Thursday, August 29, 2024

My Thoughts - Fugitive Search (Security Hounds Book 2) Author: Dana Mentink


About the Book

Book: Fugitive Search (Security Hounds Book 2)

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Christian Fiction

Release date: August 20, 2024

A murderer out for revenge…

who is closer than they think.

When the man who killed her father is finally arrested, Catherine Hart thinks it’s safe to come out of hiding…until he escapes and abducts her. But private investigator Garrett Wolfe and his tracking dog rescue her just in time. Now they must work together to escape the criminal on their heels, find Catherine’s kidnapped uncle and stop her sister from walking straight into the fugitive’s path. But when their search yields more questions, can Catherine and Garrett survive the terrifying truth?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and the recipient of a Holt Medallion. She’s written over fifty titles in the suspense, lighthearted romance and mystery genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense and Poisoned Pen Press.

 

 

 

 

More from Dana

After dreaming up Wally, the supremely naughty bloodhound, in book one of the Security Hounds series, I didn’t think the next fictional dog could possibly compete in the personality department. Surprise! Pinkerton, the stalwart bloodhound companion to Garrett Wolfe, scrambled onto the scene and into my heart. His faithful dedication and selflessness make up for the streams of slobber he leaves everywhere. He’s also instrumental in solving the latest case complete with twists, turns, and an ending you won’t see coming. (I hope!)

Enjoy this next installment in the series and look out for more bloodhounds in the next three books!

MY THOUGHTS

Fugitive Search is book two in the  Security Hounds series that is written by Dana Mentink. I absolutely love the way that this author writes. Her humor and wit always make me chuckle. Catherine Hart  is relieved when the man who killed her father is finally arrested. She had her sister lost the father 10 years ago. She feels that it is safe to come out of hiding - but that all changes when she is kidnapped. 

Private investigator, Garrett Wolfe and Pinkerton are on the hunt. Thankfully, he gets there in time, but there is someone that does NOT want Catherine back out in the open. Pinkerton. I did not think anyone could top Wally. I don't know how she creates such hysterical dogs, but Ms. Mentink has done it again. Garrett, Catherine and Pinkerton need to stay a few steps ahead and stay alive. There is also the mystery of what happened to Catherine's uncle. 

I loved the action and suspense. The author has created some amazing characters. The story flows nicely. Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a cop of this book - all thoughts are my own. 

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 20

Lily’s Corner, August 20

The Avid Reader, August 21

She Lives To Read, August 21

Life on Chickadee Lane, August 22

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 22

Devoted To Hope, August 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 23

Stories By Gina, August 24

Texas Book-aholic, August 24

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 25

Betti Mace, August 26

EmpowerMoms, August 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 27

Blogging With Carol, August 27

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 28

Because I said so- adventures in parenting, August 29

Simple Harvest Reads, August 29 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

For Him and My Family, August 30

Blossoms and Blessings, August 31

Labor Not in Vain, August 31

Holly’s Book Corner, September 1

Pause for Tales, September 1

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, September 2

Lights in a Dark World, September 2

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize package of a $75 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5419

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

My Thoughts - PROVEN INNOCENCE Mary J. Rocco

 blog header Goddess Fish w url copy.jpg


PROVEN INNOCENCE

Mary J. Rocco



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GENRE:  Suspense/murder


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BLURB:


Cynthia Evans wakes up in the trunk of a car, no idea how she got there, only to discover she’s wanted for the murder of her husband and children. With no memory of life prior, Cynthia is sure she did not commit the crime.


Only problem is-how does she convince anyone she’s not a murderer when she is not sure who she is?


With the help of a downtrodden diner waitress, Gabrielle, Cynthia fights to prove her innocence.


One thing is clear: Rick Evans is dead. But who is the real killer?




Excerpt Two:


I am not in a coffin. 


Why would they place a bleeding person in a coffin? A bleeding person would not be placed in a grave. That is way too quick of a turn¬around for a wake and funeral. I have not been buried alive. 


Though not completely fresh, the blood is still somewhat moist and cannot be over a few hours old. It explains why my head pounds and my body aches, though it does not explain where all this discomfort originated. 


Then, in the silence, I hear it—the pounding of gravel against the pavement. I am not moving a muscle in my body, yet I am still moving. The low hum of an engine resonates through my eardrums. I feel around and notice a tire drum underneath me.


I am in the trunk of a car.


How did I get here? Where am I headed? Who would do such a thing to me?


There is no indication where I am headed. All I can hear is the low humming of the motor. If I strain, I can hear the faint beat of the radio, unable to recognize any distinguishable words. The only audible sound is muffled voices and murmurs.


Is the driver alone, or does he have a passenger with him?


By the speed, I assume we are on a major interstate. We are traveling pretty fast, and the car is not making any sharp or sud¬den turns. The ride is smooth without a change in speed to stop for traffic lights or stop signs. It is a straight path along the high¬way with an occasional lane change.


I have no idea if the person driving knows I am locked in their trunk, though I have a sneaking suspicion he is the person who placed me here. All I can do is lie in wait for the final desti¬nation. I am helpless, too weak to do anything drastic. No way to release myself from this dark pit.


My eyes remain open, afraid to drift back asleep. Alertness is a necessity upon arrival at the destination. I must devise a plan for when he takes me out of the trunk.


Should I pretend to be dead and wait until he has me over his shoulders, then initiate a surprise attack?


A problem arises if the person driving never plans to take me out of the trunk at all.


What if the plan is to leave me here until I die a slow and awful death? What if he thinks I am already a dead, lifeless corpse? What if the driver gets out, letting the emergency brake go, watching from the side of the road as the car, with me locked in the trunk, rolls forward into the depths of the nearest lake?




Visit Mary J. Rocco Store on Amazon


AUTHOR Bio and Links:


I have dreamed of being an author since the age of ten. I have been writing and crafting stories for the last twenty years, mostly because, well you know, life… and I got in my own way. After finishing law school, graduate school, travelling the world, getting married and starting a family I figured now was the time.


I was born and raised on Long Island, New York and spent ten years in my early adulthood living carefree in New York City. I currently reside with my husband and two beautiful children in the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, where I am a practicing attorney.


I hope to continue to publish many more novels that entertain and thrill readers.


Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mary-J.-Rocco/author/B0CX13KN4Y



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MY THOUGHTS


What a powerful debut by the author. Proven Innocence is written by Mary J. Rocco. This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I could not read fast enough. I HAD to know what happened next. Cynthia, is wanted for the murder of her family. She has no recollection of what happened, but she knows that there is no way that she would have killed her family. She finds herself in the trunk of a car.


She finds herself trying to get everything sorted out with the help of Gabrielle. Gabrielle is a downtrodden diner waitress. Together they need to figure out who wants to frame Cynthia. I loved how there were a lot of twists and turns throughout the whole story. The author did a great job at creating a wonderful thriller.


The characters are well written, the storyline engaging. I hope to read more from this author. Thank you to the author, publisher and Goddess Fish Promotions for allowing me to read a copy of this book- all thoughts are my own. 



GIVEAWAY

The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.


ENTER HERE




My Thoughts - A Scandal in Mayfair by Katharine Schellman

A Scandal in Mayfair by Katharine Schellman

A Scandal in Mayfair

by Katharine Schellman

August 19 - September 13, 2024 Virtual Book Tour

A Lily Adler Mystery

 

Sometimes danger lurks in plain sight, and in the cutthroat London Season socialite Lily Adler must race against time to catch a killer.

Fans of Bridgerton will delight in this Regency-era mystery featuring an intrepid sleuth, plenty of intrigue, and a touch of romance.

London, 1817. The London Season is beginning once more, and Lily Adler’s return to her home on Half Moon Street feels different this year. No longer a recent widow, she has a life and friends waiting for her. Lily also has new responsibilities in the form of her protégée Amelia, the sister of her longtime friend Jack Hartley, who is escaping her own brush with scandal and murder.

It doesn’t take long for Lily’s growing reputation as a lady of quality who can discreetly find what is missing or solve what is puzzling to bring a desperate young woman to her doorstep. But helping her means unraveling a tangled web of family secrets. Soon, a missing will, a dead body and the threat of blackmail leave Lily facing danger every way she turns.

The glittering society of Mayfair conceals many secrets, and the back alleys of London hide even more. Lily Adler will need to find the connection between them quickly if she wants to stop a killer before it’s too late.

Book Details:

Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery
Published by: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: August 20, 2024
Number of Pages: 320 
ISBN: 9781639108411 (ISBN10: 1639108416)
Series: A Lily Adler Mystery, Book #5 | Each is a Stand Alone
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Penguin Random House





Author Bio:

Katharine Schellman

Katharine Schellman is a former actor and one-time political consultant. These days, she writes the Regency-set Lily Adler Mysteries and Jazz Age Nightingale Mysteries. Her books have been praised in outlets from Library Journal to The New York Times, with reviewers calling them “worthy of Agatha Christie or Rex Stout” (Library Journal). Katharine writes in the mountains of Virginia, where she lives with her husband, children, and the many houseplants she keeps accidentally murdering.

Catch Up With Katharine Schellman:
KatharineSchellman.com
Goodreads
BookBub - @KatharineSchellman
Instagram - @katharinewrites
Facebook - @katharineschellman

 

My Thoughts


A Scandal in Mayfair is written by Katharine Schellman. This is my first read by this author, and it will not be my last. This is book five in the Lily Adler Mystery Series. While I have not read the series, I did not have any issues following along. This book is set in London, in 1917. 

Lily has returned home. She is a widow and her friend, Jack has been looking out for her. She has even taken his sister, Amelia under her wing. Lily has been known to be able to find things or discreetly figure things out. It does not take long before Lilly is caught up with family secrets. Sarah, was promised her father's money when he passed.  However, her uncle has taken over and is barely giving Sarah what she needs to live, and will not give the dowry so she can marry. 

I loved this story. I loved Lily. The author does a phenomenal job transporting us back to 1917 London. She has written great characters, and an intriguing storyline. The book will draw you in within the first few pages. 

Thank you to the author, publisher and Partners in Crime book tours for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own. 

Giveaway:

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Katharine Schellman. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

The giveaway is for:    1- $25 Bookshop.org Gift Card


https://kingsumo.com/g/m89qoq1/a-scandal-in-mayfair-by-katharine-schellman-gift-card

Friday, August 23, 2024

MY THOUGHTS - His Secret Child by Cole Baxter

ABOUT THE BOOK  


His Secret Child

Cole Baxter



I stand at my father’s funeral, tears rolling down my cheeks. Someone puts a hand on my shoulder, pulling me into a hug. As I look into the face of a woman I’ve never seen before, she whispers something that shatters my world. “He was my father too.”

Staring into the woman’s glassy gray eyes, I pray that she’s lying. I can’t believe that my steady, dependable father could do this to me. But a hush falls over my family as my ‘new sister’ Ava spills secrets about his hidden affairs and how he bought her silence. Now she’s finally free, she wants to be a part of the family.

But as my relatives welcome her with open arms, I’m certain something isn’t right. Details of her childhood keep changing. And I catch the way she looks at my fiancé, batting her long lashes and touching his well-toned arm. Can this woman be trusted? Does anyone else share my fears? Then, with a snide smile, away from the eyes of my family, she tells me that she knows my own dark secret.

I need to stay silent to keep myself safe. Until I find a crumpled white envelope in my father’s office that makes my blood run cold. What if my father’s death was no accident? Is Ava really here to join our family, or tear us apart?

Ava thinks she knows all my secrets, but she has no idea just how far I’d go to protect the people I love…

An utterly heart-pounding psychological thriller that will keep you turning pages into the night! For fans of The Doctor’s Wife, Behind Closed Doors and The Housemaid.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR




About the author


Cole Baxter

Cole Baxter loves writing psychological suspense thrillers. It’s all about that last reveal that he loves shocking readers with.

He grew up in New York, where there crime was all around. He decided to turn that into something positive with his fiction.

His stories will have you reading through the night—they are very addictive!

Sign up for Cole’s VIP Reader Club and find out about his latest releases, giveaways, and more here http://eepurl.com/dqL8yT


MY THOUGHTS

His Secret Child is written by Cole Baxter. This is the first book that I have read by this author, and it will not be my last. This book drew me in within the first few pages, and I could not read fast enough to see what happened next. The book is well written with real feeling and flawed characters.

Rose and her father do not have the greatest relationship. He does not seem to approve of her career or her fiancé. Suddenly, he passes and while at the gravesite, Ava approaches her and tells her that they share a father. The rest of the family welcome Ava, but something seems off to Rose.

Rose's family is a complex one - and it becomes clear that everyone wants their hands on the inheritance. I felt like Rose wanted what was best, and wanted to do things on her own. But it becomes clear that she does not even know who she can trust in her own family.

This is a domestic thriller. There are a lot of twists, turns, family drama, and so much more. I will be checking this author out in the future, I really liked his style of writing. Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.