I recently finished reading Ultimate Kill, Kristine’s first book in the Ultimate CORE Trilogy and had a tremendous read.
I’ve included my review in this post.
I’m thrilled to reveal the cover art and synopsis for the second book in the trilogy, Ultimate Fear.
What do you think? Does it creep you out? Does it give you a clue what the story is about?
Leave me a comment. And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
Ultimate Fear—Kristine Mason
When a deranged mother’s grief drives her to replace her dead son over and over, obsession leads to murder…
Chicago detective Jessica Donavan will never stop looking for her missing daughter. Her obsession has destroyed her marriage, but the search is the only thing that helps keep her sane and her mind off of everything she’s lost—her husband and her baby girl. When she uncovers a string of unsolved disappearances and reappearances of a number of baby boys, Jessica turns to her soon to be ex, Dante Russo, a former Navy SEAL turned investigator for the private agency, CORE, to help her fit together the pieces in this perplexing puzzle. But as Dante helps her, she realizes just how much she still craves his support—and his touch.
Dante is still in love with his wife and would do anything to have her back in his life again. He’s been miserable since she left him to deal with the grief over their daughter’s abduction, never understanding how much he grieves as well. When Jessica tells him about the case she’s working, he jumps at the chance to take part in her investigation. He’s hoping not only to save their marriage and ease his personal pain over the loss of their daughter, but also to stop a serial kidnapper from taking another victim.
As Jessica and Dante work side by side, pregnant women begin to turn up missing or dead, and they start to uncover the consequences of another woman’s unfathomable grief. The childless mother doesn’t just want a baby. She wants a newborn straight from the womb.
And when forced to confront the dark and twisted perversion of a mother’s obsession, can Jessica and Dante find their lives again…or merely more death?
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And now for my review of Ultimate KIll, Book One of the Ultimate CORE Trilogy.
My Review
Jake finally found Naomi, after five years of searching. Taking a job at CORE, a private investigation company allowed him better access to information. He liked his job and was good at it. Using his new position and his former training as a Marine, he tracked her down. Now, he only has to ask her, why? Why, when they’d planned to be married, have children, grow old together, did she run?
Naomi is shocked when she looks into the eyes of the man she loves. She knew the day could come when he’d find her, but she’s still not prepared. How does she explain leaving him, running and hiding from him? She can’t tell him the truth. About how a monster killed her parents and her brother. A man who’ll stop at nothing to possess her. Jake would have wanted to hunt the man down. And she couldn’t risk losing him to.
Jake still loved Naomi, Lisa, or whatever her name was. They’d been together for three years before she vanished. They’d planned on getting married, having children, and growing old together. Those feelings were still there, as binding as ever, but he’s disappointed. She’s still lying to him. Still trying to protect him.
Mickey has got himself and his twin brother, Harrison, into something really bad. Harrison should have broken this chain some time ago. Mickey pulls him into a job, it goes bad, they end up in prison. Only this time, it won’t be a stay behind bars. It’ll be a permanent dirt nap.
Harrison has a good idea what the devices he helped plant across the country will do, if not the reason why. Only a select few know that, and they never allow the brothers to be alone. It can end only one way. Especially after they meet the boss face to face, and recognize him.
The boss is a very influential, famous man, with an insatiable need for power and that one woman he needs to possess, if only to break her. No one defies him, not even her.
Ultimate Kill has it all. A megalomaniac sacrificing countless innocents just to get that one woman. Two brothers caught in the middle, trying to get out alive. And the woman, trying to hide, to stay alive, and the man who loves her, who’ll do whatever it takes to protect her.
Lots of action, suspense, and some steamy sex scenes will keep you riveted, as the ultimate finale rushes at you. Brace yourself for the Ultimate Kill.
4 Stars
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Synopsis
When the past collides with the present, the only way to ensure the future lies in the ultimate kill…
Naomi McCall is a woman of many secrets. Her family has been murdered and she’s been forced into hiding. No one knows her past or her real name, not even the man she loves.
Jake Tyler, former Marine and the newest recruit to the private criminal investigation agency, CORE, has been in love with a woman who never existed. When he learns about the lies Naomi has weaved, he’s ready to leave her—until an obsessed madman begins sending her explosive messages every hour on the hour.
Innocent people are dying. With their deaths, Naomi’s secrets are revealed and the truth is thrust into the open. All but one. Naomi’s not sure if Jake can handle a truth that will change their lives. But she is certain of one thing—the only way to stop the killer before he takes more lives is to make herself his next victim.
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Author Kristine Mason
I didn’t pick up my first romance novel until I was in my late twenties. Immediately hooked, I read a bazillion books before deciding to write one of my own. After the birth of my first son I needed something to keep my mind from turning to mush, and Sesame Street wasn’t cutting it. While that first book will never see the light of day, something good came from writing it. I realized my passion and found a career I love.
When I’m not writing contemporary romances and dark, romantic suspense novels (or reading them!) I’m chasing after my four kids and two neurotic dogs.
LINKS:
Website ~ Email ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
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Thank you, Laura, for hosting my cover reveal for Ultimate Fear and for the wonderful review of Ultimate Kill! I LOVED the final lines from your review!! I’m also glad you mentioned the brothers as they were a huge part of the story. I felt so bad for what I did to them. Sigh. LOL! Thanks again for posting the review and my new cover. So…did it creep you out? 😉
I could have said so much more about Honeybadger and the twins. I finally had to stop or I’d tell the whole story. LOL I appreciate when an author is willing to let her characters suffer and even die. It makes it more realistic and less predictable. Doesn’t mean it won’t make me mad though. And that means you’ve done your job. Made me emphasize!
Those final lines. Funny about those. They almost wrote themselves:)
If you mean did the story creep me out? Sure did. If you mean your new cover art? Hell yes! I can’t wait to read Ultimate Fear.
LOL, Laura! Yes, I was asking about the new book cover. I really think my cover artist did a great job with it. The cover really does fit the plot…but this is a romantic suspense, not a horror. Well, some of what happens is a bit horrifying…
As for Honeybadger and the twins in Ultimate Kill…I had such a great time writing them, I had to be careful they didn’t steal the show!
Okay. Just saw the cover and I’m creeped out.
Sorry Elisabeth! I love these kind of stories and that cover art is perfect for the plot.
What’s funny…my three-year-old daughter happened to see the cover and said, “Aww look at the baby doll. So cute.” Now THAT creeped me out lol! (btw, just so we’re clear, I did NOT mean for her to see the cover!!)