Category: Non ARC

Dark Horse (North Oak: Book 6) by Ann Hunter

Publisher: Rebel House Ink

Date of publication: March 1st, 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Equestrian

Series: North Oak

Born to Run—Book 1 (review here)

Yearling—Book 2 (review here)

Morning Glory—Book 3 (review here)

To Bottle Lightening—Book 4 (review here)

Far Turn—Book 5 (review here)

Dark Horse—Book 6

Against the Odds—Book 7

Ride for Glory—Book 8

Hard Boot—Book 9

Inquiry—Book 10

Purchase Links: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:

Just when Alex could hardly stand waiting another second to test for her jockey license, a brutal attack sends her spiraling into a depression. She’s a failure as a person, a rider and friend. Even Dejado and Carol can’t seem to reach her. Can they help her pull through, and realize her potential in time to get Venus Nights ready for her first race?

On the heels of Joanna Campbell’s beloved Thoroughbred Series, and Walter Farley’s Black Stallion, comes a brand new teen equestrian series that will sweep you away like a runaway Thoroughbred.

First Line:

Alex woke to the sensation of her arm suspended.

Dark Horse by Ann Hunter

On the eve of her second test for her jockeying license, Alex is brutally attacked by a person she thought was a friend. This attack sends her into a deep depression. Feeling like a failure to everyone, Alex retreats inside herself. With her career as a jockey on the line, can her family and friends get through to her?

I was surprised when the author contacted me to review the rest of this series. I had reviewed books 1-5 years ago (back in 2018ish, I think) and figured she hadn’t written anymore. When I got that email, I jumped on it. I enjoyed the previous books and couldn’t wait to read this one. I wasn’t disappointed.

Before I get into the review, I want to throw a warning up. I haven’t been doing this because of Amazon, but it is warranted. Dark Horse deals with the after-effects of rape. The author detailed the rage towards the rapist, the blame the person raped deals with (internally and from other people), and the frustration that the person raped deals with (police seemingly doing nothing and the rapist walking free) perfectly. These scenes in this book are raw and can be triggering. So read cautiously and keep a Kleenex close because some of these scenes will make you cry.

Dark Horse is a fast-paced book in Hamlin, Kentucky. This book starts fast and keeps the pace up for the entire book. There is no lag, which pleasantly surprised me.

The main storyline in Dark Horse centers around Alex, the after-effects of her rape, her racing dreams, and the horses she loves. My heart broke for Alex while reading this book. She was obviously in pain, and I wanted to reach into the book, hug her, and tell her it would be alright. I also couldn’t understand why her foster parents didn’t put her into counseling afterward. I couldn’t put this book down because I wanted to know what would happen to Alex. I needed to know if she would get better if she would get her jockey’s license, and if the police would do anything about what happened to her.

I liked Alex, but I didn’t like seeing her this way. I wanted old Alex back, but I understood that Alex would never be the same after what happened to her. I think she had a lot of guts to show up at school, still having a bitten lip and black eye from Brad. It disgusted me to see how Brad initially tried to intimidate her, which escalated to him stalking her in school. How the principal treated Alex when she was told about Brad also disgusted me. And don’t get me started on the police. Why is it always the women’s fault when reporting a rape? And the excuse that he was from a good-standing family disgusted me. Guess what? People from good-standing families do bad things, like beating and raping women. My heart almost imploded with sadness in the middle of the book when Alex discovered something was being kept from her. While keeping something important secret was wrong, I understood why Hilary did. But, the cherry on top of everything made Alex make a very rash decision.

The racing angle of the book was fascinating. While I am somewhat knowledgeable about show jumping/dressage, I am not knowledgeable about racing. So, I enjoyed reading about how she got her license and how she had to prove herself to the officials.

I also loved the horse angle of the book. I was pleased to see that Morning Glory, Venus Nights, and Promenade were in this book. Those horses were a big part of Alex’s healing.

The author did touch upon Alex’s sexuality several times during the book. She had an on/off-again relationship with Dejado. She also was romantically attracted to Carol. The hint of a love triangle is given during the huge confrontation scene with Brad and Dejado. But I am wondering if it will be like that. Something tells me that Carol doesn’t feel the same way about Alex.

The end of Dark Horse was excellent. I liked how Carol and Alex decided enough was enough (after Alex’s accident with Promenade). They wanted to nail Brad’s butt to the wall and make him pay. That was one of the best and most satisfying scenes in the entire book. But the author didn’t exactly end the storyline. Instead, if felt suspended (I am sure there will be a trial). The author also didn’t end any of the other storylines. Instead, they will be continued into the other books.

I recommend Dark Horse to anyone over 16. There is violence and mild language, but there are no sexual situations. There is also talk of rape (off-page), depression, one scene of self-harm (cutting), and reckless behavior around horses.

Many thanks to Anne Hunter for allowing me to read and review Dark Horse. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed this review of Dark Horse, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Ann Hunter:

Paper Targets: Art Can Be Murder by Steve S. Saroff

Publisher: Flooding Island

Date of publication: February 2nd, 2022

Genre: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks

Goodreads Synopsis:

While breaking into a financial network, a hacker falls for a dangerous artist.

Based on the buried events of one of the largest criminal frauds in history, Paper Targets digs into the motivations of criminals on the fringe. Critics and reviewers are calling it “Wonderfully written,” “A novel to read now,” and “A literary thriller with a soul.”

Set in Montana, Paper Targets simmers with greed and love before boiling over along the red-flagged path between lost and found.

First Line:

My first secret was that I could not read. And yet my earliest joy was listening to the murmuring of my mother as she read to me.

Paper Targets: Art Can Be Murder by Steve S. Saroff

Enzi has struggled his entire life with dyslexia. Going through school without getting the help he needed, Enzi couldn’t read or understand numbers until he taught himself as an older teenager. By his mid 20’s, Enzi had gotten his life together and was running a successful company with a fellow coder. He also has gotten caught up in a scheme to fleece an international financial company. But that all changed when he met Kaori, the night she got arrested for assault after attacking her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend. That starts a tumultuous relationship, ending with one in jail for murder and the other on the run. What happened?

When I agreed to read and review Paper Targets, I did it because of the need for more information in the blurb. A lack of information would have me skipping over the book. But in this case, it caught my attention and made me want to read it. I am glad I read this book because it was good.

Paper Targets: Art Can Be Murder started slow. The author did that to show Enzi’s upbringing, his struggles with dyslexia, and his life before Kaori came into it. After Kaori was introduced, the storyline sped up to medium-fast pacing.

The main storyline of Paper Targets is centered around Enzi, Kaori, their relationship, and Enzi’s illegal hacking job for Tsai. This storyline was well-written, with well-fleshed-out characters. The author explained Enzi’s legal coding (and illegal hacking) job in a way I understood (I am not code-savvy).

Surprisingly, Enzi was a likable character. I thought he was sweet and he had a conscience. The whole hacking secondary storyline showed that-well, towards the end, it showed that. Also, this man had horrible taste in women. At the beginning of the book, he stays in a relationship where she mocks him for his stutter and job (a janitor), and then there is the relationship with Kaori. I do like that his character did grow during this book, and not only did he do the right thing, but he didn’t take credit for it.

I don’t know how to describe how I felt about Kaori. At a point in the book, I wondered if everything she did was in her head. She was also crazy talented. I liked how the author showcased her art as a confession once she and Enzi returned to Montana.

The storyline about the hacking and Tsai was interesting. I liked seeing how Enzi evolved from being involved with the whole thing to not wanting anything to do with it and, ultimately, helping the police. The author created a storyline that kept me guessing and kept my blood pressure up.

The end of Paper Targets was interesting. I liked how the author ended all of the storylines. Except for Enzi’s, they all ended in a way that satisfied me. But Enzi’s storyline, I wish that it could have ended a little better. I wish that he could have had a happier ending. But, in a way, I guess he was happy.

I recommend Paper Targets: Art Can Be Murder to anyone over 21. There is language, sexual situations, and violence.

Many thanks to Flooding Island Press and Steve S. Saroff for allowing me to read and review Paper Targets: Art Can Be Murder. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed reading this review of Paper Targets: Art Can Be Murder, then you will enjoy reading these books:

Other books by Steve S. Saroff

The Master of Demise by Nadija Mujagic

Publisher: Pioneer Publishing

Date of publication: June 15th, 2023

Genre: Mystery

Purchase Links: Kindle | B&N | AbeBooks

Goodreads Synopsis:

Mitch Wegner had it all: a prestigious career as a professor, a loving wife, and a reputation as a brilliant academic. But when a student takes his own life and Mitch is blamed, his life quickly spirals out of control. As his marriage falls apart and his job is put on the line, Mitch finds himself descending into a dark and dangerous world.

Haunted by his past and fueled by his own narcissism, Mitch makes a series of increasingly desperate choices that lead him down a path of violence and betrayal. When another person on campus mysteriously dies, Mitch becomes the prime suspect, but the truth behind the killings is far more twisted than anyone could have imagined.

In this gripping psychological thriller, author Nadija Mujagic takes readers on a heart-pounding journey through the mind of a man consumed by his own ego and the dark secrets that he thought he had buried. With twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end, The Master of Demise is a chilling tale of obsession, revenge, and the terrifying consequences of our actions.

First Line:

Nothing give me a natural high like burning stuff, but killing comes close. This one was quick and painless.

The Master of Demise Nadija Mujagic

Mitch has a happy marriage, a beautiful wife, and a successful career. But, when a much-liked student committed suicide and mentions Mitch and his class as the straw that broke the camel’s back in his diary/suicide note. As his marriage crumbles and his mental health deteriorates, Mitch starts making choices that take him down a dark and dangerous path. This path is shrouded in lies, betrayal, and death. When another student dies, Mitch is the prime suspect. But did Mitch kill those students? Or is he being set up?

When I read the blurb for The Master of Demise, I knew I needed to read this book. I was curious about the plotline outlined. Plus, I like reading psychological thrillers. But I wasn’t expecting what I read, and I mean that in a good way. This book was a fantastic read from beginning to end.

The Master of Demise is a fast-paced book that takes place entirely in Vermont. The pacing of this book suited the storyline, mainly because everything takes place within a couple of months of the book’s beginning. The book had zero lag; the author kept this book moving. I enjoyed it and felt that if the book had slowed down for a minute, it would have been ruined.

There were two main storylines in The Master of Demise. The first storyline is the one following Mitch and his downward spiral. This storyline was exciting because of how disjointed Mitch got as the book continued. The more things started to happen to him, the more disjointed the storyline got, and I loved it!! The other storyline started early in the book, and I didn’t understand why it was there for a while. Once I realized it was the real killer’s backstory, I started paying more attention. I didn’t understand why the author wrote this until Mitch’s big “Aha” moment towards the end of the book.

Mitch was not a likable character. From the beginning of the book, he just came across as one of those guys whose ego preceded them into the room. So, when he was named as the reason why that kid unalived himself, he couldn’t handle it. It started his descent into paranoia and madness. I liked that the author started with little things with Mitch and worked her way up to bigger things. By the end of the book, Mitch is a beaten man willing to accept his fate. I was a little put off by that. I figured it would be better to keep him alive, but I understood why the mystery man did what he did.

The other main character of this book is the mystery man. All I have to say is that my heart hurt for that poor child. He was dealing with so much at home, and having even more piled on him at school was awful. The author didn’t hold back regarding the bullying scenes; I will admit they made me tear up. I also understood why the mystery man did what he did (and he did explain it at the end of the book).

Several secondary storylines fed into the main storylines. They added additional depth and background to Mitch’s storyline. The one with Emily did confuse me. I couldn’t tell if she was just an ice-cold person or if he had been abusing her, and the ice-cold persona was something she used to protect herself. I will say that I didn’t see what happened to Emily coming or the revelation that came from it. But it did show how much people disliked Mitch. Even Mitch’s in-laws, who professed to like him, turned around and told him to pound sand at the end of that storyline. The storyline with Sarah was similar. I saw it for what it was at the beginning (she let some hints drop). But, again, I didn’t even begin to imagine what happened to her would happen (if that makes sense).

The thriller angle of The Master of Demise was on point. Several scenes took me aback in the book. It also tied in beautifully with the mystery angle.

Like the thriller angle, the mystery angle was amazingly written. There were twists and turns within this angle that I didn’t see coming. The author combined the mystery and thriller angle at the end of the book to make for what I thought was an explosive ending.

The end of The Master of Demise wasn’t what I thought it would be. I thought the book was going one way; instead, it went the opposite. It shocked me, as did the confession chapter at the end.

I would recommend The Master of Demise to anyone over 21. There are language, violence, and sexual situations.

Many thanks to Nadija Mujagic for allowing me to read and review The Master of Demise. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed reading this review of The Master of Demise, then you will enjoy reading these books:

Other books by Nadija Mujagic

One * Life: Ameno by Blaze Dendukuri

Publisher:

Date of Publication: March 27th, 2022

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction

Purchase Links: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:

A power to be able control space itself .
That is what Artorius possessed . He possessed a power akin to that of a God. But he didn’t feel like one….
Waking up, seeing himself drowning in the ocean of emptiness, Artorius saw the world that he had to confront. The governments that he had to face. Unable to die, unable to live, seeing himself devolve into obscurity, aeons went by.
Seeking the world, becoming the villain in the face of it, he is going to topple it. In the face of such an existence, how are the world leaders going to react? How is the universe going to react….

One•Life is a story that goes through the life of a lone existence that was chosen by the universe. A gripping tale of geopolitical intrigue and cosmic wonder, Artorius takes his initial stride, ready to confront the notorious terror organization, ISII, and a world teetering on the edge. Containing psychological thriller elements as well as escalating action, One•Life displays the tumultuous life that one man can lead.

First Line:

WHAT IS THE COST OF LIFE? LIFE ITSELF.

One * Life: Ameno by Blaze Dendukuri

Artorius lives in the jungles of India, a solitary and lonely existence. One day, Artorius is called to leave the jungle. Once he does, it sets off a chain of events that will kill millions. Who is Artorius, and what does he want?

When I initially decided to read and review One * Life, I was intrigued by the storyline. A geopolitical, psychological thriller was right up my alley. But then I read it, and the storyline left me confused and unfulfilled.

I will do a quick review, different from the average in-depth review I usually do. As I said above, I was confused during Artorius’s parts of the book. The author gave no background about him other than that he was part of the void and had a daughter named Thalia, who died. As for his motives, they were just as murky. I couldn’t tell if he wanted to help people or if he wanted people to die.

As for feeling unfulfilled, that is mainly aimed at the end of the book. I wanted more from this storyline. There were sparks of something good when the author wrote about the world leaders and the blogger, but it was lost under everything else.

I would recommend One * Life to anyone over 21. There is extreme and graphic violence and language, but no sexual situations.

Many thanks to Blaze Dendukurri for allowing me to read and review One*Life. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Other books by Blaze Dendukurri:

Playing with Fire (A Carrie and Keith Mystery: Book 3) by Flora McGowan

Publisher:

Date of publication: August 4th, 2020

Genre: Mystery, Romance, Cozy Mystery

Series: A Carrie and Keith Mystery

Material Witness—Book 1

Thirteen in the Medina—Book 2

Playing with Fire—Book 3

Purchase Links: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a prequel to ‘Material Witness’ and ‘Thirteen in the Medina,’ it’s the summer before she met Keith and Carrie’s holiday plans have been thrown into disarray by the political climate.
She ends up taking a trip to Sicily where she meets octogenarian Millie and a local Sicilian, Enzo.
Enzo appears to be following Carrie as she tours around the island; is he smitten, as Millie maintains, or does he have criminal intentions, as suggested by another of her fellow travellers?
And if so, is he responsible for a series of antiquities’ burglaries?
Or is he on the hunt for Excalibur, the legendary sword rumoured to be lost in Sicily, a sword forged by the ancient Roman blacksmith, Vulcan, god of fire?
Carrie and Millie decide to investigate, but their amusement palls when the adventure takes an unpleasant turn as someone, it seems, is playing with fire.

First Line:

The house was located in the midst of Lazio in central Italy, a region containing not only the country’s capital, Rome, with its ancient Forum, the Coliseum, and the more recent Baroque additions of the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps but also the Vatican, the spiritual and physical heart of the Roman Catholic Church; while of the coast sits Ostia with its ancient port.

Playing with Fire by Flora McGowan

Carrie had been planning on traveling to the Middle East when she was forced to look elsewhere to travel because of political unrest in the area. She decided to take a guided tour of Sicily. But her trip wasn’t the laid-back vacation she expected. Instead, she was pursued by a local named Enzo while ushering a King Author obsessed older woman around the island, all while trying to enjoy the island’s history. But, a string of burglaries throws a shadow over the tour. Who is robbing the museums and why?

When I read the blurb for Playing With Fire, I knew I needed to read this book. Not only does it take place in Italy, which is high on my list of places to visit, but it also offers an exciting view of where Excalibur and Camelot were compared to the legend. I am glad that I read this book because it was good. Plus, I loved reading the historical tidbits thrown throughout the book.

Playing With Fire started slowly and took a while to build up pace. But, once it got going, it flowed nicely. The book maintained a medium pace from the middle of the book to the end, which surprised me. I am used to mysteries having a more brisk pace. I liked it because it allowed me to process the information given.

Playing With Fire takes place entirely on the island of Sicily. I loved the author’s visuals of each town and the historical areas Carrie toured. I also liked the smattering of Italian given in the book.

The main storyline of Playing With Fire centers around Carrie, the tour, Enzo, and the burglaries. As I stated above, the book started slow. But, as Carrie traveled around Sicily and the mystery of Enzo/the art thefts deepened, the storyline gradually increased. This storyline was well-written and well-researched storyline. The author did not lose my attention for a moment.

I liked Carrie and admired her for traveling alone. I also liked that she gravitated toward people similar to her (her travel buddies). Millie and Joan were perfect for her. Vanessa, on the other hand, was not. She also had a good head on her shoulders and used it wisely during the book. Her instincts about Enzo and Vanessa were right on, well, for the most part.

The mystery angle of Playing With Fire was a slow burn. I wondered who the thief was. The author did use red herrings and misdirection to keep me from guessing. So, when the thief was revealed, I was shocked. Put it this way, that person was not on my radar.

There was a slight romance angle in Playing With Fire. The author kept it in the background and was brought up occasionally. But I wasn’t surprised at how it played out.

I want to mention King Arthur/Excalibur/Sicily’s history storyline. It was well-researched. I liked that the author threw some doubt as to where King Arthur was buried. I also liked that some of the mystery centered around Excalibur. And the history of Sicily was fascinating.

The end of Playing With Fire was standard. The author was able to wrap up the mystery in a way that satisfied me. I also liked how the author ended the romance storyline.

I recommend Playing With Fire to anyone over 16. There is no language, mild violence, and no sexual situations.

Many thanks to Flora McGowan for allowing me to read and review Playing With Fire. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed reading this review of Playing With Fire, then you will enjoy reading these books:

Other books by Flora McGowan

Carving Up Riley (Riley MacLeod Series: Book 1) by Paul Flanagan

Publisher: Independently Published

Date of Publication: March 27th, 2023

Genre: Humorous Fiction

Series: Riley MacLeod Series

Carving Up Riley—Book 1

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N

Goodreads Synopsis:

Meet Riley MacLeod…loving husband…caring father…faithful friend…successful writer…and the world’s biggest idiot. Of course, in Riley’s insane mind he sees himself as the world’s biggest…well…hero. However, when Riley’s wife insists they take a romantic drive from Vermont to Minnesota to spend Thanksgiving with her family who is far from normal themselves, the man who is hated by his neighbors and loathed by an angry tom cat, sets out to prove that he isn’t an idiot…under duress, of course. The trip begins with Riley getting tied up by his best friend, his clothes stolen by a group of mischievous teenagers, and a tow truck driver with a happy gun finger. Determined to keep pushing forward, under duress of course, Riley continues down the road desperately trying to leave the state of Vermont only to encounter a killer truck driver, a girl with strange colored hair, and a pair of old people who turn out to be drug dealers. Yet, through it all, Riley somehow turns out to be a hero…well, kinda. Will Riley MacLeod and his wife make it to the Thanksgiving table in one piece or will they end up in a mental hospital locked away in little padded rooms?

First Line:

Thanksgiving had arrived again. And with those words, I will begin my story. Pity me.

Carving Up Riley by Paul Flanagan

A screenwriter, Reily uses his overactive imagination to create box office hits. But that same imagination has had the opposite effect in real life, translating to Reily having social issues. Take, for instance, Thanksgiving. Reily and his wife were offered a rare trip without their two children by Reily’s wife’s parents. They were to take a week and travel from Vermont to Minnesota, arriving in time for Thanksgiving. Easy, right? Not really. Because during this trip, Reily and Rebecca run into all sorts of issues. From teenagers who steal Reily’s clothes to trigger happy but mother-loving trucker to a hotel receptionist with different colored hair to an RV driven by a pair of elderly drug runners, they all make this trip to Minnesota impossible. Will Reily and Rebecca make it out of Vermont? Or will Reily’s habit of running his mouth and acting before he thinks end the trip before it gets underway?

I will admit that when the author approached me to read and review this book, I initially wasn’t going to accept it. I was super booked up with reviews. But then I read the blurb and got a chuckle, and I realized that I needed a book that could make me laugh (I had been reading some depressing stuff at this point). So, I accepted the invitation. I am glad that I did because this was a funny book.

Carving Up Reily is the first book in the Reily MacLeod series. So, anything I usually say about reading the books that come first in the series can be ignored. Feel free to pick this one up and enjoy it without wondering about background stories.

Carving Up Reily is a short book at 75 pages. It is also a fast-paced book. I did expect it to be fast-paced because of the length. There was no lag, which was great.

The main storyline of Carving Up Reily follows Reily, Rebecca, and their attempt at a romantic road trip without ending up in a padded room. It was a pretty straightforward comedy storyline, and I liked some of the jokes in the book. But, I will warn you that Reily has an imagination, and the author weaves it into his misadventures. I was slightly put off because I didn’t realize what was happening. Once it dawned on me, I started to understand some of the previous scenes in the book. For a while, I did think I was reading a take on a paranormal romance.

I didn’t like Reily. He was a self-centered idiot who only thought about himself. He couldn’t keep his mouth shut if you paid him. I could get why his wife was getting so upset. But, saying that, I did think the situations he got into were funny. There was a point where I had an internal bet going on with myself if he would survive this book.

I felt terrible for Reily’s wife, Rebecca. She was dealing with an overgrown man-child. I was right with her when she said, “He’s my idiot; I married him.”Of course, she did stoop to his level once in the book, and that was when she beat up the front desk clerk at the hotel. But she had a good reason, too (well, in her eyes). At various points in the book, I wondered if her marriage to Reily would survive.

The end of Carving Up Reily was standard. I liked how the author wrapped up the storylines. I was even more in awe that Reily ended up surviving everything.

I would recommend Carving Up Reily to anyone over 21. There is violence and language, but no sexual situations.

Many thanks to Paul Flanagan for allowing me to read and review Carving Up Reily. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Other books by Paul Flanagan:

Trust No One (Blackhawk Security: Book 8) by Margaret Watson

Publisher: Dragonfly Press

Date of publication: April 18th, 2023

Genre: Romance, Suspense

Series: Blackhawk Security

With One Breath—Book 1 (review here)

Once Removed—Book 2 (review here)

Once Burned—Book 3 (review here)

Fool Me Once—Book 4 (review here)

Just This Once—Book 5 (review here)

Once and Always—Book 6 (review here)

Once a Killer—Book 7 (review here)

Trust No One—Book 8

Purchase Links: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:

Mel and Dev are no longer a couple, but they run Blackhawk Security together. When being around Dev becomes too painful, she buys him out.

Dev knows she’s going after her old CIA boss Kingsley, so Dev makes her a deal – if she accepts his help on this last job, he’ll walk away.

But Kingsley is slippery. After he murders one man and almost kills a young woman, they realize he has a well-planned escape.

Can Mel and Dev stop him? Or will Kingsly eliminate them first?

First Line:

Mel walked down the hall to her office, still smiling. She’d just dropped Bree off at the Helena airport, and her security agent would be in Chicago in five hours.

Trust No One by Margaret Watson

While Mel and Dev are no longer a couple and haven’t been for years, it doesn’t mean that Mel still has feelings for him. When Mel’s feelings become too much, she tells Dev she is buying him out. Dev is stunned. But knowing that Mel is going after a corrupt CIA agent, he counteroffers with a deal: He’ll leave Blackhawk Security after they take Kingsley. But Kingsley is slippery and can take down any witnesses that tie him to nefarious activities. With Kingsley’s reach extended to the top of the CIA, Mel and Dev must take Kingsley down quickly. But can they do without bloodshed or anyone getting hurt? And, when the dust settles, will Mel and Dev be able to put their past aside and embrace their future together?

When the author contacted me to ask me to read/review Trust No One, I immediately said yes. Margaret is an auto-accept for any books for me. I have been reviewing and loving her books since 2017/2018 (not sure about the year and am too lazy to look it up). I was also super excited when I saw this was Mel and Dev’s story. I have read this series from the beginning and longed for their book. Now that I’ve got it, I am happy.

Trust No One is the 8th book in the Blackhawk Security series. This book is the series’s last book, but I could be wrong. I would classify this book as a semi-standalone book. You don’t need to read the entire series to understand Dev and Mel’s story or the series’ background. But I suggest reading book seven first (Bree and Jameson’s story). The author comprehensively explains the Kingsely storyline in that book.

Trust No One is a fast-paced book. It occurs within a few weeks of Mel telling Dev she wants to buy him out. The author doesn’t let up on the pace. The pacing suited the book, considering what Mel and Dev were up against. It didn’t slow until after the airport scene at the end of the book.

Trust No One takes almost entirely in Washington, D.C., with the beginning chapter in Montana and the ending in Seattle. The author perfectly captured Washington’s hustle and bustle while highlighting the city’s seedier parts.

The main storyline in Trust No One center around Mel, Dev, and Kingsley. It was a wonderfully written storyline that kept me glued to the book. While I knew how this storyline would end up, I still loved the ride it took me on. There was a twist in the plotline that did take me by surprise. And the author kept me guessing who dirty CIA agents were until almost the end of the book.

I liked Mel. She was feisty, headstrong, and determined to bring down Kingsley. Did I think she was silly for wanting to go after him alone? Yes. But it showed her dedication to keeping her agents safe and bringing down a bad guy. She was paranoid, but in her work, being paranoid was a given. That paranoia helped her and Dev out during several instances when Kingsley’s agents followed them. The only thing that I didn’t like about her was how she dealt with her feelings for Dev. It didn’t follow the strong woman the author had built up throughout the series.

Dev drove me up the wall during the book. I was in awe of his surveillance skills and contacts. I also wanted to know more about what he did during his SEAL/SpecOps days. But at the same time, I also wanted to smack him upside the head. He didn’t want to listen to Mel (though he had more experience in the field). It took him a while to admit that she had skills. As for his feelings for her, I was getting very frustrated with him about that. I knew his feelings for Mel from the beginning of the book. But it took him until almost the end of the book to discuss his tumultuous upbringing and to admit his feelings.

What do I say about Kingsley? He is a personification of any high-ranking official in Washington, D.C. He was overconfident, had connections that made my head spin and was willing to do whatever it took to cover up his mistakes. But, unlike real life, he was getting his comeuppance. I was left with a bad taste in my mouth every time he appeared in the book.

The romance angle in Trust No One was a slow-burn one. It was always in the background, with Mel’s feelings being more upfront than Dev’s. It did take a back seat to Mel and Dev’s investigation for a while, but you knew it was there.

The end of Trust No One was terrific. The author did a great job of having Kingsley get what he deserved. But how he got it and the events that led to it were fantastic and action-packed. I did get a giggle at the kid with the frog in the airport. It reminded me of my youngest daughter. That would have been something she did at that age. Of course, Mel and Dev got their HEA, and the lead-up to that was emotional. The epilogue was great, and I loved seeing them so happy!!

I recommend Trust No One to anyone over 21. There are language, violence, and sexual situations.

Many thanks to Margaret Watson for allowing me to read and review Trust No One. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed reading this review of Trust No One, then you will enjoy reading these books:

Other books by Margaret Watson

Shadowed Deliverance (The Guardians: Book 7) by Reily Garrett

Publisher:

Date of publication: May 19th, 2023

Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Suspense

Series: The Guardians

Shadowed Horizons—Book 1 (review here)

Shadowed Origins—Book 2 (review here)

Shadowed Passages—Book 3

Shadowed Spirits—Book 4 (review here)

Shadowed Intent—Book 5 (review here)

Shadowed Visions—Book 6 (review here)

Shadowed Deliverance—Book 7

Purchase Links: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:

Family.
The Channon legacy entails keeping a well-guarded secret safe until the time arrives to face the psychopath bent on imprisoning psychics, studying genetic mutations for the purpose of creating an army, and dominating the world.

The psychopath is Brianna’s brother, a psychic with a following of murderous spirits and trained mercenaries.

Through the years, Nicholai Semenov has overseen a group of psychics intent on ensuring safety and peace among their kind. After discovering one of his team is a shifter, the group expands to include the entire pack.

Join the warriors in this final chapter as they take on the Order of Assassins and warrior ghosts determined to control the fate of humanity.

First Line:

In a singular twist of luck, fate assisted Roth’s effort in preparing for the most romantic evening of his life.

Shadowed Deliverance by Reily Garrett

Brianna Channon has finally been reunited with her children after twenty years of forced separation due to her deranged brother, Roth. Brianna is ready to confront Roth for everything he has done to her family. But first, Brianna must recover an amulet that will help with their battle against Roth and his allies. This amulet can only be used by a chosen one, but who that chosen one could be is unknown to Brianna. And unfortunately, Roth has gotten his hands on the amulet and is using it to rally spirits to his cause. At her side, also, is Nicholai Semenov, a powerful psychic and group leader. He has gathered and protected her children from Roth and his allies. But, even with Nicholai’s help, the battle against Roth will be hard. He thinks he is guaranteed a win with the Order of Assassins, the amulet, and the spirits on his side. But is he? Can Brianna and her family (biological and found) defeat Roth? Or will they all fall to his mad and psychotic delusions? And who will wield the amulet?

I was happy and sad when I got the email from the author asking me to read/review Shadowed Deliverance. I was delighted because I had reviewed this series from the beginning and enjoyed reading it. I was sad because this is the last book in the series. The author explained that while the Channon family’s story ends, it doesn’t mean the other characters’ stories would. But still. I had grown attached to the characters and struggled with change.

Shadowed Deliverance is The Guardians series’ 7th (and last) book. This book cannot be read as a stand-alone book. You need to read books 1-6 to read this book. If you don’t, you will be lost. I didn’t read Logan’s story (book 3) and felt I missed a lot (I will be reading it as soon as possible, though).

Shadowed Deliverance is a fast-paced book that I couldn’t put down. The book started fast (it started right after the events of book 6) and slowed down at the end of the book.

The main storyline of Shadowed Deliverance focuses on Brianna, her children and their spouses, Casper, Nicholai, and Roth. This storyline was a well-written storyline that kept me glued to the book. While I was interested in Brianna and company, I was more interested in Roth and the amulet. He had been gone from the series for a while. The author did not disappoint (I will discuss him further in the review).

The storyline with the amulet was interesting. When Roth had it, he gave a good look into how it worked. But, I was more curious about who could wield it and what it could do once it was with the chosen person. When the author revealed who the chosen person was, I was surprised. It was someone I didn’t see coming. But, at the same time, it made sense.

I had figured that Brianna would have the last book in the series. Why? Her six children had found each other again (in Silver’s book), and there was no indication that the author ended the series. Plue, only Nicholai was left without a mate, so I took a guess and figured that Brianna would be the next book. I liked seeing the group from her POV and how the different dynamics worked out. I also liked seeing Roth from her POV. She went between hating him (he did kill their parents, forced Logan to kill Devon, and kidnapped/abused Ashlyn) and pitying him. The pitying part made me feel awful because she kept flashing back to when Roth was normal (not psychotic and murderous).

I was thrilled that Nicholai would be featured as a main character in this book. He was very mysterious during the series and used his psychic powers as they came to him (he could see into the future but also saw different paths). He was a guiding force with the Channon children and was like a second father to all of them. His relationship with Caspar was pretty funny, and I loved seeing him parent her (his reactions to her are what I have with my seventeen-year-old). I thought he and Brianna were perfect for each other (and I will discuss that more in the romance section).

The third main character in Shadowed Deliverance is Caspar. That girl had me rolling with her one-liners and made me tear up with her fierce devotion to her family. Her verbal sparring sessions with Roth were on point and truthful. She was the most powerful of any psychics there, which the author repeatedly showed. I also loved how she needled Dacien (it was a running theme throughout the series) and tried to get anyone to tell her about sex (those scenes had me in stitches). I do wish that the author had given more information about her background. Other than the nickname, Moon Pie, there was nothing. Not even her real name. The author said she will be featured in a new series, so I hope more information is given in those books. Out of all the characters, I will miss her the most.

The last main character in Shadowed Deliverance is Roth. It was interesting to see another side to Roth other than his usual psychotic/murderous one. What was also interesting was the catalyst for everything. It showed a different side of Roth that I wasn’t expecting and explained why he turned evil. But, ultimately, his pride and manipulating ways ended him. I wasn’t sad to see him go, but at the same time, I wondered what if (if you read the book, you know what I am talking about).

The paranormal angle was wonderfully written. I loved that the author incorporated psychics, shifters, and spirits into the storyline. The concept of evil spirits at Roth’s bidding was scary and wasn’t an enemy the group could easily fight. I’m not going to go into much detail, but I loved how the author handled the spirit storyline and the ending of it. It was scary and sad at the same time.

As with all of Reily’s books, romance is very much present. But in this book, it did take a backseat to everything else that was going on. I liked it that way. I liked that the author had Brianna need a moment to think about everything happening between her and Nicholai. She was worried about what her kids (and Caspar) would think. It was normal, and I loved it (spoiler, they could care less).

The end of Shadowed Deliverance seemed almost anti-climatic compared to the other books. I can’t get into much detail, but I was not expecting what happened to Roth. It was a twist that I should have seen coming. I will not go into much after this because there will be spoilers but be prepared to have tissues!! I was openly crying.

I recommend Shadowed Deliverance to anyone over 21. There are language, violence, and nongraphic sexual situations (the author faded to black after kissing).

Many thanks to Reily Garrett for allowing me to read and review Shadowed Deliverance. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed this review of Shadowed Deliverance, then you will enjoy reading these books:

Other books by Reily Garrett:

A Dream of Shadows (The Shadow Bidder: Book 1)by Peter Eliott

Publisher: Further Press

Date of publication: November 1st, 2022

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Shadow Bidder

A Dream of Shadows—Book 1

Purchase Links: Kindle | B&N | AbeBooks

Goodreads Synopsis:

“It is not often that a man steps through a doorway knowing that he has just made the best and worst decision of his entire life.” So declares notorious criminal, Vazeer the Lash, at the start of A Dream of Shadows. Raised in Hell’s Labyrinth, the corrupt city where crime and violence are the order of the day, Vazeer has lived on a knife’s edge his entire adult life working as a contract smuggler. Having turned himself into an educated man, Vazeer longs to retire from his nefarious career, which has always been at odds with the more cultured side of his personality.

His chance comes when he is paid a fortune to bring down The Raving Blade, one of Hell’s Labyrinth’s most infamous and sadistic power brokers. Vazeer joins a rogue’s gallery of expert Shadow Bidders, each a master of a unique set of unsavory skills, to complete one last contract. Among them are a brilliant actress who finds herself playing a key role in a criminal world where she doesn’t belong, and a calm, mysterious assassin, who draws events ever forward towards a series of increasingly dire consequences.

With life and death hanging in the balance, a dangerous romance unfolds. Secrets are revealed and violence erupts, irreversibly blurring the line between good and evil.

Perfect for fans of George RR Martin, Joe Abercrombie, and Patrick Rothfuss, A Dream of Shadows marks the start of a thrilling new literary fantasy series from Peter Eliott.

First Line:

It’s strange the things you remember. When I call up my story, it always drags with itself a smell, a distinct smell, one that intermittently haunts my memories and dreams with the ghostly provocation of a dead lover’s perfume.

A Dream of Shadows by Peter Eliott

Vazeer the Lash wants to retire from his life as a smuggler. Born and raised in Hell’s Labyrinth, a city filled with criminals, smugglers, and murderers, Vazeer longs to leave that life behind and start a new one as a cultured man. He gets his chance when offered a Bid with several other people. If he gets this job down within the time, he will be financially set for the rest of his life. But, in a world where life and death balance on a dangerous edge, Vazeer must balance that line carefully. Because one misstep, one wrong move could send this Bid into a tailspin.

I was immediately intrigued by the blurb for A Dream of Shadows, but I almost didn’t accept the author’s invitation to review. I was over-saturated with reviews for June. But something about this book called to me, and after much thought, I decided to review it. I am glad that I did because this was a great read.

A Dream of Shadows is a fast-paced read. The entire storyline takes place within 48 hours of the Bid being placed. I did find some lag toward the end of the book (when Vazeer is swept through the tunnels), but it didn’t bother me. I also found myself flipping back to previous chapters or making notes about different characters. That did bother me a little, but since I was taking notes anyways, it wasn’t a huge deal.

The storyline for A Dream of Shadows was well-written and complex. It is layered and complex, with nuances and histories that will need more than one book to explain. This twisty storyline also kept me guessing what would happen next. I didn’t know what the next chapter would bring, and I loved that.

Vazeer wasn’t written to be liked, and he was an unreliable narrator. He came across as a snob, and no one liked him except for a minor and a main character. But, weirdly enough, I liked him. He was good at what he did (smuggling), and all he wanted was to retire and surround himself with art, antiques, and books. Oh, and let’s not forget that he is very morally gray. While he proclaimed himself a villain at the beginning of the book, I came to see him as an antihero.

I want to warn you that this book involves a lot of blood, gore, and violence. Considering the city’s violence and who they were going after, I wasn’t surprised.

The end of A Dream of Shadows is one of the bloodiest I have ever read. It also surprised me with the twist that seemingly came out of nowhere. I was surprised at what I read and wondered how Vazeer would deal with the fallout from everything in the upcoming books. I also didn’t quite trust who Vazeer met on the boat. There was something about that person that seemed off to me. Also, I was surprised at who visited Vazeer in his dream state and what that person wanted. I was left with more questions than answers, and hopefully, they will get answered in book 2.

I recommend A Dream of Shadows to anyone over 21. There are nongraphic sexual situations, mild language, and graphic violence.

Many thanks to Peter Eliott for allowing me to read and review A Dream of Shadows. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed this review of A Dream of Shadows, then you will enjoy reading these books:

Jam Run (The Eddie Barrow Series) by Russell Brooks

Publisher:

Date of publication: March 31st, 2023

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Series: The Eddie Barrow Series

Chill Run—Book 1

Jam Run—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:

What if crying out for help made you a target?

Within hours of arriving in Montego Bay, Eddie Barrow and his friend Corey Stephenson witness a gruesome murder outside a bar. When the victim’s sister reaches out for help, they learn of machinations to conceal foreign corporate corruption and a series of horrific sex crimes. However, Barrow and Stephenson’s commitment to solving the case is put to the test once they find themselves in the crosshairs of a ruthless criminal network—one that extends beyond the shores of Jamaica.

First Line:

Eddie Barrow thrust a Jamacian five hundred dollar bill across the counter to the bartender before the other patron could utter a syllable.

Jam Run by Russell Brooks

Eddie and his best friend, Corey, are in Jamacia for Eddie’s book signing. After some urging from Corey, Eddie decides to go to a local bar to unwind after his flight. There, he notices a beautiful girl dancing and then being harassed. Going outside, Eddie catches the tail end of an assault and is assaulted himself. It is while being questioned by the local police that Eddie learns that the beautiful girl is a man and that his murder will not be looked into because the victim is gay. Approached by the victim’s sister, Eddie and Corey decide to investigate the murder. That investigation leads them to a world of horrific sex crimes, a corporate CEO determined to cover up his crimes, and a super secret league of assassins helping them. Will Eddie and Corey solve the murder? Or will they become pawns in the scheme to cover everything up?

When I initially agreed to review this book, I did it because of curiosity. I had read a few reviews before accepting the author’s request, and what I read intrigued me. I am glad that I read Jam Run because this book was fantastic!!

Jam Run is a fast-paced mystery that does take some time to get going. The first few chapters of Jam Run were slow. But it was necessary because the author took his time building up Dwayne’s backstory. After that was built up, the momentum sped up until this book was popping along. The speed at which the book went was necessary for the plotline. Everything that happened to Eddie and Corey happened within a week (give or take a couple of days) of them being in Jamaica. If this book had gone any slower, it would have ruined the story.

I also loved Jam Run’s location. It is set entirely on the island of Jamaica. Instead of showing me the usual resorts and resort-like areas, the author took me on a tour of the towns and parishes that make up the island. I enjoyed it. I want to add that Eddie and Corey spent most of their time in Jamacia, running from Stepmother, Hansel, and Gretel. So, the author did not give a lot of detail about the towns. I didn’t mind because this book was vivid enough. I also want to add that the author does have the Jamaican natives speak in Jamaican Patois. It can be a little tricky to understand (reading-wise), but the author had Eddie or Corey repeat what the speaker was saying in either thought or out loud.

Jam Run is the second book in The Eddie Barrow series. You can read this book as a stand-alone. There are mentions of the previous book sprinkled throughout Jam Run, but that storyline is kept to comments. I recommend reading book 1 (as I always do).

The author weaved two main storylines through Jam Run. There is also a secondary storyline that is intertwined with Dwayne’s murder. That isn’t introduced until halfway through the book.

The first storyline, which was the main one, centered around Dwayne’s murder and Eddie’s investigation into Dwayne’s death. It was a well-written storyline that took somewhat of an unbelievable turn in places. But those twists and turns in the storyline kept me glued to the book.

The second storyline involved Corey and what became his investigation into a group home for special needs adults and children. While the subject matter of both storylines was difficult to stomach, this was the more difficult one for me. What Corey uncovers is directly linked to Eddie’s investigation (even though it didn’t initially seem so).

The secondary storyline that was intertwined with Dwayne’s murder was interesting. I liked how Eddie solved that storyline and outed the person involved. I got a little giggle out of it.

I mentioned that Jam Run has some difficult-to-read aspects of both storylines, which I will explain. The first is the hate crimes against LGBTQ people through the book. Reading from the slurs thrown at them (and their allies) to the violence against them was appalling. As a parent of an LGBTQ person, I was sick to my stomach at how his parents treated Dwayne. And the funeral scene just broke me. I didn’t know that Jamacia had such a stance against the LGBTQ community, and it saddened me to read. Let’s not forget the people in power. The police were as homophobic as the citizens, and the scenes between the police and Eddie made me sick.

The other difficult aspect revolved around the church, conversion camps, a group home for children with special needs, and one of the most horrific sex crimes I have read about to date. I will not get into what happened, but I found it hard to read as a mother. I was physically sick when I realized an innocent man was sent to jail for someone else’s crimes. The whole reveal scene in the hospital was sickening.

The characters in Jam Run were larger than life and memorable. Even the secondary characters left an impression on me, which rarely happens.

I liked Eddie. He might be physically unimposing, but he could use his quick wits and mind to outmaneuver his enemies. He repeatedly showed that while running from Stepmother, Gretel, and Hansel. He also made it a point to tell people he knew things because he READS.

I loved Corey. His relationship with Eddie was one of the best ones I have read to date in a book. He always had Eddie’s back. He was also the brawn to Eddie’s brains. It was refreshing to read a male character that wasn’t afraid to be in touch with his feelings (Eddie wasn’t either, just saying). He is the best friend that everyone wants.

I am going to mention the three bad guys that were featured in Jam Run. The lesser bad guys (including the Reverand, who got his just deserts at the end of the book) were lesser. These three were pure evil, and they had unlimited everything. I loved the nicknames that Eddie gave them at first: Stepmother, Gretel, and Hansel. The author provided little background, except they were tying up loose ends for a corporate CEO. Even the organization they were from was mysterious. But they were evil and didn’t hesitate to kill anyone in their way. I enjoyed their interactions with Eddie (and the Shaft comparison was right on). But I did have questions. And Hansel’s actions at the end of the book made me have even more questions.

The thriller angle of Jam Run was amazingly written. The author kept me on edge with everything that was going on in the book. I felt that I couldn’t take a breath during certain scenes.

The mystery angle of Jam Run was just as well written as the thriller angle. The author kept throwing up red herrings and multiple diversions to the storylines. Then, two massive twists in the storylines had me internally screaming (I couldn’t yell because it was night and everyone was sleeping).

The end of Jam Run had me nervous for Eddie. The author ended the plotlines in Jamaica in a way that made me very happy. But the plotline with the assassins didn’t end. What was said at the meeting made me wonder if they will appear in book 3.

I recommend Jam Run to anyone over 21. There is violence, there is language, and there are sexual situations.

Many thanks to Russell Brooks for allowing me to read and review Jam Run. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed this review of Jam Run, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Russell Brooks: