Slaughtered Review Tour

Blurb:

The Texter

Fallen homicide detective, Jack Slaughter, closes the door on the home where his perfect family has been brutally snatched from him. Moving across the city, he works as a private investigator to fund his own investigation into what happened to his family—who killed his little girl, Zoë, and where is his wife, Leah?

Every three month for the last three years, Jack receives a simple text telling him where he can find his missing wife. There’s a body at each location, but none of them are Leah.

Jack hates missing person’s cases, but they’re his bread and butter. He only takes the case to find Carl Boyd's missing wife because the details of her disappearance closely match Leah’s. He hopes by finding Bonnie Boyd, he'll find his own wife.

The Butcher

Following the leads in the Bonnie Boyd case, Jack discovers someone has been killing women all over the city for the last three years, a fact Jack’s ex-partner and still best friend, Ray Navarro, has neglected to tell him. The city has a serial killer and officials haven’t been able to find a single lead on the person they’ve dubbed The Butcher.

Could Bonnie Boyd’s disappearance be linked to The Butcher? More important, was Leah one of The Butcher’s victims? Could he have gone so far as to murder a child?

With every clue Jack weaves together, the more his own life unravels.

Excerpt:

It wasn’t long after that night when Jack couldn’t seem to get his shit together and had taken a sabbatical from the department. When he hadn’t returned after a year, he was asked to turn in his badge. His commander left it open for his return when Jack was ready—and he had planned on going back to work—but after three years, he couldn’t seem to find the same enthusiasm he’d once had for the work. He only tolerated investigative work because it gave him the funds he needed to continue his own investigation—finding his daughter’s killer and his wife. But how could he return to work as a police detective when his family’s case was still cold? He’d failed to protect them. He couldn’t fail at finding the perpetrator.

Jack swung open one of the building’s big glass doors and quickly gazed around the wide, open foyer. To his left, he was immediately taken aback by the display that greeted him. The Spiral of Gratitude memorial to all fallen officers floored him every time he entered the building. The monument consisted of a long, glass tube that was suspended from a large skylight. It was big enough for a sizeable man like himself to comfortably stand inside with outstretched arms and not touch the sides. The inside of the glass was inscribed with an emotive poem by Margo Perin that spiraled in a single continuous line down from the skylight.

Somehow, the words "Never do we have the gift of goodbye. The only choice is to carry on, make our peace" always stood out to him. If his family’s case was never solved, could he find the courage to one day make peace with the losses in his family and find his own peace?

My Review:

4.5 stars

This was a thrilling, pulse-pounding adventure from page one. While the plot was a tad slow at times, for the most part they mystery grabbed my attention and dragged me along all the twists and turns. The intrigue behind not only the mystery at hand, but Jack’s tragic past kept me turning pages, and I ended up liking and relating to Jack more than I thought I would.

However, I was a bit confused by the ending, as I felt there were a number of unanswered questions that I wasn’t expecting. Plus, there’s one heck of a cliffhanger, and I feel like that particular mystery is going to be dragged out over multiple books, which sucked a bit because I really want to know what happened. All in all though, this was a great thriller and a promising new series.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

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Author Bio and Links:

K.A. Lugo is a native Northern Californian who grew up in Carmel-by-the-Sea, part of a larger community founded by artists and writers, including John Steinbeck, George Sterling, and Jack London. Over the years, she's worked with several Carmel notables, but it was in 1997 she left the employ of Clint Eastwood to live in Ireland for six months. It was during this time she met the man she would marry, and relocated to live in Ireland.

While always writing since a very young age, K.A. earned her keep in Ireland as one of the country's foremost travel consultants who also wrote travel articles about Ireland.

Since 2005, K.A. has published fourteen titles in genres including romantic suspense, erotic romance, cozy mystery, and now thrillers.

Slaughtered is the first in the new highly acclaimed Jack Slaughter Thriller series, set in San Francisco, a city close to K.A.'s heart.

K.A. loves hearing from readers and promises to reply to each message. Please visit her socials to stay up-to-date on this exciting new series.

Website - http://www.jackslaughterthrillers.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KALugoAuthor

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ka_lugo

Blog - http://jackslaughter.blogspot.com

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/KALugo

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/profile/k-a-lugo

Tirgearr Publishing – http://www.tirpub.com/kalugo

The book is on sale for $0.99.

Sun Storm Review Tour

Blurb:

In Montana to prove her portable solar panel can solve the world’s energy problems, naïve scientist, Dr. Marie Wilson must first fight to survive, and then expose the powerful businessman intent on destroying her life’s work.

Ex-special forces soldier, David Quinn is haunted by the horrors of combat, and yearns to be left alone with his beehives, but agrees to do one last job for his old mentor.

When the scariest man she’s ever met becomes her savior, Marie discovers a heart of gold beats beneath his surly demeanor.

Excerpt:

“I want him dead. Do you hear me?” There was no mistaking Marshall’s distinctive upper-class New England accent or the urgency in his voice. A rush of adrenaline surged through David as he dashed to the door of Portman’s office.

“You were supposed to shoot him as soon as you got to the cabin. Before he suspected—”

David stopped. The old fashioned oak door wasn’t open, but it wasn’t completely closed either. The latch hadn’t caught, leaving the door ajar.

There was something about Marshall’s tone. David could picture him clenching his teeth while he talked. The president of Public Domain Energy wasn’t in danger—he was angry.

David held his breath as he listened.

“You said he was burned out—he had no fight left in him.” The effect of Pretty Boy Brad’s combative tone was lessened by his nasal wheeze.

“He’s a hot-shot Special Forces screw-up. Do you really think he would stand there and let you—?”

“You said he was broken after that incident where he shot his own man. According to your intel, putting a bullet in him should have been easy.”

They were talking about him. David dug his fingers into his palms to establish he was awake and this wasn’t some awful nightmare. A cold vice tightened around his chest, making it difficult to breathe.

“There were three of you and one of him. How did he get the better of you? You were supposed to kill him, the woman, and make it look like a murder-suicide,” Portman spat.

My Review:

4 stars

This was a fun, straightforward, and action-packed adventure. We knew who the bad guys were and why they were doing this. While I’ll admit this did get a tad boring at times, the romance and unexpected details helped spice it up and keep me reading. For example, the scientific background of the story was thought out and plausible, rather than just being used as a plot device, which was a nice bonus.

In addition, I liked Marie and David and their unusual initial meeting. I won’t spoil why, but let’s just say it’s not what I was expecting. Plus, the witty banter between the two was a nice counterpart to the suspense and action.

Overall, while the suspense sometimes hit some ups and downs, the overall story and characters provided a fun, light-hearted romantic suspense journey.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

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Author Bio and Links:

After being thrown out of England for refusing to drink tea, Marlow Kelly made her way to Canada where she found love, a home and a pug named Max. She also discovered her love of storytelling. Encouraged by her husband, children and let’s not forget Max, she started putting her ideas to paper. She enjoys writing suspenseful, fast-paced romance stories that always feature strong women. 

Marlow is an award-winning author and a member of the Romance Writers of America.

For more information about Marlow’s books check out her website.

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A Magic Redemption Review Tour

Blurb:

Synn, a demon, carries extraordinary magic and power, but there is more within her than she dreams. Kidnapped as a child, her captors murdered her family and forced her into training as a warrior assassin. When an assignment goes horribly wrong, she finds herself at the mercy of the friends and family of her intended target.  Offering valuable information in exchange for protection, she gains her freedom, but it is not without its challenges.

Gavin Shaughnessy is the publican at his family’s Irish pub.  He is certain Synn is meant to be his and isn’t bothered by her past.  He must find a way to convince her, their future together is stronger than the dark memories that haunt her dreams.

When her past comes calling for revenge, will their love survive the raging inferno she brings down upon them? Or will the searing path of destruction destroy all they hold dear?

Excerpt:

The road to her cottage took them by the pub. He didn’t want to spoil a great day by stopping by Shaughnessy’s. But he had a nagging feeling that was exactly what he was supposed to do. Prior experience taught him nothing but trouble would come if he ignored his gut. “Mind if we stop by the pub on the way home. Storm can stay in the truck for a few minutes. I want to make sure—”

“Everything is all right?”

“Of course it’s all right. I’ve taken time off before.” Gavin bristled. “I had a life before—” He stopped mid-sentence. No way was he going to spoil this day.

She shifted in her seat to face him. “Before what? Me? Before your sister married an assassin? Or Brandy became engaged to a vampire? Before your world came crashing down amid demons, vampires, witches, and world ending shit?” She paused, closed her eyes, and leaned her head against the seat again. “I didn’t mean that. I’ve been on edge since the dream—nightmare—premonition. Call it what you want. Today was a nice reprieve. But when we hit the edge of town—what’d you call ’em—” she tapped her temple. “My spidey senses went off.” She shivered.

My Review:
4 stars

To start, this is book 5 in a series, but works as a stand-alone. There were references to the earlier books, but enough background information was provided, so it still made sense.

I enjoyed the characters, particularly Synn, as her growth throughout the book was one of the best parts. Though the puppy was a show stealer as well. I was a bit more mixed on Gavin, though a part of that was because his and Synn’s chemistry was awkward.

I also enjoyed the story. Twists, action-packed scenes, and plenty of descriptions (especially with the mythology), this story had it all. However, the pacing was off. The plot would go from ambling along to racing ahead to something in between.

Overall, this was a fun read, and I can’t wait to read the other books in the series and learn more about this world.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

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Author Bio and Links:

Tena Stetler is a best-selling author of award winning paranormal romance. She has an over-active imagination, which led to writing her first vampire romance as a tween to the chagrin of her mother and delight of her friends. After many years as a paralegal, then an IT Manager, she decided to live out her dream of pursuing a publishing career.

With the Rocky Mountains outside her window, she sits at her computer surrounded by a wide array of witches, shapeshifters, demons, faeries, and gryphons, with a Navy SEAL or two mixed in telling their tales. Her books tell stories of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Travel, adventure and a bit of mystery flourish in her books along with a few companion animals to round out the tales.

Colorado is home; shared with her husband of many moons, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-five-year-old box turtle. When she’s not writing, her time is spent kayaking, camping, hiking, biking  or just relaxing in the great Colorado outdoors. During the winter you can find her curled up in front of a crackling fire with a good book, a mug of hot chocolate and a big bowl of popcorn.

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One of One Review Tour

Blurb:

A young Nigerian telepath faces a crisis. After Somadina’s sister is forced into a frightening marriage, Somadina cannot find her sibling or even her thoughts. She seeks another telepath to help.

What she finds is Lola, a busy Texan scientist who has ignored the disturbing phenomenon in her mind for decades, and has no intention of embracing this nonsense now. Yet these two have more in common than they know, and a powerful link will be forged.

Once Somadina discovers her sister is a pawn in a dangerous political game, the stakes rise for everyone, including an ancient organization of telepaths compelled to intervene. Both women are stronger than they realize, and they have ignited the wrath of a fanatic willing to kill anyone to alter his nation’s future.

Excerpt:

On Wednesday Lola decided to sleep in late, then spend a few hours by the pool relaxing before the nineteen-hour trip home. Sleep came and went that night, with nothing upsetting. It wasn't until morning that she felt the sense of turmoil.

You're leaving? You just got here. You can't go! It was an unmistakable thought, as clear as if it had come from a distraught lover, needy parent, or clingy friend. There was anger and disappointment. Even a bit of panic. Who the hell cared if she stayed in Nigeria?

Impatiently, she got out of bed, began to gather together her toiletries. Leave me alone, she thought with vehemence. I do not want to hear from you. Whoever you are. Get out of my head.

Then to herself. Stop thinking this is real. It is not. You have a thirteen-year-old daughter and two other kids counting on you and this is absolutely no time in your life to have mental issues. You are fine. Get a grip. Act like a normal person.

She took a moment and sat in the uncomfortable easy chair and forced herself to use the mental imagery she had learned in Lamaze classes so long ago. Instead of picturing a beautiful lake at sunset like they had taught her to do in order to relax, she pictured the giant steel doors to a vault, glimmering in a cold artificial light, clanking closed in her head. The doors seemed to work. She got out of the chair feeling better. As she finished packing and headed poolside for lunch, she felt fine, although strangely alone.

My Review:
4 stars

I have to admit, it was odd reading this book. You see, I previously reviewed the final book in the 46 Ascending series, which featured numerous characters from this book. Coming to the beginning of the series after seeing where everything ended definitely provided a different perspective. So, with that in mind, here are my likes and dislikes.

I love the amount of research this author puts into her books. This time, it was regarding Nigerian culture and socio-political history, which really added to the story. The author even included links to allow the reader to go and learn more if they so desired. I also enjoyed the ethics exploration regarding telepathy. I always love exploring ethical angles like this, so to see it delved into in a well-thought-out manner was great.

On the downside, the pacing was problematic. There was slow build-up, followed by details flying, followed by dumps of science information trying to explain how telepathy is possible, etc. There was a lot going on, which made it hard to focus on all the different plot points at times. Also, some of the plot twists were a bit out there, but again, having read the end of the series, this didn’t bother me as much as it would have had I read this book first.

All in all, this is an interesting series, and having read how the series begins and ends, I would recommend giving this book a try if you’re looking for something different (and are a sci-fi fan).

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

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Author Bio and Links:

Sherrie Roth grew up in Western Kansas thinking there was no place in the universe more fascinating than outer space. After her mother vetoed astronaut as a career ambition, she went on to study journalism and physics in hopes of becoming a science writer.

She published her first science fiction short story long ago, and then waited a lot of tables while she looked for inspiration for the next story. When it finally came, it declared to her it had to be a whole book, nothing less. One night, while digesting this disturbing piece of news, she drank way too many shots of ouzo with her boyfriend. She woke up thirty-one years later demanding to know what was going on.

The boyfriend, who she had apparently long since married, asked her to calm down and explained how, in a fit of practicality, she had gone back to school and gotten a degree in geophysics and spent the last 28 years interpreting seismic data in the oil industry. The good news, according to Mr. Cronin, was that she had found it to be entertaining and ridiculously well-paying. The bad news was the two of them had still managed to spend almost all of the money.

Apparently she was now Mrs. Cronin, and further good news was that they had produced three wonderful children whom they loved, even though, to be honest, that was where a lot of the money had gone. Even better news was that Mr. Cronin turned out to be a warm-hearted, encouraging sort who was happy to see her awake and ready to write. "It's about time," were his exact words.

Sherrie Cronin discovered that over the ensuing decades Sally Ride had already managed to become the first woman in space and apparently had done a fine job of it. No one, however, had written the book that had been in Sherrie's head for decades. The only problem was, the book informed her it had now grown into a six book collection. Sherrie decided she better start writing it before it got any longer. She's been wide awake ever since, and writing away.

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46 Ascending

Face Painting for World Peace

Fire Dancing for Fun and Profit

Treasure Hunting for a Good Time

Leaving the Nest to Touch the Sky 

Touching the Sky to Save the World

Take a Chance on Me Review Tour

Blurb:

Kate Zell and Brody Carlson have been best friends since elementary school. Their relationship had always been easy. Both of them loyal to a fault, they had been there for each other through everything: heartbreaks, hangovers, and tragedy. So when Kate needs a place to stay for three months, Brody doesn’t think twice about agreeing. After all, they had known each other forever. Would could go wrong living with his closest and oldest friend?

Apparently, everything. Three months in a small apartment becomes more than complicated. Brody shouldn’t be attracted to his dorky best friend…he most definitely shouldn’t. That would be absurd. She’s a relationship girl and he’s more a one-night-sans-clothes kind of guy.

One drunken dare of strip poker changes everything. Suddenly, two people with too much to lose play a dangerous game. The unapologetic playboy and the girl-next-door have a choice to make, if only their pasts didn’t keep getting in the way of their future.

Excerpt:

“I have to bat. Don’t punish me too much, please?” She puppy-dog eyed me before jogging off. She hit a solid single to right field and jumped up and down, so excited that she slipped off the bag.

“You good?” I shouted, not even trying to hide my laughter.

“Emotionally bruised. That’s all.” She brushed the dirt off her ass and ran like a fool when the next person hit a triple. She jogged up to me, out of breath with her hands on her knees. “Lay it on me. What do I have to do?”

“Go on a date with me. Don’t overthink it.”

“Wait, that’s it?” She looked up at me with a furrowed brow. “A date?”

“Yes.”

“You? On a date? With me?”

“Yes, that is typically how it works, right? Or is that not what people do anymore?”

“But…Brody.” She shook her head and kicked the dirt, running her foot back and forth. “It’s you.”

“What does that mean, exactly?” Anger crept up my chest.

“You don’t do ‘dates.’” Her little air quotes pissed me off.

“I don’t really care what I do or don’t do. You lost the bet. Your punishment is a date. End of, Shorty.” I ran a hand down her arm, squeezing. “Turn off your overactive brain.”

A smile broke through her barriers, and she bit her delicious lip. “Okay. When?”

“You’ll get details at a later date.” I puffed my chest and tried not to appear too smug.

“Oh, so your people will call my people?” She snorted, shoving me in the side.

“You realize I do have people, right?”

“Oh, my God. I forgot. You do.”

“So, I need to hear a yes.”

“Sure. I guess. I don’t have a choice.” She grumbled and picked up her glove to walk to her car.

“No, you don’t.”

My Review:

4 stars

This was such a fun book. I loved the characters, especially Kate and Brody. Kate just cracked me up, and Brody was right there with her. Their chemistry was amazing, and I couldn’t help but root for them from the get-go. The plot was entertaining and interesting as well, but my favorite part was the humor. I lost count of how many times I laughed while reading this book. Whether it was the teasing between two old friends or the crazy shenanigans they got into, I was chortling from start to finish. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a funny, lighthearted romance. Just be prepared to laugh a lot while reading.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

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Author Bio and Links:

Jaqueline Snowe lives in Arizona where the “dry heat” really isn't that bad. She enjoys making lists with colorful sticky notes and sipping on coffee all day. She has been a custodian, waitress, landscaper, coach, and a high school teacher. Her life revolves around 200 high school kids, her two dogs who don't realize they aren't humans, and her wonderful, baseball-loving husband.

Visit http://www.jaquelinesnowe.com/ to find out more about the author and her writing. She loves to hear from readers—so don’t be shy, send her a message!

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NOTE: THIS BOOK WILL BE $0.99 DURING THE TOUR

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Island on Fire Review Tour

Blurb:

In the lush, tropical world of Martinique where slavery is a distant memory and voodoo holds sway, Emilie Dujon discovers that her fiancé, a rich sugar planter, has been unfaithful. Desperate to leave him, she elicits the aid of a voodoo witch doctor and is lured into a shadowy world of black magic and extortion. When the volcano known as Mount Pelée begins to rumble and spew ash, she joins a scientific committee sent to investigate the crater. During the journey she meets Lt. Denis Rémy, an army officer with a mysterious past.

At the summit, the explorers discover that a second crater has formed and the volcano appears to be on the verge of eruption. But when they try to warn the governor, he orders them to bury the evidence for fear of upsetting the upcoming election. As the pressure builds, a deadly mudslide inundates Emilie’s plantation and she disappears. With ash and cinders raining down, chaos ensues. Left with no choice, Lt. Rémy deserts his post and sets off on a desperate quest to rescue Emilie. But with all roads blocked, can they escape the doomed city of St. Pierre before it’s too late?

Excerpt:

Emilie’s muslin dress was soaked with sweat. Heat and humidity hung in the

air like a wet blanket. She glanced over at Lucien, but he was staring at the smoldering volcano with a mixture of fear and awe. Dear God, she prayed, please don’t let me die together with Lucien. Not here, not now. Shutters flew open as fearful residents peered out into the darkness. A few horses broke free of their reins and were galloping down the street, chased by their furious owners. How quickly panic took over the frightened residents. Emilie pushed open the carriage door and scrambled outside. Lucien and Violette joined her, and they stood by the side of the road, watching the scene unfold before them like spectators to a disaster. To their horror, ash and volcanic dust rained down on their heads while the ground continued to shake.

Emilie’s heart raced and she felt as if she was having a nightmare. Boom! An explosion like cannon fire rocked the carriage. In the distance, the mountain appeared to be glowing. The blast was followed by a loud rumbling noise and tremors that shook the earth. Her first thought was that the world was coming to an end.

My Review:

4 stars

This was a fantastic read. The worldbuilding was amazing, the plot intriguing, and the drama/suspense non-stop and building. You can definitely tell the author did her research, and I loved the way she made the island and its people come to life. Even though I knew the volcano was going to blow, I was still kept on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen with the characters and the expedition. The only disappointing part was the romance between Remy and Emilie. It just didn’t seem to fit with the rest of the story, both in pacing and…pizzazz. I didn’t feel the chemistry between them, which made it hard to care about their romance while everything else was going on. However, I still enjoyed the story very much, and I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves historical thrillers.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

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Author Bio and Links:

Sophie Schiller was born in Paterson, NJ and grew up in the West Indies. She loves stories that carry the reader back in time to exotic and far-flung locations. Kirkus Reviews called her "an accomplished thriller and historical adventure writer”. Her latest novel is Island on Fire, a thriller about the worst volcanic disaster of the 20th century, the Pompeii of the Caribbean. She was educated at American University, Washington, DC and lives in Brooklyn, NY

Website: https://sophieschiller.blogspot.com/

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/SchillerSophie/

Facebook Book Page:  https://www.facebook.com/Island-on-Fire-898938183595340/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/SophieSchiller

Buy Link for e-book:

https://www.amazon.com/Island-Fire-Sophie-Schiller-ebook/dp/B079QFVG49/

Paperback – Special low price of $10.99 at Amazon and B&N:

B&N:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/island-on-fire-sophie-schiller/1128211308?ean=9781986210782

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