Category Archives: Thriller

Dark, Mystery, Promo, Review, Standalone, Thriller

#Review – Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson

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4 starred reviews!

Orange Is the New Black meets Walter Dean Myer’s Monster in this gritty, twisty, and haunting debut by Tiffany D. Jackson about a girl convicted of murder seeking the truth while surviving life in a group home.

Mary B. Addison killed a baby.

Allegedly. She didn’t say much in that first interview with detectives, and the media filled in the only blanks that mattered: a white baby had died while under the care of a churchgoing black woman and her nine-year-old daughter. The public convicted Mary and the jury made it official. But did she do it?

There wasn’t a point to setting the record straight before, but now she’s got Ted—and their unborn child—to think about. When the state threatens to take her baby, Mary’s fate now lies in the hands of the one person she distrusts the most: her Momma. No one knows the real Momma. But does anyone know the real Mary?

I was looking on TikTok about a week ago, for some disturbing books. I couldn’t find anything that struck my fancy, so I went on Pinterest and came across a pin about this book, along with a few others. So of course, I bought it.

First, I 100% suggest going in blind – if you can of course. I know a lot of us need to read the blurb but with this book, it was so much more fun, going in with no information at all.

Now I will preface this by saying that this is NOT a romance, while there are some romantic elements in it. It’s YA and packs quite the punch. It’s like Orange Is The New Black but with younger characters. Also, the main premise of this book is that the lead character “killed a baby”, so if that’s a trigger, please read with caution.

This book is raw and gritty in the best of ways. It’s dark, written well and kept me engaged from the first few chapters in to the end. I will be honest and say that it did take me about 3 chapters to get fully invested in this story but once I did, wow. Just wow.

Mary…oh Mary. I really couldn’t predict the outcome of this book. I was a mixture of feelings when it came to this girl. And I say “girl” because she is just a kid.

Mary was accused of killing a baby and this book recounts what actually happened. It’s a “did Mary actually kill this baby?” kind of story. We don’t even know exactly who Mary is until the very end of the book. Now I did glance at some reviews saying that they lowered their star rating based on the last chapter but I honestly thought it ended perfectly. I was left in shock and I sat there for a few minutes after turning that last page and thinking “wow.” Now that’s a job well done on the author part.

I won’t give much away because like I said, I do suggest going in not knowing much about this book at all.

So if you like stories filled with grit, mystery, family drama, and “who dunnit” moments, I highly reccommend reading this one!

One-click now: Amazon

Coming of Age, Fantasy, M/M, Mystery, Paranormal, Part of a Series, Review, Thriller, YA

#Review The End of August, Part Two by Rue Volley

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The End of August: Part Two by [Rue Volley]

It’s 1985.

Jelly bracelets are on every wrist.

Beaded friendship pins are on every shoelace.

Cellphones are not a thing.

Slumber parties, roller skating rinks, and arcades are all the rage.

Every kid has a key to their home and knows how to babysit themselves.

And Molly Ringwald is everyone’s fantasy girl.

But for fifteen-year-old August East, his world revolves around his new house, his new friends, and a boy by the name of Keller West, that has stolen his heart.

Not to mention that whole haunted victorian home, the mysterious death of the last owner, and, oh yeah, the empty mausoleum in his backyard.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

This story has me all messed up! I am literally all over the place with this, but in the best possible way! Part one ended in a cliff hanger and this one is no different, but WHOA! I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING! I mean, I am strolling along reading the story, and we take a sharp right turn into a place I had no idea we were going, then ALL of the feels exploded! I audibly gasped and had to stop for a moment to catch my breath, and then I just couldn’t stop reading. I had to know everything. I NEEDED to know what was going to happen next. I am on the edge of my seat because I know the next collision is going to happen, but when it doesn’t happen right away because there is a different plot twist…..well, I am just beside myself. Please excuse me for keeping this review short, but I need to start Part Three. I literally can’t wait any longer. Ms. Volley, you have a new stalker because you have me hooked!

Rue Volley

Connect with Rue:

Website: http://www.ruevolley.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruevolley/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rue-volley

Twitter: @RueVolley

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Coming of Age, Contemp. Romance, Fantasy, M/M, Paranormal, Review, Suspense, Thriller, YA

#Review – The End of August, Part One by Rue Volley

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The End of August: Part One by [Rue Volley]

Heartstopper meets Stranger Things!

It’s 1985.
Everyone is wearing a Swatch Watch and carrying a Trapper Keeper.
Goonies, Back to the Future, and The Breakfast Club are killing it at the theaters.
Super Mario Brothers is a lifestyle.
Posters of Duran Duran and Madonna are on every bedroom wall.
But for fifteen-year-old, August East, the biggest news is the move his family made to the odd little town of Whynot, Ohio, a cute boy named Keller West, and, of course, that whole murder thing.
*This is a DUAL POV*

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

“I’ve seen this movie and it turns out bad. Like really bad.” There’s a haunted house and all the makings of a classic horror movie! Ok, so it’s not a movie but I LOVE that this is set in 1985 with none of the tech-y stuff teens have now. This is a great YA, coming of age book with a spooky backdrop. People are always hiding things, wearing masks, and things are no different with the team of teens in this story. Each character is struggling or working through something. August is new to Whynot and has a bit of a difficult past but gets befriended immediately by the spooky Evie (OMG, she’s a ghosthunter!). Very soon after, he has quite a few friends that just need to see the house he is moving into. Why? Because it is a funeral home, complete with the cremation burner! There are some spooky, and not so spooky but still very scary, things (emotionally and physically) happening to the group. I do need to add that MM romance isn’t really a go to for me, but this just worked. There are very real feelings happening that will keep you hooked to the story. August and Keller, they are falling in love, or at least falling in like, with each other. The rest of the characters really round the story out and help put some perception into what and how the boys and others are feeling. The only con to the book is that since this is told in a dual POV, there are several chapters that basically repeat themselves so that you can get the thoughts and feelings of both characters that happened within the same conversation/scene. Those parts were a little redundant for me. However, the storyline is great and there is much more to come. The cliffhanger has made me immediately want to dive right into Part Two because, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!

Rue Volley

Connect with Rue:

Website: http://www.ruevolley.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruevolley/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rue-volley

Twitter: @RueVolley

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Rue-Volley-146299465525490/?fref=ts

Paranormal, Review, Suspense, Thriller, Vampire, Witches

#Review – Cursed by a Vampire (Immortal Hearts of San Francisco #7) by Susan Griscom

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Cursed by a Vampire (Immortal Hearts of San Francisco Book 7) by [Susan Griscom]

Living with the DeMarco vampires has been a lifesaver for Ari. However, as a human, he’s always felt inferior; has always wanted to be turned, while his vampire friends have refused his one wish.

And then he meets Abella, and suddenly he isn’t sure what he wants anymore.

Abella is also human, although she too is familiar with vampires. Her grandfather is one. The half-witch who cursed her is a vampire. She’s learned to live with both her grandfather and the curse; was content with her life.

Until she meets Ari.

Now she’s living a nightmare, because falling in love could lead to Ari’s death, thanks to her curse.
What will these two ill-fated humans do?

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Cursed by a Vampire, a tale you want to get lost in…

When you are a human and death is inevitable, what do you do? What path do you take?

Ari is one of the DeMarco family but is only human.

Abella lives with her vampire grandfather, but like Ari, she is only human.

These two cross paths and then fireworks explode! At first, they hate each other but are incredibly attracted to each other. There is a gentle, and sometimes not so gentle, push and pull between these two that is more than just your typical love story. Keep it casual?! Yeah right! I mean, I have followed Ari through this entire series and even I know that I wouldn’t be able to resist Ari!

I swear that each time I read one in this series, I think to myself that this is my favorite. Well, this is no different. I really do think Cursed by a Vampire is my favorite. There were several times that I felt like we were coming to the peak of the story and things were going to start wrapping up, and I would feel sort of let down. But in true Susan Griscom fashion, she threw us a curveball and I was like, “holy hell, I did not see that coming!” I said this on several occasions. I just love it when the twists keep coming and then wraps up with an incredible surprise!

Yes, this one…this one right here is my absolute favorite in the Immortal Hearts of San Francisco series! A must read!

Susan Griscom

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Contemp. Romance, Review, Suspense, Thriller

#Review – Resolute Justice by Leslie Marshman

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Resolute Justice by [Leslie Marshman]

Will a stand-up sheriff toss the rule book in order to deliver justice?

Between hunting human traffickers and solving her father’s murder, Sheriff Cassie Reed’s hands are full. So, despite her attraction to Tyler Bishop, finding his runaway missing niece isn’t a priority. Besides, the charming PI’s penchant for bending rules exasperates the by-the-book cop. But when a leak in her department brings Cassie under suspicion, joining forces with the tantalizing rebel is her only option.

From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Team MEAT AND BEER!

Small town with big problems…The book starts out with quite the punch. We get to see how Tyler’s tale weaves himself into the small town of Resolute. While Tyler starts the hunt for his missing niece, he and Sheriff Cassie bump heads. The Sheriff has a lot on her plate and Tyler comes walking into town wanting her to break the rules. Um, NOPE! Not our Sheriff Cassie. While she is stubborn and headstrong, she starts to struggle thinking with her head instead of her heart. There are quite a few bumps in the road when the Texas Rangers pop in and throw a stick in their operation. Cassie and Tyler, who are opposites in ever way possible, work together to find these missing girls and put the bad guys to bed.

The story was very well written and while we all know that these two are going to end up together, it was fun watching these two grow on each other. Their banter back and forth made for some lightheartedness during some really crazy times in the book. I rooted for Cassie and Tyler the entire time and was not disappointed with the outcome. However, I am team MEAT AND BEER! Read it and you will know what I mean, LOL!

An image posted by the author.

Award-winning suspense author Leslie Marshman is (finally) putting her psychology degree to good use, getting inside the heads of her characters and figuring out what makes them tick. She writes novels that feature kick-ass heroines, the heroes who love them, and the bad guys who fear them.

Leslie called Denver home until she married a Texan without reading the fine print. Now she lives halfway between Houston and Galveston and has learned to embrace the humidity. Her household includes two miniature poodles named Harley and Davidson, and a three-legged box turtle named Stumpy. If she’s not at her computer making things up, you’ll probably find her camping at a lake, a fishing pole in one hand and a book in the other.

Psychological Thriller, Standalone, Thriller

#Review My Dark Vanessa by Katie Elizabeth Russell

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INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 

“[An] exceedingly complex, inventive, resourceful examination of harm and power.” —The New York Times Book Review, Editors’ Choice

“A lightning rod . . . brilliantly crafted.”—The Washington Post

A most anticipated book by The New York Times • USA Today • Entertainment Weekly • Marie Claire • Elle • Harper’s Bazaar • Bustle • Newsweek • New York Post • Esquire •  Real Simple • The Sunday Times • The Guardian 

Exploring the psychological dynamics of the relationship between a precocious yet naïve teenage girl and her magnetic and manipulative teacher, a brilliant, all-consuming read that marks the explosive debut of an extraordinary new writer.

2000. Bright, ambitious, and yearning for adulthood, fifteen-year-old Vanessa Wye becomes entangled in an affair with Jacob Strane, her magnetic and guileful forty-two-year-old English teacher.

2017. Amid the rising wave of allegations against powerful men, a reckoning is coming due. Strane has been accused of sexual abuse by a former student, who reaches out to Vanessa, and now Vanessa suddenly finds herself facing an impossible choice: remain silent, firm in the belief that her teenage self willingly engaged in this relationship, or redefine herself and the events of her past. But how can Vanessa reject her first love, the man who fundamentally transformed her and has been a persistent presence in her life? Is it possible that the man she loved as a teenager—and who professed to worship only her—may be far different from what she has always believed?

Alternating between Vanessa’s present and her past, My Dark Vanessa juxtaposes memory and trauma with the breathless excitement of a teenage girl discovering the power her own body can wield. Thought-provoking and impossible to put down, this is a masterful portrayal of troubled adolescence and its repercussions that raises vital questions about agency, consent, complicity, and victimhood. Written with the haunting intimacy of The Girls and the creeping intensity of Room, My Dark Vanessa is an era-defining novel that brilliantly captures and reflects the shifting cultural mores transforming our relationships and society itself.

I found this book because of BookTok and a new account that I just started following and man, am I ever glad I did. I told Twinsie Tenise that this account was made for us and I really can’t wait to read more books that this TikTok account recommends.

I haven’t devoured a book like I did with this one in such a long time, it was a nice change. Before I start with my review, please read the blurb if you have triggers. I don’t have any that I know of, so I went into this blind and holy crap, what a ride it was. So please please please read with caution.

This is not a romance. The author made sure to not label it as such either. I’ll also note that as of right now from what I can find anyway, that this is the first and only book this author has written. I really hope she plans on writing other books because there’s something about her writing style that I’m seriously in love with. It reached a deeper part of me that not many authors have been able to reach. I’m also an emotional reader but it takes a lot of work on the author’s part to bring out those emotions in me. This author did just that.

The book travels through past and present. We learn about Vanessa as a 15 year old girl and then again about her as a thirty-something year old woman. It takes us through her life with and without Strane. I don’t want to give away too much but if you like disturbing but beautifully written books and don’t care if it’s a romance or not, I highly recommend this book!

Thriller

#BookPromo – The Fall by T. Gephart

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Salvation doesn’t exist.
It’s a lie people tell themselves in the dark, alone so their conscience might be eased. To give them hope that, in the end, we can all be forgiven.
Except we can’t.
And no amount of praying will change that.
For me there will be no redemption, and I will leave this world with the same black heart I entered it with.
The comfort in knowing who I am and what I am capable of keeps me warmer than any lie of having my soul saved.
Because I know the truth.
Because I know there is no Heaven.
And there is no Hell.
There is only the fall.

Michael has no one. No family. No Friends. And not a soul in the world cares about him, only a system that tried to break him.
With a strong dislike for establishments and conformity, he has lived his life as a rogue. A hired thug with no allegiances except to his own word.

Sofia has grown up in the shadow of her father—one of the most powerful drug lords in the city. She has vowed to bring him to justice, moving through the ranks of the Chicago PD in an effort to be as far removed from her father’s lifestyle as possible.

Two worlds collide when Michael shows up at her door, a gun in his hand and a look in his eyes that terrifies her. Suddenly, Sofia has a price on her head and Michael is the only one who can keep her out of the crossfire.

Part of a Series, Suspense, Thriller

#BookPromo #Freebie Never Run: A May Moore Suspense Thriller, Book 1 by Blake Pierce

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From #1 bestselling mystery and suspense author Blake Pierce comes a gripping new series: May Moore, 29, an average Midwestern woman and deputy sheriff, has always lived in the shadow of her older, brilliant FBI agent sister. Yet the sisters are united by the cold case of their missing younger sister—and when an eerily similar serial killer strikes in May’s quiet, Minnesota lakeside town, it is May’s turn to prove herself, to try to outshine her sister and the FBI, and, in this action-packed thriller, to outwit and hunt down a diabolical killer before he strikes again.

“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery.”
—Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

May Moore wastes no time investigating, but things quickly go south when her older sister, an accomplished FBI BAU agent who constantly outshines her, is called in by local authorities to help. Making matters worse, the case brings up dark memories and buried secrets from her family’s history—and neither May nor her sister are ready to confront the past.

But with a ticking clock, May and her sister will have to put aside old grievances to find this killer and save the next victim, and they will have to be careful not to assume this is the same killer from their past.

But is he?

A page-turning and harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured Deputy Sheriff, the MAY MOORE series is a riveting mystery, packed with non-stop action, suspense, jaw-dropping twists, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night.

Books #2-#9 are also available!

“An edge of your seat thriller in a new series that keeps you turning pages! …So many twists, turns and red herrings… I can’t wait to see what happens next.”
—Reader review (Her Last Wish)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A strong, complex story about two FBI agents trying to stop a serial killer. If you want an author to capture your attention and have you guessing, yet trying to put the pieces together, Pierce is your author!”
—Reader review (Her Last Wish)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A typical Blake Pierce twisting, turning, roller coaster ride suspense thriller. Will have you turning the pages to the last sentence of the last chapter!!!”
—Reader review (City of Prey)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Right from the start we have an unusual protagonist that I haven’t seen done in this genre before. The action is nonstop… A very atmospheric novel that will keep you turning pages well into the wee hours.”
—Reader review (City of Prey)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Everything that I look for in a book… a great plot, interesting characters, and grabs your interest right away. The book moves along at a breakneck pace and stays that way until the end. Now on go I to book two!”
—Reader review (Girl, Alone)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Exciting, heart pounding, edge of your seat book… a must read for mystery and suspense readers!”
—Reader review (Girl, Alone)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Free Download, Part of a Series, Psychological Thriller, Thriller

#BookPromo #Freebie Victim of a Delusional Mind: A Dark and Disturbing Thriller (Private Investigators Troy and Eva Winters Thriller Series Book 1) by K.J. North

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Tragedy enters the quaint coastal town of New Haven, Oregon when the recently released convict, Ross Conrad, vows to make good on a ten-year-old threat. Private Investigators, Troy and Eva Winters take on the case when they realize their good friend, Jasmine, is the object of his delusional obsession.

When the threat becomes deadly and Jasmine turns up missing, Troy and Eva go on the hunt for Ross and his captive. The chase leads them from the Oregon coast to the dense forest of Puget Sound, Washington. Following clues and evidence of bodies left behind, Troy and Eva must find Jasmine before her time runs out.


Editorial Review:
“Husband-and-wife private investigators Troy and Eva Winters split their time between their investigation work and their more leisurely pursuit as innkeepers on the coast of Oregon. They
befriend a new guest, Jasmine, and when they learn she’s on the hit list of a newly released
criminal, the tension soars. Well-drawn, immensely likable characters and an outstanding sense
of place mark this intriguing, fast-paced thriller.” Angela M., Line Editor, Red Adept Editing


Private Investigators Troy and Eva Winters Thriller Series books are listed in chronological order below:
#1 Victim of a Delusional Mind
#2 Dead Man’s Money
#3 Every Last Drop
#4 Her Kill List
#5 No One Heard Me Scream

Private Investigators Troy and Eva Winters Deadly Motives Series are listed in chronological order below:
#1 Killing Rebecca
#2 Quiet Kill

Contemporary Women's Fiction, Review, Standalone, Suspense, Thriller

#WOTR22 #Review – Aggravated Circumstances by Michele Shriver

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Aggravated Circumstances by [Michele Shriver]

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

I need to start by saying that this is a really great, but intense story. I don’t think there is anything crazy that would be a trigger for someone but there are some areas that will really make you feel some things. I have experienced “the system” and I must say that this story is very accurate but not all cases turn out the same way. This is full of hope and love but with a lot of struggles.

This author took a very difficult situation and wove it into a beautiful story. You see several points of view including the judge, social worker, the lawyer, and the addict. You really get a full sense of how one decision changes everything. One small decision, every moment of every day can make huge shifts or transitions in a short amount of time. Depending on whether that decision is for a good change or a bad change can cause a lot of sacrifices for yourself and others. Sort of like the butterfly effect and you have no idea how far it reaches until sometimes it’s too late.

Aggravated Circumstances is one of those stories that I had to sit and process at times because it gives you a crazy amount of feels. It will make you really think about all the little things that affect everything. This is a very intriguing and compelling story that I highly recommend!

Michele Shriver