The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find a sentence or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.
Then go over to Freda’s Voice and leave your link so we can visit your 56!
My 56 for this week is from:
Bone White
by Wendy Corsi Staub
Genre: Mystery
My 56 from the paperback.
“Your turn now, Jane. I’ll do for you what I did for the Beauties. I’ll find out who you were, and what happened to you.”
~~~~~
Read on if you want to know more.
Synopsis
New York Times Bestselling Author Wendy Corsi Staub revisits Mundy’s Landing—a small town with a blood-soaked past.
The town of Mundy’s Landing was founded on a horrifying secret, but stark white bones of the dead never lie…
“We shall never tell.” Spurred by the cryptic phrase in a centuries-old letter, Emerson Mundy travels to her ancestral hometown to trace her past. In Mundy’s Landing, she connects with long lost relatives—and a closet full of skeletons going back centuries.
In the year since former NYPD Detective Sullivan Leary solved the historic Sleeping Beauty Murders, she—like the village itself—has made a fresh start. But someone has unearthed blood-drenched secrets in a disembodied skull, and is hacking away at the Mundy family tree, branch by branch…
I enjoyed the first book in this series and I’ve been following Lauren’s Mac Faraday series too. It’s fun to have the character’s cross back in forth in both of them.
This story focuses on Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton, recently married and getting used to life together.
Jessica is having a recurring nightmare, like a night terror, and they decide the only way to rid her of them is to revisit the scene from whence they come, a horrible crime from her youth. Several people were brutally murdered in Pine Bridge and she had spent the summer there at her relative’s inn.
Jessica and Murphy, along with their dog, Spencer/Candi, arrive at the inn and start to sniff out clues. The deeper they dig, the more dangerous it becomes as bullets fly from in and from all directions.
Boy, this is one tangled up bunch of shenanigans. There’s lots going on and plenty of suspects. I really didn’t know who was guilty of what until right near the end. That’s always a good thing for me.
And, as usual, Lauren drips beloved characters from past stories into this one, just like I’d hope. Bumping into them is always fun, as they stay in my mind from earlier adventures.
I also enjoy the non human characters, of which there are many. Lots of critters romp through all Lauren’s books. One in particular I was hoping to meet again. Monica. She made an appearance. Did she ever.
And I met a new character that quickly became another favorite. Nigel. He’s not a breathing entity. He’s Jessica’s and Murphy’s virtual butler, designed by her brother, Tristan. Nigel comes in very handy with his ability to go anywhere on the internet, plucking out info no one else can. Fun occurs when he starts to become a bit big for his britches.
Another fun, convoluted mystery from a talented author. I’ll always be waiting for the next one.
5 Stars
~~~~~
Synopsis
After months of marital bliss, Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton are still discovering and adjusting to their life together. Settled in their new home, everything appears to be perfect … except in the middle of the night when, in darkest shadows of her subconscious, a deep secret from Jessica’s past creeps to the surface to make her strike out at Murphy.
When investigative journalist Dallas Walker tells the couple about her latest case, known as the Pine Bridge Massacre, they realize Jessica may have witnessed the murder of a family living near a winery owned by distant relatives she was visiting and suppressed the memory.
Determined to uncover the truth and find justice for the murder victims, Jessica and Murphy return to the scene of the crime with Dallas Walker, a spunky bull-headed Texan. Can this family reunion bring closure for a community touched by tragedy or will this prickly get-together bring an end to the Thorny Rose couple?
Five women with seemingly nothing in common are found brutally murdered in a townhome outside Washington, DC. Among the many questions surrounding the massacre is what had brought these apparent strangers together only to be killed.
Taking on his first official murder case, Lieutenant Murphy Thornton, USN, believes that if he can uncover the thread connecting the victims, then he can find their murderer.
The case takes an unexpected turn when Murphy discovers that one of the victims has a connection to his stepmother, Homicide Detective Cameron Gates. One wintry night, over a dozen years before, her first husband, a Pennsylvania State trooper, had been run down while working a night shift on the turnpike.
In this first installment of the Thorny Rose Mysteries, the Lovers in Crime join newlyweds Lieutenant Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday to sift through a web of lies and cover-ups. Together, can the detectives of the Thorny Rose uncover the truth without falling victim to a cunning killer?
Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!
Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, romance, and humor.
Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs (including the real Gnarly) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
What do an anthropologist, a televangelist, a beautiful young woman, a shaman, and a drug lord have in common? Rumors of ancient chronicles somewhere in Mesoamerica draw them all into a race to uncover the secrets. Whether for the thrill of discovery, money, power, they will all be put to the test. The jungle is unforgiving and reluctant to give up it’s secrets.
It took a while for the plot to thicken. The beginning had a lot of detail that slowed the pace, though it’s well researched. Once it got going, it was a thrilling adventure. Lots of intrigue and plotting to keep you turning the pages.
There’s a mixed bag of character’s. Some good. Some bad. The one that drew the most emotions out of me was the man that funded the expedition, Brother Luke. What a warped excuse for a human being and holy man. And the shaman had some surprises for me too.
This is a suspenseful adventure with an exciting ending. I’d recommend this to fans of treasure hunting, anthropology, and plenty of characters with their own agendas.
4 Stars
Synopsis
The Da Vinci Code unsettles. SEALED UP shakes to the core!
UCLA anthropologist Nathan Hill, in a funk since his young wife’s death, learns of staggering millennia-old chronicles sealed up somewhere in a Mesoamerica cliff. This bombshell rocks him out of his gloom, and he leads a clandestine expedition to uncover them. What are they? Who put them there? No one knows. But, self-absorbed televangelist Brother Luke, who funds the expedition, thinks he does. If he’s right, his power-hunger will have off-the-charts gratification.
Striking Audra Chang joins Nathan in his pursuit and brings her own shocking secret. As they struggle through an incredible jungle of puzzles and dead ends, she finds herself falling in love with Nathan. Her secret, though, may make that a non-starter.
When a shaman with a thirst for human sacrifice, and a murderous Mexican drug lord with a mysterious connection to Brother Luke emerge, the expedition appears doomed. Yet Nathan is convinced that fate—or something—demands these inscrutable chronicles be unearthed.
And if they are . . . what shattering disruption will they unleash?
Intricately layered and remarkably researched, this enthralling suspense thriller begs a startling question: Could it happen?
“How much farther?” Paul’s shirt was soaked from sweat.
Itzel looked at him and laughed. “Just like Torrance, huh?” Paul rolled his eyes.
“The cenote.” Ichika pointed to a three-foot-wide path that was recently cut through the brush. They followed it as it turned to the left then sharply to the right. The sinkhole loomed in front of them. The water, a huge blue sapphire, sparkled 15 feet below. Thick emerald-green growth reached down the sinkhole’s sides, but where they were standing, the vegetation had been cleared all the way to the water’s surface.
Paul stood at the cenote’s edge and stared down into the bowl. “You slipped here, you’d go all the way in.”
Itzel shuddered and pulled back; thoughts of her father overwhelming her. Was this what it was like where he fell? She trembled and turned away from the cenote. “Let’s leave.”
Paul looked at her and understood. He almost said something about his stupidity, but decided one foot in his mouth was enough. He motioned for Ichika to take them back the way they came. He put his arm around Itzel, and she leaned her head against him.
“Where are the ruins?” Paul asked. Ichika didn’t say anything, just pointed ahead. The brush and ferns that surrounded them were head high and prevented their seeing anything except along the trail. As they turned to go to where they first entered the path, Kish’s men stood waiting. Ikan, Muluc, and Yochi had machetes, and Gukumatz held a tranquilizer gun.
Paul and Itzel stopped. Ichika, her eyes fastened on the ground, kept going until she stood on the other side of the men. She turned back toward Itzel but wouldn’t look at her. “What’s going on?” Paul demanded in Spanish as he stepped in front of Itzel. Gukumatz raised his gun and shot a dart into Paul’s stomach. Paul flinched at the pain and looked down at his stomach. “What the ….” Paul yanked the dart out and threw it on the ground. A small circle of blood soaked through his shirt. He lunged at Gukumatz and swung his forearm around catching him on the bridge of his nose. Blood spurted from Gukumatz’s nostrils as he fell to the ground; a gash flaring open on top of his nose. Ikan and Yochi dropped their machetes and jumped Paul.
“What are you doing?” Itzel yelled in Lacandón. “Where is Kish?” Muluc grabbed her and threw his arm around her neck, holding her from behind.
“Don’t you hurt her!” Ichika screamed, as she advanced on him. Gukumatz stood up and wiped his nose with his sleeve; blood soaking through his shirt to his skin. His stare at Paul was chilling, and he swore at him in Spanish. Paul tried to get up to come at him. It was all the two men could do to keep him down even though his strength was ebbing. Gukumatz turned away from Paul and pulled a cartridge and a dart from the bag on his shoulder and loaded them into his gun. He walked to Itzel and shoved Ichika aside. He lowered the gun and shot the dart into Itzel’s stomach. She flinched at the pain and stared at Gukumatz. “You pig!” she spat.
Within a few minutes Paul and Itzel were unconscious. Gukumatz pulled the GPS trackers from their belts, turned them off, and slammed them against a rock. He grunted as he picked up Itzel and slung her across his shoulder. The other three men lifted Paul. They headed to the platform ruins.
The place of sacrifice.
~~~~~
Author Steve Dunn Hanson
I’ve lived in places that grew me . . . from a small Idaho farm town, a run-down neighborhood in St. Louis, and a middle-class southern California community, to Sydney, Australia, and Bucharest, Romania. My experiences are as varied as the places I’ve lived. I have a hopper full of “reality” including being a volunteer jail chaplain and flying with a U.S. presidential candidate in his small plane when an engine conked out. And all of this is fodder for my writing.
My latest book is the action/adventure/suspense novel, Sealed Up.
Got a couple of fun ones to share today. Both of these had some fun illustrations and made smiles grow on my face.
~~~~~
My Pet Yeti
by Clarke Baldwin
Age Level:9 and up | Grade Level:3 and up
My Review
I love stories about the Yeti. This sounds fun and I couldn’t resist the cute cover.
Chance can’t wait to show his friend, Nick, the snow fort he built. And Nick can’t wait to see it. After showing off the fort, Chance helps Nick build his own fort and shows him a nifty trick that will keep the forts from melting. As kids we used this trick and it worked great.
Next up, snowball fight! After epic battles, the boys grow cold and it’s time to go home. But Chance makes one quick trip to check on his fort, thinking of ways he might improve it. He’s shocked when he finds the fort demolished, and whoever destroyed it left huge footprints for him to follow.
Not knowing what left the tracks but having a sneaking suspicion, Chance sets off to find the culprit and the tracks lead him to a dark cave. He enters cautiously and discovers something astonishing.
This story brings back so many happy memories from my childhood. Growing up in the north, we had long winters and lots of time on our hands. The neighborhood got together and built forts, has snowball, fights, went sledding and skating, and trekking in the woods. It’s so silent in the winter. And kind of scary. I’m sure we wondered what might be lurking in them woods.
Chance is a brave, but impulsive boy. I don’t know if I’d have ventured into that cave by myself. Making friends with a yeti sounded fun, but Freddy the yeti wasn’t meant to live with people. They wouldn’t understand him. Would be afraid of him.
It was sweet and sad, the way this ended. But the author showed that, while making a decision may be painful, its sometimes the best thing for everyone.
4 Stars
~~~~~
Synopsis
Chance Bradley is enjoying his winter break to the fullest. The snowfall is heavy and he’s doing all the winter activities with his friends to the max. But when his snow fort is wrecked, Chance sets out to find the mysterious culprit. Could the legends be true? Can Chance find and tame the Yeti?
A fun action-adventure middle reader kids book for ages 9-12 and adults. Children’s middle reader with 9 Color Illustrations
The Chance Bradley Adventures Series are action-packed stories filled with action, science fiction, adventure and a hint of fantasy.
A poor little owl who couldn’t fly right. No matter how he tried, he flew upside down, backwards, and any way but the way he should. When he flew into a tree, a little girl rescued him, nurtured him, loved him, and encouraged him to try flying again.
It was adorable when the little girl took the owl home and, with a little TLC, gave him confidence to try again. The pictures are cute too. Looks like children drew and colored them. You might want to have drawing paper and crayons handy, as your youngsters might get a hankering to try to draw this cuddly little owl.
With simple illustrations and such a cute little owl, this is sure to delight the young ones. It has a message too. Don’t give up on yourself. If you fail, try and try again.
4 Stars
~~~~~
Synopsis
When a little owl has difficulty flying, he needs an extra boost of confidence to try again. It takes the loving care of a little girl to help him overcome his awkwardness and take to the skies. A sweet and funny story for bedtime or anytime.
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
My Teaser for this week is from
Jurassic Island
by Viktor Zarkov
Genre: Horror
My teaser from page 26 in the paperback .
“Holy shit,” Ken Houston said, pointing out beyond the second boat.
“What?” Joseph asked.
And then everyone seemed to see it all at once.
I can’t resist books like this. Every time I start one I’m thinking of that scene and Jeff Goldbloom’s comment from Jurassic Park Two. LOL
~~~~~
Read on if you want to know more.
Synopsis
Guided by satellite photos and modern technology a ragtag group of survivalists and scientists travel to an uncharted island in the remote South Indian Ocean. Things go to hell in a hurry once the team reaches the island and the massive megalodon that attacked their boats is only the beginning of their desperate fight for survival.
Nothing could have prepared billionaire explorer Joseph Thornton and washed up archaeologist Christopher “Colt” McKinnon for the terrifying prehistoric creatures that wait for them on JURASSIC ISLAND!
Welcome to My Monday Minis Reviews where I share short reviews of books I’ve read. For today I’ll be sharing my thoughts about the audible book A Human Element, the first book in Donna Galanti’s Element Trilogy. I read the eBook and was excited to listen to it too. I know this is supposed to be a short review but I got carried away.
A Human Element
The Element Trilogy #1
by Donna Galanti
Narrated by Chase Bradley
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Format: Audible
My Review
Ben is hiding from his parents on the shore of Coopersville Lake when it happens.
A meteorite crashes into a group of cabins, one of which contains his parents, and all that remains is a huge crater of steam and fire. In one bright green flash, Ben’s life is forever changed, and for another, it has just begun.
No one could know the long-reaching consequences of that fatal night.
Some months later.
A young girl struggles to bring her child into the world. She came to the doctor in secret.
The doctor doesn’t know why the mysterious man waiting outside wants the baby, he just cares about getting paid.
In a rush, the baby enters the world. Sadly, the young mother does not survive. But wait, there is another baby fighting to be born, a beautiful baby girl.
An exchange is made, but the doctor doesn’t mention the baby girl, he will give her to the Armstrongs to raise.
This is an especially dramatic scene in the audible book. I read it and got a good feel for it in the eBook, but listening to it makes it much more chilling.
Many years later, that baby girl, Laura, is all grown up and back home trying to find out why the people closest to her are being slaughtered. The answers lie here. She has always had the headaches and nightmares and she knows everything is coming together – the monster chasing her in her nightmares, the mysterious man in black who has always been on the periphery of her life, and whatever happened the night of the meteorite crash. It’s all connected.
This part of the story is also very powerful when narrated. I was anxious even though I knew what was going to happen.
Laura and Ben are thrown together as death races towards them. They need answers about that fatal night if they’re to survive what is coming.
Two babies were born that night, Laura and the boy child called X-10. One looked human in every way and the other looked like a monster.
From the first page to the bittersweet end, I was completely immersed in this book. A story of love, humanity, and absolute evil. And now, listening to the audible, I’m even more full of feels for this series.
Donna Galanti’s debut novel has an energy, an essence, that gives it life.
With a superb plot and a thrilling all- out race to the end, A Human Element is excellent.
5 Stars
~~~~~
Narrator Chase Bradley
I enjoyed this audible edition as much as reading the book. Chase Bradley did a great job, his enunciation is strong and he’s keeps the story always moving forward. Donna made a wise choice using him to tell her story and I’ll be keeping an eye out for more books read by him.
~~~~~
Synopsis
Evil comes in many forms…
One by one, Laura Armstrong’s friends and adoptive family members are being murdered, and despite her unique healing powers, she can do nothing to stop it. The savage killer haunts her dreams, tormenting her with the promise that she is next.
Determined to find the killer, she follows her visions to the site of a crashed meteorite in her hometown. There, she meets Ben Fieldstone, who seeks answers about his parents’ death the night the meteorite struck. In a race to stop a madman, they unravel a frightening secret that binds them together.
But the killer’s desire to destroy Laura face-to-face leads to a showdown that puts Laura and Ben’s emotional relationship and Laura’s pure spirit to the test. With the killer closing in, Laura discovers her destiny is linked to his, and she has two choices-redeem him or kill him.
Guess what I spotted yesterday. The first green buds on my Pecan trees.
You know what that means? Spring is here on the Gulf Coast!
It’s time to break out the real summer clothes. I have tons of shorts and tees and I love to finally get to wear them again.
Let’s not forget those shoes. I have a ton of flip flops. It’s important to have the right color for every outfit. I have blue, orange, pink, green, yellow, purple, etc… and in several shades, including pastels and neon bright ones. It’s so fun being a girl!
And best of all is going nude. Not my bod, just my feet! I love being barefoot and usually do so year round in the house. I also have to have toenail polish to match my outfits and there are so many shades of every color. I even have a basic black. LOL
And I can accessorize my bare feet. There are some cool toe rings and ankle bracelets and barefoot bling. Sometimes I’m torn between what to wear. I’ll put something on. Nope. Take it off and try something else. And so on….. It’s tough being a girl. LOL
I often think that guys have it made. They just throw on some board shorts and voila! Instant yum.
Back to the buds on my Pecan trees. What is your first sign that spring is here?
*****
My new books this week.
*****
And here are some freebies for ya. Click on the covers to get your copies. Remember to make sure they’re still free before you hit that buy button.
*****
Books I reviewed this week. Click on the covers to read my reviews.
Welcome to Freakin Fridays, where I share my reviews of books that scare you, thrill you, and get those endorphins pumping.
Today I’m back with two more stories about the big hairy dude, Sasquatch. These aren’t about the warm and cuddly ones either.
Boggy Creek
The Legend Is True
by Eric S. Brown and Jennifer Minar-Jaynes
Genre: Horror
My Review
I’ve watched a lot of horror movies about Sasquatch. Read a bunch of books too. So I was rubbing my greedy little hands together when I got this book. I knew it was going to be creepy fun. I watched The Legend Of Boggy Creek recently. Funny that I remember it differently now then when I watched it all those years ago. It still has a chilling atmosphere. And I think this would be a good movie too.
The characters do everything wrong, even the ones who know what’s out in them woods. Sitting ducks, I tell ya. You have the the young adults, spending time in a cabin in the big old woods. There’s the creepy neighbor who drops ominous remarks about what might be out there in them woods. And then there’s the police officer who knows what’s out there and goes after it anyway.
Got the picture. Good. Everything goes to hell in a hand basket in no time. People are killed, there bodies mutilated or eaten. The big hairy dude is pissed off and hungry and the puny humans don’t stand a chance. I think you’d better bring a tank to take him down.
Some may not agree with my 4 star rating, so let me explain. I went into this story for some campy fun and lots of gore. I had no expectations of a deep, thoughtful story. So, I got just what I wanted. Ate it up and wished it was longer.
4 Stars
~~~~~
Synopsis
EVIL LURKS IN THE SWAMP. When Jennifer’s father dies in a horrific accident, she finds herself drawn to his small cabin in the swampy woods of Boggy Creek, Texas. Her vacation with a few friends soon becomes a fight for survival when they discover the terrifying truth behind the legend of Boggy Creek.
Here are the covers for all three editions. The first (I have this one) and second ones are for the eBook. The third one is for the paperback.
Which do you like the most?
~~~~~
The Night Of The Beasts
by Eric S. Brown
Genre: Horror
My Review
I’ve got several of Eric’s Bigfoot War books to read and when I spotted this little freebie, I grabbed it to see what I might be in for.
The hairy ones with the big feet come calling. Yep, there’s a slew of them and they tear through a town, maiming and killing everyone unfortunate enough to be there.
A security guard’s routine night duty at a hospital becomes more than he could ever have imagined as ambulances race to the emergency room, loaded with people horribly maimed. Reports are flooding in about a big animal, loose in the town, attacking anything that moves. But with so many injured, it can’t be just one, can it?
It’s no words wasted and complete chaos in these few pages. If you like em fast and furious with cryptids on the rampage, this could be one for you. Just keep in mind it’s a tiny story that comes from the world of Bigfoot War.
3 Stars
~~~~~
Synopsis
Eric S Brown, author of the highly praised Bigfoot War trilogy, brings you this exclusive story which takes place inside the world of Bigfoot War II: Dead in the Woods. Night of the Beasts is an apocalyptic tale that mixes a zombie pandemic with a brand new take on the Sasqautch mythos. It tells the story of one hospital’s fate on the night the world as we know it ends and the beasts emerge from the woods to feast on human flesh.
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