Tag Archives: crime

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One Way or Another You Will Pay, by Eve Rabi

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Revenge of the Master Manipulator!

This novel is once again an original, emotional and compulsive work from Eve Rabi. It is a read that her fans will not want to miss and those who enjoy thrillers and dark romantic suspense will also enjoy. Do not read after the first paragraph if you want to avoid spoilers for book 1, You Will Pay- For Leaving Me (currently FREE on Amazon US and Amazon UK and Smashwords). Please note that as it describes scenes and the repercussions of domestic abuse, this series does contain scenes of violence and threat, some of it sexual.

In this and the previous instalment in the tale, You Will Pay: She Left her Abusive Husband He Took Revenge, (click title for our review), the author tackles the difficult and often taboo subject of domestic abuse. The abuser in this story is a sociopath who seeks brutal revenge on his wife who leaves him after years of abuse. There are harrowing scenes of threats, violence and murder and although not an easy read the ability of Eve Rabi to weave a compulsive and addictive story containing real life issues and characters with whom the reader can identify with is once more underlined. The remainder of this review contains spoilers for book 1.

In book 1, You Will Pay – For Leaving Me, we met Arena, married to businessman Tom. Tom likes to control Arena, from how she dresses to how she wears her hair and who she socialises with. His control also extends to their son Warren and after Arena becomes pregnant and their daughter Sasha is born, his behaviour turns violent. Arena finally takes the plunge and leaves him to make a new life for herself and her children. However, Tom dishes out the most terrible revenge imaginable on Arena and her family and is truly beyond redemption.  Arena and Bear, the new man in her life, dish out their own revenge on Tom, which I absolutely loved! After the end of book 1, I was sort of happy that Tom had been incarcerated, although secretly I would have preferred him to have been AT LEAST 6 ft under! The fact that he was in prison due to the actions of Arena and Bear I regarded as natural justice after his sickening crimes against Arena and baby Sasha.

In book 2, Arena and Bear are happily married, living with Warren, Tom and Arena’s son, Bear’s daughter Amy, by his first marriage, and their own baby Savannah.  All is fine and dandy apart from a series of abusive and threatening letters that Arena begins to receive from Tom, trying to persuade her to bring Warren to visit him. Arena does not respond to his letters and they abruptly cease. After a brief respite, the tenor of the letters changes and Tom claims that he is suffering from terminal cancer and that he needs to see Warren before he dies. Arena is torn between her hatred and distrust of Tom and the fact that he is in effect making a deathbed request that it would be heartless to ignore. After all what can he possibly do to her if she does visit as he is behind bars?

You need to read the book to see how Arena copes with the situation and the consequences of her decision on whether or not to acquiesce to Tom’s request. What I will reveal is that this instalment and Tom’s actions are just as chilling as book 1, as  even from his prison cell Tom attempts to bring Arena, Bear and their family to their knees. Arena and Bear’s love is tested to the full and lives are put on the line. Once again this stellar read contains some intense and dark moments and once again I read it into the small hours.

I enjoyed finding out more about Bear in this book, such as what makes him tick, his relationship with Arena and how he seeks to protect her and their family from Tom. I felt for them both when they were faced with the terrible consequences of Tom’s actions and there were some truly heart rending scenes.  I also enjoyed the character of Ritchie, Arena’s brother who supported them and the pivotal role played by the character of Ingrid.

This is perhaps one of Eve Rabi’s darkest works to date, Nevertheless it still contains her trademark scenes of intense love between the hero and heroine, the survival of a strong woman who survives against the odds, self-sacrifice, heart rending emotional scenes and a plot where the reader has absolutely no chance of predicting what will happen next, let alone the outcome.

I strongly rrecommend this book to fans of Eve Rabi and also to those who are not adverse to reading about difficult issues and examining the darker side of humanity.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

A copy of this novel was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase links: Smashwords   Amazon US  Amazon UK

Eve Rabi’s website

Eve Rabi Facebook

 

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The One Percenters by John Podgursky

The One Percenters

In this dark psychological thriller/horror, The One Percenters, the reader has an insight into the mind of Edward Caine, who believes himself to be a one-percenter. A one percenter is one that can assist the natural selection process by ending the lives of those that do not seem fit to breed. Those that are only alive due to advances in medicine, technology and money.

Edward did not always think in this manner but after his wife’s rape and murder by a serial killer his mind drifts over time (and over a drink or two!) and he begins his mentally spiralling journey. His wife, Jill, was a good, loving human being with a kind heart. She was innocent. She didn’t deserve to die. In fact, Jill would have been perfect in the natural selection process, with her beauty and all. She most definitely wouldn’t have been picked by a one percenter!

Ed’s character, I thought, was fairly easy to connect with considering all he had been through with Jill. He is bitter and begins wanting revenge for her murder. However, as his thoughts become so dark as to even consider taking lives of those that had absolutely nothing to do with what happened, the reader begins to understand how disturbed this guy is. Although the connection largely gets lost by this point, I felt I just had to read on to know the outcome as John Podgursky leaves the reader asking questions of what path Ed is going to take and what will become of him.

In the beginning, even though it is a serious subject matter and Ed is in a state of depression and drink after losing Jill, he is so open with his thoughts that some off-the-wall suggestions and sarcastic, cynical remarks are made. However, as the novel continues it does become much more darker and serious.

The story is told from Ed’s POV. The written style of The One Percenters is as if Ed were talking to the reader directly as he tells his story in first person, past tense and the use of language is quite direct. The use of the direct and casual language can, at times, lighten the mood by making Ed’s cynical, sarcastic remarks a little comical. Because of this, I did find myself smiling to myself in some instances at Ed’s dry humour. Due to the written style it is a fairly quick read and set at a reasonable pace.

I was initially surprised as it read as a narrative from Ed’s POV. I was expecting the story to be told in third person, however after reading the story, that idea certainly wouldn’t work so well on the psychological side. I was also expecting the story to follow fellow one-percenter , as the synopsis mentioned ‘Edward and his brethren’. The further into the book you delve the more psycholgical horror you come across as Ed’s actions and indeed his thoughts become darker and darker. This story is definitely not for the faint of heart. The One Percenters is an adult read due to the seriousness of Ed’s thoughts and the violence and pyschological horror that this story offers.

There is a reference to ‘Doctor’ every now and then. This makes the reader think that Ed is possibly speaking to a psychiatrist at the end of the book. Will this be revealed towards the end? What will become of Ed, and will he accomplish what he set out to do? The reader has many questions and must read to the very end to reveal the full truth of this great thriller.

It is the significance of Jill’s rape and murder that start Ed’s pyschological problems. She was so innocent, so helpless. Ed begins to question the behaviour of humans and life, which leads to him believing that those that are ill, are ill for a reason: they are weak and so must die. It is only through money, technology and medicine that the ill are kept alive. This in-turn allows them to breed and pass on their weak genes and possibly weakening mankind. He, as a chosen one-percenter must help control this and eliminate these people. Will Ed allow his thoughts to control his actions, or will he give in?

I would like to thank the author, John Podgursky, for providing us a copy of his book in return for an honest and fair review. If you would like to contact the author, you can e-mail him at darwinspal@hotmail.com.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

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Ratty’s Bones (a short story) by Gary Richardson

Product DetailsRatty’s Bones is the second story from author Gary Richardson, following The Purple Haze which we reviewed earlier this year. Ratty’s Bones, however, is a completely different read to that of The Purple Haze. Whereas The Purple Haze was a fantastic zombie horror story, Ratty’s Bones is a very powerful, disturbing and violent drama. The reader follows Bruce Stevens, an inmate at the young age of 22, who hasn’t spoken a word since his arrest 6 years previously. During which time he has been visited regularly by his social worker, Diane Parker. Therefore, you can imagine her surprise when at one meeting Bruce decides to talk about his childhood, family, friendships and how his life connected with a talking rat.

When we are first introduced to Ratty I did find him a little difficult to connect to, however some of the scenes with Ratty are quite refreshing in between the seriousness of the remainder of the book. It was the powerfulness of the drama that made me want to continue reading as there are many reasons to connect and sympathise with Bruce. He is a young man who has had to deal with his fair share of abuse, tragedy and bullying. The story divides itself into three areas; Bruce at the age of 8 and 9 when he enjoyed a fun childhood, Bruce at the age of 15 and 16 after his life had made a downward spiral, and then the man of 22 who has had time to process his whole life and situation he is in.

Ratty is a funny sort of character. He speaks at times with a comical air about him – which to begin with is difficult to see how he fits into the rest of the story. Although, at the time when Bruce meets Ratty, Bruce’s life has been quite negative for a few years and there is a comparison between Ratty’s life and Bruce’s which does help to connect the reader with Ratty as the story goes on. It is Ratty that begins to urge Bruce to be brave and to try and change the course that his life is on.

I would recommend this short story to a more mature reader due to its violent content in parts. It is a nice length story, with nothing being dragged out, written in a direct manner whilst holding back some areas of the story until the reader approaches the end of the book. This creates a great tense atmosphere as the reader is desperate to find out what has happened to Bruce throughout his life.

Although I  found it difficult to begin with, it became clearer as the story unfolded that Ratty’s role had a much more profound meaning. I found the whole story to be quite tragic, with a surprising turn towards the end. Due to the manner in which this short story finishes, I would love Gary Richardson to write a follow-up simply to find out what becomes of Bruce in the near future!

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

Here is our review of the highly recommended – The Purple Haze (short story) – by Gary Richardson

Please check out some author info and Gary’s books at Amazon.co.uk. Both short stories can be purchased in the UK for 99p (Kindle version) or Ratty’s Bones £4.75 (paperback) and The Purple Haze £5.99 (paperback)!

Here’s Gary’s page on Amazon.com. Prices for the Kindle versions are around $1.50. Paperbacks are £6.74 for Ratty’s Bones and $8.54 for The Purple Haze – both prices are accurate at the current time of writing this post, however they are possible to change.

We hope you enjoy these stories. It would be great to hear your thoughts on these great short stories!

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Hidden Agenda by Peter S. Berman

Hidden Agenda‘Hidden Agenda’ by Peter S. Berman is an amazing five-star crime-thriller/courtroom drama novel! It keeps the reader engaged, with plenty of dialogue, brilliant characters and most importantly, a dramatic storyline. Hidden Agenda is separated into four sections (books), beginning as a crime thriller, taking the reader right into the thick of a courtroom drama as it builds it’s way with many twists and turns into the concluding fourth section.

After losing his wife in an accident a few years before, Jeremy Hart, a senior prosecutor in the LA District Attorney’s office, is encouraged by his counselor to try socialising again. She offers him a ticket for a charitable event where he first meets Claire Carleton. Ex-model Claire is trapped in a loveless marriage to a wealthy and powerful man, Peter Carleton, who is also very abusive and possessive towards her.

Love blossoms between Claire and Jeremy and they wind up in an affair that neither one wants to walk away from. However, with Peter always looking over her shoulder it is difficult for Claire and Jeremy to meet up. After messaging to each other over the internet, Peter’s suspicions of an affair are proven when he catches Claire sitting as her computer as a message from Hart pops up. Peter goes on to violently attack Claire and threaten her life – either that or she could lose her two daughters if Peter was to take them to Brazil with him. Leaving her with no options, Claire is trapped and reveals all to Jeremy.

Later, Peter’s body is found on the driveway of his home where he has been shot to death. It is then up to the detectives, Gibson and Donahue, to establish the motive, the opportunity and the culprit. Jeremy Hart is suspect no.1 and as the evidence points to him it is not long before a trial begins. However, as more questions are raised, Gibson and Donahue continue to investigate behind the scenes to find out the truth of Peter’s murder.

Hidden Agenda is beautifully woven together and is written in such a way that it is easy for the reader to follow and yet produces an engrossing story. The first section (Book 1) of Hidden Agenda introduces the readers to Jeremy Hart and Claire Carleton as the reader follows Jeremy’s story, getting to know the main characters involved. Book 2 focuses on detectives Gibson and Donahue as well as the main investigation where we are made aware of the evidence. This takes us to Book 3, concentrating on the courtroom drama of the trial with lawyers, Brunon and Kelly, and then finally we reach the concluding section Book 4!

As a reader, I really enjoyed that Hidden Agenda keeps to the one crime continuously and is written and broken down in order. It keeps the reader engaged and interested as well as opens up your eyes for those who are not too familiar of the courtroom system. I really enjoyed reading this style of writing. Even during the trial scenes Donahue and Gibson were still working and questioning certain areas of the case behind the scenes which constantly keeps the story moving forward and the reader hoping that they find out the answers to all of their questions.

One of my favourite pieces of writing in this book is when Berman describes the sun setting as Hart is about to visit his colleague, John Taylor. At this point Hart is at a loss as to what to do regarding the beating that Claire has taken from her husband, Peter:

“It was just after 6.00pm. The sun had set in a crystal clear sky and the city far below him was a twinkling sea of lights, blanketing the horizon like so many stars in the Milky Way.”

These lines create a beautiful and moody atmosphere for the reader and I personally drowned in these words as I felt the dilemma that Hart was in.

I found myself being a little sympathetic for Hart’s character when he becomes emotional when speaking with his attorney, Brunon. After being locked up, awaiting for his trial, Hart is growing weary and was a shadow of a man in comparison to earlier on the book.  However, this was mentioned subtly but still had an impact on me. This certainly helped keep the character Hart alive.

My overall favourite section of Hidden Agenda was Book 2 where the reader is introduced to detectives Gibson and Donahue. Gibson is a family man with a loving wife. He is used to working alone but on this particular case he is asked to work with female detective Donahue. Donahue is a feminine but strong and level-headed woman. Gibson and Donahue work really great together and whilst keeping a great sense of professionalism there is also a nice friendship that grows between them. The reader really gets a sense that Gibson admires and respects Donahue to the point where he considers working with her on a more permanent level. Considering that Gibson was always used to working alone this would be quite a change for him.

For the characters alone, especially ‘Gibby’ and Donahue I would love to read another story by Peter S. Berman. I can only hope that he will create another great crime novel with these fantastic detectives in. The crime in Hidden Agenda is laid out well for the reader and this style of writing is so easy to follow and yet constantly keeps the reader interested and guessing the outcome. If you like a great crime-thriller you will not be disappointed with Hidden Agenda!

For the purpose of an honest and fair review A Reader’s Review Blog received Hidden Agenda gratefully from BookHub publishing.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

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Mulberry (The Organization, Book 2) by SJ Sprague

‘MulberMulberry_WEB.smry’ is the second book of this great crime thrilling series, ‘The Organization’, by SJ Sprague. The Organization series deals with corrupt law enforcement officers who take part in drugs and gun crime, which often involves beatings, murders and cover ups. However, justice can be done and done quickly if The Organization have anything to do with it as long as they have enough evidence. The corrupt officers will do anything to cover their tracks and in ‘Mulberry’ the reader is given a great example of this when they beat Davin Presser, making him comatose.

Mulberry begins with an excellent prologue of an ex-police informant, Sterling Greaves, who had become aware of some officers’ activities – in particular the drug running – and had reported his findings, along with some evidence to the police force. Yet, nothing was done and it left Sterling running for his life, living in the woods for three years, to prevent the dirty cops from killing him. The twist that Sterling has on these cops is the evidence that he has collected and buried in the woods, until he has a chance to use it.  He reaches out to Samantha Biggers, an ‘angel’ in Sterling’s mind, who is now a member of The Organization.

RussellCounty_WEB_FINAL_sm2Samantha Biggers, a widow and previous victim of corrupt police (check out A Presence in Russell County, The Organization Book 1), has now joined The Organization, moving to Holcomb County to be near her trainers, John Hollingsworth and Stuart Crogan. And nothing is better for Sam’s training than a case she can be involved in as soon as she moves to Holcomb.

Unknown to the culprits of Davin’s beating his six year old son, Kale, witnessed the terrible attack. However, it affected Kale to the point where he began to behave in an infantile manner. He began to crawl and became mute. His only way of communicating is by drawing the same picture repeatedly and with the same colour. Will Sam be able to decipher the meaning of these drawings?

Although Mulberry is first and foremost a crime thriller it probably offers the same amount of romance as it does crime, with Crogan’s growing relationship with his chess playing friend and trainee, Sam. It certainly clarifies the reader’s confusion from the last novel in regards to Sam’s lovelife, where the reader at one point believed that Sam and John were to be happy ever after. I think that Mulberry is definitely Crogan’s book as he steals the show for me. I love how he does everything he can to ascertain Sam’s safety and the way how when she isn’t with him he’s thinking of her, and yet he still allows her space for herself. He respects her opinion and treats her as an equal when it comes to The Organization’s work. Crogan is also caring when it comes to his long-term friend, John. He does worry about the relationship he has with Sam and how it could affect John. Crogan is just a really nice guy.

John’s character has the reader sympathising for him in parts as Sam, or ‘Brit’ as he always called her, is romantically quite distanced from him, however at times he does become a little too creepy for me as he is a little persistent and leaves certain messages on Sam’s answerphone that are a little too personal. Maybe Sam is to blame a little though, as she wasn’t altogether clear that their relationship had ended and thus leaving John a little lost and possibly half expecting her to be closer to him seeing as she moved to Holcomb. I don’t dislike John as it has been clear that John is a very strong member of The Organization and he knows how to get things done. The fact that he had an injury whilst serving as a soldier and is now in a wheelchair certainly doesn’t hold him back when it comes to taking down a band of criminal cops. I love his decisiveness and direct manner.

Whilst reading the first novel, A Presence in Russell County, I found that it ended abruptly, however Mulberry ends at a perfect pace and leaving the reader fully aware of where the characters stand and where they are possibly headed. This novel is definitely a five star! My only disappointment was that I missed the character Cap Finch from the first novel and I was hoping for a mention of him as I really like his involvement with the case in Russell County. I always tend to go for the supporting characters and in some cases they don’t reappear in the sequels!

SJ Sprague writes Mulberry really well, making it clear to the reader that the characters have a history from book 1 and have now, especially in Samantha Bigger’s case, made a fresh start with her move, her job and in her lovelife. Therefore, Mulberry could be read as a stand alone. Although I strongly recommend for you to read A Presence in Russell County before this novel as it is fantastic, introducing the characters really well and providing the reader with their background!

Mulberry_WEB.smThe paperback edition for Mulberry is now available on Amazon.com, the paperback edition is currently $13.29 and the Kindle version is $5.11. Also available on Amazon.co.uk , the paperback version is currently £9.39 and the Kindle version is £3.38!

RussellCounty_WEB_FINAL_sm2You can also purchase the paperback or Kindle edition of A Presence in Russell County on Amazon.com ($10.74 for paperback and $4.73 for the Kindle edition) and Amazon.co.uk (£7.45 for paperback and £3.18 for the Kindle edition). Prices correct at the time of posting this review.

All prices are correct at the time of publishing this post, however they are subject to change.

JESSE BUTTERFLY: THE ORGANIZATION BOOK 3 COMING SOON!!

If you would like to contact SJ Sprague you can e-mail the author at sjsprague01@gmail.com.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

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The Purple Haze, a short story by Gary Richardson

The Purple HazeIf you are a fan of the movie ‘Dawn of the Dead’ or a fan of the tv series ‘The Walking Dead’ then this is certainly a novel for you to read. I find it even more intriguing, being English, as it is set in England.

This short story is very exciting from the very beginning. If you imagine a bank robbery scene from ‘The Sweeney’ tv series, this is how the novel begins. However, a few chapters into the book and it completely changes into a horror/zombie type novel. It actually reminds me a little of ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’.  One moment it is a crime/thriller and the next it is some action-packed horror. I found this to be an exciting, fast-paced read with well written characters and a well thought-out plot.

Also, because of the turn of events, it forces characters to work together when they should be opposed to each other, i.e. bank robbers working with civilians and the police, etc. This adds another layer of tension amid the main story.

Some could say a negative about this novel is that similar stories have been written, but if you are interested in this type of story I would urge people to read it.

I also like the fact that the author, Gary Richardson, has written a couple of pages at the end explaining where the idea came from for the novel and how it became a part of his life.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

I have been meaning to post this review on A Reader’s Review Blog for a while. Written prior to our blog being created, I have decided to post my original review as it is written with the feelings I had at the time of reading ‘The Purple Haze’ and this short story is one I haven’t been able to forget!!! You can find ‘The Purple Haze’ on Amazon UK for 99p or on Amazon US for $1.54!

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Addicted, by JoAnn DeLazzari

17617578[1]-001Steamy Romantic Suspense

We were both lucky enough to be sent copies of this release by Blue Star Books, to provide an honest and fair review. Rather than post the reviews separately, we have decided to post them together and share our opinions through the comments box. Feel free to join in the discussion or share your thoughts. 🙂

Tina’s Review (scroll down for Caroline’s review which follows on from this).

Addicted, by JoAnn DeLazzari is a steamy romantic suspense that delves into the dark and dangerous world of drug trafficking and corruption at the highest level. At its heart is a passionate love affair between two people who are unexpectedly thrown together in their quest for justice. I found this to be a much hotter read than many others in this genre, which for me was a definite plus!

In Addicted, Nikki Bradley, a well known journalist, enters the jungles of Columbia, to avenge the death of her brother who died of a drug overdose. She intends to find evidence against the man responsible, expose his drug ring and ruin him. In doing so she is taken prisoner by a drug trafficker, Kingsley Shaw. King, second in command to the local drug lord Pascal, has his own agenda and claims Nikki as his woman. This not only keeps her safe from rape and certain death at the hands of the other traffickers, but also prevents her from jeopardising his mission to find out who is behind the drug operation.

Nikki believes that King is a dangerous criminal as he keeps her his prisoner. He is also not averse to using some violence against her to prevent her escape. Their forced intimacy reveals a strong mutual attraction, which they both find it hard to deny, causing a lot of sexual tension and frustration. King will not force Nikki to capitulate to him sexually and Nikki fights her attraction, being repulsed that King is a drug smuggler. Before Nikki knows the truth about his true motives they reach an uneasy truce so that they can each satisfy their goals and they become lovers.

The complex plot includes violence and action, subterfuge, kidnap and many nail biting scenes, which take place in Columbia, Puerto Rico and back in the USA. The man behind the drug cartel is not going down without a fight, and he fights dirty, using his considerable resources to destroy Nikki, King and King’s associate Rob. The reader is kept guessing as to whether the couple will achieve their goals and also if they will have a future together, as the plot goes through many unexpected twists and turns before the tale reaches its climax.

King is an alpha male with a strong heart, adept at defending himself and Nikki and dishing out violence when necessary. He admires Nikki’s guts and determination and the fact that she makes him laugh. King realises early on that he has fallen in love with her and needs to protect her at all costs, professing his love to her, which I liked. He is a caring and masterful lover whom Nikki soon becomes addicted to.

Nikki is both stubborn and feisty, determined to expose the man responsible for her brother’s death, even risking her own safety as she very much wants to be an equal partner with King. Her relative inexperience with men and her reluctance to commit heightens the sexual tension between the couple. Nikki’s initial ignorance of King’s true motivations lead her to feel very angry, betrayed and used by him at one point, though she finds it impossible to resist him. Whilst I generally liked the heroine, I felt that some of her actions exposed her and others to unnecessary danger. However, perfect people do not always make for the most entertaining narrative and this tale was certainly a great read. Overall I felt that the hero and the heroine were well matched and I enjoyed the passion, humour and self-sacrifice in their volatile relationship, and their passionate and steamy love making scenes.

There are many other key players, including Rob, King’s associate, Senator Eversham and Pascal, the drug lord, to name a few. I enjoyed the humorous banter between Rob and King and also Rob and Nikki and found their adversaries to be worthy opponents. All the characters were believable and well rounded, all playing their part in a plot which involves high level politicians, drug producers, traffickers and those who wish to bring them to justice. I enjoyed the inventiveness of the plot and the way the author balanced the romance with the suspense element of the plot and I would definitely read her past or future work.

I recommend this book to readers who like to read an action packed and sensual romantic suspense, with an alpha hero and a feisty heroine.

A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher for the purpose of an honest and fair review.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Published by Blue Star Books 

Please find below Caroline’s review on ‘Addicted’:-

‘Addicted’ is addictive! An amazing passionate romance, suspense and thriller that definitely keeps the reader on their toes throughout. JoAnn DeLazzari has completely filled this novel with excitement, adventure, fear, fun and action with the odd amusing comments made by some of the main characters, Nikki, King and Rob. Within the first few chapters of reading this novel I could not help but remember movies such as ‘Romancing the Stone’ and ‘Crocodile Dundee’!! Although a completely different storyline (with plenty of hot, saucy moments!), we have the setting of the jungle, the attraction of the woman to the man and the disgust and fear of the man to the woman – as well as the comedic one liners and sarcasm. However, as ‘Addicted’ unfolds there is more intensity regarding the physical relationship of the two main characters as well as a serious underlying plot.

A high profile reporter, Nikki Bradley, in the Colombian jungle is trying to find sufficient evidence to bring down a high and mighty drug trafficking operation after her brother died of a possible cocaine overdose. However, when she is found and captured she finds her captor wants to have her for himself! King, her captor, happens to be a ruggedly handsome man that makes Nikki fear for him but also strangely desire him. Nikki finds herself torn between surrendering and losing hope on her mission or taking a risk and fighting for her brother! The heartbeat definitely increases pace during this great sexy, intense thriller/adventure!

Nikki’s character is possibly what one would believe a reporter to be like. She is very independent, intelligent, outspoken, strong-willed, aware of others and her surroundings and over time has developed survival skills having reported on many major new stories from across the globe. However, it is great to see a different side to Nikki after being captured as she does reveal a vulnerable side, making it easier for the reader to connect with her.

I do like Nikki’s character, however King steals the show for me! Here we have a dangerous, menacing drug trafficking captor who would stand up to any man who questioned him. However, when Nikki is captured he steps forward and ensures that his men are aware that she is his! I absolutely love this storyline. Here is this fearsome individual, taking hostage a young woman, and yet he is handsomely rugged and mysterious and preventing the rest of his men to harm her. The intensity and fear he allows Nikki to feel truly does make the heartbeat faster. Why does he want her for his own? What will become of her? With only the two of them to share his cabin, Nikki is left alone with King who has a strange way of teasing and threatening her with desire.

The reporter in Nikki wants to fight for survival. Does she run? Can she bring these criminals down? Or, does the woman in her try to find a way to give in to King’s desires? The scenes between Nikki and King are very intense, with King teasing her until she finds herself thinking more and more about him. When they are together it is very intimate and reveals a side to both characters that they obviously haven’t shown in a very long time. However, as they both have other reasons for being where they are they have to make decisions on their own missions.

Once the reader is quite familiar with both characters emotionally and physically the story carries on unfolding, providing more trouble for both Nikki and King. The novel takes the reader on an action/adventure, thriller suspense as we follow the characters through Puerto Rico and Los Angeles. Although both characters have their own ultimate goals, throughout the travelling, dangerous surroundings and threatening characters around they have to use their survival skills/instincts which mostly brings them together even more.

One of my favourite characters, aside from King and Nikki, is Rob. Rob is a man of King’s and also a friend of his. At times when King has other tasks to carry out Rob is asked to keep an eye on Nikki. Therefore, over time Rob begins to know Nikki quite well and, as man in the middle, he sees both of their perspectives and can be the logic that they both need when their own minds are clouded with thoughts of each other!

JoAnn DeLazzari has written this novel beautifully. From the beginning the reader engages with the two main characters, their motives and passions, and is also aware of the underlying plot. We are then taken on this wild ride of being scared but curious about King and so wanting Nikki to give in to her desires. I was gripped throughout and did not want to put the book down. My only disappointment was when it ended, making me want to read it all over again. I would love to hear more about these characters!

I would recommend this novel for readers above 16yrs, due to the passionate and steamy sex scenes.

‘Addicted’ by JoAnnn DeLazzari was received gratefully from the publishers in return for an honest and fair review.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

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Living on Empty by Jordan Aubry Robison

Living on Empty - Cover ArtLooking for something new, different and from a brand new author? Well, why not try ‘Living on Empty’ by Jordan Aubry Robison! This novel is an alternative fiction than most of us are used to reading. We all want to live the dream but with current economies not doing too good, businesses not recruiting, or folding completely, living the dream seems to be only as it reads: a dream!

It is very easy to connect to the main character, Jimmy, due to the realistic nature of his problems and the reader follows Jimmy through his average life in the beginning right through to the adventure and action that he goes through as he tries to make his life a little more exciting. To begin with Jimmy’s only release from his dead end job, debt and boredom is visiting The Fish Bowl bar with his best friend, Norm, and taking part in the karaoke and mixing with others in similar situations. As the story continues Jimmy begins to hit rock bottom and begins talking to the likes of Clint Eastwood, gets involved with a busty bartender and as his imagination begins to run wild, in reality he finds himself deeper and deeper in trouble!

There is a great sense of realism in some aspects of the beginning of the book and it came as no surprise that Jimmy is based on Jordan Aubry Robison’s real experience in regard to his career. Jimmy is trapped in a dead end job that he is over-qualified for. However, jobs are very few and far between and every active job seeker is applying for these vacancies, making it almost impossible to be in with a chance of being offered the position. ‘Living on Empty’ is written from Jimmy’s point of view and the reader feels a true sense of the desperation Jimmy feels to be someone, to gain acknowledgement and to belong to someone. He is very lost and he doesn’t receive much help from his older pal, Norm, who has pretty much missed his chance of a decent life.

Written with wit, cynicism, quirkiness and sarcasm, this dry humour made me laugh throughout the novel. Regardless of how desperate the situation there are some surreal moments and surreal characters that make ‘Living on Empty’ a fun and adventurous book to read. One of my favourite supporting characters is Joe, a colleague of Jimmy’s, who tends to just sleep. A lot. He’s late for work, he sleeps through shifts, etc. I just found his character hilarious.

I felt that the pace of the book to begin with was slow on and off in the first few chapters, however this emphasizes the boredom and desperation in Jimmy’s life and pushes him to want to do something with his life. The comedic moments are aplenty though and enlighten the mood. As the story opens up it becomes more eventful but also more serious and dramatic, making for a great story.

No matter how real a scene seemed to be, there were always elements throughout the novel that were quite surreal and complete fantasy. I enjoyed the contrast of this and I particularly liked the idea of having legendary people, i.e. Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen and Elvis Presley, speaking and offering their advice in Jimmy’s imagination whenever he was bored. I particularly like Clint Eastwood and could visualise him with the Jimmy character of this novel. I did find some of the fantasy scenes a little confusing at times and was trying to work out what was happening for real and what was in Jimmy’s mind.

One of my favourite characters, aside from Jimmy, is Emilio as he is full of surprises. Even though in many ways he is a shady character I would like to find out more about him. We see two different sides to Emilio – there is the more friendly, pally side and a more menacing streak.

Jimmy’s lustful desire centres on the busty bartender, Jasmine and if he admits it to himself he could easily fall for her charms any day. However, Jasmine is very good at playing the boys against each other and does not suffer fools gladly. She is very sexy, strong and smart and the biggest question is ‘can she be trusted?’ Every time Jimmy falls for her he seems to get into more trouble. Is she a victim in all of this too, or is she part of the cause?

Jimmy’s life certainly isn’t dull by the end of the novel, even if some events were bad. I feel that Jimmy almost had the life he was seeking, however, Jordan Aubry Robison has left it open for a sequel. What is to become of Jimmy? Will it end as a happy every after or will there be plenty more trouble to come. Or is this the end for the reader to make up their own mind? I really hope for there to be a sequel as there really are some great characters in this novel.

‘Living on Empty’ was received gratefully from Jordan Aubry Robison in return for an honest and fair review.

Below are the Facebook page links for Jordan Aubry Robison and the novel, ‘Living on Empty’ :
https://www.facebook.com/therealjordanaubryrobison

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Living-on-Empty/241393369338195

Cover art by Jordan Aubry Robison

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

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The Hourglass Killer Trilogy by LR Potter

The Hourglass Killer Trilogy - All 3 BooksWhat a brilliant and carefully written dark, dark crime thriller? Poor Tess!!! Tess Champion is a police detective in Colarado, and we begin the first novel, ‘Dwindling Sands’, with Tess being subjected to a violent, torturous, sexual attack in her own home. As she returns to work, alongside her partner, Anthony Delgado, they are faced with a murder of a woman with similar scenarios that Tess found herself in. Is she going mad? Is she scared after what happened to her? Is she adding two and two together and coming up with five? However, over time there are more murders, each with a possible link to her ordeal.

Tess, although now feeling vulnerable and weak, is actually one of the strongest heroine’s that I have read about. Mentally, she has been teased and taunted, confused and, after the third book, ‘Cascading Sands’, in that much despair that it is a wonder that she doesn’t end her own pain. However, she keeps on going. She is a fighter deep down and her inner strength helps her to survive.

As Tess’ attacker knew her by name, it is believed throughout that it must be somebody that she knew. There are five main characters to keep you guessing; Anthony Delgado, her partner; Carter, her twin brother (even though unlikely, you can’t rule anyone out!); Thom Wyndom, her new love interest; Dominic Wyndom, Thom’s brother and an acquaintance to Tess, and finally; Dane Carver, the first and only true love from Tess’ past. I kept an open mind as different areas of the story led me to believe that each of these characters were capable and had the opportunity but as the story unfolded there were so many possible scenarios that the reader simply cannot determine the culprit until it is all made clear at the end.

Due to the motivation, the obsession, of the murderer and their perseverance it does feel very personal. Therefore, each event that happens with Tess is very believable and horrific. He, the murderer, is referred to as ‘The Angry Man’ and, in the prologue, he is the first character the reader encounters. We learn of his obsession, his need for control and throughout the book we know how he despises those he deems vulnerable and weak. These can be disposed of, as far as he is concerned, as there is no real need for them.

Initially, I was planning to read ‘Dwindling Sands (Book 1)’ of The Hourglass Killer Trilogy and separate each book with another of my choice in between. However, I was hooked! Each book of this trilogy is carefully interwoven with the next that I just had to simply carry on reading. The stories, settings, characters, etc, are so fluent that it felt like I was reading only one novel. ‘The Hourglass Trilogy’ is absolutely gripping, with so many twists and turns and unexpected turn of events. Just when the reader thinks that there are no more ordeals for Tess – bam! – another hits you right in the face.

There are many adult themes in these novels, such as abduction, rape and murder. Hence the strongly recommended 18+ year age warning. LR Potter’s style of writing these horrific scenes is amazing. The reader feels so tense in parts and there are some scenes that are creepy and yet the writing of these scenes is not over-exaggerated. LR Potter displays her sensitivity towards these scenes when she describes Tess at her worst, after each ordeal. It would be so nice just to pick Tess up from the book and pop her in your pocket to keep her safe! She is in trouble, without even realising it at times, and, working for the police department, she feels like she should be able to protect herself. It is so upsetting, knowing that she is vulnerable and a possible target/link to this monster.

I am disappointed to let Tess go – although to be fair she has been through enough. However, the whole setting and characters of these books make me want to read more about her. If you are interested in crime thrillers this is a must-read. If you would like to try a crime thriller for the first time, ‘The Hourglass Killer Trilogy’ will blow you away, at the same time as keeping you on your toes. After this absolutely brilliant introduction to LR Potter’s work , I am definitely looking forward to reading more of her novels.

‘The Hourglass Killer Trilogy’ was sent to me for the purpose of a honest and just review. Received gratefully, with thanks, from the copyeditor, Carolyn Pinard.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

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A Presence in Russell County (The Organization #1) by SJ Sprague

16150880[1]After reading many paranormal novels, I decided to take a break and read another of my favourite genres. ‘A Presence in Russell County’ is a crime thriller that is generally a full and interesting novel that is easy to read and has a nice collection of characters. As I wasn’t sure what to read I chose this book for the title and because the description of the story sounded like it was just right up my street. I love crime thrillers and this appealed to me as after watching programmes such as ‘The Shield’ and ‘The Unit’ this book combines the two for me. It’s almost like sending in the ‘The Unit’ guys to crack down on the Strike Team from ‘The Shield’, with an extra twist of the Organization.

The police are corrupt. Stealing, drug running and murder are only some of their crimes. And after being harrassed by one of them in particular, Samantha Biggers opens up to a man that she has only knew online but for a couple of years. He happens to be ex-military and when times become more intense for Sam she leans on him for support. As he realises the extent of the corruption surrounding the police in Russell County with the help of the Organization, of which he is part of, they begin to obtain as much evidence as they can against the police.

The Organization is generally unheard of by the public, however if in any way corruption is brought to their attention they seek out the culprits and with evidence, are able to carry out a proper trial in which the defendant could be found guilty and detained very quickly. Without the evidence there is little they can do and if the defendant is found innocent they are free to go. It works almost identical to the system already in place, however it is quick. Within days a defendant could be imprisoned if found guilty. The people that make up The Organization are from all walks of life, however they appear to mostly be retired military.

An interesting character of the book is a journalist, Cap Finch. He becomes involved early on when a policeman is shot and he arrives at the hospital ready to make notes for a story. However, whilst there he begins to find reactions a little strange. There are hardly any police there, the ones that are present are walking down the corridor laughing and joking amongst themselves, not acting in the least bit bothered that one of their fellow officers has been shot and could probably die at any moment. The officers’ wife is sitting alone, waiting for doctors to let her know how her husband is doing – there is no one comforting her. This is unbelievable to Cap Finch.

As the story unfolds Cap Finch finds other odd actions of the police, however his editor has told him he cannot publish these stories. He knows deep down that something isn’t right and as he comes across other stories and people that have been affected he almost falls into the lap of the Organization. Towards the end of the book we are left wondering whether he will go on to work for them and whether he will write a novel based on what he has been a part of. The idea passed through my mind whether this was the case in SJ Sprague. Has the author came across information in which they could not act upon and therefore used it loosely for the novel? Is Cap Finch another side of SJ Sprague?

The whole novel was quite exciting. When it comes to Sam’s lovelife however, I was a little confused towards the end. After becoming a widow she had been online with John Hollingsworth and over two years she had a very close on-line relationship. This seemed to grow naturally and when meeting him in person and becoming more intimate with him I thought that it was happily ever after for them. However, the last few chapters see her engage a little more with Crogan, John’s closest friend. I’m not quite sure what the reader is to make of this.

Also, during the last few chapters I felt that the story was a little rushed. The trial seemed to end abruptly. I was reading intensely and then the following chapter moved on completely and I wondered whether I’d missed something out. I was a little disappointed about this. However, the story and characters in general were really good. If it wasn’t for the ending I would have given this book five stars. I will be reading the following novels and I am hoping the series goes from strength to strength.

I apologise now for a scatty review. This novel is one I would have loved to have read in one go. However, other priorities came up and therefore I read this book very sporadically. I am hoping to read the sequels much more quickly than this. I cannot wait to read ‘Mulberry: The Organization Book 2’. If you would like to contact SJ Sprague you can e-mail the author at sjsprague01@gmail.com.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker