BOOK REVIEW: SPIDERS IN THE GROVE BY J.A. REDMERSKI

Title: Spiders in the Grove

Author: J.A. Redmerski

Genre: Thriller, romance

Published on: February 13, 2018, self-published

Izabel and Naeva find themselves right where they wanted to be in Mexico: captured and held in the slave compounds owned by the Ruiz family. But the two are soon separated and forced into very different—but equally dangerous—situations. Izabel spends the next three weeks playing a role she never expected she would get the opportunity to play, but her luck runs out when Naeva’s life hangs in the balance, and only Izabel can save her. But at a terrible cost. If Izabel chooses to help Naeva, it will expose a lie she has been carrying on her shoulders since she met Victor Faust. A lie that will not only potentially make everyone in Victor’s Order distrust her going forward, but one that will also blow her carefully constructed cover In Mexico, and that could get her killed.

Fredrik, still looking for his serial killer, does not have to look long—the killer finds him. And Niklas’s past catches up to him when an old enemy comes back for revenge. But it will be Victor’s actions that shake up those left in his Order, and ultimately, be its downfall.

With six books in the series (now seven) so far, every main character’s had their turn in the spotlight. Victor Faust, the protagonist of Behind the Hands that Kill, was perhaps the most anticipated. Since Sarai/Izabel won his heart, readers have wanted a book told from his POV. Now, the character who started it all gets a starring role again. Yes, it’s Izabel Seyfried. It sure was fantastic that she survived the events of the previous book. And a slit throat, no less! I felt as glad as I felt shocked that Izabel pulled through. That injury is about as lethal as getting stabbed in the heart.

Now that she’s healed, Izabel wastes no time going on the mission she’s longed to do. She already informed the rest of the top members of the Order she works with about her intentions. Nearly all of them (especially Victor) are overprotective of Izabel. She’s had enough of that. Izabel’s long since proved that she can protect herself. With Victor’s reluctant blessing, Izabel departs for the mission. It’s easily the most dangerous she’s handled yet. Izabel’s goal is to unmask an elusive and powerful enemy. He’s known only as Vonnegut, Victor’s former boss.

A BOOKWORM'S REVIEW OF THE STORYGRAPH

Good morning! Today, I have an exciting subject to cover. It’s about a new website that recently exited beta status. If you’re an avid reader, you likely have a certain way to keep track of every book you read. Most tech-savvy bookworms use Goodreads.com for that purpose. It’s a quasi-social networking site where users can sign up to search for and catalog books. Goodreads first launched in 2006. It was independent, until Amazon.com bought the site in 2013. They wasted no time integrating Goodreads into their Kindle e-readers after that.

Many users who loved Goodreads (as well as some authors) weren’t pleased when Amazon acquired it. Critics argue that the acquisition made Amazon even more of a book industry monopoly than it already was. Others say that the move served to prevent Goodreads from establishing its own online bookstore, or direct readers to one that’s not Amazon. Personally, the acquisition didn’t bother me much. I liked Goodreads as it was, and wouldn’t want it to become a bookstore. All I wanted it for was to track my ever-growing book collection.

BOOK REVIEW: CASSIDY JONES AND THE SEVENTH ATTENDANT BY ELISE STOKES

Title: Cassidy Jones and the Seventh Attendant

Author: Elise Stokes

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Published on: May 23, 2013 by JACE Publishing LLC

Some Secrets Are Better Left Buried…

When the mysterious Gavin Phillips returns to Seattle after a prolonged and unexplained absence, he threatens to expose fifteen-year-old Cassidy Jones’s incredible secret: she is a superhero. But his presence is far more sinister than she realizes, for it soon becomes apparent that his hidden agenda holds a dark and dangerous intent that will unleash an unparalleled evil upon an unsuspecting world. Can Cassidy stop him before all is lost?

Teen superhero Cassidy Jones is back for the third book in her series. As the others, it takes place in Seattle. Cassidy's an almost fifteen-year-old who gained superpowers in a lab accident. It’s been a few months since. In that time, Cassidy has kept herself busy. She’s already fought a python, a tiger, and two supervillains. The latest one, Lily White/Metal Woman, escaped at the end of the previous book. No one is sure what she is up to.

The only people who know Cassidy has powers are Dr. Serena Phillips and her genius son, Emery. The latter is just a year older than Cassidy but has already gone to college. He's sort of Cassidy's sidekick, helping her on her exploits. The secrecy is getting to Cassidy, though. She’s finding it harder to keep lying to her family. As it is, Cassidy suspects that her little brother, Chazz, knows about her double life. Chazz may be not much older than a toddler, but he’s really smart.

BOOK REVIEW: KILLER AMBITION BY MARCIA CLARK

Title: Killer Ambition

Author: Marcia Clark

Genre: Mystery, legal thriller

Published on: June 18, 2013 by Mulholland Books

When the daughter of a billionaire Hollywood director is found murdered after what appears to be a kidnapping gone wrong, Los Angeles Special Trials prosecutor Rachel Knight and Detective Bailey Keller find themselves at the epicenter of a combustible and high-profile court case. Then a prime suspect is revealed to be one of Hollywood's most popular and powerful talent managers--and best friend to the victim's father. With the director vouching for the manager's innocence, the Hollywood media machine commences an all-out war designed to discredit both Rachel and her case. KILLER AMBITION is at once a thrilling ride through the darker side of Tinseltown and a stunning courtroom drama with the brilliant insider's perspective that Marcia Clark is uniquely qualified to give.

Rachel Knight’s legal thriller series is among my favorite reads of the year now. The titular Special Trials DA returns with a third entry. Killer Ambition picks up after a months-long time gap. This has become the custom for this series. Rachel has continued handling trials during the “hiatus”. She’s also going on dates with her boyfriend, Lieutenant Graden Hales. They hit a big bump in Guilt by Degrees. Rachel and Graden are on much better terms now.

In the previous two books, Rachel is the one who picked up the big story-long case. This time, it’s her best friend Detective Bailey Keller’s turn. She hears about the new case first, and asks Rachel to accompany her. They learn that Hayley Antonovich, the daughter of Russell Antonovich (a highly-acclaimed movie director) has been kidnapped. As is standard MO for them, Rachel and Bailey interview Hayley’s family and acquaintances. From the start, this is looking to be the duo’s biggest case yet. Russell is all but royalty in LA. He has several houses, and his main one is huge and located in the Palisades.

BOOK REVIEW: TURNING POINT BY TIFFANY SNOW

Title: Turning Point

Author: Tiffany Snow

Genre: Romantic suspense

Published on: February 19, 2013 by Montlake Romance

After her promotion from law firm Runner to Investigator, Kathleen Turner is learning the ropes of her new job from none other than assassin-for-hire Kade Dennon, a situation her boyfriend Blane Kirk is none too happy about. But the lessons with Kathleen take a back seat when Kade becomes a target. Previously untouchable, his enemies now know of the chink in his armor – his brother’s girlfriend.

And Kade’s not the only thing coming between Kathleen and Blane. From Blane's inexplicable defense of a man guilty of a horrible crime, to a mysterious stranger from Kathleen's past, to Kathleen' risky investigation into human traffickers, the obstacles mount against a relationship that's just begun to find trust again.

While Blane considers a job offer that would take him back to the front lines in the war on terror, Kathleen is determined to pursue her new career, with or without his approval. Unfortunately, her current case is far more dangerous than anyone knows. Someone close to Blane will go to extreme lengths to split them up, lengths that may prove worse than death for Kathleen.

Kathleen, Blane and Kade must atone for the sins of the past and the present. The fallout will force Kathleen to a turning point...in her career, and her life.

For a former, simple runner at a law firm, Kathleen Turner sure has had a load of excitement in her life thus far. Everything changed for her after meeting current boyfriend Blane Kirk and his half-brother, Kade Dennon. In Turning Point, Kathleen is a newly-made investigator at the law firm where she and Blane work. Given Kathleen’s constant run-ins with danger, Kade has been training her in self-defense and spy tactics. She’s proving to be a fast learner. It probably helps that Kathleen’s father was a cop, and he taught her a few things, including how to shoot.

Blane’s and Kathleen’s relationship continues to flourish. It seems those two could soon get their happily-ever-after. Unfortunately, Kathleen’s life is put in danger again thanks to another of Blane’s trials. He’s involved in a high-profile case which has Kathleen perplexed. She can’t understand why Blane would defend someone who is irrefutably guilty of a serious crime. As has been usual lately, Blane’s keeping Kathleen in the dark. She’s becoming tired of this. To complicate things, Blane could be required to return to duty as a Navy SEAL before pursuing his goal: running for Governor.