Chasing Darkness by Danielle Girard Book Review

Ms. Girard has knocked this one out of the park! There are so many smaller stories intertwined in this tale that all culminate into the bigger story in the end.

Sam Chase, the female heroine, so to speak. Nick who is trying to get Sam to trust him, but due to Sam's past she finds it difficult to open up and let Nick behind her walls. Derek and Rob, the twin sons of Sam's sister who died and left them under her care. Gary Williams, the cop who is jealous of Sam. Andy who is Sam's assistant and is wheelchair bound. Gerry who is a pedophile just released from prison and thinking it might be better to go back (he actually plays a crucial role in this story). Then, of course, there are the dead women, Sandi and Eva, along with Eva's daughter, Becky. All of these characters' stories are intertwined in such a way that you will never guess who the "bad guy" of this story is.

I can do nothing less than give Ms. Girard a 5-star review on a book so well written.

Behind Every Lie by Christina McDonald Book Review

For those of you who enjoy psychological reads, be sure to give "Behind Every Lie" a read.

You will be introduced to Eva who discovers some long-buried secrets kept by her mother. As she goes on a quest to find out the truth, she discovers that she is not who she thinks she is, she discovers a horrifying truth about her fiance. There is also a hint of Eva rekindling an old love.

Ms. McDonald does an excellent job of weaving in some unexpected twists and turns around almost every corner that you will not be expecting. Ms. McDonald is sure to shine in her chosen writing genre! I look forward to her next book which is due out in 2021.

Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas Book Review

I have to admit that this was a hard book for me to read, not in my usual genre. However, for a debut novel, the concept behind it is intriguing and even somewhat "scary."

Ines enrolled in Catherine House at the advice of Mr. Gonzalez, someone who she thought believed in her. Catherine House has been shrouded in mystery and even a bit of controversy as they are very adept at keeping their secrets hidden away from the public. They advertised themselves, so to speak, to be only for the elitest of students. Ines found herself going to Catherine House to escape an incident ... one that is never truly revealed in the writing of this book. By the end of the book, Ines has discovered the hidden secret of Catherine House. Through a friend of hers she made at Catherine House, she was able to escape in the end.

The "scary" part of this book is that even though it is a work of fiction, the way science and technology are evolving it could happen!

This is a book I "won" off of Goodreads.

Stranger in the Lake by Kimberly Belle Book Review

I had the opportunity to download this book from Net Galley as an early reader/reviewer. This is the first book of Ms. Belle's that I have read and I will be looking for more from her!

Paul, Micah, and Jax have all been friends since high school. Paul ended up wealthy, Micah an underwater investigator, and Jax homeless. Charlie (who changed her name to Charlotte) was a few years behind them and ended up married to Paul, four years after the death of his first wife, Katherine.

Enter a dead body found under the Kellers' deck (Paul and Charlotte).

Enter an unsolved case from 20 years ago ... tied together with the most recent death by a necklace.

Mix two unsolved murders in with a whole bunch of lies that are hard to keep straight.

Just when you think you have figured out who the bad guy is ... the whodunnit ... Ms. Belle throws in a twist for an ending you aren't expecting. Well done, Ms. Belle, well done!

The Black Pill by L.J. Sellers Book Review

 I had the opportunity to beta read "The Black Pill" for Ms. Sellers. This is the first time I have read any of her work.

In "The Black Pill," you will find a murder and a missing persons case, along with some hints of romance. The ending is a twist you will not see coming! Ms. Sellers did a fantastic job of bringing two characters from her previous novels, Detective Jackson and Agent Dallas, into "The Black Pill." It was an interesting read in seeing how all the details came together to solve two cases all at the same time.

I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to more from Ms. Sellers.

White Out by Danielle Girard Book Review

Never have I given a book a 5-star review, but "White Out" is well deserving. This book is attention-getting right from the start and does not stop.

In "White Out," we are introduced to Detective Kylie Milliard, a detective working in the small town of Hagen, North Dakota, seeking a job in the bigger city of Fargo. She is thrust into a case of a dead woman, seemingly working with a group of men who are hiding details of the case with her. Ms. Girard has done an excellent job of weaving in some unexpected twists and turns in this novel that you will not expect. As soon as you think you have figured out who the bad guy is, you'll find out that you are wrong. There is even a hint of romance! This is sure to be a top-selling series for Ms. Girard.

Readers will not be disappointed. Thank you for letting me be one of your early readers, Ms. Girard. I am very much looking forward to the rest of this series. Well done!

Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown Book Review

This is one of those types of books that you can sit down and read in a day or two if you have the time. I have been eyeballing this one for quite a while and was fortunate enough to find it at a library book sale.

Britt Shelley and Raley Gannon make an unlikely duo as they work together to uncover the real reason behind the police station fire. This book addresses a subject that is, sadly, still "uncomfortable" in today's world, and involves a father trying to protect his son's reputation ... but more his.

Judge and Jury by James Patterson and Andrew Gross Book Review

Andie DeGrasse no more wanted to be on the jury than she wanted to dress the part. She changed her mind when she found out who was on trial. During the trial, she met FBI Agent Nick Pellisante. Together, Andie and Agent Pellisante were able to unravel the case of Dominic Cavello, which took them on many adventures.

A book written by two literary masters.

Set to Simmer by Nellie K. Neves Book Review

I "devoured" this book in two days - it was that good.

Dakota has wanted to be a chef for as long as she can remember, yet she finds herself a bartender at a resort, no one willing to give her a chance at being a chef. She decides, on a whim, to answer a personal ad seeking a live-in home cook. She lands the job - no one the wiser of her lack of experience - until ...

Mrs. Neves has done a fantastic job of weaving the main story in with several smaller ones.

Read the book!

Evidence of Murder by Lisa Black Book Review

This is the first book I have read by Ms. Black. I found it quite enjoyable with relatable characters.

Theresa MacLean, a forensic scientist, was called to the case of Jillian Perry who was an apparent suicide. Theresa was also involved in two other cases that were seemingly related to Mrs. Perry. As it turns out, Theresa starts questioning if Mrs. Perry really killed herself. The truth is very well concealed due to the writing talent of Ms. Black.

If I ever catch up with my TBR list, I will definitely read more from Ms. Black.

Tainted Waters by Maggie Thom (Glenna Mageau) Book Revew

SPOILERS!

Samantha (Sam) has tried many different jobs, her latest being a reporter for the Tennison Post. Again, she is fired, yet none of her articles were published, especially the one involving a potential fraud case. While Sam is trying to figure out the whys (and really what she wants to do with her life), she meets Keegan, a published author. As it turns out, Keegan is working on trying to find answers of his own, also involving the Tennison Post.

Join Sam and Keegan as they join forces to find the answers they're both looking for. Who knows ... maybe there is a bit of romance thrown in along the way coupled with a few other stories.

Due for reprint soon.

I had the opportunity to proof this for Ms. Thom before she reprints.

Christmas with Granny McPherson by Nellie K. Neves Book Review

If you enjoy clean romance - this is a book for you!

SPOILERS!

Evan Skruggs is the persona of Granny McPherson, but no one knows this until the "real" Granny McPherson has an episode. Andrew, Evan's manager, comes up with a plan to re-make Evan's image. Enter Brooke, trying to save the inn she inherited from her grandparents. This is an entertaining read as Evan and Brooke dance around their attraction to one another.

Another book proving Mrs. Neves' ability to write across multiple genres.

You may also enjoy her books "Set to Simmer" and "Pre-Approved Identity Theft" which are also clean romance reads.

A Bitter Dying by L.J. Sellers Book Review

Wow! This is the second novel I have read by Ms. Sellers. Finished this one in a day! I am impressed at how Ms. Sellers is able to tie together two or three cases in the final outcome. She certainly knows how to throw in a twist or two! Give her a read if you dare.

This is book 12 in this particular series.

I Said Yes by Kiersten Modglin Book Review

I have been wanting to read Ms. Modglin's work for sometime now. When she offered the chance to read "I Said Yes" as an early reader, I jumped at the chance.

Ms. Modglin does a masterful job of intertwining both past and present stories of Hannah and Mark, with some unexpected twists and turns along the way. The ending is not what you will be expecting.

Don't miss this one!

I look forward to more literary delights from Ms. Modglin.