rasputin's shadow by raymond khoury

Title: Rasputin's Shadow
Author: Raymond Khoury
Rating: 3/5
Summary:
On a cold, bleak day in 1916, all hell breaks loose in a mining pit in the Ural Mountains. Overcome by a strange paranoia, the miners attack one another, savagely and ferociously. Minutes later, two men—a horrified scientist and Grigory Rasputin, trusted confidant of the tsar—hit a detonator, blowing up the mine to conceal all evidence of the carnage.

In the present day, FBI agent Sean Reilly’s search for Reed Corrigan, the CIA mindcontrol spook who brainwashed Reilly’s son, takes a backseat to a new, disturbing case. A Russian embassy attaché seems to have committed suicide by jumping out of a fourth-floor window in Queens. The apartment’s owners, a retired physics teacher from Russia and his wife, have gone missing, and further investigation reveals that the former may not be who the FBI believe him to be.

Joined by Russian Federal Security Service agent Larisa Tchoumitcheva, Reilly’s investigation of the old man’s identity will uncover a desperate search for a small, mysterious device, with consequences that reach back in time and which, in the wrong hands, could have a devastating impact on the modern world.

My 2 Cents:
Let me get this straight, I had so struggle so much to while reading the book. There was time when I felt giving up to read, but thank god I keep on reading it to the end. Patience was what I need. The book for me, at the beginning of it, too hard to feel connected to. It was like so much things going on and with lack of my understanding of different language, I need more help to understand. English is not mother tongue and leave me quite a time to understand other language as well. But, no pressure.The good part is, this book had so much intrigue and elements of interest.I actually liked the fact that the author chose to incorporate the life of Grigory Rasputin into the story. He's really is something. Mystery and sometime mean. The whole story is quite slow for me, not that fast-pace and all. But the fact that there's so many facts incorporated in it, made me wants to know all and everything about the characters. All in all, it was a new experience for me. Might as well check his other books to check his other writing styles.

About the Author

RAYMOND KHOURY is a New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including The Last Templar, The Templar Salvation and The Sanctuary. Born in Beirut, Khoury and his family fled to Rye, New York when he was 14 to escape Lebanon’s civil war. Khoury worked as an architect and investment banker before becoming a successful screenwriter and producer for networks such as BBC. Today, he focuses on his writing career. Rasputin’s Shadow is his sixth book.

declan's cross by carla neggers

Title: Declan's Cross
Author: Carla Neggers
Pages: 314
Rating: 3.5/5
Cover rating: 4/5
Summary:
An escape to an idyllic Irish seaside village is about to turn deadly in this riveting new novel by master of romantic suspense Carla Neggers. For marine biologist Julianne Maroney, two weeks in tiny Declan’s Cross on the south Irish coast is a chance to heal her broken heart. She doesn’t expect to attract the attention of FBI agents Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan— especially since a Donovan is the reason for her broken heart. Emma and Colin are in Ireland for their own personal retreat. Colin knows he’s a reminder of everything Julianne wants to escape but something about her trip raises his suspicion. Emma, an art crimes expert, is also on edge. Of all the Irish villages Julianne could choose… Why Declan’s Cross?

Ten years ago, a thief slipped into a mansion in Declan’s Cross. Emma’s grandfather, a renowned art detective, investigated, but the art stolen that night has never been recovered and the elusive thief never caught. From the moment Julianne sets foot on Irish soil, everything goes wrong. The well-connected American driver who invited her to Ireland has disappeared. And now Emma and Colin are in Declan’s Cross. As a dark conspiracy unfolds amid the breathtaking scenery of Declan’s Cross, the race is on to stop a ruthless killer…and the stakes have never been more personal for Emma and Colin.

My 2 Cents:
Reading from the summary, we could see there's a lot are going on. What makes me really happy with the book is, it is about a marine biologist. It was exciting to read something close to you in fiction books. I used to live by the sea when I was growing up, and it was superb! The setting of the book is perfect - a seemingly idyllic seaside town in Ireland. It's romantic and old world - a perfect place for romance and mystery to occur.And to add a lot of adventures into it, even more awesome. This was a great romantic suspense novel that had me eagerly turning the pages until the end. I've never read the author's work before, it can be a good stand alone as well as I wasn't that confused by the plot or the characters and their relationships. The characters were very well written, especially the two main characters of Sharpe and Donovan. We get to see their strengths, weaknesses, personalities, and their pasts. The plot was fast paced and flowed naturally, making it hard to put down. The mystery was intriguing and full of twists, which mystery and suspense lovers will find excitement and fun to keep up with.

About the Author

Carla Neggers has been spinning stories ever since she climbed a tree with pad and pen at age eleven. Now she has millions of copies of her books in print in more than 30 countries, and more than two dozen of her books have placed on the New York Times, USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. Declan’s Cross is the third novel in her acclaimed Sharpe & Donovan romantic suspense series that launched with Saint’s Gate and Heron’s Cove and has been praised as “a breathtaking reading experience” (Providence Journal), “gripping and suspenseful” (Nashua Telegraph), and “outstanding” (USA TODAY). Her popular Swift River Valley series debuted with Secrets of the Lost Summer, which spent four weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and garnered rave reviews, including a starred review from Booklist and a Top Pick from RT Book Reviews. Growing up in rural western Massachusetts with three brothers and three sisters, Carla developed an eye for detail and a love of a good story. Her imagination, curiosity and sense of adventure are key to creating the complex relationships, fast-paced plots and deep sense of place in her books.

the king's deception by steve berry

Title: The King's Deception
Series: Cotton Malone #8
Author: Steve Berry
Pages: 402
Rating: 5/5
Summary:
Cotton Malone and his fifteen-year-old son, Gary, are headed to Europe. As a favor to his former boss at the Justice Department, Malone agrees to escort a teenage fugitive back to England. But after he is greeted at gunpoint in London, both the fugitive and Gary disappear, and Malone learns that he’s stumbled into a high-stakes diplomatic showdown—an international incident fueled by geopolitical gamesmanship and shocking Tudor secrets.

At its heart is the Libyan terrorist convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103, who is set to be released by Scottish authorities for “humanitarian reasons.” An outraged American government objects, but nothing can persuade the British to intervene. Except, perhaps, Operation King’s Deception. Run by the CIA, the operation aims to solve a centuries-old mystery, one that could rock Great Britain to its royal foundations.

Blake Antrim, the CIA operative in charge of King’s Deception, is hunting for the spark that could rekindle a most dangerous fire, the one thing that every Irish national has sought for generations: a legal reason why the English must leave Northern Ireland. The answer is a long-buried secret that calls into question the legitimacy of the entire forty-five-year reign of Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, who completed the conquest of Ireland and seized much of its land. But Antrim also has a more personal agenda, a twisted game of revenge in which Gary is a pawn. With assassins, traitors, spies, and dangerous disciples of a secret society closing in, Malone is caught in a lethal bind. To save Gary he must play one treacherous player against another—and only by uncovering the incredible truth can he hope to prevent the shattering consequences of the King’s Deception.

My Two Cents:
Steve Berry is not a normal author. Is he any good? He's one of the best. The 8th book in the series, The King's Deception is well-paced thriller story that will caught your attention from the first page until the last one. Nevertheless, I feel that this time, the story seems to have a lot of characters i.e villains. Dont get me wrong, I still like the whole scenes, flows and everything. It's hard to hate somthing you already adored for so long, right? There's another thing that intrigued my interest, his relationship with his son after got divorced with his wife. Sometimes, I think it is quite mixed feelings about it, but either way, it just adding up some spices to the story. As a whole, I the writing was tremendous with excellence like always. Not to forget to remind you that a little injections of fascination about Tudor and Elizabethan history behind as the story background. I felt it was brilliant. Any thriller fans will love this for sure.

About the Author

Steve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of The King’s Deception, The Columbus Affair, The Jefferson Key, The Emperor’s Tomb, The Paris Vendetta, The Charlemagne Pursuit, The Venetian Betrayal, The Alexandria Link, The Templar Legacy, The Third Secret, The Romanov Prophecy, and The Amber Room. His books have been translated into 40 languages with more than 15 million printed copies in 51 countries. They consistently appear in the top echelon of The New York Times, USA Today, and Indie bestseller lists. History lies at the heart of every Steve Berry novel. It’s his passion, one he shares with his wife, Elizabeth, which led them to create History Matters, a foundation dedicated to historic preservation. Since 2009 Steve and Elizabeth have crossed the country to save endangered historic treasures, raising money via lectures, receptions, galas, luncheons, dinners and their popular writers workshops. To date, nearly 2,000 students have attended those workshops.

In 2012 and 2013 Steve’s devotion to historic preservation was recognized by the American Library Association, which named Steve it’s spokesperson for National Preservation Week. Among his other honors is the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award, and the 2013 Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award given by Poets & Writers. Steve was born and raised in Georgia, graduating from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. He was a trial lawyer for 30 years and held elective office for 14 of those years. He is a founding member of International Thriller Writers—a group of more than 2,000 thriller writers from around the world—and served three years as its co-president.

dagger heart by ronnell d. porter

Title: Dagger Heart
Series: The Odin Blood Series #1
Author: Ronnell D. Porter
Rating: 3/5
Cover Rating: 4.5.5
Summary (GoodReads):
Norway, 704 A.D.
The valiant King Ulfur defeated the evil that swept the seaside village of Nornör into despair; Morgan, the demon witch, has been dead for nearly twenty years. The truce between King Úlfur and the Queen of the Fae has remained intact since the day that Morgan’s dark curses vanished. It seemed that peace had finally come to the wounded souls of the village. But this peace is shaken when three curses that Morgan promised with her dying breath are placed upon the Norwegian village: who among them has cast the spell? Seventeen-year-old Erica finds herself trapped in the middle of a witch’s deadly revenge scheme with no way out but to fight for survival. On top of trying to end the curses devouring her village like a savage beast she finds herself at the center of attention when it comes to Viking King Úlfur’s three sons: Kriger, Paul, and Finn.

Three of them will fight alongside her.
Two of them want to marry her.
One of them could be the son of King Úlfur… and Morgan.

My Say:
First of all, I totally admire the book cover. Sensual and very descriptive, but I don't know if it looks Norwegian enough. Still, I like it. The story grabbed my interest from the start. The construction of the story is nearest to perfection. Until I was not so sure when all the conversation doesn't sound like it was in 704 A.D. I felt it was in the present day. Nevertheless, the book is still an attention grabber. Your eyes will keep you on the every words of the story. Another reason I like the book is because it has witchery in it. Plus, the love interest between Erica and Finn is another romance you will look after. Sweet and brief yet intense. All in all, I think we should give try the book. And I cant wait to read the sequel.

Note: I got a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Promo: The Odin Blood Series #2

Title: Ebon Heart
Synopsis (GoodReads):
"You know not of King Bersek, Lord of Berserkers... The Berserkers are men of darkness; heartless and unyielding. They know no fear, they know no pain – and the sound of them ripping and slashing and tearing people apart by their limbs: chaos incarnate."

One year after triumphing over the events surrounding the cursed Blackthorn Dagger, Queen 'Dagger Heart' Erica receives an ominous warning from a group of survivors that arrives in her village of Nornör: an army like no other, steeped in dark necromancy, heads for her Norwegian shores. With the winter solstice quickly approaching and no sign of the black wolf that used to roam the woods of her lands, she races against time to uncover the mystery of The Necromancer, as well as the absence of her dear friend and love, Finn.

Author Guest Post

What makes Norway your choice to write about in the book?

I've had a certain attraction to the Germanic and Scandinavian cultures. This fascination goes back as far as I had remember. My mother is of Norwegian ancestry, and so genealogy was the main deciding factor in choosing a region to establish my story, but it turned out to be the driving force behind every decision made as far as building the land and the people. I remember having a very vague, very slight interest in Vikings, but nothing beyond what was involved in their traditions, myths, and fables. "Oh, that bloke was a Viking king - that's nice, now tell me all about the monsters!" And then, after being burned out on a different book series that I'd been trying to wrap my head around enough to keep going, I happened upon a History Channel documentary about Viking culture, and I was very surprised to learn just how complex they were, and how misrepresented they had been during my adolescence. They were not, in fact, horn-helmed barbarian warriors with godly statures. In fact, they weren't even remotely intimidating as far as we're concerned today, having an average height of 5'6". So I thought it would be nice to explore this very different era and research it, and Norway 700AD is quite different from Norway 2013AD, but not in terms of savagery. There was a complex system of laws to uphold a great sense morality. For all the pillage and plunder of kings, most of their society happened to be exemplary at the time. However, like most cultures of old, there was still the unfortunate societal acceptance of women as property, and that was something of a focus for me, since I had a young female lead who was in the age range of being bartered off by her father, and I placed her in an unusual situation where she had a greater sense of freedom than even her young male companion, but in the end she was still bound by her gender. So Norway also helped build up her character as more of a resistance fighter than a simple girl who just falls in love and does what she's told. Her role is somewhat a fighter against the people, but for the people at the same time.

About the Author

Ronnell D. Porter was raised in Ogden, Utah, and now resides in Denver, Colorado. During his free time he plays the violin, dabbles in graphic design, and, of course, thoroughly enjoys writing stories. He believes that a novel written simply to entertain does its readers a disservice; instead, a book's narrative should always change the way we perceive the world around us, and grant us a little more wisdom than we had when starting the story.

Follow him: Amazon Author Page | Facebook | GoodReads

Giveaway Details:

There is a tour wide giveaway. 

Prizes include the following:

Grand Prize: A Kindle Touch, pre-loaded with 5 books by Ronnell D. Porter

10 eBook copies of Ebon Heart

The grand prize is available to the US only!

The eBooks are worldwide.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

the summoner by layton green

Title: The Summoner
Author: Layton Green
Series: Dominic Grey #1
Rating: 4/5
Cover Rating: 4/5
Summary (Add to Goodreads):
A United States diplomat disappears in front of hundreds of onlookers while attending a religious ceremony in the bushveld of Zimbabwe. Dominic Grey, Diplomatic Security special agent, product of a violent childhood and a worn passport, is assigned to investigate. Aiding the investigation is Professor Viktor Radek, religious phenomenologist and expert on cults, and Nya Mashumba, the local government liaison. What Grey uncovers is a terrifying cult older than Western civilization, the harsh underbelly of a country in despair, a priest seemingly able to perform impossibilities, and the identity of the newest target. Himself. The first work in a globe-hopping series whose protagonists investigate the world’s most bizarre and dangerous cults, The Summoner is a stylish, haunting novel of mystery and suspense that will linger long after the last page is turned.

My 2 Cents:
It is quite a while for me to read a thriller type of books. I love these kind of books, but the problem is, I cant put it away to stop for a while. If I do that, I would be so frustrated. One thing for sure, a thriller books need your attention more than anything. It's grabbing you and you cant abandon it just like that, like continue reading it later. It will kill the mood totally.

Layton Green's novel The Summoner is one of those thriller books to die for. Yes, it is complicated, action-packed and attention grabbing. If the book provide these kind of things, why would you stop reading and continue later. Such a waste. The plot is thrilling, so intense and made me nervous every time I flipped the pages. Plus, Zimbabwe as location of the story, is something very very interesting. I always find Zimbabwe as an exotic place. As the story deepens, so many secrets that are so intriguing and I kept asking why and what? It's predictable for me because there must be a twist and turns at the end.Of course I am right and always being surprised of the twists. However, I think the characters are so-so, not really that developed like the story. Everything was there, but I dont think I know the protagonist that well, and something missing about other character as well. That being said, I think the book has a good package of good thriller book, excluding the character flaws. A recommended read for sure.

About the Author

In addition to writing, Layton attended law school in New Orleans and was a practicing attorney for the better part of a decade (even though he still resents having cut his hair for that first interview). He has also been an intern for the United Nations, an ESL teacher in Central America, a bartender in London, a seller of cheap knives on the streets of Brixton, a door-to-door phone book deliverer, and the list goes downhill from there. He has traveled to more than fifty countries, lived in a number of them, and has a burning desire to see every country, city, beach, moor, castle, cemetery, twisted street and far flung dot on the map. Religion and cults, as well as all things spiritual and supernatural, have also been a lifelong interest.

Find him here: Website | Goodreads

Note: I got a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. It's a long due review. My apology.

beer money by dani amore

Title: Beer Money
Author: Dani Amore
Pages: 229
Rating: 4.5/5
Cover Rating: 3.5/5
Summary:
In the explosive opening to an exciting new mystery series, private investigator Burr Ashland learns that his best friend, a history professor, has been murdered. Burr is plunged into an investigation that puts him in the middle of a violent struggle not just between the present and the past, but between good and evil.

My Say:
First of all, I love short chapters! It races up the paces a lot, literally. I find the book very interesting, action-packed and even though it's not quite detailed, I feel better that way because I still can understand the plot of the story. It may seems it is like a cozy mystery book, I still think the simplicity of the story doesn't means it is less complexity. The story is just got the balance of how to go deeper when it is needed and straight cut to the chase when it's near to brake the mystery. The best part, I didn't see it coming. There's a twist, as we all can guess what will happen at the end, and it never bores you no matter how many times you read mystery books. And this book is one of them. A good read and recommended!

About the Author

Dani Amore is a bestselling crime novelist living in Los Angeles, California. She is the winner of the winner of the 2011 Independent Book Award for Crime Fiction. Her books include The Circuit Rider (A Kindle Serial), The Mary Cooper Mystery Series, The Killing League, The John Rockne Mystery Series, and To Find A Mountain.


Find her here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Pinterest | Goodreads

Purchase Beer Money on Amazon.

The author is giving away a $100 Amazon Gift Card. Fill out the form to enter! a Rafflecopter giveaway Follow the Tour!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book for an exchange for an honest review.

dark passing by liz schulte + interview

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Title: Dark Passing
Author: Liz Schulte
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Rating: 3.5/5
Cover Rating: 2
Date Published: October 2012

Synopsis:
Mary Nelson’s murder shocked the small town of Jackson. The vibrant, young college student disappeared on her way home. A week later her body was found in the trunk of a burning car. No suspects. No evidence. No case. Ella Reynolds’ life had finally turned around. With a new book released, the past safely tucked away, and a burgeoning romance, she begins to live again. Then a plea from a woman whose daughter’s murder remains unsolved ignites Ella’s curiosity—and drags her back into the dark world she fought so desperately to escape. Curiosity turns to obsession as Ella inches closer to the truth—and the murderer begins to claim new victims.

My Say:
This book is actually the second book which is the first book is Dark Corner in Ella Reynolds series. If only I could the first book first. Why? I find the book actually is as good as any other good mystery stories would be. Ella in my point of view is quite a great character. She's cool and kind of Nancy Drew wannabe. But I love her character as she is. Since I love mystery and adventure, the story is kind of predictable and I love guessing the culprit. Guess what? I kind of failed to guess this time when there's unexpected twist nearly at the end of the book when I should have know it! Now, I just have to get the first book and cant wait for her next book in the series. Yes, the book is highly recommended to all mystery and thriller readers.

And I kind of lucky to get an interview with the author. Hope you'll like her as well ;p 


D: What book are you reading right now? 
LS: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

D: Where do you do most of your writing? 
LS: In my office.

D: Do you have any quirks that come out while you are writing? 
LS: Hmmm I don't think so, I perhaps talk to myself a little more than normal.

D: What is your daily routine as a writer? 
LS: I don't have a routine. I only try to make sure that I write something every day to keep the creative juices flowing.

D: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? 
LS: No. I am pretty happy with it. I honestly can't think of any plot points I would change in any of my books.

D: Which part of Dark Passing was the most enjoyable to write? 
LS: All the parts with Ella and Gabriel are a lot of fun to write. I also love writing the snarky bits as well.


About the Author

Many authors claim to have known their calling from a young age. Liz Schulte, however, didn't always want to be an author. In fact, she had no clue. Liz wanted to be a veterinarian, then she wanted to be a lawyer, then she wanted to be a criminal profiler. In a valiant effort to keep from becoming Walter Mitty, Liz put pen to paper and began writing her first novel. It was at that moment she realized this is what she was meant to do. As a scribe she could be all of those things and so much more. When Liz isn’t writing or on social networks she is inflicting movie quotes and trivia on people, reading, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family. Liz is a Midwest girl through and through, though she would be perfectly happy never having to shovel her driveway again. She has a love for all things spooky, supernatural, and snarky. Her favorite authors range from Edgar Allen Poe to Joseph Heller to Jane Austen to Jim Butcher and everything in between.

Find her at: Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Newsletter

interview: Author Andrea Kane

About the Book

Each day is a struggle for Amanda Gleason’s newborn son as he battles a rare immune deficiency. Justin’s best chance for a cure lies with his father, who was brutally murdered before Amanda even realized she carried his child. Or was he? One emailed photo changes everything, planting a seed of doubt that Amanda latches onto for dear life: a recent photo of a man who looks exactly like Paul. Could Justin’s father be alive? The mother in her is desperate to find out. But tracking down a ghost when every second counts is not for amateurs. Forensic Instincts is the one team up for the challenge. The manhunt is on for the elusive father. Yet the further the team digs into Paul’s past, the more questions are raised about whether the man Amanda fell in love with ever really existed at all. Dark secrets. Carefully crafted lies. From the Congressional halls of Washington D.C. to exclusive Hamptons manors, there are ruthless people who would stop at nothing to make Forensic Instincts forget about the man Amanda desperately needs to find. Little do they realize that once Forensic Instincts takes the case, nothing will stop them from uncovering the shocking truth that transcends THE LINE BETWEEN HERE AND GONE.

So here's the interview with Author Andrea Kane. Enjoy!

D: What are you in relation to your siblings? Are you the middle child? The baby of the family?


A: I’m the baby of the family. Establishing my own identity was the challenging part, but being referred to as “baby” when you’re an adult has its perks!

D: Describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer.


A: A mother is desperately searching for the father of her newborn baby – hoping that he’s alive and is a donor match to save her critically ill son. What inspired you to write THE LINE BETWEEN HERE AND GONE? A: As with all my books, THE LINE, started out as flashes of the characters' lives playing out in my head. I saw a flash of an important male character who vanished without a trace and a critically ill infant whose life was integrally tied to his. But I didn't know why or how that would factor into FI's caseload. Those answers came later, after the baby’s mother crystallized in my mind.

D: What sort of attachment do you have to your characters?


A: They become part of me, like family. The ending of a book is bittersweet. My characters are fully formed, have achieved some resolution in battling the trials and tribulations of life. Just when I’m ready to enjoy their creation, it’s time to say goodbye. Fortunately with Forensic Instincts, I get the chance to stay attached and further the FI team’s characters and stories in their next book. 


D: Where do you do most of your writing?


A: Wherever my Pomeranian lets me. It’s amazing where he can place his snout, his paws, his tail and his body on my laptop to prevent me from writing. 


Book Excerpt 

“Ms. Gleason?” A young nurse touched her gently on the shoulder. “Why don’t you get something to eat? Maybe take a walk? You haven’t done either all day.” She reached for the baby. “Justin will be in good hands. You’ve got to take care of yourself or you won’t be able to take care of him.”

About the Author

Andrea Kane’s psychological thriller The Girl Who Disappeared Twice became and instant New York Times bestseller, the latest in a long string of smash hits. It introduced Forensic Instincts, and eclectic team of maverick investigators, each with different personalities and talents, all with one common bond: a blatant disregard for authority. The Line Between Here and Gone is the next exhilarating installment in the Forensic Instincts series. Armed with skills and talents honed by years in the FBI and Special Forces, and training in behavioral and forensic psychology, the team solves seemingly impossible cases while walking a fine line between assisting and enraging law enforcement.


For more info, CLICK HERE.

lovesick by spencer seidel (arc)

Title: Lovesick
Author: Spencer Seidel
Pages: 376
Rating: 4.5/5

Summary (from arc):

THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG WITH LEE…

Late one night out on the Eastern Promenade Trail in Portland, Maine, the police discover an incoherent teenager sitting in a pool of blood, holding the body of his best friend and the murder weapon. The girl they both love has been missing for weeks. Dr. Lisa Boyers, forensic psychologist, receives a call from an old friend, a connection to her troubled past. Attorney Rudy Swaner wants her to interview the young killer, Paul Ducharme, who is claiming he doesn’t remember the events leading up to the murder.

In her jailhouse interviews, Lisa helps Paul to recover his memories. But Paul’s disturbing love story forces her to confront her own ugly, violent secrets. Lisa soon finds herself the focus of an over-zealous reporter and media hype that drags her unwilling into the spotlight and threatens to uncover secrets she’d rather not share.

My Two Cents:

I'm totally glad to have such a hope from the author. Since his debut novel; The Dead of Wynter, I knew the author is someone so promising with these kind of book genre.

Maybe the best part of his book is that they sound like a psycho books that will grab your attention real quickly with so many assumptions, doubts and feel like, " I knew it!". His style of writing does not differ much from The Dead of Wynter but I could tell that Lovesick consists like two parts of story. Either way, the book is still good. Psycho thrillers are the best because even though you like the story, you will at least felt that the book is violating your minds, but in a good way. You can't stop hating and loving the same the character at once! Other good part is that, reading the book also was like puzzling your mind to keep guessing what will happen next, and what's the ending would be. I think you can guess it right, it's very spot on, but tricky as well.

I have o complain for the book because I love it just the way he wrote it. You'll love it immensely once you start reading it too. I highly recommend it!

Disclaimer: I received this review copy from publicist Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. for an exchange of a review. These are my honest review and receiving a copy in no way will ever reflected my review.

seven: seven strangers one purpose by paige agnew

Title: Seven
Author: Paige Agnew
Pages: 392
Published: February 10th, 2011
Rating: 4/5

Synopsys:

Meet the characters: Cecilia and Tommy: Two best friends who live on the wrong side of the tracks with crumbled lives and neglectful parents. They think running away from home will make things easier. They never imagined what they had in store. Can their friendship stand the test of Seven? Greg: He wakes up in the morning with a fresh cup of coffee, goes to work, comes home, goes to sleep, wakes up to another fresh cup of coffee, goes to work, comes home, and goes to bed. When his rote and monotonous life slowly starts to unravel, Greg, the puzzle solving lawyer, falls apart. Will be unravel completely before Seven’s done with him? Hazel and Kale: Just two teenagers madly in love. Kale’s wanted Hazel since he first laid eyes on her. Hazel needs Kale as he is the only stability in her life, the only one that can really be there for her since her parents’ jobs are more important to than their daughter. They thought the summer would be a chance for their newfound love to blossom. Will it even have the chance to before Seven rips it apart? Kariann: Supermom leads a hectic life. When she’s not taking care of her son, Noah, she’s teaching and during the summer she works at the day care center, taking care of everyone else’s kids. It’s what she’s good at. Taking care of people. Add to that list her needy sister and newly widowed father, along with an irresponsible, pestering ex-boyfriend who happens to be Noah’s father. She’s Ms. Fix-it. But how can she possibly make anything better when she’s captured by Seven? Jonathan: Finally, there’s Jonathan. He’s dark. Clever as a snake and as temperamental as one, too. All he wanted was to be left alone. Was that too much to ask? Yes. As much as he’d like to ignore it, the self proclaimed bad boy might be the only match for Seven. When seven strangers are thrown together to be pawns in a psycho’s mind game, they realize that they have to work together to reach their true potential or it could very well mean their death. Seven strangers. Seven stories. One chance to not only saves their lives, but to change them in ways they’d never even imagined possible.

My Two Cents:

Frankly speaking, I love how the book was written. At first, I thought the book will be boring because I expected that it would be difficult to relate seven strangers together and make them as the center of the story attraction. But I was proven wrong. Even though it may be not the best book ever written, I kind of impressed with the young author. I've read her "Starless Sky' last year and like it very much. Like her previous book, Agnew put an intense storyline, a little of mysteries as well as suspense. The best part of all, the twist and turn of the story because I think the book also is a psychology thriller, which is a genre that I like. But at some points, I have to admit that I lost my interest because of too much elaborating on certain parts, as I think the part should not be included and without it, the story would be just great too. Nonetheless, you should not give up to keep reading it.

The book has something promising and I was overwhelmed by it. Like I said earlier, the book maybe not the best written ever, but when a 17 years old teenager wrote it with a great intense, made a complicated story with a simple twist, that must be something cool about the author, and the book. Two thumbs up!

dead of wynter by spencer seidel (arc)

Title: Dead of Wynter
Author: Spencer Seidel
Pages: 272
Series: Stand alone
Published: May 1st, 2011
Rating: 4/5
Buy at: Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

Summary (Goodreads):

“Dolly, it’s your mother.” Dolly. Jackie Ruth Wynter had called Alice that for years. The conversation that followed led her right back to the place she had run from for years. Her twin brother, younger by just a minute or so, had been fading, transforming into an image of their drunken, narrow-eyed father. Now her father was dead, and her brother, Chris, missing. Alice resigns herself to return, helping her mother and the local police with the mystery surrounding the crime. But there are some family secrets her mother would sooner take to the grave than reveal. Reacquainting with her past brings fresh pain and new friendships as she struggles with who to trust with the details of her father’s murder and brother’s disappearance. As the authorities come closer to solving the mystery of the men in her family, she begins to realize her past life as Alice Wynter is the missing part of the puzzle.

My Two Cents:

I'm glad to get an ARC of the book. It's a debut from new author, Spencer Seidel and this book is a keeper. I totally love a family secret and when the gave a full details and dig in into the secret, it's a wow. This book is something that I'm looking for. A book that is a book that you can't put down, totally absorbed as it makes you to keep reading and find what will happen in the end. The story has a mix between the present and the past but it easily to keep it on your reading track. I love the elements of mysteries, secrets that being kept tightly for years. What is very interesting for me about the story is that it's about family secret, being haunted with guilt and chasing them back causing murders. I was intrigued with the mystery till the end, with a shocking conclusion. I love the writing style with the author succeeded to portray each characters with a realistic feelings, but a few of characters are kind of off to me. All in all, the book is a very great mystery debut from Spencer Seidel. I personally think he's very talented, and he has a little bit writing style like Neil Gaiman, the kind of chilly and creepy. As that being said, I recommend this book to all mystery lovers and looking forward to read his next work.

Disclaimer: I received this review copy from publicist Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. for an exchange of a review. These are my honest review and receiving a copy in no way will ever reflected my review.

the last will of moira leahy by therese walsh

Title: The Last Will of Moira Leahy
Author: Therese Walsh
Pages: 288
Series: Stand alone
Published: October 19th, 2009
Rating: 5/5
Source: Received from author

Buy at: Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

Summary (Website):

“I lost my twin to a harsh November nine years ago. Ever since, I’ve felt the span of that month like no other, as if each of the calendar’s thirty perfect little squares split in two on the page.”

Maeve Leahy is a busy professor of languages at a university in upstate New York. So busy that she leaves little time for memories—the memory of her lost twin, Moira, and of her many lost opportunities. Until a childhood relic and a series of anonymous notes changes everything—resurrects her long-dead dreams, a lost language, her most painful recollections, and prompts her to cross an ocean in search of ancient history. There, Maeve will learn new truths about her past, and come face to face with the one thing she truly fears. Only then can she choose between the safe yet lonely life she's built for herself and one of risk, with bonds she knows can be both heart-breakingly delicate and more enduring than time.

My Two Cents:

The Last Will of Moira Leahy for me is quite a difficult read, in a good way. I was easily immersed in the story, intrigued and the whole summary really got me intrigued. It started quite slow though, with Maeve keep herself so tight and avoiding to tell us what's going on with her. She's mysterious, which made me don't understand her but it kind of weird when I think she's so connected with me as the story goes on. Walsh deserves credit for writing a character whose personality leaps off the page. There were so many times in this novel that I thought I knew exactly what action Maeve was going to make, and eventually twisting the book's journey. I got surprised a lot by Maeve, which always turned me down when I was wrong.

So when she got the keris, everything went back to her and she wants to discover the truth behind it. I don't think I ever read something like this before; a mix of mystical and mysteries in a contemporary fiction. I was fascinated by the keris itself, because I myself has Javanese blood (even my fiancee is Javanese). Keris for real has mystical power which holds thousands mysteries to the owner of one. As that being said, I kind of truly understand the connection of the keris and Maeve's past. If you don't know this, when you read the book, there will be the part where you will learn the truth of the keris function in the story. You maybe think it's nothing but I got the chill on my spine. So this book got me an impact.

There's some flash backs of Moira and Maeve that told us how close they were and how they became apart. It tells a lot even though it's less than two pages each time. The bond of twins fascinated me, which I truly adored their relationship, mostly when they can read or block their mind on each other. However, because of some tragedy, Maeve became the Maeve we know right now in the book; well-kept, mysterious, hurt, and pessimistic. I wish she could enjoy her life because she really deserves it. Not to waste it for nearly a decade after her sister's death.

And I love Noel! (thank God there's some romance in it!). I thought the book would be a heavy and depressing read after all. Noel is tender, gentle and a great guy. He waited for Maeve for as long as he knows her. And funny too. In this, I was glad for Maeve, Noel is someone who will complete her. Teenage Moira was the best. I don't know why, but I think I love her wittiness and how she wants to do what she wants despite of being so different from Maeve like their mother wants. I dislike her mother for separating their likeness into something so-called identities just because she can't tell which is which between the twin.

That being said, I like the book so much. Walsh really did an excellent job bringing the mysteries of keris and a woman's past that we keep pondering until Walsh ties the two threads together beautifully at the end of the book. There's a bit of suspense elements, but it kind of worked okay to me. But I cried when I learned the truth and how she and Moira let go the worst past in their life and forgave the person who come between them. This book was ultimately about healing from grief, siblings relationships, and about remembering past and yet letting it go forever. Highly recommended.

crime beat by scott nicholson

Title: Crime Beat
Author: Scott Nicholson

Pages: 53 (pdf)

Format: E-Book
Series: Novella
Published: January 9th, 2011

Rating: 5/5

Source: Provided by the author

Buy at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble for $0.99!

Summary:

Crime doesn't pay, but neither does journalism. When John Moretz takes a job as a reporter in the Appalachian town of Sycamore Shade, a crime spree erupts and circulation increases. Then the first murder victim is found, and soon a serial killer is grabbing headlines. Moretz comes under suspicion, but he stays one step ahead of the police, his fellow reporters, and seemingly even the killer.

My Two Cents:

It was a quick read and the mystery is very engaging. I was definitely sure that I thought this one character is the right guy that commit all the murders. In fact, all the clue and hints hit back to the guy, made me very sure of it. It's quite irony when we did something wrong caused by the other factors, pressured but we did it willingly even we know it's not right. All I can say is that the story is worth read and it's something you need if you like to guess whose the culprit in a short while. Plus, there's a bonus story!

Disclaimer: I received a review copy courtesy of Author Scott Nicholson in exchange for a fair review. Receiving a copy in no way will ever reflected my review and these are my honest review.

the island by sarah singleton

Title: The Island
Author: Sarah Singleton
Pages: 294
Rating: 3.5/5
Source: Won from Sarah. Thanks!

Summary (from the back cover):

Otto, Jen and Charlotte are off to India for the trip of a lifetime. Arriving ahead of he others, Otto's soon enjoying the beach paradise they've all dreamed of. But when he discovers a girl dead in the shallows, he's suddenly thrust into the middle of a murder investigation. And then he disappears. As their dream holiday unravels, can Charlotte and Jen find their friend and prove his innocence-without putting themselves at risk?

My Thought:

I haven't read any young adult science fiction and thrillers before, and having a chance to read one, is a great opportunity to learn about something new in reading. When I read the blurb of the book, I think I must give a try.

Although I was looking forward to read the book, the starting point of reading from the the page one is like I'm pondering around what it is all about. Each chapter is narrated by each of them; Otto, Jen and Charlotte. They have their own distinct character by which Otto is acting like an easy-going person, love to explore some new place by himself first, but at the same time is a very loyal friend. His two best friends are Jen and Charlotte. I love Charlotte. She is sensible, attentive, reliable, and the most practical among three of them. Although sometime I think she acts like a boss, but she has to so that the three of them will make steps forward. On the other hand, Jen is a the most fragile and has a great sense of instinct. She knows that she is different and always knew that are great things upon her to find out the truth.

When Jen suggested they travel to India, Charlotte is somewhat kind of against it but accepted the idea later. However, when Otto disappeared and involved in a murder investigation, both of them started to investigate based on anything they found and also with a little help of Jen's strong instincts.

The story was not really that fast pace, quite a page turner to get the attention but need a little sometime to catch the interest. However, the author did a good job of describing Goa and it really kind of alluring and tempting, beautifully evoked. Added with great mystic and spiritual elements of mysteries about the Island which attracts Jen to be part of it. She always knew that Goa has something right for her all along, something pure that only few people in the world have the gift. It sounds unbelievable here, but believe me it quite make sense after they discover the truth. The book also has a great ordeal, action-packed wise, and a great mystery ahead and also a quest full of adventures.

Other than that, the closeness between the three of them is very open and they act like real best friends although there's might be a spark between each of them. But being friends seem a better solution to keep them together and happy. The ending is quite okay but I feel like it could be a good stand alone if it is not a series. But I can't wait to read the sequel too! Overall, it's really a worth reading and I will try to read her other books. Fully recommended to any young adult science fiction and speculative fiction.

*Credit: This review is taking part in Radiant Reviews, hosted by Crissie @ Chrissie Corner. Click HERE for more information

french fried by chris dolley

Title: French Fried
Author: Chris Dolley
Pages: 229 (pdf)
Rating: 4/5

Summary (Goodreads):

Animals behaving badly, other people's misfortunes and the most bizarre true crime story ever. French Fried is the unfortunately true account of Chris...more Animals behaving badly, other people's misfortunes and the most bizarre true crime story ever. French Fried is the unfortunately true account of Chris Dolley’s first eight months in France and has been described as ‘A Year in Provence with Miss Marple and Gerald Durrell. Just when Chris and Shelagh think nothing more could possibly go wrong, they discover that Chris’s identity has been stolen and their life savings – all the money from their house sale in England that was going to finance their new life in France – had disappeared. A bank account had been opened in Chris’s name in Spain to take the proceeds. Then they’re abandoned by the police forces of four countries who all insist the crime belongs in someone else's jurisdiction. The French say it’s an Irish crime as that’s where the money was held. The Irish say it’s French as that’s where all the correspondence came from. The British say it’s nothing to do with them even though forged British passports were used to open the bank account in Spain. And the Spanish are on holiday – and can’t even think about investigating any bank account for at least four weeks. So Chris has to solve the crime himself. But unlike fictional detectives he has an 80 year-old mother-in-law and an excitable puppy who insist they come along if he's going anywhere interesting - like a stakeout.

My Say:

While this is my first time ever reading a true crime memoir, I found it very very interesting and I totally love it! Since I always love crime/ suspense/ thriller or what-so-ever close to that genre, this one is not hard to adore straight away. The good thing is, it's hilarious! Have you read a hilarious true crime memoir in your life? Well, this one is a good start. Very good.

First few chapters are full of unfortunate events happened to Chris. He can't speak French fluently, the wind roof off his horse transporter, his new house has serious plumbing system, with 5 toilets everywhere; next to each room, under the stairs, anywhere that you think that it is impossible. Then it got worse from there. I felt sorry for him for all those circumstances but I couldn't help myself laughing or have a big grin while reading all the silly stuff he thought about his house and his fate in France. When I read the part when he's investigating with his wife, mother-in-law and oh-so-energetic dog with him, it was even more funny and that is very exciting to read someone else's adventures!

I was very astonished with how he composed his adventures and made it very exciting and told in serious way but I felt is very funny to read his misfortunes. Or maybe he was so lucky to have all the exciting unfortunate events happened to him. Even every chapters of his story has a very interesting and intriguing unfortunate title! I was hooked up, fully absorbed and felt like he's telling his story personally to me, very convincing! The last part is a blast for me when he told about his football game, how he scored and brought victory to his team. It was something like a closure to all his unfortunate events which it finally has ended.

I'm fully recommend this true crime memoir to whoever loves memoir. It is fun, a light reading and you can finish it in one sitting. Satisfaction assured.

Disclaimer: I received the review copy courtesy of the author, Chris Dolley. Though I received the book in exchange for review, these are my honest opinions and in no way will ever reflected my review.

*Credit: This review is taking part in Radiant Reviews, hosted by Crissie @ Chrissie Corner. Click HERE for more information