Book Review: To Catch A Butterfly by T.M. Payne

Title: To Catch A Butterfly

Author: T.M. Payne

Stars: 4.5 Stars out of 5

Review:
This book has an agenda that covers the spectrum of death, physical child abuse, spousal abuse, murder, lesbianism and finding the meaning of happiness. It creeps upon you until you are totally involved in the story. In the end it leaves it to the reader to decide if justice was served. I feel it was more than served, but, that is only my opinion your opinion may differ entirely.

I have rated this book 4.5 stars.

I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format.

Thank you Frank

Synopsis:
Stevie Buchanan's family has a secret. 

Catherine Stone has a secret.

Stevie knows nothing. Catherine knows everything.

Set between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, this is the story of an innocent life thrown into the deep.

When their worlds collide and the real truth is laid bare, no one could have imagined how very dark the secret really is.

As Stevie grows from a curious little girl into a strong young woman, the secret is revealed. And so her journey begins. A journey that takes her to Catherine's door. 

About The Author: 

Married mother of three and Navy veteran. I started writing as a freshman in high school and continued to do so even while in the Navy. It wasn't until after I got out of the Navy that I decided to start a Christian fiction writing career.

I write to share what I believe in a practical way. My writing is for the love of Jesus and for the love of the writing craft.

Book Review Minnie Chase Makes A Mistake by Helen MacArthur

Title: Minnie Chase

Author: Helen MacArthur

Stars: 4.25

Review:
An engaging light hearted story full of wry humour. This story speaks volumes for the old adages of think before you speak and once it is out there you can not take it back. I enjoyed this book from its proverbial cover to cover. The lasting impression is that good can overcome bad if you persevere.

I have rated this book 4.25 stars.

I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format.

Synopsis:
Think before you speak...

Minnie Chase is an ordinary girl and an extraordinary mathematician. She has a great job and a husband-to-be and loves them both. She is brilliant with numbers but finds people more of a challenge. She believes that if she can just master the art of being normal, her life might turn out right.

Ashton Greene is one of the most powerful and celebrated CEOs in business. He has the world at his feet and a glamorous fiancée at his side.

When Minnie meets Greene she has a sudden rush of words to the head and says something that she really, really shouldn’t have said. As a result, Greene’s perfect world is catastrophically turned upside down.

The subsequent fallout disastrously affects Minnie too. She sets out to correct her mistake, to put things right. She doesn’t know where to start or how to achieve this but she is determined to succeed.

She soon finds out that it is easier said than done.

Kindle Edition, 254 pages

Published January 14th 2014 (first published January 13th 2014)

About The Author:

Helen MacArthur has worked as a writer and copy editor on UK national newspapers and magazines. Other jobs include web and e-commerce content, article writing and regular ghost writing. She lives in Surrey, England, with her husband, young daughter and two guinea pigs, Crystal and Sunny. As well as Four Widows, she has written Minnie Chase Makes A Mistake, which was an Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award 2014 quarter-finalist. Helen's next book, You Again, will be published in March 2015.

Book Review: Desert Soliloquy by Libby Grandy

Title: Desert Soliloquy

Author: Libby Grandy

Stars: 4 out of 5

Review: 

A kidnapping mystery with overtones of conspiracy spread throughout with a dash of extra sensory perception for good measure. Set in the California, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado so the mental images brought forth are tremendous. I enjoyed the book and would read other offerings by this author.

I have rated this book 4 stars.

I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format.

Thank you Frank for your Review

Synopsis: 

Caroline Laughery agrees to meet her ex-husband, Charles, at Odessa, a silver mining town in the high desert of California. He never arrives. Charles Laughery, a wealthy, powerful member of an international cartel awakes to find himself trapped, in total darkness, inside an abandoned mine. He keeps himself sane by enumerating those who might be responsible for his abduction. The mystery begins to unfold when Caroline receives help to search for Charles from Josh Logan, a private detective. She soon finds herself romantically torn between the two men. A young couple, Kate Wilson and Mike Connelly, join in the search, and their traumatic pasts are woven into the plot. Tension increases with every page as the investigation takes the story to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Durango, Colorado, culminating at the Anasazi Indian cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde. Libby Grandy's novel, Desert Soliloquy, offers readers romance, intrigue, self-discovery and suspense.

About The Author:

Libby Grandy retired from the Dean of Students Office at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California. Before CMC, she was employed at General Dynamics in Educational Services. She also worked as a consultant, conducting workshops on Behavior Modification and Stress Management. She presently gives presentations and workshops in regard to writing and publishing.

Her published articles have appeared in magazines such as Mature Living, Writers' Journal, Woman's World and several Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Libby's novel, Desert Soliloquy, is available on Amazon, as well as her ghost story, Promises to Keep, Book One of the Haverford Trilogy, Lydia, Book Two of the trilogy, and True Abundance, Book Three.

Website: 

www.libbygrandy.com.

Twitter:

@LibbyGrandy

Book Review Deadly Silence (Blood Brothers #1) by Rebecca Zanetti

Title: Deadly Silence (Blood Brother #1)

Author: Rebecca Zanetti

Stars: 5 out of 5

Review:
I couldn't put this book down. The main story was interesting but the side story of the boys lives sucks the reader in keeping them hooked until you are begging for the next book.
I didn't read the Sin Brothers series but I wasn't lost with the characters because Rebecca Zanetti was able to create a whole new world using these three brothers and their unquie talent and gifts.
The main characters are likable and well developed never once going against their upbringing. Readers are able to understand why the characters act a certain way just by using the right words and no endless amounts of useless words.
The scenes are written where readers will be able to feel as if they have walked right into a scene in a movie as well as caring for everyone readers will come in contact with.
The Villains are Villains you will know who they are and what they want. Some might say the book has a supernatural side but really its more 6th sense idea. Lots of sex but readers can skip it quickly or indulge in the descriptive scenes. They will add to the relationship that is already in place but they do not enhance the story.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for the advance Copy

Synopsis: 
Under siege. That's how Ryker Jones feels. The Lost Bastards Investigative Agency he opened up with his blood brothers has lost a client in a brutal way. The past he can't outrun is resurfacing, threatening to drag him down in the undertow. And the beautiful woman he's been trying to keep at arm's length is in danger...and he'll destroy anything and anyone to keep her safe.

Paralegal Zara Remington is in over her head. She's making risky moves at work by day and indulging in an affair with a darkly dangerous PI by night. There's a lot Ryker isn't telling her and the more she uncovers, the less she wants to know. But when all hell breaks loose, Ryker may be the only one to save her. If his past doesn't catch up to them first

Paperback, 400 pages

Published October 4th 2016 by Forever

About The Author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Rebecca Zanetti has worked as an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner - only to culminate it all in stories about Alpha males and the women who claim them. She writes dark paranormals, romantic suspense, and sexy contemporary romances.

Author Website:

http://rebeccazanetti.com/

Book Review The Hangman by Mary Burton

Title: The Hangman (The Forgotten Files #3)

Author: Mary Burton

Stars: 4 out of 5 

Review:
Mary Burton has the ability to draw readers into her books with a strong story, characters who are flawed, human work hard to bring those to justice who have killed even the weakest of characters.

The story starts off with a bang but slowly develops into a relationship where the female lead is trying to convince the male lead the relationship isn't going to last because she is broken like her father.
Reader are taken on a journey not a wild ride as the leads discover the truth of the The Hangman Serial killer and how he is connected to Julie and her Father.

The slows down mid way though the book even with the newest murder I found it hard to focus because so much time is spent with Julie trying to convince herself the relationship she is in is nothing more than short term or nightly visits. 

The story is well developed while the story is slowly developing readers will keep wondering who is the The Hangman.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance copy.

Synopsis:
Julia Vargas is a cop with a mission. When she’s not chasing down bad guys, Julia dedicates her time to investigating the Hangman serial killer…the same unsolved case that her father, Jim Vargas, was working on when he supposedly shot and killed himself three decades before. While rumors continue to swirl around her father’s death, Julia attempts to hunt down the truth.

The case once again hits dangerously close, however, when a woman’s bones are discovered in a historic downtown home, together with a photograph of Jim and Julia as a young girl. As horrifying as this discovery is, it may just be the break Julia has waited for. Working alongside Tobias Novak, a homicide detective with whom she shares a complicated—and steamy—history, she’s forced to confront her own past even as the Hangman looms in the shadows. But as the mysterious killer circles closer, Julia can feel her own noose begin to tighten…

Kindle Edition, 350 pages

Expected publication: April 25th 2017 by Montlake Romance

About The Author: 

Mary Burton loves writing suspense, researching forensic and law enforcement procedure, baking, books, and tiny dachshunds. Not necessarily in that order.

She also enjoys hunting down serial killers, which she does in her New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels of suspense and romance. She’s tracked them down in stories set in her hometown of Richmond, Alexandria, Austin and Nashville that have been praised by readers and reviewers. Her work has been compared to that of James Patterson*, Lisa Gardner** and Lisa Jackson***.

Research is a favorite part of Mary’s work day. She never tires of learning more about police work, evidence collection and analysis, and doesn’t hesitate to take a hands-on approach, whether it means interviews with those working in the field, forensic seminars or lessons at the firing range.

A Richmond native, Mary has lived there for most of her life. She is a graduate of Virginia's Hollins University and worked in marketing before she began writing full time. Her first book was published in 2000 and now she’s the author of thirty-two novels and five novellas, including her contemporary women’s fiction written as Mary Ellen Taylor.

Her new book, The Hangman is the third of her The Forgotten Files novels, which began with The Shark. and continued with The Dollmaker. The Hangman, will be released on April 25, 2017. Her recent bestsellers, the popular Morgan Family novels Vulnerable, I’ll Never Let You Go, Be Afraid and Cover Your Eyes, feature Nashville's preeminent law enforcement family.

When not traveling for research or visiting with readers at bookstores, book festivals and conferences, Mary is very much a homebody. She and her husband spend time alternately enjoying and lamenting their newly empty nest and spoiling their four legged babies Buddy, Bella and Tiki.

Book Review The Moose Jaw by Milk Delany

Title: The Moose Jaw

Author: Mike Delant

Stars: 4 stars

Review:
An action adventure, set in the Alaska bush, during a summer sojourn while a man builds a cabin and reflects upon his life. Recently downsized and divorced he finds he must rely on his wits to overcome the problems he encounters. The descriptions of the area makes you want to move to the Alaskan bush and homestead. For good measure there is also more than a touch of the paranormal thrown into the mix to keep your interest peaked.

I have rated this book 4 stars.

I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format.

Synopsis:
Strange things happen in the Alaska bush. The native Alaskans say that a white man, too long alone out there will go mad. Gus O'Neill suspects it may have happened to him. His two best friends, Hard Case Calis the old Alaska State Trooper, and Haywood Jennings the flying veterinarian think so too. Gus spends a summer on Moose Jaw Creek where he builds a cabin, finds a ravaged red-haired beauty he comes to love, and murders the man who had sexually molested her. When Haywood flies in to join Gus for a moose hunt he finds his friend alone and raving. There is no evidence that Gus' redhead or the dead man he claims to have killed ever existed.
Gus is baffled by the disappearance of his woman and the body of his victim, but he agrees to join Haywood on a moose hunt. While getting in position to drive a large bull toward Haywood, Gus is attacked by a giant grizzly that has been stalking him. He manages to kill the bear but is badly mauled in the process. Haywood finds Gus and the dead bear, and flies his injured friend back to Fairbanks for treatment. The following day Haywood returns to Gus' cabin with Hard Case to deal with the dead bear. During the flight they discuss Gus' condition and his weird tale about the woman he had found and the man he'd killed. They agree Gus must have gone a little crazy while out there alone. Things become complicated when, back in the woods near Gus' cabin, they find no bear carcass. Haywood insists he had seen and touched its dead body just yesterday. The two friends return to Fairbanks as mystified as Gus. When Hard Case unearths an unsolved case file that dates back more than forty years, it becomes clear that Gus may not have imagined the woman or the murder after all. Strange things happen in the Alaska bush.

Kindle Edition, 301 pages

Published January 1st 2012 by Amazon

About The Author:

Michael Delany grew up in Horseheads, NY, and after graduation from Horseheads Highschool in 1963 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. In 1966 he served with the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam. After being honorably discharged from the military he returned to the U.S. to marry his hometown sweetheart and complete his education. He studied Liberal Arts at Corning Community College, NY and Pasadena City College, CA before taking his degree in English from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. After a full career in telecommunications (AT&T, Qwest, and Global Crossing), he retired to his home in Evergreen, CO. There, he spends his time writing fiction and enjoying the mountains and streams with his wife, children, and grandsons.

The Moose Jaw, his first novel grew out of his hunting, fishing, and river rafting experiences in Alaska. The setting for the book was inspired by Beaver Creek, a tributary of the Yukon River northwest of Fairbanks, which has its source in the White Mountains. One of the main characters, Haywood Jennings, the bush pilot veterinarian who is Gus O'Neill's best friend was created much in the image of Jim Hagee. Jim is Mike's longtime friend and hunting companion. Together they floated 117 miles of Beaver Creek three times, putting in at Nome Creek Landing, and pulling out at Victoria Creek. During these floats they harvested three large moose bulls, two caribou, and countless Arctic grayling. And, yes, they had the occasional dispute with bears regarding rights to a downed moose. Fortunately, they prevailed without recourse to violence. Diplomacy served them just as well...if jumping up and down, waving one's arms furiously, and shouting like mad men can be considered diplomatic. The moose whose skull graces the cover of The Moose Jaw was killed by Jim's son Justin on a float down Beaver Creek in 2003. In 2004 Mike joined Jim, who truly is a veterinarian as well as a bush pilot, as a volunteer at the Skwentna checkpoint on the Iditarod trail during that years "Last Great Race". 

On February 1st, 2013, Mike published The Moose Jaw - Book II (The Darkness and the Light), a sequel to The Moose Jaw. Gus, Haywood Jennings, Hard Case Calis, and the lovely Morgan return to Moose Jaw Creek for another adventure. This time their adversaries include a mad genius who has developed an engine that is fueled by the Northern Lights, the FBI, several old Soviet bloc countries, and a host of normal and paranormal creatures that lurk along the banks of the Moose Jaw.

Book Review Refuge on Crescent Hill by Melanie Dobson

Title: Refuge on Crescent Hill

Author: Melanie Dobson

Stars: 4 stars out of 5

Review:
A romantic mystery/love story set in a small town in Ohio. It is a christian story and contains no blatant, and needless, sexual content. The story is well developed and is able to tie the underground railroad into the plot and not leave the reader wondering. It also was able to include spouse/partner abuse in the overall storyline. I enjoyed the book and was able to finish it in one day.

I have rated this book 4 stars.

I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format.

Thank you Frank!

Synopsis: 
Moving home after a recent job loss was supposed to reassure Camden Bristow and give her time to decide what to do next. But when she arrives in Etherton, Ohio, she discovers that her grandmother, who she hasn't talked to in years, has passed away and "home" is an empty mansion 150 years old. Not exactly the comfort Camden was looking for. What happened to the house she played in as a child, the bedtime stories that told of secret passageways and runaway slaves, and all those family memories? When antiques start disappearing and footsteps are heard, some of those memories start to creep back and Camden wonders if her grandmother's bedtime stories might actually be true. What really happened here . . . at Crescent Hill? How was her grandmother involved? Who still has access to the house? And for what purpose? As she works to uncover the past and present mysteries harbored in her home, Camden also uncovers secrets about her family that could change the town--and her life--forever. 

Paperback, 271 pages

Published March 11th 2010 by Kregel Publications

About The Author:

Writing novels is a fun excuse for Melanie to explore ghost towns and old houses, travel to unusual places, and spend hours reading dusty books and journals. She writes both contemporary and historical fiction with threads of romance and suspense. 

Melanie is the award-winning author of sixteen historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels including Catching the Wind, Beneath a Golden Veil, and The Silent Order. Three of her novels including Chateau of Secrets have won Carol Awards, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana.

Melanie and her husband, Jon, have two daughters. After moving numerous times with Jon's work, the Dobsons have finally settled near Portland, Oregon, and they love to travel and hike in both the mountains and the cliffs above the Pacific. When Melanie isn't writing or researching, she enjoys line dancing, biking, and making up stories with her kids.

Book Review Deadly Illusions by Chester D. Campbell

Title: Deadly Illusions

Author: Chester D. Campbell

Stars: 4.25 Stars

Review:
A neatly written mystery novel that primarily takes place in and around Nashville Tennessee. The main character is a retired Air Force Office Of Special Investigations (AFOSI) Agent. As a retired AFOSI Agent how could I not read this story? I thought it was a well told story without any major flaws and it followed a logical sequence. I would read other books in this series.

I have rated this book 4.25 stars.

I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format.

Synopsis:
Molly Saint hires new PI's Greg and Jill McKenzie to check into her husband's background, then disappears. It starts them on a tangled trail of deceit. Complicating matters further, Greg gets drawn into a troubling police investigation stemming from the assassination of the Federal Reserve Board chairman at a Nashville hotel. The case resurrects old problems with a Murder Squad detective and his colleagues among Nashville's finest. The deeper the McKenzies dig, the more deadly illusions they face. After threats, break-ins, and another murder, the charade ends in a shocking showdown.

Kindle Edition, 285 pages

Published (first published March 14th 2004) 

About The Author:

Chester D. Campbell was born in Nashville, TN in 1925, smack in the midst of the "Roaring Twenties." Though too young for such at the time, he had visions of roaring "off into the wild blue yonder." After more than a year and a half of non-roaring during World War II, he left the service as an Aviation Cadet and studied journalism. His first taste of mysteries came early in his newspaper career when he read two novels by Horace McCoy. Over the next 42 years, he spun words as a reporter, freelance journalist, political speechwriter, advertising copywriter, magazine editor, and public relations pro. He kept his dream of creating mysteries alive and took up novel writing on retirement. He has currently published five Greg McKenzie Mysteries and two books featuring PI Sid Chance. He has added three Post Cold War thrillers and a standalone suspense story . The Greg McKenzie character had his origins in Campbell's Air Force experience. After serving as an intelligence officer in the Korean War, he remained in the Air National Guard, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He and his wife, Sarah, live in Nashville, TN.

Book Review Falling Darkness by Karen Harper

Title: Falling Darkness

Author: Karen Harper

Stars: 5 stars out of 5

Review:
Falling Darkness is book 3 in a series and while I didn't read book 2 I was able to catch up after a few chapters.
This book will keep readers questioning everything they are reading and the second the read thinks they have it figured out. Bam the readers will begin to questions everything they have read wondering if they could be wrong this whole time.
Karen Harper is able to pull reader from page to page with excitement and fear of what will happen next and could that old man really hurt someone?

This is a must read book for the summer reading list.

Advance Copy from Netgalley and the publisher

Synopsis:
Claire Britten's training never prepared her for this the forensic psychology curriculum didn't cover plane crashes. Or how to help fellow survivors cope, seven frightened people huddled in two small rafts awaiting a rescue that may never come. Especially when three of them are your ex-husband, your young daughter and the man you love, Nick Markwood, whose pursuit by a criminal mastermind forced you all to run in the first place.

When the bedraggled crew finally reaches dry land, they are still far from safe. Nick tries to secure transport to their witness-protection placement, urging everyone to stick to the identities laid out for them. They don't need any complications. But when danger follows them to their supposed safe haven, Claire and Nick no longer know who is helping or harming them. Racked by doubt and mistrust, still hunted, they must band together or fall.

Hardcover, 386 pages

Expected publication: April 18th 2017 by Mira Books

About The Author:

A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Karen Harper is a former college English instructor (The Ohio State University) and high school literature and writing teacher. A lifelong Ohioan, Karen and her husband Don divide their time between the midwest and the southeast, both locations she has used in her books. Besides her American settings, Karen loves the British Isles, where her Scottish and English roots run deep, and where she has set many of her historical Tudor-era mysteries and her historical novels about real and dynamic British women. Karen's books have been published in many foreign languages and she won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for 2005. Karen has given numerous talks to readers and writers across the county. Her most recent books include THE SOUTH SHORES TRILOGY (CHASING SHADOWS, DROWNING TIDES and FALLING DARKNESS.) Her latest historical is THE ROYAL NANNY. 

Website:
www.KarenHarperAuthor

Book Review A Witness Above by Andy Straka (Frank Pavlicek Novels Book 1)

Title: A Witness Above (A Frank Pavlicek Novel Book #1)

Author: Andy Straka

Stars: 4.25 out of 5

Review:

An excellent murder mystery set in my home state of Virginia. The prologue gives you sufficient background on the main character, Frank Pavlivek, to understand his methods and techniques. The story progresses in an orderly fashion and will not leave the reader with any head scratching questions at the last page. I will put this author on my will read list.

I have rated this book 4.25 stars.

I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format.

Synopsis:

Thirteen years ago, Frank Pavlicek left the NYPD under less than ideal circumstances. Now the divorced father of a teenage daughter, he works as a private investigator in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he indulges his passion for falconry and tries to live outside the shadow of his past. Frank is hunting with his red-tailed hawk, Armistead, when he finds a teenage boy's body barely concealed behind a pile of brush. It's a truly gruesome crime scene one of the many things Frank doesn't miss about working homicide in the big city. But when Frank opens the dead boy's wallet, things become even more disturbing. Scribbled on the edge of a dollar bill is the phone number of Frank's daughter. He pockets the evidence and flees. Days later, his daughter is in jail. Now, his past is coming back to haunt him, and his reputation and life are on the line.

About The Author: 

Andy Straka is the bestselling author of nine novels, including the Shamus Award-Winning, Anthony and Agatha Award-nominated Frank Pavlicek private eye series. His other books include RECORD OF WRONGS, hailed by Mystery Scene magazine as “a first-rate thriller,” and THE BLUE HALLELUJAH. Part 2 of the DRAGONFLIES series (DRAGONFLIES: FLOCK OF ANGELS) has also just been released. (This near future technothriller series has been optioned for film and television.)

A licensed falconer and co-founder of the popular Crime Wave at the annual Virginia Festival of the Book, Andy is a graduate of Williams College. 

Website

http://www.andystraka.com

Twitter

AndyStraka

Book Review The Ghost of Blackwood Lane by Greg Enslen

Title: The Ghost of Blackwood Lane

Author: Greg Enslen

Stars: 4 Stars out of 5

Review:
A thriller that takes place in O'Fallon, Illinois and surrounding area. The author has built a description of the town that allowed this reader to close his eyes and return to a small town where he lived and worked for two years in the mid nineties. The characters are realistic and driven by strong motives. 

I have rated this book 4 stars and recommend it if you enjoy stories with a hint of ESP thrown into the mix.

I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format.

Synopsis:
For years, the witness protection program has kept Gary Foreman safe from the horrors he left behind. He’s got a new career and new friends, but they can never know his real name or where he comes from. But the program can’t protect him from the relentless dreams of a young woman in danger. It’s the same dream, night after night, and Gary is helpless, unable to stop the dream’s inevitable and horrifying conclusion. The woman seems strangely familiar…is she someone from his dark past? Is she even real? All he knows for certain is that she needs his help, or she will die.

Kindle Edition, 302 pages

Published November 1st 2010 by Gypsy Publications

About The Author:

 Greg Enslen is an Ohio author of nineteen books, including five novels, a new series of "Game of Thrones" Binge Guides, and several collections of essays and columns. All of his books are available on Amazon and via Kindle, and several are available from his publisher, Gypsy Publications. 

To receive updates, follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gregenslensw... or visit www.gregenslen.com. Sign up for the newsletter for discounts and free book promotions at http://www.gregenslen.com/newsletter/ - and thanks!

Book Review The Thief By Michele Hauf

Title: The Thief

Author: Michele Hauf 

Stars: 3.5 out of 5

Review:
I am a suckers for books about talented criminals working together.  I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have watched movies like Oceans the classic to Catch a Thief and the list goes on so when I saw the chance to pick up advance copy from netgalley about a Elite Crimes Unit with talent criminal I couldn't help but myself.

I guess I am giving it 3.50 stars because this series had great potential.  The author might need to scale back the endless amount of characters that pop in and out of the book like popcorn. The romance was a little to forced and could use more build up.
The story is fast pace with lots of action and violence which isn't normally found in this type of set up but I enjoyed the change in pace. Yes there is humorous moments.

This book is a wonderful start to a series and I can't wait to read book 2 which I hope will tie up the loose ends this book seemed to have endless amounts.

Advance Copy from Netgalley. 

Synopsis:
The Elite Crimes Unit works behind the scenes of Interpol—and employs some of the world’s most talented criminal minds. Because as everyone knows, it takes a thief to catch a thief—or to seduce one . . .

The old farmhouse in the French countryside is a refuge for former jewel thief Josephine Deveraux. Admittedly, there aren’t many men in the vicinity, but she has her cat to cuddle up with. It’s a far cry from her former life, constantly running from the law, and she’s enjoying her peace . . . until the intruder in the three-piece suit tackles her. He wants her back in the game, helping with a heist—and he’s not above making threats to get his way.

Little does Josephine know that notorious—and notoriously charming—thief, Xavier Lambert, is after the very same 180-carat prize she’s being blackmailed to steal. To his chagrin, he’s doing it not as a free agent, but as a member of the Elite Crimes Unit—the team he was forced to join when his brilliant career came to a sudden end. And little does Xavier know that his comeback is about to include a stranger’s kiss, a stinging slap, and a hunt for missing treasure—along with the infuriatingly sexy woman who’s outfoxing him .

About The Author:

Michele has been writing romance, action-adventure and fantasy stories for over twenty years. Her first published novel was DARK RAPTURE.

France, musketeers, vampires and faeries populate her stories. And if she followed the adage 'write what you know', all her stories would have snow in them. Fortunately, she steps beyond her comfort zone and writes about countries she has never visited and of creatures she has never seen. 

Authors Website http://www.michelehauf.com/

Book Review Pursued by Lisa Harris

Title: Pursued 

Author: Lisa Harris

Stars: 5 out of 5

Review:

This is the first book in the series Nikkie Boyd Flies I have read. I was worried I would be lost jumping into a series.  I wasn't because Lisa Harris was able to bring the past and present together quickly keeping reader engaged in the the current story while giving new readers a chance to catch up.
Lisa Harris is able to keep readers engaged though out the story while building the different characters who readers will become attached to quickly. 
While the plot line is pretty predictable the author is able to keep reader engaged with the strong characters who seem understand who they are in the creation of the Lisa Harris world.
Pursued is well throughout book that will have reader rereading the book for enjoyment.
Advance Copy from Netgalley 

Synopsis: 
Nikki Boyd's flight into Nashville was routine--up until the crash landing at the airport. When the dust settles, Nikki discovers that the woman who had been seated next to her on the plane is missing--and no one will admit she was ever there. Erika Hamilton had been flying to Nashville with an air marshal as a key witness in an upcoming grand jury trial. When she flees from the crash, is she running from trouble or straight into it? Before Nikki can even see her family, she and her team are pulled into a missing persons case where the motives are as unclear as the suspects.

About The Author:

BIO: Award-winning author of nineteen novels and novellas, Lisa Harris lives with her husband and their three children in Mozambique, Africa, where they work as missionaries. 

When she’s not busy writing or home schooling, she loves traveling, cooking different ethnic foods, and photographing animals and birds in the African bush.

Author Website:  http://www.lisaharriswrites.com
http://www.myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com/

Book Review: Above the Bridge by Deborah Garner (A Paige Mackenzie Mystery)

Title: Above The Bridge  (Paige Mackenzie Mystery)

Author: Deborah Garner

Stars: 4.25 Stars out of 5

Review: 
A light cozy mystery, with a touch of lost treasure, a good dose of time travel and what appears to be a budding romance. For added enjoyment it all takes place in Jackson Hole Wyoming. No matter your taste in books there is something for everyone in this story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting.

I have rated this book 4.25 stars.

I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format.

Thank you Frank for your Review.

Synopsis:
When Paige MacKenzie arrives in Jackson Hole, her only goal is to complete a simple newspaper assignment about the Old West. However, it's not long before her instincts tell her there's more than a basic story to be found in the popular, northwestern Wyoming mountain area. A chance encounter with attractive cowboy Jake Norris soon has Paige chasing a legend of buried treasure, passed down through generations.

From the torn edge of a water-damaged map to the mysterious glow of an antler arch, Paige will follow clues high into the mountainous terrain and deep into Jackson's history. Side-stepping a few shady characters who are also searching for the same hidden reward, she will have to decide who is trustworthy and who is not. 


About The Author:

Deborah Garner is an accomplished travel writer with a passion for back roads and secret hideaways. Born and raised in California, she studied in France before returning to the U.S. to attend UCLA. After stints in graduate school and teaching, she attempted to clone herself for decades by founding and running a dance and performing arts center, designing and manufacturing clothing and accessories, and tackling both spreadsheets and display racks for corporate retail management. Her passions include photography, hiking and animal rescue. She speaks five languages, some substantially better than others. She now divides her time between California and Wyoming, dragging one human and two canines along whenever possible.

Website:
http://www.deborahgarner.com

Twitter:
PaigeandJake

Book Review An Accidental Death (DC Smith #1)

Title: An Accidental Death (DC Smith #1)

Author: Peter Grainger

Stars: 4.25 Stars

Review:
A quirky but very interesting British Police detective story. The main character, DC Smith, is an older man of many hidden talents of which most are unknown to his colleagues. He is not afraid to use unorthodox methods to achieve successful results. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading other books in the series.

I have rated this book 4.25 stars.

I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format.

Thank you Frank for you Reviews

Synopsis:
The story opens with the apparently accidental drowning of a sixth form student in the Norfolk countryside. As a matter of routine, or so it seems, the case passes across the desk of Detective Sergeant Smith, recently returned to work after an internal investigation into another case that has led to tensions between officers at Kings Lake police headquarters. As an ex DCI, Smith could have retired by now, and it is clear that some of his superiors wish that he would do so. 

The latest trainee detective to work with him is the son of a member of his former team, and together they begin to unravel the truth about what happened to Wayne Fletcher. As the investigation proceeds, it becomes clear that others are involved - some seem determined to prevent it, some seem to be taking too much interest. In the end Smith operates alone, having stepped too far outside standard procedures to ask for support. He knows that his own life might be at risk but he has not calculated on the life of his young assistant also being put in danger. He might still get his man but at what cost?

Kindle Edition, 204 pages

Published October 3rd 2013 by Peter Grainger

About The Author:
Although I've always been a reader, I must admit that I first got into crime novels via television series such as Morse and Frost. It seemed odd at first, reading about characters that I had only watched before, and I found that I didn't always agree with what the producers and scriptwriters had done - but then I probably am one of life's disagree-ers.

Having independently published three novels on Amazon's Kindle, I decided that my next project could be a crime novel of my own. In some ways it was easier to write than my general fiction, the conventions of the genre making some decisions straightforward, but I still spent a lot of time developing the characters in 'An Accidental Death'; to me, character comes before everything else in fiction. The subsequent novels develop the original characters as well as adding plenty of new ones.

I think that Smith himself is a recognisable individual. He is old-fashioned in some ways and has a sense that he has been left behind as the police force is modernised. He makes mistakes, too. And yet his wealth of experience and the understanding of people that stems from that experience mean that he is still able to pursue the wrongdoers intuitively, when more conventional methods fail. He is far from the first fictional detective to have these qualities, of course - there is nothing new under the sun. In the end, though, I grew to like him enough to perhaps give him some more case to solve soon.

The other three novels? I published them under a different name. They are not crime fiction at all but as several readers have said that they would like to take a look, I will now list them here: 'Afon', 'The Rink' and 'Asher' by Robert Partridge. Under the same name, you can also find a set of short stories called 'Paris and Other Love Stories' Sorry but my author page won't let me post direct links.

Book Review: Shine On by Allison Jewell (Book One)

Title: Shine One (Book #1)

Author: Allison Jewell

Stars:  4 out of 5

Review:
Life in a rural Kentucky town, during prohibition, where the distilling and sale of illegal liquor (moonshine) plays a significant part. The lead character is just trying to survive and and achieve her goal of an education and becoming a teacher. She, innocently, becomes involved in both the distilling and sale of the aforementioned product. This is an intriguing beginning to what must be a compelling saga.

I have rated this book 4 stars.

I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format.

Thank you Frank For your Review

 Synopsis: 
Emmie's sole purpose in life was taking care of her moonshine loving step-father. When he is killed in a fiery crash on their farm, she is left alone and frustrated with a mountain of debt. Working as a seamstress for a crazy-old-coot shopkeeper is not the kind of life she had imagined for herself. 

The curious events that surround her step-father’s death send Emmie on a quest for answers. Answers that lead to a dangerous secret tucked away on her property. Stumbling on a moonshine still was an unfortunate event for most folks in the hills of Kentucky. She was lucky not to have been shot on the spot. Emmie saw hope in the steam escaping the curved copper pipe of "Ole Maizy". However, a series of mishaps put her front and center in a local moonshine war.

In the midst of chaos, Emmie is befriended by an attorney recently transported from Chicago. Silas McDowell is a man seeking some answers of his own. In an attempt to find a little roaring twenties glamour in the small town, he introduces Emmie to the underground world of Speakeasies and Blind Pigs. Loyalty, lies, and murder conspire to push Silas and Emmie together or rip them apart. Cloaked in secrets and unsure whom to trust, Emmie must decide to drown in darkness or find a way to Shine On.

About The Author: 

Allison Jewell lives in Southern Kentucky with her husband, two sons, and dog. When she isn't hard at work on her next novel, she can be found doing one of her favorite things: watching her older son chase the puck at the local hockey rink, hanging out at home listening to records with her husband, or making up silly songs with her younger son. Allison was an elementary school teacher and education consultant before becoming a writer. 

Website  

https://www.amazon.com/Allison-J.-Jewell/e/B00CPPH4ZC