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May 30, 2014 03:39PM
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The Warrior by Ty Patterson (Goodreads Author)
Christine Terrell's review May 30, 14
4 of 5 stars
What a ride! The Warrior is an excellent action adventure/thriller novel written by first time author Ty Patterson. I enjoyed this quick read (153 pages) immensely. Despite its short length, it was full of thrilling action. The last 33% or so of the book just flew by. The protagonist, Zeb, though not exactly law-abiding and shrouded in mystery for much of the book, was very likable as was his circle of comrades. I enjoyed reading about all the interesting "warrior toys and paraphernalia" he used in seeking justice. The only flaws in the book were kind of an odd writing style which though unusual didn't really bother me and also the short length of the book. I think more pages could have been used to flesh out the characters a little more. We only get a glimpse of why Zeb is the way he is, and I would have loved to have had more of his backstory. I must say I did get tears in my eyes (very rare event for me while reading a book) during the last few pages, knowing the story was ending, and I am excitedly awaiting the sequel, "Reluctant Warrior", to be released. I recommend The Warrior to all action/thriller fans. I see a very bright future for Mr. Patterson.
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Better Than I Know MyselfDid you ever have a friend who was more like family? For Regina Foster, Jewel Prescott, and Carmen Webb this is exactly true. Better Than I Know Myself starts in the late 70's when the girls are seniors in high school and making the decision on where to go to college. Three different girls from three very different backgrounds. Jewel, a former child star. Regina, the daughter of two college educated parents and little sister to older brothers who had all attended and graduated from college. And Carmen whose parents had left her at a young age.
The story progresses through their meeting in New York at Barnard and continues through their graduation. Regina and Jewel were already roommates when they met Carmen at the university library. They all got stuck in an elevator together and as they say, "The rest is history." They lived together through the early 80's as they grew into women and started to become independent.
The book covers twenty years of friendship and sisterhood and all the trials and tribulations that entails.
This book made me laugh out loud and brought a tear or two to my eyes. It also made me want to get together with my closest girlfriends. This is a book that you have to read until the end.
I just finished the scifi thriller Smokescreen by tasha lessey. Here's a link to my review, enjoy! a read for review request
Review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
If you check my book reviews out and like them, please click like. Thanks! :-)
Laurie StevensThe Dark Before Dawn by Laurie Stevens (Goodreads Author)
Christine Terrell's review May 31, 14
4 of 5 stars
Recommended for: all mystery/thriller lovers
I read The Dark Before Dawn as a Q&A with the author was coming up in my Goodreads book club. This book was a pleasant surprise. I found it to be a terrific read, and I finished it in 4 days which is much faster than usual. There were numerous reasons why I liked this book. The action began on page 1, drawing me in right away. I liked the way the author let me periodically get into the killer's head, whetting my appetite without giving anything away. The murderer's modus operandi was interesting and unique. The characters, especially the protagonist Gabriel McRay, were very well-developed and I found myself rooting hard for McRay. McRay, a police sergeant, is multi-flawed and saddled with demons. One of the major characters of the book is McRay's psychiatrist, Dr. B. The sessions between the psychiatrist and the police sergeant were fascinating. Getting to the bottom of McRay's issues was as interesting as the excellent story line involving cracking the case of the multiple murders. The author started doling out twists relatively early in the book and they kept coming. Just when you think the story is wrapping up, it's breaks open again. There was also a bit of romance, which I liked. The Dark Before Dawn is an excellent novel and I highly recommend it to all mystery/thriller lovers. I give it 4.5 stars. I have already purchased the 2nd book in the series, and I believe a 3rd book is to be published soon.
Nancy S. ThompsonThe Mistaken (The Mistaken, #1) by Nancy S. Thompson (Goodreads Author)
Christine Terrell's review May 31, 14
4 of 5 stars
Recommended for: all thriller fans
I thoroughly enjoyed The Mistaken, first novel by Nancy S. Thompson. The book is told from several points of view; each chapter is designated with the name of the character telling the story. The main characters were very well-developed in large part because of this form of narration. Some reviewers have felt the first half of the book was slow, but I enjoyed that part of the book as it was setting up the characters for the thrilling last 25-33% of the story, and also provided background for a "twisty explanation" regarding the protagonist's family at the end. The payoff for me was big. I must have cried "OMG" out loud 20 times during the last quarter of the book. The main character had gotten himself so very deep in trouble, I really didn't see a way out. There was one particularly tight spot he was in where he miraculously made it out; my 4 instead of 5 stars is because his means of getting out of that particular jam was a bit unreal! Despite that, the description was thrilling and I do believe my heart rate actually went up, something that had never happened before while reading a book. Another point of import is despite the despicable flaws the main character Ty developed throughout the course of the novel, I thought he was very likable and found myself vigorously rooting him on. I have already downloaded #2 in The Mistaken series titled Leverage and look forward to another excellent read by this impressive new author. I highly recommend The Mistaken to all thriller fans.
Mark SennenTouch by Mark Sennen (Goodreads Author)
Christine Terrell's review Apr 30, 14
4 of 5 stars
I loved this book. I found it highly engrossing after just a bit of a slow start. While reading the second half of the book I had a hard time putting it down. It is told from the perspective of both Detective Charlotte Savage (a strong, competent, very likable protagonist) and the main perpetrator, though we are not totally sure who the latter is till close to the end. There are a lot of characters so the reader has to be on his toes to keep everyone straight; personally, I didn't find that to be a problem and enjoyed the various interactions. There was a big "creep" factor in this book that I liked--the darker and more deranged the better! I plan to finish reading this series (I understand there will eventually be a total of 6 books) and look forward to anything else Mr. Sennen puts out there in the future.
Oak AndersonTake One With You by Oak Anderson (Goodreads Author)
Christine Terrell's review May 31, 14
4 of 5 stars
I received a free copy of this fabulous debut novel by Oak Anderson in exchange for an honest review.I found TOWY to be an intriguing piece of work. Hard to believe this is a first time author. I loved the originality of the premise, the characters, the cool graphics. It really made me think. I would have liked this novel to have been a little longer in order to flesh out a few members of the cast, especially Thane and Anita. That minor point aside, overall I found this book to be a really unique read for me and one I will not forget. I will definitely be reading future works by Mr. Anderson.
Review of Ted Galdi's Elixir a read for review request Elixir
Review Link:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review of Steven F Freeman's Ruthless a read for review request
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review of Steven F Freeman's Nefarious a read for review request
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review of Brian Robert Smith's book Purified a read for review request
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review of Ty Patterson's The Warrior a read for review request
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The reviews I just posted are all the new indie thrillers I've checked out recently.
My Review of The Knife Of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review of Itch: The Explosive Adventures of An Element Hunter
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Love the latest book I finished, The Light Who Shines. 
Here's my review.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
4 star and 4 star for overall Trilogy
I love seeing the dynamics of counselor and patient and trying to figure out the why and how to assist them to heal or overcome their addictions. If I was to start my career again, I would study to be a sex counselor. Morgan Snow's newest patient is a powerful, influential man who is secretly addicted to watching porn online. We know he is not the murderer but all the evidence points to him, so who is the murderer. I love how this ended, great suspense with perfect answer to the end.
She's also working with a group of high schoolers, all is confidential if the teenagers come to the sessions and try to restrain from their obsession with real life sex fantasies online. One is keeping a huge secret which is unbelievable when it is revealed and so scary when thinking about the things teenagers think about and do to get noticed, scary.
There are women online who are fulfilling sex fantasies and then they start getting sick and dying in front of thousands of viewers. The police start to get phone calls from all over the states but in the end they end up being traced to a New York company and Dr. Snow has access to the answers without realising.
She now has to decide does she keep her patients secrets as part of the counselor patient confidentiality clause or does she relate the information to her lover who happens to be the one investigating the murders. This of course also adds personal tensions between the two.
These books are labeled Erotic Psychological Thrillers but I don't consider them to be erotica, it is sex related issues. I found this trilogy to be sexy, thrilling, addicting and all with great endings. Recommended, I give the full trilogy 4 stars.
Amber wrote: "Review of Ty Patterson's The Warrior a read for review requestReview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The reviews I just posted are all the new in..."
Great review Amber, adding to Wishlist.
Thanks Tea Time! Glad you enjoyed my review. ^_^ Hope you enjoy the Warrior.
Just finished "The Second Deadly Sin" by Asa Larsson, a Scandinavian Crime Thriller.4 Star
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Two of the best I've read in recent months: Brothers and Bones and Burning Man.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
here's my review for the Mask of Jason Voorhees. enjoy! :) Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
This one stretched beyond the realms of credibility for me at times. A few too many dead bodies that kept piling up and up. In parts, it felt like a black comedy, and actually had me laughing out loud, but what Alex does do very successfully is capture observations and atmosphere. The nuances of characters and settings were brilliantly observed, and the cloying London summer was both stifling and agoraphobic.
Not a bad book by any means but of the two I preferred The Wicked Girls. Three stars.
Mod
Great review. I added it. :)"
Thanks!!
Just finished FaceOff, the compilation of short stories that match up well-known characters from different authors. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
here is my review
Also Thanks for the Memories Here is my review for this one.
Here's my review for Black Star Canyon the first season. Enjoy! :)Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
Firstly, thank you to the publisher and author for the copy via Netgalley. Much appreciated.
The Broken is a psychological thriller that had me feeling uncomfortable at the best of times. Two couples, supposedly best friends - the girls swapping stories, spending much time together drinking, shopping, their own daughters always playing together -the boys best drinking buds, confide in each other the way men do. Then it all goes horribly wrong. One couple separate, the man leaving his wife for a younger woman. Not unheard of. But what follows is the most awful, gut wrenching, explosive, nerve jangling aftermath that would have most people running for the hills. The woman left behind totally falling apart at the seams and this is where it got uncomfortable for me. I've witnessed something not too dissimilar myself and as events unfolded everything was brought glaringly back to life. A bit too close for comfort!
As the book goes along, the author cleverly gives insights into their past/present lives, their personalities. I didn't much like any of them and there were times that I became so frustrated I could have shaken and shouted at them, especially Hannah. It cruises along nicely, ramping up the sinister feel, you just know something is going to happen, and just as you think you do .... Suffice to say the book has a great end, left me feeling chilled, I actually got goosebumps! To the extent I've been replaying bits in my head, asking myself 'what did I miss?'
I recommend this book highly. If you haven't been there yourself, you may know of someone who has.
Happy reading!
Just finished
Thank you to the publisher and author for the copy via NetGalley.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
As an author, I've had the good fortune of having had many good reviews for which I'm very grateful. However, there's one that particularly sticks out in my mind and makes me chuckle every time I think of it because positive reviews don't usually use words like "nauseated" and "horrified". However, this one did. It was posted by a reader on Goodreads after she read my mystery TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE:
Too Little, Too Late"Oh my GOD. Right from the first few chapters, this book nauseated me, horrified me, filled my head with graphic images that I'm sure I won't be able to erase for a few months, and made me want to throw my Kindle every time a new plot twist clicked in my head, which seemed to be every few pages. And yet, I couldn't bring myself to stop reading, I just had to keep going to see what happened next! All the characters with seemingly unrelated lives, that seemed as though they'd be brought together so loosely, merged together in a way I could have never imagined! If that last line turns out to be a cliffhanger for a sequel, I'm going to hide in my closet for a week and think carefully about if I'm really ready to experience that kind of emotional roller-coaster a second time just because this book was so beautifully written!"
Oh my! This is not the type of book I usually read. I am not drawn to novels or movies involving either the military or the Middle East. I have not read Saving Private Ryan; I have not seen Lawrence of Arabia. I picked up this book as a number of people whose opinions I respect in my favorite Goodreads group thought it was terrific. They were right. Nefarious is a very strong novel by first time author Steven F. Freeman.
There were a number of things I loved about the book. I was intrigued right off the bat by chapters 1 and 2, which appeared to have absolutely nothing to do with each other. I was thinking "how in the world are these two story snippets going to dovetail?" As I read on through the first half of the book, I found myself really engaged. This was surprising to me as this section of the book involved the military in Afghanistan. I honestly had been preparing to slog through that part to get to the second half where the two stories from chapters 1 and 2 merged; that section was set primarily in Georgia and Washington D.C. Another feature I really loved and which contributed to the fast pacing of the book was the short chapters. There were 317 pages and 69 chapters, which repeatedly lulled me into reading "just one more chapter" before turning out the lights. The protagonist was extremely likable and easy to root for. The villains were indeed nefarious; I got so worked up regarding one of them 20% into the book that I actually sent a Goodreads personal message to Mr. Freeman just to let him know this guy better get his comeuppance or I would not be happy!
The storyline held my attention all the way through. There was no unnecessary prose. The ending unfolded like concentrated orange juice (one could not skim this part), and I was completely, utterly surprised by it. A final feature I liked was the hint of a romance though not enough to put off romance-haters.
I give this book 4.5 stars. The slight knockoff from a 5 star rating is because the good guys were so incredibly smart. Not sure there are people that brilliant. If I am wrong, then this is a 5 star novel. In any event, I see a very bright future for new author Steven F. Freeman.
I highly recommend this book to all mystery/crime/thriller readers, even those who think they won't like it for whatever reason. I plan to read the second, third and fourth books in the Blackwell Files series by the end of summer.
After a long absence from the world of Mary Minor “Harry” Harristeen and her friends and family (human and animal) in Crozet, Virginia, I picked up The Litter of the Law, the 21st of the Mrs. Murphy cozy mysteries by Sneaky Pie Brown and her human co-writer, Rita Mae Brown. Harry is one of those individuals who seems to stumble upon trouble at every turn, and she is always ready to stick her nose in to get to the bottom of things. Her pets, cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter and corgi Tee Tucker, are always beside her keeping her safe and doing a bit of investigating on their own.
In The Litter of the Law, Harry and her husband Fair discover a body posed as a scarecrow. Later, she and friend Susan find the body of Hester Martin, a rather eccentric middle-aged woman who ran a vegetable stand. Her corpse was dressed as a witch as part of a Halloween display. Harry, of course, worms her way into the investigation by asking questions of Deputy Cynthia Cooper, and her pets are with her at the grand finale to help nail the killers.
Having read most, if not all, of the Mrs. Murphy books, I found this to be less engaging than some of her previous works. The dialogue among the animals was mostly name-calling and bickering, whereas in earlier books, there was much more cooperation among them. In previous stories, also, the animals had a bigger role in solving the crimes. I have lived with cats for thirty years and at present have seven wonderful, unique felines, and I can see bits of their personalities in Mrs. Murphy and Pewter. My “fat” cat is the Queen, and I don’t think any of the others would dare taunt her about her size! (She’s also the smartest.) I can imagine that hearing this story read as an audio book would be quite amusing; however, in this case, I would much prefer the print version because Michael Gellatly's illustrations are magnificent!
I did find the themes of green living and Native American rights that were interjected into the plot to be relevant and interesting. At times, however, they seemed to detract from the mystery itself, and I felt that weakened it somewhat. Despite these few shortcomings, it was still a fun read, and I look forward to the next Sneaky Pie-Rita Mae collaboration.
Mike, I commend you for your generosity! If I read any book that rated a meager 2 stars, I seriously doubt I'd try another one by that author (at least not in the same series). Even a 3-star rating is pushing the envelope, but especially if it's a debut novel, I might be willing to try another because writers do get better (until, that is, they become best-selling authors and start getting complacent and lazy...we all know some who are at that point and beyond).
Finished
3STAR
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
4STAR
, excellent thriller.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just finished a debut psychological thriller I received from Netgalley. 
3 1/2 stars
I enjoyed this psychological thriller debut by Mary Kubica. My concern is when debuts are labeled as similar to other books, in this case Gone Girl. I'm tired of it, I wasn't a fan of Gone Girl, which for one, may actually keep readers away from the book. I also think it sets debut authors up for failure.
I thought this was a great debut, I felt like there was inspiration of authors throughout the novel and so I look forward to MaryK finding her own voice. I thoroughly enjoy when multiple points of view are used and I think it was executed well. The netgalley version was hard to read as there were no chapters, just continuous writing but that is one of the down faults of an ARC.
The beginning sucked you in and the ending was great with an amazing bonus at the end, brilliant I thought, not shocking as I had the thought but still great unique spin. My concern was in the middle. An abduction plan is set and then Colin decides to keep Mia, I wished I understood more of why. This is where I think MaryK could have had a hit especially with the unique ending, but it did seem to drag on a bit.
My take was that MaryK couldn't decide if she wanted to focus on the investigation, the lives of those grieving the loss of Mia or the suspense of Colin and Mia victim/abductor relationship and so no area was fleshed out enough, some details came across as unnecessary instead of building on the suspense. This was my main complaint, I thought this book could have been sit on the edge of your seat worthy and it just missed the wow factor.
There was a lot going on in this book but either editing was needed or just further writing experience which she will get in time. I would give Mary Kubica another try, it piqued my attention and overall I enjoyed it.
5 star for me of
A quote by Paul Simon is the intro to the book - losing love is like a window in your heart, everybody sees you're blown apart.
This book is labeled a novel but it is a fascinating tension building thriller, I highly recommend to psychological thriller fans. This is one of the best unreliable character driven books I have read.
I really enjoyed reading about Dr. Bobby and how he met his lovely wife and then their charmed life together. It is amazing what a tragedy will do to a person and a relationship. If you have ever known someone you was trying to help and finally the only way was that they had to hit bottom, but watching and waiting was brutal. The tension in this book is shocking and you just say Dr. Bobby, what will it take, stop and put your life back together.
Dr. Bobby's father committed suicide and left him his manuscript and a gun. Dr. Bobby lives his life just not wanting to be like his dad but in the end it all ends with the manuscript and the gun, in what way is the question,
Such a thought provoking read and as it is labeled a novel you don't try to figure out the mystery. And one suspenseful part we figure out before Dr. Bobby starts solving his tragic crime but I think this adds to the dilemma.
I cannot say more other than go read this. This is one I think more bloggers should read, put it on your soon to be read shelf, it deserves to push a few back down to wait longer.
I do think the title doesn't draw you in and the cover doesn't help even though both are relevant. For those that have read it, what are your thoughts on a title? Mine are My Dad's Manuscript, The Manuscript and the Gun or The Manuscript Tragedy.
Steven F. Freeman
This book is the sequel to author Steven F. Freeman's Nefarious and did not disappoint. I found Ruthless to be an excellent read. It was great to reunite with the extremely likable main protagonists that I first met in Nefarious. Unlike Nefarious, this story took place entirely in the United States, with Alton Blackwell back in civilian life. The book got off to a running start with two murders accomplished by page 25. This was followed by several other incidents that added to the mystery. Though the investigation took some time to fully develop and slowed a portion of the first two thirds of the book, the overall read was fast. The last 100 pages of the 298 page story picked up speed significantly and had me totally engaged. The reveal was engrossing, the ending highly satisfying. Mr. Freeman does a wonderful job with character development, which I loved. There was a background of romance in the story; this was tame and not distracting. The gory/graphic titer was low.
There are 4 books in the Blackwell Files series and I have just started the 3rd book, T Wave. There is a 4th book, Havoc, soon to come out as well. I am hoping that Mr. Freeman continues to add books to this very enjoyable series; I plan to read them all.
"From Cradle to Grave" Patricia MacDonaldOne of my favourites, usually i take my time reading a book but with this one it was impossible. Once i started i had to know what happened, Claire's character is deep and complicated, she suffers from depression then she confesses committing two horrible murders, but her friend Morgan tries to help her and find out what happened. Does she know her friend as well as she thinks?
T Wave
I was kindly sent a copy of this book by the author, Steven F. Freeman, in exchange for an honest review.
I found T Wave to be a very engaging novel. Being a newly-retired physician, this book held a lot of appeal for me; I was not disappointed. This book is third in the 4-book Blackwell Files series. Since one of Mr. Freeman's strong points is character development, the reader would do well the read the books in order. By doing so, one is rewarded with main characters that feel like old friends. There were a lot more potential suspects in this book than in the previous two, so the reader has to pay attention, but I found them not to difficult to keep straight. The story flows quickly, as descriptions are basically limited to need to know, and the individual chapters were short (which I love). I thought I had the killer figured out, but it turns out Mr. Freeman fooled me again. This too I love!
As with the first 2 books of the series, there was a romantic subplot, which I enjoyed. Probably the only criticism I would give is that there is a lot of repetition of info relating to the first 2 books, which I imagine is for the benefit of those who skipped the previous novels. Do not skip the first two!
I was happy with the ending of T Wave and am looking forward to reading book 4, Havoc, very soon. I am hoping Mr. Freeman is currently working on a book 5!
If possible, I would award T Wave 4.5 stars. I recommend this book and the Blackwell Files series to all mystery fans.
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