My Review - Vicious Cycle

4 out of 5 stars

VISIOUS CYCLE, the second in the Intervention series was face-paced and exciting.

Lance Covington is a caring guy.  He’s only fifteen, but his concern for Jordan - a pregnant girl he met at his sister’s drug rehab center – is about to get him in more trouble than he thought imaginable.  Wrongly accused of kidnapping Jordan’s newborn, he’s devastated to find out Jordan is the one who fingered him to the police.  But with his Mom and Detective Kent Harlan helping him, he’s sure everything will eventually get ironed out.  But when he gets out of jail, he and Jordan find themselves in even more danger.

VICIOUS CYCLE was a great follow-up to INTERVENTION.  Though Lance was the focus of this installment, Emily, Barbara and Kent’s stories progressed as well. I can’t say much without giving away the story, but the action, suspense, and plotline was intense and riveting.  So glad I already own Downfall-book three -so I can start right in.

 

My Review - Intervention

4 out of 5 stars

INTERVENTION by Terri Blackstock is the first in the Intervention Series.  Though the world of addiction and drug abuse is central to the plot, it’s the suspense and intensity that makes this book a page-turner.

Barbara Covington has just done the hardest thing in her life since burying her husband.  She’s put Emily-her drug addict daughter-on a plane in the care of an interventionist, praying it’s not too late to save her.  But, when the interventionist is found at the airport murdered and Emily is nowhere to be found, Detective Kent Harlan labels Emily their prime suspect.  Panicked, Barbara and her son, Lance, rush to Atlanta to help find Emily and prove her innocence.  Though Emily has lied, stole, and spent time in jail for past offenses, Barbara refuses to believe her daughter would murder just to get her next fix.  But with Emily missing, one of two things have happened.  Either Emily witnessed a murder and is now in danger of being the next victim, or Barbara no longer knows her daughter and Emily has done the unspeakable. 

INTERVENTION is a face-paced, consuming novel centered in the world of drug addiction.  As always, Ms. Blackstock keeps the intensity flowing from on page to the next, making it hard for the reader to put the book down.  The characters were well fleshed out.  A panicked mother, a paranoid drug addict, a smarter than average adolescent son, and a cynical detective, all these characters worked their way into my senses, making them believable and people I genuinely cared about.  Though the plot isn’t hard to figure out in advance of the author laying it out for the reader, it didn’t make it any less enjoyable and thrilling to read.  I haven’t read Blackstock’s books in a while, and now I have read three back-to-back-to-back, reminding me once more why I enjoy her as an author.  Suspense, great characters, and gripping stories that have you staying up late just to read one more chapter. Thankfully, I already have Vicious Cycle on hand, the next book in the Intervention Series.  So much for getting anything else done this weekend.

My Review - Distortion

5 out of 5 stars

DISTORTION was fast paced and completely consuming.  Terri Blackstock has written yet another riveting, action-filled novel.

Juliet Cole’s world has just been rocked.  When her husband in gunned down in front of her, Juliet is in shock.  But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.  What she first thinks is a random shooting she soon learns was an intentional hit.  Finding out her husband has led a secret life takes her out at the knees.  Now she must find a way to protect her children’s memories of their father while she helps the FBI gather evidence against him.  But when the same men that killed her husband go after her sons, Juliet will take whatever risk necessary to protect them. 

In DISTORTION, the Cramer family we were first introduced to in TRUTH STAINED LIES is once again pulled into a vortex of pain and heartbreak.  I would definitely recommend that readers read TRUTH STAINED LIES first so they will know the background of siblings Cathy, Holly and Jay; and Michael Hogan, their close family friend.  Each of these characters are well fleshed out in the first installment of the Moonlighters series and segues seamlessly into the second installment.  I love the tenacity of the Cramer sisters.  And though Juliet is the focus of DISTORTION, we get to see the relationship between Cathy and Michael grow stronger.  I can only assume there will a third installment in the series, which I will anxiously watch for.  But quite frankly, I can’t see how the Cramer family will be handle yet another tragedy.

My Review - Truth Stained Lies

TRUTH STAINED LIES is consummate Terri Blackstock. Action, suspense, with just a thread of romance.  I haven’t read one of Terri’s books in a long time.  I stockpile them, but haven’t picked one up lately.  So glad I did.

Cathy Cramer is a blogger of crimes.  A former lawyer, she sits in on high profile cases and then blogs about them, usually adding her indicting two cents.  Well, that’s all about to change.  When she receives a threatening note, she dismisses it.  But, when her sister-in-law is murdered and all evidence points to Cathy’s brother, Jay, she knows he’s being set-up by whoever left her the note.  But why? 

Cathy enlists the help of her two sisters, and Michael Hogan to prove Jay’s innocence.  Once engaged to Michael’s brother, Joe, Cathy and Michael share a special bond.  And now it is there job to convince the local police that the “facts” against Jay aren’t what they appear to be.

TRUTH STAINED LIES is a fast-paced novel that pulls you in from the very first scene.  The characters Ms. Blackstock created are multi-faceted with flaws and scars.  When I read the blurb about Cathy and her sisters moonlighting as investigators I was concerned that the storyline was going to be cheesy.  Maybe that was why it took my so long to choose to read this book.  But, I should’ve never doubted Ms. Blackstock.  The plotlines involving the Cramer sisters and the lengths they took to try and prove their brother’s innocents were well crafted and completely believable.  I can’t wait to read DISTORTION, book two in the series.  Luckily, I already have it on my book shelf.

My Review - Friend Me by John Faubion

4 out of 5 stars

FRIEND ME is an intense thriller.  Definitely a page-turner.

Scott and Rachel have fallen into a rut.  Scott provides for his family, but keeps long hours.  Rachel takes care of the home, but wishes Scott was home more.  Feeling lonely, Rachel discovers a new website that creates for her a virtual friend.  When she explains to Scott about her find, he decides to look into it himself, and creates a friend as well.  A female friend.  Someone that understands him and supports him when Rachel leaves him lacking. 

Unbeknownst to neither Rachel or Scott, Melissa, a computer genius, is using the Virtualfriendme website to seek out the perfect man.  Melissa uses manipulation and seduction to find out all she can about Scott and Rachel’s fragile marriage.  Knowing Scott is the perfect man for her, Melissa sees Rachel as nothing more than a minor obstacle in her plan to claim Scott as her own.

FRIEND ME might be a work of fiction, but it is so relevant in today’s computer-dependent society that it’s unnervingly realistic.  John Faubion poignantly shows how easily people who toe the line between right and wrong can allow themselves to trip over that line into a world of deception and destruction.  The characters in FRIEND ME reveal the vulnerability that lurks in all of us, and how our weaknesses can and will be used against us in our struggle to keep our hearts and minds pure.

Not wanting to give too much away, all I can say is FRIEND ME is a must read for those who think the internet is harmless as a social gathering place.  This technology might not be present today, but I have no doubt it could be in the near future.