#OnTour A Wolf On The Loose By Daniel Straka - #Interview + #Giveaway

 A Wolf On The Loose  By Daniel Straka is now on a Virtual Book Tour from June 19 to July 22, 2016.

A Wolf On The Loose: Episode 1 (A Wolf On The Loose)
by Dan Straka

Genre: Thriller, Suspense
Publication: February 21st, 2015
Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

A Wolf On The Loose is a weekly e-serial, containing 36 parts spread over 5 episodes. One part is released weekly, free, on Amazon for 5 days (Monday-Friday). Completed episodes are available for purchase. 

Amid struggling with his addictions, former Marine Andrew St George goes AWOL from his rich family and lavish lifestyle. He appears months later in Miami with one intent; convince his friend, Emilio Cortez, to start a Private Military Company with him. Having left the Corps after his brother was killed in a drive-by, Emilio’s been stuck working three jobs to support his extended family, all of whom he lives with in a small apartment. 

While Andrew and Emilio enter into the security business looking for an escape from their civilian lives, both struggle with their demons. From the slums of Miami, the glitzy South Beach nightlife, to Cartel controlled Mexico, the boys will learn that despite their best intentions, no one job is the same and that there are battles to be fought outside of war zones.

Interview with Dan Straka

1. Tell me about yourself & your book.

A WOLF ON THE LOOSE is a weekly adventure/thriller about two former Marines trying to find their place in the civilian world by starting a private security company in Miami, Florida. What they get, is more than they bargained for.

The genre, timeframe, and format allowed me to have the character’s living in our world, reacting to major events. The week-to- week format also gave the characters room to breathe; slice-of- life scenes that wouldn’t fit within a novel were able to be included.

The nature of the security company, and finding new clients with varying backgrounds, allows for social commentary on subjects ranging from police shootings to veteran’s affairs, gang wars, drug lords, and even nerd culture.

2. How do you come up with the idea of the book? What is your inspiration?

Originally I started a novel, based on a private military company (PMC), and the protagonist was a female journalist embedded with the PMC operating in Kurdistan. This plot had some legs, and may appear in future seasons, but at the time I didn't have enough "good stuff" to flesh out an entire engaging story.

Around that time I watched Showtime's "Strike Back", which was focused on two Special Forces soldiers engaging in alternative conflict theaters and in small scale battles. I thought, that's how I should do my story.

The plots of AWOTL are not about stopping a speeding train filled with bombs, on its way to DC. AWOTL is about the characters dealing with conflicts based on events that can, and do, happen in the real world, and their own struggles. That's why Andrew and Emilio are not action heroes straight out of Call of Duty. They are simply two former Marines, with their own hang-ups and issues.

3. How long did it take you to write this book?

I started preliminary work in the fall of 2013, and weekly releases began in January 2015. Thirty-six weeks later, Season 1 concluded in September 2015 with a nasty cliffhanger.

4. Do your characters ever surprise you? 

Yes, not just the characters but the flow of the narrative. I'll start planning and typing out a scene, and as the characters are talking, things happen. I sit back and think, oh, I didn’t anticipate that twist. That's in the initial draft, and then I re-write. The best way for me to edit and keep that plot twist or excitement I uncovered is: read a scene, remember what I like about it, then crtl+x and delete. And rewrite it from memory.

5. Grade your book. How many stars out of a perfect score of 5 stars? Please give the reason.

I think the story overall is fun and engaging, and the writing is clean thanks to my editor. Even my wife likes AWOTL! She is a diehard Jane Austen and classics fan, and not a fan of thrillers. So I count that as high praise!

Like most writers, I'm happy with some scenes and wish I could tweak others. Really, I'm more interested in what readers think. How they feel. And I hope they get as excited to read AWOTL each week, as I was to write it.

6. What are you working on right now?

I'm actively working on Season 2 of AWOTL. This one requires a bit more research. And, I'm going a traditional publishing route with a sword and sorcery fantasy.

7. Anything you would like to say to your readers?

As part of the blog tour, I will be releasing one episode a week for free on Amazon, beginning on July 4 th . I hope you enjoy reading any, or all, of A Wolf On the Loose. I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments section, or as a review on Amazon.

Thanks for reading!

Author Bio

Dan achieved a BFA in photography and metal working and since graduating, has done neither. By day he works in manufacturing. By night, often very late into the night, he writes and stalks America's sub-cultures on the vast internets.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

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Review: Terminal by Kathy Reichs & Brendan Reichs

Terminal (Virals #5)
by Kathy Reichs & Brendan Reichs

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Suspense, Young Adult
Publication: Published March 26th, 2015 by Arrow (Young)
Format: Paperback, 400 pages
Source: Own
Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

The Virals are back—but they’re not the only pack in town anymore. Terminal finds Tory Brennan—grandniece of the famous forensic anthropologist (star of the hit show Bones)—and the rest of the Morris Island gang tracking a pack of rogue Virals who call themselves the Trinity. The new pack was infected by a strain of supervirus created by Tory’s nemesis and sometimes-crush, Chance Clayborne, who accidentally infected himself, too.

These red-eyed Virals have openly challenged Tory’s pack for domination of Charleston, bringing on the attention of a shadowy government organization intent on learning the secret to their powers. Surviving it all is going to test the limits of the gang’s abilities.

Terminal is amazing! I can't say how much I love the Virals. At the end of the previous book, the Virals learned that Chance Claybourne was infected with the virus and there was a new pack in town. A pack called Trinity. Tory and the gang, along with Chance Claybourne have to find out about the new pack before they attract the attention of a government organization who were after their power.

Like every other Virals book, Terminal was packed with action and suspense. The Virals have to deal with the new pack and the secret organization. I am amazed with the friendship between the Virals and absolutely in love with the bits of romance between Tory/Ben/Chance. But, of course, Tory's choice was obvious from the beginning. 

Kathy Reichs & Brendan Reichs were very good authors. The storyline was amazing. The characters were great. I love how Tory and the Virals investigate things, with their curious nature. I just can't stop reading once I have this book in my hand. I wanted to know what will happen to the Virals and how will they escape from each danger they faced. I was heartbroken with the story towards the end, but, the authors got me excited again with the ending. Thankfully, there's a novella after this book. Hopefully, the writers will explain to us what happened to Tory and the Virals. I just need the novella in my hand, then, I can relax. Hopefully.

Virals will always be one of my favorite series of all time. It was sad to know that this is the final book for the Virals series, especially with how the story ends. I'm definitely going to miss the pack so much. 

If you haven't read the book and the series, I recommend that you will start now. It was amazing. If you like a kick-ass heroine who faced a lot of dangerous situations because of her curiosity nature, you will definitely enjoy this book.

Review: The Passenger by Lisa Lutz

The Passenger
by Lisa Lutz

Genre: Adult, Crime & Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense
Publication: March 1st, 2016 by Simon & Schuster
Format: ebooks
Source: Netgalley, ARC
Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

In case you were wondering, I didn’t do it. I didn’t have anything to do with Frank’s death. I don’t have an alibi, so you’ll have to take my word for it...

Forty-eight hours after leaving her husband’s body at the base of the stairs, Tanya Dubois cashes in her credit cards, dyes her hair brown, demands a new name from a shadowy voice over the phone, and flees town. It’s not the first time.

She meets Blue, a female bartender who recognizes the hunted look in a fugitive’s eyes and offers her a place to stay. With dwindling choices, Tanya-now-Amelia accepts. An uneasy―and dangerous―alliance is born.

It’s almost impossible to live off the grid today, but Amelia-now-Debra and Blue have the courage, the ingenuity, and the desperation, to try. Hopscotching from city to city, Debra especially is chased by a very dark secret…can she outrun her past?

I can't stop thinking about this book. It was different than Lisa Lutz's Spellman Series, which happen to be my all time favorite. It was more mysterious and well, a bit more confusing.

The beginning starts with Tanya leaving her husband's body at the base of the stairs. She gets some money, a new name, changes her identity and skips town. Tanya, now Amelia, meets Blue, a bartender who knows exactly who she is and offers her a place to stay. 

'Passanger' has this mysterious thing going on all over the book. A few times, I have to close the book because things are getting confusing.  But I have to pick up the book again to find out to all the answers to my questions—who exactly is Tanya? What is she running away from? And Why?

I guess, Tanya, Amelia, or whoever she is starts to grow on me. She has to change her name and identity for many times to be safe. She has gone through so much while she's on the run and I couldn't help but to feel sorry for her. She finds someone who she might like on her run, and runs again once she found out that he's a cop! And I found Blue an interesting character. She helped Amelia with questioning motives, and in the end, I wish I could hear what is her story.

Lisa Lutz is excellent at building the story with good plots and twists that keeps me going as the mystery behind Tanya-Amelia-Debra unfolds. I definitely enjoy reading this book and would recommend this to fans of crime fans.

I received a copy of this book from the Netgalley & Simon & Schuster in exchange for my review.

Review: Missing Dad: Wanted by J. Ryan

Missing Dad: Wanted
by J. Ryan

Genre: Crime, Thriller, Suspense, Romance, Young Adult
Publication: November 5th, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition, 133 pages
Source: Netgalley, ARC
Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Missing Dad – Wanted is the first in a new series featuring the gutsy Joe St Aubin, the teenage son of a secret agent who has disappeared while working undercover.

Sixteen year old Joe and his girlfriend Becks Bowman must learn the hard way how to deal with the criminal underworld after his father, secret agent Commander Julius Grayling, disappears. Desperately missing his father and failing at school, Joe is in deep trouble for driving underage, and suspected of a hit and run. In a chance encounter with the real culprit, a drug runner, Joe attracts the attention of billionaire drugs baron Alfredo Bertolini, who is hell bent on revenge.

Joe is offered a glamorous job as chauffeur to the charismatic Monsieur Le Directeur of L’Ētoile Fine Wines, but his world implodes when he realises that he has been set up as a drug runner, in a Bentley loaded with cocaine and men with guns behind him. In the most terrifying drive of his life, Joe has to resort to some unusual tactics to deal with his unwelcome company.

But even more danger awaits Joe and Becks when they confront Monsieur Le Directeur. The price of discovering whether he is friend or foe to Joe’s father turns into a nightmare of darkness, fire and water that drives the teenagers to the edge of despair.

This series draws its appeal from Joe’s desperate search and love for his father and features compelling characters, fast cars and heart-stopping action.

Missing Dad: Wanted is the first book by J. Ryan. Joe St. Aubin is the  son of a secret agent who has disappeared while working undercover. He got into trouble for driving underage, and suspected of a hit and run. Joe soon encountered the real culprit and upsetting the billionaire drug. 

This book was really exciting, fast-paced and thrilling. Joe was a teenage boy who missed his dad and would sometimes get into trouble. I like Joe and his characters. But, I find it was a bit hard to believe how Joe got the job with his age. The story was really thrilling. I especially enjoyed the driving and the car chasing. The author's description of the fast-driving scene was exciting. It was like watching a movie. I bet the car chasing scene would look really good in a movie. There was also a bit of mystery surrounding Joe's father. Turns out that Joe found out a bit about his father while working for L’Ētoile Fine Wines.

I would totally recommend this thrilling young adult books to crime lover. There are just enough suspense, mystery and romance in the book. I was a bit disappointed that Joe hadn't learnt a lot more about his father in this book, but I hope to see more Joe and his adventure to find out what happen to his father in the next book.

On Tour: Crisis of Serenity by Denise Moncrief - Review + Giveaway

Denise Moncrief is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours with her book, Crisis of Serenity. Please visit her page for more blog stops and a chance to win $25 Amazon Gift Card.

Crisis of Serenity (Crisis #2)
by Denise Moncrief

Genre: Romance, Suspense

Publication: July 2014

Format: ebook

Source: ARC, CLP Blog Tours

Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon

Tess Copeland lives a quiet life in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Thanks to the government’s witness protection program, she enjoys the freedom of never having to glance over her shoulder to see if someone is following her. Life has become safe, serene...and boring. Her heart longs for something more than just existing...until a ghost from her past shatters her serenity.

Once upon a time, Tess was caught between the FBI and the men the feds were trying to take down. Jake Coleman is the U.S. Marshal who extracted her from the jam she was in with the FBI, a man she could have fallen for...hard...if she had let herself. It’s been a year since she last saw Jake, and in all the months that have passed, he’s never tried to find her. The longer he keeps his distance, the more she wonders why his absence hurts so much.

When a stranger comes to town searching for her, all of Tess’ old fears are resurrected. Asking Jake for help with her current crisis might lure him into a dangerous trap involving murder, kidnapping, and revenge. When Jake and Tess come face-to-face with the past, they will have to use all their wits to survive.

I received a copy of  Crisis of Serenity by Denise Moncrief from the author/CLP Blog Tours as part of the book tour.

I didn’t expect that I would like this book so much, but I did. Tess Copeland was in the witness protection program and she was living in a quiet life in Gaitlinburg. One day, Tess found out that someone was searching for her. When Tess found out that her niece was kidnapped from her daycare, Tess had to ask for help from Jake, the U.S. Marshal who extracted her from the jam she was in with the FBI.

I haven’t read the first book of the series yet, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying this book. The writing was really easy to get into and the story line was very exciting. I couldn’t stop reading the book and find out what will happen to Tess. Tess was a likeable heroine. She’s smart, brave and sassy. I love how she handled herself and the situation around her. The other characters made the book more exciting.  I enjoyed the romance between Tess and Jake. It was interesting to see how their relationship grew.

This book was worth reading. It had an interesting plot, packed with suspense,  a bit of humor, drama and a few twists. I look forward to read the other work from Denise Moncrief. 

Author Bio:

Want to know a little bit more about Denise? She's a Southern girl who has lived in Louisiana all her life, and yes, she has a drawl. She has a wonderful husband and two incredible children, who not only endure her writing moods, but also encourage her to indulge her writing passion. Besides writing romantic suspense, she enjoys traveling, reading, and scrapbooking.

Accounting is a skill she has learned to earn a little money to support her writing habit. She wrote her first story when she was a teen, seventeen handwritten pages on school-ruled paper and an obvious rip-off of the last romance novel she had read. She's been writing off and on ever since, and with more than a few full-length manuscripts already completed, she has no desire to slow down.

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Review: The Heist by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

The Heist: A Novel (Fox and O'Hare #1)
by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

Genre: Chick Lit, Humor, Cozy Mystery, Romance, Suspense
Publication: June 2013
Format: Paperback, 400 pages
Source: Own
Connect Janet: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Connect Lee Goldberg: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

From Janet Evanovich, #1 bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum novels, and Lee Goldberg, bestselling author and television writer for Monk, comes the first adventure in an electrifying new series featuring an FBI agent who always gets her man, and a fearless con artist who lives for the chase.

Nicolas Fox is an international con man, famous for running elaborate scams on very rich and powerful people. He knows that the FBI has been hot on his trail for years—particularly FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare. But just when it seems that Fox has been captured for good, he pulls off his greatest con of all: He convinces the FBI to offer him a job, working side by side with O’Hare.

Their first assignment takes them to the side streets of Berlin, the California desert, and remote Indonesian islands as they team up to catch Derek Griffin, a corrupt investment banker charged with stealing millions from his clients. Finding Griffin on his private island is going to test O’Hare’s patience and Fox’s skill. High-speed chases, pirates, and Toblerone bars are all in a day’s work . . . if O’Hare and Fox don’t kill each other first.

I have to admit that at first, I was hesitant to read this new series from Janet Evanovich. I was afraid that the character would sound like Stephanie. Don’t get me wrong. I love Stephanie Plum. But I didn’t want to read a book with Stephanie’s twin. Thankfully, Agent Kate O’Hare sound nothing like Stephanie.

FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare has been after an international con man, Nicolas Fox for years. When Kate finally caught him and has him behind bars, Nicolas pulled another con and convinced the FBI to offer him a job. Now Kate has to work alongside with Nicolas. And their first case is to find some big money stolen by a corrupted investment banker.

I love both Kate and Nicolas. Kate is one smart, sexy, kick-ass heroine. And Nicolas is handsome, funny, clever and a bit sneaky con man. They are very dissimilar. But when the two are together, they made a great pair. They have a really great chemistry. The supporting characters were a great addition to the book. I really like the relationship between Kate and her dad and was hoping to see more of them soon.

I wish I didn’t wait this long to read this book. The Heist is a very exciting, entertaining and fun read.  There is definitely more action in this book. The plot was exciting and the dialogue was really good and hilarious! I really enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to read the next book from the series.

Review: Until You're Mine by Samantha Hayes

Until You're Mine
by Samantha Hayes

Genre: Adult, Crime, Thriller, Mystery Suspense
Publication: January 2013
Format: ebook, 416 pages
Source: Own
Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Claudia seems to have the perfect life.

She's heavily pregnant with a much wanted baby, she has a loving husband, and a beautiful home.

And then Zoe steps into her life. Zoe has come to help Claudia when her baby arrives.

But there's something about Zoe that Claudia doesn't like. Or trust.

And when she finds Zoe in her room going through her most personal possesions, Claudia's anxiety turns to real fear ...

Until Your Mine is a thrilling book full of mystery and suspense. There are 3 main characters each with a story of their own. Claudia, is a social worker, a mother of two of her stepsons, Noah and Oscar and a wife to James, a Navy officer and she was expecting her first born baby. Zoe is the new nanny that Claudia hires, and Loraine is a mother of two of her daughter, Grace and Stella, a wife to Adam and the DI investigating murder cases of pregnant women. 

This book had me hooked right from the start! If I weren’t on my babysitting job, I think I would find myself staying up to finish this book to find out how the story would progress. Samantha Hayes did a good job building the story and suspense of the book. I’m having a hard time guessing who the criminal is.  By the end of the book, I had my mouth gap open. I still cannot believe that the story would end up that way. The ending is absolutely fantastic. I can’t stop thinking about the ending after a while. I would definitely recommend this book to crime and thriller/chick-lit fan!

On Tour: Riverstar - Review

Tess Thompson  is now on tour with CLP Book Tours with her book, Riverstar . Please visit her tour page for more blog stops.

Riverstar (River Valley #3)
by Tess Thompson 

Genre: Romance, Suspense
Publication: August 2013
Format: ebooks
Source: ARC, CLP Blog Tour

After ending an affair with a married movie producer, feisty Hollywood makeup artist Bella Webber finds herself back in the quaint Oregon town of River Valley, the location of a famous director’s latest film. Despite trying to distract herself with work, Bella is unnerved by the proximity of Benjamin Fleck – a man who once so expertly made love to her she’d temporarily forgotten everything painful about her life. But now Ben sees her as nothing more than a heartbreak waiting to happen.

When an actress is found murdered after she’s seen leaving the restaurant Riversong with Ben, he is accused of the crime and arrested. Convinced of his innocence, the River Valley ‘gang of misfits’ band together to find the real killer, and Bella must face her biggest fear to ensure the truth is revealed.

Romantic, suspenseful, and engaging, bestselling author Tess Thompson’s third novel in the River Valley Collection delivers another tribute to the power of community and the bonds of friendship.

I received a copy of Riverstar by Tess Thompson from CLP Blog Tours as part of the blog tour.

Bella Webber, a Hollywood makeup artist went back to River Valley for a film. Bella had recently break up with a married producer. When she met up with Benjamin Fleck, she wanted them to give their relationship a try. Just as they are about to give their relationship a chance, Ben was arrested a murder! Determined to prove Ben as innocent, Bella started to investigate on her own with the help of a few friends and family to find the real murder and to prove that Ben was innocent.

I’ve never read the first two books of this series, and I was a bit sceptical when I first start to read this one. I thought that this was going to be a plain romance book, judging from the first two chapters. But I was wrong. Things were getting interesting when an actress was found dead.

I love Bella and the people around her. They're a bunch of people I would love to hand out with. It was fun to see how Bella was going to find out about the murder. Although, I kinda expected who the murder was. But still, I definitely enjoy Riverstar. It is full of suspense, mystery, romance and friendship.

Author Bio:

Tess Thompson is a novelist and playwright with a BFA in Drama from the University of Southern California. In 2011, she released her first novel, Riversong, which subsequently became a bestseller. Like the characters in the River Valley collection, Tess is from a small town in Oregon. She currently lives in a suburb of Seattle, Washington with her two young daughters, Emerson and Ella, where she is inspired daily by the view of the Cascade Mountains from her home office window.

Buy Links:

·       Riversong - Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Kobo

·       Caramel and Magnolias - Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Kobo

·       The River Valley Collection- Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, iTunes

·       Riverbend - Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, Barnes and Noble

·       Riverstar - Amazon
Riverstar- Nook
Riverstar- Kobo

Book Review & Guest Post: Extreme Measures by Rachel Carrington

Hi! I am pleased to welcome Rachel Carrington, the author of Extreme Measures, to Ai Love Books for a guest post where she will talk about book videos. I haven't heard of book videos before and am excited to know what it is about.

Book Videos Tell the Story 

By Rachel Carrington

Disclaimer: As well as being a writer, I also create book videos so I am, admittedly, biased. I do, however, really believe that book videos are worth watching

As I mentioned above, I create book videos. I've been creating them since around 2008. Some have achieved great success for the author, and others have fizzled. I still create them and will continue to do so. Why? Because I believe they represent a book almost as well as the description does.

We all watch movie trailers, previews for upcoming scenes from our favorite television shows, and listen to music snippets before shelling out money for the latest song. Those brief glimpses are how we make a buying decision.

We want to be excited, to hold our collective breaths with anticipation for a book's upcoming release, and while a book description, if written properly, can do that, it can't give us the jolt of visual stimulus.

I know when I'm in a movie theater, I can tell within seconds of a preview whether or not I'm going to watch an upcoming movie. If done right, a book video can help me make that same decision. Even though we ignore commercials when we watch television or DVR our favorite shows so we can skip past them, we, inevitably, see them anyway. And our favorite commercials stick with us.

A book video can do the same thing. Have you seen this one?


It's a video for a kids' series of scary books, and the video made me want to read the books! Or this one for Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children?


This one was a joy to watch!

What about The Karma Club by Jessica Brody?



While watching the video, I knew I had to add this book to my read list. And this video stuck with me. I've hummed some of the lines many, many times.

So if you're tired of reading book descriptions to find your next read or you want to branch out, try book videos. If done properly, they can hypnotize you, and the next thing you know, you've bought the book...which could either be a good thing or a bad thing, depending upon your wallet.

Extreme Measures
by Rachel Carrington

Genre: Crime, Thriller, Romance, Suspense
Publication: Published January 20th 2013
Format: ebook
Author:  Website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Wattpad

Four years ago Erin’s life changed drastically. Her drug-addicted brother killed her parents, and her marriage disintegrated. Her husband, Matt, an FBI agent, had done his duty when he’d arrested Stuart, but she’d been too caught up in her own grief to allow him to help her move through the shadows of pain.

Now Matt is back, but it isn’t to attempt reconciliation. Her brother has escaped from Attica, and Erin is his next target. Matt will stop Stuart by any means necessary. But Stuart is a desperate man, and desperate men will do anything to get what they want.

Thrown together by treacherous circumstances, Matt and Erin fight a battle to stay alive and possibly figure out how to put the pieces of their destroyed lives back together again. 

Available now from Amazon.com, All Romance eBooks, and Barnes and Noble. Coming soon in audiobook!

I received a copy of this book for free from the author as part of a blog tour to provide an honest review.

The story began when Erin’s brother, Stuart broke out of the prison to look after Erin and kill her. Stuart held a grudge against Erin after she testified against him in court and abandoned him in prison. Then Matt, Erin’s ex-husband came to Charleston searching for Erin to warn her that Stuart escaped and provide her protection. But Erin wasn’t happy to see her ex-husband. She rejected his protection and believed that she Stuart wasn’t out there to kill her. 

I haven’t read a suspense romance for a while and was happy when I received a copy to provide a review. It’s nice to read something different than I usually read once in a while.  I love Matt and Erin. They’re obviously in love with each other after all the years, but too obstinate to say it out loud. I like Matt’s protective side and Erin’s stubbornness where she refused his protection. They’re both strong in their own way.

I definitely enjoy reading Extreme Measures. It is a short, light read that you could finish within a day. The plot was full of suspense, although a bit predictable some times.  My favorite part was the little twist towards the end of the book. Wow!

Rachel Carrington

I started writing years ago, and my first attempt was a contemporary romance that will never see the light of day. I think I may even have thrown it away by now. It was absolutely horrific as I knew nothing about well…anything to do with writing.

After that, I started writing fantasy romances about wizards and wizards, and once those took off, I segued to paranormal romances (hello, vampires and ghosts) and romantic suspense. I also write articles for various magazines, including The Writer’s Journal, Writer’s Magazine, Writer’s Weekly, Writing for Dollars, Absolute Write, and Funds for Writers.

I’m fortunate to make my home in historical Charleston, South Carolina. Beautiful city. Beautiful people. When I’m not writing, I love to read, create videos, keep Target in business, play visitor in my city, and drink lots of coffee.

You can find me all over the internet, but here are just a few of the places: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, Wattpad

Book Review: Seizure

Seizure (Virals #2)
by Kathy Reichs

Genre: Adventure, Crime-Thriller, Mystery, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Suspense, Young Adult
Publication: Published October 1st 2012 by Young Arrow
Format: Paperback, 491 pages
Website: viraltheseries
Author:  Website, Facebook, Twitter

The second novel in the Virals trilogy from #1 bestselling author and inspiration for the TV series Bones - Kathy Reichs!

Ever since Tory Brennan and her friends rescued Cooper, a kidnapped wolf pup with a rare strain of canine parvovirus, they've turned from regular kids into a crime-solving pack! But now the very place that brought them together - the Loggerhead Island Research Institute - is out of funding and will have to shut down. That is, unless the Virals can figure out a way to save it!

So when Tory learns of an old Charleston legend about a famous she-pirate, Anne Bonney, whose fortune was never found, she can't believe her luck - buried treasure is exactly what she needs to save the Institute on Loggerhead! Trouble is, she and her friends aren't the only ones looking for it. And this time, the Virals' special powers may not be enough to dig them out of trouble . . .

I love Virals! The combination of surprises, suspense, mysteries and adventure goes really well together. I remember how surprise I was after reading Virals since I didn’t expect that I would enjoy the book. Therefore, I am super excited to read Seizure, the sequel to Kathy Reichs’ Virals novels.

 Seizure picks up not long after Virals ended.  Tory and her friends were slowly learning about their powers after they contract a parvovirus in the first book. They learned that the University is shutting down the research facility where their fathers work. The Virals need to safe the research facilities or they’re going to separate from each other. To save the research facilities, they’re going to need a lot of money. This was when Tory learned about a certain pirate called Anne Bonney whose treasure was never found.

Reading Seizures reminds me a bit to Indiana Jones. The treasure hunting and adventures were absolutely heart-pounding. If it was made into a movie, I would totally watch it. Kathy Reichs is really good in writing mystery and suspense. The dialogue/conversation between Tory and her friends are better than the first book. And definitely funnier! I get to see how the Virals tried to figure out how to control their power and how their strength vary from each other’s. I love that there was lots of unexpected twists in the book. I love how I couldn’t predict who the bad guy in the book is.

I can’t wait to read the next book to the series: Code. There are lots of things to be discovered about the Virals and their powers. And I’m interested to know what/how Chance will fit in the later books as I have the feelings that he will make another appearance in later books.

Book Review: Inkspell

Inkspell (Inkheart, #2) 
by Cornelia Funke

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Suspense, Young Adult
Publication: first published October 2005
Format: Paperback, 682 pages

Amazing! Inkspell is a great sequel to Inkheart.

In the first book, Inkheart, Meggie and Mo read characters out from a novel, Inkheart. And this time, we get to see Meggie, Mo, and her mother, Resa read themselves into the novel. How exciting is that!?

When Meggie found out that someone read Dustfinger back into the world of Inkheart, she was determined to follow him and Farid. They need to warn Dustfinger of what Basta and Mortola was about to do to them. And soon, with the help of Orpheus, Mo and Resa was now sucked into the book. Things have become out of hand. Now, Meggie seek for Fegnolio, the creator of Inkheart for help. Afterall, Fegnolio is the one who could save Meggie and her parents. But, things were not going to as what Meggie and Fegnolio planned when the characters and story get out of control, and refuse to listen to the creator.

There’s a little bit of Robin Hood references when Fegnolio decided to model Bluejay, after Robin Hood, who steals from the rich to give to the poor.  When Fegnolio writes about Bluejay, he always imagined Mo as the character. So, when Mo was sucked into the world of Inkheart, everyone assumes him as the real Bluejay.

The world of Inkheart is somewhere I would very love to live in. There’s fairy, the black princes, the Wayless Wood, magic and everything. It sounded wonderful. The story is amazing. I love Meggie and her adventure along with Farid, Dustfinger and Fegnolio to save her parents, Mo and Resa. It was full of suspense! I love the little bit of romance between Farid and Meggie. The ending to the story was both exciting and sad.

I can’t wait to read the next book, Inkdeath to know what will happen to the characters next! I’m sure it is as exciting as Inkheart and Inkdeath.

Book Cover’s Description

THE BEST BOOKS NEVER END...

Although a year has passed, not a day goes by without Meggie thinking of Inkheart, the book whose characters came to life - and changed her life forever.

But for Dustfinger, the fire-eater brought into being from words, the need to return to the original tale has become desperate. When he finds a crooked storyteller with the magical ability to read him back, Dustfinger leaves behind his young apprentice Farid and plunges into the medieval inkscape once more.

Distraught, Farid goes in search of Meggie, and before long both are caught inside the book, too. There they meet Inkheart's author, Fenoglio, now living within his own story. But the tale is much changed, and threatening to evolve in ways none of them could ever have imagined. Will Meggie, Farid, and Fenoglio manage to write the wrongs of a charmed world? Or is their story on the brink of a very bad ending?

Book Review: Virals

Virals (Virals #1)

by Kathy Reichs

Genre: Crime-Thriller, Mystery, Sci-fi, Suspense, Young-adult

Publication: First Published November 2010

Format: Paperback, 454 pages

Website: viraltheseries

Kathy Reichs is the author of Temperance Brennan series that have been adapted into the TV show, Bones. I’ve read the first book, Déjà Dead last month, and didn’t like it as much because it’s a bit heavy to my liking. And for that, I have little expectation for Virals.

Tory Brennan is fourteen years old. She’s smart, fearless, pretty, and she a dog lover. Her curiosity was influenced by her aunt, Temperance Brennan. She lives quietly with her father, Kit after her mother died. She had a group of nerdy and techie guy friends, Hiram, Ben and Shelton.

It started when they found an old military dog tag. Tory and her friends sneaked into the lab (where her father work) to use a machine to clean the tag. It was then when they found a wolfdog, infected with a parvovirus trapped into a secret lab. Determined that the wolfdog was trapped for an illegal research, they decided to kidnap it. It’s not like the parvovirus could infect human. But, what they didn’t know is that the dog was infected with a new parvovirus. And the virus is transmitted to them. The four of them; Tory, Hi, Ben and Shelton have to solve a mystery when the dog tag led them to the discovery of human bones, while fighting the new virus infecting their body.

Like I’ve said, I’ve little expectation for Kathy Reichs’ Virals. I thought that this book will be about a crime solving teenagers, more difficult science terms and nothing more. I was wrong. It was more than that. Kathy Reichs’ added in a bit of twist with the parvovirus which infected those kids. The virus turned the kids into something else – virals. I was really surprised when I actually like the book. A lot! There were a lot of surprises, suspense, mysteries and bits of romance which makes me wanting to read more and more. I couldn’t stop myself. I couldn’t put the book down. Yes. It was that good.

I totally recommend you to read this book. Especially if you’re a mystery lover. There’s a lot of unexpected twist and suspense up till the last chapter. You’ll love it.

Book Cover’s Description

Fourteen-year-old Tory Brennan is as fascinated by bones and dead bodies as her famous aunt, acclaimed forensic anthropologist, Tempe Brennan. However living on a secluded island off Charleston in South Carolina there is not much opportunity to put her knowledge to the test. Until her and her ragbag group of technophile friends stumble across a shallow grave containing the remains of a girl who has been missing for over thirty years. With the cold-case murder suddenly hot, Tory realizes that they are involved in something fatally dangerous. And when they rescue a sick dog from laboratory on the same island, it becomes evident that somehow the two events are linked.

On the run from forces they don’t understand, they have only each other to fall back on. Until they succumb to a mysterious infection that heightens their senses and hones their instinct to impossible levels. It’s becoming clear that the island is home to a secret that has driven men to kill once. And will drive them to kill again…