Book Review of Abducted: Reconnaissance Team (Texas Rangers: Special Ops Book 1) by T.C. Archer

Book Title: Abducted: Reconnaissance Team (Texas Rangers: Special Ops Book 1)

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 360

Author: T.C. Archer

Date Published: 12 October 2015

Synopsis:

She came for the fashion show. He came to catch a killer.

The El Paso fashion gala was slated to be the hottest event of the year and a must do if Liz Monahan, the creative brains behind Nina Bruno Designs, was to vault the company to the big time. Circumstances put Liz at the party in one of her own creations, escorted by a young, handsome model hired to show her off to the well-known and well-established. But Liz didn't count on her date being an undercover Texas Ranger who is investigating a human trafficking ring. She also didn't count on being kidnapped and trafficked herself.

When Texas Ranger Ben Hunter slips away from Liz Monahan at the gala and begins his investigation, he couldn't be more surprised to arrive in Juarez, Mexico to find her held captive by infamous human trafficker Carlos Sanchez. In order to save her, Ben must commit murder. Hers.

Review:

Abducted: Reconnisiance Team by T.C. Archer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book in a new romance series called Texas Rangers: Specials Ops. I loved it!

Elizabeth (Liz) Monahan is a likable character. Though, I wanted to either slap her or shake her on occasion. She is the creative director at Nina Bruno Designs, an up and coming fashion house in Texas. When she steps in at the last minute to showcase the house's latest fashion design, she has no idea what hornets nest she will be stepping into.

Ben Hunter is also a likable character. I must admit that I liked him better than Liz - he didn't annoy me in the least! Undercover as Liz's date, Ben is determined to break open the human trafficking ring that has been smuggling women and girls over the border from Mexico. However, he didn't count on his attraction to Liz.

I had previously read a paranormal horror and a science fiction book by this author, so when I heard that this book was available to pre-order, I bought myself a copy.

I love reading romances such as this one; they are fun, quick reads. I started to read this book and didn't put it down until I had finished it. This story took me on an adventure full of danger and romance. There are several twists and turns in the tale that had me sitting on the edge of my seat. The villain, Carlos Sanchez, is a dangerous man, with powerful men in his employ. However, I would have preferred if he was more "hands on", rather than letting his henchmen carry out orders. But, just as in real life, this character hides behind them to avoid capture by the law. Nevertheless, his presence is felt through the story and sent shivers down my spine. He is not a nice man by any means.

Unfortunately, although I love this story, I did find this book a little formulaic, with a similar premise to other books I have read over the years (and I've read hundreds). Granted, it's not easy to come up with fresh material when writing romances - it's all been written before. However, the vivid descriptions used to describe the characters and scenes brought the book to life. The danger felt palpable and real - this got my heart racing. Speaking of pulse pounding, the heat generated by Liz and Ben's attraction scorched the page. I reached the end of the book with sadness, as I wanted to keep reading. However, I am now looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

T.C. Archer has written a wonderful contemporary romance. I love their writing style, which is fast paced and exciting. I also love the way the story flowed. I have added these two authors onto my favourite author's list and will be reading more of their books in the future.

Due to scenes of a sensual nature that are a little on the explicit side (though not as explicit as some books I have read), as well as some bad language, I do not recommend this book to younger readers under 16. However, I highly recommend this book if you love steamy contemporary romances. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

          

About The Author:

T. C. Archer is comprised of award winning authors Evan Trevane and Shawn M. Casey. They live in the Northeast. Evan has a Ph.D. in electrical engineering, and Shawn is a small business owner. Their collaboration began on a lark with the post WWII film noir story The Pickle My Little Friend, and has evolved into nearly a dozen works, which includes their new series The Phenom League, and Daphne Du Maurier winner the romantic thriller For His Eyes Only.

Author Links:

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads

Twitter

Facebook

Book Review of Pegasus and the Rise of The Titans by Kate O'Hearn

Book Title: Pegasus and the Rise of the Titans

Genre: YA Action/Adventure

Pages: 352

Author: Kat O'Hearn 

Date Published: 31 January 2015

Synopsis:

Join Emily and Pegasus as the legend continues in a new epic adventure ...

The ancient rivalry between the Olympians and the Titans, thought long over, is rekindled - but this time the Titans have a secret weapon that can rival the power of the Flame of Olympus. The balance of power is tipped in Saturn's favour now that he has found his own Flame of Titus. Jupiter's Olympus will finally be in his grasp!

Caught in the middle of this ancient power struggle, Emily and Pegasus must head to the Diamond Head volcano in Hawaii to track down the one thing that can save Olympus ... before the Titans get there first.

Review:

Pegasus and the Rise of the Titans by Kate O'Hearn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the fifth book in the Pegasus series. I absolutely loved it!

Emily is The Flame of Olympus. She thought she was an ordinary girl, but she is very special. She is a fantastic character, who has faced many challenges in the previous books and triumphed. I really like her. She is full of determination and spirit. However, she may be facing her hardest challenge yet! Can she survive?

I have a soft spot for Emily and Pegasus, and when I heard that this book was due for release, I immediately pre-ordered it! This is a fantastic adventure, filled with danger and amazing twists and surprises. It was wonderful to meet all the previous characters like Pegasus, Joel, Paelen, Chrysaor and Chiron. However, there were new characters introduced: Fawn, a young girl who is a night dweller (where the myths of vampires come from), Lorin, a girl with her own piece of the flame and Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess.

*Minor Spoiler!*
After Emily helped defeat the Titans in the past (book 4), time reset and a new timeline was created. Lorin awakens from a deep sleep and finds herself trapped in Tartarus. And Emily makes another shocking discovery that changes her life once again.

I started reading this book and read it in one sitting as I couldn't put it down! I found myself on an emotional roller coaster ride from beginning to end, as there are some very sad scenes that had me shedding a tear or two, but there is also a few witty scenes that had me smiling or laughing out loud. I love the imagery created by Kate O'Hearn, as it felt like I was actually there. I love the incorporation of several mythical creatures too, the descriptions of which were vivid enough for me to picture them quite easily. The action is intense and had me sitting on the edge of my seat. I felt sad when I reached the end because these characters have become my friends and I will miss them. I don't know if there is another book due in the series, or if this was the last one as it does not finish on a cliffhanger. But, if there is to be another book in the series, I'm on it like white on rice!

Kate O'Hearn has created a world for Pegasus and the other Olympians that is completely believable. I love her writing style, which is very descriptive and the story flows beautifully. She is now one of my favourite YA authors. I have another one of her books from another series sitting on my Kindle, and I hope to get to read it soon.

I highly recommend this book (and series) to children of 11+ and to adults alike (who love reading YA), as this is one of the most exciting stories I have read in a long time. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

          

About The Author:

She started her career in the fashion industry, spending several years working in the showroom of a large accessory firm in New York, then top management at the Calvin Klein corporation and then to Oleg Cassini in Toronto Canada.
From there she moved into film and television and finally into writing books.

Author Links:

Amazon Author Page ; Goodreads ; Facebook ; Twitter

Audio/Book Review of The Devil's Detective by Simon Kurt Unsworth

Book Title: The Devil's Detective

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Pages: 368

Audio Book Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins

Author: Simon Kurt Unsworth 

Date Published: 12 March 2015

Synopsis:

Welcome to hell...

.... where skinless demons patrol the lakes and the waves of Limbo wash against the outer walls, while the souls of the Damned float on their surface, waiting to be collected.

When an unidentified, brutalised body is discovered, the case is assigned to Thomas Fool, one of Hell's detectives, known as 'Information Men’. But how do you investigate a murder where death is commonplace and everyone is guilty of something?

A stunningly original blend of crime, horror and suspense, The Devil’s Detective is a bold new thriller that will shock and amaze.

Review:

The Devil's Detective by Simon Kurt Unsworth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was recommended this book from Audible due to my browsing/reading history. I read the synopsis and decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did because I loved it!

I downloaded this as an audiobook after listening to the audio sample. I loved the narrator, David Rintoul. He brought the story and characters to life with his clear and precise reading.

Thomas Fool is a wonderful character. He is an "Information Man", a policeman to you and me, who investigates things when the denizens of Hell cause chaos or misbehave. I really liked this person. I don't know what he did in his previous life to end up in Hell, but I got the impression that he was a good man. Perhaps he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. When a denizen is found murdered in a very brutal way, Thomas and his fellow Information Men are sent to investigate and quickly find themselves facing a dangerous adversary.

Though I am not a huge lover of horror, I love detective stories. I started to listen to the story with no idea of what to expect. What I got was an unexpected journey through the eyes of the main protagonist, Thomas Fool. Hell is not a pleasant place to be in this book, and the demons are not exactly puppy dogs either. I love the descriptive quality of the horror in this book, though it can be pretty graphic and a little shocking. Some readers may find it too gruesome. Then again, my imagination can be a little too quick to paint vivid pictures and some may find that it may not be graphic enough for them. As only a moderate reader of horror, this story definitely shocked me (in a good way). I was quickly hooked and sat entranced as the story unfolded. It was a pleasure to see Thomas Fool's character grow throughout the story. He has to make some hard decisions in the course of his investigation. I wasn't so keen on his superior, Elderflower, though I only met him a few times. He reminds me too much of a government official, which I suppose he was to some degree. The Angels' Adam and Balthazar are interesting characters in their own way too.

The story has several twists and turns that kept me guessing for quite some time. I am a huge fan of detective novels, and this story has several red herrings and distractions cleverly placed so that when the culprit is revealed, the reader is surprised. There is another surprise near the end that I never saw coming but, after thinking about it, it made perfect sense. I felt sad when I reached the end of the book because Fool has become a friend and I will miss him. I wonder if he will be investigating anymore incidents in Hell in the future? I sure hope so.

Simon Kurt Unsworth has written a fantastic debut novel. I love his writing style, which starts slow but quickly picks up speed. I also love the flow of the story, the scenes flowed seamlessly from one to another. This author has found a fan in me and I would definitely consider reading more books written by him in the future.

Due to the use of graphic horror and gore, as well as the use of foul language, I do not recommend this book to younger readers and to those who have a nervous disposition. I do, however, highly recommend this book if you love horror, suspense and detective stories. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

    

About The Author:

Simon Kurt Unsworth was born in Manchester in 1972 and has not yet given up the hope of finding that the world was awash with mysterious signs and portents that night.

He lives in a rambling old farmhouse in Cumbria with his partner and assorted children and pets where he writes horror stories (for which pursuit he was nominated for a 2008 World Fantasy Award for Best Short Story). He is the author of the forthcoming novelThe Devil’s Detective, a dark and savage thriller set in Hell, available from Doubleday in the US and Del Ray in the UK and due out in March 2015.

His latest collection of short stories is the critically acclaimed Quiet Houses (which was long-listed for the Edge Hill Short Story Collection prize), which follows on from 2010′s Lost Places from Ash Tree Press (which was, along with Angela Slatter’s Sourdough, reviewer Pete Tennant’s (from Black Static magazine) favourite collection of the year). His work has been published in a number of anthologies including the Ash Tree Press’s At Ease with the Dead, Shades of Darkness and Exotic Gothic 3, Dark Horse’s Lovecraft Unbound, PS Publishing’sPostscripts, Edge Publication’s Gaslight Arcanum and Gaslight Grotesque, IDW’s Zombies vs Robots: Diplomacy, Fedogan and Bremer’s Weirder Shadows Over Innsmouth and Gray Friar Press’s Terror Tales of the Seaside, Terror Tales of the Cotswolds and Where the Heart Is.

2014 brings his sixth appearance in Stephen Jones’ The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror anthology series, and he also appeared in 2010′s twenty year celebration of the series, The Very Best of Best New Horror.

His new collection Strange Gateways is available now from PS Publishing and an as-yet-unnamed collection will launch the Spectral Press Spectral Signature Editions imprint in 2014.

You can find him on Twitter or Facebook and Instagram, or in various haunts in Cumbria staring at his MacBook and muttering to himself.

Life or Death by Michael Robotham

Click on the pic to get your Amazon.com copy.

 

Product Details

• File Size: 1079 KB
• Print Length: 449 pages
• Publisher: Sphere (July 29, 2014)
• Publication Date: July 29, 2014
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00HP4HABG

The blurb

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Gold Dagger award winning author, Michael Robotham is a former investigative journalist and ghostwriter, whose psychological thrillers have been translated into 23 languages. He has twice been shortlisted for the CWA UK Steel Dagger in 2007 ('THE NIGHT FERRY') and 2008 ('SHATTER') and twice for for the CWA Gold Dagger in 2013 (SAY YOU'RE SORRY) and 2015 (LIFE OR DEATH), which went on to win the award. He has twice won Ned Kelly Award for Australia's best crime novel for LOST in 2005 and SHATTER in 2008.

Michael lives in Sydney with his wife and three daughters.
His website is: www.michaelrobotham.com

 

On Audible

 

Click to get your audible copy.

Life or Death

• Written by: Michael Robotham
• Narrated by: John Chancer
• Length: 13 hrs and 52 mins 
• Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:08-07-14
• Publisher: Hachette Audio UK
                                                                                                

Why would a man escape from prison the day before he's due to be released? Audie Palmer has spent a decade in prison for an armed robbery in which four people died, including two of the gang. Seven million dollars has never been recovered and everybody believes that Audie knows where the money is. For 10 years he has been beaten, stabbed, throttled and threatened almost daily by prison guards, inmates and criminal gangs, who all want to answer this same question, but suddenly Audie vanishes, the day before he's due to be released.

 

Here is my two cents.

 

Admittedly.  I was a bit disappointed to not find my usual favourites starring in this book but I soon forgot all about them as Michael Robothom once again wrote a thriller that kept me buys and kept me listening.

I listened to this book on audio and loved the production.
The story is intricate.  At times almost slow but never really slow. A bit predictable but not completely.  It is a lot of almost things before it turn a bit and becomes more.

In the end though the book did what I want from a book.  Escape.  Fun.  Relax. 

So if you are a fan.  Do pick up a copy.  If your not a fan...try this book.  It will change your reading list forever.

WaAr

Jonathan Kellerman - The Murderer's Daughter

Click on the pic to get your Amazon.com copy.

 

 

The new masterfully plotted, stand-alone pyschological thriller from No. 1 bestseller Jonathan Kellerman, featuring tough, brilliant young pyschologist Grace Blades, a former student of Alex Delaware.

 

A brilliant and dedicated psychologist, Grace Blades has a gift for treating troubled souls and tormented psyches - because she bears her own invisible scars. Only five years old when she watched her parents die in a bloody murder-suicide, Grace took refuge in her fierce intellect and found comfort in the loving couple who adopted her. But her now-accomplished life has a secret side, ruled by an insatiable desire; by night she pursues the addictive thrills of sexual trysts with strangers. And when her two worlds unexpectedly converge, Grace's past returns with a vengeance, threatening to destroy everything she's fought for - including her life.

 

Shaken by the murder of her newest patient and fearful that an investigation will expose her double life, Grace sets out to probe the crime herself. But when she stumbles on the dead man's true identity, a horrifying chapter from her childhood is violently reawakened, forcing Grace to confront a decades-old act of evil crying out to be avenged. Suddenly stalked by dangerous men, Grace must turn to the talent for survival she's depended on all her life in order to face down the darkest personal demon she's ever battled: her own.

 

My two cents

 

Ok so my new rating policy might turn out to be unfair in certain circumstances.

But in this case I think it works perfectly.

If I read a book and I cannot put it down or if I have to put it down I cannot wait to pick it back up again then it gets a five star rating. 

And obviously if the plot is shabby, the logic faulty, the editing lacking etc then the book will get on my nerves instead of hooking me.

However, this book took me a bit before it hooked me this completely.  Only at 31% did my obsession with seeing the end of the book come to light even though the book has a fast and immediate hook at the start.

If I should guess, I would say that my “second hook” came so late because I had to get used to Grace and not Milo and Kie although they are referenced in passing in this book.

But this book had me hooked.  Kept me hooked and I am glad to say that I can recommend this to anybody who is a lover of this genre and most who might not normally like this genre.

I am a long time fan but got a bit irritated with the main characters driving for pages at a time.  Grace does the same but less so and she is new and twisted and perfect for a character.

Grace is the definition of everything a character should be, a bit unpredictable.  A lot unstable, then again she has reason to be.  Her past filled out the story and plot brilliantly and I would have been happy if her past were the only thing up for discussion.  When the present were as engaging I was in heaven. 

I really hope the author will make Grace Part of a new series and on the other hand I think by the end of book one, we actually do know what makes her tick so a series might not be necessary but still. I love Grace. 

What else can I tell you to convince you to read this book? Nothing.  So stop reading this and get your copy of the book today. 

You will thank me. 

 

 

This weeks Zoo animal (Wendy Woo) in the Who is who section of this blog happens to be one of the best friends an Indie Author can have.

Meet Wendy Steele, ladies and gents.  This woman is a one woman A Team.  I kid you not.  One of the most supportive people in the Indie world this is what she has to say about herself.

Wendy Steele lives in Essex but dreams of a new life up a mountain in Wales.

She worked in the City, BC (Before Children) but since 1999 has indulged her creative side, training in natural therapies, belly dance and writing. Publication of dance articles led to writing courses, and summer school, producing her first novel 'Destiny of Angels - First book in the Lilith Trilogy.'

In 2012 she published her first non-fiction title ' Wendy Woo's Year - A Pocketful of Smiles', as well as two short story anthologies and an erotic accompaniment to the Lilith Trilogy 'Too Hot for Angels'.
Wendy lives with her partner, Mike, three growing children and three cats. She says her favourite days are those spent as a human being, as opposed to a human 'doing'.

Now click on the pic below to go and see her books on Amazon. 

AMAZON AUTHOR PROFILE

 

 

By far my favourite book penned by this talented author. 

 

But this is by far not all.  Oh no it is not.

 

 

Click on the pic to go see her blog.  Then hit Home to read more about what her world is like.

 

She is truly an amazing person.  And she always support authors.  So show your support.  Go on over and give her a share. 

 

Fatal Reaction by Belinda Frisch

 

About the book

Description

During a slow night on duty, paramedic Ana Ashmore drives past a crime scene at the shabby Aquarian Motel—a scene that, strangely, wasn’t broadcast on her first-responder’s radio. Curious, she stops to help and quickly realizes why she’d been excluded from the call. Her sister, Sydney, has been found dead of an apparent suicide. But why would Sydney take her own life right after her successful battle with cancer?

As the police get to work, Ana decides to launch an investigation of her own. Sydney’s soon-to-be ex-husband certainly had a motive to murder, and while the police focus on him, Ana makes a startling discovery: a chain of e-mails between Sydney and her surgeon that brings into question Sydney’s diagnosis and the life-altering treatment that followed. With the help of Dr. Jared Monroe, who has his own troubling connection to the surgeon in question, Ana uncovers a ring of corruption and greed. As the two dig deeper, they develop a complicated attraction. Can they survive their attempt to expose a dangerous deception and avenge Sydney’s murder?

YES, Yes, yes, do read this book. 

 

 

 

My two cents.

 

I was impressed with this book.  The character list never assumed I am dumb and could lose the thread due to more than two people in the cast.
The pace was fast and relentless always driving forward. 
The story was fun, entertaining. 
I wont go so far as to say I could not put the book down but I came pretty close to it.
So if a medical mystery thriller is your cuppa, then I recommend this book.  It is well written, well edited and in the end it did what I want from a book.  It gave me the escape from every day life I crave when I pick up a book.

Really, what more do you want from fiction?

 

Sample her work with this free book.

 

ZOOOMMMBBIIIIEESSSSS

or

 

Click on the pic to get your copy.

Note I do not know how long these books will be free so be quick about it.

 

About the author (Thank you Goodreads)

 

 

Belinda Frisch

Goodreads Author

url

https://www.goodreads.com/BelindaFrisch

born

in The United States

gender

female

website

http://belindaf.blogspot.com/

twitter username

b_frisch

genre

Horror, Mystery & Thrillers

influences

Anne Rice, Charlie Huston, Martha O'Connor, Joe Schreiber

member since

January 2011

About this author

edit data

*Runner-up Halloween Book Festival 2012 and optioned for film, Cure
*Honorable Mention New York Book Festival 2014, Better Left Buried
*Acquired for summer 2015 re-release by Thomas & Mercer, Fatal Reaction

After the author's fifteen years of working in health care, Belinda Frisch's stories can't help being medicine influenced. A writer of dark tales in the horror, mystery, and thriller genres, Belinda tells the stories she'd like to read. Her fiction has appeared in Shroud magazine, Dabblestone Horror, and Tales of the Zombie War. She is the author of Cure, Afterbirth, Fatal Reaction, Better Left Buried, and The Missing Year. She resides in upstate New York with her husband and a small menagerie of beloved animals.


Visit her blog at: Belin *Runner-up Halloween Book Festival 2012 and optioned for film, Cure
*Honorable Mention New York Book Festival 2014, Better Left Buried
*Acquired for summer 2015 re-release by Thomas & Mercer, Fatal Reaction

After the author's fifteen years of working in health care, Belinda Frisch's stories can't help being medicine influenced. A writer of dark tales in the horror, mystery, and thriller genres, Belinda tells the stories she'd like to read. Her fiction has appeared in Shroud magazine, Dabblestone Horror, and Tales of the Zombie War. She is the author of Cure, Afterbirth, Fatal Reaction, Better Left Buried, and The Missing Year. She resides in upstate New York with her husband and a small menagerie of beloved animals.


Visit her blog at: BelindaF.blogspot.com

 

My rating, count the pups.