Scars of the Heart: Short Stories

by

Bob Van Laerhoven

A fascinating collection of short stories from a master storyteller.

Scars of the Heart is a collection of short stories by Bob Van Laerhoven that sweep the reader from wherever they are to a fascinating, often gut-wrenching, reality in venues around the globe, both past and present. Each tale is a gem that evokes an emotional response that will stay with readers long after the pages are turned. 

The stories, for the most part, are set in far-flung locations, the very corners of the world, many in war zones, with the conflicts being the catalysts for what is to come. In other tales, the war is in the mind of the narrator, who may be fighting a losing battle against betrayal or guilt. Diverse settings and cultures enhance the atmospheric nature of the tales as the author reveals the characters’ struggles and insights, often with surprising twists at their conclusion. His writing made each narrator come to life and solidified their situations and surroundings so concretely I felt present in the story. 

With his vividly constructed scenes and realistic portrayals of people on the edge, I recommend SCARS OF THE HEART to readers of fiction, action/adventure, thrillers, horror, and fans of short stories. 

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

Hands On Homicide

Massage and Murder Mystery, #1

by

Sarah Hualde

Nice debut for this cozy Christian mystery series with a unique paranormal twist!

Hands On Homicide is the first book in author Sarah Hualde’s new Massage and Murder Mystery series, cozy Christian mysteries with a unique paranormal twist. With its engaging main characters, intriguing murder mystery, and subtly faith-forward approach, the story was compelling and hard to set down. 

Corky Hobbs is a massage therapist, and readers are immediately aware that she has a special gift: knowing exactly how to help her clients when they come in for a massage. She doesn’t understand how she knows, but her intuition is spot-on regarding where tension and stress have settled in their muscles. When Corky interrupts a murder while working late one evening at the spa, she’s almost killed, and the near-death experience somehow enhances her healing skills to include seeing someone’s inner thoughts and memories when she touches their skin. Because she can’t control it, the new ability feels intrusive, even making her nauseous when the person’s thoughts come flooding in: a curse rather than a gift. However, when the investigation falls to the inept local deputy, Corky and her best friends know that it is up to them to find the killer before the killer tries to finish off Corky for good, and she’s going to have to use her new-found talent. 

She’s supported by her two best friends, sister and brother, Stella and Steve Michaels. Stella, who works at the same spa, finds Corky the night of the attack just in time and takes charge of the investigation, while Steve, as a student chef, provides sustenance and tries to curb his sister’s more reckless ideas. There are also some deeper feelings bubbling just below the surface between him and Corky. 

The plot sticks pretty close to only the characters who were present at the spa immediately prior to the murder, so there’s not a lot of exposition creating the small town of Deadhorse Canyon or introducing background characters. There’s a great conflict side story involving the spa’s beautiful but toxic receptionist for whom Corky’s long-time boyfriend dumped her. Melanie is a real piece of work, and Brett, the ex, is weak and shallow. Honestly, they’re perfect for each other. The murder occurs early in the book, so the rest of the story is Corky testing her new ability and narrowing down a controlled number of suspects. There are hints in plain sight as to who the killer is, so sharp-eyed armchair detectives have a good chance of figuring it all out. 

I recommend HANDS ON HOMICIDE to cozy mystery readers who enjoy a faith-forward story and a TOUCH of paranormal elements in their books. 

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

Burn This Night

Kate Myles, #2

by

Alex Kenna

Two fascinating cases, one current and one decades in the past, in one riveting story.

Burn This Night is the second book in author Alex Kenna’s Kate Myles detective series and features the former LAPD detective turned private investigator as she pursues two murder cases, committed decades apart, in the small tourist town of Idlewood, California. Readers new to the series should have no problem absorbing enough backstory from the current narrative to read and enjoy this latest story as a standalone. This time, Kate is helping out an old contact in the sheriff’s department working on a 20-year-old cold case of murder. 

Kate is the healing but still vulnerable main character, trying to gain control of her life after a messy divorce, which resulted in her ex-husband getting custody of their only daughter. She’s moved in with her widowed mother for a number of good reasons and inadvertently discovers the man she always knew as her father is actually no blood relation at all; her parents had used a sperm donor after years of failing to conceive. While a shock, she also feels a sense of relief because growing up, she always knew she was somehow different from the rest of her family and was treated differently than her cousins. However, her relief is quickly followed by surprise after surprise when the results of her DNA test reveal that the unknown perpetrator of a two-decades-old unsolved murder case is an, as of yet, unidentified relative. As Kate methodically investigates the more recent case that took place earlier in the year, she pursues leads to locate blood relations that may lead to the unknown killer in the cold case. She ends up meeting a kindred spirit in a local, divorced father who sparks long-suppressed romantic interests.  

The plot moves quickly as Kate works her way through the painful details of Abby Coburn’s death and her past relationship with the brother who is accused of her murder as well as that of the elderly neighbor who died in the fire that was set to cover up the crime. She develops several possible theories as she questions people in Abby’s life, resulting in a couple of good suspects who must be examined further and ruled out. Her investigation into her own origins is a great secondary storyline, and the resolutions of the murders are surprising but plausible. 

I recommend BURN THIS NIGHT to mystery readers who enjoy strong female protagonists. 

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

Perfect Girl

by

Tracy Banghart

A haunted house, a huge storm, no cell service, wifi, or electricity: the perfect setting for a sleepover!

Perfect Girl is a new young adult horror novel by author Tracy Banghart, who pulls out all the stops to create the perfect backdrop for an innocent sleepover gone wrong. Realistic teen characters dealing with authentic, real-world problems are inadvertently caught up in someone’s deadly obsession with finding the perfect girl.

As if high school isn’t hard enough already? 

The main character, Jessa Morgan, exudes cheer, charm, and kindness, but underneath, her joy is just a façade. She’s an extreme people pleaser, and her carefully curated, perfect persona is approaching its breaking point. While facing the fears the night brings, Jessa also confronts her overwhelming need to be all things to all people, which has been fueled from childhood by her mother’s hopes and high expectations. However, she’s not the only one in her circle who’s struggling. Alexis is bi, and it’s killing her that she hasn’t been able to reveal this to her parents. Another friend, Tiny, who has drifted away from their close-knit group, is secretly trapped in an abusive relationship with an older guy. Even Jessa’s brother, Josh, is dealing with issues. Long ago, he abdicated his role as the responsible firstborn to his younger sister, and he is also struggling with living up to his parents’ impossibly high expectations. With Jessa doing all the heavy lifting, he may have just given up even trying to match her successes at home and school. 

There’s a sweet mutual crush developing between Jessa and Ryan, Josh’s best friend, but she’s too embedded in adhering to the standards of behavior from a more conservative time. She won’t make the first move, and he’s being held back by something that won’t let him clearly indicate his interest in her. But eventually, the courage is mustered to speak up. 

In a concurrent storyline, six high school girls in nearby York have gone missing in as many months. The ongoing events of one such disappearance unfold through the eyes of the sixth missing girl. The storylines eventually converge, and the horrific truth is shocking. 

The author establishes a tense, suspenseful setting with Jessa’s secluded house, which is mostly jokingly said to be home to a female teenage spirit, and her parents’ overnight absence. Situated on the edge of a woods with spotty cell service, at the best of times, Jessa and her sleepover guests, her brother, and his friend, Ryan, are further isolated when major storms roll in and take out the electricity. I was quickly caught up in the story, surprised by the plot twists, and entertained from start to finish. 

I recommend PERFECT GIRL to readers of young adult horror stories and thrillers. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

A Bad Bout of the Yips

From the Case Files of Steve Rockfish, #3

by

Ken Harris

A riveting crime fiction tale I was unable to put down!

A Bad Bout of the Yips is the third book in author Ken Harris's crime fiction series featuring PI Steve Rockfish. From the start (of this book or any in the series), readers old enough to know will immediately feel his kinship with the old-school investigators and the nod to and nostalgia of the classic PI television shows from the 1970s, such as The Rockford Files. If you loved those shows, this is the series for you! If you don't know what I'm talking about, this is still a series you'll want to give a look-see. 

Steve Rockfish is a cool customer, a tough guy, and he needs to be in his line of work, especially as he's going up against the mob in this real estate development-themed crime fiction tale. His young partner, Jawnie McGee, is still reeling after the previous book's events. This normally steadfast and stand-up gal shows some vulnerability in her fragile state, but although she struggles early on to regain her footing, she comes on strong later in the story. 

This third book has multiple storylines, some involving old nemeses that harken back to previous books. However, the third time's the charm as storylines converge and are wrapped up. The Baltimore and other Maryland and New Jersey settings were comfortable yet fresh (I'm just done to death sometimes with Chicago and NYC). I loved the cultural nods and the guessing game to identify the source of the references with Lynn. 

The case that lands Rockfish and McGee in dutch involves a lesbian couple who have purchased a rundown miniature golf business out from under the nose of a large real estate development corporation with mob ties. Immediately after taking possession, threatening messages appear, and an escalating series of vandalism plagues the property, including anti-gay slogans spray painted across the buildings and inflammatory fliers pepper the neighborhood to stir up trouble with the locals. What follows on the way to resolution are twists and turns, tense action and danger, told with a riveting vim and vigor that I found myself smiling as I read, completely engaged and unable to put the book down until the last page was turned. 

I recommend A BAD BOUT OF THE YIPS to readers who enjoy crime fiction, old-school PI heroes, a Baltimore setting, and fans of the previous novels in the series. 

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