Prick

Prick By DL Hammons
Publication date: December 12, 2023
Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Suspense, Thriller, Young Adult
Summary:

People are dying under mysterious circumstances in the small town of New Haven. And the city’s best hope of uncovering the truth rests with a troubled teen and the girl who can’t stand him.

Cassie Underwood’s life is shattered when her younger sister dies in a freak car accident. In her grief, Cassie unfairly blames her sister’s constant companion—Taggart McGill—a boy with a sketchy past and abrasive personality. As Cassie attempts to recover from the loss, she struggles to honor her late sister’s memory by befriending the person she resents most.

Things get complicated when Cassie overhears a fellow student asking Taggart to convince the police another death in the accident had nothing to do with the crash at all. Taggart surprisingly agrees and a suspicious Cassie decides to accompany him in his snooping. 

She soon learns everything she knows about Taggart is wrong… and he has insight into things that link the car accident to other suspicious deaths in their close-knit community.

Now it seems there’s only one thing keeping Cassie’s name off the growing list of victims—finding out who Taggart McGill really is.

—

EXCERPT:

“Didn’t my sister ever tell you that the way you dress is a bit clichéd? I mean, look at you. The isolated loner, the social outcast, in a dark hoodie? Really?”

I wasn’t sure what changed, maybe something in his posture, but he seemed to soften.

As The Secrets Turn (My Darkest Secret, #3)

As The Secrets Turn (My Darkest Secret, #3) By B. Truly
Publication date: January 17, 2023
Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Romance, Suspense, Young Adult
Summary:

When we collided, it turned into beautiful chaos.

I am patient and kind. I do not envy or boast.
He is not proud or rude. He is not easily angered and always protects. 

I am not self-seeking and he does not delight in evil.
We define the essence of Love.

In life’s beauty, there are also challenges as the world turns. 

Justin and I have overcome a multitude of struggles, starting with his vindictive brother. When I fought for prosecution, I became a pawn in his brother’s game, but I prevailed.

The shockwaves of ridicule didn’t engulf us—they only made us stronger. The center point is knowing that what Justin and I share is real.
Over the last year, we’ve been in the calm of our life. The key to weathering through tremendous obstacles is to find a balance between the good and the terrible. I discover family who can never seem to be happy for you, and deceit that isn’t mine to share. A surge of turbulence is thrown in our path as we attempt to make it to the altar. Saying ‘I do’ may not be in our future. Is fate trying to show us that our love isn’t meant to be?

A family member disappears, and someone must know of her whereabouts. When it turns out the only person who has a clue is my daughter, it puts a horrific spin on the situation. How can my daughter be involved or know the things that she does?
As the tides rise to threaten us, our fate hangs in the balance. How our journey ends on the other side of the tempest, is yet to be told.

This novel can be read as a stand-alone.
Books 1 and 2 do not have to be read first.

As the deceit turns, it unravels into a spectacle of mystery that will evoke the question of existence. Buckle your seatbelts for the captivating conclusion to Madison’s journey.

Recommended for 16+ due to mature themes, including drugs, sexual content, disturbing situations, and mild language.
If you’re not a fan of forbidden romance, then this might not be the book for you.

—

BOOK TRAILER:

Awakening

Awakening By Poppy Williams
Publication date: April 28th 2021
Genres: Suspense, Thriller, Young Adult

Buy Link: Amazon

Every Hero Has a Beginning

Raised by parents who work deep within the U.S. intelligence agency, Zoe Dixon has picked up a few skills along the way.

When her family moves to a new town, Zoe thinks it’s business as usual. But that all changes when a student turns up dead at her new school. Now, after years of keeping a low profile, Zoe has to decide whether she’ll step out of the shadows and use her skills for good.

As she digs deeper, she’ll uncover shocking truths that will change the course of her life forever.

Awakening is book one in the Zoe Dixon Saga. Fans of Marvel’s Black Widow, J.J. Abrams Alias, and Hit-Girl from Kick-Ass, will love this young adult action-packed suspense thriller.

—

EXCERPT:

Zoe quickly washed her face and laced up her shoes before heading down the stairs. She turned right, passing the den, and made her way towards the door underneath the stairs. It was made of solid metal. She reached out, placing her palm against the wood grain to the right side of the door. She could feel the coolness of the hidden scanner that was nestled underneath a thin layer of wood. 

It scanned her prints, and then a small panel slid open, revealing a keypad. Zoe’s fingers moved quickly as she typed in the eighteen-digit code from memory. The code was random, and her father changed it every three days. She heard the lock click and watched as the door slid open. She stepped in and hurried down the stairs as the door closed behind her.

At the bottom of the stairs was a short hallway that led towards the main room, where the walls and floors were covered in dark gray mats. She found Mia sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room, waiting.

Book Blitz: Spin

Spin By K.J. Farnham
Publication date: April 11, 2019
Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Suspense, Young Adult
Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Jenna Kemp is a typical high school girl, complete with a loyal group of friends and a seemingly understanding boyfriend. 

But when the demons from Jenna’s childhood resurface, she’s suddenly spinning out of control–drinking, partying–anything to numb the pain of the past. 

After distancing herself from her friends and befriending an outcast, her friends and family start questioning and judging her choices. 

But when Jenna doesn’t come home one night, her friends and family realize it’s more than just adolescent rebellion. Jenna’s mysterious disappearance proves that there’s more on the line than they realized. 

As they sift through a series of her personal diaries, the truth becomes terrifying. Will Jenna’s final diary entry reveal the greatest mystery of all–her whereabouts?

—

EXCERPT:

Bonnie Kemp

I take a deep, cleansing breath as I grip the knob of Jenna’s bedroom door. It’s been thirteen days since I was last in there—a record since bringing her home from the hospital and laying her in her bassinet sixteen years ago.

“Quick in and out, Lulu. Okay?” I ask, glancing down at Jenna’s dog. Every few days, the black lab incessantly whines and scratches where the door meets the floor, eager to enter her beloved owner’s room. Today happens to be one of those days.

As soon as I open the door a crack, Lulu bolts inside, causing me to lose my grip on the knob and forcing the door to fly wide open. The energetic dog quickly gets to work sniffing every square inch of Jenna’s room, as if searching for clues that might reveal her whereabouts.

Book Blitz: The Sixth Event

The Sixth Event by Kristen Morie Osisek
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction, Romantic Suspense
Release Date: May 13, 2016
Buy Link: Amazon
Summary:

During Raquel's first semester of college, she witnesses the end of the world, only to wake up in her old room at her parents' house two years in the past. 

Even worse, it seems she's the only one who remembers—until Chris Lyley, a boy Raquel always thought was a loser, tells her he remembers the catastrophe. 

Before long, they both discover new abilities. They're able to understand any language and teleport through time and space.  

If Raquel and Chris can figure out what caused the end of their world, maybe they can stop it.

My heart pounded as my white ceiling greeted me when I opened my eyes.

 I blinked frantically, the vision of the rock hitting me still fresh in my mind, the instantaneous crushing sensation throughout my body fading to a dull, residual mental ache. Fear crashed and faded in a wave of relief when it all resolved into the deep blackness of my dorm room.

That had been one hell of a dream.

I narrowed my eyes, still staring up at the ceiling. My dorm ceiling was gray, not white.

I sat up and turned to the left expecting the glaring green glow of my digital clock. Instead, I was greeted with the dim shape of a dresser, outlined in the rosy hue of a rising sun.

My pink and white dresser at my parent’s house.

Shock spread through me, sending tingles down to my toes. My bedroom was coming into view, not my dorm room.

Cover Reveal: Paint My Body Red

YA Bound Promotional Event:

Paint My Body Red by Heidi R. Kling
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Suspense, Romance
Release Date: November 2, 2015
Book Description:

They think I'll be number seven. Unlucky number seven.

Dead teenager number seven. With the rash of suicides at my school, I've been shipped off to my dad's Wyoming ranch for “my own safety.” My mom worries I'll be next—another depressed teenager whose blood will end up on the train tracks. But she doesn't know my secrets...or what I did.

Review: Before They Find Us

Before They Find Us by Michelle A. Hansen
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Thriller
Release Date: November 2013
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Barnes and Noble

Book Description:

I’m going to make you wish you were dead. Just a text. Seventeen-year-old Rebecca Hales tries not to worry. Probably a wrong number. 

Not really meant for her, and definitely not related to the crime she witnessed six years ago. Right? Then two states away, a bomb goes off in her best friend's locker. Soon Ryan is labeled a terrorist and runs to the safest place he knows—Rebecca’s house in small-town Wyoming. 

It doesn’t take long for the FBI to show up asking questions. Rebecca lies, of course, and says she hasn’t seen him. Now she's neck-deep in it with him, whatever "it" is. The only way out is to return to Vegas, where Ryan is a wanted man. The city of lies and illusion tests Rebecca’s wits as she struggles to find the person who framed Ryan and why. 

Is Rebecca’s text linked to the bombing? And what does it have to do with a six year old murder? Rebecca needs to find out before she loses Ryan—and her own life.

♥ ♥ ♥
"Before They Find Us" by Michelle A. Hansen was one of those books that I literally could not put down. It was such a page turner that I was up until two in the morning because I was determined to finish it and see the end of Rebecca and Ryan's journey before I went to bed.

The book starts off with a Prologue that seems out of place, until you realize who the characters were and what they were planning. Starting the book this way shows the reader that there is an elaborate plan about to go down, and our main characters are going to be at the heart of it. We are clued in right away to the fact that this is going to be a book with some twists and turns that will leave us at the edge of our seat.

I really enjoyed the main character, Rebecca. The main story was told in her point of view, and Hansen did a great job of making a well rounded character out of her. She has suffered from nightmares since she witnessed something traumatic when she was younger (and is still living with some of the repercussions), but that doesn't turn her into a complete basket case.

Book Blitz: EKHO: Evil Kid Hunting Organization

EKHO: Evil Kid Hunting Organization by Marie D. Jones
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Suspense
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Book Depository ♥ B & N

Book Description:

Ten-year-old Elvis Jones is tired of being picked on, taunted, and teased by the bullies at his elementary school, so he does what any smart, technologically brilliant kid his age would do: he creates EKHO, the Evil Kid Hunting Organization, a sophisticated network of kid spies and secret agents that utilize a variety of cool gadgets to stay one step ahead of the enemy – the bullies. 

They hire kids, make them swear allegiance to the organization, and train them as Commandos, Privates, and Elite Spies. As kids rise through the ranks, the missions, posted on an encrypted EKHO website, require more smarts and skill, especially when the bullies form their own counterspy group called DEKE (Destroy EKHO Kids Everywhere).

It’s all in good fun, until the kids of EKHO must put their pretend skills to use for far more serious, and dangerous, missions. As field agents come across evidence of more sinister forces, they now have to deal with the strange, weird, and the unknown as they look for the truth about the bizarre and creepy threats to their school, their families, and their own lives. 

They experience betrayal, intrigue, infiltration and counter-espionage as well as teachers and adults who act more mysterious with each passing day, which leaves Elvis and his EKHO team wondering: who can you trust when the person standing next to you might not be entirely human?

♥ ♥ ♥
Giveaway:

Review: Hysteria

Hysteria by Megan Miranda
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Young Adult: Psychological Thriller
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Book Depository

Book Description:

Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past. But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others.

In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.

♥ ♥ ♥
This book was a fascinating read. I’ve read a lot of negative reviews about it, and while I can kind of see where the other reviewers are coming from with some of their statements, I actually did like this novel. Maybe, though, I didn’t like it for the right reasons. Let me preface the rest of this review by stating that I work at a domestic violence shelter, so I’m extremely familiar with the cycle of violence.

Review: The Game

The Game by Shane Scollins
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Thriller, Suspense
Release Date: March 13, 2013
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

No matter where you are, they’ll find you, and put you in “The Game”.

Candice Laguna’s life is being systematically dismantled, by an unknown force, for a reason she can’t imagine. But she is about to become the unwilling star of a reality game competition the likes of which has never been broadcast to the world.

Just when things get darkest, a mysterious man snatches her from the grips of doom. He is a man who is not what he appears, and not who he says. He has no name and his motivation to help Candice is not what it seems to be.

The Game is a mystery/thriller with an unpredictable paranormal twist. It has action and adventure and plays up the everyday exploitation of reality television obsession gone wrong.

♥ ♥ ♥

Typically I enjoy books that have somewhat of a romance angle in them and while The Game did eventually end up having some unexpected romance, it was mostly a physiological thriller with a dash of paranormal element in it. And I loved every second of it. Shane Scollins is a God. No for real, I loved this story so much.

The plot centers around Candice Laguna and how her life is destroyed by a group of people who want her to be a part of the game. I don’t want to give away too much about what the game in the story is, but if I had to classify it I would say its The Hunger Games meets Awaken (Katie Kacvinsky).

Promotional Event: The Game

The Game by Shane Scollins
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Thriller, Suspense
Release Date: March 13, 2013
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

No matter where you are, they’ll find you, and put you in “The Game”.

Candice Laguna’s life is being systematically dismantled, by an unknown force, for a reason she can’t imagine. But she is about to become the unwilling star of a reality game competition the likes of which has never been broadcast to the world.

Just when things get darkest, a mysterious man snatches her from the grips of doom. He is a man who is not what he appears, and not who he says. He has no name and his motivation to help Candice is not what it seems to be.

The Game is a mystery/thriller with an unpredictable paranormal twist. It has action and adventure and plays up the everyday exploitation of reality television obsession gone wrong.

♥ ♥ ♥
Excerpt:

Candice tossed her bag on the wood chair by the door and kicked off her shoes. A part of her expected the phone to ring just before it did. The logical part of her mind screamed at her, just let it ring, or unplug the phone. But some sense of morbid curiosity dug at her spine.

She picked up the phone but didn’t say anything. She expected the voice of the little girl again, but that’s not what she heard. This time it was a man, an old man.

“Hello, Candice. Why didn’t you talk to me at the bar, when I called you earlier?”

She was confused yet again. “Who the hell is this?”