Fiction

Jack Stratton Series by Christopher Greyson

March 31, 2020 by Leah Leave a Comment

This Covid-19 quarantine has given me some much needed time to read. Sure I could be organizing closets and whatnot, but I can’t say I’ve done much of that. I’ve read more than anything. And taken naps. Guilt-free naps are the best! Like I’ve mentioned probably a dozen times, I love series books. The Jack Stratton series by Christopher Greyson is one of my favorites. I actually didn’t realize his next book, Jack of Diamonds, had come out. So imagine how happy I was to see it available on Kindle Unlimited AND also having the time to read it!

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Why Series Books?

Um…why not? No, seriously, why not? For me, reading a series book is much like watching your favorite television series. You get comfortable with the characters. Some of the characters you like and you are rooting for, while others you can’t stand and you can’t wait to see them taken down. The same holds true for series books. The longest series I’ve read is the Alex Cross series by James Patterson. Like the Alex Cross series, the Jack Stratton series by Christopher Greyson sucked me in immediately. Continue reading to find out more about the series!

About the Jack Stratton Series

Early on in the series, we found out that as a very young child, Jack grew up in a whorehouse with his prostitute mother. Entering into the foster care system, Jack was lucky enough to have great foster parents and foster siblings. However, after a bomb nearly killed him when he was deployed, Jack comes back with demons he must fight every single day.

Jack of Diamond Synopsis from Amazon

‘Til death do us part…

All Jack Stratton wants to do is get married to the woman he loves—and make it through the wedding. It seems like he is finally getting his wish until he responds to a police distress call and discovers his old partner unconscious in an abandoned house. Investigators insist it was just an accident, but Jack fears there may be more to it. Sketches of women cover the walls, and among them is one sketch that makes Jack’s blood run cold—a sketch of Alice, pinned up beside an invitation to a very special wedding—his own.

Locking horns with law enforcement, Jack digs deeper. What did his old police partner see in the house? Who’s been creating these sketches? More importantly, what do they want with Jack’s bride-to-be?

When he identifies two of the women in the sketches, only to discover that they are both missing, Jack finds himself thrown into one of the deadliest cases he’s ever worked. Jack comes to a terrifying conclusion—there’s a serial killer on the loose… and Alice is his next target.
As their wedding day looms closer, Jack and Alice must work together to solve the murders and put an end to the killer. Will they catch the psychopath in time, or will their loved ones attend a funeral instead of a wedding?

Jack of Diamonds is a riveting thriller that takes murder mysteries to a whole other level. Filled with intrigue and suspense, this book delivers compelling twists and crafty schemes along with some laugh-out-loud wedding antics. As Jack and Alice fight a deadly killer, their long, happy future together seems like it’s just inches from slipping away.

This time, “till death do us part” might just be a bit too accurate.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this Jack Stratton book. With previous books in this series, I have often figured things out before I got to the end. However, with Jack of Diamonds, I thought I figured it out and I was WAY wrong! The ending was surprising to me in a way that I really enjoyed! I actually could see this book being a movie or an episode of a show like Criminal Minds or something!

The nice thing about every single book in the Jack Stratton series is that they can be found on Kindle Unlimited! If you don’t know about Kindle Unlimited, then check out the Kindle Unlimited Membership Plans. Your first month is completely FREE!

If you are like me and you like to nibble on delicious goodies while you are reading, then you need to try these yummy brownies with white chocolate chips that I made the other day! They are from scratch and so so easy to make!

Victor Methos – A Killer’s Wife

March 8, 2020 by Leah Leave a Comment

What would you do if the person you trusted most in life, betrayed you? Not only betrayed you, but committed murder? Worse yet, you had no idea. All those nights he kiss you goodnight and went out, for one reason or another, it was actually to stalk and kill his victims. Would you feel responsible? How would you feel if after he got caught and went to prison, you found out you were pregnant…with his child? Sound intriguing?!? If so, you need to pick up the Victor Methos novel, A Killer’s Wife.

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About Victor Methos

Being that I am an aspiring author, one of my favorite things to do is read the “about the author” page in my books. I’ve always been that way. I like to see a little snippet about the authors life. Victor Methos knew, when he was 13 years old, that he was going to become a lawyer one day. His best friend was interrogated by police and ended up confessing to a crime he did not commit. Not only did he become a lawyer, but he started out as a prosecutor for Salt Lake City and then eventually founded the most successful criminal defense firm in Utah. Like most successful individuals that work with people, Victor Methos had one particular case that stuck with him that ended up becoming the basis for his first bestseller, The Neon Lawyer. As you can imagine, I will be reading that book!

A Killer’s Wife

This book is book one in the Desert Plain series (second book comes out in February of 2021…I’m so bummed I have to wait that long). I read on my Kindle and have a Kindle Unlimited subscription (more on that later) and this particular book was part of the Amazon Firsts program where I was able to download it for free last month! Here’s a snippet about A Killer’s Wife from Amazon:

Fourteen years ago, prosecutor Jessica Yardley’s husband went to prison for a series of brutal murders. She’s finally created a life with her daughter and is a well-respected attorney. She’s moving on. But when a new rash of homicides has her ex-husband, Eddie, written all over them—the nightmares of her past come back to life.

The FBI asks Jessica to get involved in the hunt for this copycat killer—which means visiting her ex and collaborating with the man who tore her life apart.

As the copycat’s motives become clearer, the new life Jessica created for herself gets darker. She must ask herself who she can trust and if she’s capable of stopping the killer—a man whose every crime is a bloody valentine from a twisted mastermind she’s afraid she may never escape.

Doesn’t it sound good?!? I am very anxious to find out more about Jessica Yardly and what is in store for her. I’m sure her ex-husband is not done with her yet. Series books are my jam! It just stinks when you have to wait until the next book comes out! Read this book and let me know what you think!

Why Kindle and Kindle Unlimited?

First of all, the Kindle Paperwhite is the BEST gift I have ever gotten. I use it every single day. Not only that, but it is lightweight and fits perfectly in my purse. Since I spend so much time sitting in my car waiting on my kids, I get a lot of reading it. Besides having a Kindle Paperwhite, I also have a Kindle Unlimited subscription. For $9.99 a month, I have unlimited access to over 1 million books! For more information on Kindle Unlimited, click the image below and find out how you can get two free months!

So, what should I read next?

Carolyn Brown – The Family Journal

March 2, 2020 by Leah Leave a Comment

Imagine being a single mother and finding your child smoking pot in a public restroom. That would be pretty shocking, right? Well, let’s take things a step further, and imagine also finding out that your other child is sneaking out and drinking with friends. You need to take drastic steps to turn your children around, right? Right! In the great book, The Family Journal by Carolyn Brown, that is exactly what main character, Lily Anderson was facing.

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The Family Journal by Carolyn Brown

I’ve read one or two other books by Carolyn Brown and I absolutely loved them. When I saw The Family Journal, I knew I had to read it! This book was like the others I had read by the same author, in the sense that I could not put the book down.

Book Description from Amazon

At the end of her rope, single mom Lily Anderson is determined to move her rebellious children in the right direction. That means taking away their cell phones, tablets, and computers—at least temporarily—and moving to the house where Lily grew up in the rural town of Comfort, Texas. But Lily has a bigger challenge than two sulking kids.

The house comes with Mack Cooper, high school teacher and handsome longtime renter. The arrangement: just housemates. But Mack’s devoted attention to the kids starts to warm Lily’s resistant heart. Then Lily finds an old leather-bound book in which five generations of her female ancestors shared their struggles and dreams. To Lily, it’s a bracing reminder about the importance of family…and love.

Now it’s time for Lily to add an adventurous new chapter to the cherished family journal—by embracing a fresh start and taking a chance on a man who could make her house a home.

The Family Journal The Perfect Dress The Empty Nesters

My Thoughts

I already told you that I could not put the book down! That seems to be the theme lately with the books I’ve read. But, then again, when I like an author, I tend to read everything they write. Like James Patterson. He’s one of my favorite authors, so I read everything he writes. The same holds true with Carolyn Brown. I have read a few of her books and I plan on reading more!

In The Family Journal, Lily Anderson finds a journal in her moms things. This journal was written in by the women in her family. Not only does Lily learn about the strong women in her family that came before her, but she shares that journal with her daughter, which helped repair their relationship. As much as Lily Anderson and her daughter loved reading the various passages in the journal, I also enjoyed reading them. It made me stop and think about what the women in my family would write about if they had a journal like that to pass down.

About Kindle Unlimited

I read all of my books on my Kindle Paperwhite or with my Kindle app on my iPhone. Why? Well, first of all, why not?! No seriously…I choose to use a Kindle Paperwhite because I spend a lot of my time sitting at my kids schools or sports practices. The Kindle is small and easy to just throw in my purse, unlike a big hardcover book. One of the things I really like is the Kindle Unlimited Membership Plans. With this plan, I can have access to thousands and thousands of books each month! Try out Kindle Unlimited for FREE for the first month. If you don’t like it, cancel it! But I bet you will love it as much as I do!

What Should I Read Next?

Stillwater Girls by Minka Kent

February 6, 2020 by Leah Leave a Comment

I love a good psychological thriller. You know…those books that you read that either scare you while you are reading it, or the books that make you think about it, even when you put it down. If I can have both of those things with a book I read, then I am in heaven! Yes, I realize that may be a little weird, but it’s true! One of the most recent books I read, was definitely a book that I was thinking about after I put it down. I actually read it in about a day and a half. Stillwater Girls by Minka Kent is definitely a book you want to put on your “must read” list!

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The Stillwater Girls The Perfect Roommate The Memory Watcher

About Stillwater Girls

From Amazon –

Ignorant of civilization and cautioned against its evils, nineteen-year-old Wren and her two sisters, Sage and Evie, were raised in off-the-grid isolation in a primitive cabin in upstate New York. When the youngest grows gravely ill, their mother leaves with the child to get help from a nearby town. And they never return.

As months pass, hope vanishes. Supplies are low. Livestock are dying. A brutal winter is bearing down. Then comes the stranger. He claims to be looking for the girls’ mother, and he’s not leaving without them.

To escape, Wren and her sister must break the rule they’ve grown up with: never go beyond the forest.

Past the thicket of dread, they come upon a house on the other side of the pines. This is where Wren and Sage must confront something more chilling than the unknowable. They’ll discover what’s been hidden from them, what they’re running from, and the secrets that have left them in the dark their entire lives.

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My Thoughts

First of all, I like anything and everything I have read by Minka Kent. She has this ability to draw you in, get you super invested in the characters and then literally blowing your mind with a twist that you didn’t see coming. Stillwater Girls is no different. I was instantly intrigued by this book. About halfway through, I thought maybe I had figured things out. While I did figure out one part, the twist they threw at readers was not something I ever saw coming. I literally said, “oh my gosh” as I covered my mouth. No joke! The huge plot twist Minka Kent threw at the end was not anything you would ever see coming, yet it absolutely tied up the entire book and made it all make sense, despite all the craziness going on.

I know a book is a good book when I finish it and I am left saying, “now what?”. And that is exactly what happened at the end of this book. I guess you could say I like happy endings, but I also like to know what happens next. Most likely there will not be a sequel to this book, but man do I wish there was. I want to know more about these characters life. When that happens, you know, as an author, you did your job!

Where to Buy This Book

Buy it on Amazon, of course! Whether you like hardcover,paperback, or on Kindle, it doesn’t matter! You can get any version you want at Amazon, and get it on sale! Pick up a copy of the book today, read it, and then let me know what you thought about it!

Merry Hanukkah Series: Happy Everything

October 2, 2019 by Leah Leave a Comment

Reading is one of my passions. I would read all day, every day, if I could. There are a few things I look for when I am looking for a book to read. First, I look for books by authors I have read before; second, I look for series books; and third, I look for books with serial killers. Happy Everything, part of the Merry Hanukkah series by Debby Caruso has two of those three things! I’ll let you guess which one it doesn’t have! When I was asked if I would like to receive a copy of this book for the purpose of this review, I jumped at the chance.

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases*

About the Merry Hanukkah Series

So like I mentioned above, I love series books. I get super invested in the characters, almost like they are my friends, and I want to read more and more books with those same characters. The first book in the Merry Hanukkah series (Merry Hanukkah) introduces us to Rhonda and James and the joys of blending their two lives and families together. When I finished that book, I truly hoped that Debby Caruso had another book started with Rhonda and James. She did not disappoint!

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Happy Everything by Debby Caruso

From Amazon

Happy Everything is the ongoing story of Rhonda and James,following them from Merry Hanukkah directly into the much anticipated second installment in the Merry Hanukkah series. Everyone’s favorite newlyweds have settled into married life, but now it’s Dez and Jack’s turn to make it official. In typical Rhonda fashion, she’s determined to give her best friend Dez the best bridal shower ever, all while juggling yet another work crisis and still trying desperately to fit in to her new family situation. Unfortunately, Aunt Bunny is diagnosed with cancer, and the entire family starts coming apart at the seams. Rhonda and James step in to help support Uncle Ben any way they can, but it’s never enough for Rhonda’s incorrigible mother-in-law, Vivian. Will Vivian’s constant meddling finally cause Rhonda and James irreparable damage? Is there any way that Rhonda can pull the family together by hosting both Passover and Easter on the same weekend? Why is Rhonda’s Dad suddenly dating someone much younger than him? And how can Rhonda come up with a new and exciting way to sell protein bars? Follow Rhonda into this new chapter of her life, where success hinges on the latest and greatest ad campaign, and her personal triumphs are determined by how much she can do for others. Journey with her as she begins to slowly realize that she can’t be all things to all people; even the ones you love the most.

Happy Everything (Merry Hanukkah)

My Thoughts

Debby Caruso is a writing genius! The best part of the Merry Hanukkah series are the characters. Each character in this book makes you feel like they are your friend or someone you want to make your friend! I literally can see someone in my real life, in each of the characters. Especially Rhonda’s mother in-law, Vivian. I think everyone has a Vivian in their life! This was one of those books, just like Merry Hanukkah, that I could not put down. I can’t tell you how many nights I stayed up longer than I should, just so I could get my Rhonda fix!

I’m really hoping there is a third book coming in this series. I would really love to know more about some of the other characters. For instance, why is Vivian the way she is? What is her backstory? Everyone has a backstory. I’d also love to see Rhonda and James have a baby. Although, I suspect they are waiting to further their careers a bit more before that happens…but I’d still love to see it happen.

Crossing Lex Merry Hanukkah Happy Everything (Merry Hanukkah)