My Book Reviews

Category: Suspense

This category contains any posts published in reference to books of suspense genre.

The Long Shadow on the Stage by Nichole Heydenburge

The Long Shadow on the Stage by Nichole Heydenburge

Release: August 10th 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Amazon
Source: Love Books Tours
Find it at: Amazon

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Jackson Birkman has the perfect life: the lead role on the popular detective show “Dispatching David,” millions of adoring fans, celebrity status, and a beautiful girlfriend. After five seasons, “Dispatching David” has just been cancelled. Jackson worries about the approaching final episode more than his future acting career. His once massive fortune is dwindling and his girlfriend Clara is pressuring him to propose.

When Jackson unexpectedly dies on the set of the TV show during filming, everyone speculates whether it was suicide or murder. Why would Jackson commit suicide? Moreover, if it was a setup, who would want Jackson to die? And most importantly, what was the motive of the murderer? As the investigation continues, Officer Wilson inches closer to the truth, uncovering Jackson’s secrets. She is of the view that no one really knew Jackson at all, however determines to solve the case, no matter the cost.

About the Author:

Nichole Heydenburg earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English with an emphasis in writing and a minor in theatre from Adrian College in 2014. Also, her one act play “The Hidden Story” won a playwriting contest and was performed at her alma mater in 2015. She also had several poems published in “The Oxcart” literary magazine. Nichole has been working full-time as the Content Manager for a start-up company for 3 years. When she isn’t writing, Nichole enjoys going on adventures with her husband, reading, playing board games, and the occasional mimosa. “The Long Shadow on the Stage” is her first novel. She currently resides near Asheville, NC with her husband, Zed.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

The Long Shadow on the Stage Review:

This book was a short, entertaining murder mystery novel revolving around the lives of TV stars.

There are many things which I enjoyed about the story. The plot is unique and intriguing for a murder mystery novel. There were some scenes which shocked me, like the way the culprit kidnaps Jackson and how he kills him. The author also throws quite a few red herrings that keeps you guessing as to who the murderer is. Moreover, the story-line toggles between various timelines and perspectives, which was interesting as we get each character’s take on the plot. The author does a nice job of making you feel like the character has committed the perfect crime, where he/she cannot be caught.

Moreover, the author also wrote the characters really well where she marks most of them as a prime suspect. Personally, I liked all the three characters Jackson, Edgar and Clara, and thought each of them brought something new to the plot. Moreover, I really liked Officer Wilson and the frustration she went through to solve the case. The story really picks up speed towards the end as she tries to figure out who the murderer is.

However, the ending felt anticlimactic. After all the buildup, I felt like the story-line still had unresolved, open-ended questions. From the author’s note, it seems that a follow up book would be released to continue the plot. While this is fine, I was under the impression that this was a standalone, and was a bit disappointed with the lack of closure.

Apart from that, this is a solid murder mystery novel that I enjoyed reading.

Book Tour Schedule

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the The Long Shadow on the Stage by Nichole Heydenburge Blog Tour hosted by Love Books Tours.

September 1, 2020
Within the shadows by T.L. Mahrt

Within the shadows by T.L. Mahrt

Release: August 28th 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Independently published
Source: Rachel’s Random Resources
Find it at: Amazon, Kindle

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Emma Andrews’ last memory of her mother is seeing her bleeding to death on the bathroom floor. Several years later, the same monster that killed her mother, kidnaps Emma also and compelled to face the monster. Quickly, Emma—a daydreamer with an inventive personality—must learn to separate her fantasies from reality in order to differentiate friend or foe.

As secrets unfold and the shadows emerge, Emma wonders if she can endure reliving the trauma of her past. One thing she does know for certain—she can’t do it alone.

Will Emma escape from this monster alive? Will Chance still love her after she reveals her past? Or, will someone new teach Emma the true strength hiding within her?

About the Author:

T. L. Mahrt is a former business owner, where she utilized her education in cosmetology, barbering and massage therapy for several years. She was raised on and is currently living on a farm in Nebraska, where you can find her running barefoot in the country side with her loving husband and inspiring children and massive dogs.

After having her son, who was born with Cerebral Palsy, she made the life altering decision to stay home to care for her two children and pursue her love for writing. She has a love for romance and poetry where, her overactive imagination, along with her adventures and up beat lifestyle drives her inspiration for her writing. .

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Tumblr

Within the shadows Review:

I was not even aware that this was second book in a series, yet the book was entertaining as a standalone.

The author makes the story exciting right from page one, where Jarrett kidnaps Emma. However, the characters stand out in the story, particularly Emma. Emma goes through a lot, and it was interesting to see how she connects with others. Moreover, I loved her story with Andy and thought they had amazing chemistry. But, I felt she had chemistry with the others too. Although Emma encounters some traumatic situations, I was thinking how lucky she is to have so many men chasing her. While I do not know the entire back story (because I didn’t read the first book), it was entertaining to see how Rick, Chance and Andy want to protect her and are jealous of each other.

Moreover, I found the side story of Rick’s death interesting and mysterious. I loved Jarrett as the villain. He made the story exciting and unpredictable. He is creepy and dangerous, and you don’t know when he will strike next.

However, there are scenes which I felt could have been better. At times, it felt like the the author gave preference to Emma’s love life, instead of the plot. While I enjoyed this, I wish there were more twists and turns. Also, I didn’t really get to know some of the characters like Rick and Elaine because there is not sufficient background of them, and they are not prominent in the story-line.

Having said that, this was a entertaining and made me pick up the first book to see how it all started. Overall, “Within the Shadows” was an intriguing romance.

Book Tour Schedule

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Within the shadows by T.L. Mahrt Blog Tour hosted by Rachel’s Random Resources.

September 1, 2020
Dead After Midnight (Book #1) by C.P. Daly

Dead After Midnight (Book #1) by C.P. Daly

Release: May 16th, 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Twister Publishing
Source: R&R Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon_

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Suzie Q is a prostitute and determined to get out of her current line of work and excited for a fresh start with best friend Lucy by her side. Her dreams come to an abrupt halt, when, during a night of turning tricks, she stumbles upon Lucy’s brutally murdered body. Fearing for her life, Suzie runs to her neighbor, Luke’s, to regroup, where she discovers he’s not just a creepy client, but an undercover FBI agent. However, he blindsides her when he reveals that she’s mixed up in an FBI investigation, and that she’s been unknowingly working for Johnny Stone, New York’s notorious crime boss. Suzie flees from New York, hiding in a quaint seaside town in Maine. She changes her identity and her life. Now she has to survive, to keep the life she has come to love.

This is the first novel in the Kelsey Woods thriller series.

About the Author:

CP’s reading tastes are an eclectic mix of thriller, crime, romance, and the occasional fantasy novel. But, when she puts pen to paper, she can’t resist the intrigue of a thriller.

CP has written two novels in The Kelsey Woods series, Dead After Midnight (debut novel, released in May 2020) and Dead Before Sunrise – which is scheduled for release in the fall of 2020.

A true east coaster from beautiful Nova Scotia, Canada, CP is happily married to her high school sweetheart. Also, she’s been blessed with a wonderful family, including six adorable grandchildren.

CP loves hearing from readers, connect with her via email or Twitter.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Dead After Midnight Review:

This was a very nice, fast paced, suspense thriller, and turned out to be very entertaining.

Suzie aka Julia is a strong character, and I liked her no-nonsense attitude. She has to lead a new life with a false identity, and I wanted to see how far she would pull it before someone caught her. Moreover, I found her scenes with Rachel hilarious, as she urges to argue with her but doesn’t want to attract attention. Similarly, Luke is also interesting and I liked the bond he shared with Suzie. However, my favorite character was Sophie. She was adorable and quirky as Suzie’s friend and lighted the tale. Also, Stone is decent as the villain, but wasn’t prominent in the story-line.

The author also added quite a few twists and turns as to the story. At the same time, the author provides a very nice back story to the characters. I thought she did a very nice job with the history and connection between Stone, Lucy, and Suzie. The backstory turned out to be very interesting and dramatic.

However, there are a few parts where I would have liked more details. For instance, Phoenix is a pivotal character, yet we don’t see much of him or know his history. Also, I felt like Anthony was a very random character who did not had much value. Perhaps he would play a pivotal role in the next book of the series?

Apart from that, this story was very entertaining. Overall, “Dead After Midnight” was gripping and suspenseful. I am very curious to see how the series progresses, and looking forward to the next book.

Giveaway: Win one of three print copied of Dead After Midnight!

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Book Tour Schedule

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Dead After Midnight (Book #1) by C.P. Daly Blog Tour hosted by R&R Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

August 24^th

Reads & Reels -(Spotlight)
PoptheButterfly Reads – (Spotlight)
Eclectic Review – (Review)
Purple Shelf Club – (Review)

August 25^th

I’m into Books – (Spotlight)
Horror Tree – (Guest Post)
B is for Book Review – (Spotlight)
Didi Oviatt – (Spotlight)
Inked and Blonde – (Review)

August 26^th

Book Dragons Not Worms – (Spotlight)
Ally’s Reading Corner – (Review)
Stine Writing – (Review)
Rambling Mads – (Review)

August 27^th

The Magic of Wor(l)ds – (Spotlight)
Tsarina Press – (Spotlight)
Meli’s Book Reviews – (Review)
Rajiv’s Reviews – (Review)

August 28^th

Breakeven Books – (Spotlight)
Dash Fan Book Reviews – (Review)
Jessica Belmont – (Review)
Reviews by Satabdi – (Review)

August 27, 2020
I Didn’t Forget by James S. Kelly

I Didn’t Forget by James S. Kelly

Release: July 27, 2016
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Amazon
Source: Pump up your book
Find it at: Amazon__

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The double murder of two long time friends has caused hysteria in the small town of Solvang, Ca. Hence, it is up to Clay Wrens, the county’s premier detective to solve the murders and calm the townspeople.

Complicating the investigation is a local politician who’s afraid the Wrens will uncover his financial transgressions, while a female reporter, with her own agenda, is suggesting that Wrens be replaced

So, as the investigation moves to a climax, Wrens is drawn to a twenty five year old murder and the convicted murderer, who’s just been released from prison.

About the Author:

James S. Kelly (Jim) is a retired Air Force Colonel, with twenty-five years of service. During his career, Jim flew over 100 missions in Vietnam and directed a program in Iran under the Shah. Jim has been writing for twenty years and this is his fourth published novel. He and his wife reside in Solvang, which is the backdrop for all his novels.

I Didn’t Forget Review:

I Didn’t Forget turned out to be a very nice crime, mystery novel with numerous plot twists that keeps you guessing.

What I really liked about the story is there is never a dull moment. The author did a great job with the fast paced story-line and adding new twists along the way. Wren keeps busy investigating multiple homicides, attempted murders, or protecting his friends and loved ones. Moreover, each chapter offers something new to the story by adding new suspects and new situations. Hence, the story is very interesting and led to a shocking twist in the end.

Similarly, I liked Wren as the main character. He is direct and at times comes across as harsh. But, I appreciate his dedication to solve the crime. Also, I actually liked Wren’s flings with his women, whether it was Jenny, Diane or Dyer. Even though they really didn’t add much to the plot, it was nice to see the character take a step back from the case and focus on his personal life.

However, my only criticism to the story was the numerous characters. Many characters enter the story just for a few scenes, and it is very hard to keep track of them. At times, Wren used to recall what a certain character did a few chapters back, and I had to go back to recall who they were. Also, I felt like the ending was a bit rushed, where we didn’t get history or details from the culprit. I was interested to see the murderer’s point of view and history behind their crimes.

Overall, this book is a very nice novel if you are in the mood for a murder mystery.

Book Tour Schedule

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the I Didn’t Forget by James S. Kelly Blog Tour hosted by Pump up your book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

Monday, August 3 – Virtual Book Tour kickoff at PUYB Virtual Book Club
Tuesday, August 4 – Interview at The Writer’s Life
Wednesday, August 5 – Book Feature at Blogging Authors

Thursday, August 6 – Book Feature at Pen Possessed
Wednesday, August 12 – Book Review at Books for books

Wednesday, August 12 – Book Feature at The Literary Nook
Thursday, August 13 – Book Feature at The Bookworm Lodge
Monday, August 17 – Book Review at Sefina Hawke’s Books
Monday, August 17 – Book Teaser Feature at YouTube

Tuesday, August 18 – Book Feature at My Book Launch
Wednesday, August 19 – Book Feature at A Title Wave
Thursday, August 20 – Book Review at Rajiv’s Reviews
Monday, August 24 – Book Feature at eBook Addicts
Tuesday, August 25 – Book Feature at As the Page Turns
Friday, August 28 – Book Feature at The Dark Phantom Reviews

Tuesday, September 1 – Book Feature at I’m Into Books
Wednesday, September 2 – Book Teaser Trailer Feature at Book Bloggin’ Princess
Thursday, September 3 – Interview at Book Cover Junkie
Friday, September 4 – Book Feature at Nuttin’ But Books
Monday, September 7 – Book Review at The Avid Reader
Tuesday, September 8 – Book Feature at Jazzy Book Reviews
Thursday, September 10 – Interview at Confessions of an Eccentric Bookaholic
Monday, September 14 – Book Review at From the TBR Pile
Tuesday, September 15 – Book Feature at Write and Take Flight
Thursday, September 17 – Book Review at The Faerie Review
Monday, September 21 – Book Feature at My Bookish Pleasures
Wednesday, September 23 – Interview at PUYB Virtual Book Club
Monday, September 28 – Book Feature at What the cat read
Wednesday, September 30 – First Chapter Review at Literarily Speaking

August 20, 2020
Innocent by Erin Kinsley

Innocent by Erin Kinsley

Release: July 15th 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Headline
Source: Random Things Tours
Find it at: Amazon , Amazon UK

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The pretty market town of Sterndale is a close-knit community where everyone thinks they know everyone else. But at a lavish summer wedding, they discover a local celebrity found slumped in the gardens. He is suspected as the victim of a violent assault. Consequently, this leads to a murder investigation.

Hence, as the police search for answers, suspicion and paranoia build, the lives of the locals get topsy-turvy. Further Secrets that lurk beneath the pristine façade of Sterndale come to light as detectives close in on the truth…

About the Author:

Erin Kinsley is a full-time writer. She grew up in Yorkshire and currently lives in East Anglia.

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Innocent Review:

If you want to curl up with a good murder mystery with secrets, deceptions, twists and turns, then this is the one. The story creeps on you and shocks you when you least expect it.

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I really loved the concept of this story. The main leads, Laura and Izzy stand both stand out in their own manner. There are many twists and turns with a lot of secrets discovered. What I really liked is the contrast between the two character’s story-lines. Izzy’s story focuses on the murder mystery and learning new secrets of Tristan. However, Laura’s story-line focuses on her own family’s secrets who seem average. I really enjoyed how these two story-lines merged together. Also, the detectives involved add well to the story and I liked how they progress with the case.

Also, with such stories, you need a good twist towards the climax, which this story delivers really well. I really did not guess who was behind the murder, and that made me enjoy the story even more. Moreover, the author also does a wonderful job to cover all the loose ends and nothing unexplained. What I really liked was how the author gave equal important to the plot and the characters. The author balances the murder mystery very well with our perception of the characters and their development.

My only criticism towards the story is that it tends to get over-descriptive at times. There are characters who appear only for one or two scenes, but we get a background information from them. Also, the detectives recap every discovery when they meet, which felt repetitious. On a side note, I really enjoyed Phyllis and wished the author made her prominent in the story.

Overall, “Innocent” turned out to be a delightful read and I really enjoyed reading it.

Book Tour Schedule

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Innocent by Erin Kinsley Blog Tour hosted by Random Things Tours.

August 19, 2020
Vintage Crime from CWA by Martin Edwards
Vintage Crime from CWA by Martin Edwards

Release: August 11, 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Flame Tree Press
Source: Random Things Tours
Find it at: Amazon, B&N

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Vintage Crime is a CWA anthology with a difference, celebrating members’ work over the years. The book will gather stories from the mid-1950s until the twenty-first century by great names of the past, great names of the present together with a few hidden treasures by less familiar writers. The first CWA anthology, Butcher’s Dozen, appeared in 1956, and Julian Symons, Michael Gilbert, and Josephine Bell co edited the book. The anthology has been edited by Martin Edwards since 1996, and has yielded many award-winning and nominated stories in the UK and overseas.

To summarize, this new edition includes an array of incredible and award-winning authors: Robert Barnard, Simon Brett, Liza Cody, Mat Coward, John Dickson Carr, Marjorie Eccles, Martin Edwards, Kate Ellis, Anthea Fraser, Celia Fremlin, Frances Fyfield, Michael Gilbert, Paula Gosling, Lesley Grant-Adamson, HRF Keating, Bill Knox, Peter Lovesey, Mick Herron, Michael Z. Lewin, Susan Moody, Julian Symons and Andrew Taylor.

About the Author:

Martin Edwards (editor) is the author of eighteen novels,including the Lake District Mysteries,and the Harry Devlin series. Besides, his ground-breaking genre study The Golden Age of Murder has won the Edgar, Agatha,and H.R.F.Keating awards. Martin has also edited twenty eightcrime anthologies. He has won the CWA Short Story Daggerand the CWA Margery Allingham Prize. He is also series consultant for the British Library’s Crime Classics.

Website | Amazon

Vintage Crime from CWA Review:

If you are a fan of crime fiction, you must read this book. Most of the stories listed are gripping and very entertaining. I read them all and have categorized them as per the below:

My Top Three:

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Below are my top three stories that made the book so memorable!
- Footprint in the Sky: AMAZING! The best one in the collection. A perfect blend of suspense and crime as Dorothy wonders if she murdered someone while sleepwalking.
- Top Deck: I loved Keith and his curiosity to know if his boss murdered someone or not. The twist is something I did not expect.
- Moving on – One of my favorites. You don’t know who is the crazy one between Martin and Gerard. They both act suspiciously over Anna’s death and had me guessing.
What I Loved

The below stories were also delightful and I loved reading them.
- Strolling in the Square One Day: Quarles is interesting in the story. I enjoyed the way he he tries to get the photos from the blackmailer and how he tries to solve the case.
- The Service Flat: A gripping tale of a woman who feels that someone is using her flat when she is not at home. The story is short and suspenseful where you don’t know if Marion is crazy or if something sinister is happening in her flat.
- The Nuggy Bar – A very simple story, but so nice in the way the author narrates it. I loved the details, research and the project planning that Hector implements for the perfect murder.
- The Woman who Loved Elizabeth David – Another standout suspense crime tale. One of the creepiest scenes in this book where the protagonist hides rats to get her revenge.
- In those Days – A very disturbing tale about a women who writes a letter to a man detailing the events to his sister’s death. I loved the way the author tells the story via letters.
- Turning Point – An adultery themed crime tale. I enjoyed this mainly due to the Mel’s feelings for Philip.
- The Hand that feeds me – This was beautiful and different as told from a dog’s perspective! A very interesting collection to the anthology.
What I Liked

While the below stories are not as great as the ones listed above, they are still very entertaining.
- The woman who had everything – A very entertaining black comedy that is different from the others.
- The Perfect Alibi – A fun story with twists and turns, but I found the sergeant and the rookie annoying.
- Nowhere to be found – An interesting tale that starts off well. However, the ending felt weak.
- Money is Honey – Great start to the anthology. Although the reveal appears suddenly, I wanted to find out what happened to Mr. Mallet.
- Cuckoo in the Wood – The shortest story in the anthology. It is a nice story but too short to be memorable.
- Melusine – A classic crime tale of jealousy and possessiveness. This was very entertaining.
- All She Wrote – A nice end to the book, and a twist that made the story memorable.
What I wanted to like, but couldn’t

I am sure there are readers who found the following stories fascinating. However, they were either lengthy, convoluted or confusing for my taste. These were “The Egyptian Garden”, “Sins of Scarlet”, “Interior, With Corpse”, “Cold and Deep” and “Inspector Ghote and the Noted British Author” (which was unfortunate because I loved the references to India, but couldn’t grasp the plot)

Overall, this collection offers an eclectic range of crime novels from various decades and has something for everyone.

Book Tour Schedule

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Vintage Crime from CWA by Martin Edwards Blog Tour hosted by Random Things Tours.
August 16, 2020
The Bellhop Only Stalks Once by Cat Hickey

The Bellhop Only Stalks Once by Cat Hickey

Release: August 3rd 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Darkstroke Books
Source: Rachels Random Resources
Find it at: Amazon

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Lies, secrets, and a sinister plot hide in broad daylight at the heart of the Club Pacifica.

Here is a beautiful tropical resort, exciting new friends, and a handsome guest liaison . It’s the perfect getaway for Chloe, a free-spirited Baltimore girl just getting to know herself. But the vacation of a lifetime quickly takes a dark turn when a young, overly flirty bellhop starts following her everywhere. It gets even worse when he disappears, and Chloe is the sole witness.

As bellhop after bellhop goes missing, she struggles to figure out what’s happening. When suspicion falls upon her, Chloe must not only try to rescue the kidnapped bellhops, but also to clear her name.

Complicating things further is the relationship she forms with Mateo, Club Pacifica’s guest liaison. Charming and easygoing, he is everything that her fiancé at home is not, Also, she finds herself fighting a growing attraction to him. But can she trust him?

She soon discovers that a world of secrets lies ahead of her, and, worse, that these are not just those of others, but also the secrets she keeps from herself.

Can she find her way through all the lies to finally discover the truth before it’s too late?

About the Author:

Cat Hickey has a Master’s degree in Biology, and teaches Anatomy and Physiology at a university in Baltimore, MD, USA. She writes light-hearted mysteries and thrillers that are based, partly, on her extensive travels around the world. She is also an avid yogi who teaches aerial yoga and practices aerial circus arts, and spends the rest of her time with her four rescue animals, which consist of three cats and a horse.

Twitter | Facebook

The Bellhop Only Stalks Once Review:

“The Bellhop Only Stalks Once” is a mystery that is out of the box and bizarre, but very entertaining.

The story is so strange and different, but funny with a touch of dark humor. The author tells the story in a very quirky manner where you roll your eyes at times, but you still find it entertaining and want to know what happens. I don’t think I have ever read a book that got me scared one scene, and made me laugh in the next. Some of the scenes are very eerie, like when Chloe and Mateo witness the creepy ritual in the woods with people wearing chicken costumes. Yet, some scenes were so fun and lively, like how the gang handled Strawberry.

Chloe is awesome in the lead as she tries to figure out what is happening. Most of the characters she meets are creepy, weird, and secretive. Sopie and Kaia are hilarious as Chloe’s new friends. In fact, I felt Sopie was the best character in the book. She is peculiar, but very entertaining with her actions. On a side note, I loved the exotic backdrop of Costa Rica and thought it made the story very atmospheric.

However, the reveal at the end to the missing bellhops felt far-fetched and disconnected from reality. Also, I wasn’t keen on Chloe and Mateo’s romance. It felt forced, and would have been nice if they had just been friends. But I loved the way Chloe resolved her situation with Cooper.

Nevertheless, this was a memorable read. Overall, if you want to read an exotic mystery novel that will make you laugh and keep you guessing, this is the book to read!

Book Tour Schedule

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the The Bellhop Only Stalks Once Blog Tour hosted by Rachels Random Resources.

August 7, 2020
Beauty is the Beast by D. James McGee

Beauty is the Beast (Caligula, #1) by D. James McGee
Release: July 15th 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
Source: RABT Book Tours
Find it at: Amazon || B&N || Kobo

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It’s 1985. Lady Laura Lacy of Britewood is beautiful and graceful, a celebrity in her own right. She is cousin to Her Majesty The Queen, and her father is the well-respected Earl of Britewood, honorary commander of the Army’s elite reserve special forces unit. Laura seemingly has it all. She should be happy? However, due to unspeakable acts committed against her as a child, she’s developed a blood lust for revenge. Secretly trained by her father’s regiment in the arts of war, Laura begins to target men who prey on the innocent and helpless. As her skills sharpen, Laura becomes a formidable force against evil.

That’s when she uncovers a transatlantic child trafficking ring led by an elite group within British society. With the help of commanding officer and police inspector Billy Smythe, her mysterious family attorney Arthur Mosely, and an unorthodox group of American allies, Laura sets out on a vengeance-fueled quest to stop them. She is determined to save as many innocents as she can. It’s a mission that will put her very life and sanity at stake, making her question everything she’s ever believed in. But to make things right, Beauty must become the Beast.

About the Author:

Domnic “DJames” McGee was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire. A sickly child, he was raised in a council estate to a single mother. At school, he was a poor student and failed dismally.He developed a passion for martial arts, so in his teens, he moved to Ireland where he trained full-time while working in menial jobs to survive.A chance encounter then gave him the opportunity to work as an Executive Protection Agent for some of the most influential figures in European society.He came to the US in 2001 to further his studies of martial arts. He decided to stay and earned his citizenship by serving in an Army infantry unit and later with a reserve Military Police unit.

He currently lives in Huntington Beach, where he works as an Executive Protection Agent and trains and writes as much as he can.

Website || Facebook || Instagram || Goodreads

Beauty is the Beast Review:

This book was high adrenaline thriller ride and I enjoyed reading it a lot! It was like reading Kill Bill meets Sin City, and was so entertaining!

The story drives purely on plot and isn’t dull even for a moment. I really liked the author’s style of writing. Moreover, the story maintains momentum as Laura, Steph, Joe and Mike try to bring down the evil doers. Also, Laura is wonderful as the main lead and she goes through so much in this story. She is a ruthless character with good intentions and immediately catches your interest from the moment she meets Peter Horton. I really liked her romance with Steph too. Steph is adorable and paired very well with Laura. The author also makes many references to the 80s lifestyle that made me nostalgic. Also, I found Susan very intriguing and hope we see more of her in the next book.

However, the only part which I felt could be improved was how Laura dealt with the repercussions. At times, Laura faces a shocking turn of events, but immediately jumps into action the next minute. There are scenes where you expect her to be vulnerable and break down, but she immediately springs into action. While this is still entertaining, it would have been nice if we saw a softer side of Laura (without Steph).
But apart from that, it was a fun ride reading this book, and looking forward to Book Two.

Giveaway:

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July 16, 2020
Black Veil by Greg Jolley

Black Veil by Greg Jolley

Release: July 1st 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Epouvantail Books, LLC
Source: RABT Book Tours
Find it at:Amazon || Barnes and Noble || Kobo

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Murder and Madness in the High Sierras

The tragic and gruesome story of the Donner Party is being made into a movie, a tale of cannibalism and treachery high in the snowbound mountains. The cast is made up entirely of children. One by one, they are dying. The series of deaths are haunting the production, each one of the “accidents” at the hands of Florentino Urbino. Driven by greed and jealousy, he is killing off the film’s stars to line his pockets by selling off the gruesome footage of the accidents.

Six-year-old actress SeaBee Danser in her black veil is his next target. She is the only one who can see through the black curtain that Florentino Urbino drapes over his deranged and murderous heart.

Can she survive? Can someone stop him? Will any of the children remain standing?

About the Author:

Greg Jolley earned a Master of Arts in Writing from the University of San Francisco and lives in the very small town of Ormond Beach, Florida. When not writing, he researches historical crime, primarily those of the 1800s. Or goes surfing.

Author Website || Publisher Website || Facebook || Twitter || Blog || Instagram || LinkedIn

Black Veil Review:

I had mixed feelings about the story. At times I was completely engrossed with the story, but at other times, I was disconnected with it.

What really drew me to the story was its concept. I really like the theme of two parallel story-lines, where one story is the actual movie, and the parallel story is what happens behind the scenes. Also, there are some really terrifying moments in the both these stories. The author kills potential characters that you do not expect. Moreover, Flor is very unpredictable and you really don’t know how he will react. There are some very eerie and suspenseful moments that build up on the set, which you have no idea how it will turn out.

However, I expected both the story-lines to merge somehow as a result of Flor’s plans. The movie scenes seemed disconnected with whatever is happening behind the scenes. Also, I felt like we really don’t get to know who Flor is. There is no back story as to to why he does any of this. Moreover, the entire story felt plot driven, and for suspense genre, having a connection to the characters is beneficial. Also, I felt confused at the direction the story went. In the beginning, it seems like a wild adventure story, but then changes to a survival story with cannibalistic intentions. There are some of the reasons why I felt disconnected.

Overall, Black Veil is still entertaining, but had the potential to be great if polished a bit.

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July 10, 2020
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
Release: February 18th 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Berkley
Source: Publisher
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The secrets lurking in a rundown roadside motel ensnare a young woman, just as they did her aunt thirty-five years before, in this new atmospheric suspense novel from the national bestselling and award-winning author of The Broken Girls.

Upstate NY, 1982. Every small town like Fell, New York, has a place like the Sun Down Motel. Some customers are from out of town, passing through on their way to someplace better. Some are locals, trying to hide their secrets. Viv Delaney works as the night clerk to pay for her move to New York City. But something isn’t right at the Sun Down, and before long she’s determined to uncover all of the secrets hidden…

About the Author

After years of writing and collecting rejections, Simone St. James’ debut novel, THE HAUNTING OF MADDY CLARE, won two RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America and an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada. AN INQUIRY INTO LOVE AND DEATH was nominated for another Arthur Ellis Award, and SILENCE FOR THE DEAD was shortlisted for a Goodreads Choice Award.

Simone spent twenty years behind the scenes in the television business before leaving to write full-time. She lives just outside Toronto, Canada, with her husband and a spoiled rescue cat. She is addicted to sushi, old 1970’s gothic novels, rainy days, coffee, and My Favorite Murder. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, and Pinterest (though not all at once). Her next novel will release in 2020.

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The Sun Down Motel Review:

What did I just read? I could not put this book down! It was intense! I always thought motels, in the middle of nowhere, were shady. But, reading this book made me never want to step near one. The book was just perfect and gave me goosebumps after reading it.

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The author did an AMAZING job with the storytelling! There are very few books that make me scared of my surroundings while reading. When I read this book, I actually jumped from seeing my own shadow at night. Some of the scenes are terrifying, especially surrounding the salesman. More than the supernatural events, I found Simon very scary. The motel only made the story even more atmospheric and spooky. I loved it!

Moreover, the author also wrote both the main characters in a very gripping manner. I loved how the story-line switches between Carly and Viv between the two timelines. Both the characters share similar personalities where they want to solve a mystery. However, I found Viv’s story line very creepy, because she does everything by herself. Even though she has Alma and Marnie to help her at times, she is on her own for the most part. I thought she was so brave for going after this person, while experiencing all the strange events at the motel. Carly’s story-line was also very interesting but felt slightly less eerie because she had friends like Nick and Heather to help her.

I have not read any of the author’s previous novels, but if they are similar to the Sun Down Motel, I want to read them all. I loved everything about this book. Overall, this book is one of the best thrillers of 2020!

July 8, 2020