contemporary

Interview with Karen Rose (Say You’re Sorry)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Say You’re Sorry by Karen Rose will keep readers guessing and thinking. It has thrills, suspense, psychological analyses, and a bit of romance. People are kept at the edge of their seats by a story that delves into intense subjects such as cults, pedophiles, torture, abuse, alcohol dependency, anxiety attacks, and PTSD. Although the first novel in a new series, it draws on characters from the Baltimore series. The heroine, Daisy Dawson, should be …

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Dead Girl Running by Christina Dodd

Title: Dead Girl Running Author: Christina Dodd Series: Cape Charade #1 What the hell is Dodd doing? When I picked up this book for the first time a couple months ago, I intended to write a full review then but was so furious when I was done that I had to tuck it away and forget about it for the sake of my sanity. It haunted me, though, so I skimmed through it a second time, and, knowing its secrets, …

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Review Roundup Fall 2018

I don’t review every book I read. Not nearly. As much as I wish otherwise, I simply don’t have time—or sometimes the brain energy—to write dozens upon dozens of reviews. Plus, sometimes it’s nice to just enjoy a book without having to analyze as I read. But I wanted to talk about some of the books I read recently, so I thought perhaps I could compile a series of brief overall opinions for them. A review roundup, if you will. …

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I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella

Title: I Owe You One Author: Sophie Kinsella Series: N/A Good but not great I would like to thank Sophie Kinsella, The Dial Press/ Random House, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Fixie Farr possesses a compulsion to “fix” things. From cleaning up a stain no one would notice to calling 999 despite her friend’s wishes, Fixie derives pleasure in knowing she righted wrongs. She considers the compulsion one of her …

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Elise’s Review – Vendetta by Iris Johansen

Book Review by Elise Cooper Vendetta by Iris Johansen brings back characters introduced in the Eve Duncan books. Although it is billed as an “Eve Duncan” she is only mentioned briefly. But, this does not take anything away from the plot and the main characters, Rachel Venable and Jude Brandon. The story centers on these two and their attempts to bring down Max Huber, the head of Red Star, a terrorist organization with immense power. The story begins with the …

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Interview with Wendy Walker (Emma in the Night)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker is a psychological thriller about two sisters. This dysfunctional family adds a whole new meaning to this word. Judy Martin always used her beauty and charm to manipulate her family, requiring her daughters to flatter her to win her affection. Threatening her fragile ego are her daughters’ looks. Now the family’s life has been in limbo since the two daughters have been missing for three years. Cass, …

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Interview with B. J. Daniels (Rogue Gunslinger and Rugged Defender)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Rogue Gunslinger and Rugged Defender, the second and third books of the Clementine Sisters series by B. J. Daniels blends a great plot, setting, and characters. People cannot imagine how this author can improve, but each book in this series just keeps getting better. In Rogue Gunslinger, T.J. Clementine is a mystery author that is being stalked. Receiving mail from one particular fan escalates into threats because she is not following their writing advice. …

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The Curse of Tenth Grave by Darynda Jones

Title: The Curse of Tenth Grave Author: Darynda Jones Series: Charley Davidson #10 Had to dig deep for flaws To prepare for the release of Summoned to Thirteenth Grave in January, I started re-listening to the Grave series audiobooks a couple of months ago (Lorelei King is AMAZING). I got through Nine and needed a breather…then I received an invitation to participate in a blog tour for Thirteen beginning on Halloween, and part of the deal is to review one …

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Sunshine by Robin McKinley

Title: Sunshine Author: Robin McKinley Series: n/a Too much story, left with more questions than answers I wasn’t going to review this one, but it’s haunted me the last couple of days since I finished it. I don’t feel like I have closure on it, so maybe if I get my thoughts down on paper (as it were), I can get it out of my head. I really liked the story! It had SO MUCH potential! But it wasn’t well …

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Elise’s Review – Don’t Look Back by Dawn Ryder

Book Review by Elise Cooper Don’t Look Back by Dawn Ryder ends the “Unbroken Heroes Series” with a bang. This suspenseful story is full of political intrigue that started six books ago. The plot relies heavily on events from previous books in the series, basically wrapping up the loose ends of those operatives in the covert organization Shadow Ops. “I wanted the Shadow Ops team to take on messy cases. They understand absolute power corrupts absolutely. They see how ambition …

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