The Face of Death by Cody McFadyen

Mass Market Paperback: 624 pages

Publisher: Bantam -July 29, 2008

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0553589946

ISBN-13: 978-0553589948

To purchase, please click here.

Book Synopsis:

A sixteen-year old girl holds a gun to her head at the scene of a grisly triple homicide.  She claims “The Stranger” killed her adoptive family, that hes’s been following her all her life, killing everyone she ever loved, and that no one believes her.  But Special Agent Smoky Barrett does.  Her team has been hand-picked from amont the nation’s elite law enforcement specialists and they are as obsessed and relentless as the psychos they hunt; they’ll have to be to deal with this case.

For another vicious double homicide reveals a killer embarked on a dark crusade of trauma and death: an “artist” who’s molding Sarah into the perfect victim - and the ultimate weapon.  To catch him, Smoky is going to have to put her own fragile, once-shattered life on the line.  For The Stranger is all too real, all too close, and all too determined.  And when he finally shows his face, Smoky had better be ready to face her worst fear.

Let me first preface this by saying - this book may not be for everyone.  I am a huge fan of shows like The First 48, and growing up in Wisconsin, we have had our fair share of nasty killers, most notably Jeffrey Dahmer.  Mr. McFadyen does something few authors have been able to do for me - he has actually made me cry during a portion of this book.  I will not go into details, but it involves the events of Sarah’s 6th birthday - heart wrenching, to say the very least.

As strange as this may sound, this review is hard for me to write.  Not because I don’t have a lot to say but because I don’t want to spoil this book for anyone.  This book is being placed in my top 10 books of 2008 for sure, and without going back to check my list I would say it was in the top 2 or 3.  Even though it is almost 600 pages long, once I started reading I had a VERY hard time putting it down.  His prose, in my mind, is comparable to one of the greatest writers of our time - Stephen King.  Like King, the description of not only the events, but of the characters, leaves no room for doubt - you feel as if you are standing there witnessing things firsthand, and like these characters are people that you really know.  This is something that is a rare find in an author, and should be truly commended, whether you like the subject matter of the book or not.

I think the hardest part for me was that initially no one believes Sarah.  This poor 6 year old witnesses something beyond my wildest imagination, and when trying to tell the police about it she is dismissed as confused.  My heart was literally breaking for this poor innocent child.  Once you read this, you will realize not only why she isn’t believed (the killer does a good job of covering his tracks and making things look other than what they are), and then you will realize how deep corruption can go.  He also demonstrates how far the human mind can go without actually breaking - Sarah’s journey is fraught with such evil, and yet she somehow keeps at least a shred of sanity. 

Don’t get me wrong, this book isn’t ALL about murder (although to be honest the vast majority is fairly gruesome).  The relationship between Smoky and her team is fabulous - even James who is “the odd man out”.  As Smoky herself says “He can peer into the mind of a killer and not blink.  He can gaze at evil full in the face and then pick up a magnifying glass to get a closer look.”  This is the same ability Smoky has, which makes her the best in the business.  And, she needs someone with that same ability to bounce ideas off of - no matter how difficult he is to work with.  Bonnie, Elaina, Alan, and Callie are all very developed and you grow to really get a feel for the relationship between all of them.  And despite all of the horror they have all been through…literally…this has helped them to form a bond of friendship and love that is beautiful.

On that note, I would like to talk about something in the book that I feel was my favorite part.  No, no, it really has nothing to do with the murders at all.  It has to do with Matt (Smoky’s dead husband) and Smoky’s legacy to their daughter Alexa (I must read Cody’s first book to find out what happened here…I must, I must, I must!!!).  They weren’t wealthy, but wanted to make sure they could leave her something if anything ever happened to them, something that maybe wasn’t worth a lot of money, but truly spoke of who they were as people.  And what might that be, you ask?  They create a library for her, and add to it whenever they can.  I have been doing the same thing for my daughters - granted, it started before they were born because I am such a bibliophile, but I think it is such a great idea.  What better gift to give anyone, than a library full of books?!  Love it, love it, love it!

Truly a must read for anyone - queasy stomachs beware!

About the author:

Cody Mcfadyen was born in Texas in 1968. He designed websites before selling his first novel, Shadow Man, in 2005. He has since had a second book – The Face of Death – published. Both were international best sellers. He lives in Southern California with his two black labs, often referred to as ‘The Black Forces of Destruction.’ He drinks coffee (copiously), plays guitar (badly), and reads (voraciously). He abhors adverbs in writing, except when used in short bios like this one.

For more information, visit www.codymcfadyen.com

I also want to thank Pump Up Your Book Promotion - you ladies ROCK!

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Copper Fire by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Paperback: 296 pages

Publisher: Vintage Romance Publishing May 30, 2008

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0981559204

ISBN-13: 978-0981559209

To Purchase, click here.

Book Synopsis:

On a summer day in 1945, Louisa Gordon receives a telegram from the International Red Cross Tracing Service.  Her young cousin, Elisabeth, has just been released from Dachau, a concentration camp, and Louisa is her only remaining relative.

Determined to go to war-torn Germany to retrieve her cousin, Louisa is also on a mission to discover the whereabouts of Friedrich Mueller, a Nazi sympathizer who fled Copper Springs, Arizona.  What Louisa never expected was to meet the man she had once loved.  And now hated.

Copper Fire is the second book in the Copper Star series.  I was thrilled as you don’t have to read the first one to be able to enjoy this story, although I for one have added it to my ever growing TBR list.  Louisa Gordon has tried to start a new life in Copper Springs.  She has left Germany, and although there are things that she misses, she knows that going back is not an option.  And, she is happy.  She is married to Robert, the pastor of the small community of Copper Springs.  But more importantly, she is raising his son William as her own.  The only obstacle she incurs on a daily basis is Robert’s Aunt Martha, who lives with him.  But, if this is the worst she has to deal with, she is more than capable.

All this changes when one day she receives word that her cousin Elisabeth has been located in a Red Cross camp for displaced persons in Germany, and they are looking for someone to claim her before she is left to fend for herself.  After some fancy work, she is able to make the long trip abroad, which she has mixed feeling about.  She is so excited to be able to go an see Germany and claim her relative, but she is afraid of what effect seeing her country in its devestation will take on her. 

I don’t believe in giving away too much of the plot but here is some food for thought:

Elisabeth does come to live with Robert and Louisa, but is she more than they bargained for? 

Louisa resumes contact with her former fiance, someone who hurt her so bad in the past but is trying to make up for it.  Are his intentions noble?

Will Friedrich Mueller be found in Copper Springs, and if so what has brought him back?

Suzanne has done an excellent job of spinning a tale to engage all readers, and by pulling in Nazis, concentration camps, theft, spies, and unconditional love, it would be hard to find someone who wouldn’t enjoy this book.

About the author:

Suzanne Woods Fisher’s bestselling debut novel, Copper Star, was the recipient of three literary awards by Reader Views.  A former contributing editor for Christian Parenting Today magazine, Fisher lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and children.  When she’s not writing books, she raises puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

For more information, visit www.suzannewoodsfisher.com

Once again, give it up to PUMP UP YOUR PROMOTION for this awesome opportunity!

Book Blogger Appreciation Week

How cool is this?  September 15-19 is going to be Book Blogger Appreciation Week.  Want in on the action?  All you have to do is visit My Friend Amy for more details!

I have won another book:)

I meant to post this the other day, but have gotten busy doing a bunch of other things.  My friend Breeni of Breeni Books has chosen my name to win Willow in the Storm by James Peter Taylor and Kathleen Murphy-Taylor.  Haven’t heard of this book?  Check Breeni’s blog for an awesome review and an out and out awesome blog.  Thanks again Breeni, you made my day…you know how much I love winning books

Win Gilding Lily

This is Julie’s first ever book giveaway, so be sure to jump over to Julie’s Jewels for your chance to win!

Time for another book giveaway

Ok.  It’s a sad day.  No, no one has died, but in our apartment I just don’t have enough room to display all of my books.  So, for the time being I have agreed (rather reluctantly) to pack up the books that I have already read.  These will be stored somewhere in the house for now until I get shelves and things up for them.

It might be a good thing.  Now when I go into my book closet (yes, I have a closet with shelves that I am using to hold my books) I can grab a book randomly and know I haven’t read it before.  And, as long as it isn’t part of a series I will read it.

But, anyway.  This also has made me able to see that I do have duplicates of some books.  I have found two already (and will post about the other tomorrow) and am sure I will find more.  So, here goes:

The book I am raffling of is Dead Time by Stephen White.  It is an Advance Uncopyedited Manuscript and is a large paperback. 

What do you need to do to enter you ask?  There are a few ways to enter, and to gain extra entries as well.

1.  Leave me a comment.  Please include a way to contact you.  This will gain you 1 entry

2.  Blog about it and leave a link to this post.  Again, make sure to tell me where to find this so I can see it - this will gain you 2 entries.

3.  Subscribe to my blog.  Once again, let me know that you have done so.  this will gain you 3 entries.

GOOD LUCK!  I will draw a winner on Monday, August 18th.  Thanks for visiting!

Win a copy of Read Well, Think Well by Hal Lanse

Come on, everyone loves a chance to win a free book, right? Book Marketing Buzz is hosting a 10 book giveaway extravaganza and the ten books we’ll be giving away are being donated by education expert and author Hal W. Lanse, Ph.D. in his fight to help our children learn how to read!

Help Hal in his fight to promote his book and he’ll help YOU find out what it takes to teach your child how to read and understand what they’re reading!

To find out more about Hal and his book, visit his website at www.readwellthinkwell.com and don’t forget to leave your suggestion in the comments section!  What better way to end your summer with a free book that will help get rid of illiteracy in today’s children???

There is a slight catch on this one.  To get more details, please click on the Book Marketin Buzz link above.  Good luck everyone!

Left to Die by Lisa Jackson

Paperback: 484 pages

Publisher: Zebra August 1, 2008

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1420102761

ISBN-13: 978-1420102765

To purchase, click here.

Book Synopsis:

One by one, the victims are carefully captured, toyed with, then subjected to a slow and agonizing death.  Piece by piece, his exquisite plan takes shape.  The police can’t yet see the beauty in his work - but soon, very soon, they will…

In the lonely woods around Grizzly Falls, Montana, four bodies have been discovered.  Detectives Selena Alvarez and Regan Pescoli have been hoping for a career-making case but this is a nightmare.  Even with the FBI involved, Selena and Regan have nothing to go on but a killer’s cryptic notes, and the unsettling knowledge that there is much worse to come…

When Jillian Rivers opens her eyes, she’s trapped in a mangled car.  Then a stranger, claiming to be a trail guide named Zane MacGregor, pries her free.  Though she’s grateful, something about him sets Jillian on edge.  And, if she knew what lay out there in the woods of Montana, she’d be truly terrified.  Because someone is waiting…watching…poised to strike and make Jillian the next victim…

I reviewed Lost Souls a few months back and that was the first Lisa Jackson book that I had read.  I knew after reading it that it wasn’t going to be my last as I just loved her style and content.  I also was shocked when I walked into Wal-Mart and saw the hardcover right in front of me.  It was then I told my hubby, see, that’s one of the books I just reviewed for Pump Up Your Book Promotion - it was really pretty cool!  So, needless to say, when I was asked whether I would be willing to review Left to Die I jumped at the chance.  I wasn’t sure if it was going to be as good as Lost Souls but let me tell you, it was even better.

Let me first start by saying I was thrilled to see that the two lead characters are female detectives.  Selena Alverez and Regan Pescoli couldn’t be more different in both their personal lives and the way they approach the cases they are handed are also very different.  But they fit together like two puzzle pieces and their drive and work ethic is what is sorely needed in their department to catch the sadistic serial killer that is on the loose.   They were hoping to make a name for themselves but this case is quickly turning into a nightmare, with a killer that is calculating and flawless in all of his actions.

The serial killer in this book is chilling…no pun intended.  He sets up his victims by shooting out their tires as they are driving through a ravine.  They loose control of their vehicles and crash, causing them to be totally helpless.  So, when a nice stranger rescues them and nurses them back to health, who would think that he would then lead them to an icy death, tied to a tree, naked, left to brave the elements, and essentially succumb to them. 

 

This book had me on the edge of my seat, literally.  I am so thrilled to have been given the opportunity to review two of Lisa’s books and can’t wait for the sequel - Chosen to Die.  This is a must read for anyone who is interested in suspense and truly not being able to guess the ending. 

To view an awesome book trailer see below:

 About the author:

Lisa Jackson can’t keep away from murderers, especially serial killers.  She’s been killing people everywhere from Savannah and New Orleans to San Francisco and the Pacific Northwest—and it’s been worth it.  Her readers come back again and again, and her novels are fixtures on national bestseller lists. In fact, her book Fatal Burn was a number one New York Times paperback bestseller, and the first two of her novels to be published in hardcover, Shiver and Absolute Fear, were in the top five on the New York Times Best Sellers list. Next, readers will be looking for LOST SOULS, being published in hardcover by Kensington Books to go on sale March 25^th. 

Having made serial killing her business—sort of—she has put her characters through the wringer. They have been up to their necks in danger and stared death, usually a pretty gory one, right in the face.  She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional and downright twisted.  As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims, and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families. 

Lisa began writing at the urging of her sister, novelist Nancy Bush. Inspired by the success of authors she admired and the burgeoning market for romance fiction at the time, Nancy was convinced they could work together and succeed.  They sat down, determined to write and to be published.

They did and they were. 

Initially they wrote together. Later, they moved in different directions. Lisa brought more and more suspense to her work and began writing much darker stories.  Nancy’s writing expanded to include not just her own novels, including her highly praised Jane Kelly Mysteries, such as the recently published Ultraviolet. She also spent several years writing for one of television’s leading soap operas, even transplanting herself for a time from the sister’s Pacific Northwest roots to Manhattan. This year, they plan to work together again on a thriller set for publication in 2009.

Meanwhile, for Lisa the killing continues as this mother, daughter, workaholic and amazing writer continues her habit of making the hair stand up on the back of readers’ necks, and  landing  her books on The  New York Times, the USA Today, and the Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.

Lisa Jackson’s novels include the upcoming LOST SOULS and the best sellers Absolute Fear, which will be published in paperback for the first time in March, Hot Blooded, Cold Blooded, The Night Before, The Morning After, Deep Freeze, Fatal Burn, and Almost Dead.  Last year, Most Likely to Die was written by Lisa, Beverly Barton and Wendy Corsi Staub was published and became a number three New York Times paperback bestseller. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, the International Thriller Writers and the Romance Writers of America.

For more information, please visit www.lisajackson.com

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I’m a winner!

Wow, what a great day yesterday.  I received and email from Bookroomreviews telling me that I was one of the lucky winners of a box of 14 books from The Hachette Group -woo hoo!  I was so excited!  If you ask the hubby, he’ll say the last thing I need is more books, but hey, what does he know?

Make sure you head over there for a chance to win some great books and just see a great blog - thanks again!

Dead Ringer by Mary Burton

Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: Zebra October 28, 2008

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1420100270

ISBN-13: 978-1420100273

To purchase, click here.

Book Synopsis:

Beside each body, he leaves a simple charm bearing a woman’s name.  Ruth.  Martha.  Judith.  The victims were strangers to each other, but they have been chosen with the utmost care.  Each bears a striking resemblance to Kendall Shaw, a local anchorwoman…each brutally strangled by a madman whose obsession will never end…

In front of the cameras, Kendall is the picture of stylish confidence.  But at night she’s haunted by nightmares in which she is young, alone, and filled with fear.  Are these memories-or omens?  Despite warnings from Richmond Detective Jacob Warwick, Kendall can’t stop investigating the recent string of murders.  She knows she holds the key to catching an obsessed psychopath-if he doesn’t get to her first…

The deeper Kendall and Jacob dig into the victims’ backgrounds, the more terrifying the discoveries.  For from the shadows of the past, a legacy of evil has resurfaced.  Every murder, every moment has been leading to Kendall.  And this time, nothing will stop the killer making her his final victim…

Jacob Warwick and Kendall Shaw have a past - a past both of them are trying desparetly to put behind them.  Connected through a serial killer dubbed The Guardian, both of them are emotionally scarred and not willing to open up to anyone.  When Jacob gets called to the scene of a murder, the resemblance of the victim to Kendall is obvious.  He doesn’t put too much thought into it, he has a lot on his plate and thoughts of Kendall are something he has tried to bury for awhile now, no matter how hard it is.  It just so happens that Kendall is ready for some action and is sick of being an anchorwoman sitting behind a desk dishing out the news.  She is popular with the public, and her boss decides to take a chance and send her out to try and get a lead on the murder.  Sparks fly between Jacob and Kendall, but due to the situation and their respective jobs emotions are mixed and they do their best to avoid each other.

Another murder is reported, and at this point it is painfully obvious that both of these victims look like Kendall…and that she is in danger.  Jacob does his best to keep her safe, but is his best going to be good enough?  With many plot twists, and an ending that would make Hitchkock proud, Ms. Burton has a way of making even the most minor character come to life.  I will make sure to read her first book as well - I’M WATCHING YOU.  This is one author that is now on the top of my list for must reads.  Wonderful!

About the Author:

MARY BURTON’s southern family has always enjoyed tall tales and a good yarns.  Early on, MB realized that Story had tremendous power to inspire strong responses such fear, laughter, love and even sorrow.   It didn’t matter if the tale was found in the pages of a book, spoken in hushed tones around a Girl Scout campfire, or spouted at an old fashioned southern family reunion.  This appreciation of story motivated MB to earn an English degree from Virginia’s Hollins University.

After decade of working in marketing and sales, MB became convinced she could write and sell one of the many stories buzzing around her brain.  Fingers crossed, MB left the marketing profession and devoted all her spare time to writing a novel.  Soon after, she sold her first manuscript to Harlequin Historicals.  Since that initial sale, MB had written twelve historical romances for Harlequin Historicals, four short romantic suspenses for Silhouette Romantic Suspense and a non-fiction book The Insider’s Guide to Direct Marketing.  Her first single title romantic suspense for Zebra I’m Watching You is a December 2007 release.

In 2005, The Unexpected Wife was a finalist Romance Writers of America’s RITA contest and Wise Moves was 2006 nominee for the Romantic Times’ Critics Choice Award.  I’m Watching You received critical acclaim from New York Times Best Selling author Carla Neggers who said, “Taut, compelling and emotional, I’m Watching You is romantic suspense at its most riveting.  Mary Burton delivers a page-turner.”

MB resides in Virginia where she enjoys yoga, cooking, hiking and the occasional triathlon.

For more info, please visit www.maryburton.com