Showing posts with label paranormal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label paranormal. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James







Rating: 4 of 5 stars 
Pages: 352 pages
Published: March 2022

The Sun Down Motel was my first book from Book of the Month and the first book I read authored by Simone St. James. So, I was a little more than excited to hear about her new book, The Book of Cold Cases. Because I am a fan of true crime and enjoy a good mystery, I felt like this book was the perfect recipe for my reading pleasure. 

Beth Greer, an older and troubled woman was tried and acquitted of two murders in the 1970s. In present day, 2017, a young Shea Collins who is a true crime junkie, like myself, meets Beth by chance and asks to interview her for her true crime website blog. Beth agrees, and Shea finds herself in the middle of a renewed look at the case all the while strange things occurring each time she meets with Beth. Shea finds herself searching for the truth and wonder if Beth got off scot-free decades ago. 

The pace of the book is good. Neither main character is truly likable but intriguing enough to keep the reader interested and reading forward. St. James definitely has a gift for creating paranormal suspense that is just real enough to have you questioning if there’s such a thing as ghosts among us. 

Recommendation: This book is creepy good and would be really fun to spook out to during the fall Halloween season. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James



Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Pages: 336 pages
Published: February 2020

I don't even like ghost stories or the paranormal, but I absolutely loved The Sun Down Motel by Simon St. James. It was my first book from BOTM club, and it did not disappoint. I devoured this book every free moment I had over the course of six days. I would have finished sooner, but alas I have a full-time job.

The book vacillates between 1982 and 2017 where Carly, in the more present time, is working as an amateur sleuth to solve the mystery of her aunt who, Viv, who vanished without a trace more than 30 years earlier. In her attempt to find the truth, Carly takes on the life that her aunt lived those many years ago in a town that really hadn't changed as much since the 80s. The atmosphere is spooky, and the hotel that both Viv and Carly work(ed) at is the center of a lot of paranormal activity.

The author did a fabulous job of creating suspense, mystery, intrigue, and fear with her literary devices. I would be lying if I told you I didn't get a little uncomfortable reading some of the passages. The writing was so engaging that there were times when I had to close the book because I was home, alone, at night. My only criticism is that, even with the decades time difference, I sometimes had difficulty discerning if I, as the reader, was reading about what happened in 1982 or 2017. Each chapter did have a label at the beginning that identified the time period and perspective (Viv's or Carly's), but once I turned the page and was deep into one chapter I'd sometimes forget. This may have been intentional by the author to demonstrate how the town of Fell, New York was still stuck in the past.

Recommendation: Overall, I enjoyed this book and think that my new BOTM membership will be well worth the money paid. I don't even like ghost stories ... until I did. Thanks to BOTM and Ms. St. James for opening me to a new genre!

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.


Tuesday, September 18, 2018

The Mind's Eye by Perry Prete


Genre: Adult Fiction
Publisher: Sands Press
Date of Publication: March 7, 2018
Pages: 243

Synopsis | My Review | Buy Now | About the Author | Giveaway | More Blogs


Nicole Baker is a quiet girl - the type of person who is seldom noticed by anyone. That is until one day she discovers she has the unique ability to see images move on photographs. At first, she uses her ability to entertain friends at parties and work. Then senior detective Paul Hammond learns of her ability and enlists her help in a case of unsolved murders that he has not been able to make any headway on.
​
Carl Kadner, a rookie reporter with the local paper is investigating the murders as well. And he learns what it takes to be the kind of reporter he wants to be when he puts himself in danger for the sake of the story. It is only when Carl, Nicole and Detective Hammond pool their resources that things start making sense.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars 
The Mind's Eye by Perry Prete is a psychological thriller that will grasp you from the start and keep your attention the whole way through. Detective Paul Hammond is on a search for a serial killer who is attacking women and mutilating their bodies. Nicole Baker is a woman with a special gift of prescience. Carl Kadner is a new journalist hungry for his first big story. Chance (or fate, depending on how you look a it) brings all three characters together in a suspenseful situation as they race against the clock to locate and stop the killer. 

 This book reminded me of a twisted episode of the now defunct show, Medium, and Criminal Minds combined. The book starts off with the three main characters in disparate storylines. By the midpoint of the book, the reader is able to see how they will all come together to work the case. I was completely vested in learning about these characters and finding out who was responsible for these horrific crimes. Because of the content I consider this book very graphic. Prete does a great job offering descriptive scenes that the reader can truly picture. I think this is an indicator of a strong writer who can paint such vivid pictures with words. The story is complete and leaves the reader satisfied. I do have to admit, for a while, I was worried there might be a cliffhanger. However, the author kept me guessing till the very end but also provided a fulfilling conclusion. 

While the story was tight, there were some typos that probably could have been resolved with more vigorous editing. My main issue with this book was the language. The author uses a lot of expletives and vulgar language that I did not care for, and I don't know that it really added to the story. I think it would have been just as strong without it. Also, I suspect because Prete has worked in the healthcare industry, he offered some technical jargon that slowed me down a bit. These issues were relatively minor and did not stop me from appreciating the novel.  

 Recommendation: If you're in search for a thriller that might have you looking over your shoulder as you walk to the car at night, I think you will enjoy this book. Be sure to pick up your copy today or enter the giveaway below! 

 Until next time ... Read on!

I received a free print copy of The Mind's Eye from iRead Book Tours. Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful. 





Perry Prete is a Canadian crime writer and paramedic. His first novel, All Good Things, introduced us to Ethan Tennant, a City of Ottawa paramedic who looks at crimes from the medical perspective.

Perry continues to work full-time as a paramedic and uses his thirty plus years of life changing and sometimes dramatic experiences to bring realism to his gripping medical novels. His other works include, The Things That Matter Most and All Good Things.

He is also a business owner, specializing in the pre-hospital care field. His company sells medical equipment across North America, primarily to EMS agencies.

A native of Sudbury, Ontario, Perry, graduated from Fanshawe College in London but now lives and works in Brockville, Ontario.

Connect with Perry.: Website | Twitter | Facebook 
Prizes: Win a paperback of The Mind's Eye by Perry Prete (10 winners total) Four winners will also get a $10 Amazon GC (open to USA & Canada)
(ends Sept 29, 2018)




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Monday, May 21, 2018

What Lies Below by Barbara Taylor Sissel


Genre: Contemporary Mystery / Literary Suspense
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Date of Publication: May 15, 2018
Pages: 334



Gilly O’Connell’s nightmares aren’t just bad dreams; they’re glimpses of terrifying realities to come. Gilly has spent her entire life trying to suppress the foreboding visions. So when a dismissed premonition leads to her husband’s murder, she buries the guilt and pain of the unsolved crime in the only way she knows how—she runs from it.

Three years later, after overcoming a battle with addiction and starting over in a small Texas town, Gilly dares to believe the worst is over. That is, until another crime rips her heart open: the abduction of a three-year-old girl. Gilly knows more about it than anyone…

She’s dreaming again.

Gilly is convinced that if she tells the police she dreamed of the kidnapping before it happened, there’s no way they’ll believe her. But when she finally gets the courage to come forward with what she saw, people don’t see her as crazy—they see her as a suspect.

Now, in order to help a desperate single father save his child, Gilly must first clear her own name. But as the nightmares of the past catch up to her, Gilly’s only chance for salvation might be the dreams she’s spent so long trying to ignore.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars 

 Call it reader's clairvoyance, but when I picked up What Lies Below by Barbara Taylor Sissel I just knew it was going to be an excellent book. And please believe me when I tell you, it more than lived up to my expectations. 

 The story takes place in small Texas town Wyatt where Gilly, the book's protagonist, is not-so-successfully trying to move on with her life after the traumatic murder of her husband in Houston. The twist is that Gilly has premonitions that warn her of horrible events like her husband's death and now the kidnapping of three-year-old, Zoe. Because of this "gift" Gilly becomes a suspect in the abduction and a probable target of her husband's killer, who was never caught. The novel is a heart-pounding race where Gilly is on the search to help find Zoe and clear her name while also trying to avoid the dangers of her husband's killer before it's too late for her and Zoe. 

 The story is fast-paced. The writing and editing is solid. And the plot and characters are well developed. I don't have much criticism for this novel. I really enjoyed the in-depth characters. They were complex, flawed, but also had some redeeming values - even the seemingly bad ones. The ending provided hope and closure, but it wasn't a picture perfect ending, which I appreciated. The author definitely has a gift for succinctly telling a compelling story. There's no wonder she's already written nine bestsellers!  

 Recommendation: I absolutely loved this book. I always enjoy a good mystery, and this one kept me guessing till the very end. If you're looking for a suspenseful read with a paranormal twist, pick up a copy of this book ... today! Something tells me you will enjoy it! 

Please note: I received a complimentary signed paperback copy of What Lies below in exchange for my honest review.

Until next time ... Read on!






“Infused with heart-stopping suspense, emotional resonance, and startling imagery, What Lies Below swept me along a river of urgency and dread. Barbara Taylor Sissel effortlessly weaves together prescience, regret, grief, love, and revenge—all wrapped in the mystery of a young girl’s abduction. Beneath the breathless immediacy of the story lie deeper questions: How do we forgive ourselves—and others—for remembered transgressions, and can we ever break free of the past?” ~A. J. Banner, #1 Amazon and USA Today bestselling author of The Good Neighbor and The Twilight Wife

“Barbara Taylor Sissel’s What Lies Below is suspense at its finest—heartrending, compelling, and beautifully written. If you’re looking for your next up-all-night read, look no further.” ~Jessica Strawser, author of Almost Missed You and Not That I Could Tell

“I cannot emphasize this enough: you must read What Lies Below. Barbara Taylor Sissel manages to combine an unreliable narrator, twisting plot, and well imagined characters to create a world where nothing is as it seems and secrets abound. I had intended to savor the novel’s lovely prose but wound up devouring the book in a day. Simply fantastic.” ~Karen McQuestion, bestselling author of Hello Love




Barbara Taylor Sissel writes issue oriented, upmarket women's fiction that is threaded with elements of suspense and defined by its particular emphasis on how crime affects the family. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, she was raised in various locations across the U.S. and once lived with her family on the grounds of a first offender prison facility. The experience, interacting with the inmates and staff, provided a unique insight into the inmate's lives, the circumstances behind the crimes they committed, and the impact on the families that were affected. The bestselling author of nine novels, her stories focus on the family at the heart of the crime. An avid gardener and the mother of two grown sons, Barbara lives in the Texas Hill Country. She’s represented by Barbara Poelle at the Irene Goodman Literary Agency.


Connect with Barbara: Website | Facebook | Twitter | BookBub | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads
1st Prize: Signed Copy of Book + Bookmark + $15 Amazon Gift Card
2nd Prize: Signed Copy of Book + Bookmark
 May 15-24, 2018
(U.S. ONLY)




15-May Excerpt Texas Book Lover   
16-May Review Dressed to Read 
17-May Author Interview That's What She's Reading
18-May Review The Clueless Gent  
19-May Notable Quotable / Bonus Review The Love of a Bibliophile  
20-May Notable Quotable Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
21-May Review A Page Before Bedtime (You are here)  
22-May Guest Post Part 1 Reading by Moonlight   
23-May Guest Post Part 2 Books in the Garden   
24-May Review Book Fidelity 

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Killing in C Sharp - by Alexia Gordon


Killing in C Sharp: A Gethsemane Brown Mystery, Volume 3
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Publisher: Henery Press
Date of Publication: March 6, 2018
Pages: 288


She saved Carraigfaire—but can she save her friends? Gethsemane Brown fought off an attack by a sleazy hotel developer who wanted to turn her Irish cottage into a tourist trap. Now she must face a vengeful ghost determined to exact revenge for her murder centuries ago. This ghost’s wrath spares no one—not Gethsemane’s students, Inspector Niall O’Reilly, fellow teacher Frankie Grennan, or a group of ghost hunters descended on Dunmullach to capture proof ghosts exist. Proof Gethsemane has to quash to keep Eamon, her resident ghost and friend, from becoming an internet sensation. As if a spiteful specter wasn’t bad enough, a crooked music reviewer turns up dead in the opera house orchestra pit, a famous composer is arrested for the crime, and Gethsemane must team up with a notorious true-crime author to clear his name. If she doesn’t, friends will die, a ghost she cares about will never know peace, and she’ll star in a final act gruesome enough for any opera.

Book 1, Murder in G Major
Winner of the 2017 Lefty Award for Best Debut Novel
2016 Agatha Award nominee for Best First Novel
Suspense magazine "Best of 2016" selection in Debut Novel category

Book 2, Death in D Minor
Runner-Up, 2017 Lone Star Bloggers' Choice Awards, Best Mystery/Suspense
Short List, 2017 Lone Star Bloggers' Choice Awards, Best Series

Book 3, Killing in C Sharp
Starred review, Publisher's Weekly, January 29, 2018


  Scrapbook Page 
The Blarney Stone may be the most well-known attraction at Blarney Castle, but it’s far from the only one on order. If you visit the castle and grounds, you’ll find battlements, caves, dungeons, a rock close, and gardens. Beautiful gardens. One garden, in particular, earned a spot on my “must see” list during my September 2016 Ireland tour—The Blarney Castle Poison Garden. A modern re-planting of an ancient physic garden, it represents a real-world example of the fictional poison garden in the Gethsemane Brown Mysteries, right down to the metal cages surrounding some of the more notorious plants. The bright colors and lush greenery hide deadly secrets.




A writer since childhood, I put literary endeavors on hold to finish medical school and Family Medicine residency training. Medical career established, I returned to writing fiction. I completed SMU's Writer’s Path program in Dallas, Texas. Henery Press published my first novel, Murder in G Major, book one of the Gethsemane Brown mysteries, in September 2016. Book two, Death in D Minor, released July 11, 2017. Book three, Killing in C Sharp, comes out March 6, 2018. Murder in G Major won the Lefty Award for Best Debut Novel, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best New Novel and was selected one of Suspense Magazine's Best Debuts.

I listen to classical music, drink whiskey, and blog at Miss Demeanors, voted one of Writers' Digest magazine's 101 best websites for writers, and Femmes Fatales.

 Connect with Alexia: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | Google+ | Goodreads

How about a Book and a Bourbon?
One winner receives a signed copy of Killing in C Sharp and a bottle of Koval Bourbon Whiskey
Winner must be at least 21 and shipping of alcohol permitted by laws of the state where prize is being delivered. In the event above conditions not met, an alternate prize will be awarded.
March 13-22, 2018
(U.S. Only)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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14-Mar Bonus Post Dressed to Read  
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15-Mar Review Momma on the Rocks 
16-Mar Author Interview StoreyBook Reviews  
16-Mar Author Favorites Tangled in Text
17-Mar Review Reading by Moonlight 
18-Mar Review Forgotten Winds
19-Mar Excerpt The Page Unbound  
19-Mar Notable Quotable The Librarian Talks 
20-Mar Review #Bookish  
21-Mar Scrapbook Page A Page Before Bedtime (You are here)  
21-Mar Promo Syd Savvy  
22-Mar Review The Clueless Gent  


Sunday, October 29, 2017

DEATH IN D MINOR BY ALEXIA GORDON

Genre: Paranormal Mystery / African American Sleuth
Publisher: Henery Press
Date of Publication: July 11, 2017
Pages: 236


Synopsis: 

Gethsemane Brown, African-American musician and expatriate to an Irish village, solved a string of murders and got used to living with a snarky ghost. She can rest easy now. Right? Wrong. The ghost has disappeared, her landlord's about to sell to a developer, and her brother-in-law's come to visit. She scrambles to call her spectral roomie back from beyond and find a way to save the cottage from destruction. But real estate takes a backseat when her brother-in-law is accused of stealing a valuable antique. Gethsemane strikes a deal with an investigator to go undercover at a charity ball and snoop for evidence of a forgery/theft ring in exchange for the woman's help clearing him. At the party, she accidentally conjures the ghost of an eighteenth-century sea captain, then ends up the prime suspect in the party host’s murder. She races to untangle a web of phony art and stolen antiques to exonerate herself, then the killer targets her. Will she bring a murderer to justice, or will her encore investigation become her swan song?

Praise for Death in D Minor: 
Gethsemane Brown is everything an amateur sleuth should be: smart, sassy, talented, and witty even when her back is against the wall. In her latest adventure, she's surrounded by a delightful cast, some of whom readers will remember from Gordon's award-winning debut and all of whom they won't forget. Gordon writes characters we want resurrected. ~​Cate Holahan, author of The Widower's Wife and Lies She Told
Erstwhile ghost conjurer and gifted concert violinist Gethsemane Brown returns in this thoroughly enjoyable follow-up to last year’s Murder in G Major. Facing eviction from the historic seaside cottage she calls home, Gethsemane must clear her brother-in-law’s name - as well as her own - when a priceless artifact goes missing and the wealthy dowager to whom it belonged is “helped” over a high balcony railing.  With the help of a spectral sea captain she accidentally summoned, Gethsemane tries to unravel the mystery as the murderer places her squarely in the crosshairs. ~​Daniel J. Hale, Agatha Award-winning author
Buy Now: 

Excerpt: 

Death in D Minor by Alexia Gordon

***

“This is ridiculous.”

They stood in the doorway of Walsh and Sons Men’s Tailor and Haberdashery. Frankie crossed his arms and mimicked the expression of a schoolboy told there’d be a pop quiz.

“It’s not.” Gethsemane tugged at his arm. “Tailors keep records. My grandfather kept a record of every detail about every suit and dress he ever made. Color, cut, size, fabric, price. He even kept fabric swatches and sketches of the finished piece.”

“So you’re just going to walk in there, hand the proprietor your ‘appropriated’ button, and ask him who he made it for. If he made it. It could’ve come from anywhere.”

“Not anywhere. Custom-made sterling silver buttons engraved with coats of arms don’t come from the local superstore.”

“Walsh and his sons aren’t the only tailors around.”

“They’re the only ones in Ballytuam.” She pulled him into the shop. “Come on.”

“If it is his button, he’s not going to volunteer the name of the person he sold it to. Don’t high-end shops pride themselves on keeping their clients’ details confidential?”

“Yes, they do. Which is why you’re going to distract the Messrs. Walsh while I have a peek in the office.”

***

About the Author: 

A writer since childhood, I put literary endeavors on hold to finish medical school and Family Medicine residency training. Medical career established, I returned to writing fiction. I completed SMU's Writer’s Path program in Dallas, Texas. Henery Press published my first novel, Murder in G Major, book one of the Gethsemane Brown mysteries, in September 2016. Book two, Death in D Minor, released July 11, 2017.

Murder in G Major won the Lefty Award for Best Debut Novel, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best New Novel, and was selected one of Suspense Magazine's Best Debuts. I listen to classical music, drink whiskey, and blog at www.missdemeanors.com, voted one of Writers' Digest magazine's 101 best websites for writers, and featured on Femmes Fatales.


Giveaway: 

Grand Prize: Signed copy of Death in D Minor + Whisky Field Guide, Sea Salt & Bay Rum soy candle, Notepad, $20 Starbucks Gift Card
2nd Prize: Signed copy of Death in D Minor, Ceramic Skull Coffee Mug, $20 Amazon Gift Card
October 25-November 3, 2017
​(U.S. Only) ​


More Blogs on this Tour: 

25-Oct Review Hall Ways Blog
25-Oct Notable Quotable Texan Girl Reads
26-Oct Top 5 List Books and Broomsticks
27-Oct Review Momma On The Rocks
27-Oct Playlist #1 Texas Book Lover
28-Oct Review Chapter Break Book Blog
30-Oct Author Interview The Librarian Talks
30-Oct Review Forgotten Winds
31-Oct Playlist #2 Syd Savvy
1-Nov Review Tangled in Text
1-Nov Top 5 List Bibliotica
2-Nov Notable Quotable Missus Gonzo
2-Nov Notable Quotable StoreyBook Reviews
3-Nov Review Reading by Moonlight



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