If I Run by Terri Blackstock

January 23, 2016

If I Run by Terri Blackstock was another great suspense/thriller novel. This is the 4th book I have read by this author, and I am starting to think that she can’t write a bad book. I always get sucked into the books from the first chapter right up through the end of the book. Once the book ends I find that I am usually sad because I have fallen in love with the characters and hate that the book has ended, and this book was no different. I wasn’t sure if I liked Casey throughout most of the book but in the end, I did enjoy her. I had a soft spot for Dylan because of the things he went through and for being a veteran. I love this book because I wasn’t able to figure it out super early on which means that I love it. If you love suspense/thriller books, I know you will love this book as much as I do.

About The Book

Casey knows the truth.

But it won’t set her free.

Casey Cox’s DNA is all over the crime scene. There’s no use talking to police; they have failed her abysmally before. She has to flee before she’s arrested . . . or worse. The truth doesn’t matter anymore.

But what is the truth? That’s the question haunting Dylan Roberts, the war-weary veteran hired to find Casey. PTSD has marked him damaged goods, but bringing Casey back can redeem him. Though the crime scene seems to tell the whole story, details of the murder aren’t adding up. Casey Cox doesn’t fit the profile of a killer. But are Dylan’s skewed perceptions keeping him from being objective? If she isn’t guilty, why did she run?

Unraveling her past and the evidence that condemns her will take more time than he has, but as Dylan’s damaged soul intersects with hers, he is faced with two choices. The girl who occupies his every thought is a psychopathic killer . . . or a selfless hero. And the truth could be the most deadly weapon yet.

About The Author

Terri Blackstock has sold over six million books worldwide and is a New York Times bestselling author. She is the award-winning author of “Intervention,” “Vicious Cycle,” and “Downfall,” as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, Restoration, and Moonlighters.

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The Body In The Landscape by Larissa Reinhart

January 20, 2016

The Body In The Landscape by Larissa Reinhart was an okay book. I wasn’t a huge fan of the story but it was well written and I am sure that most people would enjoy this story. I want to check out other books by this author because I loved the authors writing style and I try not to write an author off if I don’t like the first book I read by them. This is the 5th book in the series and it is the first one I have read. I was able to understand what was going on in this book but it would have been nice to read the other books first because then I would have known the back story but you can just read this one and understand what is going on. If you love chick lit books than I am sure you will like this one. I think one of the things that turned me off of this book is the fact that part of it has to do with hunting and I am not a fan of that. That being said there isn’t to much of that in the book but it just turned me off right from the start.

About The Book

“Anyone who likes humorous mysteries will also enjoy local author Larissa Reinhart, who captures small town Georgia in the laugh-out-loud escapades of struggling artist Cherry Tucker.” – Fayette Woman Magazine

“Cherry is a quirky spitfire who lights the match that sets her little town on fire.” – Dru’s Book Musings

When Cherry Tucker’s invited to paint the winning portrait for Big Rack Lodge’s Hogzilla hunt, it seems like a paid vacation. Back home in Halo, a Hatfield-McCoy-style standoff builds between Luke and Cherry’s families. She’s ready for a weekend away, hobnobbing with rich and famous hunters, where she can forget her troubles and nobody knows her name.

As Georgia sunshine turns to bleak December rain, Cherry’s R&R goes MIA when she finds a body in the woods. While the police believe the local drunk took an accidental spill, Cherry has her doubts, particularly when a series of malicious pranks are targeted at the rifle toting contestants. With loyal companions at her side—sort-of-ex-husband Todd and a championship bayer named Buckshot—Cherry tracks suspects through a forest full of pitfalls and perils. And all the while, a killer’s stalking the hunt party with a bead on Cherry.

About The Author

The 2015 Georgia Author of the Year finalist for best mystery, Larissa writes with a particular focus on sassy female characters with a penchant for trouble. The Cherry Tucker Mystery series is published by Henery Press. The first in the series, PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY (2012), is a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, 2012 The Emily finalist, and 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner. STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW, HIJACK IN ABSTRACT, and DEATH IN PERSPECTIVE follow, with the Cherry Tucker novella, QUICK SKETCH, in the anthology, HEARTACHE MOTEL, as a prequel to PORTRAIT. The fifth Cherry Tucker Mystery, THE BODY IN THE LANDSCAPE, releases December 15,, 2015.

Although Larissa calls Georgia home, she has moved back and forth from Japan over the years and is now living in Nagoya, Japan, with her family and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit. Visit her website or find her chatting at her Facebook page, Twitter, Tumblr, and Goodreads.

A personal note: I love interacting with readers, but I don’t comment on individual reviews to respect the privacy of reviewers. I really appreciate you taking the time to give feedback and I do encourage readers to contact me through private messaging if you want to ask a question or chat!

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Ian Leaf’s Fraud, Fraudsters and Scams #IanLeaf

January 14, 2016

Ian Leaf’s Fraud, Fraudsters and Scams was an interesting book to read. I am glad it was a shorter book because I don’t know that I could have gotten through it if it had been longer. This book walks you through setting up an Instagram account for your business as well as what to post on it and how to use hashtags and think like that. I haven’t gotten into Instagram for my blog but after reading this book, I think I am going to try and see if it really will help me build a bigger audience. This book is written in plain English and isn’t something that you wouldn’t understand if you are 100% knowledgeable on Instagram and how it works. I am going to test out what this book says to do and in a few months, I will come back and let you know how it all worked out for me.

About The Book

With the world around us changing at a seemingly breakneck pace and technological advancements radically altering the manner in which we communicate and do business with each other, far too many people are falling prey to fraudsters who understand all too well how to take advantage of our rapidly changing world. Ian Leaf’s newest work focuses on addressing this important issue by demonstrating how people can utilize new and innovative social media platforms like Instagram without placing themselves at risk of being scammed in some unforeseen way.

In “Fraud, Fraudsters and Scams – What to Watch for on Instagram,” Ian Leaf uses his professional expertise to demonstrate the safest methodologies available regarding the effective use of Instagram, Facebook and other social media platforms that are becoming increasingly critical communication tools for both personal use and for enhanced brand awareness. Through Leaf’s new book, consumers, brand managers, entrepreneurs and others can continue to experience the many benefits made possible through effective social media use while eliminating any concerns relating to being taken advantage of by those engaged in deceptive behavior and outright acts of fraud.

Leaf’s text begins by sharing similar circumstances he experienced with fraudsters taking advantage of consumers using Amazon’s platform, outlining how his efforts revealed this unscrupulous behavior and ensured that consumers were able to conduct business without the negative influence of scammers going to great lengths to manipulate product reviews for their own financial gain. His success in exposing this fraudulent behavior is not an isolated incident, as Leaf has enjoyed a long professional career in fraud detection and has assisted many consumers in learning how to recognize fraud and how to defend against being victimized.

The book also covers some of the more practical aspects of social media use, as Leaf takes the time to go through the step-by-step processes involved in registering for an Instagram account and setting it up for personal or professional use. The educational components cover both simple and complex issues relating to social media use, from explaining how to effectively employ the use of a hashtag to detailing how to link multiple social media accounts so they are thoroughly protected from the tactics commonly used by scammers and fraudsters. With practical advice, straightforward explanations and rare insight, Ian Leaf’s “Fraud, Fraudsters and Scams – What to Watch for on Instagram” provides valuable information for anyone who wishes to avoid the consequences of being victimized by fraudsters while using various social media platforms.

About The Author

My name is Ian Leaf, founder of Ian Leaf Corporation, which is built to serve those to feel safer in their communities. I am also the starter of Ian Leaf HFC which serves as an individual department within the corporation to stop scam, schemes and fraud. All schemes that have been found out and reviewed here are tagged with Ian Leaf Scam, Ian Leaf Tax and Ian Leaf Tax Fraud. This ruling also goes to shining the spotlight on the cons of these schemes by tagging them with the phrase, “Ian Leaf Fraudster”.

The purpose of this blog is to expose scams and cons with any information we have back home at Ian Leaf Corporation and Ian Leaf HFC in order to keep you and your loved ones safe from the threat fraudsters and schemes pose. Check back regularly as evil never sleeps and new information is published ASAP.

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20 Short Ones by Dan Salerno

January 13, 2016

20 Short Ones by Dan Salerno was a good book that I was able to get through pretty quickly. I loved that each story in this book can teach you something different and I was able to learn from each one. I love that this book has god in it and things like that but none of it is shoved down your throat so even if you aren’t super religious I still think you would enjoy this book. If I has to pick a favorite story it would be the second story in the book. I liked this one because I could see myself in Tilley and I felt so bad for her. If you love reading short stories than I know you will love this book because you can just read one or two of them when you have a few extra minutes to your self.

About The Book

Human relationships can be intriguing, heartbreaking, funny, frustrating, and soulful (among other things). Sometimes all at the same time.

20 Short Ones takes you from Northern Ireland to New York and places in between. Each story offers a snapshot experience and an opportunity to emotionally relate to the age-old mystery of how friendships (romantic or otherwise) happen, told from a faith perspective.

This book is written from a faith-based (Judeo-Christian) point of view so if you’re a fan of Christian Fiction, 20 Short Ones is for you!

About The Author

Dan Salerno has traveled to Northern Ireland five times and to Japan (once) on mission trips. This was before he lived in New York City for eight years, earning a master’s degree in social research while working for the National Coalition for the Homeless. After that he worked and lived at the Catholic Worker’s Joseph House near the Bowery, before moving back to the Midwest.

He eventually returned to New York and worked for a children’s ministry in Brooklyn, NY for 16 months soon after 9/11.

20 Short Ones, published by Westbow Press (a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing)is his first book. It’s an engaging collection of short stores each focusing on how relationships (romantic and otherwise) begin, told from a faith-filled (Judeo-Christian) perspective.

You can read a preview of 20 Short Ones on the Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Westbow Press and Christian Family Stores websites.

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Mermaid Moon by Colleen Coble

January 12, 2016

Mermaid Moon by Colleen Coble is the second book in the Sunset Cove series. I haven’t read the first book in the series so I am not sure what it was about but I do wish now that I would have read the other book because I did wonder about some of the back stories. With that being said you will be fine and able to get through the book without reading them in order but is plan on reading the series then I would start with the first book.

Anyway, let’s get on to the review for this book. I really like this book from the first chapter through the end of the book. Even though I was able to understand what was happening I do wish that I was able to know parts of the back story but that is mainly because I am super nosy and just wonder what happened to Mallory’s mom and that back story but that didn’t make the book hard to understand. I don’t know that I have ever read a book by Colleen Coble that I haven’t liked and this another amazing book by her. She was a way of making you sit on the edge of your seat and her writing also makes me love her characters. If you are looking for amazing books than I would for sure check out any books by her. If you love mystery/suspense novels then you will love this book as much as I do.

About The Book

Mallory’s mother died fifteen years ago. But her father’s last words on the phone were unmistakable: “Find . . . mother.” Shame and confusion have kept Mallory Davis from her home for the last fifteen years, but when her dad mysteriously dies on his mail boat route, she doesn’t have any choice but to go back to Mermaid Point. Mallory believes her father was murdered and childhood sweetheart Kevin O’Connor, game warden in Downeast Maine, confirms her suspicions. But Kevin is wary of helping Mallory in her search. She broke his heart—and left—without a word, years ago. When Mallory begins receiving threats on her own life—and her beloved teenage daughter, Haylie—their search intensifies. There’s a tangled web within the supposed murder, and it involves much more than what meets the eye. As answers begin to fall into place, Mallory realizes her search is about more than finding her father’s killer—it is also about finding herself again . . . and possibly about healing what was broken so long ago with Kevin. She just has to stay alive long enough to put all the pieces together.

About The Author

Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide.Seagrass Pier, the third installment in her acclaimed Hope Beach series, marks a new highpoint for emotion and complexity in Coble’s addictive brand of romantic suspense.

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The Promise of Forgiveness by Marin Thomas

January 6, 2016

The Promise of Forgiveness by Marin Thomas wasn’t my favorite book but I did enjoy it. I wasn’t a huge fan of any of the characters when I started the book but after I was a few chapters in I started to like Ruby and her daughter Mia. I liked Mia because even though she acted like she did I could see a lot of myself in her because I too had a rough childhood so I understand on some level why she acted like she did. I enjoyed watching as Ruby & Mia both learned to loved and how to live. If you are looking for a light-hearted book I wouldn’t recommend this book to you because there are tough things talked about and at times it was hard for me to read. If you love reading books that teach you something and that at times make you take a look at your own life than I know you will love this book just as much as I did.

About The Book

A novel of love, forgiveness, and the unbreakable bonds of family from award-nominated author Marin Thomas . . .

When it comes to family, Ruby Baxter hasn’t had much luck. The important men in her early life abandoned her, and any time a decent boyfriend came along, she ran away. But now Ruby is thirty and convinced she is failing her teenage daughter. Mia is the one good thing in her life, and Ruby hopes a move to Kansas will fix what’s broken between them.

But the road to redemption takes a detour. Hank McArthur, the biological father Ruby never knew existed, would like her to claim her inheritance: a dusty oil ranch just outside of Unforgiven, Oklahoma.

As far as first impressions go, the gruff, emotionally distant rancher isn’t what Ruby has hoped for in a father. Yet Hank seems to have a gift for rehabilitating abused horses—and for reaching Mia. And if Ruby wants to entertain the possibility of a relationship with Joe Smith, the ranch foreman, she must find a way to open her heart to the very first man who left her behind.

About The Author

Born in Janesville, Wisconsin. Graduated from the University of Arizona in Tucson. Married my college sweetheart in a five-minute ceremony in Las Vegas. FYI: I only post reviews of the books I enjoyed reading.

I write women’s fiction for Berkley/NAL Trade and western romances for Harlequin Books. My current release is A Cowboy’s Redemption, book 1 in my newest series, Cowboys of the Rio Grande. My first women’s fiction novel, The Promise of Forgiveness,will be released March 2016.