The Other Girl by Erica Spindler
The Other Girl: A Novel by Erica Spindler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Fifteen years ago Randi got into a truck with her brother’s friend and immediately regretted it when he made a pass at her. Thinking quick Randi got out of the situation only to find herself in one that was completely worse when a young couple offered her a ride. Randi found herself waking to be tied up with the other girl also being held captive. Randi escaped and promised to bring help but then the law enforcement refused to believe anyone else was in danger since Randi was known as a wild child and always coming up with a story.
Now Randi is known as Officer Miranda Rader of the Harmony, Louisiana police and has moved on from that horrible night fifteen years before but has never forgotten. When called into a new crime scene Miranda finds herself investigating the brutal murder of one of the town’s most beloved college professors. When Miranda’s prints turn up at the crime scene however she finds herself back at that place from the past when no one would believe her and needs to do whatever she can to find out what is going on and clear her name.
The Other Girl by Erica Spindler is a thriller read with a bit of romance also mixed into it. The book tells the story in the present while giving flashes back here and there into the past in order to weave a story for the reader building up the connection between events. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way to make the story completely engaging and keep the pages turning.
While some things in the story may come as a bit obvious as events unfold for the reader there are also some that kept me guessing as everything was eventually uncovered. The characters and story in here kept me entertained throughout as the story unfolded and always kept me wondering just what would come next. I’d definitely look for any other reads from this author after finishing this one and would recommend checking this one out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
Delia’s Crossing by V.C. Andrews
Delia’s Crossing by V.C. Andrews
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Fifteen year old Delia Yebarra lives in a small village in Mexico and had a bright future in front of her when she receives horrible news. Delia’s parents are taken away from her in the blink of an eye when they are involved in a car accident. Thinking she will be living with her grandmother after the accident Delia again has her world turned upside down when her grandmother says she is simply too old to care for her and has made arrangements to send Delia to America to live with an aunt she’s never met.
Arriving at her aunt’s home Delia knows very little English and very little about the family she’s been sent to live with. Delia’s aunt hasn’t had any contact with her family since marrying a rich American and leaving the small Mexican village behind her. Resenting her past and family Delia’s aunt isn’t too happy to have Delia in her care and refuses to even speak to her until she learns English and things only get worse for the Delia from there.
Delia’s Crossing by V.C. Andrews was first published back in 2008 but is now being republished. The story is typical of a V.C. Andrews novel with a young teenage girl living in a somewhat dysfunctional family situation. This one however featured the main character that is from Mexican descent and that was really what completely didn’t work for me in the book.
Delia is described as an extremely smart girl in the early pages as she learns of her parents death and when she is sent to America she speaks very little English, not speaking the language shouldn’t make the character any dumber especially when she starts picking up English at an incredible rate. However, with Delia she is sent into a horrible situation right off but then this smart girl puts herself into more situations instead of learning from the first… if that makes sense without being too spoilery.
In the end I just didn’t find this story believable as it just seemed to contradict itself in several places throughout. You have the normal teenage torment with horrible happenings to the character that you would expect but it just doesn’t all mesh well together in this one in my opinion.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
Sink by M.E. Rhines blitz with giveaway
Sink
M.E. Rhines
(Mermaid Royalty #1)
Publication date: July 31st 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Obedience has always been a matter of survival for sixteen-year-old mermaid princess Pauline. Her mother is the tyrannical Queen Calypso, who rules the kingdom of Atargatis with an iron trident. To utter one word against her would mean banishment—or worse—so Pauline bites her tongue and minds her manners. But on the eve of her sister’s merling-shower, all of that is about to change. Confronted with the truth about what happens to the human men who are betrothed to the mermaids of Atargatis, Pauline realizes she can stay silent no more.
Determined to end the queen’s dark tradition, Pauline goes along on a search for shipwreck survivors, secretly planning to free them. But things get complicated when she finds herself inexplicably drawn to one of the men. Before she realizes what’s happening, she has kissed him—and a kiss from a mermaid is not without consequences. Now Pauline will have to risk everything if she is to save the young man and thwart the queen’s dark plans…
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EXCERPT:
My eyes widened, my heart hammering against my rib cage. A fear I didn’t understand tugged at my tailfin, like an anchor had been tied to its end. I sank against the wall of our pirated vessel and watched the chaos as it unfolded in slow motion.
Gene laughed at something my sister said just before it hit him. His smile fell in an instant as soon as the sudden deadening feeling pummeled into his chest. He dropped the plate and held out his hand. From my experience with Beaked Sea Snake, he was seeing double the fingers.
A fogginess washed over his eyes. He reached out for Fawna for just a second before his arms fell to his sides, limp and useless. Then, his human legs gave out from
under him. A loud crack sounded as his knees made impact with the hard floor of the ship.
When he finally fell backward, my sister stood over his paralyzed body with a shameless, cruel smirk that gave me the chills. My mother, hovering well above me, nodded her approval with a warm, glowing pride showing on her face.
I looked around, expecting to see the same shocked expression I wore among my clan. But not one jaw was dropped. Every one of them watched with tense, excited eyes. They looked like bloodthirsty demons from where I was sitting.
“Mother,” I whispered. “What’s going on?”
She didn’t hear me.
“My Queen,” someone shouted from below. “What are your orders?”
Mother took in a long, powerful breath and shouted, “Air him out.”
I gasped, disbelief shuddering through me. “Mother,” I screamed. “Mother, you can’t!”
My protests were drowned out by the unified battle cry that erupted from every member of our clan. Angelique dropped her guitar, dashing for Gene with two other mermaids close behind.
I rushed for him, but Mother grabbed my arm with bruising fingers.
“Let me go,” I demanded.
Even through the screeching cheers below, I could hear Mother’s teeth grinding. “Don’t make a scene.”
I stilled, having every intention to stay put and comply, as usual. But then, I caught a glimpse of Gene’s face. While his muscles were tight and immobile, his eyes were filled with a conscious terror. They pleaded with me from across the ship, begging me to save him.
Before I could stop myself, I twisted my arm out of Mother’s grasp and swam to him, hoping to talk some sense into my sister before she did something terrible.
It was no use. I couldn’t reach them. They had too much of a head start. All I could do was watch as they snatched the helpless human and dragged his lifeless body up, up, and up until…
Bubbles sprayed all around them as they held Gene’s head and neck above water, but kept their own gills safely submerged. Even if he had working legs to thrash and fight with, he would be outmatched. Our tails treaded water in a way a human’s boney appendages couldn’t come close to.
He was in our world, by no choice of his own. We brought him down here against his will, and now that he was a part of it, my mother was sending him back home to die.
The gills would not disappear. They would only struggle for a short while before giving up to the heat of the land above. Gene’s chest moved in and out, in faster but shallower spurts.
I kicked my tail harder. Just as he came into my reach, he took one final gulp of air from his own world, and the movement stopped.
Mother had killed him.
Author Bio:
ME Rhines a southwest Florida native currently living in North Port with her two beautiful children and a third, much larger child whom she affectionately calls husband.
She writes young adult paranormal romance to feed her belief that fairy tales are real and
nonsense is necessary.
She also writes adult romances under her edgier alter-ego, Mary Bernsen.
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Links by Lisa Becker blitz with giveaway
Links
Lisa Becker
Publication date: August 1st 2017
Genres: Adult, Romance
In high school, Charlotte Windham was a typical student going through an awkward phase — glasses and all. She harbored a crush on Garrett Stephens, the teen heartthrob everyone can’t help but fall for during that unfortunate ugly duckling phase of one’s teen years. Flash forward fifteen years later, and Charlotte and Garrett have a second chance encounter at a Los Angeles restaurant. However, this time around, Charlotte has leveled the playing field. She’s a bestselling novelist and no longer “Glasses,” the humiliating nickname Garrett called her in high school. In short, she’s a catch now and, thanks to corrective eye surgery, it’s not just her eyes that see better…so does her heart! Garrett hasn’t fared poorly either, transforming from teen heartbreaker to adult lothario. A now successful professional golfer, he’s recently suffered a major setback in the form of a possible career-ending injury. With the upper hand, can Charlotte forgive Garrett for his past ways, and for his more recent Don Juan lifestyle? Will she even want to? And, can Garrett change his ways for a second chance with Charlotte, who may just be the perfect fit for him?
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EXCERPT:
As I race to the restaurant, I scowl knowing Mom’s going to have my head. Actually, she’s probably used to it by now. I’m surprised they don’t give me fake arrival times knowing I’m always ten minutes behind.
I rush through the revolving door of the restaurant, through the bar, and smack into a woman. She brushes against my bum shoulder and the pain burns right through me. Minding the manners Mom hammered into me from a young age, I mutter, “Sorry,” when I’m honestly not. I look down and notice something familiar about her.
“Hi, Garrett,” she says, sharing a small smile. “It’s been a long time. How are you?”
“Um. I’m fine.” My brows furrow as I wrack my brain trying to figure out who the hell this woman is. She’s short, about five two and roughly my age. I glance down and notice full, round breasts, slightly wide hips and thick thighs. Not my usual type, so I’m pretty sure I haven’t slept with her. At least I don’t have to worry about that embarrassing scene. She’s got chocolate brown eyes, looking at me with warmth. “And…how are you?” Shaking my head I am still trying to place her.
“I’m doing well,” she replies, her smile growing.
“I’m glad to hear that,” I say, trying to be polite and end this awkward reunion that clearly has me clueless.
“Well…I guess I should go.” She turns back and waves to a woman sitting in a far booth of the restaurant. On further inspection, she’s waved to Lindsay, my sister, who of course made it to our family lunch on time. Seated with her are my parents, with Mom frowning at me and shaking her head. Like she didn’t expect I would be late. Marcus isn’t here yet either. Guess the twin thing really does run deep.
“You know Lindsay?” I ask her.
“Uh, yeah,” she says, with a small chuckle and a noticeable hint of sarcasm.
“My parents?”
“Of course,” she says, shaking her head slightly like it’s hitting her I have no damn clue who she is. Then she confirms my suspicions and just lays it on the line. “You don’t know who I am, do you?” Her eyes are alight with humor.
“Umm. I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage,” I splutter, rubbing my hand behind my neck — my tell — before flashing her my most charming, dimpled smile. Before she can respond, a lady in her mid-sixties with salt and pepper hair wearing an outfit appropriate for someone twenty years younger — but this is LA after all — walks over.
“Pardon the interruption,” she begins. “I would just be kicking myself if I got home and didn’t take advantage of telling you what a big fan I am.”
“Oh, thank you,” I say, turning on the faux charm I reserve for situations such as this.
“My husband and I loved your book.” The lady turns fully toward this mystery woman. “I wish I had it with me for you to sign. Maybe I could get your autograph on something else?” I cock my head to the side and watch Mystery Woman. She turns back toward the elderly lady and smiles sincerely.
“Sure. I’d be happy to sign something.”
The lady reaches into her oversized zebra-print bag and produces a pen and small notepad. She hands them to Mystery Woman and turns to me, smiling.
“Who should I make this out to?” asks Mystery Woman.
“Donna and Frank. Your dear friends, Donna and Frank.”
“My…dear…friends…Donna…and…Frank,” Mystery Woman murmurs aloud as she writes a note. Watching her autograph the note, I can’t help the grin spreading across my face. Once she finishes, Donna reads through the note, her eyes widening with delight.
“Thank you, Charley,” she says.
“My pleasure,” replies Charley — Charley? — who looks tickled.
“Charley?” I say, racking my brain to no avail.
“Yes,” replies Donna with pride. “You are standing with the brilliant novelist Charley Windham.” She turns back to Charley before walking away. “Thank you again, dear.”
“Charley Windham?”
“Uh-huh,” responds Charley, giving me a look like I should piece it together.
“Charley Windham. Why does that name sound so familiar?” I rub my hand on the back of my neck while Charley looks at me with amusement. “Wait, you’re Charley Windham. Who wrote The Crossing Guard?” Charley shakes her head and laughs.
“That’s me.” Charley giggles, unable to control the wide smile spreading across her face.
“Yes. Now I know. I read your book. In fact, everyone on the tour read it. You couldn’t walk around a locker room or airport terminal without seeing someone with it in their hands.”
“That’s nice to hear.” She grins at me with her head tilted and nodding her head slightly up and down, giving me the impression she’s waiting for me to say more.
“That explains who you are, and I get you would know who I am, but how do you know my family?”
“That is the question of the moment, isn’t it?” she says, smiling smugly.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Immensely.” She is grinning unabashedly.
Author Bio:
Lisa Becker is a romance writer whose previous novels include Click: An Online Love Story, Double Click and Right Click. The books, about a young woman’s search for love online in Los Angeles, have been called, “a fast read that will keep you entertained,” “a fun, quick read for fans of Sex and the City,” and “hard to put down.” The first in the series was optioned for a major motion picture.
Lisa’s writings about online dating have been featured in Cupid’s Pulse, GalTime.com, Single Edition, The Perfect Soulmate, Chick Lit Central and numerous other book blogs and websites.
As Lisa’s grandmother used to say, “For every chair, there’s a rush.” Lisa is now happily married to a man she met online and lives in Manhattan Beach with him and their two daughters. So, if it happened for her, there’s hope for anyone!
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / YouTube
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Cover Reveal: Whiskey-Eyed Woman by Aislinn Kearns
Whiskey-Eyed Woman
Aislinn Kearns
(Soldiering On #5)
Publication date: August 18th 2017
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense
The final Soldiering On book
They’ve been dancing around each other since they started Soldiering On. Now, Duncan and Mandy will have to work together if they are going to get out of this alive…
Former Sergeant Major Duncan Pierce has wanted Mandy since the moment they first met, but she deserves better than a beat up old soldier. Then, a bomb planted in their office goes off, and they narrowly escape the deadly situation with their lives. Faking their own death to buy some time, they are forced to hide out together while they plan to finally bring down the arch-enemy that has nearly destroyed them.
But in such close proximity, their powerful sexual chemistry is sure to combust…
Mandy’s sick of Duncan seeing her as the untouchable princess she’s not. When they arrive at the safe house, she’s determined to get him to see the real her. But first they have to deal with a man who wants them dead and buried, once and for all.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!
Book #1 in the series, Station Alpha, is on sale for just $0.99 right now!
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EXCERPT:
“There’s a slight issue with the sleeping arrangements,” Duncan told her as he leaned past her to flick the light in the living room off.
“What’s that?” she asked, sounding a little breathless even to her own ears. Moonlight filtered in through the gauzy curtain, weaving an intimate enchantment between them.
He leaned down, and for a brief moment, Mandy thought—hoped—he’d kiss her. Instead, he rubbed his thigh with a wince. He’d pushed his leg too hard today, with the long walk and crouching. She wondered how he’d react if she offered to massage it for him, then decided she wasn’t up to facing the rejection.
“There’s only one bed…” His eyes locked onto hers as he said the words, his gaze heating.
Now she really did lose her breath, as all of it left her in a rush. The images the simple words conjured, of the two of them sharing a bed and all that might entail, crowded her mind. The hot slide of their naked bodies, mingling breaths, mind-blowing pleasure. It overwhelmed her.
“…So I’m going to sleep on the couch,” he continued.
Mandy blinked as the words penetrated her brain. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she muttered. She glanced at the two-person couch, then his 6’4” frame. “You’ll never fit.”
“Nevertheless, I’m not letting you sleep in an uncomfortable place tonight.”
Mandy narrowed her eyes. Before she could think twice, she blurted out a suggestion. “We can share.”
Even in the dim light, with his dark skin, she could see him blanch. He stumbled back and away from her.
“That’s a terrible idea,” he told her bluntly.
“Why?” she asked.
She wanted him to say it, once and for all. Did he hate her? Did he want her? Some days she suspected it was both. But she wanted to be sure, so she could finally deal with these feelings she had for him, once and for all.
“I can’t…I just…No.”
“Then I’ll take the couch,” she said, setting her shoulders.
“No,” he said again, his eyes narrowing in challenge.
“Then we’re at a standoff.”
They eyed each other for a long moment.
Mandy shifted, wanting to win this battle, even if she didn’t actually want to share a bed with him. God knows what her subconscious would do in her sleep, but it would probably be incredibly inappropriate between work colleagues.
“I won’t touch you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
He choked, scandalised, and Mandy grinned.
“This is a terrible idea,” he muttered to himself. Victory was hers.
Author Bio:
Aislinn is an Aussie girl that loves to travel and see the world. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in English and History, which she loved, and then went on to do a Masters in an unrelated field. She now largely pretends that last degree never happened.
She is the author of the ‘Soldiering On’ books, a Romantic Suspense series featuring former military heroes and heroines. She enjoys reading, writing, travelling, watching action movies (particularly if they have a romance!), and fantasising about her future cottage in a forest. Now that she’s published, her next life dream is to own a dog.
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