Audio Review: A Good Marriage by @StephenKing

A Good Marriage

By: Stephen King

Read by: Jessica Hecht

Publisher: Simon and SchusterAudio

Publication Date: September 30, 2014

Format: Audio CD

Source: Publisher

What happens to woman who finds out that the husband she married over 20 years ago is not the person she thought he was. That is what happens to Darcy Anderson in Stephen King’s short story, A Good Marriage. But can it be true. Can this man, the father of her children, be a murderer?

From the beginning, King pulls the reader into the mind of Darcy. From her initial reaction to finding a box full of secrets to the final fatal decision she makes to save herself and her children. With a roller coaster of emotions, Darcy faces off with Bob who somehow figured out that his wife learned his deep dark secret and comes home early from his business trip. For Bob, it is a relief and he decides to unburden himself, letting the one person he knows he can trust know every last gruesome detail of each murder.

King really does know how to write a short suspenseful story with characters a reader can believe. These two could be your neighbors or even your relatives. This one was perfect for me to stick in my earplugs and listen to while I worked. Any Stephen King fan who hasn’t read or listened to this one yet, should.

 PURCHASE

Amazon  /  Barnes and Noble

 

DISCLOSURE: I received this audio from the publisher at no charge and in no way influenced my review.  

Book Spotlight: Deadly Odds by Allen Wyler

Deadly Odds

By: Allen Wyler

Publisher: Astor + Blue

Publication Date: October 1, 2014

Astor + Blue Editions is proud to present Deadly Odds, a new breakout suspense thriller with a “techno edge” by bestselling author Allen Wyler. What happens when a shy and awkward young computer hacker has a run-in with terrorists?

Twenty-three year old Arnold Gold is a local computer genius in his native Seattle, described as a “part-time hacker and full-time virgin” by his friends. When the awkward young shut-in decides to take matters in his own hands, and venture to Vegas “to get lucky,” little does he know that his hacking skill will make him a bull’s-eye target for terrorists and the FBI.

A major terrorist group wants Arnold’s “Dark Net Hacking” system to help hatch their latest plot, and they’ll stop at nothing to claim it—even killing Arnold’s friends. Now, with murderous terrorists, the FBI, and the local cops on his tail, Arnold finds himself trapped in a high-stakes game with the odds of survival slim to none. It will take every last bit of his genius intellect and legendary hacking skill to stay one step ahead of the deadly game, and foil the plot that will turn Sin City into the scene of the deadliest terror attacks since 9/11.

Written in Allen Wyler’s break neck style and attention to expert detail, Deadly Odds is as terrifyingly plausible as it is darkly humorous and enjoyable. The riveting story of a young man who lives life through his computer and discovers its dark side is sure to win him legions of new fans. Filled with suspenseful twists and enough technological detail to keep both techno-thriller and classic suspense fans on the edge of their seats, Deadly Odds is the ultimate thrill ride for the emerging tech-savvy generation.

PURCHASE

Amazon

Allen Wyler is a renowned neurosurgeon who earned an international reputation for pioneering surgical techniques to record brain activity. He has served on the faculties of both the University of Washington and the University of Tennessee, and in 1992 was recruited by the prestigious Swedish Medical Center to develop a neuroscience institute.

In 2002, he left active practice to become Medical Director for a startup med-tech company (that went public in 2006) and he now chairs the Institutional Review Board of a major medical center in the Pacific Northwest.

Leveraging a love for thrillers since the early 70’s, Wyler devoted himself to fiction writing in earnest, eventually serving as Vice President of the International Thriller Writers organization for several years. After publishing his first two medical thrillers Deadly Errors (2005) and Dead Head (2007), he officially retired from medicine to devote himself to writing full time.

He and his wife, Lily, divide their time between Seattle and the San Juan Islands.

AUTHOR LINKS

Website

Book Spotlight: The Page Turners: Blood by @Kevin_T_Johns

The Page Turners: Blood

Series: The Page Turners, Bk 1

Publisher: Cat & Bean Publishing

Publication Date: November 30, 201

Have you ever felt abandoned by your parents? Ignored by your teacher? Betrayed by your peers?

Do you feel more of a connection to the characters in the books you read than to people
in the real world?

Have you experienced the loneliness of being the only person in your little community who dreams of something bigger?

Nate Bourdain has

In The Page Turners: Blood, Nate and his friends are thrilled to discover an ancient book of magic hidden in the school library--they now have the means to stand up to villains that make high-school life such a battle.

But, when the book's dark magic releases a fictional killer into the real world, the teens must prove they have what it takes to be heroes, or fall as bloody victims in their own horror story turned real.

PURCHASE

Amazon  /  Barnes and Noble

Kevin T. Johns grew up in a small Ontario town, reading comic books, watching horror movies, and playing guitar in punk rock bands. After studying film and English literature in university, he co-founded an arts and culture magazine, where he was a contributing writer and senior editor for several years. He lives in Ottawa with his wife and two daughters. The Page Turners is his debut novel. Look for books two and three of The Page Turners Trilogy.

AUTHOR LINKS

Website  /  Facebook  /  Twitter

Cover Reveal: The Tapestry by Nancy Bilyeau @TudorScribe

 Publication Date: March 24, 2015

Touchstone Publishing

Formats: eBook, Hardcover 

Pages: 390

Genre: Historical Mystery 

Series: Joanna Stafford, Book Three

In THE CROWN, Sister Joanna Stafford searched for a Dark Ages relic that could save her priory from Cromwell?s advancing army of destruction. In THE CHALICE, Joanna was drawn into an international conspiracy against Henry VIII himself as she struggled to learn the truth behind a prophecy of his destruction. Now, in THE TAPESTRY, Joanna Stafford finally chooses her own destiny. After her Dominican priory in Dartford closed forever?collateral damage in tyrannical King Henry VIII?s quest to overthrow the Catholic Church?Joanna resolves to live a quiet and honorable life weaving tapestries, shunning dangerous quests and conspiracies. Until she is summoned to Whitehall Palace, where her tapestry weaving has drawn the King?s attention. Joanna is uncomfortable serving the King, and fears for her life in a court bursting with hidden agendas and a casual disregard for the virtues she holds dear. Her suspicions are confirmed when an assassin attempts to kill her moments after arriving at Whitehall. Struggling to stay ahead of her most formidable enemy yet, an unknown one, she becomes entangled in dangerous court politics. Her dear friend Catherine Howard is rumored to be the King?s mistress. Joanna is determined to protect young, beautiful, na?ve Catherine from becoming the King?s next wife and, possibly, victim. Set in a world of royal banquets and feasts, tournament jousts, ship voyages, and Tower Hill executions, this thrilling tale finds Joanna in her most dangerous situation yet, as she attempts to decide the life she wants to live: nun or wife, spy or subject, rebel or courtier. Joanna Stafford must finally choose.

Pre-Order the Book

Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound

About the Author

Nancy Bilyeau has worked on the staffs of InStyle, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Ladies Home Journal. She is currently the executive editor of DuJour magazine. Her screenplays have placed in several prominent industry competitions. Two scripts reached the semi-finalist round of the Nicholl Fellowships of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Her screenplay "Zenobia" placed with the American Zoetrope competition, and "Loving Marys" reached the finalist stage of Scriptapalooza. A native of the Midwest, she earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan. THE CROWN, her first novel, was published in 2012; the sequel, THE CHALICE, followed in 2013. THE TAPESTRY will be released in March 2015. Nancy lives in New York City with her husband and two children. Stay in touch with her on Twitter at @tudorscribe. For more information please visit Nancy Bilyeau's website. 

ARC Book Review: Poison Promise by @Jennifer_Estep

Poison Promise

Series: Elemental Assassin, #11

By: Jennifer Estep

Publisher: Pocket Books

Publication Date: July 22, 2014

Format: e-ARC

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

In Estep’s 11^th installment in her Elemental Assassin series, Gin Blanco, aka The Spider, is still the most lethal assassin in Ashland and juggling running The Pork Pit, her barbecue joint she inherited from the Tin Man, her mentor. Now a new drug is on the streets called Burn and one of her waitresses is being harassed by her ex-boyfriend. When Gin comes to her aid, she becomes a target for the drug kingpin who is a vampire. This vampire doesn’t feed on blood though. He feeds on emotions. This leads to Gin finally coming out of her passive way of handling situations as she has in the past. As much as I loved the vulnerability that has been showcased but now is the time she needs to go full throttle and take this monster out.

Weaving Gin’s past into how it is affecting her in the present is an art for Estep. She reveals just enough that we are drawn into Gin’s life even more and become emotionally involved. Throw into the mix of her entire support team and the reader is never disappointed.

This book is a good leaping off point for what is truly coming next…finding out about the mysterious heiress of Mab Monroe’s legacy. Hopefully this will be as epic is I imagine!

I don’t know how Jennifer Estep does it. For this to be book 11 in the series and to still be fresh is unheard of! Non-stop action, a bad-ass assassin and an epic final battle scene will leave the reader on pins and needles for what is sure to be another great adventure, Black Widow.

PURCHASE

Amazon  /  Barnes and Noble

DISCLOSURE: I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley at no charge and in no way influenced my review.  

Book Blast + Giveaway: The City by @deankoontz

 Publication Date: July 1, 2014

Publisher: Bantam Dell

The city changed my life and showed me that the world is deeply mysterious. I need to tell you about her and some terrible things and wonderful things and amazing things that happened . . . and how I am still haunted by them. Including one night when I died and woke and lived again.

Here is the riveting, soul-stirring story of Jonah Kirk, son of an exceptional singer, grandson of a formidable “piano man,” a musical prodigy beginning to explore his own gifts when he crosses a group of extremely dangerous people, with shattering consequences. Set in a more innocent time not so long ago, The City encompasses a lifetime but unfolds over three extraordinary, heart-racing years of tribulation and triumph, in which Jonah first grasps the electrifying power of music and art, of enduring friendship, of everyday heroes.

The unforgettable saga of a young man coming of age within a remarkable family, and a shimmering portrait of the world that shaped him, The City is a novel that speaks to everyone, a dazzling realization of the evergreen dreams we all share. Brilliantly illumined by magic dark and light, it’s a place where enchantment and malice entwine, courage and honor are found in the most unexpected quarters, and the way forward lies buried deep inside the heart.

PURCHASE

Amazon  /  Barnes and Noble

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