When true-crime writer Olivia Cruz disappears with no signs of foul play, her new boyfriend, Lincoln Sharp, suspects the worst. He knows she didn’t leave willingly and turns to attorney Morgan Dane and PI Lance Kruger to find her before it’s too late.
As they dig through Olivia’s life, they are shocked to discover a connection between her current book research on two cold murder cases and the suicide of one of Morgan’s prospective clients.
As Morgan and Lance investigate, the number of suspects grows, but time is running out to find Olivia alive. When danger comes knocking at their door, Morgan and Lance realize that they may be the killer’s next targets.
The Author:
#1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journalbestselling author Melinda Leigh is a fully recovered banker. A lifelong lover of books, she started writing as a way to preserve her sanity when her youngest child entered first grade. During the next few years, she joined Romance Writers of America, learned a few things about writing a novel, and decided the process was way more fun than analyzing financial statements. Melinda’s debut novel, She Can Run, was nominated for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers. She’s also garnered Golden Leaf and Silver Falchion Awards, along with two nominations for a RITA and three Daphne du Maurier Awards. Her other novels include She Can Tell, She Can Scream, She Can Hide, She Can Kill, Midnight Exposure, Midnight Sacrifice, Midnight Betrayal, Midnight Obsession, Hour of Need, Minutes to Kill, Seconds to Live, Say You’re Sorry, Her Last Goodbye, Bones Don’t Lie, What I’ve Done, and Secrets Never Die. She holds a second-degree black belt in Kenpo karate; teaches women’s self-defense; and lives in a messy house with her husband, two teenagers, a couple of dogs, and two rescue cats.
This is the sixth in this series, but I read the others before Pixie Ponders was a thing, so I’m going to do a general review of the series. I picked up the first book in this series on a whim, the cover caught my eye and the description sealed the deal, I was not disappointed.
I love all the characters, it’s that simple. Morgan, her kids, her dad, Lance, Sharp, all of them are so well written and likable. They are all relatable for different reasons and are probably some of my favorite characters ever put into a novel.
Every single one of these books has caught my attention and ran away with it. I’m pretty sure not one book in this series has taken me over 24 hours to finish. The Mysteries are always well thought out and well done. The endings are always a surprise. Never a disappointment.
If you enjoy Mysteries and Private Investigators I can guarantee you will love these books.
5 Stars for this entire series!
I look forward to these coming out and am checking constantly for the new one. One of my favorite series of all time.
Lilly Honey Star is a 15-year-old like no other; she is the sole survivor of a mass murder and is suspected of being the half-mad murderess. Detective Stacy has her doubts about Lilly’s guilt, and when a stranger starts asking bizarre questions, she—along with Lilly—is pulled into the core of the case, which is bigger and more dangerous than they could have ever imagined.
Xander Chase, the angel of death and judiciary of spirits, is on the case. Desperate to make his father, Death himself, proud, Xander must unravel the perilous lies and deceit that’s spread through the realms of sinister creatures, before the murderer’s eye turns on him.
The Author:
A bit about the lady behind the wings. Carrie is a divorcee in her early 30s with a young son and crazy dog. She has completed an Open Study College, fiction writing level 3 course. Since she was a little girl, she dreamt of becoming a fully fledged authoress. Carrie loves to write fantasy fiction for young adults and hopes that the wings of her dreams will take flight with this, her debut novel: Xander Chase and the Unicorn Code.
This book was a treat, wrapped up and presented perfectly. The story is so intriguing from page one, that it’s nearly impossible to put down. The mystery and suspense are played out just right. This book deserves far more attention then it gets.
Every single character in this novel was well written, placed perfectly, and enjoyable. I can’t even attempt to chose a favorite because they are all seriously fantastic. It’s so great to watch these characters grow and become their true selfs.
I loved the detective aspect, mixed in with the supernatural aspect. You seen the world from a “human” prospective, and from a few different creatures throughout the realms. It all mixed very well and came together in the end perfectly.
5 stars for this morsel!!
I couldn’t stop reading, it was like I was there, waiting to see what would happen next. I really hope the author has a sequel planned, because I am already itching to continue this story.
Michael Duckett is fed up with his life. His job is a drag, and his roommate and best friend of fifteen years, Stephanie Dyer, is only making him more anxious with her lazy irresponsibility. Things continue to escalate when they face the threat of imminent eviction from their palatial 5th floor walk-up and find that someone has been plastering ads all over the city for their Detective Agency.
The only problem is: He and Stephanie don’t have one of those.
Despite their baffling levels of incompetence, Stephanie eagerly pursues this crazy scheme and drags Michael, kicking and screaming, into the fray only to find that they are way out of their depth. They stumble upon a web of missing people that are curiously linked to a sexually audacious theoretical physicist and his experiments with the fabric of space-time. And unless Michael and Stephanie can put their personal issues aside and fix the multi-verse, the concept of existence itself may, ironically, no longer exist.
Review
See What “People” Are “Saying”:
“Who are you? How did you get into my office?” – Neil Gaiman, if asked about this book, probably
“Duckett & Dyer has a tremendous energy to it. When released, it will warm your body and perhaps even your soul.” – International Journal of Burning Things In A Fireplace
“A long written or printed literary composition.” – Webster’s Dictionary Definition of ‘book‘
“Duckett & Dyer is the funniest thing I’ve ever read.” – A woman who has never read anything before
The Author:
G.M. Nair is a crazy person who should never be taken seriously. Despite possessing both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering and a job as an Aviation and Aerospace Consultant, he writes comedy for the stage and screen, and maintains the blog MakeMomMarvel.Com. Now he is making the leap into the highly un-lucrative field of independent book publishing.
Duckett & Dyer: Dicks For Hire is his first novel, and in a world with a fair and loving god, it would be his last. Alas, he tends to continue.
G.M. Nair lives in New York City and in a constant state of delusion.
Duckett and Dyer find out about their PI business in an ad placed in the newspaper, then it’s everywhere. Dyer being the more carefree loves the idea, Duckett not so much. He can’t stop asking himself who put out the ads and why? Was it a trap?
Following a lead into a missing persons case, the detective business takes Dyer and Duckett to places they never thought they would go, and beyond.
The adventure that the characters go through is comedic gold. You can feel the Authors sense of humor dripping from the pages. I was laughing so much I had to re read some paragraphs.
On top of being hilarious, this book has so many mysteries, it hooks you immediately. The story is very well written, every small detail is put in for a reason. Then at the end it’s tied up into a nice little bow, and the climax is worth it.
The characters are amazing. Poor Michael being constantly dragged into unwanted adventures by his carefree friend Stephanie. They are both relatable in so many ways. The friendship is bitter sweet, but lovely at the same time.
I couldn’t put this book down, I finished it in one sitting. The book is so entertaining time just flies by as you read it. I wish I knew these characters in real life.
From the day Gabriel starts working with Christine at the library, he turns her life upside-down with sizzling chemistry, bizarre stories, and incredible dreams. Dreams so vivid they feel like real life.
Christine’s friends think she’s falling for Gabriel fast but they don’t know about the secret life Gabriel and Christine are living at night. Who would believe her if she told? As the dreams become more dangerous, it’s clear they’re being orchestrated by someone. But who? And more importantly, why?
As Christine struggles to help Gabriel unravel the secrets of the dreamworld, she risks her closest friendships, her college plans, and maybe even her life.
Author:
S.J. is a cheerful Michigan girl who writes strange and somewhat dark stories. Young adult literature is her preferred genre, with an extra special fondness for books by Michael Lawrence, Beth Revis and Eve Marie Mont. She thinks she’d enjoy living an extra life in a dreamworld, especially if she could dream her way to England. Facebook is her social media of choice, find her at:
When I started Dream Girl I was extremely excited. I have been wanting to check this book out for months. I will say I was not disappointed.
This was a rather quick read for me, mostly because it didn’t leave my hand much. Every time I thought I had a handle on what was going on, everything would change. It kept you guessing and always provided more questions then answers.
I love the main character, she is relatable in so many ways. The situations she finds herself in are out of this world, but her reactions are always right on point with reality. The love story was there, but not overbearing, which was refreshing.
All the characters were very well written and real. I also love that there wasn’t so many people to keep track of. It makes the story so much more enjoyable when it’s only the MC and a few friends or family, in my opinion.
Also, I love reading local stories. So the fact this was based around the Detroit area makes me smile when I read it. The mannerisms in the characters are so familiar, and that always makes for a good read.
This book was fun, and fast paced. It makes the time slip by as you get lost in its pages. The characters were relatable, the setting of course amazing. The story keeps you guessing all the way until the end, and still leaves you with questions. Love It!
Three friendships torn apart by one chance meeting.
By autumn 1984 Sharon and Pip are in their final years of school and on the verge of adulthood. Best friends for as long as they can remember, the two young women befriend their badly bullied schoolmate, Gavin. Their futures are bright until a chance meeting leads to a path of corruption, anger and malicious betrayal. Sometimes, when we can’t rely on those we love, our only hope is in the kindness of strangers.
All three teens are driven from their homes to follow very different paths. They face dark times of heartbreak and new temptations.
But there may be ways out and better futures, if they are willing to take risks. What will they choose, and will they ever see each other again?
The Wild Roses is a coming-of-age drama for all ages that speaks honestly of love, loss, jealousy, coercion and self-discovery.
Author:
D. B. Carter lives with his family on the edge of a small town nestled amongst the rolling hills of rural Devon, England.
The son of two nomadic artists, he grew up in a world of creativity, studying painting techniques under his parents’ tutelage. In his 20s, he went to university and followed a career in science and later commerce, running his own business for twenty years.
A lifelong bibliophile, he is firmly of the opinion that there is no such thing as too many books, only insufficient shelf space; it was his love of classical literature, of Dickens and Brontë, that led to the creation of “The Cherries.”
His philosophy is, “If we look for the good, we will find it.”
The Wild Roses takes on so many different lives, so many different personalities, and it is done so expertly. The characters that you meet are all different, all think differently, act differently, respond differently. The fact that one man wrote this entire novel stuns me. It shows me the Author is very good at not only reading people, but feeling their emotions.
The story delves into many horrible life situations from drugs, to assault, and betrayal. Even though, it still touches on love at first sight, the beauty behind a poem, family, friendship, bonds, all the amazing things in life that makes it all worth it. It also shows how many things were handled in the 80s, like babies before marriage, being in a same sex relationship, and how gossip and rumors could ruin someone.
This novel was not only a joy to read, it was like being transported into the book itself. The emotions were so raw and real, the love so contagious, I couldn’t put the book down.
As with The Cherries by D B Carter, the setting was as beautiful as ever. The descriptions in his books make me so eager to visit the places in them to see its beauty for myself – maybe some day.
I enjoyed everything about this novel, from the characters to the story they tell. Once I started I couldn’t put it down. You can feel the emotions coming off it’s pages. Another wonderful success for D B Carter!
The fate of an entire continent rested in my hands. No pressure, right?
Starting with an empty plot of land in the middle of nowhere, I was supposed to build an empire spanning the breadth of the known Realms. I’d overcome a great deal during my short time in this world, but even I wondered if this task was too much for anyone to accomplish.
But the alternative was to stand by and do nothing while endless wars and other tragedies plagued the lands I called home, and that was something I simply couldn’t do. Armed with powerful weapons handed down to us by those who had failed to accomplish this very same goal, my companions and I began paving the way for Arrika’s future.
Yet almost before I could begin, we were set upon by our enemies; those who would see the darkness continue its relentless assault against the very people I sought to protect. With powerful forces lining up against us, it seemed as if my mission was doomed to fail.
Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of graphic violence and deals with mature/adult themes.
The Author:
M Damon Baker lives in sunny Florida with his family, dog, and 8.5 million alligators. Having played both tabletop and MMO RPG’s for more years than he cares to admit, M Damon was inspired to write his first novel after discovering the LitRPG genre. Keep up with him and be the first to discover his new releases by following M Damon on Amazon and his social media sites:
Unified is book 3 of the Second Skin series. This was my first adventure into RPG Lit, and it won’t be the last. To say I’m completely enthralled with these books is putting it lightly.
The stories each book tells is not only a continuation from the previous book, but a quest of its own. The characters are well written, and quickly become like family for the reader. One of my favorite things the author has done is the little “trash talking”, if you will, thrown in. These characters love each other very much, but will never miss an opportunity to give the other a hard time, It’s like family, and is cause for many laughs.
The setting of this book is amazing. I love descriptions of the New Realm, and what the crew do with it as time goes on.
The Quest In this book is a long one for our hero’s, but it has plenty of rewards to accompany it.
One thing this book has is amazing development for the characters. It is the longest in the series, and that’s because it really delves in to the history of its main character and makes her all the more fantastic.
I honestly could talk about this series for hours, but I’ll end it here, you should definitely check it out for yourself.
I’ll also be reviewing the 4th book in this series in a couple weeks.
The series grabs and keeps your attention. If you like video games, DND, or just wanna try something new, I highly recommend this series.
KAWIRIA CREED is a hobbyist photographer, pianist, and teenage author of The Night Summer Ended, a collection of poetry themed around Canadian nature.
She also writes Young Adult fiction and is currently working on her debut YA Fantasy novel, Red.
Kawiria lives in British Columbia, Canada, with her family and an adorable labrador puppy. She plans to study Interior Design at university and write novels of various genres on the side.
This book is a short collection of poems themed around self-reflection and the beautiful nature of Canada. Each chapter is divided according to the four seasons, with poems and photography to match those seasons. If you believe beauty is found in the little things, this is the perfect book for you.
I don’t read much poetry, but this collection was very enjoyable. I really like how the poems switch seasons as the book went on. Some of the poems make you think, some of them give you a giggle, and some are just beautiful.
One of the things I absolutely enjoyed with this collection is the photography. The photos the Author took, and included in here are stunning. You can tell that the Author is very talented at not only creating beautiful writings, but also beautiful art.
I highly recommend you check this out if you enjoy poems about Nature, or Art of any kind, as this collections is just one fabulous piece of Art.
I give this collection of Poems 5 Stars!
It is a quick read of beautiful sometimes silly poems, and pleasing pictures. Where can you go wrong?
When orphans vanish from their beds across Victorian London, twelve-year-old demystifier Hemlock Jones and her companion, Edward, take the case!
This time, the trail will lead them from their Baker Street home, along lost
rivers and into the heart of the city, to face exotic enemies and a charming
man with dark plans…
Hemlock Jones & The
Underground Orphans is the second of the Hemlock Jones Chronicles, the
award-winning series of detective adventures for children and adults.
Book
info:
Print Length: 210 pages
Publisher: Eldias Press (4 Nov. 2019)
ISBN (paperback): 9781916165410
ASIN (ebook): B07YP1VDRS
Justin Carroll is an author who balances his love of comic books and
games with a passion for martial arts and musicals.
Ever since he stopped wanting to be a dinosaur, Justin wanted to be a
writer. He graduated with a degree in English Literature and Language from
King’s College, London in 2004 and now, when not writing, he fritters away his
time on all manner of geeky things.
Shortlisted for several international short story competitions, Justin
was a finalist in the 2010 British Fantasy Awards with “Careful What You
Wish For” (Wyvern Publishing) and placed in the top twenty of the NYC Midnight
Short Story Challenge twice.
December 2012 saw the birth of Justin Carroll’s first novel: Everything’s Cool – a dark, psychological thriller.
His second novel, Hemlock
Jones & The Angel of Death, is a Young Adult novel and the first in a series
featuring Hemlock Jones, the fiery 12-year-old demystifier whose brain easily
equals and surpasses that of the famous consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes.
“Hemlock Jones & The Angel of Death” won a Silver Medal in the
2017 Wishing Shelf Awards.
Now, Justin has published the second book in the Hemlock Jones
Chronicles: Hemlock
Jones & The Underground Orphans, perfect for all fans of 10 years and above of
adventurous detective mysteries!
Hemlock is a 12 year old girl who resides at 211 B baker street. She looks at Sherlock as a rival. Hemlock and her associate, 12 year old Edward, consult with the police to help solve crimes. The police reluctantly accept her help because she is good at what she does.
When orphans start going missing, Hemlock jumps on the case. I rather like the way the case plays out. Being a fan of fairytales, the fairytale aspect of this book was really fun. It was done in its own way, and the originality of that makes this book an enjoyable read.
Hemlocks personality is so much like Sherlocks, but she is her own person. Edward is the caution behind the recklessness that is Hemlock, just as Watson plays that part for sherlock. It is really fun to see these characters brought to life in such a different way.
I loved the characters, the plot, the mystery. It has all the amazing aspects of Sherlock Holmes with a small twist. I couldn’t put the book down. The strangeness of the case just pulls you in.
5 stars for Hemlock Jones!
The story is very well written, The characters are really fun, The mystery is captivating in its own way, the originality is refreshing. I highy enjoyed reading this book and if you like Sherlock, or Strange mysteries, so will you.
Summer. 1936. Upstate New York. First, the banks were coming for their farms. Then, a record heat wave scorched the land. And then came Joshua Bloomfield, driven by revenge and greed, seeking to reclaim an inheritance of blood money and the family he believed was rightfully his. Will Evelyn Kydd find a way to save her farm and protect her family from the monster in their midst, or will they all be devoured by the darkness descending upon the hills?
Author:
D. H. Schleicher is the author of the independent novels Then Came Darkness and The Thief Maker, and his writing has appeared in Underground Voices, Scratch, The Eunoia Review, LitNoir , and Wonders in the Dark . You can follow his blog TheSchleicherSpin.com where he shares his views on books, movies, and travel. He hails from the South Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia where he lives with his wife and son.
Then Came Darkness is full of mystery and suspense. Once the story started to progress I could not put it down! From the very beginning of the book you are already trying to figure out the mysteries that are to come.
The setting and plot of this book is like nothing I have read before. The originality behind it was very refreshing for me. I enjoyed seeing a different side of life from a different time. The way the issues are dealt with, the punishments, the health problems, the social interactions are so different from how things are today.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Everything about it was well done. I enjoyed the setting, characters, plot, all of it.
The Art of Sherlock Holmes-USA Edition 1 is truly unique. While there have been literally hundreds of Holmes pastiches written before our first volume, The Art of Sherlock Homes-West Palm Beach, there had never been a volume where Holmes short stories were interpreted by such accomplished artists.
In this first USA edition, thirteen
world-class artists who live and create in the United States have each had a
story assigned to them – specifically dependent on the particular talent of
each artist. Whether the interpretations be from the forms of surrealist,
contemporary, realist, digital, minimalist, symbolism, or an amalgam of various
forms, each piece of art created is unique, hypnotic, mesmerizing and
unforgettable. Each created specifically
to express the essence of each incredible Holmes story.
The thirteen stories herein range from the
impossibly baffling (except for Holmes) to the humorous, paranormal, or simply
intellectually intricate. You’re presented with murder, theft, treason,
betrayal, love, loss and greed. All the ingredients to make delicious Holmes
meals of mystery. But please remember, art is in the eye of the beholder. So we
hope you’ll appreciate each creation for what it is: an inimitable
interpretation of a truly unique Holmes story.
For those of you who get lost in abstract
art, our abstract artists have provided an explanation of what their art means
in relation to the story they’ve interpreted.
The Art of Sherlock Holmes books are
curated by Phil Growick, himself a renowned Holmes author.
Phil Growick Phil Growick ran one of the world’s leading
executive search firms in the advertising industry. Phil’s network in the
creative world is unparalleled which is perfect for artist acquisition. Now
living in West Palm, Phil is heavily involved in the local art community and as
a two-time Sherlock Holmes novelist came up with the concept of combining two
of his passions – art and Holmes.
“You’re presented with murder,
theft, treason, betrayal, love, loss and greed. All the ingredients to make a
delicious Holmes meal of mystery: inimitable interpretations of truly unique
Holmes stories.”
MX Publishing MX is the world’s largest Sherlock Holmes
publisher. The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories is the world’s largest
new Sherlock stories collection with twelve bestselling volumes in the last
four years – with three more volumes due in May 2019. Over 100 authors have
taken part in the anthology including NY Times best sellers Lee Child, Jonathan
Kellerman, Lyndsay Faye and Bonnie MacBird.
The collection raises money for the Stepping
Stones School ( a school for children with learning disabilities) at Undershaw, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s former
home which carries the Estate’s Conan Doyle Seal. The collection has
overwhelming support from leading Sherlockians worldwide. MX are in a perfect
position to bring the best in Holmes fiction and the Sherlock fan base to the
project.
MX’ other project is the Happy Life
Children’s Home in Nairobi, Kenya. Twinned with Stepping Stones, Happy Life
has saved the lives of over 600 abandoned babies in the last two decades. The
project has expanded to include a school and paediatric hospital.
This book was completely different from anything I have read before. It is full of short stories told by our favorite Doctor and detective, Watson and Holmes. The character personalities were spot on and the stories blew me away.
It can be difficult to capture the attention of a reader in such a short span and keep them hooked throughout. Every single one of these stories had me captured and mesmerized until the very end.
One of the best parts about this book is the Art. You get to read about the Author and Artist of the story, then get to look at the Art created for the story, then the story it self. I would study each piece of work to try to figure out the story. After you finish the story I would highly suggest going back to the Art and having a second look and seeing what you missed.
This book is filled with so much talent, I am honored to have the chance to read and review it.
I will now show a few pieces of the many beautiful works of Art for this Novel.
Just look at this stunning piece. There are so many secrets hidden within from the story. I spent so much time admiring this piece and finding all of them.
This is one of my favorites. The artist uses a unique style to create this masterwork. Again you can find so much from the story with in the picture. This was also one of my favorite stories in the book.
All of this Art is amazing. This piece is so stunning and brings the story it beholds to life perfectly. I also thoroughly enjoyed this story because we get to see a little twist to the Holmes history.
Here are the Artists/Authors to all the other works…..
Pixie Ponders & Reviews 