Yeah, I need to storm my brain all right. It just doesn’t
want to work like it should!
But at least I’m caught up in my reading goal now. Here’s
what I finished reading this week:
Book #6
Dates read: February 21-28
Title: “Two to Die For”
Year of publication: 2017
Author: Allison Brennan
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Series: Lucy Kincaid #12.5/Maxine Revere #3.5
# of Pages: 218
Paper or plastic: e-Book
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: "Spiral" (Lucy Kincaid #12.5)
Sean Rogan and Lucy Kincaid are enjoying their honeymoon in a remote cabin outside Vail, Colorado. They sorely need the quiet time alone—a break from the murder and violence that has defined so much of their lives. And for one blissful week, they are in paradise.
But they should have known that their idyllic peace would come to an end. When their reclusive elderly neighbor disappears, the police find no evidence of foul play, but Hank would never leave his beloved Golden Retriever out in the cold all night. With the help of the faithful dog, Sean and Lucy retrace Hank’s steps and learn a dangerous truth that may turn their honeymoon into their funeral.
"Retired" (Maxine Revere #3.5)
Nothing gets under investigative reporter Maxine Revere's skin like someone getting away with murder, especially when the victim is a harmless elderly woman. So when 82-year-old Lois Kershaw contacts her about a suspicious death at the posh Del Sol Retirement Community, Max agrees to go undercover as Lois’s granddaughter.
Max is willing to go along with Lois’s wild theory — up to a point. Proving an octogenarian died of anything but natural causes is next to impossible, and soon Max wonders if the lonely widow is creating an elaborate mystery for attention. But as she digs deeper into the history of Del Sol, Max uncovers a dark secret and realizes that Lois—and other Del Sol residents—are in grave danger. Finding the truth will take all of Max’s cunning and street smarts—and a little help from her new friends.
My thoughts: Two very good novellas. As a rule, I’m not a fan of novellas, because they’re usually too short for my taste. But when they’re in a world I enjoy, I’ll read them because I want everything from that world. And I must admit these were just the right size for the stories being told.
Title: “Two to Die For”
Year of publication: 2017
Author: Allison Brennan
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Series: Lucy Kincaid #12.5/Maxine Revere #3.5
# of Pages: 218
Paper or plastic: e-Book
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: "Spiral" (Lucy Kincaid #12.5)
Sean Rogan and Lucy Kincaid are enjoying their honeymoon in a remote cabin outside Vail, Colorado. They sorely need the quiet time alone—a break from the murder and violence that has defined so much of their lives. And for one blissful week, they are in paradise.
But they should have known that their idyllic peace would come to an end. When their reclusive elderly neighbor disappears, the police find no evidence of foul play, but Hank would never leave his beloved Golden Retriever out in the cold all night. With the help of the faithful dog, Sean and Lucy retrace Hank’s steps and learn a dangerous truth that may turn their honeymoon into their funeral.
"Retired" (Maxine Revere #3.5)
Nothing gets under investigative reporter Maxine Revere's skin like someone getting away with murder, especially when the victim is a harmless elderly woman. So when 82-year-old Lois Kershaw contacts her about a suspicious death at the posh Del Sol Retirement Community, Max agrees to go undercover as Lois’s granddaughter.
Max is willing to go along with Lois’s wild theory — up to a point. Proving an octogenarian died of anything but natural causes is next to impossible, and soon Max wonders if the lonely widow is creating an elaborate mystery for attention. But as she digs deeper into the history of Del Sol, Max uncovers a dark secret and realizes that Lois—and other Del Sol residents—are in grave danger. Finding the truth will take all of Max’s cunning and street smarts—and a little help from her new friends.
My thoughts: Two very good novellas. As a rule, I’m not a fan of novellas, because they’re usually too short for my taste. But when they’re in a world I enjoy, I’ll read them because I want everything from that world. And I must admit these were just the right size for the stories being told.
Book #7
Dates read: February 28-March 3
Title: “Shattered”
Year of publication: 2017
Author: Allison Brennan
Genre: Suspense
Series: Maxine Revere #4
# of Pages: 390
Paper or plastic: Hardback
How obtained: Library (but I will buy the paperback when it comes out in May)
Blurb from book: Over a span of twenty years, four boys have been kidnapped from their bedrooms, suffocated, and buried nearby in a shallow grave. Serial killer or coincidence?
That’s the question investigative reporter Maxine Revere sets out to answer when an old friend begs her to help exonerate his wife, who has been charged with their son’s recent murder. But Max can do little to help because the police and D.A. won’t talk to her—they think they have the right woman. Instead, Max turns her attention to three similar cold cases. If she can solve them, she might be able to help her friend.
Justin Stanton was killed twenty years ago, and his father wants closure—so he is willing to help Max with her investigation on one condition: that she work with his former sister-in-law, Justin’s aunt, FBI Agent Lucy Kincaid. Trouble is, Max works alone, and she’s livid that her only access to the case files, lead detective, and witnesses depends on her partnering with a federal agent on vacation. She wants the career-making story almost as much as the truth—but if she gets this wrong, she could lose everything.
Haunted by Justin’s death for years, Lucy yearns to give her family—and herself—the closure they need. More important, she wants to catch a killer. Lucy finds Max’s theory on all three cases compelling. With Max’s research added to Lucy’s training and experience, Lucy believes they can find the killer and justice can finally be served. But the very private Lucy doesn’t trust the reporter any more than Max trusts her.
Max and Lucy must find a way to work together to untangle lies, misinformation, and evidence to develop a profile of the killer. But the biggest question is: Why were these boys targeted? As they team up to find out what really happened the night Justin was killed, they make a shocking discovery. Justin’s killer is still out there…stalking another victim…and they may be too late already.
My thoughts: Woo-wee, felt like I was also reading a Lucy Kincaid book. Now I really can’t wait to read the next one. I love Allison’s books. They’re so hard to put down!
Title: “Shattered”
Year of publication: 2017
Author: Allison Brennan
Genre: Suspense
Series: Maxine Revere #4
# of Pages: 390
Paper or plastic: Hardback
How obtained: Library (but I will buy the paperback when it comes out in May)
Blurb from book: Over a span of twenty years, four boys have been kidnapped from their bedrooms, suffocated, and buried nearby in a shallow grave. Serial killer or coincidence?
That’s the question investigative reporter Maxine Revere sets out to answer when an old friend begs her to help exonerate his wife, who has been charged with their son’s recent murder. But Max can do little to help because the police and D.A. won’t talk to her—they think they have the right woman. Instead, Max turns her attention to three similar cold cases. If she can solve them, she might be able to help her friend.
Justin Stanton was killed twenty years ago, and his father wants closure—so he is willing to help Max with her investigation on one condition: that she work with his former sister-in-law, Justin’s aunt, FBI Agent Lucy Kincaid. Trouble is, Max works alone, and she’s livid that her only access to the case files, lead detective, and witnesses depends on her partnering with a federal agent on vacation. She wants the career-making story almost as much as the truth—but if she gets this wrong, she could lose everything.
Haunted by Justin’s death for years, Lucy yearns to give her family—and herself—the closure they need. More important, she wants to catch a killer. Lucy finds Max’s theory on all three cases compelling. With Max’s research added to Lucy’s training and experience, Lucy believes they can find the killer and justice can finally be served. But the very private Lucy doesn’t trust the reporter any more than Max trusts her.
Max and Lucy must find a way to work together to untangle lies, misinformation, and evidence to develop a profile of the killer. But the biggest question is: Why were these boys targeted? As they team up to find out what really happened the night Justin was killed, they make a shocking discovery. Justin’s killer is still out there…stalking another victim…and they may be too late already.
My thoughts: Woo-wee, felt like I was also reading a Lucy Kincaid book. Now I really can’t wait to read the next one. I love Allison’s books. They’re so hard to put down!
Book #8
Dates read: March 3-5
Title: “Breaking Point”
Year of publication: 2018
Author: Allison Brennan
Genre: Suspense
Series: Lucy Kincaid #13
# of Pages: 419
Paper or plastic: Paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: Bella Caruso survived a nightmare of abuse and betrayal. Today, she has dedicated her life to saving other young women from the hell that almost killed her—first as an officer of the law, then by stepping outside the law and into the darkness where true evil dwells. Now, it appears that the darkness has taken her once again.
JT Caruso often worries about his sister, given her line of work. This time, when he learns that Bella is working undercover to find a missing girl involved in a dangerous prostitution ring, JT asks FBI Special Agent Lucy Kincaid for help.
Even with Lucy’s extensive experience in running down human traffickers, finding Bella will not be easy. Not only because she is in too deep. But because Bella, who will not rest until she saves the girl, doesn’t want to be found…
My thoughts: See, when I put my mind to it, I can get some reading done. Of course, it wasn’t too hard with this unputdownable book! Kept turning the pages to see what was gonna happen next. Great read!
Title: “Breaking Point”
Year of publication: 2018
Author: Allison Brennan
Genre: Suspense
Series: Lucy Kincaid #13
# of Pages: 419
Paper or plastic: Paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: Bella Caruso survived a nightmare of abuse and betrayal. Today, she has dedicated her life to saving other young women from the hell that almost killed her—first as an officer of the law, then by stepping outside the law and into the darkness where true evil dwells. Now, it appears that the darkness has taken her once again.
JT Caruso often worries about his sister, given her line of work. This time, when he learns that Bella is working undercover to find a missing girl involved in a dangerous prostitution ring, JT asks FBI Special Agent Lucy Kincaid for help.
Even with Lucy’s extensive experience in running down human traffickers, finding Bella will not be easy. Not only because she is in too deep. But because Bella, who will not rest until she saves the girl, doesn’t want to be found…
My thoughts: See, when I put my mind to it, I can get some reading done. Of course, it wasn’t too hard with this unputdownable book! Kept turning the pages to see what was gonna happen next. Great read!
So… Has spring made an appearance in your neck of the woods,
or does it still look like winter out there? I don’t think Mother Nature has
made up her mind around here. Our temps have been hovering around the 50s lately.
Not too shabby. Except a chance of snow is forecasted for today with temps
falling into the 30s for the rest of the week. Ugh.
Happy Reading
Stacy
