#truecrime #Audio- The Lost Girls: The True Story of the Cleveland Abductions and the Incredible Rescue of Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Gina Dejesus by John Glatt

New York Times bestselling crime writer John Glatt tells the true story behind the kidnappings and long-overdue rescue of three women found in a Cleveland basement.

The Lost Girls tells the truly amazing story of Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight, who were kidnapped, imprisoned, and repeatedly raped and beaten in a Cleveland house for over a decade by Ariel Castro, and their amazing escape in May 2013, which made headlines all over the world. The book has an exclusive interview and photographs of Ariel Castro’s secret fiancé, who spent many romantic nights in his house of horror, without realizing he had bound and chained captives just a few feet away. There are also revealing interviews with several Castro family members, musician friends and several neighbors who witnessed the dramatic rescue.

 

HERE

Review by Twinsie Angie

I grabbed this book when I saw I had an audio credit.  Man I thought I knew all about this case but after reading it I realized I did not.

What the ladies endured for 10 years is beyond torture.  To see the strength and determination is was something you never know you have until you face what they faced.

I think in the future I will listen to the other stories from the ladies but I may need to wait a few days to clear what  heard out of my head.

 

Amazon

English-born John Glatt is the author of Golden Boy Lost and FoundSecrets in the CellarPlaying with Fire, and many other bestselling books of true crime. He has more than 30 years of experience as an investigative journalist in England and America. Glatt left school at 16 and worked a variety of jobs—including tea boy and messenger—before joining a small weekly newspaper. He freelanced at several English newspapers, then in 1981 moved to New York, where he joined the staff for News Limited and freelanced for publications including Newsweek and the New York Post. His first book, a biography of Bill Graham, was published in 1981, and he published For I Have Sinned, his first book of true crime, in 1998. He has appeared on television and radio programs all over the world, including ABC- 20/20Dateline NBC, Fox News, Current Affair, BBC World, and A&E Biography. He and his wife Gail divide their time between New York City, the Catskill Mountains and London.

#trueCrime – Unsolved Murders by Amber Hunt

Explore the mysteries of 20 compelling unsolved murder cases, from the Zodiac Killer to the death of JonBenét Ramsey, with this true crime book.

Featuring both well-known and more obscure cases spanning across the 20th and 21st century, Unsolved Murders combines page-turning text with images to cover key moments, crime scenes, crucial evidence and persons of interest. Each entry spans eight pages, with narrative, contemporary text giving a thorough account of the essential details of the case. Entries also include photographs, commissioned illustrations, infographics and timelines, which lay out the information in a fresh, visual way.

HERE

Review by Twinsie Angie

I purchased this audio book.

This is a great book if you want to learn about older unsolved true crimes or just get a recap of current ones.  I enjoyed that each chapter was 15-20 minutes all about each case.  I learned a few new cases that were older but also got a recap of popular ones I knew well.

Great book for a true crimer reader.

 

Amazon

Amber Hunt is an award-winning journalist who works for the Cincinnati Enquirer as an investigative reporter. She’s the co-creator and host of the podcast “Accused: The Unsolved Murder of Elizabeth Andes,” which reached No. 1 on iTunes’ U.S. and U.K. charts. She previously covered crime for the Detroit Free Press and the Dakotas for The Associated Press and was a 2011 Knight-Wallace Fellow at the University of Michigan. She’s written three true-crime books: Dead but Not Forgotten, All-American Murder and See How Much You Love Me, and is co-author of The Kennedy Wives: Triumph and Tragedy in America’s Most Public Family with longtime friend David Batcher.

Amber is a past recipient of the Al Nakkula Award for Police Reporting, the only national award dedicated to crime coverage. She has appeared on NBC’s Dateline and A&E’s Crime Stories, among other TV shows. She lives in Ohio.

#Novella #holiday – Pumpkin to Talk About by Allie Samberts

Mike Page fled Ironwood Flats, Texas the moment he tossed his high school cap in the air and never looked back. But when his little sister, Annie, is suddenly left raising two kids on her own, one desperate call brings him right back to the one place he swore he’d never return. Now, stuck playing uncle, Mike’s in for more than he bargained for, especially since it means surviving the town’s infamous Halloween celebrations—his personal nightmare.

Belle Allen has always been a bit eclectic. As Ironwood Elementary’s quirky part-time librarian by day and bartender by night, she has finally found her rhythm. That is, until Mike, her high school nemesis, walks into the bar bringing painful memories back with him.

Old wounds run deep, but so do new sparks when they keep bumping into each other. As they’re pulled together by chance encounters and unexpected chemistry, Mike and Belle realize they’re not the same people they were in high school. But just as they start falling harder than autumn leaves, reality hits—Mike’s heading back to Indiana after Halloween.

Can they admit they’re bewitched with each other? Or will the spell of their romance be broken?

Review by Twinsie Angie

I purchased this book.

I was looking for a short and quick read.  It was getting close to fall so I grabbed this audio.  The narration did a great job for me when listening to it.

The story was a short enemies to lovers book.  Belle is not about to fall for the hot shot who left town and is now back.  She is unhappy when she needs his help to help the kids in the school.

Mike is stunned that Belle is still as beautiful and cant believe that an idiot he was in high school.  He was so worried about being important he messed up.  Now he is helping her he will make sure not to repeat the past mistakes.

Amazon

Allie Samberts is a romance writer, book lover, and high school English teacher. She was voted funniest teacher of the year for 2023 by her students, which is probably her highest honor to date. She is also a runner, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, two kids, and a very loud beagle. You can follow her on Instagram @alliesambertswrites, read her blog at alliesamberts.substack.com, and get other updates at www.alliesamberts.com.

#Review – Breakneck Bay by Faith Gardner

A dangerous waterpark. A missing girl. A wife trapped in a nightmare.

At Breakneck Bay, the rides are fast, the injuries frequent, and the lawsuits endless. But when a teenage employee vanishes after closing, leaving behind a blood-soaked crime scene, it’s clear this summer will be the deadliest yet.

Suspicion falls on park manager Mitch Blue, forcing his newlywed wife Kit to confront the cracks in their marriage—and the unsettling secrets he’s been keeping.

But Kit and the police aren’t the only ones looking for answers. Someone is watching from the shadows, waiting to finish what they started years ago. As Kit uncovers chilling ties between Mitch and the waterpark’s dark past, she’s left questioning everything she thought she knew—including whether she’s sleeping beside a killer.

Because at Breakneck Bay, the only thing deadlier than the rides is the truth.

So I had absolutely no idea what was going on through the majority of this book. I tried predicting and while I thought who was the killer did end up being the killer, I kept second guessing myself. I watch too many horror movies because I thought something really bad was going to happen when all was said and done. If you watch horror movies, you know that most of them don’t end on a happy note.

This book is written in Katherine “Kit’s” point of view for most of it, while some chapters are written in Hawk’s point of view. He’s the bad guy but Hawk is just a nickname he gave himself, so we really have no idea who he is until the end of the book.

Life is going well for Kit. She has a loving husband, a relatively decent job, not as many friends as she wants but life is satisfactory.

Someone goes missing, some odd things start happening at the park they work at and Kit is left questioning things between her and her husband Mitch and the park’s history. Although, I don’t think Kit was ready for the truth when she discovered it.

I liked this book and it was a fun read. All of the characters held their own and Kit’s feelings and emotions definitely made me wonder how I would react in her situation.

Can be read in KU – https://amzn.to/3UN8TPo

#review #thriller #mystery When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole

Rear Window meets Get Out in this gripping thriller from a critically acclaimed and New York Times Notable author, in which the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood takes on a sinister new meaning…

Sydney Green is Brooklyn born and raised, but her beloved neighborhood seems to change every time she blinks. Condos are sprouting like weeds, FOR SALE signs are popping up overnight, and the neighbors she’s known all her life are disappearing. To hold onto her community’s past and present, Sydney channels her frustration into a walking tour and finds an unlikely and unwanted assistant in one of the new arrivals to the block–her neighbor Theo.

But Sydney and Theo’s deep dive into history quickly becomes a dizzying descent into paranoia and fear. Their neighbors may not have moved to the suburbs after all, and the push to revitalize the community may be more deadly than advertised.

When does coincidence become conspiracy? Where do people go when gentrification pushes them out? Can Sydney and Theo trust each other–or themselves–long enough to find out before they too disappear?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49398072-when-no-one-is-watching

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/When-No-One-Watching-Thriller/dp/0062982656/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UHWS9HERAW4X&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.p4SspVLq-7UHB7rn297qXBOjioqBhN_8D6D54xk5O0QtD8cdgIGRpBxuiPboukj5uYAZPmLJ6XtSsZtglunVay7XTRYg6FGhzSXgTw2MUwmWsj2tZLkx5iAiLJRKZSvLjdwlVMpDxARkLXYY82hwglKle13QePUDL0mZ11jE0WFnVFMP3a5yuNkSvYVTHbGUv90JCGZ3oesxXNF04qFUzXE1H6i2TtCJ68eVMkna6Ow.whREtG1LyJ4qW29oXBwdzI5QkBg61ZqE93_ikmM-b5k&dib_tag=se&keywords=when+no+one+is+watching&qid=1756388158&sprefix=when+no+one+is+watching%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-1

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book here is my honest review

Crazy things happening in this quiet, broke down part of town, when the neighbors are always looking out their windows how does something go amiss? when Sydney and Theo are working on a history tour for the neighborhood block party, they start to notice weird things that are taking place around them, neighbors missing then their homes are getting new owners. something bad is happening and will they find out what’s happening before it’s too late? this book i was looking forward to reading only to be disappointed it was very slow and took a while to really get into it. definitely not total thriller vibes till about the very end.

 

Alyssa Cole is an award-winning author of historical, contemporary, and sci-fi romance. Her Civil War-set espionage romance An Extraordinary Union was the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award’s Best Book of 2017 and the American Library Association’s RUSA Best Romance for 2018, and A Princess in Theory was one of the New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2018. She’s contributed to publications including Bustle, Shondaland, The Toast, Vulture, RT Book Reviews, and Heroes and Heartbreakers, and her books have received critical acclaim from The New York Times, Library Journal, BuzzFeed, Kirkus, Booklist, Jezebel, Vulture, Book Riot, Entertainment Weekly, and various other outlets. When she’s not working, she can usually be found watching anime or wrangling her pets.

 

#Review – You Can’t Hide: 30 Tales of Terror by Blair Daniels

I found a note I don’t remember writing.
It says ‘Don’t look under the bed.’

“ATTENTION SHOPPERS: Please hide at the back of the store immediately.”

I created a chatbot. It said some deeply disturbing things.

I was in a bus crash with five other passengers. After the crash, there were six.

YOU CAN’T HIDE brings you 30 terrifying tales for your darkest nights. This collection has every flavor of horror, from murderous husbands to malevolent doppelgangers, from terrifying photos to sinister board games. Read… if you dare.

Praise for You Can’t Hide
“This was absolutely fantastic, from start to finish.”

“This suspenseful collection of short stories perfectly captures the energy of sitting around a campfire, telling gruesome tales of horror.”

“A few of these stories had some AMAZING twists that I never expected.”

“You Can’t Hide” is a superb work of horror fiction that’ll appeal to aficionados of “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”, “Scary Stories”, and “Goosebumps,” but with decidedly mature twist.”

“Blair Daniels never disappoints me. Her stories are short, sharp, and devious.”

About Black Widow Press
We’re passionate about scares, thrills, and all things that go bump in the night. Stay tuned for more books this year to keep you up all night! Don’t Scream and other Black Widow books contain mild to moderate violence and sexual content not suitable for those under 18 years of age.

This collection of horror stories, was so much fun to read!

This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed the journey through each and every one. Some were creepy, some were disturbing, some even made me laugh. I’m a huge fan of two sentence horror stories, so I knew going in that I would enjoy this. Looks like this is part of a 7 book series. So I’m excited to read more by this author.

There were some stories that I would love a full book about but I also realize that it’s not that kind of book, so I’ll get over it.

I can’t remember which story it was, but it had someone crawling on the floor in an inhuman way and it creeped me right out. It’s one of the things I hate in horror movies but love at the same time because it scares the crap out of me.

So good job to the author!

Can be read in Kindle Unlimited – https://amzn.to/45zg0Qc

#newrelease – The Rhythm of Falling: A sweet second chance small town romance (Sweetlove Mountain Book 1) by Mandi Raynes

He’s a superstar on the run. She’s a hidden talent with a shattered past. In Sweetlove, their colliding worlds might just create the perfect harmony.

Gia Krane was once the next big thing in music until betrayal shattered her trust, and a corrupt label left her career in ruins. Now, she’s just a bartender with a guitar, playing small gigs and guarding her heart behind sharp wit and high walls. Music still lives in her bones, but the spotlight? She walked away from that life years ago.

Country music superstar Wyatt Cade has everything: fame, fortune, and a wildly successful indie label. But after the tragic death of his best friend on tour, the music that once saved him has gone silent. Seeking inspiration and solitude, he escapes to the quiet town of Sweetlove Mountain, hoping to find peace…and maybe himself.

What he finds instead is her.

 

Amazon

Mandi Raynes writes sweet romance filled with all the feels, strong family bonds, protective heroes, and fierce heroines. She believes in the power of love and the connections that bind us, and her stories reflect that belief. Mandi calls northeast Florida home, where she shares her life with her three beloved cats and her real-life romance hero. When she’s not writing, Mandi can be found immersed in a good book or exploring new destinations—always with an eye for romance.

#urbanFantasy – Hexes and Headlines: A Thrilling Urban Fantasy Novel (Ravens Hollow Investigations Book 2) by Ella Stone

When the bark definitely IS worse than the bite

A deadly hex is turning my newspaper colleagues’ skin to bark—and it’s up to me to find the magical killer before they strike again.

I thought moving to Ravens Hollow would be simple. One month into my new supernatural life, I figured my biggest challenges would be housebreaking my oversized puppy and writing fluff pieces for the local paper.

Then dark magic hits The Oracle, pulling me straight into an investigation tangled with vindictive sea witches, feuding werewolf packs, and ancient tree sprite magic even the coven can’t crack.

Now I’m chasing clues with Police Chief Whip—an immortal siren cursed with secrets—and Alex, a too-charming lion shifter who knows how to get under my skin. But in a town where everyone hides something and magic always comes at a price, finding the truth could cost me more than I’m ready to lose.

And the vampire trafficking ring that turned me? They haven’t forgotten about me either.

A paranormal cozy mystery featuring a vampire journalist, small-town supernatural politics, magical mayhem, and a slow-burn romance that defies nature itself.

Ravens Hollow Investigations Series:
Bylines and Bloodsuckers – Prequel
Fangs and Front Pages – Book 1
Hexes and Headlines – Book 2
Demons and Deadlines – Book 3

 

Amazon

 

Lover of all things magical, mysterious, and mildly chaotic, Ella Stone writes fast-paced urban fantasy with a generous pinch of paranormal drama, a splash of slow-burn romance, and enough supernatural shenanigans to keep your heart pounding and your tea cold.

When not plotting vampire betrayals or helping werewolves find some clothes (and occasionally their dignity), she’s usually curled up with a book, surrounded by cats who believe they own the place—and, frankly, they do.

Her books include the Dark Creatures saga, the Bloodsucker’s Blog trilogy, the Witchlight Magical Mysteries (co-written with the brilliant Heather G. Harris), and the brand new Ravens Hollow Investigations—a series full of magical crimes, dangerous alliances, and secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Expect charm, danger, and just enough mayhem to make things interesting. Welcome to her world. It’s weird, it’s wicked, and you’re going to love it here.

#preorder #paranormal – A Love So Deadly: A Dark Vampire Romance (Kissed by Darkness Book 1) by Harper Brooks

I came to VMR to find my best friend. She walked into this billion-dollar media empire and vanished without a trace. No calls. No messages. Just… gone.

So when a job opens up, I take it. I need answers, and the only way to get them is from the inside.

That’s when I meet him.

Lucian Vale. CEO. Enigma. Predator in a perfectly tailored suit.

From the moment his cold gaze locks onto mine, I know he’s not just a man. There’s something ancient in the way he moves, something deadly in the way he watches me. And when he offers me the job as his personal assistant, I know I should run.

But I don’t.

The pull between us is inescapable—dark, primal, and all-consuming. He wants me, but he knows what happened to my friend. I just have to find her before I’m in too deep.

Because in his world, love is a deadly thing. And if I’m not careful, it just might cost me everything.

A Love So Deadly is Part One of the Kiss of Darkness Duet. A shortened version was previously published in the Sinners & Stardust 2025 Anthology, but the story has been expanded for its re-release.

 

Amazon

 

Harper A. Brooks may be a Jersey girl at heart, but now she likes to hideout in the mountains of Virginia with bigfoot and all his little woodland friends. Even though classic authors have always filled her bookshelves, she finds her writing muse drawn to the dark, magical, and romantic. When she isn’t creating entire worlds with sexy shifters or legendary love stories, you can find her either with a good cup of coffee in hand or at home snuggling with her furry, four-legged son, Sammy.

 

RONE AWARD WINNER

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR

 

You can get HALFLING FOR HIRE for free now!

http://BookHip.com/MCBDCN

 

#newrelease – Light of Day by Jennifer Bernard

Some secrets are buried deep. On Sea Smoke Island, digging them up could cost you everything…including your heart.

Heather McPhee swore she’d keep her distance from Sea Smoke Island—she escaped the reputation of the “messy McPhees” and intended to keep it that way. But when her best friend and podcast co-host vanishes after uncovering a bombshell story on the remote Maine island, Heather has no choice but to go back.

Luke Carmichael also thought he left the drama of his powerful family behind. Banished from their elite resort and raising his daughter on his own, the island constable prefers a quiet life. Until Heather storms back into town, stirring up old ghosts.

As they investigate Gabby’s disappearance, Heather and Luke uncover a generations-old conspiracy tied to the elite Carmichael resort, one someone will kill to protect. And as sparks fly between the messy McPhee and the renegade Carmichael, they’ll have to decide what’s worth risking—the truth, their lives… or their hearts.

Because on Sea Smoke Island, some secrets refuse to stay buried. And the truth always comes to light.

 

Amazon

 

Jennifer Bernard is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. Her books have been called “an irresistible reading experience” full of “quick wit and sizzling love scenes.” A graduate of Harvard and former news promo producer, she left big city life in Los Angeles for true love in Alaska, where she now lives with her husband and stepdaughters. She still hasn’t adjusted to the cold, so most often she can be found cuddling with her laptop and a cup of tea.

If you’d like to know when Jennifer’s next book comes out, visit her website at www.JenniferBernard.net to sign up for her mailing list.