Review & Giveaway: She Never Got to Say Goodbye by Ica Iova

Book Trailer | Amazon | Goodreads

When Olivia trades her promising career for a more domestic lifestyle as a wife and mother, she expects many things but never to see ghosts much less be one.

Her life with her handsome husband, Brandon, a successful criminal lawyer, starts as a happy one, but following a tragedy, guilt, alcohol and drugs crush their blissful world in a hurry. One minute Olivia is planning to leave the marriage and the next she’s floating at the foot of her son’s bed. Dead. Murdered. And all evidence points to Brandon as the prime suspect.

She is angry and determined to make him pay, but soon, she learns that she if she wants justice, she must follow the clues that reach back into Brandon’s past.

Suspenseful, romantic and awash in the afterlife thrill, She Never Got To Say Goodbye captures the power of love and friendship.

REVIEW

A book which gave me some unexpected surprises when I least expected it.

I read nothing from other reviews and go through Google ratings before I started reading.  And I am happy for that decision.

It started off where Olivia and Brandon meet at a restaurant, become friends, falls in love, gets married and has a baby.  Yeah, all these were said in the same pace in the book.  No big ah's and oh's of romance and marriage.  It just happened and then the tragedy hit the happy couple when Olivia was murdered.  The spirit Olivia is on her way to getting revenge on... yeah, you have to go read the book, in order to know more.

It was not an easy read.  I seriously didn't expect a paranormal plot.  So many secrets and revelations - that will cause your mind spiral down to a complete mess.  I was plastered in my chair with my Kindle until I completed this book.  This is the first book for me from this author, but she made sure that I get her other books some serious attention.

4 STARS!

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4.5 STAR Review & $50 Gift Card Giveaway: Bluff by Lenore Skomal

Original Title: Bluff
Author: Lenore Skomal
Publisher: Lenore Skomal Press
Release Date: October 1st 2012
Source: From "Novel Publicity"
Genre: Psychological Thriller

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"To the medical world, I was a host body, surviving only to bring a new life into the world. And while I wanted to die more than anything in the world, I never wanted this. No, I never wanted to cease to exist. This was the worst death of all.”

Jude Black lives in that in-between, twilight place teetering on death but clinging to life in order to bring her baby into this world. Only she knows the circumstances surrounding her mysterious fall off the bluff that landed her in the hospital being kept alive by medical intervention. Only she knows who the father of her baby is. In this poignantly crafted literary novel, the mystery unfolds and the suspense builds as the consequences of Jude’s decisions threaten to reveal everyone's deceptions, even her own.

Bluff offers a sensitive look at essential questions such as the value of human life, the consciousness of those in a coma and the morality of terminating life support. At the core is the story of a tragically misunderstood woman who finds peace, acceptance, understanding and even love on her deathbed.

REVIEW

My first thought: I am going to recommend this to everyone, who can read emotional novels.
Second thought: Wait, I think I am going to cry. :(

The first reason I picked this up: BLURB.  Read the above blurb.  After reading that, I just can't pass this on.  And like so many other books I accepted for review, I am glad again for my decision.

There are some things we consider as good and bad.  But, that obviously differs from person to person.  When I read about each of the characters in this book, it only made me feel like an immature girl.  Reason?  Let me explain..

Jude, the protagonist of this novel, is always sad and prefers loneliness.  The novel starts with Jude falling off a bluff (a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)), heavily injured.  She is rushed to the hospital, due to some anonymous call to 911 about the 'incident'.  Then we meet Frances, Jude's best friend (actually, the only friend), who has been with Jude for nearly two decades.  Jude completely adores Frances, while Frances trusts and loves Jude unconditionally.  Then there is another bomb thrown at you -- Jude is pregnant.  In spite of Jude's battered condition, the baby is healthy and can be saved.  So, there starts the questions:

• Did Jude commit a suicide?
• Is this a murder?
• Who is the father of the baby?
• Will Jude survive enough to provide nutrition the child?
• Will the baby survive?

With all these questions still running in your mind, there are many papal issues, whether Jude must be continued with the life support system, that you have to worry about.

And then there are other characters --

April:  Jude's sister.  Working as a secretary and mistress to her boss.  Jealous of her sister and loathing Frances, April's entry in Jude's life (or existence) after twenty years is another shocking change.

Mary Shannon:  Nurse and neighbor of Jude.  Although portrayed with many flaws at the beginning, she did show her brighter side in Jude's case.

Gay:  God, I don't even know whether I hate or like her.  I think I am leaning towards hate.  Well, she is Jude's mother, who made her life more miserable and now, dead.

Jude's unborn child's dad:  I just HATE YOU!

There are so many other minor characters, but coming back to 'feeling like an immature girl', you see why?  I learnt again that people have different sides.  Not all are good, but not all are bad.  There are motives behind everyone and I really appreciate the author for making me understand and agree to that fact.  I know this, but I still judge people on how they behave to 'me' - not with who they really are (because I never take the pain to know?  Yeah, maybe!)  This is what makes me feel immature.

As the story unravels secrets after secrets, it just kept me hooked.  Yeah, I was sad at most places, but the need to know more was so great, that I had to keep going on.

The author has written an amazing novel.  This is not your light read.  It needs some patience, more than that, an open mind.  But, I can assure you that you are in for a great read here.

This one is just going to hurt for some time.  But, that again is the success of this novel.

Really, I want to give this to 5 STARS!  But, this novel was something I never want to read if I want to move to some happy world and forget my real life.  For this reason, I give this 4.5 stars!

ACTUAL RATING: 4.5 STARS!

GIVEAWAY

Wanna win a $50 gift card or an autographed copy of Bluff?

1. Leave a comment on my blog. One random commenter during this tour will win a $50 gift card. For the full list of participating blogs, visit the official Bluff tour page.
2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest! I've posted the contest form below, or you can enter on the tour page linked above.

About the author: Lenore Skomal wants you to eat her books. Her passionate desire is to touch your heart, inspire you, and luxuriate in the world of the written word. She is an award-winning author with the single goal of resonating with others. Winner of multiple awards for blogging, literature, biography and humor, her catalogue spans many genres. With 30 years of writing experience, 18 books published, a daily blog and weekly newspaper column, the consistent themes in her work are the big issues of the human experience and adding depth and voice to the intricacies involved in living a multi-dimensional existence. She has won many Society of Professional Journalist awards, the Whidbey Island Writer's Conference honorable mention for best fiction, Writer's Digest 73rd Annual Fiction Contest, New York Public Library's Best Books for Teens 2003, and most recently, the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Award for humor for “Burnt Toast.,” her first anthology of her award winning humor columns. From journalism, to literary fiction, to humor and biography, her writing is consistent, if not in genre, then in message. Connect with Lenore on her website, Facebook, GoodReads, or Twitter.

Get Bluff on Amazon.

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Review: Life In Death

Title:  Life in Death
Author:  Harlow Drake
Release Date: May 13th 2012
Length:  25,000 words
Sub-Genre:  Mystery, Thriller

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When a girl that social worker Kari Marchant places in foster care is brutally murdered, she’s compelled to learn why. Her quest for the truth pits her against friends and coworkers. As Kari works to solve the horrific plot, more people die.  How far should she go to learn the truth—even if it threatens her life?

When homicide detective Rance Nicolet meets Kari, his attraction to her is powerful—and the feeling is mutual. But things between them go terribly wrong when Kari’s old lover is found murdered with a letter from her in his pocket. The evidence against Kari is damning. Rance’s personal and professional lives collide. Does he blindly believe the woman he’s falling in love with or follow the evidence no matter where it leads?

REVIEW

This is one of those books that I would recommend to everyone, if they ask me for a mystery.

The novel starts with a death and ends with a cemetery.  The novel is entirely grazed with deaths of most of the characters.  All these deaths are somehow connected to Kari Marchant, a social worker and the protagonist of our novel.  Detectives Cobb and Nicolet were in trail.  Nicolet and Kari get attracted towards each other, but the business at hand is more serious for them to be distracted.  Murders keep happening and Kari somehow happens to be everywhere.

It was an extremely satisfying mystery novel.  People are so bad here and they are still in high social status in the society.  Some other people are extremely bad and they are in good man's clothes to hide their real ugly faces.  Innocent gets hurt and no-one can do anything about it.  While we are stunned facing the realities of the world,  the author has given a perfect plot that kept me wondering "how the hell did I not see that happening?".  The author has delivered one of the best mysteries that I have read this year.

Perfect blend of all elements needed for mystery!

Review & $20 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway: The Four Books of Etretat by Matt Chatelain

Original Title: The Four Books of Etretat
Series: The Caves of Etretat #2

Author: Matt Chatelain

Release Date: May 1st 2012
Genre: Thriller, Adventure

The Secret of Immortality Revealed.

In 'The Caves of Etretat', Canadian bookstore owner Paul Sirenne was thrust into a quest for answers in the town of Etretat, France, on the trail of a hundred year old mystery hidden in the pages of 'The Hollow Needle', by Maurice Leblanc. Together with Leblanc's great-granddaughter, Sirenne unearthed puzzles, codes and historical mysteries, exposing a secret war for control of a cave fortress in Etretat's chalk cliffs.

In Book Two, 'The Four Books of Etretat', Sirenne discovers the reason for the hidden war: the secret of immortality. The Abbey, a thousand-year old organization, dedicated to chasing the oldest immortal on earth, known as the Greyman, has given Sirenne control of the caves and its secrets, apparently preparing him for a confrontation with the Greyman. Unfortunately, the serial killer who killed Sirenne's father, Weissmuller, has discovered this knowledge before Sirenne. Now an immortal and constantly dogging Sirenne's steps, Weissmuller seems to be playing a game of his own.

'THE FOUR BOOKS OF ETRETAT' is the second in a four-book epic adventure following Paul Sirenne, an average man unknowingly manipulated into becoming the key in the final phase of a complex conspiracy spanning millennia. Inextricably woven into history, the series re-writes everything we know in a non-stop rollercoaster of a ride where nothing is ever as it seems.

The Saga Continues.

REVIEW

Before writing the review, I will have to admit that I haven't read the first book in this series, so I have to guess some things on my own to understand.

Paul, the protagonist of the novel, and his team is in on an adventure to locate a particular cave, which has been searched by many in vain, in history.  Even if someone manages to find the cave, they don't stay alive to tell its tale.  So, such a dangerous task is upon Paul and his team.  The caves are not seeked for decades because of anything materialistic..its the secret of immortality that draws the attention to the caves.  Naturally, the adventure becomes even more dangerous.

It has been very engaging, fast-paced, thrilling and mysterious from the start.  The constant puzzles only make it more fun.  I found myself taking a pen and paper and trying to solve some of the codes and well, you know what..I always got them right (I shall take a peek or two..or more..to the next paragraphs, if I don't know how to solve them ;-) ).

Some scenes are so thrilling, that I was clutching my Kindle so badly with my face, only inches away from it.  And to add to the emotions, there is some romance too.

There were too many characters in the book, and it was difficult to remember the names - but maybe, that was because I didn't read the first book.  I loved Paul's team though - funny, loyal and intelligent.  Well thought-out mystery and well-made characters!

Had fun.. I just regret not starting with the first book.

4.5 stars!

SERIES ORDER

1.  The Caves of Etretat

2.  The Four Book of Etretat

GIVEAWAY

Matt will be awarding a $20 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour as well as to the host whose post receives the most comments (excluding his or the host's) during the tour.

Just comment in this post to enter this giveaway.  Anonymous and Name/URL Comments SHOULD contain their email IDs in their comments.

Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL and ends July 13th!

Review & $25 Green Gift Card Giveaway: Tangled Ties To a Manatee

Original Title: Tangled Ties to a Manatee

Author: Kalen Cap

Release Date: May 5th 2012

Genre: Humor, Crime Thriller

A pregnant manatee is rare at any zoo, and a first for the Grove City Zoo in Ohio. Ankh is a delight to zoo patrons, a concern to its staff, and the unintentional victim of two con men. She has no idea how many human relationships, problems, and dreams tangle around her.

Jerry is a young developmentally disabled man who happily follows Ankh's pregnancy on the zoo's webcam. He has a shy crush on Janelle, a pretty college student who volunteers for his group home’s outings to the zoo.

Jerry's Aunt Vera also loves nature and runs an environmental retreat center. But all is not well, with Vera or the center. The center needs money and is under investigation as a cult.

Amid their college studies, Janelle and her friend Cecily try to help. Instead, Janelle re-awakens an old obsession in Vera when an innocent tarot reading hints at how the center might be saved.

Two bumbling con men are attempting to sabotage the region’s electrical grid as part of a lucrative scheme. But Jerry accidentally gets in their way and becomes their captive.

When the con men surprisingly succeed in bringing the grid down, it spells danger for Ankh, her unborn pup, and the many people tied to them both. With investigations of their own, Cecily and Janelle try to untangle it all to find Jerry, save a manatee’s life, and rescue Vera from herself.
Tangled Ties to a Manatee is a humorous crime thriller with environmental themes that is revealed through multiple points of view. The novel emphasizes college-aged characters, though not all, such as the developmentally disabled ones, are in college.

REVIEW

There are numerous characters in the novel, who all have different stories of their own.  And all these characters get somehow tied to a pregnant manatee at the zoo.  All these characters are aware of one another at some point in the novel and its really clever to build the plot like that.  I would loved to read more about the said manatee, but unfortunately, there was very few paragraphs alloted to that.

The author has tried something completely different in the way of writing.  But, although I really appreciate it, this would have better worked with 3-4 main characters..not for more than 10 characters.  It took me too long to understand the plot and characters.  By the time I understood them, I was near completion of the book.  I have to admit, when I did understand, I loved it.

The problem is you need patience..in a vast quantity.  I didn't tell you about the synopsis or plot, because this is one of those books, where opinions might vary widely.  While I loved the characters individually, due to the problem in remembering 'who is what', and the confusions in bringing them together, I lost the interest somewhere.

The ending was satisfying though, mainly because after a lot of struggles, I understood the plot and I was able to remember the characters.

Very good try on plot building!  But, could have been more understandable and less confusing.

GIVEAWAY

Kalen will award a $25 Green Gift Card from http://green.icardgiftcard.com/ -- redeemable for GCs from hundreds of your favorite merchants to one randomly drawn commentor.

So, please comment below to win this awesome giveaway.  Anonymous and Name/URL commentors --- please leave your EMAIL ID in your comment.

Giveaway open INTERNATIONALLY and ends July 13th, 2012!

Review: No Exit by Julie Harris

Original Title: No Exit
Author: Julie Harris
Published Date: January 5th 2012
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Mystery

Goodreads | Amazon

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Sometimes glimpsing the future can be deadly.

US Navy SEAL Kelly Nolan, who commands a small special ops unit, is assigned duty to protect a Presidential candidate during a visit to England. So what has a woman from half the world away seen that makes them seek her out?

Rebecca Miller is an especially gifted psychic. Two years ago she ‘read’ a US Senator’s wife and although Elizabeth Glover’s fears about her husband’s death were real, Rebecca reassured her that measures would be taken to avoid it. She ‘saw’ two of the people protecting him – a Native American and an old flying buddy. And now, ex fighter pilot and Senator John Glover is a viable Presidential candidate, working hard to get the votes, while Rebecca Miller is invited to speak at a paranormal symposium in London.

At Heathrow, she’s not met by the event organizer, but by two men in military uniforms. One of them, Kelly, a Native American, is vaguely familiar. Has she seen him before? Is this handsome guy really talking to me? she wonders. Yes, he is and she’s now in protective custody… She knows this is about that Senator destined to be President. She has no choice but to go with them.

At the airfield, Rebecca refuses to get into the chopper that awaits because she knows she will die if she goes near it. He might be psychic himself, and he might even like her, but Kelly Nolan’s patience is wearing very thin. Then comes a shot from the woods and Rebecca Miller is dead at his feet.

Rebecca, from the other side of life, is given a choice; she may stay, or return to finish what she started.
After Rebecca wakes on a morgue slab and scares the pants off a medic, Kelly gets the call that she’s alive. Even disbelievers call it a miracle, and those who want John Glover dead return to their drawing boards.
Whatever lies in store for the psychic and the SEAL, life will never be the same again for anyone involved, and many lives change. Some for the better.

REVIEW

I feel that some books are not getting the proper attention they deserve.  This is in the top of that list.  No Exit is an amazing novel, which has not reached properly to readers and bloggers.  I hope this review will make at least some of you know that this novel is a page turner and truly, a great work.

Rebecca Miller is a psychic - she sees into people's future and heals the sick.  When, at the age of 5, Rebecca started showing her psychic abilities, her father freaked out, and never again came near her.  Even without father's love and care, Rebecca grew up quite strong and kind to lead her own life.  But, similar to her father, there are people who fear Rebecca and as a result, now, in her twenty-five years, she has no friends (except her secretary, Annie) and never got past the first date.

Two years ago, Rebecca 'read' the future of her client's husband, who was the U.S. Senator.  She suspected that he might be murdered and there might be some betrayal involved.  Because of this 'reading', she was brought forcefully by the Nighthawks to England to help stop that murder.  This is where she meets Kelly Nolan, commander of the Nighthawks, who was drawing her picture from the age of 15, without realizing it.

The love, mystery, action, pain, death and betrayal are portrayed perfectly.  The character developement was what more than what I expected.  Rebecca was one of the best heroines that I know of..so stubborn, so helpful, so caring.  Yeah, she does mistakes, but who doesn't?  Though she is not normal, she doesn't wallow in self-pity..she takes care of life in her own way.  There are no faults I can find with this book..all positives - strong characters, excellent story-telling, intriguing mystery and believable psychic elements.

This is not the first that I read from this author.  I already have read "A Tear of Blood" by her, and I liked that too, well, not this much.  This author really thinks a great story to tell..I am having her on my watch-list.

Highly highly recommended!

Review: Finding My Escape

Original Title: Finding My Escape
Series: Finding My Escape #1
Author: Fran Veal
Publisher: Smashwords
Published Date: April 13th 2011
Genre: Paranormal, Thriller, Murder Mystery

BOOK DESCRIPTION


Hannah Jordan's life is shattered when she walks in on the double homicide of her parents. Transplanted from Atlanta to a small town in East Tennessee, she finds her solace in running the beautiful mountain trails behind her aunt’s house. Until she begins dreaming of the mysterious, but handsome Josh, that is.

As Hannah is tortured by memories of the night her parents died, she is disturbed by the idea that she may be forgetting something important. Aided by her best friend, Matt, she begins to uncover clues indicating that what she had believed was a simple home invasion was actually something much more sinister. And the killer is still out there.

Finding My Escape is a teen novel mixing romance with suspense and a twist of the paranormal.

REVIEW

Hannah Jordan, a teenage girl, sees her parents murdered in her home when she is back from her friend, Matt's home.  Then, someone hits her in the head and she goes unconscious.  Hannah is in trauma and she tries to forget the incidents that happened to her parents.  But, all she gets is nightmares with her dead parents.  Hannah goes and lives with her aunt, and soon starts school there.  Her best friend, Matt, also joins her in this new school to give support to Hannah.

While she deals with her real life, she also finds herself in another dimension called Valeria, in her dreams.  There, she finds Josh, one who is perfect model-like boy.  She tries to find more about Valeria and her parents' killer is searching for her in Valeria and in real life.  Hannah's life is in more dangerous in her dreams too.

This book is well-written, well-thought-out thriller, with some paranormal elements splattered across the pages.  It was a fast read for me and I really enjoyed the way the author has presented it.  I loved both Josh and Matt and Hannah's feelings towards both of them are explained without any awkwardness.  Thanks to that!  (I hate awkwardness in love triangles :) )

While I got confused towards the end, the other parts of the book are perfect.  I hope that confusion gets solved in the next installments of the series.

Recommended!

Review: The Other Covenant (Vow of the Seven #1)

Original Title: The Other Covenant
Series: Vow of the Seven
Author: Caroline Crosby
Publisher: Goose Hill Press
Published Date: January 22nd 2012
Genre: Thriller, Fantasy

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

BOOK DESCRIPTION

As are few others, Elizabeth Mitchell has been aware of the black occult lodge named “the Covenant” since childhood. Its unpublished chronicles describe events not found in American history classes. She trusts the veracity of the Covenant chronicles far more than that of the history books, though in her heart of hearts she would rather believe accepted history.

Review and Giveaway: Easter's Lilly by Judy Serrano

Original Title: Easter's Lilly
Series: Easter's Lily #1
Author: Judy Serrano
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Publishing Date: December 16th 2010

BOOK DESCRIPTION

It was Easter Sunday; the day Lilly's life went from safe and comfortable to dangerously unfamiliar. Her transformation takes her from a small town girl having an affair with a low ranked gangster in the Montiago crime syndicate, to a woman of grace and fortitude married to the head of the organization.Easter's Lilly is an inspired journey from the idyllic to the darker side of self-discovery. Read as the over-privileged brothers embark on their journey that twists and turns down the road of unbridled passion in this first book of the series.

REVIEW

*** This book was provided by Ever After PR for the book tour ***

Mess! Mess! Mess! Mess! Mess! Mess! Mess! Mess! Mess! Mess! Mess! Mess! Mess! Mess! TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL MESS!  WHAT THE HELL!!!!! OH PLEASE, NOT AGAIN!

These were the only things I keep thinking about when reading this book.  This is the way I felt about the life of the protagonist in this book.

Lilly, the protagonist of the book, is a cop's daughter and falls for the drug dealer, Johnny, at the start of the book, in spite of the repeated warnings from her father.  Her father throws her out and she becomes pregnant with his child, when she gets the news that Johnny is dead.  Johnny's friend, Diego (another drug dealer), says that he will take care of her and her baby and asks her to marry him.  She does and soon falls in love with her bodyguard and Diego's half-brother, Max.

I hate Lilly's character..its just disgusting.  I liked every one of the men she got involved with - at least they can be categorised under a character and are stable.  And at least they don't want to be with every girl they come across.  Total waste of three gorgeous men over a girl, who wants to sleep with every men who has a six pack and looks pretty!  I really really couldn't stand Lilly's so-called 'innocence' and 'naivity'.

The other characters were likeable.  The characters of Hector, Max and Lilly's kid was so cute and adorable.  Max's character was romantic and I felt like Lilly don't deserve Max.  It felt just so unfair that she can't remain true to any of her men.  Well, I think I made it clear that I don't like Lilly even a bit..so, I will move on to other things.

But the author has done a good story-telling and it was good to know the brothers.  This is a series and you have a cliffhanger waiting for you in the end.  Although this book is not for me, I found that most readers can find it really gripping because of the thriller genre.  To say the truth, I was gripped completely in the second half of the book, in the thriller section.

Had me occupied, but this book is not for me!

GIVEAWAY

Open INTERNATIONALLY.  A winner will get an e-copy of Easter's Lily.  Fill in the Rafflecopter below to win this copy.

Review: They Still Call Me Sister

Original Title: They Still Call Me Sister
Author: Deborah Plummer Bussey
Publisher: Half Dozen Publications
Published Date: December 16th 2011
Genre: Thriller

"They Still Call Me Sister" is a psychological thriller and one of those picked-up-unexpectedly-and-

got-surprised-because-I-liked-it type of book.  When I first started to read this book, I felt like I have picked a wrong book.  It felt like Christian fiction..and I am not into those genre books.  But, I was really wrong about it all.  Its not Christian fiction and its not at all boring (if you don't consider the first 20% of it).  I am glad, that I didn't stop reading this book in the middle.  It totally paid off in the end.

The novel starts with Kathy Carpenter joining the convent to lessen their family burden and also, if she joins, the convent will take care of her educational needs.  Kathy becomes a black nun psychologist in the convent and later some time in life, comes out of the convent and leads her own life.  Chanelle, who Kathy knew from her time as nun, a smart and beautiful woman, comes for treatment to Kathy.  Unexpectedly, after some days of treatment, Chanelle is found dead and the authorities decides it to be a suicide.  But, Kathy suspects it to be a murder and starts digging for some information around Chanelle.  Kathy, along with her sister Tina, when investigates about her death, soon stumbles into politician's and drug dealer's paths and their life is also in danger.

This book captures well the intentions and fears of the characters.  The psychologist, nun and the Sherlock part in Kathy is interesting to read.  Even though she knew that she is treading the path, where she has no knowledge or experience, her belief and intuitions keep her going.  Her relationship with her husband and her sisters are adorable.

Readers can guess who is the murderer, well before Kathy finds out.  But what is unexpected is, how she handles it.  And when we think all is well and good, the author gives a shock again.  The book was made enjoyable and its a talent of the author that makes a simple story.

Now that I have covered all the positives about this book, it also has some minor issues.  There is too much information on all the characters and I felt that's not too much of unnecessary information.  It makes the book more lengthy and the Sherlock in the readers starts sleeping.  Then, the first 20% of the book..its not impressive, yes, and most readers lack the patience to cross that much pages to understand what the book is all about.

An interesting mystery novel!  Readers, cross the first 40% of the book with patience, and then decide whether you like it or not.  I hope you will like the book, I did!

Review: The Prophet - The New Brotherhood

Original Title: The Prophet: The New Brotherhood
Author: K.J. Dahlen
Publisher: Bucks County Publishing
Published Date: September 28th 2010
Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Amazon | Smashwords | Goodreads

Author Online: Facebook | Blog | Twitter

Book Description:

After a three year search for a serial killer known as The Prophet, FBI agents Sean Sebastian and Rheta Morgan; both who have a personal reason to stop him, finally get a break and The Prophet is within their reach. Confrontation leads them to discover a secret network called the New Brotherhood and the more they find out about the New Brotherhood, the more determined they are to stop it. When The Prophet takes Rheta and Sean's sister hostage, the race is on to free them and bring down the Brotherhood.

Review:

*** The copy of this book is provided by Ever After PR for the book tour. ***

 
The author presents us with a psychopath, who kills women, just because he can.  He calls himself as "The Prophet",  moves around countries, charms the population with his talented speech, robs them of all money, kills an innocent woman and leaves for next place to continue the process. 

The FBI agents, Rheta and Michael is on his trail, trying to stop him.  Rheta's sister and Michael's fiancee are also in the list of victims, killed by the Prophet.  While on his trail, they both are faced with Prophet's smart escapades and misses him several times.  Soon, there are various twists, surprises and shocks, and then the FBI agents find themselves with him face to face.

The thrill of the novel has been kept from beginning to end.  The novel was realistic and enjoyable.  The need to catch the Prophet is felt more by the readers, as much as the FBI agents.

A perfect thriller!

Review: Hushed

Original Title: Hushed

Author: Kelley York

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Published Date: November 30th, 2011

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Young-adult, Revenge

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing the eARC of this book.

A well-deserved 5+ stars!

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.

Then along comes Evan, the only person who’s ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is. 

But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer’s committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn’t get what she wants… And what she wants is Evan’s death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

Hushed is definitely not a light fun-time story (you should have known - the cover itself seem creepy to me).  Its one of those book where 

• you will keep thinking about it, while waking up next morning and next and next.
• while reading the book, you were afraid the whole time that there could never be a good ending to the protagonist and you feel helpless and sad for him.

But when you feel all those things, you remember that its supposed to be a YA book.  

Archer, a eighteen-years old boy, saw his best friend, Vivian, raped by the friends of Vivian's brother, when they were twelve-years old.  Being so much younger than the other boys then, Archer can't save her..can't protect her.  And from that moment on, Archer couldn't stop protecting Vivian.  He has been killing to protect her, working through his own guilt ever since.  Archer cuts himself down from the society, his friends and his mom and builds his world centered only around Vivian.  

Vivian, the girl for whom Archer is killing his own soul, involves herself into toxic relationships and when broken down, come running to Archer, whom she ignores in other times.  Vivian's character is portrayed as extremely selfish, where she never cares about anyone else's feelings, not even Archer.  She blames others for everything and I was actually frozen, when she, at last, blamed Archer, for the reason her life is what it is..and I have to accept on one thing though - her life is surely a terrible mess.  Vivian is disturbed, more disturbed than Archer and when she lost her mom, she completely lost it.

When things are so bad for Archer and Viv, Evan comes to their school.  Evan crosses the iron gates that Archer formed around himself, becomes his friend and make him see that Vivian is been using him.  Archer's change is unbearable to look at, and I don't mean in the negative way.  But when things seem like Archer will get over it, another storm hits.  Vivian, realizing that there will not be Archer/Viv thing, shows her true dark nature and that's when all hell breaks loose.  I was scared and frozen to my place (of course, with the book in hand), that I just want to read that there will be something, some hope for Archer to hold on to his life.

Its the complexity of the characters and their past, that the main leads buried in them, that makes the book more dark and disturbing.  I loved the author's writing that characters are so realistic and the emotions so real.  

This is definitely one of my favorite books this year.  Its so dark, intense, chilling, emotional and finally although hearbreaking, a flickering hope.  You did it, Kelley York..definitely did it! 

A must read!