full of so much mystery. She uncovers, lies, betrayal, murder as the book progresses. I read the book in less than three hours, it was that good.  Highly recommended to anyone who loves thrillers, suspense, and mysteries.

Thursday, September 21, 2017

30 Red Dresses by Johan Twiss



Genre:  Adult, Realistic Fiction, Thriller
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This was a phenomenal book. The main character is an author. His books don’t sell well in the United States. However, Cambodia can’t seem to get enough of him. While on a book signing tour in Cambodia a natural disaster occurs.  He and his translator Munny trying to survive find themselves in an area they really should not have ventured into. However, this turns out to be a most fortunate occasion for the other main character, eight year old Veata.  She calls  him her giant. When their paths cross, lives will be changed forever.  This book takes you into one side of human trafficking.  The writing was so smooth that I had to keep reading from beginning to end. I was right there fearing for the characters in this book. I found myself reading faster to find a resolution. There were so many things I hoped for.  The ending was very satisfying.  I found myself talking to my students about this book since we have been discussing “causes” and how horrible people can be to each other. I think this would make a wonderful book for high school.  I will not only recommend this book to everyone I meet, I will remember it and its message for a long time. This is one of those stories that just sticks with you.  I absolutely loved it.

Read about the author here.



Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Something for Everyone

I spent the week before last just reading books with the intention of writing reviews for them the next week. It seems that writing the reviews takes longer than reading the books. I have to go back and look at the notes I jotted down and then try to form them into some sort of cohesive piece of writing. Below you will find several reviews of some of the books I read. 


The Mind of the Living – J. Kaihua
Genre: Adult, Inspirational
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

A man traipses through the desert to find a man they call “Old Fool”. He is seeking a book. He finds the old man and offers him gold for the book. The old man refuses the gold and tells him he may read the book. Upon opening it the book is blank. When he asks the book a question the book speaks to him. The book is short yet full of wise advice. One of my favorite quotes from the book was:
“The only thing that doesn’t change, is that everything changes.”  I think if we were to remember this then we will be able to move ahead with no major surprises. It is a quick and uplifting book with a multitude of old pictures.  I enjoyed it.










O.K. Is Great by David Tiefenthaler

Genre: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Since I teach middle school I am always looking for books for my shelves that will entertain and interest my students. This is that type of book. First it has a student nicknamed O.K. I am sure my students will get the name connotation there and be able to identify. After all, they are in middle school.  I don’t know of very many middle school students who don’t want to do something that will get the recognized and remembered. Often it backfires like it did for O.K.  Unlike the character in this book many of my students would just give up. However, O.K. with his new friend Leo by his side push on.

Kids will be able to identify with this character. They will recognize the hardships that go along with being in middle school and trying to live up to an older sibling who can’t seem to do anything wrong. Many kids will be able to identify with being the ‘middle child’ and what that entails. They will understand this character’s feelings and in the end, will realize that they can overcome middle school obstacles. They will identify with this character and realize they aren’t out there going it alone.



No Rest for the Wicked – Dane Cobain
Genre: Adult Horror, Thriller
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Warning:  Some of the descriptions are graphic and so not recommended for everyone.


I don’t usually read stories that contain angels or demons. But the premise of this one was different so I agreed to read and review it. These are not the angels we read about in the Bible. These angels are attacking humans. They are choosing who will die and in what horrific manner they will execute them. Enter our two heroes, Father Montgomery and Robert Jones. They set out to stop these angels.  I won’t say too much because it would be so easy to give things away. There are lots of twists and turns.  Since I am an eclectic reader I enjoy things a little darker at times. This one fits the bill.  I have to comment on the cover, isn't it just delicious?


Stop the Diet I Want to Get Off by Lisa Tillinger Johansen

Genre: Informational
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.


This is quite a comprehensive book. The author is a registered dietitian. She has provided an extensive look at the different diets out in the world. Some of them I had never heard of before.  Some made me cringe.  I was a little saddened to learn that she placed the paleo diet into the “fad” category. I started a paleo diet approximately two years ago and not only did I finally begin to lose weight, but a lot of my health issues went away. I am no longer pre-diabetic, no longer have a heart issue. My thyroid meds have been cut in half. I no longer have acid reflux.  I believe the main message from this book is that you don’t need to just jump on the bandwagon. Do your research. Make sure you are eating healthy. I’ve seen many people follow every diet out there because a friend or a celebrity personality lost so much weight. Be informed. This rather lengthy book will help you do just that.







Mindful Parenting by Susan Burgess
Genre: Informational
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.


I have gone through the parenting phase in my life. I would recommend this book to young parents everywhere. Parenting is without a doubt one of the hardest jobs we face. One of the things I found useful in this book was finding a balance between parenting and our own needs. Balancing our life is another area we have forgotten about. I realized that as a teacher I am often put in a somewhat parental role. Some of the advice in this book carries over into my job. It is important that we learn to apologize when we are wrong. Children respect that and it breaks the tension and teaches a lesson from which you can move on. Great advice in this book.


Friday, March 24, 2017

Cascadia by H.W. "Buzz" Bernard



Genre: Adult, Thriller
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.


At the time I scheduled this review I had not thought about what I would be teaching in my classroom around the time this review was due. It just worked out that we are reading stories on disasters. My students have been reading about Tsunamis and the earthquakes that cause them, specifically the 2004 tsunami. An interesting point in the article they read dealt with geomythology. Scientists are using stories told by Native Americans to back up stories of earthquakes and tsunamis that occurred in the past. Those were things I thought about as I read this wonderful thriller by “Buzz” Bernard.


One of the reasons I really like his work is you can tell how much research he does. I’m not sure how difficult that is for him with his background. I felt like I was reading a real life event.  His main character has to face one of the biggest challenges of his life. Dr. Elwood is a geologist who keeps having nightmares about a quake that devastates the northwest coast.  The more he has the dreams the more he believes the quake will actually happen. The challenge he faces is whether he should risk his career to go public with what he ‘believes’ will happen or if he should keep quiet to protect his career. If he is wrong it would be career over. If he doesn’t tell anyone and his dreams come true then he lost the opportunity to save lives.   I wondered if meteorologists and geologists ever actually go through this. I found it interesting that the “Thunderbird and Whale” reference was also mentioned in the articles my students read. This is such a well-written book I could see it as a movie.  I want a book like this that will keep me reading from cover to cover. I enjoy books that are so realistic I wonder how much truth there is to them. I definitely recommend you read this book and any of his other books. You won’t be sorry you checked out this author.

Saturday, February 18, 2017

I See You by Clare Mackintosh



Genre: Adult, Mystery, Thriller
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This is one of those stories that has you looking over your shoulder. We live in a world that is constantly under surveillance. It seems common place to the point we tend to ignore it. Think of all of the criminals who are caught because they forgot there is the ability to provide surveillance in most every situation. Zoe finds herself stuck on a train on her way home one night. When she begins to read the ads in her paper she sees a picture of herself. There is also a website attached to her picture. Later she finds out that another woman who’s picture was in the paper ended up dead.  This pattern keeps happening and she is sure that she is being targeted.  I tend to do a lot of reading late at night after I’ve finished grading papers. This one had me so creeped out about being watched that I dreaded having to get out of bed and go to the bathroom. I kept hearing what are normal creaks of our house, but kept imagining someone was in the house.
We have Kelly a detective who has her own issues and is actually trying to build her reputation back up. She is one person who believes Zoe.  This is one of those books where things build up slowly until you suddenly realize how tense the situation is. I was unable to guess who was behind this. That is a plus for me. I hate reading a book and figuring things out so quickly.  I loved this book and the way it was written in different points of view.  This is a book that I will definitely recommend.


Friday, November 11, 2016

Bitter Moon by Alexandra Sokoloff


Genre: Adult, Thriller
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Bitter Moon is the fourth book in the Huntress series.  In this series we have an FBI agent named Matthew Roarke who has spent a large amount of time tracking down a woman named Cara Lindstrom. Cara goes after the most evil of predators, as she was once a victim herself. However, nothing condones murder. The biggest problem for Roarke is he finds himself stuck between doing his job and his admiration for Cara. This makes Roarke take a leave of absence. 

When Cara escapes Matthew Roarke goes back on the hunt. This time he uncovers the very thing that set Cara on this path. This will take him back to her old high school and more brutality than he could imagine.

One thing that made this book so great to me is the very thing some people might not like. The author uses alternating chapters to go back in time to show us how Cara became the person she is today, and then chapters to show us present time with Matthew Roarke trying to uncover Cara’s past. This is a sixteen year spread. I felt that this was probably the very best way to tell this story. It is what has made me fall in love all over again with the story line.  Learning what you do about Cara’s past makes a part of you really like her, even though a part of you can’t condone what she has done.

If you haven’t read the first three books in the series, you really must. It will explain things you really need to know to make this book an outstanding one to read. However, having said that, it reads well as a stand alone book.  This one had a lot more emotional backdrop. The reader is given a look at the social system from Cara’s point of view. Unfortunately it really mirrors a lot of today’s system. As I have said before, any book that can make me feel such a range of emotions is a book I will definitely recommend to my readers. Don’t walk, run to get your copy. You won’t regret it.  I think one reason I loved this series is because it kind of reminded me of the Dexter series that was on television years ago. It was probably my favorite series because it showed someone deeply scarred seeking revenge on those he saw as evil.

You can read my review of the other books in the series and a guest post by the author by clicking below.


Monday, August 22, 2016

Guest Post: Katherine Prairie



For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved books, and I started that love affair early. My mother always had a book in hand, and she introduced me to Trixie-Belden and the wonderful stories about a young girl who solved crime when I was still in elementary school. But books were a luxury, and the store-bought books that came through our door were few and far between. I soon discovered though, that the library had what seemed to me, an endless supply.  
As a teenager, I spent hours in the library, browsing the shelves, searching for interesting stories and when I found an author I liked, I read everything they published. One summer, it was Jane Austen’s books, another year Agatha Christie filled my days. My tastes were eclectic – and still are – I just wanted a good story and authors like Isaac Asimov, James Clavell, Robert Ludlum, J.R.R. Tolkien, Emily Bronte, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stephen King and Mary Higgins Clark delivered.
But the books I read about far-away places, Russian spies and early Britain, also sparked an interest in world politics, history, geography, art and culture. They opened up the world to me, and they stirred my imagination.
I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a scientist, and that’s where my education and career took me, but there’s always been a part of me that wanted to write. In science, we explore, discover and experiment –  we investigate mysteries.  So I suppose it’s only natural that when I did take that first step, I wrote Thirst, a suspense thriller.
But as a writer I’ve taken on the challenge of creating a mystery rather than solving one, and it is a challenge!  Too many clues or too few, a simple plot or one that’s too complex, slow vs fast pacing – all of these elements have to be carefully considered as I construct my story.  Above all, I want to give people a story they can immerse themselves in, a story I would like to read too.
There’s no doubt that the authors of my childhood greatly influenced me, and so have the many authors I discovered as an adult. I still prowl the library, searching for a good read, and I still take great delight in finding a new author. And if you had told me when I was a young girl that I would one day see my own novel on those library shelves, I wouldn’t have believed you, but a few weeks ago that’s exactly what happened.  
As much as I’m been overjoyed to see Thirst in stores, it’s the libraries that I’m most proud of. Libraries make books that entertain, teach and inspire available to everyone regardless of age, income or education, and they power dreams. Without that library in my small hometown of Thunder Bay, Ontario, I wouldn’t be where I am now.

I’m at the beginning of my writing career, but perhaps one day a reader will find my Alex Graham series on the library shelves and it will inspire them to search out more authors, or to write their own book.   


Author Bio


Katherine, a geologist and IT specialist, stepped away from the international petroleum industry to follow her passion for writing. An avid traveller with an insatiable curiosity, you never know where you’ll find her next! But most days, she’s in Vancouver, Canada quietly plotting murder and mayhem under the watchful eye of a cat. She is an award-winning presenter and the author of the thriller THIRST.




Buy links for Thirst:
www.katherineprairie.com

Monday, February 22, 2016

The Doll's House by M.J. Aldridge



Genre: Adult, Thriller
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads:
The bestselling author of Eeny Meeny and Pop Goes the Weaselbrings back Detective Helen Grace, who is hot on the trail of a twisted serial killer in this gripping new thriller.

Detective Helen Grace is on the trail of a twisted serial killer in this gripping thriller in the “taut, fast-paced”* international bestselling series.

Ruby wakes up in a strange room. Her captor calmly explains that no one is looking for her. No one wants her. Except him.

When the body of a woman is found buried on a secluded beach, Detective Helen Grace is called to the scene. She knows right away that the killer is no amateur. The woman has been dead for years, and no one has even reported her missing. But why would they? She’s still sending text messages to her family.

Helen is convinced that a criminal mastermind is at work: someone very smart, very careful, and worst of all, very patient. But as she struggles to piece together the killer’s motive, time is running out for a victim who is still alive... 

My Thoughts:
Let me start off by saying that I loved this third book more than the last one.  This one kept my heart pounding.  I felt like I was in that room with Ruby.  I felt the fear/terror she felt every time her captor was there. He expected her to behave in a normal manner at times. This in my opinion was part of his delusion. This book starts off with our favorite detective finding a body buried on the beach, then later two more. She knows it isn't a coincidence. This serial killer was more terrifying to me. He kept his victims for prolonged periods of time and even after they were dead he kept their loved ones believing things were okay because they received text messages from them. That scared me realizing that this could and has happened in our present time.

When Helen discovers Ruby Sprackling has disappeared she is sure that Ruby has fallen victim to this same serial killer. She is determined to do everything in her power to make sure Ruby comes home.  I found myself often holding my breath. There is so much tension in this book. If you haven’t read this series I would suggest you pick this series up and get started.

Friday, January 8, 2016

Cold Moon by Alexandra Sokoloff



Genre: Adult, Thriller
Source: I purchased

This is the third book in this series. In this book Cara has been caught. However, the killings don’t stop. Someone is killing pimps and this time it can’t be Cara. Once again the tension has been ratcheted up. My feelings about Cara being caught.  I kept thinking that if she hadn’t risked her life to prevent Roarke’s death she would probably have not been caught. I looked at Cara and the events in her life that shaped her into the person she was. I knew that the killings she committed was wrong. However, and I keep finding myself saying that, I understood why she killed the people she did and a part of me really wanted to justify her killing. The strong theme of human trafficking is spot on to what is still happening in the world today. Alexandra Sokoloff has taken a subject that so many shy away from and put it out front. She has not solved the problem, but you can’t help but read this book and think about it and the effect it has on so many around the world. For a little while we get to look at it and think that these people have gotten what they deserved. Maybe that is wrong thinking. But, like I told my students recently when discussing a controversial issue, sometimes there is no black or white answer. The author has made the reader feel and think things they probably never would have thought before. I love books that make me have such mixed emotions. This is a series I would definitely read several more times. My husband says it is because I have a morbid side. I say it is because I know excellent writing and this is it in its finest form.  You must read the entire series. I highly recommend it. Then do what I’m going to do and check out her other books.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Blood Moon by Alexandra Sokoloff


Genre: Adult, Thriller
Source: I purchased

This is the second book in the Huntress Series. In this series we know that Agent Roarke is searching for two killers. One of them is the character we met in the first book, Cara. She is the only survivor of a killer who brutally killed every member of her family except her. They are also responsible for killing two other families. Both Agent Roarke and Cara are searching for this killer who has disappeared, or have they? As Roarke tries to catch Cara he makes a terrible discovery.  The person responsible for killing her family and setting her on her own personal path, also known as ‘the reaper’ has been at it again. Roarke has no clue how to find  this killer of whole families. But it seems like Cara does and she keeps trying to help without getting caught. The “Dexter”. It was one of my favorite shows. However, this book formed such mental images in my mind it was like watching a movie as I read. It topped “Dexter” hands down. I would actually love to see this made into a movie or even a series. I find it amazing that the more Roarke tries to locate Cara the more clues she leaves him, helping him out. But I kept wondering if he was getting too close to Cara to the point of not being able to be objective.  Definitely a must read, then move on to the third book.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Huntress Moon by Alexandra Sokoloff



Genre: Adult, Thriller
Source: I purchased a copy

Huntress Moon by  Alexandra Sokoloff


This story has two main characters. First we have FBI Agent Matthew Roarke.  He has always had a special sense about people. From the time he was a small child he knew he would grow up to work in a field where he would put bad people away. He now has his sights set on a blonde woman who seems to always be seen at the scene of murders. Is she responsible? Is it possible that SHE is a serial killer? This seems almost improbable because most serial killers are men.

Agent Roarke learns her identity and learns she (Cara) is after more than he originally thought. The question this author makes you ask yourself is how bad is bad? Are there instances that would make you overlook the evil in someone? Could they ever be justified in their actions? This is a book where you find yourself not justifying what Cara does, but looking for the why’s. You empathize with her. You want to help her change her ways because you know the path she is going down is not going to end well. You want at the same time for Roarke to be successful and put away a dangerous killer. There are no set answers for you as you read.  The author has done a superb job of creating characters you like no matter what their position in the story. The action scenes keep you glued to the edge of your seat.  Since this is a series, when I was asked to review one of them I looked them up and immediately purchased the first two. I got so into it my husband bought me the third. Make sure you have all three so you can read seamlessly from the first to the third book. Get plenty of sleep before you begin because you won’t want to sleep, or I should say you won’t be able to sleep until you complete the book, and for me the entire series.  This is a series I definitely recommend.  I am so pleased that every book I’ve started the new year reading has been so good.

Monday, December 28, 2015

Three by Jeff and Erynn Altabef

Second Chances by Jeff Altabef adn Erynn Altabef
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Short Story
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads:
One night changes everything.
One chance meeting forces a young man to make a choice.
Will he do what’s right?
Or what’s easy?

Ayden is forced to remember old secrets he’d rather not reveal when his daughter returns home with questions about his shadowy past and dangerous legacy. Will she understand when he tells her about the night mysterious strangers came to his sleepy Arizona town looking for a local medicine man?
As his tale unfolds, Ayden pieces together the mystery that connected a recent murder, the strangers, and the medicine man’s bizarre behavior. Will he allow old demons to rule him, or will he get a second chance?


My Thoughts:
This book is a short story that fills in the gaps after Wind Catcher. It is precise and not only answers questions you had left, but leaves you with more so that you must read the next book.   It is a must read, eventhough it is short.


Brink of Dawn by Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabeff
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The Opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads:
They walk among us as if they are gods.
Only the Chosen know what they are.
Only the Chosen know to fear them.
And only the Chosen can defeat them.


Evolved Publishing presents the second book in the multiple award-winning Chosen series of young adult mystery thrillers, which feature an American Indian fantasy and supernatural theme, from the same author who brought you the award-winning thriller Shatter Point, and his daughter.

Juliet Wildfire Stone and her best friend, Troy Buckhorn, barely escaped their sleepy Arizona town alive. Now they’re speeding to New York City to find the three other Chosen. The Chosen must band together to face an ancient foe that threatens all humanity.

Yet Juliet doesn’t know whom to trust, and strange things are happening in the City.

The Chosen will be tested, their resolve questioned, and their flaws exposed. Each must decide whether he or she will fulfill their destiny—or run. To defeat the enemy, they must stop battling among themselves and overcome their own struggles.

Only one can lead them. Will Juliet embrace her powers in time?

My Thoughts:
This is the second book in the Chosen series. I reviewed Wind Catcher here. In this book we find Juliet and Troy trying to locate the other “chosen”. This is the only way they can battle the Deltaite and have a chance of winning. Juliet and her friends must each learn to control the special ability or ‘gift’ they have.  Juliet has a gift of “seeing visions” yet she doesn’t trust herself enough with her gift. This is what makes this book stand out among others with similar plot lines. You have characters, who have a gift, yet they are not robotic. They are very dimensional and fleshed out. They are flawed and we the reader are privy to their flaws. This makes them a character the reader can relate to.
There is enough here to make you wonder if they will be able to save the world; just enough to keep you coming back for more. Definitely an author you want to watch.

I am looking forward to the final book in the trilogy, Scorched Souls.  As far as I’m concerned it can’t come soon enough.



Enemies of the State by Jeff Altabef
Genre: Adult, Thriller, Short Story
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.



From Goodreads:
Steven Cabbott is fighting some serious personal demons, and with America on the brink of civil war, knowing whom to trust is almost impossible. Especially when the person he trusts least of all is himself.
After joining a special operations unit at a young age, the government turned Steven into a killer, and worse—someone who enjoys killing. He tells himself that was a different version of him, and he has changed. Yet one simple question haunts him: does he really want to change?
As civil war threatens to rip America apart, he yearns only for redemption and a good night’s rest. Two young dissident leaders may hold the key to Steven’s absolution, and to peace, but the government is poised to abduct them.
Faced with near impossible odds, Steven must extract the dissidents, but he encounters treachery at every turn, and he’s running out of time. Can he keep his personal demons in check long enough to save the rebels, or will the government claim them all as Enemies of the State?

My Thoughts:
This short story is sure to get your blood pumping. Steven has lived a life full of killing. He grew up in the ghettos where he saw his mom deal with her own demons. He escaped the ghettos and signed up for the military where he became a special asset, a killer. He could kill without blinking an eye. Then one day he walked away from it all. He hired out to work for a man who lives in one world, but he believes truly wants to make a difference in the world Steven came from. When one of his bosses' employees ends up dead it is his job to interrogate the killer and do what he has to do to protect his boss.  The question is, can he keep his demons at bay or will they resurface and turn him back into the man he tried to leave behind?  This is going to be one great thriller. This short story is like a prequel to what is to come.  Love reading the work of this author.

I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.