Framed (Black Swan Investigations #1) Review

Title:  Framed
Series: Black Swan Investigations #1
Author:  Wayne A. D. Kerr
Genre:  Mystery/Thriller
Publisher:  Imajin Books
Release Date:  Nov. 15, 2017

My Rating:  3.5 Intense Hearts

*Many thanks to BookBuzz.net & Netgally for a copy of this book.

Synopsis:

Toronto’s newest homicide detective, Reggie Swann, seemed to have it all: great career, handsome husband and plans to start a family, until she was framed for murder…

A cop has very few friends in prison. After surviving ten brutal years behind bars, Reggie’s conviction is finally overturned thanks to her tenacious mother, a new forensic test and a very clever lawyer. She quickly discovers that getting her old life back won’t be as easy as she hoped. To many, she was still as the media had dubbed her: ‘Black Swann – murderer and cop-gone-bad’. The Toronto Police Department still considers her to be a suspect, Reggie’s husband has remarried and the real killer is still on the loose.

Before Reggie can return to Toronto and solve the crime that ruined her life, she reluctantly agrees to investigate a murder in her home town of Penticton, only to discover the two cases which are separated by ten years and five provinces might somehow be connected. Will anyone believe the wild theories of the disgraced detective?

The real murderer does!

He framed her once, this time Reggie Swann must die!

Review:

Former Toronto Homicide Detective Reggie Swann once had it all - a promising career, a loving husband, a bright future.  In spite of her proclaimed innocence, her murder conviction quickly changed all that as she now resides in prison, fighting to survive in the special hell reserved for incarcerated former cops who are hated by inmates and guards alike.  Over eight long years later, Reggie (aka The Black Swann) is released on a "technicality" and soon discovers you can never really go home again.  Especially when most people still consider you to be the murderess Black Swann.  When a local woman goes missing, leaving behind evidence that indicates her husband killed her, Reggie is brought into the case as an investigator by Erika, a lawyer hoping to prove the husband was framed.  The two women are joined by Hannah, a cop trying to find her place in a world ruled by men.  Through the investigation of these three women, pieces of a darker, more sinister story unravels and threads linking the missing woman to several past cases reveals a possible tie to what happened to Reggie.  Will these women discover the serial killer's identity before he takes someone else?

Framed is an intense, riveting mystery/thriller.  From page one, I found myself intrigued by Reggie's story, quickly flipping pages to find out where her journey would end.  The plot maneuvers through a few twists and although I found some of them predictable, the intense pace, though sporadic at times, kept me reading.  The author does a nice job introducing characters and building connections and relationships.  Readers will find themselves pulling for them to succeed.  While it wasn't hard to figure out the villain's identity by about the halfway point, the story held my attention right up until the big climax.  At this point, it all derails somewhat for me as the story suddenly seems to become a sprint for the end with scenes that seem too rushed, over-the-top, and unbelievable, giving an otherwise great story a rather implausible ending in my opinion.  I would have liked for the author to take more time letting this part of the story play out in a more realistic, detailed manner.  Having said that, Framed is a solid mystery/thriller that readers will enjoy with the potential for following books to be great!  A Must Read!

My Rating:  3.5 Intense Hearts . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra

IWSG: What's The Plan?

Happy New Year Everyone!  January 3, 2018!  Can you believe it?  The new year always feels like a time for new beginnings and second chances.  A time when everything's fresh, and anything is possible!  It's a time for making resolutions and promises and vowing to stick with a plan or schedule.

Writing tops my 2018 Must-Do List.  How I plan to schedule that leads to this month's IWSG question:  What steps have you taken to put a schedule in place for your writing and publishing?  

First off, no resolutions for me this year.  I'm not setting myself up for disappointment in a couple of weeks or months when I've fallen off the bandwagon once again.  Yeah, a quick reality check reminds me I'm probably not going to stick to a strict diet or exercise plan, but I'm taking steps that I hope lead to a healthier lifestyle. 

I am committing to a more diligent writing schedule by blocking off time on my calendar on a consistent basis (with just a little wiggle room).  It means reiterating to family members that I'm not available during those blocks of time for anything less than a catastrophe involving fire, blood, or zombies ( and no, "I'm starving" doesn't constitute a catastrophe).  It means slaying the giant time-eater called "social media" to save myself from being sucked down that bottomless rabbit hole yet again only to wake up hours later wondering where the time went!  It means making writing a real priority and treating it like a job.  Not the dirty four-letter-word kind of job many grudgingly head to each morning, but rather the dream job that will move me forward on my journey to publication.  It means admitting that it's all up to one person - ME!


So, I know it's time to put up or shut up!  No more procrastination.  No more excuses.  No more wasting precious time.  It's now or never for me.  Like most everyone, my schedule is full, but if I trim the "fat", I'll find plenty of opportunities to write.  Let the fun and scheduling begin!

How about you?  What steps have you taken to put a schedule in place for your writing and publishing? 

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is a community of writers who share ideas and encourage other writers. It's a great place to express doubts and concerns as well as offer and receive tribulations and guidance from other writers. IWSG posts the first Wednesday of every month. I think you'll find it to be a great writer's resource that's well worth your time. Be sure to stop by and visit with some of the other IWSG writers/bloggers at IWSG Members.

Join me in thanking this month's awesome co-hosts:  Tyrean Martinson, The Cynical Sailor, Megan Morgan, Rachna Chhabria, and Jennifer Lane.

IWSG: Looking For A Do-Over?

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is a community of writers who share ideas and encourage other writers. It's a great place to express doubts and concerns as well as offer and receive tribulations and guidance from other writers. IWSG posts the first Wednesday of every month. I think you'll find it to be a great writer's resource that's well worth your time. Be sure to stop by and visit with some of the other IWSG writers/bloggers at IWSG Members.

Join me in thanking this month's awesome co-hosts:  Julie Flanders, Shannon Lawrence, Fundy Blue, and Heather Gardner!

IWSG Question:  As you look back on 2017, with all its successes and failures, if you could backtrack, what would you do differently?

December 6, 2017! Where has the year gone?! It freaks me out to think about how fast time flies!  Is it just a "getting older" thing?  Does everyone feel that way?

So the question is what would I do differently if I could press a magical "Do-Over button" and get another shot at some things listed in my "failure" column for 2017?  How much time do you have?

Seriously, it ain't rocket science . . . it has to be the illusive time management for me - in both my personal and writing life.  The hours, days, weeks, and months have a way of slipping away, leaving me wondering where in the world did my time go?  I end a day or week or month thinking I should have gotten this done or that completed.  I should have written another page or chapter . . . why didn't I?  What stopped me?  

I hate to admit it, but poor time management bears some of the blame.  That's on me.  I schedule writing time as well as other things (I'm a planner, a scheduler - my calendar and to-do list are my friends!) - but I've come to realize I allow too many interruptions to waylay me.  Sometimes, it's my own doing . . . sometimes, not (why does my hubby only want to "talk" or ask questions or want something when I'm writing?)  And once I'm pulled out of my writing world, it's too easy to "do just one more thing" before returning to work.  By then, I've lost my momentum as my thought-train has been hijacked, and my creative juices drained.

So needless to say, Time Management is a monumental priority for me in 2018!  And it's one thing I wish I could push the Do-Over Button for in 2017!  Fingers crossed I'll get a better handle on it in the coming year!

There's also one other thing that bears mentioning . . . something I feel I don't take time to do often enough and that's Counting My Blessings.  Those of us with family, friends, a safe, warm home and plenty to eat need to count and share our blessings every single day.  Let's share the kindness and love!

How did your successes and failures stack up in 2017?  Anyone need a Do-Over Button?

Twisted Truths Review

Title:  Twisted Truths
Series:  Blood Brothers #3
Author:  Rebecca Zanetti
Publisher:  Forever
Release Date:  Nov. 14, 2017
Buy Link:  Amazon

My Rating:  5 Action-Packed Hearts

*Many thanks to the publisher and Netgally for an arc of this book.

Synopsis:

You can't escape the past . . .Noni is desperate. Her infant niece has been kidnapped, and the only person who can save her is a private detective with too many secrets to count--and more enemies than he can name. A man who walked away from Noni without any warning a year ago, a man who broke her heart. But with Talia's life on the line, Noni needs his help now more than ever--and this time, she won't take no for an answer . . .

The moment Denver Jones sees Noni, the memories come rushing back. The fire in her eyes. The determination in her voice. The danger of having her in his life. Denver had to push her away once, but now with vicious criminals threatening Noni and her niece, he'll do whatever it takes to protect them. But enemies from his past are circling, and they'll use anything--and anyone--to get to Denver.


Review:
Twisted Truths is the final book in the Blood Brothers Trilogy, and Zanetti definitely saved the best for last!  Intense, fast-paced action and cover-to-cover suspense kept me burning through the pages of this book.  Not only does it bring the Blood Brothers series to an end, it also reels in demons that have haunted and hunted the Sin Brothers also, thereby closing a story arc that encompassed both series.  The author brilliantly wove all the threads together and brought in all the guys to once and for all put their demons to rest.  I loved it!

Finally, in Twisted Truths, Denver's and Noni's story plays out when Noni's dead sister's baby is kidnapped, and she reaches out to Denver for help in finding her.  In doing so, she plasters his picture all over the internet and unknowingly brings his worse nightmare to life when he and his brothers are once again placed in the crosshairs of Sheriff Cobb and Dr. Madison.  Only this time, they can't ghost out of the picture without first finding the kidnapped baby.  When everything blows up in their faces, they have no choice but to call for backup from the Sin Brothers.  

Twisted Truths is high octane, heart-racing action all the way through.  And woven into the drama is the passionate reuniting of Denver and Noni.  Their undeniable, sizzling chemistry and steamy desires ignite the pages, setting the stage for a beautiful, emotional second-chance romance.  A strong, convoluted support cast takes this story to another level as deadly battles rage between the forces of good and evil.  Zanetti takes this one home with a bang!  Fans of the Sins Brothers and the Blood Brothers will not want to miss this one! (Be sure to read the series in order to avoid spoilers.)  A brilliant ending to a fantastic series!  A Must Read!

My Rating:  5 Action-Packed Hearts . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra

Midnight Labyrinth Review

Title:  Midnight Labyrinth
Series:  Elemental Legacy #4
Author:  Elizabeth Hunter
Release Date:  Nov. 7, 2017
Buy Link:  Amazon

My Rating:  4 Mysterious ♥'s

*Many thanks to the author for an arc copy of this book.

Synopsis:

He’s one human caught in a tangled maze of theft, politics, magic, and blood.
 In other words, it’s just another night.


Benjamin Vecchio escaped a chaotic childhood and grew to adulthood under the protection and training of one of the Elemental world’s most feared vampire assassins. He’s traveled the world and battled immortal enemies.


But everyone has to go home sometime.


New York means new opportunities and allies for Ben and his vampire partner, Tenzin. It also means new politics and new threats. Their antiquities business is taking off, and their client list is growing. When Ben is challenged to find a painting lost since the second world war, he jumps at the chance. This job will keep him closer to home, but it might just land him in hot water with the insular clan of earth vampires who run Manhattan.


Tenzin knew the painting would be trouble before she laid eyes on it, but she can’t deny the challenge intrigues her. Human laws mean little to a vampire with a few millennia behind her, and Tenzin misses the rush of taking what isn’t hers.


But nothing is more dangerous than a human with half the story, and Ben and Tenzin might end up risking their reputations and their lives before they escape the Midnight Labyrinth.


Review:

Midnight Labyrinth  delivers everything readers have come to expect from Elizabeth Hunter in one inviting package - unique characters, mystery, intrigue, snarky humor, adventure, slow-burn romance - all rolled into one fantastic read!   Readers have been waiting for more of Ben and Tenzin, and Hunter delivers in this one. 

Ben and Tenzin are back in New York and running an antiquities business when Ben runs into an old girlfriend, Chloe, at an art gallery.  Reconnecting with her throws Ben for a bit of a loop as he struggles through an identity crisis.  Ben is hooked by the mystery surrounding a missing painting, The Midnight Labyrinth, and decides to take on the job of finding it.  Tenzin warns that it will only bring trouble, but she's in, of course, with all her usual antics.    I'm not going into the storyline beyond that to avoid spoilers, but will say you don't want to miss their journey!

Midnight Labyrinth is an intriguing, mystery-driven story that kept me on the edge of my seat.  But the thing that stands out most to me is the character and character relationship development. Ben and Tenzin's relationship is ever evolving and fascinating to watch.  Add a blended support cast of unique, multi-faceted new and old characters and you've got a story that's intriguing, mysterious, and yet, at times, hilarious.  Hunter's ability to flawlessly weave history into plot lines has never been more evident.  Her flowing, poetic writing style brings scenes and characters to vivid, living, breathing life.  No one does it better.  Throw in a budding romance, a slow-burn romance, and a swoon-worthy hunk in a kilt, and you've got a Must Read!

My Rating:  4 Mysterious ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra

Year One Review

Title:  Year One
Series:  Chronicles of the One
Author:  Nora Roberts
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Release Date:  Nov. 7, 2017
Preorder Link:  Amazon

My Rating:  4 Promising ♥'s

*Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for an arc of this book.

Synopsis:

It began on New Year’s Eve.

The sickness came on suddenly, and spread quickly. The fear spread even faster. Within weeks, everything people counted on began to fail them. The electrical grid sputtered; law and government collapsed—and more than half of the world’s population was decimated.

Where there had been order, there was now chaos. And as the power of science and technology receded, magic rose up in its place. Some of it is good, like the witchcraft worked by Lana Bingham, practicing in the loft apartment she shares with her lover, Max. Some of it is unimaginably evil, and it can lurk anywhere, around a corner, in fetid tunnels beneath the river—or in the ones you know and love the most.

As word spreads that neither the immune nor the gifted are safe from the authorities who patrol the ravaged streets, and with nothing left to count on but each other, Lana and Max make their way out of a wrecked New York City. At the same time, other travelers are heading west too, into a new frontier. Chuck, a tech genius trying to hack his way through a world gone offline. Arlys, a journalist who has lost her audience but uses pen and paper to record the truth. Fred, her young colleague, possessed of burgeoning abilities and an optimism that seems out of place in this bleak landscape. And Rachel and Jonah, a resourceful doctor and a paramedic who fend off despair with their determination to keep a young mother and three infants in their care alive.

In a world of survivors where every stranger encountered could be either a savage or a savior, none of them knows exactly where they are heading, or why. But a purpose awaits them that will shape their lives and the lives of all those who remain.

The end has come. The beginning comes next. 

Review:

Nora Roberts is one of my favorite go-to authors - one I can count on for a great read in various genres.  I discovered her writing years ago, starting with her first book in the Irish Legacy Series and reading my way through her extensive book list written as both Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb. I've enjoyed them all.  When I heard the news Nora was stepping out of the box and venturing off in a new direction, I experienced a tingle of excitement and anticipation.  An end-of-the-world as we know it fantasy saga from Nora Roberts?  Yes please!  I couldn't wait to see what she'd come up with.  Having just read an arc copy of Year One, I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed.

Year One opens with a happy family gathering on New Year's Eve.  And yet, amidst the celebration, something's not right.  A premonition of something dark and evil invades the atmosphere, leaving an air of anxiety, of impending doom.  A family member falls ill, then another and another.  The uncontrollable sickness spreads like rabid wildfire, consuming families, neighborhoods, towns, cities, countries quickly leading to a global crisis and widespread panic.  While a large part of the earth's population is wiped out, there are pockets of unique survivors who come out of the darkness and make their way toward the west, looking for answers, purpose, safety, and a new beginning.  A story of loss and survival, despair and hope, good vs. evil, this is their journey - one in which they will discover the best and worst in other people, the power and magick within themselves, and the undeniable human desire for survival.  I won't go into any story details beyond what is revealed in the blurb as this is a journey you'll want to take for yourself.  

One of the things I've always loved and consistently found in Nora Roberts' stories is strong character and character relationship development.  This author excels at introducing a variety of characters, showcasing their strengths and weaknesses, and setting them on an often difficult journey of self-discovery and survival.  Year One is no different in that aspect.  Characters from all walks of life are introduced and challenged with a near impossible task - surviving in a world gone mad.  The horrors of death and devastation surround them as the darkness seizes control.  The odds of survival are nearly insurmountable, and danger lurks around every corner . . . even disguised as trusted loved ones.  And yet through it all, there's always a sense of hope, of finding the light, of discovery of something "more".  And that's the feeling I was left with upon finishing this story.  A feeling of promise and hope for the survival of goodness over evil, light over dark, and love over hate . . . hope for the survival of mankind in an apocalyptic world.

Year One brilliantly sets the stage for the second book in the Chronicles of One series which can't come soon enough.  The shell-shocked cast of characters have set out on the journey of a lifetime, charged with the monumental task of survival while battling unknown forces of evil.  In true Nora Roberts style, the plot line picks up each character's story, follows their journey, and eventually intertwines them all into one tightly woven yet unique tapestry.  Vivid imagery is prevalent, bringing each scene to life by engaging all five senses - sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch - leaping off the page, pulling readers fighting and kicking into this apocalyptic world.  An epic tale of survival, Year One is an intense, breathtaking, blockbuster story that would explode across the big screen!  Kudos for following your light, Nora Roberts!  I can't wait for more!  A Must Read!

My Rating:  4 Promising ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra

IWSG: Making A Difference...

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is a community of writers who share ideas and encourage other writers. It's a great place to express doubts and concerns as well as offer and receive tribulations and guidance from other writers. IWSG posts the first Wednesday of every month. I think you'll find it to be a great writer's resource that's well worth your time. Be sure to stop by and visit with some of the other IWSG writers/bloggers at IWSG Members.

Join me in thanking this month's awesome co-hosts: Tonja Drecker, Diane Burton,  MJ Fifield, and Rebecca Douglass!

It's November 1st!!  What an incredibly short year 2017 has been.  Surely, the powers that be shaved some days off each month . . . it's the only explanation for it being only three weeks until Thanksgiving.

As the holidays and end of year rapidly approach, my mind turns to projects - ones completed, most with a sense of satisfaction, and ones uncompleted, leaving me with a growing sense of frustration and urgency over unreached 2017 writing goals.  Not long ago, a shadow of gloom and doom descended, and I threw myself a little self-indulgent "pity party"!  I allowed negativity to taunt me, filling my head with self-defeating thoughts like: "You may as well give up . . .

You aren't good enough, smart enough . . . you'll never finish, why bother trying?  I can honestly say if it wasn't for the timely, encouraging words from a fellow writer, mentor, friend, and respected author, I might have allowed the negativity to win.  Instead, the fact that one person, one author, took time out of her busy life to share encouraging words, including personal writing experiences, reignited my belief in myself and my writing ability.  It was the boost, and the kick in the butt, that I needed at that moment in time, and I'm happy to say it helped me bring my pity party to an end.  I rose to the challenge and started scheduling, writing, and checking projects off my list once again.  Some meet my expectations, some don't.  Some show promise, some don't.  Some are filed away in that file we all have for projects that don't meet expectations - where they deserve to be.  Either way, one person made a difference and reignited a spark.  (Thank you, Nancy!)

Never, ever underestimate the value of a kind, encouraging word to a fellow writer.  Yours may be the voice that makes the difference to one writer struggling to find their place and way in this writer's world we all share.  It costs nothing but a little time, and while that's precious to us all, the rewards are tenfold to both the giver and recipient of the advice and encouraging words. 

If you're struggling, seek out fellow writers and support groups like the Insecure Writer's Support Group.  You'll find a beautiful mix of both beginning and seasoned writers willing to share and accept advice - a place for receiving and lending a helping hand.  Hopefully, it'll make a difference in your life as it has mine.

Question of the month:  Win or lose, do you usually finish your NaNo project?  Have any of them gone on to be published?

I've never participated in NaNo.  I'm a firm believer in never saying never, but I don't think it's for me.  However, I greatly admire those who are brave enough to jump in and go for it.  Congratulations to all participants - you're all winners.