Release Blitz and Book Review: M for Murder by Keri Beevis

Hi, everyone!

I am very happy to be included in the Release Blitz for M FOR MURDER by Keri Beevis. (This book was previously published as Dead Letter Day in 2013.)

This standalone thriller’s plot will grab you from page 1 and pull you into a fast paced twisted story that intertwines a serial killer’s story from eight years ago with a present day series of killings. They thought the killer died in a fire, but there was no body.

Has he returned to continued his Alphabet Killings ?

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My Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

M for Murder by Keri Beevis is an engrossing and fast paced standalone thriller. (This book was previously published as Dead Letter Day in 2013.)

Eight years ago, the ninth victim of The Alphabet Killer escaped. With her escape came the identification of the serial killer as Professor Rodney Boone an English Professor from the college. During the escape, the professor was stabbed twice and the basement kill room was set on fire. No body was discovered and the killings stopped.

Present day. The killings have resumed right where they left off in the alphabet. Rookie cop, Rebecca Angell is excited to be assisting the two FBI agents assigned to the case. She soon finds that not every investigator plays by the rules.

The investigators are convinced they are dealing with a copycat killer, but Boone’s body was never found. Is Professor Boone back or is someone else finishing The Alphabet Killers letters?

I have to say that this plot pulled me in and did not let up. There are several red herrings and plot twists that constantly had me questioning who the killer may be. I did not guess the killer or the twisted ending correctly and that makes me very happy. I was disappointed in Rebecca. She was always hot-headed and confrontational. The male characters were difficult and chauvinistic, but I would have really liked Rebecca to have handled her frustration and temper better.

The thriller plot is great and because of that and the surprise twist ending I recommend this book for an engrossing read.

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Author Bio and Social Media Links

Keri Beevis wrote her first novel at age twenty, but it was a further twenty years before she was published after winning a contract in the Rethink Press New Novels Competition 2012.

Born in the village of Old Catton, less than a mile from where Anna Sewell was living when she wrote Black Beauty, Keri had a passion for reading and writing from a young age, though her tastes veered more to the macabre.

Today she still lives in Norwich, along with her two naughty kitties, Ellie and Lola, and a plentiful supply of red wine (her writing fuel), where she writes a comedic lifestyle column for a local magazine. She loves Hitchcock movies, exploring creepy places, and gets extremely competitive in local pub quizzes. She is also a self-confessed klutz.

Keri joined the Bloodhound team in 2019 and her first release with them, the psychological thriller, Dying To Tell, which is set in her beautiful home county of Norfolk, has been her biggest success to date, with over 1200 four and five star ratings on Goodreads.

Her new novel, Deep Dark Secrets (which was previously published as The Darkness Beneath) was released in January 2020.

Find out more about Keri and her books at www.keribeevis.com or you can follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/allaboutbeev or Twitter at www.twitter.com/keribeevis

Blog Tour/Feature Post and Audiobook Review: Chemical Attraction by Christina Thompson

Hi, everyone!

Today is my turn on the Chemical Attraction Audiobook Blog Tour. This Feature Post and Audiobook Review is for the romantic suspense CHEMICAL ATTRACTION (The Chemical Attraction Series Book #3) by Christina Thompson and narrated by Gary Bennett. This book can be read as a standalone in terms of the suspense plot, but there is a lot of crossover of characters from the previous two books.

Below you will find a book synopsis, my audiobook review, an author interview with a character from her books, the author and narrator’s info and social media links and a Rafflecopter giveaway. Enjoy!

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About the Audiobook

Author: Christina Thompson

Narrator: Gary Bennett

Length: 10 hours 3 minutes

Publisher: 48fourteen⎮2019

Genre: Romantic Thriller

Series: The Chemical Attraction Series, Book 3

Release date: Dec. 26, 2019

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Book Synopsis:

Working in nanotechnology, Madeline Pierce, a dedicated scientist, has pain in her heart from an abusive relationship. She hides in her research. Charismatic yet brooding, Joe Roberts searches for an instant chemistry with his soulmate, the one person who will love him for his faults not in spite of them.

Dr. Pierce teams up with Agent Roberts to uncover a criminal network within her medical research facility in West Michigan. Feeling an undeniable attraction, they struggle to stay professional while they determine the degree of company involvement.

In the nearby farming town, animals violently attack the residents. Someone is experimenting outside the laboratory. Are human test subjects next? With the help of Joe’s sister Eva, a physician assistant at the local hospital, and her husband Chief Matt Connor, Joe and Madeline hunt for this new bio-weapon before the death toll rises in this gripping third book of The Chemical Attraction Series.

Buy LinksBuy on AmazonAudible

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My Book Review:

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

CHEMICAL ATTRACTION (The Chemical Attraction Series Book #3) by Christina Thompson is the third romantic suspense in this engaging series. In this story it is Joe’s turn to feel the chemical attraction. The suspense story can be read as a standalone, but there is a lot of character crossover between the books in this series. I suggest you read or listen to them all in order. You will not be disappointed.

Dr. Madeline Pierce is a scientist who specializes in nanotechnology. She discovers discrepancies on invoices at the medical research facility where she works. When her questions lead to answers that do not add up, she asks the FBI for help.

FBI Agent Joe Roberts is sent to meet with Dr. Pierce. The two use the pretense of a relationship to work together to get to the truth. Joe never believed he would find the chemical attraction his sisters talk about until he meets Madeline, but she is his contact on this dangerous case.

As they work together, they struggle to keep their relationship professional. Joe has a history of being a player and Madeline has been terribly abused in the past. Can she trust this chemical attraction to be real? And can their relationship survive as they fight a horrific threat to humanity?

I have been waiting for Joe to meet his “one” and this story did not disappoint. I love when a player is brought down by a strong and intelligent woman. Even with her past and some insecurities, she is a heroine that fits with Joe. The suspense plot is well paced, realistic and terrifying in that aspect. There are some graphic scenes, but they are in line with the plot so for me they were not gratuitous. I enjoy Eva and Matt being active participants in this story and crossovers from “The Kindred Code”, book #2 in this series. None of the characters in this series have it easy in love or danger.

I listened to the audiobook this time after reading the first two books in this series. Gary Bennett narrated this audiobook and this was my first time listening to him. I enjoyed his voice and I would definitely look for other audiobooks with his narration.

I recommend this audiobook and all the books in the Chemical Attraction series!

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Author Character Interview:

Matthew Connor from Chemical Attraction

Hello Everyone! I’m Christina Thompson, the author of Chemical Attraction, a romantic thriller. I’m joining you today to promote Chemical Attraction’s Audiobook narrated by Gary Bennett.

I’ve had the privilege of getting to know the people in this story. Eva Connor and Joe Roberts are siblings by choice. They’ve told me their story, and I wrote about their amazing journey. These interviews take place just after their adventure. [trivial spoilers/no plot spoilers]

Ruggedly handsome with a calm demeanor, Matthew Connor had pushed any romantic life aside to focus on raising his eight-year-old son, David. Then, he met Eva and watched her take his hometown by storm. Now as the police chief, he helped Joe on his FBI case.

CHRISTINA: When you first saw Eva with David, what was your first thought?

MATT: Mesmerizing came to mind. She definitely spiced up my life. The first time she visited my home, she turned the town upside down. I didn’t think the Allenton gossip circuit could travel faster than the speed of light. Boy, that weekend it had.

CHRISTINA: How hard was it to be a single dad for the first eight years of David’s life?

MATT: Tough. Like I mentioned before, gossip is big in this town and stereotypes are even bigger. I’ve been the chief for nine years, but I’m still known as the guy who knocked up his high school girlfriend. Beth gave up her rights to David right after he was born while I embraced fatherhood. I wouldn’t have changed a thing though. David makes me a better person, and I strive to be the man he looks up to.

CHRISTINA: Uncovering a criminal network in your town, Joe created tension by not informing you about his case from the beginning. How’s your relationship with him?

MATT: Man, I don’t want him to visit us anymore … too much drama when he’s around. Joking aside, I love Joe like a little brother. Years ago, I helped him out of a sticky situation, which cemented a brothers’ bond. I could do worse than having a federal agent as a brother.

CHRISTINA: I get the feeling that your responsibilities take over much of your life. What do you do for fun?

MATT: Ha. Not having much fun these days. I enjoy spending time with my wife and I crochet to relax. It’s meditative. My mother taught me years ago. I made David’s first baby blanket, and I donate the baby blankets I make now to our local hospital. After seeing the basket of yarn next to our sofa, Joe gave me a hard time until Eva told him what I did with the finished ones. Boy, did he feel bad. His niceness lasted for a month. It really creeped Eva out.


Thanks for stopping by. You can find the audiobook of Chemical Attraction on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Attraction-Book/dp/B0833H7YSV/

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About the Author: Christina Thompson

Christina Thompson has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Nazareth College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She is a certified massage therapist from the Health Enrichment Center’s School of Therapeutic Massage in Lapeer, Michigan. She also has a Diploma in Traditional Chinese Acupuncture from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine in Racine, Wisconsin.

Her background in biology gave her a love of science and an insight into the physical realm of the body. Her holistic understanding of Traditional Chinese medicine taught her that the mind and spirit affect the body in powerful ways.

As a former holistic practitioner with over 20 years of knowledge, experience, and service, Christina now enjoys writing about the physical science, the emotional workings of our mind and heart, and the spiritual energy that taps into our passions.

She is the author of the romantic thrillers in The Chemical Attraction Series, which include Their Rigid Rules, The Kindred Code, Chemical Attraction, Chemical Reaction, and an anthology of short stories, Searching for Her. She has also written the romantic adventures, The Trucker’s Cat and The Garden Collection.

WebsiteTwitterFacebookInstagram

About the Narrator: Gary Bennett

Narrator Gary Bennett is a SAG-AFTRA audiobook narrator.  He was born and raised in California and then in Bozeman, Montana, and is the oldest of 4 children.  He now calls the greater Seattle area his home, and he’s a huge fan of the Seattle Seahawks

He’s always been passionate about not just telling a story, but telling it well!  From reading bedtime stories with his children to performing in front of the microphone, bringing a story truly to life is one of his greatest joys.

Gary has pursued his career in audiobook narration with zeal, investing in not only personal coaching from some of the best in the field, but in also some of the best equipment for his professional home-based studio.  There are few things he enjoys more than stepping into his StudioBricks home studio and recording his favorite books!

Gary is also a licensed electrical engineer and a private pilot, loves to listen to and play music and is an avid outdoor enthusiast.

WebsiteTwitterFacebookInstagram

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Giveaway: $20 Amazon Gift Card

Runs Feb.  18th-25th⎮Open internationally


https://gleam.io/8S3Np/chemical-attraction-giveaway-20-amazon-gift-card

Book Review: A Favor for a Favor by Helena Hunting

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

A Favor for a Favor (All In Book #2) by Helena Hunting is a contemporary romance that will have you laughing out loud and/or teary eyed more times than you can count throughout this fun and entertaining read. This is the second book in the “All In” series featuring alpha professional hockey jocks from Seattle’s new expansion NHL team, but it is easily read as a standalone romance.

Stevie Bowman is excited to surprise her boyfriend returning from her trip early to her and her boyfriend’s new apartment in time for her birthday. But the surprise is on her when she walks in and finds him in bed having sex with someone else.

Her brother, Rook helps her out by letting her live in his team apartment he is not using while she gets back on her feet. As she stumbles in late at night, she wakes her neighbor, who is not happy to be woken up. Stevie just wants to hide and get away from this jerk of a neighbor.

Bishop Winslow cannot believe his strait-laced team captain is keeping a side piece in his apartment. He already hates that Rook was made team captain instead of him and this makes it even worse. Imagine his surprise when he finds out the mistress is actually the hot younger sister.

Bishop suffers a severe groin injury in the very first pre-season game. Stevie offers Bishop a deal. She will assist with his rehab so he can return to the ice sooner, if he will give her a letter of recommendation which will help advance her career in sport physiotherapy. Can they keep it strictly professional?

I absolutely love Bishop and Stevie. They are perfect examples of “do not judge someone because you don’t know what they are going through privately.” The underwear war had me laughing out loud.

I am fast becoming a huge fan of Helena Hunting’s romances. The characters are realistic, full-fleshed and the dialogue is pitch perfect. She captures the sex appeal and down-and-dirty language and foibles of young professional male athletes. The women she creates are strong, but surprisingly quirky and/or have an emotional impediment that I would never think would work as a match for these men and yet each is the perfect match.

I highly recommend this contemporary romance and author!

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Author Biography:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. Helena writes everything from contemporary romance with all the feels to romantic comedies that will have you laughing until you cry.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://helenahunting.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helena.hunting69/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/helenahunting

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7226675.Helena_Hunting

Blog Tour/Feature Post and Book Review: Witness Protection Widow by Debra Webb

Hi, everyone!

Today I am very excited to be posting on the Harlequin February 2020 Series Blog Tour. My Feature Post and Book Review is for Debra Webb’s new Intrigue – WITNESS PROTECTION WIDOW.

Below you will find a short author Q&A, a book description, my book review, an excerpt from the book and an about the author blurb. Enjoy!

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Debra Webb Author Q&A

1. Did you always want to write for Harlequin?

A: From the moment I read my first Harlequin Intrigue novel, I knew I wanted to write them!

2. Share your favorite memory of reading a Harlequin romance

A: I write romantic suspense so sometimes something light is a great way to relax. My fav memory is of laughing out loud while reading a Stephanie Bond Harlequin romance!

3. What is a recent book you have read that you would recommend? 

A: In The Dark by Loreth Anne White

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Book Description

Can the witness protection program keep her identity secret?


After Allison James finally escapes her marriage to a monster, she becomes the star witness in the case against her deceased husband’s powerful crime family.

Now it’s up to US Marshal Jaxson Stevens, Ali’s ex-boyfriend, to keep the WITSEC widow safe. But as the danger escalates and sparks fly, will Jax be able to help Ali escape her ruthless in-laws.

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My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

WITNESS PROTECTION WIDOW (Winchester, Tennessee Book #5) by Debra Webb is the February 2020 Harlequin Intrigue romantic suspense second chance romance and since it is written by Debra Webb, I knew I would be getting a great story even in this shorter format. I was NOT disappointed. Though this book is part of the Winchester, Tennessee series, it can easily be read as a standalone.

Allison James Armone has been trapped for several years in an abusive marriage to the son of the head of the Armone crime family. She has been planning and waiting for her chance to escape. At the weekly meeting between father and son, Allison witnesses the father shoot the son and kill him.

She makes her escape and becomes the star witness in the case against her father-in-law. When the US Marshall guarding Allison (aka Alice Stewart) is involved in an accident, he calls on one of his best friends in the Marshalls to fill in. It is only a few days until the trial and Ali’s life is at stake.

US Marshall Jaxon Stevens cannot believe his assignment is his young foolish mistake in love. Can Jaxon convince Ali he wants and deserves a second chance even as he works to keep her alive to testify?

Ali is a great heroine. After everything she has been through, she refuses to back down and wants to testify no matter the danger to herself. She made a mistake that cost her, but she has come out on the other side and is strong and determined. I also liked that her main concern is for Jaxon’s safety and not her own. Jaxon is a strong alpha protective hero, but he also must come around to understand how Ali got caught up in her marriage and to understand his own feelings about wanting her back even though he left her before for his career. There are a lot of emotions and misunderstandings to get through in this book even as physical danger is just around the corner. My only concern is Ms. Webb never revealed who changed their travel plans and set them on the run from the bad guys. Other than that, this is a fast-paced story that intertwines the suspense and the romance perfectly.

I love sitting down with a Harlequin Intrigue and an author I enjoy because I know I can be entertained with a romantic suspense that engrosses me in the story and is a quicker read than a full-sized novel. I recommend this second chance romantic suspense.

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Excerpt

She shivered. The fire had gone out. She kept on her jacket while she added logs to the fireplace and kindling to get it started. Within a couple of minutes, the fire was going. She’d had a fireplace as a kid, so relearning her way around this one hadn’t been so bad. She went back to the kitchen and turned on the kettle for tea.

Bob growled low in his throat and stared toward the front door.

She froze. Her phone was in her hip pocket. Her gun was still in her waistband at the small of her back. This was something else Marshal Holloway had in­sisted upon. He’d taught her how to use a handgun. They’d held many target practices right behind this cabin.

A creak beyond the front door warned that some­one was on the porch. She eased across the room and went to the special peephole that had been installed. There was one on each side of the cabin, allowing for views all the way around. A man stood on the porch. He was the typical local cowboy. Jeans and boots. Hat in his hands. Big truck in the drive. Just like Marshal Holloway.

But she did not know this man.

“Alice Stewart, if you’re in there, it’s okay for you to open the door. I’m Sheriff Colt Tanner. Branch sent me.”

Her heart thudding, she held perfectly still. Branch would never send someone to her without letting her know first. If for some reason he couldn’t tell her in advance, they had a protocol for these situations.

She reached back, fingers curled about the butt of her weapon. Bob moved stealthily toward the door.

“I know you’re concerned about opening the door to a stranger, but you need to trust me. Branch has been in an accident, and he’s in the hospital undergoing surgery right now. No matter that his injuries were serious, he refused to go into surgery until he spoke to me and I assured him I would look after you, ma’am.”

Worry joined the mixture of fear and dread churn­ing inside her. She hoped Branch wasn’t hurt too badly. He had a wife and a daughter.

She opened her mouth to ask about his condition, but then she snapped it shut. The man at her door had not said the code word.

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About the Author

DEBRA WEBB is the award winning, USA Today bestselling author of more than 150 novels, including reader favorites the Faces of Evil, the Colby Agency, and the Shades of Death series. With more than four million books sold in numerous languages and countries, Debra’s love of storytelling goes back to her childhood on a farm in Alabama.

Visit Debra at www.DebraWebb.com

Book Tour/Feature Post and Book Review: The Vampire Next Door by J.T. Hunter

The Vampire Next Door

The True Story of the Vampire Rapist

by JT Hunter

Tour February 1 – February 29, 2020

Hi, everyone!

Today is my turn on the Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tour for The Vampire Next Door (The True Story of the Vampire Rapist) by J.T. Hunter.

Below you will find a book synopsis, my book review, an excerpt from the book, the author’s bio and social media links and a Rafflecopter giveaway.

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Book Synopsis:

While he stalked the streets hunting his unsuspecting victims, the residents of a quiet Florida town slept soundly, oblivious to the dark creature in their midst, unaware of the vampire next door.

John Crutchley seemed to be living the American Dream. Good-looking and blessed with a genius level IQ, he had a prestigious, white-collar job at a prominent government defense contractor, where he held top secret security clearance and handled projects for NASA and the Pentagon. To all outward appearances, he was a hard-working, successful family man with a lavish new house, a devoted wife, and a healthy young son.

But he concealed a hidden side of his personality, a dark secret tied to a hunger for blood and the overriding need to kill. As one of the most prolific serial killers in American history, Crutchley committed at least twelve murders, and possibly nearly three dozen. His IQ eclipsed that of Ted Bundy, and his body count may have as well.

Genre: True Crime
Published by: RJ Parker Publishing
Publication Date: October 11th 2014
Number of Pages: 365
ISBN: 1500909491 (ISBN13: 9781500909499)
Purchase Links:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

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My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

The Vampire Next Door: True Story of the Vampire Rapist and Serial Killer by J.T. Hunter is a true crime story of a serial killer who was terrifying in his ability to hide his depravity.

John “JB” Crutchley is a good looking man with a genius IQ and working as an engineer. To his neighbors in Florida, he was a hard-working, quiet husband, father and neighbor. He was sometimes socially awkward and could hold a grudge, but these were just looked at as quirks. At one time he even held a top secret security clearance when he worked on projects for the Pentagon and NASA.

There was a dark side to JB’s personality that he kept behind closed doors. He enjoyed bondage, choking and hungered for blood. Women went missing in areas that JB lived. He was accused of at least twelve murders, but authorities believe there were many more.

I found this to be a well written true crime novel. Mr. Hunter writes an account that pulls you right into John Crutchley’s life. His research flows into a writing style that gives you all the information without being stark and feeling as though you are just reading an information dump. Mr. Hunter also does a wonderful job introducing the reader to Crutchley’s victims and the one woman who got away. At times, this killer reminded me of Ted Bundy and that made it even more chilling.

This book focuses as much on the victims and law enforcement officers, as it does the killer and the narrative flows perfectly to tie the whole story together throughout the book. The ending is not what I was expecting or hoping for, but this is not fiction and you cannot change the facts.

I highly recommend this true crime book and author. I am looking forward to checking out more of Mr. Hunter’s work.

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Book Excerpt

Chapter 2

You were a vampire . . .

Nineteen-year-old Christina Almah was still a virgin, and a bit naïve when it came to matters of sex, but like most teenaged girls on the verge of womanhood, she enjoyed receiving attention from good-looking, romantically inclined men. Yet, even she was surprised when, after a handsome, slightly older man took an interest in her, she found herself traveling all the way across the country to see him again.

Christina first met twenty-two-year-old Carl Von Bane several months earlier while he was visiting a friend near her hometown of Westminster, California. She immediately noticed him when he walked into the Drug Emporium where she had been working for the past year as a clerk, and they had quickly hit it off. His rugged, bad-boy looks and confident disposition combined to render her fully smitten. But the budding romance had barely begun before “Von” returned home to Florida. Their brief time together had passed much too quickly for the love-struck Miss Almah.

Since Von’s departure, they had continued their blossoming relationship by telephone racking up steep long distance bills. All the while, Christina had meticulously saved her meager Drug Emporium pay so that she could afford to purchase a plane ticket to visit him. When Von had called her a few weeks ago, Christina hinted at wanting to see him again by casually mentioning that she had some vacation time that needed to be used. When he suggested that she catch a flight to Florida to visit him, she had immediately agreed. After all, this was not some fly by night infatuation. She thought that she might be in love.

Christina had been counting the days until this trip—a weeklong vacation certain to be a memorable one if for no other reason than the fact that it would be the first time she had ever traveled alone. She booked a direct flight on Eastern Airlines from Los Angeles to Orlando International Airport, and Von had picked her up there nearly a week ago. Since then, she had been staying with Von in his mother’s mobile home at Lot 12 of the Enchanted Lakes Mobile Home Park on Malabar Road, near the eastern edge of the City of Palm Bay in southern Brevard County.

Named for the lush palm trees that lined the bay at the mouth of Turkey Creek, the nearly 100-square-mile Palm Bay had experienced a period of rapid growth in recent years fueled by an influx of retirees, northern transplants, and space industry workers. As part of the “Space Coast,” Palm Bay benefited from its proximity to Cape Canaveral, home to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s space shuttle program. To the west of Palm Bay, just past Interstate 95, a vast expanse of swamps and marsh grass stretched beyond the horizon, home to an endless assortment of flora and fauna. Under the blinding gaze of the eternal Florida sun, cold-blooded creatures swam silent and unseen as they had for ages past, ancient predators stalking their unsuspecting prey.

Immediately to the east of Palm Bay sits the Town of Malabar, a small, quiet community only thirteen square miles in size. Its eastern edge meets the Intracoastal Waterway in a subtropical paradise of palm trees, sailboats, and spectacular sunsets. The area’s abundant seafood, perennial sunshine, and constant sea breeze reminded Christina of her favorite parts of California. That familiarity was reassuring. It felt comfortable. She felt safe.

A petite girl standing about five feet, four inches tall and weighing a little less than 110 pounds, Christina was not a beauty queen, but she was not unattractive either. Indeed, her green eyes and brown hair combined in an inviting way that most men found sensual and appealing, and she had enjoyed her fair share of suitors. Although she had shared a few intimate moments with boys in high school, she had never found one with whom she felt comfortable enough to sacrifice her virtue. Still sexually inexperienced, she had the classic Libra traits of compassion, innate gentleness, and a genuine caring for others, traits that were sometimes misconstrued by men. Still, it never dawned on her that Von’s testosterone-driven brain would expect something more than a kiss hello, or that he would interpret her willingness to fly across the country to visit him as a green light for sleeping together. Von had tried to take that next step during her first night in Florida, and when she told him that she was not ready, he had reluctantly played the part of the understanding boyfriend, but he could not wholly hide his irritation and mounting frustration.

Von worked at Gator Chrysler in nearby Melbourne, and he had to leave Christina alone for much of the day. That had been the routine for most of the week, and the excitement of staying with someone in another state had long-since faded away. On this particular morning, she passed some time by listening to a worn down cassette tape of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” album, popping it into the cherry red Sony Walkman that Von had given her. She played several songs, rewound the tape, and played them again, but after a while she tired of listening to the provocative singer purr about being “touched for the very first time.” She tried watching television after that, but quickly lost interest in the mindless game shows and melodramatic soap operas that dominated the channels. Growing bored, she decided to walk to Melbourne a few miles away to visit several friends that she had met through Von. She would be flying back to California the next morning and wanted to say her good-byes and make the most of her final day of vacation. Wearing blue jeans, sandals, and a black t-shirt with a Harley-Davidson insignia splashed across the front, she left the trailer shorty after 1:00 p.m. It was the twenty-first day of November, 1985.

As she walked out of the entrance of the mobile home park, a light rain began to fall. She could see dark clouds gathering in the distance and a westerly wind promised that they would soon be present. Somewhere beyond the visible horizon, thunder rumbled ominous and angry, its source hidden behind an approaching wall of grey and black clouds.

Christina turned left and started walking faster as the rain increased, heading east on Malabar Road toward U.S. 1 and the Intracoastal. She planned to stop at the Jiffy Mart at the corner of Malabar Road and U.S. 1 to buy a pack of cigarettes before walking north into Melbourne. She had not gone far when a small, light-colored car pulled up beside her.

Behind the wheel of the two-door automobile sat a clean-shaven man wearing a stylish, navy-blue sports coat, a black-and-white striped tie, and a nice pair of dress slacks, not the cheap K-Mart kind, but the higher quality cloth and cut of a more fashionable men’s store. The man looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties. He had loafer style shoes, but he was not wearing them while he drove. Christine thought it slightly odd that the well-dressed man’s bare foot operated the gas and brake pedals, but she gave it no more than a fleeting thought. She had certainly seen much stranger things during her time in Florida. The man’s eyes were concealed behind darkly tinted sunglasses and his face was framed by a mane of medium-length, dirty blonde hair. He had a thin build, and though slightly pale in complexion, his handsome facial features held an undeniable allure. She could not help feeling an attraction to him.

Flashing a broad, inviting smile, he leaned over, rolled down the passenger door window, and greeted her in a friendly, reassuring voice.

“It’s a bit wet today for a walk, isn’t it?” he asked with a wry, disarming smile. “Can I give you a lift?”

Although Christina was initially wary of his invitation, he looked harmless enough and it was the middle of the day in broad daylight in a public place, so she did not wait long before responding.

“Well,” she said, deliberately drawing out her reply as she decided how much to trust the seemingly friendly stranger. “I’m on my way to Melbourne to meet some friends. Are you going anywhere near there?”

“Sure, I have to go that way to get to my office. I just need to stop by my house real quick to pick up a notebook for work, but it’ll only take a minute or two. Go ahead and hop in.”

She hesitated for just a moment, studied her Good Samaritan one last time, and then grabbed the passenger side door handle of the car. As she opened the door, she heard Sting’s new song, “Russians,” playing on the car’s radio.

The country had long since fallen into the depths of the Cold War, and the perpetual threat of nuclear holocaust loomed in the back of most people’s minds like some amorphous boogieman lurking in the shadows. As Christine pulled the door closed, Sting’s voice flowed out of the car’s speakers, echoing what seemed to be the universal mood in America and Western Europe, the growing fear of a nuclear attack by the Russian-controlled Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.  The song sought to appeal to the good in what President Reagan dubbed the “Evil Empire,” expressing a desperate hope that the Russian leaders loved their children enough to avoid the horror of a nuclear holocaust.

Suffering from the same state of uneasiness expressed in the song, Christina found herself captivated by the sense of calm that seemed to radiate from the man behind the wheel. They drove for a little while making small talk. While they chatted, she caught a glimpse of the man’s eyes behind his sunglasses. Their azure shade of blue added to the aura of assuredness he projected, and it seemed to Christina that the man’s eyes had the power to peer into her very soul, not in any unsettling way, but in an understanding, comforting manner that disarmed her naturally cautious disposition. He seemed genuinely interested in learning about her, and she was impressed with how articulately he expressed himself. He was charming, witty, and exuded self-confidence, and Christine felt relieved that he seemed to be normal. Some of Von’s friends that she had met were more than a little on the odd side.

After about five minutes, the man turned his car onto a bumpy, dirt road, and then continued on for a few minutes more before exiting onto a gravel driveway obscured by a tall row of hedges. Planted across the inner edge of the yard, the hedges had grown high enough to block a clear view of whatever was behind them. As the car continued down the driveway, a well-kept lawn, dotted sporadically with pine and oak trees, came into view. At the far end of the lawn stood a redbrick, Colonial style house with four white columns framing a large front door painted the same shade of white as the columns. The gravel driveway ended at a double-length carport on the left side of the house. The man pulled into the carport and parked. Two motorcycles stood at the opposite end of the parking area.

“I’ll be right back,” the man told her as he took the key out of the ignition and slipped on his shoes.

He stepped out of the car and walked to the side door of the house, where he paused and glanced back at her.

“Hey, you want to come inside for a drink?”

She smiled politely.

“Oh, no thanks, my friends are expecting me and I don’t want them to worry.”

“Suit yourself,” he said, before unlocking the door and disappearing into the building.

After a few minutes, the man emerged and announced with an embarrassed laugh that the notebook was not in the house after all.

“It must be in the back of the car,” he said, an amused smile spreading across his face as if he had just remembered an irresistibly funny joke.

He walked to the passenger side of the car and opened the door, flashing her the same smug alligator smile. He crawled into the back seat and began looking around, grinning all the while.

Suddenly, the back of Christina’s seat shot forward, slamming her violently against the dashboard. Stunned by the force of the impact and shocked by the unexpected attack, she was barely able to register the sound of something rustling behind her.

Then something brushed against her forehead. Before she could react, her neck jerked back painfully, and she began to choke. Frantically, she reached for her purse, attempting to grab something – anything – to try to defend herself. Her fingers brushed against the top of a can of OFF insect repellant. Desperate, she thought that if she could spray her attacker in his eyes, she might be able to blind him long enough to get away.

But as her fingers closed around the spray can, the man’s voice, angry and powerful, startled her into submission.

Stop it or I’ll kill you!”

As her initial impulse of self-defense gave way to a paralyzing feeling of despair, her hand retreated out of her purse and her arm fell numbly to her side.

Then the rope tightened and everything went black.

***

Author Bio:

J.T. Hunter is an attorney with over fourteen years of experience practicing law, including criminal law and appeals. He has significant training in criminal investigation techniques. He is also a college professor in Florida where his teaching interests focus on the intersection of criminal psychology, law and literature.

Catch Up With J.T. Hunter On:


jthunter.org, Goodreads, BookBub, Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook!

***

Rafflecopter Giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/ZjI0YmY4NGI1MjJkZDM3MDAyMmIxNWZhMzUxNTNkOjY1MQ==/

Blog Tour/Feature Post and Book Review: Toxic Deception by K.C. Gillis

Toxic Deception (A Jordan Reed Mystery) by K.C. Gillis

#ToxicDeception @kcgilliswriter @damppebbles #damppebblesblogtours

Hi, everyone!

Today it is my turn on the Toxic Deception Blog Tour. I am excited to share my Feature Post and Book Review for Toxic Deception (A Jordan Reed Mystery Book #1)) by K.C. Gillis, who is a new to me author.

Below you will find a book blurb, my book review and the author’s bio and social media links. This is a fast-paced, entertaining start to a new thriller series. Enjoy!

***

Book Blurb

Strange symptoms. Bloody secrets. Can one reporter solve a medical mystery before she ends up in a body bag?

Jordan Reed put her world on hold to hunt down corruption. So when the gutsy journalist gets tipped off about blood money changing hands at a pharmaceutical factory, she dives into the story. With an otherwise healthy worker dropping dead of multiple organ failure, Jordan suspects something far more sinister than a simple accident…

Daring to go up against big pharma, she gains an ally on the inside and recruits two friends to join the investigation. But after a string of false leads and tight-lipped witnesses, she ties her case to disturbingly similar evidence in a medical trial on the other side of the globe. And if she doesn’t expose the lethal conspiracy soon, Jordan is terrified she and her team could be the next victims of the lethal cover-up.

Can Jordan take down a greedy corporation before they sacrifice more lives in the drive for profit?

Toxic Deception
is the first book in the gripping Jordan Reed thriller series. If you like tenacious heroines, underdog stories, and edge-of-your-seat action, then you’ll love K.C. Gillis’s page-turning tale.

***

My Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

TOXIC DECEPTION by K.C. Gillis is an engrossing new thriller by a new to me author. A junior staff reporter versus an amoral biochem/pharmaceutical company and it just picks up in speed and suspense as it progresses.

Jordan Reed is a staff reporter on the metro beat at a small newspaper. She returns home one day after her morning swim to find an envelope taped to her door. It contains an obituary for a young husband and father who died under mysterious circumstances. Jordan is not a crime reporter, but when she starts to ask questions, she finds she has a story that may tie the pharmaceutical company and its COO back to an experimental drug trial that killed her mother.

With help from her ex-fiance, still best-friend Travis and her friend Charlie Choi who works at the CDC, Jordan fights to learn what the company is hiding. This lethal conspiracy needs to be uncovered before there are more victims, including Jordan and her friends.

I enjoyed this introduction to Jordan and her friends from K.C. Gillis. The thriller plot is an interesting investigation into the biochem/pharmaceutical industry and the massive amounts of money that corrupt the entire system. Jordan makes an interesting new journalist protagonist to follow, but she is at times a little too naïve to believe for her position. That said, she will hopefully be a little more careful in her decisions in future books. She is inquisitive and caring and I do not want those qualities to change. The secondary characters are well fleshed out and I hope to read more about Travis in future Jordan Reed books.

I recommend this thriller for a fast-paced, entertaining read.

***

About the Author:

K.C. (Kevin) Gillis is the author of the Jordan Reed mystery series. Despite being a lifelong lover of stories and books, writing took a distant back seat as his professional career travelled through the Canadian Air Force, a decade as a chemist, followed by a long and continuing run in corporate America. With writing no longer in the back seat (but not quite yet in the front seat), Kevin has the initial novels (plus one novella) in the Jordan Reed series well under way. His personal interests focus on endurance and water sports, and obviously a lot of reading!. Having grown up in the Canadian Maritimes, he now lives in the US northeast.

He can be found online at www.kcgillis.com. You can connect with Kevin on Twitter at @kcgilliswriter, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kcgilliswriter and you can email him directly at kevin@kcgillis.com.

Information on all of his books can be found at kcgillis.com.

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kcgilliswriter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kcgilliswriter

Website: https://kcgillis.com/

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Toxic-Deception-Jordan-Reed-Mystery/dp/1733392416/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2Y37MMBWEWC7T&keywords=toxic+deception&qid=1580206669&sprefix=toxic+dec%2Caps%2C228&sr=8-1

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Toxic-Deception-Jordan-Reed-Mystery-ebook/dp/B083BK4JB2/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1M1N7ZHUPX3BQ&keywords=toxic+deception&qid=1580206706&sprefix=toxic+dece%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-2

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/toxic-deception

Publishing Information:

Published in paperback and ebook formats on 6th February 2020 by Chesterfield Press