Book Review: Cristina (Jake D. Parent)

Cristina

by: Jake D. Parent

Genres: Psychological, Suspense, Thriller

Driven by a desperate need to escape her past, Cristina Rodriguez moves into a picturesque hilltop home with an ocean view. The same place where, four years earlier, a young girl was kidnapped and murdered.


At first, both the house and the scenic California beach town seem perfect. Fresh air. Fresh faces. And the ocean is just ten minutes away. But as Cristina and her daughter set about rebuilding their lives, they soon discover that the past is not about to let go so easily.


A gripping psychological suspense mystery by a #1 bestselling author, Cristina will grab you from the first page and keep you guessing until the very end.

**WE WERE GIVEN A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING HONEST REVIEW**

I'm not going to lie; I was a little worried about this one. As I've said MANY times, we accept books based SOLELY on the information that is provided (by either the author, publicist, and/or publisher)....and although I could clearly see that the potential was there, I was scared that Cristina wasn't going to stand out.

There was a chance that it was going to be like the masses.....a simple mean to pass some time.....something that I would forget as soon as I finished the final page.

Boy do I love when I'm proven wrong! Cristina delivered. Jake D. Parent had me sitting on the edge of my seat, and piqued my interest until the very end. You know when you're reading a book and it's so good that you're tempted to skin over the "filler" content to find the good stuff?? This is one of those books! It will have you drawing conclusions, gasping in horror, and literally screaming "WHAT?!?!?".

The blurb simply says it best: "Cristina will grab you from the first page and keep you guessing until the very end." I couldn't agree more, and I can confidently say that anyone (regardless of your choice genre), who picks this one up, won't be disappointed.

As always, you can find all of the necessary links below.

Until tomorrow,

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Book Review: Beneath Claire's House (Corey J. Popp)

Beneath Claire's House 

by: Corey J. Popp

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Thriller, Young Adult

Sixteen-year-old Claire Young is tormented by a recurring, prophetic nightmare and visitations from gruesome, mutilated ghosts. She's convinced the apparitions intend to harm her widowed father, but there's little she can do locked away in Saint Thomas Psychiatric Hospital. Her situation is hopeless until a mysterious priest delivers the name of a man who may be the only one willing to help. Claire launches a daring scheme that leads her and her best friend to a former paranormal investigator.

But the matter is complicated by Claire's own father. Convinced his daughter is schizophrenic, he'll send Claire back to Saint Thomas permanently if he discovers she’s still clinging to her delusions. Claire and her friends must tread lightly to complete the investigation, but amid bizarre twists and chilling encounters, she’ll discover her home's basement is hiding something far more sinister than just ghosts.

 

**WE WERE GIVEN A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING HONEST REVIEW** 

Claire has been through more than most of us could ever imagine....and she's only sixteen years old.  After the death of her mother, she began being terrorized by ghosts....the scary kind of ghosts that would make anyone experiencing them question their sanity.  She's convinced that they are trying to harm her father, but vocalizing that to him lands her in a psychiatric hospital.  How in the world is she going to be able to save her dad when she's locked away?!?!?!?  That in itself would have made an awesome plot, but believe me when I say that the twists and turns in this book are unlike anything you've read before.   

Beneath Claire's House definitely didn't lack in the suspense department.  It's the kind of book that keeps you on the edge of your seat up until the very end.  I must admit that I did quite a bit of speculation as to what Claire's ghosts wanted from her, but boy was I way off!

 Corey J. Popp is a very talented writer and has left me wanting to read more of his work. 

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Book Review: Riker's Calling (Rico Lamoureux)

Riker's Calling

by: Rico Lamoureux

Genre: Thriller, Novella

From school bullies to the crime-ridden streets of his hometown of Los Angeles, Jeremy Riker has always felt the need to do something about the injustice surrounding him. Just as he sets out on his journey as an urban warrior, he unknowingly gives rise to an obsessive adversary, who ends up becoming one of the most notorious serial killers the city has ever known. Dubbed by the news media as The Spyderco Killer, the methodical psychopath roots himself deep into Riker's life for the long haul, until his own madness propels everything into an intense climax.

**WE WERE GIVEN A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING HONEST REVIEW**

When an author submits a review request for a novella/short novel, I find myself crying a little inside.  Don't get me wrong, I've read some that have been absolutely amazing, but for the most part I've found that, in order to keep it short and sweet, the content tends to be lacking...making it really hard to become submerged in the plot. There's nothing worse than finishing a book and feeling like something was missing....like it could have/should have been so much more!

Let me begin this review by saying that Riker's Calling did not once feel like a typical novella.  In fact, it exceeded my expectations in ways that I didn't think possible.  The plot's twists and turns made it truly impossible to put down.  It had me guessing what was going to happen next, and then left me speechless.  The characters were perfect, the story line was phenomenal, the content amount was dead on, and the way it was able to make me forget I was reading a novella was absolutely refreshing.  

I try not to be too bossy when writing my reviews, but I can't help it today.  Read this book....seriously, read it.  You won't regret picking it up, and I'm confident that once you've finished it you will be anxious to get your hands on the next installment, The Ghostwriter. 

As always, you can find all the good stuff below.

Until next time......

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Book Review: The Husband (Dean Koontz)

The Husband 

by Dean Koontz

Genre: Murder, Suspense, Mystery, Thriller

With each and every new novel, Dean Koontz raises the stakes--and the pulse rate--higher than any other author. Now, in what may be his most suspenseful and heartfelt novel ever, he brings us the story of an ordinary man whose extraordinary commitment to his wife will take him on a harrowing journey of adventure, sacrifice, and redemption to the mystery of love itself--and to a showdown with the darkness that would destroy it forever. 
What would you do for love? Would you die? Would you kill? 
We have your wife. You can get her back for two million cash. Landscaper Mitchell Rafferty thinks it must be some kind of joke. He was in the middle of planting impatiens in the yard of one of his clients when his cell phone rang. Now he's standing in a normal suburban neighborhood on a bright summer day, having a phone conversation out of his darkest nightmare. 
Whoever is on the other end of the line is dead serious. He has Mitch's wife and he's named the price for her safe return. The caller doesn't care that Mitch runs a small two-man landscaping operation and has no way of raising such a vast sum. He's confident that Mitch will find a way. 
If he loves his wife enough. . . Mitch does love her enough. He loves her more than life itself. He's got seventy-two hours to prove it. He has to find the two million by then. But he'll pay a lot more. He'll pay anything. 
From its tense opening to its shattering climax, The Husband is a thriller that will hold you in its relentless grip for every twist, every shock, every revelation...until it lets you go, unmistakably changed. This is a Dean Koontz novel, after all. And there's no other experience quite like it.




A little cliche, but still a roller-coaster of emotions and suspense. Dean Koontz definitely knows how to keep readers on the edge of their metaphorical seats.

The Husband is a good example of someone who will do anything to save the one they love. Whether it be stealing money, grand theft auto, or murder.

It was difficult to keep up with, sometimes. The characters were constantly moving forward in the plot, but it was good at keeping you interested in what they were doing.

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Book Review: The Rectifier (Glenn A. Jones)

The Rectifier

by: Glenn A. Jones

Genres: Suspense, Thriller, Short Story

Frank Jackson is a rectifier, he rights wrongs caused by senseless and desperate criminals. When the court system fails, he's there to exact his own high-powered vigilante justice.

He's also a man without a past, a man desperately seeking what he has lost.

In the first of a series of electrifying short stories, a coma and subsequent amnesia thrusts Frank Jackson into an unfamiliar world of intrigue and adventure where he relies upon his gut instinct to survive.

**WE WERE GIVEN A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING HONEST REVIEW**

I honestly don't tend to expect much from short stories.  I realize that I'm being a bit of a brat by approaching them with such a closed mind, but it's been my experience that the majority of them don't have that "wow factor" to keep me interested.  

I'm so pleased to say that The Rectifier exceeded my expectations.  It was packed full of suspenseful dialog, which led to my not being able to put it down until I finished the entire book. In fact, I completely forgot that I was reading a short story until it was over....and I then found myself dying to get my hands on Volume 2.  Frank Jackson is one bad-ass individual that has definitely gotten himself a new fan.  

I'm not sure if I can say that The Rectifier has changed the way that I look at all short stories.....but it has absolutely set the bar high for the next one I pick up.  

Until next time......

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Book Review: Daddy's Little Girl (Mary Higgins Clark)

Daddy's Little Girl

By Mark Higgins Clark

Genre: Mystery (Crime, Murder), Contemporary, 

Suspense 

Ellie Cavanaugh was only seven years old when her fifteen-year-old sister, Andrea, was murdered near their home in Oldham-on-the-Hudson, a rural village in New York's Westchester County. There were three suspects: Rob Westerfield, nineteen-year-old scion of a wealthy, prominent family, whom Andrea has been secretly dating; Paul Stroebel, a sixteen-year-old schoolmate, who had a crush on Andrea; and Will Nebels, a local handyman in his forties.


It was Ellie who had led her parents to a hideout in which Andrea's body was found -- a secret hideaway in which she met her friends. And it was Ellie who was blamed by her parents for her sister's death for not telling them about this place the night Andrea was missing. It was also Ellie's testimony that led to the conviction of the man she was firmly convinced was the killer. Steadfastly denying his guilt, he spent the next twenty-two years in prison.

When he comes up for parole, Ellie, now an investigative reporter for an Atlanta newspaper, protests his release. Nonetheless, the convicted killer is set free and returns to Oldham. Determined to thwart his attempts to whitewash his reputation, Ellie also returns to Oldham, intent on creating a Website and writing a book that will conclusively prove his guilt. As she delves deeper into her research, however, she uncovers horrifying and heretofore unknown facts that shed new light on her sister's murder. With each discovery, she comes closer to a confrontation with a desperate killer.

Gripping and relentlessly compelling, Daddy's Little Girl, a portrayal of a family shattered by crime, reflects Mary Higgins Clark's uncanny insight into the twisted mind of a killer and is further evidence of why she is America's favorite author of suspense.

The first three or four chapters were boring, you didn't really get any information about anything that was going on. After those, you get down to the nitty-gritty and find out all the details you'd been waiting for.

Once you get down to it,  I thought the book was extremely interesting. It was one of those books that holds your interest; you just don't want to put it down. It was edge-of-your-seat suspenseful toward the end.

Overall, the story really wrapped up nicely. There weren't any loose ends that I could think of. I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone 16+ who enjoys action-packed crime thrillers.

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Book Review: The Marijuana Project (Brian Laslow)

The Marijuana Project

by Brian Laslow

Genres: Mystery, Thriller/Suspense

THE MARIJUANA PROJECT a novel about medicine and morality aka "a security expert’s journey through the ethical weeds." 

Sam Burnett, a savvy security expert, is hiding in the catwalk of a medical marijuana production facility he has been hired to protect, caught in a surveillance plan he never thought he’d face. 

In fact, Sam, a conservative family man who travels the country as a highly sought after security expert, doesn’t even approve of marijuana and wonders why he’s still working there. 

Over the course of two years designing, implementing and operating the entire security program for MedLeaf, Sam faces one moral conflict after another. 

Does he favor using medical marijuana to relieve a variety of physical symptoms, easing anxiety and providing pleasure? 

Or does he see it as an invitation to more serious drug use, mental instability and irresponsible, even dangerous behavior? 

You could call it a security expert’s journey through the ethical weeds. 

At first, Sam realizes that medical marijuana needs to be protected from ending up in the wrong hands and that taking the job means he can be home much more than before. 

But even the positive things Sam learns about medical marijuana are at odds with his religious upbringing and his conservative views about drug use, legal or otherwise. 

When his son’s best friend is killed in a car accident caused by a driver under the influence of medical marijuana, Sam reaches his breaking point and takes matters into his own hands, which leads to a potentially dangerous confrontation with his employers and a group of unknown provocateurs. 

In the end, he must decide if he can personally continue to participate in the protection and perpetuation of this industry. Sam Burnett’s dilemma is similar to that of millions of Americans. His story will resonate for all those struggling to make sense of this changing landscape in our society.

I was intrigued when I initially read this books blurb.  My stand on medical marijuana is the complete opposite of Sam's, and I couldn't wait to envision what it must be like on the other end of the spectrum. 

Sam, a security genius, is a firm believer that marijuana (medical or otherwise) shouldn't be something that is legally sold.  His moral belief is put to the test when he is offered the opportunity to provide security for MedLeaf, a medical marijuana grow facility.  Sam takes us for an unforgettable ride on his moral roller coaster.   

The Marijuana Project was phenomenally written.  Brian Laslow included enough information, to ensure that the readers didn't get lost along the way.  If you're looking for an exciting read, one that shows real moral struggles, then this could possibly be the book for you!
  

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Book Review: Titanborn (Rhett C. Bruno)

Titanborn

by: Rhett C. Bruno

Genres: Sci-Fi, Thriller

Malcolm Graves lives by two rules: finish the job, and get paid. After thirty years as a collector, chasing bounties and extinguishing rebellions throughout the solar system, Malcolm does what he’s told, takes what he’s earned, and leaves the questions to someone else—especially when it comes to the affairs of offworlders.

But his latest mission doesn’t afford him that luxury. After a high-profile bombing on Earth, the men who sign Malcolm’s paychecks are clamoring for answers. Before he can object, the corporation teams him up with a strange new partner who’s more interested in statistics than instinct and ships them both off to Titan, the disputed moon where humans have been living for centuries. Their assignment is to hunt down a group of extremists: Titanborn dissidents who will go to any length to free their home from the tyranny of Earth.

Heading into hostile territory, Malcolm will have to use everything he’s learned to stay alive. But he soon realizes that the situation on the ground is much more complex than he anticipated . . . and much more personal.

**WE RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING HONEST REVIEW**

Boy, oh boy, this book. 

 Although this has become a normality since starting CommonBookSense, I found myself stepping out of my comfort zone a bit on this one. I like sci-fi, don't get me wrong, I just don't know if this book is something I'd have picked up on my own.

But let me tell you, I'm so glad I read it. Not only were the characters increasingly complex, they were easily pictured and just overall well-developed. The scenery was magnificently described; I never had a problem picturing the planets, it may have helped that I'm slightly familiar with our solar system, but everything was described with a simplicity that left me in awe.

Overall, Titanborn was insanely unique, from how the world survived, to how it was thriving and expanding the touch of the human race, how they got to and from planets was even realistic! The whole world had changed, and the author was constantly introducing us readers into new things while taking strides to reach the end of the story. It all flowed at a steady pace, without leaving us fumbling in the darkness of undeveloped scenery. 

If you're looking for a  good sci-fi, space-oriented thriller, pick up Titanborn. It was released today, so you guys shouldn't have any issues purchasing it at one of the links below!

Thank you, Rhett, for allowing me to read your book pre-release. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm happy to add it to my "read-again" list.  

Keep your noses in the pages, lovelies, and I'll blog you later!

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Book Review: Halversham (R.S. Anthony)

Halversham

by: R.S. Anthony

Genres: Mystery, Thriller

With his mother dead and his father jetting off on yet another business trip, fifteen-year-old Andy Monaghan can't stand the thought of spending summer alone in the city. Instead, he seeks a few weeks of solace in the place his mother loved the most: the rural town of Halversham where his father was raised.

No sooner does Andy arrive in Halversham than he hears of strange incidents occurring in town, including a few too close for comfort. Before long, Andy is reluctantly reeled into a chain of events that quickly darken the rose-colored glasses he's been wearing for his mother's beloved country getaway.

Finding out who's responsible for Halversham's many tragedies becomes Andy's main priority. As he reconnects with his father's family and dives deeper into the mysteries surrounding the town, he finds that even his own may not be safe from trouble. Is he willing to  risk everything to  uncover the truth of Halversham's dark secrets, and protect the people he loves?

**WE RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING REVIEW**

Oh my goodness, guys. This book was so amazing.

Honestly, I was slightly bored in the beginning, but only because I'm feeling like reading a fantasy book, but I was so surprised by it. As soon as I woke up after finishing it I made my mom sit down with me so I could tell her all about it.

The author's writing was spectacular, even though I felt like she may have described some things in such a way that you forgot that you were in the 21st century, but it spoke to the feel of Halversham.

Other than that...holy cow, this book completely flipped me around. I don't even know what to say to stop myself from spoiling anything -- I've written this review three times!

Okay, all you guys need to know is that you MUST read this book. It is SO, SO, SO worth it. You'll get chills, and be sick with disgust (at the characters, not the author), and just be amazingly shocked and confused...Just read it.

As always, links can be found below.
Have an awesome Tuesday! Keep your noses in the pages, and I'll blog you lovelies later!

p.s. Do you see our awesome new signatures?!?! I made them in several colors and I just love them.

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