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Unlikely in Love (A Parker Lake Novel Book 1) by Olivia Sherwood – Review by Toni Sellers

Unlikely in Love (A Parker Lake Novel, #1)Unlikely in Love by Ashlie Knapp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Who doesn’t love a good small-town romance?
Annie has to change her college plans after her grandma dies and leaves her the family farm and a small fortune. In comes Wyatt who was the most popular boy in school to help her on the farm and well it all starts there. This book is so well written you fall in love with the characters. I want to Live in this amazing small town

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Unlikely in Love ( A Parker Lake Novel Book 1 ) by Olivia Sherwood – Review by Carla Clemmons

Unlikely in Love (A Parker Lake Novel, #1)Unlikely in Love by Ashlie Knapp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This sweet romance is a great start to the series! I absolutely love the small town in this story. All of the characters are amazing and I would love to have as friends. This author is really good with feel good romance and witty banter. I love Annie and her comfort in being herself. Wyatt is such a patient and loving character. I love this town and these characters. I have already read book 2 not realizing it was a series. You can read them as a stand alone but I highly recommend the whole series!

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Unlikely to Tell (A Parker Lake Novel Book 4) by Olivia Sherwood Review by Trish Ann

Unlikely to Tell (A Parker Lake Novel Book 4)Unlikely to Tell by Olivia Sherwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the fourth installment of this series. I’ve enjoyed the others but I think the storyline of this one was my favorite. I really enjoyed the characters, particularly Karen. Brody was a great pairing for her and it was enjoyable to watch their story unfold. I am glad to have read the others in the series first but it could be read as a standalone in my opinion.

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The Vardoger Boy (The Forerunner Saga Book 2) by Jay Veloso Batista – Review by Bobbi Wagner

The Vardoger Boy (Forerunner Series)The Vardoger Boy by Jay Veloso Batista
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this fantasy adventure story. This is the second book in this series which is just as great as the first. This is a well written story about Thorfinn, his clan and the war battles that they seem to find themselves in. I really enjoy Thorfinn and what he brings to the story. He is my favorite of all the characters. A strong, engaging character that is supportive of others. I enjoyed being pulled into the story from the start. The author did a great job of details to make me feel as if I was right there with the characters. This is a fast paced, engaging story that has great growth and is hard to put down. You don’t want to miss what happens next to Thorfinn. I highly recommend this book.

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Review by @bjwagner

Squid (Moto X Book 5) by Brooke May – Review by Tracy Manderson

SquidSquid by Brooke May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have read a few books written by this author and she didn’t disappoint me in this book either even though the main character is an A$$ everyone has their heart broken one time or another but we get over it and move on and grow up. The story line is awesome and different and the way this author describes the scenery is great.

Levi Crowe is known as the party boy he has all the money he needs and a body that woman drool over. Nobody knows why he is like this. After being rejected for the first time he is stunned and a series of events makes him make get his life back on track he runs into the first woman who rejected him Kindle James. Now mot only does he have to prove himself to family and friends now he has to prove the Kindle that he is a changes man.

What made Levi to become a playboy? Will he change his ways and how long before he changes? Will, he change for a woman or for himself?

You will have to read this great story….

Tracy
@tracym

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Jake the Growling Dog Shares His Trail (Jake the Growling Dog Book 3) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Jaimie Salmon-Colburn

Jake the Growling Dog Shares His Trail: A Children's Picture Book about Sharing, Disability Awareness, Kindness, and Overcoming FearsJake the Growling Dog Shares His Trail: A Children’s Picture Book about Sharing, Disability Awareness, Kindness, and Overcoming Fears by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have read the other books in this series and find them all adorable and a great way to teach kids about different things. In this case, the book is about overcoming fears and worries. This book starts with Jake out on his normal neighborhood trail when he meets up with his squirrel friend Neet. As they continue along the trail they find some tracks that they don’t know. Neet thinks that they’re from an alien from another planet! Jake comes up with a few ideas as he gets more and more scared. They move off the trail and catch the new scent as they started to hear a rustling sound coming near. They both dive to their bellies in fear. The scent and noise pass, but neither friend had the courage to move their paws from their eyes and look at what the strange creature was that passed by. Jake runs home and doesn’t sleep well thinking about it all night. When Neet meets up with Jake the next morning she looks like she lost sleep as well. They plan on going out with some other friends to find the creature on Jake’s trail. Along the way they find a new friend. The new friend ends up helping them with the mystery! Jake feels silly about being so scared, but learns that just because the tracks were different and new didn’t mean that the animal they belonged to would be mean and scary. Such a cute book. At the end of the book it has more information to help parents teacher their kids about fears and some tips on getting passed them. It also talks about helping others, donating, meeting new people, and appreciating differences in others as well. I would defiantly recommend this book to younger kids ages 5-10.

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Reviewed by @jaimie0459

Romance under Aquarius (Stargazing Series Book 1) by Danielle Jacks – Review by Jaymie Johnston

Romance Under AquariusRomance Under Aquarius by Danielle Jacks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this book. The characters were interesting and the plot flowed nicely. The way it combined the story of a human and a mermaid, and their intersection, was unique. Atlantis is one of those fascinating topics that contains so much mystery it’s neat to hear a story about it. Overall a cute romantic story combined with a mythological/astrological element that doesn’t disappoint.

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Oliver, A Story of Adoption by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jaimie Salmon-Colburn

Oliver: A Story about AdoptionOliver: A Story about Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a great teaching book for younger kids. Being adopted has many struggles that can come up. It teaches kids that many people imagine different lives when they are in trouble and/or upset and that it is normal. Especially when you’ve been adopted and don’t know much about your birth family. The book follows an adopted lizard named Oliver. Oliver is playing and climbs a little tree that he is pretending is a pirate ship. The tree is young and because of Oliver’s weight and the tree’s flexible branches he falls overboard onto the grass and hurts his hip. As he’s in his room upset and thinking about how to play more safely he thinks about his birth parents. He imagines many different things. He thinks about a different life that he could be living if he wasn’t in his room upset. It’s a cute book and the pictures are fun. My now 7 year old enjoyed the book very much when we read it together at bedtime. It was also a great book to read and then talk about adopted families and how other kids may feel.

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Reviewed by @jaimie0459

Oliver, A Story About Adoption by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Oliver: A Story about AdoptionOliver: A Story about Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oliver is a young boy who lives with his mummy, daddy and goldfish and he likes to play pirates in his street, but one day when he decides to climb the maple tree which looks like a mast, the branches aren’t strong enough to hold him, so he falls down onto his hip. When his daddy comes out to see if he is ok, he talks to Oliver about playing safely and send him up to his room to think about what has happened. While he is up there Oliver dreams about what it would be like if he was living with his birth parents, what would his life look like? Would it be exciting like a trapeze artist, or a scientist? Do other people wish for another life and what should Oliver do with all these thoughts?

This is a story which talks about a challenging subject in a fantastic way, which children of all ages can understand whether they adopted, or not.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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No Pistol Tastes the Same (PTSD Disaster Book 1) by Jacob Paul Patchen – Review by Kerry Carr

No Pistol Tastes the SameNo Pistol Tastes the Same by Jacob Paul Patchen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow I really don’t know where to start with this book. It is very rare I read a book and feel completely overwhelmed with emotion as I have with this book. It is mainly about a man who has been to war, fought to protect his country and is left with PTSD and the impact it has not only on him but his family and those around him.
I have heard of PTSD before and I kinda understood it however this book has taken that understanding to a whole other level. My heart literally breaks for our lead character JP. You feel every emotion he and fear he goes through. The author writes it in such a way it is if your feeling these emotions yourself. The feelings of guilt for now reacting to save his fellow man on the battle field to complete feelings of hopelessness and terror at the simple noises and sounds of everyday life.
We also see the story from his wife’s side to. How she is desperate to save the man she loves and how desperately she wants him back to be the father her son remembers.

Also from this there is also an event happening in the world that isn’t too far fetched that you think it will never happen. Could this impending disaster be enough to bring JP back? Or will his demons to be too much to over come that the result of this event will have no impact on his already devastated life and family.

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No Pistol Tastes the Same (PTSD Disaster Book 1) by Jacob Paul Patchen – Review by Jenni Bishop

No Pistol Tastes the SameNo Pistol Tastes the Same by Jacob Paul Patchen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jacob has done extremely well in delivering an emotional Military thriller story that shows the effects of a cold hard war not only on the outside but deep within the mind that has been scared. A fight that continues long after the war has ended. But the lack of support for these men and women who sacrifice and often get nothing in return blows my mind.

The story of Sergeant Grimm coming home after witnessing the atrocities of war is insightful and well executed and the plot is well thought out. Trying to fit in in a world that is no longer familiar a world that no longer fits him.

PTSD is a psychological war within itself and once locked in it is hard to escape. I have battled this disease for many years. So, this story hit home a lot. It is a disease that affects not only the sufferer but everyone around them. But what is sad that if the disease is not visible like a broken arm, then many do not understand the fight within.

You need to grab a copy and dig in to a story that is anything but flowers and sparkly things it is.

 

Reviewed by @jennadb

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No Pistol Tastes the Same (PTSD Disaster Book 1) by Jacob Paul Patchen – Review by Alison Risher

No Pistol Tastes the SameNo Pistol Tastes the Same by Jacob Paul Patchen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Despite the dark nature of the title, this book is actually full of hope for someone living with PTSD. The main character learns to accept that he has issues once he has reentered civilian life. Realizing that his grandfather also lived with PTSD, he eventually decides to get help, with the support of his wife, his grandmother, and his young son. The author weaves in real stories of PTSD from real people, as well as some examples of what group therapy might look like. Set against a backdrop of climate change and electromagnetic changes, the author skillfully draws the reader into his amazing story. This book is excellent as a stand-alone, but I was thrilled to learn that it is also the first in a series!

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Distant Heart Sounds (Nurse Morgan Series Book 1) by Kate MacInnis – Review by Heather Bass

Distant Heart Sounds (Nurse Morgan #1)Distant Heart Sounds by Kate MacInnis

This is the first book I have read from this author and she now has a new fan. I love a good paranormal romance but this story exceeded all my expectations. This is the first book in the Nurse Morgan series and let me tell you I’m hooked. These characters drew me in from the start. It only took me a little over a day to devour this wonderful book.

Morgan Cutler had a normal life as a nurse but something happened that changed it all. She had an emergency surgery and now she is seeing people she can’t explain. Morgan thinks she is losing her mind but her patience are dying on her and she doesn’t know why. She is thinking it has everything to do with her. Morgan also meets the man of her dreams but he is a doctor. She doesn’t know who to talk to about her new ability. Morgan is shocked when one of her patients has done something evil but can she make things right?
Review @heatherbass
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Distant Heart Sounds (Nurse Morgan Series Book 1) by Kate MacInnis – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

Distant Heart Sounds (Nurse Morgan #1)Distant Heart Sounds by Kate MacInnis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story and I am so excited to read the sequel! When we meet Nurse Morgan she is experiencing weird paranormal situations that she cannot explain, while trying to get back into the swing of things at her job as a charge nurse at the emergency center in a metro Detroit hospital. She had just recently survived a blown aneurysm in her brain six weeks previously. Things start ramping up when she starts being able to communicate with ghosts. Initially she thinks she is going crazy, but as she continues to get to know her new friends and share her secret with her best friend and boss Dr. Savannah Holt, she starts to lean into the experience. Mixing into all of this chaos is a new doctor at the ER, Dr. Caleb Lightfoot who isn’t freaked out by the new ghostly friends that Morgan is making. The author did an amazing job of keeping a tight pace with the writing and slowly guiding us through the story. She even throws in cool scientific theories regarding auras and the fourth dimension. It was a fun mix of paranormal and romance. I look forward to seeing how Morgan, Caleb, and Savvy continue to deal with the added complication of ghosts in Morgan’s life.

Deadly Sommer (Nora Sommer Caribbean Suspense Book 1) by Nicholas Harvey – Review by Dawn Mitchell

Deadly Sommer (Nora Sommer #1)Deadly Sommer by Nicholas Harvey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I tried hard to get into this book because of all the good reviews but I just couldn’t. It was hard to keep up with in the beginning an I wasn’t a fan of the overseas dialect. I will try another one of his books though.

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Deadly Sommer (Nora Sommer Caribbean Suspense Book 1) by Nicholas Harvey – Review by Beverly Finnie

Deadly Sommer (Nora Sommer #1)Deadly Sommer by Nicholas Harvey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What is there to say about Deadly Sommer? Well it reminded me a lot of the movie Untraceable. There’s always a story to tell. Especially once one resorts to kidnapping.
Nora Sommer, nineteen, and new to the Cayman Island police force thought she was going to have a normal day. Well boy was she wrong. Getting looped into a 4 challenge scheme to rescue the daughter of a prominent Florida business man Donovan Briggs.
Jensen Massey is trying to prove a point. That his wife was murdered and that it was covered up. So he kidnaps Skylar Briggs and enlists Nora into helping him with his game. “Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil” Broadcast online for anyone to see. Jensen has a message and doesn’t plan to stop till the family he feels is behind his wife’s death is brought down and held responsible.
Will Nora get through all 4 challenges?
Does Skylar end up hurt and/or dead?
Where does the Briggs family fall into all this?
The author keeps you intrigued and guessing on what will happen next. Weaving you through a story of corruption, lies, and the benefits of having friends in high places. Unfortunately an innocent young woman is used as a pawn to get the story across. If you like suspenseful thrillers this book is definitely for you!

@placexba

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Caging Grace (Grace Series Book 1) by Carsen Lane – Review by Tracy Greenhalgh

Caging Grace (Grace Series, #1).Caging Grace (Grace Series, #1). by Carsen Lane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a lovely read,
Grace is a young girl when her father dies in the underground fight ring, leaving her to care for her mother and younger sister, and how do you do that when you are from the less affluent area of the city?
You do what you know, you fight.
The story follows Grace as she comes of age and moves up the ranks of the underground fighting. Juggling caring for her family, a job and her own memories. Spotted by an up and coming company she moves into the UFC. We watch the characters evolve and her group of supporters and those who care for her grow, how she affects their lives.
Touches on themes of mental illness, desperation and shows those that you choose as family are not always blood.
Really well written, making you feel as though you are one of the team. An author that I cannot wait to read the next book from.

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Caging Grace (Grace Series Book 1) by Carsen Lane – Review by Tina Vega

Caging Grace (Grace Series, #1).Caging Grace (Grace Series, #1). by Carsen Lane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great read about a woman who is determined to make it. Working three jobs to provide for her mother and sister and she still struggles. One of those jobs is fighting in the ring. On a lucky break, she gets noticed which gives her an opportunity to better her family’s life. We are down in the trenches with her rooting for her to win. The author created a character that is admirable and strong. It was a great read with an inspiring theme.

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Caging Grace (Grace Series Book 1) by Carsen Lane – Review by Melissa Saxton

Caging Grace (Grace Series, #1).Caging Grace (Grace Series, #1). by Carsen Lane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a new author to me and a semi new genre about a UFC fighter. I admit I wasn’t so sure but boy am I glad I took the time to read it!

Grace a sensitive yet incredibly strong young woman has been dealt a terrible hand in life, starting by being jumped as a young girl going to the store for her dad. Her trials continue raising her sister but thanks to lessons from her father she is more than capable of taking care of herself and her sister.

When an opportunity to move up from underground fighter to the UFC emerges she jumps at the chance to provide for herself and her sister. This story explores Grace’s strength, resilience, and a little humor and romance.
The characters are very well developed, realistic; and I can’t wait for the subsequent stories to come!

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Caging Grace (Grace Series Book 1) by Carsen Lane – Review by Jerricka Brown

Caging Grace (Grace Series, #1).Caging Grace (Grace Series, #1). by Carsen Lane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was amazing. I was hooked from the very beginning. This is my first book by this author and I was thoroughly entertained. I love how it goes between time frames. I felt a connection with the main character. I highly recommend this book.

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Caging Grace (Grace Series Book 1) by Carsen Lane – Review by Lisa Helmick

Caging Grace (Grace Series, #1).Caging Grace (Grace Series, #1). by Carsen Lane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a wonderful story filled with amazing characters! I really got pulled in to Grace’s life. She is an inspiring character. I felt, wished and hoped for her. We meet her at her almost lowest and watch in awe as her dreams become reality. Sure there are humps and bumps along the way but they only endear her to me more.

Her friends and family are all great secondary characters! As with Grace we learn about them along the way. I liked the camaraderie between a lot of them. It is tough times but I still saw myself smiling at them all.

Overall I enjoyed this book. Just about everything about it made me happy. This is a new author for me and she did an excellent job creating this world and characters.

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As Close to Perfect by Maria Jane – Review by Whitney Morrison

As Close to PerfectAs Close to Perfect by Maria Jane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was the first book in the series and by this author that I have read. I really enjoyed it. It was such a cute and fun story. I really like how Bree was written and loved going on her crazy journey with her. I also really loved Chloe and Nate. Overall it was just a great contemporary romance and I will definitely be reading more by this author.

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As Close to Perfect by Maria Jane – Review by Mandy Ott

As Close to PerfectAs Close to Perfect by Maria Jane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As Close to Perfect is a modern, relatable romance that captured my attention. The main character, Bree, has been hurt by past romances and it has caused her to become very critical of those she let’s into her life. Bree seems pretty judgmental towards the opposite sex based on her negative experiences in the past. For example, Bree has been hurt by “jocks” before so she has sworn off dating all those she sees as “jocks.” I did find it rather ironic though that, to improve her social life, Bree begins taking tennis lessons. I would consider tennis a sport played by “jocks.” Overall, Maria Jane did an amazing job building her characters; they were well-written, believable, and relatable. I also enjoyed the overall story. I look forward to reading more books by Maria Jane.

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As Close to Perfect by Maria Jane – Review by Juls Dick

As Close to PerfectAs Close to Perfect by Maria Jane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bree has been burned by love in the past, she has had her heart broken by her past two boyfriends and has since given herself a strict list of rules to adhere too when it comes to men, no jocks, no corporate suits and no intimacy before relationships. When Bree meet Latvian- American Nate at her tennis club she he instantly hits the first two of her rules so she friend zones him and focusses on finding someone more suited to her goals. However, she quickly finds that things aren’t always as they first appear. This was a nice read, I initially didn’t really relate to the main female character, she was too closed off and judgemental, however she started to grow on me towards the end. I did like the main male character from the beginning.

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As Close to Perfect by Maria Jane – Review by Jess Engel

As Close to PerfectAs Close to Perfect by Maria Jane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an easy, good read with great characters. I enjoyed the story and development of the characters and brewing romance and chemistry between Bree and Nate, but Nate is everything Bree isn’t looking for, so she keeps looking!

I loved the quirkiness of Bree, she is an over thinker with a flare of sarcasm. Nate is patient and persisten, but how patient can he be?

Though this is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone, which is how I read it. It was entertaining and I enjoyed the characters and relationships so I may go back and read the first two in the series now!

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As Close to Perfect by Maria Jane – Review by Devon Pulliam

As Close to PerfectAs Close to Perfect by Maria Jane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a wonderful little romance novel! The story flowed naturally and I loved how Maria Jane let Bree and Nate naturally find each other. The connection they had through tennis and then the friend support.

I LOVED how Bree just was tell it like it is and didn’t care to stand up for herself. Especially with Steven. I didn’t like him at all and was glad when she told him off.

I was shocked though when Bree informed her parents of her status with Nate and their reaction. I did not see that coming or see how much of an issue it would cause on both sides. But it was well written.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

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Ruthless Heir (Mafia Elite Book 5) by Amy McKinley – Review by Colleen Noyes

Ruthless Heir (Mafia Elite, #5)Ruthless Heir by Amy McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Luc and Summer Are my absolute favorite couple ever I love they both come from a terrible background and have used that to their advantage to not just grow closer to each other, but they are also using it to integrate themselves into the mafia. I thought that these two had so much heart and I loved that you could see the progress of slowly joining the mafia life where they weren’t born into it.

I love that Summer is portrayed as a survivor and fighter it comes out in droves throughout the story and made her completely relatable to myself.

You could just feel Luc’s complete intensity and more than anything I fell in love with his protectiveness of Summer. This story felt even more realistic than the prior ones in the series I was excited to be introduced to even more families which I hope means the series will continue in one way or another for a long period of time.

One of the things that touched me the most was in this story you felt at the height of what it means to have family whether by blood or not. The bond that they all have with each other and are continuing to build brought tears to my eyes in the greatest way possible. It hit home the fact that family is who you choose. This author did a tremendous job and is becoming hands-down one of my favorite authors ever. If you like a great character built romantic suspense book you will find yourself 100% enveloped and enthralled in the series.

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Love is Worth Fighting for (The Meraki Series Book 3) by Effie Kammenou – Review by Alexandria Richard

Tickety Tock (Wicked Warriors MC Arizona Chapter) by Manda Mellett – Review by Naomi McDonald

Tickety Tock: Wicked Warriors MC Arizona ChapterTickety Tock: Wicked Warriors MC Arizona Chapter by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve read a lot of books by this author, Joker’s Fool is my all time favorite, but this one is now following a close second. Even though I had the outcome figured out within the first few chapters, the spook factor was excellent. I think the subject matter was what contributed to it.
Great read on a stormy night!
*Be advised, there are no on-page scenes, but the book does mention child abuse.

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