Welcome to My Monday Minis where I share short reviews about books I’ve read.
I couldn’t resist the title and synopsis for this one.
~~~~~
Cadaver Dog
Zombie Dog #1
by Doug Goodman
Genre: Horror
My Review
I was quickly caught up in the story of Angie Graves and her dogs. She trains them for all kinds of purposes, the newest being tracking zombies. Through fire swept forests, she races to save the life a young girl stolen by a zombie.
I fell hard for Murder, Angie’s zombie tracking dog. She found him near death on the side of the road, nurtured him back to health, and found he had a calling for tracking zombies. He stole my heart as fast as he could steal your french fries. And his heart was a large as a lion’s.
The zombies were a new approach too. You didn’t get turned into one by being bitten. Something controlled them, used them as hosts for a very deadly purpose. Creepy stuff.
And Angie was easy to bond with. She’s a loner, much better with dogs than with people and will not stop until she’s finished a search.
Some scenes had my heart racing and some had my heart aching.
This was an intriguing beginning to the series and I’ve already grabbed the next book. Can’t wait to see where these characters wind up next.
4 STARS
~~~~~
Synopsis
Angie Graves trains dogs on all kinds of scents: guns, bombs, even cadavers. But when she is approached with the idea of training a dog to track zombies, she is not so sure. She needs a different dog for this line of work, and the only one available is a dog named Murder who she rescued when she found him left for dead. The problem is, Murder is nothing like a hero dog. He is scarred emotionally and physically. He is slow to trust, has a mischievous mind, and obsesses over his chicken toy. But if he and Angie can learn to work together, they may be able to solve the riddle of where the zombies come from, and why they are snatching up people.
Spring is in the air! I’m sitting here with the windows open, enjoying a warm breeze and the fresh air. Everything is blooming and growing. So much green! Especially my lawn, which needs to be mowed. LOL I have plans to get outside Monday and do some much needed clean up. Lots of dead stuff and weeds to remove. I know it needs to be done as I really let it go last year. What I really want to do is sit out there and read a good book. Maybe I’ll find time for both!
Have a lovely Sunday everyone.
~~~~~
My new books this week.
I know I received some books but I didn’t have time to look at them. I’ll share next 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 reviewed this week.
Only one but it was so much fun. Click on the cover to check it out.
Welcome to My Monday Minis where I share short reviews about books I’ve read.
I came across this one and couldn’t resist. I’m always on the lookout for my next werewolf read.
~~~~~
Tooth & Claw
by Dave Jeffery
Genre: Horror
My Review
Take a good look at the cover for this one. What you see is what you get.
Some rich clients line up for the hunt of all hunts. Their host fills his coffers with their loot and gives them each a turn at the trophy of a lifetime. But the prey doesn’t run, It brings the hunt to them. It’s bullet and arrow facing off against tooth and claw.
For all of you werewolf lovers, doesn’t miss this one. It’s got an entertaining cast of characters, some intriguing back stories about them, and some nasty wolves you hope you’ll never encounter. I had a bloody good time and wish this would be made into a movie. I had fun trying to pick who would play who.
4 STARS
~~~~~
Synopsis
There’s no place quite like Cofton Grange. Set in twelve-hundred acres of hills and woodland, it is a playground for the wealthy where, for the right price, every desire is made a reality.
Tonight is special; a group of hunters have bought into the most exclusive contest, the opportunity to track and kill a fantastic and terrifying creature not of this Earth. The stakes are high, each competitor determined to claim the kudos that will come from taking down their incredible prey.
But as the moon rises and the pursuit begins, each hunter is about to find out that sometimes there are fiercer things than the competition.
All work and no play makes for a very tired Laura. LOL It’s been one of those weeks. I worked longer hours at both jobs and we were short on help. I didn’t even manage to finish reading one book! Couldn’t stay awake. But I have some good news. After this week I will be only working 5 days a week between both jobs. At least for the next two weeks. That will give me some time to clean, read and nap. And hopefully get some reviews written.
Have a lovely Sunday everyone.
~~~~~
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.
It’s Mardi Gras time here and it brings back so many fun memories of when I’d go to the parades and come home laden with beads and stuff. Of preparing for a ball, donning my sequined gown and tripping the light fantastic all night long. Now I prefer to stay at home and watch the parades on television. A lot of people think that Mardi Gras originated in New Orleans, when in fact it started in Mobile, Alabama. Let the good times roll!
Have a lovely Sunday everyone.
~~~~~
My new books. Only one this week but it sure looks and sounds scary good!
Synopsis
WHO WILL LIVE WHEN CONQUEST BURNS?
Tensions are running high in the small mountain town of Conquest, Idaho. Newly elected Sheriff Heather Hill is on one side, toxic and corrupt Mayor JH Bieter on the other, a standoff in a culture war. With a wildfire approaching, battle lines begin to form. As the cold war heats up, Heather and JH are at each other’s throats.
But they have more to worry about than the fire.
The Pack has arrived in Conquest.
A ravenous gang of bestial shapeshifters, they are hungry and eager to show their dominance. Conquest makes a perfect target. Now Heather, JH, and the people of Conquest must fight for survival as blood and ash fill the streets
~~~
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.
~~~~~
My reviews this week. Click on the covers to check them out.
Welcome to my Saturday Screams where I share books that thrill and chill!
Today I have a frosty one for ya!
~~~~~
Snowball
by Gregory Bastianelli
.
.
My Review
I love horror stories where the elements play a huge part in character survival. This one didn’t disappoint.
A bunch of motorists get stranded on a patch of highway during a snow storm. Whiteout conditions, freezing temps. I can’t imagine how bad that would be. Throw in some seriously creepy snowmen that mysteriously appear and it all goes crazy from there.
I’ve always been told that when caught in a situation like this, it’s best to stay put. Wait it out. Something forces a few of these people to seek help. Could the cabin in the woods provide that? Or was it all a lure? I couldn’t wait to find out. And when I did, what a wacky, twisted ending it was. And I have to mention that the cover is perfect.
4 STARS
Thanks so much to Flame Tree Press and Author Gregory Bastianelli for a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
~~~~~
Synopsis
A group of motorists become stranded on a lonely stretch of highway during a Christmas Eve blizzard and fight for survival against an unnatural force in the storm. The gathered survivors realize a tenuous connection among them means it may not be a coincidence that they all ended up on this highway. An attempt to seek help leads a few of the travelers to a house in the woods where a twisted toymaker with a mystical snow globe is hell bent on playing deadly games with a group of people just trying to get home for the holidays.
Flame Tree Press is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
“Steps up several levels into an exciting category all its own. It’s thriller, cold case,
mystery suspense, and police procedural, all rolled into one exciting
novel. Set amidst the political drama that comes with Washington DC and
the Pentagon, a current multiple murder becomes a search years in the
past. With a young, hot lieutenant assigned to NCIS, and his beautiful
new wife, you have all the makings of a bestseller. Nicely done, Ms.
Carr!” – Review by Merry Citarella, Mystery Suspense Reviews
.
The Latest Best-Selling Thorny Rose Mystery Available Now!
Get Your Copy Today!
Join us for this tour from Jan 20to Feb 28, 2020!
The Nutcracker Conspiracy
.
A Thorny Rose Mystery #4
.
by Lauren Carr
. Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 388 pages Genre: Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services Release date: January 30, 2020 Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries,
so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on
stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some
mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!
.
MY REVIEW
I love this series and I’m thrilled to get back to it.
So much worked in this book. The characters were complex. Many of them were favorites I’d encountered in the previous books. The mystery was convoluted. Something caught my attention and pointed to who was behind the crimes. Later, something else kind of confirmed it for me. Imagine my surprise when I found out I was way off the mark and it was someone else. I think those misdirection’s Lauren planted were intentional and very clever.
There was also a prank thing going on. Someone from the past returned and a certain someone else couldn’t resist getting payback, in quite the imaginative ways.
And let’s not forget my other favorites. The critters! This time there are reported sightings of a lycanthrope terrorizing the community. It strikes from cover, even from up in the trees. I wonder who it could be. LOL
I had so much fun and didn’t want it to end. Now I can’t wait for the next book in this charming, addictive and hilarious series.
5 Stars
~~~~~
Book Description:
Three years ago, the nation gasped in horror when the President of the
United States barely escaped an assassination attempt that left two
dead—the vice president’s wife and the attempted assassin. Even after
numerous investigations proved otherwise, conspiracy theorists argue
that the assassin was acting on orders from the CIA, FBI, and every
federal agency within a hundred miles of the capital.
Aspiring Author Dean Conway is the last person Lieutenant Commander
Murphy Thornton wants to spend his Saturday afternoon when they end up
at the same wedding reception table. While their wives tend to
bridesmaid duties, Murphy is trapped listening to Dean’s latest
work-in-project—completing the manuscript of an investigative journalist
who’d disappeared months earlier.
“She was number twelve,” Dean says.
“Twelve?” Murphy asks.
“Twelve witnesses connected to or investigating The Nutcracker shooting have died either in an accident or suicide.”
Two days later, Dean dies suddenly―but not before sending a text message to Murphy:
“The plot was original, fresh and fast paced in spite of the
“traditional elements” employed which can normally be found in any other
thriller of this genre. The USP of this story would be its
unpredictability. When you think you have it all guessed up, the plot
would change its course keeping you hooked. There were a lot of suspense
twists and turns that kept the momentum up. Needless to say, the
writing was simply perfect. One thing that writer needs to be lauded for
is the humor she inculcated in the book. Minus those humorous parts,
the book would have been one serious read.” – Reviewer: Book and Ink
Book Description:
.
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 Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday to shift
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?
“Mysteries, murder, danger, and memories that threatens their
lives keeps the action and suspense at a high level and even when the
answers are found, it left me wanting more.” – Review by Sherry Fundin of Fundinmental
Book Description:
.
After ten 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 the 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 while visiting family at the
winery near-by, 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?
Murder by Perfection is a wonderful read and a perfect to
escape from the challenges of a busy day. Danger, intrigue, humor, and
love all take their turn in this tale which will keep you reading into
the wee hours.” Review by Marilyn R. Wilson, Olio by Marilyn
Book Description:
.
Beware: Perfection has a dark side!
Frustrated with their busy schedules, Murphy Thornton and Jessica
Faraday attempt to find togetherness by scheduling a weekly date night.
The last thing Jessica Faraday expected for her date night was to take a
couple’s gourmet cooking course at the Stepford Kitchen Studio, owned
by Chef Natalie Stepford―the model of perfection in looks, home, and
business.
When Natalie ends up dead and Murphy goes missing, the Thorny Rose
detectives must peel back the layers of Natalie Stepford’s life to
discover that the pursuit of perfection can be deadly.
Lauren Carr is the international
best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Chris Matheson
Cold Case, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty-five 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, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and
humor.
A popular speaker, Lauren is also
the owner of Acorn Book Service, the umbrella under which falls iRead
Book Tours. She lives with her husband and two spoiled rotten German
Shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
I don’t normally compare books to movies, but if I had to describe this story, it would be Rose Red meets The Burbs.
I thought of Rose Red because it wasn’t just the Eldreds that were odd and creepy. It was also the house. It appeared to be ordinary until the neighbors were lured inside. Then it became a house of horrors.
And I thought of The Burbs because of the vibes I got when the family first drove into the neighborhood. The weird automobile they drove, the way they remained unseen, until they wanted to be seen, and how you could sense something wasn’t right about them.
Right from the beginning, the author built this atmosphere of dread. Then he introduced the players. It’s pretty obvious why the Eldreds chose the people they did. Most had plenty of secrets and baggage to feed off of. Once it was time to feed, things got nuts. Each of the Eldred were different in form and they were wickedly creative in terrifying their victims to get the most out of their feedings.. And there’s this robot thing I grew to really like, in a weird way.
It all rushed to a bloody ending for most of the characters. And for those that did survive, well, the author threw a wicked curve ball about what happened to them.
4 STARS
Thanks so much to Flame Tree Press and Author Tim Waggoner for a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
~~~~~
Synopsis
In Rockridge, Ohio, a sinister family moves into a sleepy cul de sac. The Eldreds feed on the negative emotions of humans, creating nightmarish realms within their house to entrap their prey. Neighbors are lured into the Eldreds’ home and faced with challenges designed to heighten their darkest emotions so their inhuman captors can feed and feed well. If the humans are to have any hope of survival, they’ll have to learn to overcome their prejudices and resentments toward one another and work together. But which will prove more deadly in the end, the Eldred . . . or each other?
I tried to be good. Do everything I could, but….. I got sick. Everyone at work had some kind of cold or flu, I pumped my body up as best I could, but it got me. Fever, body aches and it feels like I’m swallowing razor blades. I’m sorry I wasn’t around much. Tried to sleep as much as possible to let my body recuperate. Hopefully, I kick this soon and I’ll be back to visiting everyone!
Have a lovely Sunday everyone.
~~~~~
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.
.
Publication date: Jan 2020
Nominated for a Bram Stoker Award® for Superior Achievement in a First Novel.
“A stark and frightening novel. Horror fans should definitely seek this one
out.” – Booklist
~~~~~
My Review
This book is very much character driven. The author takes his time developing his characters. For some, it may seem like maybe too much time. Not for me. If I’d not gotten a grasp on what makes them tick, I wouldn’t have cared for the story at all.
And it’s also a slow burner. You don’t get instant horror. There were even some parts that lagged for me. But then things really started happening. At first I was confused. Couldn’t grasp what was happening. Once I did, everything turned upside down. I wasn’t sure who was crazy. The patients or the people who ran the asylum. Or both.
If you like psychological horror that makes you think, I recommend you give this a go. I enjoyed it and would happily read more by this author.
4 STARS
~~~~~
Synopsis
.
When a troubled psychiatrist loses funding to perform clinical trials on an
experimental cure for schizophrenia, he begins testing it on his asylum’s
criminally insane, triggering a series of side effects that opens the mind of
his hospital’s most dangerous patient, setting his inner demons free.
.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing.
Launched recently in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and
the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
~~~~~
About Author Brian Kirk
.
Brian Kirk is an author of dark thrillers and psychological
suspense. His debut novel, We Are Monsters, was released
in July 2015 and was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award®
for Superior Achievement in a First Novel.
His short fiction has been published in many notable magazines and
anthologies. Most recently, Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories and Behold!
Oddities, Curiosities and Undefinable Wonders, where his work appears
alongside multiple New York Times bestselling authors, and received an
honorable mention in Ellen Datlow’s Best Horror of the Year compilation.
During the day, Brian works as a freelance marketing and creative consultant.
His experience working on large, integrated advertising campaigns for
international companies has helped him build an effective author platform,
and makes him a strong marketing ally for his publishing partners. In
addition, Brian has an eye for emerging media trends and an ability to
integrate storytelling into new technologies and platforms.
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