Category Archives: Suspense

Psychological Thriller, Romantic Suspense, romantic thriller, Standalone, Suspense, Thriller

#Review – Too Late by Colleen Hoover

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The instant #1 New York Times and USA Today bestseller, a story about a woman caught in a dangerous web of obsessive love, trying to find a way out before it’s too late… this new, updated edition is a “barn-burner” (New York Post) and Colleen Hoover’s darkest romantic thriller since Verity.

Sloan will go through hell and back for those she loves. And she does so, every single day. Caught up with the alluring Asa Jackson, a notorious drug trafficker, Sloan has finally found a lifeline to cling to, even if it’s meant compromising her morals. She was in dire straits trying to pay for her brother’s care until she met Asa. But as Sloan became emotionally and economically reliant on him, he in turn developed a disturbing obsession with her—one that becomes increasingly dangerous every day.

When undercover DEA agent Carter enters the picture, Sloan’s surprised to feel an immediate attraction between them, despite knowing that if Asa finds out, he will kill him. And Asa has always been a step ahead of everyone in his life, including Sloan. No one has ever gotten in his way.

No one except Carter.

Together, Sloan and Carter must find a way out before it’s too late…

This book…wow.

So first thing, I have to point out that I love love love that the chapters were short. As a reader, I struggle with the longer chapters because I find that I get distracted. Thank you, Colleen, for that!

Now for the review:

We meet Sloan who’s strong, fiesty and has lived a hard life.

We then meet Carter who is your cinnamon roll type of hero. He’s super sweet, gentle, but is savage when his girl is hurt or is in danger.

This book is about Sloan and Carter and what they go through to be together. There were parts of the book where I actually wasn’t sure if this story had an HEA or not. You’ll have to read to find out by the way.

The book is also written in three POVs. Sloan, Carter and Asa’s. I have to say that as a lover of villains, I absolutely loved Asa and his twisted brain. My heart hurt for him and what he went through as a child and how he just wanted to be loved. Even though his views were messed up as a result of how he was raised, he loved Sloan. Hard. Will that love cost him everything in the end?

Colleen Hoover’s darker, thriller books, are my favourite of hers. Verity is my all time favourite book of hers but I enjoyed this one as well. I hope she writes more!

Part of a Series, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Thriller

#BookPromo – Target Acquired: Volume 6 of the Don’t Close Your Eyes Series (Don’t Close Your Eyes – A Slow Burn Enemies to Lovers Series) by Lynessa Layne

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Klive King warned me he was complicated. He drew me in, then pushed me away. He insisted a relationship was dangerous. I learned the hard way how right he was.
We fanned the flames of passion and ignited an inferno against us, but they greatly underestimated the lengths I’d go for the man I love.

TARGET ACQUIRED

* 2023 Best Book of the Year Silver Falchion Award

* 2023 Best Suspense Novel of the Year Silver Falchion Award

* First romance novel to win a Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award for Best Book of the Year (Top international Mystery, Thriller, Suspense books)! Past winners include Kiersten Modglin, Kate Gable, Paula Hawkins, Lisa Unger, Lisa Gardner, et.al.)

forced proximity, Part of a Series, Promo, second chance, secret baby, Sunshine Grumpy, Suspense

#BookPromo – Broken Souls (Tease, #3) by Lisa Helen Gray

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━━━⭐.๑•🖤•๑.⭐━━━
Broken Souls
🖤(Tease: Book Three) 🖤
━━⭐.๑•🖤•๑.⭐━━━
By Lisa Helen Gray
★ LIVE★

Broken Souls
Tease – Book Three
Editor – Farrant Editing
Cover designer – Dark City Designs
Formats/teasers – Dark City Designs
Have you got your copy?

– Forced proximity
– Grumpy / sunshine
– secret baby
– second chance
– suspense
– Friendships
➜NOW AVAILABLE – https://books2read.com/u/bWpnZW

➜Website – WWW.Lisahelengray.co.uk

Book one is NOW ON SALE! For a limited time only.
➜Endless Beauty (Book One) – https://books2read.com/u/bW5GoW

➜ Crazy Hearts (Book Two) – https://books2read.com/u/bpyajk

➜ Blurb

When I thought my life couldn’t get any lower, I found myself working at Tease.
The strip club was known for its prestigious clientele and well looked after girls.
I presumed I had what it took. I was desperate, alone, and I didn’t see any other way to make a living.
So I faked the smile, ignored the rude comments, and worked.
My first night in the private booths, everything fell apart. I fell apart.
And then entered Cole Connor—my saviour.
He had me at: ‘Are you okay?’
We shared an unforgettable night together. At least, it was for me.
Then he left, and I never saw him again.
But I never forgot him. Not his sweet touch, not his kisses, or how he made me feel.
I also couldn’t because he left me with a precious gift—one I didn’t know I needed.
A gift that became my biggest secret because I didn’t want people to know my boss got me pregnant.
Years later, he’s back. When he sees me with Poppy on the day my life turns upside down, I know my secret is out.
He isn’t the man I remember him to be. He is domineering, angry, and his words slice through me like a knife.
But beneath all that rage and hurt, he’s just another broken soul like me.
He has his own demons. His own secrets.
And everything is about to be unveiled.
Everyone has a story, and this is ours.

Part of a Series, Reverse Harem, Review, Suspense

#review Summer Nights (Dirty Summer 2) By: Mary Martel and Melissa Adams

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Are you ready for the hottest summer of your life? I certainly wasn’t when I arrived at Daddy’s resort with my sister. I was the nerdy, slightly shy boss’s daughter and the last thing I thought was that love would change everything for me this summer. Things heat up quite literally. I’m not just talking about my relationship with the surfing instructor, the chauffeur and the resort’s chef as we get closer than ever. The rivalry between my three guys and my sister’s fiancé becomes explosive. When all our hopes and dreams are shattered by a fire, I put everything on the line for my team. If we don’t win that surfing competition, our dreams will go up in flames. But is winning enough when everything is stacked against us and our relationship? At the end of the summer will our dreams come true or will we be left with a pile of smoldering ashes? this is a story where the heroine won’t have to choose between her different love interests. This story is the conclusion of a duet and ends in a HEA. Suitable for readers 18+

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/192872117-summer-nights

Amazon https://amzn.to/3DKETLD

Review by Twinsie Dee

Greer is just seeing the flames of one of her guy’s cabins and she doesn’t know if Drew is the there or not. Matt and Brady are freaking out as well, but they have a surfing competition to win and now they need to find money to replace the gear they bought once that is now ash from the fire. Greer is trying to think of everything she could do to help I mean she can’t ask her dad for more money she already asked for ten grand, if she asked for more, he would surely want to know what she needs it for this time. the competition is getting closer, the feelings between Greer and her guys are also getting stronger, and they all are worried about what will happen between them when the summer is over, and Greer goes to college. Will they get to surf for the prize money to fight for their future. Will all the drama from Greer’s family stay away from them, and will they find Drew? this was the perfect end to this group, I’m obsessed and totally need more from Mary and Melissa, this had just the right amount of drama, hilarious moments and lots of SPICE and not just from the chef in the kitchen.

Melissa Adams is from the UK but was born in Italy and grew up between the two countries. She’s now UK based and her day job is connected her other huge passion after writing and reading: flying. She lived in the US and got herself a super hot Yankee husband who followed her back to Europe.
Her obsessions: Yorkshire terriers and Norse gods!
She’s often heard saying that she never trusts people who don’t love animals.
Her passions have been reading and writing from an early age and her first adventure in writing was in journalism.
Melissa’s stories focus on the romance, on character development and on the sensual aspect of love. Summer romance is her absolute first love but every story she writes has a mystery twist because life is nothing but a mystery.

Mary Martel was born in West Michigan and spent the majority of her life there. She currently resides in North Dakota with her two beautiful daughters. She’s an avid reader, and when not writing she can be found with her nose stuck in a book.

Dark Romance, Fantasy, Horror, Mermaids, Paranormal, Suspense, Witches

#Review – A Ship of Bones and Teeth by Karina Halle

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A standalone adult dark fantasy pirate romance re-telling of The Little Mermaid from the New York Times Bestselling Author of River of Shadows and Blood Orange.

Princess Maren is a woman with a secret.

Ten years ago she sold her soul to the sea witch Edonia, giving up a life underwater in exchange for the love of Prince Aerik on land. But after a decade of abuse and misery inflicted by the cruel prince, Maren wants nothing more than to leave him and her royal role behind and find Edonia to reverse the spell.

An opportunity for escape presents itself when the prince and princess are traveling overseas and are taken hostage by a band of notorious pirates, led by the fearsome Captain Ramsay “Bones” Battista. Maren has heard the sordid stories about the infamous pirate–not only is his ship supposedly haunted and crewed by the damned, but that no prisoners ever survive.

Fortunately for Maren, she learns that the captain also has a score to settle with the sea witch. With any luck, Maren may be able to get her old life back, even if it’s being held in the captain’s wicked hands.

But Ramsay gets more than he bargained for when he learns who–and what–Maren is, and that her appetite for revenge, freedom, and bloodlust rivals his.

Meanwhile Maren finds herself falling for the pirate’s dark nature, even as she discovers that Ramsay has a secret more deadly than her own.

When it comes to the high seas, not all monsters lurk beneath the surface.

Content Warning: Though this is a fantasy, it is also a dark romance with potential triggers. A full list can be found inside the book or on the pinned cover reveal post on IG (authorhalle)

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Wickedly devilish! Being caught between the devil you know and the devil you don’t, can be a terrifying place. Especially when you exist in a space between worlds with nowhere to belong to.

I needed this story! It is a standalone adult dark fantasy pirate romance re-telling of The Little Mermaid, but I have to say that A Ship of Bones and Teeth is SO. MUCH. BETTER! I mean, Syrens and Pirates? Sign me up!

Be prepared when you open this book because it will consume you. For days, all I could think about were Maren and Bones. What was going to happen next? How would they overcome? Will they really turn on each other? Who else will die? And let’s not forget… OMG, how hawt was that?

Maren and Bones are completely different people, but once together, they are intensely drawn together. It’s one of those intense feelings that actually scares you. However, these two really helped each other throughout the story without really realizing it. This has a bit of everything from friendships, sex, kinks, feuds, betrayal, beauty, death, abuse…you name it, it has it! It will even make you smile and laugh!

There are a tremendous number of twists and turns in this retelling, unlike any other I have read. There is nothing that I can say that will prepare you for the consuming obsessive monster you will become until you reach the end of the story. An absolute must read!

Remember: “There are no mistakes. Just choices that took us on a different path.”

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Karina Halle is a screenwriter, a former music & travel journalist, and the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling author of River of Shadows, The Royals Next Door, and Black Sunshine, as well as 70 other wild and romantic reads, ranging from light & sexy rom coms to horror/paranormal romance and dark fantasy. Needless to say, whatever genre you’re into, she’s probably written a romance for it. When she’s not traveling, she and her husband split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their condo in Los Angeles. She seems a bit boring in her bio but I assure you she’s a big ol’ goof in real life. For more information, visit www.authorkarinahalle.com.

Dark Romance, Fantasy, M/F/M, Part of a Serial, Suspense, Writers on the River Attending Author

#wotr #attendingauthor #seriestarter Made in Malice ( Corrupt Credence 1) by Albany Walker

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She thinks we’re devils. I know we are. Feared and revered, we’ve earned our place to shepherd the sheep. Harbor the secrets until she comes along and threatens our foundation. We could ruin her or use her. Either way, she’s ours, whether she knows it or not, even if it’s forbidden. Nova Devlin I thought I knew who I was, where I came from, but my life is turned upside down when a stranger knocks on my door with promises that seem too good to be true. I should have run like hell and never looked back, but it’s too late now. I’m enrolled at Cadieux College where secrets and deception line the walls and the founding family’s rule without question. They all think I’ll be easy to use, to control, but I’m nobody’s puppet. Made in Malice is the first book in the Corrupt Credence series. A dark college romance with mature content for adult readers.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123522253-made-in-malice

Amazon https://amzn.to/43LtZ3w

Review by Twinsie Dee

Nova was working her ass off living on her on since both of her parents died. she was all alone no other family until one day a lawyer showed up on her doorstep and let her know that she actually had grandparents and they were not dead like she thought. her whole life was flopped upside down and she was told to pack up what she has and next thing she knew she was on a plane and in a car heading to a plane she never knew existed. with a bodyguard and a quarter in a mansion to wonder how much her parents actually told her was the truth about her family. with one of the bigger families’ males tempting her with his high standards, she’s getting fed up with being the new girl. will Nova be able to just make it through this year at school without getting into much trouble or will she find herself getting tangled with the wrong crowd in more ways than one.

 

Albany lives in Michigan where she’s happily married to her high school sweetheart. She spends most of her time juggling her four children’s extracurricular activities, with her nose stuck in a book. When not reading you can find her writing her very own book boyfriends. Albany’s passion is writing romance with real characters that are far from perfect, but always seem to find their own happily ever afters.
Contemp. Romance, Review, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Trigger Warnings

#Review – Mountain Haven (Mountain Mayhem Book 1) by Dawn Love

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Mountain Haven (Mountain Mayhem Book 1) by [Dawn Love]

They say when life hands you lemons, make lemonade.

But for Lexi Lane, life didn’t hand her those lemons. Instead, they were hurled from a grenade launcher. It’s been almost five years since her world detonated around her, and she’s moved on from that sour time in her life – or so she thinks. Hiding out in the mountains of West Virginia has given her the solitude she’s needed to survive, but surviving is all she’s done. When a stranger crashes into her life, will she finally be able to open herself to feel again? To love again?

Michael “Blaze” Blaisure has devoted his life to righting some of the wrongs in the world. Part of a covert military unit, he has traveled from country to country and seen the pits of hell first-hand. After witnessing more death and despair than his heart and soul could take, he makes the decision to change directions and choose a new path. But will that path lead to acceptance and forgiveness for his part in tragedy and death?

All it takes is a mountain, a storm, and the hand of fate to open their eyes to new horizons. But when danger appears, will it separate them, or bring them closer than ever?

Content/Trigger Warnings: Mountain Haven is meant for adults and contains explicit and graphic sexual scenes and language; themes of grief, death, infant loss, loss of fertility; mental illness, PTSD, depression, agoraphobia; violence; stalking; attempted kidnapping; and disturbing imagery.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Surviving! It doesn’t matter what each of us are going through, we all have our stories and each of us are just trying to survive. Lexi and Blaze come from two completely different backgrounds, both with their own struggles and their own ways of dealing with them. Both looking for a place to escape and somehow finding themselves by finding each other. A raging storm on a mountain brings these two together. Right from the beginning the chemistry is just there. I do believe in a sort of “love at first sight” because sometimes we see someone and just know that it works. These two, even though they are battling their own demons, end up finding each other and helping each other more than either of them knows.

This story is a slow burn. There is a lot that each of them have to dig through just to let loose with the other for even one night. However, there are some bad vibes going that ultimately present a crazy curve ball with the story. One, actually a couple, that I had no clue were coming. Just when I thought they loved and could move on, they lost. And then I thought things were cooling off, BAM! The crazy hits us! This was a slow burn, with the perfect amount of steaminess, and a very suspenseful plotline. Definitely a page turner. Sometimes one person can make you believe in love again and this story is a true testament to that!

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Dawn Love was born in Mayfield, Kentucky, and spent the first twenty-six years of her life there. Always a creative person and an avid reader, she began writing stories for her own entertainment as a teen, and her love of writing continued to grow into adulthood. Meeting the love of her life brought many changes, including moving 900 miles away from home and settling on the Delmarva Peninsula where she resides on her 50-acre farm. Now the mother of two teenagers, she spends her free time creating the characters and stories of her fantasies. She also writes an internationally read Blog where she gives her readers a glimpse into the craziness of her day-to-day life, her mind, and all that the world throws her way.

Horror, Review, Suspense, Thriller

#Review – Carnival of Terror by William Joseph

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Carnival of Terror by [William Joseph]

Welcome to the most spectacular, heart racing, entertaining, and deadliest show you’ll ever see.Ever want to see what happens after you leave the circus and the show is over? Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes? Have you ever wanted to see the darkest side of human nature? Then step right up, enter, and be prepared to have your breath taken away, literally.Victor, Jug, the Fortune Teller, Shilo, and Olivia. A horrifying, graphic, and pulse-pounding five-part novel from five different points of view in one interconnecting story surrounding one circus.Welcome to the Carnival of Terror.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

This is a truly twisted read! Who knew one circus would have so many levels of WTF… This is the stuff that nightmares are made of. Being able to experience the story from so many points of view was the right touch. The first experience is from a couple who visits the circus and ends up staying for dinner, to be dinner for the circus. Experiencing it from the ringmaster’s perspective, along with his heir, just reminds you how insane people can be. But also seeing it from the fortune teller and a relative of the circus really brings things full circle. I honestly can’t tell you how many times I cringed, winced, and uttered W…T…F…. No matter how much I wanted to look away, I just couldn’t. I HAD TO GET TO THE END!

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William Joseph is an exciting Horror, Paranormal, and Psychological Thriller writer from New Jersey, USA. He loves to draw the reader into believable worlds, creating everyday characters the readers can relate and connect with, and then forcing them to face their deepest and darkest fears. William Joseph’s writing has been detailed as twisted, dark, terrifying, raw, and emotional.

Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Part of a Series, Reverse Harem, Review, Suspense, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR23 – #Review – The Villainous Wonderland Boxset: The Complete Series by A.K. Koonce

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The Villainous Wonderland Boxset: The Complete Series by [A.K. Koonce]

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

I am not sure exactly what I was expecting when I started reading this series. I knew that it was an Alice in Wonderland retelling and I have read many retellings. However, this one took me by surprise. It was not what I was expecting! I am generally not a big fan of RH but this wasn’t all about the bedroom action. There is a great story unfolding with each page that is turned. The harem of men all have their own secrets and agendas but so does Madison our MC. She is brought to Wonderland in hopes of fooling the king that she is the real Alice. However, the real Alice ends up showing up, at the most inopportune time might I add, and then the real craziness begins. It’s a great story, lots of banter, tons of epic one liners, but a heartfelt story all going on at the same time. I absolutely recommend this series! You shouldn’t even have wasted your time reading this review, you should have already one-clicked and started the series!

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A.K. Koonce is a USA Today best selling author. She’s a mom by day and a fantasy and paranormal romance author by night. She keeps the fantastical stories in her mind on an endless loop, while she tries her best to focus on her actual life and not that of the spectacular but demanding fictional characters who always fill her thoughts.

Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Part of a Series, Reverse Harme, Review, Suspense, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR23 #Review – Under the Lies (Villainous Wonderland Series Book 3) by A.K. Koonce

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Under the Lies: A Reverse Harem Series (The Villainous Wonderland Series Book 3) by [A.K. Koonce]

They pushed too far. The demented Hatter and all of his minions can test me all they like, but they just crossed a line.

Alixx Stone. That’s my line. Screw with my life all you like but don’t threaten my men.

The problem is, even if I save my friends, it won’t be enough. There’s an entire Kingdom who have been hurt by one man’s selfishness. Elder Liddell’s dark secrets are endless and now he’s dragged me into his twisted past.

My own flesh and blood did this.

And I’m starting to realize, I’m just as destructive as he is.

This is a Reverse Harem series, recommended for readers 18 and over.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Whoa! This is where things get really dark but with a lot of clarity. Elder Liddell is a… Very. Bad. Man. He has messed with the wrong Alice and she is about to shut shhh down! Madison has had an awful journey with cancer and went on a crazy tour to finish her bucket list. Her bucket list never had Wonderland listed on it and now the bucket list has completely changed. Wonderland has turned out to not be a fairytale with all of its scattered happiness and permanent pain. Madison shares some really intimate moments with her men (love em all!) but these were loving… and hawt… looooong moments. Once Elder Liddell’s secrets are finally out and Madison realizes just how involved she really is, things get twisted. This is a page turner! You won’t be able to help from turning each page to see the next moment for the intimate touch, the craziness that Elder Liddell brings out in Madison, or the absolute love and adoration of a new found family. The ending of the book wrecked me! It was the perfect ending but dammit, I almost cried. I am not a crier. I repeat, I Am Not a Crier! The story was amazing! Bravo for an incredible ending!

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A.K. Koonce is a USA Today best selling author. She’s a mom by day and a fantasy and paranormal romance author by night. She keeps the fantastical stories in her mind on an endless loop, while she tries her best to focus on her actual life and not that of the spectacular but demanding fictional characters who always fill her thoughts.