Giveaway: Brenda Novak's Fairham Island Series

I had the best intentions of reading Brenda Novak's THE SECRETS SHE KEPT, as well as the first book in the series THE SECRET SISTER, prior to offering this giveaway. However, you know what they say about the best laid plans... My summer has been nothing short of crazy and I haven't read near as many books as I had hoped! In the meantime, that doesn't mean that I can't share what I have learned about these two books.

THE SECRETS SHE KEPT is the second book in the Fairham Island series. The first book in the series, THE SECRET SISTER, received some fantastic reviews when it was released. In fact, the San Francisco Book Review called it, “the best romantic thriller I’ve read.” (See why I wanted to read these books?)

Here's the publishers summary for the latest book THE SECRETS SHE KEPT:

Exciting, emotional, intense. The thrilling follow-up to New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak's highly acclaimed The Secret Sister. The things that happen in families are always surprising and sometimes shocking!

The rich and powerful Josephine Lazarow, matriarch of Fairham Island, is dead. The police say it's suicide, but Keith, her estranged son, doesn't believe it.

Keith bears scars—both physical and emotional—from his childhood, but he's worked hard to overcome the past. After walking away from his mother and her controlling ways five years ago, he's built a new life in LA. He's also accumulated a fortune of his own. But as soon as he learns of his mother's death, he returns to Fairham. He feels he owes it to his grandfather to put the family empire together again—and he's determined to find his mother's killer.

Problem is…coming home to Fairham puts him back in contact with Nancy Dellinger, the woman he hurt so badly when he left before. And digging that deep into his mother's final days and hours entails a very real risk.

Because the person who killed her could be someone he loves… -- Mira

I am so excited that I have both THE SECRETS SHE KEPT and THE SECRET SISTER to giveaway to one lucky reader. To enter, just fill out the form below before August 10th at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will randomly select and notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. addresses only. Good luck!

Review: Low Pressure

Summary: Bellamy Lyston was only 12 years old when her older sister Susan was killed on a stormy Memorial Day. Bellamy's fear of storms is a legacy of the tornado that destroyed the crime scene along with her memory of what really happened during the day's most devastating moments.

Now, 18 years later, Bellamy has written a sensational, bestselling novel based on Susan's murder. Because the book was inspired by the tragic event that still pains her family, she published it under a pseudonym to protect them from unwanted publicity. But when an opportunistic reporter for a tabloid newspaper discovers that the book is based on fact, Bellamy's identity is exposed along with the family scandal.

Moreover, Bellamy becomes the target of an unnamed assailant who either wants the truth about Susan's murder to remain unknown or, even more threatening, is determined to get vengeance for a man wrongfully accused and punished.

In order to identify her stalker, Bellamy must confront the ghosts of her past, including Dent Carter, Susan's wayward and reckless boyfriend -- and an original suspect in the murder case. Dent, with this and other stains on his past, is intent on clearing his name, and he needs Bellamy's sealed memory to do it. But her safeguarded recollections -once unlocked-pose dangers that neither could foresee and puts both their lives in peril.

As Bellamy delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Susan's slaying, she discovers disturbing elements of the crime which call into question the people she holds most dear. Haunted by partial memories, conflicted over her feelings for Dent, but determined to learn the truth, she won't stop until she reveals Susan's killer.

That is, unless Susan's killer strikes her first... -- Hachette Audio

After being adamantly against audio books for many years, I now find that I enjoy them a great deal. There are definitely benefits to having an audio book with me when I work out and have long car rides; however, I admit that I still prefer a hard copy almost every time. I still consider myself a newbie to audio books, but one thing I've discovered is that the mystery/suspense genre seems to work best for me.

I decided to listen to LOW PRESSURE by Sandra Brown. I have read a book or two by Ms. Brown in the past and I remember enjoying them; and I do know that she is a best-selling author with a huge following. Plus the book's description sounded pretty good. The mystery aspect seemed very intriguing and I figured that there would be some romantic tension between the main characters, but I don't mind a little romance if it's done well. Sounded like a good book to work out to, right?

And I guess I'd have to say I liked LOW PRESSURE, but I certainly didn't love it. There was too much romance for me, and it wasn't in a sweet way. There was a lot of sexual tension and it was hot -- even a little dirty! Definitely not my normal reading fare, but I guess I should have expected some of that with a Sandra Brown book.

I don't really feel I can speak to the romance aspects of LOW PRESSURE, so I'll focus on the mystery angle. I actually found it to be pretty interesting. Basically, Bellamy, under a pseudonym, has written a fictional account of her sister's murder which occurred eighteen years ago, and it's become a huge bestseller. Bellamy was only twelve at the time and there are many things about that day that she can't remember. She was hoping that writing the story would help bring back her memories and give her some closure.

However, a tabloid reporter figures out that Bellamy is the actual author; and Bellamy's world is turned upside-down. She begins getting some threats from a  creepy stalker and decides that she has to get to the bottom of her sister's murder once and for all. She contacts her sister's boyfriend, Dent, and together they begin investigating the murder. Of course, along the way, they find that they are attracted to each other!

LOW PRESSURE was an entertaining book. I don't know that I'd say I was constantly thinking about the story and rushing back to listen to it, but I did like the book. I enjoyed how the author presented the story with flashbacks to the time around the murder as well as various views of the present-day main characters. I also liked how Bellamy had to not only investigate the murder but work through a lot of personal baggage that she gathered over the past eighteen years.

I did find the mystery to be quite intriguing. It was pretty obvious to me from fairly early on, that the man who went to jail for Bellamy's sister's murder wasn't actually guilty of it. I admit that I suspected a few people and was pretty surprised when I learned the real culprit. I'm not going to say that the character who was ultimately guilty for the crime never entered my mind as a suspect, but I was leaning towards someone else. I liked that the mystery aspect wasn't entirely predictable.

The audio book of LOW PRESSURE was read by Stephen Lang. Mr. Lang is a new-to-me narrator and evidently he reads quite a few novels of the suspense/thriller genre. Overall, I thought he did a good job with this book, and his variety of voices and accents were different enough to keep things interesting. I wouldn't hesitate to listen to another book read by Mr. Lang; and actually, I'm quite curious to see his take on a more traditional thriller.

And that brings me to my next point about the audio version of LOW PRESSURE. I've already mentioned that I wasn't a big fan of the romantic aspects of the story, and I think one of the main reasons was because I was listening to the book rather than reading it. I have no idea if others have this issue with audio books, but I'm much more uncomfortable listening to sex scenes than I am reading them. There were a few scenes in LOW PRESSURE that made me blush (and I never thought I was that much of a prude!)

In hindsight, I'm not sure how I felt about LOW PRESSURE. There were parts of the story that I really enjoyed, and then a few other ones that I thought were a little predictable and trite. What I've concluded is that I'm not the target audience for this novel, and therefore, not the best judge. I do, however, think fans of Ms. Brown's will appreciate this story (as evidenced by the reviews on Amazon.)

Thanks to the publisher for providing the audio book version of this novel.

Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.

Guest Review: A Hard Death

Summary: Brilliant forensic pathologist Edward Jenner returns in this explosive sequel to Precious Blood—an edgy, electrifying thriller set in a small-town coastal community where nothing is as it seems. 

Edward Jenner, introduced in Precious Blood, has survived the horrific ordeal of the Inquisitor serial killings in New York, but not the political fallout. His state medical license suspended, Jenner finds himself banished to Douglas County in coastal Florida, working as a medical examiner in the balmy seaside resort of Port Fontaine. 

But there's a seamy underside to picturesque Douglas County. First Jenner finds the bodies of a murdered man and woman decaying in a sunken car. Then an anonymous call in the middle of the night leads him to a gruesome discovery in the heart of the Everglades. He finds traces of a shadowy criminal conspiracy, and soon learns that he can trust no one. 

With his life on the line, Jenner refuses to walk away and let the murderers go unpunished. The result is dark Florida noir, a fierce, edge-of-the-seat thriller from an emerging master of the genre. -- Harper

Booking Pap Pap is back with another fantastic review. This time it's for A HARD DEATH by Jonathan Hayes. I had a feeling when I read the description for this one that it would be right up his alley!

Here are his thoughts:

In A HARD DEATH, author Jonathan Hayes brings back Edward Jenner, the hero in his first novel, PRECIOUS BLOOD. Jenner, a criminal pathologist, having been banished from practicing in New York, has hit rock bottom and is trying to pull his life together. Desperate to find a job, Jenner accepts an offer to fill in for his friend and mentor, the Douglas County Florida medical examiner, while he takes a long needed vacation. What Jenner anticipates as an easy time after his New York ordeal quickly changes with the discovery of the bodies of a murdered man and woman in a sunken car that turn out to be the medical examiner and his wife. Shortly thereafter two sets of hanged bodies are discovered in a remote part of the Everglades. Jenner soon realizes that the murders are related.

Jenner’s life is further complicated when the crimes become national news and the female reporter who ruined his New York career arrives in Florida. By rehashing the old New York story, she manages to get Jenner fired. After Jenner’s life is threatened and his detective friend is murdered, he refuses to let go of the case he knows will be swept under the carpet after he departs.

Hayes brings an interesting aspect to the novel by using his experience as a real life forensic pathologist to describe some of the crime scene and crime lab activity. Hayes’ characters are real life and complex. His hero, Edward Jenner, is not the perfect good guy and one of the women, a single mother, has an extremely complicated life. One aspect of the novel I didn’t care for was the excessive use of the infamous four-letter word that actually was a distraction.

A HARD DEATH is an exciting thriller with a quick paced plot. There’s something for everyone in this forensic thriller – the eerie setting in the Florida Everglades; a Mexican drug cartel; illegal aliens; a child sex ring; corrupt police; beautiful women: an uncomfortable father-daughter relationship; an unethical mortician and plenty of dead bodies. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good easy-to-read thriller.

Thanks to the publisher for sending a review copy of this book and to Booking Pap Pap for his review.

Review: The Fifth Witness

Summary: Mickey Haller has fallen on tough times. He expands his business into foreclosure defense, only to see one of his clients accused of killing the banker she blames for trying to take away her home.

Mickey puts his team into high gear to exonerate Lisa Trammel, even though the evidence and his own suspicions tell him his client is guilty. Soon after he learns that the victim had black market dealings of his own, Haller is assaulted, too--and he's certain he's on the right trail.

Despite the danger and uncertainty, Haller mounts the best defense of his career in a trial where the last surprise comes after the verdict is in. Connelly proves again why he "may very well be the best novelist working in the United States today" (San Francisco Chronicle). -- Little Brown

I'm going to have to warn you -- this review of THE FIFTH WITNESS by Michael Connelly is going to be a major love fest! I am a huge fan of Michael Connelly's and pretty much consider him to be one of my all-time favorite authors. Add to that, THE FIFTH WITNESS is a Mickey Haller book and I do love the character of Mickey Haller (especially now that I can imagine that he looks like Matthew McConaughey.) And finally, I just thought this book was so good. I absolutely adored THE FIFTH WITNESS and it encompassed everything I've come to know and love about Michael Connelly and his books!

THE FIFTH WITNESS is probably  more technically a legal thriller than a traditional mystery. Mickey Haller is a down-on-his-luck defense lawyer who was been forced to switch from criminal defense to foreclosure defense -- he's actually doing okay since there certainly isn't a lack of foreclosures in the Los Angeles area. When one of his less than stable clients is accused of murdering the banker who she considers responsible for the foreclosure, Mickey decides to take on her case even though he pretty much knows she's guilty.

But Mickey doesn't care about his client's proclaimed innocence -- in fact, he doesn't even want to discuss those details with her. Like any good defense attorney, his job is to present enough evidence to put doubt into the jurors' minds and get a "not guilty" verdict. So Mickey and his team begin investigating the victim and his associates, and as they appear to get closer to the truth, Mickey winds up getting assaulted by some thugs. The assault proves to Mickey that he's getting a little too close to the truth and his opinion about his client's guilt begins to change....

What can I even say about THE FIFTH WITNESS? I loved the mystery part of this story and I was impressed not only with the complexities of the case, but also with how Mr. Connelly unraveled the story. I was hooked from the very first page and I had a fantastic time riding along with Mickey on this roller coaster ride. Like Mickey, I was initially sure of the client's guilt (she wasn't very likable but does that make her a murderer?); and then my opinion eventually changed. I can't say that I was entirely surprised by the verdict; however, what occurred after the verdict was shocking on so many levels. I can honestly say that the ending was a jaw-dropping one and I loved how Mr. Connelly toyed with this reader!

In addition to the fantastic twists and turns and surprise ending, I just love the characters in THE FIFTH WITNESS. It's a given that I have loved Mickey ever since I first met him in THE LINCOLN LAWYER (and that was even before I  knew he looked like Matthew McConaughey); and I actually loved the direction that Mr. Connelly has taken with is character over the years. In THE FIFTH WITNESS, we saw a rather damaged Mickey Haller -- his career is kind of stalled and his personal life is a mess. While he no longer drinks (yay for Mickey!), he still desperately wants to reconcile with his ex-wife and daughter. Mickey is sort of a rogue at times, but I do believe his heart is in the right place and he does his darnedest to be a good man.

And that's one of the reasons why I loved this book so much -- I really got to see so much of what I like about Mickey. I would definitely say that the surprise ending about his client blew me away; however, there was another surprise (not really any less shocking!) that had to do with Mickey and a major decision about his future. Let's just say that I CAN NOT WAIT for the next Mickey Haller book. It's a good thing that Michael Connelly is a pretty fast writer!

I sure hope I've convinced you to give THE FIFTH WITNESS a try. It's definitely Michael Connelly at his best!

Thanks to the publisher for sending a review copy of this novel.

Guest Blogger: Loucinda McGary & Giveaway

Yesterday, I reviewed THE TREASURES OF VENICE by Loucinda McGary. Not being a huge romantic suspense reader, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. I especially liked the characters; and of course, that the story took place in Italy. I am so glad to welcome Ms. McGary to my blog today. She has written a guest post about the characteristics of a fictional hero. I thought this essay was appropriate because in my opinion, Kiernan's character in THE TREASURES OF VENICE captured the essence of a hero perfectly!

Tough? Vulnerable? What Makes a Hero?

I’ve been lucky enough to have three critique partners and a couple of beta readers who have given me feedback on all my romantic suspense manuscripts that I have written thus far. I found it very interesting that all five of them picked Keirnan Fitzgerald, the contemporary hero of The Treasures of Venice (in stores NOW!), as their favorite of all my heroes. Most of them said it was because of his charm. But one of my good friends and beta reader, Sharen said she liked Keirnan best because of his vulnerability.

Sharen said the fact that he was a handsome, charming hunk didn’t hurt. Plus, he was smart and tough when he needed to be. However, the scenes where he showed his vulnerability and turned to the heroine for comfort were Sharen’s favorites, and apparently she is not the only one. The reviewer for All About Romance had this to say:

“…the plot flowed well from one story to the other, and I thought both characters were just very real, and Keirnan showed more physical weakness than we usually see with a hero — he was actually sick and injured, and affected by these things, instead of the usual macho fight through the pain. This sounds like criticism, but it’s actually praise. It just made him more human.”

Here is one of the scenes early in the story that Sharen liked because of Keirnan’s vulnerability:

Some time later, Sam emerged from the bathroom and deposited her dirty clothes back into her suitcase. Keirnan still slept, but his breathing sounded shallow and raspy. Sam reached automatically for his forehead. To her dismay, his skin felt dry and too warm. Even worse, his eyes snapped open. She snatched her hand away.
“Kath—” he began. His glittery, unfocused gaze danced across her face for a brief moment, and then he seemed to recognize her.
“Samantha, luv?” He looked around the room in confusion and struggled to sit up.
She stopped him by pressing a firm hand against his bare shoulder. It felt too warm also, which didn’t bode well for sending him on his way. Her thoughts remained a muddled mess. She needed to sort them out, which wouldn’t happen if she stayed in the same room with him.
“Go back to sleep. I’m going down for some breakfast.”
He licked his lips. “Need to get going.” However, he sank back onto the pillow.
Her own mouth felt parched. The ache pounded harder in her temples.
“No, you don’t. It’s still early. Go back to sleep.”
He really must have felt ill because he complied without another word. Sighing wearily, he closed his eyes and pulled his arm under the covers.
© Loucinda McGary, Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2009

Even though this scene is in the heroine’s point of view, did you feel the hero’s vulnerability? Does he seem more human to you? Or wimpy?

I’ve asked on other blog posts for characteristics readers found most appealing in a hero. A few of the things repeated by many commenters included a sense of humor, loyalty, and a sense of protectiveness toward the heroine. I try hard to include all these traits in my heroes and yet still make them seem like real human beings. Sometimes it is a challenge!

What other characteristics do you most enjoy reading in your heroes?

About the Author: Loucinda McGary took early retirement from her managerial career to pursue her twin passions of travel and writing, and sets her novels of romantic suspense in the fascinating places she has visited. She was a finalist in the 2006 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart contest in Romantic Suspense. She lives in Sacramento, CA. For more information, please visit http://loucindamcgary.com/.

Thanks to Sourcebooks, I am giving away 1 set of Ms. McGary’s books: THE WILD SIGHT and THE TREASURES OF VENICE. To enter this contest, please leave a comment with your e-mail address answering Ms. McGary's question: What other characteristics do you most enjoy reading in your heroes? To double or triple your chances, you can blog and/or tweet about this contest with a link back to this post. This contest will be open until Thursday, September 17th at 11:59 p.m. EST, and I will notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you with US and Canada addresses only. Good luck!

Review: The Treasures of Venice

Summary: When American librarian Samantha Lewis and Irish rogue Keirnan Fitzgerald set off to find priceless jewels, they become embroiled in a 500-year-old love story that eerily prefigures their own... In 15th century Venice, beautiful and wealthy Serafina falls in love with Nino, a young Florentine sculptor. They decide to flee to Padua, and to fund the trip, Nino copies a set of jewels that then disappear. In modern-day Venice, Keirnan needs Samantha's help to locate the jewels so he can pay his sister's ransom. Samantha must decide whether the man she's so drawn to is her soul mate from a previous life...or are they merely pawns in a relentless quest for a priceless treasure? -- Sourcebooks Casablanca

I am not usually a reader of Romantic Suspense books, but I thought THE TREASURES OF VENICE by Loucinda McGary sounded intriguing. I enjoy suspense novels and I love reading books that take place in Italy, so I put my notions about romance books aside and dug in. I have to say that I really enjoyed THE TREASURES OF VENICE. I liked the characters and the setting; and I definitely appreciated the suspenseful story! And I will admit that the romance aspect was kind of sweet.

I wasn't surprised that I enjoyed the mystery and suspense parts of this book. The mystery kept my interest right up to the very end, and I thought the author wove a very interesting (and exciting) tale. The author incorporated a few surprises into the story and kept me guessing. I especially appreciated how the book went back and forth between the present and 1485. I found that I enjoyed both time periods equally well, and I really liked how the author tied the stories together.

Another thing I enjoyed about this novel were the characters. I guess that's a really good thing when you are writing a novel with a romance storyline, right? Poor Sam was visiting Italy on what was supposed to be her honeymoon -- her fiance dumped her right before the wedding -- when she was approached by a stranger in a cafe. She didn't quite know what to make of this strange man (Kiernan) but she goes along with his crazy story because she sensed that he was being honest. They spend lots of time running from the police as well as chasing down Kiernan's sister's kidnappers, and they discover that they falling in love with each other. I definitely liked Sam and Kiernan and could definitely understand their attraction for each other.

Besides having mystery, suspense, and romance, this book also contained a little bit of the supernatural. Sam kept experiencing moments of deva-ju and felt as if there were things familiar about Venice and Kiernan. The book alluded to possible reincarnation but left it somewhat open to interpretation by the reader.

I am dying to go to Italy but it's not the right time in my life to do that; so in the meantime, I will read as lots of books that take place in Italy and live vicariously through the characters. I thought the author did a good job of bringing Italy alive and especially Venice; and I thought Ms. McGary's descriptions of the canals and the various churches allowed me to clearly visualize the city. I have to say that I think Venice does embody romance so it was the perfect place to set this novel!

I would be remiss without mentioning the romance part of THE TREASURES OF VENICE because it was most definitely a Romantic Suspense novel. I hesitate to read romance books because I find that I don't always enjoy them. Often times, I think that the romances are so over-the-top and even corny -- they can actually get in the way of the storyline. I didn't think that was the case in this novel. I certainly liked the characters and I definitely wanted them to be together. I think Ms. McGary did a great job of building the tension and romance between Sam and Kiernan, and their relationship most definitely enhanced the story without getting in the way of it.

If you are a fan of Romantic Suspense novels or books that take place in Italy, then I think you're really going to enjoy THE TREASURES OF VENICE. Make sure you come back tomorrow because Ms. McGary will be stopping by with a guest post.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book.

Hello...You Won Aesop's Fables & Drood

Wow! I had huge responses to these two giveaways, and I'm just thrilled because both of these books are terrific. So without further ado, here are the winners:

AESOP'S FABLES, retold by John Cech and illustrated by Martin Jarrie:

Anna

Serena

Wendy

Debs Desk

Danielle

DROOD by Dan Simmons:

Red Lady - Bonnie

scottsgal

traymona

nhertel85

Carolyn

Thanks to all of you who entered! Please check out my other giveaway for an autographed copy of STANDING STILL by Kelly Simmons.

Review: Lost Souls

Summary: New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson delivers her most harrowing novel yet as a young woman’s determined hunt for a serial killer draws her into a twisted psychopath’s unspeakable crimes.

Twenty-seven-year-old Kristi Bentz is lucky to be alive. Not many people her age have nearly died twice at the hands of a serial killer, and lived to tell about it. Her dad, New Orleans detective, Rick Bentz, wants Kristi to stay in New Orleans and out of danger. But if anything, Kristi’s experiences have made her even more fascinated by the mind of the serial killer. She hasn’t given up her dream of being a true-crime writer—of exploring the darkest recesses of evil—and now she just may get her chance.

Four girls have disappeared at All Saints College in less than two years. All four were “lost souls”—troubled, vulnerable girls with no one to care about them, no one to come looking if they disappeared. The police think they’re runaways, but Kristi senses there’s something that links them, something terrifying. She decides to enroll, following their same steps. All Saints has changed a lot since Kristi was an undergraduate. The stodgy Catholic college has lured edgy new professors to its campus and gained a reputation for envelope-pushing, with classes like the very popular “The Influence of Vampirism in Modern Culture and Literature,” and elaborately staged morality plays that feel more like the titillating entertainment of some underground club than religious spectacles. And there are whispers of a dark cult on campus whose members wear vials of blood around their necks and meet in secret chambers—rituals to which only the elite have access. To find the truth, Kristi will need to become part of the cult’s inner circle, to learn their secrets, and play the part of lost soul without losing herself in the process. It’s a dangerous path, and Kristi is skating on its knife-thin edge.

The deeper she goes, the more Kristi begins to wonder if she is the hunter or the prey. She’s certain she’s being watched and followed—studied, even—as yet another girl disappears, and another. And when the bodies finally begin to surface—in ways that bring fear to the campus and terror to the hearts of even hardened cops like Detective Bentz and his partner Reuben Montoya—Kristi realizes with chilling clarity that she has underestimated her foe. She is playing a game with a killer more cunning and bloodthirsty than anyone can imagine, one who has personally selected her for membership in a cult of death from which there will be no escape. -- kensington books

After I finished reading LOST SOULS by Lisa Jackson, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. I checked amazon's reviews to see what others thought about the book and I was surprised to find that readers either really liked or or were really disappointed in it. I guess I was just kind of in the middle, although I can see the appeal of the book for people who are interested in the romantic suspense/vampire genre.

I thought Ms. Jackson did a very good of telling this story. I liked her writing style and the story did keep my interest throughout the entire book. I especially liked the characters of Kristi and Jay, and I have to admit that I didn't mind the romantic interplay between them. Although I definitely did appreciate the suspense part of this novel over the romance part (but that's just me.)

I haven't ever read any other Lisa Jackson books, but I wouldn't mind reading a few of her other books (I won't have any problems finding them because she has written over 75 novels!) Since I was a newcomer to her books, I felt a little confused because she often referenced characters, places and stories from her other books. I don't think it affected my understanding of this novel, but I did feel a little in the dark.

I thought the mystery/suspense aspect of the novel was well thought out, and I was kept guessing about the bad guy until the author revealed him/her near the end of the book. I definitely enjoyed the twists and turns that the story took along the way! I also appreciated how Ms. Jackson gives the reader a slight hint about what her next novel might be about with the ending of LOST SOULS -- I have a feeling that we'll be seeing these characters again in the future.

If you are interested in reading an excerpt from LOST SOULS, click here.

Also reviewed at:
A Book Blogger's Diary

Review: No One Heard Her Scream

Summary: Burdened by Grief, She Hunts a Killer
They never found her sister's body, but Detective Rebecca Montgomery knows her murderer is still out there. In the five months since Danielle went missing, there have been two more brutal abductions. A savage menace stalks the women of San Antonio, and the relentless detective will do anything to find him.

And a Seductive Stranger Shadows Her Every Move
But her latest case—the discovery of a young woman's remains inside the wall of a burned-down theater—plunges Rebecca from her grief into a brand-new nightmare. She soon meets handsome, mysterious Diego Galvan at the crime scene, and his shadowy connections will lead to her first break in both cases. But when Rebecca submits to his considerable powers of seduction, she will leave herself vulnerable to a merciless killer . . . and when he attacks, no one will hear her scream. - harper collins

I finally scored another book from Harper Collins First Look Program. This time it was an ARC of NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM by Jordan Dane. This book is technically considered a Romantic Suspense book, so I was a little concerned that I wouldn't appreciate the "romance" parts in it. I actually thought the suspense aspect of the novel was very interesting, and the romance part was really secondary.

I don't want to say the the plot was entirely predictable to me because it wasn't; however by the end of the novel, I had a feeling where it was going. That's not to say that I lost interest in the mystery -- the book kept my interest until the very end. I especially liked the characters of Rebecca and Diego, and I wanted their relationship to work out. The author did a very good job of letting the reader into the minds of the main characters. I felt like I had a great deal of compassion for their situations.

I have to warn you that this is not a book that deals with very serious issues including stalking and murder. I thought the crimes that were committed were incredibly atrocious -- I can't go into more detail because I would spoil the ending. At times, I found myself very uncomfortable while reading the story. I think that is exactly effect that Ms. Dane wants the reader to feel.

The book takes place in San Antonio, Texas -- the city where Ms. Dane grew up. It is very clear that San Antonio holds a very close place to her heart. She mentions a lot of historic places in her novel and does a wonderful job of describing them to the reader. Ms. Dane has a very nice website where she explains the "Story Behind the Story" and provides pictures of the places she mentions in the novel. I enjoyed seeing how closely the pictures matched her descriptions.

NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM is currently available at all book outlets for $6.99 (that's a bargain.) Ms. Dane has two more books coming out in the next few months -- NO ONE LEFT TO TELL in April and NO ONE LIVES FOREVER in May. I definitely thought her first book was an enjoyable read, and I wouldn't hesitate to read her next two novels.