Girl Undone (TJ Peacock and Lisa Rayburn Mysteries #3) by Marla Madison

I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review

This is what a really good suspense novel should be like – this thought came to my mind when I was in the middle of the book still puzzled and guessing. One moment Marla Madison makes you think that you got it, you figured it out and right after it you sit dumbfounded, who could ever think that it may turn this way? These are precious feelings which make a crime story worth reading.
The main characters of this novel - TJ Peacock, a private investigator, and Lisa Rayburn, a psychologist - try to catch a serial killer whose hunger for celebrity is so huge that he makes a popular criminal blogger to write about him in his blog. Finally the blogger asks TJ and his colleague for help, fearing for his life.
When all the characters gathered in one house, not knowing who the murderer is and who the next victim is, I remembered the feelings that I had reading Agatha Christie’s “And then there were none”. The tension so high, million thoughts swarming in my head I tried to solve the puzzle that glorious Ms. Madison had given. And I’ll tell you what – don’t even bother if you are not a Sherlock Holmes of our times. The twists and turns, billion details, characters.. the author knows how to bewilder the reader.
Marla Madison is a revelation for me, and I’d happy to continue the acquaintance with her works.

Shadow Dragon by Lance Horton

I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review

If you’re looking for an atmospheric thriller with a touch of suspense and a fresh concept, this book is just what you need.
I generally avoid monster stories because of how overused some ideas are and how they repeat each other; but I believed the reviewers and decided to give this one a try, and I wasn’t disappointed. The author’s idea was fresh and believable, and it’s the first thing I especially liked about this book.
The second was the setting and chilly, mysterious atmosphere of the story. There’s something about wilderness that makes any horror story especially thrilling.
The third thing that I liked was the two main characters’ relationship, which is often too unrealistic in books and movies. They’ve just met, and here they are fighting evil together and falling in love at first sight. But in this book, the romance was done tastefully and never overtook the plot. The fact that the characters themselves had very attractive personalities made it even better – you know how any relationship is more intriguing when you actually want or don’t want things to happen between the two. Characters that can make you care about them are essential to any story and all parts of it, whether it’s action or romance or drama.
Overall, Shadow Dragon is a great debut novel that deserves 5 stars!

The Taste of Fear by Jeremy Bates

What begins as an attempt to rekindle her relationship with her husband Sal turns into a nightmare for actress Scarlett Cox. They travel to Ngorongoro Crater in Africa for a little relaxed time, but their vacation is anything but. Salvador Braaza, a very rich man, has invisible enemies. He trusts his life to Danny, his right-hand man, but Scarlett isn't so sure about Danny's loyalty. Their vacation turns into a struggle, and Scarlett finds herself torn between two men. This novel is filled with great characters and adventure that kept me turning the pages to see what happened next. The author's description of the scenery allowed me to picture the story as I read it. The action was great, especially the way the author portrayed the scenes from different points of view.

Twist Me (Twist Me #1) by Anna Zaires

This book is...difficult to explain. In a way, for me it was a horror novel. It was terrifying and heart wrenching. But strangely, it was utterly captivating. The whole time I was reading this novel I felt like the girl. Captured against my will and forced to finish what I started. There were points in this novel that I would freeze and look away from the page. My finger would linger on the X at the top of the screen. I did not want to read anymore. I would feel almost sick, and I would have tears in my eyes. But I couldn't stop reading. My eyes would drift back and I would continue along this journey. The male in this book is not your normal "alpha male". He is possessive and controlling, and he doesn't know how to take no for an answer. He is borderline sadistic, he enjoys giving pleasure and pain. But there are moments where he is so sweet and understanding, the transition is almost shocking. You almost can't help but be drawn to this character.
I will put out this warning for others: this book contains some serious triggers. The sex scenes are not the issue, it is the emotional moments that can cause problems for some. That is weird to say. I am giving this a high rating because this is the first novel I have read that has put me at the characters side in a long time. I never review novels but I felt like I had no choice on this one. This author is very talented, but I will be careful about what I read of hers in the future. I am just cowardly that way.

The Grave Man by David Archer

I REALY enjoyed this book. I am not sure about the name, but the book itself was great. I read a lot, and I read this in two sittings. I could not put it down, it kept me interested from page one, to the end. I like the fact that God is not pushed at you, but at the same time, there is respect by the main character for God. Don't get me wrong, this is NOT a religious book, it is a thriller. And a good one. I would say the pace was steady, the first half, and fast towards the end. I can't wait for the next one!

Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham

I love to love books by John Grisham - in large part, I'm sure, because I'm a huge fan of legal thrillers - and almost without exception, that's certainly been the case. And happily, it's true here as well. I will say that for most of the first half I concluded this is meant to be a book of short stories or vignettes that take place in the life of street lawyer Sebastian Rudd. But while each "story" might be able to stand on its own, bits and pieces of each are connected to create (aha!) a whole book. And that's not easy to pull off.

Rudd really doesn't have a home base, unless you count a tiny, well-secured apartment and the heavily armed van complete with heavy-duty bodyguard/driver that serves as his mobile (and only) office. He's got a young son and an ex-wife lawyer whose primary goal in life, it seems, is to gain sole custody plus 25% ownership in a mixed martial arts cage fighter named Tadeo. Rudd's paid work, for the most part, consists of defending bad guys (and I suppose gals) other lawyers won't touch with a 10-foot pole.

Rudd doesn't love them either, but neither does he have much respect for insurance companies, government or the criminal justice/legal system. Even if his clients are guilty - and in fact, most of them are - when he wins (and that's fairly often), he derives satisfaction in knowing he's once again stuck it to the unethical powers that be and lived to tell about it.

Given the natural tendencies of his clients, though, that last part is subject to change at any moment. Early-on clients include a teenage boy who's accused of the grisly murders of two young girls (a case thought to be a shoe-in win for the prosecution) and defense of "his" fighter Tadeo who, after losing in the ring for the first time, pounded the hell out of a referee who happened to be in the ring at the time of the judges' decision. The pounding, caught on video, proved fatal - and now Rudd is the only thing standing between his fighter and decades in jail.

If I have a complaint, it's that there's a fair amount of repetition, although that's necessary to some extent to make sure readers connect the dots among the various "stories." Still, because there seems to be a little too much of it, I'm inclined to give this one 4.5 stars - but since that's not possible here I'm perfectly willing to round up rather than down. The ending also left the door wide open for a sequel, and since I thoroughly enjoyed this one, if that happens it's a sure bet I'll be in line to read it as well.

The Good Neighbor by A.J. Banner

This is a good suspense story. I don't know where the other review found Harlequin Romance, but I found suspense and deviousness. It's a story about a woman who rescues the little girl next door during a house fire. Then the woman starts suspecting her neighbors, friends and husband of all kinds of wrongdoing and the reader really doesn't know what to expect next. Yes, some of the actions and lines may have been a bit overdone or too dramatic, but overall it is a good story that held my attention and kept me reading. Lots of twists and I kept changing my mind on the "who done it". The ending was not expected but what I like is that it leaves room for a sequel and I really hope she writes one.

Hostile Witness by Rebecca Forster

If you're a fan of straight up legal dramas then you won't be disappointed by Hostile Witness (and it was a freebie at Amazon - doesn`t get much better than that). It reads like any great lawyer show you might watch on TV or see at the movies. In fact it would make a great movie. I was hooked right from the opening chapter. A well-loved, Supreme Court Justice Fritz Rayburn is dead and a young 16 year old girl, Hannah Sheraton is in jail accused of his murder. Josie Baylor-Bates is a great lawyer. She's an athlete who enjoys a little beach volleyball, has a great no strings attached, mutually satisfying relationship with ex-cop turned PI Archer and a great low stress job at a laid back practice in Hermosa Beach...ahhhh that's the life.

But once upon a time Josie was a big time lawyer, forced into the spotlight when she defended a young woman, a mother of two small children. Josie defended her client so brilliantly that she walked only to later perpetrate the greatest crime a mother could commit. Josie never wanted to be in that position again so she threw in the towel for local small time, small problem law. Until a blast from her college days Linda Rayburn begs and pleads for Josie to defend her innocent daughter, accused of murder...the murder of Judge Rayburn.
The whole case is extremely interesting and complex. Hannah was a disturbed teenage whose metal status I continually questioned. She's got OCD, cuts herself with razor blades and has been in trouble with the law in the past...basically she's a mess. Did she or didn't she do it?

It's up to Josie to figure out the truth from the lies. What hidden Rayburn family dynamics are at work? The judge's son Kip, married to Hannah's mom Linda is poised to assume his father's seat on the bench. Who's willing to lie to keep the truth hidden? And is a little bit crazy Hannah going to be the scapegoat? I really enjoyed Hostile Witness. It keep me guessing (even at 90% into the story). Was Hannah really innocent? Was she a consummate master manipulator? Josie was steadfastly in Hannah's corner, defending her with every lawyer bone in her body when others would have sacrificed her to further their own agenda. Was history going to repeat itself? Was it possible for Josie to be so wrong about someone for a second time?