Tag: Series

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The Fragile Ones-Books On Tour (Review)-Mystery/Suspense Series-Available Now

Detective Katie Scott and her trusty sidekick Cisco are back for another case. I can honestly say that while this was the most heartbreaking of the five cases (so far), it was also the one I had the hardest time getting into.

It is altogether possible that it’s solely on me for that (and probably is) but it might also be Katie herself.

I’ve enjoyed this series. However, in re-reading my review of the last one (Last Girls Alive) I see that I mentioned that the plot seemed to meander a bit and wasn’t as tight as the previous book. I would have to say the same about this book.

Katie is still sharp and working hard to keep her PTSD at bay. I would have liked to see a little more progress on this front, but I understand why the author keeps it at the particular level.

It’s a condition that can resurface at any time with any trigger – and for many, it never goes away even if the person thinks it has been combatted.

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I do still like the camaraderie between Katie and McGaven. They work well together. I do get a bit annoyed at how Katie’s reputation seems to be that of being wonderful. Nobody is that perfect.

That being said, I guess it could be because of her PTSD that people are amazed at how well she does? But that doesn’t make a lot of sense in the bigger picture, and certainly doesn’t fit with the characters.

One disappointment for me is that it seemed from the last book that the author was setting up for a good showdown of wills between Katie and the new undersheriff, Dorothy Sullivan. But unless I just plain ol’ missed it, there was virtually nothing involving the two of them.

I had high hopes for that, but even a search of the undersheriff’s name in the book gave one return. So I’m not exactly sure if I misread the interactions in the previous book, or if the author just decided to go a different direction.

I will say that I got a chill when it came to the description of Rock Creek (roughly ¾ of the way through the book). That was a nice bit of atmosphere that added to the mood.

Anyway, I did like the book, although this is the second in a row where I kind of felt something was missing. I’ll still read the series though because I like Cisco and I like the cold case aspect.

Author Bio:

Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and best-selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells.

In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.

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Four Weddings and a Swamp Boat Tour-Blog Tour (Review)-RomCom-Available Now

How much do I love this series?

How excited am I that we are back in Autre with the Landry family?

We just moved 1000 miles, and I have left ALL of the unpacking until I could finish this story. I don’t even care about not having space for all of our clothes, or where the plunger is, or that we still haven’t found our pots and pans or even have furniture to sit on.

Don’t care one bit. I care about the Paige and Mitch and their story. Period.

I devour these books. I want to live there. Just like Paige realizes, being part of their world would be amazing.

While I greatly enjoy other books and series, I cannot think of a single other setting or characters that I want to be real and be able to be a part of…weird, right?

I really enjoyed Paige’s journey in this one. As we are reminded a few times, she’s only 22, and she definitely exhibits a self-centered vibe through the beginning chapters. It may make me sound old, but I think that’s pretty typical of any person in their early 20s.

But as she spends time with Mitch and the Landrys, she comes to some deep realizations that make her re-evaluate her own perspectives on family and how they support each other.

For a rom-com, I thought her growth was particularly interesting and heartfelt. I could literally see her maturing throughout the book. That made me want to root for her.

I think that (maybe…just maybe) she also reminded me of, well…me. I was older than 22, but I also took off across the country, leaving my family (and everything I’d ever known) on a whim for a guy I’d met only a few times.

That was 18 years ago. We’ll be celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary this May.

Didn’t realize how much I identified with Paige while I was reading the story, but now it makes more sense to me.

But I digress.

Of course, it being Autre and the Bayou, there’s a healthy dose of Landry crazy, although not as wild as some of the past stories. And Mitch truly is one of the good guys….one of the most swoon-worthy heroes of the series.

And that’s saying a lot with this bunch.

My only complaint, and it’s a minor one, is that I wish more attention had been given to the weddings. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I would have loved some details about each of the weddings in question (readers will know what I am talking about).

There were some perfect opportunities to explore the things that made these couples who they were, and I wish they had gotten a little bit of extra detail – just to spend some time with them celebrating.

That being said, I am truly beyond excited that we got to meet the next group of Bayou Boys and that it seems as if there a few stories yet to come. I can’t wait to return and visit with this crazy clan.

Many thanks to Ms. Nicholas for creating a world that engulfs me and reminds me that there are still many things to be thankful for in this world, even if they’re fictional.

About Erin Nicholas 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as she’s been reading them. To date, she’s written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as “toe-curling,” “enchanting,” “steamy,” and “fun.” She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.

Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be “shocked” by the sex scenes in her books).

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Be Mine Forever-Books On Tour (Review)-Serial Killer Thriller Series-Available Now

I don’t know how she does it!

This is becoming a common refrain, because DK Hood just keeps churning out the Kane and Alton series. BUT (and I can’t stress this enough), the series still manages to feel fresh and exciting.

You’d think that at book 11 (holy moly) that things would be stale, or run-of-the-mill.

You’d be so wrong.

This time around, cheerleaders are disappearing and meeting terrible ends. It would be easy to insert a joke in here about easy targets or something, but it would be too flippant. The author manages to take a cliché and turn it into a serious case.

If you’ve read any of the books, you already have a feeling for how Kane and Alton work together, and this case is no exception. There’s something to be said for familiarity.

But again, that doesn’t mean it’s boring. I found myself confident in the characters enough that I was actually able to see other things that I might have missed if these were “new-to-me” characters.

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Does that make sense? I guess I was able to pay attention to smaller details because I wasn’t hyper-focused on the main characters. Maybe other readers will understand what I’m trying to say.

I really enjoy the relationship that they have built with each other. I will say as with any male/female partnership, there is some push-pull as to whether the female can “hang” with the guys. This might irritate some readers.

At this point Jenna has more than proved herself, however, and I feel strongly that any “male dominance” is tempered by her wit, her ability, and her savviness.

Plus, you know, there’s that ending.

Anyway, it’s another solid entry in the Kane and Alton series. I’m sure it will continue just as strongly.

Oh, and yes, it can be read as a stand-alone. But with this number of books in the series, you’d certainly do yourself a load of favors by starting at the beginning. There’s a lot of backstory, and some attitudes/conversations will make more sense if you have a history of the characters.

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Cry for Help-Book Review-Crime Thriller-Available Now

I don’t know how this author does it.

This series must have been written in tandem, because the first book, Shadow Falls, just released in January.

It totally works in favor of the reader though, because the action seamlessly picks up where the first book left off.

Madison Harper is back in Colorado, still searching for her missing son. She never imagines where she will find him.

I thought the author did a great job with building the tension, starting with the initial scene when the first dead body is found. She writes with such description that I could absolutely picture it all, almost like I was watching it on television. It was that vivid.

She has also developed the characters well. Even though this is only the second book, there is a lot of depth to both Madison and Nate. They’re the focal point, although the secondary characters get almost as much attention.

I will interject here that it would be best to read the first book. It’s early in the series, so it’s not too much to take in. You’ll have a much better understanding of Madison’s background. That being said, there are plentiful references to her past in this one.

If I have any complaint, and it’s a small one, it’s that this one seemed heavier on the personal and less on the detecting. Maybe that’s just compared to the first one, because it was so recent? I don’t know.

Regardless, the author knows when to stop a chapter so that there is a natural desire to want to keep reading. I like the forethought, because I’m sure that takes great planning to know where those breaks should come.

The action does pick up towards the end, with an awful lot happening in a short amount of time. Definitely turned into more of a page turner at that point. And the ending certainly indicates a new path for Madison, plus possibly more focus on Nate.

I’ll be ready and waiting to see what happens next.

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The Girl from Silent Lake-Books On Tour (Review)-Crime Thriller-Available Now

There has been a spate of books lately, introductions to new series with strong female law enforcement protagonists who joined crime fighting due to some horrific event in their past.

Detective Kay Sharp fits squarely in that model. I don’t mean to reduce her story (because it’s a pretty good one), but the simple fact is that she is one of many on the market these days.

So, is there anything that sets her apart from the others?

Short answer: sort of.

You can read other reviews and blurbs for details. I’m repeating my mantra of “no spoilers” and “find the parts you like and are surprised by as you read.”

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I thought the author did a fine job of illustrating the tensions that occur between local and federal law enforcement. Having experience with this, I am always interested to see how an author approaches it.

Historically (and again, in my experience) local law enforcement does not always appreciate federal law enforcement help…mainly because federal law enforcement comes in with a sense of superiority that they’re sometimes not worthy of.

In other words, the feds think they’re better than anyone else.

Because of this, I thought that Elliott’s initial distrust or wariness of Kay was warranted and well-done. And I liked how Kay kind of had to prove herself to win him over.

Her tenaciousness and feistiness, however, is also close to being her downfall as she bucks protocol and single-mindedly pursues leads without following the rules.

You can guess the results of that type of investigation.

I will also say that some readers may find the details of this particular perpetrator to be especially gruesome and disturbing. It’s important to recognize that there is an entire set of emotions that is triggered when the victims are women and (especially) children. So, be warned.

While Kay is one of a bunch of these types of characters, the plot is good, and most of the characters are developed enough to warrant continued reading. I look forward to seeing how things shape up as the series progresses.

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Author Bio:

Leslie Wolfe is a bestselling author whose novels break the mold of traditional thrillers. She creates unforgettable, brilliant, strong women heroes who deliver fast-paced, satisfying suspense, backed up by extensive background research in technology and psychology.

Leslie released the first novel, Executive, in October 2011. It was very well received, including inquiries from Hollywood. Since then, Leslie published numerous novels and enjoyed growing success and recognition in the marketplace. Among Leslie’s most notable works, The Watson Girl (2017) was recognized for offering a unique insight into the mind of a serial killer and a rarely seen first-person account of his actions, in a dramatic and intense procedural thriller.

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Lost Souls-Books On Tour (Review)-Crime Thriller-Available Now

This series features one of the most unique pairings in all of the crime/mystery books that I read, and I think that it is one that enhances the investigations they undertake.

I know that sounds convoluted, but instead of two detectives, or two people with similar backgrounds, Lexi and Dan have very different perspectives. This allows them to come at an investigation from a holistic point of view, which in turn enables them to each see things that the other might have missed.

This is the third book in the series, and their roles are clearly defined. At least, they are to each other.

However, when the investigation of the case at hand (this time around it’s a child killer, so possible trigger there) hits potentially close to home for one of them, the other is forced to evaluate how much information to share regarding the investigation.

Yeah, yeah…it’s vague. But y’all should be used to my “no spoilers if I can help it” mantra.

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This issue causes a tangle in the overall investigation because Dan and Lexi aren’t able to share information as freely with each other as in the past. Now, of course, this doesn’t last long, because they do have to get the bad guy.

I like how the author also allows us to get into the mind of the killer. It doesn’t exactly evoke sympathy, but it does shine light on motive. This gives the reader a leg up on the investigators which in turn makes for active reading (which I appreciate).

There are also multiple layers to the investigation which (again) keeps it true to life. One never knows what might pop up over the course of interviews as the depths of the case are revealed.

I also appreciate how the characters are fallible. Dan gets reamed a couple of times by his superiors and Lexi has self-doubts (as well as being judged by others for her choices).

Even Lucy is forced to make a choice that some might find unethical. But that’s the questions posed throughout – is it okay to break rules if it means stopping evil?

The answer should be yes. Fortunately for these characters, it is.

Author Bio:

Chris Merritt is a British author whose crime thrillers combine psychology, suspense, and characters you care about.

All his novels are set in London, where he lives. He began writing fiction in 2014, after previous careers as a diplomat, based in Iraq and Jerusalem, and later as a psychologist working with victims and perpetrators of crime. He specialised in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which sparked his interest in telling stories about how people cope when faced with extreme adversity.

Now he spends most of his time writing novels and drinking coffee while *thinking* about writing novels. When he’s not writing, he loves climbing and playing basketball.

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Silent Voices-Books On Tour (Review)-Crime Thriller-Available Now

I’ve been a pretty big fan of Lottie Parker for a few books now (you can read my reviews by searching “Lottie Parker” in the search bar on this blog).

This author creates some of the most intricate plots I have ever read, and there are always surprises and connections that are unexpected. This latest book (#9!) is no exception.

One thing I found particularly entertaining is how Lottie and Boyd’s personal life has progressed. To me, that is almost as interesting as the cases at hand.

Maybe it’s because I have a law enforcement connection, maybe because I just like the human interest, but I’m always invested in how an author addresses the personal lives of the characters.

I’m happy to say that Lottie and Boyd have indeed progressed, but not without more drama (of course). And once again, Lottie needs to think quick and solve an extremely convoluted case before she can find happiness with Boyd.

Or can she find it at all?

Like I’m going to give that part away.

You can read blurbs and recaps elsewhere. The author does the usual fine job of introducing characters at just the right moments so that everything seems natural and organic. There is no forced realization.

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That’s one of the things I like most about this series – I can count on it to be intriguing and page-turning, but rarely do I say “Oh, come on! That wouldn’t happen that way!”

Yeah, I get that way about crime novels.

I think it is also a testament to the author’s prowess that this is indeed book nine in the series, and there are no real signs of slowing down. In fact, I think each book gets more intricate (that word again).

I’d love to see this author’s mind maps or idea boards, I’ll bet they’re works of art.

I will say, however, at this point if you want the full impact of the book, you would be best to start at the beginning of the series and read them in order.

While this could be read as a stand-alone, due to Lottie and Boyd’s relationship, I would suggest reading the trajectory of it. You’ll get so much more out of the book. I promise.

Oh, and the title in relation to the crimes? Well done. I love that connection.

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Author Bio:

Patricia is the million-copy bestselling author of the DI Lottie Parker series. She yearned to be a writer after reading Enid Blyton and Carolyn Keene and even wanted to be Nancy Drew when she grew up. She has now grown up (she thinks) but the closest she’s come to Nancy Drew is writing crime!

In 2009, after her husband died, she retired from her job and started writing seriously. Fascinated by people and their quirky characteristics, she always carries a notebook to scribble down observations.

Patricia also loves to paint in watercolour and lives in the Irish midlands with her children.

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Shadow Falls-Books on Tour (Review)-Mystery Thriller-Available Now

This has to be one of the most interesting set ups I’ve read in a while.

As always, I don’t want to give anything away, but I thought the pairing of Madison and Nate was thoroughly unique, and it was a terrific way to start the series.

I liked Madison as a character as well. It’s not giving anything away (if you’ve read the blurb) to say that she has tremendous insight that is tempered by her situation. To me, she was conflicted because there were two different intuitions at work.

One, her distrust was palpable and rightfully so. She also had a personal mission as well as something to prove during the case. It contrasted with her cop instincts that came back to her as the investigation progressed.

I don’t want it to seem like it was an obvious “oh I remember how this is done,” because that wouldn’t be accurate.

It was more like…if you’ve been a cop for a number of years, there are things that just never go away. They may disappear for a while from un-use, but they’re still there. I got that vibe from Madison.

Or maybe I was reading too much into it?

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Regardless, the case she finds herself on with Nate was intriguing in itself. I always like it when an author reveals secrets slowly over the course of the investigation (instead of “gotcha” moments).

Those are okay, but I like investigations to feel natural. And this one did.

I know I’m being vague, but I’ve said it bunches of times – crime novels are difficult to write about without giving spoilers.

Suffice to say that this is a great start to a new series, and I look forward to more from Madison Harper.

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Author Bio:

Wendy is a former coroner’s assistant turned crime writer who lives in the UK with her husband and 3 cats.

As well as her two crime series and the YA crime novel – The Girl Who Died – Wendy has several short stories published in UK and US anthologies. She has also been shortlisted and longlisted for various competitions, including the Mslexia Novel Competition.

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Before She Wakes-Books On Tour (Review)-Crime Thriller-Available Now

Book three in the Max Carter series follows a similar arc as the first two (Tell Me Lies and Gone in Seconds). We start with an abducted child, in this case a teenager named Olivia, and quickly move into multiple suspects.

As with the first two books, the author does a good job of keeping the reader guessing. There are secrets to be revealed and lies to be unraveled – sometimes it seemed like more than usual.

I did like how each of the suspects had plausible reasons for the abduction. (Sometimes an author will just use any ploy to create drama – that’s one of the things I like about this series…that doesn’t happen here).

As I have mentioned in the past, writing reviews of crime novels is difficult for me because I hate spoilers. In an investigation that takes the course of the book, it’s hard to talk about details without giving away clues in the investigation.

And there’s the conundrum.

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Anyway, I thought that with this being the third book, the author did an admirable job of crafting the story so that both newcomers and those who have read the previous books could follow along fairly easily.

That being said, I could see where someone who hasn’t read the previous book might have a few issues, because Max’s relationship with his father continue in this book and (as with the last one) it does get a bit confusing.

But all in all, it’s another solid entry in this series. I would highly recommend starting from the beginning though, because you’ll have a much better understanding of Max. That will certainly enhance your enjoyment of the book.

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Author Bio:

Ed James is the author of multiple series of crime novels.
The bestselling DI Simon Fenchurch series is set in East London and published by Thomas & Mercer.

The self-published Scott Cullen series of Scottish police procedurals features a young Edinburgh Detective Constable investigating crimes from the bottom rung of the career ladder he’s desperate to climb. The first book, “Ghost in the Machine”, has been downloaded over 400,000 times, hitting both the Amazon UK & US top five.

The Craig Hunter books is a sister series to the Cullen novels, with a PTSD-suffering ex-squaddie now working as a cop investigating sexual abuse cases. With lots of slapstick and banter.
Ed lives in East Lothian, Scotland and writes full-time, but used to work in IT project management, where he filled his weekly commute to London by literally writing on planes, trains and automobiles.

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The Little Grave-Books On Tour (Review)-Crime Thriller-Available Now

I have mixed feelings about this book.

On the one hand, I liked that the protagonist (Amanda Steele) had such a personal connection to the case she was trying to solve. As with any plot, if there is more human connection to the events, it is more interesting.

The grief that Amanda was still feeling about losing her husband and daughter was palpable from the beginning. It did make her sympathetic and relatable, because anyone who has suffered a tragedy would be able to relate.

That feeling of “get up, go through the motions, get through the day” was well-captured by the author.

Once the case pops up, her grief (and the anger that went along with it) has to be tempered with the drive to solve the case properly. It’s an interesting juxtaposition of feelings that presents certain challenges to Amanda.

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That’s kind of the problem I had with the believability of it. From what I know, no supervisor in their right mind would even think about allowing someone to be that involved with such a personal case, much less essentially take the lead on it.

But reading novels is about suspending disbelief, right? So, I tried to do that. For me it was a bit difficult because Amanda’s emotions are so closely tied to her actions that the separation of the two didn’t always happen.

I suppose in that regard, my reading experience mirrored Amanda’s more closely than some others might, simply because I understood the conflicts?

All of that being said, this isn’t the author’s first crime procedural and she apparently does extensive research, so I could be totally off base on this. I don’t know.

What I do know is that the author did a great job of tying threads together. Amanda soon finds that what she thought was a simple case with a personal attachment is actually much more. I thought this was well-plotted.

All in all, I think it was a successful first book of the series, and I look forward to seeing how Amanda progresses through future investigations.

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Author Bio:

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has nearly thirty published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

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