Suspense – Page 27 – Books-n-Kisses

November 8, 2016November 6, 2016

Kelly reviews The Purloined Poodle by Kevin Hearne

TITLE: The Purloined Poodle
SERIES #: The Iron Druid Chronicles #8.5
CHARACTERS: Oberon (The Irish Wolfhound) and Atticus O’Sullivan
AUTHOR: Kevin Hearne
NARRATOR: Luke Daniels
RUN TIME: 2 Hours & 57 Minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: September 30, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | Audible | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Thanks to his relationship with the ancient Druid Atticus O’Sullivan, Oberon the Irish wolfhound knows trouble when he smells it—and furthermore, he knows he can handle it.

When he discovers that a prizewinning poodle has been abducted in Eugene, Oregon, he learns that it’s part of a rash of hound abductions all over the Pacific Northwest. Since the police aren’t too worried about dogs they assume have run away, Oberon knows it’s up to him to track down those hounds and reunite them with their humans. For justice! And gravy!

Engaging the services of his faithful Druid, Oberon must travel throughout Oregon and Washington to question a man with a huge salami, thwart the plans of diabolical squirrels, and avoid, at all costs, a fight with a great big bear.

But if he’s going to solve the case of the Purloined Poodle, Oberon will have to recruit the help of a Boston terrier named Starbuck, survive the vegetables in a hipster pot pie, and firmly refuse to be distracted by fire hydrants and rabbits hiding in the rose bushes.

At the end of the day, will it be a sad bowl of dry kibble for the world’s finest hound detective, or will everything be coming up sirloins?

The Purloined Poodle is another exciting novella entry in Kevin Hearne’s New York Times best-selling Iron Druid series.

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Awesome as always!!!! I loved this novella that Mr. Hearne wrote for us.
The Purloined Poodle is told from Oberon’s point of view. Oberon is one of my all time favorite character!! So listening to him tell this story was great. Of course the amazingly talented Luke Daniels narrator this book when makes just that much better. So in the Purloined Poodle Oberon and his trusty sidekick Atticus are on a mission to solve a murder. It was a fun journey! It was also great to see all the wonderful places in the Pacific Northwest that showed up in this story.
The only thing that made me sad was that this story was short. I can’t wait for the next installment in the IDC and I hope that we will get more of Oberon’s Meaty Mysteries

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

November 4, 2016October 31, 2016

Kimberly reviews The Obsidian Chamber by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

TITLE: The Obsidian Chamber
SERIES #: Pendergast #16
CHARACTERS: Constance & Proctor
AUTHOR: Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/18/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A TRAGIC DISAPPEARANCE
After a harrowing, otherworldly confrontation on the shores of Exmouth, Massachusetts, Special Agent A.X.L. Pendergast is missing, presumed dead.
A SHOCKING RETURN
Sick with grief, Pendergast’s ward, Constance, retreats to her chambers beneath the family mansion at 891 Riverside Drive–only to be taken captive by a shadowy figure from the past.
AN INTERNATIONAL MANHUNT
Proctor, Pendergast’s longtime bodyguard, springs to action, chasing Constance’s kidnapper through cities, across oceans, and into wastelands unknown.
BUT IN A WORLD OF BLACK AND WHITE, NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS
And by the time Proctor discovers the truth, a terrifying engine has stirred-and it may already be too late . . .

REVIEW:
So here is the problem.. This is a Pendergast novel but there is no Pendergast. This is more of Constance’s story which isn’t bad I just miss Pendergast when he is not around.

Preston and Child have this interesting way of writing. My understanding is this each write their part separately and then bring their book together to complete. If this is true in some ways I think this is what makes the series so interesting.

I will say that while you can sometimes read the Pendergast series out of order you really need to read Crimson Shore (#15) before this story to understand where Pendergast is and why Constance is the star of this story.

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

November 3, 2016October 31, 2016

Kimberly reviews Escape Clause by John Sandford

TITLE: Escape Clause
SERIES #: Virgil Flowers #9
CHARACTERS: Virgil
AUTHOR: John Sandford
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/18/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Whenever you hear the sky rumble, that usually means a storm. In Virgil Flowers’ case, make that two. The exceptional new thriller from the writer whose books are “pure reading pleasure” (Booklist)

The first storm comes from, of all places, the Minnesota zoo. Two large, and very rare, Amur tigers have vanished from their cage, and authorities are worried sick that they’ve been stolen for their body parts. Traditional Chinese medicine prizes those parts for home remedies, and people will do extreme things to get what they need. Some of them are a great deal more extreme than others — as Virgil is about to find out.

Then there’s the homefront. Virgil’s relationship with his girlfriend Frankie has been getting kind of serious, but when Frankie’s sister Sparkle moves in for the summer, the situation gets a lot more complicated. For one thing, her research into migrant workers is about to bring her up against some very violent people who emphatically do not want to be researched. For another…she thinks Virgil’s kind of cute.

“You mess around with Sparkle,” Frankie told Virgil, “you could get yourself stabbed.”
“She carries a knife?”
“No, but I do.”

Forget a storm – this one’s a tornado.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This is the ninth story in the series. And I swear the longer this series goes on the weirder Virgil gets. But not in a bad way. He is an odd character but somehow quite interesting. He just kind of keeps you wanting to read more.

Speaking of weird. Sandford writes in a different way than most, or at least most that I read. Sandford writes with both sides of the story but also throws in a number of completely other stories. It is hard not to keep your attention when so much is going on.

So much is happening you might want to keep a notebook by your side to keep track.

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

October 25, 2016October 24, 2016

Kimberly reviews Family Sins by Sharon Sala

TITLE: Family Sins
SERIES #: Death Comes To Eden #1
CHARACTERS: Leigh, Brody & Talia
AUTHOR: Sharon Sala
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/25/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
MURDER IN EDEN

Felled by a cowardly shot to the back, Stanton Youngblood has just enough time before he dies to leave a single clue to his killer’s identity: the word Wayne, scrawled in his own blood.

That word means everything to his widow. Leigh Youngblood was once Leigh Wayne, but she left her wealthy family behind thirty years ago when she fell in love with Stanton, a betrayal the Waynes have never forgiven. Now she publicly vows to discover which of her siblings thinks money and power are enough to cover up a murder.

Back in town to find his father’s killer, prodigal son Brody finds his search for justice comes with an unexpected ray of light. He’s loved Talia Champion forever, but when she said she couldn’t marry him, he left town and never looked back. This time it’s Talia who needs him, and it isn’t in him to deny her anything.

But the killer still has a score to settle, and if that means spilling more blood—so much the better.

REVIEW:
This book has a little bit of everything. A bit of romance and mystery. I really enjoy a mystery where I can not figure out who the killer is. I spent many pages thinking it was one person, changing to another and then back to a different person.
I also enjoyed the romance. It was so emotional and even got me choked up.
I can see this story being made into a made for tv movie. Very well written. I look forward to the next one.

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

Save

October 13, 2016October 7, 2016

#TBT Natasha reviews Hour Of Need by Melinda Leigh ~ Catch Up From The Beginning

TITLE: Hour of Need
SERIES #: Scarlet Falls #1
CHARACTERS: Grant Barrett & Ellie Ross
AUTHOR: Melinda Leigh
PUBLICATION DATE: December 9, 2014
ORDER LINKS:Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
While fighting in Afghanistan, Major Grant Barrett receives devastating news: his brother and sister-in-law have been murdered in Scarlet Falls, the sleepy suburb of Grant’s youth. Emotionally scarred from war, the career soldier returns home on emergency leave to temporarily care for his orphaned nephew and niece. But when someone tries to kidnap the kids and their teenage babysitter, Grant knows it’s not a random act…and neither were the murders.

Already devastated by her neighbors’ violent deaths, Ellie Ross is shattered by the attempted abduction of her teenage daughter so she desperately turns to Grant for help. As they navigate a deadly search for the truth, they struggle with growing feelings for each other and Grant’s impending return to deployment.

But time is running out. The killer is growing bolder by the hour, and Ellie and Grant must find him before the children become his next victims.

REVIEW: This book was so good!! This is the third book I’ve ready by Melinda Leigh and I am now dedicated to reading all of her books! She is a fabulous author and her stories are so intriguing. This book had it all: drama, heart break, murder, betrayal, ice skating! Grant and Ellie are the perfect partners for one another in this story. Both of their lives are messy and they are surrounded with a fabulously hilarious and awesome cast of characters. I fell in love with this whole family and cannot wait for more books in this series! I want stories for everyone!

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

Save

August 31, 2016August 28, 2016

Natasha reviews Seconds To Live by Melinda Leigh

TITLE: Seconds to Live
SERIES #: Scarlet Falls #3
CHARACTERS: Mac Barrett & Stella Dane
AUTHOR: Melinda Leigh
PUBLICATION DATE: June 28, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Wildlife biologist Mac Barrett avoided his hometown of Scarlet Falls for years—too many bad memories. But when he receives the news that his father is dying, he rushes home only to discover he’s too late. Shaken, Mac retreats to his remote cabin seeking peace and solace. Instead, he crashes his jeep to narrowly avoid running over the naked body of a woman lying in the road. Even more disturbing, when he regains consciousness, the body is gone.

Police detective Stella Dane wants to believe Mac, even if his story about the vanishing body seems far-fetched. But when Mac’s description matches the missing woman she’s been searching for, it raises a disturbing question: How does a dead body disappear?

Mac and Stella will have to work together to find the answer and catch a psychotic kidnapper—and quickly. The killer has a deadly message to send, and the case is about to become personal

REVIEW:
This is the third book in Leigh’s Scarlett Falls series. In my review of book 2 I desperately wanted to see more of Mac Barrett and I finally got it! Wow is he full of surprises! He is the most mysterious Barrett sibling and I really enjoyed his backstory, which is truly unexpected. He is a strong male character and was a perfect match for Stella. I enjoyed Stella a lot as a female character. There were times where her actions frustrated me a bit, but that is expected of any type of police mystery novel. There is one part of the novel that I’m still not sure what happened…I might have to do a re-read so I have a little clearer picture in my head. But overall these stories are super intriguing with twists and turns that keep you turning the pages. I truly enjoy them and Leigh’s ability to make her characters deeply interesting and realistic.

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.

August 11, 2016August 11, 2016

Kimberly reviews The Family Man by TJ Lebbon

TITLE: The Family Man
CHARACTERS: Dom & Emma
AUTHOR: TJ Lebbon
PUBLICATION DATE: 08/11/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N (links coming soon)

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
You take ONE risk. Now, those you love must pay …
Dom Turner is a dependable husband, a loving father. A man you can rely on. But it only takes one day to destroy a seemingly perfect life.
Emma thought she could trust her husband, Dom. She thought he would always look after her and their daughter Daisy….
Then one reckless act ends in two innocent deaths – and Dom’s family becomes the target of a terrifying enemy.
There’s nowhere to hide. They’re on the run for their lives. And if Dom makes one more wrong move, he won’t have a family left to protect.

REVIEW:
3.25 Hearts We have all thought about dropping all the responsibility for a day and taking a walk on the wild side. It is in our DNA but Dom decides to actually do it with his friend Andy and the consequences turn the family’s life upside down.

The problem with this book is I never found a character I wanted to root for or even liked. Dom is a jerk who wants to be in charge of everything. He wants to show he is mister tough guy and can beat the crap out of anyone that comes along. The problem is we just don’t care and he comes off as an ass. His wife is a pushover doormat if you ask me. I felt sorry for her in more ways than one…. First being put into this trouble because of Dom but also because she has to deal with him as a husband.

The reason I didn’t give it 3 stars is because the thriller part is well pretty thrilling. It does keep you wondering what will happen.

The best way I can describe this book is as a guy’s book. I can see them enjoying the cinematic feel of it with the fighting and action packed moments but it just wasn’t for me.

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

Save

August 1, 2016July 31, 2016

Kelly reviews Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

TITLE: Dark Matter, A Novel
CHARACTERS: Jason Dessen
AUTHOR: Blake Crouch
PUBLICATION DATE: August 2, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the author of the bestselling WAYWARD PINES trilogy, a brilliantly mind-bending science-fiction thriller in which an ordinary man is kidnapped, knocked unconscious—and awakens in a world inexplicably different from the reality he thought he knew.

Jason Dessen is walking home through the chilly Chicago streets one night, looking forward to a quiet evening in front of the fireplace with his wife, Daniela, and their son, Charlie—when his reality shatters.

It starts with a man in a mask kidnapping him at gunpoint, for reasons Jason can’t begin to fathom—what would anyone want with an ordinary physics professor?—and grows even more terrifying from there, as Jason’s abductor injects him with some unknown drug and watches while he loses consciousness.

When Jason awakes, he’s in a lab, strapped to a gurney—and a man he’s never seen before is cheerily telling him “welcome back!”

Jason soon learns that in this world he’s woken up to, his house is not his house. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born.

And someone is hunting him.

Is the life Jason remembers just some crazed dream? And can he survive long enough to discover the answers he needs?

REVIEW:
Mr. Crouch knows how to write a story that keeps you thinking, keeps you guess, keeps you wondering what will happen next and keep you turning the pages even when you get to the end you want more.
Dark Matter takes us on an epic life altering journey with Jason Dessen. Jason finds himself in a life and death struggle to find out who and where he is. I don’t want to give too much away with my review. Because it would be really easy for me to tell you what happens.
So I will leave you with this. Dark Matter was not like anything I had read before. It is twisted and totally messed up and I totally loved this story. If you are Blake Crouch fan you will love this story. If you are new and looking for something that may be a little outside your wheelhouse I would suggest picking up a copy of Dark Matter and find out what happens when you world is turned upside down.

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

<br />

July 27, 2016July 25, 2016

Kimberly reviews Free Fall by Rick Mofina

TITLE: Free Fall
SERIES #: Kate Page #4
CHARACTERS: Kate Page
AUTHOR: Rick Mofina
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/01/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
CRISIS IN THE SKIES

Pilots with no control…

High above the Adirondack Mountains, a commuter flight to New York City turns into a rolling, twisting nightmare, plunging from the sky before the crew regains control. Then, in London, a jetliner crashes into the runway, killing fifteen people.

Investigators with no answers…

Reporter Kate Page believes something beyond mechanical—or human—error is behind the incidents that have air investigators baffled. But the mystery deepens as teams scramble to pinpoint a link between the tragedies, and Kate receives an untraceable message from someone boasting responsibility and threatening another event.

A looming disaster…

As Kate, the FBI and the NTSB race to find answers, the shadow figures behind the operation launch their most devastating plan yet, and time ticks down on one of the greatest tragedies the world has ever known.

REVIEW:
Rick Mofina does it again. Mofina has a way of pulling you into a story from the first page and not letting go and no matter how long the book is you feel like you can’t get enough and just as all of his others this is no different. This is the 4th in the Kate Page series and while I would always recommend you reading the books in order this book can be read as a stand alone. I would just imagine that you would miss a bit of Kate’s history.

I could certainly imagine this book as a tv show or movie. There is so much truism in it that you can picture it as you read the story in full technicolor detail. Kate is a strong woman who stands up for herself and I enjoy that about her. She is smart and real.

I would highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a good action packed suspense. I can’t imagine anyone would be disappointed in this book or series.

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

July 26, 2016July 24, 2016

Kimberly reviews You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone by Kevin O’Brien

TITLE: You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone
CHARACTERS: Andrea, Spencer & Damon
AUTHOR: Kevin O’Brien
PUBLICATION DATE: 07/26/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
No Forgiveness
Andrea Boyle moved to Seattle to give her seventeen-year-old nephew, Spencer, a fresh start after the death of his parents. Andrea has found her own new beginning with Luke, a successful playwright and father of a teenage son, Damon. The boys appear to have little in common, but in truth they share a private torment…

No Remorse
When a tragedy befalls Damon, it’s just the beginning of a nightmare that unfolds. But the worst is yet to come once a dark secret from Spencer’s past is exposed. And when Luke is brutally attacked, both of their futures are at stake.

No Second Chance
Now it’s up to Andrea to prove Spencer’s innocence to the police–and to herself. Because for reasons she has revealed to no one, even Andrea can’t help questioning the truth–and fearing that she may be next to pay the ultimate price…

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts This is such a poignant book in this time in our lives. Bullying is an epidemic that seems to be growing and not lessening, unfortunately. This book brings you right to the point of it. Damon is bullied and commits suicide and after threatening revenge upon his death those that bullied him begin to receive threats and more. Of course people believe it is Spencer who is doing this so it is up to Andrea to prove he is innocent.

The bullies in this book are just despicable and the reader is just heartbroken for Damon and Spencer. The reader can really understand how some people feel that suicide is the only wait out. This book is a fast read but it keeps your interest the whole way through.

Wonderful book that will leave you thinking for days after you finish it.

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

July 18, 2016July 16, 2016

Natasha reviews All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker

TITLE: All is Not Forgotten
CHARACTERS: Jenny, Tom & Charlotte
AUTHOR: Wendy Walker
PUBLICATION DATE: July 12, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In the small, affluent town of Fairview, Connecticut, everything seems picture perfect.

Until one night when young Jenny Kramer is attacked at a local party. In the hours immediately after, she is given a controversial drug to medically erase her memory of the violent assault. But, in the weeks and months that follow, as she heals from her physical wounds, and with no factual recall of the attack, Jenny struggles with her raging emotional memory. Her father, Tom, becomes obsessed with his inability to find her attacker and seek justice while her mother, Charlotte, prefers to pretend this horrific event did not touch her perfect country club world.

As they seek help for their daughter, the fault lines within their marriage and their close-knit community emerge from the shadows where they have been hidden for years, and the relentless quest to find the monster who invaded their town – or perhaps lives among them – drive this psychological thriller to a shocking and unexpected conclusion.

REVIEW:
I really wanted to love this book. The description sounded so intriguing and I was excited to see how the author executed such a plot. Unfortunately this book was not what I was hoping it would be. The story is told from the point of view of Jenny’s psychiatrist, which was a lot confusing for me for a while. The story moved quite slow and I found it hard to remain engaged, likely due to the storytelling method – it felt too far removed. Now, with that said, I think Walker does a great job developing her characters and making them feel real and displaying their human flaws. This was likely the most compelling aspect of the book for me. I think this author has great skill in character development, but the story just wasn’t my type of story. However I am sure there are a lot of readers out there that this type of book is perfect for. I encourage anyone who is interested to pick it up and give it a go, it may be right up your alley.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

June 30, 2016June 27, 2016

Kelly reviews Seconds To Live by Melinda Leigh

TITLE: Seconds to Live
SERIES #: Scarlet Falls #3
CHARACTERS: Mac Barrett & Stella Dane
AUTHOR: Melinda Leigh
PUBLICATION DATE: June 28, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

Mac and Stella will have to work together to find the answer and catch a psychotic kidnapper—and quickly. The killer has a deadly message to send, and the case is about to become personal

REVIEW:
I loved that we finally got Mac’s story. We have seen glimpse of him over the last two books and I am sure like everyone else fell in love with the youngest Barrett kid. In Seconds to Live we get to learn so much more about Mac. What makes him tick, what makes him constantly be on the run from his family and what happens when he sets his sights on the lady he can’t get out of his mind.
Stella is great! I love that she is tough, determined and relatable. Stella is someone that you would want on your side during a crisis. It was great to see her bounce back after the events of the last book.
As always Ms. Leigh brings us a story filled with the perfect level of suspense, keeping me guessing and romance. I enjoyed every page of this book. It was great to finally get Mac’s story. I love trying to figure out the who’s and why’s. Ms. Leigh does a great job of always shocking me (rarely am I right. haha). I can’t wait to see what Ms. Leigh has in story for us next.

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.