Kill Chain by Dominic Martell

 

Kill Chain is a suspenseful thriller novel and the first book in The Pascual Series created by Dominic Martell.

With a wife and a grown-up son, Pascual Rose lives a simple and quiet life working as a translator. But when he receives a text message summoning him to his own rooftop, he realizes, or maybe finally admits, that his life is not as simple and as quiet as he wishes it to be, and that the consequences of the decisions he has made more than three decades ago are now catching up to him. Not only do his unwanted visitors violate the privacy of his home, but they also threaten his family, and that doesn’t sit well with Pascual, notwithstanding the one million euros they offer in exchange for his services.

This is an interesting, intriguing, suspenseful, and action-filled novel that highlights the use of sophisticated technology and is set in various countries around the world. The author is able to keep the readers in suspense up to the later chapters making the book difficult to put down. What makes it more memorable, however, is how the author depicts something people, in general, fail to notice or are adamant to accept, that whatever we did in the past may have a tremendous effect in our future, that we can’t just do something egregious and get away with it. Finally. though Pascual Rose is the main character in the story, my favorite is Dris. He is smart, reliable, and dependable. All in all, this is a great read.

Congratulations to Dominic Martell on such an enjoyable book! For more books by the author, click HERE.

Dangerous Secret by Jessica Lauryn

 

Dangerous Secret is a romantic thriller and the first in the Pinnacles of Power Series created by Jessica Lauryn.

Abigail MacKenzie is a pretty, sweet, and hard-working young woman with her own share of pain and grief. All she wants is to put those pain behind her and be a great teacher. But when she learns about a murder that recently took place, everything comes back to her. And as if she is being shoved to a specific direction, a stranger with thick black hair and deep blue eyes leaves something that reminds her of the elusive justice her father is owed.

When the stranger, Ryan Newberry, turns out to be her new boss at the Washington Valley Hotel, things get tricky for Abigail. Then, tricky becomes chaotic, and then dangerous.    

This is an exciting and suspenseful romantic thriller that urges the readers to keep reading. The author successfully makes the readers to want to find out the who’s and the why’s. Details are dropped a little at a time making the story interesting and suspenseful. It is difficult to choose the most likeable character as there are many. Some readers may opt for the sweet, tough, and brave Abigail who is willing to do everything to get the justice she deserves, while others may cheer for the secretive and protective Ryan who is hell-bent on keeping Abigail safe. In general, this is one enjoyable romantic thriller.

However, other readers may find the romance part a bit cliché, especially the frequent arguments and the endless secrets between the male and female protagonists. Furthermore, the cliffhanger ending may be a bit of a put off for readers who prefer more palpable conclusion even for a book series.

Congratulations to Jessica Lauryn (@JessicaLauryn_) on a suspenseful and exciting book! For more books by the author, click HERE.

Wild-Born by Adrian Howell

Wild Born is a suspenseful, young adult, paranormal, thriller and the first book in the Psionic Pentalogy created by Adrian Howell.

When an accident renders twelve-year old Adrian immobile, he begins to develop telekinetic ability, that he has long suspected he has but not proven until now. Shortly after, however, his home is attacked and he finds himself separated from his sister, Cat.

He soon learns that he is a psionic, a human with special ability, and that there are more like him. After the catastrophic night that changed his seemingly normal life, Adrian ends up a fugitive depending heavily on his wit and undeveloped ability for survival and hunted by paranormal factions, each intent on having him on its side.

This is an exciting and suspenseful paranormal thriller that easily calls X-Men to mind. It portrays various human traits, emotions, and behaviors such as compassion, kindness, and unconditional love. It also depicts bigotry, prejudice, and discrimination. It shows that family is not limited to blood relations but those who are with you when you need them the most.

Scenes are carefully described in detail including chasing and fighting scenes. Characters are well-developed and accurately depicted like benevolent Cindy, naïve Adrian, and unpleasant Dr. Denman. Though the ending is less conclusive than my usual taste, it is understandably so.

Congratulations to Adrian Howell on such an exciting and enjoyable book. Some scenes, however, may be too violent for very young readers. For more books by this author, click HERE.

Derailed by Mary Keliioka

Derailed is an interesting and suspenseful thriller novel, and the first in the Kelly Pruett Mystery Book Series created by Mary Keliioka.

Private Investigator Kelly Pruett feels elated and apprehensive at the same time. She just meets the client that gives her her very first real private investigating job since she inherited the detective agency from her father. Though the idea is quite exciting and, somehow, heightens her level of empowerment, at the back of her mind, she isn’t altogether confident that she can actually do the job. However, her father’s dying request makes the decision for her.

As per her client’s request, Kelly needs to get to the bottom of a case viewed by the police as an unfortunate drunken accident. To find out whether the victim was struck by the train due to her inebriation or she was murdered, Kelly sets up a meeting with the sole witness at the bar where the victim was last seen alive. Sadly for Kelly, however, the witness does not show up.

This is a suspenseful thriller novel mixed with domestic issues, women empowerment, and a little bit of romance. Just like other books of this genre, the author develops the plot by presenting an insignificant amount of clues as far as the case is concerned, but with the protagonist’s unwavering determination and unbelievable level of tenacity, possible suspects and possible motives begin to surface. The author successfully keeps the suspense by introducing shocking twists and unexpected turns of events that culminated in a satisfying climax.

The characters are well-developed and are very relatable especially Kelly. In this day and age when more and more women are beginning to discover their self-worth, I can imagine a lot of female readers who can actually empathize with the main character. Scenes and settings are depicted vividly as well as the behaviors and emotions of each character.

All in all, this is a great thriller novel and I recommend it to fans of this genre.

Congratulations to Mary Keliioka  (@mary_keliikoa) on such a great and enjoyable book. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. For more information about this author, click HERE.      

The Reflecting Pool by Otho Eskin

The Reflecting Pool is an exciting and suspenseful crime and thriller novel written by Otho Eskin.

Homicide Detective Marko Zorn, of Washington DC Metropolitan Police, knows that the body of a Secret Service agent found in the Reflecting Pool is not a typical drowning victim. For reason, unfathomable even to himself, Zorn knows the victim is murdered.

Fueled by his desire for justice and his inherent disregard for rules and protocols, Zorn proceeds with his investigation. Curiously, his effort to get to the bottom of the case is met with discouragement, lack of cooperation, and even hostility from the departments he believes should, at the very least, show more keenness in catching the perpetrator.    

This is a suspenseful thriller that features a multitude of subjects including organized crime, domestic terrorist group, long-buried crime, and secret liaisons. The author is able to keep the plot interesting and suspenseful by throwing in seemingly unrelated scenes and putting them together in one explosive climax and a satisfying denouement. 

Moreover, the author is able to successfully describe, in detail, not only the scenes, ie police interviews, confrontations, chasing, and fighting; but also the behavior and personality of each character. Unlike other authors who use descriptive words to portray characters, Otho Eskin depicts people through their attitudes and manners of speaking. Finally, though Detective Mark Zorn is not my idea of an ideal protagonist, with his vanity, materialism, and moral code, I would say I have seen worse. And though it’s difficult to see past his character, I think that is what makes him, somehow, realistic and relatable.

Congratulations to Otho Eskin (@OthoEskin) on such an enjoyable book! For more books by the author, click HERE.         

Rose Hill by Pamela Grandstaff

Rose Hill is a suspenseful crime and thriller novel and the first in the Rosehill Mystery Series created by Pamela Grandstaff.

The peace and quiet of the pretty, little town of Rose Hill is disturbed when the murdered body of their most obnoxious citizen, Theo Eldridge, is found in the veterinary clinic. Upon investigation of the case, Police Chief Scott Gordon finds that there are too many people with scores to settle with Theo, and though his murder in not altogether unwelcome, it is, somehow, a relief. As the investigation progresses, the number of possible suspects rises up. Moreover, Scott realizes that his beloved Rose Hill is not as quiet and as pretty as it seems.

This is an exciting crime and thriller novel. It features multiple subjects including murder, blackmail, friendship, kinship, and illicit relationship, among others. By portraying the victim as a totally despicable and dishonorable person, the author elicits mixed emotions from the readers: extreme dislike, if not hate, for Theo; sympathy for Chief Gordon, empathy for particular characters like Ava, Sean, and Enid, and overall excitement for the case to be solved.

Though the premise is far from unique, the glimpse in the life and personality of each character is enough to keep the readers interested. Character development is well-done and complete with realistic manner of speaking and choice of vocabulary. Finally, though I find the ending a bit anticlimactic, it opens doors for possibilities and more promising books in the series.

Congratulations to Pamela Grandstaff (@RoseHillMystery) on such a great book. For more books by the author, click HERE.

U-10 by Sam B. Miller II

U-10 is an exciting and suspenseful science fiction thriller by Sam B. Miller II.

While on a mission to remove Insurgents from dusty settlements on the hills of Afghanistan, Lt. Ty Lavender and the rest of the Orion Squad stand witness to the thundering crash of an unidentified flying object. After finding a strange satchel and a box of cards from the crash site and getting rid of a few Insurgents sneaking on them, Lavender and his men leave and get into position around the perimeter of the crash site. Shortly after, a group of people wearing full coverage combat gear arrives and takes over the crash site.

Meanwhile, the lone passenger of the UFO is watching from a distance, near where his escape pod has landed. Extremely confident that the inhabitants of this planet are too primitive and too intellectually inferior to understand advanced technology, the passenger feels apprehensive when he sees the U-10 draped over the shoulder of one of the humans. Little does he know that there are much more to the humans than he knows.

This is an exciting and suspenseful, fast-paced and easy to read science fiction thriller. The plot is unpredictable and offers a series of twists and turns making the book a real deal page-turner. Though the concept of an alien aircraft crashing down the desert seems quite trite and overused, the introduction of U-10, a survival tool with multiple uses involving single-use cards that produce advanced and sophisticated but disposable weapons, is enough to put sci-fi fans on the edge of their seats. Characters are provided with sufficient back stories to make them life-like which makes it easy to visualize them as real people. Moreover, the author creates the perfect protagonist in Lt. Ty Lavender, the smart, brave, compassionate, and loyal soldier and leader. More than the vividly described scenes, I love the depiction of human attributes including loyalty, concern, and compassion as well as zealotry, greed, and narcissism.

Congratulations to Sam B. Miller II (@SamBMillerII) for another great book! For more books by the author, click HERE!

Brooding City by Tom Shutt

Brooding City is an intriguing and exciting paranormal thriller and the first book in the Brooding City Series created by Tom Shutt.

Detective Arthur Brennan works at Odols Police Department. Unbeknownst to his partner and to everybody else, however, he is a former Sleeper. Sleepers are individuals who can enter the dream of others and drive them to madness. They are people with extraordinary gifts and live among ordinary people.

Meanwhile, young Jeremy Scott discovers something special, albeit scary, about himself. He can access other people’s memories. With his newly-found gift, he finds out something that shakes his being to the core.

This is an interesting, intriguing, and an easy-read book. It explores the dream realm and subtly integrates it to the waking world. The story has two main plotlines, one features Detective Brennan who is presented with a murder case involving drugs, and the other features Jeremy Scott with his newly-discovered gift. The author creates intriguing characters including Detective Brennan himself, Uncle Rick, and Old Benjamin.

However, though the plot is, understandably, vague with this book being the first installment, I still find it difficult to stay interested. It is just not easy to stay focused when the scene shifts every other chapter and the details are given in painstakingly gradual manner. Moreover, it is hard to connect with the characters. Despite the backstories, I still feel that something is being held back which makes connecting with the characters not easy. Finally, the ending is inconclusive which could mean the reader has to read the next book to enjoy it fully.

Still, this is a very intriguing book and some readers may find it enjoyable. Congratulations to Tom Shutt (@TomShutt) on such an interesting book. For more books by the author, click HERE.

Jealous of the Way He Treats Her by Can'Di

Jealous of the Way He Treats Her: A Revenge Story is an erotic urban fiction written by Can’Di.

Jasmine is deeply in love with Derrick. After a painful break-up with her ex-boyfriend Marcus, Jasmine is determined to make her relationship with Derrick work. On his part, Derrick is just as in love with Jasmine as she is with him. However, he wants more which he can get from somewhere or someone else especially if that someone else is just around.

Jasmine’s best friend Lykeysha is more than what she is in Jasmine’s eyes. She is ambitious. She knows what she wants and she has what it takes to get it, even if what she wants belongs to someone else.

Marcus lost Jasmine because of one night of indiscretion. Now that Jasmine is with someone else, all he wants is for her to be happy. He loves her more than she knew and he is willing to be anything she needs him to be, a friend, a lover, a protector. However, there is something about his life that he could not tell her.

This is an intriguing and suspenseful book about envy, jealousy, revenge, and true love. The conflict is introduced early in the story which makes it a page-turner. Though the plot is not extraordinarily unique, the twists and turns of events make the book different from other stories with the same premise. Characters are well-developed and relatable and the readers would find it easy to connect with each of them. With her twisted way of looking at things, Lykeysha is every bit the villainess. She is despicable and, somehow, pitiful in her pathetic view of her self-importance.

Admittedly, I enjoyed this book more than I expected. It is interesting and unpredictable in that it is difficult to guess what would happen next. However, other readers, especially non-native English speakers, may find the use of the vernacular language a bit difficult to follow. Moreover, scenes of sex and violence may not be suitable for young readers.

Congratulations to Can’Di on such an enjoyable book!

Reclamation by Brysen Mann

Reclamation is an exciting and suspenseful science fiction book and the second installment of The Xeno Manifesto Book Series created by Brysen Mann.

Deep beneath the peak of Mt. Rainer, Frank Smirnov is perplexed. He is overwhelmed by the magnitude of his discovery. Everything he knows about himself and the world is undermined by the enormity of the undeniable facts staring him in the face. As per practical advice from a friend now departed, he doesn’t trust anyone, not Zachariah Allmas whom he ended up with, and not even the mythical creatures who are keeping him safe, for now.

If he really is the one foretold to save mankind, he has no idea how exactly he is going to do it. Right now, he needs to find out more about the Committee which is hell-bent on terminating his existence, and the best way to start is with the man who knows the Committee better than he or anyone he knows, for that matter, does.    

Meanwhile, Felix Belette gathers all the Team Leaders. Their directive is to find the traitor at all cost and bring him to Belette alive, so that Belette could extract every shred of information from him in the slowest and most agonizing process. Little does Belette know what awaits him when Zach is finally found.

This is just as intriguing and as exciting as the first book, The Xeno Manifesto. Unlike in other book series that usually introduce subplots, this second installment stays consistent with the first book and simply moves the plot forward. It is unpredictable with exciting twists and turns that though not altogether shocking are surprising enough. Scenes and settings are thoroughly described including the special abilities of the mythical creatures. The book has a satisfactory ending and promises a more exciting third installment.

Admittedly, I enjoyed this book a lot. However, I find the pacing of the plot slower than that of the first book that very little is added to the story. Moreover, there are too many noticeable errors within the entire book that detract from the overall reading experience.

Congratulations to Brysen Mann (@brysen_mann) on another exciting book!   

My 2019 Book List

I have read 118 books in 2018. Just like the previous years, most of them are by independent authors and are self-published. As a professional book reviewer, sometimes I feel like reading books become ‘work’ which, technically, in my case, is true. So, when writing reviews becomes too tedious and stressful, I read for fun. The following list is that of books that I chose to read for personal amusement.

1. Surprise Me by Sophia Kinsella

2. The Giver by Lois Lowry

3. Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by

4. Acceptable Risk by Robin Cook (reread)

5. Hidden Riches by Nora Roberts (reread)

6. Sands of Time by Sidney Sheldon

7. IQ84 by Haruki Murukami

8. The Zahir by Paulo Coelho

9. The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas

10. Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell

11. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (reread)

12. Little Men by Louisa May Alcott (reread)

That looks like a short list, doesn’t it? Well, if you want, you may add your book to that list. Here is the list of the books I read and reviewed in 2018. Mainstream books, however, are not reviewed. They are popular enough as they are and some are even overrated and don’t need reviews for promotion.

1. Srepska by LucasSterling

2. You Can’t Pigeonhole Meby David M. Hood

3. Maggie ElizabethHarrington by D.J. Swykert

4. But My Brain Had OtherIdeas by Deb Brandon

5. Kitty Hawk and theIcelandic Intrigue by Iain Reading

6. Curses of Scale by S.D.Reeves

7. God is Alive and Wellby Dr. Robert Walker

8. Confessions of theHeart by Canaa L. Lee

9. Dawn of the Chrysalisby Sam B. Miller II

10. Sex and the Women byHeini Grunbaum

11. The Xeno Manifesto byBrysen Mann

12. Dodging Satan byKathleen Zamboni McCormick

13. Smith by Sam Miller II

14. Fiery Rivers by DaefydWilliams

15. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

16. The Bridge in the Fogby Marc Remus

17. The Simple Little Ruleby Mike Ellerkamp

18. The Witch’s Journey by Elaanie S.

19. Contract Pending by AlMarsiglia

20. A Chicken in the Windand How He Grew by Frank South

21. Madam Tulip and theBones of Chance by David Ahern

22. You Can’t Do That, YesI Can by Michael Attardi

23. Four Grams ofAffliction by Patricia M. Gunn

24. Brand Real by Vasken Kalayjian

25. Eyes Don’t Lie byCrystal Dawn Mason

26. Kitty Hawk and theTragedy of the RMS Titanic by Iain Reading

27. Marriage God’s Way byScott La Pierre

28. Tabikat by HarrietRedfern

29. Nightmares, The Lost Lullaby by Jason Segel

30. Pillow Talk: The Legend of Lorelie Begins by Daria J. Wagoner

31. Katseye by HarrietRedfern

32. Deadly Highway by J.Stewart Willis

33. Stop Whining; StartWinning by Tom Anslett

34. Driving in Reverse by LindsayWincherauk

35. Genna’s Ghost bySheldon Newton

36. Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs

37. Living with Uncertaintyand Still Enjoying Life by Karen Kay Dunn, M.A.

38. Patrick Kearney: TheTrue Story of the Freeway Killer by Jack Rosewood

39. The Manifesto Murders by Nick Airus

40. Invasion of the Ortaksby Sveinn Benonysson

41. That Place of Knowledgeby Phillip Shalka

42. The Wave and the Dropby Cindy Spring

43. The Golden Peacock byLauren B. Grossman

44. Hell Holes by DonaldFiresmith

45. The Fatness by Mark A.Rayner

46. Somewhere a Tree Growsby Kipling Keats de Magi

47. Voyage of Pearl of theSeas by Ruth Finnegan

48. A Distant Eden by LloydTackitt

49. Squelched by TerryBeard

50. Witchstone by VictoriaRandall

51. Bosnian Phoenix byMiljan Peter Ilich

52. The Language Thieves byMarc Remus

53. None Notches by TJSpencer Jacques

54. A Father Offers His Sonby Scott La Pierre

55. Kitty Hawk and theMystery of the Masterpieces by Iain Reading

56. American River:Currents by Mallory M. O’Connor

57. Angels among Us by Hannah Conway

58. World, Incorporated byTom Gariffo

59. Gone by Michael Grant

60. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

61. Revival from the Shoulder by Paul Juby

62. No Peace After War byClaire St. Hilaire

63. Highly EffectiveTeaching Strategies by Marc Hoberman

64. Fighting to Win byNicole Flockton

65. Eden Shrugged by EdmonMcGhee, Jr.

66. Tales of Gold by TLMarmon

67. Law of Attraction Masterby Steven Marie

68. Opus Singularis by RobertEarl Means, Jr.

69. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

70. When Angels Play Pokerby Maura O’Leary

71. Meditations from aPastor’s Heart by Jerome A. Jochem, M.S., M. A.

72. A Side of Faith byKrista Phillips

73. Templar Secrets byAndreas Economou

74. A Reunion in Time byRussell F. Moran

75. Spirituality in the 21stCentury by Frank P. Daversa

76. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

77. First Family by AliceLangholt

78. Chanctonbury by NatashaMurray

79. Accidents Happen bySharon Karaa

80. Empty Desk by JanetCall

81. Roadmap to the End ofDays by Daniel Friedman

82. McDowell by William H.Coles

83. Beyond Wealth to Long-Term Prosperity by Naseem Mariam

84. King of Time by SkySommers

85. Days of the Giants byRJ Petrella

86. A New Vision by MoriahMorningstar

87. The Ghost Writer byDamon Norko

88. Story Bends by S.D.Henke

89. The Crystilleries ofEcholand by Dew Pellucid

90. Garbageman by Erik Dean

91. Earthships, Book 2 byBonnie Jane Hall

92. Paralytic State bySteven Orlowski

93. Spin by Tina Sayward

94. Messed-Up Men of theBible by Tina and Dave Samples

95. For the Man in White byTyler Martin Sehnal

96. The Influence ofMilitary Strategies to Business by M. D. White

97. The Legacy of Job’sWife by Cynthia Koelker

98. Serpents and Doves byG. Lloyd Helm

99. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

100. The Easter Make Believersby Finn Bell

101. Vagrant by Janet Post

102. Chip’s World: Complex#31 and the Caretaker by Thomas Hill

103. Cyber-Thought Police byKyle Robertson

104. Ink by Amanda Anderson

105. The Mighty Blue SavedChristmas by M.A. Baer

106. Psychopath by JeffereyDawson

107. Chronicles of Pangea:Eve by Jay Mathis Horne

108. The Witch of Endor:Vampires by R.K. Wheeler

109. Unleash the Power ofYour Mind by Aaron Powell

110. At the Mouth of a Canonby Kevin Annett

111. Thomas Wildus and theBook of Sorrows by J. M. Bergen

112. Octavio and the Lotusby N. Pojk

113. A Bloody Book by ChrisBowen

114. The Watchmaker’s Doctorby G.M.T. Schuilling

115. The Uprising by MarcRemus

116. I Can See Peace by Julie Penshorn

117. The Woodspeople by Marc Remus

118. Of Zots and Xoodles by Zarqnon the Embarrassed

If you want to add your book on next year’s list, you may CLICK HERE. The blog author, however, reserves the right to refuse books that are beyond her field of expertise.  

A Distant Eden by Lloyd Tackitt

A Distant Eden is a suspense and thriller novel combined with survival manual and the first book in the A Distant Eden Series created by Lloyd Tackitt.

A giant solar storm hits the earth’s magnetic field and knocks down the power grid. Consequently, all electronic equipment shut down and throws the world into chaos.

When the power at the office goes off which shuts down the computer and the office lights, Roman is alerted. Not only that, he also notices that all the cars have stopped in the interstate, a helicopter has crashed, and a jet liner has plummeted onto the ground. He immediately leaves the office with only one goal in mind, to go home to his wife Sarah.

Told in the third person perspective, it is a fast-paced, chilling, and, for me, a realistic depiction of the apocalypse. More than realistic, it is instructive. It spreads awareness and poses warning against a possible and serious threat to mankind. It portrays survival instinct in its most extreme form. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of conservation, self-preservation and self-defense.

The writing style makes the book an easy read. Furthermore, the author creates tough characters like Roman and his nephew Adrian. My favorite, however, is Matthew. He is not just smart. Even under the most unpleasant circumstances, he shows compassion and holds on to his Christian faith.

All in all, it is an enjoyable and interesting read. However, some scenes may be too violent and gory for other readers. Moreover, there are some noticeable errors within the entire book (like build fires too cook and take a several days).

Congratulations to Lloyd Tackitt (@lloydtackitt100) on such an enjoyable book! For more books by the author, click HERE.