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Recommend this book:
A Line Intersected
David Grant Urban
2018 Finalist
422 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
A Line Intersected by David Grant Urban is a tale of distressing fortunes. Michael Collwood is a reputable architect in San Diego, a man loved by the people until his wife is murdered by means of a drug overdose. He becomes a person of interest in the case, and with that comes a swift and downward spiral in his life. With the support from friends gone, his career destroyed, and no home, he turns to the one thing to which despair leads men — alcohol. Time has gone by and there is no update on the case and, tired of living without his self-respect, Michael sets out for the wilderness where he intends to end his life. But a surprise awaits him, a fortune that will put two million dollars into his hands ... and a hundred kilos of cocaine. Now he has a purpose — to uncover the face behind his wife’s murder. He just doesn’t know what awaits him, and it would be best for readers to find out themselves.
This novel is successful on multiple levels. I was pulled in by the author’s storytelling skills. The story begins at a slow pace, with descriptions of a homeless old man, his love for literature, and his wisdom, and gracefully transitions to a memorable day that the protagonist shares with his beautiful wife. It’s a brilliant prelude to a crisis point! The author introduces the crisis in the second chapter of the story, and from then the reader is pulled into a whirlwind of action and intensely emotional scenes, until the conflict escalates to involve the DEA and the Tijuana drug cartel. David Grant Urban writes with grace and his prose offers the precision that readers long for when they read crime and investigation novels. The protagonist is a deeply wounded man and his quest for revenge comes across just so naturally to readers. I found A Line Intersected to be a satisfactory read and won’t hesitate in giving it a 5-star rating.
A Line Intersected by David Grant Urban is a tale of distressing fortunes. Michael Collwood is a reputable architect in San Diego, a man loved by the people until his wife is murdered by means of a drug overdose. He becomes a person of interest in the case, and with that comes a swift and downward spiral in his life. With the support from friends gone, his career destroyed, and no home, he turns to the one thing to which despair leads men — alcohol. Time has gone by and there is no update on the case and, tired of living without his self-respect, Michael sets out for the wilderness where he intends to end his life. But a surprise awaits him, a fortune that will put two million dollars into his hands ... and a hundred kilos of cocaine. Now he has a purpose — to uncover the face behind his wife’s murder. He just doesn’t know what awaits him, and it would be best for readers to find out themselves.
This novel is successful on multiple levels. I was pulled in by the author’s storytelling skills. The story begins at a slow pace, with descriptions of a homeless old man, his love for literature, and his wisdom, and gracefully transitions to a memorable day that the protagonist shares with his beautiful wife. It’s a brilliant prelude to a crisis point! The author introduces the crisis in the second chapter of the story, and from then the reader is pulled into a whirlwind of action and intensely emotional scenes, until the conflict escalates to involve the DEA and the Tijuana drug cartel. David Grant Urban writes with grace and his prose offers the precision that readers long for when they read crime and investigation novels. The protagonist is a deeply wounded man and his quest for revenge comes across just so naturally to readers. I found A Line Intersected to be a satisfactory read and won’t hesitate in giving it a 5-star rating.
Recommend this book:
The History Major
A Novella
Michael Phillip Cash
2018 Finalist
130 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Reviewed by K.J. Simmill for Readers' Favorite
The History Major is a paranormal novella written by Michael Phillip Cash. Amanda Greene awoke awash with confusion; she remembered drinking too much, but not what had happened, nor why she hurt so much. Things seemed to have changed overnight. Trees that were thick with leaves yesterday had succumbed to autumn in the space of a single evening, almost as if a mirror to her own heartache. She and her boyfriend, Patrick, had fought, and now he was out of her life forever; already she felt lost without him. But this was not all that had changed - her timetable was no longer the one she remembered, her classes had altered and she found herself scheduled for History, something she had wished to avoid, and it seemed that no one was willing to correct the mistake. It is said people get trapped in history, and as the doors close and she is forced to go to her seat, these words take on a whole new meaning.
I thought Michael Phillip Cash's way of integrating history with the story was brilliant. We meet Joan of Arc, portrayed in a fashion that is wonderful to read. Though I'll admit to not being much of a history reader, I found this portrayal fitted the style of an urban fantasy perfectly and brilliantly reflected exactly what they were attempting to achieve. Lucrezia Borgia and other characters all appear to lend a helping hand in ways you'd never imagine. I was completely enthralled by this story, wondering exactly what had happened, what the dark force stalking Amanda was, and how she came to find herself in this strange situation. I enjoyed this book so much I was actually disappointed when it finished, although it finished at the perfect point. This is certainly a gripping read, with some unique ideas and philosophical applications. For a fascinating, intriguing read, look nor further than The History Major.
The History Major is a paranormal novella written by Michael Phillip Cash. Amanda Greene awoke awash with confusion; she remembered drinking too much, but not what had happened, nor why she hurt so much. Things seemed to have changed overnight. Trees that were thick with leaves yesterday had succumbed to autumn in the space of a single evening, almost as if a mirror to her own heartache. She and her boyfriend, Patrick, had fought, and now he was out of her life forever; already she felt lost without him. But this was not all that had changed - her timetable was no longer the one she remembered, her classes had altered and she found herself scheduled for History, something she had wished to avoid, and it seemed that no one was willing to correct the mistake. It is said people get trapped in history, and as the doors close and she is forced to go to her seat, these words take on a whole new meaning.
I thought Michael Phillip Cash's way of integrating history with the story was brilliant. We meet Joan of Arc, portrayed in a fashion that is wonderful to read. Though I'll admit to not being much of a history reader, I found this portrayal fitted the style of an urban fantasy perfectly and brilliantly reflected exactly what they were attempting to achieve. Lucrezia Borgia and other characters all appear to lend a helping hand in ways you'd never imagine. I was completely enthralled by this story, wondering exactly what had happened, what the dark force stalking Amanda was, and how she came to find herself in this strange situation. I enjoyed this book so much I was actually disappointed when it finished, although it finished at the perfect point. This is certainly a gripping read, with some unique ideas and philosophical applications. For a fascinating, intriguing read, look nor further than The History Major.
Recommend this book:
An American Cage
A Prison-break Psychological Thriller
Ted Galdi
2018 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite
An American Cage: A Prison-break Psychological Thriller by Ted Galdi is a spellbinding, action-packed, and emotionally intense novel that follows three prisoners after they break out from a Texas maximum-security prison. Now out of prison, Danny Marsh, a twenty-something-year-old man, convicted for a crime he never intended to commit, must work together with two others to get to Mexico. But he soon realizes that it isn’t just his freedom he will be fighting for; he will have to fight to stay alive because there is an enemy among his closest friends, one who is just as ready to see him sink beneath the mire. Can he navigate the dangerous relationships and the harsh physical landscapes and get to freedom? But what does freedom really mean? Follow the protagonist embroiled with himself in a psychological battle that propels him to question everything about his values as he deals with treacherous people, and as he experiences new encounters.
Ted Galdi’s book is a sharp psychological thriller with great elements of mainstream detective action, a story with an unusual plot and a timeline of forty-eight hours within which an enormous amount of action takes place. It is pulsating, to say the least, and readers will enjoy watching the protagonist make difficult choices and narrow escapes. A lot of realism is injected into the story and the characters are so humanely flawed that readers will find it hard not to relate to them. This book combines the craft of great storytelling with plot twists and gritty realism to offer up characters that readers will think about even after the book is finished. An American Cage: A Prison-break Psychological Thriller is a great read, a real page-turner.
An American Cage: A Prison-break Psychological Thriller by Ted Galdi is a spellbinding, action-packed, and emotionally intense novel that follows three prisoners after they break out from a Texas maximum-security prison. Now out of prison, Danny Marsh, a twenty-something-year-old man, convicted for a crime he never intended to commit, must work together with two others to get to Mexico. But he soon realizes that it isn’t just his freedom he will be fighting for; he will have to fight to stay alive because there is an enemy among his closest friends, one who is just as ready to see him sink beneath the mire. Can he navigate the dangerous relationships and the harsh physical landscapes and get to freedom? But what does freedom really mean? Follow the protagonist embroiled with himself in a psychological battle that propels him to question everything about his values as he deals with treacherous people, and as he experiences new encounters.
Ted Galdi’s book is a sharp psychological thriller with great elements of mainstream detective action, a story with an unusual plot and a timeline of forty-eight hours within which an enormous amount of action takes place. It is pulsating, to say the least, and readers will enjoy watching the protagonist make difficult choices and narrow escapes. A lot of realism is injected into the story and the characters are so humanely flawed that readers will find it hard not to relate to them. This book combines the craft of great storytelling with plot twists and gritty realism to offer up characters that readers will think about even after the book is finished. An American Cage: A Prison-break Psychological Thriller is a great read, a real page-turner.
Recommend this book:
 by Dina Santorelli, the governor’s daughter is kidnapped and Jamie, a newly divorced, struggling writer, finds herself smack dab in the middle of the crime. Forced into the role of the little girl’s caretaker by her captors, Jamie is forced to find a way to protect the child and save herself from near...){kind=link}
Baby Grand
Baby Grand Trilogy Book 1
Dina Santorelli
2018 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Reviewed by Stacie Haas for Readers' Favorite
In Baby Grand (Baby Grand Trilogy Book One) by Dina Santorelli, the governor’s daughter is kidnapped and Jamie, a newly divorced, struggling writer, finds herself smack dab in the middle of the crime. Forced into the role of the little girl’s caretaker by her captors, Jamie is forced to find a way to protect the child and save herself from near certain death. The kidnapped Baby Grand brings four very different family units together in unique and surprising emotional relationships: Jamie’s ex-husband and brother; the distraught nanny and her nephews; New York’s First Family; and the notorious crime family who set the action in motion. Will Jamie’s brother find her in time and will the Governor and First Lady figure out what’s going on before it’s too late?
Baby Grand by Dina Santorelli starts right in the middle of the action—the kidnapping of the governor’s daughter—and proceeds at a frantic pace to a dramatic and surprising conclusion that left me wanting more. Given that Baby Grand is the first in a trilogy, that’s a very good thing! I loved the character of Jamie—her journey through this book is irresistible and engrossing as she finds herself in harrowing circumstances. It’s a tale of survival and unexpected emotional connections. Baby Grand has a fantastic cast of secondary characters too, each with their own arc and journey, and all against the backdrop of crime, love, sex, and embedded familial complications. Highly recommended for lovers of crime fiction, family drama, and fast-paced fiction!
In Baby Grand (Baby Grand Trilogy Book One) by Dina Santorelli, the governor’s daughter is kidnapped and Jamie, a newly divorced, struggling writer, finds herself smack dab in the middle of the crime. Forced into the role of the little girl’s caretaker by her captors, Jamie is forced to find a way to protect the child and save herself from near certain death. The kidnapped Baby Grand brings four very different family units together in unique and surprising emotional relationships: Jamie’s ex-husband and brother; the distraught nanny and her nephews; New York’s First Family; and the notorious crime family who set the action in motion. Will Jamie’s brother find her in time and will the Governor and First Lady figure out what’s going on before it’s too late?
Baby Grand by Dina Santorelli starts right in the middle of the action—the kidnapping of the governor’s daughter—and proceeds at a frantic pace to a dramatic and surprising conclusion that left me wanting more. Given that Baby Grand is the first in a trilogy, that’s a very good thing! I loved the character of Jamie—her journey through this book is irresistible and engrossing as she finds herself in harrowing circumstances. It’s a tale of survival and unexpected emotional connections. Baby Grand has a fantastic cast of secondary characters too, each with their own arc and journey, and all against the backdrop of crime, love, sex, and embedded familial complications. Highly recommended for lovers of crime fiction, family drama, and fast-paced fiction!
Recommend this book:
Cachibache
Book two of the Director series
Zach Fortier
2018 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite
Cachibache is the second book in the Director series by Zach Fortier, a quick, suspenseful story that is as entertaining as it is intense, a story with a setting that excites readers as much as the exhilarating plot. After admitting that Camp Baroota has been a failed project, the Director gets back to work, masterminding the creation of Camp Cachibache, strategically located and hidden. But before things get exciting for the camp, a dangerous enemy resurfaces from the Director’s past, the psychotic known as the Wild Card, who is poised for revenge and will stop at nothing to see to it that the Director is completely destroyed. Will Nick Hudson and his accomplice from Camp Baroota, Nõnkos Zia, get their revenge on the Director or could things work out differently? It is interesting to follow these compelling characters as they engage in a powerful conflict, taking readers on a rollercoaster, pulsating ride that will get them emotionally involved and utterly intrigued.
The story starts with Nick, bored and irritated, waiting at the bus stop, and the reader quickly gets an idea of the kind of character he is: sick and unstable. He is a person with zero tolerance for tardiness and the reader already knows that it will be easy to get this character to reveal “his surly personality.” The plot is fast, unpredictable, and readers will be thrilled by the surprises that come as exquisite treats for them. The writing is great, and the balance between dialogue and descriptive prose is measured and masterfully accomplished. Cachibache is a breezy read, the kind of book readers complete in few hours, but one of those rare thrillers whose characters stay in the reader’s mind long after the book is shelved. Zach Fortier may be a master of the genre for he has created a thriller that readers will find hard to put down.
Cachibache is the second book in the Director series by Zach Fortier, a quick, suspenseful story that is as entertaining as it is intense, a story with a setting that excites readers as much as the exhilarating plot. After admitting that Camp Baroota has been a failed project, the Director gets back to work, masterminding the creation of Camp Cachibache, strategically located and hidden. But before things get exciting for the camp, a dangerous enemy resurfaces from the Director’s past, the psychotic known as the Wild Card, who is poised for revenge and will stop at nothing to see to it that the Director is completely destroyed. Will Nick Hudson and his accomplice from Camp Baroota, Nõnkos Zia, get their revenge on the Director or could things work out differently? It is interesting to follow these compelling characters as they engage in a powerful conflict, taking readers on a rollercoaster, pulsating ride that will get them emotionally involved and utterly intrigued.
The story starts with Nick, bored and irritated, waiting at the bus stop, and the reader quickly gets an idea of the kind of character he is: sick and unstable. He is a person with zero tolerance for tardiness and the reader already knows that it will be easy to get this character to reveal “his surly personality.” The plot is fast, unpredictable, and readers will be thrilled by the surprises that come as exquisite treats for them. The writing is great, and the balance between dialogue and descriptive prose is measured and masterfully accomplished. Cachibache is a breezy read, the kind of book readers complete in few hours, but one of those rare thrillers whose characters stay in the reader’s mind long after the book is shelved. Zach Fortier may be a master of the genre for he has created a thriller that readers will find hard to put down.
Recommend this book:
The Butcher's Bill
The Linus Schag, NCIS, Thrillers Volume 2
Martin Roy Hill
2018 Silver Medal
282 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
The Butcher's Bill is book two in The Linus Schag Thrillers series by Martin Roy Hill and an electrifying read for fans of crime and police stories. A gruesome crime has been committed and a severed head is left at a security company. Evidence points to Bill Butcher, a former Navy SEAL. NCIS agent Linus Schag is brought in to investigate the crime and he can’t believe that his former colleague - “The Butcher” - is responsible for the crime, but there is just too much evidence not to think otherwise. Follow these two characters through an investigation that will uncover a conspiracy that reaches staggering proportions and a criminal cartel involving influential people in government.
This is a fast-paced, action-packed novel with a story that feels so real, a relevant setting, and a backstory with compelling references to Iraq. The writing is terrific and the reader is greeted by a unique voice from the beginning and a descriptive style that is as excellent as it is rare. The author knows how to create vivid images in the minds of readers, crafting scenes that are focused and infused with emotional energy. The drama is intense as well and readers will enjoy moments like the encounter between Cavendish and Butcher. Martin Roy Hill has the gift of storytelling, but what caught my attention is the way he gets readers to experience the characters. The story is rich, thanks to the realism that permeates it. I really enjoyed The Butcher's Bill for the great writing and the exceptional storytelling art, and will be on the lookout for more from this author.
The Butcher's Bill is book two in The Linus Schag Thrillers series by Martin Roy Hill and an electrifying read for fans of crime and police stories. A gruesome crime has been committed and a severed head is left at a security company. Evidence points to Bill Butcher, a former Navy SEAL. NCIS agent Linus Schag is brought in to investigate the crime and he can’t believe that his former colleague - “The Butcher” - is responsible for the crime, but there is just too much evidence not to think otherwise. Follow these two characters through an investigation that will uncover a conspiracy that reaches staggering proportions and a criminal cartel involving influential people in government.
This is a fast-paced, action-packed novel with a story that feels so real, a relevant setting, and a backstory with compelling references to Iraq. The writing is terrific and the reader is greeted by a unique voice from the beginning and a descriptive style that is as excellent as it is rare. The author knows how to create vivid images in the minds of readers, crafting scenes that are focused and infused with emotional energy. The drama is intense as well and readers will enjoy moments like the encounter between Cavendish and Butcher. Martin Roy Hill has the gift of storytelling, but what caught my attention is the way he gets readers to experience the characters. The story is rich, thanks to the realism that permeates it. I really enjoyed The Butcher's Bill for the great writing and the exceptional storytelling art, and will be on the lookout for more from this author.
Recommend this book:
High Alert
The Project Book 14
Alex Lukeman
2017 Gold Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite
I spent eight years in the military. I was Army Infantry, but a smart infantry soldier can be used anywhere in the army system, so I had a lot of interesting jobs. I worked a lot with the special forces. These guys are different. They are unique, they are, well…special. I love to read military fiction and some of the best stories are about the special forces. The problem is that I have lived and worked with these guys and some writers just don’t get them, or what they do, right. If you want to read a realistic novel of the special forces and other elite people who work for our government, read High Alert by Alex Lukeman. I have served in Asia, where a lot of the action occurs and, let me tell you, that you are getting a very realistic story.
I liked the characters in High Alert more than I appreciated other elements of the novel. Everything was done well. The setting, the writing itself, the plot. High Alert by Alex Lukeman is a well put together novel. It should be. It is the fourteenth book in The Project Series. You don’t get to do it fourteen times if you are doing it wrong. No, the rest of the elements were done well, it’s just that I fell in love with these characters. They reminded me of people I served with. I knew soldiers just like Ronnie Peete and Lamont Cameron. Reading this book made me miss my days of service.
I spent eight years in the military. I was Army Infantry, but a smart infantry soldier can be used anywhere in the army system, so I had a lot of interesting jobs. I worked a lot with the special forces. These guys are different. They are unique, they are, well…special. I love to read military fiction and some of the best stories are about the special forces. The problem is that I have lived and worked with these guys and some writers just don’t get them, or what they do, right. If you want to read a realistic novel of the special forces and other elite people who work for our government, read High Alert by Alex Lukeman. I have served in Asia, where a lot of the action occurs and, let me tell you, that you are getting a very realistic story.
I liked the characters in High Alert more than I appreciated other elements of the novel. Everything was done well. The setting, the writing itself, the plot. High Alert by Alex Lukeman is a well put together novel. It should be. It is the fourteenth book in The Project Series. You don’t get to do it fourteen times if you are doing it wrong. No, the rest of the elements were done well, it’s just that I fell in love with these characters. They reminded me of people I served with. I knew soldiers just like Ronnie Peete and Lamont Cameron. Reading this book made me miss my days of service.
Recommend this book:
, a chilling thriller by Clint Hollingsworth. In his youth, Mac Crow went to a wilderness survival school and learned how to track and survive in the woods of the Cascade Mountains. Mac's love for the untamed woo...){kind=link}
The Sage Wind Blows Cold
Mac Crow Thrillers Book 1
Clint Hollingsworth
2017 Silver Medal
160 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite
Deep in the forests of Washington state, a blood-thirsty psychopath is on the hunt in The Sage Wind Blows Cold (Mac Crow Thrillers Book 1), a chilling thriller by Clint Hollingsworth. In his youth, Mac Crow went to a wilderness survival school and learned how to track and survive in the woods of the Cascade Mountains. Mac's love for the untamed woods sparked his career as a tracker, and now he works as a bounty hunter, hunting skip-traces in the wilderness. Since Mac is very familiar with the area and an above average tracker, he is called in to help search for a nine-year-old girl who has disappeared from her campsite. Search and Rescue, led by the local Sheriff's office, have been searching for her in the cold and rain for two days with no luck. With little time to waste for a good recovery, Mac immediately begins searching for traces. While following her tracks, Mac discovers that a dangerous interloper, not indigenous to the area, has moved into the woods. This unknown is also tracking the girl, but what are his intentions? When two of the SAR team members fall victim to the predator, not only are the girl's chances of leaving the woods alive declining, but also the lives of those who seek her are at risk. Will Mac's skills make a difference or will any of them leave the wilderness unscathed?
The Sage Wind Blows Cold (Mac Crow Thrillers Book 1) by Clint Hollingsworth is a gripping thriller that will make your blood run cold. It is a brilliantly written book with a scintillating plot and a mesmerizing storyline that climaxes to a smashing finish. The opening chapter is riveting and I couldn't put the book down until the final page. It is an enthralling story with intriguing twists and turns and realistic characters. The characters are easy to love or hate with respect to their individual personalities. Mac is a marvelous protagonist with his down to earth, naturalistic lifestyle, and skills that are comparable to those of Bear Grylls. This is a tremendously exciting thriller, and I am looking forward to experiencing more of Mac's exploits in the future!
Deep in the forests of Washington state, a blood-thirsty psychopath is on the hunt in The Sage Wind Blows Cold (Mac Crow Thrillers Book 1), a chilling thriller by Clint Hollingsworth. In his youth, Mac Crow went to a wilderness survival school and learned how to track and survive in the woods of the Cascade Mountains. Mac's love for the untamed woods sparked his career as a tracker, and now he works as a bounty hunter, hunting skip-traces in the wilderness. Since Mac is very familiar with the area and an above average tracker, he is called in to help search for a nine-year-old girl who has disappeared from her campsite. Search and Rescue, led by the local Sheriff's office, have been searching for her in the cold and rain for two days with no luck. With little time to waste for a good recovery, Mac immediately begins searching for traces. While following her tracks, Mac discovers that a dangerous interloper, not indigenous to the area, has moved into the woods. This unknown is also tracking the girl, but what are his intentions? When two of the SAR team members fall victim to the predator, not only are the girl's chances of leaving the woods alive declining, but also the lives of those who seek her are at risk. Will Mac's skills make a difference or will any of them leave the wilderness unscathed?
The Sage Wind Blows Cold (Mac Crow Thrillers Book 1) by Clint Hollingsworth is a gripping thriller that will make your blood run cold. It is a brilliantly written book with a scintillating plot and a mesmerizing storyline that climaxes to a smashing finish. The opening chapter is riveting and I couldn't put the book down until the final page. It is an enthralling story with intriguing twists and turns and realistic characters. The characters are easy to love or hate with respect to their individual personalities. Mac is a marvelous protagonist with his down to earth, naturalistic lifestyle, and skills that are comparable to those of Bear Grylls. This is a tremendously exciting thriller, and I am looking forward to experiencing more of Mac's exploits in the future!
Recommend this book:
Waking Up in Medellin
Intrigue, Romance, and Suspense in Colombia
Kathryn Lane
2017 Silver Medal
270 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
Waking Up in Medellin: Intrigue, Romance, and Suspense in Colombia by Kathryn Lane is a novel that is fittingly described in the subtitle, a suspenseful romance with a biting spice of intrigue, a pulsating read that is hard to put down. Nikki’s auditing career has brought her face-to-face with all kinds of men. Still recovering from a tragic loss, she accepts this new assignment as a distraction, and now she finds herself in a business world dominated by men, investigating accusations of mismanagement. What she discovers will shock her, and put her in grave danger. As she navigates the dangerous Colombian business world, she has to deal with guns and a powerful attraction for a handsome man that deepens by the hour. Can she keep herself alive in a world filled with danger, where the most innocent passerby could be hiding a gun meant to blow her head off?
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill thriller, but a story with a unique plot and characters that are original and sophisticated. I enjoyed the international setting of this work and the intricate nature of the plot. Nikki is a character that will arouse the interest of readers, one who reminds me of the characters in Sidney Sheldon’s novels. The narrative is impeccable and Kathryn Lane is deft with the first person narrative. Waking Up in Medellin: Intrigue, Romance, and Suspense in Colombia is balanced, masterfully crafted, and engrossing. It is a story with powerful conflicts, escalating swiftly and culminating in a satisfying denouement. I enjoyed the narrative voice and the originality in plot and character.
Waking Up in Medellin: Intrigue, Romance, and Suspense in Colombia by Kathryn Lane is a novel that is fittingly described in the subtitle, a suspenseful romance with a biting spice of intrigue, a pulsating read that is hard to put down. Nikki’s auditing career has brought her face-to-face with all kinds of men. Still recovering from a tragic loss, she accepts this new assignment as a distraction, and now she finds herself in a business world dominated by men, investigating accusations of mismanagement. What she discovers will shock her, and put her in grave danger. As she navigates the dangerous Colombian business world, she has to deal with guns and a powerful attraction for a handsome man that deepens by the hour. Can she keep herself alive in a world filled with danger, where the most innocent passerby could be hiding a gun meant to blow her head off?
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill thriller, but a story with a unique plot and characters that are original and sophisticated. I enjoyed the international setting of this work and the intricate nature of the plot. Nikki is a character that will arouse the interest of readers, one who reminds me of the characters in Sidney Sheldon’s novels. The narrative is impeccable and Kathryn Lane is deft with the first person narrative. Waking Up in Medellin: Intrigue, Romance, and Suspense in Colombia is balanced, masterfully crafted, and engrossing. It is a story with powerful conflicts, escalating swiftly and culminating in a satisfying denouement. I enjoyed the narrative voice and the originality in plot and character.
Recommend this book:
Yeager's Law
An Abel Yeager Novel
Scott Bell
2017 Bronze Medal
260 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Reviewed by Java Davis for Readers' Favorite
Yeager’s Law by Scott Bell is a credible action story. It even had a small twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. The Yeager in the title is Abel Yeager, a divorced ex-Marine turned long distance trucker. His love interest is Charlie Buchanan, a bookshop owner whose ex-husband has involved her bookstore in shady dealings, putting Charlie and their son, David, in extreme danger. Abel’s best friend and former brother-in-law is “Por Que,” a childhood friend and former military chopper pilot. Between stolen money, angry drug lords, and acts of revenge, more than one mob is after Abel and the pallets of books in his missing truck. Good thing Por Que still has a helicopter and an extra pilot and ace mechanic, Cujo, a crazy man who is so brain damaged that he often forgets his given name.
Scott Bell has the background for all the different threads in Yeager’s Law, the first book in Bell’s series about Abel Yeager. His writing style is descriptive, but to the point. The chapter or section titles tell the reader the location of the next chunk of text, so it’s easy to follow along with the many shifts in locale. As the tensions build, these shifts get shorter and choppier, moving the action along quickly. The minor characters are perhaps more cardboard than they could be, but this isn’t enough of a negative to affect a reader’s enjoyment of this very interesting, action-packed story.
Yeager’s Law by Scott Bell is a credible action story. It even had a small twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. The Yeager in the title is Abel Yeager, a divorced ex-Marine turned long distance trucker. His love interest is Charlie Buchanan, a bookshop owner whose ex-husband has involved her bookstore in shady dealings, putting Charlie and their son, David, in extreme danger. Abel’s best friend and former brother-in-law is “Por Que,” a childhood friend and former military chopper pilot. Between stolen money, angry drug lords, and acts of revenge, more than one mob is after Abel and the pallets of books in his missing truck. Good thing Por Que still has a helicopter and an extra pilot and ace mechanic, Cujo, a crazy man who is so brain damaged that he often forgets his given name.
Scott Bell has the background for all the different threads in Yeager’s Law, the first book in Bell’s series about Abel Yeager. His writing style is descriptive, but to the point. The chapter or section titles tell the reader the location of the next chunk of text, so it’s easy to follow along with the many shifts in locale. As the tensions build, these shifts get shorter and choppier, moving the action along quickly. The minor characters are perhaps more cardboard than they could be, but this isn’t enough of a negative to affect a reader’s enjoyment of this very interesting, action-packed story.
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