Remember His Name by Laurencia Hoffman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I loved Remember His Name by Laurencia Hoffman. Wren is an empath who is blamed by the police and the public for his husband Henry’s murder. Wren also sees the death of a new friend and his own death. Wren uses what he knows to try to save at least one life by changing the future. This book is emotional and engaging.
Alterations by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Alterations by Jane Suen is the first book in the Alterations Trilogy. This is a brilliant book that focuses on the old adage of be careful what you wish for. What I loved most about this book is that fact that it isn’t too far removed from reality. You can so easily imagine this type of scenarios being exactly where society is headed. Because of that I thought it was so easy to connect with the story. Although it was a pretty quick read you become invested in the characters and everything that happens to them. As the start of a series this is a strong opening. It has definitely piqued my interest and I cannot wait to read the next books.
Azrael by Matthew Huntley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a new author for me which I enjoyed reading . This is a suspenseful story about a serial killer who has been locked up for a long time but now new murders are popping up. Is this serial killer back? Did the detective make a mistake and the wrong person is locked up? Could there be a copycat? Andrew is the detective who worked this case. He has since retired, is now a drunk and has lost so much to this case. Does he have it in him to take this on again? He is a great, strong character that I felt for. The case took so much of him the first time and now he is facing unanswered questions that he needs answers too. He made the story fun and entertaining to read. This is a great story that I highly recommend reading. It is worth the pick up for sure.
Review by @bjwagner
Remember His Name by Laurencia Hoffman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Remember His Name (Remember My Name Series Book 2) by Laurencia Hoffman
4-stars
Remember His Name was a phenomenal read! It was entertaining, mysterious, heart-wrenching, unexpected and truly captivating. I read this book in one sitting as I couldn’t bring myself to stop reading. I was so intrigued by Wren and his story, I loved how the author portrayed him and I felt like I could easily connect with him.
This was my first book by this author but it won’t be my last, I look forward to reading many more by this author. If you are looking for a one of a kind read look no further!
The Third Nanny by Michele Pariza Wacek
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars
“Watch your back. Keep your eyes open. And be careful who you trust.
It was exhausting, pretending everything was normal.
Even though I knew I couldn’t drop my guard for even a moment…”
WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!! I really am having trouble finding the words to do this book the justice it deserves. This was such a brilliant, twisty, and unpredictable read that I really couldn’t put down till I had read every single last word! Those last few chapters- OMG!!! I did not see that coming, that’s for sure. So well done!! Highly recommended!!! Must read!!!
The Third Nanny by Michele Pariza Wacek intrigued me from the moment I laid eyes on it. I quickly snapped up a copy and dove in as psychological thrillers are my favourite genre of all- and this one promised to be great.
As this was my first read from Michele PW, I really didn’t know what to expect going in- but I am soooo happy that I found her, finally- I really don’t know why I haven’t come across her work before now as she has quite a few books to her name- but all is right in the world because now I have a new author to add to my ‘must read’ list. The most exciting thing is that she has so many more books for me to buy and devour!! I love that feeling of discovery! The thrill of knowing that you are about to go on an epic book binge with an author you know won’t disappoint and one who I know I will love whatever it is she chooses to write. For this little ol’ book worm, there is nothing better!
From the moment I opened this book, the intrigue began. Janey receives a letter form her sister who has been missing for eight years. Eight years of not knowing what happened to her. Eight years of wondering why she left. Eight years of not knowing if she was even alive still. Then the letter arrives, and that in itself is a bit of a puzzle- the letter is somewhat disturbing, speaking of danger, and begging for help- but is it already too late? Janey is now desperate to find her sister. And so this amazing puzzle begins.
Janey embarks on her quest that will see her unravelling the mystery of her sister’s disappearance, the secrets and lies that she will have to unwind in order to find the truth. Her journey of discovery had me on the edge of my seat the whole way along- trying to piece everything together before the final reveal. But the ‘big reveal’ left me reeling- I didn’t expect that at all. So well done!!! The last few chapters were intense!!!
This is a gripping psychological thriller, with a stalker, twists and turns, layers, suspense, palpable tension, danger, an unpredictable storyline, secrets, lies, obsession, paranoia, trauma, investigation, emotion, and a quest for answers. There are flashbacks to past events that really help to build the backstory and also adds to the tension of the story. Things are definitely not what they seem on the surface.
Michele PW certainly knows how to instil tension and a chilling, creepy factor to her storyline which made her book unputdownable!
Can’t wait to explore the rest of her books.
#MUSTREAD
Thank you, Michele Pariza Wacek!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Alterations by Jane Suen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a very interesting take on body, mind, and health alterations. Makes you second guess what you allow to be put into your body and the effects it will have. Dr. Kite is not what he portrays. It left me feeling kind of freaked out to be honest. The three women are each unique in the help they are hoping to receive but is it worth it in the end? This is a very quick read that will keep you pondering for a while.
The Third Nanny by Michele Pariza Wacek
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is an intense thriller. The town of Redemption, WI is the place of a missing sister. The other sister is out looking for her and finds herself in a hell of a bind. Psycho parents, deep buried secrets that are scary as heck and darkness. The characters are frightening in that there could be people like that in your neighborhood. The plot had me enthralled from page 1. Great thriller. Best of the year.
The Third Nanny by Michele Pariza Wacek
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I give The Third Nanny: A twisted psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping ending (Secrets of Redemption) by Michele PW (Pariza Wacek), 5 stars.
I have read books in the past that were supposed to be psychological thrillers and they were, well okay. This book labels itself as a twisted psychological thriller. I was skeptical that it would live up to it, but was still interested enough to see what this book had in store for me. Right off the bat, it’s obvious that there is more going on than what meets the eye. The author has a brilliant way of slipping in more and more as the story goes on. You are left wondering what is really going on. There are so many angles here — I thought I knew what was going on, but no. Insert evil laughter from the author here.
This book was brilliantly written with so many twists and turn, you are left with your head spinning. The story is so good and unique, the characters are precisely written with so many levels to them. You really are left with wondering just who to root for and what the story of the missing girl really is about. If you are a fan of this genre, I so highly recommend it.
~ ~ ~ ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
First Time Author Matthew Huntley, father of three, used writing as an outlet from his job as a Federal Correctional Officer in Canada. Between teaching his three boys right from wrong, Matthew tends to enjoy the outdoors and experiencing everything the beautiful country of Canada has to offer.
Chatroom With A View by Glenn Maynard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 stars
Glenn Maynard’s, Chatroom with a View is a creepy tale. This thriller is dark. The character equally so as everything that is done is eerily calculated and all in the name of revenge and at those that have slighted him. There is violence and a whole plethora of everything that goes with a dysfunctional family and psychotic thoughts and actions.
The question though is does the DNA of a family murderer pass on down the line to create more murderers? There are a lot of moving pieces in this tale and the ending felt a bit rushed and a bit of a letdown.
Reviewed by @jennadb
This psychological thriller will keep you on your toes. When Janey is 14 her older sister disappears. She had sent a postcard stating that she was fine, but then went radio silent. Where did she go? What happened to her? After eight long years that silence is broken when she gets a mysterious letter. Janey is glad to hear that her sister is alive and well until she discovers that she has once again gone missing. Where has she gone this time? Janey decides that she needs to walk in her sisters shoes in order to try and get a better understanding of what may have gone on in her sisters head. Will it work or will she be left with more questions than answers? This book kept me turning the pages with all the twists and turns. I enjoyed following along on Janeys journey to find her sister. The ending was not something I had expected and my mind is still a little blown. I highly recommend this for those that love psychological thrillers with a good twist. I can’t wait to read more of this authors work.
Mann in the Crossfire: A Jarvis Mann Hardboiled Detective Mystery Novel by R. Weir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Jarvis Mann Private Detective is back with another case to solve, but first he has to serve papers to a cheating husband, who does not take kindly to the event, he is a minor celebrity and thinks that the world owes him, but Jarvis takes him down a couple of pegs and makes him see sense, especially when he can call multiple witnesses who can back up his side of the event. While he is staking the place out, he receives a visit from a past associate and is given some news he finds sad and distressing about a guy he worked with from time to time in the past who had been through some tragedy of his own, it turns out that he has been murdered while working on something and in a most similar fashion to another event in his life, so Jarvis takes the case on to find out what happened to him and more importantly why, so he goes to tie up some loose ends with the soon to be ex wife, packs a bag and takes a late morning flight out to San Diego so he can make a start.
He leaves the airport, rents a car and checks into his hotel, all his expenses are going to be paid, so he doesn’t have to worry about running low on money, so when he is all settled in, he heads to an appointment he has made with one of the local cops to take stock on what he knows and shares information he has, he wants to be able to work with the local law enforcement and not step on toes too much, but this cop is friendly and more than happy to work together with him on the case. The next meeting he has is with his associate’s former boss, it is purely to ask a couple of questions and double down on the information he already has, as well as to read his body language while the questions are asked and answered. The meeting goes as expected and afterwards he goes to the scene of a past crime to talk to the neighbours and see if he can glean any more information before checking in with the cop to share what he has found. This all leads to one person, but unfortunately, Jarvis and his cop friend end up encroaching on gang territory and they are not happy to see them or having them dig around in their business, however, they come out of the encounter clean and tidy, but not without a warning to stay away. Jarvis wants to talk to the leader of the gang about the reactions he saw as they were driving away, so he tries to set up a meeting to see what he can glean.
In the meantime, he has discovered that he has a tail and when he confronts the individual, it turns out that it is another Private Detective who is looking into him, but the details are sketchy and Jarvis isn’t sure he believes what he is hearing, but he doesn’t have much time to think on it when he tries to follow more leads and lands in hot water, this time, however, he doesn’t come out unscathed and is sent back to Denver in a world of hurt, but with more information than when he started. As he recovers and returns to San Diego, Jarvis is determined to discover who is behind everything, but he also realises that he may be in over his head and has to call grudgingly for reinforcements, but the ones he has to call could make things easier and harder all at the same time, but which way the pendulum will swing is anyone’s guess, but will he be able to find the answers he is seeking, or will he get caught in a crossfire which is not of his own making? This is a thrilling mystery with twists, turns, secrets and revelations throughout which will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout as you try to solve the mystery at the same time.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
The Third Nanny by Michele Pariza Wacek
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this suspenseful thriller. This is a well written story about a town that has a past and where things are not as they seem. I found this story to be fast paced which I had a hard time putting down. It is an engaging story that has twists and turns that kept me sitting on the edge of my seat just waiting to see what would happen next. The characters are connectable and brought the story to life. For me they truly made the story what it is. Janey has a sister that ran away eight years ago, just when she thinks she finds her, she disappears again. This is where the story becomes a little twisted. Janey decides to walk in her sister’s footsteps. What will she find out as she does this? I really did enjoy this book and highly recommend it.
Review by @bjwagner
Chatroom With A View by Glenn Maynard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I This is a a fast paced book we dibe straight into Troy’s life. Troy had learnt chatroom. The plot can be a trigger for some it can help others have an understanding. Coming from a childhood of domestic violence and still trying to protect his mother a tragedy occurs. Soon he find himself in a late night chatroom and meet Veronica alas things start to change for the better oe do they. Read to find out more it’s worth it.
href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35567049-alterations” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”>Alterations by Jane Suen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a very interesting book. Imagine being able to change something you don’t like about yourself quickly and easily. The characters in this book attempt to do just this using chips that a doctor created. Is it worth the prices they pay though? This was an easy read and very thought provoking. As someone who struggles with weight I related to the character Ellen the most.
Alterations by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked up this book as the story interested me with different characters and I was curious how it would come about as the story progressed.
No questions asked, right from the start, I was more than intrigued. I related to the women of the novel called Ellen, Lilly, and Gigi. All of them had truly different desires and wanted a change and a chance to be happy. This basically from the moment head first intrigued me. The desires were so common as I feel a lot of us feel this every day. One lady wanted to be thinner and her personal body appearance bothered her. Another went through a time in her life where she got divorced and she was unhappy in life and desired to feel joys of living her life again. And last, but the least, the 3rd woman is suffering from a medical illness and she strongly desired to beat it.
All 3 women I found to be very likeable characters and defiantly very relatable. I found myself rooting for them right when I learning about the aspects of their characters.
Dr. Kite, the is the doctor who says he can help them reach their dreams and desires. To be right from is introduction, I was getting the strong vibes he is a doctor mad with power…but how far does that power go? The ladies of this novel wanted their happiness and didn’t care the cost, as they truly thought was there to help them reach their inner motives to be happy.
Sadly, as I would expect, these desires and happiness the ladies wanted come with a price. And it turned out to have dire consequences…probably more than and me as well would expect truly! The book was a very fast read, and the author kept the suspense raised up high. I honestly didn’t want to put it down. I found there was no pages of filling in with info to carry the story alone. I found every page connected to the one before and the page after it, I hung on to the pages to see what would happen.
Its gripping and will suck you in to say the least. When I got to ending, it was indeed a suspenseful cliff hanger. Now I desperately need to read and get my hands on the rest of the series
I’m so glad I came across this novel and read this this book, and plus now I have a new author I can adore and await more novels from 🙂
Honestly pick this book up and read it. Its different and original. The story progresses in ways I did not expect or was prepared for. Its visionary it unfolds is strikingly suspenseful, you will only regret not reading this sooner.
Well done to this gifted author 🙂
The Third Nanny by Michele Pariza Wacek
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Third Nanny: A twisted psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping ending (Secrets of Redemption) by Michele Pariza Wacek. This crime story lives up to is name of twisted psychological thriller. I have not read anything by this author before and now I am wondering how I have never crossed her books. This captivating tale is taut with tension. Unexpected twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat. The suspense, the intrigue definitely kept me on my toes. The characters were well written and well developed. What is really going on in Redemption, Wisconsin? Grab a copy and find out, you know you want to……
Reviewed by @jennadb
The Third Nanny by Michele Pariza Wacek
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Third Nanny by Michele Pariza Wacek is described in the description as a ‘Twisted Psychological Thriller, and I would say that this description is spot on!
After receiving a letter from her sister who disappeared years before, Janey sets out to discover what actually happened to her. Whilst retracing her sister’s footsteps and taking a job as a nanny in the place she last knew her sister was working, Janey discovers new clues and unearths secret after secret. As expected, all is not as it seems.
For a psychological thriller, I found this book really easy to read. The story moves at a fast pace but is easy to keep up with, and there are lots of twists and turns along the way to keep you hooked. I spent the whole book thinking I knew how it would end…well, I may have changed my mind a few times! I was completely wrong though. If you like suspense and surprises, you will love this book.
Alterations by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
To paraphrase the book description, “Gigi, Ellen, Lilly… three women so desperate to change their lives that they turn to the mysterious Dr. Kite, who offers them an implant that can control their mind.”
Three women’s lives come together with Dr. Kite, who has a quick-fix for each of these three women’s short comings. Gigi, Ellen, and Lilly are determined to change and better themselves as human beings. Each women has a different short-coming; a different end-goal. Gigi has a mysterious disease. Ellen has issues with her weight. And Lilly, who is unhappy after a terrible divorce, is looking for eternal youth. And Dr. Kite has one simple solution for all of their problems! A microchip that will help? What could go wrong?
I love how the author, Jane Suen, leads you into the three women’s characters lives and problems separately. There are three different story lines that somehow tie into one plot. I love the perspective of each individual character and how their lives develop throughout.
I cannot wait to read the second book!
~ ~ ~ ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When Michele was 3 years old, she taught herself to read because she wanted to write stories so badly. It took some time (and some detours) but now she does spend much of her time writing stories: mainly psychological thrillers, domestic thrillers, mysteries and romantic suspense novels (and sometimes mixing all three genres into one book!). If that wasn’t enough, she also hosts a virtual book club you can check out and join (for free!) at MPWNovels.com.
Michele holds a double major in English and Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Currently she lives in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona with her husband Paul and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.
Mann in the Crossfire: A Jarvis Mann Hardboiled Detective Mystery Novel by R. Weir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is an author that I have loved reading from the first book I picked up by him. This is the eighth book in the series and it is just as awesome as the previous books. I highly suggest reading the previous books in this series to help your enhancement of Javis Mann. This is a well written story that pulled me in from the beginning. This is a fast paced story that is full of action that kept me turning pages to the end. The characters are connectable and brought the story to life. My favorite is Jarvis. The is a strong, determined character that makes the story fun and entertaining to read. He is back on another case that could just be his last. I won’t say much more as I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens to him. This is a must read book and an author you will love.
Review by @bjwagner
Mann in the Crossfire: A Jarvis Mann Hardboiled Detective Mystery Novel by R. Weir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars
“I had rarely encountered gangs in my private detective dealings, but they didn’t sound much different than any other criminal organization. Conflicts between parties within would arise, with challenges to authority bringing changes in the structure, often violently. I needed to find answers, but treading cautiously was warranted around men like these, or I might end up a casualty.”
Mann in the Crossfire is the seventh book in the Jarvis Mann Detective series by R. Weir. I absolutely love this series and have followed it right from the beginning. I thought the last book was the best of the bunch, but Mr. Weir upped the ante with this story, making it my favourite, so far. The series really does get better and better with each new instalment.
The ending of this book gave me a few heart palpitations though- please don’t let this be the last we hear from Jarvis Mann!!! Mr. Weir, Jarvis (and I) neeeeed more instalments (hint, hint 😊)!!!
As with the rest of the series, this is a gripping hardboiled detective mystery- Jarvis being a PI means there’s never a dull moment. With murder, crime and investigation, danger, hidden agendas, gangs, drama, adventure, action, violence, quips, multi-layers, and complex characters- all wrapped up with a bit of a noir detective story feel.
Bring on Book #8 (pretttty pleasssse)!
Thank you, R.Weir!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Mann in the Crossfire: A Jarvis Mann Hardboiled Detective Mystery Novel by R. Weir
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
R. Weir never fails to deliver an outstanding tale and this book, Mann in the Crossfire: A Jarvis Mann Hardboiled Detective Mystery Novel (Jarvis Mann Detective Book 8) is no exception. An action-packed thriller, crime story is what he does best. In this installment Jarvis finds himself in the crossfire and in more trouble that he has ever been in before. Just who can he trust? Is it old friends and acquaintances? Or is it the women who throw themselves at him and stab him in the back in his next breath? Certainly, couldn’t be those ensconced in the underworld, could it?
Reviewed by @jennadb
Remember His Name by Laurencia Hoffman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Remember His Name is the second book in the Remember my Name series by Laurencia Hoffman. When I quickly clicked on this book, I hadn’t really noticed it was part of a series! I jumped in at book two, not knowing what to expect nor certain if I would be able to follow along. I ended up enjoying the book and following Wren, often connecting with him, and really sympathizing with his sensitivity as an empath. If you missed the “warning”, this book covers a lot of sensitive topics and may trigger some readers. Though the story contains some dark elements, this built strong, relatable characters that evoked true emotion. There were times I was reading that I felt uncomfortable because the emotions just leapt off the pages. Conversations between characters, especially between Wren and his mother were so real, I felt like I was watching a movie play out not just reading a novel. I would consider Remember His Name a 4 star read and will happily go read book one now. Looking forward to more from this author.
Remember His Name by Laurencia Hoffman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ugh I could not wait to get my hands on this book and now I am dying for the next one. That is the only negative I could possibly think of with this thriller with a twist of romance to keep the heartstrings bleeding… It ends fast. At least for me it did, as I was quickly sucked into this thrill ride and read well into the night to find out how this book would come to a close. I knew this would be a mind bender after reading the first in the Remember My Name series from Laurencia Hoffman, but man I have to say there were definitely some twists I did not anticipate to see when I saw the premise and teasers for this book. I was so happy with how well this book represented the MM genre as well, something I think Hoffman does a great job with in her novels. You can tell where her passions lay and I love it. I cannot wait to see what the next novel will hold!
Review by @lizaileen
View all my reviews
Chatroom with a View by Glenn Maynard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 Stars
Chatroom With A View by Glenn Maynard turned out to be not exactly what I was expecting. But in a creepy, thrilling, good way. I think I was expecting a bit of a serial killer/true crime expose. But instead, I got an intense thriller that kept me flipping the pages to find out what happens.
This is not a light read- it is dark, raw, gritty, gripping, tense, suspenseful, and somewhat creepy. There are twists and turns, dysfunctional family dynamics, some horror, intrigue, danger, and much more.
After a bit of a slow and unsteady start- the story quickly grabbed my attention and held my focus the whole way through. I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed- but these minor issues didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.
Thank you, Glenn Maynard!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Chatroom With A View by Glenn Maynard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Dark, twisted and gripping
The world the author creates is brilliant. It draws you in and twists you about and then spits you out at the end leaving the reader stunned. The writing is flawless and storyline unpredictable. Even after I had finished the book I was thinking about it and trying to rationalise my feelings about Troy. I’m not going to give much more away. If you enjoy a good, unpredictable, psychological story then this is the book for you.
Chatroom With A View by Glenn Maynard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Chatroom with a View dives right into the story from the beginning. There isn’t a ton of time spent on setting the scene or providing backstory like in a lot of other novels I’ve read, but I personally prefer this. Troy is a complicated character and I didn’t know how to feel about him. I felt bad for him and at the same time hated him. But he was a well written character that makes you feel many different things. Overall it’s a darker psychological thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Chatroom With A View by Glenn Maynard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Well, I’m not really sure where to start with a review for this book. Chatroom with a View opens with some of the most disturbing chapters of any novel I have read lately. Enter mid-twenty something Troy, still living at home with his parents. He believes that he can keep his mother safe from his abusive father by staying at home. But can he really? Throw in Troy’s ex-girlfriend Veronica–stalker, determined, and claiming to be pregnant, and Troy is overwhelmed by life. When he finally decides to get revenge on those who have messed up his life and others like his, it all falls apart. Veronica begins digging into Troy’s family history, only to learn that Troy’s ancestor is none other than Lizzie Borden.
This is a solid 5 star read. Although I did not connect with the characters because I couldn’t relate to their situations, the story was so twisted, dark, and unpredictable that I was drawn into it anyway. This book is one of the best written ones I have read in a long time. The pace of the story is perfect, and make the book impossible to put down. Highly recommend and will be looking forward to reading more from Glenn Maynard!
Chatroom with a View by Glenn Maynard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Disturbingly creepy book. Loved every minute of it. Revenge plotted with a capital R. Blamed on the father yet he plan’s it out with the art of a pro on people who picked on him. You will feel the chills throughout this book. Through in a psychotic mentally disturbed stalker and you have the makings of a terrific thriller. Best crime book I’ve read in a while. Well plotted and well-developed characters.
