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The Trust | By Sean Keefer {BOOK TOUR}

July 26, 2011 in Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

The Trust by Sean Keefer is a legal mystery, thriller & suspense novel set on the coast of South Carolina.

This novel follows an attorney, Noah Parks, in a sleepy South Carolina town that is drawn into probate of a will. This should be a very routine task—but the deceased, Leonardo Xavier Cross, is anything but normal.

Plot
Noah has never meet Mr. Cross but has been named to represent his estate and he is intrigued because the will states Noah will receive the contents of a safe deposit box once the all the legal actions are finalized. By taking on this task, Noah will meet many characters that each provide a new twist and turn to this story.

He also finds out that people he thought he knew might hold many ultimatums of their own. As people Noah come in contact with start dying off, he finds Mr. Cross has left some skeletons in his closet that must be discovered to fully lay this estate to rest. Noah Parks just hopes he will come out of this probate alive!

Impressions
I really enjoyed this book! It was a nice change from the romance/erotica I’ve been reading lately and the plot twists and turns kept me intrigued throughout. The characters you meet all have unique qualities and will leave you struggling on who is “good” and who is “evil.”

There is a constant flow to the book all the way to the end. I loved the fact that it was a solid mystery novel and easy to keep up with the characters and plot. It was hard to put this book down once I started! I will definitely be reading more from Sean Keefer.

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Favorite Scene
My favorite scene in this book (without giving too much away,) is when Noah’s office is ransacked right before he is supposed to go to the bank and open the safe deposit box. Thanks to Noah’s planning, he has a hidden stash with a copy of the papers he needs!

Favorite Quote
“Whoever packed this sure wasn’t excited about having someone stumble into whatever this is.”

Tour Notes
Please vote for my blog in the traffic-breaker poll for this tour. The blogger with the most votes wins a free promotional twitterview and a special winner’s badge. I want that to be me! You can vote in the poll by visiting The Trust’s official blog tour page and scrolling all the way to the bottom.

You can also enter to win a free paperback copy of this novel on The Trust’s official blog tour page. The winner of the give-away will be announced on Wednesday, August 10 – be sure to enter before then!

Book Trailer for The Trust

Learn more about this author by visiting his website, blog, Facebook or GoodReads pages or by connecting with him on Twitter.

Reviewer’s Final Rating

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Rating: 5.0/5 (2 votes cast)

Tags: action, adventure, answers, death, family, justice, life, memories, tragedy, trust, truth 2 Comments »

by Karina Knightingale

Bloodshot (Cheshire Red Reports Book 1) | By Cherie Priest

July 9, 2011 in Drama, Fantasy & Paranormal, Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Cherie Priest is famous for her steampunk series, especially Boneshaker, but this is her very successful debut in urban fantasy, which a lot of people called vampire noir.

Plot
Raylene Pendle (AKA Cheshire Red), a vampire and world-renowned thief, doesn’t usually hang with her own kind. She’s too busy stealing priceless art and rare jewels.

But when the infuriatingly charming Ian Stott asks for help, Raylene finds him impossible to resist—even though Ian doesn’t want precious artifacts. He wants her to retrieve missing government files—documents that deal with the secret biological experiments that left Ian blind.

What Raylene doesn’t bargain for is a case that takes her from the wilds of Minneapolis to the mean streets of Atlanta. And with a psychotic, power-hungry scientist on her trail, a kick-ass drag queen on her side, and Men in Black popping up at the most inconvenient moments, the case proves to be one hell of a ride.

Impressions
This is not a book for everyone. I know I absolutely loved it, but a lot of people didn’t for exactly the same reasons I found it great.

Raylene is paranoid, obsessive-compulsive, prone to anxiety attacks and snarky as hell vampire loner, who has a problem with authorities and that’s why she doesn’t live in vampire Houses (like mafia families) like everyone else. She is a great thief, she doesn’t feel remorse if she needs to kill someone and she’s got her own strong moral code.

When Ian, a blind vampire who was captured by the government years ago for some experiments and managed to escape, asks Miss Pendle to steal documents with his case from a military facility, she decides to help him because she can’t stand the idea of vampire like him suffering the possibility of staying blind forever.

Despite all her cold façade Raylene also looks after two street urchins who live in one of her houses.

So she is powerful and bitchy and ruthless, but she is also inherently good.

The supporting characters are entertaining as well. You know from the description that Raylene has a kick-ass drug queen helping her. Adrian/Sister Rose is an ex-navy SEAL (don’t ask me how they got together, otherwise it will be a spoiler) and a riot. Their tandem works great, and I’m quite looking forward to the next installment Hellbent, which should come out this year.

The street kids are tough and amusing too. First Raylene couldn’t get rid of them, and then she got used to them and now calls them her “pets”. She just can’t admit that they are very important to her; she is great at deluding herself.

If you look for a snarky sense of humor, moderate amount of violence and almost no romance in your urban fantasy you will like this, and you will like Raylene Pendle.

Favorite Scene
Raylene directing the boy’s escape from CIA through the ventilation system.

Favorite Quote
But I wasn’t up there, I was down in the basement with the slowly cooling husk of my latest meal. It was like a bad one-night stand. I was finished with him, and I didn’t want anything more to do with him. Ten minutes before he’d been irresistible. Now he was a mess that needed cleaning up.

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Reviewer’s Final Rating

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Tags: action, adventure, CIA, conspiracies, Interpol, men in black, secret government projects, strong female character, strong women, thief, vampires No Comments »

by Lei Baroux

Scandalous Again (Switching Places Book 1) | By Christina Dodd

June 21, 2011 in Drama, Fiction, Historical, Romance, Suspense

A story set in Regency London about a scandalous game of deception, played by two remarkable cousins who set out to switch identities to accomplish a mission.

This novel is written by another New York Times bestselling author, who is not only famous for historical romance, but also for paranormal. The series Switching Places contains only two books and the storyline may nearly occur concurrently, but it’s best to read them accordingly. Let the outrageous charade begin!

Plot
The willful, rational and aristocratic Madeline de Lacy, Marchioness of Sheridan and future Duchess of Magnus, prides herself for holding her wits at all times, especially in catastrophic situations.

At a very young age, she lost her mother and was then forced to grow up to manage her life and estates since her beloved Papa only orchestrates disasters… which she’s also constrain to deal and solve.

After a very long absence, an absence that she deemed to think that is enough to forget the scandalous ruckus she created that rendered London gobsmacked, she returned to her homeland. And her father had welcomed her sweetly by… dumping another catastrophe to her face! It appears that her father lost her, along with their entire estate, to an American stranger in a game of chance.

Amidst the show of composure with the dreadful news, Madeline began to panic when she heard that there will be an upcoming ‘The Game of the Century’, which she highly suspects that her father will join and may lose the family heirloom. So she put up a plan to stop all these presenting dilemmas by switching identities with her companion and timid cousin, Eleanor.

By switching, she will be able to enter the event and let her cousin face the American and seek to end the outrageous engagement. A teeny hitch in her plan is her aristocratic manner, which may become quite a challenge in accomplishing her mission. And as if matters can’t get ghastlier, she ran into the person she was longing to forget… her former betrothed, Gabriel Ansell, the Earl of Campion.

Oh la, will the cat be out of the bag? Or will a hero save the damsel in distress?

Impressions
I have read a lot of Dodd’s novels, but I think this was my very second Dodd novel that I read, and since this one, I was really warming up to her. What makes this novel quite endearing to me is that it’s sort of like a battle between the sexes.

I like women who fight and stand up. The heroine is a rolling spitfire of exquisiteness. No wonder she is an aristocrat, she lives up to the title itself. And the hero? He earned the title, too, with an air of self-assured confidence and an undeniable act of chivalry.

I’m amazed how they mend their relationship back despite the cruel way it ended four years ago. Now, I find it refreshing to read that the hero had really fallen in love with the heroine at the first chance, despite Madeline’s infuriating fatal flaw. Furthermore, Gabriel totally won me over when he revealed his proof of faithfulness to her despite the long separation.

By doing this review, it also reminded me of Chuck Bass’ words to Blair Waldorf (Gossip Girl TV Series): “If two people were meant to be together, eventually they’ll find their way back.”

Favorite Scene
Chapter 32

Quotes:
“I have kept it ever since.” – Gabriel Ansell

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Reviewer’s Final Rating

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Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)

Tags: acceptance, action, adventure, controlling women, death, deception, dignity, forgiveness, humor, justice, love, marriage, romance, second chances, trickery, trust, wagers No Comments »

by The Bookworm Society

BOOK GIVEAWAY + Exclusive Interview with the Nation’s Extreme Weather Expert and Critically Acclaimed Author Mike Smith

June 16, 2011 in Author Interviews, Non-Fiction, Suspense, Thriller

Mike Smith is the US Thought Leader on Saving Lives during hurricanes, tornadoes and other extreme weather. Mike has dedicated his career to shifting the paradigm in weather warning systems and weather preparation.

As the author of “Warnings – The True Story of How Science Tamed The Weather,” he tells the one of a kind story that is both thrilling and educational to any reader who has ever experienced the wrath of Mother Nature. Mike took a few moments from this busy tornado season to answer our questions and share his expertise on this year’s storm season.

Bookworm Society: What inspired you to write “Warnings” and who should read it?

Mike: When Hurricane Katrina struck and so many lives were needlessly lost, I knew that more people needed to know about the weather warning system. Scientists in my field have fought great battles to get warnings out to the public and it is time for people to realize that meteorologists have developed a warning system that will save their lives and the lives of their loved ones. Tornadoes are not “unpredictable”! The warnings for this year’s storms have been uniformly excellent. But, as we are now learning, many did not appropriately respond to the warnings. We are just getting into hurricane season and tornadoes can occur at any time of the year. “Warnings” is a must read for this year’s storm season!

Bookworm Society: What inspires you to work with extreme weather?

Mike: The majesty of a storm on the horizon is truly a humbling and visually compelling experience. You can view some of my photographs of weather at www.mikesmithenterprises.com/photos. Aside from the visual aspects, I have always been drawn to finding the answers to difficult weather questions. Weather scientists have been able to examine extreme weather and provide answers that have helped save hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of lives. My greatest inspiration is knowing the every day the work I perform will educate people on how to survive extreme weather. My biggest goal is to stop weather related casualties.

Bookworm Society: What advice do you have for aspiring storm chasers?

Mike: Don’t chase storms unless you have been trained by a professional. Tornadoes are dangerous and violent. If you have a passion to see a tornado, sign up for one of the reputable storm tour companies. If you have questions about becoming a storm chaser follow me on twitter @usweatherexpert or on Facebook. Send me your questions and I will try to answer them.

Bookworm Society: Any parting advice on weathering severe storms?

Mike: Be prepared. Have a severe weather preparation plan in place. Listen to the warnings from your local weather sources or visit my blog – Meteorological Musings – for information. Take the weather warnings seriously, if a tornado is headed to your area get underground. If a hurricane evacuation is ordered then follow the orders. I have talked to so many people who didn’t think a weather related tragedy would happen to them , only to find out that weather does not discriminate about who or where it will hit. Read “Warnings” it will help you understand why you should stay tuned in and ready for severe weather. BE READY!

For more information about Mike Smith visit: www.mikesmithenterprises.com. Mr. Smith is available for professional speaking engagements on extreme weather and loves to talk about the weather. Mr. Smith will be giving away 5 autographed copies of “Warnings” to lucky readers who leave comments here or have questions about the weather.

WIN 1 of 5 COPIES of WARNINGS

Mike and his team are giving away 3 SIGNED books and 2 eBooks!

ENTER THE DRAWING UP TO THREE TIMES: Once, twice, three times – it’s up to you!

(ONE)
Comment or ask a question in this post.

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Like The Bookworm Society on Facebook! Just leave a comment on our wall or status about Mike’s book or his interview with us.

(THREE)
Follow @BookwormSociety on Twitter and @ us with a comment about Mike’s book or interview. You may also RT one of our comments about Mike’s book or interview.

Winners will be announced in one week – Friday, June 24, 2011. Open internationally.

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Rating: 4.5/5 (2 votes cast)

Tags: action, adventure, life, life change, life lessons, scary 8 Comments »

by Mike Rowlands

Warnings: The True Story of How Science Tamed the Weather | By Mike Smith

June 4, 2011 in Non-Fiction, Suspense, Thriller

Mike Smith takes us on a journey, not only of the history of tornado forecasting, the various bodies involved, the equipment and the lessons learned along the way, but also of the devastation that can so quickly befall a town that is hit by a tornado. It also touches sensitively on the after effects of these terrible events and the impact it has on the families.

About
What is unique about this book though is during this delicate and touching journey. Mike also slowly reveals his ow career in this industry, from passionate student trying to sell print outs of weather forecasts to his neighbors, to owning his own company and selling weather data and forecasting services to private companies and almost instantly saved Southern Pacific millions of dollars and the lives of the train crew after their first successful commercial tornado warning.

Impressions
This book is very focused in niche and carries a lot of technical information about the development of the equipment and various processes used for forecasting. I have to admit, Mike’s own passion for what has ultimately been his life’s work, shines through on every page and I found myself so engrossed at times, it was difficult to put the book down.

It reads like an Antony Beevor historical non fiction book, the intriguing interactions between the various government and commercial bodies involved in forecasting and how they ultimately ended up facing across each other in court after a plane crashed and lives were lost. Also, the vivid descriptions of a tornado tearing through a town, made this more like reading an adventure or thriller novel that contains some technical information about the nature of the equipment.

Favorite Scene
In one of the opening scenes of the book, the author’s home town, Ruskin Hights, was hit by a tornado. The general manager of the local store was caught out in the storm. After seeing cars lifted into the air and the houses disintegrate, he was picked up and thrown at a tree by “this terrible thing” “it was very black, just like mud. It had water and mud and everything in it.”

He grabbed onto the tree and was literally turned upside down while clinging on for dear life before the winds settled and he realised he was looking straight up into the eye of the tornado.

The way this scene (and many others) are written, and the fact that the author was effected by what you are reading, really put you in the centre of what is happening. You can almost see and hear the destruction going on around you. It is both disturbing and engrossing at the same time.

Favorite Quote
“How would you feel if you were a meteorologist who had just forecast a tornado? Would you be happy if no tornado occurs, though you’ll be bombarded by criticism from those listening to your forecast? Or do you hope for the tornado to make good on your prediction?”

This sums up one of the authors central dilemmas in the work he does and this is further supported by an anonymous poem

“Old Forecasters Lament
And now among the fading embers
These in the main are my regrets
When I am right no one remembers
When I am wrong no one forgets”

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Reviewer’s Final Rating

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Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)

Tags: action, adventure, life, life lessons, scary 1 Comment »

by Barbara Kamphuis

Port Mortuary (A Scarpetta Novel) | By Patricia Cornwell

May 25, 2011 in Fiction, Suspense, Thriller

Patricia Cornwell is one of the most famous authors in this genre. Her heroine, Dr. Kay Scapetta, even has her own cook books.

Over the years she has obtained positions with the most renowned Medical Examiner offices in the US, getting the deceased on her table to tell her what’s happened to them.

She is assisted by her husband, psychiatrist Benton Wesley, her high-tech addicted niece, Lucy and former police officer Pete Marino.

Plot
When Lucy and Pete come to get her with a helicopter, medical examiner Kay Scarpetta knows something is up. Soon a MEs worst nightmare seems to come true. Someone wasn’t really dead when they put him in the fridge and now he bled out in his body bag. Or was he dead after all.

At her arrival it seems that something is off. Her replacement during her stay with the military seems to have vanished and can’t be reached. Kay herself is being haunted by her past as a medical examiner in the military.

Three completely different cases all seem to be off.. A young man with Asperger’s syndrome is being held for cruelly murdering a young boy, a fact he seems eager to confess to, but the facts don’t add up. And a seemingly healthy man suddenly drops dead on the pavement while walking his dog in the same neighborhood where Kay en Benton live. The next morning his body bag suddenly is full of blood. How is this possible? And what happened to the young athlete found in the water?

And the biggest question: Where is Jack Fielding, her long time protege?

Impressions
This books starts of at high speed and that doesn’t stop until you’re finished. The whole story covers maybe 2 or 3 days and Kay barely gets any sleep. This makes her emotionally even more vulnerable to the ghosts from her past that have resurfaced.

The man she has taken under her wing for years, who she kept taking back as an employee, who she has slept with according to the rumour mill, has done some inexplicable things and now has vanished. And now her husband, forensic psychiatrist Benton Wesley, is acting strangely towards her. The infamous Dr Scarpetta gets insecure of what happened during her absence and she wonders what the plans, of the powers that be, are for her. Even the words early retirement pop up in her head.

Meanwhile a exotic murder weapon keeps her puzzled. The internal injuries look like they are from a blast but the victim only sustained a stab wound. And why didn’t he bleed until the next morning? The puzzle keeps Dr Scarpetta on the tip of her toes while emotionally she is falling apart.

This is a great novel with complicated puzzles, both forensic and emotionally for Dr Scarpetta. What will happen to her career? Was she wrong to trust her long time protege and friend? And is her husband back with the FBI without telling her?

Favorite Scene
When Dr Scarpetta talks on the phone with Erica Donahue, mother of suspect who murdered a young boy.

Favorite Quote:
“Trust your instincts. Don’t trust anything else. This is about power. The power to control people, to make them feel good or frightened or to suffer unbearably. Power over life and death.” –Dr. Kay Scarpetta’s thoughts

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Tags: adventure, answers, detective, justice, life, murder, mystery, scary, secrets, strong female character, strong women 1 Comment »

by Karina Knightingale

Reunion | By Jeff Bennington {SIGNED BOOK GIVEAWAY}

May 16, 2011 in Drama, Fiction, Horror, Suspense, Thriller

This book is a paranormal thriller, and I have to say there were two first in it for me. One: I haven’t read a book in this genre before (not counting Stephen King and Dean Koontz), two: this is a new author for me as well.

So far, the experience was extremely satisfying—and this is from someone who can’t stand watching scary movies, but loves scary books. Go figure!

ATTENTION: Minor spoilers ahead.

Plot
David Ray killed eight students and then turned the gun on himself. He thought the shooting and suicide would fix his world. It didn’t. The massacre threw Tanner Khan and the other survivors into chaos.

Twenty years later, Tanner and his fellow classmates reluctantly agree to hold a reunion to lay the past to rest. Although they suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, they come back to their hometown and reunite in the defunct school building. Old flames are rekindled, fears are ignited, and their lives are about to explode in a whirlwind of memories, haunted by the spirit of David Ray.

Once they’re inside the school, they discover that a dark entity has joined them. It has come to collect a debt, long overdue, and someone has to pay. Will Tanner and his classmates overcome their fears, putting the pieces of their lives back together, or will they be consumed by their worst nightmare?

Impressions
First of all, the story is split into two parts: the past and the present. In the past it concentrates majorly on David Ray and what was happening in his mind, which for me was the weakest part. David Ray just feels too forced, too adult in his thinking.

Apart from that, when the story continues in the present that’s when you start getting involved and invested into it.

Six survivors of the massacre agree to hold the reunion inside the school – Lana, who writes books now, helping to change the attitude to bullying to prevent such tragedies in the future; Maria – a therapist working with PTSD sufferers; Katy – a housewife, who got married to her school sweetheart Nick, whose brother was killed in the shooting; Bryan – a local policeman; aforementioned Nick who suffers from severe PTSD and alcoholism; Tanner – an adventurer and a successful businessman; and at last, Noah, an English pastor and paranormal investigator.

They all had a very hard time dealing with their post traumatic stress disorder and each of them is managing it differently.

At the same time there is a lot of paranormal activity going around the school which is kept quiet by local government. So when reunion starts, the inevitable happens, the school gets locked up, and the group has to understand what the malevolent presence wants from them in order to stay alive.

It was a gripping and at times chilling story, and apart from minor details which sometimes irritated and distracted me I found it extremely filling and satisfying. The details I’m talking about are minuscule like description of Nick‘s dream suddenly going into details of REM sleep and neurons. Or a logical question: why some people in horror stories have to make certain stupid mistakes? But I’m ranting here unnecessarily.

I have to mention that my two favorite characters were Nick and Noah. It might be a surprising choice for some, but they both kept their integrity no matter what, and that means a lot to me.

Overall, it’s a compelling and very good read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Favorite Scene
Noah’s speech in the end was quite profound.

WIN a SIGNED COPY of REUNION!

2 STEPS TO ENTER:
1) Comment on this review. Any comment is acceptable, but here are some suggested topics: do you have any specific views on bullies and school violence? Were you ever bullied in school or were you a bully?

2) Make sure you have liked The Bookworm Society on Facebook!

Winners will be announced in one week – Monday, May 23, 2011. Open internationally.

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Reviewer’s Final Rating

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Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)

Tags: bowling for Columbine, ghosts, haunting, paranormal investigation, poltergeist, PTSD, school reunion, school shooting 7 Comments »

by Jeff Bennington

School Violence is Killing Us | From the Author of Reunion, Jeff Bennington

May 14, 2011 in Suspense, Thriller

Have you ever wondered what becomes of the students who have been traumatized by a school shooting? Or have you puzzled over what might cause a child to intentionally murder his or her peers? Have you questioned what the long-term effects might be on the victims? How would their lives change? Who would make the most of their journey after the shooting? Who would lose their faith? Who might find it?

Over the years, I’ve wondered if the survivors would be able to return to the place where they watched their friends and classmates suffer, and die, at the hand of a crazed teen? How would they perceive those memories twenty years later? These are the questions that have swirled through my mind every time I’d learn of yet another school shooting. I cringe when I hear that another young person has gone off the deep end and killed his classmates, leaving this world a darker and colder place with every bullet fired. The fact that it happens forces us to question what is wrong with our society—that this is even possible. The arguments are endless. But I didn’t write my book to discuss politics.

Reunion does not make any declarations concerning the root cause; it only addresses my questions regarding the victims, their lives (post-shooting), and my imagined mental state of an adolescent shooter. Remember, Reunion is fiction, and I hope that it is judged as such.

This multi-genre fiction has, at times, supernatural elements, because after all, the supernatural is spiritual, and doesn’t a school shooting boil down to a spiritual issue? I have also taken the liberty, or creative license, to include elements of horror, because I could not otherwise tell the truth—school shootings are horrific. If you want to read a story that goes beyond the superficial, then you might appreciate the value of all the elements that make this book what it is: supernatural, horror, romance, suspense, and dark fiction.

Lets face it, bullying and school violence is killing us, taking teens trough suicide or through extreme acts of violence. I’ve written a book that addresses these issues in a dramatic way, staying focused on the story, without sounding preachy. Reunion, my supernatural thriller, is an enticing read for both teens and adults that will scare the begeebers out of you, break your heart and hold you in suspense until the last page is turned—yes, an interesting but effective combination.

I urge you to get a copy either in print or in practically any digital format and tell your friends and family about Reunion. This book is a frightening and engrossing read that will change the way you look at school shootings and the survivors.

To the innocent that have been tragically snuffed out before their time, I offer this work of fiction in their honor. To the survivors, may you find peace in this broken world.

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MORE INFORMATION ON REUNION AND JEFF BENNINGTON

Reuinion on Goodreads
The Writing Bomb

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Rating: 4.7/5 (3 votes cast)

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by Karina Knightingale

Etched in Bone (The Maker’s Song Book 4) | By Adrian Phoenix

April 29, 2011 in Drama, Fantasy & Paranormal, Fiction, Suspense, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Adrian Phoenix is undeniably one of the best authors in Urban Fantasy genre. With her brilliant characters, complicated plots and subplots and unique concept of the world building she breaks the rules of urban fantasy and goes far beyond.

If you haven’t tried UF until now, but love thrillers and mysteries, good old John Grisham and Stephen King I would definitely recommend Adrian Phoenix for a smooth transit between genres.

Previous books in the series:

A Rush of Wings
In The Blood
Beneath the Skin

Plot
SON OF A FALLEN ANGEL. FORGED IN VAMPIRE’S BLOOD. SWORN TO A MORTAL WOMAN. IF DANTE FALLS, THE WORLD FALLS WITH HIM. . . .

THREE LEGACIES ETCHED IN BONE
More beautiful and powerful than any creature the world has ever seen, Dante Baptiste has become the supreme target of the three worlds that spawned him.

The mortal agents of the Shadow Branch have tried to control his mind through psychological torture. The vampire elders who guide nightkind society have plotted to use him in their bloodthirsty bid for power.

And the Fallen have waited for millennia for Dante to claim his birthright as their Maker. But Dante belongs to no one—except the woman he loves…

ONE PASSION SWORN IN BLOOD
Determined to face the Fallen and the world on his own terms, Dante hopes to piece together his shattered past and claim his future, with FBI agent Heather Wallace at his side.

But in Heather’s human family awaits an unexpected enemy. One who could rip Heather from Dante’s heart and fill the holes with bullets. One who could force Dante to choose his darkest destiny—as the Great Destroyer…

Impressions
If you haven’t read previous three books do it now! And if you do it, you don’t need me to recommend Adrian Phoenix to you. Her skill speaks for itself.

Two main protagonists Heather Wallace, ex-FBI agent and Dante Baptiste, vampire and rock-star extraordinaire are both extremely strong and appealing. There is an unusual dynamic in their relationships.

First of all, Heather is older than Dante, she is protective of him. He is young, tortured and defiant, but also very caring and protective, despite all the flipping and swearing.

They’re both fierce, but Dante has this vicious beastly side in him, mostly because he was raised to be a psychopath in the secret project Bad Seed which was created to make psychos from children. But Baptiste is only vicious to those he considers monsters.

The amount of secondary characters is staggering. They are all full of life and in 3D, and we have an opportunity to look into their minds and know what they think. This is what makes the plot so intricate so full of complex twists and turns.

The world that author created is extremely rich, you are surrounded by earthy tones and Creole jargon of New Orleans, mystical language of Fallen angels, the dynamics of night-kind and of course plenty of government conspiracies.

I could have talked about this book for hours, but instead I’ll just say – read it and you won’t regret it. There is love, there is mystery, there is butt kicking, at last there are vampires and fallen angels. What else do you want?

Favorite Scene
The beginning and the end.

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Tags: adventure, assassins, chicks kick butt, Creole, fallen angels, government conspiracies, morning star, New Orleans, nightkind, rock band, strong female character, strong women, vampires 2 Comments »

by Barbara Kamphuis

The 8th Confession | By James Patterson

April 27, 2011 in Crime, Drama, Fiction, Suspense, Thriller

The 8th Confession is part of James Patterson’s famous series; The Women’s Murder Club. The Women’s Murder Club is a group of strong women who met each other through their job and now solve cases together.

Meet Lindsay Boxer, a Homicide police inspector; Claire Washburn, the county Medical Examiner (ME); Cindy Thomas, a reporter for the San Francisco Register and Yuki Castellano, an Assistant District Attorney as they fight crime together and support each other through whatever life throws at them.

Plot
Lindsay is shaken up when a school bus suddenly explodes at a traffic light on one of the main streets of San Fransisco. Luckily there were no children in the bus, but many people died in the explosion.

Meanwhile Cindy walks in on a murder scene. A infamous man from the underground community has been viciously murdered. I was severely beaten and shot multiple times in the head. Nobody knows his real name, but he is known on the street as Bagman Jesus.

Cindy pushes Lindsay and her partner to investigate this murder, which would otherwise end up on the bottom of the pile since he was homeless.

However Lindsay is under pressure to solve multiple murders of the rich and famous. These people are being killed in their own home without displaying any clues of what might have happened.

ME Claire is puzzled since these people seem healthy and no foul play is visible on the bodies. Lindsay is puzzled by these cases as well and turns to an old friend for help. She still manages to put in some work on the Bagman Jesus case in her free time.

Cindy Thomas thinks the police isn’t progressing fast enough and she goes in the hood to question people herself. At first Bagman Jesus appears to be the neighborhood hero and a good Samaritan but after some thorough research Cindy finds out Bagman’s real name and this reveals his true colors.

In the meantime the brass is putting great pressure on Lindsay to solve these murders of the elite which display a striking resemblance to murders over two decades ago.

Impressions
This book is a fast read and easy read which will hold you in its grip until the end. The cruel reality that some victims aren’t given the attention they need and deserve, because they are homeless or working girls, is painfully portrayed in this book.

It is also clear that things and people are not always what they seem. Was Bagman Jesus a saint or a sinner? It depends on the person you ask.

Another painfully obvious element in this book is the snob-ism of the rich and famous. When you have money, they’ll like you, but when your money is suddenly taken away from you, without it being your fault, you are suddenly a persona non grata. And that doesn’t go without its consequences…

The 8th Confession touches some serious topics which unfortunately occur on a daily basis in reality.

The friendship between the women of the Women’s Murder Club stays strong, although the bond between Cindy and Lindsay becomes a bit wobbly in this installment. They each have their own expertise they bring to the table in solving the crimes that end up on Lindsay’s desk.

The synergy these women create together makes sure that every book is a pleasure to read. It is a blend of a serious chick flick and a sinister thriller. Each woman has her strength and her insecurities but together they stand strong.

Favorite Scene
Where the murder weapons are on the loose..

Favorite Quotes
Conklin: Whatcha thinking, Lindsay?

Lindsay: I was thinking that in a funny way, this is a good day to be a cop.

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Tags: action, adventure, detective, friendship, murder, mystery, questions, strong female character, strong women No Comments »

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