Suspense – Page 26 – Books-n-Kisses

February 15, 2017February 12, 2017

Kimberly reviews Heartbreak Hotel by Jonathan Kellerman

TITLE: Heartbreak Hotel
SERIES #: Alex Delaware #32
CHARACTERS: Alex Delaware
AUTHOR: Jonathan Kellerman
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/14/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis investigate the death of Alex’s most mysterious patient to date in the sensational new thriller from the master of suspense, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Kellerman.

At nearly one hundred years old, Thalia Mars is a far cry from the patients that child psychologist Alex Delaware normally treats. But the charming, witty woman convinces Alex to meet with her in a suite at the Aventura, a luxury hotel with a checkered history.

What Thalia wants from Alex are answers to unsettling questions—about guilt, patterns of criminal behavior, victim selection. When Alex asks the reason for her morbid fascination, Thalia promises to tell all during their next session. But when he shows up the following morning, he is met with silence: Thalia is dead in her room.

When questions arise about how Thalia perished, Alex and homicide detective Milo Sturgis must peel back the layers of a fascinating but elusive woman’s life and embark on one of the most baffling investigations either of them has ever experienced. For Thalia Mars is a victim like no other, an enigma who harbored nearly a century of secrets and whose life and death draw those around her into a vortex of violence.

REVIEW:
I wish I could say that I have read all 32 books in this series but I haven’t. It has been very hit and miss for me. But I have come to realize that it is also hit and miss for me if I enjoy the story. But this one I enjoyed.

The feel of the book is pure film noir. So much is going on with a ton of characters that I found a bit hard to keep track of. There is a lot going on in this story but it does keep your interest. The downside is some things are a bit graphic. There is a rape scene that is really really hard to read.

If you are a fan of film noir or dark thrillers or suspense in general I think you will enjoy this story.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

February 9, 2017February 5, 2017

Kelly reviews My Sister’s Bones by Nuala Ellwood

TITLE: My Sister’s Bones
CHARACTERS: Kate Rafter
AUTHOR: Nuala Ellwood
PUBLICATION DATE: February 9, 2017
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
‘COMPELLING AND INTRIGUING, RIGHT FROM THE VERY FIRST PAGE’ Sharon Bolton

ARE YOU BRAVE ENOUGH TO GO BACK?

Kate Rafter is a successful war reporter. She’s the strong one. The one who escaped Herne Bay and the memories it holds. Her sister Sally didn’t. Instead, she drinks.

But when their mother dies, Kate is forced to return to the old family home. And on her first night she is woken by a terrifying scream.

What secret has Kate stumbled upon?
And is she strong enough to uncover the truth . . . and make it out alive?

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts This is my first story by Nuala Ellwood and WOW!! This was an emotional rollercoaster of a story. From page one I was drawn into Kate’s story. Kate has lived through hell as a kid and as an adult she puts herself in hell all the time. Kate is a journalist that puts herself in the middle of war zones and places no one else wants to go. But there is one place that Kate never wants to go to again. That is home. But with the death of her mother Kate knows it is time to face her past. But the events that are about to unfold even the seasoned journalist like Kate will never be prepared for.
I have to say that Nuala Ellwood kept me guessing the whole time. I honestly could not figure out what was going to happen until Ms. Ellwood told me and even when all was revealed I was still shocked. Such a great story and for this to be Ms. Ellwood’s debut novel is amazing!! I will be looking forward to what she has in store for us next.
If you are a suspense lover you need to add My Sister’s Bones to your must read list!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Penguin Books (UK) in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

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February 2, 2017January 29, 2017

Kelly reviews Tastes Like Fear by Sarah Hilary

TITLE: Tastes like Fear
SERIES #: DI Marnie Rome #3
CHARACTERS: Marine Rome
AUTHOR: Sarah Hilary
PUBLICATION DATE: April 7, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Sarah Hilary won the 2015 Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year with her debut, the 2014 Richard and Judy pick SOMEONE ELSE’S SKIN. She followed up with NO OTHER DARKNESS, proclaimed as ‘riveting’ by Lisa Gardner and ‘truly mesmerising’ by David Mark. Now D.I. Marnie Rome returns in her third novel.
Home is where Harm lies…
The young girl who causes the fatal car crash disappears from the scene.
A runaway who doesn’t want to be found, she only wants to go home.
To the one man who understands her.
Gives her shelter.
Just as he gives shelter to the other lost girls who live in his house.
He’s the head of her new family.
He’s Harm.
And when Harm’s family is threatened, Marnie Rome is about to find out that everything tastes like fear

REVIEW:
Tastes like Fear had me guessing all the way to the end. I never thought… Ms. Hilary does an amazing job of keeping us wondering with every page. There is so much going on and so many people that could have. I will stop right there.
I just adore this series. I love Marnie. She is tough, yet broken. She knows her strengths and weakness. And she always gets the job done.
My only complaint is that I listened to the first to books on audio, but the new books are not going to be published in the US. Bummer. Really love Justine Eyre!! But that said I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series (Quieter than Killing 03.09.17)
If you enjoy suspense books you really should pick up a copy of Someone Else’s Skin (bk1) and dive into the world of DI Marnie Rome.

Disclaimer:
I purchased this book and this review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

February 1, 2017January 29, 2017

Kelly reviews Abandon by Blake Crouch

TITLE: Abandon
CHARACTERS: Abigail Foster
AUTHOR: Blake Crouch
NARRATOR: Luke Daniels
RUN TIME: 11 Hours & 23 Minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: July 7, 2009
ORDER LINKS: Audible | Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
On Christmas Day in 1893, every man, woman, and child in a remote gold mining town disappeared, belongings forsaken, meals left to freeze in vacant cabins – and not a single bone was ever found. One hundred thirteen years later, two backcountry guides are hired by a history professor and his journalist daughter to lead them into the abandoned mining town, so they can learn what happened. With them is a psychic and a paranormal photographer, as the town is rumored to be haunted. A party that tried to explore the town years ago was never heard from again. What this crew is about to discover is that twenty miles from civilization, with a blizzard bearing down, they are not alone, and the past is very much alive.

REVIEW:
Another disturbingly good story from Mr. Crouch. Abandon tells the story of the past events of Christmas Day 1893 and one man’s need to solve this mystery. The story bounces back and forth between 1893 and present so that we are experiencing the original town folks and Abigail’s struggles. This story was as I said disturbingly good. I felt for the people of 1893. Life was not easy by any means. But as the story goes on and on you learn just how hard life was in 1893.
Lawrence Foster spend most of his adult life obsessed with Abandon and the mystery that Christmas Day. Lawrence was able to get a special permit to go to Abandon and try to learn more. More about the people and more about what happened. Lawrence also used this trip to reconnect with his daughter Abigail. With a couple of guides and a couple of ghost hunters they set off to find Abandon’s secrets. What they didn’t know was what learning these secrets would cost them.
Great story! I have had this on my read list for a long time and very happy that I finally got a chance to read it. Well I let the very talented Luke Daniels read this story to me. Luke did an amazing job of bring the characters to life.

Disclaimer:
I purchased this audio book and this review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

January 19, 2017January 15, 2017

Kimberly reviews The Nowhere Man by Gregg Hurwitz

TITLE: The Nowhere Man
SERIES #: Evan Smoak #2
CHARACTERS: Evan Smoak
AUTHOR: Gregg Hurwitz
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/17/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Evan Smoak, the Nowhere Man, returns in the sequel to the breakout national bestseller Orphan X.

Spoken about only in whispers, it is said that when the Nowhere Man is reached by the truly desperate, he can and will do anything to save them.

Evan Smoak is the Nowhere Man.

Taken from a group home at twelve, Evan was raised and trained as part of the Orphan program, an off-the-books operation designed to create deniable intelligence assets—i.e. assassins. Evan was Orphan X. He broke with the program, using everything he learned to disappear and reinvent himself as the Nowhere Man. But the new head of the Orphan program hasn’t forgotten about him and is using all of his assets—including the remaining Orphans—to track down and eliminate Smoak.

But this time, the attack comes from a different angle and Evan is caught unaware. Captured, drugged, and spirited off to a remote location, heavily guarded from all approaches. They think they have him trapped and helpless in a virtual cage but they don’t know who they’re dealing with—that they’ve trapped themselves inside that cage with one of the deadliest and most resourceful Orphans.

Continuing his electrifying series featuring Evan Smoak, Gregg Hurwitz delivers a blistering, compelling new novel in the series launched with the breakout national bestseller, Orphan X.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This was not one of favorite’s from Hurwitz. For some reason it seemed to take me a long time to read this book. There were parts that were very slow, they dragged on and just gave too much detail. It almost seemed like Hurwitz combined two stories because of so many villains (“I can’t make book 1 a complete story or book 2… I will just throw all the characters together in one”).

Don’t get me wrong the book is not bad just not great. Smoak just needed a little less going on and a lot less detail of what did happen.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

January 11, 2017January 8, 2017

Kelly reviews Burned By Her Devotion by Melinda Leigh

TITLE: Burned by Her Devotion
SERIES #: Rogue Vow #2
CHARACTERS: Seth & Carly
AUTHOR: Melinda Leigh
PUBLICATION DATE: November 1, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In the second Rogue Vows novella, the town of Solitude, Oregon, will learn that good TV makes for terrible reality.

When Chase Ryan, a popular crime TV star, turns up dead, the entire town of Solitude is shaken—but the show isn’t over yet. The confessed murderer is violently abducted on the way to the county jail, and now Detective Seth Harding must find both the killer and the kidnapper.

Seth’s investigation unearths unsavory secrets from the celebrity’s life that incriminate a cast of suspects: Chase’s family, his sleazy agent, and a fanatical stalker with a troubled thirteen-year-old daughter. When that same teen disappears from her temporary foster home, Seth’s wife, social worker Carly Taylor, is drawn into the search.

Dodging paparazzi and peril, Seth and Carly track the girl. But as they get closer to uncovering the truth, the abductor sets the stage for a chilling finale

REVIEW:
Burned by Her Devotion is the second book in Ms. Leigh & Ms. Elliot’s Rogue Vow series (please read Death and Her Devotion first!!!!). As always I love when these two (Ms. Leigh & Ms. Elliot) get together to revisit Rogue River.
In book one we were dealing with a murder in the small town of Rogue River, Oregon. In book two we finally get to find out who done it!!! I can’t tell you who, what or why. But I will say that I was surprised by some of the events that took place in this series. Just when I thought I had it all figured out. Nope, the ladies have to go and make me want to chase another rabbit.
As with every book I finish by these two I hope that this is not the last time we will get to visit the sleepy little town of Rogue River.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Melinda Leigh in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

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December 26, 2016December 25, 2016

Kimberly reviews Kill Without Shame by Alexandra Ivy

TITLE: Kill Without Shame
SERIES #: ARES Security #2
CHARACTERS: Lucas & Mia
AUTHOR: Alexandra Ivy
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/27/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Five brave military heroes have survived the hell of a Taliban prison to return home—and take on civilian missions no one else can. They’re the men of ARES Security. Highly skilled, intimidating, invincible, and one by one, tested again and again…

Lucas St. Clair’s prestigious family had a political future neatly planned out for him—one that didn’t include his high school sweetheart, Mia Ramon. Under their pressure, Lucas gave her up. But since surviving captivity, he’s a changed man—and a crucial member of ARES Security. When he discovers a dead man clutching a picture of Mia that bears a threatening message, his fiercest protective instincts kick in, and he knows he must go to her.

Mia has never forgiven Lucas for breaking her heart, and she’s convinced her feelings for him are in the past. But it’s soon clear that isn’t true for either of them. Now, determined to solve the crime and keep Mia safe, with his ARES buddies backing him up, Lucas will have to reconstruct the murder victim’s last days—and follow a lethal trail that leads right back to the fate of the woman he still loves…

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts I want to start by saying I am a huge fan of Alexandra Ivy’s and have read almost everything she has written. Now that being said this was not one of my favorites. First issue was I had it figured out almost immediately and never got that “oh maybe it is someone else” feel.

Second Lucas is a good character but not one I really fell for. I just never warmed up to him. And Mia is nice but again I didn’t warm up to her either. I am not exactly sure why not. I could never put my finger on it but something was just off about them.

The story is good and if I was reading this same story from a new author I would probably go to 4 stars but knowing how Ivy usually writes I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped. But I am looking forward to the next ARES story.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

December 15, 2016December 10, 2016

Kimberly reviews The Dollmaker by Mary Burton

TITLE: The Dollmaker
SERIES #: The Forgotten Files #2
CHARACTERS: Tessa & Dakota
AUTHOR: Mary Burton
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/15/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Dr. Tessa McGowan had never seen anything quite like it. But the mutilated bodies on her exam table tell a stunningly macabre tale: someone with a twisted mind is kidnapping women and altering their faces to resemble real, life-size dolls. As a forensic pathologist, it’s her job to aid the agent leading the case—even if that agent is her estranged husband.
Twelve years ago an unspeakable tragedy destroyed Dakota Sharp’s world. Haunted by the ghosts of his past, he’s devoted himself to capturing killers. His only regret is that it cost him Tessa. Now, as the Dollmaker case brings them together—and raises his suspicions that he’s crossed paths with this deranged psychopath before—they may just have their second chance. But it seems Dakota’s not the only one who wants to make Tessa his own…
She may be the Dollmaker’s next target, but Tessa has no intention of winding up as another toy on his shelf. Can she and Dakota stop this ghastly killer before his next deadly playdate?

REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts I have recently discovered Mary Burton and have easily fallen for her way of writing. I find her books keep me interested and on the edge of my seat. This story falls more under the romantic suspense genre than just suspense.

The Dollmaker (the character not the title) is just creepy. He hunts down women to make them into his own dolls and then well let’s just say it gets worse from there. He is one sick character. Tessa and Dakota are married but separated. However like any romantic suspense there will be a HEA. But getting there is a great read.

If you like dark suspense with a bit of light romance you will really enjoy this story. Mary Burton may be coming one of my favorite suspense authors.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

December 8, 2016December 5, 2016

Kimberly reviews When All The Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz

TITLE: When All The Girls Have Gone
CHARACTERS: Charlotte & Max
AUTHOR: Jayne Ann Krentz
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/29/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Jayne Ann Krentz, the New York Times bestselling author of Secret Sisters, delivers a thrilling novel of the deceptions we hide behind, the passions we surrender to, and the lengths we’ll go to for the truth…

When Charlotte Sawyer is unable to contact her step-sister, Jocelyn, to tell her that one her closest friends was found dead, she discovers that Jocelyn has vanished.

Beautiful, brilliant—and reckless—Jocelyn has gone off the grid before, but never like this. In a desperate effort to find her, Charlotte joins forces with Max Cutler, a struggling PI who recently moved to Seattle after his previous career as a criminal profiler went down in flames—literally. Burned out, divorced and almost broke, Max needs the job.

After surviving a near-fatal attack, Charlotte and Max turn to Jocelyn’s closest friends, women in a Seattle-based online investment club, for answers. But what they find is chilling…

When her uneasy alliance with Max turns into a full-blown affair, Charlotte has no choice but to trust him with her life. For the shadows of Jocelyn’s past are threatening to consume her—and anyone else who gets in their way…

REVIEW:
So let me say that I am a big fan of Jayne Ann Krentz and usually love her books. But this one just didn’t have the same feeling as her usual books do. Not that it was bad. It wasn’t. I just don’t think it was one of Krentz’s best.

Now that being said. The story was interesting. There is a bit of suspense but not a lot since we seem to get the information of “who-dun-it” pretty quickly but the suspense is there is how with Charlotte and Max find out and handle the situation.

I never really felt a full connection between the two leads. I did enjoy the secondary characters. Good or bad they seemed to steal the scenes they were in.

If you are already a fan of Krentz’s don’t miss this book but if you aren’t don’t judge all her books by this one.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

November 28, 2016November 27, 2016

Kelly reviews When All The Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz

TITLE: When All The Girls Have Gone
CHARACTERS: Max Cutler & Charlotte Sawyer
AUTHOR: Jayne Ann Krentz
PUBLICATION DATE: November 29, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

When Charlotte Sawyer is unable to contact her step-sister, Jocelyn, to tell her that one her closest friends was found dead, she discovers that Jocelyn has vanished.

After surviving a near-fatal attack, Charlotte and Max turn to Jocelyn’s closest friends, women in a Seattle-based online investment club, for answers. But what they find is chilling…

REVIEW:
This was a good book. I enjoyed Max & Charlotte’s journey to both solving the murder of Jocelyn’s (Charlotte’s step-sister) best friend and finding each other. While the suspense in this book was not quite as suspenseful as I had hoped or wanted. There were a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming.
I enjoyed reading this story by Ms. Krentz. If you are a fan you should enjoy this story. If you are new (like me) and like a good romance suspense I would suggest giving When All The Girls Have Gone a try.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

November 22, 2016November 20, 2016

Kelly reviews All The Dead Girls by Rita Herron

TITLE: All The Dead Girls
SERIES #: Graveyard Falls #3
CHARACTERS: Ian Kimball & Beth Fields
AUTHOR: Rita Herron
PUBLICATION DATE: November 22, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When a violent storm hits Graveyard Falls, it unearths the unimaginable: skeletons of teenage girls, each dressed in white and holding a candle. It’s clear to FBI agent Beth Fields that this is the work of a long-standing killer—but could it be the one she escaped years ago? She has no memory of the man who held her captive and murdered her friend. But even though someone was jailed for the crime, she’s always feared that the real killer is still out there…waiting and watching.

Ian Kimball never believed his stepfather was guilty of Beth’s kidnapping or the slaying of two local girls. Now Graveyard Falls’s sheriff, he’s determined to catch the true perpetrator. And when more young women go missing, he realizes he needs Beth’s help. She is nothing like Ian expected, and everything he desires. But if they have any hope of finally ending the killer’s reign of terror, Beth and Ian will need to put everything aside, including their past, their mistrust, and their growing attraction

REVIEW:
Ms. Herron takes us back to Graveyard Fall’s after a storm rolled through this small sleepy town. But this is not just an ordinary storm this storm reveals a mass grave. And yet again this small sleepy town finds itself the focus of a murder investigation.
I enjoyed this story. I liked the twists and turns that Ms. Herron put in this book. While I did end up guess the who correctly. Ms. Herron made me second guess myself a time or two. I enjoyed watching both Ian and Beth heal from the past and learn that the past doesn’t have to define the future.
I am looking forward to what Ms. Herron has in store for us next in this series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Montlake Romance in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

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November 18, 2016November 14, 2016

Kelly reviews The Bourbon Thief by Tiffany Reisz

TITLE: The Bourbon Thief
CHARACTERS: The Maddox Family
AUTHOR: Tiffany Reisz
NARRATOR: Kim Staunton
RUN TIME: 11 Hours & 49 Minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: June 28, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Audible | Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the internationally celebrated author of the Original Sinners series comes a brand-new tale of betrayal, revenge and a family scandal that bore a 150-year-old mystery
When Cooper McQueen wakes up from a night with a beautiful stranger, it’s to discover he’s been robbed. The only item stolen—a million-dollar bottle of bourbon. The thief, a mysterious woman named Paris, claims the bottle is rightfully hers. After all, the label itself says it’s property of the Maddox family who owned and operated Red Thread Bourbon distillery since the last days of the Civil War until the company went out of business for reasons no one knows… No one except Paris.
In the small hours of a Louisville morning, Paris unspools the lurid tale of Tamara Maddox, heiress to the distillery that became an empire. But the family tree is rooted in tainted soil and has borne rotten fruit. Theirs is a legacy of wealth and power, but also of lies, secrets and sins of omission. The Maddoxes have bourbon in their blood—and blood in their bourbon. Why Paris wants the bottle of Red Thread remains a secret until the truth of her identity is at last revealed, and the century-old vengeance Tamara vowed against her family can finally be completed.

REVIEW:
The Bourbon Thief is the story of the Maddox families rise and fall. This was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. A crazy crazy ride of every emotion you could possible have. There is so much that happens in this book that I didn’t expect or was prepared for. There is so much that I could tell you but I don’t want to give away anything. I will give you just a little.
The Bourbon Thief starts with a woman in a fancy red dress looking for a man to share a nice glass of bourbon with. Lucky for Cooper McQueen this woman just walked into his bar and is about to change his life.
Such a great story! This is also my first Tiffany Reisz book and I really enjoyed reading/listening to this book.
I did listen to this book on audio. This was also my first book listening to Kim Staunton. Ms. Staunton did a fabulous job of bring these characters to life. Even though I was listening to this book in the Pacific Northwest I felt like I was in the south. Ms. Staunton did a wonderful job with the voices and accents. I will be adding her to my list of narrators I enjoy and will be watching for more of her work in the future.

Disclaimer:
I purchased this audiobook from Audible.com and this review is my own opinion and not a paid review.