jbronderbookreviews

Rise of the Sea Witch (Unfortunate Soul Chronicles – 1) by Stacey Rourke

Details of the sea witch’s banishment have been exaggerated. The body count that preempted it was not. Once an illustrious princess, her hands and tentacles were stained with the blood of thousands. No one could comprehend how the hooks of madness dragged her down from her life of privilege.

Born Princess Vanessa of Atlantica, the ambitious young royal was one of two children born to the great King Poseidon. She and her brother, Triton, were groomed from birth to rule. Yet only one would ascend that coveted throne. While carefree Triton flits through his training with a cavalier demeanor and beguiling charm, Vanessa’s hunger for her father’s acceptance drives her to push herself to the limits of magic, and combat to become a leader worthy of her people.

When war against the humans ravages their once regal kingdom, political sides are chosen. Factions from the seven seas challenge the existing leadership, pitting Vanessa against her brother in a vicious battle for the crown. Traitors are exposed, dark family secrets revealed, and a once strong sibling bond is strained to its breaking point.

Only when the ink black waters from the ultimate betrayal rescind, will the truth be known of how the villainous sea witch rose with one name on her vengeful lips–Triton.

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Author’s Bio

Stacey Rourke is the author of the award winning YA Gryphon Series, the chillingly suspenseful Legends Saga, and the romantic comedy Reel Romance Series. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant dogs. She loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction, and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head.

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My Review

5 stars

Vanessa and Triton at the daughter and son of Poseidon. One of them will inherit the throne. Triton just goes through the motions of training taking a half-hearted approach. He would rather have fun than focus. Vanessa on the other hand wants nothing more than to rule and puts her whole heart and soul into training. Vanessa’s past and a conflict end up turning her against her brother. This is the story of the sea witch Ursula.

I find it amazing how as a kid I loved the Little Mermaid and wanted to be her. Of course Ursula scared me but I find as I grow older that I am curious at what made some of the villains. Rise of the Sea Witch is the story of Ursula. She is known as Vanessa and wants nothing more than her father’s approval. But he seems to only have eyes for Triton. She is so above and beyond patient but with everything she goes through I can’t help but understand where she is going to end.

This is an amazing story that easily fits into the Little Mermaid with her friends and even how her song is referenced. I love author’s that can write such compelling stories that you know are going to end badly but done in such a way you feel for the characters. This is the first book in the Unfortunately Soul Chronicles series. I can’t wait to see what is going to happen next.

I received Rise of the Sea Witch from Silver Dagger Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

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Enter the Dark by Chris Thomas

An anonymous website, a few clicks, and Joe Henderson’s life is changed forever.

‘The Red Room’ is the only place where the failings of a weak justice system are righted and where the line between good and evil becomes blurred. When the lights go up, viewers bid, criminals are punished, and the Brotherhood of the Righteous broadcasts a show like no other.

The room has remained hidden until now, when a video arrives in the inbox of the Metropolitan Police Cyber Crime Unit. But outclassed, outplayed, and torn apart by corruption, is there anything Detective Pete Harris and his team can do except watch?

Their only lead may be the room’s latest bidder, Joe Henderson. Because when Joe found the Red Room, it found him too, and now the Brotherhood are watching through the wires, willing to do wrong for a righteous cause.

As they pull Joe deeper into the dark web, will he find any mercy or a way out? And could he be the Red Room’s next volunteer?

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Author’s Bio

Chris Thomas was born near London in 1978 before moving to Buckinghamshire a few months later. He attended the University of Bristol, graduating with a degree in psychology in 1999. It was here that he developed his interest in criminal psychology and serial killers.

After a brief stint working at an investment bank in London, he left the City to work for his wife’s family business, a position he still holds.

Chris is an avid film fan, especially horror, thrillers and dark comedy- something that he tries to blend in his writing. After attending a creative writing course, he gained the confidence to pursue his dream of writing a novel. He self-published his debut novel The Red Room in February 2017 before joining the Bloodhound Books stable and re-releasing the book as Enter The Dark.

Further works are already in the planning, including a sequel to Enter The Dark, which is intended to be even more dark and disturbing!

In his spare time, Chris enjoys karate (holding a black belt) and spending time with his wife and two young daughters.

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My Review

5 stars

Joe Henderson is with some friends when he is introduced to The Red Room. A place on the dark net where a group called The Brotherhood of the Righteous punish those that have not adequately been punished. Joe is instantly drawn to this website and finds himself deeper and deeper until he catches the wrong person’s attention. Then The Red Room is brought to the attention of Detective Pete Harris and the Police Cyber Crime Unit. But they almost have their hands tied with what they can do. Will they be able to shut The Red Room down in time or will they be forced to watch the brutal murders?

Joe Henderson just wanted to have fun with some friends but ends up getting sucked deeper and deeper into The Red Room. It’s sad to watch a person enjoy watching this stuff but it really shows how people can be fascinated by brutality but think that they are never part of it because they are behind a keyboard or in a group of people.

Sadly I know that there really is a dark internet. It does exist and if you have the money you can get anything your little heart desires from it. It’s all kinds of sad and scary at the same time and I’m sure that this book just dips its toes into the truth.

I loved Enter the Dark. It draws you in, scares the crap out of you, and leaves you breathless and wanting more from Chris Thomas. A while ago I reviewed a book similar to this one called The Schwarzschild Radius, you can find my review here. This is a great and gory story but I can’t wait to see what else Chris Thomas comes up with.

I received Enter the Dark from Bloodhound Books for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

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Those That Remain (The Mechanic Trilogy – 1) by Rob Ashman

The heat of the Florida summer is relentless. Lucas is coasting to retirement in a mundane Florida police precinct. His world falls apart when a brutal serial killer codenamed Mechanic lands on his patch.

Three years ago they thought Mechanic was dead. But Mechanic is very much alive and the savage ritualistic murders continue. No family is safe from the threat of slaughter at this sadistic killer’s hands.

Mechanic is always one step ahead and Lucas is forced to operate outside the law.

Who can he trust?

The shocking truth is more terrifying than Lucas could ever imagine … and he has to put his life on the line to get it.

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Author’s Bio

Rob is married to Karen with two grown up daughters. He is originally from South Wales and after moving around with work settled in North Lincolnshire where he’s spent the last twenty-two years.

Like all good welsh valley boys Rob worked for the National Coal Board after leaving school at sixteen and went to University at the tender age of twenty-three when the pit closures began to bite. Since then he’s worked in a variety of manufacturing and consulting roles both in the UK and abroad.

It took Rob twenty-four years to write his first book. He only became serious about writing it when his dad got cancer. It was an aggressive illness and Rob gave up work for three months to look after him and his mum. Writing Those That Remain became his coping mechanism. After he wrote the book his family encouraged him to continue, so not being one for half measures, Rob got himself made redundant, went self-employed so he could devote more time to writing and four years later the Mechanic Trilogy is the result.

When he is not writing, Rob is a frustrated chef with a liking for beer and prosecco, and is known for occasional outbreaks of dancing.

Rob will be publishing all three books in the Mechanic Trilogy with Bloodhound Books – the second novel is titled In Your Name and the third is called Pay The Penance.

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My Review

5 stars

Detective Edmund Lucas wants nothing more than to retire in peace and quiet. But when he is called in to the burglary of the daughter of a congressman, things take a turn for the worst. On the television is a finger print of the killer Mechanic. This should be impossible since he was supposed to have died three years earlier. As they look around the house the detectives are at a loss since nothing matches his motive. Then they discover the family next door.

Mechanic had a rough childhood and now finds himself killing or hurting himself to stop the voices in his head. But he is cleaver and the police are going to start finding one dead end after another. They look to the original FBI profiler for this case and learn he has been killed. Thankfully his protégé is still around and can help. But how did he survive and will Lucas be able to stop him before he adds more lives to his list.

This is an amazing, bloody good story. I loved Lucas, he just wants to end his career on a good note not get wrapped up with Mechanic. But it will be up to him to stop him. Mechanic, although the bad guy, you can almost feel for him and the torture that he goes through. Mind you that doesn’t excuse the brutal killings and such.

This story will draw you in and not let you go. I just wanted to read a couple chapters and ended up reading the whole book and got nothing accomplished around the house. This is brutal and engrossing but remember it is going to be a trilogy. All I have to say to Rob Ashman about that is, “Hurry up and get writing!!!”

I received Those That Remain from Bloodhound Books for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

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The Confusion of Languages by Siobhan Fallon

Both Cassie Hugo and Margaret Brickshaw dutifully followed their soldier husbands to the U.S. embassy in Jordan, but that’s about all the women have in common. After two years, Cassie’s become an expert on the rules, but newly arrived Margaret sees only her chance to explore. So when a fender-bender sends Margaret to the local police station, Cassie reluctantly agrees to watch Margaret’s toddler son. But as the hours pass, Cassie’s boredom and frustration turn to fear: Why isn’t Margaret answering her phone, and why is it taking so long to sort out a routine accident? Snooping around Margaret’s apartment, Cassie begins to question not only her friend’s whereabouts but also her own role in Margaret’s disappearance.

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Author’s Bio

Siobhan Fallon is the author of the 2012 PEN Center USA Literary Award in Fiction winner You Know When the Men Are Gone. Her first novel, The Confusion of Languages, debuts in June, 2017 . Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post Magazine, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, Military Spouse, The Huffington Post, and NPR’s Morning Edition, among others. She was raised in Highland Falls, New York, just outside the gates of the United States Military Academy at West Point. She graduated from Providence College and spent a year at Cambridge University in England. After teaching English in Japan, she earned an MFA at the New School in New York City. She and her family moved to Jordan in 2011, and they currently live in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

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My Review

5 stars

Cassie Hugo has been at the US Embassy in Jordan for two years. She knows all the rules and is the welcome committee to Margaret Brickshaw when she arrives. But being on the base is all they really have in common. Cassie is unable to conceive and is becoming spiteful. Margaret is more of a naïve soul and is excited to explore. A minor car accident leads to unexpected results when Margaret has to leave her son, Mather with Cassie to straighten everything out. But something goes wrong and Margaret doesn’t come back. Cassie then finds her diary and it seems there is more to this situation than first discovered.

This is a great suspenseful story. Cassie and Margaret are polar opposites in everything from their looks to their personalities. But being opposites seems to make them closer as we follow along with the give and take of this friendship. As Cassie reads Margarets diary we start learning more about both women and how they are not really as alone as they may feel.

This is a great story that shows how our differences might actually be the things that bring us closer together. There was enough suspense to keep me turning pages to find out what happened next. I think this is a great contemporary story that will appeal to most people.

I received The Confusion of Languages from the publisher for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

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Done Rubbed Out (Reighman & Bailey – 1) by Jeffery Craig

In this first book of the Reightman & Bailey Series, deceit, corruption and murder tangle together with vivid, unconventional characters in a story of unlikely friendships and their power to change us.

Things are going well at the Time Out Spa, but the night young proprietor Toby Bailey discovers his former lover naked and dead on a massage table, more things are spoiled than just his white leather shoes. Detective Melba Reightman and partner, Sam Jackson are called in to investigate and soon become embroiled in the most perplexing homicide case seen in years.

After a hunting knife engraved with Toby’s name is found in a load of wet, bloody laundry, he’s arrested for the murder of Geraldo Guzman. He enlists the help of Madame Zhou Li, practicing attorney and owner of Green Dragon Chinese Herbs and Teas. The peculiar octogenarian seems an unlikely choice to defend him, but has a few tricks up her sleeve. Toby joins forces with Reightman and Jackson, and a shocking string of clues leads them closer to the killer. The bad news? Successfully solving the crime might unleash a firestorm on this southern city and come at a price none of them are prepared to pay.

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My Review

5 stars

Toby Bailey and Geraldo Guzman own a high class spa called Time Out Spa. One night Toby walks into one of the rooms and finds his business partner and former lover dead on the table. After looking around a hunting knife is found with Tody’s name carved on it. He is quickly arrested and accused of the murder. But he calls in Madam Zhou to help defend him. Detective Reightman and Toby are going to have their hands full solving this murder, especially since the box by Geri’s body has a whole bunch of dirt on some very powerful people and it’s up to then to find it.

Toby is a great character and well developed. You can’t help feeling for him losing his best friend. Then you have a full cast of characters that add at little to the story with their little perks and quirks. You don’t realize how they all fit together but they all help this story shine.

This is a great mystery that will draw you in with the first couple pages and leave you guessing at who the real killer is. Just when you think you might know who did it something will pop up that will throw you off kilter. There is a wide case to keep everything rolling and a cliff hanger that will leave you wanting more.

If you are looking for a really good mystery, look no further. I was completely surprised by this book and I can’t wait to start reading book 2.

Hard Job (Reightman & Bailey – 2) by Jeffery Craig

In this second Reightman & Bailey thriller, Detective Melba Reightman is distraught over the murder of her friend and partner, Sam Jackson. The Guzman murder case has been closed, but she knows the real killer is still out there somewhere. Toby Bailey’s discovery of a set of incriminating photos proved there were more people involved in Geri Guzman’s death than just Dr. Lieberman, but getting anyone to listen is more of a challenge than she’d ever imagined. She’s going to need help convincing the powers that be that the case needs to be reopened, but she’ll find a way to do it. It’s the only choice she has if she wants to discover who’s behind it all.

Toby’s still struggling with Geri’s death and the shock at having been the target of a hitman. Detective Jackson took the bullet meant for him and saved his life, and he doesn’t understand how things could have gone so very wrong. No one should have known about the evidence Geri left behind, but it’s the only explanation that makes any sense. He has a hunch things are going to get worse, so he’ll just have to pull up his pants and get on with whatever needs to be done to help Detective Reightman figure things out.

And as for John Brown? He’s just worried he won’t get paid after botching the hit on Toby, and can’t help wondering what will happen next. It wasn’t really his fault. Mistakes were bound to happen when things got complicated, but who knew this would be such a hard job?

Things are heating up in this southern city.

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My Review

5 stars

Hard Job starts right up at the end of Done Rubbed Out. Detective Reightman’s partner, Jackson, has taken the bullet meant for Toby and has died. She is having a hard time dealing with this. Toby is still trying to deal with the death of Geri, still looking for Geri’s killer, along with being the target for an assassin.  It is clear that the information in the box Geri had is hotter than they knew. But how can someone know what is on the photos that have been discovered. Something doesn’t feel right about the whole thing.

I loved how this book started right after the end of Done Rubbed Out. Toby and Reightman are in shock from the death of Jackson. But they can’t stay their long since someone is bound and determined to stop the information from getting out. But they are going to have to get their game faces on because the hitman was not the real killer and someone has too much knowledge about the information Geri had.

This is a fast paced thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat turning pages until the early hours. If you thought Done Rubbed Out was great, prepare yourself for an amazing sequel. This is one series you need to check out.

Skin Puppet (Reightman & Bailey – 3) by Jeffery Craig

In Skin Puppet: Reightman & Bailey Book Three, the whole gang from Capital Street is back and almost ready for business. It’s just two weeks until The Reightman & Bailey Agency officially opens, but Melba Reightman and Toby Bailey have things pretty much under control. After the horrific events of the last six months, things are starting to feel normal again.

An inconvenient lisp from a busted lip isn’t slowing Toby down, but it makes him sound embarrassing like a cartoon character. And there’s the whole awkward situation with Jon Chiang. One minute Zhou Li’s nephew is cold and distant, and the next minute…well, Toby could swear the guy might be interested in something more. It’s all very confusing.

Melba’s got her hands full completing last minute paperwork so they can open for business. There’s the huge stack of invitations Madame Zhou dropped off, all needing to be hand-addressed. Melba doesn’t see the need for a huge grand opening party, but there’s no point in arguing with the bossy owner of Green Dragon. To top things off, Zhou Li is strongly hinting that Melba needs a new dress.

With so much going on, the reports of children missing from the local area haven’t really registered on anyone’s radar. The single flyer posted by a desperate mother looking for her daughter was disturbing, but it’s really a matter for the local police, not the Reightman & Bailey Agency. Right?

Wrong. Things are never that easy.

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My Review

5 stars

On the heels of Hard Job, Toby Bailey and Melba Reightman have opened their detective agency. They are wrapped up in all of the opening and party and don’t really notice the disappearances in their area. That is until someone close to them loses their kid. Together, Toby and Melba start investigating the disappearances and find a child sex ring. Although the Feds have tried to solve this case, Toby and Melba will be the real heroes in the end.

I love these two, they work so well together solving the case and dealing with some eccentric friends. But they are going to have their hands full trying to track down those involved in the child sex trafficking ring. They might get lucky and solve the case in time for the grand opening.

This is a great story that had me guessing until the end. This is a very tough topic and I think Jeffrey Craig did a fantastic job of discussing some of the evens but in a way that it’s not shoved in your face. This is an amazing series that I strongly recommend for everyone to read.

I received Done Rubbed Out, Hard Job, and Skin Puppet from Silver Dagger Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

Author’s Bio

Jeffery Craig is the writing pseudonym of the author, used for fictional works. Jeffery resides in the southeastern United States and shares his life with his husband and partner, and a menagerie of much-loved pets. For several years, he worked as a executive providing technology and consulting services to help clients meet business needs. He’s an avid supporter of the arts and co-owns a local art gallery/gift store that provides an outlet for area artists to showcase and sell their works.

When he isn’t writing, he might be found working on a painting or enjoying the covered front porch of his historic southern home with a good book in hand.

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The Adventures of Juice Box and Shame by Liv Hadden

Li Nguyen, aka Juice Box, has never really had a friend. That is, until he meets the ultra cool, super mysterious Shame. Though Juice Box feels certain this is his new BFF, Shame’s dark past and nefarious entanglements get them both into serious, life-threatening trouble. It doesn’t help that Shame inadvertently pissed off one of the baddest crime bosses in Baltimore, Anna Nguyen (aka Laoban), who also happens to be Juice Box’s cousin. Shame stirred up trouble with a rival game, putting Anna and her crew in a precarious situation. Torn between his love for Anna and his new, exciting friendship with Shame, Juice Box must choose where his loyalties lie.

Will he choose family and leave Shame out to dry, or will he choose the only friend he’s ever had, despite the danger?

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Author Liv Hadden

Liv Hadden has her roots in Burlington, Vermont  and currently resides in Georgetown, TX with her partner and two dogs, Madison and Samuel, where she is an active member of Writer’s League of Texas. Her 2016 release In the Mind of Revenge received high praise from Blue Ink Reviews, Writer’s Digest, Kirkus Reviews,  indieBRAG and five stars from Foreword Clarion Review.

Incredibly inspired by artistic expression, Hadden immerses herself in creative endeavors on a daily basis. She finds great joy in getting lost in writing and seeing others fully express themselves through their greatest artistic passions. It’s no wonder she teamed up talented tattoo artist Mo Malone (who scribed a majority of Hadden’s body work) to create her latest release The Adventures of Juice Box and Shame.

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Illustrator Mo Malone

Malone has been making art since she was a kid. Offered a tattoo apprenticeship while obtaining a B.F.A. in Sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University. Malone briefly diverted from tattooing to be an elementary and middle school teacher,  an experience she greatly enjoyed, but ultimately came back to her artistic roots. She has tattooed at Rick’s Tattoo in Arlington, Virginia (where she got her start), Iron Age Studio in St. Louis, Missouri and Triple Crown Tattoo in Austin, Texas where she met Hadden.

A lover of travel, her craft has taken her all over the world, to include a dozens of tattoo conferences spanning from New York to Moscow. You can now find Malone back in St. Louis at Ragtime Tattoo. She has recently joined Evil Prints to expand into screen-printing, and when she’s not working her magic in the art world, you can find her feeding her adventurous spirit BMXing at her local skate park or wandering the Missouri Botanical Garden.

My Review

5 stars

Juice Box, otherwise known as Li Nguyen, has found a friend in Shame although Shame sees it differently. And when Shame ends up in trouble with some bad gang leaders, Juice Box is there to help him with his cousin Anna. Thankfully Anna has a great, tough crew that is trying to keep Juice Box alive. We see how Juice Box is trying to help his friend but ends up in trouble everywhere he turns. But in the end he is always there for Shame and using his stellar personality to help or usually make things worse.

I loved Shame and couldn’t wait to see what happens next, especially with Juice Box. He can be annoying but he does have heart. Of course we are going to have a big show down between two huge gang leaders and you will never guess who Mr. D really is. This one threw me for a loop. And then ending, Loved It.

This is a great continuation of In the Mind of Revenge. This is a great story about Shame. I love this series and can’t wait to see what happens next. It’s a dark story of revenge but one that is a great read and a surprising ending.

I received The Adventures of Juice Box and Shame from Sami at Roger Charlie for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

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Dark Designs by Stefanie Spangler

Twins Ivy and Violet Grant are opposites. Ivy, a hot-tempered redhead, couldn’t wait to get off the farm and see the world. Violet, a quiet brunette, was content to stay home and help their grandmother with the family business. The one thing they have in common is their magic.

Charlie Logan’s sinister obsession with Ivy Grant has ruled his life. When he discovers a book of dark magic during a burglary, he decides to return to Oak Hill and use his newfound power to gain control over Ivy.

Ivy and Violet, with help from their grandmother, need to practice their magic to overcome the evil seeping into their lives. A battle is coming, and Ivy’s life is not the only one at stake.

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Author’s Bio

Stefanie Spangler has always loved books and reading, and one day, she decided to write a book of her own.

Stefanie lives in central Illinois with her husband and daughters. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s usually editing someone else’s book. But she also enjoys gardening, knitting, and forcing others to read her favorite books.

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My Review

4 stars

Ivy and Violet are twin with opposite views on life. Ivy couldn’t wait to get out of town and leaves to go to college. Violet is quiet and is happy to stay at home with their grandmother. But Charlie Logan has not forgotten about Ivy and has found a book of dark magic and is planning on using it against Ivy. Thankfully the girls have their own magic and their grandmother to help them fight back.

I really enjoyed this story. It was a quick read and very easy to get into. You are instantly drawn in as Ivy has a bad experience with Charlie who is s farm hand at the time. But years go by and things may fade, but his desire for Ivy has just gotten stronger. This is a going to be a battle of wills and power. Where there is light magic there will also be dark.

This is a great story with a little bit of everything. There is a thriller, a little romance, and some magic added in. I think this book would appeal to many and think it’s a good one to check out.

I received Dark Designs from the author and Red Adept Publishing for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

Excerpt

Slowly, Ivy became aware of another presence in the barn. Her eyes roamed away from the kitten cradled in her arms to the boots standing just beyond the stall door, next to her discarded sandals. Eyes wide, she sprang to her bare feet as fast as she could without trampling the kittens.

Charlie Logan was blocking the way out of the stall. The sunlight that slipped in through the gaps in the barn’s wooden planks cast his face in mottled stripes. She knew him because Grandpa Jack had always let his granddaughters roam the farm freely, and Charlie had spoken to her many times. Never alone, though. She stood awkwardly, her eyes darting around the dimly lit solitude of the barn.

“Nice kittens you got there.” He nodded cheerfully toward the kittens then smiled. His hand twitched as if he might reach out and touch her.

“Yeah,” she said quietly, looking back and forth between Charlie and the kittens. “None of them are sick or anything. Sometimes there are sick ones…” Ivy rambled nervously until her eyes settled on Charlie’s face, and then she stilled, wishing she could disappear.

Charlie moved in closer, trapping her in the corner of the stall. “They’ll all be good mousers, I bet.”

His tone was friendly, but Ivy’s guts tensed up. She desperately wanted to be away from the stall that had, without warning, become too dark and far too secluded. If she shouted, someone would likely hear her and come, but Charlie had always seemed nice enough. Maybe he did just want to talk about kittens, and she didn’t want him to get in trouble for not being busy at work.

When she made a move toward the door, his tall frame shifted. She jerked back, away from his body, pushing herself tighter into the corner of the stall. He was close enough that his scent of stale cigarette smoke and sweat forced its way into her nostrils and stomach. When he exhaled, his breath smelled of strong coffee. In slow motion, Charlie reached out and touched her hair just over her ear. Heart in her throat, she froze. Charlie Logan had not come to discuss anything good. He smiled at her affectionately as he stroked her hair.

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A while ago I was honored to review Appointment with ISIL by Joe Giordano. I just learned that it is available for purchase. Make sure to get your copy of the amazing story.

Appointment with ISIL by Joe Giordano

On Sale May 18, 20174

Appointment with ISIL is a literary thriller. This time, Anthony’s libido threatens his life. Anthony Provati flirts with Russian mob boss, Gorgon Malakhov’s mistress. The Russian deals in death. ISIL, the Islamic State in the Levant wants the product. Russian Intelligence supplies the means, and an art theft funds the scheme. ISIL’s targets are chilling. The chase across the Mediterranean is on. Can Anthony thwart ISIL? Will he survive?

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Author’s Bio

Joe Giordano was born in Brooklyn. His father and grandparents immigrated to New York from Naples. Joe and his wife, Jane, have lived in Brazil, Greece, Belgium and the Netherlands. They now live in Texas with their shih tzu Sophia.

Joe’s stories have appeared in more than eighty magazines including Bartleby Snopes, The Monarch Review, decomP, and Shenandoah. His novel, Birds of Passage, An Italian Immigrant Coming of Age Story, was published by Harvard Square Editions October 2015.

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My Review

5 stars

Anthony Provati is an art dealer with family connections in the mob. Through a series of events, Anthony is ordered by Russion mob boss, Gorgon Malakhov to break into The Fisk and steal three Vermeer paintings worth billions of dollars. But there is more to the story than Gorgon’s sexy mistress and a simple theft of artwork. There is a substantial amount of money that is going to fund the ISIL. Anthony is in a race against time to stop ISIL.

This is a fast paced thriller that will keep your attention hooked. Anthony has a lusty libido and that gets him up to his neck in trouble. But he is bound and determined to stop more deaths from ISIL. If that doesn’t get you interested in the story, the first chapter will have you in tears.

If you like fast action with a great story, look no further. I strongly recommend reading Appointment with ISIL.

I received Appointment with ISIL from the author for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

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