Never has that saying, ” hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” echoed more loudly. Dumped by her husband for a newer, younger model, Pam is reluctant to oblige her ex-husbands death bed request to come visit him.
She rethinks this when she realizes it’s the perfect opportunity to dish out a little of the cold dish called revenge.
Ah, what a sordid, deliciously evil tale of what goes around comes around. Yeah, I know. A lot of cliches here. But they fit this little tale so well.
When Fatal Attraction first aired at the cinema. I bet a whole lot of men thought twice about incurring a woman’s wrath. Too bad Pam’s ex didn’t. How this all plays out is so dark and dirty, yet it had me rubbing my hands in glee. I’m team Pam!
For all of you fans of Karin’s books and in need of a fix, I highly recommend you treat yourself to this short, wicked morsel.
4 Stars
~~~~~
Synopsis
First comes love.
Then comes marriage.
Then comes revenge.
In this sensational short story from the bestselling author of The Kept Woman and Pretty Girls, fifty-two-year-old Pam has done her utmost as a loyal wife to her now ex-husband John. He dropped her cruelly . . . but with a terminal illness about to claim his life, Pam now sees an opportunity to settle the score, in a way that no one—not their children, not her ex, and certainly not the reader—will see coming . . .
Surprising, suspenseful, and diabolically clever, Cold, Cold Heart offers old fans and new readers alike a taste of the writer Gillian Flynn calls “one of the finest crime novelists at work today.”
~~~~~
Author Karen Slaughter
Karin Slaughter is the #1 internationally bestselling author of more than a dozen novels, including the Will Trent and Grant County series and the instant New York Times bestselling standalones, Cop Town and Pretty Girls. There are more than 35 million copies of her books in print around the world.
This isa Tag Team Event hosted by myself and Sherry.
Read on to learn how you can win some great prizes!
After reading my review, head on over to Sherry’s blog at fundinmental. Check out her review and leave a comment to enter her giveaway for another chance to win!!
~~~~~
Girl Of Mine
by Taylor Dean
Genre: Contemporary Romance
My Review
Taylor has written another sweet romance to leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Not being much of a romance reader myself, it never ceases to me amaze me when I read one of her books and lose track of time. I never can stop until I reach the end.
Lucas Graham is desparate. One stupid act may have lost him the girl of his dreams. His soulmate. Now he’ll have to do whatever it takes to win her back. And he only has four days to do it. That’s all the leave he has before he’s shipped off to Iraq.
But the four days aren’t his biggest challenge. The biggest one will be getting Jill to stand still long enough to make his case. He did dump her practically at the altar. And now she’s engaged to someone else. He can’t expect her to welcome him back with open arms. It will call for drastic measures.
If it takes drastic measures to win her back, so be it. With Luke being a police officer and soldier, I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions on how he pulls that off.
Let the fun begin.
This situation and the characters are very believable. And while it may sound familiar, like something you’ve read before or seen in a movie, Taylor’s writing makes it all new and fun. You can’t help but feel sad and mad for those that are wronged. Angry at the ones that take advantage. And fearful that there won’t be a happy ending.
Taylor Dean’s romance stories always give your heart strings little tugs and take you back to that moment. The moment you realized you were in love.
In the end, she leaves you with a goofy grin, misty eyes, and a pile of tissues. Might want to have a box handy before you start this one.
4 Stars
A quote I loved.
“I have to fight my love for you, when all I really want to do is give in to it.”
~~~~~
Synopsis
HE CAME HOME
The year is 2003 and Captain Lucas Graham is at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, about to be deployed to Iraq. A few weeks ago, he broke his engagement with Jillian Barrett, leaving her stunned and heartbroken.
Knowing he can’t leave for war without putting his affairs in order, Luke obtains a four day pass with only one goal in mind: explain his life story to his former fiancée.
The problem: Jill is now engaged to another man.
But Luke isn’t giving up. He only has four days to gain an audience with Jill, even if he has to resort to drastic measures to do so.
A few years ago, on a business trip with my hubby, we were traveling home and made a pit stop for the night. My hubby had made reservations in a very nice hotel. This made the trip into a bit of a vacation rather than a drudgery-filled business trip.
Wonderful, right?
Wrong.
Instead, my overactive imagination took over.
The hotel was beautiful, but practically deserted. It was downright creepy. I turned into Stephen King for the night and imagined all kinds of scenarios.
The next morning, when we made it out of the hotel alive, I told my husband what had been in my thoughts the entire night. He was shocked by my dark thoughts. I feel like I could easily write horror novels. My mind goes there–and it’s a frightening place. I seriously don’t know how Stephen King sleeps at night.
At any rate, I’m not going to write horror novels, because I’d scare myself to death.
But I couldn’t help adding my imaginary experience into GIRL OF MINE.
Obviously it didn’t really happen and, of course, no one died. But the story tells what my mind conjured up while staying at a creepy hotel.
And when we left the hotel, I felt sooooooo relieved. . . . and so grateful my husband could come with me . . .
A writer’s mind can be a scary place.
Needless to say, I will NEVER stay in that hotel again.
Seriously, if it was the only place available and there was a huge snow storm outside . . . I’d sleep in the car.
Curious? Read on.
Keep in mind, this is actually a romance novel, and not a scary book at all.
Here’s the excerpt:
(Background: Troy, having been through a traumatic experience as a child, writes horror novels as an adult. He’s sharing a short story he wrote with his friends, Luke and Jill.)
“There’s this middle-aged couple, deeply in love with each other. They decide to treat themselves to a night at a fancy hotel for their anniversary. They arrive and the wife sees that the hotel is this huge high rise in a somewhat rundown area of downtown. She doesn’t really know why, but she feels uncomfortable. The hotel is beautiful, with lots of charm. It’s an older building that has recently been renovated and refurbished. But the area feels weird and kinda eerie. There are lots of cars in the parking lot, so she figures it’s a popular place and she’s just being silly.
“They go inside and there’s a wedding reception going on in the hotel’s party room. People are arriving in their finest clothing, bearing brightly wrapped gift bags. The atmosphere is happy and festive. The wife feels a little more comfortable. They take the elevator up to their tenth floor room. The floor is deserted and the wife feels a chill up and down her spine. For the sake of her husband, she squelches her fear, feeling silly. Their room is immaculate and superbly decorated. They relax for awhile and flip through the TV channels. They get amorous with each other, but we’ll leave that part out for now.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Luke says under his breath, making Jill grin.
“Get your mind out of the gutter, Graham.”
“Too late.” Luke winked at her and Jill felt herself blush.
Troy ignored him. “They dress and decide to head down to the hotel’s restaurant for dinner. They find everything is closed downstairs: the main restaurant, the snack kiosk, the salon, and the gift shop. Every single thing is closed for the evening, even though the posted hours say they should be open. Other than the party room, the place is deserted. There is a distinct lack of hotel patrons and employees, which the wife finds odd. The lone man at the front desk informs them that the hotel is catering their usual fare for the wedding reception and a limited menu for room service is available. The wife is feeling creeped out and really wants to pack up and leave, but she stays for her husband’s sake. This was her anniversary gift and she doesn’t want to ruin it.
“They go back to their room and decide to order room service. The husband makes a quick run to the ice machine and when he returns, he places a bottle of sparkling cider on ice to chill. The wife is touched by his thoughtfulness. They eat dinner in bed, watching a movie they chose on pay-per-view. Overall they have a romantic evening, filled with tender moments. In rare form, her husband constantly professes his love and how happy he is with her. He’s doting and speaks of some of their most treasured memories, things she hasn’t thought about for years. She’s thrilled, pleased with the state of her marriage, but the eerie feeling never leaves the wife and she has a hard time relaxing.
“She sleeps clinging to her husband and has several nightmares during the course of the evening. She awakens a few times to find her husband awake and simply staring at her. He tells her he loves her and to go back to sleep. She does, knowing she is safe. The husband works long hours and had been looking forward to sleeping in, but they both arise early and are eager to get on the road at first light. By unspoken agreement, a leisurely morning is nixed.
“The wife wonders if he is as creeped out by the hotel as she is, but doesn’t broach the subject. It’s almost as if speaking of the eerie feeling will make it real and bring it to life. They pack up and leave the room and the wife breathes a sigh of relief. She can’t get out of the hotel fast enough. As they walk down the hall toward the elevator, they pass the alcove where the ice machine is located. The wife glances inside and nearly trips on her own feet. The husband wraps his arm around her shoulder and whispers in her ear, ‘Just keep walking. Keep your eyes forward.’ The wife gulps in air, her breathing labored, but she does as he says, even though tears are now pouring down her face.”
“Wait. What did she see in the alcove?” Jill asked, absorbed in the story.
“Her husband’s dead body, lying in a pool of blood.”
Jill let out a shaky breath. “So . . . he’s . . .”
“A ghost,” Troy confirmed. “He walks her to the elevator in silence. Several people are in the elevator already. Her husband whispers in her ear, ‘Look no one in the eye.’ She does as he says, her hands shaking and her knees wobbling. When the elevator opens, the lobby is filled with nameless, expressionless people, staring blankly and wandering around aimlessly. ‘Just walk forward,’ her husband says and she obeys. He walks her to the glass door at the front of the hotel and pushes the door open. ‘Go,’ he says. ‘Don’t ever come back. Don’t even look back.’ The glass door closes, but the husband stays inside the hotel. Panicked, the wife turns back and tries to open the door. It’s locked. The husband stands there, his hand on the glass, a last farewell. ‘No!’ the wife screams. ‘Come with me.’ He shakes his head in the negative and mouths the words, ‘I love you.’ Suddenly the expressionless people come forward and the husband is engulfed by the masses, disappearing in the crowd. The wife turns and runs to her car.”
Troy didn’t say anything more as he looked between them with a sly grin.
“And?” Luke asked.
“And that’s the end,” Troy finished with a satisfied air.
At one point in the novel, Luke says this about Troy’s childhood experience:
And that’s why Troy writes horror novels. He makes for an interesting and complex character.
~~~~~
Author Taylor Dean
Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense—you’ll find all sub-genres of clean romance in her line-up.
To find out what Taylor Dean is up to, follow the links below:
Taylor Dean has a fantastic giveaway for you! Just look what you can win!
.
For One Lucky winner! US Only
.
.
And an eBook copy for two lucky International winners!
.
All you need to do to enter is answer the question below, also let us know if you are US or International, and leave your email so I can contact you if you win.
.
“Have you ever had a second chance at love?”
.
Giveaway ends September 28th.
.
This is a Tag Team Event hosted by myself and Sherry at fundinmental.
Now hop on over and check out Sherry’s review and leave a comment for another giveaway HERE.
A Story to Kill (A Cat Latimer Mystery) Cozy Mystery New Series Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Kensington (August 30, 2016) ISBN-13: 978-1496704351 E-Book ASIN: B0190HGVK6
.
My Review
This has everything a cozy mystery lover requires.
Cat Latimer, widowed and back home again. Looking for a fresh start, she opens a writers retreat. She’s nervous and excited when she discovers none other than Tom Cook, a famous writer, is among the guests.
Imagine how shocked she is to stumble upon his dead body.
There’s plenty of suspects. A stalker fan, another guest with a grudge, and, according to his wife, a whole bunch of people who wish him dead.
Romance distracts Cat as she sifts for clues. Her old flame is also back in town. And he wastes no time letting her know he still carries a torch for her.
Lynn gives you much to ponder as there’s more than one mystery in these pages. Why did Cat’s dead ex-husband leave her the house? What’s with the weird woman who signed up for the retreat, but doesn’t take advantage of it? And who is the the rude guest, William Williams, and why does he appear to loathe Tom Cook? And let’s not forgot Tom’s widow. She appears out of nowhere and books a room. Why would she want to stay at the very place her husband was murdered in? And why doesn’t she appear to be more upset about his death?
See, I told you there’s more than one mystery. And there’s a whole lot of fun characters and suspects to sort out.
All the ingredients for a darn good cozy. This is the first book in the series, so jump in now. I’m sure this will be a fun one to follow.
4 Stars
~~~~~
Synopsis
Former English professor Cat Latimer is back in Colorado, hosting writers’ retreats in the big blue Victorian she’s inherited, much to her surprise, from none other than her carousing ex-husband! Now it’s an authors’ getaway—but Cat won’t let anyone get away with murder…
The bed-and-breakfast is open for business, and bestselling author Tom Cook is among its first guests. Cat doesn’t know why he came all the way from New York, but she’s glad to have him among the quirkier—and far less famous—attendees.
Cat’s high school sweetheart Seth, who’s fixing up the weathered home, brings on mixed emotions for Cat…some of them a little overpowering. But it’s her uncle, the local police chief, whom she’ll call for help when there’s a surprise ending for Tom Cook in his cozy guest room. Will a killer have the last word on the new life Cat has barely begun?
Author Lynn Cahoon
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Lynn Cahoon is an Idaho native. If you’d visit the town where she grew up, you’d understand why her mysteries and romance novels focus around the depth and experience of small town life. Currently, she’s living in a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi river where her imagination tends to wander. She lives with her husband and two fur babies.
It’s almost fall and that means you’ll be seeing a lot of zombies roaming around on my blog.
Got a good one to share with ya today.
Check it out.
Enjoy the author ‘s video Q&A and my review.
And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
Zombie Uprising
Voodoo Child
Book One
William Burke
Genre: Horror/Paranormal with Action/Adventure
Publisher: William Burke
Date of Publication: June 17th 2016
ASIN: B01H9E4HDA
Number of pages: 333 / Word Count: 96,000
Cover Artist: Deranged Doctor
My Review
You’ll be taken from the hot, arid sands of Iraq to the lush, tropical beauty of the Lesser Antilles Island of Fantamos, in this thrilling adventure.
There be demons and zombies, voodoo and the supernatural, and more evil character’s with their own agendas than you can shake a stick at.
Maggie’s blown up, shot, bitten, and literally stomped on, but like the Energizer Rabbit, she keeps on keeping on. Tough, snarky, and with no time for romance, forces enter her life that change everything.
I really liked Maggie. She’s a survivor and always quick with some sarcasm and humor. I’d say that’s a must when the plot is filled with danger, suspense, and death. Having those lighter moments and witty dialogue lighten the mood, bringing the character’s to life and give you someone to connect to. And she’s not the only one you’ll enjoy meeting.
This is a busy story. So much is happening. You travel across the world. And the blend of voodoo, demons, and zombies make it a super fast read. Lots to keep you on the edge and eager to reach the end.
It doesn’t end here, as it’s a series and leaves you with some questions, but this part of the story gets wrapped up and hints at things to come. And there’s a zinger at the end which connects to the beginning that, with all of the action, you might have forgot about. I should have seen it coming. It does explain what I thought was a plot hole. Nicely done.
4 Stars
~~~~~
Book Description
The forces of darkness are out to destroy mankind… Too bad they never reckoned on facing Maggie Child!
Army chopper pilot Maggie Child has a reputation for being fearless, professional and, above all, rational. But when she’s shot down over Iraq her well-ordered life spirals into a paranormal nightmare. Alone, wounded and surrounded by hostile forces, Maggie is rescued from certain death by a demon straight out of Dante’s Inferno. Then, barely alive, she’s abducted by a private military corporation conducting insidious medical experiments. Her escape from their covert hellhole lands her on a Caribbean island where an evil voodoo spirit and a psychotic female dictator are conspiring to unleash an apocalyptic zombie plague. Then she uncovers the most terrifying secret of all—her own destiny. It seems a Voodoo oracle has ordained her the only warrior capable of saving humanity from a supernatural Armageddon … whether she wants the job or not!
But saving the world isn’t a one-woman job, so she teams up with a trio of unlikely heroes—a conspiracy obsessed marijuana smuggler, a Voodoo priestess with an appetite for reality television, and a burnt out ex-mercenary. Together, they’ll take on an army of the walking dead, with the fate of humanity resting in their eccentric hands.
Voodoo Child, Book One: Zombie Uprising is the first novel in a new horror series packed with supernatural thrills, rousing adventure, dark humor, Voodoo lore and plenty of zombie stomping action. But a word of warning; don’t shoot these zombies in the head … because that just makes them mad!
It’s the legions of hell versus Maggie Child … and hell doesn’t have a prayer!
After two years of ghostwriting, William Burke has released his first novel VOODOO CHILD, Book One: Zombie Uprising. It’s the first installment of a new horror series chronicling the exploits of Maggie Child and her Voodoo priestess partner Sarafina as they battle to save the island of Fantomas from the wrath of evil Voodoo spirits.
The author was raised on a diet of late night creature features, comic books, Mad magazines and horror stories. As a result every volume will be packed with eccentric characters, dark humor, chills, zombies, ghosts, monsters, military hardware and plenty of stuff blowing up.
Prior to writing Voodoo Child he was the creator and director of the Destination America television series Hauntings and Horrors. He has also written scripts for two Cinemax television series, Forbidden Science and Lingerie, which he also produced. He has also written magazine pieces for Fangoria and the Phantom of the Movies Videoscope among others.
William began his film and television career as a perfectly respectable video engineer at the venerable United Nations. Budget cuts shifted him to becoming a production manager and assistant director on an array of New York based indie films. With that experience under his belt he relocated to Los Angeles where he eventually produced sixteen feature films and two television series for the Playboy Entertainment Group. After years of producing T&A extravaganzas, kickboxing epics and gangster rap videos, he created a self financed television pilot entitled American Mystery Tour. Canada’s CTV picked up the series under the title Creepy Canada, which was then re-titled Hauntings and Horrors in the USA. Since then he has successfully produced three series for HBO/Cinemax as well as documentaries and other … stuff.
After hundreds of hours of film and television production he is basking in the freedom of the written word, where small budgets and giant egos are only memories. He lives in Toronto.
If you enjoyed the first adventure please visit www.williamburkeauthor.com where you’ll find lots of interesting information about Voodoo and military hardware, along with excerpts from Sarafina’s personal diary AND, as a gift to readers, the author will be serializing a prequel novella.
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB at Books And A Beat.
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read.
• Open to a random page.
•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
The Lobby
by Randi M. Sherman
Genre: Humor / Suspense
My teaser from page 35 in the paperback.
“C’mon, Natalie, take a risk with me. I promise to bring you back here after our day together. How about it? Let’s be two strangers enjoying a beautiful day together…..Nothing more, nothing less.”
~~~~~
Read on if you want to know more.
My Review
What a fun story.
It all takes place over a twenty-four period, with each chapter representing one hour.
The author invites you into her story with as much finesse and adept handling as the doormen who usher in guests to the posh Shipley Hotel.
I have to also hand it to the author for breathing life into her characters, of which there are many. From the employees to the most entitled of guests, you’ll be introduced to a menagerie of strangers rubbing elbows and staff adroitly handling the most difficult guests and embarrassing situations as the clock ticks down to a new day. If you ever wished you were a fly on the wall, here’s your chance.
I started this early in the morning and was finished in a couple of hours. From the opening scene to the final curtain call, it was fun and intriguing. This would be a great play. Or even a television show. I’d tune in for new episodes.
I would be remiss to not share how I felt about the ending. I realized I was down to the last two pages and there was no way the author could possibly give me a satisfying ending. I waffled over whether I even wanted to read the end then. But, I soldiered on and, low and behold, the author pulled it off. I wonder, did the author have the beginning and ending of the story first, and then filled in the middle? I knew for sure the ending was right when I realized I was smiling.
4 Stars
Synopsis
Welcome to The Shipley Hotel, where the perky and attentive staff provides the gold standard in artificial concern and comfort to all the colorful characters who pass through its polished brass revolving door and find themselves in The Lobby. Practically engineered for eavesdropping, San Francisco’s juiciest hotel lobby offers the perfect place to witness the comings and goings-and the most comedic intersections-of staff, long-term residents, and eclectic guests. Featuring over fifty stories all transpiring in a single twenty-four hour period and intersecting in the Shipley’s elegant lobby, readers will meet an eccentric and vast array of characters, most of whom will look awfully familiar and all of whom will speak to the heart. Employing acute skills in human observation and a keen understanding of the essential human needs-frequently unplanned and unexpected rendezvous, ready laughter at others’ expense, and maybe even a little love and acceptance-Randi M. Sherman’s unique wit and candor will surely make the reader sit up, stand up, roll over, or assume an interested leaning position and take notice. Get comfortable (on the exquisitely upholstered lobby couch) and spy on those checking in and out of the Shipley. Careful: you might just encounter a version of yourself among the ornate balconies and intricate woodwork.
I’ve read almost all of Michael’s books and enjoyed them immensely. This one was no exception. I had a rip roarin time and think you will too.
Enjoy the excerpt and trailer, along with my review.
And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
Witches Protection Program
Michael Phillip Cash
Publisher: Chelshire, INC.
Date of Publication: May 14, 2015
ISBN: 1511411341 / ASIN: B00YANTA4K
Number of pages: 239 /Word Count: 45,518
Genre:Witches, Action, Adventure
~~~~
My Review
Poor Wes. He’s failed again and now he’s been given one last chance to prove himself qualified to be in law enforcement. He’s sure it’s a prank when he’s assigned to the Witches Protection Program.
It’s no hoax. But it takes some convincing for Wes to believe in witches. He gets it in spades.
His first assignment, protect a witch, heiress Morgan Pendragon, from her evil aunt. Her aunt is cooking up a diabolical scheme to rule the world.
Wes will have to catch on quick if he’s to save Morgan and himself from a witches brew of trouble.
This was a fun story with some likable and not so likable characters. Got to take the good with the bad.
Wes is a pain in the beginning. Then he finds his place and becomes someone to cheer for.
Morgan is a reluctant witch, wanting nothing to do with her aunt or the other witches and their schemes. They’re not going to give her a choice though.
There’s some cool weapons, compelling characters, and a showdown at the end that I wish I could see for myself. Just imagine the pile-up when drivers look up and see witches flying in the sky.
I like a good witch, but I have a thing for the bad ones too. There’s one, Morgan’s aunt, who will chill you to the bone. Too powerful for anyone’s good.
Grab a broomstick and hang on tight. It’s a bumpy ride.
4 Stars
Synopsis:
Wes Rockville, a disgraced law enforcement agent, is given one last chance to prove himself and save his career when he’s reassigned to a 232 year old secret government organization. The Witches Protection Program.
His first assignment: uncover a billion-dollar Cosmetics company’s diabolical plan of using witchcraft for global domination, while protecting its heiress Morgan Pendragon from her aunt’s evil deeds. Reluctantly paired with veteran witch protector, Alastair Verne, Wes must learn to believe in both witches and himself.
Filled with adventure, suspense and a rousing good time, Michael Phillip Cash creates a tongue-in-cheek alternate reality where witches cast spells and wreak havoc in modern day New York City.
“Follow me, kid.” She led him down a gray hallway with mulberry-colored carpet, more plush than anything he’d ever seen in a governmental office. The place had to be a city block wide, with corridors branching off to other conduits. Here and there, a doorway opened. Wes saw that many were filled with groups of people sitting at polished conference tables. Some rooms were dark, with shades drawn, the light of a presentation on screens peeking through the slats of the blinds. Staff walked through the hallways, nodding to each other. Some were in pairs. All had a badge hanging on a chain or attached to a pocket. He squinted, but he couldn’t make out the impression on the shield. Forget about attempting to read it. He shrugged; while it looked official, it was unfamiliar. For a person who grew up with an entire family in law enforcement, he found it odd that he’d never seen it before.
“What is this place?” he asked.
“This is where the magic happens,” she told him cryptically.
She opened the door, whispering, “Prepare to be amazed.” Then, with a giant pop of her gum, she disappeared.
“Where…” Wes turned, looking for the woman, but couldn’t see her anywhere. “Where is…”
“Oh, she’s gone. Come in already,” a male voice ordered impatiently.
Wes spun to the speaker, his eyes settling on a small man seated at a glass desk. He was in a neat gray suit but wore a black turtleneck, which made him look like some odd, eccentric leftover from the beatnik generation. He was older than Wes’s father, Wes guessed somewhere north of sixty, with the thickening middle of a sedentary life, a tanned complexion, and silver hair. His chubby face sported a neatly trimmed goatee. Wes wondered where his beret might be. The man studied Wes with interested black eyes that glowed with merriment.
“What kind of department is this?”
“Mr. Wesley Paul Rockville. Son of Harris and Melinda, brother to Lauren and Andrew. Tough act to follow. Runt of the litter?”
Wes bristled, wondering where this pint-size dude got off calling him a runt. At six foot three, he was hardly considered small. “I fail to see what this has got to do with my reassignment,” he said icily.
The older man ignored him. “The young gun who had his free will sucked right out of him.”
“No one took my free will!” Wes shouted, his face hot.
“I think Miss Genevieve Fox did a pretty nice number on you.”
“What are you talking about?”
Alastair cocked his head, a smile playing on his lips.
“I don’t think this is funny, um…Alastair. I’m getting out of here.” Wes had had enough. He was pissed and hungry.
“Sit down, Agent Rockville. It’s time you learned about your new assignment.”
About the Author:
Michael Phillip Cash is an award-winning and best-selling novelist of horror, paranormal, and science fiction novels. He’s written ten books including the best-selling “Brood X”, “Stillwell”, “The Flip”, “The After House”, “The Hanging Tree”, “Witches Protection Program”, “Pokergeist”, “Monsterland”, “The History Major”, and “Battle for Darracia” series. Michael’s books are on the Amazon best-seller list and have also won numerous awards. Additionally, he is a screenwriter with 14 specs under his belt. Michael resides on the North Shore of Long Island.
I’ve read several books in the Mac Faraday Mystery series and was so excited after reading the synopsis for this newest one.
Gnarly, Mac Faraday’s german shepherd and my favorite four-legged friend, is running for Mayor of Spencer. Most folks in town don’t care for either of the candidates running on the ballot. Sound familiar? They jump on board to vote Gnarly in. Of course, the other nominees aren’t taking this lying down, and they dig for the dirt. I don’t think they’ll find anything. After all, Gnarly is man’s best friend. Well, except for the thing about the disappearing food. His partner in crime, Storm, knows all about that, and she’s not talking.
What started as a lark snowballs, and the fun begins. Can you imagine Gnarly debating the other candidates? How about kissing babies and shaking hands? Gnarly is on the campaign fast track. I wonder if his four-legged companions will be allowed to vote.
In between all of the crazy political scheming, the gang is working a cold case. Secrets are uncovered and the town of Spencer might not survive the fallout.
I love that Lauren’s characters are all animal lovers and their pets go wherever they go. And they are just as individual in personality as the humans. It’s a load of laughs to see what they get into.
When an author can spin a good mystery and keep me in stitches at the same time, it’s all good. I loved this book and it’s now one of my favorites in the series.
5 Stars
~~~~~
Synopsis
It’s election time in Spencer, Maryland, and the race for mayor is not a pretty one. In recent years, the small resort town has become divided between the local year-round residents who have enjoyed their rural way of life and the city dwellers moving into their mansions, taking over the town council, and proceeding to turn Deep Creek Lake into a closed gate community—complete with a host of regulations for everything from speed limits to clothes lines.
When the political parties force-feed two unsavory mayoral nominees on the town residents, Police Chief David O’Callaghan decides to make a statement—by nominating Gnarly, Mac Faraday’s German shepherd, to run as mayor of Spencer!
What starts out as a joke turns into a disaster when overnight Gnarly becomes the front runner—at which point his political enemies take a page straight out of Politics 101. What do you do when you’re behind in a race? Dig up dirt on the front runner, of course.
Seemingly, someone is not content to rest with simply embarrassing the front runner by publicizing his dishonorable discharge from the United States Army, but to throw in a murder for good measure. With murder on the ballot, Mac Faraday and the gang—including old friends from past cases—dive in to clear Gnarly’s name, catch a killer, and save Spencer!
Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries. The twelfth installment in the Mac Faraday Mystery series, Candidate for Murder will be released June 2016.
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.
It’s time to see what the girls have been up to since they first appeared in Over Easy.
Check out Fresh Brewed.
Enjoy my review.
And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
~~~~~
Fresh Brewed
The Continental Breakfast Club #2
My Review
I had such fun with Allie, Bree, and Megan in the first book, Over Easy. It was Allie’s story we got there. Now the gal pals are back and it’s Bree’s turn to find the man of her dreams.
Bree’s plans of a romantic seaside vacation go flying out the window, quite literally, when a tropical storm forces her to change her plans. And this is where she finds herself in a heck of a pickle.
A word or warning here. It’s not just the hangover you have to be worried about after imbibing in too much of the grape.
I swear, I snorted and giggled my way through the first book, and here I am doing it again. These girls may sound desperate for love. Who isn’t when you’re young and single. But they aren’t dumb, just do some dumb things. That’s where I actually laugh out loud.
Fun is to be had as The Continental Breakfast Club strikes again. Expect for things to sideways as these gals get up to their shenanigans once more. A clean, humorous romance. Perfect for a summer read.
4 Stars
~~~~~
Synopsis
Breanna Mitchell is on her way to a relaxing vacation at the ocean. Maybe she’ll even have a beachside fling to help her get over a recent breakup.
But when a tropical storm makes her destination hotel uninhabitable, a chance encounter at continental breakfast delivers a fabulous option—with a catch. She and her friends can stay at a privately-owned, three-story oceanfront home—if she pretends to be the girlfriend of the owner’s heartbreaker grandson, Ethan. Since he won’t even be there, how hard could it be?
Everything is going swimmingly until Bree drinks too much wine and regales the family with romantic tales about her relationship with Ethan. His adorable brother Adam gets suspicious. His marriage-minded grandma gets engagement fever. The beautiful woman next door gets teary-eyed.
And then, Ethan unexpectedly arrives. Suddenly Bree is about to get everything she’s ever wished for—but is it what she really wants?
Allie Parker’s had enough. Just because she’s a dog groomer, her overachieving family of doctors and lawyers treats her like a child. She’s convinced that a successful husband is all she needs to change their attitudes. So when she and her friends come up with a brilliant new way to meet eligible men, Allie squeezes into her sister’s stylish clothes and sneaks into continental breakfast at an upscale hotel to find herself the perfect guy.
Before Allie has taken her last bite of syrup-laden waffle, she’s met the man of her dreams. But what she doesn’t know is that he’s a jewel thief who mistakenly thinks she’s his contact—and so does everyone else who’s after his stash of diamonds.
Suddenly Allie’s world is crazily upended. And as she scrambles to prove her innocence and get back to her old life, she discovers happily ever after sneaks up when you least expect it.
Buy the book:
~~~~~
Author Pamela Ford
Pamela Ford is the award-winning author of contemporary and historical romance. She grew up watching old movies, blissfully sighing over the romance; and reading sci-fi and adventure novels, vicariously living the action. The combination probably explains why the books she writes are romantic, happily-ever-afters with plenty of plot – and often lots of laughter.
After graduating from college with a degree in Advertising, Pam merrily set off to earn a living, searching for that perfect career as she became a graphic designer, print buyer, pantyhose sales rep, public relations specialist, copywriter, freelance writer – and finally author. Pam has won numerous awards including the Booksellers Best, the Laurel Wreath, and a gold medal IPPY in the Independent Book Publisher Awards. She is a Kindle Book Awards finalist and a two-time Golden Heart Finalist. She lives in Wisconsin where she is working on her next novel.
This isa Tag Team Event hosted by myself and Sherry.
Read on to learn how you can win some great prizes!
After reading my review, head on over to Sherry’s blog at fundinmental. Check out her review and leave a comment for an additional entry!
~~~~~
Deadly Catch
A Mac McClellan Mystery #1
by E. Michael Helms
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
My Review
Take a dip into southern waters. And watch out for dead bodies.
Mac McClellan has just retired after 24 years as a U.S. Marine . He hits the road, next stop the Florida panhandle, figuring to drop a line in the water and see what he’ll catch. What he doesn’t expect is a dead body on the end of the hook.
This puts him on the suspect list. Years in the military help Mac maintain his cool, but then a bag of marijuana is found on his boat. Now they add drug smuggling to his crimes and he’s hard pressed to explain it. The local authorities don’t take his claim of being framed too seriously. Looks like Mac will have to do his own digging to get to the bottom of it and clear his name before more bodies pile up, including his own.
Mac has easily found a spot on my list of favorite characters. He’s smart, yet he fumbles with the females. Tough, yet he has a soft side. I bet he cries at sad endings in movies. Intuitive, probably from all those years in service. Charming, without realizing he is. And dedicated. He will not stop when injustice stares him in the face.
This has everything you want in a good mystery. A character at loose ends who finds a purpose and can easily move into and around the law. A potential romance with fun and snarky encounters. The good cop/bad cop thing going on. It seems the law enforcement officials switch roles as needed.
And last but not least, some darn good writing. The author puts you on the southern coast. You’ll smell the fishy odor of the wind off the ocean. Squint your eyes from the suns glare off the placid surface of the water. And feel the sweltering humidity that’s so heavy the air is hazy with moisture.
Any mystery lover will enjoy this one. And there’s two more adventures with Mac. Also, a little birdie told me there’s more coming. Get started now so you’ll be ready.
5 Stars
~~~~~
Synopsis
“The first cast of the day turned my dream vacation into a nightmare. . . .”
After twenty-four years in the U.S. Marines, recently retired Mac McClellan is happy to be a civilian again. He is enjoying a leisurely fishing vacation in the Florida panhandle when he hooks a badly decomposed body.
Then, when a bag of rare marijuana is discovered stashed aboard his rental boat, he realizes someone is setting him up to take the fall for murder and drug smuggling. Mac’s plans for a more laid-back life must be put on hold while he works to clear his name as the number one suspect.
Mac launches an investigation with the help of Kate Bell, a feisty saleslady at the local marina with whom he has struck up a promising relationship. Along the way he must butt heads and match wits with local law enforcement officials, shady politicians, and strong-armed thugs from the Eastern Seaboard to sniff out and bring the real smuggler and killer to justice.
I was born in Georgia way back in the last century but grew up and lived most of my life on the Gulf Coast of Florida in Panama City (beautiful beaches, girls galore–ah, the memories!). In 2004 my wife and I moved to the Upstate region of South Carolina in the shadows of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, a land of stunning vistas and numerous waterfalls.
I’ve been traditionally published since 1990 when my Vietnam War memoir, The Proud Bastards, launched. TPB chronicles my time as a combat U.S. Marine in 1967-68. It’s still in print after all these years, currently with Simon & Schuster/Pocket. I’ve since written a few novels in different genres. I’m also working on a collection of “Dinger, PI” short stories that are being published on Motive Means Opportunity, a crime/mystery blog I share with two other writers of the same ilk. Currently I’m writing the Mac McClellan Mystery series which is set along the coast of the Florida Panhandle where I grew up.
E. Michael Helms has a fantastic giveaway for you!
.
A $20 Amazon Gift Card (International, where allowed)
Four pdf eBook copies of Deadly Catch (International)
and two print copies of Deadly Catch (US ONLY)
.
All you need to do to enter is answer the question below, also let us know if you are US or International, and leave your email so I can contact you if you win.
“Do you read books because of the setting?”
.
Giveaway will run from 8/23/16 – 8/31/16
This is a Tag Team Event hosted by myself and Sherry at fundinmental.
Now hop on over and check out Sherry’s review and leave a comment for an additional entry HERE.
~~~~~
Other Books by E. Michael Helms
~~~~~
~~~~~
Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
Be sure to stop back by on September 25th for my review of Fresh Brewed.
And don’t forget to enter the giveaway.
~~~~~
Over Easy
The Continental Breakfast Club #1
by Pamela Ford
Genre: Chick Lit / Romance
My Review
Such fun. This was a mad dash from beginning to end.
Allie comes from a family of over achievers. She’s just a lowly dog groomer. Feeling pressured by her family, Allie, along with her two best friends, come up with a plan to meet the man of her dreams. Surely that will impress her family.
They crash the continental breakfast at a fancy hotel and, sure enough, Allie finds a handsome, successful man who shows an interest in her. Sadly, she doesn’t know he’s a jewel thief and has mistaken her for his contact.
Now the sparkly poop is about to hit the fan as the thieves realize they gave the jewels to the wrong person, and they come to collect.
I remember how tight I was with my best friends. How we did some really crazy things to help each other. It’s one laugh after another with these three.
I was hoping that Allie would find herself. Realize she didn’t have anything to prove to her family. And I hoped her family would realize that too. I couldn’t help but think this madcap adventure would do just that. And maybe, just maybe, Allie would find the right guy for the right reasons.
Right from the start, I enjoyed the easy flow of this story. I settled in for the fun and read it straight through, snorting and giggling all the way.
4 Stars
~~~~~
Synopsis
Allie Parker’s had enough. Just because she’s a dog groomer, her overachieving family of doctors and lawyers treats her like a child. She’s convinced that a successful husband is all she needs to change their attitudes. So when she and her friends come up with a brilliant new way to meet eligible men, Allie squeezes into her sister’s stylish clothes and sneaks into continental breakfast at an upscale hotel to find herself the perfect guy.
Before Allie has taken her last bite of syrup-laden waffle, she’s met the man of her dreams. But what she doesn’t know is that he’s a jewel thief who mistakenly thinks she’s his contact—and so does everyone else who’s after his stash of diamonds.
Suddenly Allie’s world is crazily upended. And as she scrambles to prove her innocence and get back to her old life, she discovers happily ever after sneaks up when you least expect it.
Buy the book:
~~~~~
Fresh Brewed
The Continental Breakfast Club #2
Synopsis
Breanna Mitchell is on her way to a relaxing vacation at the ocean. Maybe she’ll even have a beachside fling to help her get over a recent breakup.
But when a tropical storm makes her destination hotel uninhabitable, a chance encounter at continental breakfast delivers a fabulous option—with a catch. She and her friends can stay at a privately-owned, three-story oceanfront home—if she pretends to be the girlfriend of the owner’s heartbreaker grandson, Ethan. Since he won’t even be there, how hard could it be?
Everything is going swimmingly until Bree drinks too much wine and regales the family with romantic tales about her relationship with Ethan. His adorable brother Adam gets suspicious. His marriage-minded grandma gets engagement fever. The beautiful woman next door gets teary-eyed.
And then, Ethan unexpectedly arrives. Suddenly Bree is about to get everything she’s ever wished for—but is it what she really wants?
Buy the book:
~~~~~
Author Pamela Ford
Pamela Ford is the award-winning author of contemporary and historical romance. She grew up watching old movies, blissfully sighing over the romance; and reading sci-fi and adventure novels, vicariously living the action. The combination probably explains why the books she writes are romantic, happily-ever-afters with plenty of plot – and often lots of laughter.
After graduating from college with a degree in Advertising, Pam merrily set off to earn a living, searching for that perfect career as she became a graphic designer, print buyer, pantyhose sales rep, public relations specialist, copywriter, freelance writer – and finally author. Pam has won numerous awards including the Booksellers Best, the Laurel Wreath, and a gold medal IPPY in the Independent Book Publisher Awards. She is a Kindle Book Awards finalist and a two-time Golden Heart Finalist. She lives in Wisconsin where she is working on her next novel.
