Tag Archives: mystery

Life, Love and Death: Short Stories by Cat Nicolaou (Book Review)

51mwxeieablTable of Contents

1) The Island of Bliss
2) On Fear and All!
3) On A Rainy Day
4) We Used to Talk
5) The Treehouse
6) She Only Thought I Was Dead
7) Clay Soldiers
8) High Heels, Stockings and Murder
9) The Last Kiss
10) The Nightcaller
11) A Midnight Date
12) Love Like Thorn
13) Hotel California, A Tribute
14) The Last Breath Of Winter
15) An Unexpected Meeting
16) Red Lips
17) Jack In The Box
18) Revolution Imminent
 
 
 
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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 
At 70 pages, this collection is a bargain at .99¢. Out of 18 short, creepy, weirdly fascinating tales, 10 of them can be skipped (IMHO) but, hey, you still have 8 stories worthy of every penny spent on them. 
 
I’m going to discuss the 5 spooky tales that I think are most memorable and worthy of a featured episode on the Twilight Zone. 
 
1. “Island of Bliss” – Sirens have been, and always will be, creepy as all get out! 
2. “The Treehouse” – Twisted, mysterious, with a touch of spookiness thrown in for good measure. Basically, a mighty good read!
3. “Clay Soldiers” – My momma always told me never talk to strangers and, most definitely, NEVER take anything from one. Cat gave us a frightening reason why the heck not. Good read! 
4. “The Nightcaller” – This story ended on a ominous note which bloody delighted me. No pun intended. 🙂
5. “Revolution Imminent” – Cat saved the best for last. This tale will please the readers who think technology will lead to our doom. Yeah, you know there are those out there who believe this with all their hearts. 
 
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤1/2


Cat Nicolaou lives with her family and many pets on a small island in Greece. She grew up surrounded by crystal clear blue waters and beautiful beaches. Living in such a peaceful area, she enjoys the idyllic setting around her. It is therefore not surprising that she likes to write romantic stories. Strolling by the seaside is where she gets all her inspiration. As an ever-romantic herself, she likes writing and reading stories with a happy ending, though she does torment her characters before they find a happy resolution.

 
Not being one of those authors who have been writing since childhood, it came as a real surprise to the people around her when she finally decided to do it. But “When Time Comes”, life has a way to show you what needs to be done and she finally realised that she had to put her stories on paper and let people know her.
The greatest joy of writing for her is seeing where the characters will take her every time she starts a story.
Besides spending time with books, she likes drinking coffee like a maniac and listening to music. She also enjoys riding her motorcycle because it makes her feel free. Do not, therefore, be surprised if her next book includes a biker.
Her debut novella “When Time Comes” was published in February 2015. A story set on the island of Rhodes where a famous rock star and an artist find love that can last forever.

 
Contact Info: 

 

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Deadly Reboot by CJ Matthew (Book Review) (CONTEST INCLUDED!!)

In honor of FLAG DAY, June 14, and all the veterans who served under OLD GLORY, CJ Matthew and I are offering a star spangled contest featuring Deadly Reboot, Paladin Group book 1. 
 
But before we dive into the rules to enter, first we’d like to introduce one of the prizes — Deadly Reboot. 
 
 

 

Still risking their lives…The Paladin Group. Ginger Odom has sworn to become self-reliant… Until she is arrested in a small town and framed for the murder of a police officer. Seems everyone in the community wants her behind bars, regardless of the truth, so her aunt enlists the help of the Paladin Group. A team of wounded former military men and woman, now civilian lawyers and investigators, they rescue people in serious trouble. Hale Peters is determined to ignore his knee injury… The former Air Force Pararescueman, wounded during a rocket attack on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, accepts his first reboot for Paladin. His mission—keep Ginger safe until he can prove her innocence—becomes a bigger challenge than expected when he and Ginger clash over who’s in charge. The Devil Dogs just want to help… The group of older veterans steps up to assist, but when Ginger’s life is threatened by the real killer, Hale and Ginger need to work together if they hope to stay alive.

 
 
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)
 
Despite the lack of “Who done it” in this mystery novel, I actually really enjoyed it. Why? Because of the cast…… plain and simple. 


CJ didn’t have a group of young, buff, 6-pack sporting, Dwayne Johnson look-alike, guys handling the case of “Who really shot Officer Ivey?” 
 
Nope, she had military veterans, men/women injured in battle working the case. Heck, the youngest man from the Devil Dog crew was 64. Heck, they even had a beagle (Grunt) getting into the thick of things. 

 
Favorite Devil Dog –> Hale, lead investigator. He walked with a cane and used it as a weapon, too. Oh yes, he’s still pretty badass!! 
 
Seriously, you couldn’t find a more diverse cast of characters. 
 
With that said, there is something I would change about Deadly Reboot(small gripe). I wasn’t a fan of the county and town’s name being so closely related. Erinville and Erin County. I thought a bit more imagination could’ve been used here, but really as Shakespeare once said, “What’s in a name?”
 
Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤
 
ORDER YOUR KINDLE OR PRINT COPY TODAY!! 



 

 

Now that we’ve gotten the review out of the way, I wanna know WHO IS READY TO WIN?
 
Ladies and Gents, CJ is offering ONE LUCKY WINNER a spectacular
prize package. 
 
In it, the winner will receive the following items: One Paladin Group coffee mug, a SIGNED PAPERBACK copy of Deadly Reboot, a DR book mark, a fancy DR key chain. In addition to these wonderful prizes, CJ will also be tossing in a few Flag Day extras in celebration of the national holiday.
 

 

And guess what? This amazing contest is open to anyone; no matter
where you call home!! 
 
To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment below answering one of these questions.


A.) What I love about my country?
  B.) Tell us about the special veteran in your life?
C.) What branch of service (and country) do you serve or did serve?
 
You’ll have until Wednesday (midnight, central time) to enter. THURSDAY morning, I will post the winner’s name and attempt to message you. Please
follow the comment thread or check back on THURSDAY to see if you are the lucky recipient of this amazing prize package. 
 
 
Good
luck!!!
 



CJ Matthew is the author of paranormal romance suspense series Dolphin Shore Shifters. Her debut novel, Blood Tide, features a pod of dolphins posing as humans that work through their oceanic conservation corporation Save Blue Water, based in Santa Barbara, California, to protect the oceans at any cost.
CJ grew up in an Air Force family that travelled all over the U.S. and around the world. She spent her high school and university years living in California, which inspired her love of marine life and the Pacific Ocean.

A member of Georgia Romance Writers (GRW) Romance Writers of America, CJ lives and writes near a lake in the woods northeast of Atlanta. When she isn’t writing or reading romances, CJ likes to travel and to spend time with her two grown children, a brilliant grandson and a feisty cat named Max.

Website Link
Twitter
Facebook
Amazon author page
Goodreads author page

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A Legacy of Love and Murder by Brenda Whiteside (Book Review)

 
 

In Austria to meet her great-grandfather and explore his castle estate filled with priceless art, August Myer arrives to find he’s died suspiciously. As one of the heirs, her life is in danger, turning this fairytale Alpine adventure into a nightmare of veiled threats, unexplained accidents, and murder.

Inspector Tobias Wolf splits his time between his profession and fighting the spread of neo-Nazism. But when the beautiful, intriguing American crosses his path during a murder investigation, ensuring her safety challenges his priorities…and his heart.

When August learns the handsome inspector is concealing a personal involvement and the death of her great-grandfather is somehow connected, she takes the investigation into her own hands. The outcome could be the death of both of them.

 

 
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 

(Per the author’s request, I am posting a WARNING my review does contain the villain’s name. Proceed with caution!)

 
Eike used her body to get what she wanted, hurt and orchestrated the deaths or attempted to kill off anyone who got in her way. In medical terms, she would be classified as a narcissist or a psychopath. However, I think anybody who reads this book would proudly label her a total BIOTCH or as my momma would say, a gold-digging hussy!! 
 
Brenda, congrats on creating a character even my momma would proclaim needed a good ass whopping. 


Oh and Wolf, he sure knows how to rescue a woman….. in style – as in a silver Porsche. 


What a ride, Wolf. Oh, and you ain’t so bad yourself either. 
 
 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: ❤❤❤❤

 
 

 

Convinced she was born to be an artist, Brenda never took her love of writing seriously. And then one day, sometime after college, after marrying a man doing a stint in the army, and after the birth of her son, she found more satisfaction filling a blank page with words than an empty canvas with color.
 

Brenda and her husband are gypsies at heart having lived in six states and two countries. Currently, they split their time between the prairie in Northern Arizona and the RV life near Roosevelt Lake. At home or in the RV, she spends most of her time writing stories of discovery and love entangled with suspense.

 
Visit Brenda at www.brendawhiteside.com.
 
She blogs on the 9th and 24th of every month at http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com
 
She blogs about prairie life on her personal blog http://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/

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Journey of an American Soldier by John Hazen (Book Review)

  

In 1920, the chance to travel to India on a business trip is a great boon for a smart and talented young man. Until he wakes up in a Calcutta jail, framed for murder. Benjamin Albert is a brilliant rising star at his firm, a war hero and a loving husband and father. But when his own government turns its back on him and leaves him to rot in prison 8,000 miles from home, his wife Catherine must take matters into her own hands and battle a ruthless and unscrupulous corporation abetted by a corrupt colonial government. Timeless issues like racism, anti-Semitism, nationalism and women’s rights are exposed during Catherine’s race to save Benjamin.

 

 
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 
First thing I liked about Journey of an American Son was the multiple strong roles (male and female) created by John . Hirsch (Harry) traveled to America with his family for the opportunity of a better life. Starting over is hard but starting over in a foreign land, that’s takes guts and determination. Traits also found in his wife (Molly), son (Ben), Catherine (Ben’s wife), and Sergeant Jones. 
 
As a matter of fact, this whole tale kept showcasing their strengths in some form or fashion. The four mentioned above had their share of joys and their share of losses. John wrote a book that didn’t just touch of the bright moments of a person(s) life. So if you are looking for a upbeat story, then I’d pass on this. However, if you want to “live” through their struggles right alongside them, then I suggest going for the ride. It sure as hell is a bumpy one, but one I think you’ll like. 
 
John is, if nothing else, a very detailed writer. Case in point, the trench scene. The action practically exploded off the pages. 
 
One last thing I’d like to remark about: I’m a fast reader but Ben’s capacity to fly through the pages was astonishing. 550 pages in 45 min and can retain all the info/recite it verbatim…. Seriously, that is quite a feat. 
 
 
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤
 
PURCHASE LINKS:  Paperback / Kindle
 
 
 
Don’t let the gray hair fool you; writing keeps me forever young! Author of four acclaimed suspense novels and working on more!
 
Connect with John via his website or on Twitter.

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The Art of Love and Murder by Brenda Whiteside (Book Review)

April 22, 2014 
 

Lacy Dahl never questioned her past until the deaths of her adoptive parents and her husband. A husband who wasn’t what he seemed. Her research uncovers secrets about the mother she never knew; secrets that dispute the identity of her father and threaten her life.

Sheriff Chance Meadowlark is still haunted by the murder of his wife and the revenge he unleashed in the name of justice. When he meets Lacy he is determined not to become involved, but their pasts may make that impossible. As they move closer to the truth, saving Lacy may be his only salvation.

Lacy begins to think the present is more important than her past…until Chance’s connection to her mother and a murder spin her deeper into danger and further from love. Will the truth destroy Lacy and Chance or will it be the answer that frees them?

 
 
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 
I’ve grown accustomed to stories having one, maybe two whackadoodles but Brenda had the crazies popping up every which way we (me and the characters) looked. Three nutcases make for some stimulating reading material which is the point of any great author. A writer does want a reader to remember them, buy more books. 

I can safely say I don’t think I will ever forget Clark, Kitty, or Professor Sheffield. 

One thing did surprise me regarding The Art of Love and Murder.

With so many people causing trouble for Lacy, it’s a wonder she found time for lovin’ but I guess you can’t very well have a damsel in distress without a savior. 

Speaking of her savior, Chance might’ve not come riding to her rescue on a horse but he owns a Harley and that’s way better in my book. 

HEA

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)  
Score: ❤❤❤

Paperback  / Kindle 
 
 

Convinced she was born to be an artist, Brenda never took her love of writing seriously. And then one day, sometime after college, after marrying a man doing a stint in the army, and after the birth of her son, she found more satisfaction filling a blank page with words than an empty canvas with color.

 
Brenda and her husband are gypsies at heart having lived in six states and two countries. Currently, they split their time between the prairie in Northern Arizona and the RV life near Roosevelt Lake. At home or in the RV, she spends most of her time writing stories of discovery and love entangled with suspense.

Visit Brenda at www.brendawhiteside.com.

Or on FaceBook: www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/brendawhitesid2

She blogs on the 9th and 24th of every month at http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com

She blogs about prairie life on her personal blog http://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/

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