#BookReview - Snatched by Pamela Burford

Title:  Snatched
Author:  Pamela Burford
Genre:  Humor, Romantic Comedy
Release Date:  April 7, 2017

About the Book:

A humorous romantic suspense novel that’s fresh, quirky, and surprising! Find out why Snatched has been described as “Janet Evanovich meets the Coen Brothers.”

Is an uncomplicated divorce and a fresh start at forty too much to ask? Apparently it is for Lucy Narby, whose life goes from blah to bizarro when competing kidnappers lock horns in her kitchen. And really, does the victor have to be that hot? If this is the Stockholm syndrome, it sure didn’t take her long to catch it!

Lucy’s kidnapper calls himself Will but looks suspiciously like ’80s child TV star Ricky Baines, whose acting career was cut short when he himself was snatched and held for ransom 25 years ago in a notorious cold case that remains unsolved. Will’s gang includes an aging French bombshell, an outlandish Irish giant with a mysterious past and a thing for Will’s sister, and long-lost Cousin Hal—a charming fellow who neglects to mention that he happens to be the twisted sociopath who kidnapped Will when he was still America’s favorite little star. Hal spent the past quarter century in the slammer for an unrelated murder, and now he’s out and determined to locate the two-million-dollar ransom Will’s family paid. Someone else dug up the cash while Hal was behind bars, and that sort of thing tends to make twisted sociopaths a tad grouchy.

Fortunately (or not), Lucy’s bigamous ex is on the case. But so are a gay private eye in a fat suit and a bad-tempered parrot with an ax to grind, so no worries. Everyone has a secret and no one is who he seems when Kidnap Fever strikes.

Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:  

Caution:  Some spoilers here.  Just can't seem to write this review without mentioning a few, but I'll do my best to not give away all.  

"Snatched" is a crazy, mixed up, conglomerate of too many subplots and too many characters.  Keeping those characters straight was a chore, especially since so many of them had alternate names.  Will was actually Ricky, Keith was actually Hal, Archie (and at one point, Joe) was actually Wesley.  It got rather confusing, especially since there was so much going on at the same time!  The story kept flipping from a kidnapping 25 years ago to today's kidnapping, which wasn't really a kidnapping.  It seems that some people actually want to be kidnapped and will pay to have their fantasy played out.  But when the victim doesn't know it's all play-acting, things get really weird.  It was funny... in an outrageously silly way, especially when additional kidnappers showed up who were hired by someone else.

In the midst of all this humor, we got some gruesome stuff too.  During the kidnapping of a young boy 25 years ago, the kidnapper whacked off the finger of the kid.  Ugh!  Then there was this son-of-a-monster who constantly had his mind in the gutter and talked about having sex with young girls.  Ugh!  Ugh!  At one point I actually hoped the bad guy would shoot Mick and get it over with.

I have to say that Pamela Burford did create some interesting characters.  And the main plot was fun and interesting...  but stopped about a third way through the book.  Then all these subplots took over.  I almost lost total interest and put the book down, but I did like the characters and had to see how the author would tie all these loose ends up together.

My Rating:

About the Author:

Pamela Burford comes from a funny family. You may take that any way you want. She was raised in a household that valued laughter above all, so of course the first thing she looked for in a husband was a sense of humor. Is it any wonder their grown kids are into stand-up comedy and improv? Oh, and here's another fun family fact: Pamela's identical twin sister, Patricia Ryan, aka P.B. Ryan, is also a published novelist. Patricia is the Good Twin, and yeah, Pamela knows what that makes her. But hey, Evil Twins have more fun!

It should come as no surprise that everything Pamela writes is infused with her own quirky brand of humor, from her feel-good contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels to her popular Jane Delaney mystery series, featuring snarky “Death Diva” Jane, her canine sidekick Sexy Beast, and a fun love-triangle subplot. Pamela's own beloved poodle, Murray, wants you to know that any similarities between himself and neurotic, high-strung Sexy Beast are purely coincidental.

Pamela is the proud founder and past president of Long Island Romance Writers, Inc., a chapter of Romance Writers of America. Her books have won awards and sold millions of copies, but what excites her most is hearing from readers. Swing by and say hi at www.pamelaburford.com. And while you're there, don't forget to sign up for her newsletter. Not only will you learn about new releases, freebies, and other fun stuff, but you'll receive a free ebook as her special thank-you!

#BookRelease - Just Off the Path by Weston Sullivan

Title: Just Off the Path

Author: Weston Sullivan

Genre: Folklore, Fairytales

About the Book

Hansel never asked to be a hero. He never wanted to fall in love with Rapunzel, Queen of the East. He didn’t ask to be raised by Gothel the Wretch, and he certainly never wanted to be credited for her arrest. But more than any of that, Hansel never wanted to lie: but he did. He lied about everything. He thought that he was done with it all when he and his sister Gretel retreated into the woods to reclaim their land, but he should have known better.

Years later, Rapunzel’s guards knock at his door, and they say the words he hoped that he would never hear: Gothel has escaped. As he and Gretel take refuge inside Rapunzel’s castle in the eastern capitol of Hildebrand, Hansel is thrust back into everything he never wanted in the first place: his lies, his legend, and his lust. In the wake of it all, he knows that Gothel has escaped to finish what she started. She is out to make sure that the Sleeping Beauty never wakes, and that Grimm suffocates under her blanket of thorn and vine. In order to find Gothel and save the kingdom, Hansel and Gretel must look for fact in a land of fairy-tale by following a trail of grisly murders, a girl in a red cape, and a powerful little man who can’t stand the sound of his own name.

As they search for answers, Hansel finds that he isn’t the only liar in Grimm, and that there may be a traitor among them of royal proportion.

Author Bio

After graduating with a BA in Creative Writing from the University of South Florida in 2017, Weston Sullivan moved to New York City to live and write in the heart of the industry. In late 2016, he began working as an intern in the submissions department of BookFish Books. His short story, “On the Hillside” won the Anspaugh Award for Fiction in February of 2017, and his novel, JUST OFF THE PATH, is due for release in early September.

He likes to believe that he is in charge of his own destiny, but at the end of the day, he knows that he was born to serve his two beloved cats.

Links

Amazon

Goodreads

Bewaren

#BookReview - Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber

Title:  Merry and Bright
Author:  Debbie Macomber
Genre:  Women's Fiction, Romance, Holiday
Release Date:  October 3, 2017

About the Book:

Christmas is the season of the heart, and #1 New York Timesbestselling author Debbie Macomber is here to warm yours with a delightful holiday novel of first impressions and second chances.

Merry Knight is pretty busy these days. She’s taking care of her family, baking cookies, decorating for the holidays, and hoping to stay out of the crosshairs of her stressed and by-the-book boss at the consulting firm where she temps. Her own social life is the last thing she has in mind, much less a man. Without her knowledge, Merry’s well-meaning mom and brother create an online dating profile for her—minus her photo—and the matches start rolling in. Initially, Merry is incredulous, but she reluctantly decides to give it a whirl.

Soon Merry finds herself chatting with a charming stranger, a man with similar interests and an unmistakably kind soul. Their online exchanges become the brightest part of her day. But meeting face-to-face is altogether different, and her special friend is the last person Merry expects—or desires. Still, sometimes hearts can see what our eyes cannot. In this satisfying seasonal tale, unanticipated love is only a click away.

Buy Links: Amazon 
AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER - RELEASE DATE OCTOBER 3, 2017

My Review:

Once again, Debbie Macomber gives us a delightful story with loveable characters.  This was a quick read that I finished in one afternoon.  Perhaps that was because I was unable to put it down.

Merry Knight takes on a temporary job working long hours to help pay for next year's college tuition, all the while helping out at home with her mother who has multiple sclerosis and her brother with Down's Syndrome,  Her life has become so busy that she has had no time for a social life.  That's when her mother and brother come up with a plan to have Merry join an internet dating website.  When they tell Merry what they had done, Merry couldn't get angry with them because she knew they were only trying to help.  Instead of a picture of herself, she decided to use a picture of their dog.  Then when she receives a response from a man who also posts a picture of a dog instead of himself, she becomes intrigued and a fondness developes.  After weeks of corresponding, they plan to meet in person.  That's when Merry discovers who this man really is and she quickly leaves before he sees her.

One of the things I liked about this story is that neither Merry nor Jayson lied... other than not posting their true names.  And even though I just knew how the story would end, it still didn't keep me from cheering for this HEA,  And the characters!  Oh how I loved sweet Patrick!  Even though Jayson wasn't all that loveable in the beginning, as I learned his history and his personal story, and as I saw how he changed after getting to know Merry/Mary, I started loving him as well.

This is such a great Christmas story.  Debbie Macomber has a way of making you feel the joy and excitement with each Christmas carol sung and each decoration described.  "Merry and Bright" would make a great Christmas gift for all your reader friends.  

Disclosure: A complimentary ARC was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.

My Rating:

About the Author:

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 990 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Sixteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2016, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publications include A Girl’s Guide to Moving On (February), Sweet Tomorrows (August), and Twelve Days of Christmas (October) and an adult coloring book, The World of Debbie Macomber: Come Home To Color (April). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published two bestselling cookbooks, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and five have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

Macomber owns two businesses in Port Orchard, WA, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove Series. These include The Grey House Café, formerly the Victorian Rose Tea Room, featured in the Cedar Cove Series, and A Good Yarn Shop, introduced in her popular Blossom Street novels. They are located on the Village Square campus, which also serves as Debbie’s corporate headquarters.

She and her husband, Wayne, serve on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, and she is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington and winter in Florida.

#BookBlitz & #Giveaway - In the Moment by Jennifer Wilck

In the Moment
Jennifer Wilck
Publication date: September 1st 2017
Genres: Adult, Romance

Cassie Edwards, a former foster child, purchases an 1870s Victorian mansion, the one home from her childhood where she felt like part of a family. She’s spending her summer lovingly restoring it, with dreams of one day raising a family of her own here. Rayne Tucket, a photojournalist, is haunted by the death of his best friend in Afghanistan, a death he thinks is his fault. He survives day to day. Forever is not in his vocabulary. Swearing off photography, he answers an ad for a handyman—mindless, no emotion involved. As the two of them renovate her house, can Cassie show Rayne that love is strong enough to heal all wounds?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

The intimate closeness made her stomach flutter. The proximity of their bodies, the rush of the water, and his feathering touch on her lips made her dizzy. She gripped his arms for support. He grasped her waist, staring deep in her eyes.
He was going to kiss her. She knew it. His pupils dilated. Time slowed. The rushing water pounded around her. She opened her mouth, as much to drink in air as to get ready to kiss him back. His eyes narrowed, focused on her lips. She leaned toward him. Their wet bodies pressed against each other. Her breasts tingled, and her stomach heated at the contact. She wanted this to go on forever, but at the same time, she wanted him to hurry up and kiss her so their lips could finally meet. At the last possible second, he pushed away.
She stood there, confused and aching. “I’m not the staying kind, Cassie.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“A woman like you needs a man who’ll stay forever. My time here has an expiration date.”
She ducked under the water. When she came up, she pushed her hair out of her face. “I know you’re leaving. You don’t have to, though.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Why?”
“Because I have a promise to keep.”
“What kind of promise?”
“The unbreakable kind.”

Author Bio:
When I was a little girl and couldn’t fall asleep, my mother would tell me to make up a story. Pretty soon, my head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Each character had a specific personality, a list of likes and dislikes, and sometimes, even a specific accent or dialect. Even as an adult, I think about the characters and stories at night before I fall asleep, or in the car on my way to or from one of my daughters’ numerous activities (hey, anything that will drown out their music is a good thing).
One day, I started writing them down (it was either that or checking into the local mental hospital—the computer was way less scary) and now I'm a published author. My first book, A Heart of Little Faith, was just declared a Finalist in the Fiction: Romance category of the 2016 Best Book Awards.
In the real world, I’m the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men I know. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading, traveling and watching TV. In between chauffeuring my daughters to after-school activities that require an Excel spreadsheet to be kept straight, I run youth group activities, train the dog we recently adopted from a local shelter, and cook dinners that fit the needs of four very different appetites. I also write freelance articles for magazines, newspapers, and edit newsletters.
When all of that gets overwhelming, I retreat to my computer, where I write stories that let me escape from reality. In my made-up world, the heroines are always smart, sassy and independent. The heroes are handsome and strong with just a touch of vulnerability. If I don’t like a character, I can delete him or her; if something doesn’t work, I can rewrite it. It’s very satisfying to be in control of at least one part of my life. My inspiration comes from watching the people around me and fantasizing about how I’d do things differently.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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#BookReview - Wilhelmina, A Winter Bride by Hildie McQueen

Title: Wilhelmina, A Winter Bride (Brides for all Seasons, Book 1)
Author: Hildie McQueen
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Pink Door Publishing
Release Date: January 17, 2017

About the Book:

If opposites attract these two strangers will collide with the force of a raging storm. 

Out of options, Wilhelmina Wilkins heads west to marry a total stranger upon answering a mail order bride ad. What could have been a fairytale beginning turns out to be this bride’s nightmare. Instead of meeting Wilhelmina at the train station, her husband-to-be is in the center of town brawling.

Marcus Hamilton is blindsided twice, first, by a mail order bride ad posted for him by his mother and sister, and secondly, by the beauty of the woman who arrives to marry him. That the bride wishes to cancel all plans after he fails to make a good first impression will not do. How far will Marcus have to go to prove his worth? 

Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:

When life hands her a curve ball, Wilhelmina must decide whether to live miserably with her aunt in Virginia or to take a chance on a whole new life in Montana as a mail order bride to handsome Marcus Hamilton.  Their first encounter is certainly less than perfect, but can things still work out?

This is a sweet, clean romance and a quick read at only 168 pages.  It is currently free on Kindle Unlimited.  I added on the Audible version for a few dollars more, but I ended up reading the e-book version instead of the Audible version.  Actually, the book itself was quite good but I wasn't particularly fond of the narrator on the audible version.  She made Wilhelmina sound somewhat like a snob and Marcus sound a bit too cold and drab.  I don't think that was the intention of the author because when I read the actual book, I had an entirely different vision of these two characters and I loved them!  Really, really loved them.  So my advice is to stick with the book itself.  Hildie McQueen's writing is excellent.

Wilhelmina, a Winter Bride is the first book in the Brides for all Seasons series.  I'm looking forward to seeing how things work out with Tobias and Aurora in the Spring, and I'm looking forward to reading more from this amazing author, Hildie McQueen.

My Rating:  

Would you like to meet the author, Hildie McQueen in person?  Perhaps ask her to sign a copy of this book or one of her many other books for you?  You can do that at #CMCon2018 Coastal Magic in Daytona Beach, February 22nd - 25th, 2018.

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Hildie McQueen loves action, love and unusual settings. Author of western historical, Highland historical, paranormal and contemporary romance, she writes something every reader can enjoy.

Most days she can be found in her pajamas hiding from delivery men while drinking tea from her David Gandy coffee mug. In the afternoons she browses the Internet for semi-nude men to post on Facebook.

Hildie's favorite past-times are romance conventions, traveling, shopping and reading.

She resides in beautiful small town Georgia with her super-hero husband Kurt and two unruly Chihuahuas Pepito and Lola, her assistant.

Visit her website at www.hildiemcqueen.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HildieMcQueen

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HildieMcQueen

Instagram: @hildiemcqueenwriter

If you would like to meet Hildie McQueen in person, she will be a featured author at  #CMCon18 Coastal Magic Convention in Daytona Beach in February 2018!

The Novel Lady Interviews Author Hildie McQueen

September is "Hildie McQueen Month" here at The Novel Lady!

As many of you know, I’m a big fan of historical romance… Highlands or Western or whatever.  Makes no difference.  I love them all.  And because of that, I am especially excited about interviewing USA Today Bestselling author Hildie McQueen!  

Hildie McQueen loves unusual situations and getting into interesting adventures, which is what her characters do as well. She writes romance because she is in love with love! Author of Romance in Highland Historical, Western Historical and Contemporary, she writes something every reader can enjoy.

So…. without further ado, let's get to it…

Scherry:  Hi Everyone!  I’m here with Hildie McQueen, USA Today Bestselling author of numerous romance novels!  Thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed on The Novel Lady. We're huge fans of your work and thrilled you're here to talk to us.

Hildie:   Hi Scherry and readers!  Thank you for inviting me to visit The Novel Lady.  This is exciting!! I’m pouring a cup of tea and searching for something sweet to eat...oooh a cookie!

Scherry:  Sounds good.... reaching for a cookie myself.  So Hildie, tell us a bit about your background.  I read somewhere that you used to work for the government.  That’s rather ominous!  What did you do?

Hildie: My life in one sentence. Born in Mexico, grew up in San Diego and joined the Army at eighteen.  I worked for Military Intelligence my whole life.  The funny part is I never did anything exciting.  I was a paper pusher my entire career, but if anyone asked me about my job, I always embellished because saying human resources person, or database administrator is boring.  My usual answer to people asking what I did for the government is.  “I worked with highly classified material in locations all over the world.” In a way personnel files are super confidential.  Aren’t they? *Snicker

Scherry:  You've got to admit that being able to say that you worked for Military Intelligence at least "sounds" pretty exciting!  

You have so many different romance novels out right now.  Have you ever veered away from romance and written anything else?  Not that you should!  You do a great job with the romance!  But have you in the past or have you ever thought about maybe in the future writing something in a different genre?

Hildie: Thank you, romance is my lane and I plan to stay in it. Every writer has tons of ideas in their mental file. Maybe one day I’ll write a fictional work about a lady who does crazy things in an effort to get her husband’s attention.  I guess it would be women’s fiction.

Scherry:  Are you a plotter and know what’s going to happen or are you a pantser (writing by the seat of your pants) that lets your characters lead the way?

Hildie:  I’m a panster.  It’s kinda like being a reader. I don’t have any idea what will happen from one scene to the next.  I have a general idea of the beginning, the middle and the end, but everything else goes wherever the characters guide.

Scherry:  What do you do when you’re not writing?  Do you have any hobbies or guilty pleasures?

Hildie:  I am obsessed with paper planning.  I love decorating my many planners.  Oh and I love YouTube.  I watch videos every evening while the hubby binge watches SyFy stuff.

Scherry:  Some authors have favorite characters, or characters they love to hate. Do you have any favorites or not so favorites? Which of your characters would you like to hang out with… or wake up next to?

Hildie:  Oooh-La-La.  I’d pretty much sleep with any of my heroes.  I would be a total fictional slut monster.  I write men who call to me and who I find utterly attractive and fascinating.  I would love to hang out in medieval Scotland with Valent, the hero in Highland Archer.  Time with Adam Ford of even heroes cry would be awesome. He’s super hot.

Scherry:  I totally agree with those choices!  Very hot!  Have you ever based your book or characters on actual events or people from your own life?

Hildie:  While still working for the government, the towers fell.  In December of that year, my hubby and half of the guys I worked with were deployed with the marines into Afghanistan.  Besides them being civilians and first on the ground over there, my guys were not allowed to carry weapons.  Over the next couple years as the unit we were assigned to went back and fourth to war, I saw transformations in them.  Adam Ford, the hero in Even Heroes Cry is a compilation of what people bring back from war.

Scherry:  Wow!  That's interesting!  I can read that in a whole new light now!  Can you give us any hints or teasers about what we can expect in future books?  Are you working on anything right now?

Hildie:  Oh my goodness.  I am smiling wide.  The second book in the Laurel Creek series, Broken: Taylor will be a heart breaker.  This guy has gone through so much and his story will bring out things from him that some men keep locked inside.  I think the readers will both hate me and love me when they read his book.  Broken is the sequel to Jaded: Luke, which is the story of a cowboy with PTSD.  

Also, I am releasing the next book in Brides for All Seasons.  Christina, A Bride for Christmas is up for preorder now.  In this mail order bride story, which releases September 30^th, the heroine goes through a lot prior to arriving in Wyoming.  When she finally gets to the town, her future husband is not exactly waiting for her...  (wink)

Scherry:  Can't wait to read them!  I recently read "Wilhelmina, A Winter Bride" and I loved it.  My review for that book is scheduled for tomorrow here on The Novel Lady. So naturally I'm anxious to read Christina, A Bride for Christmas.  And I'm looking forward to the sequel to Jaded: Luke as well!
Hildie, do you have any advice for new writers?

Hildie:  Write something every single day.  Every. Single. Day.  Hire professionals for editing. It’s best top learn what you’re doing wrong in the beginning than after releasing books and getting bad reviews.  Oh and grow a thick skin, people are bullies. 

Scherry:  Great advice!  Can you tell us some of your favorite books or authors who inspired you?

Hildie:  My muse to love and write romance was Bertrice Small. Ms. Small influenced me to fall in love with historical stories.  My favorite author to read is J.R. Ward.  I love her edgy style.

Scherry:  Hildie, thank you so much for chatting with us.  I’m looking forward to reading more of your books… AND I’m looking forward to seeing you in Daytona Beach in February 2018 for the Coastal Magic Convention.

Hildie:  Thanks a bunch! See you in Daytona!!



Hildie McQueen's books are too numerous to list all of them here, but you can take a look by clicking on this link to her website...

Hildie McQueen's Books

And here's a sneak peak at a couple of her latest and upcoming books:

If two people are meant to be together, nothing can stand in their way. When everything goes wrong are you still meant for each other?

After being dispatched to Blanchard Creek, Wyoming by her mother as a mail order bride, Christina Mills tumbles from one mishap to another. As if arriving in Wyoming with a fever, losing luggage and being accosted by the hotel owner isn’t already bad enough, her to be groom decides to back out of the marriage.

Alexander Barrett Patterson is a man of honor. However, the scars from battle are more than skin deep. Rather than tying the beautiful woman to a cripple, he decides to give her up and suffer the consequences of a decision every ounce of his being protests. Now, if only half the town would stop trying to make him change his mind.

A story of hurt, scars and the healing power of love.

Broken: Taylor

Ex-detective Taylor Hamilton is broken. After the devastating loss of his children and parents, his marriage crumbled and fell apart. No matter how easygoing he appears, sadness overtakes him when he’s alone. His way of dealing with it has him headed straight for disaster.

Allison had two reasons for returning to her childhood home of Billings, Montana: a fresh start after a failing relationship and a handsome rancher she’s loved since high school. When Taylor thwarts her plans by courting his ex-wife, her heart is crushed once again. Perhaps there is a way to get his attention, even if it’s not entirely honest.

Do Taylor and Allison have a second chance at love, or will they destroy each other in the process?

#BookReview - Sleep Savannah Sleep by Alistair Cross

Title:  Sleep Savannah Sleep
Author:  Alistair Cross
Genre:  Horror, Occult
Release Date:  September 25, 2017


About the Book:

The Dead Don't Always Rest in Peace

Jason Crandall, recently widowed, is left to raise his young daughter and rebellious teenage son on his own - and the old Victorian in Shadow Springs seems like the perfect place for them to start over. But the cracks in Jason’s new world begin to show when he meets Savannah Sturgess, a beautiful socialite who has half the men in town dancing on tangled strings.

When she goes missing, secrets begin to surface, and Jason becomes ensnared in a dangerous web that leads to murder - and he becomes a likely suspect. But who has the answers that will prove his innocence? The jealous husband who’s hell-bent on destroying him? The local sheriff with an incriminating secret? The blind old woman in the house next door who seems to watch him from the windows? Or perhaps the answers lie in the haunting visions and dreams that have recently begun to consume him. 

Or maybe, Savannah herself is trying to tell him that things aren’t always as they seem - and that sometimes, the dead don’t rest in peace. 

“SLEEP SAVANNAH SLEEP hooks you with a small-town atmosphere that quickly turns ghostly cold. Beware a plethora of twists and turns …” – Michael Aronovitz, author of Alice Walks and Phantom Effect

Buy Links: Amazon 

AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER - RELEASE DATE SEPTEMBER 25, 2017

My Review:

Sometime in October, when I list my absolute favorite Halloween night reads, this book will be way up on my list!  Probably #1.  This is one of those books you simply cannot put down.  Warning:  Don't read SLEEP SAVANNAH SLEEP when you are alone in the house all night.  I made the mistake of reading it while in a hotel room while I was traveling alone on a trip from North Carolina to Florida. Not only did I not get any sleep because I was too busy reading... but even after I finished the book... there was no way I was going to shut my eyes!

This story starts out by drawing you in to a sweet yet quirky small town with interesting characters, a bar called The Devil's Triangle, a book store called Tome After Tome, a blind old lady who "sees" Jason, a gossipy next door neighbor, and the beautiful sexy Savannah who does every guy in town and ends up missing.

Jason Crandall's wife had died several months earlier and he was left to raise his two children, a sweet young daughter and a difficult teenage son.  Moving to this small town of Shadow Springs and starting up his massage therapy business in an old Victorian home seemed like a fresh start for all of them.  Then the dreams began.  Not my dreams.  I was too afraid to fall asleep.  I'm talking about Jason Crandall's dreams.  Wow!  Such vivid descriptions!  This book keeps you guessing as to what these dreams mean and what happened to Savannah.  Or maybe I should just say "Who".  I'm usually pretty good at figuring out who-done-its, but this one totally surprised me.  

This is the first book I have read by Alistair Cross (I'm embarrassed to say), but I have already started looking for more to put on my TBR list.  I just won't be reading them when I'm alone in a strange hotel room.

Disclosure:  A complimentary ARC was provided by the author's representative in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.

My Rating:

About the Author:

Alistair Cross was born in the western United States and began penning his own stories by the age of eight. First published by Damnation Books in 2012, Alistair has since published several more novels. In 2012, he joined forces with international bestselling author, Tamara Thorne, and as Thorne & Cross, they write the successful Gothic series, The Ravencrest Saga. Their novel, The Cliffhouse Haunting, is an Amazon Best Seller, as is Alistair's solo novel, The Crimson Corset.

In 2014, Alistair and Tamara began the internet radio show, Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE! Haunted Nights LIVE! premiered to great acclaim and has featured such guests as Chelsea Quinn Yarbro of the Saint-Germain vampire series, Charlaine Harris of the Southern Vampire Mysteries and basis of the HBO series True Blood, Jeff Lindsay, author of the Dexter novels that inspired the hit television series, Jay Bonansinga of the Walking Dead series, Laurell K. Hamilton of the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter novels, and New York Times best sellers Christopher Rice, Jonathan Maberry, and Christopher Moore.

Alistair is currently at work on several projects including a solo novel and a new Thorne & Cross collaboration. His influences include the works of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, John Saul, Ira Levin, and William Peter Blatty.

Learn more about him at his website: http://alistaircross.com