See Her Run by Peggy Townsend

SEE HER RUN

Author(s): 

Peggy Townsend

RT Rating:

  

Genre:

Mystery, Suspense

Published:

June 1 2018

Publisher:

Thomas & Mercer

In the first book of the Aloa Snow series, Townsend opens with an athlete literally running to her death — then it’s ruled a suicide. See Her Run is fast paced with many surprising twists that make this a page-turner. When you think you know who the killer is, this book will prove you wrong, building up the mystery and leaving you on the edge of your seat until everything comes crashing down at the conclusion. See Her Run is truly a novel you will not want to miss.

Aloa Snow is a former well-known investigative reporter who made a mistake when her mom was dying in the hospital; now she can not find a job to save her house. Michael, the young boy Aloa's family took in after his father killed the rest of his family, is now a big shot and needs Aloa to help him with a case the police have deemed a suicide. The last thing Aloa wants is to hear from the boy who stole her heart and disappeared without a word for 10 years. The paycheck is the only reason Aloa agrees to jump headfirst into a dangerous investigation that the police tried to cover up. Will she be able to save herself? Or will she end up silenced like the girl she is investigating? (THOMAS & MERCER, Jun., 268 pp., $15.95) 

Reviewed by: 

Jenny Falcone for RT Book Reviews

Blood on the Tracks by Barbara Nickless

BLOOD ON THE TRACKS
Barbara Nickless
4 stars MILD

For her first novel, Nickless, creates in intricate tale. Written in the first person limited point of view, we experience what it is like to live with PTSD as well the life of a police officer working with a canine on the rail system. Don't let the page count turn you off, as the fast pace will have you finished in no time. Nickless seamlessly ties everything together with a shocking ending but leaves a question in case she decides to do a second installment. Recommended for romance fiction readers as well as anyone with a interest in war, PTSD, canine police, and suspense with discretion due to a lightly descriptive intimacy scene in the second half of the book, lots of cursing throughout, violently detailed descriptions of war and the use of Jesus' name as a curse.

SUMMARY: Railroad Police Special Agent, Sydney Rose Parnell is cIt seems to be a set up but the fiancé can't seem to remember anything after walking into the apartment where the victim is found. Parnell and her k9 partner, Clyde, work together with the department homicide unit to discover the true killer.

alled to the scene when a young woman is murdered and her Iraq veteran fiancé is seen fleeing the scene and hops the first railway out of town.

(Thomas & Mercer, October 2016, 414 pages, $10.98, PB, ISBN: 978-1503936867)

Book 1 in the Sydney Rose Parnell series 

Reviewed for RT BOOK REVIEWS

STEALING SNOW by Danielle Paige

STEALING SNOW
Danielle Paige
4 1/2 stars Top Pick

A grand adventure to a different world, Paige weaves an alternate tale written in the first person limited point of view that follows Snow Yardley aka "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" as she discovers who she really is and reveals all the lies that surround her whole existence. Moderately paced with some fast, heart racing scenes, we get sucked into the life and story through the ups, downs and numerous, unexpected surprises. In this coming of Age, Snow will face deceit, heartbrokenness, lies, truth, confusion and more as she must determine who is actually the truth tellers. Recommended for young adults but great for all, especially those that like an interesting twist to original fairy tales.

SUMMARY: Snow Yardley has spent about the last ten years of her life in a high security mental hospital after she tried to walk through a mirror with a friend at the age of six. Her friend Bale is the only thing that keeps her sane throughout the years. Now he has been taken through a mirror. She must break out of the hospital and find him in the land of Algid, where nothing is quite what it seems.

(Bloomsbury, September 2016, 384 pages, $18.99, ISBN: 9781681190761, HC, 14+)

Book 1 in Stealing Snow series 

Reviewed for RT BOOK REVIEWS

UNTIL I LOVE AGAIN by Jerry Eicher

UNTIL I LOVE AGAIN
Jerry Eicher
4 stars 

A truly original Amish story, with some unexpected twists. Eicher will make you laugh, cry and then laugh some more. An intriguing fast-paced, page-turner written in the third person limited point of view that you just won't be able to put down. We encounter conflict, deceit, heartbrokenness as well as love and understanding. You won't want to miss this one.

SUMMARY: Susanna Miller's family have allowed her to work with Englisha's during her rumspringa. Now it is time for her to settle down and join the church, giving up everything she has been doing to take her proper place in the community. Widower Ernest Helmuth wants to claim her as his bride and mother for his two little girls but will past secrets make Susanna choose to jump the fence instead?

(Harvest House, September 2016, 352 pages, $14.99)
ISBN: 9780736965897

Book 2 in The St. Lawrence County Amish series

Reviewed for RT BOOK REVIEWS

FINDING LOVE IN BIG SKY, MONTANA by Angela Ruth Strong

FINDING LOVE IN BIG SKY, MONTANA
Angela Ruth Strong
4 stars

Written in the third person head hopping point of view we see both sides and dilemmas of the story. We encounter love and past hurts, personal demons and choices between God and money. With a moderate to fast pace, this is a quick read you won't want to miss. Recommended to all who are looking for an enjoyable story.

SUMMARY: Paisley Sheridan is trying to revamp her recently acquired family ranch; all she needs is a website and financial assistance. Josh Lake is suspended from his big-bucks city job after his contract is leaked to the opposing company. He stops at a coffee shop running on mental fumes after being on the road for a number of hours and sees Paisley, the girl he doesn't remember kissing at prom. In exchange for letting him recoup his energy at the ranch, he offers professional advertising advice and ranch help. When his name is cleared, will he stay or return to the city?

(Mountain Brook, September 2016, 254 pages, $2.99 dl)

Book 2 in Resort to Love series  

Reviewed for RT BOOK REVIEWS

THE DREAM QUEST OF VELLITT BOEBy Kij Johnson

THE DREAM QUEST OF VELLITT BOE
Kij Johnson
3 stars MILD

A grand adventure to a different world, Johnson weaves a tale you would find in dreams and nightmares. With very detailed descriptions, new words and little dialogue, you may find yourself lost, confused and struggling to get through to the end; the real adventure doesn't begin until mid-way. Written in the first person limited point of view, we encounter the inner turmoil of an older woman with secrets who has put her wandering spirit to rest in order to teach at a prestigious college.

SUMMARY: Professor Vellitt Boe has been teaching for the past 20 years at Ulthar Women's College when a descendant of one of the gods falls in love with a dreamer from the waking world. Having been a free spirit in her youth, it is up to Boe to retrieve her most gifted student before the gods discover anything is amiss and destroy something big. Boe must overcome her past before achieving her goal.

(Tor, August 2016, 176 pages, $13.95)

ISBN: 978-0765391414

Reviewed for RT BOOK REVIEWS

False Hearts by Laura Lam

FALSE HEARTS
Laura Lam
Setting: Futuristic San Francesco
4 1/2 star Top Pick MILD

False Hearts by Laura Lam is an original, riveting, multi-layered, suspenseful page turner with vivid character development that is flawlessly executed throughout. You will be sucked in from the very first words. We come across futuristic developments in hover cars, ocular implants and drugs that can make your dreams come true and memories better. Written in the first person limited point of view, changing between previously conjoined twins. We encounter bisexuality and same sex marriages as well as some mild intimacy scenes.

SUMMARY: Conjoined twins Taema and Tila were raised in a secluded cult where all technology was forbidden. After heart failure at the age of 16 they escaped the cult, were separated and given mechanical hearts. Now 10 years later, Tila is being accused of the murder of a drug lords henchman. She is locked up, the event is suppressed by the police and Taema is asked to go undercover and take her sisters place and find out exactly what occurred.

(Tor, June 2016, 384 pages, $13.99)

ISBN: 978-0765382054

Reviewed for RT BOOK REVIEWS

The Wolf in the Attic by Paul Kearney

THE WOLF IN THE ATTIC
Paul Kearney
4 stars MILD

Paul Kearney's The Wolf in the Attic is written in the form of a coming-of-age narrative, in the present-tense, first-person POV. Fast paced and engaging, you wont even notice the long paragraphs or that dialogue is few and far between with our main character, Anna, a pre-teen Greek girl, describing her daily experiences. Christianity is discussed throughout. Recommended for fans of memoir's and coming-of-age stories with a bit of fairy tale thrown in.

SUMMARY: Anna and her father are Greek refugees that have watched Anna's mother being murdered and having to relocate to Oxford. Pie, her doll, is her comforting vice that she never lets go of. She experiences loss, murder and abuse, all with Pie by her side. She safely daydreams grand adventures until one night she leaves to escape the noise from her father's committee meeting and stumbles upon someone who may turn into her savior.

(Solaris, May 2016, 320 pages, $14.99)
ISBN: 978-1781083628

Reviewed for RT BOOK REVIEWS

Miller's Valley by Anna Quidlen

MILLER'S VALLEY
Anna Quindlen
3 stars MILD

Anna Quindlen's Miller's Valley is written in the form of a coming-of-age memoir, in the present-tense, first-person POV. Quindlen makes you feel the emotional battles taking place, through the flood, family secrets, relocations, deaths and births. Some confusion is found by the jumping from our main characters' memories to her present-day reflection of that memory. The long paragraphs make the sections feel drawn out and dialogue is few and far between in most cases. There are references to intimacy scenes but no descriptions. Christianity is discussed but not upheld. Recommended for fans of memoir's and coming-of-age stories.

SUMMARY: Mary Margaret "Mimi" Miller tells the story of her life from the 1960's to present. The town wants to relocate the Miller's from the valley they live in due to the water table level. As Mimi grows, she discovers that life is full of secrets and changes. Her brother goes to war and returns a different person and to find he has a son; her friends change and some move away; her discoveries in new relationships; unexpected pregnancies; and career choices.

(Random House, April 2016, 272 pages, $21.43)

ISBN: 978-0812996081

Reviewed for RT BOOK REVIEWS

LAST CALL AT THE NIGHTSHADE LOUNGE By Paul Krueger

LAST CALL AT THE NIGHTSHADE LOUNGE
Paul Krueger
3 star MILD

Last Call is an interesting read, written in the third person limited point of view. It gets off to a slow start but has heart racing scenes throughout.  You will be intrigued from the very first words. Enclosed are cocktail lore and recipes. We encounter immortality, betrayal, alcohol, magic, inferences to sex, gorey violence and strong language. Recommended for anyone interested in magic and mixology with a hint of romance thrown in.

SUMMARY: Bailey Chen is a college grad who got a job working in a bar, while waiting for her dream job to open up. Zane, the bar owners nephew, is a bartender and also in charge of protecting civilians from monsters who feed on intoxicated individuals. They must get over their past hurts to work together and save many lives.

(Random House, June 2016, 288 pages, $14.99)

ISBN: 978-1594747595

Reviewed for RT BOOK REVIEWS

The Friends We Keep by Susan Mallery

THE FRIENDS WE KEEP
Susan Mallery
4 stars MILD

Teen pregnancy, divorce, marriage struggles, and adoption are just some topics touched on by Susan Mallery in this highly original and fascinating page turner you may lose sleep over. Mallery brings our inner lives to the surface and evokes deep emotions from her readers. You will fall in love with the Girls of Mischief Bay.

SUMMARY: Gabby, a stay-at-home mom of twins and a teen step-daughter, Hayley, whose heart's desire is to be a mom, and Nicole, recently divorced mom, band together to battle lifes obstacles. Gabby wants to go back to work when an unexpected turn takes place; Hayley's husband wants her to stop risking her life with miscarriages; and Nicole has an unexpected mystery man enter her life. "The best things in life aren't safe. What moves up, what we want the most, always means taking a risk. Isn't that what makes things worthwhile?"

(Mira, February 2016, 416 pages, $12.55

)

ISBN: 978-0778318729

REVIEWED FOR RT BOOK REVIEWS

The Devil You Know by KJ Parker

THE DEVIL YOU KNOW
K.J. Parker
4 stars

Parker writes a short, twisted, action packed book full of questions and deceit that keeps your mind activated and confused all the way, with clues thrown in to shift your thinking until the very end. It is written in the first person, with point of view changing between scenes keeping the reader engaged and thinking, however confusion is evoked in some beginning head-hopping scenes. I would recommend this book to fans of twisted, realistic science fiction.

SUMMARY: Saloninus, the greatest philosopher of all time, signs his life away to the devil in order to become twenty five again and receive twenty immortal years to finish some experiment he is working on. To the one assigned his contract, something does not seem right and there must be some underlying reason Saloninus would sell his pure soul for an afterlife in hell.

(Tor, March 2016, 128 pages, $10.99)

ISBN: 978-0765387899

Reviewed for RT Book Reviews

Be Frank with Me by Julia Clairborne Johnson

Released January 2016

Johnson’s debut novel is highly original and brought to life by its unusual characters and their witty dialogue. The unique relationships that the characters create with one another make for an interesting and touching read but the anti-climatic ending will leave you unsatisfied. 3 out of 5 stars.

SUMMARY: Mimi, a reclusive, former best-selling author and single mother, needs help to complete her second novel. After a 25-year silence, she calls her editor and asks him to send someone to keep her on track. His assistant, Alice, arrives at Mimi's California home to help her finish the book on time, but Mimi has other plans for her. Mimi locks herself away, leaving Alice to care for Mimi's eccentric 9-year-old son, Frank, who gets into mischief at every turn. As Alice gets to know Frank, she becomes intensely curious as to who Frank's father is while trying to discover what role Xander, Frank's transient ex-piano teacher, plays within the family. She wonders if Frank's father and Xander, the man she has fallen for, are one and the same.

Unhinge by Calia Read (review)

This is a new release, just out on January 12th.

This book keeps you guessing until the end and then you will want to reread everything. By jumping from present day to flashbacks, we feel the characters confusion, frustration and determination to uncover the truth, no matter the consequences. Her "dead" husband tells her she has been in Fairfax for three years; a mysterious stranger says only six months. I highly recommend this mind-boggling book to fans of twisting psychological thrillers and romantic intrigue with a warning due to three detailed intimacy scenes and some strong language. NOT CHRISTIAN APPROVED.

 

SUMMARY: Garden-lover and ex-nurse, Victoria, awakens in a psych ward with a faulty memory. Victoria's confusion and frustration with being in Fairfax leads to her quest to unlock the last three years of memories. She remembers marrying Wesley Donovan, a cutthroat lawyer, soon after meeting.  The key may lie with Sinclair Montgomery, the mysterious stranger who shows up at Fairfax, claiming to know and love her.  4.5 out of 5 stars.

Drawing Fire by Janice Cantore

In Long Beach, CA, a Homicide Detective and a Private Investigator join together to solve recent murders that seem to be connected to a triple homicide that occurred 27 years prior. 

Abby Hart was supposed to die in the fire 27 years ago, with her parents and Luke Murphy's uncle, who was the cook at Abby's parents restaurant, The Triple Seven. This was a great first book in Janice Cantore's Cold Case Justice series. We are left with just enough questions o make the reader want to get the next book to see what happens. Christian approved. 4 out of 5 stars

A Simple Soul by Vadim Babenko (Review)

We see into the thoughts of numerous characters while Timofey is trying to avoid marriage to his boss' daughter, by convincing an old girlfriend to marry him. They get into some amusing situations, including being kidnapped and a brawl.

This book opens with Elizaveta Andreyevna walking out of the apartment of her "latest lover" and includes references to experiences occurring. There is very minimal dialogue for the first half of the book. Lots of long sentences that have a wealth of descriptive details, which makes for very slow reading. Elizaveta mentions every shop and stall she passes on her way to work and again after she leaves to go home. Written in the 3rd person, we switch from character to character, which leads to confusion, and sometimes tells what a different person was doing hours before the current event we just read about. Some characters have other names and numerous nicknames throughout, Elizaveta is also referred to as Bestuzheva. To say I'm confused is an understatement, "…she knew she held an entire universe inside her, replete with heavenly bodies. Some of her planets were inhabited, and she could hear the voices of all the countless creatures who lived there."

I'm sure this is a good book but do not put it down, read continuously or you will get lost. This is not one of those books that I couldn't not wait to pick up again, it dragged a lot and lost my interest. Not a Christian book. 2 out of 5 stars.



I received the review request for this book from kindlebookreview.net

From the back cover:
His crafty plan results in a deadly threat. Her hopes keep her locked in a vicious circle. They parted ways, supposedly forever. But will they be able to live apart? 

Elizaveta, an attractive Muscovite, experiences a series of odd events: she is followed; she receives anonymous calls, flowers, and gifts. The culprit is her former lover, Timofey. He now lives far from Moscow and has a flourishing business, but a serious threat emerges when the daughter of a local mafia boss wants to marry him. Timofey knows his life is at risk if he says no. He creates a cunning scheme to save himself by staging a sham marriage with Elizaveta playing a primary role. Masterfully manipulating her feelings, Timofey persuades her to come visit him in his small town, but things soon take a dramatic turn. 

A seemingly romantic journey becomes a struggle for survival. Timofey and Elizaveta confront real danger when they least expect it. Love and deception reveal their essence when the best of intentions come into conflict with each other. The protagonists try hard to achieve their goals, but, in the end, each of them finds something much different instead. Illusion, ultimately, proves stronger than reality. And coincidences are often not so random after all.

The Gift by Wanda E. Brunstetter (Review)

God gave Leah the gift to heal through foot massages.

Adam owns a hardware store in the town of Arthur. Leah practices reflexology in her basement. Adams mother, who also practiced reflexology, left the faith and her family when Adam was 5 years old, and views anything to do with his mother and marriage as a  ad thing that he will never partake in. All that changes when tragedy strikes and he ends up raising his 3 young nieces. He ends up having Leah watch the girls and they marry to provide full time care to his nieces. 

The Gift is book 2 in the prairie State Friends series. Written in the third person point of view, we get to follow numerous people, not just Adam and Leah. Very well written and keeps you guessing about where everything is going. The end was very abrupt and leaves some things unanswered so you know there will be a book 3 coming out. 

I can't wait to see what some of the other characters stories turn out to be next. 4 out of 5 stars. Christian approved and recommended for all.

From the back cover
Follow the heart-wrenching story of Adam Beachy, whose mother walked out on him and his family—and away from the Amish faith. Now he balks at the idea of ever marrying and having a family of his own. But when tragedy strikes, Adam is suddenly a father figure to his three nieces and finds himself needing a wife. Despite their differences over her practice of reflexology, Leah Mast seems the best option to fill that role. Can they make it work in a modern-day marriage of convenience?

Time is Relative for a Knight of Time by Brett Matthew Williams (Review)

"Outside of our world exists a place where time has no meaning,  and the illusion that time represents is given the former of a stream of white water jettisoning into the never ending tide of tomorrow. The gateways to this paradise lie all over Earth... for those who call it home, it is simply known as Eden."

This is the first book in the Time is Relative series. Rolland Wright has lost his mother, was abandoned by his father, and is now homeless and living in his car and using stores to bathe. He goes to a book store where his life is forever changed. He is transported to Eden where time does not exist and green tiger guys try to kill you. Rolland meets many Knights in Time and travels back to the 19th century to meet real historical figures as well as some supernatural. He internally fights to determine right from wrong, good from bad and truth from fiction, while also figuring out which girl he wants to be with.

This book opens with a message from the keeper of records and is written with historical accuracy. The author describes a very thing extremely well, from the third person point of view. There are some very long, run on sentences, without proper comma usage and, at certain points, extra words are added, ie: "... he guessed it would take another couple of minutes or so before he could it would function fully." The pacing and flow are moderate to fast and keeps you guessing at every turn. 

This is a very long story that is no where near a quick read. As a caution, there are some graphic, violent scenes and one part where we get a look into Jackson's personal journal where he writes that he took advantage of a beautiful slave girl "without permission or consent". This is an easy, intriguing read and I would recommend this books to teens and adults. 4 out of 5 stars. Christian approved with parental discretion due to paranormal occurrences. 

This is my first book as a reviewer for kindlebookreview.net.

From the back cover:
Meet Rolland Wright - a seventeen year old orphan living out of his car in rural Woodland Hills, California. Aside from grappling with the fact of being abandoned by his drunken father two years previous following his mothers mysterious murder, his life mostly revolves around finding a warm place to sleep at night. When one day he is attacked by men claiming to have killed his father, Rolland discovers a strange ability to slow the flow of time around him, beginning a journey that takes him to places outside of time, space, and eventually to the early 19th century to fight the sinister General Andrew Jackson. With the help of a rag-tag group of historical and mythical figures with various supernatural abilities of their own (Joan of Arc, Jesse James, etc) known as the Knights of Time, Rolland solves the mystery behind his mother's murder, falls in love, battles the evil Edward Vilthe - reaper of souls, and finds a home of his own in the paradise known as Eden. 

Gifted by H.S. Stone (Review)

This is a past read and reviewed book. I finished on February 23, 2015. I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.

This book was an easy read. It started off kind of slow but was interesting right from the start. I chose to begin reviewing books since I have come across numerous books that have been labeled "Christian" and were clearly not. This book, with its "powers" clearly is not a Christian book but is not a book that Christians necessarily need to be wary of. This is a very clean book, which is what most parents look for when reviewing a book for one of their children.

Twin 16 year olds, Vendd and Voima, are basically running for their lives. They are in a world where people with "Powers" is something to hide. Vendd has a power that they must hide, for fear he will be captured by the king and killed in a "Gifteds Duel". One day Vendd is captured after inadvertently showing his power. Voima thinks of everything possible to save her brother and in the end realizes that she too is Gifted. She has the power of protection, which protects her and her brother from the king killing them. Many Gifteds die throughout the book, but the twins survive along with friends they meet along their journey.

There is a powerful life story of betrayal portrayed throughout the book that you would never expect. Overall, I would recommend this book to other parents. Please use discretion when allowing younger children to read this, as there is death and destruction as well as science fiction. 4 out of 5 stars.


From the back cover:
In a kingdom where the Gifteds are captured and thrown into fights to the death, Voima is fortunate that she is just a Regular. However, her brother, Vendd, isn’t so lucky. Since his Power started manifesting itself, the siblings have lived a life on the run, barely escaping the king’s soldiers.

Just as Voima and Vendd have settled into a new home, a fleeing Gifted enters their lives, begging for help but bringing soldiers after him. Despite the siblings’ efforts, the soldiers discover Vendd’s Power. Now Voima, an outmatched Regular girl, must find a way to defeat the kingdom’s most dangerous Gifteds in order to save her brother from certain death

Dragon Marked by Jaymin Eve (Review)

This is a past read and reviewed book. I finished this book March 21, 2015. This is book 1 of the Supernatural Prison series. I received a free copy of Dragon Marked for an honest review. There is an incessant amount of cursing that started right from page one but gets a bit better as the story goes on.

I love Jessa and Braxton and all the other Compasses. This story was extremely well written and makes you not want to put the book down. I can't wait to see who Jessa ends up with as her mate. We get the vibe it will be Braxton but the author throws Louis into the mix adding him as a possibility, although Jessa repeatedly says that most stick with their own. Jessa and Braxton are best friends and will not want to chance their friendship on a deeper relationship but could turn out amazing.

This was an amazing story and I can't wait for the next one. I would highly recommend this book with a bit of parental guidance due to the numerous references to sex and intended rape. There are no actual scenes, just inferences to past events. And one time where Jessa asks if two supes were having sex in prison under a jacket. 4 out of 5 stars.

From the back cover:

There are supernatural prisons hidden across the globe. Contained within these fortresses are some of the deadliest criminals from the five supernatural races: vampire, shifter, fey, magic users and demi-fey.

Jessa Lebron, twenty-two, has spent her entire life in Stratford, Connecticut, one of the gateway towns adjoining these prisons which protect the fortified borders. She’s a wolf shifter, and her father leads the town council. She learns that much of her life has been hidden from her, secrets which threaten to tear apart the very fabric of her world. Especially the biggest secret of them all.

She is dragon marked.

Jessa only knows what she’s been told about the dragon marked, that they are dangerous and must be eliminated to prevent the rise of the dragon king, the powerful warmonger who had his head removed a thousand years ago. So now Jessa's on the biggest hit list of all. Dragon mark hunters are lethal and her only hope to evade detection is to keep the energy contained.

As more secrets unfold she finds herself locked up in Vanguard, the notorious American supernatural prison. Thankfully she’s not alone. Braxton, the dragon-shifter has her back. Together they must survive long enough to free themselves and the other dragon marked.

Because it’s time for the dragon marked to rise.