The Ghost Illusion by Kat Martin

In a twisty page-turner for fans of Lisa Jewell and Melinda Leigh, New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin melds psychological thriller and ghost story as one woman’s daring search for the truth tests the dividing line between life and death.

If you need help, we are here for you.

Eve St. Clair desperately needs help sorting reality from her fearful imaginings when ghostly voices seem to haunt the Victorian house in Sunderland, England, that she inherited from her uncle. Online research leads to a group that claims to offer just the aid she’s seeking. But can Ransom King’s handpicked team of investigators truly banish Eve’s night terrors?

Since the deaths of his wife and daughter, Seattle billionaire Ransom King has devoted himself to researching parapsychology and debunking the frauds who prey upon the bereaved. But Eve is a psychologist herself, clearly sane, and her sincerity is palpable. King senses a very real danger stalking the beautiful divorcée. As his interest in her case turns deeply personal, he will move heaven and earth to uncover the truth—no matter how shocking—and save the woman he loves.

REVIEW

“…are Eve’s night terrors real, or just an illusion?”

Eve St. Clair is a psychologist and after her uncle death, she inherits his house in England, where she spent part of her childhood, but something happens there, she hears whispers, creepy sounds and running feet. She doesn’t know if these are only tricks of her mind, if she’s imagining things and she’s scared.

She make researches on the web and decides to contact for help Ransom King, a billionaire who lead a paranormal investigation company in Seattle, after the loss of his wife and kid.

This is the start of one of the best read of the year for me.

I didn’t know this author, I read a lot and I know I have big holes in my “reading shelf”, as they say; so many books so little times, and it’s so true.

Kat Martin is an amazing writer and If you love this genre it’s a great story.

I always loved ghost, and mistery in books, movies and tv series and I was totally hooked by this story from the start.

The atmosphere is everything, engaging, a page turner, and I must say sometimes feels so real that it’s a little scary. I really loved it.

And MS Kat Martin’s writing is wonderful to read, her characters, Eve and Ransom are great, the chemistry between them perfect, but also their Insta-connection. What I love the most in Ransom is how he takes care of everyone around him, his team and Eve, in everyway possible.

Eve is sweet and strong and her empathy for the people around her makes her extraordinary.

Ransom’s team give something more to the story with their presence, I almost hoped this is a first book in a series, because I could feel something in the air…

The plot and the research behind the ghost presence in Eve’s home is intriguing and fascinating, I don’t want to tell more, because you have to discover it while reading.

I think I really need to explore the booklist of this author.

RATING: 5 STARS

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the kind preview

REVIEW: You Can Die by Rebecca Zanetti (#3 Laurel Snow series)

`*•.¸★☆ LIVE NOW☆★¸.•*´

 

YOU CAN DIE (A Laurel Snow Thriller Book 3) by Rebecca Zanetti

 

Men are dying in the Pacific Northwest, their bodies found near churches, charities, and counselling centers—each with valentine candy hearts shoved down their throats. They’re good men with families and community ties—or so they seem until Laurel Snow and her team begin to investigate. Then the case takes a shockingly personal turn when the father she’s never met, a former pastor, is attacked in exactly the same way.

Now, besides solving the case, Laurel is on the hunt to discover where her father has been. Complicating things is Laurel’s troubled half-sister, Abigail, a brilliant sociopath determined to prove that they’ve both inherited their father’s malignant narcissism.

Assisting Laurel is Washington Fish and Wildlife Captain Huck Rivers, a dangerous loner whose reliance on gut instinct puts him at odds with Laurel’s coolly analytic approach. But the choice may be moot when the killer hones in on Huck’s own dark secrets—putting him and Laurel squarely in the crosshairs.

 

 

Available Now: 

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/v2stvnw3

B&N: https://tinyurl.com/bdcmafk7

BAM: https://tinyurl.com/yc42rrek

KOBO: https://tinyurl.com/2uvkdy6s

Google Play: https://tinyurl.com/mry8jjdn

Apple: https://tinyurl.com/5h43wk2e

 

 

 

REVIEW

 

You Can Die by Rebecca Zanetti is the third book in the series Laurel Snow  and you need to read the books in order to enjoy fully the story and Laurel and Huck’s journey.

FBI agent Lauren Snow and her team need to hunt a new serial killer. The timeline of the three books in the series in very fast, some members of Laurel’s team still need to recover from the previous case, and the first murder strikes near them, involving Laurel from the very beginning, and the killer’s victims grow fast.

At first the target and the connections lead to a law firm, but then the pattern change and it’s difficult to read.

I love Laurel character, she’s a total badass on the field, she has a beautiful mind, but in her private life she feels a little vulnerable with Huck and their story. She’s not a flirty girl, she never plays games and she hadn’t dated a lot in the past. But Huck can read her so well and knows how to put at easy Laurel, telling her always the truth directly- He’s also a little grumpy,smart and very protective, but he respects her role, knowing she needs to be the one to take charge in her job. He restrains himself and respect their boundaries because he knows she’s trained and very good.

Serial killers aren’t the only complication in Laurel and Huck life, there is also Laurel’s “family”.

The real thorn is Abigail, Laurel’s half-sister, more dangerous of the serial killer, creepy. She enjoys playing mind games and use people as her puppets.

The plot is engaging and intricate, the characters compelling, I only wished to read more solo time for Laurel and Huck. I laughed so hard when Huck said an exasperated “What now?” when the phone rang.

But… there are also a lot of surprises I can’t tell you, lot lot of them, so go find them!

 

RATING: 4 STARS

 

 

 

 

 

Preview and Review: "He's My Cowboy" by Diana Palmer, Rebecca Zanetti and Delores Fossen

 "He's My Cowboy" is an anthology with three novellas written by different authors: Diana Palmer, Rebecca Zanetti and Delores Fossen. They're all small-town romance.

I enjoyed my time reading them in a few hours. One novella leads to another as cherries.

THE HAWK'S SHADOWS by Diana Palmer: 

Gil needs to prove himself in his new role as sheriff's investigator. That means working alongside a hotshot expert from the state crime lab who's come to Colorado to help untangle a long-ago mystery. But if they stop butting heads, they might discover a surprising connection.

I love Ms Palmer writing, is smooth, easy to read and her characters are really enjoyable. The mystery is about a cold case of murder, in a small town where everyone knows everything, and the maximum level of crime are tickets for driving too fast. Gil is the deputy, the sheriff's right  arm and new investigator, he needs help with the case, but his first meeting with Nemara, FBI special agent, goes all wrong: they can't stand each other. Sometimes first impressions can change, when you have common ground on something and Gil and Nemara have that. At first I also didn't think so well of Nemara, my bad. But when you start to know her, you discover she wear a mask because she is shy and sometimes a little awkward with people, she's special and gifted. The plot is good, intriguing and I loved a lot the characters.

Rating: 4 STARS

RESCUE RANCHER STYLE by Rebecca Zanetti

Leaving the Marines and returning to Redemption as heir to the family ranch - and guardian to three wayward teenagers - Greg is in way over his head. But he's learned some deadly lessons since leaving the first love behind. And when she's in danger, nothing will stop him from saving her.

It's no secret my love for Rebecca Zanetti's stories, she's one of my favorite authors.

Greg is the kind of hero I love, strong-willed and protective. For him it's tough to raise his nephews, but he gives his everything to try to make things good for them, keep them together as a family. It's not easy for him, but he doesn't want things any other way.

Fate gives him a hand with his ex girlfriend. The grew apart before,  lived their life and they have baggage but they find out that together they're really good. As Always Ms Zanetti characters are great and her stories amazing.

RATING: 5 STARS

A COWBOY KIND OF ROMANCE by Delores Fossen

After eight years in the Air Force, Brenna's hanging up her uniform and retiring home to Silver Sage, Texas. News of her parent's divorce has shaken her faith in love, even if the whole town is eager to match make between Brenna and her high -school flame. But never underestimate cowboy's powers of persuasion.

This novella is also a second chance and small-town romance, I didn't know the author, but I think the story is nice, easy to read and it was fun see Brenna's hometown playing Cupid with her.

Rating: 3.5 STARS

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the kind preview.

 

Review: Both Feet in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (#8 Night Huntress Series)

BOTH FEET IN THE GRAVE by JEANIENE FROST

#8 Night Huntress series

 

REVIEW

I loved so much Both Feet in the Grave from the very beginning. Love at first read and lot of good vibes and feelings.

Cat and Bones Night Huntress series always will be a must-read if you love Paranormal Romance and most of all vampires, you can’t say you love this genre if you didn’t read them.

Jeaniene Frost took a risk rewriting the series through Bones’ POV, but she did it so good that I can’t thank her enough.

Reading the previous book was like seeing things in a mirror and I liked that, this one is very different, it fills several holes in their story, it shows you parts that were missing, years of Bones’ strugglings because Cat left him. And I really hope in the future there will be more of that, because I always thought I could have loved reading something more sometimes, I needed more.

I was also happy and moved to find a little more time with Randy in the book, it was brief, but I loved him so much and it feels like a cameo.

Actually every character in the series is special, In the best way or in the worst, it isn’t all about Cat and Bones.

One name? Justine for sure, she won the nomination as worst mother ever, she’s hateful, but we need her like that.

I really enjoyed reading Bones’ POV, it shows how deep is his love for Cat, sometimes he just know everything about her reactions to protect everyone she loves, her team, but it’s also fun when she acts like a loose cannon, because she loves hard too, and he can only do damage control.

Do you need another hint, a little push from me about why you need to read Both Feet In the Grave? Mmm… Let me think… Chapter 32? Rings a bell? Just saying…

 

 

RATING 5/5 STARS

LEVEL HEAT 4/5

 

BLURB

If you thought you learned more about the dangerous and sexy alpha vampire, Bones, in the USA Today bestselling scorcher, THE OTHER HALF OF THE GRAVE, you haven't seen anything yet...

Cat disappeared from Bones’ life to protect him, but this Master vampire will keep his promise to find her.

Two hundred years of bounty hunting made Bones the best at what he does, yet it's still taken him four long years to find Cat, the half vampire now known as the "Red Reaper." There's a price on Cat's head, and not even her job as a secret government agent can save her. Only Bones can. But has time hardened Bones too much to love again? Or will his passion for Cat burn through every obstacle—alive, undead, or otherwise—between them?

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Night Huntress series comes a fresh, new perspective on the origin saga of Cat and Bones, in Bones' own words…

Review: Unforgiven by Rebecca Zanetti (Deep Ops #5)

UNFORGIVEN (Deep Ops Book 5) by REBECCA ZANETTI

 

Run: Gemma Falls never expected to use her game theory expertise to outrun a killer. But for years, that skill is all that kept her one step ahead of a deadly stalker. When Gemma gets the chance to teach at D.C. University, she hopes she and her young daughter have found a safe harbor. The only flaw is the arrogant philosophy professor who’s always underfoot giving unwanted advice—in his sexy British accent . . .

Hide:Jethro Hanson has blood on his hands. He’s working within ivy-covered university halls now, but he knows that his work with the Deep Ops team and the deadly acts he once committed for the sake of Queen and country place him beyond forgiveness—until he meets Gemma . . .

Seek: Soon, the passion between them stuns them both. But when Jethro discovers a threat is fast overtaking her, he must choose between the redemption he seeks—and releasing the ever-present killer inside . . .

 

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon IT: https://amzn.to/3O89VAB

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/2p9cms48

B&N: https://tinyurl.com/25yfe43h

Apple: https://tinyurl.com/2hzwwf6a

Kobo: https://tinyurl.com/2p896ubr

Google Play: https://tinyurl.com/ms7zh5kw

 

REVIEW

 

I love this series so much. Unforgiven is Deep Ops series book #5, each book could be read as standalone, but reading them in order is the best way to enjoy the amazing characters after they found their mates in the previous books.
This time the spot is on Jethro , Angus’ friend, who helped him to take down a psycho serial killer. Jethro is an ex MI6 agent, not so ex though, but everyone known him as a Brit philosophy professor at the University. Unforgiven is also Gemma's story, a woman on the run with her little daughter Trudy.
Is a fact that Rebecca Zannetti's male characters give their best with single mom and their children and Jethro is no exception.
He’s full of charm, superhot badass, he has darkness in him, but he's so caring, sweet and protective with Trudy.
The past left marks on Jethro’s life, but because of that he always take care of the people around him, without knowledge of how his presence is so important in the life of his friends.
Gemma is also a wonderful woman smart, strong, she chose to fight back, saving herself and her daughter, running away, changing her life forever. She has secrets, she’s alone, with no family to trust, until fate puts on her path Jethro.
They feel a strong pull toward each other, but they sense there’s something behind what they let show to everyone.
The past for both of them come back in full force. Things become complicated and dangerous and they can’t hide anymore their feelings and their secrets, but this time they have a great backup.
Angus and Nari, Wolf and Dana, their team makes the difference in this story. They feel Jethro as part of them and the bond is stronger than any kind of blood ties.
I loved also the new secondary characters (the twins from Jethro former life), they’re are intriguing and fun. You can only hope the author give them their own story in a new book.
The cherry on the top is always Roscoe with his antics, one of the best character I ever read. Roscoe is Angus’ German Shepard… and part of the team as well.

Rating: 5/5 STARS

 

Heath level: 4/5

 

#RebeccaZanetti #amreading #booklovers #booknerd #romancereads #romancebooks #contemporaryromance #romanticsuspense #DeepOpsSeries

 

Recensione: Hot Wednesday di Taylor Kinney - Hot Wednesday #1

Veramente bello! Amo i racconti brevi, anche se come in questo caso sviluppano la storia come in un romanzo a puntate. Personalmente credo siano una vera e propria sfida per un autore, perché in poche pagine deve riuscire conquistare i lettori, facendoli entrare in sintonia da subito con i personaggi e la sua storia. Va molto di moda dire sui social in questi giorni "sfida accettata", beh sfida accettata e vinta alla grande dalla sua autrice con questa prima parte della serie di racconti "Hot Wednesday". Mi piace leggere i libri di genere BDSM, ne ho letti moltissimi, soprattutto di autrici straniere, ma adoro come sa scrivere questi racconti Taylor Kinney, tra le autrici italiane è una delle mie preferite.
Ma veniamo alla storia...
Julian è un escort, per diversi anni è riuscito a mantenersi e a studiare grazie alla sua professione e tutto è andato bene fino a quando uno dei suoi clienti, Gabriel, ha cominciato a diventare qualcosa di più e il giorno dedicato ai loro incontri, il mercoledì, nella vita di Julian ha cominciato a rappresentare qualcosa di diverso, ma proprio per questo ancora più proibito ai suoi occhi.
Poter leggere la storia attraverso il punto di vista di Julian è la cosa che mi è piaciuta di più. È stata una vera e propria rivelazione poter entrare nella sua testa e scoprire quello che prova per Gabriel, perché dal suo modo di comportarsi perfetto, controllato e imperscrutabile , nella sua relazione Dom/sub, non sarebbe mai stato possibile intuirlo. Julian mi ha sorpreso e mi ha conquistato dopo pochissime righe.
Un'altra cosa che mi è piaciuta è stato trovarmi di fronte nel racconto a scene BDSM inusuali, molto hot, non volgari e che mostrano momenti particolari in un rapporto di Dominazione e sottomissione, scene magari anche un po' forti, ma sempre consensuali, che dopo la loro intensità lasciano intravvedere l'altro aspetto stupendo, dolce e profondo nel rapporto che lega un Dom al suo sub: le sue attenzioni e la dolcezza che mostra nell'accudirlo.
Non vedo l'ora di leggere la seconda parte della serie.


TITOLO: HOT WEDNESDAY

AUTRICE: TAYLOR KINNEY

SERIE: HOT WEDNESDAY #1

SELF-PUBLISHING

LINGUA: ITALIANA

Recensione: Jamie Quinn Mystery Collection: Box Set Books 1-3 di Barbara Venkataraman

Books 1-3 of the Jamie Quinn Mystery Series! Including: 

"Death by Didgeridoo"-Winner of the Indie Book of the Day award. Reluctant lawyer, Jamie Quinn, still reeling from the death of her mother, is pulled into a game of deception, jealousy, and vengeance when her cousin, Adam, is wrongfully accused of murder. It's up to Jamie to find the real murderer before it's too late. It doesn't help that the victim is a former rock star with more enemies than friends, or that Adam confessed to a murder he didn't commit. 

"The Case of the Killer Divorce"-Reluctant lawyer, Jamie Quinn, has returned to her family law practice after a hiatus due to the death of her mother. It's business as usual until a bitter divorce case turns into a murder investigation, and Jamie's client becomes the prime suspect. When she can't untangle truth from lies, Jamie enlists the help of Duke Broussard, her favorite private investigator, to try to clear her client's name. And she’s hoping that, in his spare time, he can help her find her long-lost father. 

"Peril in the Park"-There's big trouble in the park system. Someone is making life difficult for Jamie Quinn's boyfriend, Kip Simons, the new director of Broward County parks. Was it the angry supervisor passed over for promotion? The disgruntled employee Kip recently fired? Or someone with a bigger ax to grind? If Jamie can't figure it out soon, she may be looking for a new boyfriend because there’s a dead guy in the park and Kip has gone missing! With the help of her favorite P.I., Duke Broussard, Jamie must race the clock to find Kip before it’s too late.

Barbara Venkataraman is an attorney and mediator specializing in family law as the protagonist of this books Jamie.

I think that this series is particular both for the choice of female main characters than for the structure of plot.

From the start of reading I have thought that the story was set  as a TV film at episodes, because the chapters are very short so it is as see a scene change.

While Jamie isn't the classic and usual heroine of book , also if cozy mystery book. Unfortunately, this didn't  work for me and this peculiarity make me to not like  Jamie very much as the short chapters make my head spin.

 Jamie remember me the ispektor Columbo from namesake series tv. Smart yes , capable yes, but also sloppy and messy. We meet her in a hard moment of her life, when she is grieving her mother's death (in the first book) , and we come to know she has studied Law for lack of better ideas and attitudes: " God, I hate being a lawyer" as she frequently complains,not like her friend Grace that seem motivated in her job ( nice side character however).

Anyhow she escape her depressed state with her first homicide case and she is very good to look up clues as seek the help of PI Duke( funny and interesting side character). So the mystery is very good in all three books, because the reader understands and follows  the investigations .

I liked more the second book of series, sure more of third , when magically we discover that Jamie and Kip are a couple. But while she is happy and brillant, not so Kip that not seem so  close-knit with her(  and his next trip to australia ,at the end of book, not bode well).

In the end , I think this might be a "It's not you , it's me" situation , because the books are good but I could not connect with the main protagonist.

**I received this copy from Barbara Venkatarman in exchange for my honest review.

RATING: 3 STARS

Series: Jamie Quinn Mystery - Books 1-3

Publication Date: September 3, 2014

Publisher: Barbara Venkatarman

Genre: Mystery Anthology

Print Length: 361 pages

Available from: Amazon

 Barbara Venkataraman è un avvocato e mediatore specializzato in diritto di famiglia, come la protagonista di questo libro Jamie.

Credo che questa serie è particolare sia per la scelta del personaggio principali femminile che per la struttura della trama.

Dall'inizio della lettura ho pensato che la storia era impostata come un film TV a episodi, perché i capitoli sono molto corti: è come vedere un cambio di scena.

Mentre Jamie non è l'eroina classica ed usuale dei libri, anche se di libri gialli. Purtroppo, questo non ha funzionato per me e questa particolarità non mi fa  piacere Jamie molto e i brevi capitoli mi fanno girare la testa.

 Jamie mi ricorda il tenente Colombo della serie tv omonima. Intelligenti si, capace sì, ma anche sciatta e disordinata.Noi la incontriamo in un momento difficile della sua vita, quando  sta soffrendo per morte della madre (nel primo libro), e veniamo a sapere che  ha studiato legge per mancanza di  migliori idee e preferenze: "Dio, odio essere un avvocato "si lamenta spesso, non come la sua amica Grazia che sembrano motivato nel suo lavoro (personaggio secondario ma bello ).

Comunque lei  esce dal suo stato di depressione con il suo primo caso di omicidio ed è molto brava a cercare indizi utili e l'aiuto di  Duke, un investigatore privato (personaggio divertente e interessante ). 

Il mistero è molto buono in tutti e tre i libri, perché il lettore capisce e segue le indagini.

Mi è piaciuto di più il secondo libro della serie, sicuramente più del terzo, quando magicamente scopriamo che Jamie e Kip sono una coppia. Ma mentre lei è felice e brillante, non così Kip che non sembra così affiatato o innamorato con lei (e il suo prossimo viaggio in Australia, alla fine del libro, non promette nulla di buono).

Alla fine, credo che questo potrebbe essere un "Non sei tu, sono io"  situazione, perché i libri sono interessanti ma io non ho potuto connettere con la protagonista principale.

VOTO: 3 STELLE

Recensione a cura di LIDIA