Canyon of Deceit by DiAnn Mills Blog Tour and Book Review

Therese and Blane find themselves immersed in a case where they are looking for a little girl, Alina. This case is also complicated by the fact that no one seemed to want to tell them the truth about what was really going on, most especially Alina’s father, Rurik.

They also found themselves attracted to each other, something that hadn’t died even though Therese had shut Blane down before.

What I really enjoy about this author’s writing is her style, the story she weaves coupled with the characters in their doubts and their beliefs. I like the fact that certain characters call upon their faith at the most unexpected times, in the good times, and most especially when they are faced with dangerous situations. The author is able to paint a picture that is so true to life when it comes to faith and how we call upon our own in times of trouble.

In this particular tale, I enjoyed reading about the father’s apparent deception, Alina’s bravery for such a small girl, and the ultimate outcome. This is truly a story of good versus bad, with the underlying question of who would win. I sort of figured out who was behind it all, but it took most of these pages to lead me there.

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1496485157/?bestFormat=true&k=canyon%20of%20deceit&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_k1_1_12_de&crid=3H7BNXTYOI125&sprefix=canyon%20of%20de

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/canyon-of-deceit-diann-mills/1147073373?ean=9781496485151

 

Find Ms. Mills:

Website: https://diannmills.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diannmills

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/diann-mills#concrete

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/81639.DiAnn_Mills#concrete

Twitter: https://twitter.com/diannmills#concrete

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diannmillsauthor/

 

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The Girl in the Maze by R.K. Jackson Blog Tour and Book Review

 

Martha Covington finds herself in a predicament she did not expect. What I especially liked about Martha is her persistence, even in the face of her mental illness. Vince, her therapist, thought he was doing right by Martha by releasing her from therapy, so long as she stayed on her medications. The thing I appreciated about this side of Martha is that the author did not focus on her schizophrenia, but rather put her through some situations that she was able to handle on her own. And she did so with an internal strength that she didn’t know she possessed.

Now all she had to do was get someone to listen to her and take her seriously.

She finds herself given the opportunity to do some research for Lydia who was running the Historical Society of Amberleen, Georgia. She wasn’t sure she could handle this, even on a short-term basis, but here she was … doing it anyway. Lydia was so impressed with Martha and her thoroughness that she gave her another opportunity.

This opportunity led Martha to learn about the Geechees. She learned about a place called Shell Heap. She met Jarrell and his mother, Astrid. She also met a very colorful character in Lady Albertha who held the tale of Shell Heap and how it came to be. Lady Albertha also was able to reveal some truths that Martha hadn’t yet uncovered in her research.

Near the end of Martha’s journey, she was caught in a storm. What I really appreciated about this was the author was able to describe the viciousness of said storm with words alone. I could almost feel myself being trapped in the rising water right along with Martha, holding on to whatever she could grab, and still having enough wherewithal to try something that I wasn’t expecting her to try. No matter what happened to her and how badly people treated her, there was still a goodness within Martha.

There was also a scene that involved Jarrell and, again, the author was able to convey the severity of that incident with words alone, painting a picture of Jarrell’s injuries and just how badly he was injured. It was very easy to get a visual in my own mind of this particular instance, and that is something that I appreciated from this author.

It will be interesting to see what Martha finds herself mixed up in book two, Kiss of the Sun.

  

Find Mr. Jackson:

Website: https://randaljackson.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rkjacksonAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/randal.jackson1/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/r-k-jackson

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14104433.R_K_Jackson

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Maze-Thriller-Martha-Covington-ebook/dp/B00R04OX3E/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3UTFFZ6XK3HW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7EOuviCscpLR_zhTuLCI9uHO4p4JUgEN429E6zF-1no.mNc2rvkMtbfCxImZqT71V7EgpBYVCftayVoxBwzo6J0&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+girl+in+the+maze+by+r.+k.+jackson&qid=1752757009&sprefix=the+girl+in+the+maze%2Caps%2C195&sr=8-1

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-girl-in-the-maze-rk-jackson/1121903971?ean=9781101886410

 

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Deadly Sanctuary by Shannon Hollinger New Release (September 8, 2025)

 

Help me congratulate Shannon on her newest release! Here’s the blurb:

She’s no stranger to trouble…

Deep in the heart of the untamed Florida Everglades lies a web of secrets, danger, and deceit. For FBI Agent Cassidy Knox, it’s the only home she’s ever known—one she vowed never to set foot in again. But after a harrowing confrontation with a serial killer, Cassidy finds herself with no choice but to return to the animal sanctuary of her youth. Grieving the recent death of her beloved grandfather, Butch, on top of her own trauma, she hopes for a brief respite to heal her wounds.

Only the swamp, where the past lurks just beneath the surface, has other plans. When a neighbor is found murdered, the suspicion surrounding her grandfather’s death intensifies, drawing Cassidy into a chilling investigation that threatens everything she holds dear. With old friendships rekindling and new betrayals surfacing, the lines between ally and enemy blur.

As Cassidy races against time to uncover the truth, she clashes against her inner demons—and the boy who once stole her heart. With danger lurking around every corner the only thing she knows for sure is that she can’t trust anyone. Because the killer’s taking aim… and they have her in their sights.

Get ready to dive into a heart-pounding mystery where trust is a luxury and survival is a game of wits. A gripping, heart-racing thriller that will leave you breathless.

Whatever It Takes by Alan Brenham Blog Tour and Book Review

 

Kit has found herself in an unpredictable situation. As an undercover agent, she found herself deeply entrenched in a situation she’d never been involved with before. She was only supposed to be an exotic dancer, but she was able to infiltrate other parts of this world … more quickly than anyone had anticipated.

I was quite taken by Kit’s character. She was able to infiltrate into this organization, but she always maintained a sense of calm on the outside … even when she wasn’t feeling it on the inside. She was always able to maintain her sense of self and the job that she needed to accomplish, even if she put herself right smack dab in the middle of dangerous situations. The worst thing that could happen was to be discovered by the men she was involved with … some really bad guys.

I liked the sense of danger that revealed itself throughout these pages. I’d like to know more of Kit’s story, what makes her tick.

I enjoy reading tales such as this one … full of bad guys, good guys, in-between guys, some random characters. I like how the author was able to make some of the characters come alive, so to speak, with their different personalities, especially some of the dancers Kit found herself involved with and what they got up to. There were a couple of different ladies who didn’t particularly care for Kit, which added, at least for me, another layer of danger that Kit could possibly be facing. If this is a continuing series, it will be interesting to see what Kit finds herself involved in next.

 

Find Mr. Brenham:

Website: https://alanbrenham.com/

Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/alanbe75

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlanBrenham/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alanbe75

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alan-brenham

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6509203.Alan_Brenham

 

 Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Whatever-Takes-Hanover-Alan-Brenham/dp/B0F8H4K69J/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1QVA4TRRXG7K6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4imNIDay2eCwwSx9cHkoAnbr5Xu2n8vEx0u4zxBvbX8.GDDlhITs_CS6aoIn1dQ-Qhj8fwAfieJcTCCdltQmHrw&dib_tag=se&keywords=whatever+it+takes+alan+brenham&qid=1753729358&sprefix=whatever+it+takes+alan+brenham%2Caps%2C214&sr=8-1

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whatever-it-takes-alan-brenham/1147413575?ean=9798317669768

 

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The Perfect Roommate by Minka Kent Book Review

 

Revised edition: This edition of The Perfect Roommate includes editorial revisions.

I had an opportunity to re-read this one. It reminded me what I enjoy this author’s writing style.

Meadow needed a place to stay, and Lauren’s empty room seemed like the ‘perfect’ solution.

Enter Lauren’s friends who then suddenly became Meadow’s friends. Elisabeth, one of Meadow’s clients through the cleaning service she worked for, befriended Meadow – or did she?

It was interesting to read about Meadow’s transformation from a wallflower into a full-fledged rose, so to speak. The transformation was not so subtle. And all the well-kept secrets between these seemingly close friends. The seeds that were dropped to make them turn against one another.

And that ending? I have to wonder if Meadow started doing the same things over again in her new place with her new roommate, and who exactly turned out to be the ‘perfect’ roommate. It leaves me to wonder.

The Third Grave by Lisa Jackson Book Review

 

Another book I’ve had sitting on my Kindle for quite a while.

The premise is a couple of bodies found in a basement of the Beaumont estate. A fellow everyone called Bronco found them, and that was the least of what he was expecting. The thing is … there was a depression next to these two bodies that seemingly was for a third victim, but what happened? Why were these bodies in the basement? Who, what, when, where, why, how? All of these questions come into play.

I like these kinds of stories … ones that I would consider police procedurals.

There was also an incident involving a husband and wife – Nikki, a reporter, and Reed Pierce, her detective husband. Enter Pierce’s partner, Morrisette, and what happened to her, and you have some marital strife.

Nikki always seemed to get herself in trouble chasing a story. This only makes Reed worry about her and what he is going to have to get her out of next.

Enter Pierce’s new partner, a rookie that he wondered about – Delacroix. There’s an additional story to Ms. Delacroix.

I have to admit, I sort of figured this one out, just not the why of it all. Overall, I enjoyed this one. I enjoyed the mix of the good guys versus bad guys, the discontent between Nikki and Reed because of what happened, Delacroix and her backstory, and the ultimate conclusion.

Circle of Strangers by Minka Kent New Release and Book Review

 

Help me congratulate Minka on her newest release! Here’s the blurb:

The lengths neighbors will go to protect their secrets become downright frightening in a gripping novel of suspense by Minka Kent, the Edgar-nominated author of Unmissing.

Camille and Will Prescott have relocated from San Diego to Phoenix for a fresh start in a quiet gated community. After the traumas Camille’s marriage survived, it’s just the sanctuary she needs. As for her new neighbors, there’s Sozi, seemingly well intentioned if not for her invasive meddling and her desperate overtures to make a friend. And Mara and Oscar, an unstable couple around whom troubling rumors swirl.

Patiently listening to Sozi’s gossip and watching Mara and Oscar ever so closely has become something of a hobby for Camille. But while she obsesses about the cracks in everyone else’s lives, she begins to see the cracks in her own. And when a monster from her past reaches out to reconnect, it’s all Camille can do not to snap. Then one day she finds a dead body in her garage lying in a pool of blood.

Camille is about to discover what’s really going on behind the closed doors of this cozy cul-de-sac. And the worst is yet to come.

 

REVIEW:

This book kept my neck on a swivel.

Camille and Will – the newcomers to their gated community. Camille thought it was perfect, plenty of security, plenty of fences, and plenty of secrets. Georgie and Jackson, their children.

Mara and Oscar – the trouble married couple.

I was intrigued by the lengths that Camille felt she had to go to in order to protect her family. Little did she know there was someone who was better at the ‘game’ than she was. It was also interesting to find out that Camille and Will and pretty much the same upbringing by two moms who had difficulties of their own. This just adds another layer to their story.

Oscar and Mara – could there be a more not-so-perfect couple, each of them showing what they wanted folks to see but inside trouble was always brewing, sometimes at a simmer but always there.

Sozi – A very troubled woman to say the least. It was interesting that she always talked about her husband and her son, but every time Camille suggested a playdate, Ezra (son) always seemed to be suffering from one ailment or another, and why did no one ever see Austin (husband) except that one time?

The interesting thing about these neighbors is they all harbored secrets, each one of them had something to hide, each of them had more to their personalities than they dared show to outsiders. I thought I had this one figured out but when it came to that plot twist … I was highly impressed at the turn of events in this tale of who can outdo whom. I don’t know if there will be a book three in this series, but I certainly hope so because I’d like to see what happened to Camille, what consequences she took on when she did what she did, and if there was still someone better at the ‘game’ than she thought she was.

 

Throwing Shadows by Claire Booth Blog Tour and Book Review

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, book 7 in the Sheriff Hank Worth series. It seems these can also be read as standalones, but the characters’ personalities are well developed so I suspect reading this series in order might not be a bad idea.

Sheriff Hank Worth – he’s not just dealing with the crime at hand, he’s dealing with a couple of home situations that are totally relatable. They involve his wife (Maggie), his children, and his father-in-law. There’s a deeper story there, which makes me think book 6 would be a good one to pick up for a better understanding.

Maggie, Hank’s wife – she works in the ER so every time a case comes through the ER doors, she has to admonish Hank.

Sam – Hank calls him his young pup. He’ll be a good investigator one day. And his girlfriend Brenna.

And my favorite character … Sheila. She works with Hank, she’s supposed to be his partner but it seems she outranks him, at least that was my take. There’s more to Sheila’s story as she walks around with a limp and sometimes a bad attitude, but her sense of humor … that is something I appreciated throughout this tale. She just drops these comments that are so spot on, she gave me a chuckle or two.

There is some history in the telling of this tale that involves Alf Bolin and what happened at what is called Murder Rocks. These rocks are now located on the Fackrells’ land, their family having been there for quite a long time. There’s a podcast. There are treasure hunters. There are crimes involved which is where Hank, Sheila, and Sam come in. There are innocent folks, guilty folks, and just a lot of things happening throughout the solving of the crimes. There are some backstories that include the Worth family, Sheila’s limp, and of course the podcast owner.

I liked all these tidbits of individual stories laced together, coupled with Sheila’s sense of humor, to get to the end result. I kind of figured out the whodunnit but I wasn’t sure of the why or the how. I’d be interested in reading more of Hank and Sheila’s adventures.

 

Find Ms. Booth:

Website: https://clairebooth.com/

Twitter: https://x.com/clairebooth10

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claireboothauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claire.booth10

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/claire-booth

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/875842.Claire_Booth

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Throwing-Shadows-Sheriff-Worth-Mystery/dp/1448313880/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1E3Q0PYAOLAHN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qVCxSPAHfb5QQtqmicXiug.MyhLVQipwvfyBDvkmcUd3iVLK9JNi0IsNknmatz5mAE&dib_tag=se&keywords=throwing+shadows+claire+booth&qid=1751635116&sprefix=throwing+shadows%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-1

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/throwing-shadows-claire-booth/1146986151?ean=9781448313914

 

 

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The Girl Who Survived by Lisa Jackson Book Review

 

This is another book I’ve had on my Kindle for quite some time. I shouldn’t have taken so long to read it.

This book has everything I like in this genre. It started out right away with what happened twenty years ago. A very brutal, very gruesome crime against a family.

Fast forward twenty years … we are taken through Kara’s turmoil, how she meets Wesley Tate, and a couple of detectives who are assigned to reopen this very old, very cold case. We are also introduced to one of Kara’s stepbrothers, Jonas.

The other thing I liked about this one is that it takes place in my home state, Oregon, so mentions of various cities throughout Oregon took me back to my childhood for a moment.

I also liked the pacing of this one … it seemed to move rather quickly in some spots, petered out when a clue would be a dead end, and then picked up again when Detective Thomas caught an idea and had to follow it. There were quite a few turns in this one which kept me guessing. I honestly thought I had it figured out … no, I was wrong, turned out the whodunnit was someone totally different than the one I picked out. That’s another thing I liked about this one, the surprise of the whodunnit. I also liked the relationships that developed between the characters through these pages, Tate and Kara, Detective Thomas and Detective Johnson, Jonas and Kara, Jonas and Mia, to name a few.

I will warn more sensitive readers that some of the descriptions are quite vivid, not as vivid as some I’ve read, but still … there is one scene near the end that is quite ugly to say the least. If you have a squeamish stomach or have nightmares easily, just be prepared.

Red Flags by Lisa Black Book Review

 

Dr. Ellie Carr … how can she possibly have an unbiased opinion when the parents of Mason are her relatives? And, what happened to Mason? He was just a baby and couldn’t have done anything wrong. She expected the unthinkable.

Taylor – a very intelligent 11-year-old. She kept calling Mason the ‘dragon baby.’ Why?

Becca and Hunter – Taylor and Mason’s parents. Becca is also Ellie’s cousin, though they have been out of touch for quite a long time.

Rachael Davies – she works for the Locard Institute. Hunter hired the Locard to help in assisting to find Mason.

Ellie and Rachael also had their own opinions about each other. I liked those internal thoughts that were scattered throughout the telling of this tale.

There was also another crime involved that I wasn’t expecting, and the why of it made sense as I was finishing this book. As it finally did to Ellie when everything clicked into place.

I liked the fact that Becca and Hunter thought they had to be in control of everything and everyone in order to accomplish what they needed to do. I liked the fact that Hunter and Becca came face-to-face with each other when they were confronted with their wrongdoings, but yet continued to maintain a united front. Odd really, considering the depths of one of their crimes, but made for an interesting read.

And when it finally clicked for Ellie? I liked how it was all tied up and explained in the end. It all made sense when the ending came together, at least it did for me.

 

Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli Book Review

 

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. I’ve had it sitting on my Kindle for a while. Since one of my goals is to finish some of my eBooks, I gave this one a read.

It’s a ghost story! It’s a story with a crime or two or three involved. It’s a story that has a message behind it.

I was actually entertained with the antics of Meghan, Brecia, and Skye. As we learn from the blurb of this tale, they all had one thing in common. Since all three of these ladies were in the afterlife their way of getting around was so much easier. They haunted the guy who did them wrong.

And he thought he was oh-so smart, trying to stay three steps ahead of whatever organization was after him.

I’ve never read a book that was based on the opinions or point of view of ghostly beings. I also found myself appreciating the larger message that is in this tale. It may not always go by the name of Andrea, but read those signs … follow your instincts … ask for help if you need it.

Every Kind of Wicked by Lisa Black Book Review

Leave it to me to read book 6 of 6 in this series. I found myself really enjoying the characters of Maggie and Jack.

Having never ‘met’ Maggie and Jack before, I was taken by their relationship, one based on something that happened to Maggie … something Jack did that neither one could forget or talk about. Enter Maggie’s ex-husband Rick who wanted nothing more than to figure out Jack’s real motives. There are a couple of other police folks in the mix since this is what I would consider a police procedural.

There are crimes involving the worst of the worst and some telephone scams that Shanaya had a hand in.

What I especially enjoyed about this author’s writing is the sense of humor that came through, even in the worst of times. I also enjoyed Maggie’s inner dialogue which seemed to be spot in, not to mention her thoughts surrounding Jack, especially near the end of this tale. I also enjoyed that there was essentially more than one story spread throughout these pages, keeping my interest.

Having not read the other 5 books in this series, I have to wonder if there will be more to Maggie and Jack’s story. Certainly this can’t be the end when they are seemingly just now figuring things out between the two of them.

They Came At Night by Westley Smith Blog Tour and Book Review

 

I don’t even know where to start with this one. I could’ve easily devoured this in one sitting had I had the time. I imagine this would be a really good audio book, especially if it included different character voices and the ghoulish vibe that this book possesses.

Essentially, Sandra is reconnecting with her family after being absent for five years. She suffered a horrific trauma at the hands of another and needed to get herself back together, learn to deal with her trauma, and in the process of healing she also learned to defend herself so no one would ever hurt her again – physically or emotionally.

In her absence, her niece, Emalyn, did not understand why her Aunt Sonnie had disappeared. She was only a 9-year-old girl when Aunt Sonnie left their family. Now, five years later, at the age of 14, she wasn’t quite sure what to make of Sandra. Was Aunt Sonnie really under the tough exterior?

Sandra’s sister, Carrie, and Carrie’s husband, William, thought this family get-together was a good idea. And a surprise guest was Sandra and Carrie’s mother, Janis.

Janis – the mother Sandra had come to dislike, and seemingly Janis disliked Sandra. Wait until you find out why. Wait until you find out about the incident that dissolved their hard feelings toward one another.

Helga – what a character Helga turned out to be. You’ll find her and her boss, Richter, later in the book. This tale had to have a couple of bad guys, and Helga … she was a master bad guy.

I have to warn more sensitive readers that some of the scenes depicted throughout these pages are quite graphic. I am not a squeamish reader, but some of the scenes described made me cringe just a little bit. This is a talent that I have come to appreciate with this author’s writing style – the way he can describe something so terrible with just words alone – he paints a pretty grisly picture, beyond ugly in some cases. I liked the ghoulish vibe that I got while reading these pages, oddly enough.

There is definitely a bad vibe that hangs over this small town called Little Hope, which really is a masterful name for this small town. And the big corporation who came in to take over? Rest and Relax (R&R for short) … that just adds to the feeling that this small town would be peaceful, but it is anything but. If you like a very dark read and aren’t afraid to read past your bedtime with the lights off, I highly recommend you pick this one up.

 

Find Mr. Smith:

Website: https://westleysmithbooks.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0CRF6PN74/about?ccs_id=d5f4fe0a-2dd4-4e6c-9576-640fd0577f95

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westleysmith100

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6848676.Westley_Smith

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/westley-smith

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wsmithbooks/?next=%2Fwsmithbooks%2F

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/They-Came-Night-Westley-Smith/dp/196554617X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UADR9ZJTFX61&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6oQ5OpKhHvmekvFsYQvM6g.AFUUXRKGlqiG8vnPH4WCijFQEbAITiO0VDz7EDFcK_0&dib_tag=se&keywords=they+came+at+night+westley+smith&qid=1748788806&sprefix=they+came+at+night%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/they-came-at-night-westley-smith/1147486224?ean=9781965546178

 

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Shadowed Witness by Angela Carlisle

 

Allye what have you gotten yourself into?

Allye apparently saw something that she wasn’t supposed to when she left her studio one evening. This did not bode well for her as strange things began happening. To top it off, Allye was also dealing with some health issues that she was keeping a secret … even from her own family.

Eric … this is the kind of man you want around. Not only does he work with the police, he is also a protector. He didn’t realize that he had feelings for Allye until he was trying to piece together what was happening to her … or was anything happening to her? He also picked up on the fact that Allye just wasn’t Allye – looking tired, worn down, not her usual perky self, not the Allye he had known.

There are also some intertwining smaller stories throughout these pages – Corina and Bryce, Dion and Lucky, Chief McHenry and whether he could be trusted, Allye’s mom and Mayor Jennings, Hailey and Wesly, Allye getting ready for the annual arts festival (this endeared Allye to me as I could relate to what that entails).

Allye also had an interesting habit. Whenever she was feeling stressed, tired, or just needed to work something out, she would pick up her knitting needles. She was so talented at it and knew her patterns so well, she could knit with her eyes closed. That is a feat in and of itself and made her a relatable character, I thought.

I liked how this story progressed and that there were many other smaller stories intermixed that all blended together. There were some happy endings and some not-so-happy endings when all was said and done. And the whodunnit in this tale? Totally unexpected. It will be interesting to see what Eric and Allye get up to the next time we read about them.

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shadowed-Witness-Secrets-Kincaid-Carlisle/dp/0764242512/ref=sr_1_1?crid=4I886NB39MMS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.elYMEAk-TM605CFP2rck4CM6UOICCVzGnLftgkiK_dR2FMKuMfDJzpMiJIgdl9wouB8t5hlrhCHS3MWKHiWXtvXOP7LEeXsDVjSwEuC1facCQfCZXfY01iVDcV65ReLgoOTiR6DzUt4CS6G16AwNqBlon6pOt3PJsYOUiE8JkDNWRTdCI25ilcsTnJMxfoX2.QSPM3sXdgEl2ISfvC3lcaZtodcOkBRsChBPssXUGq70&dib_tag=se&keywords=shadowed+witness&qid=1751634589&s=digital-text&sprefix=shadowed+witness%2Cdigital-text%2C792&sr=1-1-catcorr

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadowed-witness-angela-carlisle/1146440692?ean=9780764242519

 

Find Ms. Carlisle:

Website: https://angelacarlisle.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelaCarlisle.Writer/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/secondary-target-the-secrets-of-kincaid-by-angela-carlisle

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/43655940.Angela_Carlisle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelacarlislewriter/

 

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Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink Blog Tour and Book Review

 

The title of this book caught my attention and the cover too. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but who could go wrong with a title that would indicate a mountain on fire? I really enjoyed this read.

Kit Garrido owns her own trucking business and was minding her own business when she picks up a hitchhiker, unbeknownst to her she picked up more than just a hitchhiker. There’s a crash. There’s a stranger knocking on her window. There’s an unexpected surprise in the back of her cab, and there is Mount Ember erupting all around them.

Little did she know what was in store for her.

The handsome stranger Cullen. She surely wasn’t expecting him. I liked the character of Cullen. He comes across as a strong fellow, one who is determined to help others which is the main reason he returned to the town Mount Ember was set on destroying.

Wait until you read about the surprise in the back of the truck’s cab.

There are also a couple of bad guys in this tale, not caring about Mount Ember and her temper.

What I really liked about this story is that it took me back to my own recollections of when Mt. St. Helens erupted during my childhood. At the time, I didn’t think much of the destruction that took place around that area. I was too young to give it much thought. So, to read this tale of Mount Ember and the author’s descriptions of the utter destruction, the telling of the trees, rocks, dirt, and whatever other debris cascading down a mountain to take out anything in its path really painted a picture in my own mind of what things were like. To read about Kit and Cullen’s escape maneuvers was also quite interesting, what they did to survive, how they clung to each other and their faith. I liked that this was a true story showing and not telling what was happening all around Mount Ember and her temper.

 

Find Ms. Mentink:

Website: https://www.danamentink.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dana.mentink/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dana_mentink/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/dana-mentink

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/202905.Dana_Mentink

 

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/080074652X/?bestFormat=true&k=fire%20mountain%20dana%20mentink&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_de_k0_1_22&crid=2DPZYL7Q6Y5ZZ&sprefix=fire%20mountain%20dana%20men

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fire-mountain-dana-mentink/1146440699?ean=9780800746520

 

 

Interested in your own book tour?

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Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney Book Review

 

I have had this one on my Kindle for quite some time. In trying to clear out my list of want to reads, I gave this one a try.

Amelia – she has secrets.

Adam – Amelia’s husband. He’s a writer and an adaptation for the screen writer. And, he has secrets. Adam has prosopagnosia. I’d never heard of it, interesting condition.

There are some letters intermixed between the chapters and was I ever wrong about who was writing them.

Robin – now here’s a colorful character.

I actually thought Robin was a different character, but I was wrong.

Essentially, Amelia received an email declaring that she had won a weekend trip through a raffle they had at her workplace. It was a weekend that turned out to be much more than either Amelia or Adam were expecting.

There were some twists between these pages that I was not expecting. I thought it was a good read. Plenty of turns to keep one guessing. If you’re like me, your guesses might turn out to be write and they might turn out to be wrong.

The Colony of Lost Souls by Kelsey James Book Review

 

Lately, I have been reading historical reads. This one caught my eye. I like the cover. This was, to me, a rather intriguing read. I didn’t know quite what to expect, but it wasn’t this … that’s a good thing.

We are introduced to June, the missing sister.

We also get to meet Fred, the husband of May.

Yes, you guessed it! These sisters were named after their birth months.

We also get to meet May. To say May was not happy with her marriage is an understatement so when she finally heard from June, off on an adventure she went, but that adventure? It was not what May was expecting.

May found herself at the Kinima Theosophical Society. Now, by all appearances, this was a place for folks to rejuvenate, to come to terms with their life decisions essentially.

It wasn’t that.

It was worse.

I was intrigued with all the characters who had some good vibes and some not-so-good vibes that jumped off the pages, the one especially bad dude ran this society. He believed he had some sort of ‘magical’ powers. He really had ulterior motives.

And we can’t forget about Vito. He was definitely not who May was expecting to meet in her journey. And Hazel was an unexpected surprise for her as well.

If you are interested in reading about a society that comes across more as a cult, you’ll enjoy this tale. It’s full of intrigue, mystery, good guys and bad guys, and a not-so-good vibe as I mentioned before. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. May turned out to be stronger than she thought she ever could be; I liked that about May’s character. And the sweet love story didn’t hurt either.

Daughters of the Lake by Wendy Webb Book Review

 

I enjoy this author’s writing. I like visiting the town of Wharton.

Kate Granger found herself going back to Wharton to visit her cousin, Simon, one of the innkeepers of Wharton. She just needed to unwind from her own life for a minute. She found that she was getting much more than she bargained for.

What I enjoy about Wharton are all the ghosts that stay in town … creating their own sense of mischief, but they’re mostly harmless.

In this case, one particular spirit visited Kate in her dreams and wouldn’t let Kate ‘rest’ until she listened.

There is also a bit of a love story between these pages, which is something I wasn’t expecting and I’m sure Kate wasn’t either.

I really enjoy the stories that unfold in Wharton. I like the ghostly vibe the pages portray. I especially liked Kate’s character as she was not going to give up until she found the answers that she was looking for.

The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead Book Review

 

I have to be honest.

I almost closed this book a few times.

There is so much abuse described throughout these pages it began to make me not want to finish this tale.

I kept reading.

Mostly because I wanted to know what happened to Laurel and I wanted to know the ending to Shay’s story. I also wanted to know how Jamie fit into the picture; Jamie is a podcaster who also happened to know Shay and Laurel way back when.

I want to add trigger warnings for the more sensitive readers. I don’t understand why the women throughout these pages, and the men too for that matter, would put themselves in such positions. Power? Money? I’m not entirely sure, but this story evoked some emotions while I was reading and I usually never ‘react’ so strongly to books I read.

Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright Book Review

This author continues to amaze me with her dual timelines. One of the things that impresses me is her ability to have the past collide with the present, and another thing is how she handles other topics throughout the pages she writes. I also like how she manages to have her present-day characters collide with those from the past, sometimes in rather unique ways.

In this tale, Marian Arnold corresponds with Remy Show who is helping Elton write Marian’s life story, one that should dispel all traces of Marian’s ghostliness. Felix from the past corresponds with Tate in the present day, at least to me, in that both men want to protect the ladies they have an interest in.

Enter some other colorful, and a bit shady, characters who help round out this tale of butterfly magic. Not to mention Mullerian Manor which put me in the mindset of the Winchester Mystery House here in California.

Imagine Remy’s surprise when everything comes crashing down around her research to discover her own family secrets and the very essence of the question why.

This author handles the subject of schizophrenia/mental illness with such grace, without judgment. I did not realize that that was what this book entailed. And the message Marian left beneath the statue? Bravo.

Swipe by R.G. Belsky and Bonnie Traymore Blog Tour and Book Review

 

Have you ever thought about joining a dating app and then swiping right or left? Sonya did. She found more trouble than she was looking for. She even went so far as to change her name and not reveal much about herself. She was highly disappointed in the dates she went on, even going so far as to come up with schemes to almost ruin the men who did her, or other women, wrong. I was entertained by the ideas she came up with – some more devious than others.

Enter Jake … once a crack reporter at a larger paper who found himself working at a smaller paper, just waiting for his big break to get back in the spotlight again. He found himself being told by his boss to write an article about dating apps. Jake thought this assignment would go nowhere. Along the way he had some pretty bad dates (all in the name of his article, right?) and some pretty good dates, one being Sonya, one being Claire.

If there ever was a bad date in the history of dates, Jake and Sonya found them. And the ideas Sonya came up with makes one stop and think what they would do in her situation – ignore the bad date or do something else, something that would make the fellow rethink his choices. It was interesting to me that Jake was making connections between three different crimes as a reporter that Detective Jeffries didn’t want to believe.

I was entertained by the twists and turns leading both Jake and Sonya ultimately down the same path, not being able to ignore their mutual attraction for one another. There are a host of characters that you’ll meet throughout these pages, some more colorful than others. What I appreciated the most is the fact that these two authors came together and were able to write in the voice of Jake and the voice of Sonya, but the story melded as if only one wrote the tale of these dates. I certainly chuckled along the way with some of the antics that were portrayed.

It is going to be interesting to see if this author duo will write another book involving Jake and his journalistic instincts.

 

Find Mr. Belsky:

Website: https://www.rgbelsky.com/#news

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RGBelsky#news

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/r-g-belsky#news

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7382095.R_G_Belsky#new

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DickBel#news

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dickbelsky/

 

Find Ms. Traymore:

Website: https://www.bonnietraymore.com/

Twitter: https://x.com/btraymore?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonnietraymore/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonnietraymore/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/bonnie-traymore

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22411066

 

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Swipe-Twisty-Psychological-Thriller-Belsky/dp/B0F2SDZ9J9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2AK8QPZL1IEVG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yRtDY196hBe-k7sXmnKHiQ.xfb_Fs8Q2BpoYUaLDL31cQzp8HhMoiaoXaeTk7NPdp8&dib_tag=se&keywords=swipe+rg+belsky&qid=1744377875&sprefix=swipe+rg+belsky%2Caps%2C519&sr=8-1

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/swipe-rg-belsky/1147109068?ean=2940180034465

Two Seconds Too Late by Dani Pettrey Blog Tour and Book Review

 

This is book two in the Jeopardy Falls series. I am enjoying this series, so I am hopeful there will be more adventures for Riley, Greyson, Deckard, and Christian.

There was a random knock on Riley’s door and all she found was a key. The question was who left the key and what did it go to? Of course, chasing after the answers Riley found herself working closer than ever with Greyson (Grey) and had to bury her true feelings for the man. Grey, in turn, had to bury his feelings for Riley which was near impossible when she would sit or stand close to him. Deckard and Christian (Riley’s brothers) were clueless as to what was happening between Grey and Riley.

Kelly and Jared – what had they gotten themselves mixed up in? And why did they do what they did?

All these questions led Grey and Riley down a path to a spa/retreat not knowing what they would find, or if they would find Kelly and Jared.

This is the kind of romantic suspense I like to read. There is just enough unspoken attraction between Riley and Grey to keep me interested, but it doesn’t go overboard. A few shared kisses and some honest communication between them, even in the midst of their investigation. I liked the fact that Riley had to face some of her childhood memories and be stronger than the memories, facing them head on, never abandoning the case she was working on. I liked the fact that both Riley and Grey would call upon their faith in the midst of their troubles, hoping through that faith they would both find the inner answers they needed.

There is a certain vulnerability to Grey that I found relatable. He was afraid to pursue a relationship because of some of his own inner turmoil. It made him vulnerable to admit to Riley how he was feeling, what he was thinking. To me, this makes him an attractive character.

To be honest, I was more caught up with Riley and Grey’s relationship than the actual investigation they were working on.

And that ending? I know there HAS to be more to this series.

 

Find Ms. Pettrey:

Website: https://www.danipettrey.com/#owm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaniPettrey#owm

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/dani-pettrey#owm

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5275947.Dani_Pettrey#owm

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authordanipettrey/

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DH5Z4J75/?bestFormat=true&k=two%20seconds%20too%20late%20dani%20pettrey&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_de_k1_1_17&crid=1QYEXS9OABCBA&sprefix=two%20seconds%20too%20l

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/two-seconds-too-late-dani-pettrey/1145837670?ean=9780764244599

 

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They Came At Night by Westley Smith New Book Release

 

Help me congratulate Wes on his new release! Here’s the blurb:

In the five years since the fateful and horrific night that changed her life, Sandra Leigh has kept herself sequestered at the Compound, a trauma recovery/survival skill camp that helped her process her past and feel safe in the world again.

Now, the time has come for her to face life outside the Compound, and that starts with a family road trip to rebuild the relationship she once had with her young niece.

A weekend at a rented cabin in the woods sounds idyllic, but Sandra begins to notice that things are off. Strange sounds and shadows, combined with a less-than-welcoming atmosphere at the nearby small town, put Sandra quickly on edge. Is it all just her paranoia coming into play, or is there something truly dangerous happening?

When her niece discovers a cryptic message hidden in the cabin's guest book--THEY CAME AT NIGHT--Sandra realizes that her family is caught in the crosshairs of a heinously sinister plot, and she will need to call on all the skills she learned at the Compound to save them... if she can.

 

All The Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby Book Review

When I first started this book, I thought ho-hum. I kept reading. I kept reading. I could’ve easily finished this one in a day if I had had the time. I devoured this one in less than a week. This is one that I could’ve sacrificed my usual bedtime for.

I really liked the fact that the author had characters that were true-to-life, in their mannerisms, their speech patterns, their relationships, down to Black versus white (sadly, that’s still a ‘thing’ these days).

Titus Crown, the sheriff. He had to deal with some pretty heavy-handed things in his life, broken relationships, grieving his mother, his father’s health and their relationship, the relationship he had with his brother, keeping his hometown of Charon together, and trying to figure out who brought the badness down on his town.

The more he investigated, the more he learned about things unheard of happening on his watch as sheriff, the more he learned about his own staff.

I liked the graphicness of some of the scenes portrayed between these pages as it brought a sense of realness to this tragic tale, and it really is a tragic tale.

I found this to be an example of good writing that is filled with controversial issues, but they are handled in such a way as to make the story believable and hold a sense of realism in the telling.