The Garden Girls by Jessica R. Patch is not for the faint of heart. The story is intense and gritty, sometimes terrifying, yet filled with hope and redemption. The Garden Girls follows Tiberius Granger, agent with the FBI Strange Crimes Unit, as he faces the demons of his past. A serial killer is kidnapping and tattooing his victims, and has ties to Ty’s past life in a cult. He reunites with his past love, that he thought had died, and discovers quite a few secrets as he tries to stop a killer from striking again.

I’ll admit that I’m not a fan of stories involving cults, but these characters and the storyline sucked me in. Ty’s heart is decimated over and over again, and he picks himself up and fights to save the ones he loves. I’ve loved Ty from some of the other books (Her Darkest Secret and A Cry in the Dark), and his humor and sarcasm bring some light to the dark storyline. Despite the evil and darkness, Jessica Patch paints a portrait of love, redemption, and sacrifice. I’m still thinking about the ending long after putting the book down. I was practically in tears, and I don’t cry easily. But that’s how emotionally invested I was in the story and characters.

If you love dark, gritty, and emotional stories, put this on your must read list. I’m a huge Jessica Patch fan, and you won’t want to miss The Garden Girls.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own

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Countdown by Lynette Eason offers readers an intriguing thrill ride! Raina Price isn’t who she says she is. She’s been on the run for years, hiding from a stalker. But she comes out of hiding, with the help of US Marshal Vincent Corelli, to protect someone innocent. And once she steps into the light, she becomes a target.

I love this story. There’s quite a bit of drama which adds to the suspense. Readers will go on a journey to uncover the truth about what happened to Raina as she and Vince race to stop a killer from striking again. The romance adds a nice balance, as it’s not rushed. Raina’s been in hiding for so long, she doesn’t know how to let anyone into her life.

The entire Extreme Measures series is fantastic but be sure to check out Countdown and clear your calendar for the weekend. You won’t want to put this novel down.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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A Cry in the Dark by Jessica Patch kept me up all night reading. Talk about a suspense story!  Violet Rainwater (readers met her in Her Darkest Secret) is working a case with the Strange Crimes Unit and the team winds up in a middle of nowhere mountain town. A serial killer is targeting women, and no one in the town will talk. But Violet has secrets of her own and has been on the hunt for her own father. When the two cases intersect, Violet turns to detective John Orlando. Together they try to find out the truth and stop a serial killer as more women keep disappearing.

Jessica Patch knows how to write intense and twisted stories. I love the fast-paced nature of the story, but readers get to dive deep into Violet’s past with her. She comes face to face with her own demons and her growing feelings for John. He’s an amazing character too! Strong enough to stand by Violet and not tell her what to do but help her come to her own conclusions about her issues.

The crimes in this story are intense (read: might not be for the faint of heart readers), and there’s plenty of plot twists that kept me guessing until the very end. I highly recommend this book for suspense fans who like psychological thrillers.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Critical Threat by Lynette Eason is the third installment in the Extreme Measures series – and this one is extreme! It’s a must-read for suspense and thriller fans.

Grace Billingsley is an FBI behavioral analyst and creates profiles for serial killers. While tracking a killer, he sets his sights on Grace. Sam Monroe is a psychiatrist who specializes in serial killers because his father was one. Grace and Sam team up to stop the killings.

This book as so many twists and turns. Sam is an interesting character because he’s a single dad with two teenagers and must manage a home and a stress-filled demanding job. He also carries a lot of baggage from his father’s actions. Grace also balances her family with her job, and they both feel the pressure of a killer who is so bold to show his many faces to get Grace’s attention.

Definitely check this book out if you like action-packed, intense stories.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Another installment in the Brand of Justice series by Lisa Phillips is here! Kenna Banbury is stuck in a small town, doing what she does best. She’s tracking down several women that have gone missing. But things aren’t that simple, and Kenna finds herself in danger more times that I can count. And she can’t trust anyone.

If you love fast-paced thrillers, definitely check out Burn the Dawn. With so many twists and turns, this book is a must-read. You don’t have to read the first in the series, but Cold Dead Night is equally thrilling. Kenna makes the perfect heroine, strong and independent, yet likable. Her complicated past continues to haunt her, and readers catch a glimpse of the real Kenna with each novel. Be sure to check out Burn the Dawn before Quick and the Dead comes out in February. Based on its description, I can’t wait to get this one in my hands.

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Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Cold Dead Night by Lisa Phillips, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

“Without the nightmares, she would never see him anymore. Those last hours with him were all she had now. One day time would steal them, the way a killer had stolen Pacer’s hope at the very end. After that, she’d no longer be able to recall how he smelled, or the feel of his arms around her. The memories they’d shared would grow stale. Even the terror of those few hours would be muted. Gone.
Forever.” – Cold Dead Night by Lisa Phillips

Lisa Phillips has outdone herself with this new thriller series called Brand of Justice. Cold Dead Night features Makenna Banbury, a former FBI agent turned private investigator after she barely escapes from a killer. But someone doesn’t want her to retire as her business card shows up at multiple crime scenes.

This fast-paced thriller will have readers hooked from page one. Kenna makes a strong, no-nonsense heroine with a tortured past. She solves crimes to make up for that one investigation that ended in tragedy. Wanting to be independent and alone, she gets pulled into an FBI investigation where she is forced to play well others. Or at least try to.  FBI Special Agent Oliver Jaxton adds a nice balance to Kenna as he tries to break through some of her tough exterior. While there’s not a lot of romance in this story, could there be a romance brewing in future books in the series? #TeamJax all the way.

But what makes this story are the plot twists. I love the action on every page, and every chapter ends on one fantastic cliff-hanger after another, making me read way past my bedtime.

If you want high-octane suspense and action, pick up Cold Dead Night. But you won’t be able to put it down, so proceed with caution.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Enter the Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed hardcover copy of Cold Dead Night and merch including a custom pen and chapstick.

(3) additional winners will receive an ebook copy of Cold Dead Night.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 5, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 12, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only except books available internationally. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY

About the Author

USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly Bestselling Author Lisa Phillips is a British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London. It wasn’t until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). Since then she’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.

Connect with Lisa by visiting authorlisaphillips.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Crossfire by Lynette Eason starts out with a literal bang. Julianna Jamerson is a hostage negotiator and from page one, she’s negotiating with a madman threatening a courtroom full of people. Clay Fox’s sister is one of the trapped victims. But things take a terrifying turn when a killer uses hostage situations to threaten both Julianna and her sister, Dottie. Clay steps in to protect them both, but it’s obvious that someone from Julianna’s past wants to make her suffer.

This story is intense. But despite meeting during extreme circumstances, Julianna and Clay’s relationship is sweet. Clay helps Julianna unpack her past from a time when she was on the flip side of a hostage situation. This story has the right balance of action, romance and drama. This is definitely a must for suspense fans!

I received an ebook review copy of this book through Revell and NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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The Deadly Shallows by Dani Pettrey gives readers a non-stop thrill ride. This story focuses on Noah Rowley (Gabby’s brother from The Killing Tide) who is a Coast Guard Investigator. He’s called to investigate a mass shooting, where Brooke Kesler is caught up in the action. She’s a fight medic and has to treat one of the shooters. But when he utters something to her, she becomes a target. Now Noah has to stop the bad guys and protect Brooke, the woman he’s secretly loved for a while.

I love the action and suspense of this story. There are so many layers and it’s intriguing to follow the CGIS team at work. Plus Noah and Brooke start to explore their relationship in the midst of the drama. There’s a lot of romance in this story, as a subplot has Caleb and Austin also fighting feelings while leading a separate investigation. There’s so much packed into one novel, but it all works brilliantly to give readers so much excitement and tension. The whole series is fantastic, but I think this is my favorite one because of the intensity of both the drama and the romance.  High stakes all the way from page one to the ending! Also, this series has fabulous covers, and yes I judge books by their covers all the time.

 I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Impending Strike is book two in the new Lynette Eason Elite Guardians Collection by Sami A. Abrams. This story focuses on Lizzie Tremaine and Charlie Lee. If you read the original series by Lynette, you might remember these two bodyguards popping in from time to time. In Impending Strike, Charlie is undercover and winds up in the hospital with amnesia. He can’t remember the last few years of his life, including Lizzie. Lizzie becomes his bodyguard after it becomes evident that Charlie overheard something, and someone wants to make sure he never remembers.

This book has all of the action plus heart-warming characters that will keep readers turning pages. Sami is an expert storyteller, weaving relatable characters with intense suspense. I love Lizzie’s vulnerability and Charlie’s change as he regains his memories. He starts to realize what’s important in life. Plus, it’s great to check in on all of the original Elite Guardians. I was such a fan of the original series and Impending Strike brings the same action-packed suspense with new characters and plenty of intrigue.

Be sure to check out Impending Strike for a fast-paced and exciting read.

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Her Darkest Secret by Jessica Patch definitely brings the creep-factor. Fiona Kelly has made it her life’s priority to catch a serial killer dubbed Rhyme, based on the nursery rhymes he leaves with his victims. Fiona, a former victim, became an FBI Special Agent to catch this killer, and has given up everything in pursuit of justice – including her relationship with colleague Asa Kodiak. But Rhyme has an obsession of his own: Fiona.

This is a must read for thriller fans. Fiona hunts a serial killer while he hunts her. The intensity is high and the plot twists are endless. But readers will also find Fiona and Asa’s relationship an emotional rollercoaster as they both have past secrets they are hiding. The rest of the team of agents also make an impact on the pages. Tiberius Granger and Owen Berkley add a bit of comic relief with their camaraderie. Violet Rainwater is a mysterious and serious character – I have no idea what to think about her. It looks like Violet’s story is next in the series.

If you are a fan of intense and even a bit creepy stories, this book is for you. Definitely a fast-paced and intriguing read with characters readers will fall in love with.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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