No Darker Place (Shades of Death #1) by Debra Webb

Detective Bobbie Gentry has one objective: to stop the serial killer who robbed her of her husband, her child and her life. Nick Shade understands Bobbie's pain—and her desire for vengeance. He's on a mission of his own, and the murderer known as the Storyteller is next on his list. Nick knows that the best way to find his target is to stick close to Bobbie. But as she becomes more and more reckless in her attempts to lure the Storyteller out of hiding, he has to make a choice. Will he protect her from herself even if it means passing up the chance to take out one more monster? As for Bobbie, she's forced to decide just how much she can trust this stranger who knows so much about her. And both of them are about to learn whether or not two broken people can save each other.

Review: I was given an ARC copy of No Darker Place by Debra Webb the author so I could review the book.
The first thing I am going to tell you to do is to read the prequel, The Blackest Crimson, so you have the background to this book so you know what is going on or else you will feel like you are starting in the middle of the story and you will be lost and it will take you forever if you ever figure out what is going on in the book.
As for this book the Storyteller is back to finish Bobbie's story and Bobbie is ready to let him but at what cost? Nick Shade is a man on a mission to hunt and take down serial killers and he plans on taking down the Storyteller. Can Bobbie and Nick stop this mad man before he finishes Bobbie's story?
I found this book twisted on many levels. The things the Storyteller does to his victims and to mess with Bobbie are off the charts crazy and some of them bothered me on levels that I am not use too reading
in Webb's work. This book is definitely not for someone who likes light reading. Some of the things that happened in this book I walked away going "Why did she add that?" Then after thinking about it I realized Webb was making this book real and man did she.
No Darker Place is a look in the mind of a crazy serial killer obsessed with finishing off the one that got away and also the dark places a mind goes when it feel like it has lost everything and has nothing left to fight for except for revenge. This is a deep psychological thriller that you know who the killer is and you know his every move but you are not sure if Bobbie and Nick Shade will be strong enough to save all the people the Storyteller puts in danger to punish Bobbie and Bobbie herself.
I am giving No Darker Place four out of five stars. 

The Sound of Rain by Gregg Olsen

Former homicide detective Nicole Foster has hit rock bottom. Driven off the force by her treacherous partner and lover, she’s flat broke and struggling with a gambling addiction. All Nicole has left is the dream of a warm bed at a homeless shelter and the haunting memories of three-year-old Kelsey Chase—whose murder case ended her career.
As Nicole obsesses over the old facts, she realizes everything about that case felt off: a disinterested mom, a suicidal pedophile, and too many questions left unanswered. When the little girl’s grieving father begs Nicole for help, she’s drawn back into the investigation…and given one shot at redemption.
But the deeper Nicole digs, the more evil she uncovers, including betrayals that hit painfully close to home. Will a shocking discovery be the key to finally getting justice for Kelsey and resurrecting her own life?

Review: I was given a copy of The Sound of Rain by Gregg Olsen from NetGalley so I was able to review the book.
I was not ready for this book to end it was that good. When I got to the end I did not want to say goodbye to the story or the characters and I was like OMG I so did not so that one coming I had to take a few days to write my review so I could wrap my mind about everything I read and the ride that Gregg Olsen took my on in this book.
There are so many things I could say about this book but most of them are spoilers and I really don't want to so that to someone who is going to read this book so I guess I will just give you an idea about what you will be reading.
Nicole is a former cop who is forced of the force because if case that went south. The case is one that is haunting her a year later. The case is about a child who is taken from her mom's car in a Target parking lot and found dead. Her partner and lover thinks they found the killer in sexual offender who admits to the crime but Nicole finds out the collar is not as slam dunk as her partner made it seem and she turns him in and his forced off he police force.
A year later she is broke and homeless and is approached by she child's father with a chance to work with him to try to find out what really happened to his daughter the day she died. She grabs the chance hoping she can solve the case that has been haunting her and ruining her life for the past year. As she starts to uncover the truth about what happened to that little girl the truth may be more then what she really wanted to learn and may be worse then she thought then a lover/partner that betrayed her the year before.
This book is full of twist and turns and things that will make you go: why did I not see that one coming? It is one of the best thrillers I have read this year.
I am giving The Sound of Rain five out of five stars.

Hooked by Brenda Rothert

Miranda: Even though I’m broke, putting myself through college, and working two jobs, I’m trying to make the best of it. Meanwhile, Jake Birch, hockey’s hottest bad boy, lives in a luxury hotel in downtown Chicago—and still complains about every little thing in his penthouse. But after I tell him off, instead of getting me fired, Jake requests me as his personal housekeeper. Then he starts flirting with me. Only I’m not flirting back . . . at least, I’m trying not to. Did I mention that he’s hockey’s hottest bad boy? 
Jake: I’ve met the best woman at the worst possible time. Miranda is the fire to my ice—a sexy, charmingly candid spark who breaks down my walls and reminds me what it’s like to feel again. But I’m being forced to date my team owner’s daughter to keep my job, so I can’t be caught with Miranda. Still, we’re getting closer—until Miranda finds out about my “girlfriend.” And that’s not the only secret I’ve been keeping. But Miranda’s the one I want . . . even if she doesn’t believe me.

Review: Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Hooked by Brenda Rothert that I was able to read and review.
Hooked was an excellent romance book that I really enjoyed from start to finish. The thing that I will warn readers about is that it does have its fair share of swear words in it and some sexual content that is kind of hot so if those things offend you this is not a book for you but if those things don't bother you this is a must read.
I am a huge sports fan so the idea of a big time NHL star falling for a maid was a great storyline for me. I loved how Miranda was a confident character who was not going to let Jake wow her just because he was a great athlete. The banter between the two of them was written so well I could not wait to see what they were going to say to each other in some of their verbal exchanges. I just loved this book as whole and don't want to give spoilers so I am just going to tell readers that they won't be disappointed if they want a great romance book.
I am giving Hooked five out of five stars.

The Blackest Crimson (Shades of Death 0.5) by Debra Webb

Detective Bobbie Gentry was psyched when she was offered the opportunity to work with the FBI on a special task force in the search for a heinous serial killer known as the Storyteller. What she didn't expect was for the serial killer to follow her home on Christmas Eve...The Storyteller couldn't resist Bobbie no matter the risk. He murdered her husband and would have murdered her child but the little boy got away. Now Bobbie's fight for survival might just be more than he bargained for...
One of them must die.

Review: Thank you Debra Webb for an ACR copy of the Blackest Crimson.
This is the prequel to the new series that Debra Webb is introducing. In this novella we meet a serial killer known as The Storyteller who kills women and tattoos their stories on their body as the final act before they die after he has tortured them in unspeakable ways for weeks and Bobbie the police officer who was working the case and ultimately taken by The Storyteller.
Bobbie and her family were enjoying Christmas Eve at home the night The Storyteller broke in and killed her husband and took her from her home and made her his next victim. In this story we learn what he does to his victims and about Bobbie and what she does in a crisis and a very bad situation. Giving us insight into the mind of both the hunter and the prey for this series.
I am giving The Blackest Crimson five out of five stars.

Investigating Christmas (Colby Agency: Family Secrets #3) by Debra Webb, Regan Black

When the woman who left him comes back desperate for help, sexy billionaire Rush Grayson is thrilled. He still wants and needs Lucy Gaines, but Lucy only needs his professional help—to rescue her abducted sister and nephew. The strong-willed independent woman thinks she's over Rush. She'd never be foolish enough to fall for a man incapable of love.
But as Rush and Lucy begin a harrowing race against time to free her family, the fire between them blazes. Now they must use Rush's brilliant invention to outwit the ruthless kidnapper, or neither will live to see a Christmas family reunion…

Review: I was given an ARC of Investigating Christmas from the authors and I thank them for the chance to read and review the book before its release.
Investigating Christmas by Debra Webb and Regan Black was a fast moving story about Lucy Gaines who finds herself needing the help of her ex flame sexy billionaire Rush Grayson when she trust the wrong person and her sister and nephew are kidnapped for a ransom that she needs Rush's company to make. Things heat up when Rush and Lucy realize that the feelings they had for each other are not dead and they have a short time to save her family.
Will they be able to save Lucy's sister and nephew and turn the tables on a crazy criminal? Will Lucy and Rush have a second chance?
I loved Lucy and Rush together. Both dancing around how they feel when the chemistry was there between them. It was very well done and was very hard to put the book down because you wanted them to get it right so bad. As for the suspense part I found that twist interesting as well. I won't give it away, but that was a nice curve in this book as well.
I as giving Investigating Christmas five out of five stars.

All the Dead Girls (Graveyard Falls #3) by Rita Herron

When a violent storm hits Graveyard Falls, it unearths the unimaginable: skeletons of teenage girls, each dressed in white and holding a candle. It’s clear to FBI agent Beth Fields that this is the work of a long-standing killer—but could it be the one she escaped years ago? She has no memory of the man who held her captive and murdered her friend. But even though someone was jailed for the crime, she’s always feared that the real killer is still out there…waiting and watching.
Ian Kimball never believed his stepfather was guilty of Beth’s kidnapping or the slaying of two local girls. Now Graveyard Falls’s sheriff, he’s determined to catch the true perpetrator. And when more young women go missing, he realizes he needs Beth’s help. She is nothing like Ian expected, and everything he desires. But if they have any hope of finally ending the killer’s reign of terror, Beth and Ian will need to put everything aside, including their past, their mistrust, and their growing attraction…

Review: Thank you Netgalley for the copy of All the Dead Girls by Rita Herron that I was able to review.
All the Dead Girls was a great addition to the Graveyard falls series by Rita Herron. In this book the skeletons of teenage girls dressed in white holding a candle and wearing a cross were unearthed after a tornado hit Graveyard Falls and it is up to FBI agent Beth Fields and Sheriff Ian Kimbell to to work together to find out who is behind the murder of these girls.
To add to the mystery both Ian and Beth may have something to do with the case. Beth was taken as a teenager but released by a man who killed her best friend in front of her and the man who was arrested and tried for her abduction is none other then Ian's stepfather. Is he the one behind the killing of all of these girls or did an innocent man go to jail like Ian insists?
The killer is still out there taking and killing girls and he knows Beth is the one that he let go. Will Ian and Beth catch him before he gets her back? Or will he get the one that got away?
I loved this book. I kept going back and forth from suspect to suspect and talking myself out of each one. (But I will admit I did get the right one, yeah me!) Herron did a great job giving the reader just enough crumbs to let them solve the case with Beth and Ian but at the same time keep second guessing if they were right until the very end. I also enjoyed the history with Beth and Ian and how they dealt with it. That added another layer to the book that made it all that more enjoyable. This book was the total package and I could not put it down. A must read for sure!
I am giving All the Dead Girls five out of five stars!

The Dollmaker (The Forgotten Files, #2)

Dr. Tessa McGowan had never seen anything quite like it. But the mutilated bodies on her exam table tell a stunningly macabre tale: someone with a twisted mind is kidnapping women and altering their faces to resemble real, life-size dolls. As a forensic pathologist, it’s her job to aid the agent leading the case—even if that agent is her estranged husband.
Twelve years ago an unspeakable tragedy destroyed Dakota Sharp’s world. Haunted by the ghosts of his past, he’s devoted himself to capturing killers. His only regret is that it cost him Tessa. Now, as the Dollmaker case brings them together—and raises his suspicions that he’s crossed paths with this deranged psychopath before—they may just have their second chance. But it seems Dakota’s not the only one who wants to make Tessa his own…
She may be the Dollmaker’s next target, but Tessa has no intention of winding up as another toy on his shelf. Can she and Dakota stop this ghastly killer before his next deadly playdate?

Review:Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Dollmaker by Mary Burton.
The Dollmaker, which is the second book of The Forgotten Files Series by Mary Burton, can be read as part of the series or as a stand alone book because I personally did not feel that it has any spoilers or had anything that really dealt with the first book in series except mentioning it briefly a few times in passing as a case they has solved before. I loved this book from the when I started reading the first chapter until I closed the book when I finished it.
Dakota Sharp a Virginia State Police Detective has just caught a new case of a woman who was found dead who was dressed like a doll and her face was tattooed to look like a dolls. To make things interesting his estranged wife, Tessa, a forensic pathologist, has returned from working overseas and has taken a job at the medical officers office and she has made it clear she wants to give their marriage another try. But, things did not work the first time because Dakota shut Tessa out because he was dealing with the guilt of his sisters death that took place when he was in the marines and she disappeared and when she was found it was believed she OD on drugs.
Thing take a turn when the killer known as The Dollmaker is linked to Tessa and Dakota's sister and their group of friends from college and information from a PI who at one time was the police officer investigating Dakota's sister's death tells him that his stepfather had hired him to look into her death and he is no longer sure if her death was an OD or a homicide and that Dakota should look into. By the time Dakota and Tessa figure out what is really going on it just might be too late for Tessa and for them to get things right between them.
The idea of a killer who turns his victims into dolls is creepy to begin with but adding the fact that he is tattooing the makeup on their faces just adds another level of freak to this guy. I loved the fact that Burton kept me guessing who the killer was until almost the end of the book and her twist and turns were exceptional in this book. Some of her best.
I am giving The Dollmaker five out of five stars.