Thursday, September 29, 2016

#FRC2016 : Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris




This fall, members of the Vise Library are going back to school by participating in a Fall Reading Challenge(it's our Junior Year!)  We have received copies of several books from publishers for honest reviews. We hope that you enjoy these reviews (and books)!




Course Title:  ‘Til Deceit Do Us Part
Department: Psychological Thrillers

About the book:

Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth; she has charm and elegance. He’s a dedicated attorney who has never lost a case; she is a flawless homemaker, a masterful gardener and cook, and dotes on her disabled younger sister. Though they are still newlyweds, they seem to have it all. You might not want to like them, but you do. You’re hopelessly charmed by the ease and comfort of their home, by the graciousness of the dinner parties they throw. You’d like to get to know Grace better.
But it’s difficult, because you realize Jack and Grace are inseparable.
Some might call this true love. Others might wonder why Grace never answers the phone. Or why she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn’t work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. Or why she never seems to take anything with her when she leaves the house, not even a pen. Or why there are such high-security metal shutters on all the downstairs windows.
Some might wonder what’s really going on once the dinner party is over, and the front door has closed.
From bestselling author B. A. Paris comes the gripping thriller and international phenomenon Behind Closed Doors.

We all know that looks can be deceiving and that is the case of Behind Closed Doors.  Jack and Grace have it all: the looks, a beautiful home, friends, career, and marriage (or do they?).  The book starts off after Jack has won another case as a lawyer.  He works hard to defend battered women and has never lost a case.  He makes it his mission to go after the men that physically abuse women.  We are then taken back in time to when Jack and Grace meet, date and get married.  We find out that Grace has a sister (Millie) with special needs and loves her dearly.  Jack accepts Millie as a part of Grace's life.  On the day other their wedding, Millie has an accident on the stairs and Grace is visibly upset.  However, Jack convinces Grace that Millie will be okay and that it is okay to get married without Millie there.  This is where the REAL story begins.  

I can't tell you anything else, but know that this book is a psychological thriller.  There are some difficult topics to read about, but I was flipping through the pages to figure out what Jack and Grace's marriage is REALLY like.  This is nothing like I thought it would be and it kept me guessing throughout the entire book.  I could see this book playing out in real life and that just ups the thriller factor.  If you want a book that is fast paced and action packed, then pick up Behind Closed Doors!

Find it: Amazon Barnes & Noble |




About the author:

B.A. Paris grew up in England but has spent most of her adult life in France. She has worked both in finance and as a teacher and has five daughters. Behind Closed Doors is her first novel.


Connect with the author:
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Monday, September 26, 2016

Book Review: Depths of Salvation by Molly E. Lee


Release Date: September 26, 2016
Photo & Cover Design: Regina Wamba / MaeIDesign and Photography
Models: Ty Sundeen & Lindsey Jo Angelo
 
Synopsis
Sadie Jenkins’ most recent site of preservation is a sunken WWII cargo ship off the coast of the Bahamas. When a giant corporation threatens to blow it up to make way for an underwater gas pipeline, Sadie is forced to prove to the Head of Government the importance and value of her site. And when assistance comes from a bad-boy welder who works for the corporation, she ends up battling not only the people trying to demolish her site, but her heart as well—because its latched on to the one man who can save her ship or destroy it. Connell Murphey is the best underwater welder this side of the Atlantic and thrives when the stakes are highest. When Slade Industries offers him a dangerous gig with a big pay off, he can’t wait to sign on. When a local marine preservationist gives Slade trouble—her site’s protection would cost him millions to go around it instead of through it—Slade offers Connell the deal of a lifetime: twelve million has his name on it if he gets close to Sadie and testifies to the Head of Government that her site isn’t worth saving. Should be easy money. That is, until he meets Sadie. She’s a force to be reckoned with and the only woman who has ever been able to not only keep pace with him on a dive but completely surpass him on every level. She’s smart, sexy, and their chemistry is off the charts. The more he gets to know her, the harder he falls but he’s already in too deep with the deal he made with Slade. When the time comes, will he be able to turn down the money and choose the girl of his dreams, or will too many lies kill his only chance at forever?  

Sadie is trying her best to protect a sunken WWII ship that houses some algae with promising medical qualities.  Her preservation efforts are being threatened by a underwater gas line from Slade Industries that is pushing to go through her site.  Connell works for Slade as a welder and is told to work with Sadie by Slade in order to get the pipeline put in place (he has his reasons).  Sadie does not realize that he is there to thwart her efforts, which becomes a problem later on.  As the two of them explore the dive site more and more, their attraction to each other also grows more and more.  Suddenly Connell realizes how much he cares about Sadie (and the feeling is mutual). and knows the damage his arrangement with Slade can cause.  Sadie is under the gun (sometimes literally) to prove that her site is worthy of being saved and has to learn if she can trust Connell when things go south.
I have to say that this book is full of adventure and I think this is Lee's best book.  I felt like I was right there with Connell and Sadie as they explored the ocean floor and each other.  The pace was perfect and all of the background information seemed plausible.  The chemistry with Connell and Sadie was to die for and I did not want this story to end.  This book will keep you on your toes when Slade is involved and when there is a twist with Connell's backstory.  There are a lot of emotions involved and the stakes are very high for both Connell and Sadie.  I am so glad I was able to receive an early copy of this book.  I can't wait for more from this author and the adventures she sends us on! 
Buy the book:
 

Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card
 
 
 

About the Author
Molly E. Lee is an author and editor best known for her debut novel EDGE OF CHAOS, and as a fourth year mentor at Pitch Wars - a program which connects promising writers to established authors in the community. Molly writes New Adult Contemporary and Young Adult Urban Fantasy featuring strong female heroines who are unafraid to challenge their male counterparts, yet still vulnerable enough to have love sneak up on them. In addition to being a military spouse and mother of two + one stubborn English Bulldog, Molly loves watching storms from her back porch at her Midwest home, and digging for treasures in antique stores.
 
Connect with Molly
Newsletter Signup Link: http://bit.ly/2cmswZF
Facebook Author Page: http://bit.ly/2cw1iQ7
Facebook Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2cKYIFb
Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/2cqGg6Q
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2cjbDA3
   

Thursday, September 22, 2016

#FRC2016: The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter




This fall, members of the Vise Library are going back to school by participating in a Fall Reading Challenge(it's our Junior Year!)  We have received copies of several books from publishers for honest reviews. We hope that you enjoy these reviews (and books)!




Course Title: Forensic Sciences
Department: Psychological Thrillers

About the book:

Husbands and wives. Mothers and daughters. The past and the future.
Secrets bind them. And secrets can destroy them.
The author of Pretty Girls returns with an electrifying, emotionally complex thriller that plunges its fascinating protagonist into the darkest depths of a mystery that just might destroy him.
With the discovery of a murder at an abandoned construction site, Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is brought in on a case that becomes much more dangerous when the dead man is identified as an ex-cop.
Studying the body, Sara Linton—the GBI’s newest medical examiner and Will’s lover—realizes that the extensive blood loss didn't belong to the corpse. Sure enough, bloody footprints leading away from the scene indicate there is another victim—a woman—who has vanished . . . and who will die soon if she isn’t found.
Will is already compromised, because the site belongs to the city’s most popular citizen: a wealthy, powerful, and politically connected athlete protected by the world’s most expensive lawyers—a man who’s already gotten away with rape, despite Will’s exhaustive efforts to put him away.
But the worst is yet to come. Evidence soon links Will’s troubled past to the case . . . and the consequences will tear through his life with the force of a tornado, wreaking havoc for Will and everyone around him, including his colleagues, family, friends—and even the suspects he pursues.
Relentlessly suspenseful and furiously paced, peopled with conflicted, fallible characters who leap from the page, The Kept Woman is a seamless blend of twisty police procedural and ingenious psychological thriller -- a searing, unforgettable novel of love, loss, and redemption. 

Full disclosure: I have not read any of the previous books in this series (this book is #8) by Karin Slaughter.  I will say I did have a bit of trouble getting into this book in the beginning since this book did seem to involve some loose ends from the previous book.  It was a little confusing figuring out the back story, but Slaughter does a good job of guiding you along if you are not familiar with this series!  This book really starts right out of the gate with the prologue.  This book centers around Angie (cray cray alert!) who has a past (marriage) with Will Trent, who is a special agent.  You get some information about her background and what makes her tick.  Angie's blood (and there is A LOT of blood) and gun are found in a warehouse that belongs to an athlete that Trent has been investigating for rape for some time.  What else is in that warehouse? Oh, just a dead body of a dirty cop.  With Angie back in the picture, Will's life is thrown upside down and so his the life with  his gf, Sara, who also happens to be the medical examiner.  I can't tell you too much without giving some of the plot away, but you will see some of the story from Angie's point of view.  This allows the reader to get into the inner workings of her mind to find out what makes Angie well...Angie.  You slowly learn how she is involved in the case.  This book raises issues about domestic violence, rape and childhood abuse that is extremely complex!  Angie's presence has another affect: on Trent and Sara.  Their lives are changed by everything.  This has Trent remembering past hurts and has Sara questioning everything.  This makes fans of the series wishing for the next installment (I know I am)!  

Find it: Amazon Barnes & Noble |




About the author:

Karin Slaughter is one of the world’s most popular and acclaimed storytellers. Published in 36 languages, with more than 35 million copies sold across the globe, her sixteen novels include the Grant County and Will Trent books, as well as the Edgar-nominated Cop Town and the instantNew York Times bestselling novel Pretty Girls. A native of Georgia, Karin currently lives in Atlanta. Her Will Trent Series, Grant County Series, and stand-alone novel Cop Town are all in development for film & television.

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Cover Reveal: Renegade Red by Lauren Bird Horowitz

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*Want to look closer? Check out the large-size cover graphics at the end of this post.
 
RENEGADE RED REVEALED!
RENEGADE RED, the sequel to the award-winning novel SHATTERED BLUE will be available in THREE special edition covers, in both Hardcover and Paperback, in March 2017! Distribution from online sites and into bookstores will be random, so you have a chance to collect them all— the POET EDITION, the WARRIOR EDITION, and the very exclusive TRAVELER EDITION. Happy hunting, and learn more at LaurenBirdHorowitz.com!
Featured in USA TODAY!
http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2016/09/22/renegade-red-covers-reveal-lauren-bird-horowitz/
Join Lauren and Zoe Cope, the designer of all three covers, for a live Twitter chat at 10am PST/1pm EST Thursday 9/22
https://twitter.com/birdaileen
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Reckless, desperate, and distraught, Noa Sullivan leaps into a collapsing Portal in the explosive finale of Shattered Blue— the jaw-dropping, award-winning first installment in The Light Trilogy— in wild hope of rescuing her little sister Sasha. Now Noa and the Fae brothers who love her—Callum and Judah Forsythe—must find a way to survive not only across worlds but between them, in places so treacherous and deceptive their own minds are twisted against them. As the three fight to survive their passage, they battle not only enemies but themselves, and their darkest, most difficult secrets.
Surviving, however, is only the beginning: Noa needs to find Sasha. That means becoming a warrior herself, one just as fierce as the magical brothers battling for her love. Across broken cities, underground labyrinths, rushing floods and endless skies; in the face of legions of armies, horrifying tyrants, and the most deceitful of friends, can Mortal Noa rescue her sister—and understand her own heart—in time to escape the most deadly of magic realms?
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Silver Medalist
INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING BOOK AWARDS BEST YOUNG ADULT FICTION
Finalist
USA BOOK AWARD BEST NEW FICTION 2015
USA BOOK AWARD BEST FANTASY 2015
INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARD BEST FANTASY 2015
NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARD BEST YOUNG ADULT FICTION 2015
"Must-read romances of 2015… I guarantee you'll be hooked and anxiously awaiting the next book in the series”
–USA TODAY
“Anyone who’s ever fantasized about kissing a Fae will enjoy Noa and Callum’s first sexy kiss...Romantic sparks ignite...fast-moving...hip...lyrically concise”
- Kirkus Reviews
"A fantastical tale of love and betrayal...colorful world-building...more than enough emotion and angst to keep any romance-loving teenager glued to the pages, and the promise of a trilogy will keep them eagerly anticipating the next book...VERDICT Librarians with a large fantasy readership should invest in the print version of this title.” - School Library Journal
“A book to fall for”
–BUZZFEED
“Not your average fairy tale… will have you clamoring for more of a story that you didn’t see coming…new and surprising."
–HYPABLE
“Magic, action and a really, really attractive love interest… what more could you want?"
–GLITTER MAGAZINE
“A love story you won't soon forget… A story of of protection sacrifice and love"
–SHE KNOWS.COM
A "Book To Lean On When The Going Gets Tough"
–BUSTLE
A "Book for All Ages"
–MARIA SHRIVER.COM
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shattered
For Noa and Callum, being together is dangerous, even deadly. From the start, sixteen-year-old Noa senses that the mysterious transfer student to her Monterey boarding school is different. Callum unnerves and intrigues her, and even as she struggles through family tragedy, she’s irresistibly drawn to him. Soon they are bound by his deepest secret: Callum is Fae, banished from another world after a loss hauntingly similar to her own.
But in Noa’s world, Callum needs a special human energy, Light, to survive; his body steals it through touch—or a kiss. And Callum’s not the only Fae on the hunt. When Callum is taken, Noa must decide: Will she sacrifice everything to save him? Even if it means learning their love may not be what she thought?
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Lauren Bird Horowitz, screenwriter and novelist, has won an enthusiastic following for her innovative, lyrical poetic voice. Her debut novel Shattered Blue: Book One of The Light Trilogy, won the 2016 Independent Publishers' (IPPY) Silver Medal for Young Adult Fiction, as well as Finalist honors in the 2016 USA Book Awards for Best New Fiction and Best New Fantasy, the 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards for Best Young Adult Fiction, and the 2016 International Book Award for Best Fantasy. It was also listed as one of USA Today's top romances of 2015, and selected as a notable book by BuzzFeed, Popsugar, Hypable, San Francisco Book Review, Glitter, The Culturalist, Teen Reads, Maria Shriver.com, Bustle and others.
Bird studied writing at Harvard University with novelist Jamaica Kincaid, where she won several prizes including the Edward Eager Memorial Prize for fiction and Winthrop-Sargent Prize for writing. She’s a proud member of the Writers Guild of America. Bird lives in Kauai and Los Angeles.
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