Once Chosen by Blake Pierce (Riley Paige Book 17)

 

Language: English

Format: Paperback

Pages: 232

Genre: Thriller and Mystery

Rating: 4⭐

"A serial killer strikes every Halloween—the bodies of his victims re-surfacing years later—and with Halloween only days away, it is up to FBI Special Agent Riley Paige to stop the killer before he strikes again.

How has this killer gone undetected for so long? How many victims have there really been? And who will he target next?

FBI Special Agent Riley Paige must fend off her own demons and her dysfunctional family life as she races against time to enter the mind of a diabolical killer days away from striking again—one who may even be more brilliant than her.

Can she stop him in time?"

I always got a very good imagination and also I got a lot of imaginary friends but sometimes it can be creepy! Some kids got a very dark "friends" so my point here is that something snap them and after everything goes wrong. 

Like this killer. Not his fault but getting that imaginary friend is a red flag! 

Not only it was also very slow to connect victims and killer it was also slow in the private parte of Riley's life. 

Did I though something will happens and it was just Blake making my heart. work faster? Yes several times! 

Did I like the ending of the serie? No and Yes.

1. Missed something about Jenn. It was to open end for me.
2. Walder situation got me by surprise but no answer about why he hated so much Riley
3. What was the reaction of Riley's family regarding Bill?
4. Ryan is alive or any glance of understanding that he and Riley are really over?

Well it was a good last investigation!

Once Missed by Blake Pierce (Riley Paige Book 16)

 

Language: English

Format: Paperback

Pages: 221

Genre: Thriller and Mystery

Rating: 4⭐

"A serial killer is striking seemingly at random, first killing a man in his 50s, then a woman in her 50s. The only thing that links them is the lone souvenir he took: a dining chair.

What is the meaning? Are the murders random after all?

FBI Special Agent Riley Paige must fend off her own demons and her own dysfunctional family life as she races against time to enter the mind of a diabolical killer who is sure to strike again.

Will she stop him in time?"

You can't be mad over a killer that actually is under Survivor's Guilt Syndrome. 

It is wrong what he's done? yes of course but also he is not in his perfect mind.

It was looong to read this one but probably it was also because the crimes itself was taking longe to make a connection or to find a way to link everything to the killer. 

The last entry got me screaming YES! but after I was wondering: how it will end?

Need to read the last book to check this!

Once Shunned by Blake Pierce (Riley Paige Book 15)

 

Language: English

Format: Paperback

Pages: 223

Genre: Thriller and Mystery

Rating: 5⭐

"When a serial killer strikes across a series of towns and the only potential witness is unable to speak, it is up to FBI Special Agent Riley Paige to enter the mind of this complex man, and to learn what, if anything, he knows.

What do these victims have in common? What exactly did this man witness?

In this dark psychological suspense thriller, Riley Paige must battle her own demons as she is summoned to solve a crime that leaves all others stumped, one that will force her to enter, too deep, into the mind of a psychopath….."

I was about 50% of the book when I simply got a feeling that Ryan was actually to make a bad choice and guess what? It happened... Did he actually know how to be an adult or did he believe that Riley will be there for him no matter what? (really we got more than proofs that will not gonna happen)

This book is so amazing in the research that Blake have made regarding autism and how people behave and that you have a lot inside this matter. I personally love this subject since it's really interesting! 

Did I though the doctor was the killer? Yes! Everything was pointing but after I realize he was not after that talk with Riley! 

Did I suspect of the killer? Not one second! And to know is motive was really sad since it's clearly the fault of how his own father treated an "imperfection". 

It was a page-turning book and since a lot I was unable to stop reading! 

Once Dormant by Blake Pierce (Riley Paige Book 14)

Language: English

Format: Paperback

Pages: 195

Genre: Thriller and Mystery

Rating: 4⭐

"After lying dormant for 10 years, an elusive serial killer strikes again, leaving few clues—and the only way for FBI Special Agent Riley Paige to catch him in the present is to solve the riddles of the past.

Women are turning up dead, and in this dark psychological thriller, Riley Paige realizes she is in a race against time. The murders of the past were too perplexing to be solved back then. Can Riley solve them 10 years cold? And connect the dots to the present-day crimes?

When Riley finds her personal life in crisis, playing cat and mouse with a brilliant psychopath may just be too much for her. Especially since there is something that is just not sitting right with this case…."

What's worst than a serial killer? I'm telling you: a serial killer with total control of his actions.

And it's what happens here: they guy is so controlled that actually you wish a lot of mess.

I hade no clue who it was until the very precise moment Blake decide to reveal it to me and to Riley!

Regarding the other side of the book: Jilly issue was quite obvious for me probably because I got through it and saw the red flags all over. 

After 1 volume without big switch of scenario it was pleasant to see again Riley's private life going (still in pieces but getting together at least)

Love Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 6) by J. R. Ward

 

Language: Portuguese

Format: Paperback

Pages: 560

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Rating: 5⭐

"Fiercely loyal to the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Phury has sacrificed himself for the good of the race, becoming the male responsible for keeping the Brotherhood's bloodlines alive. As Primale of the Chosen, he is obligated to father the sons and daughters who will ensure that the traditions of the race survive, and that there are warriors to fight those who want all vampires extinguished.

As his first mate, the Chosen Cormia wants to win not only his body, but his heart for herself. She is drawn to the noble responsibility behind the emotionally scarred male. But Phury has never allowed himself to know pleasure or joy. As the war with the Lessening Society grows grim, tragedy looms over the Brotherhood's mansion, and Phury must decide between duty and love."

How it can be to dedicate your personal life as a second plan? Well for Phury it was a choice: first is twin brother and now to make sure is friend can be happy with is Sheilan....

As soon as he discovered that someone kidnap his twin, he made the choice to find him and not take any kind of adventure in love or pleasure. And if you think that it's because now Z is happy that Phury have time for himself you got it wrong.... He struggle a lot with this "new reality" and still, he is very happy for is brother!

But Phury is that person that will take a bullet for you in matter to save you and it's what he do with Vishous: he take the Primale and sacrificed himself so is friend can be happy with Jane.

Even if a give a 5⭐ this book was not so "good" as the other and probably because I was expecting more blood than ever. The cause is noble and Phury is one of the most lovely vampires in the Brotherhood (the one that like music, classics, books,.....) but it's a correct and fair rating since you can feel the pain of the choices he need to make.

And next book is.... is about... I forgot 😓 

Once Trapped by Blake Pierce (Riley Paige Book 13)

 

Language: English

Format: Paperback

Pages: 212

Genre: Thriller and Mystery

Rating: 3⭐

"A wealthy husband turns up dead, and his abused wife is charged with the crime. She calls Riley for help—and yet it seems clear she is guilty.

But when another wealthy, abusive husband turns up dead, the FBI is called in, and FBI special agent Riley Paige wonders: is this all a coincidence? Or could this be the work of a serial killer?

What ensues is a game of cat and mouse, as Riley Paige realizes she is up against a brilliant and unpredictable killer, one without a clear motive—and one determined to keep on killing until he is caught."

I was about 125 pages and development of this case was simply 0. The investigation was stuck in all ways and ever me was not getting on the killer name or in any suspects... 

And from nowhere (about almost 20 pages before ending the book) here comes everything: a break that make everything moving. 

The killer was a total surprise! I was expecting someone like a life-in or security guy but not some complete stranger. And the motive? You can't be mad at the killer because justice was given for that womens.

In regards of the private life of Riley: for once you don't have a lot about it. Sure the first chapters are about Riley and Jilly but only at the end is that you see the family back. It was a pause in all the drama.

This book was just not as perfect as expected that's for sure!

Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 5) by J. R. Ward

 

Language: Portuguese

Format: Paperback

Pages: 502

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal

Rating: 5⭐

"The ruthless and brilliant brother Vishous possesses a destructive curse and a frightening ability to see the future. As a member of the Brotherhood, he has no interest in love or emotion, only the battle with the Lessening Society. But when a mortal injury puts him in the care of a human surgeon, Dr. Jane Whitcomb compels him to reveal his inner pain and taste true pleasure for the first time-until a destiny he didn't choose takes him into a future that does not include her."

I think I will be talking more about my crush than of the plot (ok I will talk a little of the plot) 😅

In book 1, Vishous appear and was fully described and he look like a very bad boy that will crush your heart: Bad attitude, love alcohol, tattoos, secrets and no intention in love or sex. 

So basically it's a close door for any women... but it's ok because I personally got more attracted.... 

So basically he have a bad and dark past (at this point I'm expecting this in all Brothers without exceptions...) And to not mention that probably his sex life is not for me.... at all... but I can try 😅😇

All his history is envolve in a mystery way that only when you read the book you will understand his powers and attitude. 

At the moment I can see a big question: "can we read books without an order?" and the answer is "NO". And the reason is that all volumes are linked so if you skip volume 3 and 4 and want to read the 6 you will found your self lost in some timeline details as from when, why and how that happens. Even if it's mentioned in the volumes, you only have some informations and it can give you the wrong idea of the world.

To mention: J. R. Ward is still written them and she is in volume 21for this serie but we have others 4 linked to this serie. so keep an eye in the tag for all books regarding the Black Dagger Brotherhood. (To note I own 26 books from BDB including the legacy and the new Prison Camp books)

Eyed Blue Dog by Christopher Taylor

 

Language: English

Format: PDF

Pages: 194

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense

Rating: 4⭐

"It has been a year since Lastings Simmons reluctantly returned to his childhood home of Via Verde, California. Soon after his arrival, he gets broadsided with a letter of foreclosure on the house he recently inherited. To make matters worse for the young Jazz prodigy, he finds himself accosted by a barrage of questions that he is unable to answer in a rather violent interrogation by two surly detectives. It appears that he and the brother of his provocative tenant, January, are prime suspects in a kidnapping. Lastings is hell bent on clearing their names and, simultaneously, becoming January's salvation. Only to discover, January has demons of her own. Traipsing around them leads him down a path he is ill prepared to take.

Now, Lastings is about to find out that the path is embarking upon is one that he is completely unprepared for as a murder mystery becomes as intense as the California sun.

Blue Eyed Dog is a captivating sophomore novel by Los Angeles native, Christopher Taylor. A nod to fiction noir novelists, such as Raymond Chandler, James Elroy and Walter Mosley, Christopher weaves Southern California history into a murder mystery with Jazz as it’s sultry background."

First I want to thank to BookTasters and Christopher for this book!

I read this book in one set: pick up at 2pm and ended it at 5pm. 

The pages turn easy as you follow Lastings and it took my complete investigator mood as soon as Brooke told that he will be more than happy to see Lasting losing his house.

Lastings is a special MC and you can't be mad about is lake of empathy/sympathy over the others. He will help who he think deserve it and if he is in a good mood and that make him very, very real. 

At that point I was making a lot of questions and I didn't got disappointed to see answers (and that I was correct over 1 situation). 

Stitched by Elena Sobol

Language: English

Format: ebook

Pages: 200 aprox

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 5⭐

"Time to put down the beer and pick up the daggers.

My name is Dmitry, and I’m your local harvest demigod—but don’t tell my boss at the bar.

Ever since Baba Yaga hid me and my magic daggers in Salt Lake City, it’s been nothing but fun and games with my metalhead roommates. Who cares if my cousins are out to kill me?

Now portals to my home world are opening across the city, trashing my hard-won new identity. Not to mention all the human-snacking monsters they’re letting through.

My shifter friend, Alysa, wants me to help hunt down the shidiot tearing open reality and, even worse, the universal police are threatening deportation.

This about to get messy. And if my cousins follow the commotion? I am one dead demiguy."

***Please note that you have a big reference of mythology in this book***

It was fun to read and my heart race in some scenes!

It started like you will need to wait like 5 chapters to see any action or to understand what is going on but no! You have the right to have a blue ferret running for her life, bad goblins (a special kind) and to understand why Dmitry is like that!

Love the fact that Dmitry carry all the legacy of his mother and that he is aware of the weight if you decide to accept this future. Not only that! He knows exactly what kind of problems will come to him and he have notion that he is not ready for it.

Alysa (remember the blue ferret? yap she is a shifter!) got a very important role in this book and I know that in the second one she will have more but if the author will make a book only from her past until now I will drop any book in read to read it instead! 

Lover Revealed (Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 4) by J. R. Ward

 

Language: Portuguese

Format: Paperback

Pages: 455

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Rating: 5⭐

"Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard-living ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world—to engage in the turf war with the lessers. He's got nothing to lose. His heart belongs to a female vampire, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. If he can't have Marissa, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers...

Fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, he's found by a miracle, and the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back. But even her love may not be enough to save him."

Hum... Do I was expecting he had vampire relatives? Nop.... I was thinking of an exception and that he will be growing old and dye as normal human...

Did I expected his relation with V was almost crossing lines? Neither but it cross my mind to have a gay romance here

Did I excepted him to be a paw to Omega? no and hated that idea! He is a good guy!

Let's be clear here: Butch is really a good guy and if I was in that world, he will be the first guy I will come to ask help, secrecy and a hug. 

So while reading this book a got extremely linked to him and was unable to feel sad and frustrate with all the situation with Marissa.

Let's put it in a way of a big fan: if I was in the book, I will be the one punching him and acting as a sister screaming to him go and talk to the girl! :)

It's book 4 and I'm not tired of them! 

Let's go to book 5 (and be in love for my favorite vampire)

Glimpse, Memoir of a Serial Killer by Stephen B King

 

Language: English

Format: ebook

Pages: 354

Genre: thriller

Rating: 5⭐

"In 1999 Australia, Sergeant Rick McCoy investigates the murder of a woman found packed inside a suitcase.

The Killer abducts another victim and threatens to dismember her slowly. His life is further complicated by a marriage in tatters. Frustrated at every turn, he is paired with glamorous Criminal Psychologist and profiler, Patricia Holmes.

While trying to rebuild his marriage, he finds himself in a desperate race against time to free the victim and fight his desire for his new partner."

Want to thank bookstagrammers.com program for this wonderful book!

I really love serial killer stories and that gore scenes and this book was very powerful!

In one side we have Rick McCoy, that is investigation the murder of a women, and in the other side we have Paul, the serial killer.

Both sides are very but very descriptive but the Paul part? OMG you enter in his mind and even if is not easy you actually learn a lot about him (past, present, why, how, what and who)

The book start as any thriller book: someone disappear and appear a month later. Investigation is started until comes to a dead end. But that change everything when the killer decide to contact Rick directly. And that's when everything start to be like a web: Did Rick know the killer? Why the killer is murdering like that? Is Rick the connected with the murders? Why that victims?

All characters are well done as the back story: Rick have is job and it's his mission to protect everyone but got marital problems. It is very interesting to see that even trying professional and personal will mix in a way or other.

Paul (the killer) you can see that he is not "normal" but I was unable to actually blame him for being like this: if you see (and understand) his past you may also see how it will end... So was he born like that and life make sure to develop that evil part or was the all experiences that made him like that?

Once Bound by Blake Pierce (Riley Paige Book 12)

 

Language: English

Format: Paperback

Pages: 222

Genre: Thriller and Mystery

Rating: 5⭐

"Women are being found dead on train tracks across the country, forcing the FBI into a mad race against time to catch the serial killer.

FBI Special Agent Riley Paige may have finally met her match: a sadistic killer, binding victims to the tracks to be killed by incoming trains. A killer smart enough to evade capture across many states - and charming enough to go unseen. She soon learns it will require all of her faculties to enter into his sick mind - a mind which she unsure she wants to enter.

And all with a final twist that is so shocking, even Riley could not expect it"

The blurb last line was about the final twist and guess what.... I was not expecting it at all!!

It's actually a cruel way murder someone because you get several victims: the actual one who die and all the one how was unable to stop the train to avoid it.

It was really not easy to understand the mind of the killer and probably due the fact that the same struggle with that killer impulse. 

Now we have that Aunt Cora coming and actually being noisy... I see no good in this character and hope until book 17 she get a real punishment from Jenn, Riley and Bill!

Regarding the private life of Riley: Ryan is really..... uhmmm.... a stupid bastard 😅 No sympathy for that guy! 

I think Riley now understood and want to make better for all the family: be more present, be the mother Jilly need and make sure to support April in everything.  And it make me 😍 that she is fighting for Jilly and to be happy!

The Desolations of Devil's Acre by Ransom Riggs

 

Language: English

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 512

Genre: YA fantasy, mystery

Rating: 4⭐

"The fate of peculiardom hangs in the balance in this epic conclusion to the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series.

The last thing Jacob Portman saw before the world went dark was a terrible, familiar face.

Suddenly, he and Noor are back in the place where everything began - his grandfather's house. Jacob doesn't know how they escaped from V's loop to find themselves in Florida. But he does know one thing for certain: Caul has returned.

After a narrow getaway from a blood-thirsty hollow, Jacob and Noor reunite with Miss Peregrine and the peculiar children in Devil's Acre. The Acre is being plagued by desolations - weather fronts of ash and blood and bone - a terrible portent of Caul's amassing army.

Risen from the Library of Souls and more powerful than ever, Caul and his apocalyptic agenda seem unstoppable. Only one hope remains - deliver Noor to the meeting place of the seven prophesied ones. If they can decipher its secret location."

What a book! 

The full story book made me shiver! First I was really lost: not sure if it was Jacob or Noor. It took me the entire 1st chapter to understand what happened at the end of the last book and to understand what was going on (great job Riggs!)

After come Devil's Arc situation: Desolation everywhere and the atmosphere full of fear, terror and mistrust that was tangible.

We are talking about Caul, a very bad guy that want to be treated like a God and if you don't want it, he simply go to make you suffer a lot.

Caul and his allies show the real faces and power they now have thanks to the Library of Souls. 

Not only you have the Hollowgates and Wights but also a lot of Peculiares that are just mean like Caul and the worst part is that they don't care of the consequences or who they gonna hurt: they just want to create caos and please Caul. 

And now you think of the Americans: how about them? Allies or enemies? Well it's a mix of both: they don't want to have Caul as a cruel god but they want to be free looped (free to get out of the loop without the problem of dying in 24h). It's a 50-50 situation.

One of the best part was to discover the true meaning of the prophecy regarding Noor and the 6 others special kids and also the origin of Jacob's peculiarity.

The ending? WOW but the last chapter? ahmmm sorry but I was thinking about something else but the kids deserved it just like it was.

The Conference of The Birds by Ransom Riggs

 

Language: English

Format: Paperback

Pages: 336

Genre: YA fantasy, mystery

Rating: 5⭐

"With his dying words, H--Jacob Portman's final connection to his grandfather Abe's secret life entrusts Jacob with a mission: Deliver newly con­tacted peculiar Noor Pradesh to an operative known only as V. Noor is being hunted. She is the subject of an ancient prophecy, one that foretells a looming apocalypse. Save Noor--Save the future of all peculiardom.

With only a few bewildering clues to follow, Jacob must figure out how to find V, the most enigmatic, and most powerful, of Abe's former associates. But V is in hiding and she never, ever, wants to be found."

This book start in the middle of the last scene of the previous book so you start already with the element of "please get out and be safe".

Jacob show to be way more adult than most of them in this book and if you think all the American's clan wan war you can actually change your mind. They are hostil but they only know that actually and they understand that they have 1 comum enemy: the Hollowgates with theire wights.

And you need to add that Jacob and friends need to understand the full prophecy, help Noor to find V and help Miss Peregrin. All that in kids....

And I'm glade to now go to read the last book of this serie because the end... OMG! Got a lot of questions during the entire chapter!