Happy Reading

Toni's bookshelf: read

The Godfather of Kathmandu (Sonchai Jitpleecheep, #4)
Ape House
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
Operation Napoleon
Walking Dead
The Sentimentalists
The Heretic Queen
The Midnight House
Cross Fire
Peony in Love
Absurdistan
Nefertiti
Finding Nouf: A Novel
City of Veils: A Novel
First Daughter
A Place of Hiding
Amagansett
Peter Pan


Toni Osborne's favorite books »
}

Friday, April 26, 2019

"Never Let go", by Elizabeth Goddard

Uncommon Justice Book # 1

The story premise is very intriguing it brings together Forensic genealogist Willow Anderson with Ex-FBI agent Austin McKade on a quest for answers regarding a baby’s abduction more than twenty years ago. The story is set against the stunning backdrop of Bridger-Teton National Forest region of Wyoming.

I am not a huge fan of romance but when suspense is thrown into a plot layered with twists hard to see coming it makes for a pretty good read. Well romance…the chemistry between Austin and Willow is hot and cold I really wanted to slap them to make a decision but again this is a necessity to show us how vulnerable relationships can be and how our past can interfere with our decisions to move forward. I like the way the author weaves in the backstory of her protagonists as the story progresses. It is also interesting to watch Willow and Austin piece together the decades of mystery behind this kidnapping. Following these two has kept me on the edge trying to see who was behind. Well it is a well-kept secret that is divulged only in the last pages. This is a story well done from its riveting opening to the satisfying conclusion…..

This fast-paced and emotional page-turner is my first experience reading Elizabeth Goddard and it will not be my last.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Books via NetGalleys for my thoughts

Sunday, April 21, 2019

"Burn Rate", by Ty Patterson

Book # 3, in the Zeb Carter series

By weaving an exciting scenario along with his familiar characters, Mr. Patterson knows how to entertain us. “Burn Rate” is a suspenseful story created by an author with a fertile imagination. Zeb Carter and his warriors are on the trail of a terrorist who plans to kill all leaders at the G20 Summit. Leads bring them to Iran and the head of the security force is their target.

This thriller is fast and furious we have not time to catch our breath. It is action packed and very intriguing and suspenseful. We have situations in this story that are quite believable and some maybe farfetched but captivating to read. Zeb and his team do their notorious deeds and escaped unscathed …. Awe and this interesting story filled with clever twists and turns bring us to a dynamic ending…..The team did it again….outsmart the terrorists and the gang behind them….

Once again Ty Patterson wrote a white knuckle thriller that flows well and is played out by smart characters. We have incredible descriptions and amazing details everything is so vividly written you may forget this is a fiction. Well-done.

Friday, April 19, 2019

"Blue Water Horizon", by Glenn Trust

                                                               
                Book#3, in the Blue Eyes series

Alice is on the move fleeing Las Vegas exchanging the hot desert sands for the cool ocean breeze of the Atlantic. Taking the name of Samantha she settles for a while in Digger Key, an isolate place with a shabby bar….. The Florida Keys will never be the same…..This 3rd story is as captivating as the 2 first were.

After two books, I knew our protagonist will do anything to help her new family. First she settles in, find a job, a home and makes friends that she will call her family. When Digger Key is treated by a predatory property developer Sam springs into action. As the story moves along and switches among the characters, we get deep inside the minds of each one. Of course the main focus is on Alice (Samantha). New players to enjoy and one important recurring one…Barent, her lover from Las Vegas who is tracking her down…but don’t expect too much here, the thread is barely developed leaving the door open…..

This story does not disappoint, we are swiftly engulfed in a tug of war game between the good guys versus the bad guys in a scenario that is fast and filled with suspense and thrills. Alice is a well-developed and unforgettable character and how she pulls us in is surely where the author excels.

With its everyday language, a narration that flows smoothly and a cast of fun characters this can only be a page-turner and an easy read.

Friday, April 12, 2019

"A Desert View", by Glenn Trust

Book #2, in the Blue Eyes Series

You definitely need to read book #1 first, “An Empty Tree/an Eye for Death”, the story is so intriguing I simply had to continue with book #2 right after, here I am telling you my thoughts on this one. An elusive, strong female leads the story and our protagonist is back in full force with a new identity and challenges.

Alice Trent is a wanderer who conducts her life on the fringe of the law and unable to settle and have a true relationship. After her episode in the last novel Alice ends up in Las Vegas hoping for a new life. But life is not that smooth for our Alice, the business she works for is under a hostile takeover, her colleagues are not all keen to have her there and a cop gets too close to her. What is she getting herself into when she meets and makes a deal with a strong hand man to save Sol’s business…..eventually she needed to escape once more…. she is on the move again…..book #3 will tell us where.

Another great story filled with twists and turns and suspense. Alice is not your typical female character and her sort stay in Nevada was captivating, a story hard to put down. Lots goes on, not a dull moment from the opening page to the last I was kept on the edge all along trying to be a step ahead of Alice and guessing what she was up to even wondering if her cop friend will discover her true identity.

“A Desert View”, is a wonderful relaxing adventure and perfect entertainment that flows smoothly and grabs you from the get-go.…. boy I will be reading book #3 next…..

Loved it….

Friday, April 5, 2019

"An Empty Tree", by Glenn Trust

Book #1, in the Blue Eyes series

Also under the title “An Eye for Death”

Short and sweet this story is a thrilling suspense of 140 pages or so. Told in multiple parts and with alternate ending made this for one exciting read.

I really did not know if any of the players could be called protagonist it seemed each took the lead when their story was told. Eventually, they lives intersect with the other and unrelated events become related and along the way we are taken on an amazing ride. Four characters play out each an exciting role: Luther is a murderer, Lauren a young woman with secrets, Paul is a trooper and Barry is starting a new life. This chilling story delves into what happens to them when they meet by simple coincidence. This story came just at the right time, I simply loved it, while I stayed glued to every word madly turning the pages to see what would come next hoping that everything would wrap up nicely….but the author had something else in mind that was even better….

This hard-boiled thriller starts off with a murder and a kidnapping of a woman with blue eyes. Then the State Trooper tries to bring in the criminal and the person with those piercing blue eyes and in the midst of excitement comes the savior crossing their paths and what happens to him by the end …or not….depends on your choice… A story with two endings…take your pick…..Of course the author knew what choice he made… all is revealed in the sequel. (A Desert View).

Not only does this captivating thriller provides the necessary suspense to keep us going, it is also populated with a cast of appealing characters for us to root for (the bad and good ones) and of course, M. Trust has given us an interesting plot for our enjoyment .