Tear ME Apart by J.T. Ellison

Synopsis via jtellison.com:

The follow-up to her critically acclaimed Lie to Me, J.T. Ellison’s TEAR ME APART is the powerful story of a mother willing to do anything to protect her daughter even as their carefully constructed world unravels around them.

One moment will change their lives forever…

Competitive skier Mindy Wright is a superstar in the making until a spectacular downhill crash threatens not just her racing career but her life. During surgery, doctors discover she’s suffering from a severe form of leukemia, and a stem cell transplant is her only hope. But when her parents are tested, a frightening truth emerges. Mindy is not their daughter.

Who knows the answers?

The race to save Mindy’s life means unraveling years of lies. Was she accidentally switched at birth or is there something more sinister at play? The search for the truth will tear a family apart…and someone is going to deadly extremes to protect the family’s deepest secrets.

With vivid movement through time, TEAR ME APART examines the impact layer after layer of lies and betrayal has on two families, the secrets they guard, and the desperate fight to hide the darkness within.

Miss Ellison is a favorite of mine. She is from Nashville and I get to see my city through someone else's eye. Though, in this particular story, the setting is outside of Nashville, but there are a few references to it. She also has a special place in my heart because she portrays the Nashville Police Department is such a positive light (and we know how the police are ragged on right now). You see, my husband is a retired Nashville Police Officer.
But, this is not the first novel of hers that I have read, and it definitely will not be the last!
Miss Ellison really knows how to weave a good suspense story. She takes you round and round, up and down, and has you guessing all the way through the story. She weaves the lives of her characters so well. It is like a spider's web, you have all these concentric circles and then there are these straight lines that intersect the circles all over the place.
The characters are very well thought out. She has a knack for making you feel for each of them, even the bad guy. The intensity of each of the relationships is what really draws you into the heart of the story and the suspense is such a natural part of the flow. I have read some suspense stories that feel like the author was struggling to figure out a way to add that element of suspense. but not Miss Ellison. Oh no, she is a natural at making her story flow like a meandering stream. it is so inviting and easy to follow, but you never get bored of being along for the ride

The President's Henchman by Joseph Flynn

Synopsis via Amazon:

Imagine the United States has elected its first female president. That would make her husband — what?

Well, if he's the ex-cop who solved the murder of the president's first husband and brought the killers to justice … and if he's not the kind of guy to stand on formality … and if he doesn't want to be the head of the FBI … and if he takes out a license and becomes the first private eye to live in the White House … 

That would make him The President's Henchman.

Jim McGill's first case is to find out who is stalking a member of the White House press corps, before that stalker turns the tables on McGill and maybe even threatens the president herself. He's also called upon to be a shadow advisor to a young Air Force investigator who is looking into a he-said she-said charge of adultery leveled against a female colonel working at the Pentagon, a case with the potential to derail the new president's administration before it has a chance to begin.

First of all let me say this, I actually paid for this book through Kindle. I know I do a lot of reviewing for authors, but not this one.
Generally I do not read political thrillers. Heck, I rarely even read the blurb about them. But for some reason, this stood out for me. I can't say it was the book cover because it's pretty generic. But, the blurb really intrigued me. I did go into the book expecting there to be a ton of politics and for the author to take this opportunity to push his own political views. I was also expecting the story to be a "What if Hilary Clinton was elected?" rhetoric. Boy was I pleasantly surprised.
The story line flows very well with just the right amount of politics to tie the president into the story and help the reader to understand the premise. But the truth is, the story isn't about politics, it's about the human spirit, right versus might, and good overcoming evil. But one of the points I really liked was that good didn't wipe out evil. No, he wrote this from a realistic point of view.
So, what did I NOT like about the book? Well, there were a few times when he got very technical with the specs on boats. I found myself starting to skim over those points and then skipping forward to the point where he went back to the story. My personal opinion is that the story was bogged down by these little forays. But, there were only a few times this happened.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the next book in teh series.

The Devil Inside (The Game of Gods book 1.5) by Lana Pecherczyk

Excerpt via Amazon:

GOD. HUNTER. OTHERWORLDLY TRICKSTER. PLAYER.
Cash’s soul was falling apart—literally. That was until Roo, his beautiful progeny, stuck it back together. He returns to his home town intending to train Roo and prepare her for the Game but demons from his past scratch from the inside and when he wakes from a nightmare, almost killing her, he decides she’s better off without him. While he runs from one responsibility, others are thrown in his path. Soon he’s faced with the devastating results of his retreat, and learns that while Roo may have fixed his soul, he broke her trust. When the truth about her identity comes out, Cash must overcome his doubts for the sake of her life, but can he overcome his demons in time?

Marc is a god. The god of the in-between. The messenger between the worlds, traveller between the dimensions, otherworldly trickster, shameless lover of all things. You may have heard of him, he’s been known as Hermes, Hoth, Loki … He’d be able to gloat more about his status if it wasn’t for the fact his years have left him a little flakey and his position has kept him tethered to the world of men. He’s on a mission to uncover the truth about the hunter’s inception so he can foil the plot to overthrow the Queen, and if he impresses the new racy red-headed Player, then props to him. But when a way out of his long service is presented, he’s left with a choice: take it, or follow his new friends into a battle they might not win without him.

SECRETS ARE REVEALED AND PROMISES ARE MADE.

*** AUTHOR NOTE ***
This short novel is bonus book in the Game of Gods series. It tells the tale of the two weeks between book one and two from the perspective of Cash and Marc.

While this book is a short timeline continuation of Soul Thing, it is a new perspective on the story line. I enjoy seeing through different characters' eyes. It's like a 3D view of the story. You get to see so many different facets of each character. There's the side that they need the "world" to see, then there is the side their "friends" need to see, and then there is the "real" side.
I have to admit that I have a whole new perspective on Marc and Cash. Because of this book I actually have a new positive view of Marc and have a renewed appreciation of Cash.
What can I tell you without giving away the story? Let me see. . . In Soul Thing Marc is very arrogant with a "devil may care" attitude. In The Devil Inside Miss Pecherczyk gives us a view of what caused him to act the way he acts.
And Cash. . . this will be almost impossible to explain without giving away the secrets of the story. So let me just say that I fell in love with Cash a little more with this story.
For me, if you are into The Game of Gods series, this is a must read to get more of the background into not only the characters, but the story itself. It will help define what is going on in the story.

Soul Thing (Game of Gods Book 1) by Lana Pecherczyk

Synopsis via Amazon:

After a decade long war, witches have been obliterated, or so the world thinks. A precarious peace settles and, for the small town of Margaret River, life returns to normal, but for Roo, the hard work is just beginning.

Roo works at the local bar, is a little facetious and can’t wait to high-tail it out of there to keep her powers secret. She’s not certain where they came from but the last thing she wants is to be burned at the stake. Hiding in plain sight seems to work until Cash, a darkly handsome hunter, arrives with disaster in his wake. Witches aren’t defeated, only hidden, and there’s one gunning for Roo and her family. The recent war only touched the surface of the preternatural world and with Cash’s help, Roo learns there are worse things that go bump in the night... and she might be one of them.

Soon she must make a choice—risk exposure to save her loved ones, or remain hidden and safe. But sometimes safe isn’t an option. Sometimes safe is a never-ending game.

EVOLUTION IS THE GAME, WITCHES ARE THE GLITCH.

This is my first foray into Miss Pecherczyk's world and I have got to say that I am pretty impressed!
She has a fresh, out of the box take on witches, Gods, mythology, and urban fantasy.
I can honestly say this story is like none I have ever read. I didn't want to put the book down. I wanted to know what happened next, who was going to do what, and how it was all going to affect everyone in the story. There is a bit of mystery, excitement, sexual tension, and life all mixed into one little cauldron of a world.
The characters are well conceived and interact very well together. There isn't any awkwardness in the story line. It flows as seamless as a breeze through the trees.
The amount of real world pain and heartache that is injected into the story is really astounding. It really helps the reader feel something for the characters. I know it sounds weird to have someone say a persons pain is good in a story, but this shows how talented a writer Miss Pecherczyk really is. If she can pull you in and make you feel something for the characters, she has connected the world she created and ours together by each individual reader.
When I finished this book, all I could think of was "MORE!! I WANT MORE!!".

UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale)

Synopsis via Amazon:

Mina Grime is unlucky, unpopular and uncoordinated; until she saves her crush's life on a field trip, changing her High School status from loser to hero overnight. But with her new found fame brings misfortune in the form of an old family curse come to light. For Mina is descended from the Brothers Grimm and has inherited all of their unfinished fairy tale business. Which includes trying to outwit a powerful Story from making her it's next fairytale victim.

To break the fairy tale curse on her family and make these deadly occurrences stop, Mina must finish the tales until the very Grimm end.

Do you know the Grimm Editions of the fairy tales? Do you like a twist in your fairy tales? Do you like a little mystery with your fairy tales? If you said yes to any of the above, you will like this story.

Do you prefer a sweet happily ever after with your fairy tales? Well, you may want to stick with Disney stories. 

While this story is not a sweet bed time story, neither is it a story that will bring nightmares to your sleep.

It is a very well thought out, modern day, fresh take on the Grimm Fairy Tales. It is a story of a teenage girl who finds out she and her family aren't what she thought they were. It is a story of family and all they will do to protect each other. 

I really enjoy that Mina is not a typical high school teen. She has a little brother that she loves and adores and a mother that she respects and loves. She is being raised by a single mother, with a less than ideal income and never once does she talk bad about her mother. She even finds the best in living above a Chinese restaurant with colorful and funny owners.

This is a book for both teens and adults alike. As a matter of fact, if you get this book, you may as well get all 6. Believe me, you will want to go right to the next story as soon as you finish this one.

I have already purchased the next book and can't wait to crack it open and see what fairy tale Mina has to tackle!

Amazed by You by Cheyenne McCray

Synopsis via Amazon:

Jayson McBride loses a bet and loses big, and ends up with a commercial shoot on his ranch for a women’s clothing line. Before he can come to terms with city folk leaving gates open and disrupting his operation, he meets Celine, the woman who runs the show. Damned if she doesn’t piss him off then impress him five minutes later.

Celine Northland is a fashion designer with a dynamic new line of clothing—she needs this launch to save her company and herself. She has involved investors, crowd funding, and every other trick up the sleeve she can come up with. She’ll have what she needs to launch if she doesn’t continue to be bled dry by one thing after another.

Celine's whole world tips when she meets Jason McBride and she finds herself falling for the cowboy hard and fast. However, Jayson harbors a secret that could rip their relationship apart before it even starts. 

When Jayson saves Celine’s life, it turns out she just might have saved his.

As always  Cheyenne has blown it out of the stable! She has woven a tale of romance, adventure, suspense, heartbreak, and wrapped it up in forever love.

I have had the extreme pleasure of meeting Cheyenne. She is a genuine, down to earth person. There is no pretense or prima dona attitude with her. Her genuinity (yes, this is a real word. I looked it up.) and warmth is conveyed through her characters. And it felt to me like Celine and Jayson are the two characters who convey these traits the best.
With Jayson she has taken what I have determined to be her favorite hero, a drool-worthy cowboy, placed him in her favorite place, an Arizona ranch, and introduced a woman so unique that she could only have been made for him. If I wasn't already married, I would have to move back to Arizona  and try to find myself a cowboy rancher just like Jayson!
With Celine she has created a strong yet very vulnerable character. She has achieved something that I feel is almost impossible. She has found the perfect balance of 2 very different traits. Most authors tend to make their character either predominantly strong or vulnerable, but Celine is so equally both that the reader can't help but be pulled into the feelings that Celine experiences.
As a matter of fact, Cheyenne is such a gifted writer that, as embarrassing as it may be, I actually teared up when Celine is told to call Jayson's mother "mom". That feeling of total acceptance is so overwhelming that there is no question about how emotional it makes her.
Celine  and Jayson are from 2 very different worlds. She comes from a very cold and sterile family environment while he comes from a clan that is full of love and acceptance. When they meet it isn't quite love at first sight, but there is definitely interest. As they learn more and more about each other, it is easy to see they need each other.
One of the many things I liked about Celine and Jayson's story is it doesn't start out with them at each other's throat and then all of a sudden they are jumping in the sack. No these two are civil and respectful. Both are successful in their own professions, which couldn't be more different, and treat each other in a way that is expected of professional adults.
And the animals! I love how she includes animals as such an integral part of the story. I love how it is so very clear that Jayson's dog Thor is so much more than just a working dog. But it is also very clear how the horses are also so much more than working animals. She projects her love for animals through Jayson and Celine in such a beautiful way.
Another thing I liked is the refreshing way Jayson and Celine's story is more about their story than their sex life. Don't get me wrong, Cheyenne knows her way around a sizzling sex scene and this story is no exception. But there are so many authors out there who create the sex and then try to create a story around it. Not Cheyenne. The sex is a natural progression of the couple's story.
So what DIDN'T I like about this story? Well, the fact that it ended. I fell in love with Jayson and Celine and wished it wouldn't ever end.
This is a definite read!  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Spirelli Paranormal Investigations Episodes 1-3 by Kate Baray

Synopsis via Amazon:

Jack Spirelli, paranormal investigator, public debunker of paranormal frauds, and private fixer for the magic-using community has opened his doors.

Jack's in a crunch. Since he went pseudo-public with Spirelli Paranormal Investigations, his business has sky-rocketed. Debunking the scum who prey on vulnerable targets makes up half his business now. And the rest of his time? Jack's on speed dial with the Texas Lycan Pack, the Inter-Pack Policing Cooperative gives him an occasional ring, and anything that goes bump in the night might just call him with a job.

He needs an assistant, another investigator, and some additional muscle, but maybe the dragon who just walked in and applied will do for now.

This volume contains the first three episodes of Season One. Each is a complete stand-alone story.


This is one of the most fun books I have read in a very long time. It has a fresh story line with characters that draw the reader in.

Fresh, fun, intelligent, innovative, and even moments of humor. Worth the read if you don't need a lot of intellectual depth.
I honestly can't wait to read more.