Dead Pretty - Release and Review

Dead Pretty

by Samantha Towle

What they say: I'd once believed that nothing would equal the pain of losing my parents. 

I was wrong.

I had barely even begun to process their deaths when it started.

The love notes, flowers, gifts … all anonymously left on my porch.

Then, I opened my door to a dead bird.

At first, I thought it had died naturally.

I knew that wasn’t the case when I found my neighbor’s cat the next day.

Then, the murders started. 

The victims … women who looked eerily similar to me.

I had a stalker. A murderous one.

And I had no clue who he was. 

He never showed me his face. 

Not even when he carved his final message into me.

I survived that night. But my life was over. It had ended the moment Tobias Ripley’s infatuation with me began.

So, I changed my name and moved away.

Now, I live a life of solitude. I don’t make connections with anyone. 

Until Jack Canti walks into my life with his sharp eyes and easy smiles.

Only Jack isn’t the man he says he is. 

And when the murders start again, I’m left wondering if it’s a copycat. 

Or worse … 

What if Tobias wasn’t the real killer after all … and the murderer has been right here with me all along?

More info

I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review!

What I say: I'm always mindful of spoilers in my reviews but it is particularly difficult to review Dead Pretty without giving anything away so excuse my vagueness. 

In this thriller we meet Audrey. Audrey struggles with anxiety, having escaped from a horrific past with stalker Tobias. It's working as a librarian where Audrey meets handsome stranger Jack. Jack brings intrigue, romance and passion into her life and a whole load of danger and drama.

I liked Audrey although she's very different from the usual Sam Towle heroine, but different seems to be a big part of the entire book. The title sent my mind down the zombie route for a while...

The romance is hot and very naughty *blushes*. I kept changing my mind about what was going to happen and who was to blame. The story actually reminded me of an episode of one of my favourite TV shows, but I won't name it as it could give away huge spoilers. The ending, holy moly!!!

Dead Pretty is a real change in genre and style for Towle and certainly wasn't what I was expecting but I really enjoyed the change and twists galore! Oh the psychological minefield!

4 Stars in my Sky!

Speakeasy - Book Blitz

Speakeasy
by A.M. Dunnewin

Suspense Thriller / Historical

What they say: The novella is centred on Eddie Durante, owner of a speakeasy who's supported by his mobster uncle—the boss of the Durante family. Eddie is a young widower after his family's rival, the Caprice family, murdered his wife over a territory dispute. After devising a plan that retaliated against four of the rivaling capos, Eddie is left with the daunting task to try and move on. That is, until he's notified that the Caprices have put a hit man in the speakeasy—and Eddie's name is on the list. But things take an unexpected turn when Eddie instead starts to find the dead bodies of his relatives, the ones who had helped in the retaliation.

Behind the backdrop of jazz music and glistening flappers, murder after murder begins to unravel as revenge takes center stage, and Eddie soon learns that some secrets can’t be taken to the grave.

Excerpt:

Once the doors were closed, Sal didn’t take long to get right to the point. “They know it was you, Eddie.”

The words slapped him across the face, but Eddie didn’t respond.

“That you were the one who came up with the idea,” Sal continued. “They’re out for retaliation, and it’s rumored that they’ve sent a torpedo into this juice joint of yours. That’s part of the reason why I’m not being too open with the information. Afraid of who might be listening.”

A hit man in his speakeasy. Eddie stared out the windshield, watching Sal begin to light a cigarette out of the corner of his eye. “I had a lot of ideas,” he remarked hoarsely, fear and dread subtly mixing into his thoughts.

“Only took one,” Sal responded as he lit the cigarette. He silently offered one to Eddie, who refused with a shake of his head. “Sorry, kid,” Sal explained as he took a puff. “After what they did to your wife, I wouldn’t have blamed ya.”

Eddie remained silent, his eyes drifting to the bootleggers who were moving the last of the crates. No wonder they weren’t laying their eyes on him. He was a dead target.

Sal took another drag on his cigarette, taking a moment for himself. “Don’t worry, though,” he finally remarked. “Your family’s got your back. My brother-in-law, your dear uncle, has requested that Joe stay by your side until we can square away if there’s a torpedo and who it is.”

“What?” Eddie balked, shattering his calm exterior.

“It’s temporary,” Sal cooed, trying to calm the young man down. “He’s just some extra protection.”

Eddie gawked, unable to believe that they’d send Joe, of all people, to protect him. “He’s crazy,” was all Eddie could summarize when it came to his cousin.

“He’s happy,” Sal tried to smooth over.

“Trigger happy,” Eddie corrected.

Sal shrugged his shoulders. “He gets the job done. And when the boss’ favorite nephew needs protection, the boss will only send the very best.”

“I don’t need protection,” Eddie fought back, trying not to raise his voice to the lunacy. “And even if I did, I have Anthony and Marcus in there—”

“Little orphan Anthony and Baby Marcus?” Sal choked, half laughing, half sputtering on the cigarette smoke. “Marcus is too naive, and Anthony,” but Sal had to chuckle first before he could continue. “Well, ya better just pray your killer isn’t a female.”

“Thanks for warning me,” Eddie begrudgingly admitted as he pulled the door handle…

Author Spotlight:

A. M. Dunnewin grew up with a taste for mysteries and thrillers, inherited ever so lovingly from her family. An affiliate member of the Horror Writers Association, A. M.’s own stories cover a wide range of genres that tend to take a dark turn when least expected. With a B.A. in Psychology, she’s a gambler of words, obsessed with chai tea, and addicted to books – everything from classical literature to graphic novels. Other hobbies include art, history, music, equestrianism, and a good classic film. She currently dwells in Northern California.

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Double Blind is Live

Double Blind

by Sara Winokur

Mystery Thriller

Date Published: March 31st 2020

A young boy disappears in the chill of North Iceland. Twenty years later, a mysterious poem lands on the desk of his twin sister Brynja, a forensic geneticist, and rekindles her hopes that her brother might be alive. As Brynja unravels the clues, more poems arrive, each bearing dire consequences for those who receive them: the guard of the medieval manuscript of Icelandic sagas that possibly has the answer to her burning question, the prime minister’s secretary, the local pastor.

Is the poet out to stop Brynja from finding her brother and shut down her access to the DNA database? Or is the verse maker simply a psychopath copycat killer?

Fighting the visual auras that have plagued her since childhood and now threaten everything she holds dear, Brynja must summon the strength to navigate the twisted labyrinth of the poet’s mind and confront the dark secret buried in her family’s past.

DOUBLE BLIND is a wild ride through the cultural landscape of Iceland, from rural farmsteads to icy fjords to the high-tech world of DNA forensics. This crime thriller packed with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Author Spotlight:

Sara Winkour is a geneticist and researcher who reinvented herself as an author. She writes historical fiction and informed cultural thrillers hoping to educate readers while they’re being entertained.  

Sara has a Masters in Psytogenetics for cancer diagnosis and a Ph.D. for her work on Muscular Dystrophy, identifying mutations that cause disease. She is also a consultant at the University of California and an Associate Researcher at Biological Chemistry School of Medicine at UCI, Irvine. She was part of the team that found the gene that causes Dwarfism and Huntington’s Disease. 

Sara is an avid reader of historical fiction, mystery-thrillers, and Scandinavian Noir. She also loves to travel and has already visited over 60 countries. 

Being an ovarian cancer survivor gives Sara a sense of gratitude, strength, and perspective that she extends to family, friends, work, and her writing.  A mother of three, she resides with her husband of 37 years in Southern California. 

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Purchase here:

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Coming Soon - A Madness of Sunshine

A Madness of Sunshine

by Nalini Singh

What they say: New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh welcomes you to a remote town on the edge of the world where even the blinding brightness of the sun can’t mask the darkness that lies deep within a killer…

On the rugged West Coast of New Zealand, Golden Cove is more than just a town where people live. The adults are more than neighbors; the children, more than schoolmates.

 

That is until one fateful summer—and several vanished bodies—shatters the trust holding Golden Cove together. All that’s left are whispers behind closed doors, broken friendships, and a silent agreement not to look back. But they can’t run from the past forever.

 

Eight years later, a beautiful young woman disappears without a trace, and the residents of Golden Cove wonder if their home shelters something far more dangerous than an unforgiving landscape. 

 

It’s not long before the dark past collides with the haunting present and deadly secrets come to light.

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Book Tour - Closer

Closer - Stage Dive #4.6 - 1001 Dark Nights

by Kylie Scott

What they say: From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kylie Scott comes a new story in her Stage Dive series… 

When a stalker gets too close to plus-size model Mae Cooper, it’s time to hire some muscle. 

Enter former military man turned executive protection officer Ziggy Thayer. Having spent years guarding billionaires, royalty, and rock n roll greats, he’s seen it all. From lavish parties through to every kind of excess. 

There’s no reason some Instagram stylista should throw him off his game. Even if she does have the most dangerous curves he’s ever seen... 

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.** 

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You can check out my review here!

Watch the book trailer!

Author Spotlight: 

Kylie Scott is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013 & 2014, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.

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Whatcha Reading Wednesday - A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

by Holly Jackson

What they say: The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it.

But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn't so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final year project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth?

A debut YA crime thriller as addictive as Serial and as page-turning as One of Us Is Lying. 

Releases 2nd May (tomorrow)

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The Last Caliph - Blitz

The Last Caliph

by T.L. Williams

Logan Alexander, Book 4

Military Thriller

Publisher: First Coast Publishers

Published: March 2019

The Last Caliph is a novel that delves into the threat foreign extremists pose to U.S. national security. Harnessing technology to recruit domestic jihadists bent on ripping the very fiber of the country apart, ISIS is on a mission to destroy the United States. America's intelligence agencies, military and law enforcement are at the forefront of an intense effort to preserve and protect what all hold dear: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The White House has declared ISIS vanquished and the president has ordered U.S troops home from the Middle East. But CIA Operations Officer, Logan Alexander, knows the threat is real. Working with Special Forces personnel, the CIA and law enforcement, Logan attempts to penetrate the terrorist group. In this 4th book in the Logan Alexander series, Logan faces his most lethal foe.

Purchase Links

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Other Books in the Logan Alexander Series:

Cooper's Revenge

Logan Alexander, Book 1

Publisher: First Coast Publishers

For fans of Tom Clancy, James Patterson and Vince Flynn novels, T.L. Williams debut novel, Cooper's Revenge hits the mark. It immediately draws the reader in as Navy SEAL, Logan Alexander, attempts to put his life back together following a career-ending injury in Afghanistan, when he learns that his younger brother, Cooper, has been killed in an ambush while on patrol with his Ranger unit in Iraq. As Alexander delves into the circumstances leading to Cooper's death, he learns of the role that the secret arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Qods Force, plays in exporting terror. Alexander vows to avenge his brother's death. With the financial backing of a Kuwaiti billionaire, and a group of like-minded Special Forces operatives, Alexander conceives a plan that takes his team to the Sonora Desert, Europe, and the Middle East, where he comes face-to-face with the man responsible for Cooper's death.

Amazon

Unit 400 The Assassins

Logan Alexander, Book 2

Publisher: First Coast Publishers

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is reeling from a devastating attack on its covert training center in Bandar Deylam, Iran. In retaliation Iran’s Supreme Ruler unleashes an ultra secret weapon - Unit 400. This cadre of trained assassins has its roots in ancient Persian culture, when Ismaili leader, Hassan al-Sabbah, unleashed the Hashashin from their mountain fortress at Alamut to assassinate political and religious foes. One man stands in their way - former Navy SEAL Logan Alexander. In this exciting sequel to award winning author, T.L. Williams' debut novel, Cooper’s Revenge, Logan and his Special Forces team travel to Europe and South America in an effort to track down the elusive killers before they can strike again.

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Zero Day: China's Cyber Wars

Logan Alexander, Book 3

Publisher: First Coast Publishers

For readers who enjoyed Tom Clancy and James Patterson thrillers, CIA veteran T. L. Williams unfolds a chilling—and highly conceivable—scenario in his latest novel, ZERO DAY: China's Cyber Wars.  Moving between Chongqing, China and Langley, Virginia, this fast-paced spy thriller revolves around a plot by the Chinese government to seize the edge on global power by undermining the U.S. economy.  Armed with an underground force of hackers, China’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS) has a mission: to destroy confidence in the dollar by launching persistent, aggressive cyberattacks on America’s banking system.  Revenge—against the Communist Party for his father’s shameful death, Li Jiang, a senior Public Security Bureau officer in Chongqing, lets America in on the covert details of China’s masterful cyberattack plan.  To vet and handle this potential asset, the CIA dispatches Logan Alexander, a former Navy SEAL, working undercover in Hong Kong, to China.  Logan quickly comes to trust Li. But the brass back in Langley have doubts. Could Li be a double agent? Or could a trusted American be spying for the Chinese?  Reviewed by the CIA, ZERO DAY is packed with authentic insider details. As discussed on FOX, NBC, CBS,ABC and NPR, Williams latest novel is a must read. KIRKUS Reviews, the Midwestern Book Review, Foreword Reviews and Creative Loafing have all praised Zero Day with critical acclaim.

ZERO DAY, the third book in the Logan Alexander series, follows the award-winning Cooper's Revenge and Unit 400: The Assassins.

Amazon

Author spotlight:

T.L. Williams is a veteran officer of the CIA's clandestine service. Over a thirty-year career he served in Asia, Europe and Central Eurasia, where he was engaged in clandestine collection of critical intelligence with an emphasis on denied-area operations. Williams conducted recruitment operations against East Asian, Middle Eastern, East European and Caribbean targets. As Chief in CIA Stations he was the senior U.S. intelligence official in country. He partnered with foreign allies in counterterrorism, counternarcotics and counterproliferation operations.

Williams' other award-winning novels include Cooper's Revenge, Unit 400: The Assassins and Zero Day: China's Cyber Wars. He and his wife live in northern Florida.

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The Center Cannot Hold - Book Blitz

The Center Cannot Hold
by Aaron Stander

Mystery/Thriller

Publisher: Writers & Editors

Purchase here:

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In the depths of winter, Cedar County is on occasion literally frozen in place. Roads are impassable; the area schools are closed for days at a time. And the bad guys and gals, they’re hunkered down like everyone else until the weather breaks. But this winter isn’t the usual. There are arson and murder. The iniquities of some particularly unsavory ancestors are being visited upon the current generation.

Author Spotlight:

Aaron Stander spent most of his adult years in the Detroit area, where he taught English and trained writing teachers. In 2000 he and his wife left college teaching positions and moved permanently to their cottage near Traverse City. Aaron is the author ten mysteries set in northwest lower Michigan. He is also the author of numerous articles, stories, poems, and reviews, and the host of Michigan Writers on the Air on Interlochen Public Radio. When not writing or thinking about writing, Aaron spends a lot of time kayaking along the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.

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Whatcha Reading Wednesday - The Girlfriend

Thriller!

The Girlfriend

by Michelle Frances

What they say: A mother. A son. His girlfriend. And the lie they'll wish had never been told.

Laura has it all. A successful career, a long marriage to a rich husband, and a twenty-three-year-old son, Daniel, who is kind, handsome, and talented. Then Daniel meets Cherry. Cherry is young, beautiful and smart but hasn't led Laura's golden life. And she wants it.

When tragedy strikes, a decision is made and a lie is told. A lie so terrible it changes their lives forever...

The Girlfriend is a taut and wickedly twisted debut psychological thriller--a novel of subtle sabotage, retaliation, jealousy and fear, which pivots on an unforgivable lie, and examines the mother-son-daughter-in-law relationship in a chilling new light.

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Coming Soon - Verity

Verity

by Colleen Hoover

What they say: Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.

Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of what really happened the day her daughter died.

Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen's feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife's words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.

A standalone romantic thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, releasing December 18th.

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Coming 18th Dec 2018

A PILGRIMAGE TO DEATH - Teaser

Today I have the teaser blitz for Alexa Padgett’s A PILGRIMAGE TO DEATH! We’re super excited to share this upcoming thriller with you! 

Check it out and be sure to preorder today!

Title: A Pilgrimage to Death

Author: Alexa Padgett

Genre: Thriller

Release Date: August 14^th

They murdered her sister. They threatened her church. Their day of reckoning is at hand.

Cici Gurule is a freewheeling, progressive reverend who’ll stop at nothing to protect her flock. When she finds the dead body of a parishioner in the nearby Santa Fe National Forest, she’s horrified to realize the victim bears the same stab wounds that ended her twin sister’s life one year earlier.

Together with her detective friend and loyal pair of Great Pyrenees, she vows to hunt down the killer before she’s forced to officiate another funeral. Soon, however, Cici discovers her sister was on the trail of a deep-rooted criminal operation… and her death was no random act of violence.

Now that the criminals are out for Cici’s blood, the pastor must catch the wolf by the tail before it goes in for the kill.

A Pilgrimage to Death is a high-octane mystery thriller. If you like motorcycling sleuths, fast-paced action, and a dash of humor, then you’ll love Alexa Padgett’s edge-of-your-seat novel.

Preorder Your Copy Today!

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Author Spotlight:

With a degree in international marketing and a varied career path that includes content management for a web firm, marketing direction for a high-profile sports agency, and a two-year stint with a renowned literary agency, award-winning author Alexa Padgett has returned to her first love: writing fiction.

Alexa spent a good part of her youth traveling. From Budapest to Belize, Calgary to Coober Pedy, she soaked in the myriad smells, sounds, and feels of these gorgeous places, wishing she could live in them all—at least for a while. And she does in her books.

She lives in New Mexico with her husband, children, and Great Pyrenees pup, Ash. When not writing, schlepping, or volunteering, she can be found in her tiny kitchen, channeling her inner Barefoot Contessa.

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