Skeleton's Key by Stacy Green - Review

 Title: Skeleton's Key
Author: Stacy Green

Synopsis: Cage Foster can't catch a break. The discovery of a dusty skeleton in the antebellum home he's caring for is bad enough. But the unearthing of two fresh bodies, buried during his tenure at Ironwood Plantation, may land Cage on Mississippi's death row. Even worse, the one person certain of his innocence is a pushy Yankee newcomer, a woman who talks too fast and still believes in the romance of the Old South. 

A specialist in historical renovation, Dani Evans intends to restore Ironwood to its former glory while she rebuilds her life after the death of her mother. Death, hidden treasure, and falling in love with a murder suspect were not part of the plan. The lure of the infamous Ironwood treasure cache convinces Dani the skeleton is the key to unraveling the legend, and that the treasure itself is the motive for the murders. 

Cage is certain an old grudge is setting him up for murder, but the evidence against him is mounting and time is running out. Dani believes she can find the truth before Cage is arrested, but her search for answers will uncover a descent into madness that should have stayed buried.


My Thoughts: Skeleton’s Key is the second book in Stacy Green’s Delta Crossing trilogy. I was very excited to read this book because it surrounds Cage. He was an interesting character in Tin God, and I loved finding out what happened to him after. This second book was equally as mysterious and exciting as Tin God.

Cage is a police officer and the caretaker of an old antebellum home called Ironwood. He’s a southern man and he’s set in his ways. When the bodies are found and he becomes a suspect, he works hard to prove his innocence. Dani is a Yankee who restores old buildings. Her love of history is amazing, and I loved how excited she would get over every little detail in the antebellum homes. Having been a “Yankee” who moved to a southern state I loved the interaction between Cage and Dani.

Nick was not mentioned much in this book, but I really liked the clear view of how Jaymee’s life is going. She played a great part in this book. There were shady characters in this book, but not on quite the same scale as Tin God. I easily despised one slimy character with all of his scheming.

There was a lot I loved about this book. The biggest player for me this time was the houses. The beauty of the houses was portrayed so wonderfully. I especially enjoyed the search for hidden rooms or passages. The ending completely surprised me. I knew to expect the unexpected, but I was thinking of a completely different person as the villain. I was completely shocked. Now I can’t wait to read the third book, and I’m not even going to try to figure it out as I read. I think you just have to let Stacy Green’s books take you for a ride and trust she will deliver a stellar ending.

Rating:

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About the Author: Born in Indiana and raised in Iowa, Stacy Green earned degrees in journalism and sociology from Drake University. After a successful advertising career, Stacy became a proud stay-at-home mom to her miracle child. Now a full-time author, Stacy juggles her time between her demanding characters and supportive family. She loves reading, cooking, and the occasional gardening excursion. Stacy lives in Marion, Iowa with her husband Rob, their daughter Grace, and the family’s three obnoxious but lovable canine children.

I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Drones by Johnny Ray - Review

by Johnny Ray

Matalina heads the elite special forces of Baltonia, a small country near Switzerland, and where the Maliviziati maintain their secret society that opposes the Illuminati’s various splinter groups that want to create a new world order. While she directs the most powerful special operatives in the world, she is very capable of going solo when needed. She was bred like her parents and theirs before to be the best warrior in the world. Unfortunately, her chosen mate, Bjorn, has turned against them, killing her sister in the process. She loved him earlier, and perhaps she still does. Still, when she finds him, she will kill him. When a new faction attempts to release drones in America, Matalina has to respond to keep this from playing into the hands of those wanting to create a new world order. She soon learns that the leader of this group is one of Bjorn’s operatives, Mario, a guy she should kill, but he is also the one person she needs to take alive to be able to locate Bjorn. With mercenaries flown in from Columbia to help this terrorist faction which was formed out of Afghanistan, this novel circles the globe as many players fight for eventual control of the world.

My Thoughts: This book was incredibly action packed and fast. I felt like I was on a wild ride just waiting to find out what would happen next. It was exciting to read, and full of interesting details. I loved how the setting switched around to many different areas. They all had their treacherous elements, which just added to the story. It was both amazing and terrifying to read something that could so easily be going on behind regular people's backs.

I liked Matalina a lot. She was obviously a strong woman, but it was more her sense of duty and responsibility that I found myself admiring. There were so many other characters in this book. I loved the arrogant bad guys. I also greatly enjoyed each person who helped Matalina out in the book. They were not looked into in depth, but there was still a sense of who they were by their actions.

This book is a fast paced thriller that I think people can sink their teeth into. I was wrapped up in the story and holding my breath during every op. I loved the little touches of romance and politics. They didn't over shadow the action, but they added another layer to the story. I can't wait to find out what will happen next for Matalina.

Rating:

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About the Author:

Johnny Ray has a passion for life and adventure that he loves to share with his readers. As an avid traveler and professional businessman conducting business worldwide for years he has made many interesting contacts and received numerous awards for top production. He has owned and operated several real estate companies, several insurance companies, and a stock brokerage company. He loves radio and TV talk shows, as well as speaking in front of various audiences. Feel free to contact him if you need a guest speaker. When it comes time to play, he is very active in many sports including dancing, swimming, tennis, biking, and skiing. While he loves adventures that are new, interesting and challenging, making friends that share his passions is a special gift. Johnny lives in Clearwater, Florida where he works full time as a writer, and he can be often found in one of the hundreds of coffee shops along the beach working on his next novel. He belongs to the Florida Writer Association where he recently won the Royal Palm Literary Award for best thriller, the Romantic Writers of America, and the Mystery Writers Association. He attends various national writer conventions throughout the year, as well as several local writing groups in the Tampa Bay area of Florida.

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I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. 

Tin God by Stacy Green - Review

Title: Tin God
Author: Stacy Green

Synopsis: Trapped by poverty and without many allies, Jaymee Ballard is determined to reunite with the daughter she believes was stolen from her. But when the one person willing to help Jaymee ends up murdered in one of the historic mansions in Roselea, Mississippi, she realizes the secret of her past has come back to haunt her. 

Now any hope Jaymee has of making things right rests in a man she barely knows and is afraid to trust, a man with his own demons to fight. Up against years of deception, they rush to identify the killer before the evidence-and Jaymee's daughter-are lost.

TIN GOD is an action packed romantic suspense/psychological thriller featuring a strong woman determined to find a demented serial killer and find justice for her child.

My Thoughts: I love finishing a book with the thought that I have found a new favorite author. I know that I will happily (and perhaps obsessively) read every book they write. For years the only author on that list was James Patterson, and as time has gone on I have added a few more. Stacy Green made that list for me.

I thought Tin God sounded interesting. I love romance novels, I love thrillers, and I tend to enjoy books set in the south. Tin God captivated me from the first sentence. Green has a wonderful writing style that brings every written moment to life.

I fell in love with Jaymee immediately in this book. She is flawed like any other person in the world, but her drive is inspirational. I found an emotional connection to the character. I respected how much she had been through and yet she came out stronger. She made a wonderful female lead, one that I wanted to read about. Nick complemented her well as the male lead character. He was equally as tenacious in solving the mystery that is unfolding.

The villains, and yeah there were many, were amazing. I could not believe some of the horrific lows they reached, but I was so invested in each resolution to the problems they caused. The wildest part for me turned out to be the end. I had my heart all set on who was going down and then a crazy unexpected twist changed everything. I loved it! I love a book that isn’t completely predictable. I want that rush of unexpected excitement over a huge surprise in a story.

I would call Tin God the start to something amazing in the Delta Crossroads series. I don’t know how far Green plans to take this series but I will be going along for the ride. I think anyone could love this book. It is a perfectly written romantic thriller that will surprise and captivate readers. I cannot wait to start reading the next book, Skeleton’s Key. 

Rating:

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About the author:

Born in Indiana and raised in Iowa, Stacy Green earned degrees in journalism and sociology from Drake University. After a successful advertising career, Stacy became a proud stay-at-home mom to her miracle child. Now a full-time author, Stacy juggles her time between her demanding characters and supportive family. She loves reading, cooking, and the occasional gardening excursion. Stacy lives in Marion, Iowa with her husband Rob, their daughter Grace, and the family’s three obnoxious but lovable canine children.

I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Inn on the Edge by Gail Bridges - Review

By Gail Bridges

Angela and her brand-new husband Josh have just arrived at their honeymoon destination, a romantic bed-and-breakfast hotel on the breath-taking Washington coast - the Inn on the Edge. But everything isn't as it seems. The lessons that come free with the room aren't for painting the lovely coastal scenery - the lessons are for better sex. Angie and Josh, shocked and titillated, immerse themselves in every sensual offering.It doesn't take long for things to go horribly wrong. The discover that the old man running the place is a sex demon, who has been stealing their sensual energy. Worse, he's dangerously in love with Angie and he has plans for her - plans involving an heirloom wedding ring.

Coming soon http://www.ellorascave.com/inn-on-the-edge.html

My Thoughts: I expected Inn on the Edge to be very sexy after reading a previous book by Gail Bridges. I was definitely not disappointed on that front. I was again intrigued with the creativity that Bridges puts into each scene in a book. They are all incredibly steamy. This book was full of a lot of intrigue, too. I was captivated by what would happen next with the sex demon and Angie.

The characters in this book are interesting. Each of them has a bit of back story that helps to shape who they are at the inn. The easy manipulation that is involved frequently is interesting. I kept waiting for someone to break away from what they were told was right. I liked the dynamics between the couples. I found the guides to be the most fun to read about. I loved how each of the people who were around had some sort of talent.

I thought that even with all the inventive sex in this book, one of my favorite parts was the mystery of the inn and its owner. He was a very well written and sufficiently creepy character. I constantly wondered what else he would be capable of and if anyone would ever be able to get away. I liked the end and I can imagine how the characters will move on with their lives after the honeymoon is over.

Rating:

About the author I have three grown children. I live in Seattle, Washington with my husband and our five cats. In the past I have worked in a variety of different artistic media. I have a BFA in painting from the University of Washington, and for over fifteen years I made award-winning Fine Art Jewelry (silver and handmade ceramics) and sold my work at local and regional Fine Art and Craft shows. My business, Vivid Arts, flourished - but always, I felt driven to write. Two years ago, no longer able to deny the writing muse, I took an open-ended sabbatical from my art shows. Since then, I've written two novels and a number of published and unpublished short stories.

• Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/gailbridgeswriter
• Twitter: @GailWBridges
• Blog: http://gailbridges.blogspot.com/
• Website: http://gailbridges.com/
• Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7147145.Gail_Bridges
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Prize for the contest. Angie's Travel Painting Kit Acrylic paints, brushes, palette, canvas board and instructions; Mr. Abiba's Wooden "Tool" Box, for decorating; Josh's Magic Book, for decorating; Tazo Passion Tea; Dark Chocolate bar with almond bits. Follow the Book Tour Fill out the Form Below to Enter (Open to US residents) a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

All for Hope by Olivia Hardin - Excerpt

All for Hope

To protect her heart, he left her behind. To protect her life, he’ll leave the life he's made behind. Sometimes the safest distance between two hearts is no distance at all… Kidnapping a baby wasn’t something Hope ever dreamed she would do. But she’s been burned by the legal system before, so when the court places her friend’s child into the custody of an abuser, she takes matters into her own hands. She steals the baby and fakes her death, hoping to make a clean getaway. She planned every detail, except one. Her high school sweetheart and best friend, who left her years before, sees her at a gas station. Hope thinks all is lost, until he offers to help them. Brennan had always been the love of Hope’s life, but he never wanted to be. She knows she cannot depend on him for long. However, as each day passes, it becomes painfully obvious that she is in way over her head. She goes with him, intending to keep him always an arm’s length away to protect her heart. But being on the run together sparks the old flames that once burned between Brennan and Hope. Families, friends, and lovers must band together to save an innocent baby and a daring woman or both of their lives will be destroyed. Together, they’ll do it All for Hope…

Excerpt: 
"I'm going to go with her."

Mark shook his head and released a frustrated laugh. "Do you know what you're saying? This thing may never go away. She might have to spend her entire life hiding. Can you sacrifice your life?"

Brennan cut a wry grin. “She'll need someone to help her get settled somewhere.” He chuckled and shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck before looking at Mark again. “She's told you everything about me, hasn't she?"

Terrance sat up a little straighter, a defensive stance. "She's told me enough."

"We’re all stupid kids at one time or another in our lives, Mark. I know I hurt her, but still she's always been there to help pick me up. She's always helping someone, but this time she’s in way over her head. She can’t do this alone. I owe her something for her friendship all those years. Besides, I don't have to stay away forever. I just want to make sure she makes it to a safe place and is able to care for herself."

Again Mark nodded, sighing. "You know where she is?"

"She should still be in Houston. I don't know where she's staying, but I'll find her."

"Keep your inquiries vague. Don't let anyone suspect who it is you're looking for. The cops believe she's dead, but they won't hesitate to reopen this case if so much as one clue shows up."

"I realize that."

"Do you need anything? Money? Anything?"

Bren shook his head and stood, pacing the room. "No, I have money."

"Fine, just be careful.” He turned for the door, then thought better of it and spun back around to face the younger man again. “Don't let her down this time, Brennan.”

He put out his hand to the older man and smiled. "Thank you for your help, Mark. Good-bye."

Mark shook his hand, and both men smiled to cover the worry they were feeling.

"Bye. And try to send me some sort of word to let me know you're all okay. And let her know from the start if you don’t plan to stay with her. It will break her heart to believe she has you by her side, then to lose you."

"I will. Is there anything you'd like me to tell her?"

"No, just that I love her and am thinking of her. And if the two of you ever need anything, just ask me. I'll always be here."

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About the Author – Olivia Hardin realized early on how strange she was to have complete movie-like character dreams as a child. Eventually she began putting those vivid dreams to paper and was rarely without her spiral notebooks full of those mental ramblings. Her forgotten vision of becoming an author was realized when she connected with a group of amazingly talented and fabulous writers who gave her lots of direction and encouragement. With a little extra push from family and friends, she hunkered down to get lost in the words. She’s also an insatiable crafter who only completes about 1 out of 5 projects, a jogger who hates to run, and is sometimes accused of being artistic, though she’s generally too much of a perfectionist to appreciate her own work. A native Texas girl, Olivia lives in the beautiful Lone Star state with her husband and their puppy Bonnie. Connect with her Online - Blog * Goodreads * Twitter* Facebook * Literary Addicts

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Imperfection by Phaedra Seabolt - Excerpt

Imperfection (Pure Blood)

At the center of a war brewing between two packs: her son

Meara Falk always followed her parents' rules, until one night in March when the temptation to let loose changed her life forever. Nine months later, disowned and with a baby on her hip, she discovers werewolves exist after being on the wrong end of some teeth and claws. During her first change, werewolves attack, stealing her son and driving her out of her home. Now she’s looking for the man who kidnapped her baby and turned her life upside down. Meara's son is in the middle of a threatened war between two powerful packs. Getting him back will jeopardize the lives of everyone she loves.

Available on Amazon | B&N | Smashwords

Excerpt:

I didn’t remember walking down the street, but when I looked up, I saw that I had made it all the way back to Skipper’s. The crowd hadn’t let up at all, but now the sidewalk had taken on a green tint. Glancing inside, I thought I saw someone who looked familiar. Again, I heard someone shout my name, so I squeezed into the entrance and headed toward the back. My name was shouted somewhere closer this time. Spinning around, I just couldn’t tell where it was coming from in the crowd. I stumbled and felt strong arms around my waist that kept me from hitting the floor. Effortlessly he lifted me off the ground and turned me around so that my hands were splayed across his expansive shoulders. Looking up to see who caught me, I realized that my mystery man had found me again.

“Meara. Beautiful Meara. Let’s leave these inebriated fools and find some place to talk. Some place that doesn’t have this noise you college students claim is music.”

I don’t think I could have said no even sober to this man. He led me out the front door, and we walked down the street a little ways. I could see that we were heading toward what looked like a motorcycle. The handlebars were a lot higher in the air than normal, but then again, I saw mostly scooters on campus, which were hardly a comparison. Coming up on it, I could tell it was black with a sloping design. It was higher in the front than the back and had what looked like red interspersed inside the engine. The seat looked like it was only big enough for one person and the man next to me definitely would take up all of it.

“I can’t ride on that! I’ll fall off the back!” I could tell I was slurring a bit. The words felt thick in my mouth and didn’t really want to come out.

“Lass, there’s more than enough room when you are sitting in my lap.” Listening to him this time, I thought I detected an accent in his voice, but I couldn’t place it. He climbed onto the bike and reached over, placing both hands on either side on my hips. Then to my surprise, he picked me up and put me on the bike so that I was basically sitting on the gas tank. He wrapped one arm around my waist and pulled me tight against him before the bike roared to life.

“Get ready for the ride of your short life, lass. This will be something you won’t ever want to forget.”

Ironically, that’s exactly what happened. I blacked out during the ride, and my life has never been the same since.

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About Phaedra Seabolt Phaedra Seabolt is the youngest of four and the only girl. She spent her childhood trying to be the best she could be at everything she did which drove her to attend college long enough to attain her master's degree. Now she is a stay at home mom and happily married.   Follow the Book Tour

Best Served Cold by Tawdra Kandle - Review

 

By Tawdra Kandle

Sometimes revenge is your only choice. . .

Julia worked for weeks planning the perfect surprise birthday party for her boyfriend, Liam, but that night, she was the one who got the biggest shock. He broke up with her in front of all their friends, humiliating her in the process. Clearly revenge was in order. The plan is simple. Make him jealous, win him back, and then crush his heart. Fair is fair. However, there is one little hiccup and he has curly brown hair and dimples. Jesse is everything she wants. With him, she could almost forget her bruised heart. Almost. Julia has one choice: let Liam walk away after everything he did, or lose a chance at love in pursuit of payback.

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My Thoughts: I love Tawdra Kandle’s King Series, and I was excited to get a chance to read Best Served Cold. Best Served Cold is different from what Kandle has delivered before, but not in a bad way. I loved every single moment of this book, and it has become my absolute favorite of everything I’ve read from Kandle.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and Best Served Cold puts quite an interesting spin on that concept. Julia is ready to do anything to get back at Liam for how he treated her. I loved the dynamic between Julia and her friends that helped her in her revenge plot. I loved the little plans they came up with. I also loved the believability in the book. Of course a girl’s friends would help, even if they didn’t always agree.

Julia is a wonderful character. Sure she may be taking the slightly immature route of revenge, but maybe Liam had it coming. He probably had it coming a little bit. She is still responsible with both her job and school. She is a bit shy, but she has fun. She also grows in the book. Character growth is always a great thing, and Julia’s growth is really wonderful.

Jesse. I’m not even sure how to begin to describe the perfect man that he is in this book. He’s honest, fun, and smart. He can joke around and be wonderfully sexy, depending on the time. He treats Julia like a princess. Where I am typically into the bad boy in a book, Jesse stole the show. Sometimes perfect is exactly what a girl needs. Oh, and add in that curly hair and dimples, yep, swoon ladies.

There were so many wonderful elements in this book.  I really enjoyed the college setting in this book. The little hang out spots, the classes, and the dorms all brought the story out. I loved the truck, and the awesome movie and TV mentions. Every moment in this book was amazing and well written. It is a perfect story of revenge and love, two things that don’t usually work so well together. I cannot wait to read the next book, and truthfully anything else Tawdra Kandle chooses to gift to the reading world. 

Rating:

Tawdra Kandle has been a writer since pens were invented. Her first published story appeared in Child Life magazine when she was 13 years old. She took a brief hiatus of about thirty years to hone her craft, get married and have four children before publishing the young adult quartet The King Series. She has since published books in both the adult and new adult romantic genre. Tawdra lives in Florida with her husband and children, both skin and fur-types. Oh, and yes--she has purple hair.   Follow Tawdra Kandle: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Literary Addicts / Goodreads /Amazon

I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.