THRILLER THURSDAY - CENTER OF GRAVITY By Laura McNeill - PRE-RELEASE BOOK REVIEW

THRILLER THURSDAY

CENTER OF GRAVITY

(link from Amazon for Pre-ordering your favorite version) 

By Laura McNeill

PRE-RELEASE BOOK REVIEW

318 pages

HarperCollins Christian Publishing

Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

What if everything you think is true and real about your life is a lie?

Ava's life in the coastal South appears nearly perfect after her recent marriage to the powerful and handsome Mitchell Carson. She loves her husband and the family they have created. Even Mitchell's young son from a previous marriage, Jack, with his superhero ambitions, can't imagine life without Ava. Outwardly, Mitchell appears to be a caring husband and doting father, but as Ava soon discovers, there is a dark side to Mitchell Carson that she never imagined.

When Graham Thomas, a lawyer with a secret past, stumbles into Ava's life, everything changes. Mitchell's jealous streak emerges after an innocent encounter between Graham and Ava, and Mitchell soon convinces himself that Ava is unfaithful. When Mitchell starts divorce proceedings and a custody war, Jack is caught in the middle, which soon makes him question Ava's pure intentions. As Ava searches for a way to save her family, she begins to uncover her husband's secret past and capacity for unhinged jealousy and rage.

©2015 Laura McNeill (P)2015 Thomas Nelson Publishers

My Review for Amazon and other sites

(when the reviews are allowed they will appear. For right now catch the news here on this amazing new book. I will blog again when the reviews hit other sites!)

This book was provided for review by the author, Laura McNeill. All comments below are strictly mine and in no way effect by other reviews or persons. So without further ado, now onto my review!

Laura McNeill has created what I believe to be unique in the writing of this Inspirational Fiction with the dash of suspense.  She writes each chapter in the first person. Each chapter title is the main character who is doing the main talking or capturing the situation of events leading up to the next chapter. 

What if you were a little boy named Jack, 8 years old, who's most important person in your life is your Dad. Finding that he is not Dad you think he is. You think you are the most important thing to him. You. Your brother. Your mom. Now he is being pushed aside for stuff that is way more important to him. His work and status are everything to him.

So what is a boy to do? Turn to his super hero's for help. What if he was The Lantern, The Hulk, Superman or whichever Hero is the best for the situation at hand. Jack finds that he seems to be failing his dad's expectations. Always getting in some sort of trouble and getting hurt mimicking his comic book hero's.  This does not settle well with his Dad. However, only one person he could count on is his step-mom Ava.

Ava thought she had everything, home, wonderful husband and children until her husband starts acting out of character. She could not put her finger on it and he starts by accusing her of seeing another man. Rest assuring her husband, Mitchell Carson, that she is not seeing her childhood friend, Mike the local police. Telling him he is just a friend that was helping her when she broke down on the way to the hospital to get Jack. From another one of his hero stunts. Then, Mitchell tells her that he is divorcing her. He can't handle her indiscretions. Now the trouble starts when he says he wants the boys for 2 hours at his new place and will bring them back home that night. But, he doesn't and informs her that he has full custody of the boys.

What secrets is Mitchell Carson hiding from his family? What happened to his first wife? Can Graham, Ava's attorney able to help her get her children back? Can Ava discover the long held secrets of Mitchell without getting herself discovered or killed?

This book will take you so quickly chapter to chapter. The fastest 318 pages you will read. With Laura's writing in the first person makes the read go by so quickly. You can't help to want to know what will happen next. So do yourself a favor and get this book. It's an amazing read. 

Please comment if this was a helpful review. Helpful or Not Helpful. 

Go to Amazon to Pre-order your preference copy of Lauren's New Book

Center of Gravity

Where you can find Lauren McNeill (Lauren Clark)

Audible - Amazon - Goodreads - Twitter - Website

AND

Where you can find ME! 

Please comment below! Go to the left side of the page and follow my blog,
So you don't miss the My Tweets on Twitter, 

Facebook Group join today!, GooglePlus+ (NEW)
Goodreads profile, Audible profile for new reviews and 

Audio Book Reviewer under Joan Pavlick!

Want to see something added to my format - send me a message to 

sapphirereader25@gmail.com

Have a Great Day and Happy Listening

Joan

MONDAY MAYHEM:Dead, Sometimes, Book 2 by Patricia Lee Maccomber

Monday Mayhem Review

Dead, Sometimes: Jason Callahan Psychic Detective, Book 2 

By Patricia Lee Macomber 

Performed/Narrated by Steven Jay Cohen 

6 hours 8 minutes 

Unabridged book 

Series: Jason Callahan, Book 2

Genre: Modern Detective, Suspense, Thriller, Paranormal

3.9 stars on Audible

My Rating 5.0 stars

Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

Jason Callahan, private investigator, and his psychic partner Trina Dane return in the second installment of the Jason Callahan Mysteries.

Chloe Marsh is found dead at the scene of an accident and pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Half an hour later, as she is being taken to the morgue, Chloe suddenly sits up. But this isn't the first time Chloe has died, and it certainly won't be the last.

Enter Trina and Jason. They've worked on cases together before, but nothing like this. Investigator Jason Callahan doesn't believe for a minute that Chloe has special powers, but psychic Trina Dane does, and she thinks she knows why. But what of the other people across the country who have had the same experiences? How did they really die? And how did one boy (and Chloe) manage to survive? Only Trina and Jason can find the answers, but they must do so before Chloe runs out of lives.

©2014 Patricia Lee Macomber (P)2015 David N. Wilson

My Review on Audible and other sites

I really enjoyed this listen. This book by Patricia Lee Macomber was such a light book of the paranormal in this modern detective story that even teenagers could enjoy this listen. When I started to listen to this book I found myself diving right in from the start. This is one of the books that you want to listen to from start to finish. Wish I could have but did listen in 3 sessions. Headphones on and then I found myself inside the book like sitting at a movie theater. Sitting back and watching the scenes unfold. 

What I really enjoyed was that Patricia did not go overboard with the details. Just the right amount for the scenes she was writing about. You knew at most times what the characters were thinking and going to do in certain scenes. Found myself wanting to say, ”Don’t go in there, don’t be foolish. You know what is going to happen to you.” Not that it was obvious just that each scene was clear as to what was going on. 

So now moving into the book itself. There is 4 main characters. Of course, Jason Callahan, the detective, his side partner psychic Trina Dane, Chloe Marsh and the Entity. Trina pulls Jason in on a case that she feels, is drawn into by her psychic powers that this woman Chloe Marsh that was pronounced dead at the scene of an accident and then hours later sits up and is alive. The more and more awake she becomes Chloe starts developing these special powers. 

Jason reluctantly agrees to head off to Florida to rest Trina’s concerns are going to be unfounded. Unfounded they were not. Jason gets so pulled into the case, as he starts to find links to other similar cases across the country. How did Chloe get these powers? From the woman at the bar she knew? Asking her for a ride home when she locked her keys in her car. While heading home to get her spare key since and she did not live far from the bar the woman agreed to take her back to her car. Then all of the sudden the woman goes and pulls over and before Chloe realizes she is being attacked by her. The next thing Chloe finds herself waking up in the hospital being told that she was dead for several hours. She was a miracle. So everyone thought but, Chloe. In comes Jason and Trina starting their investigation surrounding this case.

Jason and Trina find themselves in more than one way bonding with Chloe as friends and protectors. Trina is determined to get the Entity out of her once they have discovered through the investigation and what Chloe’s new found powers were. Chloe just wanted the powers and voices gone from her. Can Jason and Trina get to the heart of removing the Entity or spirit? What path will they need to go to get to the bottom of this case? Will they be able to save Chloe or will she have to die in order to destroy this Entity? 

This book will have you riveted. Not just from the story but, with the performance of Steven Jay Cohen. I have reviewed other books where the male narrators sometimes could pull off the female voices to a degree. Steven is the first that really nailed the dialect and the voices. I was in awe over this one. 

I find myself now wanting to listen and review the first book in the series. My thought is I hope that Steven Jay Cohen does the rest of the series. This book was provided to me by the author for an honest review. So all above is my sole thoughts on this book and no one has effected that outcome. Please like and comment on my review. Love to hear your thoughts as well. 

Where you can find Patricia Lee Macomber

Audible - Amazon - Goodreads - Smashwords

What other 13 books that Steven Jay Cohen has performed/narrated on Audible

His website http://www.stevenjaycohen.com/

AND

Where you can find ME! 

Please comment below! Go to the left side of the page and follow my blog,
So you don't miss the My Tweets on Twitter, 

Facebook Group join today!, GooglePlus+ (NEW)
Goodreads profile, Audible profile for new reviews and 

Audio Book Reviewer under Joan Pavlick!

Want to see something added to my format - send me a message to 

sapphirereader25@gmail.com

Have a Great Day and Happy Listening

Joan

MONDAY MAYHEM - DEVIL'S LAKE by Aaron Paul Lazar plus A New Release!

Monday Mayhem

Devil's Lake

By Aaron Paul Lazar

Performed/Narrated by Gwendolyn Druyor

8 hours 48 mins

Suspense, Thriller, Mystery

Unabridged Audio

4.40 stars on Audible

My Rating 4.7 on Audible

Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

After two years of brutal captivity, Portia Lamont has escaped and returned to her family's Vermont horse farm - only to find her parents gone to New York to try an experimental treatment for her mother's cancer, and her childhood friend Boone Hawke running the farm. The man Boone has become frightens her to near paralysis, but she's too traumatized and physically devastated to put up a fight.

Like the rest of her family, Boone has never given up hope that Portia would return. But when she turns up battered, skinny as a 12-year-old boy, afraid of everything and unable to talk about what happened, he does the only thing he can - try to help her heal. He summons the town doctor and Portia's parents, and sets out to put this beautiful, broken woman back together again.

Through her family's love and Boone's gentle affection, Portia gradually comes back to herself, and starts to fall for her old friend in a whole new way. But one thing threatens her fragile hopes for recovery: The man who took her promised that if she ever escaped, he'd kill her. Slowly. And someone is definitely watching her...waiting to make a deadly move.

©2014 Aaron Paul Lazar (P)2014 Aaron Paul Lazar

My Review on Audible and other sites

"An Emotional Rollercoaster Ride!"

Overall

Performance

Story

Devil’s Lake by Aaron Lazar was a sobering intense story of what is sadly too real! This book will hit a lot of emotions as a reader that will have your heart pumping for the danger and for the tender parts of closeness. This review is based on the audio version of the book narrated by Gwendolyn Dryer. She had me at the edge of what is next feeling! Since this book was dedicated to the young ladies that were kidnapped in Ohio. It lends that is the primary topic of this book. Abductions by those we see as normal on the outside yet very scary on the inside to the captives. This story was so well layout in a timeline that is so believable. Right out of too many headlines. It will leave you with maybe some feelings you did not have before. It really draws you in. It is a bit of an underlying love story as well.

This story surrounds a young college student, Porsche that was kidnapped at the closing of a garden center where she work at. Watched indiscreetly by a patron that for hours looking at the flowers in the garden center. Putting some in his basket putting some back. Nothing that Porsche has not seen with avid gardeners. Upon the closing of the store Porsche asked the gentlemen to make his final selections and he ends up bringing to the counter a single geranium. After closing up and feeling uncomfortable over the whole situation. Porsche locks up and finds herself approached from behind and a rag put over her mouth. So now I am getting ahead of myself.

The story opens as Porsche is racing home to her parents. Her little dog Cupcake right by her side. “We’ll be home soon.” That is all she could think of. Gone 2 years. 2 long years. Had her family given up hope that she was still alive or were they resolved she was dead and they would never see her again. Rushing into her parent’s home calling out their names. Where was everyone? Then a deep voice comes from behind her and she starts to panic. With relief seeing that it was not her capture that followed her but, she kept telling herself all the way home that she knew that she has killed him! “Who are you?” Is all she can say as she surveys his eyes, his face and broad shoulders? “You know who I am Peaches! It’s Boone.”

Boone a childhood friend is helping take care of the farm. As he explains to Porsche where her mom and dad is. That her sister is now married to a college professor. Knowing that she would not see them till the next day. Boone sees that she is in dire straits he finally talks her into eating, showering and getting some rest. Knowing that her parents were out of town she knew he was right. She would see them tomorrow.

The absolute joy when Porsche is finally reunited with her family is very uplifting. Aaron really hit the nerve of all the emotions that just pour out with the reunion. The questions of where she was the last 2 years. What was happening with her mom’s health? How or did her sister Grace beat her addiction from her actions? Who was her new husband and how did they meet? I find that all the questions are unraveled in the story at a nice pace.

How even after 2 years she could still see her sister really didn’t change all that much even being married. Why? Was she now jealous of the attention that Porsche is getting? However, as the story unfolds and Porsche starts telling the family her story her sister Grace finds that she can’t help wondering and wanting to feel for her sisters’ distain for her capturer named Murphy. To protect her.

Now, the story goes back to the beginning of my review. Porsche now tells them how the capture unfolds to a cabin at Devil’s Lake, WI. The things that Porsche’s capturer makes her do. Now home will she never want another man? Did she kill this man? Afraid that Porsche will be arrested for his murder. If indeed he was killed when she finally escape. Boone and Grace’s husband Anderson head to WI to find out. What steps will they take to protect her throughout the story?

After returning back to the farm in Vermont to inform her that he was not dead based on the information she gave them. Now she feared that her capturer is coming to seek her down. What risk will he take to get her back? Was her family and the police ready to take on one guy? Only this time he takes her sister Grace. Is her capturer ready for her sister’s strong will? Will everyone find her sister in time? What happens between Boone and Porsche? Will there be a happy ending? I will not spoil the stories ending for you.

The narrator Gwendolyn Druyer, is my first experience listening to her. She did a wonderful job with the list of characters she had to perform. She did have the same similar voice as I have heard with other female narrators. A soothing voice when needed. To a scared voice of Porsche and Grace as they were held captive. The male voices I could tell the difference but found Boone’s voice a bit too sultry at times when I didn’t feel it fitting. She capture the mood of each of the scenes and the transition from character to character. I will be looking for her name in future narrations she performs. Whether for any of Aaron’s books or for other authors. Well done Gwendolyn!

I highly recommend this book from young adult +. I would even recommend this for young teen girls to listen to. Being a mother and knowing what I have heard over the years from my girls of not being afraid. This book makes me afraid for them.

Please note that this book was provided to me by the author. In no way was his or anyone else influenced me in the final review of the book. Please feel to comment and if you feel my review was helpful please like it! 

Where you can find Aaron Paul Lazar

Audible - Amazon - Goodreads - Twitter - Facebook - Google+ - Website

What other 82 books you can listen to Gwendolyn Druyer narrate/perform

AND

BONUS TODAY - Aaron's New Release today

Devil's Creek

Sequel to Devil's Lake

Now available on Amazon

AND

Where you can find ME! 

Please comment below! Go to the left side of the page and follow my blog,
So you don't miss the My Tweets on Twitter, 

Facebook Group join today!, GooglePlus+ (NEW)
Goodreads profile, Audible profile for new reviews and 

Audio Book Reviewer under Joan Pavlick!

Want to see something added to my format - send me a message to 

sapphirereader25@gmail.com

Have a Great Memorial Day and Happy Listening

Joan

MONDAY MAYHEM - PLAGUES OF EDEN by Sharon Linnea and B.K. Sherer

MonDay MayHem

Plagues of Eden

Written by: Sharon Linnea, B.K. Sherer

• Narrated by: Kristina Fuller Yuen
• Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins 
• • Series: Eden Thrillers, Book 4
  • Mystery, Thriller and Suspense
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Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

The Wheel Spins. Chaos in Unleashed.

The race is on to stop a madman bent on unleashing the ancient plagues of Egypt against the modern world.

Tell-el-Balumum, Egypt. The dig of an ancient temple is decimated by fiery hail from the heavens. And that's only the beginning. Buenos Aires. Paris. West Point. The countdown has begun. Only Army Chaplain Jaime Richards, along with rock star Mark Shepard, can stop the catastrophe and save the mysterious Sword 23 from the clutches of a psychopath...if they can find the true mastermind in time.

©2014 Sharon Linnea, B.K. Sherer (P)2014 Sharon Linnea, B.K. Sherer

My thoughts on the book from Audible and found other sites

"Non-stop Thrill Ride!!!!"

Overall

Performance

Story

Plagues of Eden is a non-stop action ride for 72 hours in book time. There is no getting off. Well, I did not want to. The collaboration of Sharon Linnea and B.K. Sherer made this a top notch espionage thriller. The first 20 minutes or so takes you thru all the characters in this who, what, where and why thriller. The authors take you thru an hour by nearly hour of what is happening where and with who. From time zone to time zone and country to country. Will it make you dizzy keeping it all straight? At first it may. Listening to the first 20 minutes or so diligently will keep you on the right track for the next 8 hours of the novel. So onto the important part the review.

The Plot: A madman wanting to take control of businesses and government ruling around the world for his benefit. In order to get his ways he is unleashing the 10 plagues. All over a 72 hour period leading up to the death of the first born. The story opens in Tell-el-Balumum, Egypt. At a gravesite digging. The head project director is summing up this very odd week on the dig site, examining the pieces that they have unearth. When all of the sudden out of the sky looks like a meteorite that hits the earth about 5 miles away. An anomaly, no more will come out of the sky. Then more start impacting the surrounding area and some burning up. As everyone starts running to take cover. Two of the friends jump in the nearby vehicle. As he approaches yelling for them to get out the vehicle it is struck by one of the meteorites killing the two inside. What is going on?

To the madman's lair, as his computer expert turns to give himself a well-deserved pat on the back for a job well done. He is thrilled he has completed the task at hand, the 3rd plague of Fire raining down from the heavens. (The first 2 plagues you find out about further in the novel). Well only 2 were killed. Not bad, everything did come down within the 5 mile radius that he wanted. But, were they meteorites. No they were actually 3 satellites that he control by hacking into their systems to have them fall back to earth. The computer expert is only a puppet under the thumb of the madman.

In the US at West Point, A wedding. How grand where two of the government’s secret operatives Army Chaplain Jaime Richards and Yani (undercover code name Sword 23 are finally getting married in a regular ceremony). Even though they were married several times before in other ceremonies. To make their family and themselves happy marry once again in a regular wedding. Heading for a honeymoon hideout as they are rudely interrupted by their commanding operations. Their objective is to stop a manic that is unleashing plagues around the world. One heading under orders of being undercover as a former operative and the other as an undercover specialist for the owner of one of the satellites. These two along with Mark Shepard are the main good guy characters of this novel. As Jamie heads to meet the plane of the owner of the satellite. Little does she know it is a former friend of hers Mark Shepard? To each other’s astonishment of how can this be? Will they be able to work together knowing their past history?

All three of them finding themselves canvasing back and forth across the globe collecting clues to stop the remaining 7 plagues. Paris, Italian vineyards, Argentina, and back at West Point. Who else is in this plot with this madman since he is so delusional? You will find him talking to someone that is not there. Though his oriental aid knows all too well that no one is there. She consuls him and makes sure he is getting his medication to keep him from getting to out of hand. Or is she? She has a plot of her own.

A little boy kidnapped. The madman does not know of the special needs that this boy has. He has a love for King Arthur and Camelot. His father works all the time so tired and sleeping. He wakes up not knowing that his son is kidnapped. Since he is in the care of a nanny thought they gone somewhere. Shortly after receiving a call from the nanny upon her release from the kidnappers. Once she arrives back to the Paris flat telling what had happened. Not knowing why anyone would kidnap his son. Why he was worth millions but others are worth billions. Who would want his company anyway?

Meanwhile, Yani/Sword 23 ends up at the same place as the little boy he calls Merlin. He realizes that they boy has special needs and lives thru his fascination of Camelot and King Arthur’s story. Will they find their way out of the clutches of this mad man? What does the wineries have in connection with this madman? Will Jamie and Mark be in time to save Yani? Will they stop the assignation of the first born? All great questions that you will have to read/listen to too find out the answers.

What I love is the way the novel was laid out. Each place and time layout prior to the event taking place so you are not wondering – Did I miss something? You knew where you were within the 72 hour period. As the minutes dwindled down. There is some light humor throughout. But, for the most part it was non-stop action. Truly a full story. No abrupt ending. Actually, when you thought it was all over it isn’t. Loved it! Well played out that will draw you in as it did me. From start to end.

Co-authors Sharon Linnea and B.K. Sherer, really have a hit with this Eden Series. This book is a stand-alone story. Even though I was given this book for review I find myself getting on board for the entire series. I purchase the other 3 books, so back to book one for me!

I absolutely love the cover. It is certainly a draw for me as a reader as with the title. That is important as some may not think. But, if I see a cover that is mediocre in artwork or photograph I usually pass it up without even reading the synopsis.

Narrator: Kristina Fuller Yuen has done an outstanding job with the characters. Especially with the small boy. Adding accents to those that have them perfectly. Transitioning from character to character flawlessly. Even when the parts are at the climax of a shootout or when Yani was been brutally interrogated. I am going to look forward to listening to her on the other book and hope that she does all of the series. Hate seeing a new narrator for a series. You cannot go wrong if you are into this particular genre.

Note: This book was provided to me for an honest and unbiased review. No one has influence my review above and I always welcome comments about the above.

Where to find the Authors

Sharon Linnea

Audible - Amazon - Goodreads - Twitter - Facebook - Website

THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS by Sharon Linnea

Go out to Facebook Arnudel Publishing and Like and Share the newest video promo of the book! Sharon is having a giveaway, check and join her group on Facebook.

Don't forget to go below and join me and my reviews!

B.K. Sherer

Audible - Amazon - Goodreads 

What other books performed by Kristen Fuller Yuen on Audible

AND

Where you can find ME! 

Please comment below! Go to the left side of the page and follow my blog,
So you don't miss the My Tweets on Twitter, 

Facebook Group join today!,
Goodreads profile, Audible profile for new reviews and 

Audiobook Reviewer under Joan Pavlick!

Want to see something added to my format - send me a message to 

sapphirereader25@gmail.com

Have a Great Week and Happy Listening

Joan