Kameo Monson's Blog

Beyond the Broken Shore: A Book Review

It’s Blog Tour time for the latest book by Rebecca L. Marsh, Beyond the Broken Shore. Back to beautiful Princess Island where adult siblings, Marissa and Owen, and teenage cousins, Maisy and Charlie, battle the everyday of life. In Beyond the Broken Shore, Maisy struggles with friendships and a terrible accident while Charlie and his father, Owen, work through all the emotions of Charlie’s mother returning to the island in hopes of building a relationship with Charlie, who she abandoned so many years previous.

My thoughts about Beyond the Broken Shore

Beyond the Broken Shore is a heartfelt story that deals with everyday life in some very real ways. Parents worry about children–their physical needs and emotional needs. Marissa finds herself worried that Maisy may have tried to hurt herself. No one knows where Charlie was when he was supposed to be with Maisy. This book has all the emotions of parents standing up for their kids and wanting the best for them while also setting expectations for their children–it’s all there. And in this family, there is support. Everyone is there for one another. Still, there is a little mystery that continues nearly to the end of the book. Why is Mary Lynn–Marissa and Owen’s mom–so upset with her grandson’s mother–Charlie’s mother? Why is forgiveness or working toward forgiveness so difficult?

Like I said, this book is filled with everyday life. The characters are lifelike. They hurt and scream and cry like real people. They understand the hurt of abandonment. They understand the difficulty of forgiveness, and they understand the power of prayer.

This book is a reminder that we all go through difficult things–things that can be overcome with a little bit of love, a little help from God, and some good old-fashioned family support.

Minor Concerns

I don’t have any big concerns with Beyond the Broken Shores, but there is a little more description of how characters feel that I usually prefer. For me, I relate best to characters and immerse myself into storylines easiest when the characters’ actions allow me to determine how they feel. It allows me to feel the full emotion of the story–to understand more fully how their sadness or joy affects them. This is an opinion though. It does not go toward the author’s ability to write. And Rebecca Marsh can write. Of that, there is no question.

Official Blurb

A mother returns after years of abandonment, but can she be forgiven?

Haunted by the memory of a devastating accident that claimed the lives of her husband and oldest daughter, Marissa’s life is struck by another tragedy. Her thirteen-year-old daughter, Maisy, suffers a perilous fall under mysterious circumstances. Marissa finds herself desperately hoping her deepest fear—the loss of another child—will not be realized.

While Marissa paces the emergency room, her brother Owen searches their town on Princess Island for his son, Charlie, who hasn’t come home from school. Hours later, Charlie shows up unwilling to explain where he’s been. When he skips school a few days later and is spotted in town with a strange woman, Owen comes face to face with his own greatest fear—the return of Charlie’s mother.

As Marissa and Owen confront their worst fears and navigate the treacherous waters of the unknown, they realize that while the path forward might be fraught with pain, the potential for healing is immense.

For a story of how confronting the ghosts of our past can lead to the most unexpected of futures, Dive into Beyond the Broken Shore today!

More Info

Purchase your copy of Summer’s Runaway: A Princess Island Novel on Amazon.

Follow Rebecca Marsh on Facebook, GoodReads, and RebeccaLMarsh.com.

The post Beyond the Broken Shore: A Book Review appeared first on Kameo Monson.

Summer’s Runaway: A Book Review

When Halle’s mom refuses to listen, she has no choice but to run away from home. It won’t be easy, but with a few friends, this Summer’s Runaway will find the help she needs. The sequel to Where Hope Is Found by Rebecca Marsh, this novel reminds us how important listening (and talking) is.

My thoughts about Summer’s Runaway

I don’t know of a child that hasn’t wanted to run away from home at least once. Old sitcoms taught me to pack a bag, but to also be careful. In order to run away, I’d have to cross the street, and that was breaking the rules. At least for the TV characters. I was generally allowed to cross the street, but running away would have presented a whole lot of other problems: I couldn’t take my dog; I would miss my family; I had no idea where I would eat or sleep.

Running away was not for me.

Summer’s Runaway is Halle’s run-away story. Halle didn’t let crossing the street, food, or sleeping arrangements get in her way. She had a plan. And her plan takes her to Princess Island–the island where the grandparents she hates and the friend that she misses live.

As Halle’s story takes shape, we reacquaint ourselves with Marissa and Owen. This time, it’s Owen’s turn to work out his demons–demons that come in the form of abandonment and fear to move forward.

The storyline of this book is great. There is a lot going on to keep a reader interested. And the growth of the characters is clear. I enjoyed following Halle’s story as well as Owen’s. They parallel nicely. And Owen is just a nice guy. Don’t we need more of those in books?

Summer’s Runaway reminds us that we are all human. That we make mistakes. That we perceive situations in life differently. It teaches us to listen to our children and talk to our parents. It is a story of healing.

Minor concerns

As I read Summer’s Runway, there were several times when I felt removed from the story due to the author telling me how a character felt instead of allowing me to figure it out through their actions. The children seemed a little too well-worded for their ages. They were able to explain emotions that many adults struggle to find the words for. Halle also spends a lot of time hanging on to her secret, and I found myself wanting it to come out sooner–at least to the reader. Each of these concerns is subjective, and may not bother other readers.

Official Blurb

Three and a half years ago, Hallie had a happy home with a loving mother, a father she adored, and doting grandparents she loved to spend summers with. All of that changed when her father’s career in the Army took him to the Middle East where he was killed in action. Hallie never gave much thought to her mother’s angry insistence that her grandparents had pushed him into the Army. But his death caused that anger to seep into her heart. Nothing could convince her to forgive them or ever visit their island home again … or so she thought.

But when a threat arises at home that her mother refuses to believe is real, twelve-year-old Hallie finds herself running away from home to escape. She knows a safe place where she can hide, but she’ll have to go back to the island, regardless of her feelings.

Hallie doesn’t know how long she can stay hidden or if she will be forced to see her grandparents again, but it’s a risk she has to take. No matter what else happens, she will never forgive her grandparents for her father’s death and she can’t go home … not until the end of summer.

More Info

Purchase your copy of Summer’s Runaway: A Princess Island Novel on Amazon.

Follow Rebecca Marsh on Facebook, GoodReads, and RebeccaLMarsh.com.

The post Summer’s Runaway: A Book Review appeared first on Kameo Monson.

Summer Kisses and Boy Bands: A Book Review

When Val Hartman meets her boy-band crush, Zac Miller, while wearing a stained shirt and bagging his groceries, she does the exact thing she never wanted to do–splattered him with tomato guts–in Summer Kisses and Boy Bands. book three in the Honeyville High Romance series by Kimberly King.

My Thoughts on Summer Kisses and Boy Bands

Boy bands. Cute, flirty, with swoon-worthy voices that make the heart of every teenage girl thump along with the beat. We’ve all been there. Even if we say we haven’t been. Right? Val Hartman isn’t any different. She and her best friend are more than willing to swoon together…after all, rock stars play more than guitars and drums; they play with girls’ hearts too. At least that’s what Val’s best friend says.

King does such a great job at creating her characters in Summer Kisses and Boy Bands. Their personalities shine through with lots of humor and fun. The descriptions of sweaty palms and thumping hearts, and well, all those wonderfully gross feelings that we still want to feel in our romantic lives, reminded me of all the times I wasn’t sure what to think or do while dating. And I never dated a celebrity. I enjoyed seeing the parts that Val’s parents played in this book as well. Their love for their daughter came through so well, and they still had those moments when wisdom aged them some–as it should.

There is a fair amount of teen drama in this book, just as any reader would expect. About the time I got tired of it was about the time that it receded. So it was perfectly done, and I have no complaints. Oh, and I laughed. There was plenty of laughter going on. I may have awakened my husband a couple of times with my late-night giggles.

Summer Kisses and Boy Bands is the perfect romance for teens, be it as their next read or a gift, but older, women who love a good teen romance should pick it up too. It does not disappoint.

The Official Blurb

Val Hartman can hardly believe it when dreamy Zac Miller, lead singer of the Spud Rockets, is in town for the summer. Even more shocking is when they hit it off and he asks her out. But dating a rockstar has its own set of rules, and she’ll have to follow them to stay in the game.
It doesn’t take long to discover that nothing is fair when dating a celebrity, and when a secret is exposed, all that they’ve built falls apart. Add in a troubling phone call that takes Val out of town in a hurry, and everything important in her life is about to be lost for good.
The only way to make things right again will have to be something huge, but it will be the last thing Val ever expects.

More Info

Purchase your copy of Summer Kisses and Boy Bands on Amazon.
Follow Kimberly King on  Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.Visit KameoMonson.com for more book reviews, short stories, and information about Kameo Monson's books.

The post Summer Kisses and Boy Bands: A Book Review appeared first on Kameo Monson.

Sting of the Scorpion: A Book Review

Damira seeks to save those held captive under the thumb of the warlords and their Endless War, but doing so leads down a dark and dangerous path that only her brother seems to see. Sting of the Scorpion, book three in the Outlawed Myth series by Evelyn Puerto, takes us to a land where all amulets were not created equally.

My Thoughts on Sting of the Scorpion

We all know what it feels like–being under someone else’s thumb. The pain of deciding whether to live in pain and agony or squeeze through the escape hatch that threatens us as much as it promises to save us. Granted, if you’re like me, that thumb may be your children at the bathroom door, and the escape hatch is a momentary glimpse of a book’s page instead of the knuckle work of doing the dishes. But for some people, it can mean the difference between eating or starving the next day. In Sting of the Scorpion, the question posed is whether or not squeezing through that escape hatch is the only way to find survivable happiness. Or is the escape hatch all we can see because we find ourselves wanting more than escape? Do we also seek power?

Sting of the Scorpion is a little different than books one and two in the Outlawed Myths series. We learn about amulets that hinder more than heal. It’s another outlook. I found myself able to connect with the characters despite our personality differences. Well-rounded, the characters showed me plenty of similarities entwined with our overwhelming differences. In a way, that made the book more enjoyable.

I’ve always enjoyed the way Puerto’s books encourage readers to think about society and how certain actions that seem right may actually be wrong. Her books teach lessons worthy of being listened to, but they don’t shove those lessons down the readers’ throats. Instead, readers must look between the pages and think for themselves. That is what Sting of the Scorpion allowed me to do, all while telling a fantastic story with battles, tasks, and great new characters.

The Official Blurb

After Damira witnesses the brutal slaughter of nearly her entire clan by a roving warband, she resolves never to feel helpless again. With nowhere to go, she, her brother, and a friend surrender to a warlord, resigned to becoming little more than pawns in the Endless War.

But when Wei Fang, a warlord wielding magic amulets threatens to destroy anyone who stands against her, Damira must choose. Will she seek to master the power of the amulets and make a stand against the brutal Wei Fang?

Or will the power behind the amulets destroy her first?

Sting of the Scorpion is the thrilling third book of the Outlawed Myth fantasy series. If you like determined heroines, compelling characters, magic amulets, and a splash of romance, then you’ll love Evelyn Puerto’s exciting tale.

More Info

Purchase your copy of Sting of the Scorpion on Amazon.
Visit Evelyn Puerto on her website.

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for this review. All opinions are honest and my own.Visit KameoMonson.com for short stories, more book reviews and information about Kameo Monson's books.

The post Sting of the Scorpion: A Book Review appeared first on Kameo Monson.

Royal Captive (Fate of Eyrinthia): A Book Review

The Royal Captive, book three in the Fate of Eyrinthia series by Heather Frost, keeps readers’ hearts galloping for more.

When Clare, the princess’s decoy, finds herself suddenly held captive and her beloved bodyguard is on the brink of death, hope seems nearly, but not quite lost. Desfan, the actual princesses’ betrothed, searches for truth. And Grayson is forced to choose a path; can he choose the one that leads to Mia’s freedom?

My Thoughts on Royal Captive

Heather Frost and her writing first captured my attention with some fun word choices and well-written fantasy romance and adventure. Since then, I’ve looked forward to reading the subsequent books in her Fate of Eyrinthia series. Through books two and especially three, the puzzle pieces start to come together, and readers like me find themselves yearning for the next piece that lies just out of reach.

In Royal Captive, it doesn’t take long for Clare, Desfan, and Grayson’s story to pick up, their threads weaving together into what becomes a delicate and tenuous tapestry. Onlookers still have plans to kill just about everyone else. These three and their trusted allies are the pawns in a four- or five-sided game of chess. Impossible? Chess is a game between two players? Not in this game. As discoveries are made, the moves within Royal Captive become more complex. And the pawns? Well, they realize they have choices–life-saving or debilitating as they may be.

Royal Captive, like the other books in the Fate of Eyrinthia series, kept me on my toes. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading it. I look forward to the release of book four when I can do what all true fantasy readers love to do: experience everything from the beginning–all over again.

The Official Blurb

A DECOY trapped in a dangerous lie
A SERJAH searching for the truth
A PRINCE caught in a deadly game
A WORLD choked by secrets

Abducted during a devastating ambush, Clare is now the captive of ruthless mercenaries. Dragged through the wilderness while grieving heart-rending loss, she must maintain the illusion that she is the princess. Because if she lets the mask slip, even for a moment, the Mortisians will have no reason to keep her alive.

After arresting traitors close to the crown, Desfan fights to rebuild his court, knowing that the imminent arrival of the Devendran princess will further upset the precarious balance in Mortise. But Desfan’s world is rocked when he discovers a rumor that rewrites the most devastating event in his life. He will stop at nothing to find the truth–no matter where it leads.

As Grayson struggles to find his footing in Mortise, he discovers new friends and enemies. His life is further complicated by the tenuous alliance with his spymaster brother. With secrets deepening around him, Grayson must decide where his loyalties truly lie. Through it all, his heart remains in Ryden with Mia. Unfortunately, his love for her is no secret, and the Black Hand is a coveted weapon . . .

Eyrinthia holds its breath as allies and enemies collide. Secrets. Lies. Betrayals. Nothing will be the same.

Royal Captive is book three in the Fate of Eyrinthia YA fantasy romance series, and should be read in order. If you like swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and non-stop action with epic twists, then you’ll love the captivating world of Eyrinthia!

More info

Purchase your copy of Royal Captive on Amazon.
Visit Heather’s website: HeatherFrost.com.
Follow Heather on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for a review.Visit KameoMonson.com for short stories, book review, and information on Kameo Monson's books.

The post Royal Captive (Fate of Eyrinthia): A Book Review appeared first on Kameo Monson.

Remember the Butterfly by Rebecca L. Marsh: A Book Review

Award-winning author Rebecca L. Marsh recently released her fourth women’s fiction novel, Remember the Butterfly. Both a heart-wrenching and heart-warming story, this novel reminds us that motherhood comes in all forms.

My Thoughts on Remember the Butterfly

Remember the Butterfly brings up a lot of difficult topics, and most women have experienced at least one of them: loss, desperation, abuse, infertility, drug abuse, abandonment, and more. Author Rebecca L. Marsh handles each topic with a delicate touch but doesn’t hold back any realities. That’s part of what makes Remember the Butterfly such a great read.

I don’t want to tell you too much about the story. If I did, you would be prepared for some of the emotions that are so necessary for readers to feel throughout the book, but here is what I can tell you:

The main character, Jillian, witnessed the brutal death of her sister previous to the beginning of the story. The trauma leaves her with nightmares that even the love of her husband and mother cannot soothe. She desperately wishes for motherhood; it is her one great desire, but nothing seems to work. Then what can only be described as a miracle happens. But that doesn’t mean everything goes right.

Remember the Butterfly is divided into three parts. Part One and Part Three are written in third-person. Part Two follows another character who becomes just as important as Jillian. This portion of the story is written in first-person. The switch between the two points of view is seamless, and both stories are necessary in order to bring about the truth of what some mothers go through.

You won’t regret spending time or money on Remember the Butterfly. Every minute spent reading it was worth it to me.

The Official Blurb

Something unexpected changes the course of Jillian’s life.

After witnessing her sister’s murder, she’s been tormented by survivor’s guilt. Her desperate longing for a child compounds her grief, while endless fertility treatments weigh down her soul.
Just when hope seems beyond her grasp, her dream of motherhood comes true. All Jillian’s pain is washed away and joy fills her heart.

But when someone shows up threatening to take it all away, Jillian must choose between holding on to her newfound happiness or giving it all up for the sake of someone she loves.

Remember the Butterfly is a heartfelt and emotional story about love and sacrifice that will take you on an emotional journey.

More Info

Purchase Remember the Butterfly on Amazon.

Follow Rebecca Marsh on Facebook, GoodReads, and RebeccaLMarsh.com.

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are mine.Read more book reviews and short stories on my blog.

The post Remember the Butterfly by Rebecca L. Marsh: A Book Review appeared first on Kameo Monson.

Happy Singles Awareness Day: A Book Review

Cheerleader, Carlee, has everything she’s ever wanted–until she doesn’t, in Happy Singles Awareness Day.

Kimberly King, author of The Magical Troubles series and Lucky in Love, brings us the second book in the Honeyville High Romance Series: Happy Singles Awareness Day. This YA sweet romance is perfect for Christmas and Valentine’s Day.

My Thoughts on Happy Singles Awareness Day

Even if you’ve never heard of a human shark, you know what one is. Like those in the ocean, they circle their prey, waiting for the perfect time to strike, stealing what isn’t theirs away from those who love and deserve it… him.

Carlee McAdams knows all about sharks, and she’s used to seeing them circle her long-time boyfriend. But she never expected the messy frenzy one shark could cause. This feeding frenzy soon spreads throughout Honeville High and even into her home, attacking her as much as her now ex-boyfriend. And as it does, she has to deal with another shark… the one circling her. Alex Coleman.

As is always the fashion with King’s books, plenty of humor and fun resides within the pages of this sweet romance. The truths about respect and love bring the book together. But it is the healing touch King adds to the relationship between her main character, Carlee, and her overbearing, but well-meaning mother. You see, Carlee’s mother appears to be nothing more than an unyielding, flat character used to further the story, but readers will find the opposite is true. The story between mother and daughter is as touching as the one between the high school soon-to-be sweethearts.

Official Blurb

Getting dumped right before Valentine’s Day is bad enough, but things only get worse for cheerleader Carlee McAdams when an incriminating picture of her lands in the school paper. In the middle of her public, very complicated break-up, someone is desperate to see her fall, and they’ll stop at nothing until she hits rock bottom.

Just when life can’t get any more messy, ex-model Alex Coleman enters the picture: cute, interested, and totally off-limits. He’s everything she doesn’t want in a guy, so staying away should be easy. But that proves harder than it looks. The more she gets to know him, the more she starts to question if he’s really the guy she thought he was. Can she put her prejudices aside and give him a chance? But before she can decide, the one person she thought she could trust ends up being the one who’s about to bring everything down.

More Info

Mothers, daughters, adults, teens, and middle graders will find the sweet romance Happy Singles Awareness Day fits the Christmas and Valentine’s Day gift bill. You may even choose to pick it up for yourself!

Purchase your copy of Happy Singles Awareness Day on Amazon

Follow Kimberly King on social media: Facebook Twitter Goodreads

I received a copy of this book in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own. Read more of my book reviews at KameoMonson.com.

The post Happy Singles Awareness Day: A Book Review appeared first on Kameo Monson.

Sprout Book One by Carolyn Frank: A New Release

When Pete finds a giant seed hidden in a mysterious crack in the mountainside, he can’t wait to sprout it for his science project. But what sprouts isn’t quite what he expects, in Sprout Book One: The Seed.

Carolyn Twede Frank, a traditionally published romance author, is branching out! December 1st marks the release of her first independently published middle-grade book, Sprout Book One: The Seed.

My Thoughts on Sprout Book One

I don’t review the books I edit. Usually. But I when Carolyn approached me to see if I could help spread the word about her upcoming release of Sprout. I jumped at the chance.

Why?

Because Sprout is more than an entertaining book filled with fantasy and superheroes (and it does have both). It is a book filled with educational opportunities. Science, self-esteem, honesty, and a host of other lessons are taught throughout the story. Even as an adult, I gleaned amazing insights.

As I read Sprout, I laughed through many of the situations Pete, the main character, found himself in. I also had the decency to feel sorry for him on occasion. Watching Sprout, his tree-like, adopted brother, mature also brought a smile to my face. He is one cute kid, and I say that without his super embrace.

Kids of all ages will enjoy this book. Teachers and parents will appreciate the science and social lessons throughout the story as well as the questions found at the back of the book.

With Christmas around the corner, grandparents and parents often find themselves searching for books to share with their families. Sprout offers what every adult wants for their children: a safe, entertaining, and educational read. Perhaps you are looking for a great teacher’s gift: this is one I easily recommend.

Official Blurb

A geek, and proud of it, twelve-year-old Pete is determined to win the school science fair in an effort to convince his sports-enthusiast dad into accepting science as a worthwhile endeavor and for once be proud of Pete. Upon discovering a giant seed in the forest, Pete figures he has the grand prize wrapped up in a nutshell. When the seed sprouts into a baby, the science fair is off—no one can know the truth about Pete’s newly “adopted” brother, Sprout. Not even his dad. But when Sprout grows at an alarming rate, his skin turns green in the sun, and he exhibits super-hero-like plant powers, Pete fears he won’t be able to protect his new brother for long from those who would view Sprout as a threat. To make matters worse, Pete fears his dad likes Sprout more than him.

More Info

Purchase your copy of Sprout Book One: The Seed on Amazon

Though I worked with Carolyn Twede Frank on this project, I receive no monetary or other benefit for this review.Learn more about my editing services by visiting KameoMonson.com

The post Sprout Book One by Carolyn Frank: A New Release appeared first on Kameo Monson.

Heartless Hette: A Book Review

When Princess Hette refuses a sorcerer’s marriage proposal, she finds herself with a clockwork heart that leaves her doomed to his control in Heartless Hette.

Author M.L. Farb, a master at weaving inspirational tales as found in Vasilisa and The Fourth Sister, brings us the third book in the Hearth and Bard Tales, Heartless Hette. A story woven with strings of various fairy tales, this novel is sure to please!

My Thoughts on Heartless Hette

What would life become if our emotions put us under the control of another? Would we fight off our emotions to keep control of our freedoms? Would we be free at all?

These are questions Princess Hette must have considered when an evil sorcerer replaced her heart with a clockwork heart.

However, with no intention of giving up her right to the throne due to marriage, a clockwork heart is the least of Hette’s concerns, until she realizes that every strong emotion she feels causes her to desperately desire the sorcerer who swears she will accept his marriage proposal.

Hette, accompanied on her quest by the court’s fool and a maid, soon finds herself facing several trials of wit as she seeks to take her heart back.

Heartless Hette has quickly become a favorite of mine. Within its pages, Farb has spun a story with a quest, heroes, heroines, and evil-doers. Hidden fairy tale characters await recognition, while new characters tout depth and dimension. Filled with wit, readers discover fun riddles and intelligent methods used by–well, at least one fool.

I thoroughly enjoyed Heartless Hette, which is appropriate for all ages, and even has many hidden lessons children and adults can learn: humility, equality, forgiveness, and more.

Official Blurb

Come to Germania, where a clockwork heart rules and a fool advises–and a laugh can bring both to their knees.

When Princess Hette refuses a sorcerer’s proposal, he retaliates by stealing her heart—literally.

Desperate to resist his influence, Hette makes herself emotionless, stifling all feelings until she can find her heart and win it back. Only Konrad, the despised Court Fool, knows where to find the sorcerer, and he has his own curse to battle.

Riddles and magic plague their path, including a memory stealing witch, an unbeatable knight, and a magic book that would as soon drown them as lead them to their destination. Yet, if Hette can’t find the sorcerer in time, her heart will be the least of her losses.

More Info

Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Heartless Hette fits the bill for any lover of fairy tales or fantasy.

Purchase your copy of Heartless Hette on Amazon

Follow M.L. Farb on social media and on her website.

FacebookTwitterInstagramI received a copy of Heartless Hette in exchange for this review. All opinions are voluntary and my own.

Read more book reviews at KameoMonson.com.

The post Heartless Hette: A Book Review appeared first on Kameo Monson.

Eye for an Eye: A Book Review

A sleepy little town with mysteries like Who stole grandma’s Social Security check? is exactly what Arthur Flint needs. But sometimes, little mysteries become the whole shebang, and Arthur Flint may just find himself in the throes of danger in Eye for an Eye by J.M. Holt.

J.M. Holt, a new name in the world of literature, brings a whole slew of lovable characters for readers to enjoy, and I’ll admit it, I looked forward to the release of this book. In fact, I should have added this review to the blog some time ago. But, dearest Holt, I have not forgotten you. Even more, I look forward to the coming of book two in the Arthur Flint Series, whenever that may be.

My Thoughts about Eye for an Eye

I always enjoy a good mystery. That’s part of what makes reading fun–never knowing exactly what’s going to happen next. Every book has some kind of mystery. But then there are the books built on a mystery. Eye for an Eye fits into that category.

As I mentioned above, I waited for this book to come out. I wanted to see what J.M. Holt imagined. Unlike some spy novels, I never worried that I might run into crude or risque scenes. But I did wonder if it would have the excitment that I look forward to when reading thrilling mysteries. Maybe it would have the cuddly characters of cozy mysteries that I enjoy so much? I wasn’t sure if I was looking forward to an action-packed thriller or a fun-loving mystery. In truth, I got a little bit of both.

A Good Mix

Eye for an Eye introduces some pretty lovable characters, including Danger, the dog. But if dogs aren’t your thing, then you’re sure to find at least one character that makes you laugh or cry or worry that it won’t all work out. Maybe it’s Arthur, the CIA agent turned P.I. Maybe it’s his wife or his newest partner. It might even be the strung-out druggie who helps gather information on the neighborhood lowlifes.

These characters give the story a little bit more of a cozy mystery feel. But the mystery deals with a spy who has gone into hiding and now works in the private sector. He has connections. He gets attacked. He has a gun. And he has to take the bad dudes down or die. In that way, the excitment of a thriller exists between these pages. If you don’t like being scared, though, don’t worry. As nail-biting as this story is, it won’t leave you with nightmares.

Similar in feel to a cozy mystery with a little excitement on the side, I’m pretty sure you’ll find that this book has it all. A moral spy, a loving wife, a loyal partner, and perfectly evil bad guys you can’t wait to see taken down.

The Official Blurb

Book One in the Arthur Flint Series

When Arthur’s black-op mission went disastrously wrong, he made an enemy of a powerful and ruthless criminal kingpin. Marked for death, Arthur and his wife Kate fled, disappearing into an anonymous small-town existence.

Arthur knows it’s only a matter of time until they’re found, and the strain of constant vigilance is wearing on him. But he’s out of chess moves, and until he can come with a plan, he and Kate are forced to be ghosts in their own lives.

By night, Arthur is a history professor at the local community college. By day, he works as a private investigator in the city, using his specialized training to help people solve problems the authorities can’t.

When an older woman shows up at his office in desperate need of help, he agrees to take the case. Soon enough, he finds himself embroiled in a one-man crusade against a brutal crime ring that is terrorizing vulnerable people throughout several neighborhoods.

But how deep does the crime ring go?

Can he fight from the shadows and win? Or will he finally decide to face the enemy, and win his life back?

More Info

Purchase your copy of Eye for an Eye on Amazon.

Follow J.M. Holt on Facebook and Goodreads,

The post Eye for an Eye: A Book Review appeared first on Kameo Monson.