Struggling To Hold On

Struggling To Hold On (Holding Onto Us Christmas Trilogy #1)

by D.B. Jones

I knew this author could write, but I am blown away by this sweet heartbreaking, emotional, loving read. I can tell this was written straight from her heart she grabbed mine from the first page until the end. Love can be the sweetest things but it can also tear your world apart. Nothing can be worse than falling in love and having your parents try to tear you apart. It seems that George and Susan (Devyn’s parents) live by the rule “at first if you don't succeed try, try again” as they do everything possible to break these two up. At first, I didn’t care for her father at all, but he does grow on you, her mother my feelings for her was up in the air for a while. Tommy is the winner here he stole my heart from the first page, what a loving caring supporting man who gives his all to make the woman he loves happy. Devyn is a bigger winner with me as well, caring, loving and giving she is torn between the man she loves and the love she has for her parents.

The author builds a base that could be easy to tumble down if Devyn and Tommy let it. It seems these two just can’t get a break just as they come together with a united front things fall apart leaving them torn and broken. Just into the first few pages my heart breaks for these two. Many tears will fall from their eyes and yours as life and her parents hit them over and over again. There are twists and turns that holds your attention. When the end comes as two hands reach out to touch each other your heart will be in your throat and you will have tears in your eyes.

The author gave this a lot of thought, and she spins a story that will touch you deep. I doubt you can read this without it touching you in some way. The characters are very likable, the plot outstanding, the emotion, passion, love is to die for. Have the tissues handy you will need them. It isn’t all sadness, there are many smiles, overcome, growing, learning, laughs, building, love and in the end family. I was just in aww from the first page, it is a story I could not put down and read at one setting. My husband looked at me and said when did you start that book? This morning. Wow and you almost done. Yep it was one that touched me deeply and I couldn’t put it down. No truer words have been said I was just in awww. This is a book of three and the first one leaves you hanging but wow for 99 cents you can’t past it up. It is so worth the money plus more, I was spellbound with my heart beating faster many times throughout. I laughed, had tears and just about cried. Once you read it you will know why I picked this as one of my favorite reads. I am off to start book two…..

Buy Link

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Struggling-Hold-Novella-Holding-Christmas-ebook/dp/B01MRLAQ5K/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Summary

Tommy O’Conner loves only one girl, Devyn Murray. He has loved her since the first day he saw her coming down the halls of the Bath County High School. Her flowing red curls cascading down her back and the smile on her face immediately captured his heart.

Tommy lived on the other side of the track with his alcoholic single mother who works as a waitress in a little café on the outskirts of town. Devyn’s parents, George and Susan Murray are not about to let their only child end up with this boy who they feel has nothing to offer their daughter. However, even her parents cannot keep them apart. Tommy and Devyn struggle to hold onto what they believe is a love that can withstand all adversities.

Follow the challenges, tears, joys and love with Tommy and Devyn in the Holding Onto Us Christmas Trilogy and see if their love can overcome all the challenges that threaten to keep them apart

The Widow's Keeper (The Second Wife Book 2)

The Widow's Keeper (The Second Wife Book 2)

by Kishan Paul

Just when I think if she goes the way I think she will she is going to piss me off she turns the tables goes that way and makes me enjoy it. This doesn’t have as much action or darkness as the first one had but it is just as good with an ending that will lead into the next book in the series. It was hard for me to get a handle on Shariff his emotions or mind was all over the place which made it a great read. At times I didn’t care for him and others I felt sorry for him. David and Alyah story along with their friends just about broke my heart. There is a recap on the past book where my heart broke all over again for the little boy sent into the mall to find his death. I felt the pain just as much as I did in book one, I loved that little boy. Rizwan you hear a lot about but only meet him for a short time, he and his son have a lot in common. This was a suspenseful read that has drama with lots of twists and turns that I was totally hook on from one page to the next.

The narrator does a wonderful job with the narration. Her character voices are wonderful all though some sound very close together. She pulls you in with the emotions she puts in her voice you can hear the angry, sadness, happiness, excitement, fear and so much more. I have also read this book when it first came out I am not sure which one I like more both add so much and I see a different side from both. I loved the accents she used which made this feel realistic and real. It really is a very powerful audio that pulls you in hooking you and keeping you invest throughout. It was another one I had trouble putting down. There are no background noises, no volume changes, if any breaks were taken I could not tell. Her character voices were great, I always knew who was talking and what they were feeling. It will be an audio that I will listen to again.

You learn a little more about David and Ally's after the kidnapping how hard it was for them to hang on working through their problems well mostly Ally’s issues which was hard for David. This leads up to the here and now which is filled with pain, sorrow, regret and learning to live again, I guess you could stay starting over. There is a dark side but not as dark as the first book. A lot is lost but a lot is gained between these pages. The book does have a happy ending for the here and now but leaves it open to what will happen in the future. There is a love interest kind of which is done in a way that you are all for it.

The writing style pulls you in with a powerful hold on your heart. It is a book you don’t want to put down. It is written in a way that it was easy to picture each scene. It wasn’t long before I became a part of the story and each character held my full attention. Ally and I had long talks as I tried to pull her one way but she was hell bent on going another. She is one stubborn woman when she makes up her mind it is made no matter how much anyone tries to talk her out of it. David and I had a few chats too, I spent some time yelling at him. He made me just about cry. As much of a heart puller as book one was this one was is as well but in a different way and for different reason.

When you come to the ending you better grab some tissues it just about made me cry, in a good way. Ally really shows us what she is made of and just what the true meaning of love is. She has some very hard choices to make but never blinks once, she makes her stand and sticks with it. It has been a pleasure getting to know such a strong women who just about always puts others first. I would not trade places with her for nothing in this world. I liked, loved and adored her, she is way stronger than I will ever be.

In closing if you haven’t read The Second Wife you should I picked it as my favorite read the year it came out. If you are thinking about reading The Widow’s Keep think no more pick it up and give it a read you will love it. Both of these books are a keeper and a book you will want to read again and again. From the characters to the plot it is a book worth buying. I doubt you will be able to put it down.

To the author: I really have to say you did it again giving me a read and characters I just adore. Going back to the end of book 1 I thought of many ways book two would go. I thought if you go one way I will not like you much. What I found is it didn’t matter what way you went you have always been able to pull me in giving me an entertaining read I can’t put down. A book I want to reread over and over again. Tears, sadness, and sorrow is filled with hope, love and survival. I JUST LOVED IT! I can’t wait for the next book to come out.

Buy Links

Audible

https://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/The-Widows-Keeper-Audiobook/B0782XHM1J

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WW74VLV/ref=x_gr_w_glide_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_glide_bb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B06WW74VLV&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

B&N

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-widows-keeper-kishan-paul/1125829109?ean=2940154177983&st=AFF&2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20Inc

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/the-widow-s-keeper-2

Google Play

https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Kishan_Paul_The_Widow_s_Keeper?id=AQAAAIBlA2WDEM

Summary

No matter how fast or far you run, your past will follow.
Three years have passed, and Ally's memories of her kidnapping and torture still haunt her. Determined to keep her demons at bay, David refuses to leave her side. Until....
The lies woven to protect come unraveled.
Ally has no choice but to return to the land that once imprisoned her. This time, instead of the sociopath who tormented her years ago, she faces his angry brother. A brother whose thirst for vengeance threatens to destroy everything and everyone she holds dear.

The Sean Kruger Series Complete Boxed Set

The Sean Kruger Series Complete Boxed Set

By: J. C. Fields

Narrated by: Paul J. McSorley

Series: Sean Kruger, Book 1-3

Length: 28 hrs and 5 mins

Unabridged

Release date: 01-29-18

This whole series has keep me spellbound what a roller coaster ride that gives the reader one exciting twist after another. Just when you think you have it worked out the author throws another twist that has you scratching your head. I have loved all three books in this series but book three is by far my favorite. This has been one fantastic listen that holds your attention from the first page until the last.

The Fugitive's Trail

I really liked that this story is based around the main characters and a thief but there is also a touch of romance but it is more in the background, which really adds to the story but isn’t over powering nor does it take over. One man was done wrong many years ago he seeks his justices not for revenge but more for a show of who has the power. Things would have ended there if not for him wanting what was taken. The author gives many twists and turns, nothing is really as it seems as he spins a story of crime, corruption, thief, murder, deceit in a thrilling action adventure plot that leaves chills down your back. You are pulled in from the first page as a man is being led out the door, and he turns the tables knowing if he does not he will end up dead. Now the chase is on to find the man who got away and get back what was taken. Special Agent Sean Kruger is on the scene but things are not adding up, he has his people do a little hunting of their own finding more question than answers that is until the minute everything falls in to place, and he finds just maybe the bad guy isn’t so bad after all.

The Assassin's Trail

What a wild exciting ride that holds you spellbound from the drive by shooting that starts the book leaving you holding your breath asking why as the author lowly fills in the holes giving you a story that could be right out of the newspapers headlines. There is danger all around as first one person is shot and then another. The team is trying their best to fill in the gaps and find out what and who is behind it all, could this be one lonely man or is the plot bigger than anyone could guess? The author fills these pages with adventure of the unknown as the FBI Special Agent Sean Kruger turns to his old pal JR to piece together the puzzle as the world around them goes crazy. Homicide detective Ryan Clark goes to work with JR learning everything he can to find the footprints in the electrics they have found. The author holds you on the edge as the clues come in slowly and ex military set in motion a plot that could leave so many dead. Will they be too late to find the answers saving the marks that are to be taken out. What if they are wrong and thousands end up dead. This is a very exciting read with true emotions, as I was listening them working out about the motorcycle I was so drawn into the story that when a motorcycle past me I found myself wondering if he could be the killer. Shaking my head and telling myself I was being silly this was just a story and the poor man on the bike was just going home to his family. Knowing I was right didn’t stop my eyes from following him until he was out of sight.

The Imposter's Trail

Randolph Bishop comes home to rack mayhem again, he has work on his killing skills to a fine tooth comb leaving many women dead in county he ran to, to outrun the law. As the story come about face there are more dead bodies than can be counted is this, a new serial killer or could Randolph Bishop be back. With these new killings hitting a little too close for home Profiler Sean Kruger comes out of retirement to once and for all take RANDY out any way he can.

The narrator has done a wonderful job pulling me in taking me away as the scenes play in my head. It is like pictures moving as each scene unfolds my heart beats fast, I take shorter breaths and at times hold them. I am so spellbound I set in a daze watching the killer kill again and again. He has no trouble pulling the listener in by showing true emotion in his voice from excitement, danger, shock, fear that you have no trouble knowing what each character feels. I felt as if I was right beside each character feeling their emotions wanting to pull them out before the killer strikes. I was talking to and yelling at them, but they didn’t listen and I closed my eyes letting the events soak in only to be taking on another wild emotional ride that left me more breathless than the last. The narrator’s character voices are wonderful I always know who is talking and what they are feeling. His female voices have improved I didn’t notice all the issues I did with the first two books, I feel in time and a little more work he will have them peg. He pauses when he needs and speeds up to get the full excitement that holds you on the edge. His normal voice is just as nice as his character voices which are smooth, clear, even as he gives it the right pitch to make you feel the emotions the author wants you to. There are no background noises, no volume changes, if any breaks were taken I could not tell. He was able to really pulling me in through emotions and tones that grabbed me from the first page until the end. I really hated when it came to the end I wanted the story to go on and on. I can’t wait to listen to more of his work and I do hope he continues this series.

The author feeds you just enough to hook you as he plays out the plot that grabs you and never lets you go. I loved the characters he gives them true emotions, normal everyday people with the same issues as we have. The adventure is exciting, thrilling and dangerous. I loved the characters feel like your family and friends and when they die you feel like you have truly lost them. The plot is outstanding, you can tell a lot of thought went in to it. My heart went out to so many different characters who lost so much because one man thought he deserved more than he did.  I really liked how Sean and his friend worked out what was going on. I think for the most part my heart broke the most for Bishops brother and his wife, so many years wasted because of an unkind brother who thought only of his self. It was great to see the characters in each book and get updates, see how they were doing, what was new in their lives and to see how the plot affected them. As the end came I was cheering which made my shopping trip a little more interesting with people looking at me like I was nuts. I knew before I started this last book I was going to be truly affected and become very invested in the story so much, so I was in my own little world. I really hope there is more to come and can’t wait to listen to more of this series. By far book three is my favorites. As a whole this series has been an outstanding listens grabbing my attention, holding it, pulling me in, keeping me invested until the end. Pick it up and  you will see why I have picked this series as one of my favorite listens of  the year.

Buy Links

Audible

https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/The-Sean-Kruger-Series-Complete-Boxed-Set-Audiobook/B0799RCSG8

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Sean-Kruger-Complete-Boxed-Set/dp/B0799SKMD4/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

B&N

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22J.C.%20Fields%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall

Summary

This is the box set of the Sean Kruger series, books 1 through 3.

The Fugitive's Trail: In the lobby of a prestigious Wall Street investment firm, one man is dead and another seriously injured. The man accused of the crime is now a fugitive.

When the Director of the FBI personally orders Special Agent Sean Kruger to New York City to find the fugitive, Kruger questions the reason. Told to shut up and do his job, he starts looking into the case. What he finds is troubling. Eyewitness accounts seem contrived with little variance between individual testimonies. The more he hears, the more he feels someone is manipulating the story.

As the investigation unfolds, he discovers the only information known about the fugitive is a HR file from a former employer. Public records of the man do not exist.

The fugitive is a ghost. A ghost who has disappeared.

The Assassin's Trail: A serial killer is on the loose in the Washington, DC area. Two men are dead and the FBI has called in Profiler Special Agent Sean Kruger.

Now in the twilight of his career, Kruger and longtime girlfriend, Stephanie, have decided to marry. Tired of the bureaucracy and politics of the job, he wants no part of the investigation.

But when the assassin strikes close to home, it becomes personal....

The Imposter's Trail: Over the Indian Ocean a Malaysia Airline jumbo jet drops from radar. Three hundred twenty-seven souls disappear with it; a woman in Rockford, Illinois is brutally murdered. Unrelated news events? Retired FBI agent Sean Kruger doesn’t think so. He suspects it’s the work of serial killer Randolph Bishop.

Breath of Deceit

Breath of Deceit (Dublin Devils #1)

by Selena Laurence

Dublin Devils are just handsome devils that are part of a mob. The oldest brother is in charge or, so he thinks until dear old dad shows him he isn’t. This book introduces all the members of the cast. Though it centers mostly on Cian, his likes, dislikes, being boss, his world and the revenge he wants on one member of his family. Something happened long ago that has set him on a course to take down one man and save the rest of his family. Each brother has his own story to tell as the series goes on you will get to know each one better. For now, we deal mostly with Cian, Conner, his girlfriend and their father along with a few other people. What a thrilling ride as you are taken deep and deep into the crime world dealing with drugs, cybercrime and the FBI who wants to make a deal but the deal just got bigger leaving a crime family on the edge of trying to save their world or let it fall apart. Who will be left standing and who will end up dead, the world as they know it does a 360 spinning out of control.

What an exciting read with thrills, excitement and danger as a father and son fight it out. One's health won’t let him run the business and the other doesn’t run it the way his old man does which lead to control issues. When Cian was eighteen something happen to turn his world upside down turning him against the man he calls his father. Nothing has ever been the same since. What it must be like to have all the money in the world you could want but never being able to walk outside without bodyguards, wondering if today will be your last day alive since other crime leads wants what is yours. You can’t just go for a nice dinner, shopping or even a trip. At first, I had mixed feelings for Cian but as the story really takes off he becomes my hero in so many ways.

The characters are fun, exciting, and dangerous but at the same time fearful, not many wants to get into their crosshairs. Above all my heart went out to Connor and his girlfriend for waiting a life that is normal and knowing they can’t have it. The next would be Cian who wants to give his whole family their wants and desires at a great cost to his self. I did like how he tried to handle things in a calming manner keeping peace where his father wanted war. I liked how he tried to help others not only his family but those outside of it as well. He is a man of honor who said what he means, but he isn’t bad, just caught up in a world he was born into. Just when things are going his way someone steps in throwing a tailspin on his world leaving it spinning out of control. He fights to tilt it back but finds some things will never be the same.

I really loved and respected his mother she is a gem, his brothers won me off as well but his father should be taken out and shot for what he has done to his family. The women in the boys lives are sweet, kind and just dearly. The author gives you a well-thought-out plot that holds your attention with a read I could not put down. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and watching some take their last breaths. (Does that make me a bad person, sorry, but they deserve what happened to them) I found myself talking to them, smiling with them, and my heart just broke for a few. It is a very Intriguing read that sucks you in from the first page and leaving you holding your breath at the last page with an OH NO. The ending is somewhat of a cliffhanger which I hate but here I didn’t mind it at all because it semi completes itself which was a very good place to stop.

All in all I totally loved it and can’t wait for the next book in this series to come out. If you like crime mob stories with danger, excitement, love, drama and revenge this is the book for you. It is up for pre-order at a nice price pick it up before it is marked up.

Buy Links

https://www.amazon.com/Breath-Deceit-Dublin-Devils-1-ebook/dp/B07BVML5X4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1523145085&sr=1-1&keywords=Breath+of+Deceit

B&N

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breath-of-deceit-selena-laurence/1127691251;jsessionid=3BBC740A096B7D1E8192A237B5FC7927.prodny_store02-atgap03?ean=9781635764789

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/breath-of-deceit

Summary

The Departed gets a modern upgrade with the injection of cybercrime and four sexy Irish mob brothers fighting to stay alive amidst drug deals and FBI probes.

Cian MacFarlane is the oldest son of Chicago's reigning crime family. Now the defacto boss of the organization after his father's retirement, Cian is feared by his enemies and revered by his brothers. But what if Cian isn't all he seems to be? What if his end game isn't to maintain his father's empire but to topple it? As the MacFarlanes broker a deal with the owner of the world's largest dark web site, Cian brokers a deal with the FBI. But when he meets Lila Rodriguez, a genius hacker working with the dark web, his feelings for her only make life more complex.

Determined to save his brothers, even if it means sacrificing himself, Cian lives moment to moment in a deadly underworld of cybercrime, drug deals, federal agents, and a vengeful parent who won't hesitate to remind his oldest son what it means to be a MacFarlane. Through it all, Cian fights for his brothers to make it out of Chicagoland crime. But will the pieces fall into place before his breath of deceit is discovered?