The Summer Nanny Review Tour

Blurb:

It was the perfect summer job—until it turned into her worst nightmare.

Bridgett is enjoying an idyllic summer as the nanny for Leo, the son of Paul and Emily Cooper—a famous actor and renowned charity founder. Not only is she generously compensated to care for Leo at the couple’s Seattle waterfront estate, she develops a special bond with the little boy. In addition to the financial perks of the job, Bridgett has fallen into a summer love affair with Chris, a landscaper who works at the property.

It’s the Fourth of July. Leo’s parents are holding a major event for their charity at the top of the Space Needle. When a masked intruder breaks into the home and takes Leo hostage, Bridgett will do anything to save the boy’s life. She complies with the burglar’s demands to retrieve a multi-million-dollar heirloom necklace from the home, yet she quickly discovers that he hasn’t come for the necklace at all…

Detectives Blake Stephenson and Tess Richards are celebrating the Fourth at the Cooper’s charity gala where Tess is being honored for her volunteer work. However, their evening is dampened when Tess’s younger brother, Chris, fails to show up for the event. As they leave the event early, hoping to find answers, they learn the security system is down at the Cooper’s mansion…and that Chris isn’t the only one missing from the party.

Get ready for chills and thrills in this Emerald City Thriller Novella!

Excerpt:

She bent over to check the floor around the kitchen island when a loud static noise came over the baby monitor. Every muscle in her body stiffened as she stared at the small lit-up screen in her hand. Instead of seeing Leo's small sleeping form, a figure wearing a full black ski mask filled the camera's frame.

Bridgett's hands trembled as the ski-masked intruder cocked his head to the side and took slow, deliberate steps toward the camera. The camera shook and the screen went dark as the intruder pulled it from the wall. Once the camera had been readjusted, the ski-masked face filled the screen.

He held a cell phone in front of his mouth, and a computerized voice came through the monitor.

"You can stop looking for your phone. I have it."

He must’ve been using an app to disguise his voice. Bridgett held down the Talk button on her hand-held monitor. "Please—don't hurt Leo."

The masked figure turned his head toward the boy's crib. "He's fine. At least he will be if you do exactly what I say."

She blinked through her tears and pressed the Talk button again. "I'll do whatever you want. Don't hurt him—please!"

The camera moved away from the ski-masked face and panned to the side. It stopped, focusing on the large blade in the man's gloved hand.

"That is entirely up to you," the computerized voice said.

My Review:
4 stars

This was a fast paced read, full of action, suspense, and a bit of horror. You never knew what was coming next. Also, for such a short book, there was plenty of character development to go along with the twists and turns, which I was pleasantly surprised with.

My only complaint is that I would have liked to see more of the aftermath, as the story felt incomplete. We found out whodunit and why, which was the main point, but everything happened so fast and then the story was over, with a potential cliffhanger as to what would happen next. It felt like the first half of an episode of Law & Order, ending before the courtroom part of the episode where you see the aftermath of the crime.

I would like to see a follow-up sequel, because I feel like these characters have more to tell about this sordid tale, but even if there isn’t one, I would recommend this book if you’re looking for a gripping, pulse-pounding summer read.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

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Author Bio and Links:

Audrey J. Cole is a registered nurse and a writer of thrillers set in Seattle. After living in Australia for the last five years, Audrey has returned to the Pacific Northwest where she resides with her husband and two children.

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The book is on sale for $0.99.