"The River At Night" by Erica Ferencik

Buy "The River At Night" on Amazon on Jan 2017: click here!

"Looking back, I equate this stage of enjoying the wilderness with the second glass of wine. Everything is lighter; you can see the funny side of disaster. But things rarely improve with the third, they get dangerous with the fourth, and you better pray to God someone is around to scoop you off the floor after that. It was our second day in the woods and we were days away from home."

Four friends are on their annual girls trip, a white water rafting adventure in the Maine wilderness. Wini, the reluctant participant, would have been happy sitting on a beach somewhere. Pia. Rachel. Sandra. Their young guide Rory. 

At first it was kind of a slow start with Wini, and her reluctance to go off with her friends. Each of them kind of re-examine their lives. Comparing notes, figuring where they belong in life, and the universe.

After an accident they must find the will to survive until rescue comes. What will they do to survive? Will they risk their own life to save a friends? Will all the things that haven't been said come out? Who lives and who doesn't? Or will the four survive as a unit? 

When they come upon the site of a campfire hey are hopeful that they are rescued. They could be wrong. Evil is waiting. With survival at hand, truths are uncovered, secrets revealed. Inner strength shows itself. 

This first half was a an interesting tale of action and adventure. The second half a thriller and a tale of friendship, and the ties that bind you or break you. 

Thank you Erica Ferencik, Netgalley, and Gallery Books

Merry Christmas!

"A Tapestry of Tears" Short Stories from India by Gita Reddy

                                                                                                     

Buy "A Tapestry of Tears" Short Stories from India now on Amazon: click here!

"What must I do, to forget?" she asked. "You must create a remembrance so that you do not forget. You must make a place for those girls in your life, talk about them when you feel like it, and weep." 

"A Tapestry of Tears" is a collection of short stories from India. I've previously read many of this authors other books. She writes adult, as well as children's books. I've enjoyed them all. 

You know sometimes when you read something out of your own parameters, you're apt to learn something new. You also realize that we are all more alike as women than not, even though our cultures may seriously vary. 

You also will learn how devastating some things are. In the first story there is a tale of how women poison their newborn girls, and are expected to do this. Sons are preferred. I can't imagine as a parent living with this. But, learning to be strong, they found a way to cope. 

Descriptive and flowing words will allow you to immerse yourself in these stories. Mostly about relationships, and women, empathetic tales. 

Thank you Gita Reddy. I always enjoy your work.

"Two Days Gone" (A Ryan DeMarco Mystery) by Randall Silvis

                                                                                                  

Buy "Two Days Gone" on Amazon- on sale Jan. 10th: click here!

"You're out there somewhere," he said. "You're cold and you're hungry, and as far as I know, you're completely out of your mind. But you're out there. And I'm coming to get you. I'll find you, my friend."......

Tom Huston, celebrity around his Pennsylvania college town. An author, professor and family man. Until the day comes his family is found gruesomely murdered, and Tom has disappeared.

Sergeant Ryan DeMarco knew Tom. Like everyone else, finds this murder hard to believe. His search for answers and Tom includes delving into a novel Tom was working on. Are there clues in it? Did Tom have a life that no one knew about? 

Is Tom alive? Dead? Innocent or guilty? Ryan will have to uncover secrets and untangle the confusion to get to the bottom of these murders. Are the answers in the books that Tom has written? Ryan's own pain and problems will keep him company on this road. 

I found Ryan to be an interesting character in his own right. Considering Huston as a friend, he struggles with his own sense of loss for this family. Along with his own personal losses, and demons, he has a hard edge, walking a fine line between (Pennsylvania State) police officer and friend. 

This story was gripping from the very first chapter. I didn't want to stop reading until I knew what happened to Claire, Thomas Jr., Alyssa, and baby David. Would the man they trusted the most really take their lives?

Thank you Randall Silvis, Netgalley, and Sourcebooks Landmark Publishers

Babytrick "The detroit im dyin" Trilogy Book 3 by T.V. LoCicero

                      

Buy "Babytrick" now on Amazon: click here!

"Buckman, whose arm she was on, called her Camie, but to everyone else she was BT. They all knew that BT stood for something she was not supposed to be- a babytrick- since anything under 16 was officially not allowed in the PP. But nobody here here really seemed to give a sh**, and the younger you looked, the more of a dick magnet you seemed to be.".......

Several story lines come together in this third book of the "detroit im dying" trilogy. Camie, a 14 year old hooker, trying to escape the current confines of her life. Mark, a free lance writer for Rolling Stone magazine, finds several interesting stories he's looking into. Camie being one, the current mayor's last term in office, and some shady characters weaved in and around these characters. Then there is Ella, a former cop, whose life is about to get ugly and complicated. 

A dark, sad story involving life on the streets of a hard town. Your chances of ending up dead seem to be pretty even odds. While a series, a definite stand alone. Death, violence, prostitution, and child exploitation. Will Camie make it out? Will Mark get a story or several? Will Ella be in so far over her head that she can't be saved? 

I enjoyed this dark disturbing tale, more than I expected. Unusual, but probably running along the lines of the truth of life on the dark side, and on the streets. Can this kind of a story have a happily ever after? You'll have to read it and find out. 

Thank you T.V. LoCicero.

"In Albuquerque, Abandoned" A Mystery Novel by Tower Lowe

  Buy "In Albuquerque, Abandoned on Amazon: click here!

"Leon continued to pace. "Yes, I know there's no baby in the dumpster. But I....it doesn't last long, knowing it. The thought keeps coming back-that I need to go rescue the baby. It's not bad now, but by tomorrow morning I won't be able to stop myself. I'm willing for that police officer to shoot me for the baby's sake."......

Cinnamon and Burro are back for book 7 in this series. Cinnamon is still hunting for her long gone mother, and isn't far behind when they get to Albuquerque.

They've been hired by a friend of Leon's family. The man, Leon, has been diagnosed with mental illness and is causing quite the daily scene at a dumpster near the school.

So many people want Leon stopped. Leon thinks he hears a baby crying and is continually in search of this baby. He's afraid it's been left in the dumpster. A local officer is close to shooting him, fed up with Leon's behavior. Others are becoming more and more rattled. Fear of whatever knowledge Leon might actually possess about the activities of others.

Does Cinnamon finally catch up to her mother? Burro has a possible new love life in the works. Will it work out? Will Leon find the crying baby, or will others get their way and finally have Leon locked away?

With quirky names and characters, a highly entertaining story. Just like the previous books, it's a fun read, a little serious, and very engrossing. Although a series, these can be read separately.

Thank you Tower Lowe

"Crescent City" (An Alec Winters Series Book One) by Chariss K. Walker

               Buy "Crescent City" now on Amazon: click here!

"When he reflected on his outward impression, Alec wasn't sure how he appeared to the predators he killed. They always cowered, looking on him with horror and terrorized by what they saw, but still, he didn't know how he looked in that form. He still felt like a man when he destroyed them. An angry man, but a man all the same. Those he protected saw......"


In the city of New Orleans there is a man, Alec. He appears fairly average. To the victims of horrible crimes he is an angel. To the evil perpetrators he is a beast, sent by God to deliver them to hell.

Vivien Simon is a local reporter. When she gets wind of an angel that victims claimed to have seen, she becomes involved for the hunt to Alec's identity. Vivien is able to help the victims and the police in a new way. This story was so unique and mesmerizing, I couldn't read fast enough.

Will Alec remain unidentifiable, except to his family? Will he continue to walk the streets of the "Crescent City" as a savior for the good, and punisher of the evil?

What a great read! I didn't know before reading this book, that New Orleans was also nicknamed the "Crescent City." I look forward to more in this series. What kind of life will Alec have with those he loves, and the secrets he must keep?

Thank you Chariss Walker

"Forbidden Birth" A Chris Ravello Medical Thriller by William Rubin

       Buy "Forbidden Birth" now on Amazon: click here!

"I stared back at my partner, speechless for the first time in years and feeling very old, very tired. On top of everything else going on, Commissioner Kelly had pulled me aside earlier, putting the screws on me to wrap things up quickly-as if it were that simple! And Dad had called me too. He was at a doctor's office getting tests run for an irregular heartbeat he had just developed. How many different directions could a guy get pulled before he snaps?"........

Dr. Chris Ravello is the only physician-detective in the history of the N.Y.P.D. Newly appointed to the ''Division of Medical Crimes," he's facing his first serial killer. Nicknamed "The Giver," this monster is taking young women and their unborn children, to experiment on.

Moving from doctor to police officer was easy for Chris after the murder of his mother. His family supportive, wife Michelle, and two young children. There are challenges brought about to the family because of the career change. I like the way the author made Chris into a real person immediately. He didn't have to grow on you as you read, as sometimes the case in books. 

Opening page was frightening. Just a hint of what was to come. Lucky for Chris, his partner is also his childhood friend, Kevin. The medical terminology was on point and graphic. The storyline feels real and will draw you in immediately. 

"The Giver" is enjoying the killing, but he has a specific agenda. He's also enjoying watching the police try to figure it out. Meanwhile the bodies keep showing up. His plans inadvertently may include Chris Ravello. Some heart stopping moments related to Chris and his loved ones. "The Givers" motives are really creepy and quite disturbing.

Will he be caught? How many will he kill? A unique and thrilling story line. Story had me hooked on the first page. Just when you think you know what's going on there is a great twist. I love a good thriller and this was definitely one of those!

Thank you William Rubin.

"Slain Passion" The Blast Book One by Chris Lange

Buy "Slain Passion" now on Amazon: click here!

"Then came the aftereffect of the Blast. A disease that had no name, symptoms, or cure. People didn't get sick, they changed. The infection spread, swift, invisible, and the whole process lasted about three days. From survivors, they mutated into cavemen."...

The world is in a new environment, and in the aftermath of what's known as the "Blast." Kat and Holly are just a few of the survivors, hiding in a safe place. Hiding from those now known as the "Blasted." It's a scary dark world beyond their doors. 

Someone has come knocking, looking for Kat and Holly. He knows one of them possesses something that may help save those that are left. Do they believe the story Conroy is spinning? Can they find it in themselves to take this leap of trust? Will Kat risk her own life and or Holly's to save what life is left outside their protected home?

Graphic language, sex, adult situations. New relationships will emerge from the darkness into the new light, some will end. Explosive ending to send you right to the next book in the series. Gripping story line, with or without the adult content. Great read! 

Thank you Chris Lange

"Meeting Danger" Book One In The Danger Series by Caila Jaynes and Allyson Simonian

     Buy "Meeting Danger" now on Amazon: click here!

"Even the night he'd been kidnapped and beaten, he'd remained calm. And unlike Butch, who'd wanted her fully dependent on him, Camden was just the opposite. He wanted to teach her things, to help her grow and become self sufficient. He even seemed to get pleasure out of it. What she felt for him went beyond gratitude. She was enthralled with him. Inside and out. Camden Taylor was a beautiful man. And she totally didn't deserve him. "........


This is the first book of the new "The Danger Series." These are romantic suspense books based on law enforcement members of the Phoenix Task Force.

Camden reluctantly has been working undercover with a ruthless biker gang known as the "Wicked Disciples." Recovering from a horrifying case, he goes into this new case with trepidation. His cover is blown when he chooses to intervene in something that would have cost a man his life. Now he's being held by the gang.

Autumn has been running with the bikers for a long five years now. Girlfriend of the powerful and controlling gang leader, Butch. Abused and afraid that Butch will kill her if she tries to leave. Still she thinks about it. Autumn knows about Camden and needs to make a choice. Will she help him and save his life, and possibly her own? Can they escape Butch and his "Disciples?"

Once the choices are made it will affect many. Autumn has secrets that will be exposed. It's the aftermath of Camden's experience that the real story with Autumn begins.

Well written with a steady, exciting pace. I couldn't wait for what was next. Characters that were intriguing and powerful. What a great start to this series!

Thank you Caila Jaynes and Allyson Simonian