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Unstoppable

Kate Preacher Thriller, #2*

by

Michael Maloof

 

This thrilling and intricate follow-up to the series debut will keep readers glued to their seats and begging for more!

 

Unstoppable is the second book in author Michael Maloof's exceptional Kate Preacher Thriller series, building on the intrigue and, perhaps, even surpassing the intensity of the series debut. Kate Preacher, although still reeling from her husband's murder during an armed attack on a Parisian café, is determined to get to the truth, expose those responsible, and extract her own vengeance. Kate's husband warned his killer that she would be unstoppable, but so are the thrills readers will experience from this story. 

Only days have elapsed since Jake Church was gunned down by a long-range sniper's bullet, but that is enough time for his widow, former CIA analyst Kate Preacher, to gather her resources and head back to Paris to prove her theory that the brutal café attack which took Jake's life and made him a national hero was no terroristic act but a calculated assassination when he got too close to the perpetrators involved in a high-level and powerful international crime coalition. Even after having read the previous novel, I was still thrilled by her tactical skills, knowledge, and the digital forensics used in the story. Key characters from book one return to lend their considerable expertise while surprising new allies and hidden antagonists enter the picture. The loyalty and determination of Jake's former team members are on full display and, at times, evoke gut-wrenching admiration. 

The plot is fast-paced as the story hits the ground running, and the action and intrigue are unrelenting and non-stop. Dangerous secrets, hints of unknown agendas, and shocking plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat as Kate got ever closer to her goal, and those working against her tried to stop her or, at a minimum, manage her discoveries and limit the consequences. When loyalty, friendship, and her concern for another character's safety take Kate from Paris to an emerging African country, the stakes rise when evil intentions become clear and broaden to affect even more innocents, and storylines cleverly converge. 

While this is the second Kate Preacher novel, the author subtly weaves in enough backstory for readers new to the series to read this book as a standalone. I recommend UNSTOPPABLE and the Kate Preacher series to thriller fans. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

 

* See my reiview of Relentless (Kate Preacher Thriller, #1) HERE!

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Relentless

Kate Preacher Thriller, #1

by

Michael Maloof

 

A fantastic debut for this thrilling new series featuring former CIA analyst Kate Preacher!

 

Relentless is the first book in author Michael Maloof’s thrilling new series featuring former CIA analyst Kate Preacher, and what a debut it is! With its honorable and sympathetic protagonist and breathtaking plot, this book needs to be on the top of every thriller lover’s wish list! 

The main character is Kate Preacher, a former CIA analyst who left the business when a mission went horribly wrong. As a result of the mission, though, she met her husband and the love of her life, Jake Church, a retired SEAL and now owner of an elite executive protection firm. Kate now uses her vast technological skills to support litigation at a downtown Richmond, Virginia, law firm. At times, those skills satisfyingly end up helping the little guy but, for the most part, assist in protecting the assets or reputation of the firm’s wealthy, high-profile clients who have something to hide. Lately, she’s been second-guessing her career choice and what her future holds, but a deadly terrorist attack in Paris ultimately takes the decision out of her hands. Kate is a dynamic character, going from crippling grief to fully harnessing every skill and tactic in her repertoire to follow up on what Jake was secretly investigating and tracking down those responsible for the Parisian café bloodbath. She’s smart and determined and swallows her pride in calling on all her old connections for favors, even those she swore she’d never deal with again. I quite literally ached for what Kate had experienced in her past and for all she was going through in the present. 

The story opens tragically and violently, establishing an atmosphere of dark, brooding menace always lurking in the background. The resulting sorrow is interrupted by adrenaline-fueled action sequences that had me gasping, and scenes of military honors, traditions, and ceremonies had me trying to hold back tears. The plot thickens with unexpected twists and turns and high-tech shenanigans. Still, with both Kate’s and Jake’s backgrounds, an amazing array of creative and envy-inducing technological and tactical hardware is available to Kate for her to fight back. The story was mesmerizing, and I didn’t want to put the book down. My only regret is that there isn’t a prequel detailing the Syrian mission. 

I recommend RELENTLESS to readers who enjoy thrillers with international connections, technological creativity, and capable, strong female protagonists. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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The Organ Broker

by

Deven Greene

 

Provocative and haunting!

 

The Organ Broker is a provocative and haunting dark thriller by author Deven Greene and explores the moral issues involved with harvesting the organs of death row prisoners after execution. Crystal and Derek Rigler formed and led the grassroots organization known as STOP (Stop Transplants of Organs from Prisoners), a group opposing the practice on ethical grounds. While the handsome and charming Derek is the face of the growing movement, his wife Crystal is the hidden soul of the group, planning and organizing their activities and crafting the inspirational speeches Derek gives voice to. Many members of the young Texas-based group oppose the death penalty as well but support the legitimate process by which organ donations are matched with the neediest recipients. However, a journalist who supports their work has uncovered an ugly truth about the prisoner organ donation process; they do not follow this equitable system but rather are siphoned off to the sick friends and family of the wealthy or political cronies. To Crystal and Derek, the morality of the situation is black and white, or at least it was until their daughter falls ill and is in desperate need of a liver transplant, with her time running out. 

Crystal Rigler is a very relatable character: a wife in a bad marriage and a mother caught in a no-win situation. Derek is a narcissistic man-child out to fulfill his own selfish desires, working the system and conning his wife with his lies about everything he’s doing. Crystal knows he’s cheating on her; he’s practically flaunting his infidelities with their young female volunteers in her face, yet she still tells herself she loves him when she contemplates divorce. She knows she’s being played and continues to put off deciding to change her life for the better. 

The plot slowly reveals the state of the Rigler marriage and the magnitude of Derek’s betrayals, and just when you think it couldn’t get any worse, it does. Watching their relationship was like watching the proverbial trainwreck; I couldn’t look away, nor could I put this riveting book down. The stakes get astronomically higher with the discovery of Cordelia’s impending liver failure and the choices they will have to make to save her life. 

With its engaging, sympathetic female main character, despicable, morally bankrupt villain, and desperate choices, I recommend THE ORGAN BROKER to thriller readers who enjoy stories with a medical theme or moral dilemmas. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

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CAIO

Limerent, #1

by

L.S. Delorme

 

Dark, shocking debut novel for The Limerent series!

 

Caio is the first book in author L.S. Delorme’s Limerent dark fantasy series and really sets the tone, pace, and a high bar for what’s to come in the following novels. With its engaging, sympathetic main character and compelling plot, I was completely drawn into the protagonist’s life and couldn’t look away if I wanted. 

Sarah Baker is the main character and is a paralegal by trade, though a fully qualified attorney before the story even starts. Hers is a tale of a depressing, downtrodden life, the result of the abuse of those who should have had her best interests at heart and known better. She is a doormat, and her gradual growth after Caio enters her life is ultimately a story of redemption and success. However, there are several tough topics encountered along the way that readers sensitive to these issues should be aware of. 

The author’s writing is compelling and so easy to read, and I was absorbed by this story and this very realistic heroine. The supernatural and magical elements were creative and elevated Sarah’s tale to one that was even more special and unpredictable. The scene descriptions were vivid, and I could practically see the action unfolding as I read. I am still somewhat surprised by how I sank into this story, and time passed by without me realizing how long I’d been reading before I needed to take a break. Of course, I must read the next in the series as soon as I can! 

I recommend CAIO to readers of dark fantasy, romantic paranormal, thrillers, and tales of the mysterious and unknown. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

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Moonset on Desert Sands

Murder, Tea, and Crystals, #2

by

Sherri L. Dodd

 

I was invested from start to finish!

 

Moonset on Desert Sands is the second book in author Sherri L. Dodd’s mystical and mysterious series, Murder, Tea, and Crystals, and I was invested in the story from its shocking opening scene to its close, wanting to know everything about these characters, their lives, and how they got to this point. After escaping a serial killer the year before, Arista is living quietly in Sedona, Arizona, but, nonetheless, finds herself the target of her Uncle Fergus. This story continues the plot from the series debut. For the best understanding and enjoyment, the books should be read in order of publication. 

I really like the character, Arista, and enjoyed learning about the shop in Sedona, crystal lore, her use of teas, and right off the bat, her interest and growing skill in seeing and understanding auras. These topics are totally outside my wheelhouse, other than what I’ve encountered in other books featuring witches, so it was an interesting and fresh underlying theme for me. After the events of the previous book, Arista has healed quite a bit but is still dealing with her feelings and heartache. She is surrounded by other well-developed and diverse characters, who help create a vivid sense of her community and leave very strong impressions, both good and bad, depending upon their role. I easily became invested in their stories despite being at a disadvantage, having not read the first book. 

The story grabbed my attention from the start with an exciting and shocking opening. The author’s descriptions put me smack in the middle of the action with all its accompanying foreboding and terror; I was hooked for the long run. The author weaves in references to the past throughout the current story, but I really had to tease these bits out to understand the current developments. However, with its non-stop action, robust descriptions, and engaging characters, I soon couldn’t put this book down, and, with its conclusion of possibilities, I plan on backing up and reading book one in order to be ready for the next.

I recommend MOONSET ON DESERT SANDS to mystery readers who enjoy stories with paranormal elements. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Book Blog Tours.

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Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches from Outer Space!

by

I.S. Noah

 

A delightful children’s SciFi adventure story with amusing political aspects until the children and the adventure were left behind.

 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches from Outer Space! by author I.S. Noah starts out as a fun and entertaining children’s science fiction adventure with amusing political overtones, but it unexpectedly deviates completely from the children to focus on political satire. The plot is exciting and clever, but a couple of dark moments may make it iffy for younger readers. 

The main plot, the children discovering a small alien spacecraft hidden in a forest cave while on a hike and finding out it is that of an alien offspring who has left his parent’s craft without permission to hunt for Big Foot, is delightful. The author crafts a fun tale of the Wilson children: the put-upon older teenage sister, Violet, and her rambunctious and irreverent younger brothers, Brad and Willys, and Violet’s soon-to-be-shellshocked BFF, Pamela Edison. The writing is easy to read and full of laugh-out-loud scenes, many containing relatable, true-to-life interactions among the siblings. Pamela, an only child fresh from a stint as a camp counselor, had no idea what she was getting into by agreeing to help Violet babysit the two Wilson boys. 

I loved the aftermath of the Wilsons notifying the feds that they had found Goobex 3’s spacecraft with the ensuing visit, testing, and interrogation in the “Men in Black” style secret underground base. The author includes so many special touches, such as Agent Orange’s unusual effect on people, the ten sniffer dog teams comprised of some less-than-traditional breeds (one’s a PUG), and enough bodily fluids mentioned to thrill the heart of any 10-year-old boy. The author tells a great story for this age range, and yet, underlying the adventure is a dark theme: Willys’s trauma for what he believes he’s inadvertently done to Goobex 3. 

The political aspects of the story begin light-heartedly with the author mimicking Trump’s verbal patterns to an amusing “T.” But, as things progress, the children’s involvement is dropped, and the plot focuses solely on how the author envisions Trump’s “first contact” would unfold. While there are unexpected and funny consequences to Trump’s negotiations with the Goobex, I believe younger readers would lose interest in the story before getting to them. This last quarter of the book includes some additional dark images, such as a general shooting a raccoon out of a tree only because he could do so and bystanders drowning when January 6th-type crazies riot outside the Goobex spacecraft. Can children read about these things? Of course. They represent reality. However, these images were left hanging and uncommented upon. Thankfully, the author does wrap up all these events, though, putting everything back into place as if they’d never occurred. But the bottom line for me is what started as a fun children’s adventure lost its way by crossing genre lines and perhaps trying to widen its target audience too much. Still, I would definitely read more by this author. 

Content warning: Death of young alien, killing of wildlife, mass deaths in a crowd, negative portrayals of Republicans, President Donald Trump

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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The Bloodstained Bricks

by

S.M. Sykes

 

An imaginative, horror-laced story set in the Land of Oz before the well-known visit by Dorothy Gale and Toto.

 

The Bloodstained Bricks by S.M. Sykes is a compelling and imaginative story set in the mysterious Land of Oz before the well-known visit by Dorothy Gale and her little dog, Toto. Told similarly to the style of the original book, Sykes has doubled down on that story’s elements of horror with monsters of a more modern vintage. Instead of “Lions and tigers and bears,” readers get “Monsters and Vampire and bats.” Oh my! 

The heroine of the tale is 17-year-old Dolly from Millsboro, Delaware, who ends up “over the rainbow” with her German Shepherd, Apollo, in much the same fashion as the movie: by tornado. However, her home is destroyed, and the boy from down the way, who had been trying to rescue her and the dog, is wrenched, unconscious, from his pickup and presumed to perish: a much more tragic and dark turn of events from the start. The heartache of the loss of her friend revisits Dolly throughout her ordeal in Oz. 

The plot follows the pair as they struggle to get to the person with the power to get her home. The story has a pair of amethyst slippers, but they cleverly transform into footwear that is more suitable for Dolly’s travel needs when the heels are tapped together. Apollo also proves to be way more helpful than that trouble-magnet Toto, protecting his mistress with fervor and the heft and attributes to actually do some damage. While the flying monkeys make appearances, they are on Dolly’s side this go-round. However, their replacements, sent by the evil leader of Emerald City, more than compensate for the monkeys’ about-face. Led by a mysterious, masked Vampire under the thumb of the cruel leader, they are pursued by a werewolf and a nightmarish creature called the “Semblance,” created from the re-animated body parts of the dead (think Frankenstein’s monster), who can regenerate if he becomes dismembered. The trio is seemingly unstoppable, and the pursuit becomes a battle of wits between Dolly and her remote helpmate, a Munchkin technological genius assisting her from his home in the target destination of Amethyst City known as “The Mechanic.” What follows is an exciting race for safety. 

While a little slow getting started, the action soon picks up, making for a suspense-filled tale, and there is some fun dialogue between Dolly and Vampire at times. However, I thought their second escape from the tower was a bit long and convoluted, and it really felt like an idea that was added on later. Also, there are still quite a few typos, missing words, and misused homophones. However, overall, the story is entertaining and somewhat nostalgic, and it ends with a twist and the option for a possible sequel that I would certainly want to buy and read. 

I recommend THE BLOODSTAINED BRICKS to readers of horror or dark fantasy, especially those who enjoy stories such as fairytale retellings. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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Woods and Wings

Woods and Wings, #1

by

M.W. Devers

 

Young adult fantasy full of action and adventure!

 

Woods and Wings is the first book in the new young adult fantasy series of the same name by author M.W. Devers and it is full of daring action, suspense, and fresh approaches to this popular genre. With engaging and heroic protagonists, a smarmy, villainous town warden, and two tragic and dragon-like wingroans as antagonists, I was absorbed by this adventurous tale from start to finish. 

Told from the multiple viewpoints of several main characters – good guys, bad guys, and wingroans – readers are treated to an intimate look at the story from all angles and quickly realize that this fantasy adventure is much more complex than the blurb description leads on. Astraya Myna, while aching to escape a safe future serving in the Rhigov village bailey’s kitchen, yearns to take what she feels is her rightful place alongside her grandfather and older brother, Raustra, as a guardian of her village and its residents. Raustra, who’s always known this was his destiny, is driven by his deep sense of duty, never dreaming that one day he may not be able to fulfill it in the way he’s always imagined. 

The last of the world’s original inhabitants, the dangerous wingroans, are the brother and sister, Vronti and Vulmen. Their kind was obliterated by the actions of humans when they naturally fought to retain their homes and way of life, which included hunting and eating large land animals like the livestock the humans brought with them to their farms and villages. Their conflict with the humans became a tragic cycle as time passed, and neither side was sure who was initially to blame for their troubles. 

However, one of the most interesting characters is Elizabyth, Astraya and Raustra’s widowed mother, mentally and emotionally troubled since the death of the sibling’s father and the love of her life by Vulmen during a long-ago village Harvest Ceremony. I was riveted to her storyline as she forces herself to re-enter life in hopes of getting the answers to how to help her son Raustra heal from injuries inflicted by Vronti during the most recent Harvest Ceremony. 

Devers’s world-building is robust and creative. Gaeyla vividly comes to life, along with its inhabitants, as Astarya, her grandfather, and their companions track Vronti across the land to end the wingroan threat once and for all. The story is one of family, friendship, loyalty, and courage in the face of desperate odds and one that you’ll not want to suffer interruptions.

I recommend WOODS AND WINGS to readers of young adult fantasy.

 

For this review and more, visit my blog, Boys' Mom Reads!

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I Can’t Get No Satisfaction

Swinging Sixties Mystery, #4

by

Teresa Trent

 

Return to Camden, Texas, as Dot Morgan becomes involved in a tragic murder mystery.

 

I Can’t Get No Satisfaction is the fourth book in accomplished author Teresa Trent’s clever and nostalgic Swinging Sixties Mystery series featuring Dot Morgan, the unluckiest stenographer ever, and the unusual and horrific lake deaths of two young friends. Frustrated by the actions and lack of resolutions by the new Camden PD detective, T.J. Bailey, Dot and her fiancé, Camden Courier reporter Ben Dalton, launch their own investigation into the deaths. 

After her job at the radio station, Dot has landed on her feet again, this time working as an administrative assistant at Fielding’s Funeral Home, a long-time Camden institution and family-owned and operated business. With her unfortunate history of finding bodies, she’s not happy to discover that she’s been dubbed the “Camden Curse” around town. But when a coworker turns up dead, Dot feels more than curiosity to find his killer and get justice for the family. She is also balking at setting a date for her impending nuptials, perhaps feeling that decision will make her future all too real. Her newlywed cousin Ellie is struggling to balance her successful business with her imagined vision of what her role as a wife should look like. 

The story gets going right away with the parents of the first young boating accident victim arranging for their daughter’s funeral services. These opening scenes of their grief and the kind responses of Dot’s boss, the funeral home’s owner, are well-drawn and emotional. At Betty Weavers’s services, Dot notes a change in the owner’s son, Henry’s, demeanor and wonders what in his somewhat solitary life has caused this to happen. With Henry’s angry best friend as a chief suspect and several uncooperative witnesses, Dot and Ben seem always to be swimming against the current in their search for the truth. Still, the truth is not about to stay hidden for long. 

Although this book is the fourth Swinging Sixties Mystery, it can easily be read and enjoyed by those new to the series. I recommend I CAN’T GET NO SATISFACTION to cozy mystery readers. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

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Trap, Neuter, Die

DeeLo Myer Cat Rescue Mystery, #1

by

Sharon Marchisello

 

Fascinating debut to this well-done new cat rescue-themed mystery series!

 

Trap, Neuter, Die is the first book in author Sharon Marchisello's new DeeLo Myer Cat Rescue Mystery series, featuring realistic and serious details related to the TNR program method for dealing with feral and/or community cat populations. When DeeLo Myer and her cat rescue mentor Catherine “Cat” Foster discover the body of a local cat enthusiast and bookstore owner while on the victim's property setting cat traps, they naturally are included on the police's suspect list. But when Cat is arrested by the local beat cop who has a grudge against her, DeeLo knows this is no time to pussyfoot around and starts her own investigation into the woman's murder. 

Divorcée DeeLo Myer (Delores Diane Myer-Johansson) is new in the small Georgia community of Pecan Point, having moved there from California to look after her aging mother suffering from Alzheimer's when she makes the mistake of driving after imbibing that second glass of wine and ending up with a DUI on her record and community service to fulfill. Choosing to work off her hours with the Pecan Point Humane Society, she meets Catherine Foster, or Cat as she is universally known, to help with the TNR (Trap, Neuter, and Return) program to cut down the population growth of abandoned, stray, feral, and community cats. On her first night out setting traps, not only do she and Cat discover a murder victim, but DeeLo learns that Cat is the target of a vindictive local cop who uses the county's outdated animal control laws to harass her and thwart her good deeds. Along with her amateur investigation of the murder, the goal of changing those antiquated laws becomes an important aspect of the story. 

This cozy mystery hits the ground running with the discovery of the victim, which occurs almost immediately. The fallout from the three women's (Azmina, Cat, and Deelo) personal lives makes an impact on the story's trajectory. There are a couple of possibilities for the motive behind the murder to consider and a number of suspects to eliminate before the final reveal, but the author subtly lays out the clues for sharp armchair detectives to note. While the cat rescue theme is not completely unique to the cozy mystery genre, its handling here is more professional and serious than previous works I've seen. In fact, the entire tone of the book is a bit more serious and dark than many cozies, but I mean that in a good and satisfying way. The storyline of DeeLo's mother and her niece Demi also offers some very frustrating realities to the main character's backstory and complex life. 

I recommend TRAP, NEUTER, DIE to cozy mystery readers. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.