✱✱Book Review✱✱ New Haven by René Rehn

 

Tragedy strikes in the small, religious town of New Haven, Minnesota when the pastor’s daughter, Claire Owens, is found dead. Ethan Miller, the town’s only self-proclaimed atheist, enlists the help of sheltered Christian boy David Sullivan to unravel the secrets hidden beneath the town’s picture-perfect facade. As they dig deeper, doubts and dark truths emerge. Can they expose New Haven’s secrets, and if so, at what cost?

New Haven is a slow-burn horror mystery novel about faith, deception, and the dangerous secrets within the heart of small, isolated communities. And we soon learn that some secrets are best left buried, or they might consume you.

Momma Says: 4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is one creepy little town! I wasn't sure quite what to expect with New Haven, and to be honest, I often shy away from religious horror for personal reasons, but this one caught my eye and piqued my interest. I feel like that element was handled very well, and I didn't find anything particularly offensive about that part of the story. That said, I did find it pretty darn chilling. And it's not just the town! There were several characters with a sinister vibe, so it's pretty much a guessing game as to which characters can be trusted and which can't. Right here is where I admit that I was wrong about more than one of them. My advice would be to go into this one with an open mind and suspect everyone.

The only drawback for me is that the story lagged a bit at times. I know it can’t be full bore all the time, but I’d have preferred a little less slowdown. That aside, the book is well written with lots of twists and turns and a shocker at the end, at least for me. Well, maybe a couple of shockers. René Rehn is quite talented, and I enjoyed the descriptive writing. I found myself easily picturing this small town with the big dramatic church at its center. I pictured a dark Gothic-style church, which only enhanced the creep factor for me.

I could go on about the well-timed twists and the number of times I white-knuckled my Kindle while I tried to warn young David that he was getting into hot water, but I don’t want to get into spoiler territory. So, I’ll let the book keep its secrets and let each new reader discover them for themselves. New Haven is one of those books that give you chills and make you look over your shoulder, and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys the genre.   

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✱✱Book Review✱✱ Silent Rape: Veiled crimes of an evil physician (Faith Pernitelli, MD Book 2) by Tony Scott

It is hard to imagine that a physician we think we know well could be a criminal. We have the affirmation of our family and friends that our physician is trustworthy, competent, and our advocate. But...this riveting novel that dares to ask: What evil can a physician inflict behind the exam room door?

New obstetric residency graduate Dr. Faith Pernitelli is settling into her career when a fellow provider is accused of taking advantage of his position. After she divulges her patients’ stories, Pernitelli discovers that doing the right thing for victims isn’t as straightforward or well received as she expects. Moreover, her Asperger’s diagnosis, which once served as a gift to her profession, is now a curse that threatens everything—including her reputation.

As relationships change during challenges, Pernitelli must decide if fighting for the truth is worth the lies with which her adversaries retaliate. And who will stick with her when their lives are threatened in the crossfires of justice? The consequences of fighting for justice in a quiet New Mexico community are unfathomable in this intense medical thriller where powerful enemies hide the truth—no matter the human cost. The truth may not set you free after all in this riveting medical thriller from a seasoned physician author.

Momma Says: 4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐

As the parent of a child with Asperger’s, I tend to be drawn to books with characters that have the same diagnosis. I'm always interested to see how the author will portray those characters. I'd say Tony Scott did very well in showing the struggles and triumphs of Dr, Faith, including the way she thinks and expresses herself. Her thoughts and actions come across as very realistic, which won me over pretty quickly.

The story is gritty and tension-filled, but I expected that given the subject matter. To be honest, I probably would've passed on this one had it not been for Faith's Asperger's, but I'm glad I didn't pass it up. I don't read many medical thrillers, and that was my first thought when I checked out the synopsis. This may be about doctors and one's abuse of power, but it's not what I would consider a medical thriller. It's about so much more than that. The abuse here can and does happen in so many walks of life, and it's something that needs to be brought to light. This may be fiction, but the author tells the story in a way that feels real. He certainly got my blood pumping right along with the characters.

The more I read, the more invested I became in these characters, and the more I wanted to see justice done. I was so engrossed in the story that I read the book in a day. I won't go further into the story to avoid spoilers, so I'll just leave it at Silent Rape is a hard-to-put-down thriller that I definitely recommend. It's very well-written, gripping, and Tony Scott does an excellent job of bringing these characters to life. I for one will be watching for the next Dr. Faith Pernitelli, MD thriller.

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✱✱Book Review✱✱ Return to the Darkside by Corinna Underwood

Upon her return home to Manchester, horror writer and paranormal investigator, Pearl Blackthorn, finds herself the topic of several stories in her local newspaper. The stories claim that her unconscious body was found in Nottingham's underground caves. Pearl must find out the real identity of the imposter look-alike and why the woman is haunting her. What has been happening while Pearl has been away and is her life ever going to be the same again? Trying to find answers, Pearl uncovers more about her past than she ever wanted to know. But now it’s caught up with her, she has to stop it in its tracks, before it destroys everything she holds dear.

Momma Says: 4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐

Well, this one certainly took me by surprise. After reading the first two Darkside Chronicles, I fully expected to find more paranormal investigations with perhaps some answers about Pearl's past. Answers, we get, and while those answers are a little out there, I can't deny that the storyline kept me turning the pages. I don't want to venture into spoiler territory, so I'll just say this one has plenty of excitement and danger. Parts of it come close to tipping over into science fiction, but Corinna Underwood explains things in a way that it all makes sense, and while it does require some suspension of disbelief, the author's writing makes it feel believable enough to give you pause, make you stop and think.

I was glad to see Raven back in this one. He and Pearl have some circling to do on the romantic front, but the chemistry is there. The author keeps it clean and all intimacies are fade to black or behind closed doors. These two have more in common than just their mutual attraction, and that common thread was one of my favorite elements in the story. 

Pearl's story is my first experience with Underwood, and I enjoyed the descriptive storytelling and characters that feel so real. There isn’t an overabundance of characters to keep up with, and given the intricate storyline, I was thankful for that. Instead, the author gives us a handful of well-rounded characters that may have some shocking characteristics, but they have flaws as well. Even Pearl’s strong skepticism and determination that there is always a logical explanation humanizes her for the reader. She’s almost stoic in her beliefs. Then there’s Harry and his almost childlike excitement in his search for proof of the paranormal. 

To sum it up, Return to the Darkside is a story about more than just what you see on the surface. It’s a story about people and their pasts, their families, their losses, and their loves. About the people who would take advantage of a circumstance and get so twisted up in their determination to prove an idea that it doesn’t matter who gets hurt. This one turned out to be a little bit outside my wheelhouse, but I certainly enjoyed the journey.

What do a screaming skull, a vampire killer, a murder museum, a demonic pact, and a puzzling paranormal convention have in common? The answer: Pearl Blackthorn. Although she writes for Darkside magazine, and delves into the darker recesses of the imagination for her horror novels, when it comes to the supernatural, Pearl is a diehard skeptic. As if she doesn’t already have enough on her plate, she also has to contend with her growing feelings for Private Investigator Aldous Raven and his search for his missing brother. And as Pearl’s investigations continue, the dark side of her own past is about to catch up with her.

Momma Says: 3 stars⭐⭐⭐

This second book in the Darkside Chronicles is a bit grittier than the first, a bit darker even. There's even the start of a romance for Pearl and Aldous Raven, a private investigator looking for his brother. Like the first book, Pearl moves from one paranormal investigation to another, but there is a kind of common thread. and several questions are raised as things from Pearl's past start to surface. There is some danger and intrigue aside from the paranormal investigations, and there are some unanswered questions at the close of this one, which leaves me curious about what's to come. 

Pearl Blackthorn is a novelist and investigative reporter for Darkside paranormal magazine. Armed with her digital recorder and accompanied by her friend and photographer Harry Raymond, Pearl is sent by her editor J.J Benson - affectionately known as Benny - to the four corners of Great Britain, (and sometimes further), to investigate stories of spirits and specters, demons, prophecy and possession. The problem is, Pearl doesn’t believe in the supernatural; her creative imagination is tempered by a strong skepticism. She is immovable on her stand that there is always a simple, rational explanation behind every report of paranormal activity. But Pearl soon realizes that the intricacies of paranormal events are often far from simple and not always rational. This is the first book in the Pearl Blackthorn series. This edited edition contains Character Confidentials previously unpublished.

Momma Says: 3 stars⭐⭐⭐

A Walk on the Darkside is basically a book of short stories connected by Pearl and Harry as they investigate reports of paranormal activity. Pearl and Harry balance out well in their investigations with her being the skeptic of the pair and Harry wanting to find proof of what he already believes in. The cases feel more like cozy mysteries to me with just a touch of creepy here and there. We are given breadcrumbs along the way that makes each case maybe a little easier to solve than it should be. Nevertheless, this is an entertaining, light read, great for a couple of hours' escape. 

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✱✱Book Review✱✱ Little Girl Lost by Cheryl Bradshaw

Little Girl Lost

Georgiana Germaine Book 1

by Cheryl Bradshaw 

From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Sloane Monroe novels comes a gripping new series about love, loss, murder, and a broken former detective who's about to be drawn out of hiding. 
 
For the past two years, Georgiana "Gigi" Germaine has been living off the grid, until today, when she hears some disturbing news that shakes her. Georgiana's brother-in-law has been murdered, her seven-year-old niece kidnapped. As the hours waste away, Georgiana races back to a town she left behind, and a former life she's still not ready to face.
 
Readers are saying: 
 
"A great start to what appears to be a great new series."
 
"Couldn't put this one down. Read it in one sitting."
 
"I was completely immersed in the story and read it straight through."
 
"Love this new character. What a page turner."
 
"I can't wait to read the next in the series." 

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Momma Says: 3 stars⭐⭐⭐

Little Girl Lost sounded like a gritty detective story, the first in a new detective series. I do love a good mystery series, and I’m always on the lookout for a new main character to follow from case to case. 

Georgiana “Gigi” Germaine is the star of this show, and she’s a likable enough character. She’s a bit broken although we don’t know exactly why in the beginning. Little tidbits here and there are enough for a reader to hazard a generalized guess, but we don’t get that information until the end. Georgiana is certainly flawed, and she doesn’t always play by the rules, but those things make for some of my most favorite heroes and heroines in these kinds of stories. 

As for the case, it all started out with an edge of your seat scene. I’m always that way when a child is involved, and this one was quite well done and definitely gripping. Then the story slowed down and started losing me. I get that this is a new series, and a certain amount of introduction and description is necessary for setting the stage, but I prefer that to be done organically throughout the story. Here, we get a whole lot of information about characters and places but very little about the case. Georgiana does some investigating, but it kind of felt like she was getting nowhere to make time for all that extra information. We get plenty of chats with this person and that one where we learn lots of mundane things but very little to do with the case. It just felt like there should’ve been more urgency, especially with Georgiana looking for her own niece. A niece taken by her father’s murderer. Parts of the story seemed like there was a book before this one where things took place, particularly a college friend who could have been more or was more. I just found myself wanting to skim to get to a point when things would pick up. 

Things do start to move at around the halfway mark, and the pace steadily speeds up as Georgiana follows one lead after another and moves from dangerous situation to more dangerous situation. Once the story builds some momentum, the author paints a tension filled picture of our detective and the clues leading to the killer and hopefully, young Lark alive and well. 

So, for me, Little Girl Lost has a solid beginning, as in the very beginning when the murder happens, and it has a good second half. It’s the stuff in the middle that could’ve done with some tightening up. It’s not a bad book by any means, but it’s not without its issues, so I’ve come out somewhere in the fair to middlin range. 

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✸✸Book Review✸✸ The Trapped Daughter by Jay Kerk

The Trapped Daughter 

A Dark and Twisted Psychological Thriller

by Jay Kerk

Have you ever been trapped somewhere? I have.

Have you ever found that the world does not believe you? I did.

I have been betrayed by the people I trusted the most. They coil around me like snakes, lulling me with whispers about protection and safety and for your own good.

They offer up pills like sweets, promising me relief. Just take the meds and everything will be fine, Belle – the meds, Belle, the meds.

Everything will not be fine, and it never will be. Justice is gone from the world. I have been wronged by Gabe, the man I loved most, and when I turned to others for backup, they sided with him because he’s a star. When I ran to my father for safety, he locked me up in his great big mansion and threw away the key. Now I drift like the ghost Gabe pretended I was, my bare feet tasting the coldness of rich tiles, my breath turning to ice.

Gabe isn’t real, they tell me. They insult me, they spit at me, then smile and pretend that they wish to help. Meanwhile, Gabe is out there, luxuriating in all that I won for him, and I suffer and burn.

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Momma Says: 3 stars⭐⭐⭐

The Trapped Daughter is one of those books that keeps the tension high right from the start. Jay Kerk certainly knows how to pull a reader in. Then we have Belle, and she's the very definition of the unreliable narrator. 

Both of these things should lend themselves to a gripping psychological thriller, especially with the tagline claiming it to be a dark and twisted psychological thriller. It is dark and twisted, but it's also incredibly predictable. I had most of it figured out in the first part of the book and since there are four parts, that's pretty early. That's not to say the story is bad because it really isn't. It's just that I prefer a bit more suspense in a story like this, and I feel like the ending would've had more impact if I hadn't already seen so much of it coming.

Jay Kerk does know his stuff when it comes to creating interesting characters. I didn't trust Belle from very early on, but she is interesting, and even though I knew what was coming, I still kept turning the pages - not only to see if I was right, but to get more of Belle's thoughts on her life and the things she was being told.

So, what it comes down to is The Trapped Daughter may not have been wholly my kind of story, but it was most definitely worth the time to read it, and I'd say that my middle of the road opinion will probably be in the minority. Even so, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Jay Kerk's work, and I'll be interested to see what he does next. 

❃❃ARC provided by Reedsy Discovery & the author

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✱✱Book Review✱✱ The Girl in the Game by John Manchester

The Girl in the Game 

Ray of Darkness, #3

by John Manchester 

Ray Watts is recently--if not entirely happily--married. His art career is moribund and his heart just isn't in his job writing zombie books. When his friend Jo brings her niece Faye to his struggling art gallery for a visit, he feels an instant spark.

His art career springs miraculously to life, and he's enthralled with the tablet game Faye turned him onto. But there's something strange about his new job, and, come to think of it, about that game too. Oh, and there are those local girls that have gone missing...

Soon everything Ray holds dear is at risk--his marriage, his new job and the people he loves.

The Girl in the Game is book three in the Ray of Darkness Series. It also reads fine as a stand-alone. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084Z9VSTQ

Momma Says: 2 stars ⭐⭐

I think The Girl in the Game is one of those books that people are either going to love or not with very little middle ground. Unfortunately, I landed in the latter category, and there are a couple of reasons for that.

First, let’s start with the series. This is book three in the Ray of Darkness series, and here’s where I’ll tell you that on the surface, this series should’ve been right up my alley. After reading the blurbs, I assumed that the series followed a couple of characters but could technically be read as standalones. Well, you know what they say about assuming things. I suppose that I was technically right about the standalone thing, but there were a few things I felt like I was missing while reading book three. It wasn’t anything huge, or at least I don’t think so, but the feeling was there.

Now, I’ll admit something. I did try to read the first two books in the series, but I just couldn’t get into them. So, it is possible that the attempt colored my opinion before starting this one. I like to think that I could’ve still gone into this one with an open mind, but in the interest of full disclosure, there is that chance.

As for this third book in the series, I did try. I really did, but I struggled all the way through this book. The story is quite busy, like messy busy. I have no problem keeping up, but the writing is choppy at times, and the conversations between the characters often feel stilted – neither of those did much in the way of improving my experience. Of course, it’s entirely possible that the busy storyline was intentional, but it just didn’t work for me.

Finally, we come to the characters, and honestly, I didn’t much care for any of them, including Ray. He drove me nuts pretty much from the start. I realize that certain things relied on certain actions from him, but he just didn’t seem like the sharpest tool in the shed with the decisions he made. And his wife isn’t much better. It reached a point that I caught myself rolling my eyes every time it was mentioned that she’s a lawyer. I get it, she knows legal stuff. Nuff said.

I think it’s safe to say that this book is definitely not for me. I do enjoy psychological thrillers, and I’m always up for a challenge, but this story and these characters challenged me past the point of entertainment. As I said, I do think this one will be loved by many, so there is a market for the story, it just missed its mark in me. 

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✱✱Book Review✱✱ The Boy in the Barn by Ciana Stone

The Boy in the Barn

by Ciana Stone

Fear. That's what comes to mind when Sophie thinks of her childhood. Fear.  And pain.

She ran away from home to protect her unborn child. Now, twenty years later, she's a woman who learned to put the past and its dark secrets behind her.  To stand on her own and to build a good life for herself and her son.

But the past is not yet done with her and those dark secrets rise from the grave.  Her courage, and the strength of her love will be put to the test.  What's on the line is everyone she loves.

It's flight or fight and this time she won't run. 

*****Warning for readers:  This book contains triggers of physical and sexual abuse, of torture and murder. It is not for the faint of heart.

https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Barn-Ciana-Stone-ebook/dp/B081QT2YNY

Momma Says: 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Boy in the Barn quite literally wore me out at times. It's incredibly dark and twisted, and I would advise taking the warning in the blurb seriously because it does not exaggerate. The story is disturbing to the point that I had to walk away more than once just for a bit of a palate cleanser before diving back in. And there was never a doubt that I would dive back in because I had to see how it would all play out for Sophie.
There are several things that are predictable, and more often than not, that would bother me, but that's really not what this one is all about. So, yes, I saw some things coming, but guessing those things ahead of time didn't spoil anything for me. Instead, it was more like watching a horror movie and just knowing the monster is going to jump out, but you sit on the edge of your seat, glued to the screen, and jump like you've been shot when it actually happens.
You simply can not read this book and not be shocked, appalled, even sickened at times because there are no monsters hiding under the bed to rival the evils that men do, and Ciana Stone gives us one that is truly nightmare-inducing. Thankfully, Ms Stone does give us something to hope for, a possible light at the end of a pitch-black tunnel with a bit of romance. And I have to say, that I had my doubts about any light as this story progressed.
To avoid spoilers, I won't go into the characters other than Sophie, who is an absolutely terrific character. She's a brilliant combination of loving, strong, determined, considerate, and completely loyal to those dear to her. Sophie's sweetness is one of the things that make this story so hard to take at times. For such a good person to come from so much horror is a testament to what people are capable of when they know real love. I'll also add that the author tells this one from three perspectives, including Sophie's, and it's up to you to figure out the other two as you read.
To sum it up, this is one of the darkest stories I've read in a long time, and as I mentioned, I did have to walk away a few times. It's also wonderfully written, and regardless of how many times I walked away, the story was never far from my mind. There's something thoroughly compelling about this one, and it's one I won't soon forget.

❃❃ARC provided by Reedsy Discovery and the author

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✱✱Book Review✱✱ A Killing Game by Jeff Buick

A Killing Game 

A Curtis Westcott Crime Thriller Book 1

by Jeff Buick 

Born into a wealthy and powerful Boston family, Renee Charlebois has it all. Except for one small detail – she’s been abducted without a trace. Who took her, and why, is a mystery.

The case gets dropped on Curtis Westcott’s desk, but Boston’s Chief of Homicide has little to work with. No clues, no body, no motive. Renee had no enemies, no financial skeletons in the closet, and no bitter ex- boyfriends. Curtis and Aislinn Byrne, his go-to detective on tough cases, work the file hard but come up empty. Then Westcott attends a party and overhears a story that catches his attention – he and Aislinn have their first break.

They dig in and unravel a complex series of crimes tied to Renee’s disappearance. As they peel back the layers they are convinced Renee is still alive, but that her abductor is on a precise schedule and has every intention of killing her. It’s a bizarre and twisted game, and time is quickly running out.

A Killing Game is Book One in the Curtis Westcott series, set in Boston.

A Killing Game releases January 31st, 2020

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082P4RL1D

Momma Says: 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

You know those complex movies that if you miss one thing, you're lost? Yeah, that's the predicament Curtis Westcott is in right from the start of this propulsive thriller. In most cases, I prefer a story that gives me the clues, obscure though they may be, and part of the thrill is figuring it out and seeing if I'm right. This one is not that, not even a little bit. The reader doesn't get to know who the killer is until Westcott knows, and while that would usually be contrary to my preference, I didn't mind at all with this one. I was too caught up in the twisted and tangled rollercoaster ride of this one to figure it out even if I could. 
The story follows Curtis from the time he learns of Renee Charlebois' disappearance, and a lot of it is his investigation as he solves the puzzles the killer has given him. With that said, I hesitate to call this a procedural because the story is anything but ordinary in terms of procedure or crime. So, if you're expecting shoot 'em up gunfights and hair-raising car chases, it isn't that kind of thriller, but it's no less exciting for the lack of those things.
Suspension of disbelief does deserve some mention here, but not quite in the way one might assume. The story is complex, but do I have doubts about whether or not something like this could happen? You betcha. That being said, more and more is possible every day in this fast-paced world, so who knows. I'd like to think that it couldn't at any rate. Nevertheless, realistic or not, this is fiction, and some amount of leeway can be given. For me, it didn't really matter because I was so immersed in the story and following Curtis from puzzle to puzzle that I really didn't take the time to ponder the possibilities.
While this is very much the Curtis Westcott show, the author has given us a great cast of supporting characters - for lack of a better description. There isn't much in the way of throwaway characters here. Almost every person Curtis interacts with drives the story forward another step, and there are several characters that I'll be interested to see again as the series progresses.
I realize that I've been vague on story details, and it has been intentional because this one really needs to be read without spoilers of any kind. What I will say is Jeff Buick has crafted a terrific character in Curtis Westcott, and with this first case of the series, he has set the bar quite high for himself as far as whatever comes next. It's well-written, gritty, and impossible to put down, and I will certainly be waiting to see where this series goes from here.

❃❃ARC provided by Reedsy Discovery and the author

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