Review: False Start by Steve Shipley

Series: Blake Willis Thriller #2

Rating: 🥃🥃🥃🥃½

Flame Level: 🔥🔥

Format: eBook

Story Snapshot:

Another whisky heist. A team on shaky ground. Buried secrets rising to the surface. When an ambush leaves Blake Willis reeling, he’ll have to rebuild, recalibrate, and figure out who he can trust before it’s too late.

My Thoughts:

We’re back with Blake Willis, and if you thought things were messy in False Trust, buckle up — it only gets twistier from here. This one kicks off with a literal bang, and Blake is thrown into survival mode fast. The fallout from the last book hits hard, and you can feel it ripple through everything — the mission, the team, even Blake’s judgment.

One of my favorite things about this installment is that it doesn’t shy away from the emotional aftermath. Blake is trying to move forward, but the ghosts of betrayal are still riding shotgun. And honestly? I love a man with trust issues when there's a legit reason for it. It gives him a little extra bite.

Review: False Trust by Steve Shipley

Series: Blake Willis Thriller #1

Rating: 🥃🥃🥃🥃

Flame Level: 🔥🔥

Format: eBook

Story Snapshot:

Rare whisky heist. Missing wife. Corporate betrayal in Australian wine country. If you like your thrillers smooth with a smoky finish, pour yourself a glass and settle in.

My Thoughts:

As a bourbon enthusiast, I was immediately intrigued by the premise of a great whisky heist. I mean, how could I not be? It gave major Pappygate vibes, and honestly, that was my favorite aspect of the entire story.

I loved that we got a little peek into the aging process of whisky, but I was definitely hoping for more nerdy detail — filtering, proofing, barrel to bottle… give me the caramel nectar science! There were also quite a few references to wine, wineries, and Australia. While I can appreciate the vibe, I was left yearning for the warm familiarity of bourbon.

Review: False Trust

Buy on Amazon

As a bourbon enthusiast, I was excited to see Steve was writing a story about a great whisky heist! It immediately brought to mind Pappygate and some other bourbon dramas. So there is no shame for me in saying that the whisky heist was my favorite aspect of the story. I was glad that some of the aging process was discussed, but I would have liked more detail on the filtering and proofing from barrel to bottle. There were many references to wine/wineries and Australia, neither of which are familiar to me, so I was yearning for that warm comfort that I find in the caramel nectar.

ARC Review: Fire & Earth by A.D. Starrling

Series:	Legion #2
Pub. Date:	July 25, 2019
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	280 pgs
Source:	Author

I've been a huge fan of A.D. Starrling and her brainy books for a while now, so I'm always happy when a new one lands in my inbox. The Legion series is technically a spinoff of the Seventeen series (one of my favorites), but I don't think its absolutely necessary to start with Seventeen. Honestly, I can't exactly remember how it spins off, but I know I realized it in the first book... my brain is just getting too old to remember details in between book releases. I obviously need to take and keep better notes! You will need to read this series in order, however, as there is a continuing story arc that needs to be followed closely.

ARC Review: The Breakdown by B.A. Paris

Pub. Date:	July 18, 2017
Publisher:	St. Martin's Press
Length:	337 pgs
Source:	Publisher

I have been a fan of B.A. Paris from the outset, with her debut novel Behind Closed Doors. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that really turn your head upside down, I highly recommend this author. I'm only sorry that it's taking me so long to read her subsequent works, and that this one sat on my shelf long enough to constitute a blogger shame book. So I apologize to both the author and the publisher here for getting so far behind!

ARC Review: The Forbidden Door by Dean Koontz

Series:	Jane Hawk #4
Pub. Date:	Sept. 11, 2018
Publisher:	Random House
Length:	480 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

The Forbidden Door is the fourth installment of the exciting and suspense-filled Jane Hawk series. I thought this was going to be the last book, but was uber happy to discover that there will be at least one more! The writing in this series is classic Dean Koontz - great action, suspense, a little sci-fi, and a corrupt government organization to rail against.

ARC Review: The Crooked Staircase by Dean Koontz

Series:	Jane Hawk #3
Pub. Date:	May 8, 2018
Publisher:	Bantam
Length:	512 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

I have really been enjoying this gripping page-turner series featuring former FBI agent, Jane Hawk. This third installment of the series may be the most action-packed and devastating yet, and it sure to keep you turn the pages until late in the night.

To recap the series so far - Jane is on the run seeking justice for her husband who was murdered with the use of nanotechnology. During her investigation, she uncovered a huge conspiracy to enslave and eliminate a large section of society. The players are so powerful and dangerous that Jane had to hide away her son and go underground. The method for world domination employed by the villains is truly frightening - the implantation of nanotechnology which takes away free will. Forget "it's a tumor" a la Schwarzenneger, the next time you get a headache, your mind will immediately jump to spiders laying eggs in your brain. (((Shudder)))

ARC Review: The Whispering Room by Dean Koontz

Series:	Jane Hawk #2
Pub. Date:	Nov. 21, 2017
Publisher:	Bantam
Length:	512 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

I've been a bad blogger and this is another book from my blogger shame pile. I don't have a good excuse for being so late with this review, other than sometimes its hard reading to a calendar. When you come up to a certain book on the schedule, sometimes you just aren't in the mood for that story or genre or trope. I think that is what happened here. I'm a long time Koontz fan, and I really enjoyed the last book in this series, so it has nothing to do with the writing or author or even the book itself. It's just me being moody, and I need to get better at that.

So the Jane Hawk series started with a bang in The Silent Corner, and the writing seemed to be classic Koontz. Dynamic suspense and chock full of action and conspiracy theories - the things that I loved most about his writing style. I am happy to report that the momentum was carried through with this next installment, The Whispering Room. 

ARC Review: Destiny by A.D. Starrling

Series:	Seventeen #6
Pub Date:	Jan 12, 2018
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	401 pgs
Source:	Author

I cannot believe that its been more than 2 years since I started the Seventeen series... it seems like it was just yesterday! I am such a huge fan of this series and author, and the individual books have made it onto my Top 10 list every year since I started reading them. While the end of the series is always a little bittersweet, there is good news for all of us fans and definitely lots more to come from this amazing author.  If you have not started this series, you will need to start at the beginning with Hunted, as there is a continuing story arc and you don't want to miss anything. Starrling has a fantastic attention to detail and her research and inclusion for these books is extraordinary. In fact, if I could do it all over again, I would have taken notes and created a series bible as I was reading. There is a lot to remember! (Though she does do a good job recapping things that are necessary to the next installment.)

ARC Review: Monster in the Closet by Karen Rose

Series:	Baltimore #5
Pub. Date:	Aug. 29, 2017
Publisher:	Berkley
Length:	512 pages
Source:	NetGalley

This is my first read by Karen Rose... and I picked it up because I was in the mood for a good suspense/thriller story. Monster in the Closet is the 5th book in Rose's Baltimore series, and 19th overall in her romantic suspense lineup.  Prior to reading the book, I did not realize that all of the books are interconnected, told within the same universe and a somewhat common cast of characters. If I had known that ahead of time, I probably would not have started with this book. However, I stumbled along just fine and was able to follow the story. I was just missing all the backstory on the characters.  I think if I knew everyone's back story, I would have enjoyed this book even more. So I would recommend following the reading order if you have the time.

ARC Review: Mission: Armor by A.D. .Starrling

Series:	Division Eight #2
Pub. Date:	July 14, 2017
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	150 pages
Source:	Author

This is a quickie review for the second book in A.D. Starrling's second installment of the Division Eight novella series.  Mission: Armor is a bit of a prequel for the series as I believe it takes place prior to the first book, Mission: Black. So I don't think you would have any problem starting with this book if you are just discovering the series.

Division Eight is a team of covert operatives headed by our hero, Alex Slade. Alex is an extremely skilled operative, but he is also a tortured hero experiencing some PTSD-type dreams from his former capture and torture by a drug cartel. Alex has sought out Vivian Thorpe to be his second-in-command based on their prior history, one that saw her rescuing him from the clutches of the cartel. Vivian knew she was in trouble when she joined the team, particularly as she fell in love at first sight with Alex during that prior rescue mission. 

ARC Review: The Silent Corner by Dean Koontz

Series:	Jane Hawk #1
Pub. Date:	June 20, 2017
Publisher:	Bantam
Length:	464 pages
Source:	NetGalley

It's been some time since I have picked up a Dean Koontz book, and The Silent Corner has convinced me that I need to do so more often. Koontz' complex imagination and evocative writing style never fail to raise the hair on my arms, and the Jane Hawk series is no exception.

Jane Hawk is an FBI agent on leave and on the run. Not convinced that her husband's death was a suicide, Jane's investigation into the rising suicide rate around the nation has drawn the attention of some very scary and powerful people. Now she must conduct her investigation as covertly as possible while on the move as she runs from those who don't want their secrets to come to light. Jane was a likable and relatable heroine. She was capable and admirably determined, but with a tragic quality that helped humanize her to the reader. Despite the danger she was in and her single-minded focus, she presented as a genuinely caring individual and treated those around with respect.

ARC Review: White Hot by Ilona Andrews

Series:	Hidden Legacy #2
Pub. Date:	May 30, 2017
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	416 pages
Source:	Edelweiss

Well this book certainly grabbed me and wouldn't let go... until about 3am when I got to the final page. So I have Ilona and Gordon to blame for the deep dark circles under my eyes today. White Hot is an action-packed magical fantasy that sees our favorite couple heating up while battling a cold-hearted villain. 

ARC Review: Origins by A.D. Starrling

Series:	Seventeen #5
Pub. Date:	Feb. 21, 2017
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	313 pages
Source:	Author

The gifts bestowed by One not of this world, to the Man who had lived longer than most. 
The Empire ruled by a King who would swallow the world in his madness.
The Warrior who chose to rise against her own kind in order to defeat him. 
Discover the extraordinary beginnings of the Immortals and the unforgettable story of the Princess who would become a Legend.

I wish I could tell you what first led me to A.D. Starrling, but I honestly don't know. I think it was fate that made me pick up the first book in this series, Hunted (f/k/a Soul Meaning) because the book was totally out of my genre and I had never heard of the author... but whatever it was that made me jump into this world of immortals, I am extremely grateful. I have been hooked on the Seventeen series from that first book... the stories are action-packed, intelligently written and never fail to get my adrenaline going. With each successive installment, Ms. Starrling has amazed me with her writing talent and ability to draw me into the story.

ARC Review: The Devil's Daughter by Katee Robert

Series:	Hidden Sins #1
Pub. Date:	Jan. 24, 2017
Publisher:	Montlake
Length:	316 pages
Source:	NetGalley

I have been wanting to try Katee Robert for a while now, and I'm so glad I finally got her on my calendar. I was in the mood for a good suspense read and this book really hit the spot. This one is more on the suspense end of the spectrum, but it has just enough romance to satisfy most romance fans.

ARC Review: Mission:Black by A.D. Starrling

Series:	Division Eight #1
Pub. Date:	Oct 18, 2016
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	130 pages
Source:	Author

I have been looking forward to this new series by A.D. Starrling for quite a while... and not just because I got to name one of the characters! You see, Ms. Starrling writes some of the best fast-paced action stories that I have read. Her heroines are kickass, and her heroes are not so bad either. So I was stoked for this first book of the Division Eight series, with its own kickass heroine, Rachel Carter.*

ARC Review: Into the Light by Aleatha Romig

Series:	The Light #1
Pub. Date:	June 14, 2016
Publisher:	Thomas & Mercer
Length:	354 pages
Source:	NetGalley

Oy. This book. This mindfecking book. I had to ruminate on it for a few days before writing my review. It kinda freaked me out! So let me start out by saying that this is not really a romance book. It's a dark story. A thriller with a twisty dysfunctional relationship. Aleatha is really good at writing these twisty books that make you question yourself and, for me, this one evoked similar feelings to Consequences.

ARC Review: Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger

Pub. Date:	June 7, 2016
Publisher:	Touchstone
Length:	352 Pages
Source:	Edelweiss

It's been a while since I have read any straight thrillers, so I was looking forward to trying out Lisa Unger, who I have heard of but had not yet read. Somewhere in the Northeast, there is a place called The Hollows that has a grip on its residents. The small population of just under 10,000 has various psychics, mediums, empaths, and other intuitive types in its ranks. Even those who have moved away, or have taken their families away, find either themselves or their descendants getting called back to the strange locale.

Review: The Passenger by Lisa Lutz

The Passenger 
by Lisa Lutz
Pub. Date:  March 1, 2016
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster
Pages:  320
Format:  eARC
Source:  NetGalley


My Rating:  
Sultry Scale:

From the author of the New York Times bestselling Spellman Files series, Lisa Lutz’s latest blistering thriller is about a woman who creates and sheds new identities as she crisscrosses the country to escape her past: you’ll want to buckle up for the ride!

In case you were wondering, I didn’t do it. I didn’t have anything to do with Frank’s death. I don’t have an alibi, so you’ll have to take my word for it...

Forty-eight hours after leaving her husband’s body at the base of the stairs, Tanya Dubois cashes in her credit cards, dyes her hair brown, demands a new name from a shadowy voice over the phone, and flees town. It’s not the first time.

She meets Blue, a female bartender who recognizes the hunted look in a fugitive’s eyes and offers her a place to stay. With dwindling choices, Tanya-now-Amelia accepts. An uneasy―and dangerous―alliance is born.

It’s almost impossible to live off the grid today, but Amelia-now-Debra and Blue have the courage, the ingenuity, and the desperation, to try. Hopscotching from city to city, Debra especially is chased by a very dark secret…can she outrun her past?

With heart-stopping escapes and devious deceptions, The Passenger is an amazing psychological thriller about defining yourself while you pursue your path to survival. One thing is certain: the ride will leave you breathless.

Oh man this is a hard book to review. So let me start out by saying - I liked it! It was definitely outside my normal romance-genre reads. Sometimes I step outside my fantasy world looking for a palette cleanser, and its always nice to find one like The Passenger. Lisa Lutz is new-to-me as an author, but I hope she keeps writing books in this genre because I will be a fan. I may even give her Spellman series a shot if I get in the mystery mood.