Gripping & dark with a happy ending!
594484
For those of you who enjoy a Dexter-esque plot this book's for you.  Really well written!  Steamy content with a powerful story line.  Couldn't put it down!!
3128212
Amazingly multi-layered story with gritty, dark undertones, but a hopeful, triumphant message. It speaks of young love, battling your demons from the past, strength of family, and moving forward after loss. A truly gripping read!
1687802
Tiffany Reisz has created a wonderfully dark, suspenseful read. The Lucky Ones takes readers inside an old family home, known as The Dragon, as its residents prepare to say goodbye to their adoptive father.

Dr. Capello, neurosurgeon and philanthropist, opened his home to foster unwanted children with behavioral issues. Allison was offered a place at The Dragon when she was seven years old and couldn't adjust in the home where she was placed after her mother died. However, before she could become his fourth adopted child, she was pushed down the stairs and sent to live with her elderly aunt. 13 years later, Roland Capello, asks her to return in order to say goodbye to their father. Along with the happy memories that come rushing back is the reminder that someone tried to kill her. With trepidation, Allison returns to the only place she ever felt at home and loved. The feeling of belonging and memories she had forgotten about that fateful day keep her at The Dragon to finally get answers.

The Lucky Ones is completely original and consuming. The plot drew me in with the promise of a mystery and satisfied me with unconventional romance and a few surprise twists. Allison is an underdog character determined to regain some sense of happiness in her life. I loved reading her story because it's imaginative and thrilling. Her relationship with her former foster siblings provides a bubble of light humor against the darkness of the rest of the story. As Allison navigates her past she discovers more than her fair share of dangerous secrets. Every turn in the novel is fueled by suspense and feels like tragedy waiting to strike.

By the end of the novel I had so many feels I had to take a moment to soak it all in! This is a story I can read a thousand times and never get over. The Lucky Ones is a fast-paced suspense that will keep you on your toes to the very end!
*ARC provided in consideration for review*
1425612
A definite psychological thriller, this book was captivating from the first chapter.  The characters were engaging and interesting.  Once I started reading, I had trouble putting this book down.  I really felt for the main character and wanted to know what would happen to her and her life.  This was definitely an easy, quick, satisfying read.  The tension built and built until you were just waiting for the big explosion!  To me, the storyline was highly probable, although there were a few things that I just didn't buy.  But by the end I was more than a little creeped out!  Negative for me was the ending.  I just felt all the so-called "loose ends" were tied up a bit too neatly, quickly and easily.  Nevertheless, this book made for a fun read.  I would definitely recommend it if you enjoy psychological thrillers.
4079650
The Green Girl is a fantastically dark and gripping tale. The two main characters are flawed, likable, and very different from each other, giving the story a unique perspective with regard to how the individual viewpoints are explored. Alices brother Peter is an interesting character and I liked the relationship they have. I also thought the way Alice distanced herself from others and the complicated relationship she has with her dad was believable given her background. Her quirks and emotional scars make her a relatable character. Vonnie is a typical teenager in most aspects and you cant help but love her personality and outlook on life, even with the horrible gift she has. The secondary characters in The Green Girl are memorable as well. This book has the perfect balance of edgy suspense and supernatural elements, brought to life by vividly detailed scenes. The pacing of the story is great and kept my interest the whole way through. In fact, once I started I couldn't put it down! And just when I thought I knew who was involved and what was going ona surprise twist. LOVED it. The author doesnt mention anything about this being a series, but Im keeping my fingers crossed because I want more!
4505400
[...]

My rating: 4.5 of 5 

Twenty-eight year old Ava Jacobson though she was heading for calm waters, happily pregnant with her first child, while her fiancee Sebastian was serving out his time in Afghanistan. But when her baby announces herself three months early and leaves Ava struggling alone, recovering from a c-section with a little daughter fighting for her life and her man thousands of miles away. If not for her best friend Caleb and little Lilly's physician Dr. Bailey, she wouldn't have been able to hold it together.

Neonatal Care Physicial Ashton Bailey is immediately taken with Ava and her tiny daughter, but knowing she is spoken for, he tries to keep a respectful distance. It becomes difficult however, when she is in need of support and he is eager to provide it, even if it is just as a friend. But when the bottom seems to fall out for Ava and she needs strong protective arms, he can't resist his baser instincts and alows his desires to come through.

For weeks Ava was battling her attraction to Ashton, his beautiful eyes a constant source of strength and encouragement to her. But when an unexpected return to a place she had wanted to leave behind brought back the dark memories that haunted her, she finally opened herself up to him completely. The result not only a complicated romantic entanglement, but also a resurfacing of old demons from which she no longer was able to hide.

Just as Ava thinks she has finally lost everything that mattered, the one person who has held her head above the water has come through for her again....

****

Good GRIEF!! What an emotional roller-coaster!! Excellent!

From a highly dramatic and emotional, but rather paced start, I was not quite sure where the story would take me. Pleasantly surprised when I started sensing a dark undertone that promised perhaps a type of psychological thriller aspect to this romance, I was not disappointed. The build up was very gradual, very subdued with a lot of overlying romantic turmoil that clouded the darker edges. But once the proverbial cat was out of the bag, and the dark twist was out in the open, suspense was high and the certainty that no deed goes unpunished, had me sitting at the edge of my seat.

Ava, at times I felt she was a bit of an emotional wreck, especially at first. That is until I got to know her better. Understood her better. And realized she was so much stronger than I had given her credit for. Even still, I can't agree with all of her decisions, but I haven't been in her shoes so it isn't my place to judge. I can't deny the incredible suffering and struggle, however, nor the blessing in the form of Caleb and Ashton in her life.

And good grief, where can I find me an Ashton? I have to admit, early on in the book I was wondering if he had some nefarious intent, but the man was nothing but perfection. Ok, he was kind of hitting on a woman who was already engaged, but he tried very hard not to overstep boundaries and filled a void left by the man who should have been there, but wasn't. His intentions were good but when instincts take over, what are you going to do?

Some difficult moral questions are tackled in this story, ones that are rather painful and difficult since the outcome has such a devastating impact on some. What do you do when you are faced with a choice between the right thing to do, and the right thing for YOU.....when they are not one and the same?

I have to caution readers about some of the subject matter in this book dealing with sexual abuse and suicide. As mentioned before, there are some dark elements at play that are slowly revealed and come back at full force toward the end. Please be aware that these topics are a part of the plot and may be cause for upset.

The intense, conflicted beauty and strength of ultimate survival!

**Copy provided in return for an honest review.**
4413665
Don't let Aleatha's sweet smile fool you.  She has a dark & twisted imagination!  Loved this book but while I think I have the ending figured out would have like it to be a little more definite.  I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!
3130387
I loved it. It is dark and sad and there is violence but it is a great ending to a tough story. I wouldn't expect a happily every after ending for these characters because it wouldn't be believable. There is a lot of irony in these series. And though the ending doesn't offer a happily ever after it gives you an as happy as could ever be possible after life altering events. I highly recommend it.
4682166
I downloaded this book sometime ago and due to my very long TBR list I had only recently picked it up! And it was certainly worth the wait. This is a very dark tale of murder and one that reaches deep into the mind of the protagonist Nigel. Suffering from paranoia and guilt he tries to justify his actions from one terrible night many years before. He hits the self-destruct button and starts the long journey over time battling with his conscience and sanity. This book was so well written and really got inside the mind of Nigel and you actually feel sorry for him at times. This is a dark, sinister read and one you will be drawn into from the very first page. I will certainly be reading more books by this talented author.
2861621
***Review posted on Ini's Ravishing Reads! blog***

Into the Darkest Corner was a gripping, creepy and engrossing read. This book was recommended to me by a good friend of mine and of course many of my Goodreads friends. Since then i had this book in my to-be-read shelf. I don't have a clear explanation for putting off this book to a later read. Eventually i had to pick it up after seeing my friends gushing about it. It has the most chilling plot line that i have read in a very long time. I'm not a squeamish person, but surprisingly this book creeped me out. Haynes writing was intense and unputdownable.

The book flips back and forth between past and the present happenings. The protagonist Catherine Bailey(past) has been enjoying the single life as a coquette for long enough to know a good catch when she sees one. She meets charismatic Lee and starts dating. Her friends too clearly agrees he is gorgeous. Their relationship starts out to be amazing but later Catherine finds out Lee has a darker side. Her friends start suspecting her for their rocky relationship, this is because Lee is a charmer and begins to tell her friends that aren't true about Catherine. She is driven into the darkest corner of her world, and trusting no one. She makes  a scrupulous plan to escape her predicament.

Four years later (present) Lee is  behind the bars and Catharine now Cathy(changes her name) is suffering from OCD and PTSD. She isolates herself  and starts checking things over and over. Every time she enters the house she ensures her apartment main door lock is safely secured, and checks the curtains,  bathroom doors, kitchen cabinets, room, her personal belongings. She has a count for checking. If she feels something is wrong she would start it again. Now Cathy doesn't trust anyone and always has a thought that Lee is watching her even though he is in prison. She meets Stuart, a psychologist who lives in the apartment above her and he convinces her to seek treatment for her OCD. Eventually they start liking each other but Cathy is wary in stepping into another relationship. After a while she finds out something strange at her place and realizes Lee is back.

While reading this book I felt like I was developing OCD and I did check my door. I kid you not, even the slightest noise scared me and my heart pounded. I wanted to slow down to take things happening in the book and assure myself that its a fictional one but I couldn't resist any longer and I whipped through book quickly. Yes, it was that gripping and intense. I was cringing in shock when I read the last few lines. In my opinion it is a Riveting novel.

I know what you're thinking now... Wondering what is Lee's darker side and how did Catherine  change to Cathy and what is Cathy's final move??? Well.. grab a copy of this book and find out for yourself!!

I would highly recommend this book to  anyone who wants to get sucked in a good thriller and  get creeped out. If by any chance you are going to read it before you hit the sack be ready to face your nightmares.
3536742
When I first picked up the book, the beginning felt slow-paced, almost teasing me with suspense about what was going to happen. But once the story picked up, it plunged full-steam ahead into its narrative. And what a ride--I could not put it down. I was gripped by the dark, haunting tale, the unexpected plot twists, my mind searching for the clues to figure out what was going to happen next. The ending was open-ended, uneasy, but somehow, seemed right for the story.

I highly recommend Vertigo and eagerly await more dark stories by Ms. Baratz-Logsted. Well done!
2506203
Fate is mysterious in its ways & seems to have its hands on several parts of this story. Keegan lost his wife at a young age & then lost his best friend in the military.  After he had healed from his own injuries & connected with his young daughter, he started searching for the sister that his best friend found out about just prior to his death.

Shay Fox's life began 12 years ago. That's when she was found wandering the mountainside with no memories. When Keegan reached out to her, she couldn't believe that his story was true. Something drew the two of them together & she took a chance going to visit him. There's no way she's his friend's sister. She'd remember if she had a brother, right?

What an emotional book! The reader is taken on a journey that twists & turns & doesn't take you where it's expected. As you read, you experience all of the emotions that Shay & David are feeling. I laughed, cried & grieved through various parts. The characters are well developed & the reader can identify with them from the beginning. There are some sex scenes but they are tastefully done.
3838950
In the case of Blood & Light I can say it definitely left an impression.  As a Therapist I can appreciate the motivation behind the writing of the story.  Rue provides a touching insight to this motivation at the beginning of the book before the story that is sure to bring a tear to the eye of anyone who has ever lost a family member (ok so that was a SLIGHT spoiler).  Throughout the book you cant help but feel the emotions the author was feeling as she wrote (then again maybe thats the Therapist in me...lol).

The story itself is snarky, fun, and of course sexy (just how I like it).  It also has some sembelance of reality (yeah I know, for Vampires right? I live in New Orleans....VAMPIRES EXIST!).  Unreseloved family issues and emotional hangups run rampant and its so nice to see something that can be remotely REAL versus the typical teenage "I - love- you- so -much- I- will- die -without -you,- bite- me- so - that - i - can - live- forever - and - we - can - be- together- forever- not - quite - a - threesome - love - triangle."  I have only read book one thus far and can say that it is indeed refreshing, unique, and a much needed take in this age of Stephanie Meyers.  Well done Rue Volley!

The downside of Blood & Light?  (You know I always have to give one no matter how much I love a book because I have to be fair).  The downside is the length.  Granted its all in personal preference and has nothing to do with the writer or the story itself.  Blood and Light is roughly 700 pages (ebook edition, not sure the exact number in print).  This is pretty lengthy for a series opener.  Again, a non writer person may not care about this and truthfully had I not been doing a review and were only reading in my lesiurely time I probably wouldnt care either.  I just felt like such a loser because it took me forever to make a dent (whatever call me an over-achiever...lol).

All in all Blood & Light is well worth the buy and is the start to what I presume to be a great series from Rue Volley and that's not just

"SMOKE AND MIRRORS" (Book 2 of the Blood & Light Series.)

HA! You Get it?!!!
3273429
Let me count the ways of how dark this book isbut it is dark and delicious. Its one of those reads where you don't know who is the good guys and who is the bad ones. It is full of angst, heartbreak, despair, abuse but it also shows hope, sexual tension, and passion. This story has it all during one heck of a roller coaster ride of emotions. The plot is deep, raw, and full of twists and turns that kept me on pins and needles all the way til the very end. I couldn't read this story with the lights off, I needed the light on and even then, with the dark themes, found myself needing all the lights on. I enjoyed all the dark twists and turns in this story. This is one story that you will love all the dark and enjoy the emerging shine of light.

My Rating:  4.6  stars *****
I received an advanced copy of this book from the author at no cost to me."
3893003
Just finished "Henry and Tom" & am feeling satisfied.  For some reason I've had difficulty finishing the last few books I've started.  Not so with this one.  What a fun, inspirational & moving story!  Dare I say sweet?  Not saccharine sweet, though, thankfully.  My only complaint is that it was suspenseful & engaging enough that I chewed most of my fingernails without noticing until it was too late.  Yikes!
1634407
This is a deliciously dark tale by new-to-me author Erica Kudisch. I am not sure I understood all the twists and turns in the story but I certainly enjoyed reading it. This isn't one of those sweet romantic stories and the cover itself provides a glimpse of this. It is a gripping drama with a frisson of suspense, the paranormal, horror, and mystery.

Anthony Brooks has achieved his Phd, is heavily in debt and is unemployed. He wants to develop his career as a musicologist but instead finds himself working for his uncle and handling the rock star Nik.

Nik is your typical rock star, wild, disorganised, unconventional and weird. Anthony dislikes him and dislikes Nik's music, and they clash from the beginning but this isn't your run of the mill clash. There is something dark and mysterious about Nik. His music and concerts turn into orgies, people behave strangely at his concerts and he has a following that can be likened to followers of a cult. Nik says that he is the greek god Dionysus.

Anthony thinks the whole greek god thing is a load of old cobblers until he realises that things don't add up. There is the peculiar and long relationship between Nik and Anthony's uncle Paul. There is the strange behaviour of Nik's fans. There is the darkness and controlling power in Nik's music and there is a body count.

I started reading this book not really knowing what to expect and it gripped me from the outset. Anthony comes across quite clearly as a frustrated job hunter who is pressurised into taking a job he doesn't like because of his financial situation. We see him coping with Nik because he believes Nik is simply a spoilt rockstar. Then as the story progresses we see Anthony slowly realising that all is not what it seems and that other powers are at play and that he is caught up in them.

This isn't horror and it isn't scary but it is puzzling and there is the need for the reader to try and figure out exactly what is going on and yet there is a frisson of uneasiness that accompanies the reader on this journey to discovery.

And so I loved it!

I loved it because it was kind of wild, unpredictable, and very different. It isn't your usual m/m story with A meets B, then conflict or challenge, cut and paste sex and a happy ending. Nothing wrong with that formula but this brings something different.

This story takes you on a journey where no one has gone before. A bit like Star Trek but definitely not as benign. At the heart of the story is a fast paced battle between different kinds of music - classical and rock, one sedate and predictable, one wild and unleashed.

But there are other battles - one between life and death, order and destruction and two young men who are alike but at the same time very dissimilar because of course one of them is much more than a man.

And then there is also Anthony's personal battle. His battle to overcome his dislike of his current circumstances and the lack of career prospects, his unvoiced resentment of his uncle and his dislike of everything. He comes across as someone who is generally unhappy about everything and unable to see the wood for the trees. He couldn't see any good in his situation and it made me wonder where the story was going and how it would end because it isn't a romance and the story follows rules of its own which are unknown to the reader.

I liked this unknowing and the dark wildness of the story.

And the end leaves you wondering and asking what actually happened but the story is certainly a wild ride, very entertaining and excellent storytelling.

Not for anyone who likes neatly told stories with happy endings but certainly a great read and a story I will remember.

Copy provided by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
1754891
This book is not what I anticipated. The description for the Kindle Book Of The Month selection lead me to believe I would be delving into an almost detective-style mystery thriller, when in reality, this is decidedly a deeply dark psychological mind-muddler with a strong element of horror. *** SPOILER ALERT BUT ALSO TRIGGER WARNING: This book is definitely for adults: it contains violence towards people and animals and scenes of abuse and rape as well as strong language.***

I won't go much into the plot or overall merit of the writer's work, as that is fairly well covered by other reviewers, but I will say the author did successfully achieve what it seems she set out to: the book was unsettling and left me feeling sort of crazy. I couldn't put it down because I felt I could not leave things off at the dark point I last left them. This meant reading through the night because honestly I was too disturbed to go to sleep without reaching a satisfying conclusion to this dark work. Again, that all should serve as accolade to author Eriksson's ability to create an alarming mind-scape for her reader.

At the same time, I can't say this was a pleasant or particularly enjoyable read. I don't think all books have to be. The author wrote well and created a very emotionally tangible work, and this particular story does not contain much positive emotion. It really depends on the individual reader whether this piece will be a winner or something you can certainly appreciate but would rather not. In my case, if I had to choose again, it would not be my pick. That is my fault: I let myself expect something different. This novel does not request suspension of disbelief but rather creates an unreliable narrator who constantly blurs the line between reality and nightmare. The main character's psychosis wears at a sensitive reader.

While the end mercifully offers some comfort in clarity and resolution, and there are positive lessons to be learned from reading this story (I especially liked the very relatable love of the main character's mother for her broken child), I cannot say I would recommend it unless you are particularly comfortable with delving into the demented mind of an abuse victim who is also a pathological liar with a poor grasp of reality.

Please note my review in no way is meant to criticise Caroline Eriksson's writing, which was effective, ensnaring, and startlingly emotional. It is just not for all readers.