Shadowed by Stephanie Black — Combined Review

 Posted by  Combined Reviews, Mindy's Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Oct 312012
 

Shadowed

Author: Stephanie Black

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published: September 2012

Paperback: 273 pages

Genre: Mystery-Suspense

ISBN13: 9781621081968

FTC FYI: Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by: Mindy and Shanda

Goodreads Summary

Gifted musician Catherine Clayton was born into a life of wealth and privilege. Following the death of her father, she makes a bold decision she hopes would make him proud: she’s using the family money to establish a music school and offer free lessons to the underprivileged. A providential suggestion from an old college friend leads Catherine to select Riley, New York, as the perfect location for her new school. Hit hard by the economic downturn, Riley personifies economic hardship: peeling paint, overgrown landscapes, and damaged buildings. But the damage runs much deeper than Catherine first realizes.

Two years ago, Riley was rocked by weeks of vandalism, followed by the brutal murder of beautiful elementary school secretary Olivia Perry. Everyone in town loved Olivia—but especially the two men with whom she was caught in a love triangle. Though the murder remains unsolved, Catherine receives ominous warnings that one of these men, Adam Becket, is responsible for her death. Unimpressed by the lack of evidence against him, Catherine is drawn to the shy but endearing Adam. Could he really have been involved in Olivia’s murder?

Just as Catherine is settling in and getting to know Adam, a vandal strikes again, and it’s eerily reminiscent of the events surrounding Olivia’s murder. The death threats splashed on the walls prove that the killer is back—and this time, it’s Catherine who wonders if she’s come to the wrong place at the wrong time.

Mindy’s Review

I was so excited to read this book from Stephanie Black.  Stephanie has won 4 Whitney Awards for her work, so I knew this book would be a good one.  I was not disappointed.  Shadowed had me on edge, just waiting for something to happen, anticipating each page eagerly. My heart went out to Catherine. Talk about bad timing, with lots of bad luck. Moving into a town that is not welcoming and down right spooked by past and current events. Catherine is a great character with lots of great qualities. I really enjoyed what took place in the story, and the outcome of who did it. I was not expecting that!

This is a great book to read on Halloween, full of suspense and heart pounding action.

4 out 5 stars.

Shanda’s Review

Shadowed is a great book to read on Halloween. Set in Riley, New York during autumn, the setting descriptions and suspenseful plot were just right for a good, scary read.

I enjoyed the characters and feel like I got to know them pretty well considering we never leave Catherine’s point of view. Each one took their turn as my suspected bad guy. I thought I had the villain pegged a couple of times, but never with much confidence until the end. Stephanie did a great job keeping me guessing.

The pace of the story was effective and kept me reading until my eyes just wouldn’t stay open anymore. Just as I would get feeling comfortable in Riley again, something would happen or hint at happening to shake things up. There are several action-packed scenes near the end that got my heart rate up and kept me turning pages.

I really enjoyed Shadowed and happily recommend it to readers who love mystery-suspense.

Read more about Stephanie Black on her website, Facebook, and Twitter.

Find Shadowed:

GOODREADS | AMAZON | KINDLE | DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK

 

Jack Be Nimble: Gargoyle by Ben English

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Oct 292012
 

Jack Be Nimble: Gargoyle (Book 1)

Author: Ben English

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: July 2011

Kindle/ebook/Paperback; 426 pages

Genre: International Intrigue/Suspense

ISBN# 1463680899

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free digital copy in exchange for an honest review

Summary

The boy came to her out of water, unexpected. He was smart and strong and goofy, as boys are meant to be, but peculiar – he remembered everything. In the span of a single summer, she made him fearless. Now, even as Mercedes Adams is at the height of her career, forbidding changes loom over the world. That night, in the hushed calm of a spring evening, two plain-faced killers watch her home, waiting to make their approach. A few hundred miles away, a brilliant technologist returns to his childhood home in order to begin a descent into darkness . . . in London, a military game theorist finds himself pursuing kidnappers . . . outside Prague, a hacker and a thief stumble upon plans for a weapon unique to the world . . . an FBI agent faces an unpredictable fugitive in Chicago, while in Germany, a sniper-turned-schoolteacher finds reasons to take up his ancient calling . . . and a sitting United States Senator finds his life and his work invaded to terrifying conclusion. In Paris, a widowed man begins to recognize the hints and patterns of a greater puzzle that will bring them together . . . or kill them all. Mercedes Adams is about to find herself at the center of a vast, tightening knot of mystery, intrigue, and globe-spanning terror borne of her family’s legacy. Rising to her aid is a small group of specially-trained men and women. And at their center? A man who remembers everything.

First Line

“She struggled through mountains of falling rain, until her own bright reflection resolved itself on the skin of the train before her.”

Review

Jack Be Nimble: Gargoyle is the first in a series of novels by Ben English. The book opens with Mercedes having an interesting discussion with a mysterious older gentleman who is more than he appears. That was enough to catch my interest and make me read on to find out if these two characters meet again.

The author has a talent for writing interesting characters of varying backgrounds. The first part of the book is a series of written snapshots of each character, giving the reader a peek into their current situations and the sequence of events that eventually lead them to meet up. Because there are several characters, this part seemed to drag a bit and it took a little while to get back around to the other characters. Jack is very likable if a bit too good to be true (a famous actor AND a champion swimmer AND an author AND a trained agent.)

The first half of the book was a lot of set up for the rest of the story so it was considerably slower than last section. Once I got past the flashbacks, introductions and history of the characters, I was pulled into the action and it was like watching an intense action film. The villain’s intentions were terrifying and immense. The scenes in the building were particularly suspenseful. There were some formatting issues in my version where a number of quick scene and point-of-view changes weren’t separated by asterisks or hard returns but I was able to figure it out by context. This issue may have been resolved by now as I have an older copy.

I haven’t read a lot of international intrigue or any books by Dan Brown and similar authors, so I’m not sure how well Jack Be Nimble: Gargoyle compares to other books like it. It is a longer read (about 456 pages) and yet there is so much story yet to tell, as evidenced by the three sequels currently available. Jack Be Nimble: Tyro is the next book in the series. If you like larger-than-life heroes, interesting characters, and international suspense then there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy Jack Be Nimble: Gargoyle.

Content

Language: a few swear words here & there (dang, heck) but nothing excessive & no F-bombs

Violence: some shooting, grenade use, and hand-to-hand combat

Sex: I don’t remember any graphic sexual content, though Mercedes’ body is admired more than once

Drug Use: not that I can remember, though a minor character may have had a drink or two

 

Blog Tour Review for The Guy Next Door by Kate Palmer

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Oct 262012
 

Product Details

  • Title: The Guy Next Door
  • Author: Kate Palmer
  • Paperback
  • Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc. (September 2012)
  • Genre: Mystery/Romantic Suspense
  • ASIN: B009958AH2
  • FTC FYI: I recieved a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
  • Reviewed by Sheila

 

 

 

 

Book Description:
On the surface, Eva Black’s life seems practically perfect. The small-town
kindergarten teacher is set to wed ambitious lawyer Sean Langley, and
their plans for a dream wedding are well underway. Eva accepts that she
will soon live life in the spotlight as a member of the prestigious
Langley family, but can she overlook her fiancé’s tendency to dominate
the details of her life and push the limits of her standards?
Mere weeks before the wedding, Eva is thrown into a traumatic, life-changing event that
changes her view of family commitment and creates a sharp contrast
between her ideals and Sean’s. With her engagement to Sean in jeopardy,
Eva finds herself relying on the support and encouragement of Peter, her
kind and attentive next-door neighbor. Faced with a choice between her
penitent fiancé and the increasingly mysterious Peter, Eva is unprepared
for the consequences—and peril—that come with her decision.
My Review:(There will be spoilers in this review)
The Guy Next Door is a wonderful mix between a Romance, with a thriller mixed in half way in the story. The story starts with such sadness and shock. The sense of loss, main character Eva goes through, is so heartbreaking. Eva’s parents are dead and soon her only sister and brother-in-law pass away leaving Eva to mother and raise her newborn niece, Melody. Eva was engaged to super rich and handsome, Sean, but he has a hard time accepting Eva’s new role as “mother” to Melody. To add things into the mix, Eva’s next door neighbor Peter, is a kind and rather ruggedly handsome man who attracts Eva’s interest. There is a major love triangle in this story, but I really liked the way it all played out.

I liked Eva, a school teacher, and someone dedicated and loyal to family and friends. This LDS Romantic/ Mystery Suspense shows her struggle to learn to trust, have patience and faith. As the two men try to win her love, she is caught up in things she never would have imagined. Some of the shocking things revealed near the end I kind of guessed what was happening, but there were still many surprises. I always like when an author can surprise me with twists and turns along the way. This truly is an enjoyable read that keeps you on your toes at the end. My favorite male character is by far, Peter. Even though he was a mystery through most of the book, I loved his values and kindness. He is the type of man I could go for. This book also has a very satisfying ending. You will cheer for Eva as she gains strength in herself as a woman and mother.  Author Kate Palmer’s first book is a job well done. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Blog Tour Schedule
October 10: Ranee S. Clark – Review
October 13: Bookworm Lisa – Review
October 14: Geo Librarian – Review
October 14: LDS & Lovin’ It – Review
October 19: Gamila’s Reviews – Review
October 21: Books Are Sanity – Review
October 22: Debbie’s Inkspectations – Review
October 25: Tristi Pinkston – Review
October 26: Why Not? Because I Said So! – Review
October 26: LDS Women’s Book Review – Review
October 29: The Book Bug – Review
Giveaway:
As part of the tour, Kate is generously offering a grand prize giveaway of a copy of The Guy Next Door plus Junior Mints (Eva’s favorite candy), and a copy Eva’s lemon chicken recipe.
To enter to win these prizes, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form
provided. (Each tour stop will have the same Rafflecopter form)
  • Open from October 2 to November 2.
  • Must be 13+ years of age to enter
  • US mailing addresses only
Earn entries by doing any/all of the following:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Bio:
Kate began her career as an elementary school teacher, but was soon promoted
to full-time mom. She is the mother of six living in the country. Her
husband is trying to teach her to be a farm girl. She can’t saddle a
horse, but she knows how to butcher a chicken. After a day of chasing
children, cooking meals, and folding laundry, she likes to escape into a
good book.
Social Networking Links:
Purchase Links:

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Deadly Undertakings by Gregg Luke

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Oct 242012
 

Deadly Undertakings

Author: Gregg Luke

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published: August 2012

ISBN13: 9781621080749

Paperback: 288 pages

Genre: mystery suspense

FTC FYI: I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary: Being an assistant to the state medical examiner in Salt Lake City might sound like a dead-end job, but Rebekah Smith loves the mystery and challenge of determining the cause of death in the bodies delivered to their morgue. Tutored by her friend and boss, Dr. Sandeep Mahesh, she gains understanding not only for her job, but also for how to mask her own troubled past.

While analyzing the corpse of a 100 year old woman, Rebekah discovers some disturbing elements: not only was the deceased woman a healthy centenarain, but she was also embalmed before anyone discovered she’d passed away. When two identical cases surface, Rebekah enlists the help of her boyfriend, special investigations officer, Josh Logan. Together they uncover shocking truths about the bizarre deaths, which eventually lead them to the nightmarish revelation they weren’t prepared for. Yet, unknowingly, the more they reveal, the closer they come to being the killer’s next guinea pigs.

My Review

5 out of 5 stars.  I am starting right off with a rating today, because I can’t wait to tell you how much I loved this book.  My husband gets a kick out of sitting next to me when I’m reading, especially when I’m reading spooky books.  I gasp loudly, hold my breath, and shake my head too many times for him to count.  This book was no exception.  I loved it!  I loved the mystery, the science, and Rebekah and Josh most of all.  I loved them as a couple and their playful banter, even under extreme stress.  I also enjoyed the point of view changes.  It was interesting to see how characters in the story saw their situation.  (I can’t say more :)  Each character was written exceptionally well with care and detail.  Gregg has definitely out done himself with this book.  I can tell by reading his books that he has a brilliant mind, and have greatly enjoyed the books I have read from this great author.  I also loved the Easter Egg from his Whitney nominated book from 2011, Bloodborne.

Gregg is the author of many books.  Follow him on Facebook and Goodreads.

AMAZON / DESERET BOOK / SEAGULL BOOK

A Timeless Romance Anthology (Winter Collection) — Combined Review

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Oct 232012
 

A Timeless Romance Anthology: Winter Collection

Authors: Sarah M. Eden, Heidi Ashworth, Annette Lyon, Joyce DiPastena, Donna Hatch, Heather B. Moore

Publisher: Mirror Press, LLC

Published: October 1, 2012

ISBN13: 9781301381166

ebook: 269 pages

Goodreads Summary of all 6 Short Stories: Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed brand new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Winter Collection. A collection unlike any other, readers will love this compilation of six sweet historical romance novellas, set in varying eras, yet all with one thing in common: Romance.

The Road to Cavan Town by Sarah M. Eden, set in 1864 Ireland, combines Eden’s sense of humor with her signature sweet romance. Alice Wheatley walks each weekend into town, accompanied by Isaac Dancy. And while Alice finds herself falling in love with the gentleman, unfortunately he has his eyes set on the belle of the town, Miss Sophia Kilchrest. Alice must find a way to turn Isaac’s eyes toward her.

Regency author Heidi Ashworth’s delightful story, It Happened Twelfth Night, set in England 1812, follows Luisa Darlington who discovers the man of her dreams, Percy Brooksby, isn’t in love with her as much as she thought he was. When Percy’s friend, the mysterious foreigner, Mr. Flynn, visits for the twelfth night holiday, he promptly sweeps Luisa off her feet, quite literally. Luisa is left catching her breath in more ways than one.

An Unexpected Proposal by Annette Lyon is a captivating romantic novella, set in remote Wood Camp, the snowy canyon of Logan, Utah, 1880. When Caroline Simpson is forced to thwart the aggressive advances of Mr. Butch Larson, she discovers that her long-time friend, James, has genuine affection for her. But as stubborn as Caroline is, she minimizes the feelings he’s awakened in her, and it takes almost losing James to admit her true feelings for him.

In Joyce Di Pastena’s charming medieval story, Caroles on the Green, we enter England of 1151, in which Lady Isabel has a dilemma. She promises herself that she’ll marry the man who sent a ring hidden in her pastry since the man she truly loves, Sir Lucian de Warrene, has proved to be impossible and exasperating. To forget him, Isabel sets her eyes on other eligible men, only to face another confrontation with Lucian—who isn’t about to back off and leave her to her newest plot.

Donna Hatch’s enchanting novella, A Winter’s Knight, begins when Clarissa Fairchild’s coach just happens to break down in front of the most forbidding estate in the county, that of Wyckburg Castle, a place where young brides have been murdered for generations by their husbands. Clarissa is horrified yet curious all in the same breath. When she meets widower Christopher de Champs, Earl of Wyckburg, she must decide if she should flee or uncover the greatest secret in the county about her handsome rescuer.

In Heather B. Moore’s exciting turn-of-the-century story, A Fortunate Exile, Lila Townsend finds herself the victim of a broken heart—broken by the most notorious bachelor in 1901 New York City. If that isn’t bad enough, her father sends her to Aunt Eugenia’s remote farm where Lila must wait for her father’s anger to subside and the gossip columns to find new fodder. When Lila meets her aunt’s boarder, Peter Weathers, she discovers a man who isn’t afraid to stand up to her formidable family and take a chance on a woman with a sullied reputation.

Mindy’s Review

4 1/2 stars. I was very excited to review these wonderful short stories by such talented authors.  As I read them, I appreciated the individual style of each talented lady.  All six stories are well-written and I was immediately taken into each story.  The benefit of a short story is how quick the plot moves a long.  I also enjoyed the way each author introduced the plot and characters quickly, but I never felt they were rushed.  It was so nice reading six fantastic romance stories that were clean, romantic, and heart pounding.  At the end of each, I was wishing for more.  I reveled in each story, but I must say I did have a favorite.  Donna Hatch’s A Winter’s Knight.  It reminded me a bit of Beauty and the Beast.  With a mysterious earl, ancient curses, and one curious red head, I was instantly hooked.

I think what I appreciated the most was how strong the women in these stories were.  Even though the time periods represented vary, each woman brought to the table a fire of knowing who they are.  A few learned that process during the course of the story, but found themselves and stood their ground.

Sheila’s Review

I was so thrilled to get to read a collection of stories written by some of my favorite authors.  I know that these women can write, and I have read their previous work.  I have to say I was not disappointed.  The best part is that these are clean stories full of romance.  Reading this anthology was like eating a platter of appetizers:  you were able to get yummy bites of everything.  The only thing I didn’t like is that I would just start to get into the story and then it would be done.  All of these stories could easily be continued in a longer novel.

On the plus side, these stories are perfect for the busy reader.  You could read one, enjoy it, finish it and then go off and run your errands.  Then later that inght, you could come back and read another story.  I was telling someone about the anthology.  They asked if I had a favorite story out of the six, but it would be hard to choose just one.  All of the stories had unique, and fun characters set in various eras. I liked the spunk of the women in the anthology.  I loved the romance and the awakening that takes place when you realize that love is there. **sign**

I can see these anthologies becoming guilty pleasure for women everywhere , especially those that want to read about romance without the gratuitous sex that is prevalent in today’s society.  Curl up in your jammies, grab your hot chocolate and get lost in this anthology of timeless romances! 

Read more about this anthology from the Blog and Facebook page.  There is a Spring Anthology coming next year!

AMAZON / BARNES AND NOBLE / SMASHWORDS

Blog Tour Review and Giveaway for Smart Move by Melanie Jacobson

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Oct 192012
 

Product Details:

  • Title: Smart Move
  • Author: Melanie Jacobson
  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc; 1st edition (October 1, 2012)
  • Genre: Romantic Comedy
  • ISBN-10: 1608615685
  • ISBN-13: 978-1608615681
  • FTC FYI: I was given a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

 

 

Book Description:

Publication Date: October 1, 2012
The spark was undeniable the night Sandy Burke met the
devastatingly handsome Jake. Conversation flowed easily, so after they
parted, she waited eagerly for his call. It never came. A high-powered
career woman at the ripe old age of twenty-seven, Sandy feels she has
had her heart broken one too many times, and now the redheaded
trendsetter is facing a major quarter-life crisis. After some
introspection, Sandy determines that helping others may be the key to
helping herself. When she’s presented with a job offer in Washington,
DC, as the director of New Horizons, a nonprofit organization benefiting
women in poverty, it seems providential. But now that she’s moved, two
major obstacles threaten the success of her first assignment: The first
is her mother and her constant fog of less-than helpful New Age advice.
Secondly, plans to build another New Horizons outreach center have come
to a screeching halt, thanks to the interference of a pesky lawyer and
his attempts to reverse zoning approval for the building project. After
weeks of verbal sparring over the phone, Sandy is in for a shock when
she comes face-to-face with her foe. The smooth voice at the other end
of the line is a heartwrenching blast from the past. In this twist of
fate, Sandy sees the perfect opportunity to ensure the success of the
outreach center and to enact a little payback on this man she thought
she’d left behind. And so the battle of wits begins. Will Sandy’s
flirt-to-convert plot sway her nemesis’s determination to block the
center, or will his charming and undeniably attractive ways convince the
sassy redhead to give love a second chance?

My Review: 

Sandy’s heart was broken a year ago. With her new move back East to the Washington D.C. area she has a chance to start anew in her life. Little does she know the reason for her heartache has also moved back East to the same town. They soon meet again and sparks fly as they clash in business and in love.

Melanie Jacobson has written a strong character in Sandy Burke who is confident in life, but not necessarily in love. Sandy grew up with a distant mother and an absent father. Trust issues are huge for her and she has built a wall around her heart. Along comes Jake who with his good looks, impeccable style and brains to boot, and this successful lawyer will do anything to win her heart.

I always love the humor that is infused in Melanie’s books. Even with serious issues, her characters seem to find funny things happening to them. One of the most humorous things in the book is when Sandy gets stuck in a cabinet with her behind sticking out.

Ten seconds later, Magdalena’s voice,sounding strangely hollow to her inside the cabinet, asked, “Why is your bottom sticking out of the cabinet Sand Dollar?”

Please let her be alone, Sandy begged silently.

A choking noise that masked a laugh told her that her Ridiculous Situation guardian angel was currently off duty.

“Yes, Sand Dollar,” Jake said from above her. “Why? And how can we help?”

A burn crept up her neck and face. “I’m dusting.”



The other thing I loved in this book was the witty dialogue between Sandy and Jake…



She offered him a slow, mysterious smile, determined to restore some lightness to the evening. “If it makes you feel better, being near you does cause me some serious issues.”

He leaned closer and coked his head, morphing in an instant from goofy to sexy. “Like what, ” he drawled. 

She closed the gap between them until a mere breath separated them. “I have to tell the truth,” she whispered. “being this close to you is hard. I feel this overwhelming urge to…”

“What?” he whispered back.

“Kick you.”

There was a moment of silence, and then he burst out laughing again. When he pulled himself together, he gave her hair a playful tug. “Leave it to me to find the perfect woman and have her hate me.”


There is so much more for you to read, enjoy and laugh about. There are some serious moments as she tries to heal her relationship with her new-age mother, Magdalena. Smart Move is different from Melanie’s other books in that the characters seemed more mature, but this didn’t take away any of the appeal that is always there in a Melanie Jacobson book.  I liked this novel and every fan of Melanie’s will love this new book too!

Guess what? USA readers have a chance to win a paperback copy of Smart Move. I know it’s hard to contain your excitement! I felt the same way when Melanie asked me to be part of the blog tour! Enter in the Rafflecopter form below and good luck!a Rafflecopter giveaway

 Purchase your own copy of Smart Move here.

About the Author:

Melanie Bennett Jacobson is an avid
reader, amateur cook, and champion shopper. She consumes astonishing
amounts of chocolate, chick flicks, and romance
novels. After meeting her husband online, she is now living happily
married in Southern California with her growing family and a series of
doomed houseplants. Melanie is a former English teacher and a popular
speaker who loves to laugh and make others laugh. In her down time
(ha!), she writes romantic comedies for Covenant and maintains her
humorous slice-of-life blog. Visit Melanie on her website or blog.

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