Tag: suspense

A Kiss with Death – Sealed with A Kiss series BOOK 1

Posted on by Frances

 

 

I’m excited to announce that my newest release is finally here!

 

 

A Kiss with Death is book one of what is a four-book series in the crime thriller genre. Each book is rated PG-13 or so as there is murder, some seduction, and occasional drug/alcohol references. However, there is no swearing, and no on-page/descriptive sexual references and/or graphic violence.

 

Here is the blurb:

After a rough past, Professor Laura Marie Keaton now has the perfect life. The perfect house along the lakeshore. The perfect job at Capstone University. The perfect boyfriend who she knows is the one. The only thing she doesn’t have? The perfect alibi.

When a serial killer emerges in Crimson Shores, leaving behind only a card with a number, a kiss, and the name Margaret on it, Laura’s life begins to crumble yet again. She believes she’s the hunted. But as the victim count rises, Detective Randy Kojak believes she’s the hunter.

One piece of information about Laura’s past holds the truth. But like everything else with The Margaret Killer, it may not be what it seems.

 

As of right now it is available in e-book format only through Amazon. However, the paperback and audiobook versions are in the works!! With many twists and turns and a smidgen of suspense and mystery, you will not want to miss this series. I’d love for you to check it out, share with a friend, and even leave an honest review if you get the chance!

 

To get your copy, please head to:

 

www.amazon.com/dp/B07VD8Y9JC

Shackles: The Truth Will Set You Free

Posted on by Frances

It has been way too LONG since I’ve last written a blog post. The truth is, I’ve been wrapped up in finishing my next series that I’ve not had much time to read or post anything. However, I finally did finish a book I wanted to share with you all. It’s slightly different than I’ve read before: a Christian mystery thriller. Yes, those genres can certainly go together. Let me share with you the book’s information, and then let me tell you my thoughts…

 

 

Shackles: The Truth Will Set You Free

By: Dianne J. Wilson

 

 

 

 

 

Jason is not the kind of guy you would want to take home to mom. He’s foul tempered, a bit of a womanizer and has a conscience that has been collecting dust for years. All that is shaken up though, when he unearths a package of carefully preserved love letters and a portrait while diving off the coast of Africa. So many unanswered questions, the letters snag something inside of him. Intrigued despite himself, he begins to unravel the mystery caught up in pages. He finds himself tangled up in the life of a girl he’s never met… a girl who is in desperate trouble.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free ~ John 8:32

 

 

What I really enjoyed about this book was that it had multiple stories intertwining toward one unique plot. How everything came together was miraculously written. Very well done. The author also did a great job of weaving in Christian themes that I believe are true to the Bible. I liked the depth of characters and scenery, and it was overall enjoyable.

 

Throughout this book there were a few mistakes, but nothing that made it difficult to read or understand. That paired with not being a book I couldn’t put down (it was enjoyable, but not something I had to keep reading) made me rate this four stars. Yes, I would recommend it. For those liking novels taking place in foreign countries, this is it for you. 

 

 

You can get it for FREE on Amazon at:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015GB04IK

Not What She Seems

Posted on by Frances

How about another thriller? I’ve been doing a lot of those lately, haven’t I. All for good reasons, as I’ve shared before. This one, however, isn’t quite a thriller. It’s more a suspense. There’s also a romantic element to it, which sweetens it up a bit. Would you like to know more about this book? Let me share!

 

Not What She Seems

By: Victorine E. Lieske

 

Steven Ashton, a billionaire from New York, and Emily Grant, on the run from the law…and when they meet he can’t help falling for her. What he doesn’t know is that interfering in her life will put his own life in danger.

When billionaire Steven Ashton couldn’t stand his high society social life anymore, he left the stress of New York on a vacation for his soul. The need to meet real down to earth people led him to a small Nebraska town. He didn’t want to lie about who he was, but he couldn’t exactly tell them the truth.

Emily could have easily fallen in love with Steven, under different circumstances, but her past was catching up with her and she needed a new life. If the authorities found out about her, she could lose the one thing that meant everything, her four year old son.

 

I have read other books by Victorine E. Lieske before. I figured this one would be a good one to try. After all, she’s great with her romance novels! So how does she do with suspense? Let’s find out. I’ll first share what I liked.

Not What She Seems is very well-written. I thought the storyline was enjoyable and easy to follow. I love that it’s a clean novel. Many books in this genre tend to be even just a slightly bit dirty. This one wasn’t whatsoever. So that’s a huge plus. Especially for those younger people who like to read suspense. Another huge plus was that you never find out the culprit until the very end. I have to admit that it wasn’t someone I had suspected so kudos to Victorine for keeping it a mystery!

Was there anything I didn’t like? There were a couple of things. The first was that toward the end, I had to reread some parts just to make sure I was following right. Overall, the book is very easy to follow and makes tons of sense. There was just a few parts at the end where I had to recheck. Another downfall is that much of the story was predictable. Not so much the biggest part of the book, but much of the rest was. Lastly, I wasn’t feeling the romance aspect of the story at all. It was cute, but didn’t do anything for me.

All in all, I rated this four stars! If you go to the Amazon page for this novel, which I have the link just below, you’ll see that it has tons of reviews all in favor of this story. It’s also a New York Times Bestseller so that says something, right? Okay. Now that I said my piece, go check it out!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003HS5LRO

Blackwater Lake

Posted on by Frances

I bring to you a FREE psychological suspense novella! Introducing…

 

 

For those who may not know, novella means short novel. In other words, this is not a full-length novel. That doesn’t mean it won’t pack a good punch, though! With around 26,000 words, this makes the perfect book to read for those short on time. And with a lot of storyline and plot twists, it’s perfect for those still wanting depth. Plus, you can’t beat FREE!

Before going into my review, let me share with you the book’s blurb:

Matthew Stanyer fears the worst when he reports his parents missing.  His father, Joseph Stanyer, has been struggling to cope with his wife Evie, whose dementia is rapidly worsening. When their bodies are found close to Blackwater Lake, a local beauty spot, the inquest rules the deaths as a murder-suicide. A conclusion that’s supported by the note Joseph leaves for his son.

Grief-stricken, Matthew begins to clear his parents’ house of decades of compulsive hoarding, only to discover the dark enigmas hidden within its walls. Ones that lead Matthew to ask: why did his father choose Blackwater Lake to end his life? What other secrets do its waters conceal?

A short (26,000 words) novella, Blackwater Lake examines one man’s determination to uncover his family’s troubled past.

In my opinion, this was a very intriguing psychological suspense. It held my attention from the first page through to the end. The characters and scenes were well-written, and the storyline was amazing! What I think I loved most about this short book is that there were a few twists and turns that I didn’t expect! And on top of that, the author did a fabulous job piecing all loose ends together towards the end without giving away too much information throughout the middle.

There were two things that I didn’t like. The first thing was that one of the twists the author wove into this novella was not something I appreciated. It was an interesting take on what the author was trying to get across, but it wasn’t something I enjoyed. I will not share what it is because I don’t want to spoil anything for potential readers, but let’s just say it’s an iffy topic. The book as a whole isn’t clean, either, so tread lightly.

The second thing was that some of the scenes were not needed. They don’t throw you off, it’s just they really didn’t need to be added. And some of those moments were a tiny confusing so I had to reread some parts just to be sure I knew what was being said.

Overall, I really liked the novella. I like psychological storylines, and this one fit the mold quite well. Because of the couple issues, I am only rating this one four stars!

If you’d like to read this for FREE yourself, check it out here:

 

www.amazon.com/dp/B015WYIQ4K

 

A Heart’s Salvation

Posted on by Frances

A Heart’s Salvation is the debut novel from Dana Christy. What is so unique about it is that it reminded me of “Safe Haven” by Nicholas Sparks (who just so happens to be one of my favorite authors)! In A Heart’s Salvation you have a girl running from her past of abuse and ending up in the arms of the man who will save her. And of course they fall in love.

 

 

Book Blurb

 

After a year free from pain and anguish, Madison is once again jolted back into reality as her past catches up to her. On the run for years, she is forced to return home desperate for help. As despair grips her mind, she encounters a handsome young actor, Jackson Hunter, who is determined to get to know the complicated beauty, Madison Skye. Feeling an immediate connection to her, Jackson refuses to accept her emotional disconnect and offers her a way to escape her past. Although fearful of her attraction to him, Madison accepts his help with intentions on leaving him before her past finds her once more. Unable to fight their growing bond, she is forced to decide between running, or finally allowing herself to feel true love before her past and present collide. Fated to meet, and destined to be together, can their love endure the dark turmoil of Madison’s tortured past?

 

As a word of caution, this is NOT a clean novel. Please use your best discretion as to whether you’d want to read this or not. Without further ado, let’s get down to what I loved, and what I really didn’t like so much…. Continue reading “A Heart’s Salvation” →