Apostle Rising by Richard Godwin [Review]

3.5 out of 5 Robots!

Title: Apostle Rising

Author: Richard Godwin 

Genre: Thriller

Release: March 10, 2011

Paperback: 374 pages
Publisher: Black Jackal
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0956711308
ISBN-13: 978-0956711304

My Copy: Publisher

Reviewer: Mona

Book Summary:

Detective Chief Inspector Frank Castle never caught the Woodlands Killer and it almost destroyed him. Now, years later, mauled by the press and traumatized by nightmares, he is faced with a copycat killer with detailed inside knowledge of the original case. He and his partner Jacki Stone enter a deadly labyrinth, and at its center is the man Castle believes was responsible for the first killings. 

Dark coded ritualistic killings are being carried out on high-profile figures and the body count is rising. Castle employs a brilliant psychologist to help him solve the case, but some psychopaths are cleverer than others. A dark, layered narrative with detailed psychological profiling, Apostle Rising is an extremely powerful noir crime story with a chilling dimension of horror.

Mona's Review:

With an eye for detail, Richard Godwin's Apostle Rising is an intensely riveting, horrifying crime story. Vividly detailed, Godwin ensnares the mind as it entices the reader to look deeper into criminology, the minds of a killer and the people who capture them.

In what at first reminded me of a technical manual on police procedure, this book became an enthralling and gruesome story I just couldn't put down. The characters blend well in this story, as the characters evolved with the plot I found myself relating to them more. This writer tossed me into the story, I feel like I know the characters. 

I found my heart pounding as I continued to read. The visual details bring to life a deep, dark visceral murder mystery that had me on the edge of my seat! I reccommed this book to those of you willing to delve a bit more into a darker, creepy mind, as well as those that love the complex, technical side of murder. Not reccommended for those of a soft stomach!

Lover's Betrayal by J.E. Hopkins [Review]

4.5 out of 5 Robots!

Title: Lover's Betrayal
Author: JE Hopkins
Genre: Paranormal Romance 
Release: March 11, 2011 
Paperback: 312 pages
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1432771221
ISBN-13: 978-1432771225
My Copy: Publisher
Reviewer: Mona




Book Summary:
Vampire couple Olivia and Lucian were forced to separate nearly two centuries ago, but now a series of murders has brought them back together. 

Through it all, Olivia faces the seemingly unyielding hate of Lucian, a powerful leader of the Council, the enforcers of all immortals. He's determined to seek vengeance on Olivia and her son, but can his hatred withstand the love his heart can't deny?

My Review:

Lover's Betrayal, the new installment in the Misfits of the Lore series by J.E. Hopkins, is the perfect introduction to an amazing group of vampires! I was entrenched in this tangled web of mystery, danger, jealousy, hate and murder. And, strangely enough, it all arises a hope for lost love.

In the process of trying to prove her son innocent of crimes laid at his doorstep, Olivia must face the man she left so many years ago. This is a wonderfully written twist on what happens to two that are fated to be together, but are torn apart and thrown back together when hope is just about gone.

The characters are a lovely variety, especially Corrine with her wonderfully snarky sense of humor and her in your face attitude! Lover's Betrayal is the perfect beginning to a wonderful new series. I recommend this to all paranormal lovers and to anyone who believes that love deserves a second chance!

Other reviews of this novel:

Merry Genre   You Gotta Read

Devotion: A Memoir by Dani Shapiro [Review]

Title: Devotion
Author: Dani Shapiro
Genre: Memoir
Release: February 8, 2011
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780061628351
ISBN-13: 978-0061628351
ASIN: 0061628352
My Copy: Publisher
Reviewer: Mona







Book Summary:

In her midforties and settled into the responsibilities and routines of adulthood, Dani Shapiro found herself with more questions than answers. Was this all life was—a hodgepodge of errands, dinner dates, e-mails, meetings, to-do lists? What did it all mean?

In this spiritual detective story, Shapiro explores the varieties of experience she has pursued—from the rituals of her black hat Orthodox Jewish relatives to yoga shalas and meditation retreats. A reckoning of the choices she has made and the knowledge she has gained, Devotion is the story of a woman whose search for meaning ultimately leads her home. Her journey is at once poignant and funny, intensely personal—and completely universal.

Mona's Thoughts: 

Devotion: A Memoir by Dani Shapiro is a spiritually moving journey through one woman's life. I found this book to be an emotional exploration of faith and family. It is as if I were a shadow, following Ms. Shapiro through all of her trials and tribulations of finding herself and what her past means to her present and her future.

This book is truly an inspirational story. I cried and I laughed throughout this book, enjoying the writing as well as being allowed a glimpse of another's choices in life and the reminder that faith is not just handed to you. This book encourages the reader to open themselves up to wonderful possibilities for any to happen. Terrific! I recommend this to all.

The Reluctant Vampire by Lynsay Sands [Review]

Title: The Reluctant Vampire
Series: Argeneau Vampires, 15
Author: Lynsay Sands
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release: May 31, 2011
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon
ISBN-10: 0061894591
ISBN-13: 978-0061894596
Reviewer: Mona

5 out of 5 Robots!

  

About the Book:

Rogue hunter Drina Argenis has been many things in her years as an immortal, but bodyguard/babysitter to a teenage vampire is something new. There’s an incentive, however: the other vampsitter, Harper Stoyan, may be Drina’s life mate...

Trouble is, having just lost a life mate, Harper is resigned to being alone. He’s completely unprepared when sexy and unpredictable Drina bursts into his life to reignite his passions. Can Drina, with a little matchmaking help from their teen charge, tempt this reluctant vampire to take a chance? Or will a dangerous, unseen renegade kill Drina and Harper’s one chance at happiness?

My Review:

Lynsay Sands does it again with her newest Argeneau novel – The Reluctant Vampire. Aunt Marguerite is at it again with her match making tendencies. But what do you do when you encounter a reluctant vampire? Well... you hunt them down of course! Harper, who has already buried one life mate, is not looking for another. But Drina shows up he just can not seem to keep his mind or his hands off her. With a little nudge from their charge, romantic havoc is in the air.

As a major fan of Lynsay Sands, I must say that I am so pleased that The Reluctant Vampire runs true to her form with just the right amount of mystery, romance and danger all rolled up into another great novel! Her tongue in cheek humor as well as her fast moving action will keep you enthralled and at the edge of your seat through the entire book.

This story is well written and very entertaining, you will find her characters easy to relate to and just as enjoyable too. Such an engaging read that you will find hard to put down. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a satisfying adventure with just the right amount of humor in their romance!

Reunion by Jeff Bennington [Review]

Title: Reunion 
Author: Jeff Bennington
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Release: March 14, 2011
Format: Kindle Edition
Publisher: Nexgate Press
Sold by: Amazon Digital
ASIN: B004S7AR0E
Reviewer: Mona

4 out of 5 Robots!

About this Book:

David Ray killed eight students and then turned the gun on himself. He thought the shooting and suicide would fix his world. It didn't. The massacre threw Tanner Khan and the other survivors into chaos.

Twenty years later, Tanner and his fellow classmates reluctantly agree to hold a reunion to lay the past to rest. Although they suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, they come back to their hometown and reunite in the defunct school building. Old flames are rekindled, fears are ignited, and their lives are about to explode in a whirlwind of memories, haunted by the spirit of David Ray. 

Will Tanner and his classmates overcome their fears and put the pieces of their lives back together, or will they be consumed by their worst nightmare? 

My Review:

Reunion by Jeff Bennington is an incredibly hard hitting novel that embraces the lives of not only the victims but of the person committing the crime. Reunion is not what I would consider an “easy” read. Not to say it was bad, it is an extraordinarily exceptional story, just that it emotionally involves the reader. This story is about a horrific event, an event that touches not only those involved but an entire town, and possibly even far more than it did to begin with. 

He asks some very interesting questions- What happens to the students who have been traumatized by school shootings, how have they survived – or have they – really?

Bennington leaves us with a powerful and insightful look into the lives of five students that survive the painful tragedy. I found this book a poignant one that pulled me into their lives and their experiences. It opened my eyes to the possibility of what others lives may be like after such heartbreak.

With the combination of intrigue, romance, suspense and even supernatural, Bennington allows the feel of these characters to come forth and lead us through their lives. Reunion has enough mystery and surprise to satisfy anyone looking for an exceptional read.

Twilight Prophecy by Maggie Shayne [Review]

Title: Twilight Prophecy

Series: Children of Twilight

Author: Maggie Shayne

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release: April 19, 2011

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Mira
ISBN-10: 0778329801
ISBN-13: 978-0778329800
Reviewer: Mona

5 out of 5 Robots!

About the Book:

Save the Vampire, Save the World.

According to ancient prophecy, there’s only one chance to avert the complete annihilation of the Undead. Twins James William and Brigit Poe, part human, part vampire, believe that they are that chance. 

As Armageddon approaches, anti-vampire sentiment fuels a war neither side can win, driving James to abandon his moral code and draw Lucy into a deadly battle she wants no part of. But Lucy soon realizes that she holds this powerful immortal’s soul in her hands and that it’s her destiny not only to stop a war but to save him from his inner darkness.

My Review:

Twilight Prophecy by Maggie Shayne is another winner for this remarkable writer.  I simply love the connectivity between her characters, as they “feed” off of each other on so many levels.

I have enjoyed this series that Shayne has written, the continuity of the storyline as well as her references and inclusions of possible historical occurrences flesh out a different background to the well known “Vampire” Community.

With her marvelous style meshing paranormal romance and action Shayne keeps her readers riveted with excitement waiting to discover what will be uncovered next. The interactions of characters both new and familiar keep you enthralled throughout the entirety story.

All Maggie Shayne readers will be delighted with this new installment to a much loved series! I encourage anyone who hasn’t picked up one of Maggie Shayne’s books to do so, it will be a journey you won’t forget!

Bullet Work by Steve O'Brien [Review]

Title: Bullet Work

Author: Steve O'Brien

Genre: Mystery

Release: March 14, 2011

Publisher: A & N Publishing
Sold by: Amazon Digital
ASIN: B004S81HWA
My Copy: Publisher
Reviewer: Mona

4 out of 5 Robots!

About the Book:

They lived for that one chance; the chance to get home first. They waited for that one second. For that moment when they broke into the clear down the home stretch, and no one was going to catch them.

Behind the glamorous exterior of horse racing lies the gritty reality of the backside. Within this fiercely competitive world of owners, trainers, vets, and jockeys something has gone terribly wrong. As opening day approaches, one racehorse is poisoned, another has her leg crushed by a lead pipe and a third mysteriously disappears. Shock and horror grip the racing community.

Then it all makes sense. Greed. The extortion demands are revealed. Despite all security efforts, the brutal killings continue. For Dan Morgan it becomes personal when his precocious two-year-old filly is targeted.  Dan must crack the extortion scheme or risk becoming the next victim.

Mona's Review:

Bullet Work by Steve O’Brien is out of the gate with a burst of speed! This highly suspenseful thriller will have you “chomping at the bit” as you unravel the mystery behind it all. O’Brien takes us into the world of horse racing and what it takes to have a winner.

With his “insider info” on what happens in the life of not only an Owner but of a Hotwalker, O’Brien will send you on a journey through the racetrack backside, a side many never see.

Through the euphoric feeling of winning to the despair and agony of loss on and off the track, the story of a gifted horse whisperer ends in tragedy. This story surges with excitement from beginning to end as the reader delves deeper and deeper into this dynamic story as they begin to unravel the plots within plots.

O’Brien captures the complexity of the characters as they bring to life the diversity involved in training and then racing a Thoroughbred to victory, and the courage it takes to make the right decisions.

Through danger and threats, to not only the horses but to the heart of the backside Bullet Work will pull at those heartstrings and captivate any reader. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a fantastic read and especially to horse and mystery lovers everywhere!

Vengeance by J.E. Taylor [Review]

Title: Vengeance

Author: J.E. Taylor

Genre: Suspense, Horror

Release: October 31, 2010

Publisher: Fido Publishing 

Sold by: Amazon Digital
ASIN: B004A8ZUW6

Reviewer: Mona

4 out of 5 Robots!

 

About the Book:

Living large in New York City as a corporate lawyer for the most savvy drug lord on the East Coast, Special Agent Steve Williams carefully plots Charlie Wisnowski's downfall. His plans go to hell when his wife Jennifer survives an attack by a serial killer. With her life in jeopardy and his undercover guise threatening to unravel, he orders Charlie's arrest. But the sting goes woefully wrong and Steve becomes the target of a mafia assassin hired by the biggest crime boss in America.

Escaping from the city, Steve and Jennifer settle back into their quiet life on the banks of Mirror Lake. Their peaceful existence shatters with a crippling loss while Jennifer's visions escalate, forecasting a brutal assault on their family.

My Review:

In Vengeance by J.E. Taylor the suspense is the key ingredient to this amazing story. This  hardcore fast paced murder mystery thriller is packed full of action and intrigue. With an interesting look into the possible life of an undercover agent, we see some of the things that could go wrong, or in some cases right!

Taylor takes us on a whirlwind tour of the excitement and terror as we witness the agony of this couple as the try to live the double life of undercover operatives.

A well written story, with characters you feel for the more you read about them. This Thriller grabs you, runs you through the paces and leaves you wanting to know more. With an ending as this book has it will leave you wondering what will happen next!

For this reader as I finished the book, it left me with a feeling that there is more to this story, that it isn’t over and I personally cannot wait to see if I am right, and to see what happens next for this courageous family!  I recommend this book to all readers!

Phantom Evil by Heather Graham [Review]

Title: Phantom Evil
Series: Krewe of Hunters, #1
Author: Heather Graham
Genre: Paranormal Thriller
Release: March 29, 2011
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Mira
ISBN-10: 0778329534
ISBN-13: 978-0778329534
Reviewer: Mona

5 out of 5 Robots!

My Review:

What could be more exciting than spending time in New Orleans? How about spending time in a Haunted Mansion IN New Orleans!? Well, in Heather Graham’s Phantom Evil, a brand new group of Paranormal Investigators begin their first group effort in just that, a haunted mansion.

With the death of the current owners wife, a special team is put together to “put to rest” the cause of death. Team leader Jackson Crow has a job ahead of him bringing together a group of six individuals and solving a dangerous mystery at the same time.

I truly enjoyed the diverse characters that interacted within this book. These are magnificent characters that believe in the normal order of life, yet still know that there are other entities out there. This group knows for a fact that ghosts truly exist.

The mysteries begin the very first night with the discovery of a body and continue to flow intensely throughout the book all the way to the final cymbal crash. This courageous group of innovators takes you through the challenging lives of survivors, ghost hunting and finding a killer that may only have an ethereal form....

Heather Graham does it again, well written and engaging, I recommend this to anyone looking for a bit of the mysterious, a touch of the suspense and a lite of romance! An all-around good read that will keep you enthralled all the way through!

The Thieves of Darkness by Richard Doetsch [Review]

Title: The Thieves of Darkness
Author: Richard Doetsch
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Release: August 24, 2010
Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: Atria
ISBN-10: 1416598952
ASIN: B004J8HWOG
Reviewer: Mona

5 out of 5 Robots!

About the Book:

Reformed master thief Michael St. Pierre thinks his criminal days are behind him when his best friend Simon is sentenced to die in a brutal desert prison. Breaking into jail for the first time in his checkered career, Michael frees his friend only to discover his own girlfriend in the next cell. . . .


With a madman on their heels, the trio plots a series of daring thefts inside the world’s most celebrated and heavily guarded sanctums to find the mysterious artifact that landed them behind bars: a map to a secret holy place predating Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. From the glittering banks of the Bosporus to the highest peaks of the Himalayas, they embark on a globe-trotting adventure to preserve the priceless relics at stake and protect the fate of humanity.

Mona's Review:

One might wonder what in the world a priest from the Vatican and a thief turned security specialist has in common, right? Well, for Michael St. Pierre- reformed thief, a blind play date is in his future. A date set up by no other than his friend, Simon Bellatori, who also happens to be an unconventional priest in charge of the Vatican Archives. You would think a date set up by a priest would be a good thing, needless to say Simon knows his friends and a match like no other is in the making.

I love the way that the characters of this book flow off of one another. There is always give and take and the storyline is a constant amusement park with all of its ups and downs as well as the hidden surprises along the way. Richard Doetsch’s The Thieves of Darkness is an incredible read. He has a great style of writing that draws you in immediately and never lets you go until the end. I was just dieing to know what was to happen  next!

The unexpected surprises that continue to arrive around every corner adds to the delightful journey this reader found intoxicating. Doetsch takes you on an excursion through mystery, suspense, murder, romance and faith all in one book! If you liked his 13th Hour you’re going to love The Thieves of Darkness.

Be sure to also check out his other two available books, The Thieves of Heaven and The Thieves of Faith, as well as his upcoming release Half-Past Dawn.