thriller

Cleaning out the read-and-enjoyed pile once again December 11, 2023

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

New twists and turns make it an excellent read. I think that is what I loved most about this first book, because new and unique always adds to the attraction. Definitely a 5 star experience.

Tone Death (The School of Hard Rocks Mysteries Book 3)

Camryn Paine is all ears when it comes to solving crimes. . .

Annie King, a popular social media personality, is being threatened and requests Camryn’s help. Before Camryn can uncover the truth about what’s going on, Annie nearly dies while filming her show. With Annie in the hospital, Camryn is compelled to do whatever she can to help.

Camryn’s con artist father is released from prison and wants a second chance to make things right between them. However, she suspects there’s more to his sudden appearance than he’s revealing. Is he looking for redemption or does he have yet another con up his sleeve?

Danger escalates, and Camryn turns to the one man she can count on to help her solve the crimes—her former love, popular country singer Weston Turner. He’s there for her now, but she fears he’ll leave again and take her heart along.

With so much on the line, Camryn must hit all the right notes . . . before the outro leaves her at death’s doorstep.

******************

Another 5 star read that I really enjoyed. Again, it’s the new and fresh twists and turns that make this so good.

Where Grace Appears: Contemporary Inspirational Fiction with a Little Women Twist (The Orchard House Bed and Breakfast Series Book 1)

Ashamed of being duped by her handsome psychology professor, Josie Martin returns to Maine too proud to admit her foolishness to those closest to her. As the one-year anniversary of her father’s death approaches, she seeks solace in an old friend, Tripp Colton, and a new business venture that will prove to herself and her loved ones that she is still capable of success despite her overwhelming failure.

When Josie announces she will not return to school to finish her graduate degree but wishes to remain in Camden to help her mother achieve a lifelong dream, the entire family gets behind her idea to open and run a bed and breakfast inspired by Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House. Even Tripp gets excited about restoring Josie’s great-aunt’s Victorian home for the purpose, but when Josie’s unexpected news is revealed, their friendship and the new feelings blooming between them are threatened.

As summer gives way to fall, Josie struggles with decisions regarding her family’s future, dealing with past mistakes she cannot run from, and her feelings for Tripp. When the opportunity for grace comes along, will she take it? Or will she continue to allow her failures to define her worth?

*****************

Now for a whole batch, starting with the best. Actually, they were all good, really.

***************

Currently I’m enjoying book 2 of this collection.

Rose Mountain Refuge Complete Collection: Three Thrilling Suspense Novels

HOLIDAY HIDEOUT
No matter where she goes, Dr. Abby Sullivan can’t escape her past—or a stalker’s threats.

She flees to Rose Mountain for safety and is forced to rely on officer Cal MacIvers for protection. But when faced with a deadly showdown, Abby will have to choose: flee again or fight for her life.

**************

This snowy day is a perfect time for reading!

Read and enjoyed, up to November 20, 2023

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

It’s time to clean out and reduce the read pile again. It has been a good time. The most favorite read in this installment was the newest one from Thomas Locke and his co-writer.

Davis Bunn aka Thomas Locke has long been a favorite author for me and many others and I read as much of his work as I can.. Occasionally he writes with other authors and I can’t help but notice it adds a new dimension to the story. The two voices working together create a new sound and I loved it in this book. It was a little jarring at times, though. The new voice says some things in a way that Thomas wouldn’t, or at least hasn’t in the past, and that was a bit of a show stopper, for a moment or so.

Overall though, I loved this book. Not only were the characters great, the quest they were on was filled with unexpected and mind blowing twists and turns.

They call it Roulette because there’s no way of knowing what kind of ecstasy awaits. A rollercoaster ride through any one of seven heavens—or straight to hell.

A new and dangerous substance has suddenly appeared at the rave scene of Gainesville, Florida. When former special agent Eric Bannon comes to investigate, the local sheriff doesn’t know whether to be relieved someone is finally taking the rave issue seriously, or disturbed about who has answered the call. The inquiry must be kept quiet. But why are senior government officials turning a blind eye to such a dangerous drug?

As the county hospital’s senior ER nurse, Carol Steen has seen her share of small-town trouble. Her greatest concern is the snobbish new doctor. Stacie Swann is everything Carol detests: fresh out of med school, too many years her junior, drop-dead gorgeous—and with a bad attitude. Why did Stacie, an upcoming surgical star, leave her prestigious residency at the University of Florida medical center and take up station in their remote clinic?

To Stacie, the nosey nurse is only a bitter reminder of what the medical establishment took from her, landing her in Middle of Nowhere, Florida. But when the night’s emergencies are rushed in, the two ladies begin to bond over a common challenge.

What appears to be a simple case of overdose turns into an ER nightmare. Patients seem to be suffering symptoms from multiple drugs. None are detectable.

Eric arrives at the clinic in time to witness the victims’ transformation from near-coma to bestial strength and ferocity. Eric and the ladies track the drug’s origin to clandestine operations based within the university student body. These young people both finance the production and facilitate the human trials of the world’s most exciting new high.

***************

Another five star read is from an author relatively new to me. I loved this book. It was not easy to put down. Well written with a story line that was all it’s own.

Flash Point: Hometown Heroes: Book 2

Directionally-challenged architect Sarah Brockman never thought getting lost on the way to a job site would put her in danger. But she finds it when the man who assists her goes missing. Attempts to help the police thrust her into a series of events that could cost her everything.

Fire Captain Joe Romero has let too many things get in the way of his pursuit of Sarah. And now she is in danger, he’ll stop at nothing to protect her. No matter the price.

With Sarah’s firm and Joe’s career at risk, they must learn to trust each other completely to uncover the guilty. But can they discover his identity in time?

Or will they lose everything, including each other?

****************

One more loved book The Christmas Hummingbird (Miramar Bay)

It’s hard to focus today so we will call this done.

It has been interesting going back through everything looking for read books. The unread books are looking fresh and enticing, more so than they do under other circumstances. Isn’t that the way it is often? If I was looking for something to read nothing would be standing out to me.

There are couple of books under consideration for download today. I’m waffling, to be honest, but will let you know if I decide to go with them.

New books in the series, November 01, 2023

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

Winter is full on here, folks. It’s all my fault. I said I wanted to move before the snow flies, visualizing weeks down the road. This is not working out well for me.

Not that I’ve decided on a new place to live yet either. Procrastination is the name of the game. If I could pick up this house and move it to the new city, maybe that would help. Or not.

I can’t visualize what life will look like for me in the new location. It’s not easy to be excited when the road ahead is non existent. Or maybe it’s just the idea of the road ahead looking like the same-old, same-old in a new location that’s the problem.

It’s a good thing I’m on here now because there are new books. I need a steady supply to keep me sane in these uncertain days.

On the flip side, I’m always up for a move. My kids tell me it’s the Attention deficit disorder kicking in. Eleven years is a long time to stay in one place (in my mind, anyway.) It’s time for a new adventure. I’ll let you know how that goes.

*****************

So, it was exciting this morning to see two of the series I/we have been reading lately have come out with new installments. It’s a good day after all. The first one is from one of my top five favorite authors.

Roulette: A Thriller

Don’t trip. It could cost your life…

They call it Roulette because there’s no way of knowing what kind of ecstasy awaits. A rollercoaster ride through any one of seven heavens—or straight to hell.

A new and dangerous substance has suddenly appeared at the rave scene of Gainesville, Florida. When former special agent Eric Bannon comes to investigate, the local sheriff doesn’t know whether to be relieved someone is finally taking the rave issue seriously, or disturbed about who has answered the call. The inquiry must be kept quiet. But why are senior government officials turning a blind eye to such a dangerous drug?

As the county hospital’s senior ER nurse, Carol Steen has seen her share of small-town trouble. Her greatest concern is the snobbish new doctor. Stacie Swann is everything Carol detests: fresh out of med school, too many years her junior, drop-dead gorgeous—and with a bad attitude. Why did Stacie, an upcoming surgical star, leave her prestigious residency at the University of Florida medical center and take up station in their remote clinic?

To Stacie, the nosey nurse is only a bitter reminder of what the medical establishment took from her, landing her in Middle of Nowhere, Florida. But when the night’s emergencies are rushed in, the two ladies begin to bond over a common challenge.

What appears to be a simple case of overdose turns into an ER nightmare. Patients seem to be suffering symptoms from multiple drugs. None are detectable.

Eric arrives at the clinic in time to witness the victims’ transformation from near-coma to bestial strength and ferocity. Eric and the ladies track the drug’s origin to clandestine operations based within the university student body. These young people both finance the production and facilitate the human trials of the world’s most exciting new high.

Roulette makes you feel like your best self, times ten. Because it’s no longer the old you.

Carol and Stacie’s patients belong to the 1% of consumers exposed to Roulette’s true purpose, a purpose so heinous it will rewrite not just history, but the human genome.

As opposition mounts from within his own government, Eric must face off with experimental science and the question: In the battle to control the future of humanity, do they really want to fight fire with fire?

*******************

While browsing Thomas Locke I came across a book in my collection that I haven’t read in years. It is Fantasy. There is a full book in the collection and then The Captive, a shorter book of excerpts from said book. I won’t do more than show the covers due to space but check them out if you love fantasy.

******************

On to the next new book. We’ve read the prequel in this series now we have the second book which is referred to as book 1.

Bait (Denver FBI Book 1)

FBI Special Agent Caisey Lyons is going undercover. To get abducted. But when the killer evades capture, an injured Caisey takes some much needed time off. In the small town of Buckshot, CO, she runs straight into a homicidal sheriff…and an old flame. Gabe Carlen has been hiding from his uncle for seventeen years. Caisey might be the one woman he’s never forgotten, but she’s also brought his uncle right to his doorstep—and revenge is sure to follow.

While the Chloroform Killer’s obsession for Caisey grows, she must repair the rift in her family and figure out if a future with Gabe is possible. Only by trusting God with their safety can she let go long enough to save herself.

******************

Between new books and old books, we have lots of reading material to keep our minds off those negative thoughts that keep bringing us down. Besides it’s too nice a day to be down, the sunshine is pretty on the white snow.

Thriller, Suspense, October 11, 2023

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

I’m excited! Two new books from a long time favorite author, Davis Bunn aka Thomas Locke. He and his new well known writing partner, Jyoti Guptara, were featured in my stream today and I can hardly wait to have these new books in hand.

Fortune’s Favor is currently available and Thomas Locke’s new thriller, Roulette, is due to be released October 30th. The reviews are glowing for both of them.

Fortune’s Favor: A Thriller

A tragic past…

Consummate adventurer Jeremy Spade arranges ‘life-changing trips’ in the deserts, mountains and jungles of Asia. His firm lets the world’s richest experience the world’s wildest parts, all from the comfort of an air-conditioned tent with a Michelin-class chef on call. After growing up in the US foster care system, Jeremy is fascinated and repelled by the billionaires. So he never suspects his own life will be changed by one of them.

Jeremy is under no illusions that heiress Shara Herale will spare him a second look—until their helicopter is shot down, forever changing their fate. Shara was betrothed in her teens to seal the bond between two of India’s most powerful clans. Despite loving Jeremy, she feels honor-bound to go through with her parent’s final wish. Jeremy returns to the US with a broken heart, incredible wealth, and a dark secret that ensures he can never enjoy it.

Now, almost five years since they last spoke, Shara is married to another man. And yet, when she contacts him, Jeremy doesn’t think twice about putting his life on the line.

Hides a mystery…

When disgraced hacker-turned-analyst Crystal Dumont is hired by one of India’s richest men, she thinks her fortune is changing. Only her new employer’s particular interest looks increasingly likely to get her killed.

The target of Crystal’s research is Vihan Desai, head of another clan, one that threatens her employer’s interests. Determined not to let his little brother leave the crooked family business, Vihan has followed him from Delhi to Jacksonville. When Vihan is done transforming their legitimate business into the center of a criminal empire, he intends to murder his brother, his brother’s wife Shara, and their infant daughter. But is there more to this family feud than organized crime?

That threatens nations…

Why has the White House taken a personal interest in the Desai family? And can Crystal trust the shadowy young man trying to help them? If any of them are to survive, Crystal and Jeremy will have to face the dark secret he and Shara hoped to leave in the Thar desert—a mystery that has kept India’s elite in power for generations.

Defying an ancient cabal might just be the shot at romance and redemption they have both been waiting for. But they soon learn that when ancient Asian secrets are involved, they are usually blood-stained.

*****************

Here is the pre-order offering.

Roulette Kindle Edition

Don’t trip. It could cost your life…

They call it Roulette because there’s no way of knowing what kind of ecstasy awaits. A rollercoaster ride through any one of seven heavens—or straight to hell.

A new and dangerous substance has suddenly appeared at the rave scene of Gainesville, Florida. When former special agent Eric Bannon comes to investigate, the local sheriff doesn’t know whether to be relieved someone is finally taking the rave issue seriously, or disturbed about who has answered the call. The inquiry must be kept quiet. But why are senior government officials turning a blind eye to such a dangerous drug?

As the county hospital’s senior ER nurse, Carol Steen has seen her share of small-town trouble. Her greatest concern is the snobbish new doctor. Stacie Swann is everything Carol detests: fresh out of med school, too many years her junior, drop-dead gorgeous—and with a bad attitude. Why did Stacie, an upcoming surgical star, leave her prestigious residency at the University of Florida medical center and take up station in their remote clinic?

To Stacie, the nosey nurse is only a bitter reminder of what the medical establishment took from her, landing her in Middle of Nowhere, Florida. But when the night’s emergencies are rushed in, the two ladies begin to bond over a common challenge.

What appears to be a simple case of overdose turns into an ER nightmare. Patients seem to be suffering symptoms from multiple drugs. None are detectable.

Eric arrives at the clinic in time to witness the victims’ transformation from near-coma to bestial strength and ferocity. Eric and the ladies track the drug’s origin to clandestine operations based within the university student body. These young people both finance the production and facilitate the human trials of the world’s most exciting new high.

Roulette makes you feel like your best self, times ten. Because it’s no longer the old you.

Carol and Stacie’s patients belong to the 1% of consumers exposed to Roulette’s true purpose, a purpose so heinous it will rewrite not just history, but the human genome.

As opposition mounts from within his own government, Eric must face off with experimental science and the question: In the battle to control the future of humanity, do they really want to fight fire with fire?

******************

The peek they give us into these books certainly provides a good look into what to expect from the reading experience.

There is another book (different author) under consideration too, I will be back to share it with you if it happens.

It is the 4th book in a series we have been following and that is the biggest attraction.

See you soon.

Clearing out the read pile, July 12, 2023

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

One thing I really enjoyed about these first books – they were situations unlike anything I’ve read recently, and I loved them. There were several others standing out for me this way too but I’m not sure I can identify them again. Too many read after them and my memories have become foggy. Everything included in this list was excellent and a great experience, though. There were a few others that didn’t measure up and won’t be shared.

A Christmas to Remember was definitely a different and highly enjoyable read.

My current read is Within These Gilded Halls and I’m still trying to decide if I love it.

One more enjoyable read that I missed including.

That’s it for now.

New book suggestions July 10, 2023

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

It’s catch-up time, for the build-up of regular suggestion emails. With my nose in a book most of the weekend, emails were not on my radar and things have gotten a little out of hand. I see some of the mentions are still available and one seems interesting. Maybe there will be more than one. That would be awesome.

We’ve read this first author several times and it’s nice to see her again. BookBub is responsible for this suggestion.

Grave Pursuits (Pennsylvania Parks Book 1) 

When a hiker goes missing and Emily discovers a skull, she finds herself targeted by a dangerous serial killer, putting her faith and love to the test. As the case gains national attention, Emily turns to her high school sweetheart and seasoned detective, Wade Brunner, for help in this Christian mystery thriller. Together, they embark on an exciting adventure, uncovering sinister secrets lurking in the park and solving a small-town mystery.

**********************

This next one is an author we’ve seen several times and it will be a light read for a change of pace after the last one. Sounds like fantasy. A BookRunes suggestion.

A Christmas to Remember

Time for a Little Christmas Magic?

It’s December in small-town Indiana, and the life of nineteen-year-old Ellie Amerson has been turned upside down. Her mother remarried, and Ellie is no longer welcome in her own house. Sent to Grandpa’s cozy home, she finds a comforting refuge but is handed a detailed project. Can she complete the tasks in time? Her job at the diner has demands of its own.

When a mysterious cat named Trance appears, Ellie begins to have unusual dreams, too vivid to be imagined. She is shocked to learn the places where Trance had taken her are real. In the shadowy time between times, she discovers a handsome young man who desperately needs her help. The more she learns about him, the fonder her heart grows. Can she put the pieces together and save him before time runs out, or will she be lost from her world forever? What will this Christmas bring?

************************

So, browsing produced this next one. I’m interested for more than one reason but one is that we’ve read book 3 in this series, so why not read book 2 and see what it is about?

Love on Ice (Original Six Hockey Romance series Book 2)

She’s focused on winning gold. He wants to lose the player tag. Can a fake relationship become something real?

Aussie short track skater Holly Travers has one goal – make the Vancouver Games, no matter what it takes. She has no time for distractions, even if they come in the handsome form of her Canadian best friend’s twin brother. This hockey player may say he’s not a player, but can she trust him?
Brent Karlsson has one goal – make his sister’s best friend realize he’s a changed man and she should give him a chance. When a set-up in Hawaii helps these two opposites realize they have more in common than they thought, what happens when he wants to turn their fake relationship into something real? And how can a relationship work when these two elite athletes never see each other and live on opposite sides of the world?

***********************

Another complete change of pace from BookBub. We’ve read a number of books from this author but very few quite like this one.

Keeping Bailey (A Forever Home Novel Book 4)

Through no fault of her own and after spending her entire life with an owner she loves, Bailey’s life is turned upside down. She’s dropped off at the Humane Society where Kim Harper works as the Animal Behavior Manager. Alone and confused, Bailey shuts down completely. She won’t eat or even acknowledge anyone who reaches out to her. Kim knows older dogs are hard to re-home. If Bailey can’t come out of this, it will be impossible.

A retired widow named Rhonda Hawthorne volunteers at the shelter. Rhonda’s dog recently passed away after a long and full life. Rhonda can’t even think about getting another one but hopes doing this will give her a chance to be around dogs, make a small difference in their lives, but without making a permanent commitment. Soon she decides to do whatever she can to help Bailey, before it’s too late. What life-changing difference will this decision create in her own life?

Kim Harper is also wondering about something else…will Ned, the boyfriend she loves, ever get serious and pop the question?

************************

Last but not least, from a final browse. This will be a new experience with an author new to us. The first chapter has sealed the deal for me.

Within These Gilded Halls: A Regency Romance

Hidden treasure and betrayal mingle with unexpected love within the walls of Avonthorpe Hall.

After studying art under Miss Drake, a renowned painter, Phoebe Radcliff is certain she can finally move beyond the childish mistake that’s kept her away from home. She is thrilled when Miss Drake employs her to complete a complicated ballroom renovation.

Everything changes, however, the moment Miss Drake is murdered. With her last breath she imparts the location of a clue to Phoebe. Can the biggest secret of Avonthorpe Hall be true—the rumored treasure real? Phoebe is tasked to finish her work in the ballroom by Miss Drake’s infuriatingly regimented yet all-too-handsome nephew, Lt. Graham Burke. Determined to fulfill the promise she made to her beloved teacher to find the treasure, Phoebe also works to uncover the truth about Miss Drake’s death—and she must do so before Lt. Burke leases the house.

But dark shadows line the gilded halls of Avonthorpe, and soon enough Phoebe realizes she’s not the only person who knows about the clues. What’s worse, she needs Lt. Burke’s help to stay ahead of whoever is hard on her heels. If only she weren’t so attracted to him.

Caught up in a deadly race for answers, Phoebe must find a way to breach the shroud of lies that surrounds every last resident in the house and, more importantly, face a past she’s been running away from for far too long.

************************

Five new books! A very nice way to start off the week.

Before heading into today’s search I was having trouble settling on a new read. This new list is looking entirely too enticing.

As for next post, the read pile is building into the double digits and needs to be cleared out again. Sounds like a good plan to me.

See you again soon.

Sheep Gate Publishing suggestions, June 30, 2023

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

Sheep Gate Publishing is featuring an author we’ve read and enjoyed recently. With great prices, it’s a good chance to explore this author a little more. This first book is the main one they were featuring, the others showed up while I was browsing.

Facing the Darkness (Against the Darkness Book 1) 

She scuttled the CCP’s biowarfare plans. When they catch her, she will pay.
Dr. Meiling Chen is a brilliant young virologist with a groundbreaking discovery that could change the face of biowarfare. But when she discovers the Chinese Communist Party’s plans to misuse her work, she knows she must act – even if it means risking her own life. On the run from CCP agents, she must find her way to America while staying one step ahead of her pursuers. 
Ryan Adams, a meteorologist and well-known blogger in Bend, Oregon, is desperate for reliable information on China’s bioweapons program. But when Meiling’s path crosses his, he finds himself in the middle of a deadly game of cat and mouse. With the CCP agents in hot pursuit, Meiling and Ryan must find a way to keep the truth and their lives from slipping away.

********************

The Janus Journals

Will probing the past, through her father’s secret journals, save her future?For recent college graduate, Alisa (Allie) Petrenko, the Cold War never ended, and events set in motion years ago have endangered this innocent young woman. When her father is murdered, he left her with a warning, an assassin on her trail, and his secret history contained in a set of journals. As Allie tries to elude the assassin and read the journals, she learns that the loving father who raised her was not the man he appeared to be, and the man she must now trust with her life is someone Allie must never trust with her heart.At strong safety, Grady Jamison could defend against opponents in the red zone, but he couldn’t stop the drunk driver who hit his car and killed his sister. Does Allie Petrenko’s call for help mean Grady has been given a second chance, a chance to do things right? Once again, he’s defending in the red zone. And he must not let the world-class assassin score, because the goal line marks the end of Allie Petrenko’s life.The Janus Journals, set in Virginia and near Lake Chelan in Washington State, is high-action romantic suspense at its best. The dual timeline will take you on an epic journey through the twilight years of the Cold War that reshaped one man’s destiny while creating deadly tentacles, reaching into the present, threatening an innocent young woman.

*********************

Voice in the Wilderness (Against All Enemies Book 1)

As catastrophes drive the US into martial law, all eyes are on America, waiting to see what emerges. KC Banning, network specialist, discovers President Hannan’s tyrannical plans and is branded a terrorist, sending her fleeing the Beltway to find her childhood soulmate and protector, Brock Daniels. Brock, a writer and man of faith, gives CPR to a dying nation through his blog, which is read by military members still loyal to the Constitution. But starting a grassroots insurgency while reconciling KC’s and Brock’s broken relationship proves difficult. When Hannan sends Special Forces to kill Brock and KC, starting a war in the Central Oregon desert, reconciliation, like staying alive, might be impossible.


Set in Washington DC and near Crooked River Ranch in the Central Oregon desert, Voice in the Wilderness, Book 1 of the Against All Enemies Series, is a political thriller, with romance, about two people who must decide if they’re willing to sacrifice their lives to prevent the USA from becoming the Dystopian States of America.

*************************

This adds a little more variety to our reading selections. It’s a good day.

Another installment, Read and enjoyed June 21, 2023

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

It’s that time again, time to clear out the growing pile of recently read books.

The first three were favorites although they weren’t the only ones. The other thing I have to say is that they were very different from one another. That was part of the beauty, that plus they were very good stories.

The next three were awesome too. Also very different from each other and much enjoyed.

I can’t say anything bad about the next three either.

My recollections of the next ones are not as clear, time has gone by rather quickly but what I do remember was good.

I see I’m left with another bunch of started but never finished books. It’s probably time to rush through them just to clear them out. I never feel like sharing the less than loved reads so I probably won’t be boring you with them.

This could be my next read, I’m trying it out to see if it grabs my attention and won’t let go.

Current read June 20, 2023

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

I have to share. It’s that good. It’s one of the books we downloaded yesterday and I’m half way through it even though there were other things I’ve had to take care of today. I love it when I find a book I can’t bear to put down.

It’s well written and has a different take on the serial killer theme. That’s the best part in my estimation. This serial killer is crazy, I have to say. He leaves us all shaking our heads at his strange decisions.

Check it out.

Critical Threat (Extreme Measures Book #3): (An FBI Suspense Thriller and Action-Filled Crime Fiction) 

“Eason is a master of edge-of-your seat inspirational romantic thrillers.”–Booklist starred review

FBI Special Agent Grace Billingsley tracks serial killers, using her skills as a psychiatrist and behavioral analyst to get dangerous people off the street and safely behind bars. But prison psychiatrist Sam Monroe knows that just because a killer is incarcerated doesn’t mean they’re not a threat. His own father, Peter, is a serial killer–in prison but certainly not out of Sam’s life, as much as he wishes he was.

When bodies start showing up with Peter’s MO, Sam and Grace are both called in to consult. They’ve met before–and though Grace thought they’d made a real connection, Sam ghosted her. They’ll have to get past the awkwardness and mistrust to solve this case–especially because it’s about to get personal.

***********************

It’s almost time for lights out, I’d better hurry and squeeze in a few more chapters before it’s gets too much later. I’m not good at quitting at a sensible time. I’ll let you know how it goes.

More books afterall, June 12, 2023

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

A new site I forgot I signed up for has come through with some great suggestions. It looks good so far anyway.

I’ve read and enjoyed books from this first author before. I like witness protection stories.

No True Justice: Witness Protection 2

They forced her into witness protection, not to protect her, but to shut her up.
After testifying in a high-profile case, Gemma Saint, a young intern at an influential media outlet, is forced into WITSEC by corrupt DOJ officials to silence her. When Gemma’s testimony at a retrial threatens their elaborate conspiracy to control the upcoming presidential election. Gemma learns from her WITSEC Inspector her identity was compromised and someone in the DOJ has sent a team to kill her. After her Inspector is shot, Gemma sees only one chance to survive and resume her old life—expose the conspiracy, completely. She seeks help from Lex James, a young investigative journalist. Gemma offers him the biggest story of his career. But Lex was recently given custody of his deceased sister’s four-year-old, twins, Josh and Caleb. Sparks fly when Lex and Gemma meet, and the boys see their mother in her. But can she endanger this fragile family? Can she run away, sacrificing her life and the course of her beloved country? Lex has difficult choices, too. But the highly gifted boys, Josh and Caleb, have their own opinion about what should happen.
Set in the beautiful Central Oregon desert near Lake Billy Chinook and Crooked River Ranch, No True Justice is clean, high-action romantic suspense at its best. A story with chills, thrills, love, and laughter.

************************

It turns out I’ve read this first book, it’s in a collection from several years ago, so I looked a little further and came up with a few more books from him that look interesting.

Voice in the Wilderness (Against All Enemies Book 1)

What if your blog could save the nation, but posting to it might cost your life?
As catastrophes drive the US into martial law, all eyes are on America, waiting to see what emerges. KC Banning, network specialist, discovers President Hannan’s tyrannical plans and is branded a terrorist, sending her fleeing the Beltway to find her childhood soulmate and protector, Brock Daniels. Brock, a writer and man of faith, gives CPR to a dying nation through his blog, which is read by military members still loyal to the Constitution. But starting a grassroots insurgency while reconciling KC’s and Brock’s broken relationship proves difficult. When Hannan sends Special Forces to kill Brock and KC, starting a war in the Central Oregon desert, reconciliation, like staying alive, might be impossible.

**********************

This next one is quite a departure from what we’ve seen so far.

Pretense: Big Tech Conspiracy Collection

Virtuality
Jessica (Jess) Jamison is a genius, a beautiful, highly introverted, young woman who can count her friends on her thumbs. Seven years ago, Vince left, shattering her heart. Now Jess has a Computer Science degree and still prays her childhood soulmate will come home. If he’s willing to reconcile their relationship, Jess can help Vince take the reins of Virtuality. But why is someone trying to kill Vince and her? And could Professor Scoggins be right—that in the wrong hands, Virtuality’s technology could shred the fabric of civilization and that stopping it may literally take an act of Congress?
Virtuality is a character-driven thriller with romance about dangerous technology lurking on the near horizon—a story of love and sacrifice, illustrating that there are no shadowed, worthless people in God’s economy.

Slanted
Americans are drowning in information with no clue that it will soon steal their nation and their liberty.
When AJ Scott finds an orphaned girl, Sam, crying, hidden in some bushes along the Rogue River, AJ commits to helping Sam, but soon finds her and Sam in a road race with killers in pursuit.
Hunter Jones, Sam’s guardian, is a big data analyst and will soon release a research report proving that the largest Internet search engine is being used to influence American political thought including the next election. He hints at his findings in a radio interview and within hours a team of hired killers attacks. Hunter hides Sam and tries to elude the killers. But when he returns, Sam is gone.
Slanted is a thriller with a bit of romance that clearly illustrates the influence of search engine technology on all Americans.

*************************

One more for this author and I’ll move on.

Hide and Seek (Pure Genius Book 1) 

A computer security breach within a US defense contractor’s firewalls leads investigators, Lee Brandt and beautiful, brilliant Jennifer Akihara, onto the cyber-turf of terrorists, where they are detected and targeted for elimination. Lee leads them on a desperate and prayer-filled flight for survival into the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Will Jennifer’s pursuit of truth about the conspiracy, and the deepest issues of life, lead her into the clutches of terrorists, into the arms of Lee Brandt, or into the arms of the God she deems untrustworthy?

************************

Someone else I’ve never experienced.

The Agent’s Secret Past (Military Investigations)

A military investigator is targeted by the killer who murdered her Amish family in this romantic suspense novel of faith in the face of danger.

Eight years ago, a drifter destroyed Becca Miller’s ties to her Amish community—and murdered her family. Now she’s a special agent with Fort Rickman’s criminal investigation department, helping other victims seek justice. Becca thought for a time that she had left her traumatic past behind her. But now she’s convinced that the killer, who supposedly died years ago, is very much alive—and coming after her.

Special agent Colby Voss agrees to help Becca investigate. Yet the closer they get to the truth, the closer the killer gets to silencing her permanently.

***********************

OK, I’m finally done for this very exciting day.

We have books!