Category Archives: Suspense

#WOTR24 #Review – Shadow Unveiled: Reapers Book One by Tara Vasser

After a particularly nasty car wreck, I met Death, and he let me live. My doctors claim it was a hallucination brought on by the trauma, but it felt pretty damn real to me. Especially the part where Death said he’d call on me soon. Months after, he still hadn’t shown his face, but my life had fallen apart while I waited. Every waking hour was filled with the incessant chatter of voices in my head, and whenever I closed my eyes, I was plagued by night terrors. It was too much for my fiancé to handle, so he left. I couldn’t get out of bed anymore, so I got fired from my job. Even my own family began distancing themselves. I had no one and nothing left, except the voices and nightmares in my head. I couldn’t wait for Death anymore, so I decided to go to him the old-fashioned way–by dying.

Things don’t go as planned when Death sends his most loyal Reaper, Gunnar, to thwart my foray into The Realm of the Dead. That night I learned there is an entire hidden supernatural world, and the icing on the cake is that I’m a part of it. A BIG part. Magical abilities I didn’t know I had start to manifest and grow, gaining me all kinds of attention. Death offers me a place among his Reapers, and a power-hungry Necromancer tries to convince me to join his plot to overthrow Death.

Both sides make compelling arguments–but which one is right?

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Kelly

This is truly a unique and captivating story. The world that this author has created is absolutely spellbinding. Tara Vasser is a ‘new to me’ author but has officially pulled me in as I fell into this story headfirst and couldn’t stop until the very end. Chloe feels like she has officially been abandoned. However, when she tries to end her life, Death comes barreling back into her life and does not let her disrupt the delicate balance between life and death. Chloe feels like she is going, very literally, insane. However, her saving grace is a vampire named Gunnar. She soon finds that she is a very powerful…well, no one knows what she is yet, but they are working on trying to figure it out. The one thing everyone can agree on is that she is powerful. While figuring out her powers, she has slipped into Shadow and has come face to face with a necromancer who has it out for her. She has so many obstacles to overcome but does it like any one of us would, she is scared and questions everything.

One of the things that I love about this book is that the story world is completely different from anything that I have read. The characters are great, and our strong female main character is like a normal human being. I have read so many stories where the lead just goes along with the magic stuff like they have lived it their entire lives. But Chloe, she is truly scared, she questions everything, she doubts herself, she doesn’t know if she is doing right or wrong, she truly was at the end of her rope. She is very real, and I think that is the cherry on top and what makes this book great.

I am loving this series and can’t wait to dive into book two!

By the way, don’t forget to pick up the prequel because it might give you some insight into what Chloe is going through. 😊

Tara Vasser profile image

Tara is a writer who lives in the frozen north in Minnesota with her wonderful husband and two rambunctious little dudes. She is an engineer during the day, a crazy mom in the afternoon and a writer at night. She enjoys spending her time playing in the dirt when her gardens aren’t covered in snow and listening to a wide variety of music that inspires her writing – sometimes doing both at the same time.

Be sure to visit Tara’s web page and sign up for her newsletter for updates on works in progress and upcoming new releases! www.authortaravasser.com

#WOTR24 #Review – No More Black Magic (Here Witchy Witchy Book 1) by A.L. Kessler

A hex. Ancient runes steeped in black magic. A decades-old crime. Abigail Collins has her hands full as a Paranormal Investigation Bureau Agent. Accompanied by a stubborn werewolf, challenged by an overprotective coven, and introduced to a Cult linked to her parent’s death, Abby must solve her case before the murderer comes for her. When an ancient langue connects her past with the murderer’s Abigail might just be in over her head.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Kelly

I really love when the blurb to a book instantly pulls you. It is even better when the story consumes you! I am a sucker for paranormal books! Abby is a powerful witch and works for the Paranormal Investigation Bureau, but also works “on the side” for the vampire that raised her. She is brought in to investigate a murder case where the only information they have on the deceased is an intact arm with a murder scene that brings her into a world that involves her deceased parents. As Abby works on the investigation, she uncovers more questions. The further she dives into this, the more her own life is in danger. This is definitely in the suspense category because everywhere Abby turns, there is a new obstacle that makes you question everything you know. It is harrowing and heart wrenching. You never know who is truly on your side. Even then, how close do you let the ones you love in? I did not see the twists at the end. This story is full of magic, criminals, hexes, multiple types of paranormal creatures, and a crazy cult. What more could you really want from a book? I look forward to continuing this series.

A.L. Kessler profile image

A.L. Kessler is a paranormal romance author residing in beautiful Colorado Springs, Co. Since she was a teenager she has loved spinning tales. She can easily be won over with gifts of coffee or chocolate.

#review #supernatural Havenfall Habor (Havenfall 1) by Albany Walker

Havenfall Harbor

Home for wayward and orphaned supernaturals.

Bridging the gap between supernaturals and humans is my only goal, or so I thought. Keeping myself alive and out of trouble is proving harder than expected.

Getting a job as the first human liaison at Havenfall was a dream come true, until I realize it’s not just humans that don’t want the species mixing.

Someone doesn’t want me a here, and they aren’t making it a secret that they will do just about anything to make sure I don’t stick around.

Seems like I have a few things to teach them about underestimating my determination.

Welcome to Havenfall where not just the students bite.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49876210-havenfall-harbor

Amazon https://amzn.to/3tRsDqM

Review by Twinsie Dee

i was given this book by the author for an honest review

Quinn Shaw’s life was flipped upside down when she found out that supernatural beings walked among them. but that was the past and now she was just hired to work at Havenfalls Habor as their human liaison. Havenfalls Habor was a home for supernatural children and her job was to now bridge the gap between them and humans, but some people don’t want that to happen. Will Quinn be able to handle her new job? Being the only human in a place with so many that are trying to intimidate her. Or is she going to find some friends and a possible love out of this life changing choice. I’m so glad that i finally got around to reading this book, Albany knows how to pull you in and make you feel and focus on all her words.

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.

#Review – Too Late by Colleen Hoover

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!

#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

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.)

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

━━━⭐.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.

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

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.

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


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.”

Author Logo

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.

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

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.

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

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!

Author Logo

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.