The Face of Death

Welcome to Cody McFadyen's Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tour.


The Face of Death by Cody McFadyen is intense psychological thriller with a chilling serial killer.

Synopsis:


A sixteen-year-old girl holds a gun to her head at the scene of a grisly triple homicide. She claims "The Stranger" killed her adoptive family, that he's been following her all her life, killing everyone she ever loved, and that no one believes her. But Special Agent Smoky Barret does. Her team has been handpicked from among the nation's elite law enforcement specialists and they are as obsessed and relentless as the psychos they hunt; they'll have to be to deal with this case.

For another vicious double homicide reveals a killer embarked on a dark crusade of trauma and death : an "artist" who's molding Sarah into the perfect victim-and the ultimate weapon. To catch him, Smoky is going to have to put her own fragile, once-shattered life on the line. For The Stranger is all too real, all too close, and all too determined. And when he finally shows his face, Smoky had better be ready to face her worst fear.
from back cover

When I finished reading The Face of Death, I was liked oh my gosh how am I going to review this book. All I can say is that I LOVED IT.

Smoky Barrett is an intense FBI Agent who has both physical and emotional scars that she has acquired from past cases. She heads the Violent Crimes Unit in Los Angeles. She has a decision to make to stay with her team in L.A. or become a teacher of new FBI recruits in Quantico. I love Smoky. She is a tough lady who is able to overcome her past. She cares about her adopted daughter and her friends. They have become her family.

Not that I am an expert in serial killers, but I feel that The Stranger is a little bit different then the typical serial killers that we read about. The Stranger has planned all of this years ago and over time his plans have come to fruition. That is what I find chilling about this book.

For a couple of night after I read the book, I had a hard time sleeping. I was afraid that someone would come into my house. That is how intense this book was. I don't even know when the last time a book made me react that way.

A word of caution there is graphic violence. It was shocking to read what The Stranger did to his victims but I feel that it was necessary to put it into the book so that we and Smoky can see into The Stranger's mind.

This is the second book in the Smoky Barrett series. You do not need to read the first book to understand the second. McFadyen explains the past so you can understand what happened to Smoky. The first book in the series is Shadow Man. The third book The Darker Side will be available in October. I will be looking for these two books so that I can read more about Smoky.

About the Author:

Cody McFadyen was born in Texas in 1968. He now resides in California. He designed websites before selling his first novel. He lives with his two black labs, often referred to as ‘The Black Forces of Destruction.’ His first novel Shadow Man and his second book were both international best sellers.

Forms Of Shelter

Forms of Shelter by Angela Davis-Gardner is a fictional story set in the 1950s. The story is told by Beryl Fonteyn the main character. She is an adult reminiscing about what happened to her and her family as she was growing up esp. focusing on her pre-teen and teen years.

Synopsis:

As Beryl Fonteyn recounts her upbringing, the disappearance of her father and the relationships with her mother, brother Stevie, and stepfather Jack, her narrative slowly and surely circles closer and closer to the betrayal at its center.

Perched in her tree house among the leaves of the Osage orange in Jack's back yard. Beryl observes the life around her-Mama's desperate attempts to keep Jack's attention by writing her novel. Stevie's retreat into religion as her acts out events from the Bible, and Jack's obsession with his bees-all the while wishing she could bring Daddy back from Chicago, where he has run off to play in a jazz band. As her father's return looks less and less likely and her mother's alienation and unhappiness grow, Beryl finds herself more and more drawn into the dangerous psychological web that Jack creates

From the inside cover.

I don't know how I feel about this book. I felt I had to keep reading to see what would happen to the family. Even though I saw the betrayal coming, I was still taking by surprise. I felt very sorry for the family. It is a sad book. Beryl finally trumph's after many years of silence by telling the truth about what happened to her and to her family.

The Strand Prophecy Book 1/Reveiw Rescheduled

The Strand Prophecy Book I by J.B.B. Winner is the third book that I have not received yet. If you have read my other two blog entries about rescheduled reviews; you know that I have not received some books that I have been scheduled to read for Pump up Your Book Promotions. So what I have been doing instead is giving some information about the books and other websites you can go if you want some more information. This was one of the books I really wanted to read. I read the first three chapters on line and I wanted to read the rest of the book. Oh well, I guess I have to wait a little longer, but hopefully not to long. Again as soon as I receive my copy and I have read it; I will post a review.

This it the book trailer.

Synopsis:
The Strand Prophecy Book I is a young adult science fiction book. It is set in present day. The Strand Prophecy takes place at the White House, the depths of the rain forest in Brazil and the deepest regions of Africa.

Strand is a reluctant superhero. He discovers that animals are going through a rapid evolutionary cycle. They are evolving into new life forms and predators that threaten the very existence of humans.

Strand races against time and the U.S. military to protect the innocent and his niece and perhaps along the way to find redemption for his brother's death.

I got the synopsis from The Strand Website. You should visit the website. It is wonderful. You can get information on characters. You can read the first three chapters of the book. Which are great. They are an awesome introduction to the book. They are very intense and suspenseful. If the rest of the book is like the first three chapters; I will not be able to put it down until I finish. Commanding all in my house to leave me alone as I read. (My family does not like when I have one of those books cause nothing gets done).

The Stand Prophecy is the first of five books to be written. The second is written and is being edited and the authors are on the process of writing the third book

A father and his thirteen year old twin daughters are the author JBB Winner. J is for Jeffery Winner. B and B are for Brittany and Brianna. Jeffery began this book as a family project to help the girls to overcome their Dyslexia and help them to focus on their strengths not their weaknesses. Also to encourage their passion for storytelling.

The Strand Prophecy is an award winning book. It has won eight awards including "Best Young Adult Fiction", "Best First Book Fiction" and "Best First Book Young Adult Fiction".

The Strand Prophecy is available at Barnes and Nobles and Amazon.com

And as before you can visit Pump Up Your Book Promotions to find reviews of this book, interviews with JBB Winner and guest blogging by JBB Winner. I highly recommend visiting the website for further information about this book.

Happy Reading

I'm Watching You/Rescheduled Review

Today I was to review Mary Burton's new book I'm Watching You. But I am still waiting for the book. Where is the book? Lost somewhere in space I guess. But I did receive Lisa Jackson's Left to Die. As soon as I read the book I will put up a review. But back to I'm Watching You since I am unable to write a review I would like to give you some information about this new book just like I did with Left to Die.

This is the synopsis that I got off of Mary Burton's Publishers, Kensington Publishing, website.

He’ll Taste Their Fear…

The first kill was easy. The second much easier. No guilt, no remorse, just a rush of adrenaline surging through him as each life drains away, and the pleasure of knowing that their deaths help his beloved Lindsay. And there are so many more who deserve to die…

Hear Their Screams…

The first twisted gift to Lindsay O’Neil arrives hidden in a bouquet of flowers. When her estranged husband, Detective Zack Kier, is assigned to the case, Lindsay’s past comes back with a vengeance. Because only Zack knows the dark secret she lives with—or so she thinks. Now nothing can prepare her for the nightmare to come…

And Watch Them Die…

Everything Lindsay’s stalker does, every life he takes, is for her. But when Lindsay spurns his gifts, she and those she loves most become targets of a depraved madman whose rage is growing, and who is waiting, watching, closer than she ever feared

This book sounds like it will be an exciting and thrilling read. Does it give you chills and make you wonder what Lindsay stalker is up to and why he killing for her?

If you visit Kensington Publishing's website, you can read a chapter from I'm Watching You. I found the chapter to be chilling.

You can visit Pump Up Your Book Promotions to find reviews of this book, interviews with Mary Burton and guest blogging by Mary Burton. You can also visit Mary Burton's Website for further information about this book.

Acheron

Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon is the long awaited story of the Dark-Hunter leader Acheron.

The story is told in two parts. The first part tells of Acheron's birth and his life in very ancient Atlantis and Greece. How his Atlantean Goddess mother, Apollymi tries to save him from the rest of the Atlantean Pantheon, who wants him dead. He is born into a human family. When they see his silver swirly eyes, they reject him except his sister Ryssa. Ryssa tries her hardest to mend the rift in her family, but nothing works. Every time she tries she just makes things worse. All Through Acheron's life he is degraded, abused and made to feel unworthy by everyone he comes in contact with.

The second part is set in modern times. The secrets of Acheron's past are about to come to life. He wants to keep his secrets secret. He ridicules Dr.Soteria Kafieri who is giving a lecture about the fact that Atlantis does exist so that no believe Dr. Kafieri. Dr. Kafieri has a journal written in a very ancient language. She discovers that Acheron is the only one who can read the journal and he also is the one who ridiculed her in public. Needless to say sparks fly.

Soteria or Tory discovers that other people want the journals. The people who want the journals will do anything to get them even kill Tory. Acheron pledges to protect her. He also wants to keep the journals a secret because they were written by his sister Ryssa. The journals had secrets about his past. Why do other people want the journals? Can Acheron keep Tory safe and keep her at a distance? Can he keep the journals a secret?

I loved this book. If you are a Dark-Hunter fan; this is a must read. No one will be disappointed in reading this much anticipated novel about Acheron. This book draws you into Acheron's life. There are times when I had to walk away from the book because I was so angry and then I would cry because of what happened to Acheron.

I was not sure if I wanted Acheron to have a heroine. Acheron is the consequential Lone Wolf. That is who he is. I did not know what a love interest would do for him. All I have to say is that Tory is the perfect heroine for Acheron. It has made him stronger.

I like how Kenyon put in modern references. She sited things that we as readers can relate to. Like a line from the TV show Heroes and and the movie 10,000 B.C. I love it.

No You do not have to read the series in order. I believe that you should read some of the dark hunters books before you read Acheron. Since in the big battle all of the dark hunters who ave books written about them appear. It would be nice to get the story about them and why Acheron is important to them.

Here is the reading order of the books:

1. Fantasy Lover
2. "The Beginning" short story in Sins of the Night
3. Dragonswan
4. Night Pleasures
5. Night Embrace
6. "Phantom Lover" In the anthology Midnight Pleasures
7. Dance with the Devil
8. "A Dark Hunter Christmas" short story in Dance with the Devil
9. Kiss the Night
10. Night Play
11. "Winter Born" in the anthology Strokes of Midnight
12. Seize the Night
13. Sins of the Night
14. "Second Chance" included in the Dark hunter Companion
15. Unleash the night
16. dark side of the Moon
17. "A hard Day's Night-Searcher" in the anthology My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding
18. "Until Death We Do Part" in the anthology Love at First Bite
19. Fear the Darkness Free Ebook
20. The Dream-Hunter
21. Devil may Cry
22. Upon the Midnight Clear
23. Dark-Hunter Companion
24. Dream Chaser
25. Acheron
26. One Silent Night

Kenyon's next book in the Dark Hunter series is One Silent Night. Here is the product description from Amazon.com.

Product Description
While the world carries on unawares, Stryker, who leads an army of demons and vampires, is plotting an all out onslaught against his enemies—which, unfortunately for us, includes the entire human race. To avenge his sister, Stryker prepares to annihilate the Dark-Hunters. But things go awry when his oldest enemy returns. Enter his ex-wife. Zephyra. Just when he thought nothing could stop him, he’s now embroiled in a centuries old war with a shrew who gives new meaning to pain.

I can't wait.

Happy Reading

Left to Die/Review rescheduled

I was schedule to post a review for Lisa Jackson's new book Left To Die but for whatever reason I have not received the book yet. I hope it is not my post office. Chicago is notoriously known to have bad postal service. But I have not had any problems before. I have not received three books that I am schedule to review. I have emailed the people who I am working with, still no books. It makes me wonder if it is the post office. Needless to say I am getting frustrated. I want my books. They look so good. Enough ranting, back to what I want to say.

Since I am unable to review Left To Die by Lisa Jackson; I still wanted to give you some information related to this new book. It is available in stores everywhere. Ok I have seen it at Target, Walmart and Borders. So I assume it is available in stores everywhere.

This is a book description that I got off of Lisa Jackson's publisher website.

Nothing’s More Terrifying…

One by one, the victims are carefully captured, toyed with, then subjected to a slow and agonizing death. Piece by piece, his exquisite plan takes shape. The police can’t yet see the beauty in his work—but soon, very soon, they will…

Than Being Left Alone…

In the lonely woods around Grizzly Point, Montana, four bodies have been discovered. Detectives Selena Alvarez and Regan Pescoli have been hoping for a career-making case, but this is a nightmare. Even with the FBI involved, Selena and Regan have nothing to go on but a killer’s cryptic notes, and the unsettling knowledge that there is much worse to come…

To Die…

When Jillian Rivers opens her eyes, she’s trapped in a mangled car. Then a stranger, claiming to be a trail guide named Zane McGregor, pries her free. Though she’s grateful, something about him sets Jillian on edge. And if she knew what lay out there in the woods of Montana, she’d be truly terrified. Because someone is waiting…watching…poised to strike and make Jillian the next victim…

Does it sound good? It seems that it will be a terrifying and suspenseful read.

If you visit her publisher's website, you can also read a chapter from Left to Die.

Since I am unable to write a review for you, you can go to Pump Up Your Book Promotions to see other reviews related to this book, Lisa Jackson's interviews and Lisa Jackson being a guest blogger. You can also visit Lisa Jackson's website for more information on the book. The website has a book trailer for Left to Die, you should go check it out.

When I receive the book, I will post my review.

Happy Reading

The Long Goodbye

The Long Goodbye is part of a series of books by Raymond Chandler that features the detective Phillip Marlowe. In this book he meets Terry Lennox. Terry and he become drinking buddies. In their conversations Marlowe finds out that Terry has divorced and then remarried his very wealthy wife. One day Terry shows up at Marlowe's door asking Marlowe to take him to the Tijuana airport. Marlowe does and in time finds out the Terry's wife is murdered.

Howard Spencer and Eileen Wade try to hire Marlowe to make sure that Roger Wade does not drink ant more and finishes his book. Marlowe says no, but then Roger is missing and Mrs. Wade calls Marlowe to find him. As Marlowe is pulled into the lives of Eileen and Roger Wade he finds out that they knew the Lennox's.

I know that literary scholars say that The Long Goodbye is the consequential detective novel. I am not a literary scholar so I don't see it. The Long Goodbye says it in the title long. I felt the book would never end. It was slow and boring. I felt that it was more the day in the life of a L.A. detective. When the truth came out, I was like it was about time.

This was not my type of book. But if you like classic literature you may like it.

I read this book because it is part of One Book, One Chicago. I did not get the chance to read it in the spring. Every time I went to the library it was checked out. The fall book is The Right Stuff. I will try to read it. I loved the movie, so I hope the book will be just as good.

I chose the vintage cover over the new version because it is so cool.

The Other Boleyn Girl-The Movie

I just finished watching The Other Boleyn Girl. I loved the book and as a lot of you know books do not translated well into movies. And having Natalie Portman play Anne Boleyn; I felt she would not do justice to the role. I have to say that I was presently surprised.

Maybe enough time has passed between book and movie that I could see the movie differently. They did leave a lot out, but they had to make everything fit into a two hour movie. I wished that they did include the friendship and then romance of Mary and William Stafford. As well as the death of her husband. Some of the scenes that were cut should have been included so that the audience could get a better picture of the events.

Natalie Portman performance surprised me. She played a better Anne Boleyn then I thought she could. She was able to portray Anne as calculating and vulnerable. I was able to see her as Anne Boleyn.

Was the book better? Yes the book was better than the movie. I believe the book gave you a better understanding of the relationship between Anne and Mary and the events leading up to the execution of Anne. As well as the personal life of Mary.

I am glad I watched the movie. I would recommend it but watch it with a open mind and do not compare it to the book. If you think of it as an original screen play and you might enjoy it, like I did.