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A Little Bit Psycho by J.L Strange ~ Book Review

Book Description:

Katherine is terminally ill.

Her husband Adam is an innovative surgeon with the technology to save her.

When Katherine wakes in an unfamiliar hospital room, she discovers her brain has been transplanted into the body of a man and Adam is nowhere to be found. This is where her nightmare begins.

She must find Adam at all costs, even if that means pretending to be someone she’s not.

But something is wrong inside her. Very wrong…

Purchase a copy on Amazon

About the Author:



J.L. Strange writes unsettling psychological horror with a sci-fi twist. She was born and raised on Cape Cod, Massachusetts and studied animation at Rhode Island School of Design. Telling stories became an obsession, although she still creates art whenever the mood strikes. A single mother with a newly empty nest and lover of all things outdoors, she’s currently pursuing life’s next adventure.

Author's Official Website  

Review: 


Yikes! This book is raw, crazy and a little bit psycho. I think the author had a great story that I haven't read before and I really enjoyed it. It is nice to read a different storyline. I thought right away when I read the synopsis "Wow, could you imagine having your brain transplanted in someone else's body?" and couldn't wait to read it. What was a surreal thought to do a brain transplant from someone with a healthy brain but a dying body into someone with an unhealthy brain and a good body. Right away I was wondering how that would go with our memories, likes, dislikes, etc. 

This book was written going back and forth from past to present. Written so well that I, as a reader, didn't get lost or frustrated and just wanted to keep on reading so I could find out how it took place and what was going to happen. I don't want to give away any spoilers but I really enjoyed this medical psychological thriller. I look forward to what this author will come up with next. 

I give this a 4.5 out of 5 stars. 
~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*~

How to Help a Friend with Depression An excerpt from Beneath the Surface by Kristi Hugstad


Ever since author Kristi Hugstad’s husband, after years of struggling with clinical depression, completed suicide in 2012 by running in front of a train, she has dedicated her life to helping to abolish the stigma of mental illness and suicide.

That mission is what inspired her to write Beneath the Surface: A Teen’s Guide to Reaching Out When You or Your Friend Is in Crisis, which speaks candidly to today’s youth — and the parents, teachers, and coaches who love them — about the anxiety, depression, and suicide attempts that far too often accompany the unique challenges that face their generation. We hope you’ll enjoy this excerpt from the book.

# # #

Depression refers to feelings of intense sadness that don’t go away after a few hours or even a few days. It’s not feeling sad when things go wrong, which is expected; it’s feeling sad all the time, when everything is going right, too.

Depression affects a person’s thoughts in such a way that they don’t see when or how a problem can be overcome. It leads people to focus mostly on failures and disappointments and to emphasize only the negative side of their situation. Someone with severe depression is unable to see the possibility of a good outcome and may believe he or she will never be happy or that things will never be right for them again.

Looking on the “bright side” is often impossible for someone suffering from depression. Depression is like wearing sunglasses in an already dark room: It completely distorts your thinking. That’s why depressed people often can’t recognize that their perspective is limited or obscured and that emotional problems are temporary and changeable, so they turn to the permanent solution of suicide. Someone with depression may feel like there’s no other way out, no other escape from emotional pain, and no other way to communicate desperate unhappiness. They lose hope that their mood will ever improve. They lose the ability, after feeling down for a long time, to step back and view their situation objectively.

Sometimes people who feel suicidal may not even realize they are depressed. When depression causes someone to see all situations in a negative way, suicidal thinking is a real concern.

It’s important to remember that there isn’t a standard form of depression. No two brains are exactly alike, and since depression is a disease of the brain, there will never be two identical cases. Additionally, the distinct details of someone’s life and situation affect the ways in which the disease manifests itself, though the feelings of hopelessness are often similar.

Ask the Question

If you think someone is depressed, you can begin a conversation with that person by simply asking, “Are you okay?” Because getting beneath the surface, first and foremost, requires asking.

Believe it or not, teens who are depressed or considering suicide are usually willing to talk if someone asks them, out of genuine concern and care, if they are okay. When you take a brave step to start a conversation with these three words, you open the door to encourage someone to get the help they need.

When someone is depressed, they are not able to see the answers or solutions to problems clearly. That’s when speaking with a trusted friend or relative can help the person recognize or identify healthy ways out of a bad situation. Sometimes finding that light in the tunnel starts with a simple conversation.

If a friend or family member opens up to you, know that takes courage and trust. But that trust does not — and should not — swear you to silence. If the topic of suicide arises, whatever you do, whatever you think, whatever you say, this is one time to not keep secrets.

In fact, if a friend or classmate swears you to secrecy, get them help immediately; tell an adult you trust as soon as possible!

# # #

Kristi Hugstad is the author of Beneath the Surface: A Teen’s Guide to Reaching Out when You or Your Friend Is in Crisis. Ever since her husband completed suicide in 2012, after years of struggling with clinical depression, by running in front of a train, she has dedicated her life to helping to abolish the stigma of mental illness and suicide. A certified grief recovery specialist, Kristi frequently speaks at high schools. Visit her online at https://www.thegriefgirl.com.

Excerpted from the book Beneath the Surface. Copyright ©2019 by Kristi Hugstad. Printed with permission from New World Library — www.newworldlibrary.com.

Chosen Series by Jeff Altabef ~ 3 Day Sale





From Book 1: Wind Catcher WINNER: 
2015 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal - Young Adult Coming-of-Age Lies. Betrayal. Destiny. A choice that changes everything. 

My name is Juliet Wildfire Stone, and I am special. I see visions and hear voices, and I have no idea what they mean. 

When someone murders medicine men in my sleepy Arizona town, I can’t help but worry my crazy grandfather is involved. He’s a medicine man and more than a just a little eccentric. He likes to tell me stories about the Great Wind Spirit and Coyote, but none of it makes any sense. I thought I knew the truth, but in order to clear his name I dive into his alien world and uncover an ancient secret society formed over two hundred years ago to keep me safe—me! And I can’t help but to start to wonder whether there’s some truth to those old stories my grandfather has been telling me.  

I just want to be an average sixteen-year-old girl, but apparently I’ve never been average. Could never be average. I didn’t know it before, but I’m a Chosen, and those voices I’ve been hearing... well, they’re not just “voices.” I’ve started to develop abilities, but they might not be enough. A powerful entity called a Seeker is hunting me and he’s close—really close. 

I thought I knew the answers but truth is, I don’t. Betrayed by those I love, I must choose to run or risk everything in order to fulfill my destiny. I hope I make the right choice. Don’t you? 

Includes a special sneak preview of the second book in the series, Brink of Dawn. 

MORE AWARDS FOR WIND CATCHER: 
WINNER: Mom's Choice Awards -- Silver Medal: Young Adult Books 
WINNER: Beverly Hills Books Awards - 2015: Best Young Adult Fiction 
WINNER: Awesome Indies -- Seal of Approval: “A treat to read.” 

Evolved Publishing presents the first book in the highly acclaimed and often bestselling "Chosen" series of young adult mystery thrillers, featuring with an American Indian fantasy and supernatural theme, from the same author who brought you award winners like the YA dystopian fantasy Red Death and the futuristic thriller Shatter Point, co-writing with his daughter. [DRM-Free] “Wind Catcher is one of the best thrillers for YA that I have read in some time.... If I hadn't had to eat and sleep, I would have read it right through without stopping. It is just that good!” ~ Bookends


Also available in KU!

Grab Second Chances for FREE when you sign up for Jeff's newsletter. I need answers only my father can provide. Separated from birth, we’ve only recently connected. Still, I have no one else to turn to. The Deltites are hunting me and they’re close now. We’ll fight our final battle soon. Needing more information, I force him to tell me a story about the beginning, my beginning. He sheds new light on my mom, on my grandfather Sicheii, and on how I started down this path. He spins a tale about love, a recent murder, and mysterious strangers who come to town looking for a medicine man, my grandfather. My father reveals his own shadowy past in the story, too, but I’m not worried about who he used to be. I care only about who he is now, and who I am, and the foe I face. He made a choice back then, and it led to all of this. Now I give him a second chance—an opportunity to make things right. 

 Get it HERE

I See You (Criminal Profiler #2) by Mary Burton ~ Book Review

Book Description:

FBI special agent Zoe Spencer uses skeletal remains to recreate the faces of murder victims through sculpture. Though highly scientific, the process is also sensitive and intimate; she becomes attached to the individuals she identifies, desperate to find justice for each.

As Zoe examines old remains, she sees a teenage girl looking back at her—the victim in a cold case from over a decade ago. Zoe wants nothing more than to tell this young woman’s story and to bring her killer to justice.

Zoe’s case leads her to the victim’s hometown and to homicide detective William Vaughan, Zoe’s on-again, off-again lover. As the two become more involved in the case, they quickly realize that it isn’t as cold as they first believed: someone’s still out there hunting women. And with more women gone missing, time’s running out. Can they work together and stop this madman before he kills again?

Purchase a copy on Amazon or Thomas Allen & Son


Visit Mary Burton's Website at www.maryburton.com/ for more books, social media links and news. 

Review: 

This is book 2 in the Criminal profiler series. I did read the first one but this book could easily be a stand alone which I love. There wasn't really much for overlapping from book 1 just the ones main character, the FBI agent Spencer. This book jumps right into the action with a reporter getting an anonymous tip on her website where she finds burned bones in a storage locker. FBI Agent Zoe Spencer works for weeks at recreating the head to identify the victim that would end up being a cold case from 20 years prior. 
Lots of dark twists to solve the cold case leading to new cases of young women all with the same features. Is there a serial killer or a coincidence that these young women have features in common and one having a connection with the family from the cold case. 
Burton throws in a little romance between the agent and detective on the case to not make it all dark. Throwing in the killers perspective here and there (could have had a little more of this) along with what the reporter is up to.  A few times I wondered why Nikki would put herself in harms way but she was just so determined to get a great story to land a job back on the news. 

The author did a lot of research into how the real world of processing scenes and how long it really takes to get DNA etc back unlike when we watch tv shows and it is back right away. I really enjoyed the suspense this book had and found myself throughout it trying to be one step ahead of everyone trying to solve the cases. 

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars and can't wait to read more in this series and others by Mary Burton. 


~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*~

Are You at Risk for Depression? An excerpt from Beneath the Surface by Kristi Hugstad


Ever since author Kristi Hugstad’s husband, after years of struggling with clinical depression, completed suicide in 2012 by running in front of a train, she has dedicated her life to helping to abolish the stigma of mental illness and suicide.

That mission is what inspired her to write Beneath the Surface: A Teen’s Guide to Reaching Out When You or Your Friend Is in Crisis, which speaks candidly to today’s youth — and the parents, teachers, and coaches who love them — about the anxiety, depression, and suicide attempts that far too often accompany the unique challenges that face their generation. We hope you’ll enjoy this excerpt from the book.

# # #

Most children grow up thinking their home, family, and upbringing are “normal,” even when they’re not. Children and teens living in a home where one or both parents are depressed often don’t realize this isn’t the norm — though this situation is more common than you may think.

In fact, fifteen million kids in the United States have parents with depression.

As a result, these fifteen million kids are at greater risk of developing depression themselves. But depression can happen to anyone. It can occur after a trauma or during a stressful situation, or it can develop due to someone’s particular brain chemistry. Why someone develops depression is important, particularly if it’s due to situational or lifestyle factors, which can be changed. But more important than the why is the how. As in, how do you deal with depression? That is the real focus of this book because depression can put someone at risk for any number of issues, including suicide. The faster you recognize the symptoms of depression, the faster you can get treatment and reduce the risk of other, even more serious issues. Additionally, the more you know, the better you can help others.

Are you at risk for depression? 

Consider the following questions, all of which may indicate that someone is already depressed or at risk for developing depression. If you find yourself answering affirmatively even to several questions, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re depressed, but you may have an increased risk of becoming so. Later we’ll talk about what you can do if you or someone you love is suffering from depression.

Depression Self-Assessment

Do you currently live with a family member who suffers from depression?

Studies have shown that living with a mother or father who has depression, whether the cause is environmental or genetic, increases your own risk of developing the condition. You may not know if a parent suffers from depression; if you feel safe asking, do so. If not, consider whether they exhibit the signs described in this book. Further, you don’t have to live with a depressed family member to be at risk.

Does life feel pointless?

Everyone may occasionally feel hopeless as they navigate through school, work, and life. But if a hopeless feeling persists day after day and affects your daily behavior, it could be a sign of depression.

Do you find it impossible to concentrate?

Depression can make it hard to concentrate even when you’re reading or watching something you love.

Have you withdrawn from your friends and family?

It’s important to do your own thing and be independent, but this should be balanced with a healthy amount of socializing and bonding with friends and family. Depression sufferers often turn down opportunities to be with others simply to be alone.

Have you noticed a sudden change in your weight?

Extreme weight loss or gain can be a symptom of depression. If you’ve lost your appetite or find yourself seeking comfort in food, this may be because your brain chemistry is being affected by depression.

Do you have insomnia, or do you sleep too much?

Look, teenagers need their sleep and often don’t get enough. But if you go through long periods of sleeplessness or of sleeping too much, depression may be the reason.

Do you have physical pain that won’t go away?

Depression doesn’t just cause emotional pain. Depression can cause chemical imbalances in your brain that make you perceive pain differently, and it could be the reason for a persistent physical pain that doctors can’t find a reason for.

Have your grades dropped? Have you stopped participating in extracurriculars?

Depression has two best friends: apathy and lack of energy. These can combine to affect your performance in school and your extracurricular activities, and they can sap your passion for activities you once loved.

Have you ever thought of suicide?

If you answer yes, you’re not alone, and suicidal thoughts can be caused by depression. However, if you’re currently thinking about suicide, seek help and treatment. Tell someone. With counseling and, if necessary, proper medication, you will begin to feel better. When you’re suffering from depression, the idea of feeling better might be difficult to imagine. This is the time to practice trust and courage.

# # #

Kristi Hugstad is the author of Beneath the Surface: A Teen’s Guide to Reaching Out when You or Your Friend Is in Crisis. Ever since her husband completed suicide in 2012, after years of struggling with clinical depression, by running in front of a train, she has dedicated her life to helping to abolish the stigma of mental illness and suicide. A certified grief recovery specialist, Kristi frequently speaks at high schools. Visit her online at https://www.thegriefgirl.com.

Excerpted from the book Beneath the Surface. Copyright ©2019 by Kristi Hugstad. Printed with permission from New World Library — www.newworldlibrary.com.

Q & A with Author Kristi Hugstad of Beneath the Surface


While growing up has never been easy, today’s teens face unique challenges. In addition to dealing with cliques and peer pressure, they live in a fast-changing social media world that exposes and makes vulnerable as much as it connects. Factor in mass shootings, daily reports about climate change, and the prospect of crippling debt from college loans, and it’s no wonder that rates of teen depression, anxiety, and, tragically, suicide are soaring.

In Beneath the Surface: A Teen’s Guide to Reaching Out When You or Your Friend Is in Crisis (New World Library, September 3, 2019), author Kristi Hugstad talks with, rather than down to, teens, about issues like depression, eating disorders, PTSD, anxiety, bullying, substance abuse, suicide, and more, and encourages them to reach out for help when they need it. 

We hope you’ll enjoy this Q and A with Kristi about the book.

# # #

What inspired you to write Beneath the Surface?

When my husband, Bill, completed suicide, he shattered both of our lives. In the tunnel of unfathomable grief, I found that my only path forward was to dedicate my life to helping prevent this kind of tragedy from happening to others. Unfortunately, we live in a world where suicide have become commonplace – at every age and in every demographic. Teens, specifically, are experiencing an unprecedented mental health crisis – one with no foreseeable cure except education and awareness. Speaking to our teens, teachers, parents and administrators about mental illness and suicide doesn’t simply provide education; it can lead to early intervention and, with all our help, save precious lives.

What is the most important thing for teens to know when experiencing a crisis? 

Speak up. Call a friend, see a professional, talk to your parents. There is nothing so bad or so shameful that you can’t get help for it. No matter how much you isolate yourself, you are not alone. Reach out and help will come.

What advice or perspective do you have to offer parents or educators who want to help a teen who is in crisis but aren’t sure how?

Education is key. Had I known the risk factors and warning signs of suicide, I would have seen just how serious my husband’s situation had become. When you’re familiar with the signs and symptoms, you’re empowered to act when you need to. Asking important, direct questions – have you thought about taking your life? Do you have a suicide plan? – is imperative, as is listening to the answers with love and without judgment.

You say in the book that depression that depression is a thief and a liar. What do you mean by that?

You are wired to believe what your brain tells you. That’s what makes depression so difficult; the disease creates negative thoughts and feelings, and it’s not only easy to believe these, it’s natural. Through these lies, depression steals your confidence, your motivation, and your happiness. Recognizing that depression is a disease and that your thoughts are not you is the first step to coping with it.

Do you have some coping strategies you can offer for those who are struggling with depression?

Stay connected. Isolation will only exacerbate your depression. Make an effort to talk to friends or participate in social activities – even if you don’t feel like it. Find ways to help others. Do what makes you feel good – hobbies and favorite pastimes are instrumental in coping with depression. Take care of your body by eating right, exercising, spending time outside and getting plenty of sleep. Challenge negative thoughts when they come – put them on the witness stand and cross-examine them before you believe them. If you feel your symptoms worsen, don’t suffer needlessly and alone. Get professional help.

You say in the book that social media can feed the fears that lead to depression and a sense of hopelessness. How so?

Social media often presents picture-perfect lives that no one can actually live up to. Believing that social media portrays reality can lead to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. Teens who suffer from poor body image often use social media photos and posts as confirmation of their own inadequacy. Social media is also a big contributor to bullying, providing public and private means for bullies to taunt and shame their victims. Furthermore, excessive use of technology – whether smartphones, computers or gaming systems – can lead to addiction, confining teens to their bedrooms to live in a fictional world. Technology addiction can cause and contribute to depression in all ages, but particularly in teens.

What are some of the warning signs of suicide and what is the best thing for someone to do when/if they are having suicidal thoughts?

Knowing the warning signs of suicide can be instrumental in saving a life. Abusing substances, eating and/or sleeping much less or much more than usual, withdrawing from family and friends, engaging in reckless or rebellious behavior, talking about suicide, giving away personal belongings, showing indifference to academic work and grades, displaying a decline in personal hygiene, engaging in sexual promiscuity and researching methods for suicide can all be big signs that someone is at risk of suicide. Tell an adult you trust immediate who can help you intervene.

What do you most hope readers will take away from your book Beneath the Surface?

Suicide prevention is my life’s mission, but I can’t do it alone. Abolishing the stigma surrounding mental illness takes everyone’s help. Teens, along with their parents, teachers, administrators – and anyone else who cares about them – must understand mental illness and recognize the warning signs and risk factors for depression and suicide. Continually encouraging teens to reach out for help and addressing their struggles through direct, honest conversations is the only way to save lives today and in generations to come.

# # #

Kristi Hugstad is the author of Beneath the Surface: A Teen’s Guide to Reaching Out when You or Your Friend Is in Crisis and What I Wish I Had Known, which addresses her husband’s suicide. A certified grief recovery specialist and a grief and loss facilitator for recovering addicts at South Coast Behavioral Health, Kristi frequently speaks at high schools. She is also the host of The Grief Girl podcast and lives in Orange County, California. Visit her online at www.thegriefgirl.com

Butterfly in Frost by Sylvia Day ~ Book Review

Book Description:

From #1 New York Times bestselling phenomenon Sylvia Day comes a hotly anticipated and passionate new love story.

Once, I would never have imagined myself here. But I’m settled now. In a place I love, in a home I renovated, spending time with new friends I adore, and working a job that fulfills me. I am reconciling the past and laying the groundwork for the future.

Then Garrett Frost moves in next door.

He’s obstinate and too bold, a raging force of nature that disrupts the careful order of my life. I recognize the ghosts that haunt him, the torment driving him. Garrett would be risky in any form, but wounded, he’s far more dangerous. I fear I’m too fragile for the storm raging inside him, too delicate to withstand the pain that buffets him. But he’s too determined…and too tempting.

And sometimes hope soars above even the iciest desolation.

Emotional and heartrending, the Butterfly in Frost novella marks a brilliant return by global sensation Sylvia Day, the #1 international multimillion bestselling author of the Crossfire saga.

Purchase a copy on Amazon or Thomas Allan & Son.


About the Author:

Sylvia Day is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, #1 Sunday Times, #1 Globe and Mail, #1 Der Spiegel, and #1 international bestselling author of over twenty award-winning novels sold in more than forty countries. She is a #1 bestselling author in twenty-eight countries, with tens of millions of copies of her books in print. Visit the author at www.sylviaday.com 

Review:

I am a big fan of Sylvia Day's Crossfire series and was excited to read this recent release. This isn't an erotica in my eyes it is more of a regular contemporary romance with a little heat thrown in here and there. Teagan meets the new neighbor Garrett Frost while out walking with Roxy and her dogs, their meeting seems a little weird but you get roped right into the story of this sexy mystery artist that moved in next door. Things seem to happen very fast between Garrett and Teagen, with this great connection and chemistry.  Will Teagen give Garrett a chance, will she even take a chance at love after what happen with her ex husband Kyler? Both characters seem to be running away from their pasts into this quiet town. Such a heartbreaking, intense and sweet romance that had me hooked right from the beginning and so immersed that I didn't see the end coming until it hit me. Wow! This is a quick read and I was sad it is over. I look forward to see what Sylvia Day has in store for her readers next! 

I give this a 5 out of 5 stars! I highly recommend it.  
~*Disclaimer: I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*~

Hide and Seek (Criminal Profiler #1) by Mary Burton ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

She’s hunting. He’s watching.

Special Agent Macy Crow is a survivor. After a vicious hit-and-run nearly kills her, she gets right back to work, and now she’s gunning for a spot on the FBI’s elite profiling team. As an audition, she offers to investigate the recently discovered bones of Tobi Turner, a high school girl who disappeared fifteen years ago.

While investigating with local sheriff Mike Nevada, a former colleague and onetime lover, Macy discovers a link between Tobi’s case and several others that occurred around the same time as her disappearance. As Macy interviews victims and examines old cases, she uncovers a sinister picture of a stalker who graduated to sexual assault—and then murder.

Macy and Nevada race to put this monster behind bars before he can come out of hiding. But the murderer’s had years to hone his skills, and soon Macy herself becomes a target. She’s no stranger to pain and terror, but will Macy’s first profiling case be her last?

Purchase a copy on Amazon or Thomas Allen & Son


About the Author: 

Mary Burton, whose latest novel is Hide and Seek, loves writing suspense, getting to know her characters, keeping up with law enforcement and forensic procedure, morning walks, baking, and tiny dachshunds. She also enjoys hunting down serial killers, which she does in her New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels. Library Journal has compared her work to that of Lisa Jackson and Lisa Gardner, and Fresh Fiction likened her writing to that of James Patterson.

Mary is routinely featured among the top ten writers in Amazon’s Author Rankings for romantic suspense. Upon publication, her novels, including 2018’s Cut and Run and Her Last Word, consistently rank high on the Kindle eBooks Store Bestseller List.

Additionally, Cut and Run has been nominated for the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA Award for Romantic Suspense. Previous recipients in this category include Nora Roberts, J.D. Robb, Tess Gerritsen, Karen Rose and Mary Jo Putney. The award will be announced at the RITA Award Ceremony July 26th in New York City during the organization’s annual conference.

A Richmond native, Mary has lived there for most of her life. Her first book was published in 2000. Her first book was published in 2000. Today she’s the author of thirty-two published novels and five novellas as Mary Burton and five works of contemporary fiction written as Mary Ellen Taylor, including 2018’s Winter Cottage. She is co-editor with novelist Mary Miley of Deadly Southern Charm, A Lethal Ladies Mystery Anthology.

A member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., and Romance Writers of America, Mary is known for creating multiple suspense stories connected by characters and/or place.

Follow: Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook |

Review:

This is the first Mary Burton novel I have read and was pretty excited to start reading this newer series. Book #2 was just released this month so I thought I better start at the beginning, only to find out that really this isn't Agent Macy Crow's beginning. After a bit of digging I found out that Crow was introduced in Cut and Run. Do you need to read that one before reading Hide and Seek? No, I don't believe so. Burton gives us a brief background into what happened to Crow but only enough to get us interested in her back story. I was wondering if there was a story on her now I will have to go back further. Anyways Hide and Seek is set five month after a terrible accident that leaves Crow with pain and a limp. Crow is on a case to prove she is still capable of being the great Agent she once was, sent off to solve a cold missing persons case in a small town she spots links between this case and several rape/stalking cases. 
Teaming up with the local Sheriff and once lover Macy is hot on the stalkers trail. Could it be one of the Dream Team football boys from 15 years ago?  

Mary Burton ropes readers in right from page one on this thrilling ride to solve a case dating back 15 years. Intertwining characters from this small country town and leading Macy on a chase. Will Agent Macy Crow and Sheriff Nevada catch the killer before he kills another women? Throw in a little romance between the two law enforcement and its a ride you wont want to miss. I can't wait to read book #2 in the criminal profiler series! 

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.    


~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*~

Marley by Jon Clinch ~ Book Review ~ New Release

Book Description: 

From the acclaimed author of the “marvel of a novel” (Entertainment Weekly) Finn comes a masterful reimagining of Charles Dickens’s classic A Christmas Carol with this darkly entertaining and moving exploration of the twisted relationship between Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley.

“Marley was dead, to begin with,” Charles Dickens tells us at the beginning of A Christmas Carol. But in Jon Clinch’s ingenious novel, Jacob Marley, business partner to Ebenezer Scrooge, is very much alive: a rapacious and cunning boy who grows up to be a forger, a scoundrel, and the man who will be both the making and the undoing of Scrooge.

They meet as youths in the gloomy confines of Professor Drabb’s Academy for Boys, where Marley begins their twisted friendship by initiating the innocent Scrooge into the gentle art of extortion. Years later, in the dank heart of London, their shared ambition manifests itself in a fledgling shipping empire. Between Marley’s genius for deception and Scrooge’s brilliance with numbers, they amass a considerable fortune of dubious legality, all rooted in a pitiless commitment to the soon-to-be-outlawed slave trade.

As Marley toys with the affections of Scrooge’s sister, Fan, Scrooge falls under the spell of Fan’s best friend, Belle Fairchild. Now, for the first time, Scrooge and Marley find themselves at cross-purposes. With their business interests inextricably bound together and instincts for secrecy and greed bred in their very bones, the two men engage in a shadowy war of deception, false identities, forged documents, theft, and cold-blooded murder. Marley and Scrooge are destined to clash in an unforgettable reckoning that will echo into the future and set the stage for Marley’s ghostly return.

Meticulously crafted and beguilingly told, Marley revisits and illuminates one of Charles Dickens’s most cherished works to spellbinding effect.

Pick up a copy of this new release on Amazon
About the Author:

Jon Clinch’s first novel, Finn—the secret history of Huckleberry Finn’s father—was named an American Library Association Notable Book and was chosen as one of the year’s best books by The Washington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, and The Chicago Tribune. His second novel, Kings of the Earth, was named a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post and led the 2010 Summer Reading List at O, The Oprah Magazine. A native of upstate New York, Jon lives with his wife in the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Follow: Website | Goodreads

Review: 


I have always enjoyed Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol so when I spotted this title I was pretty excited to read it and learn more about Jacob Marley and Scrooge. When I first started reading it I found the start didn't draw me right in. I am not a huge historical fiction fan. I pushed on through and got hooked into the story of Jacob Marley a few chapters in. The author starts off with Scrooge meeting Marley in a boarding school for boys where we see that Jacob is already into lying and deceiving people. I would have enjoyed a bit more back story on Jacob's childhood and what may have happened before heading to the boarding school.

Following the boys after boarding school we learn about the business of Marley & Scrooge, the fraud, lies, slave trade, fictional characters that the imagination of Jacob Marley brings to life to earn his fortune in any way he can. Marley is a deceitful man who enjoys knocking-shops and staying one ball ahead of the law by taking on different characters wherever he goes. I think that if Scrooge had a different partner for his business things in his life might have turned out a lot differently.   

Jon Clinch does a great job at keeping with the historical nature of the story, giving us a good idea what & who Jacob Marley was but still keeping so many things a mystery as that is the life Marley lived. This is definitely not a feel good story, it is indeed a sad story of lost hope & love, cruel men, lies and murder. I give this a 4 out of 5 stars and think this would be a great read for any Charles Dickens fans. 

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in advance in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*~

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