Beyond The Ice Limit … The Trial {+ Giveaways}

◊ BEYOND THE ICE LIMIT by Preston & Child

◊ Series: Gideon Crew (Book #4)

◊ Narrator: David W. Collins

◊ Audio CD: 9 Discs

◊ Listening Length: 10.5 hours

◊ Program Type: Audiobook

◊ Genre: Mystery, Thriller

◊ Version: Unabridged

◊ Publisher: Hachette Audio

◊ Release Date: May 17, 2016

◊ Language: English

◊ ISBN-10: 1478909110

◊ ISBN-13: 978-1478909118

SYNOPSIS:

That thing is growing again. We must destroy it. The time to act is now...

With these words begins Gideon Crew's latest, most dangerous, most high-stakes assignment yet. Failure will mean nothing short of the end of humankind on earth.

Five years ago, the mysterious and inscrutable head of Effective Engineering Solutions, Eli Glinn, led a mission to recover a gigantic meteorite--the largest ever discovered--from a remote island off the coast of South America. The mission ended in disaster when their ship, the Rolvaag, foundered in a vicious storm in the Antarctic waters and broke apart, sinking-along with its unique cargo-to the ocean floor. One hundred and eight crew members perished, and Eli Glinn was left paralyzed.

But this was not all. The tragedy revealed something truly terrifying: the meteorite they tried to retrieve was not, in fact, simply a rock. Instead, it was a complex organism from the deep reaches of space.
Now, that organism has implanted itself in the sea bed two miles below the surface-and it is growing. If it is not destroyed, the planet will be doomed. There is only one hope: for Glinn and his team to annihilate it, a task which requires Gideon's expertise with nuclear weapons. But as Gideon and his colleagues soon discover, the "meteorite" has a mind of its own-and it has no intention of going quietly...

You might say this story is a bit like Alien mixed with a sinister form of The Abyss. The suspense is high, the unknown incredible, and the mission extremely dangerous.

Put these elements together and you have one unbelievable adrenaline-fueled thriller enhanced by the narration of David W. Collins. His mannerisms and cadence is spot on. He gives unique voices to each character. Collins boosts the suspense with his vocalization.

This is an enjoyable mix of science fiction and adventure with tidbits of science mingled in. It gives you pause to wonder, ‘what if.’

Through the authors’ vivid descriptions, you feel like you’re on the ocean as the characters ride the waves to race again time. The story moves at a fast pace, but holds you spellbound all the way. The suspense is high as twists and turns keep you fearing the worst.

The characters are well-developed and realistic. They are a mix that you find likable and love to hate.

BEYOND THE ICE LIMIT is a stand-alone story even though it’s a long awaited follow up to a story. New readers/listeners won’t be left in the dark as the authors’ provide enough background details to make the story flow smoothly.

This is a pulse-pounding thriller you don’t want to end. Preston and Child may have delayed 15 years in writing this sequel to THE ICE LIMIT, but it was well worth the wait.

Beyond the Ice Limit by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Gideon Crew series (Book #4), Narrated by David W. Collins, Hachette Audio, @2016, ISBN: 978-1478909118, Unabridged, 9 CDs, Run Time: 10.5 Hours (Also available in print and eBook format.)

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

◊ THE TRIAL by James Patterson with Maxine Paetro

◊ Series: The Women’s Murder Club (Book #4)

◊ Narrator: January LaVoy

◊ Audio CD: 3 Discs

◊ Listening Length: 2.5 hours

◊ Program Type: Audiobook Bookshots

◊ Genre: Mystery, Thriller

◊ Version: Unabridged

◊ Publisher: BookShots, Hachette Audio

◊ Release Date: July 5, 2016

◊ Language: English

◊ ISBN-10: 1478967552

◊ ISBN-13: 978-1478967552

SYNOPSIS:

"I'm not on trial. San Francisco is."

An accused murderer called Kingfisher is about to go on trial for his life. Or is he? By unleashing unexpected violence on the lawyers, jurors, and police involved in the case, he has paralyzed the city. Detective Lindsay Boxer and the Women's Murder Club are caught in the eye of the storm.

Now comes a courtroom shocker you will never see coming.

THE TRIAL is the perfect story to read/listen to if you’re short on time, but want a suspenseful tale to be entertained by.

Narrator January LaVoy does a great job bringing the characters to life. Her cadence and accents enhance the story. Her vocals are spot on as she brings the varying emotions to the surface.

The story is a good mix of police procedure, mystery and suspense. The story flows quickly and smoothly. Told in BookShots format, the story can be listened to in under three hours. The shortness of the tale doesn’t lessen its appeal.

The core cast of characters of the Women’s Murder Club series are on hand, but new readers/listeners won’t be left in the dark not knowing their history. This is a stand-alone story. The characters are likable and well-developed.

THE TRIAL will keep you on your toes until the surprise ending. It’s intense, suspenseful and entertaining.

The Trial by James Patterson with Maxine Paetro, BookShots series, Narrated by January LaVoy, BookShots/Hachette Audio, @2016, ISBN: 978-1478697552, Unabridged, 3 CDs, Run Time: 2.5 Hours (Also available in print and eBook format.)

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

BookShots
LIGHTNING-FAST STORIES BY JAMES PATTERSON

• Novels you can devour in a few hours
• Impossible to stop listening
• All original content from James Patterson

Thanks to the gracious Mitch and the wonderful folks at Hachette, I have an audio copy of BEYOND THE ICE LIMIT by Preston and Child to giveaway and an audio copy of THE TRIAL by James Patterson with Maxine Paetro to giveaway. Both giveaways are open to residents of the U.S. only and will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Monday, Aug. 8.

To enter either or both giveaways, just click on the Rafflecopter widgets below and follow the instructions. The widgets may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. A winner will be selected by the Rafflecopter widget and I’ll send an email with the subject line “Thoughts in Progress Giveaway.” The winner will have 72 hours to reply to the email or another winner will be selected. PLEASE be sure to check your spam folder from time to time after the giveaway ends to make sure the notification email doesn’t end up there. If you win and you’ve already won the book somewhere else or you just decided for whatever reason you don’t want to win (which is fine), once again PLEASE let me know. One winner could win both audios.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Are you a fan of any of these writers? Do you listen to audio books? If not, now’s a great time to begin.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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My Name is Harley, Unlucky 13 & Happy Father’s Day

It’s that time of year when we celebrate Dads and give them the praise they so richly deserve. Happy Father’s Day to all!

Today I have two books to share with you. Both were quite intriguing to me and I hope you’ll find them interesting too. First, I have a delightful tale to share with you followed by an action-packed audio book that seems fitting since we just observed Friday the 13th.

MY NAME IS HARLEY AND THIS IS MY STORY by Harley Doodle Barley
 

Harley Doodle Barley has done something many dream about doing, but few undertake. Harley has written a book about his life.

Harley is the sweet Corgi fur-son of Donald and Kaye Barley, who helped him write his book. This charming book is filled with beautiful color and black-and-white photos showing Harley from his arrival to live with his new parents to present day.

The photos show the things Harley enjoys in life, as well as his duties around the house. In addition, they shows various trips he’s taken with his family and the friends waiting for him when he returns home. The photos, along with Harley’s commentary, will have you aahing and smiling.

MY NAME IS HARLEY AND THIS IS MY STORY is a delightful book that reminds readers to cherish the moment and enjoy life to the fullest. 

An amusing tale of a dog’s life told through striking photographs taken by the loving parents of the four-legged fur baby. If you’re an animal lover, this fun book is a must for your library collection.

My Name is Harley and This is My Story by Harley Barley, Photography by Kaye Wilkinson Barley and Donald Scott Barley, CreateSpace Independent Publishing, @2014, ISBN: 978-1499741170, Paperback, 94 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the author. No request for a review was made or suggested and receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my opinions of the book.

UNLUCKY 13 by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
 

One of the interesting elements of author James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club series is the numerous sub-plots playing out at once. These various plots keep readers/listeners in an adrenaline-driven state from beginning to end.

Narrator January LaVoy does an excellent job giving distant voices to the various characters. LaVoy’s mannerisms and cadence adds depth to the story and enhances the suspense listeners feel as the plots unfold.

Life is going well for San Francisco Detective Lindsay Boxer. She’s enjoying her job, she has great friends to relax with and a beautiful baby girl and handsome husband to come home to. Life heats up for Lindsay when ‘belly bombs’ start going off in the city. It seems a local hamburger chain is being targeted and it’s up to Lindsay and her partner to stop the killer before another victim explodes from the inside out after eating a hamburger.

Meanwhile, a killer from Lindsay’s past has come out of hiding. Psychopath Mackie Morales is returned to San Francisco to see her son and make Lindsay pay for the death of her boyfriend. 

Lindsay’s boss is on his honeymoon with one of Lindsay’s best friends, Yuki. When their Alaskan cruise is cut short by armed gunmen hijacking the ship and demanding ransom, Yuki sends a short video message to Lindsay. The couple’s friends watch the news closely fearing for their lives as the terrorists begin killing passengers.

The various elements of this story make for a pulse-racing read. The story switched back and forth among the sub-plots keeping listeners/readers on the edge of their seat. The story is fast-pace and told from several perspectives.

UNLUCKY 13 is the 13th installment in the Women’s Murder Club series, but can be read/listened to on its own. However, having read/listened to prior installments in the series will give readers a better understanding of some of the characters interaction.

This is an intriguing story that may cause you to second guess yourself the next time you order takeout burgers.

Unlucky 13 by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, A Women’s Murder Club Novel, Performed by January LaVoy, Hachette Audio, @2014, ISBN: 978-1478953005, Unabridged, 6 Discs, Listening Time: 7 Hours and 19 Minutes 

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

Thanks so much for visiting today. I hope you’re having a fun Sunday and if you’re a Dad – take some time to relax and enjoy your day. Happy reading my friends.

*This post contains affiliate links.

The Sholes Key and 11th Hour

Don’t you just love a crime fiction adventure now and then? Today I’d like to share my opinion about 2 interesting thrillers with you. One is the debut release by a friend and fellow blogger and the other is by a writing duo that have a number of bestsellers under their belt. Both are very captivating stories.

THE SHOLES KEY by Clarissa Draper

When a story keeps you thinking about it after you put the book down, then you know you’re hooked.

THE SHOLES KEY was such a book for me. Author Clarissa Draper has created 2 intriguing protagonist with a storyline that will not only keep you guessing, but will also have you trying to decode the cryptic messages.

When Lorna McCauley leaves her young son home sick, Detective Inspector Theophilus “Theo” Blackwell is called in to investigate. At first it appears to be a woman who has run away. However, Theo’s investigation finds a number of young women haven been vanishing in London.

Meanwhile, MI5 analyst Sophia Evans is working undercover to apprehend the leader of an animal rights group before they bomb again. Sophia is good at cracking codes but new to the world of undercover work. She may have gotten too close to the leader for her own good.

Sophia receives an envelope containing a photo of Lorna McCauley’s body and a cryptic code. As more pieces of the code are found, it’s up to Sophia and Theo to work together to find the killer before another woman is abducted.

The characters are well defined with the supporting characters adding bits of humor and flavor to the mix. The dialogue flows smoothly making the transition from killer to victim to cops and back again with ease. There is a hint of attraction between the lead characters with each harboring their own issues and secrets.

Modern-day London makes for an interesting backdrop to this story of suspense and mystery. This story will give you pause to consider the mindless actions we do each day and how dangerous they could be.

THE SHOLES KEY is a great start to what promises to be a fascinating series featuring Sophia and Theo. I’m looking forward to when these 2 meet again.

Author Clarissa Draper’s website is http://clarissadraper.blogspot.com/

The Sholes Key by Clarissa Draper, An Evans and Blackwell Mystery, WiDo Publishing, @2012, Paperback, ISBN: 978-1937178147, 314 Pages, Kindle Edition, ASIN: B007XU212K, 410 KB   

FTC Full Disclosure - An electronic version of this book was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

 

11TH HOUR by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Being pregnant doesn’t slow Detective Lindsay Boxer down as she and her partner take on not one, but two bizarre murder cases at once.

The first case has a rogue cop gunning down untouchable drug dealers. When millionaire Chaz Smith, a known drug kingpin, is gunned down at his daughter’s school, new evidence come to light. Smith is really an undercover federal agent and the guns used in the shootings have been taken from the police department’s evidence locker.

The second case take Boxer to the estate of a world-famous actor. Years earlier the actor had been tried and found innocent of his own wife’s murder despite her body never being found.

This time two severed heads are found in the actor’s garden with two index cards and a possible code. Could more heads and bodies be buried in the garden?

As Boxer works to solve both cases and stop any further killings, she also faces difficult decisions on the home front. It seems her husband Joe may have been doing more than just working with his former partner.

Narrator January LaVoy does a wonderful job bringing the story to life. She delivers a full range of emotions as the story unfolds. LaVoy’s interpretation of the rogue cop will have listeners temporary on his side as he attempts to right a wrong.

Patterson and Paetro once again bring the cast of the Women’s Murder Club together for an action adventure filled with suspense at a heart-pounding pace. As the group races to stop two killers, bits of their personal lives are also woven in for more realism. Once you start 11TH HOUR you won’t be able to stop until you know where all the bodies are buried and why. 

11th Hour by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, The Women’s Murder Club, Read by January LaVoy, Hachette Audio, @2012, ISBN: 978-1607884651, Unabridged, 6 CDs, Listening Time Approximately 7 Hours   

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

 

Do you enjoy gripping crime fiction? Thanks so much for stopping by today. Hope everyone had a great holiday or just a fun weekend.

Sunday Salon: Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

James Patterson and a co-author have a new book out every few months it seems like and you have to wonder, ‘how do they do it?’

When I had the opportunity to review his current release, PRIVATE, I couldn’t resist. I’ve never read a lot of his books, but the TV series Women’s Murder Club based on his books got me hooked.

Jack Morgan is the protagonist in this thriller set in sunny California where the rich and famous come to Private when they have secrets they want to hide or find someone else’s.

Private is an elite detective agency Jack inherited from his estranged father. Jack has built the agency into an international business that caters to the secrets of the influentional, but also helps out at the LAPD with cases from time to time.
 
There are three major cases Private is working on:
* Jack’s Uncle Fred has asked him to investigate a possible gambling scandal that could be the downfall of the NFL.
* The district attorney has asked for help in solving the school girls case in which 18 teenage girls have been abducted, killed and no evidence left.
* Jack’s best friend is suspected of killing his wife of less than a year. She was found shot to death in their bedroom. She was a former lover of Jack’s and he introduced her to his friend, Andy.

While dealing with these three major cases, Jack is also dealing with PTSD from his time in Afghanistan. In addition, he’s getting threatening calls from a mysterious caller and he helps his gambling twin brother out of a jam with the mafia.

The investigation of the three cases will take you on an exhilarating ride. The staff at Private is also a intriguing mix of characters. You’re in for a few surprises and twists along the way. While some of the plot may be considered predictable, it brings realism to this world of intrigue, glamour and glitz. I will say there were a couple of surprises at the end I didn’t see coming.

Patterson and Paetro leave the reader wanting more and from what I read last night there is a sequel coming out. What mysteries will Jack be solving this time and who's secrets will he be keeping?

Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, Hachette Auto, @2010, ISBN: 9781607884484, Unabridged, 6 Discs, Approximately 7 hours

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this audio book and it was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

Smidgen of Bookishness

I wasn’t sure what to title this post since I have a smidgen of this and that to cover and it all relates to books.

Hopefully this has caught your attention. First I want to say a special
thanks to Kathleen at From Cop to Mom and the Words in Between for presenting Thoughts in Progress with The Versatile Blogger Award. I’m honored to receive the award from her. Kathleen has a great blog and if you haven’t stopped by, please do so. She has years of experience in law enforcement and shares her knowledge of police work and true crime. Thanks again Kathleen.

This award came with some rules. I’m to share 7things about myself and pass the award onto 15 other bloggers. I’ll make the 7 things short: 1) I’m cold natured. 2) I’m a natural blonde who loves blonde jokes (and can understand them). 3) Coffee with a touch of sugar is my favorite drink. 4) I enjoy listening to and watching the water but don’t care anything about going in. 5) I’m terrified of mice/rats/gophers. 6) The only instrument I can play to any degree is an Native American flute. 7) My lunch on Fridays usually is a Chocolate Mocha and Brownie from Starbucks. As to passing the award on, there are some many bloggers I’d like to include I’ll just leave it open to all who visit with no strings attached,

Now I have another review of an audio book. This time it was an abridged version. There are probably some detailed information that I missed, but story-wise I don’t think I did.

9th JUDGEMENT by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

The Women’s Murder Club continues in the latest release from authors James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. San Francisco

Homicide Detective Lindsay Boxer and her partner, Rich Conklin, have been called to a double murder in a parking deck. The victims are a mother and her child. A cryptic anagram “WCF” has been left on the windshield in the victim’s lipstick.

Before they get very far into the case, they are pulled off to work on a high profile murder. The murder is reported to have been committed during a burglary by a cat burglar dubbed “Hello Kitty.” Hello Kitty targets wealthy residents hosting parties and makes off with their jewelry. During Hello Kitty’s last heist at the home of renowned actor Marcus Dowling, his wife was murdered when her jewelry was stolen. However, Hello Kitty and the reader/listener know Dowling killed his own wife after Hello Kitty escaped. Boxer and Conklin have their doubts about Dowling’s story from the beginning.

Meanwhile, the Lipstick Killer strikes again and again killing mothers and their children and always leaves a cryptic anagram. Readers/listeners find out who Hello Kitty is, as well as the Lipstick Killer and how their lives cross.

Readers/listeners are taken on an action-packed ride going from one crime scene to the next. The audio also includes sound effects that places the listener in the middle of the action.

Though I started listening to the audio with thoughts of the Women’s Murder Club television series in my mind, I quickly adjusted. Patterson and Paetro will keep your pulse racing with this tantalizing thriller. Though there is no secret as to who the murderer is, there are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing how it will end.

9th Judgement by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, Hachette Audio, @2010, ISBN: 9781607881797, Audio, 5 Disc Abridged

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the Hachette Audio Group in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

I also want to give a quick update on the authors that will be visiting the first part of July. While other bloggers are updating and changing their blog designs, I’m running behind just updating the widgets I have on the side for information. Maybe I’ll get some changed before the holiday and the rest after.

Here’s are some of the authors that will be guest blogging:
Cricket McRae - Thursday, July 1
Mary Wine - Friday, July 2
Eileen Dreyer - Saturday, July 3
Amanda Scott - Monday, July 5
Claire Cook - Wednesday, July 7
Jackie Lee Miles - Friday, July 9

Thanks to all for dropping by. I hope I’ve peaked your interest in reading something new. Have a wonderful Wednesday and remember, a smile is contagious.