Tag Archives: Mystery

The Scenic Route by Katie Ruggle – a Review

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The Scenic Route by Katie Ruggle – a Review

 

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Description:
Why date a mountain man? Because climbing him will leave you breathless.

Felicity Pax loves her job. She craves excitement, and being a bounty hunter gives her that in spades. So when her estranged mother disappears with a small fortune in tow, Felicity chases her like she would any other skip. Too bad she didn’t barter on having increasingly infuriating (and infuriatingly hot) PI Bennett Green on her tail.

Bennett’s got a job to do, and if that means shadowing Felicity…well…he’s had worse assignments. Even if he’s 99% sure the increasingly intriguing bounty hunter is leading him on a wild goose chase through the Rockies.

If she has to drag her PI tail through endless quirky mountain towns in order to shake him, that’s what she’s determined to do…but it isn’t long before Felicity’s intended distraction turns up a mystery worth solving—and Bennett becomes the unexpected partner she never realized she needed. As things heat up, Felicity will have to decide what’s most important to staying one step ahead of the “enemy” or giving herself freedom to experience the adventure of a lifetime.

The Rocky Mountains get unBEARably hot in Katie Ruggle’s brand-new series packed with adventure, action, tall dark & scruffy heroes, and a sense of quirky humor that will be your next perfect escape.

 

 

Review:

The Scenic Route by Katie Ruggle is the 1st book in her new series, Beneath the Wild Sky. All of the 5 Pax sisters run a bounty hunter bail and recovery business; and their mother has recently stolen an expensive necklace, and has disappeared.  We meet Felicity Pax, our heroine, who loves her job as a bounty hunter, which gives her lots of excitement and fun. With her sister Molly, still searching for their mother, Felicity decides to head to Simpson, Colorado to chase a skip; and knows that her stalker continues to follow her.

Bennett Green, our hero, is a private investigator, who has been hired to find Jane Pax, and the necklace she stole.  He closely follows Felicity, as she knows he is tailing her.  When Felicty arrives in Simpson, Colorado, she stops at local coffee shop, and meets the waitress, Lou; who learns she is a bounty hunter. After a short time, Bennett walks in, and Felicity tells Lou that he is a stalker. But slowly, Bennett moves close to Felicity, helping her find the person she is looking for.  Lou excitingly calls her friends (Simpson Murder Club), to meet Felicity and join them in helping them find where the skip is hiding.  

Unable to get a room, Felicity and Bennett stay overnight in the car, and soon they discover the person they want, and end up in Las Vegas, where they team up together, as Bennett becomes the partner she really needed.    In a short time, the relationship between Felcity and Bennett escalates, as the chemistry between them was sizzling. 

What follows is an exciting, non-stop action-packed adventure with Felicity and Bennett working together, against a dangerous escaped criminal putting themselves in harms way.  I really liked the story line, and all the characters. I loved how Bennett and Felicity became a great team.  I also enjoyed Lou and her Simpson Murder Club friends, with the husbands helping them out.  It was an exciting story line, that was so much fun.

The Scenic Route was a captivating, enjoyable and heartwarming story.  Felicity, Bennett and all the endearing characters at the coffee shop were all entertaining.   The Scenic Route was a fun, exciting, action-packed story, with some very good characters.  The Scenic Route was very well written by Katie Ruggle.  I suggest you read The Scenic Route.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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FOREST OF OBSESSION (Alexis Forrest:FBI Thriller 5) by Kate Gable

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FOREST OF OBSESSION (Alexis Forrest: FBI Mystery Thriller 5) by Kate Gable-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 31, 2024

Forensic psychologist and FBI agent Alexis Forrest is on the hunt for a serial killer who has been terrorizing New England for decades. Years ago, her teenage sister fell victim to this predator, but the wrong person was convicted and sent to prison and the real killer is still out there.

The eerie calm of Broken Hill, Alexis’s hometown, is shattered when a string of brutal killings resurfaces, echoing the nightmare of her past.

For years, everyone thought he was gone and then he strikes again.

After her father’s house is burned down and her mother receives threats, Alexis knows she’s running out of time.

The killer has set his sights on her.

With her own life on the line, she must confront her deepest fears in order to uncover the true identity of the illusive murderer before it’s too late.

Teaming up once again with her former flame and partner, Mitch, Alexis plunges into a desperate race against time. But as the body count rises and the killer’s taunts grow bolder, Alexis realizes she’s facing someone who knows her every move.

With each step bringing her closer into the killer’s twisted game, Alexis grapples with the chilling realization that the key to stopping the bloodshed may lie in the darkest corners of her own past.

Can she stop him in time or will she become just another one of his victims?

•••••••••

REVIEW: FOREST OF OBSESSION is the fifth instalment in Kate Gable’s contemporary, adult ALEXIS FORREST: FBI MYSTERY THRILLER series focusing on Forensic Psychologist FBI Agent Alexis Forrest. FOREST OF OBSESSION should not be read as a stand alone as the events of the current timeline are as of a direct result of the previous four instalments.

SOME BACKGROUND: Twenty years earlier, Alexis’ older sister Maddie was abducted and murdered, destroying the Forrest family in the process. With her return to Broken Hill to investigate a series of similar abductions, Alexis will reconnect with family, and the man who once held her heart.

Told from three first person perspectives (Alexis, Mitch, Tyler) FOREST OF OBSESSION continues to focus on FBI Agent Alexis Forrest’s search for her sister’s killer. As Alexis‘ investigation begins to gain traction, our heroine will discover there may be more than one person responsible for close to thirty years of death and destruction. Refusing to sit back and wait, Alexis places herself in the direct line of fire, often at the risk of her own life and the lives of the people she loves. As the picture begins to coalesce for our story line heroine, someone else continues to pull the strings, pulling our heroine head first into a game of cat and mouse.

Meanwhile, Alexis’ relationship with Mitch Dutton is about to be tested when Alexis’ obsession with a serial killer threatens any potential happiness or trust for our story line couple. Unable to let go, Alexis unwittingly pushes the man that she loves to reconsider their lives going forward but Mitch is the stabilizing foundation for our story line heroine.

FOREST OF OBSESSION is the culmination of five instalments wherein FBI Agent Alexis Forrest often deviates from her daily routine and assignments in an effort to bring down a man who has taken the lives of so many. FOREST OF OBSESSION is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal, power and control, obsession and madness, forgiveness and acceptance. The premise is edgy and dramatic; the characters are determined and charismatic.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
Forest of Silence
Forest of Shadows
Forest of Secrets
Forest of Lies

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Left Behind by Sharon Sala – a Review

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Left Behind by Sharon Sala – a Review

 

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Description:
Everything that was lost will be found again.

Jubilee PD Officer Wiley Pope thinks he’s ruined things with Linette Elgin. He hasn’t seen or heard from the local nurse since their date gone wrong. But when Wiley’s trip to the bank turns into a robbery with Linette as one of the hostages, his training and protective instincts kick into full gear. A heroic bullet to his armor-protected chest is enough for Linette to forgive Wiley’s past mistakes and begin anew.

While his love for Linette grows daily, Wiley finds himself in over his head when a murder investigation is linked to Pope Mountain. If that wasn’t enough, a woman from Wiley’s father’s past abandons her seven-year-old daughter at the police station in an attempted money scheme. But the minute the woman signs over her parental rights, Wiley and Linette welcome the wary little girl into their family and show her what real love looks like.

 

 

Review:

Left Behind by Sharon Sala is the 4th book in her wonderful Jubilee, Kentucky series.  The story focuses on Wiley Pope, who loves his job as a Jubilee police officer.  Wiley has a crush on Linette Elgin, who is a local hospital nurse, but after a date that ended up wrong, due to two ladies who ruined the date; Linette wanted nothing to do with Wiley.   When a robbery at the local bank occurs, Linette finds herself as one of the hostages; with Wiley one of the cops coming to the rescue. Linette sees how he protected the hostages, and sees all that he does, she relents and decides to give him a second chance.

A murder investigation begins in Pop Mountain, with a woman shot in the back. Turns out that the woman’s brother was murdered, and she was found in the mountains with a serious injury. Wiley is assigned to guard her at the hospital; and learning more about the attempt on her life.  There are bad people, who have tried to kill the women, who they fear would identify them; but friends and police are on top of things, with the woman safe.

A woman, Corina, from Wiley’s father’s past, brings her 7-year-old daughter, to the police station, in an attempt abandoned the child in a money scheme; Wiley finds himself adoring the little girl, Ava.  He makes a deal with Corina, that he will adopt her, and free Corina to her move on with her own life.  Ava, was a cute and adorable child that everyone, including all the Pope family, as well as Linette loved. Ava did have a rough life in her 7 years, and as she meets all of the Pope family, Linette, she is beside herself as now having a family that she will love.

Left Behind was an emotional, wonderful, sweet story, with all the members of the Pope family playing a big part in this story.  Wiley and Linette made a great couple.  Everyone love young Ava, and Wiley was so happy to have Linette and Ava as his family.  There were a couple of suspense mysteries that played a large part of this book.  Left Behind was very well written by Sharon Sala. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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The Confidence Games by Tess Amy – a Review

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The Confidence Games by Tess Amy – a Review

 

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Description:
Two female con artists must pull off the ultimate heist in this rollicking caper from a dazzling new voice.

Emma Oxley and Nellie Yarrow have been inseparable their whole lives. Ever since they reinvented themselves, changing their names and wiping clean their digital footprints, they have made a game of following wherever the next adventure leads and challenging themselves to thefts, street cons, and mind games.

Adhering to only two rules—they will only swindle men, and only ones who deserve it—Emma and Nellie are secure in their reputation as the most trustworthy swindlers on the European black market. Until suddenly, they must play to save their own lives.

Blackmailed into stealing a priceless bracelet from a high-security exhibit, Emma will reexamine everything she believed to be true. This heist takes her far beyond her comfort zone…and she and Nellie will need allies among the glitzy bejeweled gathering in London in order to survive. Will they be able to do the right thing before it’s too late?

 

 

Review:

The Confidence Games by Tess Amy is a fun standalone novel about two best friends who are con artists. We meet Emma Oxley and Nellie Yarrow, who have been best friends forever.  When Emma lost her job, as well as her fiancée, she is despondent, but when Nellie shows up, everything is about to change.  

They reinvent themselves, changing their names, and cleaning digital prints, with them becoming very successful con artists over a 5-year period; making a name for themselves in the European Black Market.  They develop many cons travelling the world, to swindle men, operating under fake personas, stealing valuable things and reselling to them to highest bidders. I really loved their wonderful inspiring friendship and how successful they were. 

But when Nellie is kidnapped, Emma is forced make a plan on stealing a very expensive bracelet (worth millions), The Heart of Envy from a London high-security exhibit. The difficulty of the heist, is because of so much high-tech security, as well as people all over. Nellie is released to help Emma steal the bracelet, with death threats holding against them; they have to race against time to save their own lives. Dax is a member of their team, being a tech and hacking expert. Sophia was a young girl, who was locked up, as Nellie and Emma helped keep the girl save with Dax.  As the day arrives, and plans are put into place, they discover surprising reveals and a family that stays together to fight the battle. To say too much more would ruin it for you, and the last quarter of the books was very exciting.

 I have to say I actually loved this book, as it was so much fun and very enjoyable.  I loved both Emma and Nellie, as well as Dax and Sophia.  The Confidence Games was very well written by Tess Amy, whom I have never read before but I will check out her next book.  The Confidence Games was a fun, delightful, action-filled, suspenseful, exciting story, with wonderful characters, and an amazing heist. I suggest you read this book, as it was so much fun.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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You’ll Never Find Me by Allison Brennan – a Review

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You’ll Never Find Me by Allison Brennan – a Review

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Description:
Nothing brings family together like crime.

Working alone as a private investigator is tough. Estranged from her PI family, Margo Angelhart does what she must to get by—including taking on sordid cases that pay the bills, even if she’d rather be helping those the justice system has failed.

That is, until a cheating husband case she’s working intersects with her siblings’ corporate espionage investigation, forcing Margo to cooperate with the Angelhart firm. Now, as the siblings compare notes, it’s clear they need to work together before a white-collar crime escalates to murder.

With far more questions than answers and a key suspect on the run, they’ll need the whole family to pitch in. But as they investigate the ever-twisting mystery, Margo isn’t sharing everything. Can she learn to trust her family and heal their once-close relationship before her secrets put those she loves most in danger?

 

 

Review:

You’ll Never Find Me by Allison Brennan is the start of a wonderful new series, Angelhart Investigations. The Angelhart family owns their own private investigation firm, and Margo Angelhart broke away from her family and opened her own PI firm, taking all kinds of cases.  When her father was sent to prison for killing a man, and though they knew he was innocent, the father did not want to reveal anything and accepted his prison term.  Margo wanted to find the truth, but her mother (who runs the Angelhart PI firm) was determined to keep whatever secret her husband had; this led Margo to go on her own. She still sees the family on occasion, during celebrations. 

The story starts with Margo helping a woman, who suffers from an abusive husband. Margo arranges for Annie and her two children to take the minimal, and leave while her husband is at work; no phones, no computers, nothing to reveal anything.  With Margo’s help, Annie does escape, with no one knowing where she is ending up.  Eventually, the bad husband (state trouper) will discover both Margo and her uncle, helped his wife leave, and he is determined to get her back at any cost; even if they themselves do not know where she was.  The husband claimed his innocence, as its his right to abuse or rape her. 

The second story involves corporate espionage, but Margo has taken a case whose wife thinks he is cheating on her.   She hasn’t found any evidence that her husband is cheating, but the wife begs for her to keep checking for a couple more days.  Margo follows him, and discovers the husband (Logan Monroe) and a woman (jennifer) unconscious on the floor; she breaks into the house to help both of them, and cops are called.  To her surprise, her brother Jack and sister, Tess are also on the scene, and learns from them that the woman, Jennifer is being investigated for possible corporate espionage. Margo realizes that the wife who claimed her husband cheating, has more going on, and she joins hands with her family to discover the real truth, that involves crime, a thief and a wife trying to scam her husband for money.

I thought Margo was a terrific investigator, especially handling both of those cases.   I loved her family, especially Jack, who was beside her in both of the cases; he pushed for Margo to work with the family on the espionage case.  The rest of the family members, Lulu, Tess, Nico and their mother (she’s the boss) were all great.  Logan was the man whom his wife thought he was cheating, and he turned out to be a big help with the Angelhart team; as well as Jennifer, who had information regarding the company she worked for.

You’ll Never Find Me was an exciting compelling double mystery thriller.  It was nice to see all the Angelhart siblings work together, working toward putting the family back as a team. Allison Brennan gives us a fantastic story that was so very well written.  I look forward to reading more from this series, Angelhardt Investigations.  

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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Storm Warning by David Bell – a Review

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Storm Warning by David Bell – a Review

 

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Description:
A man living on a Florida barrier island must protect his family from both an approaching hurricane and a relentless killer.

Jake Powell is racing to get off the island as a powerful hurricane approaches. When he finds his best friend Dallas, the building manager, dead from a blow to the skull, Jake realizes there’s more than the storm to fear. There’s a murderer on the island, maybe even still inside the nearly abandoned building.

Dallas had repeatedly run afoul of the wealthy owners of the building by complaining about code violations and the precarious state of the condos. But he’d also once told Jake that every resident had a secret they’d come to Florida to escape. Had one of them killed to conceal their sins? As a dozen people shelter together in hopes of surviving the deadly hurricane, a second murder makes it all too clear: one of them is a dangerous killer.

 

Review:

Storm Warning by David Bell is an exciting thriller, which kept my attention from start to finish.  Jake Powell, our hero, is living on an island in Florida, and with an approaching powerful hurricane, he makes plans to leave. The few residents in their decrepit building don’t want to leave, and the manager, Dallas watches over them.  When Jake hurries to leave, he finds Dallas dead from a blow to the head.  Jake is concerned, as he knows that there is a murderer within the building.  With the roads closed off, Jake decides he has to stay to protect those residents still there. 

Jake left his wife and daughter in Ohio, to escape temporarily in Florida, but to his surprise, his wife and daughter decided to visit Jake, just about getting into the building as the Category 3 hurricane begins to escalate on the small island. 

With the building slowly falling apart, Jake will convince other apartment dwellers to move into one of the bigger units, with them all staying close together; especially with a dangerous murderer still at large. When there is another murder, the residents are not sure who to trust, but Jake is determined to protect them all, as they are fighting for their lives. They are all completely cutoff from the mainland, while those in shelter together, keep their hopes in surviving the deadly hurricane, as well as a murderer. Some of the residents claim they saw a man inside the building, but is this their imagination, as they are on high alert.

Just when the eye of the hurricane gives the vibe of relative calm, Jake will let his wife, she is an expert on handling boats, and daughter take the boat to the mainland for help, praying they will survive.  During the time they were all together, we got to meet other residents, and their stories; even though there was some suspicion among them. I did like Jake, as the was a terrific leader, always trying to keep them all safe. 

Storm Warning was an exciting story that kept me glued to my kindle.  This was an interesting cast of characters, which were very good.  Storm Warning was very well written by David Bell.  I did think that the murderer was different than anyone would have guessed.   I enjoyed the book, and suggest if you like thrillers, you should read Storm Warning.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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The Summer Escape by Jill Shalvis – a Review

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The Summer Escape by Jill Shalvis – a Review

 

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Description:
Anna Moore didn’t just wake up one day and decide to go on a wild quest — especially since her life no longer lends itself to wild anything — so how in the world does she end up racing against the clock with Owen Harris, a sexy, enigmatic adventurist, to prove her beloved dad innocent of stealing a million-dollar necklace? 

It’s all Wendy’s fault. Her older, bossy sister, who’s seven months pregnant and on bed rest in their small Lake Tahoe hometown, is desperate to clear their dad’s name. Owen though is convinced he’s guilty as hell and wants to return the jewelry back to its rightful owner—his elderly great aunt. Together they go on a scavenger hunt for clues to the past (with Wendy remotely along for the ride via an ear bud, supplying a running wry commentary to boot).  

On opposing sides and suspicious of each other as they are, Anna and Owen still can’t deny the inexplicable and explosive chemistry between them on this heart-stopping adventure, the outcome of which will prove the necklace isn’t the only thing stolen — their hearts have been as well.

 

 

Review:

The Summer Escape by Jill Shalvis is the 6th book in her wonderful Sunrise Cove series. Anna Moore, our heroine, is a private investigator, who is very good at her job. Her sister, Wendy, is pregnant, carrying triplets, and Anna, aside from her work, is always bringing food or rushing to help Wendy. One day, when looking at their deceased father’s belongings, they discover a rare coin; which turns out to be part of a missing million-dollar necklace.

We meet Owen Harris, who visits Anna to look at the coin, and he explains that the missing necklace was stolen years ago from his aunt Ruby. Owen suspects that maybe Anna’s dad might have stolen the necklace, with Anna determined to prove her dad’s innocence.  Owen owns an adventure guide business, and they begin an adventure looking for clues in this mystery.  Wendy is bedridden, and she connects remotely to an ear bud, during Anna and Owen’s escapades; which actually turned into fun and hysterical highlights, throughout the book.  

Owen and Anna fight off the strong and hot chemistry between them. They both feel they are not right for each other, but the more time they spend together, they know that they are falling hard.  Anna fears commitment, as well as previous abandonment from past relationships, and Owen is the first to show his feelings to Anna. Of course, Wendy constantly pushes them to open their hearts; she was a riot, especially when she eavesdropped on their phones. 

I loved the camaraderie between Anna and Wendy, and how devoted they were to each other. Anna was always running around, on the case, her work, and always watching over Wendy.   So much fun. Another wonderful part of the story was when Wendy, Hayden and Anna, would pick crazy names for the triplets; for example Buffy,Willow,Cordelia; Phoebe,Monica,Rachel, just to name a few.  Lots of laughter. As they get closer to the end, the danger escalates, with lives on the line. The epilogue was very good.

The Summer Escape was a heartwarming story about family, love, humor, mystery, intrigue, danger, and so much laughter.  I loved Anna and Owen, as they were great together.  I also loved Wendy and her husband Hayden, as well as the secondary characters.  The Summer Escape was so very well written by Jill Shalvis. If you have not read Jill Shalvis, you are missing a gem; as she is one of the best at wonderful sweet fun romances.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Homeland Insecurity by Shawn M Warner-review

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Homeland Insecurity (The Langley Irregulars 1) by Shawn M Warner-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 4, 2024

Secret agents are all Jack and his friends ever wanted to be. Spy adventures were the movies they watched, the books they read, even the games they played.

Playtime is over!

Kelly, a political refugee and friend of Jack’s sister is targeted for revenge by the man her father sent to prison. Armed with nothing but heroic courage and skills born from their childhood dreams, Jack and his friends fight a battle against an enemy who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. If Jack is to survive, he and his friends must work as a team and even then, winning comes at a terrible price.

•••

REVIEW: This isn’t my usual read. But I was going on holiday, so I thought I’d try it out….

I did like the profiles of the characters at the front of the book, and I did pop back several times to check them out as they appeared in the book. I also really liked the camaraderie between them.

Phil/Peter/Collin and Jack were a blend of personalities that worked well together. So when Jack finds out that a friend of his sisters is being bullied, he rallies the troops and takes a stand. But you have to wonder if they’ve bitten off more than they can handle? Someone wanting revenge on Kelly’s father (he’d been sent to prison and now they want to settle a score!)

Great characters, well thought out and the plot although a little used, was given a new slant. It’s a teen book, it’s not that dark, but it certainly gave a few authors that write this genre a run for their money. It had something that was childlike, but also quiet grown up, I mean who takes on people that would 💀you and not think twice, and doing this as a teen (ok your a teen until nineteen)

It certainly wasn’t Nancy Drew/ Famous Five and the Secret Seven (all classics in my generation,) now readers want more of an edge and less innocent times!

It’s a YA book, but I’d happily watch this at the cinema (as long as it stayed true to the book.) I could not put it down until the last page. Definitely a book I’d read again on holiday.

It’s a fast paced, action and adventure story. Lots going on, a few twists thrown in for good measure.

Highly recommended if you’re a fan of Percy Jackson/Harry Potter/Inheritance Games. I did think of a younger James Bond at one point 😆

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

Shawn’s an adventure lover whose wildest and most rewarding journey is being a husband and father — followed closely by inventing Young Adult characters and concocting outlandish adventures for them.

In Homeland Insecurity, a fast-paced action-adventure, Shawn crafted a tale readers will fall in love with. Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor, his debut, became Amazon’s #1 Best Seller around the globe and is available in multiple languages as well as on audio

 

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