When a Stranger Comes… by Karen S. Bell

When a Stranger Comes… by Karen S. Bell 

Synopsis:

2018 Readers’ Favorite Bronze Medal Winner!

A GRIPPING PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER FOR FANS OF KING AND KOONTZ!

“RIVETING”–Kirkus Reviews

What price would you pay for success?

A lightning bolt out-of the blue on an otherwise sunny afternoon, transports author Alexa Wainwright to an alternate universe where the characters from her novels are given the breadth of life. Having just made a vow that she would do whatever it took to once again achieve the international acclaim of her debut novel, Alexa doesn’t realize how ominously that vow would be tested. In this altered reality, she is introduced to media mogul King Blakemore who offers her an extremely lucrative book contract with guarantees that her work will become a best-selling blockbuster. Given his appearance, odd mannerisms, and aura of evil Alexa wonders if King Blakemore might be the Devil himself.

At first, she shrugs off her doubts about this peculiar publisher and very lucrative book deal offer because the temptation of riches and refound fame is too strong. But all too soon, Alexa realizes she’s trapped in an underworld of evil from which she desperately wants to escape. Her iron-clad book contract changes its wording whenever she thinks of a loophole, and King always seems one step ahead of her. Desperate to get her life back, she devises schemes to untether herself from this hellish existence to no avail. She laments the old adage, Be careful what you wish for.

Buy this book if you’re a reader who loves a page-turning, heart-stopping, psychological thriller with some magical realism thrown in.

Book Review:

When A Stranger Comes by Karen S. Bell is a riveting, must read psychological thriller with an original gripping plot and heart-pounding storyline and premise.

Author Alexa Wainwright wants nothing more than for her new novel to be a bestseller and regain her renowned international status that her debut novel once gave her. Thrown into an alternate reality, Alexa makes a deal with a bizarre publisher who promises her fortune and fame with her new novel. Despite her resistance and doubts about this strange acting and looking CEO of Trinity of Sixes, Alexa can’t resist the idea of her new book becoming a hit and somehow, unknowingly, signs the contract (a deal with the devil?) and gets herself into a deep trap of evil which she must escape. Her greed and desire drags her down into a dangerous evil world of psychological and twisted reality and into an inescapable nightmare.

When a Stranger Comes by Karen S Bell is filled with mysterious, thrilling and complicated psychological scenarios. The reader will be delighted, engaged and riveted while guessing what’s real and what’s not. The author takes the reader on a ride of twists and turns with every turn of the page. Reality blends with an imaginative, brilliantly conjured-up and well-written altered reality in this one-of-a-kind psychological thriller. A compelling read with a paranormal slant, Karen Bellpulls it all together with a clever storyline which takes readers on a journey they won’t forget. Be careful what you wish for and greed are aptly defined as the protagonist soon finds out. We discover that fame and fortune can be dangerous and is not for everyone. The characters are great and well developed, as I totally related to them and felt like I knew them.

When A Stranger Come by Karen S. Bell is a fabulous book and one that is original and different with is orderly dreamy plot and engaging storyline. Chick Lit Cafe recommends this fantastical, literary tale to all psychological thriller readers and beyond.

Purchase When A Stranger Come by Karen S. Bell today!

Into the Lyons Den by Donni De-Ville

Synopsis:

Story set in England, based on some exaggerated true life events and emotional experiences of the author.
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Instead of a flowery romance, Viv, the main character, encounters far more than she could ever have bargained for, or deserved. The reader will go through all the gamut of emotions with the 3D characters, and enjoy the strong story-line all the way through the book. The ending is un-anticipated and you would have to be made of stone not to be deeply moved.

Viv, still heartbroken about Lawrence, a man whom she fell deeply for previously, is still getting over a nasty divorce from the man she married to get over the memory. She becomes a member of a dating agency, when her pent up emotions rise, as she becomes attracted to the owner of the agency. Viv then falls for two very different men. One who fills a woman’s every desire, but in choosing him, life would become as dangerous as walking a tightrope. The other man depicts total stability and a wholesome ruggedness, but without the erotic excitement. Vic’s separate world’s eventually square up with shocking consequences.

With a sinister thread causing havoc in the lives of most of the characters, crime, murder and mystery runs throughout the action-filled story.  Clues are given and each chapter’s ending has a cliff hanger, making it difficult to stop reading.

Men can also relate to this sensual, sexual romance in ways which can help them learn more about the intricacies of the female mind.  The characters individually take the reader on an emotional journey, which probably the reader has never experienced before, invoking feelings and thoughts they will think deeply about.

Should some of these scenarios play-out into the real world, (as have occurred with the author) the climatic twist would be similar to the ending of this story.

An unusual and unique, exciting story the reader who loves thrillers will want to share with others and a story never to be forgotten.

by Donni De-Ville @Amazon  https://donnideville.com 

Review:

Into the Lyons Den by Donni De-Ville is an exciting, racy novel filled with raw emotion and a thrilling, unexpected storyline. The story is about Viv, a beautiful woman who is remembering her first love and the intense passion she felt with him. She had made the decision to part with Lawrence due to her own fears and inability to trust. Unable to shake him from her thoughts and mind, she decides to take action and look for a new man that she can love and spend her life with. She stumbles across a dating agency entitled “The Dandy Lyons Marriage Agency.” She reluctantly makes the decision to visit the agency and sign up. What Viv doesn’t know is that her life is about to be turned into a rollercoaster of turmoil and upheaval.

This is a story based on the true life events of author, Donni De-Ville. It is compelling, thrilling and engaging. There is a lot going on in this story including, kidnapping, murder and many crazy scenarios. I couldn’t put this book down. From the very first chapter I was completely drawn into the life of Viv and all the things that she goes through. She encounters many different types of men and interesting people along the way. First, we meet the Lyons, the owners of the upper-class dating agency. While at a party with them, a murder occurs. Viv and her new friend begin to help clear the main suspect and she ends up getting more than she ever bargained for.

Throughout her journey, Viv, meets many unlikely characters including a transgender, an exuberant detective, a baron and many other, seemingly, questionable people. All the while a serial killer is lurking in the shadows. This is all a big change for Viv who works in an ordinary office in London. Her life has been turned upside down and she is on a thrilling, dangerous adventure.

This book is about crime, sex, lust, murder, romance and mystery. It is filled with twists and turns and at the end of each chapter readers are left hanging and hungering for more. It is the story of one woman’s desire to find a lasting true love and all the crazy things she goes through with the people she meets along the way.

Into the Lyons Den is fast-paced and action filled. Readers will be taken on an unbelievable ride of murder, madness and crime. There are tender emotional moments and some laughs along the way.

The characters and settings are beautifully described causing this reader to feel like I was right there watching on. It is written intelligently and extremely well. The author, Donni De-Ville, has a unique, crisp voice with a writing style that is very professional and appealing.

She has brilliantly woven a one-of-a-kind story with a solid plot and a conclusion that, I didn’t see coming, but is completely satisfying and exciting.

This book is a definite must read. Not only because it is based on a true life story, but because it is completely different from anything I have ever read. It is filled with intrigue and has the most interesting storyline, plot, characters and conclusion. It really touched me to my core, bringing up feelings and thoughts that are new to me. Chick Lit Cafe highly recommends Into the Lyons Den to all readers that are looking for a story to escape into that is realistic, engaging and shocking at the same time. Expect the unexpected. Unforgettable!

Purchase Into The Lyons Den by Donni De-Ville @Amazon

Unfinished Justice by Janis Hutchinson

Unfinished Justice by Janis Hutchinson

Synopsis:

In this 1935 historical suspense thriller, praised as “riveting and gripping” (Robert Dugoni, NY Times Best Seller of My Sister’s Grave), Ed Bowman, small town reporter for the Casey Clarion in Virginia, is unjustly convicted for the murder of his wife, committed by an escaped prisoner whose murder trial he just covered with an exclusive article that virtually guaranteed a guilty verdict.

Sentenced to life in the State Penitentiary, and losing faith in God to right his situation, he determines to redeem his shattered life and makes a daring escape to track down the killer in a high-risk chase across six states to the salt flats of Wendover, Utah. But an unexpected betrayal by a befriended Mormon leader brings his plans to a sudden stop, leaving him with no hope short of a miracle.

Review:

Unfinished Justice is a novel set in 1935 and based on the true story of Ed Bowman, a reporter for a small town newspaper in Virginia. When Ed covers the murder trial of Gunther Buford, he writes an exclusive article after overhearing a confidential conversation between Buford’s defense attorneys that virtually guarantees a guilty verdict. The man is convicted and sentenced to die in the electric chair.

Buford breaks out of prison, intent on seeking revenge by killing the reporter who wrote the story. But in the ensuing violence, Ed’s wife is killed instead and Buford flees. In an ironic twist Ed is convicted of his wife’s murder and sentenced to life on a chain gang. For years Ed labors while being viciously abused. Finally, after four long years of planning his escape, Ed manages to gain his freedom.

Determined to locate Gunther Buford and bring him to justice, Ed tracks Buford to the small town of Wendover, Utah where the man has a new identity and occupation, and has also changed his appearance. Ed now has to determine who Buford really is, find evidence to prove he killed his wife, then clear his own name by bringing him to justice.

Unfinished Justice is a fast paced, riveting story filled with injustice, danger and even some romance. Extensive research by Janis Hutchinsonwent into this hard core novel that depicts life on chain gangs back in the 30’s. The descriptions are vivid and shocking to read, yet very engaging and enthralling.

The characters are well developed and fleshed out. Ed evolves throughout the story and comes to realize that God was with him the whole time. He is a strong, likeable character who is relatable. The author did a great job with all the characters and descriptions, and I felt like I knew them and was there with them.

Unfinished Justice is a fascinating read which features a time in the past that rarely gets portrayed in historical fiction novels. It reminds me of the fugitive, but slightly different. The harshness of chain gang life is depicted accurately and brilliantly.

This is one of the best suspense, thriller and fugitive type stories I have ever read. It is a gripping page-turner. I couldn’t put it down and kept reading faster and faster to find out what was going to happen next. Janis Hutchinson is an excellent writer and has done a beautiful job with Unfinished Justice. The storyline is full and exciting. The ending is intense and satisfying. I would read this one again―it’s that good.

Chick Lit Cafe highly recommends Unfinished Justice by Janis Hutchinson.

Purchase Unfinished Justice by Janis Hutchinson @Amazon

A Burning in The Darkness by A P McGrath

A Burning in The Darkness by A P McGrath

Synopsis:

A compelling crime dramaand poignant love story about a devoted man who must confront the painful legacy of his war torn childhood when he is wrongfully accused of murder. Michael Kieh’s struggle to prove his innocence leads him on a charged journey that pitches the pursuit of justice and the search for love against the instinct for revenge.

Michael is the chief suspect in a murder at one of the world’s busiest airports where he is a full-time faith representative. A series of brief encounters with a soul mate has eased his loneliness and together they come close to uncovering a past major crime, but ultimately he chooses to protect a young witness who could prove his innocence. When he was a child, Michael witnessed appalling abuses of power, including the killing of a missionary priest who refused to betray young Michael. But there was a first love that he left behind in the brutal confusion of war. When she and Michael cross paths once more, they battle to prove his innocence in a foreign, hostile country. Can they solve the mystery before it’s too late?

Review:

When Michael Kieh was a child, he suffered the loss of his family at the hands of his uncle. Alone and abandoned he was taken in by a Catholic organization for children where he is raised and goes on to become a priest. Later, at 33 years of age, Father Michael listens to passing passenger’s confessions in an airport in London, offering consolation and forgiveness to those who seek it. But things aren’t so simple for Father Michael, as he is the main suspect in a murder.

While trying to prove his innocence with the help of a past soul mate at his side, he chooses to protect a young witness to the crime, who could very easily prove his innocence. Together he and his soul mate, work in a hostile foreign country to fight and prove that Father Michael is completely innocent.

A Burning in the Darkness is an action packed compelling thriller. There is a lot going on in this tightly woven storyline. I was on the edge of my seat through the entire book. It is well written and engaging. It is one of the best books in the thriller genre that I have read in a long while.

The character, Father Michael is a sympathetic, interesting and likable character that everyone loves. He is charismatic and appealing to many. A P McGrath has done a wonderful job in the character development in this exciting novel. There are some likable characters and some detestable ones, but they are fully developed and with many facets. But the main character Father Michael is especially well developed as he evolves from his days in Libya. A P McGrath gave real life to the personalities and complexities of his characters.

The storyline flows at a steady pace with lots of action and intrigue. It goes back and forth from the past to the present and from London to Libya. It was easy to follow along because it is written so well. I had no struggles in keeping up. There are a lot of loose ends that are all tied up neatly and satisfyingly in the end.

A Burning in The Darkness by A P McGrath is a 5 star must read thriller that readers won’t be able to put down.

Chick Lit Cafe highly recommends A Burning in The Darkness.

Purchase A Burning in The Darkness @ Amazon Today