Silk & Serif

Received via NetGalley from the Loveswept team (Random House Publishing Group) in exchange for an honest and completely unbiased review.

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Lady Portia Flagstaff has been in love with Grayson Devlin since she was sixteen years old, and has been saving herself in hopes one day he will see her as the woman she is and not the almost-sister she feels he treats her as. When she's stolen away by a Sultan with plans to make her part of his harem (**this isn't as cheesy as it sounds**), Portia must rely on the only man she's ever loved to save her, protect her and honor her. Yet, Portia will not settle until she finally has Lord Blackwood's heart for her own.

Grayson Devlin is a bachelor of the tallest order. He has a new woman as often as he likes and enjoys the pleasure of the flesh. He risks it all to rescue his childhood friend Lady Portia Flagstaff, and when it becomes clear her honor would be forfeit upon returning to England, he offers to marry her. Any honorable man would do the same. But can he keep his wits about him and keep his heart off the table?

All the while a nefarious person is tracking their every move, focused on destroying Grayson and killing his new betrothed. Can they find their nemesis before it's too late?
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I have been having issues finding a book worthy of a positive review lately. Some of this is probably due to bad luck, but mostly I think my dissatisfaction is linked to the monotony that comes from reading the same genre over a long period of time. I came to the conclusion recently that a change in the reading material would help with my disillusionment. So, when i meandered through NetGalley and saw A Touch of Passion I stopped to take a peek. The story interested me and the lovely Loveswept team granted me access to this unique experience.

I enjoyed Mrs Evans' writing style, one that was simple, direct and has a decent emotional element woven into a relationship that, although implausible in the beginning of the novel, became one that you wanted to happen. The characters were real, likeable and flawed. Regardless of the cliché cardboard characters the novel flowed well, and the evolution of the key characters are both realistic and natural.

I have never read any other books in Evans' A Disgraced Lords Series, and to be honest while reading A Touch of Passion I had no idea it was part of a series until near the end. I could follow along without reading the first few books and Evans was able to entice me to read the next book to learn who the villain/villainess of the story turns out to be without any preamble or background. Amazing!

A Touch of Passion is aptly named, the lovers are passionate people, with deeply held beliefs and world views. The love scenes have meaning and tend to develop the story: a refreshing change from the also nymphomania I've been subjected to from some New Adult Romances. The sex is tasteful and spaced out enough that the reader actually reads the scenes instead of just skipping to the part where the plot is continued.

The usual aspects of neo-Victorian literature is still here: mile long discussions, corsets, honor and a strong, independent "modern" woman. Generally I dislike anything Victorian, and dismiss it as boring. Evans might have made me more inclined to try this new flavour of book - so fiery, emotionally charged and MATURE LOVE.

This book would appeal to readers who enjoy neo-Victorian romance, romance in general, a good mystery, and tough Female Leads! Well worth the time!

I cant wait for this next installment!!

Speer uses every trick that makes books sell..and not in a good way..

What the hell was that? I can honestly say epic fail. Sorry Speer, but you pulled a Veronica Roth, on top of a Stephanie Meyer..what was a decent story and interesting take on what would happen if Angels lived among us became a complete, tragic, frustrating boring mess.

I hated Tom. He was random, and didn't act like a military officer at all. I was shocked he didn't get kicked out of his unit with his behaviour around Maddy. Professional, much?

I ended up HATING Maddy and her selfish, whiny..god awful behaviour. She treated both men like garbage, hurt them both in the end and then shrugs off her virginity. She treated Jackson like like a bag of chips that she wanted to try but then decided, "Meh, I want a different kind of chip." Seriously, awkward sex scene..and then Maddy doesn't talk to Jackson at all because shes a self-involved twit who thinks everyone will wait around for her.

Also: Jackson said sex wasn't just sex to an Angel. He lied, clearly. Or this is just another example of how Speer cant keep up with his own lore.

Also, why is Maddy still on Earth? Half-Angel makes her Angelic, meaning she will be called on.

Emily? Clearly bad things happened to her, but no answers.

Mostly I just hated Maddy and who she became. Her Angel training made her a weak, sniveling, selfish child.

Wait, you know what I hated even more? I hated how many loose ends we just left hanging after Maddy decided she'd stay in Angel City to rake in the dough after all other Angels left. Actually, no, the lies Maddy tells to cover up her own greed is the worst part.

I liked the overall plan for the Angels, it made sense and seemed a great way to end it. Returning back to the old city name struck a cord since humanity would just go back to worshiping the rich instead of learning to care about each other from the Angel's example. Yet, the end was pretty terrible, and the execution of the love triangle was clumsy. There was also a marked decline in the quality of Speer's writing. I think he got bored of the series mid-book 2 and never recovered.

Does anyone think Amazon will refund me my money?

Received via NetGalley from Gallery Books in exchange for an completely honest and unbiased review

The Great Zoo of China is about to open, and a select few VIP visitors have been invited to get a preview before opening day. Our hero, CJ from the National Geographic is tasked to write a piece on the clandestine Zoo after a brief visit, one that will expose her to inexplicable danger and test her physical and mental limits. She, her brother Hamish, and a few other surprising additions must fight to survive an ancient and cunning adversary, but can they stay alive long enough to survive the night? And when all hope is lost, can they stop the Zoo’s destruction caused by its creators who desperately wish to hide all evidence of their failure?

As Reilly states, his novels are about “bigger and bigger action” or “big-scale action”. Reilly wants to make a splash, and wants to do it via the most creative methods possible. He uses ancient Dragon myths to construct a story, one based on fact and farfetched fiction to make something matching a Hollywood movie on paper. Matthew Reilly will never be an academic writer, nor will he be seen as someone who writes deep, meaningful prose. That’s okay because he does quite well filling in his niche, and making it pleasurable to read. A roller coaster of excitement, experience and unexpected turns that keeps the reader wondering “what next, and who will survive?”

I read Reilly’s JackWest Jr novels a few years ago and when I saw The Great Zoo of China on NetGalley, I absolutely needed to read it. I have spent numerous months reading academic papers and novels generally servicing as emotional outlets. It took a while to shift gears and enjoy Reilly’s action packed thrill ride. I disliked CJ immensely because she was someone who felt she was a victim due to a choice she’d willingly made years before causing enormous facial damage. She also slips from her academic guise quickly, and turns into a super-agent instantaneously which was a far too drastic development in my opinion.

Regardless of my distaste for the hero of the story, I was able to enjoy the surprises that arise from the imagination of a man who delivers entertainment on a grandiose scale. The exaggerated and wholly impossible situations the characters find themselves time and again capture the reader’s attention and the Dragon’s uncanny intelligence adds an extra level of fun!

If you enjoy dragon myths, cover ups, action, adventure, tough female roles and some gore The Great Zoo of China is for you. If you are a Reilly fan, this book is most definitely the most “big-scale action” yet from Reilly! Also, riding a Dragon sounds like the most frightening experience on Earth..or exciting if you're into heights..

ARC copy, requested a unbiased review!


Lorrie has been away from school for three semesters dealing with the horrors of her personal life. She decides the best way to over come her problems and move on from all the death surrounding her is to go back to school. It is there in the first few weeks before classes begin she meets Hunter. The relationship builds and the entire time Lorrie fights her growing feelings for Hunter. This was supposed to be a drama free semester without boys!

Hunter has his own secrets that he holds close, attempting to handle it on his own. He finds solace in cage fighting, alcohol and an endless stream of meaningless sex. When he meets Lorrie he begins to find someone who interests him more than any other girl he's met in a long time, and makes the decision to get to know her better. He also fights the growing attraction, but holds back his ground shaking secret from Lorrie. Will he ever let his guard down?

Im not sure where to begin with this review, I liked the writing style. I enjoyed the pain staking effort Mrs West put into making this book something which university kids could relate and understand. I found it refreshing to see university level romance where they didn't have fancy cars so they took the bus, and they used their Food Cards in the cafeteria to save cash. I loved, loved this having been a university student for over 5 years. Realism, check!

On the down side, none of the kids had -jobs-. They don't seem to have to worry about tuition, money or where they will have money to get the bare necessities like toothpaste. The majority of the kids in the book could be sponging off mom and dad, but Lorrie has no parents so where does she get all this money? I probably bring a unique perspective to this having been paying my own way through university and paying my own necessities since my first year in university, and I have to say, Im always at work. If I didn't work, I couldn't pay tuition. This cut deeply into the realism of the novel for me. I kept thinking: "Get a damn job."

The lack of employment probably also hindered my ability to feel bad for Lorrie when she starts breaking down during exams. She seemed weak and selfish to me, complaining that some guy in prison sent her a letter (which is part of his rehabilitation program, not some kind of cruel behaviour. She also expects Hunter to take care of her, even though she knows he has his own issues. She does very little to support him, and their relationship becomes incredibly unhealthy.

Hunter's obsession with Lorrie raised so many red flags I cant even list them here! He shows up where ever she is, when they finally have sex they are closed in for DAYS, and Hunter uses kittens to get a blow job - and Lorrie forgives him. Im pretty sure Id punch him in the face and never look back. Get a backbone, Lorrie.

This is not to say I didnt enjoy the novel. I did very much, and will most definitely read the second installment (against my better judgement). Even with all the things Ive listed I hated about the book, I found it difficult to put down, and will read any new series Mrs West develops. I feel like next time she should try for adult fiction to skip over any gaping holes in the fabric of character's lives (EMPLOYMENT), or young adult to make up for the weak heroine roles.

Overall Id reccommed this book to anyone who loves the new adult fiction going around - angst, lust and love are all prevalent. A rich tapestry of relationships and flawed main characters make it real, and a guilty pleasure.

See you next time, Lorrie and Hunter. I cant wait to catch up in Rescued (Wrecked, Book #2)!

Received via NetGalley and Chris Fox in exchange for an unbiased review.

Blair is called to a mysterious pyramid of unknown origin or age to decipher strange glyphs that could possibly revolutionize our understanding of human history. It is there he uncovers the truth: werewolves exist and they aren't our true enemies. He and Liz must release an ancient being to possibly avoid catastrophe, but with the clock ticking can they come to grips with this strange new reality and fix the mistakes they’ve made before it’s too late?

Fox attempts to take the Werewolf lore and make it his own, drawing on old lore and establishing a connection between werewolves and humans like never before. The werewolves aren’t necessarily as evil as we initially believed, and maybe they hold a purpose beyond slaughtering innocent humans for food. The development of a lore that places humans as a race not bred for sustenance but rather the “unblooded” delves into the current’s lore’s weaknesses: if we are just food why not enslave or massacre our population?

It was difficult to read this book and to take it seriously. Fox attempts to establish too many new tweaks on old lore, and develops a story that is entertaining but quickly leaps out of the pool of believability. Although well written and enjoyable, the book itself becomes less serious and more comical after a point. A development of new alterations to lore for not just werewolves but also their assailants (I don’t want to give away any details here!) made the book too obscure for a great sci-fi or paranormal adaptation.

The story still continues on with proper speed and detail: fitting for a book that requires a lot of one-on-one combat, fire arm use and blowing things up. In the style of Cussler, Reilly and Rollins, Fox creates a story that starts with an ancient mystery, sets us up with an enemy who wishes to destroy the world, a side love story, and a cliff-hanger ending to keep readers wanting more. Fox is a writer who will appeal to readers of action, adventure, paranormal and para-military fiction. A great read for a day when you don’t want to be challenged, but want a surprise – this book is anything but cliché.

Received via Netgalley from Curiosity Quills Press in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel is a young woman whose sister has gone missing. In her relentless search for her sister she finds herself lost in an underworld of sex and death. Someone in this world is abducting, and severely torturing girls who have no one to care if they are missing. Is Rachel's sister one? Can Rachel avoid becoming the next victim?

I want to start off by stating that the book does a fantastic job describing what a Schwarzschild Radius is, and being a physics connoisseur I appreciated that. Unfortunately, I felt the description was a bit late in the game, and missed its chance to be something more awe inspiring. The deep philosophical meaning that the Schwarzschild Radius revelation was supposed to reveal arrived a little but too late. It’s a pity because an early revelation would have set up a deep and moving story with two layers: the mystery and the philosophic.
The latent revelation of the story’s deeper meaning also did little to offset the strange reality Rachel lives in. She is apparently a teenager, who is somehow in university. She is allowed to work in a strip club without anyone being suspicious and her parents never question her absences. Mostly I just can’t figure out how someone under 18 is already deeply embedded into college, since graduation age is on average 17 - a few months doesn't make a mature, independent adult.
The awkward relationships, sentence structures and unreality of situations became bothersome early on – and continue to ruin the story. I feel the author tried to make the story much more serious and inspirational than their skill levels. If the author spends some time honing their skills, and revisiting this work I feel this would be a fantastic read. The major detail of age should altered as well to make story more believable..
A great story that requires honing before it should be published to a wider market, but has a fantastic base structure. A good read that could be so much more with just a few tweaks of information timing and some work on character interactions.

Received via Netgalley from Blackbird Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

I tried. Lord I tried. I even read this as a satire on the rock star romance craze that seems to on the rise lately. It didn’t work. This book didn’t work for me.
The heroine of this story, Riley meets a guy singing in a dive bar who is attractive and calls her back stage. She decides to sleep with him, and he treats her without respect (not surprising). Later on she’s assigned to the band as their accountant, romping about the tour bus with Jax (our rock star).
My main problem with this novel lies with how dramatic everything is. The story begins with a giant naked concert in a dive bar and leaps straight into men chasing Jax with baseball bats. Riley is an air head, a selfish one that even insults her best friend and work friend.
Ill also be honest and say not even half way I gave up on trying to like anything about this book. I completed this book only because it was an ARC copy. I didn’t care what happened to the couple, one that I never really got any connection to and honestly felt unrealistic.

I want to like it. I just couldn’t. It’s not for me, but maybe it’s for you.

Received via Netgalley from Smashwords Edition in exchange for an honest review.

Sangria Henlie is an entertainment lawyer. She is an intern at one of the biggest television studios in America, working on the legal matters concerning the broadcaster’s newest show that will hopefully rival The Bachelor. A great career booster! Except Sangria knows the eligible bachelor, and he’s decided to play dirty with Sangria’s career..
I want to point out that luxury, cruises and reality television sounds like a great book idea. It is. I liked this book for being not only original in the romance scape, but also witty and fun. The cast of characters were fun and delightful. I enjoyed Mateo and his obviously level head. The cruise and reality television rolled into a mini vacation and a great PR gamble. The few weeks on the boat would be great coverage for Mateo’s company and family name. Practical, attractive and intelligent – the ultimate bachelor catch..
Unfortunately, Sangria was terrible! I never connected with her. She’s a spoiled rich girl who hates on Mateo for being rich. She has tons of money and yet feels like it’s acceptable for her to judge people who live just like her. After living on her father’s fortune to get into law school she feels she’s earned a place on an entertainment broadcaster’s legal board before she’s even graduated. She uses Mateo’s affections to wrangle herself a job, and basically blackmails the higher ups. I hated her and her lack of work ethic. Although being a lawyer is technically about being ambitious, using family money and then deluding yourself that you have earned more than you’ve received makes for a terrible person. Sangria never has to deal with these issues, and the flaws were just too obvious to make her an obvious choice for Mateo. Sangria needs more time to mature and grow on her own before she can even hope to attract a decent man.
The relationship between the cast of characters popped about as well as the relationship between Mateo and Sangria fizzled. Each contestant brought their own personalities, histories and lifestyles which are going to be fantastic to see in the following installments of the series. I adored Kat, unlike Sangria skulking around judging everyone, Kat was pretty open about her own opinions. Ill take a blunt racist over a backstabber any day.
I’d suggest this to reality television lovers, romance genre hounds and people who love serials. Regardless of how little I liked Sangria, this book was great and I will definitely be tuning into the next book. Well worth a read!

Received via Netgalley from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.

Jazz, Howie and Connie are back in the squeal to I Hunt Killers. There’s a serial killer running amok in the Big Apple and Jazz has been requested to help out the NYPD. The Hat-Dog Killer has been terrorizing the city, and a little help from the son of the most notorious serial killer might just be the remedy.
The novel was just as much of a page turner as the first; regardless it felt like the story might have dragged near the middle. Jazz has to help the NYPD catch the Hat-Dog killer, but unfortunately the amount of time Jazz spends altering his profile of his father to fit the Hat Dog killer seemed misplaced. Not all serial killers are alike, and not all profiles start from a base serial killer (I did some research into Profiling when I was in Criminology). If I were a high ranking NYPD officer, I would have sent Jazz home immediately because profiling a man who raised you is very different from profiling someone you’ve never met. Jazz is an expert on his father, not all serial killers and to attempt to spread this over to another (unrelated) case is just ridiculous.
To top off the negative aspects of this novel, I can’t see the NYPD asking the advice of a child – regardless of their upbringing. The world just doesn’t work that way. There is a hierarchy, and inserting Jazz into the top echelons of a murder investigation just doesn’t jibe. Not only that but the lack of media attention on the clear desperation and inappropriateness of bringing a minor in on a case, really didn’t sit well with me – regardless if this is YA fiction.
I loved the book, and once I stopped second guessing the reality of the situation, the novel was decent. I just can’t move on from the minor hierarchical issues and the misconceptions the author has on minors in a police investigation. If Jazz is really this big of a rarity that he needs to be called in on cases that adults should be working on (and isn’t in the least bit tied to his father, which is a completely different problem concerning interests) then Jazz’s current circumstances with his nutty grandmother should have been taken care of by now.
This book is worth the read if you like YA fiction, crime fiction or mysteries –but unlike the first it just didn’t hit the spot. Regardless, I am looking forward to the next addition to the Jasper Dent series, what happens to Jazz with this latest cliff hanger?!

Received via Netgalley from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.

What if the country’s most notorious and haunting serial killer had a son? What if that son was raised to be a killer? Would he be?

Barry Lyga looks at an interesting question, bringing forth the debate: what makes us who we are, nature or nurture? Jasper Dent was raised by the mad man who killed hundreds of people, who perceives serial killing as a family business. The Dents are professionals, who’s knowledge and skill is passed down from father to son for generations. Billy has big plans for Jazz, and even bars can’t keep the sociopathic tendencies he’s fostered in his son quiet.

In a bid to prove to himself that he is not a sociopath, and not going to grow up to be like Dear Old Dad, he couples with the Sheriff to hunt down the newest local threat who calls himself The Impressionist. Its not until later on that Jazz realize The Impressionist isn’t just a serial killer – he’s replicating his own father’s murders. The clock is ticking and only Jazz can help piece together the killer’s next move using the skills and the hunting instinct that his blood line holds.

I Hunt Killers started off slow, being an interesting look at the psychological impact of living with a parent who is a serial killer. The training Jazz received is doled out in bite size pieces, teasing us into wanting more. We see Jazz fight with his desire to kill, his knowledge that he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He also battles the fear that people of Lobo Nod are watching and waiting for him to become his father. The story is very believable and well written but it isn’t until The Impressionist begins to show his true inspiration that the story really becomes interesting.

The details of police work, a serial killer’s psychological profiles and teenaged angst are very realistic. Each piece of the puzzle is clearly well thought through and researched however, sometimes Jazz speaks as if he is reading from a textbook, or even sounds far too much like a pathologist rather than a teenaged kid with serious psychological issues. Also, the Sheriff’s willingness to involve a teenager (and suspect) was a bit far-fetched. Hi lack of apparent care for Jazz being present at crime scenes, disrupting evidence, and talking down to a man with many years’ experience on the force was also bothersome.

At any rate, I Hunt Killers was an interesting take on the question of nature vs nurture and a unique look into the family life of serial killers (fictional family, of course!).

Received via NetGalley from All Night Reads in exchange for a completely unbiased review

Serantha is just a simple girl, who works in the kitchen of a ship controlled and ruled by Androids. In another life she was a Princess, fated to bring together both technological innovation and human tissue to create the next super race of humans with her betrothed Nicolai. She remembers none of this. There is only servitude.

Nicolai disagrees with his father's decision to hide from the Androids who control the other half of the universe. It is this disagreement that leads him on his own quest to save the universe and reunites the young lovers once more.

Nicolai and Sera must find a way to save humanity, and find their own rhythm with each other to bring about the fated Blood Crown. Only then will the prophecies come to fruition and human kind will be safe once again..

I found that this book snuck up on me. I was reading along, not particularly engaged with the book, not connecting with any of the characters until Nicolai come into the picture. It is then that the author's true talent takes shape. I cried, I laughed and I couldn't put it down.

Mrs Cross develops subtle relationships between the characters which include an Android parent who passes on Gifts, and sacrifices himself to save Sera after years of searching for her. The commitment, the love, the selflessness is reflected in both human and android during the novel invoking the question: are humans really any better than the cruel machines ruling over them?

Truly sci fi, romance and partially thought provoking, Cross develops a cute story that starts off slow, but builds a crescendo when the reader isn't looking. The question of what happens if Terminator happened in space, and only souped up teenaged lovers can save humanity has been answered..now to find out what happens after the war.

Doctor Jenner has been invited aboard the mysterious alien ship that has been floating over New York's shore. The reason is unknown and no one has ever seen the elusive alien race as yet. In fact no one has ever spoken to them other than through computers. Why have they chosen Jenner, and why are they really here?

Meanwhile Jenner's three children have their own individual beliefs and experiences surrounding the alien race. It is the two generations of Jenner who will become part of the forefront of change. They will be instrumental to alien-human relations, bring forth civilization changing information and change the course of human life.

Although rather short, the story is deep and the world building intense. The reader is immersed in a world where aliens are part of daily life, alien drugs are a problem for the select few of us who have extreme reactions to them and pit mother against son in the battle between peaceful existence or violent retaliation.

This story would have done well to explore the aliens' arrival the months before Dr Jenner's experiences - and could have used a more broad span of experiences (mainly the outside world which we lose sight of half way through the book). The lack of exploration of societal and cultural changes due to the alien visitors was largely ignored.

The ending was abrupt with very little attention paid to how the revelation at the end would change human perception of self and the religious order of the world. On top of it all - the aliens merely disappear into space, after gifting us the most obscene gift in history.


This being said, the book kept me wondering what was really going on and questioning the motives of the aliens. I found myself fascinated by the new technology that the aliens brought with them and the fantatic things that a utopian civilization could do with it. It also followed my own beliefs that a peaceful culture who came to earth would be appalled by the poverty, cruelty and dissociation for which humans are so notorious.

A great read, a quick read but worth it. I can't wait to check out the author's other works for original and well developed reads.

Received via NetGalley from HarperCollins Publishers Australia in exchange for a completely unbiased review

Detective Mike Winters and his trusty police dog Falcon are part of a Australian canine unit. They have faced down a terrorist attack and survived because of their teamwork. Mike and Falcon are national heroes who have overcome the odds, and are now happily back on their usual beat catching bad guys in their neighbourhoods. Unfortunately this reprieve is short lived when Mike and Falcon stumble upon the corrupted ring in the police force. No one is sure how high it goes, but who ever is at the top knows Mike Winters is on their trail.

McCredie has a distinct writing method, using lots of high speed chases, police dog tracking scenes and bravado. The overall feeling of the book is plucky and happy - even when Mike is at his worst the author still finds ways to insert humor into the story (meeting the old lady in the woods, for one). Although the whole story is larger than life, I suspect McCredie designed it that way.

The characters are decent, if not likeable in a acquaintance sort of way. Perhaps if I had read the first book of the series I might have had more of an emotional investment in many of the characters. The book works decently well for a stand alone book, there is never a moment where you cant quite understand whats going on.

My only complaint is the description of how Falcon and Mike work together - although McCredie is a certified police dog handler, he over emphasizes what are obviously tiny, incremental behaviours from his partner. The swishing of the tail, the muscle ticks, all of these are huge indicators on the tracking success, but its also something a lay person would not see - and I felt like Falcon's physical reactions were embellished. Although, I concede that tiny movements are integral in the understanding of Falcon/Winters relationship and the work they do. The embellishment was necessary.

In all, if you are a dog fan, or a working dog fan, this book if for you. One cop, one dog, a deep corruption plot, and lots of action make for a fun and easy read.

Received via NetGalley and Melbourne University Publishing in exchange for an completely unbiased review.

How to Write a Better Thesis is about writing your first thesis. The questions you will have to ask, the issues you will face when choosing research methods and even the desire to procrastinate are all discussed in this book. The authors even include a brief checklist near the end of the book to allow students to photocopy the "minimums" in thesis completion preparation.

The book itself reads very much like an essay (or thesis) itself; with a research question at the beginning, a description of the purpose of a thesis, the overall usefulness of theses to the academic world, and the steps involved to develop a strong piece of writing. The ending sums up the entirety of the book, and directs a reader back to the initial aim of the book: aiding a student towards an academic thesis writing framework.

An insightful, well rounded and sometimes understandably dull - this book is worth the purchase if you are about to start your thesis project. It would be very useful to read, highlighting the important parts and utilizing the checklist. Considering the authors themselves are thesis advisors the book has some useful tips and tricks that steer the reader away from popular mistakes that they have seen time and again. Well worth the effort to read if you have time during this stressful time of your life!

Received via Netgalley from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine in exchange for an honest review.

Dr Charlotte Stone, her hauntingly handsome ghost Michael Garland, Special Agents Tony Bartoli and Buzz Crane join together once more to catch a serial killer. Lena Kaminsky thinks her sister has been taken by none other than the Cinderella killer, and pleas for Charlie’s help. Although Michael begs her not to get involved, she does and becomes of interest to the killer. Can Charlie and the team catch the Cinderella killer before he catches Charlie? Will they be too late to save Lena’s sister?

The novel works perfectly well as a standalone book, the author includes plenty of preludes where we learn about Michael and Charlies’ past, and get a feel for the relationships and tensions between all the members of the team. The reader can quickly get online with the story and get going with only slight disorientation in the first chapter.

Michael is charming, and an enigma – he is a serial killer with a soul. The female counterpart of this story is tough, strong willed and combative enough to offset Michael’s tendency to want to protect her and control her. It’s a fun relationship filled with banter and strong emotional pull. Each character has a history and backstory that reminded me of Criminal Minds with mediums.

If you enjoy mystery, paranormal romance and psychological thrillers this is up your alley. The bad guy isn’t obvious, the author is skilled with keeping you guessing and throwing curve balls. Eloquently written and crafty, this is one of the best novels Ive read in a long time – I think I just found my new favourite author!