The Curiosity Keeper is a nice blend of suspense
931288
I'm always excited to read a book by Sarah E. Ladd!  She is such an elegant writer and knows how to perfectly pen regency novels.  The Curiosity Keeper is a nice blend of suspense, mystery and romance.  From the first page I was captivated and I stayed enthralled for the duration of the novel.

Camille helps her father who own's Iverness Curiosity Shop in London.  More and more she finds herself fighting off customers who have become angry with her father.  Now her very life is being threatened.

 Jonathan is the heir to Kettering Hall.  When someone steals The Bevoy, a priceless ruby, Jonathan's father insists that Jonathan search for it.  His search leads him to London and to the Curiosity Shop.  He comes to Camille's rescue when she is being attacked and he takes her back to Kettering Hall to treat her injury.  When Camille overhears her father accusing her of stealing the ruby she knows she must start a new life.  Jonathan helps her find a job and Camille hides from her father.  Camille and Jonathan are getting closer, but Camille can't help but wonder if Jonathan's interest in her is more about the ruby than anything else.

I would definitely recommend The Curiosity Keeper especially if you love the regency era.  There is lots of twists and turns and it had a surprising end.  I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I can't wait to see what Sarah E. Ladd writes next!

***This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
4594831
This is the second book I've read by this author, and the format was the same as the other book.  It involves couples, and children, and the chapters jump back and forth in time, which can get a bit confusing at first.  It's all to set up a particular event that changes their lives, and pretty soon you really want to know what's about to transpire but you have to keep reading as the story builds.  It did become more interesting to me as it went along and eventually I didn't want to put it down.  It had a good mix of humor, suspense, and an interesting mix of personalities.
4108451
I found the characters very interesting and enjoyed the suspense of the story.
664848
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I enjoyed this novel. Avery and Jackson were two characters that I enjoyed reading about. The plot was well-written and I loved the characters. Harris created a world of suspense that I can't wait to dig my hands into.

I really thoroughly enjoyed this one, but I read a lot in this genre and I just expected something more at the finish. Too many things were left unfinished for my likings.

I am anxiously awaiting the sequel so I can see if some of those ties end up getting closed up. An intriguing read. Harris is a great suspense writer.

So why 3.5 stars? I just was expecting a little bit more. But this is a very good read.

Warnings/Side-notes: None

The Wrap-up: A very good start to a new series. I want to read the sequel to see what happens next. It's got a good premise.

Love,

Danica Page
680340
I really enjoy this historical suspense novel. The plot is intriguing and suspenseful as our hero searched for his long lost brother after receiving a 1918 dated letter in 1933. The setting of the story is most unusual and such vivid descriptions. Imagine an abandoned hill resort with its cabins linked together by underground tunnels fed by a sulphur spring. Tunnels or canals which men can get lost in or used for their own innocent or nefarious ends. The plot is tightly paced with many thrilling scenes as layers of mysteries are peeled away and I thought the flashbacks are well done and interesting as so much of Aiden's tragic family background is revealed. The focus is on the mystery shrouding the ruins and Aiden's missing brother who is somehow ensnarled in it. There is really not much time given to the romance between Aiden and Sebastian which is rather instant. But the lack of romantic development is more than made up by the very original and suspenseful plot. And I really like the feeling of the Great Depression after WWI and the years before WWII in the story. The writer did make up for the lack of romance in the last few chapters after the climax which had me at the edge of my seat. Speaking of the climax I still feel sad by what happened to two of the secondary characters. I wish the writer could have been kinder. On the other hand it is not something I would forget any time soon. As for Aiden and Sebastian they certainly deserve their lives together. Great read.
3030558
Fairday Morrow and her family have moved into a creepy old house with a mysterious past. Rumors say the place is haunted. At the center of the intrigue is a young woman named Ruby Begonia, who disappeared many years ago on her wedding day. What happened to Ruby, and why did she disappear? Fairday Morrow and her Detective Mystery Squad work to unravel the mystery and discover secrets of the magical house.

The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow is full of suspense that keeps readers turning pages. It's creepy, but no too scary - perfect for middle grade readers. Fairday and her friends are also likeable characters who readers will find entertaining. This is a well-done book that is perfect for middle-grade mystery lovers.
607333
This is a well-written suspenseful tale that captures the reader's interest from page one and holds it throughout the entire reading. Rich is a private investigator hired by an insurance company to spy on a claimant who has been receiving disability payments. The company wants to know if he is really disabled. Rich works the case hard, with long overtime hours, and is able to film the man doing hard work without showing any pain. But then, because of circumstances, he meets the man and needs to spend the night with him after the man may have shot out one of his tires. The suspense is whether the man knows what he, Rich, is doing, will he harm him, and how will Rich react to the man and his claim once he begins to know him.
196868
I expected a little more suspense from this book.  A worldwide search for an eons old religious treasure with the requisite bad guys, both inside and outside of the government, chasing our would-be heroes; its all a setup for a suspenseful read.  The suspense really never arrived.

This, because the author writes characters so well, did not detract from the story.  The characters were written well, deep and understandable, with personal demons and trust issues abounding.  There was definitely a little bit of suspense, but I would not qualify this as a suspense novel.  It is a character study wrapped around a slightly suspenseful tale.

Still, there is enough to keep the story taut and to keep the reader riveted.  I enjoyed this book and enjoyed getting to know the characters.  The main reason I didn't give this 5 stars is that it did cling to a few of the typical cliches in this genre.  But I can still recommend this as an excellent diversion and a quick read.

Enjoy!
4085806
OF FEAR AND FAITH by N.D. Jones starts off with a bang and had me from the word go. Its a chilling thriller that had me holding my breath as FBI Special Agent Assefa Berber and psychology professor Sanura Williams try to track down a merciless killerand stay alive doing so. Since Im a big fan of thrillers, I loved the deftly-handled touches of horror. There was real suspense and tension during those passages and I would have liked more. The interweaving of African mythology made the story all the more intriguing.

I found OF FEAR AND FAITH to be an exceedingly well-written paranormal romance. I thought the characters spot on and the story line compelling. Its a great read thats very easy to get lost in.

Ms. Jones has created some very appealing characters that become more so when set against this backdrop of magic and mysticism. If you love suspense, danger, and mystery thats doused by ample portions of romance, than this book is for you.
3247602
The 4 stars is actually for relatively new Amanda Quick readers. For those of us who have read her books for years, I have to downgrade to 3 stars for giving us the same story again, with different named characters. That being said, this is one of Quick's better efforts as it has more edge-of-your-seat suspense than usual. The story begins in the middle of a chase, and grabs you immediately. The heroine, Evangeline Ames, is being chased by an assassin through a garden of malevolent, paranormal plants. Enter Lucas, the hero and owner of said garden. Evangeline is investigating a case through her job with an agency that hires people with "special" abilities. One of her abilities is finding lost things, and the lost thing that led her to the current dangerous situation is paranormal in nature. Lucas has paranormal gifts of his own which are often lethal. His experiences because of them, have led him to believe he would never find a woman for a permanent relationship. He is immediately attracted to Evangeline, who seems to be the perfect match for him. The two of them join forces to solve her case, which lead them to realize that it is the tip of the iceberg, connected to other mysteries in both their pasts. A very enjoyable and recommended read.
784029
The author has a nice touch with recency detail and a deft (if somewhat stingy) hand with suspense. The characters are interesting and the romance all a reader could wish for.
4620975
The way the author switches between characters kept me intrigued so that I didn't want to stop reading. I enjoyed how there was two stories going on at the same time; Jennifer and all those she interacted with and Ray and Kate and his wife.  I thought Ian, remembering in first person, was a little stilted but on the whole the book kept me curious and anxious all the way through.
2393386
(4.5 Stars) First of all, I love the cover! I love it when a cover really portrays what the story is about and this one is perfect for a suspenseful murder mystery mostly set in New Zealand.

After Mikaela's fianc and grandmother die, her grandfather sends her to New Zealand to managethe renovations on his Bed & Breakfast. While there, she discovers Maori superstitions, death, danger, and love.

I would be a mess in Mikaela's situation, and while she handles it fairly well, she's not emotionally whole, which leads to a bit of hesitancyin her relationships. I like a character who goes after what she knows she wants, but I thought the doubt felt real and brings her to a new dimension. The romance is a gentle and sweet side note to a well-crafted plot. My family loves Lord of the Rings and the references and activities pertaining to these books/movies is a great aspect and results in so much fun.

This suspense in this story mostly builds at a slower pace. Although the reader knows who the mastermind behind these deaths is, the motive is revealed along the way and the minions aren't discovered until almost the very end. Those are my favorite kinds of suspense books to read--the ones where I'm trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together, along with the characters. Although I knew what was going on for the most part, there are still some fun surprises and clues.

This is a great read for those who enjoy suspense, but aren't a fan of the high-intense anxiety inducing books.

Content: very mild religious elements (a character prays in her mind for help several times); mild violence (murders--not graphic; moments of peril); mild romance.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
3197093
Mousy and meek Natalie Watson is bullied and humiliated by the popular kids at her boarding school. But if only they knew the tragedy that led her there, and the secrets simmering around her. When Natalie notices that her classmate Liam sneaks out at night, she's intrigued and then shocked by what he has to tell her. His nightly excursions are linked to the death of her parents, who allegedly committed suicide. He knows things about their demise, and he's willing to share his knowledge as long as she comes to the clearing with him. The clearing is an open space in the woods next to their school, a circle that holds mysteries dating back three hundred years ago. In the mix of living with a bitchy roommate, wondering about the popular boy's interest in her and staying afloat in a school where she's ridiculed constantly, Natalie faces the truth about her parents. They had enemies, dangerous magical people who are now after her.

This novel kept me on the edge of my seat. It was quite suspenseful, and there's a historical twist to this paranormal. I was also sympathetic towards Natalie. I felt for her during the trying times with her classmates and the unrelenting grief over her parents' recent deaths. The character development, along with the nonstop action, kept me engaged throughout.
2357194
For me, a good thriller novel combines the elements of suspense and intrigue to a level of intensity that the reader can empathize fully with the characters and what they are experiencing. New to me author Elizabeth Haynes weaves a tale of fear and obsession that leaves deep physical, mental and emotional scars in the life of Catherine Bailey.

The story alternates between two time periods in Catherines life. The first is centered on her relationship with Lee and the escalating abuse at his hands. The second is four years later with Catherine living and coping with a severe obsessive compulsive disorder and living in fear of Lees release from prison.

Initially, I found the switch in time periods a little confusing to understand, but as I read more, I began to understand the parallels in Cathys life. I enjoyed seeing her go from a victim living in constant fear trying to plan her escape to a woman who takes charge of her circumstances to regain her life and power.

Fair warning to the readersome of the events were a little disturbing and difficult to get through, but the outcome made the anxiety easier to bear. I highly recommend this story to readers who enjoy high suspense and intensity featuring characters you can relate to and root for to find a happy ending.
3995612
When They Come Calling: Anna's Nightmare, Book 1
: Sarah Fleming Mountford

This book is an interesting mix of suspense, mystery, fantasy, supernatural, and romance. Anna the female doctor runs a free clinic in Kansas City. She meets up with a mysterious stranger that becomes her protector. After that many twists and turns keep the listener glued to the story. With the ending I expect there will be another book. I want more.

The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed.  Elizabeth Saydah is quite entertaining.

"I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator."
3319634
This is an interesting mystery with a few unexpected twists that will keep you turning pages long into the night.

The first couple of chapters in this book drew me in and I was hooked by the third. I liked the main character right away and wanted to know what was going on with her. After she began discovering that things weren't as they seemed, my curiosity grew and the pages started flying by. This is a very exciting book from the beginning and only gets better as you get farther into it.

I love psychological suspense books that keep you guessing at what is really going on all the way to the end, and this one does that well. Even when you think you have it figured out, there is still something left to be revealed around every corner.

If you love the kind of books where you and the main character have to figure out the mystery together, this would be a good one to pick. Recommended.

This review is based on a complementary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.