Dies Irae (Scott Dryco Book 3) by BV Lawson

A mysterious music puzzle. A murdered coed. Sinister secrets. Three years ago, Scott Drayco left the FBI after an incident involving his partner, Mark “Sarg” Sargosian. Now a freelance crime consultant, Drayco often helps law enforcement on cases, but he never imagined his estranged former partner would turn up on his doorstep, pleading for Drayco’s help. A coed at an elite Washington, D.C., private college has been murdered, and the victim’s friend, Sarg’s own daughter Tara, might be the next target. The killer left behind a puzzling music code at the crime scene, and Drayco soon learns he has two things in common with the murdered girl – a music background and synesthesia. The case takes an even stranger turn after a second murder and a second music code, with signs pointing toward a possible ritualistic killer. Then, Drayco himself starts receiving coded messages . . .

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Dyrco made me a little upset in Dies Irae. Only because of Darcie though… There’s just somethin about her that I don’t like, at all. Every time she comes around, I’m praying he says ITS OVER!!!! Yes, that’s weird, but he deserves someone a lot better. I feel as if she is just there for fun. And gossip, of course. I don’t thinks there’s really a connection outside of the bedroom… and Dryco knows this too!

Nelia…. She is in a tough spot. Abusive, disease ridden husband. She has a strong connection with Dryco. She’s tough, a great cop with bigger dreams she had to put on hold. Why cant she be single? Dryco belongs with her, out of all other options so far.

To the point now… There’s a killer on the Parkhurst campus. After the first murder, the FBI is called in. Only after a letter containing music is found Dryco was called to consult with them on the case. He’s teamed up with his old partner, ‘Sarg,’ and we get the answers for why he left the FBI.

The murder is at first believed to be due to some kind of love triangle. When a second victim shows up, things change quickly. The FBI and local police believe it was a murder-suicide. Luckily Dryco didn’t believe that, and refused to give up searching for the truth.

He believed it was all somehow linked to a synesthesia study being conducted on campus. While hiding out from being arrested (for not giving up the investigation) with Nelia, he receives a phone call from Tara, Sarg’s daughter. She had been kidnapped, bound and was being transported to an unknown location. And the dummies left her phone on her, you’d think they would know better…

After a string of arsons, Dryco had a good idea of where she was being taken to. After leaving Nelia in the car to call for backup, he goes in alone. Not noticing an alcove gets him drugged and knocked out. When he awakens, he notices Nelia peaking around the corner where no one else could see had noticed her. He gives a signel and on three they jump into action. Startling the murderer, who knocks over a bucket of gasoline (close to a fire), and his female accomplice who takes off running.

Nelia chases the woman while Dryco brings Tara out to safety, away from the fire and smoke. When returning inside to retrieve the man, he’s standing in the middle of the fire, completely engulfed in flames. Dryco instead retrieves his gun from the ground and shoots the man dead, fulfilling an earlier promise…

I know I left out names, and tried not to give too many details. It was hard, as I could go on and on about Dryco. Especially him and Darcie, or Nelia. I just want my friend to be happy and loved, is that too much to ask? Anyway, if you read Dies Irae, you’ll understand why I didn’t give names. It would completely ruin it for you 😦

I finished this book wanting more, as always! BV Lawson is working her way higher on my favs list with every book! The characters jump off the page and pull you into the story on every single page. When Dryco is playing the piano, I may have no clue what it actually is but I hear beautiful music, and see him sitting there playing it… I’m afraid I’m addicted 🙂

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Word Crush Wednesday

I believe this speaks for itself 🙂

Gone (Gone Series Book 1) by Stacy Claflin

One poor decision will haunt her forever.

Macy Mercer only wants a little independence. Eager to prove herself grown up, she goes to a dark, secluded park. She’s supposed to meet the boy of her dreams who she met online. But the cute fifteen year old was a fantasy, his pictures fake. She finds herself face to face with Chester Woodran, a man capable of murder.

Distraught over his own missing daughter, Chester insists that Macy replace his lost girl. He locks Macy up, withholds food, and roughs her up, demanding that she call him dad. Under duress from his constant threats and mind games, her hold on reality starts to slip. Clinging to her memories is the only way of holding onto her true identity, not believing that she is Chester’s daughter. Otherwise she may never see her family again.

Gone is the first novel in the Gone saga, a trilogy of psychological suspense thrillers. If you enjoy page turning suspense with constant twists and turns, then you’ll love this nail-biting read.

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Macy thought she knew exactly what she was doing. All her friends were dating, and going out on weekends. Not Macy, she wasn’t allowed to date until she turned 16. So she decided to take things into her own hands.

After chatting online with a sweet, caring, baseball player from another town Macy decided to meet up with him. She snuck out of the house to meet him at a park to go ‘hang out’ at the mall. When he was running late she received a text saying his dad would pick her up(alarms going off). When the ‘dad’ showed up a few minutes later, Macy started having second and third thoughts.

After ignoring her bad feelings about this, she jumped in the truck with him. After he makes a wrong turn Macy decides she wants out. Only, he doesn’t let her. He locks the doors, and she realizes it wont open. She is at some point knocked out, and put in the back of his truck. Although she’s a vegan, and he already knew this, he makes her eat a greasy burger. That’s just the beginning of her problems.

When they finally stop, Macy is kept in a storm cellar of sorts under a barn. He leaves her there for days without food or water. Finally, she can get out of the cellar, all she has to do is call him ‘daddy’. Then pretend to be Heather. His Heather. Sounds pretty easy, right? I don’t think so…

Macy then has to be Heather 24 hours a day. Its hard for her. She is trying to keep who she really is while pretending to be someone else. Her only hope of escaping becomes her ‘grandparents’. Although they are really Heathers grandparents, and didn’t realize she wasn’t Heather, they strike a bond.

Gone is the first book in the Gone Series by Stacy Claflin. I for one, will be reading the rest of this series. Macy is such a brave young girl, I really hope she escapes. Maybe putting her capturer in the place he belongs once and for all. Cant wait to see where this series goes, and how everything works out!

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Out Of The Ashes (Embers and Ashes Book 2) by TK Chapin

Firefighter Kane McCormick is one of the younger guys down at fire station 9. While he is charming and attractive, he has a quick temper that often gets him into more trouble than he’d like. When one unlucky night lands him behind bars, Kane is forced to deal with the hard reality of his mother’s rapidly deteriorating health. Experience by experience Kane begins to see how much bigger God is than his problems. Just as he thinks he has it all figured out, a family secret comes to light that might ruin everything.

Fire can destroy, but it also can cleanse. It holds the power to make new what was once old. It is through these fires in our lives that we are refined into something more than we once were. When we lose ourselves, we gain Jesus. Out of the Ashes is a contemporary Christian romance novel that dives deep into the heart of a believer that is struggling. Kane, just like everyone else, is not perfect, but he has a desire to know God. This Christian Romance novel will inspire you, move you and start a fire in your heart.

A must read for every born-again Christian reader that is seeking a great Contemporary Christian Romance with a little heat.

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I knew Kane was going to become someone very special when reading Amongst the Flames. I had no idea though, he would turn out this great. Showing others Gods love is a huge part of believing in Him. Kane shows us just how to do that in Out of the Ashes.

With lots of anger already, Kane is suspended from his job as a firemen due to a bar room fight. Then he learns his moms cancer is back. This time though, there is nothing the doctors can do for her.

With time off from work Kane decides to watch his nephew for a couple days to let his sister visit with their mom. Kane and Christopher get to become good friends. One day when the electric goes out, they go to the park to play baseball. Christopher had never played before and really liked it. This is where they meet Kristen, and her son Blake. Blake and Christopher became quick friends. Kane and Chris were invited to their church’s barbeque the next day. Thankfully, they went and Chris made a lot of new friends. He was even invited to a LAN party that night.

That was also the same time Kane’s mom took a turn for the worse according to his sister, Emily. When Kane went to visit her that afternoon, his mom wanted to go walk a trail they always went to as kids. He of course took her. The next day he got the news she was gone.

This tore Kane up, he went back to that trail with liquor and ended up falling in a ravine. When waking up, Cole was there. After talking, Kane made the decision to stop drinking, and give his life to God, completely this time.

After going back to his sisters house and talking with Emily and Chris, he too made the decision to give his life completely to God. Chris even came clean about using drugs to his mom, and admitted he doesn’t feel the need for them any longer. Emily, the once Christian skeptic, didn’t put down on them but didn’t join them either.

A few days later they all got a huge shock. They had a brother, and he was given all their moms money in the will. Timothy was given up for adoption when he was born. He’s had drug problems, money problems, and a greedy adoptive family. In a note he received from their mother, he was suppose to use the money for specific things. Honestly, I didn’t think he would listen. Kane had faith in him, and ended up convincing Emily not to contest the will.

Life goes on… and this between Kane and Kristen heat up…

Kane, Cole, Micah, Brian and Rick all went to a men’s retreat the church along with others in the area were holding. At breakfast the first day a last minute speaker was added. He began his speech talking about the person that changed his life. It was Kane McCormick. Because Kane sought out Timothy, and wouldn’t stop until they talked and got to know each other a little better it changed his life.

Timothy decided not to listen to his uncle. He was instead going to follow the list his mother gave him, and do everything she wanted. Timothy also decided to live for God, and gave up the drugs and drinking for good.

I know I kind of skipped around some, and left out some stuff too. Please forgive me, but this could end up being a book about a book if I let it. I believe I liked this book better that the first of the series. It shows more real life situations, outside of marriage. And of course, the kindness and forgiveness that is always a part of a true Christian. Love it! Hope y’all enjoy it too. And, if you haven’t yet, go check out TK Chapin.

I received a complementary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts and opinions are all mine.

Redwood Violet by Robin Mahle

The first book in the thrilling series, Redwood Violet will keep you firmly in its grip and refuse to let go!

Katie Reid is living the quintessential Southern California life. A dream job and her college sweetheart Spencer, top it all off. Now, if only the nightmares would stop. Haunting her for months and getting worse, Katie can no longer handle them on her own.

After seeking help, it becomes apparent that she is dealing with something much deeper and much more sinister. Her only solution is to delve into a past that no one wants her to remember.

Katie soon finds herself drawn into a world mired in evil and lost innocence and Detective Marshall Avery must work to help her channel the pain and anger that he knows all too well.

But will he be able to contain Katie’s desire for vengeance that has begun to unravel her perfect life?

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To be completely honest, I didn’t even realize this was a series until I looked up the blurb on Amazon. But it makes perfect sense that this could not be contained to just one book. I would have been very, very, very upset with that.

Poor Katie, she has been living her whole life not knowing something that had a HUGE impact on her whole family, but mostly herself. These nightmares aren’t just regular dreams, they are memories that have been suppressed for almost twenty years. Now that she knows the truth her whole life is changing.

Katie doesn’t know what to do, or who to trust. Spencer is trying to be supportive while telling her to pretty much forget the whole thing. Could you do that, Spencer? I think not! Katie’s life has been flipped upside down and she now feels as though she is losing the small support system she once had.

Stemming from this new part of her life, Katie decides to take another job in the agency she works for to learn more about actual case work. This bring her closer to Detective Marshall Avery, and farther away from Spencer. Detective Avery is trying to help Katie find answers, or more memories. However he can help her, he is trying it. Spencer on the other hand is giving up, and running away from this new person Katie has become.

After losing her fiancé, and gaining a new friend Katie finds her dreams staying the same. After practically giving up on it all, she receives a letter. Its from him. Now her dream comes back in full force, only better. This time she is able to identify him.

That’s where this book ends, and I go shopping for the next of the series. Robin Mahle is quickly gaining my ‘fandom’. I’m in love with this series and cant wait to see what happens next.

Redwood Violet

All The Shiny Things

Law of Five

Gone Unnoticed

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Linked (Cage of Lies Book 2) by Susanne Valenti

In a world she never knew existed, Maya is coming to terms with how much her life has changed. Danger lurks around every corner, nothing is as she expects and she’s never felt so alive. But the choices she makes could change everything and jeopardise the things she cherishes most. There is so much to learn and so much to love but her heart is pulling her back. The Guardians are hiding in the shadow cast by their Wall, concealing the truth from the people inside. It’s a shadow that darkens her happiness and she can’t stop fighting until the truth comes to light. It would be easier to walk away but Maya has never run from anything and she’s not about to start now.

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OH MY GOSH!!! I’m still kinda shocked, and my face a little tear stained…but Ill try to start from the beginning.

Linked brings us a bunch of new characters. I cant agree their all good, but they are obviously needed. Blane is the one you will love, he turn out to be a really great ally. Gregor is in love with Alicia and bordering on crazy. Luca, you will love to hate him. Cant wait to see why he has a HUGE chip on his shoulder though (we will find out?!?!). Then there’s Crystal. Her and Coal used to have a ‘thing’ and she doesn’t want anyone to forget it, or ignore her. These new characters all have a way of making things interesting.

On to the story…. There’s a new mission 🙂 Yes, they went again. Only it didn’t work out exactly as planned. They ended up taking a detour to save Maya. She was kidnapped by some idiots! Yes, I say that because they weren’t very smart in the beginning. Did they really think they would get a ransom for her? They were very wrong. She ended up escaping before her friends could make it to her. They all meet up in the forest (Maya, her friends, the men who kidnapped her, and the Creepers!). It was a big fight and the Creepers ran away, crying again 🙂 They did help to save the kidnappers though.

Then finally, they get to head for the city!!!! I was so excited for this part. Maya thought her parents were dead for years, she was all alone. Now she knows their alive and she has a chance to free/save them? Well yeah, lets go! But of course other things get in the way. Not only do they have to walk for days but they but also a longggg time walking through mud. This mud just so happens to hide creatures that are eating men…. No thank you!

But after the mud they get to spend some time on a beautiful beach. Which was great because they all needed to bathe!

The relationships in this book kind of surprised me. Maya and Coal make a great couple. Their fierce, focused and plenty capable. But then you throw in Taylor and Crystal, it makes the relationship seem that much better! Taylor and Crystal are not together, just getting in the way! I love Hunter and Laurie together. They seem to enjoy it too. Now if only Alicia an Taylor would get together it would all work or good… Or that’s what I thought until the last couple chapters…

Now I’m just sad. I understand sometimes we have to part with characters, but why (tears)!! I am worried about Maya and Alicia. And I’m hoping Taylor doesn’t get any ideas now…I still don’t think he has a chance, just saying!

I guess I have rambled on enough… Even though I have a million more things I could say, I’m afraid I’ll be ruining it for you 😦 So check Susanne Valenti and Cage of Lies out!!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts and opinions are all mine.