Review- Ties That Bind

Ties That Bind

by Carolyn Arnold

Available at Amazon   http://amzn.to/ncwkZs

Available at Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/62102

Also at Goodreads   http://bit.ly/o6EC4q

      This book a first in the Madison Knight series by Carolyn Arnold is a beginning look at the police detective and what makes her tick. As the story progresses we see the woman Madison Knight is and the lengths she goes for justice. Madison Knight is a kick –ass, hold no prisoners police detective. She has intelligence, attention to detail, charm and hard headed determination.  Madison Knight is driven bound to her job and justice for the murdered victim. She like a lot of people has to fight bureaucracy and hierarchy just to do her job but if I were the victim I’d want Madison Knight on the job. The story was solid interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat while it took me on a roller coaster ride to its conclusion.

There’s only so much an author can tell about their character in one book so I look forward to reading more of this character in future books.

Those who enjoy the Castles series on television, the Kinsey Millhone books by Sue Grafton, or the much heralded Prime Suspect books by Lynda La Plante, which were made into a BBC series, will enjoy this strong take charge woman. They will also enjoy the Author’s attention to little details about police procedures making it a more authentic experience.

five stars out of five

Review- Reunion

Reunion 

(available at Amazon http://amzn.to/pZFVVV  ) 

Smashwords  http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/44678

By Jeff Bennington

            Mr. Bennington gets in the mind of a teen bent on revenge in this novel. He gives life to the teen and the motives behind the killings. It starts as all books do, at the beginning, the catalyst event, the shooting twenty years before. The slow build up to the killings is so intense and so well written your stomach begins to hurt .After the initial killing, we see what happened to the students that survived .As the reunion approaches, we discover the survivor’s reactions, and the secrets behind them,

          Mr. Bennington’s skills as a writer are evident as the build-up to the reunion continues throughout the book. The brilliantly weaved story defines the characters and makes them engaging .If you are a fan of Stephen King, you’ll certainly enjoy this book. It has the same spine tingling kind of thrill. This book is a fast paced paranormal thriller that you will not be able to put down until the conclusion.

***** 5 out of five stars

Review- By A Thread

By A Thread  
Available at Amazon http://amzn.to/pc2pmj 
Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/57299


by Marty Beaudet 


    This book is a tour de force thriller of gripping action. This writer really knows how to research a story and give it accuracy.
    
    It begins with the seeds of terrorism. We start with a prisoner of Gitmo being released but blackmailed to work for the CIA with threats to his family. We see his wife who doesn’t have a clue where he has been; struggling to feed her children and translating for her country to feed her children and fight terrorism. Both are being manipulated by the very government they are so loyal to simply because of their native land. As we delve into the novel we get to know the main character Kevin a missionary of the Mormon Church posted in Germany. Kevin an innocent raised in the Mormon faith he has never been allowed to think of his own sexuality. He is confused and hiding from himself as who he really is goes against church doctrine. Kevin is approached by the CIA to spy on a terrorist suspect Jasim Shammari whom Kevin has met in his missionary duties. Kevin finds himself falling for the suspect and must choose either the suspect or his country and religion. The story really takes off from there as we find out the president has been killed and the vice president is dead. Who is really behind those acts of terrorism it seems in the novel that the seeds of terrorism are insidiously beginning to germinate in the youth and in desperate people’s lives that are blackmailed by unscrupulous people. However is the real culprit Al Quaida or is something more sinister at play? Does someone want to seize the power of the presidency of the United States for themselves? Could they have engineered all to size that power? Really nail biting suspense and heart-pounding chases as you turn the pages wondering what will happen next. I truly enjoyed this well-crafted story of intrigue. This author is a new favourite of mine and I look forward to anything else he might write.

5 out of five 

*****

Book Review: Draugr (Northern Frights)

 


Draugr (Northern Frights) 
by Arthur Slade
Available at Amazon http://ow.ly/1uQcKA

     I was a big reader of Grimm’s fairy-tales when I was a child I loved the scare that you would get from them.  I also loved family tales and legends so this book Draugr (Northern Frights) [Kindle Edition] by Arthur Slade intrigued me despite the fact that it was written for a younger audience.

     The young characters in the book Sarah, Michael and Angie are visiting their grandfather in Manitoba, Canada. Their Grandfather whose homeland was Iceland likes to spin tales of family legends from Iceland. He tells them of a family member coming back from the dead for revenge. The three American children are mostly scoff at the story but the next day it is like the legend is coming true they see a ghost child and darkness settles over the town and their lives. Their grandfather is worried and demands that they cut their two week visit short and go home immediately. He arranges for them to go home that next morning. While they are all ensconced in the living room sleeping something breaks into their grandfather’s home and steals him away. Sarah summons all her strength from herself and her ancestors to disregard edicts from adults find and put her own in jeopardy to save those who are closest to her.

       I truly enjoyed reading this book as it invoked the feelings I had reading those Grimms fairy-tales for the first time. This is an excellent thriller for young adults or young readers who are ready for something more. It will arouse the young readers delight in reading with its fast paced story and frightful tale.

**** *

5 out of five
Available at Amazon http://ow.ly/1uQcKA

Review- In search Of Lucy

In Search of Lucy (available  at Amazon http://amzn.to/mVdqMf 
 Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50303

by Lia Fairchild

     In Search of Lucy, Lucy is struggling with left over issues from her childhood. She raised Katie protected and mothered here over the years but Katie left for her own family life in Texas and left Lucy behind. Lucy was left bereft and empty nested especially as her addicted mother abandoned her too leaving nothing but debts. She had no education nothing but memories of her sister and the pain of her childhood to keep her company. Lucy lives in limbo suffering the sins of the past. Her estranged sister Katie calls her to ask the ultimate sacrifice she needs Lucy to save her again by giving her a kidney.

     This book is rich with feeling as the author takes you on Lucy’s journey of ups and downs to find herself and learn to move on from the past that holds her back. I enjoyed this book so much. The story was rich with lots of detail to make it feel real and alive. It felt like stepping through the pages as I read and into Lucy’s head.What an inspiring, uplifting book. I couldnt put it down to its conclusion

5 stars out of five

*****

Review-Sacred Secrets, A Jacody Ives Mystery (Jacody Ives Mysteries)

Sacred Secrets, A Jacody Ives Mystery (Jacody Ives Mysteries) [Kindle Edition] Available at Amazon  http://amzn.to/w1MTO0 

Author Linda S. Prather & Charles, Jr. Prather 

  Jacody Ives has a secret and is well suited to solving the crime that haunts his sleep. He seeks absolution in solving what haunts him. Katie O’Connor is a woman who has been living with the knowledge she was at death’s door since she was a child but the door is opening wider and she hasn’t much time. An accident gives Katie the life she’s always wanted but the heart is a bridge to the killer and Katie’s past. Jacody’s and Katie’s lives are about to intersect with a psychic bond involving a serial’s killers actions, his victim haunting them both.

In the book Jacody states ”It all boils down to secrets who was hiding what and why?” Isn’t that what every good mystery is about and this one is definitely a better than average mystery.

This is a suspenseful story with intricate layers woven with great care and detail to make an exceptional read. I truly enjoyed this stunning mystery as the author drew me in and made me identify with both of the main characters. It reminded me of some of Tony Hillerman’s books with its mysticism and mythic legends woven into the story. Readers who enjoy his books would certainly enjoy this one. This book was one I could stop reading until its conclusion. I look forward to reading the prequel to this book The Gifts and any other material from this author.

*****

5 stars out of five
"The Gifts" available at Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Gifts-Jacody-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B003U4WVQ4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1314574332&sr=1-1

Book Review:The Good,The Bad and the Undead

The Good,The Bad and the Undead
By Kim Harrison
Available at Amazon http://amzn.to/rK2qSy
I have to start off by saying these books Kim Harrison are totally addictive. I read the book directly after this and because I did without reading this one I was slightly puzzled by the storyline.so when I found this book I was pleased so I could understand the story better.
     Without giving out too much of the story Rachel is a witch who use to work for a government agency and now she has gone on her own to work as a bounty hunter.She lives with a Vampire and a family of Pixies(one of which is Jenks who works for her)in a converted church and runs her bounty agency out of there. Living with a vampire who is trying to reform is difficult because as you know Vampires drink of blood and not drinking blood for them it is like resisting chocolate.Jenks is fun and free spirited and he and his family are an interesting brood for this book. 
In this book Rachel is drawn back to work as a consultant for the government agency she once worked for, to find someone who is killing Ley-Line witches.Rachel views and  guilt of crimes are dismissed as prejudicial and without proof by the stuffed shirts at the government agency who only operate by the book but when they throw Rachel into the mix she must find the killer before the killer strikes her and her family.A truly fun read for anyone that loves the paranormal books.
5 stars out of five