Spotlight - Dead in a Park by B. L. Blair + GIVEAWAY

B.L. Blair is on deck today with the newest installment in the '

Leah Norwood Mystery series:        

Dead in a Park

TITLE:  Dead in a Park

AUTHOR:    B. L. Blair

INFO:    Fiction, 177 pages 

PUBLISHED:   Amazon, 2015

GENRE:    Romantic Suspense

ABOUT:  When Leah Norwood finds the body of Donald Collins in the city park, she doesn’t know he is a distant relative. Young Donnie was a jewel thief and a career criminal. Hidden in the lining of his suit jacket was an exact replica of a ring that has been in Leah’s family for over a hundred years. After her home is burglarized, the sexy chief of police is convinced the ruby ring has something to do with the murder.

Leah wants to find out what happened to Donnie, but why would someone kill for a hundred year old ring? She discovers a connection between Donnie and the drug-dealing Cantono family, between the Cantono family and a jewelry appraiser, and between the jewelry appraiser and one of her own employees. Chief Griggs might be onto something. All clues lead back to the family ring.

EXCERPT:  “Was he murdered?” I asked softly.

“Oh, yes. It was murder,” Griggs replied.

The last time I found a body it had never occurred to me that the police would consider me a suspect. As a law-abiding citizen, I had just assumed that people knew I was innocent. My experience with the police showed me I was wrong. I looked at both Griggs and Reddish.

“Please tell me you don’t think I killed him.”

Griggs snorted. “No, we don’t think you killed him. He was taller than you, and his neck was broken. No way could you have done that.”

“It was fast and neat,” Reddish added and then turned to Griggs. “Probably someone with military or combat training.”

“Someone who knows how to kill with their hands,” Griggs said softly.

I swallowed. Candace had shot and killed two people in December and tried to kill me twice. She had been crazy, her behavior unexpected and unpredictable, which had made the situation scary. This sounded worse. A person who was calm and rational murdering someone with their bare hands was chilling. And I couldn’t forget about the weird shoe thing.

“Did you find his shoes?”

“No,” Griggs replied, turning toward me.

“Why would someone want his shoes?”

“Who knows? There wasn’t much of a struggle, although there were multiple sets of footprints. But all appeared to be made by people wearing shoes.” He turned away from me and back toward Reddish. “Between Leah and her dog stomping around, I doubt we’ll get any viable footprints.”

“Hey,” I said indignantly. Both men ignored me.

“Let’s keep the area secure anyway,” Griggs continued. “Send a team out to see if they can find anything. Maybe the shoes will show up somewhere else in the park.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  B. L. Blair writes simple and sweet romance and mystery/romance stories. Like most authors, she has been writing most of her life and has dozens of books started. She just needs the time to finish them.

She is the author of the Holton Romance Series and the Leah Norwood Mysteries. She enjoys reading books, writing books, and traveling wherever and as often as time and money allows. She is currently working on her latest book set in Texas, where she lives with her family.

http://www.blblair.com/

https://twitter.com/blblair100

https://www.facebook.com/blblair100

http://blblair100.blogspot.com/

http://leahnorwoodmysteries.blogspot.com/

Buy Links for Dead in a Park

Amazon / iBooks / B&N / Kobo / Smashwords

~~~~~

B.L. Blair is giving one lucky reader a $20 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Enter below and then be sure to check out the other stops for more info on the books as well as more ways to enter. Good luck!

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Tour Stops

November 16: Romance Novel Giveaways

November 17: BooksChatter
November 18: Journey of a Bookseller - review
November 19: Jane Reads - review
November 19: T's Stuff
November 20: Fiction Zeal
November 20: Queen of the Night Reviews
November 23: The Reading Addict
November 24: Harps Romance Book Review
November 25: Wendi Zwaduk ~ Romance to Make Your Heart Race
November 25: fuonlyknew
November 27: It's Raining Books
November 30: One Book Shy of a Full Shelf
December 1: Unabridged Andra's
December 2: Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews
December 3: Archaeolibrarian- I dig good books!
December 4: Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Spotlight - Ocean Park by Michael Walsh + GIVEAWAY

In the spotlight today, Ocean Park by Michael Walsh - a mystery with a dash of romance - plus a Giveaway!

TITLE:    Ocean Park

AUTHOR:    Michael Walsh
INFO:    Fiction, 246 pages
PUBLISHED:   Wild Rose Press, 2015
GENRE:  Mystery/Suspense  

ABOUT:  All Detective Matt Conley ever wanted was to raise a family in Ocean Park with his stunning and ambitious wife Lisa. When a corpse is found in his church, Matt begins a journey that reveals corruption and decay in his city and deceit in his marriage. As he searches for the murderer of a local businessman, a gang war erupts for control of the city’s drug trade, and the body count rises. With his reluctant new partner, Detective Lloyd Kendricks, Matt weaves his way through the puzzling connections between street gangs, politicians, bikers, and a private kink club.

Will their unlikely alliance be enough to return Matt's beloved hometown to its halcyon days? And will he find the faith he needs to rebuild his crumbling marriage?

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT:  He pointed the flashlight. The big candleholder lay flat on the floor, tall white candles broken and scattered on the marble. A child crouched behind it, her long dark hair and black clothes a stark contrast to the bone-white foundation of the Madonna statue. The girl was olive-skinned and refugee thin, with Asian eyes that tracked him like a cornered cat’s. She huddled closer to the stone base, a shivering creature curled into a question mark.

He fit the gun in the back of his waistband, laid the flashlight on the floor, and removed his jacket. She shrank farther away, pulling her high-topped sneakers under her. The flashlight lit the statue of St. Mary in flowing pastel robes—robin egg blue and flamingo pink, the nuns had always said—the life-size figurine that the little girls of St. Ambrose climbed wooden ladders to crown on Holy Saturday.

“It’s okay,” he said, opening his jacket. “Come.”

The church’s front doors opened. More flashlights. More voices.

“It’s all right,” he said to the girl. A drip splattered his bare forearm.

Jackson had composed himself and was standing at the entrance, calling orders to patrolmen. Doors banged. Men shouted.

Another drip made him look at the Madonna. Red tears ran from her pale doll eyes and sluiced between her plump plaster cheeks and noble nose like a grieving widow’s mascara.

No way.

The girl uncurled and shuffled to him. He wrapped her in his jacket, felt her warmth. The patrolmen were close now, and Father’s voice called a timid “Hello” from the sacristy. St. Ambrose’s lights came on, illuminating the crying Madonna, and dragging Conley into yesterday.

The choir organ bursts into song. Mrs. Kelly reads sheet music through butterfly glasses, a dozen shrill voices fluttering behind her. Young Father McCarrick climbs to the pulpit. St. Ambrose’s parishioners mumble “Peace be with you”, and minutes later do battle on the church steps when Mass is over, hurl accusations, and sow the seeds of hatred that will last years, all over a piece of plaster.

He looked at the statue and shook his head.

“Not again,” he whispered.

~~~~~

Ocean Park is available now at:  Amazon / Barnes & Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Michael Walsh attended Boston University, where he became a staffer for the Daily Free Press and earned a degree in journalism. His first professional job was at a public relations and advertising firm, writing press releases that appeared in the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and New England Journal of Engineering. He later became a technical writer, writing and editing jet engine manuals for General Electric Aircraft Engines. GE relocated him to Cincinnati and Florida, where he currently resides. He’s written and studied fiction for years at BU, the University of Cincinnati, and now Jacksonville, where he won the First Coast Writers Festival short story contest and had work published in the UK’s Twisted Tongue and Askew Reviews. He’s an active member of the Bard Society, Florida’s longest-running writers’ workshop.

His five novels and dozens of short stories, most of them richly-layered mysteries, take place in New England. Mike and his wife Jean live in Florida with their three sons.


Michael is generously gifting one lucky winner a $25 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble! Be sure to enter below and check out all of the other tour stops:

November 2: Welcometo My World of Dreams

November 3: UnabridgedAndra's 
November 4: BooksChatter

November 5: TheVoluptuous Book Diva

November 6: Book-o-Craze

November 6: IndependentAuthors

November 9: Queenof All She Reads

November 10: One Book Shy of a Full Shelf

November 11: Reading,Writing, and What Not

November 12: TheReading Addict

November 12: Reviewsby Crystal

November 13: HarpsRomance Book Review

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~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - In Sheep's Clothing by L.D. Beyer

TITLE:    In Sheep's Clothing

AUTHOR:    L.D. Beyer

INFO:    Fiction, Thriller-Suspense, 448 pages

PUBLISHED:   Old Stone Mill Publishing, 2015

SOURCE:   Received from Author for Review

ABOUT:   

One man holds the reins of power.

One man vows to protect him.

One man vows to destroy him.

Caught in a game of chess he didn’t know he was playing until it was too late, the President makes the only move he can, plunging Washington and the nation into chaos. Stunned and reeling, Vice President David Kendall takes the oath of office and tries to heal a nation in mourning. But what the new president doesn’t realize is that things in the White House aren’t always what they appear to be, and sometimes what looks like the best option may turn out to be the worst. When one fatal decision triggers consequences he never envisioned, President Kendall finds himself caught up in the same game that cost his predecessor his life.

Although there was nothing he could have done, Secret Service Agent Matthew Richter is haunted by the death of the man he had vowed to protect. When his girlfriend dumps him and his boss tells him that his job is on the line, he thinks his life cannot get any worse. He soon realizes how wrong he is when he finds himself fighting to save another president from the deadly forces that he has unwittingly unleashed.

MY TAKE:    I have to say I've been blessed by the good book fairy lately. This is the second book I've read this week that hit the 4.5 jewels rating! And they were in completely different genres and styles. Yay Me and now Yay You!

If you are a Tom Clancy fan, this book is for you. If you are a fan of suspense, human drama, political intrigue, action, thrills and chills at every corner and a hero who doesn't know that he's a hero, this book is for you. I loved it!

This really is an action packed story that I had a hard time putting down. I enjoyed the "behind the scenes" peeks at the lobbying and the general wheeling and dealing that goes on while we, the public sleeps. While you do know who (one of) the bad guy(s) is fairly quickly, the suspense keeps you turning the pages. Will he, won't he? What will he do next? Did she really just say that? It was a real guessing game right up until the end. 

Our main character Matthew is immediately likable. The author makes you empathize with him as we know there was nothing he could have done to prevent the president's suicide, but we feel his frustration and helplessness all the same. I enjoyed that we are made privy to his backstory without a lot of the drudgery that sometimes accompanies setting the characters and the scene up. It tickled me that the requisite Rayban sunglasses were a factor in his motives to become a Secret Service Agent on the POTUS detail. 

Character development is very strong in this book. Mr. Beyer has adeptly fleshed each of the key players out to the point that the reader will have very strong feelings towards them - one way or the other. We love Matthew, we truly like President Kendall/former VP, we hate the new Vice President Rumson and his girl/bad guy Jane as they blackmail, bully and kill to achieve their goals. 

When you combine these people with the suspenseful action and meticulous details, you have one heck of a thriller - which would make a great movie. I usually don't like to compare books to movies, but two came immediately to mind: Olympus Has Fallen and White House Down, both of which I also truly enjoyed. Of course my previous mention/comparison to the Master: Tom Clancy, should be proof of how much I liked it!

I am looking forward to the next installment with Matthew Richter and I highly recommend this book: it's a page-turner!

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Available Now at:

Amazon

Thank you to the author, L.D. Beyer and 

Pump Up Your Book Tours for including me on this tour. Please click HERE to visit the other stops along the way.

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Taken Away by Patricia Yager Delagrange

TITLE:    Taken Away
AUTHOR:    Patricia Yager Delagrange
INFO:    Paperback/Kindle, Fiction, 248 pages
PUBLISHED:   Blackhawk, 2015
SOURCE:   Received from Author

FROM GOODREADS:  Jessee Bradford, a respected young veterinarian in Santa Barbara, California comes home to find his wife and daughter missing. He fears they have been kidnapped or worse. The FBI investigators believe his wife, the only daughter of a wealthy philanthropist who never approved of their marriage, simply abandoned Jessee and took their child with no intention of returning.  

After months of fruitless searching, Jessee relocates to his grandparents home in Iowa where he takes over his grandpa's veterinary practice. There he finds the family closeness he's been missing and falls in love with female equestrian Laura. When Jessee and Laura attend a gallery opening of an artist name She, the paintings remind him of his wife Serena's art work. Thus begins Jessee's search to find She while his future with Laura teeters precariously on the edge until the truth about She is discovered. 

MY TAKE:    I really enjoyed this book from new-to-me author Patricia Yager Delagrange. It was an enjoyable read that I had a hard time putting down once I delved into the story. The elements of mystery, suspense, romance and drama are all blended skillfully to create an interesting and gripping story. I liked being kept wondering until the end.

The author has mastered the art of character development and created very likable people that the reader can't help but relate to at times and empathize for at others. You find yourself worrying about the characters and what is happening to them and around them. I had many emotional moments while reading this story, both happy and sad . It went straight to the heart and I'm glad I was given the opportunity to read it.
  

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Get your copy for Kindle or paperback from Amazon today.

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The Lost by Caridad Pineiro

TITLE:    The Lost (Sin Hunters)
AUTHOR:  Caridad Pineiro
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 317 pages
PUBLISHED:   Forever, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review and Blog Tour

FROM GOODREADS:  Adam Bruno is no ordinary millionaire. The heir to an ancient race possessing a dark, powerful magic, he can shapeshift and create energy. His gifts make him a living weapon and have forced him to live in seclusion. But now an inhuman force hunts down Adam-just when he finds someone who makes him feel more human than he ever imagined possible . . .

Home from combat in Iraq, Bobbie Carerra wants only peace, yet soon joins Adam in a terrifying battle against paranormal enemies who hide in plain sight. She's drawn to his strength of mind and body; he's attracted to her courage and intoxicating energy. Their scorching passion can either transport them to the heights of ecstasy or-if Adam's powers rage out of control-destroy them. But when an invisible brotherhood tightens its nets and someone Adam trusts betrays him, only a heartrending decision can save them. 

MY TAKE:    Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Stronger Than Sin by Caridad Pineiro last fall, I was thrilled to be included on this tour for the first book in her newest series:  The Sin Hunters.  Let me note right at the beginning that Caridad's books may all be read as stand alones as well as additions to their series. 

I was very impressed that the author has yet again created memorable characters that stay with you long after you've read their story.  Bobbie and Adam were dynamite together.  The sexual tension between the two of them jumped off the pages.  Their chemistry was amazing!  I was fascinated with the shapeshifting and the energy gathering aspects of the different clans.

Many of the supporting characters in this book would be fantastic starring in their own stories.  I would love to read more about Selina and Kellen's history and I'm excited that Christopher is getting to tell his side of things in the upcoming book The Claimed. 

The world the author has created is full of people with interesting abilities.  Lots of action, intrigue and steam make this book a must read for romance lovers who like strong leads.  Ms. Pineiro's style of writing keeps the reader quickly turning the pages. 

*Loved the cover..

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

PURCHASE:  Amazon and The Book Depository

Visit Caridad Pineiro at the following locations: caridad.com, Twitter and Facebook

 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Giveaway - Cynthia Eden's Deadly Heat & Deadly Lies

Are you ready for some excitement?  Something cool?  How about an awesome giveaway? (My review of both books will be posted at a later date.)

The fantabulous Cynthia Eden and Forever Romance/Hachette Books have generously offered to bestow upon THREE lucky winners each a SET of Deadly Heat and Deadly Lies.  Yes, you read that correctly ~ 3 of you will win a copy of BOTH books!  How cool is that????  In order to win, you must follow the rules below:

• In the comments on THIS post, answer the question Cynthia asked in her guest post earlier today.
• Be sure to leave your email in your comment.
• Open to US and Canadian residents, NO PO BOXES.
• Drawing will close February 13th, midnight California time!
• Winners will be notified by email and have 48 hours to respond.
• One prize per household, even if you win on another blog or site ~ you will only receive one set of these titles.  Prizes mailed directly from the publisher.

 

DEADLY HEAT--Available 1/25/11 from Grand Central (Forever)
DEADLY LIES--Available 3/1/11 from Grand Central (Forever)

For more information on Cynthia and her fabulous books, you can check out her website, follow her on twitter, like her on Facebook, and friend her on MySpace. 



 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Guest Post - Author Cynthia Eden

I am really tickled to welcome award-winning author Cynthia Eden here as she stops in on her worldwide tour with her new books:  Deadly Heat and Deadly Lies!

I recently asked Cynthia if she ever feels that her fictional world affects or bleeds over into her real life.  Below is what she had to say about it. 

Hello, everyone! It’s great to be chatting at One Book Shy!

The real world—that’s where we all live every day. We have school trips. Laundry. Soccer practice. Grumpy bosses. And, often not enough time to get the million things done that we need to do.

But, for me, I actually spend a large portion of my day away from the “real” world; instead, I dive deep into the fictional worlds that I create in my stories. When I am writing my romantic suspense stories, the fictional worlds are populated by serial killers, arsonists, kidnappers, and FBI Agents. When I write my paranormal tales, the books take me into the lives of monsters (vampires, werewolves, and demons).

Some writers try to keep their writing worlds and their real world completely separate—I am not one such person. I write about the things that interest me, so my writing interests naturally spill over into my real life. I’ve always loved paranormal tales—so when I write my paranormal books, I enjoy every moment of my research. I tour haunted cemeteries in New Orleans, I go on ghost hunts at haunted light houses, and I bombard my friends with every piece of paranormal trivia that I can find.

And when I am writing my romantic suspense tales…well, then my darker side comes out. I view the world with different eyes (I can’t help it—I often write in the killer’s point of view in my story). As I go about my business, I think about how fragile life can be, and I tend to become hyper-aware of any dangers that might be lurking out there.

At parties, my books allow me to have conversations about body disposals, fire accelerants, and FBI profiling techniques. Not exactly light chit-chat. But, hey, it is interesting.

While I was writing DEADLY HEAT, I took a few days to immerse myself in a fire fighter’s lifestyle (so there was a definite bleed over into my real life!). I visited fire stations. Toured facilities. Climbed in fire trucks. And, yes, even sprayed a blast of water so I could feel the kick from the hose. Then I went back home and included my adventures in my book.

Sometimes, when real life and fiction blend, it can certainly make for a fun day. Fun—as long as no serial killers are actually involved!

Now it’s my turn for a question.   How do you enjoy escaping from the real world?

Thanks for checking out my post. Have a great day!
Cynthia Eden
www.cynthiaeden.com

 

DEADLY HEAT--Available 1/25/11 from Grand Central (Forever)
DEADLY LIES--Available 3/1/11 from Grand Central (Forever)

Thank you so much for sharing a bit of yourself with us today Cynthia. 

For more information on Cynthia and her fabulous books, you can check out her website, follow her on twitter, like her on Facebook, and friend her on MySpace. 

Be sure to check back later today as I have a surprise from Cynthia and Hachette Books for the lovely readers here at One Book Shy!



 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Guest Post + Giveaway - Two Lethal Lies by Annie Solomon

It is my absolute pleasure today to welcome RITA Award-winning Author, Annie Solomon to One Book Shy for a visit and guest post. 

We are celebrating the release of her fantastic new novel, Two Lethal Lies.  In anticipation of Annie's visit with us today, I posed a question to her that I think a lot of us would-be writers would like to know:    "How do you develop your characters?"  Here's what Annie had to say..

HOW DO I DEVELOP MY CHARACTERS 

Good question. Not sure I have an answer. I’m not very systematic about it—probably not something I should be confessing in public (LOL).

Sometimes I have a very clear image of who my character is, what they want, and what stands in their way. In Two Lethal Lies, Mitch came in loud and clear. I knew what he looked like, I knew what he cared about and why.

Other times, I have to struggle to find who the character is. In Dead Shot, for example, I could not get a handle on my heroine, Gillian Gray. I knew her back story and that she was a damaged soul, but I couldn’t get into the true heart of her. Frustrated and stalled, one day I just started writing her thoughts—from her point of view. I wrote in the first person, “channeling” her almost. What came out was a very distinctive voice, and its cynical, imagine-the-worst-then-watch-it-happen tone not only let me in on her secrets, it gave me a great foil for the hero to play against.

In writing workshops I hear a lot about exercises to help create character—from extensive like/dislike lists, to deeper psychological probes (what’s your character’s greatest fear/joy?), to techniques like interviews. You can even give your character personality tests like Myers-Briggs! My problem is, I could do all those really well--but only after I’ve finished the book.

That’s because for me, part of the process of writing is uncovering some of my characters wants and needs. In Two Lethal Lies, for example, the only thing I knew about my heroine, Neesy Brown, was that her record with men wasn’t great. It took writing about her, putting her in situations and seeing how she reacts--getting to know her—for me to uncover her unstable relationship with her father, and her desire for and simultaneous fear of breaking free.

I’ve had readers ask me if my characters “talk” to me. Not to get all weird and whacky here, but I suppose they do in a way. In Blind Curve, I could not for the life of me come up with a name that suited my hero, a police detective. I might still be thumbing through the phone book if I hadn’t decided to start writing anyway, using a placeholder name until I could figure out something better. In the first chapter, my hero is doing an undercover gun buy-back (buying an illegal gun to get it off the street). He introduces himself to the seller, and wham—out came a name I’d never heard of or considered—Danny Sinofsky. To this day I have no idea where that name came from, except, of course, Danny himself...

I suppose it would be better if I knew everything about my characters from the beginning, but my brain, my muse—whatever you want to call it—doesn’t work that way. So I take whatever I know—name, rank, or serial number—and start from there. I’m always surprised to see what I discover during the course of the story. But when I do learn something new, I inevitably go, “of course” because it makes sense, deepens my connection with the people about whom I’m writing, and, hopefully, enriches the reader’s experience.

In the end, I feel more like a sculptor than a painter—I reveal the shape hidden by the marble, rather than impose a shape onto the canvas. All I can say is, it works for me. I hope it works for my readers, too!

Annie, thank you so much for sharing one of your secrets!  I'm sure your new book is going to be a tremendous success.  I sure enjoyed it, check out my review below!  I appreciate you taking the time to stop by and visit with us here at One Book Shy. 

TITLE:    Two Lethal Lies

AUTHOR/EDITOR:    Annie Solomon
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 400 pages
PUBLISHED:   Forever Romance, Hachette Books, 2010
ISBN#:   978-0-4461-7845-7
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from Publisher for Book Tour and Review

FROM GOODREADS:  A love to die for...

On the run since his daughter was born, Mitch Turner has concealed a truth so dangerous, its discovery could jeopardize both their lives. But when a series of shocking murders hits their new found home, the trail leads straight to Mitch. With the police out for blood and his daughter ripped from his arms, he has nowhere to turn--until a beautiful stranger offers her help.

Neesy Brown has made mistakes in her life, yet she refuses to believe this mysterious man is a killer. There's a strength in his broad shoulders that draws her to him and a weariness in his eyes that she longs to ease. As the murders tear her small town apart, she vows to help Mitch find his missing child. But a cunning predator is pulling them deeper and deeper into his fatal game. And the price of losing is the child--and the future--they could both share...

MY TAKE:   I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  Ms. Solomon is a master at creating and building the suspense that keeps you hooked right up to the very end.  It was one of those books that you don't want to put down because you're afraid you're going to miss out on something.  I read it in one afternoon simply because I couldn't wait to see how it ended.

The three main characters of Mitch, Julia, and Neesy are very believable and likable.  You get into and feel a part of their story right away.  You can't help but feel empathy for Mitch in his desire to keep Julia safe and his unwillingness or even, inability to trust anyone.  The author gives you enough information to know that there is something not quite right about their situation, but not quite enough to really figure it out too fast. 

Mitch's reluctance to trust Neesy or any of the other people who were trying to help them was understandable.  Of course, it was just as reasonable and expected for Neesy to be drawn to him and Julia and want to be a part of their family unit.  I really liked all of the dynamics that were coming into play with the three of them as well as several of the other characters such as the Blunts, especially the uptight-ish Hannah.  She turned out to be a rather interesting character who I really wouldn't mind hearing more about.

This gripping read has all of the right elements to make it great:  (1) characters - yummy heroic leading man, sweet and caring lovely lady, bright and mischievous kid, extremely bad and creepy villain, and an interesting supporting cast; (2) plot - twists and turns that leave you guessing; and (3) substance - you want more when it's over.
   
MY RATING:    4.5/5

Courtesy of Ms. Solomon and Hachette Books, we have a copy of Two Lethal Lies to give away to TWO of our readers here at One Book Shy.  Rules are simple:

• Open to FOLLOWERS of One Book Shy
• Must have a US or Canada mailing address
• NO PO Boxes please
• One prize per household
• Just leave a comment on this post and tell us if you drink your hot chocolate WITH or WITHOUT marshmallows?
• Drawing will close on 10/20/10 at midnight PST.
• Winners will be randomly chosen and have 48 hours to respond with their mailing information.  Books will be mailed by the publisher.

If you're like me and couldn't wait to read this beauty, it is out now and can be picked up at your local bookstore or online at the locations below.

WHERE TO BUY IT:   Amazon,  The Book Depository, or Indie Bound

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.